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Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 352, 5 February 1903, Page 4

The court sits at Clyde on Saturday, and at Alexandra on Monday and Tuesday next. PbeSSURE on our space compels us to hold over a good deal of matter, including a-xe-port of the Opbir Court. At the Balclutha Magistrate's Court last week the lessee of the Criterion Hotel was convicted on a charge of having kept alcoholic liquor for sale, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Mr D Robertson, who has so successfully carried out the work of constructing the large reservoir for Mr J Rivers at Speargrass Creek, leaves next week under engagement to the Waipori Electric Power Company. Our correspondent at Ophir informs us that the police raided the Ophir Flour Mills on Sunday morning last, in search of an illicit still. As there was no such thing on the premises, the search was unsuccessful. Mr R. Hay, engineer for the Alexandra Waterworks, arrived last night, for the purpose of inspecting the reservoir which is being built at Speargrass Creek. The reservoir is already practically completed. A WELLINGTON message says that Mr G. Fisher, M.H.R, a prohibited person, was charged, on Monday, on two informations of having been found on licensed premises. The cases were adjourned till Friday (tomorrow). The " New Zealand Times " announces that the Hon. T. Tc Duncan contemplates resigning his portfolio as Minister of Lands owing to failing health. Mr Duncan has been interviewed and indignantly denied the statement. In reply to an application from Mr James Bennet, M.H.R., asking that a stud bull should be stationed in the Tuapeka district, the Minister ot Lands has replied stating that the application will receive careful consideration when the stock is being allocated next season. The Mayor of Auckland has received from the proprietors of the Veldt newspaper at Capetown a gold cross for presentation to Corporal Hemphill, of Auckland, a member of the Sixth Contingent, for gallant conduct in carrying despatches when attacked by the enemy in September, The annual church festival of Dunstan Parish will be held at Alexandra on Wednesday next. Services will be fceld St Aidans Church at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when his Lordship 'Bishop Neville will preach. All that care to attend will be heartily welcomed; A social takes place in the town hall in the evening. It will be noticed from our report of the Vincent County Council meeting that the member for Dunstan Riding (Cr Pitches), assisted by Cr Butler, succeeded in obtaining a vote of £IOO for the purpose of widening portions of the road leading from Alexandra to Springvale, particularly at Bruce's Hill. From our experience of the roads in the County, we have no hesitation in saying that there is none more in need of improvement than the one in question—in fact, it is almost miraculous that a serious accident has not, eie now, occurred on that labyrinthine sheep-track that guides travellers tip and itowto \hn titfeUYil? of BruWs HUH-

The prospectus of the proposed Co-ope-I rative Butchery and Bakery will appear | next week. j A large number of people patronised the Recreation Ground last Sunday afternoon, when the Brass Band discoursed a programme of appropriate selections. These occasional outdoor appearances of our bandsmen, on Sunday afternoons, are much appreciated by the townspeople. Mr B. Jolly, of Cromwell, who is away on a holiday tour, was in Deschler's Hotel, Invercargill, which was burned down last week (says the " Argus "). He lost all his clothes. Thirty sovereigns of his were recovered from the debris by the firemen, a point in favor of carrying gold instead of notes.

Says a Wellington paper:—The wholesale houses of this city, basingtheir judgment on information and reports supplied to them by responsible persons, anticipate that the year 1903—in its first-half-period, at least—will be one of the most prosperous that has been known in the history of this colony. One ground for this forecast is the fine harvest now ripening on the Canterbury Plains. The advancing prices in the necessaries of life is troubling the "Buller Post" staff. (Murcbison). Our contemporary says:— " We apologise to our readers for any shortcomings that may notice in this issue. Our foreman fell off his perch in a fit this morning upon learning that M'Nee had risen the price of the 3§lb loaf to 10d. May the Lord have mercy on the pair of them." Is Marriage a Failure, or no ? To answer is nobody's place, Only time and experience will show In each individual case. What's worse than a very bad cold 1 Nothing, we feel pretty sure—i The best thing to take we are told Is Wood's Great Peppermint Cure.

The poisoned grain supplied by the Vincent County Council, for the destruction of small birds, is not considered by farmers to be a success. At the meeting of the Farmers Union at Ophir last week, Mr J. M'Arthur, jun., said he had fed his fowls on some of the poisoned grain supplied by the County, and it had not the slightest effect. The Union resolved to ask the County to supply phosphorous, instead of the poisoned grain at present supplied.

Viscount Boringdon, who is at present on a visit to the Colony, arrived in Alexandra by coach on Tuesday evening, and yesterday, accompanied by His Worship the Mayor, visited a number of dredges in the neighborhood, among others, the Earnscleugh No 3 and the electric power plant in connection therewith, in which his lordship was greatly interested Viscount Boringdon leaves by this morning's coach en route to the Lakes. The Viscount is the son and heir of the Earl of Morley (Devonshire). A correspondent at Ida Valley writing regarding the progress of the Otago Central Kailway works, says .-—Rail-laying has been commenced between Ida Valley station and the viaduct and good progress is being made The cuttings up to the viaduct are practically finished. The number of men in the tunnel has been increased, and three shifts are now at work, so that it should be through in about two months. The erection of the viaduct is progressing satisfactorily. Since the New Year, about 55 extra men have been put on the works. During the past 12 months 69 Chinese arrived in the colony, and 87 took their departure. -Four Japanese arrived. Among foreigners of European birth who arrived Germans were most numerous, 255 landing in various ports. During the quarter ended December 31 the customs revenue collected at all ports of New Zealand was £593,030, against £524,016 during the December quarter of 1902. The ad valorem duties yielded £201.238, and spirits £120,859. Last year £2,285,157 was collected, against £2,191,798 in the preceding 12 months. The statement of receipts and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund for the December quarter is published in the last " Gazette." On the revenue account, ordinary receipts are shown at £1,659,296, and territorial revenue at £53.167. The permanent appropriations amounted to £918,418, including £771,607 to interest and Sinking fund, and £51,632 to old age pensions. The annual appropriations reached £958,280, including £1215 for services not provided for. Under the Public Works Funds the expenditure on annual appropriations was £376,844; The balance at the end of the quarter was £231,421. The " Cromwell Argus " says that at about five oclock on Friday afternoon, a serious accident occurred to a daughter of Mr James Robertson, of Kawarau station, a girl eight years of age. She and another girl were playing in the Cornishtown chair, when somehow or other sh-j fell out of the chair, a distance of 32ft, on to the rocks lining the banks of the Kawarau, Her companion at once ran for assistance, and the little sufferer was carried to the residence of her grandmother. Mrs May. Meantime someone had gone for Dr M'Knight, who was at the Bank of N.Z., and he was soon on the scene. It was found on examination that the girl's right jaw was badly fractured, smashed, in fact, her left wrist dislocated, and one of her knees seriously injured. Her body was badly bruised and severely shaken, but so far no signs of serious internal injury have been detected, and the child is progressing favourably. The chair is a favourite plaything with Cromwell children, and this should be a warning to them to give it a wide berth. We regret to say that the latest news is that it is going hard with the poor child.