Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1901.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 31 May 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1901.

A case of diptheria is reported at Greenstone. Inspector Fetch of the Grey Education Board arrived per Wainui this morning on the annual inspection. Trooper Ncwcombo who went to the front along with the other Greymouth boys returned to town per Wainui this' morning.

The adjourned meeting of the Greymouth Catholic Debating Society will take place this evening at usual place and time.

To-morrow afternoon Messrs Easson and Co. will sell by auction a quantity of groceries, produce, drapery and sundries to clear up consignments.

Messrs G, W. Moss and Co. will sell by public auction to-morrow at Ashton’s stables at 230 p m, six upstanding draft horses from the Canterbury district. Government have granted to Volunteer Corps the sum of £3 in each Volunteer district for the purpose of providing canvas targets to enable them to carry out the musketery course required by regulations to earn capitation. Sergt-Major Barrett has received information from the Nelson office that troops belonging to the Nelson District proceeding to Wellington, on the occasion of the Royal visil, will probably leave Greymouth on the 15th June, and return from Wellington on or about the 21st. H. C. Harley and Co. will sell on the wharf to-morrow at 11 a.m., a quantity of chaff, oats, and onions ex “ Clyde.” The same firm will also sell at their rooms at 2.30 to-morrow—lG ladies’ up-to-date mackintoshes, a tip top line for winter use, in addition to furniture, produce, cycles etc. The Trinity Society’s debate on the Nationalisation of Industries was postponed until next week. Last evening was devoted to impromptu speeches. “The extension of the railway to Ross,” “Speedy and more frequent communication with the Australian Colonies,” and the “State control of Coal Mines” were amongst the subjects debated and some capital speeches were made and altogether a very pleasant and profitable evening spent.

In another column the Union Steam Shipping Company are advertising cheap fares to Wellington in connection with the Royal visit, the charges being £3 saloon and £2 steerage return. Intendpassengcrs are requested to forward their names as quickly as possible to the branch office so that the Company can form an approximate idea of the accommodation required. To-night a full rehearsal of Fairies, Peasants, and Courtiers, will take place at 7 sharp at the schoolroom. An urgent wire has been sent to Captain Edwin to ensure a fine evening. Carriages or boats arc requested to bo in attendance about 9 p m to take the little ones home. The management of Cinderella has do cidcd to engage the new wing of the Hospital for those suffering from influenza. Tenders are being called for certain cures for sore throats. Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. His Worship the Mayor has received the following reply from the Hon. the Minister for Railways:—“A Mathcson Esq., Mayor, Grcymouth—l am in receipt of resolution passed by public meeting at Grcymouth last night, for which I thank you. The subject matter contained therein will receive my most careful consideration.—J. G. Waed. The resolutions referred to, arc, urging the construction of the railway line from Hokitika to Boss, f At the 8. M. Court, Brunner, yesterday, before Messrs Parkinson and Ward J. P’s, tho following civil cases were dealt with. Armstrong Bros. v. Larkin, claim for £5 14s 2d ; judgement by default with costs 265. Same v. Callanan, claim for £1; judgement by default with costs bs.

To-morrow on Victoria Park the Grey Seconds will play the llcefton Firsts, when a good game is expected. It is three years since our Eeofton friends have contested for Rugby Union honors, wo are pleased to see them once more assisting our West Coast Union. The game will start punctual at 1.45 p.m., to allow the Recl'ton team to return home in the 4 o’clock train.

A hotelkeeper told the Wellington Conciliation Board that ho would be prepared to pay £SOO a year to any one who would insure him against all losses in his establishment by breakage, theft, or disappearance.

The following telegram has been received by the Secretary of the Education Board, Grcymouth : —“ The Premier desires me to ascertain the number of all ranks of Cadets in connection with schools in your district, distingnishing those in uniform and those not, with a view to their proceeding to Christchurch. Minimum height four feet six inches, excepting boys who are officers or non-commis-sioned officers. The information is required immediately so as to arrange for and rationing. These will be found by Government.—L. W. Lovauay, (Captain, Organising Officer. ” The following reply was sent — 1 66 Cadets Grey District High School, all four feet six inches. ”

A young man created some sensation at the Central Police Station at Wellington, last night by strolling in and calmly announced that ho had murdered his father. Ho told a long circumstantial story of alleged crime, and was detained while the detectives hurried off to the scene. It was found, however, that the man’s intellect was deranged, and that there was no truth in his statements. The police kept him in custody as a lunatic.

The sum required for the Masterton town clock is now practically subscribed, and a clock valued at £6OO is to be placed in the Post Office Tower.

The number of cases of typhoid fever among the troops in South Africa from the beginning of the war to December last has been 19,101, of which 4,233 proved fatal. The number of men invalided who have arrived in England has been 10,975. The block of land (90 acres) purchased by the Government at Waiwetu, near the Ilutt district, for the workmen’s homes, is to be thrown open after next month. The area of the sections will be from half-an-acrc to four and a-half acres. The rentals will probably be from £6 10s per annum for an acre section, to £23 for a section of four acres and a-half.

A contemporary looking into the population statistics, was surprised to find that in the census of 1896 more than half the people in New Zealand were adults, the proportion being 51 per cent. In no country hrEurope except France is the proportion anything like as much. Perhaps the explanation is that the average age here is higher. People live longer, and therefore the adults accumulate.

At Pan, last January an Irish soldier, Private J. Barry (Royal Irish) lost his life under circumstances which would ha\e earned him the V.O. had he lived. Seeing all his comrades in charge of a Maxim killed or wounded ho seized a pick and smashed up the breech of the gun, paying no heed to the threats of the enemy, Robbed of their spoil, the enemy shot him down. Mr Brodrick, the Secretary for War, has informed his widow that she would be eligible for a pension of 5s a week, and forwarded a gift of £5 to meet any immediate call. Mrs Barry wrote back that it was a consolation to feel that her husband died a true soldier, and, *■ though deeply attached to his wife and home, forgot them for bis country.”

Captain Irvine, of the s.s. Nantilus, rescued a lad named Roberts from death by drowning in the Karamea river last Thursday (says the "Westport Times). The boy Jell from the -wharf into the stream, and was in grave danger, when Captain Irvine jumped into the water, dived, rescued the boy and brought him ashore. Wo understand this is the fourth life Captain Irvine has been instrumentai in saving. The case is well worthy the attention of the Humane Society

One mortgage, at the rate of 40 per cent, for £4O, was executed in the colony last year, in the Canterbury district. The Falkland Islands have 7500 square miles and only 1092 people. There are 800,000 sheep on the islands. There are 43 companies of Royal Engineers. A company on war footing numbers 194 men, 60 horses, 16 officers.

It is reported that 63 glaciers out of the 73 known in Switzerland are retreating ; only one is advancing. The Shah of Persia smokes a pipe the bowl of which holds half a pound of tobacco.

The biggest lake which has vanished in the shortest time is Lob Hor, in Central Asia. Forty years ago it was the size of all Lincolnshire,

In a speech at Otaki, at the opening of a new bridge, the Premier announced that a Local Government' Bill is to be introduced next session. The local bodies, Mr Seddou added, were too numerous, and did not have enough money at their disposal; and there ought to be a decrease of the number and an increase of their powers. Wlicn the provinces were abolished, a machine was taken away which had not been replaced. While speaking in these terms, Mr Seddou spoke in great praise of the manner in which the local bodies had done their work. He gave it as his belief that in no part of the British Empire was such excellent work done by local bodies as in New Zealand.

An effort is being made to check the march of the quarryruan at New Plymouth, whore a public meeting decided to request the Harbor Board not to allow any more metal to be removed from the Paritutu Mount. One speaker said that “Paritutu was the most striking landmark on the "West Coast of the North Island. From its summit the Maoris had seen Tasman on his voj r agc along the coast in* the 17th century, and Captain Cook in the 18th. The first settlers landed at its base; their descendants had grown up within its view. As one of these descendants he could not find words strong enough to express his abhorrence of any attempt that might he made to remove an ohjechof such beauty and interest.”

If the Governor does not mend his ways he will speedily be in danger of gaining a very unenviable nick-name (Lord Bansurly)—Blenheim Express. Two men arrested by the Adelaide police were found to have £IOOO in bonds hidden in their stockings.

Captain Kerr, form rly of tho Union Steam Ship Company, has been appointed deep sea pilot at Glasgow. Tho Christchurch Press sayslt is estimated that owing to tao inaccurate early surveys in this province that on resurvey it is usually found that an ov. nor has an excess of two acres in the hundred acres. It is remarked by a London paper (hat “ with increased facilities for travelling New Zealand is yearly attracting more visitors. ”

Something approaching a timber famine is being expected in Canterbury. A recent visitor informs a contemporary that throughout a number of farming districts he recently visited, he noticed nearly all tho houses were built on tho small side, on account af tho dearness of timber, while fencing posts cost as much as £5 per hundred.

It is said to .bo a perfectly true bill. An irascrible tradesman, well-known in Wellington, bad a wordy warfare with an angry Chow the other day over an account which bo swore had been settled. He concluded by calling the pig-tailed merchant all the adjectives ho could think of. At this fiery peroration, the Celestial blurted out, “Whafor you call me liar and other bad tings ; you too big fool; mo no like ayou—a bloomin’ shay pee (J.P.). 0 bah! things arc coming to a fine pass, truly, when even the Heathen Chinee scoffs at the Jay Pee, Free Lance,

The Cape Times of February 27th says:—The war in South Africa has demonstrated to the world the very important support—moral and material — the colonies are capable of rendering in defence of the Empire. Of all the colonies who have sent men to the fighting line, New Zealand in proportion to the population, holds pride of the place. For every 10,000 of her residents she has sent us 27 of her best men; Australia has sent 17 in every 10,000, and Canada 5, England in yeomen and volunteers 4. For the past ten years the growth of the population of Sydney has been greater than that of the other capital cities on the continent put together. The leasing of the Sydney Exhibition Building for four months from Ist June as a shelter for the homeless, has been officially approved of. The State Cabinet recently decided to call for tenders for 100,000 tons of steel rails, to bo manufactured in Hew South Wales. The Victorian Customs revenue for the last month was £211,552 net, exceeding the departmental estimate by £17,002. The total length of pipes distributed in connection with the Coolgardie water supply scheme amounts to 220 miles. In the pockets of a seaman, arrested for drunkeness in Castleroagh street, Sydney, lately, the sum of £ll6 11s 2d was found.

In the Rewa District, Fiji, a coolie, actuated by jealousy, murdered two women. Ho cut off his wife’s head with one sweep of his knife. The gold yield for New South Wales for April was 27,0170z5, valued at £89,856 against 14,8240 z for the previous month.

An extraordinary demand prevails in New South Wales for store cattle, one firm alone having orders to purchase 20,000 head. The Eev. A. J. Small, who has been 22 years in Fiji, told a Sydney interviewer that there has always been a section, headed by Mr Humphrey Berkeley, a brother of the Chief Justice, who have agitated for Federation, but a large section stand aloof. They are not in favour of federation with New Zealand.

' Dr Max Huber, a Swiss traveller, who recently visited Adelaide, has written to the Minister for Education as follows : “ My visits to your State schools were of the greatest interest to me, _ for your system of education and ours in Switzerland are so essentially different. I think South >Australia might be proud of the work done by her teachers and pupils. I may also say that I never saw before such cheerful aud well-looking children.” The sum appropriated by the. Victorian Parliament for the payment of old-age pensions (£75,000) has been more that exhausted; in fact, up to date £15,000 in excess of the original amount has been either paid or made available. However the payment of pensions will continue until Parliament can deal with the matter, arrangements haveng been made by the State Treasurer to ad ranee sufficient for that purpose.

Extensive orders for sleepers for New Zealand are held in the Ourimbah district (N.S.W.), but the prospect of fulfilling them during the winter is considered poor, owing to the soft nature of the land during wet seasons.

During last year the total number of deaths in New South Wales was 15,118, and the largest number from any one camplaint was 1077 (from consumption).

The Western Australian Government has adopted a recommendation to erect a lino of rabbit-proof fence 400 miles in length at a coat of from £25,000 to £30,000.

Favourable reports are received from Fiji. The housing of natives is receiving particular attention, and a comprehensive scheme of fresh water supply for the villages and districts having a beneficial effect.

Mr Ji. G, Braddon, who was well known in the Buller district as representative of the General Exploration Compgny, has been appointed by an English Company to the charge of their extensive alluvial gold workings in British Guiana, South America. Ho left Sydney by the Orizaba on the 11th May, for London. It is not generally known, points out the Child’s Guardian, that every statue upon the Statue Book for the protection of the children subjects of the Crown, has been passed during the reign of Queen Victoria. They include protection to children in factories, in mines, in brickfields, in chimneys, on canals, and in agricultural gangs ; children of paupers, apprentices on the high seas, street beggars, and hawkers, child acrobats, children in pantomines, and children in dangerous performances, criminal and semi-criminal children, children illfcreated and starved in the houses of the drunkard and of the tryannical parent. The Rev. L. M. Isitt, who is now engaged on a temperance crusade in England, recently had a lively meeting at Lincoln. Having been called a coward for making statements reflecting on the police and watch committee of the town, Mr Isitt engaged the Corn Exchange and appeared to give his justifications. The place was packed, the reserved scats being stormed by the crowd. Mr Isitt was greeted with jeers. Having strong lungs he managed to make himself heard, but at times he was interrupted with the chorus of “Boor, beer, glorious beer," the National Anthem or “The Soldiers of the Queen." Naturally (says a contemporary) ho got angry, called his interrupters cads, and challenged those yelping at the end of the hall to come and yelp on the platform, A half-tipsy man was knocked down by a woman amidst great laughter. In the end a resolution that Mr Isitt had perfectly justified his statements was carried by a hugo majority. Having secured the services of a lady who has gained her experience in some of the best houses in Melbourne, Messrs McKay and Son have much pleasure in drawing attention to their millinery department, which is now one of the most complete in Greymouth. We guarantee all orders entrusted to this department to give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Underclothing and Corsets, just to hand. — Advt.