LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 11

LOCAL AN D GENERAL.

We learn that another heavy fall of .-now took place in the interior of Ocago on Friday and Saturday, In the hiaher regions of Central ytago and the Lakes district the depth of snow W reported fco be the heaviest for nearly 20 years.

We have to announce the death of another of sur oldest settlers— viz., Mr James Callander, who arrived here in the Philip Laing, 40 years ago. Mr Callander has been farming at the ■Uieri for the last .36 years, though latterly, of course, he was unable to take any' active part *n the work. He had been ailing for the last two years, but just previous to his death he appeared to be in very good health. The deceased gentlemen never took any active part in puhlic ■matters, but he was uijjjvfersally respected by all

who knew him. He leaves a widow and a family of four sons and one daughter. Three of the sona are living in the Taieri, and one is in Melbourne, while the only surviving daughter is the wife of Mr Miller, grocer, of George street.

At the City Police Court on the 26th, Patrick Ryan, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling milk which had water added to it to increase its bulk. — Constable Hanson said that he saw the boy selling milk in Roslyn. He took a sample of it and sent it to Professor Black. It was found that 16 per cent, of water had been added.—Defendant was fined 20s and costs. — -James Carson pleaded not guilty to a charge of selling adulterated milk at Halfway Bush. The evidence showed that the boy admitted that some of the cream had been taken off .— : Mr Carew said that the boy not selling the milk as pure by telling' the constable that some of the cream had been' removed, was not guilty. If he wanted to sell milk without cream he had better tell his customers that, or he might be liable to a fine.

In reference to the ariicle from the Financial News published in another column, it appear 3 that that journal and the Standard refuse to insert any replies to their adverse criticisms of the colony.

A very satisfactory report was presented at the last meeting of the Harbour Board, regarding the depth of water on the bar. It was 1 stated that the Fifeshire went out drawing 24ft, and that on Wednesday at high water there was 31ft of water on the bar.

The Fairfax School Committee, out of 18 names submitted for the position of head master, resolved to recommend the Education Board to appoint Mr W. M'Elrea, of the Milton High School.

The Southland papers report that in a business transaction some years ago the late Mr Goodwillie absolutely transferred his Government life insurance policy to Messrs D. L. Matheson, John Murdoch, William Todd, and W. B. Scandretr, aud these gentlemen by paying up the arrears then due and continuing payment of the premiums kept the policy alive. Mr Goodwillie died on the 23rd June and the insurance department settled the claim with commendable promptitude. The legal recipients merely deducted their actual outlay and presented the balance (£133 14s 6d) to Mrs Goodwillie.

The Agent-general has written to the Government recommending the appointment of Professor Long, of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, as a lecturer on dairy farming for the colony. Mr Long is a scientist. The Government, wishing to secure the services of a thoroughly, practical man, have recommended Sir Dillon Bell to try America, and see if a suitable lecturer cannot be obtained.

Mr Maxwell, general manager of railways, has reported to Government as follows on the Abb system as proposed to be used on the Midland railway :~' v Biuce the issue of Parliamentary paper D 8 on the Abt system of railway, I have received information privately from a gentleman in charge of a large system of Indian railways that a length of two miles of Abt line has been tried in India, and that it did not stand the tests satisfactorily. It was thought that the idea of having it on the Bolan Pass would be given up. It did not work well on the curves, and the engines could only climb hills • provided their heads were kept straight.' It is important to notice that the Abt system is probably unsuited for very sharp curves, aud that in this respect the Fell system, which can work with facility upon five-chain curves, is superior."

The Rev. Mr Btathwayt narrowly escaped a serious accident while driving from Palrnerston to Shag Point. A bridge gavo way, and one of thfl horses he was driving was thrown down, bat fortunately ho was driving slow' at the time and escaped unhurt. The local papers states that the animal, a valuable mare, was seriously injured.

The voting on the question of the introduction of instrumental music by the congregation of the Clinton Presbyterian Church was very even. Eight members and 26 adherents favoured the jproposal, and 19 members and three adherents opposed it. The matter will bo referred to the synod.

A man named James Fergusson has been committed for trial at Temuk» on a charge of violently assaulting John Tozer on the highway aud robbing him ol £11. From tHe evidence it appeared that when Tozer left for home on the 26oti accused got into the trap also. They had some drinks at Arowhenua, aud a mile beyond, it j<s alleged, Fergusson seized Tozer by the beard, threw him down in the curt, nearly strangled him by kneeling on his neck, and turned his pockets inside out, tearing one of them otf. He then turned the horses and drove back. When arrested the pocket was found on Fergusson. Both men appeared to have been very drunk, and one witness who met them stated that bofch of them had hold of the reins, both were hatless, and were making a great noi^e.

The Melbourne Daily Telegraph sees iv the proceedings which took place at the Hibernian Hall on the occasion of a boxing contest between Burke and Slaviu evidence that " the mohb attractive performance to the citizens of Melbourne is not a great concert, nor a great debate, nor a great sermon, but a fifth-rate boxing exhibition. The crowds of eager citizens who yelled and struggled and swore at the doors of toe Hibernian Hall were, at least, dreadfully in earnest. The tariff of admission was high, for a seat on the platform cost, a pound." And it goes on to relate that "a contingent of enterprising ticketholders stormed the back of the hall. Access was only to bs had through a pretty high window, and respectable citizens, obe»e and middle-aged — lawyers, be it whispered, and doctors aud men great on 'Change — cheerfully paid in gold for a 'leg-up' and clambered like schoolboys or burglars, with much damage to their apparel, through a broken wiudow to gain a glimpse of the ennobling spectacle within. A real live marquis, it is recorded, who is honouriug these shores with his illustrious presence, received a 'leg-up' like meaner men and dragged his noble form across the broken glass to the spot where the great Burke aud the immortal Slavin were to batter each other's features out of shape."

A man named Frank Ryan has died in the Auckland Hospital under peculiar circumstances. He had a tooth pulled at the golden chariot some weeks ago. Erysipelas followed, and this caused the loss of one eye and then d^ath. He has been '"n the hospital ever since the tooth w*is pulled. Dr Lindsay has given a certificate that death resulted from erysipelas and j?angrene, following on tooth extraction, probably caused by a faulty instrument.

A decree of nullity of marriage was pronounced on the Bth June by Mr Justice Butt in the case of Higgiuson Whytt-Meiville v. Hijrginson Why te- Melville. The respondent, who became somewhat notorious recently in connection with a shooting case, was not represented. It appeared he had been connected with ' the Customs in Dublin, and then left for South Africa^, where he was admitted to holy orders. He reappeared in England in 1884, and made the' acquaintance of Mrs Wnyfce'-Melville, who was a' widow, her first

husband being the well-known novelist; and sportsman. Higgin6on told her he was worn out with his labours in South Africa, and she' installed him as the officiating clergyman in her private chapel. They were married in 1886, but it is now alleged Higginson had a wife) living. Higginson managed to get hold of a large portion of Mrs Whyte-Melville's extensive property, ,The petition for the defence alleged that Higgiuson had been' divorced from his first wife, in America. In support of the petitioner's case, Annabelkv Higginson (the respondent's first wife) was called, who stated that she married respondent on January 11, 1852, and lived with him- as his ( wife for several years. He was then in theCustoms at Dublin. She left him in consequence' of his cruelty. She had never heard of any divorce he had obtained in America. Mr Justice! Butt had no doubt as to the truth of the peti-; tioner's case, and pronounced a decree of nullity; of marriage with costs.

Vienna papers give the following particulars of the expenses incurred at Milan by the Emperor of Brazil during his recent illness : — His Majesty's hotel bill amounted to lOOOfr per day, but in consequence of his illness other visitors had to leave, so that he should not be 1 disturbed. This, together with certain items, doubled the hotel charges, and made them amount to about 2000fr a day. The total sum was 65,000fr for 35 days. .The Brazilian Emperor further prebonted his host with a gold; snuffbox and a decoration. The ice ordered for| the Imperial patient cost' lOOfr a day. Telegraphing to Rio do Janeiro, sometimes to the extent of 3000fr or 4000fr a day, came to 50,000fr. The Emperor's French physician received for two trips to Milan 40,000fr. His two Italian docfcorsjjwere paid 1200fr a day. Then Dom Pedro had to give a large number of fees and to contribute to numerous charities. It is estimated at Milan that his stay there must have cost him 4000,000fr.

Some local Chinamen have devised a very ingenious method of money-making iv a small way which is likely to bring them into the hands of the police. A number of the sovereigns now in circulation will be found to have the raised edges rubbed down with emery paper and notches cut in the rim with some sharp instrument. " The amount of gold taken off each sovereign is considerable.

A guileless Celestial named A. Moug, one of the crew of the Chinese vessel Taiyuan, was bowled out in a neat attempt at smuggling on Saturday evening. He was boing searched on leaving the vessel by Mr Burn (oi the Customs department) and Constable Crawford, and as his extremities seemed remarkably solid, he was asked to strip. No fewer than G2 cigars were then discovered neatly stowed away between his stockings and trousers and about his boots. As the vessel was about to leave, Mr Chamberlain allowed the culprit to go with her, the chief officer announcing his intention of making the man pay a fine of 40s for his escapade.

Sixbeen patients were admitted into the Dunedin Hospital during the past week, and 18 were discharged. One death occurred, the patient being a woman named N. Tierney. There are at present in the institution 106 patients, or three more than* at the beginning of last week.

The Melbourne correspondent of a contemporary reports that a man named John O'Keofe, who had just arrived from New Zealand, was set upon in a lane off Lonadale street by two men, who robbed him of four notes, some silver, and a draft on the Bank of New Zealand for £610.

Mr T. Kirk, F.R.M.S , in a paper read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, stated that in his opinion the mole cricket, if ib were allowed to increase, would become a pest to agriculturints. He recommends that energetic steps be taken to eradicate it.

It appears that since 1881 only two premiums had been paid on the insurance policy of Henry Anderson, a Wellington journalist, in the Australian Mutual Provident; Society. The policy was kept alive by the accrued bonuses aud surrender value. Even this on one occasion was uot sullicient, but the board very liberally allowed the bonus, which at that time was not declared, to meet the premium the.n due. The family of Mr Anderson will therefore receive about £475.

A man named John Hall, working on the railway near Ntimurkah, Victoria, met with a horrible fate. He was seen going into his tent on Saturday night somewhat under the influence of liquor. Ou Sunday morning it was seen that a fire had occurred during the night, and the remains of the unfortuuate man, frightfully charred, were found among the debris. His feet and hands were burnt off, aud some silver was found embedded in the burnt flesh of the unfortunate man's hip. Tno face was totally unrecognisable, and the body, was badly roasted. It is thought that deceased forgot to extinguish the caudle, which set lire to the bedclothes, and being the worse for liquor he perished before awakening. Ifc is said that two sons of Hall are employed iv the Government printing office, Melbourne.

The Union Steam Ship Company intend running that old favourite steamer the Ringarooma as a special excursion boat during the Melbourne Exhibition season. Her route will probably be Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Bluff to Melbourne, returning to Wellington direct, and the fares will be lower than those charged by the ordinary time table steamers. The Mararoa will be the connecting steamer from New Zealand for the race week (first week in November), and during her stay of 10 days in Melbourne her passengers will have the option of sleepiug and breakfasting on board for a small extra charge.

Mr T. Mazmaurice |Barke, who figured for a briel period as an expectant millionaire, was before the Luiulou Bankruptcy Court recently. He had been an officer iv the militia, but had latterly supported himself by teaching music ab Chatham. Iv September lasb he received intelligence of the death of a wealthy relative in New Zealand, whose heir-at-law he claimed to be, and upon the faith of his expectations (which, however, have nob been realised) he has contracted debts to a large amount, his liabilities being returned at £4290, and no available assets. Upon the strength of bis supposed wealth he had negotiated for a steward, a butler, and private secretary, also for a house at 100 guineas a year. He was very pleased to hear that he hsul come into two millions aud a half of money, and naturally launched dtlt iuto a great deal of extravagance. He never engaged a private chaplain, but numerous applications were made to him for the appointment. He set up horses and carriages. He had incurred large hotel bills. There was a balance of £400 due for his bill at the Adelphi Hotel, and he had contracted an hntel bill of £308 iv the space of five weeks at Haßtings. He had horses and carriages at Hastings ; he had his crest and coat of arms painted on his carriages. An adjournment was ordered to the 20feh June.

Bkautifiers. — Ladie3, you cannot make fair skin, rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes with all the cosmetics of France, or.beautifiors of fcha world, while in poor health, aud nothing will give you such good health, strength, buoyant spirits and beauty as Dr Soule's American Hop Bitters. A "trial is certain proof. See another column.— " Telegraph,"

To the Rev. E. O'Brien, of Coleraine, is due the ingenious discovery that the Papal Rescript has been wrongly translated, and that, in point of fact, it has no application to Ireland at all. The words used are locatores and conductores, which have been translated landlords and tenants. But there are tenants and tenants — tenants without fixity of tenure, and tenants with it. The former are conductores, the latter are e»ipkyteutoe—& totally different term for a totally different thing. But as Wery one — except the Pope — knows, Irish tenants, having fixity of tenure, are emphyteutce ; and the Papal decree in no way therefore affects them, for it is only levelled at the heads of conductores.

The Fall Mall Gazette special commissioner, writing from St. Petersburg, says :—": — " You can have no idea how inexpressibly idiotic the panic news from London seems ''to us out here. Of course everyone knows that there is great need for putting your army and navy to rights, but why, in the name of all that is rational, a scare should have broken out just vow is altogether beyond the comprehension of the best infprmed. I know it was predicted before I left, and* the prediction has come true, although it seemed incredible at the time. We read the London telegrams here, as I doubt not they are read in every capital in Europe, with blank amazement. It is very good, no doubt, to raise the wind whenever you get a chance .to induce Ministers to build the necessary warships and to provide thac your d -fences shall not be destitute of cannon, but why you should be going crazy just at present about the admitted and nocorious deficiencies in your armament is one of those things which' no one outside England, whether he be English or Continental, can for the life of him make out. Here, as at Berlin aud at Paris, the hicernataonal weather glass is set fair for peace. Of course, Austria may provoke a war if she pleases by making some mad plunge in the Balkans, but even if the Austrians were suddenlyjjto go as insane as the English they would be pulled up short by their master at Berlin. Failing Austrian maaness plus German abdication, there seems to us here no chance of a war. ' Are the English mad, then ? lam asked. To which I confess I find it some' what difficult to reply.".

The magnificence of the ceremony in celebration of the second birthday of the baby King of Spain at Barcelona was made beautifully human by the touching incident of his small Majesty falling fast asleep on his nurse's lap when all the cream of his subjects and the representatives of foreign nations advanced in courtier gravity to kiss his hand. He was dressed in white lace, and sat on his mother's right hand in the arms of a very resplendent nurse, in gold embroidered crimson velvet robes. All Spain— aristocratic, military, naval, scientific, artistic, and political — was there ; and all the nations had sent their ambassadors, robed in diplomatic glory, with a mighty message of congratulation to the tiniest sovereign of Europe; and. a universal knee was bent before a little sleeping child gathered to rest in his nurse's arms. The world assembled in State array to do most solemn homage to a baby who lies in calm and dreamless sleep, all unconscious of its dignity, the potential sovereignty of its babyhood, unconscious of the love and awe with which its very breathing is watched. The preliminary bull-fight in honour of the little King's birthday was considered a re ore than usually glorious one because all the horses were massacred in wholesale fashion, and delighted the eyes of the Catalonians. Four men were wounded, and the potent and irresistible Frascuelo, with whom half, if not all, feminine Madrid is frantically in love, was seriously hurt. The port from Montjuick looked as if another Invincible Armada were getting ready to storm unknown parts from the blue waters of the Mediterranean.

Chicago has many female detectives, but they are uot known as such. Their identity is successfully concealed. The female detective rarely, if ever, appears in the courts. Her evidence is carefully collected and then corroboration secured before the case is brought to trial The queen of the female {detectives in Chioago is a motherly woman, perhaps 50 years of age. " I have lived out," she said, in beginning her story, "as a domestic just to get into a house and see what took place there, and who called in the absence of the husband. For the fame purpose I have acted as a strolling fortune teller and as a book agent and a pedlar of patterns. No one can have any idea how many cases there are of domestic misery, and how much deception and misery there is in the world, and generally what is termed the fashionable world. Women will suffer every imaginable indignity and insult rather than let the facts be known, for exposure means almost invariably the loss of social position — dearer to most women than life itself. There are many divorce cases reported in the papers, but there are many more which never come to light, and of which the public never hears."

Three things (says Iron) were sought by the ancient alchemist — the philosopher's stone, the elixir of life, and the universal solvent. The last of these, though long known to modern chemistry, has jusb been separated, but cannot be retained, simply because it attacks or destroys everything. This fury of tho chemical world, sayK Mr M. Mattieu Williams, is the element fluorine , It exists peacefully in company with calcium in fluorspar, and aUo iri a Iww other compounds, bub when isolated, as it recently has been by M. Henry Moihsan, is a rabid gas that nothing can resisc It coai bines with all the metals — explosively with some, — or if they are already cbmbined with som;i other non-metallic eleo.ent, it tears them from it and takes them to i self. In unicifg with so'lium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminium the metals become heated eveu to reiness by the fervour of irs embrace. Iron filings slightly warmed burst into brilliant scintillations when exposed to it; manganese does the same. Even the uobl»i metals, which even at a molting heat proudly resist the fascinations of oxygen, succumb to this chemical siren ab meliorate temperatures. Glass is devoured at once, and water ceases to bo water by contacb with this gas, which combining with its hydrogen ab the same moment forms the acrid gla*s-dissolving hydrofluoric acid aud liberates ozone.

A London paper states tiut a gentleman travelling in South Africa recently paid a visit to the new Daliigo Bay railway, and ma.'Je » trip in a (-pedal train as> far as the terminus at the Portuguese frontier. This terminus w«s unlike any other with which he is acquainted in thu old world or the new. Ifc was surrounded by alligators, aud when his train arrived he foumi thac the statioumaster, the porter, and the telegraphist were all upon the roof of the station — not from fear of the alligators, who were always with" them, bu& in order to avoid the attentions of a lion who had been pacing the platform during the forenoon. Under these adverse, conditions it is not surprising to learn that freighters do not avail themselves of the advantages offered by the company. ,

By tHe death of the Earl of Seafield (says the Inverness Courier) another change has occurred in an ancient and noble family. His brother, the seventh earl, died in February 1881 ; his nephew, the, eighth earl, in- March 1884; and now in June 188S the ninth earl has 'passed away— the third \n little more than seven years.

Who could have dreamt of such a succession of fatalities when the popular heir, Lord Reidhaven, came of age in 1872 ? At that time the young viscount was the pride of his father and mother, and the hope of the tenantry who live on the broad estates of the House of Grant. But three years after his succession he was suddenly cut off, just as he was beginning to give promise of useful and noble life. He died unmarried, and the entail having been broken, he left the estates to his mother, the present dowager countess. His uncie, the Hon. James Grant, of Grant, succeeded to the earldom and to the dignity of chief of the Grants ; but he had no title to -the property. Happily he possessed private means, and the dowager countess, recognising the claims of his position,tjnade a settlement which added materially to his annual income. The exact nature of the deed was not disclosed, but it was stated that an income of £4000 a year was provided for the titular earl ; 4 thab his son, who was in New Zealand, was also to be provided for ; and that in the third generation the holder of the title ' would obtain full possession. The aggregate rental of the estates was then stated at £80,000, but ib was added that they were burdened to the extent of £800,000. The deepening depression in agriculture must have seriously affected the^free income of the estate, but it is still a splendid property. The dowager countess Das acted with generosity to the tenantry, giving large reductions to meet the requirements of the time. The new earl will uot come directly into contact with the tenantry, for he will have no hand in the management of the property ; but if the income of £4000 a year is continued to him, he will have sufficient in these hard times to maintain the dignity of the earldom.

Our Melbourne correspondent, writing on June 25, gives the following personal items : " Mr J. Aitken Connell, formerly of Dunedin, has arrived in Melbourne bringing with him an invention for lacing boots by a single motion. Mr Montagu Pym has paid £1500 for a seat on the Stock Exchange of Melbourne, and begins the sharebroking business full of hope. Mr Horace Bastings has had a difficulty with the navvies ou his Bacchus Marsh railway contract. They have gone out on strike for an all round rate of 7s 6d per day. One of the men who was inclined to be violent, having seized the bridle of Mr Bastings' horse, was. knocked down by the rider with the handle of his whip.

Some persons in the colony have recently received a polite note from Sir Bernard Burke, Dublin Castle, asking to be favoured with answers, for his forthcoming work on " The Colonial Gentry," to a number of questions to enable him to compile a perfect record of families of distinction in the colonies. As he appears inclined to accept tradition as to whioh locality in the Home country the family came from, he must have already settled who are the families of distinction.

The following, showing how foreigners are dealt with in several European countries, will be interesting :— The British workman, who objects to being rated and taxed to support impecunious foreigners, will do well to read the report on laws of foreign countries respecting the admission of destitute aliens. In Austria, a man who cannot show means of subsistence is turned out at once. Belgium insists that all foreigners are bound to show that they possess means of livelihood, or go back; Danish law is that all foreigners who possess no claim of maintenance iv that country are to be expelled by the police; French rule is that no foreigner shall be allowed to settle without an authorisation ; Germany permits no destitute aliens, or aliens looking for work, to enter the empire ; Italy permits entry under permit and residence during good behaviour ; Holland refuses admission to people who have not visible means of subsistence ; Russia allows no one to enter without fully viseed passports; Switzerland demands that permits to enter shall bo obtained by people intending to live in her country. No country allows vagabonds and tramps to enter as they please except England.

The New South Wales Government intend to consider the question of extending the penny postage system to the whole colony. They will also take step 3to establish an agricultural college, with which experimental farms wiil be affiliated.

The British Textile Warehouseman says: " Woollen manufacturers in America are in a very bad way. Many mills, with their plant, have reccnblyjaeen thrown into the market, and those disposed of have fetched only a small proportion of their original cost. A correspondent of the New York Herald expressed the belief that an advertisement asking for woollen mills ab half-price would elicit even more replies than an announcement that a bull pup was in request. The cause of this depression is the- impossibility of working at a fprofit with jvool at the price to which it has been forced up by protective duties. Native Ameriran wool i.s not produced in sufficient quantity to meet the requirements of the trade, notwithstanding that it ha<» tho advantage of a practical bounty in the duties imp j*c%\ on foreign wool ; while, at th« .same time, these are inadequate to countervail the superiority of British goodrf. ThnH, the American people have to pay excessively high prices for cloths, blankets, and all otm j r kinds of woollen goods, without even the satisfaction of knowing that they are thereby supporting their own manufactures. As a matter of facn, they are only swelling the surplus of public revenue, which tho Washington Government is sorely puzzled to know how to disnose of."

" Iron " has recommended the following exercise as a means of warming thu body during the severest weather within a few moments:— Stand erect, witb shoulders thrown well back, raise the haad, and then inflate the lungs by a slow inspiration through [the nose. Keep the breafcb t'er 10 seconds or longer, and then expel the air from the lungs, through the mouth. Repeated a few times when one feels chilly, this exercise soon brings warmth to the whole body, including the hands and feet.

Ab a meeting of the unemyloyed , in Oamaru the following motion was carried :: — ■ "This meeting is of opicion that the wisest course would bo to have the Oamaru-Naseby road constructed under the supf-rvision of the Wairaki and Mafoiototo County Councils by unemployed hibtrar under the small contracb sy&tem ; and that unless the construction of the Oamaru-Nasefay road is to be undertaken forthwith, temporary employment in the district should be found for the unemployed at the rates ruling elsewhere in connection with similar unemployed works, in order that they may be providpd with, the means of procuring for themselves aud families the necessaries of life of which they ntand in such urgent need."

Messrs Stone and Son have just returned from their annual tour throughout Otago and Southland, &c. in connection with their directory, '• and are now making the canvas's of Duhediti and suburbs, and compiling the sixth annual edition. The directory has rapidly 'increased in usefulness and popular favour throughout; New Zealand, and . we have seen numerous highly eulogistic notices of the current issue of tiiQ

work by tb« British and Australian press. We understand that Waimate, owing to its nearer proximity to Dunedin than to Christchurch, will be included among the country directories in the forthcoming issue, and that other improvements in detail will also be effected.

The ranks of the old settlers of Otago are being rapidly thinned by death. Our Portobello correspondent writes that another old pioneer settler, Mr Augus M'Pherson, passed away last vr'jek. He reached Otago in the eirly days from Victoria, and took up his residence on the Peninsula, where he has remained ever since. The Bruce Herald of Tuesday reports:— "Mr Sinclair Harrold, of Taieri Ferry, died rather suddenly on Saturday week, aged 75 years. The cau-5e of death was supposed to have been heart disease and inflammation of the lungs. Mr Harrold landed in the colony in 184 d, and settled in the North-East Valley, where he resided for a number of years, after which he shifted to Taieii Ferry, at which place he lived until his death. Captain Alexander Main, an old Tokomairiro resident, died suddenly on Monday murniug. He went out to the stable, and hi 3 son heard him fall just after entering it. He immediately went to his father's assistance, but found him dead. Deceased was disposed to apoplexy."

The North Ofcago Times states that all advices from the interior agree as to the deplorable state of stock owin<£ to the continuous fall of enow and Severn frosts. For a tirao every effort was made to keep sheep out of the snow, but latterly that had to be given up, as there was no place to put them, the wholo surface being covered. Cattle and horses gathered round the homesteads, looking wistfully at the fast diminishing haystack. It is almost certain that the loss of sheep will be the heaviest «ver known on the Upper Waitaki. The Waitaki mail driver reported on arrival at Kurow on Saturday night that on Thursday there wao 3ft of snow on the Otematata saddle.

The Southland Hussar Cavalry Volunteers have been disbanded, and the commissions of the officers have lapsed. The commission of Hon. Surgeon A. A. Cottow, Riversdale Volunteers, has been cancelled for absence from the colony without leave.

The friends of Messrs M'Leod Bros, (says tho Southland News) will regret to learn of the death of their brother Andrew, which took place at his father's home in Tapauui. The late Mr M'Leod was an ardent student, having secured several bursaries in the Universities of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh, and before his final examination had to leave for this colony on account of ill -health. The change had a beneficial effect, but the improvement was not permanent. He was. for some time tutor in the Boys' High School Rectory, Dunedin, and afterwards in . the service of the Education Board, North Canterbury.

The result of the local option poll at Makikihi, South Canterbury, on Saturday, was a block vote against increases. Only two voters turned up, and one of them voted iuformally.

The first of a series of social gatherings of the West Taieri branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union wan held at Woodside on Monday night. Mrs Kirkland (president) waa in the chair, and there was a crowded attendance. After tea, liberally supplied by the ladies of the union, addresses were delivered by the president, Mr A. S. Adams (Ounedin), Miss Fulton, Eev. J. Eirkland, and Mr Alexander Chisholm. The speeches were interspersed with a dialogne, a duet, and several sacred pieces, well rendered by Mr James Miller and his choir. The meeting was enthusiastic, and at the close a number remained to take the pledge and join the union.

The Waikouaiti Rifles at parade on Monday night lost presented Major Sutherland with a handsome sword, suitably inscribed, on his retirement from the command of the company. Lieutenant Scott, in making the presentation, accompanied it by a few well-chosen remarks on the serviette rendered to the company for over 18 years by Major Sutherland, who feelingly replied, thanking them for the honour conferred on him.

A.t the City Police Court on Tuesday Charles Williams was charged with stealing, on the 28th July, sit Deep Stream, live boards and one stable door of the value ot 10s, and four yards matting, value 4s, the property of Ann Heagerty.— Accused pleaded not guilty.— Constable O'Brien stated that on last Saturday Mrs Heagerty told him the house, which was unoccupied, had been broken into at Deep .Stream, and aslted h f m if lie could recover th« artisles. He went to Deep Stream. The accused was camped not very far from the house. Accused admitted taking the stable door and the other pieces of timber, which he said he had got from the stable, lie said he took the matting, but he did not take it nut of the house. Mrs Heagerty was ill. Accused was only n, few days at work there. — George Kuthorford, grandson of fifrs Heagerty, identified the matting na belonged to his grandmother. — Sergeant-major Bevin stated that the accused was before the court five days ago ■Tor drunkenness. It showed the time lie weut up there.— Accuspd said he found the matting outside 4ho houßGand ho hud it over two months.— Accused ■was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with Piard labour.

A sale by ancttan of Crown lands will be held on the 31st August, when township sections, small grazing run,, and pastoral licenses will be offered.