LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2056, 20 July 1893, Page 15

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The regular meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held oo the afternoon of the 12th, when there were present : Messrs Roberts (chairman), Dallas, Isaac, G°u«ey, Chisholm, and Bridgman. Mr Roberts thanked the trustees for appointing him chairman, and trusted that he would be able to perform tho duties to the trustees' satisfaction. Mr Dallas, in the absence of Mr Solomon, moved that Mr Bridgman be appointed treasurer in place of Mr Roberts (resigned).— Carried. Accounts amounting to £158 19s 3d were passed for payment. The secretary reported that Charles Murray, Andrew Pollock, and Susan Chapman had died in the institution. The matter of tenders for the supply of potatoes for the institution was left in the hands of the secretary. A letter was received from the sister of an applicant for relief, expressing a willingness to contribute £25 per year towards her brother s support. It was decided to admit the applicant to the institution on the promise of the sister to contribute £25 per annum. About 50 relief cases were then taken into consideration.

In the action of Mills and others v. Isaac and others, which revives a case that has been engaging the attention of the Supreme Court for some considerable time, Mr Fraser, representing one of the parties to the suit, stated 4uring the hearing of an application in Banco on the 12th that the money and time expended in connection with the action had been practically wasted. Mr F. R. Chapman, one of the other counsel engaged in the action, said his learned friend must admit that the five days recently spent in the investigation of the accounts had been well expended. Mr Fraser admitted that so far as costs were concerned they had, but not so far as the facts of the case were concerned. This admission caused Mr Chapman to remark that he had not intended to be jocular. It) was also mentioned by Mr Fraser during the hearing of the application that £620 in the form of treasure trove had turned up in connection with the estate ; but, on his Honor Mr Justice Williams observing that that was very satisfactory, learned counsel stated that the parties did not know who the money belonged to. It may possibly happen, therefore, that the discovery of this money will lead to further litigation.

Last week's Gazette contains a notica by the Colonial Secretary that a bonus of Is per gallon (£5000) will be paid on the first 100,000 gal of mineral oil produced from shale obtained in the Orepuki district, Otago ; the oil to be of a quality approved of by Government, and to be Bold at a fair average market price. Notice of intention to. claim the bonus must be given not later than December 31, 1894, and the claim must be made before June 30, 1895.

We are informed that Mr G. L. Denniston has disposed of his interest in Neill and Company (Limited). Mr Denniston intends to take a holiday trip to the old country, a respite which he has very well earned after 11 years' active work in the important business he has just relinquished. His numerous friends will join with us in wishing him a pleasant journey.

Particulars of the explosion on board the barque Waimea, while on her voyage from Wellington to Boston with flax, state that ib started through the rocket and powder magazine catching alight. The poop deck was blown up and the cabin demolished. A boy named Clements was blown out of existence, never being seen again. Captain Boston suffered terribly, having his head, face, and hands burned, and was blind for over a week. An able seaman named Wilson had his thigh dislocated and his ribs broken, while the man at the wheel had a narrow escape from death.

The monthly meeting of the Port Chalmers committee, presided over by Mr J. Cook, was held on Ftiday evening. The Education Board intimated their willingness to give an amount equal to one-half the cost of asphalting the school grounds. The Works Committee were appointed to prepare specifications and call for tenders for the work. The Revs. Messrs Fisher, Salter, and Adamsoa forwarded the following letter:— "We, the undersigned, who conduct the Bible classes in the school, have come to the conclusion that the existing arrangements are not satisfactory. We would respectfully intimate that it is our purpose to discontinue our classes after Friday, 14th inst. It is with regret that we make this announcement, but we assure your committee that this conclusion has been reached after the most careful consideration of all the circumstances. At the same time we would hope that Bible-reading might still be continued under the direction of the teachers, and that your committee will take such steps as shall secure this end." Mr Ness moved that the letter be received, and no further steps be taken. Mr Ross objected to this method of dealing with the question. Mr Mill said he regretted the intimation contained in the letter, and feared that denominabionalism would result if the Bible were not got into schools in some form. Mr Allen thought the recent change in the time of Bible-reading was the beginning of the end. Mr Watson said the parents were desirous that their children should have Bible lessons, and they had said so emphatically more than once, while quite lately 85 per cent, of them approved of it by plebiscite 1 . The teachers ought to be present when the lessons were being given, and if requested by the committee would do so. Mr Niss objected to any such proposals. A request might ba construed into a command. It was simply the thin end of the wedge to break up the present system. Messrs Stevenson and Kettle thought a sub- committee might be appointed to report at next meeting. Mr Ross proposed that .the chairman and Mr Watson confer with the teachers and ministers with, the view to having Bible lessons continued on some more satisfactory basis than at present, and report at next meeting. — This motion was carried by four to two. Mr Joneß's offer to give a lantern entertainment in aid of the school fund was aocepted with thanks.

Mr Costello, manager of the Bank of Australasia at Otaki, reports that an attempt Was made to rob the bank on Friday night. He states that he discovered a burglar entering the bank, but the intruder exploded something —apparently gun-cotton— and before he (Mr Costello) recovered from the shock the offender escaped. The police are investigating the matter.

A sad stabeof affairs was brought to light at the Thames Police Court on the Bth inst. in a case in which John darken was charged with drunkenness and having no lawful means of support. It transpired (says the Auokland Herald) that the man had a wife and six children, the eldest being 10 years of age and the youngest seven weeks. The constable, who had visited the house three times during the week, found the family almost starving. The place was in a most filthy condition, with practically no bedding, the whole of the occupants having to lie upon straw, while there were some rags visible which could not be called coverings, /as they were useless. There were no eatables in the house except flour, which was simply mixed in water and baked, there being none of the necessary adjuncts to proper cooking, This was all the wife and. children bad to

exist upon. The infant was in a dying condition from starvation, and there was nothing in the hut to feed the child with. In reply to some questions put to the four eldest boys they stated that at night when they had nothing to eat they went to bed to sleep. When they felt hungry in the daytime they went to the tap and drank water, "to fill themselves out," as there was nothing for them to eat. Defendant was a systematic loafer, who loitered about town, and did no work worth speaking of. Whenever he did get a day's employment he was invariably drunk that night. The man was fined 10s, and costs, for drunkenness (what a mockery), and sent to gaol tor two months for having no means of support.

The second of a series of leofcures on " Healthy Homes" was given by Dr Ogston at St. Paul's Schoolroom on Thursday night, under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association. Mr C. R. Chapman presided, and there was a fair attendance. The lecturer dealt with "healthy surroundings for a home," giving a large amount of interesting information as to the best sites for dwelling houses from a hygienic point of view. During the delivery of his lecture, which appeared to be greatly appreciated, Dr Ogston referred to the necessity of a drain plan, showing all the drains, cesspits, &c. in the city being kept by the corporation for inspection, so that anyone could at any time see which was the most healthy locality, so far as drainage was concerned, in which to build a house.

In connection with the suggestion that the late lamentable naval catastrophe was due to a sudden derangement of the mental facultiesof the admiral in command, it may» not be inappropriate (says the Post) to relate the fact that" a former Governor of this colony was once afflicted in a similar way. He was in command of a man-of-war lying off Queenstown, when in the dead of night he ordered the officers to beat to quarters, and open fire with shot and shell on the town. His officers,*however, apprehended the situation, and the captain was placed under restraint, and, we believe, remained for some years in seclusion, although he afterwards gained his flag, and attained a high scientific position. Another naval commander, also formerly well known on this station, lost his mental equilibrium afterwards during ' the Chinese war, although, unfortunately, the fact was not discovered until too late to avert a serious disaster resulting from his conduct.

The Cardiff correspondent of the Bristol Mirror writes: — "Each Sunday there is now to be witnessed in this town an extraordinary spectacle. Large numbers of men congregate in an open space near a populous suburb aad subscribe money for the purpose of buying beer, which is obtained in casks from the nearest wholesale stores. This is then shared and drunk openly, a recent decision by the stipendiary magistrate having legalised their action, on the ground that they constitute a crude but genuine club. On the 7th there were some 150 men engaged in this Sunday drinking. On Sunday following the number had risen to 500, with some 2000 spectators, and next Sunday a considerable development of the movement was expected. This is surely an unforeseen and curious outcome of the Sunday Closing Act."

DuriDg the inquest on Spreat it came out (says the correspondent of the Christohurch Press) that the accused, his brother, and two girls were the natural children of Spreat, but great reticence was shown in the matter. Mr Skerret, for the accused, insisted upon the sons calling the deceased " Spreat " instead of "father," and ultimately the coroner allowed this. The strange part about the affair is that although the dying man swore that the children were his, the boys and girls refuse to believe it, and were evidently brought up from childhood in ignorance of their parentage. Mrs Sanderson admitted to Inspector Pender that all the children were Spreat's. Although Spreat had made a will leaving his property to the children, it is more than likely that the Public Trustee will step in to satisfy himself that everything is all right.

The Duke of Argyll and other writers who still inßist upon a literal interpretation of the biblical account of the Noachian deluge (says a contemporary) will be delighted' with a recent find by Leon del Mar, a Frenchman attached to the surveying corps connected with the National Museum (Museo Nacionel), San Jose*, Costa Rica, in Central America. Leon's find is not a "Dinosaur" or other half-mythical creature wh|ch the lapse of ages has transformed into stone, but a common everyday whale, 216 ft in length, with bones mineralised until they are as hard as jasper and as heavy as lead. The Museo officials are in a quandary, and are debating as to which>would be the cheapest, to move their museum buildings over on to the mountain range where the petrified monster lies, or tcMry to transfer the flinty remains to the Costa Rica capital. The point selected by this antediluvian giant when he concluded to give up the ghost is a rift between two mountain peaks 72 miles from San Jose and 3300 ft above sea level. There must have been a big flood in that section at one time. Either that, or Del Mar's specimen was a regular mountain climber.

At a meeting of the vesbry of Trinity Church, Lawrence, • held last week, the following resolution was passed:— "The vestry have to express regret that in consequence of Mr Fraer and his family having left the district for Dunedin they have severed their connection with the parish. He was for nearly 20 years an active member of it, and for his labour of love in connection with church work the best thanks of the vestry are due to him ; and they hope that his future, as also that of his wife and family, m»y be temporally and spiritually bleßsed."

In connection with the suspension pending reconstruction of the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company, we are informed that all the outstanding cheques are now being paid, and cash can be obtained on application at the Bank of New Zealand. The commission agenoy and produce business will be carried on by the New Zealand Land Association in the Agency Company's premises.

The Woodlands Presbyterian congregation have unanimously agreed to ask for moderation in a call to the Rev. James M'Kellar (late of Canterbury), who is at present supplying at Riversdale.

Application was made in the Supreme Court on Fiiday, on behalf of the defence, for a nonsuit or for judgment for defendants in the case of Wood v. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), in which, at tho hearing before Mr Justice Ward and a special jury, the plaintiff recovered £25 damages for injuries sustained through the negligence of the defendants. The plaintiff, a master mariner, prior to taking his place on the ferry boat whioh conveyed him to Anderson's Bay, where he resides, was standing on the cross wharf, watching the operation of removing the defendants' barque Lutterworth from one berth to another, when he was struck by a portion of the tackle used in the operation, and was in consequence conflnedto his bed for come time. The juty found that the mishap was due to negligence on the part of the defendants' servants. Leaned counsel for the company

based his application mainly on the contention that the plaintiff voluntarily placed himself on the wharf in a position in which he had no right to be, and that there was no evidence of any duty which the' defendants' owed to the plaintiff and had broken; but Mr Justice Williams, in dismissing the motion, said that as, by the tacit permission of the Harbour Board, who are the owners, the wharves were habitually used as a place of resort, a duby was laid upon persons conducting shipping operations to exercise reasonable care in them so that the frequenters of the wharves, so long as they kept out of the way of apparent danger, might escape injury.

The divorce case of Nicoll v. Nicoll and MacNeil came before Mr Justice Williams in Chambers on Friday for the settlement of terms, and it was agreed that of the verdict of £250 awarded by the jury to the petitioner the amount of £150 should be the respondent's share. Of this sum £50 is to be paid to the respondent at once to fulfil her expressed intention of leaving the colony, and the balance in the name of a trustee (to be appointed hereafter), with the provision that it may be withdrawn in six ' half-yearly instalments. Mr Mouat, who appeared for the respondent, subsequently asked for an order for the.payment of his client's costs by the co-respondent ; bub Mr Fraser, representing MacNeil, objected, and, the petitioner's counsel nob being present ab the time, it was agreed bhab bhe mabter should be mentioned again.

The following sections of Crown lands were disposed of at the Dunedin office during the past week :— Section 68, block VI, Clarendon : Stephen Barber, 68 acres, on lease in perpetuity ; cash price, 20s per acre. Section 16, block IV, Glekenich : James Parker, 32 acres, on lease in perpetuity ; cash price, 403 per acre. Section 10, block VI, Maniototo : Clara Miller, 80 acres, on lease in perpetuity ; cash price, 583 per acre.

A lecture on " Sick Dietary," in connection with the St. John Ambulance Association, was given by Dr Jeffcoat on Friday afternoon in St. Paul's Schoolroom, there being a large number of ladies present. A gas cooking stove (which has been placed at the disposal of the association by Mr J. Couston) was utilised by Mrs Miller for the purpose of making a practical demonstration of sundry articles of diet for invalids, according to the menu recommended by Dr Jeffcoat. Mrs Miller cooked and dished up soma very delicate and bemptiDg-looking viands, which were sampledand duly appreciated by those present, the doctor explaining the chemical changes that food was subjected to while undergoing the process of cookiDg.

The General Assembly of the Free Church ef Scotland has been in session this week (writes the Argus London correspondent in his letter of May 26), and gave a cordial welcome to the Australian delegates who attended the meeting. The Rev. James Megaw, of Victoria, briefly addressed the assembly when the subject of colonial missions was under discussion. The Presbyterian Church of Victoria, he said, was not likelyin fubure to be so dependent as in the past for Free Church ministers, bub it stood in need of sympathy, help, interest, and prayers, as critical 'times had come, and because the pioneer generation, which had built up the colony and her institutions, and who were staunch and liberal supporters of the church, were fast passing away, and there was coming up in their stead a young generation not yet noted either for liberality or ,piety. The Rev. William Ross, of Glasgow, informed the assembly that the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand desired that a deputation from the Free Church should be sent out to the colony, or that the Rev. John M'Neill should pay a prolonged visit. Mr Ross defended the New Zealanders from the charge of intemperance, but admitted their love of pleasure and excitement, instancing the fact that there were " 366 horse racing days," and that the amount of money changing hands in connection with these meetings amounted to £1,250,000.

With reference to the coming struggle between Mr Cadman and Mr Rees, the Auckland Herald published the following :—" The National Association intend to give the two combatants a free field to fight -out their grievances. They do not intend to put forward any candidate of their own choosing, but will throw in the weight of their voting power with Mr Rees. They think that, this, added to the very considerable support that Mr Rees will certainly obtain from amongst the Government supporters, will secure for him the victory." Mf Hastie, secretary of the National Association, when asked if the preceding paragraph was correct, saidibwasnob furnished by himself, nor was he aware ct the matter having been dealt with by the council, consequently he could not give any authoritative information as to the plans .of the National Association in regard to the contest.

We understand that Mr Ninian Melville, M.L.A. for Newcastle and Chairman of Committees in the New South Wales Parliament, intends paying a visit to this colony, at the invitation of the Grand Lodge, 1.0.G T. Mr Melville is expected to arrive in Dunedin next Saturday, the 22nd inst. He will visit all the towns between Invercargill and Auckland which can be easily reached, and spend a month in doing so, for the purpose of delivering addresses on the direct veto and prohibition crusade. Many of our readers will remember Mr Melville's visit to Dunedin in 1891, at the time of the first triennial licensing election, and the favourable impression he made as a ready, humorous and powerful platform speaker. His meetings are likely to be a success from a prohibition point of view.

Leeds (says a London paper) seems to be far ahead of London in the matter of electric lighting. The Yorkshire House to House Company has lately completed an installation there, and in addition to the streets— which used to be notoriously badly lighted— being illuminated by electricity, householders will also be enabled to substitute ib for gas. The price charged to private consumers is very low — only 8d for a sufficient quantity of electric energy to keep an eight-candle-power lamp alighb for 30 hours. There is also a sliding scale of discounts, amounting jnthe case of those who use the maximum supply demanded for not less than 700 hours per quarter to as much as 25 per cent. The cost of the works up to date has only been £27,000.

The Clutha Leader says:— "The steamer Matau has not yet been able to take the trip to Tuapeka Mouth which we referred to a fortnight ago. The cause of the delay is a slight accident the steamer met with while bringing down a cargo of grain from Clydevale. Before reaching Eoolefechan rapid, she was suddenly enveloped in a fog so dense that the banks of the river could not be seen. The captain, deeming it unsafe to proceed under such circumstances, determined to run to the river bank and wait till the fog should clear off. In going towards the bank the steamer struck a sunken rock, the existence of which was previously unknown, and in a few minutes one compartment was filled with water. The half of the load was discharged on the river bank, and with, the other half the captain proceeded to

Balclutha, the deck being only a few inches above the level of the river. After discharging cargo, the steamer was taken to.the beach near Coal Point for repairs. Ib was then found there were bwo holes in her bottom, one right in the centre and therefore difficult to get at. The repairs have not yet been completed, but it is expected she will again resume work in a few days. We may ba able to explain as to the trip to Tuapeka Mouth in next issue." x

At a meeting of creditors in the estate of Martha Buchanan, fruiterer, Dunedin, which was held on Saturday, the bankrupt stated that she attributed her present position to the Saturday half-holiday. Since this became general, she informed her creditors, her average takings had fallen from £10 to £6 a week.

Judge Barton, of the Native Land Court, has forwarded to Wellington the, draft of the Validation Bill which he was requested by the Government to prepare for the settlement of disputed Native land titles. The bill haß been submitted to the lawyers in" Gisborne and to a committee of leading settlers in Poverty Bay, and it was unanimously approved of at a meeting of the legal profession and citizens, presided over by bhe mayor. Resolutions were carried thanking the Ministry for instructing Judge Barton to frame bhe measure, and urging bhab it should be passed into law this session, as it was of vital importance to the Poverty Bay district. %

We (Oamaru Mail) are informed that Mr Davidson, of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, intends to cub up and dispose of bhe Levels estate (near Timaru) on behalf of bhe company, and bhab ib is nob improbable that the Totara and other estates will afterwards be treabed similarly as opportunity offers.

"Are we really a happy people ?" asks a writer in the American magazine "The Arena." Not altogether, he answers, for the number of suicides in the States appears to be greatly increasing. It will surprise many people to learn that suicides are more frequent to-day in New Eogland, in proportion to population, than in the old England of only 20 years ago. Indeed, in this, as in some other respects, the conditions of life in the United States appear to ba steadily approaching the European standard, in spibe of the absence of " militarism," whioh is bhe curse of so many Continental countries. Ib is an interesting fact bhab the ratio of suicides appears to increase pari passu with the increase of urban as against rural population. Life, if more attractive, is also, it would seem, more intolerable in town than in country.

In an article on "The Cholera Prospect for 1893," which appears in the "Engineering Magazine," Dr St. John Roosa, of New York, declares that the birthplace of cholera is the delta of the Ganges, a low-lying region of about 7500 square miles. The soil here is said to be very moisb, and to contain the remains of many forms of vegetable and animal life in a state of decay. Cholera has raged here for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years, and after very severe rains ib steams out of this delta into neighbouring countries, and thence over the entire world. Bub in that case the disease ought to be strangled in the place of its birbh, and all civilised nations <■ should co-operate, as Dr Telyafus, of Tiflis, suggests, in draining, planting, and reclaiming this mephitic region. Ib would be cheap if it cost 10 millions, and the success of similar operations in the vile delta proves that the thing can be done, if it is worth doing.

The spread of cigarette smoking in England among young women has been widely discussed in the English press from all points of view, and some of the contributions have been rather amusing. Thus, "An Indignant English Mother" writes, complaining that when walking in Regenb Park with her daughters she came upon a party of two young men and two young women all smoking cigarettes Worse still, she says, the young women seemed to enjoy it. "I hurried my daughters' away as quickly as I could, but one never knows what the effect of example may be, for I have , just heard bhab the eldest of them tried to borrow a cigarette from her brother. Can nothing be done to pub a stop to this shocking jhabib ( at least in the parks, where everybody can see it ? Surely the keepers have power to arrest any women smoking cigarettes; If not, respectable ladies with daughters will bs compelled to take their walks in the cemeteries, where smoking is prohibited."

The remains of the late Mr J. B. Blair, of Abbotsford farm, who died at Chicago on his way to Scotland, have been brought -back by bhe Ss,a Francisco mail steamer, and the funeral will bake place on to-day (Thursday) from Knox Church to the Northern Cemetery.

Ib appears that among Oriental Jews (says a Home papeP) there is a general belief bhab the opening of the railway from Joppa to Jerusalem is a sure precursor to the coming .of the Messiah. The foundation for the opinion S appears to be the last chapter of the prophecies o of Isaiah, in an eloquent prediction of the ** return of the Hebrew exiles, where we read : —^* "They shall bring all your brethren out of all/* the nations, for an offering unto- the Lord, upon^ horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and uportN? mules, and upon swift beasts to my holyV mountain, Jerusalem, saith the Lord." The Hebrew word which is translated "swift beasts" in the English version is kirkaroth, and occurs only this once in • all the Bible. The roots of the word are found in II Samuel, vi, 14, where it is applied to the swaying danca of David, and in the common Hebrew word for furnace. Hence the derived meaning, " a swaying furnace." For the English rendering there is no justification whatever in the sense of the Hebrew word in the text. Some propose to -translate ib "dromedaries " ; but bhe same prophet only a few chapters before <lx, 6), uses a totally different word, the accepted equivalent of which is " dromedary." It is certainly neither camels nor asses, for there are well-known Hebrew words regularly used for them. When the English translation was made in King James's time there was no word to express the Hebrew in this passage ; but what more accurate epithet could be applied to a railway locomotive than to call it a swaying furnace P And what more accurate term could the prophet use to desoribe what he had seen in his vißion of the return of the Hebrews by all kinds of conveyances, among them one which he had never beheld in all his experience, but which "swayed" and carried fire ? What a picturesque word to describe & brain or locomotive in rapid motion ? *»

Mr C. C. Graham, the new official assignee, s has arrived from Wellington, and entered upon the dub : es of his office on Monday, appearing at a sitting of bhe Supreme Court in Bankruptcy. Mr Paul, who has been acting-assignee during the past two months, has been reinstated in his old position as chief accountant in the assignee's office.

During the winter Dr Maopherson. has instructed an ambulance class in the library at Hillside, formed by members of the staff employed in the railway workshops, and recently a nnmber of them attended at the University for examination, in accordance with the rales of the St. John Ambulance Associa* tion. Professor Scott, who acted as examiner, tested the candidates by written, practical, and.

I

viva voce methods, and has reported that the following are entitled to certificates for renderine "first aid" to the injured:— G. Applegarth, G. Brooks, J. Ball, W. R. Cole, J. H. Carriok, E. Dowland, R. Farrant, W. Haines, R H. Johnston, J. H. Moir, E. Morris, W. Mayo, J. Muirhead, A. Philip, W. Rogerson, and G. Willett.

During June last there were 15 deaths in Dunedin from measles, one from typhoid fever, one from diphtheria, two from bronchitis, and three from diarrhceal diseases. In Auckhni during the same month there were 25 deaths from measles, one from typhoid, three from bronchitis, and one from congestion of the lurigs. One death from measles was reported at Chrisfcchurch, but none in Wellington.

The bore afe Eweburn has been put down the 652 ft contracted for, but no water has been struck, and work is stopped pending instructions. Some bsds of what would be payable washdirfc if near the surface were passed through.

The Minister for Justice has informed the Sydenham Licensing Committee that in his opinion the police reports to licensing committees are not confidential, bat are as much for the benefit of the public as of committees.

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs :— "Mr F. L. Harding, who was deported in H.M.S Daphne from Honolulu at the order of the revolutionary Government for his adverse articles in the Royal paper, and who for some few months has been resident in Auckland, left by the Monowai for Honolulu on Saturday."

We have the best reasons for stating that the mayor of the city, Mr C. Haynes, has definitely decided to offer himself as a candidate for the Waikouaiti seat at the approaching general election.

The Japanese coal mines bid fair to monopolise the valuable Californian trade which the New South Wales collieries have so losg enjoyed. Last year the output from the Japanese mines exceeded a million tons, ond on the basis of 3dol coal can be laid down in San Francisco at 7.50d0l per ton, which is considerably less than the cost of Australian coal. It is said that a contract has been concluded for the delivery of 2,500,000 tons of Hokkaido coal in San Francisco during the next 10 years, beginning at 100,000 tons and increasing to 300,000 tons per annum. • At the office of the chief surveyor, on Monday morning, Mr David Barron (late district surveyor for the Naseby district) was the recipient of a very handsome set of fowl and fish carvers, the gifb of a few of his old comrades in the Lands and Survey department, on the occasion of his promotion to the position of Chief Surveyor and Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands at Westland. The Chief Surveyor (Mr Adams), in making the presentation, referred to the great' amount of useful work done by Mr Barron during the many years he had been connected with the department, and assured him he was expressing the feelings of himself and brother officers in wishing Mr Barron every success in his new sphere. The Chief Commissioner (Mr Maitland) also referred to the excellent manner in which Mr Barron had always carried out any instructions entrusted to him by his department. Mr Barron, in returning thanks, expressed his sincere regret at severing his connection with the department in Otago," but considered he fiad no alternative but to accept the promotion offered to him by the. Government. It was a source of gratification to him to know that he had earned the goodwill of the officers with whom he had been associated, and he would always look back with pleasure to his connection with the Lands and Survey department of Otago.

The Junction City (Kansas, U.S.) Tribune of June 8 says :— " H. Gilbert Stringer, special World's Fair correspondent of the Ofcago Daily Times, Dunedin, New Zealand, was in town, last week, investigating the working of the prohibitory law in Kansas. He found a rich field for his purpose in our town."

The Wellington correspondent of the Wairarapa Times hears that Mr Malcolm Ross, of Dunedin, has been asked to contribute an illustrated article to " Blaok and White 5*5 * on alpine exploration in New.Zealand.

The Hon. J. G. Ward (according to the Southland Times) telegraphs that the Ocean Beach Freezing Works are not yet sold as reported by cable from London, and that, should they be sold, the management of them and the present system of doing business with farmers for the purchase of their sheep will remain unaltered.

Mr W. S. Allen 1 , M.A., of Auckland, has felt it his duty, as a member of the New Zealand Wesleyan Church, to reply to the lectnre delivered at Dunedin by the Rev. C. H. Garland on " The Bearing of Higher Criticism on Leading Evangelical Doctrines," especially in view of the fact that, as no reply has yet been made, the idea has become general that Mr Garland's views are those of the church. Mr Allen's reply has reached us in the shape Of a pamphlet of 45 pages, printed by Messrs Wilsons and Horton, of Auckland, and which, as will be noticed from our advertising columns, can be obtained from Mr Horsburgh. The points of Mr Garland are taken up one by one and dealt with in a vigorous manner.

Mr G. M. Barr has received information that the Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers lias awarded him a Telford premium for his paper upon " The Improvement of the Entrance to Ofcago Harbour." It may be mentioned also that his brother, who is a divisional engineer for the northern section of the Caledonian Railway, recently received the gold medal of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, in Scotland, for his work upon the renewal of viaducts on that line.

It is reported that the " capping ceremony " of the university is to take place on the 17th August. On the 18th and 19th " School for Scandal" will be produced by the Dramatic Club. The students will have festivals enough for one week with this collection of gaieties.

Inquiry is made for the following persons in Lloyd's Weekly of May 28 and June 4:— William Blackwell, of Gloucester, would be glad to hear from his son Caleb, who was last known to be living at Rough Ridge, Ofcago, New Zealand.— Owen Lloyd seeks his sister, Amelia Menck, who in 1876 "kept a shanty " in Dunedin, New Zealand ; also, his brother David, who about the same time was in North Queensland "packing."— Robert Lever, who left Staly bridge in 1865, was last heard of from Wywks, New Zealand. Bister Sarah inquires.— John Thatcher, when iaßt beard of, in July 1884, was at Orari Flat, Woodbury, Canterbury, New Zealand, is inquired -' for by his brother. — William Chalmers, of New Deer, in Brisbane five «r six ye»rs ago, intending to go to New Zealand at that time. Address his father, Robert Chalmers, Drum, New Deer, Aberdeenshire. — John Forrester, some time schoolmaster in St. Monans, Fife, last heard «f in Dunedin, New Zealand. Address hjs brother, Robert Blair Forrester, Institution street, Binolalirtown, Kjrkcaldy, Scotland.— Elizabeth Campsie or Laird, left Longforgan, Perthshire, about 20 years ago, Last heard

from at Lady Bowen Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand. Address her sister, Cathrine Campsie or Thorn, Musselburgh, Scotland.— William Ross, left Montrose, in June 1879, for Christchurch, New Zealand. Address his brother, David Ross, 4 Mall, Montrose. His Worship the Mayor was waited upon on Monday morning by some 40 unemployed men, who asked that the Government should be communicated with in order to see whether there was any likelihood of some work being obtained. Mr Haynes ssnfc a wire to the Government mentioning the fact Jthat the deputation had waited upon him, and adding that the men had been expecting an answer to the telegram sent the previous week, and to which no reply was received. He had received no reply to his second telegram last evening. The following telegram has been sent to the Hon. W. D. Stewart by Mrs Hafcton, president of the Women's Franchise League :— "Heartiest thanks for your electoral rolls amendment. Our gratitude is due to you, and your efforts in our behalf much appreciated. We shall now Bee whether Government are sincere or not." We are informed that another batch of petitions in favour of extending the franchise to women .will be forwarded in a few days, making the third since the Brunner took the delegates to Wellington.

The police have been informed that the 'premises of Mrs Weir, a second-hand dealer, in Moray place, were entered on Sunday night last, and a quantity of goods and a considerable sum of money stolen.

Over 750 entries have already been received for the annual show of the Dunedin Fanciers' Club on the 4th and sth prox , and it is known that a considerable number are still in transit. Under these circumstances it has been decided to extend the time for receiving entries till 8 p.m. on Friday, after which time none will be received.

In 1883 a Maori named Oratitna Jacob was sentenced to death at Christchurch for the murder of his wife at the Maori pa near Kaikoura. The sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life, the jury ' making a strong recommendation to mercy. For some time past the prisoner has been in very bad health, and taking all matters into consideration, and the fact that the prisoner's conduct had been exemplary during his 10 years' incarceration, the Governor, on the advice of the Cabinet, has been pleased to remit the remainder of the sentence, and Oratima will be at once released.

The following is telegraphed from Wellington :—": — " Measles are still raging badly, and the attendance at the public schools, which reopened yesterday, was very poor. It is the worst outbreak for 13 years, the feature of it being the number of adults attacked. A report is going about that the peculiar virulence of the epidemic is owing to the fact that it was introduced by Fillis's Circus monkey in Dunedin, which died of measles." *With reference to the above [statement, which was current in Dunedin some time ago, we may say there is no truth in it. As a matter of fact measles appeared in Dunedin before the arrival of Fillis's Circus, and about the same time was prevalent in Auckland. A well-known medical gentleman informs us that the "measles" from which the circus monkey died was "that form which results from a kick from a horse."

A pure snow-white woodhen has been captured by a Mr William Gray at Upper Tutaenui, in the Wellington province.

The Auckland Herald states that the wellknown Auckland artist Mr L. J. Steele has got matters so far in training with regard to the painting of the great historical picture of "The Treaty of Waitangi" (20 by 10) that he is starting on the large cartoon for it.

A child about 14 months old, the son of Thomas Cambage, head gamekeeper on the Hipswell and Hudswell estates, near Richmond, Yorkshire, has died from the effects of injuries received through being attacked by a gamecock. The child was playing near tbe garden when the cock attacked him, and picked and spurred his head and eyes to such an extent that he inbsequently died. When the mother heard the screams of her child she rushed out, and the bird made an attack upon her also, pecking her face and inflicting slight injuries.

The oratorio entitled "The Prodigal Son" was given by the Kaikorai Temperance Union Choir, under the direction of Mr Joseph Hunter, in the Good Templars' Hall, Eaikorai, on Monday evening. The Rsv. R. R. M. Sutherland occupied the chair, and the hall was comfortably filled. The characters of the piece were ably sustained by Mr "M'Millan (Father), Mr A. M. Braik (Elder Brother), Mr Joseph Hunter (Prodigal), Miss Sears and Mr Burgess (revellers), Misses Haywood and Stokes and Mr Jamieson (servants), Mr L. Millar (narrator and servant). The choir was well balanced, and rendered the choruses in a very efficient manner.

A conference of 'school inspectors, to deal with the subject of bringing the inspection and examination of primary and secondary schools under the control of the Education department, and the issuing of a new code of instructions to inspectors' requiring uniform standard examinations, will be held early in 1894.

At the Supreme Court in Banco on Friday re Thomas Brown (deceased), a petition for leave to expend £400 in erecting buildings (Mr Fraser). An order was mode that in assuming that statement in petition and in verifying affidavit to be true, the petitioner is justified in expending £400 in the manner he suggests.

In another column Mr William Brown, as executor for the late Thomas Brown, of Owake, announces his intention of letting the well-known property in five dairy farms. We understand that the conditions of lease are very liberal, and special arrangements are being made whereby the dairy cattle now on the estate can be secured by the tenants. The close proximity of the Owake dairy factory offers further advantages to intending tenants. - We havo received the Dunedin edition of the "Triad "for July. With it is issued a musical supplement containing Beethoven's "Turkish March," arranged as a duet for piano and violin ; and Mendelssohn's setting as a vocal duet of " O wert thou in the cauld blast." There is also a prize competition for juniors.

''Coo-ec" is the title of a smart little penny, weekly published at Sydney, the first two numbers of which have reached us. With a large population to work on there should be an opening for our new contemporary.

Mr Robert Paulin writes to the Daily Times:— "lt is quite certain that if the prohibitionists gam their ends agriculturists in many districts will suffer very severely. At present barley is the most profitable cereal many farmers can grow. Its cultivation will be destroyed by prohibition, and the farmer, as it is struggling almost iv vain with hard times, will be still less able to pay his way. Anyone with ability who will study the matter without bias will find alcohol is beneficial to most people living in what is called a civilised community— that its use is approved of by most eminent and illustrious historical/ medical,' and biblical authorities, — and will come to the conclusion that the prohibitionists have no sufficient grounds whatever for destroying such national and beneficial industries as those of the brewer, the maltster, and the winegrower. Their argument 'Because there js eyil in abuse there Bhould be no use' wpujd, if carried out jn al] {tongs, land sooiety in a pretty quandary,'' ;