DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2738, 17 February 1910, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

THE WALL THAT FELL.

TPuit Pkess Association.]

AUCKLAND, Feb. 16. Referring to the collapse of the reclamation wall at Freeman’s Bay, the Harbor. Board engineer yesterday reported that during his absence in England a trench Bft deep and 250 ft long was blasted without his authority, and that the subsequent collapse of the wall was due to this.

The chairman moved that a special meeting be called for Friday evening to consider the whole matter, and that the .Board then consider the facts in committee. The purpose of the Board, Mr. Entrican explained, was to investigate the whole matter thoroughly by calling witnesses and obtaining expert evidence. “This matter,” added Mr. Entrican, “is so serious that nothing less than the fullest possible investigation will satisfy the people of Auckland.”

Mr. Bradney seconded the resolution, which was carried.

A REPORTED WRECK

WANGANUI, Feb. 16. The Customs authorities were advised to-day that the hull of a vessel, with the after-part broken away, has been seen on tho beach about a mile north of the Wangaehu river. The police will visit the scene.

ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR FEILDING

FEILDING, Feb. 16. A meeting of ratepayers last nigbt asked the Borough Council to take a poll on the question of electric lighting of the borough.

ANTI-LIQUOR RESOLUTION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. The executive of the New Zealand Alliance passed a resolution expressing a hope that if the provision in the Defence Act prohibiting the establishment of canteens in any military camp has not yet come into force that the Defence Department will see that no authority is granted for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor in any of the camps to be held during Lord Kitchener’s visit.

A TURF SCANDAL. The Supreme Court this morning considered a case in which John Hanna applied for an injunction restricting the New Zealand Trotting Association from disqualifying him for five years in connection with the transfer of the horse Driftwood to R. J. Munro. Hanna pleaded that he had been ill when the transfer was made, and had not received notice of the meeting at which question of disqualification was considered. and other matters were dealt with at the same meeting without notice being given him. Hanna was severely cross-examined by Mr. Stringer, K.C., concerning previous transactions with the colt. He admitted that a magistrate had described one. transaction as a barefaced, swindle. He explained that be had described Driftwood as a brown gelding, -instead of a black colt, through inadvertence. Justice Sim reserved judgment.

HUSBAND REFUSES TO PAY WIFE’S DEBT,

Judgment was given by Mr Riddell, S.M., yesterday afternoon in the case of Axel Holtz (masseur) v. Jas. Fisher, of Christchurch, a claim of £6 6s for services rendered to defendant’s wife. Plaintiff did not hold a medical diploma. Defendant’s .wife was suffering from paralysis, and had been attended by duly qualified medical practitioners, who allege that massage treatment would be of little benefit to her. She wrote to her husband stating that she intended to obtain massage treatment. He replied he would have nothing to do with it unless ai guarantee could he obtained. Mrs. Esther continued the treatment, and on plaintiff requiring payment defendant objected on the ground that his wife had no authority to pledge his credit. Before plaintiff could succeed he must show that his services were necessary to defendant’s wife. Plaintiff admitted that he could not effect a permanent cure. Judgment was given for defendant, without costs.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

The following list contains the names of the Gisborne, Napier, and Dannevirke candidates who passed the senior civil service examination held lastmonth: Arthur Barker (Gisborne), Harold Barker (Dannevirke), Ernest Hurston (Napier), Susanne Hopkirk (Dannevirke), William Neal (Napier), Norman Paulsen- (Dannevirke), George Portas (Napier),- Percy Storkey (Napier), Charles Rendle (Dannevirke). CHRISTCHURCH MAYORALTY. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 16. Mr. C. Allison, the present Mayor of Christchurch, replying to a deputation, acceded to their request to allow himself to be nominated for a further term. A STRIKE OF LABORERS. Five of seven casual laborers employed at Messrs Wood Bros.’ grain shed have struck for an increase of pay from 8s to 9s per day. FATHER- DES OHESNAIS’ FUNERAL.

TIMARU, Feb. 16. Bishop Grimes, fourteen or fifteen other clerics, and a- large number of the public attended the funeral of the late Ven. Archpriest Lemenant deg Cliesnais’ at Tcmuka to-day. The Bishop pronounced a high panegyrifc on the deceased.

PROPOSED CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

• DUNEDIN, Feb. 16. At a meeting of the Education Board to-day, a discussion took place on a suggestion by the North Canterbury Board that am effort should be made to secure a conference between the several Education Boards in the Dominion. It was decided to cordially approve the suggestion, and to state that the Board would he glad to co-operate with the North Canterbury Board in the matter. In the course of the discussion it was stated that, while the cost- of education had increased very considerably, the results now were not nearly as satisfactory as they were ten years ago, and that the education given m some country schools was scandalous.

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD OBJECTS TO MINISTERIAL ACTION.

At a meeting of the Education Board this morning tlie following resolution was carried, “That the Board regret that the Minister should have deemed it necessary to reduce the ordinary building grant by so large an amount

without prior intimation, and after the Board had entered upon obligations relying upon the maintenance of the principle . laid down by the Education Committee in 1903, and adopted by the Minister, and duly acted upon. The Board regret, also, that the Minister does not fully appreciate the absolute necessity for the boards being given assured finance, in order that they may properly discharge their functions and avoid recurring financial embarassments. Tho Board will bo glad to receive an assurance that the building grant will be reinstated without delay upon the lines laid down by the Education Committee.”

LICENSING CASE DISMISSED. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 16. c Mr. Cruickshan'k, senr., gave judgment in the case of J. S. Neave, two informations for keeping liquor for sale and assisting in sly-grog selling. His Worship said there was no proof that the liquor ordered was ever in Invercargill no-licen.se district or sold by anyone here. He dismissed! both informations. Defendants were not called upon to give evidence.

NEW GAOL AT INVERCARGILL. This afternoon, before a small gathering of representative people, the Prime Minister opened the new gaol, a fine structure, built entirely bv prison labor under the able direction of Gaoler Hawkins, of whom Sir Joseph Ward, in his opening speech, said several eulogistic things. The building cost £6050, and the site was taken under the Public Woi'ks Act for £1250. The prison will be the first used in furtherance of Dr. Findlay’s reformatory idea, and to that end lias several notable features of construction, the sanitary arrangements particularly are noteworthy, and the gaol is made on the one-man-one-cell principle.

A SLY-GROG PROSECUTION BREAKS DOWN. In the case in which J. S. Neave, a local solicitor, was charged with keeping liquor for sale, the Magistrate today gave a written decision, holding that Neave had no case to answer, as the prosecution had failed to prove the essentia] facts.