Miss Fraser's Resignation.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10483, 30 October 1901, Page 2

Miss Fraser's Resignation.

There will bo a very general feeling of regret throughout the town and district that Miss Fraser, the popular and capable principal of the Wanganui Girls' Collego, has resigned her position in the institution which she has so successfully conducted for the past eight years. During her regime the 1 college has made remarkable progress, both in point of numbers and in educational results. When Miss Fraser was first appointed principal there were some 66 pupils at the College, including 26 boarders. To-day there are 66 boarders and 150 pupils. This speaks eloquently for the progress numerically, while reference to tho reports of the annual and university examinations shows that tho educational results have - boL-n equally successful. Miss Fraser 'a aim has not been merely to tnrn out brilliant scholars, but to fit those> entrusted to her charge for the various duties of life and instil in them gentle womanly instincts, and we feel sure she - has made lasting impression for all that k noblest and best on those who have had the good fortune to come under her influence. ' As Miss Frasor pointed out in her last annual report, "the feeling of esprit de corps has been growing in the College; she has tried to make it on the highest basis, and hoped they would never have to blush for any spirit of partisan feeling." In the same report Miss Fraser generously and unselfishly remarked that "the Collego would not be the" College without Mrs Wood," and without disparaging in the least the work done by the matron, we cannot but think that "the" College would not have boon the College without Miss Fraser." We are not surprised that Miss Fraser feels that she needs a rest, for the responsibility of such a position must have been a severo tax on her mental and physical powers. . Ab we have before mentioned, it has not only been a' matter of the education of the girls, but Miss Fraser has had the thousand and one responsibilities that only the head* o? a household — aye, and that only a mother — can realise, for has she not been "parent and teacher too? Her position will be difficult to fill, as 'ladies of educational ability and administrative powers are none too common. We trust that -it is not yet too late to retain the services of Miss Fraser as principal of tho Wanganui Girls' College, and hope that a very strong effort will be made by the Board of Governors of the College to that end. Educational institutions in Wanganui have before received serious set-back owing to the cheese-paring policy of the Board, and tho welfare of the finest Girls' College in New Zealand demands that no such parsimony shall be exhibited here. There is no disguising tho fact that Miss Fraser has had too much to do, anU too much responsibility on her shoulders, and if by tho appointment of a strong assistant her services can by retained, we have no hesitation in saylug that it would be a wise stop for tho Board to take. *•

On our first page will bo found interesting reading matter undor Uio following headings: — "Parliament," "HowCzolgosz Escaped," Trinity Collegfc, London," "Sporting," and "Commercial." The Telegraph reports the advent of ripe strawberries in Napier. The cruiser King Alfred, the largest and fastest afloat, has been launched at Barrow-on-Furncss. Captain Edwin, wired to-day — Northeast to north and west gale ; glass fall ; tides high; sea heavy and heavy rain. The business promises of Burridge, at Fotone, was entered by burglars on Monday, and .£2B extracted from the safe. The directors of the National' Insurance Company have made an addition of .£IO,OOO to the reßerve fund, and recommend a dividend of 9d per share. The names of 91 grocery firms appear on the papers in the dispute which the Wellington Grocers' Union of Workers is bringing .before the .Conciliation Board. The Times says the disquieting 'revelations in connection with torpedo destroyers has rudely shocked public confidence in' the constructive department of the Admiralty. ' ■ Sir Clements Markham, the president of the Royal Geographical Society,-ad-mits that the Antarctic ship Discovery is a -poor sailer and leaked. He appeals to the public to subscribe .£10,000" to complete the equipment of a tender. Two gold dredges were sold by auction at Dunedin yesterday. The Golden Falls dredge, a current wheeler, which 'cost between .£B,OOO and £9,000, was sold for £1000 to Dr Hyde. The Shotover dredge, which cost about' £2250, was, with the claim, sold for £250 to Robert Lee. Train travellers are reminded that on and after Ist November there will bo an alteration in the time-table. Particulars concerning arrivals and departures of trains at Wauganui will be found in tho column under mail notices, etc. - The advantage of the massage treatment of patients is beginning to Jbe | recognised by the Committee of the Melbourne Hospital. Three masseurs were appointed the other day, and the opinion was expressed that there .was worit. in the institution for Bovoral more. Reference lias frequently been made to the fact that Lieutenant-General Sir Hector Macdonald's visit to New Zealand was for the purpose of seeing his relatives. Interviewed, on the point by a representative of the' Dunedin Star, Sir Hector said he had no brother or cousins in the colony; in referring to relatives he meant his countrymen.

During September there were 263 deaths in the colony. Of these no fewer than 72 were those of persons over the age of 65. Four of the number were 90, one being 95.

A young man named Robert Collier was committed for trial at Wellington yesterday on a charge of ill-treating a cow by throwing a solution of 'sulphide of sodium, which effected frightful injuries to the creature's side. ijA. Taranaki man says that Te Whiti had to go out of business as a prophet because the Maoris found, by sad experience, that he could not pick the winner in a hack race. They won't even take a "tip" on a dog fight from him now. The potato is cooked.

The Manawatn Times says that upon examination yesterday, the doctors were unable to find the bullet, which had penetrated the left side of the abdomen, and it is believed had entered the stomach, as the patient was vomiting blood. The patient was suffering from shock and collapse, and the medical men consider it a very serious and dangerous case.

Owing to the alteration in the running of trains, from the Ist of November, the wall-receiving- boxes throughout town are to be cleared in future at 1.30 instead of 2 p.m. This clearance will connect with the letter carriers' afternoon delivery, thus enabling letters to be posted in these boxes before 1.30 p.m., to be delivered in town the same day.

A mysterious poisoning case is reported from South Brisbane. A young man employed as a clerk in a mercantile house in the city died suddenly a month ago, and a post mortem revealed strychnine in the stomach. But for the persistence of the doctor, who refused to give a certificate, it is probable that nothing would have come to light regarding the matter. The police are now investigating the matter, as foul play is suspected.

Through an explosion of calcium carbide, used to generate acetylene gas at Jumbunna, Victoria,- Mr Albert Kurrie nearly lost his life. He went to an outhouse where the carbide was kept, and noticing an escape of gas, opened the door, and struck a match. In the explosion which followed he was badly burnt about the face and hands. It appears that some miscreant broke into tho place where the carbide was kept, and, pouring a quantity of water, upon it, generated a large quantity of gas.

It is not generally known that Captain Spinks, of the Mokoia, makes a practice of throwing out pilots with tho object of ascertaining the direction of the currents in the Tasmair Sea (says a contemporary). These and similar messages despatched by other captains on the same passage are generally addressed to Mr Russell, of the Government Observatory at Sydney, who has carefully charted the information so obtained. The knowledge of tho set of the currents thus gained has proved exceedingly useful to Captain Spinks on more than one occasion.

Wo learn from Engineering that at the South Metropolitan Gasworks, London, about 3000 of the workers own .£140,000 of the company's stock, about 2000 of the workers having XIOO.OOO in stocks; about 90 per cent of_ the workers are now saving the whole of their bonus. Upon the board of directors of the South Metropolitan Company there have been for over three years two working-men directors, who have rison to the full dignity of their responsibility, and have become in the fullest sense -of tho ■ word representatives of the company, and not, as wes feared by many, merely delegatos of the workers.

There is. a young man in Melbourne to-day who is charged by a Mrs Catherine Kcadc, residing in South Yarra, with being her husband. The young man, who calls himself John Nobbs, and is employed as a clerk, denies that the woman is his wife. Mrs Reado, however, is just as certain that ho is, and has issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of desertion. She alleges that she was married to him at St. y Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, 10 years ago, and that after a week of married life he left her. It was only the other day, when, she encountered Nobbs in Collins Street, that she became "aware that he was still in the land of the living.

living. A "chain lotter" was set in motion the other day by Mr W. B. Hansen, who resides in Richmond, -Victoria. That gentleman worked out the schemo for the benefit of the Melbourne Hospital for Sick Children, but seems in-clined-to regret his action in view of what is already happening. 'Hundreds of letters are pouring into his house every day from all parts of Australia, and, as the snowball seems to bo growing bigger with each mail, the outlook is becoming rapidly alarming. So far the net yield from unused stamps forwarded in aid of the hospital is £A. The cominitteo of the hospital disclaim all responsibility for the idea. Vigorous efforts aro being made to snap .. tho chain before it grows too long. •±ho broaching of cargo in over-sea ships is becoming so frequent that many -merchants pay freights and take delivery of consignments with gravoi concern lest the boxes be half empty. A. Wellington silversmith, who quite recently imported a. consign m «*n t of b\vlminium spoons, found after taking" delivery (says the Post) that 60 per cent of the goods had been extracted. , On Thursday one of the city drapers, on opening a case containing boxes of neckties, discovered that four or five dozen had been removed. So cleverly was it done that it required close examination to discover now tho thieves carrier out their work. It is generally thought that tho pilfering is done' at the London docks, and local merchants are bitter in their complaints as to the lack of vigilance which aparently rules there. Captain Mindreboi, of the Norwegian barque Zelateur, which arrived at Sydney a few days ago from the islands, gavo some interesting experiences of shocks while in the vicinity, and also when at the group. When the vessel was some 100 miles off the islands sailing under a fair wind and 'fine weather conditions, the men of the barque were terrified by feeling a sndden tremor pass through the vessel. Fear rushed through the minds of one and all that tho Zelateur had passed over a coral reef, and an anxious examination was immediately made. Unfathomable depths were rovealed under the' craft; and no injury of any kind could bo traced. Shortly after anchoring at the islands two more shocks were felt. On this occasion tho crew had no fear of the phenomenon, but the' natives displayed abject terror by rushing down to tho beach, uttering all kindr of incantations to scare off what they deemed "an evil spirit." In spite of all the talk' about opening up tho South African market to our produce, and tho expressed -desire for more steamer communication,' there does not seem (says tho Christchurch Press) to be much inclination v on the part of shippers to make use of such accommodation when it is provided. At the present time the s.s. Otarama is' announced to sail for South Africaa about the end of this month. The Now Zoaland Shipping Company have advertised tho steamer from Auckland to tho Bluff, and tho Company's managers and agents have made personal inquiries of likely shippers as to tho space they are prepared to take. Tho response, howover, has been most meagro. So far the only cargo offering has been 40 tons of pumice, 1000 boxes of butter, 2000 cases of meats, a quantof oat sheaves, and a few crates of poultry. No oats or wheat have been, offered. Needless to say, this is most disheartening*, and there is not much chance of the colony getting a regular servico to South Africa unless shippers aro prepared to give better support than this. . - The British Medical. Association* sitting at Cheltenham, discussed some very interesting facts as to tho position of the wounded in naval battles. Owing to thealtaerations in the structure of the ships, the old arrangements under which the wounded were at once carried down to the cockpit cannot bo continued, and, in the opinion -of FleetSurgeon C. Kirker, the most humane course, now adopted both by the -French and Japanese is to leave tho wounded sailors to lie where they are until the action ib over, and men can be spared to carry them down in ambulances, which it will take somo mechanical .skill to devise. A light sleigh on runners of his. own device is now boing tested previous to approval. .The wounded are as safe on deck for a short time as elsewhore,' and modern 'wounds do not cause dangerouß loss of blood. It is essential, however, that each- ship should have on operating room, which at present is not included in tho accepted designs. It appears that the general health of sailors in warships is" good, iron being much hotter than wood for sanitation; but some improvements are greatly required, and should bo attended to by the Admiralty. at once, so that the sailor should bo at least as well off in his battle as the soldier. He is as much exposed, and he cannot retreat.

Although the Westinghouse brake is in itself powerful enough to regulate the speed of the trains going down the Rimutaka incline, '•he Railway Department have no intention of abolishing the system of gripping a central rail, which has been found so effective on the section for so many years. A brake van will continue to form an important part of each train, and by its use, in conjunction with the Westinghouse brake, the safety of trains descending the incline is doubly assured.

During the last few days a New Zealand Limited Master Bakers' Association has been formed in Wellington by dolegates from Auckland, Canterbury, and Ihmedin. The executive committee will have its headquarters in Wellington. It is stated that the Association has been formed for the purpose, among other things, of. endeavouring to put a stop to cutting and underselling- in the trade. Mr Kellow, president, gives a positive denial to the statement 'that the master bakers, with or_ without the assistance of the flourmillers, are combining to raise the price of bread. In the New South Wales Assembly Mr John Norton appeared at the bar of a crowded house to explain an article published in Truth — a reflection on members. In -the course of his statement, during which he was several times called upon to withdraw and 'apologise for additional charges against the Minister for Lands, he said that he neither wrote the article nor saw it till several days after it was published, but he accepted full responsibility. He withdrew and apologised for the statement contained in the article. The Premier moved that the apology be accepted. A long and warm debate took place, some of the utterances in defence of the dignity of the House and resenting Mr Norton's criticism being anything but dignified. The Premier's motion was adopted. Wages in the United Kingdom attained a higher level in 1900 than in any year for which statistics 'exist. This, Bays Engineering, is a gratifying fact from the standpoint alone, -if from no other, that it indicates prosperous trade. Wages can only rise when 'labour is in demand and employment remunerative. Employers do not, as a rule, employ work-people unless there is a profit upon the employment. That profit may be small, in some cases even to vanishing point; but labour must be remunerative, or it will speedily cease. When employers are pressed with orders the question of wages becomes secondary. If the demand for an advance is unduly largo, there is resistance; but the employer will not, as a rule, risk a stoppage of work unless there are strong reasons for so doing. The degree of profit -decides the question.

Dr Barnardo tells a good "story. One day when he -was particularly anxious to leave the office early a woman not by any means well dressed, arrived, and although politely told that it was impossible to see' him, as he had an important engagement to fulfil, insisted that the matter she had to bring before him was ono of urgency. By this means she obtained an audience. At great length she inquired into the work of the homes, and showing no disposition to leave, Dr Barnardo said she really must excuse him. Would she call another day? Thereupon this mysterious person who had not even given her name, opened her handbag and drew forth a roll of banknotes, and selecting three, asked him to devote the money to certain branches of; his work. She was gone in a triee — before even the doctor had discovered that the gift amounted to no less' than .£3OOO.

'ensions

xne military Bit! now before the House, which inchidcs'the Sixth and Seventh Contingents, gives a graduated scale. The widow of a colonel killed in battle is entitled to receive £150 per year, his mother or sister £80, his children £18 .to £25 ; if death was due to illness contracted in the field, £120 for tKe widow and £16 to £20 for the children. The widow of a enptnin receives £80 if he is killed in battle, and £65 if he dies through illness; his mother or sister £50 S he is"-" killed, and his children £10 to £16. A lieutenant's widow receives £60 if he ,is tilled, end £50 if death is through, illness ; hio mother or fis tor £40, and his children £6 to £14,. Widows of non-commissioned officers and privates get £33 if death occurs in action, and £30 if "from illnees; mothers or sisters get £26 in case of death in action, and the children got £6 to £10 if death occurs in action, and if from illness £4 to £8.

The ascent of Mount Vesuvius in an --automobile is a feat which has lately been accomplished for the first time, probably, by. Count Carl Schonborn, secretary_ of the Austrian Automobile Club. This performance, while hot particularly dangerous, requires considerable skill and sang-froid to carry out. It was upon .his -wedding trip that Count Schonborn had the idea of making the ascent with his young wife. .Tho couple' proceeded first 'to Rome, where the marriage took place,- to Frasciti, then to Naples, and a few days later, after having carefully, determined their 'route in advance, they made the ascension to the upper crater, situated at 3700 ft altitude. In spite of the complete absence of a practicable route, the pieces of stone scattered about, and the lava'strenms, the count was able to reach, tho summit of the cone in only an hour and a half. The 'descent, which was relatively less difficult, required about two hours.

•There was a very narrow escape from drowning on Saturday morning in* the sea off the Marine Parade, north end (says the Hawke's Bay Herald). Mr Edward Hodgldnson, together with Mr Poole (both linemen, residing in Cooteroad) and the lattcr's son, went in for a bathe about 7 o'clock. Poole returned to "dress himself first, and on looking towards where Hodgldnson had been bathing, saw that he was battling amongst the breakers, and in great danger. He was washed in at times, 'and then taken" out again by the receding waves. Timely assistance was rendered by Messrs Poole and Driver, and HodgKinson s was pretty far gone, but he was eventually brought round, being then seized with several epileptic fits. Dr Jarvis, ordered Hodgkinson's removal to the 'hospital, where he was taken in an unconscious' condition. Inquiry last night at the hospital elicited that Hodgldnson had not. then recovered consciousness, but favourable symptoms had set in and his condition is expected to improve to-day. In a paper read at Christchurch, Mr C. Coleriago Farr (says tho Lyttelton Times) stated that Gauss, one of the most profound mathematicians 'the world has known, placed the South Magnetic Pole far north of the centre of tho Antarctic Circle and east of Victoria Land. Ross followed, and his observations enabled him .to assign the Pole a position some distanco 'south of that given' by the calculations of Gauss. The result of Borchgrevink's observations in 1899 shows* that since the time of Ross the Polo has been moving, in a north-westerly; direction, and that bxplorur bas fixed a third spot for tho Pole. The results of Mr Farr's observations in New. Zealand, drawn from an entirely different direction, havo led him to co'ifirm Borchgrevink's opinion, >>nd ho also is of opinion that, the Polo > is moving in -a* northerly direction, to*ivards Now Zealand. Geologists toll us that, away down in the Older Pliocene period, a good many millions of years ago, New Zealand had a glacial period of its own. Is it possible that another one is approaching?

In England, on one occasion, a junior counsel, on their lordships giving judgment against his client, exclaimed that he was surprised at their decision. This was construed intd a contempt of Court, and tho young barrister was ordered to attend at the bar the next morning. Fearful of the consequences, ho consulted his friend, John Scott (afterwards Lord Edon), who told him to be perfectly at ease, for he would apologiso for him in a way that would avert an unpleasant result. According-, ly, when the name of the delinquent was called, Scott rose and coolly addressed the judges. "J. am 'very sorry, my" lords," he said,, "that . my young friend has so far forgotten,, himself as to treat your lordships with disrespect; he is extremely penitent, and you will kindly ascribe. his' unintentional insult to liis ignorance. You must see at. once that it did .originate in that. He" said he was surprised at the decision of your lordships. Now, If he had not been ignorant .of what takes place in this Cornt every day — had he known you but half as long as- 1 hare done— he would not bo surprised at anything you did." In the course of a delightful narrative of her experiences, which Madame Melba gives in a late number of the Ladies' Magazine, _she ' says: — "After singing through Norway and Sweden I received a message at Stockholm from tho King, asking whether I would re- , main until his return and sing to him. Mr Grau agreed to let me 'arrivo in 'America a week later than had been arranged, and I remained. For the King I sang the balcony scone from 'Romeo and Juliet,' the second act from •Lohengrin,' the mad scene from 'lilicia, and the lOBt act from T?allßt.' Twice the King stood up in his box •and bowed to, me. Ho sent Ms .aide-de-camp to ask me to come to tho palace at eleven o'clock the next morning.- I went, and the King received me alone, with a pretty little speech, and gave mo a decoration. Then I "said: 'Sire, thore is one tiling I wish to nsk" of -you.' "What is it? y he 1 asked. T wish you to pin this decoration on my' breast.' 'That I will,' he answered. And then we found that neither of us had any pins. I'll get some,' he said, and went briskly in search of them. I treasure those pins in my jewel case yet. When he had fastened the decoration on ho said : TJut those pins must not kill our friendship. I will kiss you on both cheeks, and then we shall always bo friends.'"