AUCKLAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 293, 4 September 1908, Page 9

AUCKLAND NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAM.—SrECIAI. COURESI'ONDENT.) September 3. , A compliment was paid to the Government control of tho. oyster industry by tho Auckland Trades and Labour Council last, ovening, when a motion was unanimously passed congratulating tho Government on having nationalised tho oyster trade. The mover, Mr. L. Henry, said that Auckland had never had better or cheaper oysters than thoso sold since tho Government control of tho industry. . It was decided to add to the motion a suggestion that as far as possible oyster pickers should be employed in preference to thoso who had not been previously employed in the industry. A suggestion that an oyster pickers' union should bo formed was made by the president. Charge of Stealing a £1 Note. Beforo Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., in the Police Court, a.middle-aged man named Wm. Clarke, who described himself as a riveter's labourer, was charged with .stealing £1 belonging to Messrs. lloss : and Glendining. Chief Deteetivo who appeared for tho proseomtion, stated' that Clarko entered Messrs. Ross and Glondining's warehouse in Elliott Street,. and 'purchased a suit length for 125., putting down a £1 note in payment. While tho assistant was gotting the chango tho note disappeared, and Clarke having been given tho chango commenced to leavo tho warehouse. It was then discovered that the £1 note was missing, and accused was called back. Upon being pressed he. threw down tho purchased parcel and tho change, and said that ho had dono with it. As the cloth leugth was cut, and therefore of no uso to tho warehouse, tho attendant demurred, and then called in tho manager, who in turn sent for tho police. Clarko was arrested, and when searched a £1 note and a few shillings wore found on him. Evidence was called to this effect. Clarko denied tho charge, saying that whoii lie entered the building ho had two £1 notes with him, and ho put one down. on tho counter in payment for tho cloth. 110 could not account for it going astray. Possibly it had been lost in some of the numerous pieces of cloth which wero on tho bench at tho time. His Worship said that tho_ evidence raised tho strongest suspicion against tho accused, but it was not sufficient to provo tho charge.. There was still the possibility that tho, noto was lying among the material about the counter. "I do not say that you are innocent," added his ."Worship, addressing Clarke, " but the proof against you is not sufficient. You are discharged."

District High Schools. District high school scholars arc not, apparently, taking ful} advantage of the opportunities offered them, but the case would seem to be by 110 means as bad as the Department of Education made out in a return- compiled some time ago, showing that only six or seven pupils attended for three years, and one for four years, in the Auckland district. A roport furnished to the Board of Education yostorday by 1 the chief inspector stated that two of tho district high schools had not been in operation for one year. When tho Department's rotum was compiled, the'Onehunga High School was just completing a year, and a month later would have 'shown a large number of scholars with another year's attendance. There were one or two schools which seemed to bo lagging. The chairman (Mr. C. J. Parr) remarked: "I think at some future date wo should, consider the whole question' of theso high schodls. The position is not altogether satisfactory." It was decided to send the chief inspector's report to. tho Department. History. There seems to bo considerable difficulty in obtaining a suitablo text book for the teaching of history in the Stato schools, and although tho question was submitted to all tho Auckland school inspectors, not one was alilo to recommend a suitablo history book for standards 4, 5, and 6,- and all except tho chief inspector considered tho book at present in use, "Warner's Brief Survey," unsuitable. Tho chief inspector, however, quotes the "Educational Times" and other journals in support, of his approval of the work, and ho considers that at-present it is not possible to obtain a book which so well serves the purpose as the one in use.