LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2499, 5 February 1902, Page 54

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At the meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College on Monday (reports the Lyttelton Times) Mr T. S. Weston (the chairman) moved the motion of which he had given notice— " That, in the interests of the college and the students, the engagement of Professor Bickerton should be terminated by 12 month*' notice." He said he thought that the motion had better be discussed m committee. The board went into committee, and on resuming the Chairman reported that an amendment had been carried that the motion should be referred to the College Committee for report at the next meeting of the board.

Dr Pomare, Native health officer, has returned from his official visit to the Chatham Islands. He succeeded in .nducing the formation of a Native Council under the act of last session.

The following resolutions have been adopted by the Outlook Publications Committee:— "That this committee accept Mr Hutchison's resignation of his position as acting-editor, and at the came time fully acknowledge he undertook the work to relieve the committee of a difficulty, and thank him for his services so generously rendered to the committee." It was further resolved—" This committee regrets the publication of the article (January 11) containing the acting-editor's personal views on the war; the statements therein expressed being so antagonistic to the views of th« Presbyterian and other churches represented by this paper."'

The timber has been ordered for the new Menzies Ferry bridge, and the work will soon be put in hand. The estimated cost now (owing to the rise in timber and labour) is about £2800. Of this sum (says the Wyndham Herald) the Government gives a vote of £1000, leaving £1800 to be provided by Tois Toie and Waihopai Ridings.

Lord Granville Gordon, the younger brother of the Marquis of Huntly, has arrived in Melbourne, en route for New Zealand.

Mr D. Barron, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Otago, and Mr H. H. Kirkpatrick, a member of the Otago Land Board, are t-.t present on a visit of inspection to the improved farm settlements in the Rimu and Woodlands districts.

Th« new building for the Bruce Woollen Mills is now n earing completion. The premises are commodious in all departments, well ventilated and lighted, and, in fact, up-to-date__ ia, all rejjecta. Thq extensive

machinery is now coining to hand,- and' an • expert -from Home is putting it in portion 4 - ■as it arrives. It will, however, be about May before the mill makes another start.

A specimen of antimony was found at the back of Levin township a few days ago by one of the men employed on the roads.

The numerous friends of Mr A. Stewart, head master .of the, Union street School, will be pleased to learn that he is progressing favourably. The accident which has confined him to the Auckland Hospital since Christinas time caused a very painful fracture of the thigh bone, and the progress of healing is necessarily tedious. The sufferer is, however, receiving the very best treatment, and, with patient nursing, his condition is improving wonderfully. He has been greatly cheered by a host of sympathetic* messages from friends everywhere.

It is expected that the first mission worker in connection with the Church of England Mission in Dunedin will arrive here on February 7. The lady from England whoa was to have assumed charge of the work here has been unavoidably detained by the serious illness of a near relative, so that the English sisters will not now be able to come for a few months. But meanwhile the work will be begun by Miss Cowley, who has had the , training and experience of six years' mission . work in Melbourne. The vicar of St. Matthew's, having been first in the field, secures this lady's services for work in his parish t three days in the week; the remainder of her time will go for work in the Hospital and Prison. Other calls, which -are sure .tobe made a» the work extends, will be supplied as more workers are added to the mission staff. The Church Mission House, No. 15 Scotland street, is the headquarters of the mission, and information concerning the work may bo had by applying to members of the Ladies' Committee. The address of the local secretary is No. 6 Heriot row.

Among the tourists at present visiting Rotorua (telegraphs the correspondent of the New Zealand Times) is a wealthy foreign lady, who subrcribes herself Countess Riaz. She is attracting considerable interest. Her costumes are marvels — the latest Parisian 1 creations. She electrifies the globe-trotters at the Grand Hotel by frequently wearing at dinner a diamond snakelike necklace, tha jewels of which are as large ac gooseberries, and are valued by their fair owner at £250,000. The day after her arrival here she visited Whakarewarewa. During that afternoon she threw into the diving pool beneath the bridge silver and gold amounting to £23. After the fall of the first halfsovereign the stream was a struggling mass of terra-cotta bodies. The Whaka Natives have not had such a windfall sinc&>. the Duke's visit. The whole village population lined tlie fences opposite the Grand Hotelin anticipation of more backsheesh from the. female Croesus, who that evening, wearing her famous jewels, and protected by a> mounted escort, again visited Whaka, where a haka wa« given in her honour.

The Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company are in receipt of the following letter from Messrs Davies and Son, appointed tailors to his Majesty the King: — "Dear Sirs, — H.R.H. the Prince of Wales brought to Mr Davies's notice the piece of woollen goods presented to him when in New Zealand, and was desirous that we should see if there was any likelihood of your gooda taking over here. With this view we shall be glad if you will send us a few patterns of only your bebt makea of suitings, when we will send you a small order and see how they sell."

At the invitation of Mr D. E. Theomin, the members of the staffs of the firms of Messrs D. Benjamin and Co., Messrs Michaelis, Hallenstein, and Farquhar, and the Dresden Company assembled on Wednesday evening in the Victoria Hall, Agricultural Hall Buildings, to participate in a social evening. The function was held on the occasion of Mr Theomin'a approaching departure for Europe. It proved a most enjoyable one. The Victoria Hall was decorated with much care and taste by Mr Sutton, while the supper room aUo presented a brilliant appearance, ihe catering of Mr Meyer, pi the Coffee Palace, being carried out in hia customary excellent style. The music was supplied by Messrs Yates' band, and dancing was indulged in with much zest by 100 couples. The' proceedings were agreeably diversified by some excellent music. A. quartet party, consisting of Messrs Falelc', Robertshaw, Jago, and Densem, rendered quartets in capital style, while songs were rendered with much acceptance by Measrs Jago and Deusem. The gallery of the main, hall wae subsequently thrown open for cards and other games. Altogether the function passed off with much success.

Nine members of the City Council leffc the Town Hall in carriages on Wednesday morning to pay their annual visit of inspection to the council's property at Whare Flat. His Worship the Mayor waa unable to go ft owing to business engagements.

The ordinary meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees, held on Wednesday, wa9 attended by Messrs P. Treeeder (chairman), R. Wilson, W. Burnett, and the Hon. H$ Gourley. It was reported that an inmate named John French had died during th© week, aged 80. Accounts amounting to £94-' 5s 2d were passed for payment. Forty-three relief cases were dealt with.

It is a question deserving of serious consideration whether the precautions taken in regard to the inspection of mutton, beefy : and pork for consumption as food are nofcj; * after all, abortive for the protection of the public whilst other articles of daily use, suoh aa poultry and rabbits, are allowed * ols*EJ*g<! t«L tbijibtat It ?§ "M« to sag

that for months past two-thirds of the birds sent to the local poultry depot have been rejected as unsmtable for export. Ostensibly rejects are faulty in respect to weight only, but is this their only failing? If so, of course their subsequent appearance upon the local market ie matter of small moment ; but, inasmuch as many of them are noticeably diseased, it is safe to conjecture that the balance are poor in condition owing to constitutional weakness of some kind. Even passed birde, when plucked, have, time out of number, been thrown aside owing to evidence of tumour, hydatids, etc. Under the circumstances it seems ridiculous, to say the least of it, to allow poultry to appear in shop windows without tie safeguarding brand insisted upon in the case of ordinary butcher's meat.

The directors of the Westport Coal Company (Limited) have resolved to pay a dividend of 3s 3d per share and a bonus of 2s per share.

It is said that Vice-admiral Sir Harry Rawson will be the new Governor of New South Wales.

The Union Steam Ship Company have received a telegram from Westport intimating that a bottle thrown overboard by the Monowai on October 20 hae been found off the coast eight miles south of Cape Foulwind. It will be remembered that the Monowai broke Sown on October 17 and was picked up by the Mokoia on October 22.

Mr *W. T. Robinson, chairman of the Cheviot Relief Committee, in acknowledging receipt of subscriptions by the Otago public sent through the Daily Times Company, thanks the subscribers on behalf of the sufferers for their generosity and kind thoughtfulnew in rendering assistance to those in distress.

The farmers in the North Taieri district have suffered considerable loss of late owing to the presence of stray dogs with sheepworrying propensities. Last week Messrs Findlay and Gawn each lost a number of sheep through this cause.

Mr A. W. Baldwin, platelayer, has been elected chairman of the Southland district of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants foi next year. There were four candidates for the position.

Victorian property-owners are evidently as much harassed as employers in New Zealand through Compensation Acts, etc. The' following from the Age is an instance: — "A writ has been issued at the instance of Mr Wallace Brownlow, the well-known vocalist, against the Sandringham House Company, claiming £1000. Last month Mr Brownlow injured his ankle while staying at Sandringham, and he alleges that his fall was the result of negligence on the part of the defendant company's servants in allowing a door to be left unsecured."

No person having taken out administration in the intestate estate of Arthur Wilpon Dartca, late of Lawrence, clerk, and the groee property being estimated not to exceed £250, the Public Trustee has filed an election to administer the estate.

Our obituary columns this week re- * cord the death at Puketeraki of a Maori centenarian in the person of Hamiria Matiu, whose age is reckoned at 110 years. Mrs Matiu's photo appeared in our Christmas Annual a few months ago. The Secretary to the North Canterbury Education Board has prepared a return of scholarships gained by scholars from town and country schools since the present regulations came into force (1892). It is shown that, in the junior class, during the 10 years, there were 775 town candidates, who gained 60 scholarships ; in the country there were 553 candidates, 63 taking scholarship*. 39 taking advantage of the extra year's training allowed to country scholarshipholders, and 116 coming from single-handed schools. In the senior class, 31 scholarships were gained in the town and 26 in the country. It is noticeable that in later years there is a much larger proportion of successful country candidates, who have taken advantage of the extra year's training, and the board has decided to reconsider the position.

At the Land Office, Christchurch, on Wednesday Mr Sidney Weetman, who has just retired after a number of years' service in the Survey Department, was presented by Jfche local staff with a pair of silver candlesticks and a silver salver. The presentation was made by Mr H. B. Shanks, chief draughtsman. All the officers of the department were present, including Mr Thomas Humphries, the new Commissioner of Crown Lands.

On Wednesday afternoon (says the Christchurch Press) Chief-detective Chrystall and Detective Fahey seized a quantity of opium, together with seven opium pipes. The seizures were made under the Opium Act of last session, which prohibits the importation and sale of opium in the colony. Eleven tins of opium and five pipes were seized at the business premises of Yee Bow, a Chinese merchant, of Lower High street, while an additional five tins of opium and two pipes were taken from the house of a St. Albans Chinaman, Kong Way, alias Jim Fong. The Chinamen protested excitedly against the seizure, stating that the opium was imported before the act came into force, but informations will be laid • for a breach of the act. The total value of the opium and pipes secured amounts to about £50.

While at Wyndham Mr J R. Scott uas requested by several parents of young- men who are members of the bouthern battalion of the eighth contingent to ascertain if ",iie Government would be prepared to grant facilities for them witnessing tlie "stnd•ff" from Lrtteltoa At the cad of next

week. Mr Scott accordingly placed himself in communication with the Minister of Railways, who is on the West Coast, and yesterday received this courteous reply from Sir Joseph Ward: — "Telegram from yourself, Mr Cushnie, and others asking for reduced fares to Christchurch is to hand. I much regret that I am unable to comply with the request. Similar applications have had to be refused all along, as it is not possible to gazette reduced rates for such cases where people required to join at scattered stations throughout the country, and which if done in one case would of course have to be done in others."

His Excellency the Governor has given up his projected trip to Milford Sounds in order to attend the farewell banquet to the North Island Battalion of the eighth contingent, and proposes returning to Christfchurch to witness the departure of the South Island Battalion. He then intends to spend some time in travelling in the South Island. Lady Ranfurly, with her two daughters, attended by Captain Alexander, have remained in the south, having also given up the idea of visiting Milford cot the present occasion, and are likely to proceed to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, next week, remaining there for a fortnight or three weeks. His Excellency will probably join her Ladyship at Mount Cook.

The Harbour Board at its meeting on Thursday adopted the report of the Finance Committee recommending the reduction of dues. The nature of these reductions appears in the report of the meeting, published elsewhere. In speaking in relation to the matter Mr Allen stated that the reductions should not only prove advantageous to shipowners, but also to the board, inasmuch as it would encourage shipping here, while the reduction on the coastwise charges should be of assistance to manufacturers. He expressed the hope that the time was not far distant when Otago would be a free port, which drew from Mr Robin the observation that the board had a great lot to do to improve the harbour before it could make it a free one.

A special meeting of the Otago Education Board was held en Thursday morning to deal with the applications sent in for the long Hat of vacancies recently advertised. At the outset a good deal of time was spent in discussing the formality or otherwise of the proceedings, although the notice seat out by the secretary was strictly in terms of the board's regulations. After Mr T. Mackenzie and others had animadverted at length on the way the business of the board was conducted, business proceeded, and two appointments were made to the Normal School. Mr Angus Marshall was appointed vice-principal vice Mr Gray, who was recently selected for the rectorship of the Palmerston North District High School; and Miss M. A. Macarthy, who has filled the peat of assistant in the Naseby School for the pa3t 14 years, was appointed an assistant in the Normal. The board also decided on the names to be submitted to committees in regard to other vacancies.

As an illustration of the depth of feeling aroused by the recent German slanders, au experience of a Dunedin firm of importers is interesting. The firm has been for some time sending out circulars in connection with its business. The other day one of these was returned with the name of the firm, W. Scoular and Co., underlined with red ink and the following memo, written across it : "I do not purchase from Germans or pro-Boers. Put that in your pipe aud smoke it. — Anti-German." This patriot had evidently taken it for granted that the firm mentioned were Germans, when it might have been supposed that anyone could ha\e told him that the name is purely Scotch, and that no more loyal firm exists in the colony.

The Minister of Mines has announced that a bonus of 4d per lb will be paid on the production of the first 100,0001b of good marketable retorted quicksilver, provided one-third is produced before March 31, 1903, and the rest before a year later.

The Mines Department has given noticethat a bonus of £2000 will be paid to anyone who, before January 1, 1904, shall have invented such appliances as will successfully save gold from black sand in New Zealand.

Th© Education Board communicated with the Government on Thursday reminding it of the promise made in September last to grant free railway passes for all children who had passed the Sixth Standard and who were attending high schools or district high schools. As the schools open on Monday, the bourd pomted out that unless arrangements are made at once giving effect to the concession promised, a large number of pupils will be put to great inconvenience.

Tlie following notice of motion, bearing on the war, has been unanimously adopted by the Otago District Committee, and is entrusted to the Rev. W. Saunders for submission to the council: — "That the Council of the Congregational Union of New Zealand hereby expresses its conviction of the justice of the British cause in South Africa ; of the humanity with which the war has been carried on ; and its belief in the necessity of the continuance of the present vigorous policy in oi-der to a speedy and satisfactory termination of hostilities."

With reference to the cable message relating to the appeal for £10,000 to equip an exp'oring vessel as a tender to the Discovery, which recently left Port Chalmers for the A-.itaretic regions. Mr A C. Maodonald, honorary spcret^r}' iv Victoria of tlie Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, recen oil (the Argua report?) a letter by the last London mail from Sir Clements R. Markham, prebident of the Enariish society, in the course oi which h» v

states: — "With regard to a relief ship for the Discovery, I bought one in Norway thus early because it was necessary to secure the most suitable ship at once, as others wanted her, including the Russian Government. She is a very strong ship of oak and greenheart, 450 tons. The cost was £3800. I have succeeded in collecting £9000, with the greatest possible difficulty; but, unless we can get £8000 or £10,000 more, it will not be possible to fit out and despatch the relief ship. Her name is the Morning."

A return issued by the Registrar-general shows that during November last - 555 persons arrived in New Zealand from the United Kingdom and 38 departed. Other figures make the total number of arrivals for the month 2717, and of departures 1057, as against 234-8 and 746 respectively for the corresponding month of the previous year.

Amongst the Gazette notices appear several with respect to the Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Railway and Coal Company revoking deeds of leases in regard to lands in the Nelson land district and the Grey coal reserve, on account of that company having failed to pay certain rents and royalties reserved by the leases and having failed to raise or obtain any coal from these lands, which comprise some 6188 acres in all.

Travellers who have been through .Jtfarlborough will appreciate the following resolution, passed by the Kaikoura Settlers' Association: — "In the opinion of the Kaikoura Settlers' Association, the scenery and natural curiosities of New Zealand are a source of great wealth to its people, and, what is of greater importance, a great factor in their elevation. In order to conserve this great interest our association respectfully requests the Hon. the Minister of Lands to vest the whole of the Monkey Face block of land, comprising some 750 acres, in the Kaikoura County Council, subject to being leased by ballot, and the rents derived from the block to be spent in planting trees and otherwise rendering attractive the Monkey Face Rock, a most wonderful and unique geological formation, which at no distant date will be one of the show places of the colony."

Lady Ranfurly, aecom'panied by Lady Constance and Lady Eileen Knox and Captain Alexander, arrived in Dunedin on Friday by the south express, and drove to the residence of the Hon. George M'Lean, iv Constitution street, where they reside during their stay in this city. On Tuesday morning they proceed to Mount Cook, where they will be joined in the couTse of the week by Lord Ranfurly.

There seems to be some diversity of opinion upon which day Anniversary Day this year should be observed, as the date (March 23) falls on a Sunday. His Worship the Mayor states that it will naturally be held on the following day (Monday), and as it is a recognised holiday no proclamation is required. Some agitation being made for the observation of the holiday on the Easter Saturday, a large petition had been presented to the Mayor from merchants and others objecting to the Saturday. Considering these objections, and the fact that a Saturday holiday would mean a cessation of business from Thursday night, until Tuesday morning, his Worship has decided on Monday, March 24-, as the holiday.

In connection with the fire at Alexandra, our special correspondent wires that it was not caused by a defective lamp, and that the outbreak was purely accidental.

The University Council, being compelled to retrench, have decided to reduce the salary attaching to the French lectureship held by Mr Dallas and to do away with the lectureships of constitutional history (Mr Barclay's) and jurisprudence (Mr Riddell's), thereby saving £125 a year. It is only upon the compulsion of straitened finance that the council have taken this step.

A barefaced piece of burglarioiu-ly entering took place at Luggate a short time ago (states the Cromwell Argus). One morning Mr Bruce found on going to his store that the window was open, and a search showed that 201b of tobacco, some silver in a cashbox (which had been broken open), and some coppers in a saucer had been stolen. Suspicion fell on a Chinaman named Ah Fat, residing at Queensberry. A search warrant was procured, and Constable Marsh, accompanied by Messrs Bruce and Scheib, formed a surprise party. A search ied to the discovery of 201b of tobacco, similar to that missed by Mr Bruce, carefully hidden at the foot of his bunk. Several articles of drapery similar to those missed from the store were al=o found. Ah Fat admitted to Mr Bruce that he !ad committed the crime, and was taken to Cromwell, brought up before Messrs Jolly and Murrell, J.P's., and committed for trial at the Supreme Court in Dunedin.

The proprietors of the Oriental Hotel, which was burned down in the recent fire in Wellington, have let a contract for reerection. The hotel will be built in brick and plastered throughout. It will consist of a basement and four storeys, running up to a height of 60ft above the street.

The November number of " Industrial Canada" contains an article on New Zealand, written by Th. de Schryver, of Auckland. The article deals largely with the i timircroial performances and prospects of Hip country, and is written in a tone of satisfaction and assured trust" in the future.

At Tapanui on Tuesday evening last a deputation of «x-pupils of the school visited the t-rhuolhousc to >?ay farewell to Mt and Mrs Me - izie~, who have resided there for 21 year.--, and, on behalf of the ex-pupi!s, to present a token of their astaam. M*

James Murney acted as spokesman, and 1 in his address referred to Mr Menzies's long services and earnest work. The gift consisted of a handsome silver tea and coffee set, an oak case containing a set of fruit and cake knives and forks, and a case of fine carvers. Mr Menzies, on behalf of his wife, family, and himself, feelingly replied, and thanked the young ladies and gentlemen for their though tfulness and kindness. Before the school broke up the assistant teachers and present pupils presented Mr Menzies with a nice address, which wa6 read by Miss Eva O'Dowd, and a cheque. These tokens of kindness were much appreciated by the recipient, who responded in fitting terms.

At the Invercargill Court on Wednesday, before Mr M'Carthy, S.M., the hearing of the charges of alleged forgery against Donald Wood Mackay was commenced, the prosecutor being F. V. Raymond (for the Mataura Sawmilla Company). Mr Rattray appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr J. Macalieter for the defence. Mr Rattray said that they had decided to deal first with the information of forgery of a document to Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Gore. Accused entered into arrangements with a man named O'Brien to do certain carting for Him, and gave O'Brien this document or order for the purchase of a horse from Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Gore. On the strength of that order, and after a conversation between the manager and accused, the horse was delivered on the strength of the order being on the authority of the Mataura Sawmilling Company. After the evidence of several witnesses, the hearing was further adjourned to Monday. Sister Olive, of the Dunedin Sisters' Mission, acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the following donations: — J. M., £1; Dr R., 10s 6d; Friend, 2s 6d; also, clothing from Friend, Mts L., Miss R. ; eggs, fruit, and vegetables from the Purakanui Y.P.S.C.E. Sister Olive in performing her daily task came across a moat deserving case that needed help. The father of the family has met with an accident, preventing him from working, consequently the mother, who is a capital laundress, has had to go out and seek work. Sister Olive can recommend this woman as being thoroughly honest, needful of all sympathy, and a good worker. Sister Olive will be glad to hear of those who can give the necessary employment.

Ex-Warden Stratford, of was married on Friday, at Qaouurti', 'to Miss Wickes, daughter of Mr Edmund Wickes, at one time Mayor of Greymouth and still resident there.

A meeting of the shopkeepers of Palmerston South was held in the local Athenaeum on Wednesday evening to discuss the advisability of closing their business premises at an earlier hour than the present hour (8 p.m.). After considerable discussion the following motion was carried, with two dissentients: — "That we, the shopkeepers present, agree to close our respective places of business at 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, at 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 1 o'clock on the appointed half-holiday." An amendment that 7 o'clock be the closing hour was lost. A committee was appointed to draw up an agreement, to interview the shopkeepers absent from the meeting, and to convene another general meeting when necessary.

The Rotorua correspondent of the Wellington Times reports that at a largely attended and enthusiastic meeting of the Arawa tribe, presided ovet tyy Major Kepa, it was unanimously resolved to cable congratulations to Mr Chamberlain on his policy in dealing with the Boers, and also supporting his virile retorts to German lies and slanders. The Natives also passed a resolution regretting that they were debarred from taking part in the wars of the Empire, and stating that if required 5000 Natives would be ready for embarkation in a fortnight.

A settler on the Tokarahi estate has informed a representative of the Oamaru Mail that something has attacked his paddock of 15 acres of oats, as fine a crop as he hae seen. The pest, whatever it may be, is attacking the roots, and then the stalk falls and withers. He has spent hours in trying to find traces of tl>e Hessian fly, but failed. He has a suspicion that it is the grub of the humble bee, as he has found them in thoueands in Swede turnips when thinning them.

At the Ashburton Magistrate's Court on Thursday Mr Wray, S.M., heard charges p gainst Edward Shoard of keeping a common gaming houpe and selling liquor without a license. The facts were that on January 21 the accused had allowed a number of young men to assemble in a biliiard-room kept by him in East street. Off this was another room, in which several young men assembled and played cards for money. The accused locked the men in the room and visited them every hour, collected Is each, and at the same time gave each a drink of whisky. The men stayed from 8 o'clock on Saturday night until 8 o'clock next morning, one man alleging that he had lost £3 15s. The accused pleaded guilty to both charges, and threw himself on the mercy of the court. The Magistrate said that such practices must be put a stop to, and inflicted a fine of £20 and costs on th© first charge and convicted and discharged the accused on the Fecond charge, as he held that it had not been shown that the accused had made a profit out of the sale of the liquor.

Mr E. B. L. Dickens, youngest ton of the famous novelint, died at Moree (New South Wales) last week, after an illness of come *aoj&tb.3, Mr Dickens came to Australia

come years ago, and engaged in pastoral ' pursuits, with but indifferent success. He '_ entered Parliament, but did not find ther political sphere congenial. For the past two years he had been chief police inspector of the Moree Land District, and had gained a - wide circle' 'of friends. His funeral in th* . Wesleyan portion of the Moree Cemetery., was largely attended by Government officials and residents of the district. It is rumoured in Southland that the Castle Rock estate, in the neighbourhood ' of Lumsden, is under offer to the Govern- - inent. The property was owned for many years by the late Hon. Mathew Holmes. The Rev. George Wainwright, who was, called to the pastorate of the Hanover street ' Baptist Church after supplying the church for five months while it waited for the possible restoration and return of the Rev. A. Gordon, has resolved to go back to England, and left by the Mokoia on Sunday. Mr Wainwright has endeared hims self to a wide circle of friends during his brief stay in this city, and there was every .< . probability that if his ministry had been ~ extended it would have been, popular and prosperous ; but, unfortunately, his health broke down soon after his appointment ta the pastorate, and, acting on medical advice', he -felt it necessary to resign his position. The congregation regrets that the accept , ance of .the resignation appeared inevitable, ' but rejoices that since his decision to with- ! draw his health has been in 'such great • measure restored. - The Hospital returns for the past week' are: — Remaining from previous week, 98;; admitted during the week, 34; discharged l , 21; deaths (Joseph Cantwell), 1; total re* - maining in the institution, 110. The vital statistics for the month' of January, 1902, are as follows : —Births, 130; ' deaths, 60; marriages, 40| The statistics foi * the corresponding month of 1901 were:— < Births, 145 ; deaths, 58 ; marriages, 45. Mr J. M'Gregor, a leading Dunedin irontj founder, said on Friday at the Ironmasters^ Association meeting, held in Christchurch. that he hoped soon to see the workers' day reduced to six hours. At the present rate of progress he thought that • six hours a day, • would enable workers to meet the demand 1 t for their manufactures. Mr Bell, of Sunday Island, onei of the ~ Kermadecs, has recently been to Rotorua 1 . He thinks the Maoris must havie been inoccupation of the Kermadecs during the,stone age, for he has found (when preparing ,-• the ground for his crops) Maori weapons', , greenstone adzes and chisels. The bush is teeming with bird life, the tui or parson * bird being very plentiful. At the meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board on Friday a letter addressed by Sir ' Frederick Sargood to the secretary waa read, in which the writer expressed himself . as greatly obliged by the efforts which had been made to promote the comfort of himself and party during their stay at Half* " moon Bay. The writer also stated that ha . had seen the Sounds, Sydney Harbour, • Auckland, tite Bay of Islands, and Port! ' Chalmers prior to the bush being cleared; ■. and he was bound to lay that Paterson'a . Inlet more than held its own against them, _ and only required to be known to be largely patronised by tourists. He suggested that ' acoomr.ioda.tion should be provided on one of the bays of the inlet, with a good carfc ' road from the present jetty ; also that means : should be provided to ensure regular and;..rapid communication. It was no use waiting - ■ for the laying of a cable ; that would coma ' in time. By the irae of a heliograph m«s« sages could be conveyed simply, certainly* , and accurately, and for a very small out-, lay. He urged that Sir Joseph Ward btf ' requested to obtain a loan from the Defenc^ Department for two heliographs, and mcc( who could instruct one person or more onp " each side. Sir Frederick hoped that consideration of iiis suggestions might enable • many to enjoy the beautiful resorts of Stewart L-lnnd.

The Rev. George Wainwriglit preached his farewell sermon at the Hanover street Baptist Church on Sunday morning, taking as his text Pealm lxii, 5 : "My soul wait thou only upon the Lord,' or, as the margin gives, it, " My soul be thou silent unto the Lord."He dwelt upon the silence of reverent adoration, of rapturous fellowship with God, 'fit submissivenees to the Divine appointment, and of nttentiveness to the Divine voice. The congregation was large, and listened with pathetic interest to the sermon. A good number of friends met on the railway platform in the afternoon to bid farewell and God-speed to Mr and Mrs Wainwrighfc and, tlieir daughters, who left by the 2.30 train t^ take the Mokoia for Melbourne, whence the} take the Grosser Kurfursb for London.

Several matters of interest to New Zea-< land surveyors were dealt with at the conference of delegates from the Surveyors*' Boards of Australaeia held recently at Mel* bourne. The New Zealand and Tasmanian Boards were admitted as reciprocating Bodies and the Hon. G. F. Richardßon was welcomed a? the delegate from the former. These trvo colonies are thus incorporated in the Australasian professional federation, and all examinations will in future be held on, the saaae day and qn the same set of? pepers throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand. A resolution was also arrived at which will have the effect of making: the examinations less academic and more on practical lines than heretofore. It wa» decided that in future p. surveyor's diploma, may be iwued by the federated boards of Australasia, certifying that the holder baa pnsued the examination for land surveyors.) This will be signed by the chairman and secretary of the local board. The confer-" ence passed a resolution recognising the certificates issued by the New Zealand Boacd since September, 1895, on which date reci*

procity began to be recognised by th* AuS- ■