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Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8091, 8 January 1903, Page 2

The meeting of the shareholders in the North lOtago Dairy Company, which will be held on Saturday morning, at half-past eleven o'clock, will be one of more than ordinary importance. The primary purpose of the meeting is, of course, to receive the report of the Committee of Investigation appointed at the annual meeting to inquire into the financial position and prospects of the Company. Nothing has been disclosed as to the nature of the impending report, the contents of which are being reserved for first disclosure at the meeting ; but we . have no hesitation in hazarding the opinion that it will prove of more than passing interest, and for that reason every shareholder should^make a point of attending. It is stated that additional interest is likely to be given to the proceedings by a charge being made against the Committee of Investigation of going beyond the authority of the "order of reference" in promoting a movement m the direction of winding up the Company voluntarily and selling the whole business to another Company. It is stated, that some little time since an undated circular was sent to a number of shareholders asking them to obtain signatures to a-requisition to the directors askin* them to call an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders to consider the report of the Committee, and to pass a resolution in favor of winding up the Company and appointing a- liquidator with authority to sell to another Company, receiving as compensation shares or other like interests for distribution amongst the shareholders. The proposed requisition was never, we are told, presented to the directors, but they were made aware, indirectly, of it having been prepared, and it is said that they will challenge the right of the Committee to proceed to such lengths before making known the result of their investigations. Altogether the meeting on Saturday promises to be highly interesting as well as of special importance to the shareholders. What is described by one who was present as one of the most enjoyable gatherings ever held at Kakanui was held last evening, the occasion being the celebration by Mr and Mrs T. C. Harrison of their silver wedding. Relations, friends, and old scholars, from all over the district met to tender their congratulations and a concrete testimony of their esteem in the shape of a solid silver coffee service, inscribed : "Presented to Mr and Mrs T. C. Harrison, on the occasion of their silver wedding, by their friends and some old scholars." Mr Sim was entrusted with the pleasant office of making the presentation and acquitted himself splendidly, so much so as to make the ceremony for all the world like a marrying with Mr Sim as the 'officiating minister. A good deal of fun was got out of his happy conception of the part. After the presentation proper, Mr and Mrs Harrison came in for a stream of congratulations and" hand-shaking. Mr Harrison, who really was taken by surprise, made a feeling and suitable speech in reply, heartily thanking his friends for their thoughtful and generous kindness. Prior to this, however, Messrs Wyllie, Familton, and others endorsed the chairman's complimentary references, to Mr and Mrs Harrison. A great abundance of good things had been provided by the ladies and, after these had been discussed and done justice to, the hall, which had been engaged and decorated for the occasion, was cleared for dancing. The cosy, well-prepared room was a most comforting contrast to the deluge falling putside, and the company kept the dance merrily going till three o'clock this morning, "Auld Lang Syne" closing the function just as dawn broke. Messrs Dalgety and Co.'s ' Christchurch office advises as follows : "Our London office cables that the principal importers of colonial wool into London for the past year are as follows:—'Dalgety and Company, Limited, 86,000 bales; Australian Mortgage, Land, and Finance Company, 62,000; New Zealand Loan-and Mercantile Agency Company, 58,000; Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., 56,000; Sanderson, Murray, and Company, 48,000." iMails for Australia, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Straits Settlements, United Kingdom, Europe, and South Africa, per Talune, will close at Bluff on Monday, at 3.45 p.m. The Telegraph Department notify that in distinguishing-a destination from other towns of the same name in telegrams via the Pacific cable special care must be taken to insert the name of the country or State as a free official instruction in each message. When the address is doubtful failure to do this causes great delay- to the traffic.

. Mr '4- Crawford, who will be. remembered aV an assistant teacher in the Oamaru Middle School, has just received the appointment as first assistant in the Gisborne School, which is one of the best assistantships in the colony. Mr Crawford, who had for six years been headmaster of the Te Arai School, was entertained at a social and made the recipient of a highly flattering address accompanied by a gold watch inscribed with his monogram.

The annual meeting of licence-holders of the Duntroon portion of the Waitaki Islands will be held on Saturday, 10th inst., in Orr's Hall, at 3 p.m. Our Waimate correspondent writes : In the 'Police Court yesterday, before the Rev. <*.' Barclay and Mr Petit, justices, no less than three applications for prohibition orders were made to this Court on the ground of excessive drinking by three men. After hearing evidence in each case, the orders were issued for the Waitaki district for twelve, months. Owing to the Baptist Sunday School picnic excursion to Hampden having to be postponed to-day in consequence of the wet weather, a free tea meeting and entertainment will be held this evening for scholars, parents, and friends, commencing at halfpast six o'clock. The proposed excursion will probably be arranged to be held next Thursday.

The next stock sale at Glenavy is announced to be held on Wednesday, 3.4 th instant. The time for closing mails for Uiatham Islands, per Toroa, at Lyttelton has been . extended to Monday, at 8 p.m. The. Turkish telegraph route via the Persian Gulf is interrupted beyond Kcrkuk. A telegram appears elsewhere in this issue in reference to the arrest of a man in connection with what is known as the Gatton tragedy. Briefly stated, the facts of the horrible outrage and triple murder known as the Gatton mystery were as fol,low; —A young man named Michael Murphv and his two sisters —Norah and Ellenattended the local race meeting at Gatton in the Ipswich district, Queensland, on the 27th December, 1898, and left on their way home in a dog cart hite at night. Next morning the horse was found shot dead with its throat cut in the bush a short distance from the township. The bodies of the three Murphvs were found lying alongside the cart with their skulls fearfully smashed. The hands of both women had been tied behind their backs, and both had been cruelly outraged prior to death, and the lower portions of their bodies were badly bruised. The police had reason to believe that 'the brother was tied to a tree whilst his sisters were outraged; indeed, every detail of this harrowing crime went to show that the most extraordinary refinements of cruelty and fiendish bestiality actuated the perpetrator of the deed. Black trackers were sent to investigate the case, but wind and rain hampered them in all directions. In January, 1899, a man named Burgess, 60 years of age, was, after desperate resistance, arrested on a charge of ithe murders, but the man being able to prove he was elsewhere on the night in question the charge of murder was withdrawn and .replaced by a charge of vagrancy. Another man named Burke, arrested and remanded, Was subsequently discharged through lack of evidence. A third man, named Burns, who was "wanted" in connection with the murders, was reported to have sailed for New Zealand in February, 1899. Our Waimate correspondent writes: — A meeting of the Wesleyan Band of Hope was held in the Temperance Hall on Tuesday evening. .The Rev. W. Tinsley occupied the chair, the number present being much less than usual at the monthly meetings, not more than forty being present. Solos were sung by Mrs Veitch, Ada Baker, and Mr C. Manchester, and recitations given by Hettie Baker and Mr Veitch, and a reading by Mr G. Dash. Hymns were sung by the* meeting, Mrs Dowle acting as 5 organist. The rev. chairman addressed the meeting, and expressed the hope that the year now entered on would be a success- , ful one for the Society and the temperance cause, and urged on those present to endeavor to secure good attendances .at the meetings, and that all members be faithful to their pledge of total abstinence and be diligent in their efforts to spread the truth of the principle and the practice of abstinence from intoxicating liquors. It was announced that the Rev. F. W. Isitt, as agent of the New Zealand Alliance, would visit . Waimate on the 7th instant.

At yesterday's stock sales at the Burnside yards, Messrs Donald Refd and Co; sold, on behalf of Mr B. B. Paul (Ardgowan Farm), 1 cow at £lO 2s 6d and .1 heifer at £6 ss. Messrs Dalgety and Co. sold for Mr James Gemmell (Maheno) 61 crossbred ewes to 19s.

Stone's Otago and Southland Directory for 1903 is to hand, and more than maintains the reputation already earned by the publishers for the issue of a complete reference book of a, highly helpful nature to business people in particular and everyone in general. One improvement that has been made and that will be appreciated is that where there are names of the same sound but different spelling a direction is given to anyone looking for a. particular name and not finding it to turn.to the names spelled differently, as, for example, under the name "Fraser" there is the note "See also Frazer."

This is a small matter, but it is attention to such details that gives value to a directory, and Messrs Stone, Son, and Co. in this and other minor details show how keenly alive they are to all that may save tome and trouble to those who use their Directory. Of course the work contains a vast amount of information of a class that most people will find of interest and at times highly useful to have in such a handy form. A full list is given of the newlyelected members of Parliament, and it may be' mentioned that in the alphabetical directory the members of the House of Representatives are indicated, so that anyone wishing to communicate with them can readily obtain their addresses. Altogether the Directory is the most complete and best printed that has been, issued in the i colony. The continued wet weather has encour- ; aged a phenomenal growth of vegetation in North Canterbury (says the Lyttelton Times), and the grain and clover paddocks from Waikari northwards, show promise of a record crop. The feed was never so abundant as it is now, and there are some wonderful crops of wheat growing on the old Horsley Down Estate. If the grain is rea.ped under favorable conditions one oi the most marvellous returns in the annals of the province should be shown at harvesttime. The oat crop is also very good; but wherever barley is to be seen from the rail way line the crop' appears to be very thin. "In no similar'period of its history we suppose" (says the Taranaki Herald), "has New Plymouth made so much substantial progress as in the year just ended. Great expansion has taken place, both in town and suburbs ; the cutting up of suburban properties has led to the erection of a large number of houses,nofc for speculative purposes, but in -most cases for occupation by the proprietors; tradespeople have found it necessary in many instances to extend their premises, or to rebuild, in order to copo | with the continually growing trade of the town; and, so far as we can learn, the results are more than justifying the enterprise. The town has every prospect of an even better year; the borough improvement schemes will provide work for a large number of workmen ;■ private enterprise is launching out in all directions, so that the building trade is .likely to be particularly brisk ; and general prospects are rosy. Let ; us set up as our goal the putting in hand of the harbor extension scheme, and let us see that it is reached. In no way can the material interests of Taranaki generally, and of New Plymouth in particular, be I better served." ' ! Yesterday's liyttefton Times has the following:—"Excuse me, gentlemen," apologised Mr ißeetham. S.iM., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, as he rose in response to a, summons from a constable, "but I am called to examine a lunatic. This is the eighth since I returned. I don't know Bow much longer this is going on." As Mr Beetham only returned to his duties at the beginning of the year, it will be seen that the number of these cases has been abnormally large. According to the Wairarapa Daily Times, Mr Eli Smith, of Masterton, is sending Home, as a gift to the Mechanical Institute at Desborough, Northamptonshire, a consignment of lamb and mutton. The President has undertaken to preside at the dinner which ia to be given to the members when the consignment arrives, and as the membership is between three and four thousand, Mr Smith's generosity should prove a decidedly good advertisement for the colony. The same gentleman is also forwarding several carcases of frozen lamb to 'Nuneaton, 'Warwickshire, so that the quality of our frozen meat may be sampled. An important shipment* of sheep for

breeding purposes was made by Messrs Dalgety and Company, Christchurch, by the Rangatira, last week, to the Falkland Islands Company, the steamer going direct from Wellington to tlie islands. The shipment consisted of 251 Romney Marsh and 15 merino rams, all two-tooth. The Romneys comprised 7 from Mr James Holms, Waimah-aka, Southland ; 100 from Captain Gardner. Birchwood, Southland; 60 from Mr H. V. Fulton, Outram ; and 17 (eight studs and nine flocks), from the 2vew Zealand and Australian Land Company, Levels, South Canterbury. An ex-Wellington resident, Mr Edgar Eberle, had a desperate encounter with an armed house-breaker at Sydnev one day during Christinas week. Mrs Eberle was out for the day, and he was at homo working in the garden. On going into the house on one occasion he discovered th.it it had been broken into, a discovery which was quickly succeeded by a struggle with the daring intruder, who was making off with some £SO worth of jewellery. Mr Eberle, according to the Sydney correspon-

dont, of the. Melbourne Age, clung desperately to the thief, and they rolled over ami over on the ground. Finding escape from Mr Kberle's grip impossible, the .lueventually manned to draw a. revolver and threatened to shoot unless released. My Kberle made it. grab for the weapon but missing it. thought, discretion the better part of valor, .and, loosing ln.s ho Id. stoml covered with the revolver while the tlii.-t backed out of the yard and escaped The results of the Dominican College scholarships are to. kind. The Bishop s scholarship was won by Miss Millie Mellick, North-Fast Valley, who scored the highest number of marks, and the nuns scholarship falls to Miss Bridget Wright, St Joseph's School, Oama.ru, whose marks placed her second in the order of merit. ■ The opening up of Siberia by the new railway was expected to place another formidable candidate in the field for the British butter trade (says The Field). -It was foreseen that the limitless country topped bv the great railway system connecting Europe with the East was capable of wonderful agricultural development, and that butter-making was one of the most likely pursuits to flourish in that region. These predictions seem to have been well founded, for the British Consul at Riga speaks of an extraordinary growth in the'butter production in. Russia, and the planning of schemes for the exportation of the surplus supplies to London. The Siberian butter traffic, therefore, may be regarded as only in its infancy. In the meantime, it would be advisable, to keep a strict watch upon the' imports from this quarter, as the conditions under which the butter is produced are described as, at least, not above reproach. It would obviously lie unfair to the home producer as well as detrimental to the consumer, to admit and sanction the sale of an article made under conditions prohibited in this country. and which are prejudicial to the purity and wholesomeness of the butter. A scar from a burn or scald is often dreaded more than the pain that is inflicted. Chamberlain's Pain Balm heals the injured part in less time than any other treatment, and unless the treatment is a severe one, no scar will be left. One application gives relief. Try it. G. M. Procter, chemist, sells it.

HAMPDEN—MR SWINDLEY, Resident Dentist,- will visit Hampden on Thursday next, Bth inst., and may Ixi consulted at Mrs Horner's Hotel. We are now showing a largft variety of New Season's Goods. One line we excel in, and that is Ladies' and Girls' Hats for summer wear. We have a magnificent assortment in all the newest shapes, and are selling fast. Our Trimmed Hats and Bonnets cannot be beaten for neatness and good taste, and the prices are always the very lowest. We have a full range of Ladies' Corsets. We keep only the best wearing and best fitting makes. We have just opened up a special line of Cotton Delaines. Splendid goods, worth 8d per yard; we will sell them at 4Jd per yard. Our Prints are noted for cheapness and fastness of color. We have them at 4£d, s£d. 6£d, 7id up, and our Mercerized Sateens, Lawns, and Cambrics are of beautiful designs and colors, from 73 d to Is 6d per yard. At L. 11. TEMPERO'S London House Unusual interest is taken in the great auction sale of drapery and clothing now in progress at PENROSE'S Drapery Establishment. People call to mind the way this firm conducted their auction sale last year. Their memory has not failed them. They were told then that every item offered would be without reserve of any kind. It was true of the last sale. It's to be a genuine clearing sale under the direction of Mr Peter Williams, ■ auctioneer. Dates of future sales will be duly announced. Ib the meantime all goods will be sold at auction prices. We sell dresses, silks, millinery, jackets, mantles, skirts, aprons, sheetings, towels, quilts, curtains, men's and boys' suits machintoshes, etc., etc., PENROSE'S DRAPERY ESTABLISHMENTPeter Williams, auctioneer. At this week's sales 200 pairs' White Blankets will be offered to. the highest bidder.