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New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 6892, 25 June 1883, Page 2

On Tuesday Mr Beethsm will ask for leave to Introduce a Bill to amend the Masterton and Greytown Lauds Management Act, 1871, and other Bills amending the same, Mr Hutchison's name is down on the Order Paper for Tuesday as asking when the_ contract for the completion of the line of railway between Waverley and Patea is likely to be effected.

The usual meeting of the Preethought Association was held In their hall in Courtenayplace last evening, when a long paper upon the Sunday trading question was read by the President, Mr Player. There are a considerable number of books, pamphlets, and other hinds of literature belonging to the Society at present, and we are given to understand that the movement is gaining additional members. The circumstances surrounding the case of James Lomas, who committed suicide at Wadestown on Friday evening, have received farther ventilation at the Coroner's inquest, which was held before Mr Q. B. Davy Saturday afternoon, though little additional light has been thrown upon- them. It appears that Lomas had been drinking rather heavily, and on coming home on Friday afternoon threatened to shoot bis wife and family, and when they bad left he carried out the threat npon his own person. The jury returned a verdict of suicide.

A football match between the Wellington Football Club and the Athletic Club took place at Newtown on Saturday afternoon. This was the second match between these Clubs this season, and resulted in a victory for the Athletics by three gaols kicked from the field by Wood, King, and Dnmbell The Wellington Club did not succeed in Bearing. In the match between the Wellington College and the Ponete Club on the Newtown ground, a victory was obtained by the Poneke Club by two tries to nothing.

Two notices of motion are down for Mr Hutchison’s name in the House on Wednesday. They are “ For a return of the number of bricks made week by week by the prisoners at Mount Oook Penal Establishment ; the number of prisoners employed ; the number of warders in charge of those prisoners ; and the estimated value of the bricks so made f and “ That it is necessary, in the interests of humanity and good government, that legal and definite provision should be made for the support of hospitals, and the care of indigent aged persons and orphans ?’’ Our Petone correspondent writes that last week some Maoris succeeded in harpooning a large fish supposed to be a yonng sperm whale. —There was a capital muster of all the members and officers of the Petone Naval Artillery, when Major Butts put the men through various evolutions. A Shooting Committee is to be appointed to arrange a match for the Captain’s belt. The following gentleman were unanimously elected honorary officers of the Company :— Captains Hewitt, R.N.; Jackson, 1.N.; Humphries, 92nd Highlanders; Hon. P. Buckley, and W, 3. Fitxherbsrt, Esq. A number of shopkeepers in the city contemplate convening a meeting with a view to arriving at a decision as to what steps shall be taken with regard to two or three recalcitrant tradesmen who still persist in remaining open after 6 p.m. Various measures have been suggested as tending to be remedial, one of which is that all shops shall be left open till a late hour every night until- the whole of the shopkeepers in the city shall have entered into a bond to close at a fixed and early hour each evening. As the interests of a very numerous section of the community are involved in the question, it is to be hoped that those shopkeepers who still persist in remaining open till a late hour will give in their adherence to the bone of closing fixed by the leaders of the early-closing movement. Speaking of the celebrated lecturer who begins a coarse of lectares at the Theatre Royal next Thursday evening, the Nelson Colonist says ; “Mrs Anna M. L. Potts, M.D., delivered the first of her series of lectures on Physiology, Health, and Disease, at the Theatre Royal lost evening, when the building was crowded. The lady kept her audience in clone attention for nearly two hoars, and her ladylike, unassuming demeanor and remarkable flow of well chosen language, elicited much admiration. The lecture was of an introductory nature, bat a good many home truths were given utterance to, and the great importance of studying themselves^ascertaining the functions of their own organisations, of heeding the body and not forcing the brain to the ruin of the constitution, were dilated upon with great earnestness. The need of exercise to develop the muscles, the choice of proper food, especially with regard to yonng children, and the necessity to clothe infants properly, were referred to in forcible terms, and not witbont ranch hnmor.

Two warriors in embryo, whose proclivities evidently toad in the direction of the Royal Engineers or the Sappers and Minere’ branch of the service, determined to illustrate the active duties of ths profession, and with this end in view they took the “tented field” instead of their beds on Friday night last, and the result to one of them, at any rate, has proved most disastrous. The boys, who are eaoh about twelve years of age, after school went into camp on the reclaimed land, and fixed up beds with some bagging and refn-e they found in the neighborhood in one of the large water-pipes lying near Pipitea Point. The lads state they went down early on Saturday morning to oneof the sheds erectedby Mr J Saunders, the contractor for the first section of tbs Maoawatnßailway, and obtained a quantity of blasting powder, with which they returned to their camp. Their original intention would appear to have been to dig a small mine or to fire the powder in one of the iron water-pipes. Be this as it may, however, one of the boys, yonng Slater, applied a lighted match to the powder, the resalt, of course, being that the child received serious injuries to his face and one of bis arms, the sinews of which are contracted. The boy’s sight is also impaired to some extent, but it is believed only in a temporary degree. The other child, most singular to say, who was looking on olose by where his companion fired the explosive, escaped injury almost entirely. The more fortunate because, perhaps, the more cautions of the two having hastily but fortunately most effectively extinguished tbe fire which had communicated to bis comrade’s clothes, led him home, where he was attended by Dr, Kemp, who holds out hopes that the injuries sustained will not prove very serious, flow either of the children escaped the total destruction of thoir eyesight is something almost miraculous. A deputation of Chinese who have been resident in Wellington for soma time past waited upon the Hon. W. Rolleston, Minister for Immigration, on Saturday morning to represent to him the injustice imposed upon them by the Chinese Immigration Act. There were present—Hoo Ping, Lee Wong, Kong Lee, Lee Obong, and Eee Slag, Mr James McColl, who has for some time past acted as agent for the Chinese in this city, Introdnced the deputation and explained its object, and stated that the Chinese who bad been resident in the colony for some time found themselves under certain disabilities which they thought the Government should remove. Any one of them, for instance, might have been in New Zealand for a number of years, daring which period be bad helped to develop the resources of the country. If, however, it occurred to him to go to his own country or even to Australia, he would be required to pay £lO before he would be allowed to land. Mr McColl pointed out that under Article IX. of the treaty concluded in 1858 between Great Britain and China, Lords Elgin and Kincardine, representing the former, British subjects were permitted to travel for purposes of pleasure or trade in any part of China under proper passport. It would only be reasonable that any Chinese arriving at any New Zealand port should receive a similar passport foe the whole of the colony. A petition was in conrae of signature, asking that the number of Chinese in the colony before tbe tax is imposed might be increased from 5000 to 7000, independent of the number that may leave, Mr Rolleston said he was not very well acquainted with the subject, but he should give it his fullest consideration, It wonld perhaps be best if they stated the whole of their grievances in tbe petition which they bad mentioned. Mr McColl farther mentioned that there was every prospect that the flax industry, and the cultivation of hops .would be likely to receive an impetus by Chinese labor, and that, indeed, the former was already employing a number of Chinese, and Mr Rolleston promised that these subjects should receive tbe fullest consideration.

Owing to there being a clean charge-sheet at the City Watoh-bonse, there was no sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday lost.

Shortly before 2 o’clock yesterday morning a notorious woman, named Margaret Shields, was arrested in North-street, for soliciting. She is a very old offender, and yesterday morning was sent to the Hospital for medical treatment, on the order of Dr. Collins. The following list of tenders was received by the Public Works Department for Mair station contract, Wnaogarei-Katno Railway : (Accepted), Johnston and Wrack, Whangarei, £238. Declined—W. Armstong, Whangarei, £2BO ; R. Keyte, £367. The gang of 50 men who recently arrived from Auckland under engagement to Mr Danaher, the. contractor for the Jobnsonville portion of the contract for the Manawatu Railway, have been forwarded to the works and will commence work to-day. The majority of the men are old navvies.

Quite a change in the weather set in yesterday. The bright clear skies of the previous week became densely overcast, the temperature went up to almost sultriness, and the inevitable rain followed. At first a few drops, but soon a steady downpour set in, which lasted up to 10 p.m,, when the wind, which had bean strong from the N. W., became a gale. A project is afloat among Chinese to start a company with a capital of £IO,OOO to plant land at the Hntt and on the Peninsula with hops, and to employ Chinese labor only for its cultivation. We understand that a considerable area of suitable land at the Lower Hutt is at present under offer, and that it is proposed to cultivate as much as 500 acres. Mr J. McC'oll informs ns that be has the assistance of a number of capitalists in Wellington to carry oat the project. The management of Rainer’s Panorama have made arrangements to continue their season at the Theatre Royal for three nights longer—to-day, to-morrow, and Wednesday. On Saturday evening last the prize-winners were :—Mr Barns (Tasman-street), a silver watch ; Mr Marriott (Conrtenay.place), a sliver watch ; Martin O. Burn (Sydney-street) and Mrs Howell (Cuba-street), a £1 note each ; and Mrs Armstrong (Tinakori-road), a tea and coffee service.

In the Legislative Council to-morrow, the Hon. W. Mantell will move, That there be laid upon the table copies of all letters and papers relative to the rumored suspension from office of the late Interpreter to the Legislative Council, and the Premier has given notice of a motion for the same day, approving the course that the Government has taken npon the question of the establishment of British rnle in certain islands of the Pacific. The Hon. Major Atkinson will make the same motion in the Lower House.

Some individual, fond of statistical invest!gallon, has inquired into the subject of total abstinence and eminence in the world of thinkers. Only 30 out of a list of 124 eminent men are total abstainers, whilst some of the hardest workers and thinkers use tobacco. Darwin, Huxley, Edison, Charles Kingsley, Spurgeon, Wilkie Collins, Trollope, W. H. Ruisell, Q. A. Sala, Mark Twain use tobacco, while Gladstone, Duke of Argyle, W, B. Carpenter, Matthew Arnold, W. H. Freeman, Lecky, Charles Reads, Frederick Harrison, Sir John Lubbock, Louis Blanc refrain from it.

The attendance at the services of the Salvation Army yesterday, althongh scarcely so numerous as on the previous Sunday, was nevertheless considerable; especially so at the evening service. The “penitents* form” was fairly filled, the ’ recruits” being taken from either sex. The greatest order now prevails, the firm stand taken by the police last week evidently having had a most salutary effect in curbing excessively demonstrative spirits. On Saturday evening the proceedings were taken part in by a female soldier of the Army, who “testified” as to the good effected in her by her conversion.

A disturbance of rather a serious character occurred in Manners-street shortly before midnight on Saturday, caused by a man named Edward Arnold, who, frenzied from the effects of drink, used language of a most disgraceful description. Fortunately, Constable Remar, who was in plain clothes, was in the neighborhood, and apprehended Arnold, who resisted the officer. The prisoner will appear before the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-diy. A companion of the accused named Henry Cliff was arrested at the same time by Constable Christie for obstructing Constable Remar in the execution of his dnty. Tbs Argus gives this illustration of the ignorance of Biblical subjects prevalent among children in Victoria“ The bead master of tbs Gordons local school states that, when recently giving a lea Am on geography to his fourth class on the mountains of Asia, not a single child had ever heard anything in con* nection with Mount Sinai, or Mount Ararat, and only two children ont of a class of thirty had ever heard of Noah, The teacher being astonished, asked the same questions in the fifth, sixth, and upper sixth classes, and found the same Biblical ignorance prevailing there amongst forty-six children, whose ages ranged from twelve to nineteen years, two only being able to answer tbs questions satisfactorily, both of whom were Sunday school teachers. Only one pupil in the whole school, a Sunday school teacher, recently arrived from Melbourne, knew the meaning of the word Decalogue. Recent investigations have added greatly to onr knowledge of the more highly organised parasites of the belmintboid type. For example, it has been ascertained beyond donbt that the blood-vessels of a human being capable of performing his daily avocations may contain from 20,000 to 30,000 minute embryo nematoid worms, A physician at Calcutta demonstrated this with regard to persona in that climate. Numbers of individuals so affected suffer from chylnria or elephantiasis in one or other of its forms, but this is by no means universally the case. Researches have also revealed the onrions fact that these ‘ teeming multitudes of nematoids lark in same unknown recesses of the vascular system daring the daytime, and that only as night approaches do they wander at large through the vessels generally. Experts assure us that a single drop of blood taken from a prick of the finger at midnight in a person so affected may contain as many as 200 embryo nematoids, while many drops similarly obtained at mid-day will not reveal a single worm. The London Times says a new use has been discovered for oyster shells. For years they have been need for mannfactnre of lime, as manure, for decorative purposes, and in the preparation of a cheap Imitation of marble ; but it is now found that they cannot be better utilised than by being thrown in quantities into the sea, where they make the best possible foundation for new oyster beds. In July and August next many ship loads of these empty shells will be sunk by Englishand French oyster-farmers in various places suitable for the purpose ; and a few healthy living oysters will then be dropped upon the same spots. Experiments have proved that under such conditions the bivalves will shortly multiply to an almost incredible extent; and it is said that in so brief a period as two years each empty shell will have from thirty to forty young oysters attached to it. The now generation can then be removed to make room for more, and fattened for market In specially con. etructed tanks. It is hoped that this discovery of the value of oyster shells as foundation for fresh and productive beds may within a reasonable time lead to a considerable decrease in the present high priee of native oysters, “A Victim,” writing on bankruptcies and the legal profession, in an Auckland contemporary, says that before the recommendations of the Chamber of Commerce respecting the alterations required in the bankruptcy Lws are made use of, it would be well to ventilate the question. He says :“lam of opinion that the legal profession are responsible for most of the black cases. Two have gene through lately where, in each, there would have been probably 40s in the £ instead of nothing, bat the freehold properties were made over to the wives a few weeks before the filing. This, the creditors are told, is illegal, bat what can they do ! The trustee says he cannot upset the conveyance to the wife, and the creditors willing cannot perhaps afford to prosecute the bankrupt. One of them is boasting already of having made a house and five acres of land ont of it. The solicitors for the bankrupts know the trouble it is to creditors opposing, and how easy it is to get over them, and should any tarn oat very rusty, they are quieted by getting security for their money. An opposing creditor in one of the cases I have mentioned told me be was shut up in that way. At present the whole profession are to blame until they make a move to have the black sheep struck eff the rolls, and if that were done there would be very few swindling bankruptcies. The £3O or £4O cash probably paid by the bankrupt to the solicitor for puttiug him. through makes the creditors feel very sore, as they will often call to mind circumstances which cause them to know be had been saving bis ready cash for that object. Very few bankrupts would be opposed if they honestly gave up ail to the creditors, but with the help of his solicitor and the neglect of the official trustee, be la often able to make a new start with the creditors ffieney,”

The Melbourne Daily Telegraph saye the “climate of Western Australia is one of the finest and most salabrioni in the world, 1 per cent, only having bsen the average mortality of the colony since its occupation. The Wangaani Herald says The present timber export from Manchester Block is enormous, about 15 mills now being in active operation on it, while there is a fine totara reserve of about 3009 acres near Halcome yet untouched. We understand that from Folding station alone, considerably over six million feet of timber must have been consigned last year.

The Marquis Tseng mentioned in oar cable this morning as having had an interview with M. Jules Ferry, as the Chinese Ambassador to France, is the one great Chinese general of the present day, and specially distinguished himself in the diplomatic arrangements of frontier question with Russia. The precise nature of the proceedings in this matter which resulted favorable to China never cams to light, but it is believed that the Russians received a decided defeat by the Chinese under Tseng. A contemporary says that Mrs Dr. Potts lecturing at Auckland on “ Lore, Courtship, and Marriage,” censured three habits of females —viz., tight-lacing,indifference to domesticand useful accomplishments, and artifice. She also said men were to be equally censured for tobacoosmoking, or snufflug, for drinking, and for indifference to home society. She would have the man that deserved a good wife wear the “ blue ribbon.” She recommended an “ anticorset society ” to put down tight-lacing. She would have courting done by daylight rather than night. She considered that “ a good solid courtship ” of two years was qnite long enough. She recommends a process of “ natural selection," by which an alliance should be made of temperaments rather in difference than absolutely alike. Good health she considers the basis of all married happiness. She would have many questions asked on both sides before either party risked the chance of happiness in marriage. The Rome correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald write! as follows “ The explorations of Signor D'Albertis and Signor Barcari in New Guinea are considered by tbe Press of Rome sufficient to give Italy some claim to a part of the island, as ' It is the only one that tbe colonial monopoly of the other Powers bad left free.’ —A return to specie paymeats was made on the 12th April, so that travellers from Australia to Europe fay the Brindisi route will once more ‘ handle a little coin ' instead of carrying a bundle of * notes,' aaoh representing a fiorinormore. The volcanic disturbances at Etna which had assumed a very threatening aspect, have ceased without having done any serious damage.—-For about a fortnight the inhabitants of tbe villages on its flanks were kept in a continuous state of alarm by the repeated shocks of earthquake and tbe subterranean rumblings, but tbe shocks were not very violent, and with tbe exception that a few old walls and a hoase or two here and there were thrown down, and an old obursh damaged, there have been no consequences to be deplored. No lives were lost. A St. Petersburg correspondent of tbe New York Sun dwells upou the carious fact that Nihilism has au almost irrestible fascination for women. Among tbe recent arrests is that of Vera Figner, about which ha says ! —“ If Mrs Langtry should be arrested and proved to be a Fenian agent, London would not be more stirred by tbs news than the people here have been by the arrest of Vera Figner. I have before me tbe pictures of both beauties, and am at a loss to say which is the more charming and perfect, the Jersey Lily or the Nihilist Faith (Vera means faith). Vera has received the best possible education. She is an accomplished musician, a charming singer, and a good actress. While moving in society in this city and elsewhere, she knew no equal among her sisters. Tbe highest rank and wealth were at her command, bat she preferred tbe dangerous life of a Nihilist agent. Sophy Ferovsky, who could hare been a Court lady if she bad wished, will be known in history as the chief of tbe regicides. I oould name many families of princes, noblemen, clergymen, and rich merchants who have lost their daughters in the Nihilist cause.

Some very startling statements as to the great and growing increase of illiteracy in the American Republic have (says the Pall Mall Gazette) been made by the Rev. Joseph Oook, of Boston, in a prelude to one of his Monday lectures. The following are some extracts from his remarkable presentation of the facts ; "First, notice the illiteracy of the United States as a whole. Five millions of the fifty millions of the population of the United States over ten years of age cannot read ; six and a quarter cannot writo. Of the ten millions of voters of the United States one in five cannot write his name. The nation la now charged with the education of eighteen millions of children and youth. Of these ten and one* half millions are enrolled in public and private schools ; but the average attendance is only six millions. Seven and a half milliene, er five-twelfths oi the whole, are growing np in absolute ignorance of the English alphabet. At the present rate of the increase of the number of children not attending school there will be in ten years more children in the United States oat of the schools than in them. In all bat five of the States there wereenongh illiterate voters to have reversed the result of the last Presidental election in each of these States, It is estimated by the statisticians of the Government that the total annual profit to the country by the conversion of illiterate into educated labor canid not be less than £80,000,000 a year. ' Notwithstanding the efforts of the Rational Dress Association, that article of Ladles attire, known as Corsets, will undoubtedly hold its own. The result will certainly be a “ survival of the fittest ” and while unsuitable shapes will be swept awav, those combining flexibility, anbreakableness. and general adaptability to the movements of the body will be in Increased favor. Foremost among these are Dr. Warner’s Ooraline Corsets, at Te Aro House. Those Ladies who have once tried them will purchase no other make, and those who have not yet had them are certainly ignorant of the ease and comfort they are missing. Per Steamer via Melbourne, we have received one well assorted cose in all sizes, bought so advantageonsly that they will be sold at a considerable redaction from usual prices. This is our last shipment for the season, and as the demand is large and daily increasing, ladies should make an early inspection of Dr. Warner’s Coraline Corsets, at Te Aro Honse. [Advt,] A cheering cordial for the despondent, and the only stimulant which can be safety introduced into the sick-room or used for hospital purposes, is the celebrated Wolfe’s Sohnaffs, the purest spirit in the world.—(Adtt.J 9 Dyspepsia, biliousness, nervousness, and miserableness all cured with Hop Bitters, See.