The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, FEBRUARY 17, 1888.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1933, 17 February 1888, Page 2

The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, FEBRUARY 17, 1888.

The Catholics of Otago have another grievance. Their long standing desire to have a share of the funds allocated to educational purposes is ventilated in every issue of the ' Tablet,' and the day when their demands will be complied with appears as far distant as ever. Last week's ' Tablet ' airs another grievance which seems to us to be quite as real and substantial as that previously mentioned. It appears that the Catholics in Oamaru contemplated the establishment of an Industrial School, and were prepared to provide site, buildings, and the requisite superintendence. The Bishop requested the Premier to let him know whether the Government would recognise such school under the Industrial Schools Act, and grant it concessions similar to those granted to the Nelson Eoman Catholic Industrial School. The Government has declined to have anything to do with

the matter, curtly rat first, but afterwards, perhaps thinking that the Bishop had been treated somewhat discourteously, a. lengthy letter was received by him frpm the Education Department giving various reasons. There is really nothing apparent in the reasons given, save that the Government does not wish to make the desired concessions. It must be borne in mind that a grant of money was not asked for, nor even a free site. They found land and buildings, all that was wanted was for the G-o---vernment to pay for the daily support of the boys as much as is actually paid for the boys in the Nelson Industrial School. The precedent having been created in the case of Nelson, we fail to see upon what grounds the Government is justified in refusing to do a similar thing in Oamaru. It would be too absurd to suppose that they saw a danger of such institutions being indefinitely multiplied. People do not start such things for mere fun, nor run them in competition with each other. Industrial schools may be fairly regarded as charitable institutions, and, although we are not in sympathy with the Catholic faith, we must admit that with regard to the manner in which they manage such concerns th© record is entirely in their favor. It seems to us that this stands upon an entirely different footing from the State School system. The arguments of expediency (principle is out of the question) used against the bestowment of aid upon Catholic schools will not apply in this case. Such persistent refusals to grant to a large body of colonsts what are no more than just and reasonable claims, to which they may to Protestant eyes attach an exaggerated importance, is not calculated to promote that harmony of feeling between different religionists which is desirable, nor is it calculated to foster that loyalty to the Constitution of the State which should possess the breasts of all colonists be they Catholics or Protestants.

What a wonderful thing it would be if human ingenuity were to succeed in revoking the curse of Babel, and bringing about an era in which all mankind shall speak one language. Almost impossible as such a feat may appear, there are nevertheless indications that its achievement is possible. For many years past events have seemed to indicate that English would ultimately become the common speech of the world. There is not a country which has been touched by the hands of civilisation where an Englishman cannot make himself understood without much difficulty. But a new departure has taken place. Some years ago one Pastor Schlexee, of Constance, brought out what he termed "Yolapuk," or the universal language. The pastor is one of the most accomplished living linguists, and he has brought his extensive knowledge to bear upon this question. It is said that already over a million people speak and write the new language. Ten journals are published in it, and there are 140 societies which exist for the purpose of propagating its knowledge. Max Mulleb, than whom there is no more eminent authority, approves of it, and it is taught in the schools and universities of Vienna, Munich, and Milan. It is said to be so simple that the grammar can be learned in a week. Every sound has its own distinctive letter, and each letter has only one sound. Whether the results will be in proportion to expectations it would be difficult to say. The confusion of tongues was, according to the only authentic record, brought about by the direct interposition of the Supreme Being. The only occasion since then when men of different nationalities were a Die without previous protracted study to make themselves universally understood was when the Apostles were 'miraculously endowed with the gift of tongues at Pentecost. It will be a remarkable thing if an obscure Swiss parson succeeds in rectifying the disastrous work of the Babel builders, and bringing about an universal result which GrOD only could do by a special miracle. According to a correspondent of the Southland ' News,' the people of New Zealand are themselves largely responsible for the horrible weather which ha 3 prevailed lately. Over the signature " A Believer," he, writes : — "It is now about 23 years aince we had such a severe turn of boisterons weather. At that time the inhabitants were but few, and whether of a more religious nature than the present is a question. In the month of March, 1865, there was a day set apart for fasting an-1 prayer to God for more seasonable weather — and we got it. Have the heads of families degenerated since then, or are they bringing up the young generation to no belief in a power from whom comes down every good and perfect gift 1 Will our congregations unite in setting a day apart for such service, or are they still in unbelief ?" If there is anything in this, and we should be sorry to say there is not, the apostles of Freethought and infidelity have much to answer for. Not only have their teachings had a bad influence upon the character of many of the people, but they have had a serious effect on the very climate itself. Should the raging of these heathen not be stopped, New Zealand may become even as Spitzbergen, althongh it would be more natural and certainly more pleasant were it to bs conformed in the matter of climate to — say Calcutta. But the matter is not one for jesting. Unless the best men the world ever knew were notorious liars, the weather has times without number been

changed for the better in answer to prayer, aid in such striking ways that they could •oarce'y be regarded as mere coincidences. The Oamara Chamber of Commerce calls the grain tariff on the New Zealand railways a "penalty iate." A Norfolk Island correspondent concludes an account of the New Year's festivities by saying : — "Bad language is a luxury as yet which we have not imported." Thb services of the Wes'eyan Church will be conducted on Sunday next by the Rev R. Taylor. Morning subject— " Perfect love " ; evening subject—" Christ ■ among the Publicans." The proceedings in the Imperial Parliament are uninteresting aa yet. Mr Parnell has moved au amendment on the Addressin- Reply, and the debate has been of an Irish tone throughout. At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, the resignation of Mr C. A. Strack, head teacher, Lovells Flat, was accepted. £3 was Toted to the Tokomairiro High School for buildings. Harvesting operations are now general in this district. There is reason to believe that the crops have not suffered quite so seriously from the recent high winds and the ravages of birds as was feared. We are in receipt of the February number | of the 'N. Z. Musical Monthly.' The reading matter is fall of interest, and as a supplement there are the cornet parts of a new mazurka, and a quick march " Centenary." The railway freights for grain are higher in New Zealand and lower in Victoria than in either of the colonies. For 50 miles the Victorian rate is 5s 6d, and the New Zealand 10s 2d. For 300 miles Victoria charges 19b and New Zealand 31s. During the last five yeaTs the export of wool from New Zealand has increased by over 30 per cent, but as the value has declined, the returns showed an increase of only 10 per cent. The value of exports of cereals, flour, &c, was less by £907,317 in 1887 than in 1883. To-day the Jubilee Brass Band will picnic on the grounds of Mr Moffat, Glenore. Mr George Reed conveys the members of tfee Band free of charge. Other persons attending the picnic will be charged the modest sum ot 2s return ticket. A Btart will be made punctually at 2 o'clock. The bandsmen meet at the Bandroom at a quarter to 2. Me Geo. Reed haß just purchased up country 22 ponies of the Shetland and Tamore breeds, 4 and 5 years old. They will be on view at bis stables for a few days, and although destined for the Melbourne market, Mr Reed will not object to dispose of a few locally. Those who contemplate purchasing should be careful not to mies the opportunity. THE following Committee has been elected for Mount Stuart Licensing District :— Messrs W. Cameron, A. Miller, A. Moffat, W. Simpson and W. Tulloch. For Tokomariro, there were no nominations, and for Clarendon 3, of which 5 were informal. For both these districts the Committees will have to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The ' Times' ' Wellington correspondent says that Sir Julius Yogel is going Home in order to get out a work on New Zealand similar to the " Picturesque Atlas of Australasia" now publishing in Sydney. The letterpreES is to be both in English and French. Mr Bracken is canvassing in the colony for £10 Bhares in a company to carry out the scheme, and Sir J. Yogel is to be editor or manager. Major Dane, a celebrated American author and lecturer, has asked us to undertake the responsibility of arranging for a lecture in Milton, or to recommend somebody else who would do it. The Major would be content with 60 per cent, of the receipts. We believe he is an excellent lecturer, and wonld be very glad to hear him, but are not dispoied to undertake the work and responsibility. We recommend him to do as Other purveyors for public entertainment — employ an advance agent. At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, in Bankruptcy, on Monday, application was made to have John Draper, farmer, Milton adjudicated a bankrupt. Mr D. Reid (of Milton) appeared for George Coombe, the petitioning creditor ; there was no appearance on the other Bide. The evidence showed that on December 7 last Mr Coombe obtained judgment in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Milton agaiast the debtor for £98 3s 6d. Execution was issued, and the warrant was returned with the endorsement nulla bona. No moneys had been paid on account of the judgment. Mr Gordon made the adjudication prayed for. Sets of beautif ully-bouad copies of the ' Handbook to the New Zealand Mines ' and the report oa the Mining Industry have been forwarded within the last few days to the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Eirl of Roseberry, and the Earl of Aberdeen. The copy intended for tha Earl of Dalhousie was not forwarded as he is dead. Her Majesty's copy was beautifully bound in royal blue, the Prince of Wales's in crimson morocco, and the others in less brilliant but still splendid binding. We Buggest that complete sets of ' Hansard ' be forwarded to the members of the Royal Family and aristocracy. Calf would be a suitable and suggestive binding. Mr C. A. Stkaox has tendered hi 3 resignation as head master, and Mrs Strack hers as sewing mistress, of the Lovells Flat school. Mr Strack, in writing to the above effect to the committee, said that it was with much regret he severed the connection, but the position to which he was going in Invercar- { gill would be a decided promotion, and he was anxious to further pursue his studies in science which he could with more advantage j there than in the country. He bade adieu to the committee with regret, and expressed gratitude for the kindness shown him during the three years he had taught the school, and recognised the great interest taken by

them io all matters pertaining to the welfare of the school and teachers. Mr Strack gave a highly favorable report to his committee of hia pnpil teacher, Miss Nelson, who has recently passed an excellent examination in the Fourth class. The New South Wales Parliament has again distinguished itself. The notorious M'Elhone denounced some of the silver companies 'as swindles. Mr Matheson, a party interested in the mines, called M'Elhone a liar, whereupon he got a blow in the face. They had it out afterwards in the smoking room, and M'Elhone got a sound drubbing. Mr Hugh McCalmont, Baron Stern, Lord Wolverton, and Mr Russell Sturgis (of Baring Brothers) — have died quite recently, together leaving personality worth about five millions. The collective estates of the four will amount in the aggregate to twelve or fourteen millions, on which the probate duties can hardly be less than £400,000. Mr Sidney Taiwhanga, M.H.R., was again before the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Tuesday, to answer a summons for £38 preferred against him by the person with whom he had been lodging. The magistrate ordered Sydney to find the money or go to gaol for 14 days. Mr Taiwhanga intimated that he would accept the latter alternative. i The Government have just sold several of j Her Majesty's old warships lying idle at Devonport to a Plymouth contractor. Sir Edward Bates, M.P. for Plymouth, has advanced the. money, on condition that the vessels are broken up at that town, and that the men who have been discharged from Devonport Dockyard are employed, their wages not to be less than a guinea per week. This wiil give employment for a large number of men for about two years. It is recorded by Home papers as something unusual that just after Christmas a hard frost set in in England and skating and sliding were in full swing. Tho3 colonials who imagine that the whole winter season in England is one of perpetual frost and snow will be surprised to learn that four or five years often succeed each other without furnishing any opportunities for amusements on the ice. We even remember one winter in the south of England daring the whole of which there was not a single frosty morning. The worshipful Mayor of Auckland proposed the other day to sec a one-stamper battery up in the Melbourne Exhibition in order to show the benighted Victorians what we are doing in the development of the New Zealand goldfields. It would be far better to send over a commission of our most expert mine managers to Melbourne while the Exhibition is on to pick up a little information. If all the gold-mining machinery and appliances in New Zealand were transferred holus-bolus to Victoria it would scarcely attract attention. A mounted sword contest between Donovan and Meats took place at Bondi, (Sydney) in the presence of an immense number of people. After fighting eleven attacks, Meats scored six points, and Donovan three, there being two counters, Meats, who was wounded in two places, dismounted, and gave up his Bword to Donovan, who was declared the winner. Immediately Meats got off his horse and showed signs of profuse bleeding, Senior-Constable Griffiths intimated hia intention of stopping the combat, but the interference was unnecessary, as Meats was unable to continue. On the subject of the need for new Parliament Houses, the ' Sydney Mail ' says : — It is hardly worth while to build a grand temple and then have a bable of worshippers. The present house is certainly quite good enough for some of the scenes that take place within it, and we cannot trust to mere architecture to refine the manners and morals of members. That refinement is badly wanted ; but the needed discipline can only come from the eleotors. As long as they send in low, vulgar, and violent men, we shall have scenes ; but whenever they take to rebuking in an unmistakable manner all violations of Parliamentary decorum, then we shall see an improvement. The Prince of Wales and hia set are furious that publicity shonld have been given to the visit which he paid to Sullivan's boxing exhibition. It was expressly stipulated that this private show-off before Royalty should be kept secret, and fervent promises were made by the pugilist and his associates that they would not let the function transpire. However, as might have been expected, the visit of the Prince of Wales was too good an advertisement to be suppressed, and the sporting papers received informa • tion of it directly after His Royal Highness had left, and there has been plenty of chatter and clatter on the subject among those who were directly connected with the affair. Chicago has an eccentric millionaire — Mr C. Hnll— who is supposed to be worth three million dollars, one of whose hobbies is the value of fish as a brain food. For some years he fed his children exclusively on codfish ; but, strange to say, they all died. Since he has been left alone in the world Mr Hull has largely devoted himself to establishing working men in houses of their own on easy terms. Mr Hull boasts that he has put 2000 families in houses of their own in Chicago, 2000 more in Lincoln, Nebraska, 1000 in Georgia. He buys up suburban property cheaply, builds houses for working men, and allows them to yay by instalments. The Grovernment Have received a report I from Mr Hudson on the Hessian fly in which he states that the pest has ravaged the wheat crops of five or six farms at Rangitikei. He thinks it would be advisable to isolate the district as much as possible in order to prevent the spread of the peat to other parts of the colony, Some of the injured wheat stalks were sent to the Agent- | General by the s.s. Tongariro, with instructions that he should obtain the opinion of Misa Ormerod and Mr R. S. Meade, two well-known entomologists, as to whether the settlers at Marton are right in supposing that Hessian fly has made its appearance in that district. If Sir D illon Bell finds that it

is Hessian fly he is to make an effort to obtain some pupae of the insects which are bred in America to prey upon the fly. It is believed that the insect which is causing so much concern in Rangitikei was brought from the United States in some packing case straw. On Centennial Day io Sydney, a wonderful display was made not only of the wealth but of the poverty of the colony. It was announced that a gift of rations would be -bestowed on all poor persons who might apply for them ; and so from early "morn to noon and noon to- dewy cve —a summer's day," and long after night had closed in on the imposing scene, there was a parade of eleven thousand heads of families and a thousand single men, representative, it is computed, of 45,000 men, women, and children of the wealthiest city of the colonies, in a state of poverty, crushing and elbowing one another for the crumbs that fell from the rich men's tables. And this is civilisation in the Nineteenth Century, in circumstances the most favorable, perhaps, of any place on earth for the free play of all the factors of prosperity and progress. At the N. S. Wales Centennial Exhibition banquet the Chairman remarked : — ln reviewing the material progress of the country during the past century in as short a manner as possible, it is recorded that in 1788 the Governor was greatly grieved at hearing that five ewes and one lamb bad been killed at a farm not far from the site of , the present railway station, and it is now a j little more than 50 years since her Majesty first ascended the throne, and although only a youngster at the time 1 can recollect it 'airly well, as we had no bread to eat, and flour at that time was £100 a ton. Now, your Excellencies and gentlemen, we have in this colony alone upwards of 42,000,000 of sheep, with an estimated output of 223,000,0001 b. of wool, and we have in all the Australasian colonies a production of over 40,000,000 bushels of wheat ; and we possess over 90,000,000 sheep, 9,000,000 cattle, nearly 1,500,000 horses, over 1,000,000 pigs — to say nothing of hares and rabbits. Alluding to the association just formed in Wanganui, on which we recently commented, the ' Rangitiki Advocate ' says : — " With the first plan k in the platform of the association we have no sympathy whatever. We have not the slightest doubt that the uncertainty of land tenure in the colony, brought about by the conduct of the late Government, has had a great deal to do with the existing depression. The fact is, and it would be the maddesi of folly to blink at it, that once the freehold tenure is rendered insecure, the money lenders commence to button up their pockets. Freehold land has always in British communities been regarded as the safest of safe securities. But when a state goes iv for abolishing the freehold, then all confidence is destroyed. The matter may be one of sentiment, though we do not think it is, but we are sure that the opinion in reference to the freehold as agaiast the leashold tenure of land, is one which is universal amongst the Anglo-Saxon race. It seems to us that the land nationalization doctrines preached by Stout and Ballance have done more harm to the credit of New Zealand than even the wildest of Vogel's financing schemes." A sirange marriage which took place at Vienna quite lately, has been much talked of. An American millionaire, by birth a Viennese, whose name is August Q-oettle, was in Vienna at the time of the Ring Theatre fire, had taken a box, and was prevented from going to the performance by the merest chance. He wad so struck by the the terrible disaster, which might have pub an untimely end to his life, that on the spur of the moment he seat 10,000 florins to the ' Freie Presse ' subscription for the victims. On second thoughts thia muat have seemed too small |a price for his life, and he sent an additional 125,000 florins for the fund, and expressed his intention to take up his abode in a city in which he had been so lucky. He has now given another proof of his sympathy for the old imperial city by marrying a Vienna girl. The bride elect was shop girl in the first confectioner's, pretty, obliging, and very timid and retiring. She ha 3 not formed any new connections, and is seen every day at> she drives up to Demel's in her fine carriage and pair, to take chocolate and gossip with her former fellow shop girls. It is bo unusual in Vienna for a millionaire to marry a poor girl, -who is neither an actress nor a ballet dancer, that the event is an inexhaustible source of pleasant gossip. Much has been said and written of late in reference to the extensive areas in England and Wales in the hands of landlords because of the difficulty of securing tenants, owing to the depressed of agricultural produce. A return moved for in the late session of the Imperial Parliament discloses the somewhat unexpected fact that whereas in 1881, when a similar inquiry was made, there were 40,848 acres lying waste there on the 4th of June in 1887, at corresponding date there were only 22,315 acres, distributed over 224 farms. The explanation suggested by many of the collectors ia that in 1881 landlords were not prepared to admit the great permanent fall in the value of land, whereas further experience has induced them to accept almost anything, especially for very strong land, which it is reported in some cases has been occupied without rent, the tenant merely paying tithes and taxes. On the other hand in the North Midland counties there has been during the last two years a brisker demand experienced, especially for farms of moderate extent. It appears difficult to account for this, otherwise than that extreme cheapness of produce made entry a comparatively easy process, and probably the idea prevails that the lowest point haß been reached. It is related that when the ' Petit Journal ' was a struggling paper, the proprietor induced Alexander Dumas to do a day's work at a desk placed in one of the office windows. The advertisement waa naturally very successful, and it is astonishing that the idea has not been more widely imitated. A New York hosier has improved upon it, and has

pUced in his window a lady (young of course, and pretty) who displays upon her neatly turned ankles the latest thing in stockings. The Empire city now boasts many other living advertisements, as striking if not so piquant. In Fourteenth Avenue the proprietor of a hair restorer exhibits seven sisters all of them with hair that hangs down their backs and sweeps the floor. The gentleman himself is bald— he was born so. Then there is an Apollo who stands in a tailor's window trying on fashionable coats ; and an athlete who shows how the muscles •may be developed by pulling at a "parlour rowing machine." French confectioners in white capa and aprons make caramels before the eyes of the public, and cooks toss buckwheat cakes in the windows of the restaurants. Sweet are the uaes of advertiament; but in New York they are found to interfere seriously with the use of the footpath. [ In its report of the Sydney Centennial Exhibition, the 'Mail ' says :— Mr Wynne, of the ' Daily Telegraph,' exhibits an ingenious wholesale rabbit-catcher of his own invention and for which he hss been awarded a silver medal. He proposes to erect double lines of rabbit-yroof fencing across those parts of the country where the3e advancing rabbits would be most conveniently intercepted—not necessarily ahead of them, but whereever the conditions are most favourable. The bank of a river might form one boundary and a railway might from the other, or there might be no defined boundary on either side. So long as the fencing ran through infested oountry his purpose would be served . These two lines of fencing would be, tay, a chain or a chain and a-half apart, forming a roadway or race, and at intervals of a few yards holes would be left sufficiently large to enable a rabbit to pass through ; but these holes, though level with the ground and perfectly smooth on the outside, would be lOin. or 12in. above the ground and armed with sharp spikes on the inside, so that the rabbit having once passed through would be quite unable to return. Inside these two fences the natural herbage would be protected, and its luxuriance would form a tempting bait. The more severe the drought and the greater the scarcity of food the keener would be the desire of the rabbit to enter, and the more effective. Rabbits are known to be shy of the different kinds of traps that have been tested, but Mr Wynne's apparatus provides for suoh extensive space that there is very little in the character of a trap about it. Rabbits on the outside of the fence will certainly not know that those on the inside are caught, while those on the inside will probably not realise the fact themselves till the station hands proceed to clear the race. Mrs Partinotok Says. — Don't take any j of the quack rostrums, as they are regimental to the human cistern ; but put your trust in Dr, Soule's American Hop Bitters, which will cure general dilapidation, costive habits, and all comic diseases. They saved Isaac from a severe extract of tripod fever. They are the ne plus tinmn of medicines. — "Boston Globe," *' Non-Secret" Substitutes.— As you value your heath shua all vile so-called "non-secret" preparations. They are not made by your local chemist, although his name may be on the wrapper, but are furnished him ready-made and wrapped from America. The chemist dare nob say he knows their contents. He only handles them because he can make a greater profit than on legitimate goods. These goods are " played out," to use an Americanism, where best known. An attempt is now being made to foist them on a confiding public in the ! colonies. We warn you in all sincerity to have nothing whatever to do with them.