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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3623, 21 February 1883, Page 2

There was a clean charge sheet presented in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning.

G. A. Picecc, Esq., R.M., has been appointed Judge of the Assessment Court for the Borough of Napier.

The reserve in the Takapau survey district, Block IX., lias been set apart for a site for ii Court House. The reserve contains I acre 16 perches.

The Borough Council has a special meeting on finance at 7.30 o'clock this evening, the ordinary meeting taking place afterwards. There will then follow a specia: meeting for the confirming of new by-laws.

A correspondent writes : —"Will you inform me through your columns what division of police was stationed at Bow-street, London, in 1872." Perhaps some of our readers may be able to supply the information.

The property tax assessors have valued the Corporation reserve of 2000 acres in the Seventy-mile Bush at .£6OOO. In the last statement of the Borough Accounts this reserve figured as an asset of the value of £2000. Verily, the Corporation is rapidly growing wealthy.

We understand that the trustees of the Church of England Hawke's Bay trust estate in Nnpier are willing to dedicate the roads within it to the Corporation. This action will remove the objection to the Council laying water mains through those private thoroughfares.

The acceptances for the Napier Handicap Railway Stakes, and Hurdle Race, for the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's autumn meeting, will be found in another column. The acceptances for the big event arc not as numerous as might be wished, while, if we except Bundoora, the noted "pinks and satins " of the New Zealand turf are conspicuous by their absence.

In addition to tho general overhaul and renovation of the interior of the Supreme Court building, the outside is now being considerably improved in appearance by receiving a much needed of paint, the contract for which is in the hands of Mr J. Morrison, of Napier. The same contractor has, we observe, just completed the external embellishment of the Chief Post Office, which also looks much the better for the service rendered it.

The vessels in port to-day gave the inner harbor the somewhat unusual appearance of being a shipping place. At the breastwork there were three fairly large vessels, namely, the barque "Wandering Chief, and thu three-masted schooners Johann Adorph and Frank Guy, and the s.s. Southron Cross was lying at the cattle wharf. Besides these there was the local fleet of lighters and costal steamers. The Wandering Chief is nearly a full ship, and will be taken out to the roadstead this evening. The Johann Adolph, after discharging cargo, will load up with wool for London. The Frank Guy is discharging Hobart palings and timber.

The " fruit banquet" given in the United Free Methodist Church sehool'room last evening was largely attended, and proved highly successful. An abundance of such fruit as is in season was provided, and received liberal attention at the hands of all present. The chair was occupied by the Ilex. E. 0. Perry, who submitted the following programme, which was carried out in a very creditable manner:—Pionoforte solo, Miss Holt; song, "NilDespcrandum," Mr R. H. Robinson; recitation, "Ilenry of Navarre," Mr J. W. Griifen; song, "Close the shutters Willies dead," Mr Stairmond; sacred song, "Too Late," Mr Rocs Wat-kins ; reading, " Proud Miss MeBride," Rev. E. 0. Perry; solo, "Angels cverbright and fair," Miss Large (encored); song, ' 'The Old Sexton,'' Mr R. 11. Robin.son; reading, Mr F. E. Sauiiders; song-, "Beautiful "Isle of the Sea," Mr Roes "Watkins; song, '"I'd choose to be a daisy,'' Miss Townshend (encored). The chairman apologised on behalf of Mrs "Watkins, who was unable to sing in consequence of indisposition. The accompaniments were supplied by Miss Holt and another lady whoso name we did not ascertain. At the conclusion of the entertainment Mr Perry thanked all who had given their assistance, also the donors of the fruit. Speaking of the strike of tailorcsscs, in Melbourne" (the end of which is announced in our Australian budget of news to-day) the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes:—"Possibly out of this strike will come a disscussion of the whole question of the employment of j'oung women. It is quite certain that a totally mistaken estimate has been formed by these latter of their relation to society, and that domestic servitude is looked upon by them as degrading. If the only bad result of this error wero the inconvenience it occasions to those who keep servants it might begot over, but there is the much more serious outcome of utterly un-domesticated wives and motliors. The homes of the class to which these girls belong arp depressing in their comfortlessness. It is not the conir ; fortlessness of poverty, but of ignorance of what should make a house bright and cheery. They are untidy, and slatternliness does not appear to produce any feeling of dissatisfaction on the minds of those who live in their midst. The result of homes such as these is the larrikin of both sexes, for although familiarity with domestic unloveliness may cause no apparent discontent, it offers no attraction. The consequence is that the young people who live in such homes get out into the streets as much as they caii of an evening, and we know very well what this facility v f intercourse has led to. The ideal homelifo of the well-to-do working man has no existence in this city."

They are just now organising - in Paris a show of eld hats, and it is to be followed by one of old boots. But these are nothing to the "beauty show" lately held in New York No" doubt it originated with the visit of tho great English professional beauty, whom the Yankees have paid fortunes to see, and abused to their heart's content both for her acting and her behaviour. The contest for the palm lasted some weeks. It was opened at Bunnell's Museum, and the competitors came in hundreds. The points considered in adjudging the prize were figure, eyes, complexion, features, and hair. The winner, whose superior charms were decided upon by ballot, and vhp secured more than 2000 votes, had twenty bfiuajfdv fiifcrs of marriage upon the spot and fifty of morganatic attachment. When this was known the excitoment among the rest for second and tliird places was immense. There was also a prize of a sowing machine for the last in. the race—not a bad consolation. Tho Avinners of the prizes woro duly exhibited at tho ond of tho contest, and there is a talk of sending them all to Europe.

Another instance of Chinamen ousting Europeans is given by the Lake Wanaka correspondent of the Cromwell Argus. He says:—" Celestials seem to be much in demand this year. A number of farmers are employing * them for harvesting, and Mr Macdonald, the wool-classer at Pembroke, hq,s discharged the Europeans in his employ and engaged Chinese, who work ten hours per day."

A very simple and inexpensive method for killing rabbits has lately been described to the Southland Times by Mr George Gordon, New River. It consists of placing within rabbits-holes small fragments of phosphorus (eight pieces to a stick) laid on old matchboxes or other iron plate, igniting it and then covering up the entrance to the burrows. After the lapse of twelve hours all the rabbits within that burrow will be found dead.

The books of the Government Insurance Department for the six months ended 31st December last show, says the New Zealand Times, that no fewer than 9320 policies hare been issued in both branches—the ordinary and the industrial—during the period mentioned, assuring £789,500, being in excess of the total new business transacted by the department during any preceding financial period of twelve months' duration. The new business has thus more than doubled itself in the last six months. The renewal business also shows a satisfactory increase.

Speaking- of the commission that has been appointed to inquire into Western Pacific affairs, the Fiji Times, In a leading article, says:—"And if this news is important, it is no less alarming. Alarming - from the composition of the Commission, which, to everyone in the colony, outside of official circles, must be regarded as most hostile to the interests of those who have fields to cultivate, and, of a consequence, most detrimental to every man whose means are bound up in Fiji's prosperity, or who is dependent for a livelihood on honest labour subservient to its progress."

Madagascar is somewhat larger than France. A belt of almost virgin forest runs around the island. The population is about •i,000,000, and the soil will easily support 30,000,000. India rubber is a principal export. The mineral wealth is enormous. The London Economist says:—"Though Englishmen may regret keenly the conquest of Madagascar by France, it is not their duty or their business to prevent it in the only possible way —by insisting, at any risk, that the conquest shall not be attempted. Let the French get a bit of the tropical world if they can."

It is understood that Mr Anthony Trollopo has died a comparatively poor'man— poor, that is, in proportion to the number of his novels. Mr William Black is understood to be making more than Anthony Trollope realised during the best years of his career. Wilkie Collins probably realised as much as Trollojie. It is said that Ouida's gains would break the hearts of the lovers of literature. Again, George Eliot's profits were very large. " Daniel Beronda " alone realised her £10,000, and Miss Braddon is understood to be nearing, if she has not already topped, the Parnassus of the novelist who writes with an eye to profitable sales and a big fortune in the' end.

What is to be the outcome of the next session of Parliament? The question is asked by the Inangahua Times, as introductory to the following expression of opinion : —It is universally admitted that Major Atkinson's schemes to render support to the local bodies have proved a "little fraud." The County Councils and Road Boards are in no better position that they were latt year, and it is evident that if the evils complained of are to be remedied, instant acticn must be taken. At the ensuing meeting of Parliament, the Government will be obliged to strengthen the hands of local bodies, and decentralise political power in Wellington. Unless such a step is taken the Government will receive a rude shock from which they will not recover.

We take the following piscatorial items from the Clutha Leader:—"A very largo eel was caught in Lovell's Creek by Mr Eraser, storekeeper, while fishing there one day last week, which on being opened was found to contain no lews than three goodsized trout which, by their freshness, appeared to have been lately swallowed. Mr E. Richardson, of the Standard Office, Dunedin, who accompanied Mr Eraser, forwarded one of the trout to Mr Arthur, of the Acclimatisation Society. We are afraid this is not by any means a rare occurrence in our streams, and the scarcity of fish in some of them may largely accounted for by tho number of eels wliich abound.—The largest trout ever seen by anyone in this quarter was caught on Monday last by Mr M'lvinnon, of the Puerua Hotel, in a pool of the Puerua stream a little above the bridge on the road Balclutha to Port Molyneux. The trout measured 2ffc. Bin. in length, girth 2ft., and weighed 221b. It was caught with a minnow, and Mr M'Kinnon had no great difficulty in lauding it."

A very pretty amusement, especially for those who have just completed the study of botany, is the taking of leaf photographs. One' very simple process is this: At any druggist's get an ounce of bichromate of potassium. Put this into a pint bottle of water. When the solution becomes saturated—that is, when the water has dissolved as much as it will—pour off some of the liquid into a shallow dish: on this float a piece of ordinary writing paper xmtil it is thoroughly moistened. Let it become dry in the dark. It should be a bright yellow. On this put the leaf—under it a piece of soft black cloth, and several sheets of newspapers. Put these between two pieces of glass (all the pieces should be of the same size) and with spring clothes -pins fasten them, together. Expose to a bright sun, placing the leaf so that the rays will fall upon it as nearly perpendicular as possible. In a few moments it will begin to turn brown ; but it requires from half an hour to several hours to produce a perfect print. "When it has become dark enough, take it from the frame and put it in clear water, which must be changed every few minutes till the yellow part becomes white. Sometimes the Icaf-voinings will be quite distinct. By following , these directions it is scarcely possiblo to fail, and a little practice will make perfect.

As a steamer was coming up tlio river the other night, says the Chieargo Tribune the passengers and crew were startled by a singular whistling , sound in the air all about the boat. No ono could account for the noise, and the more they tried the more unaccountable it seemed. The captain went to the electrical machine and turned on the light, SOO-candle-power. In a, moment the whole foggy river was flooded with light, and it was .seen that the noise proceeded from an inuinerablo colony of wild duck on their way southward. The blinding glare startled the fowl, and, rising in great crowds, they began flying straight at the lamp. For twenty minutes the boat was literally full of ducks. Some of them would hit heavily against the gia»3 round the light, and fall stunned to the deck. Others fell into the faces of the men, and were knocked down with sticks and canes. In all several hundred were secured. Thirty-six, wore found concealed in different parts of the cabin in the morning when the boat came into the wharf at St. Louis. Others were found about the boilers and m the engine-room, and a great number wero killed by the wheels. Tlio ducks wcro mostly in the water when the boat ran into the immense flock, and when the electric light was turned on them they seemed to grow crazy with fear. They rose in great droves find whirled around in the air before dashing themselves against the lamp.

If the Kola nut deserves one half of the praise bestowed upon it in a pamphlet which has just been forwarded to us, observes the Globe, its more extensive introduction into England would bo highly desirable. Having been submitted to exhaustive analysis, it lias been found to contain more caffeine than the best coffee, and the same activp principle as cocoa, with less fatty matter. The negroes on the West Coast of Africa arc said to prefer it greatly to either tea or coffee, on account of its health-creatipg , qualities. This is not all, however; the nut also possesses the virtue of being , a sovereign pacific to remove the effects of recent intoxication. It is now used for this purpose on a sugar plantation at Jamaica. There the negroes make it into a cream with water, and bring themselves round in a moment. A further assertion goes to the effect that those who habitually consume decoctions of this invaluable product lose all taste for alcoholic stimulants, and even acquire a. great repugnance for them. If this can only be prjivejl, the perplexing problem of how to cure dipsomaniacs lyijl be at last in a fair way towards It woidd only be necessary to keep them in seclusion until they had acquired a taste for Kola,, ami then they might be set free without any risk of their reverting to the use of alcohol.