LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2676, 28 June 1905, Page 33

LOCAL & GENERAL.

In an amusing speech on parliamentary Bide lights, Mr A. W. Rutherford, the meanjber for Hurunui, said that members of Parliament secwred accommodation in a great variety of places. Some boarded and lodged Sn tho best hotels^ in Wellington. Mr. Powlds, a wealthy Auckland draper, stayed ait the Empire, a high-class hotel. He mentioned Mr Fowlds particularly because ho vras a proliibitionist, and denounced hotels. Sir Robert Stout, another prohibitionist, •Jao denounced hotels, but stayed at them in preference to a boarding-house. Many members stayed at more or less inferior hotels. Some few clubbeid together and took S. eettage, getting an old woman to do for them. A few others got a bedroom in a j private house, -and had their meals at Bel- j damy's (meals Is 6d, drinks and biscuits 6d). Others stayed with private families. The general complaint among the members was that 1 they were none teo comfortable. As a large number could noi afford to be members if it were not for tho honorarium, they were compelled to economise in every direction. There had been a good deal lieard about the " £40 steal." Well,' his sympathies were -with the needy members; £300 was none too much. His hearers could depend that when the colony had a House composed of professional politicians the honorarium would be £500 a year, and the Socialistic trend of New Zealand's legislation was in that direction.

An extraordinary case came before the Broken Hill court on the 10th inst., when a wood merchant, Thomas Baker, was called* on to answer a charge of endeavouring to persuade Dr Harvey, a welL-known local practitioner, *to murder his wife, Elizabeth Alice Baker. It is alleged that Baker went to Dr ,HarTey'3 consulting rooms on the 9th inst. and asked the doctor if hei could see him privately. The doctor asked if it j was professional and Baker replied in the affirmative, and was taken to a back room, j ■when he said : — " I have persuaded my wife j to have her teeth extracted .by laughing gas, ibut I want you to give her an overdose of chloroform or something she will not surTive, and I will make it worth your while." Thinking the man was joking, the doctor replied that such a course would be datngeious. - The better plan would ■be to ; use something of a wasting nature that would not be discovered. Dr Harvey was quite astonished when Baker handed -him. £50 in notes, which' he pocketed,' remarking, **I euppose-you want.ib get rid of your wife, to marry another woman." Baker replied " That is right, and when, 'the business' ~is "done 1 1 will' give you another fif^y." When ! the man left Dr Harvey informed the police, *nd Baker was arrested. The accused was Temanded. Mrs" Baker said that she could taoir understand hsr husband's action at all. ""We were Jiving just the same as always," ehe said, " and were quite happy together. I used to do, the books and do much of *he office work of the business in which my tusband was engaged. We were married in- South Australia in **"»ust. just nine jyears ago."

We have received 10s from F. H. Strang and 3s 6d from "Better Late- Than Never" tfor the " Mrs Boardman Fund."

The trustees of the Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday afternoon, wheti there were present — Messrs R. 3VI. Clark (in the chair), A. Tapper, W. Burnett, T. Talboys, B. Wilson, and the Hon. H. Gourley. Accounts amounting to £92 15s lid were passed for payment. The deaths reported •were James Hay (aged 63) and Thomas Sims (aged 73). Illustrated papers and magazines were acknowledged from Dr Williams and Mr C. F. Greenslade. The report of the Finance Committee was ready for presentation, but at the request of the Hon. H. Gourley, -who had to leave* the meeting, consideration was held over until oext week. Twenty-four applications for telief were dealt with.

A largely-attended and enthusiastic meeting of .ladies connected with the Early Settlers' Association, presided over by Miss Cargill, was held in the Board Room, Agricultural Hall, on Wednesday when it- was unanimously decided that in order ito avoid the worry and expense inseparable from the promotion of a carnival to provide funds for the erection of the Earl}' Settlers' Memorial Hall, the ladies present pledge themselves to raise, by gift, collection, or ,-work, a certain sum, the probable amount of which is to be notified to Mr I/anglands (secretary) not later than a fortnight from date, and the amount realised paid in within six months. It was also resolved that circulars and collecting cards he sent to all ladies not present, and asking them also to advise Mr Langlands *rithin a forfnight of the probable amount they undertake to raise. Another meeting was arranged for on July 19. In conjunction with this meeting the General Committee, which has" a large sum in hand, is enow taking active steps to provide sufficient funds to justify ii in at once proceeding with the erection of the hall.

A large amount of irritation is (the New Eealand - Times is informed) exhibited throughout the colony at the action of the JGovemment in instructing the Government 'Life Insurance Commissioner, the Public Trustee, and the Commissioner of Taxes to demand of all persons who have executed anortgages in favour of either of these departments that they shall, upon the lapsing of current fire policies, forthwith insure in the State Fire Department. Regarding this as a deliberate attempt to interfere with the rights and liberties of the subject, a gentleman mortgaged to the Government Insurance Department consulted one of the leading barristers in Wellington^ and ob-

tained from him the following opinion, which, no doubt, will be read with much interest at the present juncture: — "We find that the covenant for insurance contained in the mortgage form of the GovernmentLife Insurance Department is to insure and keep insured in some public insurance company. We think that the Government Life Insurance Department could not, under its present form of insurance covenant, compel a mortgagor to insure in the State Fire Insurance Department, that not being a public company. We are clear that the Government Life Insurance Department cannot compel the mortgagor to change the insurance on mortgage buildings from any public insurance company which has been approved of either expressly or impliedly by words or actions of the lending depart-

ments."

Sir Joseph Ward was waited on in Dunedin by Mr A. M. Barnett, representing tho Otago branch of the Educational Institute, with a request that teachers attending the Institute's meeting, to be held here next month, should be allowed to travel on the railways a,t reduced fares. The Minister of Railways said the mater was one for the Education Department, but he held out little hope of the request being acceded to.

In his account in the Akaroa Mail of a trip through Canterbury and Otago with Bishop Harper in 1859-60, Canon Stack tells how the Bishop and himself were onca drenched in a storm, and sought shelter for the night at a house at the Ashburton Station. The master of the house was in much perplexity on account of the demand the visitors would make on his limited wardrobe of dry clothes. " I say," he exclaimed in an aside* to Canon Stack, " what am I to do? I have no black clothes to offer the< Bishop. I suppose he must wear breeches, eh? But I don't like to offer him these

yellow cords, and I have no gaiters — only some worsted stockings. This blue- jumper will, I think, be better 'than either of those tweed shooting-coats." A selection from the garments having been made, the Bishop was called in, and a few minutes afterwards he emerged from the bedroom laughing heartily at the strange figure he cut. "His celluloid collar," states Canon Stack, " was the only vestige of clerical garb that remained to him. His feet were thrust into a huge pair of yellow lambskin slippers, his neat nether garments had been exchanged for yellow cord riding-breeches and grey worsted stockings, a white waistcoat, had taken the place of his bishop's apron, and a blue flannel jumper his- episcopal frock coat. His appearance caused us so much merriment during our meal that it was felt desirable before the men were called in to prayers that we should conceal as much as possible of his person."

Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of his constituents in the schoolhouse at Dunback on Tuesday night. The building was packed, and the speak?r aiown onr-4hflrr < iiriiH u '*" vf --i* v<Mtt -^ < ' ma — n^- legis,chair was occupied by Mr M. Isbister, who said they had met that night to hear onts of the most experienced members of Parliament—one who held very clear and distinor views on the important questions of legislation in Hie colony; one who possessed the ability to dissect and select the very best of what was submitted, and who also had the courage to fearlessly express his opinions on all current topics, regardless of whether or not it might at the mome.it please all.— (Applause.) In his speech »!■• Mackenzie touched on many of the matters be had referred to at Palmerston, and also took up the subjects of charitable aid home markets, and other questions of interest. Mr Phillips proposed a vote of thanks and confidence in eulogistic terms Mr Donald M'Lennan seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. MiMackenzie speaks at Hampden on FrHay night.

The inquiry into the Chalmers local option poll was continued before Mr C C. Graham, S.M., at Port Chalmers on Thursday, evidence in support of the petition being concluded except for that to be given by one or two witnesses from the Peninsula. A large number of witnesses were examined by Mr Hosking and Mr Hanlon in respect to the conditions prevailing at the Gardens booth, North-East Valley, where most of the irregularities alleged are said to have taken place; and a number of these testified that they had difficulty in getting local optioij voting papers, while others testified that, through not receiving such papers, or through difficulty in getting them, they left the- booth without voting on the licensing questio,n.

The Health Officer reports that there are a few cases of eoarlet fever at Milton and Roxburgh. The Invercargill people are moving in the direction of providing an annexe to the Invercargill Hospital for consumption cases. It is extremely probablei that in the near future the Dunedin publio will be called upon to subscribe towards a similar necessary annexe to the local hospital. In Wellington a like appeal recently met with a handsome response.

Mrs Margaret Norrington, who has been kept travelling between San Francisco and Vancouver without being allowed to land, is to be shipped back to New Zealand. The Vancouver correspondent of the Sydney Telegraph writes: — "Mr Murray, Assistantsecretary to the Department of Trade and Commerce at Washington, has ordered the Commissioner of Immigration at San FraneTseo to buy a ticket for Mrs Norrington and pack her back to Seddonland. Along the waterfront here doubt is expressed as to whether Now Zealand will have her. It will be remembered that this, poor old woman of 75 landed in San Francisco in February, saying she had come from Dunedin, New Zealand, and was ta ju*i* a

daughter on this continent. She came to Victoria from San Francisco, and was found by the police wandering about the streets at night, homeless and moneyless She was deported to the Golden Gato. but the authorities there tried to &end her back to Canada. She made several voyages between the American and Canadian ports, the pitiless immigration laws of the two countries barring the land to her. At last some benevolent people in San Francisco took proceedings before the courts on her behalf, and while a decision \vas being come io as to what to do -with hft, slio was allowed to land. The matter than took on an international aspect. The- Americans claimed that the woman was a British subject, and should be sent to Canada. The British Ambassador at Washington placed this view of the affair before the Federal Government at Ottawa, which, however, could not see it in that light, and the Ambassador informed the American officials that it was quite out 0} the question for Mrs Norrington to be allowed to land in this country. Washington has accordingly decided that the only thing ro do is to ship her back to New Zealand.''

During the course of his lecture on Japan and the Japanese at St. Clair Gymnasium on Wednesday evening, Dr Truby King referredi to the entire absence in the fields of Japan of animals for food requirements, and, commenting on this fact, he laid stress on the great amount of energy taken from the soil in other countries by the rearing of such animals, and the proportionately small return mankind obtained by using them as food. The food consumed by the animals before they were killed, the doctor contended, was vastly wit of proportion to their value as part of the food of mankind, and in this matter, viewed from its economic standpoint, tne Japaneseobtained greater advantages by cultivating and consuming the- products of the soil at first hand themselves, as they thus saved the waste involved in producing animal food in most European countries.

The Premier has received (=aye the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press) a letter from a gentleman in Hongkong to the effect that there ie a splendid opportunity to start an enterprise for ihe supply of meat and dairy produce in the Far East. Mr Seddon is awaiting information, witli regard to the demand, prices current, etc., which he expects to receive in the course of a few weeks.

At a meeting of the Police Provident Board on Wednesday pensions were granted to the following officers who have retired from the force: — Detective Benjamin, New Plymouth," £123 9s lOd per annum; Constable A. Lynd, Eahotu. £133 16s 8d per annum ; Constable R. Kelly. Dunedin, £68 8s 9d per annum. It was also decided to allow the widow of Constable J. Hinton, of Auckland, a refund of the amount (£72 8s) paid into the fund by her late husband.

Hope of recovering the thousands of sovereigns which sank in th© Elingamite at the Three Kings is not yet dead (says the New Zealand Times). An effort to secure the treasure will shortly be made by Mr P. Leigh (diver) and Mr C. L. W. Haskins, formerly of the Gilbert Machine Company, who will leave "Wellington next week for Auckland, where arrangements will be completed for proceeding to thescene of the wreck and conducting salvage operations.

Relics of a very ancient raco wove recently discovered in British New Guinea. In his last annual report to the Federal

Government on the North-eastern Division of the possession, Mr C. A. Monckton says: "A remarkable pestle -and mortar of plainly great antiquity has been found by some miners in gold workings at a depth of 12ft below the surface in the Yod<la "Valley. The mortar, which, with the pestle weighed 661b, wa-5 roughly ornamented with barbario carving. The miners had an idea, caused by the place in which it was found, that the article was a ' dolly ' for crushing q.nartz, and had so been used by a former people. To my mind, it is much more likely that the mortar was up«d a=; a mill for crushing corn, but against that one knows that corn bas only been introduced into the Yodda Valley in the last few years, and is even now never crushed, but always roasted whole. The pestle and mortar were discovered in the same creek as an obsidian battleaxe given by me some years ago to Mr David Ballantine, and both would appear to, be relics of a forgotten race. No native to whom the recentlyfound articles were shown could make any suggestions as to their oiiginal us© or purpose, and all agree that they are not tjie work of any existing- tribes." The pestle and mortar have been sent to the British Museum.

People are chuckling (writes 3lr H. W. Lucy in his London Gossip to the Sydney Morning Herald) over a story which, I believe, is true about one of the best-known ipemlere of London society. At a dinner party, at which were gathered many notable people, she found herself seated immeSiately opposite a gentleman whose almost pompoxis seriousness of manner and conversation contrasted with the general gaiety of the company. He at once fascinated and irritated her. After the dinner had proceeded towards its later course, the company were startled by the lady exclaiming in angry voice, "Mr , take your feet off my lap!" The other gueste., attracted by her cry, were horrified' to find a pair Of pumps showing abo-\e the table immediately over the lady's knees, upon which apparently tho he-els rested, the pate-nt leather fronts gleaming on the tablecloth. 'JCbe jdlmjps© was onlj_ inomciitary, as almost

at the sound of the remonstrant voice tho pTimps disappeared. A look of bewilderment mounted the countenance of the serious man, who faltered denial. A burst of merry laughter revealed tho fact that the sprightly dame had been up to one of her not unfamiliar tricks. She had bori'owed from the gentleman who took her down to dinner a pair of pumps. Holding these deftly by the heels, her liands concealed beneath the cloth, she produced the exact appearance of feet resting upon her lap. Her vis-a-vis, preserving his characteristic to the last, was the only person of the company who did not see the joke.

The inquiry into the Chalmers local option poll was continued before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., at Port Chalmers on Friday, the accommodation at the courthouse for the public being-, as on the previous days of hearing, fully taxed by an audience keenly alive to anything humorous forthcoming in the examination of witnesses. Mr Adams called a number of witnesses to controvert the evidence adduced in support, of the petition.

'We have to acknowledge on behalf of the Mrs Boardman Fund 10s from " J. B." ai«l £1 from "C. C."

Considerable progress is being made (writes a correspondent) with the Otago Central railway. Mr G. M. Fraser is pushing on the work of erecting the second Manuherikia bridge, and intends to follow up with the third one as soon as possible. Simultaneously the earthwork will be finished, and the line ready for ballasting to Alexandra. It is an evidence of the progress of the work that the Government camp is being removed to Alexandra, and the bulk of the men employed are working towards the Alexandra end. ~*

On Friday we were shown a specimen of oxide of iron obtained on Mr S. Proctor's farm at Purple Hill, North-East Harbour. The material is found in great quantities on Mr Proctor's land, and, having been analysed by tho Government analyst and found to contain over 25 per cent. of\iron, there is a prospect of a new industry springing up in the preparation of the oxide for manufacture into paint, etc. Mr Proctor, who is a very old and "respected resident on the Peninsula, is to be congratulated on the success that has already attended his operations.

A Central Otago correspondent writes: — "Following the example of the down-country folk, an effort will be made tc establish an Old Identitiee' Association in Central Otago. The movement commenced in Cromwell, but will no doubt extend all over Central Otago. Sucl) an association would gather together many veterans of the goldfields, and the effect would be to establish amongst the hills and' valleys of Central Otago a society that would create a spirit of patriotism for the inland hill-girt country and its old-time associations.''

It will interest mining men to learn that the Engineering and Mining Journal of New York, in a recent file, discusses in an appreciative editorial Professor Park's papers on " Thermal Activity in its Relation to Ore-deposition" and '" Metasomatism in its Relation to Lode-formation," reprinted in its columns from the Australian Mining Standard. These .papers, it says, will be appreciated by busy men, and provoke new consideration of a. subject the interest of which is wide as mining activity.

During the course of an interview with Sir Joseph Ward at Oamaru on Thursday morning Mr Rose, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the matter of completing # telephonic communication between Oamaru and Dunedin. Sir Joseph promised to ascertain if it could be arranged, and will advise in due course.

" I've been having a rough-and-ready time down at Kaitangata," remarked the Rev. H. Braddock, a well-known missionary, to a Lyttelton Times reporter on Thursday. He went to a hotel one night to speak to the men who frequented the place, and they decided to attend to their bodies at his expense instead of allowing him to minister to their souls. " They locked me in the bar," said Mr Braddock, " and declared that they would not let me out till I 'treated' them to drinks. I told them that I could not do that, but I would sing a song for them. I sang., and they were satisfied and let me out. Next night there were a hundred men at my service in the church."'

A representative of the Lyttelton Times was given an opportunity of inspecting a house of misery in Christchurch on Thursday. He found the building in a good neighbourhood, not 10 minutes' walk from Cathedral square, and it was a house of good appearance outwardly. A man sat on a heap of blanfcete in a room bereft of furniture, but well supplied with dirt and rubbish. This was a bailiff's employee, who, with a companion, had been put into the building on Wednesday. At the foot of a flight of stairs there were large pieces of sodden turf, and the floors of the bare rooms reeked with filth. Crowded into one apartment, which served for dining and sleeping", were a woman and five children at lunch, apparently heedless of their squalid, unhealthy surroundings. The reporter was informed by th© bailiff that the furniture had been removed a fortnight previously, in liquidation of debt for rent, and that the woman had refused to leave the house. Her husband was in good employment, earning over £3 a week. Since tho furniture had been taken away the houee had been deliberately maltreated, and ho had drawn the attention of the city authorities to the nuisance that had been created. The Town Clerk (Mr H. P». Smithi

mentioned that the chief inspector (Mr O. B. Massey) had visited the premises within, a quarter of an hour of receiving information of its insanitary condition. Notices had been served on the occupier and owner to clean and disinfecE the place within 24 hours, and if the nuisance were not abated by Friday morning proceedings would be taken under the Public Health Act.

A French paper records the discovery o! what appears to be the oldest love-letter -in the world. It was written on a brick, about 2200 8.C., by a Babylonian to a lady living at "the two Sippars " — a city known to readers of the Old Testament as Sepharvaim. The lover's name was Gimil, and he writes as follows to Kasbuya — a word that means a lamb: — "May the sun of .Marduk give thee eternal life. I would fain know if thy health is good. Send me a message co that I may be informed of it. I am at Babylon and cannot see thee, and therefore am very anxious. Send me a message to tell me when thou wilt come, so that my heart may rejoice. Come in the October-November month. Mayest thou live long, so that I may enjoy thy love."

Concerning Lord Young, who recently resigned his position as one of the judge 3 of the Court of Session, Scotland, after 30 years on the- bench. As a judge he was very impatient with discursiveness, and occasionally hs almost took evidence out o£ the hands of counsel — little matter what his eminence. That was well illustrated one day in an action for damages for assault. As miner after miner entered the box the Judge would say, " Never mind where he lives— he's a miner, and was there." Having asked if the witness saw one man hit out at the other, his Lordship inquired of counsel what more he wanted. Then ha told the witness he might go. There was a long pause. The learned counsel stood at the bar dangling his guard and seals the while, and at last he broke the silence with

ttiese words, " Will your Lordship call your next witness?" The following contributions have been

received by the Gaelic Society for the

Quintin M'Kinnon Memorial Fund: — A. Bathgate, 10s; T. Brown, 10s; J. Edgar,

10s; A. Sutherland, ss; C. R. Smith, ss; A. Dunn, 2s 6d.

Thirty additional patients were admitted to the Hospital during the past week and 19 were discharged. One of the patients, named Arthur Webb, died in the institution during the week, and the total number of- inmates remaining is 112. At the end of the' previous week the remaining patients numbered 102. r -

The conclusions of the conference of teachers. Inspsotcr-general of Schools, and Government Actuary, held in Wellington, will be found in another column. It will be seen that it was resolved to ask the Government to subsidise the teachers' superannuation fund by an annual statutory grant sufficient- to meet the estimated annual deficit; that teachers be allowed to retire at the age of 6G years, retirement to be" compukcry at -65, the pension to be one- ~ sixtieth of the -total salary received during nil the years of service. Females can retire at 55 year?; and it is to be compulsory to retire at 60 years. Provision is made for i 'refund of- the money paid m in the case of - retirement from teaching or death. The masnntnn pension is ' not to exceed fortysixtieths of the average salary during the years of service.

A commendable desire to achieve proficiency is recorded from Taranaki. Last week Miss Grant, of the New Plymouth H%h School, applied to her board for leave of absence- during- 1906 so that she might study European educational methods more satisfactorily than was possible from magarines, and hat she might improve her acquaintance with the Fiench and German languages She. had a reasonable hope of getting a position lor a few months in the largest secondary school for girls in Berlin, and hoped later on to obtain a similar position in France. Tho Taranaki News recorde that- the board, desiring to give every facili-y for the study of outside methods, gnnted ihe application on condition that > satisfactory temporary appointment could be made

What is __ doubtless a preliminary step towards the estabb'shment of a local institution for the reception of cases* of tuberculosis has been taken by Dr Ogston, District •Health' Ofilofr, Tvho has issued to the medical men ' throughout his district a circular forth the desirability of such an ■ institution, and asking ior an estimate of 'the- number of eases in each professional "-'district that might require treatment in »uoh ah . institution, and also for an opinion as to the necessity for such an institution, and whether they -would be willing to give Jissistance in forwarding the project. An appeal to the public and the raising of considerable funds will be- necessary, and the local authorities throughout the district will be no doubt asked to lend energetio

Do-operation in the scheme if it is carried

through. In his circular Dr Ogston states - 'fcKkt he has in contemplation the establishment of an institution somewhere in the neighbourhood of Dunedin (if a site suitable -• can be procured), which would serve a district comprised .within the counties of Waihemo, Waikouaiti, Taieri, Bruce, Tuapeka; Clutha, and perhaps Maniototo and Vincent r and possibly Southland, Wallace, and Lake. Counties might find it convenient to join in this provision, or might think it beCter to have a place of their own. The

circular also points out that in other centres

fche % public, guided by the medical profession, is raising money to inaugurate and support such institutions in connection -with the local hospitals, which, under the Public Health" "Act, have now the duty of taking

charge of them when in operation.

The appointment of the Hon. W. P. - -Reeves as High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom is officially notified in last week's Gazette. The appointment dates from June 14. -Our Wellington correspondent . wires: — ' JThe largest estate, of a deceased- person finally certified " for stamp duty in New

Zealand during the present -month was that .of the late Sir Frederick Sargood (£200,838). 'Amongst other estates of deceased persons finally oertified by the Commissioner of

Stamps this month were the following- : — •Wellington— William Anderson, £20.381 ; James Tombs. £8551; Thomas Windley, £8266; James D. F. Christie, £4717; Thos.

Muntl, £4618; James F. Ferkins, £2606;

George Bell, £1622; Charles Thompson, £1524; George Dutton, £1918. Auckland— 'Alex. H. Walker, £9879; Thomas Russell, ,£7601; Emil Simmelhag, £2520; Morchu Te Putu, £1724; Benjamin B. Booth, £1347. Christehurch— Charles Tlopliss, £2721; Jas. Wallis, £1192. Otago— Elizabeth M'lndoe, £3359. - Hawke's Bay — Samuel Chadwick, £4594. - Southland— Edward Tanner, £2824 ; Patrick Walsh, £2340; Nelson— Christopher Remnant, £4391.

Dr Og-ston, District Health Officer, with Health Inspector Gladstone visited Milton .on Tuesday to make inquiry into the treatment of some infectious disease cases, and the latter officer will probably spend a few days looking into sanitary conditions in the Milton district generally.

Sir Joseph Ward told a good {a characteristic) story at Hampden, says the North Olago Times. He was reminded of the circumstances by the presence of Mr W. Muroott, a major of Volunteers in the district a good many years ago. Sir Joseph •Ward was at that time the captain of an Invercargill Volunteer corps, which journeyed to Oamaxu to attend a general encampment. The offioer commanding was

a gentleman of more than colonial reputation, -who is now dead. On the arrival of the Invercargill detachment it was found that the commissariat arrangements were not what might be desired, for all the food had been consumed by the earlier arrivals. Zealous for his corps, Captain Ward did not care for the idea that his men should go hungry, and ho went to the officer commanding, and stated the position. The reply was not encouraging: "Sir, Volunteers should always be ready to starve for 4R hours if neoessary." To this Captain Ward said he would bo glad to give his men that message if he might also say that General was subsisting on the same unsatisfying fare. The answer was evidently not satisfactory, for Captain Ward returned to his company, and. taking the chances, marched his men off to the nearest public-house, where he saw that they had sufficient to satisfy them. When next they were hungry the commissariat department had recovered, and was equal to the' occasion*, ..

A number of respectable residents in North-Easfc Valley and ihe city have lately been - considerably annoyed by the receipt of insulting and libellous anonymous letters. The letters -ha-ve proyed to be "the production, of some one person, and we understand . that the task of discovering the identity of" the writer will engage the attention of the detective department.

A WTiter in the Madras Mail tells a stor« of a "new life." The inventors of it are known as Sea Gipsies, and the scene of their happy wanderings is the archipelago Mergui. They own covered boat 3, in which, with dogs, cats, chickens, and pets, they float about on' the sea, and wander from island to island. By day they fish or harpoon turtle, or dive for oysters; but every night they put back to the shore. F the weather is bad at sea they land with their dogs, and then poach, catching por-cupin-es, squirrels, arma-dilloes, liog-c3e«x-. and the like, of which they make savoury stews, like our gipsies. It sounds an ideal life, with mild sport, no work, no hours, no fixed abode," no rates and taxes. As a. "rest cure ""its adoption might be recommended by .nerve specialists.

Some time ago (states the Melbourne Age), the Minister of Education announced that he was considering the idea of establishing school museums in various centres, in "which should he. preserved relics relating to the early colonial days. Mr Sachse thought that by enrolling the services of pupils valuable collections might be obtained, and also that the recollections of pioneers might be reduced to writing and preserved in the archives of the schools. This, he thinks, need not be confined to State schools, but might be taken up rby all. schools, and thus information as to the early days of Victoria, which will not be available after the pioneers have passed away, might be permanently recorded. There is no means of organising this through the department, and the work, if undertaken at all, must be done voluntarily by teachers and scholars. The Minister of Education thinks that the Australian Natives' Association might do something in . assisting this movement.

Mr George Stephenson, the well-known theatrical manager, has completed arrangements for a visit to New Zealand of Professor Andrews, from the Palace Theatre, London, who- will give an exhibition of the marvellous properties of liquid air. one of the most remarkable scientific discoveries of modern times. Professor Andrews will be supported by a. special company of artists, and will open in Dunedin. Mr Joe Brown, who is in advance, will arrive by the next

boat to complete arrangements for the NewZealand tour.

In conversation with a Tirnaru Herald reporter at Waimatu la?t week Sir Joseph. Ward explained the difficulty of securing lihe use of railway trucks to the penscn ordering them. The" department was making an experiment now in Canterbury, of ticketing trucks sent out: He gave the officers great praise for conducting so well as they do, the enormous traffic on a single line of rails, i The ticket system was not likely to an&wer. because .th© ticketed track would often be in the wrong part 'of the yard.

One of the largest funerals in Port Chalmers for many years. past was that of the late Lieutenant Charles Colthorpe, of the Port Chalmer3 Volunteer Fire Brigade, which "took place in the new cemetery en Wednesday. The funeral w r as of a milij tary character, Mr Colthorpo having been an active Volunteer for many years. The deceased was much esteemed by a numerous circle of friends, who attended in g;eat num. bers to pay the last tribute of respect to his remains. Amongst the bodies represented were the Port Chalmers Naval Artillery Company (under Captain Dodds) ;fc tha Fire Brigade (under Caprain Smith), Court Robin Hood, A.0.F., the Boat-ing Club, the railway employees, a.nd many private friends of the deceased and his family. The funeral cortege, headed by the Port Chalmers Band (under Conductor Schnack). and followed by a gun carriage, on which the coffin lay, covered with, ihe British Ensign, proceeded 1 to Holy Trinity Church, where the first of the burial service was read by the Eev. G. W. Christian, the choir singing appropriate hymns. As the body was carried from the church to the gun carriage the organist (Mis? Lees) played the "Dead March." Throughout the route from the church to the cemetery the band played appropriate marches, and at the conclusion of the burial service the hon. secretory of tho Fire Brigade (Mr W. M 'Donald), read the United Fire Brigades' Association funeral service. The firing party of the Port Chalmers Naval Artillery fired three rounds, and the bugler sounded the last pest. The late Lieutenant Colthorpe joined the Port Chalmers Volunteer Brigade in March, 1883, and was elected foreman in July, 1887, holding that rank until December, 1890, when he was made lieutenant, which position he held up to the time of his death. As a _ railway employee holding an important position, Mr Colthorpe was strictly attentive to his duties, and was a± all times ready to afford mfoimation.

He was a keon Volunteer and a good citizen, and wa 5 thoroughly respected by evervonc in the Port.