DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143764, 12 April 1912, Page 3

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

THE WESTPORT STRIKE. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, April 11. The deadlock at the Westport Coal Company’s Denniston mines continues. Attempts to come to an amicable settlement to-day proved abortive. Tho men mention that firemen have been employed for the last four or five years, . and it hqs only lately been decided to do away with them. They consider it Unsafe for a man to be in charge of engines at night, with no one els© in attendance. Another meeting is being held to-morrow. Mr. Dowgray, one of the executive of the Federation of Labour, is proceeding to Denniston in the morning to try and arrive at an amicable settlement of the matter in dispute. THE DEFENCE ACT. ' TIMARU, April 11. Three youths who had failed to take the oath under the Defence Act, after a week’s opportunity had been given 'them, were fined 40s each to-day. None of them appeared at Court this time. MASTERTON, April 12. In the court this morning, Lawrence Robinson was fined forty shillings for failing to take the oath of allegiance. LOST IN THE BUSHi LEVIN, April 12. A search party for Stanley James Beattie, who was lost in the bush at Manakau, went from Levin yesterday, hut failed to find him. They discovered a gun and a dog belonging toBeattie in the bush, and later on discovered his camp, but no trace of Beattie or his horse. Search parties from Otaki and Manakau are out again to-day. THE TRUCK ACT. WELLINGTON, April 12. It is not generally known that under the truck provisions of the Wages Protection and Contractors’ Lien Act it is illegal to pay assistants by crossed cheques. For so doing Norton Smith, a publican, was fined in the court today 5s with costs. FINED FOR BETIING AUCKLAND, April 12. In the Police Court Thomas Dwyer was charged with having betted in a public place, viz., a billiard room. Counsel for defendant stated that his client kept a motor garage at Masterton, and was here on a visit, and Lad no intention of carrying on business as a bookmaker, Mr. Fraser, S.M.j said that as it did not appear defendant had been carrying on systematic boqkmaking for a long time, he might inflict the minimum penalty. He imposed a fine of £2O and costs on one charge and recorded convictions on the two other charges., on condition that defendant 'kept clear of betting altogether, which condition defendant agreed to. Further cLarges against defendant of having been one of those arrested in connection with the recent raid, was also taken by request. He had a betting book on him when arrested. A fine of £l and costs was inflicted.