LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 22

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The Board of Governors of Prince Albert College, Auckland have telegraphed that Mr F. W. Hilgeudorf, M.A., of OS»go Uuiveraiby, has been appointed to the vacant position in their stuff of teachers.

The energetic Dr Ltmn, of Grindelwald faroe, has hit upon another educational tour of l*rgcr magnitude — nothing less, in short, than *'a tour round the British Empire." His proposal hai, it Beems, riceived the sympathetic support of several colonial representative?, including Sir Gordon Spring, Sir W. V. Whiteway, and Chief Justice W*y. It is intended, says an English p»per, that the cruise shall commence on December 28, proceeding by Gibraltar, Malts, aud Cyprus to Bpypt ; thence, calling at Aden, to Bombay, where a neclion of the party will travel overland to Calcutta, the majority going rouod, via Colombo and Madras, to that port. From India the vtsit-1 will proceed eastward to Burma and Singapore, touching tho Australian continent first at Br-sbane. The vsssel will then proceed from Q-ieenaland to New Zealand, and from the Antipodes the journey home will bo via Sydney. Melbourne, Adelaide, and Partii to Natal and Cape Colodj'.*

There was a serious disturbance at Piham* amongst the Natives last week, necessitating the presence of Inspector M 'Govern and Conefcibles Tv/oooey, Hiekcnan, and Salmon to preserve the peace. Tbo dispute is (the Opunake Times say*) over the right of cccupancy of the land between ' Pihama and the Oeo Rivgi- on the sea side of tbe main road. The ill-feel-ing has become so intense now that a great amount of damage Las been doce. Scores of chains of fencing have besn* demolished *ud burnt, and ona house wa3 pßrtly burut. Tha leader of the Te Whitiites g*ve ordera for all the houses to be burnt, and tbe carrying out of this order w< u'd have mean!) bloodihsd, in all probability, hid not the timely arrival of the police prevented ir. Tha cu'Jock at present is that tbe Te Whit ites will prevent tbe other resident Natives from cropping, and they will most likely fiod themselvei face to face with want during tin oomiog season. The wreck made of all property is quite equal to wh*t an old war party would have produced.

A cvble mcßir.go recanlly staled that tho mayor of Ballarat hid refused to welcome Mr Ben Tilled on the ground of disloyalty on the patt of the latter and certain members of tht) Amenably afc * dinner in South Melbouri.e, when the toast of "Tee Qiieon" w*s con'empluoufcly treated The Argua of the 30t.h ult. gives an account of Ihe occurrence lo which refereuce is made. It is (cur contemparary says) not often th»t the toast of " The Q'ltea " is treated with marked discourtesy in Victoria, but the gathering of labour representatives who met Mr Ben Tille't at luncheon at the Silver Gate Hotel, South Melbourne, on Saturday msde a <dhagreeablo display of their disloyalty, possibly •with the object of impressing their visitor with an idea of the stage of progress in democracy which they bad alrsady attained. Mr Stephen Barker, who was in the chair, ross to bia feet and proposed the toi&t of " The Qu<ea" without comment, bat there was no response, and for aboub the space pi 10 seconds the 30 or 40 representatives of labour who were present, including Give members of the Legislative Assembly, sat doggedly in theu* places, and made no tiga of rising.,,, " This i* an awkward pause," said someone, and the banqueters looked at one another, each apparently waiting <o sec how the cab would jump. Fiually, Mr 'Ben Ttlletb, who sut next to the chairman, rose to bis feet, and raised his glads to hi} lips, with tbe oif-hanued remark, "Oh, yes, let us dtink to her health, or that of any other old Udy." "With their apprehensions sot at rest, the policy; banqueters rose to their fe-fc, went through the form of drinking in com plate s lence, and theu 66 fc down. It was an edifying spectacle of "democracy,"

Mr A. B. Wortbingfon gave bis firsfc public address, since his rtturn (o Christ church, in tho Oddfellow*' Hull on Sunday n'ghfc. Tho bui'ding wae orowded to excess. His addres* wai ( ha Press says) frequently interrupted, and his concluding remark?, a few minutes to 8 o'clock, were, on account of the noifte of atmnping and groaning, inaudible except to the people dote to the front. Aftev lh« meeting a very large crowd of people assembled in Lichfield street sud iv the right-of-way afc the back of the ball, but Ihe numbers were greatly reduced by a few minutes to 0 o'c'ock, when a detachment of police appear eJ on tho 6cenp. T*o policemen had been in attendance all the evening. A few minutes Pft*fc 9 o'clock Mr Worthington and several of hi* fupporters is?u;d from the hall, and were immediately assailed with hooting, eroaninc, *nd personal remarks. They weie escorted by several policemen, and were followed by between 200 and 300 pien and women, je'lidg, hooting, and groaning, to a house io. Worcester street, where the noisa increased, and a few stones wero thrown as Mr ■VVerthington and his friends passed through the g*te. Many of ths crowd loitered about until 10 o'clock, and some of the police remained year the premises" until matters quietened down.

The directors of the Clyde Dredging Company (Limited) announce a dividend of £10. Th's m»k(S a total of £67 10 j paid on each £50 fchare.

An old Obsgo settler, Thomas Bradley, died (our Auckland correspondent wires) on Saturday tight at Te Arobn, where he has ttsided for a considerable number oE years, death btiug due to inflammation of tbo kidneyp. The tleo»«rd had a widespread connection in both island* as a dealer in bom flesh and coach proprietor. In the early days ho ran successfully n line of conc'hcfi between tho D.instan and Dannlin. Thon bo settled iv Ihe Mat tun iV'stricr, b«hl about 17 years ago ho settled in tho Tuan<ei district, when he ran a mail coach liuo botwt'fii Thauie", P«iero», and Te Aroh», and also to Morriii6villo, beloro tho railway conned i<'« between Ta Aroha and the Thames was opened. Lalfcflrly ho dovotoil himself almost exclusively to horee dealing, in which ho wa<ja recogniaed authority, having lew iqanlsin his knowledge of tho good points of a horse. Mr Br»dlpy was for some years a member of the Towu and Domain Uoardi. Ho leaves a widow and a grown up family.

An enthusiastic meeting of thoße interested in tho formation of » volunteer mclical corpi wns held in the Garrison Hall on tho 15lh, Dr Close being in the chair. Aftor considerable diecutsion, tho?o present decided to offer their ecrvices lo tho Government.

A cot in tho proposed Victoria Ward in the hospital is to bo provided by the Christian OutlooJr, a sum of £51 Os 4d, collected and forwarded by children, having been received by it.

Tho ordinary mooting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees, held on tbo 15tb, was attended by Messrs Fciter Miller (chairman), 11. Ourloy, W. Swan, It. Watson, K. Wilbop, Colin Allan, J. Green, and J. Hazlott. Account? Rtuouutitig to £L3O 3* 8d wore passed lor paytucut. It was reported that »v iuunUo named

Ann Smith had died at the institution sines last «tne«tiug. Some 34 relief cases were dealt with.

That there fxiited a strong de«ire in the community for on associatioa fo* the study of choral music was demonstrated on Tuesday evening, 14-th, when no less than 274 ladieM and gentlemen attended the first peaefcica of tho newly-formed Choral Society. Tais was greatly in excess of the committee's anticipations, and some inconvenience was at Crat experienced in finding seating accommodation. This having been overcome, the choir settled down to work, and under Mr Coombs, the newly appointed conductor, went over sbont balf tbe choruses of Mendolssobn's " Elijah." From a notice in our advertising columns it wifl bo observed the soprano roll id meantime closed peuding tlo filling up of the other parts. The committe9 now aim *.t having a well-balanced chorus of 300 tested voioop, and there seems to be no reason why this should not be obta'nsd.

The polling for the election of a member of tho Waikouaiti Counhy Council to represent Blueskin Riding rasu'trd in the return of Mr Charles Dukp, the voting being : C Duke. 91 ; A. Kilpatrick, 67 ; J. Schofield, 11 ; H. Clark, 8.

For the past seven year* the compulsory clauce of the Vacsiuaticn Act has been in abeyance in the colooy of Tasmania, the consrquencs being (the Auatralasiau Medical G-iz^tte says) that r:ot 2 per ceufc. of tho children bora are now baing vaccinated. Tasmania is thus becoming rapidly an uuvaccinattd community.

At Thureday's meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, the BeEevolsafc Ins'it'Jtioii Trustees forwarded a r< q>iisition for £375 for the maintenance of the institution for the pa*t month. — It was reported that an interim piyment of £500 had b»en made, aud it was resolved to pay the balance ot £375 A rrquisition from the Female Refuge for £Z0 was also passed for pivment.

At the cosing maeling for the peatton of the Danedin Lts? Debatiog Society, Me A. U. Barclay, B.A , LL.B , delivered on iasfcrtmtivd lecture enf.i ltd " M^representafo-i : its Bearing on Coutrac 1 ;." He treated this confuting bi'inch of law in sue j a way as to clear it of many of it 3 didioultie-', s«ud succeeded in giving his audienca a lucid and easily uudoi'3tatid*blc stiL-mant of the law a.6 prasen';. He painted out how much of Lite years the efF c*> of misrepresentation on contract has been increased, and hivr important the preliruiaa ids to a coktracfc have now bfcanai" compared with what was formerly the cue. At lh-3 c inclusion of the lecture a vjfce of thanks was mo/ed to tha lecturer by Mr W. D Stewarb, jun., who spoke with much appreciation of thi lucidity of the lecture aud th'i ssiis-'ance if; was likely tj be to all desi. ing tj clarify their ideas on the tubject.

During the month of Angu-st the births in Auckland and mburbs wer« 123, and the deaths 37, or a proportion of 0 85 lo tbe 1000 of the population ; la We'ling-lon and suburbs there were 87 births ami 43 death*, tbe p-oport'on of the latter to 1000 of tbe community being I*ls ; the biiths in C-bristcbuTch avd eubnrban baroughs numbered 83 and tho births 53, or a proportion of l£6 to t c 1000 : and in Dunedin and eubuibi therß were 8i births and 5*3 deaths, the proportion of the latter to She 1000 of tha population b<-iog 1"23.

Chief Drtfcnva O"Bri«n, DeLeosive M'Grath, and C nslable Coor.ey on the 16bh iusfc. raided a shop in the Arcade occupied by Pdfcer Grant, a well-kuown bookm iker, who, with n partner in Chrißtehurch, carries on a turf commi«*ion egency under the style of B .rnetfc ami Gf»nti. The police atresbsd Grint; and two clerks n&tnud Frederick Broad and William Whslan and took them to tho lock-up, wbero they v/ere charged with a breach of tbe Gaming arid Lotteries Act. The clwge ftgainut Grant allcgoq that ho its the occupier of a room u*ed as a common gaining hong?, and the two clerks are charged with aiding and abetting. It if) alleged that b'lt'UJHsitor oddi wern being l*id by the ncoaic-d on races at ih-3 Timiiu meeting, which wns held cnThu^day. Tne poMco, it is umforftloo-J, H-iKed boikft fouod in theofacn. 'J'ho dufeudantH were ba>led out*. It in »tit«d that tbe office of another turf comoiig)ion9g«nt was vifited on Thursday, but; that uo evidence was found of the place having been mod for betting purposes.

Tbe next sitting of the Court of Appeal has been fixed for the 11th October.

Tbe Danedin F«bi*n S>ciety se^m doomed to meet with disappointments. For the third time duriug the last few months something has come in tne way to prevent a speaker from keeping his or her appointment with the society. At Thursday's meeting Mrs Bu r n was to have giveo an address on " Communal Homes "; but a tslegfam was restived from her by the secretary in the aftsrncoi staling thafc she could not attend the .meeting, as she had missed a train. In her absence M ; si Christie road an interesting p»pjr, contributed by Mr W. Brown, on " Thoreaa : His Life and Teachings." A short discussion ensued, in which MefS>-s W. Hood, A. R Birc'ay, ani W. D. Ma'on took part. During the evecinß Mt*s Home eaug " The Brno's " and Miss Christie " The Toilers," bath sougs being much enjijed by the audience, which consisted of about 60 pc-rjons, a considerable nuoiber of whom were ladies.

The late Mr Thomis Deiniston infcere^twl himself (nays thi Southland Times in an appreciative obituary notice) greatlf, although then but a young man, in tbo Disruption movement; of lßV3,,cS.sting his influence iv favjur of the Free Church of Scotland ; and in the course of the struggle for mad a very warm friendship with I)r Ilobsr- Buchanan, of Glasgow, which wa? lifelong. Three of Mr Dannisloa's sisters were married to Free Caurc'i ministers, one of whom beoamfi eminent ns Principal Cunningham, of the Free Church College, Edinburgh. Th« Canstcburch papers mention that on ti.o arrival of Mr Denniston and the elder members of his family in Ot*go in Aguust, 1863, their esrlifist colonial, experience whs seo'ug Hartley and Ilsilly riding into Dunedin under oicorfc, with the large quantity of gold they had obtained at the Dunstnn, and the crowd of men swarming up the bill past their boarding house in the " Dunstan Rush."

Acoording to the Prea», a good deal of public indignation is being expres»cl in Chrlstohurcb. over the case of a man named Frederick Charles White, ago i about 64- years, who died on Tuosday night, 14-%h, at the Samaritan Home. On the 9th iost. tli3 dooaased was brought before the Police Court and charged with vagranoy. Mr E. T. Nolt'i3, secretary of the Charitable Aid Biard, then staled that the deceased had applied lo him for admission, but he had no room in the Armagh sfcrest depot. Accused had boon to Mrs Herriok, bub she had dcoliued to h*ve him for reasons of her own. In the end tho accused was remanded until next day, Mi" Norris, in tho meantime, undertaking to try to get him admitted iuto the Samaritan Homo uuiil there was a place for him in ono of the Caaritivbler Aid Board's institutions. The Samaritan Home justified its naruf, mil the poor old man was admitted alter Ue bad spout v couple of Unya iv tho police

station. Afc the time of his admieMon he was vary feeble, but ii was not thought he wa3 dangerously ill. Subsequently alarming symptoms present ci themselves, the Charitable Aid doctor, who was Rent for, finding the c*se bejoad human relief, aud on Tuesday evening it terminated fatally, pneumonia being the causo of diatu.

It would seem that the business of a restau-rant-ktepor m*y under some circumstances be regarded as a noxiius trade. It has been so decided judicially in Sydney, whew, in the Equity Couit. John Hunter, boo I ; dealer alleged thtt goods in his shop were damaged by heat from tho chimney of Lang a»:d Phelps, restau-rant-keeper?, and that the smell from their kitchen was objectionab'e. 110 a&kid that defendant be restrained from carrying oa their business so as to cause a nuisancs to him*. Mr Jus'ice Simpaon s*id thu defendants were in an unfortunate position. There was no suggestion that they carried on business negligently, but their business conducted iv a proper way was a cause of annoy area to plaintiff, who had made out a grod case. It was not sufficient for defendant! to say they had carded on business in a reasonable way. Tile law was tbab a man must uso his property in PU^h a way a3 not to it. jure or annoy a ueighbouc. Tae injunction would be grauted, with costs.

At the Dunedin Pol : C 3 Court on Friday, William Pbimester, a youth, on remand, was charged v>i*b, on or abotj-t th« 31<t August, at Incbclu'h*, stealing a watch-chain, v&lue Is, the property of Donald H-»theaon Fleming ; with, ou or about the same date, ab Inchclufcha, stealing a piir of trou3erc, a shirt 1 , a comb, and a hairbrush, value 20', the property of Archibald M'Nour ; and with, oa ov tbjuL the same dr.te, at Incbclutha, stealing a silk tie.ama t chb x, a towel, a'ld a clobhrs-b.uiih, value b% the property of James M -Donald. — Arcjsed plr-alerl guilty t.j the charges. — Mr Han'oa stated th»t accus«id was living with another j-cung fellow ia a hut a$ Incholutha, and on going away ho took the things mentioned in the information with him. Ib turned cub thab they belonged to threo different owneta, and cjmsequenSly separate itif ormations had to be lhid. The aggregate value ot the articles, however, waa swal!, and as thay h*d all b-ieu ret u ""nt d, the Biuch mijjbt ste their way to diemiss the case. In any cisc, he was entitled to the benefits of the Probation Act, but rs that neees-sitated h'n reporting himself weekly at tha g'vo 1 , it would be better if their Wort-hips oould see their way to convict and dischtrge him. — Inspec or Pardy stated that the facts as leJa'ed by Mr Hanlon were substantially correct. The young lad was on a station at Inchclutha. He had been arrested at Dunedio, where his people lived, and a.% the goods had been returned, and as that w*s his first mistake, perhaps the Bensh could see their way to fall in with Mr Hanlon'g sugge-stion to conviob the secured aud order him t,> c»me up for sentence when called upon. — The Bench expressed its pleasure that Inspector P*rdy could see his way to tske such a view of the case, and convicted accused, ordering him to come up for sentence when called upon.

Mi's Ethel Be >jamin, v*ho not long ago was admitted as a barrister aud solicitor of the Supreme Court of Now Z -alan i, made htr firsfc professional appearance at a sittiog of tbe M*>giitratfc\« Court on Friday, b&iDg emplojed by the plaiotiff in an action for the recovery of a debS. The event was a somewhat interesting oce from the facb thai ib was the firso occasion upon which al&dy lawyer appeared as counsel ia any cisp iv the E npire ; and although Miss Bcj/.jtuain had absolutely no difficulties to contend with (tbe c»se bein^? undefended), shb might possibly regard it as of good omen that she wan on the winning side.

'J'iio following changes of officers of the Union 8.8. Company's bteimers are reported: — Mr Gttn'-iMU a 1 ! prespn!: second officer of the Oorinttft to the same po3itiou on ths Wanaka, his plaoo on the former vcs-el being filled by the proriiofcion of Mr Cirsau, third ofßcar 'of the Mararofl. ; Mr L. Crawfo-rf, third oQieer Wainui to bo third of Wsnaka ; Mr Wihon, who camo out from Home us fir3t officer of the Moana to be aeojud of tho Marnroi iv place cf Mr Hemptou, deceased ; Mr Robinson to be third officer of tha Ovalau temporarily.

Iv the Police Caurt at Inverc»r<ill on Thursd *y, Mrs Goodall, of HVif-nioon B vy, was fined £10 and coils forseltiug liquoc witdout having a, licsnse authorising her so to do. The case wj.3 proved by Coasfcab'e ltirnes, who etated that he spent abjufc three weeks on Steward Island, where ho stayed at the defendant's boardi.iß liou^e, pissing as a visitor for tbe benefij of hi* health, and m ; xed freely with the people. He and others got beer frequently afc the hous-}, and pud regularly for ifc. Another witness named Uulleu, however, who bad joined tin constable occasionally in drinking bear, b.-ing also a boarder at th-3 house. Bpoks oj frequent inslancsi of being supplied, and paying for the liquor. This witness wai qiiife unaware of his fellow-lodger Rayne3 being a constable, and had not the le»sS iiea of his beiug on the hunt For sly gi-og-3ellinjj. Wiiliatn Himimg, master oi the cutter Anm, charged with lia7iiig said two bottle-5 of whisky to RiyuQioa l«ard hia cubter on July 23, was fined 10s with costs.

Word has been received that Me G. P. Gill, l.its of the Otago Medical School, has passed his first professional exim'nitioa at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.

The Welliogtoncorrespondent of the Lyltslton Times has id thab a caucus ot the Liberal party will be held early in the forthcoming session, in order to decide on a ourss of action io connec'ioa with tha probable steps to ba taken by the Opposition respecting the Hon. J. G Ward's utatus in tho Huuie. The same authority s »ya that the probability of a reconstruction of the Miuistry is being spoken of, and the mtnoj of Ministers whose resignations are expected to hi sent in are freely baudied about.

A ballot of the bands engaged in the forthcimiug cintsst to eelsct a judga to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr Taliis Trimnell has resulted in the election of Mr J. H. Otto Scliwarlz, oE Wellington. Mr Schwartz is (bhe O.im<iru Ma' 4 says) a musician of good capacity and large experience. He ia a violinist of considerable ability, and has for many yeirs been a devoted student of the works of tho great masters, with which ho has acquired a good knowledge.

A person, writing from Pfo zaoim, South Germany, to "tha Hi<jh Mini»tery and Governance ot Agriculture iv tho SSata of Victoria, at Melbourne," offdrs to rid that calony of the rabbit past. The terms in which the offer is couched are very amusing: — "Sines several years already," he writes, "I read in our newspapers from ths groat plague of tho rabbitß in your country and thit all practice witsoh was used till now against them was mistakes. I lay aside now my hitherto reserva and moderation and offi-o you in all form and politeness myielf to procure your country the everlasting fortune, whi'e I with your permission and support will bring you an application for annihilation the va-bbits. My means are general, and indeed infallible effestuoll, it doe 3 nob be in an ingrenient of poison, weahev in r species of traps, like fchov were you offered many times. My

idea for annihilation the rabbits-evil did nob come sloe, but escaped as quick as I perceived the matter, and I have no more repose till I can porforoi ib. To these behalf I offre yon my mean?, witch are easy to restore, and with no great expenses, either by the next britishau^traliih Consul or directly be my voyage to Melbourne by your highest place, but all my rights to reserve. The expanses for voyages and supports should be given to me bscausa I am no rich man. lam cristiau, merchant, in the aga of 49 years, and the proper authority at these city will give mo good report. I only have the most hono>t put pose and 1 can giva you the assuranoo th*fc I procure your country the greatest utility. By explanation persoual it should me bo given an interpreter because I understand the English Ungnitgo only imoerfect. I expect jout kind k nearly advioa, & I am your respectfully Tv, Hun«U'Bci£ALa at Pfcrzh«im South Gjrm&uy, Ifiurop»."

Tae directors of Monars K>,ti» pfchorne, Prossor, and Cj.'b Now Z^KUtid Dru^ O<irnp*ny (Limited) have deolarod ru inherun dlndmul of 7 par cenb. per annum for tho p^s^ h*lllyear.

The case Sraith and another v, tbe Qtago Pi-esbyterian Board of Church Property was concluded at tha Supremo O^uft at 11 o'c'ock oa Saturday night. It o:cupicd tho attention of the court from Tuesday morning last, and was vary strongly onb'sted throughout. ~Ai previQUiJy stat°,d, it nut a' rehearing consequant upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which s)t aside the" former verdict:. On Sifcurday tbe .hearing of the c*se was resumed -ab h?lf-p!»st 10 o'clock; and the evidence of Mr R iberb Hay, C E , wjs taken. A long di3oussiou took place rega-ding tho settlement of isnuas. Tho cjuinel in the case w*ra: the Hon. Mr MacCfregor and Mr Sim for the pUintJff*. an-1 the Hon. W. D. Siewarb aud Mr W. C. MacGregnr foe the defendant board. Mr Stewart addces-ed the j iry for the "defendants, and Mr Sim for the plaintiffs, and his Honor sutnoi-d up, couchidiog hi 3 address afc half-past 8 o'clock. The jury then retired, and afc 11 o'c'osk refcurne-1 with a unanimous verdict iv favour of tho defendant board on all tho i-suea submitted to them hj the jadge. His Honor cartifiid for a special jury.

The Hospital Tru-tees h-vve accepted a tender foe the onstruetiou of a new kitchen. Mr F. W. Lyders ia the succssiful tenderer a'i £092 15s, and Measra A. and 11.I 1 . Burl's accepted tender for the plumbing is £133.

Ths iusp«etnr of police has received a wire from Lawrence stating th*b two boys named Sinckir Caskie end Chtrles F.tir, a^ed 15 and 14 respectively, were arro3ted on Saturd*y on r charge of breaking into Mr Arbuckle'd store.

It is hinfel that the Hon. Dr Grac^ will ba a candidate in opposition to the Hon. H. J. Miller for the poiition of Speaker of the Legislative Council.

Mr Justice Wi'liams^ leaves Duuedin on Thursday for R-iefton, where a sitting of the Court c-f Arbitration is to be held for tbe purpose cf considering an industrial dispuLo between tho Consolidate.l GaldfHds Company, the Inkernnn Cjmbined Gild Mioing Company, the Welcome God Mining Company, and tha Keep-it Dark Quartz Mining Ccmpir-y of the one park and th-i Inangab.ua Miners' Industrial Union ot Workers of the other. On the completion of this business his Honor proceeds from Reefton to Wellington to sit at tbe Cou't of Appeal.

Messrs J. W. Kelly and M. Gilfedder, M.H.lt's., arrived from the south on Monday evening en route for Wellington, where Parliament open/i on Thursday. Sereral.of tho Otago members of the Legislature left for tho north ou Tuesday.

An old identity passed away on Monday in tho person of Mr Henry Cltpcott, who w»<t well known and highly esteemed throughout Otago. The deceased gentlsman was trained in tho first place for the church, but after his arrival in tbe colony by the barqua Hanbury he took up a rua ah Popotunoa Oorg*. Subsequently he became associated with tho Givernmeot Lif<» Insurance department-, end visited many parts of the colony in his capacity as lecturer in the interest? of that department.

The annual meeting of the Dnnedm Jewish congregation, for Ihe purpose of receiving the treasurer's report and electing officer?, wa3 held on Sunday in tha vestry of tbe Synagogue. Mr J. Hym*n was re-eicctei president, Mr D. E Theomin consented to reappointment a« treafurer, and Messrs L. Mf-ndetroho, R. M. Mark*. M. Joe), P. Isaac*, A. L. Isaac*, M. Finker, S. Jacobs, and J. Rittenbjrg were appointed the committe'?.

The following mounted corps will go into camp at Dunedin on October 8 : — C*ntf»rbury Yeomaury, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, N»rth' Obago Husear?, O&aga Hu-sirs, Houthlaod Hussars, and the Mounted Rifles. The cin>p" will last for a week, and will bs under tho command of C*pta ; n Rubin.

There was another good attendance at the Salvation Army Barracks on Mc-ndaynight, when Adjutant Foote, late of India, gave an account of life in India and Coylon, and referred to thi child marriages of ledia, to the torture practised upon themselves by religious d*.votea», and to the bnritl customs, &>j. He atao exhibited fomi spiked shoes, a spiked couch, and other instruments of torture with wh-ch religious devotees inflicted pain upoa themselves. He characterised the Hindoos as a f-plendid race of people, and said they were absolutely fearless when inspired by religious emotion. They therefore made good converts to Christianity.

The hon. treasurers of the Victoria Children's Ward fund hive received a subscription of £10 from Mr William Brown, while Mr F. Wiyne, of Milton, has forwarded a contribution of £16 18i lid (including a collection of £4 2* lid by Sfe. John's Church) and the following rTonations :— James Gray, J. Hollick, J. A. Duttaie, W. Moore, H Clark, executors of P. M'GUI, Coombe Bros., Dr Sutherland, Father O'Neill, J. B. Scanlan, £1 Is each ; JVI. K«tt and F. Twiss, 10d 6d each"; T. Halpin, 10j. Ib is understood that a sufficient sum has now been raised lo make the total amount available, incluuing Government subsidy, £5000. The list will be closed on ths 30:h of this month.

The tender of Mr Joseph Saunders, of Welliugton, h*B (the Post understands) been accepted for carrying out the scheme ot draining the Government; lowaship at Rotoraa. The scheme wa? prepare! by Mr Hay, C E , of Dunedin, and the works are to be completed in six months. Sewers are to belaid a'ongall the street?, and are to be flushed with water brought from a supply in the hill nearly a mile away.

An interesting point was nised in the Supreme Court at Napier a. Few days ago. A man named Thomas Plank was charged iv February las-b with having broken into the Makotuku railway station, and was released on probation for seven year*. Subsequently, he was again arrested for a similar offence' at the same railway station in August last. On this cbarge a verdict of not guilty was returned, and the probation officer then askod tho Chief Justice whether lie was to consider that Plank

bad broken his probation. Counsel for tha prisoner (Mr Husk) said fchxfc Plank had not broken his probation, seeing that the verdict o£ the jury io. the present case h»d been one of nob guilty. Ho "therefore contended that the old order sbill held good. His Honor agreed with the view that counsel took of the matter.

An Auckland paper relates two incidents which, if accurately na.rrj.ted. go to show thai: there are teachers in our public schools who are destitute of common sense, good feeling, and good breeding, and the Board of Education should let them know that they have mistaken their vocation. A little girl attending a public school had her pi»nofore daubed with ink, pub en accidentally or misahievously by a fellow pupil sitting in the vicinity. The mother of the child wrote a note to the teacher expressing the hope, if the d*ubiug were done mischievously, th*t she would pub a siop to such a disreputable practice. A r ter the note was read by the teacher, the little child was thus Addressed : "S j, then, you are ' MUs Touch-me-not.' Wa shall have to set you ap&ri; as ' Miss Touch-me-not,' " and as such she was in ridicule addressed before her classmates. In another case a child V7its uliHUifc fronr school, and on her return brought an excuse from the mother for nonattendance. Tho mother had mUspilled a word in her note, so the note was read out before tho cUfli, nnd attention c tiled to the.. de,feotfv© spelling of tho word. This w*s nab al). D*ys afterward* th'J child was addressed before th» claw, and the public inquiry raadp, " H*s your mother learned to spell that word yet ?-"*

Mr J. G. Moore, of Dunadin, has b,sen promoted to tha m%uage.rsh ; pof the CbristcVuircb. brarich of Messrs Sargood, Son, and E»en. Mr Moore has been in a responsible position in the Dune 3in warehouse for the past 11 years, and has made many warm friends duriug his residence here.

The Tim&ru Herald says :— " Mr H. Kerr, of Fairii-, bought the Clydesdale stallion Young Reformer at public auction »fc Tafctersall's on Saturday for 165ga. The horse was sold ou acccunb of Me G. Marshall, of Gore, aud should bo a valuable addition to the stud stock of S-Julh Canterbury. Young Reformer was bred by Mr R. Ailhon, Mains F*rt», Mataurs*, und is just; rising 88reu years o'd. The horse is ft upleudid dark b*y, ba3 good flat; bone, g-*nd feet, line silky hair, and possesses a very go >d tamper. This was vary noticeable on Sat-irday, for a lad lod him aroun^, And he *howsd no uneasiness among the crow.d. The sire of Young Reformer took first prizes at Tokooaairiro, M»taur*, B&lclubha, and Waitahuna as a yearling ; at CtuLua and W»itahuna as a fcwc-year-o!d ; and tirefco ab Gore, Invrtrcargill, and Tokomairiro *8 an aged horse. The dam, M*u<i. took six first nrizes,' und the championship at Gore in 1887. Youog Reformer has already taken three first priz-s."

A new departure i«, says the Wjfn^bam Farmer, to be inaugurated this year at Wai-k-awa Valley Dairy Factory. As is generally known, the local co-operation that eßtablivhed the concern last year nnld out i's interf-sf; iv th# factory to the New Zealand Co-operi4ve and Agency Company, of Du>>e3"m. Ths pcewi«e» are fife ed with pl*n6 foe butt»r-making, bad we understand fcbafc for the future this brunch of dairying will be superseded by that of cheesemvking — this determination having betn come to by tbe new proprietary owing to the bufcSer frequently getting headed during la»b seasba wbile in trausib on steamer from Waikawa to Dunedirt. The butter planS will probably find a new locale in ona of tha Co-operativa and Agency Company's North Otago butter factoriec. Mr L'>wthi*», a representative of rh* Co-ot»erativ« *nd -Agency Company. Wfcfl »B Waika wa V*He/ last Thursday making ready for a number of alterations to the factory premises, which are to be .put; in hand forthwith.

Me J. A. Gilrutb, the chief GoT<arneeo'»b veterinary surgeon, hai during ttaepiifcfew da^s visited A b. l >urfc9ti. Burnham. and Etbt Eyrebon. for tbo purpose of irquiring into the reported d'&tihs among bieeting ewes Thft Bheep thab ho ex&miued were in ail ra es ia an exceptionally fat condition, dn* to the mildness of, tbe eeaso-.i, and to *rtifi';ial feeding, such as fa»y, chaff, turnip>, fcj.. Since the late rains, wh'ch has b'O'Jgb.6 on tha young grass, tha death rate h->s been reduced t.i the normal limib«. Thosa fl c't-owoers on tho plains who bad provided soft feed for the ewes during the month before lambing did not f-uffrr any loss. Me Gilruth leaves for th 9 south to-day. — ■ Press.

Wnat had the appe*r*rcs of an alarm-ng outbreak of fire occ irred at? Invercargill at 5 *.xo. o» Sunday in the range of building* in T*y streeo iouth of tue Supreme Courfc buildings. Tho timely arrival of the brigade enabled them, how.-ver, to cooiiae the fi-e to the premises in. which it originated — ns-ra^ly, thoae of John Wilson, a provision merchant. Tapse- premises have been a'mosfc eompVt"ly gutted, but so fat as is known no very eeri.-us damage his been dor-e to the building 1 . The stock was insured for £500 in the Commercial Uoion office, bat this wjil cot, ifc is believed, cover more than half of the damage that is done. The insurance on the building, which is owned by an absentee for whom Bfeisrs Dilgfety and Co., of Dunedin, are ageotai is £1000 in the North Brici'h rffice. The fire originated ou tbe ground floor abouS the centre of the buildinjr. A singulir ?e*ture ia that five yeirs ago, under a former tenant, a fire occurred at exictly the same spot.