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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1636, 17 May 1875, Page 2

It would be interesting\to know precisely what influence has been exercised by Good Templaryupon the profits of hotel-keeping by withdrawing, as the Order no doubt has done a large number of customers who were too steady (or rather unsteady) patrons of hotels for their own good. It is evident, however, that the influence has mot been, so areat as to' cause hotel-keeping to become unprofitable, as the large and increasing number of public-houses bear witness. We are informed that m Newton, where the order is very strong, the consequent decreased custom at hotels has been most noticeable in the family department. It is stated that the casual drinking shews no very material decrease, but the sale for out-door consumption is amaller by one fourth than it was before Good Templary became established, ibia is attributed to the fact that many families who had been accustomed to their dinner, and evening beer or tot, have become Orood Templars in a body, thus carrying away not one, but perhaps six consumers by one con* veroion to the principles of the Order.

. The choristef boys who have been practising for six months in connection with St. Paul's Cathedral took part in the Church service for the first time last evening. There are fifteen fully trained, and ten others nearly ready. The effect on the Church service, not only in respect of the singing but also ia the rendering of the responses was very marked, and seemed to give great satisfaction to the congregation, winning over some of those who in the outset were opposed to the innovation. One of these—Mr Dargaville—was so completely converted that in the evening he seat round a cheque for £5 to be distributed in prizes among the boys. There was a very large congregation, partly attracted, no doubt, by the erroneous announcement in the Cross that Miss Christian would take part in the service. Thab lady was, we believe, not expected to be present last evening, but is looked for next Sunday. The service, however, was very beautifully rendered, Miss Leaf taking the solo in the anthem. The Bishop delivered an impressive discourse, which was lisbened to very attentively. The old English game of foot-ball was resuscitated at the North Shore on Saturday last, in a practice match which resulted in favor of the JNorfch Shore Club. This possibly was owing to the absence of several of the crack " kicks" of the Auckland Club who we learn were suffering from the rheumatics, the result of shooting pheasants in the rain. Tenders are invited by the Town Clerk for one year's lease of the Auckland Markethouse, inclnding stall rents, and tolls, payable under the Municipal Corporations Act of 1879. Tenders will be received until Monday, June 14 th. Following the example of those ministers of religion in town who have engaged Mr Charles Blomfield to teach their young people to sing by the tonic-sol-fa system, we learn that other clergymen in Parnell (interested in the welfare of the young) have engaged Mr T. Cranwell to follow in the wake of Mr Bloomfield. We hope that the facilities thus afforded our youth of learning vocal music will nob only prove an innocent and useful pastime, but will conduce to harmony in our congregational singing on the Sabbath.

DuriDg the year ending the 30bh of April last, the population oE this province'was added to by immigration to the extent of 4590 persons, of whom 2749 were English, IGO4 Irish, 240 Scotch, and 317 Foreigners. The small number of Scotchmen who have chosen Auckland for their home, cannot be attributed to any non-roving proclivities of the inhabitants of the "land o' cakes," but doubtless is due to the greater attractions of kinship held out by Otago. The contempt with which negroes have been treated in the cities of the United States, but especially in the Northern States, which wore so loud in their clamour for emancipation, is to be suppressed by law. The Civil Kights Bill, which has recently passed Congress, provides that all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall bo entitled to full and equal enjoyment of accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, theatres and other places of public amusement, subject only to conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to citizens of every race and colour, regardless of any previous condition of servitude. That any person who shall violate the foregoing section by denying to any citizen, except for reasons by the law appli cable to citizens of every race or color, and regardless of any previous condition of servitude, the full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or

privileges in said section enumerated, or by aiding or inciting such denial, shall, for every offence forfeit and pay the sum of 500 dollars to the person aggrieved thereby, to ba recovered in action of debt, with full costs, and shall also, for every such offence, be deemed guilty of misdemeanour, and upon conviction thereof be fined no less than 500 dollars no more than 1000 dollars, or shall be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than one year.

We have to chronicle the rather sudden death of Mr. Pynson Wilmot Longdill, who died on Saturday night. Mr. Longdill was the principal of the firm of Longdill and Co., and was in his sixty-fourth year. He had been ailing for some time, but wag not considered dangerously ill. On Saturday night he was seized with pain, and expired in a few minutes.

The competition for Lewisson's Cadet Champion Belt will take place at the Mount Eden range to-morrow (Tuesday) at nine o'clock.

The young children of the suburbs seem, like the cows, to have a penchant for wandering away from their homes, and constables Clark and Mulville are frequently the happy tinders of the stray kids and the restorers of joy to weepiDg parents. A Mr Tait, living in Union-street, City West, spent nearly half-a-day in searching for two of his children yesterday, who had left their pudding halfeaten, and stole forth into the light of nature. Mr Tait called but received no reply, either from Bobby or Billy. He started off bareheaded, and like the woman in Hood's poem, exclaimed, " Dear me, I shall go wild ; I've lost, I've lost my child." He hunted among the gorse that " blooms unprofitably gay," peeped into passages, examined groups of. Sunday - school children, looked into sly corners, crept down the gully, as the boys might be there engaged in the manufacture of mud-puddings, but Bobby and Billy were not to be found. At length he met Constable Andrew Clark, and upon stating the facts, the constable assured him that the lambs were safe; they had been found. The father's heart bounded with parental joy, and the innocents were taken home and sent supperless to bed.

It is reported from Chile that at Talca there was born a child with three eyes, one in the middle of the forehead and one at each side of the face.

Bismarck is said to be suffering so much from the tremendous strain upon his nervous system for the last few years that he has become as irritable as a child, and cannot bear the slightest annoyance. Be becomes furious under adverse criticism, and the Illinois Stoats Zeitung makes the astonishing statement that there are now no less than 700 prosecutions pending in the German Courts for "insult to the Chancellor." If the great Chancellor has indeed come to such a pass, it is clearly time for him to carry out the resolution which has for some time been attributed to him of withdrawing from public life after his sixtieth birthday, which occurs on the Ist of April. *

A Montivideo paper relates the following horrible story:—" In one of the interior departments of Uruguay six carts were being driven, each by its carter, conducting the fruits of the country towards the frontiers. In the road eight Neapolitan Italians were met with, travelling on foot. The onaters offered to give them a lift in their carts. The Neapolitans accepted the hospitality of the simple cartmen. On the road these bandits made up their minds to kill the simpleminded peasants, take the carts and all they had and sell them at the next market place. As soon as the poor cartmen were asleep they were everyone barbarously assassinated. The murderers proceeded with the carts selling produce as they went along. It however happened that on the arrival of the carts at a farm the owner recognized the carts and oxen by the marks on them. Seeing them in possession of persons entirely unknown to him, he communicated his suspicions to the police, who arrested the eight assasains. Three Chicago girls are opening a barber shop in that city. One is to do the lathering —another the shaving, while a third (a beautiful blonde) is to sit on a sort of a throne, and play on the harp and sing. The oufit of the establishment, it is said, will cost £2400.

News from Chili states :—" The miracles said to be produced by the aqua de Lourdes are occupying the columns of the Chile papers, if not entirly the attention of the Chilian people. Heretics and other unbelievers, says the Sepuhlica of the capital, ask for better evidence. One of these unbelievers, on being asked what proofs would satisfy him, said, some such thing as a priest flying up in the air. Any way, this miraculous water, it seems, has cured a poor Belgian patient affected with paralysis in the hospital of Valparaiso. The explosion that took place on board the ironclad Cochrane also afforded another occasion. The sailofa who were burnt were cured by it "in no time." Several subterraneous noises have been heard at Talca, and awful storms of thunder and lightning on the 20th ult. had frightened the people of Cauquenes. The lightnings became so repeated and vivid that the whole Corderillas and the coast were illuminated. The thunders were correspondingly terrific. The cloud from which was discharged this amount of electric fluid was carried by a light breeze to the south-east. During its progress it seemed to be united with the earth by streams of fire." The accounts of the strikes in the iron districts of Great Britain are" very harrowing. The following telegram f-om Merthyr appears in the London Standard of a late date :—" The lock-out still continues its dreary course, and the only change in its complexion is in the direction of increased suffering and misery. Last evening no fewer than 200 able-bodied men. principally ironworkers, marched in procession through the town of Pontypool, on their way to the district workhouse. The poor fellows had suffered the evils of enforced idleness for a period of fifteen weeks, but the voluntary contributions which constituted their only means of subsistence were found largely to overtax the resourccsof those who supplied them, and the men were obliged to abandon their heroic determination to preserve themselves from pauperism. The movement originated by the rector of Merfchyr for the relief of the children affected by this deadlock has produced some substantial results. On Tuesday 1200, and and on Wednesday 2000 famished and ill-clad little ones -were provided with a good dinner at the Drill Hall, and their eager hungry looks, and the avidity with which they devoured the food set before them, bore pathetic testimony to the privations entailed upon them by the existing struggle."

A novelty in billiard-playing attracts attention at the Cafe Lardier, Paris, where the most curious thing ie the proprietor, who plays billiards with his nose, which he first rubs with chalk in tae mo3t serious manner, there being no one of whom he does not win. It is not without a certain grace that M. Cordier bangs his nasal cartillage upon the ball, performing difficult strokes with wonderful dexterity. Do not imagine that M. Cordier lias a nose of extraordinary dimensions ; not at all. On the contrary, his nose is small and a little crushed.

The annual soiree of the Congregational Church in Hereford-street, will be held tomorrow evening. Tea will be provided and on the table at half-past six o'clock. The evening will be devoted to addresses, music, and singing by the choir. A pleasant evening may therefore be anticipated.

At the first meeting of the members of the Auckland Institute this evening, Mr J. C. Firth, the president, will deliver the anniversary address. Rev. Dr Purchas will read an interesting paper on " The best line for the submarine cable between Australia and Nevv Zealand," and Captain T. Brown will eive a paper the " Coleoptera of Auckland." The attendance of ladies is invited.

Many persons had expressed fears that there would be no course of lectures this year in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association. Such persons are informed that a new winter course will be delivered and the programme will shortly appear. Sir George Grey's name, we understand, will be ou the list of lecturers, his Honor having kindly consented to deliver a lecture. His Honor will also take the chair at the opening meeting on Friday evening next, of which meeting, full particulars will appear. The musical department will be under the direction of Mr Mitchell.

It is the intention of Mr P. Doran and company to give a grand variety entertainment on Moaday evening, May 24th (Qaeen's Birthday), in the City Hall, in aid of the funds of the troupe—for purchase of music, ward--1 robe, and many other necessaries which are ' requisite to make their performances success- \ ful. The troiipe having always played for charitable objects, have had to bear their own expenses for anything they may have required, and they now make this appeal to : the public, feeling certain of liberal patronage, and by this means make the troupe ' more successful in giving performances for • the purpose for which they have banded together—" the cause that lacks assistance." Full particulars in bills and advertisements. A little urchin seven or eight years old, in a school where a Miss Blodgett was teacher, composed the follewing and wrote it on his slate at prayer time, to the great amusement of the boys :— "A little mouse ran up the stairs To hear Miss Blodgett say her prayers," The teacher discovered the rhyme, and called out the culprit. For punishment she gave him his choice to make another rhyme in five ; minuteß or be whipped. So, after thinking, and scratching his head till his time was ' nearly out, and the teacher was lifting the i L cane in a threatening manner, at the last moment he exclaimed : — " Here I stand before Miss Blodgett; She's going to strike and I'm going to dodge it." Attractions at the City Hall.—Ladies can make their purchases with comfort, and without the fatigue of ascending stairs. The New Show Rooms are now opened for the Display and Sale of Millinery, Manfeles, Shawls, Baby Linen, Ladies' Underclothing, Trimmed Hats, Bonnets, and Fancy Goods. An Experienced Milliner always in attendance, whose excellent taste cannot fail to please. All orders executed with dispatch. Beautiful assortment of Winter Plain and Fancy Dress Materials, in fashionable colors. Special notice should be taken of the Manchester Goods, comprising Calicoes, Flannels, Sheetings, Blankets, Quilts, &c. Men's and Boy's Clothing in all sizes, in English and Colonial Tweeds ; Shirts, Hate, and Hosiery. The Furnishing Show Boom is well stocked with the latest designs in Floor Cloths, up to 24 feet wide. All kinds of Carpets at lower prices than any other house. Holloway and Garlick invite you to inspect their stock, and you may depend on getting excellent value for your money at the City Hall.—[Advt.] The question of spontaneous combustion has attracted more or less attention from scientists since 1692. Various French savants have regarded the phenomenon as possible j but the Germans, as Caspar and others, have refused to accept any argument in its support. M. de Shassaignol has conducted a revision of all the cases on record, and finds that no medical man nor trustworthy observer has ever witnessed the phenomenon, or obtained evidence of its occurrence at first hand. Numerous authors have declared that the human body burns with a blue flame and the production of an empyreumatic odor ; and it has been deemed plausible that the alcohol with which the tissues of drunkards are saturated might take fire. But, after death, the flesh of drunkards does not appear to be more inflammable than that of temperate persons. Even when it has been soaked in alcohol for several days it burns with difficulty. After injecting the veins of dogs and other animals with alcohol, it has been found impossible to effect this combustion. It has been suggested that inflamable gas might be generated, but no. case of the kind has been proved. On the whole, M. de Chassaignol arrived at the conclusion that the spontaneous combustion of a living animal cannot take place.

BA Provincial Gt-ovefnttient Gazette was published this afternoon, containing the proclamation of the Queen's birthday as fis pnblie holiday. Also, notifications of the appoint--ments of Messrs Macready and Niccol to the Harbour Board. The boundaries of the Stokes' Point wharf are defined; various highway and Natives L*nd Court notices are published. Also the Provincial accounts for the jrestr ending March Slat, which show the receipts tto have been £22,377* and a balance remains of £427 Of the receipts £7,100 was capitation and £6000 advance from General Government.

" One who likes his Beer" writes : " Sir,— Front the lucid financial statement of Mr. Reader Wood I find that of the total estimated income to the ftO'th of June, amounting to £17,550, the bulk, natae^y, £11,500 is derived from publicans' licences. The balance of £6,050 is made up of goldfields revenue, capitation, confiscated lands, loan, sinkingfund, and pilotage. Therefore as the goldfieldg absorb all they give, the same with pilotage, and the small balance is derived from special sources, I maintain that our hospital, asylum, and various other benevolent institutions, gaol, Superintendent, Executive, Provincial Council, and Provincial departments, besides such works as the province is able to carry out during the period referred to, are paid wholly by the class to which I belong, while Good Templars and other teetotallers escape scot free. Now, sir, should not they by spontaneous contributions come to the relief of the province in its present straits, and make up a sum equal to the " £11,500, before referred to, seeing that they enjoy quite as much benefit from benevolent institutions and the departments, necessary to govern as we do. Moreover, as they save not only the price of the licenses and duty on grog, bat also the publicans profit and cost of the raw material, they are in a better position to contribute than we, whose frail nature renders us dependent on stimulants for the strength required for our daily labour. Is not he the best citizen, who contributes most, whether in time or in money.to public objects ? If so, I pray thee judge between me and my cold-water-loving neighbour." During a sudden squall last night either the cutter Whitby or Julia dragged and came in contact with the new Breakwater, doing damage to the extent of about £30. The Sovereign of the Seas fouled the cutter Fannie last night. Very little damage was sustained by either vessel. The anniversary services of the Congregational Church, Beresford-street, were held yesterday. The Rev. W. J. Williams preached in the morning from James the i., 22nd and 25th verse, the subject beine; 1 " Hearing and Doing." The evening sermon wa3 preached by the Rev. Warlow Davies, M.A., frotn Luke xvi., 25th verse. " Son, Remember." The services were fully attended, and the collections amounted t& £17 133. The annual service will be held tomorrow eA'ening. Tea will be provided at 6.30, after which speeches will be delivered by Messrs. Firth, Jiees, Seabrook, and Barton. Music will be rendered by the choir. The monthly inspection of No. 2 Company A.R.V. will tnke place on Thursday next. On Saturday Lieut. Eobin-ron's medal will be again offered for monthly competition and on Monday the 24th at 1.30, officers and money prizes will be fired for at the Mount Eden Range. At the last quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, England, his R,oyal Higbnesss the Prince of Wales was elected Grand Master. It was reported to the Grand Lodge that His Royal Higness had granted, among others, for the following lodges since the last meeting :—Wellington Lodge, Wellington, New Zealand; Eden Lodge, Auckland, New Zealand. Tf-e usual monthly inspection parade of the Victoria Company, A.R.V., will be held in the Albeit Barracks, oq Tuesday, the 18th instant, at 7.30 p.m. A full muster is expected. A private subscription dance is advertised to take place to-morrow evening in the Parnell Hall for the physical benefit of the young and middle-aged. An adjourned summoned meeting of the Court City of Auckland, A.0.F., for the further consideration of the by-laws is advertised for this evening in the Cook-street HaU. The neat and picturesque Presbyterian Church at Remuera was opened yesterday by special services morning and cv ening. at which large congregations were present. The Rev. D. Bruce in the morning delivered an eloquent discourse from the text: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him." (Matt. 3. ver. 13.) In the evening the Rev. R. F. Macnicol preached from Corinthians 3rd chap. 11th verse : "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The collections, which were in aid of the building fund, amounted to £46 12s, namely, morning, £33 9a 6d, and evening, £13 2s 6d. A soiree in aid of the Church will be held on Thursday next, and will be one of the best entertainments of the kind ever held in Auckland or its vicinity.

A colonial Blondin has made his appearance at Warrnambool. The Examiner says : —"Talk about Blondin! Why we have a man in this district who is quite equal to him. He waa engaged by the Committee of the Friendly Society's Sports on Monday last, and it is only a pity Ithat time did not allow the Examines and Standard to proclaim the fact, because there would have been thousands in attendance to witness his wonderful feats on the tight rope. Stretched between two heavy piles, 30ft from the ground, a rope appeared, not very thick, we should imagine about 3in. in circumference, and on this the 'Australian Blondin 5 did feats that even the veteran and volatile Frenchman would not despise. Walking across the rope to the tune of a march he did most decorously, walking smartly to a waltz was nothing, but carrying a boy about 12 years of age across on his shoulders, backwards and forwards, was done admirably. But when it came to the performer being blindfolded, and then enveloped in an impervious sack, public excitement got up to a great height, and nearly all the ladies fainted. . He howe per, did this feat as well as all his previous -ones, and was very loudly applauded.

A movement has been initiated for the erection of a Templars' Hall in Newton which may be desiguated the head-quarters of the Order in Auckland, owing to the strength of the local lodges. A meeting to promote the object named was held on Friday evening, Brother James Cox presiding. There was a good attendance, and everyone present manifested an earnest desire to co-operate in bringing the scheme to a successful issue. Various suggestions were made such as the creation of a library, refreshment rooms, &c, in connection with the proposed hall, and no doubt some of these ideas will be given effect to. The mode of raising the necessary capital will probably be by the issue of lowpriced shares, which will enable everyone interested in the movement to contribute. The meeting appointed a preliminary build - ing committee, and a committee to select a suitable site. These committees will make the necessary inquries and report at a future meeting. At present there appears to be every prospect of success, and if the ideas of the promoters '■ are carried out, the hall erected will be an ornament to this rising suburb. s

Sims Beeves is to get £220 every time he sings during his engagement is America Yet there are many singers who would sine every night for eleven dollars—and their sineing would make Sims Eeeves sick, too. biThe teacher who was whipped by his ggest scholar considered it a poor rule hat worked both ways.