THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3538, 28 April 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1880.

The change in the ministry that hos just taken place in England is not looked on with favour by the great Continental Powers/ Whatever may be said in regard to the jingoism of Earl Beaeonsfi.eld, and of the policy he pursued, be managed to keep the Continental Powers on good terms with each other—compulsorily if not willingly. His moves on the political chess board completely checkmated any attempt. of one Power on another, and as fast as any steps were taken likely to lead to a disturbance Beaconsfield would step in and place himself between the conflicting parties. The wealth of Great Britain is dreaded by our adversaries much more than the

strength of our arms —for if we had not our almost invincible nary we should be a very second-rate Power. The knowledge that we can bring millions of pounds sterling to aid in a bellicose conflict has far greater weight with other nations than the comparatively small army at our command. But, not only can we do that, but many nations would have to go to London before they could get a farthing to fight with. The disfavor with which the change of Ministry is looked upon may be therefore easily explained. The influence of the policy of Great Britain in European Councils is felt by all nations to be very great, and her advice is often sought on questions affecting great interests, and until the course she will pursue becomes known, the plenipotenliaries of the various States think twice before deciding the fate of nations by force of arms. While Beaconsfield reigned there was not much fear of a clash of arms, but now Gladstone has regained the Liberal leadership, fears are expressed that the peaceat-any-price policy will allow th#' country to drift into war, Gladstone while on his celebrated Midlothian electoral tour, condemned the policy of the Tory party as likely to lead to further complications, and result in a general resort to the military. He deplored the state into which affairs had fallen during the titne^Beaconsfield had ! reigned supremo, and severely censured his lordship. Row that he has turned the tables, and has the controlling of the destinies of the Empire, it is difficult to see in what way his policy will differ from that of his predecessor, espepialy as several of the prominent members of the newly-formed Cabinet have not committed themselves so much in declaiming against the foreign policy of the late administration. The Montenegrins, the Albanians, the Herzogovinians, the Roumanians, the Turks, Eussians and Poles are all at loggerheads with each other. Austria, Germany, Italy, and France [ara jealous, and England only remains undisturbed. Whether she will remainso.it is difficult to say, but the probability is that the next seven years will not pass so peaceably for Europe as the last.

Fjbom our telegrams it will be seen that Mr Hislop, M.H.R., has resigned his seat for Waitaki. This was ex(3ectcd some time ago, but notwithstanding, nothing 'was done to nominate his successor. It

is not definitely known who will take his place in the House of Kcpresentatires, but rumour points to Mr W. L. Heos of Napier.

At the next aieeliug of the County Council the business is likely to be of more than usual interest, a3 several important notices of motion are already on the boo'.ts. One of them is in favor of tho amalgamation of tlie local bodies.

We are informed that one of the owners of properly adjoining the PakePaeroa road Juis filled up a ditch, causing the swamp water to flood the road, thereby causing considerable damage. It is stated ♦ his proc eding was tnkrn in consequence of some misunderstanding between the County Council and the party referred to regarding the cost of the ditch,

We arc informed that thtreisa mistake in the translation of a native letter appearing in this morning's paper re the Tukukino road. The writer is made to represent Tareranui as an opponent of Tukukino, whereas it should read that be is the Komata chief's colleague in the road obstruction.

Mr AiTKfif, the County Engineer, is now busily engaged laying off the con tracts on the Ohinemuri main road for which, tenders are being called in our advertisement columns. He has also been instructed to lay. off the main road between Hikutaia to Wnngamata. This road will be a gf'eat convenience to gumdiggers and residents of the Whangamata district, who are at present completely isolated.

We have received from the Secretary of the Australian Mutual Provident Soeietjr the annual report and balancesheet as presented at the 31st annual meeting, held on the 21st inst. in Sydney. The progress made by the society continues to bo very satisfactary. During the past year no less than 6135 fresh proposals Were accepted and completed, assuring £2,102,685. The total annual revenue is £694,282 19s 2d, and the assets of tho society, invested principally in Colonial Government securities, amount to the very respectable sum of £2,965,892 17s 7d. Insurers have apparently every reason "to feel satisfied at (he progress made, and the security offered, by the Australian Mutual Provident Society.

Thebe was no business at the E..1V1 Court this morning.

Me J. S. Ham, gunsmith, has just received by the Mercia from England a large stock of guns and all kinds of sporting requisites. Our local sportsmen cannot do better than obtain the necessaries for spreading execution amongst the feathered fowl, at Mr Hart's establishment.

The entertainment given by Professor Taylor and Lillie, the champion skaters, at the Academy of Music last evening, was fairly patronised. The programme of the evening before was again gone through. Mr Carrick, junr., won the skating prize. On Thursday a benefit will be given to the Professor by the Thames Sinking Club. A prize will be given for the best conundrum on skating by lady competitors only.

We were tc day shewn. a sample of tomato sauce manufactured by Ludlow and Cor of Karaka creek. It is neatly put up, and has a good color and flavor. The firm have manufactured tomato sauce for some years past.

The Produce Cos. s.s. Blanche leaves for Coromandel to-morrow morning as per advertisement.

Those who are troubled with rats need not be so if they adopt the following remedy. — A writer in the Scientific American says :—•" We clean our premises of these detestable vermin by making whitewash yellow with copperas and covering the stones and rafters iv the cellar with ii. In every crevice in which a rat may tread we put the crystals of the copperas,, and scatter the same in the corners of the floor. The result was a perfect stampede of rats and mice. Siuce that time not a footfall of either rats or mice has been heard about the house. Every spring a coat of the yellow wash is given tlio collar as a putrifier, as a rat exterminator, and no typhoid, dysentry or fever attacks, the family. Many persons deliberately attract all the rats in the neighbourhood by leaving fruits and vegetables uncovered in the cellar, and sometimes even the soap is left open for their regalement. Cover up everything eatable in the cellar and pantry, and you will soon starve them out. These precautions joined to the service of a good cat will prove as good a rat exterminator as the chemist can provide. We never allow rats to be poisoned in our dwelling, as they are so liable to die between the walls and produce much annoyance."

The Governor, by notification in the Gazette, has " fixed and appointed that sittings of the District Cburfof Auckland shall be held as follows in lien of those fixed aud appointed:—ln the Resident Magistrate's Court-house, Grahamstown, for the despatch of civil business, on the first Tuesday of every month." This is a monthly iustead of two-monthly sitting. When the sitting day falls on a holiday, the Court shall be held " on the first day thereafter not being a holiday."

Onb of Ike crew of H.M.S. Cormorant was buried in the Church of England Cemetery, Auckland, on Monday.. He was a native of Portsmouth, named George Bedford, and aged 27 years. The poor fellow was consumptive, and had suffered greatly from a cold for the past two months. He died on Friday last. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and conveyed to the grave-yard on a gun-carriage-; the cortege comprised ali his comrades who could be spared from the vessel, and the band of H.M.S. Wolverine, which played the " Dead .March in Saul." A firing party discharged three volleys jver the grave.

The youthful philosophers in Auckland, Handed together under the name of the St. James' Mutual' Improvement Association, are far ahead of the ideas expressed by the most learned philosophers of the day. They meet fortnightly, and discuss' and settle questions that have puzzled the ancient, and continue to puzzle tho most modern philosophers of note. Last Monday the subject under discussion was, "Is the world in danger of being overpopulated ? " "Mr J. M. Geddis, in opening the discussion ia the affirmative, said that he acknowledged that over population was, in a certain sense, impossible, because the world was only capable of yielding a limited supply of food. It was certain, however that the reproduction of human beings was going on with ever-increasing rapidity, lie endeavoured (o% show that in former times plagues, pestilences, and other causes Lad contributed to the limiting of the number of

mankind. Owing to our advance in knowledge inauy of the checks to population had been removed, and the result showed that at some period, more or less remote, the inhabitants of our planet would amount to such a number that the foodsupply would be insufficient, and the overplus would die oft". The speaker adduced other arguments, and was followed by Mr W. Gorrie. who opened the negative view of the question. He argued that however plausible the theory of possible overpopulation might seem, there w;•■? a compensatory Jaw of nature that rendered the thing impossible. Ho denied that any country had yet become over populated. The author of "The True Law of Population" had shown that, contrary to what might be expected, p- ~>ple who existed in n' state of plenty and luxury, not only did not increase, but actually decreased; while, on the other haDd, in countries or districts where the supply of food was not abundant, and the people generally poor, the population increases more rapidly. Mr Gorrie, in referring to the supply of food, said it was practically unlimited. The supply was increasing, in proportion every year, and no one could possibly tell what its limit was. He, therefore, conBidered that there was nothing whatever to cause anyone to fear such a catastrophe as that anticipated by Mr Gcddis. Other speakers followed, the majority of them supporting the negative." The St. James' Glass has met, the members have decidrd by vote that the world is not in danger of over population! The oracle has spoken, and now it remains for men to tremble for the next philosophic discovery made by these worthy (?) descendants of M. Tullius Cicero.

During the past few days the Borough men have been employed making preparations for asphalting the south side of Mary street, between the Post Office and Pollen street. This will prove a great boon during the winter months not ouly to residents but also to the public at large as this street is very much used. The footpath will be skirted with an asphalt water table—the first, we believe, constructed in the Borough. If the experiment proves satisfactory, no doubt the municipality will largely use this material in other portions of the town.

At the last half-yearly meeting of the Midland Railway Company in England the sum of £10,000 was voted as a present to their late manager, Mr James Allport, on the occasion of his retirement from the post of general manager, for the purpose of accepting a seat at the directorate. Many of the shareholders present spoke in the highest terms of the ability displayed by Mr Allport, and said the progress of the Midland \Kailway Company was almost entirely due to the exceptional ability and energy displayed by him. We must say it is a very nice present for a man who has been in the receipt of a good salary for over 26 years.

The London Correspondent of a late English paper says : —I hear of a somewhat good story in connection with the recent election contest aVLiverpool, where every means was used to Ret the electors to the polling places. Previous to the election day it transpired that the Liberals had engaged all the cabs of Chester and Birken scad, as well as the larger portion of the Liverpool ones. The Conservatives despatched a trustworthy agent to Manchester, who made overtures for the chartering of the cabs belonging to a local carriage company. This company being a Radical one, so far as the politics of its directors are concerned, accepted the matter from a business point of view, but naturally put on a pretty stiff price. The Tory agent, however, seeing a director of the railway company, arranged for a cheap carriage of the vehicles to Liverpool. And now comes the sequel. Having secured these cabs, the agent quickly but quietly, returned to Liverpool aad chartered nearly all the river steamers for two days previous to the election, so that.-when the time came to get the Chester and Birkenhead convey ances over, there was no means for their transport, aud so their services were lost.

The Calcutta Pidneer professes to bo acquainted with the purport of the correspondence lately found at Cabul between Shere Ali and Kussia. It contained, says that paper, a complete scheme for the invasion of .Nothern India, and evidence that the arms and munitions of war stored at Cabul were intended for that purpose, liussia undertook to assist the Afghans in au invasion of that country, acid on its successful, completion to make over to Shere Ali the territory up to and including Lahore, together with all loot of the campaign. The Pioneer goes on to say that this scheme bears date prior to the time when war between England and Bussia was supposed to be imminent.

It is said that the firm of Bass and Co , the great brewers of Burton-on-Trent, has just been registered as a limited Company with a capital of £3,200,000 in 32,000 shares of £100 each. The interest and holdings of the. present partners-will be the same as before, and no change will take place in the management. Truly it is an immense conceru !

Richmond G-em Cigarettes just arrived are unequalled for their purity, delicate aroma, and rare fragrance, aa is also Oronoko Curly Cut and Louisiana Perique—Old Judge and Little Darlings. New 'stock of Meerschaums. Bmoking room unequalled.—LAWLESS AND Co, Tobacconists, &c.

The difference betwcsn a G-enfcand a Q-entlo-man;—Tim Gont turns.up what; he has for a nos& and siys, Ob, Ah. The Gentleman \va!k-sinto McGowan'3 ami snym, Mac give me a pound of Tea, and send, for orders every weak. ViSSFS the bright ju ancient dajg, Was Goddess of Love's fever, But now her charms end all in smoie At the shop of C. MoLivei". Her radiant fragrance fills.the air And conquests great ashieve(r), The smoke don't rile papas or mas, When purchased off McLiver.