HEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 838, 12 March 1903, Page 4

HEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Mining returns ; Komata reef, 1070 Lons, £2512 ; Waitaia, 53 tons, £3ll, The conference in the furniture dispute was a failure, the employers maintaining a firm stand. Mr Tregear presided. Mr Brown said lie would like to know the reason for Mr Tregear coming and endeavoring to hold out the hand of peace and friendship. From the employers’ view, they saw no necessity for interference in any shape or form. They had quietly taken their course, and were wilting lo allow Time, the healer, to heal this trouble. Was Mr Tregear

present on his own account or on behalf of the Government. Covert threats had been made what the Government could or might do. The employers intended to handle the matter without gloves. He hoped the injustice suffered by the employers would be fully set forth. ... NELSON, last night.

The Supreme Court lias opened before Mr Justice Denniston. Francis Gay, who bad pleaded guilty in the lower court to theft from a shop, was refused probation, as the report of the police was unsatisfactory. 1-Ie was sentenced lb six months’. John Earnshaw, a youth, for stealing a bicycle, also got six months, as the probation report was unsatisfactory. Oliver Gibbs and Leonard Faulkner* were charged with setting lire to a dwelling in Gibb’s Valley. The ease is proceeding. ■-$ OAMARU, last night.

The Rev. James Skinner, Presbyterian minister at Weston and Totara died last night after a long illness. He was well known throughout the colony. He was stationed at Waitahuna in the early days, and subsequently at Fleming! on, near Ashburton. AUCKLAND, last night.

At tlie lurniUire trade conference, Mr Tregear, replying to Mr Brown, said it was his duty to investigate a case in which such a large number as 711 men were suddenly thrown out of work. It was only by the kindness of the unions that he was able to occupy the position. He had no official position. The men said they were ready to consider as incompetent those previously earning the minimum wage, and to arrange prices for their labor, but asked flic employers to take on the men previously working at a minimum wage of Is Id and Is 3d and to give them a chance to see if they were wortli Is 3d, if not to discharge them. The employers offered to take the men at the

old rates, and give them Is 3d if they proved themselves worth it. The men pointed out that in this case they would have to leave everything to the Employers’ Union, and the rnen could not agree to this course without a breach of the arbitration award or without acknowledging themselves incompetent. Neither side would recede from the position, and the conference ended without result. Mi: Tregear, it is understood, is still trying to effect a settlement by conciliation. TIMARU, last night. An endeavor is being made here to save the cost of a licensing election. Tiie Prohibitionists agree not to run a candidate if Lite present members pledge 'themselves to 10 o’clock licenses and granting not more than three conditional licenses a year. The first stipulation was agreed to today, and the second remains unanswered.-

DUNEDIN, last night.

At the Women’s Christian Temperance Union’s eighteenth annual convention, delegates from all parts of the colony were present. Greetings were received from the Australasian Union and other States of the Commonwealth. Mrs Atkinson (of Wellington), the President, delivered an address, which dealt with the recent local option polls. Site was specially severe on Dr. McArthur’s decision in Newtown, and urged reform in the direction of the appointment of an Electoral Court, consjsting of Supreme Court Judges, to hear all future petitions. Anti-gambling literature for t.he back-blocks, savings hanks, and future prospects were also treated at length. 1