The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1693, 22 July 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News

THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1875.

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The campaign was opened yesterday at Wellington with a passage-of-arma over the proposal to adjourn the discussion on the address in reply; and the accession of Mr Stafford to the Government ranks, indicated by our correspondent yesterday, was placed beyond question by the declaration of that

gentleman in the House. We are disposed to give credence to the rumour, floated on the authority of the Herald correspondent, that it has been arranged for Mr Stafford to assume the Premiership at the close of the session, Dr. Featherston being dismissed, and .Sir Julius Vogel appointed AgentGeneral. The Government would undoabtedly be glad to dispense with Dr Featherston if they could safely do so, and it is quite possible that they may this session command the majority in the Hou?e necessary to sustain his dismissal; that Sir Julius Vogel would make an energetic and thoroughly competent A gent-General is also beyond question. The provinces have been sold by their own party, and Mr Stafford may plead consistency in accepting office to adraicister a policy which he has always contended for. How tbe balance in the House will stand when all the members have mustered, it is very difficult to predict, but even if the Opposition is in a large minority, as seems not improbable, it will be an able and influential one, and the Ministry will certainly be disappointed if they hope to carry their measures through without a hard fought battle. The desire of the Opposition to secure the postponement of the debate on tbe address is easily understood : Some of the leading Provincialists have not arrived, and there has been no time yet to shape the course of action to be adhered to in dealing with the Government proposals; but we very much doubt whether any effective opposition will be made to the address in reply.

"What are the City Council doing that they have again postponed the tramway question ?" asks the Cross this morning, in advocacy of the only tender presented yesterday. We will answer the question : They are protecting public interests. The resolution arrived at by the Council that the tender presented yesterday was quite ineligible is one in which we cordially endorse. The only object to be gained by street tramways is the facilitating of traffic between city and suburbs, and this was not met in any way by the proposal submitted yesterday. And we maintain that any concession granted by tho Council for tramways without the condition we have referred to being clearly insisted upon, will be a sacrifice of public interests No tramway scheme ought to be approved of which does not bind the tenderer to run rails out as far as Epsom on the Onehunga road, to Mount Eden, and to Archill on the North road. We may be told that the speculation would not pay ; then we reply that, if so, the city is not ripo for street tramways.' It should be distinctly laid down here, as in America, that tramways are not intended for the convenience of traffic in tho city, but for the traffic from city to tuburbs. This must be the foundation principle 1 y which any street tramway scheme Bhould be judged if the public interests are to be conserved, anrl any monopoly granted without the most stringent and binding conditions being laid down to give effect to it, will bo nothing short of a sac ifice of the public for the benefit of private speculators. The presence of suburban Highway chairmen at yesterday's meeting was proof that the Council has commenced aright, and that its intentions are well known. As for the scheme of yesterday, it would have been simply preposterous to grant a long monopoly on such terms, and we are satisfied that the postponement wisely determined on by the Council will bring forward much more reasonable proposals.

Quacks abound all the world over, and such s the susceptibility of human nature to humbug that they never lack victims. "Why it is that a man who would never dream of entrusting the repair of the simple mechanism of his watch to any but a skilled workman, will yet place the intricate and delicate organism of his body at the mercy of persons as ignorant of the anatomy of the human frame as anatomy is of them is one of those idiosyncrasies of the mental organisation which, cannot be brought within any rule of common sense. Medical science is one of the most profound and difficult studies that a man can engage in; it embraces two wide departments of investigation— anatomy and chemistry; the sources of knowledge concerning it are extensive and diversified, filling innumerable volumes ; the outcome of the deep study and careful observation of men whose lives have been devoted to the profession ; its application differs from all other professions and arts, inasmuch as it is affected by varying shades of constitution and temperament; and yet it is a common occurrence to find persons tinkering themselves with physics, the properties of which they are in utter ignorance of, or pinning their faith to men whose cunning and audacity are their only stock-in-trade. The evil is serious enough in England, but in the colonies the vagrant quack of home assumes higher pretensions and sets up as the prince among qualified physicians, and the saviour when medical skill has exhausted its resources. In San Francisco where this species of fraud has assumed gigantic proportions, the Newsletter has introduced as an antidote a column surmounted by a skull and crossbonee, and headed "Quacks," in which the" names of uncertificated " doctors" are inserted. One of these gentlemen, whose impudence exceeded his discretion, recently entered an action of libel against the daring journal, which resulted in showing that the so-called doctor wa3 an ex-cook, was practising under a forged diploma, and was guilty of gross perjury duriDg the trial. The information for' libel was dismissed and the injured doctor committed for perjury. Singularly enough, any attack on these impostors is often more teenly resented by their deluded patients than by themselves. When Dr. Rosenthal was carrying on his operations in Princesstreet, our office waa besieged with callers, some respectable and we should suppose sensible men, whose eyea were almost filled with tears of gratitude as they related the relief they had received from the great physician—the eye-opening proved to be of a different character from that anticipated and the relief one of pocket considerably more than of hearing. There are at the present time in Auckland arrant quacka preying upon people, and yet if we mentioned their names and deal

with them according to Ireir <3e?eTiF, should have scores of patients, chiefly weak-minded women, who are the principal victims of this imposture, hobbling down to say that they had received great benefit from their treatment. Ifc may be said that if people will allow themselves to be misled i 5 is their own concern and no one tlse s ; bub we do not apply the same reasoning to other offences. If people are simple and ignorant, that will nob justify the conduct of the man who impo3e3 upon them by fraud or false pretence. We are informed of instances in thi3 city where very considerable sums of money have beea extorted from working people by quacks, and we think ifc quite time that the evil should be checked by the enforcement of the Medical Practitioners' Act in the more glaring cases. Surely we might look to the medical men of Auckland to protect the community in a matter so directly connected with their own profession. We do hope to see an active Medical Soaiety established which would exercise a salutary supervision over this and other matters affecting the health of the community.

On our fourth page to-day appears a reference to the Choral Society, to which we would specially direct tho attention of our readers. The Gore-street Jetty this morningafforded signs of the prosperity of the shipbuilding trade in Auckland. No less than three new vessels were lying alongside in course of being fitted for sea. These were : Captain Casey's new steamer, the Minnie Cisey, Mr Donald's schooner, the Agnes Donald, and Messrs Ford and Hulme'a schooner, the Eltdnore. That Auckland has the trade to require and the builders to turn out vessels of such quality and in such quantity must be a fcubjeet of self-congratulation to her citizens. The rota of attendance on Tuesday next at the Court of Petty Sessions include Messrs R. B. Lusk, T. Macffarlane, G. M. Mitford, Joseph May, D. L. Murdoch, H. D. Morpeth, L. D. Nathan, L. A. Nathan, H. M. Nation, Joseph Ntwman, and A. O'Neill. " A Suppoiter of Law and Order" writes in condemnation of some members of the police foice. We think, however, thai enough has been said on the subject for the present, and therefore close the correspondence. We acknowledge the receipt of 03. for Mrs. Caasidy from a friend. In spite of the distance of the railway station from the business portion of OLahuhu the tradesmen of that place, and especially the wheelwrights, are only too glad to avail themselves of the train to convey their heavy goods to Mercer. Mr Goodwill is forwarding a, pair of five barred field-gates made to the ordei of Mr Maclean for use on a farm twenty milea beyond Cambridge. Mr Goodwill made similar gates a few years ago for the Penrose farm, and they-appear to have given Mich satisfaction as to have led to this second order for the same article. The annual meeting of the Ratepayers of tli9 Otahuhu District takes place this evening in the Public Hall. Owing to the aspect of ioad matters in connection with the Railway Station and the extreme dissatisfaction prevailing in connection with the same, there will doubtless be a large attendance. Cur reporter makes the following reply to Messrs. Jones and Button, which must end the discussion through our columns of this frivolous controversy : Sir, —"In my report of the fcotball match, Ponsonby v. Pnrnell, my statement that there were at the start four more players on the Ponsonby side than on tho Parnell, seems to be objected to on the part of the captain of the a Ponsonby team. Mr. Jones, and Mr. Button, PonsonLy player. In reply to their letters, I beg to substantiate my assertion by a reference to Mr. A. Heather, of the firm of Oven and Graham, who was looking on at the gam**, and who is prepared 1o vouch that tke wearers of the ytllow and black were considerably outnumbered by their oj)ponents. Several of the Parnell players, including Mr. Cotton, counted the respective sides and confirm my assertion. Mr. Heather's tes'.irnouy, as that of an independent witness, should satisfy Messrs. Jones and Sutton that no injustice baa been done them by your IIErOKTER."

The English travelling public are enraptured with the Pullman sleeping car. The Railivay World correspondent says that the next improvement in foreign railway travel will be the introduction of our sixty seat passeDger car in place of the six seat boxes now in use, and that when adopted they will be as highly commended as are the sleepers, which have been liberally patronized in America for over fifteen years.

The Montreal Gazette ia responsible for a remarkable story from Windsor, Canada, to the effect that a very (successful operation was performed there last week on a child which had been born with two heads and living in apparent good health until that day, when one of the heads died, and was ampatated by Dr. Nesbitt, and it is the opinion of the doctor that the child will still live, notwithstanding that one of its heads has been separated from it.

There was a question in the minds of the audiences of Woods' theatre, Cincinnatti, 1 whether Frank Frayne really shot a rifle-ball through an apple placed on his wife's head, as he announced and appeared to do every night for their amusement. It was a part of the programme and the house was crowded every night to see this thrilling feat performed. There were those who doubted the genuineness of the rifle ball, but they heard the shot and saw the apple perforated and the woman stand unflinchingly to have it done, and admired the trick. Frayne stands with his back to his wife, and fires the rifle over his shoulder. The ball passed through the apple and is flattened against a cast-iron plate on the other side of the stage. For some reason the bail did not flatten right the other night. It passed through the apple, but glanced off the plate and entered the ankle of an employee of the theatre who was standing near, passing through his foot and smashing bones in its course. This was at least a genuine performance, and proved the other to be so, too. The man may lose his foot, but this William Tell stage business loses nothing in interest. It is very thrilling to think there is a head so near the range of the rifle-ball every night. It is blood-curdling to think that there might be a nervous tremor and a miss of the mark some time. It is beautiful to see such an exhibition of confidence as the wife displays toward her husband. The great lesson of the shooting act is conjugal confidence, and there are, doubtless, many husbands who cannot believe the thing possible until they have seen it half a dozea times. This is one of the sources of draft in the performance, and no one will gainsay the effectiveness of the moral lesson it inculcates. Those two cannot afford to quarrel while giving this moral show.

•' The fourth of the winter series of lectures at the Young Men's Christian Association will be given to-morrow evening. The subject of the lecture is one of the most attractive of the series, viz., " Was Adam the first man ?" by Dr Ellis.

A very acceptable gift of four tons of firewood from M r Harris, jun., of Wangapoa, is acknowledged with thanks by the Committee of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children, Howe-street.

No. 3 Company of Auckland Eifle Volunteers will meet this evening for monthly inspection parade, in accordance with district orders, at half-past seven, in the new Drillshed.

A Rotorua correspondent writes: "The native land league called Putaiki is being taken up very extensively by all the principal tribes of Kotorua. It was first mooted amongst the Tuhourangi tribe at Tarawera, and its principles afterwards spread over the Arawa country. It is the desire of all the chiefs assembled together to bind themselves in this land league with the view of resenting Government interference in their land transactions, so that they may be enabled to lease or sell to whomsoever they please at their own prices per acre. This movement has caused very great satisfaction in the interior, as if carried out it will open lands for settlement that are now kept closed by the short sighted policy of the Native Office. Many natives here express the greatest disapprobation of the new Native Lands Act, and openly assert that it is a dodge of the Government to dispossess them of their lands. ''

The Hohsoa Band Minstrels are preparing for one of their " grand Soiree d'Ethiop3 " — on this occasion being a complimentary benefit to their talented conductor, Mr J. McComish, as a mark of appreciation of his services. Mr McComieh is undoubtedly one of the best cornet pbiyers residiug in Auckland, and being also well known, here in musical circles, we have no doubt his numerous friends will rally round him with a bumper house, even were the entertainment in contemplation one offered by minstrels of Ices celebrity than those of the Hobson Band. In consequence of the absence of many from their la3t entertainment owing to the inclement weather, the Minstrels have been requested to reproduce several items of that evening's programme, and will accede to the desire.

The business of an auctioneer is of very ancient origin; we learn that it was practised by tho Romans, who gave it the descriptive name of audio, because the property was publicly sold to him who would offur most far it. The first man who held an auction sale in Fngland waßElisha Yale, who in the year 1700 held a public sale of East Indian produce which he had brought from Madras, of which place he had been Governor. From that period to the present time the business of an auctioneer has been widely on the increase, and here in Auckland it is quite an institution. Eliaha Yale had been a great traveller, and a successful man of business. He was born of English parents in America ; npent his latter years in London, snl died July 22, 1721, at Wrexham, Denbighshire, where a monument may still be teen to his memory. The following vague lines tell history : — " In N"ew York State. KlWia Yale wa3 born, In business he was sprightly as the morn ; In Kuropo this famed auctioneer was bred, In africa, for year^, he travelled, Tn Asia, snnny land he fouad a wife, In London lived, in Wrextiam lost his life." Mr. L. Goldsmith, we see by the Australasian, has taken up the cudgels on behalf of the projected visit of the Australasian cricketers to New Zealand. Hy writes to* that journal, in reply to the editor's condemnatory leader of the 2Gth ult., a manly, straightforward rejoinder, in which he speaks his mind, and the mind of a great number of people, on the subject of tho animus and ill-nature displayed in the leader. From the tenor of Mr. Goldsmith's reply, we are given fresh hopes of the expedition, as that gentleman siys he has every reason to believe the trip will 1 com c off—the denunciation of the Australasian notwithstanding. The Australasian would have done well to have acknowledged its over-hastines?. after Mr Goldsmith's answer, but it has chosen to persist in ita uncharitable attitude and by its fditorial appended to the reply, maintains the accuracy if its former charges. Meanwhile, we wait to hear from Mr. Mears of Duneclin, what tho reply is to our offer made to the Australian promoters of the excursion.

The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Devonport Highway District will be held this evening in the Devonport Hall.

The public would hardly know of the exist enco of the Auckland Mechanics Institute, were it not for an occasional annouucemer.t that some clssa is about to be commenced, or th^t the annual meeting was to be held or such a d'ty for the genera! business of the Lisli;ute, so still, so slumbrous nnd uuobt usivc are the members o! the committee. We notice, bj- a brief advertisement, signed by the secretary, thab the annual meeting of members will be hold at half-past seven o'clock this evening, for the purpose, we presume, of presenting a report and Ejecting officers for the ensuing year. A vote of thanks, most likely, will be ac corded to the worthy chairman, and the Mechanics' Institute will fall back into its state of drowsiness in its sleepy hollow, for some time to come. These Institutes have done a large amount of good in their day, since they were first founded in London and Glasgow in 1823, by the celebrated Dr Birkbeck, but the advancement of education and widening of cheap and useful literature have done much to lessen their immediate usefulness, and' they have now become lounging places for elderly men of easy means, who love to pore over the news of the day and indulge in a game of chess or drafts. A few men, with an aptitude for mechanics still linger in the Mechanics' Institute and by their individual efforts sustain its life, and another effort will probably be made this evening by well-mean-ing citizens to breathe something like " a living soul," into the worn body of our Auckland Mechanics' Institute. Age makes things venerable, and though old, it does not follow that the Institute is without attraction. In point of literary worth, the library is about the mosb valuable in Auckland ; there are works of reference which cannot be obtained elsewhere in this city. The volumes of course are soiled, and want re-binding, but if funds do not permit this at present, the contents are there. We are glad to notice that a select circle of settlers stick to the Mechanics' Institute, whose slumbrous spirit may yet rise from its ashes, like the fabulous bird described by Herodotus, and perhaps, this evening something may be done to infuse new life into the Mechanics' Institute.

The panorama of the coal mines, received some months ago from London by the committee of the Auckland Sunday-school Union, will be exhibited and described to-morrow (Friday) evening, in the Sheridan-street Chapel. The scenes will illustrate the formation of coal deposits, important inventions for the preservation of life, and methods for shipping and discharging coals.

The monthly inspection of No. 2 Company of the Auckland Rifle Volunteers will take place this evening, in the new Drill-shed ; members to appear in undress uniform—without arms or accoutrements. Members who have not returned their arms must do ro at once to prevent unpleasant proceedings.