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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3777, 23 August 1883, Page 2

Thero was only a moderate attendance at the Musical Society's Aveekly rehearsal last night, but tho voices present shoAved q, marked improvement over former practices.

It is intended to give the society's first concert at an early date, ancl a full attendance at future rehearsals is therefore much to be desired. . We hear that it is contemplated by the lessees of tho Theatre Royal to convert their proprietorship into a public company. If the local institutions, such as the Musical Society,_ the volunteer companies, tlie Dramatic Club, skating rink members, &c, were to take up tho shares, they would find their profit in the undertaking. An interesting lecture ou " The Geology of Scinde Island" AA'as delivered by His AVorship the Mayor at the Working Men's Club last evening, and was well attended. Tho lecture Avas illustrated natural exhibits, and was listened to with much OA'ident attention. At the close' sv_ hearty vote of thanks Avas accorded to Dr, Spencer. Without Avishing to give Messrs Nelson Williams and Co. a cheap adA'ertiscment wo are impelled to say a good word for an industry the product of AA'hich is so excellent that it should be more extensively known by housekeepers. The preseiwed meats, Avhich comprise every kind, are delicious that arc turned out from tho Tomoana Avorks, and though tinned for export can be obtained in toAvn at prices that are wonderfully cheap. In reference to the appointment of an assistant first mistress for tho Napier school, a correspondent writes as folloAVS : — "Did not the Inspector of Schools, Avhen he informed the Board, and through that body tho public, that there Avere six applicants in Class D, and expressed his surprise that not one of these had not been accepted, know perfectly Avell that out of these only two ranked above Miss Gilroy P In point of fact did he not Juioav that out of the whole tAventy-one applicants two only held certificates of higher rank? The public may draAv their oaa'ii conclusions." The Taiaroa, bearing the iiiAvard 'Frisco mail, arrived at the anchorage at about 10 o'clock last night, being some three hours later than Avas anticipated. Notwithstanding the late hour at which the mail bags were brought into toAvn (after 11 p.m.) Mr Grubb, with his usual kindness and consideration, attended at the post oflico, together AA'ith the other officials, and had the entire mail sorted at once, an arrangement which enabled private boxholders to be in possession of their letters by midnight, and their ncAvspapers and book packets by shortly after 1 o'clock this morning. The mail consisted of 2831 letters, 365 books, 5647 neAVspapcrs, and 46 registered letters An ardent Fire Brigade member the other afternoon Avas out walking with his family and some country visitors. When on the hills the party came across a fireplug, and our friend Avas appealed to to show the manner of its Avorking. Lifting up the cover, ho pressed tho bali beneath Avith the point of his umbrella, and instantly a stream of Avater burst up which took off his hat and drenched him to the skin. While our friend was Avith difficulty suppressing the most frightful imprecations, his little daughter, in an ecstasy of cfaljght, said, "Do it again, pa, do it again ! " But"*" i he did'nt. The country team of footballers who haA'o challenged the Napier Club for Saturday next is composed of residents from the stations to the north of the toAA'ii. The team Avill include tho folloAving players:—■ Cunningham (Tutira), Duncan (Marao- . kakaho), Gregorio (Tongoio), Hedley (Mol haka), Kclls (Tongoio), Lananze (Petane), Lambert (Waikarcinoana), McKinuon (Arai paAvanui), Macandrew (Mohaka), Smith i (Tutira), St. Hill (Havelock), Stuart - (Tutira), Sanders (Rissington), E. Tanner (Hastings), C. Tanner (Petane), audT'Avigg (Petane.) The above will prove a heavy . team, and a good match should be the rosult of the challenge. For the information of the members of tho Education Board who seem to have been strangely ignorant of what they AA-crc doing . at their last meeting, avc may state that out of the tAventy-ono applicants for the post of assistant mistress at the Napier school the ► three highest certificates Avere held by Miss • Hay, Mrs Scales, and Miss Gilroy. Miss Hay ranks as Dl, and her certificate dates from 185.3. She AA'as rejected on account of 3 her ago. Mrs Scales ranks as El. Sho is j married, and, being a young Avife, was also t rejected. Miss Gilroy ranks E2, is aged 23, I and Avas selected, not alone on account of her

certificate, Avhich by the Avay is equal to Dt% but on account of her excellent testimonials.

The Dramatic Club purpose giving their second entertainment in about ten days time. The domestic drama " Daisy Farm " will be produced on that occasion, and as it has been thorougly avcll rehearsed a good performance may be anticipated. The members of tho club haA'c not been idlo, for in addition to the above piece they havo in acth'o rehearsal Byron's amusing burlesque on La Gazza Ladra, entitled the " Maid and the Magpie, or the Fatal Spoon," and the comedy of the "Peepshow Man." These pieces, which Avill comprise the third performance, will take place in about a month's time, so that holders of season tickets are having their full moneys worth. Another beautiful piece of furniture has been turned out of the Avorkshop of Messrs Large and Townley to 'the order of Captain BoAver, AA'hich Aye inspected this morning. It consists of a small draAving-room table, tho top being a massive piece of mottled f totarat splendidly polished. The frame is,bo. ■* mottled kauri panels, withhoneysucklebeading, and the legs arc of maipo. When it is considered that by the iniquitous land regu> lations deferred payment settlers are actually compelled to destroy the priceless timber ou thoir sections, it is astonishing that no one in Parliament denounces such suicidal folly. A visit to Messrs Large and Townley's AVarehouse aa'lll convince anyone of the grandness of the gift that Nature has given Noav Zealand in her forests. The annual general meeting of the HaAvke's Bay Cricket Association will bo held iv tho Empire Hotel on Saturday afternoon. An association .of this kind tends greatly to further the interest in • and as there is important business to be considered at Saturday's meeting thero should be a good attendance. Besides tho usual business of arranging fixtures, &c, thcro will probably be organised a scries of intcrprovineial matches. Captain Russell, the President of tho Association, has generously promised a cup to bo com-.-pctcd for in a series of matches in Avhich all the clubs affiliated to the association may take part. The meeting on Saturday avi'll bo open to members of association clubs; I none but delegates, hoAvcA'er, Avill be privilegen to vote. A committee meeting of the Poultry and Canary Association Avas held at the Masonic Hotel last night. The secretary handed in his resignation, in consequence of Mr Winter haA'ing dishonored the society's cheques after promising to meet cheques presented. Mr Winter stated that he had been asked to pay any cheques that camo in before the treasurer had timo to collect moneys due, and he had promised to do so, but as a fortnight had elapsed since, and lip moneys had been paid in, he considered time enough had been allowed for collecting, and s. had therefore dishonored tho society's cheques for £1 10s and £3 Gs. The secretary brought up a statement cf accounts, which shoAvcd a small balance to the good if moneys OAving Avere got in; ho also handed in some £2G cash in hand. All accounts due Avere passed for payment ~ L except the Herald's, Avhich Avas considered exorbitant. The secretary Avas asked to AvithdraAV his resignation, until affairs connected with the late slioav were Avound up.

Tho Napier volunteers paraded iv front of the Athonamm last night for inspection. There Avere good musters of both tlic Artillery, and Rifles, and volunteer band. Captain Garner, N.A.V., acted as adjutant, Major Routledgc being in command. After inspection' the. men Ayerp jpai-chccl to the Spit, Captain Garner exercising them, in various movements' eu route, but we cannot say that any remarkable degree of efficiency was shoAvn. Too much license is alloAved to the men in the ranks, particularly amongst the Artillery, which, to say the least, is not creditable, and perfectly inexcusable. Another apparent draAvback is owing to the fact that the non-commissioned officers, Avith one or tAvo exceptions, have not the remotest idea of

their drill, aud Avlieu an order is given they will almost to a certainty be found in the wrong placo, thus causing confusion ahioi}gst |(ie men. Tliis should not bo, and avo hope our A'olunteers. will take the hint. After a short rest at tlic Spit tho mfsr* wero marched back to town and dismissed. ' Ji Avord of praise is duo to the baud for its excellent playing, a marked improvement on previous performances being shoAvn, for <j which Bandmaster Tankard deserves comroeudation ;

£ Ono of tho funniest letters wo have read for a long time has been Avritten by a Mr G. N. Wilson, aud addressed to the Poverty Bay Herald. Tho following extract is most amusing : —" I havo tAvo girls aud two boys at present attending the public school hero (Gisborne) ; and every night ere they go to their beds, they have a round of lessons, taking the elder ones from 6 to 9 o'clock to learn, and to othenvisc prepare such as writing &c., for the monw. The younger are occupied at tho same toil from G to 8 o'clock. Our common sitting-room is thus transformed to a public school-room every night of the week save two—Saturday and Sunday. No voice, no conversation, no interruptions are allowed. Then assistance must be given to each child, and tho whole affair resolves itself into this : I am an unpaid Government school teacher, Avhich is a position I most decidedly object, to. Helping at the cost of tho rest I need myself, and at the cost of my children's eyesight; helping to earn a good round salary for teachers. Aro those teachers too idlo to do their oavii Avork ; or, sir, does it occur to you as it more than half occurs to me— Ace they incompetent ? "

Wo aro indebted to the Wanganui Yeoman for the tho folio Aving remarks, AA'hich _ are Singularly applicable to our coastal districts, upon that great desideratum, a growing shelter for depasturing animals :—" A l-apid-groAving shelter tree is much wanted on the coast, especially in the northern districts, Avhere bleak winds frequently prevail. The blue gum may ansAver the purpose as far as rapidity of groAvth is concerned, but it is inferior shelter, the lower portion of the trunk becoming after a time entirely destitute of branches. The macrocarpa is a magnificent shelter tree, but not of sufficiently fast growth to provide immediate shelter which is Avantcd. Tho pinus insignia is becoming a favorite tree for our plantations, but it has not sufficient stamina for some years to resist the heavy gales, although it is a rapid grower. The spotted gum is a tree little knoAvn, but it is likely to become the tree of the future for shelter. It is already high in favor in Auckland, and groAvs quickly and tenaciously, although its roots have not that exhausting power of the soil AA'hich characterises the blue gum ; and it has this great advantage that it provides shelter from tho ground upAvards, its branches not being deciduous as in tho caso of other gums. Mr Fantham has, avc understand, seen it groAving in the northern districts, and intends plaining itout largely this season for sheltering his farm at Hawera.

At a recent meeting of the Medical Association in Victoria, Dr. Youl pointed out that private practitioners in the colony had been as a rule most perfunctory in the performance of their duties as vaccinators. Ho had recently visited a number of Stale schools, and was amazed to find that scarcely a child had been properly vaccinated. Instead of being punctured in four places, only one mark Avas visible, and this was no security Avhatevcr against smallpox. In fact, he had no hesitation in saying that vaccination had hitherto been little more than a farce in Victoria. So strongly did ho feel ou the subject that it was his intention iv the report ho would present to the Chief Secretary in a day or two to recommend that tho business of vaccination be organised into a separate department. If once smallpox got a footing in the colony, it Avould spread to an enormous extent, as tho public had at present no protection whatever against the scourge.

The Brisbane correspondent of a contemporary writes:—"The suspicion that Queensland sugar-planters intend to make Ncav Guinea a hunting-ground for recruits has recently received some warrant in tlie case of the Fanny, a labour vessel AA'hich came to Townsvillo recently with captain and Government agent both disabled by spear and bullet wounds receiA'cd on an island belonging to the Noav Ireland group, off the coast of Ncav Guinea. Besides tho injuries done to the tAvo Avhite officials on that particular island, an interpreter Avas killed on another island. It is rather an awkward ocurrence at this juncture. Virtually New Britain, Ncav Ireland, and Duko of York Islands are a part of Ncav Guinea territory. It was on these islands that tho Fanny obtained her recruits, 144 in number. By Avhat moans—fair or unfair—she obtained thorn nothing is known here ; but a murder on one island and a determined attempt to

massacre the whole party on another island have an ugly look. It is possible that the second assault Avas made because the captain failed to return the interpreter ho had engaged from the island on AA'hich the second attack took place One thing is certain, this occurrence Avill strengthen the arguments of those avlio opposed the annexation of NeAV Guinea on tho grounds of humanity and anti-slavery."

At Paris, on June 12, the trial Avas begun of the Marquis de Rays and 17 others, charged Avith manslaughter, fraud, and infringement of the public companies and emigration laws. In July 1877, the Marquis advertised land for sale on the island of Port Breton, and inaugurated a scheme for emigration. The Legitimist papers interested themselves in the enterprise, and 5,000,000f were subscribed. Of this sum the Marquis pocketed 2,000,000f. It is stated that 700,000 hectares of land Avcrcsold, although the island contains only 7000 hectares. Tho Marquis had maps of the land published, in Avhich Ave-o indicated imaginary houses, churches, and roads. Ho also instituted militia and geudarmio forces aud necessary civil officers. Finally, as is avcll knoAvn to inhabitants of this quarter of the Avorld, ho despatched to tho island four old sailing ships, with a number of emigrants, the majority of AA'hoin perished under the most niisorable circumstaaccs. On ono vessel 30 emigrants died during the passage, 2'jO moro died from hunger and disease after reaching Port Breton, and 5 others Avere captured and eaten by tho natives of tho island. Only 100 of the unfortunate people succeeded in reaching Australia at last.

Tho birth of an eccentric child is announced by the Diarbckir rcAvspapcr, hi Turkish Kurdistan. Tho infant, Avhich is an object of interest not unmiuglcd Avith alarm to all in the neighborhood, avus born with a beard and a moustache, a perfect set of thirty-tAvo teeth, aud with no foAver than forty distinctly formed fingers. Its behaviour from the moment of its birth has been far from satisfactory. It is excessively noisy and violent, and owing to tho cruel bites it inflicts on all Avho conic Avithin reach of its mouth, it Avas found necessary to oxtract all its front teeth. Notwithstanding this disfigurement, the child's appearance is, if not prepossessing, at least imposing. No one Avho has seen it as it lies in its cradle stroking its beard and pulling its moustache Avith its forty fingers is likely to forget it. Fcav babies have ever excited greater interest, and for exhibition purposes this stranger is simply invaluable.

Louiso Michel has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment and ten years' police superA'ision for tho part sho took in the recent attempt to revive the horror of the Commune in Paris. Tho severity of tho sontenco is very generally admitted, and lias provoked so violent an outburst amongst the !|?rqnqh Revolutionary party and their Radical allies that the jndgo who imposed it is said to have tendered his resignation. Louise Michel deserves little commiseration. She confesses herself that her object Avas to establish a Reign of Terror, and if left at large Avould make a fresh attempt avlicuever a favorable opportunity offered. Her offenco must not bo measured by its consequonccs, Avhich Avere fortunately slight, but by its possibilities, Avhich aro fraught Avith terrible peril to tho Avelfare of France. Tho Reds hope that the sontenco Avill not bo carried out to its extremity ; but this must depend upon the condition of the country and the exigencies of tho party in power.