Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 687, 5 August 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

Thbatbh Royal. — " The Corsican Brothers" and '♦The Maid and the Magpie" were played last night to a thin house. Dinnbb.— Mr Harris gires his annual dinner to the members of the Fire Brigade on Thursday evening next, at the Clarendon Hotel. Lttthlton Winter Headings.— Prom the excellent programme prorided by the committee for this evening, a good attendance may be expected in spite of the unfavourable weather. College Sports. — These annual athletic competitions are fixed to take place on the 24th inst., and a programme quite on a par with those of Jpreviou3 years has been prepared. ... The CityTSlection. — In compliance with a requisition numerously and influentially signed, Mr Moorhouse announces his intention to stand for the seat in the House of Representatives, vacant by the resignation of Mr Travsrs. Bankruptcy. — His Honor intimated in Chambers this morning, that in future the practice here would be for a petitioning creditor to proceed by affidavit in moving for a conditional order of adjudication. With regard to the question of costs to the Frovisional Trustee, it would be recollected that on a former occasion, following the precedent laid down by Judge Chapman, he directed that the final order should be conditional on bankrupts paying two guineas costs to the Provisional Trustee. The Judges sitting in the Court of Appeal questioned the justice or expediency of such a course. Mr Garrick remarked that, under these circumstances, the Provisional Trusteee might bring the whole thing to a dead-lock. He might gay "I will not act." Ltttelton Colonists' Hall. — An entertainment was given at the above hall, on Thursday evening, by Miss Rose Evans and Mr Claremont, in aid of the funds of the Colonists' Society. Although the weather was very inclement, there was a good audience. The programme included, besides Miss Evans' "usual entertainment, a reading by that lady, entitled " The Collier's Child," which was given with great pathos, and fairly earned the applause it elicited. Mr Carder sang, with a chorus, "Out in the streets," and " Thou art so near," and was heartily applauded. Mr Woledge, with his song "The ilia of life," created a perfect furore, and was repeatedly called before the curtain. He declined, however, to respond, on the ground that he should appear again to-night in the winter readings. At the! conclusion of the burlesque, D't Donald brought forward Miss Evans and Mr Claremont, and thanked them for the kind manner in which they had given their services for the help of the institution, and also paid Miss Evans a high compliment on her histrionic powers. God save the Queen was then given, and a moat enjoyable evening brought to a close. Entertainment. — Notwithstanding the extreme inclemency of the weather last night, there were sufficient persons in attendance at St. Michael's schoolroom to induce the carrying out of the entertainment previously announced. The Very Rev. the Dean presided, and the following programme was most successfully gone through: Readings: selections from the " Lotus eater," Mr Mainwaring; " Irish Fairy Tale," Mr Veel; " Visit of Mr Tugs and family to Ramsgate," the Rev. E. A. Lingard; "De Quincy's Mail Coach," the Chairman. Recitations from " The Lay of St Aloys," Mr Elwin. Songs: " Come out upon the lawn," " Mother do not weep," "I think of thee," Mr Appleby;

« Thinking of ;.thee," Mr Crooks. Duetts: " Come with thy lute to the fountain," Mrs Alabaster and Miss Martin; " The Brothers," Mr Appleby and Mr R. Parker. Harmonium solo, selections from Maritana, MrR. Parker. Encores were warmly awarded to Mrs Alabaster and Miss Martin, Mr Appleby and Mr Parker, the latter of whom played all the accompaniments. The National Anthem terminated the proceedings. v'The Fijis — A company is about to be firmed at Ballarat, called " The Fiji Planting and Trading Company," for the purpose of purchasing land in the Fiji Islands, growing cotton, coffee, and sugar in the country, and trading and opening a wholesale store in Suva. Titokowaru. — The Wellington Evening Post says : — lt is commonly supposed that the whereabouts of Titokowaru is no mystery to a number of people, both European and Maori, on the West Coast. He is living, as it is said, quietly in the Upper Waitara, with a email number of adherent?, not being able, in his present reduced circumstances, to maintain a large retinue ; while, since the withdrawal of the Ngatiporous from Waihi, fears are beginning to be entertained that he may draw together the straggling Hau-haus now hanging about the outskirts of the settled country, and again commence murdering and pillaging. At the same time we have a highly salaried Native Commissioner residing at no great distance, who professes to have great influence over the natives for the exercise of which we pay him. Why cannot he prove his influence either by inducing the professed friendlies in Titokowarn's neighbourhood to give him up, or go himself and secure him before he gathers strength ? Baby Farming. — The following is from the Wellington Evening Post: — The results of .the practice of " baby farming " which has prevailed to a larger extent in this province than people are aware of, are shown in a case which has been once or twice before the Resident Magistrate's Court. Some time ago a young woman, named Mrs Challis, lived in Wellington. She was then the mother of three children, and aa her occupation — that of a barmaid — precluded her from attending to'tbem, she put them to nurse. The woman who took charge of them looked after them well, and everything was satisfactory for a time. Mrs Challis, however, went to Auckland, and took a situation there, promising to send regularly the amount she was paying for the children. However, the remittances did not come, and the nurse made repeated applications, and afterwards Bued and obtained judgment. Instructions were sent to Auckland, but the bailiff could find nothing to levy on, and so the matter rested for a time. However, the children. had to be fed and olothed all the time (and to do the nurse justice they had good treatment) and so other steps had to be taken. The nurse has applied for a warrant to compel the mother's attendance, and make her take charge of her children. The nurse will, in all likelihood, lose what she has expended, but it will give her, and perhaps others, a lesson as to leaving the baby farming business alone. The San Francisco Mail Route.— The following letter from Mr Collie, dated Sydney, July 13, has been received by the American Consul at- Wellington : — Dear sir, — See Hall's letter to Mr Yogel in the Southern Cross, on the let instant. I contradict the statement that Mr Webb's boats of 2000 tons were offered to Mr Hall by Mr Webb or any of his accredited agents. Hall reached San Francisco on the sth, and left it again on the 10th May. The enclosed telegram will shew you that Mr. Webb was in New York on the 9th May, and my firm, who are alone his agents, made no such offer to Mr Hall. Mr Webb and my partner are aware that the A.S.N. Co required the payment of the charter of their boats to Mr Hall to be guaranteed by the New Zealand Government, a fact significant of want of confidence, and it is not likely that my friends would be less regardful of their interests. The monthly running expenses of Mr Webb's boats is about £5,500, -and I will leave you to guess if Hall could charter them at a less sum than he pays the A.S.N. Co. In 1866 I returned to England in the Atrato (paddle). She carried coal for 20 days, had considerable cargo, and steamed against a. stiff gale, almost ahead, at a rate of 12J to 13 knots an hour. I giro you the following extract from my partner's letter to me, dated San Francisco, 10th May, 1870. :— "I encloßO you a telegram from Mr Webb, and lean now assure you that his bill will pass, and that his steamships will be placed upon the route. The Hawaiian Government will grant us the subsidy, but Webb will only start when everything is perfect." The. telegram refers to advertising one of Mr Webb's boats to start for Australia. Mr Webb has asked Congress for a subsidy of 500,bd0dols or £100,000 sterling. The bill is sure to pass, and Webb is sure to get the contract. In view of. this large American subsidy, I have, now reduced my demand from all the colonies to £50,000, contingent on fresh news expected by next mail, due the 15th inst. I have not seen the Chief Secretary since his return from the Conference, being engaged with his correspondeace for the mail for England just about leaving. I am, yours truly, Gbo. Collie.— New York, 9th May, 1870. To J. B. M. Stewart. — Decline advertising till Congress decides. Just starting for Washington. Webb. Selling Liquors to Maoris.— The existing law with regard to the Belling of liquors to Maoris was discussed in the House of Representatives the -other day, on a motion by Mr Carleton that the laws relating to the traffic in spirituous liquors ought to be amended. Mr .Carleton advocated the abolition of the two-gallon system, and, as an example of the absurdity of the existing law, he mentioned a case which had come before him, in which a grocer had been fined £60 for selling a single bottle to a native, when he would only have been fined £10 if he had sold him a dozen. The natives themselves desired some change in the liquor law. He

proposed that they should be placed on the same footing as Europeans. The mischief of restricting them in the matter was that the; imported whole casks of grog into their pahs, and there they remained until it was all j consumed. Mr T. Kelly said that this experience was quite the opposite of that of Mr Carleton. He found that the natives always enjoyed the idea of getting drunk. The restriction which waß placed on publicans of supplying liquor to Maoris was the greatest sham in the country, Mr Fox said he did not think the introduction of the bottle sytem, as advocated by Mr Carleton, was judicious. He had watched the effect of the bottle system in Victoria, ancHn that country it had been moßt disastrous/ .' Its effect had been the destruction of whole shoals of respectable women whoiwent to grocer's shop and entered on the books' a pound of tea or some other household requirement, which only meant so much. gin', or other vile compound. The question o£ dealing with the matter with regard to the Maoris was a very difficult one. It could not be doubted that the Maoris were very fond of drink, and it would be a very difficult matter to suppress the habit of drinking, which has so strongly , developed among them. The only hope" he had of reform in this great subject was a complete remodelling of the whole fundamental principles of the licensing system. The Government would render every assistance to further a measure of this kind. He would recommend the taking the power out of the hands of the Justices and placing it in the hands of tbo ratepayers. Several other members having spoken, Mr Carleton replied, stating that he did not wish it to be understood that by the use of the word " bottle," he meant the introduction of the bottle system, and the motion was then put and agreed to. The Queen op Madagascar — The Tamatave correspondent of the Overland Commercial Gazette, May 6, says: — " The following items respecting doings at the capital, have come to hand through missionary channels. The Queen embraced Christianity early in the year (1869), and has all the summer been building a chapel royal, Meanwhile the wooden fence around the temple of the great national idol had been pulled down, and the priests assumed a threatening aspect, even hinting that their god had medicine, which would avenge him on the heretic Sovereign. On September 8, they came in force to the capital to claim their rights ss nobles. A Council was called, and it was decided to Bend the Chief Secretary of State and other high officials to the sacred village, seven miles from the capital, and burn the idol before its keepers returned. They let off the same afternoon, and. by an authority j from the Prime Minister seized the idol's house. The wood of the fallen fence was collected, and a fire wai made, and the contents of the temple were brought out to be burned. First, the long cane carried before the idol in processions was thrown in ; then twelve bullock horns from which incense or holy water had been sprinkled ; then three scarlet umbrellas, and the silk robe worn over the idols by ■ the keeper who carried it. Then came the idol's case, the trunk of a small tree hollowed and fitted with a coyer ; and, last of all, the idol itself. Hardly any of the present generation had seen the god, and great was the surprise when he was produced. Two pieces of scarlet Bilk about three feet long and three inches wide, with a small piece of wood about as big as a man's thumb, inserted in the middle between them, so that the silk formed as it were two wings, was the great god of Madagascar, whose touch was sanctifying, and whose nearness Was preservative. You cannot burn him, he is a god, said the people. If he be a god he will not burn, said the officers, we are going to try ; and they held it on a stick in the fire that the people might see it as it was consumed. The victory was complete. Next day four other idols shared, the same fate, and the rest followed. One was a little bag of sand ; another consisted of three round pieces of wood, united by a silver chain. The people looked on in wonder, and when the process was over, seeing that they had now no gods to worship, they sent to the queen to ask what they were to worship 'for. the future.' It is stated that after this the Government appealed to the native Christians to send Christian teachers, and they at once responded. It was found that of 2SO towns and villages in Imirena (the Hova province), 120 already bad Christian churches, and teachers were at once found for the rest. . This movement, which is remarkable for ita purely native origin, is another proof that in certain stages of civilisation nations may be con verted by authority. The conversion of Madagascar had. been accomplished in the 19th century much as that of the Saxons was accomplished in the 6th. The iconoclast is the Reformer's forerunner. To overthrow a fetish worship the fetish itself must be first destroyed. Thus say the missionaries, and the account, coloured, as it may possibly be, is certainly interesting and curious. It is stated here that an Anglican Bishop has at last been .definitely appointed for Madagascar." . . Deep-sea Explorations. — Philosophers had imagined that all life would cease at an ocean depth of 300 fathoms, and. that the temperature of the deep sea was everywhere thirty-nine degrees. It was found, on the contrary, that abundant life existed at far greater depths, and that the deep-sea temperature varied within somewhat wide limits. More remarkable still, it was found that a difference in bottom temperature between thirty-two degrees and forty-seven degrees existed at points only eight or ten miles distant from each other, beneath an uniform surface temperature of about fifty-two degrees; and that were this was the case in the cold area the bottom was formed of barren sandstone, mingled with fragments of older rock, and inhabited by a comparatively scanty fauna, of an arctic or boreal character, while in the adjacent warm area the bottom surface was cretaceous, and the more abundant fauna presented characteristics due to

the more temperate climate. Hence au upheaval of a few miles of the sea bottom subject to those conditions would present to the geologist of the future two portions of surface totally different in their structure, the one exhibiting traces of a depressed, the other of an elevated temperature ; and yet these formations would have been contemporaneous and conterminous. Wherever similar conditions are found upon the dry land of the present day, it has been supposed that the high and the low temperature, the formation of chalk and the formation of sandstone, must have been separated from each other by long periods, and the discovery that they may actually co-exist upon adjacent surfaces has done no less than strike at the very root of many of the customary assumptions with regard to geological time. The importance of these results, and the magnitude of the considerations springing from them, induced the Admiralty, at the renewed instance of the Council of the Royal Society, to assist in the prosecution of further inquiries. Her Majesty's ship Porcupine, C«ptCalver,B.N., was fitted up in the way suggested by the experience gained on the first expedition, and was provided with proper dredges for the deep-sea, hauling-in machinery, deep-sea thermometers defended against pressure, and apparatus for the conduct of various chemical and other inquiries. She left Galway, under the scientific charge of Mr Gwynn Jeffreys, on the 18th of May last year, and carried on the exploration in a westerly directioß, 'getting into deeper water, until she reached the Porcupine bank, so named from one of her former surveys. She next proceeded in a north-westerly course towards Kockall, and thence returned to Donegal Bay. In this cruise the dredging and temperature soundings were carried down to a depth of nearly 1500 fathoms. Early in July she started from Cork, under the scientific charge of Dr Wyville Thompson, in a south-westerly course, for the purpose of carrying down the explorations to atill greater depths, which were found at the northern extremity of the Bay of Bieoay, about 250 miles west of Ushant. Here the dredge was successfully worked at the extraordinary depth of 2435 fathoms, nearly equal to the height of Mont Blanc, and exceeding by 500 fathoms the depth from which the first Atlantic cable was recovered. She returned in about a fortnight, and started from Belfast in August for a third cruise, under the scientifio charge of Dr Carpenter, who was accompanied by Dr Wyville Thompson. The object of this cruise was the more -detailed survey of the ground previously surveyed by the Lightning, and the vessel remained out until September 15, 1868, visiting Thorshaven, in the Faroe Islands, and Lerwick. The results of the three expeditions went entirely to confirm) and in many respects to enlarge, the cooelusions that had been drawn from the more limited surveys of the preceding -year.