AROUND DUNEDIN

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5174, 5 November 1895, Page 2

AROUND DUNEDIN

[I)Y SCOTCH HIST,] The visit of the only General in the Salvation Army caused quite an excitement here, An immense crowd collected at the Railway Station to welcome him. He was drivei* ' to the fountain, and spoke a feAb words only, pleading fatiguo aftflP his long journey. He was driven' afterwards to Mr William Brown's, whose gaest he has been. The night after his arrival lie gave an intensely interesting lecture on " Social Miseries." Most of our prominent clergy (Anglicans excopted), including the Rabbi, the Mayor, and most A of the principal citizens supported General Booth on the platform. His descriptions of the poverty and destitution in London were most graphically given. He said that no less than 20,000 persons are supplied with meals by the Salvation Army kitchens for the large sum of one / farthing a meal, and that 10,000 takeadvantage nightly of a shelter to ' sleep in for the sum of one halfpenny a bed, having no homes to go to. Three thousand young girls are taken off the streets annually, and made good, honest women of. Can any other religious sect shew such a record as this ? When one looks round at this beautiful country we live in it is difficult to imagine the terrible amount of misery and wanljH in a metropolis like London and the * vast amount of good being done by tlio noble Salvation Army,

Mr Birkett Foster, the first musical oxaminer to visit New Zealand, lias just concluded a three days examination in the Town Hall, twenty-one pupils beiug oxamined, seventeen belongingto the Dominican Convent.

Bland Holt's Company concluded ft most successful season on Tuesday night last, when the Hussars, who are now camping at Tahuna Park, attended the Theatre in a body with ; their officers, hundreds being unable to gain admission. However, they return here again in February, and play during Race week. The Dunedin P hotograpli i c Society are opening their Annual Exhibition to-night in tho Y.M.C.A, Rooms. Something like 350 frames adorn llio walls, and among them are exliibits from tli e Christchurch, Wangamii, Napier, Nelson and Auckland Camera Clubs. In comparison with these, judging from a cursory insiiec- i. tiou, the Dunedin exhibits certainly | hold their own,

The missionary steamer John Williams arrived on Wednesday and is thrown open daily from 10 till 1 and from 2 till 5. Sunday school children of all denominations have been asked to visit her during her stay. Several of the crew are to tako part in tho sorvices on Sunday in yarious churches. Captain Hore is to preach in the Trinity Wesleyan Church and tho Rev, Jos, King will tako tho sorvices in Knox Church,

I really have so little news to tell you this week that I think I can't do better than give you a couple of Scotch stories to make my notes cover my prescribed allowance of space. " Nemo" writing in the Star tho other night said," I always havo admitted and shall maintain to tho last that for the real practical turn of mind (gentle or simple), Scotchmen have no equal among the nations. It so happened that when a Scotch- 1 man—a shepherd or driver, or some- J thing in the country—called at my office the other day, I was glancing over an illustrated paper. I thought it would interest him to see tho picture of a couple of collie dogs exhibited by the Princess of Wales at the Dog Show of the Ladies' Kennel Association, Ranelagh, I I don't in tho least know the points of a collie, but to the eyetheanimalß wore noble. Tho man's eyes glistened, "lion," he said, "they're grand, they'ed be worth twenty pmid ?" With a sharp glance at me to see if ho were near tho mark, I professed my utter ignoranco." And did you say they belonged to a leddie ? Isaid they belonged to tho Princess of Wales. There was a touch of sadness in his tone as he said: "It would be no possible to get a pup then ?" I do think that ovon the impossibility of buying a collie pup from tho Princess of Wales could only occur to a Scotchman.

The next story for which I cannot answer, but must quote as a terrible warning, is nnent a lady sportsman on the moors whose lackof skill seems to liavo been only equalled by themasculinity of her attiro. Tho gamo keeper expressed himself as follows: " She apit the gentleman a' that slio cud. She wore thd same claes, she smoked, drank a nip o' whisky, ay, an' once gied a bit swear kicliin; but as for shutin', she couldna hit a barndoor at ten yairds, and she noyor ance said 1 thank ye' ta masolf. If ony mair or hor kind corao nboot I'll throw up ma job." I havo quite forgotten to tell you. of the very sudden death of Inspector Taylor of tho Education Department. He died, I might say, in harness, as he had been inspecting schools all the week, and arrivinghome on Friday night by the express train, ho complained of a violont pain in his chest. After partaking of a light meal, he had another attack, and before his medical man, Dr. Batcbelor, could arrive, he bad passed aivay, death being due to heart disease. Mr Richardson, Rector of the High School in Balclutha, is temporarily filling the vacancy,

The weather was most boisterous again to-day, and we were treated to a violent thunderstorm and hail, by way of a variety.