AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Southern Cross, Volume 13, Issue 19, 5 August 1905, Page 7

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Ihree Scottish. members of the Imperial Parliament have been threatened with assassination by Italians in Glasgow for supporting a. Sunday Closing Bill, which, if carried, would shut ice cieam and other shops on the first day of the week. On the past year’s working of the L.O.C. South London tramways the gross profit exceeds £182,000, and after the payment of interest and sinking fund and a substantial contribution towards renewals, there is a net profit of £7,054. Between 30,000 and 40,000 people recently assembled in Leicester market place and the vicinity on Sunday to witness the start of 500 unemp'oyed to London. A brief service was conducted by the Rev Donaldson, the well-known Socialist vicar of St Marks’, and as the marchers moved out of the market place two brass bands which accompanied them struck up “ Lead, kindly light,” the men joining earnestly. While Germany has 6,500 000 women who earn their own living, Italy, with only one-half the population, has 5,250,000. It is stated that King Oscar of Sweden has acceded to the petition from his temperance subjects to discontinue the use of wine at the launching of ships. Since 1892 no newspapers have been printed on Sunday in Norway, and since 1895 no bread has been baked on that day. When the Ripon (England) borough council carried a motion in favour of paying for band performances in the Spa Gardens on Sundays, the mayor tendered his resignation, saying that as he was thoroughly convinced that the happiness and prosperity of the people depends so largely on an observance of the Lord’s Day, it was a matter of conscience with him, and after nearly fifty years’ experience he saw no reason to change the views and thoughts he had learnt at his mother’s knee, nor had he forgotten the Fourth Commandment. The Council then cancelled the resolution, and the meeting closed with the distinct understanding that neither seat money should be collected nor the band paid for Sunday. The total number of teachers employed in public instruction in New Zealand is 2711 certificated, 35 with provisional certificates, and 58 holding licenses. Of the certificated 1322 are male and 1389 female teachers, and of the latter only 89 are married. An exchange repoits that Mr Cyril Ward, eldest son of Sir Joseph, is going in for journalism. He has joined the reading stall of the New Zealand Times. Compaints are published re Sabbath desecration in the way of p'aying football at Roxburgh ; also hunting hares at Wairuna by Clinton people with horses and dogs. At Tapanui (says the Courier) the favourite games on the Sabbath are poaching and bridge and a little quiet trading. Dennett, one of the men recently convicted for the burglary at Amberlev, made a determined effort to escape from gaol. He had cut a few inches into a wall two feet thick when detected. The captain and three lieutenants in the Wellington Navala have resigned, on the ground, it is understood, of dissatisfaction with the official treatment of the corps. Before the Arbitration Court, Dunedin. last week Peter Densem, carpenter, sued A. Speden for compensation for the loss of an eye through an accident while working at a cottage at Gore. The claimant said he was now only fit for sweeping the streets or pick and shovel work. He had tried to get work, but one contractor aaid it would be too risky to

) employ him. For the defence four ) witnesses deposed that they had car- \ penters in their employ with only one eye each, and they worked as well as men with two eyes. The Court suggested that the parties should try to arrive at a settlement. Dr. Emily Siedeberg has been appointed medical superintendent at St. Helen’s Maternity Hospital, Dunedin. Sergt. Fallon was shot dead while on a rifle range at Randwick (N.S. W.) last Saturday. He was killed by a discharge from a rifle which was lying on a mound, and which a comrade accidentally kicked. According to the Rev. R. S. Gray, of Christchurch, the liquor party are sending drink into Ashburton at a reduced price in order to demonstrate that no-license is a failure. The Attorney-General of the United States is bringing 49 actions against former officers and directors of the Equitable Society of New York. An enormous number of fans bearing inflammatory pictures and inscriptions are circulating in China to promote the boycott of American goods, in retaliation for the treatment of the Chinese in the States. The rainfall in Wellington during last month was 2'29 inches, the lowest recorded for any July since 1863. Hock, a Chicago criminal, was going to the scaffold when he was reprieved for a month owing to lady friends guaranteeing funds to secure a new trial. As the man’s chief occupation in life was the marrying and murdering of women for thait money, it is hard to see what claims to pity be has at the hands of the fair sex.