GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 211, 20 April 1877, Page 15

GENERAL NEWS.

Neither of the principal parties, writes the Standard, has an interest in breaking up the Conference, and if it is left to them the discussion will probably be dragged out. But it is possible the other governments may grow tired of a game which only makes them ridiculous ; and, as a matter of fact it is alleged that Prince Bismarck has directed his representatives to bring matters to a crisis. Assuming the report to be true, and we see no reason for doubting' it, the policy of Germany admits of two interpretations. ! That generally accepted is, that Prince Bismarck is convinced of ' Russia's inability to wage a great war, that he desires to see her ! weakened so as to prevent her allying herself with France in the i -coming war of revenge, and consequently he is determined, if he 1 can help it, not to permit Russia to withdraw from the position she i took up in the Czar's Moscow speech. According to this theory, then, the Prince declares the modified proposals of the Conference \ the least that can be accepted, and withdraws his Ambassador at i once if they are still rejected, in order to force Russia, to an imnieI diate decision. It is, of course, part of his plan to encourage the Porte not to yield. The theory is Machiavellian, but for that reason must not be treated as incredible. At Culm, in Polish Prussia, there was an elementary girls* school, of which the Sisters of Charity had charge j but fifteen months ago it was made a mixed school under secular management, " for the promotion of education and toleration." The population of the city is distributed in the proportion of 3 Catholics to 1 Protestant. Yet there are five Protestant and three Catholic teachers, while a candidate for the Protestant evangelical ministry has been placed at the head. Is it the more effectually to drive ultramontane darkness out of the heads of the poor Catholic children ? The lesson in " toleration " seems to consist m insulting Catholic doctrines. A formal complaint has bee a laid before the Government, charging the Protestant teachers with having expressly denied the existence of hell, while engaged in instructing Catholic children; with, having declared that Catholics always pay for pardon of their sins; with having illustratdd the Catholic doctrine of veneration of the saints by reference to the Marpingen " swindle j° denounced Cardinal Antonelli as a mere " Captain of Brigands," and having expressed the hope that the Pope would soon follow his minister. Tbere is also in Culm a school of a higher class for girls, which is under the control of the municipality. In it French and English are obligatory on all the girls. But a request that Catholic girls, who are all of Polish parentage,

shonld learn how to read their mother tongue, was refused by the majority of the town council (which is mostly composed of Germans), on the ground that it might be dangerous to tho German empire. Such were the practical lessons of toleration given by the apostles of the cnlturkampf . A very laudable spirit Beems te have been aroused in Donegal of opening it np with railways. There are only two lines at present in the county, and these, most useful as far as they go, only touch on wide and fairly-populated tracts of country lying behind. measures were taken to complete the Letterkenny Tfeailway, a project which lay in an unfinished state for years, and there is now a reasonable prospect of the Company's -wishes being realised. The Lough Swilly line has been working for some years, and its advantages to one part of Innishowen are of a very substantial sort. <hx the Cardonagh side the want of railway communication with Londonderry is felt to exercise a retarding influence, and it is proposed to hold a meeting to consider the subject, and take up subscriptions to defray the expenses of survey and other preliminary costs incidental to such a movement The proposition offers an alternative in the choice of route — namely, either to make a junction with the Swilly line and Buncrana, or take a new direction by striking in at Moville and along the line of tbe Foyle. In case of the results of the survey proving satisfactory, the scheme will be submitted to a London company, said to be the London Great Western, with a view to their adoption of it. A BOrt of panic has been caused here (Paris) on the subject of the adulteration of wine, and I am able, from personal knowledge, to say that there is good ground for the alarm. A. M. Grandeau, who is an authority on such matters, has just written an interesting report on fuchsine, which is now very generally used for the coloring of wine, and which is most deleterious. According to M. Grandeau, wine has for many years been tbe object of frauds of various kinds. No one will attempt to contradict M- Grandeau in this, but lie adds that at no epoch have adulterations been so numerous as at present and so injurious to the public health. Wine used to be doctored with brandy and to be colored with matters having a, vegetable origin; but now a fictitious color is produced more cheaply by the employment of fuchsine, which contains arsenic, and is extremely hurtful. An almost microscopic quantity of this dangerous substance will give a gallon of water the appearance of red Bordeaux or Burgundy; it is cheap, and M. Grandeau knows houses which spend between i}4oo and J5500 ($2,000 to $2,500) a year in its purchase. This shows the extent to which this system of adulteration is carried In consequence of serious complaints at Nancy, M. Bitter, a professor at the Medical College, was directed to examine several samples of wine, and the analysis proved that the employment of fuchsine is very general all through the South. In some instances the wine was found to contain such quantities of this arsenical matter that any one drinking it would have felt seriously ill after a couple of days. M. Bitter mentions the case of a man having taken some of tHs adulterated wine, and a quarter of an hour afterwards nis ears became exceedingly red and his gums slightly tumefied. M. Grandeau tells us how, with the aid of ether and vinegar, people may analyse their own wine. — Pall Mall Gazette. What temperance, cleanliness, and regularity can do in the way of restoring and preserving health is demonstrated in a remarkable manner by the report of the directors of convict prisons for the past year. Who would imagine it ? A convict prison is the wholesomest place to live in. If you want to have your health thoroughly restored you have only got to do something which will give a magistrate an excuse for sending you to a convict prison. This is an extraordinary allegation, but it seems to be founded upon fact. Just read what the medical officer of Millbank Prison reports: — "On looking through the annual medical statistics of these prisons for the twenty years, 1855-74, 1 find that only eight deaths are ascribed to enteric fever, or o*4 per annum in a population, male and female, averaging 7913. During the five years, 1870-74, only two deaths were caused by this disease in an average population of 9509. If the sanitary securities enjoyed by the inmates of the convict prisons could be extended to the general population of the country many thousands of lives would every year be saved." All perfectly tame, no doubt j and better still, by proper attention to sanitation and the strict observance of temperance and regularity of living, the whole of the metropolis might be made equally healthy. — Universe. A Protestant journal, into which the Liberal Christian has been metamorphosed, gives us the following entertaining account of the position of religion in Washington, D.C. It will be seen that in zeal and success Catholics are ahead. "As in all Southern cities, the holidays are more generally and more heartily observed than in the towns and cities of the North. Moreover, Washington, as a

part of Maryland, is a Catholic city. The old residents— and, I may add, some very good Christian people "here— are Roman Catholics, men and women who go about doing" good They have hospitals, orphan asylums, and schools, well equipped an<l well managed. They have many churches, hut no Cathedral. One of the handsomest and most costly churches is occupied by coloured people. St. Augustine's is very attractive, and like that of St. Aloysius, draws many Protestants there at Vespers. St. Dominic's is another beautiful church, recently completed. St. Patrick's is in course of construction. The Protestants generally of Washington have few fine churches. The Church, of the Ascension (Episcopal), is altogether the'finest The church built, by tho Lutherans will present a grand appearance when completed. Dr. Newman's, the Metropolitan Radical Methodist Church, is large and elegant, but its location is poor. The Congregationalist is very large and complete in all its appointments, but very ugly in its exterior. These three churches, like others in Washington, were paid for by non-resident friends, to whom they still look for more or less sympathy and aid." On Sunday, December 31st, a solemn religious ceremonial took place in the pro-Cathedral, Marlborough street, Dublin, to celebrate the close of the year 1876. At four o'clock in the afternoon the cathedral »vas densely crowded. His Eminence Cardinal Cullen preached a lengthened exhortation of thanksgiving to God, for the temporal and for the spiritual blessing He had conferred upon them in constituting them members of the Catholic hureh. In the physical order of things God had created and continued to preserve them ; in the spiritual order He nourished them by His sacraments, and sanctified them by His grace; and, finally, He had granted them the great blessing of making them members of His one, holy, and infallible Church. The Church had suffered persecution in old times and in the present day, but it had not been weakened in force or in truth. The Church had been purified by persecution. It w*s persecuted in Germany at present. The Bishops -were harassed, the clergy were exiled from their parishes, and the laity had severe sufferings to endure, but all were true to their sacred charge. The venerable Pontiff of the Church was for six years a captive in the Vatican Palace. Bat there never was a Pontiff that more edified the < "hurch by his piety, that showed more vigour and more determination in the assertion of truth or the suppression of error, or that received more submissive obedience from the faithful throughout the world, and the Church was pure and vigourous as ever to-day. They had many blessings to be thankful for at the close of the present year, and many blessings to pray foT during the year that was to come. At the conclusion of the sermon a solemn Te Deum was chanted, and the ceremonies concluded with Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. A correspondent says : I neyer recollect the time when the domestic trade of England was in so depressed and wretched a state as it is now. Go -where you will, and ask -whom you will, and you will hear the same thing. " There is nnf \n\-ns rin'ms ; wo t-VuTifc OTurroWoo Woirj ir wo c*u pay our expenses." As for the demand from the United States for English goods, it seems to be almost a thing of the past. The great steamers go oat from Liverpool or London in ballast week after week.

HisToßioiX ! Vide " Jurors Reports and Award?, New Zealand Exhibitioa " Jurors :J. A. Ewen, J. Butterworth, T. C. Skinner. " So far as the Colony is concerned, the dyeing of materials is almost entirely confined to there-dyeing of Articles of Dress and Upholstery, almost useful art, for there are many kinds of material that lose their olour before the texture is half worn. G. Hibsch, of Dunedin (Dunbdiit Dye Wobks, George street, opposite Royal George Hotel) exhibits a case of specimens of Dyed Wools, Silks, and Feathers, and dyed Sheepskins. The colors on the whole are -very fair, and reflect considerable credit on fbe Exhibitor, to whom the Jurors recommended an Honorary Certificate should be awarded " Honorary Certificate, 629 : Guatav Hirsch, Dunedin, for specimens of Dyeiag in Silk Feathers, &c.

This Company is projected for the purpose of purchasing and thereafter carrying on Messrs. Gutlirie and Larnach's well-known Woodware Factories, aud their extensive importing Timber and Iron Business. An agreement lias been entered into with Messrs. Gutlirie and Larnach to sell to the Company their new Fnctoiies, together with all their other buildings, with the entire machinery, plant, »nd stock of every description, at the actual net <\>st, all as certified by Mecsrs. A. W. Morris, C. H. Street, and Idmund Smith, after a careful examination of tue firm's books and vouchers; and also their magnificent fleet of coasting vessels, all at the present actual value, as certified by Captain Thompson, Harbor-master ; A. M'Kinnon, Esq., Shipbuilder, Mayor of Port Chalmers; and Keith Ramsay, Esq., Shipoj£er, Dunedin ; the new Company taking ff* 1 ' "11 current agreements aud uncompleted \f»rdera or contracts. (For the purpose of these and all other valuations, the gentlemen named have been appointed by mutual agreement between Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach and the Provisional Directors.) It has also been arranged that the new Company shall take over the entire debts due to the firm, secured and Tineecmed, at par, but shall be entitled to receive on all unsecured debts interest; at the rate of eight per cent, per annum from the (toy when stock is taken up to the date or actuul payment, and in addiiioi' a commission lor collecting of 2.J per cent., Messrs Guthrie and Lurnacli Kuuranteeing the entire amount ol the unsecured debts to the Company. The prudence of this arrangement will at once be apparent when it is remembered that

the Company thus keeps in its own hands th c entire connection of the retiring Firm, and thus prevents it» customers fro/n beins subjected to a possible outside pressure ; receiving, mor a over, a commission for the collection of debts which its own staff of officers will be able to overtake in the usual course of business, without cost to the Company. The whole of the freehold and leasehold lands held by the firm to ">e taken at present market value, as certified to by Messrs. A. W". Morris, C H. Street, and Edmu <d Smith. Four thousand of the Company's shares fully paid up have been agreed to bo allotted to Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach as consideration for the goodwill of their very remunei-a-tive business, they undertaking themselves to pay all preliminary expenses (including brokerage, advertising, &c, &2.\ in connection with the floating of the Company. Stock will be taken as on the day the Company enters into possession, and the debts due to | the firm will be taken over as from the same date. The timber busiuess is most extennve, and ' may fairly be said to be the largest in the Australasian Colonies. In connection with this branch of the business there are several j bush mills, nnd a large fleet of coasting vessels, i employed regularly in carrying supplies for the lequiivments of the factories as well as open markets. I The import, iron, and hardware business of | the firm is also very xtensive. These several branches at present represent a most valuable and important part of the Firm's trade, aud J the promoters feel confident that they can be j most safely and profitably extended. In the New Zealand Wood ware Factories there are four distinct departments, viz. :—: — Ist. Sawing, planir.g, and moulding factory. ! 2nd. Door and sash factory . I 3rd. Tub and bucket factory. | 4th. Furniture aud turner} factory. The trade of each of these is capable of | great and p ofitable extension, and as an evij dence of the great outlet for the products of [ the-e works, Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach \ have been compelled to run the machinery j overtime, on an average two nights per week, sinoo tlic opening of Uiu new (Ucturles. The whole of the extensive factories and ' stores (specially designed by David Ros->, Esq , , architect, of this citj) are substantially built | of brick and cement, on solid bluestone and concrete foundations (all timbers being of the best and nwst durable descriptions), cov«ring an area, including the timber yiirds, of several acres of valuable land in the chief streets of 1 the city. The whole of the splendid modern machinery was designed and planned by an eminent engineering firm in Glasgow, under Mr. , Guthrie's immediate supervision while in Britain, and after a very careful inspection of the principal wood ware factories in America, Britain, and on the Continent. Kach machine I has been firmly placed on a solid bed of concrete where necessary, to prevent the possibility of vibration, and to avoid wear and tear. The contract for the purchase of machinery ] was entered into when materials and labor in I Scotland were at their lowest. ' The important advantages to shareholders in a joint stock compuuy of entering into posj session of a huge manufacturing and impori ting business in lull operation on a fixed date, i with a thoroughly trained staff of officers and men, and a large mercantile connection, withj out having to wait for the erection of build- | ings, importation of plant, stock, &c, or being | subjected to any of the risks und delays mci!- ! dental to the starting of a new business, and with all preliminary expenses paid, should be ! at once apparent to investors. The following special advantages are worthy 'of notice : — Ist. The whole of tho machinery in the Fuctories is driven by one pah' of powerful ' engines, worked by two men, an engineer and | fir.-man, whose wages may fairly be said to j constitute the whole expenses in connection | with the motive power, us the only fuel re- ! quired to keep up c ten in is the sawdust and shaving-* drawn from the 'iilFerent factories as soon us made, by ni>aus of pneumatic tubes, I and deposited in a lurge brnk sale, ready for I consumption alongside the boilers. Hy this ' means all rulibish is utilised and marie a souice of profit, and the cost of labor reduced to a ! minimum.

2nd. The four Factories being worked under one roof, a great saving is consequently effected, not only in the motive power, but also in the management, as the whole cm ba superintended and controlled by one manager. 3rd. The Tub and Bucket Factory, now in full operation, has a monopoly of the supply of these indispensable articles, there being no other Tub and Bucket Factory in the Australian Colonies. A large return may therefore be looked for to the credit of this branch of the business. 4th. The whole of the Factories especially thn Furniture Factory, being worked in connection with the general timber business, is carried on most profitably, not only from the fact of the fir<t cost of the timber being pro* cured at the cheapest possible rate, but alse that large quantifies of short cuttings of timber, whioh would otherwise either be sold as job lots at a low price, or sent to the furnace to be consumed a* fuel, are utilised. The Union Sa*h and Door Company in Auckland is of a similar character to the New Zealand Woodware Factories, only being much less extensive. It is, however, a very f-iir criterion to base calculations upon, as to wliat may be expected from the New Zealand Woodware Factories. The Company referred to has only been in active operation for » little over four years, and has paid annual dividends of 20 per cent., besides carrying large amounts to Reserve Fund ; so tint in addition to the very handsome ye»v!y dividends, the original £5 Shares of the Company are now quoted at £7 10s, and a new is->ue alloted to shareholder?, on which £2 10s has been paid up solely out of Reserve Fund, are quoted at £3 10s, making tho present total market value of the original shares £11, or a premium of 120 per cent. In connection with this, it is a fact that the profit* shown to have been made in Messrs. Guthrie and Larnai-h's bu-iness for the same period considerably exceed that made by the Union Company in proportion to the capital imested; so that *he promoters have good reiisims for believing that not only will largo dividends be paid regularly by the > 'nnpuny, hut *iwv» ;to oiock will at once become a much-sought-after and favourite investment. Mr Guthrie has consented to be fully identified with the business for a number of years as managing director. Mr. Guthrie' • practical skill and long experience in the bade are well known; the high position to which the firm has attained under his management iudicutes the una-ure of prosperity which may reasonably be expected in the future ; and as a pro .f of Mr. Guthrie's and his partner's faith in the future prospects of the concern, they are willing to hold one-fifth each, ->r pqual to two-fifths of the entire c.»pital, on their own private account, purchased in fully paid up shares. And as a further proof of their confidence in the future prospects of the Company, they hare decided to guarantee that the Company's net profits for the fiist three years shall not be less than ten percent, per annum on the actual capital for the time being employed in the business, or equnl to a sum ot about £57,000 to be paid to the shareholders wiihin thiee years. They expect and believe that the profiis will considerably exceed this rate, but investors will by this means know the rate of their minimum profits. By way of further securing the observance of the guarantee, the firm have agreed to deposit, with the Directors of the Company, scrip of the Company during the first year of the value of £50,000 ; during the second year of £40,000 ; and during the third year of £25,000; and to execute a legal charge upon the same in favor of the Company. Intending shareholders may therefore rest assured that no more legitimate or remunerative outlet for capital, or one presenting better or more extensive future prosper, has ever been olfered iv New Zealund. The reasons which have induced afessrs. Guthne and Larnach to take this step are : Ist. That their term of partnership expires by eflluxion of time in the course of a tew uiontlis, when it is the intei.tion ot one of t lie partners to retire from active business. 2nd. That the plant, machinery, and general appliances of the firm are now of a diameter which opens up a largely extended and extremely profitable trade, which, however, calls for the employment of an extended capital.

Fall particulars a* to amount of capital employed and net profits renlw*H, taken from the firm's hooks for the la«t. four yenrs, the volnation of 'he freehold and leßnehol.J la'i'is and a statement of the c-M>t of all buiMings plant, and machinery, nil CPrtifiVd by Messrs A. W. Morri-, C. IT. Street, and EdmunH Smith, auditors, together with a codv of the agreement entered into with the firm hv the Provisional Directors, may b»> obtaned by bona fide intending investor* from the broker*. The shnre*li«t will close at an parly date, and in making the allotment the Provisional Directors will consider the order in which applications have been mad<\ Forms of application (or Shares can be obtained at the offices of Mes«Ts Gruthrin and Lamacb.or of Metsrs. ConneU and Moodie, or J. B. Bradnhaw, brokers.