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Evening Star, Issue 3455, 19 March 1874, Page 2

The Registrar General’s monthly report on the vital statistics of boroughs of the Colony appears in the Gazette of March 12. From them we learn that the births in Auckland were 107, Thames, 20; Wellington, 05 ■ Nelson, 12; Christchurch, 38 ; Dunedin, 09 ; and Hokitika, 11; total, 292. The total deaths amounted to 140, of which 38 were boys under 1 year old, and 25 girls; 5 boys 1 and Under 5, and 9 girls; 46 males over 5 years old, and 17 females; total, 89 males and 51 females. Of the deaths it will be seen 45 per cent, were of children under 1 year old. One person aged 76 died at Nelson through old age. The birth rate has varied much from that of January. In Auckland there was an increase of 69, or 28 per cent; Wellington, a decrease of 42, or 54-5 per per cent; and in Christchurch, a decrease of 14, or 26 *9 per cent. In reference to Dunedin, the following paragraph appears : neglect of prompt registration in Dunedin makes the monthly returns of deaths registered as having occurred there very unreliable. The deaths so registered in January were 23, but pf that number 20 occurred in November and December. The deaths registered February as having occurred in Dun-

edin were 29 ; but out of that number 17 died in January, so that that the number of deaths in February already registered is only 12. This number will, however, no doubt be increased by the registrations in March. As the registration in the other boroughs appears to be more promptly effected, the returns may be looked upon as practically correct.” The death rate during February was lower in Auckland and Christchurch than in January, but markedly higher in Wellington. Correcting an error in the January return, it should for that month have been 28; while in February it reached 41—an increase of 46.4 per cent on the previous month. Two of the increased number were under 11 and over 5 years old. Of the causes of death 47.14 per cent, was attributable to zymotic diseases, of which the greater number of cases (20) occurred in Wellington ; in Christchurch, 15 ; in Auckland and the Thames, 15 ; in Nelson,2 ; in Dunedin 9 were reutrned, and in Hokitika 3. At the Thames, 4 persons died by violence ; 4in Wellington, and 1 in Christchurch.

The following Loudon telegram, dated February 28, appeared in the ‘ Argus’ of Mai oh 2 : —“ The jury found the Tichborne claimant ■guilty on all three counts of the indictment. On being sentenced, he was removed to Newgate.”

•‘ The Rose of Killarney” was repeated at the Queen’s Theatre last evening to a moderate attendance. Miss Stephenson and Mr O’Brien, in tho principal parts, acted capitally throughout, and were called before the curtain at the first act. The same piece will he repeated this evening.

In accordance with a resolution of the Education Board, his Honor the Superintendent requested the General Government to direct the drill instructors to give instruction to children in the public schools. A letter has been received in reply stating that the Government had much pleasure in acceding to the request.

Land in Napier, which can be in any way rendered available for agricultural purposes, still maintains a high price. The ‘ Herald ’ mentions that a block containing 3;000 acres in the Mobaka district, which a few years ago would have been considered dear at 2s 6d an acre, was, a few days ago, disposed of at the rate of 10s an acre. The annual return of the spirits distilled in New Zealand is published in the ‘ New Zealand Gazette ’ of the 12th inst. From it we learn that during the year ending 31st December, 1873, 53,940 gallons were received into bond ; 60,395 gallons were cleared for home consumption, and eighty-two gallons for exportation. The stock remaining in bond was 68,622 gallons. . In Wellington, the other day, a cautious bcptchnlan, on being asked by the Resident Magistrate what he had .to say for himself, replied, “ I .did have some drink, and I found it did not agree with me, so I leaned my head on a , window for a minute or two, and the constable came and took me away.” The constable s tale was that the man was helplessly drunk, and could hardly tell where he lived.

The fish caught at Deborah Bay yesterday proves to be a sulmo ti'uttci. It is 14i inches in length, inches girth, and nearly lilbs in weight. In September, 1870, the then curator of the Acclimatisation Society (Mr G. P. Clifford) placed 134 young salmon trout in Mr W. A, Young’s ponds at Shag river, and it may be assumed that the fish have become naturalized.

The following extract from a private letter fl ' 01 ? a resident at Switzers is published in one of the Southland papers“ Roderick Strohach perished in the snow on the Old Man Ranee (between Switzers and the Dunstan) on Saturtd»y,WT<“y &§* His body was found on the l2fch,-his hors ( e audtw.p dsgs standing near by, He had he,en fpr some years stockrider on the Hyde Home and was much respected." ;• -

We see by the ‘Gazette* that the successful tenderers for the Waitaki bridge are Messrs M Gavin & Co., of Dunedin. The rejected tenders were J. Bruce, Dunedin (forfeited dc?°fSv^ 29,9 u 3 i? Wellington, L 34.417; J.&N.Campbell, Dunedin, L 39,000; C. M'Queen P9“edm, L 41.061; Smith & Steinau, Dunedin! ; Dockie, Wellington, L45J47: G. Proudfoot, Dunedin L4G,249; G. M. Barr, Dunedin, L49,SSh Aihjc & Stumbles, L 49.543W, SJppKs, phristchuroh, Lso,pop. A rather Mmmg incident fiQmrxfii .the other day not one hundred miles from the’quiet and rural township of Donald, near St. Amaud (relates the ‘ Chines Guardian*). A haipv couple, just married, both of bashful teperament, the lady being noted for her absence of mind, arrived at a certain hotel the first day of her bnrlal tour. In the middle of the ni<dit the laqv an>q«gd every inmate in the hotel °by screaming put %.£ there was a man in her room- She had,quit# tprgptten her marriage that morwng, and it was qdly a£igr the poor unfortunate husband been’ kiokecl out that she happened te recollect#.' ‘ • ‘

Tenders have been called by the Otago Dock irust for the erection of workshops in connectsll with the Graving Dock at Port Chalmers. Ihe building will be of stone, being of a permanent character, and the dimensions as followß Length, XShft j breadth, 42ft ; height walls, 17ft. will be divided by a wooden partition, with a doorway in this into two equal parts—the one devoted to the turning and lighter description of work, the other to the blacksmiths’ department. In the latter will be a Nasmyth steam hammer.

Some curious advertisements appear in newspapers at times. The following is one that re«*»y. .appeared in the ‘ Waikato Times ’ Notice ': If the non commissioned officer of the A.C. wile xemsm 4 the tickets from the exhibits, and helped lamseif fgxxiale friends to exhibitors fruit, does not make an apolmrv to the stewards of the Central Waikato 'Agricultural Society, and pay for this advertisement, his conduct will be reported to his superiors. By, Order of the committee, J. H. Mandeno Secretary/ ■■ ’

Jt has formed}' been. the case at the Resident Magistrate a <3o«rt to all police charges before the civil and summons are proceeded with, but this rule was departed from this morning, and the cases were taken' altern«hvJ’nJ he res — was tbat two cases—one police and one civil—remained for some hours unfinished, and other business was gone ou Court was also brought to astamls - * P n ? while the witness and parties *W4 p9 remain awaiting the unfiuislied case. It woul<j[ )je desirable that on a heavy police clay for a reasonable time, to prevent a repetition of this morning’s bungle. w

"vi description of the state in which pubuc-houses are kept in the country was given by an hotelkeeper at Tapanui, in the Resident Magistrates Court this morning. It having been alleged that the billiard-room in the house referred to, was on one occasion, at least, the scene of rowdyism, and witness having said that opme half-dozen people might have been talking in tl;e room, his Worship said he expected that the hotels m the country were not so well conducted as in the town. Witness assured the xscnon, with perfect good humor, that such was really the case, there being no Magistrate .within ou miles, and if two unfortunates got into the lock-up. one had to be released, This is surely a second Gisborne.

ou t two hundredweight of iron ore, from *r e n*r ara Company’s ground, was smelted at Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen’s foundry, Great King street, yesterday, in the presence of n T7 U nr ei * gentlemen, including Mr Blair, O.Ji,, M p Anderson, (well known for many years as engineer,of the Alhambra, and who is * i ia c£ ara Company’s representative here), and Mr Street, of Messrs Gillies and Street, the Company’s brokers for the Colony. 'The percentage of iron produced from the ore could not be found from yesterday’s experiment, as there were uo weans of ascertaining it, and no

endeavor was made to do so ; but there was no doubt whatever .that the quality of the iron was firet-olass, and, on the whole, iron no better could be desired. The trial was regarded as a thorough success. One of the cast was sent to Melbourne by the Alhambra yesterday, .Diphtheria haslmade its appearance in the vicinity of. Southbridge, near Christchurch, where a farmer named Sloane lost four children within fourteen days. The disease is, however, confined to that particular family. We read in the Melbourne papers that on diphtheria appearing at Yea, Mr Greathead was invited to the district on February 4, and from that time to the 16th he attended thirty-two cases, of which he cured thirty, while only two died. Even in the fatal cases it is stated that the patients had been attacked some time previous to his arrival, and were so worn with the disease that very little hope could be entertained of their recovery. That the disease was diphtheria is vouched for by a leading medical gentleman from Melbourne, whose opinion was sought, and Dr Ferguson 'of Alexandra conferred with Mr Greathead on Saturday, and expressed his unqualified belief in the efficacy of the cure. At a meeting subsequently convened it was proposed, ‘ That this meeting de.clares it to be beyond all doubt that Mr Greathead’s antidote, when promptly and properly applied, is a safe and infallible remedy for diphtheria.” The resolution was declared carried amid prolonged acclamation. Balft’s charming opera “ The Rose of Castile was, on the whole, one of the most enjoyable representations the opera company has yet The performers, from the prima donna to the captain of the guard, were all in excellent voice, and appealed to have a relish for their work. Miss May makes a charming queen, smgs the music of the part exquisitely. She has splendid opportunity of displaying the cantatrice and bravura styles; and shows that she is equally at home in both. Examples of the

latter are the schurzo movement in the first act —a difficult and trying piece—and the rondo, “I would I were Queen of Spain,” each of which was admirably given. Nor was she a whit less succes in the beautiful ballad, ‘•■The Convent Bell,” and “ I am but a simple maid.’ The famous trio between the Queen, Donna Carmena, and Don Manuel was given with rare spirit; and had to be repeated. Miss Lambert as the Donna, Mr Rainford as Don Pedro, Mr Hallain as the Muleteer. Mr Templeton, as Don Sebastian, contributed in no small degree to ttie .general success. We hope to see “The Bos® of Castile ” repeated at no distant date. . To-night, “ The Daughter of the Regiment ” is to be repeated. Experiments have been made in Melbourne with a, very valuable invention. It is a respirator for use at fires, and consists of a triangular frame of stout wire, covered with two thicknesses of flannel, with a small space between them. The respirator is so shaped that it securely covers the mouth, nose, : and chin. Before it is used it is dipped in a chemical solution, the composition of which is a secret. With this fixed on their faces and their eyes covered with closely-fitting glasses,-several of the firemen went into a room which had been filled with dense smoke by means of burning straw. They remained in the room from three to seven minutes, and when they came out clared they had not had the slightest difficulty m prosecuting any work that might have been necessary at a The inventor alleges that the chemical solution, used has the power of re-

pelbag the smoke, while it allows free use of the lungs. He has also the. authority of Mr Cosmo Newbery, the analytical chemist, that the liquid contains nothing deleterious W health; Ihe firemen who tried the experiment stated that had it not been for the respirators they would not have been able to remain in the room half a minute. The invention should be of great use on board of ship, as on many occasions a fire could have been put out had the men been able to bear the smoke in the hold. It will also be useful in large warehouses, inthe event of a fire being discovered early, as it will enable the men to get at the seat of the fire at once, without damaging a large amount of pro perty by turning on water from the hose too soon. The law of imprisonment for debt is very

absurd. It professes to punish ihe debtor, while the penal consequences actually bear most heavily upon the creditor. By the law, as it stands, the creditor at whose suit a debtor is imprisoned, has to pay twelve shillings weekly for the maintenance of his gaolbird debtor, ibis, in many instances, shits the latter exactly, for they choose to live at their creditor’s expense.rather than pay his just demand." ."‘'sQ. * 'Correspondent ’ u adya : “ Although there may 1 have been .exceptional cases where iipprisonnjehfc has been made the tool of oppression by creditor? their unfortunate debtors, yet our Colonial' law has entailed a great hardship upon creditors by having to support their debtors, as well as to incur in the general run the ultimate loss of their demand. An instance of this profitless kind of procedure is at the present time occurring in the Dunedin gaol, where an alleged debtor for some reason or other which he thinks is qpite sufficient to justify his refusal to pay, posifivejy refuges to pay any part of certain law charges in a spit which the debtor had instituted against his creditor, apt) Wfts by some JUSTUS defeated in his object. The consequence is, the creditor in even' necessitated to add to his already sufficient loss by having to pay 12s a week for his debtor’s maintenance, at .which toe debtor, having no wife or fainily or any one to care for, somewhat chuckles and makes himself content, comfortable, and happy—the demand, on the one hand, being about L3O; h’hile the maintenance already paid, on the other hand, amounts to upwards of that sum; and what is stranger still, both parties decline to brihg’ the 'debtor into the Court of Bankruptcy.-” ■

The following statement by the ‘ Southern Cross does not say much for the discrimination exercised by the Agent-General and his agents. Such extraordinary laxity, or rather Want of supervision, is exposed as to demand immediate and searching enquiry. Included in the French contingent which arrived in Auckland by the Wa'ye were four French men and four French women,’ all pf whom de* clare they came from Paris, obtained Government passages as qualified immigrants, the men professing to bo tradesmen and the women entered as their wives. There names are as entered on the list of passengers Eugene Froidure, blacksmith, and Floranoe, his wife • Edward Duret, bootmaker, and Oeliuo, his j#; .Auguste Hugurs, bricklayer, and Rose, ms Wifh; Theodore Frangois, engineer, and Valentine, hri.We. 4-ftar the arrival of this party, ana tbei? immigration Barracks, it was given put that they wm*g‘Vinedressers, and visits of inquiry were madg to the barracks by persons anxious to promote the cultivation of the vine and the manufacture of wine. The barrack-master states that the men iJO m!c desire employment at their professed trodes, but' have stated that they purposed from the first to take .w the baljet business, and that business accordingly thfrijariy have taken •up. It is further reported tbat tlieSr irp e_u- I jaged to go to Australia as soon as the present ballet season terminates. The ‘Gross’ remarks ; “ Certainly it was never intended mat public money should bo spent to import performers of an indecent dance, nor is : ,t tp he suffered that persons representing themselves as practical tradesmen, who get thejr Passages',oh Condition that the shall stay in the Cplony and purko'e jfcbei): trades in jt, should bring put ballet-dancing,' afid iyoid working at their callings, and folJoW theatricals for ; 'a' five-1 hhood. A clear breach of the conditions‘of j our immigration system appears to Jiaye been made, and a searching investigation ought to follow. It is bad enough that public morals should be tainted by indecent dancing, without our having to pay over LIOO for the importation of the performers and their following. W« recommend the attention of the magistrates and the ,9 authorities concerned to both the perand the (johditipjis under which the performers optaihed their passages.”

The monthly meeting of the Sabbath School teachers Union \yill foe in the Fii-st Oimrch Vestry on Friday evening at 7. 30. Nominations for the Waifeouaiti Handicap must be lodged with the Secretary, at theG olden eieece Hotel, to-morrow evening, not later than eight o’clock.