LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1824, 5 November 1886, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

During October, 362 persons arrived at Port Chalmers from the United Kingdom. Of these 42 arrived by the barque Himalaya, 300 by the Kaikoura, and 11 by the Marlborough.

The 24th November is fixed as the date for the election by contributing local authorities of members to the boards under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act.

The Melbourne Cup has once more been won by a horse comparatively little thought of— a horse that started with odds of 15 to 1 laid against him. The winner, Arsenal, Is by Goldsbrough and a full brother to Crossfire, The only approach to what might be termed a New Zealand representative, Mr Cooper's Trenton, ran a great horse, beating all the field save one, and so justifying the heavy price which his owner paid for him. The time was not so fast as last year. Among the starters given by both Reuter and the Press Association is Rifleshot, whose name did not appear among the acceptors published in the Melbourne papers.

The memorial sent up by the ex-resident magistrates of Dunstan district praying for the release of Kidd, on the ground of his extreme age and previous good conduct, has been forwarded by the Miuister of Justice to Mr Justice Williams for his recommendation.

A lad named Alexander Sharp, whilst playing cricket at Opoho on Tuesday had his arm fractured with a ball. Ho was taken to the hospital, where the injury was attended to by Dr Roberts.

A meeting of the Otogo Institute was lield in the Museum on Tuesday, Professor Parker presiding. Dr Belcher delivered a lecture on " The Structure of the Greek Theatre." At the commencement of his address he mentioned that in the time at his disposal he would only be able to deal with about a fifth of the subject, and he could only trust to being afforded at some future time an opportunity of completing the task he had undertaken. The lecture was illustrated by a number of fine drawings, and proved exceedingly interestfng. Dr Belcher bhowed himself thoroughly conversant with his subjpet, and gave a great deal of valuable information regarding the theatres of ancient Greece. The other lectures of the series will be looked forward to with interest by those who were present at the first one. It was intimated that Mr Urquhart, of Auckland, had been elected a member of the institute. The annual general meeting, at which the president's address will be delivered, has been fixed to be held on the 17th inst.

Mr Vincent Pyke, M.H.R., has been trying to secure a reduction on the rates of freight ou fruit on our railways, but has not met with much success. In rt plying to the letter of the Miuister of Works dtcliuiug his request, Mr Pyke says:— "l thank you for infoiming me that ' there is no similarity in the products charged under these heads.' Presuming that the expression 'these heads' refers to the heads of the department, I am not disposed to question the fact as stated. If, however, it refers to the ' products,' I desire to inform you that in my early childhood I became acquainted with the circumstances that there is no ' similarity ' between apples and barley, nor between oats and peaches. Bufc this is altogether beside the question. * Why should not the produce of our fruitgrowers be carried on our railways at the same rates as other products of the soil ?' This question, permit me to say, you have not yet answered. Please ascertain for yourself how much was received for carriage of fruit last year, and you will see what a little thing it is that I ask of you. Then consider the benefit to a nascent industry which it is in the power of the department to confer, and I venture to say that a lowering of the rat?s would result iv a threefold increase of revenue, and, at the same time, one of the most valuable of our local industries would be encouraged. As matters stand afc present — thanks to the railway tariff — the people of Dunedin have to put up with the wizened products of California and Tasmania, because our own fruitgrowers are discouraged by the cost of carriage from sending their superior products into the market. Recognising and appreciating the desire of the Government to encourage local industries, I venture to renew [my application.'^

The Southland Times says :—": — " Mrs Thomas Ward, of Otatara Bush, was the victim of a serious and somewhat peculiar accident. While driving into Invercargill the trap she was in collided with an express, the horee in which had shied at a wheelbarrow. The driver of the express tried to Jpull up, and through his hor&e being thrown on his haunches the shafts were raised, and ike point of one struck Mrs Ward in the abdomen. She was afterwards conveyed to the hospital, where it was found that a severe wound had been inflicted. The other occupants of the buggy in which Mrs Ward was seated were Mrs Brown (a neighbour) and her child; but, although they were thrown out of the vehicle, they happily sustained uo injury."

The amount realised by HospHal Sunday in Melbourne was £4796, or about £800 less than last yeai, but a little more than it was in 1884. It is probable, however that when the full returna are In the falling off will he found, to be

much lees. Of the various denominations, toe Presbyterian churches contributed £1148, the Church of England £953, the Roman Catholic churches £551, and the Wesleyan churches £483. The largest amount collected in one place of worship was that of the Presbyterian Church, Toorak, where the collections at the two services realised the haudsome sum of £338. The services at the Town hall conducted by the Rev. Charles Strong, of the Australian Church, were well attended, and the collections amounted to £273. The next largest item was that of St. Francis' Church, with £101.

The annual meeting of the Blueskin Sports Society was held at the Saratoga House on the evening of the 30th ult , Mr Joshua Schofield being m the chair. A very satisfactory balance sheet was read by the secretary, from which it appeared that the receipts from all sources for last year amounted to £47 10s 6d ; the payments for prizes, printing, advertising, & c . connected with the gathering on New Year's Day to £29 175, leaving £17 13s 6d in the handg of the treasurer. The balance-sheet was unanimously adopted. Mr Schofield was re-elected chairman and treasurer, aud Mr James Perry hon.'secretary. Messrs A. Kilpatrick, D. Watson, J. Crisp, P. O'Farrell, James Downes, J. Wilson, and H. Lee were appointed a committee with power to add to the number. The committee decided to hold the sports on the 3rd January 1887, owing to New Year's Day falling on a Saturday. Votes of thanks having been passed to the chairman and secretary for their valuable services, the meeting closed.

At a social meeting of the members of Toko* mairiro Church Session and their wives, in the man6e, Milton, on Monday evening, the Rev. James H. Cameron was presented with a handsome volume of selections from the Doi6 Gallery. Mr Cameron has been taking the place of the regular minister, who has been doing work in connection with the Theological Hall for the last six months. In making the presentation the Rev. J. Chisholm said that he was pleased to act as tho tongue and hand of the session and congre gation in presenting the volume to Mr Cameron. That gentleman bad done his work in a most painstaking and earnest way. He had been diligent in vibiting, had conducted classes and meetings with heartiness and efficiency, and had given much satisfaction by his pulpit ministrations. They were all thankful to Mr Cameron for the good work he had done amongst them, and trusted he would be long spared and have full opportunity of serving the church iv this new land.

A shocking drowning fatality occurred at Avoca, near Smithfield, NS.W., on Saturday, 23rd ulfc., whereby three children belonging to James Turner, a butcher, employed in Sydney met their death. One of the children was sent to bring some water from an open drain, and was accompanied by three others. While thus engaged the youngest, named Ernest, aged two years and eleven months, fell into the water, and his brother Arthur, in endeavouring to grasp him, met with a similar fate. The sister, Mary Jane, aged eight, then bravely jumped into the water to rescue her two brothers, while the fourth ran to acquaint the mother of the sad mishap. The mother ran to the spot, but only to see her three children drawn out of the water lifeless.

A boy, nine years of age, died recently at TowDßville of alcoholic poisoning, caused by drinking half a tumbler of raw spirits given him by bis mother, who is of intemperate habits.

There was a narrow escape from a serious railway accident near Brisbane through a train eonr -ying a number of volunteers leaving the railu Several citizen soldiers received severe cuts and bruises, while the escape of the engine driver and stoker is described as little Bhort of miraculous.

The Sheffield correspondent of the Chr?et» church Press telegraphs that a boy named Wm. Donald MMutosh, nine aud a-half years old. Ml off a horse he was riding on Sunday, and was dragged about 100 yds with his foot in the stirrup. He was kicked aud was trodden on by the horse, dying very soon after the accident at his home, near Waddington.

Mr Gladstone, though defeated for the time in England, has " the world " with him. Among his supporters in this larger commonwealth is an Italian gentleman who has just addressed an open letter of sympathy and encouragement •' to his Excellence Lord Gladstone." The letter is trench for the most part, but the author era* phasises many of his poiuts by English quotations, of which the intention is no doubt better than the expression. Under Home Rule, says Signor Trotta, prosperity will return to the Emerald Isle, and "where to-day he has brought, his bogs to a fine market; where nottig's forward." Mr Gladstone may have been foiled for the moment, but "the time will come when they will say of Lord Gladstone : what the lion can't, the fox shall." It is ever so, for "on beats the busch, and another catchet the bird." " Courage ! then," exclaims our author, " on, Father of regenerated nations, courage! Thou hope- of the downtrodden, thou joy and crown of all that is just and humane. Go forward with your work, and remember (so good an axeman ia not likely,- by the way, to forget) that * liiia strockes fell great oaks.' "

The border town of Albury is in a state of great excitement concerning the mysterious djs« appearance of a man named Raglan Davey, an old resident. Davey has for many years fol» lowed the calling of a water carrier; but ha purchased the goodwill and stock of the Railway Hotel, took possession, and moved in, remaining in the house with his wife until after midnight. He then left the room, saying he would go for a stroll, and never returned. Early next morning inquiries were made, without avail. Soon after* wards the wife discovered a large pool of blood in a small passage running alongside the house to a gateway giving access to the stables. Near the pool of blood were imprints of blood-Rtained hands. On the gravel path were tracks of blood, which were also seen down the lane, ending at the gate, on which were several imprints of bloody hands, as if the person had first clung to the gate for support, and then un» done the gate fastening. No traces of any Struggle were visible near the pool of blood, nor were any blood-htaius found beyond the gate. Search has been made in the neighbourhood without any result. Davey had over £500 on him in cheques, aud oa^h to the extent of £10 or £15. He bears the reputation of being a sober man. Hiss life was insured for £500. In the meantime a labourer named George Henry Little, has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the affair. He had been in and out of the hotel for some days, and is said to have been ejected by Davey for impropriety of language.

The rag and bone gatherer, Jorgen Jensen Saunte, who died last week at Ashburn Hall, and who lived in a dreadful Btate of misery, olothed in rugs infested with vermin, and in a hovel without a floor, has, we learn, left an estate of about £16,000 ia freehold properties, mortgages, »n<l valuable tfcarw. H^

was a large shareholder in the Keep-it-Dark mine, the Webtport Coal Company, and the Colonial Btuk. The bulk of his property is willed to his sister's, children at Elsinore, Denmark, but legacies wo understand, havo been left to his executors, Mr H. F. Hardy and Mr Joyce, of Christchurch, late of this city. It appears that these gentlemen rendered the miser a few bervices, which he has thus shown his appreciation of.

The Harbour Board have decided to notify the Government that they desire to dispense with prisou labour at the heads. It is thought that the work can be carried on cheaper and more expeditiously by means of free labour.

At the Supreme Court on the 27th ulfc. his Honor Mr Justice Williams delivered judgment for the plaintiff in the case of Bank of New Zealand v. Robert Wilson, in which the plaintiff claimed to recover £2000, alleged to _ be due under a guarantee given to the Tapanui branch of the bank to discount bills for Messrs Bremner and Washer to that amount. The guarantee also covered an overdraft of £300, which the defendant had paid. He, however, disputed his liability for the bills, on the ground that the bank had discounted in excess of the amount guaranteed. Judgment for plaintiff was also given in the case of Blair v. The DuntroonHakateramea Railway Company on the follow- . ing day.

The shareholders of the National Insurance Company will be gratified to learn that the directors are able to declare a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, for the year ending 30th September.

Mary Jane Docherty, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment at the last sessions of the Supreme Court on a charge of arson, was released from gaol last week, his Exci-llency having granted her a free pardon in compliance with tie prayer of a petition forwarded by Mr T. C. Farnie.

At the City Police Courton Thursday morning, Henry Percy Fisher, who recently esoaped from the prison gang working at the heads, was charged with being unlawfully at large, with stealing an axe from the Mikiwaka station, and also a pair of oars from the Otago Heads. During the hearing of the firbt two charges he remained moderately quiet, but when he was charged with stealing the oars he became exceedingly unruly, protesting in the first instance that his name was not Fi-her, and that he would not answer to it. Mr Carew, who occupied the bench, then ordered all persons, with the exception of the reporters, gaol warders, and policemen, to leave the court. The prisoner subsequently became very boisterous, aud did all he could to prevent the evidence from being taken down. He first began to dance in the dock, and as he had a pair of heavy boots on, two policemen quickly relieved him of them in the cope of preventing him from making a noise ; but they were.very much disappointed in tl is hope, for the prisoner began to dance and kick without them, and as the noise did not seem to satisfy him he resorted toother methods of obstructing the proceedings of the court, interrupting the witnesses by shouting, singing, and swearing. Mr Carew therefore told him that if he did not be quiet he would have to be gagged; but even this threat had no effect on the conduct of the prisoner, who only became more unruly, and even began to swear lustily at the magistrate. At this juncture a warder iuterferred by catching hold of the prisoner by the neck and pulling him back in the dock. The prisoner then turned round and began to abuse the warder, indulging in a perfect torrent of profanity. Eventually, however, in spite of the frequent interruptions, the court managed to get through with the evidence, and the prisoner was removed, after being committed for trial on each charge.

We notice that the Shipping Gazette states that information has been received by the committee of Lloyd's that the port of Timaru is not yet a fit place for vessels of large tonnage.

The Tablet states that the Rev. Messrs Donnelly and Hunt, two youngecclesiastics.areabout to be ordained to the priesthood for service on the Dunedin mission. The Dominican community at Dunedin has also been reinforced by the arrival from Ireland of two nuns belonging to the order.

The Cromwell Argus states that a memorial was last week transmitted to the Governor, signed by Messrs V. Pyke, W. L. Simpson, H. W. Robinson, and J. Keddell, as former resident magistrates of Dunstan district, praying for the release of Robert Kidd, who was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment at the last sittings of the Supreme Court. His release is asked for on the grounds of extreme age and previous good conduct.

According to the Western Star, Mr Henry Hirst, M.H R., has received a communication from the Hon. Mr Ballance dealing with the settlement of Fiord county. According to that journal, "it has been suggested to the Ofago Land Board that the land in question should be divided into 11 runs, the back boundary of which would be a line from Puyaegur Lighthouse to a little northward of the centre of Tewaewae Bay, each run to have a sea frontage, and when possible, a river boundary ber.ween two runs, the runs to be offered by auction on pastoral lease, for a term of 21 years, at a nominal upset rental."

Some statements are made in Sydney that between 70 and 80 of the unemployed were sent on a wild goose chase into the country for work, and they returned in great extremeties, begging their way back to Sydney, and sleeping nightly in the fields without covering. The men are endeavouring to meet the Minister of Works, and unless something is done to relieve the worst cases serious results are bound to follow.

The Lyttelton Times learns that steps are on foot to try and bring about a show, for the first time in New Zealand, of wool, grain, seeds, and " our own srrown," the first prize exhibits to be forwarded to the Imperial Institute as a contribution towards a New Zealand court. It is to be hoped woolgrowers, when shearing, will keep for the show fleeces worthy of a place in the first New Zealand show of wool. If properly undertaken, this bhould serve as the best advertisement the colony has ever had.

Mr Wardell, R.M., is of opinion that the Married Women's Property Act of 1884 extends the same protection to the earnings and property of married women as is provided by a protection order — in fact it covers the whole ground.

A ScoT.nixo Woman.— The barbarities of the duck-ing-stoolI 'or trie cure of scolding women, though abolii-hed by law, are now ortentimes practised 1 v a kind ot social barbarity none the less reprehensible Women srold only when lhey nre ill. Instead of blaming them we should prescribe A merionn Co.'s Hop Bitters. The entire system will undergo a genial, pleasant change. Ihe nerves will be quieted end acerbity of word and thought will give place to .Bin ability and affection. Healthy women do not twWorfret. Bead, t£

One of the largest gatherings which has ever taken place at Heuley came off on the evening of of the 27th ult , the occasion being a tea meeting under ihe auspices of the Salvation Army. About 300 persons, including several Maoris, assembled iv Stephensou's wool&hed and partook of the good things supplied. This was followed by the usual service of the army, when a number of persons gave testimony of the change effected since they had attended the army's meetings.

We have been shown by Mr F. Laurenson, of Princes street, some patterns of worsted coatings, being the first productions of the Roslyn Woollen Mills from the new machinery recently erected by them. The prices bear favourable comparison with the imported article, with the advantage of knowing that the material is manufactured from pure longwool. The production of this class of material in the colony should considerably reduce the imports under this heading, as the demand has be«n considerable for the past two or three years.

According to a cablegram from Melbourne the Eastern Extension Company has given formal notice that after the Ist of November the rates on the New Zealand cable will be raised to 10s for the first 10 words and 11s for each subsequent word.

It will be remembered that a short time ago the directors of the Waimea Plains Railway Company issued a strong circular suggesting payment of a three-quarter rate, said sumb being in excess of what was expected to be demanded. Failing compliance with the demand, recipients were informed that negotiations for the sale of the line would be broken off, and requested to furnish the names of their solicitors in order that the summonses for the full rate might be served. The only reply they got (6ays the Mataura Ensign) was in something like the following terms :—" Gentlemen, — If you want my rate you can come and collect it. The names of my solicitors are Messrs Dynamite and Gunpowder. Prepare to meet your doom. — Yours truly, No. 7." Below the signature was a neatly out hole, just as if made by a bullet.

At Lawrence on Friday evening an accident happened to Mr Daniels, of Milton, dealer in sheepskins, &c. He had just come ju from Tuapeka We.-t with an express load of skins, and was driving to the railway station td get unloaded. By some means he clipped off the express and the wheel went over his leg and it was broken. He was at once taken to the Tuapeka Hospital, and is receiving every attention.

The Clutha and Matau Agricultural and Pastoral Societies have decided to amalgamate. This is a step in the right direction, and the one annual show this year is likely to benefit greatly.

The Union Steam Ship Company's well-known steamer Mawhera appears to have come to grief at Greymouth, where she went ashore and is not likely to be floated again. The Mawhera was of 553 tons gross register, and her engines were of 500 indicated horse power. The Mawhera left Dunedin in command of Captain Hill on the 23rd inst.

The annual meeting of the United Press Association was held in the Otago Daily Times and Witness office on Friday, the following gentlemen attending : — Honourable W. Reeves (Lyttelton Times), Messrs H. Brett (Auckland Star), H. Blundell (Evening Post), T. Bracken (Evening Herald), G. Fenwick (Daily Times), Gilmour (Southland Times), G. Bell (Evening Star), Horton (New Zealand Herald), J. Guthrie (Christchurch Press), aud W. H. Atack, manager.

Several of the prospectors who left for Big Bay by the Hinemoa have found their way back overland. From Big Bay they proceeded to Martin's Bay, and then took the track to the Head of Lake Wakatipu. One of those who have returned to Dunedin confirms the unfavourable accounts received in Invercargill,

We are indebted to Mr G. F. Dodds, of Port Chalmers, who has recently returned from a trip to the bister colonies, for 6ome details of a new industry carried on in the vicinity of Sydney by Mr A. E. Arnold. This consists of utilising leather waste for carriage brake blocks and stair treads. It is largely used by the coachbuilders of Sydney, who speak very highly of its qualities, while the price—ls per lb— is a moderate one. The leather waste is compressed and turned out in blocks of 12in x 12in and six and eight inches thick, These blocks can be out to any size desired, and the artiole can be moulded to any curve for wheels of railway carriages. For stair treads it appears very suitable, being more durable than lead and pleasanter to walk upon. Expert carpenters state that it wears out three lots of lead for stairs. We have inspected a block of the material, which appears to be quite equal to all the inventor claims for it. The fruit and flower industry in Scotland is rapidly increasing. Perhaps there is no branch of trade which is more prosperous. In recent years the Edinburgh and Glasgow markets particularly have enormously developed, and shops for the sale of fruit and flowers have been increased in all parts of these cities, in the most humble as well as in the leading business streets. It is estimated that nearly 7000 acres of land in Scotland are now used as orchards and market gardens. The most successful district is Clydesdale. The soil is suitable, communication with Glasgow is abundant, and great as the supply sent to the large city is, the demand cannot be said to be fully met.

The Sydney Morning Herald, in an article having for its text the successful floating of the last New Zealand loan, quotes the figures of Mr G. G. Stead, the president of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, to show the progress this colony has made. The depression it puts down to the heavy debt of the colony. The article concludes as follows :— " With the magnificent resources of soil and climate possessed by the colony, the debt must continue to diminish and its burden be less felt, if the temptation to further borrowing be resisted. The colony has done enough foundation work in the construction of railways for the next decade. It has a larger mileage of railways per head of population bhan Australia, or any other oountry in the world ; and if it settles all the country within easy access of land and ocean steam communication before enlarging its debt to open up other lines, its early prosperity will be assured. One of the most hopeful signs is the fact that the Government was but lately defeated on its loan proposals."

Arrangements are nearly completed for the review and sham fight to be held at the heads on the 9th inst. Lieutenant-colonel Wales' plan is to get the men belonging to the country corps into town by an early train that morning; and there seems no difficulty about this except in the case of Waitahnna and Lawrence, from which places it will probably be necessary to arrange for special trains. There will be a half of about an hour in town, and then the men will ba embarked, taken down the harbour, and landed at some convenient spot new the beads; and a

portion of the troops will be given to Major Goring as a defence force. The Harbour Board's steamers, and perhaps a couple of the Union Company's boats, will cr iise about and .shell the fortifications, and the bluejackets and riflemen will advance from the direction of Wycliffe Bay, where they will have been landed as an attacking force. Major Goring probably will be able to open fire upon this force from the battery with a couple of his 64-pounders, and he will have bis first line of defence thrown forward on the hills tj repel the attack. A very irteresting sham fight may be expected to result from this disposition of tho forces; and if the weather is fine there will no doubt be a large number of spectators who will be able to make the affair an excuse for a very pleasant picnicking excursion. The Union Company intend to lay on two excursion boats, and there will be others also plying so that the voluuteers and their friends will be able to spend the holiday at least within sight of each other. Visitors who land at the pilot station and climb up to the flagstaff, will be able to obtaiu an excellent view of the manoeuvres from that point, and the men will probably have a couple of hours' leisure after the fight is over before returning to town. This is about the time for the annual inspection and the Commander of the Forces, Sir George Whitmore, who will be down here for that purpose, has agreed to accept this demonstration as the usual review and inspection drill. Officers and men of all ranks are therefore compelled to be in attendance or submit to a substantial fine under the 52nd section of the Defence Act. It is understood that Major Goring during the day will give the Naval Artillery a chance of practice with the big guns. The following are the returns of the Dunedin Hospital for the past week •■— Number of patients remaining from the previous week ... ... „-. ... 117 Admitted during the week ... ... 13 Discharged during the we-k ... ... 13 Deaths (.Giles Hughes and Thomas Reynolds) ... 2 Total remaining... ... ... ... 115 The vital statistics for the month of October are as follow :— Births, 127 ; deaths, 51 ; marriages, 21. In the corresponding month of last year there were 168 births, 48 deaths, and 35 marriages.

A man named William Muirhead met with an accident at the Dunedin Iron and Woodware Company's timber yard on Saturday. It appears that he and some other men were engaged in lifting timber with a crane, and while Muirhead was below a piece of timber fell on top of him, fracturing his right thigh. He was conveyed to the hospital, and had his injury attended to by Dr Roberts.

At the monthly meeting of the Mosgiel School Committee on Friday evening there were present: Messrs Dey (chairman), Churton, Hodges, Crosbie, and M'Leod, The Chairman reported that steps had been taken to hold a concert in aid of the school prize fund. The question of rearranging the classrooms was brought up by Mr Churton, but after some discussion a motion was carried to hold a special meeting on the 12th prox. to consider the matter.

A fo»r-;-C/uuio~i nouse at Kaitangata, the property of one of the miners recently in the employ of the Kaitangata Company, named M'Allister, was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning, together with nearly all the furniture. The building and contents were insured for £120.

The Riverton Star states that there was only about two feet of water in the Jacob's river at the place where Mr Gordon, manager of the Bayswater estate, was found drowned. The unfortunate man, who leaves a wife and four children, left the township of Otautau on Wednesday evening under the influence of drink.

The Southland News states that the patent trucks for conveying frozen meat from Bluff to Port Chalmerp are now at the port. The present" shipment in the freezing chambers is to be despatched Overland by train to Port Chalmers.

The Committee of the New Zealand Land League at O.imaru intend inviting the Hon. Mr Ballance to visit Oamaru and give a public aidress on the subject of a bill for the resumption of private lands near to large centres of population.

The following applications for patents have been received : — T. Danks, of Christchurch, for a tangent windmill ; R. Jones, of Dunedin, for rabbit-proof fencing; R. O'Donovan, of Stratford, Taranaki, for the Phantom unicycle locomotive, and for a duplex sifting apparatus ; H. Wheeler, of Timaru, foe flexible braces ; J. Brad,ley, of Christchurch, for a new enamelled colorgraph.

According to the Taranaki Herald a good deal of apprehension is felt by a large number of residents in New Plymouth as to the earthquakes which, according to some German scientist, were to occur in this part of the world just about this time of the year.

The new British Consul at Samoa, Lieutenant Powell, appears to lack sufficient force of character to suit the British residents. A Samoan correspondent of the New Zealand Herald says : — " If we are to be ruled here from the British Foreign Office with such a weak man as Mr Powell to represent us, then we may a" well resign ourselves to German rule, and get annexed at once. The United States Consul deserves, and receives, the greatest credit for the firm stand he took in protecting a British subject who was getting hounded out of office by his own Government. It is the American Consul that we have to look to for protection, not the British one."

The Paris correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes : — " A quantity of fresh meat from New Zealand has just been seized here by the custom bouse at the St. Lazare station, on account of • fraudulent declaration.' Instead of being English mutton, as declared, it was frozen meat from the antipodes. Had it been declared as such, it would doubtless have proved a successful venture."

The Wellington Education Board has adopted a scheme by which the scholarship money paid to children from the country shall be increased, and that paid to successful pupils from schools in the city and suburbs decreased. In future holders of scholarships living in the Wairarnpa will receive £30 per annum, while thnsp residing in the city and suburbs will be paid £12 and £20 a year respectively.

A shocking tale of cruelty comes from Capetown. The Port Elizabeth Telegraph says: — "For breaking a bottle of paraffin that her mistress carelessly left on the edge of a shelf, a farmer's wife— according to Ihe girl's sworn affidavit — stripper) hsr, and, after beating her on her bare hack with a sjambok until she was a mans of bruises, chained her up to a beam, and deliberately fixed mustard plasters to the raw wounds. Her ankles were fastened together with thin twine, wbioh trot into the flwh litoe a knifa, The

girl was kept 14 days in this way, and no food given her but mealies mixed with brine, causing iutolerable thirst. Each day she was beaten with 6ticks, being blindfolded while the process was going on. On the fourteenth day she made her escape to the district village, and found an uncle there, who at once topk her to the magistrate's office. At the police court investigation it appeared the girl's statement was somewhat exaggerated, though gross cruelty appears to have been practised."

The Lake County Press publishes some particulars of what, if true, appears to ba a dastardly case of desertion by some of the returning prospectors from the Big Bay district. The Press says: — "A report was circulated in Queenstown on Monday that a man had got knocked up on his way from the West Coast and had been abandoned by his mates and left behind somewhere on the Martin's Bay track. The police acted with commendable promptitude, and despatched Constable M'Lean to look for the man. The constable found him at the Greenstone, to where he had managed 'to crawl in the meantime. He is a man of about 60 years of age, named John Tippett, an old and experienced miner, who had gone to Big Bay by the Hinemoa, but finding the ground too heavy for him to work, he had been making his way back along with his two mates— poor mates surely! — Tom Moore and John Mulligan. They had been about three weeks on the journey when his legs gave way, and he was left somewhere in the Greenstone Valley with very little provisions, his mates clearing out and taking the tent with them. They told some of the people at the Head of the Lake, that they had left a man behind, but did not report it to the police, and left for down country without further troubling themselves about the matter. It was therefore only on the arrival of a second party, who reported the circumstances to the police, that anything was known of the affair in Queenstown. Tippett arrived in Queenstown in a very weak condition, and is to be taken to the hospital. He speaks very bitterly of the conduct of his mates in leaving him, as he has every reason to do. If the so-called mates of John Tippett are a fair sample of those who went to Big Bay, then we do not expect the field to get much of a trial."

A temperance cantata entitled "The Conquest of Drink " was held in the Garrison Hall here (writes our Mosgiel correspondent) on Friday night. Unfortunately sufficient notice was not given and the attendance suffered. The orchestra was a strong one, and the entertainment above that usually given by amateurs. The singing of Master Buchanan and a lady member of the choir fare specially worthy of praise. Those who were present expressed a wish that the cantata should be repeated on a future occasion.

On visiting Torre dell' Annunziata the correspondent of the Standard at Naples found that one-fourth of its 26,000 inhabitants had deserted the town, not so much alarmed by the numbers attacked as by the virulence of the cholera During the first three days of the outbreak not one person who was attacked survived. Up to Monday night, September 6, of 103 cases, 63 proved fatal. The authorities find the greatest difficulty in persuading the people to allow the patients to be removed to a well-situated lazaretto, the people preferring to die in their miserable houses, crowded by sympathising neighbours. The correspondent counted 21 persons, mostly women and children, in a room 12ft square, where a poor boy was writhing in agony in an atmosphere so foetid as to be unendurable: while in the lazaretto he found only seven people, all of whom were doing well, ex ept one woman just breathing her last. Thirty patients were in private houses, where they form most dangerous centres of infection.

The foundation stone of a new Roman Catholio church at Ponsonby to accommodate 1500 people was laid on Sunday by Bishop Luck. The offertory laid on the foundation stone amounted to £230.

The Alameda, with the English mails of 7th October, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 24th October, one day late. The Mariposa, with the colonials mails of 12th October, arrived at San Francisco from Auckland on 30th October, two days in advance of time-table date.

The "New Zealand Presbyterian" gives some statistics of the position of the church in Otago and Southland, from which it appears that, leaving out four congregations that did not send in returns, as also the preaching stations with their reported contributions, the number of charges will be 51, their members numbering 10,337, and their contributions for all church purposes totalling £27,692 17s 2d. The above sum will give an average of £542 19s Hid to each congregation of the church, and of £2 13s 6^d to each member as his or her contribution for for the year 1885. It is not to be supposed, however, either that the several churches or the several members of the church contributed these amounts. In some the contributions were much higher, in others they were much lower.

Among the passengers who arrived by the Rotorua from Auckland (says the New Zealand Times) were the Right Hon. Sir R. N. Fowler, Bart., M.P., and the Hon. S. Lyttelton. Sir Robert Fowler is widely known as a public man at Home. He frits on the Conservative benches in the English House of Commons as one of the members for the City of London. The Hon. Mr Lyttelton is a nephew of Mrs Gladstone, and was secretary to Mr Gladstone while Premier 1 for some considerable time. He is a son of the late Lord Lyttelton, whose name will be remembered in connection with the Canterbury settlement, and brother of the present Lord of that name. We understand that Mr Lyttelton and Sir Robert Fowler are the guests of his Excellency the Governor. Post Card Proof. Salisbury. Term., April 4, 1883. Gents,— l was afflicted with serious Kidney and Urinary trouble for 13 years. After trying all the doctors and patent medicines I could hear of, I used two bottles of Hop Bitters, and am perfectly cured. B. F. BOOTH. Washington, D.0., April 3, 1883. To the Hop Bitters 00. Sirs, — I write this as a token of the great appreciation I have lor your Bitters. I was afflicted with Inflammatory Rheumatism seven years, and no meilicire seemed to do me any good until I tiied three botMes of your Hopßitters, and to my surprise lam as well to-day as ever I was. 1 hope you may have gr-at succpss in this great and valuable medicine. Anyone wishing to know more about my cure can learn by addressing me. E M. WILLTAMS, 1103 Sixteenth street,