NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

0 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. ' AN UNSATISFACTORY., PRACTICE, (UV-TKLEORAPII—I'IItSS ASSOCIATION.). Auckland, January 23. ' , At. a. meeting of the Board of Governore of. tlio' Auckland Grammar School to-day it was.''resolved: to make a' rule iiu -future : whereby parents and;pupils may bo.required .: v. to ' bbiid, that the' children:WilLattend the school : sufficiently, to ensure for them ( some .-progress' inv matters scholastic during ~t the next session.; - According to , a motion that'. was,passed,.}pupils.' must attend 80 per : tho open days, except. in j cases . of. illness ior unavoidable • absence. ;At the pre- ; ■< sent time a comparatively largo : number of -v.., children begin tho year, but as • opportunity offers ill tho shapo of. employment thoy-drop out ono by one, thereby' doing novrdal, good at all.(luring a too brief course at the begin-, ning of tho year. Tho necessary teachers are provided .'by. tho.'Boa'rd, but/owing to this steady -, falling;away' in. .the 'school roll the nuniber of masters'toward theploso of; the session is really more tbaii' tliero is'necefisity • for, and the "Board is taking steps to stop. :. a practice that of late years in all ithe;big' .'centresof education.-has ■ bad a'.very' bad- ; cffectVon;fhe.instriictioii'bf3lie:ybiihg. PROMISING OYSTER SEASO,N\ ' - , . Invercargill,. January 23.-, " Prospects for the oyster season aro good. -.. Tho beds are said to be in a promising con- ' ' (lition,:, and about sixty or seventy craft employed in the: industry. - . DWELLING-HOUSE.BURNED. . , . Talliape, January. 23. i A six-roomed house,' owned and occupicd | by-Mr. James M'Donald. was burnt to tho 'ground at Taoroi; yfest^a^Vm^thft'.'• absence. All the: effects • were'lost-.. It'is * ,believed the'phicb.was. insured,-but tlie'in;: suraiices are not available. ■.-.>• ' OLD WOMAN FOUND DEAD. ' - " . ' Auckland, January 23. An . old woman named Elizabeth Tuffncl, t - a'widow,'. 60 years : of age, was found dead in , her;houseat Parnbll last;'.evening' in circuinstauces pointing,'to -suicide. She lived alono, , and not having beeu : seen for sovgral days j< her daughter paid'a visit to the house last night, and lound the bodv of the old woman lying in-the''.passage, with her:, throat cut, ■ ■ and'a .pair of scissors; covered in blood lying-; close by. : _ - 1 THE HALF-HOLIDAY., . ' ■> :' ' Auckland, . January ?2. A meeting of local, bodies this morning decided on tho retention of Wednesday as'tho i statutory 'weekly, half-holiday for' the Auckland suburbs., i; i- - FREEZING WORKS'PROJECT. - ; , Nelson, January ; 23. ' The .freeing; work's project: is being, enthusiastically supported,' jiud so' far snares to the value of about £12,000 have been .taken up. , Several parcels have been sub- " ( scribed in .Wellington a'iid Christeliiirch. The ;•.> company proceeds to, allotment in-February. . AUCKLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. ■ 1 •.' - Auckland,: January 23; - Tho Education -Board . adopted ~- a; ,r» commendation -by. a committee of architccU •to erect tho new Technical College ill reinforced concrete. ; CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS.' ' ! Auckland, January 23. Tlio fact' that. Justices of the Peace art now omitted from the list- of those authorised to take and witness -ail valorem declarations under the Customs Act. was referred to at to-day's meeting of the Council : of the Auckland . Chamber of . Commerce; by Mr. S. J. Nathan. He said that Justices of the Peace entitled to .take other declarations of a much more responsible nature, and in the interests' of public convenience they might , surely be . trusted to take declarations in regard ,tp Customs matters, especially, as'this had: been the practico for some time past. Mr. M'.Farhine said "the authority previously given, to Justices-of the Pcace had proved i>f considerable convenience to inv porters. .■ j- ' _ ' It was resolved to make .representation*' on the matter to the Minister-jii-charge (Mr. Millar). ■'. : . - - MUNICIPAL BATHS. Palmsrston North, January 23. A movement, is afoot- to'secure municipal baths for Pahncrston. A meeting was held to-night to further the project. Tho idea was approved, the Mayor and three Councillors present-promising support,; if tlie promoters canvassed the ratepayers to secure sanction to the loan. If a loan'is agreed to. a site will be utilised at the rear'of the Muneipal Opera House. ' •