Southern News.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9383, 28 June 1899, Page 1

Southern News.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, June 27.

The officers of the Edupation Department, in conjunction with the staffs of the various industrial and native schools in the colony, have subscribed to place a handsome marble slab ever the grave of the late Eev. W. J. Habens, for many years luspector-General of Schools ' and Secretary of the | Education Department.

Mr Pendleton, Commissioner of South Australian Railways, who, with Dr. Giles, of Auckland,. will inquire into the Kakaia railway accident, arrived by s.e. Taluce yesterday. The inquiry will be, formally opened at Christchurch to-morrow, bat no cvi dence will be taken until the following morning. The city engineer has called the attention, of the City Council to the enormous quantity of water wasted in the city in consequence principally of defective fittings, and badly arranged baths. He says the higher levels of the city would certainly obtain a much better water supply but for this waste, and a more efficient supply for fire extinction would also be available. The matter, has been referred to a committee for consideration.

Mr Cameron, the Government pro* duce expert, reports that there is a feeling in favour of using pumice instead of , charcoal for insulating refrigerating steamers, ■■ both' on the ground of freedom from fire; and because charcoal, when damp, is liable to generate germs. One obstacle is that pumice costs more than charcoal. Tiie steamer Buteshire is now being entirely fitted' with pumise by way of experiment,'

The Conciliation Board met jesterday to consider a dispute in the taUor* ing trade,. but ruled that the dispute was not properly before it, and adjourned. The City Council intend to proceed with a Bill this season to enable them to borrow £336,000. Of this £100,000 is set down for the acquisition of tramways, £125,000 for extension of water supply,. £45,000 for the purchase of electric light works, and £50,000 for building a town hall. Timabtj, June 27.

The Timaru High School Governors have resolved to ask the Department of Education to formulate some scheme to regulate the examination, oi High Schools at least once a year. Dtujedin, June 27.

At the dental examinations ten candidates presented themselves, of whom eight succeeded in gaining their diplomas, as follows:-—Sidney H. Jones, Duuedin; J. G. H. Macky, Gore; D. McGill, Dunedin; Fred* crick Odium, Auckland ; Sidney A. Parkes, Wanganui; R. F. Rodie. Invercargill; R. Scott and Frank Thorp, Dunedin.