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New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12229, 26 March 1903, Page 5

Sir Hector Macdonald, who, after leaving South Africa, visited the Australasian colonies and was subsequently appointed to the command of the forces in Ceylon, is charged with a serious offence, which, however, is not punishable by the laws of the colony, and the Governor, Sir J. W. Ridgeway, has been authorised to try him by court-mar-tial. Sir Hector, it would appear from the wording of our cable message, had left the colony., as, on consulting Lord Roberts, the latter is said to have advised him to return and meet the charges. Severe earthquake shocks have been experienced in England. In Derbyshire ceilings were cracked and lireplaces dislodged. Great alarm was occasioned. The Bloemfontein Customs Conference has agreed to a Customs Union for South Africa, granting 10 per cent, preferential treatment to the Mother Country and colonies reciprocating. The articles most favoured are flour and wheat. Marconi's system of wireless telegraphy lias been adopted by the Admiralty, and"all warships sire to be fitted with the necessary appliances. La Soufriere is in violent eruption, and three inches of sand and pebbles have fallen at Georgetown and Chateaubehur. A black cloud cover.; the whole of the island. President Castro's resignation is said to be. intended to lead to a vote' of confidence in order to strengthen his position. According to the London Times, the conflicting policies of the War Office and the Admiralty are paralysing the Government and bewildering the country.

With reference to the extract from an American medical journal, which reached •us from Huntly, which appeared in yesterday's Heualb, we are requested by Dr. Collins, senior medical officer of the Auckland Hospital, to state that the conversation mentioned therein as having taken place between himself and the writer was inaccurate in detail, and, moreover, what was said was in the nature of a private conversation between one medical man to another, and with no idea that it would find its way into a public print.

Yesterday forenoon, as Dr. Bedford's gig was being driven along Karangahape Road in tie direction of town, the horse became startled and unmanageable. Br. Bedford was not in the vehicle at the time, and his groom, in order to control the horse, drew it in towards the pavement. The result was a collision with an iron verandah post, which brought the gig to a stand, and knocked it about to some extent. The driver wan unhurt, and the horse escaped with a few slight cuts and bruises.

As the Northcote ferry steamer Victoria, which left the Queen-street tee shortly after five p.m. on Tuesday, was proceeding on her journey a nine-year-old lad named Harold Poole, whose parents reside at Birkenhead, and who was playing on the paddle-box, accidentally fell overboard. Captain Devlin quickly put back his vessel, and Messrs. T. Fisher, of Birkenhead, and .Tas. Reid and 11. Marshall, residents of Norbhcote, jumped into the water in order to effect a rescue. The boy was soon taken on board the steamer, and was none the worse for his immersion.

The first meeting of the creditors of Win. Henry Matthews, draper, Newmarket, was convened for yesterday, in the official assignee's office. Only seven creditors attended and as some of them had not proved, and the total voting strength represented at the meeting was under £200 out of total liabilities amounting to £2624, it was decided to adjourn the meeting till next Wednesday.

Intimation was received at the Auckland office of the Tourist Department yesterday that the new boardinghouse at Waikaremoana, which is being rim by the Government for the accommodation of tourists, is now open.

Mr. John Hayes, Government inspecting engineer, arrived at Thames yesterday, on an official visit, and in company with Mr. Coutts, inspector of mines, will make a tour of inspection of all the coal and goldfields districts in the Auckland province.

The sad information was received at Thames yesterday by telegraph, of the death of the wife of Mr. Benjamin Low, formerly assistant-master at the Thames High School, which took place at Studholme Junction, Canterbury, yesterday morning. Mrs. Low was well known in the Thames district, which for many years was her home, she being the grand-daugh-ter of Mr. Robert Scott, J.P., of Wil-loughby-street. Her bereaved husband has the sympathy of many old friends in the sad loss he has sustained.

During a recent visit to Australia Mr. R. Nairn, of Christchurch, found that people engaged in business connected with luxuries were complaining bitterly about hard times. The clearness of food and the depressing effects of the recent drought have left their mark on the people of the Commonwealth generally. Mr. Nairn was in Australia a few years ago, and he noted on this occasion'that there was a marked difference in the air and bearing of those he saw in the streets. The depression!, he says, seems to manifest itself in politics, and there is an outcry against those who are in power. Worse times are anticipated. Even in the matter of dress there seems to be a quieter tone. The prospects of New Zealand are painted in roseate hues, and large numbers of Australians would be glad to come to this colony if they could.

The disastrous effects of the recent drought in Queensland are indicated by a patheti-cally-worded letter which the Commonwealth Postmaster-General recently received. In 18S8 an exceptionally smart officer, who had charge of a small post office, severed his connection with the department, and devoted himself to pastoral pursuits. With the savings he made as manager of a large station he bought some sheep and took up a grazing area. Good seasons followed, and in a few years the enterprising ex-public, servant owned a considerable tract of good country, upon which 24,000 sheep—also his own propertydepastured. Then the drought set in, the young squatter lost all his sheep and his holding, and in his letter, which Senator Drake received, lie says that he is ready to accept any position in the Department'from postmaster to line repairer. The Public Service Act precluded th£Post-master-General making appointments, and the application will be sent on to the Public Service Commissioner, to be tiled with hundreds of others.

On Monday night the New Zealand and Australian Natives' Association's committee formulated a series of subjects to be discussed at their monthly meetings. It is proposed to entertain the New Zealand members of Parliament just before they leave for the House, as five members of the Lower House and two of the Upper House are now members of the Auckland branch of the association. It was decided that the subjects that should take precedence were: The restrictions now placed on the employment of the youths of this colony; Crown and native land laws; local government; shipping laws. It is considered that such discussions will enable the native-born members of Parliament to clearly understand the ideas of the association on these subjects. The New Zealanders feel very strongly on the unnecessary restrictions placed on the youth of the colony, which will eventually lead to nearly all tradesmen having to be imported. It was therefore decided that this burning question should take precedence, and a committee consisting of Mr. R. McVeagh, Mr. Ralph Potter, and the secretary, were instructed to interview Mr. T. H. White, of the Kauri Timber Company, who has always championed-the cause of the boys, and* ask him to favour the association with his practical experience, and that Mr. Rosser be invited to be present to give his views as a unionist, to show cause why the avenues of employment to our youths should be restricted.

Thieving and pocket-picking are unusually prevalent in Wellington just now. At a public entertainment the other night ft young man was robbed of a purse containing £5. Another man lost a goldmounted cigarette-case and a steamer ticket. At another place the pockets of several ladies were picked. A number of robberies from meat safes have, been reported within the past week.