OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 4

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

The Invercargill police raided M'Auliffe's Temperance Hotel, Gladstone, on Tuesday evening and seized a quantity of liquor. Legal proceedings will probably result.

The Danube flows through countries in which 52 languages and dialects are spoken. It is 2000 miles in length, and bears on its current four-fifths of the commerce of Eastern Europe.

When the last mail left England Viscount Wolmer, eldest son of the Earl of Sclborne, recently appointed High Commissioner for South Africa, was lying ill of typhoid fever at Bloemfontcin. He is 18 years old.

A woman has bee>n elected as local magistrate in the commune of Rank Herlein, Hungary, because the" whole adult male population of the place had emigrated to America, and there was net a single man left to fill the position.

" The nation's babies are more important than patent rights," said a New York judge in refusing an application by a company owning a patent milk bottle for an "injunction which would have affected practically every milk business in New York.

The Minister of Railways having practically declined to reduce freights on Tapanui branch, the Retailers' Association will (says the Courier) at once make arrangements for bringing goods from port by traction engine or horse waggons.

The Southland branch of the Navy League is sending a wreath Home with the object of having it laid on the- Nelson Monoiment in Trafalgar square, .London. The wreath will be frozen in a block of ice-a.ud despa|<hed to England by the Tongariro.

An showing the stern stuff of which our pioneer settlers are fashioned, it may bo remarked (says the Mataura Ensign) 'that a Cro3'don Bush resident aged 82 years walked iauntily into Gore co do a day's potato-planting for his daughter-in-law. The Native Trusts Commission has concluded its sittings to take evidence, and the addresses of counsel have been heard. The commission is now closed, and it is anticipated that a report will be in readiness by Monday, 21st inst., for presentation to Parliament.

A letter has been received by the Melbourne University Council from the secretary to the British Naval Commander-in-Chief, saying that two commissions in the medicaJ department of the Royal Navy will bo open in 1905 to qualified candidates in Australia.

The Queensland Government Statistician estimates the population of Queensland on June 30 last at 526,366- -an increase of 5000 for the six months. The natural increase for the half-year is estimated at 4000, and the increase by excels of arrivals over departures about 1000.

At the Waimate Police Court on Saturday an old and well-known resident was charged with stealing seven prize eggs, valued at 3s. Accused pleaded guilty, and said he was very sorry for what had occurred. Accused was convicted and fined £3, or imprisonment for a fortnight.

That large block of land known as the Syndicate, Lake Brunner, comprising several thousand acres, is to be resumed by the Government for closer settlement. Negotiations are well in hand, and the reports are now in the hands of the Government. This will throw open a large extent of rich agricultural land.

Ewes brought remarkably big prices at the Riversdale stock sale on Thursday. Fur a line of six tooths, sold by Dalgety and Co., the line price of 31s was realised;.

The New Zealand Agricultural Company offered a lino of 1200 ewes, 100 going at 30s 3d and the other 1100 at 23s 9d.— Southern Standard. Tha number of persons assisted bs' tho Department of Labour during July was 554, with 689 persons dependent upon them. Three hundred and seventy-six were sent to Government works and 178 to private employment. Of the total number assisted 263 came from the North Island, 227 from the South Island, 21 from Australia, and 29 from Great Britain.

The Wellington city solicitor has fur

nished the council with an opinion ,to the effect that m carrying luggage on the tram

care, whether free or not, the council is in the position of a common carrier, and is responsible. The notice that it accepts no responsibility gives no absolution. Debate on the question of imposing a charge for luggage has been postponed.

Force of habit is strong. During a meet ing of householders in a suburban school (says the Lyttelton Times) a form was accidentally knocked over. This brought a peremptory demand from the master to "come- out." Amidst laughter, could b« heard the plaintive voice of an elderly householder saying in tremulous tones, "Please, sir, it wasn't my fault." The Taihape Post relates how a simple but expensive accident occurred to a bush sawmill last week. The engine-driver left his engine just moving quietly in good order, and went to give a hand in the biish. In his absence the governor belt slipped off. and the .speed increased until the engine shook itself out of its bed, the pulleys flew olf (he shaftings, and there was a general wreck.

A picturesque ceremony takes place every year in Haute-Vienne. All the girls in the place on the day of St. Eutrropius file ;n; n procession to St. Junien-les-Gombes to the cross which is erected near the church to the saint. Each girl hangs her left garter on the cross, and prays that phe may have a good husband, and then gives way to the next girl. The oross is so smothered in garters of different colours that at a short distance it looks as though it were covered with flowers.

Another phase of the sweating question in Melbourne was disclosed at a recent meeting of the council of the National Anti-Sweat-ing League. It was stated that a number of girls who had come under notice, and who were good shorthand writers, and smart typists, averaged only 8s 6d a week. It was resolved to approach the- Australian Women's National League and the National Council of Women., with a view of action being taken to assist girl .clerks to obtain a reasonable Wage.

A dispute over some mining rights led to a disturbance in the vicinity of Macraes on Tuesday last. Several leading residents were mixed up in the affray (says the Palmerston Times), and although it is stated that pick handles, iron drills, and sling-shot were among the weapons brought into requisition by the combatants, no one appears to have been seriously injured. Charges and counter-charges of assault have been laid, and the whole affair will be ventilated at the Macraes Court on the 7th p'rox. Owing to a mistake by Italian labourers several _ engines on the Cleveland, Lorain, and Wheeling railway had their tanks filled with molasses instead of water. The hea.t of the boilers converted the molasses into toffee, and every engine was disabled. The Importers' Association of Southland has received advice from the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company that the Mamari brings 2600 tons, to Bluff Harbour. This is the greatest quantity of imports that has yet been carried in one bottom to the Bluff from Home.

The Post declares that the large number of passengers from London by the steamer Athenic, the majority of whom, it is stated, intend settling in New Zealand, were fortunate in having for a shipmate Sir William Russell, of Hawke's Bay, during the trip out. Sir William was prevailed upon to give four lectures on New Zealand, which, of course, was the subject of immediate interest to the immigrants. The lecturer gave the new-comers an idea of the conditions they would have to face in the new land, and imparted considerable information which was thoroughly appreciated by those on board.

In a claim for commission on the sale of a property investigated at Dannevirke recently it transpired during the hearing of evidence that a "deposit of £5 was paid, for which a receipt wae given. His Worship : " What stamp was on the receipt?" Witness : " A penny stamp, I think." His Worship: "Then I am afraid I cannot admit this evidence until a fine of £5 Is has been paid." Legal argument followed as to whether the document was an agreement to sell, or whether it was only a receipt for £5, and finally it was agreed to pay the fine and refer the point to the Commissioner of stamps. Among the visitors on the terrace of the House of Commons on June 28 was Colonel William Hope, V.C., the veteran hero who was decorated for his valour in the first assault on the great Redan during the Crimean -war in June, 1855. In November of that year he saved the lives of several thousand of the. Light Division in the Crimea and of the adjacent French division

on tho occasion of the great explosions of the French and English Mogc trains by personally, after three hours' work, preventing tho explosion of the main storo of powder, containing 160 tons,, although the wooden roof was alight and reeking.

Considerable friction exists at present between the friendly society lodges at Motuoka and Riwaka and the Nelson branch of tho British Medical Association. The lodges referred to some time ago resolved to get medical attendance to wives and families, the limit for the children being 12 years of age. The medical officer of the lodges refused to accept the new proposals, and after some negotiations a doctor was obtained! from Christchurch. The Motucka doctor and the Nelson doctors (who are all members of the Medical Association) have refused lo recognise the new doctor. The position is serious, inasmuch as in case of important operations, where assistance is required, or for the purpose of consultation, the Motueka Friendly Societies' medical officer can got no help. Tlie Nelson lodges are beingapproached in oonn-eotion with the matter. On the Continent, where stabbing affrays are more frequent than in Britain, ifc has become almost a common occurrence to stitch up the heart. Dr F. T. Stewart draws attention to a very interesting case. A young fellow of 20 was stabbed with a long, rusty knife. In c.pile of his wound he walked some distance to a hospital, and then co!lap=ed physically, s<ill retaining consciousness, however. On exploring the wound under ether, the third and fourth ribs we' o found to be entirely severed, and the knife had actually penetnt^p.d the left ventricle of the heart. The pericardium (the sac containing t''e hpart) was spurting out blood with* each pulsation. Six stitches were put in tho heart, and the other injuries were attended to. For a fortn'grlxt tLe man was very ill, but soon after that, good progress set in, and he> was discharged 56 days after the operation.