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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2688, 28 September 1871, Page 2

A Lovely Climate.—The Charleston Herald of the 13th iust., says:—“ A west Coast 1 Saxby ’ assures us that it has rained in town every day, some part of the day, for eleven weeks, and that within the eleven weeks it has rained continuously from sunrise to sunset, and that the sun has only shone at intervals on twenty-three days, out of the past seventy-seven.” Inquest. A preliminary inquiry was yesterday made by the Coroner (Dr O’Donoghue) at the Maori Eaik, respecting the cause of death of a Maori named Karaka

Pioioi, who died at the Kaik on the 23rd inst., and waa hurried on the 26th inst. The Coroner and the police authorities proceeded to the Ea : .k to-day for the purpose of holding an inquest and exhuming the body for a post mortem examination. Fire. —About midnight on the 20th inst. a fire broke out in Messrs Luk’s stackyard, Waihemo, and destroyed oats and oaten hay to the value of L4OO. The fire was first discovered by a lodger in the house, who observed the reflection of the flames through the window of the bedroom in which he slept. He at once gave the alarm ; and there being, fortunately, a plentiful supply of water on the premises, the fire was by well directed efforts confined to one rick, although there were four others in the stack yard. On the night of the fire, we believe, there were no waggoners or swagstnen about, and but one or two lodgers in the house, and the fact was referred to as being something unusual and very remarkable. From circumstances connected with the fire, however, it is supposed to be the act of an incendiary; but who or to whom suspicion points we have not heard.—— Waikouaitl Herald. Quakers in England. — Some curious statistics have lately been published in reference to the Society of Friends in Great Britain. Their numbers, steadily on the decline for years have now r fallen to 14,013 nearly equally divided between the sexes. In addition to these, about 4,000 persons, not members of the society, attend its meetings for worship. Fifty-two marriages took place in the society last year—a small number, probably some members marrying outsiders, had the wedding ceremony performed in other than Quaker meetings. The society gained by 274 births during the year, and lost 270 by deaths ; in addition to the latter cause there was a loss of 70 members by resignation, and of 24 by “ disownmont in plain terms, expulsion. To balance those l-sses, 127 persons joined the society by ‘ ‘ convincemeht ” a considerable number, seeing that, like Uritarians and Jews, the Quakers do not seek to make proselytes. Hydraulic Engine.—A very neat, compact, and effective engine, worked by water power, has been made by Mr H. Peters fer Messrs Hogg and Hutton, Princes street. Mr Peters about two years ago made some very simple improvements upon horizontal engines, which rendered them cheap in construction and economical in working. He has adapted these to two oscillating tubes—cylinders we suppose we ought to term them—which by the alternate action of their contained pistons drive the rather heavy coffee‘grinding machinery of Messrs Hogg and Hutton. We have not the measurements of the crank movements, but judge by the eye that the stroke is about twelve inches, and as two heavy fly-wheels are attached tq the coffee-mill, there is no difficulty whatever in continuing the motion over the dead points. The whole machinery works admirably* and is a remarkable instance Of great power in small space. Presentation. —A late Sydney paper says that a presentation was made to the Rev. Thomas Roseby, L.L.8., before his departure for Dunedin by the Hope of Petersham division of the Sons and Pride of Petersham Daughters of Temperance, The members, anxious to show their appreciation of the kind and constant attention which he had bestowed upon the divisions, watching over them from their infant state up to their present matured growth and prosperity, met in the division room on Monday, the 28th of August, and presented to the rev. gentleman an address—most skilful piece of workmanship, executed by Mr Hall in his best style, and, being neatly framed, is a beautiful picture ; a massive silver inkstand —an emblem of the order of the Sons of Temperance, mounted in a gilt rosewood frame. A large number of the members said they owed their connection with the Order to Mr Roseby, whor in a most affecting address, bade farewell to his friends, Dunstan’s Representative. Mr Thomas Luther Shepherd’s notoriety in Wellington bids fair to exceed his greatest expectations. In the Empire City he appears to be the "observed of all observers;” his utterances and actions in Parliament are carefully noted by the daily journals. Thus it is we find the Post of the 16th inst. talking of him in this way:—“Mr Shepherd commenced a speech yesterday afternoon in an original manner, that attracted the attention of all present. He commenced ‘ Sir, I am glad to see that a laughing bird known in Australia has become acclimatised in this Council. I refer to the memper for Mount Ida.” At this point the Speaker interrupted Mr Shepherd, who vindicated himself by saying that Mr Mervyn invariably made an unpleasant noise whenever he (Mr Shepherd) got up to speak. This conduct, he complained, was even carried on in committee, so much that on one occasion he had to leave the committee room. Rumor has it that it was the member for the Dunstan who intruded his society upon the occupants of the ladies’ gallery, and had to be requested to withdraw by the sergeant-at-arras. No wonder then that the Otago Adonis is made the butt of the Wellington wits. Inhumanity. — lf the facts narrated below, and given on the authority of the Bruce Herald , arc true, the person alluded to gains an immediate notoriety for his conduct. A case of death occurred in the Invercargill Hospital on the2lst inst., illustrative of the necessity for a provision for fixing the responsibility of maintenance of the aged and infirm on persons connected with them, able but not willing to obtain them. 'J he deceased, an old lady (said to be 76 years of age), was admitted into the hospital, having been brought from RiVertori on Sunday, 16th inst. It was seen immediately on her ar that, although decrepit and infirm, she was not strictly a subject for hospital treatment, but rather an object fora benevolent asylum. She was, however, from motives of humanity allowed to remain, and some enquiries were set on foot as to her connections. It was ascertained that her son-in-law was a schoolmaster under the Board of Education in the Province, and presumably able to maintain her, but that he bad refused to do so, and, in the ordinary sense of tha word, had "turned her out of doors.” Such being the case, the police were communicated with, and by them some steps were taken to test the question of liability. Death, however, soon intervened and settled the matter. In mercy to the individual concerned, the names of the deceased, and her son-in-law are suppressed, It may, however, bo sufficient punishment to the latter to have to carry about with him the reflection that his inhumanity, if it did net actually hasten the end, certainly embittered the last days of the deceased. Protection.— The length to which protectionists will go is amusing. In San

Franciso we find “ An American ” writingindignantly to the San Prnncisco Bulletin, demanding to know why if the Webb line is to be considered and recognised as an American steamship line, expecting as they do, in time, to obtain a subsidy from the American Government, why it appoints Englishmen and those from the Colonics to important positions on board said vessels, to the exclusion of Americans, as has been the case ? ” He concludes a vio'ent letter, the burden of which is that the State should step in to prevent the chief posts in the American marine being occupied by foreigner's, by saying "he cannot wonder at Mr Webb’s receiving no assistance thus far, in the way of subsidy from his own Government, ami think not a great deal of encouragement for the future, if foreigners are to be appointed as officers, to the entire exclusion of Americans, who are as fully qualified and experienced as others. To this grumbler the Bulletin replies : —"Suppose Mr Webb should choose to employ more Englishmen than Americrns, have we any right to complain ? America has done nothing toward helping him in hie hazardous underbaking. lie has not received one dollar of support from this end of the line. His petition for a moderate subsidy was contemptuously rejected by Cengress. On the other hau l, the little colony of New Zealand promptly came to the rescue, voted a liberal subsidy, and trusted to the future for a return from the investment. This bonus was as opportune as it was generous, gave Mr Webb a guarantee of a small but fixed revenue, and enabled him to launch his enterprise. If he recognised this service by giving places to a few of his Colonial backers he did no more than right and decency required. Port Chalmers. A public tea meeting followed by a lecture on the subject of " How we got the Bible,” was given in the Wesleyan Church, Port Chalmers, on Tuesday evening last. About one hundred persons partook of tea, and about 250 persons were present at the lecture. His Worship the Mayor, who presided, called the attention of the meeting to the importance of the subject of the lecture. “ Lord for thy tender mercies sake,” was then sung in excellent style by the choir, as also in the intervals " Awake, Awake.” The Rev. Mr Smalley, on being introduced, related in chronological order the history of the books of the Old and New Testaments, and shewed the great care the Hebrew fathers had taken in guarding the ancient manuscript from being tampered with. Even the dots and crossings and the letters had all been carefully counted and their numbers preserved. Nor was the history of the Bible, as narrated by the lecturer, from the apostolic times, through the dark ages, and up to the time of the Reformation and its subsequent history, less interesting. The wondrous spread of the Gospel through the old world until it reached Britain, its reception by the ancient Britons, and the wonderful impetus given to the multiplication of copies since the art of printing was discovered ; how the sacred volume had been preserved and kept from destruction, amidst perils innumerable from fire, from water, and the deadly hatred of its enemies; the mighty influence the Bible had exercised over the destinies of mankind for good ; how those who had with humble faith received its truth been nerved to withstand with cheerful resignation and fortitude tortures so horrible and various—deaths so cruel aud painful—that we in those times can have but faint conception of the dreadful sufferings of those heroic martyrs, who had endured persecution with joy rather than give up the sacred volume to its enemies—all these phases were dealt with by the lecturer, who was frequently applauded during its delivery, On the motion of the Rev. Mr Johnston, see nded by Mr Gilbert, the lecturer was accorded a vote of thanks. The Chairman, in replying to a similar honor, expressed the great satisfaction he felt at being present, and hoped tint the lecturer would at no far distant date redeliver the lecture. Dunedin Cricket Club. The annual meeting of the Dunedin Cricket Club was held at the Shamrock Hotel last evening, Mr James Murison in the chair. There were over twenty gentlemen present. The Treasurer’s balance-sheet for the past year showed a deficieniy of L 32 10a—a deficiency L3O less as compared with that of the previous year. The sum of L2l, subscriptions owing from the year 1869-70, and carried forward as an asset in last year’s balance sheet, was this year not included in the accounts at all, and was wiped off as a bad debt. The balance-sheet was adopted Professor Sale, and Messrs Coats, Meyer, Holmden, Holmes, James Thomson. M'Lean, and F. Pel 1 , were proposed and elected members. Professor Sale was cleted President; Mr L, O. Beal, VicePresident ; and Mr F. J, Muir, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr G. K. Turton, in proposing Mr Muir, mentioned that, not only had the debt of the club been largely reduced during the past year, but there had been an increase of thirteen members during that period, and the improved position of the club was no doubt in great measure owing to Mr Muir’s efforts, Messrs M‘Donnell, C. Kettle, W. D. Smith, A. Holmes, W.D. Murison, F. Fulton, J. Allen, and J. Thomson, were elected to form the Committee. A proposal thai the subscription for the forthcoming year be two guineas was lost, the general opinion of the meeting appearing to be that the members of the Club should rather endeavor to increase its members, and that the Club had done very well last year under the guinea subscription. A vote of thauks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. A meeeting of a few of the members interested in the making of arrangements for the annual theatrical performance, in aid of the Club, and for the bolding of the athletic sports, afterwards took place. It was decided that the season should be opened by holding athletic sports as usual, and that the Citizens’ and Albion Clubs should be invited to co-operate. The following gentlemen were appointed as Sports Committee :—Messrs J. C. Fultoa, J. Allen, L. E. Reade, and S. N, Muir. It was loft to the ommittee to decide when the sports should take place. It was also decided to give the usual annual performance in aid of the funds of the Club. We are requested to state that the first meeting of '.he Management Committee will take place on Saturday evening, at half-past seven o’clock, at the Occidental Hotel. The ninety-second monthly meeting of the Permanent Building Society of Otago will be held at the Society’s office, Temple Chambers, Princes street, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at seven o’clock.