LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 29

LOCAL & GENERAL

The following telegram was received by Mr P. Miller (chairman of the Board of Advice of the Caversham Industrial School) from the Right Hon. the Premier on Monday in reply to a wire sent by the former on Saturday :— " Removal of boys from Caversham brings about completion of a general policy embracing all the industrial schools of the colony, and the advantages to be gained by the location of the boys on a farm of 400 acres of firstclass land will be immense. Beg to express my deepest sense of the interest and practical sympathy which the people of Otago have always shown in the welfare of the Caversham School and its inmates; more particularly, thanks of Government are due to yourself. Messrs Robin and Cohen, and Dr Burns, also the ladies and gentlemen who have given their services in religious training of the inmates. — R. J. Seddon."

Last Saturday only a small number of the members of the Naturalists' Field Club took advantage of the opportunity afforded of looking- over Fairfield Nursery. The party, after being vei-y hospitably received by Mrs Martin,' spent two exceedingly profitable- and pleasant hours examining the fine collection of plants and trees. Among the finest flowering plants, both native and introduced, were the following : Ranunculus fulgens, Correa alba, Daphne pontica, Gaultheria rupestris, Celmisia ramulosa. Pilea inuseosa, a fine specimen of the Chilian kowhai (" Sophora grandiflora"), some beautiful magnolias, and Mr Martin's new species of veronica (" Veronica fairfieldeusis "), which had not quite reached its full bloom. The next excursion will take place on November 9, starting from the Kaikorai Tramshed at 9 a.m.

The syllabus of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music has just come to hand containing particulars concerning the colonial exhibition scholarships scheme. Three exhibition scholarships are open to musical students in the Australasian colonies entitling their holders to free tuition at the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music for two years, -with a possible extension to a longer period, and will only be awarded on the recommendation of the examiners to the candidates showing exceptional musical promise. Musical aspirants for the licentiateship of the Associated Board may in future be examined in this colony, this privilege having just recently been granted also, and is intended ..specially as an examination for solo performers of a concert standard. A primary division has been added to the syllabus entitling beginners to examination in theoretical and practical subjects preparatory to the existing division of the school examinations at reduced fees. It will he remembered that the Trinity College Board offered exhibition scholarships last year, seven of them being won in this colony — viz., two senior practical, value £9 9s each; two intermediate, value £6 6s each ; and three junior, value £6 6s each. In addition to the foregoing, six exhibition theory examination prizes are offered yearly by the Trinity College Board, whose present scheme of national prizes entails an annual charge of £500 on the funds of the board.

The President of ""the Arbitration Court has given a reserved decision to the effect that defendants domiciled out of the colony of New Zealand are entitled to compensation under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act in respect of the death of the person on whose earnings they were dependent.

We are informed by Major Cummings, of the Salvation Army, that ■ the total amount realised by the effort made in selfdenial week throughout the colony was £9282.

The boys of the Caversham Industrial School, to the number of 99, took their departure for their new home on the 31sfc ult. by the Zealandia, quite a large crowd gathered on the wharf to see the last of them. Needless to say, many friends were down to say good-bye to Mr Burlinson and those accompanying 'him. As the steamer hauled out the boys, who, mostly in cadet uniform, lined the bow deck, sang "Auld lang syne," and, their band having followed with an appropriate selection, hearty cheers were given by those on board, and returned just as heartily from the wharf.

Occasionally the Crown receives a nice little -windfall from inheriting the estates of wealthy intestates. Within the last quarter of a century there have been six or seven cases in which estates ranging from £30,000 to £200,000 have fallen* to the State in the absence of legitimate heirs. The latest instance (says the London correspondent of the Argus) has just occurred. An eccentric, known as " th© Folkestone recluse," has just died -without a will, and the whole of his estate of -£175,000 passes into the Treasury, much to the dismay of the faithful lady secretary and other servants who have ministered to his wants and fully believed that they would be handsomely remembered at his death. The decea-sed g-cntlemaji was known as Mr Boreham, otherwise Captain G. L. A. Wilson. He was the illegitimate son of Sir John Wilson, Bart., and inherited his fortune in 1856. It was then he first learned of the bar sinister, and was so deeply pained that he refused to carry out his father's wish and assume and register th© name of Wilson. He threw up his captaincy in the Guards, said good-bye to society, and led the life of a recluse ever after. He was certainly yerj eccentric, and ojice some

"friends" had him lodged in an asylum for the insane, but his solicitor secured his release. He was continually buying and furnishing new houses, apparently with the view of securing a fresh retreat directly he thought his neighbours becoming inquisitive. He was, nevertheless, very charitable in distributing his money. Failing a will, he has left no legitimate heirs, so the Treasury benefits.

Mr H. Y. Widdowson. S M., remarked at the Police Court on the 31st ult. that lie was becoming weary of cases which came before the court where husbands and fathers endeavoured to escape their responsibilities in regard to their families. In the case which provoked the remark it transpired that a husband had separated himself from his wife and 10 children, th' youngest o£ whom was only six weeks old The defendant, endeavoured at »ome length to convince the bench thyi his earnings were not sufficient to enable him to pay £1 per week towards ihe support of his wife and children. Mr Lemon, who appeared for the wife and family, explained that the 'family had to get assistance from the Benevolent Institution, and pointer! out that it was the habit of husbands when they were brought before the court to endeavour to make their means appear as small as possible, to which his Worship replied, " Oh, you need not tell me that ; I see so much of it." The defendant in the case was then informed by the bench that he must bring some other proof than his own word as to his means, and the case was adjourned to a future date to permit of this being done. *

Mr Israel Zangwill, the novelist, is also the apostle of a new Zionism, which may possibly develop into a powerful rival to General Booth's ambitious emigration scheme. What Mr Zangwill is in search of is "a virgin territory in the British Empire capable of receiving an immigration of 100,000 persons a year " (chiefly Russian refugees). He desires to found an autonomous Jewish State under a British protectorate, but might abate that somewhat pretentious ideal. He rejects, as unsuitable, the Uganda site offered by the British Government, but admits that there are in East Africa more fertile tracts which are eligible. Nor does he rule either Australia or, Canada out of the field of pessibility for a Jewish settlement. Perhaps (says the correspondent of the Argus) the Northern Territory would meet the requirements of the rich Jewish philanthropists who are behind the movement. This year the Jews aro celebrating the 250 th anniversary of their first settlement in the United States. The 20 Spanish Jews then permitted to land in New York were the pioneers of the 1,500,000 Jewish citizens now in the States.

The new Railway Station is rapidly assuming a finished appearance outwardly, and its general effect is daily becoming more apparent to the eye of the observer. The whole of the roof tiling has been placed in position, the flagstaff has been reared on top of the clock tower, and the latter is almost completed. The tuck pointing and cleaning down of the walls are more than half finished, and most of the windows are now in position. The floor-

ing upstairs is jusfc about finished, and ■workmen are busily engaged plastering the walls and affixing the stamped steel ceiV. ings and cornices. The first room to be finished is the large parcels and luggage room, and several other rooms are also nearly finished. Owing to the delay at headquarters in ordering the material for the large platform verandah it is probable that the main building will be completed several months before the verandah is erected.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees, held on Wednesday, was attended by Messrs Clark (chairman), Tapper, Wilson, Burnett, Talboys, and Burton. Accounts amounting to £319 11s lid were passed for payment. It was reported that Susan Westford (63) and Henry Rolloson (72 years of age) had died in the institution during the past week. Captain Easther was appointed a trustet to fill the place of the late Mr J. Thornsou. The outdoor relief book showed that for the month of October there had been 318 cases representing 143 men, 210 women, and 472 children; weekly cost, £100 10s 9d. The cases for October, 1904, numbered 328, and included 135 women, 230 men, and 555 children, the weekly cost being £107 4s 6d. The decrease this year was thus £6 14s 2d per week. Thirty-four relief cases were dealt with.

A meeting representative of -both divisions of the railway staff was held at the Traffic Superintendent's Office, Dunedin,- on Octobe.r 30 to consider details of a proposal to raise funds amongst the railway staff in Otago district in aid of the Hospital Extension Fund. Mr A. Grant (traffic superintendent) occupied the chair, and amongst those present were gentlemen representing the traffic, locomotive, workshops, maintenance, and stores departments. After fully discussing the proposal, it was unanimously decided to endeavour to raise at least £100 with which to endow a railway bed in the new Hospital wing. The proceedings were marked by a generous enthusiasm, which augurs well for the success of the scheme, and subscription lists are to be circulated at an early date. In order to avoid delay, it is requested that these lists, together with amount of contributions, be returned to Mr A. E< Heyeoek, secretary" and treasurer, District Engineer's Office, before the 25th inst.

An amended regulation raises the rate of interest payable on certain estates in the Public Trust Office as follows:— Where the moneys arising from a testate estate or trust other.-»t>han a sinking fund do not exceed £3000, £4i per centum per annum. Where the moneys arising from a testate estate or trust other than a sinking fund arc in excess of £3000, £4£ per oenium per annum on the first £3000 and £4 per centum, per annum on any amount in. excess of £3000.

The return of zymotic diseases reported at the local Health Office during the past month shows 13 eases of scarlet fever — six in the town and seven in the country, three cases of enteric — two in the town and one in the country, one case of diphtheria in the country, one ease of blood poisoning in the country (Woodend), and 12 cases of tuberculosis — four in the town and eight in the country. Of the local

.Jicarlefc fever cases, two are reported as ,in the. city itself and two in Caversham, "While the cases reported from the country ♦re scattered in isolated instances over a jklde area. Five cases of tuberculosis are ;Jr«ported from Invercargill. i—'A xabbiter named William Boyer was in from Sutton by train on Wed- ' Jiesday, and taken to the Hospital, suffering .-from a bullet wound in the knee. While ;»ut rabbiting he laid hi* rifle down, and

then went" for some skins, which E& threw tipon the rifle. It is supposed that the skins caught in the trigger, as the weapon went off, and the bullet from it lodged in Beyer's knee.

A ' Riverton correspondent wires : — c ' Mr William Thomson addressed full houses at Riverton, Orepuki, and Nightcaps. The meetings wore very orderly, and the speaker mad© a very good impression everywhere. Wallaoe, from appearances,

will not go in for no-license at the local option poll." The Drainage Board reports that during the month of October last rain fell on 19 days. The heaviest downpour occurred between the 12th and 13th, when I.7Soin fell. The total fall for the month was 5.290 in. The total for 1905, to the end of October, is 23.988 in. , The impression prevails in political circles that December 6 will be the date of the general election and local option polls. The Milburn Lime and Cement Company has accepted the contract to supply half the esment required for the new dock at Port Chalmers on the basis of its tender to the Dock Trust. \ During the month of October 63 renewals of old-age pension certificates were granted in the Dunedin district— sl at £26, one at £25, two at £24, one at £22, two at £21, and one each at £20, £19, £18, £16, £15, and £13. New claims to the number of 24 were admitted — Seven at £26, one at £24, one at £23, three at £22, three at £20, ons at £19, one at £17, one at £11, two at £10, one at £9, and three at £8. Five applications were refused, and in six cases 'consideration was adjourned to enable further inquiries to be made. i A point of considerable interest regarding , the law of trespass by bookmakers at race meetings came tin during the hearing of the informations laid by the Jockey Club against metallicians at the Police Court on Tuesday and Wednesday (says the Christ- . church Press). A bookmaker has a j Common Law right to go on the racecourse. To constitute a trespass it has been laid down that he must be twice warned after starting to bet. If the first warning is given before betting begins, and only one after, the trespass cannot be proven. During the course of a case Mr , Day said it was as well that a warning should be gisen every time the bookmaker was seen betting. This would cut the defence referred to from under the feet of the bookmaker." One defendant admitted that before betting he deliberately waited until he had been warned. ' 1 The Minister of Lands (the Hon. T. T. Duncan) left "Dunedin by the first train for the Otago Central on Friday morning en route for Blackstone Hill, where he will make inquiry into objections in regard to the taking over of the run for small grazing settlements. The -Minister was accompanied by Mr D. Barron (Commissioner of Crown Lands). Mr J. B. Waters, secretary pf the Cat- r ,lins Railway League, has received from the Minister of Works, the ' following telegram, "which will no doubt- be • regarded as,satisfactory by all the supporters of the* Catiin's River railway: — "In <reply to your tele!gr'am re Houipapa bridge, r the plans and specifications will be ready for calling for tenders early next week, and tenders will be' invited accordingly.— Wai. Hall-Jones." The alterations necessitated by the duplication of the Dunedin-Mosgiel line will, it is understood, involve the removal of the present engine-sheds. The railway authorities are at present negotiating with the Harbour Board with a view to acquir- • S&* • . 1 1 » . 1 .1

I ing sumeienc j.anci ior tne purpose on tn© reclaimed area lying between Pelichet Bay Railway Station and the Cement Works. The exigencies of the public service are doubtless of great importance, but there is a probability that the Harbour Board will find its prospective revenue considerably curtailed should the present proposal be carried out. Already the Government has deprived the Harbour Board of the great bulk of its reclaimed land for railway purposes, and the endowment by the aid of^ which Dunedin was to be made a free port has been largely mopped up by the Government! In drawing attention" a few days ago to the importance of hotel and boarding-house keepers making themselves familiar with the clauses of the Public Health Act which require notification being given" to the health authorities of oases of consumption or other infectious diseases, it was mentioned that the District Health Officer was making inquiries into an intimation 7 received that three persons suffering from consumption were staying at a well-known up-country hostelry, the proprietor of which had not notified these cases. The inquiries made have shown that the patients referred to were not suffering from consumption, and that there was no neglect on the part of the hotelkeeper. At the regular meeting of the Otago Trades and Labour Council- the following resolution was passed in reference to the proposal of the Premier to hold a. conference of representatives of the employers, farmers, and workers of the colony: — " That no conference will be satisfactory unless the representatives of the workers are equal to the combined representatives of the employers and farmers, and that the other Trades Councils be asked to refuse to take part in the conference unless on the basis of equal representation." Inasmuch as special inquiry is being made as to the Christchurch fish supply, a largo proportion of which supply comes from Port Chalmers, the interval that elapses between the catching of the fish and their delivery to customers is interesting. The health officer for Christchurch wants to see reform effected, inasmuch as that when sold to oustomers there the fish must be often two and a-half to three days old. The trawlers., one is informed, leave Port Chalmers very early in the morning (about 6 o'clock) and return about 5 p.m. The fish leaves the Port that night by a goods train, which leaves about midnight and arrives at Christchurch at 7 o'clock next evening. Tlwm th* fish, is -sold by auction,

early next morning and delivered to the fishmongers during the course of the morning, when it becomes available for customers. A van for fish on the first expi'ess train has been suggested, but obviously the saving of time would be very trifling. There seems unnecessary delay even in the transporting of fish from Port Chalmers to Dunedin. Mrs George M'Lean, who has taken an active part in raising funds for building a new art gallery, received the gratifying information from Sir J. G. Ward that the Government had decided to hand over, as a cite for the Public Art Gallery, the piece of land on which the foundations of a new railway station were laid many years ago This land has been used for some time by the police for grazing the troop horses. Members of the Otago Trades and Labour Council have resolved to invite local manufacturers to supply the council with samples of goods manufactured by themselves for exhibition at the forthcoming Amalgamated Workers' Carnival. Retailers, the council eonsidei'3, are backward in displaying locally-made goods, giving preference of display to the imported article. Such an exhibition as is intended will give an idea of what can be made locally, and should be the means of encouraging looSi" industry. The total number of patients remaining at the. Hospital at the end of last week was lll.\ There were admitted during the week 33, while 28 wore discharged from the institution. Three deaths occurred — viz., Wm Hill, Peter White, and Jas. Duke. Owing to the enormous increase in the number of pictorial post cards transmitted by post, and the risk of defacing cards by date stamping them at every office through which they pass, it has been decided that from the 13th inst. post cards are to be date stamped only at the office of posting. The Drainage Board supplies the following particulars of the rainfall for the past week:— October 29, .085 in; October 30. • 035 in; October 31, .OlOin; November 3, .190 in; November 4, .320in;— total, .690 in; days on which rain fell, 5; total for 1905 to date, 24.6T8in. The Dunedin Burns Club has received its annual present of a box rjf heather from Miss Purves, of Comely Bank, Edinburgh. It was gathered by her on the moors of Badenoch, and is done up with tartan ribbons. More parcels are expected from the office of the Weekly Scotsman and other friends, including Mr R. Sandilands. a well-known member. The heather will be distributed at the next meeting. At the meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council on Monday a telegram was received from the Right Hon. the Premier stating that Mr F. G. Cray 1 , of RaVerfsbourne, had been appointed a member of the Otago Dock Trust in room. "of the late Mr John Thomson. -Messrs A. and J. M'Gill, jun., returned to town on , Saturday evening from Shag Point, having been engaged in salvage operations in connection with the wrecked barque County of Ayr. They were unable to board the wreck, which is lying in about 40ft of water on the south side of Danger Reef. Two of the vessel's masts are still standing, and the hull shows, very little

sign of breaking vp — several deck planks, two or three hatches, and three spars being the only parts of the vessel that have so far come ashore. Nearly 13,000 ft of Taemanian hardwood timber, which formed part of the cargo, has come ashore between Moaraki light and south as far as Bobby's Head, most of it being found at Shag Point, Kartigi Beach, and Bushey. Meanwhile the owners are awaiting the breaking up of the hull by the elements, and if these do not 6uffice probably the hull will be blown up in order to liberate the remainder of the cargo. Messrs M'Gill state that the settlers and residents proved most obliging, the report that a large quantity of the timber had been carted away inland being described as a pure fabrication. Up to the present the settlers have purchased all the timber that has been washed ashore. A large meeting of the Otago and Southland Licensed Victuallers' Association was held on Monday afternoon at the association's room in Crawford street, when it was unanimously agreed to take no part in the election of members to the House of Representatives. The San Francisco mail, just arrived, brought the following query to an Oamaru resident from his mother, living 1 in London: — "I want you to tell me some time if you know anything about the butter made in New Zealand — I mean what is cent to this country. There has been a great scare about all foreign butler lately owing to the fear of cholera. The doctors have preached a regular crusade about imported butter and cheese, but I hardly think this can apply to New Zealand or Canada. I have never heard of cholera in the former place. I wonder if the supervision in the dairies is efficient. We had been using a lot of the butter from New Zealand, as it tastes so good and is so reasonable in price. But now I am rather afraid of it." As long as there are intelligent people at Home, in good positions, remaining in suoh deplorable ignorance of New Zealand butter, which is consumed . in enormous quantities in England, there would seem to be a pressing need for the Government's taking further steps to make known our grading methods and the quality of {he produce we send Home to the United Kingdom. The action for £5000 damages by Mrs Hartley (professionally known as Mrs Sims Reeves) against John Norton was heard at Perth before the High Court and a jury of 3ix, The alleged libel appeared in the

Sydney Sportsman Plaintiff alleged thaft in view of its publication she had been unable to obtain professional engagements. For the defence*, Mr Smith said the article complained of was under the heading of

" Theatrical Tit-Bits " in small type. As soon as Mr Norton heard the paragraph i ; was incorrect he published an apology in type four or five times larger. The paragraph was withdrawn ancl regret was expressed. The Chief Justice, in summing up, said the complaint was that the paragraph suggested plaintiff was a lunatic. The only question before the jury was as to the proper methods of making amends. Defendant had paid £5 into court, and the jury had to say whether that was sufficient. A verdict was returned for £75 damages, including the £5 paid into court. A. new industry has recently been established at Rarotonga, thii most destructive of all industries as regards the beauty of a place — namely, sawmilling. A plant has bsen set up by a local firm for the purpose of making locally the boxes required 'or the export of fruit, instead of their having to bo imported from N~ew Zealand as at picsent. It is still in the experimental sttvge, and' it is quite possible that, owing to various causes, it may turn out to be su non-payihg venture. It will be a matter of extreme regret to many to see the beauty of the tplace gradually disappearing with the destruction of the beautiful bush, which necessarily follows in the track of a sawmill. At the besE there can only be a fewyears' supply of timber on such a small island as this, for a fair-sized tree will only yield, on a rough estimate, about 15 boxes, while -the average output of boxes for tfce last year was something between 8000 and 10,000 per month, with every indication of an increase year by year. Certainly the capacity of the present mill, in full work, is only estimated at 4000 boxes per month; but improved plant will have to be installed if ihe necessity for importations of timber from New Zealand is to be done away with entirely. At a meeting of the subscribers to the Invercargill fallen troopers' memorial a proposal to devote a portion of the fund to eject a nurses' home was defeated, and it. was resolved to erect a monument at the intersection of the main thoroughfares. The amount available is £900.