SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7798, 14 April 1905, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

(Per, Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 13. In the Supreme Court Mr Justice Dcnniston heard argument in the case Keddie versus the Timaru Borough Council, an appeal against the decision of the Magistrate, who fined apellant for not having registered an abattoir under the Factories Act. His Honour reserved his decision. The following sentences we're passed on prisoners who pleaded guilty in the lower Court : Jas. Madder, live charges breaking, entering, and tliel't, lour years on each charge, to be concurrent ; .John G. Austen, theft, twelve irtonths' imprisonment ; Mark Cossar, secreting and opeuifjg postal packets, twelve months', ity be current with a sentence he is at present serving ; R. A. Glover, two false declarations when registering the birth of his illegitimate children, six months' imprisonment.

Parents in Victoria are being encouraged to take a deeper interest in the local school. The inspectors aro making it a practice to ask the parents eo meet them at the school after the inspection visit, and reports which have reached the department show that in most cases-these visits have proved very helpful. For example, a successful meeting of over one hundred parents was held at Swans'ton street, Geelong. The outcome should be a provision for many minor school comforts for the children. At another place a school library has been established for the use of the children and the youth of tile district. At still another the parents promised to plant the school reserve, to provide seats- in the school ground, and to cut a track through the scrub which will ensure the attendance of a large family who have never been inside e. school. This track will enable them to reach school in two miles and a half, while the existing road compels a journey of live miles.

Now tiia't the North Sea Commission is practically over, it js not without interest to give a forecast of the bill that wiH have to be paid. According to the convention, the entire cost must be paid ire equal shares by Gre it Britain ami Russia. The actual expenses of bringing over the Hull witnesses to Paris were paiii ,by ibe British Treasury, and in tiie same way the expenses of the Russian officers in Paris were provided for by the Russian naval attache. The question of apportioning the total expenses of the Commission will be arranged through a pro Ir am by the general secretary of the Commission. These expenses are variously estimated at betwee,, £IOO and •CoOO per day. Over and above these expenses there are the fees of the British and Russian lawyers who 'were present at the Commission. It is computed that the total cost of the Commission will not be fur short of £30,000.