DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2684, 14 December 1909, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

rJ’mt PiutsH Association.! AUCKLAND, Dec. 13. The General Council of the National Defence League'met to-night, and unanimously decided that no liquor should be provided in camp canteens under the universal training sections of the Defence Bill. It was also, decided to urge upon the Government the desirability of including naval training in the provisions of the Bill, being assured that thousands of young men could, be thus organsed in the ports of the Dominion. WEATHER AT FEILDING. FEILDING, Dec. 13. After a prolonged spell of dry weather, rain fell this afternoon, and promises more. The country loo'ks exceedingly well. A SERIOUS CHARGE. Leo Arthur Arnold Coplan Boranoff, alias “Dr. Boranoff,” was before the Court to-day, charged with attempting to have improper relations with a girl under nine year s of age. He was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Palmerston North, next March. Bail was allowed, self in £IOO and two sureties of £IOO each. CHARGES OF THEFT. WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Diaz De Silva pleaded guilty to several charges of theft of jewellery valued at £l2O 10s, the property of Noah Cohen. Accused was remanded by the magistrate for a week. It is stated that further charges will probably be brought against the accused. A DESERVING CAUSE.

A deputation from the Plunket Nurses’ Association waited on the Premier to-day regarding the Association’s work in the centres. It was stated that each iPlunket Nurse cost £2OO a year and it was suggested the grant should be at the rate of £SO for each nurse. Sir Joseph Ward said there was £SOO on the estimates for the Karitane Home for babies, Dunedin, where Plunket nurses were trained. He would give the deputation’s suggestions full consideration . He presumed the management would see the country was looked after as. well as the towns. DEFENCE NOT AGGRESSION. A deputation of Quakers waited on the Premier to-day in reference to conscientious and religious objections to the compulsory military training clause in the Defence Bill. The deputation thanked Sir Joseph Word for including a conscience clause in the Bill, and said the members were prepared to undertake civil duties so long as they had no connection with war . The Premier, in reply said the defence system which New Zealand proposed to follow was not one of militarism, but a system of educating the people how to defend themselves. People who had conscientious oojections would have those objections respected. The Government was anxious to prevent any jingoistic spirit permeating the country, and to see that we did not descend to the spirit of militarism noticeable in other countries. THE PLUNKET~ MEDALLIST. The Plunket medal, awarded in connection with the Trinity College music examinations, has been won this year by Winifred Hawcridge, of Dunedin Convent. AN EXEMPLARY SENTENCE. NELSON, Dec. 13. In the Supreme Court to-day, after a hearing for three days, with the public excluded and the publication of evidence prohibited, the jury found William Henry Joseph Kingston guilty of Indecent assault on a girl under pretence of electrically healing appendicitis. The Judge sentenced the prisoner to 14 years’ imprisonment, 1 aggressive’leaseholders.

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 13. The Trades and Labor Council has issued a manifesto strongly protesting against the Government’s land proposal meeting of the Christchurch South and Christchurch East electors unanimously carried a- resolution “that- 'this ■meeting believes in the leasehold tenure, and most emphatically protests against the proposals to grant the freehold of their sections to Crown tenants, and against the sale of any more Crown lands of the Dominion. ahe meeting subsequently formed branches of the New Zealand Labor party. BAND CONTEST. DUNEDIN, Dec. 13. At a public meeting to-night, a proposal to hold a monster band contest next year -was approved, and a committee was appointed to carry out arrangements. It was decided to recommend the committee to make arrangements for separate contests! tor brass, pipe, and* military bands ot Anstralia and New Zeaalnd. EDUCATIONAL APPOINTMENTS. INVERCARGILL, Dec. 13. The Southland Boys’ and Girls’ Higu 'School Board made the following appointments Assistant master. Claude McCarthy (Linwood) ; teachers for girls’ school, Misses E. E. Low (V* el-lino-ton), Violet C. Farnie (Rakaia), and A. M. Griffin (Oamaru).