DOMINION DOINGS.

Southland Times, Issue 14096, 30 April 1909, Page 5

DOMINION DOINGS.

LARGE ESTATES (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 29. The largest estate certified for probate duty during the month of April was that of Mr Robert Maunsell (Wellington), £101,422. The following are the estates certified for duty in Otago and Southland districts:—Otago: Ann Forsyth, £5256; Thos. Cloustoa, £3877; Margaret Pope. £1341; Geo. Magorian, £1283; Elizabeth Evans, £962; Chas. Lamond, £936; Patrick Sloan, £655; Annie Alexander, £619; Southland: William McFetrick, £11,266; Alexander Hamilton, £5993; John B. Wilson, £3314; John Birss, £1539; Nicholas Kelly, £1577; Amy Isabel Johnston, £B9O.

EAILWAYMEN’S APPEALS. WANGANUI, April 29. The North Island Railway Appeal Board concluded the hearing of cases this morning, when the appeal of Driver McGurk, who was dismissed from the service as the result of a recent collision between the mail train and a shunting engine and van, decision was reserved. The appeal of H. J. Donovan, leading boilermaker at East-town workshops and first on D 3 list, which is the highest grade, was upheld. Donovan was not given a rise in wages when the general Increase was made on Ist April under the Act of 1908, on the ground that he was alleged to be inefficient as compared with one other of three on the same grade. The Board held that inefficiency and misconduct were the only grounds for withholding increases and this the Department did not allege. The defendant admitted that Donovan did efilciently the work given tc him, but alleged that he was incapable of doing the highest work in the trade, which, the Board held was, a matter for grading by the Department. Donovan, being classified on the highest grade was entitled to the general rise.