LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1921, 14 September 1888, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated that Vernon, one of the quarter* masters of the s.s. Hauroto, made a dastardly attempt to throw Captain M'Donald, harbourmaster at the Bluff, overboard early on Friday morning. The harbourmaster had arranged to haul the Hauroto off the wharf at 3 a.m. to enable her to get away early, and on going , aboard found nouody about. He therefore had to call the mate, who asked if nobody was at , the gangway. Being answered in the negative, "the mate reprimanded Vernon for neglecting his duty. The harbourmaster then went ashore to ease the hawser, and while doing so heard someone coming behind him, but thought it was was one of the harbour staff. The next moment he was caught by the legs and thrown against a pile, cutting his forehead. But for having hold of a rope he must have gone overboard, and would perhaps have been drowned, as a strong ebb tide was running and the night was very dark. The harbourmaster, being a powerful man, got the mastery after a severe struggle, and gave his assailant a sound thrashing. The man will be arrested when the vessel returns, to the Bluff. He was let go so as not to detain the Hauroto.

There was a large attendance of members at the monthly meeting of the Gaelic Society at the Stuart street Oddfellows' Hall on the sth inst. Mr John M*Donald, of Palmerston, proposed five new members — viz., Sir R. Stout, Mr John Ross (of Sargood, Son, and E wen), Mr D. Stronach, Mr Thomas Menzies, and Mr Peter M'Leod. Mr John M'Kenzie, M.H.R., made touching allusion to the death of the ohief of the society, the Hoa. Dr Menzies. The chairman, Mr D. M'Lauchlin, and Mr John M'Donald addressed the meeting in Gaelic en ,the same subject. Songs were given by Mrs Laurence, Miss K. M'Douald, Miss M. M'Leod, Mr Neil M'Fadyen, aud Mr M'Kenzie. The society's piper (Mr J. M'Kechnie) played a number of Highland reels, which were danced by a great part of the audience, who enjoyed a pleasant evening.

The Timaru Borough Council has decided to invite alternative tenders for lighting the streets by gas or electricity, 100 incandescent lamps being stipulated for in the latter case.

Detective Walker, who was sent over to jSydney having charge of the French escapee Gaspurini, has returned to Auckland. He has uo doubt his prisoner was drowned. He was seen to get up as the vessel was entering Sydney harbour, about 2 o'clock in the morning, by Jo3hua Palmer, cattle dealer, of Tokomairiro, who slept next to Gasparini. The latter was never seen afterwards. He could not have reached shore on account ot the rough weather, and the French detective in Sydney would have kuown within four hours if the prisoner had landed there. Gasparini became very lowspirited when nearing Sydney.

Mr J. W. Joynt, who has been appointed principal of Nelson College, has held the position of judge's associate in Christchurch. He is an M.A. of Dublin University, and double gold medallist. He intends making a trip to the old country before entering upon his new sphere of duties.

According to a telegram in the Sydney Daily Telegraph, a grave scandal has occurred in connection with the New South Wales court at the Melbourne Exhibition. Goods, particularly tinned preserves, have been disappearing nightly for some time, and it was suggested by a person holding a position on the executive commissioners' staff that the police or firemen were the culprits. The other night, however, a constable discovered this very person, with a companion who is also employed in the court, in the very act of filling their overcoat pockets with tins of preserved meat. No arrest has been made, though the matter has been reported to the Commissioner of Police and the executive commissioners of the exhibition. Both men are said to be still employed in the New South Wales court.

Speaking of the minerals in our court at the Melbourne Exhibition, the editor of the Australasian gives the following unbiassed opinion : " It would have been better if the coal for the exhibition had been sent from New Zealand in large blocks to indicate the thickne&s of the seams. Lumps loosely put together, as in a coal yard, do not produce a striking effect nor tell an impressive, story. No fault is to be found with the quantity or the quality of ihe separate collections in the New Zealand court. But the proper way to show coal and auriferous and other stone is demonstrated in the New South Wales court, where everything is on a large seale — the coal in pillars, aud the qunrtz, silver, and tin ores in tall pyramids, The mineral specimens in the New Zealand court would only interest a mineralogist."

There is a land where it is always Leap Year, according to Mr Frank Cushing, who writes to the San Francisco Chronicle :—": — " In Zuni land the woman makes the first advances looking towards marriage. The woman raises the family. She transmits the name. She sends to the youth she chooses a basket of meal or ; each •&, and if he is inclined towards her he forthwith makes a present of 'primary cons.jeratiou,' consisting of a pair of mocassins of 11 whole deerskin, beautifully dressed and snowwhite. That signifies that she is provided with 1- hoes for life. The only sanctification of the marriage is the formal adoption of c the young man after the acceptance of the bundle. He is then the stepson of the girl's father."

The present year has been a remarkable one for fires in Russia. As in Russia nothing is done by halves (writes a correspondent), you never Lear of a house having been burned down, but " a whole town, the inhabitants of which to the number of 8000 or 10,000 are camping in tents tnd have nothing to eat." Russia burns every summer, but since 1881 there has notbeen such a year for fires as the present. The principal cause of all these fires i ; the insurance offices. As soon as a man has insured hih house for double i fca value he sets it on fire without the .slightest regard to the human beings iuside, so causing the most distressful loss of life. "O course, the incendiaries who are caught are judged, condemned, and sent to Siberia, but not one in 10 is caught, and most of the catastrophies attributed to evil chance are the work incendiaries or pyromaniacs. In Finland, where the laws are so severe, and where a man who sets a house on fire wilfully is shot down like a dog, fires are of very rare occurrence. ■ Writing on " Dress and Economy " in the July number of "Longman's Magazine," Mrs Henry Reeve gives us some very remarkable " facts and figures and other data for the con* etraotion of a soale of expenditure and of ratio to income of the coat of clothes," The writer

has evidently been at much pains to collect these facts, &c, from various informants ; and though these iatter often prefer to give the house rent they pay rather than the income they possess, their information is surprising enough. One lady who has a " small income of £800 a year," finds £30 enough for her dress. Another who, with her husband, enjoys an income of £1500 (no children), spends only £50 on her dress, while her husband's averages £26 10a per annum. Again, a professional man, with " £2000 a year to spend," gives his two daughters £40 a year for dress, and a " gentleman who shoots, plays tennis, mixes in the best society in town and country, and travels on the Coutinenb," spends only £22 a year on his raiment. Finally, an inquiry among 28 bachelors (including M P.'s, civil servant?, barristers, and country squires) shows a maximum expenditure of £34 and a minimum of £14, or an average of £23 a year, spent on dress.

The Great Burlington strike is leading to some veryuj.ly disclosures in its death-throes (writes the New York correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald). Although they were beaten a month ago tho men kept well together, aud have now been caught by the Pinkerton detectives in the very act of arranging a series of dynamite outrages. Suspicion was first excited by several unsuccessful explosions, and it now seems clear that the president of the union himself certainly knew of and probably inspired them. In otker sections of the country there has also been a good deal of mysterious incendiarism and other kinds of mischief; and it is to be feared that a good many of the. unions are tainted with the worst principles of anarchism. Yet in numbers the organised forces are to the full as many as they ever were. The Kuights of Labour have lost half oi their membership, but in their place the more compact Federation of American Labour musters nearly 700,000 strong, and is a much more compact and manageable body. The check to the power of men has come not from their own failing strength, but from the increased organisation of the employers. The brewers' strike failed because it was found that all the brewers in every part of the union were bound together in a league for mutual defence. The great trusts have all of them vastly simplified the machinery of defence against boycotts, and the boycott and not the strike itself was the secret of the success that attended the operations of the Kuights of Labour in 1884-86.

Some curious facts, showing that domestic animals are capable of spreading infection, are recorded in his report on the recent sustained prevalence of diphtheria in Enfield, by Dr Bruce Low, of the Medical department of the Local Government Board. He incidentally states.says the Sanitary Record, that during December 1887 and January 1888 there was a large mortality among cats, so much so that the dustmen said that they had never remembered seeing so many dead cats iv dust heaps before. The following incident occurred at Enfield at the time, and shows the possible connection between diphtheria in children and in cats: — A little boy was taken ill with what turned out ultimately to be fatal diphtheria. On the first day of his illness he was sick, and the cat, which was in the room at the time, licked the vomit on the floor. In a few days (the child meanwhile having died) the auimal was noticed to be ill, and her sufferings being so severe and so similar to those of the dead boy, the owner destroyed her. During the early part of its illness this cat had been let out at nights in the back yard, as usual. A few days later the cat of a neighbour who lived a few doors further off was noticed to be ill. It had also been in the back yards at night. The second animal, which, however, recovered, was the pat and playfellow of four little girls, who, grieved at the illness of their favourite, nursed it with great care. All four girls developed diphtheria, the mother being couvinced that they got it from the cat, aud, indeed, no other known source of contact with infection could be discovered.

The following paten ts havu been a pplir d for : — J. O. Sellgren aud J. F. Churtou, Auckland, for improvements in butter aud general produce packages ; J F. Roberts, Aucklaud, for filling bottles and other vessels ; John Douds, Canterbury, for a gorhecuttiiig machine; R. D. Stewart and A. Crago, Onehunga, for a school orrery ; D. T. Lawes, Auckland, for a violet copying ink, by use of which over 25 copies c-\n be obtained from an original writing; 11. E. Nightingale, Auckland, for improvi nients in Venetian blinds, to bo called "The Nightingale Patuut Metal Ladder Venetian Blind " ; J. T. Roughton, i »uuedin (boot manufacturer), tor Rodghton's patent elastic lace- boots ; M. J. Mullon, Opawa, for an apparatus for the consumption or Miioke, to be known as " Mullen's smoke consumer " ; Albest Dornwell, Dunedin (butcher), for the pre.ser.va • tion of animal products, poultry, fish, a; d Mich like subs^gnces, and getting tho same ready for export, and also transporting th"in by the s-ame means ; A. 15. Woodnou-"e, Amburly, for a patent ball caster ; George Lansell, Victoria, for au improved method of constructing ships aud other floating visbels.

The water has now pretty well cleared off the Henley district, and a better idea is obtained as to the amount of damage caused by the flood. The breach from the river into the plain juot about the Otaki railway bridge is a very serious one, and will necessitate the expenditure of a very large sum of money to make good. Thf land back for some distance from the break is rendered absolutely useless, being covered with silt to a depth of several feefc in many places. The damage done to the grass further down the plain is, perhaps, not so groat as was at first anticipated, as tho water was got quickly off. Many of the fences are, however, considerably damaged, and agricultural operations seriously retarded. Ou the east side of the river the residents of Otakia, who suffered considerably from this flood, are taking means to prevent a similar experience. An embankment is being taken from a point about a hundred yards above the township, through mi Palmer's paddock and right round all the buildings. This, if made perfectly strong and substantial, will protect the township from all danger in future.

The Chairman of the Southland Education Board has received a telegram from Wellington informing him that Mr Fulton's appointment as a school commissioner, in the place of the late Hou. Dr Menzies, was the result of a misapprehension, and expressing the regret of the Minister of Education that it should have occurred.

Among the exhibits forwarded from Otago by Mr D. H. "Hastings, tho local t-eriviary to the Exhibition Committee iv response to the eppe.il made to improve the mineral exhibits iv tho New Zealand court of the Melbourne Exhibition were sheelite from the Head of the Lake ; antimony from Waipori ; 26 bags of aurif i-rons wash (comprising oue ton from E.\ ing's uiine at. St.. Bathans and out; ton from tho Scandinavian Water Race Company) ; samples of drifb from the Taieri Ba-nn, the Upper T.v.iri, and Ma>iototo Plain ; eight bags oi stone from Wbit-'s Reef; and specimens of fin" silicates of alumina from Signal Hill. In referent to these silicates, it may be mentioned that the people belonging to the district entertain the opinion that the stuff found is a sample of meerschaum ; bat Professor Ulrich having made an examina-

tion declares against this theory. Mr Hastings will also send as exhibits half a ton of quartz from the Great Eastern Gold Mining Company's claim ; a case containing wash dredged from the Molyneux ; specimens of auriferous ore, wash, and aheelite from Tuapeka, Waipori, and Mount Benger ; and specimens from the Premier and Tipperary mines.

The following is from the Westport Times of the 4th inst. : — " Rumours have been published in outside papers to the effect that there is a fear of the coal miners on the West Coast also laying down their tools as a measure of assistance to the Newcastle strikers. We are pleased to be in a position to state, however, with authority, that so far as the Denniston miners are concerned there is no reason why this comrnuuity should be' alarmed. Beyond the fact that the Denniston branch of th&union will render the Newcastle miners all the pecuniary aid in their power, we do not think there will be tho slightest departure from the friendly relations that exist between the men and their employers. This information should have the effect of setting at rest rumours that may have caused uneasiness to those who have the true interests of this district at heart."

It is stated that the military settlers iv the Manawatu district who have been unable to obtain satisfactory settlement of their land claims, are about to petition tho House of Lords iv England in order to obtain a fair and impartial inquiry into the case.

Our cablegrams this week announce that an expeditionary force is to be sent out by the Indian Government to avenge the death of Major Battye and Captain Urinston. A touching incident in connection with their deaths is reported. These officers had with them, when attacked, a small reconnoitring party of Goorkhas and native police, and, in tace of a heavy fire, orders were given to retire upon a village occupied by the advanced guard. In retiring through the jungle both officers fell seriously wounded,' and the command devolving upon Subahdar Kiihnbir, also severely wounded, that gallant fellow rallied his handful of Goorkha troops, and in the tace of the most desperate odds, attempted to save the lives of the British leaders, exclaiming, as his men gathered round him, " Fight bravely, ray children ! Do not desert your English Sahibs ! If you must die, let some of these dogs die with you ! " When only two of his men were left and both the Englishmen were killed, Kishnbir, his thigh shattered by a bullet, gave permission to retire, but after reaching the lines the brave Subahdar insisted upon going back with a party to recover the bodies of his officers.

The following land has been taken up during the week : —Section 14, block VI, Budle, 136 a, lr 24p. — Daniel Flynn, cash price 12s 6d per acre ; perpetual |lease£ Section 40, block IX, Glenomaru, 113 a, 2r 12p.— Mark S. Bennett, cash price 20d per acre ; perpetual lease.

The tender of Messrs J. and W. Gore of £2997 has been accepted for the erection of the new Presbyteriau Church at Milton, and that of Messrs Liitls-john of £150 for the removal of the present building. The Bruce Herald says:, " The architect for the new building is Mr R. A. Lawson, of Dunedin. Some modification had to be made upon the original design in order to bring the cost within the limit decided upon. The church will seat rather more than 600, the dimensions on the ground floor being 74ft by 49ft. The materials are to be Port Chalmers blueßtone on cement foundations, with facings, window arches, &c. of cement moulded. The tower will be built of the same material, but the spire will be of brick, surmounted by a handsome finial 105 ft from the ground. The roof will be slated. The pulpit is to stand in an octagonal recess, and the seat 3, of polished red pine, will be handsomeand comfortable. The ceiling will be flat pinelled, with handsome paster ornaments, and the lamps suspended from them."

Saw-milling on a somewhat extensive scale is about to be started at Gitinomaru. The Clutha Leader says: — "Mr M'Phee, of Long Bush, Southland, has leased Mr George Hay's bush, also two education reserves, and the saw-milling plant is now being placed on the ground. This plant, including an engine, was taken to Romahapa per railway on Wednesday, occupying eight trucks. Mr M'Phee has also leased from Mr Hay five acres adjoining the proposed railway station, which he intends using as a timber depot. It will thus be seen that provision has been made for doing a large business, in connection with which a considerable number of men will find employment."

At the inquest touching the death of John Grove, who was found dead in the Raglan Hotel, Otahuhu, uear Auckland, with a bottle of stryebniue by him, a verdict was returned that he met. his death by taking poison while in a state of temporary insanity.

It will be remembered that when the Colonist was wrecked at Wellington Heads one of the men ou board was stated to be a potter who had been in Dunedin. A fragment picked up near tho locality of the wreck by Mr Whitely King, which has been handed to the Wellington police, may lead to the identity of the man. The relic is a circular from the General Post Office Savings Bank department, London, dated July 12, 1886, and is apparently addressed to " Mrs J. G. Lear." It reads as follows : — " Madam, — Wihh regard to your communication, I beg to return the deposit book, ' Hanley, Stoke-on-Treut, No. 23,710,' and to inform you that as the account stands in your sole name, you only can be recognised iv ," and here the epistle ends, the sea having torn away the remaining portion of the page.

It appears from the decision of Mr Beetham, R.M , at Christchurcb, that a magistrate has no jurisdiction to send a debtor to gaol for debt, even it 1 the dehtor consent, unless it was proved that since the judgment the defendant had been able to pay the amount and wilfully neglected to do so. The bench and the plaintiff's solicitor in the case referred to concurred on the point that an order could not be made, even with th 9 consent of defendant, except on proof that the case came within the exceptions mentioned in the act.

Mr James M'Coll, well known in Otago, died in Wellington on the 3rd inst. Mr M'Coll was a native of Ballyhulish, Argyllshire, where he was born some 54 years ago. He was for a considerable period employed in the Inland Revenue department in Glasgow, and was for a lime in the Customs department in this colony, to which he came upwards of a quarter of a century ago, Ou the outbreak of the Otago goldfi -Ms, Mr M'Cull i-0-..shfd it p c; >0.l d«a!-.>n tfapm, aud ai"prwar'-fs < n : >is n-i 1 o-al t > \V\ !• linjffpn, hp until a very r^ent date took an active ino-rret ii- thr T< ra?-hiti :]ui.l. We learn from thf Evening Post fnsit he succumbed to

tlephantla^is.

Get Out 800h.?.— The close con 11 'er.ic t of a!l iactury w rk j;ive.-> tlie < peialiv 8 p.ill d f.ict'3, ! o*r nppetit»\ languid ir.Hi'iablu feeliiigs, p o- blood, inactive livr, kidney arid uruiarv troubles, and all the physicians and mo i>: ne in the wo: Id cannot help them u't'ess they jj.i our of doors or use Dr Soule'a American Hop Bitters, the purest and best remedy, especially for such cas s. having ahundanne of health, sunshine, and rosy checks in them. . They cost, but a trifle. See another column. — " Christian Recorder."

During a recent cruise of the United States maa-of-war Michigan a sailor, who is a Chicago man, attempted to throw an exhausted quid of tobacco over the rail into the water. . His aim was bad, and the quid fell on the deck. An officer observed it." He would not allow the sailor to touch it, but ordered the entire crew to rig up a gun tackle. The gun tackle is a hawser three and a-half inches thick, and weighs 25001b. Bsing seldom, if ever, used, it was stowed away in the holtf • and covered up. To get it %n deck and rig it up is a long, hard task. But the gun tackle was rigged up, and the commanding officer attached to it a silk thread. He made a loop in the thread, lassoed the quid of tobacco, made it fast, all hands made a long pull and a strong pull, and the quid of tobacco was hoisted overboard. Then the gun tackle was taken down and stowed away in the hold. It required 11 hours of hard work to get the quirt ovei board, and it is the opinion of the commanding officer that no more quids of tobacco will be thrown on the deck of the M;chigan for some time to come.

Three village settlers near Woodville— John Jenkins, James Parker, and William Stiggins — have been committed for trial for killiug and taking away a cow belonging to Mr H. R. Holder.

A correspondent writes to the New Zealand Herald :—": — " In walking up either Market or King street in Sydney 1 came to a full stop before a provision dealer's retail establishment. The matter that caused me to pause was a large blackboard with the words 'No New Zealand butter sold here,' carelully written thereon. I felt greatly indignant, for I consider the quality of our butter, at any rate such as I usually have set on my table, fully equal, if not vastly superior, to such as I tasted either in New South Wales or Victoria. Perhaps some of our grocers, produce merchants, or farmers can say whether this stigma thus publicly levelled against our dairy produce in the capital city of New South Wales is justly earned ; and if it is an unjust imputation, suggest what steps should be taken to protect our produce from such slanderous insinuations."

The following interesting obituary notice of a very old identity appears iv the Nelson Eveuing Mail of the 3rd inst: — "We have to record the passing away of another old settler, Mr John Holdaway, who died yesterday at his residence at Richmond in his 82nd year?' He was one of the few remaining expedition men who arrived here in 1841 in the Will Watch. He formed one of the search party sent out to find a suitable landing place in which to establish the town of Nelson, and was in the boat with the late Captain Gross when Nelson Haven was first seen. He narrowly escaped being sent on the ill-fated expedition to the Wairau under Captain Wakefield, by being selected to accompany the survey staff for the Takakadistrict, and thus escaped that unhappy incident in our early history. On returning from his duties on the surveying party he took up his residence in the Maitai Valley, but soon after removed to a farm at Richmond, where he has lived for 37 years, a useful and respected man. He leaves behind him eight sons, four daughters, 63 grand-children, and 21 great grand-children.

Mr F. H. Cook, a member of the well-known firm of tourists' agents, while in Auckland, was waited on by a representative of the New Zealand Herald, and in reply to questions said :—: — " As regards New Zealand, I have already interviewed the Hon. Mr Mitchelson in Wellington, and expect to have a mutually satisfactory agreement signed when I return there a fortnight hence, as well as arranging for an extension of our business with the Union S.S. Co. We have made our agency at Melbourne into a branch office, and shall have another in Sydney, while we intend establishing a branch office in New Zealand, with agencies in the chief towns ; and already several hotels, coach lines, and other services — in addition to those already connected with the system — have expressed their willingness to join. The wonderful scenic beauties of New Zealand are slowly but surely becoming known, and when we have our system in operation so that people can tell before leaving horne — be that home in England, Europe, India, America, or elsewhere — what their trip will cost them, and in fact have all <he trouble of fiudiug out routes, and tho means of getting from one place to another, taken off their hands and only the pleasure left to them, we expect a large annual stream of tourists to this colony."

A company to work the Ngakawau coalfield, Westport, has been floated in Sydney aud London under the uarue of the Westport-Ngakawau Coal Mining Company. Instructions have been given to Messrs Youug Bros., engineers, to lay out a length of line to connect the mine with the Government railway. A sum of £26,000 is available for this work, and for opening up the mine.

Mr T. Pratt, the member for the Southern Maori district, has been the first M.H.R. to give an account of his stewardship. On Snturday, Ist inst., Mr Pratt addressed a meeting of Natives at Kaiapoi, and received a vote of thanks and confidence, and last Saturday evening he addressed his constituents at Puketeraki.

Mr A. Douglas, sheep and rabbit inspector in Southland, has beeu promoted to the position of chief inspector for Otago and Southland.

Mr Allan M'Lean has just emerged from a contest with the Customs authorities, the result of which will be of interest to importers of live stock. He recently landed from Melbourne (says the Hawku's Bay Herald) the thoroughbred Arab stallion Crusader, and when he had the horse .vaftly stalled at Havelock received from his agents a note asking its value, as the Customs officers demanded the payment of the primage duty of 1 per cent. Mr M'Lean, after consideration, wired direct to Sir Harry Atkinson, 'protesting against the demand, and he received a reply stating that live stock is not subjpct to primage duty.

A telegram from Culverden on Monday stated there were thea 6in of snow on the Hanmer plains. During the previous three days there had been on an average 10 slight earthquakes daily. As they were then getting more feeble their cessation may now be reasonably expected. According to the Waikari correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, Mr Cameron, manager of Lake Sumner station, says that the earthquake damaged his buildings and caused 500 ft of Terrible Knob to be precipitated into the Hurunui river. No damage was done at tbe Esk Head station. At Waiau a fissure 60yds long and lft wide has been discovered on the terrace overlooking the towns-hip. The direction is east and west, and if it had continued it would have gone through the centre of the township.

Some 13 patients were admitted into the Dunedin Hospital during the past week, and 15 were discharged. One death occurred, the patient's name being Henry Black. There are ab present in the institution 115 patients, or three less than at the beginning of last week.

Mr Charles Sonntag, a well-known resident of the Kaikorai Valley, has from time to' time written to the Taieri County Council regarding a claim for £10,000 which he alleges he has against that body. The claim is in connection with some grievance about a road line, and goes back to the time when the Kaikorai Road Board

was in existence. That body being defunct, Mr Sonntag looks to the Taieri County Council, and some three months ago he waited in person on the council, when it was decided that nothing could be done in the matter. At the meeting of the council on Friday a letter was read from Mr Sonatag asking as a last request that a special meeting should be called to consider the matter. If he did not obtain an answer' he should consider himself outlawed, but this " outlawry shall cost New Zealand a million pounds" before he is smothered. The council simply received the letter.

Though the " Massey " reaper and binder was late last season in making its first appearance in New Zealand, its merits were so evident that numerous orders were booked for it, and a large shipment will shortly arrive. ■ The agents for Now Zealand, Messrs Friedlander Brothers, Auhburton, set out a few of the merits of the machine by advertisement in the Witness. The practical farmer has already seen and appreciated the combined lightness and strength, which have been attained by the frame being made in oue solid piece, without joints, whereby the whole of the working parts are kept true aud wear far longer than in ordinary machines.

The following have been appointed assessorsfor the triennial valuation under the Property Assessment Act for the various suburban boroughs : — J. Cameron, Caversham ; W. Stott, Green Island ; — Hogg, Maori Hill ; F. B. Smith, Mornington; W. M'Leod, Mosgiel; T. Short, North-East Valley ; J. Laing, Port Chalmers ; James Taylor, Roslyn ; T. R. Dodds, St. Kilda; James M'lndoe, South Dunedin. The assessors for Dunedin City and Borough of West Harbour have not been appointed yet.

24r Gordon ITorlong, who is at present at Feilding, challenges Professor Salmond to meet him in Dunedin to hold a three or four days' discussion on Bible subjects. So that the Professor shall be no loser, Mr Forlong undertakes to remunerate him at the rate <of £5 per day for his time.

According to the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times Sir George Grey, as soon as he arranges some business matters, intends to start on his trip to the United Kingdom. He will proceed by 'the jSari Francisco route, and remain a few weeks in the United States. It is probable he will *visit |Ireland, and lecture on Home Rule. He expects to return to the colony before the next session of Parliament.

An inquest has been held at Riverton before Mr H. M'Cullock on the body of a child 11 weeks old, of which Elizabeth Phiemester was the mother. The Western Star states that the body was wasted and was in a very neglected state. This is the second child of the woman on which it has been found necessary to hold an inquest. The Riverton correspondent of the Southland Times states that another of the unfortunate women who frequent Round Hill was brought to the Riverton Hospital in a dying state, but was refused admission as she was of ill-fame. As the woman was in a very bad state, accommodation had to be got for her somewhere, and fortunately a good Samaritan in the person of one of the hotelkeepers was found willing to give the poor outcast a corner to die in, where she is now being attended to as well as possible, Father Walsh being foremost amongst those ministering to her necessities.

For laying poisoned grain within three chains of a public highway IFrederick Tozer, a farmer on the Levels plains, was fined Is and costs at Timaru on Friday. Some neighbours' fowls which had been poisoned were paid tor beforehand, and the case was brought as a caution.

Country settlers in the North Island predict an early spring and a warm summer. The native plants, which are generally considered a trustworthy index of the coming season (says the Wellington Press) areunusually forward. The large white clematis has been in flower for some weeks, and the rangiora is in full bud, and, in favoured situations, in bloom. Tho konini,,the only deciduous tree native to New Zealand, or, to be accurate, the nearest to a deciduous tree, presents a most peculiar appearance. The spring foliage is only just beginning to show but the trees are already full of blossom, the purple flowers standing out strangely against the smooth light brown bark. Nature is evidently in an excited state about something.

A very successful panorama entertainment was given at Green Island on Friday evening at the Volunteer Hall, followed by a social dance. During the evening a waltzing competition was held in which Messrs Hooper and Dawson, as judges, awarded the prize to Mists Crawford.

Commenting on the Australasian banking returns, the Sydney Morning Herald says: — " The banks' share of the profit is equal to 7.4 per cent, per annum on their own funds, together with a small percentage placed to reserve. Having regard te the fact that the proprietors of the. £25,000,000 of Anglo-Australaj-ian banking capital ami reserves run the risk of loss in respect of £120,000,000 they borrow, the profit* they make will not be regarded by business men as excessive. It may be interesting to poiut out that on their gross resources the 10 purely London banks, with capital and reserves amounting to about £15,000,000, earned 13s 6d per cent, for the last half of tho year 1887. The AngloAustralasian banks oh their resources earned 12s 9d per cent.

Some interesting figure* in regard to salaries have been elicited in a Miic now in progress in Brooklyn against a baking powder company. It was shown that the president of the company draws a salary of 50,000d01, the vice-president 30,000d01, and the treasurer 60001101. The president of a paint and varnish company, who was introduced as an expert in regard to salaries, stated tha l ; the superintendent of his company received 50,C00d0l a year, while the yearly business did not exceed 3,000,000d01. Another witness stated that iv companies with which he was acquainted the chiif executive officers received from 5000dol to 50,000d0l a year, while a representative of a kerosene oil company said that he knew one officer of a large corporation who received a salary of 30,000d0l a year, and two others who received 20,000d0l each. These figures (says the Baltimore Sun) are enormous, and were unknown until the d*ys of trusts and combinations. The explanation is furnished in the testimony of one of the witnesses, who said the business of the company with which he is connected had been increased until the profits had reached 450 per cent, on the original capital stock.

One of the firemen of the Taiuui name.l Riley was sentenced at Wellington on Friday to three months' imprisontnsnt for assaulting Captain Barlow.

Many people refuse to take Cod Liver Oil on account of its unpleasant tasfce "This difficulty has been overcome in " Scott's Emtjxsion op Cod Livjih Oh, with Hipophosphites. It being as palatable as milk, and the most valuable remedy known for the treatment of Consumption, Scrofula, and Bronchitis, has caused Physicians in all parts of the world to use it. "I have found 'Scott's Emux°ion' of great benefit in the treatment of phthisical and scrofulous diseases. It ia c-xfcremelv p-litahle aad does not upset the stomach, thus removing the great difficulty experienced in the administration of the plain Oil. D. P. Kenna. L.E.0.5., Surgeon, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin. Large and small bottles at all Chemists.

The Manawatu Times in a report of a case heard at the Otaki Police Court on the'2sth ult. ■ stated that Benjamin Pepper, a saddler, of Otaki, was arrested upon the information of ■ Constable Carr for the larceny of a horse, saddle, and bridle, and swag belonging to a man named Ross who had been drowned. Subsequently, according to the journalistic version of the affair, the constable discovered that he had no charge against Pepper, and accordingly made representations to him, offering to give him his freedom and drop the charge of larceny if he would plead guilty to drunkenness. However, this advice was not taken, and the proceedings came into court where Messrs M. Carkeek and A. Small, J.P.s, allowed the case to be withdrawn. Inspector Thomson, on learning of the case, called upon the constable to furnish a reporb on the case. The Evening Post states that this report has been received, but will not at present be made public, it having' been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, and the matter will most probably form the subject of a depart- . mental inquiry. It is understood, however, that the constable's statement is altogether at variance with the facts which are alleged to have come out in the Otaki Court during the hearing' of the caie.

The Wolverbampton correspondent of the Times states that during a heavy thunderstorm recently, a collier named Bates, who had lost his sight through an accident, was being led home,' When a flash of lightning was reflected on the spectacles he was wearing to conceal his disfigurement. After the peal of thunder which followed he complained of pain in his head. The next moment, to his surprise, he found that he had regained possession of his eyesight.

A brutal charge of cruelty, illustrative of the evils of child marriage, is under investigation by the chief magistrate of Calcutta. The complainant is a Hindoo girl, aged 11. She states that she has been living with her husband for the last IS months, that her husband has a brother and his mother living in the same house, that she had to do'all the cooking and the household work, and that her mother-in-law frequently beat and ill-used her. On June 22 she accused her of using too much salt in a dish that she was cooking. Her mother-in-law abused her all day, and threatened that she should be branded. At 10 o'clock that night her husband, his brother, and her mother-in-law threw her down, and the men bound aud gagged her while the woman branded her with an iron ladle which she heated in the fire. She was branded three times on the cheek, also on the legs and arms. Four days later she managed to get away and sought her mother's protection. The doctor who had examined the child's injuries deposed that he had no hesitation in saying that the burns were caused by branding with a red hot iron. The girl alleged that she had been cruelly treated ever since she had asked the reason as to the visit of a certain Mahommedan. The family hold a respectable position.

The Southland Times states that diphtheria ia prevalent at Greenhills just now. Charles M'Lachlan, a fine young man aged 19, has succumbed to the disease.

Messrs A. and J. M'Farlane, of Dunedin, were prizetakers for bacon at the Victorian National Agricultural Show. Mr J. Rowe, of Christchurch, secured some prizes for pigs.

Johan Abraham, described as a Persian priest, was recently arrested in Sydney and convicted of obtaining money under false pretences by begging for a Catholic mission without authority. Mr Justice Dowling has quashed the conviction, and the sum of £500 taken from him when in gaol has been ordered to be returned to him, the Judge stating that the accused was harshly treated.

The Farmers' Protection Association Conference sitting in Melbourne nearly came to loggerheads with the Trades Hall Council on the question of introducing skilled agricultural labourers. A proposal was made that the Government should be asked to vote a sum foe that purpose. The question was discussed amid some scenes of disorder. Mr Trenwith, on behalf of the Trades Hall Council, threatened that if the farmers continued the agitation for introducing skilled labour the council would oppose all efforts of the farmers to obtain increased Protection. Eventually an amendment to have nothing to do with the question was carried. The bags-in question was discussed, but nothing was settled beyond (appointing a committee to report to the next conference.

The Auckland Herald says :— " The great gftod lesson that is now being laid to heart by every colonist in New Nealand is that to the natural expansion of our mineral products we are looking for the future prosperity of individals as well as the community. We have had a surfeit of speculative hopes and ventures, and though the echoes of the ' booming ' still proceeding in Australia reach us, and have a tendency to disturb the minds of the restless, public opinion is wonderfully settling down ,to the fact that in the natural and steady growth and development of our own matchless resources we have within ourselves the true panacea for New Zealand's troubles. That these resources are steadily asserting themselves, while our ears have been straining themselves to catch the sound of the coming " boom " from somewhere over the seas, is shown in a striking picture that has been recently presented to the Christchurcb. Chamber of Commerce by its acting president, the Hon. Mr Parker, in the annual presidential speech at the meting of that body. One would be inclined to thh'k— and especially if one were far away from the colony — that from the querulous wail that, has been indulged ia for the last year or two New Zealand must have been going steadily back, and that the shrinkage in speculative values of land and similar property meant shrinkage in the production of wealth in the colony, but from this thoughtfully compiled exposition of the state of the colony Mr Parker has conclusively shown that all this time the colony has been growing in productive wealth as it never did before in an equal period of time. We are aware that as a Sort of reaction to the sombre feelings of the past there is a tendency to over-jubilation respecting tho dawn of a better day ; but there is a substtvatial basis of facts submitted that goes to show a sfceadytjpward progress in the colony and ics productiveness that is altogether independent of what we may think or may not think of the coming prosperity."

The Hon. T. Fergus came south, by the s.s. Manapouri. He will inspect the defence works at Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, and will proceed to Melbourne by the next steamer. When iv Melbourne he will investigate the grounds for complaints made about tha New Zealand court. He will probably return to New Zealand towards the end of October.

From a return which, has been compiled it appears that the sale of Crown lauds for the three months ending the 30th August, compares very favourably with the return showing the lands sold during the three corresponding months of last year when 5432 acres were sold for cash, while this year 17,061 acres were disposed of, 5248 acres being sold in August alone. In 1887, 92 selectors took up 11,644 acres on deferred payment, while this year 9637 acres were taken up by, 72 selectors, 18 selectors taking up ' 2626 acres during tbe ' mouth of August. For land sold under the perpetual

lease system the figures are : — 1887, number of selectors, 111; laud disposed of, 29,264 acres. In 1838, number of selectors, 194; land disposed of, 4-1,533 acres, of which 16,915 acres were taken up U*t mouth. The total number of acres dis« posed of iv 1887 was therefore 37,371 acres, wh'lo this year the figures reach 72,177 acres, 24,739 acres being disposed of during August, generally considered the slackest month in the year. . •<{

Mr John Smith, farmer, of Millers' Flat, was discovered on the Qaeenstowu-Frankton road on th i 30:h inst. in an insensible state, and was ab ouee conveyed to the Frank ton Hospital, where it wa3 found that he was paralysed on the whole of one side. The Lake County Press status that he was driving some cattle towards QuctnstowD, aud it is supposed that he was seized with paralysis and fell from his horse. He must have lain on the road for some hours — indeed he was, it is said, passed by one man, who supposed him to be an inebriate. He remained unconscious till within a short time of his death, which occurred on Thursday morning, and, though aUe to recognise the members of his family, he remained speechless.

The Railway department have acceded to the demand for alterations iv the new time table which caino into force on the Ist inst. The morning tiain from Dunbaek will leave there at 6.40, aud the train from Palmerstonfor Dunedin will leave at 7.15 ; the train from Dunedin to Ealtneraton leaving at 640. The 6.10 evening train to P.ort Chalmers will not leave till 6.15, aud tbe 9 o'clock tiain will notlea<?e till 10. The time of three of thu trains irum Port Chalmers had batm slightly altered. The 9.15 p.m. train to Mosgiel has been changed to 10 p.m., and that from Mosgiel to Dunedin to 11.10 p.m.

Several correspondents have written to us (Daily Times) to point out that such a bktileton as that referred to in the extract which we published oa Monday from the Macleod Gazette was exhibited in Duuedin about the year 1864. Mr A. Bathgate writes:— "l remember ill or about 1864 the dried remains of a human figure being exhibited in a room in Rattray street, a few doors beyond the present office of the official assignee, by two diggers, who were alleged to have found it in a small cave in the gurga of the Taiari, near Hindon. It was of small size, and I should not have supposed it to be the remains of an adult. Tue kuees were drawn up to^the chest, as 8 often the case with savage remains, I recoilect distinctly the hair, necklet, and remaiusof a bird between the knees. It was so unlike any Maori remains that the men's story was doubted by many at the time, as the theory as to a race of moa hunters who preceded the Maoris had either not been evolved or was not generally known. I have no doubt that the uiuoimy referred to in your extract is the one I saw, su that the story is not altogether a traveller's talj. It is a pity such an interesting curiosity has been lost to the colony." It was this <:ircn.'iistanceß of the '• poisoned wood," the " moa leg bone 30ft high " aud the statement that the mun had been chased for two days by tho police who wished to hold an inquest that I<hl to our calling it a " traveller's tale."

A livery stable keeper at Timaru who hired out' two horses to the non-commissioned officers of C Battery on the Prince of Wales' Birthday, 1886, was on Tuesday nonsuited iv the case he brought against the captain of the battery to recover oOi. The non-commissioned officers refused to pay because they were told by their superior officers to get the horses, and expected tho company to pay. The captain said the battery had paid for draught horses, but never, so far as he knew, for non-commissioned officers' mounts. The stable keeper in the meantime is without his money.

A threo-roomed house at Gordon, owned by Mr Youug, saddler, was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning. The South British office had a risk of £70 on the house and £30 on the furniture.

Thomas Smith, the boatswain of the Clytie, received a severe ducking on Saturday in Timaru Harbour, and but for the promptitude cf James Slavin, the steward of the same vessel, would probably have been drowned. The dingey ia which Smith was working was caught by one of the lines running to one of the buoys and tho boat was thrown a complete somersault, Smith being rolled over two or three times. Slavin, putting a bowline round himself, promptly jumped overboard and rescued Smith when he was iv great danger.

Our Wellington correspondent some time ago telegraphed that it was generally believed that the escaped prisoner Jonatb.au ltoberts had left the colony. The police have fallen across a fresh piece of evidence which adds force to the uuruiise. It is known that a near relative of Rubm'ts booked a passage by one of tbe Union Steam Ship Company's steamerd to Melbourne. He himself did not use the ticket, but it was collected on board the boat, and the question is — from whom?

Ifc s s believed that the man, whose uame was uuknown, who was drowned when the Colonist was wrecked at Wellington Heads, was Samuel Lear. Mr Adams, of the Sydenhaw Pottery, iv forms the Lyttelton Times that a potter named jSamur:! Ltar, who said he came from the Milton (Otago) potteries, called upon him about two months ago, in search of employment. He had also been up at Springfield on the same quest. Mr Adams was unable to give him employment thon, but gave him sufficient funds to take him back to bis wife and children. This was done at tbe man's own request. Since then Mr Adams has written to Milton asking about the man, but got no reply from the man himself. From a frif.-nd there a reply has been seat that Lear is supposed to have gone to Sydney. Lear had evidently taken the first employment offering — as a hand aboard the ill-fated vessel.

A correspondent writes to the Shipping Guide : — " Horses bred in New Zealand are reared in such a temperate climate that th«y are well fluted for acclimatisation in ludia, Those reared in colder climates than New Zealaud, aud transported to Indian tropical heat, would not survive, whilo hors«s reared in warmer climates have the drawback of earlier maturity aud earlier decay. If the lofc which arrived at Calcutta by the steamer Tekapo is favoarably disposed of, which will no doubt be tbe result, it will pt-o'ublv' brs the opening up of a regular tradu vviu New Zeaiaud, and a most desirable extension of tho happy hutitiug ground whence th« supplies for India are drawn."

At the rnoutlily meeting of the Otago Beekeepers' Asaouiaciuti ou Monday evening it was rioc-.iduil to draw up a programme for the ensuing year, including among other items exhibits at the Ola^u P-teioral and Agricultural show, to be held iv November ; tbe reading of papers on the management of bees and other matters of iuterest in apiculture; the vibiting of various apiaries to learn tbe practical handling of bees ; and tbe exhibiting of honey, &c. at the Punedin Horticultural Society's Autumn show.

"Bacna-PAiBA."— Quick, complete cure, all aunoyiojf Kulney, Bladder, ami. Urinary Diseases. At chemists and druggists. Kemp* thorne, Proaser, & Co., Agt?,, Dunedin, '