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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6691, 27 September 1882, Page 2

The Te A nan’s Suez and Australian mails will arrive by the Hawea this morning. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Education Board will be held this morning. The “ Hawera Star ” will, on the Ist pros., be issued as a penny daily paper. New Zealand, it seems, is selected to be the head-quarters of the Salvation Army in the South Pacific. Contingents, General Booth states, will shortly be despatched to the Australia?, and a corps will be permanently located in New Zealand.

Several thoroughly practical Canterbury farmers are said to have bought land at the last sale in the Waimate district. Hitherto grazing has been che chief stand-by among landowners there, but the infusion of new blood will probably see a wider development of agricultural pursuits. The “Arrow Observer” reports that Mr D. O’Fee, farmer, of Crown Terrace, some of the highest cultivated land in that mountainous locality, has threshed a stack of Tartarian oats with the extraordinary return of 150 bushels to the acre, the yield being verified by actual weight.

Very little can be said for the filial affection of two young men who were charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday with failing to contribute to the support of their aged mothers. Their names are William Daniels and John James O’Brien. Orders were made against both of them.

The acclimatisation of trout iu the Hawke’s Bay rivers is likely to prove a failure, because, says the “ Herald,” the Maoris catch the fish in eel traps all along the rivers, and of course they are not returned to the water. Tha Natives say the trout is “ kapai,” and no doubt they speak from considerable experience. . The “ Wanganui Chronicle ” expresses the opinion that every man among the Thames Volunteers who took part in the recent burning of the effigy of the Defence Minister ought to be expelled from tha Volunteer Force with ignominy, as having shown themselves unworthy to wear the uniform of Now Zealand's citizen soldiers.

The “ Hawke’s Bay Herald ’’ says that at a special meeting of the Committee of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, it was arranged that the Chairman should wait on the Hon. T. Dick, who is about to visit Napier on an official tour, to thank him on behalf of the Chamber for the prompt attention uniformly given by the Government to its recommendations.

An inquest was held at the Mount View Asylum yesterday afternoon on the body of a patient named John Gooder, who died in that institution on Monday evening at the ripe age of seventy-nine. The proceedings were purely formal, and a verdict of “ death from natural causes” was returned. The deceased had resided iu the colony since 1811. At Birmingham the telephone has been pnt to a curious use. A wire connects the borough hospital with the offices of the health department, which are three miles away. Friends of patients make daily inquiry as to their pro--gress, communicating with them, in some cases, direct. The spread of infection is thus reduced to a minimum.

It is high time something was'done to make the Resident Magistrate’s Courthouse a little more suitable for the business that is carried on there. Yesterday, it was scarcely possible for any one to hear a word that was going on owing to the noise made by the rattling of the windows. Any future annoyance from thin cause could easily be prevented at a very small expense.

We are informed that the wreck of the steamer Westport, which sunk some time ago on her voyage from Lyttelton to Wellington, has been purchased at a very low figure by Mr- Boss, of the railway department; Mr Ross has applied for a patent for some new apparatus for the raising of sunken vessels, and intends to test the value of his disbovery in an attempt to float the Westport. Fifteen orphan children have been boarded out by the Wellington Benevolent Institution, and at the meeting of the Committee, yesterday the question of having some proper supetyi: sion over them was discussed. The duty has hitherto been performed by a Committee of the ‘Ladies’ Christian Association, Add it was resolved to communicate with that body on the subject. The Wanganui City Rifles have adopted the motto “ Second to none ’’ in their pride of place as the present champion shooting company of the colony. The “Chronicle” thinks it will be a thousand pities if, at the coming-Dunedin meeting, they should have to lower their flag to any other company. However, should the ; worst come to the worst, the matter could be cured by a few dexterous strokes of the paint brush.

Sir William Fox having offered four {wires' of £lO each for competition by pupils of the public schools of the colony in a temperance examination in .Richardson’s Temperance Lesson Book, arrangements have been made for holding the examination. in December next.' For one of the prizes, Wellington, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay, and Taranaki will be included as one district.. . It will be noted from our advertising columns that the auction sale of Dr. Johnston’s furniture and effects will be continued this morning, at 10 o’clock, by Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald & Co., the auctioneers. The whole of the bedroom -furniture, contents of wine ; cellar, and a valuable assortment of linen—in .all, some 200 lots—has yet to be offered. The sale yesterday was well attended, and the prices obtained were, apparently, fair and reasonable. The grand piano, by Collard ; and Collard, brought £IOO, and the silver seven shillings per ounce. Some valuable pictures and bronzes went at lowprioes. Good Templars might "have found came for rejoicing had any been in the neighborhood of Turnbull’s Bend, on Custom House-quay, yesterday afternoon. Some three or four sturdy storemen were busily engaged in knocking out the bungs from casks of Younger’s English ale, and letting the contents run to waste in the gutter. Some twenty-three casks were thus treated, and the nu -brown and frothy stream assumed good proportions. Some of the beer bad proved and so the entire consignment was condemned, rather than imperil the good fame of this well-known brand by putting a-defeotive lot in the market. , The police appear to have been particularly vigilant of late in detecting breaches of the city by-laws, and during the past few weeks some thirty or forty offenders have been brought to book. If this sort of thing continues residence in Wellington will become extremely distasteful to a large number of persons who have for a jlong time enjoyed the privilege of allowing their horses, f cows, and goats to feed on the public thoroughfares and in their neighbors’ gardens. ; The lively butcher boy will be compelled to leek* the wheel of his cart and endure the dull monotony of existence without the occasional excitement of a “ bolt,” while driving round street corners at the rate of ten miles an hour will be sternly prohibited. The Napier “Telegraph,” referring to the projected meat refrigerating works at that port, states that amongst the shareholders and promoters of this Company there are a number of Hawke's Bay gentlemen at present residing in England, comprising amongst others the Hon. H. R. Bussell, Mr A. S. Birch, Mr J. A’Daane, Mr C. Nairn,’ Mr Purvis Russell, Mr H. H. Bridge, Mr F. D. Rich, Mr T. Tanner, and Mr J. Chambers. We also hear that the Hon. J. Johnston, of Wellington, is connected with the Company. Arrangements have already been completed with Shaw, Savill and Co. and the New Zealand Shipping Company for the conveyance of frozen meat. It is understood that the slaughter-yards are to be erected in some central part of the district in proximity with the railway, and that the depot for the freezing and storage of the meat will be at the port.

It would appear that there are some decidedly queer characters on the list of recipients of relief from the Wellington Benevolent Institution. One elderly female, who receives 7s a week, was discovered by Mr Johnson, the Relieving Officer, in an hotel the other day, in the act of purchasing a bottle of English beer and a shilling’s worth of brandy. It was decided to stop her cash allowance and supply her with rations. Mr Johnson also mentioned the case of another woman who was in receipt of'rations and la 6d per week in cash; This old dame, he said, was in the street in such an advanced state of intoxication that she could not “ steer herself," and he was compelled to help her across the road. She then became more helpless and fell down. It was decided that the cash allowance of eighteenpence should be stopped. One member of the Committee suggested that the woman would not be able to get drank on Is 6d, but Mr Johnson showed his superior wisdom by remarking that “ eighteenpen’orth of forty-rod whiskey would knock a’ bullock down.” Another person whose necessities the Committee are relieving was the subject of discussion, and was referred to as " the man who knocked over the City Missionary.”

The “ Marlborough Press ” states that some extraordinary hauls of fish have been recently made by Picton fishermen, who have been busily employed in securing and curing a portion of the “ harvest of the sea.” Fish at present in Wellington are a scarce commodity.

The local “ Star ” claims for Auckland the credit of possessing the most seasoned drunkard in the colony in the person of Eliza McGun, who, nearly 60 years of age, has daring the last 20 years been convicted 83 times, and has spent nearlyjlO years in gaol. The lad William Barnacle, who was arrested on the charge of having caused the death of the child Gertrude Windsor some days ago, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr H. S. Wardell and discharged, the police stating that they did not intend to offer any evidence. The Caswell Sound Marble Company have now some 400 tons of marble at the quarries ready for shipment, and the Company will, now that they have obtained a guarantee of their lease from Ist of April, 1883, at once take steps to erect machinery and work the quarries iu a systematic way.

A contemporary suggests that we should deal with the “larrikin” after the Dutch fashion, In Holland it seems they put the “ deadbeat ” into a cistern, and let in a sluice of water. The youth is only just able to keep himself from drowning by working his hardest at a pump. If be pauses he drowns. The cat, or the sluice. Which shall it be !

Mr W. J. Hammersley, who ha» for over seventeen years ably filled the post of sporting editor, and has, in great measure, made the “Australasian” the sportman’s vade mecum that it is, has severed bis connection with the staff, and “ Augur ” has stepped into his shoes. The familiar nom de plum* will therefore no longer be seen at the head of tbs Turf Gossip, which will be contributed by “ Laaercost,” who has already written for the paper a few casual articles on sporting topics. He is understood to be the contributor whose chatty coursing gossip under the name of “Skiddaw” was so often seen in the London “ Field,” and now occupies a prominent part in the "Australasian.”

A wonderful invention is reported by an English consul in the United States. He states in his official report that “ a cigarette machine which makes over 100,000 cigarettes per day (the work JoC 60 hands) has been invented. The consumption of cigarettes in the United States has increased enormously of late. The revenue returns for the fiscal year ending June 30,1880, show that 408,000,000 cigarettes were made in that year, an increase of over 70 per cent, on the preceding year. It is estimated by some manufacturers that the figures for the current year will be nearly 1,000,000,000 ! The machine referred to is so perfect and rapid in its work, that 14 of them would suffice to manufacture for the entire demand, and a moderate-sized room would be all the space required.” An odd dispute has arisen between the Roman Catholic Church in South Australia and the Adelaide Press. A public meeting of Catholics was to be held the other day to discuss an alleged case of proselytism by the Destitute Board, and two reporters attended on behalf of the two metropolitan dailies. Before 1 the meeting began these two gentlemen were invited into a room to speak with •Bishop Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds asked them if they were shorthand writers, and whether they intended to report verbatim, complaining at the same time of the “ scandalous ” way in which the daily Press reported Catholic meetings. The reporters assured the Bishop that whether the reports were verbatim or not they would be fair and impartial, and thereupon the Bishop requested them to retire from the meeting. Mr Wardell, R.M., was occupied for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon in hearing three trivial charges of assault and threatening language, in which some Italian fishermen and their female relatives, residing in Douglas-Wal-laoe.streetjWececonoerned The evidence of most of the witnesses had to be taken through au interpreter, and the effect of it was that a Mrs Lucia Fierleoni had abused one Dante Gamonozi in very choice Italian, threatened to break bis bead with a rolling-pin, and expressed a desire to make a meal of certain of hia internal organs. For these offences she was fined 5s and costs. One of the witnesses was a.very little but preternaturally sharp girl of 12, who. proved to be able to swear proficiently in both Engliah aud Italian, though she professed a preference for the last named language. It may be interesting to those who mako'.r jidy of comparative philology to know that the insinuation that a man is the son of a female canine quadruped is a common form of abuse in Italy, though it has generally been regarded as an expression of endearment used generally and almost exclusively by the British sailor.

There is nothing, observes the “Pall Mai Gazette," new under the sun, and even the eccentricities of testators run in certain fixed ' grooves, having for object the perpetuation of their name or memory, by some means which, however absurd, are not much more absurd than a perpetual entail. The latest attempt in this direction is that of Miss Ann Burdett, whose will was the subject of discussion before Vice-Chancellor Bacon recently. She directed her trustees immediately after her death to cause the windows and doors of the house she lived in and every room in it, with all the furniture, to be bricked up for twenty years, a married couple being placed in the kitchen to keep up the blockade, and bya special codicil in her will she even directed the exact manner in which the windows were to be boarded and nailed up. The old lady, no doubt, thought herself original; but had she known it she was only imitating the example of a testator in a neighboring county in the last century (and many before him), who directed a similar blocking up of his house, but with himself inside it—a direction that was-carried but. It shows the difference of the times that the Vice-Chancellor refused to be guided by an inapplicable question to tbe effect that one “may die and endow a college or a oat,” and directed the trustees “ to unseal and release all this at present useless property.” Women who wear high-heeled boots do so not only literally, but legally at their peril, according to a recent decision at Home. This point was solemnly decided by Mr Justice Denman and a jury in the case of Mrs Bland, of Woolwich, who, while embarking at Brighton on a steamboat, tripped up on the gangway over a concealed obstruction in the shape of a roll of tarpaulin carelessly left there, and seriously injured herself. Mrs Bland brought suit for compensatory and exemplary damages. During the examination of Dr. Butler, tbe medical witness, Mr Justice Denman asked him if he had noticed the heels of -Mrs Bland’s boots when he examined her, to which the witness answered that, to the best of his belief, they were reasonable.' Mr Justice Denman then said he asked the question because the absurdly high heeled boots which were worn by ladies now seemed to be built on purpose to cause accidents. In the end the jury found that whatever the negligence of tbe steamboat officials might have been, Mrs Bland, fay her high-heeled boots, had wontonly and wilfully contributed to cause the injury of which she complained, and therefore absolved the proprietors. On the same principle a lady who may be thrown down and injured through the overweening length of her train must take the consequences without redress. • A rather remarkable mercantile case came before Justice Gillies in Chambers at Auckland on Saturday last re Mackie, coachbuilder, ▼. Oppenheimer. .Plaintiff alleged in affidavit that he had given Oppenheimer an accommodation bill for £3OO on the latter’s promise to give him bis own bill for like amount, payable two days before plaintiff’s bill fell due ;' that on the next day plaintiff went down with his book-keeper and asked defendant for his note in terms of the agreement. This defendant gave, and stated that he bad lodged plaintiff’s note in the bank, but made his (Oppenheimer) to plaintiff payable two days before the plaintiff’s note became due. This statement plaintiff accepted, and nothing happened till the maturity of the bill, when plaintiff received notice qf defendant’s bill being dishonored, bat that his own in favor of tbe defendant bad been paid to the defendant. Flamtiff then discovered for the first time that both notes had been made payable on the same day, and cm demanding payment defendant asked him to give him till 3 o’clock to find tbe money. Plaintiff, in his affidavit, denied that defendant bad made an affidavit that there was an agreement for the renewal of the bill, but there was an agreement to renew, and he also alleged that the material statements in defendant’s affidavit were false. Plaintiff’s affidavit was supported by tbe affidavit of bis son and Arthur Bettany. Upon the case being called on by the Registrar on the 23rd bis Honor said that this was a very gross case, and that had be known of theie facts when the order was applied fo-, be wonld not have granted it, but that when be saw a person calling himself a merchant, making an affidavit of agreement to renew, he thought it was entitled to some weight, bat upon these facts he should at once order the money to be deposited.; Mr Hesketh, counsel for tbe plaintiff, here interposed, and said he believed his Honor would not be troubled with this matter, as he had received a message that the defendant desired to settle. At his request the case stood over for settlement.

After perusal of a good many uncertain and contradictory telegrams concerning the movements of Sir Arthur Gordon, it may interest some among our readers to know that he has at last lett Australia, per s.s. Indus, for England. At least, such is the purport of the latest Renter message. Mrs Sarah Purnell, the lady who a few days ago received an invitation to attend the Resident Magistrate’s Court to explain the circumstances under which she found it necessary to open the face of a female friend named Bobbins with a bar of iron, did not put in an appearance at the hour she was expected yesterday morning. A warrant was issued for her apprehension.

The Sydney footballers are not on a speculative trip, but any balance after paying expenses will be handed to the Rugby Union of New South Wales, and go to a fa id for the purpose of taking a New Zealand team over there next season. If the balance is on the wrong side the members of the team will have to make it good themselves. The public who demur at paying gate money should take this into consideration.

As usual, there were some absurdly frantic efforts made to save property at the fire last night. Some good, sensible, even-headed people set to work and got goods out of Mr Croekery's store, and ranged them on the footpath. Then along came an excitable “ energetic," who, seizing parte oi an iron bedstead, pitched then frantically on a heap of breakables, and, at one fell aweop, did ab >ut £4O worth |of damage. £Anon came another, and he, in his excitement, pitched boxes of tea through the window panes, and concluded his performance by carefully carrying out in his arms a small bundle of flax.

In connection with the most unexpected win by the Duke of Hamilton’s Friday of the Goodwood Cup, a good story is going the rounds of the English sporting Press. It is related that on making the bend for home Friday showed strong symptoms of having had racing enough, and slackened his pace as if disposed to drop into a trot. At this juncture unexpected aid came in the person of a rustic stationed by the side of the course. Sympathising, perhaps, with the youthful rider of Friday, ho called out “ Get on, boy ; they’re catching ye up fast ! ” and, at the same time, rattled his stick vigorously in his hat. Alarmed, encouraged, or, at any rate,- moved in some way by the noise, Friday began to gallop again, and continued to do so, bringing about, as all the world now knows, one of the most extraordinary surprises in the annals of racing. News has been received by the Government that Dr. George W. Grabham, the newly-ap-poiuted Inspector of Lunatic Asylums for the colony, left England on |the 7tb instant, by the Orient steamer Austral Though not by any means an old man—being 45 years of age —Dr. Grabham comes to ua with the highest testimonials. He occupied the position of De-puty-Superintendent of the Surrey Asylum for six years, and that of Superintendent at Earlswood—facta which should go far to prove that he possesses qualifications of a very high degree, as well as experience. It would also appear that he did not apply for the office for the sake of the salary that was offered, but that, being possessed of independent means, he had made up his mind to settle in New Zealand, and to invest his capital in it. Such a man should prove not only an efficient officer, but also a most desirable addition to the list of settlers in the colony.

Have you seen it ? The Mantle Department at Te Are House is quite an Exhibition in its way. There are hundreds of Visiles, Dolmans, and Jackets to select from, in all sizes, every prevailing shape, and in quite a plethora of materials. Ladies’ Cashmere Jackets, trimmed with Chenille fringe, Spanish lace, and jet passementerie, from 13s 6d to 67s 6d. Handsome Visiles in Broohe silk, trimmed with lace and jet passementerie, from 29s 6d to JA 4s. Broche silk Dolmans, richly trimmed with Chenille lace and passementerie, from 67s 6d to L 7 7a. A bewildering profusion of Ladies’ Capes in Broche satin, sicilienne, and the new brocaded grenadine, from 7s 6d to 755. In the Costume Department, are the fashionable Nun’s veiling, in pretty wool beiges, in lovely shades of plain satteens, in zephyr cloths, in choice pompadour satteens, in black grenadines, in Madras muslins, and Madras lace. Inspect without delay the Exhibition at Te Aeo House.—[Advt, Improved Sheep Shears. —As an article of the seasonable kind for the approachingshearing time,, we. draw particular attention to Marshall’s Patent , Double-Bow Sheep Shears! These patent elastic Sheep Shears are manufactured, from the best cast steel, and Ly new and special machinery, which secures the important advantage of working steel at a lower neat, and dispensing with the uncertain process of welding. The blades being hammered and tempered in a superior manner, are warranted to carry an edge equal to the best made razors. The bows are double and firmly rivetted, thereby combining the greatest strength with the greatest elasticity. They are lighter, stronger, more compact and easier in the grip than any shear hitherto invented. They we-e two seasons ago introduced into Australia, and many,thousands of dozens have already been placed without a single complaint about their quality. As many as 3000 sheep have been shorn on the Darling with one pair of these shears, and it is quite a common thing or 1500 to 2000 sheep to be turned off a single Eair. Mr Scott, of Bathurst, who took the rst prize at the Sydney International Exhibition, gives his opinion of the Marshall’s Shears as follows “I find them second to none ; I ; would advise all shearers to use them, as I can shear 120 a-day with these shears with more ease than I can 100 with most shears. I have had eighteen years’ experience, and can recommend them as really good, the grip small and lively.” To meet the requirements of all classes of shearers, each half-dozen parcels contain shears of at least three different strengths of bows. To those who have not yet used these shears, we would suggest that they write to Messrs Robert Gardner and Co., Wholesale and Retail Ironmongers, Lambton-quay, Wellington, who are agents for the makers, and they will cheerfully supply, post free, particulars of prices and numbers.— [Advt.

The Temperance Crusade, like| all other aggressive movements, goes beyond the bounds of reason and common sense. Once these pales overstepped and it assumes the form of fanaticism. A great physiologist has said that, whilst the use of alcohol is, on general x ,r i n °ipl es i more injurious than beneficial, great benefit may be derived from its use, medicinally administered, in appropriate cases. In these cases, he adds, it is a powerful remedial agent. Hence the endorsement of Udolpho Wolfe’s Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps.— [Advt.j 11 Thames Street Industries, by Percy Russell.—This Illustrated Pamphlet on Perfumery, &c., published at 6d., may be had gratis from any Chemist in the world, or John Gosnell and Co., London.— [Advt.]