Dunedin News.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 66, 21 March 1901, Page 2

Dunedin News.

TRAMWAYS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, last night. The City Council, to-night adopted the report of the Tramways Committee, asking the General Manager, with a view to favourably considering the matter of increasing the wages of the Tramway employees, to report on the hours and wages of all employees in the service. A motion to rescind the appointment of Mr Evinson as General Manager of Tramway at £6OO was lost by seven to five.

STRIKE OF RABBITERS. Rabbit exporters, in view of the losses made last year, are only offering 4d per pair to rabbiters. At a meeting at Palmerston, it was resolved to strike for 6d per pair. SCHOOL CHILDREN. The question of bringing country school children to Dunedin during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York came before tho Education Board to-day by a letter from Air J. F. Al. Fraser. The members were unanimous that if practicable the suggestion should be adopted, and the matter was remitted to the committee to confer with the country and city committees. TEACHERS’ RESIDENCES. In considering the applications affecting teachers’ residences, the Chairman of the Education Board expressed the opinion that he would sell every teacher’s residence possessed by the Board, and allow the teachers to. build houses to suit. It

was impossible to give satisfaction at present. It was resolved to recommend tho Alinister to permit the Board to use a portion of the building fund to pay rent for a teacher’s residence when in the opinion of the Board such a course is desirable. THE KAITANGATA AIINE.

The Coal Mines Commission has been engaged for several clays taking evidence at Kaitangata as to the state of the Kaitangata mine. The secretary of the Aimers’ Association put forward evidence tending to show that a large quantity of coal was lost through fire, that the means of escape were inadequate in the case of fire, and also as to the prevalence of firedamp. After hearing the evidence and repeatedly inspecting the mine with Alessrs Proud, Lomas, and E. R. Green, the Alines Inspector, the last witness, said he could not think that, gas existed to ths extent stated. There were risks of explosion if precautions were not taken, but no especial risk. He did not apprehend any danger from fire behind the brick wall if attended to, nor from any other fire in the mine. The managemeut have done their duty to the mine, and he would add that the officials all do exceedingly good work.