WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 28

WELLINGTON.

A coal expert (Mr G. H. Perry) visited the Mauriceville coal deposits on Saturday. He considers the prospects highly encouraging. Samples obtained of the best coal in the new 6eam he thinks equal to' Coalbrookdale, and is satisfied that there will ba little difficulty experienced in finding the necessary capital to develop the depoeite. The coal Hitherto obtained and generally considered to be of indifferent quality and of little value, Mr Perry coneiders equal, if not 6uperor, to Mokau. Dr Bell, director of the geological survey, is to make an exhaustive survey of the Poverty Bay oil-bearing district as soon as possible after his return to the Dominion. The premises of Messrs Ross and Glendining were broken into by burglars and about £12 taken from a cashbox. The operation of the amended Land Law: on owners who have nominally divided up large estates among their relatives is producing much heavier revenue than was anticipated— so large, in fact, that it has upset all calculations of increase that could be reliably expected. Burglars broke into Whitcombe and Tombs's bookselling and stationery establishment in the city and stole goods to the value of £500. The place was ransacked for money, which, however, had been re- ! moved prior to locking up the premises the previous night. John Chalker. a man of 24, awaiting trial at the local police gaol on a charge of assault and robbery, escaped from the exercise yard on the 16th. WEST OOAAT. In the Magistrate's Court a Greymout'a firm of drapers sued a. boy for 12s for breach of agreement in not giving* one week's notice to leave £ia employment. There was no appearance of plaintiff, bus the magistrate, in giving judgment for defendant, severely cautioned the boy ag&inbt a repetition of hie conduct, which was becoming too common, and would cause trouble. NORTH OTAGO. The Waitaki High School Board of Governors have considered tenders for the addition and alterations to the boys' school, • comprising an increase of the acoommodftion, so that 100 boarders can be token. The contracts for carpentry, masonry, and alterations which were accepted amounted ie just over £4000.