OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 44

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

" Gatacre Redvers Buller " is the namef given to an infant who was christened at the Thames a few days ago.

A '-eaident of Palmerston North has a peacli tree which has proved so successful in a short space of time that he has named it '•' Lord Roberta."

The main roll for the Oamaru electoral district is now printed. It contains 4026 names* The supplementary roll will proba-bly contain another 200.

The total indebtedness of the Borough of Brunner was stated at the end of March to be £6690, the amount of interest payable annually being about £450.

The Wanganui Herald states that the hands employed on the Levin State farm, have been given notice that their services will be dispensed with at the end of April. It is understood (says the North Otago Times) that the volunteer Easter eripampment will be held at Oamaru provided the local volunteers are able to turn out in force.

From Greymouth last week the Blackball Coal Company exported 1590 tons 3cwt coal, and the Brunner Company 2753 tons 6cwt coal, 42 tons lewt coke, and 10 tons 7cwt bricks.

At the Lawrence Police "Court on Wednesday a Chinaman named Mon Vow was sentenced to two months' imprisonment ■with hard labour for assaulting another Chinaman o.i Monday, 12th. A ship captain, writing to the Hawke's Bay Herald, says that he cleared his ship of rats by giving his men. a glass of rum for each one they caught. The work was done thoroughly and well.

A company is being formed at Stratford, with a capital of £5000, to erect a hall to replace the Town Hall, which was burnt down in the late fire. The proposed hall is to seat 1000 persons.

A man employed at the Bluff, on Tuesday, discharging; cargo from the Zealandia, was reported to have pro-Boer tendencies, and his fellow-workmen required * him to put on his coat and discontinue his duties.

The Ngatiapa tribe have contributed, through Mr John Stevens, M.H.R.. £30 towards the more men fund. They also asked to have the fact of their loyalty made public through the New Zealand Gazette, the Maori newspapers, and those published in Wanganui. At Cromwell on Saturday evening Mr Peck, engineer on the Ranfurly dredge, who is leaving the company's employ to take up a position as draughtsman to Mr F. W. Pnvne, consulting engineer, was presented wi'h a handsome silver-mounted pipe as a souvenir of his connection with the dredge.

The Grey River Argus states that work on the Midland railway line appears to be a great deal slacker just now than has been the case for years. The line may be said to be completed as far as*the Otira Gorge, but not much advancement is likely to be made until some time after Parliament meets.

In reply to a deputation at Mokihinui on the lOst inst. the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones stated that the Mokihinui and Cardiff coal mines would not remain idle, whether worked by companies or by the Slate, and that the present period of depression was only temporary. He would recommend to the Government in the meantime the continuance of work to employ the people.

Lieutenant J. L. Wood, of the Port Guards. Timaru. son of Mr John Wood, head master of the Waimataitai School, has been up for examination for an Imperial officer's commission, and is presently to undergo the usual medical examination. If he passes this ordeal, it is unde'-stood that an Imperial officer's commission will be issued, and that he will leave Timaru for Home.

A meeting was held at Nelson a few days ago relative to the formation of a mounted infantry corps, when 62 names were handed in of those willing tc join. It was decided to ask the member for the district to urge the acceptance of the troop on the Minister of Defence. At a meeting held at Motueka re the formation of a rifle corps, 98 handed in their names as wishing to join the corps.

At ICailangata on Monday a man named William. Thomson was sentenced to a month's imprisonment in Dui^edin gaol on a charge of using obscene languaere in a public place. The bench complimented Constable Lawrence, of Balclutha, who made the arrest, for his promptitude in doing so, and expressed the opinion that the conduct of the local constable in not arresting the man should be. inquired into.

The revenue of New South Wales for February amounts to £G4-2,266, showing an increase of £193,997, as compared with February of last year. Of the increase, the land tax represents £140,033, and railways £40,281. A writ for £500 damages for libel alleged to have been contained in a letter written to one of the Hawera papers in connection with a late breach of promise case, will, it is understood, be issued shortly.

By the death of James Parsons, Devonshire has lost its chief " pinging man." Parsons was a hedger by jirofession and a musician by nature, and it is due to him that the county still possesses so many of its oldtime airs and verses. He was known throughout the county as " The Singing Machine." After an evening's bout he took and won a bet that he would go on singing until sunrise, and never sine; the same song twice.

Mr John Mitchell, farmer, of Glenham, passed through a sensational experience on •Thursday afternoon while crossing the Nevis Range. Having missed the track, he dismounted to take bearings, and had only gone a few yards when he found the loose gravel under his feet moving from beneath him down, a steep declivity- Nothing beinpr within reach to clutch hold of, he was carried! down with a mass of material, and deposited 150 feet below, where he lay insensible for a couple, of hours. The occurrence was witnessed from a distance, and as soon as possible Sir Mitchell was extricated from his unpleasant position. By rare good luck he escaped with, a few cuts about the hands and head and bruises on the body. — Southland Daily News. Complete specifications relating to an application for' letters patent have been accepted at the Patents Office, Wellington, from Francis James Olsen and Edward Henry Whitmore. Invercargill, for an improved apparatus foi filtering water. Provisional specifications have been accepted as under : — Percy Stuarfc Irwin and Samuel James Luke, Dunedin. improvements relating to dredging; John London, Dunedin, an improved device for main■taining or preserving the fold in the crown of soft hats; William Wood, Dunedin, an improvement in hairpins; John Wright and John William Mitchell, Mosgiel, an im* proved method of and means for branding carcases; William Hall, In* vercargUlj a barb-wire-cutting attachment to a rifle or carbine, for the purpose of cutting barb-wire obstacles in front of an. enemy; James Stewart, Campbelltown, improvements in bottles, to prevent their fraudulent re-use; Ewen Alexander Cameron,Queenstown, improved spark-arrester aud fuel* economfegffv ' ~ " ' "

A total of 71 men have signified their wil- j lingness to join the proposed mounted rifle rorps for Tuapeka, while a large number are &=ud to be waiting for fuller information as to the number of parades to be put in before ioiatea,

\ The earthquake on Wednesday was very severe at the Nevis. The shock was preceded by a rumbling, louder than that of thunder, and the shock was so violent as to cause the houses to rock and to make loos© stones roll ' down the hills.