AN UNLIKELY STORY. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, February 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 29

AN UNLIKELY STORY. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, February 3.

Tbe San Francisco Chronicle, of January 8, publishes a statement that Butler went to Honolulu from Sydney by the Mtripose, on her la«t trip, and ttayed at Honolulu, ~ The person with whom he lodged gives a description of the man tallying with that of Butler. She also says the man said his name was Butler, and that he came from Australia.

At a, meeting of, the Dunedin Presbytery which was held on Tuesday the Rev. Dr. Paton asked tbe presbytery to try and induce the New Zealand Government to co-operate with the Governments of Victoria and New South Wales in petitioning the Home Govern meat to prevent the annexation of the New Hebrides by the French. It was decided to comply with the request of the rev. doctor, and alto to point out to the colonial Government that the Preibyterian Church of Ofcago and Southland had a large interest in the mission operations which are beiDg carried on in the New Hebrides. Miss Helen May Don, daughter of the missionary to the Chinese in Otago, is believed to have made a record fcr youthful mountaineering in Ofcago. Mr Don has ju»t returned from the main part of his annual tour among the Chinese inltncl, at the close of which he tpent a week with Mrs Don r.nd family at Lake Wakatipu. On January 27, accompanied by Miss Boyes and the Roy. R. H. Blair, of Queesstown, they made the top or Ben Lomond, at the back of Queenatown— the six children, of ages from 13 years to 12 months, all reaching the top. The youngest child, needless to say, got there without much effort of bis own ; but Miss Don — with the exception of 300 ft of the ascent and 500 ft of the descent, when she was carried over rocky aud shingly faces— > " did" the mountain unaided. Seeing that the top is 5747 ft a"bove the sea, and 4700 ft above Queenstown, while the journey up and down involves 13 miles walking, the feat is rather remarkable for a child of- such tendu 1 age — three years and five mouths. Next day, too, she was lively as a cricket, while the oldn. 1 children were stiff and tired. Messrs Walter Blackie, J. P. M. Fraser, H. M. Henderson, W. D. Milne, W. Moore, James Sim. W. Snow, and John White, the Ray. L. J. Harrison, and the Hon. J. MacGregor hava been nominated for the three vacancies on tha Education Board. The school committees* voting papers must be returned by the 2ttfc insU