NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 447, 4 March 1909, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(nr-TEUaßArn—rnEsa association.! ANONYMOUS LETTERS AND A REVOLVER. LAST ICT OF A COURT CASE. Invercargill, March 3. 'At the Supremo Court, Maud Buchanan was chargod with attempting to murder D. \Y. Mackay, with assault with intent, and with unlawfully wounding Vera Mackay. Mr. Solomon appeared for tho defence. It was alleged that accused fired six chambers from a revolver as ,tho Mackays wore leaving homo in a motor-car. Strained relations had existed on. account of anonymous lotters. 'i'ho defenco was that accused was in * distressed stato of mind on acoount of tho letters, and only fired to create a scene, ip. order to put a stop to tho annoyance. Tho jury found a verdict of not guilty.

BRICK LAYING. A STATEMENT WITHDRAWN. Dunodin, March 3. With reference to tho statement made bj tho president of tho Otago Employers' Association'and published in the "Otago Daily Times" in October last, that the Wellington Bricklayers' Union issued instructions to its members. that 'they wore not to lay moro than 400 bricks per day, tho "Times," after fullest inquiry, is satisfied that there is no ground for tho statement mado by the president, and has mado a full withdrawal of the same.

WEAKNESS IN ARITHMETIC. "A VERY SERIOUS POSITION." Auckland, March 3. At tho meeting of the Board of Education this morning a report was presented by tho Chief Inspector (Mr. Petrio) oil tho results of tho examination for certificates of proficiency. Ho dwelt on the fact that tho largo number of failures in t!i< ■laminations was duo for tho most part'to ' ;ness in arithmetic and spelling. The i...uriiian(Mr, C. J. Parr) qUotod a number of statistics showing tho largo numbor of failures in arithmetic in the various, schools. Ho thought the position was a serious oite, and one that demanded their earnest'investigation. Mr. Purdio said that tho failures this year show 600 or 700 moro than last year. It was a very serious position, and they should try to ascertain the reason. It was decided to refer tho matter to tho Board of Inspectors for an opinion. ■

A FARMER FINED. New Plymouth, March 3. In the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. Fitzhcrbe.-t, S.M., a farmer named John "Wilkinson was charged by the Stock Department with having ncgleetcd to givo notice to tho inspector of stock that oiu of his cows was suffering from a malignant growth on 0110 of its eyes, defendant having suspected tjio cow to be so suffering. t Aftor hoiiripg vho evidence of the prosecution tho information was amended by the incision of tho word cancer. The ovidenco disclosed that milk from tho cow wns not sent to tho factory, but used to feed calves. Defendant denied that ho knew the cow was diseased, considering that tho oyfc had. been injured perhaps in tho bush. Mr. Fitzhorbert, in giving judgment, said no doubt tho cow waa suffering from cancer. Only ono day was mentioned in tho. information, ind defendant would bo convicted and finod £5, with costs £5 ss. bd« The minimum 1 penalty is '£5 for every day of the offence.

EDUCATION AND CAPITATION. j Auckland, - March 3. : At a meeting of tho Board of Education Mr. Parr,, chairman, protested against tin calculation of average attendance upon which tho statutory capitation grant of lis 3d. is paid to boards. Hitherto tho grant was calculated upon tho average attendance for tho immediately preceding quarter. Under the regulations gazetted in 1909, it was stated that tho averago attondanco would bo calculated. upon tho total of tho yearly averago attendance of tho schools in tho district. Tho capitation was paid by the Department on tho averago attendance of the four quarters in 1906, and tho Auckland board received' £638 less than it would have received under the old regulations. The board decided to bring tho mattor under tho notice of tho Minister for Education.' . , TRADE WITH NIUE. (Auckland, March 3. Tho Hon. Jas. Carroll. Minister in Charga of the Island Dependencies,. has completed negotiations with an Auckland firm for ai schooner to run between Niue and Auckland. The ordinary island services, ho states, do not fit in with Niue, and despite tho fact that tho.schoner Ysabel trades regularly with that island an amount of tho trade is filtering through Tonga to Samoa. Tho Minister therefore, deemed it advisable to sccuro this schooner service with Auckland with tho object of trving to secure the business for New Zealand. Mr. Carroll hopes that with a little eucouragemont tho resources of Niuo may be considerably developed. A medical mail lias also been appointed to Niuo to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of thft formor doctor ill charge. CHILDREN'S WARD. Christchurch, March 3. At a conference to-day between tht members of the Hospital Board and representatives of the Children's AVard Committee, a decision was arrived _at regarding the site of tho children's ward in connection with tho hospital, funds for which have been collected from tho public. It is proposed to orect a two-story building, the lower story to be uevoted to a surgical ward for wonum, and tho upper to tho children's ward. It is intended to push on with the work as speedily as possible, and a committee has boon set up to submit suggestions as to tho plans, eto. AUCKLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. Auckland, March 3. As tho amount availablo for tho erection of tho new Technical ..College at .Auckland is considerably less than the amount of tho tender for the work according to the plniis prepared, tho Education Board lias decided to ask tho Government .for a spccial grant of £12,000, to bo distributed over two years, to enable tilio board to accept a tender for tho erection of a fire-proof building of ferroconcrete construction, as recommended by tho consulting architects. "WILL YOU INTERCEDE?" Christcliurcli, March 3. The Broken River correspondent of tlid "Evening News" states that the following telegram lnis been sent to tho Minister for Publio Works and Labour:—"The position Lore is unsatisfactory, and the contract prieo .iocs not permit a living wage. Unablo to get definite information or satisfaction from, tho local authorities. Will you intercede? Tho matter is serious and merits immediate attention. About one hundred men liavo knocked off." POLO TOURNAMENT, Ghristchuroh. March 3. Tho Christchurch Polo Tournament, for Mr. A. B. G. Rhodos's challenge cup, oiv oncd this afternoon on Hagley Park. In tho first- round Pareora (handicap. 8 goals) scored 15, and Hawardcn (samo handicap) soorcd 14. Tipapa No. 1 team (handicap, eleven goals) scorcd ono goal, and Christ; church No. 1 (scratch) scored ten goals. Tho first round was' not concluded, and the tournament will bo continued to-morrow. THE CRANT FOR SCHOOL BOOKS. Christchurch, March 3. At tho meeting of tho North Canterbury Education Board to-day tho buildings Committee reported tho tleathcoio - -Valloy Committeo had been informed that tho board concurred with them in the opinion that tlio grant for school books would have been hotter spent on copy books, drawing books, and exorciso books, etc., but tlmt tho conditions under which tho grant had been promised would not admit of that being done.