LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

We regret to learn that Mr Justice Williams found himself unable to proceed to Inyercargill to open the half-yearly sittings of the Supreme Court there owing to serious sickness in his family. The sitting of the ceurt has been therefore adjourned. Our Timaru correspondent telegraphed a3 follows on Tuesday :— " Dr Anderson, our late schools inspector, and who has lately been appointed inspector to the North Canterbury Board, tendered his resignation to the South Canterbury Board to-day. The chairman and members spoke of the excellent way the Doctor had carried out his duties, and expressed regret at his resignation. It is understood that arrangements have been made with the North Conterbury Board so that Dr Anderson will bft allowed to complete this year's duties here." About 60 persons attended the servioes which were conducted by Messrs Mateer and Parker (Messrs C. H. Spurgeon's evangelists) in the Hanover street Baptist Church last on Tuesday evening Mr Mateer preached from the text "Jesus wept," and during the course of his sermon he took occasion to refer to the great "stumbling blocks and rocks of offence" in the way of Christians winning souls to Christ. The first great stumbling-block, he said, was indifference to the condition of others. Then people sometimes did not manifest that sympathy which they ought to do. They showed a want of tact, • and told people that they were sure to go hell if they did not forsake their sins, instead of telling them of Christ's love and leading them to love the Saviour. A.gain, there was sometimes a want of earnestness and a lack of unity of the right kind amongst Christians, ■which, prevented them doing so much good work as they otherwise might. In concluding, the preacher made an earnest appeal to those present to assist in the services which were to be held in the church" during the week, and not to leave all the work of " winning souls " to the preachers. During the evening Mr Parker sang several sacred solos very effectively to his own. accompaniment on the harmonium, in addition to presiding at that instrument during the staging of the hymns which were sung by th© congregation. The following additional particulars relating to the charge of attempted antimony poisoning against Thomas Hall and Margaret Graham Houston are given by the Timaru Herald :— « So far as we can learn the case the poh'cehave in hand is one of themostdelicatenature,and the extreme gravity of it induces them to be very reticent on any point concerning it. It appears that Dr Maclntyre has for some weeks now been attending Mrs T. Hall professionally on account of her continued ill-health, and that he has for some time been rather baffled at the prevalence of certain symptoms. His curiosity— or perhaps we should now say suspicions — once aroused, he carefully noted his paiient's , health from day to day, and at last was certain of finding traces of antimony in her food and drink. Not 'content with his own individual judgment, we understand that he called in another medical gentleman, and the latter amply confirming his (t>r Maclntyre's) suspicions he at once communicated with the police ; an information w.as sworn, and a warrant of arrest having b,een made out, Inspector Broham, accompanied by Detective Kirby, proceeded to Mr fall's private house, North street (the residence of the late Captain Cain), and arrested both prisoners. The house was then searched, and several phials that had contained antimony were found, and on the male prisoner was found 'a phial with a few drops of the poison in it. In the house wa* also found " Taylor on Poisons," •a [standard aiafchority, we are informed, and a book that is likely to play no small part in the case. In conclusion we may state that widespread and deep sympathy is felt for the parents of the male prisoner, who have for so many years now been residents of Timaru and district ; have always been very highly respected, and have earned the good wishes of all classes." Th(? following are the returns of the Dunedin, Hospital for the past week :— 1 Number of patients remaining from the previous week ... M , ... U( 21q Admitted during the week ... ti# jc> Discharged during the week ... "] n Total remaining^.. ... tll ,„ ng The Orepuki correspondent t>f the Southland Times reports that a child, aged two years* and the offspring of Mr William Smith, was drowned in a water race at Orepuki on Monday afternoon. The Mataura Ensign states that it is pretty evident that the fire which caused the destruction of Mr M'Kinnon's house at Wyndham on Saturday last was caused by some one who had first rifled the premises. Mr M'Kinnon was absent at Fortrose when it occurred, and whea first observed the door of the house was found to> be open, while no vestige of the contents couldi be found in the ashes. Th& Gazette announces the following appointment of postmasters : — Bfctrick, J. C, Smith; Evans'- Flat, J. Hopkins; Nokomai, A. Sangster. A slip occurred on the railway line about half-a-mile on the south side from Goodwood on the 12thinst. The 10;15;a.m. train ran into it and was derailed, but fortunately nobody was hurt. Tha slip seems to- have been a pretty extensive one,

for the Northern express could not proceed beyond it. The passengers and luggage were transferred to the 3.10 p.m. train for Oamaru from Dunedin, which returned to town, and the train from Christchurch took on passengers and luggage for Oamaru. A delay of an hour was caused. At present there are 263 men employed on the various relief' works in Otago. They are .distributed as follows :— Kensington road, 16;Ocean Beach, 83; Taiaroa Heads, 12; Deborah Bay, 14 ; Otago Central— Mount Hyde 60, Silver Peak 70—130 ; and at stonebreaking 8. A large number of persons were attracted to the premises of Messrs A. and T. Inglis in George street on Thursday by the appearance of a large fish which was on exhibition there during the day. The monster is of the Porbeagle species of shark, and is about half grown, being sft 7in in length and 3ft in girth in the thickest part. He is said to be of a voracious disposition, but not very dangerous, and is closely related to the great blue shark, a very good specimen of which 'was caught in our waters some time ago and now- forms onejsf the exhibits at the Museum. It appears the monster exhibited by Messrs A. and Inglis was caught a day or two ago by two fishermen while fishing for cod about seven miles outside the Heads. He was first hooked by his captors, who allowed him to play some time until .he became exhausted. He was then drawn up alongside the boat, speared, and eventually taken on board. Messrs A. and T. Inglis intend to make a presentation of the fish to the Museum. Mr George Gray Russell has been appointed a member of the University Council of Otago. The Qazette notifies the appointment of Colonel Brett as a colonel in the New Zealand Militia. J. W. Cox is appointed hon. surgeonjto the Gore Rifles. The Royal Australian Humane Society's bronze medal and certificate were presented on Thursday 'by the Mayor of Wellington to Kenneth Hume, and the society's certificate to F. W. Triggs, for saving life in Wellington harbour. The Oamaru Borough Council have, after discussing the matter in committee for soma time, decided to request the Auditor-general to make a special audit of the borough accounts. The Australasian Ironmonger for August has I the following paragraph :; — " In our last issue we | quoted from The Ironmonger (London) a paragraph stating that the extensive plant and machinery of the South Hylton Iron and Steel Works, near Sunderland, were in process of removal to New Zealand, an enterprising firm having bought them for the purpose of establishing a large iron and steel industry in that colony. It will no doubt interest our readers to learn that the purchaser in question is Mr J. H. Smellie, Mosgiel, near Dunedin ; and it is to be hoped the venture will be attended with the success which Mr Smellie's enterprise deserves." On Friday a youth named James Annan, 18 years af age, was drowned while attempting to cross on horseback the Waikouaiti river at Orbell's station,' near Waikouaiti Deceased's parents reside at Waikouaiti, and he was a brother of Constable Annan, of Dunedin. The Mataura Ensign hears that there is some probability of the immense water power at the Mataura Falls being utilised for some new undertaking, the nature of which has not yet been divulged. There seems to be every probability of the woollen factory scheme being soon brought to a successful issue. Mr Fox, of the Dunedin Public Works Office, visited the protective works at Balclutha last week.' The Chitha Leader states that Mr Fox is of opinion that a groin should be erected some distance above a portion of the river bank, which has been giving way. He also found that the embankment required some repairs at the bend behind the township, and thinks additional groins should be erected there to throw the current off the embankment. Only about 60 people were invited to Hat* field (writes the " Anglo-Australian" to the S.A. Advertiser). Lord Salisbury greeted every guest personally, shaking him by the hand, and then introducing him to the Countess, a very Stately grande dame. The Earl then conducted us round the famous picture gallery, indulging in a running commentary on the portraits of his ancestors, for many of whom he seemed to feel no very extravagant veneration. Some amusement was caused on ouv reaching the portrait of Sir William Cecil by Mr Willie Wilson, of Melbourne, stepping forward and delivering an exordium on that famous minister, for whom he fiaid he had always felt great respect and admiration. The Earl remarked that he was no doubt an able statesman, but that his taste in women (pointing to a portrait of the Lady Cecil of that tune) was indifferent." We (New Zealand Times) are glad to have the pleasure of stating that another young New Zealander has recently acquitted himself with credit in the scholastic arena at one of the English universities. Mr Arthur V. Grace,' of Clare College, Cambridge, brother of Mr L. N. Grace, the member for Tauranga, passed the Law Tripos and took his LL.B. degree in June. Mr | Grace will be called to the Bar in November, and immediately after return to New Zealand, with a view to practising his profession in his native land. An appeal has been lodged against the decision of Mr Carew, the Resident Magistrate, in each of the sly-grog cases heard on Thursday last. The steamship Arawa appears to be in singular favour with young men anxious to push their fortunes at the antipodes (says a Home paper). The solitary stowaway is a familiar figure to all sailors who have been many years at sea, and even the appearance of a couple of such adventurers on deck when a vessel has got a certain distance from the coast is hardly a novelty ; but that 36 of them should have been able to conceal themselves even for an hour on board a steamer bound for New Zealand is surprising. When the Arawa, which left Victoria Docks about a month ago, reached Gravesend, the usual search for stowaways resulted in no less than eight young men having to leave their hiding-places. But at Plymouth 14 more were discovered and sent ashore under the impression that the ship had been cleared of such objectionable persons. Subsequently, however, when the steamer had left the land far behind her, 14 strange faces were observed on deck, and it was soon found that a party of enterprising emigrants had been living among the coals for some time. ' Bekepactobs.— " When a board of eminent pnyei cians and chemists announced the discovery that by combining some well-known valuable remedies a most wonderful medicine was produced, which would cure such a wide range of diseaees that moat ell other remedies could be dispensed with, raauy • ■were sceptical, but proof of its merits by actual trial has dispelled all doubt, and to-day the discoverers of that great medicine, Dr Soule's American Co.'s Hop Bitters, are honoured and bleeped by all as benefactors," Bead.— [Abtt.}

A meeting was held in the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening, attended by about 50^persons, to form a Borderers' association. Mr N. Y. A. Wales was in the chair and moved the first resolution, which was as follows :— " That an association be formed with the object of cultivating and maintaining a friendly intercourse among Borderers resident in : Otago and other provinces in New Zealand ; and also for t the purpose of affording assistance to Borderers j either when in quest of employment or in need I of temporary relief." The motion was seconded by Mr J. Roberts and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr A. Bathgate, seconded by Mr Melrose, it was decided to confine membership to natives or relatives of natives of the shires of , Roxburgh, Berwick, Selkirk, Dumfries, or Peebles, or anyone long resident in any of these shires. A committee was appointed to draw up a constitution and draft rules to be submitted to a future meeting, Mr A. J. Bathgate being appointed convener. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. The Dunedin Carters' Society held their third annual reunion on Friday evening, when about 70 couples attended at the Temperance Hall, Moray place, and an enjoyable evening was spent. The half-yearly meeting of the Royal Arch Chapter of the Order of Druids was held on Friday evening in the Otago lodgeroom, there being a good attendance of past officers. The District President (Bro. W. Baird) presided, and conferred the Past Arch Degree on Bros. Gallaway, Hurring, Stronach,Preene,A.Adams, Gibb, and Gillies, the Arch Druid Degree on Bros. M'Donald, Mockford, Fletcher, Paterson, Gallaway, Preene, and M'Ewan, and the Past Secretary's [Degree on Bros. Morrisson and Ewan. After the conclusion of the degree lectures, the question of juvenile lodges was discussed at some length, and it was resolved that steps be taken to canvass the districts on the question. On thp motion of P.D.P.M. Moss, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro. E. J. Bryant for his services as honorary secretary to the Charter. When the steamer Triumph, from New Zealand, arrived at Derby with her 260 passenger she was ordered into quarantine on account of a case of scarlatina on board. The passengers refused to comply with this order, and they seized the boats and made their way ashore. There was nothing for it then but to admit the vessel to pratique, and this was accordingly done Evidently the New Zealand contingent for the Kimberley diggings are determined not to be delayed by such trifles as quarantine regulations. Mr Duncan, member for Moeraki, made an" explanation in the House as to the manner in which he had some years ago withdrawn a statement made about Mr R. Oliver. Some years ago, he said, when Mr Oliver was Minister for Public Works, he (Mr Duncan) made a statement to the effect that Mr Oliver had had a railway siding made for his especial benefit, which was of no use to anyone else. Mr Oliver met him a day or two after, and asked him to state in the House that the statement was incorrect. Mr Duncan refused ; and then Mr Oliver said that if the honorable gentleman would do this he would give him another siding for which he had been agitating. " I did that," said Mr Duncan, " but I never got the other siding. I was younger hi politics then than I am now." Mr Blanchflower, late headmaster of the Invercargill Boys' and Girls' High School, has received the appointment of head master to the High School at York Castle, Jamaica. The following applications for patents have been received : — W. H. Denniston, of Brunnerton, for invention for unloading coalhoppers ; J. D. Arnaboldi, of Cambridge East, for a " wire dog " ; H. Kennedy, of Linwood, County of Selwyn, for a washing machine ; J. Parr, of Hamilton, Auckland, for a fencing wire strainer ; T. G. Brickell, of Dunedin, for a frame reverser for beehives; D. Gilmour and A. Mofflin, of Auckland, for a clamp for adjusting circular saws ; J. Bruce, of Timaru, for invention for manufacturing oatmeal by cutting and rolling. The quantity of oysters exported from New Zealand, chiefly to Sydney and Melbourne, during the year ended 31st December last amounted ' p to 1,057,760 dozen rock oysters/ (valued at £3333) and 170,455 dozen mud oysters (valued at £2196). The unemployed of Melbourne to the number of 300 held a meeting on the 3rd, and sent delegates to the Minister of Works. They told a tale of distress and hardship, and asked the Government to start relief works and stop the influx of men from the neighbouring colonies. The Minister informed the delegates that never had there been more public works in progress than at present, and he recommended them to apply to the contractors for these works. On the following day about 600 of the unemployed assembled and signed the lists of those seeking employment. Mr Robert Gilkison and Mr A. J. Bathgate, M.A., LL.B. (Edinburgh), were on Friday admitted barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of New Zealand by his Honor Mr Jus- | tice Williams. The long-promised report of the mayor upon the Dowling street accident was presented to a special meeting of the Oity Council on Monday evening. It recapitulated all the Steps taken hi the employment of men on the relief works, and denied that the mayor had anything to do with the use of powder on the cutting. The con- I sideration of the reports of the three chairmen, the city surveyor, and the mayor was adjourned j to a special meeting to be held in a fortnight's time. An occasional correspondent of the Lyttelton Times relates the following : — " A lady residing in Christchurch is (says a chemist) in the habit of drinking on an average 9 or 10 fluid ounces of laudanum a week. She is about 45 years of age, and acquired the practice when she was about 18. Intense grief, occasioned by domestic bereavement,} appears to have been the primary cause of her indulgence in the narcotic. She commenced by taking a few drops at a dose, and increased the amount according as the quantity failed — from sheer habit — to produce the desired effect. As year by year passed away' the habit grew upon her, and she found it necessary to go on increasing the dose if any effect at all was to be produced. And now, in her forty-fifth year, she can with impunity drink 2oz in the ' course of the day. As a fact, she bought of a druggist in town here two loz bottles of the drug one morning at 10 o'clock, and at about 4 p.m. the same Jday called to have them refilled. Even this extraordidary feat she is said to have eclipsed ; but as we cannot vouch for the authenticity of the report, we refrain from giving it publicity. According to her own statement, the drug se.ems to act rather as a stimulant than as a soporific, producing an exhilaration of mind and body, she avers, which far surpasses anything of the kind produced by alcoholic bover-

ages. 'It fills me,' she says, «with hope, with ambition, with life, and under its influence I am able to contend with the trials and vicissitudes of life, which in my case, I must own, have been pretty numerous. All trouble it will drown, all sorrow it will stifle.' While its effects last, no doubt; but is there not a corresponding depression afterwards? To see the lady "not under its influence" would be the best way to judge of that. If the indications of the face be any criterion, this lady's health has suffered much from the dangerous habit, for her skin, saffron-hued and shrivelled, is literally covered with deeply-graven wrinkles, and her eyes are dull and watery, with not a spark of lustre in them. She has made many attempts to abandon the habit, but in vain." An elderly man named John Brown, a carter, residing at North-Bast Valley, was driving his horse and cart over the crossing at the Pelichet Bay railway station on Monday morniDg, when the engine of the express tram knocked the horse down and completely severed one of its fore legs. Brown, who fortunately escaped uninjured, states that he did not notice the train until it was within a few yards of the horse. An extract from a private letter received in Oamaru from a gentleman in Bradfordshire is published by the North Otago Times, in which the writer states that he believes the IndoColonial Exhibition will do great good to the colony so far as immigration is concerned. A fatal accident took place on board H.M.S. Myrmidon on June 7, of which the following particulars are ,' given in a telegram from Brisbane. A boat was sent out to heave the anchor, and the anchor was slung at the stern of the boat. When there were still 80 fathoms of cable to behove in, the officer in the boat was ordered to let the anchor go. The officer forgot that the heavy rope attached to the crown of the anchor was coiled in the boat, and Bryant, petty officer, Francis Taylor, boatswain, and Harry Bowers, A.B. were caught in the coils of the rope and dragged to the bottom, a distance of 160 fathoms. The bodies were recovered a quarter of an hour afterwards, still in the coil of the rope. They were buried at sea. News from Tonga by the last steamer (says the Fiji correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) represents the persecution of the Wesleyans to be still in full blast. One Wesleyan native minister named Joseph Havea had been sentenced to two years' penal servitude for the heinous offence of saying that when in Auckland the Premier, Mr Baker, went to the Wesleyan Church. He was also ordered to pay £20 to the Premier by way of damages. The Rev. Mr Crosbie, of the Wesleyan Church, Tonga, has just paid a visit to the Assistant High Commissioner about this matter, but the result has not yet transpired. The New Caledonian paper L'lndependant, of the 29th July, states that news has been received by the Fairy Queen of an attack made by the natives of the Island of Santo, in. the New Hebrides, on the vessel Idago, belonging to the New Caledonian Company, trading with the New Hebrides. The captain had great difiiculty in escaping from death and saving the vessel. It is added that a boat, manned by natives of the Solomon Islands, was captured by the Santo islanders, and that many of the former were massacred, thus adding to the already very numerous list of victims to the savages of the New Hebrides. Mr Jeffcoat, formerly a student at the Otago University, has passed his final medical professional examination with distinction at the Ediuburgh University. We have received a copy of the Equitable Gazette, issued by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. The Gazette, which contains a number of illustrations, has been forwarded to us by Mr George Thome, jun., agent for the Middle Island.