LOCAL AND GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 43

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Describing the new steamers which are to bring Australia and America closer together, Coloney G. W. Bell, the United States Consul, who returned from his visir to America by the lloami, says they will be finer than anything on the Pacific Ocean. Them are three 6000ton vessels being built at the Cramp shipping yards, by the same firm that made the Mariposa and Alameda, and they are said to have broken the world's record for regularity and efficiency. He saw one of the new Ft earners being built, one on the stocks, and th<> material for the other. "And, mind you," remarked the Colonel to a representative cf the Sydney Daily Telegraph, '" they are being brilt regardless of cost. The Spreckels Company has given the builders a free hand. In fact, the company, possessing so much confidence in the builders, pimply said ' build them.' "

The plague lias retually cinied to make it? appearance on the sacred soil of England. The P. and O. Company')) Indian mail steamer Peninsular arrived at Plymouth recently from Bombay with a yellow fig flying. The captain informed (he poic medical ofiiccr that there was a case of pingue on bontel, the patient l.cinq a Seide boy, who was employed as a coal trimmer. He was taken ill on November 9, the day after leaving Ma--

seilles. The ship's surgeon isolated him in the hospital cabin, and took every precaution to prevent the disease from spreading. Before any of the passengers were allowed to land at Plymouth, the port medical officer inspected them, and subjected the crew to a niinute examination. Everything was found satisfactory, and the passengers were allowed to land, their names and, addresses being first registered. The plague patient .was removed to the hospital ship Pique, lying m Jennycliff c Bay, where he is making fa 1 * Durable progress, and the Peninsular resumed her voyage to London.

It speaks well for the orderliness and sobriety of the people of Dunedin that, notwithstanding the immense crowds that were in the streets throughout the, day and far into the night of election day, the police cells remained empty. On Thursday at 5 p.m. the cells were occupied for the first time for 48 houi-s, the delinquent being an old man who had been imbibing somewhat freely.

In connection with the posting of Christmas cards we are requested by the chief postmaster to state that many persons appear to think that such cards may be posted in sealed envelopes at a postage of id if the envelopes are marked " Book post " or '" Christmas cards," but this is a mistake, and results in the addressees being charged deficient postage at letter rate 3. All articles intended to pass at book post rates of postage must be enclosed in covera which are entirely open at the ends, or in envelopes which, instead of being gummed down, have the flap turned inside.

The man Robert Kendriek, wlio was- reported as missing, has turned up.

In future officers in the French Army are to abjure civilian dress, and to appear outside their quarters or. their homes only in military, uniform. General de Galliffet, m issuing this order, explains that it is intended in the interests of the officer's pockets, so that they may not be tempted to imitate their richer comrades in extravagance of fashionable clothes. In England it is the other way about, for the uniforms of British officers are, as a rule, so costly as compared with civilian garb that it would seriously increase expenditure if officers were never allowed to wear mufti. The British officer gets out of uniform the moment he is off duty, which is perhaps going to the other extreme. But then he has his polo and his hunting, and shooting and golf, and he can hardly do any of these in military dress.

The Mount Benger Mail reports that Major and Mfs Fraser, who some time ago fell heirs to the Ormaglade station, are at present on a visit there.

The London correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes: — The great barrage works on tlte Nile are, I hear from ,a receut visitor, ,' progressing in a fashion, that t>romises accomplishment of the gigantic undertaking well within the stipulated time. Some photographs taken on the spot display a scene of bustling animation. With the exception of a few score of overseers, the army of workers is recruited from the native population. They are for the most part men of splendid physique, and, being well treated, they work with a will. The ordinary pay of a labourer in Egypt is from four to five annas a day. The workmen at the barrage are paid at the rale of six annas, which, amounting in English money to about 7^d, is regarded its princely pay. The main difficulty in encompassing the happiness of the camp is in the matter of food. The various tribes contribute contingents, each having its own strictly defined regulations with respect to food. The common practice is for one community to club together, mount a brother on a camel, and send him off to their own far country, he bringing back a stock of provisions that will supply their frugal board for some weeks.

Dunedin is exceptionally fortunate in having within easy reach some of the loveliest scenery to be found in the colony. Stewart Island, the ultima thule of New Zealand, is one of the colony's show places, and we look forward to the day when it will be considered the Southern Isle of Wight, and as popular as a holiday lesort as its prototype in the old country. The excursionists by the' Mararoa on the 24th inst. (as advertised in another column) to Tort Pegasus, Paterson's Inlet, and Half-moon Bay have a rare treat before them, and they will find that the two clear days allowed them to spend there will not exhaust the beauties of the lovely spots— a veritable paradise to fishermen and artists. Both will have ample opportunity to exercise their hkill, while tliOFe with a taste for exploring can revel in tlip richest bush scenery to bo found in the South Island. A small launch and an extra supply of boats are being taken down by the Mararoa, so that thera will be no lack of means for getting about. Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs: — Influenza ip raging here. One death has occurred already, and eeveral people are very severely attacked. The rivers being high, most of the dredges are not dredging. The Maori dredge if not yet raised.

Our Springfield correspondent writes:— A young man named J hn Gieer was struck by lightning on the sth inst. Ke was shifting sheep at about 9 o'clock in the esening. Although his brother, who accompanied him, taw no flash, John was knocked to the ground uncoiucious. Medical r.id was summoned, but the patient remained insensible until about 4 o'clock next morning. The hair on his forehci»d i" singed, otherwise no injury is apparent.

The hospital returns for the past week »l-8w the number of patients remaining over from tlm previous week to be 105 ; 31 were admitted, 27 di-juharged, and 109 reir.ain in the iusuturioni There were no deaths during the week.

Our Eakl Hill F.'at correspondent telegiaphed on Saturday :— The sudden death of Mr Jame.o Falconer, late proprietor of the Speargra&j i-Jolel, look place here about 12 o'clock to-day. It appears he had gone about

a mile and a-half from home with his horsa and trap. In some way the horse" got away while deceased was out of the trap,' and in running to overtake it ha is supposed to have over-exerted himself, thus causing his death. Deceased was universally respected, and great sympathy is felt for the family in their sad and sudden bereavement. At the last meeting of the committee of the Free Kindergarten Association, Mrs W. H. Reynolds, the president, intimated that she was about to pay a visit to England, and intended leaving next month. She therefore tendered her resignation of the office of president, which she has held with such conspicuour credit^to herself and thorough satisfaction to her colleagues and the community who are interested in the kindergarten movement. It was unanimously decided to record on the minutes a resolution expressive of the committee's high appreciation of the zeal, ability, and enthusiasm with which Mrs Reynolds had managed the affairs of the association during a long course of years, and wishing her a pleasant time on her travels and a safe return to the colony. -^"Bishop Nevill visited Stewart Island and opened a new church there on Sunday, 3rd inst. The building, which is a large and handsome one, stands on a rise in the centre of Oban, and commands a view of Half Moon Bay, to which it is itself an ornament. Bishop (gays the Southland Times) expressed himself as highly pleased with the edifice, which was erected by Mr Ramsay, of Oban, from plans prepared by Mr C. EL jEtoberts, of Invercargill. The bell which is in use at the new church was that used by the late Rev. J. F. Wohlers, of Ruapuke, and is a connecting link with the' past. The church will be consecrated when quite free from debt, and a proper font and altar are provided. The Bishop, however, dedicated the church to the honour and glory of God in the name of St. Andrew, and in pious memory of George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, who visited Half Moon Bay and founded the church there in 1642. The following reply to a congratulatory telegram on the results of the election has been received by Mr R. C. Wilson, president of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, from the Premier :—": — " I thank the Trades and Labour Council of Otago sincerely for their kind congratulations. The decisive victory in Dunedin clearly demonstrates that those who are faithful to its workers will find the workers true to them. The mishaps of the past were owing to want of cohesion and .unanimity. The continued confidence will cheer us on in using our best efforts to promote the wellbeing of our fair land. Convey my sincere thanks to all. — R. J. Seddon." , The Railway department announce that from the 20th inst. to January 20 a fast p»sHenger train will be run daily; from Dunedin to_ Oamaru and from Oamaru, to Christchuroh. There will also be ja daily fast return train from Oamaru 'to Christchurch. The train will leave Dunedin at 10.20 a.m., and willj reach Oamaru at 2.10 p.m. It leaves for Christchurch at 2.25, and reaches its destination at 8.25 p.m. The train from Oamaru to Dunedin leaves at 4.40 p.m., and reaches the city at 8.30. The train, it will thus be seen, travels both ways some little time in advance of the express, and as some of the excursion tickets issued are not available for the express, the evident intention is to cause excursionists to travel by the new fast train, thus j reducing the load on the express. The St. Kilda shooting case provided another sensation for Melbourne on the Ist inst, when Mrs Fraser was brought up on remand charged with attempting to murder her husband, Dr Fraser. The Sub-inspector, in asking for a further remand, informed the bench that Mrs Fraser had been to the private hospital where the doctor is being treated, and ] created several disturbances. She frightened Dr Fraser and Mrs Evans, and on the last occasion left the hospital, threatening to go and ghoot her child. The bench, in granting a remand for two months, was about to advise Mrs Frafer, when her counsel interfered. It is alleged that the disturbance occurred be- j cause of the doctor's refusal to go with his wife to a house she had furnished and prepared for his reception. He said it would be dangerous for him to move. Mrs Fraser is j stated to have become excited, and upbraided j him for not keeping his promise. After a ' painful scene, phe left the hospital, and when i Been subsequently by Detective O'Donnell, ; denied any thought of attempting to shoot her I child, and Raid she had been utterly misunderstood in the matter. With regard to the fast passenger trains which the Railway department intends to inaugurate on the 20th inst. and continue till January 9, it might be added, as there appears to be home little misconception ;t3 to the innovation, that she object in' view is the reduction of the heavy traffic on the north express during the holiday season. Last

season tlie north express often carried ajl /excessive load, and severely taxed ;the resources of the department. The new fast pas* senger train starts 40 minutes before the express, and it will pick up, at stations advertised, passengers for Oamaru. Fifteen mm I utes after; its arrival another similar train i will leave Oamaru for Christchurch. Similar . trains will run from Christchurch to Oamaru and Oamaru to Dunedin. The inauguration of these trains will mean that the express train will be relieved of all intermediate traffic. The express will on no account stop between Dunedin and Oamaru except to. pick' up passengers for north of Oamaru, and 'will only stop beyond Oamaru to put down these passengers. Passengers therefore by the north express will travel with a good deal "more comfort, and the proposed change is likely to be hailed with a great deal of satisfaction Our attention has been called to the dangerous condition of the Anderson's Bay bridge. For some years nothing has been done to it/ and some of the piles supporting ■ the south approach are completely rotted through. A notice has been posted as follows: — " This bridge ,is dangerous for ovei one ton. — R. Raynbhd, inspector." ' Tha notice board ha 3 been sadly mutilated,^ and it is difficult to make anything of the inscription it bears, but, needless -to say, 'the warding conveyed is disregarded daily. The oscillation- of the structure, when a vehicle passeß over it, is such as to indicate thftt if attention is not given to repairs a serious accident may result at ai\y time. A rumour which* gained currency on 3\ [onday evening that Mr Scobie Mackenzie was seriously ill was without v foundation. Mr^ Mackenzie spent most of the day in town on business, and as a matter of -fact has almost quite recovered from the attack of influenza. The Hon. John M'Kenzie came to town on Monday by the express train from the north. The Hon. J. G. Ward arrived from the south on Monday evening also. i We understand that there is every probu bility that the industrial disputes in connection with the Green Island and Shag Point collieries will bo settled on the basis of tha award of the Arbitration Court in the dispute between the Otago Coalminerb' Union and the New Zealand Collieries, Railway, and Oil Syndicate. An employer, speaking at the meeting a. the Conciliation Board on Monday, was the re verse of complimentary to the colonial youth, regarded as 'an apprentice. His experience was that, whatever kind of- work the colonial , apprentice was supposed to be learning, he always wanted to " knock off work and carry bricks " — he was always wildly feager to do any kjnd of work but that which he was' api prenticed to do. in addressing the bpard at the close, of its proceedings, Mr.'Warren, representing the union engaged in the dispute, took up the cudgels on behalf of the colonial .'youth, and warmly defended his industry. ' It will be- inleresting i and satisfactory to those interested in art in Dunedin to learn that the Otago Art Society has purchased Mr Hansen'a fine water-colour recently exhibited at the society's exhibition. The work (entitled " Unmoored Cloud Galleons ") is a fina example in a manner that should prove use- [ fully instructive -to students in this medium, I and will form a valuable addition to the society's permanent collection. One of the most notorious female inebriate* who make work for J.P.s in Dunedin died in the hospital on Monday morning. As^ a "special pleader" for clemency Annie Pilet | was unsurpassed, and many a time a softj hearted justice yielded weakly to her insistent j appeals for " another chance." Her record for drunkenness and for offences directly traceable to her besetting sin was unusually bad, and the terrible certainty with which she flew to the open bar as soon as liberated was one of the strongest arguments in favour of an inebriates' home that could possibly be ad- ■ ducecl. j During the hearing of a case of assault in the Masterton S.M. Court on Thursday-morn- | ing, Mr H. W. Northcroft, 8.M., recording i to the Daily Times, passed some rather severe j strictures on the abominable , practice o£ . throwing rotten eggs. He said that if anyone came before him charged with the offence in ■ question he would give no chance of fine, but I would send the offender straight to gaol. Con ! tinuing, ho said he had occasion to go down the town himse'f on the previous evening, I but no eggs were thrown at him. If there had been he would have stayed out all night to have found out who had done it. He had noticed commercial travellers and some girla j who were covered with filth. It was tha lowest and most detestable form ol blackguardism, such as is practised by the degraded " push " heard of in Australia.