NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1107, 21 April 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By 'Telegraph.—Press Association.) « COAL ON SHIPBOARD. THE MEANING OF "TRIMMING". Auckland, April 19. Tho Arbitration Court gave mi interpretation of (lie Waterside Workers' Award in regard (o the difference between shovelling nnd trimming in hand' ling coal, It held that any place on a vessel where coal was stored, although only temporarily, for the steamer's use, is coal bunker, and all work done in tho ordinary coal bunker is properly treated as trimming. Jn connection with tlw work done on tho occasion of the al> lcged breach by tho Union Steam Ship Company, tho Court: held that; the shovelling of coal frepn the 'tween deck into (lie lower hold was not trimming, but work done in the lower hold arranging coal was trimming within (ho meaning of tho award. Tho company had comnutted a breach of the award in not paying three men the higher rate wages, and it was ordered to pay costs, 110 penalty being imposed, as tho caso was brought for interpretation. RURAL COURSE FOR OTAGO. .. ' , Duncdin, April 20. J. no Education Board to-day considered a motion by Mr. ]j. T. Fleming as Vol- 1 lows:—'that, the board take into con-* smeralion tho t appointment of an instructor in agriculture, and that the chief '> e asW to report on the- practicability of tho proposition, and the. probable outcome." Mr. Fleming said that the number of pupils receiving instruction in agriculture last vcar had been 1101, and, even by following tho Do. pari ment al conditions thev could earn in capitation fees, lie would like to sec a centre of agricultural teaching in every large country town. During th« last, ten years 110 less than £265,201 had been spent on technical education, and country children had had very little of the benefits accruing from it. Tlwy must equip lads who wanted to go in for agriculture as thoroughly as they equipped others for the Civil Service. Mr. Israel seconded the motion, which was carried. The chief inspector will report on tlitf practicability of the scheme:

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Timaru, April 20. Arrangements have been completed fol' ministers to give Bible lessons tor half an hour once a week in each of the three town schools, from 9to 9.30 a.m. The l explanations by the visiting teachers nr-i those which arc necessary to make thq passage clear to the children, and no sectarian teaching of any kind is to bo given. ( I'or tho present year the lessone are from the Gospel of St. Mark. Parents are to notify the headmaster if tliey object to their children receiving Biblo instruction, and secular lessons are to bo provided instead. The Rev. Mr. Chappl® (Unitarian) is issuing a reprint of hia .Sunday address against Bible lessons ia the schools. AN ESCAPED PRISONER. Invercarpill, April 20. The search for the prisoner Christie, who jumped from a train near Woodlands on tho 12tli inst., has so far beeir.abfolutely resultless. The police throughout the district, and, indeed, throughout tha Dominion are on tho lookout. TIMARU SOUTH SCHOOL. Timaru, April 20. The Timaru South School has opened # now infant room to accommodate 121 children last year. There are now 170, and. a- canvas shed has been erected ta accomodate tho excess. FLOODS IN THE FAR NORTH. Auckland, April 20. Stormy weather prevails at JlaungaUt* roto.with a deluge of rain, from which' floods are resulting. A large stack of timber has been washed away. Rivers are .flooded, and bridges have been destroyed. Tho roads are now dangerous for traffic. VALUABLE DOG POISONED. Hastings, April 20. Mr. J. Parker's renowned prize-winninj rough-coated collie Mosgiel Wallace lias been poisoned, and is not likely to w covcr. LIVELY COUNCIL MEETING. Gisborne, April 3!). Tho final meeting of the Gisborne lioi* ough Council last night was character* ised by lively scenes, in which sharp, criticism and personalities were free.y : indulged in. The meeting terminated 0.30 a.m. GISBORNE NEWS. Gisborno,' April 20. The Co-operative Butchery Company's shop was broken into and .£7 Hs. stolen. The sale of Harbour Board leases resulted in increasing tho revenue from .£283 to .£2371, and there are stil) 18,000 acres to re-lease. . A NEW BOROUGH. Christchurch, April 20, A poll was taken to-day on the quest lion of the formation of a portion oij Waitnakariri County Council into a bor»ough to bo called the borough of Feudalton, and resulted in the proposal bo» ing agreed to by 149 to 139.

UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS. • Dunedin,. April 20. The Otago Education Board to-dny r<* solved:—'"That all uncertificated and par* tially-ccrtificated teachers ill tho board'? employ be informed that they are 01115 temporarily engaged, and that unless they make reasonable efforts to qualify for certificates at tho next annual examination, tho board in March, 1012, will jtakp steps to fill. their positions with certificated teachers." THE PRESS EXCLUDE!). . April 19. The confcrcnco of tho New Zealand Labour l'arty was opened this evening, Mr. K. Slater was elected chairman, and Mr. 11. Hunter secretary. It was decided to exclude the newspaper reporters. ALLEGED SUGAR TRUST. Grcymouth, April 19. At a meeting of the Chamber of Com« merce to-night, considerable discussion took place upon an alleged sugar trust said to bo existing in the Dominion. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That this chamber condemns the tactics of the Sugar Company in arranging with a few commercial houses in. New 'Zealand to the detriment of the public." It was alleged that the Sug;.p Company refuse to allow anv bonus on direct purchased, except to the value of £500 and over, and that it practically means that the public contribute two and a half per cent, upon the gross consumption of sugar in tho Dominion to four or five commercial houses. ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION. Dunedin, April 19. A married 111011 named Arthur (.ant, who was in charge of tho labcur depart- , mont of tho Union Steam Ship Company, gave himself up to the police '10-day in connection with the theft of —JIG, Hia nropartv of tho company. It is uiuktstood that he was given iM to pay oil the crew of the Koromiko, and appropriatc<l .CllO to pay his own debts. PARADISE DUCKS. Dunedin, April 39, There is a strong feeling amongst local sportsmen over the Government authorities taking 1:0 notice oi the ■ (Jingo Acclimatisation Society's recommendation in respect to the shooting of paradiss diickc. Strong protests have been fur. warded to tho Acting-Prime Minister nnri to the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, but so far paradise ducks are protected. It is said that there arc large Hocks of theni in Central Otago. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. Gisbornc, April 19. To-clav .Tames Kerr Kaston was veiuar.A ort until Friday 011 a charge af mar. slaughter, in connection with- the death of James Dlauce. Hail was allowed.