MISCELLANEOUS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 434, 4 January 1890, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

A recent telegram from Adelaide says : Parliament was enlivened by an extraordinary occurrence yesterday. An aged man entered the peoples gallery, and, advancing to the parapet, threw down into the main gangway of the House a heavy parcel wrapped in brown paper, crying out ih German as he did so—“Gott und der Kaiser !” and “ Lebe der Kaiser !” The packet fell with a heavy thud between the two rows of members, who imagining it was an infernal machine of some sort, and probably just about to explode, rose in alarm, and sought refuge in the other parts of the House, some sheltering themselves behind the seats. The Speaker, who sat further from tho missile than anyone else, retained his presence of mind, and after crying “Order” several times, commanded the messenger to pick up and remove the offending parcel. After a piteous glance aloft tho messenger advanced upon the object lying on the floor, reconnoitred , it, and then carried it out. On. being opened it proved to contain a number of printed pamphlets, addressed to the Emperor of Germany in English. They deal with religious subjects, and are apparently the work of a religious maniac. The old man, on being arrested, gave his name as Carl Theodore Polack, saying, “It is the only way I can make myself heard.” The Speaker, on learning that he was only a religious maniac, gave orders that he be released. From passages in the pamphlet which Polack took this peculiar way of circulating, it appears that he considers himself to be the prophet Habakuk. He will form an interesting addition to the numerous religious eccentrics already perambulating the streets of Adelaide. There are two men who often attend public meetings who affirm that they are re-incarnations of the Saviour, one who believes himself the Apostle Paul, another who asserts he is Calvin revived, and another who holds the curious idea that he is Judas Iscariot, and cannot obtain the 30 pieces of silver. All are quite harmless and have many followers who believe in them.

Four more new steamships are ordered to be built on the Clyde for the trade from Germany to Australia. For what company is not stated, but the news will take many persons by surprise, The seven new steamers lor the German-Australian line from Hamburg are not yet all out of the builder’s hands. The third of these is at present in Australian waters, and the Solingen and Barmen are probably on their way out, leaving two to follow. It is therefore scarcely likely that this latest order for four more ocean-going boats is in connection with the line from Hamburg. The only other German company is the North German Lloyd, engaged in the Australian steam trade, and it. is nob thought to be probable that the Lloyd has ordered these vessels from the Clyde. A line, with its headquarters at Antwerp, was mentioned as in contemplation recently. Bremen is well to the fore with the contract for carrying out the Imperial German mail service, and with Hamburg represented by seven large passenger and cargo steamers of moderate power, it would not be a matter of astonishment if the merchants of Antwerp, a port now taking large consignments of wool from the colonies, were embarking in a shipowning enterprise of their own. The wants of the colonies in any case appear to be unlikely to suffer neglect in the way of steam communication with the chief German ports, judging by these latest developments in shipbuilding.

Major-General Edwards’ report on the proposed organisation of the military forces of the Australian colonies was laid upon the table of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly the other night by Sir H. Parkes, It is pointed out in the report that combined action for defence would be more economical and far more effective than the present system of purely local defence. It would also prevent the unseemly scares which take place whenever the relations of the mother country with a foreign power are somewhat strained. It is suggested by MajorGeneral Edwards that the unit which is most suitable under the present conditions of the colonial forces, is a brigade of all arms, of the following strength on the peace establishment :—lnfantry, two regiments of two four company battalions, each battalion 300 strong, 1,200 mounted rifles, one regiment of six companies, 360; field artillery, two batteries of six guns each, 180 ; engineers, one fieldcompany,6o; commissariat,medical,etc. 110: total, Major-General Edwards proposes federation of the forces, an officer of the rank of Lieutenant-General to be appointed, a uniform system of organisation and armament, a common Defence Act, amalgamation of the permanent forces into a “fortress corps,” a federal military college for the education of the officers, the extension of rifle clubs, a uniform gauge for the railways, and a federal small-arm manufactory.