LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 48

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The Otakia sly grog-selling cases came on at the City Police Court on Thursday, and were all clismissed, the defendants not being called upon in any case to rebut the charges. There pas a preliminary objection as to the order in which the cases should be taken. Mr D. D. \Macdonald contended that they ought to be taken chronologically, and that the convenience of the Crown or the desires of the Crown ought not to be consulted. The magistrate, liowever, held that, having the assurance of counsel for the Crown that there was a reason for taking them in the order proposed, he should allow that order to be followed, unless reasons to the contrary ccoild be submitted; but was quite ready to listen to any reasons that could be advanced. Nothing further was said, counsel contenting himself with protesting against the irregularity. All the cases were dismissed as unproved, but in none were costs allowed. Mr Hanlon made a vigorous dash for costs in "one case on the ground that the proceedings had been instituted merely for the purpose of intimidating the defendant, who had been subpoenaed to give evidence in another case. This suggestion was denied, and it was stated in reply that the man had been proceeded against because it had come to the knowledge 'of the police that he would deny he had gone for the beer at all. Costs were not granted, the Bench remarking that the beer had not been legitimately obtained, though there was no evidence to show that the accused had sold it.

A vote of condolence to the Hon. Mr Gourley and the members of his family upon the death of Sergeant Gourley was passed by the Harbour Board on Thursday. The occasion was a sad one, and the sympathy expressed was most heartfelt. It would be out of place to say "more regarding it than that the spoken words, coldly recorded in print, but faintly indicate the warmth of the sympathy expressed, and the affecting manner in which the sympathy of his fellow-members of the board and the general community was acknowledged.

At Palmerston on Wednesday (writes our correspondent), before Major Keddell, S.M., James Duncan, inspector of stock, summoned a number of settles throughout the district for a breach of " The Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1882," with the following result: — Louis Davis (Green Valley), fined £2, and costs (27=) ; Robert Matheson (Green Valley), fined £3, and costs (30s) ; Thomas M'Lew (Dunba.ck), £3, and costs (15s) ; David B. Murray and Walter Murray (Dunback), £5, and costs .(17s) ; and John Muir (Macraes), £3, and costs (30s). The cases against Hugh Connelly and P. A. Connelly (Hyde), for whom Mr Findlay appeared, were adjourned to the 7th February. Some debt cases were dealt with, and a renewal of some old-age pensions granted. V Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that Mrs Elizabeth Holdsworth, second wife of the late Mr Godfrey Holdsworth, passed away at her residence off Tinakori road on Thursday morning. The deceased lady was a native of London, and arrived in the colony in the Cornwall in August, 1553, since which time she has lived almost continually in Wellington. She has lived a live of retirement for years past. Her husband predeceased her by just under twenty-six years. Mr 3 Holdsworth, who was the grandmother of Mr Holdsworth, of the Union Company, was 98 ivears and 11 months.

In connection with the sly grog-selling cases heard on Thursday, all of which were dismissed, counsel for the Crown (Mr J. F. M. Fraser) said he never pretended that policemen were infallible witnesses, but the witnesses who were called to defend people charged with sly grog-seiling seemed to make it a matter of mutual congratulation to commit perjury, and that it would be quite a relief to find a witness who would give them some glimmer of truth. One of the witnesses subsequently examined apparently tried to accommodate the learned counsel by admitting that he knew what a fla-:k of whisky wa°— that it was a glass bottle of a «peeial shape with whisky in it, — and he went »o far as to admit thai, he had at some time seen such a thing, tut never afc Gtakia. the place where the sly grog-sell-ing was allegac. to have taken place, and in other respects his evidence was dead against the case for Ihe prosecution. This charge, the last on the list, was dismissed for want of proof ; but in reply to Mr Hanlon' s remark that he would have asked for costs had he not known that he would not get them until the law was altered, the Bench expressed the opinion that there had been very strong lying

in the case

Mr A. J. Wilson, writing of the money market the day after the news of the Modeler reverse, says: — "We have rarely over a pretty Tong experience now seen the city so depressed, anxious, angry, disgusted, and fearful as it has been to-day in every dej>artment of business over the news from Bechuanaland published this morning. Unless compelled, members gave no thought even to the settlement, and most of them neither knew nor cared whether failures had happened or not. Gloom settled upon the place, find prices recaded without finding any obstacle to prevent them from going as far down as ' bears '-^pleased to push them. Then, suddenly in the afternoon a rumour circulated that General Buller had turned the Boer position in Natal by sending a portion of his army northward under General Clery, thus relieving Ladygmith, and, so the tale went, capturing from three to ten thousand Boers. Immediately, without waiting for any confirmation of this story, the Stock Exchange went as wild with the excitement and eager hope as it had been down in the depths of depression, and prices flew up in all directions, closing not only above the lowest, but in some instances well above yesterday."

The above no doubt accounts for the cablegram received by an Adelaide broker announcing the relief of Ladysmith, which on the contents becoming known created a good deal of excitement in the colonies.

A meeting of the committee of the Technical Classes Association was held on Thursday afternoon. No definite reply having been given by the Government to the committee's application for a grant for additions to buildings, it was resolved that the electrical apparatus imported at a cost of several hundred pounds be in the meantime stored, an action which, members regret, is forced upon them. In order to meet the requirements of those students of mechanical engineering who purpose sitting for the City and Guilds of London Institute examination, it we>« agreed to forthwith open a special clafs. January being the last month of the financial year, arrangements wero made to pay all accounts, and to get in all .subscriptions.

The announcement that Mr F. B. Stephens, who has held the position of lecturer on metallurgy in the Otago School of Mines, has resigned will be received with regret by all past and present students, but this will be tempered by the knowledge that he has been appointed director of the Stawell School of Mines, Victoria. Mr Stephens intends to leave Dunedin about the 12th prox.

A telegram from Capetown to the London Daily Telegraph, dated 4th December, says : — "It is now certain that the unfit condition of the cavalry horses was the only thing that prevented the complete annihilation of the Boer force after the battle of Belmont. The difference in condition between the Australian and the English horses on their arrival is very marked. The majority of English horses suffer greatly on the voyage, and arrive with their joints stiff and swollen, whilst the Australian horses reach here in good serviceable condition. The New Zealandcrs' horses were e&pecially fit, and this contingent was better mounted than any that has yet landed."

Different sections of the community will draw different deductions (says the Press) from the statement made in the annual returns of offences in the Canterbury and North Otago police district, that the number of cases of drunkenness reported in 1899 showed a decrease of 255 as compared with the numbers for 18SG. The districts which show the greatest decreases are: Christchurch 60, Fairlie 7, Methven 12, Waimate 4-, Pleasant Point, Rangiora, Sydenham, and Bingsland 3 each. The districts showing the greatest" increases are: Ashburton 45, Lj-ttelton 55, Oamaru 67, Rakaia 10, Temuka 20. The total number of convictions for drunkenness last year was 1345— males 1147 and females 198.

After the celebrations in connection with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in this city, the committee who had undertaken to carry out the celebrations decided io devote the surplus funds in their hands to the erection of a permanent memorial in Jubilee Park. The matter was entrusted to Messrs T. Brown, R. Chisholm, and A. Bathgate, and these gentlemen have recently had a memorial built on the highest point in the park. The structure, which was designed by Mr H. F. Hardy, consists of a substantial circular seat of concrete, cemented over, and having hexagonal back, the several lines of which converge to a point at the apex. There are also marble tablets, bearing inscriptions, let into two faces of the hexagon. On the side overlooking the harbour these words are to be seen : "' This park was planted on the occasion of the Jubilee of her Majesty Queen Victoria. 1887." On the opposite side is the following inscription: — "The adjacent oak grove wa^ planted in commemoration of tho Diamond Jubilee of her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1897." Then follows a suitable verse of poetry composed by the late Yen. Archdeacon Fenton. A portion of the cement for the seat was given by the Milburn Lime and Cement Company free of cost.

As showing the popularity of the threepenny piece as church money, the Rev. W. A. Sinclair mentioned in the Garrison Hall last evening that an analysis of the collection of the Sunday evening before showed that there were 652 threepenny pieces, 190 sixpences, 108 coppers, 50 shillings, one halfcrown, and two florins ; or a total of 1003 coins.

The hospital returns for the past week arc as follows: — Remaining over from the previous week 106, admitted during week 27, dischprged 27. Total remaining in the institution 106. Theree were no deaths during the week.

Dr Mickle, who returned from the Chatham Islands by the Toroa, states (says the Lyttelton limes) that there has been an outbreak of disea&e amongst the natives. It is in the form of sore throat, probably diphtheria. One boy died before the steamer left, and 2 others were seriously ill. The stipendiary magistrate asked Dr Mickle to bring a letter on to the Premier requesting that a qualified nurse should be sent. On his arrival in Christchurch Dr Mickle wired the contents of the letter on to Mr Seddon. He has received a reply to the effect that the Premier had instructed that a nur»e should leave by the Toroa. Dr Mickle says the Maoris, are very helpless in cases of sickness, and there is no qualified person at present on the island to instruct or assist them. He considers that a cottage hospital with a trained nur&e is an urgent necessity.

We regret to learn (siys the Rangitikei Advocate) that the Hon. John Bryce is so seriously ill from the after effects of influenza that nurses have to sit with him day and night.

There would seem (says the New Zealand Times) to be a plethora of unemployed in the teaching profession, or a large number of teachers ambitious to improve their present status. The Wellington Education Board has received the .following applications for each of the vacancies in the under-mentioned schools: — For the head mastership of the Island Bay School, salary £200. there are

51 applicants ; head teacher at Mangaone, salary £100, 16; assistant at Johnsonville, '•alary £30, 20 ; a^istant at Mount Cook Boys', j-alary £100, 9; teacher at Mangamaire, salary £90, 8; pupil teacheer at Carterton, £20, 11 ; do at Pongaroa, £20, 2.

According to the Australasian, " o movement now in progress in New Zealand in connection with the flour trade deserves attention. In that colony, as well as in Victoria, the industry has fallen into an unprofitable condition. Various attempts to make associations work have not been successful, and a more drastic scheme is in preparation. The proposal is to form a triut, with a capital contributed pro rata in proportion to tho capacity of the mills. The trust is to buy the output of each mill, and to re-sell to customers, the brand's remaining as they are now. Tho profits earned by the trust are to be appropriated, first in payment of interest on capital, and the surplus as thought advisable. The trust will also have the power to purchase mills outright. While such a trust," adds the Australasian, " will probably be a more effective instrument in restoring the trade to a proper basis than an association, there are serious disadvantages from a personal point of view. As the trust can do its own selling, the services of travellers and agents will not be necessary. This view is supported by the experience of trusts newly formed in the United States, where great numbers of travellers were suddenly thrown out of employment last year. Under a trust also the proprietors of the different establishments lose practically all their independence. Considering these circumstances, a loyallyFupported association is much to be preferred to what the Americans call an ' ironclad trust.' "

A number of water-colour sketches by Miss E. M. Every, of Derbyshire, England, painted for the Otago Art Society's exhibition last year, arrived too late. They will be offered for salo by auction by Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. They are all English landscapes.

Mr E. Alelland, who was a candidate for election to the Education Board in November, has decided to stand again for one of the present vacancies. In his circular to bchool committees he strongly deprecates ail endeavours to set town against country. He believes any action to abolish district high schools 1 as of a retrograde character. What is wanted is more, and not fewer, opportunities for secondary education in rural districts, together with a wider curriculum to suit different circumstances and varying abilities. Pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to restore the 10s capitation originally granted. Had this been in force last year the income of the Otago- Education Board would have been augmented by £8951, a sum large enough to bring many useful reforms within the scope of practical politics. * There died in December, at his home in New Jersey, the Rev. Dr Robert Lowry, who, apart from the fact that he was a very prominent Baptist minister, will ever be remembered by Ihe hymn " Shall we gather at the river," of which he was the author. One hot day in the summer of 1864, at which time an epidemic was sweeping through the City of Brooklyn, Dr Lowry, then living ot that place, was sitting in his study thinking of his many friends and acquaintances who had recently died, when the question occurred to him, " Shall we meet again. We are parting at the river of death. Shall we meet at the river of life?" "Seating myself at the organ," Dr Lowry once said, " simply to give vent to the pent-up emotions of the heart, the words and the music of the hymn began to flow out, as if by inspiration," and in the following year the hymn and music were given to the world.

A sitting of the 'Conciliation Board was held on Monday, at which the recommendations of the board respecting the Green Island coal miners' industrial dispute were announced. The recommendations cover a large number of contested matters, and the chairman of the board immediately suggested an adjournment to enable the parties to consider the suggestions made, and the proceedings were accordingly adjourned until Friday next.

In connection with the Russian advance on the Afghanistan frontier, we are permitted to make an extract from a private letter written by a gentleman in India thoroughly conversant with the state of affairs there, which shows that British preparations have not been entirely neglected. " The northwestern railway is one of the biggest charges in India. In all there are 3500 miles of railway going through all sorts of country and climate from the sea at Kurrachi to the hills at Peshawar. Again, from Lahore to Delhi and all along the frontier through Baluchistan to Quetta, and on to Chaman, where it joins Afghanistan. The Ameer of Afghanistan was very upset at the British going so iar as they have no line actually in British country. The Government, of course, say it was a mislake in the boundary. At Chaman there are 100 mile? of railway material complete in every respect, bridges, rails, sleepers, water columns, pumps, — in fact every detail to run the line into Kandahar the moment a disturbance arises, or when the old man goes to kingdom come. The old man was much annoyed, and built a fort in a range of hills a few miles off. He has his guns pointing at the railway station night and day, to blaze away directly a move is made."' The Ameer will not allow any of his subjects to use the Chaman station, and they have to carry their goods for miles over rough country into what he considers our country. This northwestern line is divided into nine districts. They are four large engine-repairing shops — one each at Lahore, Rawal Pindi, Sukkur, and Kurrachi, and five smaller ones."

At Monday's meeting o£ the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce a letter was read intimating that Mr Peter Barr, who was the delegate from tho chamber to the International Commercial Congress ia Philadel-

plvia, has been chosen as vice-president for New Zealand of the Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. A hope is expressed that the result will be an increase in the friendly relations between New Zealand and the United States.

A young man named John Orr, son of Mr James Orr, of Rangitira station, near Gisborne, met with a fatal accident on Sunday week. While out riding his hat blew off, and while dismounted for the purpose of regaining it he was kicked in the groin. Medical assistance was obtained, but the unfortunate man died the following day. While a traction engine was passing over the bridge at Waitati early on Monday morning it crashed through the structure, thus blocking the Main road.

Recently the Victorian Government sent a cable luessage to the Imperial Government arking to be supplied with 5000 Lee-Enfield magazine rifles to arm the local forces with. A reply has been received that the, matter cannot be immediately attended to owing to the pressure on the War Office in connection with the war in South Africa.

A record shipment of books arrived at Wellington on Monday by the Ruahine direct from London, comprising 500 sets of the Encyelopfedia Britannica, or 12,500 volumes, consigned to the London Times' s New Zealand branch at Wellington.

Mr Allan Carnuchael, who unsuccessfully contested the Wallace scat at the late general election, was entertained at a largely attended banquet held in the OUutau Town Hall on Friday evening. Mr Henry Hirst presided. During the evening Mr Carmichael was presented with a gold watch and chain bearing the following inscription: "To Allan Carmichael from his supporters, to mark the honoui.ibJe manner in which he contested the Wallace election, 1899."

The following letter signed " Inquirer " appeared a, few days ago in the Westport Timer- :

" Sir, — Being; ignorant, and yet aiJxiouß. 1 wish you coald. either yourself or through some of your correspondents, inform me upon the fdiowiiig query: Knowing siliout three hyinp;uh.'s.cs o f tho Boers in tin- locality — man who are openly visaing dL : "vner io thf British r-uns sru! men, and, if their own worn is to he taker,, wuuld aid in bringing 1 such a calami:/ about — would wo 7ie allowed to nhoot them an enemies of the Kmyiie or place them in limbo until the war ii, over. "'

Plans for the new railivay station and post ofnre at Clinton have been prepared and the preliminary work connected with the restoration of the building has commenced. The plans provide for a range of new buildm?;e of a substantial character ,and also include refreshment rooms. It is i amoured at Clinton that the postal and railway business will b» amalgamated and conducted by tLe one set of officials. — Ensign.

Mr Robert Slenhoiise, who died at Groper's Bu?h on the 20th inst., wa» bom in Scotland in lc-27. He yme to New Zealand in 1563 in the ship Electric, landing at Port Chalmers Mr Stenhouse went south and took up land in the Western dittiiot, where he has carried on farming f-incp. The deceased gentleman is survived by his wife, one daughter and several sons.