LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 27

LOCAL & GENERAL.

'_ _ At a meeting of the Dunstan Presbytory on the 16th inst., three charges beea-mo vacant: Teviofc and lauder by the resignationg of Revs R Telford and J. C. G«lhe, -d » 1 r-< n\. ,1 , i ,- „l B.A , and Cromwell by; the translation of^the Key. Jb. lait to A\ aim. Se^or.al members °^ the Presbytciy commented \ery strongly

on tho reluctance of young ministers to talc© up work in the needy " back-bloc-k " fields of the Church.

A sitting of the Old-aije Pensions Court was held on the 22nd before Mr Carew, S.M. Tho following renewals of pensions were granted: — Thirby-eight ,-it £18, two at £17, two at £16, one at £12, two at £10, one at £9. and one at £2. On© renewal was re-

fused on the ground that th& applicant's income was in excess of the amount allowed by tha act. Six new claims at £18 wore granted. Work in connection with the erection of the new railway station is now being rapidly proceeded with under the supervision of Mr J. Hall (foreman of works). The. erection of the gantry is now almost completed, and two 13-ton steam travelling crane? will be placed in position about the middle of next week. A concrete-mixer

will also bo erected between the two cranes, and the concrete will b& conveyed from the mixer to each separate wall by means of shoots. Fourteen men are at present engaged on tho masonry work, and that numbei will be inc-reaced to 25 next week. As socn as the preliminary work ie completed operations will be pushed on as rapidly as possible.

During their visit to Milton on Friday lotii, Mr Ronayne, general manager o£ the New Zealand railways, and Mr Combe, chief engineer, were vaitsd on by a deputation of Tokomairiro farmers in regard to obstructions in the south branch of the Tokomairiro River. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs Tough, Murray, and Peattie, urged the necessity, in tho interests of the land owners and the railway line, for the removal of trees, bushes, etc., which impeded the flow of the water between Meadowbank and the confluence of the branches. Mr Tough, who spoke from an experience of 40 years in the district, declared that every year overflowing had been worse, aaid had como oftener, and that on every occasion the railway vuffercd as weli as the fanners, and in these statements he was corroborated by Mr Murray, who had had '50 years' experience in the district. Mr Peattie handed to Mr Ronayne some notes that had been prepared on the subject, which, the latter said, he would have pleasure in laying- before Sir Joseph Ward, together with a report which ho wis having prepared. Mr Ronayne said he did not think the deputation had overstated the case in so far as the railway was concerned, and it would be the duty of the department equally with the- farmers to see that the obstructions were removed. The only difficulty that appeared to him was to find the local authority responsible for keeping tha river clear. There was no r'ver board, unless the> County Council could legally acfc as such : if not, then all concerned must agitate for legislation on this subject at the earliest opportunity.

Two short shocks of earthquake, trending from S.E. to the S.W., were felt at PcrS Chalmers at 6.15 a.m. on Thursday. They were of about four secondo' duration. One of our staff telegraphed from Hawea Flat on Thursday: — A heavy shock of earthquake, preceded by a long, rumbling found, tho direction being N.W. to S.E., was experienced in the- Hawsa and Wanaka districts at 6.4-0 a.m. to-day (Thursday). The» earthquake was followed by a heavy and several heavy showers of snow fell on the high country.

A meeting of tho various committees appointed in connection with the forthcoming farewell to his Excellency the Governoi was held at the Town Hall on, T'mr-day, and was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. Scott), the Hon. W. M. Bolt, Messrs J. F. Arnold, M.H.E., S. Solomon, G. L. Dcnnistun, J. Annand, J. F. Kirby, E. C. Reynolds, J. Braitlnvaite, A. Topper, F. J. Stilling, L. Harris G. Lawrence, A. B:ivth, Malt! and Gnrd'ner, D. Cook", J. Wilson, Bievet-col;-ncl Robin, and Mr E. D. Grace. Apologi. s for nonnttendance weio leceivcl from Messrs John Roboi t°, G Femviok, J. A. Park, ond Jesse

Timson. The Adclre^? and Pi-osontation Committee decided that the size of the a'bum to no presented to his Excellency bo about, 12m by Sin, pud that in addition to tho addiuss tlie> album contain watercolour paintings and photographic views. It was aho decided that the catkuc of New Zealand ■wood?, in which the album is to bo placerl, bo sbout 4m deep. A list of aruatr. was submitted by Mr Reynolds, and it was decided to circularise- them and also tin loadnin photographer*, asking them if they would bo willing to supply views for mclir on in tiio album. J> was further decided tc r.-k Mes«rs J. Hutchison and C. Dai ling- to draft the address. Tho casket, which i* to bo nude- by Messrs Scoullar and Chisbolm, i^ to bo picgeuted to Lord Hi ifurly on behalf of Lady Raufurly as the gift of the citizens of Di.nrOm. The EntertairniuMil Committee, decided to fix the pries* for admi^icn to tho coi \er ; azione ai 2a e.icii. It was rf^oUcd that seating accommodation bo pro-ud.'d for ps many as posnMc iinda 1 tho galleric , rud that tho centra of tho room bo left vacant. Only two speeches will ho deli-. trod at the eonverViziono — that mad.-, by the Mayot- in making tho piL'-pntafica and h:* Ext'lcucv's reply. A sub-eoiroi.-.U' i\ cnri'-'^tri.r of Messrs Ki.ln, IJpi-ris, a.Ki l\.n t ; lot i- 1 Ro 1 in, v.aa appointed, with power to add to their

number, to arrange the dotaih in cennretion with seating and accommojatjo'i. The Music Committee decided to arrange for item? by tho Orchestral Society and the Liodertafel, and al r 'O to sec-.u-o the senicf of a number of tho leading \ocalisrs and irs-jlruiiiOJirahbt^. Tht- aiT.iii^cmont of tho musical programme ->\as left in tho hands of Mc°-rs Barth (convenci) and Cooke. His Worship the Mayer iuis appointed convener of the. Address and Presentation Committee, and Mr Solomon of the Entertainment Committoe. The question of giving a supper to his Excellency after the conversazione was chscr^sed. but it wag concluded that time v/oukl not permit of ruch a function being hdd. Tho deci-ious arrived *lit aro subject; to the approval of the General Committee.

A petition to Mr W. F. Massey. M.H R., leader of the Opposition, requesting him to deliver a political address at Lawrence, ■nas forwarded north on Friday It boars the names of 93 ejectors of the Tuapeka district.

The Otago district of tho Ancient Order of Foresters, at their annual meeting on Thursday, passed a resolution opposing the proposal which emanates from the Druids' Order for the establishment of a Royal Commission to inquire generally into friendly societies.

Mr T. Mackenzie. M.H.R., addressed the electors at Shag Point on Wednesday ovening. Prior to delivering his addree3 Mr Mackenzie was presented by the residents of Shag Point and Allandale vith a handsome silver-mounted walking-stick, suitably inscribed. He was subsequently entertained at a social, which was largely a f tended, the proceedings being marked wita great en- i thusiasm. Mr Alex. Goodley cccupied the chair, and the presentation was made by Mr Geo. Howe.

Mr Robert Gilkison, solicitor, of this city, who had several years' practice in the goldfields of Otago, has prepared a work on " The Law of Gold Mining in New Zealand," which will be shortly published if sufficient encouragement is offered him. With the view of ascertaining the support that would be given to the enterprise, circulars have been issued to members of the legal profession and secretaries and managei s of mining companies. To the circulars are appended forays of ordor for the work, and they also contain a table of contents and specimen extracts from the proposed publication. In the District Court at Naseby on Thursday, in bankruptcy, re Bridget Christina Reid, of Kyeburn, farmer, a creditors' petition by Patrick MacTamney and James F. O'Malley, the petition was granted. Mr Cutten appeared for the petitioners. At Friday's meeting of the Council cf the Otago Acclimatisation Society the question as to the date on which the fishing season would end was raised by Mr A. E. Farquhar, who asked for some definite information as to whether the season would close on April 15 or April 30. It appears that the licenses issued by the society expire on April 15, but under the provisions of the Fisheries' Conservation Amendment Act of 1903, which became law after the licenses were issued, the beginning of the season was fixed for October 1 and the close for April 30. Those who have therefore taken out licenses may continue to fish until the end of next month.

A boy composer and conductor, Max Darewski, the son of a professor of singing at London, has been creating a sensation in England. Now eight years of age, last month he conducted Mr Dan Godfrey's Bournemouth orchestra of 50 performers whilst they played a composition of his written at the age of five years. Hand, foot, and body moved, drawing from the experienced musicians every shade of feeling the little fellow desired. Every member of ,Dan Godfrey's famous symphony orchestra joins (it is said) in marvelling at the uncanny talent which kept them together, as only a leader of many years' experience is capable of doing. A number of the Liberal electors of Tuapeka met Mr W. J. Culver, the general secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand on Thursday last at Lawrence, and unanimously resolved to form a branch of the organisation and to ask the Right Hon. the Premier to formally present the charter at a public demonstration to be held at a date to suit his convenience. Mr B. "Winn was elected president and Mr A. W. Tyndall secretary pro tern. The general secretary will be in Dunedin again on Wednesday evening next, arriving from Invercargill. Reference was made by the chairman (Mr R. Chisholm) at Friday's meeting of the Council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society to the wholesale slaughter of Paradise ducks that was going on, the speaker stating that there was a very strong feeling between Lumsden and Te Anau that something should be done to remedy the present state of affairs. It was stated that some of those who visited the locality were no sportsmen at all, and that they had been seen with several sacks full of birds, which were in a putrid state before they reached home. After discussion, it was decided to instruct the executive to take whatever steps it considered necessary for the protection of the birds.

About £46 was realised on Saturday by the street collection arranged by the St. John Ambulance Association to assist in defraying- th© cost of the ambulance waggon which is being provided for the use of the public. This sum is nearly £30 short of the amount required, and it may be mentioned that anyone desirous of contributing can send their donations to Mr J. E. Borne, Forster street, Be-lleknowes. The following

ladirs. as far as can be ascertained, assi'tcl in taking the collections from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., tho male, members of the St. John A"ibuUuce Brigade continuing the work from 6 to 11 p.m. :— Pest Office— Misses Hooper. Applcgnrth, Wi'hams, Begg, r.nd Anc'rerts: Mane. street — ?.Irs Peterson, ill 303 Skipworth, and Pctsrnon ; Grand Hotel— Mrs A. Smith, Miss MacdcnaH ; City Hotel— Mrs W. Forrester, Misses Ihl-biu-ii, M'Kechnio, and Begg ; Octagon— Mcsdame* W. J. Will, Can.*, and Bone, Misses B. Patuck, G'.endimng, and Begg.

The association desires to thank the ladies who assisted, and states that if r.ny names are omitted the omission is accidental.

During the pa-t week 14 patients were admitted to the Hospital and 27 were discharged. One aeath occurred, that cf Annie M'Nair. The number of patients now m the institution is 88.

Speaking with reference to the Public School Teachers Act at Palmerslon on Friday night, Mr 'f . Mackenzie, M.H.R , urged the. necessity of a superannuation fund for teachers in order that the efficiency of tho teaching staff of the colony's public schools might be kept up. The 1= 9d MjII unused in 6calc II of the act would, in the opinion of the teachers, foim a satisfactory basia for granting a superannuation allowance. Many tea.chs.rs, he believed, would be content to abide by their present saJaries if that could be done.

At the meeting of the Clutha River Beard on Friday the chairman (Mr H>. Stewart) brought forward the. matter of introducing a fast passenger and light traffic seivice on tho river. It was decided thai; the chairman and the secretary inquire into tho cost of establishing the service, and also as to tho estimated receipts and expenditure, and report .at a future meetmg. Mr A. W. Rutherford, M.H R., has received a telegram from Sir Joseph Ward, stating that the Cabinet has decided to construct a narrow gauge railway from Culverden to Hanmer. The preliminary survey will be made immediately. At a meeting held at Balclutha on Friday, convened by Mr D. Stewait, it was resolved to form a Close Settlement League for the purpose of keeping before the Government the necessity of having the large estates in the district cut up. The league is to be called the Clutha, Bruce, and Tuapeka Close Settlement League. The Rev. W. E. Bromilow, head of ihe Methodist Mission, work in New Guinea, spealflng at a missionary anniversary at Sydney, referred, amon-; other matters, to the necessity for missionaries acq\uring a knowledge of the native tongtie and preaching to the islanders in the vernacular, as it would be impossible otherwise to teach them. It was necessary to reduce the Dobuan language to writing. Mr Bromilow had tried to epcak through the native inteorpretors, but they communicated the matter with such a mixture of "pidgeon" English that it was impossible by this m«ans to convey Christian truth. It was found, in some instances, instead of repeating what was said, that the interpreters " threatened tho natives with tihe Government, telling them that they would be put in gaol — exactly the very thing we did not want to tell them." One of the native boys who accompany Mr Bromilow staled that before the arrival of the missionaries they stood in a state of fear, and were subject to t^e influences of sorcery. Twelve years ago there was no Christianity in Dobu ; now there are 20 New Guinea natives who are doing duty as pastors, and can read and write, and know the simple elements of education.

A recent bulletin of the Indiana State Board of Health gives an actual bre.akfast nicaiii in a workman's family in Indianapolis, U.S. This breakfast consisted of fried sausage coloured with aniline red and adulterated with about 10 per cc-nt. of flaked corn grits : apple butter coloured with aniline red and loaded with glucose ; butter coloured with azo dye; coffee glazed with dextrine and starch, and coloured with brown aniline ds'e; bread adulterated with glucose and malt extract ; potatoes, and gravy made from milk, flour, and dripping from the adulterated sausages. At a final meeting of the committee who arranged the concert in aid of the family of the late Mr Fogarty, Rosiyn, it was reported that the net results amounted to £110 17s 6d. This amount has been vested in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, who will pay 10s per week to the widow as long as the sum lasts.

Our Auckland correspondent wires: — Mr W. F. Massey, leader of the Opposition, informs me that h& proposes leaving Auckland on Friday on a tour through, tha colony, going as far south as Invercargill. He purposes being absent four or five weeks, and will deliver amber of addresses.

A poll was taken on Saturday at Berwick to vote for or against a proposed loan by the Berwick Drainage Board of £300 for river protective works, when 23 votes were recorded in favour of the loan and two votes against. The number of votes represented on the roll ia 29, but the four not recorded were exercisable by absentees. Tlie Scottish societies of Dunedin and their friends have just sent Home, through the local manager of the Bank of New Zealand, the sxaa of £40 to aid in the erection of a memorial in Scotland to the rnemoiy of the late General Sir Hector Macdonald. The money has in the meantime been forwarded to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, with instructions that he shall hand the money to any responsible persons who aie engaged in the erecting of tho

memorial in cither Edinburgh or Dingwali, a- may be detenu ippcl. Mr T. Pn-ita, II H R., ha- had an intervh w with Mf C R. Smith 'representing the Veteran^' Hom<" Fund Committee) and has ' arranged that Hiu Maorv cf Otago shall officially farewell hw Excellency th« Go\T-r- : nor at tho demonstration on the 13Ui Aoril. | It is quite certam that as this ia the bst time tha Maoris will soe Lord Ranfurly their part m this fur.ciion wi'l be of a character rtfi r -cting credit on themselves, and v, ill prove most interesting to the ! onlookers.

The TTnh ersity Council on Monday gave preliminary consideration to tl'e question of extending the. Unlveieity buildings so as to provide the aceommedation required for the establishment of a chair of physiology. The approximate cost of extension •nas stated as £4000, more or less, and the miestion the council was unable to decide yesterday was whether the extension should be made to the. front or main budding, or to the back building or Medical School, was resolved that the council's Building Committee shou'd confer with an architect and report to the next meeting. The District Lands and Survey Office, Invercargill, notify that 19,495 acres of land in the Edendale Settlement, classified and grouped ac ordinary farms, will be open for selection on lease in perpetuity on Fiiday, 15th April. An explosion, attended with rather serious results, took place at the residence*

of Mr W. A. Smith, chief assistant engineer for the Drainage and S&werage Board, in York place, about 6.30 o'clock p m. on the 23rd. The cause of the explosion has not yet been definitely ascertained, and the only way in which Mr Smith can account for the incident is that an explosion of gas muist have taken place. The explosion appears to havo occurred either in the kitchen or in the scullery. the* latter, together with the washhoiise, being almost completely demolished, tlioug-Ii ihe kitchen has apparently not sustained much damage. The force of the explosion seems to have vented itself chiefly in a westerly direction, but damage has bc^n dono on all i=ides. Fortunately Mr Smith and his family were in ths front portion of the house at the time, and escaped injury, otherwise the cocuirrenes would probably have been attended with very serious results. The adjoining houses, on both sides, suffered beverely, tlie greatest damage being- sustained by the Rev. P. W. Fairclough's residence, wiie-re no lers than 12 large window panes were shivered to atoms, while a washhouse window the sash itself was completely b'owu out. The house occupied by Mr J. Salmon, which li-es at the- rear of Mr Fairclough's residence, also suffered severely, a number of windows, mirrors, and ware being broken. Mr James Brown's residence, on the tewer eide of Mr Smith's house, did not escape, and here every window on the western pide was broken, while a sideboard of large dimensions was shifted bodily some inches frcm the wall, though not appearing to have suffered injury. The hciwe of Mr Woods, below that last-mentioned, was also somewhat injured, the greatest damage done here being the breaking of a groat part of the- glass in the conservatoay. It is also stated that a window in the balcony of Mr Bull's residence- in Dowling street, seme 200 yards distant from the scene of the explosion, was shatt&red by the concussion. That the force of the explosion was very coi I cid<M"aT>l.s is shown by the fact that several pieces of roofing iron, mo*e or lees twisted, were found in various directions after t-he occurrence. In response to an immediate call the Fire Brigade arrived on the scene, but its services wore not required. Mr Smith stated last evening that he discovered, after the explosion had taken place, that the gas in the kitchen was not completely turned off.

The Clutha Leader has received a letter from Mr W. M'Kay (formerly of Clinton), now of the Natal Police. Maritzburg. Natal, enclosing a cutting from the Natal Witness of February 19, giving an account of the death by drowning of George Smythe (" Buffalo Bill "), which took place at Harrismith, Orange Free State, on February 17. The account says that Mr Smytho, of Schreiner's Claim Farm (who had been into town on btisiness), in company with six others, drove out to a place called the Old Washery. On returning they were overtaken by an extraordinary rain storm, which lasted several hours, and during which 1.24inches of rain fell. Spruits became raging torrents, and on crossing the spruit near- the town the horses lost their footing and fell, pulling Mr Hesom, who was driving, headlong into the water on the up-stream side. At the same time Smythe fell out on the down-stream side. Both men, however, succeeded in gaining their footing, but Smythe •afterwards lost his footing, and the next instant was hurled over a dip in the spruit into the fast-rushing stream. The trap was got safely out immediately, and Mr Hesom ran down the side of the stream to try and save Smythe. He found it impossible to overtake him. " Glimpses were occasionally seen of the body, which rolled over and over like a cork," and he was oarriod down the raging torrent a distance of 700 yards to the Wilge River, where the body was lost sight of. Diligent search was made for the body, but it had not been recovered three days later, when tho mail left. Smythe was 31 years of age, unmarried, and resided in the Clutha district for about seven years, where he joined the Clutha Mounted Rifles, and afterwards left with the First Contingent for South Africa, and was through, most of the campaign with that contingent. He returned to New Zealand in January, 1901, and immediately returned to the war as a sergeant in the Sixth Contingent. He remained in South Africa, and joined the Army Service Corps, where he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He aftei'wards setfTecl on Schreiner's Claim. Farm. The late Mr Smythe, or "Buffalo Bill," a3 he was called, was a particularly energetic young man, a daring horseman, and popuiaff amongst his fellows. Rates totalling over £22,000 were owing to the Sydney City Council at the end of last year. Of the general rates, £1674 17s 8d are labelled "good," £202 17s 5d is due by unknown owners, while rates totalling £182 5s 4d are regarded as irrecoverable., and will be vuitfc&a off.