FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 23496, 9 February 1940, Page 3

FIFTY YEARS AGO

FROM 1 STAR ’ FILES The officiating ministers in New Zealand registered under the Marriage Act, 1880, number 736. They are classified in the ‘Gazette’ as follows: — Church of the Province of New Zealand (commonly called the Church of England), 257; Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 102; Roman Catholic Church, 119; Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, 76; Wesleyan Methodist Church, 89; Congregational Independents, 16; Baptists, 16; Primitive Methodist Connection, 20; United Methodists Free Churches, 12; Lutheran Church, 10; Hebrew' Congregations, 6; Church of Christ, 5; Independent Wesleyan, 1; Brethren, usually denominated Plymouth Brethren, I;‘Bible Christians, 3; Salvation Army, 3. • « * * The Emperor of Germany declares his firm resolve to ameliorate the condition of the working classes, and try to modify the evil effects _of international competition. He ia anxious to promote peaceful relations between employers and employed, and regrets that Germany does not possess England’s countless millions to promote and develop colonisation. * * * * Inspector-General of Police Fosherry (New South Wales), says that the statement of the Paris ‘ Temps ’ that only thirty-two convicts have escaped from New Caledonia during the last five years is ridiculous, for it is well known to the New South Wales police that during that period the escapees numbered many hundreds. The majority of them may not perhaps have escaped from immediate custody, but they got away from the islands by availing themselves of certain liberties granted to them, • * * • « The stained glass for the wdndow over the principal door of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Dunedin, has arrived from Munich. Seven groups belonging to a set of Stations of tho Cross nave also been received. The completion of the windows and the erection pf a re- . markably fine set of Stations will (says the ‘ Tablet ’) be an important addition to the beauty of the interior. • • • « The sculling race which took place at Wellington between Charles Stephenson and William Hearn for £IOO a side and the championship of the colony was rowed over the championship course (three miles and a-hlf) this morning. Stephenson won the race by three lengths. • • • * By an explosion at Newport, Wales, 300 miners were entombed. Two hundred were rescued. Fifty bodies so far have been recovered.