Local and General.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11992, 10 July 1903, Page 4

Local and General.

A anew magnet), designed for the purpose of removing steel and metal bodies from the ©ye without necessity for resorting to incisions, hag been, added to the equipment of the Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital.

An extraordinary meeting of the crowned heads of Europe will bake place at Copenhagen on November 15 next—the fortieth ■anniversary of the accession of King Christian—.jf His Majesty's Jiealth continues as satisfactory as it ia at present.

The funeral of the late Mr A. C. Milligram took place yesterday afternoon, when a large number of friends paid their last respects by following the remains of one who, during his Short stay in Wanganui, earned the esteem of ail. The Rev. Arthur Dewdney conducted an impressive service at the graveside.

A meeting of the Wanganui School Committee will be held in the Borough Council Chambers, on Monday July 13, at 7.30 p.m. Business: General.

A Dunedin wira says that a largelysigned (requisitions asks Mr Bedford to lead the opposition to a renewal of the 'Frisco service, on account of Mr Millar having now occupied a position of neutrality.

' Mr. and Mrs. Esami, of Maiton, have donated a fine collection of books and periodicals for the use of the patients at the Hospital and the inmates of the Jubilee Home.

An elderly roadsaraper in one of the Yorkshire 'country districts, who was removed to the asylum, bad.l £56 in, gold in canvas bags secured inside his dhirt, andl at his house a bank book was found showing he had £95 to his credit.

Orchids are expensive. An odonto,glossuxn crispumi, Raymond! Crawshay, wiitfo two bulbs, was knocked down for £262 10s.. amid! cheers, at a London sale last mouth. An od'ontoglossum crispumi, in bloom, fine spotted variety, went for £126.

The "Post" understands that Mr Alex. Montgomery, State Mining Engineer of Western Australia, and formerly Director of the Thames School of Mines, will succeed Sir J. Hector as Director of Geological Surveys.

A meeting of the Co-operative Butchery was held last evening. The promoters, reported very satisfactory progress, and that over 100 shares had been taken up during the week, and that there was ©very prospect of starting business in the course of a few -weeks. It is the intention of the (Promoters to register the Association as soon as the shares number about 400.

Mr. Montagu© Holbein, who has twice failed in attempts to swiimi the English Channel, will make another attempts dluring the suimiinier. Each day for the past week he has been swimmiing, for several hours at a time in the Mediway at Wateringbury, the temperature of whichl, he says, ia as nearly as possible the sarnie as thia Channel. } _ A meeting of the directors of the Public* Library wais held last, evening, when there were present: Messrs. Eyre-Kenney (in the chair), Dymock, Greig, Stiuart, and Mrs. Williamson. Apologies for absence were received from Rev. Maclean and T. Alison. Ib was diecitted to revert to the Thursday half-holiday, oni the ground that Friday hadl, after a twelve months' trial, proved inconvenient. Accounts amountinig ta £25 were passed for payment,*and the meeting adjourned till Septemiber 11.

The following is the- report- of the committee of tho Wanganni Jockey Club, to bo presented to members at the annual meeting at Chavanneis' Hotel on Wednesday, July 29—"Your committee have pleasure in laying the annual statement of accounts before members, and congratulating them on the healthy state of the Club's finances. The profit aJid loss statement showis a net surplus for the year of £201 17s, as against £13 17s lOd last year. Your committee i*ecord with deep regret, the deal- of two of the Club's most prominianit members, Dr. Connolly and! Mr J. T. Moore. Both gentlemen were keen sportsmen, mud your .committee feel that it will be a difficult matter to repi; ice them in their official positions as stewards and members of the committee. The; following members retire from the committee by rotation: Messrs Jas. Higgie, James Watt, Allan Cameron, but are eligible for re-election. It will also be necessary to ©lest two additional members in place o£ Dr. Connolly and Mr J. T. Moore, deceased. Your committee to tender their best) thanks-to- the Uubs honorary -amd paid officials for their .careful .attention: to their respective duties."

Some important amendments in the.law relating to firsfo offenders are proposed m the First Offenidiers Probation Amendment Bill, which the Attorney-General has charge, of in the Legislative Council. The definition of "first offender" is altered to read— "Any person convicted by the Court of an offenice whose previous character has been good, and .againsiti whom: a conviction has not. been previously recorded, nor a warrant of arrest previously issued in respect of any offence." The duty of the Probation Officer is also widened, and he is, when required by the1 Court, to inquire carefully into the •character and antecedents of every, person convicted of an offence, and to report fully to the Court in writing as to whether the person is a firs* offender, as to his previous character arid! antecedents, and any otter majttersi on which the Court may require mformiaitiion, and to keep a full report of the results of his investigations. The period fo probation is limited to three years. A coiDy of the Probation Officer's report may, if tttie person so requires, be given him before being, acted on by the Court, and he may tender evidence upon it.

The Melbourne "Age" of Juno 24 says— A daughter, aged nine, of a selector named Bradbury, of Thorpdale South, was with ■an elder .sister paying about their homestead when the latter obtained her father's ax© and wais in the act of cutting down .vome scrub, wheri the younger sister f/ •in the way and was struck by the axe on the right aide of -the head. A wound 4m. long was inflicted, the axe cutting clean through' the skull and lacerating the brain. The child walked some distance to the house, and the father bandaged the wound. Next day the child was brought on horso■back into Mirboo North, a distance of .eight miles. Dr. Moir, when lie saw the terrible wound, expressed surprise at the child being alive and able to ride such a distance on horseback. It is now nine days sine© she received the wound, and she has never lost consciousness! nor shown the slightest sign-of .paralysis. .Dr. Moir says at one of the most remarkable cases ho has seen, and he attributes the girl s escape to her youth, and to the fact of the axe, bsing a'veiy sharp cue, making «, clean cut •without fracturing the skull. . The little ■patient is progressing towards complete recovery.