GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3646, 24 January 1899, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS.

SOUTH ISLAND. The following reply has been received from the N.S.W. Tennis Association, in reply to an invitation from the Canterbury Tenuis Association to send a team to Christchurch during tho coming March : “ Regret cannot arrange team.” The Mataura Freezing Works were repjiened on the 19th instant. Speaking at a meeting of the School .Committee, Nelson, in support of tho abolition of the standard pass system, the . Rev. J. H. MacKenzio said he had often seed children in teas and lamentations over the visit of Inspectors. Ho added I believe there are thousands of children in this country who are in abject terror of the Inspectors. The line of demarcation between, amusements in which the clergy may indulge and those which they should shun was. indicated by the Rev. T. A. Hamilton, the new vicar of Fcndaltou. Ho stated that the Dramatic Society connected with the church had elected him. president, “and,” he said, “I will go as far as l ean with that association. But I really must draw the line at progressive euchre—l don’t think a parson should bo called on to go in for that. It may ho all right for others, hut 1 am sure you would not like to see mo engaged in it.” At a recent mooting of tho Westport Harbour Board Mr Colvin moved that the Engineer bo instructed to' ascertain the cost of tables for saving gold purposes, in order to try an experiment of getting gold in bed of Bailor River:- Tho motion was seconded by Mr Suistod 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 tho 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 capse of, death. The lightning scorns to have struck deceased on the loft side and run right down tho body. \ - During tho hearing of old ago pension claims at Dunedin, it was found, .after careful investigation and- calculation, that a certain applicant was in this position: Ho possessed property valued at tlloO. The valuation had to bo reduced by tho amount .of mortgage, and then the sum of £1 had to be deducted for every £ls worth of property held. Thus £6 had to bo 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 bo-made,.mod this added to tho £G already mentioned, made a total of ( £l7 to be deducted from -the pension of, £lB per annum, which left £1 to bo received. r by the applicant, payable in monthly instalments. i 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. The Governor aud Countess' gave an order for a' handsome table top, manufactured "of a largo number of native woods. The stand is to be Her Ladyship’s own design. When completed; tho article will bo a pretty memento of the visit to Westport. West Plains was aroused from its customary- quiet on Tuesday (says tho “ Southland Daily Nowsi” of tho 19th instant) by an incident that for a time created a sensation. : A person appeared in female attire’at the edge of tho hush arid, waving arms and striking strange attitudes: tho conclusion was arrived at. „ . that a mad woman was at largo. About thirty residents joined in the search, and word was sent to Sergeant. Macdonoll, who despatched' Sorgepmt 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 IC, named Edwards, whd occasionally disappeared, ■ and it was noticed that during his absence the strange figure generally emerged from the edge of-J-ho bush .only to vanish mysteriously when approached. This ’aroused suspicion, and it was then discovered that the festive youth, whoso mother is absent from home, had boon amusing himself .by donning one of her old dresses and performing the insane capers already described. . The feelings of those who had. gone through •> hard -search, on' a hot night ;will bo readily imagined. , Probably more will bo heard of the 1 matter. -

At the twenty-fifth annual meeting of shareholders in the Christchurch ■ Building and Land Society (Permanent) Mr M. Sandsteiru, (chairman *of' directors) presided. Tho report slated that the Society was,-in a -thoroughly sound .position, and the Board recommended the payment ‘of the usual dividend, of -7& per i cent.j* leave a balance of £2B3< 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,To the student of men and things, the Christchurch Old; Ago Pensions Office ; hasof late afforded a happy hunting ground (says the. “ Lyttelton Times ”)., The old people have registered steadily; men and women who have borne the heat rand .burden of tho day and failed to lino their nest.' Many have seen bettor days, victims of the ups and downs of colonial life. ‘-'I know a good many of them-,” says Mr Williams, the Deputy-Registrar, hiinself an old hand ; “ and I know their 1 habits. There is not one per cent, of the genu's loafer among the scores of claimants who have attended here.” In fragments of com'crsation the onlooker hears tho names of .ships so familiar to the passing generation, tho wooden walls . of the fifties and sixties. In the nal pro of., things, most of the old people hail from the Homo hind, while the older colonial settlements in Australia furnish a goodly contingent. So far, no nativeborn New Zealanders have appeared. A native would be a. ram avis. Tho Bay of Islands might furnisl: one or two, and possibly the old whaling stations in Use south. The Canterbury Pilgrims .are represented so far by one claimant, and . Mr Williams has been interviewed ■' by several Crimean veterans.