THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3367, 7 October 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1879.

Me Sheehan remarked in bis speech before the division look place, " that the Opposition might win the day by a vote or two, if so, they would find their troubles would then only begin," and there seems every prospect of his statement being found only too true. Our latest telegrams from Wellington state that the Grey party are showing a determined front, and are united and decided upon a course of action which, of course, means fighting and trouble to "the Opposition; but the worst part of the news to that party is that their friends are beginning to desert them. Mr Fyke was present, and took part in the discussions at a caucus meeting of the Grey party this morning, and as upon his vote the Opposition won it changes the face of affairs altogether. A correspondent informed us yesterday that many of those members who voted against the Government did so under the impression that a large majority was with them, and now feel disgusted with the part they played, or rather were induced to play, upon the statements of the Opposition leaders. It may happen that Mr Hall will find it difficult to form a Ministry having the confidence of his party or likely to receive favor in tho House. The Hon. F. Whitaker, we are informed, has accepted the position of Attorney-General and a seat iv the Upper House, and in that position will be of the greatest help to the party; in fact, Mr Whitaker will be the adviser, and the real leader of the new Government. It will, however, be some days yet before anything definite is known, and therefore it is useless to speculate what the end may be.

Ix a budget of lato parliamentary papers just to band wo bavo received tbe annual report of tbo Inspector of Lunatic Asylums. It shows that tbo total strengtb of our lunatic army is 1)57, or an increase of 87 over tbo previous year. Sinco tbe year 1878, with' tbe development of our other resources, madness bas also increased, as the number of mad people we have to support has now increased about 90 per cent, since that date. The proportion of lunatics to the estimated population of the colony is lin 471. It is interesting to note the great difference in the proportion amongst colonists of different nationalities. At tbe date of last census 1 in every 311 of the English population was insane, 1 in 264 of the Scotch, 1 in 205 of the Irish, 1 in 184 of tbe Scandinavians, 1 in 121 of the Germans, and only 1 in 5121 of colonial born Europeans. Tbo fact that insanity is chiefly a disease of adult life will largely explain why tbe last of these proportions is so comparatively small. In dealing with tbo causes of insanity, the Inspector points out that 30 per cent, of tbe cases amongst tbo males is due directly or indirectly to intemperencc. The report is a very comprehensive one, and contains many valuable suggestions.

The fact of Mr Whitaker having agreed to accept a call to tbe Upper House, puts it out of the bounds of possibility of bis being a candidate lor the Thames in the, etenfcof au election.

An interesting; compelition for petty nflkvrships in the Ni-.vul .Brigude took p's.'c In.*!. evening. Three vacancies reqniivu {iliiii^, and there were 23 competitors. Tho men who proving thoni-se!v;-s most fitting ibr tho ollices aro Jrpji-8 Thomas, 'A'.hm Wilson, uud William Frearson.

We would remind our renders of tho soiree in connection with tho Grahamstown Wusleyan Sunday School to be held in the school-room this evening. After ton addresses will be delivered by a number of ministers aud friends.

Mn J. M. Dargaville, it is stated in Auckland, intends to contest the Thames seat in tho Opposition interest. Ho is a fluent speaker, and as he remarked to a Thames gentleman last week " he is good on the stump."

The frost on Sunday night is said to have destroyed the potatoe crops about Onehunga with a loss to the farmers of £2000. .

Weekly state of sick in the Thames Goldfield Hospital, from 28th September to 4th Oct., 1879.—Statistical Nosology: Zymotic Diseases—remained 4i, admitted 1, discharged 1, remaining 4; Constitutional—remained 1, admitted 1, remaining 2; Local —remained 8, admitted 1, discharged 1, remaining 8; Developmental — remained 8, discharged 3; Yislent —remained 2, admitted 1, discharged 1, remaining 2. Total —remained 18, admitted 4, discharged 6, remaining 16. Out patients 30.—We are requested by Mr T. Aitken, Dispenser, to acknowledge the receipt of a large pasket of cakes and fruit from Mrs Hume, and a parcel of periodicals from the Baptist Church Sunday School children for the use of the sick.

The Mayor look to Wellington when he was there laat August, a roughly prepared sample of the hematite paint manufactured by Mr Edwards, and also a sample of that prepared in Nelson. Both parcels he left in the hands of Mr Skey, Government Analyist with a request that an opinion might be forwarded to him at the Thames of the relative value of the samples. The last mail brought the following report: —Samples of Hematite for Paint. —(a) Hematite from the Thames — percentage of sesquioside of iron, 8435 ; (b) hematite from Nelson —percentage of sesquioside of iron, B§'l4; (c, d) mixed hematites, not analysed. These analytical results show that the Nelson hematite contains a little more red pigmentary matter than that from the Thames. The former is also the more comminuted of the two, and so is, on the whole, the superior one. —(Sd.) W. Skey.

When the Opposition were laying out their plan of attack upon the Ministry, they discussed three courses, namely—to pitch into the Government hot and strong; to deal moderately with them; or to say nothing at all. The middle course was adhered to. The Opposition members feel that the case put before the country by Mr Hall was not a strong one. —Herald.

We were shown to-day by Mr Patterson a very handsome chair, which has been presented to the Lodge of Light by a friend, whoso name has not been divulged. The chair is of solid oak, costing £20 in London, and -was turned out of the manufactory of H. J. Lamb, the well known manufacturer of Masonic jewels, clothing, and regalia. It ia ; - suitable for the Master of the Lodge, and is beautifully carved and ornamented, having the name and number of tho Lodge inlaid in different kinds of wood. The seat is of bright morocco leather, and altogether t'ae chair presents a fine appearance, aud is a welcome addition to the furniture of the Lodge of Light. The following table —extracted from the Itegistrar General's Beport on the vital statistics of the undermentioned Boroughs for the month of August—gives the population, number of births and deaths, and proportion of deaths to the 1000 of population of each borough : —

A coeres:ponde.nt writes asking has the Ohinemuri affair died out altogether, and shall Pakara and Epiha be allowed to walk about red handed. In reply we may say, from a newspaper point of view tho arrangement is as dead as a door nail. The new Ministry will perhaps give us a taste of their quality by dealing at once with the matter. Thoy struck freely at tho Grey party on the native question, and prompt action on their part will show that their virtuous indignation was not all bunkum. •

It is related of tbe ex-Khedive, Ismael Pasha —who, by the way, is not to take up his definite residence at Naples, but at Monaco, really a fit one for him—ihat during tbe past few years he lived in constant apprehension of being poisoned ; so that, although exceedingly gourmand, lie only partook of food prepared by his own mother, and conveyed to him in a box, of which she and bo alone kept keys. For the same reason he only used linen washed in tbe harem and preserved in tbe same way. The legend bas it that whenever he went on a tour his favourite wives only allowed him two or three shirt 3in the famous bos, so that he would be sure to return without delay. This would go a long way to show that be was at least a good husband, if nothing else.

At the French Bazaar in the Albert Hall a lady was dispensing tea. A solemn gentleman approached and asked the price of a cup. ""One shilling," replied tbe lady, and be put down a shilling. .Before banding him the cup the lady raised it to her lips and observed that the price was now a'sovereigu. The solemn gentleman gravely replaced his shilling with a sovereign and said: "Be good enough to give me a clean cup."— Truth. Baker Basha bas returned to England on a two month's leave of absence. He has been employed during tbe winter in completing the lines for the defence of Constantinople between Bujukchekmedji and Dcrkos. Forty regiments of Turkish soldiys have been engaged uuder bis orders upon these works, which it is anticipated will render tbe Sultan's, capital iiapreguablo from tbe land side.

Thbrk was a clean sheet at the 11.M. Court to-day.

Many of our readers will doubtless remember the Kennedy family of Scotch vocalists who visited the; colony somoyears ago. The sons Robert and James hare been studying in Italy for the lyric stage, and wo have, been favoured with the perusal of tin Italian paper which speaks highly of their first ajujearant'e at Brescia, in J\i\y last, in the opera of "Lucia," as Edgardo and Enrico respectively. Arrangements were pandiug for their appearance in " Trovntoro " and •• Traviata."—Herald.

Complaints are made by carters of the state of the Upper Waiotahi Eoad near Punga Flat. The mud is at some places axle deep. As there are a number of claims in the vicinity, it is to be hoped that the County authorities will loso no time in making an improvement.

Fboii letters just to hand from Sydney, we learn that our old friend, Mr W. Dey, lately of No. 1 Scottish, is sticking to volunteering, and making his mark as a shootist. He joined the Ist Regiment, and after going through the usual squad and recruit drill, he went through his class firing. Although firing with a new weapon, and on a strange range, he made the highest score in his llegiment, and becomes entitled to wear the ltegimental Crowna. His Captain informed him he had made the highest score but one ever made in the colony in class firing. The ranges, &c, were—lo shots each—2oo, 300, 500, 600, 700, and 800 yards. The first two ranges were standing, and the 8-inch bull's-eye, the remaining ranges being any position, and usual sized target. The circular bull's-eye throughout. In the class firing the ordinary system is used—four for a bull's-eye, three for a centre, and two for an outer —but in prize firiug the "Wimbledon value rules, viz., five for a bull's-eye,. &o. In the first stage of class firing—2oo and 300 yards —40 must be made to permit the competitor to fire at the longer ranges. Mr Dey made 50 in the first stage, and at the other ranges he scored as follows ;— 500 yards ... ... 34 points 600 „ 34 „ 700 „ 36 „ 800 „ , 30 „ missing one shot at the last range. He has met with several old Thames Volunteers in Sydney, and they all have kindly feelings towards the district, and one and all wish it greater prosperity.

A telegram states that no petition against the Kaiapoi election having been lodged with the Returning Officer, as required by the Act, or sureties entered into to prosecute, it may now be accepted that nothing will be done in the matter.

Says the Auckland Star's Sydney Exhibition correspondent:—" Kelly and Fraser, of Auckland, have a very fine case of Puriri Lake Mineral Waters. Of their medicinal qualities Dr Hector speaks in the highest terms; and as medicated waters are in this hot and enervating claitnate considered to be efficacious, and are much used, they are, if properly brought before the public, likely to find favour here."

A GENtrEarAN living in oue of our aristocratic suburbs (says an Auckland contemporary) is in the habit of tiding home nightly on a fine-looking dark liorse, The other evening while turning up the Mount Eden road from Kyber Pass he rode past a small squadron of lively schoolboys. Said Wo. 1, "Ah ! There's a jolly fino horse, now." " Yes!" retorted No. 2, " and ain't there a jolly big land-shark on the top of him ?" This political sally reached the ears of the gentleman on the " jolly fine horse," and he went home filled with melancholy meditations on the spread of Sir George Grey's teachings, and lamenting that innocent school children should manifest a prejudice against a man simply because he was a large laud-owner.

The Hon. Graham Berry, Premier of Victoria, is reported to be seriously ill.

The Herald's correspondent says :—I am informed that after the division Sir George Grey and Mr Ballance shook hands.

In a recent debate on the depressed condition of the agricultural interests of Great Britain in the House of Commons on the 4th ult., John Bright spoke as follows:—Ho said the English produce decided the market, but that the produce from the United States, or it may be from the Domiuion of Canada, will henceforth fix the market in this country (England), and there is a great deal of truth in that. But let this Commission inquire, if it can, how it comes that the landlords of this country and the farmers are not only alarmed, but in terror at the produce in corn and cattle that has to be brought 4,000 or 5,000 miles from the other side of the Atlantic. This is a question, I think, that they may fairly examine (cheers), and I confess that I am not sure that the statements made have been extravagant or exaggerated. I have met within the last two or three weeks two gentlemen very intimately connected with these matters in the United States and I have been very much startled by some facts which they have related (o me. The land that is being occupied in Minnesota, in' 'the United States, aud within the Dominion of Canada, is of magnificent quality I am told, for the production of wheat. Liverpool at this moment is as near to these farms as New York was a short time ago.

Estimated Population. Total Births. I! Proportion r Pntj ,i of Deaths to J°X 1000 of Deathb. populatiolK BOROCGII. Auckland .. Wellington.. Christchurch Duncdin.... Tbames Napier Wauganui .. Nelson .... Sydenham .. Lyttelton .. Timaru .... Oiunaru .... Hokitika .. Cavcrsham.. luveroargill.. 14,163 19,467 14,188 23,201 5,003 5,415 3.GGI ! (i,304 j 0,510 3,470 3,389 4,927 2,853 3,42f>--4,045 37 84 55 S3 24 24 15 2U 44 14 11 . 29 12 S 23 9 33 if--7 7 3 S 11 0 10 s 3 5 4 0-03 1-C9 2-33 1-33 1-40 1-29 0.82 1-17 |l-C0 1-72 2-95 1-6-2 1-05 1-4(5 0-9S T0t5i1....! ! •• 459 17S