NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 715, 14 January 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) '■ "■ ♦ ~,: PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE. Timaru, January 13. The animal conference of tlie Primitive Methodist Church opened here this after-; noon, delegates being' present ;from. >all : parts of the Dominion. The Rev. S. ■ Henderson, of Christchureh, was elected. ■ president for,' the -ensuing' year; Mr. R. 'B. Horssly,' of Wanganui,-. vice-president; : '. • the Rev. J. Southern, of the .West Coast Mission, was re-elected secretary. Tho afternoon session'was devoted to routine ' work, and. to. appointing officers, commit-; . ' tees, etc. In : the evening the Stationing ' ; Committee met and the first draft of stations will be read: to the conference to-morrow., The conference sermon was delivered by the Rev. 'B. Dudley. The • ' conference has a big programme before U it, and. will not conclude its sittings until January 21. TAILORESSES''AGREEMENT. . Dunedin, January 13. /At the Conciliation Council this morn- '. '.ing» .it ;'wa9 st-itsd that a .satisfactoiy" agreement. had been ■ r*ffected; in a con-' ferepce between the Now .'.Zealand Fed- ' eratad Taihressos' Assicutiin. and tie Now Zealand Clothing itinufiiturere* Association;': -The; agreement, becomia operative . with rcspeot. to awards from l)]ebruary l, 'and holds till May 28, 1312. The main:, terms are:.'Honrs of' work, forty-five '. weekly; minimum" wages. 6ccond-olass ' : iC3, ' wMklj' stoc&ciittor and trimmer -£2 155., exam- ■ mer in chargo finishing-room £2 12s. 6d.j no piece or contract work to be allowed,' -. but provisions are made for overtime; - apprentices at stock-cutting, and trim- '* mln g to .serve fire years,. beginning at 10s. weekly and rising to 40s. m the fifth year. Provision is made for under-rate workers, and preference •to unionists is granted. ■ ■; v -.it--.-THE LATE MR. SEDDON. — . Gar*, January 13. Yesterday Mr. Anderson, MJ?., on be» half of Mrs. Seddon,-presented a portrait' - *' in oils of the late Mr. R. J. Seddon tothe. Seddon Memorial Hospital at Gore. ~ In making the presentation, Mr. Ander- • son-referred to the. deceased statesman** ■ ■ humanitarian work,- especially the estab-' lishment of St Helens hospitals, and-leg. ; lsl&tion .on beh&lf of the aged and needy.' • GREATER INVERCARGILL. Invercargill, January 13.- ■ At the first. business, meeting to-night of, the. Greater Invercargill Council,' it '■■■ .was; decided not to hay® the ward system,' .but' to . have one undividodintmicipality. It was, also-decided to retain the: staff of ' the central borough,; and' add other mem-v bcrs.from the suburban staffs,-if neces- I■' sary; "V - " '/r- ; - FIRE LOSSES. , ■ i ■ Fflilding, January IS." In 1909 ten places were totally or: par.- ■■■■•■ tially destroyed ■: by fire i- in- Peilding - and■ V suburbs. The ■ approximate value of thfl - property destroyed. was £11,713,; and the > value of the insurances £7980. A. .. •. i • FIRE IN A COAL-MINE. • .Auckland, January 13. An outbreak ,of fire' occurred in-thai old. Kiripaka.coal-mine}yesterday;after- ;-. noon,' ;but wag suppressed by:tie miners' ■■■■$? after about three hours' work. .It .ia. understood that; the -tensive.There are no particulars-as :.to& tho cause