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Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 16

rest the evening of their days. The reason for .this unusual scene was that the new award in connection with the Gardeners' Union was down for hearing for the first a time. If this award is carried into effect, not only professional nurserymen and gardeners will be affected, but every person who employs one' or more men for domestic purposes*— such as A groom', ' gardener, or Touseabout— wilt be, bound by its provisions. The employers ' cited number nearly 200, and there" 4r ill be an army at witnesses.. The case' was provisionally fixed for .August 16. • An extraordinary state of affairs is reported by a correspondent of the New • Zealand Herald, who lives at Taumarunui. He' says: "Regarding a recent post- > mortem here, the attention of the authorities! should again be called to the state of affairs existing at this place, which is most discreditable and inhuman, and quite unbearable in any civilised community. Tho doctor had to perform the post-mortem in a public railway van, the floor of wibich was. saturated with blood. Owing to the restricted space therein available, the door had to be open, exposing the performing of the operation to t the public, especially. Natives, who happened to, be about. Tho^ Maoris were very excited," and said that if it had been a Maori corpse they would have rnadi"" things lively, etc. It was a great injustice to the surgeon operating, who had to put up with tho gibes and remarks of the bystanders; and altogether this" state of affairs is most discreditable to those responsible. A morgue has baen frequently requisitioned for, and has been as often practically refused." Still another trace of the aboriginal past of Australia has been obliterated (says the Sydney Telegraph) with the passing away of one of its best-known pseudo-kings. *' King Billy " was a familiar personage to all in Sydney. His expansive geniality, his outbursts of sportive antics, his incongruous mixture of regal dignity and humble obeisance to every passer-by, his shining silk hat, and other attributes of the white man's' respectability made him more acquaintances than he had ever known in the tr jbe he claimed to ,rule. His . native district is said to have been located in the South Coast, and Billy— or Wiliiara W«ntworth, to apply to him his more formal appellation — had, in spite of his jetblack beard, overstepped the span of three score years and , ten. For some years past his health^ had failed him, his progresses through the city streets had grown more »nd more infrequent, and latterly he was unable to leave the hut which served him ior.a palace in the reserve at La Pe^ouse^ > The time for holding the Dunedin Competition^ musical and literary, is drawing near, and Mr E. D. Grace, the secretary, ~ -has now issued the book of words containing all the competition test pieces and the programme section. ' The value of the prizes is this y«ftr £290. The competition will be held in October, and entries close on the Ist September next. For the Blind Orphan Fund B. J. T. (Roxburgh) sends 10s and J. P. So. It gives us great pleasure to acknowledge a handsome contribution of £100 to the Hocken Library Fund from the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. This, with other contributions received by ■us on Thursday, brings the Times list up to £1850 3s. It is evident that the community now appreciates at its true worth the valuable gift that is waiting for its acceptance by the city authorities, and that the fund will assume large dimensions before it is closed. The St. Bathans mining case, the Scandinavian Water Race Company v. Ewing and the- Bank of New Zealand, which was lately before the Appeal Court, has been aetjled, and the Scandinavian' Company lias become the . proprietor of all the mining rights' which were the subject of litigation. The Hon. W. Hall- Jones handed his resignation as Premier to his Excellency (he Governor on Thursday, and tho Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, on being sent for, undertook to form a Ministry. At the reception fco him in Wellington on Thursday evea-

ing Sir Joseph, in making the announceJment, said he would endeavour to submit in a few -days a Cabinet which he hoped would be acceptable to the people of the country. He felt that generous consideration would be extended to him in undertaking a difficult task, and pointed to the necessity for a strong Ministry to follow such m a strong Premier as the late Mr Seddon to undertake the effective conduct of the- multi-, farious affairs requiring attention. He said T the goal before them was to promote a sound progressive policy, and, with the assistance of those associated with him, he hoped to be able to carry that out. It is estimated over 3000 people were present at the reception to Sir Joseph, who,* with Lady Ward;- received quite an ovation. Three years a§o Mr J. A. Millar, M H.R. , made * promise that when the Otago Central railway construction was assured as far' as Alexandra he would bend ali .liis energies towards furthering the interests of the Catlins Mid the LawrenceRcxburgh lines. Yesterday, at the meet"jng of the Catlins Railway League, Mr M. . Cohen made mention of this, and commented on tht» honourable manner in which Mr Millar had acted up to his promise, and the remarks were heartily endorsed by those present. Mr Cohen went on to say that that was in all probability the last meeting at which they could count upon Mr Millar as a member of the league, as his inclusion in Sir Joseph Ward's Ministry would necessitate his resignation of membership of such a body. However, though they might lose Mr Millar ac a member, continued Mr Cohen, they would have the more than consoling knowledge that in the Cabinet room there would be no stronger sup- " porter of the Catlins-Tahakopa railway than the member for Dunedin Central. It was unfortunate that -the subject of these commendatory and prophetic remarks had just previously left the meeting to fulfil' •another engagement, otherwise Mr Millyr, diplomatic as he can be when the occasion warrants, might have been tempted to give some cue as to bis own knowledge of political"" developments in the near future. The local fruit inspector condemned 27 cases of apples", infested with a disease known as black spot, which arrived from Tasmania on Thursday by the Monowai. The ' Order-in-Council dealing with this matter is made under "The Orchard, and Garden Pests Act, 1903," and absolutely prohibits the introduction into New Zealand of any fruit infected with the apple-scab or black spot (Fusicladium dendriticum), or^ any potatoes or tomatoes affected by the Irish potato disease or late blight (Pbytophthora infestans), or in or on which any such disease is or has been present in any form or stage of development. At the monthly meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board, held on Thursday, the Engineer, Waitaki County, wrote requesting the board to forward 240 bundles of marram grass to Kartigi Railway Station and 60 bundles to Mahcno Railway Station. The Secretary (Mr Jacobs) mentioned that the request had been -attended to. The league which has for its objejet the prosecution "of the- Catlins railway from Owaka to Tahakopa has changed its name ■ from the " Catlins River Railway League" to the " Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League." This was done on Thursday on ; the motion of Mr M. Cohen, tho feeling being that the objective point of the railway, as far as this league is concerned, should have a place in the title of the organisation. < ' An interesting point in mining law was 1 brought before Mr Justice Cooper in the 1 Supreme Court on Thursday in connection with a dispute between two parties resi- ! dent in the Roxburgh district in respect to ■ their applications for the same piece of ground. His Honor was asked to decide i this question : Was the Otago Land Board -right in holding that the person who first marks out land applied for as an occupa- . tion license is entitled to receive the lease , as against a" person who, having marked . and complied with the act and regulations,

is first to lodge his application, other things being equal? His Honor reserved his decision. N Mr Bone, secretary of the Otago Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association, has received intimation that Mr Hugh Thomas, secretary of the Oamaru branch, has been elected an honorary "serving brother of the order, in recognition of services rendered. The election, it may be added, is by the full chapter of the order, and receives the sanction of the Prince of Wales and the King. A serving brother ranks above an associate of tho order, and it is understood there are only two holding the rank in New Zealand. In connection with the minerals court at the * Christchurch" Exhibition the Mines Department offers prizes of a gold medal and 50 guineas, a silver medal and 25 guineas, and a bronze medal and 10 guineas for essays on the present condition and future prospects of the mineral resources of New Zealand and the best means of fostering their development. In judging the merits of the essays preference will be given to those which are of a practical character. For the purposes of the essays "mineral"' means any metal or mineral, and includes petroleum and other mineral oils. In a letter to The Times, under date May 22, Lord Leigh records a curious coincidence in connection with the earthquake which destroyed San Francisco. He writes: — "It may prove of interest to mention that a large portion of tho lofty tower of the old priory of Maxstoko, in Warwickshire, fell down on April 18, at 1.15 p.m., the time being noted at an adjacent farmhouse. Allowing for the difference in time, this would coincide with the first shock at San Francisco." Fifty years ago the Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria. The cro^s, which 13 awarded to soldiers and sailors for valour in Iho face of an enemy, has been won 522 times, and as it is awarded' imijartially to officers and men, being thoroughly democratic in its regulations, the number of men who Have won the distinction is slightly larger than that of officers. It is interesting to note the regiments that have won the most Victoria Crosses. At the head of the list, if the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineer arc considered as being too large corps, to be counted^ as cegi-. ments, are the South Wales Borderers, with 18 to their credit. The Rifle Brigade is second on the list, with 15, and the 9th Lancers, the King's Royal Rifles, and the Gordon Highlanders come next with 13 each, and they are followed by the Came. roniang and the Black Watch with 10 each. The campaign which provided most Victoria Crosses was the Indian Mutiny, in the course of which 182 heroes won the decoration. The Russian war accounted for 111, the late war in South Africa for 78. the Zulu war for 23, the Afghan war (1878-80) for 16, the New Zealand campaign for 12, and the operations on the north-west frontier of India (1897-98) for 10. Tb»> ouostion of restrictinpr Uio di-semina-tion of war news caused tho Impel ial Defence Committee to indirectly approach the press recently with the object of securing a discussion on the subject from a press point of view. As the outcome there was held in June last a conference the main object of which was to arrive at a modus vivendi which would permit of unopposed legislation on the subject. Two points were agreed on: that all news sent from the seat of war which had passed the press censor, as well as all informal ion supplied by the Admiralty and the War Office, might bo published broadcast without any lisk of liajplity being attached io such publication. At the same time, the press retains its right to subject the conduct of a campaign to such criticism as may bo thought necessary, as well as to comment upon the various operations carried out in the field. This virtually places the responsibility for the supply of news in war time on the shoulders of naval and military officials, while, at the samo time, the press is still left unfettered in matters of criticism and debate. The matter is, of course, subject to fuithcr

deliberations between the Imperial Defence Committee and the sub-committee appointed by the Newspaper Society for • that purpose, before any further discussion of details can take place, but the general principle involved has been virtually accepted by the press. The treasurer acknowledges receipt of the following sums in aid .of the Public Art Gallery ' Building Fund: — Messrs J. N. Lawson, £3 3s; Walter Hislop, £3 3s; C. H. Tucker, £2 2s ; C. E. Remsfiardt, ■ £2 2s ; v MCallum and Co., £1 Is; A. Steven, £1 Is. We have to acknowledge receipt of £2 2s from Messrs Turnbull and Jones (Limited) and £2 2s from " Countryman.'' . i The Most Rev. fhe Primate of New Zealand is still in London. Fe has for the most part since his arrival been engaged in private affairs, which, owing to his long absence from England, have become complicated, and now -are engrossing. This business has taken up a great deal of his time, as also have the multitude of social engagements during the height of the London season, from many . of which he cannot escape. As' the Primate has been bo fully occupied, he has as yet been unable to do much in the way of collecting money for the proposed Dunedin Cathedral. alfhougH lje has some plans in preparation. The Primate has ' visited the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth Palace, and the Bishop of London? at Fijgjiam Palace, and he hopes he has made some progress with regard to the establishment of the Polynesian Bishopric. He is to meet both prelates again in connection with this matter. Ar'Bishop Nevill was the preacher at St. Paul's Cathedral on the occasion of the anniversary gathering of ihe Girls' Friendly Society to a very large body of associates. He also presided at a drawingroom meeting for the same object at the residence of "Viscountess Gortz. He attended the "assembly"' of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and supported the Archbishop of York at the annual festival of the order in St. j John's Church. Next week he is to give ' a short address on the work of his church in his diocese to jnombers and lad,y sub- , scribers at the monthly general meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian i Knowledge, at the society's house, in j avenue. Socially, the irishop has had numerous engagements, to , " at; homes," etc. This week, on the invitation of the Duchess of Northumberland, he was present at Syon House, and the hostess, after the departure of the other guests, ' did the New Zealand Primate the honoui of showing him the family portraits, etc., which he found of great historic interest. He has accepted the invitation to the Lord Mayor's dinner on the 4th July, and at the invitation of the South African Association he was present at tne banquet given at the Cecil Hotel j recently, over which the Duke of Westmin- j ster presided. The night before last Bishop Nevill was one of the numerous visiting colonists who was present at the annual conversazione of the Royal Colonial Listiiute, which was held, as u&i.aT, at the South Kensington Museum.