LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2927, 20 April 1910, Page 32

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A New Zealand newspaper man, who was in Great Bntain. during the election, remarks in the course of a letter to a Christchurch friend that he was more than astonished at somj of the tactics employed. "I never thought it of the English nation," he writes. " Some personal gleanings of election incidents would scarcely be credited in our enlightened country. English village life, poor and scandalous as it is, is still picturesque. It is an appropriate supplement to the east of London." What Chinese will pub up with to get to Australia (says the Sydney Morning Herald 1 is shown by the case of the stowaways discovered on the Minderoo. The stowaways were not suspected to be aboard when the vessel left Singapore, but after leaving Broome it was noticed that the lid of the forepeak tank had been removed. The chief officer, on entering the tank, was almost overpowered by the foul air, in which a light would not burn. A bucket of boiled rice and a bucket ,of water were noticed, and,*>in response to a call, four Chinese of a superior class emerged, little the worse for their confinement. They refused to say how they got there. No opium was found. The stowaways were deported by the steamer Gorgon, then at Port Hedland. A peculiar case was heard at the Palmerston North Police- Court recently. A defendant was charged with supplying liquor to a Maori within a prohibited area for consumption off the premises. It appears that the Licensing Act provides that in certain areas any person shall be liable to prosecution, with a heavy fine if convicted, .who supplies liquor to a Native for consumption off the premises. The police contention was that the liquor was left in some scrub at the side of the road, from which the Native subsequently obtained it. Defendant's counsel raised the point that the liquor was hot supplied to the Natives on any premises, but on the road, and that, therefore, the prosecution must fail. This view was upheld by the magistrate, who dismissed the case. It would, therefore, appear (says a North Island exchange) that there is now another loophole for breaches of the Licensing Act which it maj require amended legislation to deal with.

Two North Island town®, Ruawai and Raupo, are suffering from a plague of crickets, the land by the riverside being more especially attacked. A resident leaving for Dargaville one morning, and being excited with the prospects of a good time in the metropolis, omitted to shut his house up. On his return he found all his clothing in shreds, and even the leather binding on his books destroyed. Several new suits, with which he had intended to .cut a dash during- the Easter holidays, were found to be beyond redemption. A cablegram from Sydney states that the Hon. J. A. Millar has completed his invest ■'■• - : "n of the Queensland railway sysl and has gone to Melbourne and Adelaide to conduct a similar inquiry. ■

A Press Association telegram states that a writ was served on the Auckland Harbour Board on the 12th on behalf of the New Zealand Shipping Company claiming £170,000 in connection with the damage to the Kaipara and her cargo.

Advice was received by Dr Ogston, District Health Officer, on the 12th 'nsta.nt that there was an outbreak of diphtheria at Kaitangata, and that in consequence the infant department of the local school had been closed down. Typhoid fever is still fairly prevalent throughout the province.

On the 12th inst. the students at Knox College assembled for the opening of the second session. There are 24 students in the theological classes, . while, there are in all 52 residential. students. The new students this year are .seven in number—namely, H. Clark (Invercargill), J. W. Ross (Wanganui), W. R Hutchison (Palmerston North), J. H. Thomson (Dunedin), D. Nicol (Dunedin), J. L. Robinson' (Auckland), and Robert M'Sporran (Auckland). Six cf these were admitted by examination, and the other (Mr M'Sporran) had studied for a year at Glasgow College, and therefore commences here as a second-year student. A short introductory ceremony was held to introduce Professor Dickie to the students. The Rev. D. Borrie presided and after devotional exercises formally introduced and welcomed Professor Dickie. Dr Watt and Professor Hewitson also expressed welcomes to their

coadjutor. Mr Orr, on behalf of tha students, joined in the expression of welcome, and Professor Dickie made a suitable response. The scholarships, as announced by Mr Borrie were as follow: James Clark scholarship (£4O per annum for two years), J. W. Ross; Innes Fueran, No. 2 (£25 per annum for three years), Henry Clark; Begg scholarship v (£2o per annum for three years), W. R. Hutchison. The following resolution in regard to the locker system was passed at the executive meeting of tho United Temperance Reform Council on Monday, 11th inst. : " This council desires to call the attention of the Minister of Justice and members ol the Cabinet to tho exceeding danger to publio morals in the extensive development of the locker system, both in licensed and unlio&nsed territory. The use made of this system in license territory largely nullifies the law as to hours and to Sunday sales. In no-lioanse territory it makes it almost impossible for the police to obtain a ooa viction ae to the sale of liquor, in spit c- 1 Le,

of highly irregular happenings. We would therefore urge that stringent legislation be introduced at the earliest possible moment to make this system impossible "

A Press Association message states that the Wellington Industrial Association resolved last night to postpone till May of next year the industrial exhibition which it was projjosed should take place next July. A deputation from the Palmerston North High School Board waited on the Minister of Education yesterday (says a Press Association telegram) to ask for assistance inreinstating' the high school, which was recently destroyed by fire. After hearing the deputation, the Minister replied that he recognised that this was a case where the Government should come to the rescue, and! he would do all in his power to further the request. ...... -

At the Lawrence Magistrate's Courfi on the 12th Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presiding, James Irvine and William Stevenson, known as Irvine and Stevenson, of Dunedin, were charged with having, on March 10, sent liquor into the nolicense district of Bruce and failed to notify the clerk of court at "Lawrence of" such sending. . The facts put before the court were that . the package containing the liquor was duly labelled, but no notice of the sending of it reached the clerk of the court. Each defendant was fined £2 10s and costs (4s 6d).

The following is Mr Henry Skey's abstract of weather observations at Dunedin for March:—Mean barometer, 29.998 in ;• mean - elastic force of vapour, 0.320 in;. mean temperature in shaded 57.1 deg Fahr.; mean solar radiation, 10i.2dyg Fahr-.; mean terrestrial radiation, 44.5 deg Fahr.; mean daily velocity of wind, 47 miles; mean amount of cloufl (from 1 to 10), 6.6; -total rainfall, 2.04 in; number of days on which rain fell, 12.

An unusual action for damages on account of alleged breach of agreement was commenced in Dannevirke on the Bth, Margaret Woulfe claiming £IOO from her uncle (John Woulfe). In her statement of claim she alleged that at the urgent request of defendant she sold a business at Bootle, near Liverpool, England, early in , 1909, and came to New Zealand, it being understood that plaintiff was- to keep defendant's house, he making present and future provision for her. Plaintiff, relying on the promises made, sold at a sacrifice her business, and came to New Zealand; but defendant had failed and refused to carry out his part of the arrangement that had been come to, wherefor plaintiff sought -to recover, as and for general damages, £2O, and by ■ way of special damage the following sums :—Loss on sale of business, £2O; cost Of passage money from and to England, £4O; board and residence in New Zealand for three months, £ls; rail and coach fares, £5. . . ~. ..-. ,

Those city folk who complain bitterly because the Government will not lend them money to build tramlines to their doors ought to be made to experience some of the hardships that have to be endured by settlers in the back country (says the Pelorus Guardian). The case of a Sounds settler may be cited: In order to have his two children educated he has undertaken to provide free board and lodging tor two other children. The settler lives two miles from the school, and every morning he has to pull his boat that distance to take the children to school, and to make the same journey after school to bring them home. The Education Department will not subsidise schools where there are fewer than six scholars, and as only two scholars attend from the bay in which the school is situated the settler has to pay for the keep of two children belonging to other people so that the department's requirements shall be met. Also, he has to pay out of his own pocket about £6 per annum towards the teacher's salary. Such a state of affairs is inconceivable to our city friends, but this is by no means an isolated case. At the Gisborne Native Land Court last week Mr Wi Pere said he understood that the judge was to leave for Wairoa next day, and he asked that the court should remain in Gisborne for a few days longer. "Don't go, judge," he said; "you'll only get drowned, and we'll shed a lot of tears ovar you." The judge said he had to keep his appointment at Wairoa, and if the coach left, of which there then, seemed little probability, he would proceed as arranged. "Then," said Mr Wi Pere, " we'll call on -our Atua (God) to open the heavens and raise a ga.le so that you will be unable to leave us before Saturday." According to the Poverty Bay Herald the Maoris now think there is something in Mr Wi Pere's prophecy, as the coach had no chance of leaving for some days. '

The wireless telegraph apparatus played am important part in the last voyage of the P. and 0. liner Morea to Australia. For 14 days after leaving London communication- was maintained with the shore a,nd passing vessels. Communication was also kept up with H.M.S. Hyacinth for four days at distances varying from 900 to 1020 miles. On March 16 (says the Argus) a chess match was played by "wireless" with the Dutch mail steamer Oranje, bound from Rotterdam to Batavia. Mr H. G. Lee, of Bath, England, played on behalf of the passengers of the Morea, and Mr Lorgeon, of Amsterdam, represented the Oranje. Mr Lorgeon won the toss, and claimed first move, and a very even game maintained for the rest of the day. assuming play on the second day Mr pidly gained a very strong position.

and on the: thirty-seventh* move Mr. Lorgeon was forced to resign. This is the second match which the Morea has played recently by means of her Marconi telegraph, the previous one having taken place in the Bight last January against the P. and 0. R.M.S. Mantua.

•Many persons would give much to know the secret of health, and? a great deal more, parhups, for the secret of life. Therefore (says the Sydney Telegraph) a statement made by the secretary of the Master Tanners' Association at a social function at Willoughby has a special interest for the public. He had declared that the tanning industry was the healthiest occupation he knew of. For that reason alone he had put his only son into it. He nimBelf was one of a family of seven 6ons, four of whom had died of consumption; the three living were tanners. As a further proof he mentioned the case of a man at Botany, 72 years of age. This patriarch had worked as a tanner for 60 years, and of his family of 24 children, 21 were alive, and every one was a tanner! In the face of such evidence, he asked, how could tanning be classed as a noxious trade? The Premier, to whom the question was addressed, could only smile in reply.

The reports from the Wellington press show that the Henry-Potts mission opened there on the 10th in the Town Hall. The building, which seats 3000, was nearly full in. the afternoon, and also, in spite of a •heavy downpour of rain,- in the evening. The Evening Post said that Dr Henry spoke with much eloquence and power, and that, on both occasions, the audience, under the leadership of Mr Charles A. Potts, joined most enthusiastically in the singing. The Rev, J. K. Elliott took the chair at the afternoon meeting, and 6aid that Dr Henry had made a very favourable impression on the ministers he had met, and that he believed Dr Henry to be a thoroughly sane man, with no fads or foibles. A Press Association telegram states that the mission was continued with unabated vigour on, the 14-th. What was called a "quiet hour" was spent at Wesley Church in the afternoon, and proved very helpful to those who attended. The evening meeting in the Town Hall was inspiring. Dr Henry delivered an address on "The Great Man Who Dost His Grip." The vocal portion of the proceedings was hearty and bright. 'A great men's meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon.

A Southland rabbit exporter in a large •way of business, m the course of a letter on another matter, mentions the effect of the "lock-out" to the Southland Times thus:—"lt is hard luok that all the rabbit exporters have to cease operations in Southland when rabbits are at their best, owing to no tonnage being offered, the works being blocked to the door with lamb and mutton. We lose a lot of money through having men on for the season, and ..carts axid horses are thrown out of work, besides, having a lot of money „put in rabbit traps that the trappers were going to pay for when they caught rabbits. It means a big loss to the country, as even if the skins fetched as much as the carcase they will not employ the same labour, such as cartage, box .making, timber, . railage, etc."

. The Hocken wing at the Museum is proving a strong attraction to the public. Only tho picture gallery is open so far. The •work of arranging the numerous books in the library is progressing, though it will be some time yet before this very interesting portion of Dr Hooken's collection will be ready for inspection. Mr Trimble is competent in every way for this work, in which he is keenly interested. So me of Dr Hocken's Maori carvings are on view, and in the library there is a smoked Maori head in a case. Although the library is not yet open, no doubt any person applying to the librarian for information could get it. An instance of the kind came under out -notice on the 13th. A resident at Gore wrote to one of the trustees for information about the purchase deeds of the Murihiku Block. The gentleman to whom the letter was addressed at once made search in the library, and, with the assistance of Mr Trimble, came across the document in a parliamentary paper, and was able to give his correspondent information as to where he would find a copy of the required deed. The library is, therefore, already being used from a research point of view.

A special meeting of the committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on the 13th, and was presided ove.r by Mr G. Fenwick. The object of the meeting was to consider applications for the position of inspector to the society. These had originally numbered 141, but had been reduced by a sub-committee to eight, and it was from these eight that a selection had to be made. The applications -were gone through and the applicants in- + •_.".:.-' „ nc } the final selection resulted

in .:, Craig being appointed. The-busine.-s concluded with votes of thanks to the sub-committee for its work, and to the chairman for presiding.

The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. H. Walker) cannot see his way to seek re-election to office. Speaking to a Daily Times reporter on tho 13th his .Worship said: " I have g-iven every , cqn3.icli3Tatio.ii to the rcqu isition presented tome. I.haye. also' weighed, the statements placed, me by various bodies, including those of a large deputation that waited on me this morning from an influential church organisation. I am fully alive to the honour conferred upon xne by so many parties requesting rrie to contest the mayoralty of Dunedin for~ a

second term, but I consider that the position I took up when I assumed office last year is still binding upon me —that is, that the office of mayor should be a rolling office. In that connection, however, let me say that I have somewhat modified mv views, as I believe it would be to the interests of a city, when it has important works in hand, that its mayor should have the ovei-sight of them for more than one year. The rule should, therefore, not be strictly adhered to on occasions. But in this instance, I feel compelled to act upon the principle accepted by me last year, and I have, therefore, to decline to accede to the numerous requests that have been made to me to .come forward again."

For a man who is advised by his counsel that no jury would oonvict him of the offence with which he is charged to deliberately plead "guilty" is a very unusual occurrence. That happened in the City Police Court on the 13th. The case was where two Dunedin youths—R. B. Shepherd and J. H. G. Wilson—were charged with stealing postal securities valued at £7l 17s 5d." The case was briefly this: Robert Auld Shepherd, of Cannfield, Ohio, U.S.A., prior to coming to New Zealand on a visit, arranged that sums of money should be forwarded to him at Dunedin. A packet containing these moneys was delivered to a Dunedin youth named Shepherd, who, on being identified by Wilson as "Robert Shepherd" received the money from the Postal Department. Both young men, then, as Mr Bedford (Shepherd's counsel) said, became frightened and took tickets for Christchuroh. They then travelled in company to Auckland, and thence to Sydney. Becoming stranded there they had bad times, and ultimately decided to return to New Zealand and surrender themselves. ' The counsel for Wilson was Mr Adams, and at the conclusion of the case, after the magistrate had refused to dismiss the charge against Wilson, as requested, counsel explained that he had impressed upon Wilson the fact that no jury would convict him of the offence on the evidence submitted. Wilson, however, though he fully understood this, said he had com* back from Australia prepared to undergo whatever punishment was his, and so would plead "guilty." Both the young men were then committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and were liberated on bail. The case, as a whole, has been a somewhat extraordinary one, and a noteworthy feature from the police point of view has been the conduct of the accused—each has voluntarily surrendered himself, and, as a guarantee of remorse, rendered every assistance to the prosecution.

Much has been heard in the papers of late with regard to the Knyvett cast in Auckland. A recent visitor from Dunedin to that city, the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., told a Daily Times reporter tihat in his stay in that town be found tremendous public interest evinced in the matter. He ■believed, he said, that when the merits of the incident became fully understood in other parts of the colony, equal public interest would be displayed. He knew, he said, that it had become a habit for Auckland and Aucklanders to pessess grievances and ventilate them, but this special case was of such enormous interest, in view of the inception of universal training, that it was likely, in his opinion, to become of the first importance in so fa.r as it touched on the question of the predominance of the civil as opposed to the military power. The directors of the Bruce Woollen Mills have decided to increase the accommodation at their factory, and instal an extensive and up-to-date hosiery plant. At present their hosiery plant is located in Dunedin, but it is the intention to transfer it to Milton, and increase its capacity. When the plant is in full operation the increase in the number of hands at present employed will be very material, and presently Milton offers a good field of steady employment for operatives.

A Gisborne message states that Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward were present on the'l4th instant at the opening of the Maternity Home that is being established on the lines of the St. Helens Homes. The Government provided the site, and subsidised pound for pound the £IOOO collected in the district. The institution starts thoroughly furnished, equipped, and' staffed free of debt. Lady Ward performed the formal opening ceremony, and speeches ware miade by the Premier, the Hon. James Carroll, am-1 Dr Valintine. In the evening Sir Joseph and Lady Ward were entertained at a public social.

' Mr D. M'La.ren, M.P., addressed meetings A miners at Kaitangata on. the evenings of the 11th and 12th inst. and at Green Island on the evening of the 13th. The iecaption accorded him. at both places was very hearty. He outlined the scheme for .;>. New Zealand federation of labour, and, iclging by the support received and the -impressions of members, there is little doubt that the miners will be ready to join with their fellow workers in the movement for solidifying the labour forces of the Dominion.

On the Bth inst. the tTnian Steam Ship Company instituted a new system in connection with the., issue of intercolonial tickets,| whereby...eyery. person who takes out 'a, passage., to, any ..port, other than a New Zealand ..port has to,.sign- the ticket before it -is issued" to him. Thi3 is quite different from the custom in the past (says the Dominion). Hitherto the person taking out a ticket merely had to supply hi® name and pay the cost of the passage, arnd the ticket waa handed over/ The

change has been brought about by a case in which the Union Company was sued for damages sustained by a passenger on the Mara ma last year during boisterous weather, when a sum running into four figures was awarded the plaintiff. The latter had, it was held in Australia, not subscribed to the conditions on the back of the ticket, which was therefore not a perfect 'contract between the passenger on the one side and the Union Company o*l the other. Bj obtaining signatures, therefore, to every intercolonial ticket, the Union Company seeks to protect itself from such actions by making each ticket a oontract, subject in law to the conditions inscribed.

The late gale that swept over the North Island removed an historical mark from Maungatautari (observes the Auckland. Star). Forty-six years ago the Maoris who were beaten at Orakau made .their way to Maungakawa, and the next day, after the memorable battle, they planted a willow tree not very far from the Horahora rapids in mournful remembrance of their defeat. The tree had a struggle for existence for some years, but eventually it grew into a gnarled veteran, with a twisted trunk. By a strange coincidence the gale levelled the tree on the forty-sixth anniversary of its planting; and the Maoris now say that with it. must pass away all recollections of the troublous times and bitter ' memories of Orakau.

A very pleasing interchange of courtesies is now being effected by the Albany Street School with the Yardhead School, Leith, Scotland. We have been shown a beautiful little cabinet of New Zealand woods —mottled kauri, rinxu, and puriri,—the lid of which has carvings in relief of two kiwis and native foliage, enclosing the New Zealand Ensign. In addition to the latter, photograph groups of the Cadets, school staff, and the committee will be sent, and in exchange the Yardhead School children are sending the Scottish Standard, which is.expected to come to land in a few days. Steps are being taken to induce Earl Glasgow—a former Governor of New Zealand — to make the presentation on behalf of the Albany Street School pupils. Mr Justice Williams has granted the following matters, brought before him last week in Wellington:—ln re Christina Chapman, of Duroedin, widow, motion for probate (Mr J.' S. Sinclair); in re Donald Miller, of Dunedin, tobacconist, motion for probate (Mr Fraser, K.C.); in re Will'am Sanders, deceased (Mr Hosking, K.C), an order was made for an interim distribution.

There was some plain speaking at the annual meeting of the 4th Battalion Band at Milton on the 12th 'nst. The conductor said they were worse than when he started with them and they seemed to forget that they were enrolled, and had to make themselves efficient. Carelessness and irregularity in attendance at practices were the besetting sins. Lieut.-colonel M'Clymont said he wanted a band at headquarters, but if the members did not realise their responsibilities and make themselves efficient and worked together, the sooner they resigned the better. He knew where he could get another band for the battalion. He wanted a band, and was determined to have one, but it must be efficient. Traffic on the Otago Central line is very heavy just now, and the railway officials are hard put to it to keep pace with the times. One night last week the train, after arriving at Clyde, was compelled to return to Omakau for gocds, which had accumulated so much that the special trip had to be made in order to clear the trucks. Of late a special goods train has been running between Dunedin and Ranfurly, and on one trip last week two engines had to be requisitioned to pull the heavy load. Last week a runholder in the Alexandra district applied for truck's to convey sheep to the Oturehua sales, but was unable to get any and was thus obliged to drive his sheep, the time occupied in so doing being ihrc? days. And yet (says the Alexandra. Herald) we are told the Central Railway is not paying axle grease!

In connection with the outbreak of diphtheria in Blenheim it has been pointed out to the Express that the condition of some of the cowyards of people who supply milk to the public is not all that could be desired. It is alleged that one person who has seven or eight cows has only a quarter of an acre to keep them on, and the. animals spend the whole of their time there with the exception of half a.n hour or so in the afternoon, when they are taken on to the road by children, where they drink any water that may be lying in adjacent ditches or water-holes. It would be just as well, at the present juncture, if the health authorities made a seai-ching investigation of the conditions under which milk is supplied to the public of Blenheim.

That some at least of the holders of the Oamaiu Harbour Board's 1879 debentures have suffered hardship through default in the payment of interest was (says the North Otacvo Times) made apparent by a letter read at last week's meeting. The writer, MrsJ. Cooper Davis, said.: " In justice and for the of .Oimuv'u,..! hope..that, you will .p^.:i>h©<K)upou3^buy> ; tJjfebonds .il.am-now ■getting >an old 'lady- brought' down,by adversity, and I ant: asking you to try to pay these coupons.' She 'added that she had had gre-at illness, and was very low in health, with little money to live on, and nearly 7° years' old. She asked if the board wo aid deal with her generously by buying

} the bonds at their stated value of £IOO, and if so the back interest would not matter. The chair nan said the case was a hard one, and possibly only one of a number, and justified the action the board were taking in seeking to arrive at a settlement with the bondholders, and pay them as much as they possibly could. It was decided to reply to Mrs Davis, informing her of what the board was doing, and to refer her to the chairman of the Bondholders' Committee in London.

A petition is being circulated and largely signed in the Tokonui, Waikawa, and surrounding districts urging a further extension of the Seaward Bush railway to Mainlands, which is four miles further than the present proposed terminus at Tokonui. MiMalcolm, M.P., who recently visited the district, went over the proposed route, and promised his support in the House towards giving effect to the request of the petitioners.

The following extraordinary case is reported in the Sydney Morning Herald of the 6th inst. :"A clean-shaven young man, who looked as if he had just emerged from a fashion plate, was called up tor sentence at the Quarter Sessions Court yesterday. His name is John Edward Stewart, and the previous day he had pleaded guilty to obtaining money by fake pretences. When asked if he ha.** anything to say why the senten.ee of the court should not be passed upon him, the prisoner addressed the judge in polished, .respectful terms, asking for leniency. He said that he had been a victim to the oocaine habit since the death of his wife, and promised to mend his ways when abroad again. Judge Backhouse then called the arresting constable, who stated that accused had been charged, together with a millionaire, for fraud in the United States. The mil- 1 lionaire was sentenced to 14- years', imprisonment, and Stewart was deported" to Australia. The accused contradicted this statement emphatically, declaring that the charge he was indicted upon in America was grand larceny, and upon a second trial the whole matter proved so complicated that he was. discharged,; "I was prevailed upon to leave America by my father," a 0 .added, "on account of the fatal fas-; on of a daughter of one of my father's associates." His Honor thereupon sentenced accused to two years' hard labour, but held but the hope of an early release if accused could make arrangements with his people for his return to America. " I think," his Honor concluded, " that have a perfect right to send you back to America." The accused bowed his assent, and went to gaol.

Nominally the Commonwealth has 22,326 men in her military forces, made up of 1448 Permanent Force, 16,819. Militia, and 50.59 Volunteers, to which must be added 55,947 men in the rifle clubs. This is on paper. A Sydney writer sums the real position up as foliows:—With a territory to defend 2,974,581 square milaa in area, having a coast-line of 8000 miles, quite half of which is not protected by nature or.art. and is easily vulnerable, we have:—(l) The north bare of people, and in the south a mere handful of fighting men; (2) the Northern Territory arid Western Australia isolated from one another and the rest of Australia; (3) lasatisfactory communications where they exist at all; (4) a mobile fighting force which, when it was got together, would consist only of 20,000 mensome untrained; (5; such a meagre possession of arms and ammunition that if all the manhood were called out for service we could only arm 85,000 of them; (6) at most 600 cartridges per rifle for the small arms we possess; (7) a lamentable deficiency in field guns and ammunition; and (8) the only source of possible supply 12,000 miles distant. It is to remedy this sort of thing that the energies of the Commonwealth are now being directed towards the perfecting of the comprehensive scheme that Lord Kitchener has drawn up.

Archbishop Kelly, at the H A.C.B. Society's annual communion breakfast at Sydney, was (reports the Telegraph) rather sarcastic at the expense of Cadets. He did not believe in training them for war so young. "I don't know whether our Cadets will make good soldiers, he said. "I don't like trees that blossom in the wintar. Things should be done in their proper season. I am afraid there are other things these little boys might be doing than gallivanting. I speak of what I know. There is a time for that sort of thing, but it must be a time whan it can be taker in earnest, and learned thoroup-hly, and exercised with the actual hardships of the profession. It would do no harm if you took off your boots and stockings and did nothing to ease your wounded foot. 1 have sesn the Papal soldiers in that position. It is the man who glories in the hardships of the thing that will be the best man by and bye."

The second shipment of the new Australian silver coinage is carried on the R..M.S. Onwah, which arrived at Freniantle on April 5. The specie consists of one million sixpences (£25,000) and ha'f a million florins (£50,000). The consignment will be divided amongst three mints, as follows:—Perth, £4OOO in florins and £2OOO in sixpences; Melbourne, £21,000 in florins and £10,500- in: sixpences; Sydney, £25,000 in florins-and- £12,500 in sixpences. Commenting on' the attitude of the New Zealand banks, who are stated by cable to . have the support of tihe Dominion Government in refusing to recognise the new Commonwealth silver coins, the secretary to the Treasury (Mr G. T. Allen) said (reports the Argus) that a circulation outside Aiust-.irn.Ua, had never begs, expected.

It would riot be fair to expect other-parts of the Empire to accept the coinage, out of which the Commonwealth alone was making a profit. If Australian money were leg-ally recognised in New Zealand, the banks might get supplies from Australia, instead of sending so far as Great Britain, and that would not be fair to the Mother Country. Any inconvenience to travellers could be obviated by arranging to pay to the shipping companies trading to New Zealand gold for' all Australian coinage, as had already been done with British-Australian shipping companies.

The Rev. I. K. Mlntyre, as convener of a committee of the Dunedin Pxesbyteiy set up to superintend the systematic visitation of Presbyterian patients in the Dunedin Hospital, made application last week far authority to devise, with the approval of the house surgeon, a simple method by which the ministers of the Church could locate in the wards the patients who were Presbyterians. Dr Falconer (the house surgeon), reporting on the 15th to the .Hospital Committee with regard to the application, said he had arranged with th® sisters of wa.rds to supply each Tuesday a list of Presbyterian patients for the u?e of members of the committee of the Dunedin Presbytery. Dr Falconer's arrangement was approved by the committee.

The residents of Green Island are approaching the City Council for a water supply. , ■ - ~

During the year ended March 31 the cases of infectious diseases notified to the Public Health Office at Dunodin for tha whole of the province 728. " Of tha total, 367 cases represc. scarlet fever, Dunedin and suburbs contributing- 105, Southland country districts 84, and Invercargill town 70. The total number of cases of enteric recorded was 73, as against 32 cases in the previous year. During the past, year scarlet fever has also been very much more prevalent than in the previous yea.r, when there were 236 cases reported, as against 367 this year.

The closing down of the'freezing works in Southland against the .receiving of rabbits, consequent upon the heavy demands made upon storage by the inrush of lamb and mutton and the lack 6? shipping facilities < to enable stores to bo cleared, has brought •; about a state of enforced idleness in that district .in th« trapping industry since the 9th ines., The same trouble, though to a much less extent, has been experienced locally, 'but it is anticipated that the position will readjust itself by the end of the 'present month, or early in May. The practical cessation of the industry right at its busiest period has proved a serious matter for exporters, for not only has - c involved a loss of trade, but it has meant that receiving depots, • together with the conveyances, etc., attached to them, have for the time being been thrown into disuse. Rabbiiers in the districts affected have, in a. number of instances, been trapping and skinning, in order to retain the blocks:of country over which they have acquired rights. :'

Invei'carg'ill is in the fortunate position of being about to be placed in possession of 'a single building containing all the public offices. Up till: now they have been scattered, as in Dunedin, in rented premises in various parts of the tbv/n. It is

now proposed to houso them under one roof, in a new two-storey building in the post office block facing the Crescent. The new structure, which will have a frontage of 187 ft and an average depth of 60ft, is to be erected at once in brick, at a cost of somewhere about £IO,OOO On the ground floor accommodation will be proTided for the Valuation Department. Tourist Department, Government Life Insurance Department, Customs Department, Lands and Deeds Department, and Registrar of Births and Marriages. The offices on the first floor will be occupied by the Inspector of Machinery, Public Works and Roads Department, Stock Department, Health Department, Lands Department, and Survey Department. The contract has not yet been signed.

The Kaitangata correspondent of the Free Press reports that diphtheria has again broken out, and is causing a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety in every household. Two cases were reported on the 12th, and Dr Fitzgerald ■ at once took prompt action by way of isolation. The patients—two little boys—were at once removed to the infectious diseases hospital, "and by order of the doctor, who is also chairman of the School Committee, the school was closed at noon on the 12th, and instructions given for the building to be thoroughly -fumigated and disinfected. The local Sunday schools have also been closed, and the usual meetings of the Boy Scouts postponed until further orders. Dr Fitzgerald is to be commended for the prompt measures taken, and it is earnestly hoped they will prove effective in checking the outbreak. The two little sufferers at the hospital are in the kindly charge of the matron (Nurse Clements), and reports show they are getting along nicely. It is just 12 months ago since Kaitangata had the diphtheria outbreak before.

Balancing the benefits of essay-writing rgainst the advantages of debating in connection with a literary society, Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., on the 15th, confided to the boys of the junior department of the Y.M.C.A. that he was obliged to listen to a. great deal of debating in Parliament, and the "amount of twaddle' he had to hear was " very large and very astounding."

In the Bay of Islands a chance of making money out of buried wealth is talked of, and the story is a rather interesting one (says a northern exchange). In the old days, when the Bay of Islands was the chief coaling centre for all the big ocean vessels visiting New Zealand, all kinds of vessels would berth at Opau, It was a common thing for ships to carry freight from overseas to the Thames, and then, having disposed of their cargo, proceed to Opau to take in a fresh cargo of Kawakawa coal. Before leaving the Thames they would take ir ballast, and the material most used was mining tailings. Thousands of tons of Thames tailings were therefore carried to and dumped out at a certain spot under the. lee shore. Since those days a better method of treating ore has been brought into operation, and a great deal of what was considered -waste in the old times has been re-treated e.t the Thames, and worked at a profit. The question now arises as to whether it would be worth recovering the huge pile of material at Opau, and again treating it under modern methods in search of gold At the Christchuroh Police Court on the 13th John. ' Trembath (Mr Hunter) ■was charged with having committed forgery by altering a cheque drawn by Dalgety and Co. on the Union Bank of Australia for £8 2s to £BO 2s and with having uttered it to Wilfred Beadle. The evidence led by the police was that Trembath had sold seed to Dalgety and Co., giving his name as Ross, and had received in payment a cheque for £8 2s, which he had altered to £BO 2s, and had presented it at the Bank of Australia, where it was honoured. Fourteen witnesses were examined to establish the identity of the accused and to connect him with the cheque. He pleaded "Not guilty" and reserved his defence, being committed for trial. Bail was allowed, the accused in £IOO and one surety of £IOO. Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, paid an unexpected visit to Balclutha on Friday night as the guest of Mr Malcolm, M.P. There was only two or three hours' notice of his visit, but in spite of the stormy night a representative gathering of a uozen or more persons welcomed him. Later in the evening Mr Massey looked in at a concert in the Oddfellows' Hall in connection with the Presbyterian Ladies' Guild. Here he had a very hearty reception, and spoke for about 10 minutes The Clutha River Board has decided to build a slip for the steamer at Port Molyncax, where it will have the advantage of the tidal water. It was originally decided to build the slip at Balclutha, but the estimate was too great. The board has also practically decided to purchase a second steamer, and with this object in view has appointed the chairman (Mr J. M. Begg) and Mr D. T. Fleming to consult witn a marine engineer in Duncdin as to the preliminaries.

At a special meeting of the Clutha County Council on Friday afternoon the resignation of the county engineer (Mr W E. Leeder), who has been appointed to the Timaru Borough Council, wa° accepted with regret, and a resolution passod expressive of the council's appreciation of his services during his term of office It was decided to call for apphca-

tions f or a successor, at a salary •of £350 per annum (to include travelling expenses), applicants to be authorised surveyors as well as engineers, and applications to be in by the 29 th inst.

The traffic returns for the City Corporation tramways for the fortnight ended April 9, as compared with the corresponding period for last year, were as follow:—1910: Receipts, £2654 2s lOd; mileage, 42,788 miles 53 chains. 1909: Receipts, £2447 19s 4d; mileage, 42,025 miles 13 chains.

During last week 38 patients were admitted, to the Dunedir Hospital, and 33 were discharged. The number- remaining in the institution at the close of the week was 156.

At Mosgiel on Friday the licensee of the Railway Hotel (John F. Knott) pleaded guilty to having sent a bottle of whisky into the Clutha (no-license) district without having notified the clerk of the court at Lawrence. He was fined £2 and costs (7s).

At Roxburgh on Friday last, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., William Hesson, licensee of the Moa Flat Hotel, Ettrick, was convicted of Sunday trading, and fined £5 and costs (£2 19s).

Some weeks ago, while workmen were demolishing a house at Paraparaumu, a skeleton was found in a barrel between the ceiling and the roof. There was much speculation as to how the gruesome relic came into its strange hiding-place. A local resident supplies an explanation. He says that about 17 years ago a gentleman living in the township found the skeleton of a Maori, and as he was interested in anatomy he stowed it away in the house he occupied, where it had now been found.

Apparently for the right men there is money in hotel broking. In a case heard at the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Thursday it was stated that an hotel broker, as his .reward for selling a house valued at £I4OO, received as his commission £IOO. Questioned by the opposing solicitor, the broker, who is now farm and land agent (says the Post), asserted that this particular commission was a rich one. He was (he said) well aware of the Chamber of Commerce rates in such transactions, but " commission is arranged in hotel broking by the vendor," said witness (plaintiff), who was claiming for valuation and other expenses. He contended that his additional expenses were not high. As a matter of fact, it was adduced that defendant, in search of a "house" suited to his means, had been taken to various parts of the province. Finally, one was found at Otaki. This travelling had put plaintiff to a good deal of expense. The question of a charge of £lO 10s for valuing the furniture (there were 16 or more badrcoms) was touched upon, and defendant told the court that he was forced to insure what he thought was £SO worth of furniture for £375. He suggested that it would not take long to value the furniture in the hotel when he went into it.

Among the prisoners dealt with at Ballarat City Court recently was an old man, John M'Cormack, who had been arrested on a charge of having no visible means of support. When taken into custody M'Cormack was lying on the flcor of an untenanted house, and was so weak from exhaustion following on starvation that the policeman had difficulty in keeping him standing on his feet. He refused to go to the hospital, and consequently the constable was compslled to place him in the lock-up. The magistrate remanded the old man to the gaol hospital for medical treatment. On his arrival at the gaol the authorities there, in accordance with the regulations, ordered him into a warm bath, and while he was undergoing the usual cleansing process they overhauled his garments. Inside the back lining of the ragged, foul-smelling coat a hard square substance was discovered. It was tightly sewn in between the outer material and lining. On the lining being removed from the coat deposit receipts were disclosed, showing that M'Cormack had the sum of £2200 to his credit in one of the banks. Attached firmly was also £36 in bank notes. The gaol authorities took possession of the hoard of the miser, who now will be called upon to pay for his board and residence and medical treatment at the gaol. M'Cormack is 65 years of age.

"It is nothing short of absolute robbery," such were the words used by Mr M'Dermott at the Trades Union Congress at Sydney last week, when speaking of the treatment accorded by some fruit-selling agents to their clients. Mr M'Dermott carried the charge home (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) by mentioning a specific case, in which 40 cases of apples consigned by his father to a commission agent were stated to have been sold at 4s 6d per case, although it was proved that 6s per case had been the actual sale price. Another delegate said that such trickery was not confined to the fruit' trade. A producer he knew had set a trap for his commission agent. He had purchased a box of his owr butter at lid per lb, and yet the returns purported that the sale price was only 9d per lb. Several other instances of fraud were referred to, and the congress carried a motion affirming the need of licensing produce selling agents, Tdth a view to preventing such practices.

April 17 was observed as " Eible Sunday " at the Dunedin Chinese Church, Walker street. The Rev. A. Don conducted the afternoon service, and preached a special sermon on the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society. At the close of the sermon the Chinese present handed in their contributions, to the amount of £4 12s, .while £1 2s 6d more was sent by

members who were unable to attend. Mr F. L. Law, in prayer, dedicated the money to the service of God, and then the missionary hymn " From Greenland's icy mountains" was sung. By resolution of the Church Session the gift is to be divided equally between the British and Foreign, and National Bible Societies. The session also voted £2 toward Knox Residential College.

The regular meeting of the BenevolentCommittee of the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board, held on Monday afternoon, was 'attended by Messrs Talboys (chairman), Myers, Ewing, Clark, Walker, and Hamel. It was reported that John H. Shepherd, aged 80 years, had died in the institution during th© week. Gifts of ,2001 bof fish from the Seacliff Mental Hospital and newspapers from Mrs M. Cohen were acknowledged with thanks. Accounts amounting to £62 3s Id were passed for payment. Messrs Clark and Ewing were appointed a Visiting Committee, and 21 applications for relief were dealt: with.

Th© monthly meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was' held yesterday afternoon, wher there were present —Messrs D. M'Pherson (president), A. 3- Paterson, Crosby Morris, G. R. Ritchie, J M. Gallaway, and W. Gow. A letter was received from the Auckland Chamber intimating that it had decided to join the proposed Association of Chambers of Commerce, and that it would invito the next conference to me©t in Auckland. Th© Minister of Agrioulture wrot© stating that he did not see his way to do anything in th© matter of compelling owners of. 1000 sheep and upwards to register their wool brands until th© biennial conference of the A. and P. Associations had expressed an opinion on the subject. Correspondence was received from a number of firms of exporters with reference ' to the proposal to limit the time for furnishing export entries to the Customs Department to two days, with a view to ensuring th© correctness of statistics. After consideration itwas resolved to inform the department that in the opinion of the committee the present limit of six days could not conveniently "be reduced, but that it should b© strictly enforced, and, if necessary, under penalty. A letter was received from th© European Traffic Manager in London of the Canada Grand Trunk railway 6ystem advising th© despatch of 20 large wall maps as ordered by the committee. It was decided that the'"maps, which have come to hand, be sold at 2s each. Telegrams and correspondence were received with reference to the new telephone regulations under which accounts are to be rendered" monthly for country . calls, urging than strong opposition should b© made to the alteration in the system. The meeting was informed that as the result of the representations made to the Postmaster-general, a reply had been received stating that a daily system of debit notices when desired would be arranged on th© payment of a fee of on© penny each. The .committee approved of the action taken. Th© Milton Y.M.C.A. finds at the end of its second year's work that it has a membership of nearly 90, and a credit balance of nearly £4-. The following are th© Board of Management for the ensuing year: —President, Mr A. E. Stewart; vicepresidents—Rev. A. Reader and Mr W H. Hitch-en; secretary, Mr Will Moore; treasurer, Mr W. A. Hislop; committeemen —Messrs A. G. Gray, A. J. Ferguson, D Brown, G. W. Johnstone, James Anderson, R. Pringle, and the Rev. G. Miller

The average daily attendance at the Carnegie Public Library for the week ended Saturday, April 16, was 665 persons.

The Athenic, which arrived at Wellington from. London on Monday, brought 250 passengers, including a small party of Cambridge undergraduates, who are on holiday. Of the 212 third class passengers, 68 were (says a Wellington message) assisted. Of these 41 are adults. The High Commissioner approved of 18 domestics, and two were nominated by relatives in New Zealand. The male passengers include several farmers and a few carpenters.

The net profit for the year on the working of the Wellington electric tramways is (says a Press Association message) £6123. The number of passengers carried in the 12 months was 21,932,507.

A few nights since, when speaking at the Y.M.C.A., Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., made reference to the quality of speaking in the House of Representatives, and suggested that for the work of training the minds of young men essay-writing would be more variable than debating. At Monday's annual meeting of the Otago Debating Society's Union, Mr H. Webb, speaking from the experience he had had of the •debating contests conducted by the union last winter, gave expression to a qualifying opinion. He had been so struck with the very careful and excellent preparation given by the speakers to their subjects in these debates that he was convinced, had Mr Thomson heard them, he would not have assigned debating to a second place. He had been surprised and pleased at the thoroughness of the preparation, for, on subjects that he deemed himself well informed in, he had acquired further information from the young speakers. Their wellselected sentences had further shown that a considerable advance was being made in the debating strength of this town. The note which characterised the meeting as a whole was one of gratification at the success achieved in the work of the union last year, and bright anticipations for greater success this year. In addition to holding the banner competition this year the committee will have under consideration the

possibility of establishing a B grade competition, and also of instituting a short paper competition. With the vigorous prosecution of its objects, th© union should go far towards lifting debating, as Mr Hughes, of the Y.M.C.A. remarked, to the level in which ifc is regarded in Australia.

Mr Oscar Blundell, a student residing at Knox College, advises us that he observed Hall-ey's comet yesterday about 5.15 a.m. from tho vicinity of Maori Hill. The comet, which was just below Venus, was visible to the unaided eye as a star of the third magnitude, whilst a 3in telescope revealed a tail three-quarters of a degree in length. Mr Blundell is of opinion that the observer at Gore who claimed to have seen the oomefc was under a misapprehension, mistaking Venus for the visiting comet. The comet was also seen by the Rev. A. Don yesterday morning. The whereabouts of Mr P. F. Darcy are no longer a mystery, says the .Marlborough Express. Mr J. Townsend, who represented Marlborough at the Shearers' Conference at Wellington, informed a reporter that Mr Darcy arrived in San Francisco on Thursday morning. This information was received by Mr Townsend from a steward on the Mokoia. who stated that he had picked up a pocketbook on the vessel with a number of letters and other papers addressed to Mr Darcy. A man answering Mr Darcy's description was a passenger. A Dannevirke message states that tho Dannevirke Publishing Company was served yesterday with a writ at the instance ot Mr H. F. S. King, late manager, claiming £2OOO damages for alleged wrongful dismissal. The case will be heard at Palmerston North. The death has occurred at Bath of Miss Marianne Hensley, who last October received congratulations from the King on attaining ber 104th birthday. She haa lived over 75 years in on© house. Her brother, th© Rev. Charles Hensley, reached the ago of 97. A relative of Miss Hensley. residing in Dunedin, informs us that that lady, when 98 years of age, made for her, without the use of spectacles, a small pincushion, and after her 102nd birthday she herself replied to 50 letters of congratulation.

The Catlins Lake used to be celebrated for its flounders, but of late years the supply has been very limited. One of the residents ascribes the scarcity of flat fish (says th© Free Press) to the depredations of black swans. He says it is not unusual ot see a flock of four or five hundred swans at low water regaling themselves on young flounders, to which they are very partial, and the quantity they are capable of consuming must be enormous.

The first meeting for the session of the University Students' Christian Union was held on "Wednesday, 13th instant, in the chemistry lecture-room. There was a very large attendance of students to listen to the address of the president, Mr F. B. Barton, B.A. This took a very comprehensive view of student life, and more particular reference to the place the union and Christian study should take in that life. On the 15th the opening social was held in the Knox Church Sunday School Hall, and proved to be of a particularly enjoyable character, the attendance being very full, despite the boisterousness of the night. The work of the supervising committees in making .all arrangements was very thorough, and was fully deserving of the vote of thanks accorded them at the close. Professors Dickie a.nd Hewitson and Drs Gilray and Marshall were present. The two last-mentioned gave short and appreciative addresses. Dr Gilray glanced into the past, and made a brief comparison between the state of university life when he first became acquainted with it 20 years ago and that prevailing now. He found that there now existed a closer feeling of comradeship between students themselves and between students and the teaching staff. The speaker also referred to the tripartite nature of man's character, and emphasised the necessity of students, if they desired to attain the highest development, devoting attention to each department of life. Dr Marshall made a. speech characterised by much humour, particularly addressed to new students. He pointed to some phases of university life where their influence might be felt. One of these was the debating club, with the conduct of which, if they thought calmly over the matter, old students oould hardly be satisfied. Various competitions of an original nature were held, and the prizes for these distributed by Professor Dickie. An enjoyable programme was rendered by the following contributors: Miss Bayley (violin solo), Miss L. Darling (recitation), Miss J. Crawley (solo), Mr Hugh Short (solo), Mr Wilson (solo), Mr Mulholland (solo), and Mr T. M. Haslett (recitation).

Workers in their dinner-time interval ware busy star-gazing on the 15th, for there was one of the celestial orbs shining with unmistakable brilliancy. People in Mianso street were specially favoured in locating it, for, standing near High street, the bearings were easily taken by looking between the third and fourth parapet ornament on Ross and Glendining's building and drawing a line until it reached, say, 45 degrees above the horizon, a little to the west of north, where the " patine of bright gold" shone in solitary beaut3 r . Many of the onlookers were possessed with the belief that they were looking at Halley's comd ; but this, of course, is a mistake. The si ;\ r visible between the drifts of fleecy clouds coning- up from the west had no tail.

Then, again, til© comet is not due to ordinary vision until, say, Tuesday next, and comets run on time as regularly as New Zealand railway trains. The Rev. D. Dutton, who is one of our local authorities on astronomical matters, states that the star that attracted so much attention, was in all probability Venus, which is the morning star at present, and is frequently seen in the daytime when there is unusual clearness in the atmosphere

The Hampden Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union has arranged for a meeting of farmers in the district Addresses will be given by Mr G. H. Stewart (of Crookston, president of the Otago Provincial Council) and others on union matters of interest to farmers, and also on the Farmers' Union Mutu?' Fire Insur-* ance Association.

A meeting of the executive of the Vi<W toria League was held :ursday, 14th Last., when there were present—Mesdamea Theomin (in the chair), M. Cohen, Fergus, Howard Jackson, J. M. Ritchie, Hon. J.: B. Callan, M.L.C., Messrs J. .F. Arnold, M.P., W. Burnett, F. J. Stilling, C. G. White, and W T. Monkman (hon. secretary). Very gratifying reports were received from Auckland and Christchurch, where, as a result of "Miss Talbot's visit, branches of the league have been formed. It %vas decided to ask the matrons of the local hospitals—both public and to communicate with a member of the executive in the event of their having a friendless patient under their care, in order that some little attention might be proffered A sum of money was voted for the purchase of books for country school libraries. A sub-committee was appointed to arrange for the public presentation, on Empire Day. if possible, of the trophies given by the league to the winners in the children's essay competition. Miss Burt, who undertakes the despatch of illustrated papers, magazines, etc., to outlying districts, stated that the supply was not .equal to the demand, and that she would be grateful if those having sparp numbers were to send them to her at York place, or to the oare' of Messrs Young and Anderson, Princes street.

At Wednesday's meeting of the South Canterbury Education Board Mr Sealey said that 12 or 18 months ago the school committees tvere asked to try and liaise funds for a Barclay memorial scholarship, arid he would like to know how much money had been raised, and what the present position was. The chairman said the matter had been promoted by a special committee, and the board had had no communication on the subject. The secretary said the special committee had not met for some time, and he understood that £IBO was in the Savings Bank to the credit of the fund. Several members suggested that the special committee should be called together at onoe. Mr Sealey said that he had brought the matter up at the request of several who were interested in the matter.