OUR CALIFORNIAN LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4487, 31 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR CALIFORNIAN LETTER.

'[FROM OUR SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL CORRES- ; ' roxDENT.] ! A TRA.VELI.T2fG SIDE WALK. ' '*• .i The latest phase in the inventive faculty 1 iof the Yankee is the manufacture of a travelling side walk which is to do awa} r with street cars and other nuisances. A section of this new motive business is to be exhibited at the Centennial. Had you not better hold over your street car affair until this thing is fixed up straight ? THE CENTENNIAL. What is New Zealaud going to do 1 13 j she so small, so dead to ambition, that she [ prefers to be left out in the cold ? She is so ■ eateu up by local politics—she is becoming so famous for small politicians and quack I statesmen, that it is proposed to 'represent her at the Philadelphia Show as a little ! poodle eternally switching round after its I own tail, or a huge bird so swollen of its own importance that it is too lazy even to fly. CALIFORNIA AT T2IE CENTENNIAL. All the products of this state aud of Nevada will be handsomely represented. But the grand feature will be au exhibit of one month's crushing from the California and Virginia Consolidated Miues in gold and silver bars, valued at twenty millions of dollars. AU the mills on the Comsfcock will be employed to crush the ore. Probably this exhibit will lead to an influx of capital equal to twenty times the value of the exhibit. WHAT CALIFORNIA HAS PRODUCED IN" 1575. Wheat, 17,000,000 centals; wool, 44,000,000 lbs. ; quicksilver, 55,000 flasks; wine, 10,000,000 gallous; lumber, 305,000,000 feet j manufactures, §63,000,000 ; gold and silver, §100,000,000; wheat and flour exports, $,500,000 centals; wool do., 45,153,0171b5. ; treasure do., $43,000,000; dividends paid, §17,000,000; deposited iu savings banks, $75,000,000; banking capital, $155,000,000; increase of population during 1575, 100,000 ; sales of mining stock, $300,000,000; real estate, $12,353,752. Not a bad showing for a state not 30 years old

HIGH TONED. The waiters (coloured) at the Palacc Hotel give a ball about once a month and a sort of "at home" once a fortnight. No white man is admitted unless vouched for by a coloured lady. THE CHINESE QUESTION". A bill has been introduced to Congress to prevent the naturalisation of Chinamen. THE MARCH OF INTELLECT. Ah Fow, a Chinaman of the wash-tub persuasion, in 'Frisco, lias the following sign neatly painted over his door, " Washing done here dam cheap." THE COST OF GOVERNMENT. It costs the people of England $515,000,000 to govern their vast territory. It costs free aud enlightened America $645,000,000 to keep her pot boiling. Just thirty millions sterling more than it costs England. Most of the money is stolen. A NEW THRATRE. 'Frisco has added another Temple of Art to au already long list. Wade's Opera House lias just been opened with the spectacular play of " Snowilake." Tlie.theatre is one of the most beautiful in America, and the company excellent. The leading lady has ari unenviable history. Winetta Montague, once the wife of a wealthy Boston merchant, then the companion of a gambler, aud subsequently the wife of the uufortunate Waiter Montgomery. When she married Montgomery she was not divorced from her lms r band—this fact was unknown to the great actor, and 'tis said its discovery led to his .death.

Baldwin's theatre. E. J. Baldwin (one of our Melbournians) is just completing wliat it is claimed will be the most beautiful theatre in the world. The drop-scene is to be of heavy satin, to be painted by distinguished European arti3ts, and will cost as much as your proposed new theatre. A new art in frescoing is to be applied in decorating the theatre. The entire building will be lined with richly tinted linen which is to be frescoed with as much care as is bestowed on oil paintings. Leland Standford, the principal owner of the Central Pacific Kailroad, is just finishing a palace-home, at an expenditure of one million dollars. The interior of this building will be also covered with this linen fresco. FOREIGN CAPITAL. A Bench of Californian Judges has just decided that the capital of Foreign Banks doing business in this State cannot be subjected to local taxation. This decision arose out of a suit by the London and San .Francisco Bank against the tax collector, who had levied on the Bank's capital. CENTENNIAL CLUBS. A club of one thousand persons has been organized in Sacraniento, for the purpose of visiting the Centennial in company.

GOOD SHOWING FOR THE NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COMPANY. The State returns, justjpublished, show that during the eight (8) months ending 31st December the New Zealand lusurauce Company in this city received £SOOO in premiums, their loss for the same period amounting to less than £100. This year's business will probably be double last year's, placing the Californian ageucy at the head of the list. Mr. Craig deserves well at the hands of his directors. KONG HE FAT CHOY. The Chinese New Year began on the 24th January, and the gay celestials arc bobbing around inviting their Caucasian frieuds to hob-nob with them. During the holidays the heathen give themselves up to unlimited eating and drinking. On this day every Chinaman makes a point to be out of debtall accounts for the past year are closed up, or if not paid written off. An excellent system, well worthy of imitation. THE AMERICAN MINISTER TO CHINA. The remains of the Hon. B. P. Avery, late American Minister to China, were received in this city to-day, and were attended by an immense concourse to their final resting place. _ Mr, Avery was for years connected with the Press of San Francisco. A CANADIAN SCANDAL. High-toned society in Canada has been tickled into a flutter of intense sensation, by the absconding or elopement of the wife of the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie with a Lieutenant Bridges, of the Engineer Department. Mrs. Mackenzie is the daughter of Sir Hugh Allan, one of Canada's foremost men. She is said to be very beautiful,Jbut tojhave been harshly used by her husbaud. She took with her to New York her four children and a train load of baggage. MRS. CORLETT, late ,of your city, is quite the fashion here. She has made a great success as a teacher, having already secured forty pupils in her elocutionary class. She is also a contributor to several of the local papers. Recently she gave an elocutionary and musical seance, in which she was assisted by 'Frisco's best talent. EXTRAORDINARY MOVEMENT IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 75,000 male Ritualists and 150,000 female ditto have petitioned the Pope to accept them as worthy children of the Church of Rome. These people are growing honest, now that the fat things of the church are soon to be swept away. A JOURNALISTIC SCOUNDREL. Rev. E. D. Window, the well-known Boston journalist, has absconded after committing forgeries to the extent of SSOO,OOO. JAIL delivery extraordinary. Mrs. Samuel Jael, of Ohio, has just given birth to triplets. This is the heaviest jail delivery on record. THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY is about to dispatch a cargo of women as missionaries to the Cannibal Islands.' 1 ' 1 Theee cannibals are getting too epicurean, "in their tastes. If they are not satis fied witH tie flavour of the male missionaries already Bhipped, why, be hanged to them, let' them furnish their own provisions. There is a 6™* opening in Trifioo for the society.

X SIMPLE DEFINITION OF EVOLUTION. ] Evolution is an integration of matter and : constant dissipation of motion, during which ihe matter passes from an indefinite incoherent homogeniety to a definite coherent i hetrogeniety, and during which the retained : motion undergoes a parallel transformation. Can't you see it ? EXPENSIVE TOOLS. : The trowel and measuring rod used by the Prince of "Wales in laying the foundation atone of the Madras Harbour Works were of gold, and cost §SOO. THANATOPSIS. In the new American Oral Dictionary this word is thus explained. Thanatopsis—death — origin. "When Brutus, the first victim to emotional insanity, slew Cresar, he remarked to his sister, " Jule is deader than-a-top-sis." A WONDERFUL INVENTION. General Benet, Chief of Ordnance, has appointed a commission of Ordnance officers to proceed to Philadelphia to investigate an invention of Eldridge Wheeler for welding steel with iron. Millions of dollars hare been expended by different nations of the earth in experimenting with this problem, but without result. Mr. Wheeler, it is understood, has succeeded in manufacturing an iron gun Tvith steel lining. In the opinion of the ordnance officers of the army and navy it is destined to revolutionize ?the gun business all over the world. The invention of Mr. Wheeler is thought to be a discovery of the art of manufacturing the famous Damascus blade. It is understood the Prussian Government has sent a commision, which is now en route for Philadelphia, to examine and report upon this wonderful invention. Admiral Porter, who has examined the model of Mr. Wheeler's gun, expressed a very favourable opinion of it. A PAINFUL EXHIBIT. • The annual circular of the mercantile agency of Dun, Barlow & Co., just issued in jNew York, makes the failures of the year 1575, in the United States, at 7740, of which 051 occurred in this city. The average liabilities in New York is placed at $51,769. The average for the whole United States is $25,960. The aggregate indebtedness of the entire failures amount to the immense sum of §201,000,000, an excess of 846,000,000 over 1874. The sectional distribution of failures in the two past years is thus given : In 1875, in the New England States, 1335 failures, liabilities, §40,015,164 ; in 1874, failures 790, liabilities, §15,845. Middle States, 1875 — ~ failures, 2395; liabilities, §82,522,346. 1874 —failure, 2035, liabilities, §82,081,000. Western States, IS74 —failures. 2336; liabilities §364,738,640 ; 1874, 1744 failures ; liabilities, §33,073,000. Southern States, 1875, failures, 1333; liabilities, §36,277,777 ; 1574, failures, 1126; liabilities, §20,690,000. THE "WAY THEY DO IN TEXAS. They have a short, sharp and decisive method of concluding unsatisfactory spiritual seances in Texas. A Professor Livingstone, after going through the usual cabinet business, playing guitars, etc., in the Houston Opera House, proposed to have a further seance, and as a crucial test, stated his willingness to be bound by handcuffs, promising to be free from them almost immediately by the aid of "spirits." Unhappily for him a sheriff was in the audience, who immediately presented a pair of trusty "darbies," and going upon the stage, wished to put them on the professor's wrists. At this sudden acceptance of the proposition, the communer with the beings of other spheres was nonplussed, but finally concluded not to proceed with the experiment. At this the audience burst out into an uproar, during which the i cries of "fraud," "humbug," "take him out," "ride him on a rail," &c., were heard. ! The excitement finally culminated in the professor' being forced to disgorge all the money taken at the door for admission fees, and to flee from the town. The money was voted to an orphan asylum. HISTORY REPEATING. We wonder if Marshal McMahon is not repeating the mistake of Louis Philippe ? The latter, by bringing back the remains of Napoleon from St. Helena, is thought to have done much toward paving the way for Napoleon 111. by reviving among the French the days of their glory under the great Emperor. The placing of the statue of the latter on top of the Column Vendome can hardly fail to havt* the same effect. But that may be exactly what McMahon desires. BISHOP LEDOCHOWSKI'S RELEASE. If our foreign despatches are correct the Berlin Government, in releasing Bishop Ledochowski unconditionally, have virtually confessed a wrong done or error committed, for the prelate hia experienced no change of sentiment on the subject of German ecclesiastical law, nor has he learned to pursue the policy of silence in regard to what he believes to be unjustifiable persecution. In his case, at least, the authorities must acknowledge a mistake, for they have made him a martyr and hero to his own people, and now set him at liberty to speak his opinion again, for which, if incarceration ensues, he will be the more wildly worshipped.

BOUTWELL'S NEW SCHEME. Senator Boutwell has made a bold strike to improve our merchant marine. On account of the tariff on materials that enter into ship-building and the prohibition of the United States flag to vessels built on foreign shores, our commerce has almost disappeared from the sea. Mr. Boutwcll now introduces a bill offering a bounty of §S a ton for all lar»e iron steamships which shall be built on ouv shores within five years, not exceeding 500,000 tons in the agregate. The bill provides that the United States shall in lawbe a silent partner in the ownership of all vessels so built, and may purchase them or employ them to carry mails or soldiers on such reasonable terms as are specified. Something ought to be done to revive our prostrate commerce and create a living soul ■under the dead ribs of our merchant marine. A NEW MACHINE. In the reconstruction of the Hotel de Ville, Paris, a machine is used for cutting stone which does in one day the work of fifteen men. It is composed of two revolving cylinders furnished with marble hammers, by means of which the stone is separated with great rapidity and precision. CHICAGO JUBILANT. Chicago is happy. A sweet smile of satisfaction went rippling over an audience composed of that city's principal sinners, and and their eyes became suffused with tears of gratitude when Woncure D. Conway told them that there wasn't any such person as the devil. The burden of life had been lifted from their souls. CHICAGO EXULTANT. Chicago exults. Its agregate wholesale business for 1575 amounted to §15,000,000 more than it did in'lS74, and it proudly places its thumb to the end of its nose and wiggles its fingers and defies St. Louis to show up. THE LADIES OF 'FRISCO

are preparing to give a grand Centennial tall on Washington's birthday. It will be a splendid hop. Can't a fevr of yonr Parnell boys come along 1 THE ENGLISH ELEVEN". Kewhall, the American cricket sharp, is negociating with the All England Eleven for a Centennial match (rather a long game). A HINT FOR AUCKLAND'S FEMININITY. The married -women of a town m Indiana have formed a Protective Union, the object being to assist each other in procuring divorces, when, in the opinion of the Union, such action becomes necessary in the case of any member. Up to this date no member of the Society has been divorced, as in every case .the other members have decided that such action -was unnecessary. But every one Jhas; made, application. % GOETHE AND THE SUEZ CANAL* ; Goethe, in his 78th year, said there were .-three' things he desired'to, see—a canal con-; iecting the Gulf of Mexico vritk the Pacific,! .another connecting the Rhine and Danube, j and lastly,-Jbhe English, jm of tKej Suez Canal**" "X should JiUe W see ' these sroAt things," 'said he, "and for them it would be -worth while to endure another 50

years." The English came into posession o£ a Suez Canal just within the half century. .. DAP.WIN AlfD THE TIDDLER. How beautifully nature has adapted her means to encU ! How tenderly she provides for the wants of the humblest of her creatures. Darwin says that male grasshoppers use their hind legs to fiddle on the edge of their wings, and that the best fiddler first succeeds in fascinating the females. Behold how the industrious spider spins her web, and then masticates her husband and flings his carcase out of the back yard I Thus it is that the harmonies of life swell the grand diapason of the universe, as it were. DE WITT TALMAGK. "Why don't men swear whenjthey are alone 1" asks the Ker. Mr. Talmage. Well, Mr. T., how do you know they don 11 And did you ever jump from your lonely couch and light on the tip-top end of a tack -with 1 your bare feet ? "What did you say then 1 TVe'll make an even bet it "wasn't the Lord's Prayer. THE MORMONS. Twenty-six thousand Mormon women want the law repealed which forbids concubinage. If the Mormon girls "will pass their list around here there are about twenty-six thousand here who look as if they ought to sign it. ALL IK THE SAME BOAT. The Legislature is trying to appoint an inspector of rotten ships in the harbour. If the Legislature is going to investigate all the rottenness in San Francisco, nobody will have to be appointed to hold the Legislature's nose —it is used to the fragrance. CHINESE POCKETKERCHIEFS. A Chinaman in the Stockton Jail committed suicide by hanging himself with his queue. The circumstance is not so striking as if he had hanged himself with his handkerchief. Has any one seen a Chinaman blow his nose ? FASHIONS IN 'FRISCO; Street dresses are growing longer, and our side-walks will be cleaner. Pull-backs are not so taut, and our maidens don't look so distressed. Bonnets dare more than they used to, and there is room for a centre-table over the forehead. French heels are revived, and our doctors are studying up treatment of spinal diseases. CREDULOUS AMERICA. Over seventeen hundred men and women in the United Slates professionally practice what are termed the art of astrology as a means of living. Their dupes are said, to be numbered by millions. FATHER TOM BURKE, the eloquent Irish orator, famous for his discussions with the historian Froude, died in Galway, in December last. SUICIDE OF A YOUNG LADY. A beautiful, accomplished, and wealthy young lady has just shot herself in San Jose, on account of the coolness of her lover.