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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6, 8 January 1902, Page 4

The Ariadne ease seems to be producing some extraordinary developments. We publish on our second page to-day a full report of the proceedings in the Police Court at Christchurch yesterday, when Captain Muinford was charged with attempting to tamper with Mrs Downing, a witness for the Crown. The evidence is of a sensational character, quite as interesting in its incidents as the most popular of Sir Conan Doyle's famous detective stories. Exports of butter and cheese for the past twelve months in value amounted to the large, sum of £1,----133,435. As showing the tremendous expansion of this export, a comparison with other years is of interest. In !891 the value of the butter oxported was £150,258; in 1892, £227,----162; ISO 3, £254,G-±5; 1594, ±>201,250; 1895, £227,001; 1800, £251,716; 1897, £402,605; 189S, £403,690; 1599, £571,----799; 1900, £740,620; 1901, £-901,774. The quantity exported during- 1901 was 204,3G0ewt; in the previous year 172,553cwt. The. export of cheese in 'iflOl was 101,010cwt, valued at £231,----661, against 102,S40cwt, valued at .£229,111, in the previous year. It will be noticed there has been a large and steady increase in the export of. butter during the last 10 yeax*s, and especially since. IS9B, and there ca.n. belittle doubt but that the export for the year on which we have now entered will be considerably greater.

An inquest was held at the Asylum this morning, before Mr Gresham, coroner, to inquire' into the circumstances surrounding the death of the Maori chief Tamati Tawera, aged 70 years. Medical evidence showed that deceased died of tuberculosis, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

News to hand by the latest mails states that the German Governor of Samoa was to leave the Islands about the end of December, on a six months' holiday trip to Germany. He would probably catch thJe 'Frisco mail steamer which left here on December 20, and would proceed by lier to San Francisco. During his absence the Chief Justice of Samoa will occupy his position as Acting-Governor. The Governor while he has been in Samoa has found the labour question a very serious difficulty. The natives will not work, and 'the severe restrictions upon Englishmen prevent them from employing native labour from neighbouring islands. He intends to urge upon the German Government the desirability of importing Javanese labour into Samoa. The Javanese have declared themselves willing to work, but the traders and importers cannot undertake the expense of carrying them to the islands, and he considers the German Government should take some measures to assist to bring labour from Java. Among other matters, he will also advocate the formation of a native reserve, and with this in view he has been making arrangements for procuring several thousand acres of land suitable for a reserve. It was originally intended that the Governor should include New Zealand in his route home, but that plan was abandoned, and it was decided to proceed via America.

The authorities at Fiji are taking very strict precautions to prevent the introduction of the plague. When the steamer Manapouri arrived at Suva on December 23rd, she was immediately quarantined owing to a case of plague having- occurred at Sydney a fortnight before the steamer left for the Islands. No communication was allowed- with the vessel for five days. It was only on the -SSt'h that the Manapouri was admitted to pratique, and allowed to berth at the Suva wharf.

The TCltham "Argus" recoi'ds the narrow escape from poisoning of some Ngaire boys. The manager for C. A. Wilkinson put a quantity of dried figs dosed with ".Rough on Rjtls" in the letter ftox. With a piece o!! hooked wire some boys (who had scented the fruit) g;ot out the ligs and ear them. The result was a severe fright and strong emetics.

'Trom the passing of the Probation Act in ISB6 until the end of the year 1800 —the last for which complete returns are available —the record shows that a percentage of S3 admitted to probation have done well, while only 2.41 per cent, have been backsliders (.says the Christchurch 'Press'). Had the offenders admitted to probation during the past twelve months been sent to gaol instead, the cost to the State would have been between three and four thousand pounds; but of more importance than the saving thus effected is the rehabilitation of those who have taken the first step in crime, and who, if given the chanCe, are only too willing to make amends and live down the past. The Probation Act has, in fact, proved a potent influence for good, but it is a measure in the administration of -which a wise discretion is essential.'

"Zadkiel," the. well-known British prophet, in common with the rest of the outside world, is paying increased attention to New Zealand. In his Almanac for 1002 (72nd year of publicity) "Zadkiel" has more than a. passing word of precast .for the colony, lie does not take the side of the pessimisis regarding the condition of affairs hei'e (airing the coming year, although he gave indications of a dismal finish to the month just ended, that were, happily, not realised. In Mai'ch, he declares, the public revenue will largely increase. Railway interests will suffer, most likely through accidents and increase of expenses. In his notes upon a partial eclipse of the sun on Sth May, lie says that the eclipse, which will only be visible in the South Pacific Ocean, "takes place in the eleventh house, in Taurus." He goes on to say that Cardan averred that a solar eclipse in Taurus portends barrenness and scarcity by reason of excessive drought. "This' is, unfortunately, very likely to nappen in New Z-ealand, as Mars is elevated 'above the sun and moon in. the precedent angle; and a shock of earthquake is also very probable. An attack by a madman or Anarchist is likely to be made in the latter half of May on a person in hi.ghi authority. An important change will be made in the Legislature after keen debates in the House of Representatives. The defences of New Zealand should be strengthened. Mars in the tenth house foreshadows increase of taxation. June, says the prophet, "will bring a most prosperous and healthy quarter to New Zealand,"

The "British Weekly" prints the following paragraph taken from a private letter just received from a

Canadian correspondent, the daughter of a well-known public man: "There was a big dinner at Government House in the evening, and as there was no time for presentations (the reception was held afterwards at the Government buildings) an old lady sat next to the Duke, and never knew it. She told him that she really did not know how to address Royalty, and that she was timid. So the Duke said, 'But you are not frightened of me?' She replied, 'Oh, no, you are a nice man,' and went on to ask him whether he was married, and ii' lie had any children, and cm being told of his family, she said, 'You are. far too young fur that.' The Duke tried to enlighten her. and she even said he reminded her of pictures of the Eoya'l family, to which he replied, 'I am the Queen's grandson.' and jet she did not grasjj the fact. Afterwards the hostess came up to the old lady and said everyone was so pleased to see how well she had got on with the Duke. 'But I have not. seen him. 1 said she. You may imagine her horror on learning what she had done. The Duchess was ranch amu°ed. rmri said ?A\p would tease her husband about being too young to be married."

Bunting was flying gaily on the s.s. Kotit-i as sfte left the wharf to-day, In honour of the marriage of Mr, Ernest Barker, of Fuhoi, to Miss T. Berry, of Auckland,

On Monday next the Arbitration Court will hear the case" Phinix v. Brown and others, claim £100, under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act. The applicant sets out that his daughter while working in a confectionery factory at Parnell, lost three of her right hand fingers unawares in a cutting machine, and in consequence claims £,100 gpmpensatiion. (Dor. Laishley appears for the applicant, and Mr J. C. Martin for Brown and others. ■

On Monday evening a gathering of parishioners* of St. Barnabas', Mount Eden, was held to make a presentation to the Rev. W. Johnston, prior to his departure for England. Mr Shirley Hill presided, and presented Mr Johnston with a purse containing 65 sovereigns, voluntarily subscribed. Mr Johnston suitably thanked the subscribers for their gift. He referred to his term as vicar, speaking of the several works, including the erection of a parish hall and a parsonage, which had been accomplished. He thanked the choir and Ladies' Guild for the material assistance they had always given him. Mr Heather announced that there was every reason to believe that the Key. Chas.'J. Mcrton, of Kaitaia,- would accept the position left vacant by Mr Johnston. A number of instrumental and vocai items were contributed during tile evening by the Glee Club, under the leadership of Mrs Yates.

The "Fiji Times" of December 28, states that the. attention of the Supreme Court in its criminal jurisdiction, was occupied during- the whole of the previous week in hearing a charge of murder against a Fijian youth, named Alapati, aged 20 years, for killing one of two Indian hawkers on July 20, at Sava Sava, Vanua Levu. More than usual interest attached to the case, as the accused had been tried for the murder of the second Indian at the last assizes, and had then been found not guilty. As the result of investigations by Sergeant Gosstray, Alapati was charged with perpetrating the double murder. He was arrested and being brought up before the local magistrate was committed to take his trial at the next assizes. A long array of witnesses, numbering about 27, gave evidence as to the movements of the prisoner about the time of the double murder, and this evidence sheeted home the crime. Accused was found guilty and was sentenced to death.

The "Western Pacific Herald" of December 27, contains an account of <i severe gale at Suva on the preceding- day. It. states that the weather on Christmas morningl was very calm, with a slight wind from the north. During- the night the wind commenced to rise and the rain to come down in real earnest. On Boxing Day it was raining, in torrents, and the wind was blowing- almost a hurricane. At 9 a.m. the barometer recorded 29.628 and 3.1S inches of rain had fallen. The storekeepers and householders now entertained fears of a hurricane and began to prepare, for. a blow. Two small steamers at the wharf went to a safe anchorage, and the Wanalca and Mana.pou.ri steamed slowly ahead to decrease the strain on their cables. At eleven a.m. the glass stood at 29.560; at twenty minutes to twelve at 29.540; ; at five minutese to twelve it had fallen to 29.487. From this point it "gradually rose, and at 12.25 it recorded 29.527, and half an hour later at 29.543. The rain ceased about midday, the glass continued to rise, and the danger was passed. Owing to a big landslip several of the pipes carrying the Suva water supply, were completely carried away. The shipping escaped well, and with the exception of a few small craft no damage was done.

Several special features in this week's "Graphic" make the number one of much more than ordinary interest.1, First in importance, perhaps, are the pictures of the Auckland section of the Eighth Contingent in camp and bidding farewell to Onehunga. The boys 'departed so quietly, and we were so busy with -our- holiday-making, that these scenes will be a novelty, to most, as they are of interest to all. Capital pictures of the "N.Z. Lawn tennis championship meeting, giving clever studies of -the individual players in the act of playing should be welcome to all lovers of the game. The concluding days of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting gave matter for some fine photographs, which ara published in the number. "Gems of the Pacific" is the title of a series of new views of Tahiti, etc. The Domain, from new points of view, makes another capital subject. Considerable space is devoted to scenes on the new undei-gTouncl tramway about to be opened in Wellington. Young readers of the "Graphic," and their elders too, will be pleased to see photographs of the dolls distributed free by the "Grapnic" to the poor children of Auckland and Wellington on Xmas Eve. Among the portraits are one of Mr Kensington, of the Lands Office, recently appointed Under-Secretary for Lands, and the Rev. Geo. A. Carver, the new incumbent of St. Sepulchre's, Auckland. There are the usual cartoon cartoonlets, stories, notes, topics, sketches, society news, ladies' and children's pages, sport notes, etc. The number is now ready.

In describing the recent State luncheon at the Elysee to the King- of Greece, the Paris correspondent of the "Daily News" remarks that the menu shows the prevalence of nitrogenous food, which Is one of the drawbacks of the French cuisine, it may be said that you are not bound to partake of every dish. Perhaps so, but the French chef takes care on a great occasion to make every dish too tempting and delicious to be skipped" or merely tasted. Celebrities who dine out in Paris soon find, by broken neaith, how insidious such dinners are. lhe preponderance of meat over vegetables reminds one of the ha'p'orth of Dread in FalstafTs long bill for sack. It is no longer the fashion to set down wines in the menu, but there, were Madeira, fine Bordeaux, Burgundies, and champagnes. Liqueurs were served with coffee. How can anyone who often dines thus retain his health? And yet the successful statesman and orators and authors are constantly dining in this luxurious way." These be sad reflections, indeed, to spoil a man's dinner.

Miss Alice Hollander and company will appear at the Choral Hall on.. Tuesday evening', the 14th inst. Arrangements have been made with Mr. J. C. Williamson for Mr. Neal McCay to appear in the large centres of New Zealand, and we-expect a hearty welcome for mis young tenor. Herr Vollmar, the violoncellist, will have all his work cut out after the great success here of Jean Gerardy, but his reputation as solo 'cellist both in ■ Europe and the Australian colonies,, and the pieces he will choose, will not leave a wide difference between these two sterling musicians. The box plan will be opened at Wildnian, Lyell &■ Arey's on Friday next. There was very little business to be transacted at the usual meeting of the Devonport Borough Council last night. The Mayor (Mr. M. 2\Ticcol) presided, and there were also' present Crs. Walker, Handley, Philson and Logan. A letter was received from the Government Health Officer intimating that he had given notice in a number of cases that drains required attention. Tha Council decided to make arrangements for new 'bus stands for.the convenience of the regular travelling public on race days.'

At the monthly meeting of the Mt, lloskill Road Board, held last night, after the usual business, there was a pleasing recognition of the services to the district of Mr. J. W. Carr, .Tip chairman (Mr. C. Bag-ley) said the numbers of " the Board were aware of.the fact that they were to lose for some eight or nine months the services of their esteemed clerk, and collector, and it was a loss all would fii;d, for Mr. Carr had had so many years' experience, and had so thoroughly mastered every detail of local matters, that aslc him what you would, with out reference to book or paper the answer was ever ready. Mr. Carr was very much respected and trusted throughout the district. He had been five times chairman and several years auditor of the Board, and from his first residence in the district identified with the School Committee as well, being the chairman for seven or eight years. Concluding his remarks, Mr. Bagley wished Mr. and Mrs. Carr, who leave on a visit to the Old Country, a pleasant voyage and safe return. Mr. Conelly and other members of the. Board, having spoken in the same strain, Mr. Carr made a suitable reply, and thanked members of the Board.

An amusing illustration of the native precocity (writes the "St. James' Budget) of the American child was noted recently on board an outward-bound Atlantic liner. A little girl, seven years of age, who had tasted every dish at the saloon din--nef on the first day. out, was not asked by the steward whether she would have cheese. The mail offered the little miss ice cream, fruit and cakes, only to receive a refusal in each case. On asking whether there was anything else on the table she would like, the small diner replied with a great air of dignity: "Yes; bring me some Camembert and champagne, please!" What this charming child's digestive powers are likely to be when she reaches maturity might be guessed at wTith" tolerable accuracy.