General News

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3103, 29 September 1899, Page 1

General News

At a horse sale at Cambridge 500 out of 700 were sold at an average price of £14. The Greek Hatzaki, who stands committed for trial for stabbing three firemen of the Tolosa, has been admitted to bail. The Premier has received a cablegram from the Agent-general, warning him to be on the look out in regard to matters financial in view of probable war in the Transvaal. Mr George Wilson, inspecting engineer in the Mines department, Wellington, retires ab the end of the year owing to failing eyesight. He, will be succeeded by Mr Hayes, inspector of mines for Otago. News from Samoa states that there is a lot of smothered discontent among the natives, and that if the Powers do not hurry up and send some definite information as to future of the islands there seems every probability of more trouble ahead. Within the last few days a considerable quantity of tobacco has been stolen from Turnbull's warehouse and one of the Harbor Board's sheds at Wellington. Appearances point to the robberies being the work of an organised gang of thieves. A man named Alexander has been arrested. At a meeting of the Council of the Auckland Liberal Association to consider the part the association would take in a meeting of workers to be held for tbe selection of a Labor candidate, it was decided not to take any part in the meeting. The Auckland Tanners and curriers dispute goes to the Arbitration Court, the union insisting on the clause granting preference to unionists if equally qualified. Tbe Auckland Master Tanners' Association agreed to the terms of the employees' union — viz., 47 hours, the agreement to hold for three years. Claims for compensation in connection with the Rakaia accident are still coming in to the Railway department. The total claims so far amount to 103, of which 86 have been settled (in and out of court) for about £14,000. Of the remaining 17 claims several are set down for hearing at tbe December sittings of the Supreme Court at Christchurch. t The inspection of the Mawhera by Mr Duncan, chief inspector of machinery, showsthat the vessel had a narrow escape of serious injury when she touched tbe rock off East Cape a few days ago. It will be necessary to strengthen five frames which show signs of fracture. One plate and part of another are badly dented, and will be replaced. "Progressive politician"' writes to the 'Dannevirke Morning Press': — The President of the Pahiatua League is a lawyer ! The vice-president is a lawyer ! The Pahiatua League candidata is a lawyer ! Mr Harold Smith gave his maiden speech as a lawyer ! He was questioned by a lawyer ! A vote of thanks was proposed by a lawyer and seconded by a lawyer ! The first meeting at Wellington of the council of the Liberal Federation of New Zealand was held on Monday. Among those present were the Premier and a number of i members of Parliament and delegates from various parts of the colony. Mr Seddon, as president, delivered an address. The provisional constitution was referred to the I committee, and amended according to their report. M r Seddon was re-elected president, and the Hon. Mr Fraser treasurer. A ccm- | mittee waa appointed to consider proposals of the various branches for a platform for the party. In the Ohau case, in which Mrs Giles was charged with the attempted murder by poison of Mrs West, Jane Brown aHi tie girl of nine years of age, who hved with Mrs Giles, said she poured <-ufc the tea which Mrs West drank. No one touched the cup. The latter drank the contents, and Mrs Giles could not have put anything in it without witness seeing it. The bench very briefly dismissed the case, principally on the ground that there was no apparent motive. j The result was received with cheers and loud applause, the Native woman in the court chanting a song of joy. | Interesting part culars are to hand regarding the advances made in the important colonial industry of cycle buiiding The Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company is one of the companies which seem a to have tackled the building trade in real earnest and their productiou, the " Anglo Special," proves that cycles can be built in the Colonies equal to any imported both as to material used and external finish. The "Anglo Special" has only been on the market for two years but the trade has grown with such strides that the company find difficulty in coping with their orders. The advantage of buying this cycle is that every rider can have a bicycle built absolutely to fit him, and wo ace told by experts that it is just as important to have a well fitting bicycle as a well fitting coat. The agents for the " Anglo Special :! in our district are Mr H. Ransome, of Milton, and Mr F. T. Poole, of Kaitangata, and both report very satisfactory business. -*-(Advt.)

The editor of a paper in Jackson, Ga., anuounces chat id payment of subscriptions he is willing to accept " any digestib'e fruit, except codfish and grindstones." *' An acre of wheat in a sling" ia a new way of reckoning shipments at the whai f , as ten sacks are hoisted at a time (says the ' Timaru Herald. 3 ) But it is not every year that an acre of wheat will fill a sling. On this reckoning the s.s. Adana cleared 3600 acres. Mark Twain's prediction that some day one of the principals in a French duel w.uld be hurt has, says a ' Daily Mail ' telegram, at length been verified. After a wa-m discussion concerning the "affair" M. Qdillici, a municipal canncillor at Marseilles, and another gentleman took iha field. In the course of the proceedingc M. Quillici fell and bruised his right arm so seriously that the seconds put an end to the combat. " Medicus," writes in the ' New Zeal.^d Times':— Mr Justice Conolly sentenuag gome woman in Auckland for ministrations to induce miscarriage, has taken the peop'o by surprise ; and his advice to the police bo prosecute the patient, still more so. r J hat this cri i-e is committed almost daily, frequently with recklessness and common impunity, is an open secret, and a commis-iun to take evidence on the subject would rather open the eyes of our legislators and make them cease to wonder why schools will soon become white elephants and children a thing of the past. " A year or two back some elaborate inquiries were made to ascertain the real amount of the indebtedness of th< se colonies. The result is given us about £870,000,000. But the wealth, exclusive of Crown lands and public works, was estimated at over £1,000,000,000. The truth is our indebtedne.-s to Great Britain means that we are paying rent -low rec — for a vast mass of economic machinery with which we are developing the illimitable resources of these virgin lands." — ' Melbourne Argus.' Bayly, who tipped Barney Armit over, is a son of the late Thomas Bayly, of Wi.itara, who rose to be a very wealthy man through hard graft and speculatiug in Taranaki lands. Young Bayly is also wll off, and ia bitterly distressed at the terribie accident. It is reported he has sworn oil" football. He has acted as a thorough white mau, the best maJical talent in Dunedin being engaged for Armit, and no expense spared. Further, Bayly intends to maintain Armit, if he lives and is incapable ; in case he should die, he will support tin mother. Next to Armit himself, Bayly ia the subject of general sympatny. — 'Christchurch Spectator.' Ia the spacious and shady garden of a relative, net far from Meopham, I have seen (writes Sir Edwin Arnold in the London ' Daily Telegraph ') a bush of green roses. The buds and blos3oms, be it understood, were not merely greenish, nor striped or variegated with green, but; perfect greea roses in shape and make, ■with calyx, corolla, petals— everything all alike, of a bright, vivid colour, exactly resembling that of the ordiuary green leaf of the rose bush. Some of the blooms were of the ordiuary size, and fashioned like a tea rose, or a small Glorie de Dijon, and many among them were most symmetricaly formed and finished. There exhaled a faint perfume of briar from these emerald eoioured monstrosities — but what could postibly induce the Queen of the Garden thus to abdicate her lovely colours and apleudid traditions and look like a tuft of grass or a button of st. John's wort ? After that bush, I, at least, am quite prepared to hear of blue roses and black roses without incredulity.