The Press. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1868

Press, Volume XIII, Issue 1717, 25 August 1868, Page 2

The Press. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1868

The Acclimatisation Society as an institution, whose objects are everywhere commended, has from the public at large hardly met with the support it deserves, while the Legislature, in recognising the merits of such societies, has assisted their Views as little as it was possible for a Legislature to do by; passing in the last session -tbe--Act-for-j for iho Protection of Animals. The animals specifically protected by the framers of the Act are "hares," " antelopes," and " deer," and it does not appear to have occurred to the law-maker" that any additions were likely to be made to this group of a selection so very unnatural. A more extensive knowledge in birds is certainly ehowa in., the schedules— but, strange to say, there only, for they are not mentiened at all in the body of the Act. However, there is very good reason to believe a law sufficiently comprehensive to protect the interests of acclimatisation will be brought forward during the present I session, testing the property of societies in their chairmen or presidents, and in view of the recent efforts of our

Wl society to obtain the salmon and trout, no doubt fish will also be considered. Oar local society then may rely with tolerable confidence on the support of the law in its operations, and there is no doubt but that the introduction of 1 useful animals and birds will, if sucjcessfully carried out, form no mean j feature in the attractions of the country as seen from a home point of view. Mr. F. Buckland, the zealous naturalist, has published in a late number of " Land and Water," some useful strictures on the folly of sparrow clubs, which in England still persist in waging, as he shews, a most impolitic war on one of the farmer's best friends. A correspondence in our columns some short time ago on the question, went to prove the usefulness of the sparrow; and we will go so far as to say, that were our farmers each to subscribe half-a-crown yearly to the Acclimatisation Society, for the special purpose of introducing so cheap a remedy for insect troubles, they would, in a surprisingly short time, find the benefit of their venture. The present committee of the society I ape making strenuous efforts to obtain eilinon and trout ova from Tasmania, and have every reason to expect a consignment of the latter of this season's produce —the salmon ova, Dr. Officer considers should not be stripped after tbe Ist August in each year, and it is doubtful whether the application may arrive before that date. "With the limited funds in the hands of the Society, we must own to some doubts as to the expediency of going to any — further great expense in procuring ova when in all probability a certain number of fish may shortly be obtained and as has been already successfully done in the other hemisphere, transported to new waters. The Acclimatization gardens, we are of opinion should, so far as is consistent with the proper carrying out of the objects of the society, be thrown open to the public, and by interesting people at large secure their support. The idea (however erroneous it exists) that the society is the hobby of a few dilettanti should be at once dispelled, and the objects of interest in the garden will be sufficient vouchers for its usefulness. "We hope the day is not distant when a museum erected in the Domain may form an appropriate centre of a system of popular instruction in science and natural history, to the former of which the province has already devoted a considerable sum, ably dispensed under the direction of Dr. Haast —yet prac- _ fcically useless for lack of means of exhibition—to the latter, in its most user. jFul. appljica.tioil» acclimatleatibn,. tHer< is now we believe 1 no contribution whatever from the Provincial Government ! Wβ certainly think a mddesi sum for purposes undeniably so politic would hardly but be commended in the budget of the most severe of our Provincial Chancellors of the Exchequer. VOLTTNTEBB INSPECTION.—To-day the inspection of the Northern Battalion of Volunteers takes place at Rangiora. Chamber of Comiieecb. — The annual meeting of the members of the Chamber of Commerce will jbe held on Thursday next at three p.m. The sub-committee is requested to meet at twelve o'clock on Wedneeday. Municipal Dinnbb.—At the meeting of the Borough Council last night, the Mayor stated that he had made arrangements for a dinner to take place on the evening of the day on which the declaration of the poll is made at the forthcoming Municipal election, to which the present and newly-elected members of the Christchurch Borough Council, the Mayors of Lytteltoa and Kaiapoi, ancl the Provincial Executive will be invited. Kaiapoi Chuech School.—The proceeds of the late festival in connection with this school, amounts to about tThe committee of the school desire to thank all, and especially t the ladies, who so liberally assisted in making tie affair a success. In a> former notice of the entertainment, we omitted to notice a .solo given by Mrs C.S. Bell, ''I.capnot mind my which was sung, and received an encore. The amount,collected is to fee deroted to paintiog the'school buildlogs, &c. • Sudden Death.—A woman of bad reputation, named Annio Harding, alias Kittle, was oh Saturday morning, found by a milkmai named Vogel, lying .an .the footpath; of Wor- : cester etreet east, quite dead, and with a bottle of brandy at her side. She came tc the colony a few months ago by the ship Gainsborough, and has been Hying a intemperate life ever sincoshe arrived. At an inquest held on the body yesterday, the jury returned a verdict that death wae the result ol apoplexy. \ _ Champion Ploughing Match.—A meeting of the managing committee was held at the .White Hart Hotel, on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of winding up the business connected with the late match. The prize moneys were duly paid, and the winner of the gold medal was informed that it would be ready for him on Wednesday. It was determined that, in order to allow more time for ranking the preliminary arrangements for the next match, a meeting of the committee should be held on the first Saturday in June, 1869, for the purpose of commencing those arrangements. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Brunsden, as secretary, and also a donation of £5, which, however, he declined to accept. Fire Police.—The Mayor again at the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of ewearin» in persons as members of the Fire Police foAue ensuing year. The following persons, fortyseven m all, are now members:—R.B.Mitcholl L. A. Cole, H. JE. Alport, W.Hislop, J. C. St. Quectin, A. G. H. Graham, D. L. Mundy W Koss, J. Hart, W. Gavin, A. Candy, W. J. Fisher, J. G. Euddenklau, F. A. Bishop, W. Pratt, E. Sutherland, A. J. Stevens, J. C. Angus, T. Bullick, W. D. Barnard, GK Oram, W. Harris, M. B. Hart, A. A. Dobbs, W. West, J. Anderson, H. Thompson, J. Sent, G. Fletcher, J. S. HalJ, G. Piercv, J. Munmngs W. Cuddon, W.H. Hobbs, F. J. Smith, D. Main, Davis, J. A. Bird, H. Hankins, J. Moss, W. Perceval, W. Black, J. Swift, \\. A. iv.napman, J. P. Jameson, L. B. Nathan <. W. Thompson. Three other persons, lecessary to make up tbe complement of fifty, rill be sworn iv on Wednesday evening, when meeting will be held at the Brigade olfice for : lie election of officers. Proceedings will commence at seven o'clock. I

SmPBBME CotTET.—His Honor Mr Justice Greeson will ait in the Court chambers at eleven o'clock this morning. The following business will be brought before the Court:— Daris v. Simpson, for argument on demurrer (Dr Foster) ; in bankruptcy and re Thomas Topping* for adjudication and meeting of creditors (Mr W. Williams) ; in bankruptcy and re Edward William Morey, for confirmation oliehoice of trtistee and fixing the date of final Examination (Bfr W. Williams) ; in bankruptcy and re James Smith, for adjudication and meeting of creditors (Mr Jojnt); in bankruptcy and petition of W. Pratt and other creditors and re Luis Berliner, bankrupt, for examination of witnesses (Mr Cowlishaw). Manchester Stbeet Bbid&e.— -The Manchester street bridge, the construction of which has been somewhat delayed by the bad weather we have had during the last two or three months, is nearly completed, and will probably be open for cart traffic to-morrow. The bridge is soundly built, and doee credit to Mr Bowmaker, the contractor. It ia 60 feet in length by 16 feet in breadth. The under aide-girders are 8 feet 6 inches above the water at high tide, and 2 feet above the highest level attained by the Avon during the last flood. The bridge rests on strong embankments and on two piers in the river. For the piles and girders, heart of black pine has been used, and Van Dieman'a Land planfcingjfor the flooring of the roadway. The cost of the bridge is £240. . Wblcojib to thb BiSHor of ChbistOhubch. —A committee meeting was held last evening in St. John's schoolroom, to make arrangements for the tea meeting to be held on Thursday evening. There were present Dr. Deamir, Messrs Blakiston (chairman), Lowther, <lfbb, March, St. Quentiu. It was announced {viat Mr Harman had consented to preside at meeting. After some discussion, the addres&|o be presented was agreed to, which was Sfabe signed by the church offioers of the city§ parishes, and those of Papanui, Riccarton, Jftonside, and Heathcote. A subcommittee was appointed to see the arrangements properly carried out. On the mo.ning of Thursday a special service will be held in St. Michael's at eleven o'clock, when an address from the clergy will be presented by the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch. We j are requested to state that the seats will all be free on that occasion. KiFLE Shooting.—Yesterday afternoon the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry fired for their prize cup at the Hillsborough range. The weather was anything but agreeable, squalls of hail and sleet repeatedly sweeping the range and rendering it a matter of difficulty to see the target. The following are the scores made : —

Hbaxhcotb Road BoabK — TBF "tfoard held their usual meeting yesterday at the Office, Ferry road. Preeent—Mr Kennaway, Messrs Ensor and Garland. In the absence of the chairman Mr Kennaway wae voted to the chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was, read which had been received from the Secretary for Public Works stating, in answer to an application, that the balance of the cost of repairs to the Sumner road consequent on the closing the tunnel Lad been passed into the Treasury, and would be paid over to the Board at any time. A letter from Mr F. ! Wakefield with an accompanying memorandum on the necessity of improving the Sumner bar, and also copy of a letter which he had sent to the Superintendent relative to the same subject. The surveyor's report was read and considered. The following resolutions were passed—" That the surveyor acknowledge the receipt of letters and memorandum from Mr Wakefield, "thanking him for his cburtesy in forwarding the same." " That Mr Hobbs be allowed, to take earth from Gloucester street east, subject to the surveyor's direction." The surveyor was directed to see Mr Clark relative to the offer of Mr Packer to give the land for widening part of Colombo street south. Leave of absence from the meetings of the Board was given to Mr P. Kerr during his illness. Accounts were passed for, works done, and the Board then adjourned until Monday, September 7. Nelson Financial Kefobm Lbagub.A meeting of the Finanoial Reform League formed in Nelson, hold a meeting on Wednesday evening, August 19, when the following resolutions were adopted:—"That in the opinion of this meeting the General Government expenditure, of New Zealand has increased during the last rten,years in a degree much than was warranted by the" growth, of the Colony in aud poputa tion ; greater than was required for any legitimate purposes of the Government, and, greater than can be maintained in the future." ''That while successive administrations are primarily answerable for the prodigal expenditure of the colony, the House of Representatives, which is the constitutional guardian of the public purse, has fallen short of its duty, inasmuch as it has offered no earnest resistance to the extravagant budgets laid before it." " That no effectual and permanent reform in the Finances of the colopy, can be expected until such changes have been made in the machinery of legislation as shall render the representatives of the peopl< more fully cognisant of, and more amenable to pubuc opinion; and with this view thi' meeting recommends that the duration oi .Farliaaaente be shortened, and suggests to the constituencies the expediency of invitinc their representatives to meet them botli before and after each session."—" That this meeting views with disapprobation the wish shown by the present Government to bring about legislation by the Assembly on subjects which can be better dealt with by local bodies, according to the special requirements of each; and protests against tho tendency thus evinced to curtail the legitimate action of the Provincial and Municipal Councils."— That this meeting it of opinion that any repreaentaf iTe legislature which failed to secure the political happiness and prosperity of the people it represents, i 3 do longer worthy of our confidence." Ashpits: xo Mes Vial.—We take the following from the Sydney « Empire " of the 10th instant : —" We learn on good authority, that her Majesty Queen Victoria has given an annuity of £30 a year to the mother of Mr Vial. The clergyman of the parish in which Mrs Vial lives, Chasswater, in Cornwall, on seo;ng tho news of the Duke of Edinbiirg s danger and escape, wrote to inform her Majesty that the mother of Mr Vial was there, and the information was immediately responded to by the grant of the annuity." Mr Vial is tho gentleman who saved the Duke's life by stnking up O'Farrell's arm as he fired tno second ehot at His Boyal Highness.

Stock foe Hbw Zeaiand.—A portion of the royal stock bred by her Majesty tho Queen on the Flemish farm, Windsor park, under the supervision of Mr Brebner, was forwarded on June 30 to the Eaet India Docke, en route for New Zealand. The consignment consists of a fine Hereford bull calf aboat nine months old, named the Duke of Edinburgh, out of complimeat to the recent royal vieitor to the southern i hemisphere, and a boar and sow of the pure black Berkshire breed. The animals were shipped in the Siam, which left the East India Docks on July 1 for New Zealand. The stock has been purchased from the royal farm by n gentleman in that colony for breeding pur--1 poses. CrREEXCY OJ THE UNITED STATES.—An English paper has the following—A Bill wan recently introduced into the Congress of the United States for the purpose of assimilating the gold currency of the American Union to that of the French system, in pursuance of the i resolutions arrived at by the diplomatic monetary conference held last year in Paris, but the measure met with considerable opposition, principally from the commercial community in the United States, inasmuch as it involved a depreciation of the value of the gold coinage by about 3 per cent, without providing any compensation for creditors whose interests would be affected by the change. The " Times " says it appears from a telegram just received from New York that this difficulty has been removed, and that the Bill has been amended so as to secure the adoption by the United States of the international system of coinage which is already in force over bo large a portion of the European continent without at the same time inflicting any injury on the public faith. Thb Nova Scotia Objec uoh. —The " Daily News " gives warning that if Parliament should refuse to hear the remonstrance of the people of Nova Scotia, and if tho demand for a Commission of Inquiry should unhappily be rejected, tho most serious complication of affairs may be anticipated. Without going so far as to speculate on the dangers, in such a conjuncture, of forcible separation and annexation to the United States, there is enough of inconvenience to be feared from the ordinary constitutional expressions of resentment which are certain to follow the rejection of Mr Bright's temperate policy. The Local Government of Nova Scotia is carried on by tho Provincial Parliament, in which the antiunionists are in a majority of thirty-six against two adherents of confederation. Of course if the Imperial Legislature should continue deaf to the appeals of the Nova Scotians, the Provincial Ministry will resign, the majority will refuse to support the Executive, the supplies will not be voted, and the Governor will bo compelled to fall back for the admininistration of the province on the forlorn brace of senators that represent the policy of union. The Government, it is to be hoped, will be urged by the House of Commons to reconsider their polioy on this question. An inquiry is no very magnificent boon, after all; more it might be rash to grant now, lees we cannot in decency concede. National Commemoration op thb Dead —The 30th of May, says the " Times," was observed throughout the United States as the day for decorating the graves of the soldiers of the grand army of the Republic, who died in defence of their country in the time of the rebellion. No particular form of ceremony is prescribed in tho general order, but decoration of the graves with flowers ie suggested as one modo of procedure. At Washington business was suspended in all the Government departments ; at least 5000 pedestriane made their way to Arlington Heights, and above 300 vehicles were counted, some of them gorgeous private equipages with outriders. Four large army waggons loaded . with evergreens and spring flowers were driven up and handed over to the decorating committee. The flowers were strewed on the graves by soldiers orphans. General Garfield, of Ohio, delivered the address. General Grant walked in the procession, accompanied by his little daughter, Nellie. At Long Island Cemeteries crosses of camellias, crowns of tuber roses and lilies, pots of japonicas, baskets, and bouquets were supplied in great abundance by the people. At many cemeteries there was a religious service. At the |Barracke Cemetery, I below St. liouu, 2Vliesauri. T Ajbava 11.000 j/rarcs !Of Union soldiers WtffieWrma, and the same honour was paid to the 600 graves of rebel soldiers. A Tehhiblb Weapon op War—Since I the battle of Sadowa, great advances have been, made by other countries — ;iotably England, France, and America—towards perfecting the utility of the various descriptions of firearms used by them. Dγ Gale's ammunition slide gun forme, however, the most decided step recently made in the direction of absolute perfection. The principle of working the invention is very simple. The weapon forms a kind of skeleton fire arm. The' stock, barrel, and hammer are in their accustomed places, but where tli3 common revolver has its circular breach for the reception of cartridges, Dr Gale's gun or pistol contains a blank equare-sbaped space for the receptios of a horizontal metal slide of very simple yet ingenious construction enclosing the cartridge. " Aβ the cartridges are fired one by one, the slide by a self-acting mechanical action passes on through the hollow space in the stock, until the last cartridge having been used a fresh slide filled with cartridges can be instantaneously employed. In this way one lundred and forty shots per minute have been tctually fired by Dr Gale in presence of the Duke of Cambridge. Each slide contains ten >r more cartridges, and is entirely distinct from he firearm. The process of reloading the lides is extremely simple and safe, a child ueing enabled to perform the task with eatfe, and to keep the firer fully supplied with ammunition. Of the value and efficiency .of the invention there has been expressed but one opinion. The " Mining Journal" declares it calculated not merely to increase the fame of Dr Gale, but "to prove of enormous advantage in the science of warfare," a sentiment echoed by nearly every practical' scientific writer. The " Morning Herald," assuming that the weapon would discharge sixty shots per minute, says tliat, armed with weapons on the Gale principle, "a single regiment of infantry would literally and absolutely pour forth a veritable storm Of bullets; for, assuming such a regiment to bo eight hundred strong, it could — certainly throw forty-eight thousand bullets in the face of its enemy in a single minute of time; and as few men woald relish facing a body of weapons which gave him sixty shots a minute as his own particular chance of death, with a reasonable probability of an extra and large percentage of chances against him as his comrades fell, we only hope that this invention may be an additional link in that chain of destructive powers which may in the end make war too dreadful a game for nations to play at." Taking, however, one hundred and twenty shots per minute each man, the discharge of the eight hundred soldiers would be 96,000 per minute, or 5,760,000 per hour! Could anything more destructive, more terrific, bo imagined than this apparent hell-storm of death ? A regiment thus armed would almost be enabled to annihilate an entire army of opponents.—John Plummer's "Story of a Blind Inventor." Thb Dikobnis, on Moa op New Zkaxand. —I have just seen a number of f"onej of these extraordinary birds wlii<;b. liave recen'ly been discovered in New Zealand. Three skeletons are all but complete, and there are a number of odd bones, evidently of far anterior date to the more perfect gets. These older remains are of Dmornis giganteus, whilst the more recent and perfect specimens nro of ]). I elephantopus and some others. Unfortunately, ' but one skull has been found, and that not in as perfect a state of preservation a3 some which wero some time eitico discovered in Middle Island, New Zealand, and are now in the British Museum. One of tho bones, a sternum or breast bone, is so recent as to have a considerable portion of the periosteum still firmly attached to it. This membrane aad the bone which it covers are still charged with the natural greaso or oil of the birds' \ tissues, clearly showing that no very loug time can have elapsed since its death. There is little difference between the eize of the

bones now in the Museum and the specimens under consideration. Those of D. giganteue, if complete, would giro a height from tho ground-bearing of the tops or claws to tho nrticulation of tho head of tho femur with the pelvic bones (constituting what would bo popularly known in human anatomy as tho hip joint) between five and six feot. The height of like bones in a man six feet high would bo about thirty-nine inches ; co by these proportions some idea may be formod of the stature of these truly gigantic birds From tho remarks of Professor Owen and other men of science, it is evident that a rather l:\rge family of these Struthionidso at one time existed in and about the dependencies of New Zealand. The secretive, worm catching little Apteryx still remains on the face of the land, but is becoming day by day more rare as cultivation advances and civilisation becomes more general. Professor Owen thus refers to tho period when tho huge windless fowl of bygone days stalked through tho '"em groves and beneath the tall forests of Polynesia : " Without giving the rein to a too exuberant fancy, we may take a retrospective glance at the scene of a fair island offering, by the will of a bountiful Providence a well-stored table to a race of animated beings peculiarly fitted to enjoy it, and we may recall the time when the eeveral species of duiornis reigned the lords of the soil, the highest living forma upon that part of the earth. No terrestrial mammal was there to contest his sovereignty before the arrival of man. Without laying undue stress on the native tradition of the gigantic eagle, or on that of the great creature of tho cavern, called ' moa,' which first attracted attention to the remains of the dinornie, and admitting with the cautious scepticism due to secondhand testimony the tale of the still existing nocturnal gigantic bird which is said to have scared tho whaling seamen of Cloudy Bay, tho evidence of the chemical composition of tho bones, and their alluvial bed, favours the hypothesis of their comparatively recent date. It is not altogether improbable that the species of dinornis were in existence when the Polynesian colony first set foot on the island ; and if so, each bulky and probably stupid birds, at first without the instinct, and always without the adequate means, of escape and defence, would soon fall a prey to the progenitors of the present natives. In the absence of any other large wild animals, tho whole art and practice of the chase must have been concentrated on these unhappy cursorial birds. The gigantic dinornis, we may readily suppose, would be the first to be exterminated. Tho great, strength of its kick would less avail than its great bulk would prejudice its safety by making its conoealraent difficult. The allied but comparatively diminutive apteryx still remains, by virtue of its nocturnal habits and the subterraneous hiding place, but in rapidly diminishing numbers. When the source of animal food from terrestrial epecies was reduced by the total extirpation of the genus dinornis to this low point, there may have arisen those cannibal practices vrhich until lately formed the opprobiura of a race of men in all other roepecte much superior to the Papuan aborigines of the neighboring continent of Australia, and very little inferior to the Polynesian natives of the most favored island of the Pacific"—W. B. Lord.

KAJTE8. CO ■31 M t3 CD si CD 00 B r3'i5| j3 Lieutenant Packer Cornet Slee Bandmaster Northcote ... Sergeant Coombes Trooper Judge 10 14 11 8 6 7 11 10 4 0 4 10 6 6 7 28 28 15 24 19 A match with the Engine* ing as follow* :— CAYAT.B' ire eui sceeded, n isultNames. si si in-;* : s1 a> §3 J — Lieutenant Packer Cornet Slee ... .... Bandmaster Nprthcote ... Sergeant Coombes Trooper Judge* ... Trooper Giraud Average for a member she 9 ! 15 11 15 15 8 11 15 9 5 16 15 5 11 7 17 3 10 25 41 27 37 34 33 32 >rt. EVGDTCI !BS. '229 Captain T/ean * ... Lieutenant PaVitt Sergeant Woodford Sapper Barnes Sapper Machinf ... Sapper Innes j... Sapper Lockwapd 9 12 9 11 12 13 4 12 12 8 7 8 12 6 11 10 6 4 3 9 5 11 10 6 ' 3M 9 5 32 34 23 22 23 34 15 u-.,.~-m........ J