Dominion News.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4322, 10 February 1910, Page 2

Dominion News.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dannevirke, Last Night.” In a case Inspector of Awards v. Mrs Franklin, sheep farmer, claim £SOO for alleged breach of the Wellington shearers’ award, effected, as alleged, by locking out certain shearers on the 4th November, 1909, the case turned on the right of the men to decline to shear sheep which they alleged to be wet. Mr McCarthy, S.M., held that the sheep were dry, and that the object of the defendant’s manager was not to force the men to comply with an order inconsistent with the terms of their employment, hut he was merely insisting on the men obeying a reasonable command. Judgment was entered accordingly, with costs against plaintiff. Wellington, Last Night. Serious complaints were made regarding the conduct jof a Wellington cricketing team which visited Auckland during the Christmas holidays to take part in the Plunket Shield competition. The players were said to have badly misconducted themselves in an Auckland hotel, and the allegations were inquired into privately by the Wellington District Cricket Association, which passed the following resolution:—“ The management committee, having inquired into the conduct of the Wellington representative team while on tour in Auckland, and having received reports from the captain, and manager of the Central Hotel, and also heard the chairman’s report, are statisfied that the statements of misconduct have been grossly exaggerated and do not call for further action.”

Additional charges have been brought against VViliiam Williams, Secretary of the Iron and Brass Moulders’ Union, alleging the misappropriation by him of £l2O altogether from the Union funds. He appeared on remand in Court today, when counsel intimated that a plea of guilty would be entered. A further remand was granted. Wellington, This Day. Cabinet yesterday passed several railway votes, also a sum of £4700 for roads and bridges in various parts of the Dominion, and £4400 for primary and technical schools. There appears to be no alternative but to postpone the Industrial Exhibition until three weeks after the opening of Parliament, when a special Act will be passed to permit shop assistants working shows other than between 9 a.m. and 6 p.ra. The Hon. Mr Millar was interviewed yesterday but could give no assistance except special legislation was passed. Westport, Last Night. At the Waimangaroa Junction railway yard a locomotive drawing a passenger train and a shunting locomotive collided head on on the main line. One engine was badly damaged, and some trucks were derailed. The passengers were shaken, but nobody was hurt. Invercargill, Last Night. The wreck of the s.s. Waikare was sold at auction today for £2OO to Mr J. K. Jamieson of Invercargill. * A Native Land Court has been sitting for a weeK to ascertain natives' rights to Mutton Bird Islands. Last season’s take of birds was valued at £12,000, which was divided amongst 300 persons. Proceedings will probably last till the end of the week. Invercargill, This Day. As a sequel to the recent convictions of Mr and Mrs Poll for sly grog selling. James Sampson Neave, a well known solicitor, and a boarder with Mrs PolT, was charged with having unlawfully kept liquor for sale and with having assisted in the commission of an otfence, to wit, unlawfully keeping liquor for sale. Neave argued that he had no case to answer. The Magistrate said he would decide whether there was a case to answer before Wednesday next. Wanganui, Last Night. At the inquiry into the Rutland Hotel fire the jury found that it was due to an accidental explosion through the accumulation of coal gas. Dunedin, This Da.y. A man named Edward Charles McLean, aged 30 years, residing with his parents at Green Island, was brought to the Hospital suffering from wounds believed to have been self inflicted. For the last two days he had been in bed owing to pains in his head. Last night he was found on the floor bleeding profusely from openings in veins in his arm ard leg. hV is progressing favourab y.