AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 17

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN AUSTRIA. The annual meeting of German and Austrian Socialist politicians came after two days’ discussion to an end, the result being of no more value than academical discussions on social questions usually are. j For over 30 years these German professors j have been annually meeting for the purpose ; of solving social problems, but hitherto without success. Two of the questions discussed were whether rings and trusts ought to be prohibited by legislation, and whether the peasant’s right of inheriting should be limited or not. No decision was come to on either question. THE SHELLEY MEMORIAL AT VIA REGGIO. The monument erected at Via Reggio to the poet Shelley by his Italian admirers has been unveiled with great ceremony. Over seventy years have passed since Shelley’s body was washed up on the shore near Via Reggio with that of Lieutenant Williams, but the proposal to raise some memorial close by the scene of his tragic . death was only made four years ago. The idea first occurred to Signor Cassar Riccioni, a lawyer of the town, and to Signor P. Pieri, of Lucca, while they were ! conversing together about Shelley one August evening in 1890. Signor Riccioni took up the project with much enthusiasm, and it was due to his initiative that an executive committee was formed, of which he himself was elected president. The honorary committee included Mr Gladstone, and Mr Algernon Charles Swinburne. The necessary funds were raised by public subscription. After the monument had been unveiled Signor Riccioni delivered an address and handed the statue over to Signor Nelli, the Mayor of Via Reggio, who accepted it, amid hearty cheers, on behalf of the town. The monument is directly facing the sea, and its total height is 15ft. The bust of Shelley, by which it is surmounted, is the work of Professor Urbano Lucchesi, the eminent sculptor, and represents the poet at the age of twentynine. The eyes are gazing meditatively across the sea, and a pen just laid down appears from under the folds of the cloak. On the side of the pedestal, encircled by interwined branches of oak and olive, is a book bearing on its cover the word “ Prometeo.” Above this is the following inscription “ 1894 to P. B. Shelley, heart of hearts, in 1822 drowned in this sea, consumed by fire on this shore, where he meditated the addition to ‘ Prometheus Unbound ’ of a posthumous page in which every generation would have a token of its struggles, its tears, and its redemption.” SEVERE SENTENCES IN RUSSIA. According to intelligence from Kieff, the trial by court-martial there of 38 persons charged with high treason has just concluded, and has resulted in heavy sentences being passed in most cases. The prisoners were charged with having stolen in 1893 the plan drawn up by the Kieff 1 military authorities of the disposal of the Russian troops in the district, with the object of supplying it to the Austrian Government. They wex*e also accused of having undertaken to furnish a plan of the fortifications of Warsaw. The chief prisoner, named Kwiatkowski, a former staff officer, was condemned to penal servitude for life in Siberia, while 26 others were sentenced to terms of penal servitude varying from two to 20 years. The prisoners have already undergone two years’ imprisonment pending trial. I THE NEWESI’ MYSTERY IN THE WAY OF TEA. It came out in a recent law case that a Soho trader had been supplied with tea at 2jd a pound. Many were the suggestions as to where the stuff came from, which Deputy Judge Robins, on hearing the evidence, declared to be “ unmerchantable.” Perhaps the report of the British Vice-Consul at Macao will throw some light on the problem. The Chinese in that settlement have during the past two or three years invented a new article, which has been appropriately named “lie” tea. It. is made up of a mixture of exhausted tealeave, refired, with proportion of the genuine article, seeds and dust. Labelled “ Best Congou,” it finds its way to India and Hamburg chiefly, but disquieting thought!—its final destination is unknown. In trading tricks that are dark the Chinese, when they give their mind to them, were never known to be beaten. But this nefarious traffic will tend to hasten the extinction of a trade which has already been outrivalled in Europe by the products of India and Ceylon. THE CONSTITUENTS OF A “SAUSAGE.” In his annual' report to the Vestry of Hampstead, Professor Stokes, the public analyst of that parish, says, under the head of “ Sausages ” : —“ A sample bought from a street stall was found to consist of —bread seven-tenths, fat two tenths, and one-tenth by weight of flesh meat, with a little seasoning and a little vegetable colouring matter. This last was added to cover the absence of meat. Such sausages are being sold in other districts of London just now. Till we get a legal definition of a “ sausage,” it is doubtful whether' the Food and Drugs Act will touch the vendors of such concoctions.”

ALCOHOL IN HOSPITAL PRACTICE. At the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the foundation of the London Temperance Hospital an address was delivered by Sir B. W. Richardson, one of the physicians to the hospital, in wlxich he declared that his experience in connection with the institution had convinced him that alcohol was a 3 little required for the treatment of disease and the restoration of the body from sickness to health as it was for maintaining the strength of the body in

periods, of health. During his official connection with the hospital he had had nearly 1000 cases under his care, and he could honestly say that he never in his professional life had seen more satisfactory results than in the non-alcoholic treatment. Acute symptoms were, in his opinion, more easily allayed; recoveries seemed to him to be shortened on the way to health, and he had never detected that prostration or feebleness had been prolonged because alcohol was omitted. BOY LABOUR IN MINES. A North of England correspondent tells us that the taunts regarding the hardship of boy labour in the northern mines, addressed to the leaders of Northumberland and Durham miners during the. debates on the Mines Eight lloui*s Bill, have gone home and are bearing fruit. The movement for reform is being quickened. Having obtained a restriction of their Own working day to oven less than eight hours, they feel the indefensible character of an | arrangement under which the boys and lads j engaged along with them work ten hours i per day and longer. It may be said | here that among the Northumberland and Durham miners are to be found fathers ox* grandfathers who can recall the time when a boy was sent down the mine as a “ trapper ” or door-keeper at the age of six, and kept on duty in darkness and solitude for 18 hours —a service for which he received sd. Happily, the present lot of the boy miner, though in need of amelioration, is not so bad as that. He has no longer only one chance in the week of seeing the light of day. A SHIPMASTER IN IRONS. An investigation has just concluded before the Liverpool Local Marine Board into charges of misconduct preferred against Mr John Shields, late master of the Jessie Osboi’ne. It was alleged that the master was under the influence of drink, while on the voyage from Liverpool to Santos, and assaulted the first mate,, G. H. Hudson. The mate said that after the second assault six of the crew put the captain into irons, The captain behaved “like a raving maniac.” At Santos he preferred a charge of mutiny against six of the crew, who were sent in custody to Southampton, but when the men were brought before the Magistrates there was no proseciltor, Mr Cameron (for the master) urged that . the crew comprised blacks, Scandinavians, aiid tv*o or three boys who had not been to sea before, and the captain experienced the utmost insubordination. The Court decided that the charges were proved, and suspended the master’s certificate-for six months, granting him a mate’s . certificate for that time. SERIOUS RAILWAY COLLISION. An express train from Edinburgh for London ran into a mineral train near -Northallerton on the morning of October 3 in foggy weather. None of the passengers were, seriously hurt, bxxt the engine-drivers and firemen sustained injuries. Among the passengers were Lord Tweedmouth and Mr Arnold Morley, M.P., who were going up to London for the Cabinet Council. An enquiry into’ the Northallerton Railway accident was held by a Board of Trade Inspector, when evidence was given to the effect that the signals were against the express, but that the fog was very dense. On October 9, while a waggon, carrying nearly 20 hoppickers, was passing over a level crossing near Chartham, in Kent, on the South-eastern Railway, a goods train ran into it, dashing horse,. vehicle and people in all directions. A dense mist prevented the danger of collision being seen either by the driver of the train or by the occupants of the waggon till a few seconds before. Seven people were killed, and eight others injured. THE DEATH DUTY AND CHARITIES. The Eai*l of Ducie, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, has sent the following letter to the chairman of the Governors of the Gloucester Infirmary : —“Dear Dr Ancrum, —My will contained a bequest of <£soo to the county infirmary. At my death this sum would be diminished by charges made by the State. I think it right to revoke this bequest, and to make over the <£soo during my life. I therefore enclose a cheque for <£soo, on the following conditions :—(1) That the capital sum be kept intact during* my life; (2) that my annual subscription of <£3o be reduced to <£2o. The infirmary will gain a trifle in income during my life, and at my death will find itself in possession of <£soo without deduction. Other reasons for this step will occur to those who have observed the tendency of modern financial legislation. — Believe me youi’s very truly, Ducie.” The committee accepted the gift on the conditions named, and with an expression of the warmest thanks to Earl Ducie. LORD ROSEBERY AND SWEATING. Correspondence has recently passed between the Earl of Rosebery and Mr J. J. Schneider, chairman of the executive committee of the Government Workers’ Union, in reference to alleged sweating in the Goveimment department concerned in the making of Government clothing. Lord Rosebery, in reply to a letter from Mr Schneider, stated that he had caused inquiries to be made into the matter, and found that with regard to the prices paid there had been no departure from the resolution of the House of Commons of February 13th, 1891, and under the circumstances he did not think it necessary to receive a deputation. If, however, any specific case was brought to his notice in writing, he would take care that the matter should be investigated. Before taking further action in the matter, Mr Schneider and others waited, as a deputation, upon Mr Samuel Woods, M.P., and statements were made in support of the allegation that certain Government clothing was feeing maflfffag-

tured under sweating conditions. Mr Woods agreed to bring the matter before the Parliamentary committee, and asked the deputation to get additional information in support of thoir allegation. A PRESIDENTIAL PROGRESS. President (Jasimir-Perier, accompanied by his wife, visited the racecourse at Longchamps, on the occasion of the race for the International Prize of 100,000 f., and his presence brought together an immense concourse of spectators. Policemen kept one side of the Champs Elysees clear, and the extremities of the side streets were barred till the President had passed. Although the route was so well guarded policemen and municipal guards now and then dashed towards some dark object which appeared on the pavement or at the Avindows, but, quickly reassured, they resumed their posts. These objects were photographic apparatus, which had been brought out in order to take instantaneous views of M. Casimir-Perier as he passed. Never can anybody have been so often photographed in a single day. In the Avenue du Bois, lined with a dense crowd, there were 56 photographers at work. The famous gondola-shaped carriage, drawn by four horses, all mounted, must have been photographed several hundreds of times before the President arrived at his special stand. SIR. R. HAMILTON'S REPORT ON DOMINICA. The report of Sir R. Hamilton, who was appointed to inquire into the condition and affairs of the island of Dominica has been issued as a Blue-book. Sir Robert ascribes the backward condition of the island in part to its federation with the Leeward Islands, and also to the unsatisfactory relations between the Government and the Assembly, to the heavy and unequally adjusted taxation, to large and unproductive expenditure on public works, and to the ignorance of the people as to what they should cultivate on their small holdings. The report strongly urges that Dominica should be withdrawn, for purposes of local administration, from the federation of the Leeward Islands, but points out the advantages of a system in which the magisterial and judicial service of the whole of the British West Indies should be treated as one service, and advocates the eventual federation of all the islands for purposes which affect them as a whole, leaving local matters to be dealt with by the separate island Legislatures. Sir R. Hamilton believes, however, that much advantage would accrue from an administrative union of the Antilles under one Go-vernor-General. He recommends certain changes in the constitution of the Dominican Assembly, the issuing of a loan of <£30,000 to set the finances of the island on a satisfactory footing, and certain reforms with a view to rendering the cultivation of the soil easy and profitable to the small proprietor. Lord Ripon approves Sir R. Hamilton's suggestions so far as to place the island under the local supervision of an officer to be called the Administrator, with greater powers, responsibility and freedom of action than the Commissioner of Dominica now possesses. He does not, however, think it necessary to separate the island entirely from the existing federation. Sir R. Hamilton's recommendations as to the re- , constitution of the Legislative Assembly, the loan, and the system of taxation are approved with some slight modifications.