Daily Circulation, 1680. The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1897.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6793, 19 January 1897, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1680. The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1897.

We are glad to learn that the Railway I Department have in contemplation an altera- | tion of the Oamaru station with a view to providing greater accommodation on the passenger platform. The matter is now, we believe, being reported upon by the Resident Engineer at Christchurch, and the public may expect to hear something of a definite character with respect to the matter shortly. Of course, nothing of a positive nature has been allowed to transpire, but ib is whispered that the idea of transferring the passenger station to a site on the Esplanade, near the gasworks, so as to avoid the necessity for shunting of the express trains from north and south, which was mooted some years ago, has been revived. An alternative proposal that is likely to receive consideration is the removal of the goods-sheds to the vacant land in front of the station, so as to enable an extension of the passenger platform southwa.rd. As to the former suggestion, it will be remembered that.when it was originally under consideration it was abandoned on the score of the heavy expense necessary to carry it into effect, and it is quite possible that it will meet with a similar fate now. However, the only thing that is certain is that more accommodation for the public at the station is imperatively demanded as a safeguard against accidents, and we shall be pleased to learn that some plan whereby this may te accomplished has been adopted and a decision reached to put the work in hand with the least possible delay, A large and interested gathering of neighboring farmers assembled yesterday at Mr W. 0. Howden's farm, Toka-Rahi, to witness the start of a new Hornsby harvester. Among those present were Messrs A. A. M'Master, A. Murdoch, W. Dewar, M. Little, A. Balfour, Jameson, Corcoran; M'Pherson, Farquharson, G. Hutcheson, and J. Mackay, who one and all expressed themselves as highly pleased with the new machine, which did its work most satisfactorily. The crop the binder worked in was such as to thoroughly test the quality of the machine, being barley somewhat short and light in parts. Not a sheaf, however, was missed, and the cutting was as clean as it would possibly be, while the lightness and ease were fully demonstrated. Mr Chisholm, representing the manufacturers, was much complimented on the undoubted success of the machine he has to handle. The. ordinary monthly meeting of the §o|ijitfr School Committee was held last evening, wifen there were present—Messrs Creagh (Chairman), Murray, Brown, Reid< Williamson, and Pinel (Hon. Secretary). The visiting .committee reported that the top-dressing to tke asphalt had been done satisfactorily. Sundry repairs were left to the incoming vjsiting committee to carry out.- It was decided to vote for Mr John White for the vacancy on the Education Board caused by the resignation of Mr Thos. Mackenzie. The Hon. John Macgregor and Mr Cohen were nominated for the ordion the Board. The schoolcleaner having £wen notice, it was decided to advertise for the position. Accounts amounting to .-30 3s 6d were passed for payment A vote tp an *B the chair closed the meeting.

The following will play for the Oamaru Club against Pubeuri and Hilderthorpe on Thnrsday afternoon:—Harming, Merrick, Fereati, Meek, Macdonald, Toohey, Grnmitt, Meldrum, Scott, Crawehaw, and M'Ghie. Miss Johnstone Bennet, the American actress who recently set society wagging its tongue by exchanging her lady's maid for a masculine valet, is sow thinking of entering ft convent in Paris*

The Mackenzie Concert Company will appear at Shag Point on Friday night. Mr Paulin predicted last night:—" N.E., S.E., and S. W. winds ; heavy electrical rain showers; indications stormy; barometer unsteady." The minds of some are sorely exercised about the demolition of St. Michael's in London,|a remnaDtof It is interesting to learn that the body of James IY, of Scotland, which, after the battle of Flodden, according to historians, was taken to the Monastery of Sheen, in Surrey, was, during the reign of Queen Bess, removed to the charnel house of St. Michael's, and there found a sepulchre. On the site of St. Michael's are to be erected commercial buildings. 'I he old Church is being destroyed to make room for these, for Britishers are first shopkeepers, and then Christians. Hence the head of a great King may be enshrined beneath ham and bacon stores, and its essentially shoppy sarcophagus bear the legend " Oysters, Is 6d per dozen." There is no knowing where the Eritisher's commercial aggression may end. Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's have probably already been subjected to preliminary surveys by traders with whom money is the key to open every door from earth to heaven. "The Poets' Corner," in the south transept of the Abbey, ha 3 already been contaminated by business considerations, for Brewer, writiQg of the spot, says that " the Deans of Westminister made a market of the Wall, and hence, as a memoral of British poets it is almost a caricature." W here the Church itself is guilty of such sacrilege and misappropriation from sordid motives what may not be expected from worldlings The next thing we shall learn may be that a Bill is being promoted to turn the Abbey into a depot for the storing and distribution of produce, and that St. Paul's is to be turned into an establishment for the sale of fish and butchers' meat. Already the heavens are to be utilised as an advertising medium, and the great truths that " Brookes' soap will not wash clothes," and that " Epps' cocoa is grateful and comforting " will be placed oil the clouds.

A meeting was held last evening in the Baptist) Church, to make arrangements for the approching mission of the Rev. G. and Mrs Soltau. The Rev. W. B. Marten explained what steps had been taken in the matter, and said the mission would be entirely undenominational, and would commence on Sunday,, the 31st inst. A committee was appointed to arrange for all the details of the mission, and it was decided to hold united meetings for prayer, commencing on Monday evening next, in the Baptist Church. We learn that Mr Soltau's missions have been remarkably successful, one pleasing incident in connection with them being that after giving an address to the members of the Anglican Synod in Nelson, the Bishop specially licensed him to conduct missions in any part of that diocese. Such catholicity of spirit is one of the principal needs of the Christianity of to-day.

Sir Joseph Abott, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney, on V riday, by the Anglian, will be in New Zealand some weeks on business. He is to be a candidate for the Federal Convention. Be does not intend to address the electois, but will publish a manifesto. A recent visit to the northern portion of New South Wales has convinced him that much more interest is being taken in the federation question than people generally seem to suppose. In fact, he finds that th?re is a lively interest taken in the matter in many country districts, and he thinks there will be heavy voting. Another point about which he feels confident is that the Protectionists wili not attempt to make a p*rty question of the matter. Sir Joseph who was one of Mr Reid's colleagues in the Stuart Government of 1883, says that in his opinion " Mr Reid has redeemed an ill-spent political career by the energy and determination he has shown since he came into office as Premier." Der Friedrich der Grosse, which arrived m Sydney about a week ago, is the largest steamer that ever crossed the line. " There have been vessels here," says the Sydney Morning Herald, "up to 7000 tons gross register, but this leviathan beats, this record by no less than 50 per cent., for in the advent ot the Friedrich der Grosse there is represented a floating warehouse of 10 500 ton 3 capacity, a ship which, if her authorised passenger space (quite independent of her cargo room) was filled would be a floating township, having a population of nearly 3QOO souls "

Augusta Schrader, who was bom in Minnesota 26 years ago, calls himself " the Divine healer." He wears a black silk Benedictine robe, and a crucifix suspended round his neck. His hair is parted in the middle and flows over his shoulders, concealing his ears and outlining a small symmetrical head. A Home paper says. " His appearance is intensely reminiscent of the Christ —the beard, the curved forehead framed by the long, curved locks, the beaming frankness of expression made familiar in innumerable engravings. He has had the gift of healing since he was 13, and now can handle as many as 7000 people in a day. I say handle because his power lies in his hands, which reminds one of a conjurer. The only belief necessary in his patients is the act of coming to him. A representative of the San Francisco Wave, who recently had a chat with him, had a disillusionment when Schrader ran his clumsy fingers through the thick locks of hair that hung so straight from his crown to his shoulders. He says: "He flung back the strands, exposing the full extent of a narrow forehead, and small ears close to the skull. It was absolute disillusion. At once the suggestion of sanctity disappeared. The robe was a disguise. The face became ignoble; its benignity faded into servility. . . . . Then the conciliating hair fell into place again, as he stood up to bless me." Schrader is said to possess a tall robust figure.

The strychnine cure for snake-bite is being used very successfully in New Fouth Wales. Recently a young man named D. P. M'Killop was bitten by a small brown snake white out riding. He was out on a bicycle, and while sitting down to have a rest he felt a stinging sensation. On looking round he saw a snake which had bitten him on the thigh. Strychnine and ammonia were administered, and the patient, whose symptoms were for a time serious, has recovered. A valuable mare belonging to Mr M'Master, of l)alkeith, was also bitten three times on the fetlock by a brown snake. Strychnine was injected. The mare was drowsy for a time, but the experiment proved successful, and the mare recovered within 30 hours.

Court Victoria, A.0.F., held their usual fortnightly meeting in St. Andrew's Hall on Monday night. CR. Sis. TSusbatch presided, and there was a very good attendance of the members. Ihe usual routine business having been gone through and the sick attended to, the yearly balance-sheet and auditor's report which showed that the Court was in a very satisfactory position financially, were laid before the meeting. During the year Court Victoria has paid away in sick allowance L 22 6s Bd, and for medical attendance and medicine L 29 19s The C.R. then welcomed the visiting brethren—D S.C.R. Bro. Munro from Dunedin and a contingent of members from Court Pride of Oamaru. D.S.C.R. Bro. Munro and C.R. Bro. Smith responding. Bro. Munro, after apologising for the absence of his co-officers of the Executive, who were unable to attend, gave a lengthy and interesting account of the work done by the D.B. during the year, and explained many matters connected with the Order. The Court then went into harmony, Sisters Campbell, Rusbatch, and Riordan and Bros. Bell, Cairns, Halley, Mackenzie, and Maclean contributing. After refreshments had been partaken of, P.C.R. Sis Campbell moved a hearty vote of thanks to the visiting brethren and especially to D.S.C.R. Bro. Munro for his very interesting address. This was responded to by Bro. Munro on behalf of Courts Woodland's Pride, Pride of DunediD, and the District Executive, and Bro. Cairns on behalf of Court Fride of Oamaru. The Court then was closed in due form, after a very enjoyable evening had been spent. The nominations for the Newmarket Handicap and the Australian Cup will be found elsewhere. This year they were not cabled by the Press Association, which was content to await the arrival of the mail. Thio an innovation for which we are devoutly The nominations for the big Australian handicaps are not so urgent but that they can well await the ordinary mail. The expense of cabling them is quite unnecessary, and the "hash" generally made of the name 3 by the unfortunate operators practically obliterated any end that might have been served.

The monthly meetiog of the Middle ■ c chool Committee was held last night, there being present Messrs Hood (chair), Dr Garland, Gebbie, and Archdeacon Gould. Messrs M. Cohen and John Macgregor were nominated as members for the Education Board. A number of accounts were passed for payment and the Committee rose. " Dr Guthrie, the Scottish Preacher and Philanthrophist," is the subject of a lecture to be delivered by the Rev. J. Dukes in Wesley Church to-morrow evening. A special meeting of the Garrison Band is convened for this evening, at eight o'clock, in the orderly room. The party of theosophists, headed by Mrs Katherine A. Tingley, who are now en route to New Zealand on a Theosophical Crusade comprise Mrs Katherine A. Tingley (the leader of the movement), Mr E. T. Hargrove (the president of the branch Theosophical societies in America, Europe, and Australia), Mr Claude Falls Wright (president of the New York society, and former secretary to Madame Blavatsky), Mrs Wright (lecturer to the eastern States in America,), Mr H. T. Patterson (president of the Brooklyn Theosophical Society), Mr F. M. Pierce, the Rev. Dr Williams, and Mrs Barclay G. (Heather. Speaking at Sydney, Mr H. T. Patterson said a great diversity of opinion existed as to the aims and objects of Theosophy, but in reality its purpose was very simple. It was essentially to promote the furtherance of brotherhood, the method being left to the different bodies to act as they thought fit. The head of the movement which they represented was Mrs Tingley, who, when Mr Judge died, stepped to the front and had since shown an energy, activity, and ability which were absolutely amazing. She had led them into different countries and among people of contrasted manners and beliefs, and in each place the movement had been strengthened and the bonds of brotherhood drawn together. There will not be a steamer from I yttelton connecting with the express train on Thursday night, owing to the Penguin undergoing an overhaul and the Anglian being a day late.