THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9200, 1 November 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1888.

& We can readily understand the profound sensation produced in Europe by the publication of the extracts from the Emperor Frederick's diary. There is just a soupcon of doubtfulness about their authenticity, and on their publica-. tion they were at once challenged by Prince Bismarck as being apocryphal. Internal evidence in such a case does not count for much, and diary literature is not supposed to be particularly ornate ; but if the specimens which we have, as published in another column, of the Emperors style are authentic, sooth to say, there is nothing very imperial about them ; while we are free to confess that they do not seem to us to be exactly couched in the form we should expect from one engaged in such a stirring part in connection with the events narrated. However, there has been sufficient time for the forgery to have been unmasked, if forgery there was, and as nothing, so far as we have learned by cable, has been done to throw discredit on the statements save the irritated denunciation from Prince Bismarck,—and especially as those most anxiously and affectionately concerned for the memory and good name of the deceased Prince have not indignantly repudiated the professed extracts from the diary that have seen the light,we can hardly come to another conclusion than that the extracts are admitted to be genuine. Assuming that it is so, and thai they fairly represent the character of the whole work, the diary of the late Emperor is destined to throw a flood of light on the secret history of great historical questions, and to present some of the actors in them in a new and unsuspected light. One article in the political creed of Europe must receive a severe shock in the revelation that not Bismarck, but the Crown Prince of Prussia, was the real creator of German unity. Indeed, he appears to have "stood alone in his views," according to the expostulatory complaint of the Iron Chancellor, and it was his conviction that the German States were to be welded together when hot with battle, or they would not be welded at all. The fear of the defection of South Germany was what deterred Prince Bismarck from complying, it being his belief that nothing but threats, accompanied by force, would bring the South German States into union with the Empire. The Crown Prince felt that force would not be necessary, and his prescience was confirmed by results. But it should not be a surprise to those who have watched the scheming, crafty character of Prince Bismarck, to find that having been forced on in spite of his lack of courage, and of his convictions that the movement was premature, he carried away the credit for having sagaciously and steadily controlled and guided events, of which he was but the timorous and distrustful follower, and neither the master nor creator. It is apparent that had it not been for the spirit and energy of the then Crown Prince, the assumption of the Imperial Crown would have been deferred till the white-heat of patriotism had passed away, and the very difficulties and defection in the south which Bismarckfeared would have become a reality ; and but for the importunity of the deceased Prince, Germany would probably have been at this time a dismembered thing, with all its old jealousies and rivalries, constituting almost a hopeless source of weakness by the side of united France, longing for a war of revenge. One can hardly repress a sense of satisfaction that even in his lifetime the Prince Chancellor, who has covered himself with so much kudos by the simple process of hiding his counsel, and pretending to control while he was only the creature of circumstances, has been stripped of his borrowed plumes ; and that the credit of German unity will be given to him that deserved it ; and who, while achieving the triumph of Imperialism in spite of the opposition of the Chancellor, has also to be thanked for all the elements of Liberalism imported into German administration, which he effected similarly, in spite of the sullen and dogged resistance of the man whose presence and whose rule have lain like a nightmare on German liberty for a generation past. On the faith of these stolen honours, and on the assumed credit of having sagaciously guided events to such a triumphant consummation, this so-called man of blood and iron has assumed a sphynx-like attitude towards the rest of Europe, who have pondered on the political enigmas involved in his diplomacy or silence, as if he had in his hands the issues of fate or fortune to any or all the nations of Europe. The diary of the late Emperor, if it did nothing else, will apparently serve | the useful purpose of showing that' not only has Prince Bismarck been cold-blooded and purely selfish in his international policy, but that i

he has had the not uncommon, faculty of cunning menof takit advantage ©f the thoughts, the doing? the successes, and the failures of menand making all redound to th credit of his own sagacity ; and build! ing up on this an assumption of n possession of an influence and f or „ J that is utterly unwarranted. The da of Bismarck's greatness ended with th death of his old friend and pixil-ecto the Kaiser William, and it is not in' probable that the remainder of hi a Vea will be chiefly noted for their divestin him of that fictitious glamour, with th help of which he was enabled to main' tain a detestable despotism over most intellectual; people, and i u a age distinguished for the growth of Liberalism. But even more remarkable than the disrobing of the Iron Chancellor is th ; startling disclosure about the Emperor Napoleon. He was another characfc, that for years posed as the arbiter of the destinies of Europe, by reason of his supposed possession of masterful qualities of such talismanic power that they were capable almost of dominating destiny. In Ids smile all Europe was filled with gladness and peace ; in the twitch of his eyebrow was the mobilize tion of many armies. And yet, when the mask was pulled away, he was found to have been but a mean and sorry trickster. But nothing before this has ever done so much to reduce him to nonentity as this disclosure of a pro. posed intrigue to make a joint raid oa England. The nation that had been hi s refuge from his enemies, his friend in misfortune, and the chivalrous ally i n the days of his proud ambitions, was to be sacrificed for his miserable personal selfishness. Without any provocation. and without any object but the mercenary one of purchasing better terms of peace, this man who went to war for an "idee," and was the exponent of the chivalry of a nation who affect to be guided by a love of glory rather than the gain, meanly sought to make merchandise of his ally. If the Frederick diary fulfils the promise of its early chapters, there will be a new reading of many of the events of modern history, and some of the most gorgeous and imposing heroes of popular worship will appear in dishabille. i

A correspondent who signs himself " A Lover of Practical Jokes bitterly complains of the manner in which the Mount Eden Board or the waterworks contractors are laying the water-pipes down in View Road. He says:—"A trench has been opened along the margin of the road ; at convenient intervals piles of water-pipes are placed on the pathway; then, having carefully avoided placing any lamp to indicate danger, an iron chain has been firmly fixed at a height of four feet from tho ground right across the read. A second chain has been fixed about the same height right across the road about ten yards further along. The advantage of the second chain is, that if the passenger should discover the first chain in time to avoid a serious collision, he will not anticipate a further obstruction, and therefore come to grief. In View Road already several persons have met with awkward contusions." His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond, in charging the jury in the libel case, Martin v. Gillon, said: —"He would say that it appeared to him to be a principle to be borne in mind that no nun could complain of an inference made for which he had by his own conduct given plausible grounds. If the jury thought that Martin's conduct was such as .to give plausible grounds for what was imputed to him, then it would fall within the right of comment." Relating to the wheat exhibits at the Melbourne Exhibition, a recent copy of the Melbourne Age states :—" In the eastern avenue are the South Australian exhibits, Messrs. J. H. Angas and D. and J. Fowler showing several excellent samples of wheat, dried chicory, and other products, some of which are excellently displayed, this being noticeable in some of the wheat exhibits, which are placed in circular glasses, which show their contents to advantage and at the same time prevent them from being handled by careless visitors. Mr. J. G. Knight, representative ot the Northern Territory, exhibits a number of specimens of native grasses, yams, and other products, including tobacco leaf. Along the northern extension of tho Grand Avenue of Nations the New Zealand exhibits are displayed, some samples of wheat in the ear grown by Mr. Matthew Holmes, M.L.C., of Otago, being very line. Cards attached to these state that they are specimens of Tuscan wheat, which has yielded 66 bushels per acre ; molds, 40 bushels per acre ; red chaff, 52 bushels per acre: purple straw, 50 bushels per acre ; and white velvet, 40 bushels per acre. Mr. Holmes also shows some samples of potatoes, stating that from ISO acres a total of 1440 tons was obtained, the average being 8 tons per acre. Specimen dishes of wheat, and a number of samples of seeds by Mr. E. W. Davidson, of Christchurch, are also shown. Mr. Davidson's trophy is star-shaped, and accompanying it is a diagram giving particulars of the exhibit." Messrs Fraser and Sons, of the Phreuix Foundry, have completed the fitting up of one of the Otis Standard Hydraulic Elevators at Messrs L. D. Nathan and Company's bonded stores, Commerce-street, and it was put to a pretty severe test yesterday afternoon, in the presence of Mr. W. Errington, C.E., Mr. Jobson, Government Inspector of Machinery, and Mr. Reals, architect. The great feature of the invention is - the perfect safety which it secures in case of the breaking of a chain or rope holding the cage, and its certainty of action was fully demonstrated. The cage, with a load of • 22401b5. (a ton) in addition to its own weight (12 cwt.) was suspended on a trip-hook, similar to that used in pile-driving. The cage was midway between the top and bottom floors. The hook was suddenly let go, and if the safety gear had not acted the cage must have crushed to the bottom ; but when the cage was disengaged it seemed as if nothing had happened, and Mr. .lobson measured the space, and between that at which the cage was detached and that at which it stopped was only 3.J inches. In fact, to any person looking on it was almost imperceptible. A subsequent trial gave an exactly similar result. It is satisfactory to know that instead of Messrs. Fraser and Sons sending to America they manufactured the whole here, and intend to do so in fulfilling future orders of the kind. i The Otis hoist- are used not only for freight, but are also extensively used as passenger lifts, and combine speed with perfect safety. The examination of students in music, in connection with the University College, was held yesterday afternoon at the Choral Hall, the examiner being Professor Schmitt. Twenty pupils were present, there being about ten who did not enter. The competitors were in two divisions, senior and junior; and the examination papers contained questions well adapted for testing the knowledge of the pupils, dealing with the formation of chords, transposition of keys, harmony, modulations, etc. The case of James Champion will be j again considered to-morrow night at a meeting of his friends and sympathisers to be held in Waite's Hall, Mount Eden. The business is stated to be important, and friends are earnestly invited to attend. In the seventh round of the Melbourne Chess Congress Higgs beat Hay, and Stanley worsted Lampe. Charlick and Brockelbank, the latter playing the " Vienna," had an interesting game, but Brockelbank, after gaining a pawn, lost his grip of the position, and had to resign. The scores at the close of the round were : —Hay, 7 losses : Higgs, 1 win to 6 losses ; Lampe, 2 wins to 5 losses ; Brockelbank, 4 wins to 3 losses; Tullidge, 5 wins to 1 loss ; Chariick and Crane, 5 wins each. An interesting rifle match has been arranged to take place next Saturday, between teams of the Royal Irish Rifles and the Onehunga Rifles, fifteen men a-side. It will take place at the Onehunga riflerange, and the Royal Irish team, under Captain Leahy, who has been active in | arranging the match, will leave Auckland I in a break at half- one o'clock. On various occasions we have referred to the Sprague motor, which is coming into vogue in America for street tramways or railways. The Electrical World, of September 1, iota., to tlio snbi»r-t and say- • —" It is interesting to notice the progress which the Sprague motors are constantly making in the railway field. The Sprague Company has now in operation or in process of construction street railroads in twenty- | three different cities or towns in America, and they are rapidly contracting for others. The committee appointed by the City Council of Akron, Ohio, to investigate the subject of electrical railway propulsion, has advised in favour of the Sprague system. They visited every successful electrical railway in the country, and the operation of each was inspected, hi their report the committee stated that they were fully satisfied from their investigations that the Sprague system was superior to all others, and consequently, the contract for equipping the road in that city has been given to the Sprague Company. The East Cleveland, Ohio, street railway, operating 160 cars, and owning 650 horses, has contracted with the Sprague Company for the electrical equipment of that important street railroad. It is the largest street railway in Cleveland, and its endorsement of the electrical system of street car traffic is most gratifying to all those interested in electrical application. Anions the many points of superiority claimed for the Sprague system of street car propulsion there may be mentioned its system of conducting current to the cars, with the impossibility of an accident at any point of the line interfering with the operation of the remainder of the road ; its system of using one motor on each axle of the car, controlled by a single switch, and its method of flexibly suspending motors from the axles to secure perfection of running. Messrs. Stewart and Hunter, civil engineers, of Auckland, are, wo understand, the local agents of the Sprague Company. That remarkable specimen of the vegetable world, the " weather plant," continues, says a Vienna correspondent, to excite considerable interest here. Men of science who on its first discovery were unwilling to express an opinion on its prognosticating virtues, now agree, after extensive experiments, that the shrub is in truth prophetic. Thirty-two thousand trials made during the last three years tend to prove its infallibility. The plan*itself is a legume, commonly called the " Paternoster pea," but known in botany j as the Abrus Pereginus. It is a native of j Corsica and Tunis. Its leaf and twig strongly resemble those of the acacia. The ] more delicate leaves of its upper branches j foretell the state of the weather 48 hours >n I advance, while its lower and hardier leaves j indicate all atmospheric changes three days j beforehand. The indications consist in a change in the position of the leaves and in the rise and fall of the twigs and branch- i lets. j

! The annual Homo Mission services were ' held in the Mount Albert Wesley an Church lon Sunday last, when the Rev. E. Best preached in the morning, and addressed the scholars and friends of the Sundayschool in the afternoon, the Rev. C. H. Garland preaching in the evening. The attendance was good on each occasion. The Homo Missionary meeting was held in the church on Tuesday evening. Mr. A. C. Caughey presided, and in his opening remarks referred to the importance of the Wesleyan Home Mission fund, and the fact that in many instances the agents employed in the work received bub scanty remuneration for their services. He said that they were the pioneers of the Church at the outposts of colonial settlement, and preached the Gospel in remote and isolated districts. Mr. Thomas Allen then read a brief abstract of the annual report and balance-sheet of the New Zealand Wesleyan Home Mission and Church Extension Fund. The income last year from all sources was £2383, and the expenditure £2754, leaving a deficiency of £371, which was carried forward to the present year. The amount raised in the Pitt-street circuit was £200 for this fund, the contributions from Mount Albert being £14 14s lOd. The Rev. W. L. Salter gave .interesting and detailed account of the various items of expenditure, explaining that the Maori Mission received aid from this fund. A considerable sum was also voted every year to supplement the amounts raised on Home Mission stations, and for assisting weak circuits in scattered districts. The Rev. J. Dukes said he was pleased with the tone of the meeting. During his residence in the Waikato he had seen many of the ,good results of mission work, and found that the Maoris still cherished warm recollections of the old and honoured missionaries who had laboured among them in former years. He concluded an eloquent speech by making an earnest appeal on behalf of the Home Mission funds. The meeting was closed by singing Bishop Heber's missionary hymn, after which the Chairman pronounced the benediction. The contributions at this meeting and on Sunday were more than 20 per cent. in advance of last year. By the s.s. Wairarapa we notice that Dr. Orpen has arrived to succeed Dr. Murray Moore, who proceeded to England a few weeks since. Dr. Orpen, who is a graduate of the Dublin University, and a fellow of the Obstetrical Society of London, is also a member of the British Homoeopathic Society, and has been engaged in practice as a homoeopathic physician in Cambridge, England, for several years. lie will attend at Mr. Pond's Pharmacy daily. During Commandant Booth's visit to the South, he inspected the most important of the Salvation Army stations, and saw most of the centres of population. He and Colonel Taylor are at present the guests of Sir William Fox. To-morrow night he will hold what is termed a " grand Indian durbar." It is announced that admission to this meeting is to be by silver coin of some denomination, which is to be appropriated to the special purpose of sending missionaries to the heathen. On Sunday the Commandant will hold special services, and will leave by the mail steamer for the United States. There died at his residence in Wellington, on October 26, at the ripe old age of 73, Mr. William Murray, whose name is inseparably connected with New Zealand nautical annals. Mr. Murray came out to Melbourne from the Clyde in the s.s. William Denny in the year 1554, and three or four years later visited this port as engineer of the first locally-owned steamer, the old Wonga Wonga, Captain Bowden, who was afterwards lost in the Pluto, being the master. It was while he was engineer of the Wonga Wonga that that steamer assisted at the rescue of the crew of H.M.S. Orpheus, when that ill-fated warship was wrecked on the Manukau bar, Mr. Murray, personally rendering active assistance on the occasion. The deceased was afterwards in turn engineer of the steamers Wellington and Taranaki, and more recently of the little Neptune, trading to Blenheim, and, indeed, remained in active pursuit of his profession till old age necessirated his lying up in harbour for the rest of his days. He was a man of straightforward, honest character, and of genial, kindly disposition, and was most deservedly respected and esteemed. At Abbott's Opera House on Monday evening the All-Star Company, who have been playing in the South, open a season in Auckland. The Southern Press speak in high terms of the entertainment given by this company. Apart from the excellence of the acting and singing, etc., there is a remarkable exhibition given by the Donaldson Brothers, whose feats of contortion are so wonderful as to have attracted the special attention of the medical fraternity. In their acrobatic display one of the performers dislocates his hip joint and puts it into position again at will. This teat was performed before a private assembly of medical gentlemen in Wellington, when the doctors present said there could be no doubt of the dislocation being complete, and produced by muscular action at the will of the performer. One of the medical gentlemen remarked that the capsule of the joint was much elongated, so that when the dislocation was forced the bone did not altogether go beyond the point of the Capsule. In ordinary cases of dislocation, of course, this point of the capsule was generally fractured. He thought that had he in his student days had such subjects as tho Donaldsons, there would have been no necessity to remove the skin to acquire a knowledge of muscular development which was incomparably better than that depicted in the old statuary of the Greek and Roman athletes. The astonishing tricks of Sylvo form another feature of the entertainment. A very interesting limelight exhibition was given in the Helping Hand Mission Hall, Freeman's Bay, last night, as a treat to Sunday-school children, and, as might have been expected, there was a crowded audience, and the youngsters were simplv vociferous in their joyful expn*"'''"* 0 °f rlAiifriu, Mr. Whit", of «>iiw North Shore, exhibited a really fine series of views, including a large number of Maori photos and views of tho principal buildings of Auckland, also a number of harbour and other views, which were instantly recognised. At the close of the entertainment the children were regaled with buns, fruit, Ac, which added largely to the pleasure of the evening in their opinion. There was a large attendance last evening at the Columbia Rink, when Professor Simmons gave an exhibition of trick and fancy skating, and executed the clever feat of "The Giant Swing." To-night the programme includes skating on stilts, two feet and four feet. The benefit performance for the Garrison Band is to be on Saturday, not Friday evening. The Y.M.C.A. hold their annual conversazione to-morrow night, as announced elsewhere, and the excellent programme promises to attract as large an audience as on previous occasions. Sir George Grey has very kindly promised to preside, and distribute the prize medals. Some good musical selections, a limelight exhibition by Professor Thomas, a grand gymnastic display, a steam engine at work, specimens of electrical apparatus lent by Professor Brown, refreshments, &c, are among the attractions advertised. The price of admission is merely nominal, and no doubt the friends of this useful institution will attend in large numbers. In an advertisement elsewhere, Mr. J. ! Edson, chemist, draws attention to his Hair Renewer, invaluable in restoring grey or faded hair to its natural colour, rendering it soft, pliant, and glossy, and at the same time promoting its growth. The pictures intended for Messrs. E. and A. Aldis's art union have been removed to Coombes' Arcade, where tickets for the same may be had.[Advt.] Messrs. E. and A. Isaacs will hold a sale of fancy goods, &c, at their rooms, Queenstreet, to-day, at eleven o'clock. We would remind our readers that the Ponsonby Choral Society give a grand vocal and instrumental concert, in aid of the funds, on Monday, the sth inst.,inSt. James's Hall. The programme, which appears in our advertising columns, is well worthy of note, and' should recommend itself to all lovers of music. The Society's last concert was a great success, and we are sure that the present one will not fall short of that high standard of excellence invariably aimed at by its respected conductor, Mr. T. T. Trimnell, Mus.Bac, Oxon. The house steward of the Hospital desires through our columns to thank Miss Kate Isaacs for her kind present of a screen for the use of the institution. A special general meeting of the Auckland Athenajum will be held to-night at the clubroom, Victoria Arcade. Tenders are invited by the City Council for various drainage works ; *». .Nelson-street and Newton-stree*}, -■••""