MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 30 January 1880, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand just now is being discussed in relation to its financial position by most of the leading journals of England. The Manchester Guardian poob~ poohs oar difficulties, which it considers | can only exist in the imagination of tba j people. ' Why ' says this powerM | organ, ' New Zealand in coal alone coura j in time pay off the national debt of Eng*j land, while probably i'S gold would disj charge the public indebtednesss of aU Europe.' The Northern Advocates thinlfl that in a few years an enormous amotfl of capital will be withdrawn from EngtaS to be employed in important industries^ one of the finest countries the son shines! on. ] In a leading article on the bankruptcy law, the New Zealand Times remarks :— Within the past nine months we believe that scores of unblushing rogues hare taken advantage of the laxity of the present bankruptcy laws in New Zealand to evade, payment of their just debts. Prtyments of dividends varying from twos p?nce half-penny to three or four shillings in the pound have been more often than not the outcome of estates which judged by the original lists of assets and {'abilities prepared by the insolvents themselves, appeared to be likely to realise from 15-* to 25s in the £1. It is admitted on all si'ies that our present bankruptcy laws, which are nearly identical with those existing in England, are a blot upon the civilization of the day.

An lowa (U.S.) monthly magazine, published in the interest of school teachers, says : — ' If we wish to know where tbe profession of teac 'ing is most honorsti and best provided for, we mas' go to Braz ; l. The teacher in Brazil, having once passed a satisfactory examina* tion, becomes a Government official for life, and is promoted, not as vacancies occur, but according to his term of service. After five year's service, during which he has a comfortable salary with house-rent' he receives a small pension, and for every scholar above thirty, which is supposed to jjC the average number in country schools,

he gets, as addition to o^^^^^^^l equivalent equal to one-th^j^^^H estimated cost of each pupil's tl^^H When sick, or disabled, a small exlfl pension is provided. After ten years^ service, the sahry, pension, and per quisifes are doubled. After twenty years it is again increased, and a life-insurance policy is then bestowed upon him by the Government, sufficient to keep his family from want in case of his death. After thirty years he is put on the retired list, and receives the same pay as army or navy officers of a certain rank, but he may even then continue to teach and to receive a regular salary.' The New Zealand Herald states that Signor de Yi vo, the agent of Mdile. Carlotta Patti, the eminent vocalist, was a passenger by the mail steamer from San Franciso, on lm way to Sydney. Mdlle. Patti will arrive here by the next Californian mail steamer. Md!!e, Patti goes on to Sydney, in order to play there during the Exhibition, and then proceeds to Melbourne. We believe that arrange* ments have bepn made that after the conclusion, of the Australian engagement— probably in about four months' time— this famous singer will give some performance in Auckland. She will be accompanied by M. de Munck, a violoncellist of gr.-at fame ; Signor Ciampi Cellaj, a baritone ; and Mr Tbeo. J. Toedt, a tenor singer. The musical conductor will be Sigcor Giorz3, who is favourably known in Aucks land. The watches now being manufactured by machinery at the rate of eight hundred a»day by the Waltham Co., of Bo«ton, attracted considerable attention at the Philadelphia and Sydney Exhibitions. At both these places they were very highly praised, and judging from a consignment of them which we recently inspected on the premises of Mr Adair, R^ttray street, there can be no doubt but that the encomiums passed concerning them were well deserved. The exquisite beauty of the pxterior of the watches cannot bat capfi* > ate the fancy of the spectator, and tlie tasteful designs engraved on the cases give them quite an artistic appearance. Mr Adair, who has introduced them into the Dunedm market, informs us that they are excellent time.keepers, and that, inasmuch as they are made by machinery, they can be sold at about one-half the price of English watches of the same quality. The Dunedin Star thus discourses on matters telegraphic : — ' Several changes <ire to be effected in the Telegraph Depart* ment here. Mr T« B. Muir, who has been connected with tbei Dunedin office ever since the telegraph passed into the hands of the Government, and worked his way up from a junior position to that of assistant officer in charge, 19 to take ' charge of the Invercargill office. We congratulate Invercargill on gaining one of the expertest operators io the service, and a courteous officer. Mr M. U. Corliss gains deserved promotion in receiving the appointment of assistant u* charge at Christchurch. Mr Gu^^^^^f^the Blenheim office, J^^^^^^^^^^W*& assistant here ; gets charge£|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H rington, Busch (I'>v^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| to Daned^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H that the condign departm^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H fa u^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H tioj^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H procurmg^B ll^^HP^e in* They are described j as' shrewd intelligent men — one a native of Denmark, and the other a native of Sweden, and both possessed of very considerable conversational rowers. They have never been in New Zealand before, having come direct from Utah, on a mission to the Nor hof New Z-aland. Tt-ey should make themselves acquainted with the Maori language, and try their powers of persuasion npon Te Whiti and his following at Paribaka, and if they suc« ceeded in converting a few of the New Zealand prophet's followers, and induoirg them to go to Utah, (ew in this colony would be sorry. Dunedin has also been visited. The ' Otago Daily Times ' says : • We are informed that eight converts to Mormonistn h'tve been msde.and that on the return to Dunedin of Eidpr Batt, who leaves for Cliristchnrcb, ibe converts will be baptised by immersion. Two more eiders, fresh from the city of the Latter Day Saints, are also to pay New Zealand a missionary visit. Elders Batt and Bailey both express satisfaction at the treatment they have receiyed in Dnnedin, at the patient manner in which they have been listened to.' The N.Z. Times says :— There has been a good deal saiJ lately about the overtime of Government officers, and the tact that they receive nothing extra for it. If the bank clerks of this city could speak

then^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^V^ shoul^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^r for extr^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B commut^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B In rep^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HP town recently. Major A^PR£the Colonial Treasurer, said that he could not give anp indication to when subsidies to local bodies were likely to cease. The Government has promised to bring down a scheme next session. The subsidies were provided for up to j the end of March, and really the Ji finances of the country were in such a deplorable condition as to give him grave cause for anxiety. ■ W