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Otago Daily Times, Issue 14087, 16 December 1907, Page 4

The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister labour, loft Dunedin on Saturday by the second express for tile north, and wont on from Lyttelton to Wellington by tho Maori.

I'rivaio information readied Dunedin yesterday to tho effect that a distressing fatal accident had occurred at Balcairn, which is situated 3d miles north of Cliristchurcli. Subsequent inquiries elicited tlw fact that three lives had been lest, tho victims being Mr Vim. Berry, schoolmaster at Balcairn, his son Walter, aged 2i years, and another little boy. It appears that Mr Berry took a number of children out on Saturday on a Nature-study excursion. While tho party was returning homo trouble occurred with the horse on a bridge, tho result being that tho trap was capsized and tho victims thrown over a procipice 50ft high. Mr Berry was 38 years of age.

There was a splendid gathering of young men at the Strangers' Tea at tho Young lien's Christian Association Rooria yesterday. Tho chairman. (Mr X. Puterson) extended a hearty welcome to all visitors present. Ono of the6e was from I'almerston North and another, who announced lumsolf, \va? from Scotland. Rev. R. ,1\ Elder addressed those present, giving a graphic aeoounl; of his work and relating some of his experiences. . Ho lias spent some years in missionary, work in Argentina, most of which timo has been spent in Buenoa Aires. During the afternoon Mr Gordon Sutherland effectively sang " Savod by graoe." It was intimated that tho association camp was to ba hold at Stewart Island instead of Taieri Mouth as previously intimated. A largo number have signified their intention of attending the camp, as it affords every opportunity of enjoying an ideal holiday.

Yesterday was tho hottest day yet experienced this summer in Christdmrch, tho maximum heat in tho shado being 87 degrees. About £720 was collected:-for-tho Duncdin Hospital and kindred institutions on Saturday in city and suburbs. Two-thirds of this amount, or £WO, will go to tho Hospital, and as this 6iim will carry with it tho Government subsidy of 24b in tho pound tho funds of tho institutionwilf'benefit to the extent of £1056. Of tiro remainder of the artiount colloctcd £180 will be handed to tho St. John Ambulance Association, and the balanco will bo divided between tho Pationta and Prisoners' Aid Society and. tho Victoria Convalescent Fund. The balance of £240 (after payment to the Hospital) is subsidised by tho Government to the extent of £200, which will also bo divided anions tho tlireo smaller bodice, tho larger'share going to tho Ambulanco Society.

Tho library of Parliament Buildings sustained no damago in tho lato conflagration, and that this is to must bo attributed to tho action of last session's Library Committee. In tho erection of tho building, which was supposed to bo fireproof, the remarkablo mistako had been made of having several windows on tho ground floor quite closo to tho main building. Tho committee this year saw in the6o windows a possible source of danger to tho library in the event of firo occurring, and it accordingly had them taken out and tho openings bricked in. But for tho foresight of tho committee thoro can bo little doubt that .firo would liavo found its way into the library and dono damago to many valuable volumes of reference.

A correspondent writes to us drawing attention to tlio presence on the surface, barely 20 yards away from tho oaretakor'a house at the Northern Cemetery, of a child's coffin, which would seem from the appearance of tho dead grass covering it, to have been disinterred tomo weeks past. Tha people in the neighbourhood feel that some menaco to tho publio health may bo involved. A balance of £40 remains to tho credit of tho Otago Fallen Soldiers' Momorial Fund after all tho expenditure has been provided for. A meeting of tho committee will bo held op Wednesday afternoon to pass tho statement of accounts and to deeidg us to the disposal of tho balance.

Just before tho Mohoito left yesterday a girl of 15 was arrested by Defective Mitchell on tho cliargo of stealing two brooches and a jacket belonging to throo different people in Christchurch. As tho mother of the girl had to go on in tho boat to Ilobart, a local charitablo institution arranged to tako charge of her till tlio departure of the next boat. This, however, will probably not bo necessary, as to enable tho girl to catch tho Maheno at tho Bluff {ho magistrate lias arranged to hold the Juvenile Court at 8 a.m. to-day.

The last of the four open electric cars which are being l converted into tho combination typo will bo in running this week. The City Corporation has 11 maro opan caw, but .theso- -witl'ter Temivetl fur traffic.

A local sharcbrokcr, discussing the cahlotl news from London respecting the attempted flotation of'tho United Goldfielde Company of Now Zealand,, r-xpreases the'opinion that the company in question cannot ho the (xmEolidatcd (loldficlds Company, as thai corporation has been in existence for a good many years, and has paid several dividends on a (subscribed capital of £250,000, whilo its shares havo been rising; in prico during the past ]2 months.

For the Hospital collection on Saturday tho organisation of the local forces was exceedingly good in tho cily and suburbs, and tho committee of ma-nagement lias reason to be pleased \rith the result of its many labours.

Tho tramways returns for the fortnight bliow that 42,753 milee 65 chains "were run for a revenuo of £2593 10s 6d. For the corresponding period laet jcar t.he revenuo was 7o Sd, and tho miloago 42,936 miles 39 chains.

Mr Neil, whilo speaking at the' Fountain on Sunday evening, mado a remark which did not meet with the approval of Jus audicnce," whorcupon one among thorn is alleged to have caught the speaker by a leg of hie trousers and given them a pull. The orator bcra mo incensed, and, at is 6tatod, challenged his alleged assailant to accompany him to the l'olico Station. Tho man accepted the challenge, anil tho two marched off, accompanied by a large crowd of men and. boye. Tho polico officer in charge, after Mr Neil had stated his ease, recommended him to tako such proceedings as might bo advised, and 'furnished him with the name and address of tho person who had interfered with him. Wo aro informed that the probable result of this will be that if such unseemly proceedings continuo, especially on Sunday, tho police will he compelled to proceed against all persons preaching in tho streets.

Believing a. foeblo excui-e to be worse than none, a Dunedin youth set himself to invent one that would got him safely past every collecting-box in the city on Saturday. In the morning he went, jauntily citywards, and a lady held out hor box with tho usual demand. "My dear young lady," he replied, "I would give you this coin with pleasure, only it is quite impossible, as you will agree when I explain. I havo vowed out of pity to giro it to tho plainest, woman that I can find out collecting to-.day. You can take it if you wish to, ol'course." Having said which he beamed triumphantly; but his joy was shortlived. Said the damsel, unabashed, "Put it right in here; you don't need to go any further. I am sure I'm the ugliest. Die youth delivered his coin and departed sadly, having learned that.when tho Hospital funds aro at stako a woman's vanity is as-nothing.

At the Garrison Hall yesterday afternoon tjio Central Mission Brotherhood lield an open conference, the subject for discussion being "Tho Attitude of tho Churches to the Masses." Thero wero a. good number of men present, and keen interest was taken in tho various speeohes. The Rev. W. Slade occupied tho chair, and (ho music was rendered by Messrs Barrel 1 at tho organ and do Laulour on the violin. The discussion was opened by Mr A'. Clydesdale, ono of tho vice-presidents of the Brotherhood, and liis addrew was to the point, dealing with the affirmative lido of the question. In it ho showed many of the faults of the present, day churclxs, and incidentally pointed to eomo near at hand in whioh tho attitude to tho nias£C6 was anything but what it ought, to be. Messrs Morris, Duncan, Tily, W. Clydesdale, and Gear all spake, and tho various ipoints raised in tho debate were summed up by tho chairman, who also took occasion to reply to somo of the statements that had been made during' tho afternoon.

Mr Thornton, Principal of To Ante College, who has come to Dunedin to plead til causo O'f 1-ho Maori rat-e, preached in St. Pauls Cathedral on Sunday evening. Ho took os his text those well-known and «>ul-stirriiig words of St.. Paul, "I press forward." 110 introduced hi.> remarks by calling tho attention of his audience to tho stago in tho cyclo of the year which they havo reached, They stood .it the close of tho old year, and at the threshold of the new. ITo urgxl upon all to form new resolutions, to prves forward to becoming better citizens in'the future than in the past. Mr Thornton is an eloquent speaker, i>ml a master cf English diction. The cause which brought him here is evidently dear to his hear:. He is in Dunedin, ho said, to elicit publio sympathy and hearty eo-oporation on behalf of the Maori. The Maori ha 6 a distinct olaitu upon the English people, because he is a fellow-Christian, a fellow-citizen, and above all, because he is becoming, self-reliant. Mr Thornton hopes to speak on the subject in greater detail on Tuesday ovehinj next The Maori causo is fortunate to hive such an eloquent advocate.

Professor SxiU'e speedy yacht Yvonne, which will give local yachtsmen a ta*te of her quality in the forthcoming regattas, arrived at Duncilin last night. Tho yacht left Oamarn at 7 a.in. yesterday. anil expericneed variable winds down the coast. About. 15 miles off the Heads a eoulh-west Kfuall vas struck, but the boat camo ■through it splendidly. She reached the Heads shortly after 7 p.m. When she had procwled up tlio Lower Harbour as far as Pulling- Point she was met by Messrs Xees Bixw. \\ait.iri, which piloted her 1o Deborah llay. Tho wind then failed, so *'h? Naitiri took tho Yvonne in tow. being assisted at a latar stage by Mr WiseMan a launch. The Yvonne was safely moored'off the end of the .lottv street wharf before 10 p.m. She will go on tlio Yacht Club's | slip for cleaning to-day. Professor Scott si boat will compete in a raco against tho Otago Ynclit Club's boats, probably next Saturday, and will also bo a competitor at the Port Chalmers regatta on Boxing Day. The professor has been mado ft member of the Otago Yacht Club during his slay here. The club will also provide him with a crow. Professor Scott, Mr Coull, and Another man constituted tho crew on flip- run down from Lytteltoii, The advent of this wall-known racing yacht is causing general pleasure and satisfaction amongst local yachtsmen, and her popular owner is assured of a right hearty .southern Yielcomo during his holiday in our midst.

lii view of recent occurrences it is interesting to mention that in a recent issue of the Government Gazette regulations relating to tho removal of criminal lunatics were published. One of. tho regulations, which have been approved l>y tlio Imperial authorities, provides for the removal to tlio United Kingdom or elsewhere of a criminal lunatio in a case wliero there is 110 asylum in tlio oolonv where eueh a person cannot bo properly or conveniently detaincd ami dealt with.

Tho Tabwnaclo Junior Christian Endeavour held its anwial break-up social on I'riday, 13th inst., when a largo number of parents and friends were present. 11 r Hoitio addressod tho children, after which a eplondid proßrammo of songs, recitations, and dialogues was given by tho various members of the society, and the prizes for the year were distributed by Sister Marie. Tlio awards were ils follow:—Attendance, Misa Mary Has tie and Master K. D. Hastie (equal); good conduct, Mips Mabel Burton; helpfulness, MUs Efße Hc<lvick; rally prize, Mis.? Mary Hastie.

Following arc tlio rain statistics for the pnst week as supplied from the Drainnjo Beard's office December 8 ,040 in, 9th ■130 in, lllh .OSOin, 12th ,485 in, 13th .175 i«, l'-lb .CJOin; total, .SSOin. Total for 1907 to date 18.410 in.

We 1:«« to acknowledge receipt of calendars tor 1393 from tho Alliance Assurance Compaq a:\<] (he Queensland Insurance Company.

Beware o[ influenza! Don't triflo with this nialady; the jitter-effects may lie disastrous. A'tsok the oiseafo at once with "Lancer" hStienzr. eu?e, which nets with marvellous rapidity. A !otv doses euro, one dose prevents. Sg a bottle, chemists ia4-

Holiday Attractions.—A. huge variety of ladies' neckwear, belts, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, gloves, ctc., atso ready-to-wear gariwnts spcciallv imported for the holiday, season.—ltolliroiis Lid.-Advt. Having llic goods people want, and having them good, U how wo have built up our business. Call in and sec our new season's stock now, niid get the best choice.—G. and T. Young, 88 Princes street.—Advt.

Who is Petee JJikk'/—The meet reliablo Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt.