NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1142, 1 June 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

IBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) ♦ SCHOOL COMMITTEES ASSOCIATION. SOME POINTED KKSOLUTIONS. Wanganui, May 31. At the annual conference of the Wanganui School Committees' Association tonight resolutions were carried that schools lie supplied with uniform reading books, and that children be allowed to take them home, or (hat parents be given the opportunity to purchase similar books for home use; that tho s e in authority appoint a censor of moving pictures in the interest of our young people; that primary schools be placed on the same footing as district high schools as regards subsidies; that single desks be approved; that the Minister for Education lie recommended to issue, a journal on education; (hat (oo much time is wasted on nature study to the neglect of more important work, and that steps be taken to bring about a. more desirable state of affairs connected therewith; that this conference regrets the large extent to which overcrowding prevails in some of our schools; that the association strongly disapproves of the. Department's action in requesting committees to contribute, half cost of purchasing additional areas for playgrounds. FAR NORTH TRAIN SERVICES, Whangarci, May 31. Dissatisfaction exists over a large area affected by llio Whangarei-Kawakawa railway, on account of the altered timetable which comes into force next. Monday. It is impossible under the arrangement, to make the return journey in one clay. A specially-convened meeting .of the Chamber of Commcrco resolved to telegraph to the Minister urging that the 4.20 train, which now stops at Hikurangi, should go right through, also that residents in the north were better served by the existing time-table than by the proposed one. Mr. R-eed, M.P., now in Wellington, was also telegraphed asking him to support the demand for a reformed service. FIRES AND LOSSES, Ashburton, May 31. A six-roomed house in Peter Street, owned and occupied by H. Shepherd, was with its contents destroyed by lire at 5.30 this morning. The origin of the outbreak is unknown, but it is attributed to a defective chimney. The house was insured lor .£l2j in the North British office, and the furniture for JBI4O in the Royal Office. Gisborne, Alay 31. Fire was discovered'in the New Zealand Shipping Company's wool store last night. Four bales of wool were damaged. Incendiarism is suspected. v Dunedin, May 31. Three front rooms of the residence, of Nergcant-Major Mead, of St. Kilda, were totally destroyed by fire last night. The building was insured in the New Zealand office for. £-360. * DOG TRIALS. Dannevirke, May 31. The. first annual championship meeting under the auspices of the North Island Dog Trials Association commenced at Manarahara to-day. Over one hundred entries were received from all over New Zealand, a specially strong contingent coming .from Canterbury. Mr. W. 0. Rutherford l (Culverden) is judging the championship. The following are the results:—Long-baircd: R. Pollock s(Christchurch) Sharp, 2!) points, 1; A. A. Fraser's (Christchurch) Southern Star, 28 points, 2; AV. Whyte's (Waipawa) Boy, 27 points, 3; .1. M'Donald's (Dannevirke) Don, 20 points, 4. There were 38 competitors. A BRAVE MAN'S ACT. Waihi, May 31. At a concert last night, W". Moran, who bravely rescued a man who was being carried out to sea at Bowentown Head's last Christmas, and who was awarded tho Humane Society's gold medal, was.presented by the Mayor on behalf of the public of Waihi with a gold medal and clasp. Moran kept his companion. abovo> water over two hours, and the hvo : 'wero eventually hauled to shore in an exhausted condition. A month ago Moran was rendered totally blind Tjy an explosion in a mine, and tho. concert was given in his aid. SUPREME COURT. Palmerston N., May 31. The Supreme Court sittings were continued to-day. Frederick Allen Richards was found guilty of theft of ten sheep, the jury recommending leniency. Sentence will bo passed ' to-morrow morning. Reginald Reidy, alias Willie Peters, was found not guilty of arson at Ohakune. OREPUKI SHALE FIELD. Dunedin, May 31. . It is reported that there is every probability of operations being resumed for the exploitation of 'the Orepuki shale field. Reports obtained by tho engineers' at Home are said to have, given every satisfaction, so much so that the retorting plant will likely be increased. TIMARU LIBEL CASE. Timaru, May 31. At the Supreme Court this morning, in the libel case Peter Bowker v. Timaru "Post," his Honour gave judgment-for plaintiff for .£ls, with costs on the lowest scale. . •