LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 52

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A Wellington city councillor is the authority j for a, statement that boys in the Wellington, city schools, not having time in the morning to take rats captured by them round to tho destructor, had kept the defunct rodents — not more than one or two at a time — in their school bags, along with their books and lunch," until dinner time.

The annual meeting of the National Council of the Women of New Zealand will be opened in Dunedin on the 3rd May, and, according to present arrangements, will extend over nine days. The programme provides for papers being road on " Parental Responsibility," by Mrs Tasker, Wellington; on "The Removal of Disabilities," by "Mrs Sievwright, Gisborne : on " The Ethics of Wage Earning," by Miss C. Hender3on, 8.A., Christchurch; on '" Constitutional Reform," by Mrs Daldy, Auckland; on "Federation," by Mrs Allen, M.A.. LL.B., Wellington; on "Temperance," by Miss Roberts, Christchurch; on " Illegitimacy," by Mrs Williamson, Wanganui; on "Local Government Reform," by Mrs Wells, Christchurch; on "Peace and Arbitration," by Miss Sheriff-Bain, Auckland; and on "Education," by Miss Kelsey, Dunedin; while Mrs Sievwright will deliver a lecture on "The ISTe-.v Woman."

The Rev. A. W.' Baker, representing the South African Compounds Mission, lectured to a small but interested audience in the King street. Congregational Church on the 25th. Describing his work in South Africa, he referred to the huge population of 200,000 natives employed in the Johannesburg- mines, which formed a great field for missionary enterprise. Among these men were natives from Mashonaland, the Matabele country, Zululand, and, in fact, every native race south of the Zambesi. For a thousand miles — all the way to Capetown- — there was constantly a stream of men going to, and from the mines, and about once a year the whole of this native population was changed by the constant arrivals and departures. Mr Baker said that at each mine there were aboux 2000 men, and the enclosure taking in the area held by each company was called a compound. He was in, charge of seven of these compounds, and for a number of years superintended the .missionary work there. He had 13 assistants, with a numbei of, natiye teachers, engaged in the work, -which was frequently carried on under trying and discouraging conditions. Speaking for himself, he liked a little opposition. It showed that he was invading the stronghold of evil, and the Prince of Darkness was resenting it. Mr Baker spoke for about an hour and a-half, holding the attention of his hearers to die close.

The total cost of the old-age pensions in the colony is now £190,000. The recipients include 10,000 Europeans and 1000 Maoris.

One-fortieth "of the Maori population are thus being assisted, against one-seventieth of the European.

The Ensign reports that on Saturday last a deputation representing Gore sharebrokers and directors of district mining companies waited on Mr M'Nab, M.H.R., with the object of enlisting his support for a project to have a stamp office constituted at Gore for the purpose of stamping share transfers. It was pointed out that at present such transfers had to be forwarded to Invercargill or Dunedin to be stamped, and that the services of someone at the other end had to be secured! to sign the transfer register. Not only did the lack of proper facilities in Gore to carry out this work entail considerable unnecessary expense, but much delay in completing transfers was occasioned, two or three days 'being lost. Owing to this, companies declined to establish their he*ad offices in Gore. After further reference to the matter by members of the deputation, Mr M'Nab eaid he fully appreciated the difficulties that existed, and thought a remedy might be obtained. He would communicate at once with the Post-master-general on the subject, and would make known to the deputation the nature of hia reply as soon as it was received.

The CromwelKArgus reports that a very interesting find of raoa bones was made last weelc on the Lo\rer Flat, AthenEeum reserve,' by a couple ol gentlemen who were visiting* Cromwell. The find consists of al almost entire skeleton of a gigantic moa, everything except a few of the ribs being intact. The discovery in Croydon Bush of the tibia of a moa. is also reported. The bone is nearly 23 inches in length and 6g inches in circumference at the thickest part.

Another prominent citizen of Port Chalmers passed away on the 25th in .the person of Mr William Bundle, the postmaster. The deceased gentleman, who has been in illhealth for some months, was highly esteemed, and great sympathy is" expressed for Mra Bundle and her young family.

Mr R. W. Glendinning, of Taieriside, Kokonga. has decided to become a candidate for tho vacant seat on the Education Board.

The* St. Andrew's Literary Institute has arranged another eourse'of fortnightly lectures for this coming winter. The bulk of the work is to be taken by Dr Waddell, who proposes to give three lectures on W. J. Dawsou's novel " The Story of Hannah," and five on Walter C. Smith's poem " Hilda Amongsfc the Broken Gods." He is also down for two other lectures — one on "An Evening with -Irish Humorists," and one on '" The Study of Fiction in Relation to Character." Two other names -appear- in the syllabus-r-the Rev. Mr Fairclough, who is to contribute "A Study of Fairy Tales," and Mr J. A. Johnson, M.A., of Timaru, who lias chosen the "Rucaiyat" of Omar Khayyam, the astronomer-poet of Persia. The first lecture of the series is to be given on the 7th May.

It is riot a wise plan to take undue familiarity with an elephant. During the detraining of Fitzgerald's Circus on Thursday afternoon, a local resident (says the "Wonganui Chronicle) was regaling Jumbo with biscuits ; but, tiring of the pastime, he decided to see if the animal could discriminate between hard road metal and cake, and with that abject handed the elephant a fair-sized pebble. Retribution swiftly followed such inquisitiveness. Jumbo drew up his trunk, and, bringing it round with a sweep, landed the offender an unmerciful, Samsonian thump on the chest, spread-eagling the gentleman on the ground. Like the tailor in school book lore, he is a sadder and

wiser man now.

Our Wakatipu correspondent wires : — The long spell of fine harvest weather broke last Monday, since when till yesterday morning rain fell with but short intermissions. On. Wednesday night there were several heavy showers, catising the rivers to rise, but fortunately snow fell on the hills, otherwise there would have been a heavy flood. Snow is generally indicative of a change for the better, and it is hoped the worst is over. There is now a heavy coating of snow on the hills, some of which has come to stay for the winter. The temperature has fallen considerably.

We are pleased to learn that the Hon^ John M'Kcnzie continues to improve in health. His progress, though slow, is steady.'

The Government lias (our Wellington correspondent wires) commissioned Mr Nairn, the Wellington artist, to submit designs oj: a new stamp. The subject is connected with the New Zealand contingents, and the colour is to be khaki.

Mr A. S. Patcrson, being the only person nominated to represent the Chamber of Commerce on the Harbour Board, has been declared duly elected.

Mr A. W. Baker gave a lecture at the South Dunedin Baptist Church, on Thursday on the South African Compounds Mission. He gave a highly interesting explanation of the way in which the mission work is done in the compounds. He stated that on Sundays, with" a harmonium and cornet, open air meetings were held from compound to compound by 13 of his workers, assisted by native evangelists. In his own field he (Mr Baker) ,held on an average 11 open air meetings of this description, covering a distance of ten miles. On the week days school was held at each of the mission halls in the compounds for two, and a-half hours in the morning and. two and a-half hours in the afternoon. The

evenings were spent in visiting the natives in the rooms in which they lived. Mr Baker graphically described the way in which this . was done. The speaker also gave some instances of conversions amongst the natives, and stated the very definite way in which the doctrine of repentance and retribution was insisted upon, and suggested the same might be adopted with" advantage in white congregations. He concluded with a very touching testimony of one of the native converts to liis r fellows. The Rev. Mr Muirhead presided, and there was a. good attendance. With "regard to the new San Francisco mail contract recently entered into by Messrs Spreckels and Co. with the Government of the ' United States, the Wellington correspondent of "the Lyttelton Times understands that the Government of this colony has no intention of ' recommending Parliament to vote a subsidy to the service, the opinion of the Postmaster- j general being averse to that course. The j Postmaster-general advises that New Zealand \ will only pay upon the weight of the mails actually carried by Messrs Spreckels's line. The movement for "saluting the flag" is , (our correspondent wives) spreading in the Auckland district, the public schools in Chapel j street (city), Pamell, North Shore, Cambridge, j and Mount Eden having taken it up. The ! ereetiqn of flag staffs for hoisting the flag is ; being/ gone on with. The Premier favours : the movement, and the Government will give , pound for pound of the cost. Lord Ranfurly j has/promised, if his engagements permit, to , take pkrt in the opening ceremony at the . Mount Eden School. The Mayor of Roslyn has received intima- ■ tion from Lieutenant-colonel Webb that the services of the Roslyn Rifle Volunteers have been accepted by the Government. • j Tire trial of Henry Hughes Eddington, Alexander Eddington, and Robert Burns for the wilful murder of Peter Cartridge on the 14-th April, at Kakanui, is proceeding before , two justices of the peace (Mr A. Avery and Captain Turpie) at Oamaru. Mr Newton, "besides appearing for the accused, watches the interests of some of the witnesses for the prosecution, and after one of these (James W. Minty) had been sworn yesterday, he declined to answer any questions regarding Ike occur- '' rences of the night of the 14th April on the ground that he might be charged as van j accessory, and his evidence used against him. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Creagh) asked that the witness be ordered to answer the question, and after an argument on the question Mr Avery, speaking for the bench, said "they J felt it would not be right for them to allow the witness not to give his evidence. Possibly J the three young men might not be guilty. It ; was possible that others- were concerned, and in' the interests of justice they should get at ! the trutb. They thought 'the witness must answer, ,as he might be concerned himself." , Mr Newton protested against such a uion- ■ strous decision, and intimated that he would pimply advise the witness to refuse to answer questions and let him go to gaol, and take the matter to the Supreme Court. Mr Avery &aid that he was of opinion that the witness should answer questions, because the three young me*n might not be really guilty, and possibly others of the eight were. Mr Creagh remarked that in that case Mr Newton v. as quite right. The. bench then adjourned the court for a quarter of an hour, after which ! they announced that as, perhaps, Minty had i been implicated in some manner, they had '• decided not to press the question. Minty , thereupon declined to answer any questions • relating to the death of the deceased or his movements that evening. Four other witnesses similarly declined to answer any questions. In connection with the proposed amalgamation of trotting clubs, a letter has been received by the New Zealand Trotting Association from the Canterbury Trotting Club stating that the committee do not see their j way clear to act in the matter until the annual meeting of the t!ie question being of vital importance to the welfare of the club. , A pleasing ceremony took place at LawTence on Thursday, when the Anglican Sunday School teachers and members of the choir I and guild invited the Archdeacon and Mw '■ Beaumont to afternoon tea. The room was ! prettily arranged like a drawing room with ! quantities of flowers everywhere. In the the course of the afternoon Mrs Beaumont was - presented by the bodies named Avith a hand- i some 'set of carvers, silver-mounted, with | monogram, in a case, with the following in- [ scrip tion : — "Presented to Mr,i Beaumont ! by the members of trie guild, choir, and > teachers of the Church of England Sunday Schoo). Lawrence, April 19, 1800." Mrs ! Beaumont was also presented with" a pretty ! set of afternoon tea spoons in case. The Archdeacon returned thanks for Mrs Beaumont, | and took the opportunity of thanking all his church workers for their faithful, loving work in Sunday School, choir, and guild. The hymn " God be with you till we meet again " was then sung, and the benediction pro- ' nounced by the Archdeacon. • , "~ funeral of the late Mr W. Bundle, postmastei at Port Chalmers, took place in the ' New Cemetery on Friday afternoon. The body %vas previously taken to Holy Trinity ' Church (of which the. deceased gentieman iir.cl been an office-bearer), and after the usual ser- ] vices, conducted by the Rev. Mr Kewley, j M.A., interred in the cemetery, in the presence- of a large body of friends. In the course oi conversation with a representative of the Sydnej Daily Telegraph on \ April 16, Mr J. Mills, managing director of the Union Cpmpany, referred to the impuve- • ments about to be made in the San mail service. The Union Company, he said, I was waiting particulars of the .xaet conditions under which the large subsidies had been granted by. the American Government to the / Oceaaic Company, which is 'building three

new fast steamers for the service. The former, however, hoped to retain its position, and it had intimated, in the event of its Nbeing able to participate in these subsidies, its intention of building one, and, if necessary, two, 17-knot boats to run in conjunction with the American steamers. In any case, he added, the new service would be a considerable advance on the present one. It is stated that a dredgemaster from Otago has gone to Canada to take control of a dredge on one of the rivers there. He is getting his passage paid, half wages on the voyage, and is to receive £7 a week when he takes tip his duties — which have been graphically described 'as consisting of walking around with his coat on and his hands in his pockets, giving a look over all the work. A one-time Otago dredgemaster, at present earning £5 a week in Australia, is being offered £6 a week to return to New Zealand. With the large demand which will arise shortly for dredgemasters when the West Coast dredges commence operations,' a dredgemaster's position, as regards salary, promises (the Press thinks) to rank second only to that of a bank manager or a Minister of the Crown. The Rev. Dr Waddell requests us to state that since" he mentioned at the conversations in 'the Agricultural Hall" on Thursday evening that he -was now the oldest settled minister in either Dunedin or the suburbs, he has learned that the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland was here 'two weeks before him, so that that gentleman is entitled to the distinction of bsing the oldest settled minister. < When the appointment of an assistant medical officer for the Christchurch Hospital .was under.- consideration, on Wednesday (the Press reports), the Chairman said that junior surgeons were most difficult to get. Were if, not for the Medical School at Dunedin, he did not kiiow how the colony would get along for junior medical men. The manner in which the New South "Wales estate of the late Mr James Tyson. M.L.O. of Queensland, is to be distributed has been dealt with by the Chief Judge in Equity. The Master in Equity submitted a certificate showing who was entitled to shave in the distribution, the list having been already published. Subsequently six claims came to hand from persons "who -said they were children of the deceased's eldest sister, Margaret. These claims have not yet been adjudicated upon. The total value of the estate in New South Wales is cet down at £600,000, the whole estate, including properties in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, being estimated at .over £2,000,000. The' sum of £500,454- is now in the hands of the court. The Master recommended that a ninth of this sum be set aside to meet the claims of the representatives of Margaret Tyson, should they be substantiated j that the sum .of £10.000 be carried forward to costs and contingencies account : £50,000 to meet debts and expenses of administration and other contingencies; the balance to be divided into eight equal parts, for division amongst the members of the families ol' the deceased's brothers and sisters. The judge made an order on the basis of the master's recommendations. Mr J. C. Arbuckle, of Lawrence, has been nominated for the vacant seat on the Education Board caused by the resignation of Mr J. M. Gallaway. Mr F. W. Knight, of Waipori, has also announced himself as a candidate. He was for some years a member of the Tuopeka County Council, several times chairman of the local school committee, and is a prominent Oddfellow. Messrs Daniel M'Curdy and John Riddell haA'e been elected, without opposition, as members of the' Peninsula Road Board, and Messrs Alexander Smaill, Thomas Henderson, and William^Cowen, also without opposition, as members of the Tomahawk Road Board. Sister Marie, v.ho has been appointed a-s second sister in connection with the Central Mission, leaves Melbourne by the Talune, and, after undergoing the usual quarantine period, will lake up work in this city in conjunction with Sister Ruth. The Government steamei Hinemoa, which returned tc the Bluff on. Thursday from a cruise around the southern island, found that the oil party on the Maequaries had been suffering considerably for want of foodstuffs. The flour jhad gone musty, and had it not been foi the dogs, which caught birds and rabbits for them, their condition would have become most trying. Under the new agreement, the islands forming the German colony are to retain the name of ' Samoa," whilst for distinction the islands belonging to the United States will be style'l " Tutuila." ■ Mr A. W. Baker, director of the South African Compounds Mission, addressed a number of university students on Saturday morning. Speaking on the mission work with which he was connected, he referrpd to the splendid opportunities that wera afforded in the mission for e\ angelising a great number of different tribes, as Johannesburg was the centra from which natives came from various parts of the county-. He also alluded to the difficulties of learning the languages of the native races in South Africa, and pointed out that the tones and inflections wero exceedingly important. In the afternoon Mr Baker held a children's service in the Choral Hall, there beinc; a very fair attendance. The subject of his discourse was ships, his remarks being based upon the text : '" Jesus saw two bhipr; " (Luke v, 2). At the Y.W.C.A. Rooms in the evening Mr Baker gave an address to Christian workers, in which ho showed that the purpose of Christ's liic was to do everything to the glory of God. He enjohicd othe.-a to follow Christ's example in this respect. Special foreign mission services wero held in the Garrison lie 11 on Sunday. Theie vras large gatLenng in the morning LLc rcivicc being conducted by the Rev. C. E^ Ytfilliuinc, of Fiji. Josef?, a native minister, addressed

the young pgople, and to illustrate the great change that has taken place in Fiji, stated that his grandfather was a cannibal. The Rev. C. E. Williams, in the course of his address, pointed out that out of a population of 100,000 in the group, 90,000 are connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, of whom 40,000 are church members. There are 33,000 scholars in the public schools, all of which are under the control of the mission. A number of the natives have gone to New Guinea, and New Britain as missionaries. In the evening the hall was crowded, numbers having to stand throughout the service. Addresses were given by Mr A. J. Baker and the Rsv. W. A. Sinclair, Josefa also spoke, giving a few incidents of his life. The collections (which were in aid of foreign missions) amounted to £21 4s 3d. The Central Mission has also undertaken to support a native agent in New Guinea or New Britain. A public meeting will be held, at which addresses will be given by the deputation. Josefa speaks in Fijian, Mr Williams interpreting. It is not generally known that a French attempt was lately made upon Lord Kitchener's life ; but such is the fact, if we may believe a sensational £>tory which appears in '" Vanity Fair," of the 15tli March :—": — " When Lord Kitchener did his record passage through the Soudan, en rotue for the Cape, there was moie reason for haste than people imagined. As a matter of fact. Lord Kitchener had been warrieel of a little French plot to wreck his train ; and -being the smart man that he is. he took o quick resolve. He telegraphed tl>ree separate times down the. line to the engineer ofticsv who had charge of the railway, and, being afraid to say much, merely wired : ' Hurry me along.' The engineer, being- a man wif.i a brain, had a special train ready for Lord Kitchener, and hence tlio spesd of the run, which caused so much comment at the time. -The ordinary train which passed down the line a few hours later was actually wrecked !" Sergeant-major Burbery, of Christchurcb. has (the Press reports) received official intimation that the Secretary of State for War had promoted him to the Imperial warrant rank, and he is, it is believed, the first New . Zealand boy to obtain it. The Court of Appeal has delivered a judgment which is likely to have some effect upon strikes (writes the London correspondent of the Ago), and, perhaps, moderate the eagerness with which some trades rush into those very unsatisfactory modes of settling traders' disputes. At the time of the great strike of colliers in New South Wales during 1898, the Merthyr-Tydvil Guardians opened a stoneyard for the relief of strikers; and. on the other hand, the» masters posted notices, offering work to the colliers on terms halfway between the old rates and those demanded by the strikers. The Attorney-general contended that the guardians had no right to saddle the ratepayers with the cost of maintaining work-/ men who had the opportunity of supporting themselves, and refused to do so. But should tjie women and children starve because the men were idle? There was the difficulty. It was argued for J.he guardians that we cannot refuse to save a child from starvation on the ground that its father would be able to provide it with food if he were not on strike. And the Court of Appeal has virtually decided that the women and children must be looked after, but that the men must be left to themselves to fight out their battle with the employers without any assistance from the rates to which all householders in the parish, masters and men, have to contribute. The golden wedding of Mr and Mrs Julius Hyman was ' celebrated at the Synagogue on Sunday, when a special service was held. The building was crowded with people, who watched the proceedings with, great interest. Mr Hyman emigrated to the colonies in 1852, and came to Otago ten years later. lie is one of the oldest jmd one of the few remaining of the original members of the Dunedin Jewish congregation, and among his many efforts on behalf of that body may be remembered the raising of £1650 by means of a bazaar in 18E6, with, the -object of reducing the debt of the Synagogue. Although advanced in years, lie retains much of his early vigour, and still is one- of the chief sup-ports of the Hebrew congregation in Dunedin. '-Mr Hyman is prominent in Masonic circles, being M.E.Z. of the Chapter of Otago, 844, and possesses a fine collection of presentation jewels. Mrs Hyman has been a worthy partner to her husband, and was the founder of the Ladies' Hand-in-Hand Society". Mr and Mrs Hyman ha% r o the good wishes of a very large circle of Dunedin friends, both Jewish and Christian, for their future wellbeing. A very large assemblage of people gathered togethei in Trinity Church Schoolroom. Lawrence, on Friday evening to bid a formal goodbye to Archdeacon Beaumont, who h?s resigned bis charge after a 30 years' ministry in the district. Mr E. M. Wakefield presided, and presented Archdeacon Beaumont with an address on behalf of the parishioners of Tuapeka and Waitahuna, and also with a purse of sovereigns. Messrs Ferris and Barnett (Waitahnna) "and. Messrs John Thompson, Jeffery, and Stenhouse also delivered short addresses, expressing regret that Archdeacon Beaumont was leaving the parish, and referring in terms of the highest praise to the venerable gentleman's qualities In returning thanks for the presentations, Archdeacon Beaumont referred to the causes that led to his resignation of his charge. He was sure that very few amongst; tho^e present quite realised his position in doing so, but he acted only on the dictates of his own conscience. He was doing it for Christ's sake and for the greater glory of God. As a consequence of the plague scare in Melbourne, the state of the Bibles in use in the conns has been brought under the notice of the Crown Law department. Dr Gresswell wiole to the sccvetai-y -of tiic department on tlie subject in the folio iving terms: — " I have

the honour to state thai it is understood that at the Law Courts the Bible is used from week

to week and j/ear to year without being cleansed or disinfected. It is accordingly suggested that either a new Bible should be obtained or that the court keeper should be instructed to wipe the siu'faco of the cover with a solution of corrosive sublimate of the strength of 1 in 5000. Small bottles of tabloids of corrosive stiblimate can be obtained, one of which, dissolved in a certain quantity of water, gives a solution of the above strength." There are many courts in New Zealand in which this advice might be fittingly applied. The story is current that in some Utopian State the Court Bibles now are specially bound with celluloid covers, and taken outside and washed every time that anyone has been sworn upon them. Witnesses, however, sometimes open the Bibles before kissing them, and there seems to be no remedy for any germs that may accumulate within the covers.

The Southland News says that an erroi v.-as made in assuming that the Mr Henry, of whose illness its Preservation Inlet correspondent has informed i*, is Mr B. Henry, of Resolution Island. The information relates to a former resident, of Inveroargill, who was a photo-

grapher there,

The industrial dispute between. the New Zealand Federated Tailore3?es and Other Clothing Trade Employees' Union and the New Zealand Clothing Manufacturers' Association, which was adjourned six months ago, will again come before the. Conciliation .Beard here on the 15th inst. When the dispute was last before the board it was agreed between the parties to continue working on the existing log for six months, it being understood that an effort was to be made in the meantime to bring the Auckland clothing trade into line with that in the other centres. <of tiie colony. It was, however, found impracticable to do this in the manner which had been suggested, -and the dispute will, therefore, come before the board again on the. date above mentioned.

The vital statistics for the past month £io as follows: — Births, SO; deaths, 50; marriages, 03. Diiring the corresponding month of last year there were 85 births, 52 deaths, and 40 marriages.

The National Council of the Women of New Zealand will commence their session in the City Council Chambers on Thursday, at 3 p.m., when a meeting of delegates will be held. A public meeting will be held at 8 o'clock the same evening, when the president will give her opening address, and a paper on "Parental Responsibility" will be read by Mrs Tasker, of Wellington.

The new Roman Catholic Church, at Ranfurly was opened on Sunday. Bishop Verdon and a number of priests were present. The holding capacity of the building proved insufficient for the large - number from all parts of Central Otago who were present.

We regret to record the death on Monday, at the age of 63 years, of Mr James Scoular, of Mornington. The deceased gentleman, who was a native of Edinburgh, left Scotland for Victoria in 1554- and went into business in Melbourne, where he was for some years. He came to Dunedin about 1863, and established himself in business in Princes street south, afterwards joining his brother in founding the firm, of W. and J. Scoular (now W. Scoular and Co.) in Bond street. About 20 years ago the partnership between the brothers was dissolved, and since then Mr James Scoular remained in paitial retirement from btisineas. He was intimately associated, however, with many large ventures in Dunedin, among them being- the New Zealand Drug Company, of which he ' was a director up to the last annual meeting, the National Insurance Company, and the MO3giel Woollen Factory Company. He took his part also in opening up and developing new country, for, a good many j'cars past, he held 7000 acres of land at Mo'sburn. He was' a member of the Mornington Boro'Jgh Council for a number of years, and also occupied the mayoral .chair in the borough, while he was an elder of the Mornin^ton Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. He took a great delight in the game of bowls, and it was on the bowling green that, more than two years ago, he -suffered the paralytic seizure that was the beginning of the illness that terminated yesterday afternoon, wiien he passed peacefully away. Mr Scoular was a keen and successful man of business, possessed of quick judgment and great decision of purpose. He leaves a family of six sons and one 'daughter.

The Gore Patriotic Committee held a meeting on Friday (says the Ensign) to wind up accounts in connection with the fund. A statement by the treasurer fallowed that £595 14s 5d had been lodged in the Bank of New Zealand to the credit of the fund. It was resolved to remit the stun of £500 to the Lord Mayor of London for the j>alriotic fund, and that the balance, after paying liabilities, be retained in hand as a provision against any claims that may arise from the men of the Mataura Valley troop.

Mr J. C. Arbuckle, in announcing his candidature for the Education Board, reminds school committees that he has been a member of the Lawrence District High School Committee for about a quarter of a century, and its chairman several years. He has no extreme leanings on any subject likely to come before the 'board for consideration, but, if elected, would go with his mind untrammelled and free to take a fair and unbiassed view of any question. Considering the present finan-. cial position of the 'board, he claims that his long experience as an accountant will prove of benefit. He expresses the opinion that the present district high schools 'should be encouraged in 3very possible way.

The Canterbury Jubilee Industrial Exhibition, which ia to be opened at Christ-

church in November next in commemoration of the Jubilee of the provincial district^ promises to be one of the largest ever held in the colony. Plans are now completed," and, with the permanent buildings now mi course of erection by the Agricultural and! Industrial Hall Company, there will be al total of about IOOjOOO sqtfare feet in connection with the exhibition. In another column an announcement is made that forms of application for space can be obtained at the local offices of the Chamber of Commerce, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, or the Industrial Association. All applications for space must be made before the 30th June, and will be considered according to priority of application. Intending' exhibitors should', therefore,, be prompt in securing space for their requirements.

The "Marlborough Express, referring to tha volunteer camp at Richmond at Easter, states that one of the biggest squabbles that has ever taken place at the Easter encampments occurred on the Sunday evening. The trouble arose over the question of leave, some being told it was not necessary to obtain leave, while others went awa3' without thinking they had to apply. Some of the Nelson men created a disturbance at church time, and a picket was 'formed, and 41 arrests made. After a tiire about the pome number gathered in front of the gates of the camp, and they weie plso placed under arrest. There wa? groat excitement, exception being taken te the refusal to recognise leave of absence. >

It is not generally known, we (Wanganui Herald) think, that near Wanganui is a Sanatorium equal, if not superior, to the world--"" 5 famed Rotorua Springs. At the meeting of the Chamber of Comnieics yesterday 'Mr T. Higgle stated that Mr A. Cameron had informed him. that the upper waters of the Wangaehu River possessed great curative' qualities. Mr Cameron has had practical experience of this, having received greater benefit from them than he had ever received from the springs in the Rotorua and other northern districts. Needless to say, the chamber was anxious to hear more about the Opper Wangaehu waters, and the secret-uy was requested to communicate with Mr Cameron asking him ior further particulars.

An enjoyable concert v<as given in the nev> ' Wesleyan Church at Bclleknowes on Wednesday evening; by the Mornington choir, who song several glees with taste and expression. Mr T. Holaate, the conductor^ contributed two songs, in which his baritone voice and excellent enunciation were heard to advantage. Afi<!= Lpmboume sang a couple of songs with taste and expression. Other members of the choir contributed -song-*. The Rev. J. J. Lewis showed a cultivated and retentive memory by the way in which he recited tha "Death of Marmion." Other interesting and amusing recitations were also given. . The sale of ladies' work in the building has been postponed till Saturday afternoon, and there will be a woiking bee outside the building for th» removal of a quantity of obstructive earth, to which muscular Christians are invited. '