LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1945, 4 June 1891, Page 30

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A man named Henry Searle was admitted into the hospital on the 28th uit. from the North Taieri, where he got rather badly bruised about the body on the previous day by a fall of coal in a coalpit on Mr Donald Reid's property. A girl named Florence Tomkins, 18 years of age, while taking a short cut through a paddock at Pine Hill last night, fell over a bank and broke her right leg just above the ankle. She was taken to the hospital, where her injury was attended to by Dr Roberts.

A telephone station is now open at Mount Pisa.

The Queensland Minister for Lands is making strenuous efforts to settle the people on the land, and large areas suitable for agricultural settlement have been thrown open in various districts. Most of this land is either in the vicinity of a railway or township. The freehold of agricultural farms can be obtained for half-a-crown an acre, payable at 6d per acre per annum for five years, residence and small improvements being the only conditions.

The New Zealand Times says :— " There is a very great demand for land for settlement throughout the district. The young people who are growing up are particularly anxious to settle through the Special Settlement Association system. These will not touch the land unless they see a chance of getting the freehold eventually. Rather than lose that chance they are ready to leave the colony. It is a fact that must be reckoned with, and facts are stubborn things. Wise men invariably accommodate themselves to facts. In this case the special settlement system, with the prospect of freehold, has done a great deal of most useful work. A few cases of abuse ought not to procure the condemnation of a proved good thing. If the Government does not recognise the passion for freehold tenure, the progress of the district will be hindered. The Government must not forget that there exists in the heart of every man a ' land hunger,' a desire that his plot shall be for himself and hoirs for ever."

Mr Charles Creighton, of Honolulu, a son of Mr R. J. Creighton, formerly member of the New Zealand House of Representatives and a well-known colonial journalist, has been oreated a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Kalakaaa. Mr C. Creighton is deputy Attorneygeneral of Honolulu.

Statements have been published throughout the colony to the effect that while the prosecution by the late John Bourke, town clerk of Gisborne, of John Baldwin for criminal libel in 1888 was going on, Bourke was defrauding the Harbour Board. An audit investigation shows that until five months after the libel for which Baldwin was sent to gaol, and three months after his sentence, Bourke had not embezzled a halfpenny of publio moneys. Singular to say, the first amount he appropriated was paid in by the prosecuting counsel in the libel case. i The Hon. Mathew Holmes and Mrs Holmes celebrated their golden wedding at Wellington on the 25th ult. Saveral members of their family arrived in Wellington to be present on the auspicious occasion, and congratulations were tendered by numbers of friends and relations.

Mr R. Monk, ex-M.H.R., hi.s a grievance. When a member of the Auckland Education Board he agreed to inspect and report on a kauri forest belonging to the board, charging a very modest fee. The auditer challenged the account. Mr Monk now points out that he could have drawn £70 as travelling allowance and expenses when a member but declined to claim a penny. It is now ruled that an honestly and hardearned fee 3annot be taken legally, and the impression left on Mr Monk's mind is, that he is wronged.

The following missing friends are inquired for in Lloyd's Weekly of January 25 : — Benjamin Brame, plumber, went to New Zealand in the Rodney in 1875, and in 1879 wrote from Brisbane. His aged father and sister ask. — Sarah, wife of Thomas Simpson, on September 20, 1875, left docks at Poplar on the Avalanche for New Zealand, and her sister Charlotte has not heard of her since. — Jane Simmons, who married a Mr Watson and left Edinburgh in 1871-2 for New Zealand, and was last heard of in Otago. Her brother John wishes to hear. — Alfred John Pyman in 1883 wrote from the Royal Mail Hotel, Auckland. Mother asks for news. — Thomas Overton left Leamington for New Zealand in 1886, and in 1888 was a confectioner at Ascot Vale, Melbourne. His father and mother would be glad of news.— Henry Hedges went to New Zealand about 37 years ago. Sister Sarah seeks him. — Mrs E. Cocks left Willow Walk to go to New Zealand on December 10, 1862. Sister Mary asks.— Thomas Henry Garbett sailed for Wellington on September 23, 1886, and after being employed as a waiter at the Empire Hotel, went to Palmerston. His mother is anxious. — Mrs Edward Hunt (Batch) left Hamerton for New Zealand in 1871-2, and in 1880 was living at New Plymouth. Sister would be glad to hear. — Joseph Norton, a horse dealer in Auckland in 1881. His son John, late of the army, inquires. Martin O'Hara was about to take the Temperance Hotel, WaDganui, in 1877. A nephew asks. — j Frank Batler Smith, son of James and Ann Smith, left England for New Zealand between 1866 and 1870. He wrote home for two or three years. Brother Joseph asks.

The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, are in receipt of a cable advice from their London office to the effect that the rates of freight from London to New Zealand on fine and medium goods have been reduced by 10s per ton by mail steamers and 5a per ton by cargo steamers.

The only section of Crown land taken up this week was section 53, block IV, Catlins, 113 acres, cash price 17s 6d per acre. Robert Stanford Tuok became the lessee, the tenure being perpetual lease.

A boat picked up on the 27th ult. by the dredge No. 222 turned out to ba one belonging to the cutter Lizzie, which broke adrift from her on her recent trip from Dunedin to Green Island. - ' The population of the borough of Gore is 1619, made up of 841 males and 778 females, The Mataura electorate, which includes Gore, has a total population of 8846, of which 4900 are males and 3946 are females.

The Clutha Leader states that owing to the slight accident to the express train at Waipahi on the 27th the sfcationoiaster, who is also telegraphist, was kept busy in the station yard and could not attend to th^ wires, whereupon the Hon. J. G. Ward, who was a passenger by the train, at once took his place in the office, receiving and despatching the messages with the utmost promptitude. We question M many Postmaster-general* have ever been able to stop a gap in this practical manner.

At a committee meeting of the Auckland Education Board, communications were read from the inspectors and a considerable number of head teachers on teaobing in primary classes aDd the text books in use. Neavly all recommended the disuse of Globe Readers V and VI. The wish of the majority of mem-

hers present to have more time for consideration before proceeding to expurgate the list of text books was agreed to. Mr Grant moved that Swan and Sonnenschein's number sheets be distributed to every school ; also that the attention of the Education department ba drawn to the excellence of the map of New Zealand issued by the Railway Commissioners, with a view of getting a supply of the same suitable for school classes. Copies of the number sheet and map were ordered to be laid on the table, and the matter was referred to the inspectors for their report. Mr Grant then moved — " That it be a recommendation to the Education department to obtain copies of the text books most common in the common or primary schools of Pennsylvania and California, from the Education departments in Philadelphia and San Francisco." This was agreed to.

At a meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the chairman said he did not think it any ase obtaining more feathered game, as stoats and weasels were now brought here by every steamer. Letters were read from the Hawera, Geraldine, Marlborough, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Southland, and Gisborne societies, enclosing cheques amounting to £38 6s towards the prosecution of the Maori fishing cases.

While Bishop Julias, at Christchurch recently, declared that he was a Socialist because he was a Christian, and that Socialism is taught in the New Testament, Cardinal Manning declares that " A Christian socialism is impossible, because the Christian faith organises and is not destructive. Human society attains its perfection in Christian society, of which Socialism would be the destroyer." -^ The death is announced of Mr Charles Pitt Cholmondeley, one of the original founders of the Canterbury settlement, who arrived in one of the "first four ships" on 16th December 1850. He was 61 years of age, and had never married. His death was due to a species of paralysis.

The dog tax collector for the Wallace County Council, in a report, says : — " I would suggest that instead of striking a rate, if you would go prospecting in the Longwood or elsewhere, and strike a good rich quartz reef, aud thereby raise sufficient funds to construct roads and bridges, pay salaries, and in short , to carry out all functions of the council, you would glad the heart of every ratepayer, and the showers of blessings falling around would quickly clothe with blooming daisies your now thorny path. Be it also known to your council that there are several individuals in the Otautau riding who are as canning as foxes, and who would barter away their souls for half a crown, and your humble servant is waiting for instructions from your council to bring said individuals before his Honor Justice Rawson." '

The new commission of the peace gazetted contains 125 new names, bat the list has not been increased, those appointed replacing names that have been removed by death or other causes. The following are among the new commission :— Joseph Flint Lanham and Peter Gilfedden, One Tree Point; James Gilmour, Winton ; Robert Gilmour, Invercargill ; William Moore, Milton ; Alexander Thomson, Dunedin; S. N. Brown, Dunedin; William Watson, Dunedin ; James Craig, Oamaru ;_ Alexander Murdoch, Ngapara; Peter M'Leod, Waihemo; H. Stewart, Kurow. The recent changes in the commissioners of Crown lands are gazetted. Mr Spence's place in Westland will be taken by Mr J. H. Sti auction.

The Government have decided to allow seals to be killed daring July and August of this year, subject, however, to the restriction that female or cow seals and seals under 36in in length are not to be killed. An Order-in-Conncil to this effect was to have been issued on Saturday afternoon.

The vital statistics for Dunedin for the month of May were : — Births, 110 ; deaths, 67 ; and marriages, 32. The statistics for the corresponding month of laßfc year were as follows :— Births, 108 ; deaths, 63: and marriages. 26.

Mr Justice Richmond resumed his duties on Monday, his year's leave of absence having expired.

Bishop Selwyn, of Melanesia, is reported to have recovered from bis serious illness, and is expected in Auckland daring the present month.

Four small stacks of oaten sheaves, the property of Alexander Blackie, Stirling road, were burned down on Thursday night. They were valued at £30, and were uninsured.

About 200 members of the Southern Club and Gymnasium and a few ladies attended the first of Dr Macpherson's lectures on ambulance work on Friday evening. A singing class is about to be formed under the leadership of Mr Braik, and arithmetic, elocution, and other classes will be formed in the course of a week or two. Arrangements have been made for several entertainments during the next month. The club has been such a success that enlargements are already necessary, and a lecture hall is about to be added. Correspondence has been received from Wellington requesting information respecting the working and success of the club. It has been decided to inaugurate one there, and over £300 has already been collected for that purpose. Letters have also been received from several country towns in Ofcago requesting information as to the success of our club, with a view of starting similar clubs in those localities.

The remains of the late Captain John Veal, who died from injuries received at Wellington, were interred with Masonic honours in the new cemetery, Port Chalmers, on Sunday afternoon. The cortege left the deceased's late residence, Grey street, at 3.15 p.m., and the procession was one of the largest yet seen in Port Chalmers. About 200 persons went down from Dunedia in the tug Plucky, and amongst those present were several members of the Harbour Board, of which deceased was a member, the mayor and other prominent citizens, also the members of the Marine Lodge 942, 8.C., and several members of sister lodges. The service at the grave was read by the Rev. Mr Jory. The burial service of the Masons was also gone through.

The Tuspeka Times reports that Mr H. 8. Valentine was entertained at a spread at the Victoria Hotel on Thursday night by upwards of 50 of bis friends, gentlemen being present from every corner of the Tuapeka district. Mr E. Herbert was in the chair, and Mr M. Fraerin the vice-chair. Among those present was Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R. The entertainment partook moro ot a private and friendly rather than a political or public display. It is intended to entertain Mr Valentine at a publio banquet at the close of next session.

The Presbyterian News hears with great satisfaction lhat a member of the Young Women's Christian Association, Moray place, Duaedin, his offered to provide the salary of a second Bible woman in connection with the institution.

The Waimate Times states that for the past 12 mouths the resideuts of Makikihi have been considerably exercised over a series of petty thefts which have taken place in their neighbourhood. On Wednesday last Mr Thomas missed a quantity of wheat. He suspected an

employe of his named Edward Prately, and went into the room of the hut occupied by the latter and found the wheat. He also discovered several other articles which he suspected were stolen, and, giving information to the police, a searoh was made, and two sacks full of articles were found, comprising table covers, ladiea' night dresses, sheets, collars, new shirts, new pair of moleskins, Waterbury watch, buggy bridle, and other articles. Pratley, getting wind of the matter, disappeared, but was arrested on Friday morning. He is a man of about 35 years of age, and has been in the district for eight or nine years. The bridle has been identified as one taken from the Rev. Mr Smalley's horse while the owner' was holding service in the schoolroom, and many of the other articles are supposed to be the proceeds of robberies from clothes lines.

The hearing of argument in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, in support of, and against the petition lodged against the election of a licensing committee for Sydenham was concluded on Saturday, Mr Justice Denniston reserving his decision, Sir Robert Stout undertaking that the meeting of committee fixed for Wednesday next should be postponed for a week to enable his Honor to give judgment in the meantime.

The Upper Kyeburn correspondent of the Mount Ida Chronicle reports that a little girl named Alice Arthur had to spend a night in the tussocks on the 22nd. She had gone out rabbiting during the day, and as she did not put in an appearance towards evening tbe parents naturally became alarmed, and a search party was promptly organised. All available help was given, and the country thoroughly scoured for jniles, but without avail; and as morning dawned, and one by one the searchers unsuccessfully returned, the feelings of the parents may be better imagined than described. i Fortunately, however, the girl herself turned I up next morning, apparently nothing tbe worse for her outing. She had wandered on to the Peninsula somewhere in the vicinity of Mr Brown's residence, and having stayed out too late had presumably become bewildered and laid down. She states that she heard her name called repeatedly during the night, but she was too frightened to speak, as she thought it was somebody wanting to take her rabbitskins.

According to the Greymouth Star " the Blackball coalmine will be in active operation sooner than many folks anticipate. A meeting of the shareholders is to be held at Christchurch, when overtures will be considered from a powerful shipping company. Should these negotations terminate successfully — and there is every probability that they will — then we shall soon see another powerful fleet of steamers dividing the trade with the Union Company, and foroing the coal trade in markets beyond the colony."

At Timaru on Friday, Mr J. R. Scotfc, Dunedin, was charged with failing to take steps to destroy rabbits on run No. 93a, Mackenzie Country. Defendant had purchased the run in March, running up the price to £380 per annum. The sum of £190, being a half-year's rent, had been paid. A letter had been sent stating that, in order to secure simultaneous action, poisoning would have to be commenced on the Ist May. In reply a telegram had been received from defendant, stating that he could not continue to hold the run, and must abandon it. The local rabbit inspector, when questioned, gave it as his opinion that defendant was a " dummy." A fine of £15, to include the costs of prosecution, was inflicted.

The following missing friends are inquired for in Llody's Weekly of April 19: — Caroline Barking (Biss) wa» in Dunedin in 1873. Brother Frederick seeks. — Emma Mary Taylor* formerly of Chelsea, was last heard of living with her grandfather at Long Acre, but is since believed to have gone to New Zealand. Sister Lizzie asks.— John Allen (Smith) in 1876 sailed from Scotland to New Zealand in the Jessie Osborne, and about 10 years ago wrote from Wellington. Hia daughters Emma and Mary inquire. — Arthur Austen sailed from London to New Zealand in 1862, and is belisved to have been for many years part owner of a vessel trading from Auckland. Sister Emilie. — John Challoner, of Looks-field, Walworth, enlisted in the 64th Foot, was discharged in 1864, and intended going to Auckland. Mother anxious.--' Frederick William Bowdler, in May 1875 was at Sawyers' Bay, Port Chalmers. Sister Lizzie.— Should this meet the eye of George Werry, or Mary Ann, his wife, or son William, who left Londod for Auckland, in. New Zealand, the beginning of June 1856, their, sister, Lucy Padwell, would be pleased to hear of their whereaboate.

A young woman named Annie Walker, aged 18 years, died somewhat suddenly at the residence of her father at Heriot on the afternoon of Saturday last. Miss Walker had been ailing slightly for some time, but her death was not expected.

The Minister for'Landa has arranged to pro* vide work for the Oamaru unemployed on the Maerewhenua Pass road, to open up ran No. 300.

A deputation from the Southland Teachers' Institute waited, on the Hon. J. G. Ward on Saturday, and brought under his notice a schema which had been prepared to provide retiring allowances for teachers without assistance from the Government. The proposals are that tha soheme be compulsory, each . education board deducting monthly the teachers' contributions ; the fund to be created by an entrance fee of from £1 to £10, and monthly contributions to be fixed by the Government actuary, the retiring allowance to be £50 and £70 per annum. Me Ward said he thought the scheme would commend itself to the Minister of Eduoation, under whose notice he would bring it. If on investigation it was found workable, he would do his best to further it.

A cablegram has been received in Christ' churoh announcing the death of Captain Francis Hayter, of Rollsbury station, Burkes Pass, who left New Zealand in the R.M.S. Aorangi on March 19 last, in order to go to England for the purpose of undergoing a ' hazardous surgical operation. Captain Hayter served in ths Royal Navy, and was a lieutenant on board H.M.S. Basilißk during her exploring trip to New Guinea.

George Hewitt, a man with a wife and seven children, living at Bingera, near Inverell, New South Wales, in a half-clothed and half-starved condition, and almost without shelter, won Tattersall's £10,000 consultation on the Birthday Cup. The family has lived in the greatest poverty, receiving clothes and food from the townspeople.

The Wellington Post, which stated that Me G. Hutchison had written to the Premier severing his connection with the Government party, has been informed on good authority that the Premier has received no communication of any kind from Mr HutchisoD.

Last week, after lighting a fire in the kitchen on the Randwick racecourse, near Sydney, the cook found that the place filled with smoke. He extinguished the fire, aud on looking up the chimney saw a man jammed in the flue feet downwards. He was dead, and it took several hours' work to get the body out of the chimney. The body has not been identified, but the unfortunate man was supposed to have been a vagrant,

And that he got stuck in the chimney whilst attempting to make his way down to rob the kitchen, and was suffocated by the heat and emoke resulting frcm the previous day's use of the fireplace. A nutebook with'several betting transactions recorded in it was the only property found in his clothing.

Our Arrow town correspondent telegraphs :— Stack fires are becoming fashionable once more. One at Messrs Oftt's farm, Crown Terrace, was observed and put out without doing much damage, but another at Mr W. Paterßon's Ayrburn Estate, consumed two large stacks— the whole season's produce of the farm. Both stacks seem to have caught fire at the same time, and there are just grounds to Buspect foul play.

A stack of oats, of the value of about £25, was destroyed by fire at about; 5.15 p.m. on the 28th ult.,at Hawksbury. The stack, which was the property of the trustees of the late Mr Orbell, was uninsured, and no doe has been obtained as to the origin of the fire.

The Auckland North Licensing Committee on Monday granted renewals to a large numbtr of hotels. The chairman expressed surprise at the complaints made regarding Sunday trading and trading after hours, and stated that it was the committee's intention to assist the police to put both down, also to adhere to 10 o'clock closing. The committee declined an application that the United Service Hotel, which adjoins, the Opera House, and is in a principal part of the city, should be permitted to remain open till 11 o'clock at night. They stated that the committee would graut 11 o'clock licenses if the law were altered so as to provide punishment if houses were kept open after 11, but in the present state of the law 11 o'clock licenses meant that the house was kept open till 12.

We understand that the Minister of Lands (the Hon. John M'Kenzie) cannot see his way to prohibit the poisoning of rabbits in factory districts within the season set apart for that purpose.

The Chief Inspector of Stock (Mr J. D. Ritchie), who was in Dunedin on Tuesday, informs as that he has completed the arrangements .for the appointment of sub-agents throughout Otago and Southland. These sobagentd will be about 25 in number, and will ba subordinate to the inspectors in the various districts. Mr J. Douglas, who has for some years been chief inspector for Otago, left for Timaru on Wednesday to take over his duties in his new Bphere of action. Mr Ritchie will visit the south this week, returning to Dunedin about Saturday.

The District Engineer (Mr E. R. Ussher) left on Wednesday on a visit to the Catlins river railway works, where he hopes to adjust a few matters concerning which some dissatisfaction has been expressed.

The monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the High Sohools, held on Tuesday, was attended by the Rev. Dr Stuart (chairman), Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Hon. T. Dick, Hon. J. Fulton, and the Mayor. Mr William Reynolds was instructed to report on the Strath-Taieri sections, and to fix the upset. Leave of absence to attend their parliamentary duties was granted to the Hons. W. H. and J. Fulton. Accounts amounting to £539 15s 9d were passed for payment.

The output of coal from the Westport and Greymouth mines for the month of May 1 was as follows :— Westport, 18,789 tons; Greymoutfa, 12,146.

The Tokomairiro Farmers' Club have resolved •— ° That the time has not yet arrived for taxing entire horses, as it would at present be detrimental to tfie interests of farmers to do so."

The Hon. W, J. Steward, member for Waimate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, was entertained at a banquet at Waimate on Monday evening. Some 75 residents from all parts of the district were present.

At a meeting of the Oamaru unemployed, it was resolved to present an address to the Minister of Works and- Lands asking co-opera-tion in assisting working men to take up small holdings.

Mr B. Beetham, R.M. at Christchurch, who has been appointed a Royal Commissioner to investigate the charges made in connection with the administration by the official assignee in bankruptcy of the estate of Mr James M 'Donald, limeburner, will undertake his duties in the coarse of a day or two. j

A Prohibition League has been formed at Timaru to educate public opinion, in view of the next election of licensing committees. The Rev. W. Gillies was elected president. An Auckland telegram states that 30 girls are In training there and learning the game of football, with a view to making & tour of the colonies. They will play against each other as separate teams of 15 a-side.

The other day (says a Napier contemporary) a bank manager and a tradesman in Napier were talking. The latter complained of the general dullness of trade. The banker said that was certainly not due to any lack of financial accommodation, for all the banks had large sums they would be glad to lend on decent security. " But," he added significantly, " though there is plenty of security people won't take the money. Property owners are so uncertain as to the future that enterprise is killed. They say that they may be taxed out of the country."

The Literary Churchman of the 3rd April has a very complimentary review of Mr A. Bathgate's " Far South Fancies." Our contemporary says: — "It is refreshing, after so much that is disappointing in the rhymes of the day, to come across a volume that is true poetry ; and it is not the less refreshing to find that it hails from the most distant of our colonies, New Zealand. • Far Sontb. Fancies,' by Alexander Bathgate, ia unquestionably a work full of freshness and originality. Certainly the author has had a new field on which to work (for, as far as we know, New Zealand has never before given the world a poet), but besides the freshness of subject, the book bears the stamp of real talent. The native legends are simply and gracefully told, and the lesser pieces are full of charm and feeliog. The ' Songs of the Seasons,' for example, are beautiful in their simplicity." After quoting 10 verses in support of his views, the critic proceeds to point ont that the book is not without blemishes and contends that the whole drift of " Eric Iredale" is unsound, many passages showing need of revision and rewriting. " But such as it is," the reviewer concludes, •• we can welcome the book as the work of one who may possibly do great things in poetry. "

At Tuesday's meeting of the School Committees' Conference, Mr Rutherford moved— "As the Government intend altering the Education Act, it is the opinion of this conference that persons qualified to vote for or be elected members of any school committee should be adults residing in that school district. Voting at the meeting called for the election to be abolished. Bohool committees should be corporate bodies without borrowing power, four members out of the eeveo retiring annually. No borough counoil

or other local authority shall have power to tax or levy any rate or enter into any contract for any school committee without its consent. Education boards, if not abolished, should represent the parents of the children educated by having the education district divided into as many divisions as there are members of the board, each division containing as near as may be an equal number of pupils. The electors in each division to be those whose names are on the parliamentary roll, a majority of the board to retire annually. If abolished, replace the boards by a superintendent of education for the district, to be elected annually." The Chairman thought that the views contained in Mr Rutherford's motion were worthy of a deal of consideration, and he suggested that the conference should get them printed and circulated so that delegates might come prepared to discuss the matter at the next meeting. Mr Rutherford expressed himself as agreeable to fall in with the opinion. It was agreed that the resolution should be sent to the various committees for consideration at an adjourned meetiDg, to be held on the 30bh Jane.