THE LAND OF PERFUME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 203, 21 May 1908, Page 4

THE LAND OF PERFUME.

, Mr. Ernest Dixon givos, in'- the' "Wide World Magazine," an interesting account of tho peri'umo industry - at Grasse..Tho perfumo manufactories of which this, busy town is composed look down, lie tolls us,..year in and,year out,.upon a .bonneted .army, of workers stooping, in a magnificent oxpanso of bloom. It is an expanse of everchanging colour. This month it will bo red, next month, perhaps; a. gorgeous yellow, and in still another month it will bo blue, or somo other , colour of tho rainbow: Only thoso who have been fortunate enough to see tho wonderful carpet of (lowers with .which .this ;sun-kissed valley of the Alpes'Maritiines is covered, or who have soen. that, other floral wonder which makes tho dunes of Holland a paradise in May, can have a real idea of what Grasso is.liko. "THE CALENDAR OP FLOWERS." . In tho land of perfume, Mr. Dixon's guide told him,-.they ' livo 'by the calendar '' of (lowers: —"This, as you seo is the month<pf roses. In March and April wo pick the Vio-. *let and jfanquil; in- May- and June wo. gather tho roses and tlte orango flower, from which comes tho essence, of noroli, In June also we turn tho leaves of the orango into essence of petit grain, and the verbena into a scent for common -soap. June and July aro the months for red thyme and rosemary. Thyme is used- for sachet powders. If you .come, hero in August and September you find us busy with jasmine, tuberose, peppermint, aspip, sweet basil, mignonette, and lavender— 'the latter, for the-sake of convenience, being distilled on tho neighbouring hillsides, right whore it grows. . .In September and October we get the rod geranium, and in' October and November the cassia!"-- Thus tho workers there aro busy from eayly March to December picking tho (lowers and proparing them immediately for market. SOME FIGURES.

It takes, it seems, four million pounds of roses to produce-the yearly - output of perfumery in tho Maritime Alps,, and to obtain 0110 pound of the essence of roses twenty-two thousand pounds of roses, or -nearly three million single roso blossoms, are required. About threepence per pound is paid for roses, fivepenco to sixpence per pound for orange blossom. A pound of jasmipo costs about four times as much as a pound of roses. Rogarding the number of pounds -of (lowers annually consumed it is impossible to give exact figures, but it is estimated that thero is used every year three million six hundred thousand pounds of orange (lowers, four million, eight hundred thousand pounds of ros^s,-two-hundred and eighty. thousand pounds, of violets, about double that amount of jasmine, a., hundred and forty thousand pounds of tuberoses, ' sixty thousand pounds of cassia, and thirty thousand pounds of jonquils. -

. In., connection with the statement that 1 Presbyterian;, ministers are underpaid, Mr. ; Robert-Ward writes in the " Otago Daily .Times;" .giving the stipends paid by various •congregations in t!io Dominion St. Johns, Wellington, £700 per annum; St. Andrew's, • Wellington, £o00; Kent Terrace, Wellington, .£400; "(iisboriio,' £350; St, David's, Auckland, £350; St.. Andrew's, .Auckland, £350; 'R'emcura, Auckland, £310; Napier, £350; Palmeraton North,' £350 ; Y/aiiganiii, £450.; St. James's,. Auckland;. £300; Ilawera, £300. : Total, £4710. First Church, Duncdin, £700; Knox Church, .Dpnedin, £GSO: St. Andrew's, Duncdin. £500; St. Pauls, Oamarn. £-100; St. Paul's■ InV-ercargill, £375 ;• First Church. Tuvcrcargitl, £-!00; Tokomairiro, £300; Hast Taie'ri, £300; Win toil; £300; North-East 'Valley,. £300; South Diin'ediu,' £300; Port Chalmers,- £300.; Total, .-C-JS2S.- "It will be seen," j\lr. Ward says, " in comparing the figures of Otago and the North Island that, with practically similar stipends; Otago gave' .as aid to institutions and Ilomo Missions £3 for. every £1; paid in the North; The congregations,in Otago were also paying interest 'on nearly £2000 more debt;, and the Trust Funds will not lift the dobt off those ; Otago.- congregations." Wood's Great peppermint Cure for Coughs and Colds never fails. Is. Gd. and 25,. Cd. CBl

LAW- REPORTS. , SUPREME COURT. CRIMINAL SESSIONS. " , YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Tho Criminal Sittings wero resumed yesterday morning, "His Honour. Mr. Justice Chapman taking his seat at ten o'clock. BREAKING AND ENTERING A SHOP. PAINFUL SCENE IN THE DOCK.' . Thomas Prisk and Charlotte Prisl:, who had, on tho previous day, been found'guilty of having broken and entered'the business premises of . Frances C. 'Pallaht, at Dannevirke, with intent to commit a crime, were brought forward for sentence. . .-. Mr. Wilford .011 their, behalf said it was true that the malo prisoner was convicted somo time ago of smuggling His Honour: In this case I don't attach importance to that conviction. > - Counsel, resuming, declared that the' female prisoner had nevei' been before a' Court before. Ho could give an instance, where a person who had committed a similar offeiico had-been granted probation. His Honour: .Can you suggest a case where probation was granted to a person who had given ovidenco which the jury disbelieved and' had therein made tho gravest charges against another witness? Counsel,, continuing, said .that a young man who had broken into a railway building at Woodville had been admitted to probation. It was a fact, however, that that prisoner had pleaded guilty. Both the prisoners in tho present case boro good reputation's auiong fellow-tradespeople at Dannevirke. The statements which the prisoners had'made in the witness-box wero similar in effect to tbofco which they made 011 tho night'of the' affair and repeated, iii the Lower Court. The jury had.found that the statements wore incorrect and that ended tho matter. ■ Was there, however, not-still'the possibility of a chanco that they might be-right? His Hon-, our 110 doubt had seen instances of tho kind. In Wanganui recently a'jury had convicted thre'o prisoners notwithstanding tho fact that Mr. Justico.-Cooper had told thejm that there was 110 case'. Mr. Justice Cooper had reserved tho caso for tlie Court of Appeal which" had unanimously- decided to allow tho prisoners their liberty. Ho (counsel) did 'not want to criticise the'action'of the jury.:.,it might be that they were right. The femalo prisoner had a child only two years of age,.'' Counsel trusted His Honour would deal leniently with the. prisoners. . • Addressing the male prisoner, His Honour sqid: I, have listened very carefully to the address of your counsel and • I-'can't say that it has been without effect. ■ However, the suggestion that you should be admitted, to probation'is'quite out of-the question. , I 'don't Intend to attach weight to the'.circumstance that you have been convicted previously. Oil that occasion tho offence did not, involve dishonesty in the ordinary way though it was a reprehensible matter. When a man is charged with an offence of this kind and goes into the Witness box and gives; manifestly, false ovidenco ho': deprives, himself of all opportunity of appeal-to ,the Court for probation'. -"Your," case- does' not", stop there. In'tho witness ' box you per/ sisted not only: in giving falso .evidence in exculpation of yourself, but gave 'it: iii .such a form, as to make a charge against another man of having committed the grossest- perr jury 111.pursuanco of a wicked desigii' to get! you into trouble.- In plain terms you accused him of haying-a-grudge against you, and of having given effect to it by making a charge against you and persisting in it in' this Court. ! The charge you mado against that man was absolutely preposterous: it was not only unproved, but it wholly broko down when it'came to be contrasted' with'-the" evidence of .other witnesses. ; The fact: entirely, disposes of any suggestion that you'.ought ti bo admitted to probation. ; At first I' was inclined to impose a very s'evero .sentence 011 you. 'You."wero manifestly' guilty of per-, jury but' you have,not been charged with thai crimo. -Tho'sentence which'l intend to ! inflict is 0110 that I. should inipose' on "a person who is -not ehtitled to probation but who is not-to bo treated-as an old-'offender/ You. 'are sentenced- to' twelve months' imprisonment with-hard labour; - ; 1 ?

Upon hearing the sentence which had,been 'imposed 1 ,''on her husband, the female'prisoner collapsed in. the dock,' at tho same time littering piercing, cries.- ■ As/ she did not/recover. immediately His Honour postponed sentence in. her case until the afternoon.

; Addressing, tho fomalb "prisoner, when tho Court resumed'in the. afternoon, His Honour said :-r-I think you were really to blame origi'raally. in this matter; that the crime was com-, mitted to fulfil some design of yours rathejrthan ono of your husband's. Still the major part of .tho blame falls on him, because ho carried out the,design for you. I think ho js to blame for the Subsequent conduct in making charges.' against the witness. . As you i.li.avp a''young child to look after, and must do something, to siipport.it, I have come to the* conclusion • that it woiild be,'better not .to sentence you to a,, term, of imprisonment so I lprig as you . behave .yourself.. Yoii will be fallowed' to return to your home - on condition 'that.you -come up for sentence, whim 'caiied. upon. ' ; ■ , ALLEGED. THEFT FROM AN HOTEL. .' . VERDICT, 0F NOT GUILTY/- : Huru, alias AVirenui, Rapata-,-a imaii, was charged wftli,.on January I'; 1908; having;, stolen a gold watch and chaiii .and two greenstone pendAnts, .the.'property/of. Ellen Edith liigleby, from the Club, Hotei'jv .Masterton. • . . ... . ■ Mr. Bunny appeared oil behalf: of the prisoner, .who pleaded .."Not guilty;' 1 . '• ■ The following; jury ,was empaneled • Tbos Leyd'on .(foreman), Wil.loughby,'", Knight,. David 'Wilson,' Wnuy'J.-.Claritjge,.'Au-' jgust, -Walter- Collins,. Jlenty ,T. Hicks,.lL R, 'Lyajl, ,J. Balcombo, W. Broiyn, W. J./i'l'.c-m-----s:ni. , ■; -'. •/•'■■' V. , ' Prosecutor stated in evidenco ihat fit the -hotel prisoner occupied a room opposite to; hers. She did not know on what date her. jewellery was stolen—it was. missed on January 24. ... , /. . • Cross-examined; 'witness said' that she couli liot swear that tho watch was in.her posses?': siou 011 January 3. ■■ '. • •; • Detective Siddell deposed that hojirrested prisoner at tlio I'utiki pa; ' Wanganui. When 'first interviewed,'.'.prisoner' stated that-. lie :know nothingwhatever about.any watch aiid chain. Subsequently, witness obtained .the ;watch and chain in the pa from a Miss Kelly. Prisoner then said: "I bought them from a man named-Barak, for £7 10s. : in Nicholls's shop in Mastertori." Marcus' Barak, itinerant' watchmaker and. jeweller, denied that ho sold the-articles to tho prisoner.' He had, lie said, mended the watch for him. Then, again, not been in Nicholls's shop in the company of prisoner. John .Nich'olls and W. 11. Njcholls stated ■that when prisoner caino to tho shop in their father's absence, he"was alone. This closed, the case .for. the prosecution. For tlio defence, Samuel Hawkins, deposed that ho saw prisoner hand money to Barak at tho entrance'to 'Nicholls's shop. '■ .

' J. B. jfieliolls remembered, haying • seen' Barak and prisoner together at his shop. - ' Prisoner, in' evidence, stated that he purchased the "watch from Barak before.lie went to stay at th'o Cliili Hotel. He handed the article's over to Miss Kelly, who wore them while tliey were staying iit the hotel. '' Gross-examined, prisoner admitted that'he hail been .coiivicted' of forgery and .false'pre? tences. . • V.'

Counsel addressed tilo jury, and His Hon-our-sumthed up. The jyi'y, which .retired .at 2.50,' returned, at 3.20 with a. verdict of.,"Not guilty,'! and tho prisoner was discharged. ; ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY. Frederick Jansen and James Diggs wore charged with, on March IS, at Wellington,, having assaulted and robbed George Dawson of £3 10s. in money. . ' Prisoners, who were, not represented by -counsel, pleaded " Not guilty." The following jury was empanelled:— James 'Dykes (foreman), R. G. Hill, Donald Fraser, l'\ W. Petherick, David Williamson, G Miller, W. A. Pearmen, A. J. G. Smith, A. Webley, D. M. Johnston, A: Reid, and P. A. Laws. Prosecutor,. who is a fireman, said that on' the night in question 110 met the prisoners iu the Termimis Hotel. Diggs introduced Jansen to him as his mate.--At that

time prosecutor had three pounds and a few..shillings in-Jus purse. He remembered '•'shouting" twrio?,-. and had a faint recollection of leaving the hotel. Subsequently. he robbed, but by whom he did not know, l.jo .Crown Prosecutor: Remember, you gavo- evidence in the ■ Lower Court. - His Honour: Have you'been drinking today. Acciised: I have been in gaol through drink. J lie Crown Prosecutor: Have you had any ■ message? from" the prisoners ?—No. AVas the evidence which you gave in the Court true? —I can't ,say that it was. .Was any of it?— Some of it." l ' L In the Lower Court did you not say thatit was the prisoner who. robbed you ? —Yes. ■ Did. you- identify the ■ prisoners "at :tho police station?— Yes. ■" • Why did you ' say in the Lower • Court that the prisoners committed the offence?— Because I was in their company. ■' What were the ciroumstances -surrounding thb robbery?—l remejnber that I wis .in the of two nien, and aftenvirds - went in the direction of the Foresters' Anns Hotel to get, a bed..:'-1 .was a stranger .in those parts. The men robbed me in a' public-' convenience. I then called out: " Police," and chased one of the men. \ Cross-examined by 'Jansen;' prosecutor stated that, on tlie morning lie gave his evidence in the Magistrate's Court he had had eight pints of beer..' •" , .-Were, you sentenced to twelve.-;,months' imprisonment • and twenty lashes at for robbery and violence ? —I don't remember. : His 'Honour: 'Don't you remember the lashes?—No answer. - Prisoner Jansenßemember,••' I, can get proof about it? —I admit -I' did -receive such • a sentence. '.' • ■ Tho, Crown Prosecutor: How did the prisoners'.get. to - know, that?,. -Did you tell thorn? —I told Diggs at Auckland.'. Prisoner ;Jansen: Havo you not been in severargaols in. New Zealaiu}?—Yes,'l have done, too much .time 'in this 'country/'.' • i And in Sydney, and at •' • . •' At' -the present time you ■ are .serving a", sentence for drunkenness, and obscene Tan-! . ' gua'go'?--~Yes. ' . V;' - You are an out-and-out. criminal ..then , I suppose so. • ■ ,-.-!. Arthur M'Cauley, doorkeeper, at' His 1 Ma- ■ ; jesty's Theatre, gave, evidence 1 that on the' night in question lie saw., the prisoners in the company -of prosecutor , proceedihg up Little: Taraiiald- Street towards--theSrear' of ■ . the Foresters'-Arms 'Hotel; 1 J.Tw.o'-brrthroc' minutes, afterwards ho saw* Jansen.running towards. Ghuznee StrVet'-'from..the 'direction . of the back ofpthe-'-hotel:'.Prosecutor;'Who was'' ha]f-dr.uhk;' v followed - him,' calling' but T Police." .'-Subsequently witness-saw Jan- . •• sen . transfer ■•'something ' from-' one ■>' "pockei to' another. .' ■ '.-'i■ •w'.'

: Sergeant Stewart deposed that'prdsesutor complained to' liira; that'; he lintl ■ been- robbed of ;,£3 .10s. - .Witness .saw:'Disss 'the same' ■ night- about the''affair. Diggs had'no money upon him;' " Detective Cassells stated that the 1 prisoners had been occupying the* same: room'■ itf Taraliaki Street, "'not'.'far' from the Foresters' Arms 'Hotpl. !'At '8.15 on "the o/ening in question witness saw the prisoners together iir;Cuba Street. When arrested, Diggs said . " Not'guilty," and Jensen,' " Oh, 'that is nothing." Janseri had 15s. upon' him, and Diggs 6}d. , -. (Tliis closed the ease for the. prosecution. Both of the prisoners addressed 'the jury. •They .expressed. doubt' as -to -whether'prose- .. cutor'had really been robbed;' -At oiiy 'rate,/' they had not'committed the offence.' 0 : . His Honour summed up. '- v The jury, 'which 'retired 1 ' at'4.ssV-returned , at 5,40 with a verdict of " Guilty; 5 ' •The Crown Prosecutor stated that Jansen had been, sentenced to; five years for assault and robbery,, also to short terms Commencing in. December, 1899,' for 'vagrancy, broach of ■the ..peace,' assaulting- the policcj j and-' th'eft, and that Diggs lrad previously been imprisoned for shoi% lieriods for. theft, receiving, resisting the-police, etc. : His Honour: I shall m?.ko allowance for the, fact ; that the "drunken condition of the man was'a temntation to you, and that l no actual,, violence used, T but apart from ; that "it is'. an : ordinary ease\>f ; two moil put-'. ting l their liead3' tp£retheV : to-rob' a.-drunken man. I don't seV ally difference 'between either ■ of" you; Neither ,:jn < your. con'duct on ■this occasiott'or inyour past history. -; Bach will; be sentenced: to : two. years'= imprisonment with'hard-labour. ■ -The Court then adjourned until 10-o'clock •• this morning. • ■>.