The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IN INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. SATURDAY. 26th JANUARY, 1884

Otago Witness, Issue 1679, 26 January 1884, Page 18

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IN INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. SATURDAY. 26th JANUARY, 1884

Great interest is taken this year in the Education Board election. There appears to be a widespread opinion among committees that an infusion of new blood is necessary. Many of the Southern committees are nominating the Rev. Dr Macgregor, of Oamaru, with one of the present members. Manuka Creek, Wetherstones, and Tuapeka Mouth have selected Messrs Shand and Macgregor ; Glenkenich has nominated Dr Macgregor alone : North Taieri, Mr Shand and Dr Macgregor ; Waipori Lake, Mr Begg and Dr Macgregor.

R. Phelan, the well-known swimmer, on Wednesday afternoon attempted to awim from Dun edin to Port Chalmers. He swam very well until he reached Sawyers' Bay, when he had to give up, owing to the coldness of the water. When taken into the boat he was very much exhausted, and could not stand. He had refreshment once on the way. The distance he swam was eight miles, and he was 4 hours and 40 minutes in the water.

The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's steamer Bombay arrived at Port Chalmers on Wednesday, after a 55 days' passage. She brings over 2000 tons of cargo for this port, Lyttelton, and Wellington, and has over 500 passengers in all. Of these, 266 are immigrants. About 170 of the passengers are for Lyttelton and Wellington. The single females number 128, and the married couples 60. The female immigrants will be open for engagement at Caversham on Friday morning. The steamer is fitted with refrigerator, and has stowing oapacity for 9000 carcasses.

News has been received of the Tongariro on her Homeward voyage. She maintains her reputation as a smart boat, having done the trip to Rio in 20 days 7 hours— the shortest time on record.

At a meeting of the New Zealand Pottery and Glass Company held on Wednesday afternoon, the liquidator (Mr R. H. Leary) brought up an interim report, in which he stated that a sale of the plant and machinery had been effected to the landlord for the sum of £750, on condition that tho lease, having two years to run, should be cancelled, and his claim for two years' rent waived. It was also mentioned in

the report that the loss to shareholders would be about 16s per share of £1 each. The meeting unanimously approved of the report, and a special vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Leary for the manner in which he had carried out the liquidation up to the present time. He was also complimented on the successful manner in which he had disposed of the plant.

At the Gaol on Wednesday morning John Newton, who was convicted at the recent criminal sessions of criminal assault on a child at the Nevis, received the 25 lashes with the cat which formed part of his sentence. The prisoner appeared to suffer severely.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lawrence, Robert Abrim was proceeded against for ill-treating two geese by locking their wings over their backs and placing them in a box too small to contain them properly. Mr Aitken, inspector for the prevention of cruelty to animals, gave evidence that he went into the parcels office at the Dunedin railwaystation and found a gin-case with two geese inside. Ono goose was dead, and the other nearly so. When the live goose was taken out of the box it couldn't stand, and its wings fell down as if broken. Witness measured the box, and found it to be 20£ in long, 12in broad, and lO^in deep. The defendant, who had pleaded guilty, was fined 10s and costs (amounting to 335).

It has been decided to form a Tuapeka County Jockey Club.

A great sensation has been caused in London (writes a correspondent) by the reception given to Lord Ripon when he returned from the hills to Calcutta. For the first time in the history of India, the Viceroy has been hooted and hissed and publicly insulted by the Anglo-Indian community. The policy of Lord Ripon has evidently^ so far aggravated the Anglo-Indian population that the concessions made by the Government in the Ilbert Bill have not constituted the golden bridge which was to bring the Viceroy off. The counter demonstration made by the natives a few days later, when Lord Ripon opened the Calcutta E xhibition, has only aggravated the situation, since it shows that class feeling lies unseen to a very serious extent. The return of Lord Ripon to this country is now expected to take place next spring, cr a year before the period of his appointment has expired.

At a meeting of the Wallace and Fiord Hospital Committee, held in Riverton, it was reported that a. Chinaman suffering from leprosy was living in a hut about two miles from the town. The sufferer is said to have come from the Round Hill diggings. Inquiries will be made by the medical officer as to the truth of the statement made, but in the meantime the Committee decided not to receive the patient into the Hospital.

Several changes in business and banking houses at Invereargill are announced. Mr G. F. Martin, manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company,goestomanagetheOliristchurcn branch, his place being taken by Mr G. A. Birch, now manager of the Colonial Bank here. Mr J. H. Kerr, manager of the Union Bank, goes to the Greymouth branch, Mr Borrowman taking his place here.

A telegram from a correspondent at Kaitangata says : — The Kaitangata Coal Company have struck coal again in their stone drive, which is some 1200 feet long. The driving of late has cost the company about £6 per day.

The Manchester Guardian reports a fatal accident of a peculiar kind which occurred to Mr William Henry Green, a student at the Owens College. It appears that he was walking along at a somewhat rapid pace, and there beiner someone in front of him he stepped off the footway into the road. At the same time his foot slipped and he fell, just as a lorry loaded with bricks was passing. One of the wheels of the lorry passed over the head of the young man and killed him instantly. The deceased was 24 years of age, and for some time had acted as private assistant to Professor Roscoe in his own

James Nyhon, Sindymount, writes claiming 1 Bix marks more than William hiddel l , who was stated to be equal with him in our report of the examination of ttie local school.

Wu have rpceived several pamphlets on the origin of thfl eijfht-hourß system of labour, by Wm. Taylor, Collingwood.

A notice in connection with ratos due in Southland County appears elsewhere in this issue.

Mr E. P. Dumerque has a 400-aere farm at Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, for sale.

The address of Daniel Scally is inquired for, and letters lie at our offi.e for John Dale.

The Belford Flour Mills, Timaru, have a lot of plant for sale.

Mr A. Hill, St. Bathana, has a freehold farm for gale.

Mr George M'lndoe.Mosgiel, offers a farm at Crookston for Bale or lease.

Mr W. H. Miller, Waimea. Gore, offors a traction enuine by John Fowler for sale.

Mr William Christie announces the sale of Mr Barr's Wairoa Estate for tho 2nd prox. The property is situate a mi'e and a half from the Maheno railwaystation. The address of Alfred Roberts is inquired for. Mrs Spconer announce i that she receives as bonders young ladieu attending the Dunedin Oirls' High School.

Mr AY. Quin announces the sale of Mr M'Gregor's farm at Crookston for the Bth prox. Mes3rs F. S Canning and Co. will sell a 200 acre section in the Waikaia district on the 31st met.