NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 48, 29 November 1900, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

We have to thank the District Secretary, Mr. W. Kane, Auckland, for a copy of the half-yearly report of the H.A.C.B. Society.

Mb. A. J. Sullivan, well known in Dunedin, has been appointed to the charge of a branch of Messrs. Barr, Leary and Co.'s business in Cromwell.

With a view to bringing into effect the Manual and Technical Instruction Act of last year, the Education Department has decided as a preliminary step to appoint two instructors at a salary of £350 each.

The Napier Telegraph has the best authority for stating that Captain Russell does not intend to return the £40 bonus voted to the members of both Houses. Captain Russell regards the vote aa wrong, but as it waa passed he does not propose to display singularity or affectation by handing the money back to swell the next surplus.

The Land and Survey department will throw open for selection about the middle of January a block in Hawke's Bay, known as Nuhaka North. This block contains 8352 acres, and will be opened under the optional system in areas of from 360 to 1200 acres About the end of January 4600 acres in Manukau County, Auckland, will be thrown open.

A Chinese interpreter explained to a select audience at the Police Court in Wellington the other day that the blowing out of a match had not much effect in keeping a Celestial in the broad way of truth, it only meant that he will get no light. A Court official suggested that the breaking of a paucer waa a more effective form oath, but the interpreter discounted that form also. ' Cut the head off a rooster,' he said ; ' that is the way ; it means something terrible ! If that be done, either in a Court of justice or in a cemetery, a Chinaman will generally speak the truth. He considers that a lie under such circumstances will cause him ill-luck all his life, and a horrible experience after death. Cot off the rooster's head,' he concluded, 'that is the only way to get the truth ! '

The Post and Telegraph department has received from America the plates for the new I|d stamp to be issued next month. The stamp, which was designed by Mr. J. M. Nairn, of Wellington, is emblematio of the part taken by New Zealand in the war. The design is l£in long and Jin deep. At the top are the words 'New

Zealand,' and below • Postage and Revenue,' the denomination being in the left-hand upper corner.

The Very Rev. Dean Martm, who has been lately appointed Provincial of the Marist Order, passed through Reefton recently en route for Wellington, where (says the Inangahua Timet) he will in future be permanently located, the rev. gentleman having just severed his connection with his Hokitika parishioners whose spiritual interests he has zealously safeguarded for more than 30 years.

A Kumara correspondent informs us that the pupils of St Patrick's School, Kumara, were examined by Inspector Morton on the 6th and 7th of this month and secured 100 per cent of passes The inspector was highly pleased with the children and the work done by their teachers. It certainly reflects great credit on the good Bisters, who were untiring, iin their efforts to make our Catholic schools a credit to Westland.

The following is a list of pupils from the Convent of Mercy, Greymouth, who passed the recent Trinity College musical examination conducted by Mr. Edwards. In regard to Miss McDonnell the examiner recommended her to work up for the higher degree in the college :— Senior honors : Nellie McDonnell (piano), Maggie Algie (piano). Senior pass : Lottie Guthrie (piano). IntermediateAugusta Skoglund (piano). Junior honors : Mabel Harris (piano) Preparatory : Mary E. Noonan (violin), Dotty Lutz (piano). The convent schools were examined recently by the Education Board's Inspector, with the result that there was not a single failure among the l'.U pupils presented. The Brunner Catholic schools, also conducted by the Sisters of Meroy, were equally successful, all the children presented passing.

Mr. P. E. Nolan, of Dunedin, a member of the Railway service, and representative of No. 2 division on the Appeal Board for the South Island, and also delegate for Otago for the A S R S who was at Invercargill for his holidays, was entertained by the Invercargill branch on the 17th inst., when he was presented with a gold-mounted albert and pendant, suitably inscribed, and a sovereign case beautifully chased, in appreciation of the way he had carried out his duties mentioned above. Several toasts were honored during the evening.

A Westpokt correspondent writes :— ln the practical examinations lately held by Mr. Charles Edwards, of Trinity College, London, the following passes were secured by St. Mary's Convent, Westport. Senior grade— piano— X. Ryan (honors), M. Bailie. Intermediate— G. Scott (honors). Junior— L. Stitt (honors) Eva Bailie. Preparatory— M. O'Shea (100), H. O'Gorman, N. Carrick (all specially commended). Junior grade— violin— A. Losk, A Greenland, M. Robinson. P

In the course of a speech at the banquet tendered to him at th« Bluff on Wednesday night the Hon. J. G. Ward stated that it wa the intention of the Government to in\ite tenders for a steam ser s service with South Africa, the vessels calling at, at least, five port e in New Zealand and three at the Cape. It n inevitable that on thi cessation of hostilities there will be a great demand for colonia produce in that part of the world, and should the Government come to some definite arrangement with steamship owners New Zealand growers will have a favorable market to supply.

The reputed grave of St. Patrick, in the Cathedral yard at Downpatrick, Ireland has recently had placed upon it a. huge granite slab, weighing about seven tons, in form similar to the grave slabs used in the fifth century— the time when the .Saint lived. An Irish cross, with the simple inscription in bold letters, ' Patric,' is graven on the stone, which fitly marks the resting-place of the remains of one who did so much to ppread the Gospel in Ireland. A photograph of the Cathedral, with the grave slab in the foreground, has* been received by Mr. G. Redmond, of the Wellington Pottal Department, from the postmaster of Downpatriok.

The following pupils from the Convent of Mercy, Hokitika were successful at the recent examinations in practical muwic held. under the auspices of Trinity College, London. Senior honors.— Mary E. Bourke (singing), Mary V. Moller (pianoforte), Denis Clarke (pianoforte). Intermediate pa«s.— Stasio Murphy. Junior honors.— Kitty Arnel (pianoforte), Aileen Daly (pianoforte), Ruby Burns (violin). Preparatory —Pianoforte— Nan Coltman, Nellie Kidd, Clare Davey, Annie McDonald. Mammie Moynihan, Maud Rochford, Rose Healy, Eva Murphy. Preparatory.— Violin— Uonald McDonald, Charlie Ross.

Mr. J. H. Giluuth, Government Bacteriologist and Chief Veterinarian to the Agricultural Department has left for England, his mission being to select 15 veterinary surgeons to carry out various duties in connection with the operation of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act of last session, which comes into force in April next. While away from the Colony Mr. Gilruth will visit the principal bacteriological laboratories in London and Paris, so as to make himself thoroughly acquainted with all recent discoveries, developments, and methods of working. He has been commissioned by the Government to purchase 12 sires best suited for breeding remounts, and a similar number of shorthorn bulls.

The Hon. J. G. Ward was entertained at a banquet at the Bluff on Wednesday night when he delivered an able speech dealing with the progress and prosperity of the Colony. Mr. Ward, in referring to the proposed Pacific cable service, said that in a short time the people of the Colony would be able to send a message of 10 words to England for about 2s 6d. Mr. Ward then referred to the penny postage, which in January next would be brought into operation, and said there was not a country in the world that had done what New Zealand was going to do on the date he had mentioned. As an evidence of the prosperity of the Colony there were more than £20,000,000 in the Savings Banks— the largest amount that had ever been deposited in them — and when it was considered that we

had only 750,000 people in the Colony it was almost incredible that such an amount should accumulate. No greater tribute could be paid to the prosperity of the country or compliment to the industry and resourcefulness of the people aa a whole

Writes our Wanganui correspondent :-At the practical examination in music by Mr. Edwards, of Trinity College, London, held at the Wanganui convent recently the following pupils were successful :— Senior division, (singing) -Ellie Moroney. Interrnwiint* divinon OingrintrV-llilda Flynn. Intermediate division, (pianoforte)— Lmily Gibbons and Amy Hyde. Junior division, (Bingingr)— Ada and Lilly Dalziel. Intermediate division, (pianoforte)— Kate Quillinan, Ella O'Reilly, and Beatrice Wilkie Preparatory division (pianoforte)— Leila Barnes, Winnie Hatrick, Ruth Mitchell, Annie Sullivan, Fred and Myrtle Richardson. Preparatory division (violin)— Julia Flynn, Beatrice Wilkie, and Mary Flynn Some of the above deserved honorable mention according to Mr Edwards, but the return of marks obtained will not reach Wanganui from London for some three months yet.

At the Supreme Court, Wellington, Wednesday of last week, the case against Brother Kilian was gone on with, Mr. Justioe Edwards, after consultation with the other judges, having decided that the counts in the indictment should be taken separately. The hrst count was that the accused had committed a common assault on James Joseph Owens on May 30. Messrs. Bell and Myers appeared for the Crown and Messrs. Skerrett, Wilford, and Fell for the defence. The evidence given was similar to that before the Royal Commission. The case lasted until Thursday afternoon, when the jury after a quarter of an hour's deliberation acquitted the accused. On Friday a charge of having assaulted a Maori boy named Daviei was proceeded with. The case lasted until about half -past sin the evening, when the jury after a quarter of an hour's deliberation brought in a verdict of not guilty.

Writing on the manner in which the Brunner Relief Fund has been managed, the Greymouth Star says: -' The number of women rendered widows by the explosions was 42, while 173 chiU dren were rendered fatherless. To provide for the 215 persons thus suddenly deprived of the bread-winners, the people of New Zealand raised the noble sum of £33,105 17s sd. The greater part of thii sum has been earning interest. To-day the credit balance is £24,290 16s Id, so that including accrued interest something like £11,000 has been paid to the widows and fatherless. There are now dependent .'sl widows and 150 children. As time goes on the number will decrease until in about seven or eight years there will only remain the widows drawing money, children arriving at 16 yeara of age being expected to earn their own livelihood. Of the widows Bye have married again, and, according to the Public Trustee, are not entitled to further payment, while the three that have died require no human aid. In addition to the above, ten persons who lost son* in the explosion receive aid. The money is divided into a general fund havinc a credit of £21,050 17s »d. and a contingency fund possessing £3239 ISs 4d. This latter account, which started with 13000, has actually increased, the interest for the past year being 1 £101) 1 le>. The only charges were for two burials, £27 17s 7d. The general account shows that during the twelve months £2765 4s 9d was paid to the beneficiaries, the total departmental cost being 2s Bd. The interest accrued on this fund for the year was £777 12a 3d, so that the actual reduction for the period was less than £2000. The statement requires little comment. It reflects the highest credit upon the management, who are deserving of the warmest thanks of the community for their faithful and careful administration.'

The Orepuki correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writing with reference to the Governor'? visit to the hhfilc works says :^ The Xew Zealand Coal and Oil Company (Limited) have been working; away quietly for nearly two years now in erecting works on the surface and opening up the shale and coal seams whose hidden treasures have lam dormant for probably millions of years. Oilbearing shale has been known to exist here for some 10 or 15 years, and a syndicate having obtained a lea<ie of about 1000 acres from the Government exploited the field, and after having had the shale thoroughly tested in the old country by competent experts, and in bulk at shale oil works in Scotland with such satisfactory resulte, the above-named company, which had purchased the Kaitangata and Castle Hill coal mines, added the Orepuki mineral fields to their other properties ; hence the name of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company. The capital of the company is fixed at £270,000, £ 180,000 being in £1 share*, now all paid up, and £90,000 in debenture?, £70,000 of which have been subscribed and the balance left for calling up if required. The Orepuki works, erected with the most up to-date plant, are expected to be in operation in January, and should earn a dividend in 1901. The Kaitangata ooal has been yielding sufficient profit to provide a 5 per cent, dividend alone, and the oil is expected to do better. The shale has now been thoroughly tested on the spot, and found to be richer than the Scottish shale, containing, besides kerosene, a large percentage of lubricating oil and paraffin wax for candle-making, sulphate of ammonia, naphtha, etc. The future probabilities of mineral oils as a cheap and handy agent for producing power either as gas or steam are very great, eepeoially in the shipping and dredging worlds, and even on railways, the engineers of which are already making inquiry into the comparative cost.

In the course of a speech at Clinton on Tuesday night the Hon. J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General, eaid :—lt: — It is proposed to establish from the Ist January an ' express ' delivery by telegraph messengers for letters and parcels (up to 31b), the delivery in the meantime to be restricted to the principal centres until a full trial has been given to the new system, and gradually it will, like other reforms, * be applied to such other portions of the Colony from time to time as opportunity arises. Under this Bystem ' expressed ' articles may be st nt from any post office within the Colony, and such offices outside the Colony aa care to reciprocate with us. The delivery will be up to three miles. For the first mile 6d will be charged, and for each

additional mile 3d. Provision will also be made for ' expressed ' articles and stamped telegrams being collected by letter carriers and telegraph messengers. In the case of telegrams this should be °<« convenience to people living some distance from telegraph offioes. Another proposal is to have a uniform parcels rate for all parts of the Empire. The present rate to London for the first pound 111 I an ™. f ° r each adliitional Pound Cd. The rate to be proposed will be— Three pounds, Is; seven pounds, 2s; eleven pounds, 3s. In addition to this, I also propose to establish a telegraph mi'niengfci service in connection with telephone exchanges to enable subscribers to ring for a messenger to run an errand, order a can, etc., and to charge the same as for 'express ' letter delivery up to three miles Messages will be delivered up to five miles on payment of cab hire or tram fare. I may cay a system something- similar to this was tried by Sir Julius Vo?el, and confined to the City of Wellington only At that time it was ahead of the public requirements of the Colony, and in the interval the rapidity with whioh it is neoessary to do business and the conveniences required to-day have so greatly changed that I have every confidence that a success can be made of such a system as 1 have indicated