LATE NEW ZEALAND

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1375, 9 February 1905, Page 2

LATE NEW ZEALAND

SCHOOL STATISTICS. (Per Press Association. 1 ) Auckland, last night. The Auckland, school statistics for the quarter ended December 31, 1904, showed that the number of schools, including 72 half-time schools, was 427, an increase of 3. The number of certificated; teachers was 680, of which 329 were males and 351 females, and of pupil teachers 154, 39 being males and 115 females. The roll number was : Boys 15967, an -increase of 112; girls 14,240 an increase of 113. The average attendance was : Boys 1394, an increase of 327 ; girls 12,162, an increase of 444. The average attendance for 1904 was 25,721. At the Supremo Court Mr Tole (Crown Prosecutor) said that perjury was becoming so serious a crime that he sometimes felt that it was well nigh impossible to conduct cases at all. - His Honor said witnesses not only deceived by exaggeration, but obviously told deliberate concoctions. This is the seoond oase this week in which His Honor has had occasion to complain of perjury. Frank Hurley McGrath, a young man, was charged in the Police Court attempting to break open the lock of a poor.box at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Upon the request of the police the oharge was altered to one of attempting to steal from the poor box. MoGrath seated that he had been drinking a good deal, and could reoollect absolutely nothing about the affair. His Worship, “ I take that as a very poor excuse.” He added that people often tried to blame drink when it was really their evil mind. It was a terrible thing to commit an offence of that character, and, although McGrath was a first ofiender, he would be sentenced to 21 days’ hard labor.

Wellington, last night. At the inquest concerning the death of the boy Ward, who died to day in consequence of injuries received on an electric trqmway traok yesterday, the jury returhed a verdict that death was accidental, the motorman of the car being absolved from blame. - In his evidence the motorman stated that just before the accident a gust of wind blew a cloud of dust, and he was forced to momentarily bow his head and dose his eyes. On lookiug up he saw tho boy two feet from the front of the car. He was unablo to pull up in that distance, and the car struck the lad down. The car was going about four miles an hour. Just before he had shut off the power and put the brake on to negotiate a curve.

Mrs Katherine Milligan, who died on Monday, willed £SOO to the Wellington Hospital, £IOO. to the Home for Inourables, and £IOO for. the relief of indigent blind.

Napier, last night. At the inquest on the body of the mao Joseph Doherty, tho jury returned a verdict that death was due to' hemorrhage of the lungs, caused by the bursting of a blood-vessel.

Hokitika, last night. At a meeting of the Westland Prospecting Association resolutions were carried urging the Government to prosecute an aotive mining policy throughout the colony by monetary assistahee to any legitimate scheme approved by tho Mines Officers. It was also decided to ask the County Councils of goldfields districts to eo-operate in carrying on aotive agitation to the same end. • The Railway League carried resolutions asking the Government to carry out expenditure votes for railway works in the district, including the revival of work on the Ross railway, and more expeditious procedure on the east and west coast line.

Word was received to-day that Mr Taylor, will bo unable, through indisposition, to attend the West Coast Temperance Convention, which opens here to-morrow.