Daily Circulation, 1750. The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1899.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7494, 18 April 1899, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1750. The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1899.

Apbopos the inference contained in a c »blegram the other day that a number of orders for railway material had been sent to America and other countries instead of England because of Unionism and its interference with the action of the manufacturers, we have received some information from an experienced expert which bears out the view expressed in the articles we published on the subject recently. Giving us an example of the supineness of the British manufacturer, he says t.hat whilst the imported English locomotive's eccentric had required dressing after it had been run 500 miles, that of an American engine needed no such attention though it 15,000. The reason he assigns for this is that the American eccentrics are made of good sound cast iron, whilst the English are made of steel with brass eccentric straps. Thus the British manufacturer goes to a great deal of expense and trouble and expends no little time in doing that which, after all, only makes his product inferior to and dearer than that of America, Even the engines constructed in New Zealand are superior to the English, because the I American plan of making the principal wearing parts of cast iron is carried out at our workshops. Then, another drawback to the locomotives of British manufacture is the small crank pins which wear the brasses so quickly that they have to be attended to at short intervals. This is so great a, drawback that, on the first opportunity the small crank pins are knocked out and large ones substituted; so that, e*s will be seen, it is not only necessary to repair engines, but also to renew and replace ineffective parts, and this is what makes the cost so great. This fact ought to be borne in mind when the difference in the cost of making engines in this colony and of importing them from abroad is considered. It becomes plainer every day that, if the British manufacturer should persist in pursuing his ancient methods and in viewing improvements eflected by others with jealousy, and a3 innovations and an insult to his intelligence, instead of utilising all that is practically good, chen he can only expect the trade to drift out of his hands into those of his foreign rivals who are more rational.

Mr W. Mitchell, junior clerk at the Magistrate's Court, has beon transferred to Wanganui. His place will be taken by Mr Fitzgerald, of Wanganui. Mr Gow, of the local telegraph staff, has been transferred to Wellington. Mr Eggington, of the Thames, has arrived here to fill Mr Gow's place. The winning numbers in the drill hall art union are given in an advertisement which appears elsewhere. Winners can obtain their prizes on application at the Theatre Royal to-morrow morning, after which time unclaimed prizes will be removed. Up to this afternoon only a small portion of the prizes had been claimed, these including the first, which was won by Master W. Probert. The names of the other winners of principal prizes have not been ascertained Mails for Australia, Tasmania, Ceylon, India, China, and Straits Settlements, United Kingdom, and Europe, per Monowai, will close at Wellington on Saturday, 22nd instant, at 2 p.m. At a meeting of the Committee of the Horticultural Society, held last night, the draft report for the annual meeting was approved, and the date of the meeting fixed for Wednesday, May 3rd. The bazaar in aid of the new drill hall fund was brought) to a close last night, when there was a large attendance, the Theatre F.oyal being packed during a greater part of the evening. A good business was done, the receipts at the stalls being greater than upo n any preceding night. During the evening Miss Kane danced the skirt dance and a Spanish dance, for each of which was encored. Mr Turtill's trick riding with two bicycles was remarkably clever, and was greeted with :hearty applause, as was also Mr Avery's sailor's hornpipe. The Garrison Band also contributed a number of selections, and helped to enliven the proceedings. At half-past nine o'clock a Committee of five, consisting of Messrs W. Bee, Mainland, Gardiner, Gebbie, and Brown, was named by the audience to act in conjunction with the officers in the drawing of the grand art union. Owing to the necessity for excluding unsold tickets and books for which no returns had been made, this took longer than was expected, and it was about half-past eleven before the committee re-appeared with everything in readiness, and the drawing took place upon the stage, Messrs Bee and Mainland presiding at the boxes. A large number of people remained to hear the results, which were quickly announced. We understand that the gross proceeds of the bazaar and art union amount to about L2BO. A large stock of goods still remains unsold, and it is probable that a supplementary bazaar will be held later on to dispose of these.

Thinking (says the Christchureh Press) that Mr A. T. Quiller-Oouch, the wellknown writer of Cornish tales and sketches, would ba interested in the discussion which was carried on in our columns some months ago as to the origin of the word " larrikin," a Christchureh gentleman sent him copies of " The Press " containing the various contributions to the debate, expressing a hope also that Mr Qailler-Couch would be able, as a Cornishman and a student of Cornish men and their ways, to throw some light on the question. In a letter received yesterday from Mr Quiller-Couch he writes :—'' The old story as to larrikin may or may not be true, but I am pretty sure that the origin of the word is indicated by it —that ' larrikin ' in Cornish, for instance, is simply a dialect form of ' larking.' The more learned derivations are almost certainly nonsense. sou will hear, for instance, a Cornishman say 4 We've a new orrygan up to our chapel.' The spelling is a little too strong to represent the actual inflection; but the sound is at least as much like ' orrygan ' as ' organ.' and is not very dissimilar from the Irish * or-r-gan.' So ' larking' would be • larekin.'" Mr Quiller-Couch adds some complimentary remarks as to the excellence of New Zealand newspapers. Disappointment was caused (says the Home correspondent of the Christchureh Press) at the opening of the Eighth Fisheries Exhibition this week, at the Westminster Aquarium, at the non-arrival of a collection of New Zealand frozen trout, which had been expected from the Waimate, Waitaki, and Waikato Acclimatisation Societies. The consignment is stated to be on board the s.s. Waikato, but she cannot expect to reach this country for some time to come. Meanwhile visitors to the Aquarium, who want to know something of the New Zealand fish, content themselves with models of trout, rainbow and brook, from the colony. Seeing the good advertisement Tasmania recently obtained through sending half-a-dozen or so frozen trout to this country's museums. New Zealand m : ght do worse than take, every opportunity of letting the angling world here know what excellent sport is obtainable in the waters of the colony. Under the title of the " Lady Margaret Primrose Court," a women's branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters has been established at Epsom. Lord Rosebery was asked to allow the Court to bear the name of his eldest daughter, Lady Sybil Primrose, and his lordship acceded to the request, but suggested that the Courb should be named after his second daughter, Lady Margaret Primrose, who was born in i 1 psom. [The suggestion was unanimously adopted.

A cablegram to-day states that when the Amsrican operatio singer Madam Emma Nevada waß Binding at Madrid, the audience turned their backs upon her. From this it would seem that the example set by the Spanish forceß in the late war in turning their backs to the Americans has become infectious amongst the Spanish people _ The act was, we are bold, viewed as an insult, but suoh an interpretation does not seem to be justified. It ought rather to be accepted as a graceful compliment to the fair daughter of America—a delicate reminder of the attitude presented by the Spanish forces before the victorious Americans—a mute acknowledgment of that superiority of the Americans which caused the Spanish to evacuate Cuba and the Philippine. The real bearing of things depends greatly upon how people look tlpon them, and in this case Madam Emma Nevada failed to take a proper view of a possibly over-refined Spanish compliment. We are sure that the ratepayers of Oamaru will be gratified at the improvements that are being made in the streets of I the town. It is pleasant to see a pathway that has some resemblance to the real thing, and to have the awful shingle spread on the road so that it fills up the ruts caused by traffic in wet weather. But, we would like to know, and perhaps we shall know some day, why the municipal authorities prefer to tinker with the paths perpetually instead of laying down asphalt, which would be quite as cheap and much nicer in every way, and why they use shifting shingle when thev have stone and a stons crusher by means of which they could macadamise the roads so that they would be more presentable and practically useful. _ It has been suggested that no man who has not tttedergone an examination satisfactorily aisi been given a certificate should be permitted to drive a stationary engine. It occurs to us to inquire why should any c.iflerence bo made between the drivers of stationary and portable engines, aud why should it not be made imperative that no man shall drive any engine unless he is able to show that he understands its mechanism and how to manage it under all circumstances. Any boiler, whether it belongs to a traction, a portable, or a stationary engine, requires the greatest of care in its management in order to avoid accident. Bub why the law in regard to this subject should be so absurdly irregular and indefinite is a thing that nobody can understand. Possibly when we have had some serious explosion and lives have been lost, the authorities will awaken to a realisation of the necessity of doing something. Owing to a misprint, which must have been obviouß to any intelligent person, we on Saturday announced the Rev. Franklyr-'s subject for his Sunday sermon as " The Brazen Sergeant," instead of " The Brazen Serpent." The Berlin correspondent of the Morning Leader gives currency to the story that the Russian Government has ordered an amended form of the fifth Commandment to be taught in the elementary schools in Russian Poland. The amendment takes the form of a supplement, which runs, " and show respect and obedienca to the ruling monarch and his officials." Instructions have been issued enjoining school teachers to pay particular attention to thi3, and to see that all children learn the revised Commandment and repeat it.

A correspondent, writing to the Otago Daily Times respecting the complaints made of the increase of a dangerous nuisarco in the shape of macrocarpa hedges, says: Many paople fancy they can do exaculy as they please on their own premises, without regard to their neighbor's safety or convenience They are mistaken. The law recognises the neighbor. Briefly then, it is not lawful for anyone to plant a live fence—macrocarpa, bramble, or what not—near a boundary fence without first obtaining the written permission of the neighbor, the owner on the other side of the boundary fence. Failing such permission, he grows his live fence at his own risk. It may be cut down, or he might be compelled to remove it as dangerous, and should such fence take fire he will be liable for damages caused by such fire to dwellings, outbuildings, fences, or crops. Mails for Australian colonies only will close at Invercargill, per Manapouri, on Saturday, 22nd instant, at 10.15 a.m. ifr Sven Hedin will start for Thibet early next year. He made a remarkable journey across Asia from west to east, a few years ago, and made some striking discoveries, amoDg which were the ruins, in one of the deserts of Chinese Turkestan, of some Buddhist cities ante-dating the Mohammedan invasion. £.s soon as he had'completed hia scientific record, Dr Hedin began preparations for his coming journey. &e will make Kashgar, in Chinese Turkestan, hia starting point, and will again cross, by i>. different route, the Takla-Makan desert, in which he nearly perished of thirst cn his last journey. He expects to spend next winter in Northern Thibet, and plans, the following summer, to cross this loftiest plateau in the world from north to south, emerging in India. It has been estimated that over 35,000 birds of paradise and 86,000 egrets muht have been killed to supply the demand for their feathers for millinery last year. The tender of the Blackball Coal Company fo» 4000 tons ot screened coal at 18s pe? ton* for the Railway Department, at Oamaruj is gazetted as accepted. The esftessive increase of Government servants u* France is commented on editorially in a reg§at number of the Paris Temps. Jn 50 years fee population had increased only 10 per ceai, while the number of Government employees has been increased 110 per cent, and their salaries 150 per cent. The colonies furnish places for many of these functionaries, there being 450 in French India. At a place named Yanaon there are 15, and not a single Fcench colonist. One did settle there, but soon, to escape the vexationß of the 15 officials charged to protect him, he moved on to English territory. The Post says :—Humanity's care for its kind was well illustrated by an incident which occurred on Tuesday. A weary-look-ing woman, with a babe at her breast and another toddling at her side, petitioned a local body sitting as a Charitable Aid Board for some assistance. Her story in effect was that her husband had injured his heart through over-straining at bush work, and had been ordered to keep quiet for three months. They had four children, and were living in a bit of a whare on the roadside of a eountry town, for which shelter they were charged half-a-crown a week. Under the circumstances starvation stared them in the face. Asked how she was able to reach town, the woman admitted that she got a friend to pawn an old watch which she had possessed, and with the proceeds bought a railway ticket. The local body applied to unanimously decided to give the woman an order upon a storekeeper to supply her with 10s worth of stores per week until further notice, and then one of the members present rose and gravely said : " Gentlemen, a ' bob in' for the children." The hat went round the table, and members and staff stumped up to a man, and the smile on that woman's face when she was handed the proceeds seemed ample compensation for pockets a little lightened by a kindly and thoughtful act.

The Daily Times states that the estate (comprising 913 acres) and mansion of the late Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, known as " The Camp," on the Peninsula, was offered for sale by auction yesterdav by Mr Walter Hislop, at the rooms of Mesars Sievwright Bros, and Co. A bid of LIO.OOO was made by Mr S. Solomon, whereupon Mr Hislop said, that with that sum to start with, he would accept advances of LIOOO. No further offer was forthcoming, and the auctioneer announced that the property could be treated for privately. A novel fact has come to our knowledge (says a contemporary) in connection with the Old Age Pensions, in the small settlement of Takaka, in the Nelson Province, an old eettler and his daughter have both qualified for, and are in receipt of, pensions. The father is 95 years of age, and the daughter must be over 65. We very much doubt if there is a parallel case to this in the colony. The Weston School Committee have had to close their school on account of scarletina having made its appearance amongst the scholars. One or two families were suffering from what was thought to be German measlep, and lir tie attention was paid to the matter, but it now turns out to be a mild form of soarletina, and, to prevent its spreading, the school has been closed. - A stock of 10 millions worth of stamps are kejpt in separate strong rooms on the Thatnep Embankment. Someone has tried; to imSgine the topsy-turvying the world would get were the stock of postage stamps to go in a general flare-up. It will save inconvenience and be a aonroe ef Batisfac-

tion to many if they will note our reminder that the new season's stuff has arrived, and is now boing shown at Penrose's Cash Drapery Kstabliahment, Thames street. Clayton, Gardiner and Co. aro pro« pared to take orders for Ladies' and Gentlemen's Waterproof Coats and Cloaks, to measure, of newest designs. A good rango of patterns to choose from. Prioos very reasonable, and fit guaranteed. New Zealand Boot Company bog to announce that they have just purohasea at a tremendous discount a large part of tho stock in the assigned estate of Garrett, Bootmaker, Auckland, and are thoreforo in a position to offer during the holiday season unprecedented bargains. The following are a few quotations ;—Girls' Tan Leather Twostrap Shoes, 10 to 13, 3s 6d per pair ; Girls' Tan Leathpr Lace Shoes, 3s 6d per pair; Women's Two-bar Black Canvas Shoes, 3a 9d per pair; Ladies' Evening Shoes, just landed, from 3s 3d upwards ; Girls' Whlto Canvas Shoes, 7 to 9, 2s lid, 10 to 13, 3s 6d ; Girk' Two-strap Waterproof Canvas Shoes, 7 to 10, 2s lid, 11 to 1, 3s 3d; Women's Glace Lace Shoos, 4s 6d por pair; Women's Glace Two-bar Shoes, 5s 6d per pair; Grls' Patent A. Straps, Indestructible Toes, 4 ta 6, 2a 9d, larger sizes from 3s 6d ; Girk' Carpet Slippers from li per pair, Women's Is 6d; Women's Kid Slippers, 3s 3d per pair ; Women's Gonuino Calf-kid Two-bar Shoes, 7s 6d por pair—A beaut iiul lino. Quantities in the abovo lines are limited, thereforo call oarly to provent disappointment. New Zealand Boos Supply Compai*Y, Thames streot. For health, wear, British Hygienic puro, wool Underclothing, absolutely unshrinkable chill-proof garments. Ladies' Vests, Bodices, Combinations, Nigh'i Drosses, Divided Skirts, oto., (to. For prices seo John Bulloid and Co.'s show window. Kaiapoi, Roslyn, and Mosgicl knlttod hosiery direct from tho mills in large variety. New autumn millinery now on viow in tho show-room. Mourning millinery mado to order at moderate prices. Magnificent choice in furs and fur garments. Ladies m ckintoshes, coats, jackets, and capos. Genuine household linens of all descriptions, guaranteed for durability, with excellont value. A large selection of down quilts and Witney blankets in all sizes and qualities. Now woven and printed fabrics in curtain materials for the autumn wear for bodrooma, drawing roomi and dining rooms.—John Bulleid and Co., London and Oamaru. fAD.] Mrs Littlejohn desires to thank tho publio of Oamaru and district fur the favors she has received during her nine years in business, and begs to announce that she has romovod to those commodious premises immediately opposite the Girls' High School. Soparato compartments for ladies. Toa, ooffoe, and cocoa, with grilled chop and potatoes at all hours, price Gd. Registry ofiioo for servants. Agent for the Empress noedle,—Advt.

Spring Furnishings.—Wo have oponod x Duke of Devonshire, Gothio and Ellngamite, a fine supply of Houho Furnish i ga Shootings, IJoor Mats, Counliorpanos, Toilet Covers, Towels, Cretonnes, Table Covers Sateon Cretonnes, Lancaster Blindinga, Onr] tains, etc., etc. See our Millinery. So our Dress Materials. 8 o our Hosier and Gloves. See our Men's Mercery.—Clayton, Gabdiner, and Co., Standard Houso.— dvti.