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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5459, 13 August 1879, Page 2

The chart prepared by the Clerk of Works of the Napier Harbor Board, showing the positions of the soundings taken in the channel, discloses what may be considered a very satisfactory improvement. Along the western channel there is a depth of 15 feet, with a width of 130 feet ; 13 feet deep, 200 feet wide ; 12 feet 6 inches deep, 300 feet wide ; and. 12 feet deep, 330 feet wide. The depth is at the top of high water. The tenders for the Port Ahuriri bridge will bo opened on Friday next, and we are assured on the best authority that one is certain to be accepted, when the work will be pushed on without delay. Mr Foy, who has lately been occupied in railway surveys in the South, will be, Aye understand, most probably selected to make the survey of the proposed Napier to Wallingford line of railway. If Mr Foy's other engagements prevent him undertaking tlie work at once another officer will be sent. Mr It. Stuart intimates in our advertising columns that ho has no intention of coming forward as a caiididate for the representation of Napier in the House of Representatives. The Committee of the Napier Athenseuin have decided upon taking steps for promoting the progress of the institution by endeavoring to increase the number of its subscribers, and, at the same time, to add to its attractions as far as means will allow. It has therefore been resolved to forward circulars to all non-subscribers inviting thorn to join the Athenamm, and to communicate witla the librarians of theChristehureh andDunodinAthpnajums respecting a monthly supply of the latest publications from England. The idea of the cosnnittee is to get out from England every month a parcel of now publications to the value of £5, and, if possible, to obtain them along with the parcel coming to the Christchurch Library, thus saying expense, We understand that a j

draft for £5, for the first parcel, will be forwarded Home by the outgoing mail. The committee have also decided upon expending £25 in the purchase of new books for the library, to paper the librarian's rooms, and to get Buch other necessary work done as the funds at command will permit. Mrs Neill's concert in Sfc. John's schoolroom last evening drew an excellent attendance. The opening pianoforte selection, by Miss Martin, was played in that lady's usual artistic style. Then there followed the charming chorus and duet " Pretty Gitana," from the opera of "Maritana," which was well rendered, Mrs Neill and Mr Gilpin singing the duet. Mr Monteith's comic songs were the very life of the entertainment, exciting roars of laughter ; the last one, " Not so bad for mo," elicited an enthusiastic encore, the audienoe, apparently, fully concurring with the sentiment of the song. A duet was very pleasingly sung by Miss Martin and Mr Elson. The beautiful waltz song, "II Bacio," was then gracefully rendered by Mrs Neill. Mr Sheath's Irish song, " O charming girl," was encored. Mr Gould made his first appearance and succeeded very well. An instrumental duet, violin and pianoforte, by Miss Martin and Mr Elson, was well played, and was a pleasing change from the ordinary instrumental pieces. A trio, "Oh Memory," was excellently sung by Mrs Neill, Miss Martin, and Mr Morgon. A duet from " Norrna," by Mrs Neill and Miss Martin, met with equal success as when sung on a previous occasion by the same ladies. Miss Caulton sang very nicely, as also did Mr Morgon. Another Irish song by Mr Sheath, with a chorus by the company, coucluded the programme. Mr Flood presided at the piano, and also conducted the choruses. The choruses were not quite as good as they usually are at Mrs Neill's concerts, owing to the paucity of lad}' vocalists. This, however, was the only drawback to an otherwise highly successful entertainment. It has been decided to hold the first show of the Poultry Association on Friday and Saturday, 26th and 27th of September, in the Protestant Hall. "We would remind such of our readers as are interested in the estate of Stuart and Co., that an important meeting of creditors will bo held to-day at 2 p.m., when, we understand, a favorable offer of composition will be made. The firm is one of oldest in the Napier, and its reestablishment in business will be a source of gratification to Mr Stuart's many friends. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before Mr T. K. Newton, WilHam Mathieson was charged with stealing a watch and chain at Wellington. The police stated that the warrant had not yet been received from Wellington, and the prisoner was accordingly remanded. Thomas Hogan -was fined os for drunkenness. A meeting of the Puketapu Road Board was held on Saturday. Present : Messrs J. Bicknell. W. Heslop, W. Elmore, and T. Parsons. A rate of sixpence in the pound was struck for the current year, to be paid in two equal payments on the Ist September, 1875, and March, 1880. Mr Oliver was appointed collector of rates, and £70 was voted to be spent in repairs and protective works, where the river is encroaching on the road. A petition to Parliament, praying for. such an amendment in the licensing laws as will enable the residents to control the liquor traffic, is being signed by the teetotallers of Napier. It is urged that the clause of the Act of. 1873 which admits the permissive or local option principle, is unworkable. Similar petitions are in circulation in the other towns of the colony. The Hon. Col. Whitmoro and the Hon. J. Sheehan may be expected in Napier in a few days — probably on Friday — on matters connected Avith the Port Ahuriri bridge and other contracts for public works. Mr Sutton's address to the electors will be found in our advertising columns. r\ At the meeting of the Working Men's Club on Monday evening it AYas decided to make an attempt to obtain more suitable premises, but the fiuatices of the club were not in a position to warrant the erection of a now building by the Club. We are requested to draw attention to Mr Monteith's sale to-day of fruit, forest, and ornamental trees, at the nursery of Messrs Gilberd and Anderson, Taradale. The sale will commence at 1 p.m. The Premier, Sir George Grey, leaves Wellington for the South about Monday next. His first stopping place will be Christchurch, at which town he will solicit the suffrages of the electors, but he will not make any lengthy stay there, going further South, as far as Invercargill, almost immediately. It is stated that strenuous efforts are being made to induce Mr Stout to oppose Mr G. M'Lean at Waikouaiti, and that Mr Stout will probably consent to do so. Some time ago one Morton Quin, at Wellington, was arrested on a charge of embezzlement. He was released on bail, but as soon as he had left the preciucts of the Court was arrested for debt and lodged in " durance vile." Commenting upon this, we chaffingly asked who would be responsible for the criiniiial's production, when the criminal charge was again called on — the gaoler who was not bound over to produce him, or the sureties who were ? We never imagined that the question would actually arise, as according to a Wellington contemporary it has done. It appears that the sureties are actually responsible in law, and in the Police Court, on the application of the prosecutor's solicitor, an order was made on the sureties to produce him on Tuesday next, or to. pay the amount of their bonds. They will either have to I pay the amount of his debt to release him from gaol, or to forfeit the sum for which they became sureties, and they ase now 1 inquiring which will be the most economical proceeding. That was a smart creditor who had Quin arrested for debt as soon as sureties had been entered into for his appearance on the charge of embezzlement. Some rich specimens of reporters' blunders are occasionally made public, but few are equal to that in a recent Bath journal. In a speech at a social gathering, a Mr E. P. Edwards drew a contrast between the peaceful and warlike methods of civilisation, and expressed the opinion that " great, good Mary Carpenter would do more good in a day than could be done by all the soldiers in I India for generations." One of the local papers thus reported him :— " Mr E. P. Edwards said that if a shipload of carpenters were sent to India they would be able to do more in one day than could be done by : 10,000,000 soldiers in all gonerations." The following extract from the TimaruHerald may be of interest to many of our country readers: — " We were shown last Saturday by Mr John Macintosh, of Kingsborough, some splendid specimens of trout ova obtained by him from atrout out of an artificial pond on his property. It has always been held that trout could not live except in. a stream of running water, and that it was useless to , put them in an artificial pond, as they would die there; but the experiment tried by Mr Macintosh places that matter beyond dispute, and the discovery is, therefore, rendcrod the more interesting by the fact that it dispels tho fallacy which has hitherto existed. About two years ago Mr Macintosh brought some young trout from Christchuvch. and placed them in this pond. He was not then very sanguine of success, but he thought tho experiment worth trying. The growth of the fish was watched, with

anxious care, and it was not without feelings of pleasure that Mr Macintosh saw Dr Macintyre fish some solendid trout out of the pond last 'season. A few days ago some boys caught a trout which, as it was full of ova. must have got out into the little stream whieli rises out of the pond to spawn. llic > discovery was regarded as a very important one, as it proved that not alone can the fish live in a pool of stagnant water but also that it can prosper and multiply m such a place. This settles the question in dispute, and shows the farmers that they can grow trout in ponds on their own farms. "We have no doubt we shall hear of many following the example of Mr Macintosh, to whom the credit of the discovery is due." The sale of slaves in Morocco, writes a correspondent from Tangier, is increasing*, and the fact is doubtless owing to the present rituatiou of the empire. Many Moors are in difficulties ; the retainers whom they have to support cost them dear ; and, naturally, they seek to get rid of them. During the past fortnight over 30 negroes of all ages and both sexes were put up fco auction. As invariably happens, the children, and more particularly the young girls, bring the highest prices. There is a vast difference, however, in the present value of slaves from that of former times ; negroes who were' formerly sold for 1000 francs or 1200— m francs, do not find purchasers now; at ' more than 400 francs, whilst some have been sold for so low a sum as 80 francs, not useless beings, bat well-built strong fellows, who can do no small amount of useful work. A day or two ago it was telegraphed ( from Wellington that the doctor attend- V ing the Maoris "administered some strong medicine, and shortly afterwards v symptouis of poisoning set in. The doctor was recalled, and after dosing them with emetics they came to." It appears that the Chronicle, which hag a happy faculty for discovering mare's nests, was responsible for the rumor. The Neio Zealander explains that the real facts of the case were these :— The Maori prisoners, fed and treated by their friends with mussels, fish, doughboys, and similar dainties, have been affected with, diarrhoea, and to set them right Dr. Diver prepared a large bottle of medicine and k gave instructions to his orderly, wha^ — " doses to administer. Sixty-eight (loses were given, and the patients were relieved. The medicine was not only effective, but palatable, and two or three others of the Maoris, though in perfect health, asked that they might have a taste, and the request was granted, with the natural result that it made them feel a little queer in the stomach, The orderly went to Dr Diver and told him that these men were complaining. Dr Diver went to the gaol in post haste, and found there was nothing the matter with them, except that the gaoler^ in the absence of the orderly, had appointed himself deputy-physician extraordinary, and administered doses of mustard and water as emetics, which, acting rapidly,, had frightened his patients nearly out of their senses. ' Queer mistakes sometimes occur in the transmission of telegraphic messages. A case of the kind occurred the other day, and is thus narrated by the Otago Daily Times : — " A. prominent citizen in'Dunediu sent a telegram to one of the City M.H.R.'s in Wellington, as follows: — 'Kindly arrange send me Hansard/ Evidently this on the road North underwent a little change, for a reply came next day : ' Your telegram arrange send 'thousand' requires explanation/ Tiething, no doubt, looked to the M.H.R. acool way of trading upon the probability of a dissolution, when, of course, no* request could be refused, by asking aloan; but to his relief the citizen sent an answer back: 'Previous telegram asked you arrange send me Mansard, but will be happy to take thousand as well.' It is needless to state that Hansard only has .as yet come to hand." " The British empire, sir," exclaimed a John Bull to Jonathan, "is one on which the sun never sets." "And one," rejoined Jonathan, "on which the taxgatherer never goes to bed." Mr Macandrew perpetrated a grim joktsw joke during the no-confidence debate! which should be embalmed as a specimen of good humor undor reverses. [Replying to a member about a certain railway line, the hon. gentleman stated that the work would be ready for tender at the end of the present month, "but whether it was put in hand would, unless the prophets were wrong, depend upon the gentlemen on the other side of the House." The prophets.have proved to be wrong. A much more inauspicious honeymoon was probably never entered into than : a. loving couple, named Henry and Grace Evans, are now commencing, says the JS"eio Zealander. It seems that they were only united in the bonds of Hymen on Thursday last, and on Friday evening they were arrested by Detective^Sullivan, for obtaining money by false ' pretences. The second night of their married life was spent by them under one roof, it is true, but in adjoining cells. The coincidences of crime are often startling, and an instance of this came under the notice of the Dunedin City Police Court recently. Elizabeth Mowbray pleaded guilty to stealing a boiler, the property of a Mrs Anderson. The prisoner, on stealing the boiler, sold it to a second-hand dealer, named Johnson**^*. Mrs Anderson, when next she required such an article, happened to send to Mr Johnson's to buy one, and, as much so her sui-prise as delight, had her own familiar "household god," in the shape of a two-gallon pot, returned to her.