LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10013, 27 December 1895, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

I" 111 illuminated sheet Almanac for 1896 »id be issued with to-morrow's Hekald.

Complaints were rife, yesterday, of the .c.-iiity provision made for the issue and ii'Jttna.-e of railway tickets for Ellerslie P.* >.couise, at the Auckland Railway Stats,.!. There was a sentry-box about 30 )'ur is iiiM'iu the railway gates, with a clerk on each side, and a gangway admitting of only one person moving forward at a time. /it the quarter to twelve train, there was a Urea'. ciuwd surging around the sentry-box, en ouring to procure tirketn, ladies having uieir dresses torn and themselves hustled by the crowd, anxious to get away by the departing train. Would it not bo [rt-s.ble to admit of tickets being purchased f r the racecourse a day or two previously, and thus obviate the crush, or else increase tli'i number of clerks and sentry-boxes, to prevent the hustling which now goes on.

Tr.c lisps in port yesterday were ablaze *itli banting, and some of them also were a ' 'incl with nika-j and Christmas flowers. The ulmrf office of the Northern Steamship O-inju'iy was very prettily decorated with fi'teiiery and artificial flowers. Hie design -anewhat unique, and reflected great credit on the oftice staff.

A little giil of eight years, daughter of <J';hn Earle, died rather suddenly ?'"•!( rd.iy morning at her parents' residence, Smiili street, l'onsonby. It appears that ! i"; littie one was in her usual good health on Tuesday last, bub early on Christmas niiriiing she complained of alight internal pJin, accompanied with vomiting. The pi: .-i/s on Wednesday put oil a picnic party "iey had arranged for, and spent the dav Wending to the little girl, and as sho still Ci ruinued restless and uneasy they procured me lioine from the chemist and had it H'liuniinered in the prescribed way. Early yt.-ier morning she dropped into what the parents took to be a comfortable sleep, ari I they i rained for some short timo Ir'im disturbing her, but Oil examining the S'liTerer more closely they discovered to their dismay that she had passed away in her sleep without a movement. An inquest will be held to-day at half-past) two o'clock, it Mr. Earle's residence, by Dr. Philson, coroner.

Some noted spielers are stated to have arrived in town for the holidays. No doubt they will be playing the " confidence trick upon the country yokels, for notwithstanding the repeated exposure of such roguery, liiy young man from the country remains as >'er taut as over.

On Christmas Night the premises of Messrs. Gallagher, corner of Victoria and Graham streets, were burglarised, and about £7 worth of tobacco stolen, The detectives have the matter iu hand,

Jl'V nQ(Uo « l s "Por'ntQndenti of the Diss£akriTT 1 ( ? r - B ? ld ™> dfl3ireß '» the Hnl - f ,o , Bo pL l< ? 6o contributed to write? !, Chnst ,' nH3 festivities, He anneal fl fo,lowa "' ' 1Q result " of my thanki £ fh 080 !my expectations, and thanks to those who remembered us, a ~l„( P!ly uhr ' atl " as was spout. The and Il 0 7 ' °"i°y° ll themselves, Z J t0 s "y no on# is any tho liberailv t r V°i-i man y contributed so , y I t ko fco mention any parmrtnH * n or!l, ,^" fc I f eo ' I must especially pi .' on r * Alfred Nathan, who gave « Ur is me tree loaded with gifts, and Mr. A. • > hitehoiue, who very kindly attended an gave a phonograph entertainment, and e lady who again noted as Santa Glaus. I cannot ask for space to give tho names of a who remembered us, as it would require 00 much room in your paper. 1 have a list °f, ( ?' ,ors » and I can assure thorn one and all, though nob named, that on bohalf of the inmates of the Auckland Hospital I thank them sinceroly for their* kindness, and wish, them all a very happy and pro- i sperous New Year."

Recently, says the Walmato Times, Messrs. C. Wilson and R. Lano were engaged making a quoit pitch on the fire brigades section, when they came upon some bones lying a few inchos below tho surface. Those they surmised to be human, and instituted a further search. They then discovered three skulls, two lying in a direction north and south, and tho third about throe feet away, Other human bones were also discovered, but not all tho parts necessary to make up distinct skeletons to correspond with tho number of skulls, The skulls wore fonnd at a depth of nine inches, and the other bones at a dopth of six. The remains aro supposed to be those of Maoris. One skull appears to have been that of an old nun, as tlio teeth are worn and decayed. The quoit pitch now goes by tho grim designation of " dead man's pitch." On Christmas morning tho C. E. Society of the Tabernacle gave a free breakfast to the poor of the neighbourhood. About 130 sat down to breakfast, the tables boing liberally supplied with good things. After the tables were cleared a service was held, at which Mr, Parkinson, who has reeontly come here, ptesided, and gave an address. In tho evening a free tea was givon in tho Mount Edon Baptist Church to tho poor, about GO sitting down. A Christmas treo was also provided for the little ones.

According to a recent issue of Truth, Mr. Labouchero holds very advanced views on the land question. Ho says : "Wo niusb radically alter our system of land tenure. We must have land courts to decide 011 the amount of rent to be demanded; a Land Act to enable tenants to be assisted to the purchase of their holdings, if they wish to buy them ; and fixity of tenure. I would not grudge tho State using its credit, and, if necessary, its money, to foster agriculture, provided that this aid goes to the worker and not to the drone. That the land can maintain a larere population is undoubted; that it is desirable that such should be maintained on it is equally true. Tho population would live, and within certain limits thrive ; it would afford employment to many who are now attracted to cities and swell the ranks of the unemployed ; it would provide a market for our manufactured goods."

At Christchuroh last week three pitiful tales of unhappy marriages wore unfolded. The first wife deposed that she had been married two and a half year*, and during that lime her husband hud given her £10. Another sued her husband (who had not paid her anything and whom she had not seen foi- sixteen months) for the maintenance of their adopted child. In the case of another couple, who wero married only as late as last July, the husband had disappeared, leaving his wife destitute.

Tho Rev. E. Walker (of tin New Zealand Alliance), speaking at Papanui, Canterbury, Oil the remarks by Mr, Hawkins, S.M., concerning prohibition in the Clutha district, contended that there was not one word said by the magistrate which did not tell with tenfold force respecting breaches of the law and their detection under license. The roal difference, he alleged, between violations of the licensing lav/ under license and without licence in the Clutha district was that under license tho violations wenc unpunished, and under prohibition the law was honoured by the conviction and punishment of the law-breakers. As to the suggestion to appoint a Royal Commission, Mr. Walker said if it had been proposed to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire whether the law was being obeyed in other districts by liconsses, the demand would bear upon the face of it sorao solicitude for the public welfare. The real remedy for Clutha law-breaking was to be found in tho now law, which would come into operation 12 months hence, after the Clutha district had carried prohibition under the new Act. It would prevent convictions being followed by repeated tines, and compel the magistrate, on the second or any subsequent offence, to send the law-breaker to gaol.

In the Mutual Life Chronicle, the wellknown publication issued monthly by the Mutual Life Association of Australasia, appears an interesting article on "The Value cf Life," in which it is shown that tlio executors of one of the passengers killed by the deplorable railway collision at Redfern, Sydney, claimed no less ft sum than /JjilOO from the Railway Commissioners, notwithstanding the fact that the man himself had proposed for only £300 of life assurance, and had actually failed to pay the premium when death overtook him. In another case the widow add family claimed £10.000, while the assurance was only £1000! As the Chronicle remarks:-" Is it not quite olear that either the amounts claimed were utterly extravagant, or oi«e the life assurance* were totally inadequate ? Every inan should take impractical view of the matter, and ask himself: What is the financial value of my life to my wit'o and children Having determined its *ftlue, he should see to it " that the san>o is amply covered by life assurance."

According to the Trade and Navigation Returns, tho value of living animals imported for food in Great Britain, during the nine months ending September 30, amounted to £6,443,669, against £7,064,405 in tin corresponding period last year. There _ were 300,832 oxen, compared with 370,470; 1345 cows, against 2510; and 684,800 sheep, again-t 251,707. Of the liiistmentioned 10,046 came from Iceland, Ja,418 from Canada, 321,892 from the United States, and '256,365 from the Argentine Republic. Tho value of corn 'marled during the nino months was £37,-71, against £36,993.511. Of dead meat the value was £17.615,435, against £I« .'-6b'™* ' butter, £10,434,478, against £10,093,039 i margarine, £1,831.133, against £--,310,850; cheese, £3,'291, against £3,888,300 ; eges. £2,862,547, against £2,782,18/. fha value of fresh beef imported was £3 1 1A>,7«, against £3,241,267: and of fresh mutton £3,503,602, against £3,228,310. Female labour is being largely employed at tho coal port/ of Mogi in Japan, and the steamer Breconshiro, which lias arrived at Brisbane irom the East, was recently coaled at tho Japanese port entirely by women. Tho women workotl in ffwg" of 40, and aB there are tour gangs, 160 were employed at the job. Standing in rows they passed the coal in baskets from 0110 to the other, while the empties were passed back by others. By this endless chain system of working, the steamer was soon supplied by coal, the workers nob stopping till the full amount was put in the bunkers. It is stated that the husbands of these women were at homo minding tho children,

Towards the end of October last, an extensive sale of wool took place at the Great Wool Warehouses, Birmingham, by Messrs. Ly thall and Walters. The auction was woll attended by buyers from Bradford, Halifax, Ixicestcr, Atherstons, Loith, Abergavonny, Hereford, Kidderminster, Holt, etc., in addition to a number of local buyers. A brisk demand was oxperiencod. The top price for Shropshire and half-bred was lli'l per lb, at which price several lots changed hands; Cotswold also made up to ll|d; Oxford sold at lOi'l to IOJd, while the two lots of Sussex in the sale made Ha. Un. washed wool sold at BJI to 7j[d.

There was a united demonstration in the Western Park on Christmas afternoon. There was a good attendance, and addresses wore given by Rove. F. Warner and Sinclair, and Messrs. W. IT. Smith and grown. Tho Holping Hand Mission Band led the musical portion of the service. The Waitara Freezing Works (says tho Taranakl Herald) are now in full swing. The number of cattle killed up to date is oil and after another 45 beasts aro dis03ed of the killing of sheep will be commenced. The works are employing about sixteen hands. x

1 In rogard to the sugar cane, Knowledge states that it was unknown to tho ancient Jews, who uaedi honey for the sweetening of their food. It was first used in Europe by Alexander the Great, who, in 327 8.C., brought it as one of the trophies from tho East. Thus Pliny relates that Alexander found a "remarkable kind of reed, growing in India, which produced a sorb of honey without tho assistance of beos," Tho cub tivation was introduced into Persia about 500 A.L)., and groat attention was at once paid to the manufacture of this valuable substance. The Arabs obtained tho plant on thoir conquest of Persia, and carried It westwards with them. In 750 A.I), the most fertile land in Egypt was almost entirely under supar cultivation, and the manufacture of sugar increased largely. At raarriagos and festivals at the Arabian Court in Egypt quantities of sugar were consumed. About the same time it was introduced into Spain by the Moors. Next in its westward course the cane was carried to the Canaries, while in 1493 Columbus took it to San Domingo, where it increased so remarkably as to become in after years tho main cultivation of the West Indian Islands. It is now grown in all parts of the tropics.

Our Manga correspondent writes " At the Hakaru a digger loft his whare socuro with the fire drowned out and all snug, as lie supposed, and went for his mail. On his roturn, the place was totally destroyed with its contents, viz,, clothes, five hundredweight of gum, tiols, etc. Much sympathy is felt for him. Ib is sup posed to bo the work of an incendiary,"

At Adelaide recently an inquest was held on tho body of Marion Ruth Hakes, aged two years. It transpired in the course of evidonce that tho parents declinod medical assistance for the ohild owing to thoir being faith-healers. It seems that for seven years tho accused had no doctor in tho houso " bocauso they trusted God." They actually called 111 a doctor under the impression that the law required them to do so, bub they refused to act upon hif instructions. Thecoroner inflicted a sovere reprimand and stated that the parents had narrowly escaped a charge of manslaughter. It is a pity that the oldors had not been smitten with ft painful malady to test their faith. It is easy to bear with equanimity the misfortunes of others, but that the littlo innocent suffering soul who passed away should boar the martyrdom of the parents' religion says as little for their faith as it does for their parental feelings,

It may not bo generally known that in some parts of America the apple tree ie prized for its timber as well as its fruit. For this reason the old German fruitgrowers around Philadelphia always aimed at getting a straight trunk to an apple tree, and train it up high before allowing it to form a head. In this particular region tho wood was ohiefly used for shoemakers' lasts, a business which, in the earlier history of Philadelphia, did much to help tho trado of that famous manufacturing centre of population. The apple regions have mostly disappeared from that locality, but in other parts of the country the value of apple-troo wood seotus to be understood. Recently a fruitgrower sold to a well-known firm of sawmakers in Philadelphia the trunks of some of his trees, which were cut away because the trees had grown too closely together, the wood boing used for handles of saws.

The MacKenzie grand concert took place on Christmas night at the City Hall. There was a good attendance. Nearly overy performer was encored, but only Madame Goldenstedt and Mods, do WillitnofT responded, the former in "0 Rest in the Lord," by repeating the last verse, and the latter in the violin solo, " Preghiera." The concert openod with the organ solo, " March Funebre" (Chopin), by Mr. Chas. Waud, who at the opening of the second part performed " Heavenly Rest," as arranged by himself, both of the numbers being well executed. Mr. W. MaolCenzie, who was in excellent voice, was down for four numbers and aid not respond to encores owing to length of programme. They wore "Lea Kameaux," "Why do the Nations," the recitative and aria, "The Trumpet Shall Sound," with cornet obligato by Master Percy West, and "The Holy Ciiy." Miss Louise Aylott sang very tastefully "Angels Ever Bright and Fair," and "Ora Pro Nobis" (with invisible chorus), Madame Goldenstedt, who is a popular favourite, had quite an ovation in the aria, "He Shall Feed His Flock," and one of the best things of the ovening was the duet, " Tantum Ergo," by hor and Mr. Mackenzie. Mons. de Willimoflf, in the Andante Religioso," showed himself to be an accomplished violinist. Master Percy West, who is a promising young musician, gob an enthusiastic encore for,his cornet solo, "See the Conquering Hero," but simply bowed his acknowledgments. Miss Jessie Clover gave two recitations in excollent style, "The Amen Comer," with invisible chorus, and "God of Peace," whilo Mr. A. Lucas contributed a third, which was well roceivod, "Christmas Day in the Workhouse." Mr. Waud officiated as organist, and Mrs. Hookoy as pianist,

The annual Christmas tea given to the inmates of the Costley Home, Epsom, will take placo 011 Saturday next. Mrs, Lonsdale l'ritfc requests those ladies who have promised to contribute to the tea, and are unable to be present, if they would kindly send their contributions either to her residence before one o'clock, or to the Home by three p.m. Scarboro's 'bus will leave the corner of Brighton Road, Kamuera, at half past two p.m.

The long.promised pantomime of the Tivoli Company was greeted last night, on its initial performance, by a record house. Every available seat was occupied, and numbers had to stand all the evening. Tlio company has been very much strengthened by sovoral new additions, and appeared to the fullest advantage in "Muldoon's Picnic," a musical comedy bubbling over with uncommonly boisterous fun. The interpolated songs were applauded to the echo, while a very crraceful ballot by some dozen young ladies under the direction of Miss Nellie Griffiths was encored twice. Mr. J. Collins and Mr. Karl Brown were the life of tho pioco and were ovated every time they came on tho stage. The harloquinade was gorgeous. By the aid of specially prepared scenery tho stago was transformed into a grotto, " Under tho Deep Blue Sea.'' Mermaids reposed in gigantic shells and gave tho sea quito a fairy-like appearance. Thon Harlequin, the Clown, Pantaloon, tho Policeman, Columbino, and Harlcqucena came on and from the applause their antics and graceful dances elicited there can be but little doubt that tho pantomime as played by the Tivoli company will prove very popular.