THE Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1875.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4022, 8 January 1875, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1875.

Those who have been, accustomed for years past to associate the most incongruous and ludicrous ideas with the office oi Minister of Justice in New Zealand, will have to remodel their notions now that the new occupant of the office is appointed. Mr Bowen will have what all public men must havenumerous antagonists. This is in the nature of things, and we would not have it altered, even were it possible. It is quite certain that he will reduce that antagonism to a minimum, and effectually restrain the overflow of public disgust at the whole business by his personal talent and ability. While we cannot altogether approve of the sudden removal of an eminent civil servant from the Bench to the Executive, there is just this to be said—that such proceedings can never be more justifiable than when they are undertaken to gain the services of so excellent a helper. We do not envy the new Minister his task. To succeed to an office which has been allowed to run to seed since its veiy creation, which has neither model nor precedent to guide it, which has to win its way to a standing, with a heavy weight of ridicule dragging it down, is a Herculean task. In his speech at Kaiapoi the other day the new Minister showed very plainly that he was alive to the difficulties of the position, and that ib would not be his fault if something were not done under his presidency. No one can doubt that there is a great deal of hard work to be accomplished. The mere sketch of the more pressing needs which Mr Bowen gave would be sufficient to appal a heart less stout than his own.

We can well understand that to a practical man like himself " there was one point which, as Magistrate, as Visiting Justice, and now as holding the position of Minister of Justice, was on his conscience, and that was the condition of the gaols of the Colony." Almost every experienced Magistrate will tell the same tale, and we put it down as one of the especial ad : vantages gained by appointing a practical man to the Ministry of Justice, that he will have the knowledge and the power to effect a reform. For knowing all we now know about the causes and the course cf crime, it is surely the height of absurdity that we should have made no effort to distinguish, or even label, the various species that are shut up in bur gaols. The specimens handed to Captain Hutton are each of them stowed away in its proper glass case, labelled with its appropriate title, and distinguished under its proper heading. Those who are remitted to the care of our Mr Caldwell's are lumped together with far less care than if they were grasshoppers, and with less minuteness of thought than a bit of' schistose rock would receive. If there be one thing: which the researches, of philanthropists have more clearly demonstrated than another, it is this — that a very great deal of crime arises from preventible causes; that habits, associations; &c, are chai-geable with most of the offences that keep our Magistrates busy-and our gaols full, and that the converse of old offenders with beginners in crime is productive of theAnost ruinous consequences. All this has been repeated so often —so continually dinned into our ears that it is difficult to understand why the truth has never been acted upon. Every parent whose child has become prodigal looks to a change of association as the surest means of curing him. To keep man, woman, or child from association with those of a lower moral standard than themselves is one of the surest ways of improving character. Not in vain did the wise man say |" If you would be wise, live always Svith those wiser. than yourself." The principle is applicable conversely to moral as well as intellectual weakness. If you would be dishonest, live with those fallen lower than yourself. Upon this principle our present prison system has acted for many years. It is as if the aim of imprisonment was to stamp the prisoner both, outwardly and in his propensities a rascal of so deep a dye, that all hape of climbing the ladder must be tossed away. Facilis decensus, &c. ; but,' for "it is difficult to recover," read, "the thing is impossible."

We cannot conceal from ourselves that Mr Bowen has nevertheless a most arduous and tedious task before him in re-modelling our whole Gaol system. In the first place, the expense must be very great, while the advantages are remote, though certain. How well we know the kind of stealthy opposition that goes on against a scheme like that of Gaol reform, even on the part of those who are professedly most warm in the cause ! A sneer and a scoff against philanthropic statesmen; a hint at maudlin humanitarians, an implied disbelief in any actual reformation being possible. It is so easy to stifle this kind of enterprise, more especially when it requires a large sum of money to carry it out. We shall not be surprised if it takes Mr Bowen many a weary month or year to carry out his proposal. He is just the man to succeed, however, because his long experience and high character as a Magistrate will preserve him from

all charges of being merely a theoretical schemer. In addition to this he carries with him a personal weight, which in the Assembly is almost equally valuable with minuteacquaint*ance with his subject.,, s _. *:..• vsri-'' -,We cannot follow' him throughout the other points of his' 'speech; at present. .The one lupon "which" jvc have commented is incomparably > the most valuable • of' them all. j His'political views in general are; such as'might be expected in v a , shrewd, long-headed i •man who" haV'kept his-eyes open, i We do not imagine that Mr. Bowen will be the mere lay figure, inanimate and unheeded in Council, which so many of Mr Tog el's colleagues have been for want of wit.- Probably he will get his own way with tolerable regularity. At any rate, it is a great source of strength to the Government that they should number one' really presentable member of Executive among their ranks. Perhaps if they had looked New Zealand through they could hardly have lit upon a more useful man than Mr Bowen.

The steamer Ofcago is expected to leave Hokitika at 11 a.m. to-morrow. Telegrams for the Australian colonies or Europe via Java Cable will be received at the Dunedin Telegraph Office for transmission to Hokitika up till 9 o'clock a. m.

The steamer Hero is expected to leave Auckland at 10 a.m. to-morrow. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe, via Java cable, will be received at the Dunedin Telegraph Office for transmission to Auckland up to 8 p.m.

The s.s. Wellington may be expected at Port Chalmers on Sunday, bringing with her the San Francisco mails.

We are requested to direct the attention of those who intend to be present at the dinner which is to be given to-night at tb.e Shamrock Hotel to the American and French officers of the Transit of Venus Expeditions to an error which appears on the dinner card which, has been issued. Dinner is to be at 7 p.m., not 8 as stated on the-card. ■

The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court were resumed yesterday morning, but the sitting was a very brief one. The Grand Jury found no true bill against Jane Henderson and Ellen Power, who were charged with stealing from the person at Dunedin; and as these were the only eases left on the list the Criminal Sessions were thus brought to a close. The civil cases to be tried by common juries will be proceede d with this morning at 10 o'clock.

Messrs Clifford and Morris, photographers, of Fleet street, have just completed a set of five excellent carte-de-visite photographs of Mr Val Vose, the well-known ventriloquist; The portraits are excellent, and the pictures are good specimens of the photographer's art. In three of them Mr Vose is taken in company with the figures with which he has so often amused Dunedin audiences.

We learned by telegram, from Lawrence, that at the Government land sale held there yesterday, by Mr Hay, auctioneer, only seven sections were sold out of 7000 acres. This was owing to an error in advertising the sale, the persons interested expecting that this land would be sold next month. There were not many persons present.

A picked eleven of the Dunedin Cricket Club will play another fifteen with Paramor, on Saturday, on the Southern Recreation Ground. Should the weather prove fine, a splendid game may be anticipated. Play is to commence at two o'clock punctually. The following are the names of the players : —The Eleven—Allen, Clarke,. Collinson, Fenwick, Fulton J. C, Godby,= Kettle, Rhodes D. X., Rhodes H., Sampson, Tait. The Fifteen—Austin, Glen, Lambert, Marshall, Macdonnell, Maofarlan, M'lntyre, Morrison W., Neilson, Park, Paramor, Rose, Russell, Sutcliffe, Waugh, with Fulton F. and Kennedy as emergency men.

The workmen of the Otago Foundry will to-night give a supper to Mr William Wilson on the eve of his retirement from business. The supper will be held at Dunning's Rooms at half past eight o'clock.

Our Lawrence correspondent telegraphed last night as follows:—" A man named John M'Laren fell down a shaft, at the Blue Spur yesterday, and broke his leg."

By the s.s. Phoebe, from Christchurch, we notice the arrival here of four racehorses —Traitor, Somnambula, Tadmor, and a two-year-old colt. They are at present located at Mr Scott's Commercial Stables, and will shortly proceed up-country to attend the various meets.

We learn it is proposed among those here who have the temperance cause warmly at heart, to invite the Rev. Dr Antliff, Presid<nt of the Primitive Methodists Conference in England, to lecture in Dunedin, in the temperance interest. It is proposed that there be a soiree in connection with the lecture. A grand temperance demonstration on some future occasion is spoken of.

A London street resident is desirous to know if the Corporation "has gone to sleep in so far as that street is concerned; if so, when will they wake up ?" He states that some time ago a deputation of owners and occupiers of property in that street waited on the Council. It was then promised that the Surveyor should take permanent .levels and submit them to the Council. The levels, he says, have been taken, and nothing further done; the best months of summer are being allowed to go t past without being availed of; and the work, in accordance with the usual sagacity of the Corporation, will probably be commenced in the begin.ning of the next midwinter or the midwinter jafter that. t We learned from Lawrence last night that a man, known as Dick the carpenter, had died suddenly at Smith's Station. The temporary Sailors' Home at the old Immigration Barracks, Princes street, is expected to be formally opened about a month hence.; ■•■ ■ -•■. ;, ■■ -.-■ \; .. ■; •; , r -^, :We understand that thirty-two licenses' for brown trout fishing have been taken out at the Provincial Treasury. ' The fishing, however, has as yet been confined to the Water of Leith and the Shag River. In the former stream some fine baskets have occasionally been taken ; but, in the latter, the number of fish that up to the present time has been caught is not very great. The kind of fly which will charm the Shag River, trout has not evidently been yet hit upon.' Of the fish being there in considerable numbers there can be no doubt. One Dunedin gentleman, who succeeded in bringing to grass two fine fish, weighing respectively seven and five pounds, reports that, in the lower part of the river, the trout may be seen about dusk both rising and leaping after the white moths tbat are so abundant. These large fish were in fine condition, and cut up and tasted almost like salmon. Their stomachs were found to be full of the white bait which at this season of the year come up the Shag River in shoals ; and it is very fairly concluded that it is owing to this circumstance that the trout do not take the fly readily in this part of the river. There caa be no doubt that if trout exist higher up the river, where the whitebait are not found, better sport with the fly will be obtained. The artificial flies which in the south of Scotland would bring many a speckled beauty to grief seems to have no attraction for the

New Zealanders. Even in the Water of Leith a "loch" fly has to be used, and in the Shag River it is thought that nothing short of a " Jock Scott," or, at least, something like it, will wile the monsters from their pools. Last week a Pleasant Valley resident secured a five-pounder with the fly, and we hear of several fish.. of. smaller size having been taken. ItMs' satisfactory to' hear- that salmon trout have been seen quite lately near the mouth oil the river ; and it is to be hoped that Mr. Young \7lll Bucceed in ob. taining a few for (breeding! \ purposes before next spawning season. .In"Canierb'ury;the' Acclimatisation Society has followed the example of our local society in recommend-, ing that there should be an open season for brown trout fishing during the present summer., The months recommended to constitute the season are January, February, and March—the fishing (with the rod only) to be confined to the Avon. No doubt our Canterbury friends will do the right thing if, they succeed in clearing the Avon of some of the heavy fish that are at present living to a great extent upon their own kind.

Our Queenstown correspondent telegraphed last night as foilows :—" The mail coach upset near Arrowtown this morning, at the same place where Mr Hallenstein met with an accident. The coach-driver was seriously injured. The particulars are not to hand. The coach was smashed, and one passenger was uninjured.—The' Resident Magistrate at Arrowtown has summoned Dr Douglas for not attending an inquest at Cardrona. The case was dismissed with £510s costs."

We regret to state that Mr Fitzsimmons, second officer of the steamer Beautiful Star, met with a serious accident that necessitated his removal to the Hospital. The Star was discharging wool into the ship Calypso, and the bales were slung two at a, time. Several couples had been transhipped, when, as another slingfull was being landed on the ship's gangway, one of the bales slipped and fell back upon the steamer's deck, right upon the second mate, who was standing at the edge of the main hatchway. He was of course felled to the deck, and when his shipmates removed the bale from off him and lifted him up it was ascertained that his left thigh was badly broken. Medical assistance was at once summoned, and Br Drysdale, with Dr Payne, of the ship Waikato, were soon in attendance. They saw at a glance that the case was one for Hospital treatment, and so abstained from doing more than steadying the broken thigh with splints and otherwise preparing the sufferer for removal to Duuedin. He was sent to the Hospital by the 1.15 train.

Amongst the recent welcome additions to our street architecture is Mr F. Lewis's handsome two-storey wine and spirit store, adjoining the Temperance Hall, Moray Place. The structure is of brick, and the various rooms are lofty, commodious and well ventilated.

The following works ha-e been added to Wise's subset iption library : —Ulrich yon Hutton, by Strauss ; Tales of Old Japan, by Miss Mitford ; Socialism, by Kaufman; Lifeboat and its Work, by Lewis ; Jessie Trim, by B. L. Far j eon ; Over the HilLs, a New Zealand story ; The Cambridges, by Branston; In Honour Bound, by C. Gibbon; Half a Life, by Dasent; &c, &c.

The police took proceedings yesterday against 25 persons, whose ages ranged from budding youth to full maturity, for celebrating the New Year by a display of crackers, squibs, Roman candles, and other fireworks, in a public thoroughfare. One of the unfortunate individuals said that he never held a firework in his hand, but forgot to mention that he applied a light to a packet in another person's hand, and for such an omission he was mulcted in the top fine. Another cute enthusiast in the festivity asked the Magistrate whether his shop could be considered as Princes street. On receiving a negative answer, he replied triumphantly, " Well, I am not guilty ; they were set off in the house." The constable swore distinctly to defendant throwing fireworks in the street; but not to be outdone, the cunning defendant explained that the fireworks were lighted in his business establishment and discharged in the street. He was mulcted in a small penalty. The parents of children suffered the most, having to pay for the acts of their youngsters.

The difficulty of communication with so •near a locality as the Peninsula is a matter which has been brought under our notice. Instead of diminishing, the difficulty is increasing. The mail which last year was sent daily to the North-East Harbour Post-office now arrives only twice a week. There is no means of reaching the district except by steamer, which runs only once a week, or by taking a boat across to the harbour to St. Leonards, a plan which is always in convenient, and often dangersus. The beach road from town is of coarse •available, but there is no public conveyance. A great many families of Dunedin citizens reside along the Portobello beach in the summer months, and they and their several fathers have been put to much incoEvenience this summer through want of easy communication with the city. What is wanted is a ; daily steamer to Dunedin, and, while we give no opinion in the matter, we mention that people in the district assure us it would .pay- : A Sub-Committee of the Sailors' Home ] Committee, consisting of Messrs Fish, jMercer, Prosser, and R. B. Martin, yesterday morning visited the premises to be used •as a Sailors' Home. They found that in 'accordance with instructions given the place had been brought to a state of cleanliness The building, however, has yet to be fumi. gated, and new bed-frames are to be furnished. The alterations needed to fit the premises for the purposes of a Sailors' Home are very slight. A bath-room is to be erected.

: The visit of the Vire to this port has resulted in the Museum being enriched by a valuable collection. The presentation of chief interest is a young albatross in the down, given by one of the crew, M. De La Tromblays. As showing the value of this, it may be mentioned that in no other muj- scum is there a young albatross in the down : —not even in the British museum. Since :the obtaining by the Vire of this and similar •birds, a doubtful point in the natural history •of the Albatross never understood before has jbeen cleared up, and will form the subject of |a' scientific paper. There are two penguins, ,a large penguin presented by M. Blin, and a small crested penguin by M. de Miniac. M. jCouajolles, one of the scientific officers of the expedition, has contributed shells, and Dr Filhol fossils and fish.

| ; The Samson will take to Oamaru to-day 60 immigrants per Nelson. There is a great demand for immigrants in the district It may be thought there are no domestic servants among these—that they were all engaged in Dunedin- but this is not so, members of some of the families being open for employment as domestic servant?. There are two carpenters, and the rest of the men are farm labourers.

Messrs Hallensteia and Co. are about to| introduce into their 'New Zealand Clothing Factory the plan of supplying motive power to sewing machines. The sewing machines are to be diiven by water power. The experiment has been tried in the factory on one machine with results ■which are considered very satisfactory, and the whole of the machines will be driven by water power in the coarse of two or three weeks. The driving machinery can be fitted to any sewing machine. As long as the operative at the machines so fitted presses the

treadle with her foot the machine works, by lightening the pressure the speed is lessened, and by lifting the foot clear of the treadle the machine stopß. All the belts from the water-engine run under benches, -and are so protected as not ix> be' in any way a-source of danger or incpnyenience.;; More I control, is had over, a machine so driven than -over one worked by the foot, f It'is thought; that the additional amount of iwork got from the; machines: will compensate for the expense involved; but the firm, irrespective of this, .consider,it an advantage to themselvesjto lighten the labours of the female operatives whenever they can do so. These machines can be worked by a delicate woman without injuring her health, whereas at those driven by the foot females of a tolerably strong constitution sometimes have their health impaired. There are 40 machinists in Messrs Hallenstein, and Co. 's factory, and altogether there are 200 employes. It maybe mentioned that while sewing machines are moved by steam or. water;'in England, it is the first time that the principle has; been introduced, if not in the colonies, at-least in New Zealand or Victoria.

The Palmer is a locality which excites a restless feeling in diggers in all the colonies. " Distant hills look green," and it is well that the enchantment should be broken before men risk their money and health. We have been favoured with the perusal of a letter from Mr James O'Sullivan, a miner well known in the Queenstown district, who left for the Palmer. He writes, under date Nov. 17th, "I have arrived at Palmer ville, and of all the friends that left the City of Dunedin, only two arrived here—the rest remained in Sydney. I have travelled all the colonies, and this colony As worse than allfor hardship. For every man that is getting gold, there are twenty getting nothing. Times are very black here at present, and are likely to be until the wet season is over —that will be next April. I would not advise any of our friends to come here who intended to come. Horses and rations cost me £60 before I started from Cooktown, besides my expenses on the road."

The Tuapeka Times states that a committee meeting of the Tuapeka Jockey Club was held in the Victoria Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Present: Mr R. Williams (president), and Messrs Armstrong, Hay, Sheath, Quin, Downes, Clark, Hills, and Hayes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Shortly after the meeting opened, Mr Hills objected to some action that had been .taken by the Committee in altering the programme. He then left the room, and afterwards returned and handed in his resignation as a member of the Club. The resignation was accepted. It was unaiii mously resolved that the mare Mabel be disqualified from running in any race on the Tuapaka Course .during the pleasure of the Club, owing to the action taken by the Dunedin Club in reference to her disqualification. It was decided that the qualification to bid for the booths at the forthcoming races be reduced to £3 3s. There are to be two licensed booths, including the grand stand, the rights to be disposed of by auction, on Monday, the llth instant. The rights of erecting three refreshment booths and other privileges, to be disposed of at the same time. Mr W. F. Downes was ap pointed handicapper, in lieu of Mr R. Hills resigned. Messrs Williams and Hayes were elected as a sub-committee to mark off the ground, and to see to the erection of the grand stand and booths. The meeting then adjourned.

Journalism at Coromandel must be a pleasant profession. This is what the Mail says about the News :—" Since that print was first ushered into existence, its columns have been one continual series of blackguardism and ruffianism. Blackmail has been unblushingly levied on all who were not resolute enough to protect their pockets, and abuse and scurrility have been the lot of those who have dared to have an opinion of their own. While the miserable poverty of the wretched scribbler has protected him from the consequences of his foul-mouthed slander in one direction, he may thank the state of the law which does not set off libels against assaults for his impunity from the kickings he has undoubtedly earned. The poverty-stricken Scriblerus, who cheated his tailor, defrauded his too trusting and confiding maid servant, and swindled certain shareholders who were foolish enough to trust their money in his hands, has been trying for nine months to wheedle, to fondle, to bully, to cajole, to bounce, to blackguard himself back into the position he formerly held."

The Fiji Times of December 16th says that Mr Henry Wilson, of Levuka, has been appointed agent for Fiji of the marine de. partment of the National Insurance Company of New Zealand, whose head office is in Dunedin. Mr Wilson's active habits and his association with the shipping generally engaged in the Fijian trade render him ably qualified to look after the interests of the Company.

The recent Scandinavian immigration (says : the Wellington Post) is a source of considerable embarassment to the officers of Her Majesty's Gaol. Several gentlemen of that persuasion lately have been relegated to a temporary residence within its walls, and as they are wholly innocent of the most rudimentary knowledge of the English tongue, Mr Reid and his subordinates were quite at a loss how to convey to their understanding any adequate comprehension of the prison rules, when a bright idea occurred to them—viz., to. use the prisoner Halbritter (who has taken five years' lease of those desirable lodgings) as interpreter. This "happy thought" at once was put into execution, and the incarcerated Scandinavians now find it useless to pretend noncomprehension of the orders given.

A certain official (says Atticus, in the Leader) who, being of a genial and social ! disposition, had acquired habits of tippling which were gradually destroying both his brain and his liver, met me a few days ago. His face was clear, his eyes were bright, and he had evidently been taking a pull at himself, as the horsey men say. I said nothing,' but he turned to the subject himself. " Surprised to see how well I'm looking. I'll tell you the reason. I came across a prescription the other day which has completely cured my love for brandy, and here it is." I copied the formula, which was as follows:— Sulphate of iron, five grains ; magnesia, ten grains ; peppermint, eleven drachms ; spirit of nutmeg, one draohm. I don't know whether the same effect will be produced in every case, but I can vouch for a wonderful cure having been produced in that which came under my notice.

" The Grand Duchess" was the opera at the Princess Theatre last evening. The attendance was not as large as usual, but this, no doubt, was owing to the change in the cast. Miss Lambert was the Grand Duchess, Miss Howe Wanda, and Mr. Vernon Fritz. The opera did not go off with anything like the success of previous representations.

Strangers paying a visit to Bunedin are often at a loss to know which is the best establishment to visit for the purchase of drapery and clothing. Herbert Haynes, and Co. offer special advantages to the public that can be met with nowhere else in the pity. They keep at all times the largest and best assorted stock of every class of goods, imported direct from the leadingmanufacturers and warehousemen at home, which, being bought entirely upon cash terms, they are enabled to offer goods of such sterling value as cannot be equalled by any other house in the trade. Every article in stock is marked at a fixed price for ready money, from which no abatement is ever made, so that the most inexperienced buy their goods at the same price as the best judges. Their terms are—net cash, without discount or reduction of any kind. A fuller description o their stock will be found in an advertisement in the first page of this Daper.—f Abyt.