A BLACK HOLE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8588, 25 September 1894, Page 2

A BLACK HOLE.

This morning we had an opportunity of inspecting the accommodation provided for the safe custody of prisoners beneath the Supreme Court, and wero shocked at the state of things now existing. There are but two email dark ill-ventilated cells, 7 feet by 7 feet and 7 feet high, to hold all the prisoners on the calendar who have failed to find bail. Xhe unfortunate prisoners, to the number of thirteen males, had to be crowded into these two black holes tbis morning, seven boing plaoed m one oell, and six in the other. There is not cubio feet of air enough in either of the cells for more than two persons, it may therefore be imagined how poisonous ths atmosphere of these cells had become irom being ovsr-orowded, and how great the suf • | ferings of the unfortunate inmates, who, whether guilty or not of the crimes laid to their oharge, should not be subjected te> suoh an ordeal as being kept for many hours in dark, noisome colls like those referred to. The gaoler, Mr Noble Beaoley, I has so power to ameliorate their condition, and acknowledged the evil was one whioh should be remedied without delay, as it is the refinement of cruelty to crowd so many bnman beings into such dark, ill-vcntliated and utterly inadequate cells. If there had been a woman among the list of prisoners who had failed to obtain bail the oase would have been even worse, as she would have bad to have a cell to herself, and the whole of tha male prisoners be crowded into the other cell. The osse is one calling for immediate attention at the bands of the Government, as it is s. scandalous thing to coop up * number of human beings in oells that only contain air enough for a oouple sf persons each, and which ate on a day like this almoit as devoid of light as of oxygen. If cattle or other live stookwero overcrowded to a similar extent in almost airless vans there woald be a prosecution and a oonviotion as a warning, but it seems' human beings are of less consideration than live stock, judging by the accommodation provided ior prisoners awaiting trial. Tbis is a matter the Grand Jury might make a presentment about, and thus bring it foroibly before the Minister of Justice who, we feel sure, would bs inexpressibly shooked vers he to inspect the cells and stead at the entrance of one when the -door was opened and the foul air allowed to rush out. Suoh an experience would, we feel sure, cause Mr Oodman to issue immediate orders for the necossarv work being taken in hand to speedily do away with suoh a scandalous state of things. At the gaol matters are little if anything better just now, as it is so over taxed owing to so many prisoners awaiting trial that overorowdingis unavoidable. Several men are obliged to sloop and pass a largo portion of their time in cells not half large enough, and the only wonder is that gaol fever has not broken out through such a dangerous disregard of sanitary laws. The gaoler is powerless in the matter and has done his best to minimise the evil, but it is beyond even his power of ingenuity to find proper accommodation for all those now under his charge. This is a matter the Visiting Justices should bring before tbe Government at ones, as it is one calling for a prompt remedy bofore any loss of life occurs through such a soandalous overorowding of prisoners.

In its Sydney branch one small insurance office employs 20 female olsrks. The Adelaide suburban trams are being opposed on all sides by tho 3d cabs. Attention is directed to the advertisements published in another column of ths Manawatu and Ifoxton race meetings. The annual meeting of the C.8.0. will bo held on Friday, the 28th instant, and not on Thursday, the 27th, as previously advertised. Messrs F. B. Jackson and Co. notify that in consequence of the Horse Fair on Saturday next there wilt bo no ordinary sale of poultry, produce, etc., on that day. The entire ciroulation of the newspaper press of tho world is estimated to be | 10,700,000,000 copies. Then is about one journal for every 82,600 inhabitants. The Education Board invite applications for a oarpenter at a yearly salary of £150, j with actual travelling expenses. Mr W. J. Carson (acting-secretary) will sujrply full particulars. i Thus Sydney Truth:— Ths members of tho New '■'outh Wales football team are getting licked all over Mtoriland. Every little village team can beat them by points to nil Members of the Frets CO. and others interested in the formation of a town club are requested to roll up in large numbers to-night at the Hsbals Office, Bidgwaystreet at 7.80 sharp. Mrs Mary Cecils Anderson, whose death sentence for the murder of John Fraserwas commuted to imprisonment for life, is still an inmate of the Melbourne gaol hospital. She will be a cripple for iife. The Hermit of Island Bay, ne»r Wellington, is to remain undisturbed. The difficulty as to the formation of the portion of tbe Queen's Drive pairing by his. retreat without destroying the cave wbioh lie has inhabited for so many years, has been overcome by building » concrete wall on the seaward fide. The bed of the now road is some foot higher than the interior of the cave. Latest Australian files to hand recount the committal of a murder by an old man named John Grant at (Jusntonß, 12 miles from Horjham. Grant's wife some timo ago underwent an operation for tumour, and sinco then had become a victim to the obloral habit, consuming large quan'ities of chloral and ohlorodyne. In order to break her of the habit the family had built a house near QuantoDg, and her husband had undertaken to prevent bor getting tho drug, keeping close watch over bor Bh<? devolopod suicidal tendencies, and repeatedly threatened her husband's life. Fur the past fortnight the old man had kept close mgbt wotoh ovor h»r, being unable to»l«opfor f«ar she should put her threat into execution. His sons bogged him to give the watoh up, but tbo old man would not, sayitjg liia wife wus getting bettor. Tbe worry, however, appears to havo unhinged his mind, and early one morning, accordirj; to bis ttory, irhen she lit a lamp near her bed he saw a hammer in her hand and, realising her intention to murder h'.m, in a fit oE passion he seized the hammer and in mad excitement struck her three or four times on the bead, Finding that he had killed his wife he covered the body with the bedclothes, and seems to have gone about as usual until 10 o'clock, when he west to the railway station, a mile and a half diitant, took train for Horjham and gave himself up to th» police. Grant is an intelligent man of good addren, aged 78 years. His wife was 60.

The Wellington Orioket Association has just spent £800 in improving the Batin Beserve.

This evening the additions recently made to Christ Ohuroh will be oonssorated by His Lordship tbe Bishop of Nelson.

L»st month tbe Mount Morgan mine in Queensland wou 10,0920z of gold from 5120 tons stone, and employed 1000 mon.

Wo are requested to state that the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company are joint agents with Messrs Johnston and Co. for the S»w Zealand Shipping Coy. in Wanganui.

81.B 1 . E, Spofforth, playing for Hampste»d against Marlow (Hug.) Isst month, took all the latter's wiokets in the second innings for 14 runs. Singularly enough, in the same match last year, " dpoff." performed tha same feat.

In a Melbourne Court recently a grocer named 0. Tails recovered & verdict for £1000 against the Executive Committee of the Suburban Lioensed Grooen' Association for boycotting him in reßpoct to the bottled beer trade.

A Northern dentist decorates his name with tbe following batch of lettors:— U. 0.8., D.D.9., D.M.D., M.D.0,. L.D.8., eto. The eto. is refreshing, and probably means the most, bat the last cat has a healthful inverted financial ring that means buainets.

The Taiori Advocate has beon informed on good authority that three large estates in Otago will shortly be plaoed in the market. The surveying work has been completed, and the estates will be cut up into seotions ranging from 50 acres to 500 acres in aroa.

With fine weather there should ho a crowded attendance at St. Paul's Hall tomorrow night, the front seats are rapidly filling and early application is advised in order to prevent disappointment. Mr Scott, the violinist, arrived by express from the North today, and will make his first appearance to-morrow night.

The Wairarapa Observer says an amasing incident happened at Gtreytown recently. A young man took a walk up the Bimutaka/ snd found a reef of mundio, whioh he put down to be gold. He pegged out bis claim of some two acres, and then, knocking off as muoh of the stone as he could stagger under, ha plodded oil home with tho prize, and landed it in town tlmott exhausted.

At Bendigo a few days ago about 800 Chinese proceeded to the local cemeteries in 3s* vehioles to take part in the ceremony of dedicating tha new altars and shrines erected to their order. Large quantities of provisions and liquer were arranged round the various graves, and the sacred chambers were lighted with candles and papers of varied tints, and otherwise ornamented with exquisitely worked emblems and figures.

We are plsasod to learn that steps are bsing taken to form a Ssliege Corps here. The former one did good servioe, {and tbe want of so useful a body has been frequently felt of late, owing to the pressure of the orowd linstpering and impeding the efforts of the Brigade whon trying io cope with a tie. A salvage corps under good oSoers would lavs a lot of property and prevent a great deal of destruction and pilfering at fires. > We notice by tha Wellington papers that ' four pupils of the well-known dancer J. B. MoQregor, of tbis town, have been dancing before His Szoellecoy the Qovernor and suite at too annual concert of the Welling- | ton Caledonian Society, and received the | greatest praise for the graceful way in whioh they performed the several dances. The quartette consisted of Miss Mary Murray and Myrtle Bose, and Masters B. McGregor and W. Piper.

An extraordinary oase of succeeding to a fortune is reported. Two women of ill-repute (one living in Melbourne and the other in Sydney) bave been traced as heiresses to a fortune of £70,000 left over 100 years ago . Both women lived in ianorancs of the fact until inquiries proved their claim. Thoono in Sydney was traced by Mr T. Lloyd, of Melbourne, who found that she had just been discharged from Dtrlinghurst, after suffering a term of two months for vagranoy.

An incipient outbreak of fire was diicorer«o\ about six o'clock last evening at Messrs Crichton and Newman's large boot establishment in the Avenue, but fortunately the blaze wm kept within the limits of the workroom at tbn rear, and very expeditiouslj the Fire Brigade averted all further Singer. Mr John Anderson, who is in charge of the premises during Mr Crichton's absence from town, states that a few minutes before the outbreak he left everything apparently perfeotly safe, thoro ouly being a few embers loft in tho workroom stove, this stove having beon used about an hour before for melting wax. The workroom was gutted, snd the damage will amount to about £50, there being no insurance on tho building, but tho stock was insured in the Liverpool, and London and GHobo Co. We aro asked by Mr AndersoiS to state that customers will in no way be inconvenienced by the fire, and that they will be able to get their repairing and orders promptly executed as usual.

A meeting of the Executive of the Education Board was held yesterday. Present — Mctsrs Hotman (chair), Bridge, Biker, and Carson. The names of two female teachers were ordered to be forwarded to tho Manga, toki Committee for se'eotion. The Porewa Committee wrote to say that they had seleoted Mr A. B. Powell, of Terraoe End, 'Palmerston North, to succeed Mr Tompiins. The following changes were resolved upon : Miss Farr, Campbsll-street, Palm9nton [ North, to take charge of Ben Kevis ; Miss I Mary Pcott, of Sandon, to go to Campbellstreet, and Miss Gtyrtrudo Mowbray to be appointed pupil teacher at same school ; Mister Harold Bowater, of Upper Tutsenui, to go to Sandon j Miss Adslatds McQouagle, of Ohingaiti, -to go to Upper Tutaenqi ; Master John O'Reilly, of College-street, 1 Falmertton . North, to go to Ohingaiti j Master Buohlsr, of KtAaramoa, to go to Terrace End, Palmeiston North ; and &liss I>iiy McKennn, cadet of College street, appointed pupil teaoher.

Many a waiE and stray has found its last refuge in the Dead Letter Office (says tbo Times). The year's records just closed tell the sane curious story. There were found in letters opened in the No it Zealand Dead Letter Office, during tho year ending March laat. Post Office orders for £786, bank drafts for £1872, cheques for £1313, promisiory notes for £2.'9. a Naw Zealand Government debenture for £30, postal notes for £189 and bank notes for £417, besides gold to the valua of £18. The followiug heterogeneous collection of ai tides found their way to the offices— Six silver watches, two nickel watches, one gold-mounted greenstone brooch, one gold broooh, six silver brooches, one gold watch chiin, one sitver watoh chain, two pairs sleeve-lick, silver plated knife, fork and tipoon, a butter knife, a gold pencil case, two gold nuggets, five gold rings, a gold oross, a gold bangle, a greenitone pendabt, a pair of eyeglasses, a penknife, a purse, with £1 6s 9d in it, a silk handkerchief, several Tatteraali'g ticketsone for £20, two for £10, three for £5 one for •' Confidence" — a pavrn-tioket, and three jataerstgß ticket's. If some of these artistes ooutd soeok, what strange stories they might tell.

NrJi.R. Martin, manager forlhe Dresden Piano Company (Wangauui Branch), has just received a' consignment of Violins, Double Basses, 'Banjoes, Zithers, Flutes, Olarionots, Brass Band Instruments, and Musical Instruments of every description, with latest noveHie*, to sell from 10 to 15 per cent, above London prices. Pianos from every muter in the world can be purchased on the Dresdoo hire purchase system from 20s monthly. Pianos from £85 to £300. American Organs from £15 to £60. Tuning and repairing, in town or country, at reduced oharges. Inspection invited. Dresden Piano Company, Yellow Shop, Victoria Avonuo.— Advt.

Wanganui, April 8, 1893. Mb Nosffxminr, Herbalist, &c.,— Dear Sir, — I ha7e great pleasure in bearing testimony to tho efficacy of your Rheumatic Cure and Liaimont. I suffered for njaqy years from severe 1-beumatio paind, uijd I found tho above the vsrr best treatment I ever used. I coin ctnfidontally recommend any one suffering iv that way to use the same, and feel confident it will give entire satisfaction to whoever tries it, — Tours truly (Signed) 3. A. MoElwaiw

" Bor theßlood is the life"— O&AHKE'S WORLD-FAMED BLOOD MIXTITBB is warranted to cleanse tho blood from all impurities from whatever cause arising. For Scrofula, Scurvey, Eczema, Bad Legs, Skin and Blood Diseases, Pimplei, and Sores of all kinds its effects are marvellous. Thousands of wonderful cures have been effected by it. Sold everywhere at 2s 9d| Bowate of worthless imitations.