NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 23 April 1913, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Prois Association.)

A SHORTAGE OF SCHOLARS. Tiinaru, April 22. In tlioir annual report lo tlio South Canterbury Education Board tlie district inspectors slnto tlmt the proportion of children In tlio preparatory clusa last year was decreasing, while the InspectorGeneral had directed attention to un increase in the Dominion as a whole. They warned teachers to keep a look-out for withdrawals of children before reafchinc the requisite a<;e or standard, as the roll number was diminishing too rapidly from Standard IV to Standard VI.

CONSTABLE BRUTALLY ASSAULTED

, Greymo'.ith, April 22. Two brothers, Robert and James Steele, wero fined .£3 each on the evidence of Constnblo Catwell at the Magistrate's Court on Monday for using obscene language at Otira. A .sequel occurred the same afternoon on the constable going to the Greymouth station. The brothers accosted him, knocking him down and brutally assaulting him. At the Court to-day both were sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. Another brother, Hugh Steele, wn3 fined J!5 for inciting the brothers to resist, and himself obstructing the polico during the same occurrence.

WEST OF ENGLAND TRADE. Pahiatua, April 22. Mr. W. D. Lysnar today addressed a representative' meeting of local farmers. He challenged Mr. roster to substantiate his statement regarding the cold storage capacity at Bristol, and certain data which Mr. Foster had published in tho last annual report of his association. Mr. Lysnar said that Mr. Foster had been wrongly advised as to his data. The speaker quoted .from a report of Mr. Foster's speech in Mastorton in April, 1911, when Mr. Foster acknowledged that facilities at tlie dock at London were bad, and said that his association was'abiut to appoint a representative who would assist ap roducces 1 association which had not since been done % Mr. Lysnar criticised Mr. Foster's ' attitude at somo length. AUCKLAND WATER LOAN. Auckland, April 22. Tlia loan of .£150,000 for tho extension of tho A'iliotapu-AVaitakcre water supply system and for relaying existing pipes, (authorised last year) was raisod last' week on the London market by the City Council. The whole amount is already underwritten in London, tho total cost being a little under 42 per cent. , THIN MILK & FINES, Auckland, April 22. For selling milk deficient in fatty solids, Ernest ;Hussey was fined .£2O, having been previously convicted for a similar offence. William Connolly, on a like charge, was lined £5 and costs. RECORD DEAL IN LAMBS. Timaru, April 22. At the Tcmuka stock sul« to-day ;t record deal was effected in the sale in one line of 1170 fat lambs from Mr. .1. Guild's Trevenua farm. The lambs were bought by Messrs. Sims, Cooper, and Co. for export at 18s. Bd. HASTINGS CIVIC ELECTIONS. Hastings, April 22. For the Mayoralty of Hastings, Mr. James Garnett is unopposed. This will bo his third term of office. There are nineteen candidates for nine seats on the council and four candidates for the Hastings seat on the Napier Harbour Board. COMPENSATION CASES. Auckland, April 22. In the Arbitration Court, the cafe William Boosey versus Edward Brady, .1 claim for injuries to tho heart alleged to have been received by plaintiff in lifting a heavy x»t while in defendant's employ as cook/, was decided, Tho Court held that plaintiff was suffering from chronic pericarditis, and that the injuries had not been oanscd by lifting a pot. Judgment was for. defendant..

In tlvc action, William Wilson against the Hikurangi Coal Company, a claim for loss of the sight of an oyo alleged to liave Its en caused through' being struck in the eye by a piece of coal which Hew off a pick, plaintiff was awarded «£l3l Is. lid., with costs .£l2 12s.

Douglas Campbell Murton was awarded ,£139 Is. !)tf., with costs £212 125., agaiinst the Auckland Harbour Board for the loss of a forefinger duo to injuries to a. thumb received while employed in hummer and drill work by the board. TO SAFEGUARD GORE. Gore, April 22. A deputation representing ratepayers, owners, and tenants of tho Borpugh of Gors waited on the Borough Council to nrgo the necessity of flood protection works along the river banks to prevent a recurrence of the recent disaster. A Council Committee carried the following resolution:—"That the mattor -of taking the necessary steps to erect ilood protection works be referred to the Works Committee, with power to employ a competent authority, it being deemed necessary that a comprehensive report on tile best method and.probablo cost of dealing with the whole matter should be drawn up." The Mayor stated that a subsidy would probably be received from the Government. DRINKING BOUT & AFTER Palmcrston N., April 22. • A young man named John Sheehnn, a recent arrival in Palmcrston, was found at a boardinghouse with one of his wrists severely cut. He was charged this morning with attempted suicide, and remanded. No reason can bo assigned for the act, except tlmt he had been on a drinking bout. . . FERRO-CONCRETE IN THE ISLANDS. Dunedin, April 21. Messrs. Salmond and Vanes have a big job at Suva, premises being ordered, in forro-concrotc, for one of the Dominion banks. Sketches are also to be prepared for a fairly largo warehouse in the same town. U.S.S. CO.'S SUVA HOTEL. Dunedin, April 21. The roofing of tho Union Company's palatial, hotel at Suva will bo finished this month. Most of tho artisans havo been engaged in New Zealand, but thero are a dozen plasterers from Melbourne. The architects (Messrs. Salmond and Vanes) i have word that tho recent hurricane which the cable said had done damage to tho value of .£SOO left the' main building uninjured, but the cement shed was blown into the harbour. A lot of cement was ruined by tho rain. The workshop lost its roof and the hoist snapped off like a carrot half-way up. At latest advice, .however, tho work was In full swing again. i." DWELLING DESTROYED. Waihi, April 21. A six-roomed dwelling owned and occupied by C. Redwood, at Karangahake, was burned to the ground early yesterday morning. The building was insured lii the Guardian Office for .£l6O. FIRE AT ARCHILL. Auckland, April 21. A fire at Archill this morning partly destroyed a house owned and occupied ljy T. Hill. Tho building was insured for .I'3oo in the London and Lancashire,ollicc, and the furniture for .tIOO in the National office. I ROPEWORKS BURNT. Auckland, April 21. Tho Albans Eopeworks at. Mangero -was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday night. The building and plant were valued at i£7so, and were insured-for ,£IOO. RESULT OF A LOG FIRE. New Plymouth, April 21. A new house near Okato was destroyed by fire on Friday night. It was owned and occupied by a fanner named Cowling, who had been burning logs in the vicinity. The houso was insured for .£3OO in the Phoenix ollicc, and the furniture for ,£IOO in the South British. FACTORY GUTTED. Napier, April-21. About 10 o'clock to-night an oilskin factory, owned by J. J. Blackburn, wastally destroyed by fire. Seven machines, in addition to about £00 or 900 coat?, were destroyed, the damage being estimated at over ,£SOO. Tho building, stock, and machines were insured in the State Ollice. I Tho fire was caused by a cat upsetting j

a bottle-of methylated spirits on to a lighted candle. COUNTERFEIT COIN CHARGE, Invercargill, April 21. A married woman, Mrs. Dixon, wife of a Nightcaps miner, was to-day committed for trial on a charge of uttering a counterfeit half-sovereign. Evidence was given alleging Dint accused had tendered a gilded sixpence as a half-sovereign in two shops at Nightcaps at Christmas and New Year. Accused reserved her defence. WAIHI DRIVERS' WAGES. Waihij April 21. A working agreement for three years has been arrived at between the South Auckland Enginedrivers' Industrial Union of Workers and the Wnihi mining companies. A slight all-round increase in wages has been granted. INVERCARGILL RECLAMATION, CLAIM. Invercargill, April 21. The Otatara Land Company has served a notice of action on the Town Council for i£Bsoo, in connection with land reclamation work now being conducted by the council on the estuary.