DOMINION HEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2268, 13 August 1908, Page 2

DOMINION HEWS.

[Press Association.] NAPIER, August 12. A ploughing match was held at Longlands, Hastings, to-day, under the auspices of the Hastings branch of the Farmers’ Union. It was the first contest of the kind in that district for years. There were sixteen entries for the ploughing events, and the prize for the best ploughing on the field was won by a Maori named Tiwi. At a poll to-day a proposal to constitute the Borough of Hastings a fire district was carried by 250 votes to 217. A proposal to borrow £12,000 for the installation of electric lighting and power supply plant in Hastings was rejected by 306 votes to 176. CHRISTCHURCH, August 12. At a meeting of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board to-day, it was resolved to draw the Premier’s attention to the case of an old age pensioner whose certificate had been withheld for several months, owing to the Registrar deciding to contest the Magistrate’s decision. It was pointed out that the Prime Minister had stated ill Parliament that no such cases had occurred, and it was resolved to draw tlio attention of Sir Joseph Ward and the Canterbury members to tlie matter referred to. Several members of the Charitable Aid Board inquired to-day whether there had been any increase of applications for relief, consequent upon the recent alleged unemployed difficulty. The secretary replied in the negative, and the Chairman said that an able-bodied voting man applied for admission to the depot, but upon learning that no tobacco was provided he disappeared. Two others had signed forms of application for admission, blit had not since been heard of. AUCKLAND, August 12. It lias just been reported that another prisoner escaped from the Waiotapu camp last week. He enjoyed but brief liberty, being arrested at Mamaku two or three days later. WELLINGTON, August 12. The secretary of the Painters’ Union denies he informed the Labor .Department that one of the painters on the unemployed list was fonder of painting his nose than painting houses. The following is Captain Edwin’s weather forecast to 3 p.m. to-morrow: Moderate to strong easterly winds are probable north of Ivaikoura and Hokitika, and moderate to strong northerly winds elsewhere. There will bo a slowly rising barometer northward of Napier and New Plymouth, hut in all other parts of tho country it will fall slowly. DUNEDIN, August 12. In the Supreme Court to-day, Mr. Justice Williams granted a decree nisi in the divorce case, Batgor v. Batger, on the wife's petition on the ground of adultery. His Honor made an order forbidding tho publication of the evidence. At a meeting of tlio City Council to-night, the motion granting permission to the Ivaikorni Band to give sacred concerts on Sunday was rescinded by 8 votes to 6. Tho Council decided to donate £25 to the band’s funds. Tlio directors of tho Westport- Coal Company have declared a dividend of , 6d per share for tho half-vear endeil Juno 30th. GORE, August 12. The Minister for Lands to-day opened the new railway station at ltiversilale, erected at a cost of £2OOO. In a speech he quoted figures showing the great growth of railway traffic (luring tho last decade of the Invercargill section. Tlio revenue in 1898 was £144,960, in 1907-8 £264,337 outwards, and there was a correspondmg increase inwards. Afterwards tlie Minister was entertained at a banquet by tlio residents of ltiversdale. INVERCARGILL, August 12. At tho Arbitration Court to-day, tlie case of an application for a new award by the Southland Sawmillers’ Union, asking lor an all-round increase of wages of Is a day, occupied all day. twenty-six witnesses were called ior the Union to give evidence as to wages and conditions. Mr. Scott, representing the employers, said they could not entertain tho'proposal for an increase. The industry was suffering heavy depression owing to over-production, and 90 per cent of the mills were in rough country, where the cost of production was higher. Mills were over-stocked, and no orders wero coining in. The Association had already discussed two proposals, one to close for a. day each week and the other to shut, down altogether, hut no decision had been made |!)f- The industry could not possibly carry the additional burden of dierpilsed wages. The evidence for Min employers will bo taken to-mor-row. DANNEVIRKE, August 12. The Assessment Court for the borough and county sat to-day, and as a result the valuations in both town and country were slightly reduced.