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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7223, 19 July 1884, Page 2

The District Coart was again adjourned yesterday till next Friday, None ot the cases set down for hearing are likely to exhibit features of special interest. About half-past two o’clock yesterday morning, a fire broke out in a building standing at the rear of the residence of Colonel Deckle, Newtown, which was devoted to the uses of a stable, bathroom, washhouse, &c., the contents of which were totally destroyed. The Fire Brigade and tho members of the Salvage Corps promptly attended, but failed to save the building or its contents, valued at about £7O, and which were partially covered by insurance to the extent of £25, The origin of the fire is not known, bat it is considered more than likely that a vagrant seeking shelter for the night incautiously set fire to the place,

A match will tako place tc-day between the Our Boys and Star football clubs. I > ia3 , ers are remould to bo on the ground sharp at half past two.

Mr Macrae, of Mangere outrage fame, has received a threatening letter couched in the following terms “ I hereby warn you to stop impounding cattle. It you do not, we intend to waylay you on the road, and half kill yon, if not whole. This is a caution to you and your advisers.” The Bankruptcy Court will flit on Monday at 10 o’clock, when a motion in re the estate of P. Moodier will be made. A public exainination will be held in the estate of L». ,C. Maunsell, and applications for discharge will be entertained in the matters of Horatio Wragge and William Whiteman. The estate of C. W. Schultz will also again occupy the attention of the court.

Mr Warded, K.M., with a highly praise, worthy intention of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the city and its environs, in order that he may be thoroughly conversant with localities in adjudicating on cases in his official capacity, has recently, accompanied by two officials of the city corporation, beaten the bounds of the district, and during his peregrinations has visited the back slums of the city.

At the annual meeting of St Peter’s parish last evening, Archdeacon Stock congratulated the parishioners upon the result of the industrial exhibition held recently, lie remarked that exhibits were made by 375 children, some of whom bad three or four exhibits standing in their names. He eulogised the energy of Messrs Hidsbury and Johnson in connection with the exhibition, to widen, indeed, he ascribed in a great measure the success which had been attained. One of the officers of the p.p. Hauroto had a narrow escape from what might have proved a very nasty accident yesterday afternoon. While the steamer was being slewed round so as to lie with her starboard aide to the wharf, on account of the port side being blocked up by a number of horses on deck, the second mate, who was standing on the poop outside the railing, got his legs jammed between the spring and the railing, and would have been badly injured had not the steam winch been immediately stopped. " Mercutio,” in the New Zealand Herald, relates rather a good story in connection with the Maori nominations at Te Awamutu the otborday. Whilst the nominations were going on a Maori slipped up to the native agent aud handed him a paper, on which was written words to this effect Friend ! Will you postpone those proceedings for a short time until Tawhiao returns from England, I expect ho will bo made member, King, minister and high priest of the whole world.’* The Maori not joking ; on the contrary, he was terribly in earnest, Cut he failed to get his way. The proceedings were not postponed. The football matches to be played on the Newtown ground to-day are Senior Cup match, Athletic v. Wellington ; Rugby first v. Poneke second ; Union second v. Poueke third. The cup match will doubtless be a great attraction, seeing that it is really a contest between the crack local clubs for the superiority. The Wellington club has defeated the Athletic Club once this season, but that can hardly be taken as a criterion in the present instance, inasmuch as each club has lost the services of some of its best players. Mr K. J. Wilson, who, was a member of the New Zealand representative team, aud has a : first-class reputation as a wing forward, will take pact in this match, having joined the ranks of the Athletics.

Iu another column we publish a letter from Dr Keywortb, the Resident Surgeon of the hospital, requesting that those who can do so will present flowering shrubs and bedding plants for tho gardens of the institution. We cordially endorse this application, and believe that the benevolent will at once respond to it. It is well kuown that the sight of objects of natural beauty has a powerful influence in affecting favorably the spirits of those whosuffer from illness \ and, besides that, the ex* halations from fragrant plants have a direct effect iu purifying the air and rendering it wholesome. The hospital grounds at present have a decidedly dreary appearance, and need beautifying, and we trust that Dr Keyworth’s benevolent project will meet with the success t deserves.

The Hawkea Bay Herald says :—“ The socalled ‘ patent scaffold 1 brought up from Wellington for the execution of Edwards was a most disgraceful and ramshackle affair. There was no balustrade around the front of it, to that if the condemned man had swooned or struggled, there was nothing to prevent him falling off. The step-ladder up which the wretched man had to climb to his death was only 24in wide, and was also unprotected by a balustrade on one aide, and, on the other side, a 0 x 1 board was nailed up in a temporary fashion. This ladder was also set up at au acute angle (about 60deg), so that only the firmness of the criminal at the last trying moment prevented a distressing scene. The idea, first, of constructing such au apparatus, and then carting it about the colony as occasion requires, reflects but little credit upon the authorities.” The Christchurch correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes to that paper :—“ The Kev Mr Crewes' opposition to Sir J. Vogel was very sadden. Ho is a plausible oily speaker, and possesses great influence with unlettered audiences. A supporter of Sir J. Vogel told me that in bis opinion the Sydenham meteor showed greater skill in answering questions and parrying awkward queries than any political speaker who has appeared on the platform here. Like Sit G. Grey, however, he is totally impractical in his views. As a' lecturer on the lessons to be drawn from history, his address was admirable, but plain common sense there was none, I don’t think the Rev Mr Crewe will be(elected, despite the hold he has obtained over the working men. Sir J. Vogel’s address has 900 printed signatures, besides 320 mote not printed, but I should not like to say all the names are genuine electors. Several men have already complained of their names being put on without authority, and some I know have no right to be on.” The writer refers to Mr Crewes as a dissenting minister and a red-hot temperance advocate. The recent outbreak of smallpox in London is the subject of a leading article in the Morning Post, which contains the following : Most of the patients seeni to have been vaccinated in some form at some period of their lives, but it is significant that on the one hand there ore practically no children among the vaccinated persons attacked; and, on the other hand, among 500 patients only two had been revaocinated, and in both these instances the operation took place more than a dozen years ago. There seems to be no doubt that we must abandon the old notion that vaccination once performed confers absolute immunity for life. On the other hand, there seems no reason to believe that one vaccination in infancy, and one in adolescence, are not amply sufficient, and it is probable that if revaocination were universal, something like eight instead of 800 patients would now be in the smallpox hospitals. The Daily Chronicle, in au article on the same subject, says :—There seems to be au impression that vaccination once performed in early years will suffice as a protection throughout thejwhole of life. This is a great mistake. The preventive virtue of the vaccine matter grows weaker and weaker year by year, and will in process of time, unless renewed, lapse altogether. The revacoination, therefore, of persons exposed to infection is regarded by the majority of the medical profession as constituting a most effective mode of preventing the spread of this horrible disease. The New Zealand Herald in an article on the state of political parties as likely to obtain in the new Parliament says “ Whatever combinations may be formed on the assembling of Parliament, it is clear that tho more the Premier’s hands are strengthened the better will it ba for the interests, not of the North Island alone, but of the colony as a whole. It most by this time be manifest that the majority of Southern representatives, with one or two Northern ones, will accept the leadership of Sir Julius Vogel ; while it is also evident that the majority of members from the North Island, with a considerable addition from the south, will adhere to Major Atkinson. It remains to be seen to which of these two patties, which are thus in process of formation, the Government of the country will ultimately be committed, or whether, with a view to invigoration coupled with safety, the Ministry that is to be may not be selected from them both. But these twothinga are for us, at all events,quite certain, that any further sentimentsl lingering over an alliance betweepSir George Grey’s followers and those of the Ministry is simply a waste of time, and that every member returned by us who is not in political sympathy with Major Atkinson, will only prove a reduction of our potency to take our proper place and share in the Government of the colony, and secure an impartial administration of all its affairs.” The same contemporary ia another article says :—" Taking the expression of his own expectations on the occasion of his last address in the Theatre Royal, Sir George Grey may be regarded as out of the tanning. There are, it is true, candidates whose only chance of success lies in their declaring themselves his pliant followers ; but, iu view of their antecedents, some of these even, if they should win in the race, could not be expected to remain long steadfast in their new attach, ment. But, even supposing that all who for various reasons swear fidelity to this leader were to prove victorious and stand by him despite all adverse changes, the following of Sir George is evidently doomed to emerge from tha election in greatly diminished strength,”

“ Anmodais ” items will be found on our fourth page. The Wanganui Chronicle learns that Mr Bryce’s father u dangerously ill at Fora FTats, near Bonny Gleu. la another column Colonel Leckie tinders his thanks to Superintendent Whiteford and the Fire Brigade and to the Salvage Corps for their assistance at the fire on his premises on Thursday night.

The particulars are given in another column of the sale of flowering plants and shrubs, from tho nurseries of Mr 11. Buddeu, of Nelson, to be held on Monday next, at 2 o'clock, by Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co, The exhibition of the stercopticon last night at the Athemeum again attracted a large and appreciative audience. The principal present given away was a sewing machine, the recipient of which was Mrs Byau, of Ilaining-Btreet. To-night the atereoptlcon will be ou exhibition at the Lyceum, ou which occasion every child present will receive a present.

At the Athemeum to-night, Messrs Foley and Berkley appear iu an entertainment entitled “ Chic,” in the first part of which eight characters will be represented by two actors, who evidently possess an amount of versatility not often met with. The prices are popular, and the programme attractive, and these combinations should ensure the attendance of a large audience. On Monday week, in the Tinakori-road schoolroom, will bo opened a winter course of lectures in connection with St. Paul’s Parochial Associati n. The first lecture of the course will be one entitled “ Handel: his life and work in England,” by Mr Robt, Parker, whose high musical reputation is a matter of notoriety. The lecture will be illustrated by a selection from the works of the composer who e life forma its subject. On the following evening, at St, Paul's Cathedral, Mr Parker will give an organ recital from the same composer’s works. Purchasers of tickets for the course are reminded that the first lecture will take place a week later than was originally intended.

According to Mr Im. Thuro, whose travels in British Guiana have recently been pub lisbed, there is in the far west of that country, or over the Brazilian boundary, where the savanna itself rises 5000 ft above the sea, a flat table-land, the edges of which are more or leas perpendicular cliffs 2000 ft high. No traveller has ever been round it, so that it may be accessible from the other side, and there is \ way, as yet untried, which Mrlm, Thurn believes may prove practicable. The summit uf this plateau of Boraima seems to be forest covered, aud enough Is known of the fauna aud flora of the district to make it certain that a naturalist would find himself well rewarded for the ascent. There are traditions of strange isolated tribes that live in this inaccessible jeglon.

The report of the Defence Commissioner upon the New Zealand Constabulary, recently placed before both Houses of Parliament, has been forwarded to us. It appears that on the 3Ut March last the police branch showed a strength of 465, being an increase of four on tho previous year ; the field force 492, a decrease of 142 on the previous year. In the above strength of the police aro not included 26 native constables, at reduced ealaries, vary iug from £2O to £IOO per annum. Tho police statistics of New Zealand, as compared with the other Australian colonies,are highly satisfactory. The proportion of police to population is as follows:—la New Zealand, 1 to 1203 ; in New South Wales, 1 to 609 ; in Queensland, 1 to 425 ; in Victoria, 1 to 774 ; and in South Australia, 1 to 745. The cost of p dice per inhabitant was as under :—ln New Zealand, 3s 3d ; in New South Wales, 6i 7d ; in Queensland, lls 10Jd ; in Victoria 5s aud in South Australia, 6a 6d. Not merely therefore does New Zealand require a fewer □umber of the police, but those employed cost less per man than in any of the neighboring colonies.

A new Mahdi (says the New York Tribune) Is reported from the Soudan, and he appears to possess some decided advantages over the Mahdi No. 1. Thus it is related that when the latter sent a force to capture him, and his divan had been surrounded, he vanished into thin air, after the manner of the Cheshire Cat in Wonderland, It is obvious that a Mahdi with such an accomplishment as this ought to have very brilliant prospects, aud that even if his followers are few it must be impossible to inflict anything like a crushing defeat upon him. But civilisation rises superior to all such tricks of magic or what not, as recent events in our midst plainly show. Here the capacity to vanish nfc will is not needed, eV-m by those who have the strongest reason for desiring to absent themselves ; for our officers of the law do their spiriting so very gently that the most easygoing defaulter has ample opportunity to disappear in a perfectly natural way, before it occurs to them that it would perhaps be as well to look for him a little closer. No Mahdi, in fact, can get ahead of our rascals in the vanishing business. At last there seems every chance that Cottonopolis—or, in other words, Manchester—will be made a seaport. From time to time we have advised our readers (says the European Mail) of the objections which have been offered to the Bill introduced into the House with this object. In the direction of Liverpool the opposition to the scheme, as may bo imagined, was very strenuous, but now the Duke of Richmond’s Committee, who have been engaged for tho past ten weeks iu hearing evidence upon the Bill, have announced their determination to allow the undertaking to proceed, subject to the provision that the works should not be begun until five millions of the capital have been raised. It may be presumed that there will be no difficulty in complying with this condition, especially when it is remembered that the takings ** of any one o! the leading firms in Manchester is more than equal to the annual revenue of a Crown colony. Under these circumstance it may be presumed that the day is not far distant when the exporters of cotton and wool will have to consign to Manchester instead of Liverpool. If the estuary can only be made tidal, the city of smoke wi’l be benefited as much iu a sanitary as a commercial sense. The fourteenth annual report of the Deputy Master ef the Mint baa lately been issued. This is the first report, says the European Mail, prepared since the recent reorganisation of the mint buildings and machinery, The power has now been acquired of coining two metals at the same time, and the mint has had no difficulty iu meeting the demands made upon it. A coinage uof a very large amount of Imperial silver is the only feature of special interest mentioneJ. The total number of pieces struck at the mint was 89,119,714, as against 3,679.292 in 1882, and their value, real or nominal, £2,775,461 16s 2d. The amount of gold coined during the year consisted only of halfsovereigns of the value of £1,435,228. The amount of good bullion sent in by the Bank of England for coinage during the year was 1,123,045 ounce?, or £4,392,325, and of this amount £3,445,963 consisted of gold coin withdrawn from circulation under the provisions of the Coinage Act as below the least current weight prescribed by law. The silver coin struck during the year amounted to £1,272,025, which is the largest amount coined in any one year since the introduction of the prssent silver coinage in 1817. The bronze coin issued iu 1853 consisted of £37,540 iu pence, £9,350 in halfpence, and £2,830 io farthings. The financial results of the operations of the Mint dariug the year 1883 were highly satisfactory. Ou the work of the last twelve years there has been a net profit of £211,810, or an average profit of £17,650 a year.

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