SAD DROWNING CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 26 January 1909, Page 6

SAD DROWNING CASE.

[BY TELEGRAPH — PHESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, This Day. Dora Griffin, aged 22, second daughter of the Rev. Mr. Griffin, Wesleyan minister, Gisborne, was drowned in the school baths at midday. Deceased, who was a splendid swimmei", had only been in the water for a few moments, when her elder sister observed her in distress. She rushed to the rescue, but the girl had sunk. The elder sister (Dora) made frantic attempts to rescue her, and got into difficulties herself. Mrs. Griffin, mother of the girls, who had just left the baths, hearing the screams, rushed back and plunged in with all her clothes on, and was found struggling a few minutes later by two young men who had been attracted- to the seene f .by the screams. Mrs. Griffin and the elder daughter were assisted out of the bath, and a few minutes later the body of deceased was recovered.

During last week 1651 adult males and 585 adult females paid for the privilege of using the bathing marquees on the Marine Parade beach, Napier. Tho death of Mr. Donald M'Lennan, at the ago of 81, is announced in a Press Association message from Christchuich. Deceased was a farmer at West Melton, and came to New Zeaiand in 1862. He had been on the land ever since. Pneumonia, was> the immediate cause of death. Mr. M'Lennan was father oi" Mr. Donald M'Lennan, Agricultural Editor of the Canterbury Times, and a large grown-up family. Mr. Leo. Buckeridge, who returned with Mrs. Buckeridge from Nelton on Wednesday, has resumed teaching at his residence, 77, The Terrace. Apparently, the people of Petone and Lower Hutt have accomplished nothing by their petition against the transfer of the Sisters ot Meicy irom their district to Wellington city. The congregations of the two boroughs combined to send a petition to the l J op2 in an endeavour to secure a modification oi' Archbishop Redwood's decree, and it is understood the Sisters also forwarded a petition. The Vatican asked for explanations, and the verdict is that the Archbishop's decision is supported by the Pope. An erroneous impression has been created that under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act of last session, it is now obligatory upon factory owners and others to have a wages book hung in a prominent position in their establishments. What ihe law requires is that the wages books shall be kept in a specified form, drawn up by the Labour Department. li> these books the employers arc required to keep a record of all wages paid, but it is incorrect to suppose that the book 'has to be hung up in a prominent place on a wall in a workroom. Nobody is. entitled to examine the wages books but the Inspector of Factories and the Inspector of Awards. Recovery of the balance of the cost of a sewing machine, amounting to £2 Is, was sought by Mrs. Elizabeth Maiy Roife from Mrs. Lucy Maguire at th'B JVlagisaate's Court this morning. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.iVL, presided. Plaintiff stated that she sold the machine, which was in good repair, to defendant for £5 10s. It originally cost £7 10s. Defendant counterclaimed that she had given plaintiff goods and money, and had covered the indebtedness by nursing plaintiff's son during illness. Judgment for £1 10s, and costs Bs, was entered for plaintiff. Instalments (totalling £4 19s 8d) on a piano purchased on the deferred payment system were sued for by Messrs. Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd., music-sellers, Willis-street, Joseph Chailes Minifie, of Adelaide-road, being the defendant. Defendant denied that he was responsible foi* the amount claimed, as the piano was not in tune, and had never used it. His Worship said that as defendant had entered into the agreement, he was responsible for the amount. Accordingly, he gave judgment for plaintiffs, with £1 Is costs. Mr. E. Levvey appeared for plaintiffs. The decision arrived at by the Shopkeepers' Association yesterday in regard to the weekly half-holiday was inadvertently announced as that of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association. All boys and girls who are anxious to master the art of swimming, or who intend qualifying for a certificate of proficiency for swimming certain distances, should make a point of being down at the Te Aro baths, where from 3 p.m. till 5 Mr. T. Shields, swimming instructor, will be in attendance to supervise all matters. Mr. Shields advises that there are plenty of swimming booms and bladders, and that there is room and time for any number. An invitation is extended to all and sundry. During the afternoon there are to be trials for distance proficiency certificates on the same lines as last year. Good entries have been received for the sports meeting to be held on the Basin Reserve to-morrow evening. Francis Birtles, the Australian cyclist, who made a new record (14hrs 50min) for the Wellington-Napier run, left Wellington at 3 o'clock this morning with the object of attempting to lower the cycling record from Wellington to Palmerstoii North and back. At 3.30 he collided with another cyclist who was coming down the Ngahauranga Gorge, and was thrown heavily, but escaped with a severe shaking and some bruises, nis machine (a Rudge-^Vhit-worthj was smashed. He will make another start at 3 a.m. to-morrow, and hopes to be back in Wellington at 5 p.m. Miss Mence is opening a kindergarten school in Brooklyn. Ohtlton House School /or girla will re> op<ra on WedneEday, 3rd February.,