LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 22

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced in Dunedin and suburbs at 2.10 a.m.. on Tuesday, many persons being roused out of their sleep. Siugularly enough, of* the 30 persons engaged at .vthe time in the Daily Times office not one appears to have felt the qu&ke. A Saddle Hill correspondent writes that two shocks were experiencsd there at 2 10, the duration being about 12sec. Our Cromwell correspondent t telegraphs that a sharp shook was felt there some time before 3 a.m. , •

The 'output of coal from the mines of the Westport Coal Company (Limited) for the month of October was 17,206-tons 7cwt.

Last* night a Dunedin branch of the Progressive Liberal Association was organised, and a strong committee let up to enroll members and make the necessary arrangements to hold a public ' meeting at an early date, with a view to extensive organisation upon the association's constitution and political platform.

The general election for the Ofcukia Drainage Board took place on the 2nd, when the following candidates were returned : —James Carruthers; Alexander Fleming, Robert Shennan;. Andrew SounfS3, and John H. Wilson. The defeated candidate was Mr Thomas Matheson, the new member being Mr Alexander Fleming.

When a motioa and an amendment are before a meeting,, ib often, happens that confusion between the, two is created in the minds of those present. It takes the Presbyterian Synod, however, to produce a really confuting set of issues. At one time, on the 2nd, when one of the articles of the basis of union was under consideration, there 'were actually Sve proposals before the Byuossmen — a motion and four amendments, only that in the synod every proposal is called a motion, — and it is by a prooess of the survival of the' fittest, the latest motion being put against the one proposed last before it and the successful one of these against the one last proposed of those remaining and so on, that the way is cleared for a final vote. There seemed to be an uneasy impression iv the minds of some of Use advocate* of union yesterday that amendments in- the basis- were proposed out of opposition to union itself rather than from an honest desire to 'improve the ba*is, and on one occasion when the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland was elaborately arguing in proof of the selfevident proposition that if the expenses were paid of one-half of the number of elders, instead of one r bhird, in the united church a more respectable attendance of ciders would be secured, the Rev. D. Borrie complained that a covert attempt was being m«de to discuss the whole question. That discussion came on in the evening and was interrupted by two close divisions On one occasion. the moderator's ruling was challenged and the synod by a majority of four votes destined to uphold it ; and later on the synod agreed, by a majority of one vote only, to apply the closure to the discussion. ,

The Presbyterian Synod finally disposed of the union question for the' current session at ' Wednesday forenoon's sederunt:' The bone of contention will, however; be thrown '.again on the fliorbtf' the. synod atf-iti meeting" in M'arch'nexfc whea the Jubilee celebrations-are being heldl' . Yesterday afternoon ' trie 'synod' took np'fii private the subject of the Wyn'dha'm schism, , w&ich again, . engaged ' its ' attention, in the evening and occupied it until after the time at which it was competent to take fresh business, the sitting being indead protracted to a verv_labe hour. - • • ' The proceedings in connection with the Wyndham case, which engaged v the synod in, private the whole of Wednesday afternoon and evening and up till 12 o'clock, resulted in the adoption of the following resolution, which was moved by the Rev. Mr Stobo and seconded by the Rev. Mr Hewitson .—•• That -the Presbytery of MataUra be instructed, at their, next ordinary-meeting, tbacGept the. resignation, of., -the mamoiialist office-bearers' of-the>cougrega-tion of~Wyndbani7 and urge upon Mr Smellie to exhibit a conciliatory "spirit towards all parties connected with the congregation, and regret that through an eir^pr -of judgment he' made An intimation that might -be misunderstood." V, _ - The B Bafctery7Ciby Guards, Nortb-Danedin Rifle*, Highland Rifles, Engineers, ati<J,i(iarri/«on Band paraded at the Garrison Hall' on Wednesday nighb to go into camp for instruction for a week. The rifle companies, under the command of Captain E. R. Smith, were inarched to , Forbury Park, headed by the Garrison Band, while the members of B Battery, under Captain Chalmer, proceeded to Waverley. The tents had been pitched by the members of the Permanent Artillery. Lieutenant-colonel i Webb accompanied the rifle companies to their catnp. • A Cromwell, correspondent writes that the earthquake at. 2.10 on Tueiday morning,- 2ud, was travelling apparently from about E.N.E. to W.S.W. in sharp quick wavei, and lasted about' 20 seconds. - A Preservation Inlet correspondent of the Southland News writes that M'Lean and. party, who had, gone on a prospecting expedition to Chalky Inlet, returned with a sample of ambergris. Altogether they picked up about 201b of it. Ambergris is used in, small quantities by perfumers, and its -price varies from £1 to £3 and £4 per ounce, so that if there is a market for it the prospectors will do well. It is now admitted that it is a morbid secretion of the spermaceti whale, and is usually found float* I iog in the sea. The Taapeka Times states that .a petition is at present in course of signature in the district asking that the mining district of Tuapeka should be exempt from the operations of the Eight Hours Bill. The petition has emanated . from the miners of the district who are engaged in hydraulic mining. They regard the Eight Hours Bill as a most wanton and unjustifiable interference with their private rights if not an actual attempt, however well intentioned, to prevent them from earning a living for themselves and their families. " ", - , A deputation consisting of Messrs Harris and Stains, chairmen of the Grey and Westland* County Councils respectively, was .introduced to the Premier by Mr Guinness on the 3rd, and urged the Government to complete the Midland railway between Jackson's and Springfield, and throw open the company's land for settlement. The Right Hon. Mr Seddon, in reply, said it was not in the power of ths Ministry to do anything in the . direction desired unless the Midland Railway Company made fresh proposals to the Government. So far the company had failed to make - these fresh proposals, and the Government could consequently only continue its present policy of spending money on. the line and calling on the company to repay such expenditure. He doubted whether the company would remain satisfied with this state of things, and would prefer to make default. As toon as default was made I the Government could cancel the contract. "and

unlock for settlement the lands-at .present under the company's lien. If the company made default this was the course the Government would follow. ■ ' The Presbyterian Synod devoted the greater portion of Thursday forenoon to the discussion of the report on church erection and finance, the balance of the sederunb being devoted to the discussion of the scheme for securing a permanent memorial of the Jubilee of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland. ' At au afternoon sederunb the question of the erection of a synod hall engaged attention, and reports from the Publications and Synod Expenses and Accommodation Committees were dealt with in private. - This* still left a lot of business before the synod, but by a desperate rush this was all disposed of at the eveniug sederunt, when the reports on church extension, Sabbath schools, church insurauce, temperance, -and the aged and infirm ministers' and widows and orphans' funds were submitted, and, these having been all rattled through, the session was closed— to the relief, it seemed, of all the members who were present, the discussions of the past ' couple of days having been very lifeless.

Forty -five years ago on Friday last news' reached Duuedin that the Aob of Parliament granting a Constitution to New Zealand had received the Royal assent, and great wastherejoioing among those who declaimed against what they, contidered the tyranny of the north. -Turning to the ' Otago Witness of November .13, 1852/ we. find that a crier was sent through' the town calling upon the r people to 'illuminate, an-' appeal which was heartily responded to." ' Au attempt was made, to fire thi gun on the jetty, 1 but. failed tamporarily owing to want of sufficient powder. But, despite torrents of rain, a barfs! crew set off for Port Chalmers to bring up aj supply. A bonfire, was -lighted on -Ball Hill, where First ■ Church now - stands, and two impromptu bonfires on a smaller .scale blazed iv the main street. Buruing tar barrels were set afloat in the harbour, and there was an incessant rattle of small arms in addition to the booming ■of the ■ cannon ■ after tbe • powder arrived. A fiddler paraded the streets playing Scotch reels, but as the mud proved too much for the 1 dancers they turned the jet6y into a ballroom, s^nd there kept the fun going until 1 a m. ou the" 6th, 1 when " God save' the Queen " was sung, and the more ssdate^pDrtiou of the community retired to rest.' '.The Witneas records 6ue pleasing fact that there were no accidents and- no drunkenness when the people of Otago rejoiced over theic Constitution. It only remains to be said that it, took nearly five mouths for the news to reach the colony.

The Presbyterian Synod resolved at Friday's sederuat to celebrate it) Juoiles by instituting an orphanage seheme^in conaectiou with the church, to be ceiled the Jubilee Orphanage Scheme of the Presbyterian Church of OUgo and Southland. In referring to the necessity for such a schemes the Rev. J. Chiaholm said, that those children that were boarded out from the Indaetrial School with Christian families might receive religious instruction, bat others were allowed to grow up as. they liked so far. as religion -was concerned. We understand, that so far from this being the case every precaution is taken- by the school authorities that those in charge of boarded-out children see , that their religious training is attended to. The minuter 'of the district , is also informed of the a<ldre»B of the "child, so thai he ufay exercise some super-

vision m the matter.' — < » - ' - * - i ■. J ' •<■ It is' a popular impression that there are very few persons up "and down the country who »re so comfortably placed as- are the Preabyteriari clergymen, with' the mijdses that are provided for them ; bub evidence was in the synod yestecday to show that a. few of the minister* have discomforts of various kinds to eudnre, and. grants .were made of votes for the erection of two new manses in place, of others which were condemned as being utterly unsuitable. \ In oae of these cases ib was alleged that the vendors" from who an thebujlding that was jijilised as a mvise wag purcbased'had " had "" the cnuccb authorities, and there was a general consensus of opigipn^ sunoug those who kr^ow the place that it was qjiibe-aut of' the question to ask a minister to live inT if." Itf'the' other 'ckse'the house that was condemned. i« oae. of six rooms!. and the minister for whom it nerves the .purpose of manse has a family of six children, and^-he* stated that when a brother clergytoap visits htm ?ts},ys *f oiv-iibfr-uigbt, oire of bia children has to sleep in- the bath, and anQthar on a.,fl.tretcher in the bathroooii, That 'is a a r Qircum^ancij that dofiV/ribV'sffecS 1 the ' value /of the building ; but' the aiinisler mentioned also that the place had bee^r built of green timber, and that leaks and draughts abounded in it.

The correspondent of the Lyfctelfcon Times says it is freely stated that before phe General Estimates are passed a Ministerial crisis will arise, owing to the defection of some of, the Government supporters. - It is evident that the Left Wing section is actively intriguing to that end. The Government majority beings only seven, it is pointed' out that' tour IndependentLiberals have now power to defeat the Ministry. After speculating on the. terms which the' Loft Wing would probably demand, -the correspondent proceeds to say that- the weak point is the fact that' the leading 'members of the Opposition declare that theycannot unite with the Left Wing t for any other purpose than the defeat of the present Government; A coalition Ministry thjpr scout as an impossibility.

At the sitting of the Presbyterian Synod on Thursday complaint was made by 'Mr A. C. Begg, convener of the Church Erection and Finance Committee, of the oppressiveness of the taxation levied by the Government on the church land. The land tax on the gross income of the ecclesiastical and manse reserve funds was, he said, £606 15» 6d, or at the rate of 3s o£d on £3981 10s 9d, the amount of the income. This tax was nearly four times the amount which would have had to be paid if the incoms had come from any other source whatever except land. He thought that it would only be necessary to draw attention to the fact that the church had not a large property by'a'ny means; but its land consisted of a number of single pro- ' perties .scattered over the whole area of Otago and Southland. These properties were, tibw--ever, treated as one, and cumulative taxation was levied on -the gross income, jthe. tax being probably equal to 4s ia the p"bun'd"on the net income. " He thought the synod ought to petition Parliament, pointing out how the present system pressed on funds such as these, which were for the general good of the community. Mr R. Chisholm observed that the Government dealt with individuals and associations similarly situated as the church in the same way as they dealt with the church', and he questioned, therefore, whether there was any probability of the Government recognising any claim from the church. Mr Begg declared) in the course of further discusiion on the; subject, that the church property was valued at a much higher - rate than the income warranted. The experience with the cruiser Powerful during the naval manoeuvres h*s convinced Captain Lambton (says the Pall Mall Gazette) ' that her complement of stokers is not equal to ! the work requited of them, and, ia consequence

of his representations, 'she. will carry 60 1 additional engine-room ratings, which will bring up her ship's company to a total of 954, or considerably mora than any other warship, battle* ship, or cruiser in the world; It hat been decided to send her to China round the Cape, instead' of through the Canal, where it is more than likely that she 'would stick. After a year on the China station" sha is to go to Australia for a year, and will wind up her first commission with, a year in the Mediterranean. y Witb. a vessel of her size, especially considering the objects with which she was built, the docking question is one of the greatest importance, and we must assume that the Admiralty have satisfied themselves that there will be no difficulty in finding the accommodation required.

The Rev. P. B. Fraser furnished in the Preabyterian Sjnod op"the 4th the latest example of. how evil communications corrupt good manner*. He actually introduced Education Board ethics ' into the synod, remarking that a dilapidated building in North Otago" whibh serves as ad apology for a manse could/never be made into a manss, and that what was wanted, was an honest fire. It will be remembered that this was the 'course proposed recently at a meeting of tho Education Board, of which Mr Eraser is a member, in the oase of a school building in the Otago district. It is evident that Mr Fraser -has been corrupted by his association with membsrsof the board." ' Ink report" which was laid before the synod yesterday it w*« disclosed ' that the Presbyterian- Church' in: Otajb and Southland is not getting the "better of the insurance companies^ )' ' The ■ amount* paid- fofc ' insurance of cuuroh«B and maniesit about £540 .', per annum, and has during the last •ix/ears' 1 totalled £2397-,' but not a penoy.his'-cbai'e in • from the insurance companies, Wd for the past; 20 years hn'rdly a church b'uiMiag'h&s W.etf even damaged by fire. It was pi/mfced ontfklso that the experience of the Otago Edtio&tioa Bjard, which insures its own property, is that ona year's premiums nearly cover the whole of, the - losses by fire for. 10 yearc - , Undec\these circumstances some of the members of the synod are not unnaturally in favour of a' scheme by which the church may insure its oh a property.

The regular weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trnstees ;was held on Weduestftay, »the 3rd, . and *ai attended by .Messrs Solomon (ohairmati);' Allan, Wilson, Wftson,- .Sv»*u, *»d Green. 'Accounts -amounting to £382 10s Id were- passed for payment. The cdsU of the outdoor department for October .were reported to be £121 1».6d, per" week," and the u'umbar of p».«e» 450, representing 205 men, 334 vromeu, and 702 childrea. For the corresponding month of last year .the cases were 494, comprising ?.09 men, 366 women, .and 900 children, the cpit per week being £144 14s. The Cfccutnan «»id this meaufc that tbe m wore now 34 cuses le««, with a'reduotion in cost of. £23 '18* 6d. Progress paymants of £190 and £64 in connfotion with the eceotion of tUe new laundry were passed for payment. The ChairJiiau meutiou«'<i that the windmill at the institution >i as agaia causing annoyance to the' occupants of' & cottage, at the comer of Alexander iilresb hM<i Cargill road, by throwing the oil about. Mr Mac stated that lubricating ralres had b?en pat on the windmill,, with .the objecb-oE stopp.iug tha nuisance. It was left, to Mr Mcc to report to ■n*xfc meetings Fifty relief cases!* were daalb with X . < -

) ' A- Wsll-attendejJ "m£6bm£,pf\'toß>" WoraenV Christian Temperance .Union' , -was,: held ffirn r >fche Young Women's Christian >A«BOci*fcioa.-R^»«ya» oh Wednesday^ the 3rcL " A letter, wfc* 'received from -the secretary', of « the Nnseby- br^n'dh the^union' jn&odubinjf 1 ' a^new membe*r*who}h*d lately come .from.- .there, to resiuejn Dnne'din. • 'Repoctß were jreoeived tj torn fcae<SaH6-s'"ReSb' Committee re- Misr SUthaWs leotar«, , v?hich was given oh the' 21st" ulfc. and, in spite »f its being & very wet'^ighfe, resulted in 22s <6d being cpllect'ed;' Many of the members,expressing disappointment at not beitvg able to be present, MisaSfcutham agreed to give th* lecture again on gome fubure \date. ,Tho committee, reported that several well-Attended meetings bad been held >t, the rest during the month, tt»9 fact of the PresbjiterrfiD Synodbcing held .enabling, several miuisters to Assist and making the meetings &ttc#ctive' lriVeresting v and most .encouraging letters were read from Mr Falconer; containing extracts from those of sailors fh» had, recaivfid ranch -blessing from meetings they had bpen^ableifco "a'tt'eisa while "in portt % No .definite arlingement* coald be made re - the ""temperance "tent at tho forthcoming sbovr, »s no word had been received jfrpm. ths Agricultural Committee, but .the matter w»*^ left in the hands' of a- capable committee to' arrange. It was proposed and- carried unanimously that a letter 'of congratulation with thanks for pant services should be sent to Miss Seara, who is about to sever her connection with the Dunedin branch apd, settle in Timaru. The meeting closed' as usual with the benediction.

On the arrival of the barque Nor'-Wesfcer on Friday she was boarded , layL Mr A. B. Falconer, the ship mis«oiiary i ';'W,ho'>iimted : - fche members of the crew and *Iso- tKe'-^irfiipwreckod crew from the ship.Ojpiraodore, who came tp Dunedi.n as -passengers ,m her,' to te&.&fc.the Sailqr»' JRest v ' Tne invita.ipn' was 'cordiajly accepted,' and there w»8 a.iarge : attendance' »fc the rest,, the room. being crowded with iailors"*^ Mr, Falconer .presided- at » meeting after th© * tea, when a nutnbar of Udies and genUem.3Q delivered addresses, And before the meeting terminated one of the sailor's,' for himself and on behalf of his companions, returned thanks for the kindness with which they . had been, treated.

The annual meeting of shareholders of the' Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited) will be held on Monday, '29th inst. At their meeting on Thursday last the directors resolved to recommend the payment of a dividend of 2£ per cent.' for the six months endiDg September 30 last, making with the interim dividend paid in May a dividend of 5 percent, for the year. In addition the directors recommend a bonus of 1 per cent, from the insurance fund, which will make in all 6 per cent, for the year. 'J ' '; ' „ '.'"";'. The Clotha Leader ■ states that following up an information- for «ly grog- selling. Constables Willis! and Han'sen arrived from -Dunedin by the express on. Thursday morning, and, accom- , pahied by Constable Griffith, made a raid on' the Railway Hotel premises, and took possession of a fair quantity of liquor. * Mr and Hrc Heney have only been in the place for a month or ao, since Mr M'Corley went to Kaitangata.

' Mr Panlin informs us that the rainfall during last month amounted to 6 47in at Opoho and to 6'4Bin on Signal Hill. Rain fell on 24 days. Mr C. W. Harvey, ton of the late Judge Harvey., who was uatjl recently connected with' the National Bank, has joined, the^Duriedinr Stock^Exchange. -> -. ___^" ' t--~ ■ The New Zealand University examinations are being- '.conducted this ■ week; in- th« Agricultural- Hall) . The -'■arrangements,' which; arc -to be very complete, include ' th« providing of a small table for each' candidate. Tho matriculation examination!, which commence on December 7, are . also to 'be held, in than Agricultural" Hall.' when the 'Mine"' •itfcipt

arrangements will be in force. For tbe latter examinations there are 183* candidates.

• In our telegraphic report of the Judgment given at Invercargill by District Judge Ward in the Application of J. G. Ward for his die.chsrge, his Honor was made to say : " I trust that these proceedings will show the futility of the accusations made elsewhere." What his Honor did say was that/.' l presume the reason for not* bringing forward the accusations was that their futility had been discovered. After the explanation in the assignee's report it appears to me there is no sufficient cause for delaying tbe order of discharge, which I consequently grant."-

Ac a result of she reduction iv the rate of interest paid by the Post Office Savings Bank the Bank of New Zealand and tbe National Bank reduced the rates on deposits from 3£- to 3 per cent.

An enjoyable entertainment, consisting of a kioderspiel entitled " Playmatec," maypole dances, recitation?, &c., was given by theschool children, under the conductorship of Miss Home, ia the Volunteer Hall, Green Inland, on Friday .and Saturday evening?, the object being to provide funds for the erection of a gymHasium for the schojJ. Oa both occasions the call was densely packed, standing room being at a premium. ' The entertaiument turned out to be one of the most successful ever held in the district, the echool committee benefiting to the extent of about £40. The

individual performers acquitted themselves with very great credit, their eflhrts in every --case-being loudly .applauded.- The orchestra, ■those playing was quite a feature of the entertainment,' consisted of. Miss Torrance (piauo), Miss Thomson (organ), Mi's Campbell, Mr Nye (clarionet), under the able leadership of Mr ;. J. M. Allen -(violin), and contributed in no small way to ,the successful result obtained. Another, noteworthy feature was the splendid ■tage effect pro.duced by acetylene g&a, which , was kinJiy placed at the disposal of the committee, and worked with great satisfaction by Mr M 'Knight, of Caversham. A vote of thanks was accorded, on the motion of Mr Bailey (chairman of the school committee), to all who bad assisted in any way to the success of th«

entertainment,

The 5 16 train for the south on Monday night was stuck up for some considerable time on the

incline between Kensington and Carershtm, the load proving too much- for the engine. The train was brought to a. standstill on the bridge

.across the Main South road. After repeated attempts to make another start a numbei of trucks were cjetached , aud taken on by the engine to the Caversham siding, but, after

futther attempts, more trucks had to be t&k*n off and another journey made. Even then the train had , to be backed down a considerable distance before tbe engine could negotiate the incline. Many of the Caversham passengers clambered out and walked home. The train' reached Caversham at 6 5 p.m , haviog put "up the record of covering the two miles in 49 minutes.

A meeting of the Otago Sunday School Union Executive-Committee wan held in the Y.W.C A. Rooms on Monday night, Mr F>«rqnhati»on (vicepresident) in t^e chair. , The"cc were t>re»e nt— Mrs Dod, Miss L. Nicol, Messrs D. Wright, Rosevear, Todd, Pryor, Driver, and Sharp (faon. secretary). Apologies were received from

the Rev. A. North and Mr H. Webb., The report 'of the * examiners in connection with rcCcub scholars' examination was received- and adopted. . The report showed that .although the number

of competitors had decreased in comparison with previous years, the quality 'of the work bad improved very much ; a very large numbir of the scholar* are to receive prizes in lieu of

the usual first' class certificate. It was > re---solved—"That the distribution of prizes take pl»ce in Trinity Wesleyan Church on Monday,

«th December."

A claimant to whit are known as 'the Bij the millions, at present held by the daughter- of a Xiondon lady, and now being fought for again in

the' American courts, resides in Tweeduaouth. He is Charles Blythe, aged ever 50, a tinsmith by trade, and a member of Ibe Yetho'm gipsies. In aa interview he says his father, a Yetholm , pedlar, and the father of Thomas Henry Blythe, the millionaire, were full cousins. The ' millionaire left for America 48 years ago. San Francisco was his adopted "home, and he at once began to speculate, hfc first in a Very small way, and then in big fashion, and was verrsuc- ,. ceesful. He visited, bis Yetholm friends 25 ■ ' years »go. The ' Tweedmouth claimaul's interests* are now in the bands of solicitors, and bis case is being watched and pushed in America.

There was an interesting little bit of personal Tiißtory- in the Archbishop of Canterbury's speech at the working men's meeting ab the - *Church Congress. Here it is :—": — " His father was a working man — a soldier, who at bis death was Governor of a colony ; but his father died *-* ■wlien he w«il3/andhe bad had to make his living ' since he w»8 17. He h>id known what it was to do

without a fire br cause he could not sfford it, * and to. wear patched clothes and "boots. He '..learnt to plough' as straight a furrow as any

'.■ ZB*n in the parish, and he could thresh as -well ' as" any man." I)r Temple was free to Confess ■" that bis life since has been different, but as he ' 'had 57 applications to. go to places to speak or ' "preach in October and 63 for November, he could still make good bis claim that he is " a working man."

Attention ia directed to the announcement •of the Bible, Tract, and Book Society made by . advertisement in another column in this issue ; and a few words in connection with the objects

• /of the society may be of interest. Th ; s society : was formed in 1873 by a few gentlemen band- ■ ing themcelvee together as a society, and incorporated by a special act of the Parliament of New Zealand in 1886 Its objects are solely the promotion of Christian knowledge in New Zealand by the wide and energetic circulation of the Holy Scriptures and of every description of evangelical literature, including theological, devotional, Sunday school, evangelistic, and popular. Its capital, which was provided entirely by the free gifts of the original members and of a few other persons, is vested as a trust in perpetuity for, carrying out the objects above stated. None of its promoters are permitted to derive aßy dividend or other pecuniary benefit whatever from the business, and by the act; of incorporation it is made -fraudulent in any member of the society so to do, under a pentltyof £50. Any profits aris- • iog out of the business are entirely devoted to , the furtherance of the society's objects.

The weekly returns'of tbe Dunedin Hospital •re as follow": — Patients remaining from tbe previous week, 107 ; admitted during tbe past

-week, 20 ; discharged; 25. -Thomas Leahy and Jessie Fowler died in the institution during the

week, and the patients, remaining number 100.

' The committee of the Canterbury Education Soard reported on the 3rd inst. that to ' kneet all the board's responsibilities in the matter of buildings and .repairs the sum of £11,998 will be required, exclusive of an excess of £1097 liabilities ss at 20th September last.