NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 29, 29 October 1907, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

ALLEGED "RAGGING." INQUIRY TO BE HELD. [LT TELEniUHI.—I'BESS ASSOCIATION'.] Christchurc/i, October 28. Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., has recoived a telegram advising him that tho Minister for Railways desires him to hold an enquiry as to tho allegations of "ragging" in the railway service hero. Interviewed by a reporter tndo,y, Mr. Bishop stated that tho papers containing instructions had not yet been received by him, and ho could not say definitely what the scope of tho onquiry would be, or where it would bo held. Ho had wired a reply to tho telegram suggesting that the enquiry might bo opened on Thursday. THE ROSS RAILWAY. PROTEST AGAINST DELAYS. Hokitika, October 28. A public meeting at Ross resolved to mako the strongest possible protest to tho Government at tbe dclajs in the completion of the bridges contract' on tho Ross Railway. It was pointed out that the contract was let two years ago, and there 'was still no timber at tho site of the Titari River Bridge. General indignation was expressed at the long-drawn-out delay.

AVITNESSES' EXPXENSES. "TURNING A BLIND EYE." Auckland, October 28. Tho question of tho payment of witnesses giving evidence at inquests was again mentioned to-day at tho inquest concerning the victim of tho tram fatality in Ponsonby Road. A married man, who had lost some time, and consequently wages, in attending to give evidence in tho case, asked tho Coroner (Mr. Groshain) if ho could claim expenses. The Coroner replied: "There are no expenses allowed for witnesses. IV is a shameful tiling. It should not bo." The witness then remarked: "It makes a men feel like Lord Nolsoii —turning a blind eyci when bo sees an accident;" Tho witncoSi added that ho.'had lost 15s. in attending tho inquiry. Tho Coroner said there' was no help for it. Mr. Lundon, solicitor, also expressed his views on the subject. "If they would only elect membors to Parliament who would consider those sort of things," ho said, "instead of blithering about other matters of no interest, to the community thoro would bo spmo senso in it, and somo good done." Several 'of the witnesses attending; tho inquiry have been present a couple of days.

CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHERS. • AN OTAGO PROPOSAL. Diuicdiii, October 27. ■ At a meeting of tho management committee of \tbo Otago Educational Instituto yesterday a scheme for payment, classification, and promotion ol primary s.crs was adopted tor transmission to'the New Zealand Education Instituto for consideration'at tho annual lrfceting at Auckland in 'January. The scheme provides—(l) That the main portion of a-teacher's salary should depend on his classification in' regard .to (a) 'tonchihg ability, (l>) literary attainments, (o) length of sorvico, also that salary should begin at a fixed minimum,, rising by an animal increment to a fixed maximum within each class; (2) that l.lio above salaries should be supplemented by increinont in accordance with average roll of tlie grade of school. The'scheme provides that teachers in Al, 131, and, Cl classes, of whom there aro 317, should got a minimum of £175 and maximum of £185; A 2, 82, 02, Dl (589 teachers), "£l6O to £170; A3, IS3, D 3, D 2, El (788), £M 5 to £155; M, 84, CI, D 3, E2, (694), £130 to £1'IO; Ao, 85, Co, D 4, E3 (320), 'SBl'lo to £125; DO, El, E5, (CO), £100 to £110. : The scheme also provides—(l) Grade .of school to bo fixed for two years; (2) if at the ,end of that time the grr.de has fnllon thd ; teacher's salary not to bo reduced until he has declined an' offer of transfer to-a position involving' no loss of emolument; (3) tliOi department to pay expenses of such 'teacher's, transfer; (4) no teacher's present salary to be reduced if under tho scheme it is less than that received, at present. ' It. is claimed that adoption of tho scheme would abolish payment on average attendanco, salary being based .mainly on'"class of teacher," .and that, it would not necessitate Getting up a now administrative body or involve .any reorganisation of the present machinery. The scheme could bo used , as a basis for colonial promotion, avid would increase the majority of present salaries.

DIOCESAN SYNOD. ■ ' ■■' Ciirislchurch, October 28. The Diocesan Synod to-night discussed in committo at considerable length Archdeacon Harper's scries ol> mqtions relatiyo to the establishment of a Diocesan . Girls' High School in Chrfstchiirch. On Friday night it was decided to sanction the establishment of such a, school, and to-night tho Synod resolved, ''That tho capital required for tho 'buildings should do rni.vd us hir as possible by. direct donations, and that any deficiency not excooding £5000 might bo raised by debentures without interest." ■ '•- ;':. ' Dunedin, October 28. In opening tho Anglican Synod this afternoon, the ,I'riinato (jiishop Iv'evill), in his addncss, referred to tho Pan-Angiican Congress, find 'stated that.it was not his itention to yjsit England. Ho suggested that a commencement might bo made with ,tho Cathedral building hero in 1910, and urged that tho clergy, should bo allowed to enjoy tho general prosperity of Che country by increases in!their stipends.

'■■.;• 'SCARCITY'OF'MINERS. Auckland, October 28. , ,'Scarcity .'of , miners, and the risk of labour troubles,,, wcro briefly touched upon ijt the annual mooting of the Northern* Coal Company, .Limited, to-day. It was stated that a coal :CutJoi' had recently been imported from Home and was a success. Sovural speakers referred to such machines being necessary to keep the industry, going in case of labour '.trouble at any time. Tho chairman of directors. Colonel Holgate, said the. company could ,'ijp with 20 or" 30 more minors, and (.lie Taupiri Coal Company required more men. Tlioy had hnd difficulty in securing, miners. If they could not got 111011 tlioy mnsti.linvo: ■ machinery, and "as machinery, had been-proved to be the cheapest tho direitorß had thought they were dning tho right thing in importing it. DEARTH OF SEAMEN. "buheciln, October 27. In common with otlicr ports there has been a dearth of seamen at Dimedin for months past,, athough'.'it has not been sufficiently acute vo cause 'serious inconvenience to steamers. Tho barque 'Onyx was delayed for some _ days her last'visit on •necourit of dilliculty n>. procuring seamen,.and the harquo Invcrmark had a similar wipericnco. Stoamors hnyo been subjected to. considerable inconvenience in conscqueiicoof'fironion, trimmors or sailors failing to turn' , up, but this has now become an established' order of things. Owing to tho small.-number of sailing vessels visiting this port, tho matter has not yet- reached an acute stago. Captain Strang, marine, "superintendent for the Union Company, states that tho supply is about equal to the demand.for tho red tunnel steamers, but as t-hn company has always one or -more vessels laid up for survey or overhaul, vacancies can be quicklv filled. At present there are four red funnel vessels lying up at Port Chalmers and to officer and man them within a week would probably bo a matter or extreme .difficulty. ' A,FISHING PABTV'S CATCH.- : Auoklancl, October 28. - A fishing party on returning to tho wharf on the steninoc Hiroro, ' with ninoty-oicht splendid hapuka (some of the fish weinhinir' 001b. and 1001b.) wcro much surprised "when the Customs authorities placed an embargo ,011 tho catch, desiring to "know, in tho in-

terest of licensed fishermen, whether the fish wore for private uso or for sale. An argument resulted in fifty of the fish being seized until further explanation was niailo to tho authorities, the balance being released on the understanding that they were for private use. This is tho first occasion on which such action has been taken by the authorities.

ARBITRATION COURT. Dunsdln, October 28. The Carpenters Union have decided to nominate Mr. M'C'ullough as workers' representative on tho Arbitration Court, anil Mr. Young (of Wellington) as deputy member. VVcstport, October 23. Throe Labour Unions at Dcnniston—the Minors', Enginomcn's, and Deputies—nominated Mr. Slater for the workers' seat on the Arbitration Court. • ■ Auckland, October 28. At the Arbitration Court to-day tho Bricklayers' Union sought an award. . Tho main points at issuo were tho hours of work, minimum wages, apprentices, and the appointment of a competent working foreman, where threo or moro bricklayers wore employed on a work. They nslced for a '17 hours' wee!;, which were the hours at present being worked; an increase in wages from Is. 6d. to Is. 7Jd. per hour; apprentices to bo legally indentured for five years, wages tit 10s. a week for the first year, 15s. for the second, 2()s. for tho third, 30s. for the fourth, and 40s. for the fifth. After hearing the ovidcuce the Court reserved its decision. A PECULIAR INCIDENT. Ghristchurch, October 28. ■• A,somewhat peculiar affair occupied tho attention of tho Samaritan Homo Trustees at their meeting tiiis afternoon. Somo fifteen months ago, a girl, who in 1905 had been committed to the To Oranga State Home for Girls, was sont to tho Samaritan Home, and a short while ago the Trustees of tho latter Homo proposed to let her go out to service Tho Matron of the To Oranga Homo then demanded the girl, but tho Samaritan Home Matron refused to give her up, notwithstanding the order of the Chairman of her Committee to do so. Tho Chairman thereupon suspended lior and also the subMatron, who likewise refused to deliver up tho girl. At tho meeting this afternoon the members agreed that tho Matron and tho sub-Matrcn had acted from a strong sentimental reason, and, while supporting the action of tho Chairman, decided to reprimand the Matron and the sub-Matron, and warn ■them that any future disregard of instructions would result in their dismissal. The Chairman thereupon resigned his position, but was prevailed upon to withdraw his resignation till tho nest meeting of tho Board. ; COLLEGE ENDOWMENTS. Ghristchurch, October 28. At a meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors to-day the Chairman stated' that ho had telegraphed to tho Minis'ter for Lands asking whetbor tho Endowments Bill would iii any way affect the College endowments, and ho hail received the following reply:—"JSiidowmont Bill does not affect Canterbury College except to the extent that hereafter they will only receivo wliat comes out of the 70 per cent. , revenue set aside for education.",.

BOWLS. 'invercargill, October 28. The dates for tho Australian bowling trip, as telegraphed from Wellington, aro said by the local organisers of the lour to bo a week out. Tho team will leavo the Bluff for Melbourne on March 30, arriving on April 4. They leave there for Sydney on April 15, and start for' Home, via Auckland, on April 29. More applications for positions in tho team art* coming in, but it is proposed to close -the list almost immediately. ( A BOY DROWNED. Invercargill, October 28. Tho body of Goorge Lindsay Duke, a High School boy, aged 1(3,- who went fishing on tho Now River on Saturday afternoon and did not corno. back was found this afternoon on a sand shoal about 300 yards below whero ho was supposed to have fallen in. WESTPOIvi'-STOCKTON COAL COMPANY. Westport, October 28. No. B tunnel, 65 chains in length, on tho Westport-Stockton Coal Company's lease, has been completed. The coal throughout is of romarkably hard quality. Work, generally, on the lease is progressing expeditiously, and should tiring tho mine up to the coal-produ/ cing l stage in good time next year. . ARRIVAL OF IMMIGRANTS. [ Auckland, October. 28. • The steamer Morayshiro, which has arrived from West of England ports, had 140 immigrants'{or Auckland and other New Zealand ports. They all appear to bo a desirable class, and have ovidently beon carefully selected. There aro a numbqr of married men with' their, wives aiid families, but tho majority aro single men. NEWS IN BRIEF. Westpori, October 27. The Westport Coal Company's output last weak was 14,954 tons. Auckland, October 28. A seven-yoar-old boy, a sou of Dr. H. Cox, was riding a pony in a paddock at jlangere, .when ho fell from the saddlo/his foot- remaining in the stirrup. He was dragged on tho ground and died soon after. Dr. Cox lost a younger son two years ago through the lad falling from a vehicle.