NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Cl3y Tclcerapb.—Press AsaoclationJ "RAT PROOFING" A CAFE. THE RENT BILL WHILE CLOSED. Auckland, August 5. Tho tenants of tho Savoy Cafe, | Queen Street, were defendants in a claim for' »C7O rent hoard by Mr. Kettle, S'.M. Tho case arose out of the action of the health authorities, who ordered the premises to bo closed oil tho ground of insanitation and to bo made rut-proof. Business was not resumed. Tho premises were occupied under a lease, and the plaintiffs claimed seven weeks' rent. Counsel for the defeuc® contended that whero tho Statute compelled a breach of contract tho parties were discharged from further performance. The magistrate held that defendants were liable, and gave judgment accordingly. -

SERIOUS WESTPORT FIRE, Wcstport, August g. A fire which occurred at 10 o'clock tonight destroyed a two-story building in the heart' of the town; owned by Mrs. M'Gill, and occupied by Mrs. Patterson, milliner, and, Mr. T. L. Freeman, jeweller. The fire had a big hold when discovered, and it looked as if it would sweep the block, but'by tho strenuous efforts of the brigade it was practically confined to this and a one-storied building, owned by Mr. T. 1\ William?, and occupied by Rosenberg, a building owned and occupied by Air. Bedell, nnd a building in tho course of erection, owned by Mr. G. W. ftlartin. The fire partly burned the goods in Mr. Rosenberg's drapery shop, and those of Mr. Bedell, tailor, were much damaged by water. THE COUNTRY SCHOOL ROLLS, Chrisichurch, August G. Referring to the statement's mado in Parliament that the aggregation of land had led to decreases in the school attendauco at tho country schools, Mr. C. H. Opio remarked that it had been said that Peudarves School had boeu' closed. That was quite correct, but tho school was only closed temporarily and had been reopened. It was truo that th» attendances in tho country schools had fallen in the past ten.years, but in tho town schools there had been an increase. Mr. Oiiio said that ho djd not class such schools as Belfast, Rangiora, and New Brighton as country schools. In 1901, he added, tho total attendance was 25,336 nnd, in 1010, 20,877. In tho town and' suburban schools tho attendance in 1901 was 14,803 and, in 1910, IS,(110. Tho country schools in 1901 had fallen from 10,473 to 9907 in 1910, or a decrease of 50G and, in tho central ward, the increaso in the len years hud been from 10,25(i to 12,349, or an addition of 20G3. In the central nnd town schools, the increase had been from 14,863 to 10,980, or 2017. y . ESCAPED IN NIGHT ATTIRE. Dunedin, August fi. A tobacconists shop and dwelling in Geqrgo Street, occupied by Mr. Alexander Robertson, was partly destroyed by fire at 1.45 this morning. The occupants of the dwelling, nine in number, mado a hurried exit, practically j'u night attire. The origin of tho (ire is unknown. Tho stock and fittings were insured for ,£125 in the Now Zealand Office, but the furniture (valued at £50) was uninsured. The building is owned by Mr. Fyfe, and it is not known if it isinsured. SAILING CLUB'S HOUSE BURNT. Napier, August 5. A two-storied dwelling at AVest Shore, owned by the Napier Sailing Club, and used as a club-house, was totally destroy-. cd by fire last night. There was an insurance of £ioo in the London and Lancashire. FIRE DAMAGE TO SHOPS. Kin-:** A.. I. r

Napier, August 5. Jill outbreak of fire occurred in the heart of the town at 11 o'clock last night, commencing in the tailoring workshop of D. Evans, over P. W. Collins's jeweller's shop. The flames obtained a good hold, but the brigade succeeded in routining them to one room, which was gutted. -Collins's stock, suffered considerably by water. The insurance on the building (owner, H. S. Triggs) was .£6OO in , tho Standard. Collins's stock was insured for .£l5O in tho United, and £200 in the Phoenix. Evans was insured for ,£SO in the Guardian. CLERK'S PECULATION. Oamaru, August 5. William Allen, a clerk employed by the ivustport Coal. Company, pleaded guilty to the theft of JG2B, the property' of his employers. . Ho was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence. FOODSTUFFS AND TARIFF. Timaru, August 5. Mr. Buxton, M.P., waited on tho South Canterbury farmers' Union to-day, an« asked an expression of opinion (o guide him in presenting a Bill to Parliament to raiso the New Zealand tariff oil agricultural produce to tho level of that of Australia. It was unfair that New Zealand should allow Australian grain and flour to enter at a cheaper rate than f "nde permitted ill any other way. Tho present tariff was a handicap to producers, awl indirectly' to the workers. A ■notion was passed approving the pre posed measure. It was also decided H ask Mr. Buxton and other local members to opposo Mr. Hogg's proposed abolition of duties on agricultural produce and a'illstuffs.

HEY-DAY OF COMPETITIONS. Greymouth, August 5. The elocutionary competitions concluded last night. Trinity Anglican Institute secured 3G0.1. points, St. Columbia Catholic 3552. Methodist. 2007. There was an immense audieno? last night, when Mr. Baeyertz, the judge, again urged Grey, mouth to send ;i team to Wellington. HE STOOD ALONE. Timaru, August 5. Mr. John Talbot, president of tho Sruth Canterbury Tanners' Union's executive, and a delegate lo tho Dominion Conference, reporting lo a well-aUmulcd meeting on tho work of tho conference, stated 'that lie had opposed the proposal to form a Farmers' Political party. As this proposal had been carried ho offered to resign the chairmanship if members favoured taking n political stand. It was unanimously resolved that Mr. Tallwt had taken up the right altitude towards tho proposal, though he stood nlcne at t.lio conference in opposing it, anil members would not hoar of his resignation. '