LOCAL- AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13215, 28 June 1906, Page 4

LOCAL- AND GENERAL NEWS.

Ui*ov the recommendation of its Finance Committee, the- Board of Education yesterday morning agreed to consult the Education Department with regard to Hie necessary legislation to empower the Auckland City Council to lease to the Board certain allotments of the Auckland Improvement Trust as the s'ile for the technical college, and also with regard to the necessary legislation to transfer to the Auckland Grammar School Board the site, endowments, and powers vested in the Education Board for the Auckland Girls' High School. The question of a Seddon memorial was referred to at last night's meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council. The president (Mi. W. IT. Brookes) said it was suggested at the conclusion of the last meeting that steps should be taken tc have a memorial erected tr the late Mr. Seddon. The executive took the matter in hand, and decided that a, Seddon Memorial Fund should be instituted, and Is subscriptions asked from all workers. Circulars and lists had been, immediately issued to the unions in he Auckland district. The executive laid stress on the fact that Is subscriptions were asked from all •■workers, whether unionists or not. The . executive had, not decided wfiut form the memorial .should take. The question had been taken up by other bodies and probably it would be decided later that the council should join in with the others. It might he a scholarship or a technical college, or. something of that sort. A delegate slated the tailors' union had de- ■ cided to wait and see what form the memorial would take, before taking action. Ihe secretary (Mr. Rosser) said a number of country workers had already subscribed their shilling towards the memorial fund. "The trouble is that we haven't got enough married teachers in the service,"' was the remark of a member of the Board of Education yesterday when a bachelor teacher's letter asking leave to let the school residence was before the meeting. Then the Board entered upon a discussion upon the relative value of the married or unmarried state amongst male teachers, but no one seemed inclined to advocate celibacy. " Pity lie wasn't married," said another member. " These young teachers ought to get married." This made the secretary reminiscent, and he mentioned the case of a; teacher who was selected, very many years ago, lor a position at Panmure, and who was given six months to get married. The teacher, however, had "no intention."," and .someone else got the position. A member of the Hoard thought something should be done in the case under notice, as, if the teacher was asked tn "do for himself'' at lhe residence, his school work might sutler, but it was not clearly stated whether this indicated probable indigestion or frequent departures for a few minutes to see if the potatoes were cooked, or the solitary chop nicely grilled. It was then suggested that the teacher might board with his tenants, but eventually it was agreed to permit the renting of the house, subject to one week's notice on either side of termination of tenancy. A suburban properly, comprising a fiveroomed residence and a large allotment, situated at the corner of Cnunmer Road and Tennvson-street, Grey Lynn, was putup for sale at public auction by Richard Arthur and Co., auctioneers, yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance. Bidding commenced at- £400, and rose rapidly to £490, at which price it was sold. Sonic lime ago the- Auckland Trades and Labour Council complained to the Government, of the inadequate lighting of the Auckland railway station. At last night's meeting the Acting-Minister for Railways (the Hon. A. Pitt) advised the council that additional lamps were being provided on the arrival platform, and when these were placed in position it was j anticipated that the lighting of the staI lion would be adequate. The committee of Morrhisville School has been requested by the chairman of the Board of Education to furnish lists of names, ages, etc., of qualified pupils who would attend a district high school if established at Morrinsville. News from Taupo states that a disturbance took place on Tuesday on j Mount Tauharu between a party of surveyj ors, who ate surveying a road to the .summit, and the native owners. The natives seized the surveyors' tools and prohibited ; them from working oil the mountain. The i natives say they were not consulted about | the construction of the road, and will not--1 allow the work to proceed. ! On inquiry last, evening it was ascertainj ed that the condition of the child Elsie j Whitchouse, who fell from a train on Monday was still critical. The colonial mails which left Auckland, via Suez, on May 14, were delivered in London on Monday morning last.,

Six appropriations of £400 each were disposed of at a meeting of the Auck- . land Co-operative Terminating Building Society, held aft St. James" Hall last night, four being by ballot and two by sale. In. the first group, for the sale of £400, the highest tender was £48 5s per £200. and the purchaser took the £400. In the second group, for the sale of £400, the highest lender was £55 10s per £200, and the buyer took the full amount. In the third group, a ballot of £400. the first number drawn was 414, but as this share bud already a loan on it. the next number drawn (389) was successful, the owner, holding two shares in the group, took the £400. In the fifth group, for £400 by ballot, number 591 was drawn. This al,«o had a loan on it. The next number drawn, was 803, the holder having two shares, took the £400. hi the sixth group, tor £400, by ballot, the first number, 577. being under notice of withdrawal, it was counted out-. The next number, 646, was held by two shareholders, who took the amount. In the seventh group, for £400. by ballot, number 752 was successful, the holder, having two shares, took the whole sum. Mr. J. K. "Kneen, secretary of the Auckland branch of the Federated Seamen's Union, has suggested to the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones (Minister for Marine) that the Government steamer Tulnnckai bo sent in search of the scow Haeremai. Th* Haeremai is wow 40 days out from Wellington to Auckland. The Minister has informed Mr. Kneen that inquiries are being made in regard to the matter. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. M. A. Clark (chairman), T. F. Finlayson, and F. Sanderson, representing the Remuera School Committee, waited on the Education Hoard yesterday, and pointed out the necessity for increased accommodation at Remuera school. Mr. Clark stated that properties were being cut up, and population in Remuera was increasing very rapidly — fact, more so than in any other suburb. The number of buildings had increased last year alone from 500 to 600. He also sug- . gested that the rite held by the Reserve Commissioners, near Green Lane, should be exchanged for one near Mason's Gardens, the latter being more suitable for a second school than the file at Green Lane, which was too near the present school. The Board requested the deputation to place its views on the whole question in writing, and communicate them to the Board by next meeting. The Anglican Bishop oi Auckland (Dr. Neligan) will lecture on the English education question, at the Federal Hall, tomorrow evening. The lecture -was to have been given at the Y.M.O.A. Hall, but in deference to the wishes of the Ministers* Association, who objected to the discussion of what they regarded us a sectarian question on a non-sectarian platform, the board of management requested the Bishop to change the subject, but he replied that he would release the Y.M.C.A. from the engagement, consequently the place of the lecture has been changed to the Federal Hall. -As a- sequel to the action taken by the board of management,- the education committee of the Y.M.C.A. has resigned. Seven members of the Helensville branch of the Farmers' Union arrived at Hamilton by the express, on Tuesday, and shortly afterwards, under the escort of Mr. Clifton, of the Stock Department, proceeded to the experimental farm at Ruakura. They inspected all the operations with considerable interest, the effects of the different dressings applied to grass lands was carefully noted, as also were the experiments to ascertain the most suitable ; manures for swedes and turnips. The plots of different grasses were also examined. The milking machine was carefully watched, and the results noted. The party were unanimous that the results fully justified: (he purchase of the farm by the Government, and that any expenditure over and above the value of the produce was money well spent. The new police .station and residence at Avondale (for the erection of which tenders have been called by the Public Works Department) will be quite in keeping with the growing needs of the district. Provision has been made tor three separate buildings— constable's office and residence, the lock-up, and a stable. The first-named building A'ill have a frontage of 41ft to Great North Road, and a- depth of 52ft. The stable and lock-up are to be built at- the rear of the main building. Tenders close on the 18tb of next month. All the buildings will be constructed of wood. The Education -Board decided yesterday to grant Mr. George George, director of technical education, a bonus* of £100 at the end of the year, provided that the account of the technical department was in credit at that period. At the previous meeting of the Board Mi'. George applied for an inoiease in salary, and, the matter being referred to the. Finance Committee, the, committee recommended the action taken - by the Board. The various Protestant ministers of the Upper Thames (excepting Church of England have formed a Ministers' Association, with the Rev. J. Pattullo as president and the Rev. T. A. Wooiloxall as secretary. It is proposed to meet monthly. The devastating work of the " bote:" is becoming increasingly apparent in New Zealand. Hitherto it has been thought that the pest confined its unpleasant patronage to soft woods, but a Carterton resident relates that he put his foot through a matai flooring board the other day. The board, which was iu a room which had been kept perfectly dry, looked sound, but collapsed in dust when pressure was applied. The seriousness of the "borer" in wood will be apparent when it is stated that it is now attacking the furniture. A Carterton man parted with a piano recently because the "borer' had) begun its destructive work in the framework. The Nelson Colonist learns from Mr. Thomas A. Tumbull, mining engineer, that he, on behalf of himself and English partners, has taken up under section 73 of the Mining Acts Compilation Act, 1905, a prospective warrant over a thousand acres at Parapara, adjoining what is known as Cadman's lease. Mr. Turnbull's partners are practical Welsh ironmasters, who will shortly be in the colony, and upon their arrival decisive steps will be taken with regard to working the property. Mr. Turnbull states he has no objection to make to the resumption condition imposed with respect to leases, as he cannot contemplate that any Government would do anything unfaii in such an event. The Cromwell (Otago) Argus states that on account of the exceptionally dry summer there are thousands of acres on Morveu Hills Station with practically not a -, blade of grass. The snow is down at a low level, consequently the country where there is some feed is under snow. Fortunately, toe winter is now getting well on, and so far has been a very mild one. so there is every prospect of the stock pulling through the'winter without a serious loss. Three thousand lambs are being fed in tin. paddocks or bay, otherwise they would have very little chance of getting through the. winter. \ The occupants of the police cells ks* evening were one person, charged with'.. theft, and one-, charged with failing to maintain a child,