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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8424, 24 January 1899, Page 2

The Borough Council meets this evening. It is proposed to close the Auckland Exhibition about the middle of February. The annual meeting of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will bo held tomorrow evening. The schooner Aotea, which arrived from the Mahia this morning, reports having met the cutter Coralie yesterday at H.ippy Jack's, when it was learned that the wreck of the Tasmania had been located and buoyed. It was intended to have commenced diving operations this morning, but a heavy south-easteily roll will necessitate further deh'ty. A correspondent who is with the salvage party wired this morning from the Mahia : " The wreck of the Tasmania has been located and buoyed. The masts are three feet under low water. The vessel is on an even keel. We are diving to-day." The Napier Daily Tclepraph referring to the Verto Vaudeville Company says :— A panorama of the American-Spanish conflict in Cubnn waters was presented to a large audience in the Gaiety Theatre last night, and proved very interesting and entertaining. The views are from photographs taken by the war corvespondeuts Clement and Gil'mour, and are striking reproductions of the more stirring episodes of the war. Among the views which found most acceptation last night were representations of the wreck of the Maine, divers at work investigating the cause of the explosion, &c. Some clever legerdemain business was done by Verto, a, conjurer of considerable ability, and Miss Millie Richardson, a bright and vivacious soubrette, sang several seriocomic sougs in captivating style 1

There are 234 registered dentists in the. colony, according to the lust published returns.

Mr Stead advocates a " great pilgrimage of peace through all nations, beginning at SctiiFranciscoaud ending atSt. Petersburg."

At Whangarn on Thursday last George Halliday, of Whakapara, was fined .C3O and costs on two charges of sly-grog selling.

French women paying taxes are now entitled to vote in Sl.itc "elections, but as a rule aie not enthusiastic concerning the right of .suffrage.

A man named Patrick Loughran was committed for trial at AucKland on Frid.iy by Mr Hutchison, S.M., for bavin;.' skeleton keys in his po-,sc-sion.

Woirl has been received by tho. English mail that tho Devonport anil Lake Takapnna syndicate electric tramway scheme is making good progress.

It iii stated in Wellington that many persons entitled to the old age pension refi.iin from personally claiming it from a feeling of distaste to publicity.

The gross income for the pust year from the Ciintu-bnry Agricultural College farm was £1900 Us B<l. Tlio farm comprises 710 acres, the net return being about 11s per acre.

A deserter from H. M.S. Tauranga was arrested in Auckland on Friday lust hy Detectives Herbert and Broberg. He pleaded guilty, and was remanded for eight days.

A sentimental singing competition was held in Auckland last week. There were nine competitors, the winner being Mi- J. Diamond, who sang in a most pleasant manner ".My .Mother Was a Lady."

Stone-throtting was characterised by Mr Hutchison, S.M., at the Auckland Police Court as being "a most objectionable form of larrifcinisni.'' T he defendant w.is fined £2, with costs £1 12s, in default 14 clays' imprisonment.

A large Native meeting is being held at Tauwhare, in the Waik.ito. The primary reason of the gathering is the opening of a large meeting-house, which has just been built. Mahnta, the Maori King, and a large number of chiefs aic present, and doubtless many questions at present agitating the minds of the Maoris will be fully discussed.

Mr Thompson, a tourist from Glasgow, while silting on the top seat of a coacli passing Hawk's Cnig (reports the Westport News) bad his attention engrossed with the surrounding scenery, atid consequently did not heed the driver's warning to look out for the rocks. As the coach was going under the Crag, his head struck the rocks, in such a manner that it was forced down into his chest, partially dislocating his chest hone.

The Dunedin Star complains that Mr A. Thomson, Chairman of the Otu'o Dock Trust presided at meetings of the Trust at which it was decided (anything but unanimously) to appoint a manager of the free/.ing works at a salary of £250 per annum, and then became, as it was known he intended to be, a candidate for the Port. The Star asks " Is it a job ':"

We arc informed by MrG. W. Sampson, Chief Postmaster, that arrangements have been made with Mr Cooper for a bi-weekly service by coacli to Te Karaka and Wlmtatutu. This will secure with the present contract a tri-wecldy delivery of mails. The service is to commence at an early date, of which due notice will be given, and it will, we are sure, be greatly appreciated by the settlers.

There have been some very lively scenes al. the meeting of the Wellington Conciliation Board, which is investigating the complaints of the Iron and Brass Moulders' Union. It appears from some of the evidence that protective duties in some cases to not foster local industry. l r or instance, it appeals that the bulk of the brass work required in the colony is imported. Mr Fisher, a member of the Board, asked— "Isn't there any duly on imported brass mouldings 1 " Witness—" Oh, yes, a duty of 25 per cent." Mr Fisher— ""And can't you compete with the imported article with the assistauce of the duty '!" Witness — " Oh, dear ! no." An employer present derided the ide.-. of protection. " Why, protection," he said, " is not worth an old chew of tobacco to us." Another employer, " It's a tarce." A third, " It's a fraud."

Now th.it a Horticultural Society has been again started in this district it is to be hoped that the matter will lie taken up with spirit by the residents of the district. The wanl of such an organisation has been severely felt for some time, this beiir,' particularly apparent not only in Gisborne but also in the country districts. One of the things that strikes a stanger most on arriving in Gisborne is the comparatively small attention paid to the cottage garden as compared with other places. A great deal might be done in this direction by the Society, and we hope to see amongst the pri;,es presented at the annual shows one for the best cott.i^e garden. To beautify the town and suburbs is also a matter of vital interest to us all, and one who has travelled the district cannot but deplore the small amount of progress made in this direction. Gardening, in addition to beinc; an healthful recreation, is not without its profits, the cultivation of flowers especially being one of the chief enjoyments of mauffind. The committee of the new society are determined that nothing shall stand in their way to make the society a success, and we sincerely trust that their efforts will lie substantially supported by tlie community at large. In other parts of the colony such societies have of late considerably increased, and successful shows have been held, and there is no reason why equally as good results should not bo obtained in this district.

A meeting of the Horticultural Society was held last evening m the room over Dalrymplo's. There was a fair attendance of members, Mrs Beere presiding. The report of tho Committee appointed at the previous meetiug for the purpose of drafting rules was submitted by Mr Darton. The rules, which are similar to those adopted by southern societies, were considered seriatim, and in several cascsslight amendments were made. Regarding the name of the Society, it was thought by several members that " Poverty Bay" should bo substituted for "Cook County," and a motion to this effect was carried "by a large majority. The annual subscription to the Society was fixed at on for exhibiting members, mid 2s u'd for non-exhibiting members. In fixing the subscription at the latter amount, "it is the wish of the Society to make the membership as general as possible, so that all interested in horticulture might be induced to give their support. The election of oflicers resulted as follows : — President, His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Townley) ; Vice-Presidonts, Messrs W. A. Barton C. P. Davies, E. P. Joyce, H. J. Finn, C. Evans, E. Murphy, G. Grant, J. A. Harding, A. Kempthorne, C. Seymour, G. W. Sampson, and G. Stevenson ; Hon. Secretary, Mr W. J. P. Gaudin ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr R. N. Jones; Committee, Messrs H. Bull, Willock, A. Thomson. J. B. Adams, 0. E. Darton, Carlisle, and Rev. H. Williams ; Ladies' Committee, Mesdames Townley, Beere, and Jones, Miss Nesbitt; Auditors, Messrs Kilgour and M. Foster. The question of the date of the first show was left to the Committee. Mr Dartou stated that he had received the names of fifty persons as members of the Society, and ho thought that in the course of the next week the number would reach a hundred.

The Hawke's Bay Herald makes merry over a ridiculous case heard in Napier on Tuesday, in which one Martin Quinn was fined for selling as a temperance drink a beverage called Kola bitters, which had 2.J per cent, of alcohol. We have it, on doubtful authority, says the Herald, that the police are about to raid every grocer's shop in the town. For a considerable time past the grocers have been selling sugar, and there is much more than 2J per cent, of alcohol in this deleterious substance. The grcengLocers and fruiterers every day without the slightest compunction are selling cabbages, onions, potatoes, apples, and apricots, and they all contain a huye percentage of alcohol' The awful crime of Martin Quinn and the effects of bis terrible breach of the law may easily be estimated. He sold ,i drink which contained 2h per cent, of alcohol. Ordinary whisky, for whisky varies according to the desire of the publican to become rich, contains 53 per cent, of alcohol ; is composed of say half whisky and half water. Now the average man gets what is vulgarly termed "screwed" upon half a pint of pure alcohol. If he guts drunk on less ho is not worth considering. According to this estimate any dogiaded person who wanted to get drunk would only have to enter Mr Qiiinn's shop and order 21.} pints of kola bitters and drink them off at once. He would have to swallow that 21 j pints at once, for if he spread its absorption over a period and only drank at intervals the effect would go off in the process. Thus any unprincipled 'prohibited person could go to Mr Qiiinn and order three gallons of kola bitters tv be put in a bucket, j or a bath if there were no large buckets about, and intoxicate himself. The risk of i such <i state of things is apparent, and the law is to be commended in the endeavor to , put it down with a strong and firm hand. I

Auckland has already furnished S4O claimants for old ago pensions. Of the 20 claims investigated at the opening of the Court, only four were allowed.

The Bush Advocate states that a peculiar sticking up case is reported to have taken place at Norsewood on Sunday evening, an elderly woman, Mrs 0. Ulsen, beinj; threatened hy a gang of .young fellows. Constable Drake is investigating.

The list of registered medical practitioners for the colony includes 087 names. Eighty-five are noted as having left the colony, and several as being resident in New South Wales. Only one seems to have retired from the profession, while one is known to bo dead.

A country storekeeper in the Auckland district, who last week became bankrupt, in his sworn statement stated that be was indebted to giimdiggers to the extent of X2OO. The gum was bought from the diggers on credit, part payment being made in goods.

In consequence of the reduced rates ruling in Australia, all the direct lines from New Zealand have decided to lower their rates of freight on wool to tho following :— Steamers, id per lb greasy, j|d per lb washed ; sailers, gd per lb greasy, Ad per 11) washed, with the usual primages.

For some time past one of the inspectors of the Hawke's Bay R.ibhit Board has been, in fear and trembling over an alleged threat by a settler to put a "dose of lead " into him. The Board, at its meeting in Hastings a few days ago, resolved to spnd a constable with the inspector on his

A pension court incident (reported in the Post).— Air Kenny (to ancient applicant): "Have you ever deserted your wife';'' Applicant (sturdily) : "No, sir, I had no occision." Mr Kenny : " Some do it without reason." Applicant : " Yes, it is a great failing in New Zealand.' 1 Mr Kenny (laughing) : " You're one of tho good old .sort." Later it transpired that the applicant was practically kept by his wife.

A curious; accident is reported from Tamworth (N.S.W.). In happened in the lirst event of the local race meeting on New Year's Day, when two jockeys were injured. ill- J. (J. Raphael, a, local chemist, seeing the accident, borrowed a horse, and galloped off to procure bandages for theinjurcd jockeys. Tlieanimalbaulkcd, and threw Raphael with great force against ii fence, and he was picked up in an unconscious state, and died next day from his injuries.

Blaekwood for December urges the need of continued strenuous armament on England's part. The future was never moro ominous— though the FaMioda crisis has passed. Russia and France are greatly increasing their naval outlay ; England will therefore have to see to it that her fleet is really equal to all emergencies. And on l.md the time has come to re-arm our artillery with quick-firing guns. The delay over this necessary step is sin;ply incomprehensible.

Mr P. Butcl, of the Arrow (reports the Cromwell Aruus) has brought the resources uf science to bear in the perpetual combat with the insect pests that make war upon his orchard. He has the electric light installed in his house ai.d mill, and has a large are light in his garden. The codlin moth and other nocturnal insects find the light very fascinating, and sacrifice themselves upon it in thousands. The plan of dealing with the pest has proved very destructive, and a considerable diminution in their manners, if not their total extinction is confidently anticipated.

In committing Robert Shearing, of Tapanui, for trial at Dunedin, on a charge of destroying three sheep by shooting them, Mr Hawkins, S.M., said it was simply ridiculous that such a case had to go to the Supreme Court, and that no effort was made to amend the law. He did not know when any redress was going to come. It was monstrous that such a case should not be within the Magistrate's jurisrtieI ion. If they allowed Magistrates to settle perjury cases by Hue the offence would soon be done away with. The present case was one in which the lad shouid have had a good thrashing. ' He lost all patience with legislation of the sort, and the expense that people were put to was unreasonable and out of all measure with the offence.

A (iennaii professor recently conducted an experiment designed to testthe relativevalues of large and small cows — the former scaling, on an average, 12051 b, and the j latter .0701b — and the leading conclusions : arrived at are as follow :—(!.) The milk of the small cow is richer in fat than that of the larger ones. (2.) Large cows eat a greater amount of feed than small cows ; per 1000' b live weight they eat less. (3.) .Small cows produce less milk than large cows, absolutely and relatively. (4.) When in thin flesh small cows may produce more per 10001 b live weight than large cows. (5.) Large farrow cows are more persistent milkers ; on the other hand, small cows show a greater tendency to fatten on the same feed, with a decrease in the milk flow.