LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4256, 10 July 1895, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

The manufacture of paper is to.be begun at Shannon, Wellington.

During June the Wellington Benevolent Institution issued 15,000 rations.

The date stamp on letters will in future give the hour when the mail was despatched.

The Government Printer has forwarded us a volume containing the statistics of tbe colony for 1894, as well as a batoh of Bills and other Parliamentary papers.

A TWELVE furrow plough is prouounced to be a success in Viotoria. It is worked by eight horses, and it is alleged that 17£ acres are being turned over in a day.

MB K.IDD, surgioal and mecbanital dentist, pays his next professional visit to Lawrence on Wednesday, 24th instant, staying until the following (Thursday) afternoon.

Mb Barnshaw thinks that unless Otago members want to see Dunedin go down to the rank of a third-class city they must stand up for better work on the Central line.

FIFTY thousand selected rabbits have been shipped from Melbourne by the Nineveh for London. They are expected to realise 8d each. A similar shipment will be forwarded at the end of the month.

THE expenditure on strong drink in New Zealand for *94 was £2 17s 2d per inhabitant. Ten years previously it was £4 5s per inhabitant, and 15 years back (in 79) it is alleged to have been as high as £6 10s.

The Mt. Ida Miners' Association have passed a resolution asking that a copy of all applications for claims, etc., on tbe goldfields should be sent to the local mining association, and that the confederacy urge the Government to amend the Mines Act in tbat direction.

A LARGE slip took place near Deep Stream, blocking the Otago Central line, on Saturday, preventing the morning train to Hyde from going through. The passengers walked across tbe slip and were taken on by ballast train. About one hundred tons of stuff fell onjfre line. The line is now open. • -~

Ths return ot the New Zealand railway receipts and expenditure for the four weeks ending 25th May shows the former to have been £90,355 18s 6d, and the latter £56,407 7s 2d. In the corresponding period of last year the figures were £93,882 10s lid and £59,241 18s lOd respectively.

An invention of considerable value to settlers in rabbit infested districts has just been registered at Wellington. It consists of a spade with lever and piston attachment, which by the simple action of turning over tbe sod liberates the poison, which, saturating the roots of tbe grass, is speedily eaten by rabbits.

Good marksmanship is not always an unmixed blessing, as a Christohuroh man fpund to his cost. A neighbor's dog trampled on his ferns, and he picked up a hammer "to give it a choice hit," as he said in Court. The aim was straight and true, and the result was that tbe canine dropped to trample no more. The owner brought an action for damages, and recovered the sum of £10.

A COUNTRY correspondent points to the faot as an argument why money shonld be cheap at the present time that the national debt of Great Britain has been reduced close upon one hundred millions in tbe last ten years, and £7,809,000 last year. This must have thrown a lot of money on the market which cannot find investment, and accounts for the ease with which Mr Ward obtained his 3 per cent. loan.

THE Hon. J. G. Ward was welcomed by a large crowd on his arrival in Auckland on Saturday. The mayor of the city and representatives of labor and kindred organisations welcomed him back. He was also the recipient of a congratulatory address. He made a lengthy speech in reply, eulogising the work be bad accomplished in London, and declared that New Zealand was now ia the front rank of the countries of the world. He cannot surely have yet beard of the destitution in the large centres of population and of the means adopted for its relief.

A number of remedies and preventives for insect aiid fungoid pests are published in the latest leaflet issued by the Department of Agriculture. Here is one as a sample : " Insects are unable to endure a temperature of 130 to 135 Fabr. It is aure death. Most plants will stand a temperature of 150 Fabr. Even the coleus is not injured at the above temperature. There is generally a range of twenty degrees between the killing power npon insects and plants. Water at 190 Fahr. kills the cabbage caterpillar and does not injure the cabbage. Always use a thermometer." • S

An English magazine writer says: "A third of our imported bptter comes from Denmark, where there is do agricultural depression. We drove the Danes out of this island, and yet we cannot resist this butter invasion by making oar own in a scientific manner. Our sceptre is a mockery, and Britannia talks about ruling the waves, when she capnot rule the churn." All this is too true— truer of New Zealand, so fir as buttermaking is concerned, than it is of Old England. We talk of finding good fresh markets for butter: we woul.d better apend our energies apd intelligence in providing good frosb butter lot tbe witting markets,

There has been an- increase of 24 per cent, in the number of dairy cows iv the colony during the past year ; and an increase of 22 per cent, in cattle, and 18 per cent, in milking oows.

The retirement of the New South Wales executioneer having been rumoured, thore were over 100 applications for the post. Among them was one from a Chinaman, who forwarded his naturalisation paper to show that he was " allee the same as other British gentlemen."

The Duke of Argyle, having been with some ladies in the Opera House in London, an English squire, puffing and blowing.entered the box in which they were seated, with his hunting boots on and whip in hand. The duke instantly rose up and, making a low bow, exclaimed : " Sir, lam very much obliged to you." "Oh, why — for what?" "For not bringing your horse here."

The total quantity of wool catalogued up' to date for the London sales is 71,000 bales, of whioh 68,600 have been sold. Prices continue firm. Merinos are generally 10 per cent, and crossbreds from 10 to 15 per cent, above the prices ruling at the May sales. "Papaiangi" brand broaght Is Oid. There is keen competition between the Home and American buyers, and prices are well maintained.

A PUBLIC meeting was held in Dnnedin on Monday evening to protest against the proposal to get rid of the Globo Assets properties by getting up a national gamble. Professor Salmond occupied the cbair, and addresses were given by olergymen and others denouncing in unconditional terms the proposal which is said to have tha sanction of the Government. Resolutions were passed condemnatory of the proposal, and letters were read from tbe city and suburban members announcing their determination to oppose the measure in Parliament.

It having come under the notice of the

Minister of Labor that the hands employed by farmers and other employers of labor frequently sit at the same table and partake of the same food as their employers, the Minister has prepared not only a Fair Wage Bill but a Fair Food Bill. It ia alleged that the food the farmer has to be content with nowadays is not, according to tha Minister, up to the mark, and he intends to make it a penal offence for an employer to try and "stuff" his employ* with any ordinary sort of what is vulgarly known as "tucker."

There is a great difference in the way different nations read. For instance, if you want to read Hebrew, you have to commence at what we call the end of the book and read from right to left. In Chinese you commence at the same place, only you read in columns, commencing at the top and reading down. The Japs read the same way, only they start at the bottom and read up ; but it does not matter which way you read so long as you do not forget to read and ponder Tal boy's advertisement in this paper. It will pay you to visit him if you want cheap drapery, clothing, boots, etc. Do not forget. — (Adot.)

The late Father Healy, a notable Dublin priest, whose funeral took place recently, used to tell the following story :— " A woman went to the parson at Bray asking him to buy kittens. 'Sure, they're rale Protestant kittens, yer rivrence,'she said, aa a final reason. Tbe clergyman complained to Father Healy that the woman tormented him. A few days later she came to the priest, entreating him to purchase, and winding up, 'They're rale Roman Catholic kittens, Father ! ' ' How can that be,' he asked, 'did you not tell the olergyman that yours were Protestant kittens ?' 'Sure, 'twas some days ago, Father, afore their eyes was open,' answered the readywitted Irishwoman."

The report of the directors of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Christchurch states that the net profits of the year amounted to £8672, to which being added the sum brought forward from last year (£1897) makes the total to be dealt with £10,569. Tbe directors propose to allocate this as follows :— To pay the usual dividend of 7 per cent, and also a bonus of 3 per cent, on the called up capital ; to payment of a bonus of 3 per cent, to shareholders on their purchases of merchandise during the year, and a bonus at the same rate on salaries paid and wages earned, and also to refund 20 per cent, on all net commissions earned ; to write 10 per cent, off the machinery and office furniture accounts; to carry £1000 to the reserve fund, and the balance forward to next year's account.

Therb ia (says a Northern paper) a slight revival in the New Zealand hemp market, but the price obtainable is not yet sufficient to induce mill-owners to resume operations. A very little assistance, however, would enable them to do so, and thus find work for a large number of unemployed. Several well-known mill proprietors intend, it is said, to approach the Government on the subject. Their mills are at present shut down, but they would be willing to resume work if the Government would grant such an export bonus on hemp as would prevent their incurring actual loss in preparing and shipping it. A bonus or subsidy of this kind would, they argue, relieve tbe pressure on the labor market very considerably by furnishing work for a large number of persons, and would even as a method of affording charitable aid be perfectly justifiable.

It is understood that the Premier requested the Governor to make eight appointments to the Legislative Council. His Excellency promptly declined, but, without giving any pledge, intimated tbat if four names were submitted be would consider the question of making that number of appointments. The Premier could not bring himself to the point of selecting four out of the eight, and while he was hesitating His Excellency made it understood that he had determined not to make any new " calls " this year. As there are at least thirty good Liberals waiting anxiously to be dubbed Honorable, and in full expectation of an early gratification of their ambition, there will, of course, be great dis-

appointment ; but probably the Premier is at heart by no means sorry for being relieved of the responsibility o£ making a selection which would disappoint so many. A CONTENTION of delegates from the various branches of the Prohibition League in Bruce

was beld in the Presbyterian Church vestry, Milton, on Friday evening last, and subsequently a public meeting was held in the Presbyterian Hall to discuss the same question. Among the delegates present; were

Messrs W. Auld (Waitahuna), D. Boss, and A. M'Corkindale (Manuka Creek). Mr Auld, in the course of his remarks, said it was no use of individuals striving for Prohibition unless, in the first instance, they had the law at their back. They had, be said, got past the stage when a reduction was talked of, and had come to recognise that they could not regulate the evil. The only remedy was to wipe it out altogether. The Rev. Mr Thomas, formerly of Lawrence, also spoke strongly in advocacy of Prohibition. Regulation, be said, was a delusion. In the management of the drink traffic there was no such thing as regulation. Tbe experience of centuries had proved that. The speech of the evening was delivered by the Key. E. Taylor, of South Dunedin, who contended that the poverty of the country was caused by indulgence in alcoholic liquor.

The conflict between the two houses of Parliament ia New South Wales has very properly been submitted to the verdict of tbe country, and th 6 elections will take place on the 26th instant. The closing scene in the House as the Premier announced his intention to dissolve was strong but characteristic of New South Wales politics and politicians. As Sir Geo. Dibbs rushed from the House to avoid voting on an urgent measure, he was followed by cries of "cocktail" and "turncoat." While the Premier was addressing the House a number of members of tbe Legislative Council crowded the galleries and kept up a running fire of loud, adverse comments. The House got very excited and demanded the removal of the interrupters. Finally, the Speaker ordered the galleries to be cleared, and the " Lords " were shown the door, amid cries of " clear tbe fossils out." It is computed tbat owing to the rejection of tbe Electoral Bill by the Council between 15.000 and £0,000 electors have been disfranchised. Both parties are making great efforts and am actively organising all over the country. The Government go to the constituencies with the double-barrelled cry of Freetrade and reform gt the Legislative Council.

Michael Davitt on cbss representation in the Honse of Commons: — •* Agricultural laborers — 800,000 — have only one representative. Landlord interests have 160 representsti c*. 600,000 miners possess seven members ; colliery proprietors, 21 direct representative! of their class. 800,000 railway workers have no member at all; bat 22 railway directors have seats. There ia one representative of 220,000 British seamen and 25 for shipowner*. In fact, 25,000,000 wage-earners have only 15 of tbeir class to speak for them in Parliament.

The editor of the "Napier Telegraph" should go to school or else hide his ignorance under a prudent reserve. The recently-de-oeased Lord Colin Campbell, he says, was tbe son of Lord- Clyde, and "a fair illustration of respectable mediocrity." Whatpnerilegabble! He was no relation of any kind to Lord Clyde. He was a son of the Duke of Argyle, and as to his "respectable mediocrity," the story of his matrimonial troubles, whioh were freely ventilated in the Press and in the law courts some years ago, ia scarcely compatible with respectability of any kind. He was afterwards practically ostracised and took refuge in India, where he practised at the bar. Hia wife is well-known in English literary circles, and at present edits the "Realm."

Certainly the best medicine known is Sander and Sons' Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in coughs, colds, influenza — the relief is instantaneous. In serious oases, and accidents of all kind?, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy— no swelling, no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of tbe lungs, swellings, etc., diarrhoea, dysentry, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty tbe King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this auoroved article, aad reject all others.

The Duke of Hamilton, whose death was announced by cable a few days ago, is not likely to be remembered with any sort of grateful regard or popular veneration. The most that can be said of him is that he represented a very ancient line, having held the position of premier peer of Scotland and hereditary keeper of Holyrood Palace. Aa a young man he was remarkable for leading a superlatively fast life and for being something of an aristocratic ruffian, with decidedly plebeian tastes. He was a gentleman commoner at Christohuroh College, Oxford, contemporaneously with the Prince of Wales. At that period of his existence the Duke rather " fancied himself " as a bruiser, and ased to whop every bargee in the city. He met his match once, however, in the person of a butcher, who pounded bim beautifully. The Duke, however, was so far a generous foe that he gave his opponent £10 for bis pains. In later life the Duke grew fat and doubtless quieter.

We regret to have to record the death of Mr James Ritchie, which took place at his residence, Wairori, last Saturday morning. Mr Kitchie, who was one of the oldest residents of the Waipori district, had been for some time in delicate health, so that his death was not wholly unexpected. He was a man of more than average intelligence, and always took an active part in all matters likely to forward the interests of tbe district in which he had made his home for ao many years. Ho was for a few months a member of the Tnapeka County Council at the inception of that body, and was for many years a member of the local school committee. He was in private life an affable and kindly man, was highly esteemed by all wboknaw bim, and hia death is much regretted ia the district. Mr Ritchio was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, \nd was a very old colonist, and had his share of all tbe vioissitudes of the early goldfield days. He was buried on Monday at Waipori, a large number of people following the remains to tbe grave.

The Governor's despatches laid before Parliament furnish (says the "Post ") fresh proof of the selfish exclusiveness and the strong protective tendency of the present Government. Some time ago 'the Secretary for the Colonies wrote to all the colonial Governments asking information as to the prospect of nnding a colonial market for mackarel cured in Ireland. Tbe idea of an invasion of such undesirable immigrants aa Irish mackarel, even in a preserved state, seems to have greatty alarmed the Government, and acting on Ministerial advice the following despatch was written by his Excellency : " I have tbe honor to inform you . . . . that my Government do not desire to encourage tie introduction of foreigncured ash of any description into this colony, and consequently there is no opening for Irish-cured mackarel here." Evidently this is a case of "no Irish need apply." The only " foreign-cured 6sh " which New Zealanders are to be allowed to regale -themselves with would seem to be salmon from Vancouver. To encourage the importation of these, Government is willing even to subsidise a special line of steamers at £25,000 a year.

Mb A. Lorie convened a meeting in Dunedin on Monday evening to consider the question of finding' work for the unemployed by setting them to work on the goldfields. His proposal was that a fund should be raised to pay " tucker " hut that no wages should be paid. He would divide the parties into ten men, nine of whom would be novices. Half the gold obtained should belong-to the association, to be placed to the credit of the general unemployed fund. The other half of the gold would go to those who obtained it-. Mr Lorie had written, to a number of expert miners on the subject, and the replies he had received from them' led him to believe that on the gold mining plan tbe solution of the unemployed difficulty was to be found. Me Tolcher, a former resident of Lawrence, spoke as an old and experienced miner, and said tbere were many difficulties in the way of the scheme. Experienced men knew that it was imperative that men who commenced mining should be provided with tools. To open up a claim and make it pay needed a considerable quantity of water, and that meant expense which the unemployed association were not prepared to go to. AJ& the conclusion of the meeting a committee was formed, and ft number of practical miners, who were present, expressed their readiness to take charge of any parties tbat might be formed and sent into tbe goldfieldsr.