SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10311, 19 March 1895, Page 2

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PBBSONAL,

The John Tinline scholarship for English UpgdagQ and literature has been awarded by the Home examiner to Miss Jessie H. Ratherford, University of Otago. '

Mr Henry Clark, who has jn»t been reelected to the Otago Education Board at the top of the poll, occupies quite a unique position in Otago. He is the only member who hag sat continuously sices the formation of-tbe board. Ho is also the only member of the Otago Waste Lands. Board who has sat continuously since that board was established. He has also been a member of tbe Broca County Council, and sat continuously as its chairman sinoa the oM proviuoi».l system was abolished and the county system was inaugurated. . ■ . . ■ - .: I Tho death is announced in Wellington, at the age of 74- yeais, of Mr John M'Kenzie, contractor, an old Otago resident. Born at Nairn, Scotland, the deceased came out to Victoria in the fifties, and pamo to Otatgo when the Gabriel's Gully rash broke, - out. He nfterw&rds proceeded to Havolook, thence to Wellington. *

The Post states that; Mr Hnuna, l»to general manager of the Estates Company, bai been appointed assistant-inspector of tho Bank of Naw Zealand, with a roving commission throughout tbe colony. ■ < Wo learn from tbo Dunstan Times that prior to Mr' U. A, Pyke's departure from this Dunstan district he was presented with a puree of sovereigns byj a number of his friends. When the presentation was made, several speskera allu&ed'm eulogistic terms to the »ble/ manner iniwhjchiMr Pjka-had edited the 'Dupstsn Times during the last three years*: It is understood, Mr Malcolm Bt'Pnerson his. been appointed by the Loan and Mercantile Company general manager in New Zealand iv succession to Mr I. Battley, who recently resigned through failing health. Mr M'Phersoa was a resident of Christchuroh fqr many yean, and favourably known in commercial circles.as a man of ripe experience.. Mr Dodds, inspector of the company, retains his present position, but it is understood will in futnre take up a more important post than heretofore in tbe responsible control- of the oompauy'a New Zealand basinets. . .'•'':■'' .'i

' Dr J. M. Tweed, son-in-law of the late Hon. John Martin, and well-known in racing circle?, died at' Asbburton last month of congestion of the lungs, after two dW illness. ■ =<$

The Rev. H. C. Frere has sent in his resignation of the V/aiUki cure, as he finds he ia physically unable to stand the strain of working so Urge a district. •,'. ■ V . ':• The Oamaru Presbytery have granted the application of ..the Waiareka congregation t» moderate in & call to the, Rev. J. A. Staridting.

The Hon. G. F. Kichardson,. in tbe Wellington Evenipg Post writes : — "The Agont-geneial stated recently ia [London that this colony has a 'nest egg of £800,000 Imperial guaranteed debentures to rely on iv time of need.' Home years ag0'£324,000 of the £800,000. Imperial guaranteed debentures was Sold fo.the Government Post Office Savings Bank, and now forms its best ssset—equal to gold in time of a crisis. This £324,000 is held by the Bank of England in the name of the Postmaster-general in trust for the savings bank, .and therefore cannot be pledged or. re- j girded aa a reserve for any other purpose.' The ! bailee of the dEßOO.OOO—namely, £476,000, is Mio held-by:the Bank.of: J3ngland,but by soc- ; tion 2 of 'ThaPoblio Revenues Act: 1893' Treasury bills are issuable against it to the full face value, and have been issued accordingly. Thus three-eighths of the nest egg is sold, and .five-eighths mortgaged,;and these wretched facts should beC known by, the Agent-general, who is supposed to supply, current information to.the British public," .- : : ■ Attheannnalmeetingpf the Otago Harbour Board.He Hugh .Goorley was unanimously' reelected chairman for the eDsuicgyear. Sayern.l. CQinplimeut»ry speeches were made by membarj, and Mr Gourley, in replying, said :;WeU', gentls-: men, I have only to tb|.nk jou for tbiß renewal; of your confidence, an/1 I can assure you t^at I will do'all I possibly cari to perforqi fbe.dttties so far as my ability-will allow: It is very satisfactory to me to h»ye to state that, while this mouth of last, year pur income, for the month was £3915 14s 2d, this month it i« £4645 7s 2d, or an increase of £72913 a, and the not iuctea.se for the two months pf the present yearns £2300. If our income goes, on increasing at this rate for another 12 months. I: shall:be very, happy to hand over the chairaianship to somebody elae. I will feel quite, satisfied to leave it then ; arid *I hope our revenue will kesp up as well as it ja doing. There is no doubt at all that our revenue haskept up wonderfully well, and the only way' for us to meet our liabilities and pay our way uto curtail expenses as far as possible. It is our duty to keep both the lower and npperharbours ia such a state as will admit of all vessels visiting our port.:. That is out particular duty,. and that is a duty we all admit we ought to do. I carl only thank you, gentlemen,* for the renewal of your confidence. ~ ■;'' .: :.. Dr HttO3sll is appointed' medical sttpfirintendent of the Auckland Lunatic Aeylum, s,nd Dr Levin medical superintendent of' Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, Christcburch. , ' The following officers are appointed to the command of the; newly-formed militia and vdlunteer districts:—Auckland, Lieuti-colonel ForsterGoring; Wellington (includingTaran&ki, WaDg»nui, Wairarapa, Manawatu, aßd the subdistr'ict'pf Hawke's Bay, hitherto known as the Bast Coast district), Liautl-colonel Stewart Newall;. Canterbury distriel; .(including..iNorth Canterbury . and ..the subdistticts of Sovith Canterbury),, Lieut.-colonel , Henryi Gordon; Otago district (including North Ot»go, Oamarn, Dunedin, and, the- subdisfcriot' of Southland),' .X.t,-colonel William H. Web!):; Nelson district (including Nelson, filarlborough, and subdistrict of We^tland), Lieut.-colonel Albert Pltb. '

Sergeant Geerin received information on the 4th..that Mary Pohill Parry, aged about .78 jeara, died suddenly at her residence, Maori Kaik, at 1.30 p.m. oa Sunday. The deceased came to the colony with her husband and settled at the heads many years ago. Tney afterwards visited Australia, but on the discovery of gold hero, they returned, and were for some time in business in the Tuapeka district. Mrs Patrp, through her mother (whose name was Temple), claimed' to be. distantly related to the late Lord Palmerstou. V! 6 (Ohristian Outlook) hear that the' Rev. .Mr Lewis has resigned the pastorship of the Gore Congregational Church, with a view of 'Seeking admission • into the yresbyterian Church.,

Another change has been made in the management of the affairs of the New Zealand Agri» cultural Company. Mr A. W. Rodger, the company's present manager, is about to return to England, and the management of the affairs of the company has been placed in the hands of Messrs Wright, Stepheneon, and Co.; the well-known stock and station agents.

, AUCIDBNTS AND FATALITIES. The Tahatika'correspondent o£ the Clutha Leader reports -.—"One of the saddest- eventsthe district has experienced for a long time tpok place on the evening of the 28th ult., when Mf John Stoddarty one of bus most :in-. dustribus settlers, lost his life accidentally when out shooting rabbits. ' From the place and position he was found in by Mr J. M'Nutt, it could be easily seen he bad been walking along and crossing a black pjiie log, when he must haveslipped and fallen, and the trigger, catshing in a branch, had gone off, and the contents of the gun had entered his brain. He was only 25 years of age, and was shortly to have been married. That he was held in highfre'spect in the neighbourhood was shown by tha numbers attending hiß funeral." . ' Lady Augusta Boyle, eldest daughter of his Excellency Lord Glasgow, met with a distressing accident on the 20th ult. While practising riding a horse in a paddock at Government House she got thrown off, sustaining a compound dislocation of the left ankle, the end of the fibula protruding ' through the skin and stocking, rendering it necessary to perform an operation under chloroform, which was done by Dr Haineß. Lady Augusta progressed favourably at first, but since then another operation has been found necessary. Muoh sympathy is expressed for the younglady and Lord and Lady Glasgow under the circumstances/ . Edward Lennon, a settler at Motukarawa, was found dead, hanging by the neck to a hat peg in the passage of the Kohukohu Hotel. Deceased was a printer by trade, and a single man, but his sister lived with him on his flpleption. He had been employed on the Northern! Luminary. Kawakawa. A man named George Hodson, aged about 80, hung himself from the branch of an apple tree in the garden of his house in.Blenheim on the sth insfc. He was in a weak state of health, and under the doctor's care for some time. J. S. Clark, a ganger on the ManganohoHnnterville section of railway, committed suicide at Hunterville, Wellington, on the 23rd ult. by hanging himself. - A young woman 'named Moore committed suicide at Parawanui Wellington, on the 28th ult, by eating match heads.

Mr S. W. Goldsmith, a member of the oldestablished Waimate firm of Manchester and Goldsmith, died Into on the 24-th ulfc. of typhoid fever at tho residence of the R9V. J. J. Lewis. Tho deceased gentleman, who was about 66 years of age, had been ohairman of the South Canterbury Education Board and a member of tho Timaru High School Board, besides holding for two years the position of mayor of Waimate. Suffering from an attack of influenza, he decided, against the wisb of his medical adviser, tv visit Duuedin for a change. He leaves a widow, but no children.

A sailor named Robert Chestterman; employed on the Bluff Harbour Board's tug Awarua, died suddonly at sea at early on the sth mat. when tha vessel, whioh was en route for Invercargill, was 25 miles south-west of the Nuggets. Tho deceased was 50 years of age, and heart disease is supposed to have been the cause of death. The Awarua arrived at Port Chalmers on Tuesday afternoon, and the corpse was conveyed-to tho morgue. ■•■".-•■

• The police have boen notified by wire from Ophir that a man named Alfred Foster was killed whilst working in his claim at Long Valley, Serpentine. ' :

Mr Matthew Rook, farmer; near Timaru, was driving with his wife and another lady on tho 28 th when the horse took fright, and lashing out npset the trap. The Indies escaped injury, bub Sir Rock was thrown under the trap, and when picked up was found to be bleeding at tha mouth and unconscious. He died next night, inflammation having set in. At about 1 o'clock on the 14th insfc. a ohild 16 months old, named Bernard Leo Planner, son of Bernard Flanney, storekeeper, of Ophir, was accidentally drowned in a tab of pig-wash in the back yard oE his father's premises. A mau named Harry Parsonage, while working the jack on' the gangway at C»rmiehael'a contract for the Wellington Harbour Board's •bonded store, on the Ist inst., fell to tha ground and the jack c»me on. top of him, inflicting, a fracture of the skull.' The wounded man died while being conveyed to tbo hospital. His brother George was soriously injured, a few days previously by falling off a scaffold.

A boy named Tarnbuil was drowned in' the Kakanui river on th,o 2nd inst. Ho had been working cloEe to the river, and asked a companion to go for a bathe with him. Tho companion declined, and Turnbull not returning a search was made, and his body was found lying at the bottom of a deep pool. He had evidently been seized with cii-amp. At; 10 minutes past 9 on the 3rd insb. Mr A. Restieaux, * bootmaker residing in Hanover street, raported to the pplica at the King street station that he had found a man's snit of clothes at the Association Bathing Shed; oh the south Bide of Frederick street. Sergeant (Dlarks and Constable O'Connor proceeded to the place, and,' after 'making inquiries, found th*t the clothes, belonged to & German named, Christian Frederick Bohm, whese wife stated that her hu*b»nd left his home in Forth street at; halfpast V p.m. on Saturday for the purpose of going to the Association Bathing Shed for a bathe,, and that he never returned horns. After .dragging the harbour for a coiiple of days the police succeeded in finding the body about 20 yards from the Association pathing Shed about 4 o'olook on Monday afternoon. ' • ■ ■' :' "' A boy named Albert Soather, 14 years of age, xias kicked by a horse at Riccartoa, and died in tbe hospital on the sth inst. Anton Bernstein, an old settler at Danevirke, met with afatal accident on the 4th inst. A horse attached to his trap bolted,. and Bernstein olung.'to the horse, which jumped at a high gate, Bern-tein striking against it with gieat force, breaking his spine. He died two hours afterwards. ' A

miscellaneous., ~./-,■..;,'. In the case of the Ashburton County Council t. Ward, Mr Justice Dennis ton has delivered judgment to the effect that tbe county council wees responsible for (he costs incurred by the respondent in unßucsessfully defending aa action brought against him to reverse*. his decision as returning officer in the .licensing election at Ashburson. His Honor thought it would be very dangerous to -say that the mere fact of non-success of tbe returning officer in proceedings against him would make him liabla. A person, discharging public duties only undertook to, bring reasonsiblo skill, and care.to their performance, l'ln'the present case, the action of .respondent was open to strong, commantf.- ,Ha>lQqk counsel's ; opinion as to his duty, and acted directly contrary to ■; ts\uzh opinion.' When a man .acted on hia own ■interpretation of a statute, in opposition to legal adyice, be.i assumed a gr*ve responsibility, especially lyhen his decision ■ determined' the question which' /side was to ,ba victorious qqua subject exciting strorjg feeling. Bat the question seemed to him to be one of fact... The magistral* found that the respondent acted in good faifh and that the coustruction of the .BtVtate was not so clear as.to make the erroneous decision evidence 6t wantof reasonable capacity for the office hevjras discharging...or,'of! w»pt.;.oE reasonable care ii»Ydis'charging.it; ° Theanpoal wpatd lie~djsmisssd,,ni6b £IQIO3 co3ts. ~,.-','

A;telegr»tn to the New Zealand Times Bays that Mr Peters, of Waioru, reports that after a good stiff gale on tne 10th inst. mmense volumes of smoke and steam burst out from the crater of Euapehu with a terrible war, followed by a heavy earthquake.' Ngaruahoe also became active, and in theeveningTongariroalso ejected smpiie and steam. The hot springs were very vioieot in Tokaanu ; and one geyser, quiescent siucetheTaraweraeruption, beganplayiiig.4oft ■high.. ■ : ■'... :.•■•■ "- ■ ■ ■ The Taviuni, from Fiji, encountered a hurricane;»nthepag.s»ge to Auckland. Cap!;. Smith Wfis.fWasbed 44ft along the deck and injured, niiriowly escaping being washed overboard. The -direction of the hurricane was towards New-Caledonia and New Hebrides, snd bad uewf may be expftted from, those places, His Excellency Sir John Thurston, Governor of Wji, was a passenger by the Taviuni, and procaedß by her to Wellington. He bad expended £10,(300 in the relief of the sufferers by the recent harricane. The devastation wai confined to one-fifth of the area of the. colony of Fiji. Fifteen thousand persons are now in receipt of relief, which will have to be continued ■ foe ■ four months. The Rawa delta had suffernd most. The native who .murdered a German trader at Gilbert group, and who was tried at- Fiji, was to be executed on Friday nexb. Sir John goes to London, and returns iv September to Fiji by the/Vancouver route. . :

T>wo of "the Auckland members, Messrs Win. | Crowtheif • and' Button,' havV addressed - tbi j electors of the Oity of 'Auckland'''on the legislation of the' pist sessi6n 'of the' General Assembly. Mr Crowtber kept his audieaoe in the Oity; Hall 'in a-simmer l of merriment for two hours,'while inhi» quaint, humorous way he gave his views on various bills and acts. " The people's William " honestly confessed that when he took home to his lodgings from the- Assembly at midnight 39 bills introduced that alternoon, he felt utterly worried. The speech was remarkable as showing Mr Crqwlhet's dexterity in " sitting ou a nil," and when he sat down after a two hour;' speech not' one of his hearers could tell whether he was-a. Government supporter or favoured the Opposition. The Minister for Labour can scarcely' rank him as a follower, as he was very caustic.in his remarks about Labour legislation., while the Opposition did not: feel flattered. by bsing told that he had voted and would vote for the present Ministry, when he thonght they were right and on votes of want of confidence, as he failed to sea any politicians who could fill their places. The "candid friend" is the role Mr Crowther means to play. Mr Button had a capital reception and a sympathetic hearing, the Shop Hours Act having taken• Seddonism out of the affections of; the trading community. His criticism of the'legislation of the past session of Assembly, and espebially of the' Labour legislation, was trenchant >«nd caustic, and he carried his hearers entirely with him. The vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, whioh shows the great change which has come over the community of lats in regard to so-called Liberalism, aDd the harassing effect of many of the Labour enactments. —Own Correspondent,,: :.':''"'' '"" " ;:-''' '■''■' "" ': ■"'■." ' ; ;

Mr ; G. A. Schoch, writirife to the New Zealand Times, says : —" It is a fast that we can grow the very best silk to bs found anywhere. 'Experiments, made in Canterbury, in Nelson, and in Auckland show that our article is very much superior to the Chinese, Japanese, Indian, or even the average French and Italian silks. -But the most striking advantage we possess in it is the absence of disease. In Southern Europe they have never been able to get rid of the ftightfal disease which broke out some 40 years ago, and which has reduced the yield of their old and glorious breeds to a fraction of what it was. They are consequently compelled to import a lot of inferior breeds from Japan and elsewhere. But they would inach sooner buy their own breeds if they could get a country which could reproduce these old varieties in a healthy condition and in large qnantities. Owing to the disease every moth in France and Italy ha 3to ba examined microscopically (Pasteur's system). One firm in-Milan employs about 2000 girls during the season for the sole purpose of examining silkworm moths.. We could save all this expense

and trouble, because disease is absent. Therefore, it we go in for the old favourite European breeds (which, as I said, they have the greatest difficulty to raise on the Continent), with our climate and other natural advantages, combined with the euperior intelligence and industry of our settlers, we could go on cheerfully producing millions per annum, and always find a ready market, ao long as we produce a first-claas article and maintain it absolutely reliabls."

During last session of Parliament a return was ordered showing the nnmbor of extra or temporary clerks employed in eachfdepartment of the Government during the financial years 1837-88, 1890-91, and 1893-94-. The following are the totals: 1887-88, 181; 1890-91, 168; 1893-94, 241. The number of cadets appointed was as follows: 1887-88, 39; 1890-91, 169; 1893-34,132.

A meeting of the Executive! Oommitteo of thoDr Stuart Momoriil ifmvl washa!dou thel4 h inst. at tha office of tho honorary eeoretiry (Mr John Davie), at which the question T»»3 dis■rasied whether the memorial should tako tho form of a seated figure, ns vapresented by Mr Moirison's model lately exhibited at the Otigo Art Society's gallery, or a full-leDgth statue. Opinion was decided ly in favour of the seated model, and to have, it done "> bronze ii the artist could satisfy the committee that there were foundries in the colouy which could be entrusted with the castjug. It has boon reported to the committee that thf ra are firms in Wellington and Ohristohuroh, as wall as in Duuedin, who are quito prepared to undertake the casting. Tho secretary reportad that tha sum at projent at the credit of the fund was £735 17s 6d, and it was rewired, baforo taking any final action as to the exesution of tho statue, that an effort should bo made to collect additional funds. It.i*'eManiited that £1000 is required to provide at statue worthy oft the occasion. ■'. .-.;

Mi- Walker, of the Now Zealand Alliance, speaking at Dunsaudel on the evening of the s',h, quoted the following figures from Government returns: —At the last general election 220,082 persons voted, of whom 129,792 were men and 9i),290 were women; at the local option polls 122,231- parsons voted, of whom 74,372 were men and 4-7,862 were wsmen. A local option vote on the day of tha general eleotion would afford a much more genuine expression of the public mind, whatever the resulb of it might bo. Eveu in Cbristchnrch 1657 lens women voted at the local option poil than at the general eieotion. . Referring to the fact that on the 9bh Fabruary Me H. S. Tiileu celebrated tho fifty - third anniversary of his arrival in the colony, the Hawke's Bay Herald notes as Bomsthing remarkable that of the original band of 17 seat out by the Now Zealand Compsny-to Jay out the site of Britannia (now Pdtona) seven' are known to be alive at present, and possibly there ore other subscribers. Mr Tiffen is one of the survivors, and ex-Judge Smith; 'of Auckland, is another.

The Hon. the Premier conducted the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Dew Wanganui Hospital on the 14th. A large concourse of people was present, including members of local bodifl". volunteers, fire brigades, &3. The Hon. J. M-Kenzio was also present. . Tho Premier spoke for three solid hours, nrid when he concluded a hearty .vote of thanks and confidence was accorded him, on the motion of Mrs Bullook, seconded by Mr Montxoaiery. A strange phenomenon occurred' at Wairoa the other dsy between 3 and 4 o'clock in the affceriioon, when a loud explosion, -resembling a violent clip of thandur, was heard, the nnuiiual disturbance apparently issuing-irom the bowels of the earth. In certain: localities thoaeffaot was'very marked, and the sheep became terrorstricken, running'wild!-hither 'and thither. Many people in town observed the remark-tble occurrence, but so far.as ws are aware no,one has been able to explain its origin. The premises of Messrs Smith and Smith, Bailey and Co , and A.1. Fieidtvioki-situated ill the Octagon, were entered by thieves some time on the night of tho 12th inst. The thieves got accEsa to the pretnisas »& the b',»ck. From Mesjra Smith and Smith's place they stole three diamond ontters, but nothing else is missing. Tho safe in Mr Bailey's. Bhpp was removed to a cellar. Tho bottom ,of i(i was out out, and six jubilee sovereigns were stolen. As far as can be ascertained nothing was stolen from Mr Fiqld wicks premise!.- A number of tools belonging to Mr Thomson, of the monumental works, Mipi'ay place, wea found in Mr Bailey's yard, having efideutly been used to, cat opsn the s»fe.. The police have got the affair in hand.

Another of ,tlie old landmarks of Duoedin is about to disappear,, tho building known for years past as Wise's, at. the corner of Princaa and Rattray streets, having to give way for the new building about to be erected .by the Government Insurance department. This, was one of tho first stone buildings erected in Dunedin, those preceding it being Mr Reynolds's store and bond (near the old jetty) and Dr Burns's church. The building was erected about; 1860 by Mew Eoas and : Kilgour, who used it for their retail store for about two years. It was then leased for five years to the Bank of New South Wales and used as a banking housa. At the termination'of that lease the' buildiig was taken, by .pjr "Wise, and itlljas.tesn;1 foe years past recognised ai ''-Wlie'i oorn.ee," It may be mentioned that Mr .Hugh ,C»lder,was' the contractor for the building, and that the architect was the late Mr W. Langlands.-

The death of Mr Leonard Duncan, eldest son of Mra A. Palmer, of Dunedin, is repotted to have occurred through typhoid faver at Coolgardie on the 28th of last month. Deceased was qnly 25 years of age and was well-kaowa ■in Perth, especially in cycling circles. He was captain of a cycling club there, and -won several championships. He threw up his situation In Perth about the middle of December to start a business cn/tbe goldfields, and his. prospects were excellent before be was ■seized with' the fever. He left Palmers Son, Otago, for Perth about three and a-balf years ago.. -:■ ■■ •'■:- ■••". v.j.-.' -;. •.'■;•'■•,, ,1 .. The revenue for-the four-weakly period ending 2nd February from the 1979 miles of railway open wan £97,140 153 4d; aid the expenditure £57,547 4* lOci. The Hurcnui-Bluff line contributed £53,909 Is Bd, while the "expenditure 'on the section.was £32,689 11s 4d. .The total revenuo for the-760 miles in the North Island wins £37,496 10a Bd, while the expenditure was £20,908 4s. The revenue for the 1219 miles in the South Island was £59,644 4s.Bd, and the expenditure £36,629 OslOd. > At the Bail way Engineer's Office on Thursday, 28th ult., Mr T. C. <: Maitby, late resident engineer of the Dunedin section, was presented with a handsome gold hunting lev«r witch, which had been subscribed for. by his friands.in the department. The watch bore the following inscription:—" Presented to T. C. Malt-by, C.E., on his retiring from the New Zealand railway service. Dunedin, March 1895." The presentation waß made by Mr CJ. Burnett, chief clerk, ia a few well-chosen remarks, referring' to the regret of Jlr Maltby'a friends in' the department at his leaving the service, and expressing hopes for his fofciire success. The opportunity was also taken of presenting Mrs Maitby with a chaste amethyst arid diamond brooch. Mr Maitby returned thanks iii a few feeling remarks on behalf'of Mrs Maitby-and himself. After a few happy remarks by Mr Matfchewson the meeting adjourned, , The city valuer h&a completed bis valuations of the rateable property in the City of Dunedin for this year, and the total valdatiqn —subject, 'of course, -to: adjustment by the -Assessmenti Courfc-^is £233,204* divided iis follows'between the fonr divisions'of: the city .-South Ward, £3.3,780;; 'High Ward;1£94,404; 'Bell Ward, £54,406 ; LeithWard,'£so,6l4; L The ■.total valuation shows a 1 reduction (of '£10,411 upon the figures of last year, when the value of the rateable proparty in the city was £243,615, and the total then, again, was considerably less than that for 1893, tbo valuation in that year amounting to £251,000. S JMr I. Harvey, of Pelorus Sound (cays. the Blenheim Times), has repotted the discovery of the skeleton of a man at Lambert Head, the next point to the west of Jackson's Head. Just above where the remains lay were carved on a rook some initials, with the words " Ashbourne, 1856" below them. Tbe'man is supposed to have fallen over the cliff, and, probably injured, carved his name and date on the rock with his knife before he lay down to

die of starvation. Mr Harvey did not take a note of the initials, &0., bat has promised'that he will visit tosspot again and take accurate note of what there is. The Standard Insuranc3 Company has now attained its majority,^ the annual meeting which was held on the 4th being the 2lst of the series. The report then preseuted.showed that a profit was made during the past year of £12,645 9i 9(5, out of which tna payment of a dividend at the rate of !{■ per cent, absorbed £5625, while in the payment of a 2£ per cent, bonus the sum of £1875 is to be appropriated. The retiring directors, Messrs ISC'. Joel and A. O. Begg, were rc-ekcfced, and a farther vacancy in the board—caused by the , death of Mr W. Sooular—has to be filled by. the directors. It was mentioned by the chairman (Mr John Reid) that since 1890 tha company nag added £22,000 to its reserve funds. ■■ ■ ' :