LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A petition lias Been presented to tho House of Representatives by Mr. W. H. D. 8011, on behalf of Florence M'Artlrar, widow of the late Dr. A. M 'Arthur, S.M.j praying for a compassionate allowance. The petition states* that, tho late Dr. M'Arthur was appointed a Magistrate in 1900, since when lie gavo his best scrvicss in tho administration <if his duties, A trip to England in 1930; to obtain medical advice, involved him in heavy expenditure, and owing to Mrs, M'Arthur's continual bail health, ho was unable to make sufficient provision for her future maintenance. She is now of such an age that she is unable to sfork to supplement her means.

Tho Minister for Marine (tho Hon. P. M. B. Fishor) informed a reporter last night that the report of the Westport Harbour Commission has been received, and will be considered by, Cabinet at aft early date.

Tho fish which are being .imported from Japan by the Marine Department forthe aquarium at ths Auckland Exhibition have arrived to Sydnoy» and are Treing shipped to Auckland 'by the Maheno to-day. Tho Minister of Marine (the Hon. F, M. 13. Fisher), stated last night that every preparation would he made for tho reception of the fish in Auckland.

Tho General Assembly of tho Presbyterian Church was t<o Jiavo commenced it« sitting at Ohrisfcrftufch last night, but on account of the present industrial trouble, it was thought hero that the meeting would be adjourned until November 18. It : s also possible tliat a further adjournment will bo made till February next.

Yesterday Detective Andrews arrested Alfred Edward Tomlinson on throe charges of his having embezzled money amounting to £50 3s. Gd. ( belonging to his employers, Messrs. Collin and Co. .

'I'lie Trinity Methodist Sunday School, Wellington South, has now completed its fourth year. The annual report just issued states that the inlmber on the roll, exejusivo of .tho Cradle lloli department, is 325, a decrease of three fnr the year, and that the average attendance has been 175, a lass of seven. Tl'o highest attendance on any one Suntiny was 2nd, and tho lowest 100. The humber of scholars admitted into the school totalled 107, and the number of those tt'ho left amount to 110. Tho number who joined the cradle roll comprise 24, while eight have joined tho school, fourteen havo left the district, tiwl eight have been lost trace of. The school library is .stated to be in a flotirishmg condition, there being a membership of 63, and nn average distribution ot £9 books ivev Suttdnj-i

Endowment lands formed the subject of a return laid beforo tlio House of Representatives yesterday, oil tire motion of Sir Walter Buchanan. The return showed that the total area of iitttional omiowment lands under lease on September 1, 1913, was 6,404,310 acres. The maximum area he'd by any one leaseholder was 122,280 acres, and tho minimum 14. perches. The total area unlcased on the date mentioned was 2,123,343 acres. _ In the Wellington Provincial District tho area leased is <8,837 acres, and tho area unloosed •H ,035 acres.

The Workers' 'Compensation Act, as it lias emerged from the Local Bills Committee, shows that there has been further limitation of the power to t-siko proceedings in the Magistrate's Court. lltjobo actionis cart only be taken by mutual cousent of tho parties, and in respect of an injury by aecideni, which fc«s not caused death. A new clause deals with agreements between employers and workers as to compensation. It provides that such arrangements mav be made so long as the emjiolyof is sot exempted from any liability under the law, and 66 long as tlio worker has tad competent and independent legal advice before making Use agreement.

_ Tho repudiating of liability in connection with insurance claims on mere technicalities was the subject of a conversational passage between Judge and. counsel during the hearing of a compensation case in tho District Court in Sydney the other day. Judge Rogers said that certain clauses in a policy might bo necessary to guard against fraud, but it would seem outrageous that a claim which was good in otlior respects should be contested on such grounds, and if any company took advantage of tho circumstances, the publicity of the facts would hardly bo likely to lead to on increase in its business. "Insurance companies are like Ishmael," said ■counsel, "their hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against them." His Honour _ asked whether counsel thought an insurance company would f.jiht a claim that happened to be filed a little later than the period specified after the policy-holder's death. ''i don't think' they would do it oil my policy," replied counsel. "Oh, that would not bottler you much," said His Honour. "Still, I could not rest easy if I thought my executors were having to sue for the money," declared the lawyer.

A notice in our last- issue intimated that the funeral of the late P, M. Mafisfield', eldest- son of Mr. '81,B 1 , TT. Mansfield, of Khaudallalij would leave tho Tliornd'on railway station oil Wednesday Morning, on the arrival of th& 8.4-3 a.m. train. This, however, is ao-t correct, as it has been arranged that tho funeral will take place from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wellington Terrace, at D a.m. This will allow n-ntftle time for any friends arriving by the 8.45 a.m. train to attend.