NEW ZEALAND

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6204, 1 May 1890, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND

(By Telegraph.) WELLINGTON, April 30. The Early Closing Association have requested their delegates to the Trades and Labour Council to broach the subject of payment of wages on other days than Saturday and suggested that Monday would be a preferable day. Volunteer regulations, drawn up as suggested in the report of General Edwards are in a forward state, and will bo presented to Parliament for approval. The regulations provide for increased capitation on lines similar to those adopted in Australia, and if Parliament approve of them, Government propose to bring the change on gradually. The Navals and the two senior rifle corps in each centre will be first enrolled under the new regulations. The Hon Mr Fergus left by the Penguin for the South this afternoon. He goes as far as Dunedin, but will be away only a few days, as a meeting of the full Cabinet takes place early next week. WESTPORT, April 30. In the District Court to-day in the action Sinclair v. Abbott, £2OO damages for illegal distraint, plaintiff was nonsuited, each party to pay his own costs. The case of Matthews v. Deputy Assignee in Bankruptcy, a claim for £2OO for wrongful seizure of stock and goods, was adjourned till to-morrow.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 30.

At Lyttelton to-day before Mr Richmond Reetham, the Resident Magistrate, Hdwin Orphin, Frederick Charles Page, and George Menzies, seamen, were committed for trial on a charge of rolling down a hill the stone which caused the explosion at the Lyttelton gasworks. The damage done cost £l4i. Defendants alleged that the stone was dislodged by Page sitting down against it with a jerk. Several witnesses stated that considerable force must have been used to dislodge the stone, which weighed over 9owt., from the place whence it had been removed. On examining the hill it was found that other stones had been dislodged and rolled down in various places. The carriers have joined - the cabmen in bovcotting the railway station till Constable Kelly is removed. The Tramway Company have run several trams daily to the station yesterday and to-day, but have agreed not to run more than three as required by their agreement with the City Council. The Traffic Manager offers to limit Kelly’s duties to the station premises so that he shall have nothing to do with the adjacent cabstand on the town belt, but the cabmen decline the offer.

DUNEDIN. Apeil 30.

At a well attended meeting this.afternoon a resolution was carried that it is desirable to establish a public art gallery for Dunedin, and as a step in that direction a fund be raised to purchase Waterlow’s “ Sunny Hours ” and as many of the other pictures as the funds will buy. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and over £l3O was subscribed in the room. A strong committee, including many ladies, was appointed to canvass. At a meeting o£ the hospital trustees to-day it was decided to alter the system of nursing in the direction of employing all female nurses under a matron qualified to superintend, except in one ward in which special male cases shall be treated and male attendants employed. As soon ns the funds already collected are handed over the building of the nurses’ home will be.proceeded with.

INYBBOAKGILL, April 30.

This evening a cottage in town owned by A. Weir and occupied by Samuel Dennison, carpenter, formerly of Auckland, was burned down. The insurance on the house is not ascertainable. There is noneon the furniture the greater part cf which was destroyed. The fire originated in the bedroom to which the kitchen fire had just been transferred.