LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 31

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Some dogs with worrying propensities played havoc among a" fiock of sheep in the Kaikorai Valley recently. As many as 18 fat sheep were killed, and others irainaed. ' Some were found dead in ths

ILaikorai Stream, into which they had been driven, while others were extricated from

the water more dead than alive. The sheep thafc were- killed had been shockingly worried.

At last week's meeting of Dunedin Presbytery thers wab laid on the table -a call to the Rev. W. Spence, of Lincoln, by the congregation of West Tacsri. It was stated that the call was practically unanimous, and the congregation guaranteed a

stipend of £300 per annum. Tli3 call was sustained, and will be forwarded to -he Christchurch Presbytery for presentation to Mr Spence. Rev. D. Redder (Papxinui) and Rev. J. Swanson Reid (Ka ; rooi) were appointed commissioners to prosecute ih« call. - Tlw sequel to the proceedings several

■weeks "ago in the' Old-age Pension Couirt

at Waikouaiti, whan rhe presiding magistrate nassed severe strictures uron the

conduct ot a iirm of* laujyers, will take ths form of an application, on beha.lf of th« Law .Sociafcy, to rh« Supreme Cc-urt, unds-r

tho Laiw Practitioners Act, to call upon iha

solicitors in t question to show cause in respect of allegations, that the charges

and expenses in connection with the bu=i-

n'3£s transacted by th&m fox* the pensioner were unnecessarily heavy ; that the procedure of the court was improperly u=«d in tho "taxation" of the charges, and that their condiict in the nfatter of obtaining an old-age pensicai for tbsir client'amounted to grave misconduct on their part as officers of tho court. Mi- Justice Williams has fixed an early day r.-ext week for dealing with, the application. A telegram has been received by the Port Chalmers Borough Council notifying thafc the Government lias guaranteed the loan of £5500. It is umferstocd that the loan will be iesu>>d on Juno 30, with a sinking fund to repay the loan raised some year* «go to ereVjfc municipal buildings, fire brigad3 station, and courthouse at Port Chalmers. A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Governor went aboard tha Amokura on the 15th inst. to present his gold medal to the x boy G-eonje Woods, who for good work and exemplary conduct during the past 12 months was lecomniended ior tbc honour by tho whole ship. Lord Plunkei stated that on i'ie Amokura 91/ had bosn enrolled, 43 discharged, 34- had followed the sea, and throe had gone into the Royal navy. The kck b of school work on board was pointed cut by hi 3 Excellency, who - advised training boTs on the lines obtaining in England — a college oil shore and a s/iip for rlw pi-actica! work. He con-gratulated the officers :rr.d bojs on the work done, and hoped the bojs would always rememfcer that they -were pioneers of the navy and the mor-* cantil-2 marine of the Dominion. Blair and Cullen (runners-up) also received medals promised by Lady Plunket. The Minuter o? Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar) thanked his E\-eel'en-cy for th-e very close and wholehearted int£'r>s!?t whish he had evinced in the mov-srnant s-ir.c-3 its inception. He con-s:c!-2ied that his Excellency should fc?l s&.tis•fied with the evidence before him that the formation of the nucleus of followers of the navy and mercantile marine in X«w ZcaJand had been so succesjf ul. As regarded accommodation, tha Minister agreed that the beat, though efficient, was not so suitable £<"3 it might be owing to its smallncss. Tho college scheme was an excellent system, and a larger vessel, as a de-pot from which the boys could be drafted to the Amokura for soa work, might be expected in the future.

A Wcsi-port telegram states that threa fresh applications for new publicans' licen.^e^ in the Buller electorate have already be-on lodged for hearing at the next annual meofc'ng of the Licensing Committee 22 months hence. One application is for a license at Mine Creek, and two 'at Ngaka•wau.

As <a tramcar was moving rapidly along

'Gooi-ga stroer, near Fi-sdsriek street, on tho 16t'.i instant, a small child suddenly ran out from behind ono of the poles and fell right in front of the wheels. The

motorman, of course, immediately applied

his brakes, and the car was pulled up. At once the youngster sprang up and ran away. As it fell, it had been caught on the lifeguard of the car, and had thus been carried along the Track for some distance, receiving no more serious injury than a cut on the head.

Mr F. H. Morioe, agent of ihe Public Trust Office in Otago, returned to Dunedin

last weak from Wellington, where he attended a conference between the Public Trustee and the district agents and the agents in the principal centres. This conference occupied two days, and Mr Movies expresses the opinion that it proved to have been of the greatest advantage to the Public Trust Office, both from a head office and a branch point of view. The business has' now attained such immense proportions, the Public Trustee holding about six millions of trust moneys, that it has become absolutely necessary, in the interests of the office and the public, and to expedite business, that there should be a considerable amount of decentralisation, ffhe district agents will probably cease to

be known as such in the near future, and will be termed district or branch managers or deputy public trustees, or some name will be chosen which will convey to the public in a more explicit manner who the local head is. It is hoped that as a result of the conference the district managers in each centre will have the power of executing transfers and other instruments without having to send everything to Wellington.

It is probable that Mr Tannock, inspector of city reserves, will be asked to take charge of the Hospital grounds, provided the permission of the City Council is obtained.

The report of the city building inspector for the 12 .months ended March 19, 1909, which is included in the town clerk's annual report, contains the following interesting returns : — During the first six months the lxnldin? trade was very good, and permits wer3 issued for buildings and alterations totalling £138,144. The number of permits issued for the year was 397, comprising 50 brick structures, 113 wooden structures, .and 237 alterations and additions. The most important building under construction is the ferro-concrete building for the New Zealand Express Company, costing £52,000. Large offices are being i erected in Rattray street for the New" Zealand Government Insurance Depart-m-snt, costing £11.000, and about 23 other_ business premises, each amounting to four figures. Fourteen residences were ■Tected, each costing four ligures, totalling £23,683. The value of the property erected was £190.046. - i

" The time Las not jet come when we can do away with our Maori representatives," said the Rev. F. Bennett when speaking- at the no-license demonstration at Ghri-stchurc-h on the 15th inst. With men like" the Hon. A. T. Ngata and Dr Buck it was no easy matter for the Natives^ to give up their representation. These men were batter than 75 per cent, of the pakeha members, and it was because ihey had this type of men coming- forward that he felt so strongly that the time for doing away with Maori representation was not yet.

On his present visit to New Zealand, Mr Wrag-ge tokl his audience on the 16lh, he had been very much struck with a certain features of colonial architecture. The peculiarity was "spikes." Every house had ons — sometimes half-a-dozen — usually . with a little ball on the top. These were specially noticeable in the North Tsland. Mr Wragge then said this was a reiic of the old sun-worship of the Lcimtrians, the race of people which once occupied a great continent, of which New Zealand and other islands are the remnants. These people worshipped the sun. and the ball on the bpik-3 was simply the continuation of the custom of worship.

At last week's meeting of tha Burns Club tlie chairman said, in the course rf his remarks, that they had, it would be remembered, offered for competition a scholarship valued at £45, and this had been carried oft' by a young lady who wa= not of Scottish parentage, but the committee had awarded her th-e prize on account of the great merit of her essay, and that young iady was now continuing her studies at the Otago University. It had been decided to offer a second scholarship prize valued at £45, tenable for thr-ee yeai-s, and payable quarterly in advance. It would be open to any matriculated student of the* University of New Zealand, provided such student, or his or her parent or guardian, had been members cf tho club for two jears preceding the examination, which would take place in March next. The examination would inrlude questions on Scottish history from the earliest times until 1707, and others on the literary history of Scotland, and finally an oral examination, at which candidates would be asked to road^at sight and explain any passage s-eleetfed from Burns's works.

The Inspector of Abattoirs reports that 'luring the year ond?d March 31, 1909, die following animals were slaughtered at the City Abattoir :— 13,578 cattle, 1601 calve*. 90,661 sheep, 13,223 lambs, 2532 pigs. Ths number condemned as unfit for food was as follows :— 497 cattle, 34 calves, 234 sheep, 57 pigs.

■Readei-3 of Frank Bullpii will have some recollections of his description of the appearance of the light termed the zodiacal light when in the tropics. This light appears in either thp morning or the evening, and takes the appearance usually of a broad belt of ethereal effulgence. Mariners in various times have been much troubled over the appearance of this, and have founded various superstitions thereupon. The explanation has been made known to science within recent years, and was mentioned by Mr Clement Wraggs in the course of his kctuie on the 16th. . The light was simply the corona of the sun. There were great flames and rays of light leaping out from the sun and spreading to a distance of 300,000 miles beyond its edge. That is the secret of Mr Bullen's mysterious light.

At Invercargill on the 16th («ays our own correspondent) Win. G. Beer, of Messburn, was charged with unlawfully shooting six paradise duck-, in the close eeason. He pleaded " Guilty." On his behalf Mr Maealist-er 6tat-ed that Beer was a farmer, and was not a sportsman, not e^ en owning a gun. He lived near the river, and the ducks did much damage. He had counted as many as 300 to 500 at one time on his grain and turnips. He was unaware that under the Animals Protection Act he might have obtained a permit to destroy them. He obtained his brother's gun and

shot six, afterwards ringing up the Acclimatisation Society for the ranger to come and take them away. The ranger was sent up, and laid the charge. The prosecution -alleged that the damage was exaggerated. The Magistrate said he thought the Acclimatisation Society should get power to act promptly. It was quite clear that Mr Beer was not a poacher, but that he had acted by way of protest. Tho minimum penalty of £1 was imposed, with costs £1 Is. Matinee and Merry Widow hats came in for good-humoured j-epi-ehonsion at -the Burns Club concert on tho 16th. On th^ programmes distributed an appeal was made as follows : — "Ladies, the gentlemen who sit behind \ou would bo grateful if you would kindly remove your hats." This was back-ad up by the chairman, who apologetically explained that he knew from experience the trouble ladiss had in fixingj their hats on their heads. One lady, in her endeavour to carry out t he expressed wish, apparently unshipped n-ore than her hat, and caused those in her imfnediato neighbourhood to roar with laughter. The chairman, from his elevated position, took in the situation at a glance, and exclaimed, '" Ladies, I leave this matter entirely in I your hands. You can take your hats oft or leave them on." They were left on as a matter of course. A Wellington telegram sajs that the diminution in the quantity of Australian flour imports by comparison with the records of last year continues to -be noticed. Consignments for Wellington on tha 16t''i totalhd 263 sacks. With reference to ths discussion that has taken place over Nightcaps coal and ths statements by tha company's manager alleging- a boycott on the part of the Dunedin Coal Merchants' Association, the chairman of that body etatcd to a Times reporter on ths 17th that it was not within the piovinco cf the association to say what coal its members were to deal in and what they were not to deal in. That was left to individual members (h°msel\es. and they knew quits v. s:l enough 'low to meet tho requirements of their own particular trade. To show whether there is actually any demand for this coal or not, one merchant wiih about 500 customers states that hs has never had a. single inquiry foi- it. while in the case of another merchant in a large way, he had oniy had tho coal mentioned by one householder, and then it was only a-ksd for in tha event of it hsing thought better tha.n soms oth-er coal. As it was, there were quite enough coaJs on the market. And if a managsr wish-eel to get hh coal on a certain market it was quite open to him 10 do that himself, as other | companies had had to do in sacking liuu-- | kets in outsid-e places. A conference was held on the 17th inst. between rapresontaiivcs of the employers and of the Engine-drivers' Union to coneider proposals put forward by tho union in the present industrial dispute, but proved abortive. The reference will now be filed with the Conciliiiion Council. The mayoral chain, as worn by the Mayor (Mr J. 11. Wa'kei) at tho meeting ■ of tha City Council on WednercTay, 16ch, assumed a different form from that which it previously had, as a eecond row of links formed, as it were, a breastplate. This consists of five- links, the centre one oi which has b3en subscribed for by the Mayor himself. The chain now comprises 22 links and a basic medallion. Oar Wellington correspondent informs us that it is understODcl that within th-> next few weeks an important political gathering will bo held in Auckland to niaik the^a-sl sen ic-ss of Mr W. F. Mossey in tho interests of the Opposition party and the splendid progress whieli. it has recently made. The four st"el ovcihcad budges in connection with the duplication of the Danedin to Mosgiel railway am now in position, the laot girder of the ons at the Caversham Glen having L-2-cn placed m position a few days ago. A conspicuous figure about the streets of the city on the 17th was that of Captain Henry Sea-ton, D.S.O. (Afghan Tiiah cani-pa-ign), who has arrived hire in the cour?o of a waking tour round ihc world. He stands well o\er 6ft high, and is built in proportion, and is wearing well under what ho ha= already performed of the stupendous taak he has set hi:r..e'f. Ho <-ta(os , that no ha-s undertaken to rraicl 45.0C0 j mil"* 1 on a grand tour mapped out' by the London Daily Mail, tlu> vi waul for which is a considerable sum of money. He has ahoady covered 96C0 mil~s of his journey, and has walked across America, through Hawaii, Eastern and Southern Australia, anJ is now covering New Zealand in his huga strides. He will later visit Japan. China, India, and from top to bottom ot Africa. During his long journey ho giveo lectures on his travels and on physical culture at tho towns he halls a,t. lie will ' bo in Dunedin for a clay or two. A paper laid on the table of the 110a = c on the 14th inst. showed that it was the intention of the- Government to grant a pension to Captain R. A. Edwin, formerly Government Motecrologi-t. The amount of the pension, wlhch wi'l commence on July 1, 1909, was btated to ba £253 6s £d. A Press Association lolcgiani from Chri.'.tchurch stalo-^ ihat at a meeting on the 3,6 th instan£ oi the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the chairman (Dr j Moorhouee) said thai several nicinbeia of the Philosophical Institute were making investigations in regard to the presence of ' radium in artesian water. It had been suggested to him that artesians in the public gardens belonging to the society

should be examin&d, and he had given rhe_ t necessary permission. His action was approved, and the opinion was expressed that it would ba to tha benefit of the ; society to find out. the effect of radium ■ ems nations in artesian water on fish, and [ it v;ould bs no loss to sacrifice a few fish in tha interests of science. I Some time ago it was reported that the steamer -3Eon, which was wrecked at Chustmas Island on July 18 last, had baen i looted by pira.tcs and djnamited. Captain E. A. Downie, who was master of the .-Son at the time of the wreck, and who is now in command of tha s.s. Century, which arrived at Auckland on Saturday fiorn San Francisco, informed a New Zealand Herald repre=cnta*ivo that he felt su:o that the JEon had not been dynamited, but had broken up owing to the action of the sea. " When wo ware picked up at Christmas Island in September last," taid Captain Downie, "'the fore part of the iEon was still resting on the rocks, a-nd the stern partly under water. The seabrolo over the after part of the steamer daily, and she was constantly bumped about by the action of the waves, and even then showed signs of breaking in two at No. 2 hold, which was mil of water. The JE.cn has evidently broksn in two at No. 2 hold, and the after portion ha.s rolled off tho ic-ef into 160 fathoms of water."' Captain Downie also expressed the opinion that the. expedition to Christmas Island to salvage the JEon had left it l ill tco late to moot with any success. On her present vojag-o the Century sighted Christmas Island, but saw no signs of the wrecked steamer or the scow Zingara, which has the salvage party on board. | An interesting exhibit has just boon placed in the Tourist Department's office in Christchurch. It consists of a specimen of ctibnite, the ore from which antimonyis extracted, a small quantity of scheelito, in the condition in which it leaves the tables and is exported Home, and a vial of the extracted tungstic acid which is use in the hardening of steel by the Bessemer process. The ore was procured from the Alexandra, mine, the sch-selite from the Glenorchy mine (Lake Wakatipu), and the tungstic acid from the Macrae's mine. According to tho Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail the Berlin police administration has decided to establish a corps of women detectives. Ten la:lio=, mostly very young, some of then girls, will immediately enter the sen ice, and will be put to work as fast as opportunity ofteis on every important case whore it re thought that feminine intuif.cn may be useful. Permission to introduce this innovation was granted by th» Prussian Homo Office as a result of experiences demonstrating that I there are numerous crimes which women detectives can best deal with. I'he department has also decided to employ for the first time women assistants in administrative work. Five women were to be on j duly at tho Alexander Platz— the Scotland' Yard of Berlin — after lla> 15. | The '• iron hoi-ec " (^ays our Greymouth correspondent) made ito appearance in Blackball yesrerdav, tha fi r-t engine running on tho line from Ngahere to B'aekball. The engineer and fiis staff made tTie journey on this preliminary run. The line should bo opened to tvafiic within about six waeks, and by that tima the Faparoa Coal Company will be in a position to commence an export from its mine j It will br> remembered that when the ' Hon. R. M'Kenzis (Min^rar of Mine*) \^ited tho Yv"cst Coa^t he was approached by a deputation vith tho proposal that tho Srafo should acquit (he Wali-snd mine. Th.i Minister ha<s now (~ajs our Greymouth cot-respondent) nuimatcd to th© Hon. A. R. Gil in trees tint, aftsr consideration o£ all | the circumstance*, xhj Go\ crnmenr, cannot see its way to entertain the proposal. Mr Spenesr Balfour, of London, who has been c;i ihs We t Coa^t for ?onw days in connection with the Rinm and Arahura Mining Syndicate-, is most favourably imI p.rs-.ed with \\ hat he has seen hers. A ' joint committee of the various syndicates has had seseial meetings at Hokitika with him, but he considers that the regulations referring to eleeti'o mining miL-t bs g«^n ly modified before any London or outiide capital would be available. If thceS harrowing- condition^ W2re withdrawn Mr Bali four would l<s.y~. our Giey mouth correspondent) probably have no difficulty in finding > £150.000 for the development of the two ' propc-itionj which ha^e beon laid be£o:-o him. The Prims Mini=tet forwarded £3300 to the Greymouth Harbour Board on Saturday, 12th inst., to enable it to pay up the amount due to Symor.ds and Co. on t,he dredge Mawbera, as soon s>s tin engineer is abo to give a certificate that ci.c is in prop'r condition to be taken over. It is expected (sajs our correspondent) that a ir^cetrng of tho board will b~ held ehcrtly to engage a permanent crew- Mx Blakey is expaeted to arrive c oon to give over control to ihs board. This relieves the board's (position for the time Icing, and the chances are thai it will now be able to meet the interest charges, which amount to nearly £4000, falling due on July 1. At the final sitting of the District Court at Gore on the 16th inst- Mr Poppelwell, on behalf of the Bai% addressed some comp!i : montary remarks to District Judge Ha^.elden, and went on to say that the abolition of the- court meant a great deal to the dutiict, situated as it was Since its inception some seven years ago it had proved a very convenientand advantageous means of disposing of a large amount of business economically. The class of bu6inees to which he referred most particularly was

bankruptcy applications and mining ap> peals. The District Court in this respect had proved itself .to be an economica. 1 means of having justice done to a largo section of the community. It seemed to him that unless 6teps were taken by the Government to increase the jurisdiction of the magistrates in certain directions a serious injustice would be done to a large number of litigants. They lived in an. age when cheap as well as . good law was wanted, and the step taken by the Government was a retrograde one, placing as ifc did an increased burden on the shoulders of litigants who wished to make usa of the court.

Our Greymouth correspondent states in regard to the finances of the Greymouth Harbour Board that s,H the payments on the dredge have now been made, _ whilst the board is in the fortunate position of having i considerable sum in hand to meet interest payments due on July 1. By that date the necessary funds will be available. The bor.rd has thus got out of its immediate financial difficulties.

Mr Parker M'Kinlay, M.A., announces in. this issue his candidature for the vacancy, in the Education Board, SovrtheiT Ward. Mr M'Kinlay was formerly a member of tha teaching profession, bui resigned a few years ago to enter business with his father-in-law, Mr M'Skimming, cf Benhar. His interest. in educational matters is very keen. H-e has acted as secretary to ths Stirling School Committee for some time, , a which has brought him into acquaintance with r.ot a few of the disabilities undei^ which country education has to be carried on.

At As-hburton on the 17th James Georgi Murphy, with ssvera.l aliaees, pleadet; guilty and was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence on a charge of break< nig and entering and theft, and on a fur< ther charge cf escaping 'while in lawful custody.

At the last meeting of the Clutha Pres-* bytery a missionary who had bean dis« missed from a charge in the Tuapeka district appealed, and asked that an inquiry, be made into the facts. ?he allegations against him were drinking and playing; cards. The Milton Mirror states that it understands there was a spirited discussion, ' lasting about three- hours, and that, after hearing tho applicant, a majority of th& members showed sympathy with him under ths circumstances, the meeting asserting^ that in view of the evidence before ifc . it could not see that li% ehould ha\'-e been, dismissed, but jt was powerl&93 to meva any -motion regarding his rein^tatemenc.

Mr Douglas Howard, commissioner of tha Dominion Park, Banff, Canadian Rockies, i is now engaged - in' making a collection oB , mocs>s for New, Zealand, in" accordance wliiht an arrangement made with Sir Joseph; Ward. Mr' Howard recently informed a." representative of this journal that the animals will be, cldivei-ed at Vancouver? next Dec-ember, when thsy will bo atottfc six months old. Indians have an arrangement with Mr Howard under which they' rear -the moose calves on cow's milk vn'Al they liave become hardy enough for shipment: A caretaker from New- Zealand will proceed to Vancouver to take charge of the moose.

The- handsome new building which haa been erected at Anderson's Bay ac th~ar Home for the Aged and Infirm Poor will be solemnly opened by his Grace the ArchbiVnop of Wellington on Sunday, 27thi" met., at 3 o'clock.

Tha local Government Labour Department lists been doing everfching possible to lvrliove the existing stringency in the labour market, and practically all tho married' men who have applied for work have been, placed on railway construction works, while an arrangement has been broujrht about with the Mayor (Mr J. H. Walker) whereby married men, for preference, will be given;

the opportunity of taking any corporation .work that is offering. Among those ■wiho Ihave been applying to the Government Bureau for work are a number of single men who came to Dunedin during winter chow week and remained here, but these, finding that prospects are not good, are gradually returning to the country again. The chief sufferers at the present time would appear +o be tradesmen. Foundries have not been working anything like full time-, and a good many hands have had to be put off; but the position in this connection is to some extent being overcome by those so placed taking alternate weeks ■with "the work offering. A good many carpenters are also out of -work, and in sympathy with them a number of painters, but it is coneidered that the prevailing slack spell will bs only temporary, as some cew contra-otG should very eoon^be put in hand. Another factor which has contributed to the dearth of employment has been a slackness in the shipping trade, in •which so many men have not been idle for a good many years. With the return of the passenger trade, however, and more boats in commission an improvement may bo looked for. The JPrime Minister has sent the. following message to the Mayor of the city: — ft Pleaes accept and convey to your councillors my sincere thanks for kind wishes for a pleasant voyage and successful conference. I leave New- Zealand deeply impressed with the responsibility of my mission, and feel sure the deliberations of ifoe conference will prove to be in the best interests of the Empire." Mr J. F. M. 'Fraser, Grown Solicitor, has obtained leave from "the Justice Department to absent himself from the Dominion for the purpose of making a visit to Australia. Tho department has appointed 31 c Macassey Acting Crown Solicitor in his absence. There is a prospect of the Hon. R. ■M'Kenzie, Minister of Public Works, going over the route of tihe LawrenceHoxburgh railway at a nearly date. Mr T. Pilling, secretory of the local Railway League, recently forwarded a requisition, bearing 955 signatures, to the Minister asking- him to go over the route and judge for himself whether the Lawrence-Roxburgh line should be proceeded with or not. Mr Pilling also wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to use his influence with his colleague to pay the country^Jbetween Lawrence and Coal Creek an official visit, and in acknowledgment Sir Joseph Ward said he had passed on the letter to Mr M'Kenzie, who has (under date June 14) informed Mr Pilling that he "proposes complying with the wish of the requisitionists at the earliest possible opportunity."' Mr R. Chieholm, president of the. Otago Acclimatisation Society, on Friday received a, telegram from tlie Hon. T. Mackenzie stating that it was intended to liberate on Mount Cook the consignment of bharal sheep recently to hand, and asking for an expression of opinion. Mr Chisholm replied to the effect that he heartily approved of the suggestion, and that Mount Cook would bs an ideal place for the purpose. Presumably, ther-efore, the intention will be carried out, and this will be good news to sportsmen, 'as the herd, which ie a fairly strong one, will probably increase and spread all over the Southern Alps. There is a further outbreak of diphtheria at Kaitangafca, Dr Fitzgerald reporting three more ca&ss to the Borough Council on Wednesday evening. The patients have been removed to the Fever Hospital. The official post office name for Fairfax ia now Tokoiti, for Gardyne'e Tukerunga, and for Bull Creek Moanariri. Mr Alfred Morris, of Green Island, has shown the Free Press the drawings for a proposed water motor which he thinks would be admirably adapted for generating power from the rapid current of the IMolyneux River. The plans show a big •wibeel supported by pontoons, to etretch right acrcss the stream. H« proposes to anchor his motor .at the flat above Coal Creek, in the Roxburgh district, 'where'the river rushes botwesn narrow rocky bank 6, and there, he cays, -he could generate power to the extent of 1000 horse-power, sufficient to run an electric railway alongside the river between Roxburgh and Balclutha. He intends to bring his invention under the notice of the Government. Mr Justice Edwards in the course of a civil case in the Supi-eme Court at Auckland on Thursday (says a Press Association message), commented sarcastically upon a provision in the Consolidated Statutes altering the c-rde'- of procedure ■with reference to the judge. He said anyone knew what was the law before the socalled -consolidations, but nobody knew itvhat was law now. What were called "additions" must amount to a volume almost as big as ths Consolidated Statutes themselves. Since the recent mishap to a fishing •boat outside the Heads, -resulting in the loss of its two occupants — the brothers Harrhy— Mr E. H. Clark, M.P., has been an communication with the Minister of Defence, requesting his permission to have \gie Government 6teamer Lady Roberts available for immediate search Lnthe event tof any similarly unfortunate occurrence, feitherto valuable assistance has been rendered from time to time by the Harbour tugs, their aid being prompted solely by feelings of humanity, but it has ioivg- been held that work of the kind was more the duty of the State than of local ~-->VQriira. Minister took a syni'pa-thetic

view of ;Mx Clark's representations of the matter, with the result that instructions

have bean issued that the Lady Roberts will in future be available for immediate assistance for fishermen when any toat is reported miesing or in distress— a decision which will meet with warm approval from all el-asses.

Before leaving Wellington for London the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward sent a message to the" Mayor of Port Chalmers regretting His inability to be present at the opening of the new dock, accompanying his regrets with best wishes for the success of the dock, the port, and surrounding districts.

The many friends of Dr and Mrs Niscet in Dunedin will read with pleasure the announcement that the doctor has. decided to decline the request that he received to return to his old congregation in Brisbane. At the service at First Church on Sunday morning Dr Nistet made the following statement to the congregation : — " During tii9. past week or two we have been very deeply touched by the expressions of affection and regard that we have received from old and young alike in the congregation, and ako from other congregations, brother ministers, and members of other communions, I did not know that I had such a hold on you, nor that you had such a hold on me until this testing-time came. It is a source of pleasure to me to feel that the announcement I am about to make will .give pleasure to the vast majority of you. After a long- consideration of the call to work in Brisbane, and the call to work here, we f-esl it our duty to decline the invitation from our old friends in Brisbane. My prayer is thai* you and I for many years to come may be privileged to sit down at the 'King's Table,' and to cany on together the highest and the best of work for our beloved Master's sake." Three deaths occurred at the Dunedin Hospital last week. The names of those' who died were John Spain, Daniel Swanston, and Isabella Ritchie. Durin.g the week 35 patients were admitted and 34 discharged. Thos-s now remaining in the Hospital number 135.

Pedestrians in Princes street on Saturdo.y morning were horrified to see a feeble old gentleman who was essaying to ero&s the street knocked down by a horse and trap. The victim of the accident, Mr James Wells, of Albany street, was helped into a chemist's shop, and was found to have escaped with a few abrasions. The trap belongs to Mr A. M'Donald, fishmonger, of Stuart street, and was driven by a lad named William White.

The Lawrence mining ease of John Kitto and partj- v. the Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Consolidated Company (Ltd.), which was adjourned till the 22nd at Lawrence, lias, by arrangement, been further adjourned, and will com© up for hearingbefore Mr Kenrick, S.M., at Dunedin on June 29.

An interesting proof of that esprit de corps which has leng distinguished Ota.go High School "old boys," has been furnished by a new arrival from China. Amongst the passengers by the Moana on Saturday was Master Bullock — a boy of 14 years, who has been sent all the way from Canton to be educated at the Ot-ago Boys' High School, under the charge of the rectory authorities, for two years at least. This course was decid3d upon as the result of the recommendation of an "old boy " — Mr Hellaby, who was a pupil in 1889, and is now in China.

The man Murphy who escaped from a railway train while handcuffed on June 11 pleaded guilty at Ashburtcn on Friday last to a series of contemptible thefts of clothing from dwellings, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The manner of his escape from the train was narrated by Constable Donovan in evidence. When the express, which was travelling at the rate of 30 miles an hour, arrived at a point about one mile from south of Rolleaton, tho accused, who was seated at tha side of the constable, sprang through the door just as it was opened by another passenger. Witness, upon recovering from his surprise, followed the accused on to the platform, and laid hold of him. A tu-ssel took place, witness having some assistance from Constable Reid and a passenger, but the accused was gradually slipping out of his coat, and was in danger of falling on to the rails. So as to avoid this, Constable Donovan gave him a push, which landed him on his fee* alongside the line.

Definite steps are being taken towards the erection of a smelter at Orepuki to test waste mineralised matrer on the goldfield. A convenient site has (says the Advocate) been procured .in Dudley street, and the erection of the building- will shortly be put in hand. The proposed building will have a floor space 90ft by 44ft, walls and roof to be of iron; 20,000 bricks will be used in the erection of the

testing plant.

Frequently (says the Lake County Press) we have heard of the hard-ships experienced by people in the back-blocks and of their pluck and endurance in cases of danger and difficulty, but the follow ing occurrence appears to us to be about the most trying it has been our lot to chronicle. It happened some months ago at the Head of Lake Wanaka. The father was from home, a.nd the mother was alone with her little children. One accidently got hold of a bottle containing poison, and drank some. It can readily be imagined the state of the poor mother's mind when she discovered what had happened. She gave the •&hild mustard as an emetic, and then

hurriedly p.ufc rh© other children to bed. Thinking she might lose her little one the mother started on foot with the child in her arms for Pembroke — a distance of some 30 miles — through rough and rugged country. She had to traverse through dangerous gullies, buish, and fern, and cross a river several times. The night was dark, and after going 16 miles she fortunately struck the house of a settler, who drove her to Pembroke. Medical aid was summoned, but the little one had by that time almost recovered. Truly, a mother's love is great.

An interesting point in connection with accident insurance has (says the Herald) just been made clear in Tima-ru — viz., tha* an employee who meets with an accident a yard off the property on which he ia employed cannot claim the compensation supposed to be insured. A man working on certain premises in Timaru le.ft his work momentarily to perform a little service for a person on the read; in doing so he met with an accident, which necessitated his removal to the hospital, where he received notice, three days later, thafe ho would receive no insurance money, as bo was on tlie road when the accident happen«d, aoid his policy o-nly ©over>ed him while on the premises where he was employed.

Less spirits, less beer, less tea, and more tobacco , were consumed by -' the average New Zeala.nder during 1908 than during: the preceding year. The average consumption of liquors per head fell off as follows : — Spirits, 2.46 to 2.45 gallons ; ale and beer, .42 gallons to .40 gallons ; tea, 6.931b to 6.411b. With regard to tobacco there was an increase . from 7.151b per head to 7.331b. The average wine consumption was the same last year as in 1907— avera.ge, .22 gallons per head. In the report showing these interesting facts, which was laid on the table of the House on Thursday, beer apparently does not include New Zealand brewed beer, which was consumed at an average rate of 13.8 gallons per head. The following figures show what New Zealand as a whole dra.nk and smoked lasfc year: — Spirits, 751,605 gallons; tobacco, 2,247,1011b: wine, 149,107 gallons; ale and beer, 271,780 gallons; tea,, 6,470,5521b; New Zealand-brewed beer, 9,34-7,567 gallons.

The one cleric to be left in the District Health Office in Wellington will, it is understood, have to undertake also the clerical

work of the head office. That is to gay, he must do the work which has hitherto been done by 11 men. It is inferred, from the Prime Minister's announcements, that the care of the public health will be thrown upon local bodies more than in tne past, but as the act throughout is permissive so far as local authorities are concerned, ii appears that it must bs amended before any transfer of responsibilities ca-n be effected. An - amendment, presumably, would not come into force until January 1, 1910, and in the meantime, the Dominion says, it looks as if the sole remaining clerk must lead a particularly strenuous life. The last published annual report shows that in 12 months the Wellington office wrote 3889 letters, served 427 requisitions, sent inspectors to 170 hotels, took legral proceedings in 11 cases, had considerable quantities of food inspected, made a number of special investigations, prepared seven special reports, and performed duties connected with 1574 cases of infectious disease.

The applications for publicans' licen=e3 made to the City Licensing Committee by W. Gleeson (Rainbow Hotel) and Catherine Haydon (Central Hotel) were refused on Monday by the committee. All other application-) which had been held over were granted, so that 30 renewals have now been allowed and 10 declined. Th-p only important matter that will now occupy the attention of the committee is that of applications for bottle licenses and this question, after certain points involving the jurisdiction of the committees have been argued before his Honor Mr Justice Dennistc.n in the Supremo Court, will come before the Licensing Bench again on the 30th instant.

During tho hearing of cases against an A.B. on charges of broaching 30 bottles of ale and nine bottles of 6tout, and stealing 731b of candles from the hold of tlie barque Lakemba. Captain Isaac stated that accused, who pleaded " Guilty," was found in the hold at night with a candle beside him. The captain explained that it was a very dangerous'thing for anyone to go into the hold of a ship with an unprotected light, and said it was no doubt in this way that many of the fires on 6hips at sea were caused. Chief Detective Herbert 6aid in connection with the same cases, that it was almost impossible for officers of vessels to sheet home to oftendeis charges of broaching cargo, which wao a serious and far too common offence. Numbers of such offences were reported to tiie police, and numbers were unreported, and the loss to shipowners in pajing compensation to consignees for broached cargo wa& enormous. Accused, James Nichoils, pleaded " Guilty," and was remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence.

During a brief discussion on Monday at tho Benevolent Trustees' weekly meeting divergent views were expressed by Messrs J. Loudon and J. M. Gallawaj r as to the policy of taking children away from parents and placing them in public institutions of a reformatory character. Mr Gallaway, referring to a case under consideration, where some young children were seemingly not being looked after under the best sanitary conditions by their mother, suggested that it might be better to take the children away and place them in some institution. In support of this view Mr

' Gallaway said where it was a caee of effort to reform the parent at the expense of the children, his sympathies were with the children every time. Mr Loudon replied that he questioned the wisdom, unless the circumstances imperatively demanded it, of taking children away from their natural guardian and placing them in a public institution, as the latter course caused a stigma to rest upon children thus dealt

with. If children were anything like decently looked after by their parents or guardians, even if the standard of cleanliness ,vas not of a high order, he did not favour their being taken away and placed in an institution. Mr Gallaway took excep-

j tion to tho remark of Mr Loudon that a j blot attached to children who were brought j up in public institutions, which elicited ; from that gentleman the remark : "Whether Mr Gallaway admits it or not, it is the case." The Chairman (Mr Taiboys) said . he agreed to some extent with Mr Loudon that it was not desirable, unless the circumstances really demanded it, that children should be takan from their parents; financially that course placed a heavier strain on the trustees' funds, and the social result was no better. Mr Gallaway replied that avo -one bat » lunatic "Would dream. Of taking children 'from parents where they were decently looked after. What he' contendod was that, where the interests of chil--dren would suffer if they were allowed to stay with an undesirable mother it was a first duty to look after the children. Mr Loudon said what he objected to was *h« frequent advocacy by Mr Gallaway of taking children away from their homes and '• putting them in public institutions. That ; was a course- which should only be rasorbed 1 to when absolutely necessary. | In response to the request of the Otago Provincial Conference- of the New Zealand Farmers' Union that the railage on hares should be the same as on rabbits, the Minister of Railways has now replied to Mr ; Hugh Mitchell (secretary) that the maxij mum rates for dead hares for any distance ! are: 71b for 6d, 14lb for Is, and 28lb for ■ Is 6d, and when packed in oases in consignments of not less than lOcwi are charged j Class C. These rates the Minister consideis i very reasonable, amd ha regrets that he i cannot see his way to authorise any reduction. Speaking at the No-license Conference ' held last week in Christohurch Bishop Julius said that if ever he- found something batter than no-license to vote for he would I vote for it. He believed it was the duty j of the peoplo of New Zealand to keep j liquor out of the King Country. Tf whife i folk wanted to settle there, they, must go ', without liquor. The evil effects of liquor I -nere bad enough among white people, but I much worse when other races were conI corn ad A Christchurch telegram states that Mr Bishop, S.M., made orders absolute 'on Monday for the attachment of the wages of hix slaughtermen in respect to fines imposed in connection with the slaughtermen's

The Telegraph Department has received advice from Berne that martial law and a censorship have been declared on all telegrams for Paraguay.

Among che resolutions parsed by the Ot.ifjo Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union at Dunedin on Juno 2 were the following: — " (1) That the Railway Department be requested to allow one man to travel on the railway with from three to 10 trucks of stock ; above this number an extra man to be allowed. (2) That a drover be -allowed to travel with stock through the Taieri Gorge all the year round free with three trucks, as at present, an-d when there are only one or two trucks a man be allowed, by paying ordinary second cU'^s fare. (3) That all sheep, cattle, an-d pig trucks be fitted with gratings." The Minister has now replied to the secretary (Mr Hugh Mitchell) stating with respect to (1) that he cannot see his way to authorise the extension of the free service, which he regards as a valuable concession, and that if more than one drov2r requires to travel with stock the ordinary faro be paid; (2) owiag to the nature of the country through which tho line is laid, ;t is not considered desirable to ran trains carrying passengers through the gorge after dark, and ho cannot authorise any exception to the general rule in the case of drovers. With respect to (3), the Minister says the work of fitting live clock waggons with gratings will be pushed on and completed as soon as possible.

The average daily attendance at the Carnegie Public Library for the week ended Saturday, June 19, was 580 persons.

On Saturday last, at Lawrence, the police arrested a, man on. a charge of committing q. criminal assault on a young woman living near Waitahuna. The offence is alleged to have been committed about a month ago. Accused was brought before the local court yesterday and remanded.

The Hutt Valley Tramway Board has been in communication with Mr T. A. Edison regarding a new invention that gentleman was placing on the market. At Friday night's meeting of the board the following letter was received from the secretary of Mr Edison's laboratory : — " Tours of February 19 regarding 6torage batteries received. The battery will bs on the American market some time probably next summer, but it will be some time before it will be put on the New Zealand market."

The Brit : sh colory of Borneo issues it 3 own coinage and notes. All accounts are Vej,»t in United Sta.tea currency*