NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 48

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The House of Commons by 221 to 141 has decided to accept the Marconi contract for wireless telegraphy. It is suggested that a national memorial to Captain Scott should be erected in Hyde Park, London, opposite the Geographical Society’s building. The Empire Parliamentary Association representatives reached Vancouver last week, on route to Australia and New Zealand. A idle Mr Cohen and Mr Hallis, two members of the New South Wales Assembly, were having a heated argument in the lobby Mr M'Girr, another member, intervened, and eventually struck Mr Cohen. Other blows followed, but peacemakers intervened, and an apology was afterwards offered and accepted.

Iho Right Hon. Mr Asquith informed a deputation that the Committee of Imperial Defence was at present considering the Channel tunnel question. The reversal of repeated decisions could not be lightly undertaken. The cost of a double tunnel is estimated at £18.000.00(1.

A good deal of opposition was offered by members of Parliament to the Christchurch Electrical Supply Empowering Bill which i.s to authorise the municipality to advance to ratepayers the cost of installing the electric light in private houses, and if necessary provide the material. It transpired that the opposition was made at the instance of electrical engineers in other centres.

At the Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court of Dunedin on the 12th, Walter Duff’ found guilty of attempting to commit a serious assault, was sentenced to five years’ hard labour. Edward Wilson, alias Robert Jones, convicted of assaulting a little lame girl, was sentenced to seven years’ hard labour, and a flogging of 15 strokes. Percy Olding, who had been convicted of abducting a girl, was sentenced to imprisonment for six months, his Honor remarking that there were mitigating circumstances so far as the abduction was concerned. The principal offence was that which took place in Wellington before the abduction. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Presbyterian Sabbath Schools’ Association the annual report stated that a training class for Christian workers was attended by over 50 teachers and Bible class members. At the census taken of children at the morning services in April, 35 schools out of 65, with a roll number of 4542. sent in returns. These showed that 1193 children were present at church, or 24 tier cent, of the Sunday school attendance. The number of entrants to the Assembly’s examination in July, 1912 was 403, a decrease of 170 when compared with the previous year. In the 32 charges of the Presbytery there were 65 schools with 615 teachers and 5607 children on the roll; the average attendance was 4486. Part of the children’s mission box collection had to bo devoted to the self support of the schools.