The Evening Star. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3667, 23 November 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1874.

The telegraphic news brought by the Albion of the state of affairs in Europe is of a mixed character; but on the whole may be considered favorable. There is nothing very startling in it, and that is no alight recommendation ; for startling events are usually of a disastrous character. The chief interest to New Zealand in European affairs lies in the influence they may have upon the comfort and well-being of the people here. In making this statement we know we lay ourselves open to the charge of laying too much stress upon worldly considerations, and narrowing our views of the world’s concerns to what our self-constituted high-class thinkers pronounce degrading mercenariness. We leave to them the task of weaving fancies for mending an impoverished world, and reconciling the teachings of history with their superfine theories. The accnmu-1 lated experience of ages proves that the poverty of a nation is a serious drawback to its power of advancement in civilisation. A poor country cannot progress in art, science, or education ; nor are poor people better than rich. They are subjected to many privations that tend to sour life, and many tempttations from which well-to-do folks are free. We, therefore, feel anxious after the material prosperity of Europe, because, so long as they work up our raw products there, and supply us with manufactured articles, the comfort and wealth of our population depends much upon the condition of theirs. Judging by the news of strikes at Horae, we should say tho country is recovering from the depression caused by the American failures and the deficient harvest of last year. Although from the telegram it would appear that attempts have been made to reduce wages of labor, the operatives have been strong enough to make a stand against it, and the cottonspin nors have found it to their interest to submit. We look upon that as a healthy sign upon the whole, for it seems to indicate that, although high wages are paid, it is still far better to continue working than to close the mills. The cotton-spinners strike, however, is only one among the numerous conflicts between capital and labor ; others of a serious character are mentioned, and it appears certain that farmers are unwilling to allow the soreness of the farm laborers to heal, and have re-opened the campaign by locking them out. Such a course must hasten the very evil they intend to avert. The exodus began last year, and, as time rolls on, the stream of emigration will increase until the British farmer will find to his cost he will have to compete with produce raised by the men whom he has driven away, in countries row waiting to welcome them and on soil waiting for their labor. The demand for immigrants in various countries will not soon cease, but will continue until something like equality of wages is established throughout the civilised world. The process may be a long one, but social relations are trending in that direction, and every discovery tending to cheapen the cost of transit from place to place is an advanced step towards it. i

So far as prospects of the continuation of peace in Europe are concerned, they seem improving. Marshal M'Mahon evidently has no desire to be drawn into another war ; and, therefore, whatever sympathies the people of Southern France may have with Don Carlos, the French Government evidently desires to preserve neutrality in relation to the civil war raging, in Spain. It would, in fact, be monstrous that a nation that has expelled the Bourbons from the tlu’one, and adopted a republican form of Government, should be guilty of the inconsistency of forcing a scion of that family upon a neighboring republic. France has suffered too much from foreign interference in her internal affairs, although it is always that statesmen, nor even nations, profit by past experience in matters of that sort, where kings are concerned. We have people here who hold that Don Garlos has a right to the throne of Spain, and that the Spaniards who are in arms against him are fighting against the Divine right of kings. Happily for the world it is felt that communities have Divine rights as well as kings, and that one of them is to choose that form of government that combines the greatest security for life and property with the widest civil and religious liberty. The mouarchs of Spain, who were supposed to rule by Divine appointment, did not behave themselves as if they were divinely authorised tt> reign. They submitted to

the dictation of another temporal prince, and stooped to become his tools ; they meddled with the spiritual rights of their subjects, and tried to fetter their liberty of thought on spiritual subjects. What has happened was the inevitable reaction of the human spirit against such domination. The string was drawn so tight as to become intolerable, and fortunately for Spain and for the world Don Carlos is never likely to succeed in acquiring the sovereignty. Don Carlos crushed, peace is possible: Don Carlos victorious, would be equivalent to a continuation of that harassing civil strife that has led people to look upon social chaos in Spain as chronic. His fortunes are once more clouded, and no right-thinking man can wish they may brighten ; for sympathy with one whol is content to bring the misery of civil strife upon a people, that he may force himself upon them as a ruler, is impossible with a rightlyconstituted mind. The very condition of his reigning would be the tyranny of one section of his subjects over another; for he must retain by force what he attains by force. If he were worthy to reign, he would not have plunged his country into war. The very course he has [taken to assert his imaginary rights proves him unfit for the throne he seeks. A century ago kings would have rushed to his support; it is consolatory to find, by their neutrality, that the people’s rights are acknowledged ; at any rate, by those countries which have power to make their influence felt.

We understand that the Hon. W. Fox will lay the foundation stone of the new Temperance Hall in Christchurch in the second week of December, and afterwards visit Dunedin,

We are indebted to the Commissioner of Police for the copy of a telegram stating that a laborer named James Baxter was drowned at the Taieri Ferry on Saturday. The body was found yesterday. The beautiful simplicity and charming inexpensiveness of the law, as administered in this Colony, were well illustrated in the recent libel case of Steele and Keogh v. the ‘ Tribune.’ The verdict was for L2O, which, with costa, make the small sum of L 592 !

The nomination for the vacancy in the representation of Mount Ida, caused by Mr Oliver’s resignation, takes place on December 14, and the election a week afterwards. The candidates already in the Held are Messrs R. H. Leary, J. P. Armstrong. J. Kwing, of e t Bathans, and Hollands, of Blacks.

Here is a hint for our Horticultural Society. One of the prizes offered for competition by the Hokitika Horticultural Society at their forthcoming exhibition is for the best cottage garden. The gardens are to be judged under five heads— Cleanliness, neatness, fruit, vegetables, and flowers, for eaoh of wbLh a maximum of tea points will be observed. The time of judging will be the day before the exhibition.

The question of taxing costs was brought nn ier the notice of the Court of Appeal on the 13bh instant, by Mr Garrick, of Christchurch, who asked the Court to pass a rule enabling parti s to have costs taxed as between solicitor and client by appointment through the Registrar in the first instance, without the necessity of applying for an order. The Court were unanimously of opinion that such a course was already open a"d was in fact the duty of the Registrar, without obtaining an}' order.”

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, the Most Rev Dr Redwood, was a passenger by the Albion yesterday. He attended St, Joseph’s Church last evening, where a large congregation had assembled, including a considerable number of persons of other denominations, in the expectation that he would deliver an adoress ; but Bishop Moran, who preached an eloquent sermon upon the Gospel of the day, stated that Dr Redwood felt so fatigued after his voyage that he was unable to do so.

One of the most appropriate and bandsome gift books that could possibly grace the table of anyone who desired to cherish remembrances of New Zealand is a folio collection of .New Zealand ferns, numbering above a hundreu specimens, most beautifully mounted and carefully classified, and presented by Mr J. A. Bonar, M. L.A., to Lady Fergusson. The collection is contained in a very handsome volume bound in a red morocco leather, and is a’together a gift of which Lady Fergusson may well be proud. The order paper for the next meeting of the City Council is only remarkable for its brevity. There are on y three notices upon it. Cr. Grant is desirous that in future the contract price of kerbing should be charged to property owners, while Cr. Woodlands wishes to have Cumberland street, from Stuart street to Rattray street, immediately formed and opened for traffic, and will a&k how it comes that and by whose permission a wooden building was erected near the First Church, the same being within the “inner area, when Messrs Parke and Curie and other applicants were refused a like privilege.

The unconcluded portion of the Friendly Societies F6te programme was gone through at the .Northern Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon, but the “sports” did not attract many visitors. The events were: Boys' Sack Race : Rochford, 1; Doudle, 2; Webb, 3. Consolation Sack Race for boys : Burke. Wrestling : The contest undecided on Prince of Wales’s Birthday between Hayes and Bell, resulted in lavor of Hayes. Half-Mile Race—five entries :W. J. Burke, 1 ; 2. The sura of L 4, taken at the gates, will be handed to the Benevolent Institution.

The last * Gozstte ’ contained a summary of the transactions of the Money Order and Post Office Savings’ Bank departments for the quarter ending September 30. In the former the transactions were;— Number issued, 16,585 ; value, L 68.176 10s 6d ; number paid, 11,540 ; value, L 47.209 17a Id. The transactions in the Savings’ Banks were: —Accounts opened, 2,832 ; closed, 1,433; number of deposits, 14,085 ; number of withdrawals, 7,996; amount of deposits, L 182.263 2s Id ; amount of withdrawals, L 153.244 5s 3d ; excess of deposits ove withdrawals, L 29.018 16s lOd. Writing of the new Minister of Justice, the ‘ Globe’ says:—*' Mr 0. C. Bowen, R.M., has joined the Ministry as Minister of Justice, with a seat in the Upper House. The offer was made to Mr Bowen some time ago, and correspondence has been passing between him and the Government since tha't time, but owing to Mr Vogel’s absence from the Colony the final answer in the affirmative was not given till Monday evening. The sudden appearance of Mr Bowen in the political arena as a Minister of the Crown, will take the majority of the people of Canterbury by surprise. Not that he is unqualitied for the office which he has taken; on the contrary, his administration of the Department of Justice will be in striking conftast with that of his predecessors in office,

in whose hands it has for many years been scarcely anything but a sinecure. ’ The state of our gaols has long betn a reproach to the Colony. Time after; time our Judges have directed attention to the necessity of a radical change, and tlr y have not scrupled to style them nothing better than nurseries of crime. And yet each successive Minister of Justice has been content to draw his salary and let thin;;n take their course. We anticipate a diff‘rent state of r.fiairs wh'-n Mr Bowen takes tho reins of office. He goes into power intimately acquainted with the real state of affairs, which his lengthened occupation of the bench has given him. It is also well known that he has long been deeply impi cased with the importance of the reforms we nave ; n dcated. He will, therefore, bring to the task, not only an intimate knowledge of what is actually required but also an enthusiasm for the work, which must be productive of the greatest good to the olony.”

An inquest was hold by the District Coroner (Mr Stratford) at the Car.irona Hotel, Cardrona, on the 17th instant, on tho body of a married woman named Mary Torrie, forty five years of age. it appeared ‘‘hai- deceased had Ren very id .Hnce the prev-ous Friday, and that her husband had, on the morning of the 16th. sent his son to Queenstown for a doctor, but that one had not arrived. At the inquest the Coroner mentioned that, on the constable’s recommendation, he had served a summons on Dr Douglass, of Frauktown, omman 'ing him to atteud at the inquest; but that gentleman had failed to obey the summons, and did nt put in an appearance. The jury returned the following verdict “ Tnat deceased came by her death from natural cau.es, accelerated by excessive driuking and neglect on the part of those in whose keeping she was ; and the jury request that inquiry be made by the Coroner as to the cattse why Dr Douglass was not in attendance, after his having been summoned to attend.” “Madelaine,” a piece new to Dunedin, was produced at the Princess Theatre on Satur day evening. The attendance was very large. The play is essentially French, and the plot can be easily followed throughout. In the principal character—that of Madelame—Mrs Bates outshone all her former efforts, and the repeated and enthusiastic calls she received showed unmistakeably the impression she had made upon her audience. Mr Bates as Bertrand, the husband of the heroine, had a part suited to him ; therefore it is almost unnecessary to say that lus success was unqualified. In conjunction with Mrs Bales be was several times called before the curtain. Mr Steele made a decide I hit as Remy, and contributed greatly to the general amusement. Mr Clinton played the villain of the piece very fairly, but he would have been more successful had he not strained so much for effect. The remaining characters were suitably represented. “ The Dumb Man of Manchester” concluded the entertainment—Mrs Hill playing the part of Jane Wilton, and Mr Koogh that of the .dumb man The sensational drama of “ The Streets of New York” is ann ounced for tonight, in which the entire company will appear, assisted by auxiliaries. The management have gone to great expense in getting up this piece, and we trust they will bo recouped for their outlay. The single women per the Auckland were conveyed to the Caversham barracks oa Saturday afternoon, and the married couples and single men to the same placi this afternoon. Un Saturday there were no immigrants in the barracks receiving rations, while of the 121 souls in the Princes street depdt only two families were receiving rations, the remainder having to be detailed there in consequence of inability to obtain house accommodation The Auckland brings 355 souls, equal to 305 adults, and subjoined is a list of their trade? and occupations : (. rofter, I ; farm laborers. 48; farm manager, 1 ; gardener, 2 ; general laborers, 14; ploughmen, 14; shepherds, 4; orpenter, I; coach builder, I; joiners, 7 ; wheelwright, I; blacksmiths, 3; enginee-, 1 ; ironmoulder, 1 ; tinsmith, 1 ; masons, 5 ; saddler, 1 ; bakers, 3 ; engine driver, I ; fishermen, 3; mechanic, 1; painters, 2 ; plumber, 1 ; railway contractor, 1 ;' tailors, 6 ; vandriver, I—total, 125. Single women : Capmaker, I ; cooks, 2 ; dairymaid, 1 ; dressmakers, 3 ; farm servants, 2; general servants, 43 ; housekeepers, 3 ; laundress, 1; machinist, 1 ; nursemaids, 4; sempstress, 1 ; tailoresses, 2—total. 64. Nationality : •‘nglish, 11; Scotch, 266; Irish, 78—total, 355 swuls. Fifteen nominated immigrants, shipped to Wellington by the Star of India, will be forwarded to Riverton by the Wallabi this afternoon. Those by the Auckland were selected by Mr Adam for the Otago Home \gency, and are the finest shipment sent here for a considerable time. It is contemplated to close the Princes street dep6t shortly.

Dr M'Cluro, of Invercargill, who, it will be remembered, refused to comply w>’th the 17th section of our Public Health Act, on the ground that when he became a member of the Koyal College of Surgeons of England he made a declaration not to divulge information entrusted to him professionally, and that any breach of this undertaking would expose him to the penalties of perjury, now find himself beaten on all sides. Dissatisfied with the Attorney-General’s opinion on the subject, which favored the view taken by the local health authorities, Dr M’Clure appealed with confidence to the ‘ Lancet,’ which, however, pronounces thus : “ Dr M ‘Olure is perhaps right in raising the ethical question 5 but ive cannot agree with him in his views concerning it. As far as we remember, there is no specific undertaking of the kind he mentions. There is a general undertaking on the part of the new member to demean himself honorably in the practice of his profession. But even if a bye-law of the College forbade the disclosure of information acquired in a professional way, this could not override the obligation to divulge such information at the bidding of the law, for State purposes or for the ends of justice. It may be a question whether the State should impose the duty on the medical men or on the friends of the patient. But every week’s experience teaches us that the State has the deepest interest in such information. And it is entided to demand it. The consequences of not receiving it promptly are the spread of disease and the occurrence of perfectly preventable deaths. If the imposes such a duty on medical men it should pay them for discharging it, and pay them well. On rrflection, and especially considering that the declaration does not contain such words as he supposes. Dr M ‘Clare will probably agree with Mr Carter, a Fellow, by the way, of his College, in approving of the principle of the clause in the Public Health Act of the Legislature of New Zealand. It would be unpleasant, apart from law, to compel a medical man to disclose information, bub for great public purposes,'and at the bidding of the law, it is highly reasonable to do so.

We would remind our readers that Madame Croddard s second concert takes place at the Queen s 1 heatre this evening. I rom Mr Braithwaite wc have received the September mimbers of the ‘ London Journal,’ 1 oung Ladies’ Journal,’ and ‘ Bow Bells.’

. meeting of those who subscribed for shares m the Benhigo Deep Level Company will be a: 1U 16 ow Zealand Insurance Company’s office to-morrow morning.