GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 111, 24 March 1870, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

A society was formed in a large town of America for the purpose of buying up hotel licenses. As fust as the society could procure these licenses they opened the houses under great restrictions as to the sale of drink : they endeavoured to substitute other liquids for intoxicating ones ; they provided good entertainment and the accommodation was first-class. In this way they drove a very hard competition with houses not so well managed, and compelled many to shut up. We notice that at the Church Congress in Liverpool some action of the same kind was recommended with regard to theatrical performances. The Rev. J. Erskine Clarke read a paper on the " Recreations of the People." Mr. Clarke suggested that the benevolent should subscribe a fund for promoting pure theatricals. The drama as a means of recreation for the people was duly recognised. It was pleaded that theatrical representation, if severed from bars and other drinking temptations, and if improper characters were strictly excluded from being present, would have a healthy tendency on the morals, as well as provide innocent amusement. There was no attempt whatever to justify the theatre as it now exists. It was described as one of the worst schools of vice, and attendance on present theatrical performances was deprecated. The idea of seeing theatres under the direction of the clergy and philanthropists is so novel that at first it cannot be realised. The two elements, the clerical and the dramatic, have hitherto been supposed by the majority of people to be utterly incongruous. If the Rev. J. Erskine Clarke's plan could be carried out, a very popular source of amusement would be rendered available to a large number of persons who would not on any account enter the dooi's of theatres under their present condition. — 'Melbourne Herald.'

There* has been more rattening at Sheffield. The non-unionist masons employed by the contractors for the new Midland Station, because they would not join the trade society at the dictation of a unionist, had all their tools stolen. Such of the workmen in the contractors' service as belonged to the union were discharged, and the tools were soon afterwards found deposited near the works. The unionists are being supported by the society. The Danes do not appear to have much respect for the bones of their ancestors. It appears that many ship loads of them are shipped to British, ports to be ground up as manui c. In a cargo which recently arrived at Aberdeen a quantity of human skulls were cast up among the horse and other bones. The shipments of these remains are sometimes so large, and they accumulate on the shelves to such an extent, that they have been disposed of by re-burial in the sea-bents.

The "Illustrated London News" of November 20th says •— Mr. J. Tidd Pratt, Eegistrar of Friendly Societies, has explained to a deputation of the Artists' Amicable Fund that insanity cannot be considered siekue&s, and that it is illegal for the officer of any friendly society to make payment in the case of insanity.

The " Fiji Times says :— " Why not go in heart and soul for being an integral part of the first and greatest nation in this world ? We are too apt to think of Great Britain as what it looks upon the map of Europe, but look at it upon the map of the world. Let there be a gathering of one representative from each of all the tribes over which the Queen wields the sceptre of her wide-spread sovereignty, and there would be, not only the re~ presentative of what Napoleon called in contempt the nation of shopkeepers, with the cannie Scot and the happy Irishman, but a ''great company,' tendering their expressions of loyalty in a 150 different dialects, and representing one-fourth of the entire population of the world. They would bring samples of all the gem 3, and firs, and fibres, and gums, and balsams, and woods and metals to be obtained from all the rivers, oceans, fields, and forests which cover our sphere. Each would claim the protection of Great Britain, and be loyal to a beloved Queen, in whose crown we yet hope to see Fiji sparkle as the *gem of the South' Pacific' Should America be disposed to add Fiji to its territory, we should hail its free institutions and liberal government with delight, but, having no hope from such a quarter, we turn to that government and country with which our nationality, our commerce, and our geographical position connect us. The present state of affairs in Fiji is not creditable to the British G-overn-ment. It is bound in honour to protect its subjects colonising in these islands."

Holloway's Ointmemt and' Pills. — Unsolicited Testimony. — Mr. Rippon, Hairdresser of Exeter, in a letter dated July Ist, 1862- "Writes: "My wife had been a great sufferer for several years from bad legs. After trying many different applications for months together to no purpose, a lady strongly recommended your medicament, and I do assure you we feel most thankful to her and yourself for the perfect cure they have effected. My wife is now able to take a walk of four or five miles with comfort. You may publish this letter, and I only hope it may be the means of inducing other sufferers to use your admirable remedies, which have proved a blessing indeed to us." Such testimonials are indisputable,"