NEWS AND NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 36, 12 February 1900, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Messrs Hancock & Go., of Auokland, send us an invitation to tbe opening of the first laj;er beer brewery, to take place at Newmarket on Tuesday. Mr C. H. Kalpb, late of Blenhem Government Insurance Agency, tiM been transferred from Wellington to the AocklaDd staff. Spfdal church services m connection with the war m South Africa were held m the Ohurcb of the Nativity yesterday, as m other parts of the world. The death of Mr S. Dee Forgea occurred at tbe residence of bis brother, Mr A. Des Forges, of the New Benwiok Road, on Saturday. A Press Association telegram from Wellington Btates that it has been definitely decided to abandon the annual meeting of tbe New Zealand Bifie Association this year. Captain Cbaytor, of tbe Marlboro*gh Mounted Eifles, is to be complimented on bis appointment to the command- of the Wanganui company of the third contingent. Evidently he has tbe charge of a splendid lot of men. It comes as a surprise to learn that the Government does not intend to grant free railway passes for the Fire Brigades Conference to be held m Blenheim this montb. We trust that a strong effort will be made to alter this intention. M uch excitement wbb causad m town last night by the news that General Buller had again been forced to retire across the Tugela. The bare report came through eaily m tbe evening, ai an extraordinary Press Association message, from the Wakapnaka cable station, and it was posted up m the window of this offioe, crowds collecting to read and discuss it. A sensational experience (says tbe Wyndbam Herald) was undergone by a young man named David Jolly, a native of Arrowtown, at present In South Africa, He waa arrested as a Boer spy, and given but a very brief respite. Tbe young man was representing the Masse y-Harrls Company, and at once Cibled the head of tbe firm and also to his parents. The firm's reply was received m time to save bis life, and was confirmed by the message from his parents. A young fellow named Snow, of Levin, New Zealand, who is only 17 yearß of eg<», wished to join the first coitingent. He was, however, rejeoted, being under age, but he was not to be beaten. He worked bis passage to the oap9, and three days' after he arrived he made an application to the commander of »he South African Light Horse, who, finding he was a New Zealauder, put him upon the " strength of the rpgiment " at ence, and this young fellow is now one of the smartest yonng • fficers m South Africa. The death of tbe Chevalier Antoine de Konttki, at the advanced age of 82, is announced from his native Cracow. Chevalier do Kontakl visited New Zealand on a concert tour about three years ago. Tbe Daily News says of him that " he was, five-and- twenty years since, a well-known figure m London musical life. Indeed, some of his fashionable pianoforte pieces, and particularly the still recollected " Reveil dv Llou," and the " Souvenir de Biarritz," were at one time played m every drawing and school-room. De Eontski was a merely superficial musician, but be wbb an excellent pianist of the brilliant school of which Thalbsrg was the prinolpal exponent. He was particularly noted for the delicacy of his touch and the refinement of his playing. He was born m 1817. A lamentable fatal accident befell John Cameron Fraser, at Broken Hill (New South Wales), recently. Tbe deceased lived at tbe Freemason's Hotel, and on the night of tbe accident slept on the balcony. A. miner, returning from work, saw something, which he thought was a piece of paper, fall over the balcony, but on bearing a thud went over to investigate, and found Fraser lying bleeding and unconscious on the roadway. He was removed to the hospital, but the case was hopeless, the skull having been crushed m. He died m a couple ot hours. The deceased was 30 years of age, and came to Broken Hill from Adelaide a couple of years ago, making himself very popular. An inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death was returned. The only light thrown on the sad affair was furnished by a Mend of the deceased, who stifed ih*t thres or four years ago he heard Fraser say be was m tbe habit of walking m bis sleep, Tbe deceased was to have been married shortly. An eligible bachelor, who was present at the Bam Fair at Hastings, was asked to oontr ibute towards tbe "More M j n Fund," when he statpd that his business was not m suoh a flourishing condition that he could afford to give muc^i m the way of money. He was, however, quite willing to teep one of the widows during bis life time, his only stipulation bein* th&t he should have his [.Icko' tho*e Mies who bave been bereft of their spouses. Even the despißed bachelor is prepared to make aoy sacrifice m tbe cause of tbe Empire m the time of need. The present Emperor of Oblua, whose probable Abdication has recently been announced, Is m his 29th year. He succeeded to the throne by proclamation at the death of the Emperor Tuejr-obi, on January 22, 1875, and was carried !n 18S9. There Is no law In Cuina of hereditary succession to the tbruue, but it is left to each sovereign to appoint bis successor from among tbe members of bis family of a younger generation than his owd. The Emperor undertook full control of the Government m February, ISS9. but on September 22, 1898, an Imperial edict was Issued announcing that the Emperor had resigned power to the Emperor Dowager, who has slnoa retained the direction of affairs.