OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 42

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

A large turtle;- about 2£ft long, was captured by Mr H. Hirst' on the Orepuki beach.

At Hastings on the 16th inst. Mr Joseph Fritchley was married to Miss Louisa King, of Alexandra South. The happy pair received many valuable presents, both useful and ornamental. '

The Aparuna Lodge, No. 39, at Otautau, has been registered as a branch of the Independent Order of Oddfellows of New Zealand Friendly Society, under " The Friendly Societies Act, 1882." . ■ '.'_•- _ : The Timaru Herald states that Trooper-. Ernest Talbot, of the South. Canterbury Mounted Rifles, has been- selected as one of the men to- go to South Africa in charge of the remounts by the Ormnzan.

The Governor has received a despatch from, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies intimating that the* retention of the title of "Honourable " by Mr Thomas Thompson has been approved of by the Queen. Hie -Excellency .the -Governor lias approved of the designation of the Roslyn' Rifle Volunteers being changed to the Wakari Rifle Volunteers, with the seniority 'of the firstmentioned c<srps in the New Zealand Volunteer E'orce

From a private letter received in 'Napier we. (Hawke's Bay Herald) learn that "Lieutenant Berry, who went in charge of the first Hawke'3 Bay Rough Riders' contingent to South. Africa, has been promoted to a senior lieutenancy. He is 011 his way to Rhodesia with the New Zealanders.

A shocking fatality occurred at the Fresh Food and Ice Works, Sydney, recently^ A. constable named Frank Evans, wearing a long macintosh cape, stepped near a circular ice saw. which caught his cape, and dragged the unfortunate man under and cut through his body in a frightful manner.

Sir Hawkins, S.M., in dealing with a charge of' u»ing indecent language against a Greymouth man named Sl 'Kay, said he thought it scandalous that a man should be branded a gaol-bird f o • an offence of this kind, and if everyone was sued who used offensive language half the population would be had "up before him

In the action Gibbs v. Graham for slander and libel heard at the last silting of the Supreme Court, Nelson, the plaintiff was nonsuited in respect of the claim for slander, but ■was granted leave to appeal. We (Colonist) now learn that the motion by plaintiff to set aside the nonsuit has been abandoned in the Appeal Court, costs going in favour of defendant (.Mr Graham).

The following postmasters have brrni ay-, pointed to take and receive statutory declarations under section 234- of " The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882 " .-—Robert Murrell, jui;., Manapouri ; William Petsi-son, Half moon Bay; Samuel Harrison, Ohaslands; Heiuy Templeton, Waikawa; William Snodgrass, To Anau; Roderick M'Kenzic, J-sk> demount ; Andrew Smith/ Mararoa; George Srevenson, j Crornarty. At,' a meeting held at Hamua recently, and ! attended by about 200 Natives, it was an- ; nounced that the Chief Nireha had presented j 100 acres of land to Hamua to be set apart Usa park to commemorate the Queen's JubiI lee. The Natives of JTamua and Masterton ' also donated 40 acres adjoining for the same* ! purpose. H was decided to ask the GovernJ ment to sanction the park being- crt apart i for the- purpose. The Ashburlon Mail reports the death o£ Mr David Pat con, oldest "son of Mr Robert Pali on, Mount Somcrs, a^ed 26 years^ Deceased went lo Africa about four years ago, | rtid \ery successfully worked in. the Govern - I meni: workshop?. When the war broke out ho joined the Natal Volunteers, and was in. Laciysmilh until relieved, but, unfortunately, he was so much reduced by the privations that he succumbed.

A peculiar incident occurred in a church at Portland on April 26. Dr Thornton, Bishop of Ballarat, was preaching his farewell • se&oon, and referred to the authorised version of the "Scriptures before him as a garbled 'Boot. In» the; evening he disavowed any intention of making any disrespectful allusion to the Word of' God, but stated that there | were more than 30,000 errors in the version.