SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 12, 22 September 1909, Page 5

SOUTH ISLAND.

Mr. Wragge’s Offer. An important offer has been made to the trustees of the local museum by Mr. Clement L. Wragge, who intends to take up his residence in Nelson. Mr. Wragge, in a letter to the secretary, states that in the course of his travels he has made collections of specimens in conchology, geology, and ethnology, which are noW housed in different parts of the world. Out of these he offers to add to the museum very considerably, tile collection to be lent to the town for ten years. At the end of that time, if it has been well cared for and appreciated, Mr. Wragge undertakes to present the collection to the town on condition that he be made a life trustee and honorary curator, and his son after him, he to classify and arrange the collection. Mr. Wragge also states his intention of erecting an astronomical and meteorological observatory, running an independent weather service and establishing a radium chamber. The letter will lie referred to the City Council.

Natural Gas. Some time ago Mr. J. J. Collins, of the firm of Collins and Harman, Christchurch, while inspecting some alterations at the Jubilee Home, Woolston, turned on a radiator tap leading indirectly from the artesan supply to let out an accumulation of air. Having read of lighting gas being obtained from artesian bores, he applied a match to the vent, and a tongue of yellow flame shot out and continued until the water issued from the tap. The same result followed several repetitions of the experiment, and, in addition, Mr. Collins has discovered that the gas in the water-pipes at his own house is similarly inflammable. He has arranged to obtain a quantity of gas for testing by Dr. Evans, Professor of Chemistry at Canterbury College. Dr. Chilton, Professor of Biology, on being questioned, said he had not heard of inflammable gas emanating from any artesian bores in New Zealand, but the circumstance was by no means uncommon in other parts of the world. Several cities were lighted from natural supplies obtained in this way. The presence of gas was due to decomposition of earths and minerals at deep levels. It is assumed that the presence of the gas in the water-pipes, as described by Mr. Collins, is not often evident locally on account of the artesian water being usually aerated before being led into pipes for domestic consumption.

Dnuedin Y.M.C.A. In the course of his speech at a dinner tendered him on Thursday Mr J. J. Virgo, national secretary of the Y.M.C.A. of Australia and New Zealand, referred to the present position in regard to the new building for the local association. Not long ago the Dunedin Y.M.C.A. raised £ 14,000 for a new building, of which £3OOO has been spent in the purchase of a site, leaving £ll,OOO available for the building and its equipment. In order to carry out the original intentions, the association requires £7OOO more. Mr. Virgo mentioned that a cablegram had recently been received from Mr. P. R. Sargood, offering to guarantee £lOOO, and giving five years in which to collect, provided over £4OOO was raised in addition. Another gentle-

man, who gave £ 1000 to the first catw paigu, said that he would give another £1000; another gentleman, who had given £5OO to the first campaign, said: "Put me down for another £500”; then a lady had offered £2OO. Thus nearly £3OOO was already in sight. Mr. Virgo concluded by making an appeal for the raising of the balance required.

A “ Religious Ceremony.' 1 A religious ceremony at the seashore near Purakanui, Dunedin, on Sunday week, attracted several hundred spectators, some of whom walked from Port Chalmers to witness the rite. A nomadic revivalist, one of whose princi-' pal doctrines is that ministers should not receive a salary, has just concluded a mission at Purakanui, and Sunday afternoon’s ceremony (says the “Star”) was the rite of confirmation by immersion of some 40 converts. Purakanui district is "under the jurisdiction of the Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church. Sunday’s proselytes included youths and girls and elderly men and women. The revivalist stood in an inlet from the sea, with the water up to his waist, and a male assistant brought the converts from the shore and led them back again after they had been immersed. A settler’s house near at hand served as a dressing room, and a kindly teapot imparted fresti inspiration to the initiated. There seemed something uncanny in the performance when an aged Highlander wa.ed out and submitted to an innovation that said he had reviewed the faith of his fathers. The spectators mostly viewed the proceedings from an adjoining bank, but a number of young people, in canoes and flatties, kept close to the baptiser, and in a happy mood seemed to enjoy the wails of a fair young devotee who got slightly hysterical while experiencing the water rite. Numerous cameras recorded the quaint scene. When the baptising was over, the assistant tried to address the spectators, but the younger element hooted him, and when the occupant of a flattie started to throw water over him with a capacious bailer he desisted from further oratorical display. Many of the sightseers boiled billies and indulged in afternoon tea before returning to their homes.

Sunday Band Concerts. A public meeting of protest against the City Council’s decision to permit band concerts on Sunday for the purpose of raising funds to defray expenses in connection with a forthcoming contest was held in Christchurch last week, and attended by 25 people, three-fourths of whom were clergy. On the motion of Arehdeacon Averill, it was agreed: “That this meeting of citizens of Christchurch respectfully protest against the action of the City Council in sanctioning a band playing for gain on Sundays.”

Government Land Purchases. The Acting-Minister for Lands (the Hon D. Buddo) told a Christchurch reporter that the Government had purchased for settlement purposes the Carule Estate,

Bear Duns isdal, comprising 1800 acres of ploughable land. Several other estates in Canterbury are under negotiation, and Mr. Buddo hopes, in a few weeks, to be able to make an announcement showing what has been done in this direction. Two other purchases are being considered—one in Otago, and the other in Southland. In Hawke’s Bay the ClydeIbank Ills tale has been purchased. With regard to the Crown lands in the North Island, Mr. Buddo said that the pastoral 'eases were being taken up rapidly. Public interest was apparently centring in (small areas. In the Taranaki • province 120 sections had been advertised, and 400 ■would be offered in the Wellington land district. Evidently, he said, there would be a large demand for these sections, and it was expected that many applications would be received for them. They were really the pick of the Crown lands now available. In the Auckland district, a large area on the Hauraki Plains .(formerly known as the Piako Swamp)' would be available about the end of March next. There were already some 500 cattle depasturing on cleared land. The land was admirably suited for dairy farming, and could be cut up into small areas. It was expected that the demand would be greatly in excess of the supply. As to the informal Commission set up to make enquiries in regard to estates that might be cut up in Canterbury, he flaid that it had been at work for about eight days. It had started in South Canterbury, and it will be expected to report on all runs available in both South Canterbury and North Canterbury right up to Waiau, dealing with 840.00 J acres in South Canterbury, and 600,003 in North Canterbury. The lands, however, could not be dealt wit i for a year, on account of the leases not falling in ■until early in 1911.