LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 1797, 30 April 1886, Page 8

LOCAL & GENERAL

During the past quarter 16,542 postal notes have been sold at the various post offices throughout the colony. Of that number 3019 were for la, 236(3 for 20s, 2370 for 10s, 2046 for Is G'l, and 2039 for ss; and the sum represented by the different values as sold adds up to £7037 Gs 6d.

A young girl named Agues Graham, daughter of the late Robert Graham (who died a few weeks ago), dropped down dead on the 22ud while proceeding to school. The girl, who was about 10 years of age, left her homo with her sister, apparently in excellent health, and while walking along the Mornington tram-line on her way to William street School fell down suddenly, and died within a few minutes. Dr Pergusson, who happened to be in the vicinity, was called, but found that life was extinct. He was uuable to speak positively as to tne cause of death, but an inquest was not deemed necessarj-. Ifc is stated thab the girl had hitherto been remarkably healthy.

At a meeting of the Theological Committee of the Presbyterian Synod held on the 22nd in the hall of the First Church, it was agreed to associate Mr Ohisholm, of Tokomairiro, with Mr Watt in carrying on the theological classes for the ensuing session. Mr Chisholrn is to conduct the systematic theology and Church history clashes ; Mr Watt to take charge of the Old Testament and New Testament Exegesis classes.

A baker named Tbomas Pole was charged at the City Police Court on the 22nd with having sold a loaf of bread which was light fco the extent of about soz. The accused said it was cubtomary for bread to bo weighed in his shop before being sold to customers, and any deficiency in the weight was made up. In this case, however, it had not been weighed, but he did not know why. He had not sold the bread himself, but a girl in the shop had done so. The bread was not new bread, as it had been baked the day before it was bought. The prosecutor and the inspector of weights and measures gave evidence, both stating that the bread was new when bought. At the conclusion of- the case, his Worship said the evidence simply went to show that the accused did not put .sufficient flour in his bread. The penalty tor an offence of this kind could be made a.s high .is X 5 ; but being a first offence, a fine of £2 10a and costs would be inflicted. He character-i-ed the deficiency of weight in bread as a fraud which affected the pocketb of poor people very materially, and thought that it would be a very good thing if Inspector Hansen paid a visit to some other bakoi'o' shops in the city.

While the Geraldine Rifles were mjder canvas in the township on Monday, 19th iust. (says the Christchurch Preis), two youth?, named Fly and Chiverson, thought they won d have a little fun with the guard. About midnight one of these worthies fired a shot with a fowlingpiece in the vicinity of the camp, with the resulr. that not only tho guard, but the whole camp turned out. The guard gave chase, and soon captured tho two alarmists and ran them into the guardroom. In the morning, much to their chagrin, they were marched to the lock-up in the township till the arrival of a Justice of thf» Peace. They were then charged with a breach of one of the town district bj'e-laws — discharging a firearm within the district. Chiverson was fined £1 ss, and Fly £1, and costs amounting to 13s.

The deficiency in the accounts of Walker, secretary to the Adelaide Young Men's Christian Association, is £1300.

A short .sitting of the Divorce aud Matrimonial Court was held on the 22nd by his Honor Mr Justice Williams, when, on the application of Mr Sim, a decree absolute was granted in the divorce suit Margaret M'Kain Blair Henderson 'v. John Henderson. The case was hearcl in October last, and a decree nisi was then obtained by the petitioner for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of adultery aud desertion.

Thomas Gibson, late clerk of the Petone (Wellington) Road Board, and who was recently arrested near Balclutha, has been committed to take his trial on two charges of forging receipts for X 27 17s 4d and £10 Is. The charge of embezzlement was dismissed.

An exhibition of Muukacsy's latest picture, " The Death of Mozart," was given recently in Paris. The Paris correspondent of tho Sydney Morning Herald gives the following account of the affair :— This new work is a representative, not closely historical, of the death of Mozart, as the artist has chosen to imagine it. The great musician, in an armchair, is listening to his last work, " The Requiem," which is being performed by a company of friends iv tho death chamber. The friends of the artist declare that the painter, as he proceeded with his work, became so engrosed with his subject that he seemed to see the figures that came into existence under his brush living and moving. The artist's wife determined to get up, on its conclusion, a grand soiree to let it be seen by the " five hundred friends" who were dying to behold it, and so to arrange for the installation behind shrubbery and flowers of an invisible orchestra that should perform the great work of Mozart while the company assembled gazed at the picture, placed in conditions of shine and shadow that would most effectually strengthen the illusion of their reality. When the crowd of guests— the men with orders and the women in splendid toilets— had taken their places in the dazzlingly-lighted studio, the brilliant gaslights were turned down, at a concerted signal the curtain which covered the picture was drawn aside, the (picture itself being magnificently lighted while the rest of the room was dark), and the hidden vocalists and musicians broke forth with the sublime composition to which the departing genius is represented as listening. The effect of this ingenious arrangement was overpowering. The score seemed to be about to drop from the trembling hands of Mozart ; the people about him seemed to live and breathe in the death chamber ; the voices, the tones of the instruments, seemed to proceed directly from the canvas. The assembled guests were overpowered by the force of the illusion, and the pathos of the scene drew tears from many of the gazers' eyes. Altogether it was a most successful entertainment."

An old pensioner named Patrick Kelly, aged 71, was burnt to death at Dumboola, Victoria, on the 12th inst., in the tent in which he had lived for the last seven years, on the edge of the township. On the police arriving on the scene they found the remains of the unfortunate man lying on the debris of a bunk, as if ho had been asleep. The body presented a fearful sight, the arms up to the elbows, and legs being burnt off, and other parts fearfully charred. At the inquest evidence was given to tho effect that a little boy was called by the deceased at about 8 o'clock on Saturday evening to go for some whisky. The boy complied, leaving the old man, who was a cripple, lying on the bunk with his clothes ©n,

and with a candle beside him. It is surmised that he must have gone to sleep, that the candle ignited the tent, and that the deceased was suffocated before being burnt, as he was found with his arms crossed over his breafit. In his pockets were found a£l note, uninjured ; also a silver watch, and silver modal badge awarded to the deceased for long" service and good conduct. Ho had been through the Crimean and New Zealand wars, and belonged to tho 99th Foot, and for many years was iv receipt of a punsion of Is a day-.

Tho chairman of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce has wired to the Colonial Treasurer asking him to bring the merits of Foveaux Strait and Stewart's Island as fishing grounds before Messrs Heudry and Henderson, the Scottish fishermen now inspecting the Colony for a site for fishcuring purposes.

We have received from Mr T. F. Martin, of Wellington, the honorary correspondent in New Zealand, tho annual report of the Royal Humane Society of Australia. With the report is given particulars of the acts of gallantry for which the society's medals and certificates of merit were awarded. No less than 16 of these recognitions of gallant conduct were sent to this colony, which must be deemed highly satisfactory in one respect, as the amount of support granted to the society itself from New Zealand is very small. The brave acts for which the medals and certificates were awarded we have already recounted. With the report are printed directions how to prevent drowning, how to restore animation in tbe apparently drowned, and how to act aud what to do in various other emergencies to save life.

Mr A. Harper, tbe well-known president of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, ' was on the 6th inst. elected to a seat in the Melbourne University Council by a majority of 51 votes over his opponent, the Rev. Charles Strong, of Scots Church notoriety.

On the 22nd inst. Mr Janxes Jeff ery, who has severed his connection with the Moruington School, where he has acted as first assistant teacher upwards of four years, and who has lately been appointed head master of the Anderson's Bay School, was on the eve of his departure presented with a beautiful marble timepiece, suitably inscribed, the gift of the teachers and pupils of the school. Mr Kyle, in making the j>resentation, referred to the cordial relations which had always existed between Mr Jeffery and himself, and the ready and willing assistance Mr Jeffery had always rendered to everything pertaining to the welfare of the school. Mr Jeffery, in returning thanks, expressed his regret at leaving so many warm-hearted and sympathetic friends, and said that he would alwajs regard his sojourn in Mornington as a bright period in his life.

The Minister of Public Works has forwarded the following telegram (says the Southland News) to the mayor of luvercargill : — " The Hon. Premier has forwarded me your telegram re unemployed. Am very sorry to hear you have to make the application. As this question has cropped up for Invercargill, I will cause inquiries to be made as to work for these men. I am so far informed that any work on which they could be employed on the Seaward Bush line would be very unsuitable, but if pushed we could employ a certain number on the Eden-dale-Fortrose line. I shall be obliged if you will further inform me what number of men you consider are iv need of this relief work in your disbrict. — E. Richardson."

The Rev. J. B. Watkin, the superintendent of the Tonga National Church, and who has beeu for 20 years a Wesleyan missionary in Tonga, gave some interesting particulars in a recent lecture at Auckland of the Tongan peeple. Ho said they could not find another group of islands in the Pacific that possessed so much civil and political liberty as wns enjoyed by the inhabitants of Tonga. They had also a Parliament which could almost teach New Zealaud politicians how to conduct business. With regnrd to the land tenure, he might say that they were ahead of New Zealand ; for the land was really nationalised. Even the churches only held their land by lease. Every Tongan was supposed to possess a plantation of his own. They were not wealthy, neither did they feel the pinch of distress- like more civilised countries, and crime was rare. The Tongan women occupied a higher position than the women of any of the other islands. The Tongans were also very liberal, and believed firmly in power of prayer. They had not yet reached the state of civilisation in Tonga that required a collection every Sunday, for the people gave liberally. The National Church raised £5000 last year, and the people had not been pressed. The National Church he claimed to be simply a Wesleyan one, but independent.

A boy named Robert Falconer (son of Mr A. Falconer, the seamen's missionary at Port Chalmers) met with a severe accident on the 22nd inst. While playing football on the reclaimed ground, by some means or other his right leg was fractured below the knee during a scrummage. He was at once taken to his parents' residence, and his injuries attended to by Dr Drysdale.

Services were held on Good Friday in St. Joseph's Cathedral and were attended by large congregations.

Five services were held at St. John's Church, Roslyn, on Good Friday, all of which were very well attended, the largest attendance being at the 11 o'clock service in the morning. There were two services prior to that — a non-communion service being held at 7 a.m., and a service for children at 9 a.m. On the latter occasion the incumbent (the Rev. Mr Kerkham) delivered adJresses on the " Stations of the Cross." A service lasting three hours was subsequently held, at which a large portion of the congregation whs attended the previous service remained. The incumbent delivered a discourse on " Sufferings of Jesus." In the evening there was a service of evensong, the sermon being preached from the text " They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced."

In accordance with a custom that has prevailed for some years, services were held in the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms on Good Friday. All the meetings were well attended, and in the evening the hall was crowded to the doors. Mr A. Brunton conducted the morning service ; the Rev. W. Morley presided in the afternoon, and the Rev. J. Niven in the evening. Addresses were delivered in tho evening by the Revs. J. E. Kelly, J. Gibb, C. Carter, and others, and the singing was led by Mr Brunton's choir.

During the hearing of a charge of obscene language preferred against a lad at the City Police Court on the 23rd inst, Sergeant-major Bevin pointed out to the Bench that since the coming into operation of the Police Offences Act last year, out of 60 cases of obscene language brought before the court there were 49 convictions, but only 21 persons received punißkmenfc. Owing to there being no alternative t«

imprisonment under the new act, justices apparently did not like to inflict punishment ; and often, in the case of a conviction being obtained, the offender was merely ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. This did not, in his opinion, have the effect of checking offences of the kind before the court; very much, as people were rather inclined to be reckless about committing such offences when they knew that justices were so lenient. The Bench intimated that they were determined to put down obscene language so far as it was in their power to do so, aud sentenced the lad to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour. They also expressed a hope that other gentlemen who occupied the Behch would exercise the same determination as they intended to in putting a stop to obscene language.

The damage caused by the fire which occurred on Saturday morning on board the steamer Invercargill proved to be more extensive than was at first thought, and is now estimated at £250. Steam was got up on Saturday evening, and the machinery set in motion and found not to be materially injured. The Invercargill was insured in the National office for between £6000 and £7000. The origin of the fire remains unknown.

While Mr R. Lewis, a fisherman, who resides at Deborah Bay, was out with his boat's crew on Friday fishing in Hamilton Bay, they caught no less than 37 young blue sharks in their net, varying in 'length from one to three feet. Mr Lewis is of opinion that they had but recently left the mother fish. They were destroyed as soon as taken.

A man named Hyland, who was arrested for riotous conduct in a right-of-way between Great King and Cumberland streets on Saturday afternoon, violently kicked Constable Parker, who, with Constable M'Crae, was taking him to the police station, and inflicted such injury that Parker had to be removed to the hospital, where it was found that one of the small bones iv the right leg had been fractured. Hyland bolted after this cowardly exploit, but was pursued by the police, captured, and brought to the Maclaggan street station. He has been only recently released from gaol, after serving a sentence for vagrancy.

The disastrous grass fires which took place on the Vernon run in the middle of December last have (fays the Marlborough Express) given rise to a lawsuit. The Hon. Wm. Clifford has issued a writ against Messrs Parker and Maddock, the Dashwood Pass railway contractors, claiming £1500 damages forthe injuries sustained in consequence, as he alleges, of defendants, or defendants' workmen having negligently allowed the firo from a brick kiln to extend to the herbage on the run.

Joshua Jones, during the hearing of the case which he brought against three New Plymouth justices of the peace for unlawfully conspiring to hear and determiue a case against him in which they had been summoned as witnesses, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for contempt of court.

The petition which was presented to the Minister of Justice last week in favour of the release of Freebody, a Wairarapa farmer, convicted at the last sittings of the Wellington Supreme Court for cattle stealing, was signed by a number of farmers who have suffered from the mysterious disappearance of cattle so prevalent in the district. The deputation alleged that Freebody had been made use of by other persons in the matter, and it was pointed out that in the two years he had been in the colony he had been victimised to the extent of nearly £800 cash with which he landed.

An inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Mr? Smith, wife of Mr T. W. Smith, was held ye.-- tarday (says the Southland Times of Saturday) before Air H. M'Cullooh, coroner, and a jury. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased had taken arsenic with the avowed intentiou of putting an end to her life. She had been depressed in spirits and had complained of being unwell, one of the witnesses stating that she had never been " the same woman" since she heard of her mother's death. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased poisoned herself while of unsound mind.

The following patents have been applied for : — A. Kelly, of Auckland, for hydro-dynamic separator; W. K. Rout, of Wellington, for a coffee extractor ; W. F. Dennis, of Leadenhall street, London, for improvements in manufacture of wire netting ; E. Cuthbert, of Christchurch, for trap for disconnecting house pipes from sewers.

About 2700 passengers travelled on the southern railway line during the three holidays, booking from Dunedin and wayside stations ; and 4589 on the northern line. These figures include volunteers.

During his recent interview with King Tawhiao, the Hon. Mr Ballance said the time had come when he thought Tawhiao could with advantage to his own race take a seat in the Council. One point to be considered was : in what position could Tawhiao render most assistance to his people to promote the unity of the two races ? Tawhiao informed the Minister that he wished to consult the chiefs with regard to the offer.

The total amount raised in Victoria as a testimonial to Bishop Moorhouse, after paying all expenses, reached £1116, and a draft for that amount is to be forwarded to. England.

Mr Robert Charles Ransome, of the wellknown engineering firm of Messrs Ransome- 1 , Sims, and Jefferies, died on March 5 at Ipswich, England. The' deceased, we believe, visited New Zealand some time back in the interests of his firm.

Mr Newlyn's long - talked -of relief for farmers hi difficulties has taken the definite shape of a bill, which (says the Lyttelton Times) it is understood that Mr Ivess is to take under his protecting wing during the coming session. Several novel features may possibly be found in this "new way to pay old debts," but we have been led to believe that some startling suggestions which have been offered to the public since the agitation began will be looked for in vain in " The Land Associacions Act 1886." For example, the advocates for a court of equity will hardly be satisfied with the proposal to meet all existing engagements with mortgagees, who are to be fully paid off unless the heavy principal money compels the mortgagor to throw up his farm. The issue of debentures and annuity bonds, which were prominent suggestions in the " cheap money" pamphlet, are to be largely used in the raising" of fresh loans ; and as these instruments will entail the payment of interest, however moderate, the bill may be derided by Borne of the admirers of a State bank of issue to pay off tho mortgagees by the circulation of " inconvertible " notes at the rate of a million anda-half annually. Some of the knowing ones predict that the bill will be torn to atoms at the merciless hands of thi devil's own, but that hankers will view th» effort at legislation

with little or no antagonism. The bill received the approval of a meeting of farmers ou Monday evening, and Mr Nevvlyn was requested to forward it to Mr Ivess, with a request that he would do his utmost to place the measure prominently before the House and the country, and endeavour to place it among the New Zealand statutes.

The Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne Argus telegraphed the following particulars of the fatal explosion at the Lithgow colliery on on the 19th inst. :— " Between 3 and 4 o'clock this afternoon an explosion occurred at the Lithgow Valley Colliery, about half a mile from the pith mouth. Thirteen men were on the shift, five of whom were killed — Viz. ■. Isaiah Hyde, a married man with two children ; Thomas Mantle, married, one child ; Thomas Rowe, whose father was killed by the former explosion Feven weeks ago, five children ; Joseph Buzza, married, four children; Lamicelot Allison, married, one child. The following are the names of those who escaped: — Gilbert Kirkwood, Archibald Divice, John Donkin, William Mantle, Charles Norwood, Andrew Grant, James Rowe, and Thomas Norwood. These were more or less injured, but not seriously. The three latter wero working at the engine, and were hauled to the pitjj mouth, about 30 yards distant. Drs Asher ana Gibbons were in attendance, but their efforts were unavailing. The scene at the pit's mouth and the homes of the deceased was heartrending, strong men being moved to tears, and a gloom being cast over the town. Mantle and Donkin, two of the survivors, are more seriously hurt than was at first thought, both being very severely bruised. Explosions are said to have been heard throughout the day, but no danger was anticipated. Inspector Rowan is reported to have been in the mine this morning. The rescuing party— which was composed of fellow miners— displayed great bravery, and their conduct is deserving of the highest praise. The mine is much wrecked. The only information to be gleaned from the survivors is that the explosion occurred without any warning. The doomed men, finding that they were entombed, grasped each other by the hands, saying. 'We will all die together.' William Mantle is in a low state, but the doctors are hopeful of his recovery."

At a meeting of the Woolgrowers' Association of Australasia, held in Melbourne ,on the 19 th inst., Mr A. Marks, consul for Japan, attended, and stated that he had received two letters from an influential firm in Yokohama asking what the association intended to do respecting starting factories in Japan, as they were sure they would pay as a commercial transaction. The only present factory (of which a photograph was forwarded) was conducted by the Government, and was one of their most successful industrial undertakings. They believed that a certain portion of the capital could be found iv Japan, and they trusted that something would be done, as they were sum that the results would be satisfactory. Mr Marks said that he felt sure the time was ripe for opening factories in Japan. Ho did not believe in the business being done in a half-hearted manner, aud would recommend that a capital of £100,000 be furnished, of which £75,000 might be subscribed here and £25,000 in Japan, and then two or three factories could he started at once and show a good return. The duty on raw wool was 5 per cent , and ho believed that the new tariff proposed by the Japanese Goyernment would soon come into force, which would he of a protective character so far as woollen fabrics were concerned. Mr Marks was thanked for his courtesy in attending the meeting, and the following resolution was passed :—": — " That the secretary write to M. Wauchope, in Yokohama, respecting the erection of factories in Japan, and as to the likely cost of a factory equal to a total annual consumption of 10,000 bales, also as to what share of tho capital the natives would take themselves." The following are the returns of the Dunedin Hospital for the past week : — Remaining- from previous week ... ... ill Admifted during the week ... ... is Discharged during tlie weok ... . ... 19 Deaths (Michael WeKli, Margaret Henderhon, William Hudson, and Margaret Bloston) ... <i Total remaining ' ... ... ... 10(5 A meeting of Irish Protestants held in Brisbane decided to forwnrd a cablegram to Lord Salisbury as follows : — " Loyal born Irishmen resident in Queensland oppose Home Rule in Ireland." Mr Cornish, who is triangulating the country between the Adelaide overland telegraph line and the Queensland boundary, writes from Aramata, M'Kinna, on March 1!), that the country is terribly dry. There has been no rain for 12 months, and continuous heat during the whole of the summer, making it, difficult, to complete the survey. The health of the party is good. Three men were fouuil lying dead, all having died during the lr.st few weeks through exhaustion or want of water. The party had found a splendid supply of good fresh water at a depth of 20ft, 12 mii.'s north of Yelpawaralina. This is the list camp previous to entering Queensland. A private telegram has been received in town intimating that owing to the illness of his wife Major Atkinson will not be able to visit Dunedin to deli /er an address on political matters before the meeting of Parliament.

The subscriptions received in Dunediu in aid of the Taiaroa relief fund at the present time amount to £184 Ms 6d. No collectors have yet been appointed, and consequently the sums represented by this amount have been given unsolicited. A meeting of the committee was held on the 21st inst., at which his Worship the Mayor was appointed permanent chairman of the committee and Mr Gibson (the town clerk) honorary treasurer. So far seven applications have been made for relief, and we are informed that in each case the amount of assistance requested is very moderate. In some ot the cases, no doubt, it will be found necessary to give more than the applicants at present deem necessary.

In connection with the terrible Taiaroa disaster (says the Auckland Star) it may be appropriate to mention an instance of the wise forethought of the Union S.S. Company. They require that every officer on their vessels shall havehis lifeinsured in the Government Life Insurance Association, and one-third of the premiums are paid by the company. Captains and first engineers are required to hold policies for at least £500, and officers of lesser rank for smaller sums down to £200, which is the miuimum.

An extraordinary charge was investigated by the Kingsbridge (Devon) magistrates recently, when Alice Mitchell, a domestic servant, was charged with placing poison in a pudding intended for consumption by the pupils of a ladies' school at Paignton. It was alleged that the prisoner, who had had notice to leave, had placed some phosphorous paste or rat poison in the pudding, and on dinner being served the pudding was observed to give off phosphorous furaeK, or, as some of the young ladies desoribed

it, it burst into flames. It was proved that the girl knew where the phosphorous was kept and that she had had charge of the pudding. The magistrate .said the matter was_ a v e ry serious one, and committed her for trial, agreeing to take rather heavy bail for her appearance.

The following veracious paragraph appears iv London Figaro of .March 6' :— " The life of a highly placed colonial Governor is not always a bed of roses. Sir Hunry Loch, his friends at Home will regret to learn, has had to leave Government house, Melbourne, for Macedon, because the latter is in danger of being burnt owing to the hordea of vagrants living in the domain, and because the evil smells entering the bedrooms from the Yarra are unbearable. 1 '