News Items.

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7266, 10 March 1892, Page 4

News Items.

The \Lyttelton Times' snggests that Sir George' Grey should be sent Borne as the Colony's representative &t the Empire Trade League. "CADBUBY S COCOA,

The English might well follow the example of their Scandinavian neighbors in dealing with the liquor trade arid introduce the Gothenburg ayatem by which the trade is held under direoi Slate and municipal supervision, ami the sooieties actually conducting it aw allowed to retain for the benefit o; shareholders only a modest percent»g< on the oapital invested, the bulk o: the profits being handed over for the public benefit. The result is an abso iute stoppage of the fierce bompetitiot for custom whioh prevails under oui methods of licensing, and whioh it answerable for the worst portion of the traffic. By 1890 there were 51 societies operating throughout Norway, anc while the absolute sale of liquor hac diminished by more than half, the profi's derived from the balance couW be reckoned by the number of beneficent publio institutions, parks, and pleasure grounds established and supported out of them. ..'... Messrs Chaffey's irrigation scheme appears to have been a wonderful supcess The Melbourne 'Age' Bays:— There are now, it is said, 8600 people located at Mildura, where only three or four years ago the wild dog ranged almoßt the sole lord of the solitude, Lest some people might be inclined tc consider the climate too trying, we are told that the mortality returns are only 7 per 1000 as againßt three times as many in Melbourne. The whole 250,000 acres of the eettlement have suoh " a continuity and uniformity oJ richness that a settler might take up his land blindfold and run no dangei of being disadvantaied." The ordinary size of the holding is not more than 10 aores; but a few have here and there exceeded that snm. Every foot of the rich soil is occupied with trees and plants* Apricots, peaches, neotarines, figs, oranges, lemons, wine grapes, raisin grapes, currants, strawberries, gooseberries, almondß, walnuts, potatoes, onions and fifty other products are there springing under the forcing influences of the water and the sun at such a rate that one can stand and " see the things growing." The "drink bill" of the United Kingdom for the year 1891 reached the enormous total of £141,250,000, averaging £3 15s per head of population. Ten years a»o, in 1881, the total was £98,700,000, or an amount per bead oi £2 163 sd. Thus vse see that in a decade the consumption o! intoxicating liquors has largely increased pro rata population, and this in the face of the multiplied agencies for combatting the evil which are constantly working: A remarkable monument has been erected recently over the grave of that erratic genius, Marie Basbkirfcseff, in the cemetery at Passy, near Paris. It is placed near the gate, and in size is more like a small church than a tomb. It is built of white stone in the Byzantine style of architecture, and is surmounted by a dome. On one wall is Inscribed an epitaph by Andre Theuriet, and beneath it, in two columnß, are inscribed the titles of Marie's works of art. On the opposite wall is another epitaph by Ducros, over a glazed door, which allows inspection of the interior. This is a -spacious chamber lighted b) stained-glass windows, showing portraits of the young artist. Her bust occupies a central position, surrounded by pictures of saints, candelabra, palms and wreaths. Around this are grouped ssveral of her possessions in the way of furniture, draperies, and a favorite prie-dieu, which she constantly used during her lifetime. The « Pahiatua Star ' suggests that the Government should vary its offer of a reward in connection with the Pahiatua poisoning. It has never, says the • Star,' been proved that any murder was committed. A free pardon and a reward of £150 should be offered for information which would clear up the mystery. The Queensland Government are using their best endeavors, with the aid of science, to supply that country with water. Mr J. W. Boultbee, the officer in charge of the Water Conservation, reports that seven wells are at work, giving from 22,464ga1. a day to 2,000,000ga1. a day. 'Contracts are let for 88 wells, and sites for two are approved but not let. Of private wells the report gives account of 28 at work, giving supplies from 43gal. a day to 1,728,000ga1. a day, while a note is added to the effect that no particulars have been furnished to the department of several private wells that are known to yield large supplies of good water. The { Speaker ' in alluding to the death of the Duke of Clarence, relates that the young Prince bad his future told by a gipsy woman, who knew nothing of his rank, and warned him that marriage would mean death to him. More than this, on trying his luck a second time with another gipsy he received a similar warning. At Home the qeetion has been raised why should not applausa or some oher sign of approval follow the worthy utterance of the preacher of religion as well as that of the platform speaker, the dramatic artist or the Parliamentarian ? Why should the audience ba allowed to express its feelings, while the congregation must remain mute? Acoording to the • Spectator,' Mr W. T Stead is reported to have said that if he were preaching to a congregation bound to silence he " would go mad in six months ! " If the signification of approval or disagreement means so much to all other publio speakers, it must be of consequenoe also to him who deals with ethical subjects. The teachings of religion are not now aa they once were, almost solely messages of revelation to be received without any question, and in silent reverence as the transmitted will of the Creator. To-day the preacher of Christianity who would have his voice reach farthest must deal with debateaWe subjects of eooial and humanitarian interests as well as with gospel truths. Any and every means of accomplishing good to mankind is, or should be, part of the work of every worthy modern preacher of religion, . The death is anflounced of Mr John Campbell, one of Wellington's early Battlers. Mr Campbell was a native of Belfast, where he was born in 1800, and was engaged in farming operations in Ireland until October, 1840, when he left for New Zealand in the ship Lady Nugent, which arrived on 17th March, 1841. He was amongst the c rliesV eet 1 <rs at Karori, and continued to reside there up to the time of hie death, <

9 Some months ago when the whale- - back steamer Charles W. Wetmore , was fixed from New York to Puget i Sound, British underwriters declined t to acoept risks, by her, and she was I placed in the States offices. The ana nouncement of the safe arrival of the f steamer at the Golden Gate was rea garded by the American underwriters f as good news for them ; they had * got 3 the bulge' on the narrow-minded - Britishers. Alas, shortly afterwards i came the news from Portland, 0., that r the whaleback had been picked up 3 rudderless by the steamer Zambesi 3 and towed into Astoria, a claim for a ■ quarter of a million dollars being made 1 by the salving steamer. 1 An English Anarchist, giving his 3 name as Thomas Hastie, was arrested I in Paris on January 1?, on the Place - de la Eepublique. He was perched on I a kind of column or pillar, from which ■ he harangued a crowd of Sunday idlers, who jeered at him, and invited him J frequently to come down from his ■ curious eminence, which resembled a - a gigantic branch candlestick. From ) time to time the Aarchist flung ) pamphlets to the crowd. The burden I of his speech, in broken French, was • to the effect that the Republican Go- > vernment ought to be ashamed to » prevent the open-air meetings, which > were allowed in England. As the i crowd grew gradually more and more ) numerous and noisy, the police inter- ) fered, ordering the Englishman to E descend from his pillar. As he re* > fused to do so, a ladder was prooured. f It was still found difficult to dislodge - the man, who fastened his left arm to • the lamp post by means of a steel > chain. Eventually, one of the links ' was filed by a constable, and the i Anarchist was taken to the nearest > police station, where he refused to give ) his address or state his occupation. We (' Taranaki News ') have seen ■ the consignment papers of 12 quarters ■ of beef sent as a gifb by Mr W. Bayly > to Dr Barnardo's Home. The Egmont I. Freezing Company made no charge for l freezing, the New. Zealand Shipping Company sent the beef without chargl ing freight, and Mr MoDiarmid for--1 warded the bill of lading, etc., free ol i all charges. The value of the gift is • between £30 and £40, and should • prove very acceptable. t GOOD MORNING ) Have you used PEAR'S SOAP I Some farther interesting items iv . regard to the horticultural section of I the Chicago Exhibition are the follow- : ing : — On the roof of the horticultural , building, around the central dome, an elaborate display of roof gardening will , be made. In the centre of the horti- , cultural building will be a miniature mountain, seventy feet high, upon which will grow tree ferns and palms, , and other vegetation, finding there a , congenial home, A. stream will dash from one declivity to another. Beneath this rook-mountain will be a cave, 80 feet in diameter and GO feet high, brilliantly lighted by eleotrioity, where, during the whole six monthß of the Exposition, the experiment will be tried whether plants will grow under electric IlgLt ub well as under sunlight. It may be taken as a d.iecfc indication of the deplorable condition of Victoria just now, that at Albert Park (South Melbourne) no less thau 1700 houses are to let. Rowlands' Odonto ob Pe&bl Dentjikioe is of inestimable value in preserving and beautifying the teeth, strengthening the gams, and giving a pleasant fragrance to the breath ; it eradicates tartar from the teeth, prevents and arrests deoay, and polishes and preserves the enamel, to which it imparts a pearl-like whiteness. Deoay of the teeth originates in the unseen chinks and orevioes where acids 1 are generated, which destroy the lime of whioh teeth are principally composed ; these flaws then became the residence of parasites, whioh complete the destruction whioh aoidity has oommenoed, Rowlands' Odonto is an antaoid, anti-parasitio and slightly alkaline tooth powder ; will penetrate to the hidden parts of the leath and preserve and beautify hem for years. Rowlands' Essence of Tyre dyes red or gray hair a permanent brown ov black. 4s. Ask any druggist for Bowlands' articles. 2