The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3805, 11 December 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1886.

Sir George Whittnore seems at length to have awakened to the fact that some explanation was due to the public with reference to the Auckland ammunition and the train of accidents which has occurred m connection therewith. His lengthy memorandum is not altogether satisfactory either with regard to the facts attending the first serving out of the ammunition or as to the merits of the Whitney cartridge as at present manufactured. It was a prudent thing for the Government to countenance the establishment of a cartridge factory within the colony, and it may be preBurned that from the first Captain Whitney did his best to make an article m all respects as good as what can be turned out m England. It is admitted that the earliest attempts were rank failures, but then came a batch which, Sir George Whitmore tells us, " succeeded fairly well, and 40,000 rounds were issued. Of these 2000 were sent to the Rabbit Department at Kaikoura, and, though afterwards recalled, must have been the consignment from which Constable Law, who had no duty involving ball practice, took the cartridge which burst the other day. At the first complaint I stopped the issue, and tested what were m store, with the result that I found that sufficient care m the gauge had not been taken, and that the whole supply was inferior to the approved tested sample." Sir George Whitmore may be right as to the source whence came the cartridge which played such tricks at Kaikoura, but he is wrong m using the word " must." The constable may possibly have got his cartridge elsewhere than out of the 2000 sent to Kaikoura and subsequently recalled. But passing over that point, it is quite clear that sufficient tests wsre not applied before the issue of the 40,000 rounds mentioned above. A very small sample was apparently tried, and the most perfect faith manifested as to the remainder until complaints began to be made. Then the whole batch was found defective and was called m. There was no merit m taking it back, but the department is open to censure j for having made the issue on insufficient tests. If any one had questioned Colonel Whitmore just when those cartridges were about to be served out it is reasonable to suppose that he would have maintained the trials to be sufficient. Nevertheless the result showed that the cartridges were defective, and the fact is calculated to raise a doubt as to the sufficiency of the tests which he says have been made of those issued since July 15th. It is the first time that anything has been said about this series of exhaustive and satisfactory trials, and the volunteers may be pardoned if they hesitate to accept as conclusive Sir George's dictum that the jamming and other defects which havo, as be admits, been made very often,

" must hare occurred with defective rides, and would not bare happened if the cartridges had been fairly treated." The trial which was made a few days ago, nnd which led to the expression of a wish on the part of the Ncio Zealand Times that the Whitney ammunition should be adopted at once by the Defence Department, to the exclusion uf .the English article, was not altogether satisfactory if we may judge by the telegram forwarded at the time. However, it is an excellent tbing that so much attention has now been called to the subject. The Defence Department has been thoroughly stirred up, and is not likely to rest until the desired object has been fully attained, namely, the production m the colony of a plentiful supply of first class ammunition. Clearly it is a most important item m the defences of New Zealand, but bad ammunition must not be tolerated for the sake of encouraging colonial industry.

In our sporting columns this morning will be found tho weights for tho Makikihi Bating Club's mooting on tho 16th inst. Tho train arrnngoments for Annivorsary Day (16th inst.) will bo found published m nnothor column. The fifteenth annual exhibition of tho Timaru Floral and Horticultural Society will be hold m the now Voluntoer Drillshed on the 16th inst., Anniversary Day. Tho Ordinance of Believors 1 Baptism will be administered m tho Baptist Church tomorrow ovening. The subject of the address will be " Tho conversion and baptism of Lydia and her household." Horee owners and others interested are reminded that the nominations for the next race meeting, under tho auspices of the Waimato Bacing Club, must roach tho hands of the hon. sec. by this evening. Tho hearing of tho charge of wilful murder against Thomas Hall was advanced another stago yesterday. Tho attendance of the public at tho courthouse was very large, and they took a deep interest m tho proceedings. Yesterday m tho Resident Magistrate's Court at Waimate, beforo Mesßrs Sleo and Sinclair, J.P.s, the caso of Manchester and Co. t. Knight, a claim for £11 3s Id, was allowed to go by default, and the bench gave £1 costs. The other cases on the list had been settled out of court. We are glad to learn that several bayonet squads from our garrison corpß are m active training for tho bayonet competition, which is one of the chief attractions of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society's annual gathering. Tho garrißOn corps should be thoroughly ashamed »f themselves if they allow the challenge cup to be taken away from Timaru a second time. A cricket match will be played this afternoon between the Eleven of tho Timaru Cricket Club and fifteen members of the old National Club. Tho teams will be composed 08 follows : — Tho Eloven : M. J. Godby, A. Godby, C. Perry, S. G. Raymond, Rees, Jeffersop, Luwrenson, Rothwell, Fraser, H. Bristol, and W. Hughes. Tho Fifteen : Fish, Fussell, Malcolinson, Mclntosh, Maclean, Ogilvie, Vallange, J. Hughes, Watkins, G. Raymond, Jones, Raymond, Hasßell, Turnbull, and Wood. We wore shown a telegram yesterday m which it was stated that Mr Joynt's application, on behalf of Mr Perry, for a change of venue m the caso Shaw-Savill v. tho Timaru Haroour Board hid been granted by Judge Johnston. Tho plaintiffs wanted the case tried m Christchurch, but the change of venue fixes Wellington as the city where the caso shall bo brought on. The judgo suggested Nelson or Nupier. Mr Harper, counsel for Shaw-SaviH agreed to either or Wellington, and Mr Perry accepted Wellington as stated above. Three Maori women with a batch of piccaninis had a somewhat unpleasant experience last evening. They were going out from Timaru to tho Arowhenua pah m a cart, and whon about to go down into the Waimataitai valley the back band broke, and tho shafts of the cart falling to the ground suddenly precipitated the inmates m a promiscuous kind of way about tho road, but fortunately no ono was hurt. Tho horee having broke the traces and breeching started to clear out, but the boy who was driving' hung on to the reins manfully and Boon brought tha animal to a standstill. With tho kindly assistance of several neighbours the harness was repaired sufficiently, and the Maoris went on their way rejoicing that thoy had got off scot free. There are about 65,000 acres of land m hop gardens m England, which are estimated to produce about 10001 bof hops per acre, of a total of 65,000,0001 b. Messrs Bass and Co. employ between 2000 and 3000 hands, and possoss three breweries, the operations of each ono being distinct. Both Messrs Bass and Messrs Allsopp throw their browerios open for inspection, and no roluctance is displayed m showing the entire process of manufacturing tho famous beverage which has made Burton a household word to the uttermoot ends of the earth. D. McGcinnbss begs to inform his friends and the public that the Shilling Lumchbb formerly Berved at tho Railway Refreshment Booms havo been discontinued, and m future will bo provided with the same liberal menu m tho large and elegant dining-room at the Club Hotel. In future lunch at Refreshment Rooms, 2s 6"d ; at Club Hotel, la.— [Advt.] CnnisTMAS Ciibbb and Nbw Ybab's Gbbetino.— Special inducement to cash customers. During the month of December purchasers of goods to the value of twenty shillings can Belect any article from our crockory, fancy goods and ornaments to the valuo of 2s, or m proportion to amount of purchaso. Our stock is now replete m seasonable goods, fruits, preserves, teas, coffee, &c, &c. J. Andebson & Co., tho Corner, Woollcombe street and Main South Road. [Adyx.] Industries saya : — " There are numerous proj ets for ship canals spoken of from time to tinio m vnrious parts of tho world, and the latest of these is roferrcd to by Lord Vivian, m a dispatch from Brussels, m which he mentions that an English Byndieato has offered to placn Brussels m communication with the sea m consideration of a yearly subsidy of £72,000, which is only to commonce when the work has been finished. All tho most recent appliancos aro to be provided, and the quuys are to allow of twenty ships if £500 tons each to lio alongside." According to the British Dental Journal the teeth of hard-worked pupils of the Paris public schools deteriorate a few weeks after thoir entry. The second dentition is often premature. Dr J. 8. Williams has shown that any mental strain shows itself upon tho teeth m a very short time, both m increased decay as woll as m sensibility of the dentino. Dr D. M. Parker has reported that these Bame ohanges are always apparent m men who are training for atletic trials. These observations show that they are matters which command sorious consideration from oducators. Certainly a good education ought not to bring decay to any organ of the body, but the reverse. The fault must be with the system of education rather than education itself. At Guernsey the local body authority recently prohibited Salvation Army processions. The Salvationists taking no heed of the prohibition were summoned before the court and sentenced straight-away to ono month's imprisonment, half of the time to be fed on bread and water. Their comrades m court shouted their " Hallelujahs," and cried aloud that they would still go marohing on. The court informed them that if thpre was any attempt at contempt of the law they would be sent for trial to the assizes whioh nearly always dealt with cases of that kind with the lash ! There were no more processions m Guernsey, till General Booth paid a yiiit to the Island, when m compliance with an humble petition, the Salvationists were allowed to march at night without music, torch or banner, to their place of worship. The Guernsey authorities oridently know how lo tupproei a nuisance,

Consumption, Wasting Diseases, and General Debility. Doctors disngreo us to the relative valuo of Cod Liver Oil and Hypophospliites ; the one supplying strength and lloph — tho others giving nerro power and acting ns a tonic to the digestion and entire system. But m Scott's Emulsion of Pure Cod Liver Oil with Hypophosphitos tho two are combined, and tho effect is wonderful. Thousands who have derived no permanent benefit from other preparations have been cured by thia. " Scott's Emulsion " is perfectly pnlatablo, and is easily digested OTen by those who cannot tolerate plain Cod Liver Oil. Any Chelniat can supply it. [AdYT.] (10) Tho Neleon Colonist gives tho following account of feeding tho sea-lions, which Captain Fuircbild brought up m theHinemoa: — " Their peculiar and awkward movements have caused some surprise, but (lie agility with which they havo caught fi»h thrown to them has caused greater. We learn that a seven-foot shark was caught near the Frocch Pass, and was handed over to the sea-lions, when tho smaller of these he'd back, allowing tho largest the honor of dealing with his sharkship. With iti poworful teeth the Bealion seized the vulture of the deep, which m turn attempted to use its tail with terrible effect, but its assailant dodged the blows, and and then seized tho shark by the throat, and killed it almost instantly. Tho younger of tho Bea-lions show signs that they might be easily tamed." Benefactors. — " When a board of eminent physicians and chomists announced tho discovery that by combining Bomo well-lnown valuable remedies a most wonderful medicine was produced, which would euro such a wide range of diseases that most all other remedies could be dispensed with, many were sceptical, but proof of its merits by actual trial has dispelled all doubt, and to-day the discoverers of that great medcoine, Dr Soule's American Co.'s Hop Bitters, are honored and blessed by all aB bonofactor»." Read. You can bo happy if you will stop all your doctoring yourself and familirs with expensive doctors or cure-alls that do only harm, and use Nature's simple remedies for all your ailments, you will be woll and happy and Bave great expense. The greatest remedy for this, the great, wise, and good will tell you. Am. Co.'s Hop Bitters. [Advt.] Tho 8t Louis Cflobe-Democrai says : — " Alpha Centaurii, the leading star m the Centaur, is the nearest star to the earth, io far as is known. Its distance is usually placed at from 20,000,000,000 to 29,000,000, 000,000 milei from tho earth. A star called Sixty-one Cygni is classed as second m distance, being put at about 64,780,999,000,000 miles distant from our globe. Most of the itar», however, are millions of miles further away from us th«n these. Light travels about 196,000 miles m every second of time ; and yet with this inconceivably rapid velocity, it would take light nbout twolvo years to traverse the space separating us from that •tar. From the greater portion of tho stars light would be many centuries m reaching us. Thit is to say, m these particular instances the stars which we see are not the stars as they exist to-night, but as they existed beforo Columbui sailed on his voyage of discovery, or even beforo the creation of Adam." The Daily Netei m the course of an article on the condition of the agricultural population of Scotland, Bays : — " On many Lowland farms the ploughman only obtaim possession of ono of the cottar houses on conditon that he provides a certain amount of female labour to be availablo m the harvest field, or at other times when outdoor work becomes urgent. The ploughman who has not grown up daughters gets this requirement by lodging m his house one or two young women, and the testimony is universal that m many caees tho moral results ore most disastrous. A similar arrangement is m operation m dairy-farming district!, where every cotman is bound to supply one or moro good milkers. This evil, the existence of whioh many of the bost farmer! sorrowfully admit, has been repeatedly eondomncd ; but under existing conditions of tho agricultural labor market, the system is excused as a noceatity, and it teems to be extending." Possibly this is the explanation of certain very remarkable remits shown m the lately published vital statistics of Scotland. Post Card Proof. Salisbury, Term., April 4, 1883.— Gents : I was afflicted with sorious Kidney and Urinary trouble for twelve years. After trying all the doctors and patent medicines I could hear of, I used two bottlea of Hop Bitters and am perfectly cured. B. F. Booth. Washington, D. C, April 3, 1853.-— To the 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 medicino seemed to do me any good until I tried three bottles of your Hop Bittere, and to my surprise I am as well to day as ever I was. I hope yon may have great success m this great and valuable medicino. Anyone wishing to know more about my cure, can learn by addressing me. — E. M. Williams, 1103 16th street. Prosecute the swindlers ! — lf when you call for American Hop Bitters (see green twig of hops on the white label and Dr Soule's name blown m the bottle), the vendor hands out anything but American Hop Bitters, refuse it, and shun that vendor as you would a viper ; and if he has taken your money for anything else indict him for the fraud and sue him for damages for the swindle, and we will pay yoi liberally for the comiction. A singular icene is thus described by a correspondent of the Sydney 3foi7, writing from Rainbow Beach, Macleay river: — " Sir, —I would direct your attention to the beautiful scene that occurred here on Friday, the 6th instant. The tun rose m the morning delightful and warm, and about 7 o'clock our attention was drawn by a great number of butterflies parsing, and about nino o'clook they came m hundreds of millions, and continued the same stream till three o'olook m the afternoon, when they began to lessen until about four o'clock, and at fire they disappeared. They came from the south-west and went to the north-east. There was a north-east wind blowing throughout, which cauied them to labour hard against the wind, and bring them near the earth. Many thousands of them deposited their eggs on certain trees, commonly known as the wild lemon tree. I went ploughing m the field, and the horses became very restless, shaking their hosds and morting at the numerous family of butterflies. I am of opinion that theie butterflies covered miles of country, and the oldest inhabitants of this district never law the like before. I have been living here for 30 years, and never saw the like before or anywhere else m all my lifetime. Ihese butterflies appeared to me like a heavy snowstorm driven by the wind." We extract the following from the Electrician'. — " Recently, at Crawford, Indiana, during the fall of a slight shower of rain, but m the absence of any indication of a thunderstorm, a ball of fire was seen to enter the window of a house occupied by ono of tho most prominent citizens m the town. Shortly afterwards Mr Hiley was discovered lying upon the floor, his body, according to tho American account from which wo quote, burnt almost to a cindor and unrecognisable. A black streak was traced upon tho carpet from tho window to tha fireplace, m which line the body was found. Tho family, who were sitting outside the house, witnessed the ball of firo ontor the window and apparently disappear up tho chimney. This is the second instanco which we havo recently recorded of a diacbarga of globular lightning having ascended a chimney. The fact would ■ecm to indicate the possibility that its courße may be determined m part by the direction of a current of air. But if, as we recently suggested, the phenomena is due to a email quantity of vapour charged to an excessively high electric tension, it is difficult to understand ho iv it could continue its course after having discharged sufficient eleotricity to carbonise a human body." One of tho recent numbers of the Moni/eur des InUrSts MaKriela contains a long and interesting review of the European harvest. In the course of its observations on the severe strain which American and Indian competition has put upon European cereal growers, some remarkable figures are given of the indebtedness of cultivators. The mortgages upon agricultural properties, upon the cultivators and peasant ownero m most parts of the old continent aro excessive, and materially increase the difficulties whioh low prices have brought upon them. Thus, for instance, the delie hypothicaire of Prussia was on an average only 65 per cent of the Talue of the land m 1860, and it is now between 80 and 90 per cent. In certain parts of the province of Brandenburg it exceeds by 60 per cent the present value of the land. In Austria the mortgages aggregated £112,000,000 m 1858, and they are now more than £500,000,000. Those of France "were already m 1876 at the fabulous figure of 21 milliards 111 millions of francs," or say, m round, figures £840,000,000. Half thereal estate of France and two>thirds of that of B elgium are only nominally m the possession of the ostensible proprietor!. Eussia it no whit behind other countries m this respect, and her fanners are further handicapped by the elowneu and expensjveness of their transport.

A Melbourne newspaper recently got quito jubilant over the fact that not a single Bchodulo of insolvency had been filed for a week. The week beforo that four overconfident applicants tried to convinco Judge Hickman Moleaworth that their failures were attributable to circumstances over which they had no control, and at this moment the quartette are keeping each other company m Melbourne gaol. I Captain Sommerville informs the Wnnganui Herald that Lieut. W. H. Tisdale, of Birmingham rifle-making fame, has forwarded a match rifle as a. prize for Ihe fortheom ng N.Z.B.A. meeting. 'Jhis will be ono of tlie prizes m the Christcburch match. Several of the rillo clubs near Chrittehurch have written asking that they should bo allowed to competo m tho team match. To this Captain Sommerville is favourable, and if the other members of t'ue council are agreeable they will be allowed to competo. An endeavour is being made by the council to secure the if inemoa, nt a low rate, to convey shootists from Wellington to Lyttelton and back and if she can be secured the return fare is likely to be reduced to one pound. Tho treasure taken by the French troops on the capture of Huo arrived at Marseilles from Auam, iiava the Paris correspondent of The Times, on Sunday, Oct. 3rd, by the mailpacket Irrawaddy, of tho Mesaageries Maritimes. It conßistt of 192 cases of Bilver ingots and 14 cases of gold coins. The strong room of the steamer was not large enough to receive such a load of the precious metals, and the cases had to be placed at the bottom of the hold, where they were covered with 503 tons of merchandise. AH the openings leading to the compartment were closed with care and sealed. The cases were forwarded to Paris by railway to the Ministry of Finance, and they were deposited safely m the cellars of the Bank of France. On the arrival of tho treasure at Marseilles great precautions were taken to inaure its safety. Six of the crew, armed with cutlasses and revolvers, were stationed round tho entrance to the hold, and this guard was not dispensed with until the treasure had been removed from the ship. This treasure, valued at 9,000,000fr, is only a small part of the booty taken by the French troopß after the capture of Hue. The remainder was restored to tho King of Anam.