LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 30

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At the Otago Chess Club's rooms on Wednesday 3\lr David Forsyth, chess champion of Otago and ex-champion of New Zealand, gave an exhibition of simultaneous pl»y at chess, encountering 12 players single-handed. .Mr Forsyth commenced his arduous task at 8 o'clock, and did not finish it until 11 o'clock. The team opposed to the Otago champion comprised players of exceptionally strong mental calibre, and the contest finally resulted in Mr Forsyth winning six games, losing five, and drawing one— a very creditable achievement. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed on the 26th that the Premier informed a deputation of members who waited upon him on the subject that night that arrangements have been made both by the Government and the Press Association for fuller reports of future matches to be played by the New Zealand footballers at present visiting 33ngland. Some things remain inexplicable in this knowledgeable modern world. Some months ago there suddenly arrived from somewhere a young Englishman named Greig. Ho said he came from Singapore, and was of a valorous assuranoe, and, although he was penniless and sore frayed about the edges of his garments, he made immediate headway. He was put up at a club, where he pla-yed snooker with barristers of eminence. He went to dine at exclusive houses. He was even offered work, but his soul disdained it. He had no money, but his spirit revolted from vulgar toil. His toilet he proceeded to replenish by annexation, and overcoats disappeared from various places like hoar frost before the spoons j so did other things. But he did not disappear completely soon enough, and they brought him back from Wellington. He awaits sentence now, in a, comparative obscurity that must be galling to his talent. A band of Doukhobors who arrived in London last month from Russia are the remnants of the sect invited by the Canadian Government about two years ago to settle in Canada. The Doukhobors believe in the second coming of the Messiah, and are at times given to vagaries which have slightly astonished the more sober settlers of other climes. A few weeks ago 2000 of these religious enthusiasts in Canada completely disrobed themselves in the market square, and set out on a 100mile march to meet a great prophei, who, one of their priests had foretold, was coming to greet them. The march was immediately stopped by a number of mounted police. Those of the sect reoently in London were under the charge of a whitehaired patriarch named Janincy Philiposky. They were eagerly looking forward to their arrival at their new home in Canada. Singapore has been much mentioned of late, and it :s remarked that current ide-as of Singapore in this community are occasionally somewhat of the vaguest. The island is of an average diameter of about 20 miles, and was originally ceded to Sir Stamford Raffles by the Sultan of Johore 80 years or so ago. The port is advantageously placed in the highway o f Asiatic trade by sea, and has long been one of our most valuable coaling stations. There is a fine harbour, not too easy of approach from the southward. The population of the city is something over 200.000, of whom about 175 000 are Chine-e. The ruling language for all classes is Malay, and at .the Government bchoojs Chinese children of

ihe respectable classes learn Chinese, as English children learn French, as. an extra. The island is almost on the equator but the climate, though hot, is equable and superb— the nights perfect. It is said that Singapore exports more tin than any other port in the world; and the claim is made, apparently on good grounds, that Jelebu is the world's biggest tin mine. The Malay Peninsula, still largely unaxploited, is rich in minerals and timbers, spices and various merchandise ; and Singapore is its great outlet. Between the Federated Malay States and Singapore Island lies the rich, little country of Johore, whose present Sultan has visited Australia without adding to his general reputation. All that region is rich in missionaries; but tfc-s Malays are bigoted and staunch Mohammedans, and it is reasonably doubtful whether any of them ever become Christians, except for business and deceptive purposes. Our Clyde correspondent reports that Mf Ussher, of the Public Works Department, has visited Clyde to inspect the site for the railway station there. The erection of the necessary buildings is to he put in hand almost at once. Our Clyde correspondent wires that at a meeting of the Vincent County Council, held at Clyde on "Wednesday, Cr Pitches's motion that the council take steps to impress on the Government the urgency of opening up land for settlement in Central Otago was ruled out of order. His Excellency the Governor has accepted the office of patron of the New Zealand Chess Association. A good deal has been heard of late con* eerning the decreasing birth rate and its relation to the falling-off in school attendances. In this respect the Alexandra School appears to be a noteworthy exception, having for the past 12 months had more infant scholars than there is accommodation for. There are 130 infant pupils on the roll, the a-verage attendance ranging from 115 to 120, but a serious drawback to an otherwise desirable state of affairs is the embarrassing fact that there is only, accommodation for 80 infant pupils. The Alexandra School Committee has from time to time urged the Education Board to provide increased accommodation, but so far its appeals have received but scant recognition, notwithstanding their endorsement by the resident medical officer (Dr Craig). Matters have now reached an acute stage, the committee having declared its intention to close the infant room when the hot weather sets in. Meanwhile Dr Ogston has been asked to visit the school in the interests of public health, and that gentleman proceeded to Alexandra on Saturday ia order to inquire into the circumstances complained of, and will inspect the school with a view to ascertain if the floor space and air spa-oo are in accordance with the requirements of modern sanitation. The monthly meeting of the Otago Pharmaceutical Association was held on Thursday in the association's rooms, Liverpool street. Mr E. C. Woodward (president) occupying the chair. 'Mr Ewing gave a most. interesting limelight exhibition, taking his audience for a trip through the goldfields as far as Pembroke, and returning via Queen stown. He also showed some \iews of the phosphate fields, and finished up with views from Japan. The exhibition proved most enjoyable, and Mr Ewing was cordially thanked for what has nowj become an annual fixture. Some attention has !«en attracted to the Ramaroa, or " opal water," hot mineral spring on the banks of the Wai ho v River, some three miles from Matamata, and" there is some prospect (says the New Zealand Herald) that the waters may be utilised for medicinal and aerated water purposes. Ramaroa. or " Hie opal water spring," was so called because of the peculiar opalescent quality of its waters, which', when seen in ji pool, or even in a clea.f bottle, assume varied tint*. Dr A. T.. Wohlmann the Government BalneologistJreports the temperature as 106 Fahren* heit, and the amount of flow is estimated! at 24-o,ooogal a day. The analysis, expressed in grains per gallon, as taken bj> Dt Wohlmann, is as follows : — Sodium' chloride 1.51, potassium chloride 0.50, potassium sulphate 0.75 ; sodium bicarbon* ate 28.10, calcium bicarbonate 4.98, magnesium bicarbonate 4.44, ferrous bicarbonate 0.08, alumina 0.22, and silica 5.88. The Doctor also states thai the water, i£ aerated, or, rather, carbpnatedj. would niaktf

6 most excellent table water. Being pleasing to the taste, and slightly alkaline while taken fresh, it should be of advantage in some forms of dyspepsia. The spring has been traced down to a solid sandstone formation, and a bath has been built over it and concreted in. Ramaroa, besides possessing considerable medicinal and curative qualities, is a pretty scenic spot, and is a favourite resort for people from all parts of the Matamata district.

At last week's meeting of "the City Council his Worship. the Mayor submitted a statement showing the extra, expenditure oh the electric tramways and power supply, ifche total being £98,440. He- pointed out that if these extras were deducted from the present total cost of £280,000, they got !£181,560,. which was the actual cost of the Work specified in Messrs Noyes Bros.' original estimate; That- meant that Messrs Noyes Bros, were £12,375 within the estimate they had given.

At a recent meeting of the Wellington Presbytery the clerk of Presbytery (the Sey. W. Shirer) called attention to the fact that the returns of attendance on Bible classes showed a decrease from the preceding year. Members of -Presbytery expressed surprise' at. this in view of the Bible classes being organised on new lines. The Rev. R. -Wood and- others stated that itf their congregations the new Bible-class movement -If ad thrown .back rather than helped forward attendance at Sible classes. Mr Wood further stated that in some of the classes /the subjects studied" were secular rather - than ' religious. He knew on good -authority that among the subjects which occupied attention were such as

1 "WilI the Motor Car Supersede the Horse 1 ?" "Are Men Superior to Animals?" In view of the demand of the Church for the introduction of the Bible into tihe public schools, the discussion of such subjects on a Sunday afternoon would enable the editors of secular newspapers to call attention to the' inconsistency of the Church in making ,the Bible- take a second place in so-called Bible' classes.

The construction of the Otago Central railway between Oinakau and Clyde appears to be making satisfactory progress, the operations during the past month or so- -having shown signs of commendable ' activity. The contractors for No. 2 Manuherikia' bridge (Mr G. M. Fraser) is making satisfactory^ progress with the . work, and should this • continue at the present rate of 'progress there is a probability of^the contract being, completed by the end of November next. Mr Fraser also "secured the -tender for the erection of. No. -3 Manuherikia bridge, and" has made a -start upon two of the large concrfete' .piers — one of these being, at the water's, edge. . The necessary ironwork for the construction of .the superstructure has been ordered from England, the date for .completion of "the contract being November, 1906, by which time the works formation is expected to be completed to Clyde. At • the 7 - present- time the rails are laid, to -a,^ point about four miles beyond Omakau, about half-way to phatto Creek Station yard.- From this point jto' Manuherikia bridge No. 2, some two miles and'a-quarter, the formation is completed -and ready ' for plate-laying. Between Manuherikia bridges No. 2 and No. 3,':abqut seven miles and three-quarters, formation work is well in hand, and should be - completed about the same time as the bridge at Alexandra. The formation between Alexandra and Clyde is particularly light, and ''has -now reached a- point midway between those places, so that there is every possibility o£ the .formation being 1 completed " before the latter bridge is ready for traffic. Consequently there is good , reason to expect that trains will be Tunning through from -Dunedin to Clyde before the close of, the year- -1906,

Friday last was the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Premier's election as member of the House of Representatives. He is the only member of "the present Parliament who has safe continuously since 1879. The Premier received many congratulatory telegrams on the occasion.

JOn Thursday evening the Rev. F. W. Boreham delivered his new lecture-recital "/Twas in Trafalgar's Bay " at Lovell's Slat, when,- despite the wild night, there was aJ good attendance. The recital was illustrated by*" nearly 100 very fine views 'descriptive of the famous battle. Mr Boreham mentioned that it was precisely a century ago that very night since the "Victory, with Lord Nelson on board, joined the British fleet outside Cadiz. At the close Mr, Urquhart sang " The death of Nelsen." The Chairman (the Rev. P. B. Fraser) spoke in warm terms of praise of the educative effect of such an" entertainment. The lantern was skilfully manipulated by Mr W. Robertson.

Persons drawing pensions -&om the Imperial Treasury are reminded that these are no longer payable by the Collector of Customs. In future pensions will be paid by the chief postmaster, to whom application must be made by those interested.

The Australian Mutual Provident Society fs advertising in the Otago Daily Times that all policies issued on or prior to 31st December next will share in the profits to be divided as at that date. The society has already divided over 115 millions sterling in cash bonuses, the amount for the single year 1904 being £624,211. The A.M. P. claims to manage its business at a lower cost and declare larger bonuses than any other office doing business in Australasia.

The Premier received six deputations on Saturday and duly opened St. Helens Maternity Hospital in the afternoon, having jthus a very busy day. The intention of the Dunedin branch of the Medical Association to be represented by a deputation to

the Premier was not carried out, apparently owing to a difficulty in arranging for a suitable time prior to the opening of St. Helens Hospital. On Sunday Mr Secklon had a look over the site on which it is intended, to build workmen's homes, and, accompanied by Bishop Verdon, Father Coffey, and others, visited the Roman Catholic Orphanage at South Dunedin and the Home of the Little- Sisters of the Poor at Anderson's Bay. The Premier also visited the Benevolent Institution, where he attended the evening service. Mr Seddon's visit was greatly appreciated by the old people, and he expressed pleasure at what he saw. The Premier left direct for Wellington by the first express on Monday morning.

The vital statistics for the Dunedin district for the month ending September 30, 1905, were: Births, 134: deaths, 75; marriages, 42. For the corresponding month of last year the figures were: Births, 110; deaths, 75; marriages, 58.

There were 110 patients in the Hospital at the beginning of last week, and during the week 29 patients were admitted and 25 discharged, while one death, that of James Pringle, is reported. The number of patients now in the institution is 113.

• The Government marine, surveyors of Dunedin have been kept particularly busy during the past month, no less than 10 steamers having undergone official examination, which constitutes a record for the port of Otago for any similar period. The vessels surveyed were the Corinna, Moura, Pukaki, Warrimoo, Wairuna, Arahura, Talune, Pateena, Kittawa, and Manuka. Of these the Wairuna, Manuka, and Warrimoo would have been docked at Port Chalmers had docb accommodation been available, thus emphasising the necessity for the work which is now being inaugurated.

The Rev. A. Davidson, of Geelong, Victoria, wlio is supplying Ktiox Church pulpit for the month of October, in the course of a very thoughtful and earnest sermon based on Prov. iii, 6, said: — "I have been impressing upon "you the need of acknowledging God in the home life, and I would strongly urge you to be as deeply impressed with the sacredness of family life. Remember the high and influential function of motherhood. There is nothing more essential to a nation's weal' than the character of its women; and to the mothers in any community,, to the mothers more than any section of society, belongs the future of the race: Napoleon the great once asked a celebrated' French lady what was wanted to secure the welfare of France. ' Mothers,' she answered; and the great Emperor said, ' True, . most true.' Here in one word is a whole system of education. Let mothers realise the dignity -of^their mission, and let' them be true ( to •' Iheir great responsibility, for the future of the nation was in a very -large, measure determined by the character of- its women," who became the mothers of* the Tace." .

In connection. -with the eases which came before- Mr HLY/. iWiddowson, S.M., at the Police 'C/burt -on Friday, in which an engineer holding a., second-class certificate had been acting" in the capacity of a first-class certificated engineer, it should be noted that "the amount recoverable under the Machinery Inspection Act is £5 per day. The law applies with equal force to employers and employees.

It is understood there is a prospect of the dispute in Masonic affairs finding its way into the law courts. It will be remembered that the officers and a very considerable section of Otago Kilwinning Lodge gave in their adherence to the Grand Lodge" of New Zealand, and the law proceedings are likely to take the form of calling upon the W-M., wardens, and trustees of Otago Kilwinning Lodge, 143 N.Z. Constitution, to show cause why the lodge charter, funds, and books should not be returned to the Scottish District Grand Lodge.

Interviewed by an Oamaru Mail representative, Mr Seddori is reported as saying that the outlook politically of the Government was very bright, and he was exceedingly well pleased with it. They might take it from him that there would be no change of Government after the general election, and the commercial piospects^of the colony were never more hopeful. The revenue was coming in quite up to the estimate, the lambing was the best for very many years, the price of wool was high, and dairying could look forward to a most prosperous year.

Among the business to be dealt with by the Arbitration Court at its coming session in Wellington is a special case stated for the purpose of obtaining the opinion of the court on a question of law as to whether relatives of an injured man (which relatives are, and always have been, resident and domiciled out of New Zealand) are entitled to compensation under the Workers' Compensation Act. The case has arisen out of a fatal accident, whereby one Arthur Furlonger, a workman employed by C. A. M'Donald and Co., met his death under circumstances that would make his dependents undoubtedly entitled to benefits of the said act were the defendants resident in Now Zealand.

The Lyttelton Times' correspondent at Wellington writes: — "A long-demanded change has been made in the form of the ballot papers to bo used at the general election and the local option poll, at tho suggestion of Mr A. R. Guinness. In the past the ballot paper has been headed with the words : ' Ballot paper, electoral district of ,' and the result has been, in; tho case of the local option poll, that many nervous, short-sighted people literally struck out the top line, and invalidated their voting. In future $b.e issues wili be

placed at the top of the paper, with the other words in small tj'pc at the side. The change is expected to considerably reduce the number of invalid votes."

We have received the following rainfall statistics from the Drainage Board: — Rain fell during the past week as follows: 24th .065 in, 25th .025 in, 26th .OlOin,, 27th .140 in, 28th .180 in, 29th .170 in, 30th .005 i n; total for the week, .595 in. Days on which rain fell, 7. During the month of September the total rainfall was 4.698 in. Rain fell on 26 days, the heaviest fall being between the Ist and 2nd, when 1.680 in fell. The total rainfall for 1905 to date is 18.698 in.

The Minister of Education (the Right Hon. Mr Scddon) has made the followingacknowledgment of the congratulatory telegram in which the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute expressed its satisfaction with Mr Seddon's efforts in the matter of teachers' superannuation: — "I appreciate very much the resolution passed at meeting of Dunedin teachers. I have endeavoured, whilst keeping within reasonable limits, to get a bill passed that would do justice -to the whole of the teachers of the colony. . I will strenuously endeavour to g-et both bills referred to in your resolutions passed into law, and by so doing place in a fair position a large body of deserving and faithful publio servauts, the importance of whose services is not yet fully realised by the people of the- colony.''

A meeting of settlers and propertyholders in the South Taieri district was held in the Henley Hall on Saturday night. The meeting was called, as explained by Mr Stevenson, to give those present an opportunity to discuss the present difficulty and the hardship that exists in having to put up with the flood water coming down the plain from Outram and West Taieri and flooding the lands here. Several of those at the meeting ventiiated their grievances, and told of losses sustained. It

was unanimously agreed, on the motion of Mr Craigie, seconded by Mr D. M'Kenzie, that the time has arrived for action to be taken to improve the very unsatisfactory state of drainage, and, as a remedy, to Gugg-est that the water from the high lands a.t Outram be turned into Lee Creek, and thß West Taieri water be diverted into the Taieri 'River at Monaona, where there is an advantage of fall into the viver that does not exist at Henley. Mr James Reid moved — " That a , meeting be called for Thursday evening, sth inst.. at Momona School to further discuss the matter with the settlers in that district, and to invite the friendly co-operation and interest of the Outram and Otokia Drainage and River Boards."

A quaint and disturbing whiff of pure niedisevalism on Monday received official recognition in the highest seat of Ota go's culture and modernity. Dr Ogston complained to the University Council that the filter containing the students' drinking water was kept in the latrine, and — to put it briefly — that fact called for criticism. The council looked down its nice collective nose, and betrayed a graceful anxiety to come to the next business. The thing has a queer look in 1905 — an old-world, musty, horrid, quite pre-Chaueerian look; but one begins to understand why the students on occasion have been known to drink beer. Ii the days when a thing of that sort would have been accounted tolerable or trivial in Britain, the floors were still strewn with foul rushes, leather was still the correct thing in - popular underwear, and at great Court assemblies high lords and winsome ladies still made lavish use of nrnisk, so humanely to disguise the overwhelming subtle potency or poignancy of their — cr — uncosmesticated charms.

The University Council on Monday gave Mr F. A. Campbell permission to conduct a class in German phonetics and conversation. Mr Thompson's similar Saturday class in French has been a pleasing success, a very modern feature being the use of phonograph records for assistance in pronunciation. As the world wags now, all well-educated young people should have a sound knowledge of French— not the spoofFrenoh of bygone "ladies' seminaries," but the vital spoken language that is of so wide value in commerce and diplomacy and affords a passport to much pleasant society all over Europe and largo tracts of Asia. German comes next in importance. English, of course, comes first of all; but in New Zealand a very large number of people speak English well.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs:—"A special meeting of the council of the New Zealand Law Society has been convened by the president. (Mr H. D. Boil) and vice-president (Mr Martin Chapman) to consider the Chief Justice's observations upon the Privy Council. They ex-pi-ess their dissent, and seek a resolution from tho council."

It is proposed to hold a mass meeting of working men on Friday evening under the auspices of the Otago Trades and Labour Council to protest against American importations and trusts generally, and to urge Parliament to pass the necessary legislation to foster and encourage local industries. The meeting is -doubtless aimed at the Harvester Trust and its operations.

An interesting social experiment was inaugurated in New York the other day, when one of tho New York parks was virtually turned over by the authorities, to tho administration of boys who elected their " mayor and council." Henceforth it will be called " Playground City." "The charter provides for departments of "' police, street-cleaning, finance, athletic*, gymnastics, and games." The boys will have almost exclusive control of the park,

and it will be the duty of the mayor and council to maintain good order, cleanly ways, and take good care of the public, property. The citizens promoting * the scheme believe (says the New York correspondent of the London Telegraph) that the training received by the youngsters in the government of Playground City will servo them well in later years when they arc called to the duties awaiting them as citizens in a "grown-up" city. Boys of all ranks and sizes entered into the spirit of the affair with the greatest enthusiasm. There has been the keenest contest for office, and frequent meetings have been held and addressed by boy orators in support of different candidates; but an attempt totally to exclude politics Irom the contest was only partially successful. Girls are welcomed to Playground City, but in this year's election no " woman suffrage " was allowed. The " mayor " is described as a very intelligent youngster of 15, and probably the best all-round athlete in the juvenile community. In thanking the boys for their suffrages he said : " There has been a real landslide for the purity of election, and the best cause has won "

An aboriginal, whose name was given as " Weebo," was placed in the dock at the Criminal Court, Kalgoorlie, charged with the murder of a native woman in the Lancefield district. Another native, originally charged with accused, had died while under committal for trial. He had been certified dead and buried under the name Mullud, whereas it should have been Weebo, as the real Mullud appeared in the dock. 'Mullud accordingly being " officially dead,"' could not be proceeded against, and was thei'fifore discharged.

The Russian journal Odessa Novosti gives the particulars of a most extraordinary suicide of a medxcal man in consequence of an error during an operation. On 7th August Dr C. Polyankoff, as he was passing the Constantinovka farm, was stopped by a poorly-clad but intelligent-looking woman, who, with tears in her eyes, begged him to stop for a few minutes to render some aid to her only son, Paul Dendertchuk, four years of age. Having examined the child, the medical man advised her to at

once send the child to the town hospital, as it had diphtheria. To this the mother would not listen. He prescribed' medicine, and was going out, when he met the child's father, who likewise, on hearing the advice, refused to let the child go io the hospital. On the following day he called, and found the child in a better condition, and he decided to effect an Operation, to which the parents consented. During the operation the medical man shuddered and turned pale; he had made a mistake, and realised that the child was lost. This forced him to delay his departure and await the event. Beside himself, he wept on the child's pillow, calling himself his murderer-, and -when he recognised there was nothing else to be done for him he went quickly to the iable and wrote a few lines on'a piece of paper, put the note under the ' ink-bottle, and asked Madame Dendertehuk for a tumbler of water. She had just, left the room when she heard a report, and returned greatly alarmed; the doctor hac? I fallen on the carpet fronr a shot in the templet; he was dead. The note read as fellows: — "Pardon a. young doctor his involuntary error, by which he has deprived you of your only boy. I have expiated my 'crime. May my death serve to comfort you for the grief that has befallen, you. — . Dr O. P. PolyankoffV'

We have to acknowledge receipt of Stone's Otago and Southland ABC Guide for October.