NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Evening Star, Issue 14001, 6 March 1909, Page 8

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

A meeting of the Dunedin branch of the International Anti-Cigarette League was held on Thursday night in the Bath Street Mission Hall, there being a good attendance. Mr George Pilling was appointed president in place of Mr Arthur Johns, who was compelled to reliqnieh the position owing to his going to reside in the country. Several new members were elected, thus bringing the number up to about forty-five, which may be considered very satisfactory, seeing that the League have only been in existence here for four months. It was announced that an interesting syllabus had been arranged for the ensuing six months, and that a debate would take place at next» meeting. The final report of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, to be laid before shareholders on March 18, states that the profit on the year’s operations was £66,738. Of this, £57,964 was derived from railawy working and £8,774 from land sales and interest. A rough estimate fixes the amount available per share when the assets hove been liquidated at £2 15s for each £1 of paid-up capital, which comprises 170,000 shares of £5 each. About 100,000 of this number are held bv New Zealand residents. During its final year the company paid £6.000 in rates and taxes. The gross traffic receipts were £128,242, expenditure absorbing £60,087. At Gisborne Supreme Court yesterday James Straker Jackson, convicted of assault, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, William James Knight, charged with arson, was discharged without the defence being called upon. At Messina on January 6 four children were rescued from the ruins under meet remarkable circumstances. A party of Italian soldiers engaged in rescue work saw a pigeon, and one of their number shot it. The bird fell upon a heap of ruins, and on going to recover it the soldier was astounded to hear the voices of children. After clearing away a quantity of debris the soldiers found four children imprisoned in a passage. Strange to say, they were quite unharmed, and in good health, having lived on oranges stored in the passage. Mrs Maybrick has said “Yes” to her anient lover, Mr Charles Wagner. She feared that the shadows of her past life might injure Mr Wagner, and therefore refused his offer of marriage. He persisted, however, in his wooing, and eventually convinced the lady that her fears were unfounded, and that her social position had been established. Mrs Maybrick’s first marriage, which was marred by tragedy and one of the most sensational murder trials of a generation, took place when she was a girl of seventeen. She was accused of murdering her husband.