LOCAL & GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 15

LOCAL & GENERAL,

In a letter from the Dunedin City and Suburban Tramway Company read at the City Council meeting last week it was intimated that if the Government insisted on the company paying £8000, two-thirds of the cost of protecting the telephone service, the electrical tramway scheme would positively bo abandoned. Mr A. C. Broad lapt week telegraphed to the Premier and Sir R. Stout intimating that the Prohibition League imperatively demand legislation giving the people the power of direct veto of the liquor traffic, and urge the passing of Sir R. Stout's bill. The output of coal from the Westport and Greymouth mines for the month of July was as follows :— Westport, 23,635 tons 12cwt; Greymouth, 9519 tons 14cwt. Another case of levanting with a considerable sum of money is reported. A young man named Ernest T. Dawson, who for some years past has managed the local branch of Cook's Tourist Agency, has been missing since the 26th nit. He gave out that he was going to Oamaru with the intention of subsequently proceeding to the north for a five weeks' holiday. Ho wrote a letter, however, to the manager of the head office, Auckland, stating that he was about to abscond with a large amouut of the firm's money, and hinting that it would b3 as well that someone should be appointed to look after the business at Dunedin. The matter was immediately put into j the hands of fcbo police and a warrant issued at Auckland, the Danedin police receiving intelligence on Saturday. No traces of the levanter could then be found, and it is believed that he sailed for Rio de Janeiro by the Coptic, which left Lyttelton on the 27th. The amount mentioned in the warrant as being stolen is £600, but whether this includes the whole of the embezzlements is as yet unknown. Dawson was well known in betting circles. He used to spend money so freely that his friends were of opinion that he was possessed of private means. A requisition is being numerously signed throughout the different districts of the Waikouaiti electorate asking Mr James Green to contest the seat at the general election. His friends feel confident that he will consent to be nominated. Mr W. H. Montgomery, a son of the Hon. W. Montgomery, will contest the Ellosmere seat with the Hon. W. Rolleston and Mr Rennie. The annual reunion of the courts belonging to the United Ancient Order of Foresters for the district of Otago was held in the Choral ] Hall last evening, about 300 of the order being present. District Chief Ranger W. R. Cole occupied the chair, and- welcomed members from the Court Robin Hood, Port Chalmers, their health being toasted with the Foresters' fire. Bro. A. Fullerton responded to the toast. The remainder of the evening was spent in harmony, songs and one or two dances and recitations being given by Bros. C. Pattern, M'Connell, Cameron, Cashman, H. Bills, Doodeward, Barton, M'Nair, Middleton, Ross, Restieaux, V. Paine, Stock, B. Morgan, Brown, Fullerton, Mearns, and the chairman. Light refreshments, to which ample justice was done, were provided by Mr Lean, and the tables were excellently spread. The gathering, which was a very sociable and enjoyable one, terminated about half-past 11 o'clock. At a special meeting of the committee of the O.R.F.U. on the 2nd the following resolution was unanimously adopted: — "That the secretary be instructed to write to the hon. secretary of the New Zealand Union to confirm the telegram of the Ist inst. declining to take part in match New Zealand Union Team v. Combined South Island, which was suggested by the New Zealand Union, and to add that, in the opinion of the Otago Union, the offer of odds as contained in Mr Hoben's telegram was not qrlculatedto expedite any possible arrangements for such a match." The Southland News e-tates that the extensive sawmilling and manufacturing business in Dunedin of Messrs Murdoch and Co. has been purchased by Messrs Massey and Co. The excess of arrivals over departare&from Australia during the month of July was 313, against 14-2 for the same month last year. The ordinary meeting of the Otago High Schools Board of Governors, held on Thursday, was attended by the Rev. Dr Stuarb (chairman), the Ray. A. R. Fitohett, Messrs C. Haynes, H. Clark,. M. Fraer, and G. G. Russell. The Rector of the Boys' High School wrote calling attention "to the fact that this, day (August 3) closes the thirtieth year* of its existence. He congratulated the chairman on his being able after 30 years to still assist with his counsel 'the institution which he aided to establish. The secretary (Mr C. Macandrew) stated that he had taken the necessary steps to have the Mokoreta Cemetery Bill introduced into Parliament this session. It was resolved that the school fees next year, if paid within 21 days of the opening of the term, should be £2 103 per quarter, and £3 if paid at a later date. It was further decided that fees in the lower forms, if not paid within three weeks of the beginning of the term, should have a fifth of their amount added. The fifth of a series of lectures on " Healthy Homes" was given by Dr Ogston in St. Paui'3 Schoolroom on Thursday night, under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association. Mr H. F. Hardy presided, and there was a moderate attendance. The lecturer spoke of "A Healthy Drainage Schemo," pointing out the dangers arising I from imperfect drainage in connection with 1 house sinks, cisterns, water closets, fixed

washing basins and washtubs, &3., and also showing how to avoid those dangers. During the delivery of the lecture, which was illustrated by models and diagrams, Dr Ogston expressed the opinion that nine-tenths of the diseases to which human beings are subject were caused by improperly drained houses. As he was unable to deal so fully as he would have liked with his theme, he intimated that he would give the concluding portion of his lecture on the following Thursday., * At the usual meeting of the St. Andrew's Literary Guild, held in the Mission Hall, Walker street;, last evening, Mr J. A. Johnson gave the first of a series of lectures on " Pessimism." The Rsy. R. Waddell (president of the guild) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. The speaker stated that his lectures would embrace a detailed study of Olive Schreiner's " Life on an African Farm," which was a novel of that class becoming very common and very aggressive, and usually called pessimistic. The consideration of the book itself was left for a future occasion, but the lecturer presented to his auditors the tree of which the work was but an offshoot. It might, he said, be termed pessimism, the upas tree of this century, poisoning all literature and life that came within its reach. The lecture was somewhat lengthy, but was listened to with attention during its delivery. Tho much-talked-of discoveries of M. Turpin are b9ginning to be divulged. According to the Chronicle's Paris correspondent, the most important is a very light waggon, drawn by two horsep, and containing two groups of projectiles With the aid of four gunners four charges can x be fired off in a quarter of an hour, each of these throwing 25,000 missiles over a surface of 22,000 square metres. The other branch of this appalling invention is equally effective for navy purposes. The Figaro announces that M. Turpin has invented a new engine of war, which, although very simple in design, is of extraordinary power. The application of electricity is the chief point of the invention. If, as M. Turpin affirms, this is the case, and the machine performs in practice what it is theo' retically, supposed to do, the large guns carried by war vessels and mounted in forts can be done away with. Merchant ships could be converted into powerful armed cruisers by its employment. The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach has decided not to contest the Waikouaiti seat in the House of Representatives. The Rev. J. Gibbleffa hurriedly for Melbourne on Thursday, being summoned away by a cable announcing serious illness in his family. Bishop Julius, of Christohurch, is bringing out with him a deaconess, who will be known as Sister Edith, of the St. Andrew's Deaconess House, a branch of the London Diocesan Deaconess Institution. The Presbyterian states that news has reached the convener of the Church Extension Committee that the Rev. Mr Bissett has been commissioned to the Church of Otago and Southland, and may be expected in the course of August. A Melbourne telegram in the Sydney Morning Herald says :— " Judge Casey delivered his reserved decision in the matter of the action instituted by Dr Summers, professor of , mu»ic, against the Age newspaper, for the recovery of £500 damages for alleged unfair criticism of a performance of Haydn's • Creation,' given under Dr Summers's conductorship at the Exhibition Building on 27bh April. Judge Casey found that the facts upon which the criticism was founded were substantially true, and that the comments complained of, though highly satirical, did not exceed the bounds of fair criticism. The strength of the choir, said his Honor, was admittedly insufficient, and in the absence of an orchestra the production of this sublime work was brought perilously near the ridiculous. If one of Shakespeare's tragedies was presented at one of our theatres under corresponding disadvantages, one would expect that a lesson would ba taught to' the daring entrepreneur who thus 'outraged public tastß and flouted public opinion. A verdict was given for the defendant, with costs." The Cromwell Argus states that a strike on a small scale occurred in Cromwell on the 27th ult. The county council wanted men to work at the repairs to the road between Cromwell and Kjrtleburn for seven shillings a day. This the men refused, and asked eight shillings, giving as their reason for requesting the extra shilling that the job was only a tetnporary'one, and that it would entail an expenditure of at least three or four days' pay foj an outfit. The council refused, and the men held a meeting in the street, at which the action of the council was discussed and commented upon neither in very measured nor very complimentary terms. Mr William Todd, cab proprietor, sustained a severe compound fracture of the right leg on Friday afternoon. He was driving a cab, when some part of the vehicle gave way and ho was precipitated forward. The horses becoming frightened kicked out, striking Todd on the leg, besides dragging him some distance along the ground. The animals were stopped, and the driver, on being extricated, was taken to the hospital, where his injuries received attention. It was decided at the monthly meeting of (he Taieri County Council held on Friday to urge upon the Minister for Public Works that the portion of the Obago Central railway between Middlemarch and the Taieri Lake station should be opened for traffic as soon as it is ready. The series of lectures on "Nursing aud cooking," inaugurated by the Sb. John Ambulance Association, in St. Paul's schoolroom, was concluded by Dr Jeffcoat on Friday afternoon, when he was presented with a massive oak and silver waiter by Lady Stout, on behalf of the members. The gift, which wr.s from the establishment of Messrs G and T. YouDg, bore a suitable inscription. Dr Jeffcoab returned thanks for tho unexpected and hafcdsome present. Dr Stenhouso will re-examine holders of nurßing certificates next Friday, at 3 p.m , at the Young Women's Christian Association rooms. A well-attended meeting of eleotors of the Peninsula portion of the Waikouaiti district was held on Friday night at Portobello to consider the future representation of tho constituency, Mr William Dickson presiding. Among those present was Mr John Whito, of Anderson's Bay, who explained the position of Mr Soobio Mackenzie with regard to tho ooulf'Bb for tho seat, intimating that ho had boon in communication with that goutloman, who wnfl willing to stand for Waikouaiti provided tMI) ft good requisition was presented to him, 1(1 whs BSftUKi that requisitions had already boon Boat round the district and well signocl, uml 11 number of signatures were added at tho meotlnff, UlO toolins of which was strongly in favour of Mr Mnokenzie. The meeting thanked Mr Wlrito for his attendance^ and a similar compliment was accorded to the chairman. The state of the bridge over the Taieri river at Greytown is at present so unsatisfactory that, oa the recommendation of their inspector,

the Taieri County Council have decided to prohibit the taking of any weight in excess of three tons upon it. They also resolved to communicate with Mr W. Carncross, M.H.R., with the view of appealing for ' assistance from the Government, in the form either of a vote or subsidy, towards the erection of a new structure. The Otago University students held a large meeting on Thursday evening to consider a suggestion that the "capping" ceremony should be held in the afternoon this year. By an overwhelming majority, however, it .was resolved that the custom of previous years ought to be adhered to. Present arrangements accordingly are, that the capping will take place on the evening of the ',17th inst., and on the 18th and 19th, Friday and Saturday, the "School for Scandal" performances will be given. The play, we understand, is to be very thoroughly done. A dance will ba performed by some of the ladies and gentlemen of the cast in the second act, and the famous song, " Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen " will .be given with a strong chorus. In all probability the students' own orchestra will supply the music, and we may expect the intervals to be enlivened by song. Oar Obakou correspondent wrote on the 3rd : — '• The dettfi of John Russell (Teone Retara), the second Native who has died here within the past 10 days, has occasioned some stir in our usually quiet settlement. The deceased was ill for about a week, and at the end of that time Dr Hendry, df Port Chalmers, was summoned, but he pronounced the case a hopeless one. Natives from the various kaiks are beginning to arrive here in order to ba present for the funeral, which, in accordance with Native custom, will probably not take place for a few days yet. A flagstaff has been erected at the Kajk Hall, and the Union Jack run up to halfmast. The Rev. Mr Salter, of Port Chalmers, will be asked to conduct the burial service. Much sympathy is felt by the residents for the widow and family of the deceasad." A deputation, introduced by the Hon. G. F. Richardson, M.H.R., and consisting of several members of the Surveyors' Institute, waited on the Premier on Friday to urge on the Government to bring in the Institute of Surveyors Bill this session. Ib was urged that certain general lines had been laid down at the Sydney Conference, at which the Government was represented, that the other colonies were taking action, and it was a matter of honour for New Zealand to keep to the arrangements determined on. The effect of the proposed bill would be to make colonial certificates Australasian, to ensure uniformity in examinations, and to safeguard the public from incompetent men anS improper charges. The Premier proposed to bring the matter before the Cabinet, and let the secretary know the result in a few days. Was it instinct or reason ? During the storm that the other day visited the Bluff the spire of the (uncompleted) Presbyterian Church was blown down, happily without inflicting any personal injury. Just before it fell, as we are informed, the infant child of Mr Mackenzie, the stationmaster, was playing beneath, his gambols being watched by Mr Mackenzie's Newfoundland dog. Suddenly the latter made a dart, seized the child by the clothes and drew it away just in time to prevent it being crushed by the falling timber. — Southland News. "A Working Man," looking at the female franchise question from a workman's point ef view, thinks on the whole women will not vote Conservative. He points out, however, that while women have been elbowing their way into positions of emolument hitherto held by men, they have shown no desire to undertake the duties undertaken voluntarily. He, therefore, suggests that women should establish a volunteer corps for nursing infectious diseases; a volunteer corp3 for clothing and educating destitute children; and a volunteer nursing corps trained to take the field, in case of the men being called on to defend our country against enemies. The monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute was held in the Normal School on Saturday. Mr A. Stewart presided, and there were also present — Messrs W. Davidson, J. Southwick, L. A. Line, R. G. Whetter, D. R. White, D. Murray, W. A. Paterson, J. Reid, W. Grey, W. Eudey. J. 'M'Phee, W. G. Don, D. A. M'Nicol, G. Balsille, J. Jeffery, J. A. Johnson (hon. secretary), and Dr Chilton. Mr Jeffery, the president of the br»nch, read a paper ori > "The Lantern as an Aid to Primary Instruction"; Messrs White, Davidson, Southwick, and M'Nicol taking part in tho discussion which ensued at the conclusion of the reading. A vote of thanks was 6ubs?quently accorded Mr Jeffery for his address. Mr Paterson (Wakari) was elected to represent the branch on the Committee of Management. Preaching in St. Paul's pro-Cathedral" at matins on Sunday Bishop Nevill vigorously denounced the commercial morality at present practised by unscrupulous persons in various parts of the world. Systems of fraud, he said, were so continually being brought under public noticp, on account of the prime movers overreaching themselves in their efforts to amass wealth, that this unsatisfactory state of affairs, through being so common, almost ceased to excite surprise. The preacher declared that these evils were brought about through a declension from ChrisHanifcy, and that it was the duty of faithful laymen to assist the ministers of the church to rein*' ate into the minds of tho°e who had fallen into error tho glorious truths of the Gospal. , At the oloae of the Rev. Mr Ready's meeting at the Garrison Hall on Sunday evening the following resolution was carried :—": — " This meeting, representing 2000 persons, desires to thank Alnvghty God that Sir Robert Stout's License BUI b.BS passed the second reading and earnestly pray the Government to make it law as speedily as possible." The Lake County Press has the authority of the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach for stating that he will be a candidate for the Wakatipu seat at the general eleotion.' The New Zealand Times states that by the flee whioh occurred at Major Sommerville's house, Wau«anui, some fow weeks ago, the reoords of tto New Zealand Rifle Association up to 1891 and the records of the National Rifle Association of England, from the first meeting in 1860 opened by the Queen up to 1891, were destroyed. > We have received Parts V, VI, and VII of the «' Manual of the New Zealand Coleoptera," by Captain Thomas Brown, published by the Oovoruora of the New Zealand Institute. In Parts I to IV (published between 1880 and 1886) no less than 1756 species were described. In the present volume 836 new species are added, making the total number of New Zealand beetles known to science 2592. The author believes over 700 species still remain undescribed. During the passage of the barque Examiner, which arrived at Sydney on tho 27th July from Kaipara, a small bird made its appearance on declf with a piece of linen tied around its neck,

upon which was written the following :-* " Vapeur (steamer) Fiado, July 21, 1893, lafc' 29deg, long. 154deg 18min, east, Crßouret, Noumea via Australia." The Fiado arrived ab Newcastle from Noumea, and left again foe New Caledonia. The bird flew on tha Examiner's deck on the 22nd ult., in lat. 34deg 3min south, long. 159deg 21min east, and musti therefore have travelled several hundred miles in the 24 hours. The bird was not detained oh board the barque, being set free soon after tha message, which Captain Johnson of the barque} has in his possession, had been taken from it. Mr^ Goschen, as president of the British; Economic Association, recently delivered- an address in which lie contended they mustt restore political economy to its proper place. Economy had been described not only as tha science of wealth, but as the science of tha wealthy. He denied, however, that it was to be cried down as a non-moral science, believing as he did that economics and ethics could work hand in hand, and that the contradiction was fanciful and not real. Nowadays nobody said' that the market was to fix the price of wages. They were to be fair wages and jusb wages, but who was to fix the standard and say what was fair and jast P Tha standard was to be fixed by ethical con-« siderations. In the circumstances the duty of economists waa of 'national importance. They must not be shouted down, but thoy musfc issue a warning against a contemporary egotism which might ruin the next generation. Tha trade unions movement, so far as both skilled and unskilled labour was concerned, was originally based upon altruism, but had developed into corporate egotism, and men had shut the door to others pressing on their heels. If hypo* thetical economic man was a monster, .he feared ethical man was an angel who would not walk on this terrestrial globe. If economics had been banished, let them be recalled, to be tho wise counsellor and adviser of the ethical school. It was the duty of economists to check the rush of the impatient, the gush of, tha emotionalist, and the quackery of the impostor. No fewer than 10 ladies have passed the examination for the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos. Two are Wranglers, and one— Miss Johnson, of Newnham— stands between five and six on the list. Her companion, Miss Stoney, stands equal to No. 17. All the others, with, two exceptions, hold rank with the Senior Optimes. Miss Johnson, like Miss Fawcett, who beat the Senior Wrangler in 1890, was born at Cambridge. Her brother was fifth Wrangler some years ago. These successes have once again raised the question : Blow much longer will the universities refuse to> admit women to the degrees they have earned ? A parliamentary paper shows that during tha years 1884-1892, inclusive, 256 persons werer sentenced to death for murder in England and Wales. Of these 145 were executed ; one waa pardoned; in 95 cases the sentence was commuted to one of penal servitude for life ; eight! were removed to Broadmoor, having been certified to be insane ; and seven prisoners were let off with minor terms of penal servitude, or hard labour or imprisonment. Thirty o£ the murderers were of or under the age of 2L years. In 49 cases the victims were children under the age of 12. There were 22 cases ia which young women murdered their illegitimate) children. Great interest has been aroused in Vienna by some remarkable experiments in hypnotism and suggestion which a'Vienna professor of psycho-* logy, Professor Kraffb Ebing, on 14th June, carried out before a meeting of psychological experts, with the object of showing that it is possible by hypnotic suggestion to transfer persons into a former period of- their lives, their mental condition at the same time undergoing a corresponding change, and that while ia this state nothing is lost to their memories which cannot by suitable influence be recalled. The subject of the experiments was a woman, 33 years of age. Baron Krafffc Ebing hypnotised her, and transferred her successfully back to the ages of 7, 15, and 19, restoring her after each experiment to her normal condition. la every case she behaved, spoke, and wrote in a. way corresponding to the age which she imagined herself to be. The experiments were received by the other doctors with much, scepticism. They did riot consider that Baron Ebing's theory had been proved, and thought: that the experiments shown did not exclude tha . possibility of deception. ' Mr Furniss writes in the Yorkshire Weekly p os t . — « The moßt tragic event I have heard of in connection with Derby sweepstakes happened to a member of a military club, who was a> popular man about town, but exceedingly poor. For years he had entered the sweep, with tha chance of drawing several hundceds of pounds, but he got so accustomed to his ill luck that ho never troubled to see what he had' drawn, taking it as a matter of course that it was a blank. On coming into the club the day after the Derby he was handed an envelope. Was ifc from some dun in reference to his debts, tho worry of his existence ? A cheque fell out, and he saw thab he had drawn the winner of tho Derby. Poor fellow— he fell down dead on the spot!" Politics and labour disputes figured more or less in a discussion at the meeting of the Cavefsham, School Committee oa Monday evening. Th& question under discussion was as to th'elrind of copy book to be introduced into the school, and specimens of the work of Mpssrs Whitcombe and Tombs and another local firm were laid on the table. Mr Rutherford, the chairman, gave ib as his opinion that the models of writing: provided in Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs's books were the better of the two, and should be adopted! This roused Mr Morrison, who brought up the charges against the firm which were to have been the means three years ago of "stopping woik from Auckland to the Bluff. 1 ' Members did 1 ot seem to realise that the .whole thing is dead and buried. The Chairman made some reference to. a "clique of .politicians," but was promptly pulled up by Mr Williams, and afterwards apologised.. After a lively discussion a resolution was moved to leave the matter in the bands of the head master to select any booka he chose save j;hose published by the obnoxious firm. This was withdrawn, and the matter was left .with the head master. The Postmaster-gensral opened the new post office at Invercargill on Monday. The weather was fine and the turn-out large. The Garrison and City Bands were in attendance. The Hon. Mr Ward, in congratulating the citizens on the increased facilities now given them, said that the extension had been required not only to meet increasing lecal business, but to keep pace with the work of distributing foreign mails: outward and inward, the sorting 'of which had frequently been done locally.- The annual revenue 19 years ago was £2360 and the expenditure £2046 ; last year's receipts amounted to £17,600 and the expenditure was £6100. Mr Ward i 3 expected to reach Dunedin this evening on his way to Wellington. A meeting in connection with ths Wesleyaa missions was held in Ihe Wesleyan Church, Roslyn, on Monday evening, the weather pre-< venting a large attendance. Mr AJlnutfc occupied the chair, and an address wa<<j

given by the Rev. W. C. Oliver, in whibhbe referred to the fact that thwr were some things thab the Divine i M alone could accomplish, and some things" thafwe could do in connection with Him. The home mission fund was one means by which an could assist in spreading the Gospel. He spoke of the missions in Roxburgh, Tapanui, PalmerBton and the Peninsula, and of these the firßt was entirely self-supporting. To Tapanui and Palmerston they only gave £20, and the work in the Peninsula, where the mission was only formed about six monbhs ago, had prospered abundantly. Mr Rodda also addressed those present. Tfhe mission work, he considered, must emanate from the larga centres, and they must never forget bhe pioneer settlers, who had been too often ignored. It was for the town to increase the boiler power, and not forget the country, which had such great claims upon them. The ReV. J. T. Pinfold, who also addressed the meeting, moved a vote of thanks to the speakers,' which was seconded by Mr C. Taylor and carried by adclamstteta. Dr Fitch'ett will preside at tfie eererßotry next week at which students from the University of O'ta'gb will be presented for the diplomas of the degrees 6'onferred upon them at' the lasb aftauaf examinations' of *he New Zealand University. Thirteen members of the ambulande cfa'ss instructed by Dr Cunninghame ab Port Chalmers were examined for first aid certificates by Dr Hendry. The examination (which was written, oral, and practical) lasted two evenings, and resulted in all the candidates passing. Messrs W. Heir, A. Bauchop, J. Oonnell, A Bell, T Gordon, J. M. Cameron, R. P. M'Kay, A. M'Kinnon, J. Watson, A. Millar, H. MoLtgomery, A. Cable, and M. Miller will receive certificates in due course. The Nelson Evening Mail says : — " The Honourable Erskine Thomas Erskine, after a prolonged and painful illneFß, died at his residence, Springfield, Wakapuaka, last night, 3lst of July, at the advanced Bge of 86 years. Deceased was the son of the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Ernkine, erstwhile Lord Chancellor of.' England and an illustrious lawyer. At an early sge he entered into the service of the Hon. East India Company's Native Infantry (63rd Regiment), from which he retired as major invalided about 40 yearn ago. He arrived in Nelson by the John Bunyarl in 1870, and has since lived in perfect retirement. Ever respected and admired by his military comrades in India, and of gentle and courteous manner, he was equally esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance here." Mr John Williams, receiver of land revenue in the Canterbury district, and one of the pilgrims, died on Saturday morning, at the age of 59 years. He leaves a widow and five children. In connection with the Cadman-Rees contest a reply made by the Danevirke branch of the Knights of Labour to a telegram from Auckland that Mr Cadman's connection with the Umuataroa blcck was everything that was honest and just was telegraphed all over the colony., The Woodville Examiner is informed on good authority thab bhere has been no meeting of the Danevirke assembly, so thab certain oflicers would appear bo have taken this action on their own responsibility. "Wine: Its Use and Abuse," is the title of a pamphlet by the Rev. A. Chodowski, minister of the Canterbury Hebrew congregation! which is just to hand. Some time ago a controversy appeared in the Chrtetchurch Press on the subject of the use Of wines referred to in the Bible, in which Mr Phodowski took part. Ab the request of friends ih has been induced -to place at the fervice of the public, in a mote exhaustive form, the information he bheti gave. The author says he has endeavoured to Shaw that the wines of the Bible were fermenved and intoxicating ; thab their presence was spoked upon as a blessing and their absence as a curse ; thab wine was commanded to be used in making sacrifices ; thab its use Was approved even by God Himself, and only its abuse condemned. He has also endeavoured to show thab there is in the Bible no command or advice which can be construed into an authority for prohibiting the use of wine, but, on the other hand, that moderation in the use of all God's gifts ib stricbly enjoined. The law of God, he argues, does nob destroy independence, and if moderation in the use of both food and drink is inculcated in the young more good will be accomplished than by any Byßtem of total prohibition. Mr Chodowski declares from his personal experience thab the people of New Zealand are more sobtr than those _of other countries he has visited, and that it is a wellknown faob thab the rising generation in this colony, who are beiDg well educated, are growing up to be more sober than their eiders in many instance;. Regarding bhe Government pension which he has returned, Tawhaio publishes the following statement in his newspaper, Te Paki to Matariki, or the Pleiades :— "Listen to me the nations ! Re Government pension, which I received from Mr Cadman and G. Wilkinson while in Auckland. These are some of the words in ruy lefcter bo the Government .- To the Government, I know now their work is a huu (pitfall) for me. Now I will nob have anything jmore to do with thab money (pension) after this. This is another word of mine : Hear ye the nations! Ib was nob thab I wanted bhe money that I agreed to the said pension, but that I might know bhe Governmenb idea towards me and my Maori nations on this Island Aotcaroa and the Waiponamu. Now the nations,' this is my lasb word to this Government pension. No w I have returned the money back to ,the Government, £56 6s, on the 25th May last, with the interest, amounting bo £58 all told. \ Enough of words. Salutations to you all the nations '.—King Tawhiao. The King's Council, Maungakawa, July 25, 1893." The extension of the Westporb-Ngakawau railway to Mokibinui WBS vested in the Railway Commissioners on Tuesday. The line is seven miles 12 chains in length. The inspector for the Nelson Education District is a- strong disbeliever in home-lesson work. -At -a recent meeting of the board, referring to a letter on the subject sent in by a Lyell psfrent, he said that no teacher had any right to enforce home lessons. He did nobbelieve in them. A test case had been tried in England, and a teacher who had punished a child fpr not learning home lessons had been himself severely punished by bhe judge. He wished it, to be as widely known as possible that there was no law to enforce home lessons. The practice of giving home lessons was a very pernicious one, and ib had grown to such an extent that a strong hand ought to be put on ib. He believed ib would be a good thing for the board bo interfere and absolutely forbid teachers giving home lessons. The Bame parent desired to know whether a teacher was empowered to whip a whole classf ul of children to ensure an offender bejog punished. It was decided to refer; this part of the letter to the local committee. During the discussion, however, it was mentioned that in snite of the law of the board some .teachers persisted in caning children on the hand, and one of the members, Mp

L^ - ■'-■ Mil > ■' ii Phillips, 6aid that if a case of this nature came before the board he would! move that the. master be at once discharged. The Rev. Mr Isitt, in the City Hall, Auck■fand'y on Tuesday night speaking on the d*eofc veto, said it was no use looking to the&f politicians. They would nob give their 2elp until they w could be convinced that Vbkibition would carry more votes than tfi*' liquor traffic. He asked them to look etf the attitude that the Premier had taken with Jtspect to this question. He had stated putafefy that when this question of the direct veto came before the House, he as a Liberal, would vote for the people faaViog the powur of controlling the liquor traffic Mr ißitb remarked that he believed when the question «ame before the House he wosd vote for it, but he, believed bhat if Mr Seddoi: could put aapoke mthcwheel he would nub ib there. Mr Isitt said h&was delighted wtth tbe majority that carried Sir Robert SKSt'SU, bib if they thought that the ProhiSS v£X ~«e «* ° f th « wood bhey were SakeT It was only by taking up a determned attitude and refusing to give their XrcrtnneW, the support of the members was gSio rSSn. they could hope to achieve The ordinary hh *eting of the Ofcago Institute im i v,pM on Tnk da y evening. Dr. Hocken large # """*»,.«„- various branches of dissecting the specimens; wh ve^yaruras pares being many times enlarged, st s J^ k Zlt easily follow the descriptions .«d explanabions given by the lecturer. Then aga «» m * he ,E y of botany specimens were nob a>»ys obtainable, and the difficulty thus raised by the use of the models. The «emW«*" r Parker were listened to with every and on conclusion he resnmed his seat*£B»asß applause. It may be mentioned th »* «» models were obtained by Dr Parker i u«g many, the makers being Osterloh (of Le ip»ie) and Brendel (of Berlin). Our Outram correspondent writes that ° n Arbor Day a number of trees were planted i n the Domain reserve by members of bhe Domain Board, the school committee, tbe pupils and teachers of the Outram School, and. a few othei a (including the Rev. Mr Kirkland). The pupils nominated 12 boys and 12 girls as a Vigilance Committee to acb with Miss Dale and Mr White. Among the treeß planted were four dozen nut trees. Our Palmerston correspondent states that the school children, after being assembled in the Town Hall, marched to the school grounds, where 200 trees were planted. The Mataura Ensign says it is understood a commissioner representing the debenftUtS* holders in the New Zealand Agricultural Cfem--pany will shortly arrive in New Zealand aftd' have a conference with Mr H. S. Valentine, tl»' general manager, regarding future action.- It V is hinted thab a possible outcome may be the I cutting up of the Agricultural Company's estate. A public meeting, convened by the Women's Franchise League, was held in the Choral Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance, the hall being crowded to the doors, and of those present a considerable proportion wereladies. The following resolutions were carried :—" That this meetiDg protests against the injustice of excluding onehalf of the adult population of the colony from all share in making M Jaws." •■ The question of womanhood Buffrtfp having been before the country for many years, and the principle having been admitted by bobf* Houses lasb session, when the Electoral Bill passed its second reading in the Legislative Council, this meeting calls upon the Government to pass the Electoral Bill in time to enable women to vote at the next general election." " That this meeting thanks the Government for making the question of the woman's franchise a portion of their Electoral Bill, and urges them to impreus on bhe Legislative Council the necessity of passing this bill ab once, so thab women may no longer be debarred from exercising their political rights." " That copies of the resolutions carried so enthusiastically in this meeting be forwarded to Sir John Hall, the Premier, Sir Robert Stout, and the members for the city." The Hon. W. D. Stewart said he thought that a great many of the remarks of .those who had spoken had been somewhat- misdirected. He believed in both branches e£ bhe Legislature the question of the woman's franchise was an accepted fact.— (Applause.) The only question, and the one to which attention should have been more directed, was w&en. could it come into operation. ,If it wp granted, and it was to come inbo operatssa this session, then they would have a vote wilih out any delay whatever. But whab they had tx> contend with, and which he intended to fight against, was postponement until next Parlia-, menb.— (Hear, hear.) The question of the woman's franchise had been discussed adnauseam; and there was a growing feeling thab the time had now arrived for action* aufl what was wanted was really to have it on tie Statute Book, and so give women the option of going to