SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 41, 17 February 1910, Page 6

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) SCHOOL INSPECTORS' CONFERENCE WELLINGTON, this day. At the Conference of School Inspectors to-day, the chairman read a letter from tihe Minister requesting an expression of opinion on the effect on education of the freedom of classification that bad been accorded teachers under the present syllabus. In the discussion which ensued, several speakers warmly approved of the change, and the-report of the Scholarship Committee was read, expressing the opinion that the powers at present in bhe hands of inspectors, if carefully exercised, are sufficient to ensure proper classification. The report was approved by the conference, and a committee was appointed to confer with the Education Department with reference to the resolution passed yesterday, suggesting important changes in classification and grading of teachers. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. CHRISTCHTmCH, this day. Mr. George Palmer's Ruapuna estate, of 4,431 acres, is the first land acquired by the Government in the Ashburton district for twelve years. A considerable area in the Temuka district is now under offer to the Government, and will shortly be inspected by the land purchase officers. Applications for the Tripp Settlement, Oxari Gorge, close in March. STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY. DUXEDIX, this day. The annual report of tbe Standard Insurance Company shows that income for the past year totalled £124,030, and expenditure £103,391. Of the balance, £5000 is carried to the reserve. An interim dividend absorbed £2812, and a dividend on the half-year ended December 31 absorbs £2512. A bonus of 2* per cent represents £1575, and £5139 is carried forward. FTRE AT ASHBTJRTON. ASHBURTON, this day. At 12.30 this morning an unoccupied house of seven rooms in Haveloekstreet, Owned by Mrs. Hyland, was totally destroyed by fire, the cause of which is unknown. The building is covered by a policy of £300 in the Norwich Union. COSMIC IMPACT. CHRTSTOHURCH, this day. Local working men have formed a committee to assist in raising funds to send Professor Bickerton to England for further work in connection with his cosmic theories. The Committee has decided to urge the Government to give financial help. A NEW GAOL. EKVERCARGILXi, Wednesday. This afternoon, before a small gathering of representative people, the Prime Minister opened the new gaol, a fine structure, built entirely by prison labour under the direction of* Gaoler Hawkins. The building cost £. 6,050, and the site was taken by the Public Works Department for £ 1,250. The prison will be the first used in furtherance of the reiorm proposals of the Minister for Justice, and to that end" has several notable features of construction. The sanitary arrangements particularly are noteworthy, and the gaol is on the one man-one-cell principle