NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 907, 29 August 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(liy Telegraph.—Prats Association.! OWLS PER MAIL STEAMER. . NO ONE SURE OP THEM; . < Dunedin, August 26. At a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society to-day Mr. Deans, manager, reported tho arrival of 40 little owls by tho Kia Ora. Mr. Cowio expressed tho opinion that tho society should try to 'discover whether tho owls wore doing damage or not. Ho had been informed that they were tackling, quail. Mr. Chisholm said that ho could not sco how thoy could be, as tho owl was a nocturnal bird, and the quail a day bird. There should bo a turther consignment ■or 40 or 50 on the sea now. A telegram from the Hon. D. Buddo was read. It gave, authority to land tho birds on the Kia Ora, but said that the Minister could not undertake to admit further shipments until it had boon proved that the birds had fulfilled tho purpose for .which they wore introduced, and wero not. destructive to small native birds. It was decidsd to refer the matter to the Game Committee for report. - TIMBER BOAT ASHORE. Nelson, August 26. The timber scow Orakei went ashore this morning at Tahuna during a heavy nor'-westerly wind. Sho lies well up on a sandy beach, and seems to have sustained no damage. Attempts to get her off, so far, have failed, but" hopes are entertained of refloating her at high water to-night." Tho vessel is owned -by- Mr. Andrew Miller, of Nelson, and the master is Captain J. M. Ethc-ridgo. MINISTER FOF RAILWAYS SUED. ' COMPENSATION AWARDED. Dunodin, August 27. Judgment was delivered to-day in tho case of Gilmour and Reid v. the Minister for Railways, a claim for .fMOOO odd for land and water taken at Burnside for railway duplication purposes. The cas» was heard before his Honour Mr. Justice Williams'and assessors (Mr. AV. L. Simpson and Mr. J. C. Stephens). His Honour said that, in respect of a claim for i!G9 lis. 3d., the award was that claimant was entitled to that amount... In tho case of the claim for .£2285 16s. 3d. tho award was that respondent should pay. claimant JZUiO in full' satisfaction of all demands, and-should also pay claimant a sum of jSHO-in respect of costs and expenses. With , respect to a claim for .C 2050 the Court award was that respondent should pay claimants ,£350 in full satisfaction of all demands. There would bo no costs in respect of this claim. The assessors' fees were fixed at eight guineas a day each for. seven days, each party to pay His own assessor'. THE TROUBLES OF TEACHERS. -PROMOTION AND SICK PAY. Christdiurch, August 22. At a special meeting of the North Canterbury Educational Institute the work of .the recent Educational Conference was referred to, and- several speakers expressed the opinion that, whilst, some of the resolutions arrived :at-wcre in.the interests of education, others wero not satisfactory. The resolution of the conference .relating to sick pay was. considered satisfactory. ; Tho question of the appointment of teachers was discussed, and considerable, dissatisfaction was expressed with the present haphazard methods.lt was considered that there should bo some proper classification of teachers for tho purpose of promotion similar to the system in vogue in Victoria \vhoro a board ofYclassifiers, consisting of the In-spector-General; the inspectors, heads of departments, and representative teachers hnd-tho»right'>'to"eliissify teachers in grades, but not-to promote. It was decided -to ask the Education Board to adopt sonic, scheme of classification which will do away witli the anomalies, of the present system. A sub-coiumitteo was .ret up to consider the question of n classification board for the promotion of,teachers, and to suggest somo scheme of promotion. The regulations respecting sick pay were considered,' and opinions wero expressed that there should be some system of grading so that the longer the service of an applicant for sick pay tho more consideration, ho or she shouid receive. It was affirmed that teachers are entitled to receive tho same consideration in regard to sick pay as is given to other public, servants. It. was decided; i "That tho 1 , meeting .. strongly protest's against the board's proposed . regulations iu regard to sick pay, and is "strongly in favour of the resolution arrived at by tho Education Conference on the subject." At' the last meeting of the NewZealand Institute a benefit fund was instituted, and it was . decided ' that' tho North Canterbury branch of tho Institute should contribute .£2O towards tho fund. ICIRIPAKA MINE: GRAVE POSITION. HAS THE .RIVER BEErf TAPPED? Whangarel, August 27. AVater commenced running into the Kirlpaka goal mine .three, days ago. Tho position is now very grave as-tho volumo of the inrush is' increasing' through- a iissuro in the roof at a point only three chains distant' from the river. - ; Fears that tho river has been tapped seem well grounded. The' pumps j are unable to make much impression on the quantity of the water. Unless'the inflow"stops' the mine will .have- tu be permanently closed.. "■• HURDLER'S RIDER HURT. Wanganui, August 27. A serious accident occurred' on tho AVaverley Tacecourse yesterday, when a young man named Brerton was badly hurt through the hurdler Claremont falling on him at a hurdle) Bro'rton was carried to the hospital, where,- at a late hour last night, he was still unconscious. AWKWARD TIME FOR FIRE, Dunedin, August 27. The Port Chalmers Firo Brigade were called from their annual ball early this morning to deal with a seven-roomed J house on iire in Currio Street. Tho fire i had a firm hold when the firemen ar-1 rived, and as the water' pressure was poor the building, was quickly reduced to a heap of ruins. The house was owned and. occupied by Mr. Peter'Ross, tanner.. Tho fire is thought to have started in tho dining-room, where Mr. mid Mrs. Ross spent the evening. The occupants lost everything. - The house was insured for i!il)l) in the New Zealand Office, and the furniture for .£250 in the Standaid. The loss is estimated to exceed the insurance' by between .£2OO and ,£3OO. \ -, BURNT -DOWN. Fcilding, August 27. A six-roomed house, owned by AA r . Bayly, of pnlmerston, and occupied by W. Ciavkson, situated in Camden Street,, was totally destroyed by lire last - night: The occupants were away from Fcilding nt the time, having left in tho afternoon. The origin of the fire is not known 1 . • Both houso and furniture wero insured, but the amounts are not available. ~'., ENDURANCE PLAYING. ■ •" - ■ • Levin, August 27. Albert Barley, pianist to tho Max Picture Company, began a ' piano-play-ing endurance test at Levin at G o'clock this morning* A committee: of citizens is supervising the performance. Burley will try to break the- world's record by playing continuously for sixty-fivo hours.