LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 27

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A man named William Luby was arrested by the detectives on the 26th on a charge of sending a forged telegram to a resident of Dipton asking that a certain sum of money should be remitted to him, which sum was owing to the person whose* name was appended to the telegram. The forged telegram was sent from the South Dunedia Telegraph Office the previous week.

At an auction sale of a quantity of left luggage and sundry articles found on the steamers of the U.S.S. Company at various times, held on the 25th ult., at Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Cos. rooms, considerable amusement prevailed on the opening of some of the " bargains " obtained by purchasers. One of the nvoet amusing was the finding in a swag, bought for a few shillings, of a bottle of brandy. Portmanteaus and trunks filled with various aiticles, such as clothing, blankets, and boots, brought fair prices, and there was fast bidding for some of them, prices running from 10s to 15s for the smaller ones, and as high, as 28s for the larger and stronger One cheap lot for 2s returned to a purchaser a silver bangle and a puroe with a gold dcllar-piece and two threepenny pieces attached to tho bangle. A lot of watches, brooches, and rings were keenly sought after, but as they appeared to be in all sorts of conditions tTie price was. not too high.

At a lengthy sitting of the Old-age Pensions Court on the 26th, Mt E. H. Carew, S.M., granted 56 renewals at £18, three at £14, two at £16, two at £15, two at £13, and one each at £17, £12, £10, £8, and £5. Two new claims were granted at £18, one at £16, and one at £15. One application for a renewal of pension was adjourned for inquiry as to convictions for drunbennras, and one was refused on account of the applicant owning property of the net value of £300. In respuct to new claims, one application was, refused on account of tho applicant being under the ago limit, and another was refused because the applicant's income wa-= in excess of that allowed by the act. Three applications

were adjourned till the next sitting of the court, the deputy-regietrar to make, further inquiry in the meantime.

Mr W. A. Thomson, of Wellington, who served in the Boer war as a member of the South African Light Horse, has received an intimation that war medals will be issued to New Zealanders who were enrolled in the irregular corps on receipt of their present addressed. Application should be made to the principal ordnance officer, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

The auxiliary screw schooner Emma Sims leaves Port Chalmers about the middle of February on a three weeks' cruise to the Sounds. After calling at Stewart Island she proceeds to explore all the Sounds on the West Coast of Otago, many of which, have rarely, if over, been visited by tourists. Mr De R&nzi Harman, of Christchuroh, has (says tho Prers), undertaken for the proprietors to organiso a party of 10 gentlemen from Chnstchurch to make the irip ; another 10 from Dunedin making the full strength of the company.

An invitation having been forwarded to the Hon. T. Kidst-on, Treasurer in the Queensland State Ministry, to attend a social gathering of Falkirk natives in Dunedin on the 19th prox., a telegram was received by Mr R. Rae, the convener, from him last week stating that it would have given him the greatest pleasure to meet the

"" Fa'kirk bairns," but his engagements necessitate his leaving for Australia in tho course of the next few days.

It was stated before the Academy of Sciences at Paris on December 14 that the rays given off by the human body are visibly reflected under csrtain conditions. Their luminosity is proportionate to tho muscular labour developed and the nervous activity displayed. When the latter is considerable the workings of the nerves of the body can be distinctly followed through

the skin

A romantic incident in connection with tho unnmely end of the young Count yon Harbuval, v. ho ('icd on November 21 as tl.o result of an ace do-nt, h.is just come to light in Vicuna. Seeing that his end wi*

near he sent for Mdlle. Wanda Blanstein; a popular music hall artist, and married he-r after first drawing up a will leaving her ail his fortune. He v>as coo near death to sign either the marriage record or ihe will 1 , but the officiating priest a,nd the lawyer^ present certify to the mark he v/as able tfe make while his hand was guided. The Count died a few hours afterward^. Ha had an income of £12,000 a year His widowed mother and sistere will probably attack the validity of both Ih© mr.rriago and the will.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Trustees, held on Wednesday afternoon, was attended by Messrs P. Treseder (in -'h© chair), R. M. Clark, R. Wilson, W. Burnett, W. T. Talboys, J. Green, and tho Hon. H. Gourley. The death in the institution of Archibald Cameron, aged 82 years, was reported. Accounts amounting to £131 18s 6d were passed for payment, and 32 cases of relief dealt with.

Owing to the absence of fome of the commissioners in Central Otago no meeting of the Land Board was held last week.

It is not often thaf stowaways from London are handed over to the custody of the police in Otago, those waifs usually coming from Australia, but en Wednesday two stowaways were landed from the Rakaia. One of them is very easy of identification as he has six fingers on one hand.

Mr C. de C. Williams, in a letter to the New Zealand Times, offers hio services as an inspector free, should any assistance be> required to check the use of foul language in the Wellington streets. Mr Williams states that he recently visited the To Arc* baths, and though he found ihe management courteous and able, and noticed that a certain, class of youths, when they got their clothes off, seemed to discard what little whitewash of morality they possessed.

Port of the retrenchment work of the "Victorian Railway Department ha? consisted in the placing of a number of small country stations in charge of women, and the innovation has created a good deal of dissatisfaction, as it is stated that the duties cannot in some cases be satisfactorily performed by women. It is the intention of the commissioners that at Dooen, Wail, Caromby, Wychetella, and Barrakee men shall be placed in charge till the bulk of the grain is removed from those districts. There appears to be no intention, however, to permanently abolish the woman-in-eharge system.

Since the electric cars commenced running on December 24-, they have carried no less than 350,000 persons.

All through Central Otago the effects of the ravages of last winter's intense frost are in evidence in the chape of blasted Pinus insignk and macrocarpa, and in many places even the gorse has been destroyed to the rcots. This is particularly noticeable in the fino plantation on Mr A. Arthur's Springfield Estate at Capburn, where a belt of trees 15 years old has been completely destroyed. Strange to oay, the township of Hyde has e-scaped this universal destruction, and the trees there have scarcely suffered at all. This shows that the old identities of that district did not choose the coldest spot for their habitation. Hyde lies in a sunny, hill-surrounded nook, and escaped the biting winds that caused all the damage.

In suggesting the formation of a Dock Construction Committee at the meeting of the Otago Dock Trust on Wednesday the. chairman {Mr E. G. Allen* M.H.R.) eaid such a committee was required to confer with the engineer on all necessary preliminary works in connection with the proposed dock, such as material, etc., required. The trust had records of borings made by the Harbour Board some 20 years ago, and it would be well to have these verified so that the trust might know the class of material likely to be met with in excavations. Thi3 might lead to a difference of fully £5000 in the tenders, and if the trust decided to carry out the work of construction itself it would be well if the cost of construction were known before starting. With regard to plans, some were prepared a long time ago, but they would require to be considerably altered, for when they were drawn, they were drawn to meet a different class of ship altogether to that in vogue at present. Ships were broader now and shallower, sc that tho=e plans would not apply. Such a committee could go into the question of boring and of plans. He brought this forward because there, was a strong probability of tho trust being able to go on with this work at an early date. The result of last year's operations was very satisfactory and such as to enable the trust ro proceed with the work. The committee would be able to ascertain a great deal of useful information, and report to tho trust details that would be very necessary to ascertain, and would .save a great deal of time. If the trust were in a position now, as far as finances were concerned, to go on with the work it would take six months to get . this information together. He noticed that the most up-to-date docks at Home were much shallower than those bni't a few years agu, and possibly the trust might save something in not having the dock so deep as was anticipated. In Glasgow 0110 dock was 575 ft long with a depth of 22ft, and another was 860 ft long with a depth of 26ft

6in, and a tidal lise and fall of lift 2in. At Pom Chalmers the rise and fall was only sft or oft. It was necessary to go into all these matters. The cost of reboring or verifying the previous records might be £200 or £300, but it was likely to save some thousands. The legislation last year gave the tru«t two additional members, and the.-o would be elected shoitly. so that the commit feo oou'd have nonu 1 to acid to its numbu'. On the nioiion ot the Hon. H. Gourley a committee consisting oi tka

•aairrnan and Messrs J. A. Millar, Ms-H.R., De Maus, and Thomson was set up, the committee to have power to add to its number.

There expired at Melbourne lasi. week • prominent colonist, of whose death the Press Association rjither unaccountably failed to inform vs — Sir John M'lntyre, who was Minister of Lands in the Patterson Ministry formed in 1895, and for some time leader of the Opposition in that State. At th© recent election h© was a candidate 'for th© Federal Senate, and though late in the field, and able only to visit a few towns, ho made a very plucky fight, and polled within 600 votes of Senator Styles, who secured the fourth seat for th© State of Victoria. Sir John overtaxed his strength in the campaign, and very soon aftorv. ards became seriously unwell. He never recovered from the attack. Some years ago Sir John M'lntyre visited New Zealand, and made many friends in this colony.

Friends of the Boys' High School must b& more than gratified with the splendid results of the examinations for University junior scholarships this year. Out of the "15 available scholarships, practically six come to th© Boys' High School, because though Evans, • the sixth scholar, appears as belonging to the Auckland Grammar School, he waa there only a few months , previous fo the examination, having received hie secondary education at the Boys' High School here- for the last four yeaft. Mr Evans, father of the candidate, was shifted to Auckland about the middle of 'this year, and took his son with him. Without wishing, therefore, to deprive the Auckland Grammar School of any of the credit due to it for its great success this year, it will be acknowledged that Evans fairly belongs to the Buncdin High School. The other successful Otago candidates are C. Gilray, 6on of Professor Gilray, second scholar ; H*. Maclean, the dux for 1S03; P. S. Foster; A. Watt, son of Professor Watt; and E. JTarra. The school is equally conspicuous in the credit list, no fewer than nine of those who passed with, credit being from the Otago Boys' High School, one boy from th© school — G. W. Borrie, eon of th© Rev. D. Borrie — heading the list. Several of theee have- at the same time passed the medical preliminary examination. . Altogether, as far as University scholarship reEults are concerned, this must be considered the most brilliant year in the history of iite school.

TEe licensed houses statistics for the colony, compiled by the Registrar-general to the 31st March last, furnish come interesting figures. In the counties there were 806 licensed houses, and in the boroughs 698. The population in the counties was 412,383, and in the borough 3 382,957; the number of persons to each licensed house being 512 in the counties and 549 in th©boroughs. Th© totals for the colony show : 1504- licensed houses ; population, 795,34-0 ; the number of persona to each licensed Louse being 529. The population figures give the estimated population on the 51at March, 1901, but the Registrar-general adds : " The total boroug-h population given is the sum of the town clerks' estimates. It is probably too high, but there are no means of oheoking it until the census of 1906 has been taken." The reeulfc of the last local option poll, which has not been taken into account, will alter to a slight extent th© figures representing the number of persons to each licensed house. Prior to tbe reduction Dunedin received £3250 from £6 licenses — 52 publicans' lioeaaes, 4packet iicenses, and 30 wholesale licenses. Port Chalmers received £295 18s 4d from 12 licenses — 5 publicans' lioenoca, 6 packet licenses, and 1 wholesale license. NorthEast Valley received £135 from three publicans' licenses.

The collection of pictures at the local bureau of the Government Tourist Department has received a most welcome addition in th© shape of four valuable oil paintings from, the brush of- that well-known artist, Mi" L. W. Wilson. These include Lake Mapourika, with the Southern AJps as a background; the Head of Lake Wakatipu and Mount Earnelaw; the Head of Lake To Anau, with the Murchison Mountaine ; and the Takatimos, with the Oreti River. In order to give visitors an opportunity to view these works of art the local agent has arranged to have th© bureau open from 7 to 9 p.m. to-day.

Salvage operations in connection with the loss of the steamer Ovalau at Lord Howe Island are still proceeding. When the steamer Tambo (which arrived at Sydney last Monday) left the island Captain J. Wesfcon, of Balmain, who purchased the wreck, was on th© scene, with the steamer Sophia Ann, making a second attempt. So faT he has euoeeeded in recovering seven anchors, with their cables, the bronze propeller from the sunken steamer, and other gear.

Th© Natal delegates who are on a visit - to this colony for the purpose of obtaining an insight into the agricultural and pastoral methods adopted in New Zealand arrived From the north on Friday. They left Wellington last week for Neloon, and travelled by way of the "West Coast to Ohrietchurch. The delegates are : Mr T. Hysiop (a member of the Natal Legislature), Mr G. S. Armstrong (a prominent business man in the South African colony), and Mr M. S. Evans (another of its representative business men). They left for Invercavgill on Saturday morning. They were much pleased with the country passed through between Christchurch and Dunedin, more especially that to the south of Oamaru, ths green of which waa quite refreshing after the parched appear■iica of the Canterbury Plains. On their Vrival they wei;© much struck with th-s fine

appearance of the buildirgs in Dunedin, and also with the ciccir c trams.

Income tax for the year winch commenced on April 1, l£o3, was payable on Saturday. Ton per cent, of the amcuul payable ■will be added if the tax is not i-a.d on or before February 12.

An adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of Griffith Roberts, Beaumont, hotelkeeper (deceased), was held in th© official assignee's office* on Thursday afternoon to d-eal with tenders submitted for the purchase of the Bridge Hotel, Boaumont, w Inch is the principal asset in the estate. The tenders were not considered satisfactory, and it was decided to offer the hotel at publio auction on Friday, the sth prox.

The French Parliamentary Committee on legal reform has decided to recommend that no relative removed more than six degrees from a deceased person may succeed to property not willed. Instead, it is to go to the State.

The late Pope Leo acquired a curious habit towards the end of his life (writes a London correspondent), of storing up sums of money in secret hiding places. Some evidence of this was found when his papers were overhauled after his death, and it is now stated that a further sum of about £4-000 in bank notes from many different countries has been discovered between the leaves of books tiken from his library and distributed among the colleges in Rome.

A meeting of the committee of the Taieri Early Settlers' Picnic Committe© was held in the Borough Council Cnambers, Mosgiel, on Thursday ; present — his Worship the Mayor Mr T. Aitken (in tht chair), Dr Allan, Merers A. Aitken, J. Turnbull, W. Blackie, H. H. Inglis, J. J. Ramsay, F. Cheyne, and W. Charters. Mr Langlands was also in attendance. His Worship the Mayor and Mr J. Tumbull were appointed a committee to select prizes, and Messrs Dr Allan, W. Allan, H. H. Inglis, J. Turnbull, J. Gow, and W. Charters a Sports Committee. All arrangements were made for carrying out th© picnic, and the meeting adjourned till Tuesday evening. A new feature of the picnic will be a mo!or-ear exhibition, to bo given by a Taieri resident well-known in Volunteering circles, he having kindly consented to place his car at the disposal of

early settlers that day, many of whom will be able to contrast such an experience with that of sledging over Saddle Hill in the days of auld lang syno. The car is known as the " Oldsmobile infantile," and is of th© very latest pattern. The Tairei Burns Committee met later on to arrange the details of a concert for the same evening.

In connection with the stewards' inquiry into alleged inconsistencies in the running of the Novel Handicap at Palmersbon races on New Year's Day, it is interesting to note that at a meeting of the Blueskin Show Committe©, held the other evening, it was resolved to decline to pay th© prize money won by the mare Flossie at the show, as it had been discovered that the animal was owned by Robert Riddle, whereas it wa3 shown in the name of John O'Conne-11. The committee also declined to pay the prize money won by another animal shown by John O'Counell, but belonging to Messrs Mackenzie Bros., of Bushy Park.

Th© local agent of th© Government Tourist Department has received advice that the road between Mcssburn and Manapouri, which was badly damaged by heavy rains in December, has been repaired. The road from Lumeden to Manapouri is now in perfect order for cyclists.

A case of sunstroke in the Palmerston dic-trict has terminated fa-tally, the victim being a lad named James Garvan, Dxuiback.

A very distinct 'mirage was visible on the horizon off St. Clair on Friday shortly before noon, the Peninsula from Lawyer's Head, with its trees, roads, etc., being distinctly visible along the horizon. The rays of the sun were peculiar in the extreme, and very strongly marked. On th© sun becoming obscured by clouds the mirage was not so distinct. After a time th© direction of the wind changed, clouds came rolling up quickly from th© south in mo&t fantastic shapes — at one time they appeared '-o form into a waterspout, — th&n rain fell for a brief space, and th© sun again shone out and the atmosphere clex-ed. The sea during the phenomenon was unusually high and rough in th© vicinity of the St. Clair Baths.

A large number o£ northern bowlers who took part in the tournament concluded on Friday left for their homes by Saturday morning's express, among them being the rink players from Newtowi who carried off the championship. A great many Dunedin and a few southern bowlers were on the railway station to bid adieu to their brethren, and there was a hearty interchange of cheers as the train moved off, the Danedinites singing '" Will ye no come back again?'' The southern men, who had left by the south express, were- also ghen a hearty send-off.

The funeral of tko late Francis A. Joseph, who was killed at Harrington Point, lov^er harbour on Friday, tool: place on Sunc'ay afternoon, the remains of the deceased gentleman being interred m the Southern Cemetery. The cortege, which was a very long one, comprised the directors of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company (of which the deceased was an employee), many of the late gentleman's confreres on those journals, representatives of our evening contemporary, the chairman and members, of th& Otago Harbour Board, and a good sprinkling of old identities and their descendants, in addition to a very large number of personal friends. The Rev. Mr Chi-jhclra was tiie officiating minister. At the eravcaida the rev. gentleman took the

opportunity of bearing testimony to the oxcellejiee of tLe character of tho deceased. Ke know his aspu-ations, and ho knew the. efforts he had Kiac'e to aci.'c-\e the-in, and at all times he had recognised his kindliness of manner, his

marked ability, and his unselfishness and thoiisjhtfuln&s? for othe-rs; and occupying, as Mr Joseph had done, a position of great power as a member of th© press, he had ©\er used his influence for good. Telegrams have reached Mrs Joseph from all parts of the colo-iy, including one from Sir J. G. Ward (Minister of Railway?), condoling with her in the sad bereavemnt which has so suddenly overtaken her and her family. The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier, wired to his Worship tho Mayor of Port Chalmers on Saturday morning. — '"Regret exceedingly to hear of fatal accident. My heartfelt sympathies are with the bereaved." Th© Mayor replied thanking Mr Seddon for his sympathetic wishes.

Mr J Jeffery (president of the New Zealand Educational Institute) received word on Saturday evening from the secretary (Mr Erskme) that the Education Department proposes a conference of institute representatives and an equal number of inspectors in Wellington on Saturday next. It is not yet quite decided who are to represent th© institute, but it will be known in the course of a day or so. It will b& remembered that the deputation of teachers that waited on the Premier last time he was here strongly urged upon him the desirability of the conference it is now proposd to hold. It would appear, therefore, that the Premier (as Minister of Education) found the suggestion a timely one.

For the month of January ther© were 122 births, 68 deaths, and 40 marriages ; while for the corresponding month last year tho figures were : Births 104-, deaths 85, marriages 31.

Of those candidates who gat for their final medical examination, which vas concluded at th© Otago University Medical School last Friday, wo ar© unofficially informed that th© following successfully passed for th© M.8., Ch.B. degree: — Misses A. Adams, W. J. Bathgate, B.Sc. E. Ridley, Messrs P. Buck, A. Kinder, B.Sc, T. M'Kibbin, G Mirams, H. G. Robertson, and J. Robertson.

As a result of invitations issued by the powers that b© (says th© New Zealand Times) quite a number of resignations from the publio service of the colony ar© likely to be gazetted next week. Some officers in the Defence Department will be amongst the number.

During the past week 31 patients were admitted to the Hospital and 34- were discharged ; while there were two deaths, those of Thomas Brown and Elizabeth Lough, tho total number of patients now in the institution being 103.

On Wednesday Mr E. R. Ussher, engineer of the Public Works Department, together with Mr R. M'Nab, M.H.R., will inspect the suggested route of tho railway from Tahakopa Valley to Mokoreta.

The Norwich and London Accident Insurance Association of Norwich, England, on© of th© very eldest and wealthiest accident companies in tho world, has lately been opening out throughout th© colony. Mr A. E. Kernot, of Wellington, has been appointed manager for New Zealand ; and for th© Provino© of Otago Mr A. J. Sullivan, who is at present, representing the Australian Alliance Assurance Company, has accepted the district managership. This accession to the ranks of th© accident companies will probably be viewpd with favour by th© majority of insurers. The company is prepared to take the usual personal accident bubiness of all descriptions, and also workmen's compensation ris'cs, and no doubt it will not fail under its present management to secure a fair proportion of business in the province. The attention of the public is drawn to the company's advertisement on another page, from which it will be • seen that th© capital and funds are close on half a million — a sufficient guarantee of its stability.

During the past three weeks about 90 volumes have been added to the shelves of the library of the Dixnedin Athenceum.

The satisfactory progress of the electric tramways in Princes and George streets lias been the subject of general comment duringthe past fortnight. Work was practically commenced on the 11th ult., and by Wednesday next, the 10th inst., Mr Goodman hopes to open the section for traffic. The permanent way is rapidly nearin-g completion, and would have been quite finished ere now had the supply of metal not run shore. The overhead gear is also well advanced, th© wiring being almost finished. The overhead feeder conduits from th© power-house and the return feeders are in hand. The latter are to be placed underground. Mr Goodman has also started excavating on th© Main South road along by the Southern Cemetery, but is still some distance off the city boundary. The widening of the railway bridge at Carisbrook has been going on for some time, and should be ready by the time the tramway reaches that point.

We understand that Mr P. Hally has accepted a position from the Labour Department as inspector of awards under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It has been felt for some time in industrial circles tl.at a good deal jf time and litigation might be saved if there were appointed a competent State official, whose business it would be to see that parties to an award did not fail to abide by its teims. For instance, an employer wh« makes an honest attempt to carry out an avarcl is at a disadvantage if he has to compete with another who does not scruple to evade it as opportunity offers ; and recent cases have gone to show tha-t

evasions of awards are sometimes found to occur on tho other Side. In justice, therefore, to employer and employed the Labour Department has decided to appoint an inspector of awaub; and with th© exeic.se of tact and discrimination on th© part of this officer it is probable that disputes as to th© interpretation of awards will become fewer, and there will be less reason for recourse to th© Arbitration Court over broaches of industrial agreements. As- an advoca-t-e before the Conciliation Board and Arbitration Court, Mr Hally has appeared with conspicuous success. He is at present a member of the Conciliation Board, president of the Tailoresses' Union, and a member of the City Council. Doubtless these positions will be incompatible with tho office he now fills, and if bis resignation is inevitable '*• will be received in every instance with regret.

In view of the approaching visit of Messrs G. Laurenson, T. Taylor, and G. Fowlds, M.H.R.'s, to speak on the land tenure question, th© Executive Committee of che Otago Central Railway Ltagup decided on Monday to invite those gentlemen to a tour through Central Otago with a view to acquainting them Tilth tli3 resourc&s and possibilities of the country tapped by the Otago Central railway, which line has met with some opposition from the gentlemen named.

The long-deferred hope of settlers on the Dun&tan side of the dividing range between Ida Valley and Manuherikia seems at last to be near ing some chance of realisation, and ther© is every likelihood of the Otago Central railway being opened to Ophir (or Blacks) by the end of June. The Manuherikia bridge has now been completed, and the line laid up to the Poolburn Viaduct ; while plat&laying and ballasting are being proceeded with between the viaduct and the bridge. This will bring the railway within reasonable distance of Alexandra, and the toilfome journey and climb over th© bad roads of Ida Valley and. the range near Ophir will be avoided. The Executive Committee of the Otago Central Railway League decided last evening to specially request the Government to open the lin© to Ophir before winter, with a view to avoiding th© necessity of traffic being forced to undertake the wearisome and difficult read journeys between Ida Valley and Ophir.

At th© conference between inspectors and teaoh©rs in Wellington on Saturday next, for the purpose of discussing the new syllabus, th© representatives of the Educational Institute will be the members of the Executive Committee. Thesa are : Southern District — Messrs William Davidson (Mornmgton) and J. H. Harkness (Reefton) ; Middle District — Messrs G. Macmorran and W. Foster (Wellington) ; Northern District — Messrs Jas. Aitken (Wanganui) and J. K. Law (Manaia). Also th© following officers: — Messrs Jas. Jeffery (Anderson's Bay), president; T. Hughes- (Christchurch) , treasurer ; and A. Erskine (Wellington), secretary. On Monday morning Mr J. Jeffery. as president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, sent a wire to the Right Hon. Mr Seddon asking him as Minister of Education to associate with the executive of the institute a teacher nominated by the Auckland Institute and Mr D. R. White, M.A., Principal of the Dunedin Training College; and asking thai the Joint Conference coasisfc of an equal^number of teachers and inspectors. Late in the afternoon, Mr Jeff&ry received the following: — "Your suggestions re representation of teachers on Joint Conference are approved. — R. J. Seddon." It will appear by this that the action of the N.Z.E.I. in asking for a Joint Conference, and the suggestion that teachers and inspectors should be equally repre&e-nted, have met with the Minister's approval.

The Otago and Southland District health report for the month of January is as follows: — Scarlet fever: 15 eases — 3 town, 12 country. Enteric fever: 2 cases — 1 town, 1 country. Measles: 9 cases — 2 town, 7 country. Tuberculosis : 6 cases — 2 town, 4- country. Blood poisoning : 2 cases — 1 town, 1 country. The district extends from Palmerston to Southland, and includes Stewart Island, and during 12 days preceding the end of the month the Health Officer (Dr Ogston) travelled over 500 miles of this largo area. Dr Ogston states that on Wednesday last he saw a case of true measles in the city which he thinks was introduced here from the north, and he has taken precautions to prevent its spread.

At Alexandra South next week a case will occupy th© attention of the local court in which the puritj r or otherwise of the town water supply will come under review. The borough authorities are taking action against a race-owner who contracts to supply the town with water for supplying water of an alleged impure quality. The District Health Officer (Dr Ogston) has been summoned to give expert evidence.

Nearly 1000 cases of rotten bananas, which arrived by the U.S.S Company's steamers Koonya and Tarawera, were destroyed last week by order of the District Health Officer (Dr Ogston) and Inspector R. R. Donaldson.

There are 456 registered pharmaceutical chemists in New Zealand. Eight of th&m are women.

A rumour reaches us (says the Western Star) that a change in the personnel of the Ministry is in contemplation in th© immediate future. It is understood that th& Hon. T. Y. Duncan is to relinquish the portfolio of Minister of Lands, and to be elevated to the Upper ifouse. This will cause a vacancy in the Lower House for the Oamaru seat, for which Messrs Mitchell (editor of the Mail) and Brown, whom Mr Duncan defeated at the last election, will in all probability become candidates. Contingent on these changes, it may come about that the Premier will take over the Land*

and relcnse th© portfolio of Education, th.9 now Minister to have that department. N"ws was received in town on Monday by cable of the death by drowning on the Austin han coa-^t of Mr Charles Clai.iiLerlain, only son of Mr C. W. S Cl.amb^rlain, collector of Customs in this city. The deceased, who was educated at tho local Boys' High School, was for some time in th© employment of Messrs Mackerras and Hazlett, bufl subsequently joined the service of th© Union Steam Ship Company, and it wa-s off this company's steamer Aparimi, while bound! from Newcastle for Calcutta, that he was lost overboard.

Mr Superintendent Smith points out (says the Christchurch Press) that had chemical engines been available at the fires in Gora and Palmerston North a great deal of the loss would have been obviated. Christ-" church is the only city in tho colony possessing chemical fire engines, and their value has been proved on more than one occasion.,

An uncommon action has been uroughfc against a French fire insurance company to recover 245,000 francs, being the amount; of policies effected on goods destroyed during th© eruption of Mont Polcc in Martinique. The company refuted the clainn on the ground that the goods were destroyed! by eruption, and therefore had no value* before they were set on fire. The case has been referred to arbitration.

At a meeting of the Morning-ton School Committee on Monday Mr G. A. Turner was unanimously recommended for appointment as second assistant in the school.

A graphophone entertainment was given in the school at- Brighton on Friday night last under the management of Mr William! Watson, who generously invited the school children. The school was crowded to excess, also the ground and road in front, there being a great number of visitors ire Brighton at present. Every item was well recei% T ed and applauded, and on the motion! of Mr M'lnnes a hearty vot© of thanks waa given to Mr Watson.

Mr M'Bride, of Queenstown, some time ago bought the hull of a schooner in Dunedin — a schooner that will be remembered as belonging to th© Dunedin Naval Brigado many years ago. To show how well thia schooner was built, it was found in dismantling her and fitting in her engine that her timbers and hull were in a particularly good state of preservation. On & trial spin: last week the Tilikum (as the local peoples call her) was found to be very fast, doing on three-quarter speed about eight and} a-half mil&s an hour ; and whe-n in proper irim, and everything working, she should easily do 10 miles per hour. This is actual speed. Mr M'Bride intends to us© the launch for the accommodation of passengers on Lake Wakatipu, to see its various eights. As th© boat is a very commodious and safe* one, she will be found a great acquisition to holiday-makers in the district. There is accommodation for fully 100 passengers. Messrs Hayward and Garratt (agents for W. A. Ryan and Co., of Auckland) have just fitted into th© launch a 15 horse-power Union oil engine.

The glass-making industry has been started again in Auckland. About two years ago a local company dropped some money in attempting glass-making by machinery. They sold out to a small local syndic-ale, who have now re-opened th© works, but have discarded the machinery, and bay© adopted! the older and better-known system of glassblowing. A manager waa induced to com© out from Yorkshire, and he brought with him a staff of expert glass-blowers. The company has made a start, with the manufacture of lemonade bottles a.nd jam jars.

The exports of butt&r from Auckland for the year 1903 give evidence of the growth.of the dairy industry in the north. Tho total export for the year was 25,03Ecwt, compared with 17,817cwt in 1902, the increase being equal to about 40 per cent. Th© flax industry is also progressing rapidly. The total exports of this commodity for the year were 5500 tons, value about £137,500.

Applications are invited for the posit.on of assistant engineer to the Waipon Falls Electric Power Company.

The secrets ly of the Mokoia Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 270z 3dwt for 120 hours' work. The master states that the dredge is now working in solid ground.