THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1877.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5008, 4 December 1877, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1877.

Another difTeronco has unfortunately arisen between His Excellency and Ministers, in reference to the visit of Sir \V. Jervois and Colonel Scratchley, who were despatched by the Home Government, at the request of the colonies, to advise as to the best means to be adopted for the defence of the colonial harbours. The very brief outline of the correspondence which has been telegraphed does not enable us to express an opinion 011 the merits of the difference. It was certainly absurd to ask that the Hinemoa should be sent to Hebart Town, and probably the visit of the Commissionei's would have had 110 practical result, but in the circumstances they might have been allowed to come to New Zealand and give their opinions, which we were not bound to carry out.

The changes in the system of native land purchase to which we have of late several times adverted are to bo made by Act, and the mail, which arrived from the South yesterday, brought the bill to effect the objects of the Ministry which has been introduced into the House of liepresentatives l>y Mr. Sheehan. The iirst clause is the short title, which is, "The Native Land Purchases Discontinuance Act." The second clause provides that, where any money has been paid for the purchase of any native lands, or any estate or interest therein, or where negotiations have been entered into, whether the lands have or have not passed through the Native Lands Court, then, after the publication of a notification, it shall not be lawful for any person to acquire any interest in such lands, or to contract fur any purchase. A notification published in the -Ycif Zealand Garxtic shall be sufficient notice to all persons of the prior rii»ht of the Crown in respect of the land mentioned in the notice. The Government may also relinquish land in respect to which money has been paid by notice in the I'mo■ttr. The fifth clause gives power to the Native Minister to make arrangements for discontinuance of purchase of native lands on commission, and to discontinue the services of any agent so employed upon such terms and conditions as the Native Minister may think lit; while the sixth clause gives the Native Minister power to pay such proportion of the commission clue as may, in his opinion, be fair and reasonable. The receipt of the agent is to be a discharge to the Colonial Treasurer, and the payments made are to be binding on the Crown and revenue departments. The circumstances of the Colony at present in respect of native lands are exceptional, and must be exceptionally dealt with, and in fact this bill is a cutting of the Gordian knot, which could not be untied. Objections may be made to it on the score that it gives the Ministry too much pworin :l department in which Ministers should seek as little latitude as possible. The late Ministers accumulated a great deal of unpopularity through dealing in native lands outside of what the letter of the law allowed. There was no road out of tile difficulty which the late Ministry left except by such a measure as this, which imposes on the Native Minister what must be disagreeable duties, as involving acts exceedingly liable to misconstruction.

Bv the mail which arrived on Friday we received a pamphlet giving ;ui analysis of the record of yellow fever in Xetv Orleans in 1870. The report is prepared by Joseph Holt, M.D., Sanitary Inspector for the Fourth District of New Orleans. It originally appeared in the January number (1577) of the Ace.* Orleans Mcflical and Suryical- Jaunt"?. A tlood of light is let in on the propagation of disease germs and the means of preventing their spread ; in fact, of killing this usually fatal disease at its very birthplace. The facts sot forth in the report are interesting, as although happily in these regions the "yellow jack*' of New Orleans is unknown, yet other diseases arising from similar causes, lack of prudential sanitary provisions, do occur, and are sometimes fatal and always enfeebling. It appears that dangerous disease may be actually originated by want of cleanliness. In face of this it is satisfactory to knowliow these lesser disorders may be successfully cumliatted by following the course of sanitary treatment to which the fatal Orleans fever had been forced to succumb. The origin of the disease on this occasion, noticed in the report, appears to have been purely local. For a long time yellow fever had not visited the city of New Orleans, and it was on this occasion ascertained that no vessels or other oulsi'de infection had been the cause of the epidemic. If this fact be clearly established, it is one of serious import to all who have the health and welfare <»f city populations under their charge. If the fermentation of local lilth is capable of developing yellowfever, or any other form of epidemic disease in one place, why not in another, under conditions favourable to its existence ? The narrative gives a sanitary lesson to the authorities of this city. The first case alluded to in the report was that of a young woman. It occurred 1 on the lltli of August, and the most searching investigation by the sanitary i ollicers failed to discover the slightest clue to foreign infection from any ship, person, or material. She died on the ISth. The * streets surrounding the square in which j was situated the house where this woman was a servant, were thoroughly sprinkled with carbolic acid (pure, diluted with fifty parts of water) and also with crude acid. The gutters andoutsidcclosetsof the houses in the sijuare were also similarly treated with this disinfectant. The disease was killed. Twenty-three days afterwards, on the 3rd September, another case occurred, the patient being a child seven years of age, whose dwelling was situated five squares distant from that in which the first-mentioned case arose. The weather meanwhile was hot and dry, the mean temperature about SO* Fahr., when all collections of garbage and lilth were in a high state of fermentation. Saturating the streets, channels, Arc., in the neighbourhood of the infected house with carbolic acid was neglected, on this second occasion, and within four days of the second appearance of the disease live fresh cases had occurred all in this square and all within 200 feet of the infected house. Still the authorities did not use the means whicli had proved so effectual on the appearance of the disease in thu previous month, and very speedily this districtbecame tliecentre of infection. Within a period of IS days from the ord September the disease had

spread itself over an area of 39 squares, densely inhabited —the invasion being directly in the face of a strong and con-stantly-prevailing north-west wind. Seeing the epidemic character which the disease had assumed, the authorities actively bestirred themselves to have this very large district thoroughly disinfected, and on the night of the 22nd September this work was begun in earnest. The streets and gutters surrounding the large infected area were sprinkled with carbolic acid ; all outside closets being thoroughly disinfected, about two quarts of acid being used to each, and not until 74 persons had been affected was the progress of the disease stayed. About 912 gallons of pure carbolic acid (Calvert's No. 5) and 1800 gallons of crude carbolic acid were used for this purpose. At first the street watering-carts were used for distributing the acid, but as the quantity .available was limited, the plan ultimately adopted was to have the reservoir on a cart, attached to which were two pieces of one-inch hose, 30 feet in length. On the end of each hose was an ordinary garden sprinkle)", eight inches in diameter. This was found to be better than the former plan, and it was less objectionable to the people to have the streets in the district sprinkled four or five times with a lesser quantity than the once with the large quantity. The number of buildings within the infected district was 1143, and the inhabitants numbered 0407. The experience thus obtained by the civic authorities of rS T ew Orleans should afford a lesson and a ■warning to our own civic magnates, and show them how to grapple with a powerful enemy in a successful manner. Regarding the necessity for the observance of sanitary laws, the report from which we have gleamed the above circumstances, says:—"Regarded from a hygienic point of view, yellow-fever then is a result of sanitary negligence, not a universal consequence, and for reasons unknown, limited geographically. Sanitary negligence in India is punished with cholera ; in the Orient, with plague and leprosy ; in Europe, the British Islands, and the Northern United States, with typhus, typhoid, diphtheria, and scarlatina, in their malignant and epidemic forms ; and in the West Indies, in the tropical and .semi-tropical Americas, with yellow fever."

The Maoris, it is said, have predicted a summer of great drought, and already the fervent heat, the bright and warm sun, the light brown tint which grass, green a few weeks since, is now assuming on some of our hillsides and plains, would seem to give , early countenance to the probable accuracy lof the prediction. A few days since we j described the sufferings from long drought I and great heat sustained iu all the imporI tant districts in Queensland, and the mauy j bush and forest lires which had occurred ' there in consequence of the drought. If the season there has beeu marked by such a painful experience, there is the greater probability that in this latitude, less tropical though it be, wc may be visited by a season of drought, less disastrous doubtless, but still sullieieutly serious and costly. Farmers and cattle breeders are already beginning to have forebodings even iu this region, where as yet nothing serious has actually occurred. But this morning we pubbsh telegrams from Dunedin, which depict a somewhat gloomy prospect, due to the drought, and the consequent scanty water supply. A large woollen manufacturer, Mr. Halleustein, has been obliged to discharge a hundred of his hands because of the stoppage of the water supply, and lias placed 200 more on half time for the same reason. Otherwise, there is great distress in Dunedinand the district for want of water, and the crops in that province are reported as suffering every where. At this early part of the season these are facts of grave portent.

Our obituarj* to-day contains the notice of the death of the wife of Captain Ualdy, who was the daughter of another well-known citizen, the late Captain Pulham. For a considerable time past, Mrs. Daldy has been iu feeble health, so that her recovery could hardly be looked for. A number of shops aud oiliccs in town were partially closed yesterday, as a manifestation of public resinset for the deceased aud her husband and family.

Complaint has been made to us of conduct which partakes of the character of lioodlumism, which is now prevalent in the neighbourhood of 3-Jobson and Victoria streets. It appears that disturbances are of frequeut occurrence in that neighbourhood, and on Saturday night last the windows of Mr. Symon's house were broken, apparently out of a mere spirit of mischief. The attention of the police will no doubt be directed to eradicating this mischievous spirit by causing incarceration of some of the ringleaders.

It is now a matter of certainty that the Australian cricketers will pay us a visit in January, yet the practices iu the Domain are not well attended, and some of our leading cricketers seem to take but scant pains as to getting themselves into form. Our own impression is they will find the Australians at least as hard, if not a harder lot to tackle than the Englishmen, and as by birth and education they are far superior, the-match, if properly played, will prove much more pleasant than the farce o last year.

Some surprise has been caused at the Thames by a gentleman from the South, named Mr. Strange, having paid to the natives between £'500 and £600 on Wairakau, a piece of laud included in the Te

Arolia purchase, made by Mr. James MaoWay. If the choice pieces of the block, such as Wairakau, arc cut out of Te Aroha, it will he of little value either to Mr. Broomball or anybody else. Tiie law in rcspect of native land purchases is in such a condition that it is di/licult to say whether Mr. Strange will or will not carry out liis purchase of Wairakau.

An interesting ceremony,that of presenting the Rev. 10. C. Stuart, Bishop-elect of Waiapu, with a testimonial from the parish of St. Mary's, Parnell, took place last evening in the Missionary school-room, Parnell. There was a very large attendance of members of the Church of England. The presentation consisted of a portable Communion service, a handsome time-piece, a butter cooler, &c. Mr. Stuart has been many years employed by the Church Missionary Society in India. He is a Scotsman, but a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. He is a brother of tho Hou. Alexander Stuart, of New South Wales. As a missionary he has had the experience of an active life. The report of the proceedings, which we print in another column, has many points of interest.

At a meeting of the Kauwaeranga School Committee on Saturday Mr. Sic 11 hone brought umler the notice of the committee the fact of a child of Roman Catholic parents having been given a religious book by one of the teachers in the boyn' school, without the consent of the parents being lirst obtained. Mr. Mcllliono objected to aiiy teaelier in these schools lending themselves to the distribution of anything offensive to a section of the community, lie said if such things were permitted Bishop Moran and others might well forbid lloman Catholic children attending the schools. The father of the child in question is to be written to by the chairman, and requested to state the circumstances in writing, so that the committee may be in a better position to judge, and take steps to prevent such a complaint in future.

The competition for the Thames District Belt was keenly contested on Saturday by 75 members of the several Volunteer companies. The first squad fired in the morning, and certainly had most wretched weather, the target being almost out of sight, and the bulls-eye obliterated by the heavy showers of rain. Notwithstanding, the firing was good ; many of the shootiats making over GO points out of a possible 80. In the afternoon the weather improved slightly, ana the best scores were obtained by members of all the corps, the coveted belt, with first prize, being carried off by Volunteer Kendall, of the Thames Scottish, as wag also the second and third prize by Sergeant McLeod, with a score of GG, and Volunteer Bull, G4. The fourth prize was awarded to Volunteer Walker, of the 1 hames Navals, and the fifth to Lieut. Small, of No. 2 Hauraki Company.

The three lads who escaped from the Industrial School on Sunday morning are still at large. They evidently made good use of their time in securing their escape, and the police have so far been unable to find any trace of them. . Up to a late hour last night no arrests had been made, either of the missing lads or anyone else.

We are asked to correct a slight inaccuracy in our correspondent's account of the concert recently held at Mercer. Mrs. Heath did not as stated sing a comic song, but Mr. Heathsang "RobinAdair;" Mr. Park sang a comic song. Mr. Jeukin3, of Newmarket, who happened to he present at the time, kindly volunteered his services, and rendered valuable aid, and Mr. James Good did good service for the dancers with his violin.

Three buggies were driven out of town, on Sunday last when the suu was high, each was fitted extremely well, as who should say I belong to a swell, and the whips were flourished, the steeds encouraged, .and for a time all went merrily. Three buggies were brought back into the town, on Sunday last when the sun had set, each had experienced some mishap ; the horses in one had fallen flat, the pole of another was broken in twain, in a way it might never be spliced again, the third had also come to grief and a carriage and pair were sent to the relief of its occupants lying moaning.

An unmanageable horse attached to a buggy created some astonishment in Highstreet yesterday. The horse and buggy were the property of Messrs. Hill and Smith, livery stable keepers. The horse stopped at the Police Court, and the efforts of the young man who was in the buggy to get him past were ineffectual. He reared and plunged, and finally fell, breaking the shafts of the trap. Sergt.-Major Masm ai d Mr. McMurdo went to assist by holding the horse while his driver extricated him from the harness, but while so doing, the horse plunged cutting himself on the knee, and slightly hurting Messrs. McMurdo and Mason. The excited animal was finally extricated, and led back to his stable.

The extension of the Waikato Railway from Newcastle to Hamilton is now almost completed, and, we believe, we are correct in stating that in the course of the next month the ballast-engine, at least, will be run the entire length. On Saturday last the inen who are engaged laying the plates and ballasting the line, shifted their camp closer to Hamilton, and by next Saturday they will probably be able to shift the camp into the township for the completion of the extension. This work cannot fail to be of immense advantage to the Waikato district. The manner in which it has progressed, and in which this progress has been brought under notice since the extension of railway communication to Ngaruawahia, has been, indeed, remarkable ; how much greater will it then be when the railway, which has now barely reached the outskirts of the best agricultural country, is carried into its heart?

The Artists Exhibition was visited by a fair number of the public during; yesterday, and the various pictures scauned critically, and commented upon. Another of Mr. Kenneth Watkins's works has been sold, viz., No. IJ2— 44 Kauri, a study." The price obtained is seven, guineas, and the purchaser Mr. J. C. Firth. This gentleman has bought quite a number of views uow, and his action as encouraging local talent is well worthy of imitation by other prominent citizens and colonists. Of the exhibitors, Mr. Alfred Sharp appears to have been the most successful in disposing of the efforts of his skill, for he takes no less than one-lifth of the whole proceeds of the sales. He sent seven pictures to the exhibition, six have been sold, and negotiations are in progress for the purchase of the seventh. In addition to these the artist has commissions for four more. In the evening the number of visitors was sutnewhat larger. The Orpheus String Band greatly conduced to the pleasure of the evening by the execution of many selections of instrumental music.

7)r. Kllis and wife leave Auckland to day per s.s. Taranaki, for the South, in one of the most promising cities of which—Christchurch —the geutleinan intends to practise his profession. During the doctor's comparatively short sojourn iu Auckland, he has won for himself golden opiuions, and made many friends by his gontlemauly demeanour, his courteous bcariug, and readiness to assist where assistance was needed in respect of any public institution or benciicent object. As a public lecturer and as a professional man he has been equally successful, aud his delooli«a upon H a ' ld nil r«urot. Or the organisations or institutions which have good cause to remember the genial doctor's earnest and ready help, we need but specify the Young Men's Christian Association, the Mechanics' Institute, the Society of Artists, the Parnell Croquet Club, aud the Scripture Gift Association. Mrs. Kllis, as a iinished and talented pianist, will be greatly missed from our coucerts, where her presence was always noted with pleasure, and her instrumental selections listened to with delight. Both lady and gentleman leave Auckland with the heartiest wishes for their future prosperity of all classes of people.

A statement was made some time since that tho "catfish" brought into this colony by the Acclimatisation Society would prove destructive to other species of lish, and, consequently, an improper subject for acclimatisation. The first consignment, as our readers are aware, were placed in the lake on St. John's College Koad. In consequence of this statement the secretary of the Acclimatisation Society communicated with the Fish Commissioners of the State of California for further information as to the nature and habits of the "strange" lish. The secretary of the society has received a reply from Mr. .Redding, one of the Fish Commissioners, stating that the cat-fish is somewhat defamed by the imputation that he is destructive to other lish. If he has anything "cat"-like in his nature, it is exercised not against lish, but against the larv.e of insects upon muddy bottoms, that he is not only a harmless lish, as regards other fish, but a good member of his own family, protecting his young during hatching, and showing them the ways that are right after that process has been completed. lie is not a fast swimmer, but somewhat sluggish in this respect, so that he is not dangerous by his powers of locomotion. In fact am! in truth, he is a very respectable member ui the finny tribe, useful in his own waters as a devourer of noxious larv.e, not bail for sport when less exciting fishing is absent, and capital for eating. It is rather hard upon so good a lish that he should have met upon his arrival in anew habitat with people to give him a bad name. Mr. Wakefield has brought into the House of Representatives a bill entitled tho Public Libraries Bill. The proposed bill is intended to promote the establishment and support of public libraries. The second clause proposes that it thonld be the duty of the Colonial Treasurer to apportion the grant for public libraries among the several provincial districts in proportion to the population of such districts, and to entrust to the Education Boards thereof the distribution in books, or cash, as they shall think fit, of sueh,sum3as shall be allotted by such Boards to libraries maintained, or partly maintained, by voluntary subscriptions in their respective districts in accordance with, and in proportion to, the amount of voluntary subscriptions received by the respective libraries. . Libraries in municipalities are also to be subsidised out of the Consolidated Fund by sums equal to the rate levied for the support of a free public library within the municipality, under the Public Libraries Act, 1569. A public library is defined to be any library supported, or partly supported, by voluntary subscription in any district, or any library established under the Public Libraries Act, ISG9, and iueorporated under the Public Libraries Powers Act, 1875. The control and management of such libraries are to be vested in and exercised by the library committee of tho district within which such libraries are situated. The admission to all libraries established or supported under the proposed Act shall be open to the public free of charge. Whether the proposed Act will become law remains to be seen, but the provision for making tho Education Hoard the judge as to what the settlers shall read or study, if it become law, is likely to give universal dissatisfaction in the Auckland provincial district at least. Tho way in which educational matters have been conducted here is not calculated to give the settlers tho highest opinion of tho fitness of the members of the Bo.wl of Education to practically control the district libraries in this province.

The prizes for the New Zealand subscribers to the London Art Union were lost on board the Avalanche. j Mr. Week's chronological chart of New j Zealand is at present being exhibited in Christchurch. It is stated that Sir George Grey intends to visit the West Coast shortly after the conclusion of the session. We have to acknowledge the receipt of £3 93. for the Indian Relief Fund, from the Kbenezer Lodge of Good Templars, Kaeo, Wangaroa. State of Her Majesty's Gaol, Auckland, for the week ending the -sth November, 1577 : On remand, 1 male ; awaiting trial, 5 male 3, 3 females ; sentenced to penal servitude, 32 males ; sentenced to hard labour, 70 males, 30 females ; sentenced to imprisonment, 2 males ; default of bail, 3 males ; received during the week, 10 males, 5 females: discharged during the week, 22 males, 7 females: total in gaol. 119 males and 33 females. Return of sick treated at the Provincial District Hospital for the week ending Saturday, December 1, 1577 : — llemained last return, 74; admitted since, S; discharged, 7 ; died, 1 ; remaining, 74—males, 55, females 19. Arrangement of cases : Zymotic, 11; constitutional, 11; local, 39; developmental, S; violent, 5. <'ne death occurred during the week, viz., W., male, aged 17, of sunstroke. Thanks are returned to F. H. Hull. Esq., of Wainaka, for St. •fame*, Macniillan, and Family Friend Magazines (115 numbers), and to Mrs. Sloane for I Illustrated London JS'eia and Graphic papers. The current number of the organ of the Anglican body, viz., the Church Gazette, has come to hand. It contains an unusually large amount of parochial and diocesan intelligence, and is accompanied by a bulky supplement, containing the minutes of the recent meeting of the Synod of Auckland, as well as the diocesan statistics for IS7G, printed in tabular form. The intelligence conveyed in the number is of a varied and highly interesting nature, and such as should be prized by the members of the communion which the Gazette represents. The result of the General Synod examinations, held in August, is given, and among the names of the candidates who have passed in grades I. and 11. are the following : " Grade I. —(Maximum marks, 3000; minimum for pass, 1200). Second Class : \\". E. Percival, Auckland, 2027 ; Alfred J. Litteri, Auckland. 19SS; Howard Matthews, Auckland, IS3O. Third Class : Katie Jane Rust, Auckland, 17SS. Grade 11. — (Maximum marks, 0000. The classes calculated on a maximum of 5400, as oae of the papers is supplementary. Minimum for pass, 1S00). First Class: John King Davis, St John'.-, Auckland, 5059; Percy S. Smallfield, St. John's, Auckland, 3922 ; Ann Lush, Auckland, 3002.—Second Class : E. Kobertshaw, Auckland, 3103; J. HaseMen, ht. John's, Auckland, 3075. '1 hird Class: Annie E. Seaman, Auckland, 2275. Out of 20 candidates who passed in these two grades, 11 belong to the provincial district of Auckland.

We are in receipt of the December number of the P realty {ericiu Church j\ r civ*, and cau i recommeud ib to the notice of the com- ! raunion which it represents as containing a large amount of original aud thoughtful reading, in addition to the usual summary of 1 colonial and foreign ecclesiastical inlorma- | tion. The leading article is upon the education question, and Professor Huxley's views thereon are quoted at some length. Deserving of consideration, aud well worthy of careful perusal is an excellently written article by "M." on ti Bigotry," which the writer delines to be "A blind attachment to a particular creed, opinion or practice, an unreasonable and uncharitable zeal and devotion in favour of a party, sect, or opinion ; a narrow and excessive prejudice, which sees uo good in any religious creed or party who opposes their own ; but which sees everything good in that sect or ritual to which they are obstinately attached." "Alpha" contributes an article on "A Colonial Ministry," aud after it comes one on "Inspiration and Modern Criticism," by the Rev. Alexander Bobb, D. D., and extracted from the (Jutted Prrsbytcrhui Mayazhu'. Those interested in the Kev. Dr. Somerville and his work, will liud in the pages of the SetOfs the eminent evangelist's farewell address, delivered at the Glasgow noon-day prayer-meeting. The report of the Sabbathschool Committee for 1870, with tabular statistics, occupies a whole page, while an American Presbyterian's opinion of Scotland aud the Scottish, and ah article " In Memoriam—Mr. George Darrach," occupies another page. The remaiuder of the available npufiu io vt iblt ©£ 'bllG churches aud the treasurer's accounts. Father Hennebery stated at Christchurch that he had the great gratification of announcing that he had in Christchurch administered the pledge to more persons at one time than on any former occasion save one, which was at a mission service held in Boston. Lloyd's Weekly, of October 21, contains the following, which refers to Mr. Thornton, of Messrs. Thornton, Smith, and Firth, who arrived from Russia by the last mail steamer on a visit : —" Mr. James Thornton, an English manufacturer in Russia, has couverted a portion of his works into a 20 bed hospital for the benefit of w«*uudcd soldiers." In reference to the gross assault on a most deserving teacher of a public school at the Thames, the Thame* Adrertiser says :—'' \\"e are informed that Mrs. Devey has written a letter to Miss Hazeldeau, humbly apologising for J»cr conduct at the Kauaeranga Girls' School on Thursday afternoon, and the school committee have advised Miss Haz_-1-dean to accept the apology and stay proceedings in the matter." A tea and public meeting was held on the 27th ulr. in Christchurch. under the auspices of the Bible Christian?, for the purpose of welcoming the Row \V. If. Keast. This gentleman, who lias recently arrived from is the first Bible Christian Minister in New Zealand, and lie will henceforth be iu ehargo of the congregation at present holding its Sunday services in the Temular liall.