SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5325, 14 March 1879, Page 2

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL. Sir Herculfs Robinson, the new Gove:nor o New Zealand, will leave Sydney in H.M.S. Emerald on the 19th inst. The election for Auckland City West resulted in the return of Mr D. Goliie by a majirity of 515 over his opponent, Mr J. Dignan. Mr Goldie is a strong secularist in educational matters, while his opponent was supported by the deDomioationalist party. Miss Jane Blacklay, who has been connected with the Albany street School about four years as a pupil teacher, but has lately entered the Normal School as a student, was last week presented with a cabinet and a volume of Longfellow's Poems by her former fellowteachers. The presentation was made by Mr J. L. Ferguson, the head master of the school, on behalf of the subscribers. The polling for the election of members of the West Taieri Board of Conservators took place on Saturday, at Outram. The following gentlemen were elected members of the Board for the ensuing year:—Messrs Peter Grant, James Shand, James Allan, David Grant, John Dow, William Snow, and William H. Cox. Mr Thomas Richardson acted as Returning Officer. MASONIC. At the regular monthly meeting of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge, No. 417, S.C., held at the Maaoric Hall on Thursday evening, the 13th Feb., R. W. M. Bro. Louis Court presented P. M. Bro. Edward Goldstein, on behalf of the Lodge, ■with a handsome illuminated testimonial, in recognition of his energy and zeal in the cause of Freemasonry, and congratulated him on the

flourishing condition the Lodge had attained during his occupancy of the Masters chair. The interesting ceremony took place in the prenence of a great number of the brethren and visitor?. ! EELIGIOUS. Bishop Moran in his Lenten Pastoral says :— "Having spoken and written so frequently and distinctly on the Education question, it is not now necessary for us to write many_words on the subject. You know your duty in this matter, and we are happy to be able to testify that you have bravely and nobly done it. It only remains for us, then, to exhort you to persevere and to be prepared to make in the future, if necessary, even greater sacrifices than you have hitherto made. The faith of your children, your own salvation, are at Btake. Secularism is determined, if you permit it, to destroy Christianity, make men forget or ignore God and their own eternal destiny. Ita object is the unchristianiaing of the world, and the reintroduction of Paganism. Be not deceived by the sophistry and hypocritical professions of its advocates. We are bound to be Christians and Catholics above and before all other things, and we should never forget the words of our Divine Redeemer, 'He that is not with me is against me.' All Government schools in these dioceses are godless and hostile to the Catholic Church. Catholic 3 cannot frequent them without exposing themselves to grievous dangers to their faith and morals. Of these schools, therefore, Catholics cannot avail themselves, except in cases of very great necessity, and when — such necessity being supposed—every possible precaution is taken to ward off all dangers to faith and morals. Parents and guardians should bear in mind that they are responsible for the children under their charge, and often reflect on these words of the Apostle: 'He that neglects his own, particularly those of his own household, has lost the faith and has become worse than an infidel;' and again on these words of our Divine Master: ' What will it avail a man to gain the whole world if he lose his own soul, or what will a man give in exchange for his soul ?' We therefor© most ear- j nestly exhort all to exert themselves to establish and maintain efficient Catholic schools wherever it is poasible to do so; and we call upon the clergy—who, indeed, have not been wanting in this matter—to eiert themselves with the greatest zeal and perseverance in the great cause of Catholic education. Nothing but Catho'io education can save the rising generation from the baneful influence of the infidel systems of education so characteristic of this century an:l so fashionable in this Colony." Mr Varley, who ha* been in DuneJin for fully a month, brought his evangelistic mission to a conclusion by a farewell meeting in new Knox Church on 4th inst., when a very large audience was present, amongst whom were many clergymen. A large number of friends accompanied Mr Varley to the platform. The Rev. Mr Blake opened the meeting with prayer. Short addresses were given by the Rev. J. Kirkland, Mr D. Wright, Rev. Edwaid Walker, Mr Brunton, and Mr luues. Mr Varley, in a few kindly words, proposed a formal vote of thanks to the Rev. Dr Stuart for the use of his beautiful church, and to the choir for their hearty and valuable assistance, both of which were carried unanimously. Mr Varley then delivered an address on '' The Unsearchable Riches of Christ," as recorded in the Hebrews. An innovation in the form cf receiving the Communion was adopted by the Rev. C. J. Byng at St. Matthew's Church recently. Contrary to all recognised procedure, the Com-1 munion was celebrated after the evening service. The rev. gentleman announced on the previous Sunday his intention of makicg a change to this effect, and stated as his reasons that from Biblical testimony he found that our Lord always communicated in the evening, and that in the ordinances of the Church, as he read them, there was nothing to prohibit him from following that couras. As a number of his parishioners, who were communicants, were precluded from attending at the morning service, he thought he ought to study their convenience, and thus obtain a greater number at Communion. The Rev. Dr Stuart has, we are pleased to say, almost completely recovered from the effects of hin recent accident. The Rev. James Baird, wLo ha* laboured as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Hampden for seven years, is about to receive a call to she congregation at Winton, Southland. The Rev. T. E. Ash has resigned the incutn bency of the Episcopalian Church at Riverton. He goes to Queenstown and Cryde. The Kaikorai Preebyttrian congregation, at a meeting recently, unanimously resolved in favour of a fill to the Rev. Mr Sutherland. Messrs Hepburn, Thomson, and Watson were appointed cwninisHc.ners tj represent the congregation in the matter of the call at the first meeting of the Duc.edin Presbytery. The annual soiree in connection with the Tokomairiro Presby tetian Church took place on Wednesday, Feb. 12; the Rev. James Chiaholm, minister of the congregation, in the chair. The attendance was largo, and taa and eatables were liberally supplied by the ladies who presided at the tables. Mr J. E. Brown drew attention, in a few remarks, to the printed financial state, ment, from which it appeared that the income for the year amounted to L 712 18s, and the expenditure to L6BB 18a. Interesting speeches were given by the Revs. Borrie, Cowie, Hamil ton (Victoria), and Allan. The choir did good service by their admirable rendering of several jubilee hymns, &c. A very pleasing event occurred during the evening, in the shape of the presentation of a gold watch and massive albert 1 chain to the minister. Mr Cowie, iv making the presentation, said it was meant to mark the appreciation which the members of the minister's Bible-class of this and former years entertained of his efforts to benefit them and the yoang people of the congregation generally The watch, which was a very handsome 0113, bore the following inscription :—" Presented to the Rev. James Ohisholm, as a token of esteem and affection from his Bible class." At St. Joseph's Church on Sunday, the R£" Rev. Dr Moran announced that the o §et tenderer for the first part of the masonry ws£T in connection with the Roman Catholic Cathedral had declined to go on with the contract, and as the other tenderers would not again compote, it would be necessary to call for tenders for their part of the work, as well as the erection of the walls of the building. He believed that during the next four or tivo months a sufficient amount of money would be received to carry out the contract. On Sunday the anniversary services in North Dunedin Presbyterian Church were conducted by the Rev. J. Pat won, of Wellington, in the forenoon, and by the Rev. Dr Copland, who preached to the young, in the aftsrnooa. In the evening the Rev. J. W. Inglis delivered an inteiesting and powerful discourse to .an audience which filled the building in every part. He mado reference to the interesting nature of the occasion both to the congregation, which now reached its eighth anniversary, and to himself, as this was the last opportunity he would have of preaching to a Dunedin audience before returning to his own work in Australia. The discouise contained many passage3of genuine pathos and eloquence which were highly appreciated. The choir, under their conductor, Mr Macfarlane, did their part well, PUBLIC WORKS. £&,The first section of the Otago Central Railway is now open for tender. It extends from a few chains to the east of the Wingatui railway station, on the Main South line, w Mullocky Gully, a distance of some six miles and three-quarters. The first portion of the line will of course cross the Taieri Plain, and reaching the hills near the property of Donald Reid, Esq., will skirt these till Mullocky Gully is arrived at, in which the present contract will terminate. The works over the first three miles—that is, on the Plain —are light, consisting almost entirely of formation merely. Along the hill foot, however, there is a series of somewhat heavy cuttings and embankments. There will be two bridges on the route over streams. That over the Silverstream will consist of three spans of 60 feet each, and the one over Mill Creek will be of a single span of 20 feet. What may also bo called a bridge occurs at the crossing of the North Taieri main road to Outram. This will be of stone, and will have a 25-feet span to allow traffic to pass below. Between the Plain and Mullocky Gully two tunnels will also be necessary—one at 5.J: miles from Wingatui, of 10 chains in length ; the other, at a little beyond six miles, of 18 chains. No great difficulty is expected to be met with in the formation of these, and it is specified they shall be bricked only a short way from each end. The greatest grades are about 1 in 50, and there are no curves of any extraordinary nature. The contract at present being let is for formation alone. The permanent way will form a separate work. The time for completion is 20 months. With regard to contracts for other sections of the line, nothing is yet definitely settled, but it is to be heped the Government may push on the Department to get further portions under contract as soon as possible. A considerable number of important railway extensions are now open for tender. The construction of the first section of the Otago Central Railway, originally termed the Strath-Taieri Railway, ia now open for tender. For this contract, the Wingatui section, tenders will be received to the 31st March. The work will consist of the formation of the line, commencing at the main line near Mosgiel, and proceeding as far as Mullocky Guily—a distance of 6| miles. A contract is now in progress for the construction of about 11 miles of railway in Southland, being part of the Kiverton and Otautau line. Mr D. Robertson ia the contractor for this section. The survey of the branch line of the Inverpaigill railway, from Edendale to Fortrose, is almost completed, and tenders for its construction will probably be invited shortly. Tenders for the formation of 3 miles 51 chains of the Hokitika-Greymouth contract are due on the 4th of March, and tenders for the formation and permanent way, and the buildings of the Springfield section of the Malvern branch of the Canterbury extension, will close on the 11th of the same month. It has been decided to call for tenders for two sections of the Canterbury interior main line—the first section being from Oxford to Malvern (11 miles), and

the secondjfrom the Raugitikei River toTemuka (about 10 miles). The construction of a second line over the Canterbury Plains has been adopted upon the report of Mr Blair, the engineer for the Middle Island Railways. It was recommended by him as being much preferable to the numerous branch lines which would have been required. The central line will not only he more convenient, but will relieve the main line of a large amount of traffic, and thoroughly open up a very large extent of country which would not otherwise have benefited so largely from the public works. The proposed line will skirt the hills, and will extend a distance^ of about 85 miles, connecting with a branch which joins the main line north ai Christchurch. We have received from the Oamaru Harbour Board their report and statement of accounts for the year ending 31st December last, accompanied by two photographs, one a very large and handsome one, of the works, by Messrs Ferrier and Rock, of Oamaru. The total length iof the breakwater, the report informs us, is 940 feet, the total wharf frontage 1247 feet. The total expenditure on works and charges, I including L 12.468 interest on loans, has been L 159.479 33 lOd, and there was a balance of L 649 18s 3d in the Union Bank of Australia on 3lßt December last. The estimated ordinary expenditure for the current year will be L 9,683, and the estimated revenue from landing and shipping, wharfage charges, and rent 3of reserves, L 11.630; after paying interest on loanß, there will, therefore, be about L2OOO surplus. The imports for the past year included 9671 tons general merchandise, 7552 ions coal, 2174 tons coal for railway use, 3,388,588 feet timber, 10,778 posts and rails, and 900 tons cement for the works. The exports were 400 tons general merchandise, 26,638 tons grain, flour, pollard, bran, and other produce, 11,106 bales wool. 269 tons stone, 76 cattle and horses, 525 sheep, and 527 pigs. The landing and shipping charges are now at 2s per ton for merchandise and grain, and landing charge for coal 3s 3d ton, wool (3d per bale. There have been in all 7925 tons of cement used ia the Harbour works to date from April, 1873. The increase of shipping since 1873, has been from 285 vessels of 29,825 tons, to 451 vessels of 02,841 | tons. The report is a very complete aud i creditable one, and is a model for our own Harbour Board to imitate.in its completeness of information. The city tramways are being rapidly laid | down. A single live is now complete from ! too northern end of Princes street to Knox i Church, and at the present rate of progress a fortnight should see them as far as the Water-ot-Leithatoneeud and the southern town boundary at the other. Two gang* of men rvre at work—one at each end—working towards the north and south respectively. The engines and carriages to work the line are iv tue Bauares, which is expected daily. MINING. The Cromwell Quartz- Mining Company's new machinery at JBendigo was started with considerable ceremony a few days ago. There were a number of Cromwell people present, and the day was held as high holiday in the neighbourhood. The new machinery was named " Matilda," after the young latly who performed the christening ceremony, the daughter of Mr G. W. Goodger, a principal shareholder in the mine. The St. Bathans correspondent of the Mount Ida Chronicle writes : —" Systematic prospecting ia going on at Vinegar Hill flat, and a large area of giound has been proved payable.— Trout ate now being caught in the Mauuherikia, about four miles from here. Several p.ir- | ties have lately been out, meeting with fair success, fish from one to seven pounds having been taken." Of the method adopted of catching trout another correspondent of the same paper says:—" I beliere that these much-thought-of fish can be, and are, secured even without a line. The mode of procedure, I understand, is as follows : The enthusiastic fisherman takes off his boots and socks, turns up his trousers, and having selected a good branchlet or pool off the main stream, with a narrow entrance, he proceeds to frighten the fish up stream till a number betake themselves to the place he wishes. He then blocks up the entrance, steps into the pool, and scoops the nan out, by joining his bauds, on to the bank. I believe this is the most successful way, although, perhaps, not romantic." Mr J. F. Watson has handed us the follow ing telegram for publication: —"Reetton, Monday, February 24th.—The Welcome crushing has resulted in a yield at the rate of six ounces to the ton." Black-damp at tho St. Andrew's coal-mine has put a stop to all present workings (says the Oamaru Mail.) On Feb. 19th Mr Smith put a dog into the pit, but finding that the animal was instantly rendered insensible, he with some difficulty got him out again. On the 21st Mr Smith went in himself, but was forced to come out again at once, after having been knocked down by the "black damp." He states that he did not fully recover fully from its effects for five or six hours, and that had he taken a light in with him it would have caused an instant explosion, which would have wrecked the mine and sacrificed his life. It would appear from this that there is great danger to be apprehended in our coal pits from the use of naked lights, and that choke-damp prevails to a greater or less extent in all our coal deposits. Intelligence from Arrowtown informs us that the Tipperary Company cleaned up on Saturday. The result was 834 ounces of gold from 561 tons of quartz. The Homeward Bound washed up roughly, and 200 tons of quartz yielded 130 outiee3 of gold. It has been proposedat Ross to form aprospectjj tors' association to have some newly-diecovtTcd ground at Evans' Creek (two or tlnve miles tl.is side of tbe Big Waiganui River) thoroughly prospected. Two simples oi gold have been shown ; one obtained by Gough and party, at Lake Tauthe, the other nuggety, and of da>k col"iir—a really gcoi sample obtained by the prospectors at Evans' Creek. John Olseel one of the i-rospectors, has given some particulars of the find. His mites have been working about two months at Evans' Creek, and obtained seven ounc;s of coaive gold during that time, but they had lost three weeks in pr- specting [ the creek apart from where they had got the gold. The ploc3 is about two milts above the Buwen and Okarito road, and the creak runs to the back of Mount Bonar. The creek is a hrge one, and subject to heavy floods. The bottom is slate. 1 hey got gol Jin the gorge. There is four or five feet of stripping. Another mining spurt has begun at tbe Thames. During the latt few days there has been considerable activity in the share mtrket about s me stock.«,'and Moan»tairishave risen to GOs. This is caused by the improved appearances in the slopes in the All Nation's No. 2 reel's, and timo will prove whether another wonderfully rich piece of ground has been come upon. We observel lately that the yield of gold on the West Coast was falling off very materially, not on one spot alone, but over the whole district. It is to be hoped, however, that such will not long continue to be the case. From what we hear it should seem that thcra is a good field for energetic miners north of Westporr. Some prospecting has lately benn done to the northwarvl of Westprrt, on the Pakihis, which lies between Mokihinui and tho Lyell, in the very heart of the mountain range, which, viewed from the seaward, appears to shut out all chance of pioneering further inland. A track from Zala Town, neir the Lyell, to the Halcyon claim, up to the Mokih'inui River, has been known for some time psst, the distance from point to point being an easy day's journey for an average bushman. At no great distance from this track, which follows miin spurs, pakibis have been spott id through the thickly growing timber, and one ot these has lately been the Bcene of prospecting operation?, and the results are said t_) be very good indeed—so much so that a rush ia spoken of, and We3tport quidnuncs are on the alert to gain reliable intelligence. The news has also attracted same notice at the Lyell, where some of the old pioneer gild-seekers assert that there is lots of likely country, which only needs a few blazed tracks to open up good payable ground, which would carry hundreds of miners. When at Zala Town a few mouthy ago, we (West Coast Times) were told by an old miner there, not generally given to "blowing," that at any time if hard up, he could, by going afield with a fortnight's tucker, fossick enough gold between tbe Lyell and Mokihinui to give him a start again. EDUCATIONAL. At a meeting of the Council of the Otago University, held on the 10th inatant, a petition to the Queen, asking for a Royal Charter, was adopted, and will be transmitted to her Majesty through his Excellency the Governor. AGRICULTURAL. The breadth of grain sown this season upon Mr Walter Miller's Roxburgh Estate is 200 acres of wheat and 500 acres of oats. There are 300 acres of turnips, and 1000 acres of fresh land have been broken up. The total area of the freehold ia 20,000 acres, of which 2000 acres have been surface-sown with English grass, and 500 asres laid down. There are at present 12,000 sheep, between 500 and COO head ot cattle, and 100 horses. Notwithstanding the bad winter the lambing yielded 80 per cent. We hear that owing to the losv price of wheat, many of the large estate owners are giving up the cultivation of that grain, Mr James Smith, of Greenfield, does not consider it worth growing unless it will bring 43 6d per bushel. The Clutha River having been in a bad state this season, none of last year's crop could be shipped by steamer; consequently from 40,000 to 50,000 bushels of wheat were sent to Tokomairiro, by team, at an expense of 6d per bushel. Within the last 12 months 25,000 bushels of oats were eaten on the place, 130 draught horses having been fed. Mr Smith has this Beason 2000 acres of turnips, 150 acres of wheat, and 600 acres of oats, for use on the estate. He is now eating down 1000 acres of wheat with sheep. One hundred and thirty acres of rye-grass have just been cut, which have yielded 50 bushels of seed to the acre. Altogether there are 5000 acres under crop and 7000 acres in English grass—about one-half of the estate. He expects to break up 3000 acres this winter. There are 42,000 sheep and 600 cattle. Messrs Begg Brothers, of the Hillend Estate, have 700 to 800 acres of wheat, ■ 4000 to 5000 acres of oats, and a quantity of turnips. The New Zealand and Australian

Land Gmpwy have, upon the Clydevale Estate, 12,000 to 14,000 acrea of wheat, 600 to 700 acres of oats, and 1500 acres of turnii s. The New Zealand Times says:—" In recent cablegrams it was announced that the prospectus of a ' New Zealand Agricultural Company,' with a capital of L 1,000,000 Bterlirig, had been issued in London. The new company, with its large capital, haa not originated through any commercial disaster, but is an en terprise for 'purchasing, improving, managing, and dealing with pastoral and other properties in the Colony, and creating settlements thereon.' The company ia one which it was generally understood was to be floated by Mr Larnach when he left for England, more than a year ago, but it was then scarcely thought that it would assume the large dimensions that it now appears to have done. Several large landowners in Otago and Southland have apparently agreed to ' throw in ' their properties together with the runs owned by Mr Larnach, and thus flout a gigantic land company, with its head-quarters in London. The properties to be taken over are, we believe, certain freehold and leasehold estates, as f0110w5:—167,769 acres of freehold, partly under cultivation and improved; 141,675 acres leasehold, subject to very low rentals. The stock comprises 167,500 sheep, 112 head of cattle, and 85 horses. For these properties and stock the owners have agreed to accept the sum of L 1,070,000, which is equal to about L 6 7s 6d per acre for the freehold, with the leaseholds and improvements given in. One of the objects of the new company is gradually to break up some of the estates into farms ranging from 200 to 1000 acres each in extent, and to vigorously cultivate the agricultural portions of the estate which may be retained on behalf of the shareholders. The scheme has evidantly been carefully considered by the vendors, but whether English capitalists will readily yield to the solicitation to send another million of money to New Zealand upon the terms and conditions set forth in the prospectus remains to be seen." The Opotiki correspondent of the Bay of Plenty Times supplies the following interesting particulars re tobacco growing in that district: —"A speculation which will work a, great change in our local markets presents every appearance of success. I refer to the tobacco crop planted by Mr E. W. Gotch, which he also intends to manufacture here. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr Gotch for the determination and perseverance he has evinced in his attempts to establish this industry in the Bay of Plenty. Having a thorough experience in the growth and culture, as well as tho manufacture of the tobacco plant, Mr Gotch became convinced, from personal observation, that the Bay of Plenty possessed the most favourable soil and climate of any part of New Zealand for the purpose, and he accordingly purchased some land at Ohiwa, and planted a small crop, relying upon the natives fir obtainiug larger quantities, to whom he offered every induce ment to plant the tarore (a native tobacco) more extensively, even undertaking to supply them with seed, and instruct them in the proper method of cultivation. The natives did not, however, keep to their promises, and, finding all his efforts fruitless, Mr Gotch then removed to Opotiki, where he has planted a handsome crop, which is thriving and healthy beyond expectation. Mr Gotch intends manufacturing the whole this year, and if he turns out as good an article as some which he made at Ohiwa, and which was fairly tested here, he will have no difficulty in entirely superseding the use of American tobacco in this part of the country." Tho crops in the Ida Valley and Blacks district are looking well, and a good harvest is px pected. Within tho past four years nearly 7000 acres have been settled on in those districts, in holdings from 100 to 500 acres. The greater portion of the laud is under crop this season. Judging from accounts of the harvest, we may fairly estimate the yields in Southern Canterbury and Otago at little belotv an ordinary average. North of Timaru, however, owing to the prevalence of dry weather, the crops are unusuollv light. Settles in Canterbury, south of Timaru, are hurrying their grain forward, and already, owing to the want of trucks for transportation, it is acsumulating in the goods sheds along the line. The she 1 at St. Andrew's station was nearly full on Saturday last, and it was expected that the sacks of grain would have to be stored under tarpaulins. Last year most of the grain from that district was sent to Lyttelton. This year the greater portion, 80 far, has gone to Timaru. ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. A rather startling railway accident occurrel on 4th inst. on the Southern Trunk line. At about noon the goods-train running from Wingatui to Green Island came into collision with two cattle trucks that had been left projecting on to the main line from the siding at Culverley's gravel-pits. When the trucks were first seen it was impossible to step the train in time to prevent au accident. The trucks were smashed, aud the engine was also considerably damaged. The only person hurt was the guard of the gcoJs-train, who had his face cut. A warder named William Curtis, whilst engaged at the Maitland street^cutting on 28th February, fell down a cliff a height of over 20 feet, and sustained a severe cut on the forehead. He was immediately taken to the Hospital. The North Otago Times has been informed by the police that on Wednesday, the 26th ult,, a child, three years of age, eoii of Mr James Menz'es, of Hakateranzea, was acciden* tally poitoned by drinking carbolic acid out of a bottle that had been left in a bush near his father's hou-e. The acid was used as a sheepwash, and the child becoming possessed of it, drank some of the contents of the bottle. There was no doctor in attendance, the nearest being 45 mile 3 from the place. The child lingered till the 28th, and died. A man named John Patrick Egan met with a serious accident on the night of Feb. 14th, through falling down a trap-way at the Theatre. He was found lying insensible some minutes afterwards, and forthwith taken to the Hospital, where it was ascertained that his spine had been fractured. He is a man ied man. Arnold Collett, tfce railway guard who lately sustained severe injuries while shunting trucks on the railway line at Hillside, died at the Hospital during Thursday, Feb. 13th. The residence of Mr John M'Neil, at Balclutha, was completely destroyed by fire on the 22nd February. Of the furniture, a piano and some chairs only were saved. The presence of fire was first noticed by Mrs M'Neil, who judged from the smell of burning that something was amiss, and awoke her husband, who on going downstairs fount! the kitchen ia flames. The whole building was speedily destroyed. A correspondent telegraphing from Balclutha says : " The very greatest sympathy is felt hero for Mr John M'Neil owing to the loss he has sustained by the recent fire. His loss amounts to L 2500, as he was not insured for a shilling. Mr M'Neil has been burned out of house and home four times during the last seven years." The wife of an accommodation-house keeper named Saul, living near Hawea Flat, committed Buicide by taking poison on Feb. 15th. The husband and wife have been on extremely bad terms for some time. A farmer named Pryde, of Maerewhenua, was burned out on Feb. 15 th. His house was burned down, and little or nothing was saved. There is no information as to how the fire originated. The house was not insured. The wretched muderrer Welsh paid the last penalty of the law, at Invercargill, on Feb. 19 at 7.40 a.m. He expressed himself as having no complaints to make of his treatment, and was attended by Father Higgins in his last moments. We decline to publish the ghastly details sent to us by telegram, as we judge that our readers are not likely to desire such pabulum. We are authoritatively informed that the insurances upon the Union Company's s,b. Taupo, an account of the wreck of which appears in another column, amount in all to L 23,000, Home offices bearing L 13.000, and (Jolouial offices LIO.OOO. The insurances in the latter are as follows : —Colonial, LIOOO ; Union, L 1000; New Zealand, LICOO ; South British, L 200 0; and in Melbourne oflices, LSOOO. The shipwas valued at L 27.000. The Union Company intend abandoning her to the underwriters. Captain Cromarty, who came trom Home in the Taupo as chief officer nearly four years ago, has been iv com'nand of her since Captain Andrew* left, about three months ago. A farmer named Glass, residing at Ida Valley, near Blacks, had about four acres of oats and a reaping-machine destroyed by fire recently. Some few days previously ha fired a Btack of straw, and a strong wind arising on Saturday carried some of the embers into the growing crop. It was only with considerable difficulty the remainder of the paddock was saved. A man named Jacob Jenkins was killed near Duntroon on Feb 15th by a waggon loaded with stone, intended for the bridge at Maerewhenua, passing over him. He was sober when he left Duntroon, but had a bottle of whisky with him. A man named Sprigg met with a serious accident on Feb. 15th near the railway station. He was engaged in unloading some trucks, and got jammed between them and Mr Maude's store. He now lies at tbe Hospital. On Friday, the 21st, a man named J. H. Allen was thrown from his horse at South Dunedin, sustaining severe internal injuries. A fire, resulting in tbe complete destruction of two live-roomed houses, In Howe street, occurred a little after 8 o'clock on Feb. 21st. It commenced ia a house occupied by Mr S. S. HawkiiH, and owned by Mm Deudney, who resides in George street, and was cauisod by tho upsottinjf of a kerosene lamp. Mra Hawking, it appears, was in the house by herself at the timo, and after lighting the lamp ia the kitchen, In attempting to draw out a cloth underneath it, thereby upset it. Tho lire had good hold of tho buildingwhen Constable O'Shea arrived at the pkconbout'2o minutes to nine o'clock, and both llrobells bega ito ring some ten minutoi afterwards. Whon the Fire Brigade from the Central Station arrived the acijo'nii.g house, occupied by Mr Walter 1 and bolongng to a Mr Campbell, of South Dunedin, waj aluo in fl imes, and both tenements were completely gutted before the water could be put on. Not a member of the brigade waa absent. Nearly all the furniture of both houses was saved, and the occupants will not sustain any loss, Mr Hawkins being insured in the Union Company for £100, and Mr Scrivnor for £100 in the Standard. The house belonging to Mrs Deudney was insured in the National Compnny'a office for £260, and Mr Campbell's in the Now Zeuland for £225. A fire occurred shortly after 5 a.m. on the 11th instant, at R'.slyn, by which two shops were burned down. One was that of Mr J.

M'Leod, draper -, the other of Mr Home, i grocer. The fire broke out in the sbop of Mr M'Leod, and spread so rapidly that hardly anything could be fayed from the neighbouring premises. Kegarding the origin very little can be said. AMr Biggar, who rode past about 5 o'clock, states that he saw what appeared to be a kerosene lamp turning, through the blind of the front window, but paid little attention to it, and it was not till he happoned to look ! back from the Octagon that he saw flames had broken out. The inmatei can give veiy little account of the matter, except that they were awakened by the smoke. The buildings were both owned by Mr Home, and were insured in the National Office for a total sum of L3OO. M'Leod'a Btock was insured in the Union Office for L2OO, and Home's in the South British for L4OO. The Old Burton Brewary, at thi extreme end of Castle s(reet, wai to'ally destroyed by fire on 12th instant. The Brewery was in the bands of one of the building societies, and was fully insured. Itwas started by Messrs Godbyßros., and was afterwards owned by the late firm of Godby and Lethahy. The building has been unoccupied for the past 22 months. I A man named Samuel Noble, a carpenter at I Kaijara, hanged himself in his house on Tuesday night. The cause is unknown. A farmer named William Allison, of Tokomairiro, while travelling on hotseback from his j residence to Lovell'sFlat on themorning ot Bth in St., met with what might have been a very serious accident. Whilst riding along the road his horse somehow stumbled and fell in a ditch, the rider being underneath The horse was unable to extricate himself from the position into which it had tumbled, and Allison's feet being in the stirrup-irons and one leg underneath the horse, he was in a dangerous position. Every struggle the horse made was agony to its owner, and there being no one within hail, Allison took out his pocket-knife and cut his horse's throat. After the animal was dead, it was nearly four hours before someone passing was able to relieve him from the weight of the horse. Wonderful to relate, Allison was not at all injured. A serious accident occurred at Kirk's ball •stpit, near Greytown, on the 6th, when a considerable quantity of gravi 1 (suddenly gave way and ft 11 on George Scbriffard, one of the woik men, covering the lower parts of his body. A boy liauiel S^wa't, alter vainly endeavouring to relea>e Schriffard, gave the alarm, and tin men from Mackay's pit adjoining ultitcat-ly got him out, after narrowly escaping them s lvea a second fall that occurrej. Dr M'Brearty, who was eal!el in, found that Schriifurd had two of Lis libs broken and had siutiited severe iuternal injuries. Schriffard has a wife and three young c iil Iran. Last Saturday's express tiain brought from Palm ere ton a man i amed Robert Mercus, who had his leg broken at Moonlight Flar by a kick from a horsj. He took eom9 cuttle «n Friday by (run for Mr James Curie to Paltnerston, and drove them to Moonlight. He was catching a horse on Saturday morning, when the animal suddenly turned round and kickel him, breaking his rightlegbelowthekuee, and bmising his left ankle. He was taken to the Hospital, but his leg was so badly swells:! that the nature of the fracture had cot been ascertained up to last evening. He has a wife and six children at Andtwon's Bay. A Mrs Wood was tiken to the Hospital on Saturday night, having sustained a fracture of the leg i>y a lack from a woman lvsidng in one of Mrs Monson's hi .uses, Great Kiig street There was a dif-pute, it appears, between Mrs Monson and the othtr womin, and Mrs Wood rattrfcrtd. MISCELLANEOUS. The railway employes' picnic at Hamcden on on sth inst. was attended by some 1800 people. A special train left Dunedin at 8.15 a.m. with a large complement of holiday-makers, and again by the ordinary train at 10 o'clock an additional number proceeded. Happily, rain kept i ff, although the day was dull, and the large assemblage were thus enabled to enjoy themselves in a very hearty fashion. The Fpot chosen was an open piece of ground near the railway station, formerly used as a racecourse; and in outdoor sports and games, and other amusements. The time was passed until about 5 p.m., when packing-up began as a preparation for the homeward journey, the train left at half-past 5, and it was after 10 before Dunedin was reached, while a number did not arrive in town till after midnight. Messrs Grant, Armstrong, and Butchart were among the Dunedin visitors. Some 300 persons were present from Oainaru. The single women immigrants by the ship Wellington were open for employment at the Caversham Barracks on the 20th, and the following engagements were effected :—1 at L 36 a year, 1 at L2O, 3 at L3O, 3 at L 25, 6at L 26, 3 at L 22, 2at L2O, 2at L 35, lat L4O. The fol lowing engagements of male farm servants were also effected:—2 at LG9, lat L4O, 2at L 52,1 at L 55, 1 at L 2 per week, lat 30s per week, and 1 at 355. A woollen factory will shortly be established in the Kaikorai Valley by Messrs Ross and Glendining, of Stafford street. The requisite machinery is already on its way to the Colony, and building operations will be commenced without delay. The factory building will be two storeys high, and about 165 feet in length and 123 feet deep. Our correspondent at Mount Benger writes as follows: —" Mr Murray, surveyor, on or about the 21st January last, performed an act which was never known to be done by human being before, or even attempted. The act I refer to was the mounting of the Old Man rock. This rock, which is remarkable for its height and general appearance, is situate on the Old Man Range, and can be seen from a great distance, it 3 height being 53ft., with perpendicular sides for a considerable way up Many times has this Old Man rock cheered the weary digger, sheltering him in turn from the burning sun and from the chilling blast of snow. Mr Harvey, cadet under Mr Murray, was the second person to stand on the famous old rock." The number of letters posted at the Dunedin Post-office on the 14th (St. Valentine's Day) was 7902. A meeting of the Ayrshire Association of Otago was held on the 7'h, the President, Mr John Andrew, in the chair. Arrangements were made for the furtherance of the Society's scholarship, its value being fixed at L 2 _10s, the Society in the meantime guaranteeing the amount. The secretary was instructed to issue subscription lists to natives of the county resident in Otigo. It was decided to hold the annual reunion of the Society on the 22nd March. A lommuriication was received from the Lodgj St. Andrew about forming abianch of the Society, and the secretary was empowered to call a public meeting for furthering that object. The engineer's survey of the bar and Lower Harbour is now completed, and we understand tbat the Chairman of the Board haj given iuttruciions to have Stokes' chart enlarged on tracing-paper to the same scale as that of the chart just prepared by Mr Simpson. Both will be ready within about a weak, and they will then be laid on the table of the public room in the 3-1 arbour Office, the traciog of Stokes' chart being placed over the Board's chart f r comparison by anyone who is desirous of knowing the real facts ofS the case. We are informed that the survey by Mr Simpson has demonstrated that there is no alteration for the won c in the depth of water on the bar, and that within the harbour what was formerly known as the inner bar has totally disjppeared. The fourth annual general meeting of the Perth, Angus, and Mearns Association was held on the evening of tli3 7th in Murray's Temperance Hotel, Rattray btceet, Mr T. Low in the cbair. The Chairman reported the condition of the Association, financially and otherwise, and urged upon members to use their utmost endeavours to procure a3 many new members as possible prior to the annual social gathering, to take place on the sth proximo. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing yea-, viz : —Mr Thomas Low, president; Captain Clark and Mr Ge>rge Muiiro, vicepresidenls; Mr J. H. Kilgour, treasurer; Mr Charles Morrison, local and corresponding secretary; cortnniMee —Messrs James M'Kenzie, Andrew Davidson, James Mann, Peter Stewart, Alexander Gilmour, W. D. Stewart, John M'Larei, Thomas Butchart, James Mollison, D. S. Stewait (Invercargill); John Mill and John Thomson, (Port Chalmers). After several new members had been enrolled, the meeting terminated with a a vote of thanks to the chairman. The growing question of Sunday funerals has, we are informed, been carefully considered by several city and suburban ministers, who met for the purpose. They regard this prac tice as imposing an unnecessary burden on the sextons, undertakers, and others, and as involving a needless and burdensome demand on the ministers, unfitting them in a measure for the evening service. Especial objections are made to parade funerals, on the giound thai they interrupt to a large extent the proper work of the Sunday schools and the quiet of the Sunday. The ministers in question have therefore agreed to decline attending Sunday funeral?l, except when sanitary reasons shall require them to do so. Among the names of the objectors are the Yen. Archdeacon Edwards, the Rev. Drs Stuart, Ro^eby, and Copland, the Rev. Messrs Johnstone, Watt, J. Upton Davis, Lindsay Mackie, F. J. Sotham, A. R. Fitehett, C. J. Byng, Josiah Ward, and J. J. Lewis. We cannpfc hep thinking that there is much reason in the objections, and that the public should support thase gentlemen in their " strike " against unaesessary Sunday work. A portrait of the late Sir John Richardson, in the book-stora of Messw Wise and Co., is attractiug a good deal of attention. It is an enlarged photographic likeneßS, cjlourad in the most artistic and life-like manner by Mrs Maitland, fea. A copy of this fine picture should by all means be obtained for pres-rva-tion in the Athenceum, if not in the Town Hall. ______________ The Customs revenue collected at Lyttelton during February amounted t > L 21,436 93. The City Council on Tuesday passed a motion affirming the desirability of urgtDg the Government to provide a residence for the Governor in or new Dunedin. The Mayor also promised to interview the members for the city on the subject.

OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESS NEWSPAPERS COMPANY (LIMITED.) ——! <» ■ ' ' The first annual meeting of shareholders in the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers Company (Limited) was held in the board-room of the Company's offices onllthinst. The Hon. W. H. Keynolda chairman of directors, presided. The Chairman aaid the directors had [ pleasure in coming before the shareholders with a highly satisfactory balance-sheet. As the shareholders were aware, the capital had been called up at intervals daring tho year ; but as the meeting would perceive on referring to the report, had the whole of the called-up capital been paid at the beginning of the year, the profit would' have shown at the rate of 18% per cent, per annum. On the average amount of the capital for the year, it of course showed a very much larger percentage. He need not make any lengthy remarks, but would simply say that the directors had worked in thorough accord in the promotion of the Company's interests. He would now move the adoption of the report. Captain Fraser said he had much pleasure in 83Conding the motion, which was carried unanimously. On the motion of Captain Fraser, se- I conded by Mr R. Wilson, the retiring board of directors were unanimously reelected. The retiring auditors, Messrs J. S. Webb and Thomas Edwards, were abo re-elected. The Ciiairman said that the dividend for the second half-year would be payable at the Company's offices on and after the 20&h instant. A vote of thanks was passed to the directors, and acknowledged by the Cnairman, and the proceedings then concluded.