LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1838, 11 February 1887, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A good view was obtained in Duuedin of the partial eclipse of the moon, which commenced ab 9.52 p.m. aud was over by 0.12 a.m. The Property Tax department have issued 100 summonses against defaulting taxpayers. The body of a man, with the head, arms, and one of the leg- mUsing, wa* washed ashore on the beach at Kuti Bush on Saturday. . It haa been ideutined by Mr Hughan as' one of hißeous, who, wiih three others, was drowned by the upsetting of a whalbboat off tho Taieii Mouth about; four mouths ago. Coroner Curew has deemed au inquest uuutcessary, A five-roomed house, built of wood and ironi situated in Harrington plaof, Lawrence,' was totally de^troyed by fire on Saturday moriiiug. it was occupied by a family named P»latohie« who lohb their furniture ai.d effects, which were uninsured; The hou-^ was owned by Mr W, H. Cux, who resides in Mt-lbourue, aud ie its iobur*-d for £50. The fire is suppo.sed to hayo originated through some sparks being blown' out of the fireplace by the gale which was blowing at tho time. • - - A suicide of an extraordinary^ and terrible nature has come to li|;ht at an inquest held at Kemerfcon, -Tewkesbury, ou the remains of Sirauel Adams, 40, a head gardener. Itappeara tlmt the wreiohed mau dug his own giave, placed in it a q-iautity of wood, which he soaked with benzoliue, aud then, lying down in it, set the whole on fire. A verdict of temporary insanity was returned. The team which the Wanganui Fire Brigade are sending to the demoubtration at Duuedin I have lately had a reel constructed ou a new plan, and with new gear, splendidly finihbed. by I Mesftrß Ander«on aud Morrit-ori, Dunedia. Wita this reel they have reduced the record by several seconds. The premises and plant of the Timaru Woollen Factory Oomuauy, now iv liquidation, have bc-eu taken over by Mr Lodge, the late ' manager, who intends to carry on operations with the asbistauce of others. The greatest excitement ' and consternation - was caused at Perth, Western Australia, by the news of the Kapumla disaster. Two huudred and seventeen of. the passengers were immigrants, aud out of this total 154 had been nominated by their friends aud relations in the colony. The case of Lady Colin Campbell v. Lord Colin Cauipbell, and the counter case of Lord Colin Campbell v. Lady Colin Campbell and the D»ke of Marlborough, General Butler, Captain fcjhaw, and Dr Tom Bird occupied 18 days in the Divorce Court before Mr Ju>-tice Butt and a special jury, and endue) ou Mom'a} , D< cember 20. After deliberating for two aud a-Ltdi Lourh tbe jury said, they were agreed a,s to the charge against Lord Colin Campbell, but w«-re disagreed on the charge aganißt Lady Colin, the torem;in adding that there was no chance what* ever of their agreeing. However, nu hour later* at 10.15 at night, they returned into court and touud that Li rd Coliu had uot committed the adultery charged, and that Lady Colin bad not committed adulUry with any of the co»m*poudeiits. Tho jury waimly censurt-U Gfoeral Butler for not entering the uitiifss box K» deuy' the charges against him, and it was hia u'ouappearance which CHU^ed the jury to hesitate at first in regard to their, verdicts. Tho costs in the suit are reported to exceed £IS,OOO, ' The lady students of the Melbourne Uaiver* Bity 6ays the Melbourne Daily Telegraph) are about to make a new departure. Some are about to try and obtain a medical education at this university. Two arc already committed to this step, and it is believed that quite half & dozeu more will come forward to fight the battle. '[ The following ere the returns of. the Duoedfa Hospitui for the past week ;-— Hemalniug from previous week „, „, 113 Admitted during t c week... ... ... 10 Discharged du=iu»rtlie -week ... ...'l6 Deaths (Mary Jane Pender and James Austin).., 2 Total ... ... ... ... 10«. Th°. following is the result of the polling for the Heatbcote seatf vacant by the death of Mr J.L. Costee:— P. Jones ... ■ ... ... 527 A. Ayers , ... ... 336 Both men are Government supporters. With reference to the -paragraph which we publish, elsewhere about the : mission in .. Diuivdjnpf theEedemptoriatPatherSjitbhould fcave Veen stated, that the number .who recpived., Can^rmationiu the afternoon was* 220, and 1(580'* fe^elvw «oaaiimnaon at ftfc Hidraitfg

, A correspondent supplies us with the following, .information if-" Mr Horatio Ross* the celebrated sportsman, died 'at bfs residence, Inverness, on the 6th December lasb ; aged 85 years. .The. ex-provost of Rothesay, Mr Charles Duncan,' died on 3rd December last. He with Mr M'ludoe (now of Dunedin) and others formed i.be Rothe>ay Young Men's Association, which was as useful in training youug men for

the Rothesay Town Council aa the famous Speculative Society in Edinburgh University - was in the training of young Whig statesmen. Upwards of 400 persona followed the remains." A table published in the Gazette shows that there were in March 1886, 110,644 chillren

■ attending public or ai<led schools in New Zealand, as against 87,811 iv April 1881 ; 62,806 in ' March 1878 ; and 34,407 iv' March 1874. The number attending private pchools was 14,948; ' attending Sunday hchools, 99,884, and receiving tuition at home, 7567. In Otago in March ■1886, there were 30,700 at public schools, and 2473 at private bcuools, 25,472 attending Sunday schools, and 1597 receiving tuition at home. The total of the population of school age (from 5 to 15 years) in Otago in March 1886, ia given at 39,493. The total for the whole colony on the same date is down at 151,685.

The Union Steam Ship Company and the Westport Coal Company have amalgamated their interests, and in future all transport of coal from the West Coast mines will be undertaken by the Union Company, while all the operations at the West Coast will be carried on by the Westport Coal Company.

The Gazette notifies that the following receivers of gold revenue and mining registrars are appointed for the Otago mining district :— W. E. Seohions at Hindon; H. J. Abel at Lawrence ; P. Maher at Switzers ; F. Jeffrey at Clyde, Roxburgh, and Blacks ; S. M, Dalgleish at Cromwell ; H. N. Firth at Queenstown ; J. F. Garvey at Naseby ; P. Graut at Riverton.

The inquiry into the origin of the recent fire at the Dunediu Iron aud Wood ware Company's premises was concluded at the Resident Magiotrate's Court on Thursday. From the evidence given on the ficst day of the inquiry, it appeared that, a young man named Churchili, a stuker iv the employ of tbe company, was seen by a cou»i.able a few minutes before the, fire broke out at the 6toke-hole door, iv the part of the building where" the fire originated. Two lads named Reid also met Churchill going round the southern end of the building after he was seen by the constable. The evidence of these three witnesses was, however, denied by Churchill, who stated that he was not near the buil..ing when he was said to have been there. The Jury returned the f ollowiug verdict : — " That the fire originated in the magazine adjoining the bo : ler-house; that James (Jhurchilt was in the boiler-house immediately before the fire was discovered and set fire to the place, but whether accidentally or wilfully there is no evidence to show." They added, tbe tolowiug rider :— " That the oompauy gave too much facility for access to their pre» niises by allowing such a large number of their employes to carry keys."

The returns of immigration and emigration for the month ending Jauuary 31 show the arrivals from tbe United Kingdom to have been 649 persons, and from other British ports five person-, making a total of 654 persons. Of these 354 males and 295 females come from the United Kingdom, and two males aud three females from other British ports. The emigration consisted of two males who left for Great Britain.

A very painful affair occurred at Island Block last Saturday night (mya the Tuapeka Times). Mr James TUe, ot Rae's Junction, was returning from Moa Flat on horseback, and after proceeding about four miles aloug the road his horse appears to have stumbled, throwing the rider ou his head into the ditch. On the following morning Mr Rae whs found by some people living in the vicinity with his head doubled up under him, and with every appearance of his having been dead for some time. His neck was broken. It appeared from the evidence at the inquest on Monday morning that Mr Rae, who is a butcher, left his home for Moa Flat on Saturday afternoon in search of orders. He left Steel's accommodation house about midnight, perfectly sober, on his way home, and was nob seen after until picked up on the road. Dr Blair gave evidence to the effect that the spine was broken, and that death must have been instantaneous. Deceased, who was a married man with a large family, was about 49 years of age.

On the morning of the 3rd, CClark Robineon Martin, licensee of the Glencoe Hotel, Forest Hill, shot himself through the head with a revolver in his bedroom. Death was instantaneous. Deceased leaves a widow. Mrs Martin occupied the same room, but was unconscious of her husband's movements until awakened by the report of the revolver. It is supposed that deceased took aim in front of the looking-glass, which he used to direct his hand. Martin had be> n complaining for some time, and was under various doctors for liver complaint. _,The police, report further states that he was troubled about financial matter*, and had been drinking heavily of late. Martin was formerly manager of the Waieola Estate, afterwards a sawtuiller at Winton.aud more recently a farmer and publican. He was the first mau tried by jury for an offence against tLe present electoral statutes, having been arraigned at the Supreme Court in 1882 charged with voting at three several polling places on the day of the Wallace election, in all cases in his own name. He was acquitted, the jury evidently thinking the act a drunken freak. . His sawmill and dwelling were burnt at different times during the past two years. ' A. few days ago he said to an insurance agent that his life was insured for £500, but he did not know if the policy was still in force.

The Her. Henry Flamank,an old and respected goldflelds pioneer minister, died at the residence of his daughter, Miss Mary R. Flamank, schoolmistress, Hamiltons, on the evening of the Ist Inst Mr Flamank had been ailing for some time past, so that his death was not unexpected.

What h believed to be a case of attempted suicide occurred at Waimate (writes our correspondent) at an early hour on Friday morning. Constable Graham, while on duty, hearing cries and groans from, the direction of Harris street, proceeded to investigate the cause, and on arrival at tbe scene of the noise discovered that a woman was 30 ft down a well. Fortunately there was not a great deal of water in it, but the constable had considerable trouble in getting the woraau out of her position. On being idrawn to tbe top she was found to be very severely bruised aud both he.r ankles sprainpd. Dr Stacpoole was sent for and attended her, and in the morning she was taken to the hospital. The unfortunate woman, whose name is Johnstnne, has. lately been very dftprpssj-d in epirits. .She has been in receipt of charitable Aid for the sake of her young ohildren, but otherwise was pretty well destitute. Her husband left her some years ago and has never feesn hoard of sffcee.

The prisoner Thomas Hall, left Dunedin dtt Saturday in the s.s. Kbranui for Ly ttelton; He will be detained in* Lyttelton Gaol until the special sitting "of the Court of Appeal j which, it is" understood, will be held on the 11th of next mouth, when the point reserved will be considered

The children who have attended the Bible-in-scbool classes at Port Chalmers, under the ministers of the various denominations, during the pa&t-year were entertained at ttfe tfrien< ily Societies' ground at Sawyers' Bay ou Fiiday. Over 400 children were present, together with a large number of adults. All kinds of aoiueemt'iits were provided for the little oaea, who heartily enjoyed thenaselvea. '

The curator of the Otago Museum has received from Mr G. Feuwick a series of views of the Tarawera eruption. These were presented to Mr Fen wick by Mr G. D. Valentine, photographer, Auckland, uw.i were considered to be so excellent a 'series as to be worthy of a place in the museum in connection with the very complete collection of volcanic specimens some time since forwarded to the museum through the instrumentality of Mr G. M. Main, of Auckland, The photographs are the result of a visit made to the scene of the eruption by Mr Valentin". Nos. 23 and 129 show the White and Fink Terraces as they formerly existed; 41 and 119 Tikitapu Bu&h before aud after eruption ; 121 aud 125 give a good general idea of the tleaimoiion caused by the eruption ; 127 and 37 show the devastation at Wairoa boat landing, Lake Tarawera, also' alteration of outline of top of mountain Tarawera; 15 and 135 solve the question beyond doubt of the total destruction of the White Terrace — No. 15 being taken from nearly the same point beforehand 135 after eruption, by buperimposing 15 on 135 and holding them up to the light, getting the distant hills iv each into line, the exact position of cite of White Terrace is ascertained ; 129 shown present boat landing at Te Ariki, which is over 150 yds ot made ground into Lake Tarawera, formerly 300 ft deep at* that point, showing the immense body of deposit ; 440 and 147 show active i'limarole peaks at White Terrace cud of Kutoiiiahaua. 133 gives a view of numerous fuinaroles occupying supposed bite of Pink Terrace. The JPiiik Terrace having never been located by the Survey department or otherwise, it is impossiole to say whether it has been blown away or is simply covered up. Iv either case there is an absolute certainty of its having been destroyed; 142, 140,-138, and 131 form -a complete series of the great rift Rotornabana, the nature of the ground rendering it impossible to secure a -panoramic view of a fissure estimated at seven miles in length, and bhown in these series of views from end to end. The Assistant Surveyor-general, Mr Percy Smith, is so well pleased with the rift set, that they will appear in his new work, now in preparation, on the Tarawera eruption, and to be published under the auspices of the Survey department. The photographs are now being framed, and will be hung iv a conspicuous position in the museum in the course of a day or two.

. Mr James Hendry, 8.A., of the Normal School, Duuedin, was unanimously chosen fur the office of assintant inspector of schools tor the Southland district. There were 41 candidates, ov^r 20 being graduates. Mr Hemlo will take the entire work tor at least nine mouths, tbe board having granted leave of absence to Inspector Gammell tor 12 mouths on half-pay, with the undemanding that he shall at the end of nine month* hay whether he will return to the service of the board, he being hi indifferent health, from overwork. The district is a la> ge one, an« the schools have nearlyjdoubled siuce Mr Gammell was appointed. Mr Heuclry previously acted as inspector in Canterbury.

During a heavy thunderstorm which passed over the Clinton district last Sunday a trew abuut 150 yds from the Popotuuua homestead was struck by lightning, and according to the local paper a man was knocked down in the main street from the same cause, but was not injured. An outhouse adjoining Mr Scobie's store, Waipahi, was struck by lightniug the same day and took fire, but was soon extinguished.

The married people without families, together with tho siugle females, who havo been on the Quarantine Island siuce the arrival of the K.M.S, Kuapebu were admitted to pratique on Saturday and afterwards brought to Dunedin by train under the personal supervision of Mr Colin Allah, the immigration commissioner. There are still a few families on the island, who will be released (all going well) about Friday next.

Mr Hazell, the delegate of the Imperial Emigration Bureau, stated at Christchurch that he had been unable to 6ee any reason for the cry which they had heard so much about in the colony of depression. There was a stagnation of business, "which was prevalent; but as to depression, they had nothing like what prevailed iv England at the present time.

The Ecgistrarrgeneral has published a table setting forth "the conjugal condition of the people" of New Zetland. From thin table it tppears that at s th^ last ce.nsu-> taking (in Maroh 188(j), of a total of 307,694 males, 84,557 were huMiands, 215,429 were unmarried, anil only 6248 were widowers. Of 366,246 females, 84,463 were wives, 171,857 were unmarried, aud 9764 were widows.

Pateuts have been applied for as follow : — William Thomson, of North-East Valley, Otago, for an improved washing machine; James Robertson, of Wellington, engineer, for an improved lawn tennis marker ; H. \V. Gibbs, of Nelson, for a flax-dressing machine; William Angus, of Sydenham, for a pnmp to retain fluid without the use of valves'! G. H. Browne, of Wellington, for an improvement in window screens ; J. B. Blakie, of Auckland, for a patent fire-proof plaster; C. L. Wheeler, of Christchurcb, for an invention for - mechanically separating, cleansing, and purifying grain, seed, dried fruits, &c., to be designated and known as Wheeler's Patent Improved Acme Separator and Purifier ; A. L. Smith, of Danedin, for an invention for covering seeds with manure in such manner that the seed and manure are com* bined in one body to the extent and proportions required.

After the ordinary business of the Oamaru Borough Council on Thutbday the mayor of the borough said there was no use shutting their eyes to the fact that something would have to be done to increase their revenue and to meet the interest ou their loans. In order to do this, he purposed, with the sanction of councillors and the Bye-laws Committee, to increas-e the general rate by 9d in the pound and the water rate by 1 per cent., the latter to take effect from the end of their financial year. Considerable discussion ensued of a somewhat irregular nature, and to bring it to a close the major left the chair without any resolution being adopted.

At the Weslftyan Conference at Auckland the following resolution was agreed upon : — " That conference be recommended to remit to the next September quarterly meetings, and also foifte ngxt district meetings, tfcfc tjbnsWer«t%o

of: the question of anlindependehtllegifllative conference, for New. Zealand. . That it be a further instruction that' V record be taken of the numbers present, as also those voting for and against the proposals." In connection with the subject of Bible-reading in schools the following resolution was adopted, to be forwarded to the Minister of Education :—": — " Believing that our national system of education is seriously defective iv moral and religious instruction, we pledge ourselves to seek by all legitimate means to have a well-selected portion of Holy Scripture read daily in our schools, guarded by a conscience clause similar te.that now in operai tion in Canada."

Fifty-six hotelkeepers in Melbourne were recently nuuimouid for Sunday trading. Twentythree pleaded gu : lty, and in other cased the accused were fined £10 each, tbe total fines at the end of the sitting being £150.

The New Zeaknd Times .suggests that the law should be amended .in the direction of allowing something .like adequate remuneration. to jurora. It points out that while judges, sheriffs, counsel, and .other functionaries of the court are paid, to the poor jurymen is grudgingly doled out a wretched pittance, less than that which the so-called H unemployed " scornfully rejected. The jurors in the Hall case received the munificent'sum of 3s per day; and even this is unauthorised by law.

The Riverton Star states that a social gathering was beld on the 2nd in.st. in oompliaitnt to Mr Pratt, M.8.R., and the, visitor* having b'u>ines* at the Land Court. • A large number of Natives and half-castes were present from all parts of the Middle Inland, and even the North Island was represented by a number of fine specimens of the race. The Native aristocracy of the southern portion of the South Inland were there in strong force, including th« direct lineal descendants of the renowned '" Bloody Jack," who half a century ago held, undisputed sway over the greater part of the island. A number of Europeans were also present. Mr Pratt "mnde a short speech, in which he hoped tbe Natives and half-ca»te* would pull together with the Europeans in advancing tbe interests of the colony, and that the former would show the Europeans that they were not savages, and were prepared to act as good citizens. He complimented. Mr Judge Mackay on the manner in which that gentleman had carried out his duties.

Tbe licenses of a number of runs In Vincent County will besu'dby auction at the Ghriatohurch Land Office on the 23rd lust.

A case of murder and suicide is reported from Wellington, near Glen Innes. It appears that a half-caste named M'Dougall and a man named Peter Daly were drinking together. They quarrelled, and M'Dougall went outside the hut and obtained an axe, with which he struck Daly on the back of the head, inflicting injuries from which he died. M'Dougall walked about with a gun next day. and on the police going to his hut he declared that he would not be taken alive, and blew his brains out with the gun in sight of the constable.

The Executive Council considered the case of Csffrey and Pnnn on Monday, and it was final y decided that the law should be allowed to take its oourse. The meeting was attendtd by bi^ Excellency tbe Governor and th^ Hons. W. J. M. Larnach and W, H. Reynolds. It is understood that the memorandum from Mr Justice Ward which accompanied his notes of ths cisc was of such a nature as to leave no grounds for granting a reprieve. The sentence of death wh'ch was parsed will be carried into effect at Mount Eden Gaol, Auckland, on the 21st inst

At tho last meeting of tho- Dunedin City Council, the m*yor pointed out thatthere * would bn a deficiency of neveral thousand pounds for the coming year, and ascribed this mainly fo the heavy rate, amounting to £3200, which the council was required to pay tbe Charitable Aid Board.' He and several of the councillors declared that a special rate for this purpose would be inevitable in the near future. Tbe report, which was eventually adopted, recommended among other things the postponement of the work of repairing the Silverstream water race.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral was unable to accommodate the large congregation which assembled on Sunday evening last, when the mission which the Redemptorist Fathers have been carrying on for the last three weeks came to a close. At the afternoon confirmation service 1050 persons came forward, and this number was stated by Father Farrell to be the largest number they had confirmed during their mission in Australasia.

It is Btatfd that a thiu seam of coal was discovered at Ne.l-on by the. workmen engaged in excavat'ug a sewer in Waimea street. The seam was 18ft below the roadway. .

M'OaHster, a farmer near New Plymouth, was attacked on Saturday by a bull, whose horni were nnt aMe to touch tbe man, but the animal rolled him along and tried to gore him. He is verj much hurt.

Mr Wilson, M.H.R. for Foxton, and Mr Lee have been appealing by circular to the school children of tbe colony, requesting them to subscribe to a peiinv dinner fund in London to give half-starved children attending the schools of the metropolis a goad dintier. The appeal has resulted in the sum of £50 being collected. It is proposed to forward it nest mail through the mayor of Wellington.

The Kensington School Committee, at a meeting held on Monday evening, decided to vote for DrHislop and Messrs James Fulton, M.H.R., and James Green for the vacancies on the Education Board. The Broad Bay School Committee, at a meeting on Saturday evening, also gave their votes for the same three gentlemen.

W. Cruden, Hampden school, and D. L. Patterson, of the District High School, were the successful candidates for the two scholarships offered by the Wai taki High School Board. The scholarship offered by the Hon. Mr Shrimski was secured by W. Webster, of the North School, and the one subscribed by residents of the district was secured by 0. Robinson, of the High School.

The Rev. B. A. Soott, of Ashburton, was married to Miss Jane Frances Scott, of King^ton-upon-Hull, on December 14, at Great Dunmow, in Essex. His father, the vicar, performed the ce.remo"y. On the same day, at St. Helen**, North Kensington. Mr L.'Rawlins was married to Mis* C-iroline Vaughton, late of Havelock, New Zealand.

Thfre \b not the slightest doub 1 " that there is a possibilify of res'orlii^ nnd beautifying the nafr. The jjr-'atfst chemists tell ns so. and. modern ptoof ha* been effete iin raanv preparations. Thcit there should be one of superior exeelle cc among these may a.ho be admitted, nnd the best te«t. of that sqr. pasbfng exctlleneo would be the laßting patronage received and ' fame allowed Uss S. A. AXLBJi'a Wobld'B Haw HewbwpPi fiRHd eviwywlH»h~.