LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 37

LOCAL & GENERAL.

From our London correspondent news has been received of the launch, at Govan, of the twin-screw steamer Maunganui, built for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand by the Fairfield Shipping Company. Miss Ritchie, daughter of one of the Union Steam Ship Company's directors, christened the vessel, and was presented with a gold brooch and gold watch pendant as memento. The guests present, included: —Sir James Mills, Mr J. M. Ritchie, Captain Coll MacDonald, Mr J. Sparrow, Mr T. W. Whitson, Mr G. A. Simmonds. The vessel's are:—Length, 430 ft; breadth, 55ft 6in; depth to promenade deck, 42ft 6in; gross tonnage, about 7000. She is divided into nine water-tight compartments, and there are five decks. — boat, promenade, upper, main, and lower. Accommodation is provided for 244 first class passengers, 175 second class, and 80 third class, also for a crew of. 136. The main passenger entrance may be either on the main or upper deck, according to the tide. Forward of the main stairway there is a dining saloon over 50ft long, extending the full width of the vessel. The decorations of the saloon are in white and gold, and the tables are arranged on the cafe principle, and are capable of seating 144 persons. The second saloon will seat 110 diners. In general arrangements and equipment the Maunganui is of the highest class. Ventilation has received careful attention, both naturally and by the thermo-ventilating system, with louvre to each room, which allows passengers to regulate the current of air. The propelling machinery will consist of two sets of quadruple-expansion balanced engines. Steam at a pressure of 2201 b will be supplied by two double-ended and two single-ended cylindrical boilers adapted for Hovvden's system of forced draught. According to present plans, the new steamer will be ready for her maiden voyage to New Zealand, toward the end of October, sailing from Glasgow and calling in at Plymouth to pick up passengers. Sir James Mills hoped the day would not be far distant when the Union Steam Ship Company would place another order with the Fairfield Company. The Acting Minister of Health in Victoria (Mr Hagelthorn) is taking steps to institute a system by which infants will be provided with pure milk by local bodies. A conference which is to be held will endeavour to suggest practical methods of carrying out a scheme which would enable councils to draw milk in bulk from an approved farm or farms, have it bottled under proper supervision, and distributed from their depots. The price of milk would bo a matter for the different councils to determine, but. if they agreed to dis pose of their supplies to poor people at a very cheap rate, or in some instances for nothing, they would doubtless be subsidised by the Government. The Government might also desire to grant subsidies and avoid further responsibility. ,

An illustration of the ameliorative result of the modern tendency of penology is given by the Sydney Telegraph in reporting a Now South Wales oase. It is stated that the Prisons Department's practice of teaching long-sentence prisoners some trade at which they will have a chance of earning a livelihood after release from gaol undoubtedly bears good fruit, and occasionally an instance of this oomes to the surface. A letter has been received by Mr Holman, Minister of Justice (through the Comptroller-general of Prisons, Mr W. M. Macfarlane), from a man who was~~ released some time ago from one of the country gaols upon license, having served a sentence of four years' penal servitude. He says: —"I am sure the Comptroller-general of Prisons will be pleased to know that the trade of tailor, taught me in prison, has been of advantage to me. Since my release I am and have been employed in my own home making trousers by piecework for two manufaeturing firms. They can give me more work than I can do " The Minister expresses himself as very gratified at the terms of the report. Over 3,000,000 ft of Oregon pine was carried on the steamer Henrik Ibsen, which arrived at Auckland from the Columbia River on the 19th inst. Some 2,000,000 ft of the lumber will, be discharged at Auckland, and the balance at Sydney. The vessel carried 1,000,000 ft on her deck, the timber being stacked about 14ft high from stem to stern, some of the pieces of timber

being 2ft square. While Oregon pine is being largely imported, large quantities of New Zealand timbers are being exported from Hokianga, Kaipara, Whangarei, Mercury Bay, and the Great Barrier. The Wairuna is at present discharging over 2,OCO,CO(}ft of timber from New Zealand at Sydney, the barque Aldebaran is on the way to Sydney with over 400,000 ft, and the barque Northern Chief and barqucntine Ha.nda Isle are at present loading timber at Auckland for Australia. The steamers Kurow and Kaituna, at present discharging coal at Auckland, will afterwards load timber at Kaipara for Sydney. Booklets showing income and expenditure of workers for the 12 months ending September 30 last'were issued last year by .the Department of Labour to the number of some 3000 in the four chief centres of the Dominion. Up to the present the department has received back approximately 100 of these records, many of which have been, very carefully compiled. Others have been returned with the intimation that the " bookkeepers" had not been able to give the information required. The department specially asks those who have books to' return them without delay. It is the intention of the department to compile the figures received for the information of workers particularly and the community generally. The records deal with all classes of expenditure, not only with living expenses, but also with medical expenses. One lady in compiling her outlay for one particular week showed it to be £4, which included a set of teeth! In another instance a rise in the week's debit was attributed to the fact that there had been a marriage in the house. Another man explained that boxing lessens were accountable for the fact of his average week's finances being a little more to the gcod. Had there been no lesson there had been a deficit that Week. Again, one booklet showed almost a tragedy. A recorder of facts spent Is 6d per week on beer right through . (he said) until Christmas, then it bumped up to 4s! An advocate of prohibition put it down that he had his Is 3d worth cf "soft tack" every week. Some of the entries stopped with the first month —the novelty had worn off. In no case, it might be added, will the department divulge the names of those supplying the information. The booklets are strictly confidential. It is believed (says the Post) that, so far as records show, the worker who replied has proved to be exceedingly temperate. A Christohurch message reports thac Mr L. S. Jennings has been nominated from Canterlbury College as the Rhodes Scholar this year. Mr Jennings has high scholastic attainments, and has made .his mark in athletics, being one of the foremost Canterbury tennis players. A Press Association message states that railwaymen in Christchurcb, when interviewed on the subject of the probable strike of railway employees, scouted the idea, and stated that they had not heard : even a suggestion of such an improbable and preposterous idea.

Scarlet fever is rather prevalent in and Dunedin at present, and there are now 11 patients in the Fever Hospital at Lake Logan. There has also been a somewhat serious epidemic of diphtheria in Dunedin and suburbs, and no fewer than 10 cases are now accommodated at the Dunedin Hospital. Five of the diphtheria patients hail from Caversharn and South Dunedin, three from the Roslyn district, one ■from Moniington, and one from" Dunedin.

Parnell is a place of-more than usual interest just now (says the .New Zealand Herald). In his election address Mr E. G. B. ,Moss said that it was, he believed, the oldest single electorate in New Zealand, and certainly the most ancient suburban single electorate: It was gazetted over 50 years ago, and the first election was 50 years ago last, January, when the Hon. Reader Wood defeated Theo. Heale. The voting would not nowadays seem /"heavy, as the successful candidate polled only 88 votes to Mr Heale's 54. Mr Moss summed up the history of Parnell in these words: '' Three members in 45 years, and in the whole of the 5b years no sitting member was ever defeated. » Parnell was held by Mr Moss's father for the Grey and Ballanee party for 12 years, and by Mr Lawry for the Ballance, Seddon, and Ward party for 31 years."

Rapid progress is being made by Messrs John. McGregor and Co. with the construction of the new steamer for the Lake Wakatipu service. The framework of the vessel is now practically completed, and it is expected that it will be dismantled and railed to Kingston, there to be launched, in about another week. Mr M'Gregor left Dunedin on Wednesday morning for Kingston to make all neceseary arrangements for laying the vessel down and putting her together again at the water's edge. The fore, half of the steamer will be railed first, and by the time that has been re-erected the after half will be sent forward.

The Hospital Board will, it is anticipated, finally dispose of the question of a site for the proposed secondary hospital at a special meeting to be held prior to the ordinary meeting on Thursday evening of this week.

An investigation by the Commonwealth Statistician (Mr G. K. Knibbs) regarding the deaths of infants within 12 months after birth has given some interesting and unexpected results (says the Melbourne Argus). By examining the general trend of improvement in the male and female infantile mortality, it was observed by Mr Knibbs that the rate for 1910 of males dying was only 55.5 per cent, of what it

was in the year 1881, while for females it was only 53.7 per cent. Ho states that as this advance has l.een made the fact has come out that with improvement in infantile mortality it is increasingly difficult to save male life as compared with female life; the disadvantage increases in the ratio of the square of the number of years intervening after 1880. This means that, so far as the indications of the last 30 years are concerned, it will be more and more difficult to make anything like as satisfactory advance in the saving of male infant life as for female life. The rate at which children die on successive days per 100,000 births is no fewer than 840 for the Brst day, 489 for the second, 259 for the : third, 173 for the fourth, 123 for the fifth, 65 for the tenth, 43. for the twentieth, and 28 for the thirtieth day for Australia; and no fewer than 3117 die within 12 months cut of 100,000 born alive, both in Australia and Sweden. In Saxony the number reaches 6767.

A -Christchureh telegram states that the

|"Addington Railway Workshops are turnIB ing out 40 fruit waggons for use mainly B in Otago and Southland during the present Bppit season. There . will also be turned Rgfiri of the workshops soon another "B" B locomotive, and the work is in hand in E" connection with the scheme to fit second I class railway carriages with the old cross I seats used in first class carriages. By formal the Minister of Inter--1 nal Affairs (Hon. D. Buddo) notifies rej oeipt of a pe'titipn praying that a certain I area be included in the Borough of Green

Island. A formal description of the area referred to is appended to the notice, and "it is ordered that written objections or '.petitions against the proposed alteration . must be forwarded to the Minister within - one month of tbe first publication of the I notice. -

' For the first time this season shorn sheep'were forwarded on Wednesday to the Burnside sale. They came irom Ashley Downs,' and were heavy-weight crossbred wethers, well fattened, well drafted, and neatly shorn, and they realised from 19s each-or equal to 3d per lb, butchers' weight." They presented a well-finished, business-like appearance, such as might be expected in sheep turned out of a wellappointed shed. | -A Christcliuroh message states that a local railway man who is connected with the Amalgamated Scoiety of Railway Ser-vants,-and claims to be in the entire confidence of the local executive, when asked if he would hazard an opinion as to the origin of the rumour regarding the probable strike of railwaymerr, said that one statesmen.* had filled him with suspicion That statement was that all hands, with the exception of the engine-drivers and firemen, would go out. The engine-drivers and firemen had what was called a "Loco. Society," which was straining every nerve in- their interests, and was i»t particularly 'friendly with tihe Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The publication of a strike rumour and the emphasis placed on the loyalty of the engine-drivers and firemen suggested to him that the paragraph had been inspired by a friend of the Loco. Society, if not by the society itself. Mr S. Kennedy (president of the New Zealand Engine-drivers', Firemen's, and- Cleaners' Association), in an interview regarding the foregoing statement, said that the rumour in no way emanated from the society of which he is the president, nor did it emanate from .headquarters of the association in Ohristohurch, or from the branch of the" 1 association in Dunedin. His association would have no object in circulating such a report. Asked if he knew anything about the origin of the rumour, Mr Kennedy said that he did not. He did not think there was the slightest possibility of any section of the railwaymen going o« strike.; The Superannuation Act would bar them from entertaining 6ueh a proposal seriously, as. they would lose all the benefits under the act if they went on strike, and would therefore be very great losers. He did not know where the rumour came from, and he was quite sure that no railway man for one moment seriously contemplated striking. j

A poll of the ratepayer* of St. Kilda ,Borough was held yesterday ■ on the ques- . tion of raising a loan, of £ISOO for the purpose 61' building a Coronation Hall in the , district. The poll failed to excite very j wide interest, and while there are about 1600 persons on the roll entitled to vote, only 395 exercised their privilege. The proposal was carried by a majority of 47 votes, the voting being—for the proposal, 221; against, 174: informal, 10. The pro-1 pcsal was thus declared carried. The Mayor ! (Mr H. M. Ewimg) briefly thanked a few assembled electors for the manner in which bhey had expressed their confidence in the council. The estimated cost of the hall, ; including all fittings, seating provision, etc., ' is £2OOO. O-f this amount £ISOO will be raised by loan, £250 is to be granted by • the Government, and the remaining £250 will ' be derived from the borough funds. ! Ncr time will be lost ire having the plans ' of the new building drawn up. It is. expected that the ptago Classification Comimissiioners will next week commence their annual tour of inspection oi the pastoral runs in Otago, the leases ot tvfhich expire in February, 1913. There are 11 runs altogether, comprising approximately 117,000 acres, and it will be for the commissioners to classify these into two classes —namely, (a) pastoral runs only, and (b) pastoral and agricultural runs. The commissioners will also make recommendations in respect of any runs they consider suitable for subdivision for closer settlement. The leases of the various runs, ex-

oepting those that are recommended as suitable for subdivision, will be offered by the Lands Department at- the end of Feb- j ruary, 1912.

At last night's meeting of the Maori Hill Borough Council a petition was received from 129 ratepayers requesting that a poll might be taken on the question of merging the borough into, the city. The council had no option in the matter, and instructed the town clerk to take the necessary steps for holding the poll. The clerk was also instructed to take steps for the holding simultaneously with the amalgamation poll one on the proposal to raise a loan for the building of a new town hall.

The following are the old-age pension returns for Dunisdin for the quarter ended September 30:—New claims —granted, 48; refused, 13; pending, 7; renewals —granted, 275.

The' Cromwell School Committee has passed a resolution approving of Mr D. T. Fleming's proposals for rural and technical instruction in Central Ot-ago, and will organise a •meeting of representatives of local bodies and others interested to discuss the proposals with him and the chief inspector. The chairman of the board (Mr A. M'Kcrrow) has promised to make a visit to Central Ote-go in connection with the matter, and hopes that as many other members of the board as possible will go also.

The Hydraulic Sluicing Company now working near the railway station" at Waitahuna has effecved- a remarkable change in its immediate vicinity. What was a few months ago a series of low-lying stagnant pools—a disgrace to the neighbourhood and a menace to fcho health of the travelling public—has been levelled right up and the station renewed and painted. Needless to say this has given the whole surroundings a much improved appearance, to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. The ground so improved by this company could now be made highly suitable for football or cricket.

A public meeting of ratepayers at Fcilding on the 11th adopted | a resolution asking- the Borough Council to take a poll to raise a loan of £IO,OOO for the purpose of installing an electric lighting system.

j A Daily Times reporter on Friday questioned some of the members of the railway service at Dunedin on the subject of the suggested strike among railway men. The suggestion, it was stated, was one that had. never been entertained locally, and it was regarded as being absurd and quite without foundation. One member casually remarked that railway men, if convinced that the Government was determined to ignore their representations, had their remedy when they went to the ballot box at the general election.

'A female infant, a few hours old, found in an outhouse at North Balclutha on Friday morning at 7 o'clock. Its condition showed that it had been neglected at birth, and the ordinary precautions had not been taken. The infant was in a very weak state, but late on the same afternoon there appeared to a possibility that it would survive.

At a meeting of the executive of the Council of Churches on Friday afternoon a letter was read from the secretary of the Trades and Labour Council requesting that Sunday, 22nd inst., be regarded as L&kour Sunday. It was unanimously .resolved to commend the idea of special' services to the very favourable consideration of the associated churches.

Mr J. M'Gregor, of the firm of Messrs M'Gregor and Co., contractors for the construction of the new. Government creamer for the Lake Wakatipu service, returned to Dunedin on the 13th inst. from Kingston, where he has been making arrangements in connection with the re-erection of the steamer at the water's edge. The forebody of the 'hull will be despatched to Kingston by the middle of this week, andl when it has been fitted up the after part will be sent forward. It is anticipated that the vessel will be launched before Christmas, and that she will be ready to be placed in commission by Easter. A small temporary workshop will be erected by the contractors at Kingston, and at the busiest period of- oohstruotion of the steamer there will be between 80 and 90 hands engaged on her.

An interesting law case, arising out of an old man's will, was heard at the Magistrate's Court, Balclutha, on the 11th inst. John Henry had saved over £IOO before Father Time took hold of him in October of last year and laid him aside from work. He had reached three .score yoars and ten, or more, and when his Jays of toil were over he stayed with a Mrs M'Kee, a Romahapa lady. She showed the old man, who was in poor health, every kindness, and nursed him with great care. Mr Henry stayed with her for 17 weeks, and paid £l3 for board. He was evidently grateful' for the treatment which he received, for he handed Mrs M'Kee his will made out in her favour. This he did without previously consulting her, but he had promised that if he got well he would give her '£3 a week. In February he went to Balclutha, and, apparently without- notifying Mrs M'Kee, took up his abode at Mr James Ludlow's boarding-house at Balclutha. Later he sent Mr Ludlow to her with £4 for board, which he owed her. The old man must have had the sentiment of gratitude largely developed, for the day before he died he caused another will to be made out, this time in favour of Mr Ludlow. He died in March last, and Mrs M'Kee was naturally disappointed when she learned that Mr Henry had changed his mind and be-

quoathed his money to another person. The outcome was a claim by her on James Ludlow, executor of the will of John Henry, for £24 ss, on account of the following items:—Nursing, weeks at 30s per week, £2O ss; moneys paid by plaintiff on Mr Henry's behalf and at his request, £4. After evidence by several witnesses had been heard the Magistrate (Mr Bartholomew) said he would allow plaintiff 22s per week for nursing, plus the £4, less £3 10s paid into court.

The distances of various New Z j aland ports from Sydney are given m a return prepared at the request of the member for Taumarunui and presented to the House of Representative on Friday afternoon. The distances in nautical miles are as follow : —From Sydney to Auckland, 1278 miles; to Wellington, 1230; to Onehunga wharf, 1172; to Kawhia, 1173; to Waitara, 1151; to New Plymouth; 1141

At the Pounawea Christian Convention the Rev. George Grubb, of Keswick, England, and Mr Jackson, his mission helper, will "be the principal speakers. These two gentlemen have agreed to make a special trip from Sydney to Dunedin for the purpose of attending the convention. Their stay in Dunedin is necessarily shor-t, as they are due in Katcomba, Queensland, for a similar convention on January 7. The Rev. H. B. Gray, of North-East Valley, has undertaken the duties of secretary for this year.

Between 8 and 9 p.m. on the 13th inst. a man named Patrick Burke was knocked down by a tram car in the vicinity of the Parksid© Hotel, Caversham, and sustained several severe injuries to his head. The ambulance van was telephoned for. but when it had gone as far as The Willows, opposite the Oval, it ran into another man who, unobserved by the driver, ha,d apparently been standing in the middle <»f the road. He also recei'/ed some injuries to his head. Both sufferers were removed to the Hospital in due course.

Dunedin can scarcely bo as slow and old-fashioned as softue of our northern friends would have us believe, for seldom, if ever, have building operations been more active in the Queen City of the South, which, it is admitted, already strikes visitors as the most imposingly-built and solid of the four capital towns. The latest proposed addition to its„ architectural features is being designed by Messrs Salmond and who have been commissioned by the Dresden Pianoforte Company (Limited) to prepare plans for a fivestorey building in Princes street to take the place of the premises in which the company has carried on business since its foundation nearly 30 years ago. No effort has been spared in searching for points that will enable the company to put up a building wherein greater justice can be done to its ever-increasing business and more comfort afforded to its patrons and the members of tiae teaching profession who gather under is roof.

The tourist traffic to India, next year is expected to be considerable. The King's visit, and the durbar to be held in connection therewith are, of course, the stimulating influences. The .authorities in India are evidently preparing for the influx, since special Custom House regulations have been framed, the effect of which is to enable visitors to the durbar to enter the country with as ■ little inconvenience as possible. A copy of these concessions has been received by the New Zealand Express Company from its agents in Bombay, and these state that, provided a visitor lands between > November 1 and December 10, 1911, the collector has power to allow dutiable articles in free on an undertaking being given on behalf of the visitor by a recognised clearing agent—first, that the visitor is a bona fide visitor to. the durbar ; second, that the arms and dutiable articles will be exported from India before the end of March, 1912. Indications point to the fact that the number of New Zealanders visiting the durbar will be numerous. The concessions made indicate that their presence,' with that of others, will be welcomed.

A Press Association telegram states that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has received to draw the attention of the Union Steam Ship Company to the serious handicap of Auckland merchants by the irregular service between that port, the Bluff, Oamaru, and Timaru, and to urge the need of a regular fortnightly service by steamers of suitable size.

A collection (arranged by Miss Rita M'Callum) in Ravensbourne, on behalf of Dr Bamardo's Homes, resulted in a total of £9 3s. From Wild' Bush Mrs Anderson (local hon. secretary) has sent £5, collected in her district for the same cause; and Mr Alfred Robert Richardon £l3 4s 2d, collected by willing workers in Balolutha.

The attendances at the various departments of the Free Public Library during the month of September were as follows: Newspaper and magazine rooms (open 30 days), 16,581 persons; reference department (open 26 days), 2332 persons; juvenile department, reading room, 400 persons; lending libraries, tickets issued, 2250 adult and 521 juvenile; books issued, 7435 adult and 1666 juvenile. ,

A member .of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants informed a Christchurch reporter on Saturday afternoon that a telegram had been received from Messrs Davey, Witty, and Isitt, M.P.'s, stating that the Government had changed its mind regarding the hearing of tho petition of the second division of the Amalgamated Society of Railway

Servants. The telegram stated that tb<i petition would be heard some time this week. A Press Association telegram states that the news was received 1 with general satisfaction by the men, whose meeting of protest, set down for yesterday, promised to be of a sensational character. No further action will now be taken until the result of the hearing of the petition is made known.

As ilustrating the wide reaching scope of modern journalism it may be mentioned -that Mr J. J. Ramsay, having in the early part of this year contributed some letters to the Otago Daily Times on a subject of considerable interest, has just received through our agency a letter from a Chicago lady who had read his contributions in our pages in that city, and wrote expressing her appreciation thereof.

The following are the traffic returns for the City Corporation Tramways for the fortnight ended October 7, as compared with the corresponding period of last year: Receipts, 1911, £2566 12s lOd; 1910, £2510 19s sd. Mileage, 1911, 49,159 miles 6 chains; 1910, 46,586 miles 32 chains.

There, was a large crowd at the no-license open air meeting at the Octagon on Saturday night. Mr G. B. Nicholls opened with a statement about Maine, which, he said,, had retained prohibition in its constitution by a majority of 748, go that the loud talk of liquor advocates now recoiled 1 upon their own heads. It was impossible that there should now be any mistake about that. Mr Nicholls then read an extract from an American paper of September 16, or five days after the poll in Maine, which stated that " every man in Maine who could be bought, was bought, by the indirect method of hiring his services iu some way or other for sums ranging from 5 dollars to thousands of dollars. The ultimate limit of corrupt wealth, organised iniquity, and systematic falsehood faced ih with ever increasing hostility." /Pastor Gebbie, who followed, said that he was familiar with American conditions, and knew what corrupting wealth could do t-i elections. He considered that in view of the opposition they had to face Maine had scored a mighty victory in maintaining prohibition at all. Pastor Little also gave an earnest address.

Constable Gorrie, of Eanfurly, with Constable Scandrett, of Middlemarch, effected the arrest near Middlemarch on Saturday of Alexander .Walquist, who has been eluding fehc police for nearly nine months. It will ibe remembered that Walquist was being taken to Oamaru from Maheno to stand his trial on a charge of robbery when he effected his escape, although the prisoner had manacles on his wrists. Since that date, January 24, the prisoner has mad© a furtive and fleeting appearance in various parts of the Otago Central, but successfully eluded capture The accused is now lodged in the Dunedin look-up The Otago Typographical Union intends to hold a meeting shortly to consider whether it shall take steps to cancel its registration under the • Conciliation andl Arbitration Act. The Wellington Typographical Society is also holding a special meeting to consider a similar proposal. The annual Hospital Saturday collections were .made in the streets of Wellington an 'Saturday- (Says a Press Association telegram), and the bands played yesterday afternoon at Nowtown Park, where there was a very large crowd of people, not withstanding that the weather was rather unfavourable. Saturday's collections amounted to £3OO 3s lOd.

There were 133 patients in the Hospital at the beginning of last week, and 151 at its close. Fifty patients were admitted, and 31 discharged during that period. One patient (Charles Ayers) died at the institution during the week.

We are informed that a well-known Rugby football player, who has represented Otago in interprovincial fixtures, has been expelled 1 from his club in consequence of alleged offensive and disparaging remarks made in regard to members of the club committee. The eub-eoiuimittee appointed by the General Committee of the Dunedin Expansion League has had under its consideration for some time the framing of a constitution for the league and a prospectus setting forth the league's aims and objects. The sub-committee has now practically completed its task, and the result is in the printer's hands, so that it is expected that the General Committee will be asked to accept the report within a few days, when it may be anticipated that the leaguewill be launched.

At Oamaru on the 16th, before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., James Hollow was fined 10s and 5s on each of two information© for failing to send his boy to school. Amos Wilson, for the same- offence, was fined £s and 2s on each of two informations. In the former case the boy, who is 13 years and six months of age, and had oniy passed Standard 11, had- been taken from school and sent to work. In the other case one of the girls is 12 yeairs and six months of age, and only passed Standard I, which is due to the indifference of the parents to the education of their children. Mr W. Jeffries, Opposition candidate for Temuka. during his speech on Friday evening, spoke of_ tho number of inspectors appointed by the Government, and related a personal experience at Raglan recently. Two travellers entered the hotel -and had whisky and iruilk. While they were drinking a third man came in, who afterwards turned out to be a dairy inspector, and asked for whisky and milk, which was sup-

plied. Next morning lie went to the licensee and said that as he was selling milk with whisky he would either have to take out a dairy license or be summoned. The fact of an hotelkeeper, paying £4O a year license fee, having to take out a 5s dairy license in order to supply customers' wants' struck the ardience as absurd.