MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8112, 22 February 1888, Page 5 (Supplement)

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Mount Jdn. Chronicle mentions as an on dit that a well-known Otago runholdcr, the brother of a lending Dnncilin solicitor, recently invested £500 in Broken Hill share?, which are now worth over £30,000 to him.

oil S[irin(js, states that from v.hit he could gather,'■'a large i;umbui'of iniatabii have b'i(;i nude and money wasted. Even tho men \vhp came from the oil region in America were entirely at a loss as to tho mast economical method to adopt to contend with the dillicuHirs tlint had to ba encountered, the condition nf thiegs U'lr.fi eqliieij difTeraut form that which they had b6-'u' accuitooie;! tj. Bui nißa >uo

now getting educated with respect to putting down tojes, r\nd the work progresses with n far gicater certainty tliP.ii it ilid jn former •years. As to tht width n:id e^lont of tha oil belf, it is at th 3 present time purely a conjecture, but no doubt now th;;C oil has U»«n struck a numbur of bores in different localities will be put down, and more especially icwm ha (rieed tin step by step by the South IVeiiw Company from U;oir piei-eiii. iioru hole, u-nich will (jivn more definite information on the subject. No doubt breaks will be found In tha

country, which may interfere to a large extent with the supply of oil, but us the oil belt gets developed, difficulties which now .'•land in the \;r.y wii' vanish, and more capital will be embarked in the imiustyy. Judging from what I have seen, I think the supply of 6i! will develop into an important industry, bat it will ta!:e a fo-.v years before this will be fully established."

We leain from Sir William H.rown (the hon secretary of the Burns Statue Committee') that tho eti'ort whioh is being made to clour olf the debt o;i the status is meeting with hearty response. £'J0 of tile amount necessary has been subscribed, aud a letter has been received from i thij Hon. Thomas Fergus stating that ha will give £5, and that he eau collect another £5 if (he bahrioe is raised soon. As only Xi]7 ' 3 Ilow required, it should not iake long io do this. The following is an exact copy ot a leller which was '< put in " a 5 evidence in a case at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday:—" Dear Freud I hope that you Are unite Well ] stint you word liy Mr -'s Sun iv Law ilut I han't Now wether tuld you A liout tha Dog That I have l'ur you For I now that c will suite you Well .1 is A Cue i'oiuk-r ami will stand to is Came And a (inn worker X will oarr«-y A hear 8 miles if you want him And he is A Kirn: euler not A Wite earc on him and E will Win Tha First I'rijro if 15 put in and you should have him at you one Price As I have Ciot io hold to choot oney mor So c will lie my last Dog For I have quite Dun with So pleso To Send inoe \Ym\l wen I should Bring im in as 1 ham ooruing To the Hospitle For Medson and I know that you Well Like him and your one Price and if you Want him kept till shooting; se.son comes in 1 will keep im For one shilling A weak. Plese to Kiiibt this Weak yours Truley." The defendant io whom ibis letter wns sent gave ft totally different version of the capabilities of the. dog. He averted that it was of'little value because it " ivorked wide," and when he was a;-kud how vide, ho replied, " Oh, about a quarter of a mile ! In fact, very often you <,ou!di:'l see him at nil." A warning to those who take up volunteering as thi: plaything of the hour was administered iiy the If il. at Wellington, where Henry Kaj> mond, a member of tho Te Aro Hide Corpa, was charged with being a noii-eflicient mapjber of his corpi, to the extent thr.t he had nut attcudoci s sufaoicnt number of drill?, and thereby caused a less cf £:s capitation allowance to his c.i:;ij)'iiiv, mid ordered to pay the amount and con!:!. The defence was that Raymond had removed to Petone, but as it was shown he had the option of drilling with the naval i there, th--With a vie\y to being placed in the newlyestablbhed honours division, 11 boys from the Otago High School attempted the junior Bolio'larrliip examination of tho New Zealand University, and all were successful. Stuart wins a scholarship ; Wares is at the head of the honours division ; the others in order of merit are—Siedebcrp, fourth; J'atcrson, sixth; Hunter, tenth; I'ulhrtosi, oightuuntu; IJddci!, hventv-sixth; Campbell, thirty-first,; .lohi> s'one, thirty-eighth ; Ciibson, forty-third ; I'.iche, forty-sixth. The following have passed the matriculation direct from school:—M'Adnm, Inder, W. Anderson, Couttt, li.-rett, Waters, C. Adam.-, Fitzgerald, 1). Burr, Dickie, «. P. Allen, Stephens, Matheson, t;. S. Smith, Court, G. .Miller. In the published list T. (.WIN, DunI'diu, shoMld bo T. Courts mid I). J. liutt, Dunedin, should be 1). J. Burr, Dunedin. The total number of candidates for dl the entrance examinations is about S4O. In iSKj tho number for matriculation alone was 130 ; 'in I $87, for matriculation alone the number was 270— an increase of 100 per cent, in live years. These figures will illustrate the growing dilliculty in attaining distinction by competition, and will fortify considerations advanced in support of an increase in the number of the junior university sohclurships. The total pass in tl]« matriculation examination' for ISS7 seems to be I'll, hence over 100 candidates linyc been rejected. These figures aro given with th« reserve that they are not oiiicml, but are the moat accurate immediately i;Ur.ii:able, The fourth aununl report of the Wellington Meat Preserving Company shows a loss on the year's operation of £3053. It is intended to bring three resolutions before tho shareholders: (1) To ceutndise the business ; (2) to confine the business to ordinary butchering; uud (M) to liquidate the comp my. At a meeting of tho Hospital ami Charitable Aid Jioard, Auckland, Dr Lindsay wrote drawing attention to a caso of a lad of 13, who had been admitted to tho hospital with his arm mangled through its having been caught in n machine which ho was walking at tho Fibre Company's mill. The lad was too young to be at work, and the doctor urged that some inquiry should be made into the question of the employment of such children in factories, and the danger incurred by them iv working machinery. Dr Lindsay said that the cartridge factory at Mount Eden furnished the hospital with a large number of patients, who were with few exceptions little girls of 12 or 13 years of ago; their injuries being rs a rule crushed fingers and thumbs, won,ids sustained in working machinery for the manufacture of cartridges, and amputation hud in some cases to be resorted to. The board decided to refer the matter to the inspector of police. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the President's report showed a decrease in imports and an increase in exports. The increase in the case of wool U very marked, being 2-1,000,0001 b, or over 20 por cent, on the period of live years, although by a decline m price, ihe increase in value is only 10 per cent. The export of meats has risen from £211,302 in ISS3 to £552,815 last year. As a contributory cause to the depressiou that has hung over the colony, tho decrease in the exports of creals, flour, &o. has largely assisted. Tho valuo in 18S7 was less by £907,317 than in 1883.

The vital statistics for the past month are as follow :—Births, 133; deaths, 50; marriages, 37. For the corresponding month of 18S7 they were: Births, 111; deaths, 50; marriages, 31. It is a somewhat remarkable coincidence thiifc there hi'.ve been e.xaotly 50 deaths dining the month of January for three years past. There ti in the last number of " Hansard" for last session a somewhat singular record of the sad fatality by which Mr George Adams, one of the " Hansard" staff, met his death. Under tho heading "Australian, and New Zealand cable" Major Atkinson commences a statement as follows:—"I have also to make a statement in connection with this question ; " and then follows in brackets;—" The reporter who had tho notes of this statement was unfortunately killed by a fall before he had written them out." The hatching of tho ostrich eggs at Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co.'s ostrich farm, Whitefonl Park, Auckland, by the incubators, has been an unqualified success. Qn the 25th ult. sU young ostriches about twice the size of goslings first saw tho light of day, and under the management of Mr Victor Nissen the incubators aro expected to largely add to the present number of young birds during the next week or two. Applications have been numerously received for pairs, and tho new industry bids fair to take its place as another of Auckland's sources of wealth. Tho adaptability of the climate has been most conclusively demonstrated. The old birds are now well oovfcred with beautiful feathers. An association is being formed in Wanganui to obtain the passing of an aci (1) to stop the further sales of the freehold of Government hinds, and to substitute therefor the perpetual lease system; (2) to give tho pre-emptive right in the purchase of Native lauds to the State. The society is to be non-political.

Notwithstanding the fact that the first synod of tho Hainan Catholic arch-diocese ever held in Mew Zealand, which has jus! been concluded, w.l)-' a short ono (says the New Zealand Times), :i g-ittt deal of very important business' wos transacted. The attendance of prelates from ail parts of the arch-diocese was very large, and their united deliberations are calculated to produce very cogent effects on tho affairs of the Church in New Zealand. The synod formally received the acts of the Plenary Council held at Sydney in 1885, and which have been confirmed by bis Holiness the Pope. A new rule wts made that in future the acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity be read from tho altar before Mass in every church in the aroh-diocese on all Sundays and holy days, as is the custom iv Ireland. The following rev. gentlemen were constituted a Council of Advice by his Grace the j Archbishop, and in cousideration thereof are ! elevated to tbe dignity of " Very Reverend" :— j Father M'Namara, S.M.V.G. ; Dr Walters, St. I Patrick's College; Revs. Fathers Walsh (Westport), Mahoney (Nelson), ftjulvihill (Hawera), Kirk (Wa.ngar.yti). Dr Watters and the Rev. tViUiovs Otrogan (Napier) and Aha.irn (Waipawa) have been appointed a Board of Examiners to preparo tho papers for candidates for ordination. The various decrees of the synod will be published in due course. A meeting of. gentlemen favourable !o the establishment of distilleries in New Zealand was held in Milton (says the Bruce Herald) on tho evenjng qf tbe Hist ulfc., Mr Q. IJoster in the chair. 1%. statement wao laid before the meeting showing Hint the net value of spirits for human consumption imported during ISBO was iIC 1,130, and the duty paid thereon £311,830. Other spirits used in the industrial arts made uo the total net value to £173,075, nud thu duty to £340,534. It was suggested that if instead of charging 14s Gd pjr gallon d'.'ty on imported spirits as at present

the tariff were raised to 10s, and an excise duty

of ICj levied on spirits mt>ni',factured in the ooio'ny, tho revenue' woul-.t not liuiter until the local product exceeded half the whole consumption, an event not likely'to take place for years t.) coma. The same principle would work with

a'.iy or h-scor smii—wjiatyvcr i< ajlov.'ed to lll'a local diGt'lHerpsiiig added to tbe Imported article. An influential local committee will shortly be formed, and iv the meantimo communication is to \/n P'.f.ilo witb thf, 'various agric'itiraral societies null others in Otago and Canterbury asking their co-op.'.ration.'

The balonco sheet of the Auckland Savjugs Bank, for tli" past year shawe* surprising results Cdiiiliiei'lug thu dullness of trade. The increase of deposits was £56,730, the total at credit of depositors £-138,530. The nyeroje aecc^nt of uvo-tbjri|s at the devmsitcrs is X.'f!. Largo sums have b,aen repeatedly refr,sod by the trustees fror,] persons desirous of availing themselves of the Intufesc alinwed by the bank, 'i'ho number of female depositors shows an inoreaae. Tho penny bank has a credit of £-1970 to youthful depositors,

Is is announced that tho directors of the Bay of Islands Coal Company resom? meud s dividend cj b pet ce;it.; tho t\rst Fcr a long time.

During last year 19,7-18 sheep were frozen at tise Southland frozen meat works and exported from the Bluff. If the works hud been fully Grr.plovcfl good returns might have been cxpeotc.l, as a net profit of £218 was made for five month-' actual operations. Another shipment is now being got ready for the s.s. Sclmnbria, which calls here at tho civ1. oF the i.iaiivL.

"'At the United Methodist meeting held at Ohrietehurch, the following resolution was passed concerning the Australian district: —"That we hereby reassert our convictions as expressed in resolution at the list district meeting, and will gladly co-operate with our Australian brethren in every practicable way." A resolution was also passed to protect trust properties in New

iriir.i being .iolii without lirst receiving the authority of the district meeting. The following is the final draft of stations;—Addington, Rev. J. Parker; Auckland, Hey. F. U. Dutton; Ohristtihuroh, Hey. 11. B. Redstone; Napiorand Wair/era, Rev. J. Edwards and one t» be scut; Oxford, local arrangements, Rev. SI. Baxter nnd Rev. J, J. J'endray, supernumeraries; Hungiora', Rev. A. Peters; Koufton, Rev. J. Worboys; Richmond, local arrangement; fie/. S. MaciarUne supcrnuti.aai-y, Wellington, Rev. C. Venny; VVestport, Key, Ei. 0. Perry; Woodville, Rev. J. Wriglcy.

At the Stale banquet in Sydney, Sir William Fitzherbert, SpeaL-er of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, in replying to. the toast of "The i|jst!ii(ji;lsiici't visitor.-," .said:—"As a (joloni-it of nearly 50 year.-,' standing in the colony that I have the honour to represent, I am sure that I tan confidently speak the sentiments of my fellow-colonists r.uii assure you, in delivering the message from the men and women of New Zr<:-.!iiml to you, their brothers and sisters in this, the oldest colony of Australasia, that they desire to otfer youtheir MiiciTO congratulation:; and their heartfelt sympathy on this great occasion. Nor can it he wondered nt that they should so feel because this ancient colony, comparatively speaking, of this new world, has c-vcr manifested to the people of New Zealand in their troubles, and when they wanted assistance and sympathy, thin greatest, and heartiest, and the most practical aid. It is not out of place to mention thui: .some 40 year* ago, in response to !v Setter sent from a humble- sottk-r liko myself and another sel-tler who has joined the majority, addressed to the Governor of this colony, stating the iHilicuHy in which we were, and asking for assistance, a troopship with a company of 100 "yMiers was sent to our aiu, anil arrived most opportunely. And it was the same good fneling and true sympathy that this groat colony has shown year after year wLieh not so long ago induced her to sond" toihe Soudan a contingent, the doing of which orcat.-:d n. thrill of sympathy throughout the whole British Empire—(cheers)— and I b.'libve from what I have heard of it, and

all the great men hero to-day talking of and enjoying one glorious union of the colonies with each other, and of the colonies with the empire mul mother country, that the great colony cf Xew South has created si greater ert'ect in CGiiti'ihritiiig to the promotion of such a grand patriotic idea thun anything ever did before."

The garden party at the Hon. K. Oliver's residence, Tolcarne, Jlaori Iliil, in aid of the Convalescent Fund produced the very gratifying sum of £50 3s net for the fund.

Girls are coming to the front, if we may judge from the junior goholar.~b.ip anil honours list of tho N.:w Z-.-nland University. OF the 59 competitors who have been placed, 40 are boys and 10 girls. If this represents anything like the proportion of boys and girls who went up for examination, the girls seem -to have numbered about 33 par cent.; and it is creditable to them that they should have carried off 50 per cent, of the scholarships—that is, four out of the eight open to tht: f-eliools of the colon}'. Qf the 10 girls who have a place on the honours list, seven are from (he Qtago Girls' High School—all the candidates who attempted tin: examination from this school having obtained good places on the list. Two girls from this school, Marion White and Catherine Hess, have won respectively the third and lifth scholarships; whilst Barbara Watt, another pupil of thu school, stands third on the li-t of those who, failing to win scholarships, have yet obtained more than 1500 marks. The other Dunuiliu girls whoso nf.mi>s appear in the honour Mat are I'iorenco Muir, Elizabeth (iulliitly, Jane Kinder, and Jane M'Nab. Marion White, \ho winner of the third scholarship, reocived her primary school education in the Milton District High School. At this school shu obtained a board scholarship, which carried her on to the Otago Girls' High School, where she has studied for the last two years. Catherine. Mosa has boon for six years a pupil in tho Girls' High School, and v/iis also the holder of board scholarships— first a junior, which she gained from the Normal School, mid then a senior, gained from the Girls' High School. The other two scholarships won by girls, the second and seventh, go respectively to Christchurch and Nelson. Of the girls whoso names stand on the honour list, seven are from Dunodin, seven from Auckland, three from Cbristchurcb, one from Nelson, and one from tho Thames. The competition for these scholarships becomes keener every year, and it seems a pity that there are not more of them. Seeing that in the district of Otaj;o alone the Education Board has this year awarded 18 scholarships, each worth (should the parents of tha winner reside in the country) nearly £50, it seems a curious anomaly that the junior University scholarships for the whole colony should be only eight in number and of a smaller value than an Education Board scholarship.

It is said that since the beginning of the year 400,000 acics of busli have beer, destroyed by fire in tho Mercury Bay district (Auckland), through the gumdigghrs desiring to get the ground cleared to get at the Rum. One bush, which contained IS,UOO,OOOft of timber, has been rendered practically worthless by the tire- running through it. In getting the timber out some £2U0,000 would have been expended in labour; whereas all tho gum which will be obtained through " killing the goose " will not total .over £0000. Some of the settlers say that it would be far hotter to give the l'uhipuhi forest as an endowment for the construction of the Kamo-Kawakawa railway rather than it should perish, as it probably will, by tho medium of tho gumiligger's tirestick.

In response to a telegram foiwarded by Mr H. S. Valentine, M H.lt, to the chairman of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce congratulating him on the action the chamber has taken with reference to the proposed issue of a loan iv (he colony, Mr A. 11. Nathan has replied thanking him and stating tbat the object of tho loan is engaging the attention of the council. Mr Valentino horns that the Christchurch and Dunedin chau hers will also take up the matter and urge the Government iv the same direction.

New Zealand war medals have been issued to the following:—Trooper Robt. Thellwill, Poverty Hay Mounted Rifles; Bugler James Fpence, Hawke's toy Military Settlers; Private Bolan.l Keate, Bradford, Colonial Defence Force; Constable Marshall Mulhollay, A.C. ; Sergeant John Cope, Militia; Private Daniel Jack Burrowes, Taranaki Rifle Volunteers; Private Thos. Henry Anderson, No. 3 Company Auckland lliile Volunteers; Private Thus. vVooster, No. 2 Company and Waikato Regiment.

The gross receipts on tho New Zealand railways for the 10 months which ended on the 31st ult. exceeded those for the corresponding period of last year by £15,000, while the expenditure was less by £f>OOQ; consequently tho not profit bus boon greater by £20,000. Most of the lines (.how a fair improvement, notably tho HurunuiBluft (the mileage of which has now increased to 1013), but on the Pioton-Blenhcim line the working expenses for 10 months swallowed up all the receipts and nearly £-100 besides.

At nearly rdl the annual church meetings of the various denominations in Auckland the clergymen have had their salaries reduced in response to the appeal for retrenchment.

The Christ-church Press give as oh dit that Mr G. Hutchison, M.H.U., has handml to the Hon. John Bryce a bill for between £700 and £800, as costs in the- receut election petition.