NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By TeleirraDh.-PrcSfl Association

EDUCATION LEASES. NEW LEGISLATION ASKED. Dunedin, April 19. At a meeting of the School Commissioners of. Otago to-day discussion took place on the question of limiting the area that might be held by one tenantThe, discussion arose out of a report on two runs aggregating about 18,000 acree, the leases of both being held by Mr. .- Pinckney, of Glenavy Station. It was stated that Mr. Pinckney also held sev- " oral Government leases in the neighbour' hood of another run from the cotnmis> sioners, and some freehold land as well.': After discussion it was decided: "That ■ the Government be asked to provid* legislation early next session enabling the commissioners to make the same provision for the limitation of run leases to ■ one man one as obtains in respect., to lands controlled by the Waste Land . Boards. AFFAIRS AT NAPIER. A HARBOUR LOAN INQUIRY. Napier, April. 19. Alter the consideration of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year, the chairman of the Napier Harbour Board to-day withdrew the moi tion of which he had given notice regarding the erection of additional wharfage accommodation at the breakwater harbour. A number of ratepayers favourable to the loan have lodged a petition praying for an inquiry into the recent doII on the proposed loan for the' completion of the breakwater harbour, and the magistrate has fixed-a date fo! an inquiry into alleged irregularities. The date fixed is May 2. ALLEGED SLANDER ' Eketahtma, .April 13, An alleged slander case, Walsh «. Tumor, was withdrawn at the last sit., ting of the Supreme Court at Palmerston North, and ii was agreed befcreea .< the parties that the cose should be est; tied by arbitration. - The arbitrairas, ; Messrs. Westlafce and Brechin (for Walsh) and Messrs. Cheimella and Pauling (for Tumor), met at Eketahuna yesterday, and agreed that Mr. G. OSim-,, merville, manager in Slasterton far Levin and Co., should be appomted referee. The whole of the evidence in the cas9 .. will be taken at Pahiatua on April 28. 'uELECTRtCAi. UNDERTAKINGS. Auckland, April 19. A poll will be taken to-morrow on tha Auckland City Council's proposal to raisa a loan of .£225,000 for the extension of the city electrical unuertakings. It is not the intention of the council to spend the whole oi the money immediately. The total expenditure is expected to b* spread over, a period of about five year*.. VESSEL OVERWJe. Auckland, April M.Soma uneasiness is felt here in regarilto the safety of the schooner Houto, Captain Lanewill; which is 43 days out front. Sydmey for this port. The veesel 'a. owned by the Mi&hcleon Company. HOMESTEAD BURNED DOWN. Cbnstehorch,'April 18. 'The homestead on Mr. C H.,-EnsorV; White Rock Station was destroyed by. ' fire yesterday morning. According •t» particulars so far available Mr. and M"i. Elisor went for a motor run, and, on re. turning, found the house' in:, flames, ~ Everything was lost, including v Mr«. Ensort valuable jewellery.'

CHRISTCHURCH TRAM SURPLUS. N Christehurch, April 19. The Tramway Board finished the year with a surplus of .810,145, after paying all charges. This is the best result smoa the Exhibition, year. CORPORATION AND ITS STAFS. Cbrtstchurch,, April .13. The City Council •is .. having iroubk with its workmen over payment for holidays. The men wanted to send a depa.' tatioa to the council from 'their union, but the council declined to reoaive outsiders. There is now prospect of a warm controversy on the subject of recognition of the General Labourers' Union, ia yiiaah all the connoTs labourers belong. GRAIN BURNTi Ashburton, April 19.. Tiro stacks of oat sheaves, containing approximately a thousand bushels of grain, the property of Mr. John Coch- ■ rane, were totally destroyed by fire sk Elgin yesterday. It is supposed the fira was caused by a spark from an engine' driving a machine which was about is' commence threshing the grain. BAND CONTEST FINANCE. Wanganui, April IS. The recent North Island Band Con« test held here resulted in a profit of' ~£205. The gross receipts totalled FALL FROM A SCAFFOLD. Auckland, April 19. . This afternoon a man named; Joba Kelly, 35 years of age, residing in Ponsonby, who was working on a scaffold on the third story of the. Thistle Hotel, missed his footing and fell.. He was ./ picked up unconscious, and it was then, found that he was suffering from severe' concussion of the brain. His conditioa is serious. '