LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 54

LOCAL & GENERAL

lower reaches of the great glaciers." In Mount Cook the doctor finds a close resemblance to the Weisshora, near Zermatt, and the elevated scenery as a whole suggests a comparison with the most beautiful in Switzerland. The native bush scenery he describes as "something of extraordinary •beauty," and he pronounces Milford Sound to exceed in beauty all the Norwegian fiords. The doctor found the journey to the Hermitage only monotonous and unattractive, except for the view of Mount Cook at the end of Pukaki Xake. What the route really needs is a railway that would hurry the traveller quickly between the sea and the glacier. ■\ The total railway revenue from the 2235 miles of railway open in the colony for the four weeks ending April 26 was £154-,116, while the expenditure for the same period •was £102,147. The revenue from the 840 miles open in the North Island was £58,171, and the expenditure £42,181. The 1395 miles in the South Island yielded a revenue of £95,993, while the expenditure -was £59,966. The revenue from the 1198 miles constituting the Hurunui-Bluff line was £62,879 and the expenditure £52,048.

The case against Archibald Walker and John Walker, of stealing three cases of kerosene, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company, was concluded in the Supreme Court late on Wednesday afternoon, when the -jury, after a retirement of an Lour and a-half, returned a verdict of " Guilty " against loath, accused. His Honor deferred passing sentence. William Andrews was found guilty of a. criminal assault upon a young girl, and in his case sentence was also deferred.

In opening his address at South Dunedin on Wednesday, Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., .said be -regretted to .see so few present. He was afraid^ electors were leaving their duties "till the last few months -previous to the general election. He thought it was becoming rather a <question of voting for the candidates rather than their politics. A candidate -could not be expected to -explain everything and enunciate bis policy in a speech of an hour or so just before the session. snould go out and make themselves acquainted with the conditions of life amongst tlieir constituents and .seek to educate the -electors on the important questions of the day.

Mr H. G. Tsll, M-HLE-, in referring to the referendum initiative -question at South Dunedin on Wednesday, said the people should lucve the opportunity of vetoing a "bill they did not approve >of . If the Public Revenues Bill, for instance, -had been placed before the electors, it would never have been passed into law.

A very enthusiastic meeting was held on "Wednesaajr in the John street Baptist Chapel, Caveraham, under the auspices of the United Temperance Reform Council. The Rev. Mr Chandler -was voted to the chair. The following resolution was unanimously carried: — "That we co-operate smd work with, the 17.T.R.C. in the great work of temperance reform." The secretary of the U.T.R.C was asked by the chairman to give an outline of the proposed plan of campaign, after which a committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the carrying out of the work of arranging public meetings and other details.

The State bank, Etated Mr Ell at South Dunedin on "Wednesday, is much nearer an accomplished fact than it was last session. He believed that a great many more members would bo found in the "Aye" lobby when the question was brought up. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones had declared himself in favour of it, and he could tell them that a higher Minister tban Mr HallJcnes, though it was not officially announced, was now entirely in favour of the establishment of a State bank.

The late Mr Cecil .Rhodes, like Lord JRosebery, had a strong dislike to bitting for his portrait. The beat portrait of Mr Rhodes bangs to-day with its face to the ■wall in the studio of an English R.A. Yielding to the wishes of a friend (says Mr Lucy, in the Sydney Morning Herald), R-hodcs consented to sit for hi 3 portrait, and the commission was given to Mr Luke Filfles. It happened to be a pwiod of unusual etorm^, and fctress, which, acting upon a temper not constitutionally placid, brought Mr Rhodes to the studio day after clay in increasingly irascible mood. He addressed the artist in tones and terms unfamiliar to an R.A. He pettishly declined to follow directions as to where iie .should sit, declaring that if Mr Fildes could not paint him as he pleased to station himself he must leave it alone. One day Mr Fildes, at the end of the tether of his patience, decided to leave it alone. He quietly informed his imperious visitant that he should decline to receive him any more. Mr [Rhodes, somewhat to his astonishment, was politely conducted to the door, with an assurance that it would not again be opened for him. This was a rather costly reprisal, since it of course meant forfeiture of the •ixceptionally handsome fee proffered >with the commission. The portrait was so nearly finished that it would not take long to 3omplete, It is to be hoped Mr Fildes ■--■ill find time to .finish the Rhodes portrait 4<— "Mie forthcoming exhibition.

remarkable case of extortion, compli

- j-cd by .kidnapping scad n fraudulent conossicm obtained by violence, came on for tearing before th» IJoiret Assizes at Or.cans, Prance, on April 16. Mane. 3LerebvTe, an old lady of independent nrffans, entrusted her interests to a country banker named Force. As a result of disastrous speculation, Mme. Lefebvre lost a"bout £5000, -which 1038 her two eons, a doctor •aa * itadagmftn., attributed to neglect oB

the part of the banker. They determined to recover the money by compulsion, and laid a trap for M. Force. When he arrived at the house the bi others seized and searched the banker, bound him hand and foot, and at night Irove him to a lonely country residence, where they beat him unmercifully, and compelled him, under a threat of toasting his feet at the fire, to sign a confession that he had embezzled £120,000 of Mme. liefebvre's money. The brothers then left the banker tied up for three days and two nights, during -which they visited and ransacked his house. "When ho was set at liberty M. Force lodged a complaint against his assailants, and they were arrested. The case, which has caused immense sensation. was not concluded when the last mail left the Home Country.

Five minutes before the curtain rose on "La Princess© Bebe " at the Theatre dcs Nouveautes, Paris, on April 15, Mile. There3e Cermay, who takes one of the principal roles in the play, was stricken dumb, and found herself absolutely unable to -pronounce a single sentence. The performance had to be postponed, and the audience retired, receiving their money back as they left the theatre.

Another " paint " .case was disposed of at the Supreme Court on Thursday, when. John Walker was found guilty of stealing a quantity of varnish und lead, the property of the "Union Steam Ship Company, and Thomas Mathieson, who was jointly charged with him for tbe offence, was acquitted. The foreman ol the jury said that, in the opinic-n of the jury, MHthieson left the court without a stain upon his character. Robert M'Cunn. for stealing a cow at Ettrick. was sent to gaol for 12 months.

While the Government purposed sending to England for a steamer to be employed on Lake Wakatipu in conjunction with the railway service, working men of the olass that would directly benefit by the construction of the steamer in the colony are apparently in dire straits. Among -the applicants for temporary relief at this week's meeting of the trustees of the Benevolent Institution was a woman of an obviously respectable type, who stated that her husband was a rivetter, but was out of -work at his own trade, as there was no shipbuilding in progress in the colony, and could only obtain casual employment in other trades. The trustees 'granted her some aid to tide her over a period of immediate stress.

On "Wednesday night Mr E G. Allen, the jnember for Waikouaiti, visited Evansdale, and delivered -a political addr-egs in the local kail. The chair was occupied by Sir J. Ttiach, J.P., who introduced the speaker, stating that Jie -had mown Mr Allen for .25 years, and had always -found him at all times honourable -and courteous. He had worthily represented the district in Parliament during the last five or £>ix years. At the close of an instructive address, which lasted an hour and a -half, Mr Stark proposed, and Mr Kilgour seconded, a vote ol thanks to Mr Allen for his address and also for the able manner in which he had represented the district, which wa 1 ? carried unanimously. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

On Wednesday evening a service wa» hrld in St. Paul's Cathedral by Bishop 'Nevill to admit the candidates into the newlyfcimed Brotherhood of St. Andrew Nine young men presented themselveh fiom the different parishes in the city and suburbs. The Bishop gave an interesting address on the work and object of the brotherhood, especially impressing upon the members that they had no easy task befoie them, but that they would meet with many difficulties in the work which they had that evening promised to perform.

A number of prisoners who Jiad been found guilty of various offenoes we-re sentenced hi the Supreme Court on Friday. The charge against John "Walker acd Samuel Thomas Bolton of stealing two gallons of paint, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company, occupied most ol the remainder of the day, and the jury, after a retirement of 20 minutes, .brought in a verdict of "Not guilty" against both accused. A case in 'which two young tellows, named Myers and Howard, were cbaTged with stealing the contents of the till of an hotel bar, was subsequently taken. At the close of the case for the Grown it was apparent that the connection of the accused Myers with the offence "was very &liglit, and the jury, under lus Honor's direction, returned a verdict of " Not guilty '" against him.

It would appear from the evidence given at the Assessment 'Court at Saldutha that the attempt made to settle the btreh lands at Chaslantls has not been particularly sut-cesp-ful. The Crown tenants objected to the valuation placed upon their sections, which in most cases had bepn considerably increased. The witnesses gave evidence tirat the place had gone back. The land would not hold the grass, and much of that which had been cleared of timber had gone back to a state of nature again, the second growth of bush being in some places 10ft high. Mr M'JLerrow said the Government had practically given the settlers fehp laud as a present, but thry must take- into consideration that the local body required a fair valuation tc enabl* them to maintain the roads in the district. Air Cruick*hank, S.M., fixed eight shilling* per acre as a basis for revaluation, and the valuations were reduced according^-. The New Zealand school teachers now

on their way to South Africa had a very pl»as»nt trip from "Wellington to Me"! bourne in the steamer "Wegtralia. On the run to fiobart. Captain "Waller asked the

"Eleventh Contingent,"' as he called them, to produce their flag. "When he found they did not possess one, he provided an ensign, on which the ladies worked a big fern leaf in white, an -enlargement of the badge woru by each of them. This typical flag was hoisted as the steamer approached Hobart, and it had the unexpected result of bringing off the police ! The people of Hobart were iery good to the travellers. In Melbourne, Huddart, Parker, and Co. entertained them on the day they joined the Damascus. Both ashore and afloat the company and its representatives did everything in their power to make the teachers' journey an enjoyable one. Mr Goyen, one of the Otago Education Board's inspectors, met the party in Melbourne. At inquest was held at Seacliff Asylum on Friday by Mr C. C. Graham, coroner, in connection with the death of a male inmate, aged 61 A verdict of death from heart disease was returned.

The placing of the circle seats in St. Stephen's Church, North Dunedin, is now completed. The seats add very muoh to the comfort of the congregation and the appearance of the interior. The choir gallery and vestry were recently completed, and the church is now one of the handsomest in the city.

Among other notably liberal expressions in the recent address of Dr George- Fowler, president of the Medical Society of the County of New York, the following ocoure : " To-da} r the code is that we may consult with any legally qualified medical practitioner. Had it not been for this, we never could have had the high standards of medical education which we have in New York to-day. Ye have secured the cooperation of the societies of the regulars, the eclectics, and the honiceopafchs. To abolish differences of opinion we are all striving, and I think I am right in saying that there are agencies at work to that end. We do not respect ourselves and aie not respected when -we disagree among ourselves. 1 think the day is near wben there will be a general handshaking and agreement, »nj I hope- the day is coming when the whole medical profession will be one-"'

The estate of Sir Andrew Clarke '(late Agent-general for Victoria) has been sworn at £35,500.

A new church building, with a gymnasium and a roof garden, is about to be erected by the Metropolitan Ohu-rch of ■Christ at Chicago. The pastor (the Rev. Charles E. Seorille, says: — "If roof gardens are profitable for pleasure and entertainment, why not for places where duringthe hot weather men and women can b« gathered by the hundreds to enjoy the fresh breezes of heaven while they listen to the Gospel in sermon and an song?" Mr Seoville explains that ice .cream Aoc-ials and musical entertainments will be given on the roof of his church.

An old Austrian couple of the name of Xauder have arranged to circumambulate the globe in the space of two years for a wager of £5500 ; and their average walk per day is to be between 30 and 40 miles. Their lask, though doubtless more arduous was undoubtedly preferable to that of a follow countryman, Anton Hanpliun, who two years ago engaged to walk 7000 miles in 250 days pushing before him a perambulator containing his wife and child. By way of variation the pedestrian sometimes elect? t » roll a big barre). which, in the case of two Viennese citizens, who, for £200, engaged in l€9o to cover the distance— l7so miles — between Vienna and Paris, in 50 days, weighed 4cwt, including the flags with which it was decorated ; or push a wheelbarrow, as was done by a Worrington navvy who recently walked a wheelbarrow from his native place- to Sheffield in 10 minutes under 12 hours.

One death occurred at the Hospital during the past week, the patient's name being Daniel Edmonds. Fourteen patients were admitted and 14 discharged. The total number of Inmates at the end of the previous we&k was 102. and this has decreased by one during the week just expired.

Mr E. H. Carw, S.M.. *at at Tort Chalmers on Saturday, and granted a pension of £16 to one female, and one of £2 to a male applicant.

•On Friday night Mr E. G. Allen. M.H.R.. addressod the electors at the School 1 ." ou^e, Mertou. There was a good attendance, including several ladies. Mr Prj'de was \oted to the chair. Mr Allen, who was well received, spoke for a little over an hour on politiral matters, the Farmers' Union, and the Premier's visit. He thought the Farmers' Union, if properly managed, would be a great assistance to the farmers of the colony. At the clo=e ol the address the member received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Mr Kenyon, seconded by Mr Hammond. The usual compliment tc the chair was earned by acclaciation.

•Sir Harry Johnston, speaking at the < Authors' dub dinner recently, declared :—: — \ " The most romantic thing I know about ' Africa is the Uganda rstihvay. It i-, a romance that a well-appointed train should go 600 miles to 'I'gsinda through primeval country. Khiuoccroseb and other big game, eveept hens and leopards, welcome it. All j along the lrae you travel through a natural zoological gardens, and you Fee the bloodthirsty Mn«ai -working- on the line. The negro i= not unreasonable to civilising influeniv« unlos-s he is liuntU'd too much. If j pushed too liaid, thero may be a league of J all the npgrtips against the white men. ' Their i= no insuperable difficulty, their Imgurge- bt-iiig so much alike. A Congo negro can learn the Zanzibar dialect in .a - few da.vß. and the Uosuula. native and iha j

Natal Zulu have many words in common, while north of the Bantu line the Mohammadan religion supplies a common * asis. The negroes will stand a lot of knocking about from the English, because they have great ideas of our justice, but seizing their lands would rouse them."

"Who will be next Prime Minister? That is a question which I may ask in these nonpolitical columns without offending anybody. It seems to be universally taken for granted that Lord Salisbury will retire at the moment when the Coronation of the King leaves him free to do so. And then will come the' tug of war. Up to the war nobody could have doubted that the claims of Mr Balfour would have been greater than those of anybody else, and that nobody would have ventured to stand up against him. But the chances of Mr Chamberlain have gone up greatly during tlie last few months. It is noteworthy that The Times has nominated him for the great office ; aiid there is certainly a strong section of the younger race of Tories that is ready to back him up. Mr Balfour's personal hojd over the -Hou3e of Commons, however, remains as great as ever it was. He is one of the men, perhaps, who have more respect from their political opponents than from their political friends, for he is so courteous, so unpretentious, so ready to bear all sides that it is impossible to quarrel -with him. — M.A.P.

To sec how far London is- behind, one has only to go to the provinces on a flying visit (remarks a London paper). A correspondent took a flying visit north during the holiday, and of four towns he visited all were supplied with electric power for traction. Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, mnd Southport, cities, and a town of «. different character, all have ventured now where London fears to tread. Smn!!<sr towns aTe similarly well equipped. One gieat scheme will, in due course, interlace the "scattered townships of the hea-vy woollen district with convenient tramways. Another will connect the teeming south Lancashire towns, and several boroughs are just on tbe verge of completing tramway installations. It is interesting to note that Blackpool, a popular pleasure ground, pioneered electric trams m aII England.

The Competitions Society Laving their programmes -completed, are busy issuing them to the public. As the first series of competitions will not be held until *lie month of November, all persons to Tvhoin programmes are scut. are requested to preserve them for present and future reference. Those intending to compete will -find it advisable to read very carefully the rules and conditions printed on the back. 'These rules will make clear any point which appears to require explanation, and if thoroughly understood will prevent inconvenience both to competitors and secretaries.

"When tho news of peace came to hand on Monday the Union Jack was immediately run up at the Town Hall, but so -quiet and peaceful was the- morning that the flag fell loosely against the pole, and the glad message its lioisting was intended to send to all parts of the city was conveyed to only a few who ware in the vicinity of the T-own Hall at the time. The deap-toned firebell, 1-owpver. soon pealed forth its joyous sound, and in a fe-w minutes workmen were seen it>.-uing from fhops and rights-of-way, and there was quite a bustle to put up or pull down shutters, while evarybody who could made his or her way as quickly as possible to the Octagon. Whittles were also sounded. Tl,oie near the centre of the city were heard first, and as^they threw their noise abroad others at a distance picked up the intelligence, and, xinderstanding tbe significance of the demonstration, it was not long before similar outbursts were beard in all direction?. In South Dunedin the Hillside Workshops got -early intimation of the event, and the erratic blowing of the wellknown whistle of that establishment was at once accepted by all who heard it as a signal of the long-looked-for tidings. Church bells and school be-110 added their music to the general rejoicing cliorus, and fla^tr were hmsted on business places, on the shipping, and at private residences — all forming manifestations of the thankfulness of the people. The capital display of bunting at Mr John Roberta's residence at Lrttlebourne wa3 very conspicuous. In a remarkably brief space of -time the Octagon was thronged with people, young and old. The speeches were short mid to tiif point, and the applause s-howered upon the speakers was unstinted in its heart in c c <=, and was unquestionably sincere. The Mnging by such -a dense crowd was very fine. The procession in the afternoon, notwithstanding some light showers, was very successful. In the evening large ciowds paraded the streets, and although there was plenty of singing and pome con-cerlina-playing, there wa-s no rowdyism and nc feign of boisterousnes?

Mr 11 G. Allen, M.H.R., addressed the olectois at Purakamu Schoolhou«-e on Satur- , day night Ihpic vva« a large attendance, iisc'iidinsf h number of ladies. Councillor Footf wa« voted to the chair. At the close oT an interesting address a few questions upon lc« al matters were answered, and & vnt-e erf thanks for the address «nd confidence in the member was unanimously ' enned, on the motion of Air M'*Laoblan, ' wicotuled by Mr Fitzgerald. A -vote of rl a.nks to the chairman brought a \>eiy ' siu t-ossf ul meeting to a close J

In future the regulations as to -the days and hours at which patients can bo seen by llteir friends will be ptrict-iv ad-hered to by the -Soaclifi" Asylum authorities. The ordinary visiting -days are Mond^-s, Wednesdays, and Thur&daTS, from 10 to 11 n.in., and from -2 to 4 o'clock m tne efterßooi>3 , and on Saturdays from 2 to 4 ipjm. -Latejy, ths institution Ins been simply besieged by visitors -on public holiday*, ana it has. therefoia. been, found

necess.ay to Drohiblt aSmittencs to the •gr-" an 3* except in the case of visitors who have prs- * viousiy oblsuned a permii, from tks superiu.-* tendent. At the City Police Court on Thursday* Andrew M'Liarer -wa charged with, on May 9, ib Bond street, throwing a missile to the -danger of Wong Siok Ling. — • Accused pleaded .guilty. — The Sub-inspector stated that a man named Wright wag previously charged with the offence of throwing bricks at the Chinaman -from a building in Bond street, and it was then proved beyonddcubt that the two ' Chinamen 3rad made a mi£take, and the witness .Reid swore positively that the missile was thrown "by the .accused! Jl'Laren. — His Worship characterised the offence as a cowardly and hartal act, and he thought it a great pity that the accused coulci not be .thrashed for it, as that would Be the best 'thing for him. He would he iined fhs maximum penally -<£5), with cost 3 ,(2Ss).— The appeal for tinie in .which to pay "the fine xts.s declined. " The Triad " for June, in addition to the varied selection of reading matter, has quite a number of iHusfcrations. We have to acknowledge receipt of " Stone's Otago and Southland ABC Monthly Guide and Diary " for June.