Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6069, 27 October 1887, Page 3

Local & General.

.j, Tjroct Fishinu. — Wo learn that Master H. Meddings has captured a fine fish turning the scale at G.]lb. Queen's Cadets. — An inspection parade of the four companies of the Queen's Cadets will be held at the Drillshed at 7.15 this evening. Canterbury College. — The list of students who have passed the recent examinations at Canterbury College appears elsewhere. The Municipal Conference. — At a special meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council, held on on Tuesday, it was resolved that the Mayox 1 , Mr R. Moore, represent that body at the forthcoming Municipal Conference to be hold tvt Wellington. Cricket. — The Senior Cup matches at present in progress will not be resumed on Saturday in consequence of the athletic sports meeting at Lancaster Park. The Midland First Eleven will play a one day's match against the senior fifteen at Hagley Park. The Unemployed. —Mr Perceval, M.H.K., has shown us a telegram from the Hon E. C. J. Stevens to the effect that the Minister for Public Works is considering the question of finding employment either at stone-breaking or opening the mouth of the River Halswell. COJ4J.EGB Rifles. — The inerubers of the Christ's College Rifles have decided to learn something of artillery drill, so as to enable them to lend a, Invnd in working heavy guns in cases of emergency. Last night a number of thorn received a preliminary lesson from Captain Martin, of the New Zealand Artillery Volunteers. Jubilee Memorial Home. — The Charitable Aid Board has decided to purchase a section of cix acres at Woolston., belonging to Mr Hawker, as a site for the Jubilee Memorial Home. The price is £75 per acre. A Committee has been appointed to examine and report upon the plans handed over to tho Board by the Jubilee Memorial Committee. Rifle Shooting.— The following will represent the Rangiora Rifle Volunteorn in their match with the Christchurch City Guards at Rangiora on Saturday : — Private F. Gulliver, C. Tyler, J. O. Josling, C. Jones, D. M'Kay, E. C, and B. d'Auvergne, F. Humphries, and Colour-Ser-geant Shiel; emergencies — Privates C. Leech and C. Allington. D algety and Co. — Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Limited) have received advice from London that the annual meeting of the Company was held there on Oct. 17, when a dividend of 4s per share was declared, payable on Oct. 21. This, together with the interim dividend already paid, makes a distribution of 7i per cent for the 12 months ending June 30. In addition, £40,000 has been placed to the reserve fund, which now stands at .£1 20,000. Church Parade. — Next Sunday morning the Lyttelton Naval Artillery and Scottish Rifles will attend Divine Servico together at the Sydenhani Presbyterian Church. The Scottish parade at the Drillshed at 10 o'clock, and thence proceed to the Railway Station to wait the arrival of the Navals by the 10.25 train. The two Companies will then march to churoh, headed by the pipe and drum band, under the leadership of Pipe-Major David Camnbell. Football. — The following is the list of matches played by tho Kaiapoi Juniors for tha past season :— May 7, v. Linwood, drawn, no score; June <t, v. Cambridge, won by two point 9to nil; July 2, v. Addington Second, won by three points to nil ; July IG, v. Woodend Juniors, won by three points to nil ; July 23, v. Union Second, won by four points to nil ; August 27, v. Addington Second, drawn, no score. Matches played, 0; won, 4; drawn, 2. Points scored .- For, 12 ; against, nil. Parliamentary Union. — Last night the Christchurch Literary Society's Parliamentary Union celebrated the close of their session with a social gathering in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. A number of the members and their friends, among them several ladies, were present. Refreshments were served in one of the lower rooms, and a number of songs, readings, and recitations were given in the large hall, where various other amusements were also provided. EY.RETON AND OIIOKA JOCKEY CLUB. — A meeting o£ the Stewards of this Club was held at the Ohoka Hotel on Tuesday night, Mr George Bailey, President, in the chair. The Ground Committee reported that the course was in splendid order, and recommended that tbe saddling paddock be enlarged,* and the horse yards repaired. It was resolved that the report bo adopted, and the works recommended by the Committee done. It was also decided that nominations close on Tuesday, Nov. 2, with the Secretary, Mr H. Ward, Ohoka. Sudden Death. — Yesterday af fcemcon a child, three years of age, named Mary Emily Suckling, daughter of Mr Walter Suckling, of Cashel street, Linwood, died suddenly. She was seemingly in good health in tho morning, and ate her dinner about one in the afternoon. About lialf-an-hour after dinner alie became very iD, and Mra Suckling started from home to take her to Dr Guthrie, carrying her in her arms. Before reaching >£jie doctor's house the child died. Dr Gfthrie afterwards examined her throat to see if she had been unable to swallow, but he could not find anything to account for her death. Diocesan Choral Association.— -The annual festival of the above Association is announced to take place in the Cathedral on Nov. 21. next. The first rehearsal for the city and suburban choirs will bs held this evening in St John's schoolroom. The arrangements for the concert are progressing very satisfactorily, and the assistance of some cf our best professional and amateur musicians has been secured. The annual luncheon this year will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, and will be supplied by a number of ladies interested in the Association free of .expense to .the Committee.

Oraxgeism. — The brethern of the Southbridge True. Blues, No. IG, L.0.L., held their ordinary monthly meeting on Friday evening last, in the lodge-room, Southbridge. There was a full attendance of brethren. After the Lodge had been opened in due form by the W.M., Bco W. Huston, and the usual, routine business had been transacted., the following officers were installed by P.M. Bro B. Webster j— W.M., Bro S. B. WickliJf; D.M., Bro I). J. M'Cormack ; Chaplain, Bro R. C. Burns ; Secretary, Bro C Tillyshort ; Treasurer, P.M. Bro W. Huston; 1.G., Bro R. Armstrong. The usual votes of thanks to the retiring officers were moved, passed, and duly responded to. Subsequently those present sat down to a repast provided by the members of the Lodge, when sundry loyal and craft toasts were honoured. Coal Merchants. — We are pleased to see that our merchants have yet a certain amount of "go " left in them, as it will be noticed in our shipping notices, that the grand addition to the Union Company's fleet, the new steamer Pukaki, 1500 tone, has been chartered by Messsrs G. M'Clatchie and Co., coal importers of this city. She will make her debut and maiden trip from from Newcastle to Lyttelton direct, and will probably run for this firm till tho return of their usual trader, the Tokapo, which vessel has generally discharged her 2000 tons o£ cargo in two days, j As formerly notified in these columns, the Pukaki haa been fitted with the latest ! improvements and machinery necessary for quick despatch, so that we may look for some quick time being made by her \ energetic importers and the Company's Btevedore, Mr Siinson, who has invariably given general satisfaction to all concerned in tho discharge of cargoes. The Pukaki is due to arrive at Lyttolton on Nov. 10. Cod-liver Oil kob Cattle.— Cod-liver oil is being employed successfully in Eng-' land as an addition to the dietary of cattle, sheep, and horses. It is found of great benefit to lambs and calves in their early days, especially when inclement weather prevails, by supplying the necessary heat to the body. It also possesses great fattening properties, and upon mature animals the administration of two ounces a day has had satisfactory results, and with ensilage food which may not be o£ the best quality, it has been used to great advantage. Horses in poor condition and those which habitually carry little flesh improve very fast when treated with the oil. There is no diaiculty in petting animals to take it. The oil is a special manufacture, absolutely pure, made from fresh livers by Messrs J. Jcnstjii and Co,, at Brettesnoes, in the centre of the Norwegian cod fisheries, who have so perfected the manufacture that it is placed upon the English market at a selling price of less than £5 per barrel of 2«01b. This firm's cod-liver oil is well known as a human medicine, but U3ing it for cattle is something new. Kaiai'oi Caledonian Society. — On Tuesday evening the members of this Society gave a dinner in their Club-room, at the Mandeville Hotel, to Mr Charles Millar, their late Secretary, prior to his leaving for Wellington. The chair was occupied by the President, Mr William Fraser, and the vice-chair by Mr E. Feldwick. After justice had been done to the very capital spread provided in honour of the occasion, a very full list of the usual loyal and complimentary toasts was gone through, and many good songs were sung. In proposing the toast of the evening, the President, on behalf of the Society, presented Mr Millar with a very handsome silver 3top watch, suitably engraved, remarking that much of the success of the Society was due to the indefatigable exertions of that gentleman during his term of office as Secretary. He carried away with him the esteem of overyone who knew him, and he hoped that ho would continue to prosper iv the Province he was going to. Mr Millar, in thanking the Society for their kind present, said that he should always remember the kindness and good feeling of the Kaiapoi people. What he had done for the tiodety had been to a great extent a labour of love, and he was much gratified at the result. He hoped the Society would continue to prosper. Their valuable present would constantly remind him of J the many pleasant evenings spent with j them. After some more harmony and toasts had been indulged in the company j broke up, a very enjoyable evening havingbeen spent. A Retired Judge.—- Mr Justice Grove has resigned the office of Judge of the High j Court of Justice. Though in the 76th j year of his age, he is still hale and hearty. ' Twenty-one years ago he was President of the British Association p-t Nottingham, and nearly 20 years before that he published his remarkable book, "On the Correlations of the Physical Sciences." He has won a great name, and well-earned repose. Sir William carries with him into his well-earned retirement the universal good wishes of the legal profession. The bench loses one of its very few members who are distinguished men apart from being good Judges. His scientific work already occupies a place in comparatively ancient history ; but when his professional J career is ancient history too, men of science j will continue to remember the author o? "The Correlation of Forces " as a pioneer in I tho pursuit- of knowledge in his time. On \ the bench Sir William displayed in a re- J markablo degree the first inerio of a Judge — hu unimpeachably fair and open mind ; and this is a quality which is natural to hardly any one, and can only be perfected by prolonged and patient assiduity. This, and his great courtesy and thorough dignity of manner, won for him a high degree of personal liking among those who practised before him. The choice of his successor will be generally approved. It is impossible to tell beforehand, within wide limits, what sort of Judge any one not a Judge'wiil make ; but the public voice haa co long and co clearly anticipated Lord HalsbUry in indicating Mr Arthur Charles as the next Judge that there has never been more reason for expecting that an appointment would prove thoroughly successful. "German Rubbish" and "German Rascals."— German imitations of English and Amoricau cutlery and other goods are eaid to be flooding the markets of the United States. The United States Consul at San Salvador reports that " the products of American oil, skill, and industry are supplaated in Salvador, and I suppose everywhere in Central America, by base imitations," or by worthless German goods with the brands and trade marks of the best American makers. A speci.il Treasury agent has aaid, "" I have observed the same tiling in our own cutlery importations. The hardware and cutlery stores of this country have been loaded with German gooda branded and sold as English or American makes. The cutlery houses here have long objected to the use of American brands on German goods, and brought it to the attention of Congress. The placing of American brands !on German rubbish does our American manufactures an injury. This fraud is peculiar to Germany, being almost «n---known.elsewhere, and the rubbish is also peculiar to that country. By under-valua-tions, smuggling, and the fraudulent use of American names, trade-marks, labels, and brands, German rascals arc ruining an important industry in which millions of money are invested, and on which thousands of working men and their families I depend for their daily subsistence.; and are coining thousands of dollars, while the domestic manufacturer is forced by such scandalous competition to cut down wages, and is unable to make a living profit on his own. account." Pastor CHiNKitiY Alive. — Pastor Chiniquy, writing to Mr J. B. Crews, of Melbourne, a letter published in the Southern Cross, dated July SO of this year, says : — " The priests have published for the twelfth fcimo the old lie that I am dead, and have made my peace with Rome." The pastor goes on to say that, though in his 78fch year, he enjoys better health than ever. He feels none of the common miseries of old age. His eye 3 are as good as when he was 20 years of age, his hand does not tremble, and he can preach three times on Sunday without feeling fatigued. He adds that so far from having any desire to go back to Rome, he has, during the lust six months, persuaded more than 100 Romanists to become Protontant3, and that he is now engaged in trying to raise £2000 to enlarge one of his schools, which is built for the purpose of giving a Biblical education 'to poor Roman Catholic children.

Gladstone Bricks.— -We have for some time had opportunitieß of buying Gladstone claret and Gladstone bags. We may now, it; appears, also purchase Gladstone bricks—- not merely bricks bearing the name of our national misfortune, but bricks that are actually manufactured by Mr Gladstone's agents upon Mr Gladstone's estate at Hawarden. One hundred and ■ fifty-five thousand of these bricks, which are said to be "of excellent quality," have jnsb been shipped to Boston, Massachusetts, where they will be used in the construction of a new courthouse. They cost the Bostonians .£9 93 7d a thousand ; but even at that price they ought surely to have all been purchased by dear old Scotland and plucky little Wales. There muet be numbers of people in those countries who would willingly pay far more dearly for bricks of the " Premier Brand," as it is somewhat irrelevantly called. Is the National Liberal Club built of these bricks, we wonder ? If not, it should be at once pulled down and rebuilt of them. In tbe meantime, perhaps, Socialists and others who habitually parade the streets with brickbats in their pockets may be glad to know that W. E. Gladstone and fa'on, of Hawarden, supply capital material for Trafalgar square demonstrations. — St James' Gaueiie. France and Germany. — A very remarkable article appears in the September " Blackwood," dealing with the comparative military strength of Prance and Germany, and their respective chances in the war which most people think inevitable. The writer, whose anonymity must be respected, but who (says the World) is known to bo an artillery officer of repute, demolishes Sir Charles Dilke's theory that Germany cannot attack France's " frontier of lire," and can only invade by violating the neutrality of Belgium. The French fortresses are only a new Chinese Wall, the whole value of which is lost when'pierced at one point. Germany, unlike France, has : devoted all her energies to the perfection of the mobilisation system, and could be go much the sooner in the field, in overwhelming numbers, that she could break through where she pleased, of course at enormous sacrifice, but success would be worth it. As to the two armies, the writer believes that of Germany maintains its superiority —in arms, seeing that it is already armed with magazine rifles ; in discipline, which is admittedly bad with the French, especially as regards the rotations between officers and men ; and, last of all, in the prestige that still hangs round the victors in the last campaign. Hydrophobia. — Another death from I hydrophobia has occurred under shocking circumstances in Odessa. The deceased patient, writes a correspondent, was in a I bed of the ward specially set apart for theso | cases, and under the charge of a 3ister of I the Red Cross. He had displayed none of the usual premonitory spasmodic cymp- | toms. Suddenly, as the- sister passed j down the ward, he sprang out of bed, and endeavoured to seize her. She fled down- | stairs into the hospital yard, calling for assistance, and was followed by the patient, who succeeded in seising her by the arm | and biting her in the hand. Four male \ attendants came to her assistance, and | attempted to hold the unfortunate man on the ground and bind him, but his strength was so great that he threw them off, snapping at them as ho did so, and escaped into the street. He was finally captured there by throwing a lasso round his neck, dragged back to the hospital, and securely bound. The unfortunate man died soon afterwards, raving in a horrible manner. This incident has cauaed 30 lnueh excitement and apprehension that the local press urge that those patients not lodged in the overcrowded Bacteriological Hospital, and who traverse the streets twice a day for the inoculations should have a police escort. Tiie sister of the Red Cross is now under the usual treatment, as if bitten by a rabid dog. The Chinese International Bank Schjsme.*— Count Mitkiewioz, who is now in Washington, claiming to have from the Chinese Government important franchises, including a concession for ah International Bank in [China, is (says the Daily News correspondent at New York) believed to be a professional swindler, who, under the same name, has been caught in several impostures. A sketch of hia career was published several years ago in a book entitled " The New York Tombs Prison ; its Secrets and its Mysteries." In this an. account is given of Count Mitkiewicz, who claimed to belong to the Russian nobility. He came to New York in 1863, wa3 greatly courted by society, and was finally arrested for stealing diamonds from a young lady's ring, which he borrowed, returning it with, paste diamonds in place of the real ones. He was released from prison on agreeing to enlist for the war, and reappeared again, ten years later, at Amherst, Mass., under the same name. He made court to, and finally succeeded in marrying, against her parents' wishes, the daughter of a prominent citizen, who was disinherited by her father. The couple went to California and then to Europe, where they suffered greatly from poverty, the Count becoming a professional gambler, and brutally treated his wife, who, four years ago, returned home and died, leaving seven children. The revelation of this record is likely to put an end to the various reports, so long circulated, about establishing a China International Bank with American capital. The Halyard Winch. — Captain James Shaw, a master well-known in the port of Melbourne, has invented and patented a halyard winch, which is designed to hoist or lower topsails and other sails on board ship with ease and rapidity. The advantage claimed for it over the ordinary system of block and tackle and hand pulling are a saving of time and labour, and of the depreciation of ropes and blocks. The progress of the vessel under trying circumstances may also be considerably accelerated, and the crew will not be so liable to fatigue, or so easily knocked up, for the reason that the topsail of a 2000 ton ship can bo lowered by the winch iv half a minute, or hoisted aud set up by four hands in five minutes. Even if the men were forced from the handles of the winch in rough weather, the yard would not come down by the run, there being an automatic brake to the winch which would at once hold on. By this new winch throe topsails can be hoisted in one-forth of the time it would take the watch on deck to hoist one by the old method. It also obviates the washing about of the halyards in very bad weather, and fankling them up with the other running rigging, whereby the lowering of the topsail promptly is rendered an impossibility. As the new winch is placed amidships it can always be got at, even though . the vessel was on her beam ends, whereas under these circumstances the halyards as tisu&lly fitted are under water. The winch has attracted some attention in the mercantile marine at Home, and has been patented.— Australian Skipping News. The disused burial-ground of St Dunstan, East London, has been opened as a public garden. The church dates back nine centuries, and what is now the public garden was formerly one vast plague pit.