Local and General.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1030, 20 April 1894, Page 6

Local and General.

The sum of L 20,783 was the sicklist- money paid to Victorian school teachers last year. Ministers are revising the list of justices of the peace of the colony. A number of additions have been made. At Perth, Western Australia, a boy has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment for drowning his sister. A northern paper states that every prisoner committed to gaol for any length of time costs the colony about L 45 pet annum. Mr Monk, ex-M.H.R., has tele graphed to the Premier informing him that ' the result of the Waitemata election vindicates that distaict from the charge of corruption,' and inquiring if the electors were not entitled to his congratulations. The Premier has not yet vouchsafed a reply. Mr Scobie Mackenzie was presented at Palmerston on Friday night last by his admirers in that part of the Waihemo electorate with a typewriter, a dinner service being at the same time presented to Mrs Mackenzie by the ladies of the district. VThe report of the Sydney Labour Bureau shows that during the past six months 8000 men were sent into the country to fossick, for gold, and the city has now been nearly cleared of unemployed. About L4OOO had been refunded by the men whom the bureau had assisted. The Government have under consideration the advisability, in the interests of economy, of appointing salnried legal officers in Auckland, Wellington, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin. It is thought that by doing so a saving would be made as compared with the sums now paid in fees. The Clyde river rush, New South Wales, has proved a duffer, and is nearly deserted. Much destitution is prevalent. Diggers are eating corn in cobs, and the majority are begging passages back to town. • The Burdekin river, Queensland, is again under flood, and a whole family, whose house is under water, were on a raft for 12 hours before they were rescued. Another party took six days to convey a desperately injured man to the hospital. They suffered great privations on the journey. By the customhouse returns for the year ending 1893 Nelson, Moate, and Co. are again ahead of all merchants, dealers, and tea packers combined in any of the. four centres of New Zealand, thus proving that in spite of the great opposition the majority of the public appreciate Nelson, Moate, and Co.'s celebrated Indian, Ceylon, and Blended Teas above all others. A temperance deputation waited on the Premier at Gisborne ami placed before him what they considered the weak points in the working of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act. Mr Seddon, in reply, said he thought that all persons who went to the poll to vote for a committee should count as going to make up .half the nun her on the roll who voted. He thought that there should be only one ballot paper, and that one simplified. He was desirous in this matter that the people should rule. ' Referring to clubs, Mr Seddon remarked that applications were A>eing received for club charters in districts where hotels are likely to be closed, but he considered it would be a farce to grant them. A Melbourne clergyman is reported to have said : — ' Well, friends, the church is urgently in need of funds, and as we have failed to get money honestly, we will have to see what a bazaar can do for us.' Sir Matthew Davies has .filed a petition in bankruptcy in Melbourne. He attributes his failure to his connection with certain financial institutions. The liabilities amount to L 281.000 of which L 253,000 are secured. The assets are stated at L 32,700. The Hinemoa, -with Lord and Lady Glasgow and suite, arrived at Russell on Wednesday morning from Rarotonga, via Whangaroa, The weather since leaving New Zealand, except one day was extremely fine, acd great satisfaction was expressed regarding the trip. The beauties of the islands and the costumes of the natives greatly interested the party. It is rumoured that Mr J. E. Fitzgerald may shortly retire from the. office of Controller-general of Accounts and that the name of Sir Julius Yogel is being mentioned as his probable successer. Mr Davitt characterises the House of Lords as a ' den of land thieves,' and * rapacious legislative brigands.' Six hundred miles of water races and 4835 acres of plantation ! TheSelwyn County Council have made all that (says the Press) and have done their work remarkably cheaply. Mr Mortimer Davis, who made one of a receiifc party of inspection, points out that c no rates whatever have been collected by Sehvyn County Council for the purpose of making these races. The rates are struck (but not collected) as the security for loans out of which the races are constructed, but the interest on, and part of the principal of, these loans is paid by those who use the water. It. is estimated that in 20 years the whole of tlie loans will be paid off, and all water will thenceforth be supplied at a , greatly reduced rate, as maintenance will then constitute the only charge to ■be met.' This is a- record of good work, cv^ _• _„...:.

The following is from Truth :—During the Premier's visit to the Natives of the Uriwera country, it is said that some of the powerful men of the country offered to give Kumara's pet wrestler a fall or two on the lovely grass, but the Premier for. his own credit preferred to travel further on with the reputation of being the ' best heavy weight from Kumara,' and had no wish to let any Uriwera man claim the belt from him, When recently at Gisborne the Premier was intervied by a dozen ladies i who claimed that all restriction should be removed which prevented women being on an equality with men. With this object they asked that women be accorded the right to become members of Parliament. The Hon Mr Seddon acknowledged that this was a logical outcome of the enfranchisement of women, but thought the fair sex should first be politically educated before they were granted the higher right. The Colonial Secretaiy, replying to Mr William Hutchison, M.H.R., Dunedin says, in the matter of ballot papers, no instructions were issued by the Government to Returning Officers respecting section 17 and the third schednle, or upon any other matter connected with* the conduct of the licensing elections and local option polls. As to informals, the Government consider it undesirable to furnish a legal opinion, as the matter is- coming before Courts. He promises an enquiry into all cases of votf.rs being improperly struck off the roll on receiving a list of names. It having been reported that Mr Asquith was about to be married the following resolution was sent him ; — ' That this mass meeting of unemployed, held on Tower Hill, hearing that Mr Asquith is about to enter the holy bonds of matrimony, and knowing he has no sympathy with the unemployed, and that he has lately used his position in the House of Commons to insult them, trusts that his partner will be one of the worst tartars it is possible for a man to hare, and that his family troubles will compel him to retire from political life, for which he is so unfit.'