The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4406, 28 September 1871, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

IiUCEO, NON UKO. ff I have been extinguished, yetUhere rise A thousand beacons from the ipark I bore.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1871.

A mong the multifarious duties to which the Colonial Treasurer devoted himself when in America, none perhaps will f have more interesting practical results than his efforts in connection with wool and flax. Our anticipations of grand results arising from the establishment of a trans-Pacific steam service have been a good deal damned by the hostile tariff known to exist in America with regard to foreign materials for textile fabrics ; and however great the facilities of intercommunication, trade relations cm not become very extensive where the fiscal policy of the one country is so strongly prohibitory. At the first mention of negotiations entered into with the representative of Mr. Webb, this difficulty in the way of commercial interchanges was brought before public

notice, and hopes were held out that tho American tariff was susceptible of modification in so far na it appeared to ba obstructive of commercial relations between America and the Australasian colonies. The idea was freely scoffed at by those who perpetually predicted the failure of all negotiations connected with the projected mail service, and it was represented as idle to think of effecting a modification of the fiscal policy of the United States for the sake of the small advantages that these colonies in the South Seas would yield. But such an idea was founded on a totally erroneous view of the character of the American people, who are wise enough to know the importance of the extension of trade, as compared with a little revenue extracted by the Custom-house ; and, however protectionist the general policy of the States, that policy is sufficiently elastic to adapt itself to circumstances when those circumstances are such as to afford the prospect »f greater future gain. This bonus to Australasian commerce has not indeed yet been obtained, but we cawnot believe that the explicit statement made by Mr. Vogel, after considerable negotiation, has been made without an assured prospect of success. In his memorandum the Colonial Treasurer says :—": — " It is highly gratify* " ing to me to be able to assure tho " Government that my exertions in the " United Statas, with the view of ob- " taining a remission of the duty on " "New Zealand and Australian wools, u and on .New Zealand flax, are, I have " good reason to believe, likely to meet " -with very great success." And again, " I have reason to believe that, in the " course of a few months, Congress will " sanction a great reduction in the " rates of import duty on New Zealand " and Australian wools." It would be impossible to overestimate the importance of such a boon, whether we regard it in its direct effects on the extension of the special industries in wool and flax, or the impetus which it will give to every kind of commercial exchange, and the consequent development of our various colonial industries. At the present hour there is a rapidly-growing trade with the United States in the fine wools of Australia. The importation by way of Englaud into the Atlantic States has assumed enormous proportions is face of a hostile tariff, and it is known to all that a party of wool purchasers are at present making the tour of the colonies, come to purchase and transmit a very large quantity of this material by the mail boats direct to San Francisco, for transport across the continent to the various seats of manufacture. The proprietors of the mail boats, with true American enterprise, have met the first symptoms of a coming trade in affording extraordinarily liberal terms for the conveyance of wool to San Francisco; and the necessity has been equally promptly met by the trans-continental railway companies. The transport of wool from New Zealand to California at the rate of one halfpenny per lb., and from New Zealand to the Atlantic States at three-halfpence per lb., is calculated to afford an extraordinary development of trade by presenting a most extensive market virtually at our doors. And if to this there is added the modification of the Tariff as it affects the Australasian wools, in accordance with the confident anticipations of the Colonial Treasurer, we .shall have in the results of the establishment of the line an amount of benefit to the cause of colonisation not second to any other advantages likely to arise from the transPacific mail service

Vehy frequently of late there has been obtruded on public attention one of the most painful features in our social state. "From time to time the police are compelled to bring before the Bench the case of fallen women, who in sorao form or another of overt offences have brought themselves under the arm of the law. But it is very well known that these cases are only as ones in scores of the cases of degradation and misery that are known to exist within the bounds of the city. We do not enter on the question as to whether the law should seek the extirpation of this social ulcer, or whether it could be eradicated by repressive measures, but there are certainly some features in the scenes to be witnessed in our streets every night, and extending into the early morning, that imperatively call f»r intervention of some kind. The Resident Magistrate has from time to time from the bench spoken in strong aud feeling terms respecting the prevalence of this social shame, and especially as connected with girls of even tender years. But a few days since a child of some thirteen years in company with her sister appeared before him, and was shown to be, if not actually guilty, at least on the high road to ruin. What properly to do with such a case it is hard to say. Domestic influences aud the influences of the gaol gang niuafc produce about equal results,— those being ruin, degradation, and early death. If ever there was a case in the city that should be heard pleading to Christian charity, it is the case of girlhood— childhood thus treading on the very brink of destruction with so many and so powerful influences dragging to perdition. In a city where there are so many churches, and so many institutions intended to ameliorate humanity, is there not one to reach the hand of sorrowing sympathy and kindness to a falling or a iallen sisier, and seek to lead her back to peace and life ? Is this our vaunted charity that folds itself up in its own mantle of integrity, and passes by on the other side with averted eyes from the deepest of human wretchedness disguised in the hollow mockery of gaiety and gladness ? Are there no women in this city of churches and benevolent institutions that caw suppress in the cause of goodness the natural shrinking from defilement, and devote themselves to rescue at least the least degraded from a life of infamy ? True, there may be those so hardened in sin, and wedded to degradation, as to place society at defiance ; but there are those here as well as elsewhere to

whom the thought of home and mother brings tears of shame and sorrow, and who with a little kindly, sisterly sympathy might be won back again to virtue and peace. There are those in the ranks of the fallen who have been nurtured us tenderly, and on whom father and mother, and ! brother and sister, may have once looked with pride and hope — quits as much as any of the young and happy girls in the city, wfyo are enjoying life with all the buoyancy of pure hearts that have never known a real care. These have been tempted and fallen — fallen not perhaps because of any unxisual weakness or wickedness in themselves, but because of the overwhelming power of temptation, by which they were beset. Oh, it is pitiful, In a whole city full Friend they have none. But surely it cannot be that there is not in the city sufficient charity to prompt some one to such a labour of love. We feel confident that it requires but one lady with kind true womanly feeling to originate the movement, and plenty will be found to aid in this, one of the saddest, but eventually most gratifying spheres of benevolent effort.

At the last meeting of the Harbour Board a question of very considerable importance, as regards wharf construction, was raised by Mr. Stannus Jones. Much as we should desire to foster home industry, and valuable as our own timber is jusily considered to be, it must be admitted that, if our timber fails in the important quality of durability, the most durable wood should be obtained ; "from whatever source, for the construction of any future extension, or even permanent repair, of the wharf. The jarrah wood of Western Australia, the cause of which Mr. Jones urged with such persistence, is admitted to be one of the finest in the world ; and though its valuable qualities have long been known, it has latterly acquired a wide fame for its antiseptic qualities, and power to resist the attacks of animal life. On this account it has been selected as the wood for forming the sleepers on the Indian lines of railway, and contracts of the most extensive kind have been eutered into with the Victorian company engaged in cutting this timber in Western Australia. Without questioning the authenticity of the specimen produced by Mr. Jones, it must be admitted that it is not in resistance to the "ship-borer" that the jarrah has won its fame, but in being proof against the white ant. And it should be remembered that resistance to the white ant is a very different thing from l-esistance t© the teredo. Those that have resided in Queensland, where the white ant is quite as destructive as in India, know that this animal does not attack kauri imported from New Zealand, although it makes short work of the native pine of Queensland. And it is equally known to Queenslanders that kauri in boats or wharf piles very speedily falls a victim to the " cobra. " The jarrah may possibly be found a most valuable timber for wharf purposes, and proof against the borer ; but if it is only equal to kauri in resisting the white ant, its introduction would only be a repetition of the case of the Tasmanian wood, imported some years ago for wharfage purposes to the confusion of its friends and admirers. Ifc is greatly to be desiied thab the very beat timber may be prociued for wharfage piles ; but we would recommend the Harbour Board to exercise caution with respect to the jarrah or any other foreign timber the character of which is little known. The question is not difficult to set at rest. A large portion of log can be procured from Melbourue,audif,after suspension during the summer months between high and low water-marks, it shows no marks of the borer at the ends, then jarrah should be the timber for the Auckland wharves.

We publish elsewhere a condensed report of the banquet given by his Worship tho Mayor to tho Borough Councillors and leading men of the city. There was another long sitting yesterday at the Supreme Court, when a jury of 10, by sanction of counsel for plaintiff and defendant, was empanelled— the mining case of Carlson v. Corcoran, in which the plaintiff sued for special relief under the following circumstances. Carlson held 250 shares in the North Devon Goldmining Company, the calls upon whicli had not all been paid up. Carlson has to leave Auckland, and he asks Corcoran to pay for him any calls which may be made during his absence. The shares in the company at this time are very low. Corcoran promises to pay the calls and Carlson goes away. Whilst absent the company comes to grief. It breaks up, and a new company is formed out of it, with a condition attached that any person holding shares in tlie o'd company could have them transferred into the new oompany by paying up all back calls, and Is. per share to carry on the company. Carlson hears of this, and comes to Auckland; when he is told by Corcoran, in reply to his questions, that he had paid one call for him and two for himself, which was intended to mean that Corcoran how held the shares for himself. Corcoran admitted that he had sold 170 of them. As opposed to this, Corcoran denies that he ever made any such promise as aworn by Carlson, or that he knew Carlson had been a, shareholder. He had been told that he could have 250 shares in the new company by paying la. per share and any after calls. He had bought them without reference to Carlson. The action was brought into Court on the grounds herein disclosed. The case wag not concluded at 8 o'clock, when the Court rose and adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning! The Devonport district school for boys and girls will open on Monday nexfc, under the mastership of Mr. Henry Worthington, in the new school-room (late Wesleyan church). The charge made for scholars attending the senior classes will be ss. per month, and junior 4s. per month. A circular, announcing the course of instruction, and republishing a number of rules of the Central Board of Education, has been issued under the authority of Mr. J. N. Crombie, Chairman, andJMr. O. Mays, Hon. Secretary to the School Committee. The first inspection of the Prince Alfred Light Horse took place in the Albert Barracks yesterday. Major Gordon was the inspecting officer, and Captain Smith was in command of the troop. The men were put through various cavalry movements, and executed them with a fair degree of efficiency, considering the short time that has elapsed since the corps was re-formed. After the parade tho men rode through the town headed by their various officers, and were then dismissed.

Our Fiji correspondent, writing on September 15th, says:— "Mr. G. A. Woods has been returned for Koroluko and the Naranus. News arrived this morning that the natives ; were quiet on the Ba Coast." We regret to notice in our obituary columns an announcement of the death of Mr. C. Arthur, senior partner in the firm of C. Arthur and Son. auctioneers. The deceased gentleman had been 13 years in Auckland, and was much respected by all who knew him. He was 64 years of age, and had been suffering for some time past from enlargement of the heart. It appears that the Museum in Princesstreet has lately been broken into, and pluadered of a number of rock specimens. We have heard that among the rock specimens taken were several ©f the rich auriferous specimens received from the Thames ; but on inquiring at the police authorities last night they denied that portion of the rumour, and said the specimens stolen were pieces of copper ore, manganese, &c. Wo can hardly see how a thief would mistake manganese for auriferous ores. However, we hope it is so, and that the Museum has not been despoiled of some of its richest mineral treasures. The entrance seems to have been effected | by cutting out a pane of glass in one of the windows, and thus undoing the fastening and securing an entrance. This robbery is the more remarkable, seeing that one of the Armed Constabulary resides on the premises. It is tobe hoped that some clue may yet bo obtained to the depredators. We were yesterday informed of a very sad misfortune which has befallen a poor widow, named Partnell, at Panmure. With her five children she resided in a small house, owned by herself, about a mile and a half from the village. On Thursday last she left home with her children, in order to do some work for a neighbour, at whose house she remained until the Saturday morning. Early on that day she was informed that her house had been burned to the ground, and that the few articles she possessed were completely destroyed. This intelligence proved too true, and the poor woman and her children were left homeless, with only the few articles of clothing which they had with them at the place where they were staying. The origin of the fire is altogether a mystery, as, before its occurrence, nearly two days had elapsed sin.cc anyone had lived in the cottage, and, consequently, nc fire had been burning there during thai period. It is surmised that some loafing vagabond was the cause of the mischief, whether intentionally or not ib is of cours< impossible to ascertain. The woman is o: the E,oman Catholic persuasion, and the Rev Father Fynes has interested himself, w< believe, in the matter, and will be glad ti receive subscriptions, to be devoted to find ing shelter for the unfortunate sufferers The case is a very deserving one, and an; donations left at the publishing office of thii journal will be forwarded to the prope quarter, and will, we are sure, be gratefulh received by the widow, who is naw entirel; destitute. The inauguration of the Prince of Wale Lodge, E.C., 1,338, will take place thi evening at 7 o'clock. A banquet will b held afterwards in commemoration of th occasion. We have been requested to state that th Ferguson concerned in the case of Fergusoj v. McCormick, now being tried at th Supreme Court, is not James Ferguson sharebroker, of Insurance Buildings. A horse attached to an express carfc tool fright in Queen-street yesterday, and dashe< at a rapid pace towards the wharf. In it passage it upset two hand-carts. Whei opposite the Bank of New Zealand its cours* was stayed by one of the onlookers, wh( rushed forward and caught hold of the reins No very serious damage was done. A general meeting of the Auckland am Thames Steam Packet Compauy will take place on Thursday next, at Messrs. J. S Macfarlane and Co.'s office. Owing to the indisposition of the Eev Warlow Davie 3, his lecture on Courtship and Marriage has been postponed to Oefcobe] 13. The next term of the Auckland Grammai School will commence on Wednesday next An examination of intending pupils will tak< place on Tuesday. The Church of Englant Grammar School will reopen, after th( vacation, on Monday, An attempt to hold a cockfight has, il appears, been made near Melbourne, and was, thcArgus states, stopped by the police. The main was to be fought between Ballaral and Melbourne, and i,he tickets weie sold at a good pnee. But Inspector Semper Vivians got wind of the intention, and forbade the battle. It is added that the combat came off comfortably for all that— after the police had left. A communication from the Key. A. W. Murray gives the information that the missionaries have made a commencement with their attempt to evangelise New Guinea. Their base of operations is Lifu, and, instead of beginning at once on the main island, they have, with great discretion, made a start on three small islands adjoining. teachers have been landed there, and others will be added hereafter. These islands are more healthy than tho main land, while at the same time close communications are kept up with New Guinea. The expedition met with some trouble in eonsequenco ©f the misbehaviour of a portion of the crew of a vessel hailing from Sydney, but on the other hand they met with great assistance from Captain Barnier, who is the manager of a shell establishment on Warrior Island. These pioneers will facilitate for future missionaries the acquisition of the language, and will secure for us much information as to the habits of the natives and the character of the island. We shall in this way learn by degrees how far there is an opening for trade, and what prospects there may be for planters with capital.— Sydney Mail. We notice in the Dunediu Southern League the following reference to artistes formerly connected with the Prince of vVales Thoatre : —"On Tuesday night, when Mr. Hesford took his benefit, there was a varied singing and dancing performance, the chief attraction being, in our opinion, Little Amy, as a singer and dancer. Miss Amy was admit able. She is, we are told, Mr. Thornton's daughter, fthe is very precocious, but has none of that forced a, pearanco which often characterises prodigies. She seems to love her profession. If she goes on as she has begun, she may be a great comic star. . . La Petite Amy is a host in herself. She is well worth the whole fee of admission. 1 ' The inventor of that abominable custom of actors stepping before the curtain at the end of every act to receive the congratulations j and applause of their audiences deserves 1 universal reprobation. It completely destroys the illusion, and brings the romantic down to ! the level of the common- placb. To see Zanoni, after being burnt as Norma or drowned as Sappho, simpering to the pit and boxes is the very acme of absurdity. I recollect the Duke of Edinburgh administer" ing a very sensible rebuke to the practice. The curtain had /alien at the Auckland theatre upon the last act of " East Lynne," and Miss Cleveland, as Lady Isabel Vane, had just expired amidst the tears of the spectators. The Duke walked out of the stagebox just as the audience were calling most vociferously for their favourite actress. The pit thought he was bent upon snubbing her, and there were several hisses. Next day the Duke called on Miss Cleveland to explain why he left. "I had just seen Lady Isabel die ; I could not imagine that a minute afterwards ahe would come to life again and step before the curtain." The retort was quite fair, and Miss Cleveland had to admit that his Highness was quite in the right. — " Atticus," in the Melbourne Leader. The beet-root sugar manufactory scheme at Warrnambool has been abandoned. The following resolution passed at a meeting gives thealleged reason :—-"That, on account of the duty imposed by the present Ministry on machinery imported for manufacturing sugar from beet, the project for establishing a beet sugar company be abandoned for the present."

The fiah stalls on the wharf will be let by auction on Tuesday next. A number of gentlemen met at No. 28, ColUins-street West, Melbourne, on July 11, for the purpose of witnessing a trial of Mr. W . J. Landes' new wool bleaching solution. The composition used closely resembles almond -scented soap, and the solution^ is made by mixing one part of the composition after it has been melted with 100 parts of water, either hot or cold, but the cleansing process is more rapidly completed if hot water is used. The solution was tested with some very dirty wool. In the hot water it was perfectly bleached in 30 seconds, and the result was the same in the cold water, with the exception that a little more time was occupied. The price of the compound is £60 per ton, and one ton makes 22,400 gallons of the solution. It is estimated that if a sheep carries away one gallon of the solution the scouring will cost Id. per head, and if half a gallon £d. per head. Some cotton waste used in machinery, on which the solution had been tried, was exhibited. The cotton was perfectly clean, and it was stated that the oil taken from it was capable of being preserved. Mr. Johnson, the Government analytical chemist, haa certified that the composition used is free fron? any poisonous matter, and that it is not likely to be injurious to either sheep or fleece. The ladies of San Francisco have been long working for female suffrage, but not without meeting abundance of opposition. A Californian paper now expends its wrath on a terrible innovation worse than that of women at the Ballot box — it is known as the Freemasons' Lodge. It is a remark now often heard from the lips of women, "I am a mason. I am going to my lodge to-night. 1 have taken so many degrees." — The Queen. M. J. J. Mechi states that the capital of the landowners in England amounts to 1,500 millions and that of the tenant-farmers to between 380 and 400 millions. Having of late heard numerous complaints as to the prevalence of foot-rot among sheep, we give the following letter taken from the North British Agriculturist, which sets forth a very simple means of prevention when lime can be obtained for the purpose: — "Sir, — If you will kindly allow me spac« in your valuable columns, I will briefly state my little experience with regard to the prevention of the above disease. A friend of mine, with whom I resided for some years, rented an old grass park surrounding a gentleman's seat where there were a great number of fine old trees. The above field was notorious for foot-rot, beginning generally about the middle of July, and going on until the end of September. I have of ten seen fully the half of the sheep (250} affected at the same time, and really it was a most pitable sight. We managed to cure a few with « Cuff's Foot-Rot Powder' when taken in time. But, on the principle thai prevention is better than cure, we set te work and tried various plans ; amongst others we tried hot lime, and it had the desired effect sof ar, but then the drawback was it only served a few times. We then thought of wel lime ; so putting a cartload of small lime down at the entrance of the folds, and making it thoroughly wet, stirring it intc mortar, keeping it deep enough to cover the sheep's feet, we ran them gently through this at most twice a-week. The effect was most satisfactory, as we never had another case of foot-rot in the park during three years following, which was the extent of our lease. After adopting the above treatment, we began to put the sheep through the wet lime from the beginning of July till the end of September, and a single cartload served the season. Care must be taken to have it pretty wet, sufficiently so to saturate their feet thoroughly. So that if any of your readers should feel inclined to try the above experiment, it is not an expensive one atali events, and I am sure they would not be disappointed. I am well aware sheep will take foot-rot all the year round if folded on heated dung or foul fields, which should be avoided as much as possible. I will not venture to say how far lime will prevent it there, as I have never seen it tried for sheep kept in courts ; but it can be easily done, as well as in the fields. If it prevents it in one case it ought to do in the other.— lam, &c, C.S. A." An English paper says: "At Leeds, an influential meeting was held, the Mayor presiding, in favour of women's suffrage, and was attended by a large number of ladies. The principal speaker was Miss B. Garrett, who contended that as long as widows and spinsters shared in the taxation of the country, they should have a voice in the framing of the laws winch they were obliged to obey. The ballot, which she hoped would soon be the law, would afford comfort and safety to female votois at the polling-booth. A resolution in favour of women's suffrage , was passed, and a petition to Parliament on the subject was adopted."