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New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4291, 14 August 1875, Page 2

An important case under the Adulteration of Food Act, 1866, was brought on at the Police Court yesterday. A vendor of "pure" milk was charged with adulterating the same with water. The Provincial lyst proved that the milk had been dilated to the extent of 50 per cent., a statement which produced several involuntary " Obs '■' from the audience in the Court. The defendant's counsel endeavoured with many legal quibbles to upset the case, bat in this was not successful, and the Court imposed a fine of £5 and costs. This conviction should act as a caution to milk dealers to dispense with the services of "the cow with the iron tail," or they will find the substitution of aqua pura for pure milk a costly experiment if the machinery of the law is brought to bear on them.

At a meeting of the shareholders of the Co-operative Meat Supply Company, held yesterday, it was determined to wind the company up. The manager's report was read, and a statement shewed that a profit of £9 had accrued. The company slaughtered during the 14 weeks 300 oxen and nearly 3'XX) sheep. Mr. Dornwell agreed to take the business over as it stood, returning to the shareholders the full sum paid in by them, as well as all expenses incurred.

The shipping fraternity were jubilant yesterday, and a copious display of bunting by the vessels in harbour betokened the gladness of heart. The cause of such exuberance was the fact that their old friend Mr. William Cruickshank, the man who was never known to frown, had joined the order of Benedicts. May they (wedded pair) be happy.

The Fakir of Oolu ivas greeted with another large house last night, the dress circle being particularly well patronised. The entertainment was as successful as upon all previous occasions, the entranced lady and fairy fountain being most enthusiastically received. To-night the third new programme will be presented, as per advertisement.

The petition from Coromandel for a representative in the House for that district, was forwarded to Wellington yesterday, by J. Cadman, Esq., M.P.C. It will be taken charge of by C. O'Neill, Esq., M.H.& for the Thames.

A football match between the Banks and the Warehouses comes off this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, in the paddock adjoining Government House. The following are the teams : —Banks : Messrs. Bodle, Champion, Ewen, Burgess, Hargreaves, Robertshaw, Hedley, "Von Tempsky, Coates, Beale, Tonks, Ridings, Fossett, Mowbray, Gudgeon, Caverhill. Warehouse : Messrs. Cotton, H. Whitaker, T. Macky, D. Tonks, Western, Forder, R. Mason, J. Macky, Caldwell, Coleman, Swan, A. Meare, Nolan, Jones, and King. A football match between the Auckland College and Grammar-school Clubs will also take place this afternoon, in the Domain. The following are the teams : —Auckland College : Herries (captain), Wilson, Barton, Fairburn, Martelli, Mason, Taylor, F. Jones, Thomas Hanna, Dufaur, Joseph Hanna, McMillan, A. Hanna, Halstead, Peter. Grammar-school: F. Dignan (captain), Ring, Burgess, Blanchet, Anderson, Tonks, Purchas, Reid, Webster, \V. Dignan, O'Sullivan, Burt, Murray, Ridings, and Jackson.

Referring to the state of the road to Tairua, a correspondent of the Thames Advert'uutr writes :—'' The packers and travellers state that since the rain ceased the road is a thousand times worse than before. Speaking from personal knowledge, it is almost impassable to man or beast, and no part is bo utterly wretched as the last mile-and-a-quarter, or that constructed by the Provincial Government. The cry for a good new road is heard on every side, but without it is done better than the sample we latterly got, we had rather that they let the matter alone altogether. To see the horses struggle, and hear their drivers ' pray,' when ascending the three or four stiff pinches between Smith's and the mines is something awful. These pinches in the road are almost vertical, and not over two feet wide, and are covered with roots of large trees, which could in almost every instance have been avoided, by going either a little to the right or left into the bush. The great complaint is that no trouble is taken in finding out the best route, and that those who marked off the roads had little or no knowledge of the bush, consequently they were incapable of picking the best route."

A correspondent from the Whau writes : —"The Hobson Band Minstrels gave an antertainment here at the Public Hall, on Thursday evening, to a very large audience. The performance throughout was a great success. Special praise, however, must be given to Messrs. McComish, T. Seton, and Hull for the way in which they sang the songs allotted to them. The singing and dancing of Measrs. W. Seton, Rice, and Bertie was splendid. There were also two negro sketches, ' Who died First V and 'The Dramatic Agency,' which caused roars of laughter. The entertainment concluded with a quadrille party."

An advertisement in our columns to-day announces an entertainment to be given at the City Hall to-night, and " the first appearance of Miss Amy Thornton, the youngest protean actress and lady wizard in the world. On this occasion onh she will mesmerise and float in mid-air a young lady who has never before appeared on the stage. She will also appear in some favourite Shakespearian characters — "Hamlet," "Prince Arthur," &c, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, Mr. George Herbert, &e." An excellent variety programme is promised.

A curious experiment, bearing on the construction of fire-proof buildings, was made at Sunderland the other day. A new house built near the Spelter Works, at Hendon, Sunderland, had one of its rooms filled with tar barrels, wood, and other combustible material, and when the door was shut the mas 3 was set fire to. It simply burned itself out, without apparently affecting the condition of the adjoining rooms, or the stability of the house itself. The building is constructed according to the new method, the invention of Mr. Brannon, of Pedder and Brannon, architects, by which concrete is constructed of cement and fibre bound by strings of iron and wire. It thus becomes a sort of stone cloth, available for the construction of floors and doors as well as walls and ceilings, so that not a particle of wood need be used in the construction of a dwellinghouse. A company will be formed to work the patent, and if the new plan can be used more economically than existing metheds it will, no doubt, be successful. Mr. Schoroup, photographer, Colombostreet (says a Christchurch contemporary), has adopted a new process for improving the appearance and durability of photographs. It is both simple and effective. After a photograph has been mounted, it is placed in a solution of gelatine, which imparts a beautiful glaze to the surface, alike improving the appearance of the picture and affording excellent protection to it from the air. The following notice appears in the Wellington Tribune :—The friends of the late Mr. Joseph Small, Comedian, well-known and highly respected in the various provinces of Kew Zealand, are appealed to for aid on behalf of his widow and young family, who, by his untimely death are left in penury and want. The attendant circumstances are peculiary sad and distressing.—Any kindly contribution will be thankfully received at any of the newspaper offices in this town. ■ The Petition Committee of the House of ; Representatives has recommended that no ! such tax as that passed by the Auckland i Provincial Council upon the kauri guw ' be allowed.

The Star's "Special" at Welhngton supplies the following Parliamentary chat, :— for Von der Heyde gave notice to move Sat, in the construction of wharves for raUway »> the harbours of the colony* one uniform principle should be Peered to in the cost of all such works charged against the loans tor railways but -f f„™1« from that source are available, then iSemite should be made by which the fore«hore endowments should be made liable for such est in all cases without distinction. The Opposition are acquiring strength. Ihe Government are funking. It was freely stated in the lobbies vestcrday that the bill will be withdrawn. The Parnell meeting is regarded as a regular staggerer. It is likely, before the iu-Kitc is resumed to-day, the Opposition will raise an important point which will compel the Government to begin <le noro from ♦In-first reading of the bill, on the ground tlint the bill being an Appropriation Hill sbi "l'l originate in committee of the whole }(/■*" ' 'It is certain that a heavy onslaught „•i , ,*".'He place on the finance, and the Treasurer looks uncomfortable. The Auckland City Kndowmcnts Bill was read a second t : mo It will receive opj>osition in committee. The Auckland Institute Bill was al-o read. In moving it Sir George Grey said it was a very simple measure, to enable a l«oor province to provide funds for the erection of a public museum and library, so far as lav in its power. The province, by what he "must always regard as most wanton expenditure bv the General Government, had nearly the whole of the revenue taken from it. and but a trilling portion of it returned. lii its poverty it had been told by the same Government that its financial position was a public scandal. Fortunately the province had several noble, generous, minds, who regarded independence in the midst of poverty as a virtue. They had. with unexampled liberality, subscribed large sums to enable the struggling Auckland Institute to erect a public museum and library. The funds subscribed were, however, insufficient to enable the Council of the Institute to complete the works proposed. They, therefore, asked the Assembly that the Superintendent upon their application, be allowed to mortgage land given by the province to the Institute as a site for miildings. If the House granted the boon now asked, the Council would be able to raise funds sufficient to erect the necessary buildings. In reply toilr. Swanson, the Government again declined to say when the Representation Bill would be introduced. He said he would do so when other important measures before the. House were passed. Mr. Swanson asked if they meant the Abolition and Local Government Bills ? If so, there would be no Representation Bill, as the Abolition Bill would not | pass. The Government explained that they j did not mean to defer the bill so long. I One of the leading agricultural journals of J France has been furnishing some curious details concerning the hen and her products. It seems that France feeds about 40 millions of hens, which, at an average price to the raiser of two francs and a half for the "fowls" which the consumer pays 6 to 10 francs for, represents a sum of £4,000.000 sterling. The 40 millions of hens thus raised each year in this country are annually replaced by a lifth part, and delivered to consumption ; whence arises a first yield of flesh to the value of one million sterling. Two millions of cocks are also replaced every year under the same conditions as the hens, furnishing a second yield of flesh for £200,000. The 40 millions of hens produce each year, at least 100 millions of chickens, out of which 10 millions must be taken to replace those which are killed, and 10 millions more are lost by accident or maladies. Consequently, there remain, each year, SO millions of pullets, which sold by the raisers at 1J each, give a third produce of 5 millions sterling (125 millions of francs), but which, as sold in the markets, represent a sum of from three to four times that amount. To these must be added a sum of £240,000 for the plus-value of capons and fattened fowls, making another produce of some S | millions sterling. The 40 millions of hens j also lay an average of oue hundred eggs each, or 4000 millions in all; which, sold at firsthand for six centimes each, represent a sum of £130,000 iu the pockets of the raisers, and which sold again at au average of over double that sum, imply au outlay of some £250,000 by the public who eat them. The hen and eggs raising industry of France represents, therefore, the sum of 10 millions of pounds sterling to the parties engaged in it; ami a sum of four to eight times as much to these through whom the fowls and eggs find their j way to the public. As the supply of fowls ! and of egtrs is always unequal to the demand, i it is evident that these large totals might be | increased ; and competent writers assert that France might profitably and easily in- , crease hei raising of hens from 40 millions to j 150 millions, increasing her gains, in the ■ sliape of fowls and of eggs, in the same pro- j portions. They point out that no domestic animal is at once so profitable and so easily cared for as the hen. She provides nearly all her own food, in useless grain, noxious J insects, Arc , which she picks up for herself j from every comer of the farm ; she lives in | the most obscure nooks, and she indicates by I her cry the spot where she has deposited her i eggs. " The cost of lodging and superintend- J ciice is, therefore, in her case nil ; and a little cheap food to complete the supply she ! provides for herself is the only requisite.

A singular story is told in connection with the death of the man whose headless bodywas recently found on the Dublin Beach, South Australia. The Moonta paper says : —"The husband of a Mrs. Davis, resident in Moonta, left here about three mouths ago, and proceeded to Port Pirie in search of work. Mrs. Davis received a letter from her husband shortly after his arrival there, but has not heard * from him since. About the time when the man on the Dubliu Beach is supposed to have met with his death, Mrs. Davis dreamt that her husband was bsing murdered—imagined that she saw his assailant attacking him, and heard his piteous cries to spare his life, that he might once more see his wife and children. So impressed was she with the dream that she related it to a neighbour on the following day, and she was nnable to dispel the idea that her husband had come to some untimely end. One day last week she was shewn the paragraph giving an account of the discovery of the body on Dublin Beach. It excited in her the most painful apprehensions, for the description of the body, .so far as it has been given, answers in every particular to that of her own husband. Mrs. Davis, who is at present ill of the measles, has requested her neighbours to communicate with the police, with the view of further inquiries being made respecting the unknown deceased." An English journal is responsible for the following :—-\ subject of unusual difficulty \ chatta. been attacked by Dr. Thudicum. For " ' u;any years past he has "been engaged in researches on the chemical constitution of the brain, and the results of these researches have recently been laid before the Chemical Society. In the course of his investigation he has examined no fewer than 1000 human and other brains ; and in taking a general strvey of their constitution he Las been led to classify their proximate constituents under the four groups of sulphurized, phosphorized, Jiitr.jgenized, and oxygenated principles. The brain also contains inorganic maiter, and about four-fifths its weight of water. The group of phosphorized principles consists of the kephalius, myelins, and lecithins, all of which contain phosphorus in the form of glycero phosphoric acid. The names of upwards of 22,000 children havo- been entered as competitors for the •various prizes to be given by Mr. Francis Peek, through the Ixmdon School Board, for the knowledge of Scripture. The amount of tht prizes is ££00. !}:•.• following conundrum went the rounds of the city yesterday :—" Why is a tippler like the People's Champion ? Answer : Because he is always poking his nose into ' measures' which derange the Constitution." Williau. Mottc has been appointed to l>e the keeper of the public pound at Bombay settlement. The schedule of fees, &c, is fc'Mettcd. H is intended to established a Club at >elson. Mr. Alfred Greenfield, as honorary | secretary, lias called for tenders for the *rectio& c ,f a spacious building.

Six months ago, shareß in tho Phoenix Gold Mining Company, saya the Grey River Argus, were sold for 2d each, and since that time, without any call upon the shareholders, the mine has paid dividends to the amountof 9s per share. This, and the late rich return from the mine, the Jnangahva Times considers, should encourage parties to direct their attention to the Murray Creek district—especially as hitherto that locality has been but very hastily prospected.

A Foundry Company has been started at Greymouth. A local journal says :—" At a full meeting of the provisional directors of the Dispatch Foundry Company (Limited), it was adopted that the capital shall be £12,000 in shares of £1 each, instead of £10,000, in order to have sufficient funds m hand; but it is not probable that the fourth call will be made, as- the three payments will raiseacapit.il of £9000."

A novel theory of the formation of the Aurora Borealis has been advanced by J. H. Groniman, in the German Astronomische A'achric/ittn. He suggests that there may be fragments and particles of magnetic substances, such .-us nickel and iron, moviug around the sun, which are rendered incandescent by friction upon entrance into the earth's atmosphere, and then become visible in the form of auroral light.

It has been determined to adopt in the Army the same type of bayonet that has been used by the Irish Constabulary, on the ground'that it is cheaper in price, and lighter in weight, than the arm now in use. The adoption of such a weapon will make the offensive arm of our infantry shorter, by seven inches, than that of any other infantry of Europe.

It mav interest some people to know the cost of a knighthood. It is £00 14s Gd, and no credit is given. Lord Carnarvon, in the despatch announcing Sir J. L. C. Richardson's appointment as a Knight Bachelor, intimates that the patent will proceed through the Home Office as soon as it is intimated by whom the above " necessary charges" will be paid.

The South AustrnlUm Rtf/Uter reports the death of Mrs. Esther Solomon, aged 100 years and six months. Mrs. Solomon remained in the possession of her mental and physical powers until about three weeks previous to her death.

Mr. Andrew M'Kinnon has been re-elected Mayor of Port Chalmers by a majority of 192 over the other candidate, Mr. Murray. Professionally, botk are ship-carpenters.

Divine service will be held in the following placesof worshipto-morrow, Sunday, asunder: —Pitt-street Wesleyau Church: Rev. W. J. Williams morning; Rev. A. Reid, evening. Grafton Road Wesleyau Church : Rev. H. H. Lawry, morning; Rev. W. J. Williams, evening. Parnell Weslcyan Church: Rev. A. Reid, morning ; Re%\ J. Whewell, evening. Congregational Church, Beresfordstreet : Rev. Warlow Davies, M. A., morning and evening. Wellesley-street Baptist Church: Rev. P. H. Cornford, pastor, moruing, at 11; and evening, at 0.30. Lome-street Hall : Rev. S. Edger; morning, "Christ lhrows Light on the Dark Problems of Life ; evening (by request), "Is Christianity Selfish * Does Conversion spring from Anticipating Heaven and Hell V Newton Hall: Service at 11 a.m. and 0.30 p.m. The anniversary sermons of the United Methodist Free Church Sabbath-school, junction of Pitt and Vincent-streets, will be preached to-morrow : in the morning by the Rev. Alex. Reid, and in the evening by the Rev. G. H. Turner. An address to parents and friends will be delivered in the afternoon by Mr. Josiah Martin. On Tuesday evening next there will be a tea meeting in the school-room, at G. 30 o'clock, after which a public meeting will be held. The chair will be occupied by the Rev. G. H. Turner, and addresses delivered, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns. A public meeting has been convened by his Worship the Mayor, in the Mechanics' Institute, this evening, in compliance with a requisition, to consider the recent proposals of the Goverement as to changes in the Constitutional Government of New Zealand.

A grand Variety Entertainment will be given on Monday evening next, in the City Hall, iu aid of the funds of the Auckland Temperance Band. The programme will consist of comic and sentimental songs, dances, Ethiopian sketches, ic. Shareholders in the Cooperative Meat Supply Company are requested to call at the office early and receive their moneys for the amount of their shares, less their respective accounts.

The first annual exhibition of the Auckland Poultry Association and Dog Show will be held at the Market-house on Friday and Saturday, 10th and 11th September. A meeting will be held at Ponsonby on Monday evening, to discuss the abolition question. The third monthly meeting of the Auckland Institute will be held in the Museum Buildings on Monday evening next. An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in the Ajax Gold Mining Company will he held at Grahamstown on the Stb September.

A dividend of 2s per share is payable today in the Long Drive Gold Mining Company. A Choral Society's "At Home" will be given on the 19th iust.