NEAR AND FAR.

Evening Star, Issue 14572, 22 May 1911, Page 1

NEAR AND FAR.

Tiro lion. G. Fowlds, Acting Minister of Justice, stated to a reporter in Wellington that from the reports he had received he was of the opinion that the published accounts of the alleged nocturnal carousal in Park Reserve, Invercargill, recently gavel an exaggerated description of what had I occurred. “It appears from the departmental reports,” said the Minister, “ that j one individual purchased an 18gal keg of | beer, and with some companions took it into the show grounds, and being joined by some other persons the beer was consumed. ’Hie night being wet. some of the party remained all night in the shelter of some of the buildings on tho ground. The pdaee in question is outside tho boundaries of tires Borough of Invercargill proper, is fenced with a close-boarded fence, and is separated from the public street by a considerable space and a belt of trees. There is no suggestion that tlie residents of the vicinity <«• the general public were annoyed by or saw anything of what was going on. Tim occurrence is very regrettable, and reflects discredit on those concerned in it. bnt T think it only fair to the, citizens of Invercargill and the polite to say that there was no disturbance, that tho drinking took pdaee in a secluded spot out of the town, | and that so far as can lx? gathered no breach of the law took place.” Tho Portuguese Government have made an inventory of the contents of tho Neces- I sidadcs Palace at Lisbon, over ten thousand articles bavin<r been catalogued and examined. Twelve magnificent paintings by old masters, of an estimated value 0f£12,000 each, much priceless furniture, and objects of art are included. It is thought that tho Government will have the lot sold by auction, in order to supplement the revenues.