LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 67

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The Rev. A. Cameron, writing in this week's Outlook, intimates that, in addition to the sum of £300 mentioned last week as having been given to the Theological College connected with the Presbyterian Church by a member of Knox Church to found the " Ebenezer Book Bursary," another member of that congregation — Mrs James Clark — has made a gift of £1000 to the college for a scholarship, to bo known as the Jame3 Clark Scholarship.

At the Police Court sitting on Tuesday Mr Irwin, in applying for a remand in a case where a man was charged with being idle and disorderly and with consorting with reputed thieves, said there had been a police crusade against these sort of people, and this was about the tail-end. Sub-inspector Dwyer replied that there would be a few more shortly before the court. The town was full of thieves and undesirable characters, and, so far from being the end of the crusade, it was but the beginning.

At a crowded social gathering in the Town Hall, Alexandra, on the 19th, the congregation of S. Aidan's Church said farewell to the Rev. W. H-. Browne, the vicar of Dunstan, who is leaving for S. Denny's, in the Old Country. Mr Rivers, pen., in the course of a eulogistic speech, referred to Mr Browne's work in starting the building of S. Aidan's amidst many discouragements, and Laving carried it to a successful issue. He said that they were unwilling to allow him to leave without some memento of their love, and they had obtained from Dunedin the very best greenstone paperknife that was to be got. The paper-knife was mounted handsomely with gold, and 'suitably inscribed, and this, together with a s New Zealand rug, he asked Mr Browne's acceptance as a slight token of their love, and to remind him of them at S. Aidan's. The Rev. W. H. Browne feelingly responded, tracing the history of S. Aidan's, and saying that hia object in building and fut-nl6h-ing the church was to present the CathoKc faith to them both in ritual and doctrine, according to the law of the Church of England. He wanted them to have a true conception of the dignity and position of the Catholic Church of England. He said that he could never forget the affection that had been shown him.

Mr J. A. Gilruth, in explaining his position when commissioned to purchase stud horses in England, to tho Agricultural Conference on the 25th, paid that the Government asked him to go Home and bring out hoises suitable for remopnts. He not get any .a-ivice from anyone before he left, and lie t'icl not pretend that he himself kue>v what was wanted. He went to tho War Office and got the information, and then hunted through Britain to find suitable animal=. He did noi c-xpect, when the War Office told him the kind of horses that wore wanted, that the p&ople of tho colony would like them. But his instructions v.-ere to get horses for breeding lemounts, and lio cairierl them out. It would have been easy to buy horses people would have been pleased with, but he preferred ,to carry out his instructions.

In the Supreme Court in Chambers on Wednesday morning Mr Justice Williams heard a summons in connection with an application for probate of tho will of the late William Martin Shore, of KaUangata. From the afhdovit it appeared that Mr Shore shortly before his death made a will by which he left one-half of his estate to Mis Sophie Louisa Shore and the other half to his unmarried children. The Public Trustee was the executor appointed by the will, but before he could apply for probate some r>f the children of the deceased lodged a caveat objecting to probate of the will being granted. The Public Trustee then declined to proceed further with his application, and Mrs Sophie Louise Shore made an application for letters of administration of the will, and took out a summons calling on the caveators to show cause why letters of administration should not be granied to her. Mr D. D. Macdonald appeared in support of the summons, and Mr W. A. Sim and Mr Daniel Stewart (of Balclutha) for the caveators. From the affidavit filed it appeared that the caveators objected to probate of the will being granted on the ground that the deceased was not of testamentary capacity w r hen he made the will, and, further, that he was induced to make the will by undue influence exercised over him by th» eaid Sophie Louise Shore. After argument the judge held that it was a proper case for having the will proved in solemn form, and accordingly made an order.

At Wednesday's sitting of the Educational Institute Mr T. Johnstone, of the Pharmacy Board, exhibited a number of specimens of rock phosphates lately discovered at Milburn, and stated that Sir Jamea Hector years ago actually eat on a mound of phosphate deposit, and, tapping it with his hammer, said that he was sure there must be phosphate deposits in the neighbourhood!

The Otago A. and P. Society'b Winter show was opened on Wednesday afternoon in the Agricultural Hall by the Minister of Lauds, the Hon. T. Y. Duncan. Every inch of available space in the commodious hall an I annexes is occupied with exhibits of one 6ort and another, but it is pleasing to be able to say that ample provision has been made for the comfort of patrons in examining the exhibits. The attendance throughout the afternoon and evening was large, it being estimated that closa on 3000 must have been present, tke takings totalling £103. The> Black family of musicians contributed to the eui.ojrm.ea6 of r'"'"H hjc fchair slayQ?

rendition of a large number of musical itAis.

A deputation representing dairying interests on the Peninsula waited upon the Hon. T. T. Duncan, Minister of Agriculture, on Wednesday, being introduced by Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R. Mr D. M'Curdy explained to the Minister that the regulations under the Dairy Inspection Act were somewhat harsh, and complained that the supreme power was vested in the dairy inspector. The Minister replied that the inspectors were supposed to show good judgment in the administration of the regulations. liio deputation pointed out that the desire was for the supreme power to be vested in the magistrates instead of the inspector. Mr Duncan promised to make inquiries and see that the regulations were not abused.

The funeral of the late Dr Gibson-Smi'h took place at Balclutha on Wednesday, and was one of the largest that has ever taken place in the district. Canon. Dodd was the officiating clergyman. The pall-bear&rs were Messrs James Hogg, J. W. Wilson, J. M'Neil, G. W. Hutchins, John Dunne, John Turnbull, John Low, and D. T. Fleming. Representatives from all parts of the district, Dunedin, Milton, etc., were present.

A meeting of the New Zealand Sheepbreeders' Association was held on Thursday afternoon, when the following members were present: — M&s-srs P. Pattullo (chairman), D. M'Laren, C. W. Reid. R. Reid, H. V. Fulton (South Island), J. G. Wilson, W. C. Buchanan, J. Stuckey, and G. Wheeler (North Island), and Mr M. Murphy, secretary. It waX agreed that inbred halfbred sheep should be admitted to the " Flock Book" in the form of an appendix. The association also decided that the form cf the returns should remain as at present, but that the date of the returns should be altered from May 30 to December 30.

The postponement of tho Coronation celebiations necessitated the postponement also of the public function in connection with the dirtier given by the Hospital Trustees to the patients at the institution yesterday. The patients were, however, treated to the dinner, and the Hospital afterwards thrown open to the public, when a very large numAicr of visitors availed themsehes of the privilege.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was attended by Mes:-rs P. Treseder (in the chair), R. M. Clark, Pv. Wilson, W. Burnett, and the Hon. H. Gourley. The secretary i-eported the death of John Henderson (80 years) at the institution eiuce last meeting. The costs of the institution for the past month amounted to £315 13s 7d for 243 inmates, or an average cost of 5s lOfd per head per week. It was decided that the secretary write to the Caversham Council claiming damages through the council's neglect in not providing a large enough pipe in order to carry off the sboTm water, tliuo causing much damage to the trustees' property. A parcel of papers from Mr J. M Jamieson was received with thank=. Twenty-three relief cases were dealt with.

The popularity of the Canadian-Aiistralian line, via Vaneomer, to America and Europe, continues to increase. The Moana, which left Suva on Tuesday, had 161 passengers, the majority of whom were booked through to London. They included Sir Frederick M. Darley, G.C.M.G., Chief Justice and Lieu-tenanl-Governor of New South Wales. The Miowera, leaving Sydney on the 14-th prox., has already a large passenger list. His Excellency Lord Hopetoun and suite have booked by the Miowera. The new connection at Suva with this line, is finding great fa-iour with New Zealaitders Homeward bound.

Mr Labouohere writes in Truth : — "By the last mail from New Zealand I received a batch of 'free portrait' circular?, addressed by the man Tauquerey to people n. that colony, who, luckily for them, happened to be readers of Truth. As, however, there may be some other colonists who have not that advantage, it seems desirable to point out for the benefit of New Zealanders generally that the testimonial described as ' Truths from Truth, by Mr Labouchere, Editor,' is an impudent fabrication, which is equally true of others, and, I believe, of all the press notices ou the eaine sheet. The circulation of a forgery of this kind ought to be & sufficient warning as to the character of the individual who offers the ' free portrait.' Will New Zealand newspapers kindly note these remarks." It will be remembered that we have already warned readers of the Press not to be taken in by Mr Tanquerey's gpeciou3 representations.

The extraordinary vogue for pictorial postcards ia shown by the fact that the French postal authorities have thought it worth their while to allow a specially reduced rate for these missives. These illustrated postcards can now be sent from France to all countries within the Postal Union with a five-centime (halfpenny) stamp. But etringent regulations prevent their use as ordinary correspondence cards. For instance, "no communication of the nature of a letter is allowed," nothing beyond the name dnd address of sender and a '•' formal ealutatica" of not more than five words may be written. As a matter of fact, this restriction is not particularly galling, for in most of the pictorial cards now issued the sender -would be hard put, xuiless gifted with a caligraphy of microscopic dimensions, to find tpace even for the briefest and most formal salutation.

What the absent-minded old lady called a creamery has just been discovered near Reading. Twenty urns, containing calcined human bones, have been unearthed at Sunningdalo, near Camberley. A mound was being removed in the construction of golf licks, when three urns were discovered. JTnHnn ilia tLkftctiou of Mr A. O t Shjubeole,

F.G.S., curator of the geological and anthropological department of the Reading Museum, a further search was made, and 17 more were brought to light. It is believed by competent authorities that the mound was the site of an ancient crematorium — probably a battle ground — in preRomcin days. Some of the urns are lft 4in in diameter. They are of ancient British make, and may safely be ascribed to the time before Britain came under the Roman influence. It is estimated that the burials n.ust have taken place between 2000 and 6000 years ago. Some of the urns have been scut to the British Museum, the Reading Museum, to Oxford, and to the Louvrs, Paris. — Westminster Budget.

The wet weather of the past week has necessitated the cessation of nearly all farm work throughout Otago, and the land is too sodden for ploughing at the present time. In the Clutha and Bruce districts many fields are lying under water, while the country affected by the Taieri River was generally under flood on Friday. Farmers complain that the wet season seriously interferes with their work.

It has been found by experience that some of the labour legislation of recent years has not proved the benefit to employer and employee that it was expected to do, and that it could be considerably improved to the benefit of employer and employee alike. With a view of putting things on a more satisfactory footing to all concerned the executive of the Otago Employers' Association some time ago set up a Labour Bills Sub-committee to consider the whole question and draw up a report. This subcommittee recently made their report, and, with modifications, the draft proposals — which had first been submitted to the association's solicitor for his revision, V-were approved, and are now being forwarded to the various Employers- Associations throughout the colony for their consideration. In all probability these associations will unite in taking steps to have some, if not all, of the proposals in tho report submitted to Pailiament during the coming session.

Tho annual meeting of the General Committee of the Ministering Children's League was held at Braemar House on Monday afternoon, and was attended by Mesdames Benham, Williams, and Robinson, and Misses Allan, Cook, Marchant, Miller, B. Miller, Turton, Williams, and Ramsay. The annual report and balance sheet, as well as the reports of the various branch seoretaries, show that the affairs of the league are in % satisfactory condition. The sale of work held in May .ealised £64 10s 4d, which sum the committee have decided to hold until sufficient money has been raised to build a children's convalescent home. It was decided to hold the annual general meeting of members and associates in the Girls' High School on Saturday, July 26, at 2.30 p.m. Votes of thanks were passed to Miss Marohant for opening the sale of work, to Mr and Mrs Maifcland Gardner and Mrs M'Gregor for their kindness in training the children for the operetta "Cinderella," and to Messrs Hooper, Mathieson, Ritchie, Wardell, and Wright for donations to the sale of work.

Constable Bealtie, of Waitara, had to enforce the Waitara town by-laws against himself. On Monday last he prosecuted himself for allowing a horse to wander, and the justices fined him Is and costs. The constable's excuse was that the horse had got out of the paddock.

Several alterations are announced in connection with the Trinity College (London) examinations. In, future two musical knowledge (theory) examinations will _ be held every year in June and December. Consequently the next theory examination will take place on December 13. The syllabus has aluo been amended. The higher theoryexaminations have been altered from December to July, the next being set down for July, 1903. As to the practical examinations, the Dunedin Centre offers these exhibitions, for candidates entering at the Dunedin Centre only, on the same terms as the London Centre — namely, of three Riiineas each, to be gained by candidates under 18 years of age, in tho senior division.

There was quite an exodus of legislators for Wellington on Saturday by the north express, they leaving in order to be in time for the opening of the session. The Hons. G. M'Lean, W. M. Bolt, and H. Feldwick, M.L.C.'a, and Messrs J. F. Arnold (Dunedin), and J. W. Thomson (Clutha) were amongst the passengers, and the northern delegates to the Agricultural Oonferenoe, his Honor Mr Justice Williams, and Messrs D. H. Cameron and R. G. Thomson (of the Hansard staff) wore also on board. Mr J. A. Millar will leave for the north to-day.

There is a popular impression that tho defences of the city of Dunedin and port of Otago have of recent years not received the attention bestowed on thoto of the other principal ports in the colony — in fact, that the attention received has been in tho wrong direction, and that the fortifications have been almost stripped of the guns which were placed in position some 10 years ago. This impression may be an erroneous one, but perhaps some of the members for the city or the member for Waikouaiti may make inquiry into the matter. There is no doubt that several of the big guns have been taken away, the latest one going last week, and, so far as is known, these guns have not been replaced by others.

The handsome oil painting entitled "The Phantom Ship," recently presented by the District Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, U.A.0.D., to the Dunedin Art Gallery, is highly appreciated by the trustees of the latter, as ia also the action of the Druids ia making the jpresentatiQn.., Tho

following letter has be«n received by Mr D. Larnach (District Grand Seoretary of the U.A.0.D.) from Mr D'Arey Baggitt (hon. secretary to the trustees of the Art Gallery) in acknowledgment of the gift: — "I am desired by the Board of Trustees of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery to convey to the United Ancient Order of Druids, through you, their hearty thanks for the extremely handsome painting by W. Ayerst Ingram, called 'The Phantom Ship.' I should like to say that whilst the trustees appreciate and value very highly the subject of the presentation, they are equally" appreciative of the kindly feeling that has actuated the Druids in making the presentation. The picture will be a most welcome addition to the works we at present have in the gallery, and will, when placed in position, be the means of making the gallery more attractive, and serve to induce the public to take a more lively interest in it."

Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., at Port Chalmers, on Saturday, granted one male applicant for an old-age pension £18, and a female applicant £10.

The Hospital authorities supply the following returns for the past week : — Patients remaining in the institution from the previous w-eck, 117 ; admitted during the week, ]5; discharged, 21; — total remaining in the institution, 111. There were no deaths during the week.

Profe&sor Behring, the famous inventor of diphtheria serum, in a book he has just published (says the "Vienna correspondent of the* Sydney Herald) gives some valuable information concerning tuberculose poison, and about the question, of late so much discussed, of the relation between the tubercle bacilli from men and thoEe from animals. In co-operation with Dr Rupp«i and Dr Roemer, he has succeeded in elaborating a practical preventive inoculating process against the tuberculose of cattle. The experience gained in the laboratory is to be carried out on a large scale for agriculture. Highly important rs the information concerning the nature of tuberculose poison, the investigations as to the connection between tuberculose bacilli from men and from animals, and before all the successful attempts to make young cattle immune from tuberculose. It is of great importance that Behring, by treating young cattle with living slightly virulent tuberculose bacilli, has given them such power of resistance to tuberculose injection that they are unharmed by very virulent tuberculose bacilli, which certainly would prove fatal to cattl» not thus treated. This success is of such great importance for agriculture that already immunising vaccination is being carried out on a large scale.

The pet lamb -which formed the subject of the guessing competition for children at the Otago A. and P. Society's Winter show *vas weighed on Saturday, when the live weight was found to be 53£lb. It was found that four juveniles had guessed 53Jb, the names being — F. Hoar, George street, Cavershain ; Diok Scott, J. Baker, and M. M'Lauohlan. As provided for in the conditions, a ballot was taken, which resulted in favour of Hoar, who receives the prize. The guesses ranged from 151b up to 2201b.

The award of the Arbitration Court in the seamen's dispute was delivered on Monday. The chief questions at issue were matters relating to wages and overtime, and on theao points the court has expressed its opinion that there has not been shown any such material alteration in the conditions which existed in 1899 when the last awards were made, as would justify the court in complying with the request of the union in now increasing the rate of wages and overtime. Mr Slater, the representative of the unions, does not concur in this decision, and would be prepared to give the advance of 10s a month asked for. Mr Justice Cooper, in delivering the award, expressed his gratification at the good spirit which had been manifested throughout the hearing of the dispute, and said : I wish to congratulate Mr Belcher on the extremely able manner in which b» has conducted the dispute. The court has not been able to agree with some of the conclusions put forward by him, but it is a matter of pleasure to me personally, and I am sure to every member of the court, to meet men of tho ability displayed by Mr Belcher, Mr Young, and the others who have conducted the dispute on both sides, and also to meet with the courtesy and consideration that have been shown, by both parties during tho hearing of this dispute, in the course of which questions of considerable importance wore raised.

A four-roomed house, a single-roomed hut, pnd a two-box stable, all the property of Patrick O'Connor, were burnt down at Gore early on Monday, The building was insured in the Alliance office for £230, and the furniture in the Australian for £100. Tho origin, of the fire is at present unknown.

Whether it is that there is a tendency towards litigation, or that people her© arc bad payers, the fact is that Dunedin is a, long way ahead of other large centres in the colony in tho matter of Magistrate's Court work. The probabilities are that the heavy investments in dredging shares have a very great deal to do with it, as a lar^e proportion of the cases called on are against tlioso who, having bought shares, are perhaps willing to pay, but simply unable to do so. A little while .back a northern newspaper announced, as something extraordinary, that over 90 cases had come before the magistrate ; but that number sinks into utter insignificance when compared with the number of " blue papers ' that come before the stipendiary magistrate here. Yesterday the total summonses brought undar the notice of Mr Carew, S.M., was 109, but this ia a lonac way short of the court's

record of 140. Of coarse, the published list of cases never indicates the real wor!4 of the court, as the major portion of tha cases are either confessed, adjourned, otf struck out. Yesterday, however, an unusua? number of judgments were given.

In addition to the residence of Mr John* stone, the house of Mr Shaw, at Driver's road, Maori Hill, was also entered on Sunday evening by an individual of burglarious intentions. The oireumstances in connection with the visit to Mr Shaw's residence show: that the person who is, making his unwelcome visits i« rather a daring character. He made his entry into Mr Shaw's house shortly after 7 o'clock, coming in by the back kitchen door. The house was lighted up at the time, and Mrs Shaw and two children were at home. Making coolly into the hall he peeped in at the door of the room in which Mrs Shaw was sitting, evidently wishing to see if anyone was there. One of the little girls saw him, and cried out that there was a man in the house. Finding himself discovered, the fellow bolted out at the back door again. He took with him a tall hat which he had picked up in the hall. A young man coming down the road noticed him running'out of the place and make off along the road as fast he could. The action of the man was so very suspicious that he went inside to inform the family what he had seen. Needless to say, he found Mrs Shaw and her daughters considerably upset at the man's intrusion. Beyond the hat, which, however, was regained, as the thief threw it away just outside the gate, nothing was found missing. But this was not the burglar's fault. A description of the individual has been given to the police, and it will be not unpleasant news to the reßi< dents in Driver's road if they learn thai he has been brought to book.

A special meeting of the Arthur street School Committee was held on Mondaj for the purpose of selecting a fourth assistant for the school in place of Mr Robertson, resigued. It was resolved to recom* mend Mr Joseph Hunter, at present head master at Bald Hill Flat, to the Education Board for appointment. All the membert of committee were present, and Mr D Scott was in the chair.

Mr Alfred Moseley has returned to London from the United States, whither he went to perfect arrangements for his uniqui personally-conducted tour. He is going to take some 50 psople across the- Atlantic- af his own expense, that they may make sonn study of American methods and manners. " Some 25 of the party," says Mr Moseley, '' will be men interested in the development of England — legislators, college professor?, and men of oth<*r classes ; and 25 will lie tiade3 unionists — th» most intelligent of their claas." President Butler, newly-chosen head of Columbia University, New York, haa prepared tho itinerary for the educational delegation, and the civic federation ha* outlined the journey of the trades unionists. Some of his party Mr Moseley takes to Germany, that technical education methods thert may be examined. The two sections will meet in New York in November.

A humorous illustration of the fatuousness of parochial litigation comes from Norway, the truth of which, the " People's Friend " cays, i 3 vouched for by a Stockholm correspondent. A widow in. poor circumstances, being in want of relief, became chargeable to the rates, and thereupon the city of Chrbtiania went fo law with a. neighbouring commune concerning the question of its liability to contribute. Tho case was carried from one court to another, and after much legal wrangling, and hundreds of pounds being wasted in costs, a final decision was recently arrived at. When it occurred to those concerned to make inquiry for the poor old lady who had been the occasion of all the litigation, it was found that she had been dead and buried for yeara !