LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2152, 23 May 1895, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Gazette Extraordinary published on Monday afternoon summons Parliament to meet for the despatch of business at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, 20th June. , M-uday, the 20th of May, being the anniverniry of the Queen's sovereignty over the ulan-is of New Zealand, was observed as & Supreme Court holiday; the court and its offices being closed. The regular weekly meeting of the Benovolent Institution Trustees was held on the 15th, »nd was attended by Messrs Chisholm (chairman), Haynes, Allan, Swan, Solomon, and Brown. The accounts passed for payment amounted to £130 ss. The secretary reported that James Cooper died in the Institution at the age of 80 years. A man writ-

ing from Riversdale about contributing to hia brother's support stated that he could not do bo. His brother had come out from Home, leaving a wife and family, against his (the writer's) wish. He was prepared to raise £15 towards the passage money to send his brother Home, and •• advised " the trustees to pay the pawage money to the old country, bo that his brother might be restored to •* the bosom of his family." The matter was left in the hands of the Visiting Committee. The Minister for Education has made a grant of £300 to the Otago Education Board towards the support of the training college. The Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister for Lard", was, through indisposition, confirecl to his led at Wain's Hotel on the 15fch and 16ih. His niedic&l attendant has advised him that it is necessary for him to have compkte rest for at least three weeks. In a special telegram from our Wellington correspondent, published by us last week, dealing with the question of the alleged projected amalgamation of the Bank of New Zealand and the Colonial Bank, the word ••National" appeared instead of "Ccloaial." The message was printed as received, but the context showed that the National Bank was not referred to. At the meeting of the Education Board on th>> 15th, a letter was read stating that the newly elected Hchool committee at Otakou have asked the Anglicans there to pay for the use of the schoolroom for church purposes. It seems that church services are held there fortnightly, and that in the intervening week a Bible class is held. The school ba9 hitherto been free to any denomination, and it is alleged that the enforcement of a charge would mean that the Anglican settlers would be debarred from church privileges. Mr Borne stated that in his district the schoolhouse was utilised for church purposes by the Presbyterians, who paid a small sum quarterly for cleaning. The secretary remarked that it was a common thing for committees to charge for the use of schools for church purposes, the oharge bring made for cleaning. Mr Cohen said the matter was entirely iv the hands of the school committee, and it was understood that the board's reply to the communication would be to that effect. Mr James Allen, M.H.R., addrecsed the Waitabuna section of his constituents on j the 12th, and received a vote of thanks I and confidence. In replying to questions, Mr Allen said he could not predict what the Opposition might do in the future ; and he could not say whether they might or might not join forces with Sir Reberfc Stout. He was a Freetrader, and was therefore inclined to support the reciprocal treaty with South Australia. Not being a medical man, he could not say what effect imported wine would have on the people. He thought, however, it would be bstter than mbbt of the whicky at present consumed. He believed there should be a two-thirds majority to carry prohibition, and did not think that in a constituency of 3000 electors a thousand men who were opposed to "no license" would be content to abide by a majority obtained by an alliance of male and female prohibitionists. He did not agree that the State should take over the lime kilns ; but he thought the farmers should endeavour to do so, and then appeal to the Government fer cheap freights. One of the sensations of the year 1893 in Sydney was the brutal murder of Mils Emma Harrison in Darlinghurst. Suspicion pointed

to a man named George Archer, whose blood* stained shirt was found hanging in a stable of the Sydney Omnibus and Tramway Company. The case against him was entirely circumstantial, but he was found guilty of the murder and hanged. Many people, however, refused to accept the verdict, and olamoured for a mitigation of the sentence. Last week, however, what appears to be conclusive evidence of his guilt was discovered in the stables in which he formerly worked. This consisted of an open-faced watch and ring, which were missed from Miss Harrison's room after the murder and not traced until they were found concealed on a rafter just over the spot where Archer's bloodstained shirt was discovered by the police. The " Christian Outlook," commenting on the ojees of larrikinisrn at Auckland, says .— "We fear the fullblown larrikin 13 irreclaimable. Clubs, gymnasiums, evouiug classes, and the like may get hold of a few, but for the great majority we sea little hope except to treat them as morally clisewed, and deal with them as we do with those who are smitten with fever or smallpox. It ia perfectly futile to fine them, j or commit them to prison on a short determinate sentence. We do not liberate the lunatic or the leper after they have been in quarantine a few weeks. Why should we deal differently with the morally infected ? Society should mnke provision for the treatment of such, and it should deny them freedom till it is satisfied that they sure competent to use it." The home, it is contended, should be the fountain head of reform. A lecture, in connection with the Kuox Church Literary and Debating Society, was delivered in the Old Kuox Church on the 15th by the Rtv. J. Anderson Gardiner, of the Bluff. Notwithstanding tho inclement weather there | was a numerous attendfinco. Tho Hon. W. D. Stewart, M.L.C., president of the society, oooupied the chair, and in introducing tho lecturer said the late Dr Stuart, when he met Mr Gardiner in Scotland in 1888, formed a high opinion of him aa a preacher and as a m>m, and that opinion had t,mct Mr Gardiaer's arrival in : the colony-boon amply verified. Whatever the J lecturer touched he adorned, and the speaker j bad do doubt that Mr Gardiner's presence that evening would foster a spirit of enthusiasm after knowledge amongst the young men and prove of interest and benefit to them. The lecturer, whose subject was "Literary Societies and Culture," laid emphasis iv the first iusfceuca ob the value of mental intercourse, and thereafter answered the objections to litorary societies which might be raised by imaginary opponents. He then piooeeded to address himself to the true aim of such societies, and expressed the view— which he acknowledged to be not the view most commonly and geuerally ne |<l — that the truly great man was the man who made the most harmonious progress in all directiono, and not the man who made the furthest progress in one or two directions. In concluding an exceedingly able lecture, which was a masterpiece of stjle, Mr Gardiner urged the memberß of the society to which he was speaking to seek for a broad, wide, general, harmonious life, drinking in every word of God. On the motion of Mr T. W. Whitson, who expresied a hope that the eloquent words and noble thoughts of tho lecturer would baar fruit during the tession of the society, a hearty vote of thinks was passed to Mr Gardiner for his address. We have to acknowledge receipt of the following subscriptions for the missing fihhermpn's fund: -Union Steam Ship Company, £5 si ; A. Kyle, 10s. A presentation that may bp regarded as unique was made in the office of the Kaitangata Coal Company on the 15' h. It took the shape of a handsome gold chain and pendant, and represented the contributions of no ltss than 900 maid servants whom the company eutertained at an excursion to their colliery a brief period ago. The outing proved such an enjoyable one that on the way home the girls started a penny subscription, and the amount thus obtained was hauded over to some of the gentlemen connected with the company for the purpose of making a suitable presentation to the geueral manager, Mr W. P. Watson, who originated the happy idea, as a memento of the trip. These gentlemen waited upon Mr Watson yesterday, and, on behalf of the maids, Mr Alexander Burt presented Mr Watton with the chain and pendant. The Utter bore the following inscription :— " W. P. Watson —From tho maid servants, as a memento of Kaitangata picnic, 18/1/95." On the reverse side was the monogram " W.P.W." In reply Mr Wateon stated that he accepted the gift of the maid servants with .much pleasure. He would wear it wi«h a great deal of pride, and it would serve to frequently recall to his mind the pleasant d»y spent at Kaitangata with such a large number of comely luesei. Referring to the Colonial Treasurer's conversion Bcheme, the Argus says:— "The hoWo'B of the New Zealand 4 per cents, cannot be p»il off against their will until 1929, and thry uau thus enjoy a comparatively high rate for 34 years to come. The great mistake made in the issue of most colonial loans was that the Governments did not retain the right to p%y off at 12 monthß' notice after, Bay, 10 or 15 years from d»te of issue. H*d they done so the work of convert ion would be easy, but, as matters stand, it is to be feared that it can only be procesded with slowly." At Thursday uight's meeting of the Education 80-ird it was decided to rescind the •'inno-cently-worded motion ' which had been passed at a previous meeting concerning the Waiareka case, on the ground that it is capable of a meaning which is highly prejudicial to Mr P. B. Fraser, the teacher, and which the board did not intend. | The Education Board on Thursday night agreed, on the motion of Mr Cohm, to refer it to the committee on the classification of schools to consider the desirability of adopting a minimum classification for positions in district high schools. The Minister for Education is of opinion that the Education Act does not authorise expenditure on night schools out of the funds of the Education Board, and he is not prepared at present to propose an amendment of the act in this respect. The Wellington branch of the Knights of Labour propose tho following motionß for the consideration of the district assembly, which meets in July : — " That the Government establish State fire insurance ; the extension of the municipal franchise to adults of 12 months' residence ; that the duties on the necessaries of life be removed, a> d met by increasing the land tax or removing the exemption* in the land tax ; that the Government be urged to open up new coal mines by co-operative labour." From the published list of prize-winners in the Van Diemen's Land Bank it appears the following residents in New Zealand were successful in winning building allotments in Hobart, valued at £100 :— Mrs Annie Lewis (Wellington), Mrs L. Clapperton (Manawatu), R. T. Burton (Opito), John Hand (Otahuhu), H. Arden (Wellington). There were many singular.

incidents in connection with the lottery, but perhaps the 'cutest proposition camo from a Melbourne lady who (says the Meroury} stated that she was a member of the Wesleyan Church, in order to establish her bona fides. Her proposal was that 50 tickets should bo issued to her in the lottery, and 50 in one of Mr Adams's "sweeps." "One of these tickets," said the fair correspondent, "will certainly win a prize, and then you can deduct the cost of the tickets from the prize. Please to be so . good as to oblige in this instance," she continued, " it will bsnefit all round. God will blosi you for it, and give you every success in your new undeitaking. Kindly try it for once, and I will ever pray for your happiness." No reply was sent, but nothing daunted she wrote a second appeal, basing {her application on "trust and confidence" in the promoters' "keen business insight." As the time for completion of the tariff report has been extended to the 31st inst., and Mr Thomas Mackenzie's attendance will be necessary, he will be unable to address his constituents prior to the opening of Parliament as he had intended. The Tablet says, concerning Bishop Moran's [ health : — " In answer to many inquiries about the health of the Bishop of Dunedin, we regret that wo cannot announce much improvement since the last attack prostrated him some weeks sgo. After a consultation held recently, his physicians, who found him in a very feeble condition physically, recommended, in view of his avoiding exertion of every kind, that he should be relieved of all business in connection with I the diocese. His lordehip has appointed his secretary, the Very Rev. P. Lynch, St Joseph's j Cathedral, administrator of the diocese, and fully authorised him to transact all diocesan business." Mr Alderman Bon Tillett, one of the workiug men leaders, and "hero" of the dockers' strike, has failed in his action against the Morning Post. That paper (says the correspondent of the Argus) alleged in effect that Mr Tillett was promoting hiß own interests by means of his position, while many of the men who were members of tho union were starving. This, put in stronger language, was considered unfair comment, but the jury did not so regard it. Mr Tillett; must be very thin-skinned, for in cross-examination by Mr Carson he admitted that he had called dock directors "liars," "betrayers," "informers," and "perjurers." He had described shipowners as " slave-owners," and the officials of the Shipowners' Federation as "cut-throats." Mr Laws he had described as " a murderer." Free labourers, according to Mr Tillett, were "burglars, pickpockets, loafera, and bailies." , The Hull pelico he had said " were bribed and ooirupted," newspaper proprietors were " dastards," and his opponents generally were "fat-gutted, full-pursfd anarchists, from the bishops upwards, ready to sell their fellows, and they were devils of disloyalty and malice." The author of this ohoiue vocabulary poses as a trades unionist leader, and the Progressives of the Londou Council have nominated him to the high position of alderman. At the performance given at the City Hall on Thuisday evening by the Rosciua Dramatic Company, in aid of the mipsinj? Mierm'-n'a fund, his Warship the Mayor remarked that the committee appointed to receive subscriptions were in hopes that £150 wuuld be raised, which would allow £50 being apportioned to each child. So far the sum of £175 had been collected, and this would be increased by that evening* entertainment to the extent of £25, which would leave £250 yet to be raised. If the total amount meotioaed were obtained it would afford the two families means of support until the children had attained the age when they would be able to work for thei- own living. On behalf of the committee ue,th*nked the Rosciub Club foi the kind and ready manner in which they had lent assistance^ and also Signora Venosta, who had come there that evening in spite of the fact that she had an engagement elsewhere. The very hr&tty thanks of the committee were likewise due to Mr F. J. Sullivan for the untiriug and energetic manner in which he had discharged his duties as honorary secretary. The man Anderson who was murdered at Coolgardie recently was known as •• New Zealand Jimmy." He had been Hying with a blackfellow's gin, and quarrels between the two men were frequent. Anderson thrashed the native, and burnt his mivmia in order to drive him from the locality. At 9 o'clock the same evening Anderson approached the tent in which the gin was sleeping, when the native sprang upon him with a spear. Anderson saw him coming, and Btooped for a stick, but the black drove his spear clean through the man's body, between the neck and the oollarbono, tho spear coming out through his ribs Anderson died at once. Anderson's mate> and the lubra went to Siberia for assistance, and 40 diggers returned to avenge the murder, but found that the aboriginal had looted the camp and cleared into the bush. The body was buried at Siberia, but the diggers evinced little sympathy for the deceased, knowing the relations existing between him and the lubra. The Hon. J. M'Kenzie, Minister for Lands, is improving in health, and left on Saturday for his home at Shag Point, where he will tak« the rest which his medical adviser has ordered. A number of members of the police force olaim to have given the clue which led to the arrest of the Deans, but we are credibly informed that the credit is entirely due to a private person in no way connected with the force. The police, however, are to bs commended for the vigorous manner in' which they followed up the clue which resulted in the arrest, and recovered the bodies of the children who were supposed to have been murdered. The arrivals in the colony from oversea ports during Aptil numbered 1802, and the departure!) 2522. Mrs Elizabeth Grace Neil has been appointed deputy-inspector of lunatic asylums and licensed houses throughout the colony under the Lunatics Act, and deputy-inspector of hospitals and charitable institutions under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. The committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society are apparently determined to overcome the difficulty of drifting dand at Tahuna Park, for a gang of men was busily engaged on Friday in planting marram grass. Last year a small quantity of th's grass was procured and planted on the Sandhills, and »o satisfied were the committee with the results that a shipment was ordered from the Port Fairy Borough Council. This arrived here by the Manapouri on Thursday last, and is sufficient to plant five acres. The cost of the grass wheu planted will be close on £5 per acre. It will be conceded that the committee are entitled to every credit for the energy displayed by them in improving the Sandhills. The improvements at the park during the year have been considerable, and the enclosure is now a beautiful sward of grasi, the park having bsen all topdressed and grass sown on the bare spots, to that nothing now remains bnt to prevent the drift of 6*nd, and the committee fully ezpeot

that this great nuisance and the expense om« sequent upon it will be overcome by the plant* ing of marram grass, and that the present unsightly barren-face will shortly be transformed into a beautiful green slope. Thero is no doubl that the society are direotly interested in improving the grounds adjoining the park, but the Ocean Beach Domain Board, and even the) general publio, should give every assist* ance, as from any improvement on the Sand* hills the whole city will reap the benefit*. Marram grass has been proved to be a moat effective sand-sSaying grass, and practical evidence as to its value can be ascertained from the Port Fairy Borough Council, as over 150 acres of what were originally drifting sandhills have there been reclaimed, and tho cattle on tho borough reserves are said to be mainly kept on marram grass during the winter months. It ia hoped that horsemen will refrain from riding over the planted portion of the Sandhills, and that boys will nob interfere with or pull out any of the plants. We understand that the com* mi t tee intend offering a substantial reward for the conviction of anyone found destroying or injuring any of tho trees or grass planted by I the society. The following sections of Crown lands wer« disprsed of at the Danedin office this week :— « Ban 204f, Maniototo, 3100 acres, selected by James Hocvell, as a pastoral run, at an annual rental of £51 13 j 4d ; sections 52 and 64, block I, Leaning Rock, 16& 3r lOp, selected by A. A. Olliver, foe cash, at 10s per acre ; run 205n, Maoiototo, 1240 acres, selected by T. £< Connolly, aa a pastoral run, at an annual rer>* of £15 103. Wo have received the following subscription for the missing fishermen fund : — Walter Bus £1 Is ; collected by Mrs Athfield, Fort Chalmers, £11 6a. The first of a series of popular lectures under the auspices of the Dunedin Field Club was delivered on Friday evening by Mr A. Wilson, M. Am, iv the Y.W.C.A. Hall, which was completely filled with an interested audience. Mr Gr. M. Thomson, president of the club, occupied the chair. Mr Wilson's subject was "Some Notes ou Our Dunedin Birds," and it was made particularly entertaining by reason of the happy touch which renders the lecturer's addresses invariably so enjoyable. That Mr Wilson is a keen observer of nature was proved by the intimate knowledge he displayed of the habits of the imported birds which are to be found at different periods of the year in Dun« edin and its vicinity— he did not deal with the native birds—and by his acquaintance with the very dates about whioh particular birds make i their first appearance for the season. The notes given by him were wad before the Otago Institute some two years ago, but were slightly amplified for the present occasion. On the motion of Mr J. S. Tennant, seoonded by Mr W. T. Monkman, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Wilson for his lecture. The charges of ely grog- soiling againit Matthew M'Callum (of Edeudale) and Edward Aitwood (of Fortroae), heard at Wyndham on the 15th, were dismissed. Evidence for the prosecution was given by two paid in for mars, but as it wai not corroborated the magistrate declined to place much reliance upon it. The Mataura Ensign states that the orowd wbich gathered after the case assumed a rather threatening attitude towards the men, and it is said one of the informers drew a revolver and fired a shot. He was disarmed, and it is understood an information will be laid against him for discharging firearms in a public place. Wben the coach was leaving three groans were gtveu for the informers. The Alexandra Medical Association have appointed Dr Hodge*, of Fort Chalmers, as doctor for Alexandra, At a crowded temperance meeting at Napier a resolution was unanimously passed calling the attention of the Minister for Justioe to the fact that there are justices of tho peace who run totalisators, and pointing out that suoh appointments are inconsistent with the position, and asking in future that due regard be paid to the business of the appointees. The death is announced, at the Invercargill Hospital, of Charles Jamas Aldrldge, a barrioter and solicitor, at one time a well-known figure in Danedin, and afterwards practising at Gore. Ho wu at one time managing clerk for tho late Mr John Hjde Harris. His constitution broke down about five years ago, and he had to enter the Inveroargill Old Men's Home. At the March examinations of the Dresden Conservation um of Music, Miss Maud Fitehetfc, a Dunedin student, obtained her " Reife ZeugnUs," or final diploma, and has since proceeded to Paris for the purpose of continuing her studies and acquiring a knowledge of French methods in music tuition. Messrs Duthie Bros, announce that, with their employees, they have formed a limited liability company to carry on their business.