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Evening Star, Issue 13014, 8 January 1907, Page 4

The post office authorities notify that there will be a delivery of the English and Australian mails over the post office counter from nine till ten this evening.

A band of gipsies, some seven or eight in number, presumably a portion of these lately in Christchurch, have pitched their camp on a comer of the recreation reserve in Cargill rood. South Dunedin. Verb sap.

An unfortunate incident happened some time last night on tho premises of Mr Moody, tobacconist, Princes street south. A large show case fell from the wall on other cases, doing damage to the extent oi nearly £3O.

Apropos a case lately before the criminal court in this CSty, recent Home papers Tr.rf,ni-Wm thiil- a peculiar state of the law in regard to dying declarations was mentioned at Marylebone by Mr Muir, appearing for the Treasury to prosecute Dr Arthur Rayner, of KilWn, for the murder of Mrs Anno Lilian Martin. It wos alleged that the prisoner had performed a certain operation on the woman which led to her death. Shortly before the woman died a magistrate attended to take her dying declaration. That declaration, however, said counsel, would not be admissible as evidence. The law on the subject was in a most unfortunate stole. Unless a person believed by a skilled medical man to be about to die hinwetif believed and was certain that he would shortly die, no statement that he might make would be admitted as a dying declaration; nor could it be brought within Bussell Gurney’s Act nnless some person had been charged and could be brought there to hear the statement. Medical men never would taka the risk of tolling their patients that they were about to die; their duty as medical men prohibited them from doing so, and the result was that in no ease was a dying declaration ever admissible as evidence, it was a matter for consideration whether the law on the subject ought not to he amended in order to make such statements admissible.

In a quiet street in Liverpool a man of the Bill Sykes type accosted an old gentleman at night and asked him U> read what waa written on a piece of paper -which lie handed to him. The gentleman took, the paper, and by file aid of a gas lamp read these words: “If you utter a cry or speak a single word, I shall shoot you. Hand over your watch and chain, your purse, and any other articles of value you have about you, and then pass on.” He did as the message ordered, and walked away. Ho met a policeman, told his story quickly, and the two gave chase. They came up with the thief shortly, who appeared to be harrying away. Next morning, at the Police Court, says the Liverpool ■ Post,’ he gave what he called an “ explanation ” of the incident. “ Your Worship," ho said, “ 1 don’t know why I am charged with stealing these things. lam a perfectly innocent and uneducated man. X picked up a piece of paper in tb& atzeet last night, and not being amo to read it, and thinking it might be important, I asked the gentleman to read it. He read it to himself, and then, hnndod me these articles without a word of explanation whatever, and walked away before I had time-to inquire why he did so.” The ‘ Lyttelton Times ’ states that about a minute after the train from Waikart on Saturday morning palled up at the Eangiora railway station it was moved forward again a few yards for some reason. Passengers were entering the train at the time, and a woman with a child in her arms fell between two of the cars. The child lodged on tho coupling chains and remained there, and the woman was saved from going under the wheels by clinging to the bridge between the cars across which she fell. She was a good deal shaken, and was in a fainting ' condition from the shock when assisted from her perilous position. The “Timaxu Herald' says ; —During the holidays Miss Crowley, a school teacher formerly in Wabnate, was on a visit to friends in Wabnate, when she suddenly took ill and had to be removed to Hie hospital. Her comjifjon was so serious that her two sisters were telegraphed for to Christchurch. The brain had left, so they engaged a motor car for the journey. They were seated in it when it was recollected that the Rnngitata. Bridge was down. A special train was then engaged, at a of £53, and in this the journey was made. On arrival the patient denied being ao iH, and advised her sisters to go to the hotel and lie down. They had barely demo so when a meseenger arrived for (hem, and before they could get back to the hospital their sister was dead. The whole affair caused somewhat of a sensation'in tho township, and great sympathy was felt for the deceased’s sisters. A Christchurch message states that the harvest prospects are not bright in MklCaoterbary. The crops will be very light. The pasture is completely dried up, and the root crops are not promising. _ A M-astorton message states that the maximum temperature in the shade yes-terday-was-SBdeg, the highest temperature } .takers

Our Cromwell correspondent writes: “It is many years since our water supply has been so, limited. ',Tlk> reservoir is nearly empty, and residents are supplied for four hours daily, two in the morning and two in the evening- Unless wo have a downpour of rain soon the outlook will be serious. It is a strange paradox, with tho Kawarau running in front and the Clutha at the back of the township, that Cromwell should virtually ho undergoing a water famine. ,

A pleasant social gathering was held last night in the Hanover Street School Hall to welcome the Rev. E. G. Gange, F.R.A.S., and Mrs Gange. Many of the ministers and office-bearers: of the Baptist churches of the City and snbnrhs were present/ Addresses. of welcome were given by the chairman (Rev. William Hay), the president of the Otago and Southland Auxiliary of the Baptist Union (Mr H. H. Driver), Mr A. S. Adams, and the Revs. D. Sinclair Mason and Charles Boyall. In his reply Mr Gauge said that his visit to the colonies \had been most enjoyable throughout, and that he would carry away the happiest ijiemories of his visit. Since he had resigned his pastoral charge he had not had an idle Sunday, and had been glad to exercise the wider itinerant ministry which his freedom had enabled him to undertake. Mr Gange lectures to-night on Canada, and) tomorrow on Inara. He proceeds, with Mrs Gange, to Oamaru on Thursday, whore ho wil) deliver his lecture on Canada, and travels thence to Christchurch. Ah official visit was made \to the Port Chalmers reservoir yesterday afternoon by the Mayor (Mr Isaac Stevenson), Cr Shanks (chairman of the Water Committee), cx-Cr Cable, ex-Cr Gardner, and Inspector Bunn. As a result of the continuous dry weather the volume of water has shown a marked decrease during the past few weeks, the diminution amounting to about 9in per week. At the present time the water level within the reservoir is about 10ft below the normal height; consequently the shrinkage is causing considerable uneasiness in the borough, more especially as the reservoir has never beep cleaned out since it was constructed many years since. A private letter received iu Dunedin, indicates that Admiral Fawkes may revisit the colony with tho Powerful in March. If this arrangement is given effect to, it is intended that the Powerful will visit Otago this time, anchoring off the Heads for a day or two. The behaviour of some youths who visited the steamer Orari on Sunday was, as one of the officers puts it, “pretty strong.” They climbed on tho navigating bridge, mishandled the telegraphs and other gear, and nearly .smashed d patent compass worth about £6O. After amusing themselves this way for scene time, and whistling down the voice tube to the captain’s room, they invited themselves into various officers' state rooms, and made themselves at home there. Lastly, they descended into the engine room, and turned the levers and other appliances right and left. What would have happened had there been steam in tho boilers can only be conjectured. This kind of larrikinism is not new to the wharf. Tho little, ferry steomeas are invaded frequently at nights, the bells rung, and the wheels manipulated. Worse than that is the practice of throwing the Harbor Board’s lifebelts mto the water. It is impossible th make those belts fast, because they may he wanted in a hurry at any time, and it is regrettable to have to state that those who interfere with them are men old enough to know better. The Invetcargill Court returns on the civil side for the December quarter of 1906 show that £1,926 was sued for and £1,314 recovered. The corresponding quarter of 1905 was much heavier, the amount sued for being £5,076, and tho amount recovered £1,608. During the year amounts sued for totalled £12,435, of which £6,977 19s 7d was recovered. For 1905 £12,674 11s 3d was sued for, and £6,771 Is lid was recovered. On the Police Court side, in 1906 685 males and 50 females were charged with various offences, and convictions were recorded against 458 males and 58 females. The figures for 1905 were 640 males and 75 females charged, 478 males and 53 females convicted. During i the six'months ended December 51, 1906 (the first six months of No-license), thorn were convicted for simple drunkenness 57 persons, as against 74 during tho latter half of 1905.

A Kelson, that prayers for rain were offered in tho churches on Sunday.

Protests against the proposed increase of harbor excursion license foes have been lodged by Captain Sundstrmn and Mr P. J. Sullivan. These presumably accompany tho draft of tho Harbor Board's new by-laws to Wellington, and will there come before the Govemor-in-Conncil.

Be there The furniture sale of sea son in full swing at 86 George street. San ders,—[Advt-j Tamer Juice prom tea good digestion to aiL Take it, though everything else has failed. [lO9l In spite of the keenest competition the business of Smith and Smith, Ltd., increases. The firm are now showing their Christmas stock of wail papers and friezes, suitable for drawing and dining roams, halls, and studies, and invito purchasers to inspect goods. Smith and Smith.' Ltd.. Octagon.—[Advt]

Energy to tho languid obtained by taking » few doaoa of Pr Bnsor’s Tamer Juice. [1092

Ur Morris invites special attention to the new picture photograph, “ the artist proof portrait in carbon." These pictures are the very latest ami best achievements in modern photography- They are exquisite examples of the highest-class portraiture. See specimens the Studio, Princes street.—[Advt-] “ Digest what you eat.” Dr Bosor’s Tamer Juice wiU assist you- [lo9]

Gillette safely razors, 27s 6d; also stropping machines extra blades. Star and other makes complete fro n 4s 6d. Inspection invited. Hendy, hairdresser, KM Princesstreet, —[Advt.] For tho holidays; Panamas, Javas, Bnrti Islands, Babettes, trimmed or untrknmed. Miw» Hinds, milliner, 3 Hite street (opposite D.LO-—[Advt.l The polling for the filling of the vacancy caused on the Harbor Board byth© death of Mr Gourloy takes place to-morrow (Wednesday). Voters will observe by the advertisement elsewhere that only ratepayers caa exercise their franchise, and that the polling hours are 9 a.m- to 6 pan.

Tamer Juice euro* indigestion, biliousness, and disorders of stomach, diver, and kidneys. [W9]