OUR MAIL BUDGET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8904, 21 September 1889, Page 6

OUR MAIL BUDGET.

EXTRAORDINARY DEATH OP AN ACROBAT. Dr M'Donald, M.P., Coroner for Northeast Middlesex, held an enquiry at tbe Metropolitan Hospital, Kingoland read, into the circumstances attending the death of James Webb, aged sixty- three, a street acrobat and periormer, who died of injuries received in a singular manner. Charles Norland, a sawyer, stated that he was out with tho deceased, assisting Webb in hia performance. They pitched the ring in Kotberfield street, and soon got a crowd round. After going through various feats, the deceased said if he could collect a shilling he would go through the wonderful performance of having a paving-stone broken on his chest. The money being collected, the deceased placed himself on two chairs, bis head resting on one and his feet on the other. He then asked if any of the persons standing round would like to break the stone which he had on his chest. A young man said he would break it, and a 101 b sledge hammer was given him for that purpose. He stepped into the ring, and gave the stone three blows, breaking it at the last one, but it slipped down on to his stomach as it was struck on the corner. Deceased at once complained of pains in his stomach, and after sitting for a short time he went home. He did not blame the man for the accident. Mr Herbert Williams. House Surgeon, deposed that he had made a post-mortem examination, and found the cause of death to be peritonitis, the result of the blow. The Jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death.”

A PRIZE FIGHTER’S PARENTS. Of course the father and mother of Sullivan have been interviewed. They reside at Boston, in a two-storey frame house in (curiously enough) Parnell street. The old mother suffers from rheumatism, the father, a small man, works as a day labourer. Both are of Irish birth—one from Kerry, the other from Roscommon—and intended their boy for a priest. The mother, from Whom he takes his size and bis fighting qualities, looks proudly forward to the time when Sullivan shall be President. The father thinks that he ought to open a store—that is, a liquor store —in New York, and go to Congress, as John Morisc-ey did. They <io not believe in his refusal to fight again, especially if challenged by Mitcliell. The neighbours say plainly that a man who makes as much money as Sullivan ought to provide better lor his parents; but both of them loyally reply that he does all that they want, and that they like to live poorly and work hard.

MR EDISON’S LATEST INVENTION. Mr Edison writes very confidently about a new invention which he has in hand (says the London correspondent of the Sheffield Independent). It is a machine for separating ore, and, if it realises the expectations formed of it, it is likely to revolutionise the mining of iron ore. The machine, by a very simple process, separates the ore from the earth and leaves it ready for the furnace. It is true there is about this bald description something suspiciously reminiscent of the famous sugar refining machinery which created such tender interest in the minds of many persons at Liverpool and Birmingham. But Mr Edison is a practical man, and important steps have been taken to prove the value of his invention. A tract of mining land has been purchased near Reading, Pennsylvania. Buildings have been erected, and experiments are daily going forward. At the date of his letter Mr Edison was about to set out, accompanied by a number of New York capitalists and ironmasters, bent upon seeing the marvel for themselves. PICTURES AT THE EXHIBITION. The Dunedin Exhibition ought to he an art education in itself. The New Zealanders will have never before seen anything equal to the splendid collection of pictures which Sir Francis Bell has succeeded in inducing representative British artists to send out. Those who had an opportunity of visiting the Melbourne Exhibition may remember some of the paintings; but, to the great majority of visitors to Dunedin, they will be quite now. The collection will include the following grand works: Majesty the Queen,” by Winterhalter ; “ Hia Royal Highness the Prince Consort,” by the same artist; H.R.H. the Prince of Wales,” by Angelo; H.R.H. the Princess of Wales,” by Richmond; “The Coronation of the Queen,” by Sir G. Hay ter; “ The Spirit of Christianity,” by G. F, Watts; “Portrait of Lord Tennyson,” by the same artist; “ Portrait of Sir R. Burton,” by Sir F. Leighton; “The Evil One Sowing Tares,” by Millais; “ Mount Ararat,” by Watts; “A.Seapiece” (The Shallows of Hareslade Cove, Gower), by Brett; “Adoration of Magi,” by Herbert; “ Interior of a Buddhist Monastery,” by Chevalier; “ Portrait of Cardinal Newman,” by Millais; “ A Fortuneteller, Cairo,” by W. C. Horsley; “ Young Life on Old Ground,” by J. C. Horsley; “Going to the Chase,” by Landseer and Millais; “ Alpine Mastiffs,” by Landseer; “ Lament of Ariadne,” by Richmond; “Pharaoh’s Daughter,” by E. .Long. I hope that the efforts of the Agent-General and the disinterestedness of the British artists will be properly appreciated at the Antipodes.

MISEEPEESENTATION OF THE COLONIES. A New Zealand correspondent to the Daily Nccws, who writes with considerable force, complains that the men who have been regaided as the representatives of the Colonies—retired squatters, wealthy merchants, Colonial Bishops, Bank Directors, and such-like hangers-on of London society —have not given a fair representation of the prevailing tone of thought, and hence the oft-times provoking collisions—such as the Queensland Government and Lord Salisbury over the Governorship. The writer of this stiff opinion also does not hesitate to say that the Australasian Press is occasionally misleading. In Melbourne, for instance, be says the leading journals but very inadequately represent the public spirit of Victoria. They are immensely wealthy corporations, and affect the role of sundry journals of a similar stamp nearer home, but it would be just as absurd to take their ipse dixit on Colonial public opinion as it would be to take tbe utterances of the London Times as the voice of the English public. They are, in fact, the organs of the plutocracy, the high priest of Mammon, and nothing more. The correspondent referred to gives the result of a recent election in New Zealand as an instance of the growing alienation between Young and Old Australia. At Nelson, he says, Mr John Sharp, a retired brewer, and present Mayor of the town, sought the votes of the Parliamentary electors, but he was badly beaten by Mr J. G. Harkness. who is described as the son of a country farmer, a young man of no influence—as far as wealth and position go—but of high character, and thorough radi.al sentiments a good representative of young Australasia, “ The result of the election,” he continued, " spread consternation through the ranks of upper-class society.” The young New Zealander won the election by over a hundred votes. It will be well for Lord Kuutsford to take the gauge of this growing—and fast growing—young Colonial Party, for, whether the English Government likes it or not, these are the Colonists who have the determining of the future relations of the Colonies with the Mother Country.

A MODEL COLONY. Model settlements and “ abodes of bliss” have hitherto found favour chiefly in the United States, where communities like the Shakers, and the cognate brotherhoods of California have succeeded after a fashion. But it will be a matter of astonishment to many people to find the same sort of thing breaking’out in a British Colony. Such, however, is the case, and the social experiment, new in its kind to Englishmen, has been already started in the Dominion, of Canada. Malcolm. Island,

British Columbia, is the locality where the settlement to be known hereafter as “ Temperance Colony,” is situated. It is but a mi all spot—twelve miles long by two wide, with “ a climate far superior to that of England.” The rules and regulations for the government of this fraternity are of startling novelty, and of a sort to frighten away all but enthusiasts who believe in the universal brotherhood of man. First ard foremost tho inhabitants of Malcolm Inland must be teetotallers. All lands, goods, money, and produce shall he held in common for the benefit of tho members. The settlement is ruled by a Committee, forming a Council of “Seven Wise Mon,” who take upon themselves every responsibility of providing work, medical attendance, food, and clothing for the people of the Colony. Theological tolerance is carried to the extreme, for everyone in this Utopian community is free to hold any religious creed he likes. A settlement without women would never prosper, and being matter of (act enough to recognise this axiom, the Seven Wise Men have.formulated tbe law that every girl is to be instructed in “ household duties, needlework, nursing, cooking, tho piano, and etiquette.” After this, one is not surprised to learn that marriage is encouraged, and those who contemplate entering into this union, by giving notice to the Committee, will have residences built and furnished for them. Truly excellent arrangements one and all.