Interprovincial

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1, 2 January 1908, Page 24

Interprovincial

A number of school, reports which readied us on New, Year's Eve, the day of publication, had to be held over - until next week. We have received from Mr. P. Meelian, Seddon, Marlborough, the sum of 5s for tlu*' Eva ' of the ' Nationfund. There have been 252 entri s throughout the Dominion for the chil service senior examination,' to be held from January 6 to 18. Wcllirgton las 105 candidates, A.c~land 35, Chnstchureh 18, and Dunedin 17.Prior to his departure for Lytielton, Sergeant Ryan was presented by his fellow members of the Police Force with a case of pipes. Station-sergeant King, in speal-iig for the Sergeant's comrad.s, spoke of the cordial relations which had existed between them, and said Ih>y were sorry to part from him. The arrogance of the average' motorist has (says Ihe ' New Zealand Times ') at last met with its deserts. A swarm of bees attacked cno of that'll'* at Lan^ton Hills; the motorist put on full speed, but was, pursued by the insects, and had to dismount and diyest himte'.f of part of hisi clothing, before he could rid himself of his tormentors. From January 1, li) 08, the free "delivery for telegrams received at Wellington, Auckland, Chris tchurch, and Dunedin will be extended to a distance "of three miles for all messages lodged at any office between 8 a.m. * and 6 p.m. After 6 p.m. the free delivery to be for a distance of one mile and a half, but telegrams for delivery within three miles to be charged carriage at the rate of Gd per mile or fraction thereof. For all carriiges beyond three miles the present regulations, i.e., Ihs actual cost of delivery by any conveyance, to be adhered to. Messages for suburban o^ices lodged after 5 p.m., and hitherto held over till the following morn"ng, will be delivered within the Tmits cf the extended free delivery. A triple bathing fatality occurred at Blenheim on Saturday afternoon. A party of ladies and children went to bathe in the Opawa River, outside tha town. Zita Shaw, aged 12 years, was carried off her feet, and Mrs. Arthur Farmar (aged 37) and her daughter ,Rona (aged 17) went to her assistance, but were also cairied away. Zita Shaw's mother, Avho is a good swimmer, - went to the rescue, and almost succeeded in getting l>er dauchter to the bank, but lost her._ She then tried to rescue Mrs. Farmar, vho had fainted, but without success, the two Farmars and Zita Shaw being drowned. Mrs. Shaw was diving to find the. bodies when assistance prnred. The three bodies were soon recovered, snd efforts at resuscitation were continued for a considerable time under the direction of Drs. Adams and Walter, tut unsuccessfully. His Excellency the ,Go"€rnor__has offered to allow Government House at Wellington to be used as the meeting place for next sespion of Parliament. The Prime Minister, on behalf of the (government, has. accepted the offer, and has expresp<Hl to c his Excellency his deep appreciation of this considerate action. Speaking to a newspaper representative, Sir Joeeph Ward said that this arrangement meant a satisfactory solution of a vcrv difficult proMoin. The temporary arrangements f^r holding the session on the present site of Parliament House, which had been cnntemnlate<], would, ho s il, have involved an outlay of no Irss than i-13,GC0, and even Ih.it would not have provided the degree cf comfort that will be available -at Government Hovse at a comnarntively small outhy. Suitable arrangements Would have, of course-, to he made in regard to a temporary residence for the Governor. Tt was a hanpy crowd (says Ili3 'Dominion') Uuit gathered yesterday at the Catholic .picnic in Futhtsr Lane's nleasant grounds beside the river at Lower Hutt. Old and young were there, and all appeared to be enioving themselves. It wsis agreed that the attendance, which miust ha-ve 1600, was greater than in fmy previous year. Th^re was an interesting proTramme of sports and races, wlrle dancing and other round ga>meswpro coing on in other parts of -the grounds. SMttIPS, too, had their dev.otees, and the^ children raced for prices. Refreshments were dis^en^ed by the ladies, and mr>als wore taken in true menie fashion under the willmvs. St. Mary's Band slaved appropriate selections. His Grace ArrhHshoo Redwood and most of the Catholip clnrgy of Wpllin<rto,n and district were present. The oTlcifls cont.ro l Mnsc the snoots were : — Messrs. P. Cas»>v, secretary ; •T. I-Thvps, pssist^t secretory ; T. f O'mollv, E. Hayes. K. Mcßa<\' P. ODea, J. O'Brien, J". O'Sr.llivan, and W. Neazor, judges. ■