The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1887.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3874, 4 March 1887, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1887.

An interesting question m connection with the use of the telephone arose m a case which was tried m Auckland a few days ago. One of the parties who was giving evidence wished to relate a conversation which bad been held though the medium of the telephone, but the court, after hearing argument, decided that communications transmitted though the telephone could not be received as evidence. Probably the decision was right, but we should like to see the point settled by the Court of. Appeal. The telephone is m daily use between the offices of business men, and the list of subscribers is constantly being lengthened. No doubt transactions of importance are not unfrequently arranged m conversation carried on through the instrument, and it is clear that what is said may occasionally be essential to the proof of issues raised m the courts of justice. On the supposition that the decision m the Auckland case was correct, it has since then been suggested that the Legislature should pass an Act providing that communications made though the telephone shall not on that account be rejected as evidence. But it is clear that there are some difficulties which will have to be guarded against. Unfortunately it is not an unknown occurrence for the telephone to be used ■ for the purpose of practical joking or even to gratify spite. Inconvenieoce and loss have sometimes been occasioned by such pranks. If conversation by telephone is to be admitted as evidence m the courts, some attempt must be made to protect people against bogus communications. To personate another at the telephone must be constituted an offence punishable by a heavy penalty. But no matter what safeguards may be provided, evidence of telephonic communications, with the instruments aB at present constructed, can never be of equal value with evidence of conversation carried on face to face, and, when denied, will always be regarded with suspicion on account of the frequent indistinctness of the sounds. The outcome of Mr Goldstoue's complaint against the Rector of the Timaru High School was the passing of the

following resolution : — " That, m the opinion of a majority of the board, the charges made by Mr Goldstone are not such as to induce the board to investigate the matter further." The mover of the resolution was the Rev. G. Barclay and ita seconder Mr Ziesler. But the Rev. G. Barclay bad previously moved — " That the charge preferred by Goldstone, ono of tho pupils, against Mr Dawson, Rector of the High School, be openly investigated by the High School Board." Dr Lovegrovesecondod tbe motion, but it was rejected. Although tbe resolution which was adopted is somewhat peculiarly worded, it no doubt itnplieslthat, m the opinion of tbe majority, tbe Rector bad done nothing which laid him open to censure. The conclusion arrived at must lie satisfactory to him, but still we think be has some cause for complaint. Tbe charges bad not only been miide, hut bad been a good deal talked of outside, and vague telograiua, (wide enough to have covered the grossest miHcondunt) had been sent out to different parts of the colony. Under tbe circumstances the public would have been butter pleased bad an open investigation taken place ; and that course would have been fairer to tbe Rector and more conducive to the well-being of the school. But the investigation, if such it can be called, was beld m committee, and nothing is known beyond tbe resolution subsequently adopted. The letter of complaint bad been openly read at the previous meeting of the board, and at all events the Rector's reply thereto should have been dealt with m the same manner. We shall make no lengthy comments on the case, but would suggest one or two points for tbe consideration of tbe board. No matter bow well a school may be conducted, it is certain that complaints will now and then arise. It seems to us that when a complaint does arise, tbe procedure should be for tbe chairman to make a preliminary examination, so as to be m a position to report to the board whether tbe case is frivolous, or is worthy of further investigation. That course would often save expense, prevent exaggerated talking and unfair rumours, and would be a safeguard to a teacher's reputation. In the Goldstone case the letter containing the charges was read at the open board meeting on the 22nd of February, tbe Rector then not having been officially notified that a complaint against him was pending.

Mb Buckley has promised that there shall be a large saving this year m tbe Sheep and Rabbit Department, though bow be is going to bring it about considering the amount of work tbe inspectors have to do, is f;ir more than we can venture to predict. Iv fact we believe that there will either be no saving at ;ill or that there will be nn outcry at tb<> n< gi. ot <>f ibe Government to rid Crown hn.'is . ( f liie rubbiv post. In spite of li.iiu islii:;;; ni::miiuls of what is being accomplished m some parts of the country, tbe rabbits are still doing a. fearful amount of damage and driving many of tbe settlers to despair. We have just read a letter which was addressed a few days ago to the Colonial Secretary by the stationholders m the Upper Clutha district. Tbe letter was written either immediately before or immediately after tbe Colonial Secretary made his economical announcement. He had ;:;sked the station-holders for information, and they supplied some which must have startled him considerably. They tell him that all the back runs m the Upper Waitaki district, from the extreme southern watershed to the most northern or Rangitata boundary have rabbits on them, tbe southern runs being ill tbe worst state, owing to their proximity to the already rabbit-mined country iv the Upper Clutha district; and that tbe enormous ;irea of rough mountainous iinorciii-ied Crown lands stretching away fi>'M tho western boundary of those runs, may be fitly termed one huge rabbit warren. Such a picture as that cannot have been very gratifying to a Minister who was contemplating the cutting down of the Department whose special province it i3 to lieep tbe the rabbits m check. The letter proteeds as follows : — " The position of these runs at the present is precisely similar to that of the runs m the Upper Clutha district a very few years ago. Runs which then returned rentals to the Crown are now abandoned, the late owners ruined, and the runs instead of yielding revenue are costing the country enormous sums annually through, the Rabbit Department, m tbe endeavour to check the pest from overwhelming the adjacent occupied runs. We state as a fact that the unfortunate holders of these adjacent stations are now suffering as did their late neighbours to the westward. They are working at a loss, aud it is merely a question of. time when they will have to a'mudon the country likewise." The station holders expect that the same deplorable results will speedily come upon the Upper Waitaki country unless extraordinary means are t;iken to destroy the rabbits. The remedy suggested is that tbe Government shall turn out plenty of stoats on the back runs but not on the unoccupied country. Altogether the letter brings into prominent notice a bad state of things. We are very far from saying that there is as much cause for alarm m every part of the country m which rabbits are known to exist. In some places measures taken against tbe pest have been moderately successful, but on the whole we do not think there is mnch ground for satisfaction, and there seems to be good canse for a larger rather than for a less expenditure. Certainly if the Department relares its efforts, or seeks to save a little money by cutting down the number of inspectors and putting more work on the shoulders of those who are retained, a very great blunder will be committed, and a large amount of loss will ensue.

Tho following aro the vital statistics for Temuka for February : — Births, 11 ; marriage, 0 ; death, 1. The following nre the vital statistics registered m tho Geraldino district for the month ended February 28th: — Births, 14; marriages, 2 ; death, 1. We are pleased to hear that the Timaru Navals' cutter will be hero m a week or two. The cutter has been purchased from the Government, and ia said to ba complete m every respect. The junior sculling handicap for captain's trophy, was commenced yesterday afternoon when four heats were got off. Tho sea was a little rough, but did not prevent rowing. The first boat between Stubbs and Gooch waa closely contested, the latter winning by about a length. In tho |eecoud heat Digby came m several lengths ahead of Hughes, tho latter losing some distance owing to tho stretcher becoming loose. The third heat resulted m an easy win for Tate, hia opponent Barlow not being m good form. The fourth heat was better contested than any of the o'lierg, McLean coming"in about two lengths ahead of Turnbull after a grand race. There are three heats to be rowod off to-day before the winner is declared.

I lie Lonrio'i Circus will open here this evening, ivnd :>.s (lie stay is only a two day&' one, it is sure to 1)0 very successful. The secretary to |.ho Pleasant Point Jocliey Club informs us that Panic's weight for the Handicap Hur.'.lea should be 12st 31b, not. list 31b, as was published some days ago. Owing to an oversight m making out the programme of the Geraldino Public Sports it whs not specified that nominations must bo accompanied with a record of performance* for the previous two years An advertisement appearing m another column calls attention to this fact, and alao that all nomininations must be m tho hands of the secretary by Monday next. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a cipy of "New Zealand, the Wonderland of tho World," published bj tho Union Steamship Company. Tho little wort, which contains between forty and fifty pages, is descriptive of 6omo of t he ni'.iat romarkaMc and beautiful scenery m (ho colo j, and is profusely illustrated, the engravings being admirably executed. The City Hand gave an opon-air concert at the breakwater.last evening. '[ hero was a large attendance. The following programme was gone through : — Quickstep, " Rod, White and Blue;" aelecti m , "Robert Burns j" tripletonguring polka, " Mon Ami;" quadrille, " Light Fant-islic Toe ;" -waltz:, " Harvest Moon j" p >lku, " Merry Lada ;" quadrille, "Schneider how you vai ;" overture, "Little Gem ;" " Go.l Save th» Queen." Tho Returning Offieor for election of a Licensing Committee for tho Pareora Licensing District receive! cix nomination papers at the appointed hour. Of theso two were informal from being signed m each caso by a person whose namo ij not on tho Voters Roll of the District as an elector. There being an insufficient number of valid nominations there can be no election, and the appointment of committee for this year will be made by the Governor. The members of Primitive Methodist Church at Temuka held a combined quarterly and farewell tea meeting m the church on Tuesday evening, on tho occasion of the Rit Mr Boothroyd leaving for Oamaru. Thero ■was a good attendance and tea was served at 6.30. The public meeting commenced atß p. m, Mr Amos Sheratt m the chair. The speakers ■were Messrs W. Brjant, W. Fletcher, W. Smith, B. Pratlcy and R. Metson who all expressed the lundest feeling towards Mr Boothroyd, and their heartiest good wishes for the success and happiness of himself and Mrs Boothroyd m their now home. Tho Rev. gentleman replied suitably, and having pronounced tho benediction the meeting terminated at about 10 o'clock. The quarterly meeting of tho Raukupuka Licen*ing Commitcee was held on Wednesday, thero being present Messr9 W. IT. Slack, W. S. Maslin, A. H. Brisco, and the Hon. L. Walker. Mr Slick was elected chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Slack then took the chair and thanked tho members for electing him. Tho inspector's report on the licensed houses within tho district was read, stating they vf ere all well kept vf ith two exceptions. A chargo had been laid, viz., against Mrs Jano Tindall for Sunday trading but was dismissed.— lt was resolved that the clork write to Mrs Tindall m regard to same. An application was made by Mr Thomas Farrell, for a transfer of the license of the Crown Hotel, Qeraldino, from himself to Mr Reuben Johnson.— Granted. The meeting then adjourned till Bth March, 1887. The ordinary meoting of tho Temuka Town Board vra9 held on Wednesday evening. Present— Messrs K. F. Gray (ehnirra-.n), E. Brown, Blyth and Coira. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The reports of the overarer and inspector of nuisances were read and considered. Mr J. Brown -waited on tho board, and asked to have the >erbing on railway terraco lowered to the height suggested by Mr Marchant, as, if it should be allowed to remain at its present height, damage would result to property along the whole of tho terrace, it beinj m most ca?es ten inches above the flooring of the buildings. If he had had any Bhare m putting it at its present level ho would not complain, but he had protested ng.inst it at tho first. The surveyor m his report advised reducing tho height by nine inches along the whole length, and yet the board wished the ratepayer?, owning property on tho terrace, to do it themselves. He wished also to draw the attention of the board to the present want of ontlot for the water at the corner of Commerce street and railway terrace ; the natural fall was toward tho Road Board office and not along Commerce street ; the water should bo let through a grating and taken acro.-s tho road by means of the pipes already laid thero. Mr Brown then retired. The matter was gone into, and it wag shown that tho cost of filling m the roadway would be £19 10a, which would be saved if the footpath were lowered. After discussion it was resolved — " That action m tho matter bo deferred until Mr Marchant' s plans of the levels of tho town como to hand." Accounts amounting ts £28 4j Id were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. Ihe usual monthly meeting of the Geraldino Town Board was held on Tuesday evening last, there being [present Messrs W. Kerry, J. A. Qninn, R. Taylor, J. Mundell, W. S. Maslin, and N. Dunlop. In the absenco of the chairman, Mr Dunlop was Toted to the chair. The minutes of tho previous meeting wero read and confirmed. Outward correspondence was read and approved of, and inward correspondence read and considered. It wa3 resolved — " That the licenso3 applied for by Mr Mundell be granted, and tho action of the chairman m the matter approved of." From Mr A. IT McLean, Jlnspcctor of Audit, re returns of receipts and expenditure of the Geraldine Domain Board. The clerk stated that a letter had been sent from Dr Foster enclosing account for legal work. It rras decided to let the account stand over till noit meeting, also, that tho clerk writo to those who have not completed their leases to do so at once otherwise the lease will be cancelled." The following tenders were received for plastering tho kerbing as follows:— J. Brown, 12s per chain; T. Hearlihy, £15 for the whole. Reßolvod — " That no tenders bo received, but that the matter be left m the hands of the Works Committee to get the work carried out." Mr Waite interviewed tho Board asking permission to erect avorandai m front of his new promises. He apologised for commencing alterations to tho building without first applying to tho Board. Resolved — "That Mr Androw'a (as owner of the building) attention bo called to bye-law, No. 3, sections 1 and 4 before proceeding further with tho alterations to the building on the Main Road." It was decided—" That Mr Wake's request to erect a verandah m the front of his proposed new promises be granted." Tho Hanger's report for the month was read. Resolved — " That tho rangor bo instructed to carry out tho bye lawg re cattle strayingon the roads. Resolved — " That summonses be iaßued for outstanding accounts for asphalto at once." Resolved — "That the Finance Committeo meet tomorrow morning to look up tho matter of tho reserves and tako what Bteps they may think proper." After accounts were passed for payment the board resolvod itself into a Local Board of Health. After tho Inspector of Nuisances report was read, it was decided that m regard to one nuisance complainod of, the chairman's notion bo endorsed, und that an information bo laid to compel the abatement of tho nuisance. The meeting then terminated,

No nominations of candidates for election as members of the Makikihi Licensing Com mitter, wero received by tho Returni. g Officer at the appointed time yesterday. There will consequently bo no election of a committee for ISB7, but it will be nominated by the Governor. At the R M. Court yesterday, beforo J. S. Beswick, Keg , K.M., John Whittuker wus fined 10s for allowing two cows to wander on a public pluce. Kobert Hutton for driving within the BDroiigh without lights was fined ss. A prohibition crdcr was, on the applic tion of tho polico, granted against T. J. Kennedy, the order to have force m the Timaru distrct. We understand that the Rector of the High School has received several letters from other headmaßtors sympathising with him that he should havo been annoyed over a trumpery caee of school discipline. The Rev. Henry Belcher, 1.L.D., of Dunedin High Schoul, writes as follows : —" All we can offer you ia our sympathy. Tho story is a Bimplo ono enough. You have endeavoured to maintain discipline, and havo not found sympathy m the quarter whence you might reasonably expect it. Everyono with whom I havo spoken thinks you have been very badly treated " A meeting of tho South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday morning nt 11 o'clock at tho treasurer's (Mr James Granger's office. Present—Messrs M. J. Godby, A. Perry (hon. secretary), D. M. Rose), H. Ford and J. Granger. Mr Godby wns voted to tho chair. Mr Ford moved, seconded by Mr Ross and carried —" That Mr Richardson ho paid, £6 6s for introducing trout into tho Albury and Mackonzie districts " Mr Godby proposed and Mr Ross seconded —"That tho season for shooting cock pheasants and Californiun quail bo from May Ist to July 81«t, both days inclusive, and that tho license ffe for shooting the abore bird? be £1." The question was raised whether or not tho society should giro Is per head for shags heads and 6d for hawks heads. After a long discussion, it was decided not to do so, as tho birds do moro good than harm. The Sco/lith Leader, the new Edinburgh daily, started as a rival to the Scotsman iv tho advanced Liberal interest, began its career on the 3rd January last. Its presumed object is to preach Gladstoniau Liberalism. A perfect copy of the first edition of Caxton's "Game aud Playo of tho Chease " was sold for £Gis, said to bo tbo higbes-t prico over paid for a Caxton. This is tho fifth perfect copy known, though it lacks tho two blank leaves required for a complete specimen of the edition. A Wellington contemporary says : —A curiosity m the shape of a largo clock, which was supposed to have been irreparably damaged during the fire at Mr Lindsay's shop, l.ambton-quay, some weeks ago, but which is etill keeping excellent time, is to be seen hanging up m tho very place which it occupied on the night of the conflagration. The wooden framework has been completely burnt away, and tho works presont tho appear ance of being perfoctly useless, so blackened are they from tho effects of tho firo. The mechanism, however, is as perfect aa ever, tiie timo kept being as good as before the fire took place. Tho Hereford Times states that m the parish of Llandrillo, near Colwvn Bay, there is a very largo fish weir formed by Btakea, enclosing a large portion of the sea at high tide. When tho tide recedes the fish aro leit m the weir. The rector of Llandrillo has a right to a tithn of all fish caught therein. The mode of levying tho tax is not by averago or computation, but the rector every tenth day sends hia man to gather m all the fish which have been left by tbo two tides. Last Sunday was what ia called tho ' parson's tide," and the people of the neighbourhood are highly scandalised that the rev. gentleman sent his man as usual to take what the sea had cast up for his tithe. A horriblo attempt at murder is roportrd from Dhurmaal (telegraphs tho Calcutta correspondent of the Times). SurgeonMajor Oldham, of the Ist Goorkhas, some lime ago dismissed a table servant, but on tho man's promise to reform took him back. Last Thursday while Dr Oldham and bis two daughters were at dinner, the servant caught tho elder Miss Oldham by tho hair, drew her head back, and cut her across the jaws and neck with a carving knife. Another servant, waiting at tho time, ran out of the room, but the younger daughter uttacked the assailant, and mannged to get tho knifo from him, her own hand being cut severely. He took another knifo and attacked Dr Oldhaui, aud a scuffle ensued. Eventually the man was secured aud handed over to the police. Brooklyn ia shortly to he furnished with automatic post-office supply boxes, from which the citizen may obtain at any hour of tho day or night a poatago stamp of the do nomination of one or two conts, a postal card, a letter envelope, or even a pencil to writo with. Theso conveniences will bo 15in high by 17in deep, and will have the appearance of narrow writing-desks. Over each compartment of tho boxes will bo a slot, into which tho prico of the article desired must be dropped. The coin sets m motion a aimple piece of mechaniim which places the eaid article m a littlo draw beneath. Thia draw is at the same timo automatically unlocked and pushed out, offering the purchaser exactly what ho wants. A moment later tho door closes and locks itself to await tho nest customer. Should the supply boxes prove a success thoy will be introduced m all the large citiea of the United Statos.