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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5847, 25 December 1879, Page 2

; . The,Hon. Join) Hall, Premier,, has,, pejmhi- ' the portfolio of - postmasteriGeneral and Commiasjpperpf Telegraphs,,,The appointment appears in . published last night. ' *' ~.,* „s

The following appears among the alterations publish M in connection with the Government rail '•■’ays :—“On anil after the Ist January, 1880, an addition of five miles will be made to the actual mileage in computing the rates for pastengi-rs and goods passing over the Rimutaka in line. The inquest upon the holy of .Tames Robinson, who was run over by a street tram on Tuesday evening, was held at the Morgue before Dr. Johnston, coroner, yesterday morning. The evidence of Dr. Collins, who had examined the body, was taken to the effect that deceased had sustained numerous injuries, any one of which would have been fatal. 'The chest was smashed in, the dorsal vertebral column fractured, and the spina! cord crushed; in addition to which the lower Jaw was broken, as well as the breast-bone and several ribs. Death must have been instantaneous. The evidence of the driver (Wm. Worth) and the guard (John Miller) was also taken, after which Mr. C. Rons Marten was examined. The latter witness deposed that he was a passenger by the same tram, and was standing on the platform near deceased at the time of the accident. The tram was passing from the loop line to the main line, and was going at the rate of about three miles an hour, when deceased got on the lower step at the right side of the platform preparatory to alighting. He was holding on to the rail with his left hand. Deceased remained with one foot extended for a second or two swaying over the road, and when the ei gine went on to the main line there was a slight Jerk, and deceased lost his hold, and fell. He rolled under the wheels, which went over him. Witness called to the driver, who stopped at once. The whole affair did not occupy more than a few seconds. From the position in which deceased stood, he was invisible to the driver and the guard, James Phillips, another passenger, having given similar evidence, James Robertson, uncle of deceased, deposed to the particulars as already narrated by us concerning his nephew. This witness also stated that some of the wires on the cars were disconnected, and people could not ring the beds. He had also known cases where guards had declined to stop the cars. The Coroner, in summing up, pointed out the desirableness of people only alighting from the rear of the train, and also spoke of the danger attending getting on or off the cars while in motion. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attributable to any one connected with the tram. James Davis, deputy-registrar of the Supreme Court at Christchurch, who was lately fined in heavy penalties for breaches of the Stamp Act, has been dismissed from the public service. Mr. Andrew Roby Bloxham has been appointed to the position. Mr. Joshua Green has been appointed Clerk of the District Court at Picton, Part 1, section 448, in the town of Palmerston North, containing 16a. 3r. 31p,, has been reserved tor a gravel-pit. Section 73, Moroa, containing one acre, has been reserved for a similar purpose. A firm of atone and marble cutters has recently commenced business near the Royal Hotel, under the style of Benseu and Co. The members of the firm are natives of Denmark, and appear to be proficients in their art. They have already turned out two monuments, which have Just been erected iu the cemetery, one being for Mr. Freeman, and the other for Mr. Henry Ferris. The designs and drawings from which the artists work are very excellent productions, the drawings comprising plain and ornamental monuments, angels, &c. One in particular cannot fail to attract attention, it being a representation of the classical story of Lsda and the swan, the outlines being almost perfect. Messrs. Benseu work in freestone and marble, and the orders already executed by them appear to have given satisfaction. Leaves, hands, &c,, are cut out of stone with great accuracy, leaving nothing to be desiderd in point of merit. A large number of the recently-elected Mayors have been appointed Justices of the peace under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Amongst them are the following : T. Bamber, Mayor of Wanganui ; F. Beaven, Mayor of Marton ; E. Feist, Mayor of Maa-t-rton ; and J. Linton, Mayor of Palmerston North. Quite a scene occurred in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday during the examination of Mrs. Hood, one of the witnesses in the charge of perjury brought against Mr. P. K. Watty. Mr. Stafford was pressing witness for a particular answer, and the lady, evidently with a keen foresight as to the effect upon her case of the answer, fenced with the question for some time. Finding, however, that this line was of no avail, she resorted to “ woman’s last resource,” tears, which are generally presumed to melt the stoniest hearts. A delay of some few minutes took place, the witness being very much upset, and during this time Mr. Stafford and the Bench held a short discussion as to whether it was necessary to further press the witness under the circumstances. In the interests of his client, Mr. Stafford was compelled to continue the examination, which, however, did not last much longer. There will be no publication of Punch, this week, as “ Judy” has insisted upon her “ lord and master” enjoying himself during the holidays. Mr. Ernest E. Collins, who is about to take charge of Reuter’s Telegram Agency in this city, in place of the late Captain Holt, is a passenger per Wakatipu, which sailed from Sydney yesterday. The Hon. 0. J. Pharazyn has been appointed a School Commissioner for the provincial district of Wellington, vice the Hon. W. Gisborne, resigned. It is notified in the Gazette that the bonus payable for the exportation of rabbit-skins will cease after the 31st March next. Mr. George BoutflowerDavey, J.P., barrister-at-law, has been appointed Deputy District Judge of the District Court of Wellington, and Resident Magistrate for the district of Wellington, during the absence on leave of Mr. T. A. Mansford. There will, therefore, be a prospect of getting through some of the large amount of work which has accumuated consequent upon Mr. Mansford’s illness. Considering it was Christmas Eve, there was a very good attendance at the Theatre last evening, when the Mammoth Minstrels repeated their opening programme. The following cricketers, who started by the Charles Edward last evening, will represent Wellington at the interprovinoial match at Nelson on Boxing Day ;—Armitage, England, Speed, Ingle, Palethorpe, Page, Salmon, Brown, Blacklock, Webb, and Duncan ; emergency, Haughton. We have been requested to acknowledge the following gifts for the use of the hospital patients ;—Keg of beer, and some wine and stout, from Mr. Bright, Princess Hotel ; box of gooseberries and Hewers, from Mr. T. Mason, M. H.E., Hutt; box of gooseberries, from Captain Hewitt, Hutt; box of strawberries, from Mr. Chisholm, Molesworth-street ; parcel of clothes, from Mrs. Lindsay, Balcarres House, Woodward-street ; and a lot of illustrated almanacs, from Mr. James Smith, Te Aro House. The Government Printing Office, as usual, was last night—it being Christmas Eve—lit up and open to the public. The various offices were decorated in a most tasteful manner, and. some of the mottos were exceedingly pretty. Many of them were the work of a lad named Hawkins, employed in the office, to whose artistic skill they do great credit. A feature of the evening was a pretty water fountain falling amid flowers and foliage. This attracted very general attention. The whole of the machines were at work, so that the public had an excellent opportunity of gaining a superficial knowledge of the way in which the printing business is carried on. On the whole, the display of last night iu the way of f decorations excelled that of former years, and those gentlemen who were instrumental in getting it up deserve every praise. At the sale of properties, held at Messrs. T. K. Macdonald and Co.’s mart yesterday, the equity of redemption of the premises lately occupied by .Mr. Lewis Moss was purchased by Mr. Levy at £ISOO. The three cottages in Cambridge-terrace were bought by Mr. Boardman, the price paid being £SOO. Mr. T. K. Macdonald has sent several books to Mr. Whitelaw, for the use of the patients at the asylum. It was rumored in journalistic circles yesterday that the Lyttelton Times, which at the commencement of this year became an eightpage paper, and in other respects “extended its borders,” would on the Ist proximo return to'itsoriginal size. We are requested by its local representative, who communicated by telegram with hit ’principals bn’ hearing 1 the r«porty ! 'fco i, ftate”that there’ is not a word of truth in it, and that any alteration's will 1 Be quite in the opposite direction. All’hhS Mao'ff prisoners detained in Mount Cook GaoD will .be - tried in April’hextrat the Supreme Court/Wellington; •' The Court will ba bpeiied for. thafe pmpose on the 5th 1 April.

A purse of forty sovereigns was on Tuesday presented to the Rev. Mr. Knell by .Mrs. Shaw, being the proceeds of the concert and soiree held at Carterton on Thu. May last. The Hon, C. Randal! Johnson, M.L.C., Mr W. T. L. Travers, F.!S., and Mr. T. Mason’ M.H.R., have been appointed governors of the New Zealand Institute for the ensuing year. The two latter gentlemen retired from | office, but were eligible for re-appointment. | The Hon. Mr. Johnson fills the place vacate i by the Hon. G. M. Waterhou-e, M.L.C. The 2nd of January lias been proclaimed a bank holiday in Rangitikei and Otago, and the Bth and oth of January iu Waikato. The Patchwork Company started by the steamer Jane Douglas for Foxton at midnight. They intend giving two performances at Feilding. Mr. Ernest D’Egville Michau called at our office yesterday, and stated that he had been blind with the right eye all his lifetime. Hearing about Dr. Grant and Professor Wallenburg, the ocuMsts, who are now on a visit to this city, he determined upon giving them a trial. He had only been under Dr. Grant’s treatment for ten or eleven days, when he found that he could see large objects at some distance. Mr. Michau stated that he had been under the treatment of some of the best medical men at Horae, but had not derived the least benefit. We are at all times chary of accepting details of “ wonderful cures,” but the young man who called at our office appeared to be telling the truth, and was exceedingly grateful to Dr. Grant for the relief which he has already experienced. A most extraordinary fatality appears to have attended the peach trees in Napier. Hundreds of trees of all ages, and apparently in the most flourishing condition last year, have died off all over the province, and similar complaints are beard from Wairoa. The blight is not visible, nor can the sudden “ wilting ” of the trees be accounted for with any degree of certainty. Crops of all descriptions are said to be looking splendid. The amount of drought some plants will bear with impunity is surprising. Dr. G. Sohwenfurtb, inPetermann’s “ Mitthelinugen,” gives an account of his recent journey across the Arabian desert, from Heluah to Queneh, and mentions some interesting facts concerning the vegetation. In Wady Queneh, he states, no rain had fallen for six years, but some acacias and tamarisks were still green and flourishing, and apparently unaffected, whilst the last traces of herbaceous plants had disappeared. In a more favored part he found the valleys covered with salvia pallet tin a, a very handsome species, three feet high, with a profusion of sky blue flowers. A severe thunderstorm broke over the Tuapeka district last week, followed by very heavy rain, and in Waitahuna by a sharp hailstorm. Some of the hailstones, as large as pigeons’ eggs, fell with force sufficient to break windows. Considerable damage has been done to fruit and growing crops. While rain and hail fell at Waitahuna and at the head of the gully, singular to say, neither fell at the Gully school, midway between these two points. The Waitahuna correapondeut of the local paper writes ;—“ On Wednesday afternoon a thunderstorm passed over here from south-west. It was attended with a heavy fall of hail and rain. The rush of water for two or three hours was tremendous, although ten or fifteen minutes would cover the time of the storm. There is damage done to mining plant, and in gardens the destruction is worse than by the frost. Everything is battered, bruised, and broken, and laid low. The storm, by what is said, did not extend beyond Halfway House on the north, but whether it passed on the south of Round Hill or not I have not heard. Such a storm passing through the Taieri plain would almost counteract the effect of the five million loan. At Havelock the hail was equally heavy, and windows were broken. Murray’s Elat stream was flooded heavily. The storm appeared to pass over from Greenfield to this.” At the Brancepeth station, in the Wairarapa district, two lambs were recently killed, one of which weighed 601 b. and the other sSlb. A wether on the same station turned the scale at 1011 b., and 551 b. weight of fat was boiled out of its carcase. The Quarterly Review discusses the theory of noses in the following language :—As the forehead grew outward, with increasing brain growth, and as the jaws retreated backward with decreasing usage, the nasal bone and cartilage were probably pushed forward, as it were, from above, and dragged downward from below. These two movements, slowly continued iu the plastic development of the organ for many generations, would finally produce just such a shape as that with which we are now familiar Of course it must not be supposed that there was ever any actual physical strain, such as would result from any attempt to push or pull a negro’s nose at one trial into the Aryan mould. All that the theory demands is a slightly altered mode of growth to meet the altered circumstances during many thousands of years. The molecules which would once have naturally arranged themselves in one order would later be driven by slightly different attractions and pressure to arrange themselves iu a different order. And thus it would finally result that man, when compared with the higher apes, would possess a human nose, and that this nose, short and flat in the small browed prognathous negroes, would become relatively large and prominent in the straight browed, small-mouthed, and delicately featured Aryan. , So that, in the. last resort, the nose must be regarded as a product of two other factors, not as a thing in itself. It really depends, if our theory be correct, upon the joint action of the increased brain cover and the decreased jawbone. It is quite refreshing (says the writer of “ Science Gossip” in the Leader) to hear that Commander Oheyne’s attempt to enlist the British Association as an advocate for his scheme to carry on Arctic exploration by means of balloons has proved an utter failure, Absurd proposals of the kind are usually received with too much complaisance ; but in this instance there was no hesitation in uttering a very distinct and emphatic negative. The association would not even recommend the scheme for consideration—a wise resolve, for the slightest encouragement to a man of Commander Cheyne’s persistency would have been construed into a positive vote of confidence. He has a committee, or rather a host of committees, of his own, and they, or their secretaries, have anathematised the association for daring to dispute the possibility of a scheme whose merits have been demonstrated to their entire satisfaction. The association may nevertheless hope to outlive their sentence of outlawry. Their faith in their commander may be of equally long life, for the simple reason that his abilities as a North Pole balloonist will never be put to the test, as there is now but a very remote prospect of the “ raising of the wind,” which is of course a requisite preliminary. The courage of the commander will, however, rise in proportion to the difficulty of obtaining the requisite funds. 1