INTER PROVINCIAL.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 355, 18 October 1898, Page 2

INTER PROVINCIAL.

(bt telegraph—press association). Wellington', Last Night. The circumstances connected with the narrow escape from a collision on the Westport section of the Government railways have been thoroughly investigated by the Department, with the result that the services of Mr Wright, the stationmaster at Waimangaroa, have been dispensed with, and the guard, driver and fireman of one of the trains have each been reduced a grade. Mr Wright was for some time stationmaster at Kaikoura, on the Hawke's Bay section, and was promoted to Waimangaroa on account of his excellent record. The authorities in Wellington consider great carelessness was displayed, and that in the interests of the public it was necessary to inflict severe puuishmeut. There were passengers in each of the trains in question, and had a collision occurred there would undoubtedly have been great loss of life. Edison, the inventor, has lodged five applications for New Zealand letters patent in connection with the treatment of ironsand. The Education Board has under consideration a proposal that a technical school be established at Rotorua for the purpose of the instruction of Maori youths to carve in wood after the fashion of their forefathers, but the Post understands there is little likelihood that the scheme will be adopted. Representations have been made to the Department that if such a school were open it could be made almost self-supporting, as specimens of the work of the pupils would be eagerly purchased by tourists, collectors for museums, etc. The Department is not at all sanguine on that point, and it is extremely doubtful whether it will recommend the Government to incur the expense necessary to establish the school. The Agent-General cables :—Canadian butter is at 9Ss to 102 s. The butter market is firm, but there has been no alteration in cheese since last week. The New Zealand Times understands that Inspector Cullen will be permanently appointed in charge of the Auckland district. Dunedin, Last Night. Mr Larnach was buried this morning in the Northern Cemetery. There was a large attendance of representative and commercial men.