LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1912, 13 July 1888, Page 9

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a recent meeting of the Professorial Board of the Universiby, the following resolution was unanimously and cordially adopted : — " This board congratulates Professor Parker on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and desires to place on record its conviction that he has fully earned this high houour, and its appreciation of the great services he has rendered to science and education in the colony."

The Union Company's steamer Suva, when going out of Westport Harbonr just before 9 o'clock on Tuesday morniug, by some means got into the breakwater when cresting the bar, and was unable to extricate herself. Captain Todd states that the vessel fcouohed the ground off the end of the breakwater. They then lost control of the ship, and she drifted, away to the southward in the surf, bumping continually until she took the ground permanently. The engines were kept going to endeavour to make headway to, seaward until the fires were . pufc out .by the seas breaking over the vessel. The officers' rooms on deck were swept olean j

away with all their belongings. The passengers and most of the crew were battened down in the saloon. The engine room is half fall of water, but this is supposed to have come over the side of the vessel and . gone down through the bunkers and ventilators, and not that the ship is making water. Nothing will be done towards getting the vessel off until the weather moderates, but she rest^ safely on a -sandy bottom. The Suva is an iron vessel of 293 tons gross register, with engines of 250-horse power indicated. She«is 149 ft in length, 21ft Gin beam, and lift 9in depth of hold. She is valued at £5000, and is insured, for £3000, the company underwriting the remainder.

At a meeting of, the Fortrose Political Reform Association the following resolutions were adopted:' — " (1) That this meeting strongly objects to the ° tariff proposals of the Government as being a hardship on the chief industries of the colony. (2) That it is desirable that the school age be raised from five to six years, this not to apply in sparsely settled districts ; that education boards and high school boards be abolished, and that more power be given to school committees. (3) That this meeting disapproves of the action of our member [the Hon. G. F. Richardson] ,in appointing Mr M'Callum to the office of travelling instructor to dairy factories, owing to the financial state of the country and because he is not an expert."

An action arising pat of the Bulli colliery disaster has been commenced in the Supreme Court, Sydney, Mrs Birch, the widow of one of the miners killed by the explosion in the mine suing the Bulli Coal Company for '£2000 compensation for the death of her .husband, caused by the alleged negligence of the company in not taking proper precautions against an explosion of the gas, which had been allowed to accumulate in the workings. The plaintiffs deny the various acts of negligence alleged, and plead that they were in no way responsible for the disaster.

Christie Christison, the master of the schooner Rover, was charged on remand at the Cooktown Police Court the other day with piracy on the high seas on the 23rd May. The offence disclosed in the information was feloniously assaulting George Botumah and stealing a MartiniHenry rifle. The accused was committed' for trial. The evidence showed that the accused went on board the Botumah cutter, seized a rifle from the cabin, fired through the deck into the cabin several times, took hold of Botumah, fired a revolver close to his' head, and compelled him to give the accused his gin, leaving his own gin on board for Botumah. The accused left the boat with the gin and the rifle.

Lords Justices Cotton, Fry, and Lopes decided in Appeal Court II an appeal raising the question, as to the method of distribution among the shareholders of the Bridgewater Navigation Company of surplus assets, amounting to nearly a million of money. The Bridgewater Canal Company was formed in 1872, with a nominal capital of half a million, divided in £10 shares of which £3 10s a share was paid up, and in 1874 preference 5 per cent, shares were issued to the extent of £300,000, in fully paid up £10 shares. The undertaking was recently purchased by the Manchester Ship Canal Company for £1 ,710,000, and the company accordingly wound up >its affairs voluntarily, and, after the payment of all debts, nearly a million of money waa left in the hands of the liquidators for distribution among the shareholders. Mr Justice North decided that the amount must be distributed in proportion to the sums actually paid on the shares, and against this decision the ordinary shareholders now appealed. The Lords Justices affirmed this decision, and dismissed the appeal with costs.

A case of robbery and attempted murder has beeu reported to the police at Wellington. The victim is Frank Cousins, a bootmaker, whose story is that on Saturday morning he took some money in notes from a box in his bedroom for the purpose of paying some bills, as he was to be married today and leave for Melbourne. He was transacting this business on Saturday and yesterday. Last night, between 10 and 11 o'clock, he was returning home across the reclaimed ground, and when at the back of the Opera House he was seized by two men, who he alleges were shepherding him during the day. He was thrown violently to 'the ground, and lost consciousness. When ho regained consciousness he found himself in the water near the breast* work, with a wound in his throat. Beiag used to the water and a good swimmer, he succeeded in gaining the shore, but remembers nothing more till he reached his home. He says that he would be able to identify one of his assailants. Dr Rawson, who sewed up the wound, says that, it is a flesh wound and is not dangerous.

The following patents have been applied for during the week :— George Lawrence, Dunedin, for " The Improved Spreader Cloches-prop "; W. H. J. Rasell, Cavershaoj, for an improved' adjustable seed-sower; George Williania, Auckland, for fence self-acting trap ami rapid method of destroying rabbits by means of chemical fumes; James Coventry, Wellington, for disinfectant chamber or air-fitter, also applicable to liquids; J. S. M'Coy, New York, for pneumatic apparatus for working percussive tools, applicable also as a motor engine ; L. Perkins, England, for improvements in refrigerating and freezing apparatus ; Edward Seitz (Melbourne) and Sibbit Landells, for an improved machine for cleaning streets ; Gustav Forster, Halcombe, for coating, painting, or dipping butter casksj kegs, firkins, or boxes with glue, glycerine, or any other ingredient for outside covering ; O. A. Funke, Auckland, for improved brown leather ; J.H. Garrett, Anokland.f orholdingpencUs while in use, combined with penholder; Phillip Bond, Port Chalmers, for simple boat lowering apparatus ; T. Danks, Christchurch, for driving artesian wells and other purposes ; Walter Cole, Wellington, for an improved elutriator; W. B. Ihne, Liverpool, for improvements in ladders ; F. B. Wheeler, Sydney, for improvements . in water closets; J. W. Butcher and W. T. Bennett, Sydney, ior improvements in gas pressure regulators and in gas burners ; Chas. F. Flesch, Melbourne, for an improved system of distributing electricity, to be called " The Zipernowski-Deri System of Distributing Electricity." -

The twenty-third anniversary of the inauguration of the Salvation Army was celebrated in' the "Fortress" in Princes street on the sth, when there was a large attendance, the building being crowded. During the evening Captain Thompson read a statement with reference to the "rise and progress of the army," from which it appeared that the organisation started m the East End of London, and gradually extended its operations over the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Switzerund, India, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden. B 0 ™ AW«>, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Norway, the West Indies, the Transvaal, and the Orange Free State. In 1879 the first War Cry was printed in London, 'with an " wane. of 17,000 oopies, and there were now turned out from the army's printing presses round the world 28 different «Orys," printed in 11 different languages and dialects. The TreekJy circulation of these papers was sonsetfinig BYe half a million, ;ia addition |to this, from, ths

a

London printing office some 25 tons of printed matter in the way of books and other publications waß sent out every week. The latest departure of the army for supplying the destitute poor of London with food and shelter had proved a great success. In one week 800 meals at each: bad been supplied to little children, and 4000 meals at |d, and 6000 meals at a Id to aaulfcs. Some 600 people per week were also provided with supper, bed, and .breakfast for 3d each uighfc. Tbe money contributed to local corps in the United Kingdom, exclusive of all amounts remitted direct to htiadquartf-rs, had advanced during tb<s year at thw rate of £34,840 per annum, or £670 per week. The army had acquired during the year £45,000 worth of property in Great Britain alone, and had provided eeatiug accommodation for 35,000 people.

A return presented to the House of Representatives gives the following list of holders of the New Zealand Cross, and particulars of the deeds of "derring-do" which won the decoration :— T. Adamson, May 7, 1869, gallantry at Ohikere ; S. Austin, January 7, 1886, heroic conduct at Putahi pa ; S. Black, June 1, 1869, conspicuous bravery at Ngatipa ; B. Biddle, June 1, 1869, bravery at Ngatipa; A. Carkeek, February 7, 1870, bravery at Ohinemutu; G. Hill, April IC, 1869, intrepid conduct at Mohaka; Te Rangi Eeepe, November 7, 1868, gallantry at Moturoa and Otanto ; W. Lingard, December 28, 1868, personal bravery at Taurangangiki ; F. J. Mace, June 4, 1883, conspicuous bravery at Kaitake, &c. ; C. Malm, February 26, 1869, daring services during campaign (Titokomaru) ; G. Mair, October 1, 1868, devoted gallantry at Fort Galatea ; T. M'Donnell, October 1, 1868, frequent acts of bravery during the war; G. A. Preece, October 1, 1868, personal bravery at JTgatapa; J. M. Roberts, November 7, 1868, gallant example at Moturoa; A. Rodriguez, October 2, 1863, noble and daring conduct at Poutoko, &c. ; Wahawaha Ropata, October 2, 1863, personal gallantry ,and devotion at Ngatapa; R. Shepherd, March 13, 1869, distinguished bravery at Otauto ; A. Smith, June 7, 1869, bravery at Opepe, &c.

The Grey River Argus says ii: is understood at Wellington that the points hitherto at issue between the, Government and the directors of the Midland Railway Company have been completely smoothed ov«r to the entire satisfaction of the legal adviser of the company, aod that work on the line will be resumed with increased vigour at no distant date. It is also anticipated that by Christmas next not fewer than 1000 men will be employed on the company's works.

The ihird of the course of lectures on " Social Problems " was delivered by Rev. R. Waddell iv fche schoolroom of St. Andrew's Church on the sth. Mr White occupied the chair, and thero was a large attendance. The subject of the lecture was " Socialism." The rev. lecturer dealt with the leaders of Socialism and tbe history of its growth, referring to a number of writers on the subject. The lecture was highly appreciated, aud a hearty vote of thanks was given to the Rev. Mr Waddell. The lecturer Intimated that in tho next lecture he would fully explain the eolation which Socialism offers regarding industrial reform.

Afc the City Police Court on the sth, Martha Lemmer was charged with selling beer without being duly licensed on the 24th May at Flat Stream.— Mr Solomon appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.— James Fleming, labourer, Nenthorn, said that on the 24th of last month he was in the house of the defendant, Mrs Lemmer, when she asked him to carry up a email keg she had in th£ tent. It was a little bit away from their house. She said it was beer. He carried it up, and had a glass of beer with her. After he had a glass of beer Mitchell came in, and he asfeed defendant to give them three drinks of beer. He paid 2s, and got 6d change.— Mr Solomon asked to withdraw the plea of not guilty, as ifc would be waste of time to continne the defence after what his client had told him. His client said there was an information againct her husband, who, hearing of it, cleared out and took everything with him. She was quite out of means, and was living with her mother in Dunedin.— The Bench deferred their decision until the other cases were h earc l,. Joseph Lemmer was charged with that, on the 26th June, he sold whisky without a license. Accused was charged with a similar offence on the 27th June.— Mr Solomon said he understood the information had not been served ou tho defendant, who "levanted" when he heard about it.— Mr Carew said it was the practice not to hear a case where the summons had not been served. — Constable O'Brien said he jvas informed that accused left early on the morning oi the 29th. He thought it was probable he did that, for he took away a horse and he was at Mosgiel on the 30th. He had reason -to think that be had left the Flat altogether.— Mt Carew said ifc would not bo proper to go on Tvith the case. A warrant could be taken out against the defendant. Judgment in the case of Mrs Lemraer would be reserved sine die.

At a public meeting held at Livingstone, ©trillions were expressed that it would be best to construct the road from Oamaru to Naseby via the Marewhenua route, fche principal reason assigned being that it would open up for settlement 17,900 acres good agricultural aud pastoral land. JBver sfoce last waek (writes our Oamaru correspondent- ob the sth) when Hi w&8 reported that Jonathan Roberts, the escaped prisoner, had heed seen in \&p vicinity of St. Andrews, the police have been busily eDgaged scouring the country between Waits&i river and Timaru. I am informed that a close watob is being kept at all fords and bridges on the rivet. It is surprising the amount of sympathy openly expressed for tbe escaped prisoner. .Opinions are frequently uttered here thit Jonathan is endeavouring to reach ihe Upper Wsifcaki. Should he succeed, it is believed the police may give up the chase, because he would have opportunities of hiding them which do not exist iv more settled portions of tho colony.

A lecture on " Men of the Modem Jrish Mov,enaents " was given in tho Choral Hall on Friday night b* the Bey. Wm. Burke, of Port Chnimers. The Kov. 13r Moran wiis in the chair. Tk* lecturer, Jn the eoiiise of his remarks, referred to tho men who in *he teiter part of the last aud the beginning ot tha (nresenr, century preacued and worked hard for the liberty of the Irish people, at that time oppressed to such an extent that their lives were almost worthiest? to them. He gave a short account of the careers of these marfcvrs, putting his remarks in such a way as to cail from the audience numerous unauimou* outbursts of applauae. At the conclusion he was accorded a hearty vote of fcljanks. During the evening the school choir, conduct^ by Father Hughes, sang several selections very njsely. and Masters Buckley aud Healey gave appropriate -recitations. Hew Schweers presided at the piauo. fhe proceeds co towards erecting a gymnasium at the G&nstmn Brothers' School.

A delicate and PUEB iGo^i^Bsloif , soft and fair bands and arms, are assured to tfrose ladies who use Rowlands' Kaltdor, which is a most healing and refreshing preparation for the face *ud »rms. It •eradicates freckles, tnn, sunburn, reduces, roughness, chaps, irritation, cutaneous eruptions, &o. ; renaepo the skin soft, smooth, 'and white,- and is equally valuable during the beat and dust of summer or the •cold and damp of winter for preserving and beautlSTyine the complexion. Rowlands*' Odonto Is a pureand non-gritty tooth powder ; it whitens the teeth, prevents decay, and gives a pleasing fragrance to the breath. Ask Chemists and stores for KowfcAupi' articles, of 20 Hnttou Garden, London,

The Thames Harbour Board have passed a resolution that, owing to tbe curtailment of the limits of part of the Thames, and the consequent reduction of the board's revenue, they are unable to pay the coupons, which became due on the Ist inst., on the money lent by the Government from the Post Office department, and therefore the Government must be prepared to accept the responsibility.

One of the hardest cases arising out of the action of the New South Wales Government re-, fusing to allow any Chinese to land was that of Mrs Ah Mouy, a delicate Chinese lady, on her •way to join her husband in Tasmania. The Government refused to allow her to land from the' steamer, nor would any of the steamship owners' give her a passage to Tasmania. For over three weeks she was kept in suspense, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts made by Mr Quong Tart in Sydney and her husband in Tasmania] At length the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company agreed to give the lady and her daughter a' passage, but her brother, who came out with her, was compelled to return to Hongkong by the Changsha.

The Western Star states that the Chinese leper, who was furnished with quarters at Otaitai Bush after being ostracised by his countrymen, is now very often' to be seen wandering about the streets of Riverton, so thai unawares persons may be rubbing shoulders with one marked unclean from the earliest Biblical times.

Up to Saturday 50 tons o£ exhibits had been forwarded from Dunedin for the Melbourne International Centeunial Exhibition, of a total value of £3462. The exhibits comprised agricultural implements, antimony ore, coal, chee3e, candles, confectionery, basketw^re, barbed wire, bejer, fancy, lace, and wool work, grain, honey, herbal medicines, ladies' dresses, oil, pottery, pictures, photographs, soap, woollen manufactures. More goods followed fay the Te Anau, which Messrs Oampi bell and Crust, the exhibition commissioners? agents here, inform us is the last steamer that exhibits could be forwarded by.

With respect to the edict alleged to have been issued by the authorities at Pekin to the Chinese in these colonies, some of the leading Chinese residents in this city have been interviewed and state that the only communication of this character received by them recently was to the effect that they are to cease importing, but no indication was given of the reason. A meeting of Chinese residing here is to bo held to consider the matter.

At a largely-attended meeting ol citizens and unemployed at Oaaiaru on the oth (the mayor, Mr Christie, presiding), the depression of the labour market and tbe distress s.of many farmers through tbe lack of work was pointed out. As a meaus of providing permanent relief the making of thp road to the interior was suggested, aud that works be started in town in order to provide immediate relief. The meeting carried unanimously the following resolution :— " That, viewing the necessitous circumstances of many, this meeting respectfully yet earnestly urges the Government to open, , if possible, nnd without delay, some reproductive work in North Otago, as until the harvest comes round again many men willing to work will otherwise not be able to obtain it here or elsewhere in New Zealand; and that, while representing the facts to the Government, this meeting venture's to mention the construction of the proposed road to the interior as a work which would at once afford employment to the unemployed and advance the practical interest of the community and the colony." A second resolution was carried pointing out that as some time would elapse before the proposed road by way of Daqsey's Pass could be started, the Hon. T. W. Hislop be asked, as representative for the town and as a member of the Government, to endeavour to have the same relief accorded to the unemployed of Oamaru and district as has been accorded to the unemployed in other centres of population in the colony by having a sum placed in the hands of the borough council sufficient for the purpose. A petition embodying the resolution will be signed and forwarded to the Hon. T. W. Hislop at once..

The weather turned intensely cold on Saturday morniDg, and at an early hour a little snow fell, the sky at the time being clear of clouds. Heavy rain fell on Sunday morning, and continued for the greater part of the day. From the country districts we learn that the fall of snow on Saturday morning was heavy in some districts, and there were from two to three inches at Tuapeka Mouth,

The Californian quail presented to the Acclimatisation Society by Mr G. H. Ashcroft, and which were liberated on the society^ grounds at Clinton, have evidently increased. Ranger Jsurt, who keeps a watchful eye on tberb, sees them frequently. On the last occasion, which was quite recently, the covey numbered eight, the original number being five.

Mr Charles Latham has compiled an exceedingly Jingenioas calendar, showing the days of the week for the 2000 years from a.d. 1 to a d. 2000. At first sight this may seemga more ingeuious than useful feat, but a little reflection will show that it is frequently useful to know the day of the week of some event that happened some years back, or of some date upon which an agreement is to terminate. Mr Latham's arrangement is so simple that no one can well fail to find the day of tho week of any date within a minute's search. The calendar is neatly framed, so that it can be hung up in an office for reference. $

It is stated that the Home for Destitute Men recently established in jChristchurch has up to fche present provided bed and breakfast on an average for 20 men per day, all apparently in extreme destitution. One man said he had tasted no food for four days. Work has been found for several men. Any man not presenting himself when onipjoyment is found is considered a bad case, and is debarred from receiving further assistance.

The Orphan House at Lahr,in tho Duchy of Baden— which has been built upon, endowed with, and is sustained by, the ends of cigars (says a London paper)rr-has been frequently described. It origiuated'with the editor of that "most popular of German year-books, theLahrer Ealender, and it has its busy collectors and contributors of cigar ends in every German town aud among the German communities on the other side of the Atjantip. A new society of benevolent collectors, according to the gleine Zeitung, is now at work. The members gather together all the old used corks they can find— it matters nob how damaged they are— and for» ward them on to the central depot, whence they Bge sent to linoleum factories, as the collected cigar sods ore sent to tobacco factories. The yield from the aork's, it is said, promises to be much more profitable ihan that from the cigar ends, and Borne poor folk haye been employed (by a middleman?) in collecting them. No other medicine is so reliable as Ayer's Cherry Pectpr&l, for the cure of coughs, colds, and all derangements of the respiratory organs. It r.eljieves the asthmatic find consumptive, even in advanced 9tag« of the .disease.

The profitable nature of the business done by the Canadian doctors may be judged by their admission that they have sold 100,000 boxea of medicine throughout the colony — principally in Dunedin. Putting the profit as low as Is per box, the hand3ome sum of £5000 has been netted.

Everyone is acquainted with the automatic weighing machines which records a person's weight on slipping a penny into a nick. A patent has been, taken out in Spain, and protected in Great Britain, for an automatic apparatus which beats all the rest hollow for its novelty. It is a coin-freed machine for "the automatic photo* graphing of persons and objects, and the preparing, finishing, and delivery of the said photographs to the purchaser," The person who wishes to be photographed places himself on the maohine opposite a lens ; behind the latter is a camera and sensitive photographic plate closed by a shutter, Behind the shutter, and arranged" parallel in the case, are a suitable number of sensitive plates, capable of being pushed '■ forward, so that every time an exposed plate is taken from the frame another plate is passed iv to take its place. As soon as the coin is placed in the slit on to the tray the exposed plate is moved on by machinery to where a series of bottles containing the necessary chemicals for developing and fixing the portrait are placed. Valves liberate the necessary fluids, so as to allow the contents tq flow over the plate. The latter, when developed, is passed over by a band, also worked by the machinery, on to an inclined plane, whence it is delivered to the customer through a slit.

According to a report from the British Minister at Washington, which has been laid before Parliament (says the Pall Mall Gazetted, since the beginning of 1887 there have been 1000 strikes in the United States, and of the 400,000 men engaged in thorn 25,000 to 50,000 are still out. The most serious was that of the New Jersey coal-handlers, which involved a loss in wages to those engaged of more than £500,000. The cost to the workers of the Pennsylvanian coke-workers' strike of the spring, in which 13,000 men were engaged for 10 weeks, was about £200,000 in wages. More than two-thirds of the strikes between January and July 1887 were fruitless, and only brought loss and suffering to those engaged in them. As a whole, about 38 per cent , or more than a third of the strikers in 1887, succeeded in getting their demands, against 20 per cent, in 1886. It is calculated that nearly 10,000,000 daya' work and wages were lost.

English papers announce the death of Lady Moles worth, who has been in many respects one of the most remarkable women of the day. She was the daughter of a Scotch gentleman, Mr James Carstairs, who, although supposed to be of aristocratic connections, was sparsely endowed with this world's goods, and it is said that Lady Molesworth commenced h<* career in the world as a circus rider. When quite young, however, she went to London, and entered the musical profession, frequently singing at the old Vauxhall Gardens. She was exceedingly beautiful, and her attractions fascinated an old gentleman, Mr Temple West, of an old Worcestershire family, who made her his wife. A few years afterwards he died, leaving her in a good social and pecuniary position. In 1844 she married Sir William Molesworth, who was then just on the threshold of his brilliant career as a statesman, and her social talents, combined with his position, made their house the most famous and influential in London. Lady Molesworth was devotedly attached to her second husband, and her grief at his death was poignant in the extreme. When left a widow for the second time she continued to occupy an exalted social position. She was on most friendly terms with all the members of the Royal familj ; and to be received at her hpuse was regarded as a cachet of the highest social distinction.

The Cunard liner Etruria, from New York, recently brought a thrilling tale of the sea. A vessel named the Dwarka, whilst bound to Kurrachee, with a crew of seven hands, foundered on the Cutch coast. The seamen took to the mast, but it became unshipped aud drifted near the shore. Then one of them was heard to shriek, and was seen to disappear. The others, to their horror, saw they were surrounded by sharks and had no means of escape. The mast not only gave way with their weight, but could not 'be kept steady on account of the rough state of the sea, and the poor fellows one by one were snapped away by the monsters until only one remained to tell the tale, and he, after being Jtossed about for two days and nights, expeoting every minute to be devoured, was washed ashore.

The Toronto Globe of May 18 contained the following obituary notice : — " Norman M'Donald, ' Boxair,' of Slioa a Brochain, North Side Big Bras dOr, Victoria County, Nova Scotia,' died on Monday last, at the great age of 110 years. He served under Wellington in the battle of Waterloo, when he was about 37 years of age. He was born in the Isle of Harris, Sootland, in about the year 1778, and emigrated to this country in 1833, when he was in his 55th year. He was a very active man, and has been able, until the past two or three years, to assist a little with the work on the farm."

The Sydney police made a raid recently on a Chinese gambling den and secured 16 prisoners, on whom about £23 was found. A further sum of £17 was taken possession of when the gambling table was seized, together with about a quarter of a hundredweight of brass coins used in playing faatan. The two principals in the company, the banker and the' croupier, were among those arrested, as also was another notorious Chinese gambler, who, it is stated, sends about £4000, the annual proceeds of his gambling transactions, to China. Just previous to the raid being made nine European boys who had been playing with the Chinese left the house, and so eluded capture.

At: the beginning of May (says a writer in an English contemporary) curiosity prompted me to inquire of Mr Trischler, the publisher of Mr Fergus Hume's " Mystery of a Hansom Cab," how the book was going, now. -It was May* 3, and just five months since the book was let loose on the London market, so I wanted to find out the average monthly sales. ,1 was very much astonished to hear that up to that day the total number of copies sold since the commencement was 373,469. This is very remarkable, and an unprecedented sucptss, o£ which both Mr Fergus Hnme and his energetic publisher, Mr Trischler, may be justly proud. In the month ending January 3, the total number of copies sold was 33.217; February 3,58,304; March 3, 103,1 J.B ; April 3. 93,812 ; - May 3, 75.418. These figures testify to the popularity and merit of the little shilling book, and prove beyond a doubt that the only thing not mysterious about it is its popularity.

Luna Troubles and Wasting Diseases can be cured If properly treated in- time, r as shown by the following statement from O. D. Fr-eman, tfydney : — " Having be*>n a great sufferer- f>~om,' pulmonary attacks Jand gradually wasting away for the past two years, it affords me pleasure to testify that Scott's Emulsion of, Cop Liter Oil with Lime'awd Soda has given me 'great relief, and I cheerfnlly recommend it to all suffering in a similar way to myself. In addition, I would say that it is very pleasant to take.— Large and email lises at all chemists— 4a 6d apd.f»i6d,

The latest big. thing in railways is a proposal to build a line of railway to connect Minneapolis and St. Paul with Pekin. China, and Irkutsk, Russia, via Victoria, B.C , and Cape Prince of Wales, Behring Strait, involving, among other astonishing things, ; the bridgirg of JBehring Strait, which, at the point suggested in this scheme, is only 35 miles wide, and from 20 to 25 fathoms deep. The distance from Victoria to Cape Prince of Wales is about 1100 miles.

The first annual local examination in musical knowledge in connection with Trinity College, London, was held in Dunedin last Saturday, when the classroom at Old Knox Church was kindly placed at the disposal of the local secretary (ljfr A. J. Barth). Mesdames Matheson, Joel, and Fitchett came up for senior division pass and honours, and Miss Chisholm senior pass. Mr D. Wishart attended as supervisor, and he reports that-all- the abovenamed ladies completed their papers within- the prescribed time, Mr Barth is of opinion that at least 25 pupils will offer themselves for examination next year, and he takes this opportunity of making the fact known that the examination is open to all students quite irrespective of who trains them for it.

The mutiny on board H.M.S. Bounty in 1789', the remarkable career of the survivors on the Fitcairn Islands, and the subsequent exodus of those people to Norfolk Island, are matters of history, but facts which have recently come to light revives interest in the event. John Adams (says the New Zealand Herald), while serving on a man-of-war under his real name, Alexander Smith/ saved the life of a midshipman on board by bravely jumping after him when he fell overboard. The young man, on returning horne 1 , related his narrow escape, and his relatives, desirous of acknowledging the brave conduct of Smith, who could not then be found, placed £100 to his credit in the bank, the interest to accumulate until the reward was claimed. Many Smiths have claimed that reward, but were unable to establish their claims or identify themselves with the man-of-war or the incident. John Adams, the Bounty mutineer, or Alexander Smith, as he actually was, has left three grandsons in Norfolk Island. John, the oldest grandson, who is now 60 years of age, being informed of the circumstances, proceeded recently to Sydney to establish the claim of the family. It is said that he thoroughly succeeded in identifying his grandfather with the plucky seaman who rescued this officer from a watery grave, andafter placing the affair in the hands of a respectable firm of solicitors in Sydney, has now returned to Norfolk Inland. Will it be believed that that investment of £100, some time prior to 1789, has new accumulated by interest and compound interest to the vast sum of £96,000 ? And yet that is the sum said to be now available for subdivision amongst the descendants of John Adams, the leader in the Bounty mutiny. The facts as connected with the mutiny of the Bounty are so much matters of history that it is hardly necessary to refer to them. When Pitcairn Island was visited by the British frigates Briton and Tagus in 1814 there was a population of 48, but only two of the original mutineers were survivors, and of these Alexander Smith, who had assumed the name of John Adams, was one. He was at the head of the colony, and was looked up to with the greatest reverence, and not undeservedly, as his oharacter had undergone a thorough change, and he had not only long led a moral and religious life, but succeeded in imbuing his little community with similar habits. He died in 1829, at the age of 63.

At the City Police Court on Saturday William Lothian applied to have James M'DoDald bound over ■to keep the peace. — Mr Solomon appeared for the complainant, and Mr Sim for the defendant. — Mr Solomon said this was a rather unpleasant case, and the complainant had been compelled to bring it before their Worships under these circumstances : Mr M'Donald had been in business in the city for a great many years as a limeburner. Recently he was compelled to place his affairs in the hands of the official assignee. Since Mr McDonald's bankruptcy Mr Ashcroft put the complainant in charge of the works. On Wednesday Mr M'Donald went out to the works to make a complaint to Mr Lothian. Defendant charged him with being a traitor to him, and instead of behaving as a reasonable man would do, he called the men of the works together, and used language which was scurrilous. He spoke threateningly for about 20 minutes, and told the men they should take Lothian and throw him into the pond. — James Ashcroft, official assignee, said that Mr Lothian was placed by him in charge of the works. Mr Lothian came to him and made a complaint. He seemed very much agitated, and almost in a state of collapse. He appeared frightened, and told him what passed. - Witness wrote a letter to the defendant prohibiting him from interfering with the works. He might say that Mr M'Donald's treatment of himself was everything he could expect. He thought that on the occasion in question he got very excited and that he hardly knew what was said. — Cross examined : He told Mr M'Donald that he could not be responsible for the works if he interfered. Mr M'Donald got excited when he told him that. — William Lothian said he was put in oharge of Mr M'Don ild's cement works by Mr Ashcroft. Up to Wednesday last he had no quarrel with Mr M'Donald. He met witness and said " 3ood morning." He said he wanted to speak to witness. He called the men down and said witness was a low, mean, contemptible cur. He broke down, cried, swore, and cursed, and said witness was everything that was low, and a mean and contemptible cur. He said if they were men they would throw witness into pond end drownj him. Sometimes he closed his fist, and his' language was threatening. He said at the finish that he would have these works, and would trample them under his feet. The effect of the matter on witness was that he could hardly speak. He had suffered a great deal from his interference, but he was frightened of him this time.— -Cross-examined : He was not frightened of the men throwing him into the pond. — William Grey,'a workman, said he was present on Wednesday, and heard Mr M'Donald talking to Mr Lothian. He could not say whether he was swearing or not, but his language was very violent. He heard him say if they were men they would put Lothian in the pond. He had a handkerchief in his hand and wiped his eyes, but he did not know whether he closed his fist. He did not think much of it, as it was one of the tantrums he often took.— William Fielding, workman, said Mr M'Donald's language was rowdy, and he was swearing a bit. He was speaking very loud and very violent. — This concluded the plaintiff's case.— James M'Donald admitted that he was very angry. He believed he did use provoking or insulting' language to the complainant. — Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for three months on his own surety of £5.

Cubes of Dbinking.— " A young 1 friend of mine., -was cured of an insatiable thirst for liquor, which had bo prostrated him that he was unable to do any business. He was entirely cured, by the übo of Dr Soule's American Fop Bitters. It allayed" all that burning thirst ; took away the appetite for liquor; nmde bis nerves steady, and he has remained a sober . and steady man for more than two, yean, and hat no desire to return' to hit cups ; I know of a number! of other* that have been cored of drinking by it."— tfro.m. a leading B, B. Official, Chicago, lll,— Tunes,

Referring to the sadden death at Gibbston on the 2nd inst of .Mr Henry Fordhara, who h&s travelled about the country with goods for the last 17 years, the Lake County Press states that deceased went oat to feed his horses while at Mr Reid's farm, and Mrs' Reid, going oat' some time afterwards, found him lying on the ground quite dead. The post msrieni disclosed that death was due to failure of the action of the heart. Mr T. R. Fordham, of the Bluff, brother of- the deceased, arrived in the district for the funeral, which was largely attended, among them being a number of members of the local Masonic, lodge, deceased having belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Mr Fordham was of a quiet and reretiring disposition, and was greatly esteemed by those who came into contact with him throughout the whole of Otago and Southland.

It is rather singular that while the Government of New Zealand wero looking ,to the United States for the solution of the Chinese difficulty, and were anxiously consulting the newly ratified treaty, the American papers have bean, according to the correspondent of the Argus, giving New Zealand as an example of the effective checking of Chinese immigration by heavy taxes.

Notwithstanding the boisterous weather a large audience assembled in the Choral Hall on Sunday evening .to hear the Rev. A. North's lecture in connection with the V.M.C.A. on " Christ and Woman." The lecture was one of great interest, and dealt with the improvement in the condition of .woman which has been brought about through the teachings of Christ. These teachings the lecturer claimed to be quite new, and in proof of his assertion described the degraded and. humiliating position which woman occupied before Christ came under the Greeks and Romans, and even the Jews themselves. After describing the way Christ spoke of and acted towards woman during His lifetime, the speaker contended that wherever His teaching had spread since then woman had been lifted up and purified. He drew a striking contrast of the difference to-day in the treatment of woman amongst the Hindoos and other heathen peoples and amongst ourselves, asserting that the position of womankind to-day in civilised nations is entirely due to the teachings of Christ. During his lecture he took the opportunity of condemning the spirit of the day, which visits sin on the part of woman with the utmost severity, whilst it condone* or overlooks the same evils in man, asserting that such was utterly opposed to the spirit of Christ; and at the came time spoke strongly against the proposals to give increased facilities for divorce in this colony. Mr Pete Barr. occupied the chair, and intimated that the next lecture would be delivered by the Rev. Professor Watt, on " The .Historical Reality of Our Lord'B Resurrection."

It is notified in the Gazette that Mr Andrew Duncan Thomson has been appointed registrar of marriages, births, and deaths at Cromwell. Letters of naturalisation have been issued to Nathan Lieber, agent, Dunedin. An area of 2500 acres in blocks I, 11, 111, and IX, Martin's Bay district, village homestead special settlement land, is withdrawn from the perpetual leasing system by proclamation.

Mr Clement L. Wragge, the Government meteorologist of Queensland, is issuing, under the direction of the Government, daily weather charts giving information from 72 selected observatories in Australia and New Zealand. The forecasts are prepared on the plans adopted in London and Washington, and it is estimated they are verified to the extent of 80 per cent,

It is stated that the success of the International Exhibition at Glasgow surpasses the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. Since its opening on May 8 to May 12 inclusive, 200,000 persons passed the turnstiles — the greatest number for one day being that of May 12, when 57,703 persons were admitted. Thirty thousand season tickets, the price of each being one guinea, have been sold. Hopes are entertained that the Queen may be prevailed upon to visit the exhibition in the autumn. It may be added - that her Majesty has forwarded, through Lady Rosebery, for exhibition in the Women's Industries Section of the exhibition, two table napkins manufactured from yarn spun by her Majesty.

Major-general Maitland, ici replying for the army at the annual dinner of the foremen engineer at London recently, said that 50 years ago, when the Queen came to the throne, the heaviest guv cost £150, and the round about 30s. The heaviest gun now cost £20,000, and each round nearly £200. A 22-ton gun designed by himself, and made at the Royal Guv Factory, had been fired at Shoeburyness to determine the ballistic data, the trajectory, resistance of the air, and to ascertain the maximum ranges of bombard* meuts. A shot of 3801b was fired with a velocity of 2300ft-s, and a range of 21,000 yds, which wax just 12 miles. It would be seen that long ranges were a very serious thing. A warship might bombard a seaport or watering place, and yet, owing to the curvature of the earth, not be seen. He was told that the French turned out 1300 magazine arms per day. We had just got the pattern pretty well settled, and if there was nothing wrong about it the weapon would be in the hands of the troops in a few days, and that would be a step in advance. The rifle might be loaded eight times in a few seconds, and would be most useful in preventing a rush.

At a meeting of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures, the question of Protection to farmers was discussed, when it was resolved — " That, whilst taking a deep interest in the wel*. fare of the farmers, the Chamber of Manufactures cannot support a policy which is calculated to increase the price of bread and meat."

By a fire in North Melbourne last week, an old woman named Septima Bennett, aged 92, wife of John Bennett, horse dealer, was burnt to death. Her husband stated that ho got her as far as the bedroom door when he found the place was on fire, but sho then turned back and shut the door. v , An interesting discovery han been made in the Bunowa district, New South Wales, in a locality that' \?aa frequented by the bushrangers Gilbert a>d Hall, 'the cave which the bushrangers are supposed to have inhabited was explored by Hr ! Daly, a local resident, and found to have tbeee compartments, which were entered with great difficulty. In the inner com* parttnent were fqund the lower jawbone of » human being and other bones, supposed to be portions of a human skeleton, a quantity of straw, and a bag of .bullets.

It is reported from New Caledonia that on the Ist June the body of a new-born infant, which had evidently r been strangled, was discovered on the seashore at Noumea, where it had been left by ttyc ebb of the tide. r Suspicion fell on the daughter of a washerwoman, i named Godde,' and she- and her: mother were arrested on the 9th June.. About noon on the same day a. JUbe/ated convict^' named Daniau, ■who had been working for, the motherland U believed Jo have ( be,en [the, lather of the' cbilp» wjß fqupOanging by/,tlie AefiA in the basement flddr of t^e'.wia^herwon^an's house. la the evening a" Warder,* entering' the cell of , Mme. God.de, found hoc kneeling on the fyxffi

apparently engaged in prayer. On touching her he discovered she was a corpse. She had tied a silk handkerchief round her neck' with a slip-knot, and attaching one end of it to the bar of her bedstead, had dragged herself away from it with such a rapid and violent impulse as to occasion complete strangulation. Her daughter is in prison awaiting her trial.

We understand that Messrs R. Hudson and Co. are about to commence the manufacture of starch and cornflour on a large scale. Suitable premises for a factory have been secured, and this will be very shortly fitted up 'with all modern appliances and machinery.

" The Australasian Sketcher " for July contains some excellent illustrations. One of these is an excellent winter view on the West Coast road, showing Arthur's Pass. Sketches of tbe Gaiety Comedy Company, sketches at the exhibition, and artists' sketchea in Queensland make up an excellent number, with which is issued a chromo-lithograph, entitled •' Colonial Experience," in tho shape of some experiences of a buck-jumper.

It haß been decided in Wellington to hold a musical festival in the spring on the model of the English provincial festival, with a picked band and chorus of 200. Mr Parker has been chosen director. A guarantee list is in circulation, the expense being estimated at £150.

A case of interest to the medical faculty has occurred at Hohart. A composiUr on tho staff of the Hobart Mercury is afflicted with deafness. One Saturday evening he felt a sudden shock, as if he had received a smart blow on the ear, and his deafness instantly left him ; but to his astonishment be became dumb, and could utter no articulate sounds. This lasted for two hours or more, when the deafness returned, and with ib also the power of speech.

The Public Petitions Committee report that the post office has decided to comply with the wish of the petitioners from Stewart's Island by reverting to Wednesday as the sailing day for the weekly mail.

A curious case has just been concluded in the Victorian Supreme Court. The widow of Sacauel Daniels, overseer at C. Young's station, Corowa, has sued the Fire, Marine, and Accident Indemnity Company to recover £1000 on a policy of insurance on her late husband, who bad died after being stung by an insect iv the eye from blood poisoning. The court reluctantly gave a verdict for defendant as the policy had not been properly covered. Mr Justice Wrensfoldßley severely criticised the action of insurance companies iv appointing agenbs in out-of-the-way places, who, in many cases, iuduced people to take out policies without having clearly explained the provisions under which they were issued.