LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1682, 16 February 1884, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Up to the end of last week the Cornmitfcee-in-aid in connection with raising funds for the Benevolent Institution had received £232 O's 6d. Tho Committee have resolved to organise a day's Bpoits for Saturday, March 22. It is probable that not many people are aware of the extent to which this Colony is visited by tourists during the summer months. The Union Steam Ship Company's boats bring, of course, numbers of visitors to our ports, many of whom are no doubt travailing upon business errauds ; but the class wh'ch may be properly termed tourists — bent upon pleasure only— is very numerous. The truth of the fact is plentifully evidenced by the visitors' books at our leading hotels. To take the Grand Hotel, for instance — an undertaking of the success of which very many shrewd business men have been sceptical. This build, ing, with its 40 or 50 bedrooms, has, since its opening in October last, been repeatedly absolutely crowded, and its accommodation is at the present time fully taxed. Glancing down the list of visitors during these few months, it is surprising to notice the number of travellers from Europe and the neighbouring Colonies. Those entered as hailing from Melbourne must add up to considerably more than 100 during* the lasfctwo or threemonths ; fromNewSouth Wales the number ja scarcely less, and Queensland aed Tasmania are each well represented.

From different parts of England and the United States there hns also been a large number of vigors, and there are several nddresses in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Germany. This, moreover, represents only a certain proportion of tourists who have taken New Zea'aud in their round, as the other principal hotels in Dunedin have also been liberally patronised during our very unsatisfactory summer. It id gratifying to know that the Colony does come in for so largo a share of the attention of travellers, and the fact speakd well for the future prosperity of New Zealand.

At a meeting of the trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank held last week it was agreed, subject to the consent of tho Governor, which is required by law, to pay out of the accrued profits n, sum of £1500 to the trustees of the Benevolent Institution. This is the third payment that has been made from the same boui-co, and those administering the affairs of the Bank are entitled to the thanks of the community for having by this means increased tho funds of the Benevolent Institution by uo less a sum than £ ; 1,200. In terms of the Act these contributions must be invested in freehold security, and the income derivable therefrom is alum; available for the current expenses of the Institution. Wo have much pleasure in thus calling attention to one of our local institutions which is quietly and unostentatiously rendering good setvice not only to those who trausact business there, but to th» public at large, in thus assisting the poor and needy amongst us. We trust that tho action of the trustees— who, by the- way, give their services gratuitously— will induce depositors and others to encourage and patronise the institution to which we havo referred.

Many of our readers will regret to learn of the death of Mr A. M'Gruer, curator of the Botanic Gardens, who expired on the 7th hist., after a short illne?s. He was born at Elgin, in the North of Scotland, and was there tau«ht his business as gardener. He then left Scotland to push his fortune in England, where at that time Scotch gardeners were much sought after and esteemed. Mr M'Gruer filled heveial very important situations, being at different thnei under both Dr Lindley and Dr Hooker, it is about 18 year*, since he came to Ota r?o,r ?o, atid for the greater part of that time he filled the potation iv which he was familiar to most people— that of curator of tho Botanic liardens. These gaidens ho has formed from a svildernesM, and their present condition testifies to their late curator's energy and perseverance. A promenade through the gardens owes much of its pleasantness to Mr M'Gruer's labours. He leaves a wife and five of a family (all grown up)' to mourn their loss, and their grief is shared by a largo circle of friends. He died at the ripe age of 72. . A day or two ago a number of Invercargill gentlemen forwarded their congratulations to Sir Frederick Whitaker on his being created a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael aud St. George. In reply thereto Mr J. T. Thomson has received the following telegram : "I very much appreciate the congratulations with which you and other gentlemen at Invercargill have honoured me. Please accept your pelt, and convey to them, my sincere thanks. — Fjsed. Whitakke." Captain Burfoot, of the Salvation Army, has paid to the Government, through the Customs Department in luvercargill, tho sum of 10s as conscience-money, being 9s 3d which si penitent convert considered ho had defrauded the Government of, and interest, which he calculated at 9d. The following extract from a letter written by Archdeacon JTenton to a friend is published in the Wellington Church Chronicle: — "Lately come from England, you will be deeply grieved by our educational system. All over the Colony wo havo our public bchools, from which, all re ligious instruction and tho Bible itself are banished. To call that education which does not recognise the needs of tho soul ! To call that sufficient instruction which ignores that Book which for 15 centuries has so affected the history and influenced the laws and habits of the most civilised nation of the earth ! As a faithful Churchman, as a true patriot, as a good Christian, you will seek to amend the Education Act and brighten the gloomy prospects of our children." The Post says that though this is oloquent pleading, it stops short of any practical suggestion. Lovers of the "light fantastic " will be interested in the following paiagraph from the Wellington Post:— "An unsuccessful attempt to wrest the waltzing championship from Mr Henry Crockett was made at tbo Foresters Hall on Saturday evening by Mr Allan Ward, late of Christchurch. Those of our readers who take an interest in these matters will recollect that some few weeks ago Messrs Crockett anil Ward contested for the championship, and that after" n, hard struggle the palm for correct and graceful waltzing was awarded to the Wellington man. Mr Ward expresaed his opinion that if he bad had a little more prac tice with his partner the result would have been different, and it was decided that be should have another opportunity of competing for the honour. Tho second contest came oil" on Saturday night, and was also decided iv favour of Mr Crockett, who danced with Miss Williams. Mr Ward's partner was Miss Kinvaguo. The judges were Messrs Martin and Dovine, and Mr Stanley officiated as referee." Miss Will, the daughter of the Rev. Wm. Will, of East Taieri, was recently appointed nne of the teachers in the Girls' High School, Christchurch. Commenting on the proposed Kalizoic Society in Melbourne, the Hobart Mercury observes :—": — " There has just been made in one of tho Melbourne newspapers a proposition to establish a Kalizoic Society, and a Kalizoic Society is explained to be a sort of brother hood having for its object the worship of the beautiful. Tho proposition has been received with some favour, not unmixed with mild ridiculo. But yet them is nothing ridiculous in the project, for it contemplates the abolition of all things that are ugly in the shape of waste places and uncultivated city grounds ; and it purposes tho planting of trees and the making of gardens. Melbourne has many parks and gardens ; but some of therm are but ill kept, and, moreover, the baser sort of people appear to take pleasure in destroying what those who are not base, plant and nurture. The Kalizoic Society contemplates not only the improvement of the city in respect of trees and flowers, but the inculcation of a love of these things. It is desired to enlist everybody's sympathies in favour of making the city beautiful, and of constituting everybody a custodian of city gardens." The strike of the miners on the Te Aroha goldfield is practically at an end (writes our Auckland carresponder>t), but the flower of the mining population has gone elsewhere. It need never have arisen had the capitalists exhibited the smallest modicum of tact and frankness in their dealings with th& men. One important fact has been elicited by recent mining operations on the field — that the rim of gold ia carried down to greater depths

than had been hitherto suspeetedi, arid fM$ b*» tended greatly to harden stock and gJ^e ptability to the various enterprises now in progress there.

The Wellington Post's correspondent wires from Foxton that a horrible case of suicide occurred on Friday night, when Henry Buckendale, about teatime, blew his head off. He took the gun, went into his room, locked the door, and calling out " good-bye " to his wife, discharged the weapon by pulling a stf ing attached to the trigger, which was fastened to his toe. The man had not been drinking, but was despon dent on account of ill health. He had no belief whatever in regard to a future state* and was not in poor circumstances. Buckendale arrived in the Colony with a number of German immigrants some eight years ago, and leaves a wife aud a boy aged 14. He had threatened on previous occasions to destroy himself.

A letter received from Sir Dillon Bell, the Agent-general, announces that he baa selected a gymnastic master for the High School from a large number of aprjlicants.

John Willhoft, an old offender, has been sentenced to one month's imprisonment at Timaru for the " silverine" fraud. He sold bottles of a liquid called " silverine," which he asserted would produce " permanent electro-plate on brass or metal." Mr Ansley, hotelkeeper, and others bought the stuff at 2s a bottle. The silvery coating which it produced lasted about 10 minutes only. The Bruce County Council (says the Bruce Herald) has at last been so provoked that it has actually passed a resolution which is only next door to a vote of censure upon tho Legislature.of the country. In our opinion the circumstances were sufficiently provoking to have justified a resolution of a great deal,stronger character. The facts are simply these: The Council, according to the terms of the Acts, applied for a grant for works amounting to £39,000. When making the application, it is necessary to forward to headquarters plans and specifications for each work. This they did at a cost of about £780. The total amount to be received is £1400, of which sum £500 is allocated to the construction of a bridge, no portion of which can be devoted to any other purpose, thus leaviug £900 for the carrying out of woiks estimated to cost £35,5.00. But out of this £900, £780 has already been expended for engineering costs, preparation of plans, &c, leaving the magnificent balance of £120 with which to carry on their operations. And this is one illustration of the working of that wonderful scheme which was to revolutionise local government throughout New Zealand ! "

A distinguishing feature in connection" with the Redemptorist mission at Queenstown was that the mission cross was erected and blessed in the open air outside the Convent at Queenstown — being the first cross thus placed in this hemisphere. The Tablet reports the Bishop returned with Father Vaughan to Dunedin on Friday, and on Tuesday Father Vaughan left for Oamaru, whence he proceeds to Christchurch, en route for Sydney.

Harvesting in the Kurow (says Thursday's Oamaru Mail) is now nearly completed, and threshing will be commenced next week. The crops s ragenerally excellent, those on the Otiake Flat being especially tine, and likely to give an average of 50 bushels to the acre. That pest the caterpillar made its appearance in this district, butfortunately did not' do much injury, the crops having been cut before the pest had worked much mischief.

Very severe floods have occurred at Pittsburgh, in the United States, by which it is stated fully 10,001) people have been rendered homeless.

The Ravensbourne School Committee has voted for Messrs Elder and Shand for the Education Board ; the Blue Spur Committee for Messrs Elder, Begg, and Shand ; the Hyde Committee for Messrs Begg, Elder, and Procter ; and the Naseby Committee for Messrs Shand, Procter, and Macgregor.

The Tongariro, which left Lyttelton at 4 p.m. on December 31, arrived in London on Saturday. She has thus made the passage in 40 days. Her frozen meat cargo is in good condition. She is to make her next passage out by way of the Suez Canal.

The Zulu King, Cetewayo, whose death in battle was wrongly reported several months ago, is now stated by a cable message to have died suddenly on Friday of heart disease.

His Excellency the Governor and party have returned to Wellington from the West Coast Sounds. Sir W. Jervoig and Major Cautley made a close inspection of Stewart's Island harbours and of the Sounds, with a view to the preparation of the report upon the defence of the Colony.

The excursion train to Milton on Saturday last was not well patronised. Only 40 passengers went by tho train, although there was accommodation provided for fully 300. Twenty-one of the passengers were booked for Milton, 17 for Waihola, and two for Mosgiel. It is probable that many more would have taken advantage of the excursion if the train had started at a later hour. On Saturday an excursion train will run to Seacliff and Palmerston, and will not start till nearly 10 o'clock.

A cablegram was received on Friday stating that the P.rivy Council had dismissed the appeal in the case of the Union Steam Ship Company v. the Melbourne Harbour Trust, but it may be as well to state that the Company's solicitors in Melbourne have as yet received uo direct intimation of such a result. The claim, as may ba remembered, arose in 1881, over, an accident which occurred to the Rotorua. The steamer, whilst proceeding up the Yarra, fouled with her anchor one ok the dredges, and her stern was almost torn away, the damage amounting to several thousand pounds. In the action commenced in consequence against the Melbourne Harbour Trust the plaintiffs wore nonsuited on purely technical grounds, although all the actual issues were decided in their favour. It appeared that the defendants by their deeds of incorporation were entitled to 30 days notice of such an action, which had not been duly given. The Union Steam Ship Company, thus nonsuited, appealod to the Privy Council, and it is this appeal that we now learn has been dismissed. The Waipahi School Committee havo voted for Messrs Macgregor, Shand, and Begg for the Education Board ; the Circle Hill Committee for Messrs Khand, Elder, and Begg. The steamer Waitaki, now the property of a Northern coal company, has had a narrow escape of following the example of the Austral, or something like it. The water got in at one of her portholes while she was loading, and it was only by stupendous exertions that much damage was prevented. The large hall at the Salvation barracks was crowded on Sunday evening, as was also the smaller hall on the first floor, where an " overflow" meeting was held. Captain and Mrs Bedingliold gave farewell addresses, as during the week they will leave Dunedin to labour elsewhere, though their destination has not yet baen made known. In saying farewell Captain Bedingneld remarked that this was the first

' station he had had charge of, and during: the last -_ "nonths 500 pepple had come to the peni!^aj * ""^ an( l tnafc though some had gone teW «**-v world -and the devil, a great ton the other evening he and Bu* vvara each addressed a Blue Ribbon meeting. The Timaru Herald gives the taOowmg particulars regarding the sudden death of Mr W. 0. Bailey, rabbit inspector for South Canterbury {— " On Friday morning about 10 o'clock he left his home to go down to tha Breakwater, being then in his usual nealtb. On reaching the Breakwater, however, he felt unwsll and returned home. He complained to his wife of feeling unwell, and said he would take a seldlita powder. He was m the act of mixing the powdsr, when he fell back insensibly. Dr Macintyre was sent for,, ana within a quarter of an hour he arrived and declared the unfortunate man dead, probably of a long- standing heart-disease. Mr Bailey ! was a native of Tasmania, and aboxrtr 40 years of a£fs"< His brother is chief rabbit inspector for the Colony,, and resides at Blenheim,' A member of the Dunedin police force who resigned recently has forwarded a lengthy, complaint to headquarters concerning policer management here. Colonel Reader has forwarded the complaint to Inspector Weidon for his report upon it, and a departmental inquiry will probably result. • An extremely distressing case of murrJer k reported from Onnondville, in Hawkes Bay. A man named Edwards, while Buffering from the effects of drink, cut the throats of his wife and each of his four children, lie went about the deed in a terribly cool, calculating way. He also wounded himself slightly » the throat. The following telegram was received 012 from the Chairman of the Board, who is at present in Wellington:— " His Excellency the Governor-in-Council at noon to-day approved of Mr Barr's plans of the proposed works at tne Heads." The many friends of Mr Duncan Wright in this city will regret to learn that be has met with a somewhat severe accident. He lefc Dunedin on Saturday last for the pnrpose of conducting mission work at Gore, and was met at the railway-station by tho Eev. Mr Wright, of Knapdale, who proceeded to drive him to his residence in his buggy. On«ba road the horse was stopped at a small creek for » drink. On resuming the journey the bridle sor&ehow came off the horse's head, and the horse bolted along the road. Both the occupants were thiown out. The Rev. Mr Wright escaped unhurt, but his companion was not so fortunate. He -had one of his legs broken by the fall, and the other leg (which had been, broken by a somewhat similar accident previously) was also considerably injured. In the evening Mr Wright was conveyed' to the Railway Hotel at Gore, where, under the charge of Dr Macaffer, he received every attention. On Sunday Dr Hannan, in response to a telegram, drove from Invercargill, and with Dr Macaffer set the broken leg in the evening. Mr Wright pi^gressed favourably during Sunday, but yesterday he was reported to be very poorly. His many friends will hope to hear of his complete recovery. . At a temperance mission meeting held ra Hobart recently' the Biehop of Tasmania, Dean Bromby, and the Rev, John Gray were decorated with blue ribbons. There was an immense attendance, and great enthusiasm was shown. A very unpleasant sensation was caused in Maclaggan street early on Monday evening by a runaway horse, and tho consequences were anything but trifling. The animal was attached to a buggy belonging to Mr M'Leod, and took fright and bolted from a store at the upper end of the street. No obstacle was encountered until a vacant shop at the corner of Clarke street was reached. Here the vehicle left the road, and was dashed with tremendous force against the poßts of a verandah, carrying the structure entirely away. Two young children named Kingston, who were playing near the spot, were knocked down and received rather serious injuries, which were promptly attended to by _Dr Fergusson. The horse was stopped a little lower down the street, and was found to be unhurt, although the trap was completely wrecked. Captain Smith, of the Dunedin Naval Artillery, has been presented with a nicelyframed and well-finished photograph of the officers and men of H.M.S. Espiegle, taken on board the sloop by Mr De Maus, of Port Chalmers. The presentation was made by the firing team from the vessel, which it will be remembeied sometime ago contested a match with Captain Smith's corps. Mr Bradlaugh has made his customary appearance in Parliament, but by a large majority a motion by Sir Stafford Northcote that he be excluded from the precincts of the House was carried. Mr Bradlaugh was present in his seat, and voted on this motion. Mr Thomas Chenery, who in 1877 succeeded Mr Delaoe as editor of the London Times, is dead. He was a native of Barbadoes, was an MA. of Oxford University, and was Professor of Arabic at that University for nine years. He was also one of the body of revisers of tha Old Testament translation. ' The sentence of death passed on William Pearce at the last criminal sessions for the murder by stabbing of Matilda Hancock -has bsen commuted to imprisonment for life. The Sawyers' Bay, Alexandra, Fairfax, Clinton, and Sandymount School Committees have voted for Messrs Begg, Elder, and Shand for the Education Board ; the Flag Swamp Committee for Messrs Begg, Elder, and Johnston. It is a fact worthy of notice that of the above the Alexandra, Clinton, Sandymount, and Flag Swamp Committees did not vote for Dr Macgregor, although their predecessors in office had nominated him. There was a large gathering at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening to celebrate the formation of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association, on which occasion Mr W. N. Blair, C.E., delivered a very able address upon "The Industries of the Colony." The lecturer reviewed the industrial history of the Colony, its present position, resources, and future prospects, and gave valuable recommendations as "to the future extension of our manufacturing and other industries. Our report is unfortunately crushed out. . Mr Blair was the recipient of a hearty vote of thanks upon concluding, and it was announced that the address was one of a series which it was intended should be delivered under the auspices of the Association. The suspension of operations at the Shag Point Colliery, an intimation of which appears in our advertising columns this morning, cannot fail to bo a matter for general regret. Kindred enterprises in this Colony have bub rarely resulted profitably to their promoters, and the sum annually sent out o{ the Oqlqny

In payment for foreign coal has assumed very large proportions. The output of tho Shag Point Colliery was upwards of 100 tons per day, and the entire population of the village •at Shag 3?bint, numbering upwards of 400 souls, were directly dependent on the mine roy their means 'of support. The breadwinners of this lately-thriving community will be thrown out of employment in consequence of tha closingof the mine. We understand that the mine is closed by injunction of ths Inspector of Mines, on account of the" workings being in danger' of being flooded by the volume of water which has accumulated in the Tapper submarine workings of the mine, which were abandoned several months ago by direction of *ue inspector. It is alleged that grave doubts were entertained by the management •as <to the expediency of allowing so great a foody of water to accumulate in immediate $>i:oximity to their deep workings, and that urgent representations were made to the Department,, demonstrating the probability of such a contingency as has now occurred, and at the same time applying for the appointment of a commission to investigate the matter thoroughly before allowing the submarine workings to> fill with water. This application was not granted, although subsequent events have proved that the apprehensions of the Company's officers were only too well grounded.