LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The George street School Ccmmitt^a have nominated Mr Green and Dr Hislop for the vacancies on the Bducatiou Board.

Miss A. M. Thompson has received the ap» pointmeut of mistress of the North School at Oamaru. Regret was expressed thafc no one possessing a higher certificate than D 3 had applied.

At a general meeting of the Operative Bakers' Association, which was well attended, a bum of money was voted to assist the inineis belonging co the Kaitangata Coal Miners' Association now on strike, and it was resolved to support them in every way.

It may not be generally remembered that this year is not only the Koyal jubilee, but is also the jubilee of the electric telegraph in England. The first prai tical electric telegraph was worked between Eustou Station and Camden Town on July 25, 1837.

We regret to learn that Lady Jervoi* has reached Dunedin in a very bad state of health. She had to be carried on a litter from the Hinemoa to Bit-hopscourt, and the Rervice" oi a doctor were at once c tiled in. We are* requested to state that she is forbidden by her medical attendant to receive visitors for tha next week or 10 days. ,

The Chief Justice of Victoria, Mr Higinbotham, with Mrs Higmbbtham and family, and Mr J. Salomons, who. recently accepted and almost immediately resigned the Chief Justiceship of New South Wales, arrived in DunediD on Tuesday. Mr and Mrs Higinbotham aacfi family prooeeded to the West Coast Sounda by the s.s. Tarawera, which left Port Chalmers, Wednesday.

About 11 a.m. on Tuesday, while Sergeant Myles, of the Armed Constabulary, with a boat's crew, was conveying Major Goring, commanding officer, from the heads to the samlspit, and when getting within some 500 yards of the shore 1 they discovered a body floating. They made fast to it, and bringing it on shorp, placed it in an unused punfc until the police authorities could be oomtaunicated with. Tne hocly fe. undoubtedly that of James Anderson, who" fell from the Tekapo on New Year's eri-iiing-wben she was returning from an excursion trip to Oamaru. Ths features are entirely gone, and the upper portion o? the body is almost in a state of pulp. It was dresstd in chick trousers and shirt, with socks and low shoes. The coat and vest appeared to be blue. 5n the pockets were found 3s in silver, and a knife, pipe, handkerchief^ and pencil. ;-.

It is understood that by the reductions in the public service the Government will save £30,000.

The directors of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand recommend the usual dividend at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum for the half-year.

During the past year there were 46 bankruptcies in Wellington, against 72 for the previous year and 39 for 1884.

We regret to learn that Mrs Larnach, wife of the Hon. the Minister of Mines, is rather seriously indisposed.

The Amalgamated Miners' Association of Australia have forwarded a second donation of £200 to the Kaitangata miners who are on strike.

His Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jervois arrived in Dunedin by the Hinemoa on Monday, and was met at the wharf by his Worship the Mayor and a large number of citizens.

The holiday traffic by rail this season in Auckland was larger than formerly, owing to the liberal fares. From December 23 to January 3, 38,787 people travelled on the Auckland lines.

A petition is being largely signed in the East Taieri district, urging that the Taieri County Council should take over the affairs of the East Taieri Road Board.

It is understood that Mr Price Williams, C.E., who has been on a visit to the colony, expressed the opinion that the New Zealand railways are as economically worked as any in the world.

The house of Mr Colman, at Hillend, Southland, with the contents, was destroyed by fire on the 3rd. The house was insured in the Norwich Union office for £75 ; but Mr Colman estimates his loss at £150 above the insurance.

The Clutba Leader states that the libel action brought against that paper by Mr Dunn has bpen Bottled, the defendant newspaper paying £8 10s 6d expenses, and giving £5 to the Balclutha Athenaeum.

A deputation from the Albany street School Committee waited upon Dr Hhlop on the 6th and obtained bis consent to allow himself to be nominated for one of the vacancies on the Education Board.

According to the list reprinted from the Australasian Medical Directory, there are over 80 persons given as practising the medical profession in Sydney and suburbs without being registered, and there are about 100 others practising in country districts.

The following tenders have been received for the Mount Hyde bridges (masonry) contract of the Otago Central railway : — Accepted : Black and Allison (Dunedin), £15,934. Declined : D. M'lntyre (Dunedin), £17,302 ; J. Whittaker and Co. (Dunedin), £18,181.

The election of a councillor to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Mr M-Gibbon as mayor of Gore, was held on Saturday. Mr I. S. Simson beat Mr Thomas Green, the late mayor, by 27 votes. The polling was : Green, 62 ; Simson, 89.

The friends oi Mr J. Y. Hall, who disappeared 80 mysteriously recently from his selection near Wyndham, have decided to offer a reward of £50 for the discovery of his remains. It is believed that Mr Hall met with a gun accident somewhere in the bush.

We understand that at a recent meeting of the University Council the question of renewing the application for a Royal Charter for the University Council was discussed, and that the proposition met with the warm approval of the majority of the members who were present.

At a largely attended meeting of shareholders of the Timar v Woollen Company on the 6th, it was decided that the directors be requested to go into liquidation at once, and reconstruct the company. The company has about £1000 due to pressing creditors, and find it impossible to carry on under the present arrangements.

It is estimated that the insurance offices doing business in Australasia have lost by fires over £100,000 during the month of December. It is also said that not one of +he offices has paid one per cent, dividend out of the profits this year, the dividends having come out of investments.

Mr Wilson, chief engineer of the Midland Railway Company, will arrive in the colony this week to inspect the route. The company have made arrangements to send some 3000 tons of plant out by the direct steamers. Part of it has already arrived. They have till July to spend the £150,000 required by the act.

The Auckland people are agitating for more public works, and a deputation waited on the Minister of Justice on the 6th, urging the construction of a loop line as- a means of relieving the congested railway traffic on the single line ont of Auckland. Mr Tole promised to lay the views of the deputation before the Minister of Works.

It will be remembered that some little time ago a ferret which had got loose attacked "a child in its cradle at Herbert, and that it was supposed that one of the child's eyes had been ruined. The father writes to the Mail to say that under the skilful care of Dr Levinge the child's eye has been saved.

Referring to the display of art at the South Kensington Exhibition the Home News says : — " There are perhaps a dozen pictures from New Zealand that would bear comparison with any •work from the Dominion, and indeed would deserve a place near the line in an average Royal Academy. Art is surely progressing, and may count upon a promising and successful future."

The following applications for patents have been received : — H. W. Potter, of Invercargill, for an adjustable spring sash balance; F. J. Redman, of Masterton, for the manufacture and use of prepared paper in the construction of pipe organs; G. Allman, of Dunodin, master mariner, for an automatic nautical dangerindicating dial.

A special Masonic service was held on Sunday afternoon in the Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers, when' the members of the craft appeared in full regalia. The service was conducted by the W. Bro. the Rev. W? Ronaldson, District Grand Chaplain. Appropriate hymns were sung by the choir under the direction of Mr J. Lees.

Searoh was made on Sunday in the lower laarbour for the body of the young man James Anderson, who fell overboard from the Tekapo on the Ist inst., by the steamer Gordon, on board of which was Constable Bell, In addition to other boats one was manned by members ©f the Dunedin Naval Brigade under the charge of Captain Smith — the deceased being a member of that corps. The lower harbour was carefully searched and the Gordon proceeded outside the heads as far as Blueskin Bay, firing 12 shots between the lightship and BlueskhTand at the same time making a strict search. Shortly before 5 p.m. the Gordon, with the naval boat in tow returned, the search having proved fruitless.

A proposal, is on foot' to place the statue of Liberty enlightening the world in the shade. A committee of English and Canadian residents in London is beirfg formed to organise a celebration of the Queen's *jubilee,and one of the'suggesi tions to be considered -fs the erection of • a colossal statue of her Majesty a hundred feet, higher than M.Bartholdi's statue of Liberty.

■ .j ■ r Some 112 . passengers have booked for the annual Sounds excursion by the Union Steam Ship Company's Tarawera, and with fine weather the excursion should prove as enjoyable as former ones. Of the number who have booked only 40 are from New Zealand, the other 72 being from the Australian colonies, England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and China.

It was announced at the last meeting of the Southland Education Board that Inspector Gammell had consented to withdraw his resignation and accept 12 months' leave of absence. He had done so, however, on condition that after the expiry of nine months he would •inform the board whether or not he could- continue in its service. It was deoided to secure the services of an assistant inspector.

At a fire at Napier on the 6th two were suffocated. The bodies, fearfully mutilated, were discovered huddled together. One was recognised as the proprietor and the other as that of a man named Kelly, a labourer. Mrs Teehon and her two children left town on a visit to some friends in the country yesterday. Both men had been drinking over-night. An inquest is to be held this afternoon. The building was insured for £100 in the London and Lancashire. ■

An inquest was held at Woodside on Satorday afternoon, before Mr E. H. Carew, district coroner, on the body of Wm. Thomson, who was drowned whilst bathing in the Kaikorai river on Thursday evening last. Evidence was given by James Thomson (father of the deceased), Robert Hamilton, Isaac Murphy, and Constable Power, after which the Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was "Accidentally drowned."

The Paris Figaro states that in a few months the Crawford-Dilke case will enter on its third act. A number of Sir Charles Dilke's friends have been investigating the case, and are on the track of a conspiracy that will make the press of the entire world re-echo with excitement. The trial, it predicts, will result in one of the ablest and most accomplished men of modern times emerging with a high head and bold front from the infamy into which he has been cast by the accusations made against him.

A young man named William Thomson, son of Mr James Thomson, farmer, Woodside, was drowned in the Kaikorai stream near the Brighton road on Thursday evening. Deceased was bathing with several other young men about 6 o'clock, when he suddenly Bank and did not rise again. The body was recovered at halfpast 2 o'clock on Friday morning. Deceased was 19 years of age, and much sympathy is felt for his parents, who are old and highly respected residents of the district.

In future the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamers will call at Hobart. This will probably add one day to the length of the voyage. It is noticeable that smart as was the passage of the R.M.S. Rimutaka on her last trip it was beaten by the Suez service so far as Auckland was concerned, as letters dated London, 1 November 19 were delivered there in 37 days, while the Rimutaka's steaming time was over 38 days, and practically her letters were only delivered in Dunedin in 40, days, as London dates were November 19, and the mails were delivered in Dunedin on the 30th December.

In connection with the statement made by a country contemporary, and which appears elsewhere, that the Post Office department had decided to charge 2d on invoices posted in envelopes left open, we have made inquiries and learn from Mr A. Barr, chief postmaster, that the statement is without foundation. As to charging 2d postage on rate notices from public bodies, some country postmasters have allowed such communications to go through their offices in the past with only a penny stamp, but they did so apparently without consulting the regulations.

Isaac Hermann, Isaac Abraham, and Horatio Fellows Smith pleaded guilty at the District Court, Melbourne, to charges arising out of the recent smuggling case, in which 50,000 cigars were introduced without the duty being paid Each were fined £100, with £50 costs. Hermann and Abraham forfeit cigars value £300. Their own legal costs were £150 more. The two firstnamed defendants lose £900 each. Smith Atvill be immediately dismissed the service. The Department will receive a benefit of £750, besides the duty. The defendants further recoup retail tobacconists who bought the articles in good faith.

The Taieri Advocate says : — For some time past it has been the custom for clerks of public governing bodies, such as road boards, county councils, and borough councils to post their rate notices with a penny stamp. Some Solon has discovered, or fancies he has, that the act demancls a twopenny stamp, consequently our local clerks, or rather the ratepayers, have now to pay double the usual rate when they send out their notices. It has also been a custom to post invoices (leaving the envelope open; with a penny stamp. This convenience, also, has been suppressed, and a double fee is now charged.

One of the most disastrous triumphs Paginini had was (according to a writer 'in " Chambers' Journal") when playing at Lord Holland's. Some one asked him to improvise on the violin the story of a son who kills his father, runs away, becomes a highwayman, falls in love with a girl who will not listen to him, so he leads her to a wild country site, suddenly jumping with her from a rock into the abyss, where they disappear for ever. He listened quietly, and when the story was at end he asked that all the lights should be extinguished. He then began playing, and so terrible was %he musical interpretation of the idea which" had been given him that several of the ladies fainted, and the saloon, when relighted, looked like a battlefield.

A terrible accident occurred recently on a farm at Cow Flat, 13 miles from Bathurst. A farmer named Barrett was reaping, and driving his own machine,' when he noticed his sou, two years and a-half old, in the field, and told him to go home. The little fellow left an open space where the hay was cut, and the father, thinking he had obeyed and returned to the house, continued reaping. Suddenly, in the thick part of the crop, the horses stopped, and something obstructed the knife of the machine. At the same time he heard a scream, and on investigation Barrett found he had cut down his child, severing one leg entirely above the ankle, and the other leg almost so. The child had gone into the crop unobserved, and had not moved when the machine came along. One foot was lying some distance from the body, and theothetfoot and ankle hanging from the leg by & sinew.

" The Mines department in Wellington,™ evidently desirous of .establishing a reputation for courtesy, has hit/ upon the hovel idea of .sending Christmas cards round to the county councils. The .Taieri Council at their meeting on Friday received one of theee souvenirs, appropriate in design, showing a windlass, &c., and conveying the compliments.of > the season from the Mines' department. The members, somewhat overwhelmed at this manifestation of official affability, minuted the gift as "accepted with thanks." It was considered upon reflection, impossible that the' officials of the department could have any such ulterior aim in' view as is popularly ascribed to the letter carriers in sending round their annual cards and compliments.

It is notified that policyholderg n the osd'aary branch of the Government Life Insurance Department can transfer their policies to the temperance section if the transfer is completed before ta9]3oth June. The result of the quinquennial investigation rather startled those who contemplated transferring their policies to the temperance section, but it'should be borne in mind that the oldest policy in the section is only three years and a-half old,sothatthe factof there being no profits to divide is not at all a matter of surprise. We believe the department has great faith in the eventual success of the temperance section if fairly encouraged. It is conducted entirely apart from the ordinary branch, and there is no, reason to suppose that it is likely to prove less successful here than elsewhere)

The ridiculous spectacle of the prosecution of a child who has scarcely emerged from the nursery for a breach of .the railway regulations was witnessed in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington. The appearance before the dock (says a Wellington paper) of a youngster who had only recently outgrown petticoated garments caused no little amusement in court, and the sergeant of police, on finding that the alleged delinquent was of such infantile age, wisely refraiued from carrying the absurdity further by pressing the case, remarking that in such instances an old woman with a birch broom could administer sufficient effective punishment. The information was laid at the - instance of the railway authorities, the police having no idea of the offender's age.

Special telegrams to the Melbourne Daily Telegraph, dated London, 23rd December, state that the first whisper of the resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill was heard at a ball at Hatfield. The announcement was first made by The Times newspaper, to whom it was sent by Lord Churchill himself. The premature divulgence wa& considered a breach of faith. Her Majesty summoned Lord Randolph Churchill and Lord George Hamilton (First Lord of the Admiralty) to Windsor, but failed to reconcile their views on the requirements of the navy. It was stated on good authority that the Queen was using the utmost pressure to induce Lord Hartington to take office in the Ministry. Lord Randolph Churchill, in an interview with a representative of the press, stated that his health was .better than it had been for months past. His decision was deliberate, and arose neither from illtemper norweariness of office.

Someone who knows the interest the London Standard take i in New Zealand has been: hoaxing that journal. The following appeared in a recent issue : — " There is ' said to be a strong feeling in New Zealand in favour of milking ewes for the purpose of making cheese, in imitation of the French Roquefort. This might possibly answer where a man keeps a few sheep on a small farm, he and his family doing all the work, but the scheme would be utterly impracticable on a large scale in a country where labour is as high in price as it is in New .Zealand. The time spent in milking a large number of ewes would be enormous, and the manipulation and ripening of Roquefort are tedious as well as delicate operations, quite unsuited to the rough-and-ready habits of colonial farmers." It is rather a remarkable characteristic of New Zealand (says a contemporary) that its inhabitants have scarcely any " strong feeling " about anything.

News has been received by cable of the death, at the age of 72, of Mr William Ballantine, sergeant-at-law, who has figured prominently in the Home aw courts. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in , 1834, and was created a sergeant-at-law in 1856, receiving a patent of precedence in 1863. He had the reputation of being a skilful cross-examiner. He was counsel for the claimant in the original suit to acquire the Tichborne baronetcy and estates. In 1875 he received a brief to go to India to defend Mulhar Rao, the Gaikwar of Baroda, charged with an attempt to poison Colonel Phayre, the British Resident. The honorarium he received fo* this was probably the largest ever paid to counsel. The retaining fee was 5000gs, the scale of fees arranged was estimated to, produce another 5000gs. The Gaikwar's guilt was not proved, but he was deposed by the British Government. In 1882 Sregeant- Ballantine published " Experiences of a Barrister's Life," a work which had a large sale

A meeting of the Bradshaw Memorial Fund Committee was held on Monday at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms. There was a good attendance of lady members, and there were also present — Messrs G. Fen wick (in the chair), J. Gore, M.H.R., J. P. Spring, Revs. A. C. Gillies, J. White, and the hon. secretary (Mr J. S. Maitland). It was reported that up to date the total amount of subscriptions received was £185 13s 9d, and that Messrs Gore and Barron had kindly undertaken to collect subscriptions in Wellington when Parliament meets. Mr Maitland stated that as yet he had not been able to get in all the sums promised and collected. It was agreed that the subscription lists sent in to Mr Maitland should be published ; that the funds in hand and being raised be placed with the trustees for the sole benefit of the widow "and family ; and also that a sum not exceeding £10 be expended in the erection of a tombstone to the memory of the deceased gentleman. At an early date, not yet fixed upon, a concert in aid of the fund will be held. ,

There appears after all to have been some substantial foundation for the report of the accident on board the Tekapo on New Year's Day, the police having received a statement which throws some light on the matter. Mrs Jane Anderson, residing in Roslyn, says that her son James, who was in the employ of Ferguson and Mitchell, accompanied by Frederick Wilson, employed by the New Zealand Drug Company, made an excursion by the Tekapo. Within half-an-hour of the report that a man had fallen overboard Wilson saw her son, and on the arrival of the steamer at Port Chalmers could not find him, and thought that he had missed him in the crowd. Anderson, however, had not returned home, nor has he been seen since. He is described as a man of 22 years of age, sft JlOin in height, of medium build, with dark complexion, dark hair cut short, clean shaved, with the exception of a dark moustache, dressed in brown and white check trousers, red and brown ooat and vest, blue and white linen shirt, and brown cashmere socks,

" Referring" to the " appointment of " Major Gudgeon as Commissioner of Police, 1 the Wellington Post says: — " Had Inspector s Weldon, of 'Dunedin.-been a younger man; or even if his health had been, unimpaired, he would no doubt have received the commissiobership, for there has ■ never-been an abler police officer in .the colony. Unfortunately, however, .Inspector Weldon is not strong in health, and is at present absent from fche colony on an extended I leave of absence, owing to that cause. Whether he will be able to resume his duties is, we believe, somewhat doubtful. Under these circumstances bis otherwise well-earned promotion was out of the question ; and there was no other police officer in the service, qualified for the position, on whom it could have' been conferred, without causing much heartburning and jealousy in the service and apparent injustice to senior officers. Major Gudgeon's appointment gets over this difficulty."

An explosion of gas occurred in the Bank of New South Wales, " Auckland, on Sunday evening, by which two 1 clerks, N. Yon Stunner and W. Yon Stunner, were burned. Mr N. Yon Stunner, who is ledger-keeper, and presides in the bank, had returned from a stroll with his cousin, and on entering the side door detected the fumes of gas evidently coming from the strong room. He unlocked the strong room door and procured a light in order to ascertain where the leak was, and on entering the candle ignited the gas, and an explosion took place. The two men were considerably' singed about the neck and hands, and also slightly on the face. Dr Haines was telephoned for, and dressed the burns and ordered the men's removal to the hospital, where they are making satisfactory progress.' The force of the explosion was very great. The explosion extended along a number of passages on the ground floor and rose to the third storey, and shattered a skylight over the main staircase.

The attendance returns for the quarter ending 31st December 1886, which have just been compiled by the Otago Education Board, show that there were 184 schools in operation during the quarter, employing 245 male and a like number of female teachers, besides 13 teachers of sewing. The total number of pupils on the school rolls at. the beginning of the quarter was 21,421, and at the end of the quarter 22,068, consisting of 11,513 males and 10,555 females. The average attendance, of pupils for-the quarter was 10,013 boys and 9005 girls, making a total of 19,018; being an increase of 1007 over the previous quarter, and of 535 over the corresponding quarter of last year. The attendances at the city and suburban schools were : — George street, 808 ; Arthur street, 688 ; Normal, 914 ; Albany street, 670 ; Union street, 642; Caversham, 616; William street, 548; Macandrew road, 532 ; Mornington, 503 ; Kaikorai, 439; Forbury, 405; North-Easfc Valley 370; Kensington, 351; and Anderson's Bay, 106. At the district high schools the attendances were: Port Chalmers, 556; Oamaru, 374; Tokomairiro, 369 ; Lawrence, 316 ; and Palmer 5t0n,296.

We make the following extract from the Hobart Mercury : — "Mr Victor Nissen, who is a passenger in the Johann Brodersen, and owner of the ostriches on board that vessel, left Auckland, New Zealand, in July last on a trip to Australia, via Mauritius, and thence to South Africa, with t;he idea of seeing the industries of other countries, and the upshot of it has been that after travelling through South Africa he decided upon taking back with him a number of ostriches to New Zealand, where, on the Otamotea river, he holds some 10,000 acres. In Port Natal, South Africa, Mr Nissen chartered the Danish barque Johann Brodersen for conveying his cargo of 56 birds to Kaipara, the birds being selected by himself from out of the best breeds and troops of birds in South Africa, some of them originating from the famed Nobed flock, near Wellredahth, in the Mussel Bay district, where they were secured at a cost of 150gs each. The birds were plumed some six weeks ago, and shipped on board the Johann Brodersen in November at Port Natal. A male bird was accidentally killed during the voyage, and six others were lost by sickness during the run from Port Natal."

English syndicates seem irresistibly attracted towards the unsettled portions of Australia as fields for the investment of capital. Mr J. E. Browne, a civil engineer, is at present in Adelaide as the representative of English capital which is desirous of embarking in railway construction on the land grant system. An offer has been made to put a line through from York to Eucla in Western Australia. The distance is 700 miles. From York pastoralists have opened up the country for 200 miles, but beyond that there is a blank on the map. An exploring party is to be sent out in the interests of the syndicate. There is a risk, therefore, about a speculation of this kind, which may possibly account for its attractiveness. How a railway is to be made to pay is a mystery. If the syndicate succeed in securing their concessions on the foregoing line, then they will negotiate with South Australia to put a line through from Eucla to Port Augusta, which is a distance of 500 miles. On the two lines they would expend about six millions of money.

The Rev. S. Sellors, President of the New South Wales and Queensland Conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church, the conference which has jurisdiction over Wesleyan missions in the South Seas, sends the Sydney Daily Telegraph a long extract from a letter just received from the Rev. J. E. Moulton, of Tonga, with his own explanatory and indignant comment regarding the religious persecution in Tonga. Mr Moulton says that one of the native clergy, a man whose "character is absolutely stainless," has been fined several hundred dollars and sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude, " which, as he is over 50 years of age, means the term of his natural life." One of the charges against this old man was that he had slandered the King. "He had said that he imitated Saul, who obeyed his king in earthly matters, but not in matters spiritual. This was construed into having compared King George to Nero." Another charge was that this old man had dared to say that the King " had erred." For each of these extraordinary crimes he was sentenced to five years' hard labour, and the terms are not concurrent. The other details given in the letter all go to sustain the allegation of systematic persecution. It would appear (says our contemporary) that so long as Mr Shirley Baker does not touch British subjects he cannot be interfered with. What he does to Tongans is done under the pretence of Tongan law. He can be reasoned with, but that is now a hopeless remedy for the state of affairs.

In forwarding to Lake County Council the abstract of accounts with auditors' certificate, Air Livingstone, district auditor, writes : — "In your accounts for the year ending SOfcb

;SeptemJ&eUßCon page m&t the"cash bJg '.vouco.w>l2^ther^.appeara as.paid to a Duneda| firm the sum.of £SJ.Qs; andjon page 16&,voucyff 227, tiiepm 0^12,58.,. The5e two sums, yJ| will observe. B amoui!t'to B £l8 J iß. In the halii yeOT ; endjpg.3oth,Septemher last, there occult a 'payment to .the same firm of £18 Is. Thjif cheques for the first two sums were cashed <H the 28tH July 1885 and 12fctTAugust 1885 tM 'spectively; -and - receipted vouchers wetl! presented to me when" auditing your bookm These vouchers have now disappeared, and thii firm referred to. inform me that the) amountf® werej never paid .to them, and thatjthe onlll voucher signed by them Bince a, date not lateffl than 1884 was, the voucher for, £18 Is, til only sum then" owing to them by'the council a cheque for which they received on llttl August, 1886. f This -cheque has also beej cashed. I find it impossible to resist the coul viction that the signatures to the missim! vouchers were not genuine, and I leave thl matter in your hands for investigatiop. Thl search for these vouchers led me to the dial covery that a large number of vouchers foj several financial periods have been abstracted! by whom I cannot of uourse say. It is veni remarkable and a just ground of complaint bjl me personally that the Council, in the circutn.i stances of the last twelve months should have! permitted such perfect facilities to exist foti tampering with the records of the office." The! communication elicited considerable discussion I and notice of motion' was givtb ihat thji chairman make enquiries regarding the* missinil vouchers, and on 1 discovering the person wh'l abstracted them criminal proceedings' <be inßtiJ tuted for their recovery, 1 Mr Pyke has sent the following communicajl tio'n to the Tapanui Courier :t— The special sup.! plement to the Tapanui Courier of December 1§ contains an article "Pioneering in Otago," uj which the following passage occurs :— " On al little knoll at the head of the .Bluff estuary we found the skeleton of a white man, with the remains of an old musket and a Dollan'd's telescope—the latter in a very fair state of preserva. tion, fit for use, though the wood part was decayed." The date assigned to this event is February 1856. Now in May 1855, a Dr Schmidt, a German explorer of scientific attainments, was lost in the Waikawa bush, and although search parties were sent ont by the Provincial Government) no traces of him hare ever been discovered. On reading the' passage referred to, it occurred to me that the skeleton found by your contributor might be that of Dr Schmidt — the more so because Dolland telescopes were not usually carried by the ordinary settlers, and from the description of its condition it appears not to have been very long exposed, Dr Schmidt's intention when he landed at Waikawa was to make his way to the Molyneux, but he may have found the bush too heavy and sought an outlet in the opposite direction. He had a Maori lad with him, and he also disappeared in the same mysterious manner. My object in now writing is to ask yon to communicate, or place me in communication with your contributor, who may be able to throw some light upon this mystery. What, for instance, became of the telescope and gun, and were there any marks upon them? Of what dimensions was the skeleton, and was there any clothing on it? &c., &c. Dr Menzies, who took great interest in the matter at the time", would, I am sure, be willing to assist in the elucidation of the problem of (Schmidt's fate. . iS *i-' ■