DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2686, 16 December 1909, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

BURNING SCHOOL BUILDINGS

fl’icii PuicsH Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 15. At a meeting of the Board of Education, the chairpian remarked upon the extraordinary frequency of destruction of .school property by fire. He raised the question whether the Department should be asked to insure. In one district in the North of Auckland there was clear evidence of a system of incendiarism. Two unsuccessful attempt had been made to burn the teacher s house at Awanui (north of Auckland). At Owhata, some little distance away, an unsuccessful attempt had been made to burn the school, but a second attempt was made, and the school was burned to the ground. The cottage used as a school house was next destroyed by fire, and the school /was removed to the Maori church. This met a similar fate. Then came the burning of the Herekino school, four miles from Owhata, and this morning he had been advised that Greerton school, near Tauranga, had been burned down. Indications pointed to nine out of ten of the fires being the result of incendiarism. The Board decided to vote a reward of £SO for the conviction of the incendiary in connection with the fire at Herekino. FORTUNE TELLING. Dismissing an appeal from the decision of Mr. Cutten, the Magistrate, in the case against Madam© Wise, on a charge of fortune-telling, -which was dismissed on the ground that the police who induced defendant to tell fortunes, were accomplices, Mr Justice Edwards said the appeal should never have been brought. As long ago as 1848 it was laAd down that when an accomplice was a spy in the interests of justice corroboration was not required. He held that the Magistrate knew this, and that if he did not believe the police constables His Honor could not compel him to, and there the matter ended. The takin of money was not an ingredient in the crime. HALLEY’S COMET. Mr. H. J. Evans, a local observer, reports that he located Halley’s comet at 11 o’clock last night, hv means of a telescope with a 3-inch object glass. The visitor was then right ascension 3hr 30min, and declension 14hr 40min, being thus on the northern horizon between Taurus and Aries. The apparent magnitude-of the nucleus was about 91, and the comet was moving rapidly towards Aries. MORE IMMIGRANTS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. An addition of 256 people to tife Dominion’s population was made yesterday by the arrival of the Tonganro from London. The. entry of new arrivals to the port was gladdened, after their voyage of six weeks by glorious sunshine. There were tvz passengers in tlie third class. Of uhis number but 24 had been granted assisted passages, only five of whom were men. There -were 14 domestic servants, all but one of whom had engagements to go to. Seven miners in the thirdclass found ready employment, several sailing by the Mapourilca a couple of hours later for Westport: ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. John Driscoll, who bought poison in a chemist’s shop yesterday, stating it was for killing a cat, but immediately took it himself, was charged to-day with attempted suicide. He said he did not intend to do it, but pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Norwood, in obtaining a remand for a week, said that only this morning, in the hospital, Driscoll had threatened to take another dose. A DRUNKEN BRUTE. David Bates, who a fortnight ago, after a drinking bout, assaulted two women, inflicting injuries on one of them with a table knife, was to-day sentenced to four months’ and two months’ imprisonment on two charges, the sentences to be concurrent. One of. the women, who was cut by a knife in various parts of the body, and was also kicked and thumped till she was unconscious, lias since been in the hospital, but was able to give evidence to-day. WELLINGTON TRAMWAY EXTENSION. An extenson of the city tramways to Lyall Bay, where there is a splendid beach, and wner© bathing sheds have been erected, was opened to-day by the Mayor, Dr. Newman, who said that he expected that this place would become a favorite resort. SCIENCE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. DUNEDIN, Dec. 15. A special meeting of the University Council yesterday conferred with Mr. Studholme regarding the appointment of a lecturer in domestic economy. Mr. Studholme made a lengthy and detailed report. He was given power to engage a lecturer, but did not do so, contenting himself with strongly ■ recommending two ladies. If one or these were appointed it would necessitate employing an assistant at £l5O per annum, and Mr. Studholme said he was willing to increase his donation to

£3OO per annum for four years, and also to pay th.ei passage of an assistant. The Council decided to lay the new phrase of matters before the citizens’ committee to-day.

“UNWARRANTABLE INTERFERENCE.”

At a meeting of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Otago and Southland a resolution was unanimously carried, protesting against the action of the Government ,in attempting to override the decisions of the Arbitration Court by introducing the Shop and Offices Bill, especially as the Court came to a fair and equitable decision, wh ieh was agreed to by . th© partids. The meeting therefore objected to unwarranted interference, and intended to stand by the decisions of th© Court until abolished, and called on the Hon. J. A. Millar* to withdraw the Bill introduced by him. THE CANTEEN” QUESTION. The United Temperance Reform Council passed a resolution, expressing gratification at the Government’s decision in regard to Canteens and pleasure at the tenor of the reply given by Sir Joseph Ward to the delegation in regard fx> the King Country licenses, and trusting that legislation quashing tho licenses issued will be passed this session,and that .the proclamation made to the natives will ever be respected. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. At the Education Board’s meeting the Rev. P. B. Fraser severely criticised the methods of the Education Department in refusing to pay house allowance to the teacher at Hillend School. He said the Department had been consistently alienating the support of public men. The time was perhaps not far distant when if they could not get a change or something, they would at least get a change of management. The Board were nothing but hewers of wood and drawers of water for people in Wellington. SOUTHLAND A. AND P. SHOW. INVERCARGILL, Dec. 15. The weather is showery for People’s Day at the Show. The influx of country visitors is the largest known , between 5000 and 6000 arriving by rail alone. The prize for the champion entire was won by Mr. Blakie’s Baron Branxholm, and the champion mare was shown by Thompson and Company.