NEWS AND NOTES.

Waikato Independent, Volume III, Issue 214, 10 April 1906, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Eltham B aeon Co. Ltd, has confirmed a resolution empowering the directors to increase the capital of the company from £IO,OOO to £1,2000 by the creation of an extra 200 preferential shares at £lO each, which would bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum on the amount of capital paid up on such shares.

A good deal of light w r as thrown on the reason of the Palmerston North tragedy by the evidence of Fred Murfit’s niece, Ada Davis, who deposed deceased had left Mrs Harris, (the woman he was living with) and she was living with Murfit as his wife. The verdict of the jury was that Mrs Harris committed the deed whilst of unsound mind.

“ It’s just another case of Mrs and Mr Caudle,” complained a husband in the Christchurch Court last week, when bis wife applied for a separation order on the ground of cruelty. “ It’s a case of pitiless and relentless nagging,” he went on in a grieved and tired voice. “ I get it every meal, I’m sent to bed with it, and I wake up with it in the morning.” Despite his pathetic plaint the Magistrate declared against him, and made the order.

"Writing on the construction of the Main Trunk line, the New Zealand Times says; “It would be fair to estimate that of 2000 men employed on the works today 500 are, in greater or less degree, “ rotters,” for there is about that number whose discipline and nursing, added to their wages, make their labor too dear to be employed. It is very questionable, too, whether the dimissal of a few score of the worse would appreciably affect the progress of the work, because a single “ rotter ” in a gang invariably impairs the efficiency of the whole gang, if he does not effect its dispersion altogether.”

A sad fatality occurred at Tarata (Taranaki) on Saturday evening, by which Mr Stephen Smith, an old and highly respected settler, met his death. From particulars to band it appears that Mr Smith, a man of 60 years of age, was driving a young horse in a dray, when the animal shied off the road on to a bank. The dray capsized before the deceased could get clear, and he was precipitated on to the roadway, his head coming into collision with a boulder. The accident was noticed and the injured man carried to a store in an unconscious state. He never regained consciousness, breathing his last an hour after the accident.

Three ocal gentlemen, including a racehorse owner, says the Ashburton Guardian, were proceeding to a recent clearing sale by means of motor-car. All went merrily until nearing their destination, when, on approaching a water-race the driver of the car desired to apply the brake. Then it was found that something had gone wrong and the gear would not act. The car rushed through the race with unslackened speed, and bore down upon a gateway. The driver admitted that it was impossible to pull up, and in the midst of the dilemma the racing man shouted, “ Give her her head and she’ll take it.” And the car did, making matchwood of the gate, although the onslaught gave the occupants a jolt they still remember.

A new postal regulation is gazetted providing that a duplicate of a lost or destroyed postal note may be issued after the expiration of six months from the date of issue of the original postal note, provided that the number of the postal note is known, and the person claiming the amount can satisfactorily prove that he is entitled to the same. When there is undouted evidence of the destruction of a postal note, and the number is known, a duplicate may be issued forthwith. The person to whom a duplicate postal note is issued shall be required to give a guarantee in writing to refund the amount should the original postal note be at any time paid, and no payment of a duplicate postal note shall be made until the guarantee is given.

The question of corporal punishment was brought up at the meeting of the Education Board, says Christchurch Truth. The Appointment Committee reported that on the recommendation of the committee, approved by the headmaster, Miss D. Wardle was authorised to inflict corporal punishment. In connection with this application the committee’s attention had been drawn to the fact that under the present regulations no provision was made (except in schools with an average exceeding 400) for authorising assistant teachers to administer corporal punishment, however experienced and trustworthy they may be. The committee were of opinion that it is not the size of the school that should weigh with the Board, but whether the assistant proposed to be armed with the authority could be relied on to administer corporal punishment with discretion and moderation, and whether the circumstances of the case make it expedient that such authority should be given. It is therefore recommended that the provision restriating the granting of the power to inflict corporal punishment to assistants in schools whose attendance exceeds 400 should be struck out, and that the Board should consider each application on its merits, the authority of head-teacher and approval of the committee to be required as at present. Mr Opie emphasised the granting of the power to teachers, and urged on the Board the necessity of using great discretion in the matter. The appointment was sanctioned.