Tuapeka Times.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1868, 3 February 1892, Page 2

Tuapeka Times.

AND QOIDFIELDB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1892. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The death rate in the city of Paris from { influeuza only is 250 per day. There was no sitting of the R.M. Court, Lawrence, on Monday. The San Francisco mail steamer, Monowai, arrived at Auckland on Monday afternoon. The Roxburgh School Committee have nominated Messrs Jago and Clark to fill the vacant seats on the Education Board. The petition lodged against the return of Mr Sanford as member of the House of Representatives for the electoral district of the City ; of Christchurch will be heard tomorrow. During the quarter ending 31st December, 1891, the number of births, marriages, and deaths reiatered in the Gabriels district was as follows : — Births, 32 ; marriages, 5 ; deaths, 13. The Victorian Government have promised to grant £15,000 towards the representation of that colony at Chicago if exhibitors will raise £5000. They think that there should be only one Australasian court, each colony, however, controlling its own exhibits. We learn from the "Star" that the perpetrators of the outrage in one of the leading hotels in Dunedin on New Years' eve, to which we made reference iv a recent issue, have made recompense for their misconduct, and thus saved the necessity of recourse to law being taken. Under the regulations of the new Mining Act parties making application for residence areas are required to furnish the Court with a sketch plan showing the exact locality and precise distance from the nearest road, track, or thoroughfare, and also the actual frontage and depth of the site. Mr Weiiwood, a very well-known stock auctioneer und agent at Hastings, Hawkes Bay, has been declared a bankrupt. In 1884 he was worth from £10,000 to £14,000. Although not a flock-owner, ho guaranteed to ship 3000 sheep per annum through Nelson Brothers, and lost on some shipments as mnch as 8s per head ; hence his difficulties. Mr Kerr, who has been stationmaster at Waipahi, has been promoted to the charge of the Lawrence station, vice Mr W. Rolfe, who has been transferred to Dunedin. Mr Carlisle, of Invercargill, whose name has been mentioned as Mrßolfe's successor, has retired from the service, his place, as we have said, being taken by Mr Kerr, who takes charge this week. IT is alleged that a Picturesque Atlas canvasser, somewhere in the southern wilds, importuned a farmer to such an extent that the latter put the *' fiend " through a threshing machine. The machine was in motion at the time. When the canvasser came through the small end, the piece of him that had the voice in it said softly, " Now, to get to business, Mr M , will you take it in parts or complete?" The preliminary report of the Government statistician on the wheat harvest of New South Wales is to the effect that it is generally speaking disappointing. The yield is estimated at 3,900,000 bushels giving an average of 1212 bushels per acre. The crops almost everywhere are reported to be patchy, but the quality generally is good. Prices range from 3s 9d to 4s 7d, but the average obtained by the farmers is 4s 2d delivered. It is estimated that the Colony will have to import 3,750,000 to 4,000,000 bushels. The negotiations between the Alexandra Hydraulic Goldmining Co. and the liquidators of the Commissioners Flat Co., to which we made reference in a recent issue, have, we are informed, been brought to a successful termination. The plant has been purchased by the first-named company for £1200, and men are now employed making preparations for its removal as soon as possible to work the Company's claim on the Molyneux. This, for the present, at least, is the last of the ill-starred Commissioners Flat claim, which, at one time, excited such confidence, and with which lies buried so many unrealised hopes — and cash. Mr A. Campbell, who was recommended by the committee out of eight applicants for the appointment of headmaster of the Waitahuna Gully school, has been also selected for the position of third assistant of the Oamaru Middle District School. As he has accepted the latter appointment, the committee of the former school met and selected Mr A. M. Barrett, who has been in charge of the Wairuna school for some time. Mr Barrett is the holder of a D 2 certificate, and having had considerable teaching experience and marked success in his profession, possessing first-class testimonials, he is certain to prove a worthy successor to Mr M'Farlane, who has entered upon his duties as first assistant in the Northeast Valley school. The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, one of the most striking religious personalities of the age, died on the Continent, where be had gone to recruit his health, on Sunday night, in the presence of his wife and a few friends. The English Press refer to his death in most eulogistic terms, and declare that the death of such a great and fearless minister is a national loss. Mr Spurgeon was born in Essex in 1834, and first commenced life as usher in a school at Newmarket. Subsequently he joined the Baptist congregation at Cambridge, and his fame as a preacher soon reaching London, he was offered and accepted a church in that city. His success since then aa a preacher has become worldwide, and his published sermons bave commanded an immense sale. Mr Spurgeon's body will be brought to England for interment. The cause of death was congestion of the kidneys and gout. Last Snnday the people of Waitahuna were treated to cwo really excellent sermons by Mr Knott, the well-known temperance lecturer. At the afternoon service, he took for his subject " Sowing and reaping, " and preached to a i very large and attentive audience. The subject chosen for the evening discourse was "Is '. life worth living?" and it was delivered with an eloquence and force that deeply impressed i those present and will no doubt bave a salu- : tary effect. Mr Knott also held service at i Manuka Creek on Sabbath morning, and on j Monday night lectured to a crowded house i there. So powerful and convincing were his ■ arguments that forty-four persons signed the '. pledge, and it was deoided to start a regular < temperance society. On Monday evening the i people of Waitahuna had the pleasure of j listening to his well-known lecture "The 1 drink-seller's Bible"; and, judging by the : manner of its reception, Mr Knott had an ap- ! preciative and enthusiastic audience. '

It is beliovoil that the Victorian railway I revenue will fall £300,000 below the expenditure. Further reductions will be made in the staff, and it is possible that the rates will have to be increased. Mr H. M. Stanley, the famous African explorer, arrived in Dunedin on Monday afternoon, and lectured the same evening in the Garrison Hall to a large and representative audience. BELFAST is the largest, busiest, and most un-Hibfirnian city in Ireland. It contains more Englishmen than Durham, more Scotch than Perth, more Welsh than Carnarvon, and more Irish tiian the Scotland division of Liverpool. A supplement ahy " Gazette " notifies that 12 words can now ba sent in telegrams insteid of 10. The n^nal rate allowance for address and signature is, however, reduced to sir words instead of 10. The change applies both to ordinary and delayed telegrams. Owing to the up-country mail not being delivered in Lawrence till a late hour last evening, our Coal Greek correspondent's letter, as well as a report of the cricket match, Island Block v.' Miller's Flat, played at the latter place on Saturday, is held over till next issue. Mr H. A. Stewart, who was at one time in charge of the Lower Harbour school, has been recommended by the school committee for the position of headmaster of the Bald Hill Flat school. There were nine applicants for the position. Mr Stewart holds an E2 certificate. The Midsummer Handicap at the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting on Saturday was pulled off by Crucbfield, Merrie England being second and Prime Warden third. The other starters were Morpheus, Palliser, The Dreamer, Bay King, Ilium, Coinage, Tassy, and Tom Field. Mr H. S. Valentine,M.H.R., has recently had a long interview with the Railway Commissioners in connection with the special rate charged for the carriage of grain on the Waimea line. After the whole question had been gone into fully, it was decided by the Commissioners that the time had arrived when the special rate could be abolished. This decision will be given practical effect to after the end of February, in time for the grain season ; and as it will substantially benefit a large number of settlers who use the Waimea line for the transport of their produce, Mr Valentine's successful efforts on their behalf are deservedly appreciated. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, a fire broke out on board the ship Everest, 1,680 tons, which was bound from Liverpool to Sydney with a cargo of shale, and had put into Lyttelton harbour for repairs. The fire brigade turned out promptly, and fought the fire stubbornly until morning but without success. At 4.30 the flames broke through the after hatches, the sides and the rudder post, . and all hope of saving the vessel was given up. As a last resource, holes were bored in the bottom of the vessel and the water let into the dock, the brigade meanwhile pouring tons of water into the ship, and by 5.20 the fire was got under and all further danger averted. The captfjn and his wife lost all their personal effects, wnile the ship was seriously damaged. WE^Bty mention as a grain of comfort to those have made up their minds that capitaMS to be banished from the colony that one of the large financial institutionsof Oamaru has received instructions to forward to London the sum of £7,500, which has been out on mortgage in this district. The mortgage fell due the other day, and had to be paid up, the mortgagee no doubt having to pay a higher rate of interest for the fresh mortgage. The same company has also received instructions not to invest another £5,000 which was sent to them, but to hold it in hand till it is definitely ascertained whether the taxation proposals of the Government are to be enforced. The misguided owners of these sums give as their reasons for their determination the policy of the present Government. — "North Otago Times." The " Dnnstan Times " warns the settlers that the commonages in that district are in danger of being out up into small grazing runs, and predicts that the same will happen to the other reserves throughout the country. The Minister of Lands when in Clyde stated that the commonages were costing the Government £8000 a year, and of that they were bound to be relieved. Our contemporary asks whether tbo commonages could not be better worked by a board of wardens than by the County Council, as that bodyhas no sympathy with the people on the question, and has, besides, quite enough to claim its attention without bothering its head as to whether owners of horses and cattle pay for the grass, or holders of areas f#r their holdings, or whether sheepowners pay the penalties for their trespasses. A board of wardens could not alone raise enough revenue to cover the cost of rabbiting, but would be able to reduce the fee at present charged, instead of having it increased as ie will be if the control is to rest with the County authorities. Our contemporary further deplored the indifference exhibited by the settlers on the subject, and, as we have recommended in the case of the Tuapeka reserves, adv:ses that a public meeting should be held to discuss the question. At a special sitting on Monday of the Warden's Court, Lawrence, presided over by Mr J. N. Wood. Warden, the Amalgamated Waipori Deep # Lead Goldraining Co. made application to exchange their special claims, Nos. 8a and 9a, block xiv., Tuapeka East, and block X., Waipori, under section 10 of the ' Mining Act, 1891. — The Warden accepted the surrender and ordered a fresh title to be issued in conformity with section 10 of the Mining Act.— [The following are the terms of the. Act in question :—": — " The holder o£ any claim, special claim, licensed holding, lease, license, water-race, dam, reservoir, machine, business or residence site, or grant, certificate, permit, ' or order, held, occupied, or enjoyed under any Act of the General Assembly in force previous to the commencement of this Act, or any regulation issued thereunder, in any district in which this Act is in operation may • surrender and yield up the same ; and in such case such .owner shall be entitled to obtain a title to the land comprised in such claim, licensed holding, lease, or license, ortowucb. water-race, dam or reservoir, or such machine, ' business or residence site under this Act, which title shall have the same force and effect as though it had been originally granted under this Act."] THERE is no scarcity of candidates for the vacant seats on the Education Board, and if capable representatives are not selected it will certainly not be owing to either a dearth of candidates or of material of the right kind, as among those soliciting the confidence of the committees are gentlemen of special qualifications for the position. Among those in the field are Messrs G. Reid, J. J. Ramsay, J. W. Jago, Isaac Green, A. M'Kerrow, and R. Neill, and as far as it is possible to judge so far, the candidature of all of these gentlemen is meeting with very strong support among the country school committees. The chief difficulty will be to select the most suitable candidates from among those who have offeredthemselves for election,, and this can. only be done by learning as far as it is possible to do so the capacity and characteristics of each candidate, solely with a view to the efficient discharge of the duties connected ,-with the office ; and if committees allow themselves to be guided by this influence alone, as we have no donbfc they will in most cases, they will be sure to make creditable appointments. There are altogether three vacancies to fill ; and of the retiring members of the Board, Mr Clark is the only one who seeks re-election. As regards Mr Clark, it is hardly necessary to say anything ; his connection with the Education Board has been a long one and creditable as it has been long-— a fact 'with which the ' committees both of town and country are pretty familiar, and his return may, therefore,bereg»rdedas morally certaiu In the return of two new members an opnor' tunity will be afforded the committees of infusing some new blood into the administrative life of the Board, and we believe it will be all the better for that. Indeed, it is doubtful if there is any other public body in Otago that stands more in need of an infusion of new vitality from outside than the Otago Education BAB A a u d> * We bave no doabt u ls the knowledge of this fact, and that the committees, in common with the people, are very much alive to the exact condition of things on the Board that has brought so many men of the right sort into the field. And having the right men before them, the rest remains with the com. mittees.

A MASTEBTON paper says that a man named Blackler wm recently admitted to the hospital there suffering with violent fits of vomiting and purging and swollen eyes. He complained of excruciating abdominal pains y and unquenchable thirst. The doctor treated him for arsenic poisoning and he recovered. Tho man had been living with a number of other men in a whare which was overrun with fleas, and efforts wern made to destroy the vermin by sprinkling the floor with sheep-dip. The floor was afterwards swept by Blackler, and it is thought that he must have inhaled arsenic. The whole of tho men who were in the room when the floor was swept were attacked more or less by fits of vomiting, and presented other symptoms of poisoning. Blackler was the only one who became seriously ill. The members of the Otag^o Acclimatisation Society joined in a unanimous protest at their last meeting attaint the imputation that they were responsible for the introduction of sparrows or of the other pests that vex the soul of the New Zealand farmer. The protest was called forth by a newspaper article charging the Society with being responsible for the introduction of sparrows, rabbits, stoats and weasels into the colony. The impeachment drew forth an indignant denial from each individual member of the Society, and though an attempt was made to father the sparrow pest on some one the effort was not quite successful, and the farmers are atill denied the satisfaction of knowing on whose head in times of trouble with the sparrows they might empty their wrath. From the discussion we infer that the honour may be divided between Sir Walter Bnller and ■" somebody from the North." The latter mysterious personage was said to have " come .down North " with a bag full of freshly-imported sparrows, and on the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society refusing to make a deal with him for his feathered treasures he opened the bag and shook them free to make the beat they oould of it in their new home. That they have made good use of their opportunities, adapted themselves to their circumstances, and, have come to stay, are facts long ago demonstrated. But Sir Walter Buller, it was also said, claimed to have introduced them ; and now that we remember, it is not so very long since that Sir Walter boasted at one of the learned societies with which aristocratic Wellington is pepper - castored that he it was who had introduced them, and claimed that, whatever opinions might prevail to the contrary, he was a benefactor to the New Zealand farmers. On this point it is hardly necessary, just on the eve of harvest, to offer any objection to Sir Walter Buller's philanthropic claims ; only if he were any* where around within earshot of the farmers during the next month or two he might find reason to waver in his faith in the sparrows. The Chinese Camp has been the scene of great festivities during the last day or two. Human nature, either under a black or a white skin, is, after all, very much the same all the world over. The Caucasian ushers in his New Year with rejoicing and gunpowder and, oftener than not, with whisky. The Mongolian runs very much on the same lines. He has also his New Year and he burns gunpowder and drinks *' three star " brandy, and, in the more subdued and less demonstrative fashion of the Eastern, goes in for a little conviviality with the usual abstention from labour, just very much, indeed, as his white brother does. John Chinaman's New Year began sometime about the small hours on Sunday night, and since then there has been an incessant feeding and fraternising and much toasting to the glory of Confucius, the prosperity of the Flowery Land, and the happiness of Celestials generally. Not since the same auspicious period a twelvemonth ago was there seen such a gathering of the clans — for there are no people among whom provincial prejudices are as rigidly observed or as religiously accentuated as among the Chinese — such a collection of tanned and pig-tailed veterans as are just now gathered together enjoying in real festive fashion the protracted pleasure of seeing the old year out and the new year in. But John in this, as in most other matters, is systematic ; and though he may steep his pagan soul in " welly good blandy," as he affectionately designates it, he does not neglect the more substantial delicacies, and propitiates his Confucian deity by the sacrifice of innumerable ducks and chickens, in the disposal of which, it must be said, he errs if anything on the side of hospitality. At the present moment the white fellow who is not too fastidious in his tastes or too particular or discriminating in the selection of his society might have a high old time of it at John's expense as long as the festive material holds out. We merely throw out the hint if there are any convivial blades of the right temper about, as in these little social entertainments a diversity of colour lends variety and not unfrequently animation to the scene. The new system of testing the sight just introduced into this colony by Mr N. Lazarus (of the firm of Messrs N. Lazarus and Co) is likely to create something like a revolution in the opthalmic science. Mr Lazarus, it may be remarked by way of introduction, holds a conspicuously distinguished position in his profession in London, Calcutta, and Melbourne ; and from each of these great centres of life he brings literally sheafs of testimonials couched in the highest language of commendation and eulogy. A striking feature about these testimonials of the superiority of Mr Lazarus's system is that they are all given,not by obscure or unknown people, whose testimony it is impossible to confirm or refute, but hy men who have themselves attained the highest eminence as specialists in the study and treatment of affections of the eye. Mr Lazarus's great success has been achieved by his ability to diagnose with an accuracy never beiore attained in the treatment of the weaknesses and defects of the eyes, and he is thus in a position to select or manufacture glasses which not only arrest the progress of decay in those organs, but furnish the best as well as the most comfortable aids for the weak or impaired vision. The tests which Mr Lazarus applies in order to familiarise himself with all the peculiarities or weaknesses of the sight he is called upon to assist are various and interesting, and are all regulated by a scientific system infallible in its effects, and serviceable beyond conception to those who are fortunate enough to be able to avail"themselves of it in providing themselves with spectacles. In these tests, which are carried out on the most simple principle, the' patient is able to tell precisely himself when the proper degree of correction has been hit upon. And in this respect it may not be out of place to remind people of the permament injury often inflicted on their sight by the haphazard, clumsy, or unskilful methods generally in vogue in the selection of spectacles. For instance, it is well within the mark to say that fully 80 per cent of people with defective sight see better with one eye than with the other. Yet how seldom does it happen that this important peculiarity is taken into consideration iv selecting glasses to aid weak or failing vision. But in the test used by Mr Lazurus each eye is treated separately, and when, as just stated.there is a difference in the strength or iv the degree of divergence in both eyes the lenses are easily adjusted to meet the peculiarity or want of harmony or unequal power of the eyes. And so accurately may this be done by the system of tests applied that any differences that may exist are provided for with the most minute exactitude and all defects and peculiarities are at once removed by the instrumentality of the glasses supplied, As already remarked, Mr Lazarus's great success is entirely owing to the man Der with which his test system enables him to bring all the weaknesses and eccentricities of the organs of vision under his control ; and so simple is the contrivance that his agents are able to do all that the inventor himself can accomplish for those requiring glasses. Mr W. B. Martin is the firm's Lawrence agent.