OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 8

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

In honour of the Canterbury Jubilee, a Shirley resident has had his child christened "Jubilee Canterbury." The body of the man Trotter, supposed to have been drowned in the river, at Totara Flat, was recovered on Sunday, much decomposed. . - The '.Oomaru papers state that Sergeant C. Jones and Corporal Evans, of that town, will be competitors at the Federal Bifle meeting.

Two iioyal Enfiuld tandems for sale (second-, hand) at the Speedwell Cycle "Works, 155 George street, Duncdin. Price, £20 and £25, for cash. The last-mentioned is practically a new niachine.... During a violent thunderstorm at Kalgoorlie recently a wooden hotel was struck by lightning and wrecked by a cyclonic- wind, only one room being left standing. The North Otago Times states that very great heat was experienced between Oamaru and Otepopo on Tuesday. On the hill at the south end of Oamaru some thermometers registered as high as 100 in the shade, whilo others ran over 120 in the sun. The 1900 Sterling models of "Built Like a Watch " fame, can be obtained with free wheel, chain, and chainless.—Morrow, Bassett, and Co.. sole agents.... Advices have been received at the Thames that Mr Harold Bayldon, son of Mr D. H. Bayldon, consulting engineer to the New Zealand Mines Trust, has been appointed manager of the Matabele Proprietary Mines (Limited). The Victorian gold yield for the eleven months ended November 30 was 724-,9090z, a

decrease of 31,9030z as compared with the corresponding period of last year. Last month's yield was 77,0390z, 9250z in excess of the output for October. A 10 a.m. delivery within the Town Belt is now being made in connection with the N.Z. Express Company's '"Feighler" parcels service...

An old settler in the Oberon district (New South Wales), Thomas Wilcox, was bitten on. the hand by a large brown snake, and died some hours afterwards. A young man at Cooma, James Ward, while camping with a mate, trod on a tiger snake, which bit him in the calf' of the leg. Remedies were unavailing, and he died soon afterwards. A satisfactory trial of the Piripirl viaduct, on a deviation three miles on the northern side of Dannevirkc, was made on Sunday. The train consisted of five engines, besidea several trucks, and the tost, we understand, was a thorough one. Whare life has great attractions for tho young men of Wellington. The whate may be either in the bush or at the seaside. ' On Saturday afternoon the occupants leave town, some on Tricycles, others walking, all carrying knapsacks, and return on Monday morning. M'Cormick machines lead in design, workmanship, and high quality of material... ; Among the passenger's by the Waikare from Sydney for Wellington are Mr Justice Simpson, of New South Wales, on a holidaytour ; Mr W. Ferguson, engineer to the .Wellington Harbour Board, who is returning from the old country; and Mr Hbldsworth, chief inspector of tho Union Steam Ship Company. . A ladies' shooting match was held at Waimate on Monday (says the Timaru Post), and

attracted no lesa than 30 fair competitors.

Many of them had never held a rifle before, so the scores were not very high. Mrs Smith

and Miss Coulbeck tied for first place with 20 points each. In the shooting off these ladies tied no less than six times, but Mrs Smith eventually won by one point.

Morrow, Bassett, and Co. are sole agents in New Zealand for the M'Cormick Harvesting Machine Company, and the Sterling Bicycle.... What is supposed to be an extinct volcano has been found 13 miles from Herberton (Queensland) by a survey party. The volcano was only known to the blacks. This is accounted for by an almost impenetrable scrub.. Tho crater is five chains in diameter, with

vertical walls over 600 ft high to the water level. An attempt to ascertain the depth wasunsuccessful. The surface round tho mouth of the crater is covered with lava.

Cheong Xi Chu, who came to and is still in Australia as the exponent of the Chinese Reform Party's views, has visited various centres in Victoria with a detective as an escort. At each centre a committee has been formed, and subscriptions solicited for the reform fund. As a result, over £2000 has already been promised, and a draft for £750 has al-

ready been sent to China. M'Cormick machines make agriculture profitable. They harvest the crops of the world with the least expenditure of time and money.... The drapers in Ashburton (says the Standard) have formed an association, and have arranged to keep what may be termed n " black list" of persons who do not pay their accounts. Each draper will send in the

name of the defaulter to the acting secretary once a month, and once a customer gets hia name on this list all the business people pledge themselves to refuse him or her credit until all drapory debts are settled. Mr W. J. West, a worthy old West Coast pioneer, crossed the Great Divide the othei day. A Londoner by birth, he came to the colonies early in the days of the Australian goldfields, then on to Otago, and from there to the West Coast. Many of his friends are still living in Victoria. He was well known in the early days of the Coast. M'Cormick machines are the best in the world. They work the best, require the least power, and are the most economical to the user..A rather peculiar meeting took place m Christchurch a few days agp. A stranger to the town engaged accommodation at a restaurant, at the same time giving his name as a guarantee of good faith. The landlord happened to remark that another gentleman o£ the same name was staying with him. The two were brought together, and proved to be brothers, who had not met for forty years, each being ignorant of the fact that the other was in town. Sir George Turner agrees with the view that the Government should erect a national memorial, in the shape of a marble column, to perpetuate the gallant part played by tha Victorian troops in the South African war. In addition to this, he thinks there should be a roll of honour, in the form of a tablet, bearing the names of all Victorians taking part in the war, and this will probably grace the walls of the Public Library or Picture Gallery. The M'Cormick 'was awarded the highest prize obtainable at the Canterbury A. and P. Society's show—viz., a silver medal and verj highly commended certificate. Another ma chine advertises this prize, adding that it de feated all others. Some people would liana on to anything.... An accident which might easily have.proved fatal occurred to Mr Cromwell, engineer on the Four Rivers Plain dredge, recently. While oiling the bearings on the elevator, his trousers in some way caught a set-screw and he was immediately sent revolving rounc the shaft, but fortunately the belt came off n time. Mr Cromwell's clothes were torn t< ribbons, and he was badly bruised from neac to foot. , _, ■J.IID employees of Messrs Sargood, Son, an( Ewen's boot factory met last night after worl to say goocl-bye to Mr J. J. Shea, who 1 severing his connection with the firm, and t present him witli a token of their esteem Mr Restieaux, in making the presentation which consisted of a silver-mounted umbrella a walking stick, case of pipes, and tobacc pouch (all suitably inscribed), referred to th »ood feeling that had always existed betwee thorn, and, on behalf of the employees, wishe Mr Shea good-bye and God-speed. Mr She; in returning thanks for the gifts, exprcsse his hope that the good feeling between the] might always continue. The prosperous farmer always has. a M Co mick machine.... The most interesting event for the holida: is the cricket at Carisbrook. The Otag Canterbury and Auckland teams comprise tl cream of New Zealand cricket. The Canto bury match starts to-morrow.... .