LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 30 October 1890, Page 13

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Those liable to pay property tax are reminded that where the amount of duty is under £15, it must be paid on the 26th November ; and where it is over £15, the first instalment must be paid on the same date, and the remainder on the 4th February 1891. The duty in respect to all insurance and guarantee policies is due on the sth March 1891.

Mr James C4arwood, one of the principal residents of Akaroa, died on Monday, aged 53. He was one of the Canterbury pilgrims, and helped to print the first number of the Lyttelton Times. Mr Gar wood paid a visit to Dunediu during the exhibition, and bis interesting reminiscences of some of the Canterbury pioneers were given by our reporter in our exhibition supplements.

Mr J. R Cuttle, who occupied the position of sub-editor of the Evening Herald for some years, died on Monday after a long and painful illness. The deceased was the son of an Episcopalian minister, and was born near Mnllingar, County Westmeath, Ireland, about 1830. After completing his apprenticeship as a compositor in the office of the Westmeath Guardian he visited India, and hearing of the Victorian gold discoveries he made his way to Melbourne about 1854. He saw a good deal of life on the goldfields as travelling agent for the Age newspaper. In 1863 he came to Otago, and was employed by the Provincial Government as road inspector on the Dunedin-Pigroot road. He then resumed his trade as a compositor, and after a sojonrn at Milton was engaged for some years in the composing room of the Obago Daily Times. He was later on connected with the Morning and Evening Herald in various positions ttntil he was laid aside by illness. Mr Cuttle was greatly esteemed by those who knew him.

We learn (says the Wanganui Herald) that when Mr H C. Field was overhauling .ioiuh old kitchen middens at Waikanae, in .smirch of a human skull or two for a medical friend, he found some of the botie^ of a very large moa, which had been recently exposed by the drifting away of the sand. They were so much decayed as almost to crumble away in handling them, and the smaller ones broke into pieces. Ho, however, brought away a number of the larger and more perfect ones, consisting of the femur (the hinder part of the backbone, containing the leg sockets), the two thigh bones, and 10 of the vertebras of the back and neck. The size of the bird may b3 juJgsd frona the fact that the thigh bones are 14|in long by Bgin in circumference (as thick, that is, as a large man's wrist) at the smallest part, and the femur of corresponding dimension?. Along with the bones, Mr Field picked up two pieces of hoop iron, portions of bottle glass, both green and white, fragments of broken crockery, and three bits of clay tobacco pipe. These indicate that the bird to which the bones belonged was alive certainly as recently as when Captain Cook anchored bis ship a few miles off, in Queen Charlotte's Sound ; and more probably that it was so after the whalers first visited Waikanae, which seems to have been about the year 1820.

Mt James Horsburgh, bookseller, has sent us copies of Mr E. C. Harris' "New Zealand Flowers, Ferns, and Berries," published by Mr H. D. Jackson, of Nelson. There are three distinct books, and in each is given 12 plates of the principal and most characteristic of our flowers, ferns, and berries, accompanied by brief letterpress descriptions. A great deal of care must have been bestowed on the original drawings, and the reproductions by means of chromo lithographs are excellent. As the plates are not coloured, the full beauty of the flowers and ferns is not so apparent at the first glance as would otherwise be the case, but the delicate shading of the originals is so carefully reproduced that the more they are looked into the better are these baauties appreciated. This is especialy noticeable in the Clematis indivisa and the Plagianthua lyalli. The publications are, indeed, a credit to all concerned, and should meet with a ready sale. There is only one fault to find, and that ia one which will no doubt be removed if the present venture is successful — namely, that the plates are not numerous enough.

Bitter complaint is made by a party that went to Coal Island by the Hinemoa, that after beiug promised a passage by the Minister on the usual terms — 3s 61 a day — Captain Fairchild exacted 30s, and gave no food till arrival at Puysegur. They also had to sleep among the cargo. Captain Fairchild was asked to land them on Coal Inland, but declined, the weather being too rough. They were then taken across about half a mile on a smaller boat by the lightkeeper without trouble. What annoyed the men was that there were other quasi prospectors ou board who, it was believed, were getting free passages for a much greater distance. The news from the island is not encouraging. There are about 120 men there, and the only claim doing satisfactorily being that of the prospectors, Wilson and Payne, the others averaging about gdwt per mau a day.

In counection with the proposed sale of the Colonial Insurance Company's business, it is announced that the purchasers are the Commercial Union Assurance Company, one of the most powerful companies in Great Britain. A representative of the Commercial Union visited New Zealand in August last, and approached the directors of the Colonial and made an offer, which was eventually confirmed by their London Board, aud the same is now about to be submitted to the shareholders of tha Colonial for acepptance. The whole of the business (fire and marine) will bo continued by the Commercial Union. It is understood that Mr Allot', the present general manager of the Colonial Company, will continue as resident manager, and that the present directors will act as a board of advice.

Judge Edwards delivered judgmentat Wellington ou Friday on motion to have Mr E.A.Haggen, of the Woodville Examiner, committed for contempt in publishing the evidence taken before the Waste Lauds Committee in the case ot Sowry v. the Hawkt's Bay Land Board. He said that the sole question for his determination was the bare point of law as to whether the defendant board had power under the provisions of the Land Act 1885 to hold the proposed iuquiry, aud it was rquilly plain that the determination of this point of law could in no way be affected by the republication by Mr Hsggen of the evidence given before the Waste Lands Committee. The plaintiff had therefore completely failed to istablish the grounds upon which he moved against Mr Hugger). Id short, the Court was asked to puuish Mr Haggen for publishing matter that was wholly immaterial to the 6uit. He had no doubt that the publication of this matter, apart from its bearing in the present suit, was privileged under the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1865, aud he felt satisfied that by the publication of this evidence no right of the plaintiff had been infringed. The motion must therefore b° dismissed, with costa (10 guineas).

O-'. Mondny night, at Wellington, Detectives Campbiill and Herbtrt niado a raid on a place of business in Willis street which for a long time has been supposed to be the reaort of gamblers. By a piece of strategy the detectives managed to gain admittance at the first door, but as s/wq

as the doorkeeper saw he had been " had " he touched an electric bell, which gave a signal to those in the gambling room, where all the lights were extinguished, and there was a general rush to the outside. Dice boxes thickly padded were found in the room, but a very small amount of cash was got. As it was mostly small silver pieces, it is supposed that the game being played was " hazard." There was also a large table in the room, with long forms on each side, which would accommodate about 40 persons. Between 20 and 30 men were in the room, but only the names of 14 were obtained, and they, together with the proprietor of the house, will be summoned before the resident magistrate. The police have also laid an information against Charles Cress, proprietor of the shop. Early on Monday morning, at Nelson, John Webster, third son of Malcolm Webster, a well-known old citizen, shot himself through the heart with a rifle. He was heard to leave the house at 4 o'clock, and not having returned an hour later his brother went to look for him, and heard a shot from an unoccupied house dose by. Death was instantaneous. Deceased, who was 23 years of age, was a general favourite. Twelve months ago ha met with a fall on the back of his head, nnd ever since ho has baen subject to fits of depression. The Auckland Board of Education have rejected the motion proposed by Mr Luke to the effect that there should be no difference whatever in the salaries of male and female teachers. The four inspectors — Messrs Goodwin, Airty, Dickenson, and Crowe — have applied to the board for an increase of their salaries, pointing out that they are much below those of officers of similar grades elsewhere, and inspectors here are paid less than some head teachers. The board adjourned consideration of the matter for four weeks. The salaries of the inspectors here are : — Goodwin, £350 a year; and the others £300 each. The Auckland Herald says: — "Our readers will probably be a good deal surprised to learn that wo have resident in our midst in Auckland a lineal descendant of the poet William Shakespeare. The name of this gentleman is Mr William James Dalton, patent agent, High street. His attention was attracted the other day to the following paragraph which appeared in the Herald : — ' Probably the nearest relative to. Shakespeare now living ia one Thomas Hart, a resident of Australia, who is said to be the eighth in descent from Shakespeare's sister Joan.' This paragraph induced him to show us some old documents which prove pretty conclusively that he is descended on the mother's side from Shakespeare's eldest daughter Susanna. Mr Dalton is thus a much nearer relative of Shakespeare's than Mr Hart, who is only a collateral descendant. It must be admitted that there is a considerable gap in Mr Dalton's genealogical record, but a little investigation in England would no doubt clear the matter up." The documents are published in full, and the Herald suggests Mr Dalton should present the documeats to the free public library. The Government have received a telegram stating that the telegraph office at the Thames has been struck by lightning and set on fire The operator, Mr Beale, was knocked backward off his stool, and the room was filled with a blue flame. The gaspipe was fused and the gas set on fire, whence the flames ran up the wall, but Mr Beale, by the exercise of great promptuess and presence of mind, succeeded in extinguishing the incipient conflagraration before much damage wag done. An order has been made that he shall receive a special reward for his conduct. We understand that in connection with the forthcoming Art Society's exhibition a new departure is contemplated, in the form of an illustrated catalogue on the lines of " Academy Notes " and those published in Melbourne and Sydney. Messrs J. Wilkie and Co., who have undertaken the publication, will be glad if intending exhibitors will forward to them either a Bketch or the picture itself they may wish reproduced for the catalogue. As the exhibition opens early next month, any picture intended for reproduction must be forwarded without delay. The new form of catalogue should prove an interesting souvenir of the exhibition. The Presbyterian Synod last year adopted a recommendation that the Strafch-Toieri Church extension charge should be rearranged, and two charges constituted, the one to be included in the Dunedin Presbytery, and the other in the Oamaru Presbytery. Mr J. W. Waldie, who has for some months been labouring in the districts of Middlemarch, Lee Stream, Hindon, and Hyde, was or Jained at Middlemarch on Tuesday by a commission of the Dunedin Presbytery, and inducted into the pastorate of the Strath-Taieri charge for the usual term of three years. The service was held in the district school, at 5 o'clock p.m., and was conducted by the Rev. Messrs M'Kerrow, Kirkland, and Cameron. There was a large attendance, considering the hour of meeting and the cold day. The ordination service was followed, after a short interval, by a soiree, at which addresses were given by the ministers from the presbytery and by the newlyordained pastor. Very efficient arrangements bad bten made by the local committee, and the room was crowded by an audience who evidently enjoyed the proceedings of the evening, and showed that Mr Waldie has a hearty welcome as minister of the Strath-Taieri congregation. Referring to the death in Dunedin last Sundny of Mr John Copland, barrister and solicitor, after a long illness, the Tuapeka Times nays : — " Mr Copland had been a resident of Lawreuce for the past 21 or 22 yew, during which time he practised at the local bar as a barrister atid solicitor, having previously come from British Columbia, where he held the position of Crown Solicitor for some time. During his long sojourn in Lawrence he always displayed a strong interest in public affairs, and was a familiar figure on almost all our local bodies. Mr Copland was a gentleman of standing in his profession, of open and genial disposition, and his demise will be much regretted by a very large circle of friends in this district." The Kendal Mercury of the 22nd August aunounces the death iv Wittington Workhouse of Sergeant Brown, one of those who took part in the famous charge of the Light Brigade. He had been for some time in declining health, aa i well aB in impoverished circumstances. The man Cole, who was reported as missing from Dunedin, was arrested at Oamaru and brought before the Resident Magistrate yesterday charged with the larceny of £20 2s 6 1 from his employers, Messrs Lorie and Roy, of Dunedin. He waa remanded to Dunedin. A collection of pictures given by members of the Otago Art Society and others, in aid of the public art gallery movement, ia now on view in the windows of Mr Macgregor B. Wright at the Octagon. The collection includes works by the Hon, J. O. Richmond, Messrs Hodgkins, J. Gibb, W. M. Gi'-b, L. W. Wilson, 'Worrits Harrison, Ferrier, O'Keefe, Perrett, Browne, Goy. Meeson, Simpson,' Huddleston, Smaill, Murray, Melvin, and Power, Dr Scott, Mesdames White, Joachim, Oowie, and Nioholls, Misses Hodjjkios, J,. Wim-

peris, F. Wimperis, M'Dougall, Black, F. Ross, M'Laren, and Holmes, and some pictures presented by private persons, making a total col- ! lection of over 30 work*, some of which have" been on view in art exhibitions held locally. It should ba understood that these works are not for hanging in the public art gallery, but have been presented in aid of that movement, and will be disposed of by art union, the tickets for which have been fixed at £1 each. The following petition is being largely signed in the city and suburbs : — " To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives, in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned women, of the age of 21 years and upwards, resident in the colony of New Zealand, humbly showoth — That your petitioners are of opinion that the franchise should be extended to women for the following reasons : That it has become an accepted axiom that Governments dt rive their just powers from the consent of the governed ; that a democratic government like that of New Zealand already admits the great principle that every adult person, who is neither a criminal nor a lunatic, has an inherent right to a voice in the construction of laws which all must obey ; that the physical weakness of women disposes them to exercise habitual caution, and to feel a deep interest in the constant preservation of peace, law, aud order, and especially in the supremacy of right over might ; that those who are mothers are particularly interested in legislation bearing upon the eduoation and moral welfare of the young ; that many women are possessed of landed and other property on which taxation is imposed, and as has been justly said, ' taxation without representation is tyranny ' ; your petitioners, therefore, pray your Honourable House to adopt auch measures as will seoure the extension of the franchise to women ; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c." Mr G. C. Rees, an old colonist, and who is now a Native interpreter at Wanganui, writes as follows to the Wanganui Chronicle : — " In about the year 1850, when residing with Mr Samuel Clarke, at Waipuna, on the Tamaki river, near Panmure, a Maori from Taupo happened to be staying there. This Maori was about 45 years of age, aud a very intelligent specimen of the Maori of those days; but I forget bis name. He told Mr Clarke and me that he was invited amongst his people to a feast at Taupo, at Te Heuheu's place, where there was to be a moa supplied as part of the feast. However, he said his party did not arrive until the feast was over but he saw the skia of the moa lying in a large kit iv one of the whares. He said that the skin was as large as the hide of a big ox, and covered with tufts of hairy feathers ; and long hairy-like feathers hung down from the head, with the appearance of horsehair. He afterwards drew a moa on a slate, describing it as about 14ft high, and generally standiDg on one leg, and facing the wind, making springs of 30ft or more at a time. A kick from a moa, he said, would kill any man. The Maoris caught them with snares made of stout ropes." The storm of wind and rain which appears to have prevailed to the north of Christchurch on Saturday and Sunday caused some damage to the telegraph wires, and the officers of the telegraph department here on Sunday had to decline all except urgent messages to stations north of Christchurch. The Christchurch Press says : — " The labor party having by their representatives agreed to certain conditions, at present undisclosed, an attempt will now be made to call a conference of the principal employers throughout New Zealand in order to consider minor matters and to arrange for the prevention of similar difficulties in the future. It is hoped that by Tuesday something final will be arrived at." Mr Simpson, Government surveyor, has (says the Lake County Press) been recalled from the work he had just undertaken up the Greenstone, and is to proceed to Te Anau, thence overland to Milford Sound to lay off a track from the Sound to; the Sutherland Waterfall. The work of making the track is to be done by prison labobr, and a start will be made as soon as possible after the line of route is defined. Bishop Cowie, in his synodical address at Auckland said it,Jwas never more necessary than at the present time that the clergy should be men of education. The melancholy exhibition of defective knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and of superstitious application periodically displayed iv Auckland by travelliEg and unaccredited lecturers on the Bible might well cause dismay to those whose prayer it i 3 that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. These remarks evidently went into, the breasts of some of his hearers, for in the course of the discussion that took place at the diocesan synod last evening as to the desirability of making an appeal to the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge to augment the home missions fund, the Rev. Mr Beafch scored very strongly against the proposal. He urged that if suoh an appeal weed made the S.P.C.K should be put in full possession of the facts. They should know, be said, that the people of Auckland, though not very liberal religiously, thought nothing of putting thousands of pounds through the totalisator, kept opera and other professional companies going all the year round, entertained all sorts of travelling preachers, fed them profusely on tea and cake, and sent them away with their pockets well lined, while the actual wants of the church were neglected. These remarks were received with loud applause, and caused a good deal of merriment. A Lee Scream correspondent writes:— The residents of this district gave Miss Burnside, school teacher, a farewell ballon Friday evening, and presented her with a handsome combined work-box and writing-desk and an album as a earnest of the high esteem in which she is held. Mr M'Grc-gor, manager of the Ro.rn.arua station, made the presentation, aud in the course of his remarks said they all deeply regretted Miss Burnside's departure but rejoiced that she left with the pespecfc and esteem of all classes of the commurity. Miss Burnside suitably responded, expressing her grati'.ude for the kindness shown to her by the people of the Lee Stream district. At last (says Monday's Tlmaru Herald), and fortunately before the laok of it had done irreparable harm, rain has come to gladden the heart of the farmer. Up to Saturday morning there bad been a few showers during the previous week or 10 days, but not enough to do muoh good. On Saturday afternoon useful showers fell on the nor'-west gale giving way to a southerly blow. At night the sky cleared again, and yesterday broke quite fine. Before noon, however, heavy clouds came up, and a light shower of hail about mid-day waa the precursor of numerous fine showers, and a steady pouring rain at night. The drenching which this gave the ccuotry will be of the very greatest benefit. Having got this we may now wish for a fine week, in favour of the annual rural festival — the agricultural show. The law examiuers having CQtnpleted their task, it is announced that tbe following candidates have parsed ; — Barrister, previously admitted as solicitor elsewhere— H. W. Postlethwalfcej Christchureb. Barristers, already passed as solicitors— G. Allport, Wellington ; R. Blackstone, Cbxistchuroh ; C, D, Kennedy, Napier ;

E Lee.^Dunedm ; A. W. Rees, Auckland ; r.P. W.^mith-Anstead, Ohristchurch ; G. H. Wallace, Wellington. Birristers, final— T. N. ■ Baxter, Auckland ; W. E. Bruce, Auckland ; W. J. Joice, Hokitika; A. O. Lewi,*, Wellington ; L. L. Myers, <*uckland; J, W. Foynton, Wellington; D. F. Scannel, Napier. Solicitors, final— P. F. Battery, Auckland ; O. R. Beere, Wellington; W B. D. Bishop, Christchiirch ; T. R. Ellison, Wellington ; D. M. Findlay, Dunedin; F. Fuller, Cbristchurch ; A. Guy, Napier; F. K. Hunt, Christchiirch ; W. F. Hinder, Dunedin; F. W. Johnston, Christchurch ; M. F. Luckie, Wellington ; A. R. Meek, Wellington A. O. Rolleston, Christchurch ; H. Shrimpton, Dunedin ; G. Sievwright, Dunedin ; A. T. Warbrick, Auckland ; G. T. Whiteside, Christchurch ; W. Wyinks, Dunedin. The pastoral interest throughout the colonies is requested to notice an advertisemeut in our columns by the Lockharb Morton Testimonial Committee, referring to the invention of the swing gate and lane for drafting sheep. Formerly all sheep had to be drafted by hand, with great labour and expense, until Mr Lockhart Morton solved the problem : How to draft tens of thousands of sheep iv a day without touching one of them. Originated in Australia, the invention has long been in universal use, and has been communicated to all sheep countries of the world, while the inventor's valuable services have gone unrewarded, and the obligation'imposed has been left undischarged. Mr W. N. Blair, Engineer-in-chief, who has bf en in a critical condition for some time past, at Wellington is improving in health. Mr Scobie Mackenzie by advertisement elsewhere that he will address the electors of Mount Ida at various centres, commencing at Hiudon on November 3.