The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1948, 2 April 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1875.

We Bad not time or space to refer to the nomination speeches of the two candidates for the vacant seat in the Council yesterday, and we do not propose to go into the matter to institute invidious comparisons between the two men. As Captain Macheath sang, so we could fay, "How happy could I be with either.", "Both candidates are so well known that any* thing said in their favor at this stage would not alter the I convictions of their immediate friends and supporters; and for the rest, we know that there are potent ibfluences to be employed much more powerful than arguments of the kind we might advance. MrDavies and Mr Howe have both a following of more or less influence, who will do their best for their candidate. For ourselves we should like to see both men elected, if it will gratify their personal aspirations; while as to any good to the district ;to follow the next—and we hope the last—session of the Provincial

Council, we think tho community mi^ht feel an utter indiffereuce whether they were represented or 'not. 'To morrow night hoth candidates are to address the electors, and we hope the best man will win. Given the favorite, and we'll take the field'against him, and give a straight tip for tho winner.

The news brought by tho Star of the South regarding tho fearful mortality accompanying measles amongst the Fijians is appalling. We need not repeat tho details furnished in our telegraphic columns. Not only the Natives but the colonists seem paralysed. Business is at a standstill. The steamer which usually comes fully laden with.island produce is only partially filled, owing to the want oflabor, no doubt in this direction generally furby Natives. No effort appears to have been made by the interim Government to check the course of the measle epidemic, and the Native population, from their constitution and habits of life, fall an if easy prey. The disease, we are told, has assumed the form of plague. If the European residents do not bestir themselves a plague will break out as destructive to them ss the measles is to the Natives. The insufficient burial—the exhalations from rtinains of diseased and deceased mortality—in such a country as Fiji are sufficient of themselves to breed a pestilence, which, acting on constitutions enervated by the trying nature of the tropical climate, would probably prove as fatal to the Europeans as the measles has proved to the Native victims. Such, a visitation as this is much to be deplored. It appears to have had a bad effect upon the Native mind already, they looking upon it as a judgment for giving away their land; The Maories of the Middle Island, somewhere about forty years ago, were visited by measles of a most malignant type, more like small-pox than the ordinary disease, and this visitation completed thejwork of; depopulation which the Northern warriors had commenced. A spot on the east coast of the Middle Island, where the Europeans who introduced measles landed, is known to this day as JMeasly Beach, and the remnant of the Maori population have a horror of the place from its associations. We have heard from some of the oldest inhabitants —castaway whalers and others —fearful stories of the havoc made by the dreadful visitation, which must have been similar to that now making havoc amongst the Fiji islanders. The consequences to the young colony of Fiji of this calamity will be serious; the progress of civilization will be »eriously impeded, and the friendly relations between whites and blacks possibly endangered.

The manager gives notice in our advertising columns that <he forfeited shares in the Otago Goldmining Company will be sold by auction to-morrow, unless the calls and expenpes be paid by noon of that day, as notified by advertisement in our issue of the 23rd ultimo.

With reference to the'paragraph which appeared in the Star a few days ago on the subject of tbe pay given to the Armed Constabulary, we are informed that the extra shilling a day given to the Thames men was roted by the Provincial Council last session. The Thames men do not get rations : they have to find themselves. The pay of the Armed Constabulary at Ohinemuri v the regular remuneration paid to the force.

These was a meeting of the supporters of Mr William paries at the , hall of Ihe Mechanics' Institute last night. Our reporter put in an appearance, but he was informed that the meeting was private. He took the hint and left.

The Times is about to work another great newspaper reform. Composing machines are to take the place of compositors, and each daily issue to be printed from new type. Instead of distributing the type used, say to day, 10 that the composing machine may set them up fer to-morrow's paper, they are thrown into the melting pot, re set, and transferred to the composing machines. Thus there is no loss of time compared with the old method of hand distributing.

This isliow an American journal reports .an,act; of cremation:—"The latest zephyr from Kansas is laden with the perfume of a baked boy. It is reported that cremation has been inaugurated at Leaven worth, and that a Mr Miller placed the body of his son, who died at the age of ten years, into a furnace specially constructed for the purpose, and subjected it to the process of cremation in the presence of a large number of surrounding- friends and admiring physicians. The boy panned out well, his ashes being all that could be desired." \

11ACCIDENT3 "will happen in the best regulated families," says the Grey Biver Argup, and in accordance with the old saying, on Saturday last Tal Vose's dummy assistants, 11 Johnny Trotter," " Mrs Brown," and others, who have afforded bo much amuse* men*, to the residents in town, were seized by the bailiff at the ruit of a former servant of Mr Vose. The suit was brought at Charleston while Mr Tose was performing at Keefton, and as he could not appear judgment wmt by default. Th« claim was resisted as being an upjust overcharge, about the merits of which we know nothing. The consequence was that yesterday pur old friends " Johnny " and others were cold by auction, and bought in by a member of the Company, but the price did not cover the costs of the warrant', execution, &c.

A siovemknt has lately been sot on foot in Sydney for the establishment of a system of municipal fire insir.-ar.ee, and fcr having in each suburb and inland town a, fira brigade supported out of the funds thus accumulated. The idea hn3 been several times suggested by Iho newspopors, but it lias now been energetically takes up by a Mr Percy Gibson, who has draf ed the outline of a echeme to carry the project; into cfft'ct. : The matter is to be brought m;der the consideration of the different municipal councils.

G-AiiaNAUT states that the French Stamp Office has just purchased tho secret of the composition ,of an "ink absolutely indelible, and which roeist.3 Iho -strength of all known re-agente. Owing to that discovery it will be able to put an end to the numerous franda wb'ch are constantly committed to the prejudice of the Treasury, and >hieh consist in restoring to stamped paper already used its original purify. Tlae annual loss to the revenue on that head is calculated at £600,000 in the department of Seine alone. . Some slucfetits fixed up n ghost and placed it on ihe stairciso of a Troy newspaper office the o'her night, and then retired and waited developments. One of the editors came al<»ng, and didn't get frightened. He disrobed if, and now Wears a fifteen,dollar pair of pantaloons, a ten dollar vest, n seven dollar pair of boots, and eight dollar haf:, -while one of the students goes about .without' a vest, and another roams through ihe less frequented streets wearing a very ancient pair .of inex^ preambles. '' (

" TnE oldest horse in the Colony of Victoria/ ssya ■ the-'Geelorig?Times, "has just been gathered to his fathers. This was a pony belonging to Mr; Allnutt, of Cliftoiij near Dryadale. The animal had attained the extraordinary age of 44 yeei\», having been imported when 12 years, old and. taken to Porfiarjd Bay 32 years since, when the port was a whaling station* From this place the animal came into the Ballarina district;, and into Mr Allnutt's possession. The air and the owner agreed with burr, arid he only ded two. or three days since, having attained the wonderful ago stated.''