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Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1888. ARE CHINAMEN HUMAN.

To approximately calm observers ll must seem wonderful that no many persons who claim to be reasonable can hold eonllictiug opinions. Men who hold very (irmly that God has made of one blood all the nations of the earth succeed in being very casuistic ou the subject, and while on the one band they will talk a great deal about the brotherhood of man, on tho other they will petition Parliament to prevent colored men acting as sailors, or will demand the imposition of heavy duties to prevent " foreigners " trading with us. The cruelty of cold-blooded employers who will not pay more than the current rate of wages is denounced upon altruistic grounds, but allowing Chinamen to breathe the air of New Zealand is equally denounced for the avowed reason that we ought to do to others as we would not that others should do to us. lor n» to force ourselves upon China with cannon and bayonet is, of course, a praiseworthy thing to do, but it is just as cammendable to prevent an unarmed end inoffensive Chinaman from earning a livelihoood in this colony. As a result of this contradictory incapacity for drawing fair conclusions, the blackguardly element in our " higher " civilisation not unnaturally betray considerable fogginess in their notions' of conduct, Incendiary journals which avowedly cater to the baser sort talk with ignorant ferocity of the crime which a Chinaman commits by daring to live and labor in New Zealand, and the readers of these compounds of imbecility and impudence prove themselves apt pupils of ignorant teachers by committing dastardly and unprovoked assaults like that punished jby Captain l'reece yesterday. The circumstances of the case were as simple as they were outrageous. A Oliinanian went to visit a compatriot employed at an hotel. A gang of seven blackguards began tormenting the visitor. As he did not begin to curse, did not draw a revolver or a knife, but, on the contrary, practically exemplified the doctrine of non-resistance to evil, the seven blackguards proceeded further in their cowardly conduct, and two of them, more vicious than tho rest, gave evidence of (heir AngloSaxon superiority to the Mongol by cruelly striking him on the face and body. Fortunately for tho poor fellow, who maintained his attitude of passivity all through, some persons who heard the uproar came upon the scene and the seven ruffians decamped. Two of tliem were subsequently proceeded against, the poor Chinaman, who will have gathered a somewhat confused notion of the efficacy of our judicial methods, having to fee a lawyer and initiate the prosecution. We are happy to state that the prosecution was successful, and that Captain Preece, who is to bo sincerely congratulated upon his attitude in the matter, sentenced one young ruffian to a months hard labor, ami inflicted sncli a substantial fine upon the other that lie too will in all probability have to serve a month in gaol. A peculiar phase of the affair was the Hue of defence which the solicitor for the ruffians was compelled by the eircumstancs to take up. He could

not . jusjify- the "•• dastardly conduct of the .accused, and, ■ in 1 fact, ho candidly admitted that the assault was a most aggravated' one, but in asking that the two blackguards might, be leniently dealt with, he referred to the unfortunate tact that there was in existence a feeling that Chinamen could be dealt with in any manner "in the way of skylarking." There is no doubt that tliis feeling does exist, and it is the direct outcome of the ignorant savagery which is so frequently expressed in low-class papers "when they refer to the question of Chinamen daring to live in the colonies. It was the knowledge of the existence of this feeling, and of its origin, which prompted us to raise I the question of whether Chinese should be regarded as men.. If they should, then certainly neither Christian nor sceptic can do aught but reprobate the insane ferocity of the expressed desire to prevent Chinamen living in New Zealand— the Christian because he must believe that Mongolians are as much the children of God as are Anglo-Saxons, am 1 , the sceptic because as one claiming to guide- himself by the light of reason he must admit that he has no more right to live than has the Chinaman. Unless, indeed, the sceptic should take the stand that might is right, aud that minorities [should only exist at the pleasure of majorities, but as this position would also justify the orthodox of any country stamping out the heterodox in that country, our supposed sceptic is hardly likely to reason in that way. But, if neither Christians nor Infidels may logically defend injustice to Chinese or Africans, or, indeed, any other race of men styled "inferior" by white-skinned people, it follows that those who write scurrilous and ferocious diatribes against Chinamen, and those vf ho are led by such Writing into committing cowardly asSaults, belong to the class which Mr John Bright felicitously described as tho residium. In other words, and whether they have- been taught to write or enly encouraged to fight, they are despicable blackguards constituting nt once a disgrace and a danger to true civilisation.

UOLT) MINES IN BRITAIN. Judging from the prominence given to it in cable messages, Mr Morgan's alleged discovery of a rich goldmine in "Wviles | has caused not a little excitement in speculative circles in England, while many nt this end of the world have been surprised at hearing of a goldmine in Great Britain. But, as a matter of fact, gold has been known to exist there since the earliest historical times. When the Romans invaded Britain they found the barbaric occupants in possession of ornaments ot gold and silver, and considerable (juanUties of gold were exported to Rome. In the middle ages, too, the search for gold was systematically prosecuted in Ireland and Wales, though there are no records of rich discoveries. Towards the olose of the lost century an alluvial field was worked successfully near Wicklow, in Ireland, and in Scotland quartz mines have been opened from time to time. Gold has been found at the Leadhills, on the borders of Dumfrieshire, in the Highlands of Perthshire, and at Helmsdale, in Sutherlandshire, within the, memory of men yet living, but the yield apparently was not sullieient io cover working expenses, as we believe that all the mines have been closed. Still more recently considerable ■ quantities of gold were produced by several Welsh mines, most of them in the neighborhood of Dolgelly, and near reported discovery of Mr Morgan. Indeed in 1862 there was a veritable " gold fever " raging in Wales, and hundreds of thousands of pounds were sunk in reputed gold mines. The find which caused the excitement was made in IS6O or 1861, by one John Parry, an old Australian miner, who was then working a copper mine f O r the owner, Mr Williams. Parry thought the " country" indicative of the presence ot-gold, but for a long time he could get no defined prospects. The " color " was there, but nothing more. But one fine morning he found a " pocket " of gold which netted £30,000. A company was formed to work the mine, and for several years paid dividends averaging £70,000 a year, but the run of gold was lost. Parry's find caused everyone in the neighborhood to hunt for gold. A resident in the district, describing the excitement, afterwards wrote: — "To say that the discovery was ' marked by a white stone ' in the history of the district would merely be stating the literal fact, for soon evory man you met would Lave a lump of quartz in his pocket and a scheme in his head, the realisation of which would have made him the hero of a new Eldorado. The landlords who had possession of the heights into the sides of which the gold seekers wished to burrow, were besieged for leases. Cabinet Ministers and Opposition leaders ■appeared on the scene to join in the search for gold. One of the most democratic of Radicals became the chairman of a company under agreement with a Conservative of the Conservatives. Yes, for once John Bright and Sir Watkin NVynn were in the same lobby, and the Castell-Cnrii-Doeh/iii, the mine in question, held out when all the others. 1 , save one, had coUap<.pil. Capitalists sunk their manufactured «nld in the hunt for the raw material, and limited liability companies, with almost unlimited resources, put up the perfection tf machinery, engaged the most knowing hands, native and foreign, and thought they were laying the foimdations of polorsal fortunes, iiut alas for the diggers ! The finding of the nuggets at Clogan was a piece of good fortune not to be repeated. True, that tho company did net a profit for two or three years after, but the bulk of tho new ventures were failures, and now even the Vigra and Clogan barely pay their working expenses. The otheis are all closed." It is possible that Mr Morgan may have made such another find as that of Parry, but, judging from the small results which followed the systematic prospecting of 1862 and the three following years, it is very unlikely that anything like a permanent goldlield will be developed there. Curiously onough, the other day a Mr Edwards, a partner in an important firm of iron-founders close to Mr Morgan's goldmine, arrived in Auckland by the mail steamer. When Mr Edwards was interviewed by a Herald reporter, and asked whether he knew anything of the mine, he held up a linger, and, pointing to a ring on it, said, " That is made of gold from the mine ' discovered ' by Mr Morgan. The Gwyn Fynydd mine has been worked for yeare, and has ruined numbers of companies. The Clogan mine, adjoining Morgan's Gwyn Fynydd mine, has had a similar history. I live about four miles from the spot, so I kuow all about it. Occasionally some rich 'pockets' have been discovered. Then for years there has been no return, and the companies have been ruined, f have no faith in tho Welsh goldmines." History repeats itself. Probably Morgan's find will give rise to a speculative exoitement which, fanned by clevpr cpmpanymougers, may rise to a temporary craze, but in the end we believe Mr Edwards' want of faith in Welsh goldmines will prove to be the scepticism of a shrewd man who knows how to take care of him self.

On the fourth page will bo found an article entitled " The Rabbit Pest." At the Resident Magistrate's Com-f yesterday, before Mr G. A. Preece, R.M., John Williams was lived 5s and costs for drunkenness, and was sentenced to seven days' hard Jabor for indecent conduct. Larrikinisin appears to be spreading, and in addition to the annoyance it has caused in Carlyje-street, is" now beins; complained of by residents in the Whiteroad. In MrNaplhali's share report yesterday New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company's shares were erroneously quoted at £3 Ss. The hVures should have been "£3 35." Our Hastings correspondent writes : — I would remind your renders that Professor Chainey's entertainment will take place at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. The well known merits of the lecturer and the attractive programme put forth ought to insure a crowded house. The new uniforms lor the Navals— white juniper, straw hat, &c,— arrived yesterday by the Kiwi, having been transhipped from the Doric, by which vessel they came from England. The company will parade at 7.30 o'clock on Friday night, when the new uniforms will be served out.

At the last open air concert given by the Garrison Baud, £5 16s Cd was collected in aid of- the fund for providing the rotunda \V*6h music stands. Collection boxes will be on Clive-sqnaye to-night, when another concert will be given, and it is to be hoped that 'ft substantial addition to the fund will be the result.

The new proprietor of the Petane Hotel, Mr I<\ H. .Tames, i.s proving himself a worthy follower of his predecessor. The name of Yillers in connection with Petane was always a guarantee that the comfort nnd convenience of . visitors ,to that pretty place of resort wonld be earnestly studied, and that Mr James has set, himself to beat the record. in that respect will convince the public that their interests will continue to be well served.

The following civil cases were disposed ot at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr G. A. Preece, R.M., presiding :— Blaekwell v. Higgs, £3 6s, costs 6s. Haddock and Fryer v. AY. Higgins, £17 4s lc], costs £1. M. Lascelles v. Knight, £3 Is lOd, costs and expenses £1 6s 6d, Mr Cresswell for plaintiff. Faulk. nor v. Griffiths, £67 14s 6d, costs and expenses £5 3s, Mr Cornford for plaintiff. Manders v. Johnstone and Andrews, £23

10s 10d, costs £2 12s, witnesses' expenses £1 10s, solicitor's fee £1 Is, Mr Cotnford for plaintifY.

The Garrison Band will give one of their enjoyable open air concerts in the rotunda this evening) when the following excellent programme will be gone through :— Quickstep, " Courageous " (E. Newton); overture, " L'lntrepiile " (L. Bousnuier); valse, "lolanthe".(Sir A. Sullivan) ; grand fantasia, " Field of the Cloth orUold " (Victor Buot) ; quadrille, "Cynthia" (H. Round); polka (cornet solo), " Express " (H. Ronnd); National Anthem. Members of the band nre requested to mußter at the band-room at 7.30 o'clock sharp.

The programme, for the Caledonian Society's first sports meeting on the 26th instant appears elsewhere, and it will be seen that the prizes offered are so substantial that a large number of entries should be attracted. The day has been declared a general holiday by the Holiday Association, and everything promises a most successful gathering. Among the special prizes are two trophies value £5 each, presented by Mr M'Hardy ; three value £3 3s each, by Mr R. D. D. M'Lcan ; n medal by Mv Allan M'Leiui ; a handmine plated biscuit iav, value £5 us, by Messrs Neal and Close ; and trophies promised by Messrs P. >S. M'Lean, li. Williams, and Sidey and Bain. As showing how people act by fits and starts, it may l>e stated that when the fever scare some years ago was frightening people into exceptional cleanliness, a ■Teat run on carbolic acid for use in connection with drains and closets set in. After a short time tho demand fell off,, and we learn from reliable sources that the consumption of carbolic acid since the beginning ot the summer of ISSC-87, and up to the present time, has been considerably less than was the case in the short season while the scare lasted. Judging from the vile odours to be met with here and there at present, another run on carbolic acid or some other equally efficacious disinfectant would be a very good thing.

Persons who like a drop of good wine have now n'n opportunity offered to them of "encouraging local industry" in a practical fashion, as a New Zealand vigneron is putting sound wines in the mnrket at little more than half the prico charged for Australian. The producer of these winea is Mr Soler, of Wanganui, who is now, trying to extend a business be started over ten years ago. His wines obtained six first prizes at the Melbourne Exhibition of ISSO, competing against all comers, and he obtained first prize for purity nt the Chnstchnrch International Exhibition in IJSS2. He has also obtained the highest awards granted at two other exhibitions held since. .Mr H. M. Calder has been appointed agent for Hawke's Bay.

There was a good attendance of members at the usual meeting last evening of the Hawke's Bay Lodge, No. 45, 1.0.0. F. Bro. Naphtali, as Grand Master of the Order, attended and installed the following officers for the current term : — N.G., Bro. Jacobs; V.G., Bro. Troy; secretory (re-elected), Bro. Levi; treasurer (reelected), Bro. Beaumont ; R.S.N.G., Bro. Burr; L.S.N.G., Bro. Luxford; R.S.V.G., Bro. Horton; L.S.V.G., Bro. Hogan ; conductor, Bro. Levi ;" warden, Bro. Budd; trustees, Bros. Smith, Naphtali, and Budd ; auditors, Bros. Gilberd, Lee, and Pallot. The N.G. announced that Bro. Naphtali had presented a P.S. respect board to the Lodge. After the meeting the members adjourned to Bro. Smith's Masonic Hetel, where tho health of the newry-iustalled officers was enthusiastically drunk, Our Hampden correspondent write 8 under Monday's date:— Tho annual school picnic was held in the school grounds on Friday afternoon last. There was a large number of people from all parts of the district present. Children's sports occupied most of the afternoon. The weather was very cold and showery, which made it bad for the running. A splendid display of good things was spread upon the tfia-table, and they were done justice to by all. A dance was held at night, wliich w.i* largely attended ; fully thirty couples occupied the floor until late next morning. Mr Harding, of Waipawa, supplied the music in good style. Mr Hume acted as M.C. Much praise is due to the ladies who assisted, and contributed towards the picnic. One and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Oar Waipawa correspondent writes as follows under yesterday's date : — The new bridge to span the Waipawa is progressing, and the third pier has been completed. — A wedding took place here yesterday morning, the third within a month. There was to have been another, hut the bridegroom did not turn up, although the lady was waiting long and earnestly, and tho cake was prepared.— At the Police Court to-day, before Mr S. Johnson and f)r A. Todd, J.P.s, a man named John Edward Crawsland, of Ormomlville, win remanded till next week on a charge of committing a brutal assault upon his wife in the passage way of Mr fligKs' hotel, Onea ,Onga, on Friday last. From the evidence it appeared that Crawsland is a most brutal fellow, though faults seem to exist on both sides. — One cantribntor to he New Year's festivities was charged with drunkenness on the racecourse at Kaikora. This man (?) Poole, was fined 10s and costs, but had he got his doserts he would have been committed to prison. The language used by this low fellow was such that everyone had to make tracks from him.

There was a pleasant gathering last evening at St. Andrew'B Hall, Spit, when the Key. \V. Welsh, who lias for several years been in charge of St. Andrew's bade farewell to his congregation prior to leaving to take charge of the Wairoa district. Previous to this portiqn of the proceedings coining on the members of St. Andrew's Band of Hope were entertained. After sinking and prayer the Roy. C. L. Tuke exhibited his magic lantern, the views shown being illustrations of the stories told in Mr G. R. Sims' " Lifeboat" aud " In the Signal Box," the connective readings being given by the Rev. J. Parkinson. The remainder of the programme included vocal and instrumental selections, recitations, &c. At the conclusion of the proceedings, Mr Wilson, headmaster of the Port district school, on behalf of the congregation presented to Mr a handsome black marble timepiece, and to Mrs Welsh a pretty silver egg-stand. On behalf of the children of the Band of Hope Mr Wilson also handed to Mr Welsh a massive inkstand. In making the presentation Mr Wilson felicitously dwelt upon the rev. gentleman's long and useful connection with the parish, and wished hjra and Mrs Welsh prosperity and happiness in their new sphere. Mr Welsh snitably responded, and sympathetically took leave of his committee and congregation. The Rev. R. Penty, late of the Wairoa district, takes Mr Welsh's place at the Spit. _ Wo are now able to answer the questions raised by our correspondent who wanted to know what find becqme, of the proceeds of some concerts for public objects. Two concerts were given by the Garrison Band in ajd of a fund for- erecting a fountain in the Botanical Gardens, !>nd tho collections nlade on each occasion resulted in a total of about £18 being obtained. The money was deposited with the Town Clerk — the Mayor being made treasurer — and that money is still available. Until tho queries which havo appeared in the Herald were published, tlie existence of this fund appears to have been forgotten by all concerned. With regard to the Scottish concert in the Theatre Royal, tq collect funds for beautifying Clive-sqii;iie, there remained a balance of about .CO after the uorks then in progress in the Rfiuare were completed. By .somebody's authority, but so far as we are aware without the formality of publicity or public approval, that money, or a portion of it, was expended in building a fenced enclosure for tho emus in the Botanical Gardens. If there is anything left in hand perhaps those who have it will let tho fact be known. The cash was certainly devoted to a good purpose, Init \t would haye come in very handy just now to pay tor painting the rotunda, a work much needed. As to the fountain fund, we suppose that now the fact of its existence is given publicity to it will be used for the purpose for which it was subscribed. A serious case of assault was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr G. A. Preecc, R.AJ. It, appears that on the 27th of December a gang of larrikins were "skylarking" near the railway station. A little Chinaman came along, and two p{ the gapg, respectively n,a,mpd Alfred ' Oropp and Michael Coyle, started playing pranks on. the Chinaman. Finding that he did not 1 repist, they proceeded to violence, striking

the unfortunate man on the.'fWe ,andbody, knocking him down, and otherwise; maltreating him. Mr Cresswell, who kp 1 ! peared for the defendants, admitted that ati aggravated assault had been committed, but urged in extenuation that many youths held the erroneous notion, that they could do what they pleased to Chinamen "in the way of skylarking," and he therefore asked that a light fane might be inflicted. The police gave defendants a bad character as the leaders of a gang of -.mischievous youths. His Worship, after commenting upon such a, gross assault being committed without provocation, said he would inflict punishment that would be a warning to persons of defendants' class, and sentenced Coyle to one month's-, hard labor, and fined Cropp £4, with costs and expenses 16s, and solicitor's fee £1 Is. Mr (Jreswwell asked that Cropp should be allowed time to raise the money, but' his Worship said that if not paid at once defendant wonia have to go to prison. Mr Dick conducted the case for the prosecution.

Whilst Mr J. S. Large was in England lately, Mr Hamilton forwarded through him letters to several large manufacturers of pptteryware, &c, asking for suitable specimens for the purpose of illustrating the ordinary manufacturing processes, the samples to be' placed in Hie Philosophical Society's museum as the nucleus of a technological collection. Mr Large kindly made arrangements for the car-' riage of any specimens that might be presented, and last week two small, collections arrived at the museum. One, from the Royal Porcelain Works, Worcester, shows the various materials used in the composition of the fiuest porcelain, together with specimens of the finished ware : and the other, rroni the famous Doulton Works at Lambeth, illustrates the manufacture of cups, jugs, plates and saucers, &c, commencing with a jug in the mould, shaped but not burnt, specimens of vases, cup and saucer in the burnt or biscuit state, and finally a most beautiful jug of the Doulton art ware, from Burslem. The moulds are such as are ordinarily used, and give a very good idea of the various processes involved in the manufacture oi household crockery. So far only these two collections have come to hand, but we hope that Mr Hamilton's efforts to procure interesting aud instructive illustrative collections of the principal manufacturing industries may bo eventually successful, and that the specimens received may become the nucleus of a museum, similar to those which have proved so valuable of late years in mest of the English towns. Late English files record an incident worthy of the pen of Lever. The cable has informed us how Mr Pyue, M.P., fortified Lisllnny Castle (which he rents from the Duke of Devonshire) when " wanted " by the authorities for alleged breaches of the Crimes Act; While thus voluntarily imprisoned eight deputations, some of them headed by bands, and hailing from different centres around Tallow, waited npon him. When the people gathered round the base of the castle they sent up a cheer, which soon brought its occupant to a narrow slit which served as a window, and from the height of 90ft he bowed his acknowledgments to those below. He then disappeared, and in a short time a spar was observed protruding at the other side of the castle. ■ Attached to the spar was a double pulley fitted with a long rope, at the end of which there was a chair, into which the member for West Waterford dexterously crept from, his hall door, which is BGft from the ground. Two men who live with him in the castle lowered him down sufficiently near the ground to enable him to receive the addresses of the several deputations. In the course of an address Mr Pyne said " he was perfectly willing to go with the police when they came, but he would like to know how they would relish climbing 100 ft before reachiug his hall door. He was well supplied with tobacco, and he hoped to live there comfortably for three months, until the time arrived for him to attend to his Parliamentary duties." Since then Mr Pyne has " escaped," and his whereabouts is unknown. / Mr Reid told the New South Wales Assembly the other night.— "What we suffer fi-ora most is the pernicious kind of Government under which we live, retarding the legislation of the country through petty disenssions on roads and bridges and the like. It is a disgrace to the ..country that whenever a financial statement is delivered, I hear speeches about sidings, trucks, and bridges." When tho company of the "Die Hards'' which had done the lion's share of the work iv the attack on Katakara, Taranaki, ou the 4th June, '65, were returning from that position to their own oamp they made a slight halt a short distance from the scene of operations, where another portion of tho regiment was located, and whilst thoro a wag of a bandsman ran round the ranks with a peucil and paper, taking down every man's account of the number of Maoris he killed, and when he totted them up there were close on a thousand killed. Well, seeing that not more than forty bodies were recovered (and the enomy had no ohance to remove any) there must have been a' slight exaggeration somewhere.'— Evening Press. . On Thursday last Mr Gladstone completed his 78th year. Captain Mackenzie Wilson, of the Auckland Hospital, writing to the local Herald, gives the following- interesting particulars :— My old friend and schoolfellow, Mr W. E. Gladstone, 1 see, has departed for a holiday of some weeks' duration with Mrs Gladstone to the North of Italy. I mcy well say "old friend," r for I was not only at school with him from 1820 to 1823 at Seaforth, where I was a day scholar, after he was at Eton, but I was with my late mother and sister in his lato father's house in 1809, when he was born on this his natal day, in Rodney-street, Liverpool, and on this dfiy my eminent and highly-gifted friend completed 78 years, aad enters upon his 79th year. May the Almighty long spare him and bless him, and preserve his valuable life for the service of his country, which for so many years he has so eminently, so patriotically, so devotedly, and so nobly ami so ' faithfully served, and so wei|l in perilous times past and now present, and :portpntojisly looming on the distant horizon of this planet I In 1871, when the English census was to be taken, Sir John Lubbock, Dr. Playfair, and other scientific men, made an effort to have statistics obtained as to the prevalence and consequences of cousin marriages, but unfortunately they were defeated by Parliament. Afterward George H. Darwin, a son of the great Darwin, and himself a man of much scientific reputation, undertook an investigation on his o\yn account, though iv a comparatively narrow field, and reached the conclusion that, on the average, such marriages did not produce the evil effects oommonly attributed to them. But Signor I'aolo Mantegazza, a Professor at Pavia, made a somewhat similar inquiry iv 1868, and his deductions were that ' consanguineous marriages are, on the whole, more unfavorable to the offspring than others,' and that 'the nearer the kinship the greater the danger,' and the more so when the kinship is throngh the mother. ' because more evil or food is heritable from the mother.' Mr Darwin himself acknowledges that the prepon- < deranco of opinion among the many authorities examined by him is that the ill effects of cousin marriages are greater than his p*rtial investigation showed them to b,e.

On several occasions recently there have been indications that the cloud of-de-pression which has overhung the commercial world for so long is fast disappearing, Almost every mail from Europe and America gives fresh evidences of the improvement taking place. In the issue of the Pall Mall Gazette ■ of the 18th November appears the following cheering intelligence:— " Authorities in the shipping trade are of opinion that tho improvement which has been for some time manifesting itself is not a mere spurt, bat of a permanent character. The reduced building has told upon the available tonnage, and instead of a superabundance) there is barely enough to meet the demand. Large vessels which • were- luid up tor months are again in me, a.nd, fresh orders are being placed with the shipbuilders. Freights have advanced all round from fld to J s per to.n, and in some cases the improvement* has been even greater. A time of fair returns for the money invested is therefore assured, although there is no prospect of the immense profits of tho period of inflation. To everyone connected with our mercantile marine the change will be welcome after tho long period of depression whioh th,ey have had to endure."

It is interesting to read a iire brigade report 1800 years old. Here is one by Pliny to the Emperor Trajan, made at tho time when Winy was Governor of a province in Asia Jliuor : — " While I was making a progress in a different part of the province, a most destructive iire broke out at Niconiedia, which not only consumed several private houses, but also two public buildings, the town house and the temple of Isis, though they stood on contiary sides of the street. The occasion of its spreading , thus wide wns partly owing to the violence of the wind, and' partly to the indolence of the people, who, it appears, stood lixed and idle spectators of this terrible calamity. The truth is, tho city was not furnished with either engines, buckets, or any single instrument proper to extinguish fires, which I have now, however, given instructions to be provided. Yon wiH consider, sir, whether it may not be advisable to form a company of 'firemen, consisting only of, one hundred and fifty members, J will take care none but those pi that business shall bs admitted, into it] and that the privileges,' gia,nted them shall not be extended to aiiy other purpose. As this corporate body will be restricted to so small a number of members, it will be

easy to keep them, under proper regulation," The formation of the fire brigade

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Bibliographic details

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7941, 4 January 1888, Page 2

Word Count
5,313

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1888. ARE CHINAMEN HUMAN. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7941, 4 January 1888, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1888. ARE CHINAMEN HUMAN. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7941, 4 January 1888, Page 2