FROM OTHER PAPERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 28, 28 October 1907, Page 6

FROM OTHER PAPERS.

A curious anomaly in the hours of lahour awarded by the Arbitration Court was mentioned" according to tha ''Napier Daily jelegraph" by : Mr.. W. Ward at the Builders' Conference. Mr. Ward stated that in Ins "bit of a business" his was wording under no less than five different awards—carters 48 hours, carpenters 47,' machinists, 46, plumbers' 45, and painters 44. A remarkable and.sirange piece of good fortune befel some .Taranaki residents recently. A man took" his wife s purso to a iowel'lef to have soiiie part! of it . mended, in a corner of the. purse tho jeweller found a pound note, which ho returned to its owner, who had been quite unaware that the purso contained anything. The note had most likely been, lost a considerable time. The owner of the purse, did not like to otter tho jowcller a present, so it was decided by tho husband thnt a ton-shillmg ticket should be taken in Tattersall's, nnd thai; his wite and tho jeweller's wife should divide any wm that might" result. The wives drew £50 each from tho sweep. . ; ....■:' A simple but costly accident occurred at tho monumental works of Mr. Short, reports tho Taranaki "Herald." As is tho custom on masons' premises, the monuments are exhibited in rows. A number of'inarblo slabs wero being unpacked, in the yard this afternoon and one of th'eso was placed against the last stone in our. of tho rows. A visitor 'called at the-yard whilst the work■ was m progress, and was admiring the monuments, when tho s'tono against which the marblo slab was leaniiig'feirfbrward, with the result that the whole;ro\y.was knocked down. The damage is extensive,' the loss amounting roughly to £150. The monumont.Mri Short • had oil exhibition at Cliristchurch and for which ho'received a diploma and gold medal was damaged: beyond repair.. ...

A significant discovery, (according, to .tho "Taranaki .Daily News") has been made at the Sniarjy'ltoad ■ kaolin pits._ Pieces-of rock arc found!:here <and there in the deposits, and on Monday last Mr. Jemison cracked somo< of (theso. Traces of minerals were distinctly, visible, and Mr. Jemison is of opinion that they contain silver. Some authorities say that silver is usually found in tho vicinity of tho kaolin formation;'. The specimens'aro being taken'to Wellington-to be submitted to an expert. .Whilst'in the Empire City this week,' Mr. S.' Hill- intonds making final arrangements for.extensive tests of.;sbmo 14cwt. of-tlic. clay in a suitable kiln. .A-.' of the samples of it, and of tho articles mado to date,,will be placed on oxliibitibii in Wellington. : ■■ '■' . :

" The troubles'of a laundress,were aired at tho last mooting of the Dunodin Bonevolent Trustees. Mr. Burnott said ho thought that an experienced laundress would have ho difficulty in getting six days' work a week. ■"I'es," said tho woman, "you would .think so, but many ipcoplo cxpecfybu to do a fortnight's washing in half a day, just'as if a washerwoman was a machine.. Some ladies make me work till 2.30 p.m., and then only .'pay mo for half a day. It , a.as much, as I 'can,do to cam 15s. a week in the best of times.". Mr. Burnett offered her a day's washing every week forthwith at a plane whero she would not he expected'to do the work of a steam laundry. "All the same!." said Mr. Gallaway, as the door closed, behind the laundress.. "I would iliko to. hear the other sido of tho question." Tho inconvenience and danger arising from tho use of municipal horses for taking .engines to fires was illustrated again, according to ,the "Lyttelton Times" of Thursday, when a liro broke out in Armagh Street. on. the previous day. The motor chemical was very soon on the sceno, with tho superintendent and two firemen, and its' hose was quickly run out and turned'on to the'burning building. Tho two big. chemicals,' with horses, came racing up about a quarter of an hour later. Had it not been for the motor engine, it is very doubtful if tho fire could have biien confined to the building in which it started, and it is likely that adjoining premises would havo been severely damaged. It has been suggested (says the '-'Times") that the Fire Brigade should be supplied with at least two moro of theso modern appliances' for dealing with fires in tho city.

Somo months-ago Mr. S. G. Smith, of Dunedin, sent photographs Home, together with the history of the supposed '\\atteau discovered in Christchiirch, to-Mr'.-Pierpont Morgan, the millionaire. He has now (says the "Star") received a letter iron) Mr. Morgan's private secretary'notifying him.of their safe arrival, and stating that they have been referred to tho curator of tho Metropolitan Museum of Art,. New York; for his final judgment. ' . ■

The tender of Mr. E. R, Lane, of the Picton" boat-building works, has been accepted for the construction of an oil launch for tho officials of the Lands Department, tho price boin" £275. . Tho'length of tho boat will bo 30ft° and she will bo fitted with a Colonial 3-cylintlor, 12 b.p. engine, capable of 16 h.p. if Worked up.to 1000 revolutions. Tho annual expenditure, of tho Survey and.btock Departments is estimated to have boon about £100 per annum for travelling about the Bounds (says tho ';Picton Press") so that a great saving will be affected, in the course of time, in the purchase of a launch for the express uso of the officials. When Mr. W. C. Buchanan-was in Greytown on Wednesday a reprosontativo, of the "Standard" asked him if it was his intention to stand again for the electorate. His. reply was as follows: "Yes! I promised to do so. when I was unsuccessful last election, and I have not altered my opinion. I shall certainly come forward." Wostport considers it is going ahead satisfactorily. Latest statistics show that buildiugs to the value of £40,000 have been crectod thero in two years. Tho invercargill manager of the. New Zealand Insurance Company .recently- received .£IOO conscience money, through the Catholic Church. Some months ago a similar payment was made.