NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 24

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. At a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Dr Baldwin, the medical superintendent of the hospital, submitted a comparative statement of the. simulants supplied at the hospital for the four -years ending March 31, 1899. Dr Baldwin added that the year 1897-8 was an extraordinary one for the small amount used. As regards .the present year, he could only say none hart been issued except oit the requisition of those in charge of cases. The statement showed that the following number of prescriptions had been issue*: — 1895-96 : I'orfc. 2335 ; sherry, 10 ; brandy, 3859^ ; whisky, 319* ; ale, 36 ; champagne, 21. 1896-97: Port, 2224; sherry, 19 (for cooking) ; gin, 34 ; brandy, 3906*.; whisky, 577£ ; ale, 59 ; champagne, 22. 1897-98: Port, 1045; gin, 135; brandy, 2795* ; whisky, 449; ale,' 108; champaene, 37. 18d8-99 •. Port, 7456^; sherry, 40; gin, 44; brandy, 7715 ;' whisky, 1590; ale, 322 ; champagne. 22 ; r claret, 8. Mr J. E. Taylor, who tabled the motion seeking information, said the table did ndt convey what he ''-•wanted to know, the reason for an increase of something like 200 per cent, in the use of stimulants during 1898-99 ov-er the preceding year. Dr Baldwin said he could not account for the increase. Mr Taylor then suggested that; the honorary .medical staff should be asked if they could furnish the board with information.

At a meeting of the Charitable Aid Board a. letter was read from Mr M. A. Ferri submitting a scheme for the collection of money from Austrians in Auckland district "towards the funds of the Auckland Hospital. He pointed out there were some 3000 Austrians here, and that £1000 should be- easily collected. .. He suggested that in return Austrians should then be entitled to free treatment 'at the hospital when required. Messrs Bollard and 'Bruce- and the Rev. W. Finlay Wilson opposed the offer being entertained. -Eventually it was decided to refer the letter to the Charitable Aid Committee to report. On Sunday night, 9fch, an attempt to burn down the Wade Agricultural Hall was frustrated. The fire was discovered in the back part _of tho hall. The burning material proved to be straw saturated with kerosene. The floor of the platform and part of the walls inside were similarly treated. The fire was extinguished. Jeremiah Driscoll has been committed for trial on a charge of stealing a totalisator ticket for £3 6s. Tuberculosis is rife in cattle 1 ' li'ere. Tliree thousand cases of potatoes are to bo shipped by the Elingamite for Manila by way of Sydney to the order of the United Stales Commissary-general. The Tutanekai has returned from a search for the schooner Marmion, now considerably overdue. She found no trace of the missing schooner. There was a large assemblage on the wharf to see the Hon. J. M'Kenzie and family off, including a number of the members of the Legislature. The Hon. E. Mitchelson was present. Mrs M'Kenzie was presented with a beautiful bouquet of white and gold chrysanthemums bound with white and gold ribbons. Three hearty cheers were given by the crowd as the Moana left the wharf. WELLINGTON. The .conference of dairy graders met on the 11th. It was attended by five graders and Mr Ruddick, the Government expert. The only question for discussion is a uniform system of grading for the colony. Carmichiiel and Son's teuder for the" Bank of New Zealand premises has been accepted. The amount is £22,310. The appointment of the Chief Justice; (Sir J. Prendergast) as Acting-Governor during Lord Ranfurly's absence, is gazetted. The professors of Victoria College were welcomed at a well-attended public meeting on the 12th, at which addresses were delivered by the Minister for Education, Archbishop Redwood, Sir R. Stout, and others. The Hon. Mi Walker held out little hope of securing the Mount Cook site, nor did he think it would be suitable ; but he hinted that the Government would not be found wanting in the matter of making provision for a proper building when the time came. Ministers presented the Minister for Lands with a little gift on their own account on the 12th, in the shape of a gold sovereign case and matchbox^ Mr- Percy Smith (Surveyor- general), Judge Butler, and Mr Klsdon Best (secretary), who with five natives formed the commission set up by the Government last year under " The Urewera District Native Reserve Act, 1896,"' have returned to Wellington. The commission was set up to determine the titles of members of the Tuhoe tribe (better known as the Ureweras) to 656,000 acres of land, contained in a reserve in the Auckland and Hawke's Bay land district. It commenced its sittings at Whakatane on the Ist February, and sat in ••-even centres, including Ruato'ki, Wdikaremoana being tLj last. Some 700 chums were received. The commission »vil] not sit again until January next, but in the niean- | time claims are to be examined and reported ' upon. The .Wellington, &M L decided on the 12tli

in the M'Kechnie case that the children?" shall remain in the convent; the mother to be allowed to visit them, and pay 4s weekly and the husband 10s for their maintenance. The husband has also to pay costs. If he "has power, the magistrate will appoint the *Mother Superior guardian of the children. The Commissioner of Police has issued ' an order instructing inspectors to warn newspapers "against publishing advertisements relating to special diseases under pain of prosecution. Three informations each have been laid against Acting-detective Broberg and Probationary Constables Kidd and M'Carthy charging them with (1) procuring the com- • mission of a crime; (2) assisting in the commission of a crime ; (3) betting " tote " odds. The charges, which are the outcome of a recent prosecution against alleged "tote" bettors will be investigated on May 1. In the Divorce Court a decree absolute was granted in the cases of William H. Feilder v. L. M. Feilder and C. F. Moller v. L. R. Moller, both husbands' petitions. A decree nisi was granted in F. Whitton v. Edith Whitton and F. G. More (of Masterton) ; .James A. Holland v. Sarah Holland and H. A. Shephard ; Henry Francis Towle v. Agnes K. Towle and George Hall.

In the (Supreme (Jourt, in the case of Brimfield v. Brimfield, a wife's^ petition, a 'decree nisi was granted. The parties were formerly residents of Roxburgh. The case of Manning (of Christchurch) v. Manning and Robert Colqtiett was partly heard. The -alleged misconduct is supposed to have taken place at Petone, where respondent keeps a boarding-house. In Knigge v. Knigge. a wife's <petition, the lespondent was aged 60. A decree nisi was granted. The question of the alimony to be paid by the petitioner was adjourned.

I Some anxiety is felt owing to the sudden disappearance of James Copland, aged 27. years, a clerk in the Bank* of New South Wales. He was last seen on Thursday evening, when, lie was 1 on the wharf to bid goodbye to a departing friend. Since that date nothing has been heard of him, but his friends think he may have been carried away by the steamer. CANTERBURY. The South Canterbury Education Board, finding their expenditure on maintenance outrunning the income, have adopted a scheme of retrenchment to the extent of £600 on the present outlay, of which £400 comes- from the reduction of teachers' salaries and house allowance.^ Of the saving [ £300 goes to equalise income .and outlay, and £300 to pay'a new officer — assistant to the inspector^ and secretary.