WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 29

WELLINGTON.

On December 30 Mr T. E. Donne received a telegram stating that George Napier, a porter at the Mount Cook Hermitage, is missing. It is feared that when he was returning from Ball hut last evening with some horses he fell from his horse while crossing the Hooker River. His hat was found early this morninsr some distance below the ford. A thorough search is being made by Mr D. M'JDonald, manager at the Hermitage. The Wellington bakers on the 2nd inst. reduced the price of bread from 4d to 3id the 21f loaf. The Government has terminated the contract let to Mr Frame, of Invercargill, for extensions to the Sydney street side of Parliament Buildings. The undertaking, which involved an outlay of £21,500, was entered into before the fire. A conference has been concluded in Welington of head mistresses of the -secondary schools -in New Zealand. Matters relating to the free education regulations were discussed, and 'recommendations tending to decrease pressure of work and also popularise and extend domestic instruction .for girls a.ttending these schools were passed, and will be submitted to the Minister""©! Education The Biological Department states that the shipments of fruit recently received in New Zealand have been much freer from orchard pests than was the case before the department increased the stringency in regard to regulation and inspection. Mr W. Kirk's residence at Palmerston North was broken into and rifled of a large number of valuables. The owner was spending the holiday at the seaside, and

the burglary was only discovered on Saturday by a man employed about the place.