North Otago Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1879.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2212, 3 June 1879, Page 2

North Otago Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1879.

The next loeture of the winter series, under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association, is announced to be dedelivcred by Mr M. W. Green, of Dimedin, in the A r oluntcer Hall to-morrow night, the subject being, "The Mouk that shook tho , World." ! The usual monthly meeting of the North Otago Horticultural Society was held la»t evening in Mr Earle's rooms. Present. — Messrs Montagu (chair), Forsyth, Earle, Simpson, and Spratt (hon. sec.) Auditors were appointed to audit the year's accounts. It was resolved that tho president and scc*o- , tary prepare the annual report, to be presented at the annual meeting, to beheld at Earle's rooms on Wednesday, 25th inst., at 7.30 p. m,, a committee meeting to take place half-an-h'our previous to the annual meeting. The usual weekly meeting of the members of the St. Paul's Association was held in the Session room of the Church last evening, the President, the Rev. A. B. Todd, in the chair. The subject for the evening was, " A Night with Byron." Mr W. H. Cottrell opened with a well-digested and concise sketch of the poet's life, with some account of his works, and concluded by reading the tribute of the Rev. lislo Bowles "Childe Herold's Last Pilgrimage." Several members then read selections from the works of Byron, and altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent. An inquest was held at Waimate on the 26ch ult., touching the death of the infant child of one Frederick Harris of that place. The evidence then adduced showed that early on tho previous morning the mother, a young woman not nineteen years of age, had given birth to the child without any assistance, and had concealed it under the bed, whore sho afterwards pointed it out to her mother, her husband, who slept in the s-imo room, being ignorant of the occurrence. Tho woman allege/that the child must havo been still-born, as it uttered no cry. The medical testimony, however, went to show that the chil I was born alive. Tho inquiry was adjourned till to-morrow, when some additional evidence will bo brought forward. The usual monthly meeting of tho North Otago Benevolent Society was held at the secretai-y's offico last night, when there were present Messrs Falconer (in the chair), M'Farlane, Steward, Allen, Milligau, Collis, Rouayne, Mollison, Hassell, Otterson, Gibbs, and Hardy (secretary.) Tho minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, and the outward correspondence was approved. The usual reports from the Visiting Committee and collector were received and adopted. The barrack master also reported on the state of the Home, and acknowledged tho receipt of a quantity of old clothing. The secretary read a letter from the Colonial Secretary's office enclosing voucher for LSI S 13s Gd, being subsidy at the rate of £ and £ on subscriptions collected by the committeo. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the committee adjourned till Monday next. We learn from the police that a mau named James Dufueld died suddenly at Papakaio on Sunday, under the following cirenrastances : The deceased, who was contractor ou the waterworks, was in Oamaru during race week, and drank very heavily. On Thursday night he returned to Papakaio, and on Friday he continued drinking very freely. On Saturday he became so ill that he was coniinetl to his bed. He, however, called for brandy, which was supplied to him at intervals of two or three hours. He declined to partake of any food except some soup, which was given to him by Mrs Henderson, with whom deceased boarded. Ou Sunday morning he again partook of some of the soup. Later he aßked for more, but when it was offered to him he could not take it, and desiring a man named Pilling to take his hand, ho turned over in his bed and died. Assistance was called in, but it was in vain. As tho cause of death is evident it has not been thought necessary to hold au inquest. The crime of petty larceny, so frequent of late, does not seem to be confined to the male sex. A young woman named Mary Lyster was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Messrs S. E. Shrimski and T. A. Clowes, J.P.s, charged with committing a series of thefts from different houses where sho had been employed as domestic servant, Hdr latest depredation, and the one which led to her arrest, was committed at the Commercial Boarding-house, in Tyne street. A lodger named Rosanua Buckingham missed some articles of clothing, and Beoing tho prisoner in the street with one of her neckties on, she gave her in charge. The constable, ou searching her boxes for the stolen property of Miss Buckingham found several articles marked " Mrs Burnett," which were subsequently identified by Mrs Burnett, of Reid street— in whose employment the prisoner had lately been — as her property. The prisoner pleaded guilty to th charges, but, on the application of Inspector Thompson, was remanded for a week, in order to allow of inquiries being made regarding the ownership of other articles found in the prisoner's possession. It is not often that an effectual restraint can l)c put on the natural idiosyncrasies of anyone without in some degree humoring the individual into a belief that to a certain extent he is having his OAvn way. In some j iustauce3 it is perhaps better that these idiosyncrasies should havo full awing. Perhaps the following is a case in point : Wo have received a "poem" with reference to the Waimate Plains difficulty, in which the writer advances what he considers one of the most effectual means of putting "tho Riagginnis" (whatever that may bo) on the whole race of bloodthirsty savages in the North Islond. If what is classically termed " the Magginnis" means that it would be highly detrimental to their own interests to endeavor to wage anything like a successful' warfare againsc the white man, and that the best means be takou to convince* the Maori of this, then perhaps wo might even be in favor of the introduction of "the Magginuis" as a remedy for the present disordered state of things in Taranaki. This contributor of poetry is, however, not of a conciliatory turn of mind in regard to native affairs, as the following verse from his "poem" (which is all we can find room for) will show : The red-handed murderous savage, Whoi'Oiiins o'er Wuimate's plain, We've often whipped before, boys ; So, let's nt 'em once again. If it will strengthen his resolve, we say, by all means let him "at 'em once again." Many will no doubt be glad to get rid of so sanguinary an individual, and contribute their mite to enable him to reach the scene of conflict. Only lot him roam o'er Waimate's Plain in search of the red-handed savagesalone. It appears that the Government subsidies to various public bodies in Canterbury have not yet been pail, although for some time overdue. The Timaru Herald referring to the matter writes as follows coucerning the action of the Waitaki Connty Council Chairman in getting the subsidy duo by the Government to the Council he represents : " We have made some enquiries on the subject of the subsidies, and we learn that the Waitaki Couuty got its money, amounting, we think, to some two thousand pounds, more than a month ago ; but we cannot hear of any County or Road Board in Canterbury that lias yet been paid. An exception was made in favor of Waitaki, simply through the determined action of the County Chairman, who, happening to be in Wellington on other business, went to the Treasury and — in spito of a great deal of obstruction — fairly dunned the officials until they paid tlio money. Hia conduct is in every respect laudable, and Waitaki is to bo congratulated on possessing a chairman, who is both expert and resolute enough thus to pi otect its interests { but the system is a very bad one by which the payment of public money to those to whom it is lawfully due, depends on the vigor with with the claim is proaccuted. If the Waitaki County was able to got ita

money, theu all the other Counties, Road Boards, Municipalities, and River Boards in the colony ought to have been paid at the name time. "L.S." writes to the London Times:— " How feAv of us realise that in the recent disastrous engagmenb at the Cape we lost more officers and men than at Alma, and nearly equalled the death-roll at Inkerman, a* the following figures will show : Hattle of Alma, 25 officors— 3G2' total killed ; battle of Inkerman, 39 officors— 367. total killed; battle of the 22nd January, at the Capo, 30 officers— s3o total killed/ The Grey River Argua has of late been coming down heavy on tho Grey County Council for extravagance on the part of members and officials, and in the course of some severe remarks, says : "Its revenues are i impounded by the Government as security for money advanced, its promissory notes bearing a high rate of interest, are floating about in every direotion, and yet nothing — absolutely nothing— ia done to curtail the expeuditure. The Council is, de facto, inBolvent, with this difference — that it cannot come before Judge Weston raid get whitewashed. There is no denying the fact that County Concils, as far the West Coast is concerned, have been a rank failure ; not so much on account of their being unsuited, but on account of tho reckless way in which they have been managed, or mismanaged." An irate correspondent of the Wangamri Herald, with a short temper, writes on the subject of Life Assurance. Ho wants to know why the peripatetic agents now pestering the good folks of Wanganui are not apprehended for gambling. He argues that as tho "list men" on the race course were turned off by the police, so should Messrs Short and McMuruo be cautioned or taken into custody at once. Tho " list men" offer it may be 5 to 1 against a certain horse doing a certain thing— that is, winning a race. The agents in question go to a man and say in effect, we offer you so many pounds to one that you won't die before a certain time. The man becomes a particeps criminis by accepting the offer and depositing his money, and by keeping the bet alive by ronewiug the deposit quarterly or yearly as arranged. If the man dies he wins the bet, and his survivors take the money • if he lives to a good old ago the Insurance Company wiu by receiving from the man more money than they guarantee to pay. "A Bachelor," in tho Rangitikei Advocate, speaks in the following sensible strain of the present fomalo fashions: "In tht first place I wish to advise all single girls who are anxiously looking out for a partner in life to discard at once and for ever those long sweeping trains, which everywhere at present stare us in the face. Wo meet them in the street, raising a cloud of dust, as if an army was on tho march ; we meet them in the parlor, and r-ro obliged to keep our feet tucked uudcr the sofa, or run the risk of getting capsised by having our toes caught in the folds of the monster as it wriggles alon 0 ' ; then again we meet them in the ball-room, where accidents are sure to occur no matter how careful one may be. Miss C. loses her skirt, Miss D. gets tripped up and falls Hat on the floor, while poor Mr F. dislocates ankles in the endeavor to keep clear of the aggressive floating dresses which have escaped from their mooring— a chain suspended from the waist, with a pair of uigartongs, or some other contrivance for holding up the unnecessary folds of extravagance. During a recent inquest at Carterton (writes the New Zealandcr) eight of the jury were Good Templars, and while discussing the verdict they fought hard to bring in a rider to the effect that no publican in the district should be allowed to serve a man with more than three liquors in a day. Whereupon a correspondent of the Wairarapa Standard remarks, in such a case a man could have thirty drinks in a day, and yet receive only three from any publican. Nevertheless it is amusing. "Charity suffercth long and is kind. Doth not bchavo itself unseemly, is not easily provoked, thinkcth no evil. He reports that when passing through Carterton tho othor day, he nsked a friend to have a drink, but was met with the rejoinder: "No, uuloas you'll come down lower, because, by tho now regulations, a 'man now can't havo moro than three drinks in one house, and I've had three diinks here already." This statute of limitation will hardly be calculated to answer its purpose in the Wairurapa. A mau could get 15 drinks in Featherston, 3 at Tauhereuikau, 0 in Greytown, and if a member of the Club 12, 6 in ' Carter ton, 3 at the Taratahi, and if he wasn't tight by the time he got to Mastcrton could get 12 more. The nullification of the Hikurangi proposals (says the New Zealand Herald) would not, however, have been considered a fortunate thing for the colony but for the position taken up by Rewi. The arrangement made with him has not yet been made public in its entirety, but it is understood to be briefly this : Rewi lays down a certain line which includes the whole of the Kingito territory, and which ho claims a niana or authority over as head chief of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe. Within this territory he claims a right to have anthority to sanction all sales and leases. This right, we may remark, would, over the far greater part of the territory, bo recogimod by the Native Lands Court, which decides according to native titlo. It would bo quite impossible that Rewi could keep the land closed against us, as very many of his tribe are anxious to utilise part of their land, and, besides, there is no reason to believe that he has any such intention. Wo are informed that his agreement with Mr Shoehan is, that the railway may be put through, so as to connect Auckland with tho interior and with Taranaki, that a telegraph lino be established, and that the country shall not bo made a rcfugo against those who have offended against the laws. That is all we can ask. Tho extension of tho railway through the fertile plain stretching from the present boundary will add preotly to the resources of the oolony, and will materially advance the City of Auckland. Up to this time the Northern Grtion of tho province has somewhat lagged hind the South, owing to the native difficulty, which is now in great part about to be removed. The rapidity with which rabbits aro spreading on the runs between the Teviot and Clyde is wo (Daily Times) are informed by a gentleman, who has recently travelled over the country in question, almost beyond belief, except to those who arc cyu-w itiusscs of their vast increase. Our informant -t ites that he was perfectly astonished at tho droves of rabbits which ho encountmed in the c6untry on tho west bank of the Clutha Iliver, between tho Toviot and Alexandra. Their evil presence has extended right up to Messrs Strode and Frasor's Earnsclcitgh station, in the Dunstan district, and we understand that on this run alone 40,000 were killed during thrco months of tho present year; while on another run, in the neighborhood of Alexandra, 40,000 were killed last year, and 00,000 the year preceding. There can bo no doubt that the ovil has become one of very grave import in the portion of Otago above alluded to, as well as in Southland ; and the expenditure involved in the endeavor to kcop it in check is a very serious item in the annual exponsea of the runholders. The employment of a number of professional rabbiters with dogs and gum seems to be the most offectivo moans of keeping the vermin in check. On one of the runs above alluded to a largo number of traps were procured and set, but the lestilt was not satisfactory, for in addition to tho rabbits which were caught, au inspection of the traps showed that a number of Maori hens and wild cats — the natural enemies of tho rabbits— had also been captured, and this mode of destruction was therefore given up. The Maori hen, or weka, is a most determined enemy of bunny, and vigorously attacks and destroys both old and young. The wild cats also prove of good service, and on some #f the runs litters of kittens are regularly turned Iqose to join their wild confreres, and in due course take part in the work of destruction. The Lancet of March 22nd, dealing with the subject of purification of the air in towns, refers to a proposal oviginaily made by Mr Peter Spence, of Manchester, bonie y^aif

ago, who thought it practicable to build a chimney 600 feet high, 140 feet external diameter at the base, and 100 feet internal diameter at the top, thus forming a huge up-cast ihaft, which would provide for the removal of all the smoke generated in Manchester. The lame shaft might also be mcd for the withdrawal and removal of the sewer gapes from the town sewers. The journal adds : "Ova small scale Mr Spenoe's scheme is to lie applied to the new law courts. It is satisfactory to lcara that the system acts successfully in the Manchester Assize Courts, where it has been adopted. It might be easily extended in towns by simply joining all chimneys in each block of buildings together, and connecting them in one tall stack. The plan certainly seems feasible, and is worthy of trial. The contamination of the air of towns is becoming increasingly injurious to the health of the inhabitants, as tho zone of fresh air surrounding thorn becomes further removed by the extension of their suburbs. We have successfully dealt with many of the problems affecting health injuriously in our cities, and undoubtedly in many respects the conditions of life have during the last 20 years materially improved. Still in two important particulars dwellers in our cities are worse oft than they were two generations ago— the water they drink is more polluted, and the air they breatho is becoming increasingly contaminated."