THE Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1874.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3937, 29 September 1874, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1874.

To understand what is meant by the freedom of the Press, construing the phrase in its most literal sense, one must have read American, newspapers. In some respects the life of the proprietor of a daily in New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco must be one of ease and freedom from anxiety as compared with that of a newspaper proprietor in other1 English-speaking communities—in the Australasian colonies for instance. What would be the feelings of the owners of the Melbourne Argus if they saw in the columns of their.paper an,editorial stigmatising a leading citizen as a liar, a thief, and a scoundrel ? - Probably, the thoughts of a shareholder in a Chicago journal which had committed a like offence, wonld simply take the direction of questioning the personal safety of the writer of the offensive words. Nor is the American Press satisfied with its immunity from punishment on account of libellous attacks. It has taken upon itself functions which elseAvhere are performed only by means of the sacred machinery of the law. In some cases its information and comments are given solely with the view of gratifying public curiosity, of pandering to the lowest tastes; in others, the public good alone is undoubtedly what is sought to be served. In an American newspaper before us, we have, side by side, two illustrations of the kind of matter we have described. The first relates to what is known throughout the States as the . Beecker-Tilton Scandal, the particulars of which are, doubt, well known ere this in every kitchen in .Dunedin. A committee was appointed to investigate the case thoroughly, but long before the necessary evidence had been taken, the readers of American newspapers had placed before them columns upon columns about the conduct of the parties chiefly concerned, a great deal of which was beyond all doubt filthy, and most of which was, apparently, untrue. By telegraph we have been in-

formed that the llev. Mr Beecher has been acquitted by the committee of the grave charge which was preferred against him; but for weeks before his acquital, the reverend gentleman had been the victim of attacks upon his character, through the columns of the Press, so gross, that a Dunedin Jury, probably, would find it impossible to do justice to a person similarly libelled. Mr Beecher, however, only constitutes one of many who are, from time to time, placed upon their "trial by the public, through the newspapers," as one journal grimly describes the disreputable process. The case to which we referred as having been set forth for the public good is a curious one. In the State of California, it would seem, the law does not require that every person practising as a physician or surgeon should be the holder of a diploma. The result is that the man who in London as a last resort would take to "coals" or "wine," in San Francisco at once joins the ranks of the medical profession. " From this glorious army of doctors, defend us," is the very proper ejaculation of the News Letter, a rather outspoken jomnal, published in San Francisco. It has not contented itself, however, with lamenting over the evil which must result from cases of sickness beiDg dealt with by unskilled pi actitioners. It boldly addresses itself to the task of weeding out the incapables from the medical ranks Under the heading of " Our Quacks," accompanied by a design of a death's head and cross-bones, does the News Letter every week devote a portion of a column to this subject. In the number before us, the News Letter says that, in view of the facts that have come to its knowledge regarding doctors in San Francisco, " we feel assured that we shall be equally serving the profession and our citizens generally when we publicly ask certain men :'Have you a diploma? If they have, we will give them an advertisement gratis. If they cannot answer the query, the conclusion is obvious, and the duty of the patients plain. We append a list of practising medical men, to whom we now put that question. We shall add to it from time to time." Then follows a list containing the names and addresses of eighty-five persons practising as medical men in San Francisco. In some cases it would seem as if the practitioners had added doctoring to their other calling, just as a hairdresser would take to selling cigars and tobacco. Thus, we have "F. G. Rappin (tinsmith), 1517, Stockton ; K. Fabor (cobbler), 131, Third; 0. O. Hand (tailor), 8, Kearney; and Frankenberg (shoemaker), Sutter, near Jones." An ex-policeman, Mr Close, 822, Mission, it is to be presumed, however, devotes his whole time to his new profession. A bar-tender, J. B. Pinchard, 15, Second, must have excellent opportunities of adding to his list of patients, which, we suppose, will not always be neglected. "— Cohen ('old clo'), 405, Kearny," has no doubt a very limited practice ; while "W. J. O. Bryant (coloured), 825, Pacific, it is to be hoped, only administers his fetish drugs to other darkies in cases of great emergency. A postscript to the list, by the editor of the News Letter, conveys the information that Dr C. T. Deane, Professor of Diseases of Women and Children, and Clinical Obstetrics, in the Medical Department of California, has called at the News Letter office, and claimed to have a diploma from Giessen, in Germany. The Professor, however, is disbelieved, as he cannot speak German, and the News Letter has ascertained that without a knowledge" of "that language he could not have obtained a diploma properly. It curtly adds, that '• they sell diplomas in. Giessen for coin." In another postscript we are . told that another Professor had called upon the editor to say.that his diploma had been accidentally burnt. The Professor's claims to skill, however, are doubted, and several specimens of his " terribly original orthography" are given for the purpose of casting discredit upon his statements.

The freedom of the Press as enjoyed by our American friends, has, we will not deny, some advantages. Compared with the system,'however which prevails in these, colonies, the balance of evidence is beyond all doubt against complete freedom.

to appears, according to the Pall Mall Gazette, that a curious exhibition has lately been opened to the public'in the lunatic asylum at Briinnfeld, near Vienna. Ihe objects exhibited, the Gazette goes on to say, "are divided into three classes, the nrst comprising 2i5 articles, made entirely by the lunatics ; the second, articles destroyed, by them in their, moments of frenzy; and the third, models, &c., showing how they are lodged and clothed." It has occurred to us' that, p<!ssibly, some modification of the idea might be' adopted by the management of our own" locaV institution. We all know how very skilfully Mr Hume has managed the tractable portion of his many charges, so as to' induce them in their own hall to join and take part.with invited guests from the outside public on festive occasions. No doubt the anticipations of. such events and the after reflections upon them are productive of very salutary results upon the minds of ■ the patients. Now, if, in addition to thi3 ! kind of thing, they, or such of them that ; cannot be otherwise more profitably j employed, were induc^ to amuse them- ; selves by preparing specimens of their • capability of constructing articles for exj hibition, the good effects might be largely ; increased. We have no doubt the work ! itself would be entered into con.amove, land the anticipated pride of seeing their j various exhibits displayed to the view of jthe public, and perchance of having their efforts praised by the visitors, wouldgact as a very powerful stimulant to industry and perseverance. As regards the character iof the articles exhibited in the first ; and second class respectively, we are j jtold that in the first are "delicately carved meerschaum pipes, lace, picture frames," &c. These specimens ;of the lunatics' performances in the jart of constructing are placed side by side with others showing their power of jdestructiveness, when unfortunately in i their moments of frenzy. In this second class, we are told, there are "huge iron bars bent double, spoons and iron plates broken to pieces, and doors split in half." |We should not have thought that any could be effected by allowing lunatics to inspect these works of destruction, even. !when placed in close proximity with the I 'results of their mechanical skill; but this ' jis a point upon which experts alone could ■be expected to give an opiuion. The construction, however, of toys and other articles by the lunatics, and the after display of the goods, might well form an ad dition to the diversions which enable these unfortunate persons to pass away i the time with the least possible amount of trouble to those under whose control they are placed.

There was a very heavy and continuous fall of rain in Dunedin yesterday, and when we went to press, there was no sign of the

weather clearing up. The rain-fall appears to have been general throughout the Colony } and at some places the weather has been very tempestuous. As will be seen by our ordinary telegrams, the Hutt River at Wellington has overflowed its banks ; at Alexandra, all the surrounding country has been flooded, and alsothe lower portion of thetown The lower part of Greymouth has been submerged ; Greytown has been wholly under water, aud there has been heavy rain at Oamaru. Similar reports come from Queenstown, where ihe ram has fallen since Saturday, the Shotovep being very high, and the Lake rising. Clyde, Lawrence, and Waikouaiti have also had heavy rain.

Our Oamaru correspondent telegraphed last night, as follows :— " There was a heavy fall of rain yesterday and to-day. The sea was rough at midday, and eleven vessels were ordered out. They all got out to sea except the Richard and Mary, which went ashore, but afterwards got off. A cutter had a narrow escape from running on the reef at the breakwater. The Elderslie was the last to move." It was at one time thought that the Richard and Mary would be wrecked, and telegrams were sent to Dunedin with reference to her insurance.

The following is the calendar of prisoners for trial at the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court at Dunedin,. commencing on Monday, the sth October, before His Honour Mr Justice Chapman, and the offences with which they are charged : —

John Collins, stealing from the person at Dunedin. Patrick Walsh, forgery at Oamaru. Edward Johnson, uttering a forged cheque at Oamaru. Sydney G. Alexander, obtaining money by false pretences at Dunedin <t wo cases). Leong Chung Wah, sodomy at Dunedin. Robert Gait, maliciously killing a calf at Hampden. On Bail. John Blakely, cattle stealing at Ida Valley (two cases). On bail. William Williams, stealing from the person at Duuedin. On bail.

We received intelligence yesterday that a vessel called the Garibaldi, bound from Lyttelton to Waitara, had been lost She was insured in the Standard Company for £350, in the South British for £500, and in the National for £300..

The enquiry into the circumstances attending the stranding of the steamer Easby off Waipapapa Point on the 16th inst. was concluded yesterday. Several of the witnesses wished to know who was going to pay their expenses. They were referred to the Collector of Customs. Mr Smith, who appeared on behalf of Captain Shand, contended that the Court had no jurisdiction in the case. The Court reserved judgment until two o'clock to-day.

Our Queenstown correspondent telegraphs that the yield of the Shotover Terrace Company for the last fortnight was 60 ozs.

Quick despatch characterised the proceedings of the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday—a full charge sheet presented by the Police being disposed w?thremarkable alacrity. It is quite refreshing, as the relief to the tedium of a protracted sittings, to have such prompt deliberation manifested in getting through the business. Mr T. A Mansford presided. .

The Star of the East Company, Cromwell, have declared a dividend of six shillings per share.

The steamer Victoria is expected to leave Auckland at 10 a.m. this day. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe via Java Cable, will be received at the Dunedin Telegraph Office for transmission to Auckland up till 8.30 a.m.

The proceedings of the Police Court at Port Chalmers, yesterday, partook of a dual character. There were only two cases, familiary termed "drunks," to dispose of, and they were settled at different times! One, the case of J. It. Perry| who was found in a state of quiet intoxication, and had been locked up since Saturday night, was called before the R.M. proceeded to Dunedin, and discharged. At the usual hour the Court opened witKDr. Drysdale, J.P;, presiding, and this, a man named O. fit'Murtric, met with bis deserts far being drunk, disorderly and very troublesome. He was fined 20aj with the alternative of 3 days' imprisonment. The fine was paid.

From the. mining districts, we learn that a considerable number of miners have determined to proceed to the Palmer. We understand, that a vessel will leave Danedin direct in a week or two.

The adjourned meeting of persons favourable to the establishment of a Piggery in Dunedin, called for last evening, has been further postponed until Tuesday, in LConsequence of the inclement weather.

It will be seen by our telegrams that the British expedition for observing the Transit of Venus has arrived at Lyttelton in the ship Mtrope from Plymouth.

The Rev. Charles Withey, who has been officiating as, deacon at Cromwell and the surrounding districts for some . time past, will be admitted into the priesthood on Sunday next, at St. Paul's Church. ' .;

; .An.offensive, fellow; was made, an example of by Mr Mansford yesterday, at the R. M. Court, for indecency, an unpardonable offence, for which His Worship rightly said there was no possible excuse. Prisoner affected surprise on being committed to gaol for 14 days' with hard labour.

A youth of about seventeen years of age, who is evidently afflicted with a monomania, to judge from, his look and actions, was yesterday sentenced by : Mr Mansford to two months' imprisonment for petty larceny. He stole a lithograph of Val Vose, the ventriloquist, whilst the owner's back was turned, and when charged with taking it, stoutly denied the imputation, although it was afterwards . found concealed on his person. Prisoner had once before been up on a similar charge, and it was proved that his parents, who are in a good position in LondoD, had sent him away through his stealing proclivities.

j In our advertising columns will be foond. the prospectus of the Dunedin, Peninsula, ;and.O.cean Beach Railway Company, Limited. !The capital is fixed at £60,000 { with power to increase), in 12,000 shares of £5 each— five shillings payable on application, five shillings on allotment, and such portion of the balance as may be required, by calls of ten shillings, as the works proceed, but not at shorter intervals than three months. A strong Provisional Committee has been appointed, and the prospectus gives a lot of information that we have already published. The Company has every prospect of being successful.

Our latest advices by post from the Thames Goldffeld tell of. quiet times there so far as mining is concerned Stirring gold finds continue to be the exception, acd the principal mines seem to be doing little beyond paying their way. The output of .gold from the leading mine, the "Bright Smile, is less than it was, the lower levels ; having received a severe searching, so that ithe crushing stuff comes to hand less freely ;than it did. Hence the crushing power has ibeen reduced, pending the opening of the ■next level, whkh is described as being of great promise. The mine's yield for the fortnight ending September 9th was sSooz. Better prospects have been obtained in the Alburnia Mine in a winze that is ia course of sinking to connect the tipper level with the level of the Whan Tunnel, which is now the basis of fche company's operations. Work has, however, been much hindered by landslips, which carried away long sections of &c <juartz shoots. The

Moanataiari Company's crushiDg for the week ending Sept. 14th produced 252 ozs. The Nonpareil Company crushed 40 tons for 30 ozs ; the Crown Prince Company 425 tons for 311 ozs retorted gold. This yield was below expectations. The Old Whau Company obtained 201 ozs of gold out of 220 tons of stone, and the Inverness tributers 26 ozs from 17 tons. The Waiotahi Association and the Imperial City Company were persevering with the work of prospecting the exteusion of the Manukau new lode, but had not achieved any very marked success. A little gold was seen in the stone occasionally.

A sad relic of poor humanity was found yesterday at the Port by a party of fishermen returning home from a cruise. They were a little above Observation Point when their attention was diverted by an object, suspiciously like a human body, lying on the beach a little below high-water mark, and on pulling in to examine it, found that it was indeed the remains of some poor fellow who had met his death by drowning. The body was well dressed in black clothes, but fearfully decomposed, only the bones being visible; in fact, as one of the finders remarked, it was just held together by the clothes. It had evidently been in the water a long time, and may possibly prove to be the remains of the fourth of the young men who were drowned off Sawyer's Bay on the Queen's Birthday. The fishermen gave information of the occurrence to the Police, and the remains were brought in and de posited at the Morgue, where an inquest, we presume, will be held in due course.

A gentleman, while lately on a visit to Melbourne from Dunedin, conferred, on behalf of the Dunedin cricketers, with Mr Gibson, of the Melbourne Club, and another leading member of that Club. Mr Gibson thought that, on account of the Melbourne men having so many up-country and Intercolonial matches, they could not visit this Colony unless they could return, in four weeks, and they are still in hopes that a visit will be arranged. More and perhaps definite information will be received on the matter by next steamer. The Dunedin representative, having very little time at his disposal, was unable to see Mr Handfield, the Secretary of the Club, but from those gentlemen whom he saw he got a most courteous reception. If the Melbourne cricketers come down, they cannot play through the Colony this year ; still they hope to be able to play in Dunedin and Christshurch, and would be glad to meet a combined team.

Says "Atticus," in the Melbsurne Leader : —" The retirement of Sir James Fergusson from the Governorship of New Zealand has caused some surprise, but no regret. Sir James Fergusson is essentially a disagreeable man. He has a very high opinion of himself, his family, and his importance, and a very keen idea of the valne of money. In his second marriage he took care to provide himself with the very opposite of 'a portionless bride with a long pedigree.' Al though he is always prating of M 3 patrician blood, and his high desceut from, the great Earl of Glencairn, he resembles much more the canny advocate who retrieved the fortunes of the Fergussons, and purchased a Nova Scotian baronetcy. He always reminded me in his dealings with the colo. nists of South Australia and New Zealand, of the great noble, who lived in feudal state, but was not above adding to his pecuniary income by selling Ms cabbages and gooseberries. One day while walking through His park he met a little child walking away with a jug in her hand. He asked who she was, took her in his arms and kissed her, saying ' when you grow up to be a woman always recollect that you were once kissed by the Duke of Loamshire, the Marquis of Normanville, the Earl of Thistleton, and Baron Llanelly, Knight of the Garter,' and Lord Lieutenant of Loamshire.' 'Yes sir,'replied the little damsel, *but you always take the penny for the milk.'"

Oar Toi3-Tois correspondent writes : —A putollcr meeting wasneia ac i'ortrose on Saturday evening, the 19th. Last., to receive report from the Local Committee respecting the erection of a school, for which, purpose £106 had been collected. The school, according to the original resolutions, was to be erected as a local institution, and let or leased to the Educational Board. In the meantime, for the purpose of a school otherwise, the subscriptions were to be returned if requested. IJ appeared that the Local Committee had authorised the application (by one of its members) to the Waste Lands Board, Dunedin, for liberty to purchase five acres of land in the Townsh p Reserve of Toia Tois, whereon to erect the said building, but up to, the present time no such application had been made. Therefore the Local Committee resigned and obtained a re turn of;: their: collections.! They then proceeded to elect a new committee, with the unanimous resolve to use every effort for the speedy, erection .of a school, in accordance with the .Education Ordinance. The following gentlemen were, upon a show of hands, elected -without dissent :— Messra G. H. Attwobd, H. Cameron, J. Christie, H. Cars well, JEL Goldlng, M'lntosh, R. M'Kenzie, J. Kiddle, and J. B. Smith. Mr ft.. H. Attwood was elected chairman, and Mr H. Cameron to be the hon. sec and treasurer. It was then resolved that the committee should meet again for the purpose of paying in subscriptions and for further progress on October 3rd, 1574. On the motion of Mr H. Cameron, the next meeting is to take into consideration the advisability of this .district being formed into a Boad District in accordance with the Road Ordinance, 1871.

The Tuapeka Times gives the following I account of the accident to Mr G. F. C. ij Browne, M.P.C., proprietor of the Waitahuna Coal Pit -.—The accident appears to have happened in this way: On returning to the pit with an empty waggon, the horse bolted, when Mr Browne, who was driving at the time, leapt from the shafts jto catch hold of the beast, bat in doing so stumbled and fell, and ths dray passed ; over his back. Dr Halley, who was at once sent for, was soon in attendance, and did 'what; he could to alleviate the sufferer. The injuries done to the spine must have ' been of a very serious nature, as the lower portions of Mr Browne's body were completely paralysed. On Thursday morning he was much easier, and was able to move one of his feet; but yesterday, he had made little or no progress towards recovery.

There is scarcely asy mention of the New Zealand horses Lurline and Papapa, in the Melbourne papers to hand by the Albion. In an article on the coining Melbourne Cup, a writer in the Australasian s.tys : Horses like Dagworth, Horatio, The Ace, Lurline, The Arrow, King of the Ring, if the handicap were now to be made, would get some show, whereas they are considered clean "wiped oufc" by Goldsbrough, and no public money will be put on them. With reference to the rumoured offer of £4500 'for Goldsbrough, "Augur" writes as follows: \ " Goldsbrough's Metropolitan performance stamped him. as a horse of the highest class, for he had more to contend with than a heavy weight, but despite these difficulties he nearly pulled, through. There appear to be all sorts iof rumours floating about concerning this horse—one to the effect that his owner has I been offered £4500 for him. la the face of these rumours ifc would be unwise indeed for the public to touch him at present, for though there need be no fear while he remains in Mr Tait's hands, a change of ownership

might necessitate a change of trainer, and in that case there would, perhaps, be a poor look-out for the horse's backers."

A Chinese storekeeper at Waipori (says the Tuapeka Times) entertained about 200 guests to a sumptuo\is repast last Wednesday, to celebrate his commencing business in that district. The spread wa~, laid out in the Oddfellow's Fall, and the greater part of the day was occupied by the guests feeding. Several Europeans partook of this hospitable Celestial's good fare. There were porkers roasted whole, and poultry cooked in a style that would please the most fastidious epicure. The feast passed off with great gusto, our heathen friends separating for their respective huts without getting drunk, which cannot always be said of our enlightened countrymen on similar occasions. In the Hawaiian Gazette of the 12th of Augii3t, a contributor thus amusingly writes of the approaching transit of Venus:—"The planets Venus and Jupiter have presented a pretty sight the past few evenings, as they have been approaching each other for their period ical conj unction. The celestial coquette is making herself unusually notorious this year. After dancing around grim Jupiter, and having her peiiodical tete-a tete with him, as she is now doing, she proposes a ! chase after the sun. When she flirts with Jupiter, nobody cares much about it, though all must confess she plays her part well, and makes the fellow stand aside for her. But when she approaches old Sol, as she intends to do December Sth, and undertakes to make him her beau, then all the savans in the universe are started up, and chase all round this globe to get the best position to observe the colour of her skirts and measure the length of her shadow. A strange girl is this Venus. Look at her this evening, and tell us if you don't think she is pretty as she waltzes past old Jupiter."

In consequence of the inclement weather last evening, the Coloured Opera Troupe's concert in aid of the Sailors' Home Fund was not well attended. Only about 50 persons were in the dress circle, and the lower parts of the house were scarcely half-full. The number of vocalists who appeared in the first part was 20, and several of the oM members of the Troupe kindly occupied their former positions. The overtures, " The Grand Duchess," and " Esmeralda," were sweetly rendered by the orchestra, which comprised 14 performrrs. The various conundrums fnd dialogues were most amusing, especially those on Lawyers in general, and our Good Templars. The song —" I'm waiting, Bessie, daring"—the music and words of which were composed by a member of the Opera Troupe—was excellently given by Mr Harris. His full tenor voice was heard to advantage, the enunciation being very distinct. He was no* so successful ia the ballad, "Hark, I hear an angel sing," the cornet accompaniment contrasting too much with his vocalisation. Mr Norton's comic solo, " Corporal Schnapps," was warmly applauded. The original song and dance, "Little Ada," by Mr Leslie, was encored, and the audience were not content until the company appeared in their Gens d'armes ditty (in character), "We'll run 'em in." The Phantom chorus and the Troupe's latest idea, "The Siamese Twins," caused much merriment. The glee, " Come where the Cowslip bloweth," was remarkably well given. The last edition of "The Colleen Bawn," which fortunately concluded the entertainment, was " mhurdered intirely." During an interval, Mr J. flume thanked those present for their attendance, and said the tickets not used oh that occasion would be available to-night, when, the concert will be in aid of the Artillery Band and Troupe Funds. Another entertainment; would be given on behalf of the Sailors' Home fund next week.

Oa account of the continuous rainfall last evening, there was no performance at the Princess Theatre. To-night the performance will be for the benefit of the clever De Castro family ; and if the rain ceases during the day, we may expect to see their abilities recognised in a practical manner. There is to be an "immense" programme on the occasion. ■ . . ■ .