THE ORPEN CASE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9992, 23 March 1898, Page 5

THE ORPEN CASE.

The Post says it has reasons to believe that the extradition proceedings in the Orpen case will fail.

REPORTED FIND OF SILVER AT CHEVIOT.

It was reported yesterday that Mr P. Cannon had discovered silver in the Seaward Ranges at Cheviot. The ore will shortly be tested, and application is bein« made to have the district proclaimed a mining district.

AVOIDING A PENALTY,

The constables in a North Canterbury town have been pretty active lately in putting into application the by-laws relating to unlighted vehicles. On Saturday evening, therefore, a belated traveller who, like the foolish virgins of the parable, had no oil in his lamp--, hit npon the expedient, to escape the attentions of the police, of taking his horse from the shafts of his gig and drawing it through the streets himself. Another person—this one a cyclist—is reported to have been seen carrying on his shoulder his unlighted bicycle.

PAYMENT FOR SURVEY WORK.

The Council of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors held a meeting in Wellington to discuss tenders for various survey work appearing in the papers. The system of tendering for such work the Council considered most pernicious alike to the surveyor and the public, and instructed the Secretary at once to communicate with the other centres of the colony, urging cooperation in not tendering, and pointing out that a Government schedule rate was provided for this purpose, and was a fair remuneration. The Council also decided to convene a general meeting in Wellington, and invite the delegates to discuss and alter the method of tendering tor surveys.

KLONDIKE STORIES,

Stories are now appearing in the English papers of the winter at the Klondike diggings. One correspondent says:—"Do not put ine down for a liar when I tell you some funny tricks the cold plays on you. When I started I took twelve loaves of bread with mc, and at the first camp I made I found them frozen. I put a loaf in a pan and put some water on it to thaw it out, but it would burn before it would thaw. A knife would do no good. for it was as hard as a brick, so I had to cut my bread with a saw, just as one would a piece of wood. With the fish we catch I do in the same way—rip them down tho middle with a saw and take a hatchet and chip off the scales. Now here is one you will not believe, but it is true. I took a bucket of water off a stove, and put it right down beside the red-hot stove. The side next the stove kept warm, but the other side froze solid. Such is life in the Arctic."

THE LOYALTY* OF IRISH AUSTRALIANS.

The following passage occurs in Mr Davitt's recently published book on his' travels in Australasia:—"l found my countrymen, as a rule, sharers in this general seutiment of Australian attachment to the Empire. I noticed in many houses I entered in my tour, particularly those of Catholic clergymen, the picture of the Queen; but almost always flanked by that of Mr Gladstone, and, not unfrequently, by either Mr Parnell, Mr Dillon, or Mr William O'Brien—a somewhat incongruous association. On almost all public and semi-public occasions they likewise drink her Majesty's health. This practice appears strange to a Nationalist visitor from Ireland, but it was explained to mc on one occasion in the only * snub' I think I received during my whole tour. I chanced to be in a city which is remarkable for its celebration of Royal birthdays. I wanted some postage stamps, and wended my way to the post office, which I found closed. ' What is the matter with the post office ?-' I enquired of a fellowcountryman standing near. ' This is the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday, and all public offices and places of business are closed.' 'But,'l ventured to object, * this would not happen even in England. I presume if it was known on what day his; Royal Highness'- nurse was born you would make that a general holiday too, here in .' The reply was as neat as it was instant and direct, " We are blessed here, sir, with the-freest kind of Home Rule, and we are free', I hope, to be as loyal if we like, which we do.* I got no postage stamps that day."