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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3938, 29 June 1877, Page 2

It is not, perhaps, generally known that some time since an Order in Council was made bringing the Stamp Fee Act, 1875, into force in respect of fees received in the Registry of Deeds and Land Transfer Departments. The regulations made in that order will come into force on Monday next, the 2nd July. On and after that date persons having any business to transact in either of those departments, either in the way of searching or in the registration of instruments, must supply themselves with the necessary stamps for the payment of fees. A stamp bearing the words " Land and Deed Stamp" has been specially issued for this purpose, and can be obtained at the Stamp Office, and from licensed depositaries and stamp dealers in town. No other stamps are available for this purpose. The Hawke's Bay Dramatic Club gave their performance last night to a crowded house. In the first piece, " Used Up," Mr Bell gave an excellent representation of Sir Charles Coldstream, and met with the warmest approbation from the audience. Mr Swan was thoroughly at home in the character of John Ironbrace, and played it with his accustomed ability. Sir Adonis Leech found a capital representative in Mr Minter, as did also Farmer Wurzel, which was well rendered by Mr T. W. Bear. Mr Dewes and Mr Ingpen made the most of their small parts. The character of Mary Wurzel was very nicely represented by Mrs T. W. Bear, and that of Lady Clutterbuck by Miss Reeves. Altogether the piece went off in a highly satisfactory manner the principal performers being called before the certain at the close. A musical interlude followed, in which Messrs Caulton, Bell, Eva, Morgon, Swan and Jones took part. The items winch found most favor with the audience were undoubtedly Mr Eva's song, " The schooner on the sands," and Mr Morgon's " Hark ! the drum," both of which were given with great taste and power. Mr Swan's character song was also warmly applauded, and Dr DeLisle's comic recitation created great amusement. Mr H. Kraeft, the " Fakir-o-Spito," then gave a very clever manifestation of the dark seance, having secured himself and untied the knots quite as successfully as Professor Fay, amidst the plaudits of the audience. The performance concluded with the burlesque of " Fair Rosamond's Bower," a piece abounding with sparkling music and incidents. The character of King Henry, in Mr Bell's hands, was well acted and dressed, and Mr Britten as the Queen was capitally got up and gave an excellent rendering of the part. " Fair Rosamond " found a pretty and fascinating representative in Mrs Bear, the various duets between that lady and MiBell being much admired. The orchestral arrangements were under the direction of Mr W. H. Flood, and it is needless to say they were well carried out. The performance as a whole reflects the highest credit on all concerned, and the proceeds last night will, no doubt, add considerably to the cricket fund. On Monday evening last a highly interesting and instructive lecture was delivered in the Town Hall, Waipukurau, by W. L. Rees/'Esq. , the subject being ' ' The Lost Tribes of Israel." The Hon. H. It. Russell occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr Bees, in commencing his lecture, adverted to the rapid strides which science had made of late years, and pointed out how modern scientific research had discovered the ruins of many great cities of pre-historic times, instancing Nineveh, Babylon, and j the still more recent discovery of Homeric Troy by Dr. Schliemann, the existence of which cities had been considered by many eminent authorities to be merely mythical. He then touched on the history of the Israelites at the time of the captivity, pointing out the distinctions which then existed between the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and briefly alluded to the various prophecies concerning their future destinies. The ten tribes were to be carried into captivity, lose all knowledge of their God, of themselves as a nation, a:id even of their language, until the time for their restoration came. They were to multiply exceedingly, and found many nations; they were to occupy the desert and waste places of the earth, and the original inhabitants would die out before them ; they were to spread towards the Nortli and the West, and to occupy the gates of the earth. The lecturer then mentioned, traditions which had been handed down, of a nation going

out from among the Syrians, travelling towards and crossing the Danube, and finally spreading over Northern Germany. He then took up the Saxon end of the thread, and showed how their toaditions carried them back towards the East. Then alluding to the Anglo-Saxon races, he showed how wonderfully they had fulfilled the conditions of the prophecies. Their vast increase in numbers, their colonising power, the large proportion of the globle which was under their dominion, and how their language bade fair, in a few years time, to be an almost universal language throughout, at any rate, the civilised parts of the world. He also pointed out the peculiarity of English weights and measures, and showed how nearly they correspond with those used by the Hebrews. In conclusion, the lecturer remarked on the rapidly increasing wealth and influence in the councils of all nations, of the Jews, in spite of the persecutions which they had undergone for so many centuries. I am sorry that want of time and a short memory obliges me to send you such an imperfect account of what was the best lecture which has been delivered in Waipukurau for some time. The Rev. R. Fraser, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said that if the lecturer had not been able to absolutely prove his theory, yet any one trying lo prove the converse would find it very difficult to produce such an array of arguments. The Rev. J. Shearman moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which terminated the entertainment It is to be regretted that the attendance was not larger, but I am sure that if Mr Rees gave another lecture on the subject, that would be amended.— [Communicated.] The Fire Brigade held a practice last evening at the salt water well at the back of the Union Bank with great success, using one, two, and three jets of fiveeighths of an inch, three-quarters of an inch, and 1^ inch. The 1£ inch nozzle threw a stream of water some 25 feet above the parapet of the Criterion Hotel for a short season. We were sorry we did not see more of this, but suddenly orders were given to disconnect the hose. This well is a great acquisition to the ' town, and seems very reliable. The whole of the time the engine was working, whether with one or three jets, it made no perceptible difference in the depth of water in the well. After the practice a meeting was held for the transaction of business, which was got through satisfactorily. A vote of thanks was recorded to Mr J. Rhodes, Messrs Dinwiddie, Morrison & Co. , and Mr C. Palmer, for gifts of books and other articles to the brigade, and the secretary was instructed to write a letter of thanks to them on behalf of the brigade. The half-yearly meeting of St. John's Branch, No. 93, H. A. C.8.5., took place at the lodge room, on Wednesday evening, when there was a very good attendance of members. A report that gas be laid on in the lodge-room, was brought up, and agreed to. The balance-sheet and auditors' report were read and adopted. The report showed that the branch was steadily increasing in funds, and that it had a large sum out at interest at the bank. A vote of thanks was then passed to the secretary and auditors, for the creditable manner in which they fulfilled their duties. The election of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows : — President, J. N. Bowennan ; Vice-President, J. Mahoney ; Secretary, J. M. St. Clair ; Treasurer, F. Malcon ; Warden, T. Reidy; Guardian, G. J. Sellars ; Medical Attendant, Dr DeLisle ; Sick Visitors, G. Timblin and T. M. Murphy. After the election of officers, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the retiring surgeon, Dr Spencer, for the very able and obliging manner in which he had performed the duty of medical attendant to the branch for the last three years. This concluded the business, and the branch adjourned. An adjourned sitting of the Licensing Court for the Napier district was iield yesterday. The Commissioners present were R. Stuart, Esq. , R.M., (chairman), J. Rhodes, Esq., ami J. A. Smith, Esq. The licenses of Mr Caulton, for the Masonic Hotel, and of Mr Hayden, for the Foresters' Arms, were granted, Major Scully reporting favorably in respect to the alterations undertaken in both those houses to remove what was objectionable in respect to their back yards. The Court refused to grant the renewal of Mr Thomas . Edwards's license for the Shakespeare Hotel, Mr Edwards not having made the arrangements which he had been required by the Court to make for carrying on the business of the Shakespeare Hotel without his presence in it. Major Scully, in opposing the renewing of the license, remarked that he was moved in his opposition by a sincere desire for Mr Edwards's benefit, as he was certain that Mr Edwards's health would suffer seriously if he continued in the hotel. One of the patent life saving coats, now becoming pop alar in England, was brought to the Herald office yesterday. The coat has the appearance of an ordinary waterproof overcoat, but it has the important difference that it can be inflated by blowing into a tube affixed to it, and in less than a minute it becomes so filled with air as to be able to keep a person afloat as long as desired. " The mode by which the dress is kept afloat," says the London Sun Jay Times, "is by air cells, and those cells are placed over and around the shoulders. So placed, the cells have the advantage of keeping the body in an upright position, so that the head, neck, and shoulders always remain perfectly dry. If, for instance, a person wearing the dress, were, on falling into the water to become senseless from the shock, or, after being immersed for some time, grow faint, the dress would still remain a life-preserver ; for, from the position of the air cells, the head could not sink. Farther, the dress can be inflated in half a minute ; and carries about twenty pounds' weight in addition to that of the human body." Mr Upham, we understand, will take orders on behalf of those who desire to be supplied with this useful garment. A correspondent writes to us that a meeting of ratepayers of the Patangata Road "Board took place in the Kaikora schoolroom on Saturday, the 23rd inst. The meeting was called to take into consideration whether the road board should be merged into the county or be continued as at present. After waiting a considerable time a muster of eight ratepayers was got together, viz., Messrs. Lawrence, R. Tod, C. Clark, A. Borvden, J. Collins, D. Mundell, Lozell, Limpus. and Win. White, chairman of the road board. The chairman having read the advertisement calling the meeting, expressed his regret that the ratepayers took so little interest in public matters, as appeared by the small assembly present. As this was an important matter for them to settle, the road board had thought it only right to call a general meeting of the ratepayers, and to get them to express their opinion on the subject so as to guide the road board in its decision. It was quite evident, however, from the small attendance at the meeting that it would be impossible to get anything like an opinion of the majority of the ratepayers in the district. Mr R. Tod proposed, snd Mr C. Clark seconded, that the board still retain the management of the roads in the district. Mr Lawrence proposed, seconded by Mr Bowden, that the- county take over the roads as county roads. The amendment having been put, live hands were held up in favor of it, viz., Messrs Bowden, Collins, Limpus, Mundell, and the mover. For the resolution there were Messrs Clark, Lozell, and the mover. r sie amendment was therefore carried. The meeting then adjourned. — A meeting of the road board took place at Mundell's hotel on Tuesday, 2<»th inst. The members present were Messrs Lawrence, Dillon, M'Grevy, and White (chairman). The meeting was called for the consideration of the resolution passed at the ratepayers' meeting held on the Saturday

previous. A long debate "ensued, which ended in Mr Dillon proposing and Mr M'Grevy seconding, that the board should still retain the roads now under their control. An amendment was proposed by Mr Lawrence, but as it did not find a seconder, the resolution was declared to be carried. It f vraa resolved that a ratepayers' meeting be advertised for Friday, the 6th .Tilly, for the purpose ef electing wardens for the ensuing year. It was also resolved that the clerk be instructed to summon forthwith all those who have not paid then- rates. The board then adjourned. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before R. Stuart, Esq., R.M., Thomas Miller forfeited his deposit of £1, which ho had left in the hands of the police in lieu of bail after having been apprehended for drunkenness. — Three cases between James and Martha Rolfe and Eliza Gillighan were set down for hearing at 2 o'clock, but at that hour only Mrs Gillighan was present, and the cases — one of which was for abusive language, and the other two for assault — were adjourned until this morning at 11 o'clock. A general meeting of the persons entitled to vote in the election of a Board of Conservators for the Taradale district will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon, at the schoolroom, Taradale, for the purpose of electing the first board under the Act of last session. The Canterbury Standard, referring to the libel action about to be brought by the editor of the Post against the proprietors of its local contemporary, the Argus, thus refers to the plaintiff : — " Of course all Wellington is in ecstasies at the idea of ' old Jock ' — as his friends familiarly call him, or more properly ' bubbly Jock ' — seeking in a court of law protection against journalistic attacks. A more unscrupulous -writer than the plaintift' in this case never touched pen and paper ; yet, it is the old, old story. A fierce aggressor, thickness of skin, at least metaphorically speaking, is not his forte. The amount of damages our friend will get will certainly not build a church, nor yet buy a new hat. " The Melbourne Telegraph contains the following : — " One of the leading softgoods firms of the city has set an example which the others would do well to follow. It is generally known that the last half-year has been a profitable one for the trade. Bad debts have been scarce, prices have been good, and sales have increased. The resident partner of the firm referred to determined not to keep all the fruits of this prosperous state of things to himself, and one day last week he gave his salesmen and other hands a splendid picnic, after which he distributed £1000 amongst them as bonuses." Some of the English papers are urging that the income of the Prince of Wales should be increased by an addition of £30,000, or to £150,000 a year. Sir W. Knollys, his treasurer, states that the Prince's personal expenses are very small, and that no gentleman of social position spends so little for pocket money. He has not only to keep up costly establishments, but to maintain an expensive position as leader of society. His income is not equal to that of a number of his friends. When asked lately if the report of his intending to visit Australia was true, the Prince replied that he hoped so, because he greatly desired to see that region . — RockJi amp ton Argus. It is said that a vote for a Central Lunatic Asylum for all New Zealand will be asked for during the next session of the Assembly. During a recent sitting of the New South Wales Assembly, a Mr Ljnich was peculiarly obstructive on an item of expense. He would not allow the salary of the Carcoar clerk to be either voted or postponed. The hon. member for West Sydney (Mr Cameron) more than once remonstrated against what he considered the senseless position taken xip by the hon. gentleman, and after several remonstrances he at last sprang to his feet in a fit of impatience, exclaiming, "The hon. member has got his head down and his bristles up, and there is no reasoning with him. Why, Mr Faniell, he is like the Irishman's pig — he'll neither dance nor hold the candle." The simile caught the fancy of the House ; and members, jaded with their long, dreary sitting, seemed to recognise in this word-picture a sort of instantaneous photograph. The committee was convulsed with laughter, in which no one joined more heartily than Mr Lynch himself. The Oamaru Pastoral and Agricultural Society is in a flourishing condition. The receipts for the past financial year amounted to £1022. Mr Justice Williams, besides being versed in what Shakespeare calls the quips and quiddities of law, is tolerably acquainted with the more elusive subtleties of woman's ncture. In the course of a case in the Supreme Court on Saturday (saj's the Southland Times), Mr Harvey was laying it down to the jury that a husband who assigned property to his wife could not afterwards compel her to dispose of it in any way ; whereupon his Honor Byronically remarked — " Compel her, Mr Harvey ! Certainly not ; but he may soft sawder her !" The Judges who assembled in Wellington at the last sittings of the Court of Appeal considered the rules touching the examination and proof of qualification of candidates for admission as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court. The rules at present in force were repealed, and others, to the number of twenty, substituted for them. They have just been gazetted, and will come into force on the Ist January next. — Press. Divine services will be held on Sunday next as follows : — Church of England at St. Luke's, Havelock, at 11 a.m., at Hastings at 3.30 p.m., and at St. Mark's, Clive, at 7 p.m. ; at St. Mary's, Waipukiirau, at 11 a.m. and at Motuotaria at 3 p.m. ; by the Rev. J. White at Hampden at 11 a.m., at Onga Onga at 3 p.m., and at Waipawa at 7 p.m. Wesleyan service at Hastings on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. E. Reignier next Sunday, Ist July, in the school-room, i Clive, at 11 a.m. We learn that the Napier Municipality has been repaid by the Government the £100 that had been expended by the Municipality in charitable aid, before the ; deduction on that account was made in the subsidy to which the borough was entitled. Messrs Margoliouth and Banuor will sell, at the Taradale sale yards, at 12 noon to-day, milk cowSj steers, heifers and horses. The first atmospheric gas engine introduced into Southland has just been imported from the manufacturers, Messrs Crossley, of Manchester, for use in the Southland Times office. It is now fitted up at the gasworks, and Mr Daley says hu has had comparatively little trouble in putting the engine together. In referring to these engines, the Printers liei/isfer says : — " The majority of the experiments to obtain motive power with the aid of common coal g.is were for a long time so unfavorable that people began to look upon the gas engine as a hobby for theorists, and pitied the poor fools who ventured to have faith in it. While, however, most of the gas motors, and especially those of the horizontal typo, 2>roved themselves sooner or later to be failures, one stood apart from the rest, and asserted its ability to compete with steam. This was the engine invented by Otto and Langen, of Cologne, and made in this country by Messrs Crossley Brothers, of Manchester. Despite the prejudice against it raised by the ill suc-ct-ss of its rivals, its indubitable merits forced it into notice, and at last achieved for it a woll-deserved popularity ; so much so, that its makers are now able to point with pride to the significant fact that more than four thousand of this type of engine have been sold, "