News and Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 36, 2 December 1899, Page 7

News and Notes

Five middle-aged woman of the poorer working - class in Liverpool have died from poisoning through eating contaminated food. The deceased women had complained of illhealth after partaking of salt fish and potatoes at a stall. At the inquest Professor Stewart stated that in one case he found that the bacillus enteritidis sporogenes was present, a microbe which was not at all easily killed, and which would stand boiling water for a long time. This microbe had been said to be the cause of English cholera in a large number of cases, which had been traced to cases of poisoning through some articles of food. At the annual licensing meeting of the Kettering justices one hotelkeeper had the renewal of his license refused on the ground that he had refused to supply tea. He obtained the renewal at the adjourned sessions, but the magistrates, in granting it, gaid that it must be on the clear understanding that tUe landlord withdrew his objection to serving cyclists and others who called and asked for tea. Rural Cossacks are very religious and so simple in certain respects that the story is told that a swindler recently succeeded in selling them quite a number of tickets for— Paradise ! Several of these tickets, which were marked “first row,” sold at twenty-five roubles, back seats fetching considerably less. Mr Percy Pilcher, well-known in connection with Mr Maxim’s experiments in aerial flight, has died from the injuries he received by falling from his soaring machine during some experiments near Rugby.

The public are requested to note that envelopes of Christmas and New Year cards to be conveyed at book post rates must be left open. If gummed they will be charged letter rates.

The oldest steam-engine in the world has recently gone off duty after working more than 120 years. It was built in 1777. It is a beam engine, the beam being of wood ; the cylinder 32 inches in diameter, with an eight-foot stroke. This veteran engine has been in the service of the Birmingham Canal Navigation Company.

Flaxmillers (says the Manawatu Times) are making contracts at £27 per ton for delivery during the next few months, and some think that the limit has not yet been reached.

Last season 32 tons of strawberries were sent to Christchurch from Waimate, and 35 tons to Dunedin. With the amount sent to Timaru, Oamaru, and other places, a total of upwards of 80 tons was reached

If the Ministry is successful at the forthcoming elections, the Hon J. G Ward will have a place in the Cabinet.

At Mr J. A. Hanan’s meeting at East Invercargill a motion of thanks and confidence was moved by Mrs McCreath. The same lady moved an amendment of no-confidence at Mr Kelly’s meeting, but this was lost against a motion of confidence. At Miss Kirk’s no-license meeting in the Theatre Royal on Monday night a gentleman who was anxious to controvert her views was invited to come on the platform, and on doing so helped himself to a glass of water. The humour of the situation was promptly recognised, and the audience laughed heartily at this involuntary tribute to the value of “ Adam’s Ale.” At the Supreme Court sessions, Dunedin, the Grand Jury threw out the bill in the charge of conspiracy to cause a miscarriage against Catherine Ashton and Alfred Price. William Saunders, alias Jas. Kelly, was sentenced to three years’ hard labour for assaulting Constable Herlihy at Waikaia by striking him with a bottle.

Dante, the conjuror, has been accidentally shot by a companion while shooting near Dnbbo (N.S.W.) The wound is in the groin, and his case is considered hopeless. / Later news states that Dante is dead.

At the meeting ot the Wesleyan District Synod, opened in Invercargill on Tuesday, the Rev. J, A. Luxford intimated that under medical advice he was compelled to ask permission to rest for three months. The Synod expressed deep regret, and resolved that the chairman communicate with the President and endeavour to arrange an immediate supply for three months. Liu wood homestead, Te Anau, was destroyed by fire last Saturday. On the same evening a two-roomed cottage and its contents on Benmore, valued at £9O, and owned by Mr Jas. McDonald, were also destroyed. At the inquest on the body of Mr Stewart, a farmer, at Totara, the jury found a verdict of accidental death from a gunshot, not suicide. It is supposed that the hammer of his gun caught a creeper as he was going out of the house. Five charges of roll-stuffing were lately heard at the New Plymouth Police Court. Three of the defendants were fined £2 and costs (7s) for falsely stating the length of their residence in the electoral district. A Chinaman was fined 10s, and another defendant (working in the prohibition cause) was fined 5s and costs. A boy named White, while after birds’ nests at Masterton, fell a distance of 30ft from a tree, fracturing both wrists badly. One hand will probably have to be amputated. White was sent to Sunday school, but played truant.

Lieutenant W. Cook, of the Invercargill Fire Brigade, completed bis 25 years’ continuous service in that organisation in September last, and is entitled to the gold star of the New Zealand Brigades’ Association.