NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1140, 30 May 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Dj Tclcgraph.-Prcss AssociationJ .—$ . THE OTAGO IRRIGATION IDEA. MINISTER'S TOUR OF INSPECTION'.' Duncdm, May 2". The Hon. R. M'Kcnzie has been visiting tho goldiieids districts of Central Otagoi On Wednesday ho was at Roxburgh, cm Thursday at Opliir, and last evening ha reached Nasoby. During yesterday he made a pcrsoiril inspection of I lie area in Jda Valley, covered by the projected irrigation scheme, for which comprehensive, surveys are now being carried mil. At Nasoby the Minister was welcomed bv llio Mayor, afler which a deputation from tho local Miners' Association waited on him, and a.-ked for Government assist, anee to construct an additional reservoir on tho Ida' Burn, which would enable mining operations to bo carried out to greater advantage. Tho Minister promised to liavp the project reported upon by a Government officer. Mr, M'KeuzU is now at Balclutha. SHODDY BOOTS, Christchurch, May 29. J At a conference of representatives or. tlio Boot Operatives' Union and a mini-' ber of boot retailers and repairers, held' ' to-night, strong complaint was made relativo to the importation of shoddy boots into tho Dominion, and the following motion was carried unanimously:—That it bo a recommendation from this conference to tho Boot Operatives' Union that it take immediate, steps to convene, a confereneo of tho bcot trade generally with a view to having steps taken to prcvenlimportations (which nave increased dur< ing recent years; and are still increasing) of boots manufactured outside Hie, Dominion, and including a quantity oi shoddy. NEW BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. Timaru, May 29. The High School Board to-day adopted a scheme for building a. new boys' school and adding an agriculture course, the two things being mutually dependent. The board will also ask the Education Board to adopt agriculture as an optional subject in lieu of n language in. the senior scholarships examinations. The' building is to bo erected out of tlia roveuuo, and tho Government will ht asked for a grant. KING'S BIRTHDAY. • Palmerston North, May 29. A big meeting of business men decMed? to-night not to recognise, tho Holiday Association's decision to observe tho King's Birthday on Saturday, but to close their premises on Monday. Invercargill, May 20. There has been considerable controvcrsj locally in regard to tho observance of the King's Birthday, but at a meeting of tho Retailers' Society to-night it was decided to observo Saturday, so that on that day, all classes of tho Invercargill community will celebrate. THE CORONATION. Duncdln, May 29. At a meeting of citizens held hcr«/ this afternoon to consider tho 'question of suitably celebrating Coronation Day, committees w-ero set up to arrange for a procession in the afternoon, and a mass meeting ai'd illuminations in tho ovening. It is probable church services will be held in tho morning. TE ARAI HOMESTEAD BURNED. Gisborne, May 29. Tho old Te Arai homestead, consisting) of twelve rooms, owned and occupied by' Mrs. Winifred Kuapmann, was totally: destroyed by firo yesterday morning, Ouoj of the workmen who was sleeping in the; liouso was just got out in time by Mrs, Kuapmann. Tho house was insured in.j the State office for .£3OO, and the furniturftl for ,£125. DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF HUSBAND^ Invercargill, May 29. Tho case of Lilias Mitchell against thff Invercargill Taxi-cab Company, a claim; for .£6OO for compensation for loss of al, husband, who was:killed by a taxi-cab;' lias beeii settled, tho company paying .£2OO with costs (fifteen guineas). SHEEPDOG TRIALS. Christchurch, May 27. At the Christcliurcli sheepdog trials 0* Saturday, the huntaway event was won; by Mr. H. G. Waters's Bob. Last year's, winner, Mr. R. W. Trotter's Quid was second, Mr. F. Richardson's Roy third, Mr. J. K. Forrester's Ben fourth, ano Mr. J. W. Clark's Gael fifth.. A TOPIC FOR TEACHERS. Timaru, May 27. Tho Teachers' District Institute ndoptedl as a remit to the annual conference a| recommendation that the annual meeting! of the New Zealand Institute be held al—' ternately at Wellington and Christchurch, on tho ground (hat .expense toi delegates, if meeting in cities at the endsj of the country, was too heavy. The differences in total fares worked out:—< Auckland, .£193, Wellington .£ll6, Dun/ cdiu .£173, Christchurch .£l2B. MANSLAUGHTER-FOUR YEARS. Auckland, May 27. , In the Supreme Court to-day- William? Osborne, a seaman, was charged withmanslaughter, the charge arising out o£ the assault committed on the woman Mary, Gilchrist, with whom he bad been living, and in respect of which ho had served" three months' imprisonment. The woman having died subsequently to tho hearing of tho case in the Lower Court, accused sought to show that the woman died from major injuries sustained while ho was in. prison. , ~ , , ... The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and accused was sentenced to four years"! hard labour. MOKAU BLOCK-ANOTHER SALE. New Plymouth, May 27. Another important sale of Mokau pro* psrty has been effected, Messrs. Johnston! andLoiiglinan, of Palmerston North, having purchased the mineral rights of the! Mangapapa Block of 1-1,000 acres, on tha north side of the river, tho siirface rights of which were recently acquired by Mr, Chambers, of Hawkc's Bay. The purchasers of tho Mokau-Mohaka-tino Block, known as "Mokau Jones,'* have commenced preparations for settle, meat, and hope to see. fifty families on thai land in a year. They retain tho mineral rights. DAMAGE BY FIRE. Eketahuna, May 27. „ A five-roomed house at I'arkville, own* ed by Mr. Hanson and occupied by Mr. Farmer, together with (he contents, was completely destroyed by fire last night. The insurances arc:—On the house, .£2lO in the National office; on the furniture and piano, ,£l5O in the State office. The . adjoining house was saved after slrenu< ous clTovts. A SALUTARY SENTENCE. Auckland, May 28. At tho Supreme Court yesterday after* noon Daniel Cuthbcrt O'Brien, charged with criminal assault on a girl, was found guilty by the jury, anil sentenced to tea years' hard labour.