CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 8

CURRENT TOPICS.

BREAD COUPONS. On Monday, May 4th, tho new arrangements for the supply of bread in "Wellington will come into force. The carters will have coupons for sale, at the following rates per dozen:—Se Id for 2ib loaves and 2s for lib loaves. Without coupons the 21b loaf will bo charged for at 3£d cash, and th© lib loaf at 2d cash. The Mastofc Bakers' Association draws attention to the fact that this arrangement gives customers a* discount on the coupon system for the 21b loaf. SECONDAEY SCHOOLS' CONFERENCE. For some years th© conference of secondary schools* principals and assistants, which formerly took place annually, has not been held, but the system has changed so much owing to the introduction of free places and new teaching methods that th© conference has again become necessary. It will be held in Christchurch on May 13th and the two following days. The Hon, George Fowlds (Minister, of Education) and Mr Hogben (InspectorGeneral of Schools) have been invited to attend, and the latter has promised to do so. . PROSPECTING IN TARANAKI. Sixty-two samples of quartz, country rock, and pyritee were obtained on th© Patna ranges, Egmont National Park, by Mr N. D. Cochran©, mining engineer, •who was sent to Taranaki by th© Minister of Mines to report as to the auriferous nature of this The samples were principally collected from th© Boar's Hoad cr©ek, Konini creek, AhuAhu creek, Wairau creek, bed of Timaru river, peak, of Patua range. Hound Hill, and fr<Jm the drives known as Gaple's. Seine samples are now in th© hands of th© Government Analyst, and when the analyses ar© available a report will be furnished to the Minister by Mr Cochrane. CIVIL SEEVANTS AND 19UPEEANNTJATXON. Some members of the Civil Service have, within the last few days, handled more of their own money than for a long while past. A large number who have had 5 per cent, deducted from ti eir salaries in accordance with statute, and lodged with the Public Trustee, have signified their intention of coming under the new. superannuation scheme. By so doing they are now able to lift the 5 per cent, accumulation of years. Some are collecting sums ranging from .£IOO and over. Yesterday about *66000 was paid out by th© Public Trustee in accumulated interest in Wellington alone. The amount that will have to be paid out for the whole of the Dominion is estimated at about £70,000. THE BOOKMAKER TROUBLE. We are informed that Mr T. M. Wilford, counsel for the Bookmakers' Association, has been instructed to secure copies of the minutes of the Manawatu Racing Club recording the decision of the stewards to refuse licenses to certain individuals who. were stated to have defied the wishes of the club's officials on the first day of the meeting, with a view to bringing proceedings against the club for such refusal. Section 85 of the 1807 Act gives power, to racing clubs to license any person who is “a fit and proper person to be so licensed," and the Manawatu Club presumably acted within this discretion. The contention is, w© understand, that persons who were "fit and proper" on the first day were equally "fit and proiper" on the second, and that any disqualification imposed upon then) should hare operated at the'time of their alleged offence, and not subsequently.