Morning journal and courier., 1886-01-08
ORNING. JANUARY 8, 1886.

sengers, accompanied by an artist, photo l grapher, geologist, mineralogist, botan- l ist, zoologist and others who will explore
 and collect wherever opportunity offers, but
 more especially in districts practically un-
 visited hitherto. The first voyage will last | twelve months. There will be hurrying 1 over ground where anything valuable to science or art can be obtained, and at inter l vals the voyagers will have the opportunity of breaking up into sections and landing 1 when either the beauties of rivers or the life and scenery of coasts can be studied and enjoyed. The collections made on the voy-
 age will be carefully preserved for subse- quent exhibition or for presentation to mu- seums.
 The discovery of safe and efficient tan ming agent to take the place satisfactorily of
 the costly hemlock bark has long been de-
 sideratum, notwithstanding the various
 substitutes which have been brought for
 ward Recently considerable has been said
 of the discovery made some time since by
 Arizona tanner of plant which carries a
 large proportion of tannin, and which, used in the nnennfact1re Of leather, is fonnd to
 give extra weight to the article produced.
 This plant is of annual growth, indigenous
 to the deserts and dry uplands, and is known
 as gonagra. It has a root somewhat longer
 and more seraggy than the cultivated beet,
 though resembling it in appearance, and
 practical use has demonstrated it's tannin
 properties to be about three times as great
 as the ordinary oak bark, and that in all es- sentials it is superior to such bark in the manufacture of leather. It has now been in
 Hse for this purpose a consi derable time, proving beyond question it's superior adapt edness, while in respect to cost, as compared with bark, it has immense advantage over the latter.
 We have heard great deal in this coun- try about how offices are obtained in Eng land through merit and not by favoritism, but it appears that all is not right even in England. Thus a writer in the Manchester Examiner says: It is hardly wonderful that note of indignation should be raised at the gross favoritism which has been shown by the government in the appointment to the clerzship of parliaments. If ability in long and faithful public service was to be recog- nized, or if the fttest man was to be chosen for the post in which thorough knowledge of the constitution is indispensable, Sir Erskine May, the clerk of the House of Commons, was marked out for the post. The salary of the clerk of parliament is 93, ,000; that of the clerk of the House of Commons 92,0 900. The difference in point of the work required is immense. Sir Frs kine May has for many years sat day after day in the house of commons, some times for ten or twelve hours at stretch liable to be called upon at any moment to assist the speaker in deciding point of ord CT. Mir. Graham, master in lunacy and young man, who had the good fortune first to be private secretary to the late Lord Cairns and then to marry 1 daughter of Lord Cranbrook, has been chosen ] 10 fill the lucrative sineeure. He owes his appointment to his father in-law. The present government has been described as a government of caretakers. The description is true in respect that they take good care of their friends. l