The Otago Witness. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Otago Witness.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The citizens of Dunedin on Friday evening paid a highly deserved and admirably expressed compliment to Mr John Roberts, the president of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, on the occasion of that very successful enterprise drawing towards a close. It was highly com. plimentary to Mr Roberts that such an immense gathering of representative men should assemble at the Grand Hotel to do him honour. All the leading professional and business men were present. The chair was occupied by Mr J. M. Ritchie, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, supported on his right by the guest of the evening, Mr John Roberts, Mr E. Twopeny, and the Hon. George M'Lean; and on his left by the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Bishop Moran, and Sir Robert Stout. The vice- chairs were filled by Mr Robert Wilson (merchant) ajad Mr Andrew Maxwell (general manager of the Equitable Insurance Company); The toast of the evening was proposed by the chairman (Mr Ritchie) who after a short review of the conception and carrying out of the Exhibition asked Mr Roberts' acceptance of three pictures, (one by Waterloo, R.A, the second by Smart, R.S.A., and the third by Robertson, R.W.S.A.), intended for himself and Mrs Roberts (the object of which was expressed on the tablet of one of them. The inscription was:-" Presented to John Roberts, Esq, President of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, and Mrs Roberts —(loud applause), —in grateful recognition of their services in connection with that project." The toast was received with great enthusiasm, and Mr Roberts replied in a lengthy address daring the course of which he especially referred to the origination of the Exhibition project by Mr D. Harris Hastings, and the subsequent taking up of it by Mr Twopenny, who was the means of convincing him of its feasibility. On Mr S. F. Nicholl's representative of the Sydney Morning Herald devolved the duty of presenting to Mr Roberts a photographic album containing some sixty or seventy portraits of -those who had had an opportunity of witnessing Mr Roberts' work throughout the exhibition, and ■who were most connected with him in the exhibition. The address which was placed at the commencement, was :—" This souvenir is presented to John Roberts, Esq, J.P. and Mayor of .Dunedin, New Zealand, as an expression of the esteem in which he is held by those who have witnessed bis able and successful discharge of the duties of President of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1889-90." The album was supplied by Mr J. R. Morris, of George street, who also had the task of arranging the photos. Mr Roberts having suitably responded, Mr A. Lee Smith proposed the toast of the Executive Commissioner, Mr R. E. N. Twopenny, remarking that that small idea which had been referred to by Mr Roberts as seeking parental adoption, he need not remind them had received its expansion and been transformed into prac ical shape by the genius and by the merits and mainly through the instrumentality of the gentleman whose health he proposed. Mr Pcott (commissioner for South Australia), in making a presentation to Mr Twopeny, said he had been requested to present to the executive commissioner an album containing the portraits of those who-had been most intimately associated with him in the exhibition. The album bore the following inscription:—"This souvenir is presented to Mr R. E. N. Twopeny as a mark of esteem from those associated with him, and who desire to testify to his successful fulfilment of his duties of executive commissiouer to the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1889-90."—(Applause.) This album, like that presented to Mr Roberts, had engraved plates and illuminated cards, which were skilfully executed by Messrs Fergusson and Mitchell, who also supplied the album. It contained 35 photos (arranged by Mr J. It, Morris, photographer, by whom the portraits were taken), but many more have yet to be placed iv it. Mr Twopenny haviug suitably responded, a number of minor toasts followed. During the evening Messrs Densem, Smith, E. Towsey, and Chirm contributed several quartettes in capital style, Messrs Densern and Smith gave vocal solos, and Mr Tow&ey rf'rforme.d pianoforte solos. The chairman took occasion to express the thanks of the company to these gentlemen for the music which they rendered, and which was tendered as an appreciation of the services of the guest of the evening. On and after the l6t May a number of altf-rations in the railway time tables come lDto (ffecr, one of the principal of these being the acceleration of the Southern express train, and the consequent changes on tho Lawrence and Waimea Plains branch lines. The express will It- ye Dunedin at 8 10 a.m., reaching its destination at 350p m. T!/e train from lavercarg'll loaves there at 1140 a m., arriving in Dtm.'din as at present at 7.5 p.m. There arc also some minor alterations iv the time tabj>-, ou the Port Chalmers line, and in that for '.he irains running between Gore, Clinton, and Baldutha. Tho Wellington correspondent who supplied "Civis" with ths groundwork for a Paesiug Note in a recent issue of the Otago Witness inadvartenUy did an injustice to the Hon F. T. Sarpood in stating thab v •. refu ed to ?üb3cribu to the Jubilee Fund at Woodvillo. A^ a matti r of fact Mr Sargood was requested to rubscribu to a fund for presenting the children of Woodville with pome memento of the jubilee of the

colony. He handed a cheque for £3 3s to the committee, not knowing the nature of the memento that was to be selected. It appears that the committee expended Mr Sargood's cheque in the manner indicated in the note, and without consulting the donor prior to doing so. The Cromwell Argus reports that two splendid stags, one of 16 and the other of 13 tines, were shot by Mr William Allen (Pembroke) and party. The Orepuki correspondent of the Southland Times writes :—": — " A mania for dairy farms is raging here just now. Everyone who has a couple of cows i' ueit have one, and each Warden's Court sees the granting or refusal of two or three of these. To acquire a dairy farm is not expensive by any means ; but when they are situated in the bush, the shilling per acre per annum, cost of advertising, agent's fee, &c, is the worth of them." The Hon. Sir Frederick Whitaker was 78 years of age on the 24 tb. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs that Sir Frederick received many congratulations, and among them one from an old settler of 87, who regards Sir Frederick as comparatively young. It is reported from Australia that a beggar named John Duhy, who for years past resided in a miserable hut in one of the suburbs, was picked up dead in Buckley street, Esseudon, last week. On the body being searched receipts and bank deposits to the credit of tho deceased amounting to between £5000 and £6000 were found concealed in the lining of his clothes, together with £11 13s 6d in money. Duhy was ama i of most miserly habits, and had resided in his but for years past. At the tenth annual general meeting of the New Zealand Mortgage and Investment Association, held in London, the Hon. Norman Grosvenor, who presided, spoke gloomily of the condition of New Zealand. The expected period of prosperity, he said, had not arrived, but rather the contrary. The demand for land seemed to have died away, principally, no doubt, on account of the taxes and ground rents exacted by the Government. As a matter of fact the position of New Zealand was nearly negative. The report was adopted. The election of primate was a very close thing in the lay house, being only carried by the smallest number of votes that could have effected the election and averted a failure. The proceedings were very peaceful aud pleasant throughout, and Bishop Suter behaved with much dignity and good taste. The result of the ballot was : — For the Bishop of Wellington — Bishops 3, clergy 11, laity 10. For the Bishop of Nelson — Bishop 1, clergy 4, laity 8. For the Bishop of Waiapu — Laity 1. B shop Hadfield, of Wellington, having more than one-half the votes recorded in each of the three orders, was declared duly elected Primate for New Zeland amidstloud applause Advices received at Queenstown, from Yokohama, contain details of a fearful cyclone which swept along the Japanese coast from January 24 to January 26, causing the loss of 900 fishing vessels and the drowning of upwards of 2000 fishermen. The eye'one firsb burst upon a part of the coast where more than 1000 fishing boats were engaged in fi-shfng. Close upon 600 foundered, and 1800 of the fishermen aboard them were drowned. Most of the bodies drifted upon the beach, and were taken care of by relatives. The scenes were heartrending. The same day 11 boats were wrecked in the sea off Tobishima during a storm, and 50 fishermen were drowned. On January 25, 23 fishermen were drowned on the coast off Maschawo. News has also been received of the disastrous storm which swept over the coast of Tourkommachosie Kadsuaam during the night of January 26. Over 300 fishing boats that were out never returned. The funeral ceremonies for about 600 fishermen supposed to have been drowned were observed. Whole villages were in mourning, and the Government authorities gave help iv burying the dead. The Rev. Mr Ready, a minister of the Bible Christian Church, has been sent to Dunedin by the Missionary Committee at the request of some adherents here, with the view of establishing a branch of the church. Services will be held regularly every Sunday iv the Rat tray street Oddfellows' Hall. Mr Ready, we believe, was rescued from the streets of London, where he gained a precarious living as an acrobat, aud taken to George Muller's Orphanage, Ashley Downs After serving an apprenticeship as astone baildtr hi became a local preacher, arid after spending some time in a Christian college he was called to the ministry. He was sent, out to Canterbury about three years ago, and after organising a branch there has been transferred to Dunedin. Ho has thft namo of being a good popular lecturer. The Oamaru Mail is iv a portion to state that Sir Robert Stout intends at au e^rly date to reply on the platform to the Hon. Mr Hislop's speech. A black whale was stranded last week on the beach near Goodwood. A correspondent writing to the Sb. James' Gazette respecting the sweating system, reports a case that has come under his personal knowledge Two or three years ago, ha says, the price given for making men's common shirts by machiue was Is 6d per dozen, which is now reduced to Is. Last week a woman in Stepney was asked if she would make lads' shirts for 6.1 a dozen. She objected to this, and 8d was finally offered and accepted. On .'measuring these socalled lads' shirts they were found to be only oue inch storter and one inch narrower than mm's shirts, and, as pieces had to be joined, the amount of work in them, if anything, rather exceeded that in the men's. Out of this Bd, l£d was paid for cotton, to which must also be added the hire of the machine. This reduces the pay to scarcely hi a shirt. Referring to the Coding of the Court of Inquiry iato the wreck of the Emilie, the Auckland ] Herald pays ;— " It is high time that something

was done to protect the lives of the unfortunate sailors. At present there are no proper precautions to ensure the seaworthiness of the ships in which they are obliged to peril their lives, nor do we know of any means by which the deaths by accidents frequently reported can be inquired into. For" the sake of saving a few yards of jib canvas it is notorious that men are often sent out in a gale of wind to be washed away into eternity by the vessel diving her head under some great sea. Why should these risks be run for the sake of saving a few pounds? They are notoriously great and the losses of life notoriously numerous from this and similar causes, yet beyond a bare report of the accident nothing is heard. The courts of inquiry must be replaced by a proper officer, responsible personally for the performance or his duty. Till that is dono the inquiry will contiuue a farce in such cases as the Erailie, and might as well be i done away with altogether." The chairman of the Harbour Board, accompanied by the harbourmaster and inspector of works, paid a visit of inspection on Friday ti^ the shoal in the lower harbour which the dredge Vulcan bad been engaged in dredging. Soundings were taken, and the least depth of water found was 22ft, there being lft 9in on the gauge at the time of sounding. This depth, when reduce \ would be 26ft 9in at high water spring tides, or 20ft 3in at low water, where only 16£ ft existed before the dredge was set to work. Soundings were also taken across the North Spit, at tho opposite side of the channel. The result was such as to convince those present thab in a short time a much less tortuous deep water channel than that which now exists will be available from the heads to Port Chalmers. The shoal aboved referred to was entirely removed by the dredge in three hours. | The University session for 1890-91 wi'l be opened on the Ist May. The inaugural lecture will be delivered in the Choral Hall by Professor Gilray. The survivors from the wreck of the Emilie — Cumming, Green, and Mcck — are not likely (says the Southland Times) to leave the hospital for some little time, their feet being in a state that prevents their moving about. The sensation caused by the returning vitality to their feet is most peculiar, Meek suffering so much that he has to use a cradle to protecb his limbs from the weight of the blankets, The hospital returns for the past week are as follows : — Remaining from the previous week, 106; admitted during the week, 13 ; discharged, 14 ; total remaining, 105. A New Plymouth telegram states that Wil- ! liam Appleyard, a resident there, has received a | communication from some inquiry agents in Christchurch, asking his antecedents. The letter states that John Appleyard died 30 years ago iv Lincolnshire worth £20,000, aud they want to find his heirs. The party here is the only son of John Appleyard, of Horton, Liucolnshue, who died 30 years ago. He is 64 years of age, and left Home at the age of 16, as a soldier, for India. He &ays he had heard as a boy of a rich uncle in America, but knows nothing furtLer. The total number of lepers under official cognisance in the Australasian colonies at the close of 1889 was 30, and the following return shows the number in each colony and the nationality : — New South Wales: New South Wales, 2; China, 9; Java, 1;. total, 12. Victoria: China, 4; total, 4. South Australia: Chius, 2; total, 2. Queenslaud : China, 4; Malacca, 1 ; Straits Settlements, 1 ; total, 6 West Australia : China, 1 ; total, 1. Fiji: Fiji, 2; New Hebrides, 2 ; Solomon Islands, 1; total, 5. The tuberculated or nodulated, and the anaesthetic or macular forms of leprosy arerepreseutod iv about equal proportions. Iv New South Wales the patients are kept in a separate portion of the grounds of the Coast Hospital, which "is 10 miles from Sydney. Iv Victoria they are detained in weatherbcard huts in a feparate enclosure within tho limits of the general quarantine station at Point Nepeau, but in a secluded situation. In Queensland the leper station is on Dayman Islaod, near Thursday Island. In South Australia the disease is confined to the Northern Territory, and the patients occupy bark huts isolated on the proclaimed leper stitioa at Middle Point ; and in Western Australia the tiugle patient is kept iv a hut erecied for his accommodation outside the quarantine ground at Woodman's Point, a neck of land projecting into the sea, about six miles from Fremantle. In New South AVale.s, New Zealand. Queensland, and Fiji there are no laws or regulations in force dealing with lepers. Mr A. H, Smee, 5.0.0., chief medical adviser of the Gresham Life Assurance Society, writes to an English paper giving some curious calculations under the head " Losses sustained from •la grippe.' " Confining himself to England, he says he thinks we may assume that the insurance companies and friendly societies will have paid for increased mortality and increase of sickness not far 6hort of £1,000,000. This statement is based on facts which have come under his own immediate notice. The editor of " Unity," the organ of the friendly societies, states that the two great orders have been paying £5000 per dsy, and the London District of Foresters alone has paid £300 per week for death claims, and the Hearts of Oak in one week in January had 8715 claims. In addition to this, the loss of earning power by loss of wages, disorganisation of business and factories, cannot be much less than another £1,000,000, and the total cost is not unlikely to reach £3,000,000 before the epidemic finally leaves these shores. Mr Smee believes that he is even understating the case when he assumes that over 8 per cent. of the total population of Europe has been attacked. The North Otago Times states that the Hon. T. W. Hislop and Mr T. Duncan, M.H.R., who visited Station Peak on Thursday, after examination of the greater part of the country to bo

offered for lease, came to the conclusion that the land was only fitted for occupation in areas of from 3000 to SCOO acreß. Messrs Archibald Mackay and Peter Murray have been nominated for the vacancy iv the representation of Sandymount subdivision of the Peninsula Road Board, and Messrs John A. Reikie and T. Smithhon for the Anderson's Bay subdivision. As there is only one member required for each subdivision a poll will be taken in each on the 3rd May. A Wellington telegram states that no event of recent years in the history of Wellington theatres has created more interest than the production by Messrs Williamson, Gnrner, and Musgrove's Company of Mrs Burnett's beautiful story, "Little Lord Fauntleroy." For three nights the Opera House has been packed by brilliant audiences, and altogether the piece is a pronounced success. The Bishops of Dunedin and Waipu attended the performance on Friday evening. The date for the openiug af Parliament has, according to a Wellington telegram, been definitely fixed for the 19th June. A movement is on foot in the city at the present, time to raise a fund for the purchase of one or more of the pictures now in the exhibition art gallery. However satisfactory the school examinations may be to inspectors and to the teachers who secure a high percentsge of passes, their utility is by no means unchallenged. At the annual meeting in connection with the Arthur street School on Monday evening, Mr M' Adam expressed the opinion that the examinations were of a highly mechanical nature and did not give reliable results. The comparative failure of the school ! examination the previous year he attributed to the coldness of the day ou which it was held, and to the fact that for a day or two previously the thermometer had shown a very low register. As a sample of what was done at examinations, he mentioned that at a school uot far distant the examiuer put this question in elementary science to a youngster — " If I put a poker in the fire and leave it there with the fire bnrning, what happens ?" "Please, sir, it gets hot," the boy said, and failed. That was not right. The answer was — " The molecules of the metal poker are set into a state of violent disturbance through the incandescence of the fire, and consequently the poker gets hot"; and that was not all the answer Next year the same question was asked, and the boy then kuew his answer in elementary science and passed. Science taught like this was, Mr MAdam asserted, utterly useless ; the boys might as well be taught puzzles. The questions in arithmetic, too, were such as he would not care to solve, and when solved were of little value. 'I he tendency was towards mechanical instruction, and that this might be checked seemed to him one of the weighty reasons for the appointment of school committees. Five stacks of oats and one stack of wheat, the property of Mr H. Nicholls, a farmer living near Washdyke, were destroyed by fire on Saturday night They were insured iv the New Zealand office for £200. The death is reported, at the age of 76, of Mr William Eirlie, one of the oldest resident of Oamaru, having taken up his abode there in 1860. The Rev. Brother Hughes, who has been in charge of the Christian Brothers' School here for some years, leaves for Ireland on Thursday to-day. He has, we learn, been summoned to attend a general chapter of his order to bo held in Dublin in July next Brother Hughes feels keenly his leaving New Zealand, as he is very much attached to his pupils and the people of Dunedin. His friends were desirous of presenting him with some slight token of their regard prior to his departure, but he positivdy declined to receive anything in the shape of a testimonial or address. However, several gentlemen who had learned that Brother H ighes had incurred a liability of some £50, chiefly in connection with the school display at the exhibition, decided to make good the amount before he leaves Dunedin The following gentlemen hav^ been appointed a committee to receive subscriptions for the fund : — Messrs J. J. Connor, R A. Dunne, P. Fagan, J. L : ston, M Me.enan (Dunedin), Connellan, Boelke, and M'Kay (South Duoedin} In view of the change made iv the Kaikorai School, last year tho report of (he committee has been looked to with moro than, ordinary interest. It is satisfactory to uoto that the committee iv their report; state that the past year has been one of unbroken prosperity and progress so far as their school is concerned. Theycxpress regret at the failure loestablish evening classes in connection with the school, and attribute the non-success to the reison. th.it the services of an experienced teacher could not be obtained. The Infant school, formally opened on June 18, has pioveil successful, as withia a month it was occupied by a larger number of children than the complement for which ifc was built. The results of the annual examination were highly satisfactory, the avpraj>e percentage of the whole echool, with tho exception ot the infant class, beiug 97. The residents of tho district who kindly gavesi ecial piizo3 deserv9 special mention, and the committee recognise thit such action showe that the parents manifest interest and satisfaction in the echool. The attendance has been steadily increasing, and lately rapidly. The number on the roll on March 31 was 715, against tfl6 at the same date last year. la consequence the rapid increase caused the school to become overcrowded, -which ia inconvenient ; but the committee recognise that so many claims are made on the bjard that it would he ioipjasib'e to get that body to consider the matter. 'Iho lar^e number of pupils on the roll, and fche inursasiug attendance, speak volumes for tho manner i > which tho school has been managed, nnd the committeo recognise the gre.it l.»ct and aliilif.y displaj ed by the he.nd maßter (Mr Allardice) in tho management of the school, and his diligence and industry in the per- < formance of his duties, as we'll as th3<cordial lelatious existing between him and the committee. At the City Police Court on Saturday, John Chapman was charged with having •issHiilfcadJo'in'' wn^c on the 9th inst., and stolen from, hbn on<; poc 1 frt book of the value of 23 Cd, aud 5s ia money .— Mr H«i:ilon appeared for the accused, and Detective Henderson conducted the case for the prosecution — •

From the ev'deuce it appeared that thecoroplainaut, a bushman from Southland, came into town on the 7th inst He then bad about £21 or £25 iv his potsession, but gavo £20 to some one to take ere of for him. On tbe 91 h inst. he was knocking about the town with a friend of his named Harper. They went to the Koyal George Hotel, and afterwards to the Panama, where they were joined by the accused, who had followed them there 'i'he complainai.t "shouted" more than once, and the acoused then offered to take him to see some women. When they rot out into the street they were joined by a mini rmiuod Murphy, who was said to be an accomplico of thHacoused in this matter, a> dhad been committed for trial on a charge of robbing Turner. The four men thon went to the British Hotel, where Harper stayed for the night. The complainant, Murphy, and the accused, however, went along Filleul si reel. : and as the? were walking along Chapman put his hand into tho complniimiit's troußers pockot. Complainaut nskocl him what he meant by that, and e ccuscd then hit him on tho head and knocked him down, and he'ped Murphy to rob him. —The accußfid was committed for trial.

The eornmitfeo of the Duiiedin PouHry, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Club havo altered their dates to the and Oth Au ust, so as to allow the florthern exhibitors a chance of competing. IhPT find that themon'.h of July is too early for tho Dunedin birds, also for the Southland birds. Some valuable trophies will bo presented with the prizs money. The entry money has boon fixfd so as to come within tbe rench of all. The committeo are buey building 500 new coops for poultry, larger in size than formerly u.ied here, and which will be fitted up by a new process.