The Evening Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3780, 6 April 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1875.

Thu movement in favor of what is termed funeral reform,” seems to have subsided, as, indeed, it was likely it would do for a while. The first wave has passed; it has produced but little effect, and still

the well-plumed hearse comes nodding on, Stately and slow; and properly attended By the whole sable tribe, that painful watch Ihe sick man s door, and live upon the dead, By letting out their persons by the hour To mimic sorrow, when the heart’s not sad! How nch the trappings, now they’re all unfurl’d And glittering in the sun! Triumphant entries Of conquerors, and coronation pomps, In glory scarce exceed. Great gluts of people Retard the unwieldy show ; whilst from the

casements And houses’ tops, ranks behind ranks close wedged Hang bellying o’er. But tell us, why this waste ? Why this ado in earthing up a carcass That’s fallen into disgrace, and in the nostril shells horrible ? Ye undertakers, tell us, Midst all the gorgeous figures you exhibit, Why is the principal concealed, for which x ou make this mighty stir ? It is scarcely possible to add to the force of this sarcastic picture. Of the dead, no matter where laid, whether in private mauroleuiaor public ceme tery, it may be truly TombH in a desert, as serene, A» sweet, as blest, hit sleep had been.

It is not for the dead, therefore, that this pomp and circumstance is provided ; it is to soothe the feelings of the living; it is a public testimony to the estimation in which the deceased was held by his relatives and friends. As this is the end and purpose of a funeral ceremonial, it is evidently necessary to create a change in public opinion as to the mode of expressing regret on losing a friend, before more simple and natural arrangements are possible. Unfortunately there is in funerals, as in most other social matters into which fashion enters, a spirit of rivalry, that seems to us very much out of place on occasions so sad. It is quite comprehensible that at a ball, a wedding, or on a festive occasion, wealth should assert its superiority and blazon forth the glories of adorning art which it is capable of purchasing; but pride at a funeral seems sadly out of place. The proof that rich and poor hqve a common lot is before us in the presence of death, and the pomp of rivalry is rebuked by the coffin that contains the remains oi one who, some few hours before, yielded mind and spirit to the unseen world, and left merely that behind which once held him to the earth. To our thinking the more simple funeral arrangements are made, the higher the tribute to the memory of the dead The grave decked with flowers is a more touch mg sight than a hearse followed by ten thousand mourners. It tells that the memory of the deceased is cherished : that sorrow for the loss is enduring. A suit of mourning only says “ we have lost a friend,” or “some one has died, that the world expects us at least to ‘mimic sorrow’ for,” whether the heart is or is not sad. Now, in the name of common sense, why should not a badge upon the arm be equally expressive ? It satisfies the needs of the army and the navy. When we see one of the military with a band of crape round his arm, we know that he has lost a friend or, perhaps, er °® cer ‘ I'he cost is a few pence or shillings at most; but it is enough. Why should it be needful for a civilian to do more. All that is required is recognition of the loss. The same may be said of the cost of funerals. To the rich it matters little, but unfortunately they lead the fashion. Imitation by the less wealthy appears almost a necessity, for it seems that extravagant funeral expenditure is the recognised mode of expressing respect for the dead. The rich, therefore, are chargeable with sanctioning the infliction of a heavy tax upon families whose means are not equal to the burden. Nor is it right of them, when they have it in their power to remedy the evil, to reply, “They need not follow our example.” Were it known why an influential family requested the friends who followed the hearse of some loved one to dress in ordinary attire, with the exception of a mourning band of orape; why they dispense with every pompeus display in token of their acknowledgment of the common destiny of rich and poor, they would set an example that would prove an unmixed boon to thousands, if it was the means of inducing a change in customs so absurd and ruinous to widows and orphans as our present funeral practice. Not a friend the fewer would fallow ; not a tear the less would bo shed for the loved departed one. If black clothes and funereal pomp betokened the state of the heart it would be a different matter; but they only point to fear ef what the world will say uf they are dispensed with. Let the noh, who can afford it, say, “ My duty to the living forbids that I should lavish wealth upon the dead. If I can afford the eost of a funeral, others cannot; and I can also afford to . bear what the world may say, when in breaking through a baneful custom, I do that which benefits the less wealthy and is approved of my own conscience.”

The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board fixed for to-day, was postponed till Tuesday next to enable members to attend the funeral of the late Mr Gray. Mr D. Salmond, representative of Messrs Brogden and Sons, in Tokomairiro, has been appointed secretary and manager of the Kaitangata Bailway Company. The ‘Bruce Herald* speaks approvingly of the muse of a young local poet—Mr Dugald Ferguson—who is about to publish a small volume containing his best efforts. A patent has been taken out in Melbourne for a sheep shearing machine. It consists of an endless table, across which the sheep is stretched, by means of padded clamps, holding each of its legs. While thus fetched the animal is slowly turned over, the fleece being meanwhile cut off by the shearing apparatus, and discharged in front of the machine.

The orks Committee of the Harbor Board, acting under the remit made to them by that body, have accepted the tender of Messrs Kincaid, M‘Queen and Co. for the supply of a new and powerful steam dredge, capable of lifting 500 tons of stuff per hour. The contract price of the machine is Lid,6so

At the Fire Brigade’s monthly meeting held yesterday, Messrs Be ok, Williamson, and Lyons were re-elected honorary members for twelve months’. Messrs Alston and J. Scott, elected honorary members, and Mr A. Mellor a working member. Mr Beattie was proposed as a working member. Mr Treasurer Robertson having called attention to the donation of the united insurance companies being due since January, Captain Wain said he had no doubt that if the secretary called upon the chairman of that body the matter would be attended to. On the 24th prox,, the natives of Canterbury and this Province will, at the invitation of Taiaroa, M.H.R., assemble at the Kaik at the Heads and discuss “ what steps should be taken to secure the payment of L 2,000,000 claimed by him in 1872, as compensation for the unfulfilled promises made to them by Colonel Wakefield, Mr Kemp, and Mr Mantell.” Taiaroa informs us that it is intended to subscribe to send to England certain of their number to lay their grievances before the Imperial Government and Parliament, and that the Hon. Mr Mantell will be asked to advocate their claims in England.

In a mining case lately heard before the late Judge Gray, at Queenstown, a newlyfledged legal aspirant—Mr Finn—said if he held a claim he would bang miners who came poaching on it. His Honor thought such remarks were very disrespectful to the Court—law should be taken cold, not hot. Mr Finn agreed, but would be glad to see another Eureka riot there, to show the Government the iniquity of the present mining law. His Honor said he would not listen to such remarks—which he considered came with bad taste from so new a practitioner as Mr Finn—being thrown out against the law. The following remarks by the ‘ Dunstan Times ’ on the Medora case, will be pretty generally commended :—“ We do not presume to question the justice or otherwise of the sentence passed on M ‘Kay, as we know nothing of the circumstances further than what we glean from the very meagre statement in the Dunedin papers, but we areVf opinion that, where foul riding—-which is nothing more or less than tbieviug, and thatuf the very worst type—is detected the full measure of the power of the Stewards should be meted out to the culprit ; viz. : a dis qualification of both horse and rider for ever ; it is only by such extremes that the racecourse can be purged. We speak strongly because the cage demands it this being the third instance within the last two months where foul riding has had to be punished.”

A. now version of “Lady Audley’s Secret ” was presented to a good downstairs attendance at the Princess’s last evening. As the heroine Miss Howard again gave proof of the sterling dramatic abilities of which she is possessed, and her representation of the character ranks among the best given in Dunedin. In the final acts where she struggles for the mastery with Robert Audley, her acting was excellent. Mr Steele made a gentlemanly Robert, and with Miss Howard was called before the curtain at the close of each act. Mr Musgrave was capital as the doting husband, and Mr Keogh a passable Luke Marks. A farce, which was announced to bring the performance to a close, was nob played. The drama will be repeated to-night. An illustration of the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction came to light in the Melbourne County Court the other day. A Chinaman named Yan Goon sued a blacksmith, Louis Michel, for LI 16, value of goods which the Chinaman alleged bis wife took with her when she left his house and took up her abode with the blacksmith. Yan Goon said that the loss of his wife and his goods together made him very “mislable.” The woman died a short time ago, and during her lifetime the Chinaman made no attempt to recover either h ; s wife or£is goods, Michel stated that in July, 1872, he was introduced to a Miss Aspinall, to whom he paid his addresses, and whom he married in March, 1873. He said she had been a good wife to him until she died, last December, in childbirth. The marriage certificate was produced In Court, and in it she was described as “spinster.” He had no idea that she had ever been connected with a Chinaman, and believed that it was entirely a case of mistaken identity. The Court decided the case in his favor.

At a meeting of the Dunedin shareholders of the Greymouth Coal Company held yesterday, it was explained that reports of the progress of the Company’s works were regularly forwarded to Mr G. F. Heid, and matters were in such a satisfactory state that on the railway being opened ihe mine could put out 500 tons a day. The delay was owing to the railway, which would not be finished for six months. It was mentioned that the Brunner Co.’s mine ou the other side of the Grey river was at work, that some coal had also been got from the Greymouth Co. ’s mine, and that the coal from each mine was of excellent quality. As a gas coal it was remarkably good. The report from the manager showed that 11,600 feet of gas was obtained from one ton of the Greymouth Co.’s coal; while that from Newcastle coal was 9,600. It was further mentioned that the Grey coal in Dunedin had for gas purposes been purchased at 7s 6d per ton above the price for which Newcastle coal could be had. / fter further discussion it was resolved “That the shareholders in Dunedin be recommended by advertisement to send in their proxies to Mr G. F. Reid to be forwarded to Dr Morico, who will be instructed by telegram, after the report and balance sheet have been received in Dunedin, how to act on their account.”

Pending the tuning of the Piano Qaatuor, imported by Messrs P. Hayman and Co., we delayed describing the instrument, as we wished to hear its capabilities before calling public attention to the invention. Our contemporary, the ‘Daily Times,’ however, has given such au extraordinary account of what it is, that not even musicians will comprehend it; we feelit a duty therefore to endeavorto explain the ipai vel. IN o doubt many persons are aware that for some years past endeavors have been made to produce a keyed stringed instrument, capable of the rapid action of the piano, with the power of sustaining a note, as on the violin, and M. Baudot, a Frenchman, has succeeded in causing the strings to vibrate by adaption, of the principle of the violin bow. His plan is to cause a cyl nder to rotate by means of pedals worked by the performer. By pressure ou the keys this cylinder after being resined, is brought in contact with ’any string that is desired, and tms pn pared, just as a string is caused to vibrate so long as the motion of a violin bow is continued, the sound is sustained by the revolving cylinder in the Piano Qaatuor. Its name—Quatuor—really means that it combines the range necessary to a quartette of stringed instruments, and includes the playable compass of the violin, viola, vio'inoello, and double-bass, so that one performer can avail himself of all the advantages of harmony combined with power, and probably with the sweetness of those instruments so absolutely essential to every orchestra. If it realise the expectation we have formed of it, the Piano Quatuor will prove a valuab’e addition to every stringed band.

Jadgs Rogers, of Victoria, sits as hard upon bankrupts who apply for a final discharge from their liabilities as does Judge Ward of this Colony. On the 18th ultimo, two insolvents presented themselves before his Honor to be made financially clear, but were much taken aback when they were addressed something after the following manner:—“l do not see that it would be of any advantage to the community to grant the dispensation applied for. You will both be able to work for your living just as well without a certificate as with one. It is quite clear that neither of you have any capital, and to go into business without money usually eventuates in failure it is urged that the creditors do not oppose. I am aware of the fact, but I do not sit here as their representative, but to protect the general interests of the commercial community. 1 have the power to grant certificates .when a less dividend than 7s in the pound has been paid, but it is in cases where the insolvency has taken place from causes beyond the control of the insolvent; but where a man takes a large farm without any means, and then allows his rent to accumnlate until the landlord sweeps away all his estate under a distraint, I say each insolvencies are not of that nature as to be beyond control. It is argued that these insolvents would find it very hard to select land unless they obtained their certificates. There was no doubt about that, and it was very proper it should be so; tor farming, in order to bo successful, required capital and skill, as well as labor, fencing, manuring, and the like; and how could two insolvents, who came into Court without a shilling in the world to call their own, expect to prosper by getting into debt for everything they wanted to commence business with. No, no. The proper course was for them to become farm laborers. They would be much happier and much better off.”

The criminal proceedings instituted at Queenstown by Denis Powell, a local hotelkeeper, against two of his employes—William Jackson Barry and Charlotte Sloane—appear to have excited a great deal of interest in the district. It will be recollected that in the first instance Barry and Sloane were charged with stealing certain articles, and that after hearing the evidence Mr Beetham, R. M., dismissed the information against Barry, saying that there was not tho shadow of. & case against him ; and declined to commit Sloane, because the articles identified were of trivial value, and it would have been ihe height of absurdity to have put the country to the expense of about LSOO in sending such a case to Dunedin. Jfn accordance with a direction from the Bench Sloane was afterwards proceeded against summarily and charged with having unlawfully in her posse sion a quantity of linen goods the property of Mrs Powell. The ‘Mail’s’ report says that the production of th ‘se articles made part of the Court-house look like a laundry room, Sloane’* defence was that

some of the articles claimed by Mrs Powell actually belonged to her, and that others had been placed In her box by some one who intended to injure her. This latter hypothesis was rejected by Mr Beetham, who sentenced her to a month’s imprisonment in the Queenstown gaol. Here, adds the * Mail,’ a most painful scene ensued in a crowded Court. The prisoner broke forth into most heart-rending screams, accusing the prosecutrix of having rained her. So violent was her sobbing that it is stated she broke a small blood vessel. In a letter to the ‘ Mail,’ Barry charges the * Uunstan 1 imesj’ and the ‘Otago Daily Times’ with publishing malignant reports of the case, which will have to be atoned for hereafter.

The adjourned meeting of the Dunedin Rowing Club will be he held at the Pier Hotel, tomorrow evening, at 8 o’clock.

A meeting of the Coal Masters and Miners of the Green Island District will be held in the "Walton Schoolhouse on Thursday evening, at 7 o’clock.

On Wednesday evening the weekly practice of the Dunedin Harmonic Society will be held in the Schoolroom adjoining All Saints’ Church, In anticipation of the coming concert, the soloists are requested to attend at 7.30; and the instrumentalists and chorus at 8.16.

. The ‘ New Zealand Church News ’ for April is more than usually interesting. Beside the customary news of European and Colonial doings in connection with the Church, Bishop Abraham’s letter and Dean Jacobs’s reply concerning Bishop’s Jenner’s appointment are published in eoUenso. We doubt whether the latter will prove satisfactory to the large section of the Church in Dunedin who consider Bishop Jenner to have been scuruily treated.