LOCAL to GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 80

LOCAL to GENERAL.

There was received in town on the 10th a consignment of fine trout from Lake Wanaka, the first this season. The consignment numbers 20 fish in capital condition, and ranging in weight from 81b to 121b. They were sent to a well-known fishmonger. The Compensation Court was occupied on the ICth in hearing a claim under " The Public Works Act, 1905," by George Scott Murray M'Dermid and Anne M'Dermid against the Port Chalmers Corporation in respect to damage arising from the construction of a dam on, and the diversion of the \vater9 of, Perry's Creek at Sawyers' Bay. Mr M-'Dermid and a number of experts gave evidence as to the value of the land and of the water rights of which f it had been deprived. They put the claimants' loss down at about £500. The defence is that in an action heard in the court about a quarter of a century ago the corporation actually paid compensation in respect of the matters now in dispute, j The Port Chalmers waterworks case »vas concluded in the Compensation Court on the 11th. At one stage a possibility of iv» settlement loomed up. Mr J. H. Hoskini K.C., mentioned that the claimants would be satisfied to take a perpetual injunction agsinet the corporation, and let the question of compensation go, because they were , satisfied that the loss of the water to the land would mean more than the £500 they were now claiming. Mr W. C. MacGregor, counsel for the respondent, asked for time until the following day to congult the corporation as to whether it would I rccept these terms. Mr Hosking replied that if the respondent paid the cos^s — but at the mere mention of costs Mr MacGregor cried off, and the case was continued. The court gave judgment for the claimants for £251. The Otekaike ease is likely to occupy the attention of tlie Supreme Court on Wednesday, the 18th inst. The papers were filed in the Supreme Court Office on the lOth inst. It may have been noticed that on Saturday last the local Crown Lands Office notified that the two pastoral runs in question would be open for selection on renewable lease at Oamaru early next month, immediate possession to be given. The present lessees (Messrs M'Kellar and Mitchell) are now moving in the direction of obtaining a' mandamus from the court to restrain the Land Board from disposing of the runs, and to compel it to allow them to hold the land. Conversing on matters political with a gentleman who travels frequently over Southland, a- member of our etaff was informed yesterday that the general informed on the 10th that the general Southland members will certainly all h« returned at the forthcoming general eleo-

tion, and that, should any of them be opposed, their majority will be larger than before. This is due to the fact that the sitting members for Awarua, Mataura, Invercargill, and Wallace are regarded as strong and experienced men, the results of whose combined efforts is to be seen in the marked improvements that have been made in their respective electorates. In the opinion of this gentleman, any change would be a huge mistake, as untried political tyros cannot be expected to be as useful to their constituents or in Parliament as those who have had the legislative experience of the sitting representatives. Never, he added, in the history of the Dominion are level-headed, practical, and experienced men more required than at present. The Maheno arrived from Melbourne on the 10th with about 560 cases of grapes, of the same varieties as were received last week. All that were packed in cork-dust arrived in first-class condition. Some that were placed in partitioned cases without cork-dust were also in a satisfactory condition, though they did not realise such high prices as those packed in cork. One shipment of 50 boxes arrived worthless, and will barely pay duty, to say nothing of freight. The flavour of the grapes was generally an improvement on that of previous shipments, and the prices obtained under the hammer ranged from 4d to s£d per lb. Some important changes are to be made shortly in the Inspection, of Machinery Department in the Dominion, which has been divided into four separate districts instead of one as heretofore. Wellington will still remain headquarters, with Mr Robert Duncan as Chief Surveyor of Ships, Inspection of Machinery Department. Mr A. W. Bethune, who has been stationed at Invercargill for the past six years, comes to Dunedin to take charge of this district, and his place will be filled by Mr Peter Crawford, who proceeds from Auckland to Invercargill. Mr H. Wetherilt proceeds to Auckland to assume charge of that district, and Mr P. J. Carman takes charge of Christchurch. Mr Bethune will devote most of his time to the survey of ships at this port, his assistants being Messrs Ramsay and 1 Walker. It is understood that a clerk will also be appointed to deal with the clerical work, which has hitherto severely encroached upon the time of the latter gentlemen. Owing to the large amount of work in this district, which is largely a manufacturing one, the inspection of machinery practically absorbed the whole energies of one inspector, whilst the other had most of his time taken up by the inspection of ships; consequently there was no official to take charge of the office during their enforced absence. The increase of work in this district during the past few years has been considerable, the average number of vessels now being surveyed yearly being 67; whilst the volume of responsibility devolving upon this important department, which is responsible for all kinds of machinery on land and sea, and all classes of vessels on our shores, has grown to such an extent that the staff lias been increased from iivo inspectors to 17 within the last 20 years. A Supplementary Gazette announces (says a Wellington Press Association telegram) that the Alexandra fire district ceases to be a, fire district, under "The Fire Brigades Act, 1907,' as from February 29. The negligence of some people in driving vehicles without lights along dangerous country roads is almost criminal, and calls for the severest condemnation. A case in point occurred on the night of the Bth inst. on ths Dunedin-Waitati road, when a trap and pony without lights of any description . were left by two youths standing almost in the centre of the road, and the result of such culpable negligence was very nearly a fatal accident. A trap and horse proceeding at a trot in the direction of Dunedin, and containing a lady and two gentleman, totally oblivious, by reason -of the intense darkness, of the fact that 6uch an obstacle stood in their way, crashed violently into it. With the impact the stationary trap and pony were turned completely over, but were very 6oon righted. On the other hand, the trap containing the three persons fared very badly indeed, for the whole concern was hurled violently over the bank on the side of the road. The three occupants were precipitated some 20ft down a boulder-strewn declivity, and, amidst the bewildering confusion of darkness, an overturned trap, and a struggling, kicking horse, had an exceedingly lively time of it. Their escape was miraculous, for after being pitched over the bank it was only by the fraction of a second that they evaded the horse, which came rolling down almost on top of them ; and, cut and bleeding, they had to find their way up a steep bank through boulders and tangled bush on to the road. The horse continued to roll for about 30 yards, and came to an abrupt standstill against a stout wire fence. The unfortunate animal had to be left there overnight, and a way literally cut out for it through bushes and fences the next morning. Strange to relate, the animal escaped with a few outs, but the trap was considerably damaged. It was over an hour before the party secured a conveyance, and, considerably shaken and bruised, did not reach town until well on to 11 o'clock at night. At the monthly meeting of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, held in First Church Hall on the 10th inst., it was decided that, owing to the number of boys in tho care of tho association, it was absolutely necessary to establish a boys' home at onco. Pending the transference of tho children of the orphanage to tho country, which would take place as soon

'as the requisite funds were in hand and * suitable place secured, and which would leave the present building in Clyde street free to be used as a boys' home, temporary arrangements were made to have the lads lodged with Mr and Mra Axelsen at 64 Clyde street. It was reported that, judging by the response to the appeal for £1000, there was every prospect of that sum being raised ; it being even suggested by one member of the committee that it the work of the association among- the young were only properly made known, ho did not doubt but that some large-hearted member of the Churoir would willingly donate a piece of land on which orphan homes might be built. Mr E. R. Waite, curator of the Canterbury Museum, returned to Christchurch on the 7th, after his expedition to the West Coast to examine the Okarito whale. The beast was a female baleen whale of record size. They have been recorded up to 90ft in length, but the largest authenticated specimen measured 85ft ovar all, while the stranded specimen is 87ft- from tip to tip. Its lower jaw is 21ft long and lift wide, and the flukes of its tail span 21ft. Apparently it had been dead some timebefore it was washed ashore, as the baleen or whalebone is missing, and the body, was (says the Press), even when Mr Waite arrived, in an advanced state of decomposition A rather peculiar position hats aiisen in connection with the Invercargill telephone service. The new system ie not quite ready for use, and the old system is taxed to its " utmost capacity. Every available number that can be worked with present facilities is taken up, and the department advises that it is not desirable to accept new subscribers until the new" system is installed. So far as can be anticipated (says the Times) it will be perhaps three months before the new system is ready for use, and those who wish to install the telephorie in their houses will be asked to wait until then. The Lyttelton Times says that distress warrants have been issued against 30 slaughtermen, who were fined for striking a: the Belfast and Islington works some time ago. The men were fined £5 each, and the warrants just issued represent sums from £1 up to the maximum. No warrants have been issued against those who have paid any part of the fine this year. There are eight slaughtermen who have not attempted to pay anything. In a few days warrants will also be issued against about 20 of the slaughtermen employed at the Fairfield works. At the last meeting of the Southland High Schools Board the following letter was received from the Inspector-general of Schools: — "As there seems to be an impression that the Education Department is prepared to pay for railway tickets to I enable holders of Education Board scholarships and junior national scholarships to travel to any secondary school, I would remind you that free railway tickets are, in general, granted only to holders of scholarships travelling to the secondary school"" nearest their home, and not in any case without the special permission previously obtained of Hie Minister to any secondary school other than that nearest their home. In exceptional cases (with, permission) free tickets will be issued to holders of senior scholarships, etc., to travel to a school olher than tho nearest secondary school, if that school is one approved by the board that grants the scholarship."— This letter (says the Southland Times) will probably affect the Southland distriot more nearly when, in due course, the establishment of the Gore High School will bring one high school "nearer" than another to a certain number of pupils. The NestJo ai<3 Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company has now almost completed arrangements for the erection of a very large condensed milk factory in the Taran aki district. The cost of building a factory of this ' kind sufficiently large enough to supply the whole of New Zealand, and with modern condensing machinery, means investing no less a sum than £70,000. The oompany manufactures the well-known brands of " Nestles," " Milkmaid " condensed milk, " Ideal " unsweetened cream, and is also a large manufacturer of cocoa, and chocolates. It is the opinion of experts that it is only a matter of a few years when Australia and New Zealand will be supplying nearly the whole world with milk condensed in these countries; and, with the trade in the hands of a wealthy company like "Nestles," -New Zealand, with its abundant supply of milk, would be in a position (6ays an exchange) to compete with other countries for the world's trade. The Rev. H. Van Staveren, the Jewish Rabbi in Wellington, has tntered the controversy as to ihe Jewish method of killing, which was raised in Christchuroh a short time ago. "It has been established beyond doubt," Mr Van Staveren says, "that the Jewish method of killing is the best. Such criticism as that from Christchurch wo have periodically, and it is not' therefore new. The system has been in vogue now for over 4000 years, and no doubt Moses got it from those who knew what was the beet and most healthful in. the interests of humanity, because the ancients knew a great deal more than we who are just awakening to a little sense of 6cientifio research. The scientific world haa always sided with us, but periodically there are«hysterical awakenings that bringf this matter once again prominently before the public. No doubt the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of whiohJ am a member, does admirable work, but there is a great deal in front of it to accomplish without finding fault with the methods which are approved by th© greatest

•dentists of the age. I can assure the people of Wellington that there is absolutely no- cruelty in any sense in the method adopted by us, and that the meat from animals slaughtered in this way is far more healthful for human consumption than that killed by any other method." In bringing before the Southland High Schools Board of Governors the question of the establishment of a library at the Boys' School, the rector -wrote (says the Southland Times) :— " With the dietraotions of modern life the modern boy reads less and less. The cheapening of books does not help matters. Country boys in particular require reading of a suitable kind to stimulate their imaginations and enlarge their mental horizons. I consider that there are numbers of books that every boy at a certain age should read; I consider that perhaps the most important funotion of a teacher is to inoulcate in his pupils a love of good literature and a permanent interest therein ; and that there exist golden opportunities of forming boys' tastes when the books axe ready to hand in a school library." The board approved of the suggestion, and voted £10 towards the establishment of the library. The statement of expenditure and receipts for February, submitted by the Eleotrio Power and Lighting Committee io the last meeting of the City Council, shows that the expenditure on generat-on amounted to £173 16s ?d, on distribution £204 5s 4d, on public lamps £23 8s Bd, on general items £153 9s sd, and on interest £646 17b 6d; total, £1201 15s 2d. The revenue was sis follows: — Sale of current (lighting), J8262 10s 7d; eale of current (power), £695 14s; public lighting, £85; total, £1043 4s 7d; debit balance, £168 10s 7d. Number of unite— lighting, 22,625; power, 243,035; total, 265,660. Capital expenditure to February 29, 1908, £170,870 lls 6d. We are requested to state that the O+ago Land Board, when granting renewable leases without competition to two exemployees in the Otekaike Settlement, was unaware of the Hon. Mr M'Nab's interpretation of the Land Act, as conveyed by him in * letter to Mr J. A. Maophereon, M.P. The Minister's communication to Mr Macpherson was published in the press on January 3, 1908, whereas the board granted the applications of Messrs Mitchell and M'Kellar on December 5, 1907. Tenders were opened at the last meeting of the City Council for the oonstruotion of the Loch Loudon dam in the vicinity of the hydro-electric works at Waipori. Four tenders were received — namely, Arthur Curwood, £2293 10s; D. O'Rourke, £2742 12s 6d, William E. Caudwell, £3879; and Watson Bhodes and Sons, £4146 10« lOd. The tenders were referred to the Electrio Power and Lighting Committee to report. " Something of a record in Ministerial travelling was established by the Prime Minister during 1 his tour of the north of the Auckland province. In 13 days approximately 720 miles were traversed by road and water, in spite of the fact that many of the roads were not worthy of the definition, and the moto-r-oar by whioh Sir Joseph and Lady Ward travelled was able to make only very slow progress in places. The party had a wretohed experience during the trip overland from Waipu to Wellslord, heavy rain having rendered the clay formation extremely treacherous, and making progress very clow. The Journey was not without an element of danger at times, owing to the tendency of the car to slide off the road into abyssmal darkness at places, notwithstanding the grippers on the rear wheels, in the shape of chains. The trouble lay in the front wheels not answering properly to the steering gear and sliding sideways, according to the formation of the road. The annual conference of. delegates of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was opened in Wellington on February 26, and has not yet been brought to a conclusion. ' The business before the* conference has been of a very lengthy and important nature. Included in the business so far transacted has, we understand, been the dispensing with the services of Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., as editor c£ the Railway Review, and the voting of n year's pay, equal to about £240, to W. J. •Edwards, the' society's retiring secretary The Otagc-Maok scheme of re-conetructicn of the society has also been thrown out by the conference. Wi*h the three above decisions there is a very pronounced feeling of indignation among looal members of the society. With the dispensing with Mr Hornsby's services in particular there is universal dissatisfaction in second division circles. It was fully realised b.v railway servants, said a member to a Times reporter yesterday, that Mr Hornsby was the best friend railway men had ever had. The Otago-Mack scheme of reconstruction of the society, it was Lopec, would have been accepted by conference, but it ha* been ignominiously cast out. A table of roses staged by ex-Judge Ward ir«s the object of a good deal of admiration at the Horticultural Society's autumn ahow on the 11th. The varieties on view were Frau Karl Drusohki, Madame Bavery, 9£m Lang, Captain Hayward, and Marnan Ooobet. The Consul for Belgium in Otago, Mr CL L. Denniston, has received advice con•raing the Universal Exposition which is 0 lie held in Brussels in 1910, under the i of the King of the Belgians Ad Prince Albert of Belgium. Should tiers be Any manufacturers or others here ' ntending to exhibit, Mr Denniston can j apply them with full information on the ftVbieoS,

Mr Alex Simpson has (says oar V> lington correspondent) been appoint*, official Assignee in place of Mr Ashcrofi resigned. Mr Simpson has been acting as deputy for some time. Mr A. H. Cooper has been elected chaij man of the (Slaughtermen's Conference ■which commenced its sittings at Wellington on the 11th, and Mr Breen, of Dunedin, wag appointed secretary. It was decided to form a New Zealand federation. The Anglican Cathedral site in Wallington (says our correspondent), which wa6 bought in 1896 for £7000, is now valued by the Government at £13,760. The fund for the Cathedral last year stood at only £I*3o. The fund for the Roman Catholic Cathedral, on the other hand, amounts to £14,000. It has received bequests of £100 and £250 from Mr C. T. Browne and Mr Owen M'Ardell respectively. Lady Plunket, accompanied by Miss Kettle and the youngest member of her own family, paid a, visit on Tuesday, 10th inst., to St. Helens Maternity Hospital, which she inspected with great interest. The four hundred and forty-firet baby that has been born in the institution, where it arrived on Sunday, Bth inst., was shown to her. The Otago Land Board will hold a special meeting at Bajclutha on the 26th inst., for the purpose of examination of applicants for land in the Tomata (Ashley Downs) Settlement. The board at this meeting will probably give its decision in the Alleged dummying caee at Tiger Hill, Central Otago. It might not be generally known, and evidently has not been known to those unions throughout the Dominion that have recently passed the resolutions qI sympathy with the Blackball strikers and in some instances offered financial aid, that by so doing they aided and abetted a strike or lockout and so rendered themselves liable to a penalty of £100. Under section 50 of the amended Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1907, those aiding or abetting a strike or lockout are equally liable with those creating such. We learn that the New Zealand Employers' Federation has decided to make a test case in connection with tha Labour Department's interpretation of clause 14 of "The Factories Aot Amendment Act, 1907." The department has construed this as meaning a weekly employment, in which case* no deduction can be made from wages whether the whole week is worked or not, i whereas the employers contend that the ! full week of 45 or 48 hours, as the case may be, must be worked before the worker is entitled to the wage stipulated in the aot or in any award of the Arbitration Court, save in cases of statutory holidaya for women and boy«. The employers point to several judgments that have recently been delivered by the president of the Arbitration Court, as well as by Supreme Court judges, where their contention has been upheld. As the judgment in this case will affect some thousands of workers and all the manufacturing industries of the Dominion the result will be awaited with considerable interest. The case will come on For hearing in Wellington shortly. In consequence of complaints made to the Labour Department that the regulations for closing the shops in. Port Chalmers were not being properly observed, those interested have been notified that future breaches of regulations will be followed by a prosecution. As a whole, the retailers observe the regulations as required, but several hairdressers take exception to the provisions calling upon them to olose at 6 p.m., their objection being based upon a recent award of the Arbitration Court, which sets forth that the hours for hairdressers shall be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. The local chemist also claims exemption under an agreement entered into by that profession as a body. Meanwhile matters are somewhat complicated in this direction, and it will probably be some little time before the conflicting interests are properly reconciled and adjusted to accord with the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act. A meeting of ladies interested in the success of the Otago Diamond Jubilee celebration on March 23, presided over by Mrs C. H. Hayward, was held in the board room of the Early Settlers' Hall on the 12th inst. There was a large attendance, and all . necessary arrangements for their special function — afternoon tea. — were thoroughly considered and planned out. Mrs Hayward mentioned that many ladies who assisted at the tea rooms at Tahuna Park, when the floral fete was held there on February 29, had promised not only to assist, but also to send contributions for the table. Everything points to this affair being equally as successful as that one. A boy aged nine was brought before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., at the Juvenile Court on the 12th and charged with stealing i! Waterbury watch and a chain, valued at 21s, from David Thomson, carpenter, Maori Hill. The boy was committed to the Industrial School, the father to pay 5s a week for his maintenance. Nearly 300 immigrants arrived at Wellington by the Rimutak* from London on the 12th (says a Press Association telegram). Only a few Are booked for Wellington, the others being bound for various parts of the North and South Islands. The following was the tendering for 30,000 gallons of castor oil for the New Zealand railways: — Accepted: National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, 2a 5 11-16 d. Declined:. National Mortgage md

Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, 2s 5 15-16 d; Mason, Struthers, and Co. (Limited), Christchurch, 2s B£d; Mason, Struthers, and Co. (Limited), Christchurch, 2s 64d; Dalgety and Co. (Limited), • Christchurch, 2a 7d; Oastendyk and Focke, Wellington, 2s 7£d; Samuel Brown (Limited), Wellington, 2e i id; Brisco© and Co. (Limited), Auckand, 2s 6d. The new pavilion at the Hospital was occupied on the 12th, & number of patients who had been ■waiting for admittance occupying the new beds. The- necessity which existed for this exteueion will be seen when it is stated that already there is but one bed vacant in the men's ward. In the worn-en's department there are still a number of unoccupied beds. At the last meeting of the Charitable Aid Board the chairman (Mr M. Stevenson) intimated that a case of scarlet fever at Windle Settlement had been reported and he had been requested to have th» patient isolated. This, however, now that the fever camp was closed, would cost £18 per week for the- on© patient. He found that the patient could be sufficiently isolated at home, and the Health Department being satisfied ( of this the patient was not removed. The chairman's action was approved. Ruapuke Island Natives make serious complaints unjustifiable interferences with their mutton bird preserves, It appears that strangers, known to be Europeans, have been landing on these islands and occasioning sad havoo amongst the young fledglings. It is not alone what is carried away, but they poke about and destroy the ground so that the birds which remain die from exposure. So much is that the case that what have hitherto been good productive fields will this season prove next to barren. Mutton-birding is becoming of great importance as a source of revenue to our island Natives, and it is but right that they should be well protected in the enjoyment of these their ancestral rights and privileges. Southern island fisheries report a decided falling-off in their takes. Still the consignments to hand are good. The Scout, from Port Pegasus, landed 200 cases blue cod at the Bluff, and will return next week with a boatload of excellent groper. The island steamer Nile is making her periodical trips, bringing from the other stations loads varying from 50 to 100 cases. Northport, Chalky Inlet, with two fishing craft, is reported to be making good catches. They will be brought in for shipment at the Bluff by the regular monthly inlet service, which, it is understood, has arranged to extend its trips to Chalky Inlet. A Wellington ham and bacon curer informed a Wairarapa Age reporter that in regard to the vending of bad hamß an interesting thing occurred recently. He received a. wire from a dealer up north Etating that a thousand hams were purchasable at 3d per Ib, and asking him if he would " stand in " and take part of the consignment. He telegraphed back: "No; ' would not touch at any price." These hams, no doubt, "had been badly cured, and, of course, were bad. They were purchased, and are probably now being distributed sectionally over the island. The hams are varnished outside, and to all external appearance are beautifully cured. A case of success having " turned " a man's brain has occurred in one of the principal towns in Taranaki (says the Herald). A man who had served a few terms of imprisonment opened a small business in the town. His previous record was unknown, except to the police, who kindly sealed their lips on the subject. The man gave every indication of intending to run straight. His business grew gradually, and then all at once he began to make money in fairly large lump sums ; he had achieved success in his business. But it was too much for him; the gold burnt holes in his pockets; he was tempted to break loose again; he gave way to the desire; larish champagne suppers in various parts of the island followed ; a. marriage or two resulted; then there were other engagements, and all the time his wife and child were at home and penniless. The man quickly came to the end of his tether, and Is now in the hands of the police. It is said that he hae let his merchants in for some hundreds of pounds, ' and left his wife and child quite destitute. The wife is said to be seriously ill in hospital as a result of the shock. The effort to identify the body of an unknown " woman in red," who was murdered in a New Jersey swamp recently, has resulted in an extraordinary discovery. There" are 1100 women missing in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Newark. Letters giving descriptions of this number of women have been received by the New York and Newark police, asking & eaoh instance whether the description fitted the "woman in red" whose body was still in the morgue at Newark. Some of the women whose names and photographs have been received have been missing for years. Others have disappeared quite recently. An application was made at Wigan County Court recently on behalf of Mrs Elizabeth Bryan, Blackburn, respecting a judgment summons against Henry and George Westcott, butchers, Newtown, Wigan. Mr Ellis stated for the plaintiff that his client's husband was killed by being run over by a motor car. At the Manchester Assizes Mr Bryan obtained a verdict against the defendants for £200 damages, with costs. The two men, however, now stated that they had no means, and though he did not insinuate that the ownership of a. motor car implied un-

limited wealth, it certainly did not Imply penury. For the defence, Mr WHson stated that his clients' mother foolishly left them £80, and adding a few pound 6 they purchased a motor car. The result had been trouble. Judge Bradbury, addressing the defendants, said: — "You have killed a man By reckless driving on the public highway, and if I can make you pay this money I will. The powers of the court will be exerted for that purpose. If I do not see a willingness to pay you will go to prison, as sure as you are here to-day, and you will not go once or twice, but often. Reckless driving- of these vehicles on the publio highway must be deait with severely, and if persons like you kill a man in the street and leave his widow and children you are not going to get rid of it by saying you are carrying on business for your mother. I will tell you frankly you have to pay a substantial amount of this money if it takes you the next 10 years of your lives. The application was adjourned to enable the defendants to consider the matter." The following letter has been received by his Excellency the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies: — " With reference to my predecessor's despatch of the 12th of December, 1902, respecting the grant of pensions to widows and children of soldiers of oversea colonial contingents whose deaths occurred through serving in the war In South Africa, I have the honour to state for the information of your Government that the limit of time within which the death from war service of an officer, warrant officer, or soldier must occur in order that his family may be eligible fqr pension, etc., from army funds has been extended from two to seven years from the date of removal from duty for wounds, injuries, or disease. 1 have to point out that, in conneotion with the investigation of any fresh claims to pension which may arise under the amended rule, it is of importance that there should be a continuous history of disease clearly connecting the man's death with his war service. The Army Council asks that the evidence on which ' any further pensions may be granted may be forward «d for its information when the award of pension i« submitted for confirmation." The condition of Sir Henry Parkes's grave at Faulconbridge calls for publio attention (remarks the Sydney Morning Herald). The plot in which the deceased statesman lies buried is in a most unkempt condition, and weeds cover the footpaths and the grave, while one of the iron railings by which it ie enclosed has been displaced, and lies on the grave. Some time ago a sum of money was voted by the State Parliament to put the last resting place of the distinguished statesman in order, but whether the money was made available is not apparent now. Those who would journey to Faulconbridge now would receive a shock at the condition of the cemetery, as a bush fire had destroyed some of the fences of the other graves, and the place has an appearance of disorder generally. The Victorian Minister of Education (Mr Saohse) has revived hia proposal to fit out caravans as itinerant school-houses, to travel about the sparsely-populated districts of that State. The vehicles will carry all the portable machinery of State school education, being particularly well stocked with school books, slates, blackboards, and the elementary aids to learning. Each will be the headquarters of one or two wandering teachers, who will require to be good bushmen, as well as scholars. The object of these education caravans will be to take a school to those children who cannot go to school. Mr Saehse's proposal is strongly supported by the School Boards' Association, and the last conference of boards of advice passed a resolution in favour of it. A design for a suitable caravan has been submitted to Mr Saohse by a gentleman who is an enthusiastic supporter of the project, and the Minister has stated that, if the departmental officers approve of it, he is inclined to adopt his design without calling for tenders. Two gold medals, suitably inscribed, will be forwarded by the Mayor of the Bluff to the Mayor of Lyttelton for presentation to the two firemen on board the s.s. Orari, now lying at Lyttelton, whose gallantry on the occasion of the recent drowning accident was so conspicuous. The death of Mr George Miller, exgeneral manager of -the Bank of New South Wales at Sydney, recalls (says the New"«ealaHtl"Tim«Bfan old-time tragedy. Many years ago the deceased's brother was the manager of the same bank in Wellington. He was a familiar figure in the streets, and was usually accompanied by his two sons, the three always walking arm-in-arm. One day the father was detained at home by a slight illness, and the elder son, who was working in a foundry, came home with an injured hand. Being overcome with a sudden dementia, the youth shot his father and mother dead, and after fruitlessly chasing a servant girl round the yard with a bread-knife, out hie throat with the Implement, and sucoumbed to the injury. i One effect of the very hot season (saya the Lyttelton Times) has been to produce A luxuriant crop of horse chestnuts on the trees in Chrißtchurch. Wednesday's gal© blew a large quantity of the ripened nut*, with their spiky coverings, to the ground, ! and they were soon the prey of mnall boys for the purposes of a childish game known as " conquerors." The nuts this year are particularly large, and In the avenue oa Park terrace me very large specimens were to be found yesterday, just bursting

throiigh their yellowish-green shell. TwG nut 3 are usually found in one shell, buC frequently a large one ocoupies all the space. A curious thing about these iv" that embedded in the downy interior o| their covering may be found one and somei times two embryo nuts not much bigget than a grain of wheat. Some of the bi® nuts this year, stripped of their covering^ measure as much as 2in across the widesk part. The Lyttelton Times thus refers to th% legacy of the Exhibition :— " On Saturday, the Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister- of Lands, visited Hagley Park, accompanied by Messrs F. H. Pyne, G. Whitty, M.P., and 1 H. G. Ell, M.P., to view the site of the late Exhibition. He expressed the opinion that the ground was in a most disgraceful state, being littered everywhere with tins* hoop iron, sticks, and scraps of all sorts. ( No doubt grass seed had been sown, but itl had not the slightest chance to grow well.The whole site-, he said, should be £loughect and levelled, and then properly worked for sowing, before being handed over to the Domain Board. Hie attention was drawn to the fact that, although the Exhibition had been over for some months, and thei ground was supposed to have been cleared',, it had not been handed back to the Domain* Board. The board was, as a result, losing! revenue, for which the Government was re« sponsible. The winter was coming on^ and unless something was done at once to put the grounds in a decent state they, would remain in their present unsatisfao* tory condition till next season." For some time past applications ha>Jf been sent to the Mines Department fofl permits to prospect for gold in the Tonga-i riro National Park, on the slopes of Mount Egmont. Such permits cannot be granted | until the district has been broughf under the operation of the Mining Act 1 . In order to ascertain whether such a ! course was justifiable, the Mines Depart* ment instructed Mr N. D. Cochrane, « former mines inspector of the department** to investigate and report. Mr Coohrantf. returned to Wellington last night (a recenn* issue of the Evening Post says) with | number of quarts samples, and when these! have been assayed, his report, basebT thereon, will be submitted to the Minister.^ A glaring instance of cargo-broachinffl came under the notice of Mr H. "Vrff Browne, of Blenheim (says the Herald}£ Examining some oases of new draperj^ goods imported direot from England, hew discovered that one had been penetrated^ by some sharp instrument, the aperture^ being large enough to enable a hand ix* be thrust in. Three blouses of good quality and a piece of silk had been extracted;; but the thief evidently found the operation ' not a painless one, for copious bloodstains showed that he cut himself rather severely on the ragged edges of the cut in the zincf j lining. As the blood was oomparativeljj fresh, it is supposed that the broaching took place in Wellington. Rent books, as they are presented t<* the court, are (says the Wellington Post), a continual source of annoyance to Df| M'Arthur, S.M. Hardly a civil case day^ passes without his Worship calling' a land* lord to task for being on the border lin# of evading the Stamp Act. The otheg day a book was presented to support 4 claim for rent. His Worship went oven; some back entries and found two mattery which he intends having investigated. Th«J defendant on one occasion owed five weekatf ren* at the rate of 15s per week. On* a certain date he paid his debt and re« ceived five separate receipts for 15s instead( of one receipt for £3 15e. -Hi*-Wonhi^ observed that no doubt this was done tty evade the stamp duty, and ordered the;, book to be detained. " It 6eems as if the British Vaccination Aci is strenuously administered. A lady left England for New Zealand (the Dominion writes), having failed to supply a. notice that her child had been vaccinated. That officials sought her out in New Zealandjjj but were informed that she could not bet found. They sought again, and this timdf with 6ucoess, but the lady wrote Horn* that her child was dead. This, however^ was not sufficient, and the authorities! demanded a certificate of death, and tbef lady had to apply to . the local registrant for the necessary document. The directors of the Forbury Park Land! Company have decided to take steps in tha' direction of outting up the park for di%< petal for building sections. The pro* perty, which contains about 70 acres, will probably be placed on the market at atf early date. A provincial conference of tKe No-license party will be held in Dunedin next week' for the purpose of considering the iegiela* tive programme of the party and thai methods to be adopted in the approaching campaign. We understand that the question of the bare majority rote and of colonial option will be prominent feature^ qf the proposals to be considered at thai conference. A flow of water equal to 283 gallons pejj hour has ' been obtained as a result of tad boring operations conducted for some tinuf past at ihe site of the Dunedin railway] engine shads. Operations have been proV gecutei to a depth of 217 ft, but have beejj suspended in the meantime. Boring, how* ever, will be resumed Again, at a later dats in the hope of striking a more generouff. | 4ow A flow oi 283 gallons per hour x« quite adequate (or ordinary manufacturing 1 requirements, but with about 50 bigf engines to be tendered, meaning the utility, ing of about 60,000 gallons per day, i$ will be teen tfub a flow of water verymucK bettes than whit if now available will bs

inquired. The use of water is * nig Stem with the Railway Department in connection with the running of its locomotives, and the presence of a continuous and copious eupply of water, such as it is hoped to obtain, would mean a very big saving •nnually. r At a. meeting of the Cromwell Railway end Progressive League on Monday, 9th inst., a letter was read from Mr W. Fraser, M.P. ; also a telegram in which it was stated that Ministers could not leave Wellington for their promised trip to Central Otago till about the 15th inst., and perhaps later. After some disoussion as to the subjects to be brought under the notice of Ministers, it was resolved — " That a deputation be appointed from this league to interview the Ministers Vre (1) pushing on the railway, (2) opening up the runs, (3) irrigation; and that the deputation work conjointly with those from the other leagues." It was further decided that a delegate be appointed to interview the -Hon. Mr Hall-Jones on his visit to Dunedin with the view of urging upon him the .early continuation of the Otago Central .railway. Mr Little (president) was appointed delegate. The meeting took into .consideration * petition which had been .circulated throughout the district and : numerously signed asking for an improve- • taent in the train service, and it was reBolved to send the petition, with a sympathetic resolution, to the department. The Compensation Court sat on the 13th Snst., when a, decision was given in the cue of Didhem v. the Minister of Public •Works. The claim was f for £255 for loss 'rising out of lands taken for railway purposes. The court was constituted of his Honor Mr Justice Williams, Messrs J. F. tWoodhouse and J. C. Stephens (assessors). His Honor said: — "The award of the court is that respondent pay to claimant ''the sum of £190 in full of all demands; *nd, further, that respondent pay £54 for costs, disbursements, and witnesses exk penses. The assessors' fees are fixed at seven guineas a day for each for two days ; each party to pay its own assessor." The Oamaru Mail is informed on reliable authority that - the Land Company has placed, the Hakataramea Estate under offer to the Government. This fact, considered in conjunction with the Land .Purchase Boards projected visit to the . estate, would appear to indicate a speedy ■ consummation of the desire of the Upper Waitaki settlers as expressed at the recent public meeting at Hakataramea. It is notified in the Gazette that the £>hag River Water-race Company (registered 1866) will at the expiration of three "months from date, unless cause be shown •to the contrary, be struck off the register and the company declared dissolved. An old identity informs the Palmerston Times that the company referred to was formed Tor the purpose of bringing in water to -work the gold-bearing ground at the Fourmile, near Hyde. The Swinburn Creek (a tributary of the Taieri River) and the nipper reaches of the Shag were tapped, and the construction of a water-race 30 miles in length was commenced. After about £15,000 had been expended it was x found that the levels were astray, and the project was abandoned. The assets of the company were subsequently bold for £150. vr the present time the number of those •'esire 'to enter the Police Force and .oa lined for service is just about equal >!■ i he demand. Inquiries by the Lyttelio:! Times go to show that it is not particularly easy to enter the force. Practically the whole of the past life of an applicant has to be revealed when he seeks admission; at anyrate, he has to give full particulars of his career since he left school, and in addition he has to pass a strict physical test before a doctor. In both respects a good many are called, but are not chosen. It is surprising to hear, however, that varicose veins are a fre- . quent occurrence in applicants, and that no satisfactory reason for their happenings in such numbers has yet beeD given. At anyrate the fact remains that after weeding . out those who are unsuitable for reasons ■ of health, education, character, and so on, there are just enough left to fill requirements. The Lyttelton Times reports an unusual case which came before Mr V. G. Day, 6.M., at Darfield on the 10th. The defendant, a young woman residing at Sheffield, was charged, on the information of Constable Dillon, that in January last she did unlawfully cause to be delivered to the |>iroprietors~ of the Lyttelton Times an untrue notice of marriage, setting forth that a young man of Sheffield had been married at Little River to a young woman at that place. The information was laid under " The False Notice of Births, Marriages, and Deaths Act, 1884." When 4he case was called on, the defendant failed to appear, neither was she represented by sounsel. The young man falsely reported to have teen married, in giving evidence, tuggested that if an adjournment were granted some arrangement might be come to. As there was no appearance on behalf yf the defendant, the magistrate decided \a proceed with the case. Sergeant Fouhy sailed the young man, who was in the position of complainant, as a witness for ~|he prosecution. . This witness stated thai defendant had admitted to him that mornIng that she had sent in the notice of the Carriage to th« Lyttelton Times, and, in. addition, sb« had _also written a letter admitting the offence, and by way of extenuation had said that she had done it purely as a joke. Sergeant Fouhy said lb*fc_fcue defendant had denied the charge

until bh« case had been fully worked up ] by the police. He had a number of witnesses present on subpoena, and proposed , to call them when required. The magis- , trate stated that he did not requ-re any ' further evidence. He imposed a. fine of i £1 and costs, amounting to £3 ss, the whole of which was paid into court. "While travelling on the East Coast the , Hon. G. Fowlds found (the Dominion says) i that in the Gisborne electorate a good many people expected that no-license would i be carried at the next election. There waa one thing certain," said the Minister, '" they could not reduce the character of some of the accommodation houses by j carrying no-license. Some of the hotels < in those parts were the poorest he had ever j put up at in New Zealand. The best i accommodation he could get was at unlicensed houses." The Maori in the back-blocks forms a great attachment to the European teacher. The Minister for Education was urged on several occasions during his tour to let the teacher remain for ever and ever and ever. In one of these cases the Minister said he was unable to promise this, because the teacher was a becoming unmarried lady. ! The Maori school teachers, stated the Mm- ' ister to a -contemporary, did invaluable [ work in the schools, and also in cases of i sickness, sometimes taking the children { into their homes and nursing them. He I regarded these teachers as the moat valuable agency at work in the elevation of the Maori people. The Dominion medals were to have been distributed by February 28, but it will be two months yet (says the Dominion) according to .official computation, before they dangle on the necks of school girls and are "swapped" by boys. The explanation is that great difficulty has been experienced in achieving a really satisfactory design. The contractors, Messrs C. Moller and Sons, have been at muoh pains in the matter, and are not to blame for the delay. A design has just been approved, and in two months more the"f medals should be available for distribution. On the obveree will be depicted the King's head, between the Union Jack and New Zealand ensign, with an inscription round the border " Dominion of New Zealand." The reverse side will have a ■border of fern leaves, with the inscription, " Presented to the children attending the schools of the Dominion," and," round a circle, "New Zealand' proclaimed a Dominion, September 26, 1907." Regarding the value obtainable from a email farm, a witness at the Conciliation Board at Ra-ngiora stated (saye the Press) that potatoes would, at the fairly low price of £2 per ton, give a gross return of £16 per acre; under the best conditions, and best prices and milk (returns, cows would give a gross return of £8 per acre; sheep would probably produce about £4 per acre; and fattening cattle, which did not involve the employment of much labour, would not return more than £3 per acre. A meeting of master bakers was held od Saturday night at the office of Mr Mirams, secretary of the Master Rakers' Association, to consider the question of a reduction in the price of bread. The president (Mr J. G. Laurenson) occupied the chair, and about 20 other members were present. j Representatives of the press were not admitted. After considerable discussion it was agreed that, with flour selling at £11 , 5s a ton, the price of the 41b loaf could 1 not be reduced below 7d to private customers if bakere are to pay their way and | also pay the union rate of wages. This, j we are informed, ie the substance of the discussion that took place. An infant recently taken into the Karitane Home in a very weakly condition died • there on Saturday morning, despite all efforts to restore it to a healthy state. The matter was reported to the coroner, who, exercising his power under the new act, directed that 1 a medical man should see the bedy, and on receiving his report decided that it was not necessary to hold an inquest. The Hospital returns are as follow: — Patients remaining at the expiration of the week before last, 115; admitted during the past week, 24; and discharged during the same period, 19. There was one deaths, the patient's name being Joseph Cook, and the total now in the institution is 119. The Most Rev. the Primate hold an ordination service at St. Paul's Cathedral on Sunday, 15th met., when the Revs. Ralph Bray and Percy Takapuna Jones were admitted to the priesthood. The Very Rev. Dean Fitchett preached the ordination sermon, and the Yen. Archdeacon Gould and Canon Woodthorpe assisted in the laying on of hands. There was a large congregation. Contributions, amounting to £5 14s 6d, towards the offering to be made at Sfc. Paul's Cathedral (London), on the occasion of the Pan Anglican Congress, in aid of the mission work of the Church, were handed in at the three service*. " A Visitor," who has ju6t returned from a visit to Queenstown, severely criticises the accommodation provided on the Government steamers on Lake Wakatipu. In the course of a conversation, he remarked i "It was my first trip to the lake, and I was much struck with its grandeur — a grandeur, I should say, all its own. But I wish not to praise the lake ■ and its sublime surroundings — that would be superfluous, — but to voice a very general complaint on the part of tourists. The Mountaineer, the paddle steamer which conveys passengers from Kingston to Queenstown, Is well provided with accommodation and conveniences, but unfortunately the same cannot

be said of the smaller boat which takes the passengers on to the Head of the Lake. On Friday this boat had a fairly large number of tourists on board, and they had a very unenviable time of it. A strong head wind sprang up, and the passage proved a very rough one, and big ' seas ' swept the boat. The accommodation ! — well, there was a bit of a deck certainly, but nearly everybody got wet through; and what is supposed to be a pleasure excursion turned out to be something very far from pleasurable. Incidentally, I may mention that one of the forms which serve as seats and a tarpaulin were washed away, and it was a mere accident tha.t one of the passenger's belongings escaped. Meals are provided on board, but it was out of the question to lay the table until the journey was almost finished, and indeed there were few who were in a fit condition to trouble about the ' inner man ' when the outer one was doing so poorly. Ladies lay sick on the deck with water splashing over them every minute or two. And this is a Government service — a Government which runs a Tourist Department and asks visitors from overseas to run down and see its wonderful cold lakes. Queenstown people say that when the Government took over the service some years ago it promised that muchneeded improvements would be made immediately, but the wheels of government move slowly. If the Government would only allow private enterprise to step in and run an opposition service it might improve matters, but it won't. Meantime Queenstown people complain that the present inadequate service is interfering materially with the progress of the town. Certainly, while I myself would like myj. friends to see this beautiful lake and take a trip toi the head of it, I would not advise them to do it under present conditions." The Tuap&ka Times reports a sensational accident. As Mr A. M'Pherson's waggon, driven by J. Perrow, was descending the o'olock on Thursday, 12th inst., the brake failed to act, and the waggon, loaded with about five tons of general merchandise, got way on and forced the horses into a gallop. After going some distance one of the leaders fell and brought down others of the team, and the heavily-laden waggon was brought to a standstill by running on to them. Two horses were killed outright, and one had its leg broken, and had to be destroyed. As the team consisted of nine horses, the confusion in the darkness can well be imagined. Messrs Fletcher, Moore, and A. Fraser, who were returning from the licensing meeting at Roxburgh, happened to be near at hand at the time of the accident, and rendered the driver all the assistance possible under the circumstances. Care is being taken by the Education Department (saye the Melbourne Argus) to make the special issue of the School Paper which is now being prepared for distribution at the Franco-British Exhibition, a thoroughly Australian production. The articles and lessons which have been composed for it all come from the hands of Australians, many of the authors being Victorian teachers. For instance, there is an article which describes the lower portion of the Yarra, and the dock accommodation of Melbourne ports. Another deals in a bright manner with a visit to a shearing shed. Other authors explain the nature of a Viotorian butter factory and an Australian hop plantation. There are interesting lessons upon the production of wheat in the Malleo and raisins at Mildura. Mining is not forgotten, for there is a good children's article upon a visit to a Bendigo gold mine. Children over the seas will also be able to learn in the paper about Victorian maize, and Gippßlaind trees, and the coming of spring. The paper ie well illustrated, and it contains numerous quotations from the works of Australian poets. Mr E. J. Matthews, of Sydney, who arrived in Wellington on the 13th by the Maheno, brought with him three of the blue-tongued edible dogs of China, and introduced them to the literary staff of the Post. They were imported from Singapore, and he brought with him a family of four, 20 months old, with their mother. They are docile-looking creatures, quiet and goodtempered, of medium size, and the coat soft and thick, in general appearance resembling Siberian sledge dogs, though on a much smaller scale. The resemblance is noticeable in the shape of the head, the set of the ears, and the way in which the tail curves over the back, the long, fine hair giving it the appearance of a plume. In the colour of the adult a foxy reddishbrown predominates; the younger doge show more of yellow, but the shade deepens with age. The dark blue, almost slatocoloured tongues show tho purity of breed. Mr Matthews left two of tho animals in tho South Island. Dog fanciers will be aorry to know that he and his " Ohow-chows " paid but a flying visit, as he was to leave again with them the same afternoon for Australia. Applications for subdivided portions of the Meadowbank Estate are to be received on Wednesday, April 22, but the examination of applicants will not be held until , Friday, April 24, on account of St. George's Day, a legal holiday, intervening. The j ballot will be held on Saturday, April 25. The estate comprises 4343 acres, and has been subdivided into eight different holdings, varying in area from 115 acres to 1060 acres. The committee of the Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association had a considerable amount of business to transact at its last meeting. Applications for ambulance kits were received, and instructions i6sued for same to bo supplied where competent persons could take charge. The

classes will be held during the coming winter months, and will probably commence early in June. Inquiries are already coming forward from ihe country districts, and there is every indication that a considerable number of students will take advantage of the lectures. The district nursing branch and ambulance transport have been doing good and efficient work. The annuai meeting will be held in May, when the full report of the centre's work for the past year will be placed before members. A deplorable story was told in the City Police Court on the 16th by a wife who applied for a prohibition order against her husband. The applicant stated that she had five young children, the eldest of whom was seven years of age, and she said her husband spent most of his earnings in ] drink, often coming home in a drunken ' condition and ill-using her and the chil- . dren. When in a drunken state her husband had gone round the house with a tomahawk in his band, and at another time he had threatened to strangle the children. He failed to supply witness and her children with sufficient food and clothing, and for these necessaries, although the man was in more or less constant employment, his wife and children were dependent upon a benevolent churoh society* The i society had also supplied the woman and children with coal and firing. All the food the family had bad that"^lay, the woman stated, waa some bread in the- morning. The husband denied the wife's allegations, and said he spent only Is, 2s, or 3s per week in drink ; but the fact that he had previously taken out a prohibition order against himself, added to other admissions made by him, justified the bench in granting the application for a prohibition order. A relative who was called as a witness in the case stated that the furniture in the house consisted of two chairs, a table, and a couple of cups, some bedding, etc., all the other crockery, etc., having been broken by defendant. The southerly gale of Saturday morning did considerable damage to orchards in the Taieri district, one orchard at Ihe side of the railway line from Mosgiel to Outram being strewn over with apples. Other orchards in the district were in a similar condition. The flower gardens also suffered considerably. The Oamaru Mail says: — "It is stated on good authority that a small syndicate is negotiating for the purchase of th-3 Hakataramea Estate, and that the members are at present -.n Dunedin on this business. Our informant stated that it i 3 no wonder the people are anxiou6 to obtain the property, as at present from the Dalgety Range down to the river t.he country is covered with a rich crop of grass." The price of flax (the Bruce Herald says) is £10 a ton below what it was this time last year, and £17 ie quoted for best grades f.o.b. Under these circumstances the Fairfax mil employees, knowing it was a case of close up or reduce expenditure, arranged with the owner to reduce prices for labour and material all round. It is not often the employees in these days of combination and outcry against capital take so fair a view of a matter, and this case~stands out in relief from the usual. The next sitting of the Milton Court will (says the Bruce Herald) be on Friday, when a somewhat unusual case will be tried. The police have summoned a settler in Circle Hill for having in his possession sheepskins from which the ears have been removed. It may not be generally known that in skinning a sheep the ears must be j left attached to the skin. i An unusual charge wa* ma'ie at the Hokitika Magistrate's Court la«t week before Mr R. Acheson, SI.M. Michael Heenan was charged with having attempted to extort money from David William Jones by accusing him of a crime — viz., the theft of gold. Inspector B'aok. appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Guinness for the defence. The evidence called for the prosecution was that of David William Jones (miner, of Lyell), A. R. Gainnea: (solicitor, Greymouth), Inspector Black, Thomas Jones (miner, Greymouth), Robert -M. Hempseed (mercer, Greymouth), and Defective Campbell (Greymouth). The case arose out of the Cronadon robbery ease- in the Supreme Court, and the evidence throughout was conflicting. After the hearing his Worship said that there was no evidence that the accused had threatened to accuse David Jones with intent io extort money, and the information would lx» JtJiniasoi. Owing to the unoompleted state of th« survey of thb ngriouUurul leaeos at Orepuki (saya tho local Advocate), the lessees, for want of security, nre unable to effect improvements whioh nro necessary. Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., hafl repeatedly urged that the work should bo undertaken, and a promise- was made that tho matter would be attended to, but nothing has been done so far, the Hon. R. M'Nab explaining that owing to the great difficulty experienced in obtaining surveyors for the necessary settlement surveys, it was impossible to send an additional surveyor for work on the Southland staff. However, he has now informed the member for WalUce that a surveyor is being detached from the Auckland staff, and will be ssnt to luvercargill by the Ist April. One reason why grocers sometimes do not sue for long-standing debts is that the New Zealand law requires (failing an acknowledgment of indebtedness) that » fully detailed account shall accompany the summons. This rule (says tha Hawko's Bay Herald) applies even to a case in which a customer may always have been behind in his payments. In such a ca3O, if the tradesman wishes to recover the balance due by the process of the court, he must furnish particulars of *li the jjoc-ds sullied, ip

eluding those which may be taken to hare been paid for. At a meeting of the Napier Grocers and Produce Dealers' Association it was stated that the law on the point was different in Victoria. There, it was asserted, a bill, if not disputed by tho customer within a certain pciiod, was accepted by the court without details. There is some talk of petitioning the New Zealand Parliament for an alteration of the law to bring it into line with the Victorian practice. A respectably-dressed and apparently welleducated young man, who said hi« name was James Austin Rodgers, gave himself up to the South Melbourne- police. He said lie had been working for a farmer named Ingram, in Preston, and when sent on A message to purchase some goods got oh the spree and spent about 12s 6d belonging to his employer, who had issued a warrant for his arrest. The man, who was in a muddled state from the effects of drink, handed over a revolver loaded in four chambers, and said he intended taking his life. He had an allowance of £400 a year from his father, a wealthy London business man, and had gone through over £200 since January. " I will get another £203 in July," said the young man, nervously, "and I hope I will be kept id gaol till itarrives, as I intend 'turning over a, new, leaf." Rodgers was -brought before the bench and remanded to appear at the Preston Court on a charge of larceny as a bailee of 12s 6d, tho property of his late employer. At a special meeting of the University Council yesterday afternoon the tender oE Mr Gabriel Hodges for the erection of the new School of Mines was accepted. The amount of the tender is £4363. As it was found at the previous meeting that the lowest tender exceeded the amount placed! at the disposal of the council, an application was made to the Government for another £1000, and this was granted. The Government was requested to pay the whole sum of £5000 over before the end of th« financial year (March 31). In a caee heard in the Magistrate's Court, Th-ames, recently, wherein the proprietor of the Thames Star obtained judgment against J. D. Collins" (formerly of Tairua) for £2 18s subscription to paper, a point was mentioned by the magistrate that should prove | of interest to anyone who entertained any doubt as to the law on the subject. In the case in question the defendant had left the district without stopping the paper, and consequently others continued to receive it; but, no payment being made, Collins was sued for the total amount owing.> Hia Worship said it had been given as a decision that, even if a subscriber did order the stoppage of the paper, that order was practically invalid unless the arrears to date were paid. " People apparently do not know this, " said his Worship, "and I think that information is worth more than 6s Bd." It was also mentioned that in a case where the paper was left at a residence by mistake, and the paper accepted by the new tenant and no objection raised, the person so receiving the paper would be liable, a 6 having tacitly consented to it» delivery and having accepted same. Some time ago it waa 6tated that a resident of Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, had discovered some preparation which possessed the qualities needed to bring about' an immediate extermination of the muchhated cookroach. This concoction has since been tried upon well-known. Auckland coastal steamers, which the travelling publio has reason, to know were infested with cockroaches, and the result, according to the Star, is remarkable. Boats which were alive with the pest are now absolutely free. The preparation has been tried ashore with similar success. A Star representative was shown the bakehouse of a well-known Auckland bakery, which for 20 years has been, overrun with the cockroaches. A week ago the Tauranga patent was tried, with the result that there has been a steady evacuation, and the premises are now free of what has for many years been regarded as an immovable host of cockroaches. The movement in favour of cash trading. is (the New Zealand Times observes) growing throughout the Dominion. The bakers are taking the lead, and by means of cooperation are forcing the reform upon the public in different parts of the Dominion-. The butchers are showing a dispositon to follow suit. If the grocers and other tradespeople are wise they will not allow the golden opportunity to slip by. Cash trading stands for honesty and solvency. Nearly all bankruptcies are caused by abuses of the booking system, and the opportunities which it offers for the dishonest to come by what is not their own. There is a large and growing class of rogues who fatten on the credift mania, rogues who, taking advantage of the keen competition which exists in nearly, every line of business, systematically " do"' the whole round of the trading community. These people regard entrants into the business arena particularly as fair game, and they rejoice exceedingly when a new signboard goes up. There are numbers of people in this community in receipt of good incomes who^pend their money in speculation and theatre tickets, and iet/the trusting tradesman wait. The Postal Department reaps an enormous revenue -from tha people who are continually sending good money after bad in the frantic endeavour t« recover lost debt*. The floundet fs not as rare ac some" authorities have alleged. A single haul at Day'e Bay proved that the favourite fish is far from extinct. The net brougM in flounders and their brethren soies mi a shoal which weighed 20001b, many, weighing 3lb end over. Residents go out by night with a lantern and spear, and! get some excitement as well as a tast/, dish for. breakfast