LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 80

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

A number of fresh regulations has beers brougjit into force in connection with, manual and technical instruction. Payments on account of handwork are, as a rule, to be made at the end of the year, but in some cases proportionate payments on account may be made during the year. For the purpose of capitation a public school class for instruction in elementary handAvork will be deemed to have received! regular instruction throughout the school year if the instruction has been given for 40 weeks. The systems wider which the grants are given ara set out in the amended regulations. A payment of 10s a year will be made for each unit of the average attendance of the girls on the roll of a public school having not more than 40 pupils in average daily attendance, and having no female teacher, who receive instruction in needlework, as defined in the standard regulations, for not less than two houra a week regiilarly throughout the school year. A course in elementary agriculture, to ba approved, should include practical instruction in connection with school gardens, andi should also include experimental work. A. course in elementary physical measurements, to be approved, should be on the lines set forth generally in clause 55 of the standard regulations. The Minister is empowered to make grants for the purchase of furniture, fittings, and^ apparatus of a permanent character for the use of special associated 1 , or college, classes, or of certain echool classes. Few people realise to what extent the Workers' Compensation Act affects increased costs, said Mr Rogers in an address on the subject before the Insurance Institute of New Zealand at Wellington last week; but a very ordinary 6urvey of the actual facts would suffice to give some idea of the position. Firstly, every employer was made responsible from the time of the 'first falling of the tree, through its progress to the sawmill, its carriage by water and railway, the labour employed by stevedores, the carriers, the timber yard, the carting again, and the labour employed mi placing the timber in position in the house, to the eactent of half of the average- wages, in some trades three-quarters of same, for any temporary incapacity or, in the event of death of the worker, to the extent o£ not less than £200 and' up to £400. Eacb of these trades, of course, had to add something to their charges to protect themselves from the additional cost thrown upon them. The cost with regard to the; Workers' Compensation Act alon3 was a considerable item. The Workers' Compensation Act had materially affected the cost of building, and therefor© had caused a proportionate- increase in rent. The fact that the worker now received very larvje benefits from his employer for which he paid nothing should! be to a certain extent placed against thw. In like manner the cost of every articl© of consumption or iise was increased. The Wellington correspondent of the* Lyttelton Times telegraphs : — " Under the new licensing provisions which come into force next Julj' it is made clear that the holder of a wholesale license under the Licensing Act may not sell in more than one licensing district unless he has a license for each separate district. It is doubtful whether the present provisions disqualify an individual tradesman who holds one such license from trading under it in any part of the colony, though the act seems specific enough in stipulating that a company must hold licenses for each separate district in which it trades." The deatt of Mr Charles Mcore (says the Sydney Morning Herald) recalls to mind an historal incident in connection with French colonisation in the islands. In the> early days economic plants for the islands were almost all introduced through the intermediary of the Sydney Botanic Gardens,of which Mr Moore was the director, and rare indeed were the occasions that a British warship, bound for the islands, wen-fe away without a wardian case or two from' Sydney. The story is that the despatch of a case of plants from the Sydney Botanio Gardens, in 1853, expedited the annexation of New Caledonia by the French. Mr Moore had consigned a case of plants to H.M.S. Herald by a merchant ship, and the Abbe Montrouzier, a devoted French missionary labouring in New Cale* donia, heaid of this consignment, and afte»

•'most arduous journey communicated to the commander .of a French warship the fact that H'.M.S. Herald was believed to be on her way to New Caledonia with perhaps ulterior motives. It transpired that the visit of H.M.S. Herald was unknown to the ITrecch, but immediately on hearing of her approaching visit the French commander planted his country's flag in New Caledonia. When H.M.S. Herald arrived at ihe isle of Pines the tricolour was waving. By resolution of the Australian Roman Catholio Hierarchy, a plenary council of all .the bishops is held every 10 years. The first plenary synod was held in Sydney in the year 1885, and the second hi 1895. This b»ing th« decennial year, the prelates, representatives of the diocesan and regular clergy, and the bishops' theologians, will meet in Sydney in September of this year, commencing business on tk© third of that _ Xnonth. The papal rescript, ordering the plenary' council and the decree "of convocation issued by Cardinal Moran, together "with routine -instructions, are published in. fhe current * issue of the -Australasian Catholic Record.' Th« parochial clergy of each?di6cese ■ are. requested to elect one of' their bodjr- jo jfsist as their representative at th» ' synod. The committee meetings, ordinary sessions, "and congregations will be teld in the balls. of St." Patrick's College, Manly.Earl Roberts is much in demand at the unveiling of memorials -to men who fell in the South African war. One of his latest appearances at functions of this kind - was at the Central Synagogue, Great Portland street, London, when he unveiled a tablet to " the loyal and patriotic memory " of soldiers of the Hebrew faith who had 3«id down their lives for England. It was an impressive service. When the names of the dead had been read out by the rabbi trumpeters stationed in the gallery sounded the "Last Post," while the congregation stood. It may be mentioned that no fewer than 2000 Jewish -soldiers fought under Lord Roberts in South Africa, and the General has testified that they were no less worthy and brave than the best of their - comrades. Charges of bribery and corruption at the St. -Louis Exposition in connection with the awards of merit are repeated daily in American papers, and the Washington correspondent of the New York Herald says -feat "the relations between the" United States "Government and the Louisiana Company are strained." It is declared by a special Investigation. Committee that "the system of making awards was a gigantio _ scheme for securing money," and that during the closing- weeks of the "Exposition a. regular scale of charges in varying sums was in force, according to the value of the awards concerned. Otter scandals of a ; similar .kind are also freely mentioned, and it is possible that a judioial investigation ] may take place. the St. Louis Fair stockholders the Exhibition proved a financial loss. Within the ktst few days 100 ■nits have been filed against "subscribers" who have been withholding payment of ' their liabilities. The New York Herald's St. Louis correspondent says: — "The Exposition Company is evidently desirous of collecting all its moneys before the storm Breaks." Some, remarkable information is obtained In a. report which was recently sent to the Governor-general of the French IndoChinese Empire. According to this report ♦he Imperial Chinese Government will, in ] five years' time, be in possession of a ] perfectly trained, officered, and equipped active army of 500,000 men, controlled by a general staff, every member of which has •erred' for several years in the Japanese army. The Hinemoa's half-yearly visit to the islands, from" which she has just returned, proved a particularly eventful one, and, as s reported elsewhere, the Government steamer rescued' the captain, officers, and crew of the ; ITreneh barque" Anjou, which "Has been j wrecked on Cape-Bristow, Auckland Islands. | 'The Hinemox has had what Captain Bollons ! describes as one of the worst trips to the • islands he has ever known. Among the passengers were Messrs Fraser (Taranaki), ] Duncan (Napier), Wills (Kurow), M'Alister "(Health Department), and the Misses Mills (2) — daughters of the Hon. O. H. Mills, who ■were also accompanied by Miss Nevill, of Blenheim. While the weather was anything but enjoyable, the trip was an interesting one, and, as it turned -out, exceedingly timely. Those on board the Hinemoa did everything in their power to minister to the comfort of the castaways, who thoroughly appreciate the attentions they have received. Captain Le Tallec informs us that he hopes to return home By the next Messageries Maritimes steamer, and no doubt the crew will", return to then- native country by the same- means. Whatever uncertainty surrounded the j Inman remains found near Pillans's Head - has been cleared up so far as relates to the lost explorer Dr Schmidt (says the Clutha I»eader). Some of the bones were submitted to Professor Scott, Dunedin, and the followr ing letter sent by him to Mr Mackenzie speaks for itself: — "The parcel you sent me i contained bones from two' individuals, an : adult and a child. The adult was certainly " notr \ European. " The probabilities are, of -. course*: &J1 in favour of his having been a a °ri>and the bones show the peculiarities •f form met "with in. that and some other savage races." A somewhat belated cable announces that *he Privy Council allowed the appeal in the Port Chalmers licensing case, Bastings v. Callaghan, with costs. The faefr of costs l>eing allowed is aew.

Steps are being taken in Dunedin to form a State Schools' Defence League on lines similar to those upon which an organisation was recently established in Wellington, with the object of maintaining the present system of free, secular, and compulsory education in the primary schools of the colony ; and at a. preliminary private meeting, which was held on the 16th, arrangements were made for holding a public meeting at which the league will be launched into existence.

The Hon. Sir J. G. Ward informs us that it has been decided to modify the regulations with respect to patent medicines. Instead of the formulas being ->ompulsorily lodged with the Minister of Public Health as was proposed, it is to be provided that it will not be necessary to deposit such formulae until called upon by the Minister of Public Health to do so. That call will not be made unless it is believed the medicine contains something injurious to the public health.

Two belated subscriptions to the Gertie Campion fund have been reoeived — T.D., 2s 6d, and R.F., 10s.

The New Zealand Times says it is probable that Parliament will ,open on Thursday, June 29.

The first derailment in connection with the electric tramcars occurred on Wednesday, but fortunately without any serious consequences, the only result being that the passengers on the car sustained something of a fright. It appears tha-t as a car from Caversham was descending the hill past the Southern Cemetery about 5.15 the wheels skidded, and the car got out of control, the consequence being that the descent of the last portion of the hill was made at an unusually rapid pace. The car jumped the points at the bottom, and travelled a little more than its own length on the roadway, when it came to a standstill. It was fortunate indeed that no other car was standing on the points at the junction at the moment As it was, no one was hurt, and the car and machinery escaped without any damage. The few passengers on board were somewhat alarmed, and one man jumped from the car, luckily landing on his feet. It took some time to replace the car on the line. On this being done, Mr Goodman took the car up to the top of the hill and then down again, proving that fhe brakes were in, excellent order, and showing conclusively that they were not responsible for the car getting out of control.

The Southland Railway League has reoeived advice from Mr Seddon to the effect that he will be unable to visit Invercargill on his forthcoming southern tour. It k considered probable that he will visit Lawrence for the purpose of presenting the charter to the local branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation. At the same time he will deliver a political address.

The X-rays apparatus intended for use in the Dunedin Hospital has come to hand. Before setting it up the Hospital Trustees are awaiting the arrival of Dr Robert Donald, well known in Dunedin, who while at Home made a special study of the *' light " treatment, and had charge of the "light" department, including the X-rays, the Rontgen rays, etc., in the London Hospital. Dr Donald is expected to arrive in New Zealand in the Karamea on the 24-th inst.

Intimation has been received from his Excellency t£e Governor, through his private secretary, that it will give him much pleasure to be present at a public meeting, to be held in the Town Hall, Dunedin, on Wednesday, 31st inst., to further the steps that are now being taken to raise funds for a new medical wing in connection with ; the Hospital buildings.

A painful incident occurred a few days ago at Specimen Hill, a few miles from Bendigo. Some lads were returning from school, and they went to an abandoned shaft, of which there is a, number in the neighbourhood, and commenced to play. They indulged in the dangerous pastime of jumping across the shaft, which is 6ft by 3ft, and, some 70ft or 80ft deep. Benjamin Phillip Bawden, aged 10, son of the president of "the local branch of the Miners' Association, and August Tomlin, a little younger, a ward of the State, were the ringleaders. By an unfortunate mischance the two lads jumped from opposite sides at tbe same moment. They met in midair, and fell to the bottom. Their horrified companions rushed for assistance, and two miners made their way to the bottom of the shaft. They found both lads shockingly injured. They were brought to the surface, where Bawden's father had arrived, and having been seen by a doctor, were sent to the hospital. On the way young Bawden said, " Daddy, put my hat on," and a moment later he died. The other boy is still in a critical condition.

A terrible tale of squalor was unfolded at the North Melbourne Police Court a few days ago, when a woman named Ellen King, with an infant daughter aged five weeks, was charged with vagrancy. The infant was charged with being a neglected child. The arresting constable eaid that on the previous day he and a senior constable went to a house and found a man in bed drunk. Accused was also drunk. Another woman who was holding the infant was drunk, and, horrible to relate, the infant was drunk I It had been given a rag saturated in beer and dipped in sugar to suck, and had to be treated by a doctor for alcoholism. The accused said she was a widow, who did laundry work. Her late husband was not the father of the child. She promised to reform if she were let go, and the bench, with rather doubtful leniency, told her to clear out. Only a few days previously a noman at Richmond was charged with cruelty to children. She, it appears, had been in the habit of locking her children, aced two and four, in a small meat safe while she went out on very doubtful errands. The pitiful cries of the children had aroused the suspicions of the neighbours, and the police found the children in a fiilthy condition in their filthy diminutive prison. This offender got a mouth.