NEWS AND VIEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 40

NEWS AND VIEWS.

An- extraordinary trial, just concluded in Vologda, sheds a glaring light-on the extraordinary administration of justice in the Czar's dominions. Th.9 presiding judge is reported by the local press to have explained that immorality was not a punishable offence, but that disloyalty to the Czar called for the very heaviest punishment. As a result, Andrei liesnikoff, an aged pedlar, was sentenced to 65 years' imprisonment. His case had lasted nearly a year, and no fewer than 320 female witnesses testified during the trial. Evidence of the most extraordinary credulity among the "Vologda peasantry was giwn, the story told savouring more of the fifteenth than of the twentienth century. For years, ifc "was proved, Liesnikofr had b&en in the habit of masquerading among the simple moujiks as a heaven-sent prophet. Born, he said, spontaneously of a volcano, he had been sent into the world to reveal to the women of the village, in which he happened to be at the time, that one of their number was destined to be the mother of the present Czar's successor on the throne. Nicholas 11, he affirmed, would probably never have a son, and, if lie did. that son would die before 12 months had passed. Discredited among his people, the present Czar would, in the year 1906, adopt a peasant boy, of ■which he (LiesnikofT) .was fated to be the father. Nearly 200 credulous peasant girls were entrapped by this extraordinary criminal. .

"This is a remarkable case — one of the most remarkable that ever came under my n-obioe," 'was the opening sentence of Mr Justice Simpson's judgment in the Equity Court, Sydney, a few days ago, in the family dispute case Malcolm v. Malcolm. The '! plot " of the case was certainly as remarkable as that of any ordinary novel or drama, and its evolution has taken the court almost all its time since August 15, when it was commenced. Six leading ■barristers were retained, and a perfect army of witnesses appeared. The paint in dispute was simply whether two young people who hay© always believed themselves to be the children of Mr S. A. Malcolm, deceased, and entitled to a share of the Malcolm estate, were really his children, or whether they had been bought when infants by Mr Malcolm and foisted on the family. His Honor held that it was for the plaintiffs to show convincingly that the fraud had been perpetrated, a>ud this they had not done. In point of fact, in hid analysis of the evidence he showed ; that he considered that that given for the defendants as mudi more credible in several important instances, and the witnesses, as a whole, much less open to comment in regard to apparent motive and consistent narration. It was, therefore, only a natural consecvuence that he gave a verdict for defendants, with costs against t<he plaintiffs, who ai'e still in law the uncle and aunt of the " infant defendants." Telegrams from Austin, Texas, describe a twge number of alleged "rain cares." All that is required of the patient 13 that he shall stand in the open air with his body bare of all clothing, and let the falling rain pour on him. For nervous disorders and rheumatism the treatment is described as infallible, and many chronic diseases are mentioned as yielding when other means failed. One good downpour of rain, followed by a, good rubbing down, says the

telegram, has cured scores of eases of obstinate colds. The treatment is believed to have originated at Austin, where many people are now thoroughly convinced of the virtue of rain baths. Since ihe cure bocame popular many back gardens at Austin are surrounded by hig.h boarded fences, which screen the citizens while following the treatment, which is described as "agreeable, invigorating, and an absolute nerve restorative."

"We cat what we can, and what we can't eat we can," is said to be the motto of the peach-growers in California. The recent increase in the canned (Anglioe, tinned) products of the United States, not in the case of fruit only, but of vegetables, meat, and fish as well, is littlo short of amazing. The Chicago Inter-Ocean is responsible for the statement that the American Can Company is now manufacturing cans at the late of 1200 millions a year, being an increase of 500 millions in the annual output sinco eighL years ago. To say nothing of the Pacific States, with their huge salmon-canning industries, there are employed along the Atlantic Coast by various canning establishments no fewer than 3000 fishing vessels, with 25,000 men, and 2000 oyster boats, with 20,000 men. The Civil War is said to have given the first impetus tc the preparation of canned goods.

The Government Viticulturist (Signor \ Bragato) states in his annual report that ■ during the past year the industry has shown steady and satisfactory progress, while growers in general display more enlightened ideas in modern methods of viticulture and wino-making. The number of vineyards and cellars is steadily inereas- , ing, and the industry promises well for the : future.