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Evening Star, Issue 6708, 27 September 1884, Page 2

Our to-day's supplement contains the conclusion of our American Letter, "Elise's" notes on English Fancies, Follies, and Fashionß; a new tale by Henry James, Correspondence, Sporting Notes, and a variety of matter. Our parliamentary correspondent prognosticates an early close of the session. He thinks that hon, members will be dismissed to their homes in about a fortnight after the delivery of the Public Works Statement. The wife of a Fairlie Creek farmer, named Hennessey, committed suicide on Friday morning by cutting her throat from ear to ear with a razor, She was twenty-five years of age, and had no family. No cause for the act can be assigned. At a small meeting at Christchurch last night resolutions were passed condemning Mr Steward's Licensing Amendment Bill as uncalled for, disapproving entirely of any scheme of compensation for a refusal of renewal of license, and affirming that the op'ional endorsement clause lessens the restraint which the law at present places around a trade fraught with terrible evil to the community.

A letter posted at Christchurch on July 4 and Bent Home by the Doric w»s delivered at its destination in Sussex on August 13, and the answer to it was received at Christchurch via San Francisco on the 24th inat. Thus the double voyage was done in eightytwo days. If that letter (remarks the 'Lyttelton Times') did not quite equal the performance of Jules Verne's hero, it can boast that it travelled a much longer distance. The ' Hawke's Bay Herald' reports that Mr Thomson, formerly schoolteacher at Kaikora, Hawke's Biy, is now tutor to the King of Siam, and resides at Bangkok. He receives a salary of LI, 000 a-year. Mr Thomson, in a letter to a friend in Napier, says that the "New Zealand objective tablets " are the only ones which can be sucoesßfully used in teaching English to the Chinese, and that they are like to oome into extensive use in Chinese schools. At the City Police Court to-day Franois Coyne was oharged with stealing a chimneysweeping machine of the value of LI 10s, the property of James Brown. The accused offered as a defence the statement that the prosecutor and he were on the "spree" together, but he was told that drunkenness was no excuse for the offence. There were a large number of convictions recorded against the accused for larceny, and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labor. Messrs J. Logan and A. Rennie, J.P.s, occupied the bench. Several Otago students gained considerable credit at the recent examination of the Edinburgh University. The 'Scotsman* reports that in the Praotical Natural History clasß W. A. Fleming, Balclutha, was placed first oh the list, having taken the medal (he and another student being equal) and firstclass honors. In Botany he also took firstclass honors } in Praotical Pathology secondclass honors, and in Natural History secondclass honors, William Allan, Hopehill, Taieri, took second-class honors in Natural History, and in the praotical class secondclass honor*. In Praotical Physiology P. A. Lindsay, of Dunedin, took second-olass honors, and also second-class honors in Practical Pathology. The scholarship foUDtUd by Dr Beaney, of Melbourne, at this Univercifcy, and worth L4O a-year, has been awardel to Francis Antil Pockley, the graduate who obtained the highest marks in anatomy, surgery, and clinical surgery during the recent examinations for the degrees M.8., CM. The same student carried off the James Scott Scholarship also of 140, for proficiency in midwifery and gynecology. Mr Pockley hails from Sydney. He was one of the seven who took the above degrees with first-class honors. The Christohureh Caledonian Society have set an example worthy of imitation. They havp practically instituted a cross of valor, and the first distinction has been awarded to George Austin, the lad who saved the boy Roil from drowning in the Heathcote in March last. It js a cross of solid silver, bearing an appropriate legead, £he most conspicuous words being "For valor." The presentation was made at a crowded meeting at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday night, and in handing the medal to Austin the vice-president of the Society said :—" I must congratulate you on having, at such an early period of your career, shown that you possess pot only courage, but presence of mind and promptness of action. It must be, a great satisfaction to yon to know that, by • retaining jour presence of mind, and byyour prompt action on March 13, you were the means of saving this boy's life. Had you hesitated, of lost your presence of mind, in all probability your assistance would have been too late. I trust that the possession of this cross, and the public recognition your bravery has received, may be a very strong incentive to you to persevere in an hoi.orable and straightforward career, such, as will entitle you to the respect of your fcllow-eolonfsts. ' May'you long be spared to wear it with credit to yourself; and may the Caledonian Society never have cauße to regret presenting it to y'.u."' ''

We understand that the office of organist of St. Matthew's Church will be rendered vacant shortly by the departure of Mr E. P. Truman to Sydney,

At the inquost on Gavin Darrah, contractor, who was killed when the Presbyterian Church on the Surrey Hills Estate (Auckland) was blown down, a verdiot of «' Accidental death " was returned; The witmsaea expressed their belief that they thought the building perfectly secure. District Coroner Robinson held an inquest on the body of a rabbiter named White, who died rather suddenly in the Upper Shag Valley. The verJict of the jury was in accordance with the medical evidence, that death resulted from congestion of the lungs and fatty degeneration of the heart. Major Sumpter has addressed the following circular letter to the various commanding officers in the South Island:—"ln furtherance of the proposal to hold an annual prize-firing meeting in each island, will you be kind enough to convene a meeting of officers in your district for -the purpose of electing three delegates to attend a conf rence to be held at tho Defence Office, Dunedin, on October 9, to consider the following questions: To decide on a central sito for the annual competition. To fix on the most suitable date for the competition, in order that it may not interfere with men who are engaged in harvest or shearing operations. To consider any other question which may arise in connection with the matter."

By the retirement of Mr Pearson from the office of Chief Commissioner of the Southland Land Board the country loses the services of an exceptionally useful and zealous officer, whose active intelligence in the discharge of his duties has been of the very greatest service to the successive Governments, provincial and colonial, undor which he. has served for so many years. The reports he has from time to time furnished of the working of his department, relating as they do to the progress and prospeots of. settlement, have been most valuable, afcd display literary ability of no mean order. Mr Pearson has, outside his office of Chief Commissioner, performed various other public duties with credit; and the confidence of Ministries has been manifested in his appointment, on many occasions, as a member of royal commissions and other courts of specific investigation. The Southland Land Board, at their last meeting, recorded their appreciation of his " ability, uniform courtesy, and general address, which never failed to contribute towards perfect freedom and harmony in the condoot of the business of the Board." We wish Mr Pearson every happiness in his well-earned leisure. ....'

Kaveasboume householders meet on Monday evening re sohool committee, ■ A sacred conoert will be held in fjt. John's Primitive Methodist Church on Tuesday evening next, The programme appears In this Issue.

A shipment of Dr Carter Moffatt's ammoniaphone, for the production of artificial Italian air, will arrlvo shortly, to the order of Mr M, Marshall, chemist. In the last sentence of our leading article yesterday on the Lioenting Act Amendment Bill the word "not" was inadvertently oarilted. It should read: Obmpensation "should not under any circumstance include prospective profits of Dusiness.'' The eighth annual show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held on the new grounds of the Association on November 26 and 27. The third annual parade of Clydesdale and thoroughbred entires will be held on October 2,

We understand a most excellent programme has been prepared for the Union street Sohool prize fund concert, to be held oh Friday evening next In Old Knox Churoh at eight o'olook. Besides a number of plecos to be given by a choir of the school children, several amateur angers have kindly given their services. As the object is one worthy of support It Is to be hoped that the parents and friends of the children attending the sohool will show.their sympathy by being present In large numbers. Prices having been fixed at Is for adults and 6d for children should bring it Within the means of all. Tickets can be had from the following members of Commitco—Messrs W. Wright, J Mathews, J Jackson, and W. D, Sutherland; or from the teachers of the sohool through the ohlldren. We learn that a want long felt in this City Is to be supplied through the enterprise of Mr Arthur Tovrsey and Mr Wlshart (conductor of the Garrison B»nd), viz.. Saturday evening concerts for the mass at prices that will enable every person to go Tho first is to take place next Saturday, October 4 In the Garrison Hall. The whole of the temperance sooletles in Dunedin ham lent their support, and In consideration the promoters allow an interval at each conceit of about fifteen minutes, when an address on temperance will be delivered. The prices of admission will be Is for the gallery and stage, which will be seated, and 6d to tho body of the hall. Mr Wlsharfc provide*, the instrumental portion with the Garrison Band, and Mr Towsey the vooal portion of the entertilnmpnt. Wo wish the promoters every success, and feel sure that under their management the concerts cannot fall to bo attraotlve.

At the shop of Mr H, Brundell, furniture polisher, Castle street, Is a most beautiful table, made for the board room of directors of the Bank of New South Wales, Sydney. The table is 12ft long by sft 6in broad and 2ln thick formed of a single plank of kiurl pino. without knot or blemish, clear of heart, and free from sap. Aa therefore the plank represents only half the diametor of the tree, less the central pith and sap, the tree from which It was cut must have been 17ft or 18ft in dhmeter. It is very tastefully mounted by the maker, Mr D. H. Wood, The moulding round the edges is struck from the solid. The legs, which are of kauri pine, are Bin square, neatly oarved, and the rails are of kauri and red pine tastefully alternated; the height from the floor 2ft Bln. The wood has taken an excellent polish, and we have no doubt both the workmtnshlp and tho material will be much admired In New South Wales, whither it is shortly to bs sent. Iff will be open to v'.ew for a few days In Mr Brundell's shop.