News in Brief.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 7024, 12 November 1906, Page 2

News in Brief.

The appointment of Brevet Colonel Webb j as Acting Commandant of the New Zealand j Defence Forces has been gazetted. The Education Department has dispansed with the five attendants at the Burnham Industrial School who were concerned m the trouble at the institution which formed the subject of the enquiry recently held by Mr Bishop, S.M. Mr Andrew Carnegie has made a further grant of £500 to enable the Hastings Borough Council to complete the interior of the local publio library. At the present time there is a gentleman m. Napier who has m his possession the death certificate of his son. About an hour after recceiving the certificate the j father noticed the child (newly born) move, and took measures to preserve life, with the result that the little fellow, now two and a half years old, is to be Been, the picture of health, m Napier. Of the prisoners received into the gaols of the colony last year, 246 were unable to read or write, 75 could only road, 4694 could, read and write, anu 20 only are described as possessing superior education. Sixty single desks of the most approved modern kind have just been imported from America for the Cartertou High Sohool at a cost of .£1 each. The " News " is informed that there is nothing to prevent the supply being got m New Zealand except the consideration of slightly increased cost. When all the power plants at present m course of construction at Niagara are completed 700,000 horse-power will be available, or one-third of the total energy of the falla. The Auckland soap companies have raised the price of soap £1 per ton, making an advance of £2 per ton within the past week. This advance is evidently m keepiag with the rise m price m the English and Australian markets. The Trades and Labour Council at Auckland has approved a proposal to form a Servant Girls' Union m that city, and has decided to take steps to meet all domestics interested m the movement. A Morrison's Bush schoolboy of thirteen years has just completed a six years' unbroken record of attendance at the Kaitara School. He has walked wet or fine, a distance of two miles, since he was seven years of age, says the Pahiatua Herald. The ohi«f veterinarian, Mr J. A. GHruth, has been granted leave of absence to take a six months' course of study m the latest discoveries connected with pathology and allied sciences at the Pasteur Institute. During bis absence his duties will be carried out by Mr C. J. Reakes, assistant chief veterinarian.