LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 25

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At the sitting of the Conciliation Board on the 23rd u'.b. recommendations werr; made by the board upon the two indiutrial disputes recently heard. In the caa« of the painters oome advances are recommer.clod, tha question of apprentices is dealt with, *.nd tho finding is in favour of a preference beinjr gi* en to members of the union. As to tho matters brought forward by the Wharf Labour'jrr;' Union, the rates of pay as virtually agreed upon by the parties when before the board are recommended, regulations as to holidays and payment for waiting; and against needless Sunday work are suggested. No preference to members of the union in this case is recommended, but tho clause Bets ouu that ' employers shall not discriminate agaifcftl members of tho union," and that " membera of the union shall work in harmony with nonunion men." - ' •

In view of the approaching local option poll the Prohibition party in Dunedin have arranged for a mission in Dunedin during t!;<\ first '-veek in Augu/it by tho Rev. L. ►<'.. Isitf.

Mr S. H. Carew, S.M., heard a number of applications on the 23rd for pensiop certificates. Full pensions were granted in nine cases, £,ud in one case a pension of £11 annually •w.19 allowed. A number of other applications t>eva adjourned for further information.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent In stitution Trustees, held on the 23rd, was attended by the Chairman (Mr Solomon). Messrs Wilson, Treseder, Watson, and Hazlott. Tha accounts passed for paymea-- amounted io £Jil 13s Id. The chairman mentioned tV.a*; coma remarkn had been made at last meeting; of the Charitable Aid Board concerning the trustees' requisition exceeding ona- twelfth of what was voted Annually. The reason of this was that the trustees were anxious to wipe 0$ the overdraft, and, after that, they would not want moro than a twelfth c>JT the annual grant, if as much. It was reported that the cost ol the institution for April was £302 Is 6d. The number of inmates was 255, and the oost per head per week 5s 6 l-3d. The relief cases deal'/ with numbered 33.

The men H. Hunt (seaman on H.M.S. Porpoise) and J. Foxtvorthy (corporal of marine*, of H.M.S. Royalist), who were wounded while fighting the rebel natives at Samoa some time since, and were subsequently brought on to the Auckland Hospital, have (says the New Zealaad Herald) made excellent recoveries. Hunt, who had his ear lopped off by one of the " white caps," left the institution on Monday last, and Foxworthy's leg is mending so rapidly that he will be about agai* in the couffe of J t f«w rtp.ys.

It is possible (remarks the Lyttelton Times) that several of the claims for compensation whifh have arisen through the Rakaia railway accident will be investigated at the next civil sittings of the Supreme Court in Christ'•hnrch. The method of procedure will be by petition to the Solicitor-general, and already four petitions have been lodged, while about 20 claims have been made. The largest sum mentioned in connection with these claims, so far, is £3000, which, it is 'understood, is the amount claimed in connection with Mr George B^shell's injuries.

Particulars of a sensational tale of starvation and probable loss of life have just come to hand from the Upper " Murray, in News South Wales. A woman states that two uionthp ago she left Melbourne, accompanied by her husband, and made for Tom Groggin, riftur the Murray River, where they intended nngaging in opossum hunting. After being in camp a few days, the woman's husband left to fix up snares, and never returned. The woman remained in camp two clays, and then went in search of her husband, but failed to find him. She then wandered for eight days, subsisting on nettles, fern roots, and raw opossum flesh, when she proceeded to follow down a stream of water, hoping to meet with settlement. While travelling, she encountered a mob of wild dogs, and she had to take refuge in a tree. The animals, the woman stated, crowded round the trae foR.

ieveral hours, snarling, snapping, and showing their teeth. Some wallabies coming along the dingoes made after them, and the woman pushed on, -.*eaching the hut of a man named O'Conno ''n a terrible plight.

Broker, glass, usually considered one of the ftnost worthless of things, promises to become an scTticle of commerce in some parts of the world. In Switzerland and prance the manufacture of glass brick for paving purposes has just been taken up on a large scale, and Geneva already enjoys the distinction of possessing several glass-paved streets. The Hew material looks well, and gives a safe footing for horses. Nice also will haxe a glass pavement in the near future. The glass 6crap is first heated until soft, when it is compressed into bricks. By this treatment the glass loses its transparency, but -its strength and power of resistance to shock and fracture ftre increased. Glass scrap has hitherto been sonverted into ornamental tile 3.

The career of the rabbit m Victoria (says the Argus) reads like a romance. A few rodents were imported into the country 40 or 50 years ago, and they gradually spread .over the colony till they became a pest, and caused tha Government and landowners to (expend large sums annually in vain efforts to keep them in check. Tons of poisoned wheat and other bait were laid 'for them, and deadly fumes injected into the burrows, but still they seemed to increase in number, and landowners Were driven, in desperation, to enclose their holdings with wire netting at great expease. This state of affairs, however, is now changed, througn an export trade m frozen rabbits having been established, and if it continues ,to grow at the same rapid rate as it has during the last four years, the difficulty will soon be to nnd a rabbit in & day's ride through the country. The export trade began in 1894-5 (when 89,000 pairs of rabbits were shipped to $ipndon; while during the year just clooed not less than 1,210,139 pairs were sent to England, being valued at £90,000. It is no rft>nder, when these figures are taken into consideration, that -jo little is now heata of ;he "rabbit curse," which was a few years ago the chief topic of conversation *mong pastoralists.

Some charming amenities marked the r<scent legal proceedings in the prosecution of the Standard Oil Company in New York. M J. D. Arch bold, who stands nex, to Mr J. D. Rockefeller in the direction of the company, had, in the witness box, the following pleaBant passage-at-arms with one of the prosecuting counsel: — The witness said to the lawyer, "You keep still, or I'll expose you right here." The lawyer replied, "You expose me! Why, I should consider it a privilege to be exposed by a cur like you." To this the witness made answer, "Why, you dog, you miserable whelp, you low lived " "Low lived, dog," echoed the lawyer, " why, a dog is not so low as a Standard Oil magnate. Why, people are ashamed to walk the streets with you!" Almost immediately afterwards there ■was another passage, in which the witness declared the lawyer " tried to get some of his money." "You are a liar," replied the lawyer. "I am not," shouted the wii-iess. '*' You ara a stinking, dirty liar " — and so on.

" Queen's weather " was not experienced for the holiday on the 24th ; it was anything but weather that could come within that term. 'Rain threatened all the morning, and in the afternoon it came down, sometimes very heavily and again in a steady drizzle. The steamer Invercargill, which went down the bay, was well patronised, but her passengers were naturally somewhat dismayed when their vessel took the ground in the lower harbour, and remained fast. Help at length came to them, however, and they reached town some hours later than they had anticipated. A Royal salute was fired on the reclaimed ground by the B Battery, in the presenoe of a small crowd of spectators, jux-ong whom the "small boy" element predominated. The races at Wingatui were capitally attended. Rain also fell in that quarter in the afternoon. As a matter of fact, in nearly all parts of the colony it was rainIng on the 24th. It was not anything like sufficient, however, to damp the ardour of Dunedin i'ootballers, a large number of whom turned up at the two matches played on the Caledonian ground. The military tattoo had, o£. course, to be postponed. The attractions in the evening — the Princess Theatre and the Garrison Hall concert — were both largely ittended, the "house" at the theatre being one of the largest that has ever assembled •within the building. It is satisfactory to note that the day went off without accident.

In connection with the insurances, on the building »nd stock of Messrs Cossens and Black, damaged by fire, we "learn that the total insurance on that part of the building destroyed, including everything in it, amounted to £2187. The cost value of machinery, patterns, etc., destroyed^ including the building, totals £3743. It will thus be Been that the firm sustain a considerable loss.

Referring to the overdue Ohau, of which there is still no news, the Christchurch Press Bays : — There is a possibility of two passengers having travelled by the Ohau. Two recent arrivals from the old country were employed for a short lime on the West Coast, but, getting dissatisfied with the work. had announced, their intention of seeking a change in the Dunstan district, and going to Dunedin by the Ohau.

At the last meeting of the Westport Harbour Board the queEtiori of reducing the railway haulage rates on coal came on for discussion. Mr Corby, a member of the deputation from Mokihinui, urged that if $cniething was not done to reduce these ei'aiges the Cardiff mine would close down. The miners had seen this coming. Tho Siatter was of great importance to the 500 or 600 people who would have to sacrifice tho'r homes and clear out. The men already worked for 3d per ton less than miners elsewhere, to allow the company to pay the heavy charges. Last year 119 men were 3t work in the mine, and last week there were 37, and only 10 o£ those profitably engaged at work getting coal. There were now 40 men Idle. The company would open out in a new and promising place if they got encouragement from the Railway department. After discussion, it was decided to recommend the Government to reduce the rates as a tentative measure for one year by one

penny per ton from Denniston, threepence from Granity, and sixpence from Mokihinui, involving a loss to the harbour revenue of £3500. The relief to the companies on the basis of the output for last year would be: Denniston, Id per ton (£750) ; Granity, 3d (£3250 on 100,000 tons output) ; Cardiff and Mokihinui, 6d (£ISOO on 60,000 tons).

Another railway agitation has been taken up in North Canterbury. At a meeting held afc Cheviot, and attended by representative men from Christchurch, as well as the settlers, it was resolved — " That this meeting urges upon the Government the advisableness of the construction *of the WaiparaCheviot railway at the earliest possible date. ' The Hon. Mr Rolleston, in the course of a speech, said he had been a member of the Government which proposed the railway. They were still spending large sums of borrowed money and other moneys to a considerable extent upon Avorks in isolated parts of the country, and not, as should be done, in continuation of a proper public works policy. He was not afraid of a large undertaking of the kind, even if it did not immediately pay- The funds for this and other special works should be placed in trust and used for no other purposes.

4.ccordi»g to the following, which is taken from the Coolgardie Miner, of the 29th ult., the lot of a pioneer clergyman in the West v much like that of the proverbial policeman — not a happy otic: "The Rev. A. Burton, the first clergyman who ever visited Balladonia, arrived here at 9 p.m. on the 27th, per bicycle, both tyres of which were damaged. Mi Burton arrived a day earlier than expected, in consequence of finding Buldaula deserted and no water on the rocks. He intended to stay there the firßt night out from Norseman, but was compelled to push on through the night without delay, as he had only a pint of water and a little food, the nearest water being at Fraser's Range, 54- miles from Buldania. The rev. gentleman reached that place at 3.30 a.m., and left again at 9 a.m. for Balladonia, doing the 75 miles in 12 hours, the last 14 mostly on foot and in the dark. His macnine gave trouble all the way, probably in consequence of riding on the rough track at night with a heavy load- Mr Burton's object ia to marry two couples here, and also to continue on to Eucla, which is nominally in his parish; but unless the bicycle can be thoroughly repaired he will be compelled to abandon the trip and return to Esperance, via Israelite."

Prince George de Ghika, the last surviving member of a noble but impoverished Hungarian family, succeeded (says the Vienna correspondent of the London Morning Leader) to the ancestral estates, which are situated on the Roumanian frontier, at the age of 22. He married a pretty circus rider, and, with her assistance, soon squandered his fortune. The estates passed into the hands of Jewish money-lenders, and the prince, now destitute, and unfitted for any trade or profession, decided to make use of his splendid horsemanship. He offered himself to the manager of a travelling oircus, his wife having meanwhile deserted him and eloped with a, Russian baron. The prince was engaged as an " acrobatic rider," and subsequently becauio director of the show. His Serene Highness now stands in the ring each night cracking a gold-mounted whip, and is an unfailing attraction to the public.

Negotiations between the French and German Governments for the establishment of telephonic connection between Berlin and Paris are progressing satisfactorily, and it is expected, a London contemporary says, that in a short time the assent of the French Government will be communicated to Berlin. All the preliminary arrangements have been completed. Communication between the two cities will be direct. At the same time arrangements will be perfected for connecting Berlin with Brussels and Antwerp, and Frankfort with Paris. Berlin is already connected with Budapest and Vienna, and favourable results have attended the attempts to communicate with Trieste. The cost of ordinary conversation with Brussels will be 3 marks, with Paris 4. The laying down of communication with London is also engaging the attention of telephone experts here, but the attempts to«^u^ n ' se *^ c submarine cable for telephonic communication have not been successful.

The great utility of trawlers in discovering new fishing grounds has been evidenced at Capetown. A recent trip of the Cape Government trawler Sir Pieter Fauro to Cape Agulhas resulted in the discovery of fishing ground extremely rich in soles. Tho Agulhas bank is all fishable, and covers an area of 6000 square miles, and the Sir Pieter Faure during her brief call proved 1000 square miles to be excellent trawling ground, sufficient, says Dr Gilchrist, the Government marine biologist, to keep several trawlers n daTly employment. The ground proved fairly creeps with fish. A further visit will probably be made for the purpose of proving further grounds. Two thousands pairs of soles were sold by tender for Is 6d per pair, and were afterwards retailed for 3s 6d to 4s per pair.

There was a ball at Coblenz on Monday April 3, followed by a duel, with a fatal result, on the following "Wednesday. II seems that a military officer and a law student quarrelled because the oflicsr, a young fellow named Doring, became very much impressed by a nretty girl with whom the student, whose nome was Kloonekorn, had several dances. He was introduced to her, .and remarked that she ought not "lo danco with ''such young fools." Words between the lv/o men followed, and blows were struck. Later on a meeting v/as arranged for "Wednesday morning. Five shots were exchanged. In the last round ,he lav/ student fell mortally wounded. The law student v;as a vico-ssr^tant and a prospective officer in Ilia w.n* regiment a 3 Li:utsnant Doring.

The mosc notable fer.cure of the ro.ml^i of -he April Glasgow University degree exarni-na-ions is the position taken by two lad/ otudenls in English lile.-ature. The only passes with first-class honours, the Dundee Advcrti&er points out, are those of Misa Maude G. May

and Miss Katherine T. M'Millan. The degree of M.A. has not been more than a few years open to ladies, and they have asserted themselves without much delay. In 1897 two ladies took honours of the second-class in classics. In the following year two ladies too&^ honours in classics again, but neither secured firstclass. Last October, however, one lady graduated with double honours — first-clas3 in mathematics and natural philosophy and second-class in English literature. This splendid distinction was gained by Miss Elizabeth P. Taylor. At the same time Misa H. M. Rulo graduated with first-class in English literature.

A considerable amount of correspondence relating to the complaint by Captain M'Callum (the harbourmaster) against Captain Smith, of the Union Steam Ship Company's Tarawera, alleging reckless navigation, came before the Harbour Board at its meeting on Thursday afternoon. There was no discussion really upon the charge or the reply thereto, but a motibn referring the matter to a committee for investigation, elicited some discussion, and an amendment was moved to merely receive the letters and pass on to the next business. Ultimately the motion to refer the matter to a committee for investigation was carried by a majority of one.

Mr James Horn has been elected chairman of the Vincent County Council, in the place of Mr Robert Sheppard, deceased.

Constable Williams, of Invercargill, is to be transferred to the new police station which is to be opened at Owaka on the Ist June.

At an entertainment at Oadby, near Leicester, on April 8, one of the scenes represented a fight between British and Chinese. The former carried muzzle-loading guns, and one of these, unknown to the performers, proved to be loaded with small shot. The result was that seven persons were injured, and two — Edward Clarke, aged 18, and Edward Bates, aged 11 — are in the Leicester Infirmary. The latter, whose jaw was shot off, was not expected to recover.

Mr Henry informed the Otago Acclimatisation Society on Friday that in some places among the sounds on the west of Otago the native birds are disappearing from the mainland. He had no doubt the ferrets were the cause.

The ' British Printer, the recognised journal of the trade in England, speaks in the following complimentary terms of our last year's Christmas annual : — " The Otago Daily Times and Witness Christmas Annual, 1898 (Is), is an excellent example of eclonial seasonable literature, up-to-date alike in matter and production. The chromo-lithographed coyer bears a capital design showing natives boiling the Christmas pudding at one of the natural hot springs of the island. An excellent and most interesting series of illustrations with descriptive matter recall notable events in the early history of New Zealand. Catering for the popular cry for pictures, the number simply teema with half-lone reproductions, ranging in size from llin x Bin downwards, and, all of a thoroughly good class. The whole number speaks eloquently of the enterprise and energy possessed by our -friends at the Times office. Ev.ery department concerned is to be congratulated on the thorough success of its labours."

The revenue for the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth Railway for the year was £381,753, equal to £846 per mile, an increase of £39,054 over the previous year. The expenditure was £264,364, equal to £224 per' mile. The previous 'year's expenditure was £234,965. The number of passer gers carried was 1,377,671, and the total tonnage railed 422,093.

Southland papers report the sudden death of Mr Alexander Smith, of Norbam Park, Mataura. He was apparently in good health in. the morning as he was engaged trimming a. hedge. In the evening a vi&ilor went into the room where Mr Smith was reading to write a letter. Mr Smith shortly afterwards carefully folded a paper he had been reading, and, remarking that he fell sick, rose and moved to the fireplace, where ha leaned his arm upon the mantel. He then moved to the door and had just opened it, when he slipped quietly to the floor and expired, the cause of death being apoplexy. Mr Smith was one of the best known and respee'ed men in the district. He was tlie original importer to Southland of the famous Murray strain of Border Leicester sheep, and from his stock the studs of Messrs M'Kerchar Bros., Grieve, and M'Crostie to a great extent originated.

The Chilian Government, says the South American Journal, proposes to convert the island known as Robinson Crusoe's Island into a settlement. Up to the present time the island, which is in the Pacific Ocean, has been occupied by a few German and Chilian families, numbering about 15 persons in all. The Chilian Government now thinks of turning tiie island into a regular colony, and about 150 hardy Chilians will form the nucleus of the new settlement. The island is said to contain many flourishing spols. The fruit trees which Alexander Selkirk, from whose adventures Defoe drew his immortal story, planted more than 200 years ago, have reproduced their.selves, and peaches, pears, quinces, and grapes are to be had in abundance. A man who had a stock farm on the inland for some reason abandoned the undertaking several years ago, and turned his live stock loo a e. The result is that cattle, sheep, goals, and pigs are now found there in a wild hiato, so that the new colonists are likely to ha\e some good sport if they have a turn for hunting. In addition to tlus, the sea swarms with, codfish, which should provide pleasant occupation for the anglers. The settlers, therefore, arc likely to be abundantly supplied with meat, fish, and fruit.

At the last meeting of the Bluff Rarboi r Board the auditor reported that the "ascertained deficiency in the accounts amounted lo £915. Of that total £615 had been unaccounted for during t>e past 18 months.

Mr Alex. Anderson waited on Ike Premier after his address nt Ekctahuna on behalf of the Prohibitionist party. In icply to Mr Anderson's inquiries the Premier buid ho was in favour of a national vote being taken .on the liquor question, such a vote to be on two

issues only, and cutting out the reduction vote; also, that he would be favourable to the party appointing its own scrutineers. V

The South Canterbury Art Society's exhibition was opened on Friday evening. The Timaru Herald reports that in the black and white competition, in which 13 pictures were shown, the judges selected two as of equal merit, the respective winners being Miss A. E. Abbott and W. J. Hutton, both of Dunedin, who divided the prize. There were 10 exhibits in the " chip " carving competition. The first prize winner is Miss Fussell, her exhibit, being a very handsome sideboard, skilfully and elaborately carved. Miss Dorm took second prize with a hall table.

A curious accident was witnessed at Nice on April 2 in^-the Promenade dcs Anglais. Two men were riding along, one on a petroleum, bicycle, the other on an ordinary machine. Suddenly there was a, flame and a loud report, and the rider of the petroleum bicycle fell to the ground writhing with pain, while his comrade was knocked down. An examination showed that the petroleum reservoir had caught fire and exploded, severely burning the rider on the hands, face, and chest. The unfortunate man died after temble suffering. The other cycle was shattered lo pieces.

At a meeting of the committee of the Union SJ3. Company's Mutual Benefit Society, held on Friday, Mr Alexander D. Miller was elected secretary, in succession to Mr D. Maxwell. * There were 102 applicants for the position.

Our Bald Hill Flat correspondent writes: " Mrs James Gray, a very old resident of this place, died suddenly on the night of the 24tli, from the bursting of a blood vessel near the heart. The deceased lady had been attending to her husband, who was ailing, and he, missing her for some time, left his bed to find her dead. She was upwards of 60 years of age, and, if I mistake not, was the first teacher on Bald Hill Flat. A good deal of sympathy is felt for her aged husband, who is in' failing health. There is no family. There has been a good deal of sickness throughout the district during the last month or two, several of cur residents having suffered severe illness. There is also a, good deal of indisposition among the juvenile portion of the community, and the doctor has been a pretty frequent visitor lately, the very severe and miserable weather we are experiencing no doubt accounting for much of it."

The admissions to the hospital last week numbered 28, and the discharges 23. Three of the inmates have died, their names being William Watson, Jane Hood, and David Bruce. The patients remaining from the previous week mimbered 104, and there are at present in the institution 106.

It is somewhat 'surprising to find that the number of bankruptcies in the Dunedin district has considerably increased lately, although the general prosperity of the place has improved, and business was probably never in a sounder condition here, according to the judgment of nearly everybody in business circles. What the explanation may be, or whether any explanation is necessary, it is not easy to say, but as a matter of fact there bave been within the months of April and May of this year no less than 11 petitions in bankruptcy filed in this district, as against three for the corresponding months of last year. Then, taking the average in both instances, the amount of the indebtedness of the insolvents is about the same, so that the bankruptcy business, generally assumed to be an evidence of bad times, has for this period a<3 against last year increased fourfold. It should be mentioned, however, that none of the 14 bankruptcies is of an extreme character such as is likely to affect other businesses, but that as a rule the failures as of small extent, and not much interest seems 1 to be taken in the proceedings by the creditors.

At the monthly meeting of the council of the Otago Law Society the following resolution was unanimously agreed to: — "That, in view of the fact that there are likely to be one or more vacancies on the Supreme Court Bench to be filled, this council takes this opportunity of expressing the opinion that only members of the profession who areengaged m active practice in this colony, and who have won for themselves distinction at the bar, should be appointed to the Supreme Court Bench, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Justice."

Our Palmeraton correspondent writes as follows: — "The inference to be drawn from, your article on the prohibition meeting recently held here is that the rowdyism was being inbtigated by those connected with the liquor trade, etc. I was not present at the meeting myself, but am credibly informed that the chief and only interruption was daused by a few hoodlums at the back of the hallj and that the report of the rowdyism was unduly magnified, and cannot in any sense be stated as being connected with the liquor trade. The interruption was not caused so much by the object for which the meeting was called, as by one of the speakers (a comparative stranger to the district for some time past) putting himself forward as an authority to lecture on the morals and manners lof the district and its people, the very ! general impression being, I can assure you, that after his slanderous remarks he vas only : treated according to his merits. I can safely , say that should any reputable prohibitionist or other lecturer visit us they will be accorded as respectable and orderly a hearing as in any town in New Zealand. I speak as a resident of many years' standing in. this district."

Mr E. G. Allen gave a political address at the Kihoolhouse, Portobello, on Friday evening to a moderate attendance. Mr Dickson was voted to the chair, and introduced the speak-jr in a brief complimentary speech. Mr Allen spoke for an hour and a-half on the leading political questions, and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Mr Clearwater.

At the presentation of an address by the students attending the technical classes to Mr J. S. Tennant, who has been appointed to

be rector of the Ashburton District HigE School, Mr 6. M. Thomson said he believed it would be a"great benefit to this community if the pursuit of natural science was introduced into the schools and taken up- much more generally. He knew a gooH deal abonfe the teaching- of natural science, and what they wanted in a community like Dunedin was to teach natural science on the lines followed in the Technical School. He doubted whether; any community had had better teaching irt biology than Dunedin had had. He thought he was keeping within the mark when he said that some of their coming botanists would be found amongst those who had been students o£ ' Mr Tennant's class, and he citecL Mr Astoa a3 one of the most prominent botanists ha hadl ever come across in New Zealand. As gome people might think that it was not the work of the technical schools to teach botany he felt bound to say that the subject had justified itself, and that was due to the enthtt, siasm of Mr Tennant and to the excellent way in which he had presented the subject.

[ Earl Beauchamp, the new Governor of i New South Wales, made a terrible mistake. ton the eve of commencing his caieer. If there • is anything concerning which the New South | Welshmen are more sensitive than another it is to any reference to the old convict days. And at Albany the new Governor gave to the press, through hia private secretary, an adaptation, from Kipling's " The Song of the Cities," in which reference is made to " your birth-stain have you turned to good, forcing strong wills perverse to steadfastness," etc. Needless to state that the comio papers have seized upon the unhappy quotation. The Bulletin invites its readers " for bloodstains, try Beauehamp's pills," and much, more to the same effeot.

We are informed that up to recently his Worship the Mayor had in view the. mattet of raising funds for the relief of any necessitous cades arising out of the- lamentable loss of the steamer Ohau, but as it came out last week that the officers' lives were insured and that the majority of the> other hands were single his Worship will take no action in the meantime. Mr Swan will be glad, however, to learn if there are any persons who stand in need of assistance through the sad occurrence.

A petition is in course of circulation in the city requesting hia Worship the Mayor to call a public meeting to consider the question of the acquisition by the City Corporation of the Dunedin city and suburban tramways.

I A striding illustration of the destroying J action, of some kinds of sand upon lime is- in j evidence at the demolition of the old gaol. j The contractor, having unroofed aH the buildj ings, is now engaged in taking down the walls- • Although plenty of lime appears toihave been used with the sand (which we understand was excavated from the site of the gaol or from. Bell Hill), the mortar formed has now no i holding power whatever, but is juat like so much dry sand, the lime? having disappeared, i In newer portions of the buildings Chain Hill* ' sand was used, and here considerable force and ingenuity is required to dislodge it, thus showing its superiority for work of this kind. A visitor wili^? find that at present that portion of the old gaol sot apart for females has pretty well disappeared. The top storey of the men's part, which was used as a debtors' prison, has also 1 gone. Many stories are told of this part, when imprisonment for debt was more common, of how the prisoners were- quite happy all day card-playing, while their meals were ! brought to them by their relatives. The I ceilings of all the top cells are now taken down, and the windows removed. As we ■ noted some time ago, the bodies of those executed for murder have been reinterred in the Nocthern Cemetery, but a grim reminder of them has been left in one of the yards in* the shape of the coffin of Ah Lee, whose ret mains presumably must have been provided i with a new one.

At the conclusion of the ordinary business at the South Dunedin Borough Council's meeting on ->xonday night, the, mayor surprised , ijie councillors and created some little consternation among them by stating that in consequence of failure to pay their rates the names of two councillors had been struck off the burgess roll, and were, in consequence, no longer entitled to sit at the council table. His "Worship paid the town clerk should at once declare their seats vacant, and take the necessary steps to get. them filled. One of tlio councillors referred to was present, and, speaking in defence of himself, said that had he been advised before his name- was struck off he would have paid his arrears. Several of the other councillors spoke eomewhat strongly in regard to what had been done, aud said hia Worship- should have brought the matter before them at previous meetings and not have sprung it upon them at that late stage. ' To these speakers his Worship replied, rather heatedly, that it was high, time a stop was put to the practice of councillors coming there and instructing the clerk to sue ratepayers for not paving their daes, when their own were in arrear. A lively discussion then took place, and Cr Shacklock, in resenting the " piece of mind " given to him by the mayor, twice left the table. It was recognised, however, that nothing could be done to reinstate the councillors in their seats, and, with a view to making their burden as light as possible, Or Marlow moved — "That the council places on record its high appreciation of the services rendered by Crs Osbome and Holley, and that it regrets the method taken of notifying the council of the position." His Worship said he would not accept the motion. Before he would' allow it to be put he would leave the chair. The mayor then vacated the chair, and a motion was moved that Cr Marlow take it, whereupon the mayor resumed it again. Argument and entreaty were, however, alike in vain, for the mayor declined to put the motion, stating that the last clause was a reflection, on him, and until that was deleted he would not allow it to be put. One of the councillors then .proposed that they should all resign in a body, but this idea found no favour, and, after Bitting silently for a ten

minutes, on© after another of the. councillors reached for his hat, moved away, and the meeting closed.

An order has recently been issued by the^ head of the Prisons department directing that all persons surrendering to bail to answer charges before the Supreme Court shall, immediately after pleading, be searched. This affords an explanation of the unusual pro"ceeding that occurred at the Supreme Court on Monday, when an accused person upon pleading was taken from the 'dock to the registrar's room, and in a few minutes placed again in the dock for trial.

The Finance Committee of the Bluff Harbour Board, in reporting that the ascertained >mount unaccounted for by the late secretary was £915 15s Id, remarked: "How the iSoverriment Auditor had been hoodwinked lor seven years, the period over which the irregularities extended, was matter for eurprise, and involved, in the committee's opinion, responsibility on the part of the Government. The loss would be reduced by £500 under a fidelity bond, and the committee recommended that the Government should be asked to pay the difference — £415 15s ld,-^ togethsr with the cost of the inspector. The report .was adopted, and it was resolved to make a claim on the Standard Insurance Company for £500.

The Presbyterian, General Assembly of New South Walea has- decided to raise 100,000 guineas by way of commemorating the end of the century and the centenary of the church in that colony. Some members of the assembly seemed to think that the proposal was much too ambitious for the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales, and at least one minister sought to reduce the amount onehalf. He, however, met with no support, and the fund waa allowed to go at 100,000 guineas.

The Westport Times says: "Judging from Mr Guinness's address to his constituents at Greymouth he can no longer be regarded as a supporter of the present Administration."

The Oamaru Mail understands that it has been decided to tender to the Rev. Frank Boreham, of- Mosgiel, an invitation to the pastorate of "the Baptist Church rendered vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Arthur Dewdney.

Up-to-date London mqthers now send their Tbabies to Baltersea Park per tricycle. The nursemaid's cycle is the latest invention in the wheel world. It is a tricycle, the front of which, forming the " pram," has the two wheels set close together. These front wheels are arranged to hold the machine upright under all circumstances, and nurse pedals behind on a seat fixed over the back wheel. " None but expert bicyclists need apply" will now be an indispensable qualification of even nursemaid's references. The new vehicle has much to recommend it. The nurse can't bo neglectful of her charge by letting the perambulat*!" run off down a slope with the infant passenger if she has to keep moving herself all tho time, and the afternoon sprint with baby will curtail her opportunities for flirtation with the park policeman.

, An Ashburton correspondent writes that a memorial service was held at the Salvation Army Barracks there in connection with the death by drowning of two Army officers in a boat accident on the Tweed River, New South Wales, and also with very special reference to the supposed loss of the Ohau. It was decided to tender the Army's sincere sympathy with the relatives and friends of the officers and crew. J

A meeting of ex-students of the Technical Classes Association and others interested is called for Thursday evening to consider a scheme to raise funds to erect additions to the present building.

In the course of a lecture at Wellington on Mondayon "New Zealand's Iron Hope," Mr 'Joseph Taylor, of Collingwood, stated that the hematite deposits at Parapara, in the Nelson district, would, if properly worked, produce iron and steel equal to the best drawn from the Cumberland mines, and at such a cheap rate that on a very low compulation a saving of £9,500,000 would be made to the importers within 10 years. He went into figures showing the cost of production, and said that if the State took the matter in hand a great colonial industry would bo built up, profitable alike to local manufacturers and the colony as a whole. As a reason for the State taking up the industry and dealing with the Parapara ore with first-class machinery, he mentioned that many a legitimate industry had been brought into discredit by the use of improper plant. He urged that a vote of £100,000 should be made at once by Parliament for developing the iron industry, and he appealed to the public to back up hie efforts in that direction. Mr Taylor asserted that not only would the colony be able to manufacture enough iron and steel for its own use at Parapara, but that it would be able to push profitably into tho outside markets as well.

Our Palmerston writes : — A social was held in the Goodwood Echoolhouse on Wednesday evening, to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs Bremner, who are going to Hyde, where Mr Bremner has been appointed as teacher. Though tho evening was showery and cold and the roads were dirty, there were a large number of people present, almost every family in the district being represented. The first part of the programme consisted of instrumental and vocal pieces, after which tea and refreshments were handed round. The next part of the programme was a presentation to Mr and Mrs Bremner. Mr Sutherland, who has been a member of the School Committee since its inception, in making the presentation to Mr Bremner, said that when the latter came amongst them nine years ago, he was known by only one person in the district. During his stay he had, whilst performing* his duties in a highly satisfactory manner, gained the respect and friendship of everyone in the district. The large and enthusiastic gathering there that night told far more fully than he could express by words the feeling with which Mr Bremner was held in the district. As a mark of the esteem in which he was held amongst them, he (Mr Sutherland) had much pleasure in handing to Mr Bremner an oak writing desk with the inscription : " PreBented to Mr P. Bremner by the residents of Goodwood, 25th May, 1899." Mr Bremner, in replying, said that when he had been inlormed that it was the wish of the- residents to tender Mrs Bremner and himself a farewell jocial, he had felt very grateful and highly honoured, and tbig feeling had been intenpi-

fied when he saw the large gathering there that evening. However, when he had received this handßome_pre3ent he could hardly find words that wouhT~ntly express his feelings. He took the opportunity of thanking them for the kindness and consideration, with which Mrs Bremner and himself had always been treated, especially when there had been sickness in his family circle. -He would always remember the many happy days he had spent in Goodwood. Mr Kennard then'made the presentation of an exquisitely encased silver teapot to Mrs Bremner, and in doing so bore testimony to her many sterling qualities, and to the high opinion in which she was held by all who knew her. He expressed a hope that she would long be spared to use it. Mr Bremner having suitably replied, the company sang "For they are polly good fellowE." Shortly afterwards the social was brought to a close by 1 all present singing " Auld lang syne."

A goldfields correspondent writes: — "Although the roadside publichouses came in for some rough abuse from the Prohibition party, they are in some parts of the back blocks a very necessary evil, being ofttimeß a kind of meeting-place and business centre for residents for many miles round. It is at those places where rabbitskin buyers, carriers, and others make their rendezvous, and in many cases if abolished they would be much missed. With a few exceptions, however, the whisky and other drinks dispensed at those places, to put it mildly, are what may be called ' tough,' and the following incident, which is said to have taken place at one of those houses recently, about takes the cake. A traveller called at one of those places where the publican was new to the calling, and asked for a whisky and soda. The new chum barman, who must have been a ' Good Templar ' up to entering the business, after rummaging the kitchen shelves, returned to the bar with the remark, ' I don't know, is it baking soda or washing soda you're after wantin', but I have given you washing soda.' To travellers who drink goldfielde' whisky, ' Row's embrocation ' or kerosene act a3 a mild pick-me-up, and the above traveller being pretty well seasoned, took hiR poison without a smile, and went on his way rejoicing."

The gigantio telescope which is to be one of the attractions of the 1900 exhibition in Paris is (says the Westminster Gazette) steadily approaching completion. The tube, the diar meter of which is a little over 6ft, fe of steel. Its entire length will be about 70 yards, and it has had to be cast in 24 separate portions. The weight of this immense construction will be 21,000 kilogrammes. The Morning Post's correspondent says it will be supported on eight c*st iron stands erected on stone pillars. The two objectives, one for photographic and the other for visual purposes, will be mounted on the same revolving carriage. Their united weigth is 600 kilogrammes. The siderostat is almost fin'shsd. The movable setting, ah the top of which the barrel of the mirror is maintained in equilibrium, floats in & bath of 90 litres of mercury. The whole of this mass, weighing 15,000 kilogrammes, turns under the, action of a weight of fivo kilogrammes. Great difficulties have had to be overcomo in the construotion of this instrument, but the success ful issue of the enterprise is beyond doubt.

The latest story of " Justices' s Justice " coflieo from the Auckland district. It is thus given by a northern paper : — Two men were charged with theft. It appeared that the complainant, a storekeeper, had provided the men with gumdiggers' outfits on condition of their supplying him with the gum that they dug until the 'lungs were paid off. The men. however, it was alleged, dispoped of their gum elsewhere, and hence the Police Court proceedings. The bench, two justices, listened with marked gravity to the evidence, and after a short consultation gave the following extraordinary decision : "We give judgment for amount claimed, with costs." The clerk of the court hastened to explain that the proceedings were of a criminal, not civil, nature. The court, however, demurred about accepting this explanation, and a general friendly discussion of the case ensued, during which the bench asked the counsel for the defence what he wanted done. He promptly replied that he wished to have the accused discharged. Another consultation ensued, and the defending counsel had shortly after tha pleasure of seeing his clients free men once more.

Some merriment was caused at the Rangiora Conciliation Board (says the Christchurch Press) by the fact that the erstwhile secretary of the local Carpenters' Union was cited to appear among the delinquents who bad not fallen in line with the award of the Arbitration Court- The poor man professed to be indignant, but his feelings were somewhat mollified by the president and present secretary of the union explaining that as the exsecretary had blossomed as a full-blown employer they thought it best to fix him to the conditions of the award. The board fixed him by consent.