LOCAL & GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 15

LOCAL & GENERAL,

" Whalwe intend to do, and how we 11 do it " formed the subject of Mr Ninian Melville's temperance lecture at the City Hall on the 26th. The Rev. W. Ready presided, and, as on the previous evening, there was a very large attendance. The lecturer said the Temperance party intended to stop the liquor traffic, as all attempts at regulating it had failed, and they Would do this by means of the ballot box. He also paid a tribute of praise to Sir Robert Stout for his courage Jn bringing a direct veto bill before Parliament, and said that although that bill might not be all that was desirable, yet it had in it the kernal of what was required. The lecture was freely interspersed with humorous anecdotes, whioh created a considerable amount of amusement, and many of Mr Melville's remarks elicited from the audience loud outbursts of applause. On the motion of Mr R. N. Adams, seconded by Mr J. W. , Jago, a resolution was carried thanking Mr Melville for hia lectures and commending him to the confidence of fellow-colonists elsewhere. During the evening Miss Sears sang a solo and took part with Mrs Palmer in a duet. A good deal of warmth was displayed by some of the councillors at the meeting of the Maori Hill Borough Council on the 26th. Cr Aitken, jn referring to some remarks passed by Cr Rossbotham, used the word •'presumption," which bo incensed the latter gentleman that he at once rose to his feet, and, addressing Cr Aitken in a very heated manner, called him " a little creature," and invited him to "come outside and he would break his neck."' This very .pointad invitation not meeting with a response, Cr Rossbotham added that he would "make it hot" for Cr Aitkeu, who very, emphatically advised him to /try it." Both councillors quieted down, and the business was considered in the usual unmethodical manner until some time after midnight. The members of the St. John Ambulance Association who were recently instructed in nursing by Dr Jeffcoat at the Town Hall were notified last week that Dr Stetohonse would hold an examination on the 21st inst. It is to bo regretted that only 10 candidates presented themselves, because the opportunity will not occur again for another 12 months. Of this number three failed and seven passed, The following are the names of the successful candidates :— Miss B. Dick, Mrs Short, Miss V. Campbell, Mrs Warburton, Mrs Wilkinson, Mrs Hutcheson, and Miss M. L. Passmore. At a meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees it was mentioned that a man who came by train from the Wairarapa district was in such a horrible state of disease that they dared not put him in a bath, and the doctor ordered him to be sent to the hospital, certifying that he was not in a fit state to be allowed at large. The cbairmim (the Rev. ' Mr Van Stavern) said that they,had heard a good deal of how benevolence was dealt out in the Wairarapa, but if this ware a typical case it reflected little credit on the local board. It was a disgrace that a man in such a state should be sent in a train along with other travellers. , The mister of the home said that the mattress and bedding used by the man had to be burned and the washhouse fumigated. The secretary was instructed to demand an explanation from the Wairarapa Board.

James Campbell, known as the "mad butcher," whose wife committed suicide about a fortnight ago, has this week been committed to the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum.

A man named Carey was accidentally shot ■ through the arm on Thursday evening by some boys at the Ocean Beach, Bluff.

Our Palmerston correspondent writes : — " At the Resident Magistrate's Court on the 26th, before Major Keddell, R.M.,' James Pick worth was charged, on ihe information of William Robertson, a creditor of Pickworth's, with committing certain offences against the provisions of ' The Bankruptcy Act 1892.' Mr Dalziel appeared for the prosecution. After the evidence of James Paul (acting-official assignee), T. Sincock (the'aSEignee's bailiff), and W. Robertson had been taken for the prosecution, the prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Dunedin. Bui was allowed— himself in £20 and two sureties of £15 each."

A man named Arthur Timbers, a farm labourer, employed by Mr Andrew Harvey, of Strath-Taieri, attempted to commit suicide dh Thursday morning by catting his throat with a pocket knife. Constable O'Brien, of Middlemarch, brought him to town last evening and conveyed him to the hospital, where the wound was stitohed up. The man had inflicted an ugly.gash, without, however, touching the main aHeries. Mr William Fraser, of Earnscleugh, has definitely .decided to become a candidate for the Wakatipu seat at the general election.-

The Christchurch Press states that on Sun-

day last the family of Mr James Brown, cabman, of St. Albans, dined off two rabbits which bad been purchased at a shop in Christchurch. Some time after the meal Mrs Brown and three children were taken' seriously ill. Dr .Guthrie was called in, and he found they were appa/ rently Buffering from the effects of an irritant poison. After remedies had been applied the patients recovered. It is surmised that the rabbits had been poisoned, and portions of them have been received by the police for analysis. ' The fact that H. C. Snow, of Tuttin (says the Sail Francisco Chronicle), has sold bis orante crop from Beven .acres for £700 does not do trie transaction justice, as it is indeed a most important one, demonstrating as it does the valne of orange country soil and climate when^ manipulated, in part at least, by the hands of an experienced husbandman. If an Eastern gentleman were to try to purchase this seven-acre orange orchard, and Mr Snow 'should ask;him £5000 cash for it he would very likely be dumbfounded at such an- apparent display of unlimited gall, and would immediately look elsewhere for a cheaper home.- He would no doubt be unable to realise that seven acres of orange trees in this far-off country could be of so much value. But when a little figuring is' done it is ascertained that the orange grove this year has paid its owner a large per cent;, on a valuation of £5000. Receiving for the one year's crop £100 net per acre pays him £20 per cent, on a valuation of over £700 per acre. With such an investment as Mr Snow's orchard an ordinary family ought to be able to live quite comfortably from its income. The Woodville correspondent of the Post writes:— "The police at Woodville are commencing to prosecute the disturbers of the Salvation Army. On the occasion of the last visit of Colonel Bailey, Woodville, was a pandemonium. The streets were full of people desirous of seeing Colonel Bailey atone for his alleged ill-treatment of Captain Stevens, and the assaults outside, which consisted pf the usual filthy ; missiles, mob ejaculations, &£', were continued in a milder degree m the barraoks. The windows were broken, and the place in a state of riot. Twice before the

Salvation Army have laid informations against disturbers of their meetings, and have on each occasion said they did not wish to press the charge. The culprit, who on each occasion was the same man, was let off with a nominal fine." Our Waitati correspondent writes :■—" Mr Thos. Gillies, local manager for Murdoch and Co., who is about to leave the district to take possession of a sawmill at Waikawa, was entertained by some of his friends at the Saratoga Hotel on the evening of the 26th, when he was presented with a marble clock, suitably inscribed, and a pair of marble ornaments. The presentation was made by Mr A. Kilpatnok, who referred to the respect and esteem in which Mr Gillies was held. The latter made a suitable reply, and, with songs and recitations, a pleasant evening was spent." The Auckland Herald says :—" We understand Mr John Lundon has instructed his solicitor, Mr W. J. Napier, to issue distress warrants against the Natives who were plaintiffs in the recent actions against Lundon for £800 for not having paid the costs awarded to defendant. The warrants are for costs* amounting to £78 3s. As the actions were really brought by the Government, who employed Mr Tole to act as solicitor for the Natives,. Mr Napier at first applied to the Government for costs, but as they have not been paid he will now, acting under Mr Lundon's instructions, seize the sheep, horses, and boats of the Natives for the amount of costs unless the Government should in the meantime pay. Some apprehension is felt that the Natives willresist the seizure of their goods to satisfy a claim for costs which they were, forced to incur by the action of the Government. It will be remembered the Government acted under the instructions of the House of the Repreaentatives in bringing the action against Mr Lundon." The annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on Friday was as harmonious as these meetings usually are. Mr A. C. Begg was elected president for the ensuing year, with Mr W. Gow vice-president. The retiring president, Mr Keith Ramsay, in moving the adoption of the committee's report, made a comprehensive speech, in the course of wbich he dealt with the questions of harbour dues, the co-operative labour system, the Otago Central railway, the management of the railways, the/solony's imports and exports, bank returns, cable rates, land settlement, and the financial position of the colony. His remarks as' to the co-operative system had special reference to the action of the Dock Trust, of which he was a member by virtue of hia position as president of the chamber, in recently adopting the principle when the reclamation of a portion of the foreshore at Port Chalmers was decided upon. Mr Ramsay mentioned that ,the actual earnings of the men employed were 9s 5d per diem, the current rate of wages for similar work being 7s a day. He held that if the Dock Trust had called for tenders in the usual way — and that, he considered, would have been the proper course — they would have had a better return for their money, while the men would doubtless have been paid the current rate of wages. As to the financial position of the colony, Mr Ramsay expressed the opinion that there was nothing unreasonable, in improvements bearing their fair share of direct taxation ; but regarding the* proposed increase in the graduated land tax, he considered there was something pitiably mean in "this continued girding at" and putting "one mofe turn of the screw " on the propertied class. ' i When the Education Act Amendment Bill is in 1 committee Mr W. Hutchison, M.H.R., will propose a new clause to permit of the Bible being read in public schools. On the requisition ofi not less than 20 parents or guardians of children attending a sohool the committee shall take such steps as may be necessary to permit of' such Bible-reading fi with or without comment, provided the requisitionists appoint a suitable person for the purpose, provide a fund for the payment of his services and other expenses, and appoint a committee of five to act in conjunction with the school committee. The hour for Bible-reading shall be definitely fixed, and the time occupied is not to exceed 30 minutes. Mr Keith Ramsay, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on Friday, spoke in terms of gratification of the general soundness by which trade has been characterised for some years. While narrowing profits have continued, there is 'the authority of Mr Ramsay for the statement that trade payments have been almost uniformly ' well met throughout the year, and the item of bad debts was never an easier one than it is now. Mr Robert Wilson, too, with a business experience extending over 32 years, spoke in a similar strain. His testimony was to the effect that his firm had had fewer renewals of bills and fewer dishonoured bills during the past 12 months than they have ever had previously; and yet Mr Wilson made the seemingly'paradoxical statement that the merchants are making less money now than formerly. This he attributes to the more general adoption of the system of cash payments, whereby the retail dealer obtains the advantage of the 2£ per cent, discount allowed for prompt' settlement, Mr Wilson estimates that the merchants in consequence of this have their profits -dimmish"cd by 2 per, cent., and be sighs for the time when they will lay their heads together with the view to securing a larger profit. Then, he says, they will all be more happy ! At St. Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday evening a letter from Bishop Moran by the Rev. Father Lyrch, Adm. in wbich the Bist op laid : — , " Will you be so Ro°>d as to thank the cDrgregation of St. Joseph's Cathedral for all their charity to me duriDg my long illness. I am more grateful to them than words can express for their prayers and communions offered up for my recovery. And nothing would give me greater consolation and pleasure than to be able to work for them again. But at present lam weak and helpless and unable to do any work. I must request you to ask the congregation to continue their fervent prayers for me m the hope that I may soon be enabled to resume the discharge of my duties. I am, thank God, better than I was a week ago, and I have hope and confidence that by the blessing of God, the aid of pious prayers, and the skill of my physician, to wh:ni I am so deeply indebted, I shall soon be able to be amongst my people as in former days." A very disreputable scene is reported to have occurred at a dinner given by the Wellington Operative Bakers' Union on Saturday evening, which must have been tb.9 cause of much annoyance to the Premier, Mr Pinker ton, and other legislators who were present. It is alleged that the meeting broke up in more than admired disorder, consequent apparently npon the strength of the stimulants supplied. A number of those present were in a very excitable condition, and towards the end fights occurred, in which more than one black eye was given. The scene is described as of a most discreditable character. Inquiry is made in Lloyd's Weekly of June 11 and 18 for the following :— Miss A. Austin, nurse, went to Port Lyttelton, New Zealand, in June 1889; in 1891 she was nursing a Mrs Richards, in Tweed street, Dunedin. Her brother Fred asks for news. — David Killett, Bailor, a native of Hammersmith, left London about 30 years ago, and is supposed to have.

sailed in the John Duncan for New Zealand. Brother William wishes for news.— Margaret Coster was last known to be living at Auckland, New Zealand, about 1879. Sister Sarah seeks news. — Herbert Brewster, who went to the Northern Island of New Zealand in 1891, is asked to write to his aunt.— Thomas M'lsack left England in 1886 in the s.s. Ruapehu for Westport, to join his cousin, James Finlay. His son Tom has lost all trace of him since August 1890. — Harry Mitchell, with his wife and son, sailed from Gravesend on July 6, 1876, for New Zealand, in the s.s. Inverness. Last heard from on Jane 24, 1877, when letters were to- be addressed :—": — " Care of Mr Garnham, Waipawa, Hawke's Bay." His sister and aunt wish for news. — Mrs Whitely last wrote to her sister, Miss E. Hatcher, five years ago, when her husband was an auctioneer and foreman in a glass and furniture warehouse in Christchurch. They then lived at 39 Hereford street east. She is believed now to be a widow, and living in Melbourne or Sydney, Australia. — Francis Colley Payne left London in 1882 for Wellington, New Zealand, where he stayed with his uncle William Wyatt. He was last seen eight years ago in Sydney, when he called on his brother Christopher. The present inquiry is from his sister Mary.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs :— "A report has been current in Dunedin, I learn, that the notorious convict Butler was at large. This is not the case. Butler is safe in gaol, and I do,not think there is the least cause of fear that he will be let loose upon the country."

A number of pickpockets were atyork at the Caledonian grounds on Saturday afternoon during the progress of .the match Alhambra v. Kaikorai. There was a vast concourse of people assembled, and as the greatest interest was manifested in the game the light-fingered gentlemen had an admirable opportunity of pursuing their occupation. In one instance the thief met with a most unexpected reception. A gentleman who was in the company of his wife noticed a man behaving in a suspicious manner, and becoming convinced that an attempt was being made to extract articles from the lady's pocket, he launched out a blow at the offender which the latter i 3 likely to remember for some considerable time to come. During the afternoon the police arrested a middle-aged man named Alsford, alias Alfred King, on three charges of pocket-picking. The accused is well known to the police. v '

The inspector of police has been notified by wire that a young man named Gibb has disappeared from Hyde and has not been seen since Monday, the 24th. A large search party were ou,t on Friday, but no traces of the man could be found. The latter has been strange in his manner of late. He is the son of Mr Gibb, stationmaster at Milton.

>A cablegram from Sydney announces the death of the Rev. George Sutherland, a Presbyterian minister well known jn Dunedin. He came here from Halifax,' Nova Scotia, and was appointed to assist the late Rev. Dr Burns, of First Church. After that gentleman's death Mr Sutherland succeeded to the pastorate, which hi held for a number of years.

! A complimentary dinner was tendered Mr Justice Williams and Mr Justice Ward by the members of the legal profession at the Grand Hotel on Saturday night. Mr J. F. Woodhouse (president of the Law Society) occupied the chair, and there were about 40 gentlemen pre sent, among them being Messrs E. H. Carew and R. S. Hawkins, R.Ms. Apologies for the unavoidable- absence 'Of Sir R. Stout, the Hon. J.sMacgregor, the Hon. W. D. Stewart, and Mr Justice Denniston were received. After ample justice had been done to an excellent spread arid the toast of "The Queen" honoured, the chairman proposed the health of the guests of the evening. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and was acknowledged with an appropriate speech in each instance. Other toasts honoured were:— "The Legislature," proposed by Mr J. B. Callan and responded to by! Dr Fitchett ; " The Law and Lawyers," proposed by Mr Hawkins and responded to by Mr F. R. Chapman; "The Clients," proposed by Mr W. C. Macgregor ; and " The Ladies," proposed by Mr O. M. Mouat. Songs were contributed by Messrs Sidey, Findlay, Haggitt, Callan, Graham, and Finon, while Mr Solomon gave a recitation.

As the Rev. Mr Salter, of Port Chalmers; was announced to lecture at the Maori Eaik at the Heads on Friday evening, 'advantage was taken of the occasion by about 30 members of the Trinity Church Christian Endeavour Society and some 20 members of the Fort Chalmers Wesleyan Church to pay a fraternal visit to friends at the Kaik. They left Port Chalmers by the launch Tarewai, and were heartily welcomed on arrival. The local hall was soon filled ; Mr Duke, of Sawyers' Bay, taking the chair. The '.-.lev. Mr Salfcer delivered an instructive lecture on the sbory of the Bounty mutineers, with an account of life among the Norfolk Islanders, and solos, anthems, and hymns were sung by the choir and audience. After a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer the visitors were entertained at supper, and the party returned in time to catch the last train to Dunedin.

A correspondent!, who writes from Invercargill, sends the following interesting piece of information bearing on the properties of light and sonnd, which appears to open a wide field for further investigation by scientists :—" Your account of the wonderful discovery of the f^ct that a beam of light produces sound reminds me of a peculiar experience when practising the cornet in a room in which an ordinary kerosene lamp was burning. Every time a 'G ' above the line was blown the flame jumped, while any other note had no effect on the light. I have put the light out by blowing the same note long and strong, although the bell of the instrument was turned away and I was at the other end of the room. My own theory is that the light was emitting the same sound, and the two acted in sympathy ; but it would be interesting to heir whether any of your scientific readers have made the same observation, or can explain the reasons why one note should make the flame jump and not any other."

The gentleman who was entrusted with the preparation of the menu card for the dinner given by the local bar to Mr Justice Williams and Mr Justice Ward is evidently a Shakespearean scholar and fond of quotations. The card was headed by two apposite lines from " The Taming of the Shrew "— "And do as adversaries do in law: strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends." After whipped cream came the warning from "The Tempest "—" Such stuff as dreams are made on." One or two legal maxims and phrases were also cleverly introduced. The guests were afforded the assurance that the saddle of mutton was from a merino, and lest the junior membsrs of the bar might be unaware of the necessity for this precaution, the famous dictum of one of the judges being honoured was quoted, namely, " Much of the crime of New Zealand is attributable to the Leicester sheep."

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of St. Luke's Church, Mosgiel, took place last Thursday afternoon (says the Advocate) in the

presence of a large number of spectators from all parts of the district. The ceremony was a Masonic one, and Bishop Nevill laid the stone. The Revs. E. T. Howell and D. 0. Hampton occupied positions close to the stone. The following took part in the ceremony : — Bros. A. H. Burton, Deputy Grand Master, New Zealand Constitution; J. E. M'Kelvey, Past Grand. Senior Warden; H. H. Inglis, Acting Grand Senior Warden; C. J. Ronaldson, Acting Grand Junior Warden ; J. A. Kirby, Acting Grand Director of Ceremonies; H. M'Corkindale, Past Master (carrying the wine) ; A. Barron, Past Master (carrying the oil) ; James Spence, Past Master (carrying the corn) ; H. Lippert, Acbing Grand Swordbearer ; J. S. Kennedy, Acting Grand Treasurer ; Rev. J. T. Pinfold, ActiDg Grand Chaplain; M. Hendry (Senior Warden) and R. M. Stirling (Junior Warden), Acting Grand Stewards. The Mosgiel Band, tinder Mr Haigh, took part in the procession, and hymns were sung by the choir. A social was held in the evening.

A sensation was caused in the Melbourne Criminal Court on the 20fch insfc., when it was discovered that 15 convicts from Pentridge had made a bold attempt to escape. The prisoners had been subpoenaed to give evidence on behalf of the Pentridge rioters, who were on trial at the court. They were all placed in the cell at the court, and during the morning and afternoon were singing very loudly. A constable happened to be' standing near the grating of the cell, and amidst the din he thought he heard the noise of a file at work. He gave the alarm, and a number of policemen and warders entered the cell. All the prisoners were perfectly at ease, but .a search revealed the fact that one of the upright bars which stand between the cell and the grating had been filed and dragged out. A file made out of a knife was found on the floor, but which prisoner actually did the work could not be discovered. The men were removed to the Melbourne Gaol.

The Post states that the success «f Messrs Pattison in securing a recommendation from the Public Petitions Committee that duty be remitted on certain sums misappropriated by the firm of Harper and Co. has led to the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company making a similar application as executors of the late W. R, Scott. They ask for the refund of legacy duty paid in respect of a «urn of £6962 17s lOd similarly misappropriated.**

The Auckland Knights of Labour telegraphed to the Danevirke branch asking the opinion of the people on the spot as to the merits of the issues in the Rees-Cadman case, and received a reply that Mr Cadman's connection with the Umuataroa block .was everything that was honest and just. ' The Danevirke branch recommend the Auckland knights to extend Mr Cadman their support.

At a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Institute Mr, Tregear stated that he was satisfied the bones found in the peculiar looking mounds at Weka Point, Pelorus Sound, were not those of a human being, but probably had been part of a large fish. One of the mounds was on a platform which had been cut out of a hill. There was another excavation a little higher up, and the inference was that it had been made in order to furnish clay to cover the bones burnt on the platform. It had been suggested that in days gone by the whalers had had their try-pots fitted up at Weka Point, and that the remains found by Mr Rutland were those of wtiates. It might have been so, but he (Mr Tregear) could not understand how it was that the mounds were so far from the sea, and why it had been deemed necessary to cover up the bones. The whole thing was to him a perfect puzzle. Sir James Hector informed the society that he also was unable to fathom the mystery. —Post. /

A meeting of the Diocesan Chapter of the Archdiocese of Adelaide was held on June 28 for the purpose of selecting three names to recommend to the Holy See for the vacant Archiepiscopal See of Adelaide. Dr Gibney, of Perth, the senior Suffragan Bishop, presided. The mode, of procedure is for each priest to write down the three names he wishes to recommend, thus giving 30 votes for the 10 clergymen at the, meeting, the highest possible for any single candidate being 10 votes. The result was :— Right Rev. John O'Reily, D.D., Bishop of Port Augusta, 8 votes ; Right Rev. Joseph Higgins, Bishop Auxiliary of Sydney, '6i votes; Right Rev. R. A. Sheehan, D.D., Bishop of Waterford and Lisburn, 3 votes; Right • Rev. John Dunne, D.D., Bishop of Wilcannia, 3 votes ; Very Rsv. J. J. O'Brien, D.D., Rectorof St. John's College, Sydney, 3 votes. There were seven votes distributed amongst other candidates. The three names recommended by the chapter have been forwarded for report to the Metropolitans of Australia, the Archbishops of Melbourne, Hobart, and Brisbane. The Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of Australia, Cardinal Moran, is in Europe at present, and will also be able to advise the Holy Father in the matter. It is understood Dr O'Reily is" likely to be selected.

Mr Seddon (says - the Post) has stated the qualifications on which he bases his claim to be regarded as an expert in railway management. He says he is & railway engineer .by trade. We fancy he would more correctly have described himself as a railway fitter, or turner and fitter. We have no doubt he would be a very good workman in the railway workshops. He might be qualified even as a "leading hand" to direct the doing* of an operative " gang," but we really fail to see that proficiency in fittibg, or at the bencb, constitutes any fitDess for the s management of a railway system. We fancy that the railway workshops could turn out many as good, if not better, workmen than Mr Seddon, and every one of them would probably be considerably more up to date in practical work than he is. It does not follow, however, that they would therefore be better qualified for the position of a railway commissioner. Mr Seddon's trade experience, in fact, might be held as being -a first step towards qualification for the post of locomotive superintendent— a very small stop on a long road — but it affords him no reason whatever to claim to be an expert in railway management. We might believe a little more in bis qualifications for managing the railways if we saw him managing the House and running the Government of the country a little better than he is doing. It would be a bad thing for the country if the railways were not better managed than the affairs of Government are just now. Unless he is a better railway engineer than he is proving himself a political engineer, we fear he has cause of complaint against those who should have tanght him his trade.

The latest story oil the subject of advertising on the backs of postage stamps is told by "Bohemian" in the Press : — " Recently a bilious- subject called in his doctor to Attend him. Of course he put out his tongue. The medico examined it critically. Then suddenly in indignant tones he cried, ' Have you brought me here to insult me, sir?' 'N-n-o,' stammered the harmless patient. ' I don't appreciate jokes in my professional capacity, sir!' And in high dudgeon the doctor picked up his hat and gloves and strode tragically from the room, The bewildered patient was completely at a loss to understand the situation,

Nothing he had said could have conveyed th° insult, for he had said nothing. He must have looked it. In trepidation he went to the glass to examine his face. Still puzzled, he put out; his tongue— and there it was— printed in blue ink on the unruly member the words 'Stop that cough! Use Irish Moss!' He had just been writing to a friend, and in a fit of abstraction be had left the stamp he was 1 licking too long on his tongue and the ink had come off."

A debate is arranged on "Theosophy" between Mrs Annie Besant, its untiring defender, and Mrs Frederika Macdonald, a lady well known as an exponent of Buddhism, who has lately been attacking Theosophy with considerable vigour. The subject as defined by Mrs Macdonald is as follows:— (1) That Theosophy, while professing to serve. modem spiritual needs, is working against the. modern . spirit and for superstition. (2) That Theosophy is doing this under the mask of Buddhism, whereas Theosophy represents correctly no Indian philosophy, and has its starting point and goal in aims and principles opposed to Buddhism. The net revenue collested at the customhouse at Danedin for the month of July, which terminated on Monday, was £7800 7s in' excess of the return for the corresponding month of last year; while the beer duty showed an increase of £182 4s over the figures for July 1892 '

The vital statistics for the past month are:— Births, 110 ; deaths, 75 ; marriages, 23. '' The statistics for the corresponding month .of last year were :— Births, 100; deaths,' 55; and marriages, 15. \ ( The legality of the action of Government in correcting by proclamation an error which prevented a hotelkeeper at a ~ Maori pa at Pakipaki, Hawke'a-Bay, from obtaining a renewal of his license, is to be tested (says the Post) in the Supreme Court on the 26th. The Natives at the pa have been endeavouring to have the hotel closed for many years past, and at the last meeting of the licensing committee evidence was given by them that they attributed to drink several fatal accidents and a murder which had occurred at the pa; On a technical point the licensee was prevented from obtaining a renewal of his license, but the Government issued a proclamation validating ' the* proceed* ings and overriding the error, and notwithstanding further opposition on' the part of the Natives the license was renewed. *

As a result of the North-East Valley Borough Council advertising for applications from persons willing to fill the' joint positions of town clerk, inspector of works, and ranger in the borough, at a salary of £3 a week, they received no lees than 27 applications.' These were considered at a special meeting of the council last night, when the present inspector, Mr Theodore Arnold, was appointed to the position. One of the applicants wrots offering his services as town clerk, inspector, dog tax collector, " cowcatcher," sweep, police inspector, &c, and stated that he was willing to | assist the council collectively and individually, being a reliable tailor, a first-class bootmaker, a good carpenter, good milker, and good woodchopper. He was also willing to fill up. his spare time by acting in the capacity' of nurse. The following letter by an applicant for the joint positions was also read:— "I hereby make myself "an applicant for the situation offered to competent' persons ■ through the medium of the' local journals. I consider myself capable of .conducting the clerical business of the borough in a thoroughly efficient manner, and am prepared to.pfficiate/7as is evidently intended by you— as raDger, inspector of dairies, inspector of public works, inspector of buildings (in the- borough), lamplighter, nightman, road ganger, and general faototum to the council collectively and individually. If, gentlemen, you should seriously consider this my prayer, I will devote myself body and soul- to your service. The situation necessitates working long hours ; but, gentlemen, I am prepared to sacrifice my all, and will limit myself to two hours' sleep per diem (Sundays included), in order to enable me to carry out the works I am so willing and anxious should fall to my lot. For .credentials' or testimonials, &c, &c, consult those who have known me for the last 20 years in the North-East Valley. Trusting, gentlemen, yon will select the most capable of your applicants* free from all personal bias and party spleen, and that you will give this your most serious consideration, I beg, gentlemen, to sign myself your would-be slave." ' ' '

On Sunday evening, in the Mornington Wealeyan Church, the Rev. J.T. Pinfold preached a sermon to young men on the subjeot of "Betting." Taking his text from Matthew vii, 12—" Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." He said that life was guided bjr principles. Everything that is contrary to the principle of , the text tended to demoralise men and lessen their chances of happiness. A horse race in itself was harmless, but a terrible parasite had fastened on it, and had destroyed its harmless character., Quota* „ tions were read from Auckland and Wellington papers, and from the Otago Daily Times, wpich affirmed that betting was on. the increase. Even the language used in the Streets by nonbetting people showed how powerful was the influence of this great evil; and as use deadened moral perception, it became the duty of every . teacher of morality to warn men of their danger, and to place' before them a nobler ideal of life and a truer way of liviDg. Batting was proved to be a great evil, because its- agents were dishonest in their practices. Its effects were hurtful to the true development of trade, and it often led to financial acd moral ruin. The preacher expressed his surprise that Christians countenanced this growing evil by closing their places of business on race days, and said he hoped tbe time was not far distant when commercial houses and retail establishments would prohibit betting amongst their employes. An earnest exhortation to all who were .under the influence of betting habits to shake them off, ' and by God's grace to conquer them, and to those who had forsworn the evil and all its « surroundings to help those who were still in the meshes of the tempter, brought the sermon t j a close.

A Waitafci correspondent writes :— " One of a series of f ocial evenings in connection with the ' evening class established some time ago bjr Mr Davidson was given in the school on Friday night. The programme, consisting of piatoforte' pieces, songs, recitations, and readings, was a lengthy and varied one, and, judging by • the numerous encores and loud applause, was greatly appreciated by the audience. The , following ladies and gentlemen took part in the entertainment :— Mrs Davidson, Miss Johnson, Miss Rutherford, Messrs Davidson, Watson, James Wilson, A. M'Connell, J. Rutherford, Bell, and Masters R. Souness and Bowden."

Perhaps the most remarkable trade in the world is that of Frau Gelhy, a,nur£e,iu Dr Schnitzler's Throat Hospital at Vienna,' whose chief means of livelihood— and it is a handsome ' one— arises from the extreme insensitiveness of her throat. She lets herself out to budding medicos as a subjeot upon which they may ■ practise manipulations of the throat and vocal organs, She can open her throat in su,oty t\

manner that the student can actually see the vocal cords, and can practise very delicate experiments thereon, such as painting the sides of the air passage with a camel hair brush, introducing different instruments, and so on. After the .embryo doctor has acquired a certain dexterity,, v this extraordinary woman half swallows a glass bead, and the student practises remoying it with forceps such as would be used in an accidental case. Her confidence in his skill is. indicated by the fact that she keeps tight hold of a strong thread attached to the bead. People go from all parts of Europe to study this lady's throat. "Truth js stranger than fiction," and proof that it is bo comes from the Bluff. Some 18 months ago (says the Southland Times) August Andersen, a resident at Ocean Beach, and a man named Robert Pettitt, who was afterwards killed by an accident on one of the Tyser liners, Were fishing in the Straits about seven miles to windward of the Hill. Pettitt, when hauling a groper aboard, dropped his knife into the sea. A short time ago Andersen was again fishing in the Straits, this time off South-west Point, at the back of Flagstaff Hill. He caught a number of blue cod, and four of these he sold to a workman at Ocean Beach, who, on preparing the fish for cooking, •discovered in one of them a knife in a perfect state of' preservation. The " maripi " was shown to Andersen, and he at once recognised it as the one that Pettitt had dropped overboard. The knife is a large one— and must have been a dreadful encumbrance to the nsh that had carried it so long in its internal economy. Bishop Julius is expected to retunTto the colony about the middle of the present month.

A painting in oils by Mr L. W. Wilson, executed to the order of Mr M'Gregor Wright and now being exhibited in the laser's premises, has justly attracted a considerable amouut of attention' during the last two or three days from lovers of art. It is one of the largest and at the same time one of the best works ever produced from Mr Wilson's brush. It represents Mount Burnet, Dusky Sound, a peak of which it is, probably, the only painting in existence. The view was presumably taken from the main sound, looking between Cooper Island— of the luxuriant vegetation of which Mr Wilson has given a glimpse in the foreground— and Long Island. It is an after-rain effect which is produced, the sunshine, by which the clouds have been dispelled— save a misty wreath lying on Mount Burnet, whose summit, however, is unobscured,— glinting through the foliage and playing on the sound. The work is one upon' which Mr Wilson has "evidently bestowed pains, and his treatment of his subject is undoubtedly clever. It is not only worthy of his reputation, but will enhance it.

At Auckland on' Friday last Frank Ryder Davis was charged with embezzling £125 belonging to the Mutual Life Assurance Society of Victoria. ■, Mr Earl, who attended, stated that full restitution had been made and all expenses guaranteed. The prisoner had no motive for his act, but was known to be eccentric. He had left a comfortable home in ' order to live at a hotel. For the first time in his life he had been introduced to strong drink, with the result that he did not know what he was doing. He went on the steamer with the money, but upon reaching Gisborne realised what he had done. He was on his way to telegraph when he was arrested. Mr E. Hesketh, for the prosecution, asked leave to withdraw the' information. Inspector Hickson eaid it was a private prosecution, and the bench allowed the case to be withdrawn.

Our Portobello correspondent states that a requisition to Mr Scobie Mackenzie to contest the Waikouaiti seat at the general election is being very largely responded to in'thatdis trict, as well as in Blueskin and Purakanui.

At a meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, held on Tuesday, the following resolution was carried .unanimously :— "We, the W.C.T.U. of Dunedin, believing that Sir Robert Stout's Licensing Amendment Bill, if it becomes law, will be a powerful aid in the promotion of temperance, therefore call upon every M.H.R. to vote for its enactment." Our Otago Heads correspondent telegraphs that John Russell, one of the Otago Heads Natives, died there on Tuesday, at the age of 56 years, after* week's illness.

The Mount Ida Chronicle states that the gale of the 25th ult. did considerable damage. Sheets of iron, pieces of timber, kerosene tins, and everything movable were carried along the streets, and in one or two cases buildings were unroofed and partly blown down, while iron chimnejs were much shaken and disjointed, and several windows came to grief. A good deal of excitement prevailed just between 12 and 1 o'clock, when the roof of a stable belonging to Mr Ferguson was blown clean off, and carried a distance of between 40 and 50 yards, and falling on the roof of Mr Hjorring's boot factory, burst it in. The force with which it came maybe imagined from the fact that a piece of 3 x 2 scantling was driven righjrthronghtheend of Mr "Hjorring's building.' ' ~ Mr M'Gowan, mayor of the Thames, has beea elected without opposition for theJThames seat, vacant by the resignation of Mr Cadman.

The Evening Press says that Judge RobmBon has received the permanent appointment of district judge and resident magistrate at Nelson. Mr Byre Kenny will go to Palmerston North, where he will hold a temporary appointment.

The Press states that intimation has been received in Christchurch that the English creditors of Messrs Harper and Co. have passed the following resolutions :—" That steps be taken to prevent the discharge of Messrs Harper and 00. That the public prosecutor in New Zealand be moved to prosecute Messrs Harper and Co. and to take such other proceedings as may be available against them, including an application to the Law Society to strike them off the rolls."

When Mr F. W. Ward-left Sydney for Canada as representative of the new mail line of steamers with Vancouver, Sir George Dibbs arranged that he should be advised respecting the prospects of the opening up of trade with Canada. The following cable has been received by Sir George Dibbs from Mr Ward :— " Excellent prospects for fruit, meat, and other products. Vißited Seattle, Tocoma, Portland, with cordial reception. Service connects from continental railways. This important. Expect large trade." We have received No. 9 of Te Paki o Matariki (Pleiads, or Seven Stars), published at Cambridge, Waikato. It opens with a notice "to the nations and tribes of Aotearoa and the Waipounamu, also to those of other parts of the world. This paper is published by the Independent Maori Power of Aotearoa. Under the Authority of King Tawhiao P. Te Wherowhero. Its name being 'Pleiads or Seven Stars.' Who pleads for peace and quietness for «ver.".~ It is printed in Maori and Englieh, and contains the opening and dosing speeches ■of the. King to the recent Maori Parliament, fnd » history of the King movement. It ia

accompanied by the Maori Gazette, in which is given the short titles of the laws passed by the Parliament. The new Maori power evidently means Business.

Amongst the visitors to Auckland at present is the Rev. G. Davidson, 8.5., of Edinburgh, who is on a six months' tour pi the Australasian colonies. He is the minister of one of the largest and most influential churches in Edinburgh, and i.3 one of the most eloquent and popular preachers in that city. ■,

Mr G. F. Fodor, whose studies of animal life have earned for him a reputation which is not confined to New Zealand, but has extended to the other colonies, has now on, view in Meßßrs J. Wilkie and Cos. windows tw.o paintings of canine subjects. In each case the head is carefully and faithfully drawn, and the treatment of the coat is skilful. Mr Fodor, whose work is always painstaking, is to be congratulated upon what the observer cannot help regarding as a very life-like presentment of the subjects. ,