THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7342, 1 June 1885, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS.

' MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1885. iN the speech of Mr. Bryce to his constituents on Saturday night, there is not much to excite criticism ; but, taken as a whole, it shows plainly enough that he was and is opposed to the policy of the Government. Coming after the speech of Major Atkinson, it is

meant in its main features to be an endorsement of his manifesto, and to indicate co-operation with a view to vigorous opposition during the ensuing session. Mr. Bryce made no secret last session that he regarded the policy of the Ministry as detrimental to the interests of the country, and that he would seize the- first opportunity to oust them from office. The determination then expressed has evidently been strengthened by what has occurred during the recess, and more especially by what has taken place in connection with the administration of native affairs, and the intentions of the Ministry concerning local government. • With regard to the latter of these questions, the proposals of the Government are considered by Mr. Bryce as delusive. No essential alteration, likely to prove advantageous to the | colony, was put forward, nothing but minor changes on the existing system, which, instead of improving that system would only render it more unworkable. In thus describing the intended legislation, Mr. Bryce doubtless expresses the general feeling of the country/ • The expected Bill does not go far enough to satisfy those who desire some radical change \yhile it will evoke opposition from those who are in favour of existing arrangements. It certainly will not meet the aspirations of the advocates of a return to semi-pro vin-1 cistlism. • Judging from the brief report of his address to his constituents, Mr. Macandrew would appear to attach no importance to the,scheme which the Government have projected. He is still as loud as ever in his denunciations of centralism, and any person who , has followed his utterances on that question, is aware that his views do not run in the same pioove as that which has been selected by the Government. The organising of a party in opposition to them, which he, in concert , with Mr. Montgomery and others, is reported to be forming, will probably be found to have its origin in his dissatisfaction with this part of the Ministerial policy. The assured revenue to counties, which is to form a principal feature in the Government scheme, is considered by Mr. Biryce to be very precarious, inasmuch as it consists of subsidies granted on a sliding scale, and made dependent on the will and vote of the Assembly. The same of course holds true of the power to borrow which it is proposed to grant to the counties; for it cannot be expected that the Assembly will accept .'the responsibility of. the loans thus' raised without exercising control over the amounts intended to be raised and in this case, as in the granting of subsidies, there will be incessant danger of favouritism, leading to injustice and disappointment. •• On the question of dealing with the titles to native lands, Mr. Bryce claims to speak with authority. And he estions, as he well may, the wisdom of placing the power of determining these in the hands;of native committees. He also denounces strongly the practice inaugurated by the Government of dealing with these lands before the title has been determined, and Represents as a grievous wrong to the colony the going on with the North Island Central Railway without any definite settlement regarding the land, thus increasing the ■ value of the territory through which! .it passes while the native owners are to be exempt from taxation. In this contention - there is much force ; and, though some' may f.Cu go so far as to pay with Mr. Bryce tiiut not a sort of the Isiso ough'i to have been turned mnfii'l .tn6 fcile topall the laud it is to pass through had I been obtained, there is yet no doubt about the soundness of £ the .principle which he contends for.- To commence work on ground whose ownership has* not been determined, and to which, therefore, the Government has no valid title, is to take a leap in .the dark, the consequences of which it is impossible to foresee. In this, sua in"other proceedings in connection' with their native policy, the Government are verging fast towards hopeless confusion. It is so far assuring, however, to learn from Mr. Bryce that he does not apprehend any serious trouble from the present irritation on . the West Ooast of this island caused by . the alleged illegal action of the native, All that lie deems necessary to put an end to the unsatisfactory state of things now existing there, is to enforce the law oh natives and Europeans alike. The plan, for some time past in vogue, of humouring the natives in all possible ways has evidently tended to make them be inclined to lawless action, and the only way of checking tlus tendency is to xAmimater -ia law with a firm hand, instead of, £3 at present, with a slack one. It is noticeable that on several matters Mr. Bryce is not quite in accord with Major Atkinson. As, for example, on the East and West Coast Middle Island Railway, he seems to be much more decided in his opposition. The same is discernible on the question of the District Railways Bill. And he certainly is much less sanguine of the colony's future. The differences, however, are exactly such as might be expected to obtain between the chief of a party who must take broad views on all questions and a coadjutor who may, to a greater extent,! indulge his idiosyncracy. On all main points, however, they are substantially agreed, and will, during the session, be found, as we have , already said, acting together in the vigorous working of a well-organised and compact Opposition.

It was only to be expected that the problem of the King . Country should attract attention in the South, as, although the subject is of special import, ance to the North, the whole colony is most vitally interested. If we deal with it properly it gives us ft chance of reviving New Zealand, because the settlement of four million acres, much of it fertile land, is the most important event which can happen.- * The Christchurch Press has had several articles on - the subject of how native lands should be dealt with, showing considerable familiarity with the details, and a right appreciation of the principles to be., kept in view. On May 27 the Press quotes the greater part of an article lately published by us on the subject. In reference to a portion of that article, our contemporary says :—" That some members of the Legislature and or the ' Ministry are anxious to experiment on the North Island with their fads is evident enough. We do not admit, however, that there is evidence of a desire cn the part of any portion of the House to prevent the North Island from progressing. The faot that it took the necessary steps last session to authorise the commencement of the Trunk Railway shored that it was impressed with the importance of ensuring the prosperity of that part of'

the colony. It u perfectly true that the opening up of the King Country for settlement is of vital importance, as our contemporary points oat, to Auckland • but it is of very great importance alto to the rest of New Zealand. 7 If, however, a feeling -of self-interest has the effect of rousing the people of Auckland and the North generally to a sense of the urgency of the question under notice the colony at large must gain by their action. , People on the spot or directly interested in the country to be opened up cannot permit the native lands tc be shut up against settlement."' The Pre« says truly that the settlement of the native lands hinges upon two pointsfirst of all, the ascertainment of title ; and secondly, the manner in which the land is put in the market when the title is ascertained." The Press says that Mr. Bryce had made arrangements to have % full survey of the King Country, but that Mr. Ballaace has stopped that proceeding, so hindering any possibility of the land beiHg brought before the Native Land Court. The Press then quotes our nropojal that the Government should have the entire King Country surveyed, and the title changed to Crown grant, in a systematic manner, and says :—" We are not prepared to say whether the above plan is practicable, oris likely to meet with the approval of the Legislature. But we quote it for the purpose of showing that Mr. Ballsnce's fads are not likely to meet with much approval in the North. The people there see plainly enough that if his schemes are to prevail, the prosperity of the country will be seriously imperilled, and conabijaently the interests of the whole colony needlessly sacrificed." We are glad to observe that interest is being taken in this subject in the South, and we look confidently for effective aid from that quarter in preventing the attempt to carry into action a series of ruinous experiments. In some respects indeed, people in the South, who make* themselves sufficiently familiar with the details of the subject, are more likely to come to a right conclusion than many ia the North, whose minds are warped by interested motives. Mr. Ballance professes to be anxious to exclude speculators from any dealings with the land, but unless he changes his ideas from those he put into shape laet session, and which he has since somewhat modified for the worse, he will simply make the whole King Country a happy hunting ground for speculators, as we shall shortly take occasion to show.

If the telegram published to-day to the effect that Milne Bay, New Guinea, has been forcibly seized by a German vessel prove to be correct we may expect lo have trouble in the quarter before long. The Bay in question is on the northern coast of New Guinea, very near the eastern extremity of the island, and the seizure of it would plainly indicate a determination on the part of Germany to claim the whole of the northern coast line from the extremity just mentioned on the boundary line of the territory claimed by Holland. At first the British protectorate was in* tended to include the whole of that northern coast from the 145 th degree of east longitude ; and the latest Blue Book contains a telegram from Rear-Admiral Try on stating that Gapt. Bridge, of H.M. S. Espiegle, had reported having hoisted the British flag on Nook and Long Islands, and on the coast of New Guinsa as far north as Cape King William. According to this announcement Milne Bay is evidently included under the protectorate of Britain and any forcible neizure of it, such as is reported, would be a clear Infraction of Imperial rights. The whole business, however, connected with this bungled New Guinea affair is in such a hazy state that it would be very difficult to say where British rights begin or where ' they end. The negotiations on the matter with the Berlin Court conducted by the Foreign and Colonial Offices of England reveal an ignorance and weakness of purpose which would be disgraceful in school boys. These statesmen simply did not seem to know the details of the business they had oil hand. Bismarck, however, knew it (veil, and it would not at all be surprising if not only the whole of. the northern coast, bat a portion of the southern coast as well, were found to be included within the protectorate of Germany. A recent - telegram informed us that tho boundary of the English protectorate agreed on by England and Germany had been cabled to the Australian Governments. No information is given, however, as to what that boundary is. It would indeed be a farce if, after all the fluster the Colonial Office has made, it should turn out that Bismarck has compelled it to yield to him the lion's share of Papa a. '

The Anglo-Russian crisis may now be said to be at an —at least for the present. We learn from the cable messages this mora* ing that Russia has consented to Marachak and the Zulfikar Pass remaining part of Afghanistan. Nothing is said as to Penjdeh or Pul-i-Khatun. These points, apparently, are to remain in the possession of Russia, or are reserved for the decision of the Boundary Commission. The New Zealand Agent-General telegraph's to his Government that " peaie is now assured," but it is a somewhat significant symptom that theipablication of Russia's reply has been followed by a fall in the price of consols. Our other cable messages state that the £ j-.;th of the Emperor of rmany is improving. The Colonial Agents-General are endeavouring to induce the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the duty on colonial wines. 4

Contrary to expectation the mail learner "rom San Francisco did not arrive yesterday, nor were there any signs of her when wa went to press this morning. The 8.8. Arawata arrived from Dunedin aii<l Lyttelton early on Saturday morning. She brings the Auckland passengers and cargo from London, whioh arrived a few days back by the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamship Tongariro. Amongst the passengers was Captain Bayldon, the harbour master of the Thames, who has returned from a short visit to the mother country. His Hohor Mr. Justice Gillies, who has been at Wellington for some weeks past, attending the Court of Appeal,' returns to Auckland by the 8.8. Manapouri to-day. The adjourned sitting of the R.M. Court, in the case o£> Hammond and Son v. M. Bylarni, claim £10 14s 2d for architects' fee* in connection with the contract for the erection of a villa* residence at Ellerslie, was resumed on Saturday, before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M. Mr. C. E. Button appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. S. Hesketh for the defendant. His Worship gave judgment for tho plaintiffs for the amount claimed, less £1 5a and costs.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board will take place to-morrow (Tuesday), at half-past two p.m. The following notices oi motion have been given Mr. Owen to move (1) "That in consideration of Mr. McDonald's thirteen years' service •• Engineer to the Board 1 one quarter's salary be paid to him on his retirement in addition to his salary for the current month." (2) "That in future all advertisements in newspaper! inserted by order of the Board shall fbe signed by the Secretary, the words 'by order-of the Board' preceding his signature. Mr. Reid to move, "That the question or the Sailor's Home Reserve and its relationship to the Costley legacies be referred to the Finance and Legal Committee to report upon," I In our obituary columns to-day we record the £eaih of another of our early settlers, namsly, Mrs. G. S. Cole, of Papakura, who dieij.. after a short but painful illness, a papakura yesterday morning. Decease was ever foremost in works of mercy, lll in the early daya of settlement wayfarers from all par is, of Waikato found » cheerful resting place at her fireside, aad kindly f*ce w?u live in the armory of Mfo now "gradually becoming fewer in 0 "11 1" who by their iiterling qualities . laid tW foundations of our colony. She J?® 7 ®* , husbaed, equally with hersolfc identifiedwrt# the early history of this jww* 'j grownup family consisting of five mm ,• two daughters, to mourn their >OiS emulate her virtues. *

On Saturday morning the child of Mrs. McLaren was severely bitten by a savage dog (owner unknown) in G n ndry-atreet, Newton. The brute bit the little girl in the face, tear-, ing » triangular flap of skin and flesh from above the eyebrows to the nose. She was promptly attended to by Dr. Evans, who brought the injured parts together -and stitched them, but the child, suffered very severely, not only from, the wound but from the shock to her nerve*.

Mr. Wilson, whoplays the bass violin at the Opera House, recently met with a very nasty accident in a somewhat peculiar ' maimer. He was passing through Albert-street on his way home after his ■ night's duties., and whsa opposite the Forrester's Arm? Hotel he cut the back of his hand'by striking it against the iron book of . a posSi erected for holding horses. He thought little of the matter at first, but when.it became painful heconsulted a medical man, and got s-<rne ointment. Erysipelas, however, set in, and the wound for some time had a very ugly aspect, the whole arm becoming affected. ' Mr, Wilson, however, la now able to use his hand and arm again. The Chusch Gazette for June has readied us, and we find it a more than usually interesting number. It contains amongst other things a continuation of a minister's recollections of the Waibato war and a wellwritten paper by the Rev. Percy Smallßeld on Bible-reading in schools. The declaration of the Upper • House of the' Convocation of Canterbury on the subject of marriage with ii deceased wife's Bister is printed in this number, and will repay careful-perusal. The most in teres ting item of this issue is theaddress So the people of Auckland by the two missionaries who are expected to begin their work of evangelisation at the end of August, commencing with the city proper. Valuable woi'k is shown to be done by the various Church societies, and much good work is made manifest by the notes of the Bishop's visitation to the country districts. Some valuable extracts fill up an interesting number, ,

Referring to the paragraph in oar Saturctay'a issue about a requisition to the member for Newton, we sra requested by Mr. Peacock to state ihat at the close of last session he considered the question of ad* dressing fcia constituents, but owing to the want cI spsoia! interest in the proceedings of the session, he decided not to do so till after next tusinion. He understood that this coarse ems with acceptance amongst the electors, bat . should there be a general wish for him to. address a meeting at the present time he would have pleasure in doing so. The Rev. P. Mason's small school geography of New Zealand arid Oceania has now reached , its eighth edition, which may be taken as a very substantial proof that it has bms found well adapted for the purpose for which it was written. It has been generally revised, and the present edition contains a large number of explanations of Maori words supplied by Mr. C. O. Davis. To the account of Mew Zealand is famished a brief description of Australia and the many islands in the South Pacific, with whose inhabitants our merchants carry on a steady trade. This little publication is one well adapted for school purposes. The Wellington Post says :—" The result of the Tanranga election is satisfactory, although the contest proved a much closer one than was anticipated. Mr. Kelly must evidently have been supported by some powerful influences anxious to keep Mr. Sheehan out of Parliament, for he had no merits of his .own to depend on. Between the two men there could be no comparison. Mr. Sheehan is a man whose absence from the House is distinctly felt. Mr. Kelly was a perfect nonentity while he sat there. Now that Mr. Sheehan is once more in Parliament we [trust that, avoiding the errors which formerly shipwrecked him, he will assume and maintain the position which his great natural talents and extensive experience in legal, native, and official matters so well entitle him to hold. He ought to be one of the leading men oi the colony. It will be his own fault if, with the fresh opportunity wow afforded him, he fails to become so. We .are most sincerely glad that the Tauranga electors have chosen him, and we do not think feat they are ever likely to have cause to regret the choice." The work of erecting the battery or 64 pounders at Mount Victoria signal station is proceeding. The sites for the guns are all marked en's, and excavated, while part of the ' earth parapet has been thrown up. An iron . tramway has been laid ' from the bottom of the hill to the summit, in order to transport the guns thither. Two of the guns have been already got up, though not yet mounted. Four oil them will command the causeway ■'across the head of Shoal Bay, and also the fiat to the sea, while two will, with the battery at Point Resolution, aid in constituting the innsr line of defence. At the North Head batteries work is steadily progressing, though there is a good deal of finishing up to do. The contractors for the barracks there have made a start, the blocks having been put They will accommodate probably a Ciaple of hundred men. f The charge of breaking and entering the pawn-office of Messrs. Hart and Levy in June; 1884, against John Ayres, jeweller, came on at the Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs. F. L. Prime and C. D. Whitcombe, Jastices. The case, which was an indictable one, was conducted by Mr. Hudson Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, and Mr. T. Cotter appearing for the accused. After hearing the evidence for the prosecution, the Bench declined to commit, and dischargrd the prisoner. In doing so their Worships Bald he left the Court without a Jtain upon his character. A report of the tase will be found elsewhere. As soon m the tramcars ceased running; ate on Saturday night a gang of twenty to hirty men started work to make the conlections of the duplicate line just constructed n Wellesley-street, and to put in the hidings. They worked throughout the tfbcile night, and started again last night, so Xs to have the doable line available for // traffic to-day. - The completion of oh\» y work will greatly aid in carrying oat a speedier and more punctual service. A young man named Robert Tyndall, an of Mr. Pasco, butcher, of Mount Roskill, met with a serious accident on Saturday, While engaged in quartering a carcase the meat slipped, causing him to ■tumble, and the result was that the knife . was driven into his thigh, just missing the ' femoral artery. A ligature was applied to the wound, and Tyndall conveyed to town to Dr. Tennent's surgery, where that gentleman stitched and dressed the wound. The hemorrhage was so great that Dr. Tennent detained the wounded man at the surgery for a couple of hours before allowing him to be taken to his residence. Now that entrance gates have been formed on Mount Hobson, and paths made to the top, it has a large number of visitors, Yesterday the weather was specially attractive, being cold and clear, and we believe there were more people on Mount Hobson than ever before, excepting perhapr. when the great native meeting was held at Bemuera. The Auckland Garrison Artillery had their 'Usual drill on Saturday night, when the corps made their first appearance on parade in uniform, and there was si fine muster of 77, including Captain Whitney and Lieutenants George and Wasteneys. Colonel Lyon, officer in command of the district, was also present. The company were measured, and it was found that their stature averaged five feet ten inches. Sergeant Brown took over the parade, and put the corps through a variety of movements in company and squad drill, which, considering the time the battery has been in existence, were most creditably executed. It was announced that the next drill would be held on Tuesday afternoon, from five to six p.m. A man named Patrick Walsh was arrested by Detective Jones yesterday charged with having no visible mesas of support. . He is said to be an old offender in soliciting'alma and loafing, and has even had so little regard for the dignity of the force as to personate detectives. •■*•••- The following distributions were made by the Scripture Gift Association during May: Wainui, School, &c,, 30; Parua Bay, 12; Whangarei, 15; Papakara, 45 ; Kaeo, 12 Newton Mission School, 30; various schools, 36; Mrs. Hutchinson's Home, 20 ; workshop lads, 22; ship's cabins," 29 city hotels and hoarderies, 39; bushmen's whares, 18; school libraries, 252 : total, 560.-. There" were in the lock-up last evening six persons on charges of . drunkenness. . One of them, Harry . Collingwpod Dinsdale,, was. found by Constable Kelso in possession of a broom, of which he could give no account. The owner can get it at the station. David Lynch is charged with being drunk and dieorderly; John Brady with illegally pawning > carpenter's tcolfi, the property of W. G. Garrard.

. Mr. Charles Bright commenced the first of his series of lectures at the Opera ' House last evening. There was a good attendance. It was entitled " Vanity Fair." He stated that during the week he had paid a visit to the ; Choral Hal), and what fee saw there suggested the title to his lecture. He was somewhat severe in his stricter?..! on the Oriental Fair business, and Bait*, it this sort of thing went on to get funds to erect temples fori he worship of the Deijby, hs <f.d not. know what the end would be," in h-s splendid allegory depicted Chi iiaDt. Faifc.'.inl,. and Hopeful, as being utterly •;iul, and Hopeful, as being-utterly opposed to Vanity Fair and abhorring its principles, but nowadays all that had been changed, and Vanity Fair was being run' by Christian and Co, When he (the lecturer) went to Vanity Fair he kept his wits about him. The first thing that occurred to him was that he had to part with a sovereign, and on getting change from the doorkeeper,' he noticed among it a florin with two large holes in it. His reply was, "J know young man, yon are engaged in a holy work,' bet you need not carry that feature Into your small change; I'll trouble you for a whole florin!" Mr. Bright did the janitor the justice to "say that it was immediately given to him.: The Churches did not appear to be thoroughly in earnest as to the Eternal Verities in which they professed to believe. Occasionally they were galvanised into life by an ecclesiastical flutter over what they called the Apostolical Succession, or whether a person should, be sprinkled or immersed, but the Salvation Army alone, of all the religious organisations, seemed to be really in earnest over its belief, and its vitality, as they all knew, was sometimes painfully evideot.

. A correspondent says:—"l desire to call attention to the- carelessness of the" tram conductors in ringing the bell when passengers ate getting off. They ring to stop, and almost before you are safely off the car they ring to start again. On Friday night there were almost two accidents owing to this ' smartness' — to a lady who was nearly thrown to the ground, as she had not quite got off the step when the ring to start was given. I feel sure that there will.be an accident if the practice is not stopped." While it is desirable that tram conductors should do their best to avoid accidents to passengers, such as described by our correspondent, it is equally incumbent on the part of the public to assist the conductors in running the earn punctually to time-table, by getting in and out of them promptly. In this matter ladies are the greatest sinners. It not infrequently happens that the very persons who dawdle in getting in and out of the cars are the first to complain at being kept a couple of minutes at a crossing for a late car. ' The question is one on which there is a good.deal to be said on both sides, Mr. John Sheehan, the newly-elected member..for .l'auranga, arrived in Auckland yesterday morning; per a.is. Wellington from Tauranga. Mr. Sheehan's numerous friends will be pleased to learn that all question as to the legality of his election is now waived, and he will be allowed to occupy the seat without further trouble. We should explain that the unsuccessful candidate, Mr. William Kelly, at one time contemplated the adoption of steps to challenge the election on the ground of corrupt practices within the meaning of the Act. With that view his solicitor, Mr. Moss, of Tauranga, paid a visit to Auckland last week, but after consulting counsel on the subject it was practically arranged proceedings should not be gone on with. On leaving Tauranga on Saturday evening a large number of electors, representing both sides in the late hard-fought contest, amongst whom Mr. Kelly himself was conspicuous, turned oil and as the Wellington moved away from the wharf hearty cheers were given for the member. Mr. Sheehan, if time permits, will make a run through the district before leaving for Wellington, beginning at the Thames, and proceeding by way of Opotiki to JRotorua. Mr. Murray's Time Table and Diary for June is published. It contains the .new railway time-table, and statistics relating to home railways. What purports to be a map of Auckland is issued with the timetable/. but' this so-called map of Auckland only contains three of the six wards into which the city is divided. Theodora Cecile D'Auguier alias W. H. Lennox Maxwell, the accused in the St. Louis murder case, came up on remand from May 23rd at the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M., and was, on the application of Superintendent Thomson, farther remanded to Saturday, June 6, awaiting the arrival of the officer from the United States to effect his extradition.

Last evening one . boy and two little girls, children of Mr. Baaley, Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, were reported at the police-station as missing from their home, top of Graf ton-road. At the nine o'clock relief they had not been reported to the station as having been recovered, bat it is presumed they have been picked up somewhere or other. The New Zealand Times refers to the intention of Mr. Ballance to elaborate a scheme for enabling the natives to lease the King Country, and says:—" We sincerely trust; that on that point Mr. Ballance will not meet with success. If there is to be leasing let the State be the landlord, but do not let us adopt a system which would make the Maori even less industrious and helpful than he is at present." ... The meeting of the French Literary Society was held on Saturday evening, the Rev. Mr. Goldstein in the chair, when Corneille's tragedy, "Horace;" was read with great taste and accuracy by'Mesdames D. Nathan and S. Goldstein, and Messrs. Thomas Mahoney and A. Villeval. At the close of the reading, a vote of thanks was tendered to the readers. Mr. Douglas Whitcombe was nominated for membership.' - The largest attendance of the public during the present football season assembled on the Domain cri.citet ground on Saturday to witness the match between Ponsonby and Newton Football Clubs, there being upwards of 1500 on the ground. Ponsonby won • a splendidly contested match by a try (2 points) to nil.

The nautical enquiry into the cause of the collision between the steamers Herald and Gairloch will be resumed in the R.M. Courtroom this morning, before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, KM., and Captains Frater and Scott, Nautical Assessors. It is expected that the Court will announce their decision in the Wellingtan-Macgregor enquiry. The following is the state of the District Hospital for the week ending May 28:— f-. rained last state, 95 ; admitted since, IJ; disrharged, 11; remaining at present, 80 males and 17 females; total, 97. Outpatients, 20. Messrs. Murray and Spencer have received a shipment of Dr. Carter Moffat's celebrated ammoniaphonea for the cultivation of the voice. They are somewhat about the size of a flute, or a little larger, tapered at the ends, and with ornamental casing. There is a screw and nozzle piece at the centre, where the preparation is inhaled, simultaneously with pressure on the valves at each, end of the ammoniaphone. While in Italy some seven years ago Dr. Moffat solved several problems of an industrial character, and received from the Italian Government a diploma of honour and gold medal in recognition of his services. . At the time of his residence in that country he took the opportunity of making over seventy analyses of the air and dew in various districts, and found in every instance peroxide of hydrogen, and also free ammonia, to a larger extent than exists elsewhere. ' Dr. Carter Moffat had. long previously connected in his mind beauty of tone in Italy and its salubrity as a place for invalids with chemical science, and believed that something in Italian air would be discovered to account for this peculiarity. On returning home he commenced a series of experiments on himself, with singularly beneficial results, and after • nine years' constant study- 'succeeded in placing before th<» public an instrument known as the ammoniaphone, which contains an absorbent material saturated with peroxide of hydrogen, combined with condensed ammonia, and other ingredients, through which a current of air is drawn into the lungs. Mr. Bowick, Fellow of the Royal; Meteorological Society, says of the above chemical preparation : - " It is no Btretch of imagination to say that this in in 'reality a highly concentrated artificial Italianised air, In an extremely portable condition, Dr. v Carter Moffat's voice was originally very weak, harsh, and destitute of' intonation. By the use of the ammoniaphone it has now become a pure tenor of extraordinary range.; He noticed that after experimenting on " himself for only fourteen days an expansion of the chest took place to the extent of-over half an inch, with a feeling of increased lung space and power of voice, which has since been maintained."

I The Nai.ci ArtiJtsf f, under Captain Lsßoy. had a chaHlrp&radi yesterday. They marched to. St. Sepulchre's Church to attend service, feeing headed by the Garrison Band. There ,w#a a good muster. In returning to town, headed by the band, and just as they got near the Karanganape-road, a trap, occupied by Mr. Brown, connected - with the Dairy Company, and another man, woman, , and a child drove rapidly .round the c6rner. Mr, Brown endeavoured to clear the front of the band in order to get on the Anglican Cemetery side of . the road, but the horse getting restive took the trap to the kerbing, " when the latter overturned. All the parties got a trifle shaken, and the child suffered some abrasion of the skin on its legs. .Dr. Walker happened to be present, and did what was needful, and, the vehicle having been righted, Mr. Brown drove on his way again. A little before the above accident two or three of the Navals were the means, by their presence of mind and promptitude, of preventing a similar mishap. Two ladies were coming along in a buggy, and being desirous of keeping clear of the band, attempted v to turn sharply across the road. In doing so the wheels got locked, and the vehicle was about to capsize when several of the Navals in the rank nearest the trap laid hold of the .wheels and prevented it going over. The ladies were grateful fox their narrow escape from what might have proved a serious accident. • A Local Option polling took place in the Takapuna Licensing District on Saturday. The questions to be decided were : whether there should or should not be an increase of publicans' and accommodation licenses ? We have only been able to get the returns for Devonport, the returns from the sub-stations not being expected in—as they comprise Lucas' Creek, Takapuna, and Northcote—till to day, but they, are not expected to affect the result. At Devonport: 4 for increase of publicans' licenses ; against, 59. For increase of accommodation licenses, 7 ; against, 54. . . When • playing in the football match between the Auckland and Albert Clubs, in the Domain on Saturday, F. H. Williams had his thumb dislocated at the first joint, and the flesh considerably torn by the bone. He was taken to the Hospital and had it dressed by Dr. Bond, the resident surgeon.