The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1882.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4012, 10 April 1882, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1882.

+ The mystery which has tervaded the movements of certain members of the Ministry is explained by the telegram published elsewhere, which announces the serious illness of the Premier. We feel sure that everyone will read with regret of tho Premier's ill-health ; but wo scarcely think that his retirement from public life will materially effect the position of the party in power. We, however, hope that with the rest and quiet his country home will afford, Mr. Hall will be spared for many years to his family ; but from Dr. Grace's letter we fear that for the future he mast be content to see the political world move on without being one of its satellites. By the resignation of the Premier the Ministry will have to be reorganised ; and the steamer Hinemoa has been sent to Canterbury to fetc'i fie Governor from there to Wellington, and in a day or two we shall learn on whom the Premier's mantle will fall. It is said by some that Mr. WHtaker will be tie Premier ; but he holds a seat in the Upper House, ard no leader of a party would add to the stability of a Ministry in such a position. Major Atkinson wonld be more suitab'e for the office, and being Colonial Treasurer, may probably be called upon to lead us Premier. By tho resignntion of Mr. Hal l the Ministry will have to resign also, and a new one be formed. Whether this will entail the calling together of Parliament at an earlier date than already proclaimed we are not aware, but no doubt in a few days we shall be fully enlightened on the whole subject.

It is not only in bonnets that fashions change. The last sweet thing in a " mankilling" line is a more destructive weapon than any that the most ingenious milliner has ever devised. The new weapon is "the mitrailleuse pistol," and from an English paper wo get the following description of it : — " There are four barrels, wlrch are loaded at once by a patent quadruple cartridge big enough to afford good hold to the fingers. Forty shots per minute can be discharged, and tho empty cartridges ejected automatically. There is no opening through which any gas can escape, so the weapon can be used gun fashion when aiming, and there are no screws, hammers, or projections to catch the clothing, reins, or accoutrements. The weapon is absolutely reliable. Above all, there is no fear of a jam or the weapon becoming unserviceable from over-heating or other accident. The mechanism is covered up, and dirt, damp, wet, and illusage hardly affect the mitrailleuse at all. The pistol will take the ordinary Government cartridge, and, uhould it be finally decided to issue it to the troops, they will have placed in their hands a weapon superior to any with which military men are yet acquainted." With such destructive weapons as are now in use, the tactics of fighting will be altogether new. There will be as much courage and skill ; but they will need to be combined, and displayed in different ways, and the great military genius of the future will be he who can emancipate himself most completely from all the traditions of the past, and adopt his manceuvreH most successf ullyjto the latest conditions of warfare.

It is expected that the Military and I Volunteer Land Claims Commission will visit New Plymouth in about a fortnight, to investigate the claims preferred by the Military Settlers and Volunteers in this district. The team of cricketers from Patea proceeded yesterday to the White Cliffs, with the intention of playing a match against the Pukearuhe Cricket Club. The weather is still against them to-day, and it is unlikely they will be able to complete the match. The match on Saturday with the Taranaki Cricket Club resulted in a drawn game.

The ventilation of the Court-room is at last to be improved, and this will afford great relief to the judges, solicitors, jury men, and the public generally. Hitherto when the room was crowded, the atmosphere was unbearable ; but in view of the approaching Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court, it has been determined to obviate this by placing a large zinc ventilator ia the centre of the room which cim be shut or opened as required. The work is already in hand, and will bo completed in the course of a few (lays. There has been a little storm about the appointment of teachers at Wakanui. A number of applications were received, and Mr. Croumbie Brown and Mrs. Brown were recommended to the Board. The Board declined to endorse the appointment, as Mr. Brown had no certificate, and although the Committee protested, they had in the end to yield, and recommend another for the appointment.