Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 8061, 16 July 1885, Page 2

A Muddle Somewhebh.— We did not receive our usual report of yesterday after, noon's sitting of Parliament - lest night. White it is not possible at present to allocate the blame for the omission to forward it,--. we can venture to say that either the Tele* graph Department or the Press Associationhas been annoy ingly remiss in its attention to its work for some time past ; scarcely a week passing without some trouble of this kind cropping up. We publish the report of the evening sitting of the House, which was then in Committee on the Employment of Females and Others Amendment Bill.

Southland L aokossb Club —The match to be plvyed on the Eastern Kcssrve on Saturday will be by players A- to L. v. M. to Z.

Political Conundbum. — A correspondent of a Wellington papei asks— "Why are the present Ministry like a banana ? " The answer is—" Because .they have thick skins and no backbone !"

Thb Wab Dioeama. — The reputation Mr " Zulu " Thomson possesses for providing excellent entertainments should be the means of filling Sloan's Theatre this evening, .and doubtless those who do attend will be thoroughly pleased and satisfied with what tbey see, hear, and, in the shape of gift;, receive.

Hospital. — The Hon. Treasurer desires v; to acknowledge with thanks receipt of cheque for £2 15i from the members of the Otaria Boad Board. A characteristic note from the clerk accompanying the cheque explained that, the Board not being at present oppressed with funds, the members had not felt themselves at liberty to vote anything to the Hospital as a Board, but that as individuals they had " made a collection" amongst themselves, of which the cheque was the result. '' May their shadows never be less."

Get Mobe of Them.— A deputation from the employers of females and boys waited on Mr Stout yesterday in Wellington, to protest against Mr Bradshaw's clause in the Factory Act Amendment Bill. The deputation urged that they were frequently called upon, in the case of emergencies to keep tbeir employes after hours. Mr Stout, in reply, said as far as tLe girls were concerned he would not make any alteration, but be suggested that when the bill was before the Council a clause should be inserted providing for the issue of permi'B, in case of emergency, for the emp'ojment of boys only after ordiaary hours.

New Gsounds fob Divobcb.— While the Divorce Amendment Bill was under discussion, Dr Newman suggested that where a husband or wife had been lunatic for a lengthened period, or where either party was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, it should be a ground for divorce. But a much more startling proposition was made by Mr Downie Stewart, who went so far as to suggest that where a married couple without children applied for di7orce, and both signed their consent before a Fupreme Court Judge, and renewed their application six months afterwards, the request should be acceded to. He also advocated the Bnbstitution of divorces for judicial separations,

Hold I Enough. — The London Figaro of May 15th says:— At a time when the Legislatures of two of . our Aastralian colonies have authorised the raising of more than 2i millions sterling by means of new loan?, it is worth while to observe, that already Australia, New Zealand.and Tasmania owe cbee np"n £123,000,000 between them, which is surely not a too modest total' for a population that, all told, does not much exceed 3,000,000 souls. Seeing, however, that Victoria is" just now expecting to borrow £4,000,000 at 4 per cent., it may be presumed that investors do not think our Australasian cousins have reached the end of their borrowing tether.

Irish . Voluntebb Cobps, — A good mufter of the above corps took place in the Garrison Hall, on Saturday evening, and were pnt through different squad movements by Staff-Sergeant Blackmore. After being dismissed the members held a meeting to con* aider theadvisablenese of procuring uniforms immediately. Mr M, Eugbes was voted to the cbair. After several suggestions had been made, it was resolved that the matter be held ovor for further consideration. The secretary (Mr Maher), was instructed to write to the secretaries of the Dunedin and Christ* church Irish Corps for samples of their uniform materials, It was also agreed that the election of officers should take place on Saturday next after drill, the mover expressing tbe hope that every member would ba in attendance. The meeting dispersed, after tbe nsual compliment to ths. chairman, There are now about 46 meo enrolled,

Flowebs, — Ab a proof of the mildness of the winter climate of Btewart Island Mr S, J. Deck called at this office yesterday with two laTge bouquets of flowers which he had just .brought over from his favourite island. One posey of them had been reared at HalfMoon Bay, the other was tbe produce of the exhibitor's own garden — only a year old — at the Inlet. Most of |he flowers were in beautiful bloom and full perfume, although a considerable time pulled, and some of them were of very delioate varieties of their classes. The following, which we give as showing the vßriety that can be grown there even in winter, were ail represented by a number of specimens, viz. : — Pansy, fuchsia, stock, cyclamen, nisturtium, polyanthus, primrcsa, geranium, pelargonium, roue, forget-me-not, mignonette, wallflower, marigold, and many other hardier sorts. The flowers will be oa view in Mr Cleaves window to-day,

Good Grounds, — The twenty-one sailors who refused to go to Guam in the Coptic have instructed Mr Sbaw, of Wellington, to take proceedings against the -, -master and owners of the vessel for ualawfohprosecution. The proceedings taken against these men were harsh to a degree. They left England on an ordinary trading voyage, and it is to be presumed under the uHual articles, and there was nothing unreasonable in their dasire to know whitber their vessel wan bouod when she was taken up as an armed cruiser. It is very unlikely that their agreement contained a clause binding them, to take up arms against, the Queen's enemies, and in any case they were entitled to some information as to tbe service required of them, its probable duration, etc. As a matter of fact the Coptic has never been re* potted to the public since her supposed passing through Boveaux Straits nearly three months ago, so that the relatives of those on board are presumably ignorant of their whereabouts.

A Wonderful Tariff. — The extrafcrdinary character of the tariff oa the New Zealand railways U well illustrated by the following examples given by Aucklanders to a canvasser for signatures to the petition to Parliament asking for an enquiry into the management: —One engaged in the.agricultural produce trade spoke of the very high charges .made for carrying agricultural produce, and stated that he wonld far rather patronise the Waikato farmers than the farmers in Canterbury, but the railway charges prevented him. He got potatoes conveyed from Lyttelton or Timaru to Auckland for 10s a ton, while he had to pay 17s 6d for the conveyance of the same qnantity from Waikato to Auckland. The difference was a good profit, and he was thus compelled to Bend the Auckland consumers' money away from the place on account of the xa lway charges. Another one said the boiler in one of the Waikato cheese factories had to be repaired, and to do so, it had to be conveyed to The railway charge for d. ing this was just 7s more than the tbßTie inidef for conveying the boiler trigWfejil/ iieiß^jyfiipQ^ |9ARclfijw4f^ f

Tnn Gala Stebbt Fibe— ln connection with yesterday morning's fire in Gala street it may be mentioned that Dr McPherson's servant girl had a very narrow escape. Tbe room the occupied, which was next the blazing kitchen, waa full of smoke, and the girl, in a state of stupor aud half suffocated,* was in imminent danger. -Constable McTntyre; however,- by bursting open, the window close to her bed, managed to get her safely out through it. It appears that constables Jojce and Mclutyre perceived the fi.ro from Dee street, and while on their way to the scene they met Mr Renoie. The well-directed, ex ertions of these three were -certainly the means of averting serious loss of property, and their services ought to be substantially recognised by 'the insurance companies interested. The building, which belongs to Dr Hanan, was insured: for £1000 with the Northern Assurance Company, one-third of that amount being re-insured. Dr McPherson's effects were not insured.

Bapaoious.— The scandalous and demora". ised condition into which the counties north of A"ckiand have drifted by the profuse expenditure of public money is shown by tbeir latest demand lor a railway leading nowhere at a cost of ft million and a half, and that until the railway be made the interest on the capital, amounting to £60,000 a year, be paid 'over to them lo relieve them of ther couaty rates. They take care not to assess them selves over much at any time. The trifle they now demand will enable them to dispense with rates altogether, and have something over. Beally this is too much. It does not now occur to these worthies that the ordinary revenue is charged with interest of borrowed money, and that we ia the South object to pay twopence on evejy pound of tea, and bear the burden of other taxes, that they may have tbe wherewithal to improve their estates. This system of subsidising creates corruption everywhere, and there is no hope of the body-politic being in a souud sttteof health so loDg as such extravagance is allowed to continue.— Evening Herald.

Eastern Bule. — Isa Khan, whois represented as having rebelled against the Ameer under orders from Russia, is probably Izhak Khan, cousin of the Ameer, and, next to him, the most powerf nl man in the country. The Times correspond e--t, writing so. long ago as November let, said:— "lt Must be remembered that the Ameer is a most absolute, not to say despotic, ruler. ' Hoc volo, sic jubco' might indeed be his motto. He expects bis officials to obey his orders to the very letter, whatever the coneequences, and woe be to that Governo'- or agent who darep, oa his own responsibility, to exceed or to fall short of his instructions by one jot or tittle. The servants of his Highness are intended to act, not to think. Tnere is, perhaps, one exception to the rule— the Ameer's cousia, Izhak Khan, thu Governor ot Afghan Turkestan. This nobleman bas the charaotor of ability and force of character, and he has under his command a large fanatical army, which is said to be devoted to his p^aon. There are some 'who consider him practically independent of the Ameer, bnt there have been signs of late that his Highness intend j to assert his supremacy. Doubtless we shall tome day hear that irdar Izhak Khanjhas been invited to Oabul, and then the proud Governor will have to elec* between a hopaless rebellion or practical deposition from his present unique position among the Ameer's lieutenants. All the other Governors are practically cyphers,"

Oampbwlltown.— The monthly meeting of the Borough Coancil waa held on Tuesday evening. Present— Bin Worship the Mayor, aud Councillors Robertson, gangster, Walker, Iggo, MoDrtugall, Watt, and Qilroy. — Id reply to a telegram from the Major to Sir Julius VogeJ,urging the Government to grant au endowment to the borough, the Undersecretary wrote stating that the Minister had complied with the request, and an endowment of 161 aores of land aud eight quarter-acrt sections within the borough had been gazetted and vested accordingly— Messrs Hately anl Scott's oflEer to survey" the endowment just aojuired was ordered to be held over ia the meantime. — A telegram from tbe Colonial Treasurer was read in answer to one sent by the Mayor re loan from the Gov« ernment Insurance Association to the borough to enable the Council to execute necessary worka. — Besolved that it be held over ia the meantiae until the result of the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill before the House is kaown t — A letter from Wm, freston stated that he was compelled to forfeit his contract for lamp lighting. — The Clerk was instructed to call for fresh tenders for the work. — Several aocounts were read and referred to the Finance Committee. — With a view to carrying on various works in the borough, it was resolved that a special meeting be held in a foitnigbt to consider the matter generally.— After a few routine matters had been disposed of, the Council adjourned.

Plain Talk.— Judge Johnston made tbe following remarks in sentencing the con. vict Bead alias Oliver, at Ohrisichurch:— " Prisoner at the bar, you have been convicted on two charges : one admin* istering laudanum and the other forgery, Both the ca«es, each in its own away, displayed an amount of wickedness, bisenes 9 , and cowardice, and, I may say, atrocity such as I have scarcely ever listened to in a. Court of Justice. I had a difficult and painful duty to perform in doing my duty to the country, ao as to prevent your having any esouae for your Baying you had not had fait play. You have endeavoured to defeat, browbeat, and insult witnesses in the most shams, ful manner, betraying a moral obliquity and a kind, of moral insanity such as I have never seen exhibited before. But, after all, your supped cleverness and ability only &howed you to be an exceedingly shallow scoundrel, because in your crossexamination you convicted yourself over aud. over again, I look upon you with loathing. But fortunately society will be rid of you for some years, and I should rot be doing my duty un!eß3 I gave you an exemplary sentence It is competent for me to send you for penal servitude for life on the Jaiter charge. That you committed a rape I quite believe, or if you did not, it was not your fault. I think the course taken by the prosecution was a wise one, becauao there were technical points which might have enabled you to escape justice. Fortunately for Bociety v however, this coaviotiou has taken place, which will have the effect of relieving society for many years to come^ of a social nuisance, which yon unquestionably are, The sentence of tbe Courc for administering laudanum i 9 ten years' penal servitude, and on the charge of forgery, at the expiration of those ten yeaiß, five years' additional penal servitude. And these sentences are anything but rigorous, coaeideiiog your detestable conduct."

Psalmody. —An able and interesting lecture on Ps-<lmody waa delivered by the Rev. Mr Marten, in St. Paul's Wesleyan Church yesterday evening. The audience was not very large, but judging from the frrquent bursts of app'ause they were highly appreciative. Mr W. Walker occupied the chair. During his lecture the rev. gentleman said that they heard a good deal now-a--days about the reform and improvement of the Church, and every <f£jrt was baing made to obtain better educated and more enlightened ministers tbaa they had had before. All this was as it ought to be, and told of earnestnesß.zeal and sincerity, but he thought, where improvement was most important was in the congregation !.l eingmg. They had been accustomed to look upon singiug as a me/c appendage, whereas it wss a mo-it powerful means cf grace., fc?oag was joyous praise of Go "• ; sadness and gloom might co-ex-ist with religion bi.t they did not form part of it. The power of music was then elcqnently described, illustrating bis subject by extracts from the writings of eminent authoritie3,aad references to historical incident?. He had no sympathy with those men who said they could not sing. Singing was as natural as talking, and mothers should take aa much trouble to teach th«ir' children to sing as they did to teach them to chatter* Referring to the Wesleyan by mas, he dop:o:ed the exclnsion of some of the grand old airs from some of the modern tune books There were occasions when anthems and classic music by the great masters were most aporopria'e; bat the body of the congregation th mid not be deprived of their right to join in the praise of Go"*. No one would object to the choir as long as they kepi- iv tbeir place aad 1. d the congregation, but whan they monopolised the, tinging they became worse than a nui-' gance, they became absolutely a hindrance to i the progress of Christian work. The lecturer < cdncjuied by urging everyone to cultivate j mufiic ani «bg onialt oc asions of lite, ■ The j discourse was illustrated by 69?eral byems I r »4 : W^«l»f b ?tb9cli9lf r ■ ■ •■■ : j

To-day, as from the.time of its introdaction, Wolfe's Schnapps takes the lead of every other stimulant and tonic in the estimation of the public and scientific men.

Annual Clearing Sale at the Exhibition- begins on Saturday, the 11th July. As a great number of useful lines have been reduced with no sparing hand, an opportunity is offered of. buying goods for less money than' they cost in London. — Thomson and Beattie. „

Many people imagine that a business must lose much of its "profits by "advertising expenditure." My idea ie when you have an article you can recommend and deliver at less than your competitor, you should take all means -to make it widely known ; then the extra business done will compensate for loss of extra profit.^ I therefore challenge my American Farm Waggons, Buggies, Dog Carts, &<f. } &c, against anything produced in the colony for quality and: cheapness combined. American Carriage Factory, Prince of Wales Yards.—-ADVT. je27'

Congha, colds, bronchitis,. Ac, ate quickly cured by using Baxters-Lu ng" Preserver."* This old established medicine is pleasant to the palate r and highly extolled by members of the medical and clerical professions. Can be recommended.—G-.*. Bailey, Chemist, Tay street Astont .