LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 12964, 8 November 1906, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Yesterday’s weekly meeting of the Benevolent Trustees’ was attended by Messrs W. T. Talboys (chairman), J. Arklc, W Burnett, H. Gourley, Kempthorne, J. Hazlott, A. Tapper, ana Captain Eanther. The secretary reported that John Griffin had died at the Institution on the 4th inst., aged fifty-nine, and two inmates bad left during the week. Outdoor relief during October had been afforded in 525 cases, affecting 139 men, 229 women, and 513 children, the average cost per week being £lO2 16s. In October, 1905, the weekly cost was £IOO 10s 9d, relief having been given in 519 oases, affecting 143 men, 210 women, and 492 children. Acknowledgment was made of gifts from Mrs W- Dawson and Soacliff Mental Hospital (fish), •The Trustees dealt with thirty-three appli--■at ions for relief. The following, additional differences between the Trentham rifle programme this year and tlwt of last year have been supplied us' by Captain Proudfoot: first five “’province” matches there an increase in prize-money from £B9 to £100 ; In the Cover Match “ five hits or over qualify for prize-money. Last year it was “ four hits or over.” The, Champion teams match, hitherto open only, to New Zealand volunteers, is now open to Australian competitors also. The match between volunteers and members of defence rifle clubs is a new feature. The Grand Aggregate Match and the King’s Prize Match are separate competitions. The targets arc to be of the same dimensions as thoee in use at Bisley last your, but the minimum trigger pub, 6’b. is lib wore than that sanctioned at Bisley. A timo-limit is now imposed in seven matches. For a . seven-shot match the limits are; Eight minutes at 200 and 500 yards, nine minutes at 600 and 700 yards, ten minutes at 800 and 900 yards, twelve minutes at 1,000 yards. For a tenshot match the limits are as follow -. —- Twelve minutes at 500, 600, and 700 yards ; fourteen minutes at 800 and 900 yards, fifteen minutes at 1,000 yards. A number of “ hints to competitor ” appear on the programme for the liist time. At the monthly meeting of the French Club on Tuesday, Mr G. E. Thompson, M.A., read a papei) on ‘ L’Esprit HumorIstique et Satirique do Rabelais.’ Mr A. Pels gave some entertaining readings from George Band, illustrating her power of describing rustic life and scenery. The president announced that a nucleus of the club's library - had been formed by the arrival of some fifty volumes of standard modem French works, principally novels and literary essays. Mr A, Wilson (rector of the Boys’ High School) sent the club a number of works of French poetry. The total number of books now in the library is ninety volumes.

Exhaustive search by tho police and residents in and around Alexandra has failed to find trace of Robert Meikle, who has been missing since October 24. Meikle obtained work on the Government water race works on the Galloway Run, and, accompanied by James Love, he arrived from Ophir to commence work on the 22nd ult. Meikle was, however, too unwell to set to. On the 23rd he was better, but on the 24th ho disappeared, and nothing has since been heard of him. According to Uovc, Meikle had been drinking, and, in fact, had the D.T.s. On Sunday last a party of twenty-two men searched for three miles on each side of the missing man’s camp and for six miles back over the mountains, but with no success. Meikle’s brother is employed on the Earnscleugh Run and his father is head shepherd at Matakanni Station.

The captain of the t uartiieW, an interview with whom appears elsewhere, states that a long experience of the East has taught him that the word of a Chinese merchant is his bond. On the other hand, a. Japanese merchant is generally a thorough “sharper.” The complaint of country districts about the idlacatioTi of tho fundu provided for charitable aid is that tho relief afforded to cases in the country i.s very small in proper'ion to their contributions to charitable aid in the shape of taxes. Coming nearer town, Maori Hill, at their last Councd meeting, noted that the only two cases in their district absorbed but a • few shillings a week—a mere nothing to the rates they pay. One. report from the country yester dav caused an exclamation of surprise on the part, of the Benevolent Trustees, it was so urmsnal. Tho Gluthn County Council recommended the reduction of tlie weekly dole to someone in their district. Tho recommendation was acted cm. The Alliance Lodge. 1.0. G.T., held their weekly meeting in the Friendly Societies' Hall, South Dunedin, on Wednesday last, Bro. J. Todd, C.T.. in the chair. One candidate was initialed. The report and balance si*vt were read and adopted, showing that tho lodge was in a sound financial condition. The newly-olected officers were installed by Bro. Kirkwood, L.D., Sis. Cook (Pioneer), and Bro. Sandiland, D.C.I. During the present sitting of the Presbvterian General Assembly the office-bearers and ladies of the local churches have specially exerted themselves to make the stay of the members in our City as pleasant as possible. One of the most succe, sful of the social functions thus arranged was the hi ;h tea given yesterday afternoon by the lades of Knox Church. The large school hall was taxed to its utmost capacity to acrom. modatc the members of Assembly a.nd delegates of the P.W.M. Unon who responded to tho ladies’ invitation, and a very pleasant hour of social intercourse was spent. After ample justice had been done to the good things provided, the Rev. \V. Hewitsou expressed his pleasure to see. such a large gathering of Assembly members and P.W.M. Union delegates, and trusted that such opportunities of social intercourse would be very helpful in enabling members to become better acquainted with one another, aud indirectly advance the welfare of the Church, 'file Rev. G. B. Munro, of Romuera, the Moderator of Assembly, returned thanks on liehalf of the members of Assembly and the P.W.M. Union delegates. Mr G. W. J. Ait-ken, of' Wellington, voiced the feelings of the lav members, while the Rev. W. Saunders, of Moray place Congregational Church, responded on behalf of himself and his brother ministers of the 0 ly. A very pleasant gathering was brought, to a close by tho Moderator engaging in prayer and pronouncing the benediction. The woman whose condition led to the arrest at Palmerston North of Susan Cole on a charge of performing an illegal operation died last night. The deceased was married, it is alleged on Monday last. An old age pensioner, William 11. Tompkins, died suddenly at Manawatu on Sunday last. Deceased, who was nearly eightysix years of ago, had been in the colony sixty-four summers. In the Malaura district the other day a freak of nature in tho shape of a fourlegged and four-winged fowl was hatched amongst a clutch of lesa-fortunate brother chickens, as tho owner of the bird is going to send it to the Exhibition. While in entire accord with the . main provisions of tlie Land Bill, the East Auckland branch of the Liberal-Labor Federation support the measure being held over till next session, so that the country may better understand its provisions. Mr F. W. Lang has been nominated for the Manakau seat in tho Opposition interest. He is a staunch Freeholder. The Arbitration Court;-sitting at Wellington yesterday, enforced fines ranging from a few shillings to - .£5 for miT'ctis breaches of award. The I’re-uJont (.Mr Justice Chapman) again commented cn the large number of such cases- de-cr. u.lh in Wellington. For saving a pot cat from drowning a Milanese youth named Guiseppo Fagari has been bequeathed £4,000 by the owner, who recently died. Some catastrophes turn out lucky.