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Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 173, 23 July 1889, Page 4

Tho matter in dispute between the Auckland Harbour Board and Mr Pierce Lanigan, contractor for construction of the Calliope Dock, re the appointment of an arbitrator in the place of Mr W. Ware, cropped up again at the Supreme Court this morning. Mr Campbell moved on behalf of the Habour Board to stay proceedings in respect of the order made by the Court for the appointment of an arbitrator within a week, pending appeal against His Honor's decision to the Court of Appeal. The motion was opposed by Mr Alexander, on behalf of Mr Lanigan, and as to-day was fully occupied with compensation cases, His Honor decided to hear argument for and against the motion on Friday next.

There is to be a prospectus of a Gold Mining Company published next week at Whangarei, to work the gold mine at Kaitaia. But this is only one of_ the probable paying ventures iv gold mining in that part of the north country, as a reported find of payable stone is said to be at Ruapekaneka, near the Kawakawa.

Mr Malcolm Niccol was yesterday before the Committee of the Upper House, which is inquiring into the position of the Harbour Boards of the colony. His examination was respecting the position of the Auckland Board, but that body has little to fear from enquiry. Mr Niccol will remain in Wellington for about a week. A divorce case, in which the petitioner is George Skipper, the respondent Jane Skipper, and the co-respondent Frederick ( Clay,-was before Mr Justice Gillies this morning in Judge's Chambers on a motion by Mr Alexander for directions as to time, mode, and placo of trial. His Honor directed that tho cause be neard before the Supreme Court, withoub jury, at the nexb civil sittings in Auckland.

To the Editor : Sir, —To answer " M.J.R.'s " query—There are eight in family, including parents. Boys' ages are 18, 16, 14, 8 ; girls, 11 and 6. Any further information can be obtained from me ab my place of business in Queen-streeb. —Yours, etc., Edwd. H. Falkner.

A plain wooden comb, of native workmanship and great antiquity, was exhibited byMrH. Winkelmann ao the meeting of the Auckland Institute held last evening. It was discovered by Mr Winkelmann in an inland cave at the Great Barrier. The cave had evidently been used, at one time, as a burial place, and the comb was found amongsb a lob of rubbish. He suggested that further research in the same locality might bring additional curios to light. An interesting paper, descriptive notes of the Great Barrier Island, written by Mr S. Weetman, was read by Mr T. F. Cheeseman afc the same meeting.

Afc the meeting of the Parnell Borough Council last ' night, Mr Savage read a letter which he had received from Mr Withy, M.H.R. This was a copy of one Mr Withy had sent to the Minister of Public Works, drawing the Minister's attention to the advantages of extending Manukau Road in a direct line when the reclamation in Mechanics' Bay should be completed, as such extension would prove an important outlet of easy gradient from the city via Parnell. The consideration of the question of extension of bhis road was deferred, pending Mr Baber's report.

Under the title " A Mysterious Therapeutic Agent," Mr E. A. Mackechnie read an interesting paper before the Auckland Institute lasb evening. He traced the history of hypnotism, beginning with the achievements of Mesmer. He stated that hypnotic subjects were generally found among the working classes, or those accustomed to obedience, and that the obedience of the hypnotised was purely automatic. Speaking of cures claimed to have been effected by this agency, Mr Mackechnie said they appeared to be well authenticated, but no explanation of the phenomena could be givon. He also pointed out the tarrible power which hypnotism gave to the malignant and unscrupulous.

In pursuance of the efforb thafc is being made to obtain an amendment of the Licensing Act, the following petition has been circulated, and is being signed by those who approve of the reform desired therein :—" (1) That the Licensing Committee for the Auckland North Ward of the Borough of Auckland have deprived four (4) licensed houses (licensed prior to 1881-) of their licenses, under and by the power conferred by sections 63 and 75 of the Licensing Act, 1881. (2) Thab we, your humble petitioners, respectfully submit to your honourable House the following reasons for an immediate amendment of the Licensing Act, 1881, viz. : That is so acting, the Licensing Committee for Auckland North Ward have acted contrary, in our opinion, to the intentions of the Legislature when passing the Licensing Act, 1881, inasmuch thao your petitioners are fully convinced that your honourable House wouldnever sanction a law which would enable a section of the people to perpobrabe an act of spoliabion on another portion of the community, because of a difference of opinion as to the necessity for the use of alcoholic drinks. (3) We therefore humbly pray your honourable Houso to amend the Licensing Act, 1881, so as to prevent any licensing commibtee exercising the arbitrary powers conferred by sections 63 and 75 of the aforesaid Act."

On Friday evening, June 25fch, at their residence, Bondi, Nicholson-street, Melbourne, was celebrated the silver wedding of Mr and Mrs John Jenkins, late of Auckland, two prominent workers in the temperance cause, and particularly in Good Templary, Mr Jenkins being a Past Grand Chief Templar. There was a numerous compatay of guests, and many Aucklanders were present. A first-class concert) of vocal and instrumental music was prepared tor the occasion. Among the Aucklanders who contributed were Mr S. Slater (formerly organist of Sfc. Paul's and now of Christ Church, Melbourne), and Mr J. Clendinning (late a teacher of music in this city and who holds the appointment as conductor of the Melbourne Temperance Choir). The Misses Soden and Cooper, Herr Deltmer (of the Exhibition orchestra), Madame Deltmer, and Mr Henry Davis also contributed to the programme. After the concert the cake was cut by the amiable bride and breakfast indulged in. When all had done justice to the good things, the health of the bride and groom was proposed and responded to by Mr Jenkins in one of his humorous speeches. He hoped in another 25 years to have the company of all present to celebrate his golden wedding. Miss Cameron, of Auckland, acted as bridesmaid and looked charming.

The Payne Family of musicians, who will give two performances in the Choral Hall on Friday and Monday evenings, come to Auckland with an excellent reputation. The " Press " refers to their opening performance in Christchurch in the following terms :—" Before the time announced for the commencement the hall was crowded, so much so that ab ten minubes ta eight o'clock the doors had to be closed, and not only was the hall filled, but the stage behind the wings also. The Company are exceedingly modest in their pretensions ; far more so, it may be noted, than their talents deserve. The part songs were excellent; the voices being well balanced, the light and shade of the compositions were well brought out. This was perhaps most clearly illustrated in the opening number, Edgar Allan Poe's poem of 'The Bells.' In this the metallic tones of the bells and fche various phases of the intonation were most admirably reproduced. Of the part songs, «Ye Banks and Braes' and 'The Old Year is Dying,' were specimens of whafc may be called the true art of parb singing, fche beauties of the composition being most markedly brought out. The humorous portion of the programme was admirably done, all entering most thoroughly into the spirit of the pieces. Of these, 'Sobbing,' ' Sneezing,' and ' Pro Pbundo Basso,' may be selected for especial praise ; whilst the imitation of the bagpipes in the Scottish song ' Pibroch o' Donil Dhu,' was rendered with such fidelity as to stir the audience to enthusiasm."

The case of Bing, Harris and Co., Dunedin, v. the Commissioner of Customs, began in the Supreme Court at Christchurch yesterday. Messrs G. Harper and T. W. Stringer were for the plaintiffs; Messrs T. J. Joyntand J. C. Martin, Crown Prosecutor, for the defendant. The claim is for £205 8s lOd, and £100 for detention of goods seized. The defence is that false statements of the contents were supplied to the Customs to defraud the revenue, and the usual calendar month's notice of action was not given. The evidence of two employees of the firm occupied all day.

At the Dunedin Police Courb yesterday four young men were charged with behaving in a riotous manner, having smashed windows and broken in the panel of a door of the Gold £11 Age Hotel, which has now no license, afterwards offering to square the damage rather than appear in Courb. The young men came recently from Christchurch, and were apparently making a night of it. The Bench, remarking that such conduct must be put a stop to, fined each £2 Is. A smart altercation ensued between the Bench and their counsel, who applied for time to pay the fine, and after a lot of argument fche Justices gave way, and granted a week to pay the money.

Bush-falling is now in full swing at Tokamaru, on tbe East Coast, Messrs White and Brown having forty natives employed at £1 per acre in clearing the foreßfc on their new run. afc Tuakau. Mr McCulloch, on the adjoining run, is also engaged in having his land cleared in _ similar manner,

The opening of the Maungatapere n PW hall took place on Friday last?, whon a wi concourse of people assembled therefrom! all the surrounding districts. %. soiree and dance were most successfully gone through ' A number of the talenb went out from Whangarei to sing and otherwise assisb their neighbours, and though the dimen sions of the hall are on a gigantic scale ifc' is stated by those who attended fco hav_ been the most crowded assembly ever the. bad witnessed. " ■»!

Our correspondent afc Tokomaru, Easii Coast, writes : " Within fche last six weeks the whaleboafcs fitted oub by Mr Dixon of Anaura, have succeeded in capturing three whales. The captures, which" were ' humpbacks,' averaged about three tuna of oil each. The boats were manned by Maoris. One whale was struck near the southern head of Tokomaru Bay, and after an exciting struggle was lanced and killed aboub two miles from land. A number of interested onlookers enjoyed a grand view' of the scene from the front of the hotel.

A football match was played ab North'. 1 cote on Saturday last between teams repre-' senting Sugar Works and Northcote. The former placed a fine-looking team on tbe ground, bufc they were unable to withstand: the fasfc play of the Norfchcotes, who keptr the ball continually in Sugar Works' 25 ' and eventually won by 4 points to nil. *j

Afc th 9 Supreme Court this morning, 3Vfr Justice Gillies granted motions for probata re William James Turner and John Sherry '[ and re Frederick Allegne Barker. On the motion of Mr Buddie, one substantial! surety was accepted. '

The " Coromandel News," in a leading! article on the proposal to utilise labour in* gold production, says that profits would ba' poured into the Colonial Treasury after pay-! ing the workmen full wages of 8s per day I meanwhile providing a deserving class of; men with the means of earning an honour-' able living for themselves; also arguing] that prosperous goldfield communities provide the best markets for farm produce •' the wages paid workmen simply going into, the hands of tradesmen and to the growers! of the necessaries of life, being so nmchj money put; into active circulation. The1 article closes as follows :—"A feasible and! practical scheme for the profitable utilisa •' fcion of our golden wealth has been promul-' gated by Mr Witheford, and is published! in another column. We hope to hear of ifc being adopted by the Government and pub tai the practical test." I

During the recent heavy rains a remark-; able landslip took place at Tuparoa. About), one hundred acres of land, part of Sir! George Wbitmore's run, moved bodily to-! wards the sea. The upper stratum of rockj appears to have slipped over a more solid; bed below; this is conjectured from tho! fact of a reef, some four acres in area, having; boen forced fully ten feet above its usual! height over water. The reef must have: been broken up by fche pressure, as the! aefcion of the waves is gradually spreading! it out to its original level. "'

Jane Waddel], a debtor under examina-! tion at the Official Assignee's Office to-day;'; deposed that for many years her husband; had carried on business as a baker mi Karangahape Road. In August 10th,i 1887, he filed a petition in bankruptcy and she purchased the assets for 7s 6d in the £.1 Witness borrowed the money to do this—' £210 at 7 per cent, on a life policy, and£9s from a money-lender for twelve; months at 40 per cent., payable weekly,! and £19 from a friend. The. total amount borrowed was £324.' Witness commenced! business on her own account, and got stock; on credit, but ie had never paid its way.j Aboufc lasfc March she got £22 from the! money-lender, agreeing to pay £30 by! weekly instalments. She also gave p.n.i over household effects and shop fixings, in-' eluding horse, cart and harness, as security: for the first loan to the money-lender. The! immediate cause of her filing was a judgment obtained against her for £32. Her! unsecured debts are £350 18s Id and £83! secured under p.n. The assets consist of stock-in-trade, £16; book debts, £150! (estimated to produce £75) ; and two un-; incumbered building allotments, worth £40;' total, £131. The present premises are, worth £1,000, and were made over to her-; self and children eight years ago. ■ She was, unabletorai.se money on it until a child; (now 14) became 21 years of age, She had! only a life interest in the property.

A Sydney cable states that all the vessels! driven ashore in Byron Bay during the; recent storm became total wrecks, except fche Agnes, which has been gob off". Further: casualties are reported along the coast, the! schooner Jessie Matilda being wrecked ab Ballina, and ketch Lady Lome at Clarence! River. In the latter instance one of the! crew was drowned. In the Richmond district a heavy fall of rain has been ex-: perienced, 25 inches being registered. ■. j

A sitting of the District Court of Oamara was held yesterday by Judge Ward. John; Stewart, alias John Stewart Taylor, aged; 18, pleaded guilty to obtaining goods and cash amounting to £17 12s from a jeweller's, assistant, by means of two receipts which, accused represented to be cheques for " spud " digging. His Honor decided to deal with the case under the First Offenders Acb, and admitted the prisoner to 12 months' probation.

It is from a French colonial paper that the last ghastly story comes. "Compressed Chinamen " is fche attractive heading given it. One of the most attractive traits of the, Chinese is their marvellous affection for, their native land. However poor a Chinaman may be, his life has not been in vain if spent within fche boundaries of the. Empire—his death nofc to be deplored when his body returns to the soil it so industn-, ously tilled. When he dies abroad his countrymen take care that the body is sent home. If that cannot be done at once his bones are despatched at the first opportunity. In San Francisco the other day an American firm contracted to carry a number of deceased Mongols to Canton., To economise space the defunct were reduced to the smallest compass, and packed in tins resembling those used for preserved meats. .By some unpar-: donable oversight) these tins were forwarded to Europe, while a corresponding number, containing buffalo beefand tongues, of the best kind, were safely delivered in; China. The Chinese are affectionate— they; are prudent as well. The mistake was^ quickly discovered in Canton. Did the relatives there try to remedy it? Nofc so fast,; pray. They spent a month's orgie on, prime bison. Then when all were sleek, fat and jovial they gradually told their tale with counterfeited sorrow. Some of them; even went so far astodemand their ancestors, from the American Consul. In the mean-, time their compressed progenitors had been scattered from to Sfc. Peters-: burg.

A football match wag played afc Pokeno on Saturday last between the Mangafcawhiri and Pokeno teams. The former wod by; 4 points to Z In the first spell Dean and Vinson scored a try each for Pokeno. Goble (2), Finlay and Castle were tha scorers for Mangatawhiri. Conge alsq crossed the line for Ma .gatawhiri, but the try was not allowed by the referee, though Gelling took the kick and made a gooct attempt. After the match the visitors; were hospitably entertained by the Pokeno boys. . 1

The Mutual Improvement Class at Whangarei have the question of land nationahsa-. tion under consideration. Mr Buckhursq delivered a lecture on thab important question on Friday week, taking a favouraW a. view of Henry George's proposed system.; He was supported by Messrs Sealey and v. L. Wilson. Upon the other side were ranged : Rev. B. Hutson, Messrs Street, W. Clark, and Hector McKenzie. Tho dt bate vfls adjourned,

A football match between teams representing the Freezing Company v. Hellaby Bros, is to be played on the Domain Cricket Ground on Wednesday next. TSe Freezing Company team consists of Flaherty, McGuiness, Braund, Baker, Thomas, T. Poherty, Wiley, Cox, Neal, Evans, Coulson, W. Doherfcy, Moore, Ryan, Purdy; emergencies, Norgrove, Tuohy, Prior.

Last evening the members and friends of the Auckland Progressive League held their second anniversary in the Foresters' Hall; Newton. Admission to the gathering was by invitation, and the hail was well filled. The meeting took the form of a concerb, interspersed with recitations and politicoeconomic speeches by members of the League. The various musical and histrionic selections were fairly well rendered. In some a number of fche items which found a place on fche programme, were in a measure unsuited to the occasion, and the two spseche3 on the much-argued topic of "Causes of the Depression" were rabher long, though they were evidently very carefully and thoughtfully prepared. After the opening address of the President (Air T. White) on the operations and aims of fche League, an instrumental trio, "La Fiancee," was well-rendered by Messrs Gribbin and R. and D. Macnicol, and Mr W. Asfcley then sang "Plymouth Sound." Mr McCarthy declaimed "The Dream of Eugene Aram " fairly well. Mrs E. Seccombo sang " Remember or Forget," Mr Hookey " True to the Last," Miss Reed "The Wishing Well," Mr H. Birdsall «' When You Come to Think of It," and Miss Forfczer played a pianoforte selection from " Faust." Miss Hogg played a pretty violin solo, and after a recitation —"The Charge of the Light Brigade"—by Mr E. A. Farringfcon, Mr Geo. Fov/lds read from Mark Twain's "Innocents Abroad " his inimitable scene wifch " the Guides." The speeches on " The Depression " were given by Messrs A. Withy and T. West, both pinning their platform colours on a land tax and decrying land monopoly.

Messrs Bromwell and Stillman, Commissioners from the American Insurance Union, had an interview with Mr G. P. Pierce, the general manager of fche New Zealand Insurance Compar-y, yesterday, relative to a grievance they have againsb Mr Hugh Craig, manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company's branch in San Francisco. It appears that Mr Craig violated one of the Union rules by paying fixed salaries instead of 20 per cent, commission to local agents in Stockton, Sacramento, .and San Jose. He was fined 750 dollars for this alleged breach of the Union's laws and directed to change his method of payinc local agents, but declined to recognise the demand in any way, and the Commissioners are now desirous that the Head Office in New Zealand should compel Mr Craig to fulfil the original agreement. Mr Craig defends his action on the ground "that a' new seb of circumstances has arisen in which the New Zealand Company is placed ab a disadvantage, by having been debarred from privileges allowed to the local companies, and because experience has taught him that the safest and besb class of risks are those obtained by a salaried officer whose living and promotion depended on doing a good business, rather than by men on commission. The view taken by Mr Pierce is that Mr Craig was justified in the step he took, in the interests of the New Zealand Company. Messrs Bromwell and Stilhvell are still hopeful of settling everything by negotiation with the Auckland directors, and they deny that there is any intention, as had been suggested, on the part of the Pacific Insurance Company to compete with the New Zealand insurance Company in this colony in the event of their demands not being acceded to.

The Rev. R. Sommerville lectured in St. Peter's Church, Surrey Hills, on Sunday evening, taking as tho basis of his remarks Galatians 2ch. 16v., "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of tho law, but by the faith of Je3us Christ." He said the teaching of the Church before the Reformation was that heaven was the reward of merit, but the Reformers put ifc in the true Scriptural lisfht, showing it was the gift of Chriifc. Hildebrand, who became pope under the title of Gregory VII., wished to raise papal Rome to tho samo height of magnificence as the Empire. According to his theory the Church was the supreme po>ver on earth; and in opposing the investiture of bishops by the secular power he used the terrible instrument of the Interdict. Under spiritual words and phrases Gregory described external things. With him the Church was simply visible. The Reformers, however, called only spiritual things by spiritual names. Many welcomed the Reformation, and Luther published the fact thafc he acknowledged three Creeds, the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian. As a citizen of the Empire he claimed to belong to the Church, and showed thus that the Church was wider than the Pope would havo it. Luther denied tho Roman Catholic to bo the only true Church. Though charged wifch schism and heresy, he belonged to the Church of the apostles. Dorner states two great principles as those of the Reformation, the formal —the Word of God, and the material—-that of justification by faith alone. One great principle wa3 taught by tho Reformers, viz , the priesthood of ali believers. Prior to the Reformation, salvation was represented as not given, but sold ; whereas salvation is fche free gift of God. Then tradition was thought as valuable as the Word of God. Mediaeval theologians regarded the Bible a3 hardly more than a storehouse of moral precepts. They taught that the Bible had four meanings—the historical the allegorical, tho moral and the mystical. It thus required an infallible interpreter. On the other hand, the reformers appealed directly to the Bible. In the words of a distinguished theologian, "fche Bible and the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants," and though the fathers of the Reformation may have disagreed in minor matters, with regard to tlie cardinal doctrines of tho Gospel they were quite at one.

Lasfc evening anobher of bhe " People's Popular Concerts " was given, in the City Hall, as a benefit to the funds of the charitable institution of the Little Sister 3of the Poor. The enter Sain ment was well attended, and was of a high order of merit, as regarded the songs, dances, and the trapeze acts. Songs, sentimental and comic, were given by Misses May Travers, Amy Vaughan, A. Davis, Annie Vaughan, Messrs P. Doran, \V. g -agar, G. Roberts, J. Stabson, T. Mackamni, J. Mooney, J. Morris, and _ others. A farce, " The Serious Family," concluded the performance. During the entertainment the Garrison Band were present, aud played selections.

The Sir Henry Havelock Band of Hope held their monthly entertainment last evening, when Sir William Fox presided, and gave an instructive address on the evils of intemperance; after which the following programme was gone through -.—Song, Mr ■earner ; recitation, Master Harry J affray ; reading, Mr F. Taylor; song, "The •Urunkard's Ragged Wean," Miss L. Patterson ; recitation, Miss Ada Cox ; pianoforte duet, the Misses Patteison ; address by Mr Tomlins—his experience of 49 years as a total abstainer • sone, Miss Edmo'nds • dialogue, "Band of Hope Spectacles," Misses Wakeham, Saunders and James ; song, Miss Eliza Smith; pianoforte solo JVhss M. Harley ; reacting, Miss Blakeley : duet, Misses Crisp and Homer.

. Professor Fischer has arranged for a ball m the Ponsonby Hall on Thursday evening next for his Ponsonby pupils and their mends. This class is a large one, and ifc is expected that the gathering will be an exceptionally good one and that a most entertaining and enjoyable evening ff ffl be the

Our Hamilton correspondent telegraphs : On Saturday, an accident happened totheTe Awamutu engine ab Frankbon. Leave to mend the engine had to be telegraphed for to Auckland and a reply received before repairs began. The result was that some 20 passengers had to wait at Frankton Junction from 2.30 until 7 o'clock, passengers nofc reaching Te Awamutu until S p.m., or five and a-half hours late. Had fcho Cambridge engine been sent; for, the passengers might have been home at 5 o'clock, instead of being run into darkness to go home.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of James Ramsay, farmer, of Rangiaohia, was held at the Court House, Te Awamutu on Friday. A statement made by the debtor showed a deficiency of £1,028 7s, and Mr James Ryburn was appointed supervisor of the estate at a remuneration of 2J per cent. The bankrupt was examined, and deposed thafc he had received from Messrs Goodfellow £1,120 since October, 1880, and interest due amounted to over £300. He also entered into particulars of sundry smaller transactions, and also stated that he had not kept books, because of incompetence. He expressed his willingness to renders a cash account of his transactions for the last six months. The creditors present considered that if the debtor could not keep himself books of account, he should not have carried on business as he had done, and obtained large amounts on credit without employing some competent person to keep the accounts for him. The supervisor was requested to confer with the Official Assignee as fco fche immediate realisation of the assets.

Mr F. Beaumont, advance agent for the Simonsen Opera Company, arrived yesterday, and the Company will reach Auckland on Monday week. They open afc the Opera House in "Satanella" on the same night, and judging by the success achieved ih the Soufch, and their attractive repertoire, a rich musical treat should be ensured. Tbe repertoire includes "Maritana," "Madam Angot," "Faust." "La Perichole," "Carman," "Bohemian Girl," " Girofle Girofia," "II Trovatore," " Grand Duchess," "Rose of Castile,' "Martha," "Pinafore," and " Le Cloches de Corneville." Thn season will extend over four weeks, and for the convenience of patrons a subscription list has been opened at Kidd and Wildman's, by which twelve tickets can be obtained for £2 10s.

Conliffe and other prospectors arrived at Invercargill from Pegasus yesterday with several cwt. of alluvial tin, and some pieces of stone that are taken as indications that the lode is not far to seek. Good progress is being made in the tunnels. Conlitle is now assured that tin exists in paying quantities. He has discharged his men and will do no more prospecting. It is said that owing to the ignorance of some of those employed by the syndicate to prospect for them, quantities of worthless sfcuff are likely to bo presented to their employers as tin, and which on assay will be likely to injure the field in the estimation of bhe Governmenb and public.

In musical circles jusb now great interest is being evinced in the Harmonic Society s concert, which eventuates in the Choral Hall on Thursday. On this occasion Madame Pooley,, makes her re-appearance on the concert; platform, and will sing " II Bacio " and " La Serenata," the latter with violin obligato by Mr Charles Hemus. Amongst other contributors are Mr J. C. Sutherland, Miss Knight, and Mr T. M. Jackson. In all there are eighteen items on the programme, and a musical treat may be anticipated. Mr Pooley conducts.