The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 171, 27 August 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1879.

Every observant politician must come to the conclusion that the spirit which animates the Opposition ia of a very low order. Their actions and tactica must disgust the more sensible portion of the community. The effect is, ae we predicted, a gain to the Liberal cause. The abuse heaped upon the Premier’s head in and out of Parliaments, and the gross misrepresentations that have been uttered by even tbs leaders of the Conservative clique, have been, so clearly refuted by the Premier himself, that now scarcely anyone with » modicum of common sense cares to believe any statement they make Sir George Grey, a few weeks ago, was held up to the country as an old imbecile, quite inaapable of reasoning on any matter, and altogether devoid of patience or moderation in discu laion. His appearance in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday night last entirely smashed their budget of lies to stomp. The clear, candid, unreserved answer to every question asked by the electors brought the truth so prominently before the great audience, and in so con vincing a manner, as led to an utburst of applause rarely witnessed by an comm unity; - The Chairman, who does not appear to-be a very heady supporter of the Liberal side, felt himself; bound In honor to certify that the veto of confidence was almost unanimous. This is saying a great deal, considering the influence tbo leaders of the Opposition in the city command. ' Not only does it show that to a certainty Sir George Grey will be returned .at. the head of the poll, but it also shows that the people of Christchurch are determined not to submit to the dictation of men whoso motives are most impure and selfish, as is clearly shown by the unworthy means they make use of to accomplish their end. Not only has the Liberal cause taken deep hold of the people of Christchurch, but other places also, Lyttelton proved by the demonstration it made the other night, when Mr Rollcston tried to cram, down their throats his quack medicine as a panacea for all the ills the country is now laboring under, that it is no longer to be jumped upon. It is a weakness of Mr Rolleston‘s to be always identified with a minority. This we regret, and this jt is that leads us to state again that Mr will never be an eminent statesmen. Bitterness and vituperation are not qualities that a-statesman is expected to make much use of, but it cannot ho denied that this gentleman, otherwise most sociable, wields these as his most common weapons of attack. One wonders at such men not observing better the signs of the times. At the present moment anyone who wishes to find out the real state of matters need have no difficulty in convincing himself that the policy of Sir George Grey is the policy that the colony almost unanimously approves of, and that Sir Georgo is now prowl to be right in most of the things that the Opposition condemned him for doing. Nevertheless, they will persist in crying the Premier down, which only shows that their creed is like the man's who advised liis son to make money, “Make money, honestly if you can, but by any means make money,” The Conservatives care not what weapons they use, or by what means they can overthrow the present Government if only they can overthrow it. For this purpose they use means and materials that no other body of politicians would look at. Take Timaru for instance. What other town ia the colony would think of putting up a man like Mr Woollcombe for a candidate ? Mr Wool combe, like the raw recruit, feels himself quite uncomfortable in his now suit of clothes, and iO all appearance only acts the statesman to please his sponsors. He does not, apparently, cure about the job, but his friends, or rather the Timaru Herald, must have a candidate of some kind. Very possibly the opponents of Mr Turnbull fancied if they put up someone it might induce; the Liberals to put up another candidate, and so cause a split in the camp. This has been, and is being, tried in other places, but we warn Liberals not to be duped in this way. The chances of a suitable candidate being brought forward to oppose Mr Wafeeneld arc now notmuch. Gentleman who are well-qualified do not care to come forward and contest a suit that will only be for a short r-rf-r As

they now B'm that after the Liberal measures promised by the Government are passed, the new Franchise Bill will necessitate a new election, probably in June next, therefore it is that those who have been invited, and who doubtless would have been elected one or other of them, prefer lotting the case go by default rather than put in .an appearance in the meantime, the more especially as they p e e that the Liberals will have a majority next session.

Local IxnrsTSY. —Wo, on Saturday, had the pleasure of inspecting a beautiful piece of workmanship in the shape of a waggonette, built by Mr. L. Buss to the order of Mr Mend?].«on. It is splendidly got un. durability being combined with artistic finish, and the work reflects great credit upon the maker. The upholstering was committed to the care of Mr. Henry Kissel, the stylish manner in which he finished his work adding greatly to the appearance of the waggonette. “Daddy” Woolcombe.—The Dunedin Morning Herald, in a well-edited article on the political question, refers as follows to “ Billy,” or “ Daddy,” Woolcombe, one of ths aspirants to the Timaru constit - ency : —“ It was indeed a moat imprudent thing on the part of the Opposition to put up such a candidate as Mr. Woollcombe. This moat “ respectable gentleman,” who was Resident Magistrate for many years at Timaru, and familiarly known as “Daddy” or “Billy” Woollcombe, is ludicrously unfit to represent any constituency. He evidently knows nothing of politics, and ho is we fear too old to learn. The few sentences which he managed to get out of him in the rare intervals of comparative quiet that occurred during this mqgt uproarious and most disgraceful meeting were utterly childish.” Poor “Daddy,” even his “ friends ” have not a good word for him. We need not be surprised at that. As a magistrate his decisions were the reverse of jefflt. Mercy to an offender was always absent from-fois judgments. And now he is suffering for his harshness. The Timaru electors have the good sense to see that, were they to put him in as their representative,, their interests would be miserably attended to, and would have the satisfaction of knowing that their “honorable” member was the greatest ignoramoua in the House. Football.—The football match Canterbury v. Otago came off in Christchurch on Saturday, in a paddock kindly lent for the occasion by Mr, John Anderson. The game sesulted in a draw, the Otago men haying slightly -the beat of it. Otago played Wellington on Monday, end had the best of it, the game resulting in a try to Wellington. A ball took place in the evening, and ivas largely attended.

Colour Blindness. — One of the Railway Inspectors visits Port last Moiclay for the nnrooaftjnf ascertaining whether any of the foremiPßc., in charge of the employees on fche railway were afflicted with colour blindnbes. The manner in which the subject was broached took those questioned by surprise’ and they at a loss to undArstand for a moment or so the object of being asked by an ofacia 1 of the railway in uniform what was the Colour of a certain vessel the colour of another object and so on. A card produced from the official's pocket, emblazoned with all the colours of the rainbow, completed the mystification, and it was not until the official explained his business after the production of the card) that those interrogated understood his object. —Times. Native Affairs. —Affairs at Pate. a begin to look serious. Te Whiti, presuming from the tardiness of the Government that they are afraid to take any active measures against him, is encouraging Maoris in that belief. Hardly any warriors who have gone to Parihaka returned. It is stated they tire going to build forts outlie plains, and in the i -event" of say action being take'a by the pakehas against them, they will retaliate on prisoners according. Te Whiti’t3 view will be realised by the end of October, the time when he propheied the S on, of God is again to appear on arth and confound Te Whiti’s enemies. ~ Alexander Gordon Found. —The body of Alexander, Gordon,-.who disappeared so mysteriously six weeks ago, was found on Monday last, in a stubble paddock on Mr Piendergast’s farm, about 200 yards from the spot.where the deceased’s dray was discovered. Deceased lay face down-ward,-his right arm extended, lis hand clenched, and his left arm- bent beneath beneath his chest. His clothes were disarranged; and his belt and hat lay a few feet away. The remains appeared to be in a tolerably good state of preservation considering the length of timo they have been exposed to the weather, but the features and hands were black and discolored From the appearance of thss body, it seems evident that he must have lain down, and probably fallen asleep, and died from exposure.

A Vapour Bath.— Agcertain lady (says the ( Evening Chronicle’) will ’ take a vapour bath soon again, though the one she did take was not lacking in extraordinary and quick results. She had been induced by one of her friends, who knew the personal effects the vapour bath, and she resolved to try it. The extemporised with whisky, in which was placed boncset bath was arranged by filling a saucer and aassafjis. Then she ,placed that saucer on the floor, and she placed a canebottomed chair, over, dressed a la Eve, gave that a huge blanket enveloped the whole outfit. A modest attendant then lifted the corner of the blanket end applied a match to the whisky, in order to produce the gentle, soothing , vapour which was supposed to arise and do worlds of good. A. veil might bo drawn over the subsequent proceedings, but an ordinary veil wouldn’t cover them. . That gentle, soothing vapour did not arise, but a rod hot scorching flame did rise, like lightning, to the height of about 6ft from the saucer ; there was a terrific report, ami the bath-taker was lifted oil’that chair on the wings of a sirocco, and deposited half-grilled, in a corner of the room. And now she is nearly well, but opposed to vapour baths. A New Prophet. —A man, reprsseting himself to be the Prophet Elijah, is creating quite a furore in and about the ancient Chichester. Heating the fame of this remarkable individual,! (correspondent of ‘Telegraph’) drove over from Portsmouth last week to have an interview with him. Passing through North street I observed a tall, handsome man, dressed a picturesque garb of sheepskin, with a cap of the same material, and high cowhide boots, standing in the. doorway of the George end Dragon Inn. I went inside and commenced to speak to him, but ho retired upstairs. After some difficulty he was ■persuaded to come dow into the best room in the house, whore ho received too.

His appearance is very sinking, having very good clean cut features of Asiatic type, doing (all in stature, and having an over ready smile, and liis dark whLkers being set off to perfection by the light dress and cap. lie carries a staff and small horn, which lie blows through the streets and announces his meetings, widen are Peoples’ Park and are very largc-ty attended. He told me that he had been a landscape painter, and that eight months ago he had seen several visions, in which he was told to cal 1 himself Elija'r at all meetings ; and that he was the real prophet as foretold and promised in Malachi iv., verso is the whole foundation of liis doctrine, which is to preach AngloIsraelism to the English people, who, he states, arc the lost ten tribes of Israel ; and if (hey do not listen to him and in time re-return to Jerusalem, a great famine is prophesied. It is almost unnecessary to say that at some of his meetings ho has to encounter great opposition ; sometimes,- he has been stoned ; and at others made quite a hero of. He was lately in the south-east of England. He now expresses his deterteftination to go all over London.

Sir Garnet Wolselpy.—Sir Garnet has not (gays “ Atlas,” in the ‘ World) gone out to a bed of roses, certainly. This is what one of my Cape papers (the 1 Natal Colonist’) said af' ■ 1 • ■ , ago—before there was any . iah: •** his appointment to co-iP'’., one ' last diplomatic mission an. ‘ mm; When Sir Garnet Wolseley --av.e among ■us, smooth, bland, courteous, and flattering, treating ns at our own expense to our own champagne, writing- laudatory despatches about us, and steeping us in debt, he was spoken of as a man of high honor, as Englands strong and right arm, as the Queen’s trusted messenger, and the like. Heaven save us. for (he future from such plausible deception, from such low cunning, from such dishonorable treatment !”

Values of Fuels.— The theoretic calorific power of ordinary petroleum is about 16, of anthracite coal 16, of bituminous coal 15, that is to say, a pound of petroleum,, with perfect combustion, null raise lC,ooolbs of water 1 deg. Pah., a pound of anthracite coal 13,000'ibu water 1 deg., etc., but the heating effects depends so largely upon the method of combustion that, in ordinary practice, these theoretic values are ■ but little considered, the estimation in winch they are Isold as working agents being determined by practical economies resulting from their use. The extreme wastefulness of the methods of using coals has long exercised ingenious and scientific minds in endeavors to find some remedy ; but the best results thus far obtained by the improved Siemens .and Ponsard gas furnaces and the pulverised fuel process show a utilisation of hut 20 to 25 per cent, of the total heat of the fuel—a groat gain certainly over the 7to 8 per cent, utilisation in the ordinary reverberatory furnace, but still far short of the object aimed at. Yeuy True.— Scene, London. Time, Sunday. Intelligent foreigner and his friend Charles discovered perambulating the streets. Intelligent foreigner, “My faith, but yours is'a wonderful country. Put why are the streets eo deserted ? Where are your artisans ? They are not at work ? ” Charles, “Of course not. It is Sunday.” Foreigner, “ I sr e ; they art at year noble British Museum, admiring its natural history, its superb statutes 1 ” Charles, “ Well, do. The Museum is closed .on Sundays.” - Foreigner, “Then they are in your fine National Galleys, enjoying your grand pictures ? ” Wei l , no. The National Gallery is closed on Sundays. Foreigner, “ Then tucy arty ac your spacious South Kensington, studying the industrial arts, oh ? ” Obailcs, “Av oil, no. The South Kensington Museum is closed on Sundays.” Foreigner, / Thou of course they are at homo ?’’ Charms, “Well.uo. The truth is our proletariat have not much of a homo for Sundays, Foreigner, “ Ha, hold! How stupid I am. You are religious, you English. They are at church.” Charles, ‘“Well, no. They don’t go much to church. -Besides it is past ose, and all the churches will be closed by this time. They are alwavs closed after service on Sundays.” Foreigner (nuzzled), “Then, where are they? What is open on Sunday?” Charles. “Oh, the public-houses. You will find plenty of them open on Sundays after the hours allowed by rho act. (Ha changes the conversation.)—Punch.

“Stella,” writing: from Paris to iho Sydney Morning Herald, says : It is rumoured that the police ot London hxs reason to suspect that the policy of regicide has been distinctly adopted by the loaders of the International, and that the attacks successively made on reigning personages are directed by a special committee, appointed to ■ prepare these.cowardly villanios, and residing in London as the most, convenient centre for their operations. It is highly probable'that such is the case, fox 1 though each of the perpetrators of these murderous outrages denies, as a matter of course, al! connection with the dangerous association alluded, to, there can be no reasonab o doubt that the syamatic attempt to get rid of monarchy by killing the rapnarchs, adopted by that association', is Iho prompter of those successive crimes.

Truth fur. —In a first-class carriage by the 5 o’clock train sat two gentlemen, up to that' time, and probably since, strangers to each other. The elder lived near Orowo, the younger, en route jNor Ireland, intended to sleep at Chester. The conversation between them grew animated. Saith the elder presently. ‘‘ Give up your idea, of sleeping at Chester, and do me the honor of passing tiro mrrht at rny house.” Tho offer was accepted v. it.i grateful oflusion. On leaving in the morning, said, the guest, “Answer my Question frankly. What induced gm, on such an insufficient acquaintance. e ‘l u ; fer so great a benefit on me ? ” Replica the host, “As you press me, your question shall bo frankly answered. My witc always tolls mo thrrt I am 'the.ugliest man in Great Britain. I wished to show her that there is an uglier.

A collision occurred in Hobson’s Bay between the Claud Hamilton and tho barquo Eden. Both wore damaged. A GORRUsroxoKNT at Portland, Oregon, furnishes this of toe- io v s a Heathen Chinee:” “ John ' had bought a .watch at our jewellers bnt_ as it ran too slow, he took ii back, saving, “ Watchco-no good.” “ "What is the matter with it ?” asked the jeweller. “ Oh,” said John, “ watcheo too much bvhn-by.”