The Herald. Alexandra, Wednesday, January 10.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 503, 10 January 1906, Page 4

The Herald. Alexandra, Wednesday, January 10.

Pay your subscription to the Herald in advance and save four shillings a year thereby. Applications are invited in this issue by the Vincent County Council for the position of puntmau, at the Lowborn Ferry. A Gazette Extraordinary announces that the summoning of the new Parliament has been further postponed until February 15th. The distance for which free railway passes are issued to members of the defence forces has been extended from 100 to 150 miles—a welcome change. Whiting to a friend in this district, a merchant in Soembaja (Java), states : " VV e have had here a Queensland (iovernment representative, Mr Jones, who sold a lot butter here, and also a man from Melbourne, who did not do badly at all; but a .New Zealand man has not yet been here," Wake up, New Zealand !

The Lauder Sale Yards Committee are losing no time in having their yards erected without delay, and they are to be complimented on the earnestness that has been shown in this matter, which is one of great importance to the surrounding districts. There is no gainsaying the fact that sale yards in the Lauder district are a necessity, and the time is not far distant "when these sales will eclipse anything of the kind held in Central fcHago.

There will be no January court at Blacks. The next sitting will be held on February

Tenders are invited in this issue by the Vincent County Council for several contracts in Vincent County.

At the egg-laying competition at Lincoln College 665 eggs were laid last week. The total to date (thirty-fourth week) is 22,935. an average of 5893 per pen. The annual meeting of contributors to the Dunstan District Hospital will be held at Clyde on Thursday, 11th inst. Trustees for the ensuing year will be elected.

Mr and Mrs A. C. Rhodes and party of Christchurch, arrived in Alexandra on Wedlast in a motor car, having travelled from Oamaru the same day. They left for Dunedin via Lawrence on Thursday morning.

We direct attention to the change of advt. on page 1 of this issue of Thompson and Beattie Ltd. drapers, Invercargill. This reliable firm is still to the fore with a splendid stock, and a perusal of their catalogue will repay those in search of drapery, etc. At the Caledonian Ground, Dunedin, on Thursday afternoon last, Frank Forde, of Invercargill, successfully broke the world's record (100 ft 9ins) for throwing the hammer. This record was held by A. A. Cameron, the Scottish athlete. Throwing a 221b hammer, Ford in his second attempt threw 100 ft 10£ in, thus establishing a new record.

Mr J. C. Blackmore, Government penologist, has received an intimation from the Department of Agriculture that Cabinet has approved of a guarantee by the Government of one penny per lb on apples and pears shipped to London. South Island growers desirious of making shipments are requested to communicate with Mr Blackmore as early as possible.

Our clients' attention is called to the notification in this issue regarding the issue of the Hbeald accounts for the past year; and as we have been subjected to considerable expense in making necessary alterations to our office in order to produce a paper foremost to any journal in Central Otage, we trust that our clients will help us by remitting as soon as possible. Tenders are invited in this issue for additions to the courthouse at Alexandra. Plans, specifications and conditions may be seen at the post office, and from a perusal of these we glean that the alterations intended to be carried out will have the desired effect; of largely increasing the accommodation, which at the present time is insufficient for its requirements. Tenders close on the 23rd mat, and will be received at the Public Works office at Dunedin.

Sir Joseph Ward has booked his passage by the P. and 0. Line. He leaves about the middle of February for the Postal Conference, which opens at Rome on April 21st Every country in the Postal Union will be represented: The Minister will be accom* panied by Lady Ward and daughter, Mr W Gray (Secretary to the Post Office), and Mr B. M. Wilson (private secretary), They will return via America, arriving in the colony about the middle of July. The existing hotel accommodation in Dunedin does not seem (says the Star) sufficient to cope with the demands made on it by visitors at holiday times. The spectable of people hunting unsuccessfully for lodging up and down the street has been a fairly common one, and on Tuesday night two respectable women found themselves, at 11.30 p.m., left out for the night. They had tried most of the hotels for a good distance north and south of the Octagon—in vain, Mr E. Murrell, local agent for the Otago Acclimatisation Society, recently liberated about 15,000 young fry in the Manorburn river, and informs us that he is receiving another consignment, to be liberated locally ; also some for Clyde and Cromwell districts. These will be distributed about the end of the week. Mr Murrell is also experimenting with some pheasant eggs, which have been imported from. Hobart, and if successful intends liberating them in the district.

The Southland Daily News relates an incident that created some curiosity among visitors to the port while the Maheno was lying at the Bluff wharf on December 18th. A valuable locket fell from a lady's neck into the water between the steamer and the piles. Determined not to lose the treasured ornament, the fair owner secured the services of the local diver, who descended in regulation dress. He was not Jong in finding the missing jewellery and restoring it to the grateful owner. HoaSE owners are notified in this issue that the standard bred trotting stallion, Del Paso, who has travelled in the surrounding districts this season, will again travel the same districts next season. As Del Paso has left some splendid stock in places where he has formerly travelled, there is every probability that some good stock will be the outcome of this horse's visit here this season, and breeders will be pleased to learn that the owner has decided to place Del Paso at their disposal next season. From the horse's visit here this season, the district should be able to produce some really first-class stock. As showing the keen and general interest taken in our footballers' doings at Home, a story'reaches the Eltham ' Argus' of a strict old Presbyterian who is strong on Sunday observance. He was in bed on the Sunday after the match with Scotland, and was being served with a cup of tea by his little grandson: The impulsive youth forgot it was Sunday, and imparted the information that New Zealand had beaten Scotland. Recollecting himself he immediately retreated in order to escape the inevitable lecture on Sabbath desecration, when the dour one called him back and bidding him "steek the door" whispered "By hoo mony'i" Onk of the directors of, the Oamaru Caledonian Society, Mr P. J. Duggan—we (Oamaru Mail) see no reason for suppressing his name, especially as he earned golden opinions at the gathering by the manner in which he looked after the result board—is probably the only one of the seventy odd who has had the honor of running against the Eight Hon: K, J. Seddon. The time was 1877 and the place Kumara, of which place the Premier, who was running a store and butchery, and was 28 years old, had just been elected Mayor. The distance was a 100 yards and Mr Duggan, by reason of an advantage of eight years, was called upon to give Mr Seddon three yards' start. The Premier, however, did not want them—he had not the front and weight then that have since arrived to him—and passed the post 10 good yards ahead of Mr Duggan; and the latter was considered no '' slouch " in those good old days, Mr W. Kilgour, of Alexandra, was most successful in the North Island during the holidays, where he was competing in the Highland dancing events at the various Caledonian gatherings. At Fielding on Boxing Day he secured first in the Highland fling;, swotd dance, hornpipe, and second in the Highland reel. At Masterton on New Year's Day, Mr Kilgour carried off first honors in the fling, seauntreaus, sword dance, hornpipe, Irish jig, and secured second place in the Highland reel and reel o' tullock. Altogether, Mr Kilgour obtained eight first prizes and three seconds, out of twelve competitions, In addition to the priae money, lie was also presented with four gold medals. Mr Kilgour speaks in glowing terms of the cordiality extended to him by the officials at the different sports in which he competed; and as showing the keeness of competition in the various dancing events in that part of the colony, it may be mentioned that as high as twelve entries were received for some of the dances.

Tenders are invited in this issue for the labor of erecting the sale yards at Lauder, lenders close with the secretary on the 20th inst;

MR James M'Ennis, S.M., holds a short mtting of the Magistrate's Court at Ophir at rf.rfU p.m. to-morrow. Two criminal cases are set down for hearing. _ The report of the Government Commissioner on the heavy haulage conditions in Marlborough show the province to be the most expensive place in the colony tor trac« tion engines. The fees leviable on a single engine run as high as £llO.

Our readers' attention is called to the advt. of Mr Frederick Lee, photographer, who has opened out in Athlone street. Mr Lee has just completed seasons in Cromwell Queenstown and other goldfields' towns' which have proved most successful.

The Alexandra Rifles go into camp for their annual week's training on Thursday, 18th inst. fhe company will parade at the orderly room at 7 p.m., and all members are requested to attend and make the camp successful, as well as earning capitation. For the thirty-sixth week of the New Zea- !, * ? g ," layinff Com petition at Blenheim, Mr A. Ashworth's (Alexandra) pen of Silver Wyandottes was third" with 28 eggs It looks as if "Archie" is going to have a good chance for a prize when the twelve months have expired.

The Tourist Department reports phenomenal traffic at all the tourist centres, Kotorua and Te Aroha having been in particular ' rushed.' At the latter place 1700 were dumped down by a single train one evening. There has been everywhere a good deal of enforced picnicking. One hundred and fourteen men have (savs the Star) applied in Dunedin for work on the Lawrence - Beaumont Railway iob Nearly all are New Zealanders. The officers ot the Department of Labor were enrolling the names to-day. It is doubtful whether all who have applied can get on. On the eve of his leaving for Terra del Fuego, Mr George Fisher was last evening entertained at a farewell social in the achoolhouse, Barnscleugh, by his numerous friends in the district. An enjoyable evening was spent and at its conclusion all present foined together in wishing Mr Fisher health and prosperity in the far distant climes.

There was an unusual incident, in the Lhnstchurch Magistrate's Court last week suggestive of one of those sordid domestic tragedies sometimes found on the seamy side of life. Four prohibition orders were issued against members of one family; two sons and two daughters. And the father-a white-haired old man-made the applica*

R. J. Scott, the N.Z. wrestling champion. at the Garrison Hal), Dunedin, on the 2nd last, defeated J. H. Tonkin, of Australia, in a bout at catch-as-catch-can for a purse of 50 sovereigns and the championship of New Zealand. Scott afterwards issued a chal* lenge to wrestle Clarence Weber, the professional strong man, and the latter accepted, time and place to be decided later. In concluding his speech at the opening of the first section of the Hokitika-Ross railway on Monday last, the Right Hon. the Premier stated that in order to develop the immense natural resources of Westland it was necessary to co-operate with Otago, and to call them to their assistance to extend the railway from Hokitika through South Westland to connect with the Otago Central railway.

_ AT the Police Court, Ophir, on the 4th vast before Messrs M'Knight and Pitches, oXlu", rge Besan > on remand from the 29th ult., was charged with the theft of the sum of £l6 from Neil Kearney, of Omakau. Sergeant Crawford appeared for the prosecution, and accused, who was undefended, was remanded to the 11th inst., bail e l l ? s , a i lowed in one suret y of £SO and him., self of £25.

Wee Kee & Co., merchants and greengrocers, Alexandra, notify that it is their intention of retiring from business, and are now holding an extensive clearing sale at exceptionally low prices. As the premises will be closed at an early date, and as everything must be sold, this is a good opportumty of securing some real good bargainsi All accounts owing to the firm must be settled forthwith.

During the holidays Mr J. Symons, of Alexandra, successfully competed in the cycle events run at the different meetings on the goldfields. At Roxburgh on Boxing Day he succeeded in winning two races, and also secured two wins at Millers Flat; while at Roxburgh on New Year's Day he obtained two firsts and a second. Mr G. Paterson, of Alexandra, also obtained two wins, and Mr Collie Symons won one.

An old resident of the Ida Valley district, in the person of Robert M'Gregor, a stonemason, passed away on Saturday last at the age of 66 years. At an inquest held at Reilly's hotel, at which Mr John J.P., was coroner, and Mr William King foreman of the jury, medical evidence testified that death was due to heart disease and congestion of the lunge. The funeral took place at Ophir yesterday afternoon. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute held at Invercargill last week, the following resolution was passed :—" That the New Zealand Educational Institute, whilst acknowledging the importance and necessity of Bible instruction for the children of our schools, strenuously protests against the proposal that the primary school teachers of New Zealand shall be asked to give Bible instruction during school hours." The conference passed a resolution approving of the abolition of pupil teachers.

A dastardly act was perpetrated in Alexandra during the solitary hours of Monday night last, when some miscreant, evidently with the object of gratifying his petty enmity and hatred, smashed the large window in the butchers' shop belonging to Messrs Marslin and Hastings; a large stone being found inside the window on the following morning. 'Jio add the vilest of expressions would hardly be sufficient to condemn the one who, to injure the object of his spleen, would commit such a mean act! It is a pity the perpetrator could not be found out and ju&tice meted out to him, for he should be made to earn his grub picking oakum and breaking stones. The Lawrence correspondent of the Dunedin Star, wiring on sth inst, understands that on Monday week employment will be found for a number of men on first section of the Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway line. A goodly number of local men have already made application for work, and these, I hear, are to receive first consideration. It is reported that about fifty men will be transferred from the Otago Central line between Alexandra and Clyde to work on the line here. The works are to be under the control of Mr Kennedy, The survey party, under Mr Meenan, have completed their portion of the work as far as Mr Samuel Henry's homestead at Evacs Flat.

The special correspondent of the Dunedin Star travelling with the New Zealand football team writes as follows :—Our old friend " Ben Trovato " is probably at the bottom of this touching little 'Daily Mail' story:— '• Casey played a sterling forward game against Ireland on Saturday. Before he left New Zealand his father, who, it is perhaps somewhat unnecessary to state, is of Hibernian extraction, is reported to have said : * Steve, me bhoy,' ye need not be after troubiin' to come home }f yez don't whip the Guld Country.'" 'Whether or not Casey senior said anything'of thesort, bis sou may go home with a clear conscience, for the " Ould Country" went under at the football match last Saturday,