NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 65, 6 March 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

LIAHIIJ.TV I'UK CARGO i'iLl'liUlXC,

Per L'reaa Association. JDuncdin, I'hursday. In the -Magistrate's Court, Shield and Co, aueil the Union Steamship Co. lor Ci 8s (id for fruit pillaged in transit. The action was intended a- a U"-i case, it was staled that the company paid the amount into Court.

FIRES. Auckland, Thursday. An eight-roomed house on Soalichl road, owned by Or. A. I'atei'soti. and occupied by ,1. li. I'alcrson, was totally destroyed by fire this morning. Peterson rescued his wife and children with dillictiltv, he himself being considerably burned." The children were slightly singed when being carried out. Tin- insurances were on the hou-c and ,i;i3o on the furniture (a total lossi, both in the National. The loss exceeds the insurance by :C3OO.

BOOT-REPATKINT! Cll AROES. Wellington, Thursday. The Wellington -Master Rootinnkei'-' Association has decided to raise the prices of boot repairs.

THE POLICE AM) SUPEUANXC.VTION. Wellington, Thur-day. The Wellington members of the police force have obtained legal opinion as to whether, ill the event of the police electing to conic under the Public Service Superannuation scheme, they would be treated as contributors or origin il contributors. The opinion is to the effect that contributors to the Mice Provident Fund would run a serious risk if they joined the Public Service Superannuation Fund upon the assumption that thev were entitled to the same benefits from the fund as original contributors under the Act.

HOSPITAL MANAGEME.N T

Auckland, Thursday. At a meeting of the Trades and Labor Council, it was stated that a servant girl suffering from varicose veins, after having been received at the Auckland Hospital, bathed and put to bed, she was compelled to leave the hospital, and liadi to walk to Ponsonby, gome two miles, not having the money to pay her return tram fare. She was told to go to the Northern Wairoa Hospital, having admitted she had been up north on a short holiday. One member urged that an explanation should be asked for before taking action, but the Council passed a resolution deploring the condition and management of the. hospitals, and urging that the Hospital Board take steps lo prevent a recurrence.

DHINKINfI A.MONGST WOMEX

Auckland, Thursday. The. Women's Christian Temperance Union passed a resolution deploring the increase of drinking among women in hotels, and urging more energy and scientific temperance instruction to scliool children to combat the evil.

A HOTEL DEAL. Auckland, Last Night. The Victoria Hotel in Victoria street, one of the few free houses, in the city, was to-dav sold for .C2n,COO to Mr. A. M. Myers', on behalf of the Campbell. Ehrcnfried Co.

JJBKfiV-BUILT WORKMEN'S HOMES

Auckland, List Night. It was alleged at the Auckland Trades and Labor Council meeting last evening that the class of timber being put into mo»t of the workmen's homes in Auckland, especially in the suburbs, was very poor in quality, and of such a nature that the health of the occupants was endangcreil. Mr. Peak, wdio introduced the stiiiject. said the high [nice of limber had something to do with it. Some of the houses were built with rotten framing and medium quality weatherboards, bill everything was covered up us quickly as possible by scrim and paint. These houses were -sold on easy tcrma, and after a couple of years lell to pieces. It was simply a case of defrauding the buyer. The president of the Council (Mr. A. ltosser) said he had seen the outside portions of logs which had lain in Freeman's Bay for some time, and so became soaked with sewage, heling put into the houses. Some years ago he had worked on a house in Ecleji Terrace for a speculative builder, and it was erected in cloven days. It was decided that all local bodies be written to to instruct the building inspector to give certificates to the class of timhci; used in all buildings.

TB; 01!AXtJA HOME JiNQI'IRY. Christelmri'b, Lust Ki^bt.

The Tc Oranga Home enquiry was continued to-day. Evidence was given by several girls and two ex-inmates as to the punishments inflicted for absconding and various breaches of the rules, their statements being liiainly in corroboration of evidence of previous witnesses. The most important evidence was given by Miss Harrison, who is teacher at the Home. She stated that the matron had no sympathy with the work of • the school, and kept the girla away 011 the slightest pretext. The girls 'who attended afternoon school were frequently tired out with their morning's work. Witness stated that the school was subject, to standard examination*, hut tho Assistant Inspector-General, Dr. Anderson, had instructed her not to carry the instruction beyond the fourth standard, She stated that she had not discussed any of these matters with the visiting officer of the Department.

Mr. Pope, representing the Department, said that he had no knowledge of any limitation as described by the witness. The Inspector-General was now considering a scheme to make provision for the special needs of inmates of such institutions.

Before giving her evidence, Miss Harrison inquired whether it was the custom of the Education Department to dismiss officers without explanation, as she had heard Unit Miss Howden. a former attendant, had been dismissed on a secret report. Mr. Pope replied that he would "answer the questions when giviii" evidence, °

JXJNEDIN FIRE BOARD. Dunedin, Lust. Night. At a meeting this evening of the Dunedin Tire Board, it was decided to purchase from Merryweathcr and Sons, London, a ijO horse-power pcrtol motor chemical (ire engine, at a cost of ,£1305. AIASTERTOX I'UIE BOAKD.

Mastertou, Last Night. The inaugural meeting of the Masterton Fii-u Board was held to-day, Messrs Mallard, Simpson, and Ewcu representing the insurance companies doiim TiTßtncss in the town. Mr. 0. Prugnell, the Government representative "on ' the Board was elected chairman, and Mr. E. Brown, late town clerk, was elected secretary. The local members were appointed a committee to have a valuation made of the tir e brigade plant and to prepare estimates of expenditure for next year for .submission to next meeting, it was decided to invite application for the positions of superintendent and deputy-supcrin. tendent at salaries of £D() ami C 2.1 per annum lespcetively. It was only ufter considerable discussion tlii',l a 'motion was carried allowing representatives of, the press to attend the meetings of the I Board. I

AUSTRALIAN GRAPES.

Napier, Last Night. A shipment of about 2250 pounds of I Nouth Australian grapes was sold by auction today. Th e hulk of these were wel packed in cork shavings, and came to hand m good condition. They realised rom 4'/,d to 5%d per lb. A quantity, however, were sent in baskets without any covering, and tliwe were in bail order, and brougnt onlv W per lb.