LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1064, 1 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Arbitration Commie-ion, set up to sotlie the depute between the J 'a tea Shipl)i»K Company and its >™icr.-i(lo -workers, sat yesterday. The arguments of both sides were hsiml and figures showing the amaimt of overtime worked submitted. Thfl chairman of tho commission (Mr. ,1. W. I'uynton) intimated (hat a decision would to given at eleven o'clock this mcniing. The numiages celebrated in Wellington last month were 78, as against (i 2 m February of last year. Other statistics r.ro as follow:— Deaths hi, as against 78 for February, 1910; and births 170, as against IK) last year. As a result of a church entertainment on Monday evening the Northland School was, it is stated, in such an untidy condition yesterday that the headmaster, Sir. D. 11. J'olsan, and his staff considered tho building unfit for school work and the classes were taken in the open air. The iir.st assistant refused to beirin v.ork under .such, conditions and reported herself to Ike Education board. The 'board were advised of the state- of affairs and an officer was sent to investigate. Tho floors of the rooms and the corridors were tcastained and disfigured, and fruit, fruitster.es, sweets, etc., were strewn in various places both inside ami outside tho building. The headmaster states that this is not. the first time that such a trouble has been experienced, and that on more than one occasion the chief inspector, .Mr. T. K. Fleming, has commented adversely on the state of tho school after such entertainments. Some time ago, when tho com.lor was let for a social, tho place had U> be fumigated next morning. The School Committee is vested with the right c lotting the building. The matter wr:s Jiscusscd in committee at yesterday'; :;K-eting of the Education Board, and a report was received from one of the becud'j officers. It was decided to forward th<: report of the officer to the School Committee asking fer an explanation.

The Hon. Dr. Findlay delivered an address yesterday to a huge andienco of ladies in the Congregational Hall on the provisions of the Public Health Notification Act.

livery day the Parliamentary gardens have their visitors and sometimes even children persuade their nurses to take them in to play about the lawns and dream on seats in the sun. Yesterday there was far greater animation, anil white tea. tents lor to-day's garden party to Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and the Hon. Dr. and Mrs. Findlay, were dotted about the place. Tho guests to-day will bo delighted at tho attractiveness of. the gardens and Hie excellent state in which they hove beeu kept, and with the cool shady promenades and llowcr-skirted walks.

"We can't hold cookezy classes at Mnsterton on Saturdays because of the railway service," remarked Inspector Fleming at .yesterday's meeting ot the Education Board. Mr. A, W. Hogg, M.P., fol. lowed up this statement bv a remark that 17 eligible high school pupils that he knew of were prevented from getting a proper education because they could not get the use of tho railways 'and, he .added, a slight alteration of tho trains would remedy the whole matter.

The Government is to be approached by the Education Board with a request that nn amendment ho made to the regulations to enable a third manager representing the board to l;e appointed in connection with the Technical School at Pctono. When nominations for the position wcii given in it was generally understood by members that Mr. J. AY. M'Ewan was not seeking re-election, this being.the reason that he was not proposed. Since the election, however, it has been found that Mr. M'Eivan would have accepted the position, hence the application to the Government. When the matter was broached at. yesterday's meeting of the Education Board fcvoral members expressed their appreciation of the services rendered, by Mr. M'Ewaii and expressed regret at <the misunderstanding that had occurred.

A suggestion was made by Mr. William Allan nt the meeting of tho Education Board yesterday that ib would bo an cscellcnt idea to talto advantage of the fprthcoming exhibition and give a 'demonstration of the ability of the board's cookery classes. Mr. A. 11. Vile added that an agricultural display might al=o be held. The chairman indicated that the matters would no doubt be considered. There have been no bankruptcies so far this year in Wellington, and only • one during thn past throe mouths. 'There have, however, been several assignments.

The annual collections in aid of tho Melancsian Mission will be made in all the Anglican Churches of tho Wellington diocese on Sunday next. St. John's Church, Tfentham, has received tho gift of a beautiful font, of Oamaru stone, tho work of Mr. Helyer, Wellington. The font is the gift of Mrs. Barton. St. Hilda's Church, Upper Hiitt, has also received several valuable gifts, which add greatly to tho appearance of the interior. Dr. and Mrs. F. Kemp presented a Glastonbury chair, made of dark oak. Mr. and Mrs. Tninan Tod have presented a prayer desk, the work of Mr. G. Hyde, Masterton.

The civil sitting of tho Supreme Court will bo resumed this morning, when the Chief Justice (Sir Robert 'Stont) will hear tho case Herbert Gladstone Hill v. ,T. B. MacEwan and Co., a claim for £bl Ss. lid. for salary and interest. Defendants counterclaim for ,£IOO damages for alleged breach of contract.

A quarterly meeting of the Wellington Licensing Cominitteo will be held at the Magistrate's Court at noon to-day, when eight applications for transfer 'will be dealt with. Some time ago Mr. Fraser, the wellknown gun-shot, issued a challenge to shoot anyone in New Zealand. His challenge was ta,ken up by Mr. Graham of Gore ("Starlight"), and the match took place at Christchurch yesterday. The were that Mr. Fraser was to use "C.A.C." (colonial manufactured) ammunition and Mr. Graham imported; a 33 yards' rise, and 100 birds each. The match resulted in a win for Mr. Graham, who got 85 birds out of the 100 to his opponent's 78. The match excited a good deal of interest in gun club circles. The National Provident Fund comes into business operation this morning. A largo number ot applications have been received by the superintendent, Mr. Hayes, for information and pamphlets. Inquiries came from all over the Dominion.

On the motion of Mr. J. W. Macdonald tho Solicitor to the Public Trust Olhcc] the Supreme Court lias granted to the Public Trustee probate of the wills of tho following persons:—Frederick Corns, late of Gladstone, retired bricklayer; Sydney Boineril, late . of Chmtcliureh, bank clerk. Orders to administer were also granted in the estates of the following deceased intestate persons:— 1 nomas Logan, late of Auckland, miner; \\m. Leicester Rogers, late of Auckland, cabinetmaker; James Alexander Fullerton, late of Invcrcargill, medical practitioner; John M'Aulitfe, Into of Tcmuka, contractor; James Wall, late of Gisbornc barman; and Chas. Henry Potter, late of Parakakaii, farmer.

Those who have notified their intention of being present :>t tha farewell banquet to be tendered to Sir .T. G; Ward and the Hon. Dr. Findlay. in the Concort Chamber of the Town Hall this ■evening, are reminded that the dinner will commence at 7.15 p.m. sharp. The committee announce that the sale of tickets has been discontinued. Only applications for scats received up to last evening could lx> dealt with, as the whole of the available seating accommodation has now been' tnken up. At the banquet the toast of "The Guests" will be proposed by Sir Robert Stout, and supported by Mr. A. L. Ilcrdnmn, M.P.

Duriiiß the past two days the North Island Railway Appeal Board, comprising Dr. A. M'Arthtir, K.JI. (chairman) and Messrs. C. V. Ryan ami J). M'Koiir.ie.

liiis bo?]i nooiipiod ]>carinß the case of Charles S. Trillo, an ex-Maiiavnlu I?ii|. way Company's employee, who \v;k taken in I'D 1 lio rjijvrrnmoiit service and iflerwards dismissed for alloijpd insubordinaMiiii. Mr. H. llavitlson appeared before tilt; hoard as Ihp repre.spiiinl.ive for (ho Kailv.-ay Department:, ami Mr. T. (!'arlylo aiipnarod on bnlialf of tlio annollant. At tlm mit«.«t. Mv. Davidson astod Hip board to rule that it bad no jurisdiction in Uio en.'e. on Ibo K ra»m\ that if was owniß to Trillo'ii own action thai lie was out of the serviei-. The objection was nolod, and. after lionrinj; pviilcnce, the board reserved derision, which was eventually framed yesterday, and forwarded to the Minister.