LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 20

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The official liquidator of the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association on the 13th received authority from Mr Justice Williams to make a call of £4 per share upon the contributories of the association. The order by the court included a direction for payment of tho call in instalments. After the application had been granted a persou who had been watching the proceedings with a perceptible degree of interest addressed his Honor, and stating that he was the holder of five shares in the association, declared that he was uaable to pay a call, and that he had only been earning about £50 a year for tho last two years. His Honor explained to the shareholder what the position was, and informed him that if he was unable to pay the call the official liquidator was the person to whom he should apply.

An application of an unusual character was made to his Honor Mr Justice Williams sitting in Chambers on the 13th met. The application was made at the instance of Audrew M'F&rlane (of the firm of A. and J. M'Farlane, grocers), and was for an order for a writ of injunction to restrain William Henry Corrigan, printer, or the printer and publisher of the Democrat newspaper, from printing, publishing, or exhibiting a certain cartoon or caricature, .upon tho ground 4 th*t " the plaintiff has bean and will be greatly injured in Irs credit and reputation as a grocer by the publication of the said cartoon, and that the cartoon is a libel upon the plaintiff." Mr Fraser appeared to move in the matter, and the defendant appeared in person. Affidavits by William Proudfoot Watson aud George G. Cripps were read stating that tbe defendant had exhibited to them a cartoon he proposed to publish which suggested tha<} improper influences had bean employed to secure for the plaintiff's firm the accsptance by the trustees of the Benevolent Institution of their tender for the supply of groceries. His Honor refused to gr*nt an immediate injunction, observing that the cases were strongly against the judge exercising such a power except in extreme cases.

At the ('meeting of the Obigo Dock Trust on the 13th Mr A. Thomson, who was re-elected chairman for the ensumg 12 months, made referencs to the remarks passed by Mr Gale (chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board) in advocating the construction of a graving dock at that porb. Mr Thomson expressed the opinion that Otago had nothing to fear from the proposed dock ■in Wellington, as this port enjoyed the distinction of being the cheapest in the matter of dock charges of any port south of the equator. It was necessary, he added, that Otago Harbour should maintain its prestige in this respect. Concessions had some time ago been made to the Uoion Company, and he had no doubt the meoibsra of the trust would be glad if at any future time it was rendered possible to still further iucrease the facilities for vessels docking here.

Our London correspondent writes :—: — "It seems to be regarded as a dead certainty that Mr Seddon, when he comes Home, will receive an offer of knighthood, bat opinions differ very much as to whether Le will see hiß way to accept it, and the sinister effect of the honour upon the political career of one of his predecessors is often referred to. I hear, however, that should the New Zealand Premier consider that the acceptance of knighthood would wreck or risk his political.future, he will be invited to suggest one of his ■colleagues as a substitute, in which case it is reported that the Minister for Lands would be the recipient."

Mr Jitmefl George Stuart, M.A , LL.B., was last week admitted by h's Honor Mr Justice Wi'liams as a barrister and solicitor of the Suoreme Court of New Zealaad.

The Union Company have received cable advice of the sailing of their new steamer Moana i'rcin Glasgow on the 10th inst. The Monnn is the steamer specially built for the San Fraucisco mail service, and replaces the Monowai, which will then taka up her running in the intercolonial Ber?ics. The Moana is bound for Sydney direct, and will sail from there on Monday, 7th June. From all accounts she is a magnificent 'specimen of the very latest development^ of the shipbuilder's art, and should make a great name for herself in the San Francisco service. She steamed 17 knots per hour on her trial trip last weik.

Mr John Roberte.having been absent from the colony for a longer period than six monthe, the Defence department have appointed Captain W. D. Milne in his place as a trustee at the Garrison Hall.

The Pross slates that the prospecting for opalis at Mount Peel, in the Ashburton district has been most successful in that excellent stones with all the fire of s the true opal have been procured.

The Timaru Borough Council has resolved to offer the Gas Company £22,000 for their works, to buy tbom for the municipality. In the event of the off^r bring declined, inquiries will be made as to water gas and electricity.

An unusual application was made in Sydney on the 6":h inst. to the Chief Justice, sitting in Equity, that execution should issue against the Crown in respect to an unsettled arbitration award. Some time since Thomas Walter Hnpgerford, contractor, brought an action against the Wollongong Harbour Trust for wrongful cancellation of his contract for the construction of a local breakwater. The Government having dissolveed the tru3t< and taken charge of its affairs, baoame defendant in its place, with the result that when the matter was referred to arbitration Mr Hungerford was awarded £12,864 to compensate him for the, loss of his contract;. As he was unable to obtain the amouut of the award from the Government, he sought to compel payment by securing the issue of execution against it. On behnlf of the Crown it was stated that tho money had nos yet been voted by Parliament, and therefora could not be handed over. An offer was, however, made to hand to the plaintiff £1419 remaining to the credit of the Harbour Trust, and to pay the remainder of the award when ib was voted by Parliament, with 4 per cent, interest added. This proposal was acceptod by the plaintiff.

Mr RoBB, of Messrs H. I. M. Ross and Co., med&lluts and engravers, of this city, has shown us some specimens of souvenirs of the forthcoming Rtcord Reign celebrations which the firm are now makiDg on a very extensive scale. These souvenirs consist of gold and silver brooches, sleeve-links, charms, hat ping, medals, &c. The designs are all characteristic of New Zealand and the event about to be commemorated. Thus the brooches consist of three divisions or parts, on the central one of which is the Queen's head in relief from the latest medallions. At the sides of this are representations of a Maori canoe and a New Zealand palm tree. The palm tree and the canoe, together with something emblematic of the " Diamond Jubilee," run through all the articles, which should meet with ready sale all over the colony. What it particularly noteworthy about the souvenirs is that such articles have never previously betn produced in the colony. Work-

■' ]w munship and material are entirely colonial. The firm is to be congratulated upon having demonstrated that work of such a high class can be produced in the colony and yet at prices to compete with the imported article, and low enough to place them within the reach of almost everybody. The designs give evidence of great skill in engraving, so that the articles have intrinsic as well as extrinsic merit. Wo understand that steps have been taken to place the souvenirs very prominently before the public.

The warm weather of the early part of last week has rapidly mtlted the snow on the high mountains, causing floods in the snow-fed rivers. The Clutha River was 16ft abore itsnormal lerel at Cromwell oa the 14th.

The regular meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held on the 14th inst , and was attended by Messrs A. Solomon (ohairman), R. Watson, R. Wilson, J. Green, W. Swau. and H. Gourley. Accounts amounting to £239 4s 8d were passed for payment. Lucius Ryan, aged 66, died in tho institution during the past week. The monthly outdoor relief book showed that the total number of caiea for last month was 410, comprising 171 men, 308 women, and 663 children, the cost per week being £109 13i. For the corresponding month of last year the figures were : — Cases 479, representing 193 men, 375 womco, and 923 children. The cost per week was £145 2s. The chairman mentioned that there was a great; decrease. There were 22 meny£? women, and 260 ohildren less last month than the one of the year previous, and the cost was £35 9s less, which meant a saving of nearly £2000 a year. An apology" for non-attendauoe was received from Mr C. Allan. Relief cases tro the number of 52 were dealt with.

The Ounedin Ministers' Association took steps towards arranging for a series of united services in the spring of the year, and sent: round circulars to the churohss of the city and suburbs, to nearly all of which they received a favourable reply. The season, however, being so far advanced, it was deemed desirable to hold it over until autumn. Arrangements ara now being made for such a series of meetings to be held in one of the oentr*l chnrches from May 17 to 20 (inclusive). Thess will ODnsist of a meeting each night for praise, prayer, and iustruction, ending op on the 20th with a united communion service. Endeavours are also beiog made to arrange for an exohange of pulpits by which most of the ministers will on the evening of Sunday, May 16, occupy another place.

According to the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Tiinei, the Government have "under consideration the desirableness of introducing opossums into this colony. • When in Tasmania recently, Me Sedtlon pave instructions for a number to be sent to New Zealand for liberation on the Wesb Coast, as the cliimte and surroundings there are said to be congenial. However, it transpires that a close aeasou is at present being observed on the other side, and nothing can be done for another six months." Apparently tho Premier is not aware of the fact that opossums have been introduced into the colony already, and that they are fairly numerous at Cfttlius and in tho western district.

The Acclimatisation Society on the 14th* received official intimation that the season for trout-fishing has been extended to the 27th inst.

As a result of the inquiries of a committee, the Timaru Borough a Counoil has been pat in the way of saving about £40 a year in the cost of transmitting .Home the half-yearly instalments of interest on the £60,000 waterworks loan. This is effected by cabling the drafts instead of po'ting them, the gain appearing chit fly in s&viog interest on overdraft. /

The Wairarapa Daily Times says : — "A poor girl who died from typhoid in the Masterton Hospital hr.d been sent down from Bkbtahuna in a brake, and the fatal termination of her illness is ascribed by the doctors to the rough journey by road. Previously the railway authorities had refused her a passage in the train, and had this been conceded the probabilities are that she would have baen now alive. Medical exports are of opinion that there is no risk of infection to the travailing public through accommodation being granted to a. typhoid patient, and it is to be regretted that the officials who refused the girl admission to the train were not aware of this fact."

A krge filter, on the Chamberland-Pasfceur principle, wes opened for use in the Union street School ground on Wednesday, 14th, in the presence of Messrs A. H. Shelton (chairman), T. Christie, G. C. Israel, «nd G. Lawrence (members of the school committee), and a few other gentlemen, including Dr Ogaton, Messrs F. W. Petre, J. Duthie, and Roberts (chairman of the North-E*st Valley School Committee). The filter, which is » massive concrete structure, was constructed to the order of the Education Board by Messrs J. and T. Christie. The cistern has * o*pacifcy-of 300 "gallons, and the filtration capacity is 59 gallons per diem. Ifc is worth mentioning, aa an illustration of the qualify of the water supplied to the citizens, that on the filter being withdrawn from the 'cistern,, in which it had been for some nina dayo, the 10 cylindrical porcelain tube* through which the water passes in the course of filtration were each thickly coated with filth that had been extracted from the fluid.

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post announces the death, at the age of 85, of Mdme. Cornelie F*!con, a cantatrice who for five years had the most brilliant career imaginable. La Falcon ma.de her debut at the Opera House on July 20, 1832, in "Robert le Diable." The Temps declared that never had there bsen such a brilliant entry upon the operatic stage, while among the chorus of delighted critics M. Blaze de Bury wrote : "Ifc is impossible to imagine a clearer or more incomparably beautiful soprano." After five years of the greatest success La Falcon's voice appeared to break. She went to Italy in tbe hope that the climate would restore the lost; notes, and then returned to Paris in the belief that she had recovered her voice. The opera was crowded on the night of her rentre'e. La Falcon was extremely beautiful, and the arrival of the favourite was the signal for round after; round of applause. The orchestra began, bub when La Falcon tried to sing she failed to utter a note, and bursting into tear?, left the stage. She never appeared in public again.

A coneerb at Sandymount on Wednesday night, in aid of the fuads of the Peninsula Rifle Club, consisted of an excellent programme of songs by Dunedin amateurs, and although the audience was small and not very demonstrative in their appreciation of gome of the bast items. an enjoyable evening was spent by all concerned. Miss Mathieson's two songs, " Supposing " and " Two spooni," pleased the audience, the latter bsing encored, to which the vocalist responded with " Needles and pins." Mrs Gordon's rendering of "The song that reached my heart" and "Ben Bolt" was a, rare treat. "The Kerry dance" and " Jessie's dream," sung by Miss Cooper, drew forth well-merited applause. Miss Reid aaDfi "Bid me to love" and

•*Rem«mber me no more" in her usual pleasing way. Mies Moss's rendering of " Two's company " also deserves praise. Mr Campbell was heard to advantage iv "To the front" and " Our middy," and was followed by' Mr Brown, whose comic, "Still his whiskers grew " and " Chin Chin," elicited encores. Mr George Stephenson met with equal Success in " Stammering sweethearts " and " The washerwoman." Miss Mathieson and Mr Stoke aoted as Accompanists and Mr L. Robertson as chairman. The concert terminated with a farce entitled "Puddings," by Messrs Stepheneon and Proctor. A_dance followed, under the manageinenfc of Mr M'K-iy, jnn , as M.O.

The most expensive book ever published in the world is said to be the official history of the War of Rebellion, which is now being issued by the Government of the United States at; a cost up to date of about £477,000. Of this amount £236,858 has been paid for printing and binding. The remainder was expended for salaries,

rent, stationery, and other contingent and

miscellaneous expenses, and for the purchase -of records from private individuals. It will require ab least three years longer to complete the work, and the total cost is expected to reach nearly £800,000. It will consist of 112 volume.?,

including an index, and an atlas whiob contains 178 plates and maps illustrating fche important battles of the war, campaigns, routes of march, plans of forts, and photographs of interesting scenes, places, and persons. Only 51,000 copies of the book have yet. been Bold. i The Emperor William made a speech at Brandenburg on February 26 which has excited much comment and recalled his Majesty's previous declaration that he would "smash" his enemies. The speech on the 26th was an attack upon Socialism and a glorification of his grandfather, Willi»m I. Tbe Emperor, in conclusion (according to The Times' report), said :— " We can only win tho b*ttle by constantly thinking of the man to whom we owe our Fatherland, the German Empire, by who3e side there stood in the providence of God so many brave, skilled counsellors — men who had fche honour and privilege of executing his ideas, but who we; « all instruments of bia sublime will, filled with

the spirit of tbis exalted Emperor. Let us remember him, and then we shall work on the right lines, and not weary in tha struggle to rid our land of this disease which not only infects our nation, but also seeks fco undermine the life of the family— yes, and to undermine fche holiest thing wo Germans know, fche position of woman. I trust to see my men of the Mark around me when the signals of flime are revealed ; and in the spirit of this hope I cry— The Mark and fche Men of tha Mark, Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! " The passenger traffic on fche railways was very heavy on Thursday. The early train and the exprees to the north took »w*y over 500 paHßengeri, and about 300 travelled by the expiets train iav fche south The 3 p.m. train to Oftmara and the 4.20 train for Clinton were both crowded, the Clinton train comprising some 12 carriage? 'all well filled. The express trains from both north and south brought a large number of visitors to the city. In the evening there was a very large crowd abont the railway station, and for » t.ime locomotion wai somewhat difficult. The special train to the nerth took away over 400 paisengers, while between 400 and 500 travelled by the special train for fche south. With fcacb the railway officials were able to meet all demands made upon them.

Lloyd's Committee have written to the

Government thanking them for permission to establish signal stations at Farewell Spit and Cape Maria vau Diemen. The preparation of pl«ns will be left to ths agents here and submitted to the Government for approval.

We l«arn that Ofcago is to hava a fchird representative in the Record Reign volunteer contingent, fche name of Mr Audrew Grieves, of the Ofcajo Hussars, having bsen, through some misunderstanding, omitted when the selection was finally made. Mr Grieves has we understand, been officially informed of his inclusion in the contingent. A letter which has been handed to us from a former resident of Dunedin who wenb to South Africa some tima ago gives a more rosy view of tha state of the labour market in fch&t colony than other accounts have given. Writing to s friend here, he says ths latter, if he did not strike it rich, would do much better than in New Zealand. He himself took the first job that offered on his arrival— a position as groom and gardener at 20s a week aud found — but after, four months secured a much improved position. The only way, he cays, is for a man to work at first at anything that offers and learn to speak Dutch. The Maoris are holding a Native Parliament ab Greytown, the new meetiug hall ot which has been formally opened. Chiefs *re present from the South Island. ' The fresh election of a councillor to represent Waipori Riding in the Tuapeka Couofcy Council xesuffced in the return of Mr R. Cotton by a majority of 11 votes. After fche November elections * petitiou was lodged and hfard before MiHawkins, SM., who found thifc fcha voting was equal, and called upon the returning officer in court to exerCl9B his casting vote. ' This was done, and Mr Knight was declared elected, but on appeal to Mr Justice Williams the election was declared void. Messrs Cotton and Knight again fought out the contest, Mr Cotton polling 78 votes, and Mr Knight 67. The friends of Mr H. S. Fish, M.H R., will learn with regret that his health still continues unsatisfactory. Bishop Verdon left for Australia on Mon-

day to attend the ceremonies in connection with

the consecration of Dr Dwyer as coadjutor Bishop of Maifcland, New South Wales. Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, it is understood, leaves for Rome this week.

Ifc is the intention of Bishop Verdon to immediately commence tha work of the erection of an orphanage. The site chosen is close to Sfc. Patrick's Basilica, South Danedin, and fche building, which will ultimately be an extensive tone, is planned oif the most modern principle. Hitherto fche Catholic children from the dis-

tricfc have been sent to Sb. Mary's Orphanage (Nelson) — a system which, besides possessing no few disadvantages, is attended with a good deal of expense. A correspondent of fche Lyfctelton Times writes from the Chafchams :—": — " Tne islands have stagnated. They are rapidly going to the dogs. Most of the young men are leaviug, as well as some of the older and married ones. All the land is locked up, and those in possession bmploy little labour. The islands are quite capable of maintaining a population of 2000, jrheress we have but a paltry two or three hundred. Tbe looking up of fche land and the exorbitant charges for freight and passage money are the great causes of the fearful depression." A movement is on foot at the Bluff, the

Southland Times says, to float a company to obtain a steamer' fitted with "^b refrigerator to call on fche several fishing smacks at Ruwake. Sfcewurt Island,

Preservation Inlet, and elsewhere, and convey fche fish fco a hulk (also containingja refrigerator) stationed at tha Bluff, where the stores would lie till despatched to Melbourne and other markets, Under present circumstances there is no regularity in the delivery of catcles, and owing to delay some of the fish comes. to hand not so freßh as ifc should be, and frequently large quantities have to be thrown away as unfit for food.

A correspondent sends to tho London Times the following extract from a letter from Mauritius, referring to the wreck of the transport Warren Hastings :— " The officer told off to see that evorybody was out of fche vessel before leaving called out from the deck, •Is there anybody else below ? ' when a voice iv reply was heard fco say, 'Pieass, sir, may I come up now, as the water is rather high ? ' On looking down the officer perceiyed this man, who had been told to stand by below as sentry, standing up to his ueek in water, Obedience and discipline incarnate ! "

In- view of fche interest excited by the announcements made concerning the wonders of the ore atomic process, the affairs of fche West Australian (Gold District) Trading Corporation possess tome inberesb. It will be remembered that it was the chairman of this company who trumpeted the extraordinary merits of the process. The company is now in liquidation, and at a stormy meeting in London on March 4, of contributories, Mr Barnes referred at some length to the formation of the comiiany, pointing out that the syndicate, the business of which the cjmpany acquired, paid a dividend of 100 pec cent. ; but he regretted to s»y. 'that at the time the dividend was declared and up to the issue of the prospectus not one penny had been earned by the syndicate — or perhaps he ought to put it rather in this way : that not oae penny piecs profit had been realised. — (•' Shame.") They would wonder what the direotors cou'd possibly have relied upon in declaring this dividend; bub the board had told him they lidded thab profios would be made. — (Laughtsr and hisses.) He thought; there was only one conclusion possible for any man to come to — namely, that this dividend of 100 per cent, was declared in order to baib tha prospectus of the corporation. He went at length into the various transactions of the company, which were of aa extraordinary character, and, in conclusion, said he believed that the shareholders had practically no interest whatever. He was very caustic in his remarks upon the conduct of the syndicate, and ho did uob spare either individuals or collective bodies, but generally condemned the action of the promoters of the company, which had led up to fche present colUpse. A good deal of excited discussion ensued. There were cries for Mr Goodman to address the meeting, bub the Chairman said he declined to do bo. There were then shouts for Sir Edward Lee and Col. Ogilvie, who were each questioned very closely as to their connection with fche company. The subsequent proceedings became turbulent, and threats of a criminal prosecution were made. Eventually, a resolution was passed appointing Mr Pannell liquidator of the company pending the approval of the court, and & committee of investigation was appointed. *

A bill hss been introduced in the Nevada Legislature authorising the State to expend 3000dol for a silver belt, studded with diamonds, to be presented to the winner of the CorbettFitzsimmons fight. The belt will bear a reproduction of the official seal of the State, and a facsimile of the Governor's autograph.

Recently a matron brought four infants of teuder years to the London police, as having bien ab*ndoned by their parents and left to starve on the staircase of the house in which ehe lived. The police fed them and took them before the magistrate, who, no doubb, after commending their rescuer, duly had them provided for in tho workhouse. Ib now turns out that they were her own property, and that she had hit on this ingenious device for getting rid of them at the public ch»rge. She is to be investigated by Mr Waugh'6 society, and the children have been returned to her loving care.

The London correspondent of the Sydney j Morning Herald states that he has been in- j formed by a publisher that the craze for the hittorical novel is at an end, the taste of the reading public being surfeited. The authors who came in ab the right time — notably, Mr Stanley Weymau and Mr Crockett — have rcapsd a fine harvest ; but they must now look to aNfradually dwindling public. I am half sorry tor it, because this class of fiction is ab least sound and healthy, and the authors put really hard work into it. Miss Marie Corelli is about the best-paid writer of the day. Ifc is alleged tbo-t she is making somethiug like £15 000 to £20,000 a year oul of the profits of her nuvelß. "

What the loc\l papers describe as a sensational sale of city •property took place in Liverpool last February. The cominibtea of the Liverpool Stock Ex"ehuDge (says the Liverpool Daily Post) have purch&«ed tho narrow strip of property on the east 6ide of Exchange st*eet eas*', adjoiuiug the present building, and the price paid is probably far and away bayood any figure ever before known in Liverpool — namely. £226 par square yard, or at therateof £1,095,840 par acre, a rate which tkouid give pause to thoss prophets of evil who opine that the glory of Liverpool has departed and that the values are on the decline. It naay bs mentioued that during the land boom in Melbourne as much as £200 per square yard was obtained for land in ColHqh street.

A stylishly dre«sed young man named John Henry Swales was charged at the Melbourne City Court on the 6Sh insb. with obtaining £30 by false pretences from a young lady named Julia M 'Ksown. The evidenca #i ?en disclosed a heartless case of swindling. While travelling on board tho mail steamer Oruba,- Swales won the affection of the young woman, and promised to marry her. He then set to work to systematically obtain her money by false representations. He obtainid £80 altogether, and asked for another £20, when her suspicions were aroused. Swales had been living in high style at the St. Kilda Coffee Palace, but when arrested only had 5d on him, having, he says, lost the young lady's money at the races: He is a married man, and the police described him as a ne'er-do-well, who had been sent away from England by his father. The chairman told the accused that he was a cowardly aad impudent blackguard, and sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment.

A serious altercation arose at Broken Hill on the night of the 4th insb. between some miners, including Stephen Cullin and Patrick Francis, These two arranged to settle their difference next morning, and accordingly a fight was started about 9.30 a.m. in the hollow at the back ot the Waterworks Hill. Both stripped off and set to. Soon, however, Culliu received a blow under the ltft jaw, felling him to the ground. Ib was thought ab first that he was simply knocked out, but those present quickly saw that the man was dying, and he expired in a few minutes. Dr G<rove3 was immediately summoned, and he pronouncsd life extinct. The body was .removed to the hospital morgue

pending an inque3t. Francis and two others were arrested.

At Washington there has jnsb been held a National Congress of Mothers. Tne Daily Graphic states Chat the proposal to establish a national training school for mothers met with cordial support, but the real hit of the meeting was made by Mrs Jenue3B Miller, who, in the course of an address on physical education, fired off a number of aphorisms almost worthy of her historic namesake the humorist. Mrs Miller said: " Fcei the men into heaven; feed the children into morality. The tima is coming when an American woman will be ashamed to say, ' I feel ill.' I sympathise with downtrodden man, who is nob so bad as ho is painted." What a tempest would have been raised had a mere man, at a national cougress of father*, ventured to state that "ha sympathised with downtrodden woman, who is not so bad as she is painted " !

Ib appears from the decision of the New York oourts against the Cigarette Trust that tobacco in any form is a necessity and not a luxury in the view of the Uaitsd States law. la reply to the contention ot" counsel for the trusb fchafc its product is nob an article of prime necessity, tho court quoted with approval the language of Mr Hugh M'Culloch in a report as Secretary of the Treasury, in which ho said of tobacco : " An article which is so generally used, and which fcdds so muoh to the comfort of the large numbers of our population who earn their living by manual labour, cannot properly be considered a luxury."

Mr Cecil Rhodes became so much at home while giriug evidence before the Parliamentary Committee that he could Bip hii bottled otout under the eyes of the envious committee, and munch t, ham sandwich as he explained to them his policy iv Souih Affica. Tha restless move- j naents, the nervous tens : oa of his face, the long j pauses iv his replies all disappeared. Ho ' became quite chatty, and occasionally confix j dontiftl. The bonour3 of success in cross- i examination probably rested with Mr Blake, j who succeeded where Sir William Har- j court's more elaborate method failed. ; In Mr BlakVs hands Mr llhodes made no { further effort to conceal the fact that for months befo c Di* Jameson ntarted on his famous raid the Premier of the Cape, whether at Groote Schuur or Johannesburg, was preparing for what Mr Rhodes describes by the bleised word " eventualities." He was determined to upsst tha Boer Government, justifying his resolve on the double ground ot injustice to the UitUnders and a disposition on the I part of Kruger to dislodge British influence in ! South Africa iv favour of Gsroiany. flis evidence, it ia generally admitted, turned the tide in his favour* ( < Good Friday was observed as a close holiday in \ town, and during the wholeday tho streets pre- \ sented an unusiully quiefc appearance. Beauti- ] ful weather prevailed, and c. nvaxbir of persons I took advantage of the steamer excursions and wenb for a trip down the harbour, while uthara found their way out to Sfc. Ci&ir or to fho Botanic Gardens. A considerable number ot sportsmen also left by tibe morning tr'aias to go on fishing and shooting expeditions into the country.

A prohibitionist's impressions of three years experience as a member of a. licensing comtnitteo were laid bare ab ths «oeial h*ld Jasi evening in connection with the South Island Prohibition Contention, the cooimitteeTtmn in question being the Rev. Me Nichol, of Haoipden, who sat on tha Waihaino Licensing Banch. ; He went on to the committee, he said, with. I great hopefulness of carrying out reforms, bat he left it with a very different feeling, for licensing committees were bound hand and foot, ] and could not do one iota in the way of reforming the liquor traffic. At the very first meeting he m*de the discovery that it was a sheer I impossibility, as the law stood, to put down ! some of the things conuected with the tr&flic. j He felt it was a very odious business .hat the j committee should be sitciug there, a* prohi- j bifcionists, granting licenses time after time j when they ielt morally certain that the licensees were frequently, if noc regularly, breaking" the l&ws of the land. Mr Nichol described the system as a fa re a from beginning to end, and said the committee were merely there lo carry out a law that was so framed that they were hel»less

If the Rev. B. Walker, organising agent of the New Zealand Alliance, gets his way, ouc judges of the Supreme Oourt will have their duties and responsibilities very considerably increased. Speaking at a prohibition .social last .evening, Mr Walker contended that while the redistribution of electoral boundaries should be entrusted to commissioners, those commissioners should be appointed by the judges of the Supreme Court, and there would then be freedom from the suspicion that boundaries were ever allotted to suit party ends. And to the samo judges, Mr Walker ontinued, should be assigned the conduct of elections, and the appointment of the returning officers and of the officials subordinate to the returning officers should be under the control of the judges, who should also appoint the stipendiary magistrates and the justices "of the peac2, and have charge of everything connected with the administration of the liquor and other laws.

The Rev. H. C. Frere, who is at present in charge of the Gore Anglican parish, has accepted (says the Standard) an appointment to a chnplaiucy at Beyrout,' in Syria. Mr Frere will also have charge of several native Bchoola.

The Palaier'stoa Times state 3 that a good deal of dissatisfaction, disappointment, and, indeed, indignation, is felt throughout the districb at the dilatoriness that has taken place with respect to the opening up of the splendid quarry of limestone that exists on part of the Waihemo Grange estate.

The Lake County Press understands that Mr P. and Miss Flannery, of Arrowbown, have come in for a legacy of £10,000 each through' ths death of a relative in Queensland.

" Tha police force of New . Zealand is undoubtedly one "of the greatest aids the liquor-sellers have in their defiance of the law ; it ia a shield to the liquor traffic ; it is a protection to vice more than a defence of virtue. I believe these three propositions absolutely." So spoke Mr T. E. Taylor, M H.R., ab the Choral Hall Ibs& evening, and, ho'ding this belief, naturally enough he strongly demands the appointment of a, Royal commission to inquire into the condition of the police force. The junior member for Christchu-ch mentioned also last evening that the judges before whom the Wellington 1 Suburbs elecbion'petition was heard recimmended, in their reporb to the House of Representatives, that the local option question should be settled on coma day other than the general election day, this recommendation being supported by a variety of reasons, among which it was stated that ex : sting arrangements tended to confuse the issues and to render the Corrupt Practices Act null and void.

The Pomahaka Downs correspondent of the Clutha Free Press reports that during a gale on Saturday last a mill and chdff cutler, belonging to Mr Chivriea Cooper, of Wore, were eefc oa fire

by sp&rkg from the engine while threshing ab the farm of Mrs Ellen Clements, also a considerable quantity of oaten sheaves and straw belonging to the latter. None of the property destroyed was insured. On the 7th inst. a pile of some 240 sacks of oats was destroyed by fire on the Clydevale estate. It appears they were threshed two days previously, aad the mill and engine removed to another setting. The causo of ths firo is unknown. Tho grain wa3 the property of the N.Z. and A. Intnd Company.

At Warsaw (says the Daily Mail) a student has just graduated at ths ripe ago of 75 After passing his matricalation many years ago, lack of funds prevented him from at once proceeding to the univeraity, and he was compelled to work as a tutor for 20 years in order to save enough money to enable him to continue his studies. At the end of that time he presented himself at Warsaw Medical Academy, and passed the entrance examination with distinction. Before he" could begiu his s'.udies the Polish rebellion of 1863 broke out, and Borysik, who was now 41 years of age, threw himself into the movemeni with all the enthusiasm of a youthful revolutionist. Tha revolt was suppressed, and Borysik was exiled to Siberia, where for 32 years he underwent hard labour in the siivar mines. In 1895 lie received a free pirdon, and returned to Warsaw. In spite of his age, and the hardships he had endured, Borysik lost uouo of his enthusiasm for rned'cil wark, aud took up his studies whera he had left them off iv 1833. After a two years' course this remarkable tcun has now, at tho ago of 75, passed the final medical examination with honours, and will begin to practise in Warsaw.

The Roy. E. Walker, of ths Now Zealand Alliance, at the Prohibition Convention quoted from a recenb ia*ue ci' the Gov«cmn".ut Gazette the following as tao im*i official totals for the colony of the recent 'oiul option poll» :— For continuance of existing iicanses, 139,580 ; for reduction of iicsuses, 9-r,535 ; for iio license;., 98,312 The fcotai number of persina who voted van 259,898. In the following 30 <;leofcoratei>, where existing licenses aro lo continue, a minority only of r.lios>e who poKod voted foe l.hat; issae — Barnn!y : Auckland City, Marsdesi, W&iapu, 'Faranaki, HAweraJ Putea, Pahiafcaa, Wellington Suburbs, Bruce, und Clutha. In the following four of fchasu n majority of those who polled voted for no licences— namely : Marsdeu (majority 87), Hawera (majority 175). Bruce (majority 1), and Clufcha. (majority 251). In Pahiatua more voles were recorded for prohibition than i'or either of the other issues, and 32 caore 'would have given prohibition a majority vote of all who polled. i

The Holy Week service* »t Sfc. Peter's, CJ*rgill road, were vary well attended. On blaster Day ihe celebrant ab 8 am. wan Canon Bryan King, assisted by Eev. B. G. Bdnards, and 142 persons communicated. At 11 a.m. fcha oslflbraut was Rev. E Q, i3dwn.r<is, the vicar acting .is deacon. There *ere 49 conirjauioicßDta al this service. Ab the former service Oannu Kirjg wore the white chasuble presented to his lather, ths lula ilev. Bryan JCin?, ab Sb. George in the East, London, in 1856. and at cofch services the beautiful jesYelkd ehalioe belonging _to the vicar was used. Tho Easier gifts comprised a new Sfc. George's ensign for the church tower, presented by » member of fc'ia congregation ; aa exquisitely embroidered white stole, giveu by the confirtn^tioij 'c»aciid;iie«i of this y*ar and worked by a Danedin lafly ; ;md a pair of brass altar vasph, tuo git'b of Ibe Communicant's' Guild. The churca was crowded at the 11 a.m. and evening services.

A uutnl-er oc early masses were celebrated at St. Joseph's G&'Jhedrul or* Sunday, and crowded congregation* attended them. The church wag sgam filled at 11 o'clock, when Pontiiieivl High. Ma<is was oi.Wbrated. Bishop Verdoi wns c.jlrtbr&nv, Father Murphy deacon, Father Mftloney s'ub-ieacon, and Father Kyan master of ceremonies. Mozart's " Twelfth Mais " was prodiK-ed, under tho supervision of Sue organist \i^v Albert Vivilis) a.uA the conductor (Mr W. X. Ward(. The solo parts wore fcalren by Miss K. Blaney (.'opranj), Miss K. 81-.iney falto), Messrs B. Wagar aud P. Carolin (tenor,), aud Mr James Jago (basb). Mr A. T. Nottingham was lead&r ot the orchestra. At vespers Mr Jago sang " Les Rumeaux " (F&uim).

The Rtv. Brother Bodkin, who was amongst the Christian Brothers tSat were aenfc to establish a branch of the order hero aomo years ago, has been rebvansferred to Dunedin, and will arrive by the Wakatipu, from Sydnuy, towards the end of this week. The many friends of the Rev. Brother Dowdell, who for many years was also stationed here, will regret to leara that he is suffering from consumption. He is at presenb in Brisbane, and is in a precarious sbitta.

When the tenders for the supply of vegetables to the Wellington Hospital were opened (says the New Zealand Times) it was found that that of Wah Kee Bros., a Cainese firm, was the lowest. At the meeting of the trustees Mr Fraser said he was always in favour of dealing with Europeans, but in regard to vegetables it almost invariably happened that if they bought from Europeans they really bough 1 ; second-hand from Chinese. Mr L.' L. Harris said there wonld be a terrible howl if they accepted a Chinese tender. Mr Kirk : Are there any Europeans amongst the tenderers f Mr Fraser : Yes ; but they are very high— % d per lb a3 against Mr Roundtree explained thatjthe tenderer at 2£d had at first made a mistake aud fixed his price even higher. Is had silica been sbated that he was willing to do the work ah the same prices a<? the others. Eventually ib was decided to accept the lowest tender, that of Wah Kceßros., at |i per lb.

The " New Zealand Railway Review " records an incident which 'taok place some time back on the Mauawatu liu<?. A horse kicked open hia box and junaped out when the train was going at full speed. It at once started to feed in the paddock alongiide the iine, and wat found quite safe in the morning. " The Mariawatu line just here,"' writes a contributor to the Lyttelton Times, " mutt be something like tha Springfield line is all over. I once saw a mail's hat bl^w off when the train was going at full speed, somewhere near Kirwce. He gob off, went back after hia bat (ifc had blown away), and walked quietly after fhe train, getting on again in a few minutes. Thi<f kind of thing is nob at all uncommon, snd uo one is startled. People wouldn't ride if it were not for the trouble of walking. Up Nelson way thers used to be a train — I do cot know if ib is there now — which carried some great chunks of wood with it. The guard could sometimes ba Ee?n walking behind ifc, patting these chocks behind the wheels to'keeo it from running back."

Spa&king at the farewell social tendered to him in Wellington a3 to the m&nuer in which the Record Reign should be commemorated in WelliDgloJ, t.ue llou. Mr Seddon mentioned two forms which he thought it might take. He believed in respect to university education that there should be a now departure. If ia Auckland a university could be maintained from the public parse, that was all the more reason why they should have one in Wellington. Bub there must be an alteration in one respect. Under existing circumstances the sons and daughters of the poorer classes conld not enjoy the

advantage of a university education. In (he pesb the colleges had been endowed with lands which by right had never belonged ta them— land* which belonged to the people,— and a select few hkd benefited, which was no 6 the intention of those who had first promoted higher edncation. He would like to see a new departure — ti'z., the boyi and girls in the public sohools — and the private schools too, for that matter — selected by. competitive examinations from the Fifth and Sxth Standards for a university education. When he was in Bsllarat he had seen something which he would like to see introduced into New Zealand — viz., an orphanage for the children of poor bub respectable pirents. Here the children were carefully trained, and when they had completed their course of training in tha teohnical and agricultural schools connected with the institution were fit to go out iato tho world and work for themselves.

The members of the Victorian Rifle Association have presented Mr Syme, proprietor of ths Melbourne Age, with a beautifully illuminated address in recognition of his public spirit and generosity in providing funds for the ri/le team to represent the colony at Bisley. Mr Syme, in responding, said the reason he took so much interest iv this enterprise was that he held strong views on the question of national defence?. Hia opinion wa3 that no people could long remain free unless they made ample provision against possible foreign aggressors. He even went so far as to maintain that every man capable of bearing arms should be made to carry a rifle. His oympathy was entirely with the defence force, especially to those who gave their services gratuitously. Ha felt ib his duty and pleasure to provide tho moans, and hoped bhey would have a gcod tims in Eugknd and win many prizos. '

Th? conscience of an evildoer sometimes rep> oves him to such an extent that ho is moved to make reparation for his misdeed*, but with difficulty would a parallel be found for a oa«a which has happened in Chriatchureh. Las?: September a party of gentlemen who were cimpiug at Sumuer awoke one moraing bo find i.hat duriug the nigbb their tent; had been entered and their belongings ransacked. Jewellery valued afc between £30 «ud £4-0 was stoleu, together with about £12 in cash. The police failed to obtain bho faintest clue as to who was the thief, and the matter eventually passed out of the memories of all but those who wer« concerned in the affair. Last week, however, the subject was agreeably revived by the receipt through the parcels post of the stolen jewellery. The articles were addressed to Detective Marsack, and restored by him to fcha rightful owners. Needle 3» to cay that th,e latter very gratefully received their proparby, which included two gold watches valued at £10 and £17 respectively. Th« ai tides were uniujared. aud apparently in tho aame state a« when Erotan.'

The traffic on the railways bifcwsen Invercurftill and Cumfcohureh was very larg« on Easter Monday, aad th<s officials at Dunodin werekepb exceptionally busy. Toe express to Inver-c;u-gill took away about 400 passengers, an<2 chat to Christchurch about 250. The special for th? Taiori races aud another train going south carried »bout 800 persoas, a train to Dunback some 250, and acothar fco Pj.lmer#toaa similar number. TU« special from BilclubtWi brought up aboub 1400 passengera, the south express about; 1000, and tho express from Ohristchurch tho same number, so fclut roujcbly about 5000 peraona patronised tbe various lines during ihe day.

Tho North Duacdin, South Dunedio, and Oiitrai dirisioas of fcha Salvation Army had a field dtiy on Easter Monday ab Tahuaa Park. About 400 peraouc were present, and ths outiug ij utook of the nature of a picnic, with games and alhs? amusements. A very enjoyabie day was apeur, and a return was m«d« to town about 5 o'clock. In bhs eveniug the sala of work was again open in the Barracks, and the raised seats at ths b»e!t of tut) building rtet& drcsjed with standing corn so as to represent a harvest field. The corn ■aias re:ipt'd nnd fituoked by a number of the soldiers, the effect being heightened by ihe uae of iho limelight. On Tuesday night the service of song "Uncle Tom " wai given.

"Wilhia a few days of the last general election the democracy was insulted by the Government by the appointment ot thr«o man to the Legislative Council who hart been rejected by the popular vote." The foregoing wan a statcmant by the Government's candid friend, Mr T. B. Taylor, M.H.R., at the Garrison H»ll last night. "Ths law of libel pretents me," the junior member tor Christchurch added, " from saying from this, platform what; the privileges of the House will allow me to s*y Dexfc September about these men. Ths fact remains that nfery principle thab should underlie democratic government wa9 violated by their appointment. Tbese'men, who failed to secure fche confidence of ths elpchora, had no right to be elevated to the Lsgialative Council."

Recent- advices from Hr Sfcuart, the Jala Bishop of Waiapo, *UM (sty* tha HawkVs Bay Herald) that he litd V> vuafchs who professed. Cnristianity an(S «vliora he hoped to brain as missionaries to work among their own people. But an excited mob, led by Persian mollahs, or priests, surrounded the honse ia which the youths lived aad domanded thab they should b« given up. Dr Stuart succeeded in getting «av«i to his own house, which he did not think the priests would dare to attack. The other thrca were captured and thrown into prison. They wera brought before the mollahs, but refused to abjure their t'aifcb, and were sent back to prison. Every effort was bsing made when tho mail left to get possession of the ofcher seven, and Dr Stuart feared that, despite ths protection of tbe British Consul and the ruling Prince, the mollahs would be too powerful for him.

Ab tbe Prohibition Convention on Monday afternoon, 3lr T. E. Taylor, M.H.H., stated that there was a fair prospect that Canoa Wilberforce would visit New Zealand in tha interests of the temperance cause.

According to the Financial News, a big scheme has been set on foot* in London in connection. with the West Australian atid New Zealand* market. It consists of the establishment of s market trust, with a capital of £2,500,000, tha object being to obtain a controlling interest in all tho bast things dealt with in this department, aud, with the aid of adequate capital, to protect their shares against undue depression, and generally to take advantage of all opportunities m they arise for securing good things cheap. The project, our contemporary states, is being launched uuder strong fhiaucial auspices, and considerable progress has been made, • tU» company having already been registered under the title or" "The West Australian aud New Zealand Market Trust (Limited)." The opening of the Walker street Chinese Mission Church in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland took place on Sunday last, and drew together the large num« ber of 174 Chinese, who just filled the building. Nearly a score of these were visitors from * distance, who had come down for tha ocoasioa

From P«lmerston, Hyde, Adam's Flat, Wmitabuna, Waiwera, and as far off as Ida Valley aud Round Hill. Apologies and congratulations from others inland were received. A few Europeans, prominent in Christian work among the looal Chinese, among them Messrs Henry White— who acted as doorkeeper — Walter P&terson. and Joseph Ings, also attended. The Rev. A., Don conducted the opening service, ably insisted by Mr Thomas Chang Luke, lately catechist at Wellington, who preached the sermon. The church and manse building, with the one-eighth acre site, cost in all £1250, towards whioh the Church Board of Property granted £650, the Chinese themselves £170, and Europeans the balance, so that the opening was quite free of debt. In the evening a communion Eer?ioe was held, with four Chinese and three Europeans.