LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 17

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Mr Winston Churchill, the author of the American novel " Richard Carvel," has been fortunate enough to discover that there may be a good deal in a name. During the present war the British public has been greatly interested in the adventures of Mr ,Winston Churchill, the clever correspondent of the Morning Post, and concluding that he was the author of "Richard Carvel," bought up the copies of that work at such a rate, that it soon had the largest circulation of any novel of the season, and the publishers found it exceedingly difficult- to cope .with the demand. As a matter of fact, the American Mr Winston Churchill and the English Mr Winston Churchill (his full name is Winston Spencer Churchill) are two entirely distinct persons. It seems rather cruel to say this now, but as the buyers of " Richard Carvel " have probably by this time read and enjoyed that fortunate work, probably not much harm will be done.

.Mr S.. H: Jenkinson has been informed fay- cable that he has passed the third and ftfurtfi Jfinal) examination for the degree of B.So. in mechanical engineering.

/The following are the vital statistics f or the district of Dunedin for the month of February: — Birthgj 90; • -deaths, 41; marriages, 41." " For the Corresponding month of last year the "returns were:' — Births, 85; deaths, 40; marriages, 41.

It having become known in Australia that the various Governors had received a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, much speculation as to its contents has been caused. The secrecy observed, and the dropping of mysterious hints, appear to have led to the impression gaining ground in Sydney that there would be a demand on the Imperial soldiers to meet some action on the part of one or more of the Powers, and that more colonial troops were required to replace the soldiers who would thus be transferred from South Africa. No doubt the despatch received in Australia is in similar terms to that on which the Premier of New Zealand acted about a week ago, when he took steps to form a reserve force for possible service in South Africa. This does not necessarily imply that any new danger is apprehended. The Imperial Government, having been so severely blamed for unreadiness when forced to take tip arms against .the Boers, have no doubt now decided to take advantage of the military fervour in the colonies to prepare for any and every emergency that may arise, and thus indicate to any Power that may have any idea of interfering in the settlement of the South African dispute that such intervention will not be brooked. The preparations for despatching the bushmen's contingent have no doubt been the cause of the Australian Governments not taking action at the same time as our "own Government. j^, The tram traffic on the 27th ult. was nearly on a par with that on Jubilee Day, close on 25,000 passengers being carried. The traffic on Jubilee Day was continuous from early morning till past midnight, whereas the bulk of the business done on Wednesday was between the hours of 11.30 a.m. and 8 p.m. The result, so far as the floral fete business is concerned, will be the handing over to the committee from the Tramway Company of a cheque for £60. When it is remembered that the company carried t^e children in bulk, this result is eminently satisfactory. Every available car was pressed into service, and kept continuously at work,' and the results reflect credit alike upon the management, the excellent quality of the horseflesh (a stud of 290 horses), and the extreme carefulness and diligence of the drivers and conductors, working under such "exceptional circumstances. The whole day's traffic was fortunately negotiated without a single hitch or mishap.

A very pathetic scene occurred at Port Chalmers on Thursday afternoon, when some 40 women, whose ages seemed to vary from about 14- to 60 years, were brought down iv care of a number of female warders from Seacliff to the Port for embarkation on board the Government steamer Tutanekai. Sergeant Geerin made every arrangement for the deception of'these unfortunates, three or four of whom were rather violent. The bulk of the poor creatures, however, Were very quiet, and by the kindness of his Worship the Mayor, were accommodated in the Town Hall pending the arrival of the steamer, in which they embarked for Wellington.

A meeting of the committee of the Technical Classes Association was held on Thursday afternoon, when Mr A. Burt was re-elected president, Mr "W. Cutten treasurer, and several subcommittees were set up. Eight applications were received for the position of teacher of mathematics, and were referred to the Appointments Committee. The opening of the winter session was fixed for the first week in April, and the secretary was empowered to arrange if possible for the continuation and extension of the classes at Port Chalmers.

The output of coal from the mines of the •Westport Coal Company (Limited) for the month of February was 27,403 tons 15cwt.

In giving judgment in an action brought to recover £1 -\os deducted by an employer from his workman for train fare, at Stratford the other day, the Magistrate said that though the amount was small, yet it involved some important points. The" -truck Act certainly ,was a bar to the defendant deducting plaintiffs train fare. He had no option in the face of Mr Justice Edwards's decision in the case of Stemman v. Courte btit to give judgment for the plaintiff. At the same time he wished it to be publicly known tfjat any arrangement between agents and workmen .•whereby it is agreed to have train fare deducted from wages is illegal. The Truck Act appears to be a bar to agents sending servants to the country under the usual circumstance of the servant being unable to pay his fIX kee railway fare. He would allow no

costs, as he' considered the defence morally wrong. He thought, however, counsel was perfectly within his rights in setting it up. Notice of appeal was given.

The 711 labour disputes which occurred during the year lE9B, according, to the Board of Trade return just out, involved, according to Engineering, the loss of 15,000,000 days' work. Assuming, our contemporary goes on to point out, that the average working life of a man is 40 years, which is a very liberal allowance, it follows that the time lost in strikes in this one year equals the life's work of 1250 men, while the loss to the nation in remunerative labour is about three and threequarter millions sterling. Of the total of 15,000,000 days, more than 11,500,000 days were accounted for by the dispute in the South Wales coal trade, and of the remainder more than 1,000,000 days represent that portion of the engineers' dispute which fell within the year Ic9B. If those two disputes were omitted, the year 1898 would have been singularly free from important labour disturbances.

The hearing of the charge of wife murder against Thomas Gallaway came to a close at the Supreme Court criminal sittings on Friday. The jury, after an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict of "Not guilty," and Gallaway was discharged.

The Railway department have completed preparations for coping with the anticipated large traffic over the departure of the contingent. The south" end of the 'Cumberland, street platform has been extended for a distance of about three chains. To bring this about the ornamental trees growing on the south side of the passenger overbridge have ' been cut down, and the fence has been taken back in a westerly direction as far as the foot • path Avould allow. This will permit of much longer trains being used than could possibly have been done under the previous condition of things. The Mussel Bay platform is to be lengthened, and a new siding put in No alterations will be made elsewhere. The formation at Burkes is such that the siding cannot be extended.

During the course of an interview at Alexandra on Tuesday (says the local Herald), the Minister of Public Works stated that there were -from 250 to 275 men working on the Otago Central line at present, and after the harvest he intended to put more men on, and make a big attack- on the Poolburn Gorge, where two tunnels had to be made. The bridge over the Lauder Creek was also a big undertaking. If the money required was available, he thought the railway could be completed as far as Alexandra in about three years, but at the present rate of expenditure ,it would take longer.

The Bruce Herald states that a writ has } been issued against Mr Stratford, S.M. (and I all the petitioners), prohibiting him fiom pro ceeding further with his decision in the Bvuce licensing petition. The case will come before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, when legal argument will ensue on the matter. ',

Mr J. E. Moullray, the well-known artist, who went to South Africa with the first contingent as our special war con e^pondent and artist, returned to Auckland on Friday by the Waimate, having been ordered to New Zealand by medical men after an attack of fever.

Mr Wiliam C. Smythe, electrician to the Post and Telegraph Office, died at Christchurch on Wednesday from lung affection.

The Industrial School children had their annual picnic on Friday at the Taieri Mouth, and a most 'enjoyable time they had — grand weather, bountiful provisions, and, more thar. all, the glorious news from the seat of war to add zest to their youthful spirits, On ascertaining the correctness of the war news, tht children, who were ready for lunch, gave hearty cheers for Generals Buller and White and the men under their command, and sang the National Anthem. Mr Buriinson, ths manager, wishes to thank Mr M'Kegg for kindly taking the children to and from the Taieri without fee or reward, and the friends whose kindness enabled the inmates to have so good a spread.

One application, that of a female, for an old-age i^ension was made before Mr C C. Graham, S.M., at Port Chalmers on Saturday. A pension of £10 per annum was granted. i

A correspondent, who returned on Friday from a tour of Central Otago districts, writes : " The fervent patriotism displayed by very

many of the people really deserves to bo recorded. Newcomers to any of the out-of-the-way places are besieged for papers and news. The enthusiasm is not often demonstrative, but rather of that quiet, earnebt type, which shows the deadly seriousness of the people. I have heard many an old, and often crippled, digger say ; ' I \yjsh J was 20 years younger^

I'd be off.' Pro-Boers, who some little time ago ventured to express their view 3, often sarcastically, are now absolutely dumb on the subject of the war. Little Macraes had her bunting out for Cronje's capture."

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were bi ought to a close on Saturday afternoon. At the morning sitting the charge of cutting and wound'ng against Thomas Dawson was dispo&ed of, the jury acquitting the accused. In the afternoon the charge against the boy Milburn of the manslaughter of a schoolfellow, following upon a scuffle among playmates, was heard. His Honor, in summing up, practically limited the case for the jury to the consideration of the question as to whether the boy had or had not struck with the knife, not thinking that he had it in his hand; and the jury after retiring for 10 minutes returned with a verdict of "-Not guilty." The coroner's jury in this case found that the boy struck the blow not knowing that he had a knife in his hand, and this was manifestly the ground of acquittal at the trial. Mr Hanlon appeared for the defence in both the cases heard on Saturday.

The seven nurses selected by the committee to go to the Cape left by the 3.35 train on Monday for Port Chalmers to join the steamer Talune. It is somewhat uncertain as to what boat they will catch at Melbourne, but a promise has been made that there will be as little delay as possible. Arrangements have been made wijth the New Zealand Express Company lo undertake the transport of the nurses' luggage at Melbourne, also to give every facility when they arrive at the Cape. The committee have also made the necessary arrangements whereby the nurses may obtain their salary at the Cape, weekly if they require it. The Premier has forwarded letters of introduction, and has asked the committee to instruct the lady superintendent to report to Sir Alfred Milner on arrival.

At a meeting of the Bishop Verdon Reception Committee, held at St. Joseph's Hall on Friday evening, it was stated that the bishop was expected to arrive in Dunedin on or about the 3rd of April. A subcommittee was appointed to prepare an address, which is to be presented on behalf of the clergy and laity by Dean Mackay, the diocesan administrator. Subscription!, for the presentation fund are freely coming in.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, accompanied by Mra and Miss Hall-Jones, and secretary, arrived in Opmaru on Friday night, by road, after a" prolonged tour through Central and Northern Otago, and put up at the Star and Garter. The Minister (says the Oamaru Mail) is delighted with the appearance and prospects of the country through which he passed, and says that e\ erywhere there are symptoms of unexampled prosperity. He is, however, of opinion that the dredging mania is, in some instances, leading to the profitless destruction of cultivable river terraces which ought not to be interfered with for such a purpose. Of course, during his trip in Dredgedom, he was momentarily made the repository of confidential disclosures of goldgetting enterprises by which he could "live happy ever after." He, however, elected to leave all this wealth to those who are more in want of it than he is. The party left for Timaru.

At Wyndham on Friday John Trernbath was brought up before Messrs James Forsyth and John Gray, J.P. s, charged with breaking into and stealing over £400 in notes from the Fortrose branch of the Bank of New Zealand. The accused, who had confessed to the robbery when first arrested, was committed for trial at the next sittings at Invercargill on the sth of June. Bail was fixed in prisoner's own recognisance for £200 and two sureties of £100 each. Inspector Pardy, who prosecuted, stated that accused, through his friends, had paid back the whole of the money he had spent in paying creditors, amounting to about £70, so that no one would lose by the robbery.

The number of patients admitted to the hospital during the past week was 23, and the number discharged 20. The total number of inmates at the end of the previous week was 95, and there are now 98.

' The Lyttelton Times vigorously defends the Agent-general against the attack of the chairman of the Dunedin Stock Exchange. His messages, our contemporary sayri, are not cast in the ambiguous language of the Press Association, nor framed to suit the whims of the press censor. They mention in the plainest way the leading features of the campaign. A defeat is cabled a defeat, whether it is inflicted upon the Britifeh or upon the Boers. Mr Reeves knows the temper of his readers too well to imagine that they want to be flattered tut accowU oJ^eaA victories which

they have never won. As for the promptitude and accuracy of his messages, we need go no further back than the past week to see how he has beaten the Press Association in these respects. His messages may not always have been quite so cheering as we could have I wished, but they have invariably been prepared with the greatest care, and when the ' chairman of a Stock Exchange implies that .j they have been coloured by the author's syinI palhy with the Boers, he betrays the shallowness of his own professions of patriotism. A correspondent with the Northumberland Fusiliers, writing to the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, says: — I have often heard that it takes a man's weight in lead to kill him, i but I have never heard of a case, and I don't think anyone else has, where it has been found j necessary to use a lyddite shell for the de- . slruction of a single individual. Yet this is what actually happened at Magersfontein the other clay. During the course of the day it i was noticed that our gunners were being ' picked off. Six men belonging to one of the j howitzers were wounded, and nobody could . tell where the shots were coming from until . tho smoke of a rifle revealed the presence of a Boer marksman behind ,a tree on the top of a kopje. It was impossible to fetch him down with a rifle, as the tree was proof againsl the penetrating powers of a bullet, but he had to be shifted somehow, so the gun was trained on the tree. The shell struck it right in the centre, tore it out by the roots, and carried it and the man behind it hundreds of feet into the air. These shells cost from £7 to £15 each, according to size,, and it may occur to some people that this is rather an expensive method of exterminating a single foe, but in this particular case the cost of the shell was well repaid by the saving of life to us." j The twenty-sixth annual mealing of the Standard Fire and Marine Insurance Company was held on Monday afternoon, when directors and auditor were unanimously reelected, the annual report adopted without challenge, and, in addition to the vote of thanks to directors, manager, and staff, a resolution was carried advising the directors to contribute a horse to the fourth contingent on behalf of the company, the horse to be given as a donation from the head office.

The University Council on Monday appointed Mr D. B. Waters lecturer on assaying, etc., and Mr J. E. L. Cull lecturer on applied mechanics at the Universit3 r .

William Jones, charged with breaking a boring machine valued at £7 103, was committed for trial at Naseby yesterday.

His Worship the Mayor has undertaken to receive and transmit to the proper authorities subscriptions in aid of the fund for the relief of sufferers from famine in -India.

Negotiations are proceeding in Hokitika for the establishment of a foundry there. The Guardian says that it is estimated that about £200,000 worth of work in dredge building would be in sight the first year, and if mining developments assume the proportions at present indicated, there will be ample work to keep the foundry going. Mr W. Cable, of Wellington, was in Hokitika a few days ago making inquiries as to the starting of n~foun'dry, while the representative of a London firm is on the same mission.

We are asked to state that the subdivisional sale of The Camp estate, Otago Peninsula, will take place on Thursday, the 22nd March, at Messrs Sievwriglit Bros, and Co.'s rooms, High street.