OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9139, 11 June 1891, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

NEWS, GOSSIP, AND ADS.

Parliament opens to-day. The Wanganui meat freezing works were formally started yesterday.

Dr M'Kellar, of AacklauS, defeated Mr F. E. Baume, solicitor, in the contest to represent graduates on the Auckland University Council by 14 votes. There was quite a rash in Christchurch yesterday to book seats for the Fatey concerts, a large crowd collecting an hour before the booking office "was opened.

An Amateur Athletio Club is being formed in Waoganui, and some 70 members have been already enrolled. Miss Gifford, of Oamaru, was presented, on the anniversary of her birthday, with an address and a parse of sovereigus by the St. Jake's Guild in recognition of long services.

Idea. —This word has borne very distinct meanings in the history of philosophy. Locke stated that he adopted the word to stand for "whateveris the object of the understanding when a man thinks." The object of the understandings of most thinking people just now is the super excellence of Catto's whisky. • A rare stamp—probably the rarest iv the world—has just been sold by Mr J. W. Palmer, of 281 Strad, for tbe extraordinary sum of £250. It is an American stamp, issued at Brattleborough in 1846. The original price of the stamp was five cents. An opulent tradesman, a bachelor, whose death has taken place at Hamburg, has left a legacy of 12.0U0 marks to a widow. Shortly before he died he penned a letter to the lady, whioh wss to be delivered to her with the legacy. The letter ran: —" Some 30 years ago I was a suitor for your hand in marriage. You refused my offer. As a consequence my days havo passed in peace and quietness; and now I requito your goodness." Captain William Jackson Barry is still experiencing the ups and downs of life. At Waipawa no one turned up to hie lecture. But our veteran appears flush of cash, for negotiations are going on for a match between himself and a Wanganui veteran (Mr John Walker), for £100 a side, as to which can run 100 yds in the briefest time.

At yesterday's meeting of tho University Council Mr Stanford gave notice that he would move at next meeting—" That a sum of £69 ba devoted to making a tennis court in place of the one taken by the council for building a mining school."

A strange story is told by the Maoris of the pair of Otaki Natives who were recently committed to the Wellington Lunatic Asylum. When tho Maori prophet, who has been travelling down the Manawatu line living on the credulity of the Natives, was at Otaki (says an exchange), these two Maoris jeered and sneered at bim, aad he impressively said to them they would be punished for their unbelief by beiDg made mad; A few days af tpr his prediction waa verified. " Lebean "Cbamp.ixne, a inprrlor dry wine.