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Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 5

A woman named Margaret Angus, residing at 394 King Edward street, South Dunedin, attempted to commit suicide on the Bth by cutting her throat with a razor. She inflicted on herself a wound some sin long. Tho police at .South Dunedin were advised, and the woman was conveyed to the Hospital, where, on examination, it was found that the wound was not of a very serious nature.

An unfortunate occurrence ’happened at Heriot a few days ago, when a stable collapsed on Mr C. M‘Veigh’e farm, near the township, and six draught horses were destroyed (states tho Tapanui Courier). It appeai-s that the man in charge of the horses fed them at 8 a.m., and about.ll o’clock went to turn tho horses out for the day. He had lot one out, and was about to liberate another, when the shed collapsed, burying the animals. The man was almost caught in the falling mass, and had a most fortunate escape. Four of the horses were killed outright, while three others had to be shot. Some of the animals were highpriced, and the loss is a very serious one. The stable was one of the old-fashioned, straw-oovered sheds. Heavy birch poles formed the framework, and, for covering, straw stacks were thrashed at different times; thus the weight would be very great. Tho structure had been in use for about 18 years, and a few days more would have seen it vacated for a new building just about completed. Mr M‘Yeigh has bad a substantial stable erected, with water laid on, etc., and was allowing the concrete work to become thoroughly set before making use of it.

The attitude of the people towards the war formed the subject of remarks by Dean Pitchett at the function in the Garrison Hall on the Bth in celebration of the laying of the foundation stone of the new St. Paul’s Cathedral. “The other day,” said the Dean, “a couple of columns of warcablegrams in the Otago Daily Times were flanked by five columns of sporting nows. The last Otago Witness had > pictures of killed and wounded at the Dardanelles, and those were set off by pictures of jockey club races and totalisator crowds. The defence of the newspapers is that they reflect the life around them, and that these incongruities actually exist. But they jar. They are painful.” Tiro commission which .recently inquired into the question of altering the boundaries of the Taieri, Maniototo, and Waihemo Counties has presented its report to the Governor. With regard to the petition of certain ratepayers in th© County of Waihemo to have an area of Macraes Riding of Waihemo County excluded from that county, and included in the Maniototo County, the Commissioners (Messrs R. Sudd, Andrew M'Kerrow. and E. A. Atkinson) state: “We are unanimously of the opinion that no alteration should be made with

regard to the inclusion of the area of Macraes Riding, nor any part of it, within Maniototo County. Full evidence was given by several witnesses on the grounds set forth in the petition, and the county and roads were personally inspected by the commissioners, and after duo consideration the above decision was agreed to.” In the matter of the petition of certain ratepayers in the County of Taieri to have the area of Strath Taieri Riding of Taieri County excluded from that county and included in the Maniototo County, the report states: “After hearing evidence of witnesses and arguments of counsel, and inspecting the district and roads personally, we have come to tho conclusion that the grounds of the petition have not been sustained, nor has sufficient evidence been adduced to render such an extensive alteration, or any other alteration, necessary or advisable.” This finding is supported by Messrs iSadd and MTverrow, but Mr Atkinson dissents from it.

That the Anglican community is doing its share in providing men for the front was suggested by remarks made by DeanFitohett at the function in the Garrison Hall last night. “We have sent more than our full proportion of men to tho front,” said the Doan. “iSixty per cent, of the men at Trentham are of the Church of England. The governing body of tho church in Dunedin—the chapter—is composed of eight or 10 persons. Throe young men, eons of members of the chapter, have met the soldier’s death at the Dardanelles.”

“This diocese of Dunedin is the Cinderella of New Zealand dioceses,” remarked Dean Fitchefct, amid laughter, on the Bth at the social function held to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone of the now Church of England Cathedral. “Her sisters walk in silk attire; she goes in homespun. In Christchurch they appear to have more money than they can count, and Auckland seems to be a labyrinth of endowments. •, (Laughter.) “A former Bishop of Auckland once said that ho found it difficult to pick his way amongst them.” —(Laughter.) Bishop Aver ill, however, speaking later, contended that the old mother diocese of Auckland was the poorest in New Zealand. There were, it was true, many trusts and benefactions, but almost all these were provincial, and not diocesan. All the money he had to spend in the diocese of Auckland from endowments was £250 a year.

Applications for six sections of the Otanomomo settlement closed at 4 p.m. on the Bth at the local Land Board office. Only four applications were received. The land is described as rich swamp land, suitable for dairying; but one of its drawbacks is the amount of heavy manuka timber on it. Applications for sections in the Glenmark Estate, North Canterbury, will close in Christchurch at 4 p.m. to-day. For these a considerable number of applicants from Otago arc coming forward.

An amusing story was unfolded at a sitting of the Civil Court at Lower Hutt tho other day (says the New Zealand Times), when Arthur Payne claimed from Middleton Hobbs £5 15s, the sum paid for a cow which was alleged to be unmanageable. Plaintiff stated that the defendant had ' guaranteed the animal a quiet one and easy to milk. In answer to Mr J. J. M'Grath (counsel for defendant), Payne stated that he did not know much about cows, and that after about two hours’ chasing round the paddock he was successful in driving the animal into a shed. To get milk was the main thing, so he took a stool, and sitting down at the side of the cow nearest to him (as it happened, it was tho wrong one) commenced to operate. The cow, being without a bail, or leg-rope, took exception to this unusual procedure and put in some good work with its hind foot, with the result that he went one way and the milk pail the other. Not disheartened at this peculiar behaviour, he had another attempt later in the day, and with the assistance of half-a-dozen friends got the cow into the shed, but again met with a hostile reception. Thereupon he decided to leave this belligerent member of the bovine species to wander at its own sweet will, until the assistance of a more experienced neighbour could be obtained. After three days’ freedom the wayward quadruped was taken to an adjoining shed, a neighbour having offered his services, and though a bail and leg-rope were prominent among tho accessories, tho animal kicke'd the whole time and little more than a pint of milk was obtained. Plaintiff stated further that he was a married man with six young children, and had purchased the cow in order to procure milk for them. Before coming to New Zealand he had done a little milking, but they were English cows and did not kick. After hearing further evidence, the magistrate (Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M.) held that there had been a breach of guarantee, as the cow was not a quiet one and easy to milk, and so gave judgment for tho plaintiff for £5, with costs, the cow to be returned to Hobbs.

As a further illustration of the personal interest the King of the Belgians takes in his army, the following letter has been received by Mr Robert Burns (Acting Consul for Belgium in Auckland): “His Majesty the King has expressed the desire to know the name of the Belgians known to you who have left their wives and families, or who have made any special patriotic denial in order to give their services to Belgium. I would ask you to please note every ease which merits special attention, and make it known to the Department of Foreign Affairs. B is desirable that you inform me of any special case which might come under your notice previous to the reception of this circular.