CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11701, 6 April 1900, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

A thrill of horror, quickly followed by thanksgiving, will be excited god JILKSS throughout the Empire and the the PItTXCE civilised world by this mornjOF wales! ing's announcement that an I unsuccessful attempt lias been j made upon the life of the Prince of Wales. The Prince is safe and unhurt: but. our gratitude leaves room for our indignation. The " deep damnation, of his taking-off" has been providentially averted, but it is evident that the devilish work was deliberately designed. Apart from the more horrible considerations, it is; most unfortunate that the Prince's aged aiid Royal mother should receive a shock of this kind just after undergoing the fatigue of the journey to Ireland. Happily it was not one of the Queen's subjects that raised his hand against the Queen's f.ou. The miscreant is a foreign Anarchist.— mad, let us trust. These attempts can hardly be provided against, and the fate of the Emprnss of Austria and President Carnot (not to go further back) shows that they are only too likely to succeed. All the more reason for hearty thanksgiving to-day! Throughout the Empire there will bo glad congratulation, and especially in England, where the Prince is so well known and so' unboundedly popular. It is hardly necessary to sei^.e the present.occasion in order to analyse the elements of that popularity. The Prince's fine English heartiness, his frank love of life and sport, his varied interests and sympathies, his good-humour, philanthropic readiness, and general willing-ness,-—these are among the causes of his good fame, and they suffice to cover.the faults and foibles from which, as mortal man, he has not been free. Apart from all, political considerations, the Hon. John M'Kenzie is reTHE gavded with so much respect MINISTER and interest that his personal OF laxds. welfare is a, matter of public concern. General uneasiness was naturally caused when it became known that. Mr- M'Kenzie, after attending the contingent celebrations, had returned home in a bad state of health, and everyone expressed an earnest, hope that there would be no return of the perilous condition from which he was freed by an operation in London a few months ago. The doctors are happily able to state that there is no ground for serious misgiving, provided that their patient abstains from work and worry, and it is sincerely to be trusted that the Minister will obey their ruling, and school liis too active temperament into the requisite quietude. When a man regains health and strength after a period of suffering and weakness, he is apt to presume too much on his restored powers, and to fancy that he can do just what ho used to do in the old days. Wo suspect that the Minister of Lands has, to some extent, given way to this foible: but he must learn his lesson if he is to avert an issue of which we do not care to contemplate the possibility. We understand that, if he is careful and restful, there is no reason why his valuable life should not be spared to his family and country for some years: and so may it be! Politically we have differed from him radically and almost continuously, but we have always acknowledged the patriotic integrity of his motives and recognised .liis sterling worth of character,—qualities which have given him a place of honour in the^ he-arts of his fellow countrymen. His political convictions are so strong, and he has had to face so much (quite justifiable) opposition, that he has sometimes seemed to fi.ul il difficult to believe in the goodwill of his opponents; but probably the experience of the last- year has served to remove all doubts on this point. We assure him once more that lie lias no warmer well-wishers than those who have been obliged to criticise his policy. ■ The hearty welcome given by the Roman C::tholie people of Dunedin to ckaij vaiXE Bishop Terdon on coming . PAILTHE. 1-ark to his diocese after his visit to the Horns country and '" ad limina apnstolorutn " was to he expected. Thou R 'i he lias not sought—indeed, has rather avuidetl— prominence outside the pale of his own flock, the Bishop has succeedpil in winuing the respect and liking of the community, while ample proof of the affectionate esteem with which he is regarded by. ■ his people, clergy and laity alike, was

forthcoming on his arrival on Wednesday night. Dr Yerdou had no easy task in fol-loM-ing the popular Bishop Moran, who had -given his own masterful "note, so to speak, to the whole diocese; but the new Bishop's tact and zeal, working in co-operation with what may be termed the reasonable docility of the congregation, quickly paved the way for stable success. If Bishop Moran had » fault, it was over-combative'ness: in voicing the supposed wrongs of his people in the matter of education, hU language was apt to be rather too frequent and free. Bishop Ver. don, sharing tho convictions of his predecetiHor, is less pugnacious in his attitude and utterances,—and nobody is sorry We are B 1:«l that ho has come back in good health sum spirits,—glad, too, that ho is able (from •personal observation) to give such a satisfactory account of the condition of the verieriiblu and venerated Pope. Tho Bishop was dotihtksa gratified to hear of the recent St. Patrick1!! Ony celebrations, with their welcome evidence of cordial sentiment as beUviiijil frinh people and the other races of the Umpires; and we are sure'that it will always I)!! liia cmliifivnur--as wo "believe it 'has been in Iliij past—lo promote kindly feelings in Hi's curnrniMiity and to minimise the social ■:fr«(;l. of rcliifioiiH differences.

i I 111, ' ■ "' ■■ ' fli« Hon. Mr "Ward, Minister of Railways, ftrrlvtjil in Dtineelin. hat night by the south f«fW«! from liivfin:nr(fill. This morning llmlioti. KdiiHemnn proceeds by an early train to I'Mltiionsimi, wliori) lio meets the Hon. Mr M'K^fi-,;,., Minim..* of Lands, and afterWftftla j'.urmsys to Cbriiitchureh by tho north ' BXfifess. At LyUottoi. 'o will take the H-ituftbt It) Wellington, w...;ru he arrives toWfirrtiW ,-it mid-day. Tlic Jlciri. .1. M'Kvmie, Minister of Lands, passed a g-iod tiiyht on Wednesday night, arx.l /ell a sewd dual letter yesterday. He is Jiojyeitil ((/ Root! being all right again. 'Hie JinstftTti Cable Company have comI Ttnimmird With the Hon. Mr "Ward, Pest-' mastfrr-^Tifjrffi a nd Coinmiasioncr of Telegraphs, inking v/Jictbw New Zealand is prepftrc.l to give a guarantee against loss.over llio patilfs hfjtv/oftii N,. y/ Zciiljintl and Australia, to otitiiira tliy present rate« being conlirmotl 1,, ~r , 1,: r v , frarno llis rep]y) the Hon. .Mr Ward hu;< instructed the bead office at A\ ellington to supply !,im with a return of all the business carried over the whole of the lines. In conversation with one of our staff last night, Mr Ward said that, in any case, lie is against an increase in the rates, and that he does not see there is any necessity for giving a guarantee. An evidence that the City Council, as.the local Board of Health, are alive to the necessity of taking every precaution in connection with the sanitary condition of the city i 8 to be found in the fact that during the past fortnight the premises of WOO residents in the city have been inspected, with satisfactory results. Wherever anything objectionable existed, the nuisance was removed. The three inspectors are still energetically prosecuting their visits of inspection in different parts of the city. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held last evening for the purpose of forming a committee to secure the return of Mr T. R. Christie for the position of councillor' for the vacancy in Bell Ward caused by the death of the late Mr Solomon. Mr Brinsley was unanimously elected chairman, and it was resolved that those present plede themselves to use every effort by fair and honourable means to secure Mr Christie's return. The committee then set to work and got through a lot of work in connection with the various parts of the ward. Ninety of the Esquimo dogs utilised in Sir George Newness Antarctic expedition have been landed on Native Island (to the southeast of Stewart Island), which has been quarantined in the meantime to allow ■• of their reception. The dogs are to be held there until required by other expeditionary parties going in the direction of'the South Pole. ■Our Arrowtown correspondent wires:—A deep and sympathetic gloom was cast over the district when it became known that this (Thursday) morning about half-past 5 Mr Robert Hope Baird, eldest son of the late Mr Thomas Baird, had died of inflammation of the kidneys, after an illness of two days. The news came as a blow to the whole district, where the deceased gentleman held a leading position. This being the second son lost to the family within a twelvemonth, it will be .understood that the sorrow-stricken family have the sinccrest sympathy of the residents. The family resided in Dunedin1 for many years, and there they have many friends. The deceased was 36 years of age the time of his death. , A correspondent writes:—"A very painful event, happened at the back of Green Island Bush, as it is called, on Tuesday last. , A family named Dee live x there, and on the day named one of the boys, about seven years of age, wandered away alone from horne —a most unwonted thing for him to do. How^ ever, as the mother had gone to town with a sister, and as the boy had been reared in the vicinity, no thought of harm occurred to the minds of those in charge until nightfall, when the boy did not return. The friends and neighbours being made acquainted with the fact by the mother, a- ready response was made by a diligent search, which was continued all that night and next day, without any trace of the poor child being found. The sandhills and the bush were closely scoured in a systematic way, the lagoons were dragged, the sea beach and rocks were carefully examined, but no trace of the missing boy could be found. It is necdless-to say that the poor mother is distracted, while the father being away working at the Otago Central adds to the bitterness on all sides. The boy's disappearance seems a mystery, but the sad fact shows that children of such tender years are not to be trusted with their own safety away from older helpers." Intimation was received yesterday that, the'poor boy had been found in a somewhat exhausted condition, but definite particulars were not available. We learn that Mr J. R. Gairdner, who'has so long and successfully managed the Otago Bible and Tract Depot, has recently resigned the managership, and the directors have appointed Mr W. L. Logic, well known in connection with the working of that institution, in his place. : When reporting this week to the City Mission Committee, Mr Duncan Wright expressed disappointment that in some of the schools several of the standards are not adequately represented at the weekly Bible class, and he begs the active co-operation of parents. In other respects the work, he says, is full 'of interest. : We understand that the committee of the A. and V. Association have about completed arrangements for taking over the lease and purchasing the exhibition annexe to the Agricultural Hall. < This will ensure adequate space, for some years at least, for the winter show. All the volunteer corps in the Otago district, including Southland and North Otago, will move into camp during Easter. As already announced, the camp will be held ne.-.r Washdyke, seven miles from Timaru, on the Fairlie branch line, and preparations are now being made for the reception of 2000 men. The Dunedin Naval Artillery and the Port Chalmers Naval Artillery will go into camp at the defence works at Otago Heads. The Southland men leave Invercargill on Thursday night at half-past 8, and the Otago companies take Ihoir departure from Dunedin on the fame night at 9 o'cloik. Travelling all night, the Otago men will reach the camp at 6 o'clock on Friday morning, and the Southland men about noon. Attendance at the camp is optional, and as the Government allowance is sufficient to cover only mess expenses, it is feared that many men will be unable to remain in camp for a week, as was originally intended, while others cannot get leave, as their employers are busy. Under these circumstances, the probability is that the encampment will terminate on Easter Monday night. When the patriotic postcards issued by tho Postal department were offered for sale in AVellington on Saturday, no fewer than 4500 were sold over the counter at the General Post Office. • .

Early as it is in the year, preparations for tho Witness Christmas Annual, 1900, are already, boing made, and tho management have every confidence in tho success and popularity of the scheme chosen. The* stories, illustrations, and a specially conceived article oh quite original lines will all combine to carry out the central idea on which the number is planned. We do not at the present purpose, indicating that plan further than'by saying that it will be the most widely and thoroughly representative New Zealand number that has ever been issued, that it will be bright, interesting, and clover, and ithat it will be issued in plenty of time for sending Homo as a Christmas souvenir to friends in the Home land. By a letter just received from Mr J. W. Mellor, B.Sc, who went to Manchester last year on an exhibition scholarship, we learn that he is engaged at present in research work with Professors Perlcin and Dixon, and that the former had proposed him as a research student. He says: "The laboratory in which i work is the Schorlemmer Laboratory, used only for practical work in organic chemistry. It is about the size of the Dunedin Agricultural Hall. There are two other laboratories larger, if anything, and possibly a couple- of dozen smaller rooms for special wo:k. The fittings are beautiful." Mr Mellor, in eulogising the work of the local technical classes, adds: "If your committee only knew how grateful I am for ..tho benefits I have received from the classes under Dr Don's tuition, I am sure thsy would feel repaid for their anxiety and hard fight they have had." The Lyttelton Times Wairau correspondent, states that Mr A. \V. Rutherford, of Mendip Hills, has promised to present the Government with a Vickers-Maxim gun if the Defence department accept the services of the mounted rifle corps from the Amuri district. According to the Post, the Petone Borough Council intends to install a novelty in the shape of shiiling-in-the-slot gas meters, so popular in England. There was a discussion on the iniquity, or otherwise, of the kea, at the Philosophical Institute on • Wednesday (says the Christchurch Press). Dr Dendy, while of open mind on the subject, expressed the opinion that the evidence went to show that the keawas'a much maligned and quite innocent bird. Sir John Hall thought the evidence was the other way, and so did Dr Thomas. Mr Cockayne was sceptical like Dr Dendy, and both these latter gentlemen hinted that I the common seagull had something to do with tho killing of sheep. Professor Dendy has unearthed near Lake Te Anau a new species of the Peripatus, n, peculiar animal, the connecting link between the worm and the insect. The Peripatus is a not very widely distributed family, but the different species have extraordinary characteristics: Their legs vary in number, and while the young of one sort is born alive after 13 months, another lays «ggs which hatch out after a similar period. ■ A meeting of the ratepayers of Port Chalmers will take place this evening to deter- ; mine the necessity of obtaining another loan to pay off present liabilities and to improve (a much-needed want) the water service. No' doubt the meeting will be unanimously in favour olf the proposal. Despite the unfavourable weather there was a large audience at the Alhambra Theatre last evening, when the vaudeville programme j was well appreciated. Miss Violet Chard, I the premiere dansenee, was encored for her j rendering' of "Di Di Di." To-night is the last night of the present programme. Mes3r3 Maclean and Co. will hold a sale of tpllow, hides, and fat this afternoon at 2.30. Messrs Jarnea Samson and Co. will sell furni- • turc, personal effects, etc., at their rooms tomorrow. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will sell raciug privileges at their saleyards to-morrow. Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. will sell ironmongery, brushware, etc., at their rooms at 2 o'clockthis afternoon. . A notice to members oi the Southern StarrBowkott Society appears in our advertising columns. Tenders are invited for tiie construction of a bridge over the Maruwemia Biver. A notice to ratepayers in the borough of Eorth-East Valley appears in another column. The local banks announce that they will be closed on the 13th, 14th, lGth, and 17th inst. The Albany street School picnic will be held to-morrow. . Tenders are invited for re-forming and metalling about 13 chains of the Signal Hill road. Messrs Donald-Keicl and Co. will hold a sale -of - surplus stock at Windsor Park on Friday, '. Passengers, periodicals, and part cargo by the 's.s. Whalcatano, from London, will arrive here by the .Waihora, due on Sunday. Tenders are invited for the construction of ■wooden pontoons for the G-ihbstcn, United Morven, and Morveu Ferry Gold Dredging Companies. ■ .'.'■ The Waikouaiti sports meeting will he held on. Easter Monday. In the.condensation of the evidence in the case Brown, Ewing, and Co. v. L. Warsaw the statement of one witness might to some extent be misleading. It was stated that Mr Brown was interviewed on behalf of the apprentice, whereas it was a representative of the firm who was interviewed, Mr Brown personally beiug totally unaware.'of the transaction. _Who is Peter Dick?— The most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt. Caster and Co.'s great sale is now on Great bargains in all departments. Call early at Carter's great sale.—Advt. John Hisi.op, oiaeai established Watchjunker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery Spectacles suit all sights.—Advt. The place to purchase presents is undoubtedly G. and T. Young's, watch and jewellery establishment, 88 Princes street. You can always rely upon getting value for your money there See advt. first page. My mother, says you need only scan the newspapers to know which Teas to avoid buying She ixever buys extensively advertised tea, or tea- with .which you are promised something for nothing. It all has to be paid for by reducing'quality. She buys Kozie, at 2a, and gets ralue and purity always.—Advt.