TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11302, 21 December 1898, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Per United Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, December 20.

Several cases ' under the Factories" Act and Shops Act were before the court today. Five charges were laid against B. Kemp of employing an assistant in his workshop after 1 o'clock on Saturday. Fines of 10s on each charge and costs (665) were imposed. Thos. Gilbert, for failing to provide proper sitting accommodation for female assistants, was fined £4 and costs (345). Tanfield, Potter, and Co., for causin a shop assistant under 18 to work longer than 91, hours in one day, was fined 10s 6d and costs (365). All the defendants pleaded guilty. . A meeting of the. Military Tournament Committee was held to-night to consider the question of the disposal of the £275. about which there was, a .Y.exed controversy at the Queen's Jubilee as to whether it should go to the Children's Hospital or Queen's statue in Albert Park. Two public meetings decided on the two different objects'.' A proposal to give it to the Queen's statue' fund was rejected and an amendment carried by 8 to 6 that the money be devoted to local charities, a proceeding for which the committee had .neither authority nor warrant. As two public meetings decided respectively in favour of the Children's Hospital or Queen's statue, probably there will be legal proceedings. : From £14 to £15 was realised by admission money to inspect the Mokoia. The amount has been handed over to local charities.

WELLINGTON, December 20.

A circular has been issued by the Department of Agriculture directing the attention of exporters to section 18 Of " The Dairy Industry Act, 1898," which comes into .effect on' lst January. The grader's reports show that frequently the actual amount of butter contained in packages is from lib to 21b over the market weights, while in others it is that much under. Carelessness in filling packages gives riso to trouble between buyers and sellers, and like anything ■ else which causes friction or tends to destroy confidence, it is opposed to the best. interests of the industry. Graders aro therefore instructed to rigidly enforce section 18. _■

tAs an outcome of the Royal Oak Hotel fire inquiry the coroner has forwarded to Commissioner Tunbridge recommendations to the police officers whose duty it is to guide the licensing committee in regard to flre appliances; these suggest the provision of electric fire bells in hotels on each flat, communicating in such a manner that the touch of a button on either floor would set them all ringing. He also suggests that two or three light wire, rope laddera should be provided on each floor in rooms without locks, with directions as to where to find them. Further, Mr Ashcroft has written to the City Council recommending amendment of the building regulations to provide for external balconies; that all wooden partitions should be plastered, and the, work near chimneys Or heating apparatus should be protected with asbestos cement over the brickwork.

The Hon. John M'Kenzie has considerably improved in health, and emphatically stages that he has no intention of resigning in the immediate future.