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Auckland Star, Volume XV, Issue 3795, 28 August 1882, Page 2

The Thames Gus Company to-day declared a dividend of Is 6d pet share, which, with the interim dividend paid in February, in equal to 3s for the year.

Michael Fahcy, a patient at the Lunatic Asylum, died yesterday. Au inquest, before Dr. Goldsbro', will take place tomorrow. A man of unsound mind, named Alexander Taylor, who escaped from tbo Lunatic Asylum, gave himself up this morning at the Police Station, and this afternoon was conveyed back to his old quarters. By a clerical error, the name of the llopn of Parnell, No. 3, was "inadvertently admitted from the list of those lodges taking part in the opening ceremonies of the 1.0. G.T. Hall at Ouehunga on Saturday evening last. Mr Arthur will sell at his mart on Wednesday next a well-built and liuished family residenco, situated at the junction of Pitt and Vincent-streets, the property of Mr T. Barnetc. The business at St. Sepulchre's Improvement class to-night will consist of le.-idiugs, &c , by momber.", instead of tlio lecture on "jXhomas Hood," as appears in the programme. The dingy little apology for a shop that has stood, time out of mind almost, at the corner of Albert and Durham streets, has been razed to the ground in order to make room for a structure more worthy the locality and better adapted for the requirements of the place, The foundations of the now edifice are to be Uid down at enoe. The new figures which have beon recently added to the Wax Works, coupled with the variety and excellence of the nightly concerts, conspire to render tha exhibition an attractive place of resort. The rooms were thronged on Saturd»y afternoon and evening. Tho public are now a-tiptoe with curiosity to behold tho Sciiptural group which is being imported from Christchurch. Some thoughtless person placed the now house of Mr S. Deory, Parncll, in consider able danger on Saturday evening by throwing v quantity of live euibeH on the vacant allotment next door. Xlibv wcro being blown under tho houeo early on Sunday morning, whou Mr Priestley observed tho danger on his return home, and extinguished tho incipient lire. Tho Kov. DrMcteod conducted a^Gaelic soivice at St. James's Presbyterian Ctiurch yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance of about 200 persons. The rov. gentleman chose as subject of discourse the words contained in Isaiah, chapter 35, verses 8 and 10, and preached therefrom a very interesting seruon, Owing to tho very large number of tickets that have beon sold for the performance of " Guy Mannering," the manasrinjj committee, to prevent disappointment and avoid overcrowding in the dress circle, have decided to form the first two or three rows of the stalls into orchestra stalls, aud these will bo reserved for the uae of those who are unable to obtain seats in tho circle. A most disgraceful exhibition of larrikinism occurred on Saturday night in Queonstreet. A numbor of half-grown roughs act upon a drunken man who had just oiuernid from the United Soryice Hotel, knocked him down, and beat him shamefully. His face was beyond recognition, and a person who interfered on his behalf was maltreated, and was attacked some time afterwards by the same band of hoodlums. There were about twenty concerned in tho outrage, and we understand that the police have warrants for the arrest of several of tho ringleaders. It is not generally known that the now famous comedy of "Our Boys" was at its firat production anything but a success. After having written it, Byron offered the play to J. L. Toolc,the celebrated comedian, ■who rejtcted it as not possessing suilicient plot and dramatic etlect uecessary to a good comedy. The two subsequent pos«cssorf of the piece succeeded in nettiog £30,00 C each as ashuieof three years'work. Tht Ih-amalic Society play this pioco at tht Theatre on Friday ; a lull house is antiei pated

Tbo Roy. J. J. Halloy (of Melbourne), lecturing upon "Egypt," last month, stated that he bad been fortunate enough to meet Arabi Pashi, who was daring enough to defy tho power of England. Arabi was no mere adventurer, as was generally supposed, for he had been educated at the principal University of Cairo, and was far from being a fanatical man. The lecturer said he had been informed by an American missionary that Arabi Pasha held the most liberal opinions upon the foolishness of religious wars, condemed alike by the Bib) and the Koran.

A football match was piayea arr the North Shore on Saturday afternoon between tho North Shore 2nd and Albert Clnbs, which resulted in a victory* for tbc latter by 16 points to til. Stuart,Gillespie, McDermott, and J; Smart (2) obtained touch-downs, two of which were converted into goals by Pulman and Hardwlck.

The little boy Conway, aged eight years, who was referred to lost week as having met with such a serious accident at tha Mannkau Heads, from which place ho was received into the Hospital for treatment, was, on Saturday evening, taken away by the father out of the Hospital. As the boy was not in a fit state to be removed, tho Hospital authorities endeavonred to prevent Conway taking the lad out, but without success, as ho persisted in removing him us his father. Conway, it would appear, intended taking the boy back to Manukau Heads, but was iatercepted at ''nehunga by the police, who ran him in for drunkenness, and took the boy back to tbe Hospital. The boy, it is thought, will scarcely get round.

The first meeting of creditors in tho estate of George Henry Short, master mariner, took place this morning in the Supreme Court-house, when Mr Thos. Macffarlaae was elected trustee. The debtor states his assets at £205, which, however, consist entirely of book-debt?, and his liabilities are set down at £303 Bs.

For some time past the Town Clerk has been in communication witn the municioal authorities of a number of colonial cities with the view of obtaining from them the fullest particulars with respect to their town halls, such as cost, area, material used in construction, architecture, and similar information. Replies and accompanying photographs have now come to hand from Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington, and as soon as some expected statistics are received from Hobart the Town Hall Committee will he convoked for the purpose of considering tho data that has been so carefully collated.

■ A correspondent calls attention to a paragraph which appeared in the " Lyttleton Times" of the 22nd instant, stating that the attendance at the Museum oa Sundays is sometimes upwards of 1000! and averages abeut 700 1 Thus Wellington and Christchurch, he says, enjoy privileges which are denied to the Auckland working classes. Why and wherefore?

During the stay of H.I.J.M.S, Tsukuba in port there was quite a run on pan-loaves. The Mongolian tars took to them so verykindly that every batch of liberty men, on getting ashoro, betook themselves at once to the shops whence the baked edibles ! were to be obtained and cleaned out tbc entire stock. On Friday and Saturday they laid in a large stock of substantial creature comforts, prominent amongst which wore cases of Lamb's biscuits, smoked fish, and fruit. They spent their money freely in town, and it must bo remarked to their credjt that for orderliness, good nature, and sobriety, they far surpass any other body of sailors who havo ever visited Auckland. It has been a subject of general comment that the public houses seemed to obtain none of their patronage, while not a single case of drunkenness was reported.

. Mrs Charles MoGacfio has called at our office to complain of a larrikin outrage, the particulars of which she gives as follows :— Her husband was in the Shamrock Hotel oa Saturday night at half-past eleven, when about a dozen youths were outside knocking at the window. Thinking himself called Dy his wife, he went out, and was at once set upon by the roughs, who hit him In the face, knocked him, kicked and trampled on him. Being baaly injnredhe could only walk home with assistance, and has been ever since confined to his bed. The police were communicated with yesterday, and as the names of some of MrMcGacfie's assailants are known, further news may be heard of the business. A cowardly assault on a working man has been committed, and even if he was, as hia wife confesses, the worse for liquor, there appears to lie no justification or excuse for the outrage. If the police succeed in getting hold of the ringleaders; it is to bo hoped that no feelings of false sentiment or leniency will interfere between them and their due deserts. ■ '

I'hcro was again :i good attendance at tlie Circus on Saturday night, when the i uaual programme was repented, concluding with "Dick Turpia'g Uido to I'ork.'' The recently-formed Bicycle Club appoari | t» bo inoreaiint in strength and Importance. A meet took place last Saturday, whea about a dozen bicyclists travelled through Newmarket and out towards Onehunga. Mr W. Buckland, sou of the late W. T. Bucklaud, hns_ successfully passed his liual examination at Cambridge for his Is. A. degree. He was a student of Jesus College, Cumbridgo. Mr Mitford, who left Auckland for England aonie months ago, has written to some fricnd3 that he intends presenting to the Auckland Museum a collection of old coins and engravings. At the meeting of St. James's Mutual Improvement Association to-night, essays will be read by Messrs It. L. Skeen and E. F. Miller, their subjects beiug respectively, " Early Typography " and "The Press." Measlos having broken out in the Howestreet Industrial Home among the children, the projected service of song, entitled ".'Esop's Story," under the management of Mr Frith, is postponed for some time. Mr Brackcmrig presided at the religious service at the Theatre lant night, and addresses were given by the Rev. W, Parsonson and the Kcv. W. S. Potter. Tho inclement weather did not materially lessen the attendance. The price paid in Mclbourno for water supplied H.I.J.M.S. Tsukuba was £70 (not £7, as erroneously stated in our last issue), while tho charges made here for the same purpose only .amounted to £2 Ss, a very wide difference indeed. Tuo death of Mrs Urown, of Victoriastreet, induced Mr Spurgeon to mnkc some I remarks upon the event in his sermon | yesterday morning in Wellesley-street Baptut Church. A large concourse of persons ■ joined tho funeral procession to the ccmotery. Mr Spurgoon conducted tho burial servioo. Messrs Garrctt Bros., tho well-known tauncrs of Avondalc, arc at present greatly extending their promises. Having obtained tho right to a spring at the Asylum, they intend, by means of a turbine, to uso the water as motive power for driving the machinery. A bone mill is also in contemplation. . Tho ordinary monthly meeting of tha members of the Auckland Institute will be held thia evening in Princes-street, when the following papers will be read : one by Captain T. tfroun, M.E.S., on "A New Species of Curculionida*," ami ono by B»»hop Cowie, ontitlcu "Tho New Zealand University—its History, Comtitutiou, and Übjecti." At a meeting of the Presbyterians of Kpsom, held on Saturday evening in tbe District Hull, « testimonial was presented to Nun Sturgo, who is leaving Epsom for tho Kaipara, for her iwo years' servictß as barmoniumist to the church. Mr John It. Cochranc mado tho presentation, which consisted of n beautifully-bound photographic album and a copy ot Milton's poems, and spoke in complimentary terms of the character and services of the lady. Mr Lawry also nia^o some remarks in a aimikir strain. The gifts were briefly acknowledged by Miss Sturgc. Meetings of creditors were held on Friday in the estates of E. B. K. Tumor, J. J. Pooley (nsicts, £6GB; liabilities, £1,118), and K. Louch. Turner had been adjudicated a bankrupt in rispect of ad«bt»f £128 due for timber, and the meeting was adjourned in ordor to allow him an opportunity of submitting a statcmeut of accouuta. Tho meotiui» of Pooloy'a croditora was also adjourned, as ouu of the debtor's contracts still remains uocompletod ; while in the case of Loucu, a resolution was passed recommending his discharge. There was a very good attendance of members and visitors at tho weekly meeting of tho French Litorary Society, on Saturday evening, when the president (Mr do L'Eau) read nu amusini? and original tale, entitled, "Un Mariagc Force"," which was well received. Miss IHawaczek also contributed to tho entertainment by the delivery of a leading, which was greatly appreciated. Un Saturday evening next, Mr E. \V. Iturtou will lecturo on "The Upper Chamber in tho Australasian Colonies"

An interesting and well attended baptismal service was held last evcuing in the Ponsonby Baptist Church, by the Kcv. C. Cattc, formerly of Ceylon. Mr Catter preached an explanatory Bermon from the Kpistlo to the ±iphesians,-c. 4, v. 5, "One Lord, one faith, ono biptism." Tho preacher repudiated sprinkling, nnd all ojher forms of baptism, and comendod that immersion was the only saving form, and entirely in harmony with tho teachings ot tho New Testament. Three young girls were then immcrsjd in the presence of the congregation.

An old settler of forty years standing, Alexan er Smar Martin, diod on Saturday a., ma residence, John-street, Poflfonby, in his Goih year. Mr Murtin was well-known iv Auckland, was a law clerk by profession, and a man of good abilities, lie formerly held situations in the Auckland Provincial Council and in the Supremo Court. Mr Martin was not without his failings, but ho was generous hearted, and could tell many a good yarn of setters and their doings of forty years ago. Ho was a son of Captain Alexander Martin, of the Royal Navy, and had received nn excellent education. He leaves a widow and sovctal married daughters,

1 The annual meeting of the Epsom Mutual Improvement Association was hold on Friday evening, Mr J. P. JDavies in the chair. The report and balance-sheet wore introduced, and showed that the society had made good progress during tho pant year. £15 10s had been collected in aid of the General Library Fund. The report was unanimously adopted. It was resolved to call for tenders for the.removal Of the chapel, given by Mr Gardner, for the purposes of a library and reading-room, and for the erection of a neat reading room on the site. Tho following members were olected to office tar tho ensuing year : — Chairman, Mr Gardiner (re-elected) ; vico^ chairman, Mr J. P. Davies ; secretary, Mr John L. Cochrane ; committee—Messrs Trollope, J. H. Neal and itd. Neal. Mr J. P. Davies was re-elected librarian,

The destruction of centuries (observos the "Pal Mall Gazette") is to be repaired. For nearly six hundred years the waters of the Zuyder Zee have "rolled over what was onco dry laiid, and ships have sailod wh,ore carriages may have travelled. Several of the wealthiest financiers of Holland have now determined upon concentrating their energies in an attempt to reclaim the tract of land which has so long been lost 'o their country, and they are already engaged in making the surveys for a new ste of those gigantic piles which are commemorated in thijve'Ses of Andrew Mar' veil. Dykes which will far outstrip the stupendous works on the island of W.ilcheren are in contemplation, and they will be built to such a height and of such a thickness as to stand the shock of the fiercest seas that may dash against them. Many years must necessarily pas 3 away before works of this character can h.e completed, hut if they should happily ho brought to a successful issue, another engineering wonder will bo added to the triumphs of Dutch enterprise

An extraordinary Nihilist story is told by the St. Petersburg correspondent of the " Voltaire," published in Paris:—" Shortly after tho opening of the Moscow Exhibition, which was recently inaugurated by the Grand Duke Vladimir, a young man demanded an audience of the Chief of P.olicp at St. Petersburg. He refused to state his errand to any of the subordinate officials, so after being carefully searched ho was admitted to the presence of tho General. Here ho stated at once that he was sent by tho Revolutionary party, and explained his mission in the following terms:—'Tbc Emperor is prevented from going to Moscow by his fear of our schemes. His diead will cease to be justified whenever he grants a constttulion. Then he need fear no conspiracy, and can go in safety whereever he pleases. It has fallen to my Jot to inform you that if the Emperor persists in his reactionary policy nothing can 3ave him. .Neither my friends' nor myself wish to murder him treacherously. Alexander ill. is warned as was Alexander 11. We do not assassinate, but we render justice.' At this point of the interview,, the police officer seemed anxious to call in assistance, but the young Nihilist stopped .him and added: ' I do not wish to be subjected to the indignity of torture, In coming here I have sacrificed my life. I could have killed you, but wo .do not commit murders uselessly. With these words the youth stepped back a few paces and knocked two large buttons, with which his cuffs were fastened, against, his forehead. The buttons, being full of an explosive "substance, burst and inflicted such wounds on the young man that he expired in a few moments, leaving no trace as to his identity. This sensational incident has reminded the public that the murder ot Alexander 11. was preceded by similar warning."

The creditors of John Campbell Abernethy, clerk, held their first meeting this morning, and clouted Mr T. Macffarlane trustee In the ostate. Tho assets arc nil, ami the liabilities aro set down at £69 2s.

The concert for Widow Ball has not been a Financial success, the balance over expenses not exceeding four pounds. The proceeds amounted to a little over £23, and tho expanses to £18 15a. The widow wishes to return thanks to all wbo so_ unselfishly assisted in the matter, especially to the Engineer Band under tho leadership of Mr Impey. It is possible that Mr Kyan may attempt another concert for the same worthy object shortly, in tho Athcmoum, Newton.

Some people never know their own minds. A Hartford woman has been married and divorced four times, and each of her husbands has in turn married again and been divorced. Her first husband procured a divorce from her, and she was married again. Becoming divorced from her second mate, she remarried the first, and has since been divorced from him, and has married a fourth time. Her second husband has been married and divorced twice, and both of his wives are living, and her present husband was a divorced man when she married him. Matrimony in the United States is an element with which as many games can be played as with a pack of cards.

Stiya the Paris " Bourse " :—"lt is rather curious to learn that Ourabi Bey, the fiery colonel, was, juat before bis accession to power, a petty employe1 in the Cattani firm, where his duties consisted in superintending the fodder supplies with which that linn was entrusted. Is it not rathsr comical to see such a high personage holding the groat Powers at bay, and dcclaring|treaties null and void ? For mero patrioti»m tho Cattani firm are bound to iako back their former fiery cmploy6, while increasing his salary, say, by 50£. per montb, with the promise of a substantial Christmas-box." And so on. We ("Pull Moll Gazette") sec nothing comical about this man's rise. This is by do means the first time since tho days of Joseph ttio Hebrew when a mean nnm ban spruug to power in the Valley of the Nile. The founder of the present Khedive's family was himself but an Albanian peasant; >o Ourabi Pasha's ri.'f! is not a thing to be laughed over by quidnuncs, therefore, but very much the reverse.

A Belgian merchant committed suicido a short time npo at an hotel ia a small town of France. When the landlord appeared before the authorities to mako the requituto declaration, he learned that a letter had just been received from the Burgomaster of Arlon, in Belgium, which read as follows :—"Sir,—A merchant of this town informs mo that he is about to commit Biiicido at tbe Hotol Bernoaud, in the Cite Borgero, »nd that he wishes to ba interred in Paris. In caso he carries his resolution into effect, the following details will be useful to you in filling in the death register." Tho letter further contained a complete account of tho deceased's name, profession, parentage, &c , and wtuud up witn a request that a copy of a death certificate might be sent to Arlon, in order to be dnly catered in the register of the parish. Thus the worthy Burgomaster, on beW informed of tho intended suicide, instead ot endeavouring by despatches to Paris and other means to save the man's life, coolly writes a letter to prsvent any irregularity in the civil register of Pario. It is a most extraordinary instano? of redtapeißm or indifference.

Mr A. C. Begg, of Dunedin, has-received n telegram from tho A ustralian Company, Loudou, aproeing to purchase from tho New Zealand Refrigerating Company 8,000 frozen fat iheep at 2jd por )b. The company is to sond a steamer for the cargo to Port Chalmers in November, and the vessel vory probably will be tho Sorrento, 3800 tous, which was advertised to leave London for Adelaide, Molbourne, and Sydney on tho 15th insi, und which has jmt recently dclivorcd a shipment of frozon meat frbrn Sydney. Tno sheep to be supplied by the New Zealand Kef liberating Company must he prime crossbred?, to average about 70lrs. oich, yet so plentiful is tho supply that tho directors have already roceivad applications f/ora their own shareholders only for over 12,000 shcop fulfilling these conditions. In addition to tbc price to be paid of 2jd per lb,, the owners of tho flheep receive the value of the skins nnd tallow in addition, which means a very .'cotwiderpble aivanoe on tho low ptices now ruling in 'he market. The freezing of this cargo will commenca immediately after that per Marsala has been Rhippcd. Already 2500 Bhoep haro beon frozen for tho Marsala, and are now stored at the works, and everything Is going on nmoothly and satisfactorily. -" Daily Times."

The "Pall Mall Budget" writes:—"lt is difficult to see what can be done to persuade tbe Porte to remove its interdict on the re-colonisation of Palestine by the Jews. The Sultan does not object to receive as many Jews as choose to settle in any part of his dominions except the Holy L»nd, but for obrious reasons the Holy Land is precisely that part of the Sultan's dominions where the Jews are most anxious to settle. Some of the Jewish societies have funds at their disposal varjing from £20,000 to £40,000, and if the Pulton would but give his consent Palestine might be ro-peoplod by the descendants of its former occupants. For somo years no doubt he could squeeze them, much to the benefit of the Treasury at Conntantinople, but in timo, poisibly in no long time, 'The Jewish Factor in tbe Eastern Question 1 would bogin to troublo tho Porte; and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of David would fascinate tho imagination of Chcistendom the moment another Maccabeus drew tho sword against the Ottoman oppres«or. It m»y bo very shortsighted, in some respects, to check the streams of Jewish immigrants which promise to set in towards Palestine, but tho Sultan perhnpi is taking a longer look ahead than most people think."

Tho " Australian Advortiser " makes the following comparison in regard to tho cost of tho defence forces of Australia and the armies sustained by otbor countries, whoso revenues are considerably under those of the colorfies :—Ab.so many people grudge tbe expense of military defences, it is well to compare our expenditure for such purposes with that of the sniallor European States. New South Wales and Victoria have each a revenue of over £6,600,000, and a defence force of between 3000 and 4000 men: S<<uth Australia has a revenue ot about £2,000,000, and a defence ferco of say 1,500, including tho volunteer riflemenj Victoria has two small war vessels, New South Wales one, and South Australia none. Greece, with a 'revenue of £1,400,000, has an army of 24,000 men and 12 vessels ; Portugal, revenue £5,300,000, army 30,000, 42 vessels ; Denmark, revenue £2,500 000, army 47,000, 28 vet^els ; Holland, rovenue £8,600,060, army 60,000, 85 vessels; Norway' and Swedon, revenue£7,ooo,ooo, army 100.000, 255 vessels; Switzorland.revenue £1,800,000, array 201,000. Turning from tho«e countries to a British dependency, we find that the Dominion of Canada, with a revenue or £8,500,000, has 10 war vessels and an army of 40,000 men in peace times and 650,000 when on a war footing. How trifling is the expenditure oh military defences in the Australian colonies when compared with these figures, and we have as mneh to defend as somo of thoso countries, and more than some of them, and ara quite as likely to be attacked.