Rasputin was an illiterate Siberian peasant, who gained great influence with the Czar as a miracle worker.
He rose to power in Court circles, and became agent for various political cliques.
He also exercised influence in the Beiliss or blood ritual case.
The monk Iliodor was imprisoned for thrashing and denouncing Rasputin as a false prophet.
Rasputin's wound is not considered to be mortal.
He was walking in a native village with his son Dmitry, and, noticing the woman, Rasputin felt in his pocket for alms, when Guseva, who is a peasant woman, stabbed him in the abdomen with a dagger.
Guseva tried to again stab him, but Dmitry prevented her and handed her to the police.
Guseva stated that she wished to avenge one of Rasputin's girl victims, now in a convent.
Guseva subsequently attempted to commit suicide by cutting a vein in her wrist with broken glass.
Rasputin's hypnotic gifts enabled him to play upon the feelings of hysterical women, and several of unblemished reputation fell under his spell.
While moving in the highest society, Rasputin participated in Boccaccian scenes with village girls, who were always provided with an alleged religious raison d'etre.
• Port Chalmers is now enjoying the privilege of electric street lighting, the current having been officially turned on to the street circuits on Monday evening by the Mayor, in the presence of the borough councillors and a few visitors, including Cr Marlow, representing the City Corporation Electric Light and Power Committee.
The new illuminant has been favourably commented upon by a number of prominent ratepayers, and advantage is being taken of the opportunity by a number of firms to instal electric motors to supersede steam in their respective industries.
Quite a large number of private houses are being fitted up for the purpose of installing household lighting, and it is expected that the reticulation of the town for household lighting will be completed about the end of the present month.
• The first meeting called to form a Baptist Church in Dunedin was held in the Excelsior Hall, George street, on the 10th June, 1863, when 12 persons were present.
His Honor John Hyde Harris, the Superintendent of the province, granted the use of the courthouse until a church could be erected.
The first services were held there on the 26th July, 1863.
The Rev. Dr Burns generously offered the use of First Church for an evening service, and always displayed a fraternal interest in the progress and prosperity of the new cause.
For several months the Baptists held their morning service in the courthouse and their evening service in First Church.
The first Baptist minister to visit Dunedin was the Rev. A. Poole, of Victoria, who arrived on the 21st August, 1863, and formally constituted the church on the 6th September with 20 members, all of whom have now passed away.
Mr Poole ministered to the church until the arrival of the Rev. J. L. Parsons on October 23, 1863.
On November 1 he conducted in the Water of Leith the first baptism by immersion held in Dunedin.
A site was purchased in Hanover street for a church, of which Mr R. A. Lawson was the architect and Messrs Jack and Jenkinson the contractors, at 2200.
The foundation stone was laid on the 19th of April, 1864. The building was completed and duly opened on the 24th July. - ODT, 15.7.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
