The Daily Southern Cross

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1872.

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The intended motion of Mr. Boylan as submitted in the Harbour Board is one the spirit of which deserves the sympathy of every one that wishes well to the country ; and we anticipate that any obstacles which may be raised in discussion will not have reference to the worthiness of the object contemplated. As reported in our issue of yesterday, Mr. Bjylan gave notice that he would move on the next sitting-day — That an amount not exceeding £500 be placed at the disposal of a committee to bo heieibafter named, for the following purposes :—l.: — 1. To assist exhibitors,or to procure specimens of the following articles, to exhibit first at the competitive exhibition of staple articles of produce at Christchurch, and, second, for ultimate exhibition at Vienna — Phormium tenax, cordage, coal, rock-oil (if procurable), quicksilver, gum, whale oil, bone, timber, and shells for inlaying ; and 2. That the Chairman and Messrs. Yon der Heyde, Cruickshauk, McKellar, Casey, and Jones be appointed a committee to carry out the above. Whatever may be the result of this motion, much credit is due to Mr. Boylan for having at least made an effort to bring before the public the importance of this Vienna Exhibition to the interests of the colony. It is difficult indeed to see in wbat way such a subject comes within the sphere of activities of the Harbour Board. Their functions as defined, and as ordinarily understood, do not embrace the promotion of the general interest, but only in so far as affected by operations in connection with the harbour of Auckland. Had the proposal come up in the Provincial. Council it would have been as appropriate as it is valuable, but probably the fact that the Harbour Board has abundance of money, and the Provincial Council feels the necessity of economy, may have induced the proposal to be made where pecuniary difficulties would be likely to present fewer obstacles. Besides this, if that portion of the proposal bearing on the Christchnrch Exhibition is of there is no time for delay. The only question, therefore, of importance is, whether the Harbour Board is permitted, by the terms of its constitution, to thus step out of its recognised sphere and assist a work that certainly must, at leaat indirectly, benefit even the harbour of Auckland itself. As to the seemliness of the proposal, that f-hould be a very minor consideration, and, if this Corporation would not in so far be moving ultra vires, it is sincerely to be desired that the proposal of Mr. Boylan be accepted. We have already again and again urged that this most important Exhibition at Vienna should not be oveiiooked. We urged this at a time when the exhibits to be forwarded might first have been shown at the Colonial Exhibition in London. ; We observe however, from the letter recently received from the AgentGeneral, that it is now too late for the London Exhibition, but we ti'ust that this fine opportunity for presenting our magnificent resources before the eyes of assembled Europe will no longer be ignored. In his letter bearing on the importance of this International Exhibition, Dr. Featliersfcon, -writing from London under date 27th June last says : — During my recent visit to the Continent, the vital importance of our colony being properly represented on this occasion was urged upon my attention at Hamburg, at iJeihn, at Frankfort, and other commercial centres. The value to New Zealand of such an advertisement cannot, I think, be overrated. The colony has never yet had an opportunity of adequately exhibiting its natural and industrial resources ; and I would therefore press upon the Government the Importance of seizing tho present one. the more so as there seems now no hope of our getting any space allotted to us in the Exhibition now taking place here. As, however, the Vienna Exhibition opens in June, 1873, there ia no time to be lost ; and 1 would suggest that immediate steps be taken in the colony to ensure the success of the undertaking. It is exceedingly to be regretted that this duty has been so long neglected in our own district. The people of Canterbury have been up and doing what we so strongly urged that Auckland should have done, and a preliminary Exhibition is to be held in Christchurch, opening on the 15th of December. At that Exhibition articles can be classified, and the best and most judicious selection of 'New Zealand exhibits will be forwarded to Vienna. Tt is unquestionably our duty, seeing that our province has not been pleased to take first place in this matter, to drop int© the plans carried through by our more spirited fellow-colonists in the South, and take steps so that there should be a fair representation of our limitless resoiirces at the great International Exhibition. Our various timbers, so adapted for cabinet-work of rare beauty, would of themselves prove an attraction to those of wealth and taste who will assemble in thousands at Vienna. Our phormium tenax in all the varieties of textile fabrics, and the other products of industry of which- it is capable, exhibits as illustrative of our resources and capabilities, whether in the animal, mineral, or vegetable kingdom, would all have an influence in creating an interest regarding these faroff islands in the Southern seas, among thousands of those to whom New Zea-

land is still a terra incognita. The tangible losults of such, an awakened interest would be ultimately felt by every one in the colony, and would repay manifold any cost or pains undertaken in forwarding the objects of this Exhibition. To exhibitors the cost of transport will be nil, as the Government undertakes to forward all approved exhibits to Vienna. There is no time to be lost. It would be exceedingly desirable that the exhibits should first be collected and selected at Christchurch, as the 15th of January is the date at which articles must" be shipped to Europe. "We trust that Mr. Brogden will not abandon this, even if foiled iv the Harbour Board. Tf nothing in its constitution actually prohibits, the Harbour Board should, as suggested, take the initiative. If such a course is deemed improper, it is to be hoped that Mr. Boylan's action will not be fruitless, but that outside the Harbour Board prompt steps will be taken to collect and transmit exhibits calculated to represent the industry and resources of the province.

It cannot be said that the new occupants of the Treasury Benches have lost much time over the work of constructing a Ministry. The new Cabinet is so far complete that the members have been swoi'n into office ; and a Government headed by Messrs. Waterhouse, "Vogel, and McLean, have once more assumed the control of the public business in the House. In addition to the above-named influential leaders, Messrs. Hall, Bathgate, and Ormorid have joined the now Ministry, while the names of Messrs. O'Eorke and Richardson (of Canterbury) are also spoken of as likely to occupy seats in the Cabinet. Two influential natives — one from Auckland and one from Wellington — have been called to seats in tbe Legislative Council. Altogether the personnel 01 the new Ministry is a mobt imposing one. For individual talent and political influence it has not been equalled for many years, and is such, we are sure, as cannot fail to carry with it the support of Parliament, and the confidence of the country. {Statements of policy were made simultaneously in both Houses — that in tbe I egislative Council by the new Premier ; and in the House of Representatives by the Colonial Treasurer, the Hon. Julius Vogel. The leading features in the statements delivered in each instance were the same. The Government propose to proceed with immigration and public woiks to the full extent authorised by Parliament, and without any unnecessary delay. The fullest investigation will take place during the recess into the whole system of the civil service, and every effoit will be made to carry out practicable reform to the fullest extent. The remaining business before the House will be pushed through as speedily as practicable, and the session brought to a close if possible by the end of next week or the middle of the week following.

The only case tried and disposed of yesterday at tho Supreme Court sitting, and which did not terminate until a quarter-past 60 clock, was a charge of wilful and corrupt perjury preferred againsb Ellen Kane, ies>iding at Shortland. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Previoas to the arraignment William Oakley was brought up to receive sentence upon two charges for breach of the Arms Act, 1860. The piisoner made a long and manly defence, which was listened to with much attention by a full Court. The sentence was four years' penal servitude; but it is considered likely that the Government will be memonalined to remit the sentence either in part or in whole. The piisoner had been an armourer at Maketu for four years' and had been largely employed by the Government to repair aims. The ushers and officials yesterday caused considerable disturbance during the sitting of the Supreme Court by showering down profuse numbers of "silences" at times when there was not a murmur or a sound to be heard either in fiont or behind the bar. If this be a part of their duty they did it, and did it well aud effectively. Judge Pidder, of the Tasmanian Bench, would never allow the ushers to proclaim silence. If the Court was at all disturbed he was wont to hold up his left hand, and exclaim, very mildly, "If you please, gentlemen, a little more quiet." But on one occasion, however, when the Court was unusually loud, his Honor stopped short whilst taking his notes, saying, "Gentle- 1 men, just a little less row, and I shall get on much more comfortably." Fora minute after this injunction the dropping of a pin would have been heard, but a reaction set in, and there was a great outburst of laughter at the singular remark made by thi3 linetempered, moat excellent, and most worthy Judge. A fire broke out yesterday, at a little after 12 o'clock, in a wooden house situated in I Albert-street, and occupied by a family named Stephens. It appears that the chimney caught fire, aud the heat was so great that the shingle roof also ignited. The Victoria-street bell rang out the alarm, but before the usual crowd had time to collect { the lire was extinguished. We were glad to see how promptly at least one fireman in uniform responded to the call of the bell, and although his presence was not required still it shows that some of theae mea are willing to do their duty. A meeting of the members of Trinity Church, North Shore, took place on Thursday evening last for the purpose of electing two committeemen in the place of those who had resigned or left the district. The meeting was held in the schoolroom, and there was a very fair attendance. Messrs. P. J. Summerfield and W. S. Cochrane were elected to be committeemen for the remainder of the current year. The following licenses were transferred at tha Police Court yesterday : — The Royal Mail Hotel, from W. Woolley to Albert Griffiths ; and the Suffolk Hotel, from George H. Legg to Emanuel Holloway. At Opotiki, during the past year, the streets have been formed, new-made, and metalled, leading to farms and homesteads that are springing into life for miles around. Through the goo 3 offices of Mr. W. Kelly, a liberal grant of four acres of land has been made by the General Government for a public school. They also generously offer £100 towards the erection of suitable premises. The Provincial Board of Education in Auckland has voted £50 towards the school building, and the sum of £50 per annum towards the teacher's salary. The settlers have taken up tho matter with good spirit, and have come out very handsomely on the occasion with subscriptions representing some £so additional; and, as soon as these items have been put together, a plan will be adopted, tenders invited, and the work will proceed. — B. P. Times. It is contemplated in Taurahga, should sufficient inducement be offered, at no distant date, to publish a weekly native journal, which would be entirely devoted to advoJ eating the interests of the loyal natives in th» Bay of Plenty. ' -

"Glorious News!" is the heading unde which the 8a?/ of Plenty limes announced the defeat of the Stafford Ministry. In its leading columns that journal remarked :—: — "The political situation has now arrived at that stage which we all along anticipated ; and Mr. (Stafford and the band of nameless and needy adventurers which form his Ministry have failed to meet the difficulty they have created. The debate on Mr. Vogel's want -of - confidence motion was conducted admirably and with great ability, and each hour showed more strength of character and purpose. Rarely, indeed, has any statesman exhibited so much power, and finished his work with more promptness, spirit, and unanimity than the Honourable Julius Vogel. What a contrast to Mr. Stafford ! He had not the • backbone' to meet the difficulty, and like a political coward shrank from his impending fate. We can fancy the exciting scene in the House, the cheers that burst forth from the Opposition benches — hearty, reiterated, and ringing, such as are seldom heard iv any Parliament of any laud. Mr. Vogel cannot fail to be successful in forming a strong Ministry, embracing some of our ablest men— men in whom the country will have confidence, not only in their administrative ability, but in those rare qualities of honour, honesty, and probity, so glaringly deficient in the Stafford clique," The "annual Church Meeting " is to be held in the City Hall on Tuesday evening, at 7 o'clock. Papers will be read as follow :— On Preachers not in Holy Orders of the Church, by the Rev. E. N. Bree ; On Church Music, by Mr. Y. E. Rice ; On how to treat Scepticism, by the Rev. R. Kidd ; On Religious Education, by Mr. James Adams. The chair is to be occupied by the Bishop, and discussion is k to be invited upon eaoh paper after it is read. The admission to the meeting is to bo free. Yesterday Mr. Joy, during its sitting, moved the Court upon affidavit that the sureties in the case of the Green Harp commitments be relieved from their recognizances. His Honor considered that when the principals in such cases were relieved it might be safe to say that their bailsmen were also relieved. Virtually the sureties were discharged, although some formal application will probably have to be made before the release may be considered complete. The final rehearsal for the grand concert to be given at the Choral Hall on Monday was successfully gone through with last night. We think we are justified iv stating that the concert will prove a musical treat such as has seldom been given beforo in Auckland. The music is not confined to one great author's work, but is a selection from several, the pieces having been selected, not only for their intrinsic merits, but as suitable to the voices and the instrumentation of the vocalists and performers. Miss Rose Evans succeeded last night, by the announcement of her intention to repeat the perfoimance of " Hamlet," in drawing a veiy full house. We have nothing further to say of this lady's impersonation than what we have already written. She has made the character an intense study, and she embodies it as well as it can come within the power of any woman who plays in a man's part. The audience were greatly pleased — moie, we think, at Miss Evans's great ability in attempting so successfully to fairly represent a difficult part than they were with the part itself or the play. There were very few present last night at the Prince of Wales who have not seen one or other of the great actors who have visited this city in Hamlet. It must be an abnormal taste that would give the preference to Miss Evans over Montgomery, Talbot, Anderson, or Bandmann. A little pleasure yacht in full sail is a very pretty sight, but it will hardly bear comparison wtth the magnificence of a full-rigged frigate. "We presume the admiiers of Miss Evans's great talents will not feel disposed to be offended at the simile. — This evening Miss Evans will play " Ingomar," and on Monday she will take a benefit, when she is announced to appear in four different characters. Onr crops (a Ohaupo correspondent writes) are looking well, especially wheat, so that in some cases it has been necessary to top the same ; and now that it has become a success to grow the same, the problem to solve is, will it pay ? Taken as a specialty it may not at present, as a little of everything must be the maxim for some time ; but our numerous mills will give a stimulant to the growth of all cereals. — We have been honoured with a flying visit by the great Anthony, who would hardly find much romance among us. Yet still we have plenty ofjbush, tea-tree, fern, and beautiful lakes smothered in swamps, much as the Maori left them, to give a good idea of what the Waikato has been ; but the axe and the plough are gradually working their way to make it to us not only beautiful but useful. To the Editor : Sir, — At a large and influential educational meeting of Catholics held in London in June last, Lord Robeit Montague, one of the speakers, said, "If you look at the Privy Council reports on education, not a report by Catholics, bat by the Protestant Privy Council, you will there find this astounding fact — that not only are the Catholic schools abreast of other schools, but in every part of secular learning, in reading, writing, and arithmetic, the Catholic schools have beaten hollow all the Church of England schools and all the Protestant Dissenters' schools." He was of coux-se speaking of primary schools. But if Catholic primary schools can beat hollow the Church of England and Dissenters' schools in the old country, why not in this colony too, and why may not the Catholic schools for higher education do the same? Give them a chance; place them all under Government inspection, foi that purpose, with a Government subsidy, — I am, &c, K. C. The £5,000 offered by the late Lord Mayo for an efficient machine for dressing the fibre of the rhea still remains unawarded. The same sort of ingenuity that was successfully employed to manipulate silk and cotton fibres is wanted in working the rhea, or China grass ; the phormium, or IMew Zealand flax ; and the many modern fibres that aie offered for manufacture. A contemporary has the following information respecting a competition of machines that has taken place at Saharunpore :—": — " A competition of machines has taken place at Saharunpore, and one of the number is still kept at work, and it is said to perform its task admirably, proving itself a perfect success. The season at which rhea (called in America ramie) is green and flourishing has (July) gone by, but ' Mr. Greigs machine takes no account of the toughness aud dryness of the now brown withes. As fast as they can be fed into the machine — after the manner of an English threshing-machine — the beautiful white fibre is turned out lit the other end, like a shower of silken skeins several feet in length.' Mr. Greigs success is said to be partly clue to the • foresight and perserering patronage of one of our Bombay merchants, now deceased' — an example that might be imitated with advantage by some of our own wealthy citizens. At present, there is reason to fear that the production of an efficient reaper and binder is hindered by the want of a very moderate pecuniary aid. Mr. Greig has also invented a scutcher, which can he worked either with or without the first machine. He has had the satisfaction of beating one or more American machines, as well as one made in England to the plans of Mr. Montgomery, a well-known planter of the Kangra Valley, and two or three other inventions that were kept close until the day of trial. It is not stated that Mr. Greig has won the prize, but he seems to have conquered the rhea, and now it is hoped aloes and hemps of various kinds, and the many tough sedges that rot on river sides, may also be successfully dealt with." A report recently presented to Parliament gives the average daily pay of mechanics as follows : — Austria, one dollar; Belgium, sixty cents; France, one dollar and ten cents; Denmark, sixty cents ; Italy, forty cents ; Netherlands, seventy cents; Norwaj', sixty cents; Sicily, thirty cents; Portugal, forty cents ; Prussia, seventy-five cents; Russia, seventy-five cents ; Sweden, sixty cents ; Switzerland, sixty cents.

Mr. JordaD, a Queensland Immigration Agent, in a lecture on immigration, stated during six years he sent 36,000 persona to Queensland — namely, 6,000 navvies and cotton operatives, 12,000 full-payers, 12,000 free passengers, and 6,000 assisted passenger?. The amount of money raised by the assisted plan which he originated realised £54,000 during six years, paying all the expenses of the Queensland Office, salary of AgentGeneral, and all other expenses of his mission, and bringing in a revenue as well of £3,000 a year. A curious legal case is reported in the Warwick Argus of a singular nature. A man, named Hawker, brought a claim of £5 against Government for damage done to a crop of lucerne by the erection of a telegraph post in a corner of his paddock, combined with the poisonous effect of the dew that fell from the telegraphic wire. The Commissioner to whom the claim was made referred the claimant to the local Bench for a certificate of damage, and the local Bench referred him to appraisers. The latter estimated the damage at £25. We would advise the Commissioner to come to some compromise at once (says the joiirnal), for, should the estimate of the damage to Hawker's lucerne keep increasing at that rate, we shall soon require a new loan to meet it. At the High Court of Judiciary in Edinburgh, James Glassall, carter, was charged with the murder of Louisa Purdie on March 24, in Queen's Park, Edinburgh. From the evidence it appeared that there were more than 100 wounds on the body. The jury returned a verdict of "Guilty of culpable homicide," and the Judges sentenced Glassall to fifteen years' penal servitude. Captain Bui ton, the well-known traveller, is at present in Edinburgh, en route for Iceland, where, it is stated, he is to be engaged in certain scientific inquiries. Captain Burton has presented to Captain Archer, of the Glasgow Museum, a lock of hair which he brought from the Palmyran " tomb-towers." A slipper, said to have belonged to the founder of Islamism, theproperty of a dervish at Diarbekr, who boasts of descending from the Prophet, has been purchased by the Sultan, and is now exposed to the veneration of the faithful. Mrs. Crawford, author of the song "Kathleen Mavourneen," says she wrote one of its lines purposely to trouble the "Cockney warblers" in the "h" dropping. This is the line : The 'orn of tho 'unter is 'earil on the 'ill. One of the squares off King'a-road, Chelsea, and in the vicinity of Cheyne-row, has had its name changed to Carlyle-square — a compliment to the venerable philosopher who has resided in Chelsea for more than thirty years. Since St. Peter, to whom tradition assigns twenty-five years, there have been but three popes (with the exception of the present), out of two hundred and fifty-eight, who have lived to commence or to finish their twenty-third year of government. These were Adrian 1., the Pope of Charlemagne; Pius VI., the Pope of the Directory; and Pius VIII., the Pope of Napoleon I. The German Police Anzeiger asserts that between seventy and eighty persons in New York are engaged in counterfeiting the treasury-notes of various European Governments, and they are able to carry on their nefarious business withtheutmostimpudence, as their true character ia but little known to the police authorities of New York. A large watch and clock manufacturer of Neuchatel has set the example of participation of profits with his workmen. A regulai account is opened with each man, and his book is made up annually, four per cent, being added by the employer to the amount due, as interest on the capital for one year. A considerable amount of scandal has been caused in religious circles owing to Professor Tyndall having introduced into the pages of the last issue of the Fortnightly Revieio an essay, cleverly prepared by some young writer, on " The Efficacy of Prayer," treated as a scientific question. Although written with apparent earnestness, we cannot but think that the author's intention in writing the paper has been to turn prayer into ridicule, and we very much regret that an elaborate satire on such a faith inspiring topic should have appeared under such auspices. Caselius was a dentist in the reign of the Roman Triumviis, and gold was used in tilling. But nearly 500 B. C. gold was thus used, and gold wire was employed to hold artificial teeth in position, and it does not seem to have been a new art. A fragment of the tenth of the Roman tables, 450 8.C., has reference to preventing the burial of any | gold with the dead except that bound round I the teeth. Herodotus declares that the Egyptians had a knowledge of the diseases of the teeth and their treatment 2,000 B.C.

The assessment list for the Parnell Highway District has been prepared, and can now be seen by the ratepayeis at the shop of Mr. JSobinsou, chemist. 'Flris afternoon, at five o'clock, the Board will meet in the Wesleyau Schoolroom to hear appeals against the assessment. It will be seen by our advertising columns that a notice appears reminding shareholders in the Evening Star Goldmining Company that unless their calls, with interest due thereon, are paid by the 17th instant, the shares will be liable to be forfeited. The fifth annual meeting of the members of the Auckland Institute is to be held, on Monday evening, at half-past seven o'clock, in the] Museum Buildings, when several papers will be read. Shareholders in the Bank of Tokatea Goldmining Company are reminded by advertisement that unless they pay their calls within seven days of the date of the advertisement|the shares will be forfeited.