Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1901.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 January 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1901.

DEATH OP THE QUEEN. The Queen is Dead! No need to ask what Queen. And although it has been hourly expected, when at length the sad intelligence came, it came with startling effect and poignant bitterness. With startled exclamations and bitter cries was the news received, and only in that moment of dire grief was it possible to realise how much the Great Good Queen had entered into the very being and spirit of the Empire. The Queen is dead! It seems difficult to realise that she who has been such a model of worth to the whole world has gone from mortal gaze. In the highest -position on earth, on the throne of the greatest nation, she has for 63 years stood forth as an example for all living beings to emulate. And now when she has gone to the tribunal of the Great Ruler of Rulers, we can look back on her past wonderful life, her noble character, her kindly and womanly heart, and while bowed with sorrow, yet bear in mind that never before has such a Queen reigned, and never before have so many millions grieved over such a loss. Placed in a high position she fulfilled her duties as became a true woman and a noble queen ; her memory will remain as long as history lasts. Born in 1819 she came to the throne in 1837, and now 1901 she closes her illustrious career while a nation weeps bitterly over its calamity.

Immediately upon the news being received in town, offices -were closed and business suspended, while draped flags half-mast high and mournful tolling of the bells told but too plainly of the Nation’s great loss. To-night a memorial service will be held in Trinity Church. To give even a brief sketch of the principal incidents in the life of our late Queen would run into columns, and we must perforce defer its publication till to-morrow.

PUBLIC ABATTOIRS. Phe Slaughtering and Inspection Act )f last session renders it compulsory ipon the Borough of Greymouth and lounty of Grey to erect public abat-j oirs where all meat sold in the, lorough shall bo slaughtered. Clauses ive and six of the Act stale that: “ In ivery case where the population of any >orough or town district, computed rom the latest ollicial census returns, s not less than two thousand persons, t shall be the duty of the local ■uthority thereof to establish and egister under this Act, and at all imes thereafter to maintain, an abatoir for the purposes of such borough r town district. Such abattoir shall e established and registered as aforeaid within the period of twelve aonths after the gazetting of such ensns returns, or, if the same have een gazetted before the coraraencerent of this Act, then within the eriod cf twelve months after such ommencement, provided that the lovernor may in special cases extendi ay such period for any time notl sceeding twelve months.” The locals odies concerned may out of theirl

rrdinary revenue, or by special loan,|b iithcr authorised by the vote of rate-|| oayers or by resolution of the Council,® irect public slaughter-houses. As tog she restrictive power to compel all® slaughtering to be done at the public® ibattoir clause 17 says : “ Subject top the provisions hereinafter contained!! relating to meat-export liouses, it is hereby declared that sol| long as a registered abattoir for slaughtering stock is established inp any district it shall not be lawful to!® slaughter in any such district any® stock for human consumption or forp export, or to dress therein any carcase! for sale, except at a registered abattoir, | or to sell or expose for sale in any such! district any meat slaughtered else-1 whore than in a registsred abattoir | Ample provision is given for the re-| covery of fees and fines, for inspection | of all meat at time of killing, the | evident intention being to see that | any carcases showing signs of disease | shall be destroyed. Of this feature ofp the Act we need not at present deal 1 with, suffice it to direct the attention| >f the Greymouth Borough and Grey | dounty Councils to the fact that priori to April, 1902, public abattoirs must 1 be established. A question worthy of \ consideration is whether the two local I bodies, as provided by the Act, could | not join together in the erection of one | public slaughter-house for the district.! We think it could be done, and a con- 1 siderable outlay saved to both Borough j and County. 1

BOROUGH GAS WORKS. j We have now before us the quarterly \ return —the first under Borough man-1 agement -of the gas works ; showing * revenue and expenditure, and in- \ creased consumption as compared with | the corresponding three months of the \ preceding year, and that return will I give the ratepayers an idea of the excellent bargain they made when they purchased the Company’s plant. | The quantity of gas consumed was 1,860,950 feet, or 228,550 feet more than during the corresponding quarter. The total revenue for the period was £798 15s lOd and total expenditure £873 Os lOd, leaving a clear profit of £415 15s, Averaging this for the year the profit would be £1,663; but as in the winter months the consumption is very much larger than during summer, the profit will bo much larger. But let us for argument say that it will not increase, then result shows ten per cent of profit] on outlay for what the Borough is only paying four per cent. There are la large number of new applicants for gas, and we have no hesitation in predicting that the profits accruing from [the gas will be sufficient in themselves to pay interest and sinking fund upon [the £IO,OOO loan for gas, water and [drainage works ; and that not a single [shilling of the special rate will ever require to be collected. This will be contorting information to those who so strenously opposed the loan under the impression that it meant an excessive annual rate.

Tenders are invited in our advertising columns by the Grey County Council for construction of Mosquito Road section. Tenders close on Monday next 28th January at the County Clerk’s office. The Greymouth Fire Brigade have resolved to take part in the Fire Brigade Demonstration io be held at Christchurch on the 25th|February next. The following are the names of the team selected, Foreman Fitzsimmons, Branchmcn McLeod and Kennedy, Foreman Blanchficld and Secretary Walton. Lieut Ryan Emergency and delegate.

| We learn from Dr Charles Morice that Bchcre are no further cases of diphtheria, ■that one of the four patients, though his wife is al'llieted, had not the disease, although ho had a bad throat. The three actual cases of diphtheria are of a mild nature, have been completely isolated, and are now well advanced towards complete recovery. With ordinary caro the loctor does not apprehend that there will bo any further extension. The Dispatch Foundry Company, which has been turning out excellent work and has already several good and capable dredges to its credit, has secured the contract for the construction of the Shellback Company’s dredge, the time for completion and in actual work being nine months. This dredge is very similar to the Maori Gully, one which the Foundry has also got the order for constructing. These two orders will keep the Foundry pretty busy for the next few months. Both claims are expected to be in full work by the end of the year. “ It is said ” —most delightfully vague sentence —that the Dobson No, 2 gofric] ounces and Nelson Creek 2(! ounces of! gold last week. Wo don’t vouch for the! accuracy of tire “it is said,” and what is| more we don’t believe it, and we don’t! care who knows our utter scepticsm off all reports from dredging companies that* keep back regular statements from the! public. The complaint throughout this! district is general, and the condemnation2 as general of the Companies that keep! returns hack. The secrecy business! must cause confusion, to use no stronger! terra. A short Act of Parliament com-S polling directors to regularly post their! weekly, fortnightly, or monthly returns! would meet with general approval. Wcl understand that already representations lias been made to the Government upon I the matter. | | The steamer Alameda with the Sang [Francisco mails arrived at Auckland ate midnight. The steamer did (he trip ini 17 days 1 i hours being the record so fare for the service. i

Elsewhere Thomas and M‘Bcalh notify that they arc clearing out; Hie balance of [lieir summer importations at greatly reduced prices ; and when the fact is borne in mind that Thomas and M'Bcath being direct importers and buy their foods at the lowost-pnees offering,- purchasers will see that the reductions noliied are real reductions. The dress and nillinery department of this establishnent is somewhat overstocked, we are nformed, and must he cleared to make ■oom for ■their winter consignments. Ve advise all and everyone to pay Phomas and M'Beath’s a visit and sec or themselves. Throughout Victoria and Eiverina ivcstock are (says (lie Australasian) ;cnera Hy h» excellent condition, bull here is an uneasy feeling that tin's uramcr will be along and dry one, in! ihich case there will he a dearth of odder before the autumn rains. A rather sensational incident occurred t Charters Towers. While a team of orses attached to a timber waggon was | oing over the railway line at the Day I lawn crossing, a train loaded with firc•ood dashed amongst the animals, killing 1 lirce of them. f The Scddon Government’s victory at, lie last general election places into in-t ignificance besides that of the Bonds lovernment in Newfoundland, wherej linistcrialists secured 32 out of 30 seats.l

H Mr V. Hucldleston : Stock Inspector, I®who recently left here, has been appoinHfccd to the Huntcrville district. In a I wire received at Hokitika, Mr Huddleston announces his safe arrival at his new post, after a good trip up. The T ictorian Mines Department has awarded a certificate for bravery and presence of mind of John Maddern, a miner, who was recently seriously injured by an expfosian in the Star of the East Vlinc, Sebastcpool. Maddern and a mate were working at the 1122 ft level, wbonan [explosion took place. Maddern lost his jlsovesigbt, and was otherwise badly inured, yet lie crept up a swinging ladder l&for 22ft, and crawled along the main drive for half a mile to bring assistance to his mate, whose arm had been off,'and who lay unconscious. The body of Hermann August Thee, a German, was found in Norman Creek, Brisbane, on Christmas Day. The body bad a bullet wound in the left breast sufficient to have caused death. Deceased had recently lost his child. At the annual meeting of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, Sydney district, the Grand Master stated that the closing year was a prosperous one. The total membership was 10,555, and increase of 428. The news of the jockey George Bonner, killed at the races, was received by deceased’s family the first tiling on New Tear’s morning, and shortly afterwards i New Year’s gift from the deceased to his mother was delivered by post, consisting of two of the latest songs, “Cheer up, mother, for I am coming home,” and “Break the news to mother.” In order that the whole of the literary staff of the Lyttelton Times might attend she banquet given by the proprietors in honor of the paper’s fiftieth anniversary on Saturday, the staff of the Christchurch Press very kindly undertook the reporting for both journals during the evening. There is an agitation already on foot ■(says the Press) in Christchurch to bring | Sir Robert Stout’s recent utterances and writings in connection with federation under the notice of Parliament next session. Indeed, it is freely stated by some of Mr Seddon’s supporters that this will be done. It is contended that Sir Robert has practically been engaging in matters political, and that a Supremo Court Judge should not so interfere. • In China even the writer of rejected literary work is treated with politeness. Here is an editor’s letter, printed in the “ Japan Gazette ” : —“ We have read thy manuscript with delight. By the bones of our ancestors we swear that never have wo encountered such a masterpiece. Should we print it, His Majesty the Emperor would order us to take it as a criterion, and never again to print anything which was not equal to it. As that would not be possible before ten thousand years, all.trembling wo return thy manuscript, and beg of thee ten thousands pardons. See I my hand is at my feet, and I am tby slave ! ” The Minister of Railways has now remedied, to the satisfaction of the Railway Workshop employees (says the Hutt and Petone chronicle), a long standing grievance of the Government paying less wages than private employers. An intimation has been conveyed to employees embracing a considerable proportion of the staffs that their wages will in future accord with the ascertained ruiling rate of wages. This alteration involves a pretty general increase of wages in several departments of 6d per day. It is to be hoped that the Department will do the same at Greymouth, and pay the wharf labourers the same rate of pay as the Union Company. According to the “ New Zealand Times ” a visitor from the Old Country, at present in Wellington, states that in his opinion the mineral waters at Rotorua are much superior to the waters at Carlsbad. The great drawback he noticed at Rotorua was the want of scientific ad- i ministration. A few particulars he gives* about Carlsbad are interesting. Fully 42,000 people visit the place annually, and there are 101 resident medical men, whose consultation fees vary from five shilling to fourteen shillings. An extrarodinary freak was played by lightning during a thunderstorm in Coventry. The lightning struck the chimneystack of a house occupied by a watchmaker and split it to the basement, magnetising all the tools and watches in the workshop. It is thought it may be possible to disinagnetize the smaller articles and parts of watches, but the larger tools are completely spoiled. Most of the organizations affiliated with Wellington Trades and Labour Council have agreed to support the scheme for the establishment of a newspaper devoted to labovr matters. Regulations under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, are gazetted. Petitions under the Act must, where a whole borough is affected, be signed by at least ■three-fifths of the borough electors; where only a ward or wards are affected, by

hreo-fifths of the electors in such ward or wards. It is provided that district electors’ lists shall be made out on or before sth March of every year. The Governor-General of Canada and j* Lady Minto have been the victims of an awkward contretemps. They ordered the A.D.C. in waiting to send out a hundred or so of invitations. The cards were written, and on the afternoon appointed the vice-regal host and hostess were ready to receive their guests. The band plaj'ed ; and tea and coffee steamed away in the urns on the refreshment table, but no body came. By four o’clock something was known to be wrong; then the A.D.C.’s were interrogated, audit dawned upon ono of them that he had forgotten to send out the cards.

A man named Bryant had a narrow escape from death in a shaft on the Mount Morgan Company’s property. It appears that a piece of stone weighing about 201 b slipped from the bucket conveying it to the top of the shaft, and fell to the level, where Bryant and a mate were working. Bryant was struck on the side of the head, sustaining a nasty scalp wound, necessitating several stitches. His mate escaped with a couple of bruised toes.

|'i Dr MacDonald, the Resident Surgeon |of tho Qoraldton Hospital, asserts (hat ftho disease known in North Queensland Jas the earth-oating disease is assuming jserious proportions at Geraldton and hther northern towns. It has raged at Cooktown and townsvillc, and is extending nearly as far south as Brisbane. ■Dangerous results, he says must ensue if |immediate steeps are not taken to suppress jit, especially among children attending icbe public schools. He is now treating i largo number of cases, in some of which whole families are affected. There are now 10,390 licensed houses in London. New coalfields are being opened in Durham whose annual yield is estimated at 5,000,000 tons. Among tho clocks to be seen at the Paris Exhibition is one of tho year 1580, which belonged to Henry 111. Balloons arc used for drying linen in Paris laundries. Bamboo frames are attached to a captive balloon, and the dothes arc attached to them, Tho balloons make six ascents daily to the height of 100 ft. Berlin boasts that “Untcr den. Linden” s the broadest street in any great city. It is 215 feet wide. Tho “Eingstrasse” n Vienna is 188 feet; the Paris ‘‘Grand Boulevards,” 122 feet;and the “Andrassy Itrassc,” at Budapest, 155 feet wide*

'Signor Crispi, in an article published ii Eome, points out that while in 1890 tin Italian Navy occupied third place in th< fleets, it is now, owing to fitfu outlay, in the seventh position, and In urgently calls on the Government to take action in the interest of the country. Most of the travelling of the outlaws Jimmy and Joe Governor was done cithci in the early morning or during the evening and the early hours of night. For an hour or two before the sun set they would generally double in some direction which they did not intend to follow, so that ii the trackers should happen to bo close behind them when darkness came, and it was no longer possible to follow the trail, the evident directions would be misleading, the fugitives having meanwhile doubled back some other way. Then, after'nightfall, they would travel for a few miles in the fresh direction and camp. They always had a fire, and slept beside it, a fact which is borne out, it is stated, by numerous burnt holes and scorched marks found upon the clothes which Jimmy was wearing at the time of his arrest.

Vesuvius again shows signs ot becoming unpleasantly active, Seven new fissure? have just opened, and people living on the lower slopes of the mountain are becoming uneasy, and arc already appealing to the Virgin and All Saints to save them from harm.. Experts who have visited the spoi think it likely that the volcano is entering upon a period of great activity. Tho troubles of a newspaper man in re-, gard to telegraphic matters is sometime?! very considerable and trying, even the i Press Association causing editors and| others to at times use a big big “D”.j Yesterday scc-ing that our usual budget! of Otago dredge returns had not comcj to hand we specially telegraphed to have; them forwarded and were informed in rc-i ply that tho rivers were high that dredg-f ing operations were at a stand still.) Judge of our surprise therefore this morn-t ing on opening the Hokitiko Guardian tc| find a large list of dredging returns for-thc| week, from the dredges which were stated to.' have been safely moored and unworked| Again a number of our market quotation?! which shouldJiave como to hand yester-.: day wore overlooked in the Office and only came to hand this morn-| ing, when useless, all of which goes top show that if the average newspaper man’?* soul is barred at the gate by St Peter, hep can plead his occupation in extenuation oijr mild blasphemy. ( We are informed that the tender of thee Dispatch Foundry Company, Limited,| has this day been accepted by the Maori i Gully Gold Dredging Company for building of dredge. The Foundry Co.| have agreed to deliver tho dredge com-3 ploto on tho Coy’s claim in full workings; order in eight months from signing of con-7 tract. Wo are very pleased that thejf local firm have secured this work as thef dredges previously turned out by thems; arc all doing excellent work. | Tho members of St Patrick’s choir andjlj ladies and gentlemen, who assisted at Xmas musical services, assembled lasts evening at the residence of Mr M. for tho purpose of bidding good-byo andjjfj God speed to Misses Guthrie and Hannan,j| who are on tho evo of their from Groymouth. Tho re-union was® largely of the nature of a musical evening, \s vocal and instrumental numbers, glees,! operatic selections, etc. being contri-A buted by Mesdames llertslct and Doo-k

gan ; Misses Galloway, Guthrie, Boresford, Kemplo, Griffon, Dochcrty, Kerr, Burke, Phillips, Mulvihill and Drumm. the Rev. Fathers Malone, and Kimbcll, and Messrs Guthrie, Moss, Harley. Doogan, Hannan, Phillips, Sheedy, Hobday, and Daniel. After supper had been disposed of, the Rev. Father Malone P. P., accorded tho thanks of the clergy, choir, and parishioners to Miss Hannan, for the past three years organist of tho church, and spoke in high terms of praise of her ability, and excellent qualifies. then asked Mr Guthrie to present Miss Hannan on behalf of the choir with a handsome gold granny chain and bean pendant, suitably engraved and incribed. In making tho presentation Mr Guthrie referred feelingly and at length to tin happy relations that at all times existed between the members of the choir, and tho recipient of tho present, and said that her loss would leave a void, that it would be impossible to fill. Mr Denis Hannan, humourously but with feeling replied or behalf of his sister. Tho Rev Father Malone, then presented Miss Guthrie, on behalf or tho choir, with a handsomt silver cake basket suitably inscribed, and personally and on behalf of tin choir and congregation thanked her for tho many occasions on which by her sweet voice she had aided tho musical services of tho church. Although deeply regretting tho departure of both young ladies ho realised that such things must be, and heartily congratulated the gentlemen who were to bo blest with such estimable life partners. The gift was appropriately acknowledge by Mr Guthrie. After a further musical interlude, the company separated in tho “wee sma” of tho morning after singing Auld Lang Sync Needless to say the best wishes of the whole community accompany both ladies in their futuro sphere of life, Tymons and Go drapers and clothiers arc now opening their second large shipment of new goods—every line new and up to date—lnspection invited—T. W. Tymons and Co Groymouth.— Advt.