LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 18

LOCAL & GENERAL

The Hon. W. Rolleston returned on the 15th from a visit to "Southland, and left' for the north next morning. We understand Mr Rolleston does cot intend to ba a candidate at . the next general election. Mr Owen J. Hodge, who has for the past peven years held tire position of head teacher of the Highcliff School, was at last week's meeting of the Education Board appointed to replace 3Hr J. A. Jchttson (resigned) as first assistant at the Normal School. f It will be of interest to our readers to know that the union' between the Wetileyan, Bible itJhristian, and Free Methodist churches came into force on the 13th inst. In future the Bible Christian Church in Dunedin will ba known as the Methodist Central Mission^. f he* Union Company have received cable advices from their London office that their new cargo steamer R>kanoa made - 10& knots per tour on her trial trip, and that she leaves on Saturday (18th inst.) for the colonies, , via Amsterdam and Delagoa Bay. Captain Ribhard- . gon, who took Homa th.c Mount Sirion, returns in. charge of the Rakanoa. ■ The company, in' response (o pressing applications from the. trader*, have decided to place a steamer r in 'regular' tnnning between Auckland, • Raro- - tonga, and Tahiti, *nd the service will ba opened iaj the' Taupo about the end of', the month. Other islands in the C-jok and Society groups 7»iU be visited as opportunity and inducement Offer. ', " , , An old and well-known resident of Dnnedia jjMsed.away'onthe 15th"in' tho person of Mr Samuel, Slesinger, veterinary surgeon. Deceased was born in Switzerland, but left his native land when very , young for Jamai'ft-, where he practised his profession for some time. "While there he. was appointed to the magistracy. He left Jamaica for America, and from the latter place went to Australia about 1853. It was in 1862, after the gold discoveries, that he , came over here, and he ha« lived in Dunsdin ' ever" since. Deceased who wai "'rinmVried, always enjoyed fairly good health up to about .Six months since, when he was seized with a paralytic stroke, and he never recovered. Nothing has been heard . of late of tbe *Taranaki oil wells. It appears that after 20 barrels had been .pumped the supply suddenly ceased, the ga?, which had previously issued in sufficient quantities to enable the company to di*pense with other fael, ceding at. the same time. The most probable explanation of this mischief ' is that tbe 86ft papa' of which the xoof of the oil seam is composed, having bean deprived of the support of the formerly imprisoned g»s and oil, has collapsed, and thus choked the oil seam lying fn'the vicinity of the fcore. /t After further efforts te pump out the mud filling the bore, the company resumed drilling, with the, hope of obtaining another »il supply. at a greater depth At present the Jbore is 1100 ft deep, and it is intended to continue it to about 1500 ft if payable' oil is not aooner reached. If the pi-cent bore at that depth does >not yield another snffioient flow; the direotors intend to bore about 100 yards off, so to strike the same seam of oil.. -

1 - The 1896 session of the'Knox Charch. Literary ; and Debating /Society was opened on the 13th insK, when the Rev. Mr Hewitson delivered a lecture upon Lord before a large attendance , of v members. ' 1 The lecturer dealt mainly with the moral character and home life of M&canlay,. of which not co muoh was generally known ar of hia life as a" student, writer, and -politician. Mr Hewitson referred to the great influences for good his parents and borne had upon the historian, and dwelt on his high character, upright life, and utterly unselfish nature The greatest pleasure he derived from his successes was in .seeing the pleasure they gave to. others. Mr He wits on was heartily thanked for his most interesting lecture, and in reply said he hoped it would stimulate the members to read and study' the life of the 'subject ..c£ his lecture. , During the evening appropriate recitations were given by several «nerhb?Vs. The Hon. J. M'Kenzie, Minister for Lands, came into town on Thursday from Shag Point, where he had arrived on the previous' evening. It is his intention -to address his constituents at *n early date. . ' ■ ■ . Tbe 13 Algerian ostriches brought out to Auckland by the s.s. Matatua, have been taken to'Whitford park They were imported by Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co. to eros« with tbe birds at Whitford pfcrk, it being ■ thought that the _cro c s .will improve the plumage. The con* lignment consisted of 19 birds, but five died on the voyage to Hobart »nd one between Hobart and Auckland. This mortality was no doubt due to the heavy weather which the steamer encountered during the greater part of the A meeting of the Dunedin Licensing Com-, mittee, held on Thursday morning to consider an application from Messrs Irrine and Sfevenson for a wholesale license, was attended by Mr E. H. C»rew, S.M., and Messrs Selby, Spears, Scott, Warren, Jolly, and Wardrop. A letter received from Mr Walker recommending that the application stand over till the June 1 , meeting. The Hon. Dowuie SteWact, in mak- j ing the application, stated that his clients had a large stock .of spirits in bulk which they were , unable to dispose of unless bottled, but by ' obtaining a wholesale license they would ' probably be able to sell their stock prior to the end of Jane. His clients would thsn be prepared to take their chance of a renewal. The committee granted the license under the very speoial circambtances, but intimated that there I would most ' probably bs no renewal, as they I were determined to substantially reduce the already existing wholesale licenses. _ Captain A. T. Mahan, the American naval ' expert, describes the sea fight of the future as follows : — " This, then, is a forecast of the battle jof to-morrow. Two great lines of monster ships steaming s'de by side, bat far apart, whilst the uproar of the cannonade, the hail of shells fill the air. As the minutes pas*, funnels and superstructures fly to splinters, the draught sinks, the speed decreases, ships drop to the roar. The moment for close action has come, and the victor steams in on the vanquished. The ram and the torpedo, amidst an inferno of sinking sbips and exploding shells, claim their victims. The torpedo boats of the we»ker side in vain essay to cover ths beaten battleships. Beneath a pall of smeke, npon a sea of blood, the mastery of the waters is decided for a generation. Such an encounter will not lack sensation. To live through it will be a life's experienoe ; tolall in it a glorious end. And that Heaven may send our fleet success," when the great day comes, is the ardent prayer of every Englishman. For though men can do much by the stoutpess and constancy of their hearts, there are chances which lie evermore on the knee of the gods." Mrs Speight, relict of the late Mr James Speight and an old resident of Dunedin, died very suddenly on Thursday evening. She arrived iv Duuedin with her husband in 1861. Of a quiet and retiring disposition, she was widely known

for fyer -unostentatious chanties and kindly help to the poor and afflicted. She was one of the original members of the Moray place Congregational Church, and although she removed to Caversham some years ago continued to take a warm interest in its affairs. She leaves a grown-up family of four daughters and two sons, who will have the sympathy of the diseased lady's large circle of friends. At the Bslolutha Police Court on the 15th I inst., before Mr R. 8. Hawkins, S.M., John Ball was charged, on the information of Ranger Morris, with shooting one native pigeon at Owraka on the sth insfc. Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined 30s and costs (7s 6d). The Native scholars of the Moeraki Schoo 1 , with their teachers, parents, *nd friends to the number of 65, made an excursion to Puketeraki Friday, 10th. The inclemency of the weather prevented many from going. On arrival at Puketeraki the excursionists wcro met by some members of the local school committee and escorted to the hall, kindly lent by Mr Prafcc, M.H R , who, though abrent, oaused a boumeoui repast to be prepared for the visitor?, ,who were waited on by the residents. Justice having been done to the go id things, singing and dmcing ' were indulged in for a couple of hours, and then tea was partaken of. Brief addresses were afterwards given by Messrs Apes, ' Matthews, and J. Pratt (members of the sohool committee) ; and Mr D. Munro (chairman) thanked the 'Natives of Puketeraki for their kindness and hospitality. Messrs J. Tips, and H. Rahu also spoke. At the call of Mr B lath way fc, teacher at Paketer*ki, three cheers were giveu for the visitors. . Mr Bell, teacher at Moeraki, suitably responded. ■The Southland News reports that the formation of. the Seaward Bush railway is nearly conopleted l across the Titiroa Flat, on the Fortrr>B« side of tho Mataura, and two of £he viaducts on the Inverc&rgill ride of tha river aie finished. Tha permanent- way is laid to about a mile beyond Gorge' road, 20 miles from town. From that point to the river, a distance ot nearly a mile, the formation only wants finishing off. The length at present authorised by Parliament and sarvejed v- aches the Fortrose road, jast beyond Mr Ho me*'a Waimahaka estate, about three miles beyoud tbe Mataura, and the formation on this section is completed for the better part of the distance. Already one sawmill is in full work, and two others are being ereoted to woi'k the bu*h. In'oonneoUon with the Edinburgh University Field Bazaar, we have been requeue! to state that the Shaw, Savill, and Abion Comptny have kindly agreed to convey from New Zealand to London, free of freight, any articles for Me at this bazaar which former students of the taniyersi'ty or friends resident in the colony may desire to contribute. Any such may obtain all necessary information at the office of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited), who will be pleased to arrange to forward any parcels. Monsignor Verdon, the Roman Citholio Bishop-designate of Danedin, with Bishop Murray, of Maitlaud, left Sydney for New Zealand oa Friday. The exact d*te of DfVerdon'a arrival in Danedin is not yet known. Our Clinton correspondent writes : — " During the hearing of the arson case at Clinton, Mr B. O. Haggitt, ' wishiug to dt numerate the effects of phosphorus, out off about a quarter of an inch , of the stuff and placed it on the floor of the courthouse inside a pieca of brown paper, with the re*ult that in about five minutes it broke into flame and blazed rapidly. Mr Huggitt endeavoured to stamp it out, but this proving futile, somebody called for water, which caused considerable amusement ro those who understood the effeot of water on such a fire. The bench and those in the courthouie had to beat a hasty retreat nntil the flames had subsided— even the solicitors, who are supposed to be impregnable to sulphurous fumes, had to seek fresh air. Mr Haggitt will probably make a close study, of the nses and abuses of phosphorus."

In addition to the land already reported to have been disposed of by ballot, tbe following sections were selected at the L*nd< Ulm in Ducedin this week :— Section 10, bock VII, Catling, 186, iOr lOp, on leaeo in perpetuity, selected by James Ahearne, at a capital value of 15i per acra ; sectioa 1, block X, Woodland, 20a lr, selected as a -village homestead allotment;, by J.imes Langmuir, at a capital valao of 20s per acre. The banquet to the Hon. W. Hall-Jones on the 15sh init. (says tbe Timaru Herald) was not absolutely a teetotal affair, and something stronger than gingerale was provided for those .who liked to ask for it. A prominent prohibitionist, however, objected on the appearance of the bottle, and it disappeared — from his side of the hall, at all events. In ducussiag the quectioaof "home lessous" and "keeping in," at Thursday's meeting of the Education Beard, Mr J. J. Ramiay eaid the whole trouble arose through the absurd value the board attache! to a standard pass. On the one hand the board told the teachers they were not to unduly ' harass the children, while on theotherthey demanded trom teachers that they should attain each year a certain standard of passes, which it was utterly iinpos»ible to- attain without unduly harassing children. He would ask any member of the board to consider the position a teacher who taught a school with an average, say, of 46 occupied, and after examining the requirements of the syllabus, and considering tbe time allotted to each subject, to tell hioi±o* it was possible for any human being to do what was expected. For his part, if the board had the power,,he would much prefer to see the Scottish system of examination introduced, and the individual pats abolished. He entirely agreed with Mr Sampson's contention that while tbe present system of, standard passea oxi>bad and the officers attached bo much value to them, teachers would be forced in very self-defence to .prosecute a system of cram, and the board could not in jastice condemn ateachejgfor endeavouring to carry out what they themselves through !)heir officers and by their syllabus demanded. 'Referring to the mteting address-. d )<y the leader of the Opposition on Thursday evening the Auckland Herald says :—": — " The meeiiog was one of the most successful held for many years in this city, and considering the position held by Captain Russell as leader of the Opposition it may be regarded as hardly less significant than the routi of the Ministerial party at Chriotchurch." The annual report of the Board of Manajement of the United Friendly Soei«ties' Dkpensary states that there are now 2G branctu-s connected with, it, which, ib is bi'Lievcd, includes «ll the friendly societies iv and svround Dunediu, with one exception. The cash sales for the year amouated to £875 ISh 7d, an increase over tho previous year of £5*5- 2a 2<J. The -number of prescriptions dispensed to msmbers during the year was 21,747. The average number of members on the roll was 2682. This gives »n average' of B*l'l (nearly) prescriptions per member," ajjainst 8 28 for the year ending March 1895. The amouat standing to credit of profit and loss account last

balance was' £69o-79 .65,- out -of which £69 7b was, paid as dividend and £12- Is written' off fittings, leaving the balance brought forward £608 19a 6d. The profit on the j oar's tran factions amounted tq £221 13s sd, including the premium (£2O) charged .to the Pioneer Lodge, making a total of £630 -12* lid to credit of proSt and loss. The value of the goods in stook is about £102 less than last year, the amount being £742 5s Id, against £844 18s 7d. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent , to be paid to the various branches, is recommended, and the usual levy at the rate of 7s per member per annum. Mr Willis is giviug every satisfaction to the board. ' The weather at Reefton has baen unusually wet this year, and much damage has been done to .the roich in consequence. A heavy Blip occurred at the Keep-it-Dark mine on Tuesday., night, when a mass of timber and mullock slipped away from the hill above the mine, smashed the poppet heads and the old winding wheel, and displaced and damaged the new winding wheel. A blacksmith's shop was also, carried clean away. No one was injured. A portable engine has been ordered from Gteymou^'th. to bale the mine. Several other slips occurred in the immediate vicinity and did slight damage.'

A Wellington telegram says :—": — " Heavy rains occurred at frequent intervals last month, bat this month pro mice 3 to constitute a record."

It is rumoured that the new Agricultural EUU will be opened about the end. of March next year with an industrial exhibition to celebrate the jubilee of the Ofego settlement.

Tbe -Hon. Mr Larnach, when addressing his 1 constituents at Clyde, in referring to the large amount of foreign capital which was befog nv«ated in mines in New Z-nUud, said he had communicated with the Minister to ace if Rome of the capitalists 'could not , be induced to invest in this district. By encouraging the investment of private capital a large amount of Government money which was formerly spent in foste-mg the industry was thus set free. It was also the iateot'on of the Government to expend a good deal of inon<sy in the cou*ei:va,'ion of water in the district.- This would not - only help to develop the mines, bat could be used to assist fruit-growing and other industries connected with the land, and would tend to induce more settlement;' "Large tracks of land were at present useless for want of water, and if this were applied he need not tell them of the amount of produce the district could fcura out. He would not rest in impressing on the Government tha necessity of 'Setting apart a large sum of money to conserve water in the dry parts of Central Otago. Mr Chamberlain, the Secretary of State for for the Colonies, has written to the Governor thanking the Premier and the people of New Zetland for the resolution passed at tbe time of the Venezuela and Transvail tr -übles. The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Tinaei puts the Colonial Treasurer's surplus for the financial year just cloned at between £150,000 and £200,000. When the Imperial Government a f«w years ago agreed to coiutruafc, at a coat of £800,000, the eeven wniMhips— the Katoomba, liiugxrobma, Wallaroo, Kirrakatta, Mtldnra, Tauranga, and Boomerang— which constitute the .Australian Auxiliary equadron, it was stipulated that the Australasian Governments should jointly contribute £126 000 a year for their manning and mt^.itenanco By a recent mail the Victorian D fence d.-pactimnfc received from, the Lirds of ihs A ! m ; ialty a letter siting th*t the cos ! - >f >utitita uiug the squadron Ua^ year was £137 103 so tint tha British taxpayer, although uot obliged to, contributed £11,100 towards the maintenance of the«e ships, besides the £40 000 annual interest and sinking fund in connection with thnr construction; The colonies contribute the £126,000 referred to on a bas's of population. Mr E. Tregaar, of the Labjur department (says the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelfcon Times), has received a letter from Mr H. Greonaway, formerly of Patea, in whioh he gives some very interesting information regirding the present state of the Paraguay settlement, b3tter known, perhaps, as "New Australia." Mr Greenaway says that Mr Kidd, the chairman, has resigned, his chief reason, bmng the inability of the mass of the n<-,ople to uphold tho'r own laws and decisions Too great majority of the people are not ready for selfgovernment, and as an example he states that > they opposed the advice of the president of the boacd of management, who wished to accept an offer from the Government of Paraguay of 800dol a month for some time to come and the freehold of 5$ leagues of fine land.- Consequently the president has resigned, and the man wbo is responsible for this will, as chair man, tr/ to extract the colony from its present perilous .po*ibion. Mr Greenaway fears that many people are on the point of leaving, and he himself and his friends are safcisßed that communism is not for them, or, indeed, for the people of the present decade. JfcTMr T. D M'Manaway, of TawWtaui,' P*lo-us Sound, informs the Wellington Post thst he has found "one of Captain Cook's medals. Heavy seas- and bigb. tides led to the discovery by displacing the soil. -The medal had evidently been buried in an iron vessel or box, as it shows signs of contact wi h iron. On one side two ships are shown, and there U an inscription in clear letter* : " Rpßiluthn, Adventure — . sailed from England Mur-h MDCCLXXII/; on the other sMe a kir.g's head, and also, in clear letters : " George 111, King of Gr. Britain, Prance, and Ireland, &o," ' with the small letters "BF " on the neck. J^ -^There wan lately sold in London, at Messrs Sotheby's, a document with signatures of Queen Victoria and Prince Albart, 1848, empowering William Martin to invest George Grey, Governor of New Zealand, with the Order of ths Bath. It realised £3 10s. j£

The Bishop of Dunedin administered the rita ef confirmation to 55 candidates in St. Paul'b Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. Preaching from the text "To live in\Chmt," Bishop Nevill warned his hearers against such societies as t'aat of thp Theosophists, who built upon mere fancies, Oi'i'tioos, or theories. Christianity was built upon facts. In Christ, converts became new creatures ; there wa* a new creation. Men ignoring the Saviour had failed to overcome the evils and woe of tbe world by means of legislation ; and now that frantic and hysterical womeu ware experimenting in the rama f-pirit, without, using tho light, and life of Ghrisfc rs sat fott'n in 1h"» B'blf, Jheir w.>rk wou'd f-l-o f*il In (Oir:!u»ii>!t, *kf !>•-!> v mfiuberq ot tht church to use the inta s f ..'race regul.u-ly and t'i prefer the svay ot Go.! -ad holiuess lo that of men of the world.

A point of iutercjloni*! interest in connection with university routine (says the Melbourne Argus) was dealt with by the University Council recently. The Professorial Bo<rd drew atteutiou to the f«cb that a number of students frem New Sou -h Wales and N«w Zealand had lately applied for admission to the matriculation and medical counts, beiag provided with

certificates which would not hare admitted , them to the medjoal course in their own univorsitiei, but which certificates the board by its own regulations was compelled to accept. Professor Alias, who attended at the request of the ' council, said that viiiting studtnts were by the regulation mentioned able to -gain rights deliberately withheld from them at their own universities, which were practically being uodoroold by. Melbourne. The Professorial Board accordingly recommended \endments in the regulations referring to admission's ad eundem statum, and the amendments as proposed were approved by the council, and ordered to be sent to the senate.? • The Hon. J. G. Ward arrived from the north by the Manapouri on Sunday- afternoon. The hon. gentleman lef6 "again on Wednesday ! morning to open the Industrial Exhibition at Gore that afternoon. «, The Hon. J. M'Kenzie, Minister for Lands, will address his constituents at Falmerston on [ Friday night. • I Mf J. J. Ramsay has definitely derided to offer himself as a candidate for the Waihemo I soat at the next general election. We are informed by Mr J. C. Buckland that he* will not be, a candidate at the approaching . election of members of the House of Representatives. A man named James O'Kane was committed for trial on » charge of horsa-stealing at \ Quseastowu on Monday. . ' After the lecture by Dr Emily Ryder at the Garrison Hall on Sundiy afternoon, a number of, ladies remained behind and agreed to form thenisolves into a "Little Wives' I Circle," handing in their names with promised I contribution*. Mm W. I). S'owarb was elected [ presdent, Mrs W. H. Reyuolda vice-president, Mies Freeman secretary, and Mrs Boot treasurer. Au early meeting will be hold to get ' the " circle " into working order. Tho Cook Islands correspondent of the Auckland Herald writes :—"lnAitutaki: — "InAitutaki there has been a murderous assault by a negro on an old' worn a a wbosa husband had charge of a little over £200 towards the money which is beiug accumulated for a schooner to be built for the Aitutaki people in AucklanJ. , The brute .entered the house while the people were in church en Sunday morning, took the money, and being meS by the O old woman, twinged her neck and left' her for dead. A sick l*d in another house luckily witnessed the assault/ The money was reoorered, and the man isnow^in charge of the police in Aitutaki, waiting till it be known whether the old woman reoovei-s before they put him on his trial. , There is us death penalty for murder jn Cook Inlfti.ds' Jaw, bat there is the power of banishment to a small itUnd called T*kute». On thab isl»nd there are abundant coooanuts, and in itn waters plenty of fish ; bud it is practically marooning, and" aot to be resorted to except in the most extreme cases."

Of the temperance banquet to the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, the Timaru Herald writes: — "The arrangement* were unique and very filling at the price. The menu at this banquet started with sandwiches, sungago rolls, and a miscellaneous H8 j ortment of pastry, wtahf d down by C(Jpioui draught! of tea and coffee. Tbe com-., pany took about an hoar over that act of madnets, and a spectator and participator has informed ns that no time w*s lost, and that the run on .. the solids and fluids w,w brisk in a surprising degree. Then tha cups and sauce's were cleared away, and the second course made its appearance. We are told. that it consisted of plenty more pastry, fruit of various kinds, and bull's-eye and conversation lollies. The attack on all hands wai again brisk, and the cominitte* had provided a wine card comprising such choice vintages, as ginger-pop, lemonade, and ginger ale, or glorified ginger bter, an we have heard if, calif d. But as.the evening wore . on certain auspicious luoking bbttlen made their appearance, and pu bAng tested proved to contain veirj fair whisky. - The company begau to take to it kindly, and it is said to h»ve had a soothing and. settling effect upon those who pirtook of it "

. Mr C. W. Christmas, an Australian artist who has teoently been "doing" New Zealand, proposes du'ii'g the course of the next few days to exb'bit a eo'kcbion of his work*. Mr Chri»tQi%s Ihh attained <n viable distinction throughout Australia ait an artist, and he is a member of the Auckland, Sydney^ and A<lel«ide Art Societies. He has travelled far in selecting his subjects, and he has recently returned from the West Const Souods, beiug greatly impressed with the grandeur of the "scenery there. A cursory view of some, of his works yesterday reve/lod the fact that ha has " cmi^M " s \f<- s<fully the peculiar freshness of the New Zv ila- d Undscapo and the atmowpheric effects characteristic of our co isfcal scenery. His treitment ef Australian views is also particularly effective, and affords a striking contrast to the style in which the New Zealand scenes arc depicted.

Tho anniveriary of Shakespeare's birth will be cel<?b ated on Thursday, 23rd, when the Diiuedm Shakespfeare' Clnb"will read selections from "Macbeth "in the Choral Hall. Mr M. J-.S^.c-b'* 1 Mackenzie is" to givd an address on tbe occasion. B' nee the recent reduction of the honorary members' lubscriptiou there has been a Urge addition to the roll of the club.

Mr Parker M'Kinlay, 8.A., of Stirling, has been informed that he has won the sen ; or aehblar&hip in phj'sieal scii-nce tffored by the University of New Zealand, having tied with a candidate from Oanterbury Collega. Through some delay M'Kinlay did not receive this intelligence at the usual time.

At Monday's mer.Hng of the South Duuedin Borough Council the L*nd and Income Tax department forwai-ded a circular concer.'iug a recint refusal to pass -a vouchtr for Rt« advance of subsidy on the grounds thftt the resolution of the local body niskirg the r-ite did not specify thi particular section and act under which it was j struck, and that therefore the rate was invalid. It would appear that ib was necetsary that the I advertisement of the notice of intention to levy a rate should state the nature of the rate and also the sect'on of the act under which it was levied, and that these particulars should be embodied in the resolution passed by tha local body sfcrikfug the rate. The intimation' was given in the interests of local bodies, and by direction of the Colonial Treasurer;— Received.

Harvesb thanksgiving services were held at (he pretty little church of Sfc. Barnabas, Wsu-.in?tnn, on .Suinlay liuf. Th« church was rKc ri'cd vvi'lriiiurV'C -n- • ' '^st', mii th^re was a rich profuhio'n ot ih ii' 1 f.-uiji* of the ea'th—oft'enugH] which will ii d their way to SI. Mary's Orphanige Rud. gUidclen tha he-arts of the inmates of tha-t ius'.itutioD. The morning and evening 1 services wsre conducted by Mr W. H. Browne, oi' Selwyu College, whose addresses were very appropriate to the festival. The choir reud_'-r."d a particularly good account; of themselves, '^yen ,to flinging tho Psalm*, and the congregation jotijed in with vigour. On the previous evening an organ recital wao giveu in the church, by Messrs H. A, Blathwayt aud a.

O. Fentpn, who rendered a musically interesting programme of too*! and instrumental -iteme tw the manifest! pleasure of .the congregation. Tfa« «me two gentlemen also Assisted at the Sunday services. ' ' • ' Tte'son of Mr Robert Young,' of Macandrew road, a lad of 14, had a somewhat trying experience on Sunday night. With two ofcber lads ha was rambling -about the cliff a near Sfr* Ciair, when, all three descended to the beach. They separated, and it was not until the evening that the two other lads., learned that their companion bad not made his way home, as they thought he had on misting him. A search party (headed by Mr Young) at once set out, but could find no tr*co of; the lad although Mr M'Laren, the well-known footballer, descended the face of • tha cliff at considerable personal risk." On Monday morning tha search was renewed at daybreak under the charge of Constable Dale, and with success, as tbe lad was found on a ledge of rock, iuaccessiblf except at lour water, with bis fox terrier to keep him cotnpaDy, having spent the night »fc this spot. As it was impossible to get him off until low water some food and. warm tea was thrown to the cold and hungry l»d, together with a note instructing him to remain where he was until low water. In the aftemcoa She Ud was restored to hi* M>xion« '».v/—i o A sensational affair ecu d ..t, Wiadser, about three miles from C^risluhntcf .A woman reported to the police that her husb»ndj James Alexander Robartson, had threatened: to ■hoot her and burn the house down. ' Shortly 1 after word was received that the house was^pu fire, and When the police arrived it was burnt down. A shot was heard in tha . neighbourhood, but nothing; cquld be .seen <if .thejna'n. Search was mad« all day yesterday; and to-day, and this afternoon he \va« attested' at Yald/ hirst He hag a family of - evoo ohild^n. "

'Vhe Myrtle brought to Port Moresby, New Gniuoa, on the sth inst , news of considerable quantities of gold found in the interior by prospectors, who have worked their way iulaad from the north-east coast by the Mombara riwr. Ab'uit SOoz'of gold nm found by one p*rfy in I^h than a fortoighb. The place where th». gv>!d wbb found was a long.way iv the interior from tbe north-east coast, and it is thought that the district .cannot be more than about 50 or 60 miles from Port Wo^»h<h--At Iho City Police Court on Thursday, Reginald Baber, a lad, was charged with having, at the Pen inbula, cruelly ill-treated a dog by shooting it with a rifl ■. Mr Hanlon appeared for accused — Mr Milue, wli.j »pi»-jred for tha Society for the Prevention • f Cruelty to Animals, said the facts w<;ra that accused was out rabbiting on the Peninsula, and was carrying a pea riflo. WitnesHes would .be called \vho_..would say that, for lomo reason unexplained, 'accused threatened to shoot the dog, and aimed two, if not three, shots at it, finally wounding it seriously in the loiua. He then wtnt away, leaving it lyinff. Other boys, to whoiu* the dog belonged, tried to get it to go homo with tbi-ra, but it could not, and they had to leave ifc. The following morning a man from Kensington went down ana found the do£ lying dead a considetUble distance from wbere it was shot, but it' mutt have been alive for a considerable tims after the injury was inflicted. Gne>reasou why tho tociety had taken up this cafe was becaute of the indiscriminate use of ( hiise rifles. . Th re wera continual compWt t- made t<» tliu ffocie'y ftbnufc 'ca tlo being/ sho — Htttu> Tuiior, a lad, said he wjth a party of oth«r boys was down at , the* i'enin'tula and found a "billy" that was claimed by accused. Accused fired at a rabbit, and then asked if the dog waa insured. Witness said,'" If you touch him you will see if he is insured." Subsequently he fired at it and shot it. --James Gaffey stated that Tudor calM out hat Baber had shut th<- ''os- and when witness »tt back he saw tho dog had been shot. They' asked Baber why he shot the dog, " and ho pretended he did not know anything about it. He asked, "What dog?" and they replied, "The dog you saw with us up the hill." He then said, " I did not shoot the dog." — Alpx Hepburn gave similar evidence— William 'Ju'dd dep sed to finding the dpg~ileid.— ,MrH*hlon said the defeuce wai a total dcnul that B*b-r shottbo do* at all. He (counsel) could ouly put Baber into, the box, and he wo-ikl tell his Wqrahip thwt- he did not shoot the dog, nor did he sho^tat it. There was»only the evMoi cc of one boy tbat B*ber shot tho dog. Of course there were some surrounding circum* stances— the evidence of tha other boys— which lent colour to the story of tbe first biy. — The accused thnn guve "evidence, denying that he shot the dog —His Worship. in giving his decision, eaid there w.»B no doubt the dog was shot, and thero wa« no evideuceto show that t.he>e wa-< anyone about with a riflt) except ac.'Uiud. The boys had given their wvi fence Vory well, there only being a si. ght diHurcpancy. Hh had uo doubt that accused shot the do£, and it was a wanton and cruel act. If it had happened* that the other boy« had J>een bigger than himself, he would not have cared to do it, but he took advantage of the other three little ffUows being smaller tlian himself. Ha (Mr Car^w) would have to 1 infl'ct a fiuo, or send acciiKeu to prison. He wasiorry he could not order him a thrashing. .That would have bden the beat thing for him. Fined 10s auft costs (30^ 6d).

Afc last week's meeting of the Benevolent^ Institution Trustees the Dunedin Meat Supply Company having presented 72 loaves of bread to the institution, iv connection with the catering for the volunteeis, it w«« decided to acknowledge the pift with thanki. The Chairman stated that it had been said that a woman who appeared before the trustees in a B.«th cluir and hsd been granted aid had come into j£soo. If that were bo it was questionable whether the' trustees should not take action to recover {he amount giveu'in relief.— Mr Solomon said if the trustees took proceedings he would undertake to provide evidence that the woman bad been left several huudreds of poun^i!. The evidence would be indisputable. — Tim secretary was instructed to take steps to recover.

It *as reported at the last m-utw^ of the Dunedin Ho.-pital Trustees that; the Mimber of put eats iv the outdoor department was S7S