INTERPROVINCIAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10228, 10 December 1904, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, this day. The Conciliatdon Board lias delivered its finding m tlie dispute m tlie coopering trade, tlie award being based on the agreement arrived at between masters and men. It is provided tliat the week's work shall consist of 45 hours; and wages ore fixed at £2 12s pear week for competent, workmen. Tlie usual lwlidays are provided. A five years' term of apprenticeship is fixed, apprentices to be properly indentured m tlie proportion of one to three journeymen. Preference to unionists is provided for under the usual conditions. The award, which is now m force, continues until December sth, 1906 Coopers engaged at machine work are bound by the award.

*Al the inquest on Frederick (not Patrick) McGee a verdict of accidental death was returned!.

THAMES,: this day. James Mann, a miner, married, aged 70 years, with several children, working m tlie Moanataiari mine, was killed by a large body of stone falling on him. Several tons came away and struck Mann on tlie back, crushing him badly. Death was instantaneous. His mate, Wiltiain O'Brien, liad aai almost miraculous escape. WELLINGTON, this day. At a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union a statement presented! by the treasurer showed tlie net profits of the tour of tlie English team m Now Zealand amounted! to ovev £3000, the New Zealand! Union's share being £1200. It was decided! to send the New Zealand team Home by direct route, leaving m the middle of July. The allowance for each player is fixed at 3s per day. No trainer is to be sent. Probably a match or two will be playedl m Sydney. Mr Murray, of Auckland, one of the selectors of the New Zealand football team for England, lias resigned. Mr Alf. Bayly, of Taranaki, .is being asked ' to fill the vacancy. Tlie team will probably consist of 24 men. Its selection will be announced during the first week m January. At a meeting of representatives of the banks to-day it was decided' to increase the six and 12 months' fixed deposit rates to 2 and 34 per cent, per annum respectively. It is- intimated that this and the recentvincrease m the two years' rate will necessitate the hardleuing ,of the banks' lending rates throughout the colony. • DUNEDIN, this day. A heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by lightning and a hailstorm, pased over the city this morning. So much rain fell tliat the ground will be unfit "for cricket this afternoon. The local chemists held a meeting yesterday, and! decided to close at 8 p.m. daily and 9 p.m. on Saturdays. " The shops are to be re-opened between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday (the half-holi-day) and on Sundays for one hour m tlie morning and from 6 to 8.30 at night. Tliis morning's flood did/ damage to tlie extent of several hundred pounds at the north end of the city. Several traders m George street had stocks materially damaged, many being ' compelled.' to close their premises m consequence.