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On this Page 4
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1888.
The volume of Australasian statistics,
published every year by Mr. Hayter, the
Government Statist of Victoria, contains a
mass of valuable information with reference
to the progress of the various colonies. The
fourteenth annual issue, on some portions
of which we have already commented, Is
full of interesting statistical details,
clearly and systematically arranged. With
regard to the population of the various
colonies we learn that since the last esti
mate was made the population of Victoria
has in ofiicial returns been red used by
30,000. in order to make allowance for
the persons who, since the census of
1881 was taken, are believed to have
ltft the colony without their departure
being noted. The Government of New
South Wales had previously for a like
reason reduced their estimate of popula
tion by 28,935. In Queensland and New
Zealand a census was taken in LSSti. In
South Australia, Western Australia, and
Tasmania no census was taken, and no
reduction wu made, bo that Mr. Hsytor
is of opinion that the estimates of the
population of the last three colonies are
excessive. Ten years ago the population
of Victoria was in round numbers 200,000
less than it was at the end of 18S0, that
of New South Wales was 338.000
less, Queensland 155,000 less. South
Australia 87,000 less, Western Aus
lrali?;i2,ooo lew, Tasmania 32,000 leas,
and New Zealand 190,000 less. The
total population of the Australasian
colonies stood at the end of
1886 at 3,420,502, of which number
1,800.812 were males and 1,505,750 were
females. The births in 1886 numbered
116,259 and the deaths 48,205. There
were 2,950 more females born than
males, and over 8,000 more males died
than females. The number of marriiges
which took place during the year was
25,080. South Australians do not ap
pear to have been in a marrying mood
dtuing the period under review, for the
number of marriages was equivalent to
only C'3l per thousand of the population.
New Zealand was, however, in this re
epect the lowest on the list, the number
of marriages in that colony being equal to
5*99 per thousand of the population. The
greatest matrimonial activity existed in
Queensland, the record of which was B'3B.
The South Australian death-rate was only
13-2 per 1,000 of the population, and this
was the lowest record of any of the colo
nies excepting that of New Zealand, where
the deaths were 10*54 per thousand of the
population.
Western Australia occupies an un
enviably prominent position iv the
mortality returns, its death rate being
21 (i 7, or more than twice as high
as that of New Zealand. Queensland
came next with 16 77, followed by Vic
toria with 15*15. It should be a source of
great satisfaction to us in South Australia
that, despite the frequent complaints as to
the excessive heat of our climate, we can
show a record whioh is considerably better
than that of Tasmania, in spite of the
salubrious climate of that island, and
which is only beaten by what Is said to
be one of the healthiest, if not the most
healthy country in the world—New Zea
land. Our neighbors in Victoria will, we
f e£r, have a worse record to show in future
than they have now unless precautions
are taken to check the spread of typhoid
fever, the prevalence of which in that
colony is alarmingly great. The deep
drainage system of Adelaide, and the
vigilance of the various boards of health
throughout the colony, ars doubtless exer
cising the most salutary influence on the
health of the people. We are frequently
told that South Australia is one of the
hottest countries in the world inhabited
by Europeans, but we are in a position to
retort that it is also one of the healthiest
If we were as keenly alive to the de
sirableness of spreading a knowledge of
the advantages we possess as we are active
In parading onr misfortunes, we should ba
thought a great deal more of by the out
side world, which now knowing but
little of as is naturally apt to accept
our own estimate of our position.
South Australia is far too modest in this
sgeof "blow," and often enough excites
sympathy when it might provoke envy.
We have frequently pointed out, in reply to
grumblers who say that this colony is
groaning under the burden of taxation,
that there Is no justification for such
complaints, and that the other colonies
are much more heavily taxed than we are.
This statement Is proved most incon
testably by the statistics under review.
During 1886 the revenue raised by taxa
tion in the various colonies averaged
£2 17s. per head of the population.
South Australia stood the lowest on the
list with £117s. sd. per head, as against
£4 19s. GriL In Western Australia,
£3 12s. in Queensland, £3 ,7s. sd.
in New Zealand, and £2 14s. (3d.
in that properous colony Victoria.
And even now, after taking into con
sideration the additional burdens which
have been Imposed upon as by recent
legislation, it ia quite certain that oar
taxation per head will Hot come up to the
Australian average, and it is doubtful
whether Victorians will not still be paying
much more per head than we are. It is
probable that when the statistics for 1838
are published it will be shown that South
Australia will be paying all the expenses
of government, and still be the lowest
taxed colony in Australia. If such should
prove to ba the case we shall have some
thing at any rate to boast of.
So far as the past is concerned there is
notsomnchreasonforsatisfaction, because
increased taxes ought to have been levied
years ago. If we had awoke earlier to the
necessity of this course the accumulation
of the deficit would have been prevented.
It is, however, gratifying to know that
the difficulty has at last been faced, and
that taxation has been Increased to a
sufficient extent to make income and ex
penditure balance. This being done we
can still say to the taxpayer—" You are
at perfect liberty to groan beneath your
burden as much as you like, but if you go
My where else your burden will be a great
deal heavier." The public debt of the
Australian colonies was on the 31st of
December, 1886, £153,20&,998. being an
average per head of the population of £(4
14s. 3d., and equal to G| years' revenue.
The highest indebtedness per head
was that of New Zealand, viz,
£63 15s. 6d. Next came Queensland,
with £60 15s. sd. per head; and then
South Australia with £58 12s. 101, the
Indebtedness of Victoria being only £30
Os. 6d. The expenditure from loans in
the various colonies during 1886 averaged
£3 <m. 9d. per head of the population.
In South Australia it amounted to £4 12*.
3d. The highest outlay per head was in
Queensland, £6 2s. Id.; and the lowest in
Victoria, £1 15s. &L A large amount of
this money was expended in England on
material for the construction of railways j
and other public works, and this
material was mainly brought to the.
colony in British ships. John Ball
has done remarkably well with the
money he has lent the Australian
colonies. He gets a great deal of it back
again at once in payment for material and
in transit charges ; and assuming that the
bonds for the one hundred and fifty
odd millions which he had lent the
various Australian Governments up
to the end of ISBC, mnch of which
vu borrowed &t * cou?itonfole, dis
count, are now worth . an all-round
premium of 5 per cent, his profit on the
transaction stands at seven and a half
million sterling. No wonder that the
idea of Imperial federation meets with
such hearty support in the old country.
Mr. Hayter's statistics are of great
interest as showing the wonderful
strides Australia is making towards a
condition of solid and permanent pros
perity. ________________
It ib very evident that the London Cham*
ber of Commerce is not going to regard
the question of commercial education as a
mere matter for debate. Blood is thicker
than water, and trading magnates are
becoming alive to the fact that the law of
self-preservation must be recognised. The
enquiry made into the depression of trade i
arid its causes has given a stimulus to j
technical education which, had It cot
been for such depression and what is re
cognised as a contributing caase, might
have been postponed indefinitely. What
technical education is to the artisan, mer
cantile education is to the clerk. In each
case the suitable training Is the equipment
necessary for successful competition with
the foreign rival. The conference to which
we referred recently, has again met, and
at the meeting several letters were
submitted and considered. We suppose
opinions will continue to differ, as
they hare differed from time Im
memorial, on educational methods, and
the communications made to the London
Chamber of Commerce form no exception.
There Is, however, a pretty general con
census that the reorganisation of the
secondary school system is a reform which
must be undertaken, and that theStatemost
grapple with it. Sir Henry Roacoe con
tends for Governmental inspection, and a
linking of the primary schools with the
secondary; these to be divided into the
commercial, technical, and classical, lead
ing np to the higher professional and
scientific technical training of the colleges
and universities, Mr. Jesse Collings makes
the stereotyped lament over the pro
minence of classics, and the back seat
awarded to modern languages and litera
ture in schools. Lord BraniwelL, perhaps
the keenest and most incisive mind among
the judges of England, laments yean
wasted on Latin verses. We are not con
cerned at present to defend a branch of
composition in which success is the excep
tion, and which is ceasing to be compul
sory in our public schools and universities.
But probably no class of scholarship gives
euch a mastery of a dead language. Pos
sibly Lord Bramwell is indebted ia no
slight degree for his command over the
English language and his singular felicity
cf expression, to the study which he so
pathetically regrets.
Lord Bramwell has excellent ground
for his protest against the tedious way ia
which geography and history axe com
monly taught. Lists of countries and
their chief towns, lists of kings and the
dates of their acsession and death, are
matters very often learnt parrot-wise, and
with as much intellectual benefit. Lord
Francis* Hervey, as a member of the
Endowed Schools committee, would have
such a system of inspection and examina
tion as would lay bare the work of the
schools to the public gaze, and would
auperadd to the general education at
specialised course. Sir Bernhard Samuel
con regards as of the ntmost urgency the
improvement and multiplication of the
higher elementary and secondary bcuodls,
In which at a moderate cost an education
could be imparted suitable for a com
mercial career. Sir John Lubbock, as
tepresenting the London Chamber of
Commerce, proposed a very far-reaching
resolution, and one the adoption of which
would influence the whole system of
education. He would call upon the Civil
Service Commissioners to place Frenchaad
German in the examinations on the same
footing as Greek and Latin In regard to
marks obtainable, and give candidates the
?option of selecting any other modern
language on the same basis. He would
make at least one modern language and
some knowledge of elementary estenca
compulsory for degrees at the Universities,
atd would render it obligatory on a
student to pass In at least one modem
language and elementary science, in addi
tion to the special commercial certificates
examination under die Oxford and
Cambridge local examinations system.
Sir Philip Magnus, the director of tie
City and Guilds of London Institute,
dealt with achools of a lower grade. It ia
obvious that the conditions of trade have
been completely revolutionised by the
telegraph, fast ocean steamers of enor
mous tonnage, the opening up of new
markets, and the increased commercial
enterprise of foreign nations. Success in
trade and further development of com
merce most depend on knowing what
Is wanted — how to produce articles
most in demand at the least cost, and
how to conduct the business operations
at home and abroad with the utmost ad
vantage. Technical education will be of
little avail to the artisan In his straggle
with the foreign competitor unless we
have an educated commercial class whs
can dispose of what the artisan produces.
The interests of the two classes are in
terdependent.
Modern languages, commercial geo
graphy, the technology of merchan
dise, and the elements of science
underlying it, constitute the groundwork
of commercial education. Arithmetic,
including bookkeeping, mathematics,
practice in the solution of mercantile
problems, good handwriting, to which a
knowledge of shorthand would be an in
valuable adjunct, are absolutely indispen
sable in any system worthy the name.
Where the education can be continued ia
a higher sphere it will be a distinct gala
as crowning the edifice of commercial
education, and as a means of intellectual
culture and discipline. The system sug
gested by the Nottingham Chamber of
Commerce for a course of evening study,
extending over three years, and occupy
ing from three to seven hours a week, ia
very complete. It provides an elementary,
an Intermediate, and an advanced ataga.
University College, Liverpool, and King's
College School, London, have now nude
provision for those who are preparing for
the Universities' commercial certificate.
But the country requires something more
than isolated efforts. Probably no general
Fystem will be organised till there i* an
educational department, presided over by
a ATiniofgr of Education, with jurisdiction
from the primary school to toe University.
This is the remedy for the chaotic con
dition of the secondary achools which has
suggested itself to educational authorities.
If the promised reform in the procedare
of the House of Commons has tile effect
cf giving an opportunity lor aome atten
tion to thft affairs of England ?*i<^ Scot*
lacd, the question which the London
Chamber of Commerce, baa taken up ao
earnestly must at an early date force
iteelf upon the attention of statesmen.
At a meeting of the University cotmcU held
en Friday tact a cheque waa receive! from the
Ban. J. B. Angas t or £4,000?or the epdo ?7
meat of the Anga? Engineering Scholarship and
tie *"g" Tfr.gJTM.Mi.iff B-rhiHi^na A letter
was also received from Mr. Angaa, nominating
Mr. Coleridge Fare, eon of ArchdeaconFarr, _?,
the first Aogas exhibitioner, and asking the
cctrocil to appoint lum- The nnmiti^jtinn was
confirmed.
2. The Bishop of Adelaide (Dr. Kennion), at?
imtisg of the University council, hall on
Friday last, when referring to his approaching
visit to England, stated that he would probably
be absent from the colony from eight to tea
months.
Among the passengers by the S..M.S.
Valetta, which arrived on Saturday, were the
Bail of Buckinghamshire, liotd and liady
Drogheda, and Lord and I?ady Fitzcoy,
en route for England. They landed anl
proceeded to Government Honae. where they
?rrived about 11 o'clock. They joined the
steamer again in the evening, and proceeded on
their journey.
I The superintendent of telegraphs (Mr. G.
Todd, C.M.6.1 informs bb that be has been
advited from Port Darwin that the steamer
Tainan arrived at Port Darwin from Hongkong
on Sunday afternoon with five cases of small
pox on board.
The steamer Palmerston, with her shaft
broken, arrived at Port Adelaide from Port
Lincoln on Saturday morning. At the time
the accident occurred the vessel was in charge
of Captain J. Dalziel, who on being inter-
viewed by our Port reporter made the follow-
ing statement regarding the breakdown:—
"On Wednesday morning at about 4 o'clock
we were 85 miles from Port Lincoln, when
the shaft broke. The wind was then from the
east. An hour and a half afterwards rockets
and signals were sent up, and the Ferret came
alongside and took us into Port Lincoln. The
engineers repaired the shaft temporarily, and
at 5 o'clock yesterday morning we started
with moderate weather, but encountered
heavy weather round the Althorpes. The
engines worked smoothly though slowly." The
steamer will probably go on the slip, and the
captain expects to have all defects rectified
within a week or so.
Mr. Warden Gee, who returned from the
northeastern goldfields on Saturday evening,
informs us that the prospects there are most
premising. Teetulpa has now a population of
about 600, and there is every sign of per
manency. Typhoid has been rooted out, and
the health of the people on the field is good.
The exploitation of the alluvial is confined to
Brady's and Strawbridge's Gullies, the best re
turns being still obtained from the former.
The reefs are being vigorously worked, and
5,000 or 6,000 tons of stone is now awaiting
treatment. The J. C. Bray battery has only
five head of stampers, and isunable to cope
with all the crushing required at Teetulpa and in
the immediate neighbourhood. At MountVictoria
about 20 men are working on the reefs, and in
the " prospectors claim" gold shows freely. At
present thereis not an idle man in Teetulpa.
and an attempt to obtain men there at good
wages to work at mining etewherewas unsue
oesrfnl. Near Pritt'e Well, onthe Boolcomatta
ron, some claims have been taken np by
Hems. Crozier and Harm, and at the Woman
in White five stampers axe at work. Rabbits
are nun-eroue, but otherwise the country looks
weUfromapastocalpointofyiew. TheToetolps
storekeeper* complain of serious losses owingto
rnn&way debtors, and are eager to see the
Abeconders Ac* made applicable to New Saoth
Wales. At Waokaringa Mr. Gee saw soma
exceedingly rich specimens taken from taa
bottom of the rain shaft The plant wdlsooa
be in full working order there, and *ill be ??
of the most complete in the ooloiuea. ?=?
Dixon'e enterprise in erecting a DMtery at tae
Westward Ho appears likely to be rewarded,

?adheuoonndent of ncosst, Re hu some
3,000 tons ready to crush as soon as an accident
So tbvpaoa has been remedied.
On Thursday evening the Hon. G. W.
Cotton gave an address in the large room
at tbe Oommerdal Hotel, Gawler, to working
men and others who desire to farther toe
permanent advancement of the colony by
means of settlement of an industrial popu
lation on the land, and by having money
avaitabl* for seeded improvements without the
croahukg burden of paying interest Tbs?anpip
?aya^-Owingprobablyto insufficient announce
neatfbera were not above 40 people present.
The Mayor (Mr. L. S. Burton), who occupied
tbe chatr* expressed bis sympathy with the
movement. Mr. Gotten, in a long address,
stated that he bad oome to Gawler to learn
their view*, and not with any idea as to Parlia
mentary honors. He wished to elevate the
lower strata of society, and make them in
dependent. He spoke of the suooaaa of those
men who had taken up twenty-acre blooka,
and alluded to the manner in which the land
around Gawler, Kapunda. the Buna, and
Other place* wat being absorbed into large
estates He stated that there were over
30 applications from Gawler for working men's
blocks, but it was only recently that 16 blocks
bad hern surveyed, of which eight had been
?elected. He was told that the land was
?crabby and sandy. On a plan which he pro
duced be said there were thousands
ef acres in tbe hundred of Barosaa which
might be thrown open for the purpose.
In tbe course of his remarks Mr. Cotton
touched upon education, the value of a State
bank, and a paper currency. He advised the
working men to organise and put into Par
liament someone who held their vicars. He
went at length into the subject of State
finance, and stated that they never had bad
a> real financier in the South Australian
Government. Mr. Cotton having replied to
several questions and Mr. Clement having ad
dressed the meeting the proceedings ter
minated.
A meeting of the committee of the Blind and
Deaf and Dumb Institution was held at the
office of the Hon. J. Ooltoo, Waymonth-street,
on Friday, January 27. Present—The Hon. J.
Oolton (president, in the chair), Mr. James
Scott (neVpmsident), Sir William Milne,
Messrs. G. W. Hawkes, S.M. (treasurer),
W. Say, J. Fisher, D. Nock. Alder
man Kither, the superintendent (?r.
8. Johnson), and the secretary (Mr.
B. Searcy). An application was made
for the free admission of George James
Lyoaw, of Marion, aged 4 years, blind.
It was resolved that aa the bey ia barely
4 Jeara old he is jhwligihlw for admission, aa
the rule* state that the namtirtatw must be
over 6 years of age. The application will be
cntertaiaed when he is 6 yean old. An ap
pliratinw was made for the admission as aa
assisted boarder of George Bobartton Miller,
of Marian, aged 8 yean, deaf and dumb. It
an* resolved that the lad be admitted on
probation for S3 months, after which
time his farther continuance in the institu
tion to be subject to the approval of the
superintendent. Mr, Ahem, of Brighton,
baa granted the use of a paddock for
the cow* of the institution to grace in. The
superintendent reported that Alderman Kither
!>adi*eMmted a& to tto institution. Itwaa
molted tbat arrangements be made foraeading
Edith Watts andLjdia Mack, both blind, to
the Tmimitrial School for the Blind, North
Adelaide, for the purpose of being instructed
in bruahmaking, &c The Glenelg Baflway
Company baa granted a free pass to the
?nperintendent. Siiaoe last meeting the sum of
£t> o*. 6d. baa be?i received as subscriptions
and donation*. Accounta paaaed for payment,
£101 6*. Bd.
When addressing the inhabitants of Terowie
leeentiy, prior to hu tearing for Etaimvk,
Dr. Aoramowski said, in referring to irriga
tion, that he believed with our g)ori=u< aun
?hine and fertile soil we were able to grow
anything provided we had an abundant supply
?t water. Hia remark* on the irrigation
oolouuaof the Cbaffey Brother*, which he hid
Just visited, are reported ia the Northern
atrgvt, and conclude thus:—"The Murray is
a wonderful river, wending its way through sa
?lmast?vcssnea forest, and the spot selected
for Kenmark ia the moat lovely situation on the
rhrer. The township is situated upon the river
bask about 6feetabovetbe present high water
mark. The waster* of the Murray at Seamark
an at present very muddy, being mixed with
ffae water of die Darling, winch sometimes con
tain* a lot of dissolved plant food. At the
asm time people say that the Darling water
?onetimes coafama aalt; but I dunt think in
?iillaAal quantities to impede plant growth.
She whole place ia covered with timber,
?jrhj(& wiU ten to be removed before
she real work begins. Beamark has the
aatmal advantage over MOdora of being
JOO mile* nearer to the world's market,
which mi-ans qiiaker dispatch and lea* cartase.
MiMara ia situated on the Victorian side,
about to mile* from Wentworth, on a steep
?ank about 76 feet abeve nigh water level.
Tbe townabip is pegged out dose to therirdr,
the soil gradually sloping down to the bask.
It is a maUee country with a fertile aaady
loam aoil, apd a very deep rich subsoil.
She township) an admirably laid on*,
and all condition* ready tot intending
?ettlerr. She only difference between the two
colonies is that in consequence of tbe Vic
torian Government offering more inducement
Mildura works has tbe ?tart, and will always
be a year ahead of Rmnnark. In three years
it k hoped Mildura will be connected by rail
with Melbourne, and then all produce
will be able to teach the capital of Vic
toria in IS hour*. There are provision*
aoade at both places for a most elaborate
rlnhhnnsn, a very magnificent ooUege which
baa been endowed with a large piece of laud ;
tut then has not been made as yet any pro
vmo? tot % hoipitoL Still I have no doubt
that these will be plenty of provision for such
an institution as soon aa it is seeded. Onthe
whole I do not think that any enterprise is
snore soundly founded, to which there it more
'Chance of success or will do mon towards foa
termg human happineaa than these irrigation
coksuea."
Mr. Bastard informs na that he haa received
a telegram stating that CavQl will enter for
?*frff f*i?ff?r?'?T??*"p fimipiijg i-^ntert to beheld
in Adelaide next month.
A correspondent informs na thai a trial
?of a winnowing machinn, made by Mr. IT.
Linke, of Mocnlta, took place on January 27 in
ft MCtioo newTruto; that it M ft* ytrtk, well,
fcoth drawing and bagging; and that it was
very easy to turn. There was a good attea
danee of fanner* and others.
Mr. W. Btonie having been requisitioned to
oontest tbe east for the Central district of the
Legislative Council will meet the elector* at
Port Adelaide Town Hall on Friday evening
next, February S. when other candidate* are
'invited to be present.
The sample of wheat coming into tbe local
stations is of a very prime quality (writes the
Tatiara. Mail). About 1,800 bag* have been
received at the Border Town station, nearly
all of which have been sent to Kingston.
Very few are selling, moat farmers having de
?ided to store, in the hope of an early rise in
jprioe.
cVdepateUoaooiunatJ^oftaeptesidentand
secretary of the Trades and Labor Oooncil
waited upon lit G. W. Cotton on Saturday,
requesting on behalf of tbe council that he
would allow himself to be nominated for a seat
in the Central division of the Legislative
Council. Mr. Cotton thanked tbe deputation,
tout reserved his ?1~-'""ir for a day or two.
Cur obituary contain* the announcement of
the death ot Mr. James Hooley, for some year*
tfoannwcial traveller foe Means. D. & J.
Fowler. A correspondent writes:—Mr. Hooley
wa* born at Macdetfield ia England, where
Imaged patents *till reside, and came to this
eoloay ?even yean since, when he entered tbe
finnolD. & J. Fowler, and fay the exercise of
Hood business abOitiet soon gained the con
fidence of tfaefirm, being entrusted with some of
-the most important journeys, and subsequently
tws*?ti?g the house in West AustoUa. In
June last, his health failing him, he returned to
this erty sad resumed hi* duties here. Of a
warm kindly disposition he secured a large
?bde of friends, who will receive the news of
feu death with much regret. He was an active
member of tbe S.A. Commercial Travellers'
Association.
A variety entertainment, which deserved a
fw buger amount of jAbonim tutu wu
bestowed upon it, was given in the Port Ade
laide Town Hall on Saturday evening by a
?clever company of Japanese jugglers and wire
walkeCT, some of whom belonged to the
Jaianeae Village combination which visited
Adelaide some time ago, and later on per
formed very successfully in connection with
Hudson's Surprise Party. This ia not the first
perfounaoce given at Port Adelaide the pro
moters of which have had cause to complain of
the email amount of support given them by the
townspeople. Tbe performers carried out their
part* with spirit, and gained well-merited
afplanse. Some thrilling tumbling, tub
balancing, and rery neat and ikilfoUy per
formed feats were the chief of tbe items on tbe
programmel, and these with several other
smitw?i made up a moat interesting entertain
ment. The performance will be repeated this
?veniag.
As a yacht owner Mr. Justice Boucaut haa
been singularly unfortunate, and on Friday be
bad a narrow escape of adding another lose to
?he list of casualties of his yachting record.
Tbe boat which he now owns ia the Mischief—
well known in aquatudrdea—which ia moored
at Glenefe. On Thursday, after the heavy
?quail, which occurred in the absence of the
Boucaofs yacht Mylora, her owner thought it
?dnaaUetoletgoMMohoi, Tuiiwusdone;
but on Friday, the weather having moderated.
Mr. J. P. Boucaut, jun., took up the extra
anchor. As, however, it was afterwards
thought best to replace ft, he proceeded to tow
it out to windward in the dingy. Wbeninthe
act of towing the anchor out he noticed that
the Mischief had suddenly parted her moor

inga. He at once let go the anchor
he was towinp cut, mshed aboard,
sod let go another anchor. Before the
anchor bad enough chain, however, the yacht
got dote to the beach, having only about
* foot of water nader her. So close in was abe
that it wa? unsafe to attempt to eail her off a
lee shore. Accordingly Judge Boa'cant ob
tained the cervices of the steamer Mermaid,
and aaeitted by Mr. A- Boncaat succeeded in
towing the yacht out to sea, when she was
made fart to the Alfreda's moorings. It ap
peared upon examination of tbe Mischief's
moorings that a large shackle bad oome out
under water, and this caused the mishap.
Owing to bia past losses the judge bad obtained
very htavy moorings, the heaviest, in fact, in
Glenelg water*. It will be remembered that
his first misfortune waa the total loss at
Glenel* of tbe yacht Winheda, of 18 tons.
Then tbe Zuleika, of eight tons, missed her
moorings in a gale of wind on one occasion and
oaice athore, being considerably damaged;
and finally the 16-ton yacht Isaiad was totally
wrecked on ber way from Melbourne to Ade
laide. It ia fortunate, therefore, that this on
pleasantly long list waa not increased on
Friday.
The Liverpool Post e'atea that it is informed
on tbe very highest authority that the Great
Eastern haa been purchased by ? liyerpool
fiim of metal merchanta, and that it is their in
tention to break ber up in the course ot the
next few months and sell her as old metal.
Ibis magnificent vessel, whose grots registered
tonnage is 18,916 tons, whose length is 692 feet,
breadth 83 feet, and depth 60 feet, has been
aold at the price of £16,100, or very little more
than one fourth of the stun it coat to launch
her.
An incident which occurred daring the
cenmony of opening the Centennial Park at
Sjdney on Thursday but is than described by
the fpecial reporter of the Melbourne Daily
Telegraph;~" Sir Henry Parkes stepped for
ward and made a most eloquent speech. The
white-haired Premier uncovered his bead, and
afb r he bad been speaking a moment or two a
most touching incident occurred. The beat
was very great, the son shining with intense
force, and fearing that Sir Henry might suffer
Lady Carrington opened her sunshade and
beid it over the venerable statemau'a head, and
tbe crowd went beside itself with enthusiasm,
i threw their hate in the air, waved their band*
kerchiefs, and cheered for Lady Carringtoa
time after time."
Few people (says an English journal) are
aware what time and trocble are required to
direct tbe government of a national sport.
Tbe Football Association has long had its
bands foil of work in regulating tbe difficul
ties between professional* and amateurs. For
some years profeesionaluin has been allowed in
the game, if the professional! are registered and
have resided for a considerable time within a
few miles of tbe headquarters of the club for
which they play. But this slow process of
strengthe&isg teamsdoes not suit some dabs,
who import professional players frjm other
I dittricta—neb. players, however, appearing
as amateurs. Offences of this kind are hard
to discover and prove; but in the case of the
Kvtrton team tbe committee of the associa
tion has come to the conclusion that a clear
case baa been shown, acd has suspended
the club from playing any matches for a
month. The effect of this sentence is, of
eoune, a considerable loss of "gate money,"
and no doubt the example will have a beneficial
effect.
Tbe Congregationalists are to be congratu-
lated (say the Broken Hill Times) upon their
success at Broken Hill. It is only two months
since tbe Rev. R. Keith Mackay arrived on
Broken Hill, a stranger in a strange land, and
at first experienced some difficulty in getting a
place in which to conduct service, but after a
little delay the shooting gallery in Argent
street was secured, when the attendance and
promises of assistance were of such a character
as to lead Mr. Mackay and his friends
to decide upon the purchase of a
block of land for the erection of a school
hall, an excellent site at the corner of
Cobalt and Chloride streets having been
secured for £200. Tenders were called for the
erection of a hall 48 by 27. with a vestry 10 by
13 feet, and a comfortable porch. The suc-
cessful tenderer, Mr. Garrett. signed the con-
tract on December 19, and such was the
energy thrown into the work by the contractor
and his men that Mr. Mackay was able to
occupy the building last Sunday, where he
preached two appropriate sermons to large con-
gregations, the evening one filling the hall,
which being seated with Aster Grecian chairs
presented a very neat and comfortable ap-
pearance.
Eeferring to the "boom".in silver ?hares,
tbe Melbourne Age ot January 17 obMrtet :—
The brokers en mass deserted tbe Stock Ex
chacge yesterday, and apparently were heartily
glad of the public holiday declared in honor of
the rutitftiary celera-atioo to take a rest from
their frantic exertions engendered by the pre
sent aim fever. The enormous number of
tranaactioss recorded in silver stocks since
Monday last baa kept the brokers bnuly en
gaged on 'Change and at their offioes
literally from early morn to deary eve,
and many of them were then unable to over-
Uketheutatuieaw&nn this limits, and had
to encroach into the boots of the night to ooqr
plete it. Bat as such good times do not ooeux
every year, or indeed hardly oftener. than once
in a lifetime, and aa the broken are reaping a
rich harvest that will give many of them inde
pendence, there are no complaints about long
noun or exhaustion consequent upon eight or
10 bours' bujing or selling in a wildly feverish
market. There were never such time* in Vic
toria for the fraternity of broken, who, no
nutter whether the silver boom be overdone or
only approaching a climax, are ?"*fc"fr. profits
dairy which take one's breath away to hear re-
OOUQttd. When stocks double their value in
24 home neither buyers or sellers enquire too
closely into the onmm'ssions charged by their
brokers, and astite entire buying and selling
business has virtually become a monopoly in
tbe bands of the members of the exchange there
appears at present to be no surer royal road to
fortune than by setting up as a stock and share
broker."
" It will be interesting to know," remarks
the English Law Journal, "what arrangement,
if any, Mr. Pritchard Morgan has made with
tbe Grown in regard to hi* discovery of gold in
North Wale*. There can be no doubt that the
right of property in gold and silver minea
VOerem tncjr bo within the realm is in the
Crown, unless the Grown haa relauediU right,
not by granting mines—that is not enough—
but by granting mines royaL The origin of
tbe right is said to be that tbe king ha* the
gold and silver for making tbe coinage, aad ao
fat is the prerogative bom being obsolete that
it baa been regulated by two Acts of Padia
ment in the reign of William and Mary, aad
one in 1816; and as recently a* 1877
it wat recognised by Lord Blackburn as in
full force in an appeal from the colony of
Victoria. When colonies obtain a constitution
tbe right of the Crown in gold and silver mines
ia usually transferred as part of the powers of
the colonial Legislature; bat otherwise the
prerogative exists undiminiabed, except that
the (-tatutes mentioned limit the ancient claim
of tbe Crown to take every mine that had any
gold or silver in it to a right of pre-emption at
? nun fixed by ttatarto, which lot lew is £25
per too. This branch of the prerogative has
apparently fallen into deseuetude from the
difficulty of proving the existence of gold or
silver in base mines, although a little of both
occurs in almost all lead mines ; bat in regard
to mines Royal properly so-called, the Cream's
right of property is ?miw?pM—??. Some san
guine ptnona might suggest that it would be
well for tbe Crown to take possession of these
Welsh mines and turn them into ?diggings' for
the benefit ot the unemployed, but it is evident
that they cannot be worked so to pay by indivi
dual minen or without a large outlay of
capital"
lie Part* writea in an exulting strain as
to the state of affairs in Germany. It
cays:—"The Emperor is 90 years old. All
bis friends are dead. He can still understand
what is mid to him, but cannot give expression
to bis thoughts, for bis strength us waning and
he unit husband H. The coming; winter will
toon confine him to the home; will the return
of spring still find him alive ? The Empress ia
76, and her health ia drooping. Tbe Crown
Prince is at San Bemo; the question is whether
bin disease will only destroy bis organs of
speech for the time bong or kill him at once.
He is 66; bit eon, Prince Wutiun, wfll eooubo
29; faeic tie chief of the German Military
Party. He hates France, and loses no oppor
tunity to pose as a partisan of war. For all
that be is eeriously UL With us this man
eater could not serve as a private, as every
medical board would reject him aa unfit for
service. He may do for an emperor, but not
for a soldier. Marshal Moltke is said to have
educated pupil*—Waldersee. ScheUendorf, and
others. He is 87; if the present lying peace were
ended what hone would be gentle enough,
what carriage comfortable enough, to carry in
the wake of bis armies this calculator without
genius, this desk strategist, who has fancied
buxseU BonftpMtetaecnuchnnMl on\y inctp
ablcs before him? Prince Biamarck ia 73.
His glory is immense, his genius is vivacious,
but bie star ia growing pale. As he has de
ceived all those whom he has not conquered, he
can only gather around him doubtful allies,
whom he strive to entangle in his nets. The
farce now enacted on tbe Galician frontier, as
well as at Sofia, baa no other object. Never
theless Bnssia remains impassive, and allows
the Chancellor to wear out in impossible
combinations the remnant of bia strength and
audacity, and is preparing' to resist, bat will not
attack. Thus the whole fabric of German
policy — men, ideas, laws, and tilings —is
crutt>bling away. The army still is powerful,
but it* strength ia that of a consumptive
athlete. The German Empire to djing. Vive
la France I*
In reference to the question of dealing with
the rabbit nuisance by the introduction of a
contagions disease, tbe Melbourne Age says:—
'? Mr. Dow does not at present intend to take
a&s steps towards testing in Victoria M. Pas

teura method of exterminating rabbit*. The
en>iDent French scientist haa been experiment
ing in the wholesale destruction of rabbits by
inoculating them with chicken cholera, and
according to rtroent cablegrams the process has
been mofct effective. The question, however,
arista whether, under the altered conditions
coder which tbe microbes would be utilised in
Australia, they would be as free from
danger to fluis generally as M. Pasteur
Bays they are in France. This phase of the
subject v being investigated by the Agent-
Gfoeral for New Zealand, and Mr. Daw
will delay taking any action until Sir Dillon
Bell has concluded his enquiries. The officer
(Mr. Brook) in charge of tbe work of rabbit
exttimination in Victoria has furnished Mr.
Dow with a memorandum on the subject of JVC
Pasteur's experiments. Mr. Brook states that,
as he underfetands M. Pasteur's method, it is
propoMd to introduce the microbes of chicken
cholera into tbe food of rabbits. But aa the
rabbits are destroyed within a few hours after
infection Mr. Brook says it ia not made quite
clear how the disease ia to be spread over
a large area unless each rabbit burrow is
to be supplied with the infected food, and
if that is necessary then tile present system
of layteg poisoned grain ia equally effective.
But a greater difficulty to Mr. Brook's mind
is how to spread the chicken cholera amongst
rabbits who do not burrow, while danger ia
alao apprehendtd of a pestilence being bred by
millions of dead rabbits lying in the sun. He
also thinks that if M. Pasteur's method really
proved as destructive to the rabbits as could bs
wubtd for there would be danger of the
dbeate being communicated to birds, and re
sultiDg in the complete extinction of the
feathered tribes of Australia. Altogether Mr.
Brork view? with evident alarm and disfavor
tbe Pasteur method of extermination, for
which, be say*, there is not the slightest
necessity in Victoria, there being ample
meana available for getting rid of tbe
pest if tie fiabbit Extermination Act were
made a little more stringent, and the entire
woik of rabbit extermination taken in band all
over the colony by tbe Government, by whom
the work would be carried on systematically
and effectively, and the coet defrayed by a
f pecial tax. In this way Mr. Brook thinks
the colony would Boon be cleared of rabbits,
asd in pioof of the statement mentioned tbe
fact that in that part of the colony which once
Bwam.ed with rabbita none were now to be
four.a, to effective had been the united efforts
of the Government and local laud owners in
extirpating tbe pest. But under no circum
etauct-s, thinks Sir. Brook, should microbes be
introduced into the colony before a trustworthy
petson had been cent from Victoria to confer
with M. Pasteur, and place him in -trtfesetaion
of the peculiar local phase of the rabbit ques
tion."
The distribution of provisions to tbe poor of
Sjdney is thus referred to by die " Vagabond"
in tbe telegram dispatched by him to the Mel
bourne Age on Wednesday:—lt is an unwonted
ircny of event* that compel* the large m?]ority
of would be recipients of out-door relief to
travel np tbe most gaily decorated street in
Sydney. Oxford-street, en route to the Cen
tennial Park, has the finest triumphal arches
with mottoes setting forth the wonderful
prosperity of the land this year of grace 18S8.
Part Host Bainford, along the worn-out tram
way line in a dirty tran-cmr, till at the top
street we alight and enter the grocery store of
Jaa. Kidman, Government contractor. He haa
another large establishment in George street.
Tbe lance running parallel with Oxford-street
have been barricaded at each end, and in this
space is the distribution of provisions from
various sheds occupied by Kidman. From 6
this morning till midnight to-morrow thia will
so on. Are there 10 000 paupers in Sydney 1
I should say not; but more that 10,000 com
psrativrly poor people, who. when any good
thing is Sows about, like their share; many
working men's wives of tbe dan who deal
with Chinamen, who do not look upon this
distribution of provision* in the light of
papperitiFg. They bear of balls and banquets for
privileged beings, and think they have a right to
join in partaking of tbe Government hospi
tality, although only extended to them on the
groutd of poverty. The following is tbe not
bad list of provisions to which the owner of a
full ration ticket is entitled :—Two loavet of
bread, one joint of beef or mutton 6 tb. weight,
21b. white sugar, J lb. tea, § lb. butter, 1 Ib,
cheese, 1 In. currants, 1 lb. railing, 4 lb. floor,
one cake tobacco aad pipe, one tin preserved
fith or jam, one quart milk, 7 lb. assorted
vegetable*. This represents a good morning's
marketing for many housewives. Kvery
tfaixg ia of the very best, groceries all
made up in strong brown paper parcels,
meat cut from fine carcasses and impartially
distributed. Milk fresh, vegetables ?ood. No
wonder that maby have been waiting outside
tbe barricade! unoe 6 o'clock in the morning.
Tbe poorest, I dsreaay. came first. The
majotity of those I see in tbe forenoon and
afternoon do not strike one aa being what you
woold cell poor. There are a good many
flaunting hats and feathers, if there are
children with toe* out of their boot*, whose
black dresses fbow they have lost a
father or mother. There are strong
ablttkdied ceo, who say, ?'Damn the
rest; give us the groceries." Also delicate
looking widows with sickly l*d>>. Some hare
oome with perambulator*, others with sacks
and bag* to take all they can get Most ol them
h?ve bottles for the milk, although one little
girl naively produces a bucket and gets it
nllcd, an event which I chronicle to tbe honor
of die contractor, even as the fact that one
Fporting precHDan hired a cab to send two poor
old women home. It reflects credit upon jour
nalism. "Look respectable enough, don't they ?
But lota of men I've known for yean, who
never wanted a pound in their pocket, are now
bard up. Things have been generally so slack.
Tbe iron trade is killed, other* are going dosrn.
Well dressed aa many look, this cornea wel
come enough to carry them through the week.*'
Yen may be rare my informant v i> deteotivft,
who oogLt to know. Tbe £2,000 spent in these
gifts will do good to many. Hundred* of hungry
bo;* and girl* may have a square meal, so I
am prepared to overlook the fact that there are
cafes in which these tickets have been trafficked
in: that vegetable* are often left behind a*
being too heavy; tbe cabbages, turnips,
parsnips and carrots, worthy of the Victorian
pardena, not being valued like groceries.
Panem et eirtentet. Give the people bread and
games was tbe old Homan cry. So without
particularly {tuthtngover these speci men* of the
poor of Sydney I am satisfied and pleated with
this part of tbe centennial programme.
Tht UU-Nttriy meeting ot the Adelaide aUuiat,
Company will be held this mominf.
We bave received copies of WbillM & Ormistoa's
ABC monthly timetables lor February.
The Bey. D. O'Donnell ?H1 lectuie in the Prosper*
Wceleyu Church Ihle ereniuc on " A Ramble Through
America.''
Xben wQI be a diipUy of boxing, tenting, "aad
.other athletic exercises in Green's 11*11, ririe-street,
?My evening.
Tbe scons] ratttirg of St. Vincent* Cithollc
Orphuisge will be held in et. Fnncu Xftvter* Csthe
onl evening*.
Intending members of the U.A.O.D. new lodge
are informed by advertisement elsewhere that tbe
lodge wqi not be opened till Mondty. February ?.

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