LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 16 January 1914, Page 3

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

y WEST OF ENGLAND TRADE. PER UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. The Bristol and Dominions) Asocsiation :s tank,iig its first, direct shipment by tlio Ivaipaia, which leaves Wellington this week. It is sending la,0(X) carcases from Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Weliingion, besides a considerable quant.tv oi butter and cheese. There were other ports that desired tho Kaij/ara to j :ck ut> produce, but owing to the shortage o! coal daring the strike the vessel was unable to do so. The market reports receded by the association from its head office intimate that tho market is (stronger 'and prospects good, and farmers consider the advances made by the association on shipmenia are rail- and warranted by the market values. Representations were mado by the New Zealand Board of Management to its Bristol sug gesting that it should request the liristol Dock Authorities to have the upper portion of their Avonmouth store insulated, to assist in meeting the increase of trade that is in view. Mail advices state that these representations have been made, and the Bristol Dock Authorities have agreed to ( have tho work done. It will be completed next month, and will give add'- ' tional cokl storage for 20,000 carcases ' at ilie docks. The letter goes on to itut© that the Bristol Dock Committee ' has obtained t'ho sanction of the City ' Council to jirovide further cold storage " capacity for a further 400,000 carcases. The management regards these arrange- * menta as very satisfactory, and) feels sure tbat .the course which the authorities have taken, and are taking, should sot at rest any fear, or any question as to tlie adequacy for the cold storage arrangements for the port. *

EXCHANGE OF TEACHERS, AUCKLAND, Jan. 15. A practical outcome of the activities connected with the Hands Across the Sea Club is the exchange between three teachers horn Canada and three from New Zealand. The latter left the sister dominion by the Makura last month, having come from'schola in the South Canterbury education district, and the Canadian teachers arrived this afternoon by the steamer Marama, The two vessels passecLin the Pacific Ocean, arid thus was the ideal of "Hands Across the Sea" interestingly exemplified. The Canadian teachers are bright young wovuen with a taste for educational adventure, and they are proud of being mentified with the first exchange effected between the overseas dominions per medium of the Club referred to. They will teach under the auspices of the South Canterbury Education Board for a year, when tliey will return to Brandon, Manitoba, whence they came.

SERIOUS CHARGES. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. At the Magistrate's Court Bernard Smith; alias Hankttn, was committed for trial on a. charge of attempting a serious assault on a girl aged four and a-half years. A mure serious charge was preferred against David Menzies, alias Green, in respect of a girl aged eight years and !iro months. The mother of the girl had been living with the accused, and her attitude, after being called to givo evidence, induced tho magistrate to permit her to bo treated as a hostile witness. It appeared from the evidence that earlier on the night of the alleged offence, a serious quarrel occurred be- ; tween tho accused and herself, and he | knocked: her about considerably. Counsel for accused urged that the evidence negatived the charge against Menzies, | and he asked that the charge be reduced to one of attempting the crime. Finally, the magistrate committed the accused for ti ; .' ... on the two separate charges acco~:'..igly and also attempting to co!'' o an unnatural offence. Bail was used in both cases. AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS. PALMEHSTO'N N., Jan. 15. At a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union hero to-day, the question of agri- j cultural high schools was brought up by Mr Matheson, who referred to the importance of the subject. He said lie would liko to see an agricultural high school in every province, and moved —j "That, if the future of our boys is to be considered, and it will be 6een that a majority of them should be engaged ] in agricultural pursuits, no scheme of education is sound that does not provide for agricultural high schools, and tho Executive urges the Minister of Education to establish such schools." The motion was heartily endorsed, and carried.

At a meeting of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, the directors of Wellington province decided to consider at next meeting the question of lending small loans to farmers on mortgage, in lieu of. placing the amount on fixed deposit. The fire losses for the year commencing April 1 last were only £2OO. The total insurances to date wore close on £240,000. A FATAL FALL. DUNEDIN. Jan. 15 George Lindsay, a blacksmith, who was employed by the Milburn Lime and Cement Company, and who was injured by a fall from a ladder at the company's works, died at the hosp'tal this afternoon. from concussion of the brain, never having regained consciousnass. At the inquest Ernest Casey, who was assisting Lindsay at the time of the accident, gave evidence that .a piece of iron weighing about 91b fell when deceased was putting up a stay rod on to an iron chute. This might have hit deceased, or he might have jerked liis head back when it fell without waging. He fell from the ladder a distance of about 9ft, striking his head on the concrete floor. The medical evidence showed] that the cause of death was laceration and softening of the brain, caused by concussion, and a verdict was returned accordingly, no blame being attachable to anyone. CONSTABULARY CORPS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 15. The Advisory Committee of the Farmers' Union has decided immediately to proceed with the organisation of a constabulary corps. A representative has been chosen from each of the 80 district branches. These representatives will in turn each select six others, who will form the nucleus of their individual district branch of the force. Thelatter will in turn use their discretion in selecting as many volunteers as they think fit. Companies composed of 25 men are to be formed. LAKE COLERIDGE SCHEME. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. It is considered probable that July 1 will be fixed as tho date of the opening of tho Lake Coleridge hydro-electric power works.

I PARLU IENTARY BUILDINGS,

i 7 WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. 1 During t.Vj last session the Minister for Pu' Works (Hon W. j Fraser) v s urged by members to have the i • u Parliamentary buildings pushed on : i that they might as soon as possible be ruscned from the unhealthy atmospheic of the p-esotit temporary chamber. It was suggested that thoj work of erection might be undertaken in such a way that tiie main efforts at first would bo, directed to completing the new chamber for the House of .Representatives. To-day oiJiee.s of tlio* Department conferred with the contractors, and ;iu arrangement was arrived at by which the new <hamber will bfI put in hand almost immediately, and j will, it is hoped, be ready for the 1915 j session. This will not mean delay in the lease of the other parts of the buildings. I The whole contract is to be completed | by December 12, 1915, and the contractors expect to be th.'ough by then, but i they will concentrate a'special force of men on the Representative Chamber, so that it will be ava> able for use at a considerably earlier date. YOUNC MAN'S DEATH. OHRISTOHUfiOH, Jan. 15. A man named Shaw, aged 23 years, who arrived at Hanmer Springs from Ohristchurcli, and was staying at the Lodge, whore employment was offered him, has been missing since Sunday evening. He was suffering from brain derangement. Search parties were out on Tuesday and Wednesday s andi they found the body near a waterfall. Ha ! had apparently been dead for two days. THROWN OUT OF A WACCON. AUCKLAND, Jan. 15. A man named Wattam, a waggoner employed at Ohinewai, was found unconscious on the roadside, having been thrown, out of his waggon. Wattam sustained l a fractured collarbone and bruises on the head, and is suffering from concussion. His condition is regarded as serious. NEW COAL MINE. I AUCKLAND, Jan. 15. The opening of the new coal mine of the Waioa Railway and Collieries, Ltd., near Ngaruawahia, is how within measurable distance. The manager is putting in, crosscutting drives preparatory to opening up the faces, to enable a considerable output to be available immediately the railway is completed. It is anticipated! that the rails will be 'linked up to the mine at Te Akatea in about two months' time. The screening plant and bins are being erected t and the mining inclines have been constructed. The length of the railway! will be about six miles. The opening up of this new coal mine will, it is expected, give employment to between 200 j and 300 men.