LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

The Very Rev. Father Lenihan, administrator of the Auckland Diocese, and the Very Rev. Dr Egan will represnnt Auckland at the consecration of Mons'gaor Verdon as Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin. A youth named Joseph Noble, aged 16 years, who had been assisting his father in the resoue work at the Brunner mine, died suddenly last wesk. It is supposed that death was caused through the effects of the afterdamp. He has been in a delicate state of health for some time, and he stood at the mouth of the mine all night. The bravo young fellow was a pupil teacher in the Brunnerton School. We regret having to announce the death of Dr Max Koehn, who settled in Dunedin about 18 months since as a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, and throat, but who unfortunately developed symptoms of consumption, which necessitated him leaving for a warmer climate. Dr -Koehn was advised by his dootor in Sydney to take up his residence in Orange, in the hope that the change would arrest the disease, but he gradually got worse and his death took placa on the 6th insfc. Dr Koehn took his degree at Leipsic, where he practised for some time before coming to New Zealand. His wifo is a niece of Mr J. F. Maitland, and is a granddaughter of the late Sir John Riohardson, Mrs Koehn and her two children are, we understand, returning to Dunedin. When Nansen started his Polar expedition it was with the theory of the existenca of a current whioh would carry his vessel from the neighbourhood of the New Siberia Islands across the top of the world within hailing distance of the Pole, and then southward along the eastern coast of Greenland to the clear waters of the North Atlantic. This was based chiefly upon the discovery 12 years ago of what was said to be relics of the Jeanette expedition on an ice floe near the southern extremity of Greenland. The New York correspondent of the Argus tells a strange story, asserting that the relics were a hoax jwepaitd and placed oa (he ice floe by

certain young members of an expsdition sent by thb American Government to resoae the Greely party in 1884. The relics were planted by jokers on board one of the vessels to deceive the associates of other boats, but the articles being found by the Esquimaux the guilty persons restrained from confession for fear of punishment. The facts were obtained, however, a few months later by Drs D&le and Bessels in Washington, who should have given them to the public. Nonsen, it is thought) was informed about them just' before he sailed nearly three years ago, but it is possible that when he departed he still believed the relics genuine.

There is &t present on view in the window of Mr Alfred H. Burton, Prinoos street, a panoramic photograph of Dunedin and snrroanding suburbs. The picture is exceedingly well executed, and is attracting a lot of attention. Its actual aize is 17ft. It is divided into 10 sheetr, each embracing 36 degrees of the horizon. The view is taken- from the Town Hall tower, and all the principal buildings of the city are plainly discernible. Mr Burton has made a special study af this branch of photography, and some fine specimens of a similar character are to be seen in his studio, notably a panoramic view of Milford Sound. At last week's meeting of the Otago Dock Trust the Secretary read a report, which set. forth that during the year ending 31«t December 1895 56 vessels had been docked— viz. : 43 e tenners, 4 sailing vessels, 2 hulks, 5 tugs, and 2 dredges, of a total registered tonnage of 40,464-. Against theie during the previous year thflre were docked 61 vessels. The dock during 1895 was in use on 215 working day*, and work frequently continued during the day and night. Tenders had been accepted for two new boilers, to be supplied at the end of June. The Geographical Journal publishes a paper by Mr Clements Morkham, the president of the society, describing the results of three expeditions, two of them Bolivian and ons Peruvian, in the basin of the great river Mftdre de Dios, which promise to lead to the oponing up of a country pn the -eastern slopes of the Andes abounding in gold. The most important discovery was that Madre de Dios is & migniScent river without obstructions, and that it traverses a region belonging to Bolivia, and running like a wedge between Pern and Brazil, which is one of the richest in the world. In the lower forests there are inexhaustible supplies of indiarubber, while "the slopes of the Andes yield coffee and coooa of unequalled excellence." They are also the home of the best species of quinine-yielding ehinohona trees ; and, as we have said, they abound in gold. The basin of the Madre de Dios is 500 miles long. It takes its rise in the mountains, is now easily accessible, and flows to the eastward until it enters the Madeira, which is the most important affluent of the Amazon. A remarkable development of radiography is reported by the Paris correspondent of the Standard, who says that two journalists, M. Henry Jerzuel and M. Henry Lapauze, of the Gaulois, have photographed the contents of a letter 'written by the .well-known journalist, Alexandra Hepp, through the envelope in whioh. it was enclosed. The photograph is very clear and legible. It appears that every kind of paper is not equally favourable for the operation. Nevertheless, the thick parliamentary envelopes of the Senate and Chamber cannot I conceal the secrets which may bo contained within. To prevent the cathodis rays penetrating, it loffices to wrap the letter in a sheet of tinfoil, such as is used by chocolate makers, but even this protection will no doubt become as naught before very long if advances in the new art continue at the rate at which thay have begun. Some terrible prospects are opened up by this news. From the south of France come reports concerning the remarkable phenomenon of a "moving mountain." The Gouffre mountain, in the Gard, is, it is stated, moving towards the river, at a pace of five yards a day. Its advance has (says a Daily News correspondent) destroyed the machinery and pits of the Grand Combe colliery, and destroyed nearly a mile of the Alais railway. The great thing now is to prepare new channels for the Gard and Gardon rivers, whioh are sure when the landslip comes to be completely choked up. Six hundred persons have been obliged to leave theii homes at the Grand Combe. The lower strata of Gouffre mountain, which rises sheer from a j valley, are of grit and green marl. Both have givan way owing to the infiltration of rain. On j a recant Sunday 6000 persons went from Nimes to see the moving mountain from the range fronting it. The noiie it keeps on making is frightful. There are wide cracks in all directions. Nobody is suffered to go on the Gouffre or into the valley on which it advances.

There is no counting on the mercurial Celt. la proof of which assertion the National Observer narrates the following anecdote :— " When the feeling bstweea Great Britain and America was highly strained, three companies of Irish- Americans were raised by one Mike in New York to fight against England. When the scare abated a little the colonel of the battalion in which these warriors were enrolled suggested to Mike that it was time to disband his men. * Sorra a bit of it, colonel,' wag his answer ; < sure they are In trouble .with the German Emperor now.' The American promptly 'judged' (bat Mike was still longing

to strike a blow at Ireland's enemy. But it was nob so, for the Bon of Erin explained that, in case of war between England and Germany, he should range himself and his merry men on England's side. This is a little better ; but a more consistent kind of loyalty,' or even disloyalty, would be preferable."

At the meeting of the Education Board last week Mr Mackenzie protested against the practice of referring applications to the architect for a report when the effect was virtually to shelve the matter for an indefinite period. This was apropos to an application from the Owaka School Committee, whioh it was proposed to refer to the architect, and Mr Mackenzie said that it was months new since the inspector was to have gone down to attend to some alterations at that same (school, and up to the present moment he had not gone. Now^ the people should be fold at once if they wera not going to have their requirements attended to, and they should not ba treated in tho manner proposed. It was possible that, the iuspector, under present arrangements, mighc get down some time next century. The promised visits of the inspaotor were similar to the promised supply to members of Parliament of a nifew General Assembly library, but no one expected to see it until the beginning of the next century. There were, he was assured, sohools erected now aud during the whole course of their erection no inspection bad taken place. If the inspeotor was not able to overtake all the work, then assistance should be given to him. It was resolved that the inspector should report in connection with the O waka Committee's application at next meeting of the board. Mr Murk Cohen has been elected chairman of the Education Board for the ensuing 12 months. - ' The departmental inquiry into the railway collision which took place between Clinton and Waiwera on the Bth inst. has concluded, and Mr Hudson, assistant manager, haa returned to Wellington. Mr Day, stationmaster at B*lolutha, has resumed duty. At the Auckland Assessment Court the local manager of the Government Insurance Office objected to the offices of the ' department in Queen street being placed on the assessment roll for city valuation par poses. Tho property was assessed at £900 rateable value. Exemption was claimed on the ground that the building was vested i» the Queen. - The magistrate (Mr Northcroft) dismissed the objection, considering it clear that certain of the profits were paid to the policyholders, as in any other company. The question of costs was reserved. >■ The Christian Outlook learns that the Rev. W. H. Ash will inform the presbytery that, while highly appreciating the honour of a call from the Bluff Church, he will not take on hie own shoulders the responsibility of the proposed translation. If the presbytery will not take the responsibility he feels he must decline the c*ll. An election to fill three ordinary vacancies on the Tomahawk Road Board will be held on Saturday, 2nd May. The board intends to make a rate of Jd in the pound on rateable property- within the district. At the City Police C*urt on the 14th inst., before Meairs A. Mercer and L. Mendelsohn, J F.'s., Robert Haraie, on bail, was charged, on tin Information of Henry Smith Fish, with committing perjury at the trial of himself at the sitting of the Magistrate's Conrt (criminal), at Dunedin. on Friday, the 27th ult., by swearing to the effect that he was not in that part of Princes stroet which is between Jetty street and Police street on the evening of the 21st March, the night of the assault. After the evidence had been heard the Bench retired, and after a few minutet deliberation found that there was a case to answer. Being cautioned, accused reserved bii . defence and was committed for trial, bail being allowed as before -himself in £100 and two sureties of £50 each.