NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1716, 5 April 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Teleeraph.—Presß. Association,)

OVERCROWDING AT THEATRES. Auckland, April 1,. Proposals for tho amendment of - the city by-laws regarding tho conduct of places of amusement wcro brought beforo tho City Council last evening*. A deputation o£ theatre proprietors and manager! was in attendance. With regard to tho proposed numbering of cacli seat in tho theatres, Mr. It. , Stewart,, manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., said this scheme ' had been tried in Christcliurch and had failed. In Ihe dress circle and stalls parties of people, as a result of tho numbering, had been separated, whild in tho gallery first-comers had not secured the best ~ scats, as they had'been compelled to tako feats bearing tho number corresponding with that 011 their, tickets. Tho scheme now- adopted in Christchureh provided that officials should bo stationed insido . tho theatre with a number of coupons cor- , responding with the' number of seats in the house. When these coupons were exhausted no one else was admitted. Thus overcrowding was prevented. Tho Jlayor explained that tlie council had no desire to place any undue burden upon theatrical companies, but the interests of tho public must be guarded. After considerable discussion, the council affirmed tho proposed regulations, but referred them to tho By-laws: Committee for consideration. MAYORAL EXPENSES. Auckland, April 4. . • The Government is to bo approached by tho City Council with a view to having the payment of travelling expenses of , Mayors made legal. Recently tho town " clerk notified the council that the.regular ' tions provided for payment of expenses.. , to councillors, but made 110 provision for sveh payment to tho Mayor. Members • of the council pointed out that tlie ; Mayor's, expenses if ho attended thorough- , ly to liis duties were large, and that if the Government made no refund the as- . pirants for occupation of the Mayoral ,chair .would soon bo few. TERRITORIAL CAMP. Auckland, April 4. Fully 1000 men left Auckland this • : morning to attend tho territorial train: ■ ing camp at Cambridge. Tho units in " camp, which will muster altogether about 3000 men, will include the 3rd (Auckland) m '. Regiment, Gtli (Haurald) Regiment, 15th -• (North Auckland) Regiment, lGth (Wai- ' kato) Regiment, Infantry Signal Corps, .■ No. 3 Field Company Engineers,.and tko. ; : No. 1 Field Ambulance. fires, Auckland, April 4, A firo broko out shortly before midnight ill! the wooden block opposito tho i'new l'ost Office. , Tho outbreak started " in the premises of Mr. Robert Rew, grocer, and the promptitude of tho brigade ' prevented a serious conflagration; Tho . : ilaines were confined practically to tho upper story of Mr. llew's premises and . tho damage from firo and water should not be very heavy. .. Blenheim, April 4. Early this morning an outbreak of . fire was discovered in tho bar of the • Federal Hotel, Picton. Tho bar was completely gutted. Tho flames spread to tho ■ roof, but the steel ceiling of tho lower floor saved the upstairs portion- being .- burnt. The flames were subdued by tho brigade. The damage is estimated at . .£350.' Tho building was owned by Messrs. Adams Bros., of Blenheim; /The insurances are unavailable. *• LIFEBELTS. Dunedln, April 4. 1 . At the Police Court this morning, during tlie hearing of tho chaTgcs against : ' Jolm Knarston and Samuel ICnarston for ' having carried moro passengers gri their * launches than their licenses permitted, it ■ was stated on behalf of the Marine Department that on craft such as launches that ply on the Taieri River it was necessary for each boat to carry lifebelts for one-third of tho number of passengers. ■ Mr. Widdowsoiv SiMv queried., as t0,;,'1 what tho two-thirds' who cottld"hot get lifebelts would do;if a serious'accident occurred. None of the Customs and Mh-! l'inc Department officials in Court prof- ; • fcred a reply; . .... MUTTON-BIRD ING-AND EDUCATION. ■ Invercargill,-April 4. At the Education Board meeting to-day, Inspector Hendry drew attention to the practice of mutton-birders taking their children with them to tho mutton-birding • islands, tlfus withdrawing them from school during two months of the year. . The result was that tho attendances at fconio of iho schools near tho. coast were - seriously reduced, and the grading of Hie 'schools had to be reduced. Inspector 1 Hendry suggested that the children should - i > bo left with friends, and board paid at > the rato of ?s. Od. per child. Tho board > decided to 'communicate with tho Gov- •: eminent, and ascertain if assistance would bo given. ( TEACHERS & MILITARY TRAINING. Jnvercargill, April 4. Tho Education "Board has declined to ' ■. allow three tcachers leave to attend tho . annual military training camp, and passed a resolution requesting tho Government that tho compulsory attendance of teachers at , military parades during school hours should not bo forced without consulting tho _ Edncatioii Board in the first instance, in order to prevent ■■ the closingand disorganisation of\schools. . • POWER RESTORED. Dunedini April 4. Repairs at the Waipori hydro-electrical works wore completed this evening, and power will be restored to tho factories in the city to-morrow. .••••••"