Miscellaneous.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1056, 26 May 1892, Page 39

Miscellaneous.

Judging from the description given by Captain Findlay, of the Rimutaka, the reception given to the Earl of Glasgow by New Zealanders residing in England was a decided success. A very large number of our G olomsts were present, and the Earl appears to have made himself decidedly popular with them.

Master Barber, a pupil at St. Patricks College, and son of Mr Barber, of Petone, met with a rather nasty accident last week whilst playing football on the Hark. During the game he fell and fractured the lets collarbone. On being taken home to the College Dr Mackie was sent for. The doctor reduced the fracture, and made the patient as comfortable as possible. As the fracture is fortunately only a slight one, the lad will only be confined to his room for a few days. When the Bimutaka was one day out from Plymouth, on her voyage here, a vessel was observed making signals of distress. Ln nearer approach she proved to be. the oaorielle, a French barquentine bound for Havre. When the Rimutaka’s engines had been stopped a boat put off from the_ Gabrielis, whose crew stated that their provisions were running short, as the voyage had been considerably protracted owing to calms and adverse winds. Fresh supplies were sent from the Rimutaka, and the vessels proceeded on their respective courses.

A couple of young lady students at the University of Otago who are proceeding for their degree in medicine made_ last week their first appearance in the dissecting room._ Ih® presence there was viewed with anything but equanimity by the male students present. A discussion arose at last week’s meeting of the Harbour Board with reference to what steps should be taken by that body to do honour to the newly-appointed Governor, Bora Glasgow, on his arrival at Wellington in the Hinemoa. It was suggested that the Wharf should be closed for a certain time on that day, that a line of troops should be drawn up, and that Lord Glasgow should be presented with an address by the Board. Mr Heaton thought it would be better not to have a holiday on the occasion, as the ceremony only lasted a very short time, and it was not worth while disarranging the whole of the traffic for the sake of the Governor’s arrival. * These holidays, said Mr Heaton, ‘ are all humbug,’ and he very much objected to them. Mr Wheeler thought there was some force in what Mr Heaton said, but at the same time thought they were quite justified in taking some steps to pay honour to Lord Glasgow. Mr Booth then moved, ‘ That the arrangements for the

The Otago Daily Times says The Kelso Meat Preserving Works are now in full operation, and employ 35 hands in preserving and tinning rabbits, the average output being about 3000 per day. The cooking is done by dry steam in a close chamber or retort, and is an undoubted success. The tinned rabbits should meet with a ready sale locally as well as in England. It is to be hoped that the railway charges are somewhat reasonable on large quantities. From the waybill it. appears that the Company’s representative paid 2s 3d as freight on a small case containing six rabbits, or at the rate of 63d per rabbit, which is about equal to the market value. The Dunedin Star of the sth inst. has the following Perhaps the following concerning the magazine iifle may be of interest. Ihe cost of 1000 magazine rifles and 1,000,000 cartridges (f.o.b. Dondon), would be L 12,000, and it is confidently asserted by experts at Home that the -303 magazine cartridge can never possibly be made at less than hb Ids

The resignation of Captain Henry Smart Elgar Hobday, of the Wellington Rifle Volunteers, has been accepted by His Excellency.

At the Sydney Central Criminal Court, on the 4th inst., Samuel Hood and Thomas John Hood, at one time residents of A . nc f k l a ' V „ h n ° were on the previous week convicted of manslaughter, were called up for sentence.. Prisoners, father and son, though not registered practitioners, had been carrying on business as medical specialists, and a woman named Rebecca Cohen, who was suffering from cancer, died under their treatment. Acting Judge Leydon commented in scathing terms on the practices the prisoners had indulged in, and sentenced the father to seven years and the son to five years’ imprisonment.

A-very successful tea and public meeting was held last week in the United Methoaist Free Church. At the tea there were about 50 present, all of whom seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Varcoe, Redstone, Mason, Feters, Pt.scha, Williams, Norbury, Bell, and Misses Redstone, Hicks, and lremer lhe public meeting was also successful, the large building being well filled. The Rev Mr Peters, pastor of the church, occupied the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet were read by Mr W. E. Redstone, secretary and treasurer, and appeared to be of a very satisfactory nature. Addresses were-given by Revs J. IC. Elliott, C. Dallaston, and W. G. Wood, .

reception of the new Governor be left in the hands of the chairman and Mayor, and that in regard to a holiday they be allowed discretion to the extent of half a day ./.Mr Jack seconded, and the motion was carried without lurtmr discussion. We understand that the Miners’ Band at Black’s Point, Beefton, intend to take part m the approaching band contest at Wellington. Mr W. McLean, has had a letter from them, stating that they are making the necessary preparations. . _ On the application of Mr Jellicoe, the money, amounting to about 8190, seized by the police on the occasion of the recent raid on the premises of Frederick Martin, charged with illegal betting, has been allowed by Mr Bobu son, 8.M., to be handed back to the defendant. Several additional Boards of Beview under the Band and Income Assessment Act, 1691, appear in a recent Gazette. Among them are the following :-Joseph Dawson, John Gardiner, and Alexander Reese, all ot Bahiatua. and Henry Braithwaite, of Carterton; Jamds George Cox, of Featherston, and Edward Schwartz Maunsell, of Greytown North.

per 1000 (f.o b. London), whilst at present the price is very much higher, the last importation to New Zealand costing Lll (f.o.b. London). Besides this, the compressed powder pellets are liable to climatic changes, and cardite is as yet a failure. The above will give some idea of the expense likely to be incurred in the event of New Zealand adopting this arm. The total redaction made by the Board of Review on the valuation for the districts o Makara, Karori, Johnson ville Town Board, Porirua Riding, and Horokiwi Riding is LJbb, Mr J. L. Baird was the assessor. We are informed that the rope used in the recent Tug-of-War tournament at the Skating Rink was so severely strained by the pulling it received that the strands have given at least six inches in the centre, and that in the opinion of Mr Arthur, the sailmaker, it would not be likely to stand the strain of another contest, between the Irish and Scandinavian teams for instance.

George Sisson Cooper, of Wellington, has been authorised to act as a licensed Native interpreter. Lieutenant-Colonel Fox, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, has been authorised to frank and receive letters and parcels and frank telegrams on the public service. Messrs G. Thomas and Go. held a property sale at their auction rooms last .week. The following lots were sold Lot 2, piece of land in the suburbs of Carlyle township (16 perches), to T. M. Wilford, L 6 10s; lot J, parcel of land in the township of Kaitawa (1 acre 1 rood 16 perches), to Andrew Knox E 6 10s : the same purchaser also bought lot 6, piece of land in the Kaitawa township (4 acres 13 perches) forL6 10s ; lot 4, several parcels of land in the township of Carnarvon (19 acres 24 perches), G. F. Richardson, L 7; Lot 1 was passed in. . . A remarkable case of religious mania is reported from Konigsburg. A peasant.named Puschke, living at Dulack, lately joined, a newly-founded religious sect, and soon alter showed signs of insanity. A few days ago lie entered his stable and attempted to crucify himself. He first bound his feet together at the ankles, and then drove nails through them, fastening them to the ground, lhen lviner outstreached on his back, he further hailed the left hand to the ground, and with the right hand stabbed himself repeatedly in the chest. His wife found him lying unconscious on the earth. It is expected that he will survive his wounds. The ordinary meeting of the Trades ana Labour Council was held in the Trades. Hall last week, the President (Mr J. Bigg) in the chair. The Secretary presented the. balancesheet of the Tramway Strike, which was adopted and ordered to be printed and circulated. A manifesto, it was stated, has been prepared explaining the circumstances oi the strike, which was also approved and ordered to be printed. It was decided that the names ox the men who had remained loyal to the cause of Unionism should be inscribed upon the minutes. The Secretary was. instructed to write to the various Unions, informing them of the intention of the Council to hold a mass meeting of Unionists on the arrival in Wellington of Messrs Pinkerton (Dunedin), Sandtord (Christchurch), and Kelly (Invercargill), M's.H.R. , . ... Wirth’s Circus familiarised many of us with the American cowboy and his Wild West ways. Those persons who wish to make a close examination of the outfit of a lexas cowboy can do so at the shop of Mr J. L.

Ei an 3, saddler, who has. imported, from America saddle, spurs, bit, and lariat, or lassoo, complete. The saddle has the orthodox high horn, heavy wooden stirrups, and sudaderos, or leg sheaths. No buckles are used on the girths (which are of plaited hair) because the tremendous strain which is sometimes put upon the saddle when lassooing is going on would quickly break them. In place of buckles, however, rings and. leather lashings are used. Vfith these it is possible to tighten the girths to .any extent. The lassoo is of green hide, and is 50 feet long. l.he spurs and bit are murderous-looking affairs when compared with those which we use. A Hobart exchange says : —A man named William Maguire, who went on board the Wairarapa at the Bluff, made things pretty lively for a few nights. Soon after the vessel left the New Zealand coast he began to see such uncanny things in the sea and on the vessel, and had such a strong desire to jump overboard that it was evident he was suffering from delirium tremens, and accordingly he was placed under restraint, and han.ded.over to the police on arriving here. Maguire is a man of about 40 years of age, and is a draper by trade. The New Zealand Tournal.of Insurance, Minin" and Finance for May, in a leading article on ‘ Trade,’ says ‘lt is but seldom that the condition of prosperity is recognised while it exists, though depression is readily noted ana loudly deplored. The reason for this is not far to seek, since ruin always proclaims its presence in accents that are unmistakeable, while success seldom comes all at once. In New Zealand we have all been so long accustomed to grumble . that we to understand how entirely. the tables are turned, and how prosperity has succeeded dulness with slow, but all the more certain, steps. The position, of material comfort averaged by an. ordinary colonist strikes each new comer with amazement,.and residents here listen to their encomiums with a slight self-satisfaction, but seldom if ever realise the fact that, as a rule, the colonist of New Zealand is better off than his compeer in any other part of the world. By contrast with the seventies, when large fortunes were accumulated by the lucky few, there may not be much to point to now, but we contend that the average colonist is infinitely better off, and has infinitely better chances of obtaining.a competence than in any preceding period in the brief history of the country.’ The horizon in matters of trade is bright all round, the financial barometer is at set fair, and there is every possible sign of the good times continuing*

Joseph Williams has been appointed a member of the Licensing Committee for the District of Borough of Masterton, vice A. \V. Cave, resigned. Mr Herbert William Brabant, R.M., has been appointed a Resident Magistrate for the District of Wellington, with extended jurisdiction to LIOO. Frederick Taylor Redman has received the appointment of'clerk to the Licensing Committee for the District of Pahiatua, vice H. W. Briggs, resigned. The appointment of Mr William Henry Hales to be Engineer-in-Chief for the Colony of New Zealand appears in the last Gazette. The appointment dates from the Ist April, 1592. Applications for renewal of publicans’ licenses have been received by the Petone Licensing Committee from the following : Richard Mothes, Thos. Oxenliam, James Lon and Thos. Porter. The tug-of-war epidemic has spread to Nelson, Palmerston, and Masterton,. from which places letters have come to Wellington requesting to be furnished with the rules under which the receut tug-of-war was conducted, and making enquiries as to the terms upon which the working gear can be obtained. We understand that the backers of the Scandinavian team in the recent Tug-of-War at the Skating Rink are prepared to match them against the New Zealand team in a month or nix weeks’ time. Ifc is also reported that the Irishmen are making arrangements to get together a fresh team so as to challenge the victorious New Zealanders.

A cowardly outrage was perpetrated at Kaiwarra a few days ago, when a horse called Sam, belonging' to Hirst and Co., tinners, was found terribly wounded by twb charges of shot, which had been evidently fired into him at close quarters. The owners offer a reward of L 5 for such information as will lead to the conviction of the offender. Mr E. S. Cocks, 8.A., of Canterbury, who has been recently appointed junior master at Wellington College, is well known in the athletic world. He won the three mile walking event at the Christchurch Amateur Champion Athletic Association’s meeting in February, beating Burton on a splendid finish, who, however, beat him the next day in tlie one mile walking event. A telegram from Perth in a Sydney contemporary says : —A drowning fatality has occurred at Albany, A boy named Ogg, aged 10, son of the captain of the Orient hulk Camilla, while in a dingy fell overboard and

vas drowned in sight of bis father, who swam after him. He got within 50 yards of the boy when the latter sank. Hast Thursday night the boy’s mother dreamt that her son was drowned. The Earl of Hopetoun has followed the example of the Earl of Onslow by giving his infant son, who was born in the colony where he is Governor, a name which will always associate him with the place of his birth. On the Ist instant the child was christened in {Scots Church, Collins street, the name bestowed upon him being George Melbourne Hope. He was baptized with water brought from the sacred river Jordan, by the Rev Mr Wollaston, who presented it for the vice-regal christening. Thirty-eight years ago to-day (says the New Zealand Herald of the 12th inst,) H.M.S. Tiger ran ashore in a fog at Odessa, in the Black Sea, during the Crimean war. She was cruising at the time off the port. Attempts were made to get her off, but they proved fruitless. The Russians, on discovering her helpless position when the fog lifted, brought some batteries of field artillery to the cliffs, and fired on her, even after the fl ig was hamed down. The crew were taken prisoners, and the only survivor, in Auckland, is Mr Richard May. 'A meeting of gentlemen interested in the recently formed Association for the advancement of the study of phrenology was held last woelc at Kilmore House, Upper Willis street, about a dozen gentlemen being present. It was resolved that the Association be named the Wellington Phrenological Association, and the necessary office bearers, with the exception of a president and vice-presi-dents, the election of which was allowed to stand over till the next meeting, were elected. An interes'ing discussion followed, in which it was admitted that the science of phrenology is eminently calculated to advance the cause of education, to improve the institutions of society and government and to elevate the condition of the human race ; and that, as a study, it claims the attention of all who would investigate mind philosophically and who desire the diffusion of truth, and the exaltation of the moral and intellectual faculties of man.