NEAR AND FAR.

Evening Star, Issue 15139, 22 March 1913, Page 8

NEAR AND FAR.

A party consisting of Messrs Ho<]gkiiison. Robertson, and Turner ascended Mount Aspiring (9.975 ft) by a new route along the N.N.W. ridge,, reaching the summit on March 9. Tho partv were benighted at a. height of 8.000 feet in a storm which lasted all night, Dens© fog and rain next dav made the°descenfc difficult. The mountain was photographed up to the summit, also Mounts Ccotv and Tutuko. The ' Poverty Bay Herald ' savs that the receiving of the tribal donations towards the new church, a picturesque function carried out in accordance with the native custom at the hui at Manutuko on Monday, extended well into the evening. Money still continued to come to hand on Tuesday, including numerous telegraphic orders from various tribes, ranging from the Northern Peninsula to the "South Island, from sections of the race unrepresented at the hui. At noon the fund stood as follows :—Contribution of East Coast Natives £2.440, visiting Natives £922, pakehas and sympathisers £240: total. £3.602. This amount far exceeds the cost of the church and carvings, about £2.300. and it is expected that even after deducting the expense of the hui. conveyance of visitors, etc., a substantial sum will be left, which, we are informed, will be held in trust on behalf of the church. The Dominion Museum in W'dlingt->n has been visited by hundreds of people since an announcement appeared in a Wellington paper regarding the discovery in the museum of a painting which bear's all the existing murks and the artistic quality of a genuine Old Master. In no case has anyone with artistic knowledge or instinct been otherwise than delighted with the work, which is (savs an exchange) a beautifully painted head of Christ. A close study of the painting reveals great beauties of technique. The hair is wondcrfidly painted, if is soft and glossy, and appears to stand out quite naturally. The head stands out against a sky illumined by the. afterglow of the setting sun. and'dimlv in the pale light appears the glint of 'a faint halo-rim. This painting lav for some years in the cellar of the museum, vet Mr W. R. Colley, the English artist and restorer of the Old .Masters, states that in his opinion the picture is worth more than the "Leader." which was twice stolen from the Wellington Art Gallery. "You may go-.-home and get another taxi cab. and go out and kill somebody else," said Judge Foster at the General Sessions Court at New York last week. The Judge was indignant. He was addressing Leon Gerard, a taxi cab driver, who had been charged with murder. sm\ was acquitted. He "was indicted for the murder of Mrs Marv Dethbridge, who was run over and killed in April last. The Judge, addressing the acquitted man. added : "The jury have given you permission to do so." Turning to 'the jurymen, ho said : "Gentlemen, yon seem to think that a drunken chauffeur can run recklessly through the streets and go unpunished. At least, that is what you say by your verdict. But in this case your state of mind, in order to arrive at that verdict. ca.n be best described as like the peace of heaven, it pa.sseth all understanding." The treasurer of the Tnrvev relief fund acknowledges receipt of the following donations :—Members Commercial Traveller*' Club, £3O 2s 5d ; A. E. Usriiorwood and Co. ; Wm. Rtrachan and Co. and employees, £2 5s (A ; Wm. Ore™ and Co and employees. £2 15s 9d ; collected per ■T. Mulholla.nd, 15s; staff Public Trust and Official Assignee's offices. £1 6s 6d : Telegraph Department staff, £1 10s; Arthur Ellis and employees. £1 10s od : Moore Moore, and Nichol, £5 19s; total. £79 12s 9d.