LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 17

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At ti raeoting of the Cabinet, held on the Bth it was decidod to appoint Mr Blair to the position of engineer-in-chief for the colonyat a salary of £800 per annum. It was also resolved to appoint Mr C. Y. O'Conor, C.E., who has long held the office of secretary to the Public Works department, to the position of Marine Engineer to the colony. Mr O'Conor will have entire charge of the Greymouth and Westport harbours and their works. He will also exercise virtual control over the North Island harbour works generally, inasmuch as no works can be undertaken below high watermark without the consent of the Minister of Marine, whose professional adviser will be the marine engineer. This office will aot be under that of the Engineer-in-Chief, but will be wholly independent of it, and the departments will be separate and distinct in all respects.

There was a little mild excitement on Thursday evening in George street for which the early closing agitation was responsible. A certain Chinese shopkeeper had failed to comply with tbe injunction to close at six o'clock, which has been conveyed along the streets for the last few days by a couple of "sandwich" men, and acting presumably under instructions from their employers, the Early Closing Association, the men with the placards placed themselves on the kerbstone in front of the shop, much to the amusement of a crowd of boys which speedily collected. This novel mode of coercion was ineffectual, however, for the' owner of the shop stood in the doorway placidly surveying the assembled crowd, and doubtless chuckling inwardly over the splendid advertisement he was gratuitously receiving. Eastern impassiveness gained the day, for the sandwich men got tired of waiting before the shopkeeper did. The ground of offence appeared to be that while the half of the shop which is devoted to drapery was ostensibly closed, by the Bhutters being up, the interior was lighted up and was accessible from the other part of the shop where fanoy gpoods are sold.

About 300 sheep were drowned last week while being crossed from Mount Albert to the Neck in a large two-decked punt. The weather got squally, and the water got-into-the punt on the lower deck, with the result above stated.

We (Oamaru Mail) believe that overtures have been made to Mr S. Boreham to contest the Oamaru seat in the working men's interests at the next election. At present, however, it is understood to be Mr Boreham's intention to place his services at the disposal of the Waimate electors, and it is highly probable that he will contest that seat against all comers.

A stack of wheat and a stack of oats, the property of Mr Martin, of Arrowtown, have been destroyed by fire. There was no insurance.

Among the passengers by the Mararoa for Melbourne on Thursday was Mr Job Wain, who is en route for England and the Continent after a forty years' residence in this city. Prior to his departure a few of Mr Wain's friends met him in the hotel that bears his name (now kept by, Mr Palmer) and wished him a safe voyage and a speedy return.

At the last meeting of the Napier Harbour Board a sensational report was read from Mr Carr, the engineer. He states that when L he was appointed he heard certain rumours to the effect, that the contractors were being paid for more rubble than they put into the foundations, and he personally kept a tally of the actual quantities used, and that when Mr Grainger, the olerk of works, was as.ke'd for the quantities he gave a return showing a very much greater number of cubic yards for eaoh day. Some days the entries reached £20 to £30 in cash value. The chairman suspended Grainger, and called a special meeting of the board. Grainger, in reply, did not dispute Mr Carr's figures, but urged that he had too many things to attend to. He asked to be allowed to resign. After & lengthy discussion the board refused the request by a majority and dismissed him. It is not known how far back false returns have been made, but it may have been going on for years, in which case many thousands' of pounds must' have been overpaid.

Messrs J. Pryor and Son, fruiterers, of Princes street, have just removed to new premises, a few doors north of their old shop, near the Dowling street cutting. The new premises form part of the building lately known as Montague's fancy bazaar. This building has lately undergone somewhat extensive alterations, and is now divided into two shops. One of these has been nicely renewed inside, painted, and fitted up in a manner suitable to a fruiterer's business. The shop was opened on Friday by M'ssrs J. Pryor and Son, who made a fine display befitting the occasion. The windows were tastefully dressed with all the fruits of the season, conspicuous amongst whioh were a very large quantity of fine Samoan oranges. In the front of the shop were also exhibited some nice chrysanthemum and cyclamen plants, grown by the firm at the nursery at Anderson's Bay.

A large number of the residents of Port Chalmers met in tbe Borough Council Chamber on Fri-lay evening in order to say farewell to Mr W. Elder, who for the last 26 years has been a prominent member of the community, and is leaving the Port to enter into business in Dunedin. His Worship the Mayor, -who presided, presented Mr Elder with a testimonial subscribed for by those present, and in doing so bore testimony fco the esteem in which that gentleman vim held by his fellow citizen". Mr Elder returned thanke in appropriate terms.

Few people are aware of the vastness of the sum sunk in what may be termed the temporary plant use.d in building the Forth bridge. The engineers estimate that £500,000 was spent in this direction alone. Two stnml steamers were constructed to carry men and materials from one part of the bridge to another In scaffoldinp, flooring, shedding, &c. 1,000,000 cubic feet of timber were used. From first to last 1200 tons of mere service bolts were needed to hold this mass of material together. Scores of hydraulic jacks, 60 miles of wire rope, and rams innumerable were also among the temporary appliances employed in constructing this stupendous viaduct. Fifty-six men were killed outright during the operations, and many more received injuries of a more or less serious character.

A couple of boxes, beloagiog to two per?ons travelling from Tapanui to Dunedin and Balclutha, were seized by Mr Burt, the Acclimatisation Society's ranger, on Monday last, nnd, on being opened, were fo >nd to cont-io t,h" ftesh of biuds, a skin, and two tails. As hinds are protected, the outcome will probably be a case before the resident magistrate.

It was loug ago anticipated thab the Eiffel Tower ufc Purist would prove to be useful for fcieutidc observations ; but the most aanguiun did not suppose that its value would be as crreat us it. actually turns out to be. Meteorologists who have bad opportunities of making observations from its summit are loud in it« praise, and r.onaider it to be absolutely unique as an

observatory. Of course there are many observatories at a higher elevation above the sea-level, bat the records obtained at such stations are naturally influenced by the high land all around them. The Eiffel Tower, on the other hand, springs directly from a flat country, and the observations taken at its summit can be at once compared with the condition' of things at its base. These often show a carious and wide divergence. For instance, in summer the temperature on the tower is lower and in the winter higher than it is on the ground. A few' months ago a severe frost was enveloping the city, while a warm breeze was blowing up above, 1 the benefit of which was no(s felt by the people at the street level until three days afterwards, A meeting of the members of the Dunedin Curling Club was held at Watson'B Hotel on Friday evjening, when owing to the lack of interest shown by the members the president, vice-pre-sidenti and members of committee present sent in their resignations.

The 1 proprietors of the " New Zealand Insurance'and Finance Journal," having regard to the importance which the mining industry has already assumed in this colony, and to the possibilities which it presents, have decided to add a new department to be devoted to mining and engineering. The journal will be increased ia size, and wil : be issued under the title of the "New Zealand Insurance, Mining, and Finance Journal." The prospectus of the new publication, which will appear for the fitat time in the month of July, will be found: in another par*, of this issue, and from its perusal it will be seen that euch arrangements are being made by the proprietors as should ensure thn latest and fullest mining news being found) in the columns of the journal. From a specimen or skeleton copy, that has been issued this month, the public have an opportunity of judging what the new organ will be like.

Mr John Lemon, one ef the oldest identities of North Otago, passed quietly to rest at an early hour on the Bth inst at the »ge of 62 years. He landed in Otago in 1848, but proceeded to the Victorian goldfields in 1852. Returning to this colony in the following year, he settled down as a sheep farmer in the Waitaki district in partnership with Dr Robert Williams, of Dunedin. .His first private home was in tbe Goodwood bush, near Waikouaiti. Afterwards the deceased and his brother (Dr Lemon) embarked in business as timber merchants, valuers, and architects, and since 1872, in association with Mr J. M. Forrester, he carried on an architect's and valuer's business. Although of late taking but little part. in public affairs, Mr Lemon was a member of the original Dock Trust .from its initiation, and was afterwards for two years a member of the Oamaru Harbour Board. In consideration of services rendered, he was made a life governor of the Oamaru Hospital and also a life member of the athenaeum. He was a natural genius, a reserved, upright man, and bis quiet dignity and unostentatious bearing commanded the respect of all who knew him. He leaves a widow and a.numerous family.

We are requested to notify to exhibitors who are entitled to certificates of award in connection with the late exhibition that these may now be obtained on ' application at the exhibition office between the hours of 10 a.m. and Ip.m. It is especially desired that exhibitors in tbe Home Industry court should take notice, of this.

The' hospital returns for the past week are as follow;:— Remaining from the previous week, 104; admitted' during the week, 20; discharged, 15 ; deaths (Michael King and Alex Finlayson), 2 : total remaining, 107.

. The Christchurch Telegraph raises its protest against the sale in the colony of a New South' Wales publication named tho Dead Bird, which is offered; for sale in Dunedin as well as in other, parts ,of the colony. Our contemporary institutes a comparison between the selling of these papers and the selling of Zola's novels, and draws the . attention of the police to the matter.

The Southland Times reports that a fourstalled stable, a shed, and a stack of straw on the property of Messrs Booth Bros., Upper Waimnmu, were burnt about midday on the sth inst. The structures were of a temporary kind, and the money loss only amounts to a few pounds. In this case there is clear proof as to the cause of the fire. A traction engine drawiDg a threshing machine had jusfc passed the straw stack belching our sparks, which fell on the straw, and as the buildings were close to it and of an inflammable nature the fire soon spread, the threshing mill itself barely escaping. Fortunately there was a squad of 12 men with the combine, and with their assistance the Messrs Booth saved three horses, 96 bags of grain, some potatoes, and a reaper.

According to the Post the statement that the Minister of Lands will shortly visit Southland and address his constituents is not correct. The hon. gentleman has no present intention of leaving Wellington, as work which accumulated during his recent absence in the North will prevent his going away for some weeks to come.

The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that Mr C. Y. O'Connor's appointment as marine engineer turns out to be merely a stepping stone, and that Mr Blackett, who went Home to be consulting engineer, is shortly to be out iv the colony, and Mr O'Connor is to succeed him as consulting engineer in London.

The practice in the Court of Appeal in this colony has always been that a judge refrains from sitting upon a case in which a decision of his own is appealed against, and the same rule prevails in England as well. Mr Justice Richmond expressed tbe opinion the other morning that the rule was oue which should cea--e to exist, and said that although he did not propose to vary the rule he thought that the Court of Appeal would be greatly assisted if the judge whose decision was appealed against were allowed to sit. He thought a judge was well able to criticise his own decision. Sir Robert Stout, who was engaged on behalf of the appellant in the case which was before the conrt at the time, observi-d that personally he did not obiect to the judge whose decision was questioned sitting upon the case.

Mr Leslie W. A. Macartbur, formerly a wellknown warden and stipendiary magistrate on the New Sout.h Wales goldfields, is (cays tbe Post) at present on a visit to Wellington, and intends to make a tour of the various mining districts of this colony with a view to satisfying himself regarding the extent and value of our mineral resources. Mr Maoar f .hnr says than wonderfully lit.tle is Known of New Zealand in tbe parent crlony, and that if any real knowledge was possessed there of the field open here far investment in mining nnd olber industries he is convinced that a large amount of capital would speedily find its way to New Zealand.

Tho Pilmerston Times records the death of one of Waikouaii-;'* old identities in the person of Mr Kenneth Cameron, aped 79 years. The deceased. wh» wa^ a. nn'.ivft of Lochb^oom, entered tb>» service of tha late Mr John Jones at Mitnnaka u» arriving in the colony. He subsequently took up a conple of sections in

what was known as Jones' private t township, erected cottages on them, and resided there (with the exception of a few years when he lived at Inch Valley) until he died.

A very singular meeting under the Bankruptcy Act was held on Friday afternoon. It could hardly be called a meetiug of creditors, as there was there was only oue creditor, though there were two debtors. The petitions were filed in order to obtain legal relief from liability in connection with shares in the Equitable Insurance Association, The facts of the case, which are somewhat peculiar, are set out in the proceedings, the result of which will probably be to put the company in a position to have proceedings taken against the purchaser of the shares from the debtors.

A meeting of the Art Gallery Committee was held at the Town Hall on Friday afternoon, when several additional subscriptions were reported, bringing the total amount promised up to £465 12s 6d. As many of tho lists opened for the subscribers of small sums have yot to come in it is anticipated that the fund will reach £500. The committee resolved to purchase the picture called " Preparing for Market,"' by F. A. Forbes, N.8.A.C., and will decide afterwards as to another picture or pictures.

Mr G. H. Barr has submitted a scheme for supplying Milton with water, at a cost of £25,320, to provide motive power up to 50 horsepower, and about £8000 more to give -motive power up to 100 horse-power. The standard he adopts is for a population of 24,000 people at a daily consumption of 50 gillons per head. To the source of the supply he proposes to utilise the i)orth branch of the Tokomairiro river, where he says there is a stream of large, size quite ample for the requirements of the borough for a great many years, even without storage, and with one site peculiarly suitable for impounding a large quantity of water when that becomes necessary.

The new railway time table has caused some inconvenience and dissatisfaction in the South. The Clufcha Leader states that no intimation had previously been given of tbe intended alteration of the time table for the Romahapa railway, and a number of settlers from the Catlins district intending to attend the sale of stock at Balclutha on the 2nd inst., came on to Romahapa in time for the 12 40 p.m. train, when they for the first time found it had been discontinued.

The Rev. A. Brace Todd having declined the call presented to him from the Wallacotown Presbyterian Churob, it was resolved at a congregational meeting on the 7th inst to ask the presbytery to moderate in a call to the Rev. J. Ski- ncr, of Waitahuna.

Oar Palmerston correspondent writes to say that those papers which have been takingjjtwo of the local justices of tbe peace to task for a fine, they imposed on a Chinaman for trespassing, were evidently in a fog regarding ' the matter. He states that there was no notice of "no thoroughfare" on the land upon which the defendant trespassed, and that the facts of the trespass are that the man had been discovered mining for gold on tbe informant's property, and that he persisted in doing so after repeated warnings to discontinue. The judgment was, our correspondent adds, considered at the time to be a mild one, seeing that the informant, who resides in Dunedin, was put to the expense of proceeding to Palmerston to prosecute.

A very large sun-fish was caught by some fishermen in the lower harbour on Friday. After the capture the monster was brought to Dunedin and attracted a considerable amount of attention. The fish measures 9ft from head to tail and 10ft across the finß.

The launching of the first girder of the long span of the Lyell girder bridge was successfully accomplished on Friday. The clear span is 168 ft, and the weight of each girder is' 35 tons as launched. This is the heaviest weight and longest span girder bridge yet undertaken in colony. The girder was carried across the river on two heavy steel cables by means of travelling pulleys, and the strain on these cables was over 100 tons. The second girder will be launched in about a week, and the whole work completed in about six week. Mr A. Anderson, of the firm of J. and A. Anderson, was in Lyell specially to supervise this important work being carried into this successful stage.

An Owake correspondent writes under date 9th May :— " A representative meeting of the residents in tbe Owake district was held in the fiohoolhouse, Owake, to-night. The Rev. W. G. M'Laren, who was voted into the chair on the motion of Mr J. M'Coll Smith, explained the purpose for which the meeting had been called — viz., to protest against the present railway arrangements tor Romahapa. These, he pointed out, were not at all suitable. In consequence of the cessation of the midday services if t c had any business to transact at Balclutha he had to leave Catlin's river at 4 a.m.; then he could not get back to Romahapa until 8.40 p.m. By the former arrangement it was possible to go from Balclutha to Romahapa by midday train on Friday, and arrive in time to catch the coach for Owake, and also to leave Owake by the coach on Wednesday morning about 9 o'olock in time to catch the mid-day train from Romahapa to Balclutha. Now all this was impossible; ono was compelled to take the coach the whole way from Balclutha to Owake, or from Owake to Balclutha, as the case might be. Then, again, the Friday midday service from Romahapa to Balclutha was very handy, as it enabled farmers to attend the stock sales at 1 o'clock, and do shopping on the market day. Furthermore, the new arrangement wa« exceedingly inconvenipn r for travellers from Dunedin Formerly they could leave by the morning train, get clown to at midday, and go on by coach to Owake, Now they had to wait in ;Balclut,ha from about- 11 a.m. to 8 pm , and could get no further than Romahapa that night. The sooner the midday service was resumed the better. Mr J. M'Coll Smith the mnved — ' (1) That the present arrange me, 1 it of the Romabapa train services is quite unsuitable; (2) that iv the opiniou of this meetiag it is absolutely necessary that the Wednesday and Friday midday services from Balclutha to Romahapa and back be resumed.' Mr Glasgow Logan seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. Mr George Dabinett moved — ' That the chairmau be instructed to send the above resolutions without delay to the railway tcaffic manager, and also to enclose the article in the Olutba Leaner bearing on the Hubject as expressing exactly bow the alterations affect this rlifitrict.' Mr Alexander C. Saundera seconded. This also was adopted, itui a vote of thanks to the chair moved by Mr J. T, Bryant, and seconded by Mr Arnold E. White, concluded the meeting.' "

On Sunday, t,h 4th, th» Keys W. ReadynndJ. Crewes, ministers of the Bible Chrissun dentiroin»t.iou, con •wlc^ services vi the Odd ff I lows' Hall, Rattray street.. At the morning service Mr Ready preached on «• Daniel ; AMm Worth Imitating." The preacher, whosi* own life "from London streets to the pulpit" has been a very romantic onu, knows a good deal about the temptations a^rl 'landers to which young men are exposed, and t/he courage and power necessary to enable them to act conscientiously and nobly. In the afternoon Ml- Crewes, of Chris t-

church, took the platform, and lectured on " God, the Bible, and Creation, in the lights of History, Science, and Reason." In the evening another service was commenced, in which Mr Ready preached a solemn sermon on " Tbo Naturo and Value of the Human Soul." At 8 p.m. Mr Crewes again took the platform, and delivered his second lecture. Mr Crewes thiuka there would not have besn go much scepticism and Agnosticism in the world if ministers had not often proved so ready to wear their breastplates ontheir backs. He holds that modern researches and disooveries have revealed the falseness of many of the contentions of opponents of the Bible, and that the Bible account of the creation is exactly true to the teachings of modern science. The lecturer quoted some very striking statements of such men as Huxley, Mill, Bradlaugh, Turgot, Emerson, and so on ; and repelling the charge that Bible teachings were untrue to history and bcience, be critically and boldly pushed that accusation well back into the territory of some of bis opponents. Mr Crewes will lecture again on Sunday afternoon, as advertised in this issue, while Mr Ready, who already has assembled ft good congregation, has arranged to continue Sunday servidos in the Rattray street Oddfellows' Hall, and has good hopes of speedily forming a church of his denomination in Dunedin.

An extraordinary objection to a committeeman taking his seat on a School Committee was made at Falmerston North by a ohairtnan, who held that the committeemaa referred to had committed an act of bankruptcy, because nearly 12 months ago he had called his creditors together and obtained time to liquidate his liabilities, nearly all of which have been cleared off. Naturally the objection occasioned some surprise,' and the committeeman objected to intends to contest the chairman's opinion.

The report of Dr Giles, who was appointed to inquire into the cav e of the break which occurred in the sludge channel at Kumara'in December last, has been laid before the Governor. It states that the occurrence of the second break, which took place about five chains above the first break, was the means of saving men's lives when nothing etae could have done so. The accident was caused by the givipg way of a cap piece at the spot where the lower break occurred. Dr Giles considered that the timber of which the cap piece was constructed was unsuitable for caps in a tunnel, and he also thought that all such caps ought to have centre props, He could, not find any reason for imputing blame or neglect to the channel overseer or to any other person connected with the works, as no examination such as it was the overseer's duty habitually to make would have led him to think any measures of protection necessary. Attempts had been made to show that the inspection and repairs of the channel had been generally neglected— and particularly latterly— in view of the expected abandonment of the channel to the care of trustees;, but Dr Giles did sot think such charges could be substantiated. In reference to the means in use for quickly turning off the water, he suggested that as perfect a system of signalling as possible should be adopted, so that the water could be turned off at once

The annual report of the Otago Sunday School Union shows that there were now 37 schools connected with the union, representing 777 teachers and 6907 scholars, whose average attendances, are 685 and 5444 respectively. Two country schools and one suburban school .have withdrawn. The annual soiree resulted in a gain of £4 to the union. The annual examination was held on the 12th August, and 523 scholars, representing 32 schools, entered for competition. The previous year's figures showed that 465 scholars entered from 25 sohools.

A strong feeling was expressed throughout the city on Saturday that a sentence of four months' imprisonment passed ou Friday by Mr John Logan, J.P., upon the man John Mordon, who was charged with being illegally on certain premises, was unnecessarily severe. It is statedthat the accused was a friend of one of the grooms, and probably went there to seek his friend, and waiting for him fell asleep. The following telegram was sent during the course of Saturday to the Minister of Justice :— " Hon. Minister of Justice, Wellington. — Strong feeling that gross miscarriage of justice in John Mordon's case. See to-day's Times. Think sentence should be remitted. — W. D. Stewart, H. S. Fish, jdn. (M H.R's)." A "reply was received from the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Captain Russell) stating that the convicting magistrate had been requested to forward a report on the case. Mr Logan forwarded his report to Wellington on Monday. In it he narrates the circumstances of the cane, and concludes by recommending tbat the term of imprisonment be reduced to one week, on account of certain statements favourable to accused which, though not forthcoming at the trial, have since reached him. Mr Logan adds that when sentencing accused he had to consider the serious results which often ensue through people sleeping in stables, &c.,- as well as the fact that, accused would not make any statement.

A correspondent writes that the annual soiree in connection with the Presbyterian Churob, Waitabuna, was held on the evening of tbe 7tb, The tea was served in good style in the Good Templars' Hall.- After the tea the annual meeting of the conpregation was held in tho church. The Rev. J. Skinner occupied the chair. Speeches were delivered by V-e Revs. Messrs Jolly and Taylor, and Mr M'Caw, of Glenore. A very enjoyable part of tbe programme was the admirable singing of the choir, which rendered a considerable number of bymns from "Children's Hoßanuas." Mr Patrick noted as conductor, nnd Mi-is Nir.oll deserves a special word of praiso for so ably prosi ing at the orgnn. Votes ot thanlts to tbe speakers, choir, ladipr, and chair brought a very enjoyable evening's prooeedings to a close.

Among other pastoralists holding land in the flooded country in New South W;iie« ii, Mr O M, Officer, M.L.A., who owns Kallura In writing to a friend in Hamilton he »»ys : — " What terrible losses ;n; n Queensland nnd N^w South Wales caused by rhe flooding of the rivers ! Two of my friends have lost 106,000 sheep between them. Tbe total losses of stock cannot be estimated yet, but. it is supposed they will amount to nearly 2.000,000 sheep, besides cat.tle. So far as I know I am nofc an actual loser by flood, but. indirectJy by overcrowding I may lose. However, I fe»l thankful to have escaped a great, cafcnstropbe. On the Kallarn. run the water is out about C AS miles from the river banks. Three years ago there was a run near Walgpfct on the Darling 'r^arvprf out,' and the owner ruined by drought. On rhi*Rim« run 36,000 sheep have beon drowned. Wh<>, after this, will say tbat squatting is not risky?"

A memorial io the Earl of S'laftcsbury is to he erected in Piccadilly Cirr:u.-. It will take the form of a large funnfahi, ?.nd the model is 30ft. in height Mr Alfred Gilbert, has beon entrusted with thn dea gn, and lh« site has already been given by the London County Oounc-il.

We are informed that tlu; miners' who nro on strike at, Moasr? Hazlotfc nnd Glrnriiniiig's Shag Point coal mine have received notice itnttthe.y must; leave their homies by I/he loth iti.st.

Thursday, the houses being the property of the mine owners. With regard to the dispute, the men state that it is ao new thing for the miners at &hag Point to object, aa Blackje did, to deductions being made from their wages on account of tbo quality of tho coal sent up in the skips This ban in fact, tho men alh-ge, bteu a long standing grievance with them, and thoy say that those who ventured to object to deductions wore met by the question an to whether they were prepared to leave. It is alleged that deductions have even been made when the air in the mines was so bad as to almost render it impossible to keep a light, and at a time, therefore, when the men 'would be unable to pick tho coal. Aa many as four »kip>j are said to have been stopped off a miner's wsg«s, and the men have often objected, both before tbe union was formed and afterwards, fo di ductions being made. There is no appliance For weighing tbe skips at the pit mouth, nnd the overseer passes or condemns the stuff according as he thinks there is a sufficient quantity or not. We are informed that; the euginemem at the mine have never during the present troubln refused to work excepting that , they have declined to draw salt-able coal for the four moo, known na "blacklegs,'' who are now engaged at the mine, but 24 hours' notice was given by them that if the manager (Mr |Wjlli«ms) instated on thoir drawing coal for the non-unioiiititß they would leave. It is further stated that two of them who were desired to work out c"al declined to leave their ordinary branch of occupation at the mine. Arrangements are now being made by which those men who have received warning to quit thoir houses will Jive m tents at Shog Point.

A Wellington telegram states that Mr E. J. Robinson, of the shipping brunch of the Customs department, has been re uoved to Dunedio. He is well known in cricket and football circle?, and in a prominent member of the Wellington Naval Brigade.

An embroglio, of which something more may yet b.e heard, occurred on Tuesday afternoon in newspaper office in Princes street. Tho participants were two members of the local press, between whom there has for some time past been no love lost. Matters were brought to a crisis last week by tbe fact that in a letter published iv a small up-country jourqal over the signature of one of the i parties, who has been doipg correspondence for two or three papers during tho exhibition and is not unconnected with a local magazine, there were certain thinly - veiled reference of an abusive nature to the other, who possesses artistic tastes and has not been long in Dunedin. The aggrieved pressman proceeded yesterday to the office of the other to interview him upon the matter and demand satisfaction. High words ensued, and; finally the visitor, wbo possessed a considerable advantage in height, struck the correspondent with his open band upon thefnoe. Immddiately thereupon the httrr produced a revolver in the dramatic style that has hitherto been 'supposed to be a monopoly of American journalists and present* d it at the head of the assailant. What the upshot might have ' been it is hard to say had not some others in the office separated the parties and deprived them, tbe one of his walking stick aud the other of his revolver. The latter, threatened to, have the former put under arrest, but, after waiting in vain for the arrival of a' constable, the visitor slowly wended his way from tho office. Tho further development of the matter, should it be further developed, will.be watched with some degree of interest.

The 1 Art Gallery Committee have resolved to purchase, in addition to " Sunny Hoars " and " Preparing for Market," a picture by R. W. Allan*! R.W.S., entitled " Kirkwall, Orkney," concerning which a good story is told. It will be remembered that the scene depioted is the outer end of a stone pier, with fishing boats lying off it. Two country visitors, who had evidently originally hailed from some maritime locality in Scotland, were observed standing admiring the picture one day during the exhibition season, when {one of them was heard to exclaim somewhat enthusiastically to his friends, " Eh ! mon, ye can a'ma'ißt smell the herrin'." Messrs Bing, Harris, and Co.'s employes have subscribed £2 14s, and those of the. D.I.C. £1 10s ta the fund; and a donation of £25 has been promised by Mr John M'Leau, of Redoastlo, Oamaru. The donatjons received up to the present time amount to close upon £500.

At the meeting of the creditors of Mr David Miller, who is well known in Dunediu, it transpired that the debtor had been advised by his solicitor and some of his creditors to file in consequence of complications with regard to certain land tr nsactions. The land in question was leased by Mr Miller, and aftor he had built cottages he transferred the lease to a purchaser. Several times the property changed hands, and the present tenant, in possession being unable to pay the ground rent, the demand was made upon the original lessee, who, believing he could not in justice to his other creditors meet it, consulted them and filed. The estate shows 40s in the! pound, and the meeting was adjourned to see if| an offer would be made on behalf of the landlord to take the property over upon terms acceptable to the rest of those concerned in the estate. ,

The Presbytery of Timaru have sustained a call that was presented from Mackenzie country in favour of tha Rev, Ge.orgp Barclay, and another from Gerald me in favour of the Rev. A. Bruoo Todd.

Tbo Rev. William Saunders, pastor of Moray place Congregational Ohureb, arrived in Dunedin ou Tucsiny morning by the MaDapouri. l?e was mefc at Porb Chalmers by several prominent mcmh»rs of the. congregation, and on the arrival of (be steamer ct the Victorian wharf he was received and welcomed by other members of his future flock.

Tho Ohristchurnh Press say« that now Sir John Hall has definitely decided to stand for Ellesmere at the general election, the election of Mr Alfred Saunders, JVI.H.R. for Selwyn, is practically assured.

Mr Murray Aston delivered a lef.ture on life assurance aI. tbo Public Hal), Sawyera' Bay, on Monday. The audience *vnn largo aud appreciative, and was highly delighted with the mingling of song airt anecr'ote. which the lecturer interspersed with his subject. The young men. present seemed to appreciate tbo Tontiua plan of insurants. At. tho close of the lecture Captain. Thomson proposed, and Mr Fosfer Reconded, a vole of thanks to Mr Aston, which was carried by acclamation.

An Alford Forest cor respondent of the Timaru Herald report* the discovery of coal, excellent lunpfltone, and proved fire clay within three miles of Springhurn railway station, and saya that residents of jjood sense and substantial means have tbe affair in hand, and are determioed to ?,o to work ub an early dato.

It appenriui; from iha 'ate mnuCmq re thi P!c!ur* 3 ?qu<j A.tfs« business (eavs; tho Southland Newt?) that jiot a single porenn in the room. — p&vo one — know fche wo'Tling "f (ho "agreement" t.hny had hnun iniincrl tnplcrji, we nave boon aukorl by novonil t,o pnhhuh a copy of it for the intommUim of >;11 co:icprnpd. It reads an follow :— J^lounri rteJi viv r<> my r.fldrosß, givon

Tielow, yow work entitled "The Picturesque ' Atlas of Australasia " in 42 patte (caper severe), fer which I agree to pay you or your authorised agent. Eve shiliings for each part when delivered at ray residence or place of business, each nart tc, contain 12 to 20 pages. (1) The publishers •on their part agree to begin the delivery of the above-named work during the year 1889 or the following year, and will complete the delivery of the series as soon after publication m possible, pledging themselves to a faithful performance of their part of this agreement * v -i 8i 8 1° cx P resal y understood by each subsonber that the non-delivery of the publication at any specified date Bhall in no wise release the said aubscriber from the above obligation. (3) Subscriptions received only for the entire work; no agent being authorised *L.? n j ?e *he terms of this agreement, to give ■oreait, to receive pay in advance, or to confraofc any liability for the publishers.

Mr Bawling, in a letter to the Daily Times in areference to the necessity of suspending portion of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company's operations daring the winter months says that this only applies to the dam at Lake Onslow, which has been completed to a height of 15ft, but if found necessary can be gone on with next September.

Mr Francis Foote, Btation master at Caversham. was the reoipient on Thursday last of a presentation •in the form of a gold albert ohain by the residents of She suburb as an acknowledgment of the esteQm in ■winch he is held, and their good will for his future xrellfare. A second presentation of a handsome marble clock was subsequently made to Mr Foote.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a pamphlet by " Kororia," which contains the substance of two lectures delivered in Melbourne by Henry George, with a short biographical notice of the famouß American economist. The pamphlet also containsjsoma chapters written in very vigorous style in favour of Freetrade, the single tax, and land nationalisation, and those who desire to become acquainted with the elementary theories upon these subjects would do well to read it.