Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 1889.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1696, 29 March 1889, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 1889.

Some offence appears to have been taken at the remarks in last week's issue that the poor attendance at the Fire Brigade ball was due, in a certain measure, to bad management—it might perhaps more properly be called b,ul taste on the part of one of the members. Our reporter states that he had not the least intention to reflect on the members who, as a whole, worked heartily together to make the affair a success, but his comment h id reference chiefly to the strange conduct of C'apt. Donne who, in his anxiety to dispose of tickets, threatened in effect if the person applied to did not take one, that the Brigade would not stir a peg to save that individuals property should it catch fire. We are glad in one sense to hear that this kind of tiling was intended as a joke or sort of bluff, but others took a different view of it and naturally declined to be | cajoled. However, we hope that better counsels j will prevail next time, for the objects of such a I valuable organisation as the Fire Brigade should need no great prorrinen e to enlist the support of every citizen—more especially when the members who fonn it work so well together and render tjieir services gratuitously. The death is announced by cable of the Fight Hon. John Fright, M.P. for Central Birmingham, in the TStii year of his age. Sergt. Parlane (Auckland) won the championship at the New Zealand Rifle Association meeting, with a total score of 509 points; Lieut. Ross (Napier) being second with 504. The weather at the beginning of the week was quite wintry throughout the district and a rather heavy fall of snow took place on Monday night. Th- re is, liov. ever, a great change for tiie better and (except 011 the Crown Terrace) all the crops will be. gathered in in a tea' more days—that is, providing the present fine weather continues. Mr A. Boyne is erecting an elaborate balcony over his verandah in Hatlarat-stn ct. The only regret is that such an extensive structure should appear in one of our busiest and narrow est thoroughfares. On Tuesday a consignment of 300 ferrets (from Southland) left here for Mount Pisa station, and on Thursday morning *2OO wore taken down to Tarras station. 'i he attendance at the Punedin Anniversary Races on Saturday was wretchedly small on account of the very wet weather, and two races had to be put off till Monday. The following arc results of the principal events :—Holiday handicap of 75 sovs —Oudailie's Mon Loup, 1; Hon G. M'Lean's St. James, 2; J. Stephenson's Captain Cook, 3. Three-mile Trotting Handicap of -10 sovs. —A. J. Keith's Random, 1 ; J. Melrose's Kvangeline, 2 ; A. <i. Cox's Potatau, 3. Mile Handicap of 50 sovs. — \\ . J. Target's Idealia, I ; J\ Oc. r.c s Mazurka, 2 ; F. R. White's Annie Laurie. .'5. Eleolric Stakes Handicap of 00 s 'Vs. —F. Wilson's Crossbow, 1 ; J. Dooly's Quickstep, 2; J. Christie's Cinnihar, 3. Two-mile Trotting Handieapof 35 «nvs.—G. Smith's Milton's l>ai.y, i ; V.. G. Scott's Flora Temple, 2; A. G. Cox's Potatau, 3.

An anonymous correspondent ("Weka and Damper") who lately commenced a series of letters in nur open column, writes : —" For certain reasons I have resolved not to proceed with the 'Review of our Mayors' in the meantime." I The annual meeting of the Lakes District Accli- '■ matisation Society is appointed for Monday evening next at 8 o'clock. A friend, who was in Dunedin last week, like the multitudes, went to see the laying of the foundation stone of tie exhibition, which every colonist should hpoe will prove a success. He says, he put up at that favorite Temperance Hotel, the Leviathan, ami that it was regularly beseiired with visitors, from all parts, hut, notwithstanding the crowd the proprietress, Mrs Silk, who had evidently used caution in providing for such a large influx of guests, very soon satisfied their appetites with an exquisite dinner. Dining February 13.31 persons arrived in and 122S left the colony. The Minister of Education is making a lengthened stay at Auckland. The Committee appointed (says the Dunedin Ecenimj Star), to inquire into the sweating system are said J to be making good progress. They have met with much encouragement from the merchants and otho;s interested, and there is good reason to hope that a tariff of prices will be agreed to which will go far to abate the evils of the } system. The Lawrence Times states that a consignment of oats from the Tuapeka district has just been disposed of by the Farmers' Agency Co. at 2s 6d per bushel, bags extra. This time last year a sample of same quality was sold at Is 4£d per bushel, bags in. If the new agency can ke<;p on repeating this performance, they are sure of receiving liberal patronage. Meantime, it looks as if the farmers' turu was now coming. The Minister'of Defence has issued a circular to country corps offering them assistance in converting themselves into rifle clubs if they wish to do so. The conditions are as follows:—(1) The corps to be disbanded. (2) The officers of the corps where desiied, to be transferred with present rank and seniority to the unattached active list. (3) The Club to retain as near as possible the designation previously held by the corps. (4) The maximum strength in numbers not to exceed 60. (5) The arms on issue to be retained tor club purposes. (G) A free issue of 100 rounds of ammunition to be made annually. (7) The capitation of the club, which are to be paraded for inspection twice per annum at such times and places as the officer commanding the district may appoint. (8) In the event of an unsatisfactory report upon the state of the club, the same to Le dissolved and the arms ■ eturned to store. In closing! their annual review of the Australasian wool trade for the season 188S-9. Messrs Golds-brouj-h Mort and Co. say : —" While production must still go on increasing, especially in the Australian colonies, the growth of population in Europe and North America keeps nearly parallel with it, while the number of people adopting woollen rclothing in preference to other textile fabrics is increasing every year. This is borne out by the fact that in 1850, with wool at about the same price as last year the rate of consumption of clean wool per head of population was 1 93 lb. In 1860, with wool at 3d per lb dearer, it had risen to 2 03 lbs, and it has gone on increasing up to the present time, when the rate stands at ~i lbs per head. The Cromwell Arc]it* leaurs that Mr Mountney intends taking proceedings against the Stewards of the Cardrona Jockey Club to recover the stakes in the Handicap Time Trot, given to Mr Mouat, the owner of Forest Queen. It seems that through the misdirection of one of <the stewards Forest Queen did not complete the full distance, and that Maggie (Mr Mouritney's horse) did. A protest was eutered at the time by Mr Mountney, but not sustained. The Qurer.stown Brass B;in.l announce that they propose giving a vocal and instrumental concert at Cromwell on Monday, 15th next month. From Bleuhi iin, we learn that Captain 'Somer ville estimates',that win n the accounts for this year's meeting of the N. Z. Rifle Association are made up, there will be a deficiency of about £7O, includiug the credit balance of £IOO carried forward from last year. The loss, he states, is due to the small number of entries, which proportionately reduced the revenue both from ammunition and sighting shots. The next meeting of the Association willjje held in Dunedin during Exhibition time. Our esteemed contemporary the Napier Telegraph points out that bankers and others who are so good as to worship the Saints to the extent of taking a holiday to their memory will be able this year to make, with Saturday, a five days' holiday, which for years may not again happen. Good Friday this year will fall on the 19th April, Easter Monday on the 22nd, while the 23rd is St. George's Day. Thus, by putting in Saturday, the 20th, a five days'trip may be availed of. As matteis now stand it is rumored that the Home advices as to the proposals of the Midland Railway Company being able to raise the requisite capital is by means encouraging, and the works are likely to be hung up for a considerable time at any rate. The Education Board elections at Taranaki have resulted in two or three vacancies having been filled by tadies. There has been a lady on that Board for the list three years, and her prsonce, influence and counsel are spoken of in the highest terms, and have evidently been appreciated by everybody. Carbine won £2131 at the Victorian Racing Club's autumn meeting. The Aye says that Carbine's victory in the Loch Plate towers head and shoulders above anything that has ever been accomplished by a three-year-old in Australia, not excepting even the mighty deeds of First King, Grand Flaneur and Navigator, The Dunedin Eveninr/ Star thus sums up the agitation outside the colony for the continuation of the San Francisco mail service : —"The Sydney people now seem to be anxious for the continuance of the San Francisco mail service. So, also, are our American cousins. Their proferred co-operation comes rather late. So long as New Zealand bore tiie lion's share of the burden neither New South Wales nor the United States cared to pay their fair proportions of the cost. Now that the Parliament of New Zealand has decreed the abolition of the service, they begin to awaken to the fact that the lino is beneficial to themselves and want it continued. But there is no inducement. The States are so far from entertaining any idea of reciprocity iu business transactions with this country that they propose to levy 20 per cent, extra on wool, which means that their manufacturers will have to buy it in London, since they cannot do without it. To the colonies it simply means prohibition, and no doubt it is meant to be such. Com is grown is cheaply as it is here. We have nothing therefore to export to that part of the world ; and, as to imports, they have nothing to send U3 beyond a few bundles of brooms bv way of ballast, a little tinned salmon from Columbia, and some bananas from Honolulu by way of cargo. There is not sufficient trade between New Zealand and San Francisco to warrant ' the continuance of the service. : There is very little doubt (says the Tvnp»ka ! Timet) that au attempt will be made to jeopardize the existence of the Ministry during the next session should they persist in standing by the Reduction of Members Bill. Already the old die hard school of politicians are putting on their antiquated armour and preparing for the last fight. They have had a long lease of life, and their iniquities are many ; it is, therefore, only human that they should dread being called to judgment. The excitement of politics, even such as they are in the colony, is like the perpetual fever on which the gambler almost exists ; and to deprive a politician of this elixir is almost to pronounce his doom, but add to that that he is also to be deprived of his living, and the pic- I tuft? i 3 complete. ' A decision recently given in the Supreme Court, 1 Wellington, determined that the master of a school j in fine respect occupies the same position with re ! gard to the tenure of his office as clergyman. He can be dismissed if proved guilty of immoral conduct. It is therefore not slander to impute to him such conduct, an.l he can recover damages even though he is not dismissed and cannot prove any direct loss from the slander. This (says the Pod) j is the decision of their Honors the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond, and it is no doubt in accor- , dance with law, as it certainly is with common sense. '

j Headaches in children need ihe greatest care of any, and are too often neglected, to the parent's sorrow. There is now a premium put on intellect, and this readily accounts for the way in which j teachers force the poor into their Sixth Standard and the rich into their Sixth Form, regardless of any possible risks. Stimulated in one case by large , grants of money, and in the other by a desire to 1 keep up long-established prestige, teachers urge on ! their pupils to cram in yet more and more. These in their turn, if of quick nervous temperament, catch the excitement, aud slave with hot and burning heads till overpowering sleep mercifully inter- ! venes. The infection is too often caught by the infatuated parents, determined their offspring shall outshine all others, and that the tree of knowledge in their family, at any rate, shall blossom and fruit before it should have budded. In learning to sing 1 no good teacher will allow the voice to be fully exercised till after eighteen, giving the tender young i vncal chords time to consolidate. Is the braiu substance, then, of a coarser natuie, and of a less imi portant character than the wind-pipe, and are we to 1 allow our children to strain their young brains to ! cracking point, with assinine ignorance, while we | pride ourselves on carefully avoiding strain else--1 where. —A. T. Schofield. | Miss Jessie A. Ackerman, the second all-round-i the-world temperance missionary of the American I Women's Christian Temperatce Union, is &t present I in the North Island, but expects to reach Dunedin | towards the middle of next month. She was the I guest of Sir William Fox in Auckland, who writes I that " she has even exceeded his expeotations, and | has been an entire success, even those who object ito women talkers, find no fault with her." She J largely contributed to the success of the annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance by a capital speech. She comes with highest credentials from Miss Frances E. Willard, from her church, and from the Independent Order of Good Templars, with whom she has been associated from childhood. The largest Weeleyan Church was placed at her disposal in Auckland on the morning of Sunday, and Mr Spurgeon gave up his platform in the evening. The tabernacle, holding 1400, was crowded to the doors. A man n.imed John Garran, whose legs were ciushed while lyihg in his hut at Marina (Nelson) by a fallin? tree, and who was undiscovered for five days, rallied somewhat after being admitted to the hospital, but mortification set in on Friday, and amputation of both limbs was resorted to. He died, however, shortly after the operation. Application was made on Friday to the Wellington Resident Magistrate to imprison a married woman who had declined to come up for a promissory note due by her. His Worship said that, following the precedent of the English law in such cases, a woman could not personally be taken in execution, and he must decline to make an order. Defendant was wife of W. J. Hunt, of Samoan fame. A Parisian paper, commenting upon the statement of an American contemporary that 500,000 visitors . will flock across the Atlautic from the United States alone to see the Exhibition, estimates that each of these will expend not less than £4 a day, and that thus £2,000,000 sterling will float into the pockets ' of Parisian shopkeepers,restaurateurs, hotel-owners, i and lodgiughouse-keepers from one quarter only. 1 The London correspondent of the Dunedin Star writes "MrP. K. Baldwin, son of Captain Baldwin, of Dunedin, has, his many friends will be pleased to learn, been awarded a fifty-guinea scholarship in property law at the Middle Temple, where he is studying for the Bar. This achievement is really remarkable, since Mr Baldwin only left New Zealand a year ago, and has read up his subject and distanced the English competitors in a few months." The Sydney Daily Telegraph, in an article on the Dunedin Exhibition, says it is full time that the N.S.W. Cabinet curtailed by half its expenditure on exhibitions. It declares that the oue to be held in Dunedin is purely a business affair, from which it is not at all likely that New South Wales will reap ar.y commercial advantage. The article speaks of New South Wales as New Zealand's best customer, but denounces the latter's treatment of the sister colony as one of deliberate exclusion 1 It points out that the only export from New South Wales to New Zealand is coal, which is pretty certain to be shut out in the near future in favour ot the product of the Westport and R,ussell mines. The Christchurch Star thus remarks in an article : —"Earth hunger" is a natural healthy hunger, especially in a young country like ours. It shows that there is expansion and enterprise to spare in the population. It givej proof that men are not all wedded to that wish for life in the crowded city which is a marked, and often bad feature of the times all the world over, and which has hardly the right to show its head in these young colonies as it does. The good accounts of land in the North | Island are therefore encouraging. It is plain that men are not afraid to go into the woody wilderness and subdue it. The brave, colonising," pioneering spirit is still abroad. This is as it should be. That the right sort of people are getting on the land seems also clear, if we take the returns of the ■ Government sales and leases. Out of £15,000 j of land disposed of, no less than £12,500 worth, or I just three-fourths, was for perpetual lease. Now, it is not the settler or the land jobber who goes in for the perpetual lease. It is the genuine settler the little man, who intends to face the real solid hard life of the colonist in the bush. A will case Winmill v. Gallie and others, was commenced in the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Thursday, and will probably last three weeks. The evidence, mainly that of old identities, ranges from I 1849 to IS7B, and there are nearly 100 witnesses. Close on £IOO,OOO is involved, one of the properties affected being Watson's Hotel. Gallie was a blacksmith of litigious disposition, and on one occasion gained notoriety through refusing to pay rates, the I local authorities being compelled to distrain. He was confined to the Lunatic Asylum for nearly a couple of months. In 1875 his eldest daughter married Ludford, a compositor, now of Wellington, i She died through an accident, and Ludford then j married Lydia, the seconc. daughter, but it is alleged i that Gallie was incensed thereat, not knowing that 1 there had been a marriage, and legislation did not j legalise it for years after his death. Another j daughter, who is the actual plaintiff, married Winmill last year, but recently died in childbirth. Mrs i Ludford and the representative of Mrs Winmill's child are contesting a will made in 1872, whieh leaves everything absolutely to Gallie's wife, who I continued to support the rest of the family. The I plaintiff alleged that the testator was of unsound | mind when he made the will. For the defendant it is stated that all the family acquiesced in accepting ; the will as valid during the ten years that have ; elapsed since Gallie died.—Mataura Ensign. The difference between a journalist and an editor ; is, the journalist is a man who writes things for the | newspaper, and the editor is the man who leaves | cut what the journalist writes. Good coffee, by means of its marvellous stimulating influence on the brain, is both the social and physiological antidote of alcohol. At Rio Janeiro, j where the population number 500,000, drunkenness ! is almost unknown, and everyone drinks coffee in [ large quantities. Even immigrants, who may have brought a love of alcohol with them, end by preferring the delicious coffee which the Brazilians prepare so well. Attention has been called in some of the Paris papers to the startling resemblance presented by the electoral address of Boulanger to the manifestoes issued by Lous Napoleon on the eve of the coup d'etat. In each case the appellant to the suffrages of the people has offered himself as a rallying-point to those who wish to avoid anarchy ; and in both instances there is a profuse profession of disinterested affection for the country. Throat Affections and Hoarseness.—All suffering from irritation of the throat and hoarseness will be agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of "Brown's Bronchial Troches." These famous "lozenges" are now sold by most respectable chemists in this country at Is lid per box. People troubled with a "hacking cough," a "slight cold" or bronchial affections, cannot try them too soon, as similar troubles, if allowed to progress, result in serious Pulmonary and Astt matic affections. See that the words' "Brown's bronch.at Iroches". are on the Government stamp around each box.—Manufactured by John I Brown & Sons, Boston, United States, European deoot removed to 33, Farringdon Read, London.

It is notified in the last Gazette to band, that nativegame, exceptingtuis, white heron and crested grebe, may be taken and killed within the colony (exjept at Greymouth and parts of Marlborongh and Kaikoura) from the 18th April to the 31st July next, inclusive. The shooting season has usually commenced on the Ist April, but this year it has been thus fixed 17 days later. Four tenders were received for renting the Garrison Hall for rinking purposes, that of Mr Stewart, Invercargill, for £3 .5s a week, being accepted. The conditions are five nights a week during the winter months.

At the Arthur's Point' Races last week, the Consolation Handicap of £7 10s was won by Mr Biggins' Plunger (Bst 71b), Brunette (same weight) being second, and Mr Perriam's Faugh-a-ballagh third. Mr Jopp's Merry Jean also ran. For the Hospital Race there were three entries, but Barrabas only started. It is stated that a present is to be made to Mr T. F. Richards, in recognition of his valuable services as hon. sec.

We hear that Mr J. F. Smith, livery-stable keeper and contractor for the Cromwell-Queens-town mail service, has disposed of his plant and engagements to Messrs H. Craig and Co., mail contractors, Lawrence. The price is reported to be about £4OO.

The North Johnson's mine at Sandhurst, Victoria, yielded for one week's work lately 15350z. of gold from 412 tons of stone. Since the discovery of the reef upon which they are now working, the company have paid a total of £65,650 in dividends, besides improving the machinery and plant.

A hint for the charitable aid boards. A female named Latoneh died lately at Clnnes, Victoria. The deceased had been living on charity for several years, and was an out-patient of the Clunes Hospital and a noted beggar in the town. On her house being searched after her death, a bank deposit receipt for £ll4l, dated three years ago, was discovered.

Mr G. Matthews, the well-known nurseryman, Dunedin, who has kindly offered to procure a collection of New Zealand plants for the Exhibition has just completed a three weeks stay in the Wakatipu for that purpose. He has visited numerous localities at the Head of Lake and other parts, besides having gone over the Lake Harris track to the Holljrfbrd Valley, and is highly satisfied with the results of his excursions, having obtained a large variety of ferns and Alpine plants. Mr Matthews purposes visiting Manipouri and Mount Cook districts in due course.

Mr W. Grnmitt, gold bnver for the Bank of New Zealand and New South Wales in the palmy days of Queenstown a quarter of a centurv ago, but now of Oamaru—has just paid a flying visit to the scene of his former delight. A correspondent writing from Garston, states that the heavy rains and consequent floods during the last fortnight or so have done a great deal of damage to crops in the district—some of them being partially covered with silt and rubbish. This was more especially the case with those of Miss Agnes Gordon, and Messrs Wraytt and Naylor, and the damage would have been greater but for a portion of the falls being snow. The weather (26th inst.) is still very stormy, but it is to be hoped it will not continue, as all the farmers have a lot of grain standing in stooks, and some not yet cut. Our correspondent says:—"Last year a flying survey was made of a track from Southland to the Nevis, and we are now waiting for some of the residents to agitate for a track to the Nevis, where lots of people are anxious to get in order to work and further open up the country, but the cost of carriage now (£l2 10s a ton) from Cromwell is too much, and it is to be hoped that the Vincent, Southland, and Lake Counties will come to some arrangement for the formation of a track. There is some tulk of asking Government to give ns telephonic communication the cost of which would be comparatively trifling. There was a fair attendance last Sunday week at divine service conducted by Mr Blackie," We are very glad to notice that Mr James Boyne of the Royal United Gore Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., (son of Mr R. Boyne, of this town) who is in business with his brother Willie at Gore, still continues to take a prominent part amongst the associated orders. After having officiated for twelve months in the capacity of Deputy-Prov. Grand Master, was at the last annual meeting of the Invercargill district, elected to the high honor of Grand Master for the current year. The promotion is the more flattering, seeing that he is the first country member who has held such a position in the Invercargill district. The statement brought up at the meeting showed the Order to be in a very satisfactory position. There are seven lodges in the district with 500 members, the siok and funeral funds amounting to £11,860 17s 6d—the total value being £12,995 5s 6d. Only one death had occurred durthe year. The TuapeJca Times, referring to the various sensational paragraphs of special correspondents about an impending smash up of the ministry thns hits out:— " A Government that accomplished one of the greatest financial reforms ever attempted in New Zerland, without splitting, is not likely to go to pieces over the seizure of a couple of pounds worth of drapery, or the forfeiture of a brewer's license in Wellington. No doubt, there are a good many sighing for the destruction of the Ministry ; but there is not the slightest chance of such an event happening we are quite confident; and, more, we believe they will retain power and the confidence of the country uutil they ha\e given the last tribute of their patriotism by finally placing the Reduction of Members Bill on the Statute-Book.

The YVarirarapa Star, a Norths Island paper, makes the following rather astounding assertion It is notorious that one of the most lucrative industries in Wellington—an industry, we regret to say, largely supplied from the country—is the infamous and murderous trade of procuring abortion. If anybody doubts this statement let him apply for information to any of the medical practitioners in the country. We venture to say that in the city of London, with all its appalling prostitution and crime, ths traffic in what is really a phase of child murder, which undoubtedly is carried on in Wellington, would not be tolerated for an hour.

The Germans say that their new explosive wilj completely destroy the French forts in six or eight hours (remarked a London contemporary). If so, all our fortifications are useless ; and we are well within hearing of the discovery of vril. The French on the other hand, have discovered a new powder 20 per cent stronger than gunpowder, which makes no smoke, and can be immersed in water for 24 hours, without losing its explosive force. The old watchword, "Trust in God, and keep your powder dry," will loose its point as far as the second clause goes. As for the first, that, fortunately, can never become obsolete.

A London correspondent states that rabbitskins from the Antipodes now form quite a trade in the London market, and are used for lining cloaks, trimming hats, and are also dyed in various colors ; but at the present time the market is drugged, the stock on hand being enough to last for a year at least. New Zerland alone is said to have exported 70,000,000 skins in ten years valued at £730,000, and Victoria has exported 29,000,000 in the same period. Coney wool is said to be worth 7s a pound.

It is stated that the Queen's printers have had to make arrangements from the first to print the day's proceedings of the Parnell Commission during every night, ready for the judges' table the following morning, and they have not failed in any instance to accomplish their task. These arrangements have involved the employment of a large staff, numbering about 100 men. The whole proceedings are at present in type, amounting to over 2000 pages, and 1000 pounds weight of type has to be provided every night, in addition to casting special sorts in large quantities, to meet the repetition of the names of the judges, counsel, and others engaged in the trial from day to day. Several erroneous statements have recently appeared about the Queen's will. The real truth is that her Majesty's will was made in 1876, and it is a document of portentous length, being engrossed on vellum, which is secured by a lock, and at the end there are several blank pages for codicils, of which up to the present the Queen has made three, one early in 1879, after the death of the Princess Alice ; another in the summer of 1884, after the death of the Duke of All-ny ; and another recently, which deals exclusively with the Jubilee gifts.