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Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 42

A telegram from Christehurch states that the woll-known Glacier Hotel at Bealey was destroyed by fire on Sunday night We learn that Mrs J. M. Ritchie has generously undertaken to pay off a mortgage debt of £ISOO with which St. Mary's Orphanage is encumbered. Mrs Ritchie is doing so as a memorial to her son tho late Lieutenant J. N. Ritchie, who filled the position of lion, treasurer of the Orphanage Committee. In connection with tin's generous act of Mrs Ritchie, the Church Envoy states that the way is now made clear for the establishing of a boys' orphanage by tho Anglican Church, and that publication has made an appeal for funds for the purpose. At a sitting of tho Police Court at Milton on the 22nd, before Mr R. Acheson, S.M., George Cramond, of Waronui, miner, was charged with shooting wild duck out of season. Air D. Cooke appeared for the Acclimatisation Society, and Mr It. M. Rutherford for tho defendant. After hearing evidence the defendant was convicted and fined £1 and costs, totalling £3 lis. The list of successful candidates at the recent matriculation examination (says the New Zealand Herald) includes the name of Mr J. W. Sinclair, a student of the Jubilee Institute for tho Blind, Auckland. Though not quite blind, Mr Sinclair is so far deprived of his sight as to bo unable to study at. an ordinary school. During the past three years he has studied at the institute under two blind teachers, Mr Doric L. Algie and Mr David Outran). His subjects were English, mathematics. Latin, English history, and geography. This is believed to be the first occasion, in New Zealand at least, in which such a success has been gained by a pupil of a blind teacher. At a special meeting of tho Otago Harbour Board on the 22nd, the tenders of the Vacuum Oil Company for the supply of benzine, and Messrs Rattray and Som; for tho supply of kerosene (Big Tree), being the lowest, were accepted. No decision was arrived at relative to engine and cylinder oils, pending tests by the engineer. At the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on the 19th, before Mr S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., James Henry Edwards, who took part in a public meeting in Clyde quay on December 31, was charged with having caused an obstruction to traffic. Tho speakers at this meeting, which was held with a view to appealing against the Conscription Act, had declined to move on when ordered to do so by the police. Evidence having been given by the police with regard to tiio obstruction, defendant admitted that ho had no permit to conduct a public meeting. lie stated that other obstruction to traffic, such as the Salvation Army, the posters in the Post window, and the home mission meetings w _>ro allowed to go unchallenged, and that he had been "sorted out" on account of his political opinions. His Worship stated that, the offenco had been amply proved by the police. Such gatherings were liable at any fcimo to precipitate a riot. Tho accused Would be convicted and fined £lO, in do-

fault two months' imprisonment, with mud labour. Accused intimated that he would have to "take it out," us ho had no money and no goods to distrain on. Harold Pearec was charged with a similar offence at-a meeting held in Dixon street on .Sunday, December 24. IJe was convicted and lined £lO, or two months' imprisonment with hard labour.