CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 34

CANTERBURY.

The executive of the National Council of Women commenced a three days' session in Cliristchurch on Monday. The follow'ng officers were elected: — President, Mrs Shoopard ; vice-presidents — Mesdanves Atkinson, Waldy, Hill, and Wells; treasurer, Mrs Williams ; secretary, Airs Page. A paper was read by Mrs Atkinson on " Bible Reading in Schools."' A motion was adopted disapproving of the State teaching religion in public schools. , The Christchurch Iron and Brassmoulders Union has passed a motion urging the Government to take immediate steps to protect tho workers by introducing legislation to restrict or prevent the Harvester Trust monopolising tho agricultural implement trade of New Zealand. A largely-attended meeting of Cheviot settlers passed a resolution for presentation to the Minister of Public Works expressing dissatisfaction with the inadequate amount placed on the Public Works Estimates this session for the construction of the Waipara-Blenheim railway, and urging that "the- amount may be increased on the Supplementary Estimates, so that the Cheviot -end may be brought to a central point without delay. The Arbitration Court concluded N its sittings at Timaru on the 26th, and left afterwards for the north The penalties, imposed by the court here aggregated £115., exclusive of expenses, and in two cases the decision was reserved, these relating to the payment of certain threshing-mill hands. As tho ship Karmo was leaving Timaru ou the 26th one of the sailors defied the captain to take him away, and jumped overboard. He was -picked up by one of the Harbour Board's boats, and the attempt was made to return him to the ship, but the boat failed to catch up on the Karmo, and returned to port with the sailor. The Royal Humane Society has received an application for recognition o£ Edward P. Lavery's brave act in rescuing William Marsh from drowning in the Molyneux River at Kaitangata on the 25th ult. Marsh, who_ was unable to swim, was struggling in deep water, estimated at 12ft to 20ft, when Lavery wont to his assistance, and succeeded in dragging him ashore in an unconscious state. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on the 27th. The report "stated that nine prosecutions were instituted during the year and a conviction obtained in each. Some 198 cas||S ot cruelty were reported to the inspector, and 366 cautions given. A majority of owners and their employees had shown greater consideration in tho treatment of their animals and an earnest desire to prevent cruelty after being cautioned. In no casgg had -the society shirked its responsibility of prosecuting-, , and at the ' country and city saleyards the handling of horses, stock, poultry, etc.. showed a great improvement. The committee hoped that members would do their utmost to stamp out so degrading a sport as live pigeon-shooting. Sir John Hall, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, complained of the leniency shown by justices in animal cruelty cases, and thought- the, society should be very careful and not go further ! into the matter of pigeon-shooting until it I was thoroughly well assured that it would carry public opinion with it. At the quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association on Friday a, . motion was passed heartily supporting the of the workers 'in endeavouring to have such measures adopted as* will preventf local industries being injured by the'.Ha^ vester Trust. It was decided to send a delegate from 'the association to act with. I other delegates in connection with the peti- | tion to the Premier on the subject. A telegram ! to the Premier was read signed for^ the Portland Cement Company and John Wilson and Co. (Limited) directing attention to the formation of a gigantic trust in England to control the cement business, and urging the Government, on behalf of manufacturers, to take action to prevent the expected dumping during the recess. To this the Premier replied that the matter would probably be placed before the IndusI tries and Commerce Select Committee. One matter requiring to be .safeguarded was that the price of the locally-made cement was not increased to consumers. The company promised, in -eply to this, riot to increase the prices of colonial cement beyond those ruling in August before the combine took action. The chair- [ man of the Industrial Association .was i authorised to write to the Premier supporting the action of cement manufacturers. ! A number of persons interested in the poultry export industry are signing^ a petition to the Premier protesting against the' proposal to discontinue the South African service. The petitioners claim that to discontinue the running of the service will wreck th© poultry industry. # . The business premises of Messrs Whit- ! combo and Tombs, booksellers, wore bur- ' glariously entered on Thursday nisrht, and goods to the value of £5 stolen. Entrance was effected through the fire escape by means of tools stolen from the engineer's department. At a meeting of Christchurch City Council the Mayor announced that the proprietors of the present Theatre Royal agreed to erect a new theatre on the opposite side of \ thp road at a cost of about £20,000. The ■ building would be finished by Exhibition time, and would be the finest theatre im the colony. A petition from poultry raisers in favour t of the continuance of tho South African service- is being largely signed in the district.