SERIOUS ILLNESS OF SIR F. DILLON BELL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10060, 11 June 1898, Page 7

SERIOUS ILLNESS OF SIR F. DILLON BELL.

A CUSTOMS TRANSACTION.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin reports that Sir F. Dillon Bell is seriously ill at Shag Valley station.

DUNEDIN JUBILEE EXHIBITION.

It is stated, according to a Press Association message from Dunedin, that the Industrial Exhibition recently held jn that city will result in a net profit of £2000.

On a certain consignment for goods being entered at the Customs some time back (reports a Nelson Press Association telegram), the Collector elected to take the goods at their entered value, plus 10 per cent, additional. Hβ has now sold them in two lots to the trade, and whereas they cost the Customs £155, including expenses, he has received £203. whch seems to show they were undervalued.

FRUIT CONDEMNED AND BURNED.

A quantity of fruit which was imported from Sydney by the Talune, and taken to Christchurch to be examined, was condemned and burnt at the City Council rubbish depot. Fruit which was imported by yesterday's steamers was sent to Christchurch to be examined.

THE INSURGENT LEADER IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The leader of the rebels in the Philippines is Aguinaldo, who formerly held the position of head man of a village, corresponding to the office of Mayor. According to a New Zealander who has just returned from Manila, Mr Tindill, Aguinaldo is said to be well educated, gifted with considerable military skill, and displaying daring in carrying on an incessant guerilla warfare against the enemy of his race. Watching the Spaniards from their eerie-like strongholds in the mountains, his followers harass the Spaniards by incessant forays, cutting off small detachments, seizing supplies, adopting the favourite strategy of the first Napoleon by subsisting upon the enemy, and "evading pursuit by retiring again to the hills.

THE NEW STAMPS,

Owing to the continued demand by collectors for the 2Jd stamps in -which the name " Wakatipu "is misspelt" Wakitipu," a further supply of 50,000 is now on its way to the colony (reports a Press Association telegram from Wellington). The following changes in other stamps are also to be made as coon as practicable:—The design at present in use for the Id stamp (Lake Taupo) will be used for the 4d and the present 4d design (White Terrace) for the Id. This was the original intention, but in some way the designs were confused in London. The new 4d stamp will be printed in the brown and blue tints, which has been so much admired in the present Id stamp, but the opportunity will be taken to transpose the colours of the new Id and the 9d, as being more suitable for representations of the White and Pink Terraces. Future supplies of all stamps have been ordered to be printed on watermarked paper. The present Id design has to be printed in two colours, and is too expensive for a stamp which is used in such large numbers.

THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ALLIANCE.

The friendly attitude of the British Government towards the United States in the present crisis, as well as the friendly utterances of English newspapers, ia cordially appreciated by every intelligent American (says the Washington correspondent of the London " Daily Mail"), and meets MEteh enthusiastic approval from the Am9ricaa Press. *Even newspapers formerly hostile to everything English are displaying a remarkable change of feeling. The New York " Journal/ , for instance, not long ago one of

the bitterest opponents of an Anglo-Ameri-can alliauco, comes out with the following frank declaration: —"Somehow it seems that twisting the British Lion's tail ought not to be quite so popular a sport in the United States henceforward. Since our quarrel with Spain reached an acute state it has been evident enough that the unfaltering friendship of Great Britain «has been the chief obstacle to a European alliance against us. Our hereditary enemy has proved our best friend."

FORT TO BE PLACED AT WESTPORT. The Government recognising Westport as a most important coal centre, has decided to send the Commandant of the Forces there to choose a site for a fort.

MOUNT COOK PRISON. The Cabinet has decided that the Mount Cook site shall not be used as a gaol.

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. Our London correspondent writes on May 7th :—"Captain Russell left England yesterday (with Miss Russell) on his return voyage to New Zealand. He travels via Suez and Australia by the P. and O. ss. Peninsular, and expeots to arrive in New Zealand about the 20th of June. The early date of his departure has take , ! his friends in this country somewhat by surprise, but it is understood he is acting upon urgent representations ccmeyed tohin: from his political associates in the colony, who, I believe, have impressed upon him that his early return to New Zealand is desirable in the interests of the party." Captain Russell reached Albany yesterday.

"CLUTHA" MACKENZIE,

Mr Thomas Mackenzie's successful year's management in London of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association has secured (says our London correspondent) a prompt and very substantial acknowledgment from his directors. Mr Mackenzie has been invited by the Manchester Ship Canal Company to visit Manchester and give his opinion as to the facilities for trade afforded by the canal. Mr Mackenzie has also been asked to deliver an address upon trade questions generally to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. He also represented New Zealoni as well as the Governors of the Imperial Institute, at the annual meeting of the Institute, over which H.R.H. the Prince of Wales presided.

NEW LOCOMOTIVES ORDERED FROM AMERICA.

Recently tenders were called in England for the construction of ten locomotives for New Zealand. The lowest tender received was £2050 each, c.i.f., and it was intimated that at the price the engines could nob be forwarded for thirteen or fifteen months. The Government then invited offers from Baldwin, the American maker, who offered to supply engines in three months for £1675 each, c.i.f. As it was absolutely necessary to have the engines for next season the Government decided, notwithstanding the additional expense, to do business with America, reports a Press Association message.

JUDICIAL BUSINESS IN WELLINGTON.

Counsel engaged in the Magistrate's Court in Wellington (says a Press Association telegram) are continually inconvenienced by the frequent postponement of cases owing to the large amount of business to be transacted by the Court. A suggestion having been made that a second Magistrate ehould be appointed, Mr Kenny, S.M., said if combined representation by leading citizens and the bar were made to the Justice Departratnt, this wight have the desired effect. In addition to the agitation for a second Stipendiary Magistrate, it is urged that another Judg3. should be appointed, as the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Edwards, since the latter's appointment to the Arbitration Court, are quite unable to overtake the work here. The district includes Napier, Wanganui, Nelson, and Blenheim. The civil sessions, which contain! forty-eSght cases, should begin next week, but the criminal business will not be finished then, and in addition there ninety cases in Chambers and Banco. -. Napier, Nelson, and Bleoheim circuits are due in a few days, so that it is evidently impossible for two Judges to deal with this mags of work. Some of the cases on the list haye been standing over already for months. Other large causes have yet to be set down, and among them is the argument on the petition for the appointment of a receiver for the Midland Railway Company, which, with the contingent issues, will be a formidable business in itself.

BACK FROM KLONDIKE,

David Scholz, of Melbourne, who is returning to his native place by the steamer Cape Otway, has been one of the successful miners at Klondike, but he has earned his gold by suffering manyprivations and undergoing many trials. He told a "Herald" representative while in Auckland that it was in March, 1894, he started for the goldfields among the frozen regions of North America. The first year he worked at diggings in American territory, the second at Xanana Creek, while during 1896 and 1897 he worked the Bonanza claim on the creek of that name, and purchased the El Dorado claim as well. From the firstmentioned he.says he took out 6Qooz of gold, worth from £3 to £3 9a per ounce. He succeeded in selling both claims in December of last year, receiving 10,000dol for each, thus clearing about £4000 by the deal. This has evidently satisfied Scholz, for he is now homeward bound. "It is quite true that large amounts have been taken from the mines, but the largest amount taken was during the winter of 1896----97, when 130 OOOdol, or £26,000, was conveyed from the fields from a few claims. At present there were about 6000 men on the field. Some of these were doing well, others were merely working for wages, which was 15dol (£3) per day. This seems a high rate of wage, but it must be remembered that the price of food is proportionately high, so that the average miner at Klondike is very little, if any, better off than he would be on the goldfields cf, say, New Zealand. The field is a good one, and there are some rich claims ; but I would advise any miner who thought of trying his luck at Klondike to stop where he ia if he is earning bread and butter."