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Dunstan Times, Issue 1264, 21 May 1886, Page 2

We Lave again to apologise to our readers for the absence of our supplement. We are requested to state that Monday next, the 24th inst. (Queen’s Birthday), will be observed as a clo-o holiday at the Post end Telegraph offices here, and that mails for lha Monday coaebea will close on Sunday evening at 9 p.m. The cancellation of tho registry of the “Court Koyal Oak of Kawarau,’’ A. O. F., Bannockburn, is notified in the ‘ Gazette.’ It is notified that the Honorable the Defence Minister has santioned the issue of silver medals to members of the Armed Constabulary of not less than 14 years continuous service, and who have not had any entry against them in their defaulter sheets for three years prior to the completion of the time named.

The weather during the past week has been veryimsettled.it having been a succession of wind and rain storms.

The concert to be given at Ophiron Moneveaing next, the 24th inst., promisee to he attractive, as all the available local talent (vocal and instrumental) havepromised their assistance for the occasion, Mr Vincent Pylco‘3 tetter on the Land l aws is worthy of consideration by all who have the interest of the country at heart. The tender of Mr S. A. Miller in the anro of L 378 has been accepted for the construction of postmaster’s residence at Lawrence. There were six tenders, the highest being J. Lowe, of Dunedin, T. 576. Terribly destructive Hoods hove occurred within the past week in the iiorth Island and Canterbury, Many ca'es of severs hardship and distress have been canacd, whilst extraordinary damage has been done to the roads, railways, and other public works.

/ “ The Unemployed and the Remedy,” a pamphlet by Mr Gavin M. Paik, of Mas--torton, has been received by ua. Mr Park is evi lently an ardent believer in Henry George, and looks to the nationalisation of the land and the making of everybody a Crown tenant as the golden remedy for the existing depression. If such be Mr Park’s belief we can only but say he is welcome to it, but we think differently. We will ask— What would be (he use of a perpetual lease to the shoemakers and printers who are now out on strike in "Auckland and Dunedin 7 If the real truth were told the only and real unemployed are those on striae ; they evidently are not at work and not earning, and consequently unable to spend, hence their idleness throws out of employ the bricklayer and tailor. Ths remedy is work.

A bankrupt attributes his bankruptcy to getting on the “spree ” and being “lambed down ” by the publicans who are amongst his creditors. The total debts are LlO7 10s 6d, of which LBO 10a 6d is due to the publicans.

A fire resulting in the death of two children, one seven years of age, and the other seven months, oconred atMornington on Saturday evening last. At the opening of the inquest ;,the_Coroner said I am instructed by the police report that the house in which theseirchildren were living caught fire and they were unfortunately burned. I do not know whether this is the best time for me to observe that many houses are burned down by explosions of kerosene lamps, and this appears'to have been a case of the sort, so far as I am at present infored. I should like to state that if the wicks fit the burners, and the lamps are always filled before they are lighted, no explosion can possibly take place. When the lamps are lighted and half filled there is an explosive vapour on the top of the kerosene that ignites and burstsj the lamp.” We quote the above remarks in full, and hope they will be well noted and acted up to by our readers.

Messrs Fergus and Blair have obtained the cantiact for the construction of railway line from Alphington to Heidelberg (Victoria) at a cost of 143.000. The line is only two and a-half miles long, but their is a great deal of rock cuttiuggin it.—‘Daily Times.’

Amongst the proposals to be made by Mr Larnaoh, Minister of Mines, during the present session, will be one for the reduction of the miner’s right fee to five shillings, and the reduction of rent for mining leases to ten shillings per acre per’annum for tho first three years, fifteen shillings the next two years, and afterwards twenty shillings. The time for preparing all the county rolls by order in Council has been extended until Ist June, and the time for them to come in force the 16th August. The “ livening Star's” Wellington correspondent says that the lion. Mr Fraser is seriously ill, and that it is unlikely' that he will be able to pursue his Legislative duties this session.

The Otago representative on lha Pharmacy Board (Mrl'R. P. Bagley) has received a telegram from Auckland stating that both the local candidates (Mr R. Banian, of Port Chalmers, and Mr R. M. Hues>ton, of Dunodiu) have successfully passed their examinations as pharmaceutical chemists. Their papers were highly com mended. Mr E. M. Huc-ston is the eldest son of Mr Charles Hueston, of this town and we congratulate him ou the success of his sou.

In giving judgment at New Plymouth recently in a breach of promise case, in which Agnes A. Day was plaintiff and J. L. Norris defendant, Mr Justice Gillies said that in nine cases out of every ten in breach of promise of marriage instead of the disappointed party suffering any loss it was a great blessing for them that the match should be broken off for they escaped being married to a man who was uiiwonhy, and who probably would have given the other party a’miserable life of it. “ Where, as m the present case (he said) the plaintiffswears she was put to an actual expense in preparing, I think {treasonable that she ought to be awarded the expense she has been put to by the breach of agreement by the other party. The law does not allow us to punish the promise-breaker by giving damages against him ; it merely allows to be given to the person aggrieved the amount they have really suffered. I consider that a woman does not suffer any damage except pecuniarily—what she was made to lose pecuniarily. I think it makes an excellent escape from a man who cannot keep his promise. I give judgement for LI01), with costs,” The following amusing story is from a Home paper:—“At a place called Pickwillow a man was driving sonco cows from one farm to another, and one of tho c .wa bolted and climbed a bank against which was a blacksmith’s shop with a sloping roof. At the (time tho cow got on the hank a Conservative was in the shop hirangiiing the blacksmith—a Radical —on what he termel ‘Radical lies and falsa promises.’ * You’ve returned a Radical for the emuty,’ said the Tory, ‘ and where’s your cow and your three acres! ’ * 1 suppose you expect ’em to fall through lira roof.’ At this mament there was a crash, and through the roof fell, at tho feet of lbs Tory disbeliever, a real live cow. He gave a wild yell of terror, and fle l. fearing that the three aces would follow and cru.-h him. This story is absolutely true. As said, it occurred at Pickwiilow, tho cow was owned by Mr Joseph Scruber, ami tho blacksmith’s name is Stanley. Ou the news being wired to Mr Chamberlain, he forwarded it to Mr Gladstone as a birthday present.

A correspondent of an Indian contera porary reports the birth of a child without ears or nose, but with a number of teeth in the upper and lower gums. It has no eyes, hut two horizontal maiks on the forehead, bearing a faint resemnlunca to than organs. The head is covered witli hair. The fingers and toes incline incline inward, and it has a deformed mouth.