TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 271, 21 May 1907, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[PBB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, May 20. The Acting-Premier to-day received a cablegram from Sir Joseph Ward stating that he had selected Major Insen for appointment as AdjutantGeneral of the Council of Defence. He arrives in New- Zealand in July. Early in January last year four Italian fishermen, while engaged at their calling in Palliser Bay aboard the steam launch Napoli, were blown out to sea. Their plight was desperate when the Union Co.'s steamer Rosamund, from Westport to Napier, bore down upon them. The launch was then awash, and the Italians exhausted. They were hauled aboard the Rosamund after considerable difficulty, in which the second officer (H. Newing) distinguished himself, and were given the attention their condition demanded. The Consul for Italy has now received from the Italian Government medals for presentation to Captain Cashman, who was then master of the Rosamund, and Mr Newing. Captain Cashman is at present in Sydney, and Mr Newing is now an officer on the Takapuna. Dunedin, May 20. The Maternity Home was opened by the Mayor this afternoon. The visitors were shown over the building by Dr. Batehelor and Nurses Muirson and Hay. The latter succeeds the former in charge of the Home at the end of the week. The Mayor congratulated the management on the modernity, excellence, equipment, and comfort or the institution, due to the efforts of Dr. Batehelor. Dr. Batehelor emphasised the necessity for medical students attending tbe maternity cases for practical experil ence, and said the late Mr Seddon bad supported the movement. He hoped there would be friendly rivalry between the Maternity and the St. Helen's Lying-in Hospital, as the two institutions were for entirely different classes of patients. Mr McKenzie, M.H.R., (chairman of the Country Schools Committees' Association) has issued a circular inviting members of country school committees and others who are interested in education* to attend a meeting to be held in Dunedin on June 6. In the course of the circular Mr McKenzie states "The welfare of country schools is being imperilled by the great number of un--1 certificated teachers in the service, ; all of whom are in country schools. A few years ago we had not an uncertificated teacher in Otago, now we have 80. In 1894 the colony had 162, last year it had 250, this year it has 680. The work of some of our District High Schools requires adjusting. A check to the centralising tendency is required and some of the powers that have been taken from the Boards regarding additions to schools, etc., should be restored. ! Specialisation of subjects with a view jto the future lives of the pupils j should be considered, and the better '• heating of schools and the question of placing on the Boards the whole cost of maintaining buildings will be brought up." A party of motorists had a very unpleasant experience indeed on Sunday. Mr F. D. Bamfield and his wife and two sons, with Mr Ferminger acting as chaffeur, were proceeding in Mr Bamfield's motor car from Dunedin to Waitati. About a quarter of a mile past the junction the car was suddenly bombarded with a shower of stones and earth, evidently thrown down on the party by someone concealed on the bank above the road. One clod of earth struck Mr Bamfield on the temple with great force, breaking his spectacles and completely dazing him. His sons and the chaffeur (the latter being rather badly cut), however, rushed to the roadside fence and saw three lads of about 16 to 18 running away. Chase was given, but eventually they got away. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police. Westport, May 20. At the Westport Harbour Board's meeting to-day, Mr R. McKenzie, M.H.R., gave notice to move at its next meeting, "That this Board represent to the Government through the Minister of Marine, the. great facilities existing at the 'Steeples' for constructing a harbour suitable for deep draught vessels for a naval coaling station, and that the Government be requested to make a survey of the harbour site there and bring the matter under the notice of the Imperial Government." Greymouth t May 20. News from the New Alpine mine is to the effect that the rich gold found last December has now been proved to be a chute of considerable extent. Vigorous efforts are being made to place the matter beyond doubt. Other developments in the mine are expected in about a month. Invercargill, May 20. An inquest was held to-day on the body of John Francis Day, a farmer in Waikaka, whose body was found in an outhouse in the rear of the Invercargill boarding house on Sunday morning. Evidence showed that deceased had been suffering from melancholia and was ordered by his medical adviser to go for a change. He was in a comfortable financial position. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from a wound inflicted while suffering from melancholia. He leaves a widow and seven of a family. Business people in Invercargill are very much divided over the half-holi-day question. Recently a Saturday Half-holiday Association was formed. A large meeting of retailers to-night decided to form a Wednesday Halfholiday Association, and to take any necessary steps to combat the proposed change to Saturday. The opinion was unanimously expressed that the change from the existing arrangements would prejudicially affect the business of the town. A com- ! mittee was appointed to draw up a j petition for presentation -to ParliaI nent. Wholesale ironmongers have given notioe already of the change from Wednesday to Saturday, and there is some talk of lawyers doing likewise. Christ church x May 20. The City Council to-night approv- , ed the scheme of the City Engineer j (Mr A. D. Robson) for obtaining I electrical power by harnessing the I Waimakariri River, and a special committee was appointed to obtain an expert report on the scheme and : promote the necessary legislation. Auckland, May 20. The local members of Parliament have been requested to report on the proposed amendment to the Slaughi termg and Inspection Act, 1900, giv- i ; ing local bodies power to make bylaws for the better regulating and , j controlling of the sale of meat in the | city , which has been killed elsewhere j than at a public abattoir. Sir Robert Stout, who arrived in ' Auckland on Sunday, leaves on Wednesday for Te Kuiti, where he will open the King Country sittings of the Commission on Thursday. Mr Ngata, who has been weather-bound at Gisborne, is expected to reach Auckland on Thursday. A great deal of data in connection with King Country lands has already been prepared, and it is expected that sittings there will be concluded in about ten days. Speaking to-day to a Herald representlative regarding the probable effect of the Commission's labours on the settlement of native lands, Sir Robert Stout said . "There is no doubt the lands will be settled, but it will of course, take a little time. People must not be impatient and expect everything all at once."