Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6787, 18 August 1883, Page 4

Thei relations, between France and Chinif I which hfive been at tension for some time ' past, are reported in. our cablegrams this | morning to have terminated .in a rupture, ; the efforts of M. Tricon to effect a satisfactory arrangement in connection with th? qoriflictingclannsof the two Powers in Annan having, proved abortive. The prospect of a. war between France and .China is flow nearer than ever. Altogether the situate iavery grave. In the meantime the French ire vigorously. continuing. ■ theif operations against the Annamites, and have been successful in an engagement with the natives.They have also secured. a position coismsii" ing- the. capital.. Our other, telegrams, .statf that the health of the venerable Chancello! of. Germany is causing some nneasiness.Prince Bismarck is possessed of a;w.octlerfiu constitution, but .there have been indications of late that. it is at. last beginning to hreaK down. While it may be true that nonian is necessary, the loss, of this, great statesman at the present juncture would be a serious W c ' w to Germany. The disaster on the ClyM at the recent launch:, of the Daphneis attributed by the official inquiry to defects in the design of the ship. Mr; Pprster, tM ex-Secretary for Ireland, justifies the a PP re * tensions of the colonies in regard to tn« threatened deportation of French criminals to the Pacific Islands, and sympathises wt the. efforts they are putting forth to avert tt impending evil.

A special meeting, of the Chamber of CoP"' merci was held yesterday, for the P ar P? 6 of considering tho report of the con 1 ? 1 !? of the. Chamber, on the Marine sod Insurauce Companies Bill, now before w General Assembly. Tha general prnap of the Bill were approved of, and it was isolved; to urge on the passing .of the during 'the present session, and. that circular on the subject be forwarded to t members representing the Auckland i f " vincial District. :

An. adjourned meeting of the Ancfcto Agricultural and Pastoral Society w 33 ? _ yesterday afternoon in the society 8 onic r Mr.. May in the chair. The business 01 original meeting was to receive the ieP° of tho committees who were , revise the show programmes. Those jre » reports were for the. most part urianipw J adopted, by tho meeting. There w"! vast improvemeot in tho future shows, cially in the matter of arrangement o exhibits in their respective sections &n . partments, and.. it is confidently es P .• u that this will obviate .the confusion occasionally characterised the P? st ? local' industries and imported . heaped together. A few additional <- of exhibits were niade;'and among .tn . j one for the best home-made _ settlers' wives or daughters from xv s land flour; while Mr. John Lamb oHer^ special prize of £2 for the best loa same clsssea of makers from Austl# ll *gT. wliost . ■' - -

J of religious instruction in 1 IMme up yesterday m a, new form m I- of Education. A Wesleyan S- ! 1 to" the local committee to teach : a Bible-class in " the (I " e day in the week at a time other |-t school hours. "The .aphlication was |1 sfLj The ouestioa argued yesterday Is Aether they had the power to refuse, M ft ww held that the -3rd sub-section of the section wf.s conclusive, and that the M mittee had lull control over the use 3to t-S 53 ,;- h the school building might be applied, if JT a proceedings will be found reported in pother column. , -5: A suecial meeting of the Domain Board was 1 vM yesterday, at the offices, Wyndham--1 Present: Mr. F. B. Fenton (m'the Jf Messrs. R~ C. Bartow, G. Aiokin, |l T T Masefield, and : E. A. Mackechnie. |:L first business brought -under discussion % txa as to the leasing of the .Domain Gs?aens. jjj a3 agreed to advertise -that the gardens H let subject to twelve menths' notice if the if: -ounds were required for .public purposes, jf fnd that the first quarter's rent be paid m £ A letter was read from Mr. I| Vobbs, enclosing a letter from Mr. Murray, ( . i G»'outt3, as to exchange of plants with 1 Zealand.. Mr. Mackechuie said he had to the North ss to -what and «... -isats would be most suitable, xiie »-v< . ; the warmest portion'-of New Zeal „» % the "..ost suitable for Indian plants, bui. '-i I, UC vet received a reply. Finally, $■ £ mallow'* loft to-Messre. Mackechnie; n 3 RaratoW wif-'V discretionary, powers. Si »■ 1 L rpferreii CC. Mr. Butler's letter re ,;i Jir. Aickl p o i n ted -out that the ■on?' 1 J Da ' t defined. The matter was & to Messrs. Aickin and Mackechnie. 3' We oive the following list of the graa I„„ Present at the ceremony of confirm- : = rr degrees of Bachelor of Arts at the > fhoral HaU on Thursday Rt. Rev. VV. J come D.D. (Camb.), M. A. (New Zealand); ' tn E MauuseH, LLI). (T.C.D.); Rev. ■| LL.D. (T.C.D.); Rev. j. Robert- : M A (Svd.); Rev. T. Mackenzie Fraser, t tJ A (Glas.); Professor Brown, M.A'. (Oxf.); I p'wor Thomas; M.A. (Oxf.); Professor §55A. (Camb.); Rev. W. Tebbs, 3 if A. (Camb.); Rev. J. Alloway, B. A. I /P«mb); Rev. J. K. Davis, M.A. (New 3 &nd); Rev. E. T. Thistle, M.A. (Oxf.); 1 Ke7 W. Muigari, B.A. (T.C.D.); Rev. L. 1 nnites B.A. (T.C.D.); Messrs. A. Heiijh--1 Si M.A. (Camb.); C. F. Goldsbro', M.D. i ,c„j) • J. Francis, M.A. (Melb.); W. ).& Bindon, B.A. (T.C.D.); C. F. i -Rnnrae, M.A. (Oxf.) ; A. De L. Hammond, :.j ja. (Syd.); J- P- jSlowman, B.A. (Syd.); j.'iiider.-on, B.A. (New Zealand.)

I The barque Buttermere came into harbour 5 wrlv vesterdav morning from London, with a a large and valuable careo, amongst which Si ehß has a quantity of material for the Northcote and St. Helier's Bay Company. During 5 rte pas "age one of the apprentices, John - pierce was lost overboard. A report of her pssage will be found in our shipping column, fj The contractors for the first section of the 1 Rotorua railway (Messrs. Marshall and Mercer) have effected a start on their con- £ tract but no great progress has yet been Si made, owing to tho wet weather. Tenders ® for the second section have been received by i' the director's, and these will be considered at | i a meeting to be held in a few days. F - The eighth of the series of Mr. Pooley's ft- Saturday popular concerts will take place r ; this evening at the Theatre Royal, and will < - he a'miscellaneous one of a specially attrac- ; tf T echaracter. The old Auckland favourite I: Hi. Angelo Forrest will be welcomed once kl siain by his many friends, and will play two c! his grand pianoforte solos. The Messrs. ?-:! Hannken and Bartley, assisted by Miss |; Bsrtley, contribute two instrumental pieces— T one being the immortal overture from i "Zampa"—whilst Madame Pooley, Miss f Green, and Messrs. Bumbam and Worrall, ~~H give a choice assortment of tongs, duets, and >5 quartettes. Mr. Pooley is, of course, con--'.j doctor, and on this occasion accompanies all H the items. The popularity of these concerts |] lis certainly been fully sustained up to this, il and Ur. Pooley deserves much credit for his I indomitable energy in carrying them through to a successful issue. No greater proof of I their popularity can be given than the fact 1 of others following his good example. The fj neit concert will be a graad military festival, ;*■ for which active preparations are already in bud. i f A rather curious circumstance disclosed h' itself yesterday at the Board of Education iii during tho election of a member to fill the jj teat at the Board vacated by Mr. Dargaville. I': Out of 12S committees who sent ia voting I pipers two were informal. One was not lent in time. The other was from the city . oi Auckland, but no candidate's name was inserted, although, the live Dames of the ; committee were signed to it. It was pro- * bahly signed in blank, and some inadvertcnce 'may account for the omission of the il • cindidate'a name. The election of a member of the Board of Education was held yesterday. It will be ej seen that Mr. Theopbilns Cooper has been y electei to the seat at the Board vacated by i 4 Mr. Dargaville's .resignation. There were •; hut two nominations, namely, the Rev. D. • Bruce and Mr. Theophilui Cooper. The . : following was the result of the election > Caoger, 78; Bruce, 48. Majority for hooper, 30. The proceedings are reported in ano'.her || oolumi.

f| Theri is little io add to the account of the fife at "and Siaxwell's ccm and f- produce stores-'corner of Upper '.."aeenitreet and Earaogahape-road —whi:i appeared in yesterday's issue. Constable • Clarke, of Newton, passed the store, ou duty, near midnight, hut there was not the 71 (lightest indication of fire then, or of any- - ; thing being wrong. The Fire Brigade _;i deserve great credit for stopping the fire at lira. Bible's residence, in the way they did. | No pressure could be obtained fromPonsonby reservoir worth speaking of, and that from l Xyber, owing to the situation, of the fire, was not above 351bs. Mr. Newell, the S; grocer, was half inclined to flit, believing the Brigade would not be able to arrest the prolyl gressof the fire eastward of the block, but ! Senior Foreman|Harley, who was working at this point, exhorted him to hold on, as the Brigade would yet save the place, and his prediction came true. During the progress of the fire at the produce stores, which was fed by 13 tons of coal and a quantity of fireWood stacked in the yard, there was a con■j itant succession of bitter showers,, which i drenched the firemen through and through. I Mr. Newell and his neighbour thoughtI fully provided hot coffee and other refreshments for the firemen. . The store i| fas insured for £600 in Mr. Belcher's name,

snd £200 in the names of Messrs. Belcher,

.1 Bobertson, and Maxwell. There was only f| *400 on the produce, which with the £500 po the machinery, made a total of £1700 gj insured in the National, but which company lad reinsured down to £500, namely, £300 fl in tbe United (which had reinsured in the Norwich Union), £400 in the North British 13 sod Mercantile, and £250 in the New Zea- | j Und Insurance Company ; a further amount 3 £250 was reinsured in an office the name j£j of which was not disclosed. The gas engine, »hich wag situated in tbe produce stores, 3 a Was examined yesterday by an expert, and it vj is thought it is not materially damaged by the fire;;' ; ' || The New Zealand Educational Institute 0} (Auckland branch) appears to be showing t signs of unusual activity. Yesterday a letter ?fe * aa received by the -Board of Education y] from the Secretary, , enclosing a resolution |jj stating to au addition to. capitation allow- !| *nce placed on the supplementary estimates Ha "St year, which they appeared to think was [J intended to refund the 10 per cent, reduction f-f teachers' salaries. The Chairman moved ; | 4 resolution to the effect that the Board 3 ,ece ive4 uo money for such a purpose. The || taolution will be found in our report of the s| proceedings of the Board. ;'| There was a very large attendance at the •j Gospel Temperance Mission (Blue Ribbon i Army) at the Theatre Royal last night, the gj wess-eircle and stalls being crowded; and 8 there was besides a large number of friends §j of the cause of temperance on the stage, in || addition to the Chairman and speakers, jj Mr, F. Lark ins presided. The subject for f] lhe evening was " The Sufferings Entailed | ??. ®uldren from their Infancy through fe -Drink." The speakers (the Revs. J. Guy, 1- A- Reid, and J. K. Davis) dealt with tbe |S Subject in an interesting and impressive l| •"anner, and were repeatedly, applauded.

*!f ■ Tile fourth of the Ponsonby "At Homes " i; wok place last evening at the Ponsonby ' Rail. There were about 60 couples present, and the reunion proved one of the moat suc- ;■ ceaafal of the present season. Refreshments || kinds were, provided, daring the. e^en>i "}g, that department being under the superS . *j ß ion of Mesdames /Boardman, Dcvore. 10 ® aws ob; Fi Qaick, anid the Misses Kelly and n Horne.. •The music was supplied; by Eady's !j «tring band. ■ Shortly after midnight the figathering was brought to a "close with , || >vstrains ofthe National Anthem,

"The Rivals" was last night again produced by the Gaiety Company, to an appreciative audience, the-company, even appearing to greater advantage than on the previous evening. To-night Dickens' immortal " Oliver Twist" is to be given, and no expense has been spared in the mounting. Miss Greenless will appear as 9'' v , e ,r' iu r " B. B. Russell as Sykes, and Mr. Welsh as Fagan. One' : of the greatest treats of ttte evening will perhaps-he the Mr.. Bai of Mr. McGowan. The play » well cast, and with such a powerful company, c_ ing as it does members especially - ? Miss Jennie Lee for her company as adapted for the playing of Dickens' works, will be effectively played. At the Police Court yesterday, there was a large and interested crowd of the general public, -to hear the prosecution instituted nrrainst George Moore, the fireman who was aSdVhUe on duty at the Albert-street fire Ki' Thomson, Superintendent of Police prosecuted, and Mr. Edwin Hesketh appeared f.;r the defence. Mr. Hesketh took exception to the charge, on the ground that no offence was alleged.. The Bench considered the objection good, aud dismissed the case, expressing regret that any misunderstanding should have arisen between the police aud Fire Brigade, and recommending them to shake hands and he friends. The details of the j.ro«>e>3T!!gß are published in our report of the Pol: : e Court Bitting.

The four men—Wriglvt, Small, . Home, and Kyan—were yesterday fully committed to take their trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on the charge of assaulting aud roubing John Carroll. Four other oimilar charges against the same men have been held ovei\ Superintendent Thomson ha 3 received a telegram from Constable O' Keilly stating that a man named John Beaton crossed the harbour of Wangaroa for Lowe aud Brown s place on Monday night, but that h'= never reached it. The boat was subsequently found bottom upwards threu miles up the harbour. It is feared ihat Beaton is drowned. The only occupant of the 10-'k-up last night was a woman on a warrant of commitment. A batch of collarless dogs were to have been sold yesterday, by Mr. R. Arthur, auctioneer, under instructions from the Dog Registrar. Only one, however, was sold, and the rest had to undergo the [jenalty of the law. Formerly there was a combination of dog fanciers, to buy in t>.e dogs at sixpence apiece. The Dog Registrar discovered this, and raised the minimum reserve 100 per cent. Siuce then, dogs have coine to a falling market, the "fancy" declining to buy altogether, and actually forming a ring to "bear"the dogs. This is the latest illustration of Auckland's varied and extensive experience of ''rings.

The usual winter entertainment to the scholars of St. Matthew's Sunday-school took place last evening. The children of the Howe-street Industrial Home were also present. The building was packed to its utmost capacity. A series of views were exhibited from Mr. S. Herapath's magic lantern. The descriptive narrative given Dy Mr. Tebbs was of travels—fabulous, fictitious, Jand figurative—and embraced stories of Sin bad the Sailor, Robinson Crusoe, and Pilgrim's Progress. The rev. gentleman described passages in the life of John Bunyan from actual knowledge of localities and history. This was followed by a variety of views of celebrated landscapes, natural phenomena, and natural history, finishing with a good illustration of comic slides. Pianoforte solos were then given by Mrs. Tebbs and the Misses Diddams and Coleman. The children sang a favourite chorus, accompanied on the pianoforte by Mr. Webb. A young lady of tender years gave a recitation. Every child in the school was then presented with a toy and a bag of lollies, and they dispersed to their several homes joyous aud contented.

The Auckland Weekly News (illustrated) Is the best and largest weekly journal published in the colony, and contains an amplo and well-assorted collection of general, commercial, polir tical, mining, agricultural, and Bporting intelligence i the latest English, American, and Continental cablegrams, recording the principal events throughout the world; special contributions from oar travelling correspondents; tales by the most popular novelists; and interesting item 3 relating to art, literature, science, music, and the drama—the whole combining to reader it the most attractive and readable weekly journal published in Now Zealand. An excellent wood engraving of Sir George Grey appears in the present issue. Messrs. J. B. Eussell and Hugh Campbell, barristers and solicitors, have removed from the corner of Queen and bhortland Streets to Wyndliam-street, next to the National Bank Buildings.

It will be seen by reference to our advertising columns that " John Ploughman " is going to drive another farrow. This time, it seems, he will use a double furrow plough, or to change the metaphor, means to kill two birds with one stone, the proceeds of next Thursday evening's entertainment in tho Choral Hall being equally divided between the Klue Ribbon Army and the Auckland TuberDacle The views to be exliibitod illustrate C. H. Spurgeon's book entitled " John Ploughman's Pictures," and are beautiful specimens of photography, coloured by one of the ttrst London artiste?. They were produced specially fur Mr. Spurgeon, sen., and were exhibited by liim in the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The Band of Hope Union choir has generously consented to render several appropriate pieces, and the President of the Gospel Temperance Mission (Rev. S. Macfnrlane) will o cupy the chair. Mr. T. Spurgpon is to act in tho capacity of showman. "We trust tho me-ting may resnil iq a-3ubstantial increase to the funds oEboth j good c&usus. ) The iiilvage stock from She late fire at I Messrs. Robertson and " >ve:l's sv ;e will be sold by auction at eleven o'clock this forenoon by Mr. George Sibhin.

At the anniversary service? at Ponsonby Baptist Church to-morrow the Rev. T. Spurgeon will preach in the morning, and the Rev. C. Carter in the evening. It is announced in our advertisins columos that a class for elementary physics will be commenced in the Ydung Men's Christian Association on Monday, tho 27th instant. This class will be conducted by tho Rev. J. S. Hill. Subscribers to the association will be admitted free. At St. Matthew's, to-morrow evening, the incumbent is announced to preach a sermon on "Immortality, the Property of the Soul." It is a subject much discussed just now, and will, doubtless, prove of interest to many hearers. The prospectus of theMikonui Water Race and Gold Mining Company, Limited, Ross, Westland, will be found in our advertisement columns. The company is to be registered under the Mining Companies Act, 1872, with a capital of £30,000 in 30,000 shares of £1 each. An influential provisional directorate has been formeti, and Mr. C. Alexander, of Auckland, has been appointed brokertotlie company. From the prosrectns, the prospects of tho company appear to be excellent. The Rev. \V. Morley, of Christchurch, will preach in the Onehunga Weslejan Church tnmorrow morning, and on Konday eveniDg will deliver a lecture in. tho cliurch, and another in the Otahuhn church on the following evening. A company, to be called the Now Zealand Manure and Chemical Company, is being fonned for the purpose of manufacturing superphosphate and other artificial manures, and working the v.Wu. u!o and oxtensive sulphur ores of White Island, in the Bay of Plenty. The prospectus of the company is advertised in our columns to-day, aa well as the names of the provisional directors, among whom arc a number of Auckland uentlemcn. The proposed capital ts £30,000 in 30,000 shares of £1 each. Applications for shares may be made to tho Brokers' Association, Auckland.

At the annual soiree of the Baptist Church, Ponsonby, on Tuesday next, addresses will bo delivered by the Revs. Tlios. Spurgeon, T. G. Carr, W. S. Potter, and others. Applications for the office of house surgeon at the Auckland Hospital are advortisod for in our columns to-day. A general meeting of the shareholders of the Kalpara Steamship Company is convoncd for the 28th inst. The annual meeting of the Ponsonby Rowing Club takes place on Monday ovening. Mr. Alfred Smith, architect, who obtained the £250 premium for his designs for the new insurance officeß, has removed to Nos. 2 and 3, Hoffmann's Buildings. The Auckland Paper Sunt. Club meet at the Cross Boads at three o'clock this afternoon. A Blue Ribbon Army testimony meeting will be held this evening in the Baptist Church, Wol-lesley-strcet. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Auckland Institute takes place on Monday evening. Papers will bo read by Mr. Justico Gillies and llr. J. A. Pond. The fourth anniversary of the Pitt-street "Wesleyan Band of Hope will be celebrated on Monday evening in the lower schoolroom, Pitt-street. Tho Rev. A. Reid will preside. Members of the Masonic fraternity are invited to attend tho funeral of the late Brother J. HG. McLonnan, which will start fro u Nelson-street to. morrow afternoon at three o'clock. The usual Church notices will be found in our advertisement columns to-day. Mr. Gordon Gooch's farewell concert takes place in the Choral Ilall on Monday evening.