The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)(about) |
Previous issue
Friday 1 September 1882
Next issue
Send to:
|
No corrections yet
?l)t &\Jimzß ^ïloinmg: íocralír.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1882.
In the Legislativo Assembly yesterday,
Ministers replied to questions respecting the eight hour system in the drodge service, the friendly societies commission, the proposed teaching of hif ' in Public schools, tho tramway from Darlinghurst te, ... Mathias' Church, tho Marrickville and Canterbury trams, the mineral conditional purchaso of Messrs. J. ana A. Brown at Taralba, tho railway from Orango and Molong to Forbes, tho proposed railway from Wagga Wagga to Turaberumba. tho branch railway from Port Jackson to the junction with the great northorn railway, the report o£ the Hon. J. B. Wilson on the removal from omeo of Captain Armstrong, the claim of Mr. Edmund M'Glide, the contniction of a bridge over the Billabong Creek at or- near Clarendon, the boundaries of olectoral districts, and
the census tables.
Sir HEX EY PANICS presented a petition against any further authorized encroachmont on tho Sabbath.
Mr. LKVISI presented a petition from Corowa against the ealo of Crown lands by auction, and in favour of tho pppointrnent of a Royal Commission on the land
question. . ,
Sir lIiiNKY PABKIS laid on tho table a copy of the
report of Mr. J. B. Wilson on the case of Mr. Arm- strong, and it was ordered that it bo printed.
Leave was given to Ministers for the introduction of the AVharfago and Tonnago Hatea Bill, the Inspector of Boilors Bill, and the Criminal Law Consolidation Bill. Leave was also triven to them for the intioduction of the Local Government Bill, the Diseases m Sheep Acts Amendment Bill, the Forests Bill, and the Public Watering Tlaces and Reserves Bill, all of which, with the exception of the Local Government Bill, wore brought up and each read a first time.
iLeave waa «riven to Mr. Buohanan to introduce
the Violation of Children jPnUmnt BLu.^Tth. Scduc ¡on Punishment Bill; and both me«u"í**¡
brought up and each read a first timo
Returns showing the expenditure on Publie works in the county of Ashburnham wcro ordered on thymol, £ of Dr Boss; and returns of the acreage, and the name, of all holders ot freeholds exceeding 100,000 «£
wore ordorod on tho motion of Mr. HEYDON
Mr. BUCHANAN moved an address to his Excellent? the Governor praying that there bo laid on tbo £2 copies of all the papers in the case of the prC Plomer, who was convicted of a capital crime at th
last «ttmgs of the Wagga Wagga Criminal Court, and sentenced to death, but who was afterwards rerriewd by tho Executive Council. Ho contended that «ft, offonco of Plomer was of an atrocious character the conduct of the Executive was unjustifiable and' that the House was ontitlod to copies of the papers, in order that it ntight soo on what ground tho reprieve w« granted. ' '
Mr. LoconxAK seconded, and said thore was a stronu feeling in his constituency, in which the crimo WM committed, in roforonco to tho escape of Plomer from tho extremo penalty, (
Mr; W. J. FOSTKII said tho Government had no objection to the papers boing seen bytho Houso but thoy thought thoy ought not to bo printed and circa, lated, as tho ovidenco in tho case was of tbo mosf beastly kind. The Government could have no motiv« for not carrying out tho capital sentonco other than their obligation of duty ; thoy acted from a solemn reuse of duty, and as tho ovidonco disclosed a doubt they would have boon guilty of murder if they had' under the circumstances, allowed the capital sentence it
tako effect
Mr. M'Kmosc disapproved of tho namby-pamby speech of tho Minister for Justico, and intended to voté for tho motion. Tho Government had lot off tho Sod- walls offondorB, and had hanged a poor blackfellow who had no Monds, and he boliovod that Judge Windeyer, before whom Plomer was .tried, would not have re- commended a ropriovo if ho had been asked to report on
tho case,
Tho motion was eupportod by Mr. JACOB, Mr,
LEVU:N, and Mr. FAHNTLI., and was opposed by Mr!
Sr. Airan Y. «
Sir HENEY PAIUUÎS said tho Ministers had acted under a full sonso of their responsibility, and in the belief that thore woro so many logal doubts in the cuso that thoy could not adviso that the capital contoneo bo enforced. Tho papera would placo tho House in
possession of no moro information than it had already
obtained.
Mr. W. FORSTT« maintained the right of the ïïonsa to tho papers, to enable it to judge whether Miwster» had properly discharged thoir duty.
Tho motion was further supported by Mr. M'LAcan- . LIx, Mr. GAKVAN, and Mr. 0'Co>,>,oi¡, and was opposed by Mr. KUMUNU B IUTON. Mr. BUCHANAN then replied, and tho motion was put and negatived on division bv ?16 to l8. '
The adjourned debato on tho motion for tho opening of tho Art Gnllery on Sundays, from 2 to 5 p.m., was
resumed.
Sir HI:M:Y PAKTES said that, although ho was opposod to the motion, the Government had not at- tempted to influonco a singlo vote on tho question. Tho Houso waa asked to do a now thing without any domand boing mado for it from outside, and it was thoroforo tho moro obligatory on tho part of the mover to show that thoro was somo necessity for his proposal. Not a singlo person had petitioned for the opening of the Art Gallery on Sundays, while thousands had petitioned against it. It had been attempted to show that tho working classes woro in favour of the motion, but no voico had boon raised on their behalf in its support; and it was not to be denied that they had joined other classes of tho com- munity in praying the Houso to preservo as far as it could tho sanctity of tho Sabbath. Tho question of whothcr tho railways and other means ef conveyance should bo allowed to run on Sunday had been sug- gested, and ho thought that if that question' were boforo thom, ho should, on tho plea of necessity, be compelled to vote in tho affirmative. lío also thought the Post Office should, in the interests of humanity, bo used to a greater extent on Sunday tbnn at present was the practice. Ho claimed address ing himself to tho 'motion, in the character of an English citizen, and, with no desire to bo regarded as ex- pressing whatjwere known as extreme Sabbatarian viows. Ho was of opinion that this movement was really the thin end of tho wedge, and that if thoy woro not care- ful thoy would in timo see every public institution, and even theatres, oponed on Sunday. Works of art, however valuablo in themselves, could not bo oxchanged for the exposition of Christian doctrine, and if thoy were to offer 6Uoh attractions on Sunday in institutions eup-
portod by the Stato, they must seo thoy would add greatly to the difficulties of tho clergy. If the poople outside woro to bo appealed to, tho supporters of tho motion would have all the enemies of Christianity and of social ordor with thom. He did not desiro to seo tho Snnday of tho continental description estab- lished in this colony, and hoped tho Houso would «w with him there was no necessity for departing from tho lines of tho parent State. This wa« not a light question, and ho should be glad if th« Houso were to reject the motion and show that it wished to havo the social lifo and political aspirations of England copied in this community.
Mr. FARNELL could not understand why the motion should not be agreed to, when railways, tramway«, steamers, and tho uko services were need on Sunday.
Mr. W. FoitsTEB movod the adjournment of th» debato till to-day, which was carried on division by 55
to 12.
Tho House adjourned at 10.43 p.m. to 4 p,m. this day (Friday).
The MINISTER FOR JUSTICE was right in contending that tho members of the Execu- tive -would he unworthy of their office if, in dealing with soniences upon convicted criminals, they allowed themselves to be diverted by outside pressure from the course dictated by their own convictions. Some- times popularity may be won by carrying fl sentence into execution. Sometimes a refusal to remit or commuto a sentence will certainly win moro or less of unpopularity. But non« of these considerations ought to weigh with the Executive. Few greater calamities could occur than the establishment of a well founded belief that tho administration oi justice was liable to bo doflected this way oi that by the pressure of private influence oi popular clamour. lu the course of the dobat« yesterday upon tho production of papers IB PJLOMKR'S case, some bon. members spoke ot the " bowl of execration " which was raised in the district where the crime was com- mitted and the trial took plaoe. They seemed to bo of opinion that the raising of that bowl ou<Wit to have affected the nrtion of the Govornment, as au inducement to the sum mary execution of vengeance. A greater mis- take could hardly be mado. Howls of exe- cration and clamourings for mercy # should have this effect only, if they exercise any, upon the conduct of the Executive-they should steady its action and bring about a more rigid determination to deal with tue matter in the daylight of the facts under review, and a more deliberate resolve to exclude the operation of any possible outside
influence. ir_a/,,(.
But whilst it is the business of the Lxeou tivo to discharge its duty in these matter»
without being swayed by V^ ¿*"»% that discharge of duty » subject to review and judgment by Parliament. If the Lxecu tive is to revise the proceedings in courts ox justice, the House is entitled to inquire into the manner in which that revision has been conducted. When the Government dedtfej in effect, that tho verdict of ajury.«a coori of justice was bad in law, although the con vioted prisoner is punished under it, *e House has a right to inquire into ona
pronounce upon the grounds on which that Seolaration is made. . But^»*"^X to judge, without full opportunity of examm in¿ the evidence? How can ^ HouseJisj charce its duty, when the jEsecutiye-oa tf
va ta this caso through tîio mouth of tho fliur S,:cm:rAnY-rosilively refuses to
C°f tim n-nipn0 Could tim Kxocutivo
rSto rvcnta.ou.i.lconclu.ioniftho T who l.n-i,l(,l M1 tho l.înl of a ciminal t" rT, , lin'otlto p.oelut-c l.i, notes?
1/ .""li'iLlv. will denv tho soundness
' ilil, {" lliii abominable case are unlit
SUon, and that.to allow all the
to which Mr. r.üCiiAXAN's motton P'S to co forth to the world would cer
;:^J«ïgrcriamouutofbarm,and could
ntaocumplish any inin<rinablo good. Hut that
« not tho issue which the motion raised. Jíomoduction of papera for the information "the House is one thing ; their issue totho nnhlic outside, for the gratification of priment tics, would he another. Publication is not nie necessary consequence of production ; but £«" production which the COLONIAL &i:cn" «,,Y refused. Tfc was Raid by an bon. member in defence of the Government that Sis case was peculiarly one in which tho
reduction of papers might be IOLUMHI Lguniin-, as wo have a right to assume, that production and publication are dillevont thino-a tho peculiarity of the ease points the opposite way. Tho ease being so bad that it is practically impossible to let tho detail» go abroad lo the public, tbnt is a reason why foil information should bo laid before the tribunal which sits in behalf of the public to supervise the action of tho responsible Pxecutivo. It should not be forgotten that m asking for papers tho House asks for the means of judging whether the Government lias done well or ill. And in refusing to produce papers-in refusing to provide these materials for jutlgmont-r-tho Government practically denies that ita responsibility
exists. " A . , ,n
It ia said that the cout-fo tauen by the Government in Pi.oMitn's case was warranted alike by morality and justice. liut ia it right that tho Iiou^o should take such assertions for granted without being put in possession of all the facts of the ease ? Is it a sound precedent that tho House should bo asked in 'cases where tho conduct of tho Government is under review to accept as suf- ficient such imperfect representations of the facts as tho Government may seo fit to submit? Neither the House nor the public can fairly judge as tho matter now stands whether the conviction in this case was good or bad ; but thero is enough boforo the public to produco a very unsatisfactory impression upon tho public mind. Let it be admitted that tho execution of a sentenco unsupported by law would bo lynch Jaw. Let it be admitted that the Govern- ment would bo wrong in lynching any man in obedience to mere " howls of execration." But how is the Government to extricate itself from the necessity of confessing that if this man's conviction was bad in law, so also must te his present punishment. If ho was wrong- fully convicted of tho offence with which he was charged, can it be technically right to punish him for auother offence, of which ho lias not been fourni guilty ? A legal technicality lias saved him from the gal- lows ; but are all legal technicalities complied with in keeping him in prison ? It is not enough to feay that the interests of justice demand his punishment, or that it would be a moral wrong to let him go free. That is beside the question. If the verdict was technically so unsound that it would be a sort of murder lo execute the sentence founded upon it, where aro we to look for the sound verdict on the strength of which he is now undergoing imprisonment ?
It often happens at the beginning of a session thut the House takes the proverbial stop from the sublime to the ridiculous. After a debate involving the position of the Ministry, bon. members proceed to d'scuss tho affairs of the lefreshment-room. On Wednes- day night the question was roiled hy Mr. ROSEBY, in behalf of Mr. HEN&GX, absent through illnesj«. It moy not bo gwacally known that every new member, on entering Parliament, is expected to pay a stun of thico guineas as an entrance fee to exilitfo him to ippease Lis hunger or satisfy his thirst in tho Parliamentary lofreshment-ioom. Tho rolrcsh ment-ioom was built with public viOic&y, and the cooks and attendants connected with it aro paid with public money ; bi't the cost of the solids and liquids consumed in it is defrayed from the private pockets of the con- sumers. The bssine^s is minago 1 by a committee appointed by the IJo>t»e, aud tho entrance fee is charged under the regulations formed by the committee for the pulposo of providing a fund to work upon. Tbe arrange- ment is, in fact, similar to that of a club, and the regulations forbid the supply of raïre.sli
ments to members of Parliament who do not
make themselves members of tho club by paying the fee for admission. It is oaly, we imagine, upon the ground that the members form a club that the sale of liquors in the Par- liamentary refieshme»t-room ctin ta-Vo place without a license. It does not appear that membersofthollousewhodonotpayavedenied access to the refreshment-room, or "the UEO of tbe cooking apparatus, or the services of ita attendants. On the contrary, it is stated that there was once a member who, withholding his three guineas, used to bring bia « tucker ° (to adopt the Parliamentary temi) in his pocket, and have it cooked in the Idtchen. Bat the position taken by the committee is that those only who contribute to the working fond shall be entitled to partake of the refreshments provided by jt. Tho business is speculative. Sometimes losses are incurred ; at other times a surplus accumulates. Under these circumstances Mr. ina-sotr declines to conttibute, and in the opinion of some members it is wrong that íe tHMhmonts should be refused to him. The joint of iaterest, however, is his reason for Musah A principle ia said to bo at stake. Jir. HENSON is a teetotaler, and his conscience will not allow him to contribute to a fund wnch may be used in part for the purchase «i intoxicating liquors. Conscience is a «tócate thing to handle, and Mr. HENSON must of course in matters of conscience iudcro J» himself. But the difficult thing for other Fopio to understand is how men with r,TnveS 8° P°èuliarly sensitive can man thi TT and do bu8ino>'îS in a world like «El P TT Can they associatc with men who
n,« «. w cau tnov trade "with any who
Lil teeîotill«*? How can they remain «ers of a Parliament which sanctions ^regulates the sale of drink, and dépenda- itJ ?, consumPtion of liquor for a great {¿I? ° public avenue? And how can of hW"* a Government which stops short trad«?T?Dg a measur° to suppress the con«,;T 8Cems P°ssible that a man's «mscienco may claim too much in one direc
0Diand tootle in others, if its demands
all round are judged by a common measure. No one will find fault with the man who=o conscientious views subject bim to self sacrifice. Mr. 11 I:\SON has ii perfect right to refrain from' Rubscribing to the rnrlhimen tory refreshment fund, and to forego the'advantage of obtaining Parliamentary ic frcshment. But his conscience, though a rule to himself, ought not to bo made a rulo for other people, or to break down the rules nnd regulations and arrangements which others have adopted for their own con- ven ¡once, and which do not interioro with" li is liberty. Mr-n who ¡iii II cr voluntarily for con- science sake will generally rooeivo a certain amount of respect, even whero they do not win concurrence or approval. But tim ea-o is altered when, instead of suilW-ing with patience, thoy miso complaints, and use their conscience* tis a sort of engino lo control the action, disturb the arrangomcnts, or restrict tho liberties^ of others. As Mr. HENSON was not present, it is possiblo that ho may not be fully responsible i'cr the raising of a complaint on his bubal f ; but it may be well to remind both him and liis advocate or representative that Mr. RosnnY, in raising tho complaint, nnd so far suggesting- that the system of the re- freshment-room should be changed to suit Mr. Hiixsox's conscience, was talcing a posi- tion similar in some respects to that taken by the authorities of the lloman Catholic Church in relation to National education. Would Mr. JiosEHY or Mr. TIKNSON bo prepared lo say that wo should forego the advantages of a system of National education to save lloman Catholics the inconvenienco of voluntarily holding aloof from it '< Mr. IèosmiY unconsciously raised a question of far-reaching interest. The occasion was a trivial ono ; but the. wbolo côuroc of legislation would be afl'ectc-d, and the foun- dations ol' government might be distuibed, if it were admitted that the alleged conscience of a minority must bo tho court of ultimate appeal for the majority of a Bolf-govcrning
people.
At tho instance of the master butchers the stock agenta nnd auctioneers havo agreed to hold only one salo a week instead of two after the opening of the new saleyards, and to continue the system us long ns practicable. The resolution was not unanimous, but curried by a majority of (> to ¡I, tho opponents contending that tho plan would bo found impracticable for two reasons, viz., the want of sufficient paddock accom- modation in the neighbourhood of the s'Jcyaids, and the probable inadequacy of tho ir.il\v»y arrangements and facilities. On the other hand, a more hopeful view of tho railway manage- ment is taken, and it is held that there is plenty of paddock accommodation to be had near Black- town and Parramatta. As to this last matter tho difficulty seems to bo not a mere want of space where cattlo can rest a few days after a journey, but tho chanco of their starv- ing rather than touch such grass as thoy can find. It is probable that a great chango will como be-foro long in tho method of providing animal food for Sydney, and that instead of send- ing beaatB to bo slaughtered near the metropolis, the slaughtering will take place up the country, and the market here will bo for meat, not for livo stock. But if tho prcsont system wore permanent, could not something bo done by artificial means to provide paddocks within easy range whero ettie could rest and rather improve than lose condition ? However that may be, the experiment about to bo under- taken is worth trying, and it is to be hoped that to soino extent, at least, it will servo its intended purpose-that of steadying the market and so benefiting the stockowner, the butcher, and tho consumer. The present state of things is unsatis- factory to the consumer at any rate. 3t is also unsatisfactory to lind the public mind satu- rated with the belief that prices are artificially kept up by monopoly, whilst parties intorostcd flatly de:iy thit such is the case. Tho mystery will not bo explained until thore is a return to reasonable and moderate prices.
Our cricket representatives now in England havo accomplished a feat that places their fame upon an unassailable height. Having beaton the picked eleven of England they may say it is ended, and return home in the full assurance that there is nothing moro to bo done. It was very unexpected, this last great victory ; the most ardent patriot was shy of prophesying pleasant things about the result, and man of cool aud calculating minds looked upon an Australian defeat as a foregone conclusion. Our men had been very easily beaten by the Players of England ; had failed to make a good stand against eleven old University men at Portsmouth. It was not expected that they had been nursing their courage and hardening their hearts, and preparing themselves by every possible effort to redeem all upon the last great day. And yet it is evident that tho Englishmen expected a stub- born fight, for a better eleven than those opposed to Australia has seldom been sent into the Cold. Each man of them is a champion, and tho two departments of batting and bowling seemed very ably represented. Amongst tho six gentlemen and ¡Ive players were thrcû of tlse mo3Í magnificent bats, and two bowlers decidedly tho most dangerous in England. The latter did their work woll ; tho former seemed overmatched. The noticeable feature of tho match is the weakness of tia Vetting on both bide-s. This may bo atuouotal for by the nnevenness of the ground, and tho .strong d*,ür íítinntion of the players. The grouud was bumpy, tind Si'OFPOitTir upon bumpy grouad has proved bia right to the title of Demon on n-i*ny previous? occasions, but never perhaps so fully "as iu this tatest match. In the firat innings Ita toc>k seven wickets for 4G runs, in the second tJic same number fur 44 rims ; indeed, he sewn* to bave paralyzed bis opponent« in the second iiiuiugs for the"last six men are accredited with but eigct rous. Of our own batsmen, MASSIE aiends the Srst with 55 runs to his name in the second innings, moro than doubl o the score made by any other member of the team through the whole nv-teli, showing plainly that free play and an iip.-i_.Iit bat are ¿t times moro effective than the must cautious .skill. In the faco of such an uninisttiKnb'e triumph there is room for little moro than congi.itul itions. It is tbö greatest thing Australia lias done in that particular »port wherein she especially strives and reasonably presumes to le g< e-tt, and should make us ccinscious-of our strength tend fume and etvev to maintain it unblemished and uudcfiled.
NEWS OF 'HI! DAY.
Oca cablegrams this morning concerning events in Egypt aro somewhat meagre. Tho principal item announces the embarkation, at Alexandria, ' of the Highland Brigade, comprising part of tho second
division under General Hamley, for Ismailia, wheuco thpy will proceed to join the forces under Sir Garnet Wolseley.
Tnc Turco-Greek difficulty in Thessaly is still causing great excitement. Purlht-r severe fighting is reported to have taken place between the Turkish and
Greok soldiers.
PBINOE Lr.oroi-n's illness is so severo as to necessi- tate the cancellation of all public engagements.
Faon South Africa comos news of the massacre of the chiof Serocrcni, and many of his followers, by tho Zulu kiDglot Mampion, who received his appointmont from Sir Garnet Wolsoloy.
A roímos of the meat taken home from Australia by the Oriont Company's steamship Austral has realized on the London market sixpence per pound all round. The meat Is described as of good quality, and waa in excellent condition. The market was somewhat de-
pressed.
A coon ¿leal of business _ was sot tlirouch in the
LegMativo Assembly yr-ntenlay. After n number of
question!! hntl been anlci>d anil nnawr-red, Mr. J. "Watson j ! obtained IIMVIS to tro into committee to-day (Kiiday), to j I consider tho ovpodirnoy of bringing in billa to amend
tho Wharfage nnd Toning» Ant: al EC- a bill for tho1 in-pcction and letul.ition nf machinery. Mr. Wisdom obtained leave to biiiu iii a bill to pin-olidato and
amend the criminal law. Sir Henry Parkes obtained t leavo to Liir.jr in tho Local Government Bill, and Dr. .Kenwick obtained leavo lo lirinp in tho Diseases in Sheep Acts Amendment Hill, tho Korest? Bill, and tho Watering Places and Pe-torvos Hill. Mr. BuchanT al HO obtained leave to Irin?; in tlio two bilh of which he had tiven notice. A long d.-bafo look placo upou Mr. Buchanan's niOtiou for the production of papc-is in the .lohn Plomer lapa case. Thf- Govi-rnmeiit opposed the motion, nnd it was uegathed by -Iii to l8, bir Henty Parkes reopened thf discusión on Mr. Copo land's motion for opening the Art Gallery on Sundaye. Mr. l'a woe tt abo spoke, and tho debato was then
adjourned.
Mi:. .7. JI. Yotrso, M.L.A. for tho Hastings and Manning, yesterday introduced a deputation to tho Minister for Public "Works, to request that a binn of money might be placed on the Kslimatta to removo ci-rtain rocks which now impede the navigation at tho entrance to Camden Haven. It was pointed out that the distiict is one of growing importance, from which a laTgo quantity of pro bice i« annually ship] rd to Sydney, and that the expenditure n=ked for would Vuty mu oh inipii)\c tho liai bom- in point of t-.ifoty, and also that tho additional sour which would r. suit will pro- bably increase the depth of water in the- ohanncl. Mr. I LticU-y promised that ho would consult tho JinginoT
in-Chlcf in io;,\ird to the proposed expenditure.
Ttir. proceedings of the Sydney Piocesan Synod ware resumed yesterday afluí noon. The president explained the mude of procedure with rnçard to the nomination ot cari'lithitfs for the vacui.t KO of Sidney, and ballot pit er» having bein 6.i;-;>'iipd to mi n.l ti-», ¡i:id scruti- neers appointed, the icítiH of the \oti) sr W.TJ that tim name;- of 20 ge-etlen-cn nero placed on Hie list. At 7 o'clock tho iLi-cussion upon the qut.lilicalion« of these gentlemen, with the view of sdee-liog tinco for sub- mission to the bi-ho].s wss commented. The sjnod set with clo-id doers, but wo understand that only two out of the 2H were decided upon by 11 o'clock; when the synod adjourned until to-day.
Tiit-.n. Honor? tho C!ii<-f .Tu-lics Mr..7u*ticu Fauectt, and Sir AV. Manning, Piii-tary Judge, yesterday re-timed the hearing of the Kipiity Appeil, Wolseley and others v. Day and other.-, and heard the eoneluiinn of argit nunts. Their Honore u-scrs ed judgment. It Í3 probable that thii, tlio first of 11 appeals will bo tho only on« disposed of this term. Mr. .lu=tit-o Windeyer wat in Divorce. A decree vUi for di-olution of marriage waa made in nenrn v. Ili.irn. A decree was made absoluto in Montgomery v. Mon'.gonicry. Partcll v. Partoll was
part heard.
IN the report of the ea=o Browne and another v. M'Pll-ono and others, rfcently heard in the Supreme Court, the name of the Bcv. l'allier Fouut.iino WAS inadvertently wiitt« n for that of the Bev. Fntkwr Mealcy. It waa thus mndo to nppt,ao tint ti» 3 lirst meutioned gentleman full from his ho.i-e fhortly after ho had ntartol for a fuiior.il. The error was corrected on tho following day. The Bcv. Father Fountain; was not in the dislrirt at the time, sud the evidence related not to him but to another gentleman who had visited the placo for tho purpose of king present at
tho funeral;
Tin: Superintendent of Telegraphs Mr. E. C. Crack- nell, informs us that on and after the 1st of September messages to New Zealand will he counted and charged for under the rules of tho St. Petersburg Convention. The ma-ximum length of n einglo word h fixed at 10 lottors, any additional letters being counted and chanrod for as extra words at the rate of 10 letters to a word. Figures are counted at the rato of three figures to a word. Full particulars aro contained in the "Postal
Guide."
ON Monday in«t tho Bank of Now Zealand issued for tho first timo ita own notes. Theso aro printed by Bradbury, "Wilkinson, and Co., London, on ordinary bank-noto papor, and thu design is certainly novel and characteristic, The notes issued represent respectively £1, £5, £10, and ¿'20, nnd on tho revcrca of each is a medallion consisting chiefly of a multitude of lines malo up of tho words " N. S. W. Ba.ik of New Zealand." Tho colour of the medallion Í3 red for ¡Cl-notes, blue for £ö, green for £10, and black for £20. Tho obverso shaws the usual inscription and signatures Luton the loft eido aro two medallion en- gravings, the upper one showing a Maori chief wearing thefeiithor cloak uiid m mod with tho plumed war-pear. At his feet lies a tomahawk, and beside him squats his wife; while in the background a beautiful Litre and the bold outlint-s of a lofty mountain are discernible. Tho lower medallion has for a background Mount T^ngariro with its plume of smoke, tho middlo dii-tanco being occupied by a stretch of calm water, over which a fishing cniioo makes it« way, while in the foreground aro several " Kiwis" (aptéryx), one or two largo palms, ar.d a " Whare," or native hut The plates from tvhieh tho notes aro printed aro exquisitely engraved, and tho work generally baa boc-n carried out in excellent
style.
A roMMiiwcmtnxT has been mado for laying a double line of tram rails from the racecourse terminus to Band wick. The contractors aro Messrs. Forster and Briggs, who havo al6o tho contract for tho Coogeo extension.
Tun Hon. John Lucas. M.L.C., who has gone to Now Zealand with the intention of proceeding from thenco to America and England for the benefit of his health, has tendered the resignation of his oi'ico as a trusteo of Scarborough Park. When the bon. »tomber held the
position of Minister of Mines the work of the Depart- i mont was unusnnlly heavy, and it is understood that
his cloee attention to it laid the foundation of (die ail- I mont which has made it neev.ssary for hi m to travel.
Trrn usual fortnightly meeting of tim Trade Défonce |
Association of New South "Wales was held at tho Asso- ciation Booms, 150, Pitt-street, on Wednesday last ; Mr. T. F. Thompson, vice-president, in tho chair. The minutes of tho previous meeting wore read anél con- firmed. Correspondance was then read from Cooma, Newcastle, Cowra, and Mclbonrno. Some discussion arose on a question being asked by one of tbo committeo if tí¡>eio waa any truth in the report that certain dele- terious ingredients bad been found in a samplo of spirits obtained from an hotel in Sydney, Tho chair maa stated that he did not beliovo that there was any truth in the report, nor would ho believe any member of tho association, which now comprised nearly all f.ho iespectablo hotelkeopcrs in tho city, and part of tho country, wonld be guilty of such a despicable act, but strict inquiries should bo made as to the verity of the report. A resolution was eventually moved by Mr. J. Hunt, and seconded by Mr. S. nodgu,-"That this association pledge thomselvos to pvo=etuto anyone who may bo brought under their notice as having mixed any deluterious. ingredients in tbo liquor they offer for salo ;" which, on being put to Hie meoting, was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. J. Hunt, Bocondod by Mr. 11. A. Watson, it was decided to writo a letter to th» Colonial Secretary ia reference to the case of Mr. James Main, of Goulburn. The sub-committee appointed for tho purposo of suggesting amendments in the prevent Incensing Act brought up their report, which was reid in the committeo, when it was decided to havo the iv,>o:t printed and sent to all the branches of the association, and distributed amongst the morn bura for approval before bcin¿ adopted. There being no further business of publie interest, tho meeting ter-
minated.
Timm: appears to bo a great want of rolling stock on the Dubbo railway. Regarding this matter our Dubbo correspondent writes:-However oxcellent tho management of tbo Itailway Department may bo generally, still wo have had evidence this week in Dubbo of its utter bolplessneES to meet a large live stock: traffic. Last week 3500 fat cattle were around Dubbo awaiting trucks, 600 were pent away on Sunday and Monday, and now there are eyen more hero awaiting transit. 1 hough thero wero 3000 cattle ready for market within _4 hours of the metropolis, still, owing to the inability of the railway authorities to find trucks, only 600 head of cattle wore forward at the Homebush yards on Monday; and this short supply brought about, of course, lung prices. Thus the consumer pro- bably will havo to pay a bigger price for his meat owing to tho breakdown of the Hallway Department's arrangements for carrying stock. Ono agent here saya that he has 800 fat cattle and 5000 she-ep round the town, and he doesn't know when ho can get them away. Ono day there aro no trucks, and on anothor engine-power is wanting. The officials never appear to havo looked ahead, clso this want of rolling stock would not so regularly occur. It must surely have struck those who attend to these things that with th« Axranm'nn of tho lines into tho fattening districts
tliero would bo a greater demand for the railway as a mode of transporting live stock to market. Yet, if the thought ever troubled them, it does not appear to havo borno any results. .'¡'IO trucks wanted hero on Saturday, and four are ¡-ent ti¡\ On Sunday a fow more [ rame, and four ¡p-.'ci.il trains wero sent away,
but etill tho block continues, and will rogularly recur until Um Itailway Department rises equal to its work. Thero aro complaints very loud and deep of the want of trucks, and surely tho colony's resouices oro not ro limited that if on carnoät push were madea couplo of hundred of them would not be turned out in a couplo of months. One firm of middlemen have now bespoken 2S0 trucks for Sep'ombur for sboep alone. This firm have ,'!0,<XiO sheep on the road, and havo pur- chased nearly 10,000 fat cot*le, so that thoy will pro b.ilily mako by this year's ipe ulations nearly £100,000, taken out of tho Syènvy con-iumers" pockets, and not a pennv of which linds its t-ty into tho banking account of the producer. The only way to equaliso things is by the railway authorities finding plenty of tracks. If thoy wore in Dubbo thi.ro would be b«s chance of sui-h a supply os OJO heeid of c-^Vde fjr a day's sala whilo livo times that number w?ro within 21 hours of tho city.
Mu. YV. H. W.ir.rx.v. A.M.I.C.E., deliverod a fourth lecturn on YYo<lno-,duy «.veníni,*, at '.hu School of Arts, yu aji]>liod iiie--lia-iic3. Th¡* K^tu-w u:>nnnenced by cxp'aining bow tlio hive r,£ ««sea e-ou'd btv represented graphically. S'noi- iho pro luetuf the pvesiure into the volume of a'jif-if-ct ¿aj i«i!Oiidtant whon the tempora tuidde»-s not alter, it toilowfl th-it a hyperbola, tho oriliiia'e-- uf uniuli denote pen-uirí nn>l tho ab-e."is<>a of wliicli de-iMlo volumes, will reprisant the expansion of a peif'-et, gas ; from ibe pruj-rty of a rectangular hyperbolic carvv tliut thope'o.luct of any onli-iato into tbo coricspoiieling abioiesa is a constant quantity. Isitliermal liiie-s were next considered, and explained to bu H-C3 of constant temp.rature wlii-ih in perfect gi-i'8 is livperlioiic ; but iu <ast-s such .is st-am is a curve nijio or ¡or- approximating t-i a hyperbola itccrdinf: ti, tbo particular temperarme for which the inollieimil lim is i'riivvn. An isnihei walline for stenm nt 21J' umb>r cuii; reunion wns explained, and the alteration of the, diaqn.m a* tho temperature was raised. The theory of ehe hot air eir " caloric engino" waa next considered ¡end explained by tho aid of a fino model wilina his just !>t»i't added, to the colltution of apparatus pcte-i^il bj the TeeliMcil C.illsgo. A working loodol of a herizo'.lnl .¿ia ehfrino ou the Otto and Langons pr'nciple wad abo exphuueil, the former of which wero pet woilvio;.- by means o£ a Hansen burnur suppliud with coal e,as. Hie theory o! tho Wloon relation-»é dinpla.» nient tei weight carried was explained, and the principle of the divi'ig bell.
A oi:xTr.i:M,vN who baa just returned from Lord Howe Island has brought somo fnio uyecimena of coffee grown on the inland by Mr. Nathan C. Thompson, from Java Feol. Tho plants aro finely developed, aod the berries, which aro of fair size, are clustered round the f-'x-ms iu lwg* quantities. Tho eoffeo plant will grow frec-ly in the county of Cumberland, and is cultivated foración; but it is probable that in many parts of Australasia it may bo successfully cultivated for com- mercial purposes.
Hirasjiixo to tbo present exorbitant prico of beof and mutton, "J. D. B." advocates the reservation by Government of certain arena of lsnd for the purpose of breeding and fattening stock, to alleviate future famines, an-1 lint the stock should iu all cases ba brought to the central or other general market aod sold
by auction. Ho would not bring the Stale's beef and | mutton into the market, howovirr, excepting during reasons when meat is fetching "more than a fair average price," aud his plan would include the estab- lishment of Government stations throughout the
country.
A cor.r.r-spoxDnNT at Woollahra offers his advice as to the solution of tho larrikin problem. It is, that moral and philanthropic illustrated maxims bo printed and displayed on tho walls of schoolrooms, iu order to inculcate the ¡rolden rulo in the haarte) of the rising generation ; that elementary lessons should be given by viiiting teachers in the arts and sciences, sanitary laws, te ; that prizes should bo given for progress in botany
or other humanising studies ; that advice and persuasion . should be substituted for harsh woxds aBd punishment, Ile roainioias that larrikinism is an '. overflow of spirits," and th'tt larrikins " exhibit pluck, energy, and perseverance unparalleled " when thoy are drafted off into tho army and navy. Onr correspondent, of course, is welcome t> his charitable opinion of these 'social vermin, but ho will find fow stntdble men ready to sympathise with his theory or to recogni/.a-in the ji'oveatix-street murder for instance-a playful ebullition of youthful spirits.
A cvse of somo importance to shipowners was heard yesterday aiternoan Ia the Water Police Court Mr. Ii-tvtc Lee, Marino Board I>epoflor, proceeded against Captain John lticbr.rd-i, of the Flora Bell, on a charge or having loaded his vessel so as to immerso in salt water the toutre of the disc, indicating the maximum of tho loading line. Dr. Siy appeared on b:hslf of tho pronecutor, and Mr. Vardy on behalf of th" elofendant. 1-4 the course of his evidence, Mr. Leo stated that the loading lino of all the coasting vetarle of a cla-s sioiilar to tlio Flora Bell indicated tho maximum limit of safety, and every inch they wot-o loadoil over tJtat point it-pivsented positive dangor to the v-.-St»!. Mr. Vardy rabed several legal objection-!, wi-iidU were o*&rruled, aixd the defendant then pleading [Milly was ñnod 40s., with tho costs of tho case. 'JtV-.is, eise va« .brot-'ht uni« section 15 of 45 Victoria, No. 6, oa Act comotoaly known na the
" Sasmdt Pliriü>oil Act."
YitoinitDAY moriiing, at about a quarter to 6 o'clock, the glare of what was, a_,v-areii<ly, an «lonsive fire waB seen in the direcfiou of Ultimo. Tiie alarm having boon run-r, out by tho city fire balls, the Insurance and other brigades turned out, anti, arriving in Ultimo, found that a furniture warehouse in Harrií-Btreet, occu- pied by Mr. J. B. Cook, and owned by Mr. William Cook, was on fire. The fire had broken out at the re:ar of tho front premiros, occupied as a furniture and crockery warehouse, and quickly spreading to the upper floor, had burst through the roof. The building, constructed of weatherboard and roofed with galvanized iron, was speedily destroyed, as was also the greater portion of the contents, includ | ing several pianos and expensivo articles of furniture. I By this time a number of brigades had got to work, and I almost as a necessary consequence the usual quarralling
commenced. It is stated that one volunteer tried to
| monopolise a fire plug with a stand-pipe, thus shutting
out tbo engines, and when remonstrated with attempted | to strike the expostulant with a crowbar. The Insu-
rance Brigade had two steam fire engines at work, one of them, " The King," doing excellent work. The ure, however, beforo water could be properly brought to bear on the flames spread to the front store and to the hotel adjoining. Tho store was seriously damaged and portion of its contents destroyed, the remaining portion boing rescued and stowod away in the Apollo Hall. The hotel also suffticd considerably, the spirit cellar being much damaged. Tho occupant, Mr. J. B. Cook, waa away from home. The building was insured in the Standard Insurance Company, and the risk of tho contents was spread over several offices. It is not known how or by what moans the fire was oaused, thore being so far no evidence whatever to show ite origin,
PumiArs the mo3t conclusive evidence as to the pros porous condition of tbo working classes in those southern lands is to bo found in Now Zealand. Work is scarcer, wages lower, taxation heavier in that colony than in Australia, and yet the working-man thrives there as he never did in Groat Britain. According to Major Atkinson, tho Treasurer, the industrial classes of New Zealand have deposited nearly two millions in the Savings banks, and - " throughout the colony, in the various suburbs, everywhere, thoy are gradually ac- quiring small freeholds, gradually acquiring pro- perty, and raising themselves up to the position of that despicable class, the property class." In face of facts like these a small-brained section is to be found in every colony protesting against immigration.
Tun Hobart Mercury reports that, at a sitting of the Church of England Dioccso and Synod of Tasmania, the following resolution waa carried unanimously :-" That his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Bishop of Winchester (Dr. Harold Brown), the Lord Bishop of Durham (Dr. Lightfoot), the Lord Bishop of Rochester (Dr. Thorold), tho Lord Bishop of Bedford (Dr. Walsham Howe), and the present Bishop of Tasmania be respectfully rcquo3tod to elect a successor to the Right Rev. Dr. Bromby in the See of Tasmania."
A CITIZEN of the United States, «ho has recently returned to that country from a lengthened visit to Austnlia, writes (says the fronts) as follows In a pri- vate letter from San Franoisco, under date July 20 : " I trust that when you get street railroads you will qdo.pt tho cabio system. It is without doubt the most
perfect, most comfortable, and mut ornamental mode of locomotion for cities that modern skill bas yet devised. Linos using running cables aro tho best paying in tho end. How convenient it would be to have this system in operation in such thoroughfares as Bourke-street, Collins-street, Flinders-street, and the St. Kilda-road. Mr, Scott, an engineer in tho service of the Govern- ment of New South Wales, ia in San Francisco. Ho is inspecting the various lines of street railroads, an3 malting himself acquainted with the working of the cable system. He has been directed, I um informed, by hia Government to procure plans and specifica- tions, with the view of replacing the bar-
barous tramway system in operation in Sydney j with one more in accord with modern wage.
Thora aro numerous American capitalists bete | who would only be too glad of the chain-ii to construct a cabio road in Melbourne." The syst« in referred to was first introduced into San' Francisco for hauling tramcars up and down streets which wore too steep for boises. An endless cable or wire rope runs along the
roadway in a narrow groove below the level of the ' street, and midway between the rails. When the rope is gripped the car runs with it» bnt stops aa eoon a? tho rojio is let go. The system has since been extende 1 to level streets. The cables are kept in constant motion by stationary ongines.
Mn. W. F. BROWN, a well-known squatter (says the Mvdgec ÍTidependent), whose lot in life waa bcati&ed by the possesñ^n oí wealth and youth, pat a violent end to his mortal career on the 24th. August The tragical oo-urrenca took place near Coonabarabran, at the Tundebnrino utation, of which Mr. Brown was pro- prietor. On the day named he seems to have been very dt-Bpondent du>ing tbo afternoon, and after dinner be returned lo ono of the rooms in the homestead. He then leaned his head on the muzzle of a riñe, and with his linger puUed the trigger. When the explosion was heard the servants of the house rushed in and found that the discharge had shattered h;s mad into small pieces, scattering the fragmenta of his skull all over the room. The sides of the wall were splashed with blood. Dr. Souter and a magistrate vere s-mt for, and a magisterial inquiry held which resulted in a verdict being recorded of " Death through a gunsbot wound infiioted by himself while under temporary iirnaiuty caused by drink."~ It is said that Mr. hw*n latfcly took to drinking heavily through di«appointin«nt in a love affair, and it is believed that this disappointment, fed by alcoholic poison, preyed on
his mind nnd waKkvoed his nerves.
Tnn Taris corespondent of a London paper reports that Parisian sitie ty is now suffering from acute Anglo- mania, The men ved women are Anglicised from head to foot Ewa the little milliner girls are now wearing aesthetic steeves puffed at the shoulder. The cafe's aro taking the naves of taverns attd bars. The very lan- guage is being transformed by an infusion of English I elements. The aristocrats give their children English ni m es, and in high society it Í6 considered the right i thing to hvvo none but English servants, and to speak I to them in English. French novels aro abandoned in
favour of Thackeray and Dickens or Herbert Spencer, who is a gr°at favourite with the Parisian ladies. Dinner is served in the English style. On some tables even English diy sherry has mado its appearance. In short, the " ebie Anglais " is all the rage, and the Prince of Wales is the modern French exquisite's model of manners and elegance-and an excellent model, too, which nobody can deny.
WE have been requested to call attention to advertise- ments In onoiher column regarding the movement for obtaining assistance for tho widow and children of the late Jumes Ahearn, who was killed on the tramway. The meeting appointed for this evening is unavoidably postponed for a week. -_