LOOAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 17 August 1893, Page 15

LOOAL & GENERAL.

In connection with the change of the date for despatch of the San Francisco mails from London, it has now been definitely arranged that the mail advertised to leave Londcn on September 2 shall not leave until September 9. As a result of the change the mail will reach the colony on October 12, instead of sth, as now advertised. All subsequent mails will leave London and anive in the colony a week later than at present. There will be no change in the despatch from this end.

The details of a case in which two men named respectively John Hunter and John Burke were charged with conspiring to obtain "by false pretences and subtle devices" — in other words by what is known as "the confidence trick"— the sum of £4- 10s from a lad named Jones, afforded a considerable amount of amusement to a large crowd of listeners in the Police Court on Thursday morning. The victim of misplaced confidence, a* youth of about 17 years of age, is, judging from his own story, as guileless and innocent an individual as probably ever fell into the hands of designing spielers. Arriving in town on the previous Monday with about £10 in his-posaession, he allowed himself to be relieved, within a very Bhort period, of nearly half of his money by two men whom he had never seen before in his life— one representing himself to be a Southland runholder, and the other to be the runholder's uncle and the owner of considerable property iv town. The process by which the hardearned money of the country lad was extracted from him was by throwing dice for stakes at first of half a sovereign and then of a pound, the dice that were used being evidently provided by the confederates, and on each occasion the so-called uncle was tho winner. The evidence in the case occupied a considerable time, and at its conclusion the accused were committed for trial.

The Grey Valley Coal Company have refused to accept the offer of the Government for a £ for £ subsidy on the amount expended by the company in laying down a tramway to connect a 28-acre block at the back of Westport with the company's coalscreens, on the grounds thit the Government intend to increase royalties in 1894.

A barrister and solicitor, whose eccentric conduct has earned for him a considerable degree of notoriety during the past few weeks, Ml into tho olutchts of the police at an early hour on Thursday, and was charged in the forenoon, before the Resident Magistrate, with having been drunk and disorderly. From the disreputable ' appearance presented by the accused in tho dock, one would have been justified in supposing that he had been grovelling in the gutters, tor his clothing was thickly crusted with mud, and there was a general look of untidiness about him such as the most regular cf the occupants of the police cells might, have envied. Upon the case against him being called, tbe accused, remembering that a similar application had been favourably considered by the justices of the peace on his previous appearance in the dock, requested permission to take his place at the solicitors' table, saying that as a barrister of the Supreme Court he had a right to conduct his case there. Mr Carew replied, however, that the accused was in court, not as a barrister of the Supreme Court, but as a person charged with an- offence against the law. The accused next desired leave to be admitted to bail on his own recognisances to enable him to procure witnesses to prove his sobriety, but, being informed that he would require to pay the recognisance fee, he said that as life was short he had better plead guilty, but ho added he had no money, and that if he was fined he would have to " take it out." Disregarding this appeal, the magistrate inflicted a small fine, with the usual alternative, but, on the representation of the accused that he had a considerable sum to receive from a well-known legal firm in town, he was granted a week's^time in which to pay the penalty.

In bringing his course of lectures on health to a close at St. Paul's Schoolroom on Thursday, Dr Ogston said there was no possibility of doing hygienic work in New Zealand, because all the sanitary inspectors had an insecure tenure of office. Every officer, he said, was appointed by the local bodies, and when he became a little troublesome and advocated some expense, as was necessary, or advocated a change in the law, it was a common thing for him' to be turned away. Until this was altered, the health officer was a superfluity and an absurdity, and so also was the sanitary inspector. The laws in Dunedin were chaotic and imperfect, and the place lagged behind every other town in the kingdom ; but it was nobody's duty to correct the existing state of things, and day after day houses were being put up which were imperfectly built and imperfectly drained. Dr Ogston entertains no hopes that the conditions which he described will be improved until a law is passed requiring every house to be built and drained according to a certain well-defiaed plan.

Owing to the large number of patients at present in the Dunedin Hospital, it has been found necessary to utilise the new pavilion for the accommodation of some of tbe cases, and consequently the conversazione, wi£h which it was in contemplation to open that addition to the hospital buildings, has been abandoned.

Many instances of bravery are given in "Where Three Empires Meet," by Mr E. F. Knight. One of these refers to the taking of Nilt Fort, Kashmir. Under cover of flee 100 of the sth Goorkhai, led by Lieutenants Boisragon and Badcock, made a ru-h at the outer wall, and began to cut their way through theabattjs with their kuhris,the garrison the while firing it steadily into them. A small opening having thus been made, the three officers, closely followed by about half a dozen men, pushed their way through it. They then made for tho wooden gate of the outer wall, which they soon hacked to pieces. They now found themselves in front of the main wall, and while his companions fired into the loopholes — tho officers using their revolvers — Captain Aylmer, accompanied -by his Pathan orderly, rushed forward to the foot of the main gate, which was strongly built and had been barricaded within with stones. The enemy concentrated their fire on this gallant little band. Captain Aylmer placed his slab 3of guncotton at the foot of the gate, packed them with stones, and ignited the fuse, all the while being exposed to the fire from the towers which flanked the gate as well as from some loopholes in the gate itself. He wa3 shot in the leg from so short a distance that his clothes and flesh were burnt by the gunpowder. He, and his orderly then followed the wall of the foit to a safe distance. But there came no explosion, for the fuse was a faulty one, so Captain Aylmer relumed to the gate, readjusted the fuse, cut it with his knife, lit a match after two or three attempts, and re-ignited the fuse. While doing this ho received another wound, his hand being terribly crushed by a stone that was thrown from the battlements. This time a lerriblo explosion followed, and at once, before even the dust had cleared or the stones had ceased dropping from the

crumbling walls, the three British officers, with the six men at their back, clambered through the breach and were within their fort. No wonder that the Puniali rajah who witnessed the capture of the fort raised his hands and cried, "This is the fighting of giants, net men ! "

A meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held on the 29fcb, at which there were preßent : Messrs Walter Gow (vicepresident, in the chair), J. T. Mackerras, J. M. Gallaway, P. R. Sargood, and A. S. Paterson. In response to inquiries from the Invercargill Chamber, it was resolved that, while the committee see no objection to the branding of frozen mutton, as the trade here is averse to the branding of every joint, no action be taken in the matter. With reference to the proposed institute of accountants, it was resolved— on the recommendation of the Dunedin accountants — that Mr Peter Barr be appointed as a delegate to represent the profession at the conference in Wellington the 16th inst., in place of Mr Wm. Brown, who is unable to act ; and that Mr Henry Rose be requested to act as a delegate from the chamber. It was further resolved to intimate to the Wellington Chamber that the voting power at the conference should be equal bb regards the four large centres, and that provision should be made to give proportionate voting power to Napier.

The results of the St. John Ambulance examination of Dr Will's students, recently conducted at the Fire Brigade Station by Dr Fulton, are now to hand, and show that out of 41 candidates who presented themselves for written, oral, and practical tests, 37 have satisfied the examiner as being entitled to certificates. Dr Fulton in his report says, inter alia : — •' Many of the papers were excellent. I adopted a severe system of marking, and must compliment the men and their teacher for the excellent results 6hown." Following are the names of successful candidates in order of merit :— Messrs W. A. Stout, J. G. Paterson, G. P. Austing, W. Wurr, J. T. Warburton, A. Sharp, B. Falck, H. B Austing; J. Miller, H. L. Sprosen, W. H. Jeffreys, F. Shaw, D. Mathews, J. C. Wedderspoon, W. D. Main, C. T. Falconer, E. Sincock, C. Beadle, J. Osborne, G. M. Campbell, R. R. Campbell, E. Gunton, R. Whtaon, W. Crawford, D. M. Miller, H. F. Heycock, R. Sutherland, R. Garrow, J. E. Bone, H. Bryant, P. Dick, J. Beadle, W. Renton, T. Gabbins, M. Ccrmack, A. M'Gill, and C. Mitchell. The first five passed with first-class houours, the next 15 obtained secondclass, while following 10 came off with thirdclass. Messrs Stout, Austing, and Paterson are complimented for the excellence of their papers ; Messrs Cormack and Mathews are entitled to honourable mention for their practical knowledge. The above-mentioned members are requested to meet the secretary at 7 o'clock this evening in the Fire Brigade Station.

The only land disposed of during the past week was run 223f, Tiger Hill district, selected by Alexander Kinney, at 5d per acre.

The weekly meeting of the Dunedin Parliamentary Union, held in the Chamber of Commerce on Friday night, was very largely attended, Mr R. H. Leary (Speaker) being in the chair. The debate on Mr Cohen's motion, to the effect that the management of State railways should remain free from political control, was resumed, and resulted in the motion being carried on the voices. Mr J. W. Jago then moved and spoke in support of the following motion: — "That in the opinion of the House the time has come for the enactment of a law conferring power on the people to veto the traffic in intoxicating beverages in their respective districts." Mr J. B. Callan spoke against the motion, contending that experience showed that the attempts to prohibit the sale of liquor produced those evils which the temperance party sought to eradicate. The speeches of both speakers were exceedingly interesting, and the House allowed both an extension of time, the debate being eventually adjourned.

At the City Police Court on Friday P. B. O'Reilly, the eccentric barrister who has figured rather frequently of late in the law courts, was again brought up, charged with being drunk, with destroying property, and with attempting to set fire to the North Dunedin police station. On the application of the police he was remanded for medical examination.

Once upon a time Mr Bracken delighted the r House of Representatives by singing a song, and a somewhat similar incident excited much amusement in the House of Commons. Mr Campbell-Bannerman, in replying to a question as to why the Coldstream Guards Band was not allowed to play " Rouse ye, Ulster ! " said he himself had no knowledge of the song, but the officer commanding the regiment had forbidden it as it had a political significance. Mr W. Johnston excited uproarious laughter, and cries of "Sing it," and " Encore," by recitiDg, with much elocutionary gesticulation, the chorus of "Rouse ye, Ulster!" to let tbe Secretary for War know what a loyal song it was.

The Southern Standard learns on excellent authority that Mr Robert M'Nab, barrister, of luvercargill, has definitely decided to become a candidate for the Mataura seat.

Dr Dslaney, of Ballarat, has been appointed coadjutor-bishop to Archbishop Murphy, of Hobart. Dr Delaney is at present private secretary to Bishop Moore, of Ballarat.

The Very Rev. Dean Jacobs), of Christchurch, is about to publish an historical poem descriptive of tho rise and growth of Christianity ia these islands. The space comprised lies between the savage days of Ruatara and the first visit of the apostolic Samuel Marsden down to the settlement of Episcopal Canterbury in 1851, with which the accomplished dean has been connected from its earliest days. Issuing from the hands it does, the poem must prove of rare interest and merit, and we shall take the earliest opportunity of noticing ibs contents.

Mr W. Roberts (editor of the " Bookworm"), in an article on " Rare Books and their Prices," says it is one of the special virtues of book collectors that they never read their editiones pi'incepes and other Biblical gems ; if they did there would be no fine or spotless copies of anything in the market. Reading first editions, indeed, is in the eyes of the collector a more heinous tin than manufacturing pipelights out of tha leaves of the Bible. A» to the prices of rare books, Mr Roberts informs us that a magnificent copy on paper of the Mazarine Bible, printed by Guteuberg and Fust (1450-55), not so loDg ago realised at a sale £3900, and in 1889 the " Hopatoun" copy, slightly damaged, sold for £2000. The highest sum, however, ever paid for a single book was £4950 for a copy of the " Psalmorum Codex," printed by Fust and Schorffer in 1459.

The oldest industry in Great Britain— older it could hardly be, for its existence has been traced back to the pre-historic 6tone age— is still being carried on at the village of Brandon, on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, and is reported to be in a flourishing condition. It is a manufactory of gun and tinder-box flints. From an interesting account of it in the first number of the "Illustrated Archreologist "— a

new and remarkably haDdsome quarterly review, edited by Mr Romilly Alien, and published by Mr C. J. Clarke — it appears that there is no regular flint factory, but the work is done in little sheds, often at the back of the townsfolk's cottages. It will naturaUy be asked who wants tinder-box flints and gun flints in these days of phosphorus matches and Martini - Henrys ? The answer to the first question is that there is a good trade in tinder-box flints with Spain and Italy, where the tinder-box still keeps its ground in very rural districts. Travellers in uncivilised regions, moreover, find flint and steel moire trustworthy than matches, which are useless after they have absorbed moisture. Gun flints, on the other hand, go mostly to the wild parts of Africa, where our old friend " Brown Bess," sold by auction long ago for what flint muskets would fetch, has found, it seems, her last ref age.

The bill which has just passed the Ontario Legislature • (says the Daily Chronicle) is a comprehensive enactment for the better protection of children, and is based upon the principle that " every child born in the country has its own rights as a citizen which its parents cannot alienate." Each city is made responsible to the Provincial Government for the welfare of its waifs and strays, and of the children of dissolute parents. Thus children may, upon proven charges, be removed from parental control, and among the provisions is one for the removal from the streets at 9 o'clock each night of children not in charge of proper guardians. As laid before the Assembly, the bill suggested the appointment of a children's visitiDg committee in each oity, composed of three men and three women, selected by the county judge, the sheriff, and the member of the Legislature, but it was pointed out that this clause would place extensive detective powers in the hands of an irresponsible body.

The fact of large families being uncommon in France is well known, but that there should be a prejudice against them is surprising. A Home paper states that the father of a family of four children, and a highly respectable man, M. Lacroix, finds it absolutely impossible to obtain apartments near his place of business at Saint Mande, near Paris. At several places he was received by concierges with civility, until he ventured to say that he had a rather large family, when the door was promptly shut upon him. Going a little farther out of town, to Vincenncs, he managed, as ho thought, to secure a placo, and actually paid the denier & Dim,' or blackmail, levied by concierges on new tenants. On presenting himself, however,'with his four children he was politely but firmly told that the bargain must be declared off. Fortunately M. Lacroix is a man of resource. The Forest of Vincennes is close at hand, and there he has erected a huge tent, divided into separate apartments by means of curtains. _ For the present he declares his new abode is a delightful one, for the weather in Paris is particularly fine. Meanwhile he is taking legal proceedings against the owner of the house in which he took the lodgings.

A meeting was held in the Baptist Hall, Green Island, on Saturday night, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a branch of the Oaversham Electoral Liberal League. There were about 40 persons present, including several members of the Caversham League. Mr A. Lee Smith, who was voted to the chait (which he consented to take as no one else could be got to occupy it), said he would have preferred not to be in the position in which he was placed, because it was possible he might be a candidate at the next election. The meeting was addressed by the following members of the Caversham League: Messrs R. Rutherford (president), Hatton, Morrison, Burgess, and C. Williams, all of whom referred to the necessity of Liberals organising with the view of securing at the general election the return to Parliament of such candidates as will best represent their interests. A number of the local residents were invited to express their views with regard to the object for which the meeting had been called, but as none of them would do so, Mr Williams," in order to test the feeling of the meeting, moved to the effect that it was advisable that a branch of the Caversham Electoral Liberal League should be established in the district. The motion was seconded by Mr ftatton, and declared carried, but only eight, persons in the hall voted. Mr Buckland subsequently offered to act temporarily in the capacity of secretary, with the object of taking down the names of those who were willing to become- members of the league, but he met with'very little encouragement, only two persons giving him their names. It was therefore deemed useless to take any further action ; and after the suggestion had been thrown out that the local residents should dp what they could to form a league themselves the meeting terminated.

The pigeon flying match in connection with the Dunedin Fanciers' Club Show was held on Saturday. Three birds were liberated at Timaru, and' the winner was Mr Howrth's Bluebell, which arrived at 3.14- p.m., eleven minutes before Mr H. G. Williams's Rushlight.

The North. Otago Times says :— " We believe that 10,000 frozan sheep are to be railed from Oamaru to Port Chalmers, for the Ruahine, in a ehort'time. This ccsts the Refrigerating Company 15s a ton, and such charges as this, the company say, are what compels them to put on' the impost of id per sheep, to which so much exception is taken."

There was a clean sheet at the City Police CoucVon Saturday morning.

There is a deadlock in municipal affaire m O-Auiaru. Tho mayor, it appears, recently stated that but for the obstruction of the council clean water would have been secured some time ago. On being challenged at the meeting of the council the mayor repeated the statement, and the meeting came to a close in utter disorder. At the meeting last week the major declined to withdraw the statement, and a motion was made to suspend the standing orders. The mayor held that the ordinary business should be first proceeded with, and refused to put the motion. Moßt of the councillors thereupon left the meeting, which therefore came to an abrupt termination. ' A meeting has been convened of canary and pigeon fanciers to discuss a proposal to form a club for the advancement and watching the interests of these sections of the fancy. The proposed club is to be in no way antagonistic to the present Fanciers' Club. One of the greatest benefits looked for ie the education of judges to correctly interpret the standards to which members now breed.

At a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society the Post states that Mr Hudson, who read an interesting paper on "The Value of New Zealand Biological Collections," expressed the opinion that the Government did not sufficiently encourage collectors,, whose heavy expenses in the field had to bo borne Bolely by themselves. Mr E. Tregear read a paper on "Old Maori Civilisation." His contention wa3 that ages ago the Polynesian Maoris possessed a much higher form of civilisation than they now enjoy.- The decadence perhaps was partially duo to their having emigrated to these islands, and in the case of tho Polynesian islanders to

the self indulgence induced by the tropical climate. The custom of tattooing, which prevailed more or less amongst all South Sea islanders, was, he believed, a remnant of the lost art of writing amongst those races. The word "tattoo" pointed to this conjecture of his, inasmuch as the first syllable, " tat," signifies throughout the islands "to tap," "to point out," and in some cases "to write."

The Wellington Press of the 29bh ult. records the death of Mr F. W. H. Brine, senior booking clerk in the Wellington and Manawatu Company's office, and formerly in the employ of the New Zealand Railway department, and well known in the Oamaru, Gore, and Blueskin districts. Deceased, who was 29 years of age, was a native of Darjeeling, India, his father (at present residing near Auckland) being an Indian army officer at the time young Brine was born.

Reviewing the remarkable falling off in the value ■ of exports from Oamaru, the North Otago Times considers the three years of drought experienced crippled the productive resources of the district. The exports have steadily fallen from £504,350 in 1889-90 to £276,543 in 1892-93, a decrease which exports coastwise, or the railing of produce north and south, will not account for. The potatogrowing industry has collapsed, the area under crop having fallen from 4000 acres to 1100.

There was very little of pomp and circumstance in the annexation of the Solomon Islands, (says the Bundaberg Mail). A naked savage handed i the proclamation to the commander of tha labour schooner Lochiel, and the flag that had braved the battle and the breeze floating proudly aloft explained the rest. By-the-bye, the flag was not allowed to float proudly continuously, for when one of the officials belonging to the Lochiel went on shore one evening he found the flag lowered. On inquiring of the chief where it was, that worthy took him into a hut, where it was seen that the flag had been converted into a coverlet, being used to enwrap the slumbering forms of two chief tainesses.

A remarkable natural phenomenon (writes a correspondent of the North China Daily News) was witnessed at Nanking on the night of the 13th May, at 10.30, when the inhabitants living in the vicinity of the Viceroy's yauien'viete visited by a hailstorm, the average size of the hail being that of " a chicken's egg." The hail was of a pink colour and had an offensive odour. It hailed for over an hour, and was observed to fall only within a radius of 300 square yards from the Vice-regal yamen. No other spot beyond this area was visited by the hailstones. The superstitious Chinese think that the blood of the innocents shed in the Kola Hui trialß has risen up to heaven, and that this is a warning to the judges.

The divorce record may yet be attained by Mrs Frank Leslie Wilde, the American woman journalist, who out of four times married has divorced herself three times. Her maiden name was Miriam Florence Folleine. She was born in the French quarter of New Orleans, of Huguenot parents. She married in 1854 David Charles Peacock. In a few years Bhe obtained a divorce, and in 1863 became the wife of Ephraim George Squire, editor, writer, and diplomatist. She also secured a' divorce from him, and not long afterwards married Frank Leslie, the publisher, in whose employ her husband, Squire, had been. Mr Leslie died in 1880. She then married Mr William C. KingE* bury-Wilde, on the evening of October 4, 1891. The announcement of the wedding caused quite a flutter, and Mrs Leslie- Wilde, in telling how it happened that she made up her mind inside of two days to marry him, said it was because she loved him— for his mother. This was Mrs Wilde's fourth matrimonial venture. She may marry again, but the marriage of Wilde is prohibited during her life. The re-marri»ge bf the couple is not prohibited.

If the report of the Sydney Night Shelter and Soup Kitchen Society can be taken as an indication, the distress, in Sydney is not so great as in former years. During the past year 60,039 meals were given, and the applications for shelter granted numbered 25,307. The figures for 1889 were :— Meals, 105,247 ; shelter, 41,621. The society has been in existence for eight years.

A good story appears in the Licensing World about an English conjurer who was performing before a rough-and-ready audience in one of the " prohibition " States of America. "I am now about to undertake a feat," he said, "in which I shall require the use of a pint flask o£ whisky." There was a dead silence. " Will some gent in the audience favour me with a pint flask of whisky ?" There was no response, and the conjurer began to look • blank. "Surely," he said, "in a south-eastern prohibition town I ought not to have to ask a second time for such a thing. I give you my word I will return it uninjured. Is there no " "Stranger," said a tall/ gaunt man, as he rose slowly from a front seat, " wouldn't a quart flask do just as well?" "Why, certainly; I mere ly » But before he could finish, the generous, open-handed audience had risen like one man, and was on the way to the platform n a body. / The Southland News of. the 12th says :— " It appears that the most stringent conditions are now attached to the expenditure by local bodies of what are known as 'thirds' accruing from deferred payment lands for improving roads, &c The subject was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Southland County Council, it having been brought under notice by a communication from the Lands department. One councillor said the restrictions to be imposed showed that the Government had a want of confidence in the council in the matter of expending moneys as intended by the _ act ; another was of opinion that the new conditions were sought to be enforced owing to alleged transference of these funds by a certain county council from the specific kind of work the act contemplates they shall be laid out on. The council passed a resolution protesting against the new system as being unworkable. * It is quite evident that if it is to, be given effect to by the Southland County the cost of preparing plans, &c, for small works, such as it has been usual to expend this income on, will far exceed the value of the works. Then again an officer of the Land department in eaoh district has to satisfy himself by personal inspection that the works have been carried out as proposed by tha local body ; therefore the jroad improvements will, if the conditions ,are enforced, have to be of much greater magnitude than in the past to stand the extra expense of councils preparing plans, &c, on the one hand and the close supervision by the Land department on the other. Tho sums accruing from the sources indicated are, as taken separately fbfthe various districts, but small and the aggregate does not come to a large amount."

A caution to merchant", storekeepers, and others appears in the Gazette as to penalties for giviDg receipts unstamped^ , Whenever any acknowledgment (signed or'noii signed) of any sum of £2. and upwards is made, whether such acknowledgment is for cash received or by contra account, whether tor a bill of exchange or promissory note, or on final settlement of a debt amounting to £2 and upwards paid by instalments of sums under £2,, and whether

such acknowledgment take tho form of an ordinary receipt or merely that of an entry in a cash book, ledger, or other book, or ©f any other form whatsoever which signifies or imports any such acknowledgment, a stamp of the value of Id should bo affixed and duly cancelled. Every person who writes or signs, or causes to be written' or signed, any such receipt or acknowledgment unices the same be duly stamped is liable to a penalty of £10 ; and a like penalty is imposed upon every person who refuses to give n duly-stamped receipt, or who gives a receipt for an amount lees than that paid, or who separates or divides the amount paid with intent to evade the duty.

The banks have lately had under consideration their rates for discounts, deposits, and overdrafts, and have increased the rates for deposits- to 5 per cent, for 12 months, and 4 per cent, and 3 per cent, for six months and three months respectively. The minimum rate for discbunts has been fixed at 7 per cent., and the rate on overdrafts has been increased £ per cent.

The 6rst warrant of arrest issued under the Bankruptcy Act of 1892 by the Supreme Court at Dunedin was issued on Saturday, in pursuance of section 88, subsection 3 of the act— a copy of the warrant being transmitted by' telegraph, accompanied by a telegraphic copy of the order of the court. The warrant and order— which were for the arrest of Corneliuß Johns, an auctioneer who has carried on business in Dunedin for some time past— were received too late to be executed, and the debtor got away by the Alameda, which sailed for San Francisco on Saturday at 2 30 p.m.

Daring the heavy gale which prevailed early on Monday morning, the south-west wall of the new Mission Hall in course of erection in South Dunedin was blown down. The loss to Mr White, the contractor, will amount to £60 or £70. •

Tho Railway Commissioners notify that from tho 14th inst small lots of rabbit, sheep, and calf skins, wool, hides, lard, fat, and tallow of lowt or under will be charged at the scale for small lots of class E goods, poultry, &c. Roots (garden) will be classified as class D.

A number of the lady members of the St. John' Ambulance Association, who obtained "nursing" certificates last year, were reexamined last week by Dr Stenhouse, who reports as follows :—" The examination of this nursing class for the medallion of the society has been a real pleasure, on account of the fulness of knowledge and general intelligence displayed by 'the candidates. Of 20 examined, all have passed but one, and most of them have passed with a high degree of credit, gaining from 75 to 85 per cent, in the combined oral and written questions. The candidate who failed .showed well up in the practical portion of the work prescribed, but was deficient in physiological knowledge, which every 'nurse ought to know well before she aspires to the honour of the medallion." The following 'members are therefore entitled to the association's medallions, which will be obtained from St. John's Gate in due course :— Mesdames W. B. Fisher, W. Forrester, G H. Moody, Misses E. Cochran, H. Chisholm, J. B. Campbell, GlendinniDg, J. D. Hooper, E S. Hooper, G. S. Jeffreys, F. E. Jeffreys, M. Milbum, V. Marshall, Raeburn, M. S. Reid, E. Speight, L. A. Shackleford, I. Siedeberg, and J. H. Wales.

In connection with the capping ceremony on Thursday evening the university students have as usual prepared a number of ditties which, from their tone, would indicate that all is peace now with the professors ; in fact, in a parody on "Father O'Flynn" it is proposed to toast them^ne and all. The students have also a good word to say for the janitor in a parody on a well-known coster song. There is a remonstrance concerning the tennis court certainly which serves to introduce "our Tory, hale and hoary. Grand Old Chancellor," for speaking slightingly of whom they say they are sure to be pardoned. The Cadman-Rccs contest, tho rival Liberal leaders, some Dunedin celebrities, and "The Bogie Man" (Dr Cahill) are the subjects of some of the other songs with which the undergrads. intend to divert the audience.

At Oamaru on Monday, Neil Fleming pleaded guilty to failing to forward a return of income, and explained that it was quite an oversight as the forms had arrived when he was ill and he waß induced to leave them over till he got well, but forgot all about the matter on resuming business. On learning of the omission the return was at once made. The Bench convicted defendant and fined him the minimum amount permitted— £s with treble the tax — and 7s costs, and at the same time expressed an opinion that the penalty was excessive in some cases. •

The Dunedin Irish Rifles held a meeting on Monday evening, at which a large number of recruits were received into the company. Tbe first drill in their reorganised state will be held in about a week's time.

A large meeting, at which several M.H.R.'s and a. number of members of the University Senate, (including Sir James Hector and Sir R. Stout) were present, was held at Wellington on' Monday to consider the question of the establishment of a university college for the central district of the colony, embracing Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, and Wellington. It was decided that a deputation should interview the Government.

The Tax department is bringing actions against persons at Oamaru, Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Nelson for failing to furnish returns of income. Two persons were fined £4 and £10 and costs respectively on Friday at Wellington.

At last > week's meeting of the Port Chalmers District High School Committee, Mr Ness proposed the following amendment in reference to the motion on the reading of Bible lessons': — "The committee regrets the action taken by the ministers in summarily closing the Bible-classes, especially under the circumstances of the same facilities being now offered as have been given for several years past, and that no further action be taken by the committee." The motion that a conference of the ministers, teachers, and the committee be held was carried.

It is generally .known that the first steamdriven vessel to cross the Atlantic was built in Canada. -The information is not so general, however, that this same craft was subsequently converted into a cruiser, and was the first steamship engaged in actual war. The facts of the case are stated in Johnston's "Alphabet of First Things in Canada." The ship was the Royal William. She was builb at the Cove, Quebec, in the winter of 1830-31, and during the season of 1832-33 plied between Quebec and Halifax. In the latter season she was sent to London and there chartered by the Portuguese Government to transport troops intended for the service of the late Dom Pedro to Brazil. Returning to London, she was sold to the Spanish Government, by tho latter converted into a cruiser, and employed against Don Carloß in the civil war of 1836, thus being the

first steamer to fire a hostile Bhot. There is still another curious fact that may have been overlooked— that troops withdrawn from Canada upon the close of the American war of 1812-15, for the purpose of joining the army intended to crush Napoleon after his return from Elba, were transported down the Sfc. Lawrence by a Canadian steamer. This was probably the first occasion on which a steam vessel was used for purposes of military transport. Canada, therefore, not only furnished the world with the first steam war vessel, but she almost certainly provided the first steam troopship as well.

The annual meeting of the Young Women's Christian Association was held in their rooms, Moray place, on Monday night. The Rev. A. North presided, and there was a large attendance. The annual report, which was presented to the meeting and taken as read, stated that although the past year had been of an uneventful character, much good work had been done by the various classes and organisations under the control of the association. It was hoped ere this that the association's building would be free of debt, but such was not the case. The association was only just able to pay its way, and no more. Their membership as regards numbers was much the same as last year, for although for various reasons some names had been struck off the roll others had been added. Tbe luncheon room had still a great attraction for the young people at the dinner hour. The attendance during the past year had been 27,653. It is still under the able management of the matron (Miss Jamieson) and her assistant (Miss Nellie Starford), who were both hearty workers in all that concerns the association, and who were ever ready to give a hearty welcome and a word of cheer to any young women coming strangers to the city, and, as far as possible, endeavoured to find lodgings or situations for them as the case might be. The rooms are clean, airy, and bright, and are well supplied with the daily newspapers, magazines, and, papers of interest, and plenty of books. An appeal was made through the papers at the beginning of winter, when the measles epidemic was at its worst, for any cast-off clotbiog which fnenda could spare for the children attending the Mission School. This was very heartily responded to, many bundles of warm garments having been sent in both from town and country. A mission Sunday school was held in the rooms, Moray place, on Sunday afternoon, and was> open to all children who did not attend any other Sunday school. During the past year 156 names were enrolled (82 girls, 74 boys). The ages of the scholars ranged from four to 17. The average attendance had been 98. Aided by the very liberal donation of a member of the association and the help of a few others, about 100 books had been secured during the year, but the supply was not anything like equal to the demand. Anyone who would help towards securing a further supply of books would be doing a kindness. The supply of Gospel illustrated papers, tract', booklets, &3. had been continued during the year, the number distributed being about 6000. The attendance at the four Bible classes kept up very satisfactorily, and the numbers at the Thursday afternoon ] prayer meeting were increasing. The balance sheet showed the receipts of the association for the year to "be £358 4s and the expenditure £356 9s Bd. there being a balance in the bank of £1 14s 4d. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:— President, Mrs Teevan; vice-president, Mrs Paul ; treasurer, Mrs J. G. M'Leod ; secretary, Mrs Downie Stewart; committee — Mesdames Blackadder, Bannerman, Brown, Dick, Ewnson, Low, Menzies, Sawell, R. T. Wheeler jun., Messrs M'Glashan, M'Dougall, and Smith.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Prqhibition League was held on Monday night in the Young Women's Christian Association Rooms. Mr F. Graham occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. Mr Graham having intimated that he did not intend to allow himself to be re-elected as president, the election of officers was then proceeded with, with the following result:— President, Mr A. S. AJams ; vice-presidents-Messrs F. Graham, A. C. Begg, and Mrs M'Leod; treasurer, Mr James Stokes; secretary, the Rev. J. T. Hinton ; committee— Miss Brownlie. Messrs A. C. Broad, F. Graham, P. Smith, J. Hatton, W. Powell, R. Rae, W. Wardrop, R. Jack, J. Wilson, J. Beadle, James Arthur, and J. Rhodes. Mr A. S. Adams moved— "That this league protests against any attempt to depart from the principle of government by majority in any legislative proposals to deal with the control of the liquor traffic." The Rev. W. Saunders seconded the motion, which ' was carried. Mr A. C. Broad moved— "That > this" league gratefully recognises the efforts of Sir Robert Stout and of those who supported him .in endeavouring to obtain for the people in their respective districts the power to control, restrict, and, it they so desire, to abolish 1 the legalised sale of intoxicants, and anticipate with confidence that they will not relinquish their efforts until the just and equitable demand^ be granted and become law." The motion was' seconded by the Rev. A. H. Wallace 'and carried. It was also resolved, on the motion of the Rev. Mr Wallace, seconded by Mr Houghton — " That the foregoing resolution, be sent to the Premier, Sir Robert Stout, and the city and suburban members, and that a public meeting be called at an early date to discuss the Government bill about to be introduced to the House."

A variety entertainment, held in the Mechanics' Hal l , Waikouaiti, under the auspices of the local football club, on Friday evening, was well patroniaed. The contributors to the musical part of an enjoyable programme were, with the exception of Mr Lawson (of Palmerston), local performers ; the Misses Duff playing the overture, and Misses Malloch, Valentine, and J. Duff giving vocal items; while Mr R. A. Scott gave a stump political speech, introducing local hits, and Mr Law Son recited "How Bill Adams won' v tbe Battle of Waterloo." Miss Grubb's violin' solo— one of Farmer's bright compositions— commanded tbe rapt attention that is perhaps the best tribute that an audience can accord to a violinist, and an encore was demanded. " Mrs' Jarley's collection of waxworks" was a noteworthy feature of the evening's amusement — Miss L. Malloch, who represented Mrs Jarley, describing the exhibition admirably, her elocution being faultless. The entertainment was concluded with the amusing farce " The Area Bfelle," in which the characters were sustained by Misses Graham and Duff, Messrs R. A. Scott, D. W. Malloch, and H. Carson.

A conference, which was attended by representatives of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Weßleyan, Bible Christian, Congregational, and Baptist denominations, was held on Tuesday afternoon to consider the desirability of cooperating with the view of securing, if possible, an amendment of the Education Act in the direction of obtaining the same liberty in the matter of religious instruction in tho State schools as is allowed by tho English act of 1870. A lengthy discussion took place on tho subject, tho '.conference lasting for .two hours, and a considerable diversity of opinion was

manifested ; but eventually, by 17 votes to 3, a resolution wascarriedin the following terms :— " That this meeting of church representatives do hereby resolve to take such measures as may hereafter be agreed upon to assimilate the New Zealand Education Act to the English Act, 1870, in those clauses that relate to religious instruction." It was also agreed to ventilate the matter at a public meeting.

Mr A. 5. Adams, in making an application in Chambers on Tuesday in the case of the absconding bankrupt Cornelius Johns, pointed out that an alteration had been made in the rule respecting tho direction of warrants of arrest which might prove inconvenient. Prior to the present year, the rule provided that a warrant should be directed to all inspectors of police and constables in the colony, but rule 27 now provided that a warrant should be directed to an officer of the court. The effect of that was that it could not be sent to more than one officer of the court, and it might be sent to an officer who could not execute it. In this present case, Mr Adams added, the warrant reached Auckland, according to bis information, insufficient time, if expedition had been used, to admit of its being executed.

According to the Waimea Plains Review, Mr Thomas Brydone, with the co-operation of wellknown men of high character and repute, has undertaken the work of establishing the New Zealand Paraffin Oil Company (Limited), with a capital of £100,000, to utilise the kerosene shale deposits at Orepuki. In addition to the ordinary margin of profit which the company hope to obtain over the American imported article, they will secure the £5000 bonus which the Government are offering for the first 100, 000 gallons of oil manufactured in the colony. Besides this, there is a protective duty of 6d per gallon on oil, l^d per lb on paraffin wax, and 2d per lb on candles.

The cablegram recently published concerning the 80 deaths from typhoid at Worthing appears in the following form in the Sydney Morning Herald:— "An epidemic of typhoid is prevailing at Worthing, in Sussex. Eighty deaths occurred. The bodies of the victims were burned at night. Excursion trains passing through the town stopped to enable the people to witness the burning of the bodies." It may be noted in this connection that Worthing is the new Hygeia, or City of Health, established some 10 years ago by Dr B. W. Richardson, the eminent authority on sanitation, in order that tffect might be given to his views.