ROYALTY’S INDEMNITY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 6 July 1901, Page 2

ROYALTY’S INDEMNITY.

The Local Authorities’ Indemnity Bill, to indemnify local bodies’ expenditure in connection with the visit of the Royalties, consists of one operative clause as follows :—“lf any local authority spend directly or indirectly during the_ financial year ending on the 31st day of March, 1902, out of its funds any sum or sums of money in fitly receiving the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on their visit to New Zealand, for the purposes of this Act it shall be held that legal local authority includes council of any city or borough or county, and any Road Board, Town Board, Harbour Board, and Education Board.” It will save a good many bodies in New Zealand from a marginal note by the AuditorGeneral “ that such and such an item is illegal.”

The Railway Department has arranged that the train to Otira on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the train from Otira on Wednesdays and Saturdays will stop at Moana to allow passengers to obtain refreshments. This will doubtless bo appreciated by the travelling public.

Tenders are invited in our advertising columns for the breaking up and delivering of the s.s. Hesketh stranded on the North Beach. A perusal of advertisement will give full particulars. Messrs Mark Sprot and Co will sell by public auc ion on Monday at Ashton’s Stables at 11-30 a.m, two draught horses ex Himitangi from Foxton. In the House on Thursday (July 4th) Mr Flatman in referring to the Eoyal visit to the South Island, spoke of the Duke and Duchess of “New York.” Mr Hutcheson ever icady considered the slip excusable, seeing that this was “Independence Day,” - the glorious fourth of July.

Efforts are being made to extend the hours of the Hokitika telephone exchange to 10 p,m. and to bo placed in communication with Greymouth. At four o‘clock on Wednesday morning (says the West Coast Times) Mr W. Griffin’s cottage at Blue Spur was burnt to the ground, and all contents totally destroyed. The neighbors have made a collection to recoup Mr Griffin for his loss.

Work at the Dobson bore hole has been again discontinued through the diamonds getting loose in the bore. It will be necessary to repair those before again proceeding. We understand that arrangements are likely to be completed in a day or two for continuing the Coal Creek railway, and opening and developing the mines. The experts report it is believed that three million tons of coal are in sight, or proven without further prospecting being indulged in. The weather has been intensely cold during the past two days. This morning the thremometer registered 38, which is not as low as the intense cold and thick ice to be met with everywhere would indicate. The weather glass registered 29*50, which accounts for the heavy sea rolling home to-day and is evidence of rough weather between here and Australia. The steamer Herald and Wainui were unable to get into port this morning and returned north. The passengers will be brought on by the Haupiri on Monday. Accident Insurance Companies are in keen competition in New Zealand at present. At a committee meeting of the Borough Council yesterday, there were applications from three different companies offering to do business, the prices quoted showing that there is no recognised standard or mutual agreement. It is evident that Government entry into the business has livened matters up considerably. Professor Segar, of Auckland University College, writes to the Star to correct a notion generally prevalent that Juno 21st was the shortest day. In the future for very many years the shortest day will bo June 22nd three years out of four and on June 23rd every fourtn year, beginning with the year 1903. The Minister of Mines telegraphed yesterday to Mos rs Bonar and Bovan, of Hokidka liquidators of the Pioss United Co, extending the time to three months for payment of subsidy to any company undertaking the drainage of the Boss deep levels. This is practically what Mr Dodd asked for by cable from London a few days ago. This proves that the Government are offering every encouragement for the groat work.

Conyngham, the petidoner in the famous Conynham.O’Haran divorce case, is stated to bo touring the North Island selling cash registers, A North Island paper says that the sulpher fumes which impregnated the atmosphere at Rotorua made 1 of work for the mounted troop rs attending at the Royal visitation, by blackening the metal of their trappings.

From a Northern exchange we clip the following, which should be of interest to Borough Councillors and ratepayers:— “The Nelson abattoirs have increased indebtedness of that borough by £7500, and, reckoning interest on capital, repairs, depreciation of property, wages, and inspection,' cost upwards of £I6OO per annum.

The mine manager at Big River reports as follows :—Since last report the winze in No 0 level has been sunk Oft 6 inches, making a total depth of 12|£t. There is a change now coming in the face. The country is underlying very flat but as yet it has not been broken into. The crosscut in this has been extended 5 feet for the week, t dal distance 12 feet. Work here has now been discontinucd.a.nd the men placed in No 1 level.

Mr. W. M‘Kay, the veterinary surgeon who recently arrived from England in charge of some of the pedigree stock purchased in England for the New Zealand Government, is to be stationed at the freezing work at Tomoana vice Mr J. Lyons, who has been transferred to Auckland.

The Taranaki “ Herald ” says that during tho recent extraordinary traffic on the railway, some 30 men were thrown out of work at New Plymottth for two or thee weeks, owing to the ballast engines being required to cope with the passenger traffic. The men are suffering considerable hardships, and an appeal has been made to the Premier and the Minister of Public Works on their behalf, asking that their employment may bo resumed at the earliest possible moment.

“I know of male assistants in Wellington,” said a witness before the Teacher's Salaries Commission, “who are receiving £l6O a year, and paying a third of their salary in house rent.

The Government offers a bonus of £IOCO, to he paid at the rate of 1-5 per \h to the manufacturer of the first 1,200,0001 b of long-keeping condensed milk manufactured in this colony between the Ist day of July, 1901, and tke 30th day of June, 1902, t-übject to certain conditions. The captain of the Patea Rifles has resigned in disgust. The men themselves, he said, were responsible for his resignation. They seemed to think they were doing the captain a favour by attending the parades. He had, he said, done practically the whole work of the company since the corps started, down to carrying ammunition to the range, and taking down the targets, and the men looked upon it as part of his duty.

“ Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” of which two million copies were sold in ten years, comes next to the Bible in circulation.

Captain Dreyfus is writing the history of the remarkable affairs of which he was the ■victim. His book will toll the story of his first trial and condemnation, and will give full details of his experiensos on Devil’s Isle, of his voyage home, and his second trial at Rennes. When a Chinaman consults a doctor he expects the prescribed medicine to take effect at once. Consequently many of the medical practitioners gave their patients for a first dose a red-hot mixture, such as tincture of cayenne, which makes the invalid feel as if a torchlight procession was coursing down his throat, Two stands of Mauser rifles captured from the Boers during the war in South Africa have been placed just inside the entrance doors of Parliament Blouse, Wellington. Heavy falls of snow have taken place in different parts of the colony. The heaviest fall tor years occurred at Wanganui yesterday. In Otago the fall has been general throughout, and coming nearer home snow fell at Eeefton amt last night fully two inches was spread over that town.

Judge Martin, who ran away with another man’s wife, and left his own in Christchurch, is now practising in Auckland. It sedms, therefore, that the “honour” of the profession consists in being able to pay the annual fees—only that and nothing more. Does Martin carry round the bag on Sundays.—Bulletin.

A returned trooper tolls a contemporary that most of the alleged war relics are bought from filthy-loiking Kaffir women, who hawk them round in waggon-loads. Norwegian legislators propose that girls who do not know how to Unit, sew, wash, and cook, shall bo refused permission to marry. Daughters of wealthy men are not to be excepted.

Wc have excellent authority for saying (says the Dunedin Star) that the Premier has called the attention of the Imperial Government to the absence of anj r recognition of the services of Major Madocks at New Zealand Hill and elsewhere in South Africa, and it is confidently anticipated that Mr Seddon’s commmunication will induce the authorities of the War Office to consider the claims of that officer. We shall not be surprised to hear ere long that the gallant Major has been created C.B.

A Waikato trooper, writing from South Africa, says :-Here on the veldt there are wretched insects and reptiles of every conceivable shape and form. One can scarcely move without walking over a nest of huge ants or treading on lizards, toads, scorpions, snakes, etc. The snakes particularly are very plentiful, and are a great source of annoyance. I have killed as many as nine in one day, and only two out of that number were alike. The scorpions are very dangerous, and many a man has lost his life through |a bite from one. I shall not forget in a hurry the agony I suffered from a scorpion bite. Having secured the services of a lady who has gained her experience in some of the best houses iu Melbourne, Messrs M‘Kay and Son have much pleasure in drawing attention <o their millinery department, which is now one of the most complete in Greymouth. Wo guarantee all orders entrusted to this department will give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Undercloths and Corsets just to hand. — Advt. You can make a large saving by purchasing your drapery from T. W. Tymons and Co., and judge before buying elsewhere.—Advt.

Notice to Ladies. —A small shipment of up-to-date ladies’ fawn jackets, sac back mackintoshes, and black straw sailor hats has just been opened at T. W. Tymous and Co. inspection invited. -Adyt.

WADE’S TEETHING POWDERS for babies are soothing, reduce fever and prevent blotches. Price 1/T. W. Tymons and Co., having disposed of their business, respectfully ask that the accounts owing to them be settled during this month. — Advt. T. W. Tymons and Co. arc now offering great bargains in blankets, carpets, curtains, etc. — Advt.

WADE’S WORM FIGS are more effective and not unpleasant; most children thrive after taking them. Price 1/-