Local Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 755, 24 January 1870, Page 2

Local Items.

HUE IN SHAKESPEARE-ROAD. A fjre broke out about four o'clock on the morning of Saturday last, 22nd inst., in the workshop of MiLindsay, carpenter and joiner, which resulted in the total destruction of that building. About the time we have mentioned, Mr Holder and several other neighbors were aroused by an unusual glare, and on discovering the cause, hurried to the spot, and exerted themselves to extinguish the flames. It was evident that it was hopeless to attempt to save the shop, and attention was therefore devoted to the neighboring buildings. A light wind was blowing, which carried sparks and burning fragments over an t around Mr Holder's house, which, although some little distance off, was for some time in considerable danger. The wind was blowing from the direction of Mr E. Sutton's, almost close to the burning building, and which, but for this circu instance, combined with the powerful efforts of willing volunteers, would no doubt have been sacrificed. It was a fortunate circumstance that a pai'ty of gentlemen at Mr Swan's hotel were astir at the time, and, hearing the

alarm, hurried to the spot. We are informed that Captain Gudgeon, Dr Carr, Mr Swan, Mr Tupper, Me Ferguson? Mr H. Q, Wilson, and other gentlemen were distinguished by their active exertions. The dividing flnioe between Mr Lindsay's and Mr Holder's property wa* removal, and we blankets were freely applied to the two houses more particularly endangered. Notwithstanding these effort?, the corner of Mr Sutton's house was much charred, and one patch of the shingled roof burnt nearly through. The workshop and contents being very dry and inflammable, the tire soon exhausted itself, but during the process of destruction great heat was given out, by which many trees and plants in Mr Holder's garden were destroyed, and his doors and windows* warped. By this occurrence Mr Lindsay loses a large and valuable stock of tools, which, apart from \ their intrinsic value, it n will be a matter of great difficulty to replace. Some of the workmen are also sufferers in this respect. The building contained also a number of sashes and similar property. Mr Lindsay estimates his own loss at upwards of £4OO. only partially covered by insurance. Living at a distance he was not on the spot when the fire originated, and did not arrive until it had been got under. He desires us to express his thanks to who so kindly assisted in extinguishing the flames, and saving his property. The origin of the tire is not accounted for, Mr Lindsay having carefully looked round and left all apparently safe on locking i.p on Friday evening. Dr. CARE'S SEANCES. Since our brief notice of Dr Carr's performance of Wednesday evening last, that gentleman has given three other entertainments, of which we are able to give a more detailed account; but we shall confine our remarks to that of Friday evening. In his preliminary address Dr Carr described minutely the anatomy and physiology of the human brain, contrasting it with that of the highest varieties of the ape tribe, and showing the wide and unmistakeable distinction between the two. He next described the leading phrenological characteristics of wellknown historical personages—Napoleon L, John Wesley, Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, and others. The two (irst he contrasted —their brains exhibiting extreme differences of moral development. The brain of Lord Byron, he observed, was below the average size, but being remarkable for its extreme density and the fineness of its texture, indicated a mind of unusual power and activity. He next referred to the science of mesmerism, the opposition it had encountered, and the ground it had at length gained in both popular and professional estimation, particularly showing its value as an anaesthetic over chloroform and kindred drugs, which not unfrequently produced injurious results. He concluded by describing important and delicate surgical operations, which he had performed on patients in the mesmeric sleep. Volunteers for phrenojo? gical examination were then called for, and several well-known gentlemen took their places on the stage. A rapid comparative explanation of their cranial characteristics and leading points of character was then given by the doctor <■ —an explanation which we cannot but regard as being in most cases rather too superficial and imperfect—defects perhaps almost unavoidable in delineating character before a miscellaneous audience. Thus, the intellectual faculties of some and the animal propensities of others were enlarged upon, without any hint as to whether the moral. development was sufficient to control and regulate the other powers. Three persons were especially unfortunate, being described as of low moral and intellectual development, and two of them as being utterly selfish, —■ not a single redeeming point appearing in the characters as literally shadowed forth by the doctor. Yet oue of these three was a young man much esteemed for many excellent qualities, and of considerable ability. In other cases he succeeded in describing the leading characteristics of persons before him in a very happy mam, ner. We cannot regard a tion of this kind as a fair test of the

truth of the science—the examination is necessarily imperfect, apart from the tendency to exaggeration, which is no doubt more acceptable to a mixed audience than conscientious exactitude. The mesmeric illustrations followed, a number of persons offering themselves as subjects. One was quickly rejected for attempted imposition, and two others for insusceptibility. The doctor's power was evinced in drawing a person (who had been previously under his influence) from among the audience and at once fixiug him to the stage, his head thrown back and his hand pointing upward. The new subjects one by one succumbed to the mesmeric power, and were laid on the floor in a deathlike stupor. A gentleman wellknown to the public, tall, powerful, and well-proportioned, put the doctor's power to a severe test, but was at length overcome, and rendered as powerless as the others, being made to forget his name, to fancy himself a barber, &c, and act accordingly. We must be understood now as speaking of our personal feelings, and not with any wish to find fault, but we could not feel pleased with such manifestations, the state induced appearing to us very unnatural, if not positively iujuriuus. In short, we cannot approve of the exercise of the mesmeric power as a meaus of public amusement; and as far as the convincing of the sceptical is concerned, those who will not believe in the simpler manifest, lions, cannot be convinced by the highly objection able process of thrusting a pin through the ear or into the llesh of au unconscious victim. Dr Carr gives another seance this evening—time and place as before. ' Napier Debating Club. — The next meeting of the above wili take place to-morrow evening. Napier Land and Building So ciety, No. 2. —A general meeting of shareholders is called fo.x this evening. Rain.—A very heavy fall of rain took place on Saturday night. Fine weather has again set in. Napier Garrick Club. —On Wednesday evening next, the above club will give their farewell performance, on which occasion, we need hardly say, we hope to see a large attendance. The Artesian Well Experiment —We regret that Mi H. Williams' attempt to sink an Artesian weli ,oa his premises has failed, an obstacle having been encountered at a considerable depth, which effectually prevented further progress. Mr Williams, ho- • ever, did not despair, and has renewed the attempt in a different place. We wish him success.