LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 36

LOCAL & GENERAL.

It was with complete unanimity that the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on March 26 decided to urge upon the Government the necessity for the prosecution of the Otago Central line beyond Clyde and for the irrigation of the district. The people of the interior who have been waiting for many years—one speaker said it was half a lifetime —for the benefits of a railway system would have been delighted if they had heard the forcible and well-founded arguments advanced by the speakers in support of the two objects, and the hope deferred which they have been experiencing for a very considerable period indeed would have been lifted, at any rate to some extent, from their hearts. Mr William Burnett, Mayor of Dunedin, who has always been a staunch advocate of the line, expressed his pleasure at the action of the Chamber of Commerce in joining in with other bodies to urge on the Government the construction of the line, and said ho felt more hopeful to-day that the line would be carried on than he had ever felt before. It was a " live" meeting, and it was felt by all present that the combined action now resolved upon must result, in the not distant future, in great benefit, not only to the central district, but to the whole of Otago. The steamship subsidies, according to Mr A. E. Mabin, a speaker at the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on March 26, are said to be subject to a stipulation limiting the freights. Mr Mabin stated that at the present time freights to America were 50 to 100 per oent. higher than through freights, with the result that trade' possibilities were limited to London. An effort should be made, he urged, to get the Government to insist upon a limitation of freights when it granted subsidies. The plans and specifications for the new women's ward at the Hospital have been finally approved by the Inspector-general (Dr Valintine). The building is expected to cost somewhere about £14.000, and tenders will be called for its construction about the middle of this month.

At a recent meeting- of tho Blueskia Agricultural and Pustoral Society a motion proposed by Mr T. M'Oonncll and seconded by Mr J. Chesney was carried unanimously, placing on record the society's appreciation of the service 4 rendered to it by Mrs Colchan (late licensee of the Saratoga Hotel) and Mr D. W. M'Kewen (present lioensee), and expressing regret that the loss of the license through the alteration of boundaries, although the residents had had no voice in the matter. It was also decided to send a copy of the resolution to Mr E. H. Clark, M.P., and the member for the district (Mr E. P. Lee), with a view to having an effort made to introduce legislation which would remedy what was looked upon as an injustice to the settlers of the district. The business portion of the annual meeting of the M.U.1.0.0.F., Otago district, at Roxburgh, was brought to a conclusion shortly after 6 p.m. on March 23, and subsequently the brethren attended a banquet, at which the attendance was very large. The ohair was occupied by G.M. Bro. J. P. Michelle, who in a brief speech proposed the toast of "The King." Subsequent toasts honoured were "The Otago District," proposed by Per. See. Bro. Jas. Brown; "The Loyal Roxburgh Lodge." proposed by P.P.G.M. Bro. R. S. Black; "The Visitors," proposed by the Chairman ; " Kindred Societies," proposed by P.O. Bro. F. Laloli; "The Press," "Chairman," and " Piaaist" (P.O. Bro. R. C. Moore). Musical items were rendered by Bros. C. Bragg, E. Orchard, W. G. Cole, R. C. Moore, A. Sligo, 0. Naumann, and Mr John Bennetts. During an interval in tho programme the newly elected officers were installed with the usual formalities, the ceremony being conducted by tho retiring Prow G.M. (Bio. Lawry), assisted by P.P.G.M.'s Bros. C. J. Wood, J. G. Briggs, 0. E. Brundell, J. Broadfoot, A. Cable, R. S. Black, A. M'Dougall, and Per. Sec. Bro. J. Brown. The district officers responded. Prow G.M. Cole presented P.P.G.M. Bro. Lawry with a P.P.G.M.'s jewel, which was duly acknowledged. Tho proceedings lasted till midnight. One of the last acts at the business meeting was the passing of a motion empowering the executive to vote a sum up to £25 to the retiring Prow G.M. (Bro. Lawry) in recognition of the work ho hud done for the order during his term of office. A case of distress in the districtbeing mentioned, tho brethren made a collection in aid, £5 15s being subscribed in the room. The brethren returned to their respective homea on Monday, a number going by way of the Otago Central.

During the month of February three vessels were docked in the Port Chalmers dock, the charges amounting to £92 4s. Private advices received from Mr Eric Webb, of Canterbury College, who was selected to tako charge of the magnetic instruments with Dr Mawsou's expedition, report the arrival of the party in Adclie Land, Antarctic, on January 8. all well. In speaking of the trip, Mr Webb says: "We had to coast along pack ice for several days, and then ride out a blizzard. The ice formations are marvels of beauty, and the gradations of blue are exquisite. There are so many valuations both in form, tinting, and Nature's carving that some of the shapes are weird and fantastic in the extreme, bringing to mind ruined castles and phaniom palaces of the imagination. One berg we passed yesterday about 15ft high had a surface exactly like flint in appearance, with the colour of chrysopraso and the distinctive conchoid al fracture of the quartz formation. This cou.st, along which

Twe aro now passing-, is studded with innumerable isolated rocks, some large enough to be designated islands, but mostly just lone rocks rising steep and straight from the water, and capped with ice and snow. All are volcanic brown in colour, and belong to the same formation as Mount Erebus." .Mr Webb seems very favourably impressed with the site selected for the long winter sojourn in the Far South. A large and enthusiastic meeting of the members of the Liberal party in Palmerston was held on Saturday, March 23, the Mayor (Mr R. Riddle) presiding. The following resolution was passed:—"That we, the Palmorston South supporters of the Liberal party, do convey to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward our high appreciation of the signally able manner in which he has guided the destinies of this country for the past six years, and while recognising the right hon. gentleman's disintorestedno&s and self-sacrifice in relinquishing at the present juncture the Prime Minister's post, we do hope and trust that he will again, at the earliest possible date, assume the leadership of the Liberal and Progressive party, because it is not fair to the country that it should be deprived of the services of the first statosma.ll in the land." Among the many visitors who have arrived in Dunedin recently is Sir Robert Anderson, Bart., linen manufacturer, of Belfast, who, with Lady Anderson, is at present making a tour of the world. One of our reporters called upon Sir Robert at the Grand Hotel on arrival to make a few inquiries anent the prospects of the Homo Rule Bill and the feeling in the north of Ireland on that burning question. He was most courteously received by the distinguished visitor. Politics, however, were out of the question. Sir Robert is not a politician, and although he has views ou Homo Rule and other topics of great interest in the political arena at Home at the present time, he was not disposed to discuss the pros and eons of these matters. All the seme. Sir Robert Anderson is a most entertaining conversationalist. His liberality in supplying information in respect to affairs in the Emerald Isle is only equalled by his desire to gain as much knowledge as he can of this country, its people, and their conditions of life. He has viewed the Dunedin tramway system with admiration. Ho is the chairman of the Tramways Committee of the Belfast City Council —a department that runs 300 cars and ! has 1000 men in its service. Steam plant generates the electrical energy for the system. A very large quantity of coal is used daily, but experiments are being made with oil fuel. The corporation builds its own cars. Tram travelling is cheap. On on© route there is a section of seven miles for , which 2d is charged. Yet the system pays handsomely. This year a profit of £45,000 jis looked for. The city possesses a magj nificent hall, called the Church House. j built by the Presbyterian Church at a cost ! of £70,000. It has 3200 seats, and on the occasion of the Chaipman-Alexander mission in the city as many as 4000 people were . accommodated in it. Sir Robert and Lady j Anderson, who aro accompanied by Mr and

i Mrs W. H. M'Laughlin, also of Belfast, j will remain in Duncdin for a fortnig-ht. i Throughout their toxir they are associating j themselves as much as possible in the difl ferent parts visited with the missioners who | are at present in this city. ! The Trans-Teremakau water race was i finished on March 23 (says our Greymouth j correspondent) It has taken 27 months to 1 construct, and is now ready for conveying j water from the Kumara side of the Teremakau to the northern side The magni ; tude of the task can only be realised on I going over the ground. The manufac : ture and placing of the large pij>es that : connect the Government water race at i Dillmans with the largo reservoir on the ! Three-mile Hill were carried out expodit- \ iously The race out around the hill at j Wostbrook is also well done, and is almost ! big enough to drive in. It is quite pro- | bable that there will bo some ceremony to ! murk the opening of the race, and in this \ connection the Mayor of Kumara has al- | ready communicated with the Minister. That very marked increases in the price of Auckland city property in a short period j are a quite common thing- an objector was ! reminded at the Assessment Court on the ' 27th March, when urging that the inI crease of valuation on his property was I unreasonable An instance was mentioned : (says our Auckland correspondent) where ; not long ago a Symonds street property was ! sold for £IOOO, and the man who paid the ' deposit resold in a few (lays for £2OOO j This, it was claimed, was not an isolated ! instance of what was going on in property I transactions.

Our Oamaril correspondent states (hat at Ihc meeting of the County Council, hold last week, very few tenders were received for any of the works advertised. Not n single tender was in so?ne instances received, and the Engineer reported that it was impossible fro get men to do the work. The statement lately published in Dunedin that unemployed were going to the citv from Oamaru does not appear to have any foundation in fact. If men are leaving Oamaru they are fleeing from work. The question of where and under what circumstances a. statement made to a police. constable is privileged was raised during the hearing of a slander case in the Supreme Court at Masterton. It was shown in evidence, according to the Age, that a woman had complained to the police that she had been charged with taking money from her employer. The police made inquiries con oerning the complaint, and in the course of those inquiries certain statements were

made. These statement formed the basis of an action for slander. Mr Justice Edwards stated that the police were not acting in the execution of their duty when they did what they were not required to do by law. It was a question whether statements made in such circumstances were privileged. As far as his Honor was concerned he was not aware that a decision had been given on the point. • An impudent attempt at a novel kind of fraud was unearthed by Detectives MLeod and Kennedy at Christc'mirch on March 25 (says the Press). Some little tuny a»o a man advertised anonymously for applications for the position of manager of a general store in a southern town. He received a number of applications, and pro ceeded to interview the applicants Ho explained to one of them that he was willing to give him the situation, but he first required a fidelity deposit of £SO. For tiinately the applicant was a cautious man, who declined to find the money, and elected to confide the scheme to the police. The result was that the two detectives paid a visit to the advertiser, and had t jo difficulty in coming to the conclusion that a fraud had been attempted. The supposed situation existed only in the fertile imagination of the person who was offering it The man was taken to the police station, and there he was found to be in possession of an overcoat which had been missed from a business place in the city. lie was placed under arrest, and a charge of theft preferred against him There must bo one inmate of the Lyttcl- - gaol who is feeling sorry that he spoke (says the Press). He was before Mr 11. W. Bishop ; S.M., at the Police Court en March 25, on a couple of charges of failing to account for moneys received. He started to dictate to the court what his sentence should bo, that a prohibition order should be issued against him, and that he should be ordered to refund the money. The result was the curt magisterial response- " Three months' hard on each charge." Even then the accused could not restrain his tongue, and put forth the query: "Concurrent?" "No, cumulative," was the reply he got Within the past few months the charitable expenditure of the Ilawcra Hospital Board has been largely reduced, mainly in the direction of eliminating anything that was considered to. be a luxury in the foodstuffs supplied to the need}-. While speaking at Monday's meeting of the board, the chairman (Mr Nolan) said the charitable aid department could be still further economised, as many of the recipients, most of whom are women, were widows, who would be entitled to the benefits of the Widows' Pensions Act, a very desirable amendment made to the Old Age Pensions Act. Mr R. M. Laing, of Chris tchurch, who has just returned from a visit to Norfolk Island, stated in an interview with a Press representative last week that the inhabitants on the island were divided into three communities. There were the descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, numbering about 700; members of the Melauesian Mission and Solomon Islanders attached to the mission and members of the staff appointed to the cable station. The different communities lived in different parts of the island, and were isolated from one another. Mr Laing added that most of tho residents supported themselves on ttieir own holdings and by fishing, and very litt'e money pa-fsed.

A report that 150 Australians are unable to get shipping accommodation to return from South Africa to Australia was brought under the notice of the Minister for External Affairs at Sydney last week. Mr 'i ho mas did not seem disposed to take any action in the matter. A number of people, he said, were stranded in South Africa some years ago, and some thousands of pounds were sent to bring them back to Australia. The understanding was that they should refund their passage money by instalments. This part of the bargain had not been kept, and he had given instructions that in several eases prosecutions should be entered upon. These people, he insisted, should certainly be rnado to keep their agreement. Many were in a good position to do so. The problem of dealing with the rabbit pest, which has presented serious difficulties hitherto, both in New Zealand and Australia, appears to have been solved by a resident of Auckland. Mr 11. Ourrie has carried out some experiments with such success that he has patented his process, and it has met with approval by the Agricultural Department. The destructive ''influence" is poison of almost any kind, the secret being in its ''application.'' Poison is applied to some particular food which attracts rabbits in hordes where they are at all plentiful, and they devour it ravenously, witJi the inevitable result. Mr Currie informed a representative of the Auckland Star that in one experiment, where rabbits were not very plentiful, he killed 120 at the first trial. Mi- Harold Ilodgkinson, of Hawera Flat, has been engaged during the past three weeks inspecting the deer in the National Park (says the Mataura Ensign). lie reports that he saw a great number of deer in the dense bush, sufficient to warrant the issue of a number of licenses. The animals were fine specimens with well-grown heads, and he thought that many in the Hauroto district resembled those in the YVairarapa. Their antlers were short and massive, while in the Manapouri district were more of the Scottish type. The country was eminently suited for deer. He did not come across any poachers. In some parts of the Hauroto district: sheep were so plentiful that the deer shunned them. Native game of all sorts were in abundance—in fact, th©

country was teeming with game, and the pigs in many places were a regular curse. There were no malformed heads among the deer, and he thought the embargo placed on shooting deer in the park should be removed. As a sequel to his recent encounter with an armed and masked burglar, Mr J. Thompson, resident at Randwick, Sydney, has received a threatening letter, which he has placed in the hands of the police. Mr Thompson, who occupied a balcony room at Esmeyville, was awakened at an early hour by hearing a man fumbling about his room, who. as soon as he heard a movement, hurriedly decamped, being fired on by Mr Thompson as he slid down the balcony post. The following is a copy of the letter —"To my Smart Friend. Dear Sir, —Owing to our little adventure on the verandah I have not been able to get about so well, but am now progressing favourably. I congratulate you, my friend, on your shooting, but I think you might have given a fellow a bit of a warning. I always give a man a chance. You never spoko one word of warning; you simply fired. If I could have got to my revolver after I was shot I would have laid you low, and you would not have got up in a hurry, either. You might think you are pretty quick on the trigger, but you will find out, my smart friend, if it comes to the trigger business next time we meet, that I am a shade the quicker." During the opening of the large sewer trench in Thackeray street, Napier, the workmen have repeatedly "struck oil" in very small springs. In each case (says the Daily Telegraph) the oil was only sufficienft to discolour the water through which it rose and on which it afterwards floated down the sewer. On March 21, however, a quite large spring was unearthed. Tho oil bubbled up freely and was forced about 2in above the surrounding water with the pressure underneath. The flow was about 4in in diameter, the oil evidently coining from a good supply lower down. Owing to tho fact that the discovery was made in tho immediate lino of the new sewer, which has been cased in with concrete, tho supply of petroleum has been shut oft'. Should another spring be found, arrangements will bo made to have the oil and ground tested. Several anxious spectators, hearing of the discovery, have l-een making inquiries of adjacent landowners a>; to the prices of sections in the immediate vicinity. Mr Jualioo Williams ; who is at present in Wellington, disposed of several chambers motions from Otago on March 25. Probate was granted in re Alexander Sim (Mr (Jreagh), William Aitehiscn (Mr J. Nicliol), Anthony Paterson (Mr Newton), Ellen Smith (Mr Dunoan), and William Oowie (Mr Stephens). Letters of administration were granted in re James Davit's (Mir Gkwccigne), James Craig (Mr Platts), and Mary Ann Lawson (Mr Bedford). In M Donald v. M'Donald (divorce) Mr Bedford moved to dispense with personal service, and his Honor assented, directing tho Registrar to settle the form of the order.

\The evening commercial classes conducted at the Dunedin Technical .School are already full, and indications point to the fact that they will be overcrowded during the current year. Owing to the want of accommodation it has been almost impossible to arrange for all the classes reu quired, but there being an unusual nunil>or of young people wishing to prepare for the civil service or the University matriculation examinations, it has been decided to re-arrange tho tune-table somewhat to suit their convenience. It would' api>ear, therefore, that the effort to obtain a new technical school for Dunedin had not been made quite soon enough, as we are authoritatively informed that it will bo almost impossible to carry on the present classes without further accommodation till the new building is erected. New Zealand is admittedly the home of free education—especially secondary and technical education —as hero the inducements and oppoi tunities for young peopleto study an: much greater than arc offered anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere Tho educational facilities so liberally offered here, however, carry one obligation —and one only,—and that is a regular attendance once the secondary free course is entered upon. This obligation, we are given to understand, is at times overlooked, and in some cases is unknown, by parents. The result is forfeiture of the chum to a free place. Once a pupil enters upon the free course he or she is, under certain conditions, entitled to five years' free education. Should the student leave a high school and wish to attend the technical classes, or otherwise obtain free education, he should at once transfer to tho intended school, and not allow months, op it may be years, to elapse before making application, and thus render himself iri/> eligible for free education. This it; the story of a commercial travel* ler, a fickle fiancee, and a judgment sum* mons, as narrated in the WellingtO& Magistrate's Court on March 26, before Df M'Arthur, S.M., by the commercial travel* ler's solicitor, Mr P. W. Jackson. The latter (says the Post) on making applica* tion for an order against the lady foj> £BS 10s, told a moving story of an engage ment between the parties in 1907, and of an entrusting to the bride-to-be, as tlie traveller's banker, of a sum of £144. The money was handed over to the defendant in instalments by plaintiff, as he was afraid it might be substantially reduced on hi? travels round the country. Subsequently the commercial traveller got hack £SB 10s, leaving a balance of . the amount of tho order sought in court. Last year, accoidincj to counsel,, the plot thickened. "While tho

traveller was away in the country, and ■without duo notice of her intention, the lady promptly married someone else, and left, with her spouse, for the home provided for her, adding insult to injury by not returning the money. Also, it was alleged, she had absent-mindedly removed plaintiff's personal effects to the value of £7 3s 6d. Plaintiff some time since proceeded .-'gainst her civilly, and got judgment for the amount claimed by default, but no money had been obtained. Now he was proceeding against her on a judgment summons, and aimed' at getting her •up to Wellington from the place of her residence, somewhere in the South Island, to explain what had become of the money. When that is achieved his civil remedy will be exhausted. Mr Jackson said that he had tried all he knew to bring this about, but so far he had failed to get the defendant to court. Neither could 1 he find out what had become of the money. A final adjourn meut was granted to permit of further steps being taken in this direction. The members of the Milton Fire Brigade and a number of friends held a smoke concert in the Brigade Station* on Tuesday, March 26. The representatives on the Fire Board were also present, and Superintendent King, the brigade's delegate, gave a lengthy and interesting report on the business transacted at the Fire Brigades' Association's Conference, held at Rotorua early this month. A very enjoyable evening was spent with music, sorug, speeches, etc., and' the function closed shortly after midnight. A lady resident of Henderson and a friend had an exciting experience whilst driving to catch the train on Friday, March 22. ■When passing a farm they were suddenly set upon by a swarm of angry bees, and no coherent account is obtainable of the events of the subsequent five minutes. The driver endeavoured to control the frantic horse, while at the same time brushing the insects off face and' hands. At length both passengers tumbled out. of the trap, and left it and the horse to their fate. A young man came to their assistance, quietened the animal, and drove the friend to the station in time for the train. The friend, fortunately, wore a. thick veil, and thus escaped seathless, but the driver had seveial stings on hands and face. These were extracted, and' the application of the old-time remedy, the blue-bag, soon brought down the swelling. Had the horse not been an exceptionally quiet animal there would probably have been a severe accident. On the return journey the horse made record time while passing the danger zone. The work of constructing the new steamer Earnslaw at Kingston is proceeding apace (says the Mataura Ensign). The machinery is practically ail in position, and the decking is Rearing completion. The contractors expect to be able to hand the vessel over in a month's time. The Earnslaw dwarfs the Mountaineer into comparative iribigniiicance, and when finished she will be a handsome boat, that should do service for many a long day to come.

In the Wellington Magistrate's Court on the 26th, during the hearing of civil business, Dr M'Arthur, S.M., took occasion to contradict a statement that had appeared in a paper in regard to judgment summonses, to tho effect that lie had stated from the Bench he would not give judgment against a defendant who was getting £4 per week or under. His Worship explained that he would not have said anything about it, only that this alleged opinion of his had been quoted by a fel-low-magistrate in the south. It appeared—on the suggestion of a solicitor in court — that some remarks of Dr M'Artbur in connection with an appeal board sitting in Auckland had been misconstrued. On that occasion his Worship in-formed a defendant, who had not appeared, and had an order given against him that had he appeared and told the court that he was only receiving £4 per week it is probable he would not have made an order. " You must take all circumstances into account," explained his Worship. lie could see now how tho statement had originated. A number of golfers had the unpleasant experience of being ■'under lire"' ,-'t the Hokowhitu links on Saturday, March 23 (says the Manawatu Times). .Some individuals ■were amusing themselves with a revolver on the cliffs on the far side of the river, and more than ciice a golfer was caused to "foozle his approach" by tho ecream of a bullet passing above his head. It is possible that the firers wero aiming at trees, and that it was the ricocheting bullet which landed on the links. The average golfer has enough to try his temper without being made the target for stray bullets, causing him to be oppressed with the fear that ho may be hurried into that hole for ■which no " bogey " has yet been fixed. Mr Furkert, District Engineer of the Public Works Department, states that a start on the preliminary work of constructing the big dam at Manorburn in connection with the Ida Valley irrigation scheme is to bo made at once. Owing to the lateness of the season, however, it will be impossible to commence work on a very large scale, but the building of the huts for tho ■workmen, the laying of a telephone wire, and the formation of a mile and a-quarter of new road to enable the material to be got to the dam site, will be the initial work. The timber for the huts was ordered yesterday, and tenders were also called for the necessary carting The dam when completed, will cover an area of no less than 1700 acres, and it is thought that it should be completed within a year. There are two or three other dams to be formed in connection with the scheme, and

about 100 miles of races, with all the usual fluniings, syphons, gau gangs, etc This latter work is estimated to occupy another year, and the whole work should, therefore, be completed in about two years. The Technical School Board' has received from the Public Trustee the money wherewith to pay the 15 Callander scholarships which are to bo awarded to present students of the school on the results of their previous year's work, pupils thus being practically called upon to take a two years' course before being eligible for the scholarships These are of £5 each, and will be awarded as follows:—Four for engineering, four for plumbing, four for carpentry, and three for domestic work. The late Mr Callander at the time of his death resided at Wellington, but was at one time a wellknown resident of Dunedin.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that Sir William Hall-Jones's term as High Commissioner ha* been extended to the end of May to give the new Government time to consider the appointment of his successor. At a meeting of the Cabinet on March the 27th (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) it was decided that a conference of local public bodies throughout the Dominion be held in Wellington for the purpose of considering the Local Government Bill. The measure being one of national importance, the Government will contribute £IOOO towards the expenses of the conference, which will take place at an early date, in order that the bill may be fully considered before next session of Parliament. A Press Association message from Palmerston North says:—Mr J. Jeromson, green keeper at the Manawatu golf links, whose disappearance had been reported to the police, has wired from Auckland to his parents as follows: —" Am quite we'd; letter to follow." The piercing of the Big Hill tunnel on the Lawrence Roxburgh railway, was effected on March 23, when the gangs working f rom both ends met. The tunnel, which is 22 chains in length, will be 17ft high and 15ft wide, and lined with concrete Isin thick. Very hard schist was met with all the way through the tunnel, and, fortunately enough, it proved to contain a largo quantity of quartz, which readily broke up with the force of explosions, and was at once available for mixing with cement to form the concrete for the lining. This was the means of considerable saving in the cost of the tunnel, as otherwise it would probably have been found necessary to carry the gravel from as far as Waitahuna. The construction work is being done by co-operative labour for a little over a mile beyond the tunnel, while after that a section of about three-quarters of a mile has been let to Mr G. W. Ryan, of Woitahuna. Under the will of the late Miss Ruth Churchill Simmons the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has come in for a very substantial legacy. The executors of Miss Simmons (the Perpetual Trustees, Estato and Agency Company) have notified the society that on the realisation of the estate, which consists of city freehold property, they expect to be in a position to hand to it a sum well over £IOOO. Miss Simmons was a daughter of the late Rev. Frank C. Simmons, one of the early rectors of the Otago Boys' High School. The society has benefited on previous occasions from small legacies left bo it by subscribers and humane persons who have appreciated its efforts on behalf of the dumb creation, but this is the first time a really largo sum has been left to it.

During the hearing of a will case in the Appeal Court last week it appeared (says a Press Association telegram) that the will had been drawn up by the Public Trust Office. The Bench criticised the form of the document, and the practice of drawing wills without adequate knowledge of the testator's circumstances. The Public Trust Office solicitor explained that wills rent to the office were redrafted if anything eeemed irregular. Mr Justice Edwards insisted that a personal interview was advisable, if not absolutely necessary, in all cases. A valuable property in a suburb of Invcrcargill has (aays the News) been placed on offer to a local land agent, who i« making an effort to form a syndicate to effect a purchase. The area its 240 acres, and the price £lO9 per acre. It will be of interest to learn that 40 years ago the property was acquired for £4 an acre. If a syndicate can be induced to buy, the area will bo etit up into residential sites. At the Clinton Magistrate's Court on March 26 two shearers were each fined £2, and 9s costs, for breaches of the Otago Shearers' Award. The particular offence was against clauses 2 and 3 of the award, and was to the effect that while being employed as shearers by Mr Ji'ines Begg, of Clinton, they ceased work before the completion of shearing. Mr Begg stated in court that he had occasion to speak to one of the men about his shearing, as he Mas cutting the sheep, and this was apparently tho reason why they both left. Neither of tho shearers attended the court to answer the charges. Tho Inspector of Awards (Mr Newton), in the Magistrate's Court at Clinton, claimed' £lO from James Begg for a breach of the Otago Shearers' Award, in that he worked his shearers on January 2 till 7.30 p.m., instead of ceasing at 5.30. Mr Begg admitted working till 7.30. but said thai the men wore to start work at 6.30 on the morning of January 2, but owing to their being away on the previous day on " New Year revelries," they did not commence till 8.30, and by 5.30 a small day's work

had not been accomplished because some of them were ''suffering a recovery/' and only worked off and on. Ewes with lambs were being shorn, and at 5.30 there were , still a few ewos to be shorn, and the shearers' representative agreed that it would not be fair to turn the shorn and woolly sheep out together. If the men had started punctually and done an ordinary day's work there would have been no need to work after 5.30. The Magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) held that the breach was excusable, and 1 dismissed the case In his sermon on Sunday, March 24, at Baring- Square Church (says the Ashburton Guardian), the Rev. VV. J. Elliott deplored tho manner in which many people were "weighted with impedimenta." "It is the fashion." he remarked, " for some folks to provide big Sunday dinners, and we have the picture of strong, robust young men and women lounging about on Sunday afternoon, the victims of indigestion, instead of being engaged in spiritual or intellectual pursuits." Though the opinion is sometimes expressed just now that locally business all round is perhaps on the quiet side, the fir.a.ncial stability of Dunedin, and, in fact, of the whole of tho Otago district which comes under the jurisdiction of Mr E. 11. Morice, official assignee, cannot be questioned. This statement is demonstrated by the fact that for the quarter ended March 30 not one case of bankruptcy has been recorded. It; is some years back since such a satisfactory state of affairs has been experienced. A special meeting of tho Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League was held on Friday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs W. F. Edmond (chairman), D. M. Fea, W. B. M. Fea, W. Taylor, J. B. Waters, and C. W. Rattray. Tho secretary reported that the meeting was called for the purpose of considering the question of visiting the Catlins district. A letter on this subject was received from Mr C. G. Martin, of Wharuarimu, which stated that the roads were not in good condition and the league would not be able to travel without difficulty. Tho meeting decided to defer the trip in tho mealtime. The secretary stated that it was expected that the rails would bo laid as far as'Caberfeidh Station in six months' time, and in 12 months' time the work would be completed as far as Papatoa. The present section in the course of construction was costing from £15,000 to £16,000 petmile, but when they got on further it would cost only £4OOO a mile. The secretary was authorised to attend to the question of having a trucking siding erected at Houipapa. The funeral of the late Mr John Duncan, one of the most widely known and most highly respected men in Otago, took place on Friday afternoon. Service was conducted in the house by the Rev. Dr Watt and the Rev. A. M. Finlayson, of Waitoti, the coffin being borne to the hearse by relatives and intimate friends of the deceased gentleman. The cortege was then formed, there being, apart from pedestrians, several mourning coaches ;,nd private carriages in tho following. Anr*ong those present at the service in tho house and in the procession were tho two Sf>ns of deceased (James and Charles), Mr Peter Duncan, Mr A. Duncan, and Mr F. Duncan. Many friends had cowie from 'x distance to pay the last mark of respect to the dead, noticeable among them being Messrs J. Aitcheson (at one time foreman for Mr Duncan at Cherry Farn/'y, T. Allcock, W. M'Dougall, Heckler (al 1 of Waikouaiti), and Mr J. Ronton (Mosgiel). Others present were: Sir George M'Lean, Messrs Job Wain, H. Reid, W. Reid, A. M'Diarmid, W. B. Harlow, Captain Thomson, and the Rev. I. K. M'lntyre. Many of the officials from the Land Office walked in the procession, Mr Duncan having for several years been a member of the Otago Land Board. Tho procession went by way of Cumberland street to tho place of interment at the Southern Cemetery, and increased in size as it moved along. At the grave the service was conducted by the Revs. A. M. Finlayson and Graham H. Balfour.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that " The Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1911," has received tin." Royal assent, and a proclamation will ehorty be lis&ued bringing it into force on May 1. The act provides for the proper safeguarding of a seaman's interests when he has been left on shore through illness. Onus is placed on the owners, in such cases, of providing- the cost of maintenance and medical and other attendance on the seaman, and for the cost of his burial where illness or accident terminates in his death in New Zealand. For a breach of theso and other provisions of a similar kind a penalty of £IOO is provided. Good progress has been made by the contractors in the; construction of the new haulage drive at Kaitangata. mine, and so far the hill has been pierced to a distance O? more than 700 ft. At present, however, very solid material in the shape of rock and quartz is being met. It is expected that the tunnel will be excavated at least 600 ft further yet. Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs as follows: —"The last two months have been extremely favourable t-o pastoralists, and even those conditions are improving as winter approaches. The warmest rain of the season was experienced on Tuesday, when there' was a general full throughout the district. There have been several showers in the last few days, and so far the rainfall is the greatest experienced hero hi recent years. All over the country occupied by new settlers there is an abundance of grass and thistle, which arc so keenly sought by sheep, and this not only has a distinct

bearing on the present condition of stock, but will leave the sheep in a condition to withstand an average severe winter. Altogether the prospects of the runholders are e>tremely bright Only a very severe winter can have any marked effect. Similar conditions prevail in the outlying districts. At the last meeting of the Kaitangata Borough Council Cr Donaldson moved—- " That steps be taken to alter the present system of rating to that of rating on tho unimproved value of property." Cr Ridd seconded the motion, and in the discussion which ensued the clerk was called on for information. He said that ho had gone into this question some considerable time back, with the result that he eamo to the conclusion that there would be little or no advantage to bo gained for borough ratepayers generally by a change in the system. Tho Mayor favoured the proposal because it was a Socialistic idea; Cr Donaldson supported it on the ground of progress; and Cr Coulter was opposed to proceeding too fast, and moved an amendment that a committee be set up to go into the question. At this stage Or Donaldson agreed to withdraw his motion, and the amendment was carried unanimously. Tito rabbit market at Mataura is in a somewhat excited state just now (says the Mataura Ensign). Owing to the advent of fresh buyers on the scene the opening price (4J>d per pair) was advanced on. During Monday the price advanced to sd, and later in tho day to 6d, closing "stiffening." It was reported on Tuesday, however, that the firmness was maintained, and during the day the price advanced in a few prime lots to 7d per pair. This was an exceptional line, and is not likely to be a general price. Thoso interested in the export trade held a meeting on Tuesday night with a view to arriving at a vivendi on tho matter. It is now becoming a common thing for some of the local merchants to find upon opering cases ot indent goods that some of the contents have been stolen (telegraphs tho Gisborne correspondent of the Press). In some cases the fact that the cases have been tampered with is noticeable from the outward appearance, but in most instances tho pillaging has been so systematically carried out that it is not until the boxes arc opened that they are found to be half empty. Amongst the transhipments which came to hand on March 26 was a case supposed to bo full of overcoats, and upon being searched it was found that some 40 overcoats were missing. The Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury University Colleges are sending down teams to compete at the annual university athletic and tennis championships, which this year are set down to bo decided in Dunedin at Easter. At Riocarton, Christchureh, several people have discovered that the hedgehog is not at all a desirable visitor, and the animals aro being kill whenever they are seen. One man, who had been blaming a weasel for slaughter among his poultry, discovered the real offender a few days ago. He was attracted to his hen run by a loud squawking among the fowls, and lie found a hedgehog gnawing at tho leg of a hen that was held down by tho animal. He at once killed the hedgehog, which was a particularly large specimen. The game morning another resident discovered that 18 chickens had been killed in his fowlrun, and on the same night he caught a hedgehog making way in the run. Again the animal was largo in size, and again the execution of the marauder was speedily effected. Another resident of Upper Riocarton has stated that he found a hedgehog taking milk from his' cows as they were lying in the paddocks. The discoveries have caused considerable surprise among the victimised people, by whom die hedgehog was regarded as a harmless animal, and a friend, rather than a bloodthirsty thief. The 18 chickens were not eaten, but had merely been bitten and the blood sucked out of them.

The population of Fiji, including the island of Rotuma, on the night tho census was taken numbered 139,541 persons (says the Fijian Times). Comparison with the ISOI census shows that during the last intcroensal period the population lias increased by 19,417 persons. It is noteworthy that this is the first eenc-us taken of the colony si;i<-i> 1881 which has shown an incieaso in the total population. Formerly, through the large decreases among the native Fijian.-, the population as a whoie showed a decrease. The native Fijians and Rctumans have decreased 7301 and 54 respectively; other races have increased. During the 10 years ended the 31st December, 1910, Indian immigrants have been introduced under indenture into the colony at the average rate of 2316 per annum, and repatriated at the average rate of 482 per annum. The largest factor in the increase of Indian immigration is the expansion of sugar and eoeoanut cultivation, and consequent demand for plantation labourers. During the interceneal period 1901-1911 it is estimated that the area under sugarcane" has increased by 34,000 acres. Dr 11. C. M'Douall, at the annual meeting of tho After-care Association, at Sydney last week, apjKJaled to the public for greater friendship to those who had recovered from a mental affliction. He pointed out that many a relapse was due to tho atmosphere of suspicion nnd distrust thrown around those who had just been released from a mental hospital. He knew of a man who would not write to his wife or friends in England of his mental illness, because it was a ' : disgrace to hare been insane,' and he replied, " It is no more a disgrace for you to have had a mental illness than if you had had pneumonia, typhoid k-ver, or any other illness."

The sentiment was greeted with applause. Continuing-, the doctor said, "On© would almost think wo were in the Dark Ages, when people thought insanity was a visitation from the devil. I am "afraid that in polite society we must not mention the devil. Still, there are people who seem to have the same old superstition that insanity is something so disgraceful that the victims should be punished both in this world and in the next. Unfortunately, though many pcoplo disclaim the idea, they have such a feeling at the back of their minds. For th© sake of humanity, we have to fight that feeling of dislike and distrust of those who Lave been mentally afflicted." A somewhat remarkable phenomenon was observed on March 26 (says our Balclutha correspondent). An easterly rain fell more or less heavily all the forenoon, and just about midday there was an extra heavy downpour or misty, thick rain, after which the ground was found to be in places thickly covered' with particles of a jelly-fish-like substance, the largest about the size and shape of the finger nail on the little finger. They gradually melted away and disappeared in an hour or two. They were semi-transparent, like blobs of jelly, and were evidently the lowest form of animal life, known scientifically as a protoplasmic form of amcebae. How they came to bo in the air is a question for theorists. A possible theory is that they were caught up in a tem'fio storm, o,- sent up by a marine eruption. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the Governor, Lady Islington, and party embarked on the Government steamer Ilinemoa on Saturday for a trip to the north. The Hinemoa is timed to return to Auckland on Saturday afternoon. Our Oamaru correspondent informs us that it seems likely now that Easter Saturday will not be observed as a holiday locally, the arrangement having fallen through owing to a few shopkeepers refusing to close. The local plumbing firm of Messrs J. and li. Scott lias received word that its contract price of £19,349 has been accepted for the supplying and laying of the pipes in connection with iho reticulaton of the Invereargill outer area. It is not expected that a start will be made on the work for about six months, that time being required to receive the pipes from Home. Vv'o understand that Chief Inspector Richardson has nominated Professor Gilray for the seat on the Senate of the University of New Zealand" vacant by the retirement of Professor Sulmond, who does nob intend to seek re-election. The electors are the graduates of the University of New Zealand whoso names are on the register of electors of the Otagf. District Court of Convocation. No names can be registered later than Thursday, April 11. Thirty-ono patients were admitted to the Dunedin Hospital during last week and 34 were discharged therefrom. Three deaths occurred, tho names of the deceased being George MoraJi, Jane Grieve, and Georgt> Smith. This leaves the number of patients remaining at 148, or six less than at the end of the previous week.

The s.s Wairoa, which is to leave Dunedin very soon en route to tho Auckland Islands with a party in search of. tho treasure which went down in the General Grant 46 years ago, 13 on her -way to Dunedin now, having left Wellington for tiiis port. She ie a stable-looking craft of 49 tons register, and to all intents and purposes she looks quite a likely vessel for tho purpose in view. Up to tho time of her purchase by an American syndicate the Wairoa was engaged towing logs on the Wairoa River. For some time past she has been re-fitting at Auckland, and commenced her journey at midnight an Saturday week. She experienced good weather until Tuesday. Then she ran into a hard north-west gale, and was compelled to run for shelter to White Rock, on the East Coast, above Cape Palliser. Here tho first/ real trouble was met —her two anchors were lost. Steam being handy, however, her master (Captain Cook) put her head to sea and steamed out. When she leaves this port the Wairoa will have 20 souls on board—tho total number of tho " treasureseeking" party. They will take 12 months' provisions with them, and about 70 tons of gear. To equip the expedition the sum of £15,000 has, or will be, expended. The Auckland Islands are about 200 milossouth of the Bluff, and it is probable that the Wairoa will return to New Zealand from time to time. However, all is conjecture. The whole scheme has been carefully planned and thought out, and tho result of the "treasure seekors'" experiences will be awaited with interest." The American missionary named Hides who' was killed at Sheng-tu, in tho Chinese interior, a few days ago, is well known to the Rev. J. W. Webster, an inland China missionary now spending his furlough in Wellington. He had been working for quite 20 years at Sheng-tu, where tho revolution started, and leaves a widow and several children. "He was a fine fellow in physique and every other way," says Mr Webster. " lie had been a very capable missionary in the west of China, and wtts loved by the people." Mr Hoffman, who, with another missionary named Sheldon, " was wounded by the robbers who killed Mr Hicks and looted their boat, was a next-door neighbour to Mr Webster. Dr Sheldon went to China in 1903 on behalf of tho American Church of Christ, and had spent some year?, on the borders of Thibet. Ho has made many itinerant journeys into " the forbidden country," and met usually with a good reception.

his medical knowledge being of great service to the people. The noaonarw had been ordered to remove to the coast m consequence of the depredations of robber bands, and it is probable that mission party was proceeding down the Yang-tze-Kiang River on their journey towards safety when the tragedy ioeurred. Mr Webster eays that the revolution eannct bo directly blamed for the occurrence. The authorities ailowt,; the criminals to leave gaol when their power was threatened, with bad results to the community. Mr G. F. Ea-rp. M.L.C., returned to Sydney 'last week, after an absence of 12 months in England and the Continent, Referring to conditions in the Old Country, he said that there never had been such unrest, politically and industrially, as at present- He was inclined 'to think that England was on the verge of revolution and turmoil. There seemed to be a universal determination to obtain better conditions and better wages. The Government was going to try to do for the coal industry what mine owners and employers had failed to do—fix a minimum wage. Not only would there be an eternal dispute as to * what the minimum should be for. this particular industry, but all other industries would clamour for the same thing, and there never would bo satisfaction. ' " Poverty and pauperism are increasing. Indeed, I have never known such distress as was being experienced in England during my stay there. Notwithstanding that last year a record amount of business was done, the grim arm of poverty was to be seen on every hand. There is no saying how all the industrial trouble will end, but there is one thing certain, and that is, that strikes of the nature of t]je one in progress in England at present must materially add to the depression and distress already in existence It is hard to picture the state into which thousands will purely drift as the result of such an upheaval." A commercial man, who travels the South Island from Picton to Bluff, including the West Coast, speaking to an Oamaru Mail reporter en Friday, said that he had recently completed a tour of the wholo island and had found trade rather dull all over for this time of the year. Ho represents a number of agents and can form, a reliable opinion of the state of business. The lower portion of the South Island he found no quieter than further north. With such a favourable season husiness people were looking forward to a busy time approaching Easter, and at the end of the* harvest, but so far this has not come for the southern end of the South Island. Speaking of the cause of the dullness of business, the same traveller said that many of his customers attributed it to the unsettled state of the political arena of this country. We understand that Dr J. Allan Thomson, first New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, and palfeontologist to the New Zealand Geological Survey, has been nominated for the seat on tho Senate of the New Zealand University, rendered vacant by the retirement of Professor Salmond. Wo learn that Professor White has been nominated for the vacancy. The annual handicap motor boat race from Lake Waihola to the Taieri Mouth that is usually run at Easter has had to bo postponed until June 3. Owing to the late harvest local boat-owners are too busy driving reaping machines to spare time- for driving boat-engines.

Thero have been 14 cases of incendiarism at Christchuroh during the last eight months — seven in one suburb. In the great majority of cases (says a Press Association telegram) the premises were greatly underinsured, and in a number of instances the houses were unoccupied. The police have no clue, but it is believed some person has been making a practice >pf incendiarism. A copy of the report of the commission, appointed by his Excellency the Governor to inquire into the suitability for municipal control of certain farm lands in the Borough of Waikouaiti, has now been received by the local Borough Council. The Commissioners state that in their opinion the area of farm or rural land now included in the borough is out of all proportion to the residential area, and that the whole area of 2700 acres is far too largo for a boroni>h situated as Waikouaiti is, with a total population of 700. They recommend that 516 acres of the Malauaka Estate and 489 acres of the farm lands which onco formed part of the Hawkesbury Estate, betaken out of the borough. A poll has yet to be taken to decide whether the ratepayers in tho parts affected approved of the new boundaries, but the poll is almost certain to result in favour of tho proposed alteration, and no doubt the boundaries, as recommended by the Commission, will be fixed. This will mean a loss of revenue to the borough amounting to £6O anually, calculated at the present general rate of fd in the pound, with the Government subsidy added. Several of fcb-9 Australian mcjnDers of the Australasian Provincial Press Association, which has just concluded its annual conference—this year held in Auckland—arrived in Dunedin on tho Ist from the north by tho first express, they having decided to take tho opportunity of their visit here to have a trip right through the Dominion. A number of the overseas representatives, however, dropped out at Christ church and loft on their return journey for Lome, but 14 Indies and geudenven camo on south. Tho party—everyone of whom is making & Srgt acquaintance with New- Zealand—gpeak In glowing terms of tho grand agricultural country passed through on their

run down from Christehurch, and were also charmed with the beautiful glimpses of the. sea obtained from the train. They state that they were rather surprised at the sice of the chief centres passed through. A bad accident occurred at Waikouaiti en Monday morning, two milk carts coming into violent collision opposite the Post Ohic-e. The drivers—Messrs G. R. Fry a'nd George Maxwell—were thrown out heavily on to the road. Mr Maxwell was found to bo unconscious and bleeding profusely, while Mr Fry was also badly knocked about. Both were taken into the residence of the Postmaster (Mr Tbos. Reid) and first aid rendered. Dr Dugelby was quickly in attendance, and found on examination that Mr Maxwell had one arm fractured at the wrist and had received several cuts on his head. Mr Fry's injuries were a fractured collarbone and a number of bad cuts and bruises. A shying horse was tho cause of the accident. The injuries, although, severe, are not regarded as serious. A Press Association telegram from Auckland reports that tho emigrants from New Zealand by ships leaving the port of Auckland during the month of March of this year numbered 1623. but only 1137 people arrived at Auckland. In March of last year tho discrepancy was even greater, the number of emigrants being 1559, as against 847 immigrants. j The New Zealand Association of Nur- ' serymen will hold a conference in Auck- . land on April 10. A circular letter states : i " The executive believes the time has ari rived when a determined effort should bo made to limit the varieties of fruits planted I to a few of the very best that will meet '■ tho requirements of the trade, and suit the ! various soils and conditions under which they are grown, and to this end asks your \ aid. Will you kindly fill in tho enclosed ; forms, giving all the information you can. i and stating your reasons briefly, and re- • turn the same." The Postmaster-General furnishes the folI lowing return of paid business transacted ■at the Wellington wireless telegraph staj tion during the seven months ended Febru- ; ary 26. The station was opened on July i 26. 1911: —Number of messages forwarded j and received, 746; number of words, 7951; j revenue, £303. In addition there were ap- | proximately 24 free messages relating to . shipping, and 12 free weather reports r«- ! ceived each month. The Wellington radio 1 station has successfully signalled a rrtes- ! sago to a ship 960 miles out, and on one j occasion received a message from the s.s. j Ulimaroa when that vessel was one day j out from Hobart, or approximately 1150 j miles distant from Wellington. It is quite a common custom for pat- ' riotic New Zealandcrs to keep an eye open j to the producers' interests when they travel | in the countries where New Zealand pro j ducts find a market. Mrs and Miss Mary 1 Seddon, who have just returned from a trip j to England, did some useful work of this kind, says the New Zealand Times. They i often went into retailers' shops in the Old I Country to ascertain what was thought of New Zealand foodstuffs, what prices : they fetched retail, and what w-as the j demand. As a result they a.re satisfied that the old prejudice (igainst frozen meat has all but disappeared. They watched the New Zealand mutton being discharged from barges in the Thames, a-nd when they visited Liverpool they -were in a shop which disposes of 2000 carcases of the Dofrozen produce each week-end. New Zealand rabbits were to bo found in some shops, one retailer taking down a " bunny " to show a tag that it was " Genui ine New Zealand." Away in Dumi friess'hire, in a small store, the enterprising visitors discovered a stock of New Zeaj land butter, and were told by the shop- ; keeper that it was so good that he always looked forward to the consignments. Stilton dheese. " made in New Zealand," was another popular selling line they found.

There seems every probability that British India will become a large and important market for the frozen meat trade. A petition signed by over one million and a-half of the people, was presented to His Majesty the King, while on his recent tour there, praying that the British soldiers should not be supplied with beef by the slaughter of the cattle of the country, but that frozen meat should be imported for their use. The appeal is made against the slaughter of the Indian cows, not on the ancient grounds of superstition and reverence for their animals, but because their destruction for the sake of supplying tho British army with beef is diminishing the quantity of milk obtained, milk being a staple food of the masses of the people. and interfering with the general propagation of stock, besides seriously increasing the price of cattle It is the Indian cow that is generally killed for meat, as the bull is used not only for breeding purposes, but is also employed on the land, taking tho piace of the horse and the mule of other countries. It is said that 150,000 cows are annually slaughtered in India to feed the soldiers, besides what is wanted for other sections of the British residents. Meateating is reported to be on the increase among tho Indian population. The Mohammedans eat meat freely, and it is evident that «.n extensive market for frozen meat in India may Ik- anticipated in the near future. A "silver thaw" is described in graphic fashion in a letter to a friend from a New Zealander now residing at Oregon. " It k caused by a warm rain overhead descending to a cold stratum or current of air next to tho ground, so cold that wherever the rain strikes it freees into ice. One has to imagine a, whole city enoas-ed in

crystal ice. Every telegraph wire is loaded with glistening pendants, every windowledge and cornice, every twig on every tree as large as a human finger, swaying ■and tinkling in a gentle breeze, sparkling in the electric light, and you have what is called here a silver thaw.' Although so wondrously healthful, it causes an immense amount of damage to property. Telegraph wires piled in helpless confusion, ornamental trees and shrubberies laid low, with the accumulated weight of ice; streets blocked by falling trees and poles, such is what the lovely fairyland visitation left in its wake. The shrubs and trees were a sight to be remembered just after the silver thaw set in, as every tiny twig was glistening as if hung with sparkling diamonds." The Canterbury papers of recent date have been exposing attempts being matte by certain unscrupulous and plausible individuals in Spain to victimise residents of Canterbury by means of letters, claiming relationship with thorn, and offering to share a quarter of a fortune of £87,500 if the recipients are agreeable to certain conoitions. It would seem that residents of Otago are not free from these attempts, as Mr Wm. H. Hitchon, of Milton, received a communication which is written in pigeon English, in which the writer claims relationship with Mr Hitchon. He states that no was a faithful servant of the King of Portugal, for whom ho performed a difficult mission, and was rewarded with a bank note for £IOOO. Before starting on the mission he placed his stock (valued at £87,500) in a sure bank in London and received a warranty for the deposit. This warranty, together with the bank note, he placed in a secret drawer in one of his trunks. When in Paris the writer heard of the dethronement of the King of Portugal, and remained there*- until after the declaration of tlio Republic. On his return to Spain to meet his daughter, and start for a free country (Nc-w Zealand), he was arrested by order of the Portuguese authorities; he vounde-'l a policeman, and was grievously wounded himself. Whilst in prison, and near unto death, ho had gained the confidence of the priest, and had a plan to save his fortune if Mr Hitchon would help him. The authorities had seized the trunk with the secret drawer containing the warranty, but this the priest would conduct to Mr Hitchon and also the daughter, if Mr Hitchon would assist him, and be a protector for the daughter. In return, ho would reward Mr Hitchon with one-fourth of the fortune and the interest it would produce during his daughter's remaining seven years of minority. The reply must reach him in two covers, ono addressed with his name, and the other with the address given. Between 1500 and 2000 appeals have been sent in against the Public Service Classification recently carried out by the Classification Board. It is stated (says the Dominion) that some of the officers ask for promotion, or incrcaso in salary, which were granted subsequent to the appeals being lodged. Other appeals are based on a failure to grasp the distinction that the Classification Board classified not men, but positions. The board will not proceed to consider the appeals in hand until the new- Minister for Internal Affairs has taken office. So far no appointement has been made to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Hugh Pollen, but it is anticipated that his successor in office, Mr Jas. Hislop, will be appointed.

We have received several communications from Reefton stating in effect that the reports of two social functions given with other items in a letter from Reefton which appeared in the Ladies' Rage of the Otago Witness of the 27th March were a tissue of misstatements, and that the writer must have been actuated by unworthy motives in penning these reports. Tho letter referred to bore a signature. presumably that of the writer, cr.d bejond tho fact that some of the characters aliipcd to have been represented at a fancy dress ball were rather unusual, there «os nothing about it to cause us to suspect that it was not genuine, and so it was published in all good faith. We now learn that the publication of the reports hu s heen tho means of giving pain and causing annoyance to a number of Reefton residents. We regret if unwittingly our columns have made u«» of by some spiteful individual, as our Reefton correspondents allege has been tho case. Mr Thomas Blaekie, son of Mr Walter Blackie. the well-known Taieri man, lias received an appointment with an American dredging company in the Philippines. Mr Blackie, who has been in the Cromwell district for the past few years, has evidently gained tho respect and esteem of all with whom he came into contact. The Cromwell Argus says: —We feel it is our duty in conjunction with the various athletic societies to place on record an appreciation of his services to the town. In both the Caledonian Society and the football club his services wore duly appreciated by raising him to the uppermost rung of tinladder, while as a member of the band no higher honour could 1 ave been conferred than the life membership which tho members thought fit to bestow. It is well known that he has on several occasions travelled 20 miles to assist the band. Other clubs he has supported with equal zeal. In the new recreation ground Mr Blackie will always have to some extent a lasting monument in the town. His services in the interest of the town stand unequalled by any stranger who has ever come amongst us, and lie carries away with him the very sincere good wishes of every man, woman, and child, for 'Taieri' was indeed a, nopular limine, and the many expressions of goodwill extended to him during the past" few days fittingly culminated when he drove away amidst three ringing cheers from a- number of friends who had assembled to suv au revoir." Mr Blackie, with Mr Wrightson. who accompanies him to the Philippines, wen- entertained at a smoke concert by representatives of the various Cromwell sports bodies, and each presented with a handsome case of pipes. Mr Blackie was presented by the band with electro-plated shaving utensils.