NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10061, 13 June 1898, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

H.M.S. Torch left Port Chalmers yesterday for Lyttelton. His Honour Mr Justice Denniston will leave on circuit for Timaru to-day by the express. Chief Detective Chrystal will leave for Dunedin by the express this morning to give evidence in connection with the arrest of a man here for alleged misappropriation of goods in Dunedin. Two correspondents, "S. Baker" and "A. Collins," write complaining strongly of football being allowed to be played on Latimer square, despite the notice board stating that no games are allowed to be played there. There was quite a gathering on Saturday evening at the premises of Messrs Falkinder and Colville, Cathedral square, to witness an exhibition of the acetylene gas. The gas was manufactured, as already described, and a good deal of astonishment was displayed at the simplicity of the operation and the brilliancy of the light produced. The roads from Christchurch to Hororata, with the exception of the portion between Upper Riccarton and Templeton, are in excellent order for cycling just now. For long distances the metal has, by the frequent passage of traction engines since the rains, been rolled until the road is almost as flat as a racing track. The St. Luke's Young Men's Club have passed a vote of thanks to our correspondent, " H. F.," for his gift of £1, receipt of which is acknowledged by the secretary, Mr R. A. T. Aherne. , A Wellington telegram to the Dunedin- " Evening Star" says:—"Sir Walter Buller has begun proceedings for libel against the Premier, and will claim heavy damages. It is whispered that Sir Robert Stojit has been retained by the right hon. gentleman." On Friday afternoon a Mr A. Todd, living at Fernside, it is stated, attempted to shoot himself, but as vhe gun would not discharge he laid down and exploded a flask of gunpowder at his throat. His face and neck were badly burned, but he was otherwise not injured. Constable Jackson conveyed him to the Sunnyside Asylum last evening. " . Accordine to the " Otago Daily TPimes," Mr C. B. Grierson, who has for about ten years occupied the position of manager of the Union Bank of Australia in Dunedin, is about to sever his connection with the Bank. Mr Grierson joined the Bank's service in Christchurch in 1864, and has thus served thirty-four years. Having reached the age of fifty-five, Mr Grierson has exercised his privilege of retiring on a pension under the rules of the guarantee and provident fund of the | Bank. It ia stated that it is Mr Grierson's intention to settle in Auckland. A correspondent signing himself " Voter " writes:—"l hear that the Government have had a list of names made up of those who did not vote at the last election. Should not this be publicly exhibited outside the Registrar's office ? I am under the impression the Electoral Act says this shall be done. A better way still of making this list public would be to publish it in both our papers, viz., the " Press" and "Lyttelton Times," and thus give everyone an opportunity of seeing who was struck off." On enquiry we find that there are on view at the office of the Registrar of Electors lists of the names struck off the Christchurch, Avon, and Riccarton rolls of the persons who did not vote at the election in 1896. The Act says that the Registrar is authorised to issue these lists tree of charge on application. He has also forwarded copies to the post offices and police stations and magistrates' courts in the three electorates'named. For the sake of convenience he keeps a copy of the Lyttelton roll for the perusal of anyone who may wish to see it. Special.—lf you require a toiuo take the best—Syrup of Hypophosphites. Barnett, chemist.; lib bottles 4s 6d, Jib 2s 6d. 8200

H.M.S. Tauranga sailed for Akoroa on ' (Saturday morning. The inquest on the body of Miss Sears took place on Saturday at New Brighton, and a verdict of "Found drowned " was returned. The greatest sympathy is universally expressed with the family ,on their bereavement. The smartness of the Ashburton Fire Brigade was tested on Friday evening. A test alarm had been arranged for, and the Brigade responded with commendable promptitude. The fine weather yesterday, and the arrival of two of the Union Company's passenger steamers caused Lyttelton to look very busy, many visitors from Christchurch coming down to the Port. Some trouble having been caused to a guard on the railway by school boys delaying him in showing their tickets, three of them have been summoned to appear before the Court to show cause. The Jubilee Clock Tower Committee have received information by the San Francisco mail from London that the bells for +he chimes are ready, but the alterations and additions to the clock will not be completed betore the end of the present month. Mr W. B. Clarkson. writes:—"l would like to correct a mistake Mr Cresswell makes in his reply on this case. He says I valued Glenmark at £4 per acre. Your paper's report of my evidence says £4 to £4 10s, which is correct. I also said the line of 3600 halfbred wethers from Glenmark were the best line of fat sheep I ever saw." An enquiry was held at the Magistrate's Court, Waimate, on Friday, before Captain Wray S.M., concerning the burning of a threshing machine at the Hook, the property of F. J. Meaclein, insured in the Norwich Union Office. The jury returned a verdict that there was no evidence to show the origin of the fire. An important sale of town and country properties in the estates of Mr Moss Jonas, the Assets Realisation Board, and others, was held at Timaru on Saturday. The sale was a poor one, all the lots but one, twenty acres in the Jonas estate, being passed. As low as 5s an acre was offered for some land in the Mackenzie country. Tne late Mr Arthur Perry's fine property, "Beverley, did not elicit a bid. At the inquest at New Brighton, on Saturday, one of the jurymen suggested that a rider should be added to their verdict asking the Pier Company to put a netting at the fishing stage on the pier. The lamentable death of the young woman which was the subject of enquiry is the second that ha 3 occurred from the same place. For some reason or other this excellent suggestion v/as not embodied in the verdict. Mr a. Blakeley, of Kaiapoi, who, when the mail left, was at Battey in Yorkshire, had furnished the "Reporter" newspaper of that town w.ui an interesting interview, giving particulars of life and progress in this colony. He describes the condition of the working class as very good, though he does not tiunk it has reached the workers' paradise described in the 'words, "Eight hours' work; eight hours' play, eight hours* sleep, and eight bob a day." Two Sydenham residents got into an altercation yesterday over the site of a boundary fence, and to add weight to his arguments one of them, it is alleged, made use.of a brick with which he cut open the other's head. The aggressor was arrested, and the injured man was attended to by Dr. Diamond. The case will be ventilated at the Police Court this morning. At Hoforata on Saturday last an inquiry was held with reference to seven outbreaks of fire, which occurred at short intervals in the district, under suspicious circumstances. Mr Bishop, S.M., presided. The total damage done amounted to some £1300. The inquiry elicited the fact that the fires were due to incendiarism, but the evidence was not deemed strong enough to convict. Mr W. W. Collins, in the Lyceum, last night, gave his lecture on " Gladstone, statesman and controversialist," in which he traced the political career of the greatest Liberal of the age and his association since 1832 with such great reforms as the extension of the franchise, the removal of Jewish disabilities, State education and the Ballot Bill. He regretted that such a • brilliant statesman should have been so apathetic during the Bradlaugh episode. As a controversialist Gladstone was the self-constituted champion of the orthodox faith, and had met such men as Huxley and Colonel Ingoraoll with courtesy, refinement, and culture. Under the instructions from the trustees in the late Hyman Marks estates the City Council authorities have distributed a large number of blankets and a quantity of coal to applicants residing both in the city and suburbs. The supply is now nearly exhausted, and it has been deemed advisable to reserve it for persons who reside in the city. This decision is in consequence of the rush of applicants from Sydenham and St. Albans. As there are a good many people who need a little coal the City Council is prepared to look after the distribution of any quantity any philanthropic persons may be inclined to provide. The Auckland corresponflent of the " Otago Daily Times" telegraphs :—''Great surprise was created in commercial circles in Auckland when it became known that Mr M'Corquodale, the popular manager of the Northern Roller Mills, and his son, Mr William M'Corquodale,, the foreman, had severed their conn ction with the Company. Ever since they took charge in 1889 the mills have been most successful, and for tho year ending March 31st, 1898, they declared "the highest dividend they had yet earned, being equal to 12 per cent, on the capital fixed at the formation of the company. About a year ago Mr M'Corquodale, in conjunction with some friend* who were desirous of joining him in business, offered the Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, a cheque for what they considered was the extreme value of both mills, and the price offered was the amount they themselves had previously indicated would probably be accepted by them. This offer, it is said, was curtly rofused, and since it was made Mr M'Corquodale's relationship with the headquarters' staff ha 9 been greatly strained." We were not surprised at the great success on Friday and Saturday of closing up sale of drapery and clothing on premises 210 High 6trect, opposite Wardell's, the shop was crowded afl day; for people are quick to see a bargain in goods at- half usual rates. All wool,dress serges will be the great feature of to-day's sale. Be sure and be present. , 4201 In addition to a large manufacturing trade from 30 to 50 bicycles can< be repaired daily at the Zealandia Cycle Works—Oates, Lowry and Co., largest makers of cycles in New Zealand.—[Advt.] Messrs Hay ward Bros , . "Flag Brand" manufactures have again secured highest honours at the Dunedin Exhibition, the judges having awarded them one gold medal for pickles, one gold medal for Worcestershire sauce, one gold medal for anchovy sauce, and one special gold medal for their collective exhibit. 4072 Dr. Rentoul, of Melbourne, writes :—" I made a minute and prolonged examination of the various high-grade cyclee ; the result was my conviction that the " Osmond " is, without fear of rival, the one supremely best bicycle as yet constructed. My use of it has proven this conviction true. Of half-a-dozen high-grade makes of cycles, it may be said it stands unique. It is the king amongst the peers, and, in addition to its positive qualities, it has a unique comparative claim. Unlike most English Companies, the " Osmond" Company stand loyally to tho principle of building One Grade Only, and that the highest grade possible. Thus it avoids hanky -panky tricks of tradft." Comment is unnecessary. Call and see 1898 "Osmonds" at the D.I.C. Agency. 238 For seven days only—Shaw, Robinson and Co. are showing some wonderful bargains. Tweed dress lengths from 3s lid, velveteens from Is, blankets from 7s lid, colonial flannel Bfd, table damasks 9&d, sheetings from 9&d, ladies and children's mackintoshes at half price, flannelettes from Iβ lid per dozen, men's tweed trousers from 6s lid, worth 8a 6d, colonial tweed suits 24s 6d, knitted sox 4£d, and working shirts from Is lid. 213 Cashel street, opposite Prkss office. 2852 Gifts.—£lsoo to be given, away free in prizes of ladies' watches, albums, workboxes, work-baskets, &c, for Crown brand tea coupons by Hubbard, Hell and Co.. Next competition closes hist day of June (this month).

The adjourned enquiry jn connection with ; the question of the formation of the Sama. ritan Home into a separate institution will take place on Wednesday next, at the Charitable Aid Board office. Our Akaroa correspondent telegraphed oa j Saturday:—"H.M.S. Tauranga arrived here to-day at 2 p.m. AU tho arrange ments for unveiling the memorial on Tuesday next ore about completed, and given fine weather, promises to be a complete success. A large number of tickets for the luucheon and ball have been taken." It is not often one finds a member of the legal profession strongly deprecating any ' appeal to the law. But suuh was the case at a recent meeting of the Harbour Board and still more strangely tho other le<*ai member of the Board coincided. One of the gentlemen was very emphatic. " Avoid going to law," said he, " as you would contact with the Father of Evil." This, considering that popular tradition assigns the name of the " Devil's own" to the legal profession, was, to say the least ot it, somewhat unfilial conduct. The new stables which have just been erected for Messrs Hay ward and Son were formally opened on Saturday, when there was a very large attendance oE the public to witness the ceremony. Ifl r l≤. G. Staveley, in a few well-o&ogg,, remarks, complimented the firm on their enterprise, and wished them every ptos. perity. The premises wore the finest in the Southern Hemisphere for the purposes for which they arc intended. Mr W. Hayward senr., briefly returned thanks. Subsequently references were made to the archi. tect, Mr S. H. Seager, and the contractors Messrs Graham and Greig, who responded! Three ringing cheei'3 were then given for the proprietors, and the stables declared open. The police at the New Brighton inquest on Saturday brought forward a Mrs Taylor who, after a few questions had been asked turned out to be the wife of the head gardener of the Domain Board and not that of the caretaker of the East Christchurch School. The mistake made, however, caused Mrs Taylor an unnecessary journey on a cold morning, and on a most unpleasant errand. j A special meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council was held on Friday evening, the Mayor (Mr Jennings) presiding. It was dscided to ascertain the Council's powers with respect to bringing water into the borough, and to engage Mr A. D. Dobson to report upon a scheme for the supply of tho borough. Mr W. Tyree having given the Councillors present an exhibition of the acetylene gas it was decided that he have permission to light a few of the lamps in Higli street as an experiment. An application was made from the Benevolent Society for the use of the Council Chamber for Wednesday afternoon, which was granted. A meeting of the Canterbury Women's Institute was held on Friday evening in Hobbs's Buildings. A letter from the Labour Department, in reply to the request of the Institute for a further reduction in railway fares to men employed on Government works, stated that tho matter had been referred to the Minister of Railways. Miss Stella Henderson addressed the publio meeting on the subject of the removal of disabilities from women. She considered that the disabilities rested not so muoh in actual law as in prejudice, And it was largely a matter of altering the attitude of the minds of the people. No new legislation was required regarding the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace, there being no clauses in the law limiting its application to men. She waa at a loss to understand what logical reasons men had for giving woman a vote and yet excluding her from the House. There were many women who were quite fit to be entrusted " • with the making of laws. The Protnier had promised to bring in a Bill to broaden the municipal franchise, and there was very little doubt that if he did it would go through the House and it would enable women to sit on local bodies. Mrs Blake moved the following motion :—" That the ' Canterbury Women's Institute, believing • • that the time has now arrived when all civil and political disabilities should be removed from women, requests the Government to introduce a Bill early in the ensuing season to amend the law in this direction." The motion was carried. Mr G. W. Russell said that he agreed with Mies Henderson that no new legislation was > required to appoint women as Justices. Women should claim the right to a seat in both Houses. ' THE WAKATIPU-LAIRA COLLISION. The "Otago Daily Times" reports that Captain Peter Julius Hoigh, the master of the Laira, has brought an action against the : Union Steamship Company to recover £200 as damages for the loss of personal effects, owing to the recent sinking of the Laira by the s.s. Wakatipu. ' WHAT IS TO BECOME OF OUR BOYS!. The question " Whatsis to become of our. ,w boys?" was put in cross-examination to one of the witnesses before the Arbitration Court at Dunedin, and in reply to this industrial poser the witness said, "Mr Seddon has said he can'fe answer that question, and I'm sure I can't." Later, on t Mr Frostick informed the witness that Mr Seddon had expressed the opinion on the teohnioal education question that people ought to have their children taught-trades, and ehould not try to get them into offices, . and asked how the young could be taught • trades if the unions succeeded in preventing ~ all but a limited number being allowed ta learn trades. This, also, was a problem the witness confessed himself unable to solvo. The witness expressed the opinion that - ' unskilled labourers were far better off than k ,« , tradesmen. - MAHMOUD INTERVIEWED. The London "Daily Telegraph's" war correspondent sends an account of an in« • tereating conversation he has had with the , dervish leader Mahmoud, who explained that the reason for his losing the battle of- ■ Atbarawas because he was misled by Osraart Digna. Mahmoud predicts a British defeat : at Khartoum. "Of course," said Mahmoud, " had I known that you possessed so many soldiers I should have brought more. I had, as a matter of fact, sent for reinforcements, but they could not arrive in time from Omdurman. The war, I assure yon. is by no means ended." Mahmoud asked how long it took the train to go the ten* days'journey to Haifa, and expressed surprise that it could be done in one oay. Seeing the engine quit the train at Shereik, he asked a number of questions. Where ; has it gone for water? Does it drink, too, like men? Is it always a great smoker.. Strange devil, does it never get tired ? Are there many other such wonders in Cairo. Several photographs were taken of him, to his intense pleasure. THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE "SAW." Recently a junior clerkship examination j in connection with the Water and Sewerage Board, in Sydney, took place. Amongrt other things the candidates had to write an' essay. They were given three subjects to\ choose from, one being "The pen is mightier than the sword." . But cne bright youth. was unacquainted with thw "wise saw, and when the examiner called it out he wrote •'The pen is mightier than the "saw." Hero is his essay:—A pen is mightier than th» saw. A pen Jβ much better in every way than the saw; the pen is much easier to use .than a saw. In the first place, for instance, a man sitting in an office using his pen all day is by far better than a man out in the sun and rain using a saw. The pen requires much more art than the saw; a man with a saw has to exert himself a great deal. Is it not better to go to school and learn to write than to stay about the streets and not go to school? When it is time for a boy to go to work, thea is the time that you are sorry you never went to school; he goes out to look for wprk, and he cannot write, and he has to go and do hard work with the saw. If you go into an office, and see a• ' young fellow writing you, feel very disbeartened that you have to go out into the rain and saw wood to build a house. The pen is a very useful article. If you put the two together, the pen and the saw, you find that the pen is by far the batter. A man with a pen earns muclj more money than a man with a saw. It requires much more brains and care to use a pen than a saw. Therefore, for my part, I think that the pen ia a great deal bettor than the saw."

LORD RANFURLI. His Excellency the Governor arrived in Dunedin fr«m the South on Saturday even* ing, and leases for Christohurch^o-day. RABBITING IN THE NORTH. On rabbit day at Kihikihi, Waikato (says an Auckland message), the natives brought in nearly 7000 skins—a great falling off, as tffo years ago the number was from 20,000 to 21,000. THE NEW PRISON AT DUNEDIN. The new gaol building at Dunedin, erected on the co-operative principle at a -ost of £16,000, has b.en taken over by the Prison Department {says a Press Association message), and the prisoners will be removed into it on Wednesday. There are ieventy-two cells in the prison—fifty-two for male and twenty for female prisoners. A TORPEDO-DESTROYER IN A GALE. The Whiting, one of the torpedo boat destroyers attached to the China squadron, turned up at Shanghai last month in distress. On her way from Hongkong from the north, the fell in with heavy weather, and was badly knocked about. One of the forward compartments **as filled, chiefly due to a number of rivets giving way along the starboard bow. Powder, kept in what should have been water-tight cases in the magazine, was found to be wet and completely spoilt, -be gig w-as washed away, and a considerable quantity of stores much damaged. J.ONDON COUNTY COUNCIL BAND. The four sections of the London County Council band are now furnished with saxophones in addition to the usual instruments. For supplying music in the London parks and open squares the Council employs, besides its quadruple band of ninety-six performers, twenty-nine other bands. There is also a press band, which plays in the summer from seven to ten o'clock on Tuesday evenings, in the Embankment Gardens. AMATEURS AND THEIR PRIZES. Two or three occurrences, lately, would aeem to indicate (remarks the "Sydney Daily Telegraph") that the days of the medal and the side-board ornament, as emblems of superiority in the athletic field, are now numbered. Many athletes who have won prizes lately have expressed themselves as having a decided preference for articles of utility, and the other day a swimmer, who had earned a prize valued at one guinea, and, by the rules of the club, was allowed tq choose what he liked best, proviaed the cost did not exceed the sum mentioned, selected a bicycle lamp, a bottle of oil for lubricating purposes, a razor, and a strop. Nobody will question the usefulness of these articles, but what is the difference between such an "amateur" and a professional?