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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3796, 14 September 1883, Page 2

We again consider it our duty to call tlio attention of tho authorities—in this case the County Council, and tho Resident Engineer of tho Railway Department—to the continued denudation of tho land abutting - on tho Ngaruroro river noar its outlet. At the present, time, at the point where tho five-mile-post stands, there is but a distance of twenty-five paces from the crumbling edge of the river bank to the county road, and a similar distance, or in all fifty paces, to the rails of tho railway line. The beach, close by the flhtlot of the> river, lias been deeply worn away by cart tracks, and further weakened by immenso quantities of shingle having been taken from there for ballasting , the railway and for county road work. A long gul}y, so to speak, has thus been formed in the beach, which now invites an inroad by the river, and, in all probability, this inroad will bo made at the next flood. Should this bo the case the road traffic betweon Napier and the Waitangi bridge will be at once cut off, and if no protective works arc undertaken the next to suffer will be tho railway embankment. The railway authorities may probably think that as the county road is first threatened they can afford to wait for the county to tako the initiative. On tho other hand the County Council may flatter itself that, if the present road is damaged passed recovery, a new road can bo mado on the inner side of the railway line. Wβ can assuro all those, however, who nro of that opinion that to make a new road and a now bridge over the Waitangi will cost considerably more than if immediate action were taken. We believe that tho danger would be averted if a short breastwork were run out from tho point on the lower side of tho Waitangi creek toward tho outer beach, and assistance given to causo tho water of the rivers to break through to the sea in a lino with Waitangi. Wo understand that tho owners of property in the immediate neighborhood were asked to join in defraying tho cost of some protective works by a gentleman representing tho county, but we do not hoo the equity of tho application. Tho county road and the colonial railway are threatened largely owing to the county and the railway denuding tho boach of its natural protection. If anything wo think property owners have tho right to look for protection from tho authorities who havo assisted to make protective works a necessity. To such an extent has the river bank wasted away that tho former sito of tho buildings of tho Waitangi boiling-down works has now entirely gone, and tho piping of the artesian wells now stand somo distance in the river. Wo consider that remedial action should bo immediately taken.

The fourteenth annual report of the Mutual Life Association" of Australasia lias been forwarded to us for the purposo of showing , tho rapid extension of the practice of lifo insuranco in the Australasian colonies. Tho well-known Mutual Provident Society was tho first in the field to bring tho benefits of insurance as it were to the homes of the •working classes, and now its business rivals in the extent of its operations tho largest institutions of tho kind in tho world. No less gratifying, as exhibiting tho practice of thrift, is the progress that lias been made by the Mutual Life Association, its reports showing , that no fewer than 1940 now policies were taken up during tho year, insuring £52 J, 838, an amount exceeding the average of tho four or five previous . years, which was £490,000 from 110<f policies. The chairman informed tho shareholders that this enlargement of business was only equalled in tho case of seven out of 100 of the leading English offices — a fact which certainly says much for the zeal of its officers and agents. Tho growth of the society is further illustrated by tho increase of the funds from £232,823 to £291,235 ; tho increase equalling 5G| per cent, of the revenue collected. One of tho most satisfactory features of tho society's operations is the fact that its largo business is spread among so many members, as it appears that tho average amount of tho policies is far below that of the English offices. Tho chairman's inference is (says tho Sydney Echo) that, while in England the wealthier classes of tho community are those who chiefly tako advantage of lifo assurance, hero tho wage-earning classes come in to benefit. Of course, the more favourable conditions of life hero enablo this to be done by the humblest, as it is not possible to be dono in the old country. To the members themselves the view of tho society's operations which show with tho increase and extension of new business a diminution of 1 per cent, in tho working expenses, will be not the least gratifying. It has formed the subject of complaint with regard to insurance societies generally, that * ilie ratio of expenses is too great. It nocessarily must bo large with young societies, competing , as our Australian societies aro doing. As time progresses we trust that all our societies will be found to work their business at less cost, for there is no more j ren son why a flourishing lifo insurance society should wneto its funds than any other institution. We congratulate the members of tho Mutual Lifo Association on the increasing measuro of prosperity which has attended the past twelve months' operations.

Messrs C. Dolbel and Co. aro the successful tenderers for the erection of Mr J. D. Ormond's new residence in Napier. Tho price is £1000. • »..

Mrs Dr. Anna M. L. Potts has definitely arranged with the proprietors of tho Theatre Royal to give the first of her series of five lectures on social subjects on Monday evening, October Ist. Mrs Potts' lectures are .said to bo highly entertaining and ii*--' structiye.

A football match is to bo played on tho recreation ground to-morrow (weather permitting) between the second eleven of tho High School and tho second team of tho To Auto College. The match will no dqubt be very interesting , . Play will commence at 2.30 p.m.

In order to become a member of certain institutions a sot series of questions have to be asked of the candidate, and the formula can in no ivny bo departed from. And this is what occurred:—" Are you marriedi"' " Ycb." " How long , '( " «? I was married this morning." "How many children have you got '{ " "Oh! hang it, givo tt fellow time!" Candidate passed,

Speaking of the last days of the session, and of Mr Buchanan's sudden outburst sit Major Atkinson, the New Zealand Herald afiys: —"Mr J. Buchanan is the member for Napier, and during the time he has sat in tho House he has boon more remarkable for his eccentricity than his ability." Tho ships that left New Zealand towards the end of last May have made exceptionally long passages to London. The Opawa, whoso arrival at London is just reported, ■was 110 days on tho voyage, her five previous trips to and from the colony having ranged from 7-1 to"80 days. Tho Miitaursi, thnt loft Auckland on the same date as tho Opawa sailed from the Bluff, has not yet been roported.

Hegavty's Court Minstrels, fourteen in number, male and female, left Sydney yesterday for Auckland, and intend playing for a season of twelve nights there, after -which they will open in Napier for a short season, commencing on October Gth. Tho Court Minstrels have just concluded a run of 2G consecutive weeks at the Academy of Music, Sydney, and arc highly spoken of by tho Sydney press.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, beforeE. Patten, Esq., J.P., W. Loncr<?an, charged with drunkenness, pleaded guilty, find was fined m mid costs, or in default 48 hours , imprisonment with hard labor. Charlotte Butwell, similarly charged, explained in extenuation of the offence that she had only had two drinks, which rendered her "quite senseless." Charlotte's ways wore too well known, however, and the usual penalty was inflicted. There was no other business.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tho Albion Lodge, U.A.0.D., was held in the lodge-room last evening. A large number of tho brethren put in an appearance, and one candidate was initiated, and five j>voposed for initiation on next lodge night. After tho transaction of some other business the lodge adjourned for harmony, when some capital songs and recitations were given. Bro. Dr. Cowcll gave a short ami interesting lecture on "Homeopathy," which was listened to with wrapt attention by the members. After a very pleasant evening tho lodge was closed in due form fit 10.30.

An inquest was held at Ormondvillo yesterday, before Dr. Reed, acting coroner, on tlio body of ii married woman mimed Prentiss, who had died .somewhat suddenly at 7 a.m, on the preceding day. It appeared from the evidence that, on the Wednewlay precoding her death, Mrs Prciitiss gave birth to twins, both dead. Her husband attended her in her confinement, as (.so it was stated) lie had done on four previous occasions. The unfortunate woman did not seem, to rally, and died on the following Tuesday. TJie jury returned a verdict that deceased died in consequence of a difficult labor, and that her husband was greatly to blame for not having called in medical assistance.

It is just a month ago since, by direction of the Council, the Town Clerk wrote to the Minister for Lands in reference to the building of tho strong-room for the municipal offices, and calling attention to the promises made by the Hon.. Mr Dick in connection with the occupancy of the rooms by tho Corporation. Not the slightest attention lias been paid to that communication. It seems to us that the Government

intend to claim tho "pound of ilosk" to ■which they lay claim. If so tho Corporation can play tho same game, and make it pretty warm for tho Government for encroachments on and illegal seizure of streets. "We have yet to learn that the Ministry are above the law. A very successful tea meeting was held in the Town Hall, Waipukurau, on Wednesday evening, in connection with the anniversary of tho Presbyterian Church. The tables, which were presided over by the.ladies of tho congregation, were loaded with good things, to which the usual amount of justice was done. At tho conclusion of the tea a public meeting- was held, speeches being made by Revs. Shu-riffs, Douglas, Nichol, Eccles, and other gentlemen. A feature of the meeting •was tho excellent singing of tho choir. A balance-sheet was read, which showed that there was still a debt of over £100 due on the church and manse. Votes of thanks to the choir, tho ladies who presided at tho tea, tho speeches, and the chairman, concluded the meeting. During tho day a bazaar and sato of work attracted a number rof buyers, all tho goods being disposed of beforo evening.

A meeting of Waipawa residents was hold in the public library, Waipawa, last evening, to discuss the advisability _of malting some provision for firo prevention purposes. There was a large attendance. Mr liarwood was voted to the chair, and called upon Mr Ewen to lay beforo the meeting tho result of enquiries ho had lately made as to tho cost of a fire engine and plant. Mr Ewen stated that ho had written to competent authorities on tho subject, and had received detailed roplies. These replies showed that an excellent engine, well fitted for Waipawa, with hoso and appliances, could be landed in the township for £150. Considerable discussion followed the above statement, tho general ■feeling of thoso present being that a schemo for a constantly available water supply, by erecting a dam just above tho township, was preferable to acquiring a fire engine. It was ultimately proposed by Mr Ewen, and seconded by'Mr Dawson, that a committee consisting of Messrs Guy, liarwood, Baker, and tho mover bo appointed, to report in a fortnight, on tho best scheme for a water supply. The motion was carried, and tho meeting adjourned. Boxing seems to be tho whole rage at present. A club for practising tho "noble art of self-defence" is being formed at Hastings, another is talked of for Taradale, and in Napier there arc at least two places of resort where thoso who desire to try their

skill with the fisticuffs may do ko. Rather

a good story has reached us of a little discounter that took place the other evening j n —but hold, that would be telling the secret. At all events two votaries of tho P.lt., old friends, and neither of them altogether unknown to histrionic fame, engaged in a little encounter with tho gloves, and " all went merry as a marriage bell" until one of tho pair landed tho other rather a pretty tap on tho nose. 'Tin sad to think how slight a circumstance will separate very friends, but in this case it was tho old story over again. The tragedian's blood was up—lie is not a tragedian, by tho way, but that is of no consequence—and, resenting the attention paid by his erstwhile respected business manager to hia countenance, he discarded tho gloves with tho evident intention of lotting his opponent " have it". in tho proper stylo. In less than a minute four implements of pugilistic warfare lay on tho floor, and signs of angry strife were not wanting either, but, thanks to the prompt interference of a few onlookers, the combatants were prevented from shedding each other's blood, and a speedy reconciliation over a friendly glass left matters in stain quo ante bcllum.

An exchange says:—"The Longbeach district has taken the lead in the initiation of the flax industry in this district, and the /. Canterbury Linseed Oil and Fibre Company has undertaken to erect a mill at Flemingtou, ■which now promises to become a busy little centre of production. Too nuch cannot be said in praise of the enterprise of the company, whose headquarters are at Christchurch, in promoting the new industry. It is a really important thing to guarantee a profitable market, and this the company has practically done, it only requires a little spirit and intelligence amongst the farming community to render flax-growing general in Canterbury in every district in which tho soil is suitable for its cultivation. There are no climatic drawbacks to contend against. Mr John Davis, the energetic agent of tho company, has been in the Ashburfcon district for the past week or so, endeavoring to rouse tho farmers to a sense of the importance of tho new industry, and, as he is a- practical man, giving useful information on flax-growing and the methods of preparation before it becomes an article of commerce. Mr Davis has been successful in his mission in the Longbeach district, and "we trust ho will be equally so at Wakanui." ■ There is a good story told about an earthenware dog , , the property of one of the ship's company of the steamer Penguin. Jt appears that on the last trig to Levuka the owner wished to take his dog ashore, but the Customs officials refused permission, on the ground that it was not on the ship's manifest. The Fijian planters, hewever*, gay that the real reason is a very different one, namely, that the dog was called " Sir Arthur," and was believed to be a "Gordon Better." This conjecture is erroneous, for the earthenware dog-, is a very largo model }-of a bull-dog, and has been tho scourco of much amusement to tho Penguin's passengers.

Although wo grumble about hard times, that there^are worse places that New Zealand, tho fallowing paragraph, cut from a South African paper, will show :— " Small Takings.—That times are bad just now goes without saying, but we did not think°that they were so bad as they seem to be. Wo are credibly informed that at one of our principal drapers' establishments in Port Elizabeth last Monday the sum of eight. shUlhigs was all that,was taken. At another large establishment, subject to si very heavy rental, and employing many hands, the sum of £') was all that was taken over the counter in one day." This in a town containing nearly 20,000 inhabitants . A serious accident has happened in Sydney to Alfred Rowc, hotter known as Onziilo, tho Australian Bloiidhi. He was performing on a fight rope with a bicycle at tho top Of MiiMcmlon road, and had almost concluded tho performance when lna foot slipped from the treadle of the bicycle, and ho foil to tho ground, a distance olboit. A lave number of spectators were present at the time, and they at first thought that Onzalo was killed. Fortunately, however, ho escaped with ft fractured thigh. The accident was chiefly owing to the fact that tho -uys in connection with the rope had boon pulled rather tight, causing a slight incline of the wire. Onzalo had almost readied tho end of tho wire, and was ascending the incline v.-hen his foot slipped and he fell.

Knowledge says : "We are sorry to sec the British "Workman, usually rather obtrusively goody-goody in tone, becoming, to all appearance, an advocate of steacly drinking. So, at least, we jnfer from the only story we have road in No. -ii 2. It is willed , A Ship Wrecked by One Glass.' Wo must confess we read it in the hope ot finding some such amusement as ono derives from the famous temperance stories in ' Pickwick.' Imagine, then, tho pain with which we found that the wreck of tho ship i.s ascribed to a too rigid teetotalism. ' My brother,' says the narrator, ' was to stand watch. Tho seamen prevailed on him to take one glass to help him to perform his duties, but, being unaccustomed to liquor, he foil asleep, and in the night I awoke to lind my vessel a wreck.' " Truly, an awful warning!

In an article on the "Southern Empire," tho Australasian give figures showing that the export and import trade of the Australian colonies is of mi annual value of about one hundred millions, equalling that of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Spain put together ; and that the colonies, in ISBO, will transact a larger commerce by about one-sixth than did Great liritain in 1833, fifty years ago ; while, with respect to the shipping, the aggregate inward and outward tonnage of the colonies in ISS2 was over ten and a half millions, and the tonnage of tho United Kingdom in 1832 was under seven millions. The Australasian thinks that, in view of such facts, the representations of the colonies on the subject of extending tho Southern Empire were entitled to the most earnest and sympathetic consideration which the Secretary of State for the Colonies can give them.

Attieus writes in the Melbourne Leader as follows:—One of our leading counsel lately described tho game of football as being tho "dullest and dreariest of things to a spectator." It appears by tho reports this week to have been made also one of the most disgraceful sights. .For such reason tho match on tho East Melbourne ground, between tho Carlton and Esscndon Clubs, was stopped by the intervention of the on-lookers. It was time to stop such proceeding's when we arc told of players being hurled down, violently kicked, and savagely mauled by their opponents in the game. To "win, tie, or wrangle " has been hitherto thought sufficiently strong advice to curs and cowards. To add to wrangling the "kicking" and "mauling" of those who have been "hurled down," is something that has been hitherto practised only by drunken costers and ruffians.

If "M. Irajan Ueodorcseo " is not a romancer, tho whole art of naval warfare will speedily bo revolutionised. A Zurich firm (says the Pall Mall Gazette) is constructing for tho Roumanian Government an uuder-water boat, the invention of the abovenamed gentleman. This alarming craft is to carry a sufficient supply of air for a twelve hours' trip below tho surface. It will be lighted by electricity, and if successful will bo able to demolish every vessel in the navy. The torpedo is nothing to this new enemy of the ironclad. Colonel Boaumont has been at work for some time upon a similar invention, but his under-water boat has not yet taken practical shape. It would seem as if, long before we see " aerial navies grappling in the central blue," the naval battles of'tho future may bo fought beneath the surface of tho sea.

The splendid virtues of Wolfe's Schnapps grow in celebrity, and the increasing demand for this incomparable cordial shows tho strong hold it has taken on popular esteem in this colony.—fAini , . |