SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL.

Among tlio rare occurrences which mark connubial bliss 1 is tho colobration ot a diamond wedding; but such has boon tlio experience of tlio Kov. 'I'. Fulljamcs and his wife, who on April 17, says tho Auckland Herald, completed 60 years of marital felicity. They were married at Chichester, England, in 1847, and came to New Zealand in 1P63, after living in Auckland and at tho Thames for many years. They are nowresiding with their daughter at Tuakau. Mr Fulljamcs i 6 a cheerful old gentleman, 92 years of age, who has lived under five reigning sovereigns, and his intellectual faculties arc Gtill- unimpaired. His wifo is still active and bright, although 83 years old.' Their family (living) consists of oho son and three daughters, and numerous grand-children and great-grand-children. The aged couple received 'many congratulations on tlio momorable occasion. A call to the Bev. J. U. Spence of Picton, formerly oi Duneclin, is at present being signed by the Waihola congregation. A Wellington telegram states that Judgo Fi9her, of tho N&iivc Land Court, has bean appointed Under-secretary for Native Affairs. Tho Dunstan Times is informed on good authority that Mr*J. J. Ramsay intends to contest the Tuapeka seat at nest election against all-comers.

Dr Cotightrey lias been appointed surgeon to tlio Duuedin Gaol in succession to the late Dr Robert Burns.

A Xapier Association wesssgo states that out o[ 1G applican-ta the Hospital Trustees appointed Miss Florence Edwards to -the position of matron of the hospital. 'Miss Dorothy Horton, of Castle street. has been awarded the Burns scholarship, which entitles the winner to £15 annually for three years, tenable (it the tifogo University. Mr F. W. Platts, of Port. Chalmers, left on the 18th on a business trio to Vancouver and Great Britain. Mr I'latts expects tp bo absent from this colony for about six months.

Tho Poverty Bay Herald understands that Mr G. F. E. Hindmarsh, the well-known station-owner of fokomaru, will be a candidate for the Bay of Plenty seat at the'next election in the Government interest. At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Hank of New Zealand Mr Harold Boauchnmp, of Wellington, was elected chairman, Mr Beauchamp has been a director for eight years, and was acting chairman for 10 months in 1905.

Mr J. A. Johnstone (of "Messrs AYriglit, Stepliensoo, and Co.) is, with Ins famitv, about to pay a visit to England, and left Dimedin on the 9th by the Mokoia to join tho Turakina, which sails from Wellington <«vj»piioyy,

Mr and Mrs Watson Shcnnan wid family leit for Ihc north on Tuesday by the Moltoia, from which they will tranship to the outgoing Vancouver mail steamer, en route to Great Britain, They expcct to to away from the colony for about a year. Mr Denis Carmody, who for five years acted »3 inspector ot factories at Blenheim, in conjunction with his other duties, has been, appointed asistant inspector of factories in Dunedin, under Mr I'. Hally. Mr Carmody arrived in Dunedin recently to take up his new duties.

Mr R, \V. Holmes has been appointed Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. Mr Holmes was trained, liko his predecessor, the late Mr P. S. Hay, entirely in the colony. He passed the grades (if cadet, resident, inspecting, and superintending engineer. His chief work lias been on tho Grand Trunk lino known as a " locating survey." A Wellington telegram states that Miss Phyllis Fell, of Nelson, has been awarded ono of three exhibitions offered in Australasia annually by the London Board of the Royal Academy of Music and tlio Royal College of Music to candidates showing exceptionalmusical promise. The exhibitions are tenable for two years at the Royal Academy or tho Iloynl College, London, the recipient receiving free tuition. On the 12th inst at South Dunedin the Caversham Temperance Reform Council mot with the obicct of saying farewell to the president (the Rev. T. Trestrail). The Rev. Mr Boyall, on behalf of tho Caversham Temperance Reform Council, then presented Mr Trestrail with an illuminated address, a fine piece of work richly embossed. The following is the minuted address, specially recognising his ■work in the cause of no-license.

The Hon, Francis Trask, MJ/.C., and Mrs Trask. leav-2 for England this week by the Turafcina, and will be absent from tho colony-for*about six months. In taking tho trip, Mr Trask is acting ion medical advice.

,A Wellington message states that the Government- has appointed Mr J. C. Lewis (Deputy registrar) to the r position of Registrar of Patents, Mr Waldegrave, who held the position, having resigned in order to devote tho wholo of his attention to the office of Undersecretary of Justice.

Tho Rev. \V. Thomson, well known to this community as a controversialist in temperance matters, has decided to pay a visit to Great Britain and the United States, his principal object being to study the temperance problem in those countries. Mr Thomson intends to be absent about six or eight months, and will again tako up his residence in Dunedin.

A largo gathering of office-bearers, members of the congregation, Sunday school teachers and scholars, and other friends'assembled in.Knox Church Sunday School for the purpose of making a number of presentations to tho Rev. W. T. Todd, who was recently ordained to 1 tho ministry and who is leaving Dunedin to take up a call to the Middlemarch Presbyterian congregation. Our Milton correspondent writes as follows: On the 16th inst there was a large and representative gathering at St. Joseph's Schoolroom in honour of the Bov. Father O'Neill's '25 years of priesthood. The Mayor (Mir D. It-ei-d) occupied the. chair, and referred to Father O'Noill's groat capabilities as a clergyman and his kindness and sympathetic nature as a citizen of Milton. The congregation presented him with an illuminated address, and trusted that h« would bo spared to see his golden 7eara as their pastor. The Rev. Father O'Neill has been 23 years in Milton. Tho Otago Harbour Board has'resolved to grant William Mirams (chief clerk) and Captain M'Donald (pilot) 12 months' leave of absence on full pay and then retire them from tho service. Captain M'Ctvllum (harbourmaster) is granted two years' holiday on full pay, and will then retire. Captain Goldio (temporary • deputy harbour-master) is to be retired after six months' notico. Captain Gordon (deputy harbour-master at Dunedin) has boon appointed to the position at Port Chalmers at £235 per annum. Tho following police changes have been decided uponlnspector Kiely, of Wangar.ui, is to have charge of tho now, Thames and Bay of Plentv district. He will be succeeded by Inspector Wilson, of Greymouth. Sub-inspector Black, of Dunedin, ha? been made an inspector, and will ho trans ferred to Grey mouth. Station-sergeant Norwood, of Christchurch, has been promoted to sub-inspector, and will he transferred to Dunedin. Sergeant Johnston, of St. Albans, is to become station-sergeant at Christchurch.

• Mt A, Dillon Bell, M.1.C.E.. has retired from tho "West Australian public service in order to return to New Zealand. Prior to his acceptance of a position under thc'CrOvcrnmcnt of the Western State of tho Commonwealth, Mr Bell had, as will he remembered, a distinguished career in this colony, filling. among other positions, tho.=e of assistant engineer on tho staff of the district engineer in Otago. -of engineer of defences for the colony, and .of engineet.of.public.buildings, in which last-mentioned capacity lie had charge of the . designing and construction .of a great munlvir of- important buildings for the ■ accommodation of departments of the public service, and in' many of' the larger of tliciu established com'plete modern systems of ventilation, sanitation. and sanitary diaina?e. In 1893 ho left tho service of the New Zealand Government in order to accept the office of insDecting engineer in Western Australia, in which State ho has remained until tho present time. During the period of his association with tile public service of tho State, somo of the largest, engineering undertakings in v\ estorn i Australia, were wholly or 'in part planned and\ executed by him. The Cabinet has decided to appoint Mr Donald Robertson, for many voars assistant secretary to tho Post and l'elegranh Dcnartments, to succeed tho late Mr William Gray as Secretary to those deoartments. It was also decided, in recognition of Mr Gray's long and valuable services to tho colony, to grant- deceased's younger children a maximum compassionate allowanco equivalent to two years' salary.

CASUALTIES AND OFFENCES. A man named William Bernard Madden, an emploveo at tho Otago Steam Laundry, about 60 years of age, was found dead in bed by his 'family on tho ■ 4th inst. Deceased resided at Kelviij Grov=. 110 was an invalid, and had cime to Dunedin from tho Invercargill Hospital. About- B'o'clock on the night of tho 13th an elderly lady, Mrs Amelia Bispham, wife of Mr George Bispham, of Nelson, was run over and killed alongside the railway .platform at Lyttelton. Airs Bispham, who was staying with her brother, Mr Byron, bootmaker,' of LyttelUjn, left Christchurch at, 7.35 p.m. by tho special-through-steamer train, with passengers for tho Mararoa.

Joe Geo, a Chinaman, was fined £100 and costs on a charge of having sold a pak-a-poo ticket. Notice of appeal was given.

_Moses Hal. 1 , an old man. working at Hanmer, died on tho 21st, is is supposed from an overdose of chlorodyno taken accidentally.

Charles Cording, aged 13, was killed on ;ho 3rd through being thrown from a polo jony at Miiamar.

The body of Henry Fceney, aged 25, a, minei, who has been missing since April' 2. was found on tho hcach between Hokitika and Teremaku.

A serious acoident has occurrcd at Prouse's null at Ma.ugarakau, near Collingwood, a man namod Ivaselbaum having his thigh badly crushed.

John Elliott was found dead in a. wharo at Ohakuno on the 13th inst. 'When discovered deceased was lying half-dressed near the chimney

A man named Egan, 30 vears old, single a. resident of Pahiatua, was killed by a fall of earth in a gravel pit near Danncvirko on the Bth inst.

. Mrs Leonidas Smith, who was burned in a fire at her residence. Island Bay, 0 n March 16, died in the Wellington Hospital on the Ist.

At the inquest on Timothv Foley, who was found ,it the bottom of "his boardinghouse stairs with a broken head, ami died in tho' hospital, tlio vcrdict was "Accidental death while suffering from delirium tremens."

The Star's 'Rarotonga correspondent reports that Adolf A onnagel, Government agent at Atiu, committed suicide on Jaimar J 22. He made a bonfire of his papers and books, including Government books, and then took poison, John Scott, Cromwell llorough davnian was drowned in the Kawaran on Tuesday morning the 23rd. He was emptying his drayload of o;'nes at Iho tip-hoa'd, when iio slipped into the liver. Ho lenvos ji v.'klow and six children.

Herman Oboe, a cabinetmaker, committed suicido at. Aew Plymouth on the 3rd at his lodgings by cutting his throat and blowing out " ,s . brains with a revolver. He was n recent arrival from Auckland, where it is l>e!i?v.-v3 he had a wife and two children. He was about GO years of age.

A Maori girl named Ilinekiro To Kura daughter of a Hawkc's Bay chief, was drowned in Hie liuamalianga River 'whilst bathing opposite Para.wa on the 4th inst. Attempts made to save her proved unsuccessful. The body was recovered later. The dead body of a man named John Neary. of Feilding. was found half-wav down Turakiiia Hill, on the Bulls road, on the 3rd. Ho had evidently fallen out of his trao, which was found at tho foot of the hill.

Christian Wilson was thrown from his trap at Wanganui on the Ist: and killed. The deceased and his family had spent tho day at, Long Acre, and as lie was driving tho trap. ,ta the top .of a riee, whera tho

others 'Were waiting to return homo, the horse bolted, and Wilson was thrown out. ,A young man named William Couldwas killed by a falling trco while bushfelling near Mnrchison. Ho sustained a severe fracturo of tho skull, and lingered some 14 hours, mostly unconscious. Ho was single, about 24 years of ago, and a. native ot Pelorus, where his family reside. Mrs Lisle, 65 years of ago, attempted to get off a tram in Christchurch before it stopped, but she.fell between tho first and second trailers, the wheels passing over her. Thirty men lifted the trailer cai 1 off the body. She died in the hospital shortly aiter admission. Whilo a littls boy named Taylor, four and a-half years of ago, was plaving at Ashburton on the 3rd inst,., another boy discharged an arrow from a bow, which entered Taylor's eyo' and inflicted suc.li injuries that the eyo will have to lie removed. At 10 p.m. on tlio Ist, at a dance at Whatatutu, Mrs Mark Moonoy, of Waimaric, fainted. She was at once carricd outside, and (was found to be dead. She had apparently been in good health, and was thoroughly enjoying tho dance. Tito lady is a well-known resident of the district. Tho body of a man about 10 years of ago was found floating in Wellington Harbour near the Glasgow wharf on tho 3rd. In bis pockets was a letter dated Greenock, Scotland, 16th January, addressed to Daniel M'Kay, Post Office,. Wellington. A man named John" AJ'Kay has been missing from the scow Rangi sincc March 26. At tho inquest on Henaro Haawhe/tho jury returned a verdict, that deceased met his death on the Gisbome-Karaka, railway by being caught by the engine, no blam'o being attachable to any ono of the officials, who used every care and diligence. Death was caused, as the doctor's testimony stated, from shock to the norvour system. A patient at tho Seacliff Asylum named John Triviss escaped from tho institution oil the 25tli of last month, and after search and inquiry boing made Ly tho police and tho officials, his body was founed on the beach on the Ist inst. There was nothing to indiealo how the unfortunate man got into the water. A bush-felling fatality occurred at Barron's property at Mangatu, "Poverty Bay. R. M'Grath, aged 28, wjio has relatives at Kaipara, was with others (his brothers included) foiling a tree, which struck a. dead limb of another tree. Tho dead limb prostrated Jl'Grath, who was carricd out of tho bush, and who diod in the afternoon. A young man named Thomas Coldrick, 24 years of age.'was killed, in the bush at a sawmill near Now Plymouth on the 12th inst. .Ho was jacking logs on trucks, when a jack slipped and a log rolled on him and crushed bis head and shoulders,

(loath being instantaneous. The body was much mangled. The body of the man Chinn. who has been missing from Ingle mod I since March 24 was found 011 the Bth in an advanced state of decomposition. Marks showed that vari ; coso veins in the leg had been opened, and that deccased's throat was cut. A verdict

,wns returned at 'tlio inquest of suicide while temporarily insane. Two men, Claude Webb and Alfred May, were drowned on tho sth inst. when crossing the Karangarua bar, South West[and, in Chinn's oil launch, which is used in connection with the flaxmilling industry. Tlio boat capsizwl. Both victims are young men. Webb'6 parents reside at Christcluirch, while May was not long out from England. Tho body of Webb was recovered to-day. At tho inquest, on the body Of William Pogson, which was found in Timaru Harlxsur on the Bth, a verdict *of "Found drowned" was returned. Tho deceased ' left a noto addressed to his superior ofiicor in tlio Government _ Stock Department, giving instructions as to forwarding his pocketbook to his wife, and concluding with tho words: "Completely run down; brain gone; pood-bye." The dead liotly of Miss Elizabeth Wood, aged 64-.' formerly of Auckland, was found in tlie Taruheru River, Gisborne, on the 15th. Deceased, who resided with; a married niece, had been in poor health, and had gone out unknown to others.' At the

inquost a vcrdict- of " Found drowned " was returned. The coroner stated that, being ill ill-health, it was possible for Miss Wood to have fainted aud fallen from the bridge into the river.

At Wellington on tho 18th a prisoner from Blenheim; by namo Andrew Mah'er, was sentenced to two years', imprisonment on a charge, of _ burglary by Mr Justice Cooper. Mahbr is a; labourer and horsebreaker, late of Clliristchurch, aged 42 yearsj and .addicted to drink. ' While travelling a s a swapsman he entered a .station house at Parekawa, 60 miles front Blenheim. When inside he drank half a bottle of whisky and stole a number 'of articles. Arthur Draper, of Wellington, a seaman on tho steamer Wairoa, trading lwtwcen Nelson and Golden Bay, was drowned at rakaku wharf on tho Ist. Tho man was in a dinghy alongside tho steamer just at the departure of the vessel, and it is presumed that, he fell out. A boat was sent after the deceased, but. lie sank before il reached him. Tho body was recovered on tho i 2nd inst. Draper was unmarried, aged 26, and. a nephew of Captain Kickclls, mastor of the Wairoa, i An elderly Nativo named Henarc Huia was run • over by a railway train on the 13th inst. at the north end of tlie Kaiteratalii tunnel. Tho deceased, when lie boarded tho train at Tckaraka, was in a muddled condition, and, having no ticket, was put off by tho guard at the Waipaoa Station. When the train was returning from town late in the evening 'a bump was felt at tho end of the tunnel, and tho man was subsequently found on the line. Ho was severely iiijurcd, and died oik tho 14th inst.

Mrs Lucy Bevan, aged 31, died Auckland on the 16th under chloroform, which had been administered for the purpose of an op'cration. Her husband resides at Raglan. Mrs 11cvan was undergoing an operation, the first stages of whioli had barely been completed when sho ceased to.' breathe. Artificial ■ respiration was tried by Dvs Murphy and Porter without avail, Shortly before fho opera* tion the deceased was examined by Dr Murphy, and was found to be fit for an operation. ' James Ncswortliy, charged with selling at Wanganui an instrument which ho be°lieved was to bo used for an illegal nurpose was sentenced by Mr Justice Chapman': to-day to two years' imprisonment. John, Riley, charged with breaking and entering, was also sentenced to two years' imprisonment.

lidith Malzard, a married 'woman, who, it is alleged; went on a drinking bout for several days and loft her infant in charge of her 14-year-okl daughter, was committed for trial at Christchnrch on the 26th on a charge of manslaughter, it being alleged that she caused the infant's death, "by neglecting to give it proper food, care, and attention.

: , sad. drowning accident occurred at luritehere, 20 miles from ICawhia, on the 12th. -i- girl four years old— Grace Klein, daughter of a- eettler —fell into a creek, and was swept- into a deep hole by the stl'ong current, Tho only witness was a child of seven. Sho ran for tho child's mother, who jumped in, fully clnthcd, without a moment's hesitation, and was swept away by the current. She regained tho bank, and made another unsuccessful attempt at rescue. The child's body wasl recovered two hours afterwards. The remains had to be carried six miles through a hush track to a burial place, several settlers taking turns with the corpse. A fatal {run accident tool; place at Cheviot on the 31st. Mr Thomas Dalgety, aged 23 years, a son of Mr William Dalgety, of M'Millan road, Choviot, left his father's house with a gun at 11 o'clock, and was never again seen alive. Search parties were out all night, and the body was discovered not moro than a mile and

a-half from Iho house. It was evident from the position in which the body was found that I lie deceased had jumped a small creek and that his gnn.-had gone off, killing, him instantaneously. The back part of his skull was blown off.' A man was seen on the evening of the Ist to fall in the street near the Carlton Hotel, Hastings, and a bystander, assuming that ho was intoxicated, picked him up and laid him against tho wall. ■ Later- si constable seeing the man lying on tho footpath, and also fancying him to bo drunk, took him in charge. Ho was watched by the police until 1 a.m., when seeing no change in his condition, a doctor was sent for, and on his recommendation the man was sent lo the Napier Hospital, where he died at midday. From a slip of paper found in tho pockets of tho deceased it is supposed his name is G. Read.

Particulars regarding the drowning of Hinekire. aged 16 years, the daughter of To Kuru. chief of a well-known Hawke's Bay tribe, in tho Rnanwhaunaa River at Papawai recently, show that the girl was bathing with some children, and when a boy named Norman swam to the opposite side of the river she attempted to follow his example. She was carried down the stream, crying for. help. Norman swam to her assistance, but shfi clasped him round the shoulders, and they both went under several times. An "elderly woman, Mra Tiki Pahora, heard the cries, and divesting herself of her skirt swam out to the' struggling .pair. The boy was nearly exhausted by this tipie, ancl, part-

ing the twain, Mrs Pahora told the boy to swim ashore, and lie did so. She then tried to get tho girl ashore, hut was clutched round tlio neck, and soon Ijoeamo exhausted. At last she succeeded in wrenching herself free, and, reaching the shora with} assistance, fell exhausted on the bank. The girl was carricd away by the current and drowned.

A distressing drowning fatalifv occurred about 10.30 a.m. on the 7th inst. it Morgan's baths, when a young man named Donald M'lntyrc, 19 years of age. was accidentally drowned. Tho deceased went to tho baths about 9.30 a.m. in company of James Jfulbolland and William Joyce, but an hour later the- latter left, seeing nothing of M'lntyre at that time. A few minutes afterwards, however, another man named William Struchan, who wak Iwthing, touched the body with his feet when in the deepest part. The body was at once brought to the surface and artificial respiration applied without avail, and Dr Fulton, arriving soon after, pronounced life extinct. Tliero were two skin bruises on either side of the chest, probably caused by striking, on the bottom of the batiis. The occurrcnoe is a most mysterious one, for as far as can bo learned M'lnt.yre. was never missed by anyone, nor did he cry out or struggle sufficiently to attract attention. There were persons in the vicinity at the time. The deccascd's parenta resijlo in Fox street. South Dunedin. An .accident which occurred to a seven-year-old son Mr John Pyo, of waipipi, on April 8, terminated fatallv ? n }4th inst. The docensctl was in fcho habit, of making l flat-fish ing excursions, and when returning home on tho Bth inst. was prickcd on the heel with a fishhook. Blood poisoning supervened, and medical n«l proved of no avail.

A serious railway accident occurred at the Belfast Railway Station on the 24th. Mrs Jordan, who is 72 years of age, was standing on the platform when a train came in, and owing to some cause, 'which docs not seem to have ken noticod by tho bystanders, she fell towards the train aiid was severely crushed between it- and tho kerbintr of the platform. She was brought into Christchurch by her son-in-law, Mr Patterson, and admitted to the hospital sliortly after 1 o'clock. It wa-s found that one of her arms and several ribs wero broken, and that she.had sustained severe scalp wounds. Tho body of Mr William Pogson, elork in the Stock Department's office, was found floating in the water in Timaru Harbour on tho Bth with a wound on the head, swggesting that ho fell off the eastern mole staging while taking his usual walk before breakfast. Deceased was about GO years of age. He was an old colonist, and was for many years past employed as a clerk m tho Lands and Stock 'Department at Wellington and Christchurch. He resided at Timani during tho last four years. Ho loaves a wife and some grown-up children in Christchurch.

Our Alexandra correspondent stales that tho body of a man named Mcikle, who was losfi on tho Galloway Run about six months ago, has boon found at. the foot of a cliff near tile Manorburn Creek. At the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on the 3rd, a young man named William Barnard Rhodes, Moorhouso was charged with manslaughter' in that he did by neglect and improper driving came tho death at. New Brighton on Friday, March 22, of Ken nett Frederick Gourlay. The case arose out of tho recent motor fatality on t.ho New Brighton beach, when tlie accused, who was practising for a motor race to bo held the next day, ran into the boy, who was seven years old, and inflicted injuries which resulted in death shortly afterwards. It was stated in evidan«! that the accused, after the accident, admitted that ho thought lie was travelling at tho rato of 70 miles an hour at'tho time. Accused, who reserved his dcfencc, and pleaded "Not guilty," was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was allowed in one surety of £100. A lad named Oliver Ward, aged 13 or 14 years, diod suddenly during a football match at Oamarn on the 18th. He was playing a fast name at three-quarter-back. During the second, spell lie ceased playing and walked away, saying lie had had enough. Ho put on Irs coat, and began to stagger and vomit, and then fell. The game was stopped and medical aid summoned, but before it arrived the boy was past recovery. At the inquest it was shown that deceased's heart was weak.'

An inquest was hold at Christchurch on tho 17th touching the death of tlio man whose body was found lying, by tho railway track near tho Aldington Station after tho second express for tlio south had passed. . EWdenco w ; as given that 'the man was standing on "the platform- of one of the carriages of the express when he swung round and . fell off. The axle box struck his head and killed him. -The guard, however, was not informed of the occurrence until, five miles below Dunsandel, and the coroner said it was a most extraordinary tiling..that those who saw tho accident, said nothintr lo the guard Tho man was identified as Neil M'Neile, a labourer, of the Ashburton, Mount Somers, and Methvon districts. 1

Mr Henry Curnow, manager of tho Bank of New Zealand at Whangarei, committed suicide by shooting himself at Ponsonby at noon on. tho 9th.

Informition wag received by Hie police by telephone at 6.30 p.m. on the 18th that an old man named .I'olm Burns was killed !it 5.30 that evening in the railway yard at Balolutlia. No ono was an eye-witness of the fatality, but it is assumed that Burns was crossing the railway yard and. was struck and kncckcd dowii by a shunting waggon and killed. As far as can be ascertained the deceased has no relatives in the district. The verdict of the jury was to the effect that deceased met his death through being struck .by a truck, no blnmo being attachable to the railway men. The deceased was about 70 years of age, an old-age pensioner, and; bore a high character by all who knew him. So far as is known he lias no friends in the colony. Deceased at one time served on the British warship Brisk in the China Sea. and lie was also said to have boon in the Maori war. Aiv inquest was held at, Masterton on tbo 12th on the Ixxl.v of Miss Victoria Howell, who died at Costlepoint on January 23, before Mr W. P. James, S.M. Mr H. D. Bell represented the Crown, Mr B. J. Dolan the next of kin of deceased, and Mr P. L. I-lollings Miss Hall. The inauiry showed that death was duo to sdnc-poison-ing, whicli was caused by drinking water from ,i tank.

MISCELLANEOUS. The portrait of the late Mr Hugh Gourloy, a past chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, was unveiled at tho meeting of tho board on tho 25th, Tho present chairman (Mr J. T. Maekerras) at the time briefly referred to the valuo of the late Mr Gourley's services during tho lengthy period he had presided over the board' 6 deliberations—from January, 1891, until his death in December last year,—during which time ho had enjoyed the fullest confidcnco and respect of the members. The portrait occupies a prominent position in the board room:

Mr T. Mackenzie, M.11.R., speaking at Wyndham on tho 25th, sent his audienoo into roars of laughter in de&cant-'ng on ancient law-givers, such as Lycurgus and Solon, and,the manner in which these laws were revived or found to bo in existence in modem times. "In Rarotonga/' said Mr Mackenzie, "no young man and young woman aro allowed to walk out togothcr of an evening without each carrying a lighted torch. If they do they get six months oil road-making, and tho roads I walked on at Rarotonga were the finest I ever walked upon." •

Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs [as follows: "The burning question here just now is the cutting up of the runs falling in during the early part of 1909. The Minister of Lands lias almost made a distinct promise to visit Cromwell before tho session opens, and there is every 'prospect of a huge crowd meeting him. Re tho opening of Morven Hills, ICawarau, and Jvorthburn runs for closer scti lenient, there is no doubt they will be eagerly applied for." During the municipal year terminating on the 31st. ult. 422 building permits wore issued in Dunedin. I n 65' eases tho permite were for brick, and in 110 cases for wooden buildings, and in 256 cases they were for additions and alterations. Tho value of the buildings represented by them was £117,108.

Tho Most. Rev. the Primate (Bishop iWvill) has received a letter from the Hon. R. Oliver, formerly a member of the Legislative Council, w ho lias promised a donation of 200 guinea.? to the New Cathedral Fund. On bin return to Wellington from Australia on the 25th, Colonel Robin, first, military member of tho Now -Zealand Defence Council, told a Post reporter that he was quite confident that an interchange •3f visits between officers of New Zealand iuid Australia would result : in much good.

All wero driving at tho same result, though methods varied in different places. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that tlio Trades and Labour Council passed a resolution expressing deep regret, at t.hq references made by the Trades and Labour Conference to the action of the Hon. J. A. Millar and the Hon. Dr Findlay in connection with tho slaughtermen's strike, and placed on record the council's entire confidence in both Ministers. At one of tho meetings of the Trades and Labour Conference tho following molion was passed regarding tho prisons and prisoners, of this colony:—"That this conference is of opinion that our prisons should be removed, from (he centres of population, and that the inmates should generally be employod in reafforestation and agricultural pursuits, and that those unable to engage in such employment should be engaged in manufacturing articles required in connection with the prisons of tho colony, but not for public sale."

Tourists will bo interested to learn of tho discovery of a new pass from Milford Sound via the Clcddau River. Mr D. Sutherland, of Milford Sound, has been exploring this river for a pass," anil about 10 miles up . the ' Clcddau River, through bush, ho has discovered a paw which is over 4000 ft high, and which is the shortest routo to Lake Wakatipu. ?so one has ever been through this pari; of tho country before. The new pass has been named the Milford Sound Pass. No hardships aro to be met with en routo, and no danger is encountered in traversing tho pass. The country is covered by the usual kind ol bush found on the Wes£ Coast. Tho leading Native chiefs in Otaki have received a circular letter from a committee of "King"- Jlahuta's follower in the Waikato informing them that a movement is on foot to send a deputation Homo to wait, upon King Edward, and present a petition praying for his Majesty's intervention ill regard to the disposal of Native lands, and stating that representatives will bo at. Otaki next month to discuss tho matter and collect funds. They hold that the Treaty of AVaitangi entitles all Natives to bo placed on tjic same footing as Europeans in this respcct. It appears that the movement, is the - outcome of the Teccnt

visit of Sir John Gorst to tho Waikato. The signatories allege that Sir John, in tho course of an address at Huntley, deplored the disabilities under which tho

Natives suffered in land matters,, and advised them to adopt the courso indicated. The local Natives (writes the Otaki correspondent, of the Wellington Post) are inclined fo disbelieve this. They ha.vo held a meeting and decided not, to assist, believing that it is " too latb in the dav."

as a prominent Native put it, to tako such a step. It. appears to be a sore point, with them that some years ago, when a similar movoment was on foot, tho Kingitcs declined lo assist. ■ Mr 11. M. Moloney, a member of tho mechanical staff at the Chrislchurch Telegraph Office, is about to patent an improved telephone transmitter. Tho traus.nutter is fitted with an extra diaphragm with carbon pencils radiating from tho enntro and making contact at the 'sides. This increases t]ic volume of sound and does .not. allow tho granules to pack. ■ Tho patent is attached by means .of a .screw, and tho transmitter can be so adjusted that a person's breathijig may bo heard quito distinctly. ' It is snid to he specially suited for long-distance telephoning, and it is claimed that a person can ho heard as audibly at ono hundred miles as at a mile. Mr Maloney has been in communication with tho Commonwealth on tho matter, and hns received a request .from tho Poslmastcr-

general to'submit samples of his patent. Major Long, the British War Office's representative,.. who has been inspecting various meat works in New Zealand, is in Wellington after completing tho round of tho South Island. His mission was principally to examine the methods adopted in tho canning departments,, and now, after seeing the factories of Wellington and the South Island,' hp says. that nothing could bo more satisfactory than, the state of affairs which he witnessed. Comparing New Zealand with America, . the opinion which ho bases on his observations 'is that tho meat used here for canning purposes is much superior. Tho visitor was also favourably impressed by the meat freezing works. '

The annual conference of tho United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia , opened in Melbourne on Good Friday,-and continued on the following Saturday,. Monday, and Tuesday. Tho New Zealand representatives were Messrs Dugald M'Pherson and James Brown (Ditncdin). ' The' annual report showed tho total number of members to be 3327, with 3478 club, members. Of the former 214 were located 1 in New Zealand.

There was a total not gain in membership of 352 during the year. The net assets of the affiliated associations totalled £78,303 —an increase during the year of £7452. The accident and insurance por-

tion of the work of the association showed a total of 1902 policies —an increase of 367 during the year. New Zealand, ha-ving its own scheme of mortuary benefits, does not como into this. New Zealand has 244 members, with assets totalling £5796. Tho "slaughterer" of wildfowl, as dis-

tinct from the gun sportsman, came in for some wholesome condemnation at the last meeting 1 of the Otago Acclimatisation Society.' The chairman of the society, (Mr R. Chisholm) said he had observed, when parsing Lake Tualritoto on tho previous day, that a cylinder gun was in position between Lovcll's Flat and Stirling, in readiness for tho opening of tho shotting season on the Ist inst. • In addition to this, he had observed three or four of these dcstruc-

tivo machines in position nearer Stirling, and said ho had no doubt large numbers of ducks, geese, and other wildfowl would bo destroyed by their agency in the courso of a few days. He strongly condemned tho use of cylinders and swivel guns for slioot-

ing game as unsportsmanlike, and said tho Gun Sportsmen's Club and other shooting a-ssociations should unite with Iho society in preventing their use. To get ducks or other wildfowl by such means was" slaughter," not sport, and was reprehensible in tho highest degree; and iie suggested that tho Gun Sportsmen's Club should be approached by tho society on tho matter. Tho remarks of the chairman were endorsed by all the members present, and it was resolved that tho chairman and secretary should take steps to prevent tho destruction of game by tho means referred to..

Gold valued at about £8000 was shipped from hew Zealand by the Turakina, which sailed from Wellington on the 14th. The Auckland city valuations, £476,415, reduced by the Assessment Court to £4-74,690, show that the rateable value has increased by £32,387 on the return for the previous year.

During February last- 3610 persons arrived in New Zealand, as compared with 3227 for tho corresponding month last year. The departures" in February totalled 3176, as agains'et 2275 in February, 1906. Mr Harris, of tho firm of Bmg, Harris, and Co., has purchased "The Wizard's Garden," by Leslie, R.A., now in the British art collection at the Exhibition, for £200, and has gcnerouslv presented it to tho Canterbury Art Society. Recently a, man of 76 years of age applied to the chairman of the Wellington Conciliation Board for a permit to work as an under-rate groccr's assistant. Mr O'Regan referred the aped applicant to tho Grocers' Union, which body has decided to grant the desired permit, tho Papawai Natives held a Native celebration, which consisted largely of haka and kai, and by much enterprise and energy succeeded in raising .a sum of £600 to maintain tjie Native pa in a fit otate. This sum (says tho Wairarapa. News) wa.s gathered in a few days. The total number of applications received for the Blaekst-one, Hill and other runs ballotted for on tho 10th was 1932. Most of the runs were heavily over-applied for, particularly ruus 226 aud 224n, there being for the former run 301 applications and for the latter 292.

The Tourist Department has been advised that a geyser, long since considered defunct, broke out at Tokaanu on tho Bth inst., and pjajed to a height of about SOffc.

at. intervals of 20 minutes for tho two following days. The Maoris state' tliafc this particular geyser had not played for 90 years. .

During tho past, few days (says tho Nelson Mail) several skeletons of Maoris havo been found on "Sigley's Island." which now forms part of Mr G. It. Rout's Wainui Lstate. In addition to the,human remains, a number of iiaori curios have been discovered, some of the greenstono axes being of considerable value. . Tho balance sheet of the City Council for the year ended March 31 shows the receipts to bo £170,327, and the ■ expenditure ±1168,657, leaving a credit balance of £2170, The municipal tramways for the .»;me period show a profit of £14,300, or, 9 p<;i; cent, on the capital invested. After setting nsido £10,500 for depreciation, etc., tho net prolit is £3800. An Auckland syndicate has bought the equipment of " Wonderland," of the recent Cliristchurch Exhibition. The work of dismantling and shipping it to Auckland will bo begun in a fow weeks' time, and it is expected tho grounds will ho opened by tho md of tho year. The site consists of six acresin.Khyber Pass road. Owing to a technical informality the Hon. 11. A. Loughimn, one of tho lately-appointed Legislative Councillors, has resigned. The point was whether lie came under the terms of tho Disqualification Act through holding a Government appointment within six months of his nomination. Tho prescribed term has now expired, and it is understood that, ho will he re-nominated in due couise. Mr Felix Tanner, of, " ark" fiimc, will undergo a fast of 21 days and nights, existing oil water alone, at Cliristehurch. Mr "aimer has already mado his reputation ! as a "faster," For 15 years, afc. various intervals, ho has been carrying out this abstouiioits occupation. In 15S0 lie fasted r '' s alK ' "'Bhte in Melbourne, in 1591 for 40 days and nights at Broken Hill, later in I ho' same year for 40' days at Adelaide, and four years ago for 21 days and nights at Wanganui. The Police Court statistics for Auckland show _ that in regard .to breaches of the licensing: law, drunkenness, disturbing the peace, etc., in 1906 2890. males. Nad 469 females wero dealt with, against 2372 males and 463' females for the * preceding year. 'Licensing. prosecutions increased from 140 in 1905 to 231 in 1906, and sly grog-selling cases from 21 males to 50 males and seven females. In 1905 198 prohibition orders were issued, and in 1906 there were 305. Drunkenness shows an increase from 1393 cases m 1905 to 1498 in 1906. What is understood to bo a genuine Rembrandt has been discovered in Christchurch. A pictuio, which is thought to ho a genuine work of tho great Dutch painter of the. seventeenth ccntury, is in the .possession of Mr R. A. M Nnb, of this city. It is a port.rait of. a_ hcly, and beans the signature ■Rembrandt,'' and the date " 1631." Tlio picture measures about 2ft by 3ft, and is ill a good state of preservation. A suggestion made' bv the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that, tlib postage on postoards should ho reduced to a halfpenny has.; been considered by the Aotine iostmnstcr-goneral, who states that,, pending the ascertaining of the results of the reductions made in postage and telegram rates in Novemher last, it has been thought desirable to deicr favourable consideration tor a time.

An indication oftlic growth of trade at tho port .of' Auckland is furnished by a return just compiled by the Customs 'Department-. 'During the quarter ended March 31 last the total value of exnorts was £1,008 766. which is easily i reconl exceeding the..previous best quarter, whieli ended on December 31 last, by £56,033. ilie value of imports was £1,012,510 as compared with the record total of £1,12i,070 'n -being a decrease ?-PIQ7 7fi7? ' the duty, collected (£197,767 exceeds that of the previous quarter ..by £6000.

fn,'if P , dl ,? sic , amcr Tc 'Aroha, which for llf! w m , oav,n bound for tjio Waikato, was a vessel which in her time earned a large anlmui t of money -for her owners. She w?s built in Auckland ni-out 30 (years ago for the ihames pine trade, and was emoloycd in It tor nearly a quarter of a neniurv. In' the early days of the Upper Thame's, (says a northern exchange) she carried thousands ot men to the gold rushes in that nart of the colony and several times she was by tho Government for- special service in connection with ■' outbreaks amongst the. natives in various parts of tho Hauraki district. Mr Smart, tho nrcscnt siipermtonding engineer of, the 'Union hteam ohip Company, was engineer of (he Aroha for several years. The lay evangelist of St. Potcr's' Church spffltanpt-a .meeting, of the parishioners said there wore .slums, j,, Wellington as bad as any be had seen in London. He knew of a house of five rooms in the city in every room of which there 1 lived a family. That was not an isolated case. There were other houses iri which there was great overcrowding. The mothers could not look after their children, who spent most of their time in the streets. There was poverty in Wellington and it was the worst, kind of poverty owing in most cases to thriftlessncss. 1 here was a largo gathering of the clergy and laity in the grounds of First Church, Dunedin, on Saturday afternoon, the 6th inst., when tho foundation stones of Burns Hall were laid, iiurns Hall, wmch is a handsome twostoreyeu building* is now in'.course of t0 bo. 1 the home of First Church Sunday School and young peoples societies. Burns Hall is so named in memoir of the R flv . Dr Thomas Bums, first minister of First Clmrch and'first 1 rcKbyiorian divine in Otajro. Since tho beginning- of March ilie. Wei-' mgton submarine mining Volunteers have been on strike on accotint of dissatisfaction with the management of tho company's affairs by the officer commanding.. In that month they wrote to Ihi£ officer detailing their grievances,' and asking that i he- letter bo forwarded to the officer'commanding the district, with a rcc,uest that an inquiry bo .held into the matter. Nothing more \?na hoard of that letter. The men determined to stay away from" parades until an inquiry was held. and did so. Tlie Defence Department did nothing until a few days ago, Avhcn it issued an order for tho company to parade to-night to receive the engineers' shield lately won by it.. It was felt that this was the crucial point in tho mutiny, and much interest was taken in tho matter. At the appointed time 43 won appeared on parade out of 80 odd in the corps. The Inspector-general, Colonel Davies, sternly addressed tho men. and then ordered thosn who intended to obey orders jn future to march forward. The whole number thereupon marched forward. It. is probable that I the mutmy has npw ended. 1

At a meeting of the Political Reform League on tho 23rd Mr TI. Okcy was selected to con I est the Taranaki seat, rendered vacant by the death of Mr E. M. Smith. No selection of a. Government candidate has yet been made, but Ihore aro t.hrco likely candidates—namely, Messrs W fi Malone, C. Bcllringer, and E. Doekrili (Mayor of Now Plymouth). -A rumour is current; that a son of the late member is to ho reouested to offer himself. Tho woll-prcserve<! pelvis and leg-bones of a very largo , moa (probably a Dinornis robustus) were found recently in tho bush at Croydon, at the back of Gore (says tho Wyndhain Farmer). The specimen has now passed into the bands of Mr Robert Gibb, of Tuturau, a well-known student of natural history. Tlie pelvis is a porfeet specimen, and. fully as largo as a horse's skull; the legs arc of massive and powerful type, and are minus the toes only. Mr Gibb himself unearthed an almost perfect skeleton of a small moa last December at Greenhills, near Bluff—including the skull (not quite perfect), 100 tracheal rings, and the' rest of the skeleton quite complete (thero were seven tail-bones). • Mr Bignell, ex-Mayor of Wanganui and an experienced contractor, has just returned from a visit to Auckland via tho Main Trunk Railway, and ridicules tho statement recently made by a Christehurch res:dent that the line will take three- years to complete. Mr Bignoll is confident that communication will bo opened at tho end of next year, and was assured by tho contractors for the Makatoke viaduct, which, ho says, i s the key to the position, that it will bo completed bv Christmas, bv which time tho railhead will have reached there. Tho work for tho other two small viaducts is also well in band, and more than half of tho 30 miles between tho railheads 1; already joined and ready for rails, wbilo the big cuttings in tho other portion arc well in hand.