The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23,1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3737, 23 September 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23,1886 .

The recent breakages m tbe cable communication between Australasia and Europe bave brought forcibly to men's minds the disagreeable position wbicb might arise m case of a European war. An accidental stoppage, wben there is every facility for effecting repairs, is a comparatively light matter ; a deliberate cutting of the lines of communication when tbere was the prospect that their renewal might be indefinitely postponed would be a different and far more serious affair. Yet that is exactly the risk to which the mother country and these colonies are exposed at the present time. The necessity for applying a remedy is beginning to be recognised, and though on both, sides of the world the expensive character of the undertaking is causing some hesitation, it is felt that, where such important interests are involved, a consideration of that sort ought not to be allowed to stand m the way. The Imperial Government

will doubtless be pvepared to bear a fair proportion of the cost of a Pacific cable. Indeed an indirect intimation to that effect has already been given ; but the colonies are as much interested m the question as England is, and until tbe former have announced wbat they aye willing to do, tbe latter declines to take tbe responsibility of acting. Tbe vexatious delays of tbe past few weeks sbonld bave tbe effect of stirring up tbe colonial governments to a sense of tbeir responsibility. Here, as m the Australian colonies, tbe Government cannot commit tbe country to aDy expenditure withont tbe consent of the legislature baying first been obtained, but tbere is no reason wby tbe whole subject should not be exhaustively considered during the recess. Ministers sbonld endeavour to place themselves m a position to lay tbe case before Pavliament nt tbe beginning of next session, and be ready to make definite proposals. But m order to enable that to be done tbere should be a conference between the various Australasian Governments. There would be nothing unconstitutional m such a method of procedure, and a Ministry would be weak-kneed indeed wbicb, under tbe peculiar circumstances, declined to send a representative empowered to discuss the question fully and at tbe proper moment to declare tbe mind of those with whom be was connected. Of course whatever was agreed on would be subject to tbe approval of Parliament. At present nothing but a rough estimate of the coHt of a Pacific cable can be made. Tbere nre a number of points which cannot be determined without the gravest and most mature consideration. The line to be adopted would to some extent depend on the dictum of experts m the laying of marine cables, and tbe fixing of tbe starting points might be a work of Borne difficulty. Those matters would more or less affect tbe cost of the undertaking, and an accurate estimate could not be arrived at until they bad been decided. Clearly a considerable time — at all events many months — would elapse before tbe scheme was ripe for being carried out. But want of accurate knowledge at tbe outset need not prevent a conference of Colonial Ministers coming to some general conclusions wbicb, m tho event of Parliamentary approval, would furnish a basis for further action. Tbe approximate estimate of cost would be sufficient for present purposes, and an agreement aa to the proportion m which each colony would contribute could be arrived at. That is, after all, tbe main point upon which the agreement of tbe conference would be neccsssry. If that were once settled tbe rest would follow m due course, and if the colonies showed tb.it they were prepared to do tbeir part, tbere would be no holding back on the side of Great Britain. The general opinion is that a Pacific cable would from the very first yield a revenue not merely sufficient to cover working expenses but to go a long way towards paying interest on the capital invested. After the lapse of a year or two the cable would give a Bplendid return, for it would attract a great part of the colonial work which now goes by the other routes. The Pacific route would be essentially British, and thus one great source of danger of interruptions would be effectually got rid of.

Tho annual horso parade under tho auspices of tho Temuka Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held at Temuka bctweon the hours of 12 and 1 p.m. to-day. Wo remind members of tho Timaru Rifle Corps that firing for Mr C. Green's cup will be resumed this afternoon. An express will leavo the Bank of New Zealand corner at 1.30 for tho rongo at Otipuo. Tho G.V.B. Dramatic Club will appear this evening m "Tho Irish Emigrant" and "That Boy PeUi." An enjojable evening will no doubt bo spent by all. The concert is m aid of the band fund. Buttor-raakers are reminded that entries for potted butter, also for Mr J. Ballantyne'a prizo, must be made and the butter left with the secretary of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association not later than Saturday next. Our readers are reminded that the concert m aid of tho Waimataitai Bchool funda will be held m the schoolroom, Waimataitai, this evening, commencing at 8 o'clock sharp. Tho concert promises to bo a very successful one, I and as there is to bo a dance afterwards, it should bo largoly attended. A publio meeting of ratepayers will bo held at the Levels Road Board ofilco on tho inorning of Tuesday, tho 12th prox., to take into consideration application for closing road running through part of the Claremont estate, also road through Mr Cleland's property on Tlio Brothers. A Bpecial summoned meeting of tho Court Southern Cross, 3123, A.O. Foresters, was held on Tuesday evening m tho hall, George street, when thero was a very large attendance of membors. Tbo Court was opened by C.E. Bro T. Winter. Tho roll having been called, and the Woodward's report on tho Biek, which was a fairly light one, having been passed m, the election of officers for the ensuing half-year was proceeded with. Very considerable interest was manifested m tho election, which resulted as follows -.—Chief Ranger, Bro. J. Logan ; sub-Chief Ranger, Bro G. E. Triggs, P.C.R. ; treasurer, Bro J. S. Bennett, P.C.R. (roelected) ; assistant secretary, Bro T. Harris, P.C.R. (re-elected) j minuto secretary, Bro J. McGowan, P.C.R. (re-elected) ; S.W., Bro T. Arscott, and J.W., Bro. J. Chiffey (both re-elected) ; 5.8., Bro G. S. Keene ; J. 8., Bro J. Baker (re-elected) ; medical officers, Dra Lovegrovoand Hogg (ro-elected) . Thß newly-elected officers were then installed by P.C.R. Bro T. Winter and C.R. Bro J. Logan. Several accounts were thon passed for payment, and the court was closed m due form by O.R. Bro Logan. The startling rumour got abroad la"t evening that part of tho gas works had burst up, or had boen seriously damaged, tho rumour having much colour given to it, by the gaseoustarry effulgenco, which was wafted on the bosom of tho zephyrs last evening. Tho rumour proved to be quite untrue, and the peculiar density and pungent smell m tho atmosphere will be found to be accounted for m the following lines, written by a correspondent, last evening : — " For some days past, and to-night m particular, owing to the prevalence of a south-west wind, a smoke nuisanco has been m existence, emanating from tho gas-work 3, and smelling strongly of tar. I vonturo to say that if tho gas company have started a new industry m connection with thoir works, that they ought at least to try and abate the horrid nuisance arising from the deficient chimney at present m use for this speciality."

Government parades of the Timaru Naval Artillery and tho C Battery N.Z.A. hare, been ordered for this evening at half-past Beven, m drill order. The C Battery will parade with side arms only. A Government parade or all the garrison corps will bo held to-morrow evening at the Bame hour, also m drill order. We understand that arrangements havo been mado for presenting tho prizoß won by students at tho technical echool at the Mechanics' Institute Hall on Thursday evening next. Most of tbo students' work will be on view, and tho proceedings will bo made as interesting as possible. About halt past ton o'clock yesterday morning the water main m Barnard street burst, sending up a volume of water some twenty feet high, end flooding tho back yard of Mr Glasson'a house. Mr Barker, the borough council's skilled workman, at once took the necessary measures to turn tho water off at Woollcombe street. He then repaired the main, and filled m the hole m tho footpath caused by the forco of the escaping water. Tho ordinary monthly meeting of tho South Orari School Committee was held on Monday evening last. Present — Messrs R. A. Barker (chairman), Bisset,Mcteod, Coles and May. The minutes of last meeting wcro read and confirmed. The master's report was read and considerel satisfactory, the attendance showing a steady improvement. Mr Bisset moTed and Mr Coles seconded — " That, on account of the vory low attendance at school on race days m tho past, tho echool be clojed on Thursday and Friday of tho forthcoming Geraldino Baces." Carried. Tho visitors report was then read. Tho visitor (Mr Nnughton) stated that he had visited the school that day and found everything going on satisfactorily. He found that tho repairs to tho master's house were completed, and suggested that the fences around the school grounds b» trimmed and that the school gate be repaired. Mr Coles was appointed to attend to the fixing up of tbo school gate. Tho chairman undertook to attend to the trimming of tbo fences. Mr McLeod was appointed visitor for next month. There being no other business before the meeting it was adjourned to tho third Monday m October. A good story is told of the Comte de Beam, a well-known Parisian, who has just been gathered to his fathers, lie was at ono time an inveterate card-pluyer, and always came home from his club m the early hours of the morning. Tho Counteas complained, and threatened all sorts of things unless ho reformed. So tho Count hud a lay-figure made, and ordered his valet to placo it m his bed every night about eleven. His wife, who was m tho habit of peeping into his bedroom to see if he were there, was thus imposed on for some time. One night, however, having important news to communicate to him, she reeolvcd to wake him up, and thus discovered tho trick. The Countess said nothing, but determined to turn the tables on her husband. She accordingly placed the lay-ligure upright behind tho door. The Count, returning home as usual m the darkness of the night knocked down tho figure, and tho next second the whole houso was aroused by cries of " Thieves ! thieves ! help ! help !" Of course, when lights were brought, the Count stood abashed, and, asking his wife's pardon, swore ho would turn over a new leaf. The story cays ho kept his word. With regard to the question of the New Hebrides, a correspondent reminds u» (writes tho Colonist and India) of the fact that it is entirely owing to the neglect of the Colonial Office that tho French now havo possession of Now Caledonia. Many years ago Dr. Lang, well-known as an active member of the JS T ew South Wales Legislature, m a long letter called the attention of the Colonial Office to the question of New Calodonia, urging that, looking to the future of Australasia, this group of islands should be taken possession of by Great Britain, for the reason among others, that m the hands of any foreign power m time of war they would serve to blockade tho whole trade of Australia, and m time of peaco would bo likely to be made a depdb for convicts. Beyond tho mere acknowledgment of his letter, nothing was done by the Colonial Office, and although Dr Lang appealed publicly m the matter, it was ignored till Franco one day very quietly sent a vessel to take possession of the islands. Tho Australians could only growl and grumble at the neglect of their interests, but the history of this affair has not been forgotton by them, and hence the persistence with which they keep the question of the New Hebrides before the authorities at Downiog-street. The riots which occurred at Amsterdam on tho 25th and 26th July, arose from an attempt of the authorities to put down a cruel popular sport indulged m by the lower classes m that city, which consists m men, m a whole fleet of boats trying to grasp and hold a large eel round which a rope is tied tight, and the ends of which are attached to stakes on the edge of tho water, over which is suspended tho rope to which the eel is fastened, and which hangs 6lack. The eel writhes and wriggles for hours. A police officer, oboying the burgomaster's orders, cut the rope, when ho was attacked, severely beaten, and locked up m a cellar. The authorities attempting to .rescue him, a riot began. Chains were thrown over the canals, and burrieades were erected m the streets. Several socialist leaders appeared and red and black flags wero displayed. Houses were unroofed by tho peoplo who used the tiles as missiles. Tho women encouraged the rioters. A man who held a red flag was shot dead. After this desperate fighting continued for several hours. The military fired several times, killing 25 and wounding 50 of the rioters. No policemen wero injured. It is believed that the prohibition of col-baiting was only a pretext, as thero were indications that tho riota wero premeditated by the socialists, whise organs had long incited the populaco to bloodshod and incendiarism. nobart Pasha related tlio following episode of his career as a blockade runner during tho American civil war :■ — " All was quiet until about ono o'clock m tho morning, when suddenly, to our horror, we found a steamer close- alongside of us. llow sbo got thero without cur knowledge is a mystery to some even now. Howevor, there she was ; and wo had hardly seen her beforo a stentorian voice bowled out, ' Heave-o' m that steamer or I'll sink you. ' It eoemed as if all was over, but I determined to try a ruse beforo giving the little craft up. So I answered, 'Aye, aye, eirj wo are stopped.' The cruiser was eighty yards from us. We heard orders piven to man and arm the quarter-boats; wo saw the boats lowered into the water ; we saw them coming ; we heard tho laughing and cheering at the prospect of their prize j the bowman had just touched the Bidos of their vessel with their boat books when I whispered down tho tube into the engine-room, ' Full speed ahead * and away we shot into tho pitch darkness. I don't know what happened ; whether tho captain of the" man of-war thought that bis boats had taken possession, and thus did not try to stop us, or whether ho stopped to pick up his boats m the rather nasty sea that was running — someone who reads this may know. All I can say is that not a Bhot was fired ; and all that'in less than a minute the pitch darkness hid the cruiser from our view. " Beware of packages of injurious stuff, purporting to make genuine Hop Bitters,, also preparations and fluids said to contain all the properties of American Hop Bitters. They spring up on account of the great popularity of the genuine, which is only put up m largo square-panel ainbor-coloured bottles, with tho names " Dr Soulo," and " Hop Bitters " blown m the glass, and is the best family medicine ever made. Bead Truth and Soberness. — What is tho best family medicine m the world to regulate the bowels, purify the blood, remove costiveness and biliousness, aid digestion, and stimulate tho whole system? Truth and soberness compel us to anßwer, American Co.'s Hop Bittera, being pure, perfect and harmless. I SflO.— [Aj>VX.]

The Vienna Neve Freie Frcitse reports that I recently, while two children, aged respectively 13 and 8 years, were minding caltlo m an Alpine volley, near Wippacli, iD the district of Goritz m Illyria, a royal eagle ewooped down upon them, and, Beizing the smaller of the boys with its biak and talons, lifted him from tho ground and tried to carry him ofF. His screams brought to his assistance his companion, who struck the eagle on the head with a knotted stick he had, partially stunning it. It endeavoured to fly off, but its injuries impeded him, and a few minutes later he was shot by a huntsman. His winga measured nearly lift across. On a recont Saturday afternoon, m Sloane street, London, the dead body of a man was found lying on the pavement. It was taken to the mortuary, and a description circulated throughout the metropolis. A woman named Bell of Westminster, called m company witli a sergeant of police, and identified tho body. Mrs Bell said she was certain that dceoased was her husband. There was a peculiarity about the eyebrows by -which Bho could distinguish him among a thousand men. She ■wept bitterly, and was so much distressed that tbe sergeant escorted her home. On her arrival there, while the officer was gathering the particulars for tho inquest, Mrs Bell exclaimed, " Oh, there's my husband ! " and tho man who was thought to be dead walked into tho house. Tho Government of Victoria hare offered a reward of £500 for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the author or authors of the diabolical attempt which was raado on Saturday the sth inst., to wreck the Melbourne and Geelong train. The detectives who were sent up to examine the line found that some coldblooded villain had systematically started to work to remove the bolts from tho fishplates, which held the rails together, on the Melbourne side of a creek, into which, if the attempted outrage had not been frustrated, the train would have plunged headlong, to the certain destruction of her living freight. A spanner fitted with a screw for adjusting it to any sized nut, and all tho nuts taken from the fishplates -were found m a waterhole at a short distance from the spot. The spanner was soon identified as one that had been taken from the tool-chest of a man emplojed on tho new works at Princes Bridge, Mclbourno. Black trackers have been employed to follow up tracks which were found leading from the line to the water-hole, but up to latest advices, although the police were said to havo a strong clue to the offender, he had not been discovered. Scott's Emulsion- of Pure Cod Liver Oil with Hypophosphitcs, is more reliable as an agent m tho Cure of Consumption, Bronchitis, and General Debility, than any other remedy known to medical science. Bead the following : — "I have prescribed 'Scotts Emulsion 1 and have also taken it myself, and can fully endorse the opinion that it is botli palatable and efficient, and can bo tolerated by almost any one — especially where Cod Liver Oil itself cannot be borne. — Martin Miles, M.D., &c , Stantonbury, Bucks, England." — (7) Coffee. — DrßTassell, the celebrated analyst, states that the reason why coffee is not more generally used as a beverage, is owing to the difficulty m procuring pure wholesome coffee. The undersigned import their own, and only use plantation berry, which, is roasted and ground on the premises, customers can thus rely on getting genuine coffee. Sold at Is 6d, Is 9(1, 2s per lb. J. Anderson & Co., Tea and Coffee Merchants. — [Advt.] TnE Haef-holidat Movement. — The employees of Timaru thank the public of South Canterbury for their hearty sympathy m supporting the Thursday half-holiday movement, which under their continued patronage, will prove a lasting benefit. Customers are requested to complete their purchases before one o'clock on Thursdays to ensure punctual closing. — [Adtt.] Post Card Proof. Salisbury, Term., April 4, 1883.— Geota : I was afflicted with serious Kidney ard Urinary trouble for twelve years. After trying all the doctors and patent medicines I could hear of, I used two bottles of Hop Bitters and am perfectly cured. B. F. Booth. Washington, D. C, April 3, 1833.— T0 tho Hop Bitters Co. — Sirs : I write this as a token of the great appreciation I have for your Bitters. I was afflicted with Inflammatory Rheumatism seven years, and no medicine seemed to do me any good until I tried thrco bottles of your Hop Bitters, and to my surpriso I am as well today as ever I was. I hope you may have great success m this great and valuable medicine. Anyone wishing to know more about my cure, can learn by addressing mo. — E. M. Williams, 1103 16th street. Prosecute the swindlers ! — If when you call for American Hep Bitters (sco green twig of hops on the white label and Dr Soule's name blown m tho bottle), the vendor bands out anything but American Hop Bitters, refuse it and shun that vendor as you would a viper ; and if ho has taken your money for anything else indict him for the fraud and sue him for damages for tho swindle, and wo will pay you iberallv for the conviction. (3) SYNOPSIS OP NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Gracio, Maclean and Adam — Sell banters and thoroughbred horaes on Saturday. . E. Turnbull and Son — Will sell a section m Sandietown, on Satnrday. K. F. Gray — Sells fat and atoro sheap and cattle, also hor3es, to-morrow. Timora Agrionltuval and Pastoral Association—lmportant notico to intending competitors m butter classes. Thoroughbred horso " Janplor " — Will travel Kerrytown, Baincliff, and othor districts this season. Temuka, Road Board — Havo accepted certain tendersj. George Finch, Cavo Hotel — Has lost a collio dog ; offers roward. James Hilton, Brown street — Has a large supply of soot on hand. T. and J. Thomson — Want apprentices. Manager, Claremont — Want 3 teams for diso harrowing. Levola Boad Board— Notify mooting of ratepayers on 12fch pros, re closing roadg. Cornet for salo — Apply at Mrs Worry's.