The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1885.

Evening Star, Issue 6725, 6 October 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1885.

Lord Loftus returns to England in November. Governor and Lady Broome visit Melbourne next month. To West Australia belongs the credit of being the first Colony to adopt the Federal Enabling Act. At the inquest on Alexander M'Donald, who died suddenly at Oamaru on Sunday, it was proved that he had been suffering for some time past from severe inflammation of the lungs. He was a native of Scotland, and has relatives residing at Creswick (Victoria). ..... The Industrial Exhibition winch is being held at St. Paul's school-room -was largely attended last evening. A country dance was performed by a number of children in pretty costumes, and a dramatic representation afterwards took place.. To-night there will be a musical performance and a magic lantern entertainment. The Oamaru Benevolont Institution lose the services of Mr Familton as treasurer, because he supplies the Institution. Another member has resigned for the same reason. Dr Macgregor has given notice to bring under the notice of the Colonial Secretary the effect of this limitation of the choice, of suitable members as being "perilous to the interests of the community in the case of the destitute poor." The cable has been playing high jinks lately, with the result that the messages often reach us in a ludicrously mutilated form. Last week Mr Gladstone and Mr Chamberlain got hopelessly mixed up, but the 'Argus's' message on the same date reads as follows:—" The attitude of Mr Chamberlain, who has announced that he will not join any Liberal Administration that refuses to adopt his political proframme, is severely condemned by the 'ress. Mr Gladstone is the only Liberal politician of note who is willing to unite with Mr Chamberlain." The following interesting item is from the ' Amis': —" An enterprise which has been often essayed in Melbourne, but never yet successfully carried out, has at last been definitely undertaken by Messrs Rignold and Allison, of Her Majesty's Opera House, who have engaged the great English tenor singer Sims Reeves for a tour through the Australasian colonies and New Zealand. Mr Sims Reeves will sing during his stay here in musical plays, in concerts, and in oratorio. He will return to England by way of America. He is expected to arrive here by the end of February or the beginning of March next." A decision of some importance was given by Judge. Ward at the last sitting in Bankruptcy in Invercargill in regard to preferential claims for wages in cases where contracts are for labor only. In the case in question the claimant was a creditor for LlO5, part of which was balance of a labor contract and part for day wages, and he claimed that the labor contract came under the head of piece-work, His Honor ruled that in this case the claimant could rank as a secured creditor for the amount of his own daily wages, but not for the amount of the contract. What was intended by sub-section 3 of clause 137 was clearly to secure persons ■ actually in the emptattment of the bankrupt from being exclu'ciecl from ranking as pre- ' ferential creditors merely by reason of their 1 having accepted piece-work while in such employment. In such a case as this the claimant might make a certain profit out of the labor of those he employed to do the work, and such profit could not be regarded as a preferential claim. Au esteemed correspondent supplies us with the following account of an incident in the career of the late 0010061 Reader : " Two troops of the 14th Light Dragoons formed part of the flying column under Sir Walter Gilbert in pursuit of 30,000 Afghan Horse, from near Rawul-Pradi to the Kyber Pass, Lieutenant Reader, adjutant of the 14th, being one of the. officers. When the flying column reached Attock, on the banks of the Indus, the Afghans had got across their bridge of boats and sent them adrift. It was under the able supervision of Lieutenant Reader that the bridge was put in order, so that the flying column could pass. But when they got to Peshawur the Afghans were entering the Kyber Pass, and further pursuit ceased, as orders to that effect were issued. Subsequently the 14th'Dragoons were stationed at Annercullce, under the fort of Lahore, while the 98th Foot had charge (in the fort) of all the State prisoners who were prominent during the Pnnjaub campaign —the Dervan Moolraj and Nairn-Siug, his general, of Mooltan— Clutter and Shere Sing (father and son) as well as the protection of Dunlep Sing (then a boy) It was then, while still adjutant of the 14th Dragoons, that Lieutenant Reader hdd really his hardest and most arduous work to perform, as many attempts were made by the Sikh population of Lahore to rescue the prisoners.''

Zephania Aldrons, a railway gviard who 1 was, run over by a railway truck at Waimate last ;week, died in the Timaru hospital yesterday. James Hall, a fireman belonging to the steamer "Waratea, was drowned yesterday at Westport, having fallen into the river while endeavoring to reach his vessel. A fire broke out yesterday morning at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Auckland, but was got under by the police without much damage being done. The premises, which were unoccupied, the license having been withdrawn, were insured for LI ,500. The Rev. J. E. Kelly, who has just arrived I from England and is visiting the colonies in ! search of health, delivered a lecture on " A Trip to New York," on Monday night, in. connection with the Congregational Church at Ravensbourno. The Rev. 11. Young occupied the chair. The lecture was an entertaining and instructive one. The Blue Ribbon Society at Oamaru last night elected a new committee of members who had supported Mr Moore in the late controversy, the Rev. A. B. Todd heading the poll. Mr Moore then resigned the presidency. The 'Mail' states that a criminal action for libel will be laid against the members of the old Committee unless they puMicly apologise to the Messrs Moore. A remarkable letter has been contributed to the London ' Times' by Mr Clifford Lloyd, who, a couple years ago was the Mte noir of the Rationalists. He proposes the abolition of Dublin Castle, the transference of its ceremonial duties to some member of the Royal Family, and its administrative functions to the Home Secretary. Another point in Mr Lloyd's programme relates to elective county boards, with the administration of liberally-construed local affairs.

At a meeting of the Irish National League at Dublin, on August 11, tke chairman (Mr J. J. Clancy, M.A.) announced, amid great applause, the receipt of LI,OOO from " their Australian brethren." Mr W. Redmond, M.P., said that there was growing up in Australia, as there was in the United States of America, an Irish nation of strong men, good men, rich men, and educated men, who loved Ireland with all the veins of their hearts, and who would make any sacrifice for Ireland, either of their blood or through their pockets. The meeting adopted a resolution placing on record the expression of its w;urmest thanks for the munificent contribution of LI ,000 from the Irishmen of Australasia towards the Parliamentary Expense Fnnd. The following paragraph recently appeared in a Wellington paper ; —" At a late examination of teachers in Hawke's Bay, the following were amongst the posers put: "What is the feminine of bullock?" "Form a diminutive from deer." "What are the 'boundaries of Afghanistan ?" A great m-my people wo aid very much like to know the correct answers to these questions, especially the latter one, which of eourse weald "end. the dispute between England and Russia on the subject. Shortly afterwards the foliowang reply from a correspondent was published : What is the female of a bullock? —A Bpayed heifer. Mention a diminmtive of deer ? —A little dear. Describe the 'ooundt'.ries of Afghanistan ?—On the north by General Korasroff and Colonel Alikanoff. On the east "by the Himalayas. On the west by Persia, On the south by Scinde. The inquest on the death of Georgina Butler v/as continued at South Dunedin yesterday evening after we went to press, and an adjournment was made until tomorrow afternoon. The medical evidence showed that a severe blow had been dealt to the deceased on the head, causing a fracture of the base of the akull from one side of the head to the other, and that death must have speedily resulted. It would appear as if the instrument used by; the woman's assailant was an ordinary dustang-brush, though it is surprising that so light a weapon could have ;produr.ed such a complete fracture- with the ;Jrfperfii3ial wounds which were described. Bowevar, a dusting-brush which was found in tHe house bore the appearance of having been' recently washed, and about the bed were found bristles corresponding with those incite .brush. The deceased's daughter, Mrs Bromtf* was cautioned before giving her evident- but she made her. statement calmly and deliberately to the effect that the house wta* locked up when she went to bed, and tin* she did not know of her mother's d&ttA'antil the morning.

Mr Steaci (wlSfcor of the 'Pall Mall Gazette') and Vs* Branrweli Booth (of the Salvation Army) iave been committed for trial for the abdu'tftion of Eliza Armstrong, in connection the recent scandalous disclosures made the 'Pali Mall Gazette.' The girl, who was 1 a little over thirteen years old, was, it is; alleged* decoyed away from her home on the eve of tie last Derby day. Her mother, reading in the ' Pall Mall Gazette' the story of a girl called " Lily," who was des sribed as having been atrociously treated, became convinced that this was her missing ('laughter. She made inquiries into the matter, and discovered that General Booth, of .the Salvation Army, knew of the child's whereabouts. She had an interview with this oerson, who, however, refused to give up Ihe girl, though he offered her mother what he'considered would be a fair wage for her. General Booth also gave Mrs Armstamg her d vughter's address, which was in France. J Being unable to recover the child, she told her story at the Marylebone Police Court, the result being the prosecution of Mr Stead and Mr Bramweli Booth, who are suppose**! to have taken the child away in order to make up a sensational story* about her. In. committing the defendants, the Magistrate said that the motives which had actr«ied the accused were immaterial to the issue*. Highland Company parade to-morrow at 2.15. Dunedin Presbytery meet to-morrow morning. South DunetEa! Kifles muster to-morrow at 2.15 p.m. The concert at Sawyers Bay on Friday night realised Lls. "Welcome-All Total Abstinence Society meet to-morrow evening. Professor Oscar David's gymnastic exhibition on Friday. Particulars in advertisement. Taieri Agricultural Society's fourth annual horse parade on the 10th. Entries on Friday. Marshal Booth speaks this evening at the Salvation Army Barracks. Subject: The Social Evil." St. Paul's Industrial Exhibition closes this evening, and not Thursday, as was stated in. last night's issue. The Cavalry parade will take place at 2.30 p.m. on "Wednesday, and not at 10 a.m., as previously called. . Officers and brethren of the various Masonic i lodges are requested to meet at Freemasons Hall, Moray place, to-morrow evening, to attend the installation of the W.M. of Lodge Otago, E.C. , „ . The custom introduced a few years ago ot presenting Christmas cards to those by whom onewishes to be remembered, has led to a great demand for those elegant souvenirs, and a consequent general improvement in their design and execution. A series has. been brought out ! by Messrs Burton Brothers, which are striking I alike for the good taste displayed in the selection of the subjects, and the beauty and appropriateness of the scenes as illustrating the most striking features of New Zealand as well as Maori customs, and the elegance of the decorations and printing. It is impossible for imagination to conceive more lovely pictures than the Manawatu Gorge, Milford Sound, and the Kakahi Fall; while those resident in cities may transmit faithful and clearly-defined views of where they live to friends at Home. Messrs Burton Brothers have the advantage of selecting the most striking pictures of scenery from their repertoire of photos, and they have skilfully availed themselves of it. Each card has an appropriate motto. -