WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 29

WELLINGTON.

The heaviest flood known for ycavs was running In tho Otaki on the 20th. There was a breach in. the railway between the north

bank of the river and Otaki station about 30 chains in length. The down express was unable to pass in the afternoon, and passengers had to remain at Otaki. The up train from Wellington was unable to pass. Recently the Wanganui Licensing Committee agreed to an extension of the hour of closing- hotels from the 22nd December to January 4 from 10 till 11 p.m.. Upon this decit-ion a deputation representing the Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Association waited on Dr M 'Arthur, S.M., urging in the interests of public convenience that a similar concession be granted he-re. On^the 20th a representative of tht Licensed Victuallers Association received a communication from Dr M 'Arthur stating that after a careful perusal of the acts he found that there was no power to grant the request that hotels should keep open after hours during the holidays. The arrivals in the colony last month numbered 3677, and the departures 1i93. The figures for November, 1903, were 2963 and 1228 respectively. Judgment was given on Wednesday by his Honor the Chief Justice in the case of Reynolds v. Munt, Cotterell, and Co. This was a claim for £300 for compensation for injuries received by the plaintiff while in tb ' service of the defendants. The plaintiff, said his Honor, was not engaged save by the hour, and he could have been dismissed at any time, and there was no evidence that he was working under any award of the Arbitration Court. He thought he was bound to add the plaintiff's earnings together as if he had worked in one week, and grant him compensation on 50 per cent, of those earnings. That was, he was entitled to 7s 4^d per week from th.c time of the accident. • Instead, however, of relying on the Worker's Compensation for Accidents Act, the plaintiff foolishly, as it turned out, commenced an action at common law, and under the Employers' Liability Act. He had failed in these actions, and the defendants were entitled to costs. His Honor fixed the total costs at £140, which would leave £160 as the utmost sum that plaintiff .should recover. He awarded the plaintiff from this date the sum of 5s a week, the balance of 2s 4^d to go towards the coats, so that plaintiff will be entitled to receive 5s per week until £160 has been paid. The Bank of New Zealand received 83 tenders, totalling 7657 shares, for the. 3000 forfeited shares recently offered for sale. The board decided to make allotment to tenders of £5 and upwards. The discovery was mad© on Sunday that the extensive jewellery establishment of Frank Grady, Willis street, had been f-n-tered by burglars. Entrance was made by removing the bars from a back window. The door of the strongroom was opened by drilling- a hole above the lock. Here the valuables were kept, and the thieves had packed a considerable quantity of these ready for removal, "but svere evidently surprised and made a hasty exit, possibly through the owner visiting the establishment on Sunday. An electric lamp, drills, and tweed cap were left behind. Mr Grady is not yet able to estimate the loss, but ifc is not thought to be heavy. The burglary is believed to be the wofk of experts.