OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 2

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

The gold yield of Queensland for the month of June was 100,8920z, or an increase of 14-,5200z on that of June of last year. At Southbridge last week Mr James Donachie was presented by a few of his farming friends with a gold albert and Maltese cross prior to his departure from the district. The personalty " of Lord Beauchamp's younger brother, the Hon. Edward Hugh Lygon, who was killed at Modeler River on March 23, has been sworn at £43,336 net. He was only 26.

On and after August 1 the 7.40 a.m. train from Dunedin to Oamaru, which now runs three times a week, will run daily, leaving Oamaru on the return' journey each day at 2.20 p.m. The Corinella Gold Mining Company, Eganstown, near Daylesford (Victoria), unearthed a wedge-shaped piece of gold weighing- 950z. The same company in March last found four pieces which totalled 5220z. One of the oldest miners in Victoria — William Parker — has been found dead in his hut at Stone Creek, near Bairnsdale. Death was due to absolute starvation. Parker, who was 70 years of age, had neither food nor fuel. With regard to the insurance on the Waimate fire, the Oamaru Mail learns that the building-, which is owned by Major Steward, is insured for £200 in tlie Prcenix office. A man named William Bird was trying to remove a charge from a muzzle-leading gun at Murrrngup (West Australia) recently, when it exploded, and he received, the full force of it m his head, death being instantaneous. The use of a separate comb in, haircutting" is made unnecessaiy by a new implement, which has a comb formed on the side of one of the blades of the scissors, with the teeth graduated in length to' bring the cuttingstraight. Mr W. A. Walton, letter carrier at the Balclulha po&t office, was the recipient of a handsome travelling bag- and silver pencilcase from the Balclutha Wesleyan Choir on Tuesday evening- on the occasion of his leaving the postal service.

On Saturday night Mr Norman M'Leod, clerk at the Palmerston railway station, was the recipient of a gold-mounted silk umbrella from the local staff as a token of respect and esteem, on the occasion of his appointment a? relieving stationmaster. Speaking at a dinner given by Sir Frederick Sargood to the officers of the Victorian Cadet- Force, Mr Melville, the Minister, of Defence, stated that the military commandant had informed him that it would cost at least £250,000 to make the country perfectly sa"o.

The Mount Ida Chronicle states that on Monday evening Mr P. Newman, of Naseby, who has taken his departure for South Africa, was presented with a handsome purse, with which to purchase pome memento that would remind him of his friends in Nasebv.

A noted and influential chief of the Ngati'rangitihi tribe named Mebaka has died at Matata, Bay of Plenty, and a large number of Nat'ives'from all along the coast and island have gathered for the tangi. Deceased was uncle of Mr Raureti, a well-educated youngNative advocate, now engaged conducting business before the Land Court at Maketu.

A peculiar fatality occurred at Yarra Glen (Victoria) on July_ 12, the victim being- a young" man named John. Ayres. He had jusfc cut a log of wood through, when one end rolled over and caused him to lose his balance. In falling the axe, which was exceptionally sharp, fell across his neck, severing the jugular vein, and causing 'death in a few minutes.

The following is a notification by the Picton Maoris: — "We, the Elect of Te Aroba Nui, Waikawa, hereby give notice that under the Seventh Rule of Jehovah, men, women, and children have strictly agreed not to take .spirits of any kind ; also, that any person or persons intoxicated, or having bottles of spirits on them, shall not be allowed to enter within our gates, or round about." There is just now on view in Asliburton a very handsome greenstone pendant, all the parts being gel in gold, which is intended for presentation to Sir George White, the hero of Ladysmith. It bears the inscription : — "To General Sir George White, defender of Ladysmil\ S,A.. 2nd November, 1899, io 28th February. 1900. From admirers in Ashburton, N.Z."— This gift to Sir George is the outcome of the sale of a heifer, donated by Mr-W. J. Silcock, some weeks ago. A daring and at the same time skilfullyplanned burglary was carried out in Melbourne on the- night of July 5, or early the following morning. The premises, of Messrs Johnson and Simonsen,'Qhanufacluriiig jewellers, were broken into by a gang of thieves, who carried . off unidentifiable goods valued at £4-00. Nothing that could have been identified was touched. The goods were locked up in two safes, tfc.e weaker of which was wrenched open, but all attempts to open the other safe were unavailing. As a result of the robbery 30 men were thrown out of work.

Mr" Patrick Manion, a New Zealand war veteran, died suddenly at New Norfolk (Tasmania) on "July 12. He enlisted in the 49th Regiment in li eland, serving in China, for two years* Then joined the 2nd-14tli Regiment, and, with them, proceeded to the New Zealand war, for which lie obtained a medal; afterwards he embarked with his regiment for Hobart, and at the time of the depni'turo of the last of the troops from Tasmania obtained his discharge, after .serving for over 21 years. He also received four badges for good conduct. The 13-year-old Sydney lad Harry Crockett, better known as the "Warrigal Stowaway," has succeeded in reaching the Cape after eight attempts. lie stowed away on the Nineveh at Albany, and p. letter just recpived from him states that he is- going on to London, "at the pkipneVs request. ! to' see a bit" of the world." ' The skipper^has" promised to buy liim a new rig-out in London, and "ho says he will have, me; .presented to the ' Queen, God bless. Ker.'™.^ fie had seen Boer prisoner?, avid ir£'reTSly'"'t'o aquestion from him as to how they liked" the to" they paid " they were glad they were captured,^ as they were full tip." At a meeting of tho Roxburgh-Heriot Railway League. -held at Roxburgh on Monday /it was resolved — " That this meeting feels very much disappointed at the reply given by Ministers to our member, Mr Jas. Bennet. re railway extension to Roxburgh ; and seeing that the future prosperity of this district and the development of its many resources depend on better communication, with the seaboard, wo trust .that the Government will see fit to extend the TTeriot railway to Roxburgh ; but if tho Moa Flat estate i<- an insurmouiilnble difficulty, we sincerely hope thnt the Lawrence line will be extended here." Mr Kerse, Dun robin, wrote to the league staling* with regard to the action of the Land Purchase Board in condemning the Moa Flat estate for close settlement, that the opinion around. Dunrobin (and that -by practical farmorf.) was that two-thirds* of the estate, at any rate, was suitable for that purpose, while tlio remainder could be cut up into larger blocksu