The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3585, 8 January 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1883.

It lias been reported that the ship Mataura will arrive here some time next month fitted with refrigerating machinery, aud will load up with a cargo of frozen meat. AVhat preparations arc being made to fill up the vessel and make the initiatory venture a success? A very great deal depends upon the success of the first venture—a failure at the outset, might, probably, lead to the abandonment of the frozen meat export trade. It is therefore important, not only to the shippers, but to the whole provincial district, including the town and port, that the first shipment from Napier should be a financial success. Such a success can only be obtained by the meat being placed in the London market in a condition that must ensure for it the highest prices. AYe repeat that it is of paramount importance that the Napier trade mark should from its first appearance in the market obtain a character for excellence. It becomes a question then, in which every one is interested, as to the preparations in progress for the establishment of this new" trade. Since Captain Russell's name has been associated with public affairs the short-sighted policy of putting the whole of one's eggs into a single basket has been repeatedly brought before the notice of producers, and this export frozen meat business otters an extra basket that should certainly not be neglected. That meat can be forwarded to London in a marketable condition has been demonstrated beyond the shadow of dispute ; but, in the trials that have been made, there have been failures and attendant losses. It is no use for us here to go into tlus new commercial enterprise with our eves shut. AYe know there have been failures, having their origin in mismanagement, in faulty machinery, or perhaps iv absolute ignorance of essential requirements. Are we to profit by the experience that has been gained, or are Aye to repeat the mistakes that have brought disaster in their train r At the present moment the port of Napior is wanting in all that would ensure success. Tho deficiency in harbor accommodation and depth of water prevent large vessels from coming up to the wharf, and only large vessels can enter into the trade. How is this drawback to be overcome 'r How is Hawke's Bay going to compete with Otago and Canterbury, from whence the meat can he put direct into the vessels? AVill the profits on shipments allow sufficient margin to cover the additional cost of lighterage ': These questions will have to be taken into consideration, and the difficulties to which they refer efficiently dealt with before the trade can be established on anything like a satisfactory footing. At Port Chalmers and Lvttelton, aud also at AVellington. the difficulties of lighterage that we have here have no place. But when it is considered that the slightest scratch or bruise on the carcase of a sheep turns to the appearance of mortification when frozen, it will be obvious that a special lighterage service must be started here if meat export is to be a success. In the prospectus that was issued by the Meat Company initiated at London _ under the auspices'of Mr John Chambers it was proposed to have the abbatoirs at the Western Spit, and the company were to undertake the killing and shipping of live stock forwarded to them for freezing and export. That company if it ever comes to anything, would then have to supply a lighterage service. As matters stand at present, however, the whole question of exporting frozen meat seems to be hung up. The London company, from what we can understand, amalgamated with the Hawke's Bay Meat Export Company, which purchased the Tomoana works from Messrs Nelson and AVilliams, and a hitch having occurred in the settlement of that purchase nothing very definite presents itself to producers desirous of trying the London market. From this cause"it is possibly owing that no preparations have been made to meet the arrival of the Mataura. There is abundance of live stock, but no organisation : there are no properly constructed railway vans on the line to convey carcases to the port if it be decided to kill iv the country, and if the abbaitor is to be at the Spit there is not a lighter in the harbor that is adapted to carry the meat to the vessel in the roadstead. Under tlicso circumstances it would appear extremely doubtful whether it be possible to initiate the trade this season. In the meantime, however, and in view of the certainty of the future establishment of tlus enterprise, it might profitably occupy the consideration of the Harbar Board whether it would not be advisable to second the efforts , of tho settlers by the construction or pur- I chase of suitable lighters. In many places situated as is Napier there is a regular lighterage service either iv the hands of private individuals or public companies whoso interest it is to forestall the requirements of the port. There is room for a similar enterprise here, and unless it be undertaken it is certain that a meat export trade cannot bo a success.

On Saturday last the Mayor received the following telegram from the Colonial Socrety: ai —" Hospital Committee. No objection to subscribers electing two members and Hawke's Bay County Council one for this year : clergy who havo made collections to vote as subscribers for the two members. As the Borough Council do not contribute I can see no reason why Mayor should be ex officio member of connnittee, but if the Council will subscribe £200 a year they can nominate the Mayor. The Committee, however, shotdd elect their own chairman. Please say who the life governors arc." The above telegram is evidently a reply to one from Dr. Spencer, who, apparently, suggested to the Colonial Secretary the advisability of the subscribers electing 'two members instead of four to the Committee. Dr Spencer also, apparently, had suggested that the Borough Council shoidd not be

represented on the Committee on tho ground that it had not contributed to the Hospital funds. But the Borough Council voted £200, and therefore has a right to be represented. The publication of the Colonial Secretary's telegram naturally caused no little excitement, and at the request of numerous subscribers Mr Sutton, M.H.R., despatched the following telegram to the Colonial Secretary :— " Napier, January 8. Considerable dissatisfaction at telegram sent on Saturday by yon to Mayor, who is not Chairman, and has no authority to conduct secretly such peculiar negotiations with the Government. The Hospital elections will be held under resolutions of the Committee December 1878, which were approved by the Government. Neither the Committee nor the subscribers have been consulted about the private arrangements between Dr. Spencer and the Government. Upon the resignation of the Chairman who was appointed last January Dr. Spencer assumed the chair. The unauthorised arrangements made in the name of the Committee are repudiated by them; they were not consulted, and would never have sanctioned such absurb proposals. F. Sutton."

The Municipal Public AVorks Committee meets this evening at 8 o'clock. After its next sittings, which ai - e daily expected to be appointed, the Napier District Court will be abolished. Consequent on the retirement of Air C. M. AVilliams. Mr C. J. Barker has been appointed Hawke's Bay agent for the Government Life Insurance Department. Our Wairoa correspondent informs us that, at the meeting of the AVairoa Harbor Board on Saturday afternoon, the following tenders were sent in for snagging the AVairoa river :—Charles Lloyd, £12.'); T. and AY. 11. Ton- and J. Steer, £1805. Tho former was accepted. A running match for ClO aside has been arranged between Messrs A. Dean and AY. Delany, and will take place on the Recreation Company's ground at 3 o'clock on the 21st instant. Dean won the toss and picked his distances as 300 and 410 yards, Ids opponent taking 100 yards. In the Resident Magistrate's Court this TiToniitijr, "before Cuptuiti Rreoce, _£.-!M., James Eggleston, charged with having been drunk at the Spit yesterday, was fined 5s and costs, with the alternative of -18 hours' imprisonment in default. Two summons cases were struck out in the absence of the several parties to the actions. There was no other business. The United Methodist Free Church will be reopened next Suuday, when the services will be conducted by the* Rev. S. Maefarlane in the morning, and by the Rev. J. Taylor in the evening. On the following Tuesday there will he a public tea meeting, when addresses will be delivered by delegates attending the district meeting. AYe must congratulate the United Methodists upon the'very successful removal and re-erection of their' church on its new site in Carlylestreet. The election of a Hospital Committee, that takes place to-morrow, will be conducted on the same basis as that of last year, that is to say, the subscribers will 'nominate four, the Hawke's Bay County Council two, the Borough Council two, the AVairoa Council one, and the Mayor will sit on the Committee by virtue of his office. The by-laws under which the election will take place have not been abolished, and cannot be abolished by the mere ipse dixit of a Minister, notwithstanding that the Hon. Mr Dick aud Dr. Spencer may desire to have a Government nominee Committee. The Branding Act is now in force. Under its provisions all brands hitherto deemed as registered under any provincial district law shall, for the purposes of tho Act, be deemed to have been registered thereunder, and such registration shall continue in force for two years from the commencement of the Act. * All sheep over the age of four months must be registered in the form provided by the Act, and neglect of this regulation renders owners liable to a tine of £10. Tho maximum penalty for using another person's brand is £50, and €100 for branding animals without authority, or for defacing registered marks. Air F. Sutton, M.H.R., has received the following letter from the Colonial Secretary, which will show how completely Dr Spencer lias misunderstood tho proposals of the Government with respect to the Hospital:—" Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 2nd January, 1883. —Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo, and in reply to state that if my letter of the 1-lth ultimo led to the conclusion that the Government would pay all the maintenance of the Napier Hospital for the financial year, and give £1500 besides towards the building, it was a misapprehension, as my letter was intended to show that I expected that the Hawke's Bay public would, in accordance with the terms of the memorandum enclosed in my letter, subscribe £3000 for maintenance and building, whereupon the Government would give an equivalent, but, if the Government are to be liable for the whole cost of the maintenance of the Hospital, no definite promise can at present bo made with regard to the building fund.—l have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, Thomas Dick." The AVaivarapa Star of Saturday last contains the following:—"Rather a long and adventurous bicycle ride was performed the other day by Mr Parkes, school teacher of Turakina. On AVednesday morning he mounted liis wheels and before evening he had passed Fielding, Palmerston, and Woodville, reaching the residence of Mr Hughes at Palliatua, where he remained for the evening, having completed with ease a journey of Go miles. Next day, Thursday, accompanied by Air Hughes, who rode a trusty charger, the indomitable teacher wended his way to Mastcrton, and ou Friday morning he was on his way to AVellington. Air Hughes informs us that the effect of the bicycle in the Forty Mile Bush was slightly alarming. As they came up with the Maori pahs at Hawera, the children eyed the man on wheels from a distance, and then like mountain deer bounded into the whares. A nearer approach sent the young of both sexes flying in all directions, and finally the aged, bare-footed, blanketclad, grey-haired chiefs, with hair on end, hobbled up the hillside, as if the enemy of mankind with his pitchfork were after them. At the Scandinavian settlements, the juveniles particularly seemed to be pleased and greatly astonished, for they ran helter-skelter in all directions. The schoolmaster abroad, on this occasion, has evidently taught the .young idea how to shoot, and he is not likely to readily forget the sensation that his bicycle ride of over a hundred miles in two days made on the denizens of the Forty Alile Bush." "Jacques" in the Christehurch Telegraph thus discourses about the new opera "Boccaccio" that will probably be produced here next month by Simouseu's company: —-"There is nothing distinctively naughty about 'Boccaccio,' unless it is naughty to make love to a cooper's wife on the top of a. barrel, while the cooper attends to his business iv the inside of it, seeing that it is properly water-tight. The moral of the play I gather to be that supervision of old fogies over young wives and daughters is a thing very ridiculous, and not to be encouraged ; that a wife is no longer a wife when the husband is drunk ; That the proper place for an old and slightly demented gentleman, who stands in loco parentis towards disguised princesses, is to be up a tree when jolly young students arc about; that the best satirist is the man who best deserves to be satirised. But aren't there enough subjects in the universe to laugh at without making fun of conjugal fidelity '? Most of us, I suppose, would prefer that our own wives should be faithful; isn't it, then a little mean of us to laugh at the cooper in his domestic difficulties, drunkard though he be 'r AVith Fiametta the case is different; she has a perfect right to marry Boccaccio, not having already elected in favor of a cooper ; and it is to be hoped that she found him the best of husbands. The fun of the piece is worthy of the theme. The music was pretty, and would have been prettier if adapted to a more beautiful subject. Boccaccio was very bewitching, as I suppose the young rascal was when he lived in fair Italy many centuries ago. But the 19th century has outgrown his style. Still I would sooner have him as he is at the Theatre Royal than allow his ' Decameron' to bo onniy drawingroom table." " Oyster betting " is becoming fashionable in French sea ports. The company re? pairs on a bright morning to the oysterbed, where the creatures are opening themselves to the sun. Each chooses his oyster, and puts a Napoleon between the shells, and the forunatc gambler whose oyster first closes upon the coin nets the whole pool. I

A special cable message in the Melbourne Age is as follows:—"Despite the reports circulated to the contrary, Arabi Pasha is in poor circumstances, and the Egyptian > Government, acting on the suggestion ef/ Lord Dufferin, have therefore -?- - make him an allowance of £500 a year so long as he observes the conditions under which tho capital sentence passed upon him was commuted to one of exile." Naseby possesses an original character, who annonnces in the local paper " Public notice of repudiation of personal debts." If his example were to be followed generally throughout the colony, the effect would be to finally set at rest the vexed "bankruptcy '' question. The ingenuous '' notice referred to is as follows:—"I the undersigned, hereby declare that all debts owing by me, all rates and taxes, or any such commercial transactions, will become from hence nidi aud void, all payment of such having been stopped, until all those debts and accounts owing to me are paid." A singular instance of the wonderful vitality of plant life under mitoward circumstances is recorded. Some weeks ago a gentleman at Ararat converted a cutting from a mulberry tree in his garden into a cigarette holder, by poking the pith out of a piece a little over two inches long and enlarging the hole at one end to receive the cigarette, whilst the other was tapered off with a penknife in order that it might be held conveniently betweeu the lips. The novel holder lias been in active service since its manufacture, and it is now found to be putting forth leaves. Two incipient green buds are plainly apparent, and the nodules are swelling as if rigorous shoots were about to burst forth. The Christehurch Telegraph says :—Tho "heathen Chinee " can hardly be said to bo behind his fellows in the march of civilisation during the festive season judging from the following incident. A well-known licensed victualler of this town whose business is of such a nature as to necessitate the outlay of a large amount of capital iv stock to meet the requirements of his customers, was relating the extraordinary fact that during the last two years he had not received a single Christmas recognition from one of the merchants with whom he dealt most liberally, both in orders, and in a pe-_/ cuniui-y sense. At this moment in staTkecT"' a veritable "John," who, presenting a small parcel to the astonished boniface remarked :—" AVill you takee. Christmas all jolly. Me bringee 3-011 present. You good customer, John hkee you, savee. No kidee." Opening the parcel the recipient found to his surprise and gratification a splendid handkcrcliief of the best Chinese silk. As the extent of the patronage bestowed on John during the year had only been for a few vegetables the value of the Celestial's gift was far more appreciated than if it had been one forwarded as a quid/ pro quo for a liberal order. ■ The war dance of the Maoris is thus compared by Terry with the corrohorce of the Australian blacks: —"The arrival of a Southern tribe at Kororareka (Bay of Islands) afforded us an opportunity of witnessing the New Zealand war dance, which seems to be practised on nearly the same occasions as the corroboree of the New Hollanders. On the meeting of friendly tribes, these performances are regarded as being of a complimentary character; but previously to hostile onsets they are intended to inspire the combatants with courage, and to appal the enemy. In the haka, the deepest and loudest shouts that human lungs are capable of emitting alternate with a noise produced by impelling the breath through the compressed teeth, which is infinitely more hideous than the hiss or whistle of a locomotive engine; at the same time, tho features wear a most formidable expression, and the whole frame seems to be instinct with an energy of hate and evil passions truly demoniacal. In the dance of the New Hollanders there is a strange mixture of tho ludicrous. In passing over the moonlit plains of Australia, I could listen to tho latter without uneasiness, but the ferocious shouts and hissing of a New Zealand war dance aro of such a character as to make the blood run cold." V A resident of Kilmorc (Alotoria) was the victim of an attempt at murder a few days ago of a peculiarly horrifying nature. He had in his employ a wood-cutter, a colored man, whom he had discharged a day or two previously, parting with him on apparently good terms. Early on Sunday morning, however, the man in question is supposed is supposed to have entered Mr Campbell's bedroom by a window, for about one o'clock Air Campbell was startled out of his sleep by a man sawing at his neclc with a large carving-knife, which, in the dark, fortunately came in contact with the top of tho breastbone, and thus saved him from instant death. The would-be murderer, thinking he had killed Mr Campbell, was in the act of drawing- the knife across Mrs Campbell's neck, when, fortunately, the blade was caught by Air Campbell, who warded off the blow, hut in so doing received a terrible gash in the hand. The man then rushed out of tho room, followed by Air Campbell, who was bleeding profusely. The would-be murderer, however, got outside and escaped. The aided by some fifty settlers on horsehtcK scoured the country after the villain, wlio in the afternoon was caught and lodged in gaol. He has since been committed for trial. An Adelaide telegram of llth December gives particulars of a most remarkable scene on board H.M.S. Miranda :—" On Friday night Police-Corporal Shanahan and two special constables arrested a man called Cameron and another, both seamen of H.M.S. Miranda, who were intoxicated, and conveyed them to the vessel in a steamj. launch. On the way to the boat Cameron struck Shanahan a blow on the face, and when in the launch attempted to throw him overboard. The two seaman fought desperately, and were only secured by the help of of the crew. On arriving on board the Miranda, Cameron struck Shanahan with his handcuffed wrists, briused his eye, and gashed his cheek. The second seaman attempted to kick another constable. No one apparently made any effort to assist the constables, though Shanahan exclaimed, ' I demand protection for the other constables and myself as British subjects.' Four or five other seamen then rushed forward and commenced to assault the constables, whom they drove into the captain's cabin and bedroom ; all the time assailing them with blows. After the fight had continued sonic minutes, an officer interfered, and the constables reached the deck. Shanahan expressed to the quartermaster his surprise that there was 110 protection for a British subject on board a British man-of-war, and then the police left. It lias been determined by the police, in consequence of this extraordinary occurrence, not to send their men on board men-of-war in future with absentees, but to take them to the lock- up, and keep them until sent for by the ship. It is stated that the commander of the Miriand intends dealing with the offending seamen." The following is a description of Mrs Langtry as she appeared upon her arrival y in New York :—" Mrs Langtry is unquestionably a very beautiful woman. Her beauty is of the kind that baffles photography, and those who have seen her picture only have no conception of the charm of her face. Her complexion is pure white and almost transparent. There is on either cheek a didl, rich and scarcely distingiushable color that softens the contour of the face, but otherwise her skin is as white as snow. The ears are as beautifully white as the forehead, and the eyebrows are beautifully outlined. The mouth iv repose has a pathetic or serious expression, and the lips are as clearly cut as a statue's. AVhen i&e smiles perfect teeth aro revealed, ar/Trtttie cheeks wrinkle up into two deep .little dimples. The eyes, however, are the most winning feature of all, with little jetrblack pupils, and are shadpd by long dark lashes. They are wonderfully expressive, and certainly arc very effective. Mrs Langtry raised them slowly, and glanced into the faces of the men about her, looking- at each one fully. The faces had been sleepy, perhaps, but they woke up. As Mrs Langtry talked she looks at the faces about her with an expression of charming frauknesss, and often ingenuously when she was amused. Her cordiality was infectious. AYhen she smiled every face burst into a broad and sympathetic grin, and, when she laughed, her musical tones were drowned in the subterranean gurgles of tho enthusisticsppetators. Her voice is soft, agreeable, and so clear that it travels far, and she is utterly ... without t]ie broad English accent sq tire. v some in some of the theatrical people from the mother country. Mrs Langtry so thoroughly charmed the circle about her that when she gracefully withdrew the men turned to each other aud lost themselves in enthusiasm.

The method in which Japanese newspapers, are conducted is often amusingly naive. A recent issue of the Nicki NicH Shimbun—which, like all its native cont miporaries, not in columns, but in squares ) > —came out with one square blank, the space being covered with a number of straight lines. The editor apologises for the extraordinary appearance of the paper, informing his readers that at the last moment he found that what he had written was all wrong, and had to be taken out. Ho had no tune to fill it up with anything else, and there was nothing to be done _ but to leave the space without anything in it. There is really no mystery in learning to swim—an accomplishment which ispossessed in perfection by the most stupid of frogs. More than once I have explained how anyone can teach himself. The trunk, less the arms, is heavier than the water; with the amis, it is lighter; all, therefore, that a person has to do is to acquire the habit _of drawing in the breatli when lie is preparing to make a stroke, and expelling the breath when he is making it. Lot any one do this and keep calm, and he will find that he can swim. But, perhaps, it is better to acquire confidence by a preliminary course of floating. To do this it is only necessary to He flat on the water, stretch out the arms with the palms of the hands downward, throw back the head, and whenever the body sinks low slowly to fill the lungs with air.— London Truth. There was no .gold coinage at the Royal Mint last year, says the London Economist. Such a circumstances as the noncoinage of single sovereign or half-crown had not occurred before in any year since the establishment of the present system in ISI7. The nearest recent approach to such a condition was in 1879, when only £35,050 of gold were coined. Of course there are alternations of rise and fall in the Mint work. For example, in the intervening year between 1879 and 1881, £4,150,052 was the value of the gold coined. The average of the ten past years (1872-81) is not, however, reduced by the blank year 1881 to a lower level than £3,217,913 per annum. Other countries in 1881 show similar fluctuations. France is stated to have coined only £86,080, entirely in one hundred franc pieces: Belgiiun, nothing ; Germany, down to the end of November, £343,317; Austria and Hungary, about £408,819: Holland, nothing: Spain, £2,291,1G4, mainly in pieces of 25 pesetas or francs ; the four United States mints at i Pluladelphia, San Francisco, Carson, and ! New Orleans, £19,G83,4GG (at 45,) equal to Idol.; the two Australian brandies of the British Royal Mint at Sydney and Melbourne, £3,"705,500. The'totalgold coinage thus recorded for the year amounts to £2G,G09,24G. For silver coinage, the figures that can be collected give £1,004,324 at the Royal Mint, and £43,500 at the Sydney branch; £4,250,000 in India, £5,530,000 in the United States, £494,000 in Germany, £2,223,000 in Austria and Hungary. Total silver coinage, £13,544,824. The following story is published as a "solid fact" by a New York paper:— "Only recently, it seems, the crack reporter of a Brooklyn evening paper was sent by an early train to Plainfield, New Jersey, there to witness an execution appointed to take place that morning. Upon arriving at his destination he found that the criminal was not to be hanged until mid-day, an arrangement altogether incompatible with the despatch of his report in time for insertion in his paper, issued at 2 p.m. He therefore hurried off to the sheriff, and, after pointing out that he should be a loser of ten dollars if the man under sentence were not turned off before 12 o'clock, implored that official to give orders that the ' ceremony' should take place an hour earlier. At first the sheriff flatly, and even with some indignation, refused to entertain so unusual a request; but the reporter, no less persuasive than perscrvering, coaxed him into promising that he would authorize the change of hour if the person chiefly concerned could be induced to consent thereto ; for he added, the sooner the job was over aud done with the better he (the sheriff) would be pleased. The reporter was then admitted without delay to the condemned cell, where he briefly explained his wishes to its occupant. Drinks were freely partaken of, and the reporter made himself so agreeable that presently the doomed prisoner volunteered the statement that lie did not mind being hanged an hour before his time to oblige so pleasant a fellow.' This magnanimous offer was forthwith notified to the ■heriff, who gave the necessary directions, and the man was hanged at 11 instead of at 12, thereby enabling the Broolyn reporter to pret off a. fixll, true, arid particular accoiuit of the execution to his paper in time for the 2 o'clock issue." Of the many complaints in which Lavtoprptiuc has shown most prompt and decided success none have been more quickly relieved than the various forms of headache, including nervous and sick headache, which distressing complaints are in nine cases out of ten, due to inactive or sluggish liver, with constipated bowels. Lactopeptiue can be obtained in handy bottles, with full instructions enclosed, of Professor Moore, AVaipawa.—[Advt.]