" ROUGH ON RATS."

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 14 July 1885, Page 2

" ROUGH ON RATS."

An epidemic of suicide by übb of this un-pleasantly-named compound seems to have^ set in. Within the last 18 months or so, four, it' not five, cases have occurred in this city, and fully a dozen in the colony. The poison is unfortunately easily obtained, and apparently not unpleasant to the taste, but, with all deference to the ovidence given yesterday, it can hardly fail to be a most painful means of death. Immediate steps should, we think, be taken to place the sale of this poison under the most severe restriction, if not te prohibit its sale altogether, and Coroner's juries will have to cease regarding taking "Rough on Rats" as an evidence of temporary insanity. Persona who are inclined to indulge in_ this luxury are not to be regarded as ordinary individuals. They are almost _ certainly of a morbidly sensitive disposition, and on such temperaments the knowledge that a verdict of felo de se is pretty sure to be returned, and that their bodies will be consigned with marks of ignominy to an unknown grave, might not improbably exercise a deterrent effect. Suicidal epidemics of a kindred character have been checked in this way before now.

It is understood that Sir Julius Vogel's claim for commission in connection with the floating of loan and inscription of stook during his term of office as Agent-General, will shortly be brought under the notice of the House by way of petition, whioh, it ia said, will be presented by Mr. Maoandrew.

Correspondence and a description of Mr. Scott's new building will be found on the fourth page. Excepting the engines and boiler, all the sections of the steamer whioh is to be constructed here for the Defence Department, arrived by the Mahinapua from the South this morning. The new vessel is one that was brought out from Home by the Union Steam Ship Company at the same time as the Waihi, and that company, having no use for her, sold her to the Government. The Collector of Rates gives notioe that the days of grace for tho payment of the first instalment of rateß for the year 1885-86 having expired, summonses will be issued at once against those who have not yet paid. William Waring Taylor left Wellington last night in tho Mawhera for Hokitika in custody of Mr. Cleary, the Governor of the Hokitika Gaol, who came to Wellington for the purpose of taking charge of the prisoner. Itlis intended that he shall serve his sentence, which, if he behaves well, will only extend for three years and two months, in the Hokitika Gaol. In his convict garb, and with dosed oropped hair, beard, and moustaohe, Taylor was scarcely reoogniaable. We understand that it is tho intention of Deteotive Inspector Browne to tako proceedings against Mr. G. lice, under the Sale of Poisons Act, for not registering the "Rough on Rats" Bupplied to Alice Barnaby. A trial of the Hotohkiss gun mounted at the Kaiwarra battery was made yesterday afternoon in the presence of tho Defence Minister, tho Hon. Sir G. Whitmore, Commandant of the New Zealand Foroea, Major Boddam, and alargenumberof members of the Legislature and others interested, inoluding several ladies. The gun, whioh is a remarkably handy piece of ordnance, oan be fired with great rapidity, and projects a 61b shot with such precision that an enemy's vessel would have no chance of reaohing shore within range of the weapon, for in a few minntes it would be riddled. The targets were placed at 1500 and 3000 yarcta distanco, and as soon as the buoys had been fixed iv position by a party in a lannoh, directed by means of signals from the fort by Captain Loveday and a detachment of the Guards, tho gun was laid by Major Boddam, and the maiden shot direoted at the 3000 yarda rango. The result was eminently Batisfaotpry, tUe projectile stf iking the water' apparently within a few fost of the target. The gun Was again loaded and again fired with good effect, and although during the 25 or 30 Bhots whioh succeeded neither of the targets was hit, it was oloar that no boat could come within 3000 yards of the shore without being struck by two out of three shots. When it id considered that the buoys were so small that they oould only be distinguished by the aid of glasses (the only marks visible to the naked oyo being the red flags) and that a very strong wind was blowing the trial must bo taken to be deoidedly successful. At the close of the praotice the visiting party inspected the works now going on, and satisfaction was generally expressed at the progreEs made. Mr. H. S. Wardell, R.M., did not take his seat on tho benoh at the Magistrate's Court this morning till 11 o'olook, and the various suitors, witnesses, &c, wero consequently detained for fully half an hour by the business not being procoedod with at the usual time. Tho directors of the Caswell Sound Marble Company have decided to out up the four large blocks of stone from their quarries, whioh wero brought up reoently from the Sound, with a view to entering them as exhibits at the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition. The marble will be cut down to sizes suitable for table and washhandstand tops at the company's mill, Dixon-street, and will be polished before being forwarded to the Exhibition. We believe it is not generally known that an Australian football team is to pay a visit to Great Britain towards the end of the present year. The players are to be seleoted from the clubmen in New South Wales, Viotoria, and Queensland, and a committee of four has been appointed to visit each of those colonies and report as to the most suitable men. In order to inorease the interest in the matches whioh will be played at Home, tho team will inolude two or threo aboriginals. The idea of sending a team to Great Britain originated in Sydney, and the Rugby Union in that city are making all arrangements in -connection with the contemplated tour. At the meeting of Court Robin Hood, No. 4128, A.0.F., the balanoe-sheet for the past quarter was read, which showed that tho Court was progressing very satisfactorily. Notwithstanding that the large amount of £52 5s had been paid away during tho quarter for siok pay alone, there was an inorease in the funds of jC29 15a 9d, making the total amount of the funds .£1950 12s Bd. During the quarter, there had been 13 new members initiated and two admitted by olsaranoe from other Courts, making the total number of members 183. During the evening, the members of Sanctuary Sir George Grey, A.0.F., paid a fraternal visit to the Court, and were warmly reoeived with Foresters' honours. The officers for the ensuing term were installed in their respective offices, the ceremony being impressively performed by P.C.R. Bro. R. H. Cole. Four new members were initiated, and one proposed for membership. During the evening, several capital songs were rendered, which brought the meeting to a close. The following tenders have been received at the Publio Works Office for the Hunterville station buildings contraot, No. I.— Accepted— Wm. Timms, Wanganui. .£329. Declined — Martin and Cleaver, Marton, £330; Joseph Mitohell, Turakina, £395; Alexander and M'Farlane, Wanganui, .£428; Carroll and Bosselman, Marton, .6432: P. Burbush, Hawera, iJ49B. An adjourned meeting of the Committee of the Sooiety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon, at whioh were present— Messrs. G. B. Davy (in the chair), J. C. Harris, Eb. Baker, Bulkley, Wharton, Blackmore (Colleotor and Inspector), and J. E. Baker (Hon. Secretary). The Chairman mentioned that since the formation of the Society the collections amounted to £89 7s, whilst the expenditure, inoluding commission to the collector, printing, advertising, Ac, was only .£29 11s Bd, leaving a credit balance in hand amounting to £60. Mr. J. E. Baker stated that the expenditure had been kept within the lowest possible limits. A number of subscriptions were still outstanding, and these would amount to £20 moro. Mr. G. Blackmore stated that he had waited upon upwards of 300 persons during the present month and had obtained 185 new subscribers, the majority of whom had handed in their subscriptions. Mr. Harris thought that the Sooiety required the services of an inspector and collector, and enquired if Mr. Blackmore would continue to fill the offices. Mr. Blaokmore said he had acted 19 collector for tha Sooiety for the past month, and as he had been bound Jown to devote his whola time to the work }f the Coirraitteo, he found that he had been iut of pocket. Mr. Blsokmore waa then isked if he would undertake the work proriding ha was not required to devote the Thole of his time to the business of the lociety. Mr. Blaokmore declined to accept my paid office in connection with the society, jnt offered to oolleot for one month for lothing providing he was not debarred from Tansaoting his own private business. After arther disoussion, Mr. Blaokmore was re{nested to retire, and on the motion of Mr. iarris, it was deoidod to advertise for an nspeotor and collector at a salary of .£3 per reek. Mr. Blaokmore, who had intimated hat he had a statement to make, was then nvited to meet the Committee. He was ,bout to enter upon his explanation, when he representativea of the press wero re[nested to withdraw.

Mr. C. Tilley has been appointed agent for the Evening Post at Paikakariki. It is announced in a District Order which appears elsewhere that an examination of officers will be held at Mount Cook Barracks at 10 a.m. on Monday, the 3rd August. Intending candidates had batter zefer to the advertisement. The juror who refused to be sworn at the inquest yesterday writes to complain of the remarks made regarding his refusal, and justifies his conduct by reference to St. Matthew v., 33 to 37, which our readers may tnrn up for themselves. In noticing yesterday the transfer of Captain Wilfiamß' business to the Union Steam Ship Company, we omitted to mention that the transfer includes the premises on Customhouse Quay whioh the enterprising proprietor of the Black Diamond line has for some years used as his central office. We may take it as by no means unlikely that the Union Company, having become possessed of such a capital property on the sea front of the oity will ultimately make use of it as the Bite for the ereotion of their permanent Wellington offices. For a company doing such a large business in the port as the Union Steamship Company their present premises can only be regarded as very inadequate, more especially when it is remembered that tho Company's steamers make more calls here than they do at any other port in the colony. We have already several splendid buildings on Customhouse Quay, whioh go far to redeem the reputation of the city from an architectural point of view, and if the Union Company directors oan see their way to still further improve our sea front by the ereotion of a pile commensurate with the dimensions of their business, we shall begin to think that Wellington may yet live down the sneering epithets which have been applied to her street architecture, and blossom forth as " suprema" on account of her edifices as well as " a situ." A large number of the residents at the Lower Hutt met at Pettard's Hotel last evening for the purpose 1 of presenting a testimonial to Constable J. G. Mackey, who, after four years in the district, is about to be removed to Martinborough. Mr. W. A. Pitzherbert, J.P., occupied the chair, and presented the testimonial, whioh consisted of a handsome illuminated address, signed by nearly 100 residents, recording in flattering terms the regret occasioned by the recipient's departure, a valuable writing desk, and a purse of sovereigns. Mr. Fitzherbert, in performing his task, mode a complimentary reference to the manner in whioh Constable Maokey had discharged his duties, and expressed the good wishes of all present for his future welfare. Mr. Maokey expressed his gratification at the kindness displayed in the presentation, and the proceedings terminated. We regret to hear that the Rev. P. N. Hunter, who is at present at Blenheim, is suffering from a serious illness. Although matters are represented as being in a very depressed state in Canterbury at present, the Post Offioo Savings Bank returns for the last quarter soarcely bear out tho statement. The deposits for that period in Canterbury were .£144,925 13s lid, and the withdrawals £142,725 2s 7d. A correspondent at Martinborough sends us the following:— "There is a large whale of a dark colour on shore on tho boundary between the White Rook and Kawakawa Stations, East Coast, above Palliser Bay. It has a mark on it as if it had been struok by some steamer or other vessel. It is 45ft long, and looka 10ft high. There is a good ohanoe for someone to run a craft up and boil it down. Unless this is done it will rot, as there are no casks or boiler where it is." The gentlemen who have been interesting themselves in organising the Liardet relief fund are requested to meet at Mr. John Maginnity's wine vaults in Panama-street to-morrow morning, at 11 o'olook, in order to decide as to the best method of investing the monoy collected. The subscriptions aro now being oollectod, and as soon as all are received, Mr. Maginnity intends to publish a full list. The total subscribed is over £200, whioh should enable Mrs. Liardot to establish herself in business without going into debt. Messrs. Deacon & Co. report the following Reef ton returns of amalgam for week ending the 11th instant :— Keop-it-Dark, 4130i5 ; Inkerman, 18(iozs. Mr. E. H. Beore hoe just completed a vory cxoellent map on a large scale, of the ground and workings of the Weloome claim at Terawhiti. He is now preparing similar plans of other claims thoro. Charles J. Painter, who was arrested yesterday on a oharge of lnnaoy, was examined last evening by Dr. Rawson and Dr. Tripo, on whose certificate tho unfortunate man was, by the order of Mr. H. S. Wardell, R.M., transferred to the Mount View Lunatic Asylum. The first- of a aeries of fortnightly entertainments whioh it is intended shall be given in aid of the Parsonage Building Fund will take place in St. James' schoolroom, Lower Hutt, to-morrow evening, when a number of dissolving views will be shown by the Rev. E. S. Cross. An effort is about being made to float a gold mining oompany at Terawhiti, whioh it is intended shall be oalled the Welcome Gold Mining Company. The promoters are three experienced miners, who, during the past three months, have been assiduously prospeoting the ground, and at length, it is asserted, have met with Buooess. The prospectors have taken up the old Empire claim, and also the ground formerly held by the Try Again Company. The men state that they have f sund gold-bearing stone in four old drives, whilst from No. 5 drive of the Empire's former claim several good specimens have been brought into town. When the prospectus of tho company is issued the promoters intend inviting the publio to visit the mine and judge for themselves of the value of the stone whioh has been struok. Mr. Floyd lectured last night on the Bubjsot of "The Devil: Is there one? Where did he come from, and how does he work?" The leoturer said that the whole universe was a grand embodiment of design, whioh shows there must bo a designer. As God oreated all things in the beginning and pronounoed them very good, it was evident that He is not the author of evil, and as there must be something baok of evil to produce it, he believed that something was what the Bible taught— the devil, a real person, who could think and act. According to Jude, the devil was no othor than a fallen angel — one of those who had left their first habitations. The devil worked not literally in the hearts of men, but through his agents, who manifested themselves in various ways and forms, often transforming themselves into angels of light to effect their diabolioal pohemes. Mr. Floyd leotures to-night on " Hell, and the philosophy of future punishment;" and to-morrow evening, on What should I do to be infallibly safe ?" Sergeant Dransfield and six other members of the N.S.W. Contingent, who were invalided at Snez, but who have since been fully restored to health, returned to Sydney by the s.s. Liguria. A Parliamentary Union is being formed at Halcombe. lhe advertisement announcing the transfer of the Royal Hotel from John Maginnity to Robert Freeman will be found elsewher*. Coming after snoh a popular and businesslike Jandlord as Mr. Maginnity, Mr. Freeman will have no light task if he wishes to preserve the high oharacter whioh the house has hitherto maintained, but there are two things in favour of this being done, one being the faot that Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are well known as experienced caterers for the pnblio, and the other that all the liquids vended will be supplied from Maginnity's wholesale stores, in Panama-street. An announcement is made to-day in our oolumnß elsewhere of the transfer of the oonfeotioner's and fruiterer's business lately carried on by Messrs. A. Curtis A\£tj. on Lambtou-quay to Mr. David Wfa#||&i for whom tho former proprietors WKv/jpC'continuance of public patronage *.'*#*?-'' Mr. Tbos. Fairhurst announoes in another column the opening of a ham, bacon, and fruit shop in Willis-srreot, in premises lately constructed by Mr. John Dnthie. A sale which is likely to attract a large attendance is that which Mr. Ben. B. Johnson has received instructions from Messrs. H. M'Kenzie 4 Sons to hold at Awapurua, near Woodville, on Friday and Saturday next, and which will be found advertised in another column. The Bale will include the whole of the plant lately used in tho construction of the Awapurua bridge, the list comprising a large number of horses, working oxen, a sawmill in going order, 25,000 ft of timber, drays and traps of various kinds, tools, pumps, cement, &c, &o. We aro requested to draw attention to an alteration in the hour of Messrs. George Thomas & Co.'s sale of stock and milch cows at Karon next Thursday week. The time of sale is half-past 12, not 2 o'clock, as previously noted. Messrs. George Thomas A Co. will sell tomorrow, fruit, produoe, &c. Messrs. Laery & Campbell will sell tomorrow, fat wethers. They will abjo hold their usual market sale. Messrs. Sharp A Sons will sell to-morrow, at their rooms, Nelson, the' hull and furniture of the brigantina Helena, also the oargo. Wk would respeotfolly remind our lady customers that in addition to the extensive assortment of new choice coloured dress fabrics, we have a Eplendid range of black dress material just opened out at Te Aro House. We are showing black cashmereß from Hid to 3s 6d per yard ; black Frenoh merinos from 2s 6d to 4s 6d : black Parramattas from Is 6d to 3s 6d ; blaok Persian cord from Is to 2s ; black Rusbol cord from lOJd to Is 9d ; black lustres from 6d to 2s ; black nuns' veiling from Is 6d to 2a ; black satin cloths, from Is Gd to 2s 9d; black broche ottoman cloths, 7Jd to Is Od ; black embroidered costume cloths, Is 4}d, la 6Jd ;

black ottoman silks, Is 6}d to 4s Gd ; blaok grosgrain Bilks, 2s lid to 5b Gd ; blaok broobe fcilks, Is lid to 53 lid ; black velveteens, Is 3d to 3s tid per yard ; at Te Aro House. One thiDg we wish particularly noted, that all our stock of dress materials is perfectly new, having been bonght and imported Binca the fire. What was saved in that catastrophe has been sold long since. Our customers may therefore depend upon getting the latest styles and the best value obtainable in this city, at Te Aro House.— Advt. The originator of Wolfk's Schnapps will live as long as his splendid preparation performs its marvellous cures and is recognised as a standard remedy for the ailments it undertakes to treat.— Advt.