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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6896, 7 February 1894, Page 2

The Fire Brigade meet for steam practice this evening. A first offemliug drunk was dismissed with a caution by Mr Akroyd, J.P., at the Police Court this morning. The Hon. Mr Carroll accompanies His Excellency m the trip up this Coast. It is expected that Lord Glasgow will spend a day m Gisborne. The captain of the barque Samarkand was clearing his vessel at the Customs for London this afternoon. The other day Lord Onslow read a paper at the Colonial Institute, m which, amongst other things, he said that 3000 professional men were better represented m the New Zealand Parliament than 40,000 farmers. The damage done by the lightning at the Featheraton Telegraph Office during Monday's storm was of a very serious nature. When the instrument was first struck, Mr Hawthorne, the operator, received a violent shock which threw him right across the room. It is indeed remarkable that he was not badly hurt. It is said that fashionable London is suffering greatly for want of money. Some years ago any financier was warmly welcomed by the aristocrats, who hoped to become rich by speculations. The result is that society has lost its money, and looks with indignation upon the commercial people it formerly used, or rather, who used up— used tt up, evidently. One of the many peculiar effects of the lightning m the late storms is manifest on a telegraph pole on the road between Greytowu and Featherston. About two feet below the arm several jagged marks appear, and then commences a straight furrow about two inches wide. This is continued right to the ground, and looks as if it had been done by a wide blunt gouge. The post is not blackened or charred at all, and the grass at the foot of the pole is uninjured. Of the Young People's Society of Christian Eudeavour, up to the end of November 903 branches had been formed m Great Britain, and it is estimated that there will be over 1000 by the end of this year. The official returns corrected to November Ist showed that there were 28,071 branches throughout the world, of which, however, 24,577 were m the United States of America, 1996 m Canada, and 1498 m " foreign and missionary countries." A National Convention of the British branches will be held m London at Whitsuntide, 1894. Mr A. E. Hutton, M.P., is president of the British section. VVhile fishing off The Caves, beyond St. Clair, Dunediu, on Thursday last, Mr J. P. Simon, of the firm of Simon Bros., was swept off the rocks into a heavy sea, m which, although able to swim, he found it impossible, owing to the strength of the back way, to make his way unassisted to the shore. Noticing Mr Simon's awkward situation, a lad named Welby Fisher, a son of Mr T. R. Fisher, who had also been fishing from the point, gallantly plunged m, fought his way to Mr Simon, and assisted him, the latter's hand on his shoulder, towards the rocks, when they were both helped out of the water by a rope passed down by another lad named Edward Bennet. The experiment of planting the roots of the Arundo arenaria, or sea bent grass, on that dreary waste, Sandy Point Domain, Southland, has proved very successful. The News states that the grass has formed a perfect oasis m a desert. For a distance of a quarter of a mile m the sandy waste, the sparse natural vegetation of which is of a dirty yellow-browu co'orr, there rose a sixfoot high sand ridge topped with bright green grass, crowned with long cylindric panicles, the culims (or straw) being about three feet high. Mr Waugh, the corporation gardener, cut the grass, bub the seed was not quite ripe enough to thresh it out. The heads were scattered about. The grass has spread from seed sown m 1891, which was supposed to have failed. At the New Zealand Alliance, the reprejjentative of the teetotal party, has decided to instruct its members not to take any part m the election of Committees under the Act, on the ground that they are now merely administrative and not judicial bodies ! A circular signed by Mr Withy, as chairman, and Mr Field, as secretary, advises Prohibitionists to deposit the papers dealing with the election of Committees m the ballot-box without- any erasure. Surely this is arrant folly, as well as rank inconsistency. The Committees, it is true, are merely execntive bodies as regards the issuing or refusal of licenses except m cases of misbehaviour of licensees. But they have still considerable powers, and with them to a large extent will rest the proper enforcement of the law and the regulation of the drink traffic m their neighborhood, and Prohibitionists who adopt the advice of the Alliance will stultify themselves and do a very foolish thing. — H.B. Herald. The first round of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club's sculling handicap started on Monday evening, and resulted m a boil over, R. Jones (20sec) easily defeating the scratch man, A. Thomson. In the second race, contrary to expectation, Jas. Thomson (35sec) beat W. Wilson (30sec). Last evening C. Taylor (40sec), pulling m good style, beat E. Forrest (ssec), and H. Burns (25sec) managed to defeat W. Morell (GOsec). In the absence of Mumby, Steele had a bye. At a meeting of the Club last night the next round was drawn as follows : — Brosnahan (12sec) v. Taylor (40sec), R Jones (20sec) v. Jas. Thomson (35sec), W. Steele (45sec) v. H. Burns (25sec). If possible, all three races will be rowed this evening, and the final to-momny. The following were elected on the Selection Committee : — J. Rosie, J. Nntting, Jno. Thomson, Jas. Thomson, and W. Steele. The Committee will select the representative crew to-morrow night. The funeral of the late Mr J. R. Johnston, which took place this afternoon was largely attended. Deceased was formerly a member of the Fire Brigade, and was one of the champion team which won the shield at Christchurch, and out of respect to his memory the Brigade were present and bore the coffiu to the grave on their hose reels. Mr Johnston had also been a member of the Band, which also joined m the funeral procession and played " The Dead March m Saul." ' A number of Oddfellows (of which Lodge Mr Johnston was Grand Master) paid their last respects to their late brother, ami after a short service by the Rev. Mr Ryburn the funeral rites of the Lodge were read. At last night's meeting of the Foresters a resolution sympathising with their kindred society, the Oddfellows, m the death of their Grand Master was passed, and three officers of the Court Wore deputed to represent the Order at the funeral of their late friend. Amongst those who attended the funeral were the lads whom Mr Johnston taught m St. Andrew's Sunday school. Many beautiful wreaths were sent by sorrowing friends, and much sympathy has been expressed with Mrs Johnston m her distressing bereavement. An article appeared m the Live Stock Journal of November 17 which shows the great alteration that has taken place of late years m sheep-breeding m the Old Country. Until a few years ago the longwools were m a large majority m Great Britain, and probably outnumbered the shortwooi sheep by over three to one. The fall m the price of wool and the demand for small lean mutton has had the effect of causing the Down sheep to oome into favour, and at the present time, it is stated, they considerably outnumber the lonpwools. In referring to the change m the type of sheep the writer of the article remarks : — '* We might have heard 30 to 50 years ago of Leicester for the Leicesters, but we do not now, for there is scarcely a flock of Leicester sheep kept m the whole of Leicestershire. So it has been throughout the midland counties, and the Downs —principally Shropshires— have displaced the once favorite Leicester, which has now been driven iuto Yorkshire — which is its present stronghold- — and some of tue northern counties. The Lincolns are pretty well confined to their own county, and the Cotswolds remain the inhabitants of their native hills without any large following elsewhere. That such a change should have been found profitable by British farmers is a matter worth the serious consideration of the ownerß of small flocks m Australasia, «>

R. J. Seddon takes a paltry £13 from Westland Education Board for eleven attendances, travelling eighteen and a half miles by road. Is this then the Richard John, Premier, etc., who draws a blooming big salary, perks and free trains ? Shame if it is !— Truth. The new light on Stephen Island was exhibited for the first time on Monday night. Captain Henderson, of barque Excelsior, states though his vessel was some 25 or 30 miles off, the rays could be seen with remarkable distinctness and brilliancy. His opinion is that the light is really a splendid one. Land given away. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, has no more sense than to advertise 33,500 acres m the Lake , country to let for 14 years at the upset of £10 for the lot and £7 the valuation of improvements. A block of land like that is better m the hands of the Government than let at this trumpery rent. — Exchange. In an article m the Nineteenth Century, Mr Almond, the headmaster of Loretto School, discusses the moral value of football. Moat of us know that the national football budget is a large one ; but we doubt whether it is commonly realised how gigantio it is. According to Mr Almond, £1,000,000 sterling is spent on paying professional footballers, and £5,000,000 is taken m gatemoney. Can these figures be correct ? The Victorian Department of Agriculture is now about to take an important step m commencing the shipment of fresh pork to England. The meat will be sent m the frozen state m carcase, and arrangements have already been made with the steamboat companies for forwarding it. The same department has also arranged to forward the first shipment of cheese early next month. The article m the Nineteenth Century, of December, by Dr. Bake well, of Auckland, is somewhat severely criticised by the Post. The assertion that 95 per cent of the people of New Zealand were opposed to womanhood suffrage is described as an absurdity. The writer says that Dr. Bakewell suffers from an acute form of cacoethes scribendi, and is surprised that the famous magazine could credit such an absurd statement. Mr Evinson, the editor of Truth, who was a candidate for a Christchurch seat at the late general election, was last week sued by the Lyttelton Times Company for his election advertisements m the Star. Mr Eviaon pleaded that the advertisements were not ordered m the Star, but after hearing the evidence of the defendant's secretary, Mr Capper, sub-editor of Truth, who admitted ordering some of the advertisements to go m both the Star and the Times, Mr Beetham, R.M., told the defendant he had not a leg to stand upon, and gave judgment for the plaintiffs. Most of the advertisements were ordered through the telephone. Severe strictures were passed m the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, on the Contractors and Workmen's Liens Act. An action was initiated by two workmen against a contractor said to have absconded, but on the case being called Mr Fraser, their solicitor, withdrew the claim to have a lien registered against the land, saying the Act was a perfect disgrace to the draughtsman. Every section contained a blunder. Mr Adams, who appeared for a client who would have been prejudicially affected, said the Act was one which set many problems, and was defective m all its provisions. The Resident Magistrate, without expressing any opinion, said he could find no definition of the word claim. Both counsel concurred that a man was safe so long as he committed the worst fraud intended to be prevented, but might be caught if be perpetrated a little wrong. The other day m the local Court there was (says North Otago Times) a difficulty m getting a witness to " kiss the Book." At the first attempt the witness " osculated " when the book was eight or nine inches from his mouth. On being asked to make another attempt he got to within three or four inches, and it was only when the Magistrate brought the witness up with a round turn that the Bible got near enough to the witness's mouth to satisfy the Court. The Magistrate said that some people were under the impression that the oath was no oath at all if they could escape kissing the book. Others again objected on sanitary grounds. We may say that the larger number will be found amongst the latter. The Court Bible lias been m the public service long enough to entitle it to resign. A new one would cost but little. It would be pretty rough on a witness if he were committed for contempt because he refused on sanitary grounds to kiss a book that smells high and tastes worse. The Rotorua Maoris have their eye on the main chance. The completion of the railway is' expected to be followed by an increasing inflow of visitors, who are looked on as fair game by the owners of the soil. The charges at Whakawerewere and Tikitere were high enough m all conscience, but the Natives do not think that the pakeha will object to being bled a little more. The Committee who represent the owners of Tikitere have notified that, m future, the tollage (including a guide) for permission to see the sights of this block will be four shillirigs a head, while the photographer, professional or amateur, will be charged an additional ten shillings if he wants to capture any of the " wonders " with his kodac. The primary toll of four shillings must be paid before anyone will be permitted to cross the bridge, and it is significantly added that 11 all payments must be made m coin." Evidently the globe-trotter has been " taking m " the confiding Maori. There is a penalty of £5 for breaking or defacing any of the natural wonders. The fifty-third annual general meeting of the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company was held m London on 12th of December. The Chairman (Sir Thomas Sutherland, K.C.M.G.,M.P.), m his speech, showed that the company's gross turn-over for the year had been £5,000,000. The amount received m passage money was £957,823, and m freight revenue £1,168,057. The tourist traffic to Mediterranean ports and Egypt showed a very considerable falling-off. Australian trade had been verj' much less than usual, and ihe company had been hit very hard indeed m exchange on Indian and China trad 9, arising from the silver difficulty. The year had been a period of anxiety, low prices, and general stagnation, as was evidenced by the shrinkage of British trade m general. The traffic with Australia had been unremunerative, more especially outwards. China was the only direction m which the company had derived any advantage from its freight department, and this not because of any increase m trade, but because shipowners had laid their heads together to enforce a reasonable rate. Reviewing the company's history, the Chairman showed that m the last 13 years it had declared dividends and repaid capital to the extent of £3,200,000, and built nearly 160,000 tons of new shipping, at a cost of £4,000,000. The company declared a dividend for the half-year of 2^ per cent, on the preferred stock, and 6 1 per cent, on the deferred stock. At the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce at Dunedin, the President, Mr A. C. Begg, gave an address on what he had observed during his travels m Amerioa and Great Britain. He referred at length to the Vancouver service, stating the San Francisco service had never been a pronounced success, being simply a passenger and mail service, which had never received material help from the United States. He had no doubt that if they had the Vancouver service m place of it, the whole of the colonies would be much more benefited. The Canadian and Pacific Railway ComI ponies were both doing their utmost for the service, and he had no doubt that it could be made quicker than the San Francisco route. Then there would be an interested population helping by subsidies and encouraging trade. Many were not aware of the important position of Vaucouver. Situated on an immense inland sea, the shores of which were the terminus of two transcontinental railways, the city of Tacoma has sprung from a mere villuge to a town of 70,000 people, and was growing at the rate of 20,000 yearly. There was another large city et Puget Sound, 40 miles from Tacoma, with 60,000 of a population. There were also the towns of Victoria, about 30,000, and New Westminster, all I'isihg rapidly, on the shores of Pnget Sound. There were thus cities which had reached 200,000 m 12 or 14 years. The trade of the district was growing, aud would grow, especially as there were coal deposits at Pugefc Sound. He thought Una colony should therefore support the service, ,

The Nelson hop gardens and fruit trees suffered severely by the gale on Friday.

The Lyttelton Times says we have reason to believe that next session Parliament will be asked to put a stop to the influx of Assyrian aud Asiatic aliens. If that should be done, the quiet and peaceful dying out of the Chinese element m the colony will be but a question of time. Since 1888 the outflow has exceeded the inflow to a satisfactory extent. In 1889 eighty-eight more Chinese departed than came m; m 1890, one hundred and fifty-one more ; m 1891, one hundred and fifty-five more ; m 1892, one hundred and thirty-nine more ; and m 1893, eighteen more. In the year 1881 the Chinese population of New Zealand stood at 5004. It has now fallen to 4132. The number of Chinese arrivals last year was larger than it had been for some little time. In 1889 the Chinese arrivals numbered only sixteen, m 1890 only eighteen, m 1891 five, m 1892 fifty-eight, and m 1893 one hundred and sixteen.

For Victoria 1893 stands out as the worst trading year experienced since the great gold discoveries of over 40 years ago. The imports of merchandise at the port of Melbourne for the first nine months of the year amounted to only £6,261,193 against £12,752,717 for the corresponding period of 1890. Such a decline of the import trade can only be called phenomenal. Of course, it was greatly inflated from 1888 to 1890, and a considerable reduction was possible without occasioning hardship. The heavy importations were being paid for chiefly by borrowed money, and only partly by the proceeds of our own products. Thus for the first nine months of 1890 the excess of imports over exports at the port of Melbourne was not less than £7,711,382, but for the corresponding period this year it has been only £1,567,886. The export trade has, moreover, fallen off, the value entered at the port of Melbourne, from January to September, iuclusive, being £4,693,327 (merchandise only), against £5,905,847 for the same period of the previous year. The decrease has to be attributed m large measure to the fall m prices. For the breadstuff's exported this year about £300,000 less has been received than would have been the case if 1892 prices had ruled. -<

For the first time m the history of the country, writes the New -York Nation on November 16, the majority of the men m a State last week voted directly m favor of giving the women of that State the ballot on equal terms with themselves. The Constitution of Colorado has a provision that woman suffrage shall be granted whenever the Legislature shall submit the question to the qualified voters and they shall ratify ib. The last Legislature thus submitted it, and equal suffrage was carried on Nov. 7 by a majority of several thousand. Women voted for years m the territories of Wyoming, Utah, and Washington, but it was only by act of the Legislature ; and although Wyoming came into the Union as a State with a Constitution.that forbidß any denial or abridgment of the right to vote and hold office on account of sex, this Constitution was ratified as a whole, without any separate vote on the suffrage clause. In Colorado, on the other hand, the question of extending the ballot to women was submitted at the polls as a separate proposition, and it was the only State issue which was thus submitted this year,' the elections being for county officials. The result consequently expresses the deliberate judgment of the men, and equal suffrage of the two. sexes must be accepted hereafter as the settled policy of that commonwealth. A woman Buffrage amendment to the Constitution of Kansas will be submitted to the men of that State i next autumn.