Bird’s Eye View

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 5, 29 April 1893, Page 10

Bird’s Eye View

Second reading of Home Rule Bill carried by a majority of 43. The Hon. J. Ballance Has undergone an operation, and is reported to be doing well. It is, however, doubtful if he will be able to lead the House next session.

Earl Derby, who was in the Gladstone Ministry in 1885, is dead. The draughts championship of Dunedin has been won by D. A. Brodie, who beat Foreman by two games. The trouble between the Mayor of Christchurch and the councillors has reached another stage. Nine of them eft’er to resign if he will do the same, and leave the ratepayers to decide between them.

The purchase money for the Cheviot estate (£260,220) has been paid by the Government. The Queensland Flood Fund amounted to £64,000, and the balance in hand is £35,000. The claims from all parts amounted to £117,000. Influenza claimed 600 victims in Paris last week.

The Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, sentenced to a term of imprisonment for contempt of court, has been lodged in Holloway gaol. Her cell has been most luxuriously furnished, and she will be allowed to obtain all comforts, in addition to receiving friends. The committee of the band contest to be held at Christchurch in Hov. has decided that the first prize shall be £IOO ; second, £SO; third, £3O; fourth, £2O; fifth, £10; and sixth, £5. It is expected that the special prize list will be large. The Rev. F. W. Isitt has written to the Trades and Labour Council on the question of judical separation, citing several instances of wives who had to live with drunken husbands for life, there being no free procedure whereby they could get a separation. The Council decided to consider the question at its next meeting. A free public library was opened in Wellington on April 21. Up to April 23, the quantity of wool catalogued in London for the sales was 236,000 bales, of which there had been sold 217,800. Prices of ■wool were firm and unchanged. Serious strike riots have occurred in Hull, and the condition of things is described as that of veiled rebellion. A fire, believed to have been started wilfully, has done damage to the extent of £1,000,000. . The London Chartered Bank of Australia has suspended payment pending a reconstruction. In the case of Ellis v. Ashbury, in connection with the Merrivale estate, the latter appealed to the House of Lords to upset the decision of the Appeal Court of Hew Zealand on certain points. A cablegramhas been received by Mr J. C. Ellis stating that the Privy Council dismissed the appeal. The Hon. Mr Rolleston has been asked to address a public meeting in Invercargill, and will give a reply on his return from the Western District. The intermittent train service from Invercargill to Lumsden will cease after this week so far as the morning train to Lumsden is concerned. It will nowbe despatched every morning. The Mataura Freezing works have been set going. Machinery and everything else proved to be in first-class order.

The Charitable Aid Board had a long - sitting on Tuesday, and reduced some of the requisitions for the coming year. The item for salaries, including £l5O for the master and matron, and £l5O for the secretary and treasurer, was reduced by £SO on the motion of Mr Baldey. The building at Makarewa Junction, formerly used as an hotel, has been destroyed by fire.. The meeting called for Saturday last to form a farmers’ union fell throhgh. The circus was too strong a counter attraction. The Southland Stud Co. is to be wound up voluntarily.