CURRENT TOPICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4907, 24 March 1894, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS.

The London correspondent of the Argus writes that, according to a statement by Mr Weddell, the well-known frozen meat trader, Messr* Wells and Co., of the Frozen Storflß, Port Said, have made a discovery which, it ie anticipated, will much augment the value of frozen beef and mutton. It appears that by the use of electricity and a series of fans a new method of thawing frozen meat. is about to be carried out. The method has already been patented, and one of the best experts in Smithfield market has cut up some of the beef treated by the new process, and be declares it is equal in value to chilled beef. A moderats quantity of both beef and mutton, thawei by the new method, wiil be placed on Smithfield market for the inspection of the butchers. The meat is said to cook well, and some persons believe it will raiee the price fully a penny per pound.

A return which has been prepared in the . Victorian Customs Department allows that, with tbe exception of New Zealand, there has been a general falling-off ia the Customs and exciso duties collected in the Australasian Colonies during laet year. In Now Zealand the revenue increased from £1,716,081 in 1892 to £1,730,288 in 1893, an increase of -814,157, or 0"82 per cent. In New South Wales there was a decrease, comparing the two years, from £2,967,417 j to .£2,393,196— a difference of £574,221, or 19*35 per cent. In Victoria the decrease was from £2,499;426 to £2.069,280— a difference of £430,146, or 1720 per cent. The decreases in the other colonies were as follow :— Queensland -66265, or 0-53 per cent; South Australia £68,190, or 10-51 par ceut ; Tasmania £33,124, or 9*74 per cent ; and Western Australia £30,002, or 10-84 per cent. J

A curious case of perjury has been exposed in Paris by a pharmaceutical chemist named M'Auliffe, of the Boulevard de l'Hdpital. Laßt July he had a wrangle with soma female neighbours, and was some days after summoned for assault, battery and the infliction of wounds. There waß au array of witnesses against him, aud he was sentenced to -81 fine. The nest month he received another summons for breaking the ribs of an old woman. The Judge refused to hear his defence, and sentenced him to a fine of £4, and £4 damages. This sentence was confirmed on appeal. Mr M'Auliffe then called on the Procurator of the Republic and afforded convincing proof that he was Btaying in the country when, acoording to the old woman's account, he had broken her ribs. There was also the curious coincidence tbat the band of witnesses for her were tho same who had. sworn to all the charges made againat him in the first case— charges of which he was innocent. An inquiry was ordered. It ended to Mr M'Auli-fe's credit, and it is now the turn of the false witnesses to be prosecuted.

There is one prominent Frenchman at least who does not eh<_re in' the general enthusiasm for the doings of the French commanders in Africa. M. Alphorise Humbert even dares to ask what good will come of the occupation of Timbuctoo by Colonel Bonnier. " Some Bay white and some say black," M. Humbert declares, " but no one can give an intelligible reason for capturing the place. A Colonel found a town on his line of march asd walked ia and occupied it, that is all. Iv the Soudan our Colonels walk about, they go and come, they make zigzags in all directions, they fight battles, they sign treaties, and the Government does not interfere. Sometimes, indeed, the Foreign Minister offers some criticisms, but the Colonels take no notice of them. As for the Chamber, it may vote aB many orders of the day a., it . pleases, hat it will not prevent the Colonels from going anywhere their fancy dictates. That ia our great Soudanese policy, pursued now for mora than twenty