General News.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 274, 25 October 1902, Page 3

General News.

We regret to hear that toe wife of Mr H. Fergusson is seriously ill. An important notice to shearers re their electoral rights will be found In another column.

A meeting of the Waikakahi Settlers’ Association will be held in Morven school on Monday. On Show night there will be a musical and dramatic entertainment in aid of the funds of the Waimate cadet corps.

Mr John Campbell will address the electors of Waitaki at Albury on Monday next; be at Fairlie on Tuesday, and Silverstream on Wednesday. The City Council have decided to engaged Colonel Turrettini, the European expert, to report on an electrical power scheme for Christchurch.

A collection is being taken up in the district for the widow and family of the late G. Bean. Messrs D. Kennard, S. Attewell, G. Pearce and D. Heron are receiving subscriptions. Four Martini-Enfield carbines with 900 rounds of ammunition have arrived for the Waimate school cadets. The boys are in a fever of excitement to use them.

A letter from “ Church-goer ” is withdrawn at bis request. One from Mr S. Boreham in reply to the Rev. Fee is held over on account of its length. On Thursday night the Zealandia Quadrille Assembly held the closing dance of the season, but it was not largely attended. However, those who did extend enjoyed themselves very well.

Next year the Studholme Mounted Rifles propose to hold no parades, but instead to have a twelve days’ camp, and do all class and volley firing during that time. This method is unanimously favoured by the men. Sir Thomas Lipton’s challenge for the America Cup has been accepted on the same conditions as before. The new Shamrock will be built of mildsteel, and be less expensive than her predecessors. The Herrishoffs are building a new Cup defender. Mr Cooper, an English missionary, was shot by a Turk at Fez. The murderer thought he had done a good deed and took refuge in a mosque. He lived there for a while until word was sent to the Sultan, who promptly had him shot.

Russian warships are hanging round Kiel in great numbers to the astonishment of the Kaiser’s subjects. The Russians bring along their kodaks and snapshot the German fortresses and ships, flirt with the girls and eat sausage and eaur kraut with the men. It certainly looks as if the Czar wants to adopt bis neighbours. The application for twelve sections suitable for workmen’s homes, near Glenavy, close on Ttfesday at the Waimate Courthouse. Selectors appear before the Land Board on Thursday and the ballot will take place on Friday. The sections vary in size from 27 acres to 10 acres at a rental of from 9s 9d to 17s 6d per acre.

The Admiralty has invited tenders from Clyde shipbuilders for a fiist-class cruiser of the New Duke of Edinburgh class, but with more powerful guns. A duplicate will be shortly built at the Government dockyards. Tenders will also be invited for two second-class 10,000 horse-power cruisers, of 3000 tons each.

In the list of special prizes offered at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s forthcoming show, which was advertised in onr last Saturday’s issue, the name of the National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., who offer through their local manager, Mr C. H. Guthrie, J£2 2s, was accidentally omitted.

The Wilcannia {New South Wales coach was carrying a lunatic and three prisoners who were in charge of two constables. The lunatic became refractory, and while the police were struggling with him the prisoners slipped their leg irons and escaped. During the confusion the lunatic also got away. All were recaptured after an exciting chase excepting one of the prisoners. We have been having the weather known as “ samples ” of late. One day there will be a blazing sun in the forenoon, a sou’-wester at noon, and rain in the afternoon, followed by a clear frosty night; People are wondering when summer is coming. At present there is an opening for an active young man to climb up and tarn off the water-tap.

A reside.a of Johannesburg, writing by the last mail, gives the following figures as evidence of the cost of living there:—Potatoes, 50s per bag; cauliflow. rs, Is Gel each ; eggs, 3s 6d per dozen ; meat, Is per lb; bacon, Is 3d per lb. Evidently a good place for the seller, but a bit oft colour for those who are on the other side of the counter.

The Sydney Women’s Christian Temperance Union had a Convention the other day. A gay young thing of forty odd read a paper describing dancing as “ the ante-room to the house of evil.” Religious plays were condemned as 11 a device of the devil.” Probably this girl figured as a wall decoration at most of the dances she attended and is taking out her revenge. However, it won’t bother dancing people much.

At the meeting of the Christchurch Diocesan Synod the Bishop proposed that, in view of the amount already raised towards the completion of the Cathedral, that the Church Property Trustees should be authorised to advance the money yet required. The motion was carried unanimously. The Bishop then announced a subscription contingent on the motion being passed of £looofrom R. M, Morten. The total revenue of the Post and Telegraph Department for the quarter ended the 30ch September was £97,841, and excess of £2406 over the corresponding quarter last year. The revenue from stamps was £52.884; from telegrams, £36,387; amount of deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank, £1,290,485, the excess of deposits over withdrawals being £99,639. Daring the quarter discount stamps wore sold of the value of £625, and redeemed of the value ot £543. A new comet has been discovered near Sydney the other night by a Sydney astronomer who was returning home from an oyster supper. It appears that it is in the west-north-west sky in the constellation Ophinicus, a little to the north of Beta, A rough observation gives the right ascension at about 17 hours 45 minutes, and declination 6 degrees north of the equator. The comet has a tail about a hundred miles long, or slightly larger than that of the sea-serpent. It appears domesticated and will in due time be christened something or other.

Business at Court lately has, very fortunately, been on the decline. On Thursday a man and a woman, prohibited persons, were charged with being on licensed premises, and a fine of 20s and costs, 9s, and 40s and costs, 9s, was inflicted in the respective cases. Yesterday a charge of being drunk whilst in charge of a horse was dismissed. The witnesses deposed that the man could not be called drunk, and the defendant said he had driven on the footpath to avoid running over a lady cyclist, who was on her wrong side. A copy of a series of humorous sketches entitled, ‘'King Dick Abroad,” has been sent to this office by Messrs McKee and Co., the publishers. The publication consists of some thirty large pages of humorous and satirical cartoons, showing Mr Seddon in many and varied positions whilst at the Coronation. King Dick in a suit of khaki adorns the cover, along with a unique coat of arms. Throughout the book makes Mr Seddcn’s physical proportions rather more ample even than they are, but that is, after all, but a slight defect. The book is well worth buying and keeping as a record of the time New Zealand sent Home a King. On Thursday evening, in St. Patrick’s schoolroom, a very interesting lecture on Ireland, illustrated by lantern views, was given by the Pev. Father Eegnault. The entertainment was in aid of the funds of the Hibernian Society, Bro. T. Twomey occupied the chair and briefly introduced the lecturer. The views were excellent and clear, and applause was frequent At intervals songs were sung by Misses Kent and Gfreelisb, Mrs J. T. Quinn and Mr M. Leonard. Misses Flynn and Greelish acted as accompanistes. The lantern was manipulated by Mrß. F. Whitney. A vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer, and the singing of the National Anthem brought the entertainment to a close.

IEISH MEMBEES IN AMEEIOA. Messrs Dillon and Davitt received an enthusiastic reception at the Boston convention. Mr Davitt, in contradicting Mr Wyndham (Chief Secretary for Ireland), declared that there are 1312 branches of the Irish League in Ireland which have 110,000 memberc and 300 branches of the League in Britain. Mr Davitt said that General Botha had told him that if after the battle of Paardeburg 5000 Irish Americans had joined the Boers, England’s power in South Africa would have been smashed.

RUSSIA IN AFGHANISTAN. Viscount Cranborue stated in the House of Commons that Russia had proposed to Britain the establishment of direct relations between Russia and Afghanistan regarding frontier matters. Russia promised that the direct relations would not be ©f a political character. Russia would continue to consider Afghanistan outside the sphere of Russian influence, Britain replied that considering the understanding that Afghanistan was outside the sphere of Russian influence, it was impossible to entertain or submit Russia’s proposal to the Ameer without a more precise explanation of the methods suggested for the exchange of communications between frontier officials, the limitations to be placed on those communications, and the means of enforcing the limitations. There had been no reply yet from Russia, and no objection had been raised by Britain. Synopsis of New Adyertisements. Waikakahi Settlers’ Association — Special meeting on Monday. New Zealand Railways—Fares and train arrangements for Timaru Show. Hondai Lanka Tea Company—“ There’s nae juggery-packery aboot it.” Guinness and LeCren, Limited — Weekly auction. Wanted—Two gentlemen boarders. Wanted—Strong lad for bakery. Lost—Gold curb bangle. Star Cycling Club—Opening run. A. and P. Association —Entries close. Wanted—Man to drive delivery cart. Geo. Dash—Notice re repairs, etc. Workers’ Union—Notice to shearers and others: