The Daily Telegraph WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3846, 14 November 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1883.

In the face of recent events in Madagascar and Tonquin Mr Gladstone's speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet must havo sounded strangely to tho ears of Englishmen. The occasion yvas one iv yvhich a bellicose speech yvas not to be expected, neither yvas one that was at variance with facts. A small indemnity had been clmrh'sly paid by France for Admiral Pierre's disgraceiul conduct toAvards Mr Shayv at Tainatavo. Yet Mr Gladstone is reported in our short cablegram published on Monday to have warmly sympathised with France in yvhat ho yvas pleased to term the " Madagascar incident." M. AVaddington, the French Ambassador, in the course of his speech, denied that liis Government Avere desirous of pursuing an aggressive colonial policy, or of making Avar for the acquisition of territory in any part of the Avorld. Then for Avhat is Franc at Avar with Tonquin ? Only among a, people, says a London paper, yvho persistently ignore geographical facts could the idea arise that I Frencli commerce in the East yvould be developed by tho conquest of Tonquin. If the Republic Avere anxious to discover tho one spot on the earth's surface least likely to offer facilities for French commercial success, Tonquin would probably be selected. For here they come into competition yvith the tyvo most formidable rivals any mercantile nation can have. The English are not only natural lords of the carrying trade of the world, but through their establishment for over forty years at Hong Kong they have got a firm grasp of the trade of this part of the world. Of late they have found serious rivals in the Chinese, who have taken kindly to our notions of joint-stock enterprise, and have beaten more than one English company out of the coasting trade. Between Englishmen and Chinamen Avhat chance have the Frencli ? They have by subsidies supported a feeble passenger traffic between Tonquin and their Cochin-China colony of Saigon ; but the result is miserably small. The shipping in Tonquin ports in 1881 yvas, according to the French Consul's account, thus divided—English, thirty-five per cent.; Chinese from Hong Kong, twentythreo ; American, tyventy; German, eleven ; Dutch, five; and French —mainly due to the Saigon subsidy—only five. It must also be remembered that the French have been established at Saigon for nearly twenty years, and that this is the poor result of vigorous official efforts to push and foster trade. The imports tell the same story. English cottons, spun or piece goods, amount to thirty-four per cent. ; opium, mainly from India, to twenty-one per cent. ; Chinese medicines and Chinese tobacco, to twenty per cent. ; tea and miscellaneous articles, nearly all from Hong Kong, make up the rest. Nothing comes direct from France. Nor are any of the exports sent there ; seventy-nine per cent, go to Hong Kong, and only sixteen per cent, to Saigon. Thus tbe French colony is a customer in the Tonquin markets, and pays yvith gold, but sells nothing in return. These arc the results of a protracted occupation of Cochin-China, yvhoro nothing has been gained but the barren honour of a display of the Tricolour on tho coast.

There was no business in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. Captain Preece, R.M., proceeded ± to Orniondvillc this morning to hold the ordinary sitting of tho Court there. The Chamber of Commerce met this afternoon at 3 o'clock, an hour too late for us to give a report of the proceedings yvith this issue. Mr John Ballancc, the Colonial Treasurer in the Grey Ministry, is mentioned as one of the probable candidates for tho ManaAvatu seat, about to become vacant through the resignation of the present Minister of t— Public AVorks, Mr Waller Johnston. AYe are requested to remind intending applicants for the position of second master for the Napier district school that applications, with testimonials, aro to bo forwarded not Inter than Monday next, the 19th instant, to Mr T. Layvs, chairman of committee. Polk's Comedy Company—the best organisation of its kind that lias ever visited the colonies—is advertised to open in Napier for a season of six nights, commencing on Saturday, December Ist. Tho company aro iioav in Auckland, Avhoro their performances arc meeting yvith an almost unprecedented success. A private telegram from Gisbonic informs us that the South Pacific Petroleum Company's bore yvas doAvn 305 feet on Monday last, and everything Avas Avorking satisfactorily. This is more cheerful intelligence than that which we published yesterday concerning the Southern Cross Company's operations. AVclcarn that the Rev. William Marshall, accompanied by Mrs Marshall, is übottt to revisit Napier shortly. Mr Marshall, it Avill be remembered, on leaving Napier, yvas appointed to tho pastoral charge of a district in Queensland, but OAving to the bad state of his health he has obtained leave of absence, and intends spending a portion of his leave in this district. The Commissioner of Crown Lands sold to-day in the Council Chamber tho following deferred payment sections .'—Block 111., section 1., Norsewood survey district, 50 acres 34 perches, Jans Johansen, £75 Gs od ; small farm allotment, village of Kumeroa, section 13, sa. 3r._7p., Mr HeAvett, £36 10s. The right to cut timber on suburban section 12, Danevirke, yvas sold to Mr Peter Peterson at the upset price of £25. AYe understand that, at the public meeting to-morrow night that has been convened by His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. Sheehan, M.H.R., and Mr J. D. Ormond "will speak. Tho latter gentleman, yvho is at AVallingford, comes into town expressly for this occasion. As in all probability there -will bo a very large attendance avo would suggest tho desirability of engaging tho Theatre in tho place of the old Couucil Chamber. The annual gathering of the children attending St. John's, St. Augustine's, and St. AudreAv's Church of England Sunday Schools took place to-day at A the * - recreation ground. A procession of several hundred children yvas formed at St. John's school-room at 10 o'clock, and marched to the appointed place of meeting, yvhero tho youngsters were regaled in the usual manner, and spent a very enjoyable day, tho yveathcr being most favorable for an outing. A rumor prevails in Wellington, according to the Post, that as Mr Walter JoHnston does not purpose leaving for England bo- ■ fore next April, he may possibly remain for tho present a member of the Cabinet Avithout portfolio, holding, in fact, much the same position as Mr Oliver did prior to his appointment as Postmaster-General. Mr Johnston, in that case, yvould probably act as a sort of honorary assistant Minister for Public AVorks, and yvould be able to " coach " his neyv and less experienced colleague and successor in that department. AA r e aro glad to learn that Mr AVaito, who lately met yvith so severe an accident as a comminuted fracture, is progressing as favorably as can, under the circumstances, be expected. He is, hoAvcver, likely to be confined to his residence for some considerable time. Mr Waite is, avc hoar, insured in tho Accident lusuranco Company, Avhich will compensate him, to a certain extent, during his inability to attend liis usual avocation. Mr Cotton, yvho roeeived injuries at the agricultural slio_f, and yvho avc arc glad to see about again, yvas also insured in the Accident Company. A meeting in connection with tho AVcsloyau Home Mission avus hold last evening in" Trinity Church, Mr J. S. AVclsmau occupying the chair. The meeting haA'ing been opened yvith singing, and prayer ofi'ercd by the Rev. P. H. Cornford, tho chairman made a foyv remarks, and Mr T. LaAvs, the local secretary, gave a lengthy account of the results of the Avork of tho general Home Mission Committeo during tho year. Addresses were delivered by tho Rev. R. Bavin, President of tho AVcsleyan Conference, and tho Roy. J. Smith. There yverc several musical selections during tho proceedings, and a yvcll-attended meeting closed with the usual votes of thanks to the chairman and those who had taken part in it. AYe arc pleased to learn that the Napier Amateur Dramatic Club contemplate repeating the burlesque " Tho Maid and the Magpie," Avhich Avas performed by them last Thursday evening, as Aye feel sure that a second representation of the piece will bo even more successful than the first. Tho •*•■ length of last Thursday's performance somcAvhat marred the success it yvould otherwise have attainod, and this has decided the club to jilay a farce for tho first part instead of the drama " The Peep Show Man," yvhile the burlesque for tho second part lias been carefully revised and slightly curtailed, so that tho performance is sure to terminate at. a roasonablo time. AYe havo every reason to belieA'o that the result of tho performance will bo to fully sustain the reputation of the mcmlpcrs of the club, and that avc shall have tho gratification of recording our appreciation of their efforts. There are doubtless a largo number of candidates for tho general knoAvledgo examination in the colony. It is now nearly three months since this examination has been held, and the candidates are still kept in ignorance of their success or failure, When it is remembered that these examinations aro held every six months, it will _he plainly seen that a candidate not hearing the result of his examination until after three or four months have elapsed has very little time left to prepare for the following one. AYe understand that one of the candidates at the last examination in Napier telegraphed to the Judge's associate for information as to the result, and ho Avas informed that tho results avouM not be made known until after the meeting of tho Appeal Court, Avhich probably means the end of this month. Surely some means could bo devised byAvhich candidates yvould be enabled to receive the results of yyhat must be to them a very important examination. The Napier School Committee met last evening. Present: Messrs Layvs (chairman), Large, Gamer, Spriggs, Darnell, and AVilliams. The first business brought before the meeting yvaj- the appointment of the second master for the school. It was decided, in consequence of an error in the advertisement as to the date for sending mi applications, to call a special meeting for Monday next, yvhen all applications for the post aro to be sent in to the chairman. The head master's request that the annual concert should be held in aid of the prize fund Avas granted. A letter was read from the head master to the effect that, in consequence of certain irregularities and offences, he had suspended three boys, and a resolution yvas passed approving of me master's action as far as two of tho boys complained of yvero concerned, but that the third boy should bo given another trial. Tho committee authorised some necessary repairs reported by the visiting committee. Mr Carnell mentioned that several valuable diagrams yvero stowed away and partiauy destroyed, and the visiting committee promised to take the matter iv hand. A fire occurred at Chaucer road about 2 o'clock- this morning, by which a cottage belonging to Mr 0. Moloney, cab owner, was totally destroyed. It appears that the lire was discovered by a man named Start, Who was returning home, and who at once o-ave the alarm. Thofire originated in a back room and soon penetrated to the room in which Mr and Mrs Moloney yvero sleeping. By this time a goodly number of people had assembled at tho spot, who exerted themselves to save as much of tho furniture as possible, but the flames were too fierce to allow them to do much hi this direction. Mi - Moloney's cab and horses were iorliifc natcly secured from the stable at the back of the promises. On tho arrival of the 1' ire Bib-ado it was seen that thero yvas no chance of saving the cottage, and they

directed their efforts to an adjoining cottage yvhich had caught lire, aud succeeded in extinguishing tho llamos before much damage was "done to it. Mr Moloney has no idea, how the fire originated, asthcrehad been no firo in the room during tho evening, and tho only living thing the room contained yvas a small pup. The cottage burned doAvn was insured in the Victoria office for £100, and tho other one for £50. About £5 or £0, we hear, will cover tho damage to tho latter. Mr Moloney estimates his loss by the destruction of a portion of his furniture at over £100. About 2 o'clock this morning Constable Harvey, in his usual energetic manner, turned "out the Superintendent, enginekeeper, aud several members of the Spit Fire Brigade for an alarm of fire apparently yvell down Carlyle street. The brigade Avere not rung out, as the glare seemed to subside rapidly, and no communication by telephone could be got yvith the town brigade station, although they Avere repeatedly rung up. This telephone communication av'us established between the two brigade stations at considerable expense to tho brigades aud the public to enable immediate information to be conveyed between the tAvo brigades as to the locality and extent of any firo that might take place in either district, but we understand that only in one instance, namely, Fair's fire, opposite the Post Office, has this means of communication been of any use, tho Spit Brigade having generally to use their oavu judgment about" starting, and very often wasting yvhat might be valuable time Availing for information that they very seldom get from tho quarter that ought to supply it. A man has been arrested m Marlborough, in Queensland, Avho has been wandering for a long time in the bush almost in a nude state, living upon opossums aud snakes. He has almost lost his faculty of speech. The young man James Roy, avlio is now undergoing "sentence for the manslaughter of John Henderson at AVairuna, has, under instructions from tho Defence Department, been struck off the roll of the G Battery, N.Z.R.A., luvercargill. Mr Booth, the founder of the Blue Ribbon Army movement, will arrive in New Zealand some time in February next. One of the objects of his visit will 'be to place the operations of the Army throughout New Zealand on a common basis, so that the compactcst organisation may exist. In the Victorian Assembly on October 30, the Hon. .Tames Service, in reply to a question, referred to the unsatisfactory maimer in which ouoeiirulafor of scandal concerning the alleged immorality iv State schools had transferred thcrcsponsibility to another. He said, amid cheers, that the statement iv question might be considered iv the region of myths, aud thatit yvould take many such assaults to injure the State-school system. "Ouida" yvrites to tho Times on the subject of recent reports of her health :—" As I receive many letters from the public inquiring us to "the trull) of a report Avhich has been published in the American press that I am suffering from a "mentalnuilady " due to " Roman fever," Avill you allow me to declare in the Times that I. am perfectly yvell, havo had no illness yvhatever, aud shall bo prepared to treat all such falsehoods yvith the utmost rigor of tho law !" A shocking murder has been committed near Lauriston, in Victoria. A publican named G. Halton reported to the police that bis wife A\*as found murdered on the Lauriston road. Tho police, on making search, found blood in the deceased's rooms and on Halton's clothes. He and his Avil'c had led a yvrctehed life, constantly quarrelling, aud as he did not satisfactorily ansAVcr questions put to him he was arrested and locked up. Tho yvoman was violently murdered. Tho Rev. John Osborne, of tho Weslcyan Church in Sydney, yvho underwent a trial for heresy in consequence of some remarks ho mado about tho Roman Catholic Church, has had to resign. On a recent Sunday ovcuing ho announced his approaching departure and intended resignation owing to serious difference in religions views Avith tho other ministers of the AVeslcyan body, yvho yvero determined to compel him to resign. It Avas, ho said, patent that if lie did not resign ho yvould bo expelled. A curious sentence ay.-is passed recently by Judge Krekel, of the District Court of Missouri. An illiterate man having- been convicted of a minor offence, lie was ordered by the Judge to be detained in gaol until ho should bo able to read aud write, and another offender, less ignorant, Avas sentenced to be similarly imprisoned until ho should have instructed the former in those valuable arts. It is stated that in three weeks the man reappeared able to Avritc fairly well from dictation, and both pupil and master avctc discharged. A recent issue of the Cape Argus says : " The number of people anxious to obtain passage to Australia and New Zealand is on the increase to such an extent as to make this exodus to other colonies a matter vi serious concern to all yvho have the interest of this country at heart. Thero cannot be a doubt that a very large number of one of the most useful classes in the community— tho skilled artisan class—are leaving the country. It is to be hoped that such a, tide of prosperity yvill soon set in again as Avill hold out inducements to these and all intending emigrants to remain in South Africa." Tho total cholera returns to the end of August show that there had died in Cairo and its suburbs 0710, at Damietta 1830, at Alexandria 710, in the Provinces of Garbish and Dakalich 2810 each, Menoufish 1010, in Charkieh 1590, in Ghizeh 1090, in Gallioubieh 710, in Aehcra 050, in Upper Egypt 5060, and in various places 1320, making altogether 26,900. In the Army Occupation there Avere 138 deaths. The Artillery had 21 fatal cases, (he Cavalry 8, the Engineers 1, the Royal Sussex 33, the Duke of Cornwall's Regiment 5, the Black "VVtitcli S, tho liilles 20, the Ooi-dous la, tlio Camoi'ons 10, the Hospital Corps 15, and other corps ■!. The Australasian publishes a description of a iicav American harvester, Avhich is certainly a Avonderful achievement of modern invention. It is described as combining the operations of reaping, threshing - , and cleaning the grain, the bags being sewn up and throyvn off as the machine travels on, gathering in its 20 acres a day of a heavy crop. The Avhole cost is from (> 0 to SI per acvo, according to the character of the crop ; and the saving, as compared Avith the usual method in California of reaping the grain and omploying steam threshers, amounts to fully 50 per cent. The yvriter gives a lengthy account of the machine, and some valuable suggestions as to adopting similar cleaning appliances in connection yvith the Australian stripper. Mr Thomas Hudson, of the "Surprise Party," sends tho following to the Lorgnette in reference to the decease of a gentleman kiioyvii here:—"A telegram appeared in tho Bombay* Gazette dated from Rangoon, British Burmah, September 19th, 1883, that 'Mr J. J. Pollard, junior, conductor of the Pollard Lilliputian Company, aged twentyseven, had committed suicide by shooting himself yvith a revolver yvhile going up to his bed about tyvclvo o'clock tho night previous. Another telegram states the death was caused through an accident, and that ho lingered in great agony for some four hours prior to his death. The performances of the Lilliputian Company were consequently postponed for one Avcek. Tho troupe were billed to appear in Calcutta on the first of October 1883." A curious case, Avhich may interest medical men, has just occurred in A Veiling- I ton. According to the Times, a young woman, aged about 17, has been known as a champion Avaltzcr. She attended a dancing-room in To Aro very frequently, and took prizes for long and steady Availing, remaining up longer than all competitors in this dizzy round dance. After mouths of this practice iv tho evenings she fell ill, or rather became subject to frequent epileptic fits, aud has continued so during about three -months. The question will naturally bo asked, yvhat is the connection, if any, between excessive yvaltzing and opilopsy'r" Tho cause of convulsive faintin" fits is still a mystery to physicians, though thore aro different theories. Epileptic fits arc supposed to arise front a diseased condition of the spinal column ; and anyone who has tried the dizzying sensation ot the brain caused by much waltzing, will readily conceive that an unhealthy condition ot the nervous system, or perhaps a dizzying- rush of blood to tho head, may possibly bo induced by waltzing to an extraordinary excess. Some people cannot Avaltz even a few minutes without feeling do.vnnght poorly. Tho fact remains-explain it how you will-that this girl, after being a champion waltzer, has become unfit to earn her living in finy occupation, and that she continue'} under medical treatment.

Miss Alice Dunning, the lady knoAvn throughout A.rstralia and New Zealand as "Mr.-f" Lingard, only became legally entitled to that cognomen on August 11, yvhen sho Avas privately Avcdded to AVilliam Needham, alia' AVilliam Horace Lingard, at [ Trinity Church, Gray's Inn. The marriage yvas prominently announced in all tho theatrical papers." The Referee says:—" It is to be hoped the young and interesting couple studied the eternal fitness of things, and spent at least a part of the honeymoon 'on the beach at Brighton.' " AVolfe's Schnapps has gained a most en- | viable reputation, and stands to-day confessedly the most magnificent anti-spasmodic tonic, 'invigorant, and restorative in the yvorld.—[Advt.]