News and Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 51, 17 March 1894, Page 7

News and Notes.

There are 363,000 Roman Catholics in Scotland. Lady Elgin, wife of the new Viceroy of India, has ten children, and they are all| taught to sing Scotch songs. The magistrates of Glasgow have refused a petition from the policemen for an eight hours’ day, and it is stated that there are fifty suitable applicants for every constable required. A London dressmaker threw a snowball at a policeman, and was fined 4s, with the alternative of four days in gaol. The piper of the Prince of Wales, Mr D. McKay, has died from blood poisoning. He had been in the Royal service 20 years, and was reckoned the best piper in Britain. The last census returns show that there were 28,000 wives only 15 years of age, and 109 widows of the same age, in Britain. An effort is being to raise £20,000 wherewith to start a labour colony near Glasgow. It is stated that out of a total of 874.000 families in Scotland, fully 535.000 live in one and two-room houses. Speaking at Glasgow, General Sir W. Cunninghame decried the inclination to sneer at the volunteers, and said that the War Office appreciated them by giving the position of the first line of defence. Three members of the Leith Established church choir have been interdicted by a court of law from singing in the choir because they declared themselves in favour of dancing at a social gathering of the members. Co-operative undertakings continue to thrive apace in Scotland. While farmers in different parts of the country are complaining of inability to pay rents, the Dunfermline Co-oper-ative Farming Society has declared a profit on last year’s operations of £lßl 15s on their dairy farm. The children of the great artists .not unfrequently inherit in less degree their voice, more often than the skill to use it. But (remarks an exchange) the late Mme. Patey leaves no child to remind us “ how angellike she sang.” Her orly daughter is an accomplished painter. According to a Sydney theatrical manager the stoppage of Sunday concerts will cause hundreds of artists to join the ranks of the unemployed. A fatal boating accident occurred on a recent Sunday at Hay (N.S.W.) A party of seven went out picnicking’, and when returning it was noticed that the boat was leaking. Some of of the occupants stood up, causing the craft to cant over. Five of the part} 7 were saved but a woman and child perished, although within thirty yards of the shore.

Two women Lave died in Sydney lately while under chloroform. In one case a young woman, who was pronounced a fit subject, took the ansesthetic in order to have 24 teeth extracted, and she collapsed when 23 had been removed. The jury thought the extraction of so many teeth at a time should be stopped. Several constables in Sydney were lately injured by some burglars who were breaking into the offices of the Union Steamship Company. The Company have presented the policemen with free passes to New Zealand and back in the hope that the round trip will restore them to health. Amongst the visitors of note now in Sydney is Mr F. IST. Charringtdn, a gentleman well known for the active part he has taken in mission work in the East of London. The fact that lie gave up a share in Lis father s brewery worth a million pounds in order to enter upon Mission work is a striking instance of the sincerity of his views. Mr Charrington. who is an enthusiastic advocate of female suffrage, will visit Hew Zealand, and investigate the causes of the success of the movement there.

The final reading of the stations at the Wesleyan Conference places the Rev. W. C. Oliver at Invercargill, and the Rev. R. Taylor at Cargill Road, Dunedin,

The licensings elections in the Invei’cargill District take place on the 21st inst. Eight members of committee are required, and the following candidates have been nominated : Temperance : Messrs J. S. Baxter, Thomas Fleming, E. B. Jones, J, H. Kissell, J. W. Mitchell, William Ross, John Stead, and the Rev. W. Woollass. Moderates: Messrs F. W. Borne, R. Cleave, Wm. Lewis,, Duncan McFarlane, Angus Mclean, Archibald Shaw, George Edward Tucker, and William Wills.