THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1890.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8164, 28 January 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1890.

A Melbourne cablegram in a recent issue stated that typhoid fever was becoming alarmingly prevalent in that oity, and is daily increasing so that the hospitals are unable to afford the requisite accommodation for those desiring admission. This intelligence is not surprising, owing to the reckless indifference to sanitation which prevails there. In the progress report which was submitted a few months ago to the Melbourne Sanitation Commission, the condition of the city was described as "uncleanly and untidy," and it was frankly stated that till a comprehensive scheme of sewerage was adopted nothing else might be expected but "year after year that many lives would be lost, and much avoidable sickness and suffering incurred." The only effective remedy was to radically alter the whole sanitary condition of Melbourne. Despite these warnings, and despite the lamentable record of sickness and mortality from typhoid last season, precious time was frittered away in inaction. In September last M. de Bavay, an expert employed by the Sanitary Commissioners, made a variety of tests of the water supply of Melbourne as furnished from the Yan Yean reservoir. His experiments and investigations disclosed the germs of typhoid fever in the water, and he was unable to suggest any further remedy than a plentiful use of lime in the water in order to destroy the pestiferous bacilli. The state of affairs surrounding the water supply of Melbourne very much resembles that threatened at the Auckland Western Springs, and the moral should not be lost upon our City Council, so that by prudence and foresight they may preserve the city from the " blood tax " now being paid by Melbourne. When the Yan Yean reservoir was first constructed it was really in the country, and gave every promise of being far removed from ordinary sources of impurity. Settlement, however, has made un-looked-for progress, and with its advancement has come the pollution of the watershed and the feeders of the reservoir. Around the approaches to the Yan Yean are farms, residences, industries, and the natural result is that the drainage is soaking into the channel leading to the Yan Yean, where alter stagnating, it is borne by the service-mains laden with disease and death to the city. It has been proposed now to divert the drainage of these outlying lands, and to resume, on compensation, the •surrounding watershed, which should never have been alienated. It is probable that the one million loan which Melbourne proposes to raise at the present juncture is to accomplish thee objects, and provide a comprehensive scheme of city sanitation. The fall for the city drainage is not particularly good, and a large proportion of the sewage falls into the Yarra, polluting that river. Some recent Auckland visitors to Melbourne state that the Yarra is in a very bad condition, and that in going up the river in the ferry steamers, as soon as the paddle wheels stir up the silt, or the wash from the passing boats surges on the beach a moat offensive effluvia is felt, resembling, almost that from liquid sewage. As showing the penalty

which Melbourne has paid in the increased death rate from epidemic "iseases for her neglect of sanitary precautions, the following statistics are instructive :— 1885, the deaths from this cause were only 50 ; in 1886, there were 79 ; and in 1887, there were 90, of which 50 were from typhoid. In 1888 and 1889 matters were still worse, there being many hundreds of cases, of which a heavy per centage proved fatal. The death rate from typhoid in Melbourne last year was over treble that of London, and a very long way in excess of the provincial towns. This increased loss of life medical science has proved is avoidable, and is due solely to civic neglect. The experiences of Melbourne should not {be lost upon our municipal authorities ; and the lessons derivable therefrom, if the public health is to be efficiently protected, may be summed up briefly as (1) a vigilant enforcement of city sanitation ; (2) special attention to our drainage system ; (3) the jealous guarding of our city water supply and itsgatheringgroundsf rompollution, either by settlement or industries. The typhoid season will shortly be upon us, and the public will look to our City Fathers to guard by every means in their power the city from that dread scourge —typhoid fever.

Among the more interesting items in our cable messages this morning is the state ment that Mrs. Parnell, the aged mother of the leader of the Irish party, has been sustaining existence on a miserable pittance of Is a week While her son was dining with Mr. Gladstone, and being feltd by the leaders of the Liberal party, to say nothing of his unenviable appearance in the Divorce Court, his poor old mother, a woman of brilliant parts, was literally starving in New York. And yet it was only the other day, so to speak, that Mr. Parnell was presented with a gift of £14,000. 1c is stated that a great meeting is to be held by the Liberal Home Rulers, to protest against the buying out of the Irish landlords by the State, such a course being regarded as likely to form part of the policy of the Government. The Liberal Home Rulers, however, appear to have forgotten that the author of such a scheme was no less a personage than Mr. Gladstone. The Under-Secretary of the Native Department, Mr. T. \V. Lewi3, was a passenger by the s.s. Ringarooina, which arrived from the South yesterday. Mr. Lewis has come North on native land purchase business, and is taking advantage of the presence of a number of natives at the Jubilee festivities to get signatures for the Rotorua township purchase; also with regard to other blocks of land.

By the steamer Zealandia yesterday Mr. John Dillon, M.P., left for San Francisco, on his return from his colonial tour. A large number of friends, including several ladies, were present on the wharf to wish Mr. Dillon good-bye, and as the steamer moved away hearty cheers were given for him. As the Zealandia did not leave until four o'clock Mr. Dillon had an opportunity which he gladly took of seeing the Maoris arrive from the Waikato for the Jubilee festivities, and he was present when the train reached the station. On Saturday last'tlr. Dillon visited the Very Rev. Monsignor McDonald at Punmure. Since the publication of the local balance-sheet for the Irish Evicted Tenants' Fund further contributions here make the total amount received in Auckland for that fund £815. Yesterday morning the Harbour Board officials, Messrs. M. Niccol, chairman ; J. M. Brigham, secretary ; and Capt Burgess, darbour-master, paid an official visit to Rear-Admiral Lord Charles Scott on board H.M.S. Orlando. They were courteously received and entertained by the Admiral and Captain Barlow, i uring the course of conversation the dooking of the Orlando came under discussion and Lord Scott hearing that if she were placed in Calliope Dock on Tuesday it would probably interfere with the Jubilee Swimming Carnival, with great courtesy agreed to postpone the docking of the flagship till Monday next.

Yesterday Captain Ruche, residing on the island of Tarataroa, near Waiheke passage, reported to the Water Police that he had been informed by the crew of the cutter Nancy that the body of a man was floating about in the Waiheke passage. He had gone out and secured it and towed the body up to Auckland at the stern of his yacht The body was taken by the Water police to the morgue to await an inquest to-day. There is little doubt the body is that of James Kerr, who was missing from the r.teamer Enterprise on the night of the ISth, on the passage up from the Thames. The body is in an advanced state of decom position, and is dressed in a grey tweed suit, with lace-up boots ; 16s 9d was found in deceased's pockets, pipe, tobacco, etc. ]> is expected the body will be fully identifie' 1 to-day as that of James Kerr.

A meeting of the Newton Borough Council was held last evening, at the Borough Council Chambers, the Mayor presiding. The only business was the reception of the Town Clerk's inspection report re the abattoirs, which was satisfactory, and the passage of sundry accounts.

Admiral Lord Charles Scott has kindly consented to throw open H.M.S. Orlando during today, specially in order that country visitors to Auckland may see it. To-day will be the best occasion for visiting the ironclad, because on Wednesday and Thursday she will not be available, while we believe it is intended to put her in dock on Monday next. During to-day the Ferry Company's steamers will ply at short intervals.

A man named Mathew Henry Frost M-as arrested yesterday by Chief Detective Chrystal on a charge of false pretences. The alleged false pretence is that on the 20th November last he did at Auckland, knowingly by a certain false pretence, to wit, that he was directed by John Purcell to obtain timber for him (John Purcell) to erect a ilaxmill, and obtained from James O'Brien timber of value £1 ISs, with intent to cheat arid defraud.

Concerning the recent competition for scholarships a " City Ratepayer " writes :— " Sir: The result of the competition for scholarships is deserving of more thun a passing notice, as our city and suburban schools, which have the largest number of pupils, the largest number of candidates, and are taught by the highest paid teachers, have not won even one of the highest class scholarshipsl mean the fivo open to all comers. There must be some explanation for this unsatisfactory result. Perhaps the pupils of the city and suburbs are more stupid than those of the country districts."

The annual treat to the chidren of St. Mark's Sunday-school, Remuera, was given on Saturday last. The children, numbering about 150, accompanied by parents and teachers, left for town by the ten o'clock train. The party were thence conveyed to St. Heliers Bay by the p.s. Eagle. On arrival at St. Heliers race 3 and various amusements were organised by the teachers, ably assisted by a band of workers from the Church Workingmen's Society, to whom the thanks of the whole of the parishioners are due for thoir hearty co operation in this and other parish work. The incumbent of the church, the Rev. I Richards, was present during the day and took the greatest interest in seeing that the little ones enjoyed themsolvcs. A most pleasant day was spent by all. The party returned to Remuera shortly after six o'clock p.m.

A Christchurch paper says : —" Mr. E. J. Norton Taylor, Christchurch, agent for Messrs. Cornish and Co., New Jersey, the manufacturers of the Cornish organ, has mado a very handsome present to the Young Men's Christian Association, Christchurch. This* is what is called an ' Oriental' style of organ, having a compass of five octaves, and has twenty necessary stops, sub-bass, two octave couplers, two knee swells, and ten full sets of orchestral toned reeds. These consist of the following : — 1 set sub-bass reeds, of 16ft tone, 1 set diapason reeds, Bft tone; 1 set melodia reeds, Bfb tone ; 1 ,*eb principal reeds, Bfb tone ; 1 set viola reeds, Sfb tone; 1 set celeste reeds, Bfb tone ; 1 set clarionet reeds, Bft tone; 1 set violina reeds, 4ft tone; 1 set flute reeds, 4ft tone; 1 set piccolo reeds, 2ft tone. These are capable of no less than eighteen different combina- ; tionfi, I

The Governor ofSmuhA^TT^ party left Dunedm yesterday SS* «* the Bluff, where they join th„ l? 00 "'* proceeding to the West CoL £ em ° a » They lan 3 at Hokitika, proce e ??< overland to Nelson. Then th'" 8 th *** by steamer to Wellington, andhv^ Hanganui and up the p?*'' l *> canoe to the head of navigation r? b ? they ride through the bush to TV nc « after visiting Rotors go north land. Arrangements have been mad* -V the natives to provide canoes audi.* 1 along Wanganui. hot The Hon. T. W. Hislop (Mini■*. , Education) has come up fco AuK. !» f * the present time, not only to witneuf? Jubilee iestivities, but to attend ' 0 s a matters connected with his den\rf ** Charitable Aid and the Lunatic a are also at present under his char*! there are various matters requiring',? tion which he will see to during his°nVt ' Some three or four days ago, at l> ville, one of the sons of the Mitchelson, a lad of 15, met with a r>*\J'\ accident by a fall while running suS a severe fracture of the left fore-arm |v, break being near the wrist. Ha' brought to town, and Dr. Mackellar »** called in to attend to the sufferer wh • now progressing as favourably as eould°k! expected. °* Rapid progress is being made with the construction of a wharf at Takapuna • a in a short time it will be so far completed aa to permit of steamers landing their r, , sengers at it. This will prove a great co venience not only to the public general? who may desire to avail themselves of tl/ pleasant sea trips in the safe and commo 6 dious boats of the Devonport Ferry Company on the occasions when they make excursions to this delightful marine resort but to the visitors at the Takapuna Hotel' The popularity of this spacious and ma»ni* ficently furnished establishment, so plea?' antly situated amidst agreeable surround ings. is rapidly growing under the excellent management of its experienced and able landlord, Mr. O'Meagher. During the n rt '.' sent summer it has been largely patronised and as its numerous advantages to those seeking rest and quiet, or change and recreation, become better known, it is certain to grow in popular favour. The absence of a wharf has hitherto been a drawback to this charming district, and it is a matter for general congratulation that this really " long felt want" is now being supplied.

A correspondent complains of America having the creditor discredit of introducing armoured ships of war, and he savs:— " What the then Dis- United States really did, was to improvise a few floating batteries by covering wooden hull? witrTchain and iron rails—that and nothing more, or very little more. They had what they called Monitors—one or two." For information on the subject, if he will turn to the " Encyclopaedia Britannica," under the head " Navy," he will find, after a review of what was done by several of the European Governments, the following remarks in relation to the American Civil War:— "The Civil War broke out in April, IS6I, and its naval character was marked by two leading features. One of these was" that though certain developments in the character and construction of ships and weapons had been foreshadowed before the war. and had even been partially realised, it w&3 during the progress of the struggle that those changes took place in marine warfare, which amounted to a revolution. The effect of rifle and shell fire, the employment of the ram, the destructive energy of torpedos, the application of armour to the sides of ships, and the superiority of ironarmoured ships, all taught in practice what theory had in vain asserted."

One of the finest bunches of Black Hamburgh grapes we have seen this season is at the hothouse of Mr. Jas. Bloomfield, Fern-ley-street, Ponsonby. He has a bunch almost equal in excellence but not fully ripe, and will thus be debarred from showing at the Horticultural Show, as the conditions require two bunches to be exhibited For five years in succession, previously, he has carried off the prize for grapes cultivated in the open air. Mr. Bloomfield is growing vines from seed, and making experiments as to the best varieties for resisting phylloxera. He thinks that such experiments, not only as to vines, but in other classes of fruits, would enable us ultimately to cultivate varieties more in bar* mony with the climate and soils than thosa at present in existence.

Mr. H. \V. Farnall has published in pamphlet form the substance of an address delivered by him at a meeting of the Auckland Knights of Labour Stli inst, on the subject of " The Industrial Depression in New Zealand : Its Cause and Its Only Cure." In summing up, Mr. Farnall urges that at the next election a clean sweep should be made of Conservative members of the House of Representatives, and candidates chosen and members elected from amongst those who will earnestly and conscientiously work for the good of the whole community, and not of a privileged class. He goes on to say: "The cure for the political diseases under which we are suffering rests entirely in your own hands. You have two courses open to you One is to fold your hands and do nothing, but wait until in future years some more inteli{rent and more energetic people than we are shall have acquired the political privileges which we now possess, shall make use of them, and prosper exceedingly, then you can follow in their wake; or, the other alternative, you can at once, this very year, make use of your privileges, and cause this colony to enter on an era of such national prosperity and social happiness such as ha 9 nob yet been attained by any civilised nation."

The annual meetingof the parishioners of St. Mark'sChur';h,Remuera, will beheld this evening. Thf, accounts show that the finances of ths church are being placed in a satis facto* y condition. Some four years ago the d f ;tn, of the church was about £SOO. Last yeat the debts under the various headings were consolidated, and it is satisfactory to state that the debt is now only £250, the debt being reduced at present at the rate of £100 a year. The church building has recently been painted, the vestry enlarged, and the choir seats altered. The extra funds required for these alterations were collected in three or four days. A stone font will be placed in the church during the present year, the sum necessary to procure the font being already in hand. The children's morning service, conducted by the incumbent, has been very well attended. The annual report of the vestry will be found in another colmn.

To-night, at the City Hall, Mr. P. Doran will take a benefit which has been tendered to him owing to his, readiness to assist w performances for charitable purposes. H is likely to have a bumper house, as the entertainment is under the patronage of the Mayor and Council, Fire Brigade, and Auckland and Thames Navals. A capital programme is provided, consisting of chair performances and songs and dances. A novelty is a tea and coffee service for the best nigger impersonation by any of the seamen of the warships in harbour.

The City Baths, Albert-street, have no* had the sea water laid on. The admission has been raised to twopence, we presume, to defray the extra cost entailed on the city by pumping the water from the sea to the baths.

The Academy of Music (formerly rne " street Hall) will be opened to-nigbt by mss Amy Vaughan's Amazon Troupe, consisting of ten ladies. A good programme has been prepared, and the prices are popular. The "Performing" Fleas are still on view ab the City Hall. It appears from the advertisement that they are suffering from base imitators, whereas they are the oniy genuine Jubilee Performing Fleas. The great baritone, Mr. Santley, whet the Australian mail left, was giving jus third season in Melbourne. Although the weather was oppressively hot, the lown Hall was crowded at every concert, ana in« enthusiasm was greater than ever. It **» announced that, at the conclusion ot in" Melbourne season, Mr. Santley would sou for New Zealand, and private letters state that ho will probably arrive by the a° Anau, which was to leave Sydney on tne 30th inst. The Rev. H. T. Robjohns.. deputation from the British and Foreign Bible Society, arrived by the R.M.s. Zealandja on Sunciay evening. This is his fourth visit to JewZealand. During last year he travelled in New South Wales, Queensland and this colony 14,000 miles, and fulfilled 213 en eaeeirants in connection with the work w the Bible Society. He will be preset an the united Jubilee service this evening. During the holidays the steamers will run for Northcote every half hour.

waited upon yesterday » \ u j bataa in regard to the tf* M ,° n V The Government to renew his re'" 5 " 1 ° f lent for shipping seamen. He &**"s£ correspondence on l* rfbff - t and Mr. Mitchclson promised the :Sinto the matter. 1011 :,. curious and interesting pamTher «5 is »c" Mr wildmans, bookseller, pblct oni »'f,*, '0' 0 Napier, it is entitled b» Mn ) H.entic and Genuine History of .The Authentic a Treaty of Waifcangl> February 5 and 6 IS4O, >'" B5 and circumstantial, though feW" " ' ve of events which happened brief narr ; i ;„ o ni ble occasion . with copies on ,lut '" J T.K "dish and .Maori, and. of afthe real?' * ltmiatiouß , ejecting ** ;"d e inf the colony. Mr. Co enso "* fOU i at he meeting at which the ** it"iv of Waitangi was signed by famous m-»*j k Northern chief*. * „rluv nW.t a boarding-house at 0,1 *'" o? ftm and Montreal streets, <corner o was almost burnt to the A*T It w«« owned by Mr. Pratt, and P* 0 - ihv Mr*. Hannah. Tho insurances in "the North Herman, while the »* i '' l ; ■ uiured for £150 in the London, lf the Moray Place Congregational , At ,p„; fl lin, on Sunday, the Rev. fnurC - .1 "„< giving utterance to some Mr - VL tuts a.< regards Sabbath obl'* r '. *hich had the effect of rousing Eminent member of the congregation 3 l* 0 "" and told the preacher he ought to L'thamwl of himself. _ T- statement that Mr. Fergus is to 5 the Government programme in hi* BDW! h to his constituents is stated by a JS«£n Press Association telegram to {, e prexaturo.

i ! %i he ofth opportunity of inspecting 1 t ?„ Tanneld. and Co. a immense and *&» collection of ornamental pottery, . "• W re and china, suitable for nresentai *?* Heads, which, for beauty and variety, P*L n owi«i«.J »>*■ all to . be unequalled in si 'S "Dinner sew in newest shapes & - >.;;«'< amt crockery oi every descrip- '",.' in'ivYUo be obtained at the very lowest 'Millar this establishment. '"tip hliowins is the report of the Salvation J-rtV Vison Gate Brigade tor the past fort- ' • ;lt ~-i.ir:-capt.ii;» Hay in chaise):—Meals !■•*>•;• beds, 59; admitted, 4: disi £*•"• •'-.' si ..j 1 in home, 3; donations of I Messrs. Wright. Gray, Badley, * . r Filler. Hulme. Hellftby, Boyle, I tt,V=V'and Christian, bread from Messrs. i- L i«-e" Howie Smith. Kent. Brown, Payne, rJji'i.,'* a'lii Machine Bread Factory; Lon'.•l'&rv milk: Devonshire Dairy, milk and ' h-'i'er- "friend, vegetables: Worth, gj-o- ---' J^rt: Ashley and Son. wood; M.J., £1: friend, 2s t»i. We <<■<■ by our advertising columns ttiat ~; „ Arthur and Buddie are to hold a eci .'evvellerv, on behalf of Mr. James Ki> at their Mart, to-day. when a large Entity of watches and other useful articles iihbeonered.

T'vcuv. will be sold by auction about the fi'e*t collection of Japanese goods that have C. n .Mi the market for some years past. c ini'-*i*i n s lawn umbrellas, screens, vases, -Vj other'goods too numerous to mention. "he 5 -* ie i' llt c ' le Brunswick Mart, and MEwenoes at eleven o'clock, by R. C. Carr, «;ticueor. We draw attention to a notice which ap«firs elsewhere that on and after Monday. : -e Sri February, Bradley and Co.'s mail Mi-h for Paeroa. Te Aroha, etc., will start from the Thames at half-past seven a.m., instead of eisht a.m. as heretofore. This jiiinie lias been made in consequence of v'.rienration* which have been made by the r»'aran.*a settlors to Mr. J. 15. Coney, chief |«:maste:- at Tiiair.es. la our supplement of Saturday last a very Did colonist "commences a second series of 'Reniisiiseeuces of the Past."' The firs'pries, in pamphlet form, entitled " Memor.esofthe Pan." are in pood demand, and eiv he obtained of Messrs. Upton and Co. »:Mr WiMman.

The Public Works Department invite written tenders up till noon of Friday, the lai February, for the Glenomaru contract, latiin's River branch railway.

The ordinary annual meeting of the Anckir.ii tias Company will be held at their •iMS 'in Monday, the 3rd February, at two :a. for the purpose of receiving report of rectors, etc.

We call special attention to the Jubilee k.-siiiiii in clothing, shirts, hats, millinery, hosiery, cloves, anil umbrellas. Fresh goods a si. Rimutaka. at J. 11. Hannan's, imKtter, Victoria-street.