PICKINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 335, 29 February 1884, Page 5

PICKINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

« . The Tasmaniana have again suffered defeat at the hands of the Canterbury cricketers, ■who won ihe return ma'i'i by six runs. A tender has been accepted at Auckland for a now Baptist tabernacle in brick, to cost L 8239. Mr Thomas Spurgeon is pastor • there, It is stated that Duke of Edinburgh will • be placed on active service at the present juncture in Egypt. The death is announced of Mr John Hullab, the well-known teacher of singing and originator of the system bearing bis name. From the Edncational Gazette columns of the ' N.Z. Mail,' we learn that there is eveiy reason to believe that the pernicious system of cumulative voting in connection with, the election of School Committees will bo removed at the next meeting of Parliament. This abominable system has been fairly commented upon, and scathirjgly condemned by rhe Press throughout the country. So far as wo I-now, nor. a single voice has been raised or argument urged in its favor, and we arc . convinced that no sane person could desire desire the . continuance of such an abominable system unless a handful of cantankerous individuals who pine for even the empty honor of Bitting upon a school committee, but would have no show of ever attaining such a position were it not for the method of cumulative voting, A romance in real life was completed at Minerville, Pa., on January 8 by a wedding in Court. A week ago Susie Bradley was brutally assaulted and shot by her lover, Dennis Pike. The young people wanted to marry. The girl's parents objected, and so, hoodwink them, she pretended to jilt Pike for another man. The lover,not understanding the girl's scheme, became jealous, and, in a fit of ungovernable rage, struck and shot her. He was arrested and held to await trial The girl disappeared yesterday, and her friends were alarmed. To-day she reappeared at the prison. She had been. to. see a lawyer, , and, having learned that a wife cannot be compelled to testify against her husband, she had determined to marry her jealous lover ■ forthwith. Young Pike consented gladly, but the Warden declined to permit the ceremony. The girl then applied to the court, which was in session, and by order of the Judge, Pike was brought into Court, where, alter receiving a lecture, the twain were made one. The Court was in doubt whether to allow the wedding, but, upon consultation with another Judge and several leading lawyers, decided to do so and not press the indictment against Pike. The Sacramento school teachers iliave adopted the plan of , having scholars bring copies of the daily ■ newspapers and: questioning them about the location of places given jn the telegraphic items and other news. It is stated that in one laTge district of New South Wales the lessees of runs are :paying at the rate of Is 9d per scalp for each rabbit destroyed. In the infested districts at least 1000 men are employed, each at 25s per week wages, \vi' h rations. Over 40 inspectors arc supervising the work of destruction. That Colony is expending at the-rate of LSO,OOO per annum. The State vote in. Victoria for a similar purpose is LI 0,900, and that sum is supposed to cover departmental expenses as well as the outlay on Crown' binds. So thickly infested with rabbits are some districts of Victoria that recently Mr Chirnsido, the owner of the Wernbee Park Estate, which is distant from Melbourne about 20 miles, offered LIOOO psr annum, to any person who would keep them down. This was equal to an offer of 2£d per acre. • Presbyterians will be glad to learn that the Rev. Mr Uame,ron, M.A., who has just returned from Edinburgh, has been appointed to ti;ke charge at Lumsden. He will commence his duties on Sabbath next, 2nd Ma eh. The quiet of the town of Waipukurau, Mawk-'s Bay, was interrupted a few evenings ago. A vury amorous gentleman has of ' Ltu. iriqueutly annoyed ladies ..after nightf.ill by accosting ihein in the streets and addre.iMng veiy rude remarks to any that were wit!iout :i male protector. ~ One evening last w ek he insulted a married lady ievident who hassome burly sous. One of these, v qn. . "hearing of the circumstance, dressed himself in feni ile clothes, and went out for a walk, contriving to meet-the amorous gent before alluded to in a quiet, The usual salutation wus i\c-~'ivv;d from him, but before he could realise what was the matter, a dozen confederates pounced on him, stripped him, and in a few minutes, as the saying goes, ;< his mother would not have known him." He was plastered with tar from head to foot, rolled iv the dirt, and then told to clear put . oE the township within twelve hours, which' he promised to do. His cries for mercy were to be he:ird all over the.township.