SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL. Mr S. E. Grovilic-Smith,' lute editor of the Marlborough, Express, has been appointed assistant editor of the New Zealand Times. At a jnoetine of the Oaraaiu Presbytery on the 13th a call from tho Muhcno and Inchholme oharge to the Rev. J. C. Paterson, of Flemington, Canterbury, was sustained. Mr T. L. Mills, for many years a senior reporter on the Wellington Evening Post, is about to leavo that journal and join Mr Fred. Pirani in the proprietorship of tho Feildin e Star.

The editor of tho New Zealand Railway Review, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.H.R., was met on Saturday, July' 27, at. Christchuroh by a gathoring of railway sorvants. church by a gathering of railway servants and presented with a purse of sovereigns. Mr Alexandor Wylie, borough electrical engineer of Halswe!!, England, was on the 15th appointed (says an Association message) electrical engineer by the Auckland City Council out of 114 applicants. Mr H. M. Iteeves, having resigned the editorship of the Christchurch Star, owing to ill-health, Mr Hubert Mitchell, chiof reporter of the Lyttolton Times, has been appointed (9ays an Association message) to fill the vacancy, At a social function in Stuart Hall on the afternoon of the 7th, the women's societies of Knox Church bade farewell to Sister Mary, who for the past five ycais h»3 been tho church deaconess, and who has now been appointed matron of the Church' Orphanage in Clyde Street. , A. "Wellington telegram states that tho following transfers arc announced consequent on the promotion of Mr 1). Cumming (Inspector of Post Offices) to the position of Controller and Accountant:—Mr G. B. Ball, at present assistant inspector of post offices in tho central district, becomes inspector, and Mr J. H. Stevens, now postmaster at Hawera, will take the position of assistant inspector.

Captain Goldio, deputy harbourmaster at Port Chalmers, celebrated his golden wedding on July 29. Mr and -Mrs Goldie were married at Willuinstown, Victoria. At a social function hold at Carey's Bay yesterday in honour of tho event the worthy couple were felicitated by a large number of friends. Captain Goldie, in the early days, was an enthusiastic Volunteer, and had the honour of bringing, the .rifle shooting championship to Otago.

Tho Postmaster-general announces tho following changes in the staff of the Post and Telegraph Department:—Mr S. P. Stevens, chief postmaster at Nelson, to bo promoted to chief postmaster at Christchurch, in place of Mr ,1. F. M'Beth, who is retiring at the end. of- September; Mr E. V. Senn, at present assistant inspector of post offices, is to be appointed chiof postmaster at Nelson. Mr SenU's successor has not yet been selected.

A Nelson Press Association telegram says: " On the occasion of their .golden wedding Mr and Mrs George Talbot, of Richmond, were presented with a silver tea and coffee service and salvor in celebration ot tho event, and in recognition of Mr Talbot's long and faithful service on many public bodies, including the following: -As Mayor of - Richmond, chairman of the. Education Board,.member of the Harbour Board, of the Victoria College Council, the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Stoke Road Board, Richmond Institute, and others.

The farewell by the citizens of Dunedin to M r Colm Macdonald Gilray, the fourth Rhodes scholar to proceed to Oxford from iNew Zealand, and tho third from Otago, took place at the Town Hall on July 21. The Major (Mr J. Loudon) occupied the ohair, and the Council Chamber, which was used for the occasion, was filled to overflowing with prominent citizens and ladies. _ Many persons who wore desirous of obtaining admission wore unable to do so. Speeches of a congratulatory nature wero mado by tho Mayor and others, and Mr Gilray was the recipient of a gold W mt ?'! d othor P rcfont< if'ons from the The following changes in tho Post and lelegraph Department are announced:— J. G. Ballard, chief officer, Dunedin, to be inspector of telegraph offices; H. Soager officer in chargc.Tolcgraph office, Auckland,' to bo officer in charge at Dunedin; C. Hawk,- assistant inspector of telegraphs, to be officer in charge of Auckland Telegraph office; C. Hill, assistant officer in charge, Dunedin, to be postmaster at Hawera; A. J. Talbot, senior cheek clerk at Dunedin, to bo assistant officer in charge at Dunedin; W. T. Scully, senior check clerk at Christchurch, to be assistant officer in charge at Auckland, in place of Mr Houlihan, transferred to Gisbornc; C. Trewcek, second senior chcok clerk, Christchurch, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Scully's promotion, citizens.

A largo crowd of professors, University students, footballers, and friends assembled at the Railway Station on July 31 to bid farewell to Mr C. M. Gilray, tho popular Rhodes scholar, who was setting out for Oxford. Mr Gilray was accorded three hearty cheei-6 as the train moved out. Mr F. G. Cumming, who at present holds tho position of assistant chaplain and agent of tbo Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society, was on July 29 appointed as Mr Torrance's successor as chaplain and agent. Mr Cumming has filled the junior position most satisfactorily, and has relieved Mr Torrance of a good deal of tho hard work whioh falls to tho lot of the society's agent,' and will doubtless prove a worthy successor to Mr Torrance. Ho will assume the duties of tho full position on Mr Torrance's retirement at September 30 noxt. CASUALTIES AND OFFENCES. Patrick M'Donnoll, stationmaster at the Runanga, Stato collieries line, fell under a coal train when alighting from the engine and succumbed to his injuries on July 27. The man who fell into the river it Moawhango whilst riding round tho back track was not George Thorn, as stated, but James Woodjjate, a well-known' resident of Utiku. A Chinaman named Tio Poy, aged 52, died suddonly at the Chinese enmp, Alexandra, on July 26. The cause of death is supposed to havo been'inflammation of the lungs.

Information was received by Inspector OBrien on July 29 that a man named Joseph Mooro, a miner, had been found drowned in tho Deep Stream at Middlemarch.

It is reported from Mastcrfon that Annie Follingham, while riding to school at Tenui, wis thrown from her horse and dragged some distance her foot having caught in the stirrup. The child lived 'only a few minutes.

diaries Mayhew. aged W vears, died at Avenal, Inveroargil], as tho result of bloodpoisoning. He stamped on a lioard to break it. and ran a nail into his foot The injury was not thought-to.fco-serious-at ,th«, tunc. -

Tho lodger who received severe burns while making his esoape from a house which took firo at Giebome on tho Bth inst, died oa the 10th. His name was J. Balfc, and ho was a painter by occupation. The body of Frederick Whitehead (or Charles Kitson), who has been missing since the Ist August, was found in a suburban gully near Wellington on the 9th. Decased was over 50 years of age. Ho arrived recently from Capetown. W. Nedd, late of Murchison, was taken suddenly ill and died at the Hecfton Hospital. Tho death, according to the doctor's evidence, was the result of internal bruises, but it is not known how these occurred, and the man made no. mention to the matron of any fight or accident. A man who has been residing in Opunake for a short time inourrcd tho iro of the residents by some breach of social laws, and was tarred and feathered by a band of 60 or 70 persons. A constable rosoucd him, and ho was brought to town by a dotectiye. Court proceedings are expected. An inquest was held at Napier on the 10th concerning the death of Sarali Agnes Kirk, aged 17, who died during the progress of an operation. The medical evidence showed that deceased was suffering from a cyst, which displaced tho heart, and the operation was thus rendered imperative. Tho body of a man, supposed to bo that of Charles Fyffo, who was lost from the cutter Flora a fortnight earlier, was found near the North Head, Auckland, on tho 6th. It was unrecognisable, but the clothing led to its identification as that of St. Clair Patrick Pfaff, son of a resident of Kumera.

A middle-aged man named Charles Smith, supposed to bo a commercial traveller, who was a passenger by the first express from Dunedin, fell dead shortly after tho train reached _ Christchurch, presumably from heart failure, ki the inquest a verdict was returned that death was due to syncope.

In the Kiripaka coal mine on July 27 tho line skips by some means became detached from the cables, dashed down the incline, and overwhelmed a young man named Wilb'am. Bentall, who was working at the bottom. His wrist was broken, his head much cut, and other injuries were sustained, from which lie died in tho hospital. A fatal aceidont occurred on tho 9th on Grcymouth wharf. A Swede named Eric Ostcrland, aged 36 years, and a sailor of the Ganymede, was crushed to death between a railway truck and a mooring post Tho unfortunate fellow was helping to push a truck of timber, and got pinned. Tho clear distance being only a couple of inches, he was terribly crushed, and died almost immediately.

A man named William. Henry Mooney, aged 76 years, was found drowned in tho harbour at Napier on tho 29th ult. Ho loft homo early on Sunday evening and was seen about 8.30 p.m. As he did not return home last night a search- was instituted, whioh resulted in the body being found a« above. The deceased was a widower, and had boon rather 6tr»nge and unsettled since the death of his wife about a year' ago.

At Wellington on (he morning of tho 2nd, shortly bofore 10, Samuel Stevenson, employed by the contractors for putting an additional storey to Sargood, Son, and Ewen's warehouse, fell down the welf of the lift used by the builders, and died in a few minutes, his skull was fraoturod, and one of his arms broken. Deceased was a single man, aged about 35. 'The jury at the inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.

Tho body of James M'Enirney.aged 47, labourer, was found on tho 24th ult. hanging by tho neck from a tree in Newtown Park. Wellington. Deceased had been out of work and in ill-health. A verdict of "Suicide whilst insane" was returned. Tho widow of deceased gave evidence that since iosing his employment as labourer under the City Council he had been very despondent. Efforts to get him reinstated had failed. Deceased had a family of eight children. James Arthur, single, 28 years of age, died at his parents' residence. Main road, North-East Valley, on July 28 from injuries sustained at Caversham on March 6. He was employed on the railway duplication works on the date of the accident unloading sand from trucks. An engine suddenly bumped the lino of trucks against a sleeper, with the result that deceased and another workman (Willis or Wills, of South Dunedin) were thrown out. Arthur was crashed against a sleeper, and had to be be removed to the Hospital, whero ho remained for two months. A gruesome discovery was made at Cheltenham Beach, Auckland, by a 6tnall boy named Harold Davey'on the 2nd inst. He was playing on the beach, when he came - across some human •relics in the shape of two fingers or finger and thumb. Tho discovery was reported to the police, and Bearch is being mado along the foreshore for other possiblo remains. The soyored memtars have the appearance of having belonged to a tolerably young person, and it is thought thoy may have become detached from the body of ono of the crew of tho ill-fated cutter Flora. A fatal accident occurred while the Union Company's Aparima was taking in stores at Chelsea, Auckland, on tho 3rd. It is stated that the chief steward, Henry Hawkey, was helping a lumper to take in a sling containing stores, when the sling swung round and knooked him on' to a lighter alongside, a distance of 30ft. Before he was placed aboard the Aparima he expired. Hawkey had a wife and two children in Wellington. He came to Auckland for relief work on the Aparima. He had been in tho employ of the Union Company for a number of years. Charles Siddel, a Wanganui publican, who was a passenger by the Wimmera from New Zealand, died just nrior to the vessel's arrival in Sydney. The deceased was unwell when he began ths voyage, and on Sunday. July 28, he was caught trying to get through the porthole in the lavatory. : Tho ship's officers burst the door in and seized him by the legs just as ho was disappearing. They held on to him while the vessel was "topped, and a line was lowered and he was hauled efooard again. Hi? condition was then serious, and he gradually sank. Mr Siddel was a prominent supporter of Webb, the .leuller. At the inquest the medical evidence showed that death was due to natural causes, and a verdict was returned accordingly.

An inquest was hold at Auckland on tho bodyof Win. H. Heares, employee of tho Municipal Council, who was injured by tho premature explosion of a blasting charge in tho council's quarry. Ho was doing well in the hospital when tot-anus set in, and death resulted. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

The Auskland coroner held an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Richard Sulb'van, lato master of tho cutter Flora, which was wrecked on the Devonport sido of the harbour on July 20. Tho jury returned a verdict that the doceased was foud dead on tho beach, but there was no evidence to show by what moans ho had como into the water." An inquest was held on the 14th on the body of the man found in the Wellington Harbour. Tho verdict was returned of _ found drowned." It was also found that insufficient evidence of identification was available, but tho jury was of opinion that the body was that of one Joseph Ormond. An accident which resulted fatally occurred to Edward Croucher, unmarried, 30 years of ago, at Whatitiri. He with his brother was engaged oross-outting a tree, and took charge of the saw. As the treo was about to fall his brother got away clear, but on looking round saw Edward pinned to the ground, witli tho treo lyinoacross his body. Groat diffioulty was experienced in liberating tho unfortunate man.- Both logs were badly broken and severe internal injuries woro sustained. Ho was convoyed to the Whangarei Hospital, whero he died an hour later. Deceased's parents livo in England, whence Croucher came 10 years aso.

As a result of applying a lighted match to a leak in a eras-pipe, a Chinaman and two Europeans had their faces hurned at Wei. lington. The explosion shattered the windows in tho shop, and two men who were standing in the front of the building received somo injuries. An inquest, was hold at. Wellington on tho 16th concerning the death of Henry Fairbrothor. the jockey who received fatal injuries at last Trontham races thiwHJh Prospector, the horse he rode in the Jumpers' Plat. Race, fallin<r and brintrmir other horses down. The evidence tendered went to show that 'the- affair vat a pure accident. Fan-brother had most of the ribs on his left side and four on his right side fractured. One of his legs was dislocated' at the hip and a lung ruptured. The immediate cause of death was pneumonia, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. A terrible tragedy under the most. appalling and distressing circumstances took place at the Carersham Eailway Station about 8 p.m. on the 2nd inst., when Mr Ambrose Phillips, aged 61, who recently carried on business as a baker in Main South road. Ca-vereham. threw himself from the platform beneath the wlioeJs of a moving train, and was cut to pieces before tho eyes of his wife. The sudden disappearance of a wellknown resident of Palmerston is causing Gflfflp. yujetj;, iQ.-fe ftieod.3. Jays, the Pal-

m'ereton Times). The man referred to is employed at the Allandalo mine, and he left home on Monday morning at the usual time. Ho was last seen near Bushey about 7 a.m., but ha did not put in an appearance at tho mine, and nothing further has been •heard as to his whereabouts. Ho is a married man with three children. Constable Hilliard is investigating the matter. MISCELLANEOUS. The arrivals of persons in New Zealand during May last numbered 1988, and departures 3139. Tho figures for tho corresponding month of last year wore 2393 ajid 2512 respectively. The amount subscribed to date for the memorial on Marsland Hill to tho soldiers who foil in Taranaki during.tho Maori war is £250.

The half-yearly meeting of tho Auckland Gas Company declared a dividend of 8s per share, absorbing £14,429 12s, and carried forward £3969 10s 3d. Sixty-two desertions fronj tho warships in New Zealand waters wero reported to the police during last year. During tho same period 48 boys absconded from industrial schools.

To encourage the Volunteer School Cadet movement, Mr John Hunter Brown, of Whakaki, has given £200 to bo invested for all time, tho interest to bo devoted to cash prizes for shooting competitions by the Huramoa Mounted Rifles and tho Wairoa School Cadets.

Pho Now Zealand Civil Service Executive Council has appointed a strong Executive Committee to conduct the affairs of tho Association throughout the colony during the ensuing 12 months. Mr E. Trogear, Secretary for Labour, was elected president.

The hemp graded at tho port of Auckland for July totalled 2780 bales, weighing 434 tons, and should be worth about £11,500. Tho quantity graded for a similar period last year was 2237 bales, weighing 397 tons. This shows an increase for Julv, .1907, of 513 bales, or 37 tons. . ,' The Public Trustee notified tho secretary to the Greymoutk Hospital Trustees on tho Ist inst. that, under tho will of the late Mrs Bowden, of Cobden, tho institution benefits to the extent of about £600. Tho Government subsidy will bring the amount 'up to £900. There is phenomenal activity in the Christchurch buildinsr trade, which has been remarkably busy [or tho.last few years. Since Greater Christchurch was constituted four years ago £1,500,000 has hcou spent in buildings in the oily, and 2448 buildings have been erected.

Tho case of Fairluivst v. tho Cyclopedia Company, upon which 27 similar cases depend, has just been argued in Daunevirko. It was an action to recover tho amount paid for the work known as the Acw Zealand Cyclopedia," on the ground that it was not of the character represented by tho canvassers. Plaintiff was nonsuited. The freight of tho steamsbip Victoria, whioli sailed for Sydney on tho 13th, included ■ 17 bars of bullion, valued at £15,302, shipped bv the National- Bank of New Zealand for transhipment by a P. and 0. steamer for London, awl 92 bars of silver, valued at £9500, shipped by tho Waihi Gold Mining Company for London. A largo 6oal, supposed to bo one of the Exhibition seals, has been discovered on Waihi Boach, in the Bay of Plenty. The seal was quite,tamo. and permitted'a partv who made the discovery to lay hands on it. • They attached a rope to 'it with the object, of leading it to thoir camp, but the seal made oft' to the briny, hauling tho party after it. Eventually tho men had to let go, and tho sca.l escaped with tho rope. At a meeting of directors of tho Kaiapoi Woollen! Manufacturing Company on the 14th a further dividend of 3J- per cent, was declared, making a total of 6i per cent, for the year. There was £2000 written off for depreciation and £1000 carried forward. The estimated population of the colony of Now Zealand on June 30 last is 974,663, including 1 Maoris (47,731), Cook Islands (12,340). During June 1878 persons arrived in the colony, and 2201 departed. The arnvals in tho same month of 1906 were 2370, and departures 2212. Tho export of gold from New Zealand for tho past seven months was 279,4410z, valued at £1,117,757—a decrease as compared, with the corresponding period of last year of 48,4870z, valued at £206,688. During last month 52,9660z, valued at £212,809, was sent out of tno colony, as compared with 62,5070z, valued at £254,011, in July, 1906. Mr A. Hosking, head master of tho Mount Eden school, has received intimation from the General Manager of the N.Z. Exhibition that ho has been awarded a gold medal for his Now Zealand'' tellurion, an instrumont of importance to educationists in connection with tho teaching of astronomical geography. It is now in use in several of tho oily and suburban schools. The Government has decided to send a New Zealand team to compete in the Empire Match at tho National Rifle Association of New South Wales prize meeting on tho Randwick range, commencing on the 18th October. Colonel Collins has been instructed to pick a team of 10 or 12 of tho colony's best marksmen, whether 'Volunteers or members of private rifle clubs. At March 31, 1882, there wore 116 telephone connections in Now Zealand, and tho balance of revenuo over working expenses was £207 16s, At March 31 last the number of connections was 17,403, and tho balanco of revenue over working expenses was £14,587 14s 7tl. The'total coat of tho Wellington Exchange was £15,578 15s Id; of Auckland, £5808 14s 9d; Christchurch, £5619 5s 7d; and Dunedin, £5643 Is 2d. '

According to recent statistics, Grcymouth contains more Chinamen in proportion to the white population than any other town in the colony. From all accounts (says the Hokitika Guardian) a great business in illicit gaming is done in the Chinese quarters, there being no fewer than six lottery banks in Ml swing thero, with drawings thrice a week, and emissaries from there aro regularly doing the Coast towns seeking patronage.

Recently tho Mastcrfon Tourist Track Committee 6ent a strong protest to the Commjtteo sent a strong protest to the Commissioner of Crown Lands against sawmilling on the mountain. The committee allege that ferns of value are becoming very scarce, and would bs destroyed if the timber were felled. A considerable amount has already been spent in making tho place attractive, and this would bo lost if the bush were opened to millers.

The Feilding Star says tbat a writ has been, issued by Mr E. A. Barton, late manager of the Bank of Australasia hero, on behalf of himself and all tho other shareholders of the Hawke's Bay Timber Company, against tho Ban'k. of Australasia, claiming moneys alleged to be duo in connection with the relations and tho transactions of tho bank with Richtor, Nannestad,and Co. and tho timber company, and also on account of the directors of tho timber company conjoined as co-defendants. The caso wilt probably bo heard at the September sittings of the Supreme Court in Palmerston North.'

Mr Waldogravo, Undov-seorolary to Justice, has been appointed to havo chargo of Cook Islands departmental affairs. Tho total population of the Cook and other islands recently included in the boundaries of the colony has now been ascertained to bo 12,340. The Cook and northern islands' imports (£41,437) and exports . (£45,925) show considerable increases. The Niuo imports (£5580) and exports (£7958) remain about the same as the previous years. The running of tho Governmont vessel Countess of Ranfnrly is admitted not to havo been a success. She wa6 running at a loss, and was unsuitable for tho trade, so it has'been decided to soil her.

Tho Maori Land Settlement Aot Amendment Bill, introduced bv the Native Minister, is a short measure ot three clauses. Clause 2 provides that for tho purpose of providing funds for tho acquisition of land under the Maori Land Settloment Aot of 1905 the Colonial Treasurer may. upon being authorised bT Ordcr-in-Couincil, raise a further sum of £50,000 in addition to tho £200.000 for which authority is given under tho principal act. The annual report of the Native Land Purchase Department, recently presented to Parliament, stated that tho balance of money available for tho ourront year out of tho sum alreadv authorised was £96,574.

The Chief Inspector of Machinery, in his annual report, B tntes -that though there was still come machinery overdue for inspection, the department accomplished moro work than in any previous year. The engineering trado has been depressed, and very little w,w work has been carried out, but the strides _ made by gas and oil enprmes as; a motive power are considerable. Tho installation of several suction gas producers has been attended with marked success. During the year 5379 boilers were inspected and passed. Of tho 1883 defects discovered. 74- were dangerous. Tho number of new boilers added to the department's list was 388. of which' 223 were made m tho colony. Of 1065 candidafe for the engirto drivers' _examination, 777 passed; and in the marine engineers' examinations 183 passed out of 23*. The number of surveys made of steamers and auxiliary P_owe«d vesseJg was -331, besides- surprise wjteimade, ---..-

Tho realisation of the Exhibition Buildings and other property is turning out remarkably well. Mr Munio told a reporter recently that whereas tho estate was at ono timo expected to realise £15,000, it was now pretty certain that the figure, when all was sold, would be at least £30,000. It will probably be six months even now before the ground is entirely cleared of the various erections, the fencing, and all the debris of the Exhibition. The remaining pieces of tho marblo statuary by Mr Summers, of Melbourne, have been sold to the Tourist Department for £2000. This must bo regarded as satisfactory, seeing that the price paid by the Exhibition was about £2600, and one of tho pieces has 6inco been sold for £80. The statues are still lodged at the Ohristchurch office of the department, but it is considered probablo that Rotoraa will bo their final destination.

The Italian barque Stefano Razotto was sold on tho Bth at the Bluff for £3250. At tho commencement of tho auction Mr Stout said he was instructed by the owners to contest tho legality of tho sale on the ground that a proper inventory had not been taken to enable possible purchasers to know what thoy wore bidding for. The auctioneer said he was selling under instructions from the Admiralty Court, and was secure in his position, and the sale went on. There were only two bids. The first was £3000, and tho next £3250, by W. S. Watorston, to whom tho ship was knocked down. Tho auctioneer mentioned that the vessel fetched £9000 eight years ago. There was an impression abroad that the purchase was made on tho owners' behalf, but -this was denied by Razetto and Mr Waterston.

riie annual report of tho State Coal Mines Department shows that during the year ended March 31 the total quantity of coal dealt with was 196,509 tons, valued at £158,097. The Point Elizabeth colliery supplied 163,478 tons, valued at £133,525, and the Seddonvillo Colliery 33,030 tons, valued at £24,571. Tho report states:- " Tho excellent quality of this coal is now being realised, and it is nraoh sought after, not only for household purposes, for which it has fow if any equals, but also as a steam producer. Tho demand at present far exceeds the supply, but patience has to be exercised, as the development of such a largo field has to bo gradually and carefully carried out." The net profit for the year is given as £8460.

Dr Marshall, in his lecture on the volcanoes of the Taupo district at the mooting of tho Otago Institute on tho 13th inst., among many interesting things about Ruapehu, mentioned that the first ascent of tho highest peak, which goes by tho euphonious Maori namo of Paratetaitonga, was made by Professor, Park. This peak, the lecturer went on to say, i e somewhat over 9000 ft high. Professor Park thus holds the record of the first ascent of tho highest peak in the North Island of Now Zealand.

The Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers informs us that in response to a letter sent by Mr Lethbridge, Mr Dalgety, in England, has authorised him to pay £100 forthwith to tho Now Cathedral Fond.

Replying to a request from the Palmerston North Borough .Council for a sum of £10,000 wherewith to erect a library building there, Mr Androw Carnegie has written, giving it as his opinion that it would be absurd to •spend such a largo sum in a tosvn of that size. Ho considers that oven less than £5000 would bo ample, and wants the council to send a. plan and picture of tho presont building, witli details as to the accommodation it affords, its cost and age, and whether it is ownod by the council or rented.

Threo pedigree stud bulls that the Hon. R. M'Nab, on behalf of tho Agricultural Department, is importing from England are due to arrivo by tho Papanui. These animals, which are of a guaranteed milking strain, aro intended for tho purpose of improving the dairy herds of the colony. Somo idea of their valuo may bo gained from the fact that they aro insured for £556.

Some weeks ago the Tourist Department offered a shilling for every shag's head delivered to its 'officers at Rotorua, but at latest advices only 50 heads have been sent in. Tho result (says tho Rotorua Gazette) is most disappointing. Thero are thousands of shags on the lakes doing immense damage, and good wages could be made by any person who cares to go systematically to work trapping these pirates, whioli do so much damago to fish and fish foods.

The principal items appearing on the order paper for the forthcoming annual conference of the New Zealand Employers' Federation at Wellington aro as follow :- Accident insurance; subdivision of industrial district; proposed amendment of tho Industrial .Conciliation and Arbitration Act; prevention of strikes; filing of •references to board or court; provision for recovery of fines- and for proper enforcement of penalties under the act; weekly half-holiday under 'the Factories Act; minimum rates of wages; bank wages and exchange on cheques; and bank holidays. Mr William Scott will deliver an address to tho conference on "Tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Aot': Its Past, Present, and Future."

White the Union Company's steamer Aparima was engaged in the Calcutta trade she carried a crew of Indians, but now that she is being temporarily employed carrying sugar from Fiji to Auckland tho company has decided (says a Press Association message from Auckland) to put a white crew at union wages in the vessel.- Tho number of men engaged is 29, and of these only two aro foreigners. The Indians will also remain on the steamer, which will carry practically two orewa until she is withdrawn from the intercolonial trade.

In conversation with a Press reporter, Mr J. H. Blackwell, managing director of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, stated that last year tho output from the local factories failed in many instances to overtake the demand. The cause of this was the shortage of skilled female labour, and at tho present time the place was understaffed to the extent of over 100. "There is a continual exodus of girls, who are leaving to get married," tho speaker continued, "and tho worst of it is, from our point of View, that tho best girls aro the soonest to go. That is to bo expected, of course, and it shows the excellent teste of the young men who aro primarily responsible for bringing about the vacancies." _ The Mayor and several prominent men in the community not .directly connected with the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association have joined with the board of directors of tho association in issuing invitations to a number of citizens to meet at dinner in tho Tiotoria Hall on August 26 to consider the proposal that has been made for tho erection'of a modem building for tho association in Dunedin. Mr Lyman L. Pierce will introduce tho subject. No financial solicitations will bo made at the gathering, tho intention simply being to Jay tho scheme of tho directors fully before thoso who are likely to take an interest in this, the most recent of the philanthropic enterprises of tho city. Tho following resolutions havo been adopted by the Dunedin and Suburban Dairymen's Association, and copies thereof have been tra;nsmitted to tho Government: --" That in view of the strictures recently passed by the Chief Health Officer on tho present method of mrlk supply, and his advocacy of tho establishment of municipal milk depots, tho Dunedin and Suburban Dairymen's Association, having carefully considered the matter from all pomts, concludes that it would not bo in tho best httereste of either the dairy farmers or the genoral public to interfere with present methods." "That the dairy regulations under tbo Dairy Industry and Registration Act, if administered ovorywhero as in Dunedin, are suffioicnt to guarantee a sound, healthy supply as between the dairy farmer and tho public."

Tho Trades and Labour Council passed the following; resolution at its meeting on the 35th:-"That this council wishes to pointedly direct tho attention of the Government to tho trafficking in land whiob is going on in connection with blocks of land whioh arc opened for selection by the Government. Gamblers who have no intention whatever of going on the land are allowed to entor the ballot for no other purpose than selling out at an increased value, whioh conclusively proves ihajuthg Jaadjs Jgaaec| aypojoj^rentel,

This council contends that only bona fide selectors should be permitted to enter the ballot, and that the Govornment should immediately take effective steps to stop dummies from entering ballots, and that in all cases a fair rental should be fixed."

Tho Govornment has decided to sell the schooner Countess of Ranfurly, as 6he is running at an annual loss, and does not meet the trade requirements of Cook and other islands. It was anticipated (says tho New Zealand Times) that the experiment of running a vessel owned by the Government would prove more successful than results havo shown, but nevertheless it must bo conceded that tho schooner has been of much sorvico to tho group by keeping freights down and collecting tho prodnco of the outlying islands. The island Administration both at Rarotonga and Niuo is now desirous of being relieved of tho annual charge imposed upon • its revenues by the schooner, and it has therefore been decided to sell her on tho first suitable opportunity. Tho working of tho schooner for tho past year resulted in a loss of £463, as compared with a loss of £187 for the previous year.

Tho City Treasurer has reported to the General' Committco of tho City Council that the net profits from tho abattoir for the past threo years, ending March 31, are as follow :-1905, £51 17s 7d; 1906, £354 15s 8d; and 1907, £586 18s lOd, making a total of £993 12s 3d,

The company of Sargood, Son, and Ewen (Ltd.) has been registered. The capital is £700,000, divided into 700,000 shares of £1 each. The subscribers to tho memorandum and articles of association aro Percy R. Sargood, of Dunedin, merchant; Lucy C. Sargood, wife of Percy R, Sargood; Thomas Finlayson, of Auckland, merchant; Emily Finlayson, wifo of Thomas Finlayson; Henry C.' Tewsley, of Wellington, merchant; Ada Tewsley, wifo of Henry C Tewsley; and James P. M'Gowan, of Dunedin, accountant. Tho objects of the company are to acquire, take over, develop and carry on the business at present carried on in different parts of New Zealand and in London under the stylo of Sargood, Son and Ewen. '

Tho zymotio diseases reported to tho District Health Office during tho month of July numbered 59, which is a much heavier total than usual. Nineteen were reported from the town and 40 from the country, made up as follows: -Tuberculosis, 22; scarlet fever, 13; diphtheria, 12; blood-poisoning, 5; enteric fever, 4; and hydatids, 3. Tho Cromwell district contributed about one-half of the scarlet fever cases, while Invorcargill and Rivcrton account for eight of the diphtheria cases. The secretary of the Shipwreck Relief Society of New Zealand (Mr E. D. Grace) has acknowledged with thanks tho receipt of a cheque for £11 9s lOd, being the amounts collected on various steamships of the U.S.S. Company trading to New Zealand. Also a cheque for £10 10s as a donation to tho funds of the society from the Bluff Harbour Board.

The Dall patent voting machine is now about to.be submitted to a practical test. Two of them havo been wade at tho Hdlsido Workshops and will, wo understand, be forwarded to Wellington, .where thoy will probably be given a trial in tho lobbies of Parliament House. Tho electoral law makes provision for tho uso of voting machines at elections.

The deed in terms of whioh. tho custody of the Hockon collection is to be vested in tho University Council has been approved by Dr Hooken and tho bodies interested, and nothing now stands in the way of effect being given to tho resolution of tho subscribers to the building fund transferring tno control of Dr Hooken's valuable gift to tho University airfchorities. At of the trustees on the 12th Mr J. A. Burnsido was appointed architect. Mr J. E. White mentioned that he had discussed the question of the foundations with Mr Burnsido. and generally the character of the structure, and had received the assurance that tho building could bo comploted for the amount available-a little over £5500.

A mooting was hold on the. 14th-for tho purposo of discussing the question of the formation of a trawling- company, with a capital of . from £12,000 to £15,000, in shares at £1 cadi. The idea is to bring out from England a fast and seaworthy trawler, which will go further out to sea than the trawlers at present in use, and get in just as quickly, or more », ra all weathers. The by-products, in tho shape of oil and fish manure, will also be saved, and it is proposed to acquire works for tho purpose of manufacturing the manure, and also for extracting and refining tho oil, It is believed that tho company, if formed, will bring down tho price of fish to a quarter, of what it is at presont. :Mr A. Williamson estimates tho cost of tho now trawler, delivered at Dunedin within five months, at £9000 Owing to tho poor attendance it was decided to postpone tho meeting. Should tho company bo formed the trawler will bo built either on the Clyde or the Tyne and will voyage to New Zealand commanded by Mr Williamson, who is a master manner. .