LOCAL & GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL,

The Legislative Council on Tuesday agreed to the third reading of the Loan Bill, only one member objecting. Sir F. Whitaker stated that the committee which the Council had appointed had elicited that the railways mentioned in the bill would only cost £2,179,000 to complete.

In connection with the railway frauds in New South Wales, six of the members of the firm of Wright, Heaton, and Co. have been committed for trial— namely, Wright, Heaton, G. Bonamy, B. Windor, H. Hansard, and B. Webster. Mr Wright, who was recently Minister of Public Works, made a declaration denying his guilt.

Charles Stevenson, who is employed driving a horse connected -with the shunting engine at the Port Chalmers railway station, met with a severe accident on Tuesday afternoon. Ho was engaged arranging some harness on his horse, when the beast shied, and Stevenson slipping on the rails, the animal struck out, inflicting some injuries on his head and face.

At the Christchurch Presbytery meeting on Tuesday, the calls to the Rev. R. J. Porter, of Lincoln, from the Mornington church was considered. After commissioners had been heard, and Mr Porter intimated his acceptance of the call, the Presbytery agreed to the translation.

The following are the winning prize numbers at the Dog and Poultry Show Art Union : — Ist prize, 251 ; 2nd prize, 267 ; 3rd prize, 1330 ; 4th prize, 1582 ; sth prize, 162 ; 6th prize, 1578.

The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders in the Carisbrook Ground Company, Limited, was held at the Criterion Hotel on Tuesday evening ; Mr J. P. Maitland, chairman of directors, being in the chair. The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted. The latter showed a balance of profit on working account amounting to £53 13s 2d. Messrs A. Y. Smith and T. L. Austin were elected directors, and Mr J. Rattray was appointed auditor.

The Auckland Herald learns that Mrs Hazard is now recovering from the injuries she received while entombed in the falling deh'ia of her residence, Wairoa, at the time of the Tarawera eruption. Some of the small bones of one of her hands were broken, and have had to be removed. It is doubtful whether she will ever recover the free use of her limbs as heretofore, owing to the circulation of the blood having been stopped for some time. No doubt the Government will in due time take into consideration the unparalleled misfortunes which have befallen her, her husband at the time of meetiDg his death being in the service of the Government.

In the course of a few remarks on the Lands Estimate last evening (says the New Zealand Times of Saturday) Mr Taylor, at a loss for a moment to describe some land, was supplied by Mr Seddon with the word " undulating." " Undulating !" said Mr Taylor, addressing Mr Seddon, " I think you ought to be the last to talk about undulating. Undulating! Well, there's one thing— l never deal in personalities ; and I've yet to learn that ' undulating ' is a parliamentary expression." Mr Taylor's apparently peculiar interpretation of the word caused a considerable amount of merriment iv the House. A Palmcrston telegram in the Melbourne Argus states thatjadvices from Macarthur, in the Northern Territory, are to the effect that drunkenness and rowdyism are rampant. There is a perfect epidemic of lawlessness and crime. The outrages which have been committed beggar description. All the Queensland outlaws flock there. Horse-stealing, forgery, and crimes of violence are- common, and debts are repudiated. Horses stolen in Queensland are brought there, and vice versa. The place is daily growing worseDrunken men are practising with rifles and revolvers all day ia the streets of the township, a perfect reign of terror exists, and respectable "people submit being in fear of their lives. A gang of rowdies stuck up two stores. At one of them (Cameron's) the proprietors resisted with firearms, and the rowdies withdrew after firing their rifles into the store. The respectable residents talk of establishing- lynch-law. It is impossible to hold a public meeting on the subject, as the roughs and blackguards form a majority ami overrule the rest. Mr Gorman, part owner and manager of Calvert's Downs station, has arrived, seeking police assistance. He'says that one notorious scoundrel is butchering his cattle and supplying the public with them. He dare not leave his station to go to the Roper for police, as he would probably find every horse stolen, besides his cattle, on his return. Some of his horses have already bten taken. He has no control over his own men, owing to the number of grog shanties. The Macarthur natives report that Cloppenburg and others, who were wrecked some time ago when returning from Normanton in the lugger Pelter, got ashore safely, but were murdered by the blacks* at the Roper. A native has reported that a white man and a black boy have been, murdered at Castlereagh Bay. The total debt of the colony of New South Wales in 1880 was £14,903,919, in 1881 £16,942,019, in 1882 £18,721.219, in 1883 £21,632,459, in 1884 £30,101,959, and in 1885 £35,564,250. The total indebtedness, after the raising of the last loan of £5,500,000, would be £41,064,259. The amount of the annual interest payable by the colony in respect of the public debt, after the raising of the new loan, will be £1,646,681. The information against Louis Thompson, an express-driver, for aiding and abetting Mary Docherty, a young woman, to set fire to his house at Hillside, with intent to defraud the London and Lancashire Insurauce Company, was heard on Thursday before Mr Cavew, R.M. Mr Haggitt conducted the prosecution, Mr P. .R. Chapman appeared for the accused, and Mr Gallaway -watched the case on behalf of Mary June Docherty. In her evidence Docherty stated that before shft loft the house on the evening it was buried down she placed a lighted pirco of uantHe on a bod, that .she dM > o "because* Mr Thompson counselled lier to doit," that after the fire he gave her £10, bub borrowqd it bacjk, ,aM,wh^n. l ßhe>skqd fj>r. it he, ,rjfuspd,tp/pay,.

3ier. Accused, who reserved hi 3 defence, was ■committed for trial, bail being fixed in his own recognisance for £150, and two sureties for £75 each. The hearing of the charge against Docherty was adjourned until the 12th inst., and she was again admitted to bail on her own surety for £100 and two others for £50 each. The party of surveyors from the Public Works department engaged in surveying the proposed railway from Lawrence to Roxburgh has returned to Dunedin. The construction of the line if undertaken is not likely to prove very expensive, although difficulties of considerable magnitude met with in one or two places. The distance is 38 miles, and ballasting was only found in two places. From Lawrence to what is known as M'Oomb's various gradients between a level and lin 100 are met with. From M'Comb's on towards the tunnel, about a mile and a-half, a rising gradient of 1 in 50 is met with, and from the tunnel towards Beaumont a falling gradient of 1 in 50 for about four miles ; thenoe onwards to Beaumont gradients from 1 in 200 to lin 100. From Beaumont to Miller's Flat the gradients are very good ; thence to Roxburgh, with the exception of one or two places approaching Roxburgh, they are generally good. The report as to the quality of the land through which the line passes has been forwarded to Wellington. A somewhat serious accident occurred on Thursday afternoon to two employes of Messrs A. and T» Burt — a plumber named Francis Clough, and a lad named Joseph Coupar, who was assisting him in a job at the Dunedin Gasworks. They were engaged on some repairs to the sulphate of ammonia works, and had been making some lead joints. The soldering of these is accomplished by blowing with hydrogen gas. Clough ■was taking the receiver to pieces with the object of generating gas in it anew. He appears to have applied a light to it before the gas had dispersed, and the result was an explosion. Clough sustained severe injuries about the face, and his assistant Coupar was also injured to a less extent. Medical aid was telephoned for, but as there was some delay in obtaining it, the sufferers were conveyed to the hospital, where they were attended by Dr Roberts. Both were able afterwards to proceed to their homes. Professor T. J. Parker lectured at Invercargill on the 3rd inst. on flightless birds. In the course of his remarks, as reported in the Southland Times, Professor Parker pointed out these flightless birds were all inhabitants of oceanic islands — islands at a distance from a continent. Another point was that a very large proportion of the known species were found in this colony, New Zealand being par excellence the home of the flightless bird. The inability to fly had probably been caused through continued disuse of the wings. Prior to the advent of the Maoris in New Zealand the ground-feeding birds had no enemies from which it was necessary to escape by flight, and therefore the means of flight would have been useless to them. He described the notornis, the ostrich, the moa, the penguin, the kiwi, and other flightless birds, and concluded an able and interesting lecture by stating that the existing species in New Zealand were rapidly disappearing, and that unless stringent measures were adopted for their protection then? total extinction was only a matter of time. Our cablegrams this week announce the death of Samuel Jones Tilden, at the age of 72. He was born at New Lebanon, New York, February 9, 1814. He graduated at Yale College ; then studied lawJ and was admitted to the New York bar, and acquired a large fortune in his profession. He entered into politics at an early age, and while not seeking office, became prominent as a leader of the Democratic party, and for many years was chairman of the State Democratic Committee, a position of large political influence. In 1871 he took a prominent part in exposing and bringing to punishment the "Tammany Ring," who had for years plundered the , treasury of the city of New York. In 1874 he was nominated by the Democrats for Governor of the State ; and although at the previous election, two years before, the Republican candidate succeeded by a majority of 50,000, Mr Tilden now was chosen by a majority nearly as large, tv 1876 he was the Democratic candidate for the Presidency, receiving a large majority of all the popular votes cast. But when the electoral vote came to be finally counted, it was adjudged that Mr Hayes, the Republican candidate, had a majority of one over Mr Tilden, and so became President. A bill had been passed creating a special electoral commission to count the votes-. It consisted of five senators, five representatives, and five judges of the Supreme Court, and although it was generally recognised that Mr Tilden had been elected, the commission, by a majority of one, gave it to Mr Hayes. Mr J. W. Wilson has resigned his seat in the Bruce County Council. At the last meeting of that body it was reported that the local market for poison for small birds was exhausted and none was obtainable nearer than Auckland. The petitions in favour and against merging the Tokomairiro Road Board were ordered to lie on the table. The rates charged on the punt at Kaitangata were fixed at hd each for the first 40 s.heep, Jd each for the next 60, and §d for all over 100. It was decided to recommend Mr Palmer to the^Taieri County Council for the position of puntsman at Taieri Mouth. At Ophir (Blacks) on the 28th ult. (says the Cromwell Argus) there occurred a mining accident which narrowdy escaped being as fatal in its results as that at Kawarau Gorge the preceding week, A well-known miner and farmer at Ophir, named M'Donald, was at work in his tunnel when a fall of stuff from the roof came down and pinned him to the earth. Fortunately the accident was soon noticed and relief quickly at hand. There was a few inches of debris over M'Donald's head. This was speedily removed, allowing the man to breathe. It was a considerable time, however, before the body was got free from the fall. M'Donald was conveyed to M'lntosh's hotel, where he was at once attended by Dr Hyde. It was found that no bones were brokep, but the severe crushing had brought on partial paralysis. Although in no immediate danger.it will be some time before the injured man recovers. We are informed that the Mr Ogilvie who came to his death at Hamilton on the 3rd inst. by being thrown out of a spring cart was Mr William Baird Ogilvie, who occupied the position for several years of chief clerk in the Dunedin Land Office. Mr H. E. Alport, a well-known Chrfcichureh auctioneer, died very suddenly on tK sth inst. Ihe deceased, who was 65 years of age, was the oldest established auctioneer in Christchurch, and he and his family were connected with the earliest factory of the provincial district of Canterbury. A very severe reply was made l)yl )y a plaltifclff in a case heard at Gore to a question put by defendant's solicitor. The Statute ot Limitations was set up as a defence, but plaintiff swo^e that he had made a mistake in his account by

dating it one year too far back. When asked why the claim had not been brought earlier, plaintiff, turning on his questioner, replied : — "When I last appeared in a court I engaged you as my lawyer, and found the luxury so expensive that I have eschewed law since." A wealthy bachelor has just died in St. Petersburg, bequeathing his property in St. Petersburg and Moscow as well as his stock and investments to his nephew, though with curious provisos. Before he inherits any of the property the heir must give his word of honour that he will not smoke any longer either cigar, cigarette, or pipe, tha* he will never again play cards, and that within six months of the proving of the will he will marry, so that ho may not die an old bachelor like the testator. Three executors have been appointed, and in case the heir refuses to comply with the conditions they have the right to appropriate the property and divide it among their children. The first two engagements have already been entered into by the heir, though with unwillingness ; but the third proviso threatens to be insuperable. Dr F. O. Hodson, of Walget, New South Wales, met with his death recently in a most extraordinary manner through the careless use of fire-arms. He was entertaining a few friends at his house, and as they were about departing, he fixed the chamber-check of the revolver, and thinking it safe, pointed it at his ear, and it went off. Two of his friends were standing alongside at the time. He lingered in an unconscious state for about two hours afterwards. The deceased gentleman was only 27 years of age. He was author of " Within Sound of the Surf " and " From the Great Bear to the Southern Cross." The Presbyterian General Assembly of Georgia, United States, has pronounced against evolution most emphatically. A report brought up by a committee was adopted, which declares that the Presbyterian Church remains sincerely convinced that the Scriptures, as truly and authoritatively expounded in its confession of faith, teach that Adam and Eve were created body and soul by the immediate acts of the Almighty Power, thereby preserving a perfect race unity; that Adam's body was directly fashioned by Almighty God without any natural animal parentage of any kind, out of matter previously created from nothing ; and that any doctrine at variance therewith is a dangerous error, inasmuch as by the methods of interpreting Scripture which it must demand, and in its consequences which by fair implication it will involve, the theory will lead to the denial of doctrines fundamental to the faith. A Chinaman named Ah Sow, who has been residing in Southbridge for some time, com- ! mitted suicide on Friday night at about 10 o'clock by taking a dose of opium. Deceased was about 50 years of age. The following extract from Charles Lever's Irish work " The Knight of Gwynne/' is interesting at the present time. On page 132 the Knight, in answer to Lord Castlereagh, says: " That's a point your lordship has not touched upon, but I'll tell you. The demagogue, the public disturber, the licensed hawker of small grievances, every briefless lawyer of bad fortune and worse language, every mendicant patriot that can minister to the passions of a people deserted by their natural protectors — the day will come, my lord, when these men will grow ambitious, their aspirings may become troublesome; if you coerce them they are martyrs, conciliate them and they are privileged. What will happen then? You will be asked to repeal the Union, you will be charged with all the venality by which you carried your bill, every injustice with which it is chargeable, and with a hundred other faults and crimes with 'which it is unconnected. You will be asked, I say, to repeal the Union, and make of this rabble, these dregs and sweepings of a party, a Parliament. You shake your head. No, no ; it is by no means impossible ; nay, I don't think it even remote. I speak as an old man, and age, if it have any deficiencies as regards the past, has at least some prophetic foresight for the future." Again, on page 134, the Knight says : "In the Lower House politics will become a trade to live by, and the Irish party, with such an admirable market for grievances, will be a strong and compact body in Parliament, too numerous to be bought by anything save great concessions. Englishmen will never understand the truth of the condition of the country from these men, nor how little personal importance they possess at home. They will be regarded as the exponents of Irish opinion; they will browbeat, denounce, threaten, fawn, and flatter by turns ; and Ireland, instead of being easier to govern, will be rendered ten times more difficult by all the obscuring influences of falsehood and misrepresentation." Is not this a true prophecy ? Michael George Reid, a son of Mr James Reid, town crier, died in the hospital on the 3rd inst. (says the North Ofeago Times) from injuries received, it is said, while playing football on Saturday last. It is said that the young man was thrown down while playing, and although much hurt continued to take part in the game. Whether the accident was the cause of death or not, it is quite clear that young Reid was in good health before the match, and after it .was taken ill. On Tuesday he was removed from his father's house to the hospital. We understand an inquest will be held, at which no doubt some light will be thrown on the cause of death. A melancholy fatality seems to have attached to Mr Reid's family. One son_, it will be remembered, died from injuries received through falling from a window, another was killed through the upsetting of a cart, and the third and last has just died as above stated. The medical evidence given at the inquest was to the effect that meningitis, or inflammation of the brain, was the cause of death. Dr Garland stated that a chill after violent exercise might possibly cause it if the person were previously unhealthy. There was no connection between the football match played on Saturday and deceased's death. The jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes." The scene of the recent disastrous fire iv Berlin which broke out iv an oil factory covered 40 English acres, and one so extensive has not occurred before in Berlin within the memory of man. It appeared that the cover of one nf the boilers in the oil factory was not tightly screwed down, so that the boiling oil found its way out of it and flamed down its sides into the furnace. In a moment the whole building was in flames, and so great was the confusion that those present forgot to alarm the fire brigade. Meanwhile, tho premises of a neighbouring carrier were attacked. It was with difficulty that the 70 horses were set free, while lOOOcwt of hay was burned. In 10 minutes the whole of this 1 establishment, including a three-storeyed house, inhabited by several families, was beyond the power of rescue a prey to tho flames, and several appalling scenes were here witnessed. The women completely lost their heads. One threw herself out of a window; others rushed back into the flames ; other* were only with the gruatost difficulty rescued. The conflagrations then spread into the adjacent factories, and at

about midnight the sight was indescribable— an enormous mass of flame, and the sky darkened by thick black clouds for many miles. Fortunately, a thunderstorm came on at about 1 o'clock, and the wind changed, and towards morning the force of the fire became less violent, only to burst out afresh at 11 in the oil factory. Many poor people have lost everything. Scarcely a piece of furniture could be saved. The damage is estimated at £150,000. The natives of Lanarkshire who are resident in or about Dunedin held their second annual reunion in the Lyceum Hall on Friday evening, and mustered in considerable numbers. The affair was in every way a success. A young man named Robert Lewis, who was employed at the harbour works at Otago Heads, met with a severe accideut on Friday afternoon. Lewis was working with a trolly at the breakwater when the engine collided with it, precipitating it into the water. Lewis was quickly picked up and brought to Port Chalmers, where it was found he had received severe injuries about the head and body. He was attended by Dr Drysdale, who ordered his removal to Dunedin Hospital. At an early hour this morning he had not recovered consciousness. The monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute held on Saturday was, considering the weather, well attended. Mr J. L. Ferguson's resignation of the presidentship having been accepted, Mr j John Reid, of Sandymount (who occupied the I chair), was elected to the office. Mr James Rennie resigned the position of secretory and treasurer ; and Mr Pjrie, of North-east Harbour, was appointed in his place. A committee was formed to draw up a syllabus of work for the year. Mr Duncan, of Gr6en Island, was chosen as the representative of the branch on the general committee of management for the institute. Some discussion took place in reference to Dr Macgregor's circular re the syllabus ; and a committee consisting of Messrs Moore, Gardner, Stewart, Jeffery, Gray, and Smith was appointed to draw up a reply and forward it to Dr Macgregor. The Rotorua correspondent of the Auckland Herald says: — "A curious phenomenon which is attracting a deal of attention in this part of the country is nightly to be seen in our southern sky, just over the I-lemo Gorge. A star ball of fire or a will-o'-the-wisp — I don't know which — makes its regular appearance between 7 and 9 o'clock and commences the most eccentric 'movements imaginable: darting hither and thither slowly and with a gyratory motion, assuming as it goes the most beautiful colours. This is no illusion. Nearly everyone in the settlement has seen it, and we are all at a loss to know what it really is, or how its appearance is to be accounted for." The Post and Telegraph Departments of the colony are encouraging local industry by inviting tenders for the supply of 10,0001b weight of sealing wax manufactured in the colony. As no elaborate machinery or anything of that nature is required for the manufacture, some enterprising firm or individual may be tempted to establish a new industry. The ingredients used in making red sealing wax are in the proportion of 4oz shellac to loz of Venice turpentine and 3oz of vermilion. The lac is melted in a copper pan over a clear charcoal fire, the turpentine and vermilion being added afterwards. It can then be put into moulds to gain the desired shape. Mr R. H. Leary left for Wellington on Saturday morning on business connected with the purchase of the Waimea Plains railway by the Government. The Auckland Bell says it cannot sufficiently express admiration of Mr Macandrew's proposals regarding the settlement of land. It says :—": — " It is simple, practical, and would evidently be effective. It would ultimately disperse the gangs of wages men which our Public Works policy has imported or created, convert them into settlers, looking not to the precarious livelihood of dependents on wages, but wresting the means of livelihood from the products of the soil; and it would thus enable the colony to gradually ease off borrowing and public works without producing that general embarrassment the fear of which reconciles so many to a continuance in plunging." The New Zealand Wesleyan points out that the highest University honours in the United Kingdom have this year been secured by the sons of Wesleyan ministers. The senior wrangler at Cambridge is Mr A. C. Dixon, son of the Rev. G. T. Dixon, now of Launceston. The second wrangler is Mr W. C. Fletcher, son of the Rev. G. Fletcher, now of Preston, and a nephew, we believe, of Jthe Rev. J. H. Fletcher, of Sydney. Both these wranglers are old Kingswood hoys, and their success once more demonstrates the great excellence of the tuition afforded in that ! celebrated school of the sons of the prophets. To have furnished from one school the first and second wran:lers in the same year is a feat hitherto unparalleled,believes our contemporary, in the history of the Tripos. A case of very considerable importance in relation to the personal liability of executors under the wills of deceased persons came before the Supreme Court in its civil jurisdiction (says the Auckland Herald), and the law on the subject cannot be too widely known ; for we venture to say that not one in a hundred of those who accept the position of executors have the most remote idea of the responsibilities which they incur. The case in question was that of Robert Carrick against Peter Dignan and John King to recover a sum of £216 for services rendered. The defendants were the trustees or executors in the estate of the late Mr John Sheehan, and the plaintiff had for several years acted as secretary or amanuensis for Mr Sheehan. After the burial of Mr Sheehan steps were taken by the executors in regard to the estate (which was of a somewhat involved character on account of Mr Sheehan having been executor and trustee in the estate of the late chief Karaitiana), and Mr Carrick, as having had the business management for Mr Sheehan, assisted the executors. He claimed that he was employed by thorn and that they were personally responsible to him. Their defence was that he was only employed by them in their official capacity and that they were not personally responsible, and that they at the time they engaged him represented to Mr Carrick that he must obtain payment from Mr Sheehan's estate. Mr Justice Gillies, in giving judgment, said that although the defendants, in employing the plaintiff, did so in the belief that they were not personally responsible, and although the plaintiff himself believed at the time that they could not be deemed responsible, yet the law held that they were responsible, and judgment must be given for the amount of the claim and costs on the middle scale. His Honor drew special attention to the want of knowledge of the responsibilities of executors which prevailed. They were personally liable for expenses incurred by their orders, and their remedy was against the assets of the estate.

Mr Alderton, writing from London to the Auckland Weekly News, says : — " The further one goes, the more important the subject of fruit culture appears to become. In America, what surprised us most was the colossal size of the fruit farms and the low prices obtained for the fruit tress when compared with the prices which are considered necessary in the colony to return a profit. The prices often obtained in the colony for fruit at the beginning of the season would be considered simply fabulous in America, and still fruit culture is looked upon in the State as infinitely more profitable than any kind of farming. There is evidence in America and in England that the fruit industry in New Zealand must some day be one of the most important and profitable of all industries, for the reason that New Zealand has a finer and more suitable climate than any other country in the whole world — and this I say. advisedly— and has for a market England amongst other places, as witness Australian pears being sold at the exhibition at 66. apiece. There is no fruit in England at this time of the year, excepting oranges, and any other kind of fruit fetches famine prices. The pears are sent from Australia wrapped in tissue paper and packed in small boxes, and arrive in quite sound condition." The Christian Record states that the evangelist from Mr Spurgeon's College — Messrs Mateer and Parker — are working their way down from, the North and will shortly visit Dunedin, and probably Caversham, Mosgiel, &c. The following applications for patents have been received: — D. Sutherland (of County Waitaki), for a poisoned-grain distributor ; C. P. Elieson (of London), for improvements in electrical accumulators and for improvements in transmitting power from electro-motors ; A. Thompson (of Christchurch), for improved method of tuning instruments) ; R. G. Gibbons (of Wellington, for A. W. Ross, of Canada), for invention for manufacturing rugs ; C. H. Russell (of London), for automatic goods - selling apparatus. At the last meeting of the Southland Education Board Inspector Gammell brought up a report of recent pupil teachers' examination. The following are the successful candidates : — Class I — A. E. Jaggers (Invercargill Middle), Eliza Cumming (South School), R. Stevenson (Etlendale), Johanna M'lvor (Invercargill Middle), A. E. Featherstone (Waianiwa), Isabella Dryburgh (Invercargill Middle), Ellen C. Cumming (West Plains), Thomas Merrie (Clifton), J. E. Robertson (Riverton), Clara Shand (Liinehills). Class II— F. S. Rout (South Invercargill), Jessie Carnahan (Woodlands), Eliza Escott (Orepuki), Margaret Ramsay (Invercargill South), Robert Nisbet (North Forest Hill). Class III — Margaret Hamilton (Invercargill Middle), Elizabeth Murray (Invercargill Middle, Annie Campbell (Invercargill Middle), Mary Robinson (Riverton), Janet Sangster (Invercargill Park). Class IV — William Birss (Invercargill South), John M'lnnes (Riverton), Eliza Todd (Longbush), Angus M'Neil (Elderslie), Mary L. Orr (Invercarg'U Park), Francis I M'Bain (Thornbury), Jessie Greenslade (Otautau), David Percy (Queenstown), Donald Ross (Invercargill Middle), Charlotte Jaggers (Invercargill Middle), D. M'Killop (Waihopai), Hector MacNeil (Invercargill Park), Lillie Wilkins (Invercargill South), Elsie Jackson (Invercargill Middle), Mary Greenslade (Limestone Plains), John M'Gibbon (Mataura), Maria M'lvor (Invercargill Middle), Alice M. Thompson (Dipton), Agnes Fratt (luvercargill Middle), Mary Harming (Grove Bush), Eliza Oliver (Invercargill Park), Mary Cumming (Invercargill Middle), Fanny M'Gavock (Invercargill Park), and Mary Mail (North Invercargill). The chief business that came up for consideration at the City Council on Monday night was the report of a special committee which had been appointed to draw up some recommendations wibh regard to what reductions could be made in the official expenditure of the corporation. Cr Murray, who moved the adoption of the report, referred very feelingly to the dire necessity which compelled the council to go in for retrenchment. Several other councillors also spoke in favour of the motion, which was eventually carried. The annual saving effected by the adoption of the report will amount to £1142. Three men, named Patrick Kavanagh, Maurice Edward Baxton, and John Patrick Davis, were charged at the Police Court on Monday with passing valueless coins on the 31st ult. The first alleged that he received a token for a sovereign as part payment of a totalisator dividend at the May races, and that he thought there was no dishonesty in attempting to pass it at the totalisator at the races -held on the 31st July last. He was committed for trial, as also , was Davis for passing a counterfeit half-crown to Mrs Hardie, wife of the licensee of the Pioneer Hotel. In his possession, when he was arrested, another spurious coin, similar to that he had passed, was found. Baxton, charged with passing a counterfeit florin to a tram conductor, was liberated, there being no evidence to show that when he handed it to the conductor he knew it was valueless. The same conductor seems to have been very unfortunate on the day in question, for when his day's takings were checked another valueless coin, intended to resemble half-a-crown, was discovered. The following tenders were received for the post and telegraph contract at Ophir : — Accepted — Leslie, Arthur, and Co. (Cromwell), £323. Declined— G. B. Aiken (Alexandra), £329 ; G. Dempster and Son (Dunedin), £357 ; J. Simmonds (Alexandra), £36G ; G. Drumniey (Alexandra), £377; W. Duncan, £379; H. Daneby (Dunedin), £470. Our Pukerau correspondent telegraphed on Monday that M'Nicol's store had been burned on Sunday morning, nothing whatever being saved. The stock was insured for £400. The building was also insured. A meeting was held in the V.M.C.A. Rooms on Monday evening of those interested in temperance matters, to consider the advisability of inviting Mr W. Noble, a well-known temperance lecturer, to visit Dunedin. Mr J. A. D. Adams was in the chair. It was decided after discussion to cable Mr Noble an acceptance of his terms, and a committee was appointed consisting of Messrs F. Fulton, D. 0. Cameron, Dyson, and Adams to report to a meeting to be held on Saturday evening. A list o f subscribers was opened and about £12 was collected in the room. Mr Odell was appointed hon. secretary to the committee. Three cases of sly grog-selliug in the Nenthorn district will be heard at the City Police Court on Thursday. An accident occurred at Palmerston this (Monday) morning, writes our Palmerston correpondent, whereby Charles Low, the guard of the G. 30 Dunedin train, had his log broken, besides receiving a severe shaking. It appears that just after leaving the station Low noticed that the eido floor of the guard's van was not fastened, and he got down from the front plat-

form of the van to close it, intending to get on the train again at the back In attempting to do this he missed his hold, and was thrown down with the result stated. Dr Brown was soon in attendance, and applied the necessary remedies, after which the injured man was removed to his home. lam informed that the guard was not missed until the arrival of the train at Waikouaiti. From all accounts it appears that although the result is rather serious for Low, it might have proved far more serious, as it appears his leg was broken by getting entangled in the connecting rod of the break, but fortunately was soon released, otherwise he might have been dragged with the train until discovered. The French Government contemplate a bold deed in introducing a bill for the totabextermination of betting. In England (says the Pall Mall Gazette) without a doubt, racing and betting would fall as they stand together, for though the Britisher's innate love for the " sporfc of kings" is proverbial, it is mostly kept alive by the hopes of what he will be able to make out of the object of his affections. Broadly speaking, racecourse attendances comprise two classes — those who come to bet, and the roughs, who do not bet, because they have no money, but who come to make themselves generally unpleasant;. By the side of these two main divisions the number of true sportsmen who love racing for racing's sake is almost inappreciable,' and certainly insufficient to maintain the sport ' on its present magnificent scale. And as it would be in England, so in all probability will it be in France, inasmuch as racing there is wholly an English importation — trainers, jockeys, grooms, bookmakers, and horses all alike being of British extraction. Samuel Laird, late of County Waimate, was committed for trial for bigamy at Melbourne on the 30th ult. The accused was married in Timaru to Fanny Fleming in 1875, and after living in Timaru for some time, Laird and his wife removed to Christchurch, where four children were born. In 1881 Laird left his wife and family without means of support. In 1885 he was married to Miss Fanny Sheppard, of Armadale. His first wife appeared to give evidence against him. The adjourned inquest touching the death of Julia Georgina Warburton, who died at a house in Young street, Fitzroy, under suspicious circumstances on the 22nd July, was concluded on the 2nd inst., says the Melbourne Argus. Professor Allen, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, of the deceased, gave evidence that death was due to malpractice. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and added that Elizabeth Taylor, who had been arrested on a charge of causing the death of the girl, was guilty of wilful murder. Mrs Taylor was thereupon committed for trial at the next sittings of the Criminal Court. The two football clubs at Invercargill have decided to ask the New South Wales team to play a match in Invercargill. The Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association has received a concession in railway rates on fruit and fruit trees. Fruit is to be charged under class D ; trees in packages under class C ; and trees to be conveyed over the Lyttelton and I Christchurch line at deadweight. Mr Thos. Rodger, foreman of works on the Otago section of the New Zealand Railways, having resigned his position for the purpose of introducing in other countries his valuable improvements in 6elf -emptying hopper ballast-wag-gons and plough for spreading ballast on railways, was entertained at the Coffee Palace on Saturday evening at a social spread, and presented with a gold watch suitably inscribed, and also an illuminated address, by the employes of the department immediately under his charge. Several songs and recitations were contributed during the evening, and the proceedings were altogether of a very pleasant character. In connection with the Intercolonial Council of the Salvation Army held at Melbourne, a cable [message was received from the General, promoting Major Barker, the pioneer of the army in these colonies, to the rank of colonel. At the opening of the council the proceedings were much the same as usual, only ever so much more enthusiastic. The principal representative speakers were Major Pollard (head of the army in New South Wales), Major Barrett (New Zealand), Major Lindsay (South Australia), Adjutant Wright (Queensland), and Adjutant Quick (Tasmania). The depression in the steamship trade of Den mark (says an English paper) appears to be very serious, as nearly all the leading shipowning companies are in a state of dissolution. At the recent annual meeting of the Steamship Company Denmark the directors stated that trade had been so bad that six of the company's largest steamers had been laid up and ihe trading to Russia suspended. No dividend could be declared. The directors of the Steamship Company Kjobenhavn, which owns six large steamers, have proposed dissolving the company, after 15 years' profitable working. Another company is also adopting this course, whilst last year the Freja Company suspended operations. Hardly any of the Danish steamship companies are able to declare any dividend for last year, and one or two only 2^ per cent. It is seriously feared that if things continue thus the Danish steamship fleet will be swept off the sea. The f ollowing is a copy of a letter received from Mr Ruskin, in reply to a circular asking him to subscribe to pay off the debt upon Duke street Chapel, Richmond: — "Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, May 19, 1886. — Sir, — I am scornfully amused at your appeal to me, of all people in the world the precisely least likely to give you a farthing ! My first word to all men and boys who care to hear me is, ' Don't get into debt. Starve and go to heaven — but don't borrow; Try first begging — I don't mind, if its really needful, stealing! But don't buy things you can't[pay,for ! ' And of all manner of debtors, pious people building churches they can't pay for are the most detestable nonsense to me. Can't you preach and pray behind the hedges — or in a sandpit — or a coalhole — first ? And of all manner of churches thus idjotically built, iron churches are the damnablest to me. And of all the sects of believers in any ruling spirit — Hindoos, Turks, Feather Idolaters, and Mumbo Jumbo Log and Fire Worshippers— who want churches, your modern English Evangelical sect is the most absurd, and entirely objectionable audunendurable to me ! All which they might very easily have found out from my hooks — any other sort of sect would ! — before before bothering me to write it to them. — Ever, nevertheless, and in all this saying, your faithful servant, John Ruskin." We believe that if every one would use American Co 'a Hop Bitters freely there would be much less sickness and misery in the world, and people are fast finding thiß out, whole families keeping well at a trifling cost by its uae. We advise all to try it. Read.