"POURING OIL ON THE TROUBLED WATERS."

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 112, 14 May 1881, Page 2

"POURING OIL ON THE TROUBLED WATERS."

? The Tararua disaster has had the effect of atrain raising a discussion on the possibility of calming the waves of the sea with oil. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, who drew attention to the subject, goes so far as to say, in reference to the wreck bf the Tararua, that " hall a pint of bi? would probably have aUowed tne boats to be launched without difficulty, and that an expenditure of two or three gallons of oil would have brought the boats to land in safety." This, of course, sounds very much like an exaggeration, but there is much more to be said in support of such a statement than most people are j>robably aware. The idea is by no means a new one, as the antiquity of the proverb which forms the heading of this article sufficiently demonstrates. Years ago Professor Horsrord noticed' the fact, that by pouring oil on the sea the broken Bnrface of the waves was immediately stilled, and the phenomenon had frequently been observed by the officers and crews of whaliiig chips. The only marvel is that until recently no real attempt seems to have been made to put the discovery to practical nee. Lately, however, (we learn from an ! English paper) a series of highly-interesting experiments, with this end in view, have been made at Peterhead, under the direction bf - Captain David Gray, of the wealing steamer Eclipse. Some trials were nrit made with a f^w bottles bf oil, which, being 1 emptied in a heavy sea breaking over the North Bar, had the immediate effect of transforming the broken water into a smooth surface, on which a small open boat could ride with safety. An uncorked bottle of oil, weighted to make it sink, simply dropped into the sea, and allowed to gradually empty itself of its contents, was sufficient to cause a large area of water, the surface of which was lashed into heavy, " choppy " waves, to become suddenly changed into an expanse of long undulating rollers, smooth and glassy, and robbed of all their violence. The effect was not merely transitory, but lasted for a con^ siderable time, the oil gradually spreading itself in a thin film over the surface of the Bea until it wasted itself over too large an area. Ihe Success of these experiments led to arrangements being made for trials on a larger scale. Perforated pipes are being laid across the mouth of the harbor, and tanks are being erected so that a continuous stream of oil may.be allowed to flow into the* sea during 1 heavy weather. The result ol these works will be awaited with great interest, as should it prove successful the plan would probably be generally adopted for the protection of harbors, and it would be eaßy to devise some modification of it for use in such cases a<i those referred to by Mr. Waterhouse. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, it is evident that the Bubject is not one to be disposed of by the incredulous sneers of ignorance, but is well worthy of careful scientific inquiry.

An account of the lying in stats of the Czar, and other interesting reading matter, will be found on our fourth page. ft is pretty generally understood that the Representation Bill will be one of the leading measures to be submitted by the Government to the House during the next session. We believe that the measure brought down last year is being fully reconsidered, but that it will be impossible to decide definitely as to the details of the Bill until the population of the varions electoral districts has been obtained from the new census. It is understood efforts are being made by the Begistrar-General'B Department to get these returns completed as soon as possible, so as to furnish the information required for the framing of the Bill. An official notice appears in another column to the effect that the alteration in the railway time-table of the Wellington section is postponed until Monday, 23rd May. This is done with a view to fully considering 'the objecitons urged against, the proposed change. We understand that the whole time-table is now under consideration, and it is probable the wishes of the memorialists will be met by a train being despatched from Wellinjfton at or about 6.10 p.m. as heretofore. Should this be decided upon, tho news will be received with great satisfaction by the travelling public. A deputation of Wellington hotelkeepers waited upon the Premier and the Colonial Secretary this morning in reference to the Licensing Bill which is to be reintroduded during the next session of Parliament. It appeared from a long conversation which the deputation had with' the Ministers that they approved generally of the bill, but they took exception to Certain provisions as to working men's clubs, family hotels, Ac. They also urged that the fees proposed to be charged for licenses were too high. After hearißg what the deputation had to y&y, Ministers promised to consider their representations. It is notified by advertisement that persons who may have become liable to taxation under the Property Assessment Act since the roll was made up, are requested to send in statements of their property not later than the 15th June; and those already on the roll, who have acquired further property since it was completed, are requested to Bend in supplementary, statements. The Court of Appeal sat this morning, when argument in Mercer v. the Queen was concluded. The Court took time to consider its decision. We understand that at a meeting of the provisional directora of the WeUingtonManawatu Bailway Company, held yesterday, it was reported that the amount subscribed for was about .£43,000. It is impossible, however, to state the exact BUJn, because some returns have yet to come in from some of the committees in the country districts. Energetic efforts are being made to raise by the end of the month the balance of the .£50,000 required, a^id the directors ! have every confidence that these will be successful. We are informed that several of the leading Maoris, holding land along the line of the proposed railway, have offered to give land along the route in exchange for shares ia the company, and the directors also have a strong hope of being able to obtain land concessions from Parliament. The rain of yesterday; has added a depth of one foot to the store of water in the reservoir. It is high time the authorities took steps to have the water turned on for at least an hour or two during the day. There is not now much fear of a waterfamine. The weather is broken, so that there is little likelihood of a repetition of the i continued dry weather experienced during the last few months ; besides, in a few weeks,*"fre may expect the usual winter weather, with its heavy rainfall. As the water is, now turned on it ia of little use to housekeepers. In many places it does not commence to flow till 10 o'clock p.m., and its storage is accompanied by great inconvenience. We hope the Council, or their officers, will at enoe take steps to meet the convenience of householders in this respect, and turn on the supply during certain hours of the day, as was done when the necessity of cutting off the supply first made itself apparent. [Sinoe writing the above, we learn that it has been decided to turn on the water during the day, commencing from Monday next. ' Mr. Baird has given the water overaeer instructions to that effect, as he does not think, from what is now in the reservoir, there ia any further danger of a water famine.] ' Another case has been added to the list to come before the Supreme Court in divorce and matrimonial causes jurisdiction on Monday, viz., that of Standish v. Standish and Turner (Taranaki), for hearing. This brings the number of cases up to ten this term. The whale affair is getting more and more " mixed" and puzzling. At one period there were a number of ola>mants for the carcaso, now no one cares to own it because it is likely to cause trouble. First of all this unhappy whale on Tuesday evening last got ashore at Oriental Bay, and was after many hours'" labor secured (it is Baid) by Messrs. Jones andCoffey, who reckoned upon getting iJIO worth of oil from the blubber. It happened, however, that another Oriental Bay resident also " Bpotted" Hheucogia breviceps, and he sent information to Dr. Hector, and, in fact, we believe, made the doctor a present of it for the Museum. Dr. Hector sent two men to "flesh" the whale, and procure oertain portions of its anatomy for scientific purposes. The blubber was left on shore in heaps for the benefit of Messrs. Coffey and Jones. Then the trouble commenced. Sergeant Anderson jjrew the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances to the fact that the flesh was lively to become a nuisance^ and Mr. Johnson went to Mr. Jones to instruct him to remove it. Mr. Jones said Dr. Hector had jumped bis claim, and was therefore responsible for the removal of the carcase, as well as for J320, which Jones claimed. Dr. Hector on his part deolines to accept any responsibility, as the blubber waa cut off, and left for the alleged owners, while a barber had removed the skeleton to bis premises in town. Mr. Johnson is now in a dilemma as to whom to serve with a notice to remove the flesh. No ono now owns it, and there is no one on whom to serve a notice. The whole thing would constitute a very nice law suit if there were a few thousands involved, and would doubtless keep a bench of judges employed for several months. In the meantime, there the blubber lies on the beach, and Mr. Johnson is bewailing the fate whioh made him Inspector of Nuisances. -

1 We understand that Mr. G. G. FitzGeral d is going to contest the Qtey Talley scat* vacated by the death of Mr: Masters. Mr? I Fitzgerald was formerly BSiident Magistrate at Hokitika, and ia said to have a good chance of being returned. The Harbour Board notify that all permits granted for the removal of sand, gravel, Ac, from below highwater mark in any part of the harbour are now cancelled. Mr. fiidler, of Petone, has been appointed agent for the Board, and to him persons wanting to take sand and gravel from the foreshore must apply ; he is also authorised to collect the royally of 4d per ton on the same. No person will be permitted to remove any sand or Other substance the property of the Board from any part of the foreshore in Evans Bajfi-sO that any person infringing the by-law relating to t'u's subject after this date may expect to bt prosecuted. A patient named B. Sinclair Shaw, to whom frequent reference was made duruig the progress of the recent Asylum Enquiry, managed to effect his escape from the Mount View institution yesterday, but was speedily recaptured. Ai the Eesident Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr. E. Sbaw, E.M., David Griuton and James M'Callam were charged with being drunk on Lambton Quay yesterday evening. The former did not appear, and a fine of 18s was inflicted. The latter, who is a miner, haiing from Palmerston, en route for Sydney, was discharged with a Caution. This was the whole of the business. The fine iron ship Canoma has left Glasgow for Levnka, with a full cargo and several cabin and intermediate passengers.. The principal part of the cargo consists of about 600 tons, sugar machinery; and a stbamer in pieces, fhe bfctlaiice being general merchandise suitable for a- young colony. This veßsel has been despatched by Meesrs. Thomas Law and Co., and is the second ship loaded by them this year for the Fijis. It will be satisfactory to those who reside in the neighborhood of tho old Maori pah to know that the body of the horse which was burnt in the recent fire has at hist been removed. Yesterday the Inspector of Nuisances instructed the contractors for city scayengering to have it removed during the night, it been found impossible to tret anyone else to do it, and the unpleasant work was faithfully performed. ••Mr. Maciel writes pointing out the want of a free library, in whioh residents, and particularly strangerSj in Wfllliiigkm cotdd rQsdrt as a right, fie thinks that as many places of less importance have their public reading-room, the capital of the colony should not be behind hand in that respect. Our correspondent may not be aware that this is a very old subject of complaint; and that on one occasion a public meeting was held and a committee appointed to parry out resolutions in the direction of securing a free public library. But the matter stopped there ; at any rate the committee have made no report. We have received a letter (too long to publish in full) from " Ex-Civil Servant," on the grievances of the service. He condemns the 10 per cent, reduction as a cruel and iniquitous tax, remarking that the civil servants suffer from the " good times," because, when other classes are making money hand over fist," they have to pay higher rents and higher prices for provisions, and he urges that it is therefore ddnbly Unjust that they phould be made to suffer in the bad times by a reduction in their salaries. He points out that after a Royal .Commission was appointed, at a considerable cost to the colony^, the Government apparently not able to rely upon the heads of departments to make I necessary rednctions, have now actually appointed, at considerable expense, two Civil Servants as a roving Commission to recommend the discharge ot as many officers as they can. He urges that the Government should leave the Civil Service alone, and wait the result of its late pruning. He adds — " I would suggest to the Civil Servants of this colony, if they wish to feel a greater spirit of independence, and greater security of position, and to make themselves a power in the state, they should form themselves into a club, where they can meet on a common vantage-ground, discuss their grievances, and select the means of remedy; I would also urge them to register their qualifications to vote, and to vote for those candidates who are friendly to them and will endeavor to prevent any infringement of their rights, or an unjust class tax being imposed on them." Therfe are now remaining in the Hospital 65 patients — 50 males and 15 females. During the week six patients were received and two discharged. , - Many will be glad to observe from our advertising columns that tho Choral Society has decided to commence its series of "Popular Concerts" at tho Athenaeum on Monday evening next. Last winter these concerts met with considerable favor, and doubtless the new series will be attended with equal, if not greater, success. On the 23rd instant no concert will be given, the hair being required for the exhibition elsewhere advertised. A boy named Delahey, the son of a gaol warder, fell down in a fit in Manners-street early this morning. He was taken into the Bank Hotel by Constable Shea, where he was attended by Dr. Harding, under whose directions he Boon recovered. " Coilperio" is announced for production at the Theatre Boyal on Wednesday next by Mr. B. W. Cary's " Baby Comic Opera Company." Miss Lena Eobinson, who successfully sustained the part of Little Buttercup when "Pinafore" was performed by Mr. Cary's Baby Company a few weeks ago, will appear in the title role. 'I he opera will be presented with proper attention to scenery and stage accessories, and an efficient orchestra has been engaged. The juveniles have had " Chilperic" in active rehearsal for considerable time past. The receipt of a quantity of linen from Mrs. Stock, and literature from Mrs. Osgood, for the use of the patients, is acknowledged by the Hospital authorities. . One of the features of tho annual conversazione in connection with the Youne Men's Christian Association, which is to be held at the Athenseum next Tnesday evening, will be the exhibition of products and articles of curiosity from China, Japan, the South Sea Islands, and New Zealand, the inspection of which ought to afford great interest to visitors. Mr. E. Baker will gladly receive any such articles for this purpose. The arrangements are advertised elsewhere, and will doubtless draw a large crowd. In consequence of the extremely nnpropitious weather, the concert advertised to take place at the Athensanm last night, in aid of St. Mark's Church fnnd, did not eventuate, being postponed till this evening. There was no performance of "H.M.S. Pinafore" at the Theatre Eoyal last night, on account of the heavy shower that fell. The company leave for Napier this afternoon in the s.s. Arawata. An advertisement having reference to the educational classes under the auspices of the Wellington Young Men's Christian Association appears in another column, which intending pupils are requested to note. The Greytown Football Club has been challenged by the Wellington Athletio Foot- | ball Club to play two matches on Queen's Birthday, against first and second fifteens ; but as the volunteer field-day is fixed for that date, the challenge cannot be taken up. The Bangitikei Advocate is reliably informed that Mr. A. F. Halcombe has definitely made up his mind not to Btand for Manawatu at the next general election. The Nelson Mail, referring to a well-known local notability, says :—": — " Some people apply the term 'old identity' in a disparaging tense to a colonist who has borne the burden and heat of the day. c Old Ben Crisp,' on the other hand, is rather proud of the title, to which he considers he has an undoubted right, for he is 73 years of age, and of these threescore and thirteen years he has spent no less than 62 in the colonies, having arrived in Australia on the day on which her Majesty was ushered into the world, namely the 24th of May, 1819. 'If you put that little bit in the paper,' adds onr old friend, ' you can also say that I have been a staunch teetotaller for 38 years.' " Some little excitement was. caused in Hamilton the other day by the eight of a man hanging over the river by the neok from one of the projecting flooring beams of the bridge. Quite a number of persons, accompanied by Constable Wild, hurried to the spot, while Sergeant M'Goven ran down the river in search of a boat or canoe. It was with some difficulty the people on the bridge hauled the object up, and Sergeant M'Goven, after returning from the river side, ran hurriedly along the bridge calling to the constable and others to handle the poor fellow less roughly. 'A shout of laughter, however, revealed the fact that it was a sell. It was a cleverly-devised dummy, and on the back of tbi figure a paper was pinned, saying " hard times " was the cause. The Timaru Herald, dealing with the results of the census so far as they are at present ascertained, remarks: — "Wellington, it ia true, is depressed just now, and is likely to fluctuate if not to languish so long as it is practically cut off from communication with »\ll the most fertile and cultivable parts of the province. Though there has been an enormous expenditure on public works in that quarter, it has been in a great measure wasted. One well-made line carried through to the West Coast would have done Wellington more good, and done the whole province more good, ten times over, than the two existing lines in their present state. This will no doubt be done whenever a fresh start is made in railway construction, and then we ahaJl see Wellington go ahead as the rest ef the North Island is doing." '

From reliable souroes the Auckland Herald learns that Mr. Kemp (late Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate of thd district) has Been invited by several in^ fluential electors to place himself in nomination at the next general election for the Waitemata, with a promise of good support. He has asked for time to consider. The Auckland Herald is pouri about the s.Si Bowen, which brings a cargo of tea to New Zealand direct from Foochow, making Wellington, instead of Auckland, the first port of call. It accuses the agents of a breach of faith, and says:— "The most serious consequence is, probably, that Auokladd is placed at a disadvantage as a market as compared with Wellington and the South. As regards a large portion of the tfSde ot the WeSt Ceast of both islands, Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin are competitors. The arrival of the Bowen at Wellington, and the delivery of the goods there some ten days before they are delivered at Auckland, will enable thoso markets, where the two citieß are competitors, to be fully supplied before Auckland can have a chance." What a pity it is that shipowners will act on commercial principles rather than pander to provincial jealousies. The Italian journals have been occupied for a week in reporting a tidal for murder at Teramo in the Abruzzi. The victim was an advocate, and a man of some property at Villarcia, not far from Teramo, ai)d the persons charged with his murder were his wife, his daughter, a girl of 15 at the time the crime was committed, the lover of tne girl, and two peasants. The date of the murder was 23rd July, 1879, showing how long it takeß to administer justice in that country. The" motive for the 1 crime was the passion which the girl entertaindd for a man called Taßsone, a" perfect reprobate, who was prohibited the house by the father; the mother, on the contrary, who had no affection for her husband, favored the courtship, and between these three a plan was formed for getting the advocate out of the way. The girl Annina was to be taken to Ancona, and then, in her despair, she wrote to her lover to the effect that now or never was the time. No time was lost in arranging affairs with the mother, who hired two peasants, and admitted them and Tassone on the night of 23rd July, 1879. They all then entered the room of the victim and strangled him in bed, both mother and daughter being present. His mouth was then filled with lime, and the men took the body into a garden, dug a grave, and buried him. A few nights after, Aflnina went to a dance at the house of a relative of her lover ; biit suspicion was awakened, and the whole party were arrested. Four of the accused were now sentenced to death ; while the girl, being a minor, was sentenced to fifteen years of seclusion. Of course, the sentence of death will be commuted.

Those about to marry, and all thrifty housekeepers, are often at a losb to know which is the best place in Wellington to purchase their household drapery. If one of the largest stocks in the city, imported direct from the manufacturers, a well-selected assortment and excellent value, are important considerations, then James Smith, Te Aro House, Cnba-street, offers decided advantages to those requiring blankets, sheetings, towels, table cloths, table covers, curtains, floorcloths, carpets, and every other household requisite. Customers will consult their own interest by making their purchases at Te Aro House.— [Advt.] Trals Mark, Waltham, Mass.— The American Watch Company, of Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A., hereby give notice that their trade mark, " Waltham, Mass.," is now registered in the Australian Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand. Proceedings will be taken against any copying or imitating same, or any vendors selling or offering for sale watoheß bearing colorable imitations or in any way infringing our rights.— American Watoh Company, Waltham, Mass.— [Advt.l