LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4268, 21 August 1895, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

The value of the wool sent from Sydney since the first January is £2,515,129.

The total mileage of railways opened in New Zealand to date is 1,994 miles 75 chains.

During the past twelve years Australasia has exported twelve million frozen sheep to Great Britain.

It is stated that a firm in Melbonrne have netted £20,000 by baying ap leather during the recent rise.

No less than £3000 of rateable property has been added to the town of Stratford (North Island) during the year.

The two big men of the West Australian Parliament are the Premier and R. T. ShoU, who scale over twenty stone each.

Inspectors Goyen and Fitzgerald com. raenced the examination of the Lawrence District High School on Monday, and expect to finish this afternoon.

During the present season about 1500 oases of mutton, 8000 oases of rabbits, and 800 cases «f sheep tongues have been preserved at tha Woodlands works, Southland.

Our Millers Flat correspondent informs us that the Golden Treasure Dredging Co. only worked for two days' last week owing to the breakage of the bottom tumbler. The gold return was Boz for tho two days' work. -

No time has been lost by the contractor in pushing on the erection of the new Presbyterian manse in Lawrence. In fact the building is now approaching completion ; and in addition to being built on an excellent site, is a large, roomy and comfortable-looking residence.

The "Timaru Herald" has made an estimate of the loss of sheep by the snow in the oountry that Timaru is interested in. The total number of aheep in that particular pjrt of the country at last shearing was 530,000, and the aggregato loss is set down at 293,000. This will leave 237,000 sheep in the country.

One of the largest, if not the largest, petitions ever presented to the Legislative Council was that of 15,400 Roman Catholics cf the colony, praying that the inspectors of State schools might be permitted by the Legislature to inspect Catholic— and therefore unaided — schools. The lengih of the petition was nearly 100 yds.

Mr Thos. Pope, formerly of the Lawrence post-office, son of Mr T. Pope, Wetherstones, was the recipient a few days ago of a complimentary social by the employe's of the Inter* cargill post and telegraph office on the occasion of his transfer to Clinton. From the remarks of the various speakers, we gather that Mr Pope is both a smart and a popular official.

A disastrous fire broke out at Gore on Friday evening last, by which one of the most compact blocks of buildings in the town was demolished. The fire originated in a large drapery shop and spread with great rapidity to the adjoining buildings. The fire brigade worked hard bat were unable to master the fire. Most of the property destroyed was insured.

Long-suffering parliamentary candidate! in New South Wales have a lot to pat up with. Oae M'Kechnie was compelled to seek the law's protection. He complained of a boy who annoyed him throughout the elections by treading on his feet, which were covered with very bad corns. He smote the boy, whereupon the youth's mamma went for M'Kechnie with an axe handle, for flourishing which she was fined £1, with coats £1 7a 44.

A series of severe earthquake shocks were experienced at Taupo in the North Island on Saturday evening and Sunday last. la one of the hotels there the kitchen range shifted oat several feet ; the whole of the bottles in the bar were thrown on to the floor and smashed ; while heavy cases were moved so as to block the door. The local storekeepers' goods were all thrown on the floor, mixing up castor oil, lidiea' finery, vinegar, curry, blankets, etc. All the chimneys were thrown down and the people fled from their houses and camped in tents in the open.

A football match was played on the local recreation ground last Wednesday afternoon between the Town Juuiors and the High School teams,' Tesulting in a victory for the former, A. J. Robertson (Juniors) having potted a goal when well in to the High School twenty-five flag. This was the only score, and counted four points against tho High School nil. The match was well contested throughout, and some very good play was shown, though the ground was very wet •iod sloppy. There was only a small attendanco of spectators. Mr J. Kelleher acted as referee and gave the highest satisfaction, Messrs J. Airey and Geo. Walker acting a3 line umpires.

The Hon. Mb Larnaoh's proposal that Government should, under certain conditions, subsidise agricultural societies has not met with much approval from some of those bodies. At the last meeting of the North CKago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the matter came up for discussion, and was condemned as wrong in principle, aad it was dccl ired that any society that could not exist without Government grants of money had bettor dissolve, as it was incapable of doing any service. It was, however, agreed to a*k the Government to exempt agricultural societies from local bodies' rates, it being stated that the -North Otsgo Association contributed about £30 annually to the local rates

Fitness or unfitnesa for the position applied for under the service of the present Government is not at all requisite in these days of political patronage and nepotism. It is said by a contemporary that the son of a resident in the constitnency of a powerful Minister was put forward for a billet, and the Minister i S3ommended him for a vacancy in one of the many departments under his con* trol. The lad, of course, obtained the position, and when the head of the department complained that the youth was not fit for the position, as he could hardly read or write, the Minister replied fch»fc it was the dafcy of the officer to educate the son of his esteemed friend for the duties for which he was entirely unfitted. There have been considerable in* creases in the Civil Service under such cir« enmstances.

The N«w Tariff.— Some of the good things which a Liberal (?) Government give us. For instance, shirtings, which used to land free of duty, have now to pay 20 per cent. Flannelettes, which were also free, have to pay 20 per cent. Calicoes were free before, now 10 per cent.'; snd soon, if you take all the extra duties, you will find that it is the working classes who will have to pay. For instance, flannelettes, which used to be 7£d per yard, will have to rise 2d per yard, and calicoes and prints have been advanced Id per yard. Boots also have got 5 per cent, added to keep pace with the Liberal (?) tariff. The leather merchants have advanced the prices 10 per cent. Taking all things into consideration, the look-out wonld not be pleasant if it~were not for the fact that W. Talboys holds an enormous stock of all these lines and is pre« pared to sell at the old prices,— (4.4vt>)

Messrs Mttnko Bros*, butchers, notify in another oolamn that they have scoured the premises liktely occupied by Mr W. Bloy.Roas Pltce, »nd will commence business there tomorrow (Thursday.)

The gold returns of the following mining companies are to band :— Dunedin Dredging Co., 60ox for week's work ; Golden Run Dredging Co., 15oz 9dwt ; Golden Treasure Co., Boz for two days' work ; Jutland Flat Dredging Co., 17os 12d wt for 137 hours' actual dredging ; Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Co., 16oi ldwt 12gr for 134 hours' dredging time.

The Australian Guards' Band of the Salvation Army is to visit Lawrence on the 28th instant, and will, no doubt, wake up the echoes and afford an opportunity of hearing some good music capitally discoursed. The Band is composed of twenty performers, and it is spoken of in very high terms by the Press in all the towns in which exhibitions have been given.

A stakt will be made with the co-operative works on the Rankleburn-Beaumont road today. It it expected that between 60 and 70 men will find employment on the work in gangs of from nine to twelve men. With •uoh a number of men engaged, it is easy to understand that the work will not last long, even though much of it is heavy and will proceed bat slowly. However, long or short though its duration be, it is at the present time an undoubted blessing to.at least, the majority of the men engaged on it. One very important advantage in weather like the present is that those employed on the work will have an abundance of good firewood within easy reach. Tbe works will be under the supervision of Mr John Young.

Certaznxy the best medicine known is Sander and Sons 1 Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in coughs, colds, influenza — the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, sealdings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swelling, no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, swellings, etc., diarrhoea, dysentry, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. c Trust in this approved article, aad reject all others.

The London "Times" states that Oscar Wilde was recently visited in Pentonville prison by a friend of his, who found him to be in the best of health, with a clear, healthy appearance and an exceedingly good appetite. He said that he had fully resigned himself to accept tbe condition in which circumstances had placed him. The form of hard labor that he had done up to the present was oakumpicking; bat in accordance with the regulation of Prisons Act, which only imposes firstclass hard labor for the first month or six weeks, he will very shortly be put to the making of mats. He is closely attended by the Anglican chaplain of the prison, who has supplied him with a number of religious volumes, among them being the works of St. JL agnstine.

A little time ago, on one of the Canard boats, one of the crew (while the passengers were at dinner) picked up a menu, and, seeing on the top " Table d' hote," inquired of one of his mates the meaning of it. " What does this 'ere mean, Joe ?" Joe, taking the menu, gazed on it with a puzzled air, scratched his head, and said : " I can't make nothing of it. Let's go to old Coffin ; he's a scholard, and sure to know." On giving the menu to the boatswain he thoughtfully stroked his chin, and said: "Well, look 'ere, mates; it's like this 'ere. Them swells down' in the saloon haves some soup, a bit of fish, a bit of this, and a bit of that, and a bit of sumraat else, and calls it 'table dottie.' We haves table dottie, only we mixes it all together and calls it Irish stew."

Sir Wilfred Lawson, the well-known English advocate of temperance and one of the wits of the House of Commons, is not often " sold" (says a Home paper) ; but a story now going the rounds shows that sometimes he meets with one who is more than his match. Espying a laborer one day walking along with the old familiar black bottle protruding from his pocket, he entered into conversation with him. After pointing out the misery which had resulted from the bottle, Sir Wilfred earnestly exhorted the man to flee from its contents. The man was so overcome that be took out the bottle and emptied its contents on to the road. Sir Wilfred's face beamed .with pleasure, and, handing the man sixpence, he said : " Take tbat ; it will bny you something better." The man, to the disgust of Sir Wilfred^entered a publichouse and spent the sixpence in beer. The liquor he had thrown away was cold tea.

It baa just transpired that a silly incident occurred in connection with the' Visit of the Princess of Wales and the Princess Maud to the Eicbmond horse show (s«ys "Reynolds' Newspaper.") It had been arranged that on the entrance 'of the royal carriage to the show ground the Princess should be presented with » bouquet of flowers. Prior to her appearance, however, the Duchess of Albany and the Duke and Dacheis of Teck arrived, and were each presented with a bouquet of orchids. When tbe Princess of Wales' carriage was beralded, about a quarter of an hoar afterwards, it was discovered that the stock of floral tributes had been exhausted, and i£ was decided that the presentation should be deferred until the Princess' departure. Tho royal party remained at the show for over an boar, daring which time a messenger was despatched by special train to London to obtain a supply of fresh flowers. He returned a few minutes before the Princess left with a handsome bouquet, and on leaving the ground tbe Princess was handed a mass of splendid orchids. Certainly a great deal of fuss and expense over a very small matter, and probably tbe Princeas is in happy ignorance of it. '

THE Chinamen residing in Wellington have petitioned Parliament a^aips 1 ; being made the subjects of further restrictive legislation. They repudiate as nntrue and undeserved the various objectionable qualities which it is the custom to attribute to them. They claim to be law-abiding, steady, sober, and industrious, and consider it unfair to charge them with uncleanliness where they are under the same •anitary laws as other citizens. On the goldfields they work chiefly ground abandoned by Europeans, and so turn to profit what would otherwise be waste. The offences with which they are charged exist, they claim, only in the imagination of interested people. They point out that they do not enter into competition for the Government service, nor ss shop assistants, nor do they swell tbe ranks of the unemployed, or seek charitable relief. New Zfalanders profess to be a Christian people, and if these professions sre true a spirit of Christian charity should be extended to themselves as if they were resident in a foreign land. The number of Chinese in the colony is, they urge, decreasing, and instead of increasing the poll tax it should be decreased. They therefore hope no farther oppressive legislation will be passed against Hicm.

At the expense of figuring in a most discreditable, if not disgraceful, scene Dr Tanner, the Nationalist member for North Cork, saved the opening days of the new Parliament from becoming actually dull. The debate in the House, the cable says, was spiritless, and a motion moved by Mr Dillon and supported by the Opposition was defeated by the overwhelming majority of 134 votes. Despair and wrath then seemed to have come over Dr Tanner and he called Mr Harrington (Parcellite) a liar. Between tbe two factions this has now become very much the customary form of address, and on an Irish platform is accepted as a matter of conrse. Consequently when Speaker Gully asked Dr Tanner to withdraw tbe expression he indignantly refused ; and on tbe motion of Mr Chamberlain he was suspended for a week. He then lay back in bis seat, implying his refusal to leave tbe House ; but rose and walked across the floor of the Chamber when the Serjeant-atrAruis approached hitn.shouting that he was delighted to leave the dirty Honse. Grossing over to the Treasury Benches, he pointed to Mr Chamberlain, yelling " Judas ! " repeatedly, and finally elbowed a path through the crowded passage to tbe Bar of tbe House. He farther transgressed by seizins a member

by the coat collar and shaking him violently. Tbe one redeeming feature in the incident is that the Irish Nationalist members refnsed to flountenanoe or support their rowdy colleague,

. Thi attention of farmer! and others is directed to an announcement in another column in connection with tbe famous Maiden Island guano. A notable and authenticated feet with respect to the Maiden Island guano is that it contains sixty per cent, of phosp lates, which is, of coarse, the richest and most efficacious of all known fertilisers. Another fact worth knowing is that daring last season no less than three thousand tans of this manure were used in Otago and Southland, while even this supply is expeoted to be largely exceeded during the present year. The agents are the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Dunedin.

It is alleged (says the " Southland Times ") that a unique dooument addressed from somewhere near Dunedin and signed by eight presumably very astute ultra-Deruoorats was recently received by the Premier. Accompanying it was a newspaper report of the statement made by the Colonial Treasurer (Mr Ward) at Home, that the amount of wealth to the credit per head of the population in New Zealand was £232, and the indebtedness £57, and the tenor of the letter was as follows: "In accordance with the enclosed statement of the Hon. tbe Colonial Treasurer, we, the undersigned members of the State- in New Zealand, hereby make application for the respective amounts to our credit, as stated herein. We may say that as we are desirous of retiring from the partnership we have no objection to receiving paymeat in State notes. Tho aggregate nm< iint of our claim at £232 per head U £1856— less the £57 per head which we owe, £456— totil, £1400 ; settlement of which we will be glad to receive at your earliest convenience. — We are, etc.