LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr W. N. Blair, of the Public Works department, has received a letter from the Rev. Dr Stuart. The letter was written at Teneriffe, and the Dr states that he was in first rate health and spirits. He had not suffered an hour's illness from the commencement of the voyage up to date of writing. He felt neither seasick nor homesick, and looked forward to the enjoyment ot bis visit, " hoping, by the mercy of Divine providence, he would be permitted to return with renewed health to be with his people in Danedin." The doctor was delighted with Rio de Janeiro. He was astonished to find such a lot of people, nearly all, and many of them fashionably, dressed, and with an appearance of comfort and happiness that spoke volumes for the progress and civilisation of the place. He is particularly struck with the physique of the majority of the people whom he met witb,,and states that although differing from them in religion, his admiration for the Brazilian clergy was elicited in a marked degree in the noble stand which they have made in connection with the emancipation of millions of slaves. The occupants of the pulpits of Rio were first and foremost in pleading the cause of the slaves.

The whereabouts of Jonathan Robert?, the prisoner who escaped from Ripa Island, Lyttelton, is still puzzling the police authorities. They imagine that he is yet hiding in some of the country districts of the Middle Island, but a story is going round which if true upsets that theory. The story goes that about three weeks ago Roberts, completely disguised, took passage in one of the Union Company's boats at Lyttelton for Wellington. A .friend in the meantime procured him a ticket for Melbourne ; and after staying here for a few days, he sailed for Victoria's capital in one of the regular steamers. His reasons for tnking bis departure from Wellington, instead of direct from Lyttelton, was to elude the police. So complete was the disguise when he reached the Wellington wharf that an old associate of his failed to recognise him. He reached Melbourne, it ia stated, in safety three weeks ago, but whether he has left Victoria for some other part of the world remains a mystery. The police, are in no way to blame for Roberts' escape, as his metamorphosis was so complete that his own mother would not have recognised him. The report of the inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the 6ix months ending June 30 shows that 85 cases were investigated, three persons were prosecuted and fined, three horses in consequence of being worn out and four dogs suffering from mange were destroyed at the request

of the inspector. No less than 58 persons were cautioned for various offences, of which 23 were for beating and ill-treating horses, eight for working horses with open sores under the harness, nine for working horses when lame, and fire for working horses in a weak condition. Among the other cases were four charges of keeping horses and cattle without sufficient food and water, and one of children ill-treating B goat. The inspector states 'that the public continue to come forward readily to give evidence in cases. The committee find it difficult to obtain the funds necessary to carry on the work. They have no interest in the fines or convictions, and the society depends wholly upon voluntary contributions. The inspector states that a number of cases have been prosecuted by the police, who have at all times given the society every assistance. It is stated that the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company are concerting arrangements to tender for the direct mill service fortnightly each way, on guuh terms as will yield a considerabie profit to the colony. It is in contemplation to allow passengers travelling by both lines ,the privilege of stopping en. route and continuing the journey by the steamers of either line. The Greymouth branch of tho Westport Coal Company was closed on the 9th, and the management of Wallsend aud Coalpitheath mines was handed over to Mr Martin Kennedy, who will in future assume control of the shipping of all minerals from Brunner, Wallsend, and Coalpitheath mines. This was the first step consequent upon the amalgamation of the Brunner Coal Mining Company with the Union Steam Shipping Company, which took effect on Saturday last. The vary trite saying " Once a thief always a thitf " is fully borne out in the case of Robert Jackson, alias Loughran, prominently mentioned in our telegram from New Plymouth yesterday morning. Loughran committed a series of very clever robberies in Dunedin several years ago, generally between the hours of 5 and 7 o'clock in the morning, which completely baffled the police for some time. Eventually he was captured one morning, committed for trial, aud afterwards received a sentence of several years' penal servitude. Since that time, and shortly after his liberation from Mount Cook prison, he received a sentence of five years for burglary at Napier. Another well-known criminal in Dunedin named John Morrison is at present a prisoner in Timaru Gaol awaiting trial for forgery and obtaining goods under f.ilae pretences. No doubt'raany of our readers may remember the scries of forgeries Morrison 'committed many years ago. He hired a horse at the White Horse Hotel, Dunedin, journeyed thence to Va\merston, Oamaru, the hindiw, Dunstan, Cromwell, Lurasd&n, and finally Invercargill, levying blackmail on people in ench of those places ; more especially in Invercargill, where he act"d the part of a g\y cavalier and Lotharis ac one of the principal hotels in th:xt place. He absconded from Invsrcjrgill, and shortly afterwards was arrested l»y Detective Tuohy at the Mataura Bridge Hotel. Since Morrison's arrival in the colony about 1805 ho was sentenced in all to 23 years. Two years for an irnlfic.-nt a«sault on a child in the Taieri ; five years for forgery in the name of tho late W. D. Murtsou, Dunedin ; aud several forgeries and hor-^e stealing on his journey from Dunedin, through the Lindis to Invercarsill— for those offences ho received sentences of 15 years. Some year* ago ho was removed from Dunedin to Wellington Gaol, where* he met with an accident on the works at Mount Cook Giol, on account of which he rtcoivcsd a rcmi.ision of six mouths' imprisonment. On his discharge, a situation was procured for him at Auckland, pending the gaol inquiry tit Dunedin. After giving evidence a 5 the gaol inquiry, a situation w.is provUc 1 for him in the Addingtou work>h< ps. Every a.vsiat<iuc.j was given to him to s-nablo him to regain his former position in soci.-ty. During the latter portion of his sentence iv Dunedin Gaol he was p?r mitud to nnke a small steam enyint', which »v.\s vx'iibite 1 f«*r some time in Mr (iilchrift's window, Octagon, where it attracted considerable attention, aud ultimately raflled for, aud the proceeds, amounting to a very large sum, was handed to him. It is considered probable that Government will make some provision for tho widow ot Gideon Williamson. The general rule in such cases is to allow a year's salary. The finest grades of razors .are go delicate that even the famous Damascus blades cannot equal them in texture. It is not generally known (•■ays a contemporary) that the grain of a Swcili-h rnzor is so sensitive that its general direction is changed after a short .service. Whon you buy a fine razor the grain runs from the upper end of tho outer point in a diagonal dinction toward the handle. Constant stropping will twist the steol until tho grain appears to si-t straight up and dowu. Subsequent use will drag the grain outward from the erlgo, so that after steady use for several months the fibre of the steel occupies a position exactly the reverse of that which appeared on the day of purchase. The process al&o affects the temper of the blade, and when the grain sets from the lower outer end toward the back you have a tool which cannot be kept in condition by tho most conscientious barber. But here's another freak of nature. Leave the raior alone for a month, and when you take it up you will find the grain has resumed its first position. This operation can be repeated until the steel is worn through to the back. The Clutha Leader states that the store of Mr Tennet was broken into on Saturday night and about 15s abstracted from the till. A rope was found fastened to the, top of tho chimney outside, the other end falling down inside to the floor, leading to tho impression that the burglar tad made an entranco by the chimney. This was scarcely possible, however, as the entrance at the top is only 13in by lOin. There is a bar across the chimney above the fire place, with °nly Bin space between the bar and the wall. The safe had been tampered with, but some money exposed was not touched. An act of devotion was performed by an TtillerymaH at Marseilles, France, on June 16, °Q the occasion of a military tournament. The Horse Artillery were taking part in these marthl exercises, when in the excitement of the moment '"? gunners who were loading one of tho cannon ;°rgot the handle of a rammer which they had just been using, and prepared to fire. One of 'hem, named Micelis, bethought himself of the rammer ere the charge ha<l ignited, and, conscious of the havoc it would cause among tho «owd, bravely rushed forward to extract it. At that moment the gun went off, and the poor fellow, receiving the rammer full in the breist, fank to the ground mortally wounded. At first Jj 1 was thought he was dead outright, but «c was still breathing. He was conveyed to the i hospital, where he expired a few hours after- | *&rds iv intense agony. M. Floquet at onco greeted that the tournament should.be brought to an cud, and soon he and his colleagues were at the bedbide of the dying artilleryman. Tha immigration and emigration returns for we colony for July show the arrivals to have b?eu 618 person?, while 1908 took their departure from New Zealand. The exodus was prin-

cipally to Victoria, 1055 having hooked for there, and 615 for New South Wales., The loss to the colony by excess of emigration over immigration during the previous six months ended June was 5139 persons. There were no arrivals or departures of Chinese in July. The imports for the June quarter were £1,132,503, and the exports £1,426,290. Both show a large increase over the corresponding quarter of last year. The Protectionist banquet held at Wellington on Saturday ,night was a great success so far as numbers were concerned. There were upwards of 1000 persons present, but nearly half of these were youths and striplings. Before the business of the evening had proceeded very far it bscarde evident that the committee had made a mistakein admitting so many youngsters. The noise was something dreadful, and the chairman had a difficult task to perform in keeping order. The Hon. Mr Fisher received a perfect ovation when he got up to respond for the Ministry. The best speech of the evening was that delivered by Sir Maurice O'Rorke in responding for the Parliament. Dr Fitchett spoko very well in proposing "The Industries of New Zealand." This was to have been responded to by Mr Fish, but that gentleman failed to put in an appearance. Mr W. P. Reeves delivered a very clever and witty speech in responding for the Press. The drill shed was tastefully decorated with the flags of all nations, and there were excellent string bands in attendance. There were spirituous liquors provided, but Speight's Dunedin beer was supplied in abundance, while any quantity of ginger ale and lemonade was consumed. The banquet finished about a quarter to 12. There has been an increase of patients in the hospital during the week from 109 to 117. Twenty-eight patients were admitted and 17 discharged. There were three deaths — Gideon Williamson, Eilen Allan, and David Lakitip. Letters of administration v/ere granted by his Honor Mr Justice Ward ou Friday (says the Lyttelton Times), under the will of one David M'Cleary, which presented a rather curious feature. The testator, it appeared, could not write ; accordingly his will was written and read to him hy one of tho executors, who then inadvertently signed his own name at the foot of the document. His Christian name happened to be the same as that of the testator. Tho latter affixed his mark without finding out the mistake, which perhaps is not remarkable, as, seeing that he oould not write, very probably he could not read. A more curious feature of the affair is that certain persons attested the signature without fiuding out the blunder. Mr Allan Scott, manager of tho Midland railway, has supplied the following particulars respecting the coutraet just signed to the Ohristchurch papers : — By the new contract just signed not only is the company bound to complete the whole line from Springfield to Nelson within the original term — that is, by January 1895 — but they are also bound to commence at tho Springfield and Nelson ends as soon as the necessary surveys can be made and tenders obtained. In addition to this the company will be pushing on those portions of the lino already commenced in two directions from Brunnerton — namely, toward Christchurch and toward Nelson. Work will thus be proceeding simultaneously ar. four different points. Mr Robert Wilson, engineer-in-cbief to the company, is expected to leave England for New Zealand shortly for the purpose of putting contracts in hand. It may fairly be expected, therefore, that before the end of this year a large number of men will again be employed. Ib is the company's interest and wish to commence as oarly as possible in i.he spring, in order to make the most of the fine weather. There was groat excitement in Napier on Monday last on learning the result of tho great Miiori will case, and thure was apparently a large amount of sympathy felt for Mr Broughton, the plaintiff. A Napier paper says: — "The feeling of sympathy with Mr William Broughton, which has been so freely expressed iv town to-riay, is having a very tangible outcome. We understand that £5 debentures are to be issued in order to defray the costs of an appeal against the judgment, which so much disappointed the general public of Hawke's Bay." An interesting discussion (says tho Chicago Times) is b^ing carried on by the principles of tho Kansas city public schools. They met thft other day to consider tbo question of supprejsing tho game of marbles as played " for keeps." Ih was agreed that *s an amusement marble playing was all right, but there was a division on tho question of "keeps." One side held thjvt it was immoral, dangerous, vicious. The othf-r side Raid it was a necessary part of a boy's education ; that marbles for keeps is simply a miniature phase of life's trials and contests, aud 'hat a boy in playing for keeps might learn many a lesson that he would have to learn some time or fail. Those who stood up for this practice declared it was not immoral, and called in the ch'irch fair with its several binds of lottery schemes, the horse races at the annual fairs, whist, euchre, and like games which aro played for prizes. These, they said, are no worse than speculations in corner lots, or- any of the other games which respected men play " for keeps." One supporter of tho game went so far as to declare that a boy has two natures — his moral nature and his selfish nature — and that neither should be suppressed ; " for," said he, " the destruction of the selfish nature signifies the crushing of all aspirations and the annihilation of all motives." Some of those who agreed that marbles for keeps is an immoral praotice still held that an attempt to suppress it would only result in driving the boys to practising deception, which would be worse than the game. According to Mr Frederick Harrison'a " Life of Cromwell," which has just been published, quite a large number of public men and betterknown county families derive descent from Cromwell, the great Protector. Amongst the better known of his descendants through female lines are the Marquis of Ripon, the Earl of Chichester, Earl Morley, Earl Cowper, the heirpresumptive to the earldom of Derby, Lord Walsingham, Lord Ampthill, Sir John Lubbock, Mr Charles Villiers, M.P., Sir Charles Strickland, and Sir W. Payne Gallway. An extraordinary robbery is reported to have been perpetrated iv the West End of London. A man is reported to have visited 73 Portland placp, and representing that he was from the (irosvenor Gallery, requested to be allowed to look at the electric light apparatus with which the establishment is provided. His request w.is granted. The man had a bag with him ; this is supposed to have contained hi-; burglary apparatus. Be that as it may, he is sakl to have, managed to remain in the house uuril an opportune moment presented itself, when he forced open a number of drawers, aud escaped with jewellery and valuables worth at least £2000. Bogus Certificates.— lt is no vile drugged stuff, pretending to be made of wonderful foreign roots, barks, &c, and puffed up by long bogus certificates of pretended miraculous mires, but a simple, pure, effective medicine, imde of well known valuable remedies, that furnishes its own certificates by its own cure 3. "We refer to Dr Soule's American Hop Bitters, the purest and best of medicines. See another column.—" Republican."

The Daily Ne.ws correspondent at New York gives a graphic'account of the enthusiasm displayed at the renomination of Mr Cleveland by the Democratic Convention. He says the great mass of people in the body of the hall, in the balcony, and in the galleries scut forth cheer after cheer until the din became deafening. The delegates stood upon chairs and waved their hats and handkerchiefs. Someone On the stage crowned the bust of the President on the left of the chairman with a laurel wreath, which was the signal for even a wilder burst of shouts and cheers than before. Although a full band of 60 performers was playing at the time not a sound from its trumpets could be heard. The climax of the great scene was reached when the banners of all the States were borne by the delegates to the New York standard and draped about it. At this time the enthusiasm was unbounded the spectators aud delegates tore the red, white,, and blue bunting from the pillars and from the front of the balconies, aud waved these improvised banners nil over the hall for 10 minutes. This remarkable outburst' did not cease until everybody was absolutely exhausted. It was exactly 24 minutes before the chairman was able to regain the control of the conventiou. New South Wales is iv advance of all the colonies in the matter of technical education. The Sydney Technical College costs £17,000 a year. One thousand nine hundred and thirty pupils were enrolled in ISB7, and the average cost of each was about £16 per annum. Some complaints are made that the range of work is at present too wide. There are some 66 subjects taught, amongst those being dentistry and pharmacy. There is in tho London Hospital a strange patient, who was recently visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales. They call him the elephant man, not that this is his technical title, but; he has been shown as a curiosity in Brussels and in a London side-show under that attractive name. Ho is afflicted with some strange disease, the effect of which is an abnormal growth of bone. The deposit of bone is internal, aud it forces the outer bone forward in such a way as to give the head and one hand and foot quite an elephantine appearance. The forehead is like an elephant's, the nose is of peculiar growth, and the mouth is horribly distorted. The back of the head is enormous, and the right hand is large and flat, something like an elephant's foot, only that in addition there are big fat fingers. The poor wretch can talk ; he 6ays he has beeu gradually growing like this for many years (he is only 29), and he is very grateful to the hospital authorities for taking care of him. It has been decided to postpone the Waterloo Cup Cour&ing meeting on account of the wet weather. The sport will now take place on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th. The time for the payment of the sweep and the entries for 'the Bracelet Stakes has been extended to the 21st iutt. •A New York oculist says that the greatest enemy to the eyes of young men is The cigarette. Recently a disease has appeared among smokers, which is dangerous, and after careful investigation the best authorities, who for a long time were at a loss to understand the peculiar malady, have traced it to tho small, paper-covered tobacco sticks. It is now .known as the " cigarette eye," aud can be cured only by long treatment. Its symptoms are dimness and film-like gathering over the eye, which appears and disappears at intervals. Another slip occurred at the Purakanui Cliffs on Thursday night, in consequence of which the express from the North did not reach town till 10 minutes past 11 o'clock. The slip was discovered by the watchman shortly after 7 o'clock and he went north aud rcet the express train, which was sent back to Waita-ti. He at once communicated with Mr Grant, traffic manager, who despatched a special train to bring on the pas.->Hngers from the express, but when the train got as far as Sawyers' Bay word was received from Purakanui that the line was clear. The train consequently returned to Dunedin, aud the express train once more started from Waitati, reaching town a few minutes after 11 o'clock. One of the passengers by the express states that it was reported that the men employed on the line to keep it clear showed some disinclination to start to work to remove the slip for fear of accidents. One or two of them, however, eventually commeuced operations, and the otherfi followed suit, with the result that the line was cleared in about two hours. The frequent slips which have occurred of late are set down to thu action of warm rain on the frozen ground. The sun shines for a very brief period only each day on the. cliffs, and when frost sets in its action continues almost all day. Wh«ii warm rain follows it is quickly melted, and then follows a process of disintegration. The Cable Superintendent at Wakapuaka. wires that on tho 6th inst. tho s.s. Recorder restored communication on tho Java-Darwin cable, and both cables are now perfect. The ship, speaking from mid ocean, says that the breaks are due to volcanic disturbance. Much of the cable is buried, and they had to insert a new piece in order to complete the repair. A meeting of the Macandrew Memorial Fund Committee was hold iv the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. There were present — Messrs Leary (chairman), Gillies, Davie (treasurer), Hastings (secretary), and Raynbird. The treasurer reported that the deposit receipt for £200 in the Colonial Bank would mature on the following day, and he wished to take instructions as to what was to be done. It was resolved that £210 be redeposited iv the Colonial Bank for 12 months, and that £10 out of the current account be invested in the Savings Bank. After the business had been concluded, and the members above mentioned had taken their departure, Messrs J. L. Deunißton, Esther, Cairns, and Driver put in an appearance, and fiuding that the meeting had beeu held before 3 o'clock, the advertised time, they entered a written protest against the proceedings. >» At the meeting of the Waitaki High School Boird of Governors Mr Gilford wrote stating that he had received the offer of a mastership in Christ's College Grammar School, Christchurch, which he felt it would bo imprudent to decline, and begged to resign his present position in the Waitaki High School at the end of the year. Mr Sydney Gilbert tendered his resignation as third master, which was acpepted. Dr Galbraith.of Invercargill,who was wounded by a shot fired by John Maloney, is still unable to appear in court. The News states that a large number of shot remain embedded in the doctor's thigh, and the severe shock caused to the nervous system has so prostrated him that it is feared some time must, elapse before he will be able to get about again. According to the correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald Sir Fraucis Dillon Bell nearly secured the services of Mr Eddy, the new Commissioner of Railways of New South Wales, for New Zealand. Sir Dillon was very anxious to secure him, and would have been able to have dona so could he have offered him £500 a year more than the Government was prepared to give. While negotiations were proceeding between Mr Eddy and the Agent-general for New

Zealand, Sir Daniel Cooper stepped in ' and engaged him, greatly to Sir Dillon Bell's annoyance. The chairman of the London and NorthWestern Railway Company has expressed the opinion that " New South Wjles has secured a man second to none." A small Gatling gun, not larger than mauy children's toys displayed in shop windows, says the Court Journal, has been brought out in the United States, which, however, is not to serve as such, but for a sterner purpose. This improved Gatling gun, consisting of five steel barrels, only lOin long, with the necessary number of wheels, and cogs, and rachets, and terminating in a handle, the whole mounted on brass, has a total weight af only 751b. It is said to be so easily handled that a child can turn the crank and grind out bullets at the rate of 800 a minute. This small Gatling is intended for police and city use, and can be fired with equal facility and rapidity,- from the cellar up or from the roof down. It can also be fired while advancing or retreating. The gun has beep submitted to the military authorities of the' United' States. The ratepayers of the borough of East Invercargill, in meeting assembled, have decided to borrow a , sum of £300p to pay off existing loans and carry on public works. At the congregational meeting of the Presbyterian Church, Cromwell, held on the 2nd iust., it was unanimously resolved that a call be given to' the Rev. Mr Hunter. An amusing story is told in London concerning Mr Austin Chamberlain, son of Mr Joseph Chamberlain. That gentleman has chosen to contest the Separatist constituency of Hawick at the next election, and is now busily making himself acquainted with the electorate. On a recent Sunday he attended service at a chapel in Hawick, and the preacher's text happened to be, " Let us alone ; what have we to do with thee,' chou son of Joseph ? " At first sight this looks' a little rough on Mr Austin Chamberlain, but, always supposing there is any political bignificance to be attached to the incident, a reference to the circumstances under which these words were originally uttered would make the preacher out to be severe on the Hawick burghers. Few.people (says the Northern Advocate) are 'aware of the extent to which the truck system has been carried at most of the mills and timber stations. Not only are stores limited, and workmen* obliged to buy at those stores, but at one place, if a man rears and fattens a pig of his own for his own family consumption, he has to pay a tax of Id per lb to his employers. The Bishop of Peterborough, speaking at Kettering the other day, urged the importance of regular systematic giving towards the church. He said he heartily wished the church could do without bazaars and fancy fairs, which he thought most objectionable contrivances for raising money. He could not believe in many cases they were necessary. It would be better to induce men to give cheerfully for the sake of God and the church than for pleasure, excitement, or amusement received. Lord James Douglas, who was sent to prison the pother day for contempt of court- in communicating with Miss Isabel Edith Scott, seems to belong to a remarkable family. His eldest brother is the Marquis of Queensberry, who amongst other things, is a Secularist lecturer. Another brother, Lord Archibald Douglas, conducta' a Boy 3* Home in the Harrow road, where he has endeavoured to produce some modern miracles for the Church of Rome. A sister, Lady Gertrude, is said some years ago to have married a baker, and lived with hid! at his shop, at Shepherd's Bush. A twin sister is Lady Florence Dixie, of the Fishery, Windsor, who championed Cetewayo. Her extraordinary story about a contest she is reported to have had with the emissaries of the National League in her own garden will be remembered by our readers. The story about Mr Goschen's correspondence with the little girl who complained about the horse tax (says the St. James' Gazette) has not beeu fully told. The first letter began, "My dear Chancellor," and stated that " papa " had decided to give up " Jennie," the pony, on account of the tax. Thi3 was very hard, as he had promised the writer a new habit. " And I don't like you at all," said the candid little lady. To which Mr Goschcn replied, " My charming little correspondent, — You are a very clever little girl at seven years of age to know how to spell the word chancellor. You may tell your papa that if your pony is not too many hands high ho will not have to pay anything for it ; and as I have let him off a good deal more, he ought to give you a new habit." Back came a letter, which showed that the first communication had been inspired by an artful patent. "My dear Chan-sc-lor," wrote the little maiden, regardless of the compliment on her orthography, " this is rely my own. I love you very much. Papa has kept Jeny, and given me the new habit. My darling Chanselor, I would like to kiss you." This letter ought to be preserved amongst the archives of the Exchequer. Mr P. S. Younge, of Kurrow, in a letter to the Daily Times, from which we take the following extract, takes a very gloomy view of the effects of the recent bad weather in the Upper Waitaki district. He writes: — The suspension of the rabbit poisoning was among the first of the evils which the bad weather brought about ; but the real effect of this will not be visible for some months. Suffice it to say, that while snow hides the poison and drives the rabbiters from their te.nts it does not materially [inconvenience the rabbit. The destruction of stock too, although it is impossible as yet to appreciate its full extent, must have been exceptionally heavy. In several positions which seem well sheltered from the terrible wind I have observed sheep dying or dead, and on the bleak wastes in parts of Benmore and Omarama I fear the country must be almost depopulated of its wool-bearing inhabitants, while there is a rumour afloat that at Ben Ohau Station " coDf usion now hath made its masterpiece," and the entire stock has been annihilated. In the frost which followed the second great fall of snow the thermometer at Benmore Station marked six degrees above Fahrenheit's greatest possible cold, whiln at the same time six degreo3 below z^ro was marked on the centigrade scale at the Rugged Ridges Station. At this temperature gums oOft'high were killed, while at the neighbouring Aviemore Station the water pipes were burst and the very eggs frozen solid. During the second fall of snow the Waitaki coach was unable to cover the distance between Omarama and the wire rope at the Ohau, while on the Otematala saddle the driver reported 3ft of snow. PIARR:?(EA, T>YSEX r l ( ERY, A>T> COLIC— It Ollght to be more generally known throughout New Zealand, that Freeman's Original and Genuine Chlorodyne is a specific for these prevalent Coloni-«1 Maladies. la Canterbury and Auckland, miny years ago, Freemau'a Chlorodyne acquired a very high reputation for arresting arid curing these diseases, It is easy to understand, therefore, that Freeman's Chlorodyne Is now regarded by the Colonists as a household remedy. The directions on each bottle are so clear, that the most inexperienced can administer it with perfect confidence to Children, Adults, and those of advanced life. lusist upon having " Freeman's only." Trade mark, an Elephant.— Sold every where. , Obtam» ble from all chemists and storekeepers.

; His Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jervois arrived in Dunedin overland from the Bluff about 6.30 on Monday evening. A special train brought his Excellency to Waihola, and a carriage waiting there connected with another special train at Mosgiel. After dining his Excellency left by another special train for Christchurch. He was accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Captain Fortescne. A rather important case under the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act was dealt with by Mr E. H. Carew, R.M., on Monday. It appeared that on the 2nd inst., Messrs Hutchison and J, P. Jones, who were the presiding justices, made an order in a judgment summons case of H. S. Fish and Son v. Amelia Nicholson that the defendant, a married woman, who did not appear to defend the summons, should pay the amount of the debt (£4 18s) forthwith, in default three days' imprisonment. Under this order, the defendant was yesterday committed to gaol. 'Mr Finch applied that the order should be rescinded on the ground that it was contrary to the provisions of the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act that a married woman should be imprisoned for debt, the only legal remedy being against her ? goods. Mr Stuart, who appeared on the other side, agreed that the point raised by Mr Finch was not arguable, and Mr Carew, R.M., made an order that the defendant should be discharged forthwith from custody. The following satisfactory view of the position in Dunedin is taken by the " Australian Brewers Journal" of July 20 :— " Notwithstanding dull trade, there are not wanting signs that we are on the eve of better times ; notably is this tho case as regards properties, the inquiries being numerous, and in several instances lots have changed hands at satisfactory figures. It is a good thing to know that the depression is bottomed, and although values are low now, if the inquiries referred to continue we may look shortly for a sharp rise in them. We know not of anything better worth a capitalist's attention than property in Dunedin ; nay, Otago and Southland generally. Values cannot be lower, and any change must be an upward one, which would give good interest to purchasers for income purposes, or splendid profits to speculators buying to turn over. Business engagements are now well met, bankruptcies are few, and then only for small sums, and our exports are increasing aud fetching better prices ; notably, wool butter, cheese, &c." Mrs Shaw, the American Whistling Lady, is reaping a fine harvest in London. Her charges are 25 guineas for whistling three songs, and she is full of engagements. Many ladies are learning whistling, and fair sibillants are likely to be plentiful next season. Mrs Shaw is young and very handsome. The circumstances in connection with the divorce case in which Mrs Dion Boucioault obtained a decree of divorce from her husband, Mr Dion Boucicault, the well-known playwright and actor, were peculiar, and the court clearly considered that Mrs Dion Boucicault had been badly used. It appears that she became acquainted with Mr Boucicault in 1851 while acting at the Princess' Theatre in London, which was then under tho management of Mr Charles Kean. Her maiden name was Miss Agnes Robertson, and she was. an actress of great promise. Mr Boucicault induced her to live with him, but in August 1853, she was anxious to break off the relations which existed between them. She went to America and he followed her there. In November of that year, when he was residing at New York, he promised to make her his wife, and they lived togethe/ for some year 3 afterwards. The law of the State of New York as regards marriages resembles that o£ Scotland, nothing more being requisite to constitute a valid deed of marriage than the simple consent of the parties to regard one another as man and wife. When they returned to England Mr Boucicault always referred to her as his wife, and Mr Justice Butt, who tried tho case, said he could testify to this being so. In 1878 they separated, and a few years afterwards Mrs Bou- [ cicault heard that h'?r husband had gone through the ceremony of marriage with a Miss Tosephiue Louiso Thorndyke, in Sydney. A despatch to the Chicago Tribune says that the Excelsior geyser in tho Yellowbtone Park is in operation. This geyser is in the great middle geyser basin, closo to Fire Hole river. It is in the form of an immense pit 320f D in length and 200 ft wide, and the aperture through which it discharges its volume of water is nearly 200 ft in diameter. Its general appearance is that of a huge boiling spring, and for many years its true character was not suspected. Its first eruption occurred in 1880, when it revealed itself as a stupendous geyser. The power of its eruptions was almost incredible, sending an immense column of water to heights of from 100 ft to 300 ft, aud hurling with it rocks and boulders of from lib to 1001b iv weight. Its present eruption is said to be a repetition of that of 1580. It is throwing its volumes of water 300 ft into the air, , and Fire Hole river is reported to have risen 2ft from its rushing floods. This is now conceded to be the most powerful geyser iv existence. The following patents have been' applied for :— Thomas Begg, Dunedin, for improvements in machinery for saving gold and other metals, to be called " The Centrifugal Amalgamator ;" William Wilkiuson, Vunedin, for improvements in machinery for crushing ore and other substances ; J. B. Armstrong, Canada, for improvements in gig running gears, for improvements in single-pla^e carriage-springs and in the method of their attachment to the gears, and for improvements in two-piste carriage-springs; T. R. James, Melbourne, for improvements iv and connected with underground- conduits for electric conductors ; J. J. Macky, Auckland, for an improved form of metal pen, to be called "The Marriage Pen"; John Cook, Port Chalmers, superintending engineer for the Union Steamship Company, for Cook's Air-tube Fur-nace-bridge ; William Clifford, Marlborough, for a new method of and appliances for stretching and drying skins of rabbits and other animals, also for improvements in same ; Henry Appleby, Ireland, for improvements in blast pipes, and iv means for regulating the draught created thereby; William Clark, London, for improvements in apparatus for clipping horses or other animal* and dead skins; J. F. W. H. Schadick, Westport, for pnrspectography aud topography, called " topograph " ; Joseph Hewetsou, jun., Nelson, sawmiller, for an improved flax-dressing machine; P*J Carman, Wellington, for a smokeconsuming and fuel r-conomising furnace bridge ; J. V:iile, for "Vaile's patent self-counter-sinking screw." At a meeting held in Dunedin on Monday for the purpose of considering the report of Dr Macgregor and the question of charitable aid generally, the following motion was carried : — "That a committee cmsistine; of the Rev. Dr Belcher, Mr Henry M*Kenzie, Dr Coiquboun, and General Fulton, with power to add to their number, be appointed to confer with the Benevolent Trustees as to whether any better organisation of charity can be proposed." Mr Clement Morton, of Dunedin, has taken out a patent for an improved recoil endorsing stamp. The patent is a combination of stamp and stand, and is a novelty in its way. Theadvantages claimed for it. are that the stamp pad is so protectul l.\ .i !"-ags rim that it can always be kept perfectly clean, and the rim

serves as a steadier for the hand, so that there is no possibility of making a blurred impression, The patent is very compact, and of neat design, and brass rubber or steel stamp can be used in connection with it. Annng the New Zealand people at present in Melbo irne (writes our special Melbourne correspondent) are Dr Neill, late of Seacliff Asylum, and Mr Shilling, formerly storekeeper in that institution, and the severance of whose counectiou with the asylum by the inspector eventually led to'Dr Neill's retirement. They proceed to India 'shortly. Ths Grand Hotel (or Coffee Palace) is the rendezvous of most of the New Zealand visitors now in Melbourne, those at present there being Dr Neill, Mr H. Connell (of Oamairu), Messrs Brodrick, Mendershausen, and Fenwick (of Dunedin), Mr J. Aitken Connell (of Auckland), and an old New Zealander in the person of Captain Baldwin might also be included in the party. The majority of these return to New Zealand by the Mararoa next we«k.The' Hon. Dr Menzies, M.L.A., who had to return home through illness, was in a very serious condition last week suffering from congestion of the lungs, but the unremitting attention of Drs Grigor and Stockwell has resulted in a chango for the better. With reference to Mr P. S. Younge's letter, wh ; ch appears abov. j , Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co writus .is fo'lows in Wednesday's Daly Tirae3:- Severe as the weather has undoubtedly been ia that neighbourhood, we caunot allow the statements of your correspondent to pass unchallenged so far as tho Ben Ohau run is concerned. Our last advices from the manager were dated 10th inst., and ho states that, to that date, after going round among the sheep he found very few indeed dead. No doubt tho want of feed will have told upon the condition of the stock, and considerable loss may be sustained as spring approaches ; at tho same time we do not expect that the death rate will be anything like so great as many wouldanticipate. A singular discovery was made by the warders at Darlinghurst Gaol wh»2n searching a prisoner who had been remanded on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. The prisoner, who states that he is Johann Abraham, a Persian Roman Catholic priest, who had been collecting money to build a monastery in his native land, hid every appearance of abject poverty, but around his waist, concealed by bandages of dirty rags, was found a leather pouch containing 398 sovereigns, 173 20-franc gold pieces, and 75 50-franc gold pieces. A difference of opinion is said to exist in clerical circles as to whether the prisoner was a Roman Catholic priest. He was subsequently sentenced to six months' imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences. It was shown that the prisoner had applied to Dr Carroll, the vicar-general, for permission to collect subscriptions for a church in Persia, but Dr Carroll being convinced that Abraham was not a priest, declined the request. The charge was fully proved, and the Bench, besides sentencing the prisoner to a term of imprisonment, directed that the money found on him should be divided equally among the tbree principal metropolitan hospitals. The rabbit pest on the Darling river, New South Wales, was kept in check somewhat by cats, but it now appears that cats, both wild and tame,are dying in hundreds of a disease which is similar in its symptoms to that which has been attacking the rabbits. The latter, however, are not affected by the disease, and it is feared that they will rapidly increase now that the wild cats, which kept them down, are dying off. The Evening Post says a private telegram received in Wellington on Saturday, dated London, Friday, quotes New Zealand mutton at 5£A per lb, and beef (hind-quarters) at 5d per lb. In view of the suppression of the "Pocket totalisator" here, the following, from the Paris correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, will be of interest :— " The authorities who have been responsible for the institution of the " Pari-mutuel," or " mutual betting" on racecourses, and which was intended to deal a death blow at book betting, are now beginning to grow alarmed at the perilous progress made by the system of gambling which they have sanctioned with open eyes. So-called commission agents have established " pari-mutuel" offices all over the capital, both in private buildings and in public houses and caft s. These places exist under official sanction, for the Government haß authorised the " pari-mutuel, ?> and they are alleged to be for the benefit of people who want tc win some money by racing, but who have not time to afcteud tho various meetiugs. Tho consequence is that more gambling takes place, and moro " gulls" are victimised, than in tho days when the bookmakers were allowed to j»ly their pencils without lot or hindrance. There nro, moreover, three big 'syndicates,' or associations of « pari-mutuels/ which acfc like vast financial agencies, and receive country orders. Thus, instead of doing away with the bookmakers, the Government has practically led to the formation of a corps of betting agents, who are now 700 or 800 strong, and are bookmakers in everything but name, doingi moreover, much more harm to • greenhorns ' than the origiuatl donneurs who were put down by M. Goblet. Naturally the Public Charity department has been wroth owing to this state of affairs, because it does not receive its authorised percentage From the ' bogus ' betting office, and nu investigation will shortly be ordered by ike prefecture of police, the result of which will go far to convinces the authorities that they would have acted more prudently had they left matters in statu quo, and had not interfered with the bookmakers at all.? The ladies connected with the St. Andrew's *™i!y Aid Society and the teachers of the buwday school invited a number of tbe parents of the i cnildren and other aclulta residing in the neighbourhood of Walker street to take tea last njgat m tho new Mission Hall in Walker street. • A good number of persons sat down to tea, and after their material wants had been supplied, a musical programme, interspersed by speeches, was carried out. Tho Rev. Mr Wad<.ell, who presided, in the course of a short f-neech- referred to the object for which the h&U was built, and said that its presence in the district was au evidence of the interest taken by the congregation of St. Andrew's Church in the welfare of those for whom the hall was erected He also expressed a hopo that they would make good jise ot it, aud intimated that it was intended shortly to throw the hall open as a free reading room. Mr A. S. Paterson also cave a fchort i address, and vocal selections were contributed by Mrs Reynolds, Miss J. Low, Mr Ash and merabera of the St. Andrew's choir. It is generally believed that the reported » -tempt to rob the Bank of North Queensland at lownsyille was a delusion on the part of Marshall, the bank official, who, it is presumed, had an attack of nightmare, and fired his revolve* while suffering from extreme nervousness avA trignt. Two policemen who were close to t'ae bank state- that they distinctly saw one fla £ h Marshall declares that he fired simultaneo- fl tw with the supposed burglar. No trace whafJvvi. has been discovered of tho man whom Ma- /■hall states that he wounded. am

Blanket Sand. Pyrites. Amalfiara. Gold. 1887 July Aug. Sept. Ocfc. Nov. Dec. 188S Tan. Feb. Mar. April May June t'nscwtqr 18 4 0 20 3 0 54 0 0 36 16 0 46 14 3 55 14 2 I t'ns cwt qr 3 5 2 6 19 1 5 12 2 3 14 0-12 5 16 2-27 5 16 1-8 oz dwt 43 15 126 0 .147 0 141 d 139 0 191 5 oz dwt gi 9 8 ( 29 1 ( 36 16 ( 35 5 ( 34 15 ( 38 8 ( 49 9 2 46 3 1 46 H 0 36 13 0 32 It 3 56 13 0 494 19 3 ■' 5 7 0-lrt 4 19 1-9 3 16 0-13 3 10 3-1 2 15 3-16 6 15 2-24 191 0 195 0 ! 198 0 193 0 162 10 202 0 39 5 ( !35 6 ( 39 14 ( 38 10 ( 32 10 ( 37 17 ( ■'68 19 1-24' 'wo o