Untitled

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3610, 6 February 1883, Page 2

A road of rather more than half-a-milc in length has been formed and metalled from the railway line at the 74-milo post, to connect the Matamau station with the main coach road near the Matamau Hotel.

A stevedore named Mcßride, engaged in stowing wool in the bay, lost his footing , and fell down the hold of the barque Thorno this morning, and had to be conveyed ashore for medical treatment. Although ho received a very severe shaking we believe no bones were broken.

The following , weather forecast was received by Mr "Wilkic at noon to-day from Captain Edwin:—Expect bad weather from between south and cast and north-cast. Glass falling "within twelve hours, accompanied with rain, and after that time very heavy rain and heavy sea.

Yesterday the annual treat to the boys of St. Mary's school was given them, one hundred "and eighteen being conveyed to the large paddock known as the Purimu pa in Kymer's coaches. Here the lads thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the day, returning to Napier in the evening.

A very able report from the Inspector of Nuisances will be laid before the Municipal Council on Wednesday. On the report being read at the Public "Works Committee meeting last night the unanimous opinion of the councillors was that the valuable suggestions offered by Mr W. Black deserved the earnest consideration of the Council.

The Hawke's Bay portion of the 'Frisco mail lias this time been despatched from Auckland by the k.s. Wanaka via the West Coast. The Wanaka left Onehunga at 5 p.m. yesterday, arriving at New Plymouth at 7 a.m. this morning , . She left for "Wellington at 0 o'clock. We may therefore expect our mail by the overland route on Thursday evening.

The local lodge of Druids held their regular fortnightly meeting at the Forester's Hall, Dickens-street, on Thursday night last. There was a large attendance of members, and a good deal of important business ■was transacted. One candidate was initiated into the order, and six more were nominated, after which the lodge was closed in due form by the Arch Druid.

The election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr John Bennett of his seat in the Hawke's Bay County Council for the Puketapu riding takes place at Puketapu to-morrow. Four candidates were nominated, but, owing to the withdrawal of Captain Russell from the contest, only three remain, namely, Messrs P. Dolbel, T, M. Milne, and W. Shrinipton.

B} r a private telegram received from Gisborne to-day we learn that the mining manager of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company reports a further depth of eleven feet having been bored last week, making a total depth of 265 feet up to the 2nd instant. OU exudes in the shaft, and is being collected. The gas is very troublesome, and the strata is medium hard and of tough papa.

Our readers will be sorry to learn that the grand old horse, The Agent, broke down, so badly in Auckland that he will be pensioned off for the remainder of his life. The sou of Oliver Cromwell has well earned his peaceful retirement from hard work. For many years ho has proved himself the champion weight-carrying, cross-country horss of tho colsrr/, -was ty/ics returasi vrimicr of tie

Grand National, besides almost countless other events.

A man of the name of Thomas. Long, who has pretty often made himself conspicuous in our streets by bad language and drunkenness, and a disinclination to go quietly to the lock-up, caused a sensation to-day. He was very drunk, and his language, "which was plain," was a little too too. Of course he resisted the police in the execution of the obvious duty of taking him to the lock-up, and so he was carried off to everybody's amusement by three constables, Mr 'Long the while exercisinghis voice to the full extent of his vocal abilities. The nominations for candidates for the representation of the ratepayers of this borough on the Napier Harbor Board must be lodged at the office of the Town Clerk by noon to-morrow. The ratepayers haveto elect three representatives. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Town Clerk, or the Returning Officer, Mr George W. Cullen. If more than three candidates are nominated a pole will be taken on Monday next, the 12th instant. The retiring members, who, of course, are eligible for reelection, are Messrs J. A. Smith, E. Lyndon," and J. B. Gleadow. One of the recommendations of the Public Works Committee to the Borough Council is to the effect that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to take proceedings against all persons failing to comply with the regulations in reference to the pansystem. A week's notice is to be given to householders of the intention of the Council to enforce the by-law, after which time it will be rigorously carried out. In the meantime it is to" be hoped the night-soil contractor will have increased his staff and plant to enable him to keep pace with the extra work he will be called upon to perform. The notice of bush settlers, especially of those of the Norsewood and Ormoudville districts, is desired to bo drawn to an advertisement calling for tenders for the formation of a mile and twenty-two chains of railway line, which is to be let in nine separate contracts. Another small formamation contract is in course of preparation, and for which tenders will be invited as soon as ready. This will be from the termination of the contract, for which tenders are already invited, to the Matamau station. Contract's will also be shortly out for all the small bridges, box culverts, and drain piping, the whole of which is to be completed by June 30th next. When the fire-bell rang last night there was, as is usual on such occasions, a disposition shown by a portion of the audience at the Theatre to reach the street with all possible despatch. Fortunately, enough people were present who had the good sense to keep their seats, and the performance proceeded as if nothing unusual had taken place. Those who took their departure from the building with such indiscreet haste very soon returned when they found that the fire was a considerable distance from the Theatre. Great praise is due to those young Indies who were on the stage when the alarm was given for their jiresence of mind and calm behaviour under the circumstances. We hear that there are Gl3 dwellinghouses on " the flats" or lower levels of the borough within which district the use of cesspits is supposed to have been abolished. Notwithstanding the bye-law compelling the adoption of the pan-system within that district only 205 householders have demanded the employment of the night-soil contractor. Thus "there arc 408, or nearly two-thirds of the householders, who have either ignored the bye-law altogether, or, what is much worse from a sanitary point of view, have adopted the earth-closet, and bury the night-soil in their backyards. It is impossible to keep the town in a healthy condition when such gross defiance of the commonest laws of health and cleanliness characterise the conduct of so many of the inhabitants.

A man named Frederick Parsons, employed at the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's boiling-down works at Clivo, met with a painful accident yestordav while engaged in the discharge of his duty. It seems he had occasion to inspect a part of the machinery that had gone wrong, when his foot slipped, and lie fell some distance, alighting on one of the large hooks that are used for hanging the carcases of .sheep. The unfortunate man was held fast by the hook for a few seconds before he wa*; freed, and when picked up afterwards it was found that his arm was lacerated for about eight inches, the hook coming out at the wrist. Parsons was removed to the Napier Hospital, where Dv Spencer sowed up the wound. It will be several weeks before the man can be sufficiently recovered to resume work.

About S o'clock last night a youth named Mossman, on passing Dr. Hitehings , place off Carlylc-strcet, noticed that the stable was on nrc, and promptly raised an alarm. A horse that was in the stable and two buggies that were in an adjoiuing , building were immediately got out before they sustained any hurt. By this time the fire bell had sounded, and members of both the town and Spit brigades were soon on the spot with a hand engine and hose reel. Before any water, however, could bo directed on the building (a new one) in which the fire had its origin it was completely destroyed, but the firemen were successful in their endeavors to save a portion of the old stable which was then burning. Water had to be obtained at first from an iron tank in the yard, the high pressure hose brought out not being long enough to reach the main in Carlyle-street, or to connect with the well on Dr. Hitchings' premises. Connection Avith the main was, however, subsequently established, and a good flow of water obtained. The fire, which apparently commenced amongst some hay, spread so rapidly that the harnessroom could not be entered, and all the harness was destroyed, as well as a quantity of oats that was stored in the stable. As usual there is no due as to the cause of the fire. It is, however, said that a man has been prowling about the house and stable for several nights past, and conjecture connects- this circumstance with the fire. The total loss, including two sets of harness, will be not less than £1.30, of which £100 is covered by insurance in the Royal office.

"Jack the Giant Killer "-was produced for the first time at the Theatre Royal last night, when, despite the uninviting state of the weather, there was a very fair attendance. The pantomime proper was preceded by the customary burlesque extravaganza, which made up in song , and dance what it lacked in dialogue. Several of the dances were very cleverly managed, and showed proof not only of careful training but of aptness on the part of the little performers. The grouping , and posturing was most effective, and the dressing and mounting of the piece having received due attention the stage presented at times a brilliant appearance, ■which was heightened by the use of blue and red fires. Miss Graupner as Jack scored a signal success, and was loudly iipplauded for her singing of " Killarney " and "La-di-da," an encore being demanded for the latter song. Miss Dolly Ininan as KingArthur, Miss A. Hodge as Sybil, and Miss Amy Childs as the Queen Bee sustained their respective characters very commendably. Miss Childs looked decidedly pretty, and acted and danced with great spirit, while Miss Hodge's song, "Pretty as a Picture," was deservedly encored. The harliquinade .opened with a transformation scone, which was greatly aj>plauded, and the comic business then commenced. Master Willie Driscoll as Clown, Master E. Osmond as Pantaloon, Miss Amy Childs as Harlequin, Miss Dolly Inman as Columbine, Miss A. Hodge as Fairy Queen, and Master Favarger as the Policeman, were all that could be desired, and, what with dancing and tumbling, stealing sausages from Mr E. Conroy's shop, giving an "easy shave," and way-laying , peaceful citizens generally, their time was fully occupied for over an hour to the apparent delight of all who witnessed the fun. The pantomime will be repeated again to-night. To-morrow evening a special train will be run from Hastings in connection with the performance, conveying passengers at single fares; children half price.

New York papers report that Mr Edison has been warning the public against the careless use of electric overhead Aviros. He believes that a dreadful accident will be caused one of these days, and that then, perhaps, the Legislature will compel the wires to be carried along underground. It is pointed , out that in the event of a building to the roof of which electric wires are fixed being burnt down the firemen Avould be certain to sustain serious injuries from the electric currents among the debris. Jf a fireman chopped the wives with an axe he Avouid, if the axo haudls we:3 7.-ot, recoivo a fatal c2i;±.

As an example of the enormous use of proprietary medicines in England, we are told that patent medicine stamp duty to the amount of £144,000 -was paid last year, which is equivalent to at least £1,000,000 ; sterling as the present annual payment by - the British public for secret remedies. ~ In New South Wales 415 persons hold 13,527,956 acres, out of 25,482,038 of the total freeholds of the country from one acre upwards. Out of 13,529,056 less than 22,000 acres are under cultivation. Since 18(31 five squatting firms are stated to have acquired, a quarter of a million of acres each in the colony. A curious canoe adventure is reported from Lyttleton. Some members of the boat club in the borough resolved to row to Sunnier by night. They started at twelve o'clock, and paddled away vigorously all night, enjoying the trip exceedingly. At sunrise it was discovered to their great chagrin that the painter had not been cast oft", and that they had remained at the same spot where they had taken leave of their friends, by whom they are known as "the explorers." A " Celestial Invasion," so much dreaded a year or two back (says the Evening Post) seems now to have been totally averted. In the year 18S2 only 23 Chinese arrived in the colony, while 168 left New Zealand, 92 for China and "G for Australian colonies. The arrivals included two women and two children. The departures were all adult males. From these figures it would seem that all danger of the '' yellow agony '' becoming , formidable in New Zealand has now been effectually removed. A child has died of diphtheria in the Chinese Camp at Lawrence. It was only ill for a few hours. Particular attention is drawn by the Tuapeka Times to the carelessness displayed by the residents of the Chinese Camp in mixing themselves up with the rest of the community, when there is a disease of such a virulent type as diphtheria raging amongst them. Why such carelessness should be tolerated is something beyond astonishment, as it is distinctly against the spirit of the Public Health Act, and against the rules of all society. If the Celestials intend to make themselves obnoxious by being vehicles and mediums for sowing broadcast the seeds of disease, they cannot expect to be very favorably looked upoa- _, by the white race. If they continue to persevere in their present line of conduct there will be no course left but to carry out the terms of the Act and inflict penalties. Two bookmakers named Alfred Drake and Patrick Carey (says the Argus) were arrested and placed in the city lock-up on. the 23rd on a warrant issued upon an information sworn by William J. Quinn, a fanner, living at Taramung in the Western district, charging them Avith having conspired together to defraud him of £150. It "*"" is alleged by the prosecutor that he gave the prisoners £150 on the 11th and 12th of January last, for the purpose of starting a book on the Victoria Club Race Meeting. The money was deposited on the understanding that Drake and Carey should contribute £150 between them, and open a book for £30 on the meeting, Quinn to participate in the results. After the event the prisoners told Quinn that they had lost £60 over and above the £300 in question, but the latter heard that they had really cleared £400, and thereupon instituted criminal proceedings for conspiracy and fraud.

A fatal case of poisoning by peach stones which is noted in the French papers as having recently occurred in Paris should .serve as a warning to families in -which children are allowed to look after themselves for hours at a time. Probably few adults themselves know how poisonous peach stones are. The victim of a recent accident in Paris secreted the stones of a number of peaches, and, obtaining a hammer, when left alone broke them, open industriously and ate them; the result being that he was fatally poisoned by hydrocyanic (prussic) acid. Since the peach season is now upon us, it is well to explain what quantity of poison the peach stone possesses. Writers on toxicology- state that one ounce of the kernals contain about one grain of pure prussic acid, and this quantity, it is well known, is sufficient to kill an adult person. Even twothirds of a grain has very often proved fatal, and indeed may be regarded as a fatal dose for any child.

An attempt has just been made to blow up the Monte Carlo gambling saloons with dynamite. It appears that while the saloons were crowded with excited players and others looking on,- a bomb, which had been placed behind one of the doors exploded with a terrific noice. A panic ensued, and affrighted men and women rushed into the street. When the panic subsided it was found that one person had been seriously injured; the others had escaped almost by a miracle. At first it was supposed that the object of the perpetrators of the outrage was robbery, and in the excitement there was plenty of opportunity for this, as in their flight many of the players forgot their stakes, but the bank servants secured their capital against the pillage which was no doubt intended. After the explosion the police arrested an Italian, aiid it transpired that he had attended the tables regularly, and had lost all ho had in the world at them. —""* »

A case was heard at Belfast a few weeks ago (says the Sydney Echo), in which a man named George Drennan was charged by subConstable Baivd with having assaulted his wife and a man named O'Neill. The woman was in the hospital and O'Neill did not appear. ' The extraordinary feature in the case was that the prisoner had actually sold his wife to O'Neill for one penny and a dinner. There was a document drawn up between the j>risoner "on the one part and O'Neill on the other, stating among other matters that for the considerations mentioned he had Xagreed to assign and transfer to one Patrick O'Neill all his right, title, and estate in his lawfully wedded wife—to wit, the woman now in hospital. The document was as follows : "I, George Drennan, do hereby agree to sell to Patrick O'Neill my wife for the sum of one penny and a dinner.'' It did not appear the agreement had been fully carried out, as an assault had been committed, as alleged, on the recently sold wife of the prisoner.

At a recent discussion at one of the American medical societies, there was a statement made that, for delicate women, horseback exercise was not a good thing as a rule. Another statement was quoted by one of the speakers to the effect that no women ought to ride horseback. American physicians may take heart of grace (says the Brisish Medical Journal) from the larger experience in this respect of English practitioners. In the country, happily, 5 equestrian exercise is the happy privilege and daily practice of thousands of all ages, and delicate as well as robust constitutions. It is impossible for anyone who has seen the healthy glow spread over the cheeks, pale just before, of some lady after half-aii-hour's exercise on horseback, to agree with Ynu proposed dictum. Ladies take far too littlo exercise in the fresh air. It is rather the duty of the medical man to sock to encourage athletic exercise of all kinds, than to deprecate it from fanciful fear. Americans will gain health, and lose nothing in . grace and refinement, by emulating the accomplishments of their English women as horsewomen.

When an individual is reported to have died of disease of the heart avo arc (says Hall's Journal of HcaltW in the habit of regarding it as an inevitable event, as something whicli could not ha%'c been foreseen or prevented : and it is too much the habit Avlicn persons suddenly fall down dead, to report the heart as the cause. This silences all enquiry and investigation, and saves the trouble of a, post, mortem. A true report would have to save, many lives. It is through a report of the aisea.se of the heart that many an opium eater is led off into the grave that covers at once his folly and his crime ; the brandy drinker, too," quietly slides around the corner thus, and is heard of no more ; in short, this report of the disease of the heart is themantlo of charity which the polite coroner and sympathetic physician throw around the ■rraves of generous j)eople. At a scientific congress at Strasburg it was reported that of thirty-six persons who had suddenly died, ,'ui'immediiite and faithful pod mortem showed that only two persons had any heart affection whatever —one sudden death only in thirty-three from disease of the heart. Nine out of sixty died of apoplexy—one out of every seven ; Avhilo forty-six—more than two out of three, died of lung affection, half of them from congestion of the lungs, that is, the lungs were so full of blood that they could not Avork—there Avas not room enoughs, for air to get in to support life. It is then, }- of practical interest to know some of the causes of congestion of the lungs. These arc cold feet, tight shoes, light clothing, costive bowel", silting still until cliilled through after having warraed up by bard later or a bag hast/ v,-alk.

Shortly after the gorgeous flag of the Corporation had been hoisted over the Municipal Buildings this morning (says the Wellington Post of a recent date) one of the Corporation employees noticed that the festive bunting was chafing _ seriously against the top of a chimney in its immediate vicinity. He rushed at once into the Mayoral office, and informed the Mayor what was going on. His Worship replied absently, "Is it; 0, pull it down then." His informant promptly flew to obey the Mayoral order as he understood it, and having summoned the assistance of another man, the twain proceeded with great agility to the roof of the Corporation Buildings and commenced with utmost expedition to pull down the chimney against which the precious bunting was chafing. With such energy did they buckle to their labour of love that had not a passing Councillor happen to see them and give the alarm to the City Engineer, they would have had the peccant chimney down level ■with the roof in a brace of shakes. They desisted very reluctantly in compliance with a peremptory command, but evidently deemed themselves deeply wronged men.

The Chinese, according to the Tuapeka Times, have now nearly finished the work of exhumation of the bodies of their Celestial brethren for the purpose of sending them home for burial. The modus opmindi pursued is to gather together the bones of each consumed corpse into a calico bag, thereafter enclosing the same in a cornsack and putting a label thereon, so as to show the identity of the bones, four of these bags being put into a leaden coffin and afterwards enclosed in a wooden one. TJnconsuined bodies are put each into a leaden coffin and afterwards into a wooden box, the leaden coffins being all well soldered together, and the wooden ones firmly screwed down. A number of professional Chinese resurrectionists, who, it is ■said, get £10 for every body resurrected, have been engaged, and these carry on the work of manipulating the remains in the apparently nonchalant and unconcerned manner, the sight to any stranger, especially of delicate nervous organisation, being anything but a pleasant one. The coffins which had formerly held the dead are all burned. A vessel from China, it is understood, will take the bodies to Canton upon their arrival at Port Chalmers.

A strange story comes from Marseilles, the substance of which is that the son of a wealthy merchant, with a fortune of £2,500,000, has for the last forty years been shut up in a madhouse, although it is alleged he is and always has been perfectly sane. The generally admitted facts are as follow: Jean Mistral, when 23 years of age, fell in love with the daughter of a Polish exile, and married her against his father's will. The father was not to be moved by the entreaties of the young couple, and left them to beg their bread. As the marriage had been celebrated in Poland,_ he contrived to have it declared null and void; and then, after several violent scenes with his son, his doctor signed a certificate of the latter's insanity. The young man was shut up in the departmental asylum ; and although his father bequeathed him the whole of his fortune, here he has remained ever since. During that time the fortune has been administered by his father. One or two of Ids relations have taken up the case, and a petition addressed to the Chamber of Deputies, asking that he might be set at liberty, has been favourably reported on by the committee to which the Minister of the Interior referred it. The committee has advised the Minister to grant the prayer of the petition: but this has not yet been done, and it may be safe to predict that the lawyers will get a considerable share of the fortune.

"iEgles," in the Australiasian, has the following:—At a recent election for a certain New Zealand count}-, a female elector of -wide but unpleasing* notoriety, was induced to travel twenty miles at the expense of one of the candidates to record her vote. A buggy was provided for the purpoe by a relative "of the candidate, who boldly defied public reprobation by driving the lady to the locality of the polling booth. Arrived at their destination, the candidate himself was seen looming large in front of the polling booth, together with a number of voters —many of them the friend of the rival candidate. There was a fusilade of chaff as the buggy was drawn up, and Mr was greeted with cries of '' Give her j our arm, sir?" "Is that the way to treat a lady who has come so far?" Indeed, the banter was so exceedingly person.-il that the candidate abandoned the field for a time, but not before he was observed slinking oft' by the lady who had travelled so far in his interests. She was equal to the occasion. Marching straight into the booth, she obtained her voting-paper, and openly .struck out the names of both the candidates by way of a double-barrelled revenge. When the defeated candidate travelled home that evening, not the least bitter recollection was that lie had delivered himself over to the gibes of his neighbors—and for nothing.

A correspondent writes to the Field on the subject of introducing , vermin into the colonies. "A Colonist" enquires how stoats and weasels could be procured and transported to New Zealand, but objects to ferrets as delicate. No doubt many ferrets are delicate, so would any animal become under like conditions —kept in a close hutch or old tea box among damp litter, and .sometimes not taken out once a month. But if "Colonist" were to take out .some healthy brown ferrets, turn them into a house with a yard to it, like a dog kennel, and let the ferrets live and breed there, the young , oues would grow up as healthy, strong, and wicked as stoats ; and, if turned out into the bush, if they did not in a generation or two become actual polecats, they woidd be a very good imitation of the polecat. If a ferret escapes or is lost in a wood, it generally in a day or two makes its way to some neighboring house, where it is caught, but sometimes (though rarely) they do not return, but remain running wild. A ferret that has been running wild for a month in a wood is as active, quick, and difficult to catch as any stoat. I have seen such a case more than once. The editor of the Field Avarns '' Colonist and others that they should be careful in introducing foreign animals that may eventually become a scourge. He might have gone even further, and said that any man introducing an animal that might eventually become a .scourge ought at the sume time to introduce its antipode or natural enemies, or he might for a time upset the natural balance of nature.

The potential usefulness of the Australian Colonies to the Indian Empire is about to become more generally recognised, says the Home News, and a very commendable agitation is on foot to make Tasmania a sanatorium for the troops serving in India. The wonder is that some scheme of the kind was not undertaken long- ag-o. The Indian hill stations have their drawbacks. They have been more than once visited by epidemics, they are not always easy of access, the climate is not always above reproach, and the expense of keeping them up often very great. Tasmania, on the other hand, is one of the healthiest places in the world. It can easily be reached from Bombay, and the length of the sea voyage will be very greatly diminished by the addition of a high class of swift steamers. Moreover, Bombay can be reached rapidly, and with but little difficulty, from almost all parts of India, and the ameliorating effects of change would be immediately operative upon embarkation. The mere voyage, indeed, which would replace a tedious land journey to the hills, would be productive of good. There is also the undoubted advantage that the journey to Tasmania and back would be much shorter than to Europe. Hence there would be far less delay in the return of the invalided to duty, wliile the general cost of living in Tasmania is low enough down all expenses. Prejudice and reactionary practices may still militate against the general adoption of colonial sanatorituns, but the latter are certain to make their way in the long run.

The New Zealand Times, in a leading article, speaks thus of the " Empire City " : —"Wellington is not, for the most part, a beautiful city, though it might be. If the visitor takes Ids first general view of it from the surrounding hills, which is the best way usually to give a town every {esthetic- advantage, he sees before him, indeed, a noble harbour, unsurpassed even in New Zealand, which abounds in stately marine inlets to the sheltered land. But the city on its shores is more likely to remind him of Leigh Hunt's maxim, ' There is an incurably vulgar side to humanity.' In the .summer we are only reminded of sun glare and heat, in winter of cold and shelterless storm. And when we come nearer to the city itself, the place does not gain by closer inspection, if Wellington itself is not pretty, neither is it massive. There is not a really fine building in the city, though there are two or three pretentious ones. The Government Buildings form a gigantic dingy pasteboard palaest iU'.li as a tceus paaite; , sobering

from delirium tremens might put upon the stage as a representation of ancient Babylon" or still more ancient Karnac, and they are only relieved from utter ugliness and palpable shoddy work in wood structure by the broad paths in front and the thick shrubberies just beyond. All over the town the photographer searches in vain for one striking view, and the unhappy man, as he toils along the dusty streets and ugly buildings, can only console himself with the grim prospect that at some future time, sooner or later, a good part of the city, from the nature of its material, must perish by the flames."

The most tangible thing in Ireland (says the Dispatch of December 31) is the distress and misery of the people in the western districts, particularly _in places where there are hundreds of evicted families without shelter, and starving. Information about these is derived chiefly from the Catholic priests, whose own resources are all exhausted, and about whose dwellings unfortunate creatures are gathering, begging piteously for a potato or a little corn meal.

Sir Charles Dilke was appointed President of the Local Board on the 31st of December. It is said that the Queen was averse to the appointment, but Mr Gladstone overcame her scruples and made his Eadical friend a Minister. In a speech Sir Charles Dilke made on the 29th of December, lie said that some of his earlier opinions were those of his political infancy, which anyone might regard as unwise as he grew older. This partial recantation did a good deal towards smoothing Sir Charles Dilke , s way to office.