Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 8 December 1880, Page 2

The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Major Atkinson, purposes paying a visit to Oaiijaru shortly, and will, we believe, be waited upon by several deputations in connection with various matters. Mr. Shaw, lately the proprietor of the lively establishment in Ribble-street, having grown weary of the vicissitudes of an unlicensed victuallers' existence, resolved to legalise, if possible, the occupation for which he has proved himself peculiarly adapted. With this object in view he figured before the Licensing Bench yesterday, and, notwithstanding that, on unimpeachable authority, it was statod that ladies and children had sought shelter and light refreshments in a building to which he applies the dignified title of hotel, and which is conveniently situated to the north Town Belt—and the " devil's own" quarters, his anxiety to confer benefit upon the town and district was quenched by a refusal to grant him a license. Nobody knows better than Mr. Shaw how to conduct a "light refreshment" establishment for the convenience of ladies — and children —and gentlemen, too, for that matter, and we do not for a moment anticipate that the decision of the Bench will deter him from carrying ou his work of philanthropy. Mr. Shaw complains that we did him an injustice in misrepresenting the remarks of his counsel yesterday. We admit the soft impeachment couched in such conciliatory terms. Our reporter was perhaps influenced by what he expected Mr. O'Meagher to say, rather than by what he did say. But we believe in giving every man a chance, and hasten to make the most ample amends in our power. Mr. Shaw has really never been fined for illegal selling of intoxicants, as the following account of the Court cases in which he was more or less interested will show :—Mrs. Shaw, formerly Mrs. Grace.— 1857 —On the 20tli September, for sly grog-, selling on the 21st August—fined L 5. On the 25th November, for sly grog-selling on the 17th November —fined L 35. 1879—0n the 14th August, for sly grog-selling on the 7th and 10th August (two charges) —fined L 25. ISSO—On the ISth May, for sly grogselling on the 12th May—escaped conviction. William Shaw.—lS79 —On the 14th August, for permitting sly-grog selling on the 9th and 10th August. (As accused's wife had already been fined he was acquitted.) On the 20th Aucust, for sly grog-selling—escaped conyiction. 18S0. —On the sth August, for using obscene language in a public place—fined 50s. It will be seen from the foregoing that Mr. Shaw is quite right in stating that he was never really convicted of sly grogselling, and, knowing how valuable an irreproachable character is to a man of Mr. Shaw's stamp, we, in a spirit of liberality which we are sure he will admire, gladly afford undeniable proofs of the fact, We caution the public to beware of a wellr known gentleman who has been seized with such an affectionate regard for his friends that he now pats them on the back with the remark, " Well, old fellow, how are you f' and leaves behind an evidence of his appreciation in the shape of a pillbox label bearing the injunction, "Look out for Haselmayer." Those who do not care to be thus made an involuntary means of advertising the renowned conjuror, would do well to remove their coats for the purpose of in r spection whenever opportunity offers. When Mr. Haselmayer baa come and gone they may spare themselves this trouble* We have heard of wall-spaces being purchased for placarding purposes ; but we never until to-day heard negotiations proceeding for spaces on tlje coat and hat of a respectable citizen.

Mr. Proctor, the astronomer, has abandoned the idea of again lecturing, as he promised, in the southern portions of the Colony, and writes to the New Zealand Times as follows:—"When I was last in Wellington I stated that J should probably return and deliver two or three lectures here. In like manner at Christchurch and Dunedin I mentioned the pur. pose I then entertained of returning and giving such of my lectures -is I had not delir vered during my stay in those cities. In each case the kindness with which I had been received caused me to desire to revisit scenes where I had had such pleasant greetings ; and in each case the wish to return was father to the thought that I probably should return. Indeed, I planned my future course so as to include fresh visits to Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales, where I had already been most kindly welcomed, and a visit to Queensland, where I have not lectured, and now never shall. For I find that two feelings—home sickness and a sense (w)}ich has always been strong with me) of the irksomepess of lecturing—grow so much upon me that I am at last compelled to assign an early date for the close of my lecture work. I have decided to let the course of lectures I am to give at Auckland (ending December 24th) conclude not only my Colonial lectures, but piy lecturing career. This will have lasted 11 years, during which time I shall have given 1123 loctuaes in all, 501 out of Great Brita'n, and of these 116 in Australia. In saying that I have received as kindly a greeting in Australia as in America, I should have thought three months ago I was saying all that could be said, for I can hardly express my sense of the kindness and genial warmth of my reception in the United States and Canada. But New Zealand has certainly gone a little ahead (she could not possibly have gone far ahead) even of America, Australian, and Tasmania in this respect. I shall always retain the warmest recollection of the kindness of my welcome jn this Colony,"

The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, M.L.C., was a visitor to Oamaru to-day. The lion, gentleman paid a visit to the Breakwater during the day, and expressed very great pleasure and satisfaction'with the substantial character of the works. An inspection of the Oamaru Breakwater has, if we are not mistaken, made a convert of Mr. Waterhouse. A blank sheet was presented at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. We have reason to believe..that it is not generally known that an advertising agency, entitled " The Associated News and Advertising Bureau," has lately been established in the city of Auckland. The object of this agency. is to enable persons desirous of notifying the public of any of the northern centres of population to take advantage of the experience of Mr. Bartleet Langbridge, the manager of tbe Bureau, and an old newspaper writer, which will ensure their notifications being inserted in those papers which will give the greatest publicity at the smallest possible cost. We understand that the venture, which has been carried on extensively by Messrs. Gordon and Gotch, of Loudon and Melbourne, but which is somewhat a novelty in this Colony, has already proved useful, and fully realised the expectation of the enterprising promoter. The Health Officer (says the Lyttelton Times) in his report to the Board of Health yesterday, brought under the notice of the members the necessity of some legislation in the direction of licensing and inspecting dairies. Out of sixteen cases o£ typhoid reported to the Medical Officer nine were found to be caused by a milkman whose cows it was strongly suspected drank from water into which sewage was allowed to flow. Talking of newspaper affairs (says a London correspondent), I giye an item relating to Tlie Times, which I know to be true, and \yill afford an iclea of the scale on which business is qarried on in Printinghouse square. The over matter—that is the news and other newspaper material set up but distributed without being used from pressure on space—represents an annual expenditure of from L 14,000 to LI6,QQO. Some very interesting statistics have b?en published by the Society for promoting the use of horseflesh and the flesh of asses and mules as food, showing how steadily the consumption of these articles of diet has been increasing in Paris and the provinces since the foundation of the Society in 1866. The weight has from 171,3001b in 1866 to 1,982,6201b in 1879- In the principal cities of the provinces the consumption of horseflesh may be considered to have fairly taken root. At Marseilles, in 1870, there were 599 horses eaten ; 1031 in 1875, and 1533 in IS7S. At Nancy, 165 in 1573, over 350 in 1876, and 705 in 1878; at Rheims, 291 in 1874, 423 in 1876, and 384 in 1878 ; at Lyons, 1839 ill 1573, and 1313 in 1573. In both thie latter cases some difficulties had been thrown out by the town authorities, as was the case recently at Chalons-sur-Manne, where the Mayor fixed the price of horseflesh at a higher rate than that of beef. The average price of horse meat is from 25 cents, to 30 cents, per lb. Each horse furnishes about 200 kilogrammes (4 cwt) of meat, which is capable of being prepared in many by no means unappetising ways, such as pot-a-feq, boiled, roast, hashed, haricot, jugged,' fillet, &c. From statistics published, it appears that 50,000 tons of butter are annually imported into England—a quantity representing in value between four and five millions sterling. About a fourth of this is sent from the States, and a large quantity from France, Germany, Holland, and other Continental countries. About 450,000 firkins, equal to about 14,000 tons, and of the value of L 1,600,000, pass annually through the Cork market alone, and there are other Irish ports—Waterford, Belfast, &o.—from which very large quantities are sent to England, a great deal of which is subsequently exported. Not-withstanding the enormous imports in August last—a time when there is generally an abundance of feed, and when cows are giving plenty of milk—the wholesale price of fresh butter in London was 16s per dozen pounds.

Not long since we directed attention to the parsimony of the Government in announcing sales of Grown lands, but notably tlaose of the Waimate Plains. The same idea naturally occurred, to the Taranaki Herald, which gives expression to its sentiments on this question in the following manner :—lt is a great thing to have an economical Government—a Government that would rather lose money than go to a little legitimate outlay to increase the revenue. The latest fit of economy that has come over the Minister for Lands is that of dispensing With the help of the newspapers for circulating the notification of the next land sale on the Waimate Plains, All manner of mean dodges have been resorted to, such as circulating bills about, which few see, consequently the date of the sale of the next block of land on the Waimate Plains will be unknown to most people, and probably a few land-jobbers will succeed in picking up the valuable sections at upset prices. If all we hear is true, even the steam company have been done out of their freight, for we are told that the Hon. the Minister of Lands brought a portmanteau full of posters with him this morning. Not satisfied, however, with this saving, it was considered necessary to utilise the Government officials to distribute the bills about the town, whilst "Billy Nicholl," the' billposter, who was done out of his perquisites, was seen sadly gazing at the opposition to his legitimate profession, which has been started by a Government professing to be the " poor man's friend," and to have his interest at heart.

The Premier of the Colony, who is at present in Auckland, had heard so much about his esteemed friend Mr. Hurst's Bertie Saverna that he broke the last Sabbath by going to see the animal at the honorable gentleman's residence. The AttorneyrGeneral was accompanied by Mr. Hall, and both Ministers expressed their sympathy with Mr. Hurst at the unfortunate opcurrepce. The Premier hinted that'in the redistribution of portfolios, which takes place when the Ministry were re-sworn before the new Governor, it was their intention to give Auckland ; that Mr. Hurst had claims to the position, and that his colleagues would be consulted as to his appointment when he got back to Wellington. Mr. Hurst, however, told the first Minister of the Crown that the matter had better be left in abeyanpe uptil the Gertie Saverna business had blown over. The AttorneyGeneral blandly smiled, and hoped it would soon be forgotten, but of that lie had his doubts. Politics were then indulged in, and Mr. Hurst enquired why Sir Dillon Bell was made Agent-General. Mr. Hall said the (->" overnment could not do qtherwise, as if Sir Dillon did not get:the billet " the Foxes" back would be up, and instead of him being like Mr. Hurst to be relied on next session, he might be found amongst the rankest of their opponents. The three gentlemen had a glass of Hw&ifg begt Madeira and parted. —Wairarapa Standard,

As an instance of how much the European population, of Fiji is deqendent on supplies brought from other colonies, the Fiji Times narrates the recent possibility of Levuka being in sore straits for daily supplies, to the quarantining of the steamer Gunga,, which makes regular trips from Sydney. The Times said :—"Should the quarantine of the Gunga be a protracted one, Levuka will be reduced to the most unpleasant strait it has known for many a day. Butchers and baker are alike at their wits' and their supplies end. Mr. Page informs us that, depending on the sheep on board the Gunga, he has not provided himself with a supply of cattle, and a few days will throw the town on to preserved meats; while the bakers have not only exhausted the usual supply of flour, but have bought up all in the hands of the storekeepers, and but two days' supply remains. The only re* source is buiacui't. The market is bare of vegetables, Yams cannot be procured for i love or money, and a few kumeras represent the entire stock of tubers. If the quarantinues, Levuka will present the novel spectacle of a community starving In the midst of plenty, and lodgings on board the Gunga, even at the risk of infection, would be at a premium." The cause of quarantine was measles aboard, but after a few days' delay the vessel was permitted te dis? charge cargo. In a speech before the Trades Union Congress at Dublin, Mr. Broadhurst, M.P., as a genuine working man's representative, made some highly suggestive remarks on the position of men like himself in the House of Commons. The discussion was on the subject of the expenses of Parliamentaryelections and the barriers, social or otherwise, against which the working classes had to contend in gaining admission within what

•was once considered a chartned circle,"sacred, as fervid Democratic orators used to say, and some Democratic writers still say, to aristocrats and plutocrats. The member for Stoke-upon-Trent assured the Congress that among; the difficulties besetting labor representative any objection to their social status was not to be counted. The House once entered, everything was pleasant enough. First of all, a member need not be idle, but must, if he did his duty, get through a large amount of good and useful work. Before entering Parliament Mr. Broadhurst had no idea how much a man could do in this way. Then, as regarded the position of the working man, he cou'd say, so far as his experience went, that the House of Commons was a great, republic. "Once you crossed the threshold of the House you took that position in the representative assembly which your worth commanded—nothing more and. nothing less. The House knew no social distinction. It showed no feelings towards the rich member that it did not show towards the poorest member of the House. He had received since he had entered it the greatest consideration from men of all classes." This statement, doubtless, surprised many of his hearers, who had been surfeited with clap-trap declamation against the aristocratic character of both Houses, but it was strictly accurate, and only needed the natural explanation of the cause of these characteristics to be complete. The explanation is simply that the House of Commons is still, above all things, an assembly of gentlemen ; it cherishes traditions of good breeding, courtesy, and toleration of independent thought which represent the sentiment that built up our Constitutional liberties without running ijitQ excess. Whether these characteristics would survive a further degradation of the franchise and a payment of election expenses, which would simply act as a stimulus to penniless adventurers, is a point we need not now discuss. 1 On reference to our advertising columns will be seen the Abridged Prospectus of the Caswell Sound Marble, Portland Cement, and Mining Company (Limited), the share list fif which olose on the 15th inst."— [ADYT.] '