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Evening Star, Issue 11456, 25 January 1901, Page 2

The magnificent outpouring of our citizens last evening, and the mournLast Sight's fully appropriate service in ScrTlcc. the Agricultural Hall, were alike in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, and reflect honor upon the community. Nothing could well be more significant of the deep hold that the life and name of the late Queen of England had upon the people of Dunedin than last night's memorial service. It was in thorough harmony with last Monday's assembly, although, alas! there was an overwhelmingly sad gulf between the two. In tho former a, spirit of hope mingled with the prayers and hymns ancl addresses, but last evening tho worst had come to pass, all hearts were heavy, and the tears were kept back with djliieulty. It was some such spirit as this that, as the ancients declared, must have passed over the world when the words were pascd from lip to lip that groat Pan was dead. But in our case, and that of those who bowed the head as the words of prayer fell upon the ear, there was also present that vast hope which was unknown, in the modern sense, to the ancient world. True, a great and good Queen and woman had passed away, whoso memory we shall not easily let die, but there was, and is, that sure and certain hope that sho has not left us for ever, but merely gone over t-i that realm in which our common, faith assures us we shall see. and behold each other as we really are, ancl wherein there enters no grief nor shadow of parting. Perhaps the hushed solemnity of the vast gathering, the eagerness and intensity of feeling with which each word, as it fell from the speaker's lips, was received, tho wholesouledness with which familiar lines were sung, and the exceeding aptness of tho Rev. P. \V. Farrclough'i* address were the features that will\ linger longest in the memories of the participants. Brief, simple, clear, and admirably in touch with the hour, Mr Fairclough's words reflected beyond betterment, and reduced io concrete form the thoughts that were, common to us all. The late Queen has, in truth, beo.ll to each of us ono of whom we never allowed ourselves to think that she could by any chance leave us. She has been "our Queen" since the first conscious hour of our existence, and we cannot yet realise what the world—the British world—will be. without her. This thought wa-s finely brought out by Mr Fairclough, and struck that responsive chord in tno hearts of those present that alone was necessary to make of the vast assemblage not a mere aggregation of separate and distinct individuals, but one harmonious whole, animated with the same thoughts and permeated with the same reverent and lofty emotions. We regard this public and visible expression of our citizens' sympathy with their brethren throughout the Empire in this hour of mourning as a fact in our City's history that will bo cherished long after the immediate participators therein have passed over into their otenial rest.

The Gore people have decided not. to entertain the Imperial troops when passing through that town, the authorities holding that "they would not be -warranted in incurring an expenditure of upwards of £IOO for the privilege of an hour's visit. Divorce proceedings have been instituted by -Mr Simms, of Christchurch, against exJudge Martin, and counsel acting on his behalf has sent the necessary documents for service on the parlies concerned by the last mail for Sydncv.

It is very questionable, in view of the Queen's death, whether the Imperial troops will now come to New Zealand. The following telegram has been sent by the Defence Department to the officers 'commanding districts :—" All arrangements for the entertainment of the Imperial troops miift stand over for the present. Further instructions will be sent later on."

The four inspectors of the Otago Education Board Messrs Goyen, Fitzgerald, Richardson, and Bossence —left this for Wellington to attend the School spectors' Conference, called by the Government to discuss the primary schools' syllabus. We understand that amongst the other educational matters that will command attention will be that of secondary education iu district high schools. The Conference commences on Mondav.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held on Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs Haynes (chairman), Clark, Wilson, Treseder, Gourley, and Green. The accounts passed for payment amounted to £146 9s Bd. It was reported that Robert Ronton (aged seventy-three), Thomas O'Driscoll (eighty-five), and George Murray (seventyseven) had died in the Institution during the preceding week. A parcel of illustrated papers was received from Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, and acknowledged with thanks. The relief cases dealt with numbered thirtvtwo.

One of the Dunedin and Kaikorai Company's cars broke an axle on Wednesdav evening, the accident occurring at the Asylum Ground, near the first depression pullev. The car was removed from the line ajid placed on the side of the flat, where it was repaired. Traffic was resumed in less than half an hour, and extra trips made by the cars to make up for the damaged car. It may be mentioned that on Wednesday sixty-three trips were run and 3,150 passengers carried up and down. The Roslyn electric car service will be taken up by a temporary horse-ear service, pending the' repairs to the boiler.

In the 1901 session of the Imperial Parliament no fewer than eight new companies will ask for powers to provide electric railways for London and the suburbs, while existing companies have also .schemes on hand for extending their systems. Basing the cost of construction and equipment upon the cost of the Central London Railway, which worked out at £600,000 per mile, these schemes involve the expenditure of a capital sum of not less than fifty-sight millions five hundred and forty thousand pounds sterling. Add io this figure a further million for the electrical conversion of the Inner Circle inferno, and we have a total of £59,540,000.

Mr P. R. Dix will reopen the theatre tonight with his splendidly-staged attraction ' The Babas in the Wood? which was so enthusiastically received on Tuesday cveuing last, the occasion of its first production in Duncdin. To-night the Williams' quartet of sisters will give, further proof of their versatility, and with a cast comprising such favorite artists as Miss Ida Roslyn, the Staunton sisters, Mr Tom E. Leonard, Mr George Dean, Mr M'Kisson, Mr Kearns, Mv Rivers, the Leonard family, together with the first appearance in Dunedin of Mi« Ivy Scott—a pretty and piquante acrio -' The Babes in the Wood,' with its efi'cctivo staging and handsome costumes, should draw larg-e audiences for some time to come. To-morrow afternoon the first matinee of the season will be given for the convenience of school children and ladies and families living at a distance.

The King's birthday will be observed on November 9, and that of the new Prince of Wales on June 3. -

We understand that the Koman Catholic bishop and clergy have during the past few days been holding their annual retreat at Holy Cross College, and that they will return to town on Saturday. Sucking lead pencils has led to a number of cases of mouth and skin diseases among Board School children at Home, and the medical inspectors have issued a. protest against the custom of issuing pencils indiscriminately to the children. The tendency of the average child to beguile the tedium of school hours by idly sucking the point or the butt of the lead pencil is held by the medical officers, who have been investigating the outbreak, to constitute a serious danger. This view is based upon, a knowledge of the custom usually adopted by teachers of having the pencils collected at the close of the day and redistributing them (indiscriminately each morning. In this way, it is-argued, one child in its time sucks many pencils which have, in their turn, been handled and sucked by perhaps a hundred other children. The Otago Lawn Tennis Club have postponed all fixtures for a week. Jam and jelly jars at Braithwaite's.— [Advt.] A memorial service will be held at the Synagogue, Moray place, at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow. 2£.mas bargains; presents for cyclists; special prices; free wheels; novelties. AngloNew Zealand Cycle Company.—[Advt.] All bowling matches have been postponed until February 2 on account of the death of the Queen. The preliminary announcement of the Otago annua] regatta appears in our advertising columns.

Masonic lodges (English Constitution') will assume mourning for three months in consequence of the death of the Queen. Come and inspect our enow of novelties. Lovely goods, suitable for presents; toys and dolls in endless variety. Montague's.—[Advt.] Tassaud's Royal Waxworks and Specialty Company appear at the Foresters' Hall, Port Chalmers, to-night and to-morrow.

A district order from the Volunteer Office announces that the volley, and independent firing of the Caversham Rifles and the Cycle Corps is postponed until February 2. The Polypathic Medical Institute, of Christchurch, will extend their consultations in Dunedin until Sunday night, nine o'clock, as per, advertisement.—[Advt.] The Picnic Committee of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewcn's Boot Factory met this morning and decided to postpone their annual picnic as a mark of respect owing to the death of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Aqpording to a district order, officers-and volunteers will be permitted to wear uniform when attending memorial services consequent on the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Captains of companies are authorised to hold church parades if they desire to do so. Mr Morris, photographer, Prince 3 street, Dunedin, finds it is not generally known that his charge is one guinea per dozen for cabinet portraits of children. Any extra charges are for vignettes, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing.—[Advt.j Tussaud's Royal Waxworks and Specially Company's clever combination open to-night for a short season at Port Chalmers. Foremost amongst the wax figures is one of our late Queen, also the whole of the Royal Family, Dreyfus, "Oom Paul, and other celebrities. The management have also on view a mechanical model termed Hie "Sleeping Beauty," the like of which has never before been seen in the colonies. The waxworks arc assisted by twelve variety artists. The Otago Sunday School Union will hold two memorial services on Sunday afternoon next., at, three o'clock. • One will be held at the Agricultural Hall and the other at Knox Church. All Sunday schools, whether associated with the Union or not, are invited to attend, and it is expected (hat the scholars will march from their schools to the hall or church. Schools south of Stuart street fineluding Roslyn schools) are to attend at the Agricultural Hall, and schools north of Stuart street arc to go to Knox Church. Members of church choirs willing to assist in the singing aro invited to the platforms at the services. The general public will be accommodated in the galleries. The service at Knox Church will take the place of the meeting advertised this week as to be held by Mr Oatts, and it is expected that Mr and Mrs Oatts will take part in the services. The century demonstration arranged for Wednesday, 30th inst., has been postponed until further notice.