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Mataura Ensign, Issue 839, 12 January 1901, Page 2

According to a new by-law for regulating the admission of people to railway platforms it will not be lawful for any person to be upon a railway platform 15 minutes before or after the arrival or departure of a tfain unless holding an admission ticket, for which 2d will be charged. The heavy rain in the Upper Molyneux and Queenstown districts caused the Molyneux to rise considerably on Wednesday, but it fell at foot on Thursday night. The highest point reached was 12ft Gin. For mouths a great quantity of slime has been apparent in Tasman Bay Nelson and proved deadly to fish. Of late it has been less apparent in that vicinity, but reports from Golden Bay state that it ia proving increasingly fatal to fish there. The captain of the Lady Barkly reports that from Collingwood to Takaki, and thence to Separation Point, be passed through slime and dead fish the whole way, the latter not a footstep apart. The beaches of the bay are strewn with fish in place? to a depth of three feet, and such is the stench that some settlers contemplate leaving their homes for a time. At West Wanganui the beaches are strewn with flounders and other fish. The waters are thick with the slime and appear a beautiful green by day, while at night they are like liquid fire. Advice has been received from London by the Acting Premier to the effect that the proposal: to send the Imperial troops now in Sydney to New Zealand is favorably entertained by one of the highest military authorities at home. The matter is now under final consideration, and Mr Ward has every hope that the proposal will bo agreed to. It is probable that the Imperial troops will come with our own men in the Orient. The by-election of a member of the House of Representatives for the Northern Maori District resulted in the re-election of Hone Heke.

The Dunedin committee for the reception of the returning troopers have decided to bring the men to Dunedin from Port Chalmers by rail, as it was feared a calamitous accident might occur if they were landed at the wharf. On arrival at the station the men are to be mounted and marched to Forbury Park. It was agreed to approach the Minister of Railways to grant free pusses on the railways to mounted men from the country corps wishing to take part in the welcome. A circular was drafted to be.forwarded to mayors of boroughs and chairmen of county councils in Otago asking them to open a list of young men willing to assist in the welcome to the troops. It was desired that the men should be mounted, and the committee undertook to find forage for all the horses at Tahuna Park.

The Union Steamship Co. having acquired a half interest in the Canadian Australian mail service, the Hon. J. G. Ward is of opinion that an effort will be made to get the steamers to again call at New Zealand. If reasonable terms are proposed no doubt the Government will favorably consider them. Speaking for himself he would be inclined to support both the Vancouver and the San Francisco services, as the more shipping the better for the colony. The New Zealand shipping Co. and Union Co., who control the new Vancouver service, intend to put on larger and faster steamers after the expiration of the present contract, viz., in two years' time. Sir J. R. Dickson, Federal Minister of Defence, died early on Thursday morning in Sydney. He had suffered from diabetes for some time,and his recent exertions in eonnecwith the Commonwealth celebration so aggravated the disease that he succumbed to it. He was in his 69th year. Sir J. R. Dickson was chiefly responsible for inducing Queensland to join the Feieration. His remains will be accorded a state funeral in Brisbane. Cardinal Moran's absence from the Commonwealth procession was due not so much to the question of precedence as to the trouble about the prayer to be offered at the swearingin. The Primate suggested offering a prayer, and his suggestion on the matter was referred to the Cardinal. The latter declined to take any part, but suggested a joint prayer. At the last minute the Cardinal submitted a prayer which he proposed to offer, but was informed that it was then too late to make any alteration in the arrangements. Consequently he took no part in the procession. Referring to the question of precedence at the Commonwealth inauguration, it now appears that the Colonial Office rule regarding precedence by seniority refers only to Government House functions. It does not affect, the question of precedence at public functions. Tho Baptist Union have adopted a resolution emphatically protesting against any one church at a public function being given precedence over other churches other than that arising from their relative numerical position. They especially deny the right of precedence claimed by Cardinal Moran as a Catholic dignitary. The Commonwealth Cabinet have further considered and decided upon the policy which Mr Barton will disclose at a meeting at Maitland some time next week. Mr Barton refuses to say anything regarding the tariff, beyond the statement that it will satisfy every reasonable man. The unreasonable section will be dealt with afterwards.

The Freetrade party in the Australian Commonwealth are completing arrangements for the elections, and will hold an organising meeting. A New South Wales Freetrade Liberal Association has been established as an Australian organisation, and co operative committees have been appointed to act in the other colonies.

Mr Ritchie, of the Agricultural Department, says the crops in Otago and Canterbury generally in the districts which he has visited are looking well, but it is not expected that the average yield will be quite up to that of fast season, owing to the great amount of wet prior to Christmas. The harvest will be later than usual this year. Grass is abundant everywhere in Otago and Canterbury. The potato crop will be up to the average. A few friends of Mrs Mackay, widow oE the late Rev. A. Mackay, formerly minister of the Presbyterian Church in Gore, lately showed their kind remembrance of her and their high appreciation of her many excellent qualities by liberally subscribing to a Christmas box, which was duly forwarded to her. Mrs Mackay, who is now residing with her children at Wynnlay Grove, Arniidale, Melbourne, has written acknowledging reeeipt of the gift, and expressing her gratitude for this unexpected and handsome token of remembrance on the part of her friends about Gore. Speaki-ig at the social given in his honor at Invercaigill on Wednesday evening, the Hon. Mr llall-Jonis said that with regard to Mr Ward's scheme of railway communication with L ike Manapouri he had no idea that the land in that di-eetion was of such good quality. Ho would ascertain the respective cost of laying dj\\n a natvuw giuge and the ordinaly gaugi wilwuyto the lakes, both byway of jjunisdsn and Olautau, and it would be for Pail ament to consider whether one of tiies: lines should nut be at once carried out.

According tj ihe 'D.i'y Telegraph,' Premier Sid lon, speaking oil ooard the Sierra, referred to the Oceanic Co.'s magnificent enterprise, which had resulted in such fine vessels being put on the trade between Australia and America. As head of the Government, he declared that there was room for all, though they could not ba expected to help another service which might injure the colony or a company that had been so long identified with the colony ._ If Spreckels and Co. kept on fair and legitimate grounds they would be sure, but the moment that anything was done unfriendly towards his colony or to the British nation they would resent it in a way that would not be forgotten.

Influential American papers protest against Russia's seizure of Manchuria as iuimical to America's trading interests, and urge the co-operation of England, Japan, Germany, and America with a view to combating Russian aggression. Count von Waldersee has deolined Russia's, proposals to restore the North China railway to Germany, because the suggested terms of transfer overrule existing British rights. At the N.S. Wales Rifle Association match on Thursday the Westralia match, 600 yds, was won by Holland, with a score of 45, taking £6. The Hopetoun aggregate was won by Young of Victoria, with 120. The Tasmanian Match was won by Driver Lane, of the Army Service Corps with a score of 48. In the Queensland match, Cbisholm, of Kiama, took first prize with a score of 50. The New Zealand prize-takers wereßobinson and McGregor 46 each, Stradul&n and Gatland 45 each, Loved ay 44, Ingpen 43—a1l £1 each. The Queen Victoria Match was won be Gargett, of Victoria, with a score of '212. The prize is £IOO. At yesterday's meeting of the Southland County Council, the chairman (Councillor Raymond) referred at length to the inadequacy of the Council's representation on the Bluff Harbor Board. He said that the County of Southland (which included the blocks of Gore, Mataura and Winton) had a total population of 24,000, and a ratable value of £4,000,000, ODly had. one representative on the Harbor Board. The Lake and Wallace counties, boroughs of Invercargill North, East, and South Invercargill, Gladstone, Avenal, Campbelltown, Riverton, and Arrowtown had a total population of 20,000, and a ratable value of £1,500,000 yet had seven representatives on the Harbor Board. One of these was appointed by the Chambers of Commerce but still represented Invercargill. He thought the Southland C unty should be be more adequately represented, and also advocated that the boroughs of Gore and Mataura should move in the direction of getting a member to represent them oil the Harbor Board. He would move : " That the Council draw the attention of the Bluff Harbor Board to the inadequate representation allotted on that Board to the County of Southland under the existing Harbors Act, and that the Board be respectfully asked to take such steps as shall secure for the County an increase of representation on the Board." The motion was seconded by Coun- ' cillor Green and.carried.

A meeting of the committee of the Balfour Presbyterian church is be held this evening to consider tenders for the erection of a new church. The'committee has already subsciiptions in hand,[and a site valued at over £3OO, and with the contribution from the Church Extension Committee should he enabled to enter the new church free of debt. The site (an acre situated on rising ground at the northern side of the township) was donated by Mr John Macpherson with his customary generosity, and ever since the locality of the new building was finally settled the committee has worked together most harmoncuously. While in Gore for a few minutes on Thursday evening, the Minister for Public Woiks, in answer to a question put to him, undertook to sea that the levels for the new bridge over the Mataura between Riversdale and Waikaia |would be taken as early as possible. Immediately after that plans would be prepared and tenders called for the work.

The annual race meeting of the Lake County Jockey Club commence! on Thursday in fine weather. The attendance was good, but owing to the large number of bookmakeis present only £747 passed through the totalisator. The Handicap Hack Race was won by Estella who caught Young Fux napping and won by a length, paying the sensational dividend of £124 4s. The owner (Mr A. Naylor) held the only ticket. The Queenstown Handicap was won by Decoy from Wild West by a nose. , A protest against the winner for boring was dismissed. The Two-mile Trot fell to Dick 11., who p rid his backers £(i 2s. The Lake County Cup was won with ridiculous ease by lted Banner, Hazel being the only other starter. Thire were no totalisator investments. The District Hack ltace was accounted for by Gold l.ing. Dividend, £1 4s. The mile and a-half trot was won by Wizard, Wild Bill second ; dividend, £2 4s; the Publicans' Handicap by Edelweiss, Belligerent second. Dividend, £1 111*. Ukase and Young Fox ran a dead heat in the fourfurlong hack race. Dividcids on Ukase, £1 9s; Young Fox, £3 I'h. The weathe-' was fine for yestei day's racing, and £llß3 was passed through the m idline, making £1930 was for the meeting. The Six-furlong Hack won by Bizarre, dividend, £7 13s ; the Miie and a-half Trot by Southern Queen, dividend, £2 17s; the Jockey Club Handicap by Decoy, Wild West 2, Red Banner 3, dividend, £1 2s ; Black Pearl had a walk over for the Novel Handicap; the Flying Handicap fell to Stocknnid, Belligerent 2, El lwciss 3, dividend, £8 4s; the Mile Trot to Aggie, dividend, £1 14s ; Seven-furlong Hack Kaco to Black Pearl, dividend £2O ss; and ihe Stewards' Welter to Belligerent, Wild West 2, Decoy 3, dividend, £5 7s. The Waimumu Queen dredge returned 17oz lOdwt 13gr for 101 hours last week. The annual meeting of the Gore Fire brigade was held on Wednesday evening, Captain Wallis presiding. The annual report mentioned that two serious fires had occurred during the year Messrs Mac Gibbon's and Holland's block and the fellmongery woolsheds. There appeared to be no immediate prospect for a better supply,and the Brigade's suggestion of windmills and a reservoir had not been acted upon. The Brigade's plant was in good order, but an additional length of hose was required, and would be 'procured when the Council's annual grant came to hand. Better attendance at meetings and practice was urged upon members. The Brigade bad been represented at the Blenheim Confere ce by Forman Broad, Lieut. Baker (who had been elected a vice-president of the Fire Brigades Associat'on) and Secretary Martin (elected a trustee of the accident society). The receipts for the year, including the Council's grant of £3O had been £(i3, atul the expenditure (iuciuding £34 10s for uniforms) £49 leaving a balance of about £l4. There was, however a debit of £3 on the plant account. The report and balance sheet were favorably commented on and adopted, specinl reference being made to the Borough Council's donation to the uniform fund, which had placed the members on an equal footing as regarded appearance with other fire brigades. The following officers were elected : Captain, F. Wallis (re-elected for the 15th time); lieutenant, W. Baker; sec. and treasurer, A. Martin ; engineer, A. Walker ; as-sistant-engineers, M.Krannner (1), A. Tinnock (2), A. D maldson (3); foreman of hose company, E. Wallis ; assistant J. Aitken ; branchmen, A. Wallis and J. Broad ; brigade ensign J. R. Stevens. The captain donated £5 as prizes to be competed for by members ; the sum of £5 was voted to Engineer Walker for his services, and it was decided to select a team for the Christchurch demonstration and a delegate for the conference on Wednesday next.

Our attention has been drawn to the fact that in our review of the events of the year we inadvertently stated that Mr McNab, M.H.R., equipped five men for service in the Transvaal. This was obviously a mistake on our part. Mr McNab equipped ten men, who went to the front with the Mataura Valley troop in the fourth contingent. At Wednesday's meeting of the Otago Land Board, it was decided that the surrenderof the following be recommended forthe Minister s approval, the area being too small and the ground too poor to be profitably occupied Small grazing run lease over sections 4 and 5, block IX, Kuriwao district, held by S. J. German, and small grazing run lease over sections 2 and 3, block IX, Kuriwao district, held by Mrs Annie ' Muir. The application of R. A. and O. Williamson to surrender their small grazing run leases 94 c.t. and 95 c.r., over sections 9, 10, and 11, block VIII, Kuriwao district, was recommended for Minister's approval for the same reason. The resolutions declaring the holdings of the following forfeited were rescinded, arrears having been paid : H. J. and C. Hansen, J. Murray, J. McKay, A. E. Spain, James Hore, T. Spain. The offer of James Burke for the crop of ryegrass seed now growing on sections 16 and 17, block XIV, Pomahaka Downs estate, was accepted.

M. Deschanel, the opposition candidate, has been elected President of the French Chamber of Deputies, defeating M. Brisson, the Government nominee.

There are 80 nominations for the Wellington Gun Club's annual handicap of £l5O. The competitiors come from all parts of the coloriy, including Mr Gorrick (the crack Sydney shot), Chavannes (Wanganui), Mackersey (ex-champion), Eccles, and Redwood (Blenheim). Amongst the Dunedin men are " Easton " and " Boswell," and the Canterbury men include Whittle, Duncan, Fraser, Willian\ Caahmore, and Butel.

The Mataura Kifle Club has fired the first of the series of six matches competition for prizes. Thirteen competitors took part. The following are the leading scores at '2OO and 300 yards 7 shots at each rangeJ. Hamilt°n - 55 I A - Balneaves, 50 ;J. S. Shanks, 46; W. Wright, 45; J. Mitchell 44; A.. Smith, 4B; \V. Cockburn, 41. Messrs Hamilton and Balneaves secured ammunition prizes for beat range score, Mr Hamilton making the excellent score of 31 at 200vds. (4 centres and 3 bulls' eyes.) The results of the Southland Education Board's scholarship examination are to hand. As in former years the pupils of VVaikaia and East Gore schools occupy honorable positions on the list, one East Gore scholar taking second, and three pupils from Waikaia tak)?B third, fourth and sixth places on the list. The pupils of district schools obtaining GO per Cint. and over were: Robert Kennedy, East Gore, 72*7 ; H. J. De Laurie, Waik-.ua, 71-25; A. P Delarpy, Waikaia, 70-9; Roland Jay lor, Waikaia, 70*8 ; Wm. Sinclair, Lurasden, G9-9; Wm. Banks, Pyramid and ltiversdale, 092 ; Leslie Dolamore, East Gore, 67'2; Jas. G. Craig, Pyramid, 60-1. The first five mentioned are awarded scholarships of £35, the others named gaining free education at the Southland High School.

National M. and A. Co. have binder twine, seaming twine, etc., for sale. Wright, Stephenson and Co. will sell Racing Club privileges on Wednesday. Anglican Church services announced. Wesleyan Church services advertised. Waikaka siding picnic on Friday, 18th inst. Grand concert by Gore Musical Society on 23rd inst.

Borough Council of Gore want tenders, a cadet, and announce a special meeting. Turnbull and Nicolson, saddlers, Medway street have a special reminder to farmers about binder aprons. They have also a high class stock of saddlery etc. Parents are requested to vote fordistination of Gore school picnic. Gore Bowling Club have an announcement. I'. Burrows, Riversdale, requires an apprentice.

Drink Hondai Lanka Ceylon packed and sealed tea.

Faifct and Co., sharebrokers, have an announcement.

.Tothill, Watson and Co. have removed thoir grain and seed-cleaning plant to Gorton street, Gore.