Miscellaneous.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1057, 2 June 1892, Page 39

Miscellaneous.

The Hon Mr Cadman has returned to Wellington, and was engaged yesterday week in departmental work. On his way South he made it his business to see the Natives at Rotorua, with a view of regulating certain matters connected with the tourist traffic. For years past complaints have been loud and general as to the blackmail levied by the Natives upon tourists who were intent upon seeing the sights of the Hot Hake country, and Mr Cadman was anxious to introduce a settled scale of charges, which he believes will obviate these complaints for the future, and at the same time will enable the tourist before he starts from Auckland, Wellington or Napier, as the case may be, to ascertain at what cost it will be possible to see all that is worth visiting in the Rotorua district. Four out of the five hapus concerned in the matter consented to leave it in Mr Uadman’s hands, and accent the arrangement he purposes making. The fifth hapu are the Whakarewarewa people who are to meet and discuss the subject, and let

The local agents for the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company have been advised that the R.M.S. Arawa left Rio on Monday for Plymouth. Her cargo of frozen meat was reported to be in good condition. The usual monthly meeting of the Sailors’ Rest Committee was held last Monday week. Present—Mr C. D. Barraud (in the chair), Captain Strang, Messrs J. G. W. Aitfeen, W, Allen, D. Hall, L. H. B. Wilson, and George Beetham. The usual routine business having been despatched, it was resolved to hold the first annual public meeting at the Rest on Wednesday, June Ist, at 5 p.m, A unanimous vote of thanks to the D.I.C. was passed for a parcel of games, including drafts, dominoes, cribbage board, playing cards, etc., for the use of the men. Subscriptions received since May Ist :—Mr W. Ferguson, L2 2s ; Mr W. Allan, IjL Is ; Mr L. H. B, Wilson, LI; Messrs Aitken and Wilson, L2 2s ; Mr £>. T. Stuart, LI Is ; Mr C. D. Barraud, LI Is ; Mr G. Beetham, L2 2s.

Amongst the Bills to be introduced by the Government next session will be one for the abolition of Grand and Special Jury systems. The Grand Jury system has long been regarded by judicial authorities as effete and unnecessary. Its disappearance will facilitate the despatch of Supreme Court business, and will probably render supeifluous any opening charge from the Bench. The cause of justice will in no wise suffer. At a meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, held on Wednesday night week, the question of leasing certain land in the vicinity of Wellington as a game preserve was very fully discussed, when it was decided that the conditions in connection with the piece of land under offer were of such a nature that the Council would not be justified in taking a lease of the same ; but a committee was appointed to interview a gentleman who resided within reasonable distance of Wellington, and who is willing that a portion of his property should be used for the preservation of game. According to law the Government of the Colony is only required to furnish the official part of the vice-regal residence, but the Earl of Glasgow may perhaps be unaware of this, as he has given no instructions for furnishing. A retiring Governor usually informs his successor upon these points i At any rate Lord Glasgow must now fully understand the position of affairs, as the Colonial Secretary was _pos- - sessed of the necessary information. Ministers, however. have made preparation for His Excellency’s arrival, a 3 furniture

him know the result. A fixed charge will be imposed for leave to visit each group of thermal curiosities, and Mr Cadman believes the effect will be to save to tourists about one half the expense they are at present put to by the Natives.

We understand that the Payment of Members Bill which failed to get through Parliament last session is to be reintroduced at an early stage of the coming session. The ordinary meeting of the Alelroie Borough Council was held last week. Present —The Mayor (Mr J. H. Heaton), and Councillors Baylia, Chegwin, Heginbotham, Fear, Halliwell, and Collins. The report of the Public Works Committee, .which has already been published,, was adopted, and accounts amounting to L 54 os Id were passed for payment. Some slight discussion took place as to the state of the roads in the district, and the Inspector of Works was instructed to have the Island Bay road, and a portion of the Ohiro road repaired. On the motion of Councillor Baylis, seconded by Councillor Chegwin, discussion on the Mayor’s notice of motion re the formation of the ‘ Queen's Drive ’ was postponed till the next meeting of the Public Works Committee. The Council then rose.

Henry Neil, the man who fell off a cab while coming home from Island Bay last week, is still in the Hospital, and is progressing very satisfactorily, though his arm is rather badly injured, According to a German expert. Dr Kolb, who has been making experiments with a delicate machine for measuring the beats of the pulse, cycling is much less exhausting to ordinary persons than running, which, he alleges, is the most exhausting of all physical exercises. A deputation from the Onslow Boroueh Council waited on the Public Works Committee of the City Council last week with reference to a nuisance arising from the drainage at the residence of Mr L. Stowe. The deputation was asked to recommend their Council to give a reply to the letter sent by the City Council in October last offering to divide the cost of laying a drain which would abate the nuisance complained or.

from the Hon Mr Ward’s Ministerial residence is being moved itro Government House, and other furniture will be temporarily supplied, Mr C. Jonson is the successful tenderer at L 1575 for the erection of seven cottages at Palmerston North. The Onehunga Ironworks Company have apprised the Government that they intend to make an effort to earn the bonus of L 250 offered for the production of 500 tons of iron from titanic ironsand, and have requested that an expert should be appointed to watch their smelting operations. At Sandhurst, 'Victoria, a grocer, charged with selling temperance drinks with 13 per cent of alcohol in them, called a witness ‘ who diinks nothing but my currant wines, and never feels any ill effects.’ This witness came into Court very drunk, with the result that the grocer was fined E 35. The first of a series of entertainments with limelight. views was held on Friday at St. Mark’s Schoolroom in aid of the Sunday School Fund. A lecture in connection with the views was given by Mr Halliwell (superintendent of the Sunday School). A large number of views were exhibited, including ‘ A Year within the Arctic Circle,’ ‘ Views of Borne,’ ‘The Tiger and the Tub,’ ‘The Old Man and His Ass,’ ‘The Adventures of a Bashful Man,’ which were ably explained by the lecturer. The lantern was manipulated by Mr A. E. Baldwin. i

The next sitting of the Bankruptcy Court will be held on the Ist July. A very severe frost was experienced in Masterton on Thursday morning.

The death is announced in Wanganui papers of Mr T. B. Horne, a well known resident in that town.

The Minister of Public Works proposes to leave Wellington to-morrow on a brief visit to Auckland, the Thames, Coromandel and Whangarei on matters connected with mining and co-operative railway works.

We have to acknowledge receipt of the second volume (tor 1890-91) of that incomparable publication, ‘ The Victorian Year Boole.’ Mr Hayter’s work is, it goes without saying, just as well arranged, full and useful as ever.

Mr Wyatt, Registrar of Births, De >tbs and Marriages, has been appointed Registrar of Electors for Wellington, vice Mr W. P. James, resigned. Mr Wyatt is to receive an addition of L 25 to his salary in consideration of these duties.

By the last boat from San Francisco the Wellington Acclimatisation Society received a parcel containing the skins of various game and insectivorous birds native of America. After the various merits and demerits of the different birds were considered, the Council determined to expend L 25 as a preliminary experiment in endeavouring to introduce to New Zealand the prairie hen and the mountain quail; also that immediate steps be taken to procure consignments of the same.

One of Colonel DeQuincy’s sisters lately sent out to her brother a portrait of their illustrious father, the late Thomas DeQuincy, author of ‘The English Opium Eater,'and of many brilliant essays on literary subjects. Colonel DeQuincy (says the Auckland Herald) was requested to hand over the portrait to Jriir George Grey. This was done, and the portrait, neatly framed, is now hung up amongst the Grey Collection in the Free Library. It is a reproduction, by a new process, of a drawing by Mr Archer, R. A., whose portrait is regarded by the DeQuincy family as being the best made of their father, and superior to that executed by Sir John Watson Gordon. In Mr Edward Reeves’ book * Homeward Bound after Thirty Years ’ some interesting facts are given concerning the leasehold cemeteries in Granada, where the bodies are laid in ‘ coffin holes ’ arranged in tiers in buildings which run round the cemetery walls. An annual rental per .hole is paid, and if the rent

ian in arrear wit) remains are nauieu one, case • into a deep trench, and covered with quicklime without the formality of any action lor ejectment. The mortuary bailiff is put in on Ascension Day every year. In France portions of some cemeteries are 1 ased for seven years, and sometimes a speculator in graves will buy up the ground over the heads of the occupants, compelling survivors to move them. ?? Mr A. E. Mansford, one of the most genial and popular members of the Fourth Estate in Wellington, is leaving for Nelson. Mr Mansfoid is a son of our late respected Resident Magistrate, of that name, and has been connected with the press since the seventies, being on the staff of the Otago Daily Times under Mr (now Sir Julius) Vogel and Mr Farjeon, the celebrated novelist. He was for several year 3 on the staff of this journal, and for a time edited the Marlboreugh Daily Times. Having secured a competency, with more good fortune than usualls' falls to journalists, he now leaves the active for the retired list, and intends to spend the next few years at least in the Tyrol of New Zealand, Nelson, which he has selected as affording fapilifipci fnr Vlifi fa vmirif.P nnrcmi'fa nf flcliiriw

and Bhooting. He carries our go- d wishes. Mr Alexander Wilson, of Newtown, attended last Friday's meeting of the City Council, and prefaced the complaint he had to make by asking that the reporters wool 1 not take any notice of what he was going to say, because the papers had dealt a great blow to the city by what they had said about the drainage. Mr Wilson then produced a glass jar from his pocket, which he said contained water, and he asked if it was suitable for the inhabitants of a city like Wellington to receive from the Corporal ion. He had drawn it from the main last Friday, and had submitted samples to Drs Martin and Ewart for analysis. Councillor Harris asked the Chairman

(Councillor Smith) to test it. Councillor liarcourt suggested that it wanted ‘ qualifying, but Mr Wilson resented such observations, saying that it should not be taken lightly, because Dr Martin told him that the water on his premises was just the same. Councillor Harcourt : It soon got clear again. Mr Wilson said he wanted the C-uncil t.> see the sort of water they were supplying. The Chairman remarked that this water might have come from the reservoir. Mr Wilson would remember that on the day mentioned the city was very nearly flooded, which no doubt caused a kind of swirl in t' e distributing basin, causing the surplus mattr-r to be stirred up and to go down the pipes. He believed this was the first time it had ever happened. Mr Wilson, however, said that sort of thing had happened repeatedly, and was informed by Councillor Harris that the Council would promise it should not occur again. After a good deal of discussion of a similar nature, Mr Wilson remarked that he hoped the Council would take cognizance of the matter, and raised some laughter bv remaiking on the probable feelings of Lady Glasgow in the event of her finding such muddy water as he had brought in her bath in the morning. Mr Wilson then left, and the discussion fell through.

A private member, we understand, intends to move the repeal of the Newspaper copyright Bill soon after the House meets.

The Education Board have accepted the tenders of William Douglas for the erection of a school at Makara, and that of E. W. Bradley for the erection of a school at Stokes’ Valley. Mr C. M. Crombie, Commissioner of Taxes, Mr John McGowan, Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, and Mr G. F. ■ Colin Campbell, Chief Clerk in the Land and Income Tax Department, have been appointed persons to lay informations under the Land and Income Assessment Act, 1891. It is notified in the Gazette that an examination of candidates for certificates as first and second cla«s mine managers and engine drivers, under the Mining Act, 1891, and the Coal Mines Act, 1891, will be held on the 9th August next, and three following days at places to be hereafter named. It was decided at the meeting of the Land Board last week, on the motion of Mr W. W. McCardle, seconded by Air A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., to recommend the Government to amend the regulations for Village Homestead Settlements, so. as to enable one person to select four sections instead of one.

A meeting of provisional directors of the Wellington Milling Company was held at the offices of tlie solicitors. Messrs Brandon, Hislop, and Brandon, on Thursday afternoon. Progress was reported by Mr Warburton, the broker and secretary. It was resolved to register the Company as soon as a few more shares have been taken up, and to start operations so to have all ready for the incoming harvest.

At a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Wellington College on Thursday it was announced that Air H. S. Cocks, 8.A., of Christchurch, had accepted the position of junior master, arid would commence his duties on June Ist. The Board decided to join the Hospital authorities in repairing a dividing fence at a cost not exceeding 1.15, and the transfer of interest in a lease from J, H. Hudson to E. H. Hudson, Alangaone, was agreed to. The Pahiatua Star says a writ will be issued in a few days by Air J. P. Clark against Air E. Naylor, blacksmith, for EIOO damages for slander. The action is based on certain statements alleged to have been made by Naylor in reference to the unfortunate Boxing Day poisoning at Mr Naylor’s house. Mr G-. H. Smith is acting in the interest of Mr Clark ; but Air Beard will conduct the case in the District Court at Masterton, when it is called on for hearing on the 22nd June. The man Stephen Alurphy, who was taken to the Hospital on last week suffering fiom injuries to liis head, and who had been found by a policeman in a ditch on the Island Bay road, appeared at the Police Court yesterday morning to answer the charge of drunkenness. He pleaded guilty, but Mr Robinson, thinking he had been already sufficiently punished, discharged him with the customary caution, merely requiring him to pay the expense incurred in conveying him to the Hospital. An inquest was held at the Hospital on Thursday before Air Robinson, Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr James Martin was chosen foreman, on the body of an inmate of the Asylum named William - Moore. The medical evidence showed that death was caused by syncope, and the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. Deceased, who was between 45 and 50 years of age, was an old soldier, unmarried, and was believed to have no relations in the Colony.

The Wellington Harmonic Society have decided to give Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ on the 15tli July in the Opera House, and the first rehears J will be held on the 3rd prox. Mr J. Prouse’s services are to be secured for the title role, and the chief soprano, contralto, and tenor parts will be taken by Alias Greenwood, Aliss fisher, and Air E. J. Hill respectively. A letter of thanks is to be sent to Mr A. E. Mab n, acknowledging his kindness in undertaking the part of Peter the Hermit in the Society’s l ift performance.

The Land Board met on Thursday to consider the evidence in the cases of Alessrs Samuels and Nathan, which formed the subject of an enquiry about a month ago ; but were unable to come to a decision. The matter was considered in committee, and on resuming after about an hour and a half’s deliberation, it Was decided on the motion of Air McCardle, seconded by Air Fitzherbert, that the meeting should be adjourned until Vednesday, Jure 29th, at 3 p.m., and that the Board should give its decision on the following morning (Thursday, 30th) at 10 o’clock. Major Summerville and Mr Notman (secrea>y <>f the Wanganui Harbour Board) were introduced la-t week by the Premier (as member f r Wanganui) to the Railway Commissioners,'whom they interviewed with regard to certain leaseholds that originally belonged to the Wanganui Harbour Board, and which had been resumed by the Commissioners. The Harbour Board desired an extension of the leases. The Railway Commissioners, all of whom were present, said they were not at present prepared to grant the request, but they promised to fully consider the matter. They recognised that the Harbour Board had a certain amount of equity oil their side, but how far it went they could not decide until they had looked into the papers. The New Zealand team, which gained the victory at the recent Skating Rink tug-of-war conte-t, were on Thutsday morning paid over the cheque for LSO awarded as the first prize. Air T. Dwnn, senr., made the pies ntation, complimenting the members of the team on their discipline and the splendid manner in winch they had pulled throughout. The second and third prizes, aw’arded by (he committee to the Scandinavians anil Welsh respectively, have been held over by the stakeholder in consequence of his having received a protest against his doing so from the English team, who claim second place and who now threaten legal proceedings to justify the claim to second place. The stakeholder is anxious to pay over all prizes, and informed the reprasentative of the Scandinavian team who railed for the second prize that he could not part with the money until the dispute was settled, but as soon as that was done he would hand it over immediately.

Mr C. C. Empson has been appointed an Inspector of Stock under the Sheep Act. 1890. 1 ‘

Mr Hugh Pollen has been appointed a member of the Central Board of Health vice Air G. S. Cooper resigned. The last Gazette contains a copy of the Proclamation issued by the Governor of South Australia prohibiting the importation of New Zealand sheep into that colony. Messrs Charles Dunk, of Bainesse, Henry Jackson, of Lower Hutt, and Henry Sanson, of Sanson, have been appointed a Board of Reviewers under the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act.

Air Jam.es. Wilson, contractor, is suffering from, an injury to his head, sustained by striking it against a piece of timber while walking along a scaffolding erected for the construction of a store in Willis street. The L 1,764,003 of Air W. H. Smith is the greatest fortune made in recent years out of the newspaper business. It far exceeds the L 563.000 of the late Air Edward Llovd, of the Daily Chronicle, and the L 475.000 of Air Joseph AI. Levy, of the Daily Telegraph. It also far exceeds the fortune of any publisher, the nearest approach being the L 520.000 of Mr G. W. Petter, of Cassell and Co. Great as it is, Air Smith’s estate ranks only sixth among the personalties of the last six years. Baron de Stern and Air Hugh McCalmont both lett more than three millions ; Air John Rylands and Mr Junius Morgan both more than two; while Lord Wolverton s estate slightly exceeded that of .the late member for the Strand, who had sunk large sums in the purchase of landed property before his death. Mr Priestly, an engineer, of Halifax, a London contemporary says, has been directing the attention of the New Zealand Agency to a new machine especially designed for dressing or cleaning the New Zealand flax. In regard to this matter of the phormium teuax, much misapprehension prevails in England, owing to the fact that it is not understood that in reality it is hemp, and not flax, that has to be treated. Many attempts have been made to introduce suitable dressing machinery by persons who, not unnaturally, imagine that New' Zealand flax is the same as that of which, say, Irish linen is made. Of course, such a mistake leads to failure, when, had it been known that hemp was the substance to be treated, success might have attended the inventors’ efforts. This is surely a point worthy of practical consideration.

The following changes in the staffs of various Resident Alagistrates’ Courts have been decided on : —Air A. D. Thompson, second clerk in the Wellington Resident Alagistrate's Court, is under orders to proceed to Wanganui to act as clerk of the. District and Resident Magistrate’s Courts at that place in place of Mr Woon, who is retiring. Mr Thompson’s place in the Wellington office will be filled for the present by Mr E. W. Porritt, who has just returned from Kaiapoi, where he has been acting as relieving officer. Air Ibbetson, new clerk of the District and Resident Magistrate’s Courts at Gr6ymouth, will shortly go to Masterton to relieve Air J. J. Freeth, who has been granted sick leave. Mr Elmer, at present second clerk at Greymouth, is to take Mr Ibbetson’s place there, while Mr Rawson, who has recently been employed in the Wellington Resident Magistrate's Court, has gone to Greymouth to act as second clerk in Air Elmer's stead.

Carl Hertz, the illusionist, started in his profession at the age of 14 at San Francisco, his native plaoe. In school he used to go through tricks instead of attending to his lessons. When he was 19 he started out on a journey of 2500 miles to seek his fortune. He gave his first performance in Kansas city, when his programme included card tricks, etc. He got an engagement for a week, and being very successful he had a further engagement for three weeks. His success there led to engagements for a year ahead, during which period he visited all the principal cities of the Union. In the course of his travels through the world he has had enough of amusing adventures to fill a portly volume. At one performance at Baron Alfred Rothschild’s mansion in London, he made the Prince of Wales his unconscious confederate in a number of tricks, taking from his pockets, etc., ducks, rabbits, and so forth. At Alanchester once, when a clergyman was railing against card-playing in the company of a number of commercial travellers, Mr Hertz wagered a couple of bottles of wine that the clergyman al vays carried cards about with him, and that he actually had some in his pocket at the time. The . parson was ve.-y indignant, but to his dismay found the cards in his pocket when he was persuaded to feel for them.