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New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 6856, 12 April 1883, Page 2

With reference to the railway travelling grievances brought before the notice of the Minister of Public Works by the deputation from the Lower Hutt on Tuesday, and having reference to flag-stations, we are authorised to state that the request presented has been granted. The Bailway Commission, for the purpose of inquiring and reporting respecting the feasibility of the proposed direct railway from Christchurch to the West Coast of the Middle Island, has now been appointed, and will consist of the fallowing gentlemen :—Messrs J. G. Wilson, M.H.B. for Bangitikei ; Mr Napier Bell, engineer, of Christchurch ; and Captain Bussell, of Hastings, formerly M.H.B. for Napier. The commission will commence work in all probability about a week hence, that being about the time when Mr Bell will be at liberty to act.

Sixty deaths on five immigrant ships arriving at Sydney have caused a demand for stricter precautions before shipping unhealthy or ailing persons for a long voyage. The licensing question is causing much agitation in Sydney. Petitions are being signed in favor of the “ local option ” principle, which seems to be largely favored. One petition had been received with over 8000 signatures. A Licensing Bill now under discussion in Parliament proposes to relax various restrictions in favor of publicans, and to extend the closing time to 11.30 p.m., allowing also one hour for business on Sundays. The French scare In Madagascar is thus described in a recent letter from Antananarivo ;—“The city is full of armed men, and every smithy resounds with the noise of the blacksmith’s hammer. Spears are being made in thousands, old arms repaired, and new ones issued. A war with the French is popular among the ignorant masses, whom the Prime Minister has so long kept in check.’’ Not a laborer was to be had to do any work, all being employed making gunpowder, bullets, and dynamite.

The large sum of £1305 was paid for a telegram, of which we recently took notice as the longest one sent from Australia to England, sent by the New South Wales Government to the English newspapers, and when explanation was demanded in Parliament, Sir H. Parkes said the object was to report the financial statement with such fulness as would counteract recent adverse remarks in the London Times in warning the monied class against over-borrowing by the colonies. The long telegram, he said, was well worth what it cost to achieve so necessary an object, in protecting the credit of that colony. There was a large attendance at the auction rooms of Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. yesterday, when that firm announced that they would offer for sale by public auction the business carried,on by Messrs G. A. Strike and Co. as aerated water and cordial manufacturers, at Wellington and Nelson. After the conditions of sale had been read by Mr Macdonald, Mr Handley, one of the partners of firm, protested against the properties being sold in one lot. A departure from the general incidents of an auction room was occasioned by a speech made by Mr George Dixon, who desired to be assured that the trade mark was included in the goodwill. After a considerable amount of chaffing, the auctioneer announced that his instructions were to sell the whole in one lot, and he bad no option in the matter, the business being eventually knocked down to Mr O. A, Fairlie for £2OOO. A committee meeting of the Bifle Association was held at Mr Hislop’s office last evening, when the prize list for the various matches, , and values attached, was agreed to as follows President match trophies, &c., value £2B ; cash, £i ; total, £32. Citizens’ match—trophies, &c."£23 ; cash, £6 ; total, £29. Wellington match—trophies, &c., £23 j cash, £4 j total, £26. Licensed victuallers’ trophies, &c. t £23 10s ; cash, £6 ; total, £29 1(1. Highest aggregates in the four matches’—tr-.phies, £3O ; ca'h, °£7 ; total, £37. Highest aggregate in all matches, silver cup, £l6 ; grand total value of £133 10s. The ladies’ match could not be dealt with, as the lists are not yet to hand ; but as this match always occupies a separate day, there will be time hereafter to arrange for it. The number, of-entries to all matches reached 40. It was also decided, for the convenience of competitors, to remove the restriction regarding uniforms, so that they will now be allowed to fire in_ mufti. The first squad fires to-morrow morning at half-past 6 o’clock, and we are desired to remind competitors that they must attend punctually at the time allotted them, or lose their chance of competing. Tickets'will be issued at Mr Boss’, fruiterer, on and after 10 a.m. this day, and the time for 'receiving entries has been extended until 9 o'clock, this evening, at the Drillthed.

By a Gazette Extraordinary issued last evening the meeting of Parliament is further prorogued from the 16th instant to the 15th May.

It is remarkable that the Government of New South Wales has introduced a Bill for increasing the pensions of retired judges. To increase salaries is not uncommon, but to increase pensions is a novelty indeed. The farmers on the Lachlan back blocks, in New douch Wales, have, in view of the approach of rabbits, decided to collect and expend £17,800 in the erection of 178 miles of rabbit-proof fencing. To-day, at 12 o’clock noon, Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. sell a quantity of North Wales steam coal, which arrived per barque Letterewe. Tbs sale will be held at the auction rooms, Panama-street, in lots to suit purchasers.

The raised steamship Austral is now almost restored to her proper condition, 450 workmen having been employed in cleaning and painting the hull. She is to be floated into dock in about three weeks, when the high tides at Sydney will favor that operation.

The civil action of Brandon v, Einnimore will be tried to-day, before Judge Richmond, at the Supreme Court. The hearing of applications for discharges in bankruptcy cannot be taken next Monday, as formerly fixed, there being a full sitting for cases in banco on that day. Creditors of Robert Jiliett, lately hotelkeeper at Porirua, were summoned to a first meeting yesterday afternoon, but a quorum not being present, the meeting lapsed. The filed statement showed liabilities amounting to £IBB, and assets, in the shape of book debts, valued at £72 18s Bd. The principal debts were ;—W. McKenzie, £SO; G. Dixon, £24 ; J. Prosser, £2O ; and several smaller sums.

The funeral of the lata Mr P, S. Nicholls, whose premature death we chronicled the other day, took place at the cemetery yesterday afternoon. Amongst those who assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to one who promised to be a brilliant journalist were most of his comrades from the New Zealand Times’ office, nearly the whole staff being present, and also several members of the staff of the Evening Post,

The comet is not to come back to us this year, after all, for Professor Proctor, in the December number of Knowledge, says : “ There is now no reason to believe that this comet will soon return. It is travelling along steadily enough in an orbit of great extent, though the exact extent of the orbit is not yet known. The Vienna Observatory, on which our estimate of period was (provisionally) based, turns out to have been quite inaccurate.” We hear that Mr G. J. Blake, of Whangei, is the first man who discovered this comet ; but as there are others in the field for the honor of fathering the visitor, we refrain from giving the date at which Mr Blake first observed it. “ G.” writes to the Brisbane Courier as follows on the subject of finding water by means of the divining rod :—“ A gentleman from the western district related to me a few days ago a circumstance which, if true, would go to show that supermundane gifts, to which some people pretend, might, after all, be turned to good practical account. A boy, sou of a carrier, was taken to a place somewhere on the confines of the Mitchell and Gregory districts, where it was supposed underground water was likely to be found. Arriving at the place, he started on foot with a twig about 3ft. long, and which branched out into a fork at one end. Bach end of the fork was pressed lightly against the point of the thumb, whilst with the points of his forefingers he supported the twig in a horizontal position, orrather, atadip of 45'. He had not walked many miles before the twig suddenly dipped until the end touched the ground. The spot was marked by a peg, and, says my informant, at that spot there is now a well giving a never-failing supply of water. It strikes me here is a much more useful field for the operations of Brisbane spiritists than attempting to collect news from other worlds by table-rapping.”

The structural delects ot the new law courts (observes a London paper) still supply a theme for unceasing complaint from all whose business takes them within its precincts. It has already been clearly shown that in their construction architectural unity was looked upon as everything, while convenience and suitability for their especial purpose were regarded as nothing. Elaborate arrangements were made for their ventilation and lighting, but they have utterly collapsed in practice. This week the Master of the Rolls was almost blown off the bench by a blast of cold air turned on through a ventilating shaft, instead of hot; while the sitting of another Court had to be temporarily bus pended owing to a break down of the electric light. The acoustic properties of the courts are hopelessly bad, and the internal arrangements altogether are unsatisfactory in the extreme. The witness-box is so placed that the witnesses cannot be seen by the judge, while the judge is removed wholly from the view of the jury. The moral of the whole business is that the Gothic style of architecture is not at all suited to modern requirements. If Mr Street had followed the line adopted in the erection of the new Government office in Whitehall and elsewhere, the loss in beauty would have been more than compensated by the gaip in utility. Passing valueless cheques on tradesmen has become a common mode of swindling. An impudent case of this kind, which seems to have been punished too lightly, came before Mr T, G. McCarthy and Dr. Henry, sitting as justices yesterday at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. A young fellow named Frederick Sayer, claiming to be a nephew of the Marquis of Xormanby, and formerly a sergeant in the A.C. force, hod been apprehended on two charges of this nature. He has been living a fast life in Wellington, having lately received money from Home, and spent some of it in debauchery. He professes that some one is taking care of £3OO for him, or is unable to recollect where that sum has gone. The first charge was that he tendered a cheque for £1 to Mr J. Ziraan, tobacconist, Willis-atreet, in payment of an account then due for 14s fid, receiving 6a fid in change. The second charge was that he tendered a cheque for £5 at Te Aro House, Ouba-street, to pay for a dress ordered for a female acquaintance named Miss Palmer, of Dixon-atreet, the dress costing £3 5s 9d, and he receiving £1 14s 3d as change. Both cheques were drawn on the bank of New Zealand, and were dishonored. Mr H. Ournow attended from the bank, and deposed that the prisoner had an account at that bank for about two months, but withdrew the balance in September last. Detective Campbell said that, on taking the prisoner , into custody, he made this statement, "I suppose I will be able to make it all right. Mr Buckley has had charge of my money.” The prisoner now told the Bench that ho was drunk when he gave these cheques, and did hot remember much about the matter. He had over £3OO, but did not know whether or not he bad asked the parties to hold these cheques over, as he was expecting some money from Home. The Bench said these cases were clear, and the prisoner had been convicted before. He was sentenced to two months’ hard labor on each charge, being four months in all. The real struggle for the vacant Inangahua seat is only now beginning. Mr Edward Wakefield has had a quiet canter over the field. Mr E. Shaw is at length bearing down on the scene of battle, and will sound his war trumpet in a day or two. Mr T. Dwan, who is well kpown on the West Coast, has been holding back as a “dark horse,” but is now spiffing the battle from afar, and plunging impatiently to be in it. He has just issued an address at Reefton, offering his services to the constituency on these terms, that if a public meeting resolves to invite him, or if an influential requisition be signed, he will contest the seat against the present candidates—or any other man. Mr Dwan’s programme is rather spicy, in a local sense, and contains at least one refreshing novelty. He would advocate, and try to get, the immediate extension of the Main Trunk Railway by way of Reefton ; the making and maintenance by Government of a main trunk road from the “ Big Grey ” to Charleston, besides urging the Government to take over the maintenance of the Reefton and Westport .dray-road as being beyond the means of a local body ; he would also “ go in ” for expending large sums on the harbors of Greymonth and Westport, to make them navigable for vessels of 2000 tons; he would favor the restoring of the Nelson provincial system of aiding schools by public funds according to results. Also, while favoring the policy of the present Government, he condemns Major Atkinson’s national insurance scheme, as being more in the interest of the rich than the poor, and he would favor the local election of mining inspectors, and the establishment at Reefton of a mining school of arts. Finally, to prevent pauperism caused by drunkenness, Mr Dwan suggests that the Government should hand over to local temperance societies at each place the fees for drunkenness (the usual ss) imposed by Magistrate's Courts; such fees to go towards paying the cost of local “ homes for inebriates,” thereby making the drunkard support the drunkard. Mr Dwan’a address promises other good things, whiohhe humorously bolds in reserve, lest other candidates should turn them to their own profit.

A death adder was recently caught near the shore of Sj dney harbor, the length being 33in, The annual meeting of the Wellington Ladies’ Christian Association will be held tomorrow in the Athenmum, at 4 p.m.

A public meeting under the auspices of the Gospel Temperance Society and the Blue Ribbon Union will be held to-morrow evening at St. John’s Schoolroom, Willis-street. Another exploration of the northern territory of Australia is being undertaken by Mr Lindsay, who is commissioned by the South Australian Government. He will start up the Roper River from the Gulf of Carpentaria. Between that gulf and the Alligator River splendid tracts of well-watered grazing land are vaguely reported by natives.

The meeting of the City Council, which is to take place this evening, promises to prove of mote than ordinary importance. The Finance Committee of the council will submit a report which deserves the attention of every ratepayer in the municipality, as a number of interesting points are dealt with. It will, perhaps, be a relief to many to know that the committee does not see any necessity for increasing the rates. A report, the exact nature of which has not transpired, will also be brought up by the Night-soil Committee. “ The Grasshopper’’ closed its very successful and merry career last evening, and to-night “The Ticket-oE-Leav« Man” will be played. As this is the last night of the company in Wellington, and the last opportunity that there will be of witnessing Miss Jennie Lee’s wonderful acting, a very full house may be expected. The “ Ticket-of-Leave Man ” is too well known to require any explanation or praise on our part; and the fact that Miss Jenny Lee and her remarkably good company are going to play the piece is sufficient to insure a great treat to their patrons. Exorbitant rates of interest, exacted by money-lenders in Melbourne, have been exposed in the Insolvent Court. A young man, who was to inherit £25,000 when he reached the age of 25 years, began borrowing. A bill for £l5O, payable in three months, was discounted for a fee of £SO, being at the rate of 133 per cent, per annum. A still worse instance was the payment of £IOO for a loan of £l6O for only 24 days. One lender admitted charging at the rate of 1400 per cent, per annum for advances to this young spendthrift, who became insolvent.

On the authority of the Marlborough Daily Times we stated the other day that Mias Juan had been purchased by Mr Redwood. The Express now corrects its contemporary’s statement as follows ;—We think our contemporary is slightly in error in stating that Mr Henry Redwood has purchased the racehorse Miss Juan. If our information is correct, the mare was knocked down to Mr Blower for £ls (> , and immediately afterwards re-sold to Mr Kerr at an advance of £5 upon his bargain, Mr Redwood has taken the mare in hand for Mr Kerr, and we have no doubt that under his skilful training we shall bare a good account of her in the future.

Some excitement was caused in the city yesterday evening by the circulation of a report to the effect that several spars had been seen floating off Stephen’s Island from the steamer Wakatipu yesterday, and the supposed fact was naturally connected with the recent disappearance of lue schooner Hannah Barratt. Captain Wheeler informs us that his attention was directed by a passenger to something in the water near the island named, and that, after examination, he was quite satisfied that it was nothing but a log, the length of which was not equal to that of the mainmast of a schooner of the Hannah Barratt’s tonnage. We may add that nothing new has transpired regarding the missing vessel, and that nothing in the shape of wreckage was seen by any of the vessels which came into port yesterday. A meeting of gentlemen interested in the establishment of a Quartz Crashing Company for the purpose ot erecting quartz crushing machinery on the goldfield at Terawhiti, convened by circular, was held at the Albert Hotel last night, about twelve persons being present. Mr Isaac Plimmer occupied the chair, and Mr W. E. 6. Hickson was appointed secretary pro. tem. The proceedings were ot a preliminary character, the details of the proposal not being discussed. It was resolved that a company be formed, with a capital of £3OOO in 3000 shares of £1 each. The followgentlemen were appointed provisional directors, viz. ;—Messrs Kirton, Madden, I. Plimmer, and J. W. Stevenson, with instructions to draw up a prospectus. The opinion was expressed that the capital would be subscribed without the slightest difficulty, A fresh and ingenious suggestion is made by Mr T. Dwan for curing (if not killing) the pauperism caused by drunkenness, Making allowance for Mr Dwan’a inveterate facetiousness, there is yet a seriousness about this new plan of hia which deserves attention. If drinkers cannot be kept from drinking, they may be made to support each other in this way. Let Parliament make a decree that all fines imposed by Magistrates’ Courts for drunkenness be banded over to local temperance societies in each district, for defraying the cost of “homes for inebriates.” Mr Dwan makes this suggestion in his address to the Inangahua electors ; but he does not give details. The plan might suit temperance reformers ; and we suppose the drunkard ie net to be consulted on the disposal of his five-shil-ling fines. But would the drunkard take kindly to this new curative treatment; or would he kick hard against a law which handed him over to the tender mercies of teetotallers and Good Templars, who would “boss” these new asylums for the cure of drunkards ? This may be a case in which the end justifies the means. If drunkards be cured ot their shocking bad habit, it won’t much matter whether they like the new temperance treatment or not. Mr Dwan apparently thinks that it the law does not allow teetotallers to kill a drunkard (with kindness) the law may safely allow them to cure him (with cold water.) The Sydney Bulletin, writing of Bandmann’s tour in India,says: “ Herr Bandmann has been a brilliant success in India, as the following letter of his to the Calcutta Statesman and Friend of India will show ‘ Calcutta, January 29, 1883.—Riach.—I have read your report in this morning’s rag, otherwise called the Statesman. It was sent to me by one of your friends. lam not surprised over the Billingsgate infamy. Your treachery all along tome led me to no other expectations from such a Judas as you are. You have been, and are still trying to mislead the public, and throw dirt upon my good name, and had I time, and did I consider it worth the trouble, I should put you in jail, as I did your confrere in Hongkong, and where such curs like you ought to be. Publish this letter intact it you have the courage ; but if you have not you can only stab in the dark like a coward,—Yours, Daniel Edward Bandmann.—My address is College Hall, Madras.’ Toe Statesman did publish the letter, though no type could give a correct idea of the Herr’s wonderful handwriting, and observed with laconic force, ‘we have no hesitation in saying that Herr Bandmann is a blackguard while the Indian World closes a kindly notice ot the mighty tragedian thus :—‘ To gain the respect of the public, an actor must be also a gentleman. Mr Bandmann is neither ; but a type of that insinuating nuisance only to be met with on the grimy boards of a penny show, a ranting, blustering, ignorant mummer.’ So it will be understood that Herr Bandmann was a brilliant success in India, He managed to get a Hongkong journalist into gaol for libel. The Indian journalists took up the cause of their Hongkong brother and flayed Bandmann whenever they got a chance.”

Every lady knows how difficult it is o get a Mantle or Jacket properly made. There are few dressmakers who will not deem themselves fully equal to this task, but that it is a fallacy is but too surely proved by results. The making of either dress or jacket requires not only natural talent, but special training, and while some attain to eminence as dressmakers, few are found equally able cs mantlemakers. In this respect we (Te Aro House) can offer special advantages, both garments made as they should and only ought to be. For this purpose we have imported a select assortment of Mantle Cloths, Ornaments, Beaded Gimps, Fur Sets and trimmings, and can guarantee highly satisfactory results to those who may favor us with their orders. We would here note that we do not turn out what are commonly called “cheap” dresses or jackets. We prefer to give the very best work and style for a fair price, and submit that this is preferable to paying a lower charge for an inefficiently made garment that perhaps after a few weeks’ wear requires remaking at a not improbable extra cost of 50 per cent. Riding habits also made to order at Te Aro House.— [Advt.] The achievement that gave to the world Wolfe’s Schnapps -will live in the history of curative science as long as the human frame is subject to natural diseases.—[Advt.] 18