TELEGRAMS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10935, 29 April 1903, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Tct United Frew Awociation.) THE SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE. WELLINGTON, April 28. Tbe subsidised steamer Norfolk, which tails to-morrow for Snuth Africa, is virtually a full ship. Included in Ler cargo are 19,000 carcases of mutton, 1500 lambs, 1500 quarters beef, 1500 live sheep, and a considerable quantity of • butter, cheese, aud poultry. The shipment of oats is very large. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. WELLINGTON, April 28. A conference on the subject of securing a test-book for Bibje-reading in schools was opened to-day. There were twentynine .delegates present, representing all parts of the colony. The Rev. Br Gibb, of Dunedin. who presided, reviewed the proceedings which had led to the conference, being summoned, and. reminded delegates of the agitation a few months a»o in various parts of the colony in favour of Bible teaching in State school?. The generally-approved plan, "he said was that some means should be devieed whereby there would be repetition in tjbe schools of tbe, Lord's Prayer, aud Scriptoro reading from, an approved textJjook. " 'He, felt -^ured^that- a referendum would -disclose tb&t'aji 4 ' overwhelming ma^ • jority of the people were in favour of such ait alteration in our educational system. The- Presbyterian Assembly had approved of the -VWc-rinn scheme of Scripture in-, Btruction in schools, but the Presbyterian delegates wert> left with their hands as free as tbe other delegates. The conference, should either adopt the Victorian scheme or modify it, or formulate a new scheme! and having come- to a decision, it should then take its scheme to the Premier aud in the nnme of the, churches ask the Government, through Mr Seddon, to adopt eueh scheme. The. first strp taken by the conference was to decide that the press should be excluded from its deliberations. Subsequently the secretary announced that the following resolution had been — "That the meeting proceed^ to consider the Victorian scheme of lessons as <i basis for lessons to be adopted for use in the. State schools." The conference, resumes in the morning. N.Z. ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY AWABDS. CHRISTCHURCH, April 28. At a meeting of the N.Z. Royal Humane Society to-day, Jaa. KnoWles, pir., of Napier, was awarded a gold medal, the first issued by the Society. On orevious occasions he has received a .certificate, a silver medal, and a silver- clasp. Vac Vac ' Oronpa, Cook Islands, was awarded a silver clasp in addition to the silver medal he already holds. Silver mcdalß were awarded to Constable Leonard J. Cookery (Wellineton), Charles Hirawani (Te Aroha\ Frederick Brcyrrar (Waverley). aud Charlos Hansen (Gisborne); bronze medals to Richard Cassidy (Invercarsill). Matthew Bennie (Bmnnerton), and Walter William Hurley (Northcotc, ' Auckland); f rimed certificates to, Hannah M". Moslpy (Stirling) and Emill R. Barron (EHerslic) : an "in mfemoriam" ccrtifirate to the .rela-' fives of.lvar Jacobus Hoily, who was drowned in attempting to rescue at Gisborne; a, certificate on vellum to Arthur Shapton Richards (Gisborue); »n ordinary certificate to Robert Hall .(Christchurch)j a special letter of commendation to Captain W. D. Reid (Auckland); .letters of commendation to Elizubeth Ferrier (Fairfnx), Constable A. Skinner . (Auckland), .Tames Cahill (Auckland). James Kane (Timaru), and Mary Khouri (Christchurch).