THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1889.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8495, 16 May 1889, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1889.

We deferred commenting on the export tables for 1888, published on the 7th irist., until we could obtain the particulars of the exports for the March quarter, which we now print in another column. The comparison of one year with another is always subject to variations in the seasons, causing in some years delays in shipment, which run the produce of one year over into the next. This is notably the case wich wool, and it will be seen that the apparent deficiency on the year is made up by larger shipments in the March quarter. Taking the whole period of 15 months the net increase in exports is no less than L1,188,421, and it is spread over a considerable area, agricultural produce Being of course the largest item, owing mainly to the exceptional demands from Australia. The excess under this head for the 15 months is just L500,000, Frozen meat comes next with L2H,000, and the remaining increases are spread over gold, kauri gum, timber, butter and cheese] phormium, and a number of miscellaneous items not enumerated. These solid facts ought to do much to restore our credit at Home, witnessing as they do to the wonderful recuperative powers of the colony in spite of the discouragements of a considerable period of depression. We cannot indeed hope that the Australian markets will keep open to us for any long period, and the prospects of a continued large demand for flax, in the production of which there is at present great activity, are not as well assured as we should like them to be, since prices have been forced up by a " corner" in rope and twine-making materials in America, and these " cor- " ners" are apt to collapse suddenly. Nor can we expect to largely increase our production of wool while our flocks are kept down by such large exports of frozen carcases; but an increase of several hundred thousand pounds in value may fairly be looked for in the present favourable condition of the Home market. There is room, on the .other hand, for a large increase in our output of gold, timber, butter and cheese, and also of coal and minerals. Dunedin does not show as well as we could wish in tho comparative returns,

as the direct exports from Oamavu and1 Timaru necessarily tell upon us. We must not, however, complain since the producer is doubtless more or less benefited by these direct shipments, and a good deal of the business passes through Dunedin, though it does not appear in our returns. It seems quite clear that we have turned the corner of long-con-tinued dullness in trade, and it cannot be long before increased production in so many directions tells upon the condition of trade generally. There are many signs of increased settlement, and of improved demand for land and a larger demand for goods, and better prices -will surely follow ere long. To sum up the brighter elements in our position, we have to record within the past 12 months the placing of our chief financial institution in a sound position ; the reduction of expenditure, and bringing our colonial revenue into a position to meet our liabilities with a small surplus over ; the placing of some hundreds of new settlers on the land ; the reduction of pastoral rents to t'gures which leave a better margin to the Siieepiarmer; and a very notable increase in our exports of colonial produce, and fa? better prices. We do not look for or desire a " boom," but we may fairly expect steady improvement in all branches of trade, and nothing would more contribute to this than a revival in our gold'fields, of which there are many hopeful signs.

The meeting held the night before last at the Hanover street Baptist Church was of an exceptionally interesting character. Some time ago a hall forming part of the church buildings "was generously set apart by the congregation as a public reading room. It is an unpretentious effort to provide healthy recreation for those whose straitened circumstances shut them out from the advantages which the well-to-do derive from clubs and athenaeums, and the result so far is highly satisfactory. During the winter months .the average daily attendance was over 100, and the conduct of the frequenters of the room all that could be desired. Though the room is given by the congregation, the benefit and pleasure to be derived from its use are open to all denominations. The humble institution, if we may so call it, is managed by a non-sectarian committee, appointed by 7 the public, and there is no respect of persons. The Rev. Mr North, however, who presided at the meeting, said that one of the benefits, from his point of view, likely to flow from such an undertaking was that it brought to the minds of those whom it was intended to serve that the churches cared for them. Every means of re-establishing cordial relations between the working classes and the churches ought to be welcomed in the interest of the community at large, and we heartily wish all success to the Hanover street Reading Room. We need scarcely say that it has no funds or means of augumenting its stock of literature except what it receives from voluntary subscriptions—money, newspapers, magazines, and books being equally welcome. The treasurer, Mr Megget, said that something over JL2O, a very modest sum, would be required to carry on during the present year, and that the committee would be glad to receive subscriptions and gifts of suitable reading matter from people of all denominations. There can be little fear of their efforts to furnish counterattractions to the dram-shop, and the street corner being fcfcinted for want of even a larger amount than the one named. We have previously had occasion to refer to another humble reading room which has been opened to the local public in Walker street. It is in connection with the Walker street Presbyterian Church. This congregation, a few years ago, began a Sunday school in a hired room in Stafford street for the little waifs and strays of the neighbourhood. Latterly a building for the purpose has been erected in Walker street, where most of the neglected children of that part of the town are to be found receiving instruction every Sunday afternoon 5, and where, if we mistake not, there is some kind of religious service in the evening. On Monday evenings there are penny readings and other kinds of innocent entertainment in the room and on Wednesday evenings a meeting for singing. It is not pleasant to think that such agencies should be needed in a young country, and especially in a young country like New Zealand, where the conditions of life are so favourable. But human nature is much the same all the world over, and wherever human beings congregate in large numbers there will be more or less of vice, misery, and degradation. Perhaps the time will come when these evils shall, so to speak, be reduced to a minimum, when education, religion, and other civilising influences shall have strengthened and purified our i common nature to such a degree as to place it beyond danger of sinking, as at present it is so apt to do, under the slightest temptation. In the meantime it is evident that change of place does not change people's habits. Even here in Dunedin, the chief city of the old identities, who aimed at founding a model settlement, there is enough vice, squalor, and wretchedness to stop our boasting about our material progress. The very Presbyterians have lapsed by the thousand, as some of their own authorities tell us, and the larrikinism of our youth is proverbial. In such circumstances every attemptto check those evils which appear in young as well as in old communities ought to be encouraged and supported. However insignificant such efforts may seem to be, they are in the right direction, and they help to relieve the selfishness and worldliness which are characteristic of the age, and which it has been asserted appear in an intensified form in the colonies. And there is after all a vague sort of belief, surely not unreasonable, that new societies should be better than the old ones—that when the race makes a fresh start in any part of the world, and particularly under such happy auspices as those of a British colony in a temperate clime, it should turn over a new leaf, and leave all kinds of evil customs and social abuses behind. It should at any rate be the aim of every colony to vindicate the reasonableness of this belief, and so strengthen the conviction that the world is really progressing towards a stage when at least the grosser evils which still afflict human societies will disappear,

The City Council last night received a rather surprising proposal from a firm of Ounedin solicitors offering to lease the Triangle reserve at a rental of £500 per annum for 50 years and erect thereupon buildings at a cost of £25,000 to Bervo the purposes of publio library, baths, and market. The matter fa to be considered at a special meeting next week,

A good deal of snow fell yesterday, and though the streets of the city were free from it, the surrounding hills were fairly white with it. South of Dunedin the snowstorm was very heavy. At Invercargill a tremendous fall of hail took place, which laj on the ground to a depbh of two inches.

The ordinary meeting of the Hospital Trustees was held yesterday afternoon, and the ordinary business wa3 disposed of, and a balance sheet for the year laid on the table. On the motion of Mr Solomon it was decided to hold a meeting next week to consider the questions that have recently attracted so much attention— namely, nursing, the establishment of a nurses' home, and the settiDg apart of a special ward for gynecological cases.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees yesterday afternoon was attended by Messrs A. Solomon (chairman), W. D. Stewart, M.H.R., M. Fagan, J. Haynes, and W. Isaac. The Visiting Cammirtee recommended various unimportant alterations to chimneys, outhouses, &c. The medical superintendent reported that he had found everything at the institution in a satisfactory condition. The lying-in ward, he stated, was fast filling up, a large number of patients having been admitted oflate. It was resolved to pay the extra charges incurred by a constable in conveying *. parfcnt from an up-country township to the hospital. It was decided to allow a female patient who had exhibited signs of insanity to remain in the institution, as she was very quiet and not troublesome. Forty applications for relief were dealt with.

We understand that a number of gentlemen interested in the buildiDg of an opera house or theatre in Dunedin will meet shortly with the view of considering what can be done towards having a new theatre built in a central position.

The meeting of the Maori Hill Borough Council, which was convened for last evening, lapsed owing to the want of a quorum. As only one tender had been received for the road formation in the"Leith Valley, the time for receiving tenders was extended till the 22ud inst.

The ordinary meeting of the Kaikorai School Committee on Tuesday night was attended by Messrs Duncan (chairman), Archer, Carlton, Fraser, Moir, and Stout. The head master's report showed the average attendance for the past four weeks to be: Boys 293, girls 248—total 541; and the number at present on a purged roll as, boys 324, girls 289—total 613. With respect to the establishment of evening classes, the secretary was instructed to advertise Jror applications from youths desirous of joining a night school, the names to be sent to the head master not later than Tuesday next. It was decided not to give any specific instructions to delegates with reference to the subjects coming before the School Committees' Conference, further than instructing them to endeavour to arrange for uniformity among the Dunedin and suburban schools in the granting of holidays. James Sieele, a well-known livery stablekeeper at Riverton, was picked up dead in his stable yesterday morning. He was subject to apoplectic fits, and it is surmised that he died while suffering from the effects of one.

Mr Basil Sievwright being the only candidate nominated yesterday for the representation of St. Leonards Ward in the Wesb Harbou r Council, was declared duly elected. At length, after trying unsuccessfully on 16 occasions, a nomination has been received for the position of. Mayor of Riverton. The candidate is a retiring publican.

The solicitors of Auckland have memorialised the Government against the sale of land for rates. They assert that sufficient search is not made at the Deeds Office as to who is the owner of the land, and ask that a month elapse between the issue of the summons and the hearing, and that a search iu the Deeds Office be made by the local body, and notice be sent to the owners. .

The following interesting incident is related in 8n Australian exchange as having occurred at the Echuca (Victoria) Police Court at the end of April:—"Mr Peunefather (formerly private secretary to Sir W. Jervois), a barrister, was engaged in some important cases, and had amisunderstanding with the bench, resulting in Mr .Wyatt, P.M., committing him to imprisonment for one hour for contempt. Mr Pennefather refused to apologise, and declared that Mr Wyatt, through defective hearing, had misunderstood him—an opinion endorsed by the crowd in court, who expressed sympathy with the barrister."

A man of respectable appearance (says a Home paper) was lodged ia Wicklow Gaol on March 16 under the following circumstances: — He went to the police barracks on Thursday night, and made an extraordinary statement to Sergeant O'Reilly aud Constable Welly. He gave his name as John, Alexander Fitzmaurice, a native of Cardiff, and declared that he was the real " Jack the Ripper." He then deposed to murders which he stated he had committed in London and elsewhere. The statements were taken, and afterwards signed by the self-accused murderer, On Friday morning he went back on the written statement, and would only admit that he was guilty of one murder, which took place in the year 1885, the victim being Mary Jane Wheeler. The prisoner was subsequently brought before a magistrate, who, having hoard the evidence of the police and also the statements of the accused, remanded him for further inquiries. Fitzmaurice appears by his language to be a man of some education.

An elder brother of the famous Jonathan Roberts, named Joseph, was recently committed for trial at Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, on a charge of stealing a sum of money from his mate. It appears the two men stayed at an hotel together one night and occupied the same bedroom. The prosecutor missed his money next day and suspicion fell on Roberts, and the police got hold of a letter which had been placed in the letter rack at the hotel, addressed to Roberts, and which, by the feel of it, was supposed to contain bank notes. Such proved to be the case, and when Roberts inquired for a letter he was referred to the sergeant-major of police. It is alleged that Roberts got up early in the morning, wrote a letter, and addressed it to himself, enclosing the money in the same envelope.

A special cable message in the Melbourne Argus states that the Pall Mall Gazette publishes a florid report of an interview which its representative had with Miss Alice Cornwell, of Melbourne, who has arrived in England. Miss Cornwell states that she intends to place upon the London market the Great Wyong Timber and Coal Company, with a capital of £1,000,000, and declares that the property of the company is worth many millions. She admits that the Adelaide outer harbour scheme will cost £1,500,000, and she intends trying to raise £500,000 as a first issue. She is arranging a British and Australian mining and investment scheme, with the object of introducing Australian mines direct to the public. Sir Robert Stout, of New Zealand; Sir Samuel Davenport, of South Australia; and Mr J. L. Dow, the Minister of Lands, Victoria, and other wellknown men from all the Australian colonies except Queensland, have promised to support the scheme.

While the King of Italy was engaged in laying the foundation stone of the new Palace of Justice, in Rome, the mason whose duty it was to hand His Majesty the silver trowel seized the opportunity of beseeching the King to take into consideration the destitute condition of his fellow-artisans, numbers of whom were without food. . King Humbert was much touched when he learned from the man that there were 4000 operatives out of work in Rome, and promised to bestow prompt attention to their wants. A concert in aid of the St. Andrew's Church Friendly Aid Society was held in the hall of the church last evening, when, despite the bitterly cold weather, there was a capital attendance. The entertainment comprised vocal and instrumental selections and recitations. The instrumentalists were Mrs Petrie and Miss Colvill who played a duet and two solos—the former! Raff's " Polka de la Reine," and the latter a valse by Chopin. The vocal soloists were Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Wilkie, Miss Grey, Miss J. Low, and Miss Poppelton; the lastnamed lady's name was cot on the programme, but in response to an invitation from the promoters of the concert, she sang very sweetly the pretty song, <• I wonder where the fairies dwell." The other soloists were also well received. Mr Bracken gave a pathetic recitation, and responded to an encore with "The charge of the light brigade." Mr James Cargill was even more successful, for he was twice recalled. Scarcely a word of his third piece, however, could be heard at the back of the hall. A quartette party—consisting of Mrs Ross, Miss Marshall, Messra Finch and Gully—also contributed a couple of aeleotions,

According to the Western Star a number of half-sovereigns are in circulation in Riverton, the edges of which have been manipulated with a file. The banks are refusing to take them except as old gold, their value as that being about 8s 6d.

The Dunedin Horticultural Society's Chrysanthemum Show will take place to-day. The number of entries is larger than usual, and the display of cut blooms and fruit will surpass anything yet attempted here at this season of the year. Arrangements have been made for a promenade concert in the evening.

The Railway department announce in another column tho concessions to be given to excursionists on the Queen s Birthday. Messrs Kearns, Son, and Heatley have dissolved partnership. The business will be carried on bv Mr T. H. Kearns, under the style of Kearns and bons. Messrs James Samson and Co. will sell on Friday the stock-in-trade of a grocar at the Arcade, South Uuneuin. Messrs E. C. Reynolds and Co. will sell freehold property and residence at South Dunedin on Saturday. Messrs Wright, Stephenßon, and Co. will sell trotting and carriage horses ou Saturday The favourite cantata "Ruth" will be given tomorrow evening at the Kaikorai Good TemplarsHall by the members of the Presbyterian Church choir aud the Southern Philharmonic Society's orchestra. A number of selections will be rendered during the evening.