NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 October 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(or TEtEciurn—rticsa isaociiTioH.) SPREAD OF SPIRITUALISM. "NUMBERS SUNT TO LUNATIC ■ ASYLUMS." Auckland, October 14* At to-day's sitting of the Anglican Synod, the Rov. C. W. Scott-Moncriefi, warden ol St. John's College, mored: —"That in view of the increasing number of adherents of spiritualism a committee bo appointed to consider the causes, real nature, and probable tendencies of this movement, and to present a report to next year's Synod." The mover said he had heard several of his brother clergymen testifying to tho increasing . number of adherents of spiritualism in New. Zealand and elsewhere. It was not dying out as at first prophesied. So far from dying it was continuing to flourish. Surely tho Church was bound to take notice of a movement which was taking people : away from church, and, as many would testify, leading them into unwholcsomo and dangerous ways. The Rev. F. W. Pigott seconded tho motion. It was, he said, a question of considerable importance, there being a good deal of confusion in '-tho public mind as to what spiritualism was and what it was not. Mr. W. J. Speight deprecated going into the matter at all. He had known a few good people who had been fitted'for tho asylum aa 1 a result of their investigations. Mr. Ewington said there were hundreds of. people in New Zealand who we're, in difficulties over tho subject. The' opinion of experts was that numbers of people had been sent to lunatic asylums by studying ' the question. ' fho Rev. G. Smailer said he had been astonished at fee numbers ofpeople who attended spiritualistic gatheringsf'and many of tliem were leading citizens. ' Tho debate was adjourned, vs " ' "

EPILEPTIC FITS}, 1 '" DEATH OF ANDERS ANDERSEN. Westport, 06'oUbr 14. Anders Andersen, one of the* .rffih coin victed of manslaughter of Emestu John Bourke, and whose 'innocence wits 4sub£o. quently proved by the confession oI r °SVilliani Connelly that ho alono killed Bou£k4, died this afternoon. During the courso\of r.tha trial Andersen suffered from a series of epileptic fits, which became very projwupried during the past two days, and this afternoon he passed away. n ~/f' ,-i MASONIC JUBILEE. ' " ,"n 121 '" P J .-'III S THE SCINDE LODGE. , Napier, October'l4. An important Masonic function was successfully carried out in Napier to-day, when tho Scinde Lodge, No. 5, New Zealand Con-' stitution (No. 419,-Irish Constitution), celebratedfcits jubilee. The first part of the proceedings was the meeting, and tho lodgeroom was taxed to its utmost capacity to accommodate the brethren in attendance, who included several Grand Lodge officers and representatives of numerous lodges in New Zealand and beyond the Dominion. Grand Master Lord Plunket was present, and was given a souvenir of the occasion in the form of a miniature gavel, made out of the original gavel sent out by the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and used by the Scinde Lodge at its formation. There was introduced to the Grand Master, Bro. Henry Renouf, of Napier, who is believed to be the only survivor of the original members of tho Scinde Lodge. Lord Plunket congratulated the celebrating lodge on its excellent position and on the way in which it maintained the best traditions of Masonry. He also presented W. Bro. J. W. M'Dougall with a handsome jewel, subscribed for by, Past Masters who had been installed by him. An offertory in aid of the Widows' and Orphans' and Aged Masons' • Fund met with liberal response. In the evening there was a conversazione and dance, at which the Grand Master held a recaption. ' TIMARU BAND CONTEST. Timaru, October 14. At . tho Band Contest, the competitions were' continued this morning. In the' euphouium class there were six competitors, and Stubberfield (Elite) secured 84 points, . W. Sullivan (Lyttelton Marine). 81, W. Craig • (Timaru Marine) SO. Tenor horns —live competitors: L. Wendelborn (Lyttelton Mar-, ine) 82, J. Storrie (Dominion) 80, L. Terriss (Asburton Temperance) 79. B ■ flat trombones —seven competitors: A, Poarce (Timaru Marine) 75, M. Wearno (Lyt-. telton Marine) 72, T. Gorst (Lyttelton Marine) 71, J. Bath 71. There was an attendance of about 6000 persons at the contest in the afternoon, wnen. tho quickstep was won by the Ashburton Temperance Band, with Lyttelton Marino sccond, Dominion (Invercargill) third, and Ashburton County fourth. The Timaru Pips ■ Band won the Highland music competition, with Ashburton second. There was a big crowd at the Drill Hall in the evening to glisten to the test selections, the result being 'as followsAshburton... Temperance, 1; Dunedin Citizens and Dominion (tie),' 2; and Elite (Christchurch), 4. DARCAVILLE LAND SALE. Dargavilie, October 14.' The Hobson County Council's sections in Dargavilie were sold yesterday at £16 10s. per foot. MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. Nelson, October 14. A conference was-held this evening between representatives of the medical and dental professions and the Education Board. with reference to the medical inspection of school children. The meeting agreed thai such inspection was desirable, and''memberi of the professions offered their services The board will take steps to obtain the con sent of parents to a thorough examinatioi of tho children being made. THE OKARITO WHALE. Christchurch, October 14. Tho skeleton of tho Okarito .whale arrived in-Lyttelton from Wellington yesterday, and . will bo lodged in tho Canterbury Museum to-morrow. :