The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 300, 31 December 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

BpN a supplement published with to-day's Sue will be found additional particulars of ■c disgraceful disturbances which occurred gtt Cbristchurch and Timaru last week. It Must be deeply regretted by all right thinking persons that these old feuds which we Fsll hoped had in this new country been buried |nd lost sight of should again be brought to the surface. What makes the affair the more serious is that the outrages committed by the Ribbonmen were not merely the result of a temporary excitement, or of passions suddenly and unexpectedly roused but that they were deliberately planned, the Catholics appearing to have mustered from distant parts of the country for the purpose of attacking the Orangemen Although it seems really absurd that men should allow themselves to be enraged by the sight of a scarf of a particular color, still it might possibly be deemed excusable did the obnoxious piece of silk with all its associations come suddenly under their «S C * Ihe1 hen ', .P erha P 9 ' they might be excited by drink or other causes, but when we find them assembling from various localities for the very purpose of witnessing a sight repugnant to their feelings, and with the evident intention of perpetrating such deeds of lawlessness and ruffianism as those which reflected disgrace upon the whole colony on Friday last, we can have no sympathy whatever with those who are now :n custody and can but hope that .he severest pumanment the law allows will be meted out to them, with a view to puttißg a stop in future to such squabbles, which are as silly as they are disgraceful. The Roman Catholics as a body will, we feel sure, be the first to express their disapprobation of such riotous conduct, and we are glad to find that Bishop Moran has taken an early opportunity ot condemning it from the pulpit The sports to be held in the Botanical Keserve to-morrow under the auspices of the -tradesmen's Athletic Club promise to be a great success. No trouble has been spared in making the necessary preparations, and the competitions for nearly all the events promise to be very keen. There will be i??!? ra LP 0 ? cl * ieß igjrgflu.ceq. jOoe . pf them

yet thirteen years of age, who will walk on j the tight rope at intervals. Those who have seen him say that his feats are quite equal to those of many [professionals. The treasurer wishes to acknowledge the receipt of two guineas from Alfred Jones., Esq., as a donation to the club. Tin; Art Treasures Exhibition may be considered fairly successfsil, as the Committee find that the total number of visitors has been 800. Last night there were more than usual, anil the music appeared to be much appreciated. The Exhibition will be kept open to-morrow to accommodate country visitors, and then: will be a promenade concert in the evening, for which preparations are being made. This being the last occasion the public will have of seeing a collection of works of art that lias never been equalled iv Nelson and perhaps not in New Zealand, it is expected that there will be a crowded attendance, and we do not hesitate to cay that all will leave the Hall well satisfied with having, for the charge of one shilling, secured the advantages of examining so many choice artistic works which must to some extent exercise a beneficial influence on their tastes. About 500 children and others attended the picnic giveu yesterday to the pupils and teachers of the Church of England Sunday Schools. Games of ail sorts were indulged in in the beautiful paddock lent by Mr Allport for the occasion, and, notwithstanding the showers that fell at intervals all appeared to enjoy themselves heartily and were able to do full justice to the ample tea provided for them, after which they returned to town arriving at the station shortly after seven o'clonk. Tiiere will be divine service at Christ Church, this evening, commencing at 11 o'clock and closing at midnight. The usual watch-night service will be held in the Wesleyau Church, commencing at half-past ten. The annual fele in connection with the Lower Wakefield Institute will be held tomorrow, when there will be sports in the afternoon and a tea party in the evening. The preparations for holding the Conference at Bishopdale to-morrow are being pushed forward, and if the weather proves favorable the meeting should be a great success. Similar meetings in past years conducted by Mr Short have been numerously attended, and this being under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association should command the sympathy of a large body of Christiaus. The Bishop of Nelson will preside at the morning, and the President of the Association at the afternoon, meeting, and the speakers who have consented to open the subjects of discussion at the latter meeting are the Revs C. O. Mules, J. Leighton, R. Bavin, J. Beckenham, and A. J. Hamilton. There will be aome sports and a tea party at Upper Moutere to-morrow. The proceedings will be enlivened by a Brass Baud By the next San Francisco mail steamer a large shipment of while fish ora ia expected from America, and these will be distributed throughout those portions of the coloDy where • there are lakes, as these, and not rivers, are the habitat of this particular description of fish. A quarter of a million are to be sent to Nelson where they will be hatched in the Acclimatization Society's ponds, whence the young fry will be transported to Lake Roioiti where, at no very distant date, some excellent fishing should be obtainable. The editor of the Kuiuara Times was evidently at peace with himself and all the world when he sat down to write his Christmas article. It is short but very much to the point, and as it will not trespass much upon our space we copy it in full. It runs thus:—" To our contemporaries, to our contributors, to our correspondents, to our subscribers, to our most regular renders — though non-subscribers ;(this includes those who borrow their neighbors' paper for only a few minutea every evening) — to those we have offended and to those we may yet offend, to thooo <vhn Inva qg and tcthosa roho lava us j not; and, in fact, to the community at large, even including Sir George Grey, on this the threshold of a New Year, and on the eve of a day on which all differences are sunk in happy oblivion — we extend the hand of friendship, Bmoke the calumet of peace, and wish everyone most heartily may enjoy a merry Christmas." Perhaps the most wonderful of all Edison's startling inventions, the phonograph, is now being exhibited next to Ivl. Davis' store in Bridge-street, and it is a curiosity which we would recommend our readers to go and see. The following description of the instrument from the Illustrated London News will be read with interest :— " The phonograph is simple in construction, consisting of a cylinder mounted ou a horizontal axle, and capable of rotation by a handle, or preferably, as uniformity of speed is essential, by clockwork. The cylinder is not only capable of rotation, but has also a gentle lateral movement, which ia effected by a screw cut on part of the shaft, and working in a nut. A screw-thread is likewise cut on the cylinder, and the cylinder itself is coated with tinfoil. This tinfoil is gently pressed by a metal pin, or style, which is attached to a thin disc of iron furnished with a funnel shaped mouthpiece of vulcanite. When words are spoken into the mouibpiece, the vibrations of the air are communicated to the metal diaphragm, and the pin which It carries is thus thrown into agitation. A a the cylinder slowly travels along, it is constantly pressed by this point ; and if the pressure continued uniform, a furrow, everywhere of equal depth, would be traced around the barrel But when the voice agitates the iron plate the pin is caused to press unequally upon the cyliuder, aud the metal surface is therefore indented to an unequal extent in different parts of the line. While the tinfoil readily yields to pressure, and thus offers but little opposition to indentation, its lack of elasticity prevents it from springing back, and hence the impressions once made are permanently retained. To reproduce the sounds which have thus been impressed upon the metal, the cylinder has to be brought back to its original position. It is then rotated beneath the pin, which is jerked up and down as the elevations and depressions pass beneath it. These movements of the pin are faithfully followed by the metal diaphragm, which throws the air into vibration, and thus produces sounds exactly corresponding with those by which the indentations were produced. As the pitch of the sound is altered by varying the velocity of rotation— a quicker motion raising and a slower motion lowering it— an exact reproduction of the voice can only be effected by causing the cylinder to revolve at precisely the same rate as that which it possessed when it originally received the uounds that it is seeking to emit. This precision of movement is effected by meanß of clockwork." The following ia the result of the Buller Races held on Friday last:— Trial StakesMr Bolton's Half Caste 1, Mr James' Kiwi 2 Mr Hagan's Wild Boy 3. Bollee PlateMr Hagan's Wild Boy 1. Hampden Hurdle Race: Mr Hagan's Happy Jack l, Mr James' Towton 2. Hack Race: Mr D«.lmc-'" ' Dandy 1, Mr Hagan's Omaka 2. District * Plate: Mr Ribet's Nelly 1, Mr James' Kiwi * 2. Pony Race, heats: Mr Hagan's Bobby I, Mr Ribet's Mosquito 2. The first was a dead heat. The following is from last night's Post — A meeting of the creditors of Dr L. Kesteven was held at his house yesterday afternoon The trustee, Mr J. Watt, who occupied the chair, explained that some months ago a meeting was held, and it was agreed that Dr Kesteven ehould be allowed time to pay hia debts. The specified period had, however, jHnelapsed, and the creditors were not in a

tetter position than they were when the first meeting was held. The trustee, under the circumstancea, considered that it would be well to call the present meeting, and he now asked the creditors to instruct him as to the steps he should take in the matter. I)r Kesteven explained that when he asked for time at the last meeting he expected to be able to pay even one, but business had got worse and worse, and he had no funds whatever. lie stated further that his book debts were about £30, and his furniture and stock of drugs about £100, while his debts amounted to £.560. Mr Farmer held a bill of-sale over the furniture and effects as Becunty for a rteU of £45. After a short discussion it was agreed that the estate should be sold, and finally Mr Patrick M'lntyre purchased it for £58. The meeting then closed. A Dunerlin telegram of Monday says : — Mr F. L. Jeffcott, of Saddle Hill, a very old settler, met his death under very painful circumstances on Christmas Eve. He was taking up a gun in his house when it exploded. He was found lying dead with his head shattered. The coroner's jury returned a verdict to the effect that the evidence was insufficient to enable them to say whether death was the result of accident or design. The two following telegrams dated respectively Lomlon December 27 and 28 appear in the Post :— Great excitement has been caused at Caudahar by the couduct of some religious fanatical natives, who in a fit of frenzy " ran amnck" through the streets of the town, attacking with their swords all who came in their way. Among those wounded by the excited men were Colonel Tytler and some other British officers, who were walkiug through the town without any escortAdvices received to-day from Gandatnak state that General Roberts made a successful attack on the enemy at Shirpar, previons to the arrival of General Gongh. On the 23rd instant, healing that Gough was approaching, General Roberta ordered a sally to be made upon the Ghilzais, who were investing the British entrenchments at Shirpar. The attack was a brilliant one, and the enemy's lines were broken. Gough afterwards came up and effected a jnnclion with Roberts' forces without any difficulty. — The following additional telegram was published in last night'a Post : — Further details have been received of the engagement at Shirpar on the 24th instant. It appeaiß that General Roberts' loss was only 40 killed and wounded, but the loss of the enemy, who were completely put to rout, was veiy heavy. The attack was commenced by the Ghilzais, who attacked the British position at Sbirpar and attempted to carry the entrenchment by storm. General Roberts was warned beforehand, however, that the attack wa3 likely to be made and had all his troops in readiness. The Afghans tberefore'iostcad of taking the camp by surprise, as they imagined, were received with a heavy volley, followed by a brilliant charge. Some sharp fighting ensued, but finally the tribes were driven back in confusion and completely dispersed. The leaders, however, managed to effect their escape. General Roberts marched into Cabul on the 25th instant, and will re-occupy the Bala Hissar Citadel as soon as the itores of gunpowder have been removed. An Auckland telegram says that Misses Leaf, Teague, and Hunter, and Messrs Riccardi and Harding, the leading members of the Comic Opera Company, have received from Melbourne handsome offers for their services in a " Pinafore " troupe which it being formed in that city. They have accepted the engagement. A number of country larrikins who visited Chiarini'u Circus at Christchurch on Christmas Eve, while returning home from Havelock to Greenpark, a distance of 12 miles, unhinged scores of gates, turning hundreds of sheep and cattle into the road, and backed a number of farmers' drays into the river. The loss to many will oe considerable. At the evening performance of Chiarini's Circus on Monday last, according to the LytteUon Times, a novel and attractive feature was the appearance of a lady clown in the ring, who took her husband's place owing to his sudden indisposition, and by her repartee with the ringmaster and connndrums containing local Allusions, provoked hearty laughter and showers of applause. The lady concluded her share of the act by singing with considerable naivete a comic song entitled, " There's Sure to be a Row." The Northern Advocate says that £1000 worth of gum leaves Whangarei every week. Of all the products of New Zealand this special item requires the least expenditure of labor or capital to produce. A gum digger can get his entire outfit for 30a , and the product of his labor is instantly marketable. Kauri gum, ordinary scraped, is worth at present £46 to £50 per ton in the Auckland market. We learn from the Auckland Herald that the work of raising the sunken steamer Taupo is proceeding apace, and in a few days an attempt will be made to raise her. The s.s. Glenelg has taken down a large portable steam engine and pumps, which will be placed in position in the course of a few days, when pumping out will be undertaken. A " new chum " arrived by the Lntter worth (aaya the Post) findß himself in an unpleasant predicament. It appears that on leaving England he was about to be married to a lady to whom he was engaged, and the banns had been proclaimed twice when the vessel sailed. The couple, io it i* said, then made up their minds to dispense with the ceremony, at any rate till their arrival in the colony, but came out in the vessel as man and wife. On their arrival the young woman went off with another swain, and now the luckless new chum wants to get back the £30 he paid for the lady's passage, and 12s 6d, the cost of putting up the banns. A Stdney telegram of yesterday says:— • Two New Caledonian convicts made a desperate attempt to rob a jeweller, who was going home with a bag of valuables, at 1 1 o'clock on Saturday night. They stuffed his mouth with cayenne pepper. He resisted sturdily, and being enabled to clear his mouth cried for help. Two persons approaching came to his aid, and both his assailants wore captured, one after a long and severe chase. The men were brought up at the Police Court this morning, and committed for trial. The following Melbourne telegram appeared in last night's Post:— The wheat crop at the Cape has failed; 20,000 tons of wheat and fiour wil 1 require to be imported. Wheat is quoted at 27s per 2001bs. The gun-drill competition between the Nelson and. Wellington Artillery Cadets is to take place on the square adjoining the Mount Cook Drill-shed on Friday evening next. Mr T. Garrard has been chosen to act as umpire for the Nelson Cadets, and Col Pearce for the Wellington Cadets. The carbine match will probably be fired on Saturday.— Pout. The Rev Dr Roseby, well known as a prominent Good Templar, when preaching at Dunedin on Sunday night referred to the Tiniaru riot, and expressed the opinion that the mere wearing of any regalia should not have resulted in such an affray, but indicated his disapprobation of the .deaire to sanction anything calculated to insult the religious feelings of any section of the community The yachts Florence, Xarifa, ContrabaQdiere, Good Templar, Pet, Flirt, Red Jacket Minnehaha, and several others are being fitted out at Wellington for the approaching regatta on the 22nd. The "Loafer in the street" writes:— " Some seasons ago I mentioned the fact to you that the South Rakaia people kept a pair of Paradise ducks on hand for the

benefit of sportsmen visiting that locality. It appears that sporting dogs are now a big feature on the banks of that superb river. Joneß tells me of a dog they have there who recently lost his master in the township. His master turned back, and after a short search found him at a dead point before the door of the public house. Considerable curiosity was exhibited as to what he could be pointing at. At last his master cast his eyes over the door, and the mystery was at once cleared up. The owuer's name appeared there, it was Partridge. Good dog, wasn't he ? " The Southland News notices that in one or two gardens about Invercargill, a large grub has made its appearance amoag the potatoes. This unwelcome visitor is described as being of a dark green colour, nearly two inches in length, and about the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil. It goes to work on the potato stalks, which it cuts through, In one garden from twenty to thirty were found within a very small area.