WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 53

WELLINGTON

Some burglars stole £50 worth of goods from a 6tore> at Ongaronga on the 30th u]t. They took the storekeeper' s horse and trap and ;ut the telephone wire to Waipawa. A serious charge was recently made against the head roaster of the Wanganui College by a boy attending the- school. The trustees requojted Sir Jas. Prendergaet to inruiTo imto tl*e m*tter. I am authorised to stat* that an exhaustive inquiry has been held into the matter at Wa-nganui in the presence of th» trustees. Three solicitors ssisted, Mr Gray appearing on behalf of the boy and Mea»rs Sloerrett and Tripp on behalf of tie head roaster. Sir James Prpndergaet ia« reported to the trustees that the head master vra>! entirely exonerated, and he suggests that they aot accordingly. The head master referred to has be»n in ill-health for some- time past, and the charges made came ls a terrible rhock to him a^d e^riou^'v jeopardise/ his health.

The following tender? have been received for the construction of 10 locomotives in the colony — Accepted: Price Bros. (Thames), £23,000. D'c'ined: J. and A. Anderson (Ohristcburch), £29,650; New Zealand Loco-

motive Engfneers' Company (Wellington), £31,410; Scott Bros. (Christchurch), £32,000; Macalhter (Inve-rcargill), £33,500; M'Gregor and Co. (Dunedin), £35,750.

The Deputy-regLftrar of (>l rl -a,s»e Pensions at Hawera applied for the cancellation of the old-age pen-sion cartifioate in rospc<:t to two pensioners (man and wife) named Hughes, on the ground that they had left tHe colony on February 28. The pair left for Aueklamd, telling the registrar that their intention was for the husband to remain in that city for four months while the wife weitt for a trip Home. On rejoining at Auckland, however, both took pa.ssage for Colombo by the Wostralia. The regulations provide for cancellation even when absence is only tern. porary, and the department desires tliat this fact should be known by all whom it may concern. An old Sfaori chief, Take Take, whose tatoced face has been photographed pirobably more than that of any other native of New Zealand for illustrated papers, magazines, books, etc. , is dead ; aged 83 yeara.

Speakin-g at Levin on Saturday, Mr Brady, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, said the board had 150 schools, with an average attendance of 15,423, undtT itscontrol. During the la^t 12 months it had spent £9590 m building 3, which were urgently required, but the building giant only amounted to £5200. The board was now left with an overdraft of £10,422. He had now received a letter from their banker stating that no further cheques must be issued against the account.