NEW ZEALAND

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6265, 11 July 1890, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND

(By Telegraph, ) AUCKLAND, July 10. The New Zealand Insurance Company report a very successful half year. A dividend at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum is recorded. A meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was held to-day to consider the question of public expenditure. The president, Captain Colbeck, said that he had sent a telegram to Mr Witby, on behalf of the Chamber, stating that they were quite in accord with him and other members concerning a reduction of the estimates. Mr McMillan proposed : —“ That the thanka of the chamber be accorded to the Auckland members for their efforts to reduce the public estimates, and that this Chamber urge them to continue their agitation to Jleseen expenditure.” He urged that what was wanted was large and substantial retrenchment by tbo reduction of the Education vote and lessening of taxation by reducing or abolishing the property tax. The motion was strongly supported by several speakers, and was unanimously adopted. A seaman on the barquentine Lumberman’s Lassie, which arrived at Aratapu from Melbourne on Friday, was furling the maintopsail of that vessel when he fell a distance of 40 feet and was killed.

, WELLINGTON, July 10. In the case of Hatfield v. Public Trustee the Chief Justice has reserved judgment. A deputation of the City Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Harbour Board waited on the Minister of Public Works re the extension of the railway to the foot of Tory street. Mr Fergus returned a favourable answer, but said he must consult the Treasurer as to providing funds. In answer to questions whether a private company would be allowed to undertake the work if the Government did not, the Minister said he was averse to leaving such works to companies. At the inquest on the body of Mrs Bennett, the medical evidence showed that death resulted from poisoning by strychnine. From the evidence of Mr Fitzgerald, chemist, and his assistant, Mr Inglis, there was no doubt that the morphia dispensing bottle had been filled from the liquid strychnine stock bottle, hence the mistake in making up the prescription. The mistake was only discovered by Mr Inglis when about to replenish the dispensing bottle, and be then found that the “liquor morphia” stock bottle was intact. Mr Fitzgerald, who courted the fullest enquiry, attributed the mistake iu filling the bottles to a former assistant engaged by him. The inquest has been adjourned until Saturday to procure the latter’s attendance. The immigration and emigration returns for June show the arrivals to have been 811, and the departures 1545. The arrivals were as follows From New South Wales, 448 ; from Victoria, 198; from the United Kingdom, 139 ; from Queensland, 3 ; from Tasmania, 22; from other places, 31 j total, 841. Departures —To Now South Wales, 1069; to Victoria, 226 ; to the United Kingdom, 147; to Tasmania, 12; to other places, 91; total, 1543. The excess of departures over arrivals was therefore 704 persons.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 10

The Board of Education 10-day decided that “ in the opinion of the board the bringsng into force and the carrying out of the compulsory clauses of the Act should not be left to the option of the school committees ; that the Act should be amended so that the compulsory clauses should be in full operation in every school district; that the Board draw the attention of Parliament to the expediency of amending the Act so as to require children to attend school at least two-thirds of each quarterly term.” A motion to the effect that the conveyance of scholars to denominational schools at the public expense, is an appropriation of State revenue for sectarian purposes and contrary to the letter and spirit of the present Education Act, was negatived by four votes to three. A deputation from the Trades and Labour 'Council waited on the Board, requesting that a stop might be put to the continual changes of school books, that the books might, where possible, be printed in Union offices, and that the contracts should be let at rates sufficient to allow fair wages being paid to the workmen. The board promised to take the matters into consideration.

A public meeting, attended by about a thousand persons, and presided over by Bishop Julius, passed resolutions affirming the necessity for the earlier closing of retail shops, and that the change of market day to Friday would be beneficial, and recommended the New Zealand Shop Assistants’ early closing programme for legislative enactment. The meeting was orderly and enthusiastic. Mr 0. P. Hulbert, on behalf of the Master Drapers and Outfitters’ Association, stated that it would be almost impossible to close at 6 o’clock on Saturdays, but the masters would be willing to give a weekly half holiday. DUNEDIN, JtriY 10, Several cordial makers were charged in the City Court to-day, for breaches of the Trape

Marks Act, by selling bottles of sarsaparilla, purporting to be made by Australian and American firms. All pleaded guilty. The Crown prosecutor said the cases wore brought for the purpose of bringing the Act under public notice, and nominal fines were imposed. The Zaitangata fund shows that £974 was distributed last year. The present condition of the fund is £11,318, of which £9975 is invested.