CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11684, 17 March 1900, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS.

Hail to the returning festival of good St. Patrick ! It comes round to-day THE under singularly happy austceabtn1 pices—for is not the heart of o' the the Umpire aflame with1 admiracheen. lion for the Irish soldiers who have been daring everything and bleeding and dying .in the Empire's cause? And is not the good Queen (making light of her burden of years) about to shed the radiance of her presence upon her loyal Irish children?. And are not Irish generals the heroes of the hour? And is there not a common resolve to forget, all events [or the lime, even our ancient differences and show the world a unity of Imperial sentiment? If we mny adapt Tennyson's welcome to the Princess of Wales for the benefit of St. Patrick— Knglish and Scottish and Irish are we, But all of us Irish in honour of tbce. We are all to wear the bit o' green to-day—! at the bidding of the-Mayor and of our own hearts. Englishmen and. Scotsmen will be expected to try their hands at t!.e brogue (a. bull! but it may pass to-day). There will be much singing of Irish songs, much quoting of Tom Moore and other bards of Erin, much drinking of—but we are allowing ourselves to be carried away by the genius of the occasion.' Anyhow, the spirit that ,is being displayed in connection with the typical Hibernian festival is of a most gratifying order, and is fraught, we trust, with rich blessings of peace and goodwill for the future of the Empire.

The " Red Page " of the Sydney Bulletin is always worth reading, whatever .nui.l.s.. may bo thought of the other portions of .that somewhat too audacious weekly. On the 3rd inst. there was an interesting paper on the subject of " Bulls,", and to-day, when everybody wishes to say pleasant tilings about, yfreland and her institutions, we cannot do. better than quota the writer's clever and by no means unreasonable defence of the " bull as a thing of intellect. :— One reason why the Irish mind runs to bulls is because its ideas nre so brisk, so nimble, that they cannot be licpt v.ithin the walls of language; they are perpetually leaping over, or gliding under, or riuhing round. The Irish raind has intuitions (like the intuitions on which Kepler founded modern astronomy) which rise superior to demonstration, and appeal to ■slower wits as bulls. It brushes aside i irrelevancies of verbiage to concentrate itself lon the main idea; yields on minor points to triumph in the major—which is the bost o£ mentnl jjonernUhip. For example, lr.l;e the bull which Leigh Hunt never tirccl of reprinting. One Irish bricklayer bet another that the latter could not carry him up a ladder to the top of a. hou??c in a - hod-—nnd the housetop was reached in safety. " Well," said the man who lost, "you've bate me, divil a doubt of it! but shure, ai the third storey I had hopeß." You see. he concentrate:! his wits on the vital uoint —the v.-affev; caring nothing for the incidentals of the fall. A " Book of Bulls " has recontly been published. and, needless to say, it makes very good reading. Here is one that is new to us. Said a, smoker to a-tobacco-denouncing lady: "There's my father, who smokes every clay' of his life, and he is now 70 years old." The lady, not to be beaten, rejoined: "And if he hadn't smoked, he'd probably be 50 by this time." There is yet another bull that may be put to special use to-day. Let us cry, with the. Irish politician of 30 years ago, "Thank God, the bridge is at last broken down that has so long separated the Irish from tiie English people ! " The Olagc Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Auimals coutiuues A humane to porlorm excellent work in a wont quiet way, only a small part of the inspector's activity being represented by the iMses that are actually taken into court. During Hie last year 70 persons were cautioned, while only 18 wore prosecuted. The case.? of cruelty that came under notice were "less in number and fiagrancy than last year," and we think that this may be iaken as fairly conclusive evidence of humanitarian progress in the district, for Mr Ailken is very vigilant, and has many sources of information. There is not likeiy to lie much cruelty that he does not he"ar of. The inspector takes pleasure in notiiigtliat "there is.a. considerable improvement in the tram, drag, cab, express, and contractors' horses." The society has temporarily lost the services of ITr Quick, who had acted r.s secretary for so, many years—ur, rather, it has lost, those services ideally, for Mr Quick, with characteristic goodness, ha* undertaken to make some investigation? for the society during his stay in London. In Mr T. S. Giaham an excellent successor to .Vr Quick has been found, while it would be superfluous to say anything further concerning" JIV AHkenV zeal and tact. The financial position of the society is very sound, but there was a slight fall in the number of members and the amount of subscriptions. Some of our readers will" doubtless be glad to roinforce the society during the pro sent year. No one can be the worse for having a small share in siu-h an excellent work.

As some, misapprehension appears to exist with regard to the proclamation of St. Palrick's Day as a Govc-rmnein, holiday, it might ho pointed out tlmt it lias bees so observed since 1894. As a tribute to (lip brave deeds of the Irish irotips chiving tlio prcsnilt war, ami to murk the graceful references of her Majesty to those ilewls, wo hiivo reason lo believe that the fiovernment would lie gratified if Ilia public strictly observed tin; holiday by dosing all plates of lmsine^K to-day. Tho Kntomalnuia, with the southern portion of.the inward 'Frisco mail, left Wellington at 7.20 last night, for Ly Helton. The mail "should reach Dmiedin by the north express to-night. ~S\v .1. Angus, .7.1., presided at the City Police Court yestorclny morning, and convicted and difiuharged William Nichols, who had not been before the court for some, considerable time. The charge against Nichols was one of drunkenness.

] The questions arising upon the petitions in connection with the licensing polls arc of verj general interest, but the facts, the law, and ', the proceedings connected therewith aru st» ! complicated that it is by v no means an easy ■ matter-to explain what is being.dpne'.or'attempted. The Oamaru petition was promote?' in the interests of those opposed to reduction, the object being to get the poll declared .void, so that the vote for reduction would take effect. The petition came before Major Keddell, and the solicitor for the petitioners argued that the returning offioer must ip'ersonally count all the votes, and that his fail- ! lire to do so amounted to an irregula.rity J 4n consequence of which the court should set aside the poll.' This view was adopted by the presiding magistrate, who declared the poll 1 void. The same question arose before Mr ! Stratford in the Bruce .licensing case, in which the Prohibition party (the petitioners) moved in order to have reduction declared carried. In the Bruce case, it was argued for the petitioner's that the oounting by the i deputies was in order, but that the deputies ' had made mistakes. Mr Stratford/however, | followed the previous decision, and held that j it was the duty of the returning officer personally, to count all the votes, and he ordered a re-count of the votes to be made by the relurninc; officer personally. The point came up again in an argument before Mr. j Justice Williams on Thursday upon- a motion made on behalf of the licerisI ing. party to . prohibit Mr Stratford from proceeding on his judgment. Mr Sim then argued for the petitioner that the proper course was for the deputy returning officers to count the votes in every branch polling, booth, and that the returning officer should add together the totals supplied to him and j announce the result. Mr Adams, for the i other fiide, admitped that he could not contend ; that the magistrate was right, but pointed out j that the reason for the' magistrate's decision | was that section 8 of 'The Alcoholic Liquor | Sale Control Act,. 1595," provided as foli lows:—"The returning? officer shall', count the votes, and shall set aside all informal votes, and if lie finds," etc.; while in the act jof 1893, section 18 ; which had been repealed by I the latter act, the language usad was, " If, on counting the votes, the returning officer finds," j etc. As the Legislature hail altered the language used, the magistrate hold that it was intended to alter the method of counting, and to came to the conclusion that the returningofficer was not entitled to act through depu■fio. During the course of the nrgument, his Honor Mr Justice "Williams said it was impossible to hold that the returning officer was bound to count the votes personally, as he must follow the procedure laid down in "The Electoral Act,. 1E93," which distinctly provided that deputies should couut the votes. •Upon the other questions affecting the Ma.gistraie's order in the Bruce'election case, as has been previously mentioned, judgment was reserved. ........ '.

We have decided to close to-day the shilling more horses fund, which we opened to provide remounts for th© members of the first contingent in the Transvaal. The response,1 when all the other claims on the community are taken into consideration, has been" generous, especially when it is remembered that to a large extent the object we had in Hew was covered by the promise to the chairman of the Patriotic Committee. The total so far L £35* 9s 4d. Those who sympathise with the object and have not contributed their shilling, or more, have an opportunity of doing so this morning. We should like to be able to hand over. to the Organising Committee a round sum, say, £360. Only £5 10s 8d is required to enable this to be done. ■ .-"

Ah a sitting of the Supreme Court in Chambers yesterday, in addition to the ordinary Chamber business, two .appeal, cases came before liis Honor Mr Justioe Williams. In one of these the conviction of • Charles Banwell, who had been sentenced to three months' imprisonment upon a charge of receiving stolen property, was quashed. It will ■"■'be remembereO that the accused was charged with the same offence upon precisely similar evidence at the Supremo Court, and that two juries on the facts brought in verdicts of acquittal. Under the circumstances Mr Fraser, who appeared for the Crown, elected to offer no evidence, and his Honor, who mentioned that he approved of the course counsel for the Crown had taken, quashed the conviction. Jlr Hanlon, who represented the appellant, urged that at least disbursements shouldbeallowed the appellant, as he had been put to expense in the way of fees in order to obtain justice; but his ;llonor, though admitting that hardship might be inflicted, did not deem it right to depart from the rule of not'allowing costs against the Crown, Another .case that was heard was an appeal from the decision of. the magistrate at Oamaru in the ease of Tait v. Sullivan, and in this case the decision of the magistrate was maintained, the appeal being dismissed. ' ' . " ' .

As an excuse for the non-appearance in the Magistrate's Court yesterday of a defendant who had beeii served with a 1 judgment summons, it was stated that he was at present on his honeymoon. It was suggested. that a honeymoon was a sufficiently pressing matter to account for a person's non-attendance to such prosaic matters as judgment summonses, but an unsentimental lawyer was obdurate, and demanded an order by default. The order was accordingly made, and the happypair's period of ecstatic bliss has thus^beeii clouded by the possibility of the bridegroom being provided with single lodgings at the expense, of the State. In another judgment summons' case plaintiff sought an order against a defendant for the recovery of a debt for board and lodgings. The former "stated that, instead of paying what he owed, defendant went off and got married. An additional grievance was attached to the matter; inasmuch as defendant was a most particular boarder. He would complain if the pattern of his tea, cup was not in accord with his sense of the .-esthetic, and v his robe de nuit was not tastefully folds'' and laid.upon his pillow. Defendant denied possessing anysuch delicate taste, and said that his wife provided the cash needful for their marriage. His Worship thought that one of the needful tilings had been overlooked—namely, the liquidation of defendant's debts, and made an' order calculated to.rectify, the oversight.

We recently, received a letter from " Pakeha". drawing attention to the fact that the Maoris at Olago Heads had riot been supplied with water tanks by the Government, as was Use case with Natives at other kaiks. The letter also drew attention to the difficulties" under which the Maori families at the Heads laboured in procuring medical advice or assistance. Ti Te brought the matter under the notice of the Hon. John M'Kenzie, who was then in Dunedin, and he kindly undertook to bring it before the Native • Minister. This he has done, and we have now received the following communication from the Under-secre-tary of the Justice department:—" At the re-" quest of (he Hon. John M'Keuzie, I beg to state for your information that the water tanks which the Government has undertaken to provide for the Natives at Otago Heads, if not already supplied, will be supplied in a few days; also, that the Government is endeavouring to make arrangements with a medical man to attend the Natives when required." Those who take an interest in the Natives 'will be pleased to learn, that arrangements are being made for the services of a medical man when required. " The Tablet, referring to the proposed visit of the Queen to Ireland, says f—" The Irish respect for the virtuous ruler of the Empire has in no way diminished since the days of ! IS3S, 1849. and IE6I. And from her Irish subjects the Queen-Empress may expect the genuine Irish cead mile faille—ten thousand : hearty welcomes. The welcome will be ren- ; dureel all the more cordial by the fact that the aged ruler brings with her a grateful acknowledgment—flic first that ever, came from Royal lip?—of the part the Trish soldier has played in bearing up her Empire, and a mes- . st'go of sympathy lor the widows and children j of the gallant Celts who died fighting for her, and whose bones lie beneath the sun-browned veldt or up the boulder-strewn kopjes of Cape Colony or Natal. The Irish people are quick to forgive, if to resent, a wrong. But they never forget a kindness. There lies, too. in the coming Royal visit the hope that it will not be merely a detached incident in a long reign, but that it may open a.'new epoch in the relations between the Irish and the En<jj lish nations"

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs: —The local Acclimatisation Society strongly ■protests against the opening of the shooting season, on the 31st March. Members slate that native Turds are not fit to be taken till a month later, and urge that the season, both for native and imported game, should commence on Ist May.

Mr H. H. Driver, secretary of the New Zealand Baptist .Missionary Society, reports that he has received from a friend who wishes to remain .unknown an offer of £500 towards the Chanrlpore Hospital fund, on the solo condition that the balance (£600) of the estimated cost be raised during tho year. This exceedingly generous anonimous offer .should stimulate other benevolent hearts to liberality and render possible the erection of t this most desirable institution at an early date. Gifts or promises ■will be thankfully received by Sir Driver, at his book store, 7 George street.

Miss Susannah C. C. M'Knight lias received intimation that she has passed the first section of her B.A. degree.

The Bruce Temperance party have nominated tho following gentlemen in the interests of the party at the forthcoming licensing election:—Messrs James Adam, James Inglis, Robert M'Kinnon, Hugh Russell, and Henry Fraser.

A Samoan high chief reported while at Sydney en route to (lie Paris Exhibition, that a quarrel took place at a cricket match at Savaii, in which tho natives o£ five villages became involved. Ten were killed, many others being wounded. A surprising feature of the fray was that notwithstanding that all natives were supposed to have surrendered their arms at the close of the recent war. everyone whe- took part was possessed of either a revolver or a rifle. The SamoaWeekly Herald, describing the native disturbance at Savaii, states that it occurred on the 3rd inst. The villagers were armed with guns and large knives.. Fully 500 from the villages Taga and Tufu went to take- part, and these were armed with 60 rifles and plenty of ammunition. The Herald, remarks:—" We think from what we know of the Samoan customs that grave complications will ensue from this matter, as several Samoan customs have beep infringed."

The captain of the Ilimitangi, says the New Zealand Times, reports that while -at Castlepoint on Saturday morning, some boys who were picnicking on the beach observed a great deal, of splashing in shallow water, and discovered the cause to be a large swdrtifish, which had got out of its element. The marine monster was promptly "speared, and it is the intention, we understand, of the local telegraphist to preserve tho fish and semi it on to Wellington forKexhibition, the species being very rare in New Zealand waters. The size of the fish may be judged by the fact that its:sword is 3ft long.

■ The inhabitants of Valence have had a- terrible experience with escaped lions at a fair. The accident, says a correspondent of the London Morning Post, began by the bursting of a petroleum lamp in a large circus built of wood. The circus was burnt clown and the fire spread to neighbouring booths, among them being that of Jilallen, a lion tamer. When the roof of Malleu'L booth caught fire he was in the lion's cage giving a performance. Smoke filled the theatre instantaneously, and the public rushed fop, the door. Mallen himself hurried out of the cage to sava himself, but lie forgot to shut the door behind him. Two lions came out and' began prowling about the fair in the feeble light given by a few lanterns, while.the public fled in panic in every direction uttering shrieks of fear. One of the lions was about to seize a. child when a young workman bravely intervened. He tried to grasp the bruteby the throat, but was knocked down and horribly mauled and bitten. Another workman who tried to rescue him was also knocked clown, but he escaped with| torn clothes. The lions then attacked and severely wounded two chestnut-sellers and' overturned several travelling vans, Hnllen, who showed great courage, finally captured the animals and got them back into the cage. '

The greatest gold-producer and dividend payer on the Bendigo goldfield iis the Garden Gully mine. A few days ago it declared another dividend of Is hi the £1,. which:,brought the grand total it has distributed amdng.the shareholders*, of the company up to £1,000,437. In the early stages of its career the mine did not indicate that it possessed'hidden treasure. In 1865, it was taken in hand by the Garden Gully United Company, and until 1869 the operations were so unsatisfactory and unproductive that calls were made frequently, and thousands of shares were forfeited, failing to bring in even the 3d call that had been made. This led to a period of stagnation', and it was not until a meeting of shareholders had been hold, at which it was decided to let the mine on .tribute to threo or four different companies, that the cloud lifted. In. extending the crosscut at 1448 ft, in a hitherto untried block of ground, a west back was encountered, and subsequently it revealed a ""highly payable reef, whioh has handsomely paid the shareholders.

Among the invalids sent Home from South Africa is Private James Williamson, of the Black "Watch, a native of Montrose. He was struck by six bullets at Magersfontein. One bullet hit a Testament, which was in l'is breastpocket, over the heart. The ball glanced off the Testament and passed through his loft arm, which it broke. He'thus owes his life to the possession of a copy of the Scriptures. Williamson was shot through the left -foot, left thigh, right shoulder, right leg, and bade.

Our readers will recollect with pleasure the kinamatograph -display of war pictures shown m this city lately, and will be glad to hear that there are to be two more such evenings during contingent week, when films and pictures dealing with incidents in the Transvaal war will be shown in the Garrison and Agrivdtural Halls on the Friday and. Saturday evenings. The musical, portion will be much above the average* Mrs Hudson, Miss Brewer Mr Farqulmr Young, and others will take part, to say nothing of the popular Northeast Valley Band.

There was a good attendance at the Alhambra Theatre when Fuller's Vaudeville Com-

pany repeated the previous night's programme. , To-mght an Irish bill will be given in honour 01 Ireland s patron saint. Irish ballads, comic songs, and musical selections by the Leslie Brothers will" form the staple of the evenings entertainment, the whole concluding with tlip ■sketch "Irish Justice."

A patriotic concert will be held in the Garrison Hall on Saturday, 24th inst. The pro gramme is likely to be an excellent one. Herr R. 0. Zimmermann, solo violinist from Auck land, will appear here for the first time nq will Mr• T. Amos, flute and piccolo soloist, 'and i.lr ii. Jimauuel, comic. Miss Florence Brewer' will sing, by special request, "The youn» recruit, with chorus by the Dunediu Meister" Bingers. The box plan is now open at the Dresden.

TO-MOI;ROW'S CHURCH SERVICES..

7^S^ Ch-U°rninS and — -=• E-.

Trinity Wesleyan'church.— 11 a.m., Mr Rob bins; 6.30 p.m., Mr Powell. ■ Methodist Central' Mission —11 ivn TV.v Hugh Bcggs; C.30 p.m., Rev. W. A "s'iWla-'V Subject: " General Whiie'fi Mess-vc- "fhnnlGod we kept the flag flying.- " = ' Wesley Church, Caigill road.—ll a m (■Heaven") and G. 30 p.m. ("Jesus Christ'on '.he Sword"), Rev. T. •(>. Brooke. Mo-uel Church—ll a.m. Mr Thomusou ■ 6 ISO nm \, U. P. -Howoll. * ' 1- 1 "'11

The monthly meeting of the Burns Club vill be held in the Choral Hal] on Wednesday evening. Copies of the- annual report and balance sheet will be circulated.

A meeting of Irishmen will be held at 12 30 10-day in the Garrison Hall to despatch a cablegram to her Majesty tiie Queen expressive of their . gratitude for her high appreciation of the valour of her lush troops and her coming visit to Ireland. The Hon. J. 6. Ward will probably he present. Air J. C. AVilliamson announces in another column the operas for which he has obtained the Australasian rights, and all parties are warned against playing or performing them in Dubiio without obtaining permission to do so.

We have received from Mr James-Wallace, of Princes street, a sample of St. Patrick's Day badges just issued to commemorate the Queen's recognition of the bravery o! the Irish regiments ill the present war. On a broad green ribbon is a representation of the Shamrock, with - Cead mile foilte - above it and "Faugh-a-ballairh ■ below

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will hold a clearing sale of sheep, horses, and cattle at the Hakataramea, Downs estate at an early date. Tenders are invited for the purchase of a stock of groceries, drapery, boots, cto., and also freehold land with buildings, at Naseby. Tenders are invited for the lease of the InverchiOid dairy farm. The Waikouaiti County Council invite tenders for five contracts..

Hie animal meeting of the Dunedin Football Club will be held in the Grand Hotel on Monday evening at 8 o'clock. The National Mortgage and Agency Company (Oamaru) sell by auction at Wainafcarua on Ihnrsaay, 9.2nd hist., a grazing property, and also stock thereon. They also have for private sale the Taipo Hill estate, near Oamaru. -the Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Company will sell nt Macraes on Friday, 30th mat., a freehold grazing farm. Messrs TV right, Stephenson, and Co. will hold their annual ram and ewe fair at Burnsido yards on Thursday, 52nd inst Messrs Maclean and Co. will hold a sale of hides, fat, and tallow at their stores, Crawford street, this morning at 10 o'clock. Mr H. S. Valentine will continue his. clenrmg sale of ironmongery, cutlery, etc., on the premises, corner of fieorge and Frederick streets, at I o'clock to-da\.

A general meeting of "shareholders in the Dancdm Starr-Bov.-fcctt Building Society will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street, on Thursday, hist The Otago Dock Trust invite tenders for the purchase of a lease of a portion of the trust's endowment n.t Port Chalmers.

At the Theoaophical Society's llooui-, to-mor-row evenhsjt Miss Home will deliver a lecture entitled " Man and His Vehicles of Consciousness.

An alteration in the hour of a funeral is notified in tiiis issue.

Who is Peteb Dick?— The most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dimedm. Charges strictly moderate—Ail vt . J'

akd Co.'s great sale is now on b-reat bargains in all departments. Call early at Carter's great sale.—Advt.

JOHN Hisun-. eldest .established Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, aml Jewnllerv. Spectacles suit all sights. —Ach-t. The place to purchase presents is undoubtedly G-. and T. Young's, watch and jewellery establishment, 88 Princes street. You can alwav* rely upon getting value for your money there, See advt. tirst page Flag of Ireland and other novelties for St. Patrick's Day at Bb.utiiwaitr's.—Aclvt. Patriotic Budge.—Fourth Contingent Bnd"e designed by Mollison and Co., made of the khaki cloth worn by our boys. Over 3,000 sold in two days. Pronounced by all to be the best badge produced.—Mollison and Co.—Ailvl Flag of Ireland, and other novelties for St Patrick's Bay at Bhaitiiwaite's.—Advt. "Our O\v:i Boys." Souvenirs are made by .Lilly Brotljera, jewellers, George street, of tl'e finest sterling silver. The medals have rin"s soldered on for attachment to chnins, handles otc. Price; Medals, Is Gd; hat v i nß , 2s. Post free to country.—Advt. Treatment by massage and electricity for rheumatism, paralysis, nervous, and ioint troubles. Mr and Mrs Edwin Booth, Stuart street. Under medical patronage.—Advt. Flag of Ireland and other novelties ■ for St Patrick's Day at Bhaithw.utjj's.—Advt.