GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 26

GENERAL NEWS.

NORTH ISLAND.

Mr D. N. Scott has been appointed manager of the Hawera Opera House. Mr A. B. Kitchener, the brother of the Sirdar, who was married last week, is well known in New Zealand. For some time he managed a sheep farm at Palmerston South, Otago. The Feuding “ Star ” says that the turnip crops in that district are suffering from excessive moisture. Mr Scott, of Willow Bank (says the “ Rangitikei Advocate ”), had the misfortune to lose a good horse through the presence of a hot fly in the stomach. On being brought into the stable it fell down and died withoui»a struggle. On opening the stomach it was found to be full of bots, which had eaten away the lining of the digestive organs. Messrs Austin Bros, have purchased the Foxton sawmill from Messrs G. A. Gamman and Co., and will commence cutting this week. A peculiar sticking up case is reported from Norsewood. It appears that on Sunday night last, as Mrs 0. Olsen was going home alone from a religious service, some young fellows stopped her, and in reply to her request to be allowed to pro- . ceed home they are said to have brandished a stick in her face and threatened to strike her with it if she dared to say a word. It is not stated that they offered beyond this to do her any personal violence ; but it is time that asinine larks of this order were put a stop to. A thunderbolt fell at Dannevirke during a storm on Monday. It narrowly missed Mr Freeman’s residence in Miller’s road, and struck a telegraph polo just opposite. The impact caused a shock that was clearjy felt, and the ball of fire shed a glare which was observed at a considerable distance. The telegraph pole was splintered. The work of erecting the telegraph line between Auckland and Taranaki by way of the West Coast is proceedng satisfactorily. The line has been carried southward to within 16 miles of Mokau, and it is hoped that it will be opened next month. The cost will be about £6OOO. When the work is completed Wellington will be connected with Auckland by two lines, and much of the vexatious delay which now occurs in transmitting messages between the two cities, through the wires along the East Coast route being tlown down, will be avoided. We (“ Hawke’s Bay Herald ”) believe that the Riot Act has been read only about five times in this peaceful colony. All round the country the newspapers have commented upon the serene and beautiful orderliness apparent in the Christmas and New Year’s Eye crowds, with the exception of the hilarity displayed by the Lyttelton youths. At Taihape, up inland Patea way, however, we learn that on New Year’s Eve the Riot Act was read twice, and the Maoris and Europeans took sides and made things interesting by engaging in battle throughout the day. The question as to whether the Stratford rifle range is safe is engaging Magisterial 'attention. H. M. Woodhead stands charged with discharging firearms at the range contrary to the Police Offences Act, and the case is proceeding, Mr J. W. Kelly, the popular landlord of the Egmont Hotel, left Hawera on Wednesday en route to Scotland. Mr Kelly, who has now spent some thirty years in the colony, intends to be away some time, and, to take advantage of a long sea trip, has decided to go by the sailing ship Ochtestyre. ' Mr G. Murch, vice-captain of the Wanganui Bicycle Club has been presented by his fellow members with a handsome silver-mounted walking stick as a wedding present. It is the intention of the Land Purchase Board to visit, at an early date, the properties of the Beethams at Erancepeth, Lucena’s property at

Featherston, and other blocks in the vicinity of Grey town, with a view to purchasing them for closer settlement purposes. “If you could hear the passengers praying it would make you weep,” was the cry of anguish wrung from Mr Bellringer, a member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, when speaking at a recent meeting oil the inadequate lighting at the wharf. He pointed out that there was ho lamp from the base of the wharf to the tee, and passengers consequently ran a very great risk of losing their lives. The foreman was instructed to seo that more lighting is provided. During the month of December the Manawatu Dai-\y Union received 81,000 more gallons of milk than were ever received during the same month of the previous year. The net amount paid for milk for December (not including cream) was £5741. Some members of the executive of the North Island Bands Association have recently been in communication with Mr James Chrichton ns to whether the Wanganui people would like to have next year’s contest in The town, says the “ Herald.”

SOUTH ISLAND

A few days ago Mr Wilkens met with terrible injuries the result of an accident at Mr Bensemann’s sawmill at the Upper Moutere, when ho became caught m the hefting. It seems marvellous how lie escaped with his life, and though his injuries were confined to the right side they included a fractured ankle, a broken leg, a break across the palm of the hand, and a fracture of the wrist, as well as a dislocated collar bone and bruises. A Maori axe of exceptionally large dimensions, and probably one of the most perfect pieces of stone work of its kind extant, was unearthed by Mr W. Munro on his farm at Mokotua (Southland) the other day. It is 17in long, weighs lblb, and has an edge almost as fine as wellground steel. The front surface ioi about Bin from the cutting edge has been worked as smooth as glass, and the underneath is slightly hollowed. Every part of the axe, including the handle, is A digest of the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act, which Mr R. S. Hawkins, S.M., has prepared for the use oi applicants in the extensive district m which he administers the law, is said to have proved of great service. The initial apoeal on behalf of the completion of the Christchurch Cathedral has resulted in more than one-fourth of the sum required being subscribed in sums varying from £1 to £SOO. Of the sum of £12,000 required to carry through the work over £3200 has been promised. Out of a fairly large number of applicants, the Trustees of the Nelson School of Music have selected Miss Sophia Duff, L.R.A.M., to lilt the vacancy in the teaching staff created by the resignation of Miss Fell. During the last two years Miss Duff has been prosecuting her musical studies in England. She has recently succeeded in gaining the diploma of the Royal Academy of Music. The following reply has been received from the Premier relative to the request made by the Westland County Counci regarding the proposed improvement in the Okarito river channel: —“ I have to acknowledge your letter of the 16th December in reference to ascertaining if anj improvement can be made in the Okarito bar, and suggesting the lowering of the outflow from Lake Wahapo so as to increase the volume of water with the object of scouring out the channel. I have referred your letter to the Hon Minister for Marine, and asked him if he can spare Mr Perham, of the Public Works Department, to go down and report on the matter. If he can be spared and can suggest suitable means for carry ing into effect the wishes of the people of the district, the subject will receive full consideration in due course.” The Totara Dredging Company, neai Ross, has definitely decided upon active

operations, their prospecting having been eminently satisfactory. Their order for a dredge will bo placed at once with the manufacturers in Dunedin and it is expected that by June they will be in full "working order. Many persons have wondered how Schilling, the champion walker, manages to go round the world without paying a “ shilling.” According to the ‘ Mataura Ensign ’ this is: ho.v it is sometimes done : —An hotelkeeper, whoso invited guest the champion had been during his stay in tho place, was asked what prompted such generosity on h:s part. Bonifaco replied : “ Well, you see, a variety company of six travelled round with the walking man, and as they put up at my place, I popped on a shilling a head extra, and that paid for Schilling’s board for the day and bed for the night.” At a meotmg of the Nelson Sailing Club the report and balance-sheet of the recent regatta was presented and discussed. It appeared that the receipts amounted to £BB ss, and the expenditure to £BO ss, and that thus a credit balance on the regatta of £3 was left. As to the position of the c üb, the Chairman congratulated memLers on the healthy condition of its finances, mentioning that it had a balance to the good of £2B. He also said that tho membership had, during the prrssnt season, increased by thirty members, bringing the total up 118.

. Mr G. W. Williamson—well and favourably known in connecton with the Foveaux Strait and Stewart Island fisheries—is reported, to have come to thq conclusion that the day has gone by when dependence could bo placed on sailing vessels to carry the “ takes ” from fishing ground to freezing works, and to have decided to procure a small schooner of, say, 40 tons, fitted with auxiliary screw, worked by oil engnes, to take the place of the ordinary cutter. Mr Williamson has freezing works at Port Pegasus, and his experience has taught him that the quicker the fish are conveyed from the sea to the refrigerator the more highly esteemed and marketable the product.

The Hon John McKenzie, Minister of Lands, has replied to Mr C. H. Mills, M.H.R.for Wairau, acknowledging the receipt of the resolutions passed by the Land and Raiiv, ay League, with liis letter urging tho early acquisition of the Flaxbourne estate for closer settlement. The Minister states that he is in strong sympathy with the request, and realises the truth of the reasons advanced by the League, and that negotiations are now in progress between the owners of the estate and the Land Purchase Board. He fee's that every reasonable effort will bo made to acquire that property. In reply to an address of welcome at Westport, the Governor said : —I am glad to hear cf the expansion of your coal trade, ana know that this expansion is due to the perseverance with which you have overcome the natural defects and difficulties of your harbour. I shall take the greatest interest in seeing something cr those great mining resources which give your district so important a position in the colonjn As your coal has already played a famous part in the anna is of the British Navy, so also, I am confident that in the day of need, the men of this Britain of the South will be among the foremost to uphold the honour of the great Empire of which this colony is so important a cornerstone.

The following reply has been received from the N.S.W. Tennis Association, in reply to an invitation from the Canterbury Tennis Association to send a team to Christchurch during the coming March Regret cannot arrange team.” The Mataura Freezing Works were reopened on the 19th instant. Speaking at a meeting of the Schoo Committee, Nelson, in support of the abolition of the standard pass system the Rev. J. H. MacKenzie said he had often seen children in teas and lamentations over the visit of Inspectors. He added :—I believe there are thousands

of children in this country who are in abject terror of the Inspectors. The lino of demarcation betweon amusements in which the clergy may indulge and those which they should shun was indicated by the Ilev. T. A. Hamilton, the new vicar of Fendaltom He stated that the Dramatic Society connected with the church had elected him president, “and,” he said, “I will go as far as I can with that association. But I really must draw tho line at progressive euchre—l don’t think a parson should be called on to go in for that. It may be all right for others, but 1 am sure you would not like to see me en» gaged in it.” At a recent meeting of the Westport Harbour Board Mr Colvin moved that the Engineer be instructed to ascertain tho cost of tables for saving gold purposes, in order to try an experiment of getting gold in bed of Buller River. The motion was seconded by Mr Suisted and carried. This is a motion that has often been urged before, and it is quite possible that the yield from such a source might be enough to pay the whole expences of the tug. It has not been deemed necessary to hold an inquest with regard to the death of Mr Charles Goff at Renwicktown. The doctor who examined' the body reported that there was no doubt that a stroke of lightning was the cause of death. The lightning seems to have struck deceased on tho loft side and run right down the body. During the hearing of old age pension claims at Dunedin, it was found, after careful investigation and calculation that a certain applicant was in tin's position : He possessed property valued at £l5O. The valuation had to ho reduced by the amount of mortgage, and then the sum of £1 had to be deducted for every £ls worth of property held. Thus £6 had to be deducted from the pension. Then, the applicant, it was discovered, had a yearly income of £45, and £1 had to bo deducted for every pound in excess of £34. Hence a further reduction of £ll had to be made, and this added to the £6 already mentioned, made a total of £l7 to be' deducted from the pension oi £lB per annum, which left £1 to be received by the applicant, payable in monthly instalments. During the visit of Lord and Lady Ranfurly to Westport the Premier introduced Mr and Mrs Papprill to them, and they showed the visitors some choice and beautiful specimens of West Coast wood, and samples of their workmanship, which were greatly admired. Tho Governor and Countess gave an order for a handsome table top, manufactured of a large number of native woods. The stand is to be Her Ladyship’s own design. When completed the article will be a pretty memento of the visit to Westport. At the twenty-fifth annual meeting of shareholders in the Christchurch Building and Land Society (Permanent) Mr M. Sandstein (chairman of directors) presided. The report stated that the Society was in a thoroughly sound position, and the Board recommended the payment of the usual dividend of 7\ per cent., which would leave a balance of £283 10s 2d to be carried forward to profit and loss account. Out of this the payment of £l6O 8s lid was recommended as profit on shares. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. West Plains was aroused from its customary quiet on Tuesday (says the “Southland Daily Newsi” of the 19th instant) by an incident that for a time created a sensation. A person appeared in female attire at the edge of the bush and, waving arms and striking strange attitudes, the conclusion was arrived at that a mad woman was at large. About thirty residents joined in the search, and word was sent to Sergeant Macdonell, who despatched Sergeant Warring and a constable to the scene. An active but fruitless search was made till close on midnight, and yesterday morning Constable Emerson left early for the scene. Among those taking a prominent part in the search was a youth of 15,

named Edwards, who occasionally disappeared, and it was noticed that during liis absence tho strange figure generally emerged from the edge of the bush only to vanish mysteriously when approached. This aroused suspicion, and it was then discovered that the festive youth, whose mother is absent from home, had been amusing himself b.v donning one of her old dresses and performing the insane capers already described. The feelings of those who had gone through n hard search on a hot night will be readny imagined. Probably more will be heard of the matter. To the student of men and things, the Christchurch Old; Age Pensions Office has of late afforded a happy hunting ground (says tho “ Lyttelton Times ”). The old people have registered steadily; men and women who have borne the heat and burden of the day and failed to line their nest. Many have seen better days, victims of the ups and downs of colonial life. “I know a good many of them,” says Mr Williams, the Deputy-Registrar, himself an old hand; “ and I know their habits. There is not one per cent, of the genus loafer among the scores of claimants who have attended here.” In fragments of conversation the onlooker hoars the names of ships so familiar to the passing generation, the wooden walls of the fifties and sixties. In the nature of things, most of tho old people hail from the Homo land, while the older colonial settlements in Australia furnish a goodly contingent. So far, no nativeborn New Zealanders have appeared. A native would bo a rara avis. The Bay of Islands might furnish one or two, and possibly the old whaling stations in the south. Tho Canterbury Pilgrims are represented so far by one claimant, and Mr Williams lias been interviewed by several Crimean veterans.

AUSTRALIA

A sailing boat capsized in tho Swan River on January 9th. William Richardson became entangled in the gear and was 'dragged under. He succeeded in getting his head out of the water onco and called for assistance, but the rope id round liis 1 feet and kept him prisoner, and the boat lurching pulled him under, and he was drowned. His three companions were eventually rescued. Deceased was a railway guard. Mr John Sharp, Manager of the Mount Mornsen Gold Mine in the Wolumla Pambula district, while going down a ladder on January 10th was overpowered by foul air and fell to the bottom. Two brothers named Mornsen descended to his assistance, one of whom was totally overcome and the other nearly so. Mr Sharp was found dead, and one of tho brothers Mornsen is very ill. It is surmised that the foul air accumulated during the holidays. The opening of the Perth Mint has been further delayed owing to the discovery that the assay-room, which was placed on the first floor, suffers from vibration through city traffic to such an "extent as to impair (lie efficiency of the weighing instruments'. It has been decided to erect a separate assay building on a secure foundation at a cost of £2OOO or £3OOO. It is expected that the Mint will bo opened before the end of the present half-year. , Correspondence is still taking place between the Premier of N.S.W. and the military authorities of Great Britain with regard to the proposed interchange of Imperial and Colonial troops. Mr Reid states that the New South Wales Government has agreed to the proposal as far as the principle is concerned, and in a short time necessary arrangements will be made for the exchange. Some difficulty, however, is being experienced with reference to the details. The present proposition is to send to England a battery of artillery. A sad shooting accident is reported from Daylesford. A party of children who were playing in a yard amused themselves by shooting at a target with a pea-rifle. A girl named Lawson aged fifteen, threatened to turn the hose on them, and a lad who had the rifle in his hand, and who had just fired at the target without the charge exploding, playfully presented the rifle at her, and pulled the trigger. The cartridge exploded, and the pellet struck the girl in the mouth and passed out through the back of her head. Medical men say she cannot recover. The Opalton mailman reported on January 11th that at Winton there had been a sensational find of opal. Two Germans who had done well had left their claim to two men named Shillington and Greenwood, who had only removed a few inches of earth when they struck a big opal band. This, when opened up, re;.<J+orl in the unearthing of one of the largest blocks of opal ever discovered. The pipe is alleged to be lift in length, and in places as thick as a man’s thigh. The services of four men were required to carry it to the main field. The value of the opal is between £7OOO and £IO,OOO. A startling coach accident occured at Ballarat in connection with St. Andrew’s .Sunday-school picnic. In jrounding a street corner a vehicle containing from 40 to 60 picnickers suddenly capsized, and the passengers were thrown heavily amid fragments of glass from shattered windows. Several people were painfully injured, and three were conveyed to the hospital for treatment. Mrs E. Watson, agied fifty-seven, received a scalp wound, Edith Harper, aged twelve, a lacerated ear, and Ernest Pound, aged ten, an injury to his head. Six others were removed to their homes for treatment. These include one lady with an injured shoulder-blade, and another with a broken arm and a fractured collar-bone.