TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4312, 22 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

’ TECHNICAL WORK AT COLLEGE. The annual'report of the Technical Instructor to' the Education Board contains a. note upon, the technical classes at Wellington College! Mr Riley states that drawing and manual instruction have been continued as formerly at the college. by : instructors from the Central School; The "want 1 of proper accommoda. tion and the hours a£ which classes arc hold, . together , with, the fact that fees are required for sueh classes' as are taught hy thp Technical School, instructors, seriously affect the broadening influence which it is ‘.desired this , work should! bring about. Mr Riley- fully recognises, Mr Firth’s difficulties, and hopes,, witji Ijijn, thgt' tho present dis, abilities may .he removed, and the work adopted'throughout the school iwjthin : sch{)ol hours anil in ‘rooms set apart i .for. 'such 1 iijtetriiptJioh.... Already ’several,'of "the lower forms are receiving instruction fro mi the regular 'school staff, an'd Mr Firth informs the director that shortly the whole school will receive this instruction. , The ’ mandol ■,, instruction class’in, wood is now under the care of "Mr V Bastings, .who also controls the .dinwing.' This combination will have the effect of considerably strengthening 'the work of the college , classes.

A BICYCLE IN' COLLISION WITH A CART. A- • 'bicycle accident which; occurred near Point Jerningham on , July - ,12th- last formed 1 tire suibiecf'of an action in,'' the Stipendiary Magistrate’s. Court yesterday. Mrs Grace-Elias sued Matthew Henry Biggs, of Hopper street, contractor.' for £l5O 9s lid.: of which amount £l5O was claimed as general damages, the result of a ' Collision: between plaintiff and 1 her bicycle and a cart - driven* by an employee of defendant’s. - In' her statement of claim, plaintiff alleged l that when the accident ' occurred she was riding ou the left-hand side of the road; The driver made no attempt to give* plaintiff room-to pass, and the collision was caused by carelessness and negligent driving. Dr Ewart,' medical superintendent of the • Wellington Hospital,' described the injuries' plaintiff bad 1 suffered. They appear to have been of -rather, a serious nature, and may result in * permanent miurr. ■ A boy named Ralph Brewer, who ■ witnessed the accident, saw Mrs Elias throw out her hands and fall on rife seaward side of the formed road. The cart was on the wrong side of the rpadj and, witness assumed, had come in contact with plaintiff’s bicycle, al. thoiigh ho did not actually see the oollimon. He'assisted Mrs Elias to rise. Plaintiff, -in giving her evidence; .said she had ridden a bicycle for six months. She was riding on the left side of the road, and anticipated ' that the driver of the cart would give her room to pass, although he was on ‘ the • wrong side. After the accident She was removed to the hospital, where she remained about five weeks. The further hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday, nfc 10.30 ; a.m. Mr Skerrett-anpearod for plaintiff, and Mr Gray for defendant.

. OVERDUE RATES. • The amount of rates due to the City Council on, the 28th February was £13,226 Is, which is more than is usually owing at that time. • About £2OOO hasbeen received during the present month. A batch of summonses is being issued every day in respect of the remainder. When- the above information was . given at the Council las night Councillor Izard asked whether 10 per cent, was always added to overdue rates. The' Town, Clerk: Yes The Mayor: We cannot get out of that. Councillor Tolhursfc:' I would like to know why the instruction given by the Council that, rates outstanding were to oe sued for has not been, carried out? The order was given six months agoIhe Mayor: I suppose it is impossible to get out all the summonses at one time. lam conscious that rates arc being sued for. The poor Mayor oomes m tor it all. They come to me to ask that the summonses be withdrawn,, and oven to ask me to pay the rates for them. In reply to a Councillor, the l own Clerk stated that all the rates outstanding were not six months overdue. : ■ . '