Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4835, 20 September 1876, Page 2

We learn from.the contents of a Dunedin telegram which reached us yesterday evening, that the letter addressed to Mr. Macandrew was posted by the Taupo ; 864 persons have signed it, and we understand that if it could have been detained for two days longer more than double that number of signatures would have been attached to it. The names of A. C. Strode and Robert Gillies appear on the first page. The following is the text of the motion with regard to payment of members, notice of which was given by Mr. Larnach in the House of Representatives yesterday : —“That this House will to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider an address to his Excellency the Governor, praying that there may he placed upon the Estimates an additional sum for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the members of this House. That such sum he estimated at the rate of £3OO for each member.”

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday the business was as follows : —A man and woman were punished for drunkenness, the former being fined 10s. and the latter ss. Nicholas Marchant was charged with having assaulted Carey Thomas Brown, but the case was dismissed with costs, the defendant proving that he had not assaulted complainant, who had been discharged from the employ of the Corporation on account of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, but had simply turned him away when he came to his (Mr. Marchant’s) house demanding money that was not due to him, and at the same time using very bad language. Complainant was bound over to keep the peace towards Mr. Marchant, the latter having brought a cross-action. The or.ly other case before the Court was that of Wiltshire for assault, it being adjourned sine die on surety being given, with the object of enabling Wiltshire to complete his task of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours. The Court then adjourned.

In consequence of the continued indisposition of Miss Lizzie Morgan and other members of the Theatre Royal Company, there was no performance last evening. However, we are glad to hear that Miss Morgan has so far recovered that she will be able to appear this evening, and “ All that Glitters is not Gold,” with a farce, will form the programme. Tomorrow evening Mrs. Bates takes a benefit. The following evening Mr. and Mrs. G. Darrell appear in Mr. Darrell's new piece, “ Transported for Life.” The entertainment given last evening in the Odd Fellows’ Hall by the Wellington Christy Minstrels, in aid of the Wellington Teachers’ Association Sick Fund, proved a very great success. So far as the interests of the sick fund were concerned they were promoted beyond expectation, for the hall was crowded to excess; and the minstrels, who on this occasion made their debut before a critical Wellington assemblage, showed that they have talent and wit enough to amuse an,audience fora couple of hours at any time. The programme was very long, and there was a sufficient, variety in the character of the pieces rendered to please all parties present. It is not necessary to do more than say that the whole of the pieces rendered gave tho fullest satisfaction, and very frequently the performers were honored with encores.

In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. Seymour took the chair in committee, Mr. O’Rorke being absent through illness. The lad Minifie, who. it maybe remembered, was sojne time ago arrested on a charge of stealing letters from the post-office at Masterton, has been committed for trial. Mr. Wiltshire is still going on with his walk of 1000 miles as gamely as ever. The new walking ground is more favorable to him than that at Kaiwarra, and every hour he comes regularly to the post. A.t night time he walics with a light in front of him.

Among the reports brought up by the Public Petitions Committee yesterday was a recommendation that £3OO should be paid to Mr Coleman Phillips, who claimed compensation for his share in the Polynesian Trading Scheme.

The shop recently occupied by Mr. Aplin was sold by Mr. G. H. Vennell, under instructions from the Registrar of the Supreme Court, at his auction mart yesterday. The lease, of which there is twenty years to run, the rent being £IOO per annum, was sold to Mr. B. Smith for £136.

We understand Messrs. Robertson and Co., of the Phoenix Foundry, who are the manufacturers of Speedy’s patent woolpresses, have just completed one on an improved principle. A number of merchants and members of Parliament are to be present at a trial which is to take place at the foundry this morning at 11 o’clock.

At Mr. R. J. Duncan’s auction mart yesterday the following city properties were sold Town acre 356, corner of Austin and Pirie streets, £520, Mr. John Martin ;- town acre, 1032, Russell-street, £7O ; town acre 1033, South-road, £BO ; part of section No. 207, off Manners-street, containing two perches, with buildings thereon, £SOO, bought by Mr. Madden, wheelwright, owner of the adjoining property. Some country properties were also offered, of which some were sold and others withdrawn.

The opening of the new schoolroom in Courtenay-place for public worship, in connection with the United Methodist Free Church, was celebrated last evening by. a tea and public meeting. The building is erected in the shape of a parallelogram, measuring sixty feet by thirty. It can seat about 300 people, and is well ventilated and lighted. The cost of the building is estimated at between £450 and £SOO. About 250 people sat down to an excellent tea provided by a number of ladies. The public meeting which took place afterwards was presided over by the Rev. Mr. Redstone, who explained that they were unable to present the meeting with an account and balance sheet regarding the finances of the church, owing to accounts relating to the building of the schoolroom not having been made up. He also stated that the reason why the building in which they were at present assembled had been erected was that they had received notice that they could not have the use of the sideroom at the Odd Fellows’ Hall (which they had been using) any longer. They therefore, seeing that a church could not be erected in so short a time, determined to build the room in which they were assembled, and hold worship there until such time as a suitable church could be erected. The present building would also be used as a schoolroom. He was pleased to see the progress which the church was making. The first time he had held service here, some seven months ago, there were only seventeen people present at the morning service, and about twenty-two at the evening service. Now there were twenty times that number. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Read, Mr. Hutchison, and the Rev. Mr. Reid, and during the intervals a number of hymns were rendered by the choir. A collection was made during the meeting, which together with the proceeds derived from the tea meeting amounted to £l4 4s. Votes of thanks to the ladies, choir, speakers, and chairman brought the proceedings to a close. Other services are to follow, to further the same object for which the tea meeting was held. .

At the meeting of the Philosophical Society, held last Saturday evening, the President, Dr. Duller, remarked upon the peculiar fact that acclimatisation societies worked hard to introduce particular species of birds, and then as soon as their efforts became successful were equally assiduous in destroying the birds which had been introduced. He seemed to think that sparrows were a blessing, and hinted that _\lr. Travers, who had previously spoken in the same strain, was gathering information to show that such was the case. The sparrows just now are found to be a great nuisance in Victoria and New South "Wales, and the following remarks, which have appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, may be taken into consideration by Mr. Travers when he is preparing a defence for these birds : “The mistake which has been made in the introduction into Victoria, and also into this colony, of the house sparrow, a graminiferous bird, instead of the useful insectivorous hedge sparrows, shows how needful a knowledge of the habits of birds and animals is for those who desire to acclimatise the inhabitants of other lands in this colony. The hedge sparrow would have rendered valuable service in the destruction of many of the insect peats which tend to disappoint the hopes of the horticulturist and farmer; but the house sparrow, which has so readily adapted himself to the circumstances of his new home, is fast becoming an unmitigated nuisance. In Victoria, so great have their depredations become, that clubs have been formed for the destruction of the 'birds, and a reward is given for every bird or egg destroyed. Around Sydney they are now beginning to multiply rapidly, and already complaints are made of their ravages in the gardens about Burwood and Ashiield. They are ever on the look-out for freshly-sown beds, and from early dawn to dusk they scratch and root about for the seeds. Where they cannot get the seeds they watch for the first appearance of the seedlings, which they tear up for the sake of the seeds attached. Unless steps are speedily taken for their destruction they will be a perfect scourge to gardeners. One gentleman states that he had a patch sown with barley, which was carefully raked in. No sooner did the grain begin to shoot than the sparrows set to work, and the ground is now covered with barley husks, the seed having been torn up and the germs nipped out. The introduction of these birds is the more to be regretted as but few of the native birds are troublesome to the agriculturist, nearly all found in the neighborhood of Sydney being insectivorous.” The jury empanelled at the inquest on the fire, which took place some time back, at Kortegast’s brewery, Boss, are not likely to forget the facts connected with the inquiry for some time. The West Coast Times says : “It will be remembered they could not agree, and the Boss coroner, in his wisdom, remanded the jury to the Supreme Court, under the erroneous impression apparently that a Judge had some occult power to compel juries to be unanimous. The matter ended, like the fire, in smoke, for one juryman, wiser than his brethren, returned to Boss before. Mr. Justice Gillies dealt with the matter, and hence his Honor discharged the others, leaving the affair in statu quo. But not only were the jury obliged to appear at the Supreme Court, but a number of unfortunate men who happened to be summoned as witnesses at the inquiry, were also compelled to be in attendance. All these persons, jurymen and witnesses, were put to considerable expense, and naturally enough endeavored to get recouped. We believe that the Crown Solicitor had no fund at his disposal from which to satisfy their demands. He, however, intimated his intention of forwarding vouchers to Wellington, and his Honor Judge Gillies also stated that he would represent the matter to the authorities, so that the expenses could bo defrayed. Perhaps Dr. Duff, the coroner, will bo wiser in future.”

"Atticus,” of the Melbourne Leader , remarks that a selection of land at Brandy Greek was taken up by a gentleman living in Melbourne for his mother-in-law,.. He paid the survey fees, erected a house, had the land partially cleared and fenced, stocked it, and took out the license in her name. As it was a matter of notoriety that they were not on the best of terms, an old friend asked him for an

explanation of his generosity. “ I don’t mind telling you,” said the gentleman, lowering his voice, “ but you musn’t let it go further. An official in the Crown Lands office with whom I am intimate, tells me that they are going to insist rigidly on residence for selectors under the 19th section. He has Brandy Creek in his district, and he says if I get my mother-in-law on the ground he won’t let her oif for five years.” Ladies calling at Government House on reception days are expected to sign their names in the visitors’ book before being ushered into the drawing-room. A story is told that on last Thursday a lady, bent on getting an invitation for the approaching ball, was stuck up by this educational test. She frankly explained her difficulty to the aide-de--camp on duty. “ I’m not a very good scholar,” said she, “when I’m flurried. But if you’ll write. my name for me I’ll touch the pen ! The lady was' admitted. The rapidity with' -which the Japanese are assimilating the habits and science of the West is one of the greatest marvels of the age. Civilisation, until now, has always taken the opposite course to that of the sun, and the change going on in these far eastern islands is not mere external imitation, but an absolute internal transformation. Iron says:—A few years ago an Imperial College of Engineering was established in the principal island, with the view of educating native engineers for the department of Public Works. Admission is obtained by competitive examination, the course of instruction is very complete, and the College is at present under the management of English professors, the English language having apparently been adopted . as the scientific tongue. In connection with this institution there are well-fitted laboratories and workshops of various kinds. The special courses are civil and mechanical engineering, telegraphy, architecture, practical chemistry, and metallurgy. The number of students at the close of last year was 272. We are also informed that energetic measures are being adopted by the Government for introducing the improved manufacture of iron into the country. With this view, two charcoal blast furnaces and other works are in the course of erection, and it is expected that by the close of the present year 12 puddling and seven reheating furnaces, forge train, plate, rail, bar, guide, and mills, with steam hammer, four different shears, saws, lathes, cranes, and all other necessary appliances of the most modern construction will be in operation.

In reference to the question, from which of the quadrumana did man originate, Professor Haeckle, in his recent work, “ The History of Creation,” gives his opinion that the human race is a small branch of the group of catarrhini, and has developed out of long since extinct apes of this group in the old world. And when on this subject, he refers to Professor Huxley’s remarks, which show that man is, nearly as much as the ape, a four-handed animal ; for various tribes of men, the Chinese boatmen, the Bengalee workmen, and the negroes when climbing, use the great toe in the same manner as the monkey, and therefore possession of only a single pair of hands is not to be looked on as a characteristic of the human race. He also points out a fact, necessary to be observed by unscientific people, viz., that none of the manlike apes are to be regarded as the parent of the human race, but that the ape-like progenitors of the human are long since extinct. In concluding his work, Professor Haeckle remarks on the desire of some who are not actually opponents of the doctrine of descent. “They wait,” he says, “ the sudden discovery of a human race with tails, or of a talking species of apes.” But such manifestations, the author observes, would not furnish the proof desired ; and unthinking persons would be provided with a satisfactory (?) argument as they nowadays employ in hurling their defiance against all who are evolutionists.