GENERAL TELEGRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 317, 17 February 1910, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

GRANTS FOR "SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

By Telegraph.—Press' Association

Duncuin, February 1(>.

At the meeting of the Judication Board this morning it was resolved that "The hoard regrets that the .Minister should deem it necessary to reduce the ordinary building grant by so large an amount, without prior intimation, and after the board had entered upon obligations, relying upon the maintenance of the principle laid down by tiie Education Committee in 11)03 and adopted by the Minister. The hoard regrets also that the -Minister does not fully appreciate the absolute necessity for boards being given assured finance, in order that they may properly discharge their functions and avoid incurring financial embarrassment. The board will be glad to receive an assurance that the building grant will be reinstated without delay upon lines laid down by education committees." A MYSTERY OF THE SEA. Wauganui, Last Night. The Customs authorities were advised to-day that the hull of a vessel, with the after part broken away, was seen on the beach about a mile north of the Wangaehu river. Tiio police will visit the scene. A NEW GAOL. Invercargill, Last Night. This afternoon, before a small gathering of representative people, the Prime Minister opend the new gaol—a fine structure, built entirely by prison labor under the able direction of gaoler Hawkins, of whom Sir Joseph Ward in his opening speech, said several eulogistic things. The building cost £6050, and the site, taken by the Public Works Department, £1250. The -prison will be the first used in furtherance of Dr. Findlay's reformatory idea, and to that! end has several notable features of construction. The sanitary arrangements particularly are noteworthy, and the gaol is made on the one man one cell principle.

LAND FOR CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Ashburton, Last Night. The Guardian states that the Government has purchased from Mr. George Palmer the Ruapuna estate, containing! 4431 acres, for closer settlement purposes. The land, which .is about 20 miles from Ashburton, is well known for its fertile qualities, as being fine grazing country, and as producing splendid crops of turnips, rape and oats. It should, therefore, be capable of subdivision into nine farms of about 500 acres each. The estate belonged to the late Mr. John Ballantyne for many years. The Ruapuna is the only estate in the Ashburton county acquired by the Government for closer settlement purposes in the last dozen years, the High Bank estate, purchased about 1808, being the last one to be so dealt with. \ ' LORD KITCHENER'S VISIT. Timaru, Last Night. ' The Borough Council decided to giv« *n address of welcome to Lord Kitchener as he passes through Timaru. SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE. -, Wellington, Last Night. The following list contains the names of falmerston North, Wanganui and Sfew Plymouth candidates who passed the Civil Service senior examination last month:—John Calianan (Palmerston North), John Cut'nhert (New Plymouth), Edward Dewhirst (New Plymouth), Wilfred Kennedy (New Plymouth), John Morrison* (Wanganui), Dennis Mtilvey (New Plymouth), Arthur Pcarce (New Plymouth), Hairy Smith (Wanganui), Eric Wyllie tNiW Plymouth), John Smith (Wanganui). MINIATURE STRIKE. Christchurch. Last Night. Five out of seven casual cmnloyeos employed at Wood Bros.-" grain shed have struck for an increase of pay from 8s to fts per day. CANTERBURY'S GRAIN YIELD. Christchurch, Last Nicrht. According to n speaker at th-> North Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union, the grain yield may reach 2S bushels per -acre, but it is not y»t anywhere near the Government's estimate of 35.