The English Mail Service.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 87, 14 April 1887, Page 4

The English Mail Service.

ALTHOUGH the contract between Victoria and the P. and O. Company for the conveyance of tho English mails expires very soon. No new arrangement has yet been concluded. The tenders for the Federal mail service produced only an ofl'er from the P. and O. Company and the Orient Company to perform between them a weekly service for an annual subsidy of £100,000 each, or £200,000 in all. Tho joint Governments thought £160,000 enough for the service, and negotiations haveso fur brought the matter no nearer settlement. The present P. and O. contract for a fortnightly service is £80,000 a-year, and the amount has frequently been denounced as absurdly extravagant ; but the companies sec the matter in a different light. They have a monopoly) and they mean to make the most of it. Tho Australian Governments have, of course, the option of doing as the Imperial Government did with the Cunard and White Star Companies for the Atlantic mail service—they may oiler the contract to foreign steamship companies, who were excluded from tendering before. But the only two foreign lines trading to Australia are French and German, and in the event of war it would be most unsatisfactory to have the colonial mails jeopaidisqci by being carried in

foreign ships. The English Government have"deemed it advisable, possibly under political pressure, to settle their differences with the Liverpool shipping firms, and the short contract entered into with the North German Lloyds was not renewed. The regular Atlantic mails are in future to be carried by the Cunard and Oceanic lines, letters specially addressed by other steamers, however, being forwarded as directed. On behalf of the P. and O. and Orient Companies; it is urged that the sum of £'200,000 for a weekly service is not excessive. The Messageries Maritimes is paid for a monthly service £130,000 per annum, or about £10,000 per trip, while the North German Lloyd obtains £100,000 for a monthly service, rather more than £S,O(X) per trip. The Peninsukrand Oriental and Orient Companies ask for £100,000 each for a weekly service, and they would receive, therefore, about £3,500 per trip. The comparison, however, is scarcely a fair one. Tiic foreign Companies are bolstered up by their Governments for the purpose of opening up a nonpaying trade. The English Companies, on the contrary, would run whether they received a subsidy or not. It is a question, indeed, whether the Australian'eoloriiea are not now in a position to follow the example of the United States and dispensewith mail subsidies altogether, so far as the postal deliveries with England are concerned. However, efforts are now being made to end the present deadlock, and possibly the Companies will see that it is to their interest not to drive too hard a bargain with the four colonies which have federated with the Home Covcrnmcnt for the purposes of this contract.

Our latest cablegrams will always appear on the eighth page ; the earlier cable news on the third page. The postal notice will also always lac found at the top of the eighth page. Xo doubt some of our readers were rather puzzled last night hunting through the eight pages for special items, but they will soou become familiar with the classification.

.Some of our readers having failed, to receive copies of our Pictorial Supplement issued last night, we have to-day printed an extra number, and copies of Hie paper and supplement may be obtained at this ollice.

Mr J. Warbrick, the well-known footbailer, intends to contest the East Coast Maori seat at the approaching general elections for the House of Representatives. He lias been guaranteed a large amount of support. His opponents already in the ii<;ld are Messrs Pore (the present member) and Carroll (a former member of the House).

Tlio large reading-room for papers and periodicals on the ground floor at the new Library Buildings Wellcsley-street is now open to the public and is well supplied with tho latest papers etc.

With reference to the rider of the jury on the body of a boy accidentally run over, we are informed there is a bye-law in force compelling all licensed vehicles to carry lights ; it only remains for the police to enforce regulations.

The practices of pieces to be sung at the annual gathering of Bands of Hope on the Queen's Birthday will be commenced in Alexandra-street Schoolroom to-morrow (Friday) evening, when all members desiring to take part must attend.

C. Taylor, the American pugilist who is shortly to try conclusions with the local man, W. Murphy, started training this morning at North Shore under tho direction of Mr R. Matthews. The match i.s fixed to come oil'on _7tli inst., and it is expected by that time that Taylor will be quite " fit."

The legal dispute between Messrs Sargood, Son and Co. and the Corporation of Dunedin turns chiefly on a question of fact. Plaintiffs claim £5,500 damages for the flooding of their cellars, and allege that their drain was connected with the Corporation drain in a faulty and unskilled manner. The defendants allege that the drain was properly built and managed, and that, in making it, the contractor employed by them necessarily cut through the plaintiff's' drain. They deny that they improperly constructed and maintained the High-street sewer or other drains, and that in consequence thereof drainage, silt, and sewage escaped from their drains into the plaintiffs' warehouse. They further deny that they were guilty of any negligence.

The defeat of the Wellington cricket team caused no surprise in Auckland, but it was never expected that tho match would be the hollow affair that it turned out to be. It was not at all difficult to see where the weakness of the visiting eleven lay. Their bowling was far from good, and a long way behind the average looked for in an interprovincial match. Herein lay the secret of their severe defeat. Their batting was much bettor than their bowling, and they might be considered a fairly strong batting team. Infieldingthevisitors were quite equal, if not superior, to our men, and they were decidedly better than the Aucldanders in the outfield. They played an honest, manly, and straightforward game, and took their beating in very good part, and in this respect they proved themselves in marked contrast' to the footballers of the Empire City.

We arc pleased to notice a new departure in one of our manufacturing industries. Many of our readers avq aware that to a ocnsidcrable extent the willows used here for basketmaking purposes are imported from Tasmania, England, and even the continent of Europe. It is gratifying to think that such an undesirable proceeding will no longer be necessary, so far at least as this part of New Zealand is concerned. Messrs McLeod Eros., basket and wicker furniture manufacturers, of Albert-street, are going in pretty extensively for growing willows. Their crop last season, which produced a handsome yield, was not only sufficient to supply their own demands here, but they wore able, recently to ship a consignment to the order of a Southern linn. They have now nearly 20 acres under osiers, which should produce a much larger yield next season. Willows require a good deal of preparation before they are ready for the basketmaker, !as evidenced by the fact that McLeod Bros. had about thirty hands cmployod during their first year's operations. In their endeavours to hold their own against foreign competitors, we wish this enterprising firm every success.

The anniversary services in connection with the Mount Eden Congregational Church are to be held on Sunday next. The Rev. Jas. Chew, of Beresford -street, will conduct in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening*the Rev. \V. J. L. Gloss will preach. On Monday the soiree and public meeting are to be held, at which addresses will be given .by ministers of different denominations in the city. Special interest attaches to these services, inasmuch as the Rev. Mr Closs, who leaves for Sydney next week, will preach his valedictory sermon on Sunday evening, and at the Monday meeting he will bid farewell to the church and congregation. There will doubtless be a good attendance at all the meetings.

Tho concert in aid of the Devonport Lawn Tennis Club, which was to come of)' to-night (Thursday), is unavoidably postponed to a later date, duo notice of which will be given through the medium of outadvertising columns. When fixing the date the Lawn Tennis Club will bo careful not to clash in any way with the sale of work and bazaar which is being promoted in aid of the Dovonport Parsonage fund and which is fixed for the latter end of next week.

The bakers' picnic to Sb Hehere Bay next Thursday promises to be a great success. The programme of sports is published in another column. Good arrangements have been made for steamers and the visitors mv find every arrangement made for their convenience and for the enjoyment ola pleasant outing. A man named French sustained acompound fracture of the leg at Pukekaroro on baturday, 2nd hist., while assisting in the conveyance of kauri logs from the bush. -Key. Mr Tobin bound up the fractured limb, and the sufferer was sent on to Aiickland.

We are requested to mention that friends of the Melanesian mission who have not received copies of the last annual reportposted to them may obtain them at the Diocesan office, at Messrs Upton and Co.'s Champtaloup and Cooper, Kidd and Wildman s, or Edward Wayte's, booksellers. A fruit soiree in connection with the Surrey Hills J-Vesbyterian Sunday-school was held last evening, and passed off pleasantly. There was a large attendance of scholars and their friends. The Rev. R. Sommerville, who presided, opened proceedings with an interesting address, after which a varied programme was gone through, including vocal and instrumental music, recitations, etc., by the Misses Jones, White (3), Henderson (2), Fronde, (iilmer, Waddell, and Brcbner. Instrumental duets were played by the Misses Gilmer and Sommerville, Misses .Come and Russell, Masters Mclndoe and Arthur White. Vocal duets were contributed by Masters Jones and 1(. White and by the Misses White.

The Railway Employds Picnic and Sports Committee desire to thank the friends who kindly assisted them by gifts of money and sundry articles for prizes.

A meeting of Lodge Remuera was held lust evening at tlio lodge-room for the purpose of installing the newly elected Worshipful Master, Brother Kemp. The ceremony of installation was performed by Brother Esam. The VV.M. afterwards invested his officers as follows : ■ Brotlier Coom, S.W. ; Brother P.M. Walker, J.W. ; Brother P.M. Rues George, treasurer; Brother P.M. Cooper, secretary; Brother Walker, S.D. ; Brother Xomervillo, J.D. ; Brother Stitchbury, 1.0. ; Brother P.M. Hesketh, organist,

Dr. Lynn, who has the reputation of bein^ the greatest illusionist; of the age, will appear at Abbott's Opera House on Monday evening next, the 18th, in his entertainment entitled " Mirth and Marvels." Amongst the wonders which the Doctor will introduce is " The Vanishing Lady," an illusion which created extraordinary interest when it was lirst exhibited by Dr Lynn at the Egyptian Hull, London, and the Colossal Eden Theatre, I'aris. The Melbourne "Argus" says: —"Dr. Lynn is a brilliant wit, compelling the most circumspect of his hearers to indulge in frequent and unrestrained roars of laughter. He is the central luminary of the mystic world, around which other bodies revolve with reflected light. He is so well known as the greatest living master of sleight-of-hand that it is unnecessary .to dwell upon the success of his entertainment as a perfect feast of illusion. A very sound lesson is to be learnt from an exhibition which sets the senses completely at defiance. We are bound to fall back for an explanation upon a higher faculty than the sense of sight, and that is the power of reason. In addition to his quickness and cleverness, Dr. Lynn is a genuine humorist. The jokes with which he amuses and diverts the attention of hisandienccare often spontaneous, and the control which lie has over his face lends a fine irony to his mock scientific ' ] latter. ' " The ] >lan of reserved seats is now open at Messrs Kidd and Wildman's.

Mrs Revett, so long known as one of Auckland's sweetest singers, and whose annual concerts have always been so appreciated, is, in conjunction with Mrs Hallett (nee "Robcrtshav/), about to open a select and first-class dancing class with a quadrille assembly,, upon the evening of April 19th. A good band has been secured, and as the Masonic Hall is the place of meeting, the classes will have a first-rate opening. We understand that next Saturday a juvenile class will commence. We cordially wish Mesdames Revitb and Hallefct every success.

Madame Weigel's Dress Patterns and Journals. -Shukesiiear & Co., Sole Afjents.