LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Mr G. R. West, Dunedin, who has a wide circle of acquaintances in the musical world, died suddenly of heart disease ou Saturday afternoon. The Dunedin Dredging Go. obtained 1290z of gold for six days' dredging last week ; and the Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Co. 7oz 16dwt for three days four hours' dredging. The Duuedin Garrison Band fired off a match on Saturday with the Tuapeka Rifles. It was intended to fire fifteen men aside, but owing to the inclemency of the weather, and the shortness of the day, it was found impossible to do more than match seven men a-side —5 shots each at 400, 600, and 7iH) yards. The match resulted in a win by 48 points for the Tuapeka Rifles. THE Salvation Army's Central Labour Bureau at Christchurch has done satisfactory work in the first month of its existence. The names of over three hundred men have been registered as seeking employment, and work, mostly of a temporary character, has been found for about eighty of that number. The Army open a rescue home in Auckland on the 22nd inst. This makes four rescue homes that the Army has in tbe colony. During last year, of fifty cases passed through the various homes, from 70 to 75 per ceut. proved satisfactory. The Army has now forty-three rescue homes in various parts of the world, with a staff of 210 officers, dealing with 2000 cases per annum. On Thursday evening, the Blue Spar Presbyterian choir, under the leadership of Mr Silas Hore, and assisted by several voices from Lawrence, gave a servico of song in the Presbyterian Church, Blue Spur. The proceeds were for the benefit of the Sunday school funds. The reputation of the choir and the laudable character of the subject which they meant to assist drew together a bumper house. The service was entitled "The River Singers," and the music itself and the way in which it was rendered left nothing to be desired. Several of the singers -specially distinguished themselves, but where all did their part so well it would be invidious to mention names. Miss Ralstou presided at the organ, and the Rev. Mr Jolly occupied the chair and gavfi the connective readings. All who were present felt they had spent a very enjoyable evening. The usual vote of thanks was accorded at the close. On Sunday afternoon the Garrison Band, at the head of about 30 of the Tuapeka Rifles and some 25 District High School cadets, made the circuit of the town, discoursing some spirited music to the evident delight of a large crowd of citizens, to whom neither the elements, which were disturbed and threatening, nor the sea of liquid mud on the streets, mattered anything in their thirst for good music. On Monday morning before the departure of the early train, the roll of the big drum was heard beating in daylight along Ross Place, but only a part of the Band could make up their minds to get away on the train, those who remained continuing to play each other away in small detachments until yesterday afternoon, when they took their departure. Their playing during their stay was certainly highly appreciated, and never failed to draw a big crowd, as free music entertainI ments always do, particularly when the quality I is good. The visit of the Emperor and Empress of Germany to England is one of the most auspicious events of the period. Remembering, as we do, the strained relations that existed between the two courts when the young Emperor asoended the thrown of Germany, and the evil things that were predicted of him, it is indeed pleasant to read of the brilliant reception that has been accorded to him, and the cordiality of the friendship which he has expressed towards England. His aim, he says, will be always to preserve the historic friendship between England and Germany, and to maintain the peace of Europe. His present visit 'will do much to perpetuate the friendship of the two countries, and to continue the peace of Europe. Whilst Groat Britain and Germany are on such remarkably good terms, and whilst the Triple Alliance remains intact, no Power will dare to rashly undertake an offensive war on the Continent. Russia and France .nay fret and fume, but they are not likely to do more.

According to the annual sheep returns for 1890, just laid before Parliament, there are altogether ii Tuauoka sheep district 362,982 9heep. Of thrso 500 or under are owned !>y 182 persons ; 1,000 by 36 persons; 2,000 by 25 ; 5,000 by 7 ; 10,000 by 3 ; 20,000 by 5 ; while 4 persons own 20,000 and upwards A WAlßAßAPAconfcempor try states that the | finding of work for the uinMiipluved by tlm Government, has h.ui a peculiar rffrct in that district. Some weeks ago there was hardly a man in Masterton out of employment, but now dozens arc to lie found nt. f-.he strict, corners, waiting anxiously for a Government billet to turn up at "seven boh ;v day." A leading Christisburch lawyer was speaking in glowing terms of the respectability of a certain hotel, the cause of which he was pleading before the Sydenbam Licensing Committee. "It is like a church on a Sunday," said the legal gentleman. "How is that?" said the chairman. " Because it is so quiet," he replied. " Oh,' replied the Rev. Mr Liitt apparently much relieved, " I thought it was so on account of the good attendance." Mb E. Steeds writes to the Cbristchu eh " Press " as follows regarding New Zealaud potatoes in Sydney: "Sir,— l have just returned froir a hurried visit to Sydney, where I saw a considerable quantity of New Zealand potatoes, and I regret very much to say that I all of them were more or less inferior in qu ility ; small, large, and rough potatoes, all being mixed together in anything but a marketable condition. If the Canterbury farmers want to hold their own in Australia they must make a point of having their potatoes carefully sorted out before shipment." The return football match, Wetherstones v. Lawrence, will be played ou the recreation ground to morrow afternoon, commencing at. 3.30 sharp. The following are the names of the players : — Wetherstoncs : Peterson, Conn, Oostelloe, J. Curtin, H. Hart (captain), M'Kay (3), Cranley, J. Murray, A. Swanwick, Kelly (2), P. Cassidy, P. Curtin ; reserves, E. Curtin, J. Cox, W. Smyth, Swanwick, R. Coxon. Lawrence : Tyson, Roscoe fl), Sbcnhouse, Conn, Ellis, Kelleher, Gaskie, , Krooks, Harrop, Arthur, Fraer, Robertson, A. Arthur, Martin; reserves, Gooday, Jeffery, Bryant. OK the weather alone depends the success of the Tuapeka Poultry Society's show tomorrow. All the other conditions are as favourable as they could possibly be expected by the most enthusiastic well-wisher of the Society. The special prize-list is possibly the largest and most valuable yet put before intending competitors. It is also drawn up with great care and judgment, and should meet the wishes of the most critical. The committee, too, who have as usual worked iv the most praiseworthy manner, have completed all their arrangements, and nothing that experience or forethought could suggest has been overlooked to meet the wishes of both exhibitors and tue general public, and so maintain the high reputation which the Society has made for itself. The small birds, like the rabbits, have at length succeeded in attracting the attention of the Legislature, and they arc now about to be made the subject of a repressive-law. The Bill, which has been introduced by the Minister of Agriculture, makes it compulsory for local bodies to grapple with the nuisance, and if they do not the Government can do so at their expense. Local bodies will also be empowered to apply as much of their general funds as they think fit to the destruction of the pest. The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie says that £100,000 would not cover the loss to the farmers and fruit growers of New Zealand caused by the ravages of the small birds. It is thought that the Bill will be a very good one and should, at all events, result in keeping the pest within reasonable bounds after it has gone through Committee aud has been amended by those members who are known to have an extensive personal experience on the subject. Having refused to obey the order of the court and pay Captain O'Shea the cost of the divorce proceedings, Mr Parnell is now to be forced through the Bankruptcy Court. But this cannot be a matter of much concern to a man who has recently passed with such a calm and unruffled exterior through almost one of the dirtiest divorce cases on record. His estate brings him £2000 a-year, and the woman he has just been hitched to by Act of Parliament is very wealthy, so that it can hardly be on the score of poverty that he demurs to defray the cost of his own infamy. The cost of the divorc> 1 proceedings i<» said to amount to something like £5,500, and it may be that he does not consider the matrimonial bargain which the verdict of the court in a manner forced him into, quite good enough for the money. He ought to know ; indeed, no one has so good right to know better, and as he is not tho kind of man to pay "too dear for his whistle " if he can possibly help it, we may be sure he'll go through the Bankruptcy Court with just the same unconcern as he did through the other court. I The church parade on Sunday was not improbably the most imposing military demonstration as well as tho pleasintest ever witnessed in Lawrence. The music of the Band was of the most inspiriting kind, the volunteers rolled up in good force, and the cadets followed suit, and the picture was appropriately set off by a large and respectable gathering of spectators of all ages and both sexes. The Volunteer Hall, in which the service was conducted, was crowded to the J doors, the building probably holding within its walls the largest gatheriug of humanity, both adults and children, ever assembled in Lawrence. The ssrmon, which was an impressive and eloquent one, was preached by the Rev. Mr Rothwell ; and large though the building is, and dense as was the assemblage, every word of the discourse rang clear and distinct into every corner of the hall. Tho accompaniments to all of the hymns were played by the Band in a manner that must have delighted all those who bad the pleasure of being present. A GOOD story reaches us "Reeffcon Guar dian " from a certain West. Coast town. A storekeeper had begun business, and had drawn largely on credit to make a start. He got on fairly well, and after a time he enlisted the services of an assistant, who took a delight in selling his boss's goods only to "goods marks." The storekeeper went on a business tour one day leaving the store in charge of his man. Orders for groceries poured in thick and fast, and as the orders, without exception, came from "good marks," there was no hesitation iv supplying them. The storeman was highly elated, and when his " boss " returned, he pointed to the almost empty store as a demon* stration of a nourishing business. In answer to inquiries, he stated the names of some of the customers, but to his surprise the storekeeper leapt and swore, and altogether conducted himself in a manner that made the assistant feel doubts as to his own safety. Soon the truth dawned on him. The creditors had taken their bills out in groceries and had loft the unfortunate storekeeper to make a fresh start. Latest cablegrams. — The Paris correspondent of the " Daily News " states that the French Budget Committee have reduced the war estimates by £3,500,000, and increased the peace footing strength of the army by 10,000 men. -The English wheat market is .lifeless, while the Continental shows a general decline, and the American is declining continuously.—Mr Spurgeon is decidedly improving. His delirium has subsided, and he is now able to take solid food, the first time for a month. — The Assembly of Kuzan has applied, to the Government for five million roubles to feed the starving' people. It also appeals for delay in the payment of taxes, and urges the closing of the liquor shops for a year. — The Czar and Czarina, who have been on a visit to Finland, are much pained at the cold receptions by the inhabitants. The Fins are displeased at the recent measures in the direction of Russianising the country,— The average daily number of Jews leaving the towns in South Russia is 700. — It is announced that Mr Parnell will proceed to the United States in the autumn, but will be unable to make a journey to Australia, as he at first proposed. He expresses himself very much disappointed at the result of the mission of his delegates to the United States. — The Marquis of Salisbury's denial of the statement in the House of Commons that the French had occupied one of the States of Siara was couched in language warning France not to interfere with the autonomy of Siara. — Mr Balfour, speaking at a meeting of theHatfield Primrose League, predicted that the general election would take place next year. — The Austrian military authorities are testing ecrasite, the new explosive, which has double the power of dynamite.

General Booth is expected to leave London this month on his tour of iuspsctiou round the world. He will touch at Cape Colony, and then proceed to Australia via Hobarfc. He is due at Auckland on or about October 20th, and as at present arranged will conduct meetings at. Aufkl md, Wellington, Ulirist-chui-iili, mikl DuiiiiHh. The duration of his sfciy in N'-w Z alanl will bu about throe weeks. ' The rp*ult of the inquiry into the terrible accident on board H.M.S. Cordelia is, aa has become fashionable of late in such cases, that nuboly Wii to blame— the occurrence was purely .incidental. No light appears to hare been thrown n n the sub ject, though the natural conclusion is the gun exploded because it had been made of faulty material. Yet it came from one of the most famous establishments that supplies a very large number of guns to the Boyal N ivy. Clearly, the system of testin? employed by the Admiralty is not as perfect, as it should be. It is bad enough to have catastrophes of this sort happening in the colonial service, and there have been several within the past few months of a sufficiently blood-curdlinsr nature. But terrible as the accidents in Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand were, the disaster on board H.M S. Cordelia beat them for downright horror. We fancy that matters will not improve much in either the Imperial or the colonial service until Courts of Inquiry are conducted on principles similar to those which govern the ordinary Civil Courts; till the officials by whom the inquiries are held shall determine to search out Che real ciilprits,%nd having found them, have the courage to let the world know who they are. At a sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, Messrs Herbert and Fraer, insfcicas, on the bench, Mary Petersen sued Chow Tie for the recovery of ki 9s. Mr Gooday for plaintiff ; Mr Crooke for defendant. Plaintiff, in her evidence, stated that the land on which she resided was leased in her name. As her husband was an undischarged bankrupt, she conducted the business. Defendant had bought the goods from her, and she knew nothing of the amount having been credited her husband by Mr Arbuckle. Asrnos Petersen, plaintiff's husband, stated that he never did any business with the defen* dant except when his wife was present ; in fact, he never did business since his bankruptcy when his wife was absent. He told J. Thompson to settle Mr Arbuckle's account by paying him £2, Chow Tie's account (amounting to £3 19s) having been credited him by Mr Arbuckle. His wife consented to this. — John Thompson -jmve evidence as to the transaction between plaintiff and Mr Arbuckle with reference to the payment by defendant, which wa9 credited to Petersen.— Mr Crooke submitted that it was quite clear that plaintiff had consented to the payment of defendant's account to go toward her husband's debt owing Mr Arbuckle, and that plaintiff's business must be looked upon as in reality that of her husband. -Judgment was given for defendant. MR Valentine has now brought forvrard twice in succession the question of supplying farmers' clubs and other similar societies with copies of agricultural and other papers laid before the Legislature, and on each occasion the Minister of Agriculture has contrived to have the motion talked out. Our Wellington correspondent described in our Saturday* issue Mr Fish's stonewall of the motion ut the instigation of the Minister of Linds, as well as the absurd objection urged by the latter to qualify his refusal of the request made by the member for Tuapeka. It v impossible to reconcile the functions or the office of a Minister of Agriculture with conduct of this kind. One would imagine that a Minister of Agriculture, if he represented anything like what the name signifies, would be only too gla'l to give some proof of his regard for the interests of the class he is supposed to represent by acceding to a reasonable request of this kind. The trades and labour organisations are supplied with all Parliamentarypapers affecting their Interests; and why not the same privilege be extended to farmers? We muko no objection against the practice of supplying labour bodies with such papers, but we claim the same recognition and the same rights for farmers; otherwise we should much like to know the grounds on which the distinctions are made. But not only are trade societies supplied with Parliamentary papers bearing on their interests, but they are taken into the confidence of the Government and consulted on all measures having reference to the relations of capital and labour. Farmers cannot, of course, expect to receive quite so much attention as that from the present Government, but they, at least, should be en. titled to claim the small recognition asked for on their behalf by the member for Tuapeka and refused by the gentleman who makes a pretence of being the public and official guardian of their interests. The " Waikato Times " says that Sir Walter Buller regards his defeat for TeAroha with considerable complacency, as he has no right to feel that the result was not due to any lack of public confidence in himself nor from, any excessively high regard for his opponent, that indeed the contest lay between himself and the Ministry and not with Colonel Fraser He states very freely that he has been the vioiim of a distinct breach of faith on the part of two members of the Ministry, Messrs Ballance and Cad man, who before he entered upon the contest assured him that in the event of their being no Opposition candidate in the field, the Government would not interfere Independently of this, he thinks he has good, cause for complaint. He mentioned to ns that at Paeroa ho had been shown a telegram from a member of the Cabinet, which stated in effect that the Government would be prepared to buy up certain native lands in the township — a matter of vital importance to many of the residents — and relet them on favourable terms, provided the votes were cast in favour of Colonel Fraser their chosen candidate Striking out new paths certainly characterises the present Government, but we confess we scarcely expected they would have the hardihood to go to such a length as this. Mr W. S. Allen was recently unseated for the same seat because his agent employed a paid canvasser. This was adjudged a corrupt practice. A minister of the Crown informs the electors of Paeroa, according to Sir Walter Buller's statement, that the Government will do certain things urgently needed in the district, provided they vote for the Government nominee. If the electors do not vote as desired the inference is the Government will not perform the required service, at any rate that was the construction put upon it by the recipient. We do not profess to be experts in statute law, but if this is not a corrupt practice within the meaning of the Act, the sooner it is made one the better. We have received from the secretary of the Scottish Home Rule Association, Edinburgh, an " Appeal to the Scot abroad " for pecuniary assistance to enable the Association to meet the expense necessary to carry to a successful issue tho movement it is engaged in. The Scottish Home Rule movement though not perhaps, quite as much heard of as the same undertaking in the sister isle, has yet many supporters among the more Radical of the Scottish representatives, and has made good headway both in the country and the House of Commons during the last few years. The question is made the subject of an annual division in Parliament, the numbers last year being 141 for and 279 against the motion favouring a national legislature for Scotland. As bye-elections ocour no Gladstonian candidate who refuses to pledge himself to the Scottish Home Rule platform is accepted, and it is calculated that at the rate democratic feeling is spreading a more liberal franchise, giving greater political power to the masses, must inevitably result in the aspirations of the more democratic of the Scottish people being fulfilled. The movement is regarded with distrust and hostility by the large landed proprietors and nobility, who naturally dread change and innovation, and are quite content to allow things to remain as they are. The Association maintain that the Imperial Parliament sbould devolve upon the four nationalities that form the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud Ireland, so that Scotch, Irish, and Welsh affairs may be managed according to the ideas of the people of these countries, and and not as a dominant English majority may wish. There is nothing wrong in this. The Scotch are a strong people— strong in brain as well as in muscle I and patriotism, and quite competent to manage their own local affairs after their own far-seeing fashion. Any patriotic Scot, i therefore, who desires to help the movement should send his subscription through the National Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh, or direct to the hon. treasurer, Wm. Mitchell, 79 Princes St., Edinburgh.

THR prize presented by Mr E. Ellis, as a special prise to the Poultry Society, is deserving of notice, being a splendid specimen of the confectioner's art, and one of the most valuable gifts offered for competition. At the ordinary general meeting of the Dunedin Gold Dredging Co., held in Dune- , din on Monday, the chairman (Mr T. Brown) stated that a large sum had recently been laid ont on the dredge, making, with what was spent during the previous half-year, something over £1,200. This, he said, was well'spent money, as the dredge was now greatly improved and found in all respects. The dividends were again » very gratifying item in the balance-sheet, representing over 46 per cent per annum paid on the capital of the cam pan y. This rate, though not qnite so high as that paid last year, should be considered very s:itisfacto< y. The books also closed with a credit balance of something like £'500. As regards the future of the company, one hesittted to speak with confidence, as uncertainty is the essence of all goidmining ; but they had every reason to expect a fair return for their capital in the future. The dredgemaster also spoke hopefully, and anticipated a continuance of fair returns for the next few years from ground in tho claim that is known to him. A large number of the shares in the company are held for investment rather than speculation, a number of shareholders being ladies. This being so he might be excused for advising shareholders not to be depressrd or elated at any special weekly return, as several conditions operate which affect yields. It would be gratifying to the shareholders to know that since the books were closed three weeks ago gold had been obtained to the value of. sny. • 800 •, so that there was a very-credit-able balance to be dealt with at the next monthly meeting. Tn answer to some remarks, the chairman said that £400 out of the reserve fund had been invested in the Milbsirti Lim^ and Cement Co., and the sum of t2O or £25 had been realised by the investment. It was moved and carried that £400 front the present profit and loss account be transferred to tho sinking fund, and that a further sum of i'4oo be reserved during the current year to the ■inking fund. — Mr Brownlie was re-elected a diiector, and Mr Bartteman auditor.