MEMORIAL

Dunstan Times, Issue 586, 11 July 1873, Page 3

MEMORIAL

Tho flowing ishi 'copy of a memorial that is baiug circulated through the District for signal ures. The copy that was forwarded to Clyde was taken charge of by the Town Clerk, who obtn’uedoO signatures To the Honourable, the Postmaster Central of New Zealand. We, the undersigned residents in the following dist: i ts, viz. —Clyde, Oplnr, Drybread, Alexandra, Tinkers, St. Bathan’s Mt. Ida, German Hi l !. HRVs Creek, and Ida Ya'les% in the Pl'ovhee of Otago, humbly pray, That yon w ill carry out as soon as possible, tho cent nuation of the Telegraph Line from Mt. Ida to Clyde or Alexandra. (This line lias been surveyed through the township 0 f Ophir) and rdso, that astatiwi he breetc J atOpmr, and an operator provided for that place. That your petitioners wish 13 point out that the distance from Mt. Ida to Clyde can ho coroplet: 1 by about 51 miles, or loss, the benefit that wouhl aoc -ne to your petitioners rudalseto tho Government by the completion of this line, is almost incalculable, as by it hundreds would be placed within easy distance of a telegraph station, who at present receive no benefit therefrom. Another urgent reason why the line should ho completed is, that it would complete the double lino of telegraph through the greater portion of Otago, so -that in the event of a breakage in either lino, messages could still he forwarded to almost every part of tho province. Tho mercantile into esb especiad’y, sulfegreat inconveniences by this line not being completed, hc : ng obliged to travel a distance of 20 or 30 fiv’es to forward a message, or await the slow process of the mail. Your petitioners are of opinion the line would pay well if completed, so many persons would take advantage of it by an operator being stationed at Ophir. This would ho a central ounce between Clyde and Mount Ida, and be within easy cYstince of all the other places mentioned. In conclusion we hope you wiU take tho matter into your earliest consideration, and order the work to he proceeded with at once, and as in duty bound, Your Petitioners will ever pray. [Hue follow tho the signatures.] SPIRITUALISM EXTRA ORDIX ARY A novel entertainment has been produced at the London Crystal Palace by Messrs. Maskolyno and Cook, who in an amusing farcical sketch introduce some of the marvelous “ manifestations,” so well known in co nicotian with “ spirit ” scanccz. Sir Hugh Credant (Mr. Hasardo) being a determined Spiritualist, his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (Mr. and Mrs. MaskelyneJ do a 1! they can to convince him that the startling effects which ho attributes to supernatural agency, can bo produced by mere human skill. They touch a table lightly with their fingers, and it not only “tilts” hut moves bodily up above their heads, and is 'urned upside down. A walk’ng-stiok dances gkt fully about the stage, while a bouquet floats geii'ly through the "ar arc! presents itself to the, lady,(who is hers,lf raised some three feet above the carpet, without any visible moans of support. Mr Maskelyna then performs an elegant and dexterous feat with six china plates, which by ski Pul manipulation alone, he causes to waltz and whirl about in a wonderful fashion. {This isjauooeededdoy hj ■ Davenport Cabinet stance, in Which Mr. Maskeylyne and Mr. Cooke perform all the feats of the celebrated brothers. They are bound seel'ely with ropes, and placed in tho caLuot,’ the doors of which arc scarcely shut before music is heard withsn. bells are thrown out. and “ spirit ” hands appear at the appsrtures in tho doors, tho re-oponiug of which shows both performers hound as tightly as ever. Tho knots of tho cords arc then sealed, but this docs not prevent them from taking off their ccati and puitidg them on again as quickly as any ordinary men could do if perfectly free. While still bound their hands are filled With flour, the doors are shut for a moment, and thou they appear at liberty, the ropes lying at their feet, and the flour still in their hands. The concluding feat, however, is justly called “ The Mystery of Mysteries.” Mr. Maskolyno is placed behind a screen with a box, a canvas cover, and some cord. In less than ten minutes the screen is removed and we see the box completely covered and elaborately corded ; these being taken off, and tho box unlocked, Mr. Maskelyne is discovered inside, in a very cramped position, the box being only just large enough to contain him wdion doubled up “knees and nose together.” The whole performrnce is of a most wonderful character, and although every facility is given for examining the apparatus, both before and after each feat, one comes away completely puzz'c 1 as to the modus operandi by which the results are achieved. —Graph k.