Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12482, 13 October 1902, Page 4

The City Corporation purchased a few days ago a. large section opposite tlio Duncdin Technical School containing about a quarter of an acre. The price was £2500, a,nd it so pretty generally admitted that the city has made an unusually good bargain. The land has been bought up for the future, and ii; is contemplated to construct a municipal swimming bath and a municipal gymnasium thereon when a favourable opportunity occurs. The buildings at present on. the land bring- in a rental of £50 per annum. Professor Park has not yet completed his investigations in regard to the 6upposod leak from the reservoir, and up to the present time it is not clear whether the water is flowing from the reservoir itself or from tho by-wash. Professor Park naturally does hofc care to speak on the matter till he reports to the council, but is convinced there is 110 immediate danger. One of our reporters visited the locality yesterday and found that excavations had.been made with a view to .following up the leak, but further trenching will be required to set doubts at rest one way or the other. There are many who visit the reservoir who may be inclined to think that there is more danger to be apprehended' from th© quality of the water than from the supposed 1 leak in the embankment. The accumulations of thick, slimy matter visible on tho stones below the edge of the water are anything but inviting, and the purity of the water is not likely to he improved by the remains of picknickers 1 lunches and other refuse which are to be seen floating about on the surface. It might also bo mentioned l that the reservoir seems to be a favourite resort of the small boy, who is infinitely more interested in extracting crayfish from amongst the stones by means of a long stick than in attending Sunday school.

His Honoij-Mr Justice Williams left by the north express on Saturday for Wellington, where he will be engaged for about a month at the sittings of the Court of Appeal.

Two of the Hospital patients, named Ellen Hessian and William Baker, died in the institution during the past week. The returns are as follow: —Patients remaining from the previous week, 107; admitted during the past week, 23; and discharged, 19. The number in t>lie Hospital at the end of the week was 109.

The following members of the Otago Educational institute have been, elected as delegates to the annual mooting of the New Zealand Educational Institute, to be held at Napier early in January next. The names are given alphabetically:—Messrs W. E. Bastings, O. D. FJamank, Miss Hoop or, Messrs J. Jeffery, G. W. C. Macdonald, C. G. Smeaton.

Advices have been received that the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Waimate, which left London on the 4th inst., has on board a large quantity of rails and other plant for the city tramways. The Waimate is due on November 23.

The final report of the exeoutive of the late Torrey-Alexander mission was presented to the. General Committee on Friday afternoon last, who met in the board room of the Bible Depot. The President of tlie Council of Churches, the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, presided. The balance sheet, duly - audited, was read by the lion, treasurer (Mr ' E. Rosevear) and adopted. Heartiest thanks were expressed for the loyal services of the devoted bands of workers, ushers, choir, and' others who had rendered signal service generously placing themselves at. the disposal of the organisers night after night. In a. special minute tho committee recorded its devout gratitude to Almighty God for the unprecedented success that had attended the very efficient services rendered by Dr Torrey and Mr C. Alexander in the attempt-' to stir in the heart of the community a sense of God and Hii; claims; and while rejoicing in the splendid immediate results the committee looked very hopefully towards the indirect and remote results' of the mission, believing that in the intensification of the spiritual life of believers the churches have been heartened and sent forward with quickened fervour and deepened oonviotion. ■; At King Street Congregational Church yesterday morning an in memoriam service was held. News had been received by cable of the death of Mr James Munn, who recently left here on a trip to the Home Country. Mr Munn was for some time prior to 'his departure foreman, in the bra/ssmoulding department at Messrs A. and T. Burt's, and the front pews of the church were occupied by a large number of his late fellow employees, who took this opportunity of •expressing tlieir esteem for their late foreman and their sympathy with the bereaved family. Mr Munn's death was very sudden, and the cause is aa yet only :v matter of conjecture, as lie was in most respects (a healthy man. The Rev. G. Heighway paid a touching tribute to th« straightforwardness of Mr Munn's life, concluding with an earnest appeal to others to serve the same Master as had the deceased.

Dr B. E. de Lautour leotured to an audience of men at the Salvation Army Barracks yesterday afternoon, his subject being " Sunken Rocks." There were about 500 present, and the address, which was replete with good advice to young men, was listened to with keen attention. Adjutant Burton, presided, and Torrey-Alexander hymns were rendered by a male choir. At the conclusion of the ad-tkess a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Dr de Lautour, and it Was suggested that the lecture should bo circulated in pamphlet form.

At the Auckland Police Court James Henry Sargent and Arthur Ruddle, boys aged 15, appeared to answer over a dozen charges of incendiarism and breaking and entering. The statements made by the boys when arrested were that they set fire to various buildings, giving as their reason for doing so that they wanted to see the brigade turn out. When charged, the boys said they had nothing to say. Asked if they wished to plead guilty or not guilty, each of the boys pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was refused. Detective Grace said that while the boys were confined in. the female side of the police cells they tried to borrow a match from one of the female prisoners to set fire to a padded cell.

When Yellow-stone Park was set apart by the United States Government, regulations were made not only for the protection of its natural scenery,but also of its native inhabitants —the buffalo, elk, antelope, deer, and bears of all kinds —grizzly, brown, oinnamon, and black. So the Yellowstone National Park is probably the largest game preserve in the world. It contains 3500 square miles—about 2,250,000 acres. Unlike aJI other game preserves (writes Captain Crosby in the Vegetarian Messonger) there is no lord of the manor, who i» privileged to g'o in and slaughter. Tho title of this noble park is vested in the people oi the United States, and they, by Congressional enactment, have decreed that this domain shall be a place of refuge for all the harmless creatures of the forest. Here, in the heart of the continent, amid its wi.dest and grandest scenery, is reservation into which no hunter, trapper, or so-called sportsman, is allowed to enter. The park is most thoroughly guarded by a company or two of United States soldiers. To molest the animals i 3 » serious offenco, and punishment is prompt and severe. Tho fish in the streams are as yet only pHiiiallj protected. Tourists are allowed to fish with hook and line for their own use. riiey may not use seines or traps, or catch fish to sell. As tho season is shos-t, scarcely three months, a ad the tourists generally in a hurry, not vary many iish arc caught.

Inspeotor J. C. Miller, of the Stock Department, who has been stationed at Oamaru for nearly 10 years, lias received notice of his transference to Christchureh. Inspector Ironsides, from the south, takes Inspector Miller's place. Mr and Mrs Miller have made a host of friends in Oamaru, and they Jeave tiro town for Ohristchuvoh with the test of wishes for their future. We may mention (says the North Otago Timee) that Tinder Inspector Miller's supervision the rabbit pest in this district has been considerably diminished, and this has boon accomplished without any undue harassment of the landowners.

It lias been a marked feature of the Torrey-Alexand-er continuation mission conducted by the Rev. James Lyall in the Garrison Hall that the attofulanoes at the several meetings, as also the interest, have been daily increasing. Tho.ip who have not availed themselves as yet of the privilege of hearing the evangelist should endeavour to do so before the mission olosos. The meetings are all held in the Garrison Hall excepting the midday prayer-meetings, which are held in tlio Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Moray place. There will bo no Bible-read-ing to-day, but there will bp the midday prayer-meeting as usual at 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. and the evangelistic meeting at 7.30 p.m., preceded by prayer-mcating in the band room at. 7 p.m. and united open-air meeting at the Cargill Monument. Special notice is drawn to the young people's meeting to be iheld next Thursday afternoon in th© Garrison Hall at 4- p.m., when it is expected there will be a large gathering, as it will be remembered the, hall was severely taxed at a similar meeting during Dr Torrey's mission. The singing receives special attention at the evening meeting, when a large choir under Mr J. H. Stephens sings from Alexander's Revival Songa.

The Auckland Star understands that, fencouragcd by the succcss hitherto attending their efforts to acclimatise the industry of the ■ production of ostrich feathers, Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co. have- arranged with Mr John Schlaepfer, of Pukekohe, for the formation of a private company, which will take over Messrs Nathan's birds and Mr Schlaepfer's well-known " Helvetia" property of 3500 acres. The position and area of this property, as well as tho s nature of its soil, afford much greater facilities for the development of the industry than were * vail able <at. Whitforcl Park, and an attempt will be made to supply the colonial market, whereas in the past the supply of feathers «\as not been nearly sufficient to meet the Auckland demand. The dressing of feathers an all its branches will also be undertaken fey the new company.

A resident of Parramatta has received the following letter from his son regarding a peculiar experience the passengers and crew of the R.M.S. Orizaba had on her last trip to London. The letter, which was written while the Orizaba was off Cape Guardafui, dated August 27, 2 a.m., states: —"We are expecting to pass Guardafui within the hour, eo that another 21 hours will put lis in the Red Sea. Wo had head winds and seas ever since leaving Colombo, and are about a day late. Saw a most peculiar phenomenon la<st night about 8. The whole sea from horizon to horizon seemed to bo lit up from below, not with the usual flashes of phosphorescence, but one steady white glow like a lamp covered with frosted glass. As you know, the sea at night appears like a black circle against even the darkest clouds; but tliis was the reverse, it wae like eteaming on a sea of fog. It gave everybody the creeps, it appeared so ghostly and uncanny. Although the weather all day was rough and windy, it was smooth and calm while the phenomenon lasted, wfi'icli was about an hour. The sea appeared to be boiling and twisting from beneath, and when we ran out of it the edge between the light and dark water was as sharp as if printed. We could see the actual moment that the ship's ncjf'e touohed the black water. Even our oldest officer, who has been 26 ye;-rs on the run here, never saw anything resembling it."

The monthly meeting of the Kaikorai School Commit tea on Friday evening was attended by Messrs Moore (chairman), Bell, Bentliam, Calcler, Matheson, and Scott. The Head Master reported that the present roll was:—Boys 393, girls 344-; — total, 737. The month's average was:—Boys 344, girls 295; —total, 639. Tho recent inclement weather had caused a material reduction in the past month's average attendance. The Visiting Committee reported that the grounds, building's, and surroundings were in a satisfactory state, but that' the gymnasium was in a most dilapidated condition, and quite unfit to be used as a classroom. It was resolved that application be made to the Government for the allowance of £20 granted for school cadet uniforms, and that a concert in aid of said cadet" uniforms be held.

Colonel Bell, who was United States Con-sul-general at Sydney for some years, intends to make a lecturing tour through Now Zealand. He intended to have reached the colony by the Sonoma, which left Sydney on the 6th inst., but as a personal friend of Sir E. Barton, lie was requested to remain for the reception of the Commonwealth Premier, and agreed to do so. He now intends to reach the colony by the Ventura on the 31st inst." Colonel Bell is spoken or sts a gifted orator, and his visit will be looked forward to with interest.

Mr Frank Thornton, of "Private Secretary" fame, intends to open in Dunedin on December 1 with his English Comedy Company in " A Little Ray of Sunshine." This comedy has proved very popular in Australia.