SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10359, 14 May 1895, Page 2

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL. .

The death is . announced of Cr James Petkeri-k, 'of Wellington, aged 61. Tho deceased arrived in Wellington in 18*-0, and always took great interest in municipal matters. He was also connected with several charitable aid bodies. A young man named Walter" Stewart, employed by Mr George Ellis at Poverty Bay, was drowned while crossing the Waimoko, a* daagerous'creek 10; rhileß north of Gisborne. '- A man named William E. Bamford, aged about 40, died suddenly in fche Provincial Hotel, Napier. Deceased . had resided: with the licensee of the hotel for about four years. The medical certificate: showed thafc death resulted through excessive drinking. Herbert Cuedin,' 10 years of age, a: brother of the late H. Cusdin, the jockey, was killed afc si level railway crossing afc Caulfield, Victoria, on" the 25th ult. ■ The boy was struck by the • engino'of a pa?sing traiu. The poor Of Dunedin; more especially of the north end'of the town, have lost V good friend by the death of Mrs George Grant, b£ Inglewood, Queen street, who died on the 6th inst. afc the age of 73. Mrs Grant arrived in Dun'.edih with her husband amd family in 1870, and for many years nast hers has been a familiar

The poor Of Dunedin; more especially of the ; north end'of the town, have lostV good friend ' by the death of Mrs George Grant, o£ Ingle- ■ wood, Queen street, who died onthe 6th inst. j afc the age of 73. Mrs Grant arrived in Dim- ' .edin with her husband and family in 1870, and for-many years past hers has been a familiar ■ figure wherever generous help or practical *■' Christiaa'sympathy was required. She had for a long period filled the position of president of the Ladies'Associationof Knox Church, which exisfcs-fo'r the extension of. help to the poor amd i * suffering, and her office-brought her in close and ' constant contact with the saddest side of our : social life. Mrs Grant was of a quiet, unassum-, , ing disposition, but her cheery, sympathetic ' nature brightened many a sorrowful life, she'was'a welcome visitor afc*the bedside of the' suffering. The late Rev. Dr Stuart used to call her his right hand—like\ himself she was: a 1 worker all her life, and never wearied in welldoing. ■ Mrs Grant fell.a victim _- to -.influenza,'* which attacked heron Tuesdaylast and/ rapidly, developing into congestion of the lungs,' carried her., ba* oil Sunday: night. 7 Her husband8 and: . four .sons and four daughters survive her:" A a: The election ordered by' the Anglican General, Synod; to fill two' vacancies in the list'of the clergy representing -Otago has resulted in the '. appointment of the Yen. Archdeacon Stocker _ and the-Rev.- Canon Gould. -.--A. The;'members and adherents of the' King street Congregational Church have been' so I pleased: with the services of the Rev. C. H. Bradbury, of Wellington, who has been* sap-' . plying the pulpit during the past month,: that | at a large and representative meeting of the ; congregation held recently.it was decided on '.* the unanimous vote of the church to give Mr , Bradbury a call to the pastorate, which ho has: accepted. Mr Bradbury is hot'only ah. eloquent and forcible preacher, but also a popular' lecturer and ardent temperance advocate. .';".'■■'.-• ~ •',„:'• The death is announced of Mr.Henry Dodson,1 .a' well-known Nelsonbrewer. ■' 7' ' ■ The fortieth annivewary of the consacration of ': Bishop Mpr an was celebrated in St. Joseph's' i Cathedral oh the. 20th ult. Bishop Moran r , was consecrated by Archbishop (subsequently J: Cardinal) Cullen in Carlo Cathedral on Low, ■ Sunday of 1856. ,a ,'■'. - . i "The following appointments are gazetted in i connection with the; Seacliff Asylum :-*-Me'd_eal superintendent; Dr King '; .medical' '■ officer^ Dr Craig*,: official visitor,^ Miss'H.'R. "■; Morrison; clerk, George Wood. * ;Mr T.H.Luski of the Union Bank, is about, I; to: retire on'a pension.A' -.•'.'■"•"';.-" :Mr Bbauclerc Williams, second son of his Honor Mr' Justice Williams died bn the 26fch. E. ult. The deceased, who was acting as secretary 3 to his father,: was born in 1872.. The cause of A de^th was pneumbnia,; r. The funeral took' !place on.the 30th ult.'.'' : Se_ tfibe was conducted ■>'. on thelaTOat Mr.Justjce Williams's residence!' I. by'the .Yen. Archdeacon Edwards, and; the'pro-,: x cession was. then formed and "'took, its way to, _ the place^of interment -at the Anderson's Bay, Cemetery. A large number followed the. rer mains to their last place of rest, among theroi l,:bainj; his Worship the Mayor, 7 the Hon. "G. 7 'M'l-ean'ahd the Hon. J. MacGregor, M.LIC.""-. ■ '• Messrs W. Fraser, "M.H.R., A. Holmes, Q7 8 'Fenwick, H. North, E. HjCarew, J. Mills. J. Hazlett, A. Michie, G. L. Denniston,-;: G. ; Joa'ehim- R., Neill,* Sinolair Thomson, Gordon,* S. Mackenzie, E. B. Cargill, P.C. * • Neill, W. H.; -Taggarl., and' J; A.* .Torrance, i: Bishop Nevill, Dr Belcher, the Yen. Arch'deacDh Edwards, Drs Batchelor and Fergusson,* ■'7. ;Prof.s'sbraV Ulrich, _*Sale," Gilray,- and Seo.., -' and the Rev. Mr Saunders. The legal gentles; men" of the city were present almost in a 1 .body, their! places of business beiDg closed out j of respect, to .Mr . Justice Williams. Upon - reaching the - place of interment the burial *. "service was conducted by the*'• Yen. Archdeacon, a 'Edwards. :-' / ■'.■ •--7-.-■ g ■'■ Mr- John Roberts tendered to the; City p ; Council his resignation of the office of one. of ■*■. .tbe; Sinking fund trustees ih. consequence bf a his visit to the old country. : On the motiph of • 3 too Mayor, who said that, Mr Roberts had t during the: short time he had been one of the trustees been of considerable use to the commis- .- * sionersfrpm his knowledge of station proper-: t ties, upon which considerable sums of money V "had been lent, the resignation was accented ■a with: regret. The Mayor added that "Mr s Robert Glondining was, if the council thought r, fit to appoint him, willing to act as a member of _[ the trust, and,\on the motion of Cr. Solomon, it , Was agreed that that gentleman he appointed. ' M. Glendining, it was mentioned by the Mayor, d formerly.acted as a commissioner, but resigned d- his_ position in consequence of a transaction to j. jvhich he could not give his countenance, and over which the commissioners lost-24-000. !r Mr Stephen Watson, the oldest settler in the :s Riverton district, died on the 22nd at „•• The H Narrows," at the extreme age of 92 years. Mr - Watson* who came over from Sydney in 1838, " was a singularly hale and active man up to a i-: few days before his death. .''. -A .good deal of amusement was created-in **.'. "court at'Waikaia oh the 7th by'the informant ".,; in.ia'.case-in.whichfour,Chinamen.were charged--r |with assault. The cpniplainahfc exhibited great If ;dissatisfaction,when the accused were swbrnoh :-j" .the Bible, and he Appeared in court with three '. ; fowls under his arm, and, pointing'to the mehj S kept on repeating, "Kill 'im cock." The ie ; Chinan)an who commits perjury after solemnly i B decapitating a rooster is supposed to be ■■ destined after death to for evermore assume '=■ the shape of a feathered biped without a head,; and .such an awful punishment was alone i\ sufficient in the complainant's opinion to deter - the accused from giving a wrong version of tha affair; and frequent and loud were his prote_ta-' -r turns when it was elected they should be sworn £•■ in a Christian fashion, lb was alleged agaiasfc H_ .theih that they had ruthlessly bastinadoed the .' accusing John on the suspicion that he had •^ informed the police against one of them n. in a recent sly prog-selling case, and ;k after a good deal of evidence the magis- . trate (Mr. Hawkins) held the charge of Ir assault proven. They were each fined £3 of and costs (£2 4s), and ordered to enter into Br their own recognisances in the sum of £25 and ' one surety of a like amount that tbey would s keep the peace for six months. ■ Chiei Detective 2n O'Connor conducted the case for the prosecution.

The Rev. Edwin Peter Hood, B.A;, was instituted on the evening, of the Bth to the pastoral charge of the: parish of St. Matthew. Evensong to the 3rd Collect was sung by the Rev. E. P. Hood; the proper lessons—Ezekiel xxxiii, 1 to 12, and Ist Corinthians iii—were read by the Rev. Isaac Richards, theological tutor. After hymn 353 the Bishop, taking his text,.from. Hebrews xiii, 7 and 17, gave an earnest,and moet practical address upon the relations that; should exist between the parish priest aiid his Hock. After the I address the Rev. E. P. Hood took the oath of canonical obedience, and the deed of institution was read by the bishop. The service closed with hymn 355, followed by the benediction. In. a few words at the memorial service in Knox Church on Sunday morning the Rev. Anderson Gardiner, who occupied the pulpit, made feeling reference to the death of a wellknown member of the church., "In the removal by death from amongst them," he said, '.' the Ladies' Association of this congregation have lost a mosfc active and cheerful worker; the poor and needy of this city one of their best friends. 'I knew Mrs Grant, and I desire to be allowed to join iv your sense of loss, and in your expression of sympathy with the bereaved family. She was a good woman. To see her in her home, among her children and grandchildren, was a pleasant and beautiful sight, and good for one's heart. Your late pastor has .on more than one occasion spoken of her to me as ' his right hand.' Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, for their works do follow them." Details of the sudden death of D. B. Cruickshank, chairman of the Northern Steamship Co., Auckland, show tbat shortly after dinner, while sitting quietly, ho complained of a pain at his heart, which he afc first appeared to regard as bufc a slight attack, bufc ifc increased in severity, and in 15 minuteß from the seizure he expired. The deceased gentleman was 52 years of age, and a. native of St. Andrews, Fifeshire. He arrived in the colony in 1864. He leaves a widow (a daughter of the late Mr Robert Graham) and three sons aud two daughters. The flags on the shipping and in town were at half-mast to-day. Dr Haines made a post mortem and found that the cause of death ! was ossification of the aorta.

News has been received of the death from cholera, at Baugkok, Siam, ou March 25, of General W. Feilding, founder of the Manchester settlement iv the Wellington district. Much regret is felt at Feilding, the prosperous town which has arisen in connection with the settlement.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES

The body of James Mans, the third victim of. the boating accident at St. Leonards on the 29fch ult., was found floating in the harbour near tho Burkes railway station on the 18th ult., and au inquest on it was held before Mr E. H. Carew, district coroner, and a. jury of sis (Mr John Harold, foreman) at the Ravensbourne Hotel on the 19th ult. Though the face was a good deal disfigured the body wag identified satisfactorily. Frederick Webber, the survivor from the fatality, having given evidence, tbe jury returned a. verdict of " Accidentally drowned., through the upsetting of a boat."

Particularshavebeen received at Auokland concerning alamentable boating accident which took place between Opua and Russell, and in which a Norwegian (Christian Kjor) and his young sou and daughter were drowned. • The party left home in the morning to see their friends across the river. ■ When.a short-distance from the shore' the- boat was struck by a squall. Mrs Kjer noticed the accident from her residence and wenfc to obtain assistance, but aid arrived too late to save the occupants of the boat.

' A rather singular death, the result of: an accident, occurred at Paeroa, Auckland, to John Stewart, an employee of Mr Cock, who owns a small farm a mile from Paeroa township. . Stewart was leading a horse into, a yard, and in the darkness stumbled ■ over a plough, the result' being that he received a nasty wound on the shin, where there was an ulceration. About au hour after the accident occurred Stewart succumbed. At the inquest a verdict was returned that- death was-due- to syncope, accelerated by the loss of blood and shook to the system. He was a.Binglemani4oyearsof age.

George Wadington, formerly a hotelkeeper at Ngatauranga, who was thrown, from his horse on the 4th ult., died at the Wellington hospi-, tal, lock-jaw having set in.:

At the inquest touching the death of the little girl Burn, who lost her life in a fire at Christchurch, the jury returned a verdict "That she had been accidentally suffocated and burned to death, but that there was no satisfactory evidence as to how,the fire originated." ".".:''

Samuel Barriball, of Waiuku, Auckland, expired at the hospital from blood poisoning. Deceased was lieutenant for 16 years and captain for four years of tW Waiuku troop of cavalry ■ volunteers. -He arrived in New Zealand ,wifch'; his parents many .years ago. '■;'.'' .-.'.. ! ".'.,-,'. "..■',..„' • _ ..What :* is supposed;; to be' a case of-'suicide! was reported to'the-police at Auckland.'on the 18th ulfc. .Mary-'-Blowd, * aged 83 residing; afc ■ the 'house.'of a married son of hers in Gray 'street,, was found in an outhouse with her throat cat with a razor. Oil being' taken into the house and put to bed she expired before medical assistance could be obtained. No reason is known.for the act. When last seen she was peeling potatoes in fche scullery. At fche inquest a verdict was returned that, deceased coEimitted suicide while temporarily insane.- .'.'*•• ■ A '.'

■' Ruby Olliver, aged five, was crushed to death by a fcracfcion tram afc Pleasant Point on the l_fchulfc., and another child was seriously hurt, "ifc appears the enginedriver was giving the children a ride on their way to school, and had. told therp he would stop and let them'off, but; the deceased child gob off while the trucks were in motipn, and another ia trying fco save her got hurt also. : aA. ~,,,:.7

Mr James M'Lauchlan was ; crossing* the Ashley last month when his dray capsized, am}: he was washed down the river and drowned! A son of his was shooting near the river,'and' came across the horse*, which had a portion of fche harness.'on, and at once. searched for his ■ father and the dray. The latter he found, but it was not until Saturday afternoon that the body was found, and then about a milei from where the accident happened. Mr M'Lanchlan had lived afc Moeraki for'very many years,' and was much respected in the district., He leaves a grown-up family. •'".'.

A railway ganger named John Head mefc.with a fatal accident ou the 11th ult. on the railway line near the Waitotara station.... Ifc appears that.he was screwing upsome of .the.fishplate's, near a curye in, the,line, and . from. some caused as the train was approaChing'-he fell forward on, to the rails. The engine struck him oh the head and inflicted a frightful wound -on the temple, smashing in the skull. Head was a married " man ■ with eight' children. During the last 16 months he lost five little ones, two of them by drowning.

Eliza Wood, aged nine, years, the daughter of a sefcfcler at Manukau; on the Western line,' was •hadJy burned onthe 13th ult. and waa'ren_oved :to the Wellington Hospital, whereshe died. 7

; George Wheeler, aged 69, a farmer, committed suicide at Natahiari, near Bulls, on the 14th ult., by hanging. Despondency was the: cause of the act.,, ....".'■:■„ -~:■.,■.,:: i James Hume;; coach driver, committed:suicide: afc- Harfcoh, Wellington,.' oh the- 16th7ult.: He had, been inill-healfchand despondent. i/The5! deceased was well known.. 7 ' ." a;7 7.22k-. '"> There appears to bd little or n6^:hope now. that any traces will be discovered of the whaleboat and the three Port Chalmers fishermen— Joseph Drake, John Driver, ahd Peter Lawson

—who leffc the Nuggets for Port Chalmers on; the:. 6fch ulfc. We have received & letter from a lady at Glenledi, who_e "niece' was evidently an eye-witness „of the disaster. Our correspondent writes:—"The boat was seen passing here at,2 p.m. oh the 6th inst. by my niece. We reside about five miles north of the Tokomairiro river. My niece was looking seawards when she saw what she thought, was, a seagull. After watching the speck tor o secoad or two ib proved to be a little open' boat. She thought every moment it would be swamped, as the sea was very stormy. ' She was so sure that ifc could not possibly live in such a sea that she went bufc on the rocks fco watch ifc. The wind seemed to be blowing the ' boat towards. the shore. When the boat had passed her aboufc a mile-it disappeared, and she never saw ifc again, although she strained her eyes, to the utmost. She was quite upset; when she came in and told us. She was almost certain that the boat swamped when ifc disappeared. from her sight: She says she saw two men in the boat." Seeing an account of the boat being missing in the: Daily Times, our correspondent sa?s she sends the particulars, which might prove a sad consolation- fco those bereaved. Subscription lists for the benefit of the distressed' families arenow beipg. issued^ and we shall be pleased to.take charge of;any sums forwarded to us.,'.. Mr-Fleming held aii inquest at Balclutha on the 25th- ulfc.. regarding the death of' Alfred Wii- :| liam Griffith, which took'place'at' his flaxmill>7 near Romahapa, on.fche 22nd ult: From'the; evidence it;,appeared that at 1 o'clock;oil that.''-: day, while the deceased:^raß engaged fixing the' stripper; he instructed one of the men to start; the engine. This was no sooner done than a pulley broke, a portion, 18in by 12in flying off and striking Griffith on the Mfc temple. He wa3 thrown fco the ground and never spoke or regained consciousness. He wj.s conveyed by train to Balclutha, where lie was attended to by Dr Smith, bufc died about 3 o'clock. There was a hole about* half an inch in diameter in his

forehead, out of which a large portion of the

brain protruded. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." Much sympathy is felt for

his father and mother under their sad bereavement;.

The Waverley correspondent; of fche Wanganui Herald telegraphed on the 22nd:—"A fearful accident happened to a young man named Stewart at Momohaki aboufc 11 o'clock on Sunday. He wenfc outside with his mother to shoot a hawk- but did nofc fire afc ifc on account of the hawk being too high. The gun exploded accidentally, blowing away the whole of his face. The unfortunate fellow fell dead beside his mother. How the gun exploded cannot ba accounted for."

A man named John Climo was drowned at Wanganui Heads on Sunday, the 2lafc. He and two other men were in a whaleboat, and had been fishing during fche day. The boat capsized in taking a tow-line from the steam fishing launch, and Climo, after drifting about, wifch one of fche others (his brother Richard), sank exhausted, and was seen no more, Richard Climo and the other man1 swam ashore. Deceased was married, and leaves a family oE five or six children.

David Sheehau, 72 years of age, was killed by a fall of gravel at a pit at Russelvale, near Sfc. John's Hill Wanganui.

At the inquest at Pleasant Point; on fche child Ruby Oliver, who was killed by being run over by a traction engine, fche jury expressed an opinion that these engines should have a' man riding behind fco act; as guard, especially through towns, to prevent children getting up and down while the engine was in motion.

The body of John Climo, fisherman, drowned afc Wanganui heads on fche 21sfc April, was found ou the Bfch and an inquest held next afternoon, fche verdict being to the effect that death resulted through accident. A rider was added expressing appreciation of the noble conduct; of Duncmn M'Arthur and Antonio Bobich, who rescued the two men who were with Climo at the time Gf fche accident.

James Morrell, of the Waimamaku Canterbury special settlement, Hokianga, had his arm crushed by a felling tree. The limb was amputated in fche Auckland Hospital, but Morrell died on the night of the Bth.

Henry Crabtree, aged three years, fell off a load of wood on which he had been given a ride at Gisborne, and the dray, which was driven by hi_ father, passed over his face, killing him instantly.

The body of Alfred Walker, who was drowned near Ormond, Hawke's Bay, on thb 26th ult;., has been recovered. Afc fche inquest ou Walter Stewart, son of Mr R. O. Stewart, a former magistrate at fche Thames, a verdict of "Accidental drowning" was returned. Leonard Leo, aged 38, a boafcbuilder afc Whitiangi, Auckland, took a fit* while spearing flat fishj and was.drowned.

Miss Elisabeth Birtles, a music teacher, aged 40, wa3 found d_ad on the floor in her, room afc Auckland on the 27th ult. She lived alone. The body presents tho appearance of having been dead a week. Afc the inquest the medical evidence was to the effect; that* she died of inflammation of the chest, but ofcherwisa was a healthy woman. The jury were hot convinced, and returned an open verdict of "Found dead wifch no marks of violence, but how or when she came by her deafen there is no evidence to show."

News is to hand of a boat accident; at Onehunga, by which Arthur Laurie and his son Henry Claude (aged 16), also Frederick Laurie and his son (aged 15), the occupants of the boat, are believed fco have been drowned.

A man named Alfred Walker was drowned whilst attempting to cross a flooded creek near Ormond, Poverty Bay. A married man named Donald Falconer was feliing a tree with his brother afc Fernridge, near Masterton, when the tree struck him as hs was running away. He was pinned to fche ground, his head being smashed to pieces. Death was instantaneous. ■ - ■

The two-year-old son of John Welsh,- miner, Kaitangata, . died on the ,27th * ult.. from injuries received through its clothes catching fire.. ■...-... ... ..- -..

Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs that a man named James Wilson, for some years cook at the Tarras station, was killed on the 29th ult. by being thrown oub of a dray. The cause of death was a fracture of the base of the skull, caused by his falling on a stone. An' accident, attended, with fatal results, occurred at Messrs A. 'and T. Burt's foundry on the 22nd ult. afc aboufc a-quarfcer to 1 o'clock, during fche lunch hour. Twoboy3named Edward "Williamson and Leslie Deguid, about 17 years of age, whose parents reside afc South Dunedin, were playing aboufc a five-ton crane. Tha boys were swinging on the crane, and the jib being low, a third bpy started to raise ifc. Through & want of knowledge the paul was taken oat of the'jib wheel, and nofc replaced when the winding-up was done. The friction of the drum and chain kept the'jib in position until the two boys named got swinging on the chain, when their weight overcame the resistance and the jib fell, striking Williamson aboufc the shoulder and chest and killing-him instantly and breaking Deguid's thigh. Dr Martin was afc once sent for, and Deguid was removed to' (the hospital, where the: injured memhsr was set. The. body of the other boy was removed to his parents' residence. It is stated that the boys had no business to be near the crane, as their occupation -lay in another part of the works, and it was purely, owiug to want, of knowledge as to fche working of the crane, that the mishap occurred. At the inquest a verdict pf .apcidentaldeivthwas. returned.*:. ■':• -7;. . .•■-'.•■'

, -Patrick James Fish .waifound dead in his hut nearfHolenswlle,-Auckland..,, Afc; the. inqaesb held,-.' the eyidence showed.-that he had died: from,; internal* hemorrhage,, through the (bursting of.-.- a -.blood vessels 77.x i'-5-' ;. ;■■"'■* aaa. :„•.

:V,J*,^G_r..y,. a.*-: steerage:- passenger by the "Anglian, from Sydney to Auckland, was found to be missing between 7 and 8. o'clock bn the 28th ult. ; He is believed to have jumped overboard between those: hours.

Henry Ryder,V a , wharf labourer at Lyttelton expired suddenly at 11.40 a.m. on the 3rd inßt. He was engaged at a frozen' meat van, loading sheep into tho steamer Aqtea, when he suddenly fell forward and died instantly. The deceased was au industrious, steady man, and was much respesced. He leaves a wife and seven or eight children. The deceased's dinner was usually sent fco him at the wharf, and a messenger was sent to-turn back the little girl who generally brought : it. On this occasion the child camo down by another way, missed the messenger, and met the procession carrying the d_ad-body of her father to the casual ward. A very pitiful scene followed, the child being almost heartbroken. A body "(identified as that of John Johnstone,. a settler of Pbngaroa) was found on the sth inst. hanging from the.bough of a tree near the-town-' ship of Pahiatua. It must have been hanging four or five weeks. ; When last seep, aboufc six Weeksago, .Johnstone "wiis oufc of work.-

"The. Taurariga correspondent of the Post; states that Mr Jonathan Brown, who had his legs cut in a reaping machine, died while under chloroform. Dr Porter, who was,attending him,"hoticed. that mortification had set in aad

decided to amputate the right leg. In fche presences." Dr Leslie and Messrs Alleby and Hoy.ie, chemists,,:chloroform"'wa3 administered.: Dr Leslie noticed thafc the patient's breathing changed: ..lipmedi^te.'i'eifdrts were- made •to bring: Mr Brown back-to' consciousness", but he dieid. ■•- He -leaves 'a '-widow and 'grown-up family. ''■'■"■', ■:.-'.. "■'•,s-,';'".-, .: ' 'V,.■...

A four-year-old son of Mr Dunbar, ..Waihao, was badly burned on the 3rd inst. through his nightshirt catching fire at; the kitchen hearth. He was brought to Waimate Hospital, but his injuries were so severe that he died in fche evening. ._ ~.-;....... A young man named William James, the. driver of a two-horse waggon from Booth's timber yards, Towakara, was killed afc Wellington on the 4th insfc. by falling off a vehicle;'' A'sad fatal shooting* accident occurred,to Alfred £yme_*v'a|ed 15 years, the eldasfc'soh of A.7Symes, farmer at Whenuakura, ? '^ahgahui, the..".other day.-: The hoy attempted to part,.t*somer;; gorse with the stock of. his gun,- having the muzzle towards him, when the gun exploded, the charge entering his sidel Death was instantaneous.

MISCELLANEOUS,

A meeting of the Dunedin1 Presbytery was held in the North Taieri Church on the 30fch ult, for the purpose of moderating in a call, v There were present—Tho Revs. J. M. M'Kerrow (moderator of the congregation), W. Will, J. Kirkland,,R: R. M.. Sutherland, D. Dutton, and- A. M. Finlayson, and Messrs Marshall, Chisholm, and Findlay. The moderator, having'preached the sermon, the congregation of the church unanimously decided to give a call to the. Rev. Thomas Pauliu, of Queenstown. The call was Bigned by 33 membsrs and concurrence in ifc was signed by 30 adherents. The presbytery sustained the call, and directed that ifc Bhould be forwarded fcd'the Presbytery .of Southland to be placed in Mr Pauliu's hands.

A meeting- of the Dunedin Presbytery was held on the Ist inst. in Knox Church for the purpose of moderating in a call. The members of fche presbytery present were the Revs. Dr Watt, Dr Dunlop, D. Borrie, J. M. Fraser, A. M. Finlayon, I. Jolly, and I. K. M'lntyre, and Messrs D. A. M'Nicoll, E. B. Cargill, and W. Hutton. There was a considerable attendance of members and ■ adherents of the congregation." The Rev. Mr Borrie conducted the preliminary services and preaohed from fche .te-s-t*!. ;Acts Jy, 31-33." The presbytery clerk having reacLthe form**of--call, ifc was proposed : by Mr G."%. .Thomspn-'secono'^d.by Mr R. ; Chisholm, afid' carried unanimously, thafc the hame of the R.v. .William .Hewitson, 8.A., of Brunswick, bs inserted ".therein. The call was subsequently "signed by 375 members and 106 adherents, and it was* stated that; it would be left in .ths'.church vestry op . Sunday next in order thafc additional names may be The presbytery agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Mr Fraser, fco sustain the call and forward if to the Presbytery of North Melbourne for presentation to the Rev. Mr Hewitson'. On the motion of. the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, the Rev. T. R. Cairns (Ballarat), fche Rev. A. Harper (Melbourne), and Mr Duncan Wright were appointed commissioners to represent the congregation before the Presbytery of North Melbourne in support of fche call. A largely attended meeting of the congregation of fche Port Coalmers Presbyterian Church was held on the 6th iusfc. for the purpose of selecting a minister. It was, in the firs, place, resolved, almost; unanimously, that fche meeting should give a unanimous call to the minister who should receive the majority of votes. Two names were then submitted fco fche meeting—those : .of tho Rev. H. Kilpatrick, of Warepa, and fche Rev. J. Anderson Gardiner, of fche Bluff,—and upon a vote of fche members being taken it was found fchat 96 favoured the selection of Mr Gardiner and 76 supported Mr Kilpatrick. The votes of the adherents were "also taken, and a large majority were in favour of Mr Gardiner. Captain Thomson and Mr C. R. Bossence were appointed to wait upon the - presbytery to ask it fco moderate in a call.

The statement; of the assets and liabilities of Fricdlander Bros, was filed at Ashburton on Saturday. Liabilities: Secured, £"-5,456 ; unsecured, £517. Assets : Stock. £74-76 ; property, £62; cash and bills.. £280; surplus from secured creditors, £2280 ;—total, £10,099. The Bank of New Zealand (£35.456) aud W. Friedlander (£10,000) are fche secured creditors.

The Lyttelton Times, states that; the follow-, ing is the correct position of affairs in connection wifch the Cheviot settlers:— *' Thero are 103 occupants holding between them 22,387 1 acres on lease in perpetuity. Their current half-year's rent amounts fco £3073, and of this sum only £159 remains unpaid. There are 30 selectors, holding 41,300 acres as grazing runs. Thoir half-year's rent amounts fco £2920, aud of this sum only £580 is still owing. The holders of village homesteads number 80, and oi their half-year's rent, amount-in;? fco £423 for 24-03 acres, only £42 is unpaid. These figures show that of the 219 settlers who tcok up land on the estate 202 have been able to fulfil their engagements, and that fche 17 who are still in arrears owe no more than £781."

j _ As the result of the departmental inquiry into the circumstances connected with fche railway, collision afc Puketeraki between the morniug train from Oamaru and the train convej'ing the children of the North-East Valley School wifch their parents, we learn fchat M-Intyre, the driver of the Oamaru train, has been dismissed the service.

The South British Insurance Company have received cable advice thai; afc a meeting of the shareholders of the Mutual Union Fire aud Marina Insurance Company of Tasmania the agreement fco dispose of the company's business to fche South British Company, which was arranged by Mr Kirkcr during his recent visit fco Australia and Tasmania, was unanimously ratified. The number of men employed on the cooperative works iv March was : Survey departI menfc 13.4, public works 893,

Parliament, will be opened aboufc the same time as usual—the third week in June. The New Zealand Times , says the Government policy measures are in a forward state.

Iv connection wifch the burial of a man named Edward Firth afc the Southern Cemetery last month, it is' worthy of notice, as a coincidence, that between 50 and 60 year. since he was baptised by the late Rev. Bryan King, rector of Sfc. George's in the East, while his burial service was conducted by that well-known clergyman's son, the Rev. Bryan King, of Sfc. Peter's. Caversham. Ifc is uot often that a father nnd son are both in holy orders, and officiate respectively afc fche baptism and funeral services of a person, one of those ordinances taking- place in England and fche other afc the Antipodes after a lapse of- half a century.

The North Otago Times says:—" As an evidence of whafc ruuholding has been like during late years we may mention a case in this district in which a runholder took up a station, putting £5000 into the concern. He has lost; the £5000 aud £9300 besides-. Tair, ought to afford a grain of comfort to the Government, who find the squatters dying without being killed." • '■•■.'"' v Last month Biahon Nevill opened the new' English Church (St; Mark's) just; built by public subscription at Kivorsdale." The bishop delivered a most impressive sermon, which was listened to with rapt attention by a crowded congregation. The service was conducted, throughout with the assistance of the Re?. T. L. Stanley (vicar of the'parish), and afc its conclusion the bishop expressed'his gratification at. being present; on the opening of such an elegant and. substantial building, which, he stated, was a credit to the district and to all those who had so liberally come forward to defray fche cost of its construction. The organ was presided over by Miss Lefller, assisted by an excellent choir.

' During the quarter ended March 31 last the deposits' made in the Government savings banks of fche colony amounted to £725,363, ahd the withdrawals to £568,447.- At Dnnedin the deposits made amounted fco £102,287 and tbe withdrawals to £80,389. During the March quarter of last year the deposits were £569,333, and the withdrawals £633,173.

The total liabilities iv the estate of B. Hale, of Christchurch, a bankrupt, are £31,504 83 lOd. The unsecured debts are £8323 lia 9d, and the secured debt* .£23,180 17s ld. The value of the securities is set down as £25,097 163 6d, leaving a surplus, after the secured debts have been satisfied, of £1916 19s sd. The. total asßets are put down as worth £27,573 3s Bd, leaving a deficiency of £3931 5s 2d. " ".

The charge against Henry Alfred Parker and Charles Parker, of placing sleepers on the, railway: line at Brint's,; Point on .the 13th, «!_., Was heard at Waikouaiti on the 30th ult., before Messrs J. Smith and D. Grant, J.P.'s. The. main*.point in the evidence was a statement made by Charles Parker to * the police, to. the., effect -that, he-and. *his-. brother.-, placed ~the, sleepers on the line. At the. conclusion of the case for the prosecution, Mr Solomon, who appeared for the accused, admitted that ifc would be a waste of time, on his part to urge that Charles Parker should nob bo committed for trial, as there was undoubtedly a case to answer so far as he was concerned. He, however, submitted with confidence that the other accused should be discharged, as the only, evidence against him was the statement of his. brother, whose, testimony-could not be relied on; The bench dismissed the charge against; Henry Parker, and committed Charles for trial.

The vital statistics for Dunedin for April, were*.—Births,.*9o; deaths, 50; marriages, 46. The returns for the corresponding month of last year were:—Births, 110; deaths, 43 ; marriages, 48. ' *

The adjourned meeting of * the committee of the: Centra! Otago yine and Fruitgrowers' Association' was held on Friday,,loth inst., in the' Chamber of Commerce: hall. There was a good attendance, "Mr Bathgate presiding.: Reports by the canvassers appointed at the previous meeting showed that; the required 100 members had been enrolled, and likewise mdi

cafced that the movement was received wifch a

large measure of public favour. Ifc was resolved to "-convene a meeting of members and thosa desirous of joining for Friday evening nest, 17th'-insfc, and a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Bathgate,. Fergus, Howden, Stronach, Hazlett, and S. N. Brown, was appointed to draft the lines of business for consideration afc -the member's' r mesting. ....•■'■'. ' The ordinary general meeting of the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company of New Zea-land-(Limited) took place in the company's office,, Liverpool street, yesterday, afternoon, Mr J. M. .Ritchie presiding. The balance sheet and directors' report were submitted, and the recommendation thafc a dividend of 7 per cent, be declared, payable on the 17th inst., that £500 be carried to reserve fund, and fchat tha . bdlance of profit and loss be carried forWard,'*was carried. Messrs John Roberts and J. M. Ritchie, the retiring directors, were reelected; and Messrs Bartleman and W. Brown ahd Co. were re-appointed auditors. . In ,a charge of sly grog-selling, against May Turner, of ;.Bast r Gore,. Mr Hawkins, S.M., inflicted a fine of £15, but on-the representations of counsel, and : in view of- the-heavy -costs, eventually .agreed to reduce the:fine to £10. A similar charge against Jane Brown, another occupant of the same house, was withdrawn, the woman Turner taking all the responsibility. It will bs remembered (says tbe Post) that when the Government; took over the railways from the commissioners a commission, consisting 'of Mr Napier Bell and Mr Hales, was appointed to examine the condition of fche permanent way and rolling stock of the several lines. These gentlemen have been busily, engaged on the task, ever since, bat it is understood that they have now completed ifc, and that their report will be that both permanent way and rolling stock were handed over by the commissioners in excellent condition. Possibly this was nofc exactly the report expected or desired. The contract for the erection of the Government Life Insurance building afc the corner of Princes and Rattray streets has been signed by Messrs M'Leod and Shaw, and the' work of

pulling down the old building, which is one of the first stone buildings erected in Dunedin, will commence'almosb'immediately. Ifc is understood fche contract price is aboufc £13,000. For

the base course and piers stone irom Ruapuke Island is to lie used. The piers are to be in one piece of stone, l'Offc long, and will weigh aboufc jfiVe tons, and are to be polished. The remainder of the first storey will be of selected Waikawa stone, and the other two storeys of the superstructure will be of Totara stone, No. 1 quality. The contractors have undertaken to complete the building in 12 months..

The Premier has replied to the representations of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce with|reference to the income tax returns. -He telegraphs that " saving . a brief visit of two days by the President Commissioner 12 months ago ho officer Of the department; has conducted auy inspection of books in Invercargill, though the accountant is on his way now, and will bo in Invercargill next week. Looking to the substantial results which have followed these investigations, and the absence of complaint in places where' they have actually beea made, I think your chamber is under some misapprehension as to the nature ot the inspection. Auy officers who have been employed are permanent; officers and men of experience and fcact, and no one bufc fche Chief Accountant or the Deputy-com-missioner has visited the larger towns. As to the forms, they were very carefully considered by myself before bsing approved ; fchey are nofc nearly so inquisitorial or complicated as the South Australian or Eflglish formß, and the third page (issued as a separate sheet formerly) was really designed to assist people to make up their returns correctly."

Mr Gilrufch, the Government veterinary surgeor., visited on Saturday the property of Mr J. Crawford Anderson, at Stirling, and satisfisd himself of the presence of swine fever among the pigs. Hr Gilruth arranged for. the disposal of *" the animals. Some , days ago portions of the intestines of pigs: bred in thafc district and which were supposed to hava been -suffering from swine fever, or pig cholera, as the disease ia sometimes termed, were .forwarded to Mr Charlton, of Lincoln College, who reported that the lesions were those of swine fever. Consequently Mr Anderson's' lands have been declared infected places under the Stock Act. It may be added thafc this .disease is prevalent in Great Britain and the -United States, and that the Imperial authorities have spent large sums in endeavouring to eradicate it.

The officers of the ship Firth of Sfcronsa, spoken by the barque Trinidad, which lately arrived at Wellington, report fchat when.fcheir vessel was under full sail aboufc 50 miles from the Australian coast a dove, wifch a green fcivig in its bill, settled on the deck, and was so tired by its long journey that ib was easily caught.

The number of arrivals in fche colony during the month o. March was 1919, and fche number of departures 2487.