A CHILD SOLD FOR SIXPENCE.

North Otago Times, 21 October 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CHILD SOLD FOR SIXPENCE.

In August at Bradford Arthur Firth, brass moulder, and Ada Smith, with whom he lived, were charged with cruelty to a hoy, aged isoven, the son of Firth by his wife, from whom he was parted. Smith has two children well cared for. Four years ago Firth sold the boy for sixpence, but the buyer went into the infirmary and tho child was returned to his father. On Aug. 15 Firth left home in tho early morning on a bicycle for a holiday at Moree.'.imbo and Smith went with her own children to Halifax. The boy Firth was locked in a bedroom clad only in a cotton shirt with three pieces of drv bread and a little water, lie had to sleep on a soap-box bed with a filthy blanket as his only covering. Neighbours saw the little follow at the window the following day and fed him by climbing a ladder. Inspector Bailey carried liini down and found 14 severe bruises on his body. The house was watched and Smith returned after being absent three days. The chairman said it was the worst case that ever camo before the Uench and sentenced each defendant to two months' hard labour. A DARWIN ANECDOTE. The members of tho British Association arrived at Durban on Aug. 22nd, and were welcomed by the mayor at the city hall. Professor Darwin, the president of tho association, in a speech told an amusing anecdote about his famous father, It was exactly 70 years, he said, sinco H.M.S. Beagle, engaged in an historical expedition, sighted tho coast somewhero about tho latitude of Natal. At that time Durban was only a small village in tho interior, entirely in the hands of tho Zulus. It was a fact not hitherto recorded anywhere, that his father, who was on board the Beagle, was anxious that Captain Fitzroy should put him ashoro in order that ho might mako his way on foot or on

horseback,- or as beet ho could, to Capetown (laughter). "But. it came on to blow, and the Beagle was unable to send a bo:it ashore. He felt that 'the chances wlrcli his father had of reachinv Capetown alive were so slight that ho might pay his presence on tho platform that day was Hie result of a puif of wind (laughter and cheers). SIR HIRAM MAXIM'S INVENTIONS. Under tho winding-up' order mado against t-lio Sir Hiram Maxim Electrical and Engineering Company Mr 11. B. Burgess, Assistant Receiver, has issued tlie summary of accounts, together with his observations upon tho facts of the case. Mr Burgess reports that the company was ionnod in May, 1899, to acquire tho solo agency for tho sale in Australia, Africa, and Asia of electrical appliances, etc., manufactured by tho Hiram Maxim Electrical Corporation and by J, F, Poaso and Co., Ltd., of Middlesbrough-on-Tees. Tho promoter and vendor to the company was M. Jules de Moray, the capital £IOO,OOO, being increased to £175,000, of which £42,500 was issued for cash and tho balance in fully-paid shares. The available working capital was £20,000. In October, 1900, the company acquired tho business of Messrs Edwards and Co., of Loudon, for £2OOO in cash, and in tho following January purchased tho undertaking of the Hiram S. Maxim Electrical Corporation (Limited) for £55,200, payable £2700 in cash and tho balanco in shares. In August, 1903, tho company acquired tho business of the Hiram S, Maxim Lamp Company. In March, 1001, (he company acquired tho patent rights of his flying machines from Sir Hiram S. Maxim for GGGG shares in tho Hiram S, Maxim Captivo Flying Machine Company, to which they sold their rights for £20,000, and which was promoted by them with a capital of £30,000. The new company also took over at cost price a flying machine, together with the tools and machinery.

Tho accounts filed showed gross liabilities £55,481, of which .619,192 was unsecured, with assets £19,009, less debentures representing £2I,3GG. Tho contributories account disclosed' a deficiency of £101,9-19. The failure was attributed to tho falling through of tho agreement with the Hiram Maxim Lamp Company, want of working capital owing to the available working capital being locked up in lamp stock, and to adverse legal ecsts. Mr A. F. Wliinncy, chartered accountant, has been appointed liquidator of the company.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLBOY SCHOOLMASTER DISCOURSES ON HLM TO SCIENTISTS. Tho final sittings of the various sections of tho British Association wero .somewhat meagrely attended on August 18, though many important papers were down for discussion. This was mainly duo to tho fact that geologists, zooloists, botanists, and other ardent investigators are revelling in the opportunities afforded thcin for thu exploration of Table Mountain and its surroundings, while many others are' ranging far and wide on pleasure bent, visiting friends, relatives, or former pupils.

_ An interesting paper on ''The Disabilities of the South African Schoolboy," by Mr AV. W. Way, principal of Graaf Reinet College, was read in the author's absence. After pointing out tho disadvantages of association with Kaffir playmates, and of the existing biling.ialily, tho writer said there could bo no denying that the South African' racial question had laid its peculiar emtio upon the country. It wns impossible to banish it entirely from the schools, but the wise schoolmaster might do much to counteract the intrigues of the politician and the fanaticism of the minister.

Tho best object-lesson on the matter had recently been furnished by a meeting of the Native Political Association, at which tho President openly declared to his coloured brethren that the time bad come for asserting that the country belonged to them. He (Mr Way) did not believe .seriously in tho possibilities of a native rising, but bo did realiso that tho quarrel of the future would he, not between English and Dutch, but between black and white, and ho would wcicomo a bloody native insurrection if it could bring home to tho younger generation, at any rate, that the school should not be made tho battle ground of struggle between tho two wliito races, that the edged tool of the native voto should not. be played with by eithor political party, but that the attention of all white men should 1m earnestly devoted to the solution of this most critical question, Speaking of the growth of scepticism and irreligion, Mr Way said tho young South African was also tending to become a hypocrite, for only in America was thero more religions societies for the young, and every boy and girl wore some distinctive badge of Christian profession. He had heard of a young rascal called several times during the week for lying, cheating, and stealing, go to a Christian Endeavour meeting in order to pass a note during the opening prayer to his inamorata, for tho time being, and then pray fervently that his former master might bo led into tho right path, The consequence was that in no other country was practical morality so entirely divorced from professed religion. In conclusion, Mr Way protested that the want of money was tho curse of education in South Africa at the present moment,

ENGLISH NURSE PRAISES JAPANESE AVAR HOSPITALS. Tho lady who bad the distinction of being the only British woman win/ worked in tho Japanoso hospitals during tlio war—Mrs Tlierosa Richardson, widow of Mr John C. Richardson, of Glanbrydont Park, Glamorganshire—arrived in Liverpool recently by tlio Cunard liner Lucania, As a mark of his appreciation of her services, tlio Mikado bestowed upon Mrs Richardson the highest decoration for ladies in Japan, the Sixth-class Order of the Crown, The Japanese Red Cross Society also awarded ber their highest order of merit. She went out to Japan as she had had experience in tho South African War, and remained fifteen months. "I think I was tlio only British woman to enter the Japanese hospitals," said Mrs Richardson to an interviewer, "because few ladies were able to help in tlio way I could. Not many persons are able to give tlio time, and a knowlodge of Gorman and French was essential, I speak both languages, and during my stay in Japan I have picked- up enough of tlio languago of that country to be able to talk with* tho patients, although I was not advanced enough to carry on a sustained conversation," "In which hospitals did you work principally "Well, for the first nine months I was in tho Tokio hospital, and subsequently I proccodod to Hiroshima, which is the Netloy of Japan, The soldiers camo thoro by hospital ships straight from the front,"

"Were you in close proximity to the fighting?" "Oh, no; female nurses did not proceed to tho scene of hostilities., They were not allowed outside of Japan except in the hospital ships. The wounded on tho field were all attended to by orderlies, There was a plentiful supply of nurses, between 3,000 and 4,000."/ "What is your view of the hospital arrangements?" "I think them perfect. Both in inediciuo and surgery the Japaneso have adoptod all tho best methods to their own use. Sir Frederick Treves and othor eminent surgeons havo testified to the surgical skill of tho Japanese," "CUT" BY SOCIETY. NO SOCIAL LIFE~IN INDIA FOR PEOPLE IN TRADE. Whilst on a visit to London, Mr ueorgo f. Lund, a young Bombay watch manufacturer, became unwell, and suffered from insomnia, so lie entered a private nursing institution in Nottingham placo, Marylcborno road, for tho "rest" cure, Ho got- somewhat better, and arranged to go to Bournemouth. On Tuesday ho was found shot in his room. ' At tho inquest on August 18 it was said that Mr Lund had never (shown any sign of mental disease, Dr Robert-;! son, of Wimbledon, his former attendant, wrote to tho Coroner:— "The only motivo for the manner of Mr Lund's death I can think of is that ho had a horror of going back to India. Ho always hated.the life Anglo-Indians who were outside tho Army and Civil Service had to lead there. Beyond theso circles ho complained that thero was no social life, and that poisons engaged in trade had to associate with others of a lower social grade, as the exclusive Army and Civil Service would have nothing to do with them." Against this theory, an uncle of the dead man said ho had never heard his nephew speak of such exclusiveness, On the contrary, he understood that the members of tho family were hnppy in their social life in India. A verdict of suicido during temporary insanity was returned.