THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 185, 7 August 1890, Page 4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1890.

The persecution of the Jews in Russia, according to a cable despatch which we published the other day, has been revived with increased insensity. An edict has been issued by the Czar which declares that Jews must reside in large towns only, and forbids them owning or farming land. Ten thousand have been expelled from villages and rendered homeless. It is intended to enforce the law compelling Jews to reside in sixteen counties only. It is estimated that a million will be expelled from their present homes, and the opinion not unnaturally prevails that the object of this cruel mandate is to drive all the Jews into overcrowded towns, where they will be decimated by starvation and disease.

The Czar has a larger number of Jews in his dominion than any other European monarch. Not that the " chosen people " have ever received any toleration at the hands of Muscovite rulers. On the contrary, the Jews were always excluded from Russia proper. But under the tolerant rule of Poland, Jews found, for a while, a refuge from the fierce persecutions which were waged against them all over Europe. | From Germany especially a great exodus of Jews took place during the reign in Poland of Casimir the Great, under whose liberal laws the persecuted people flourished greatly. Some of the successors of that enlightened monarch adopted a reactionary policy, and the Jews suffered a good deal of persecution even before the downfall of Poland brought them within the jurisdiction of the Russian despot. Still, they were allowed a good deal of freedom, which was taken away from them by* the conqueror. Under Russian law, the. Jews were confined to certain provinces, and subjected to arbitrary restrictions and taxes. They were debarred from following certain avoca* tions, and became the victims of official tyrannies, aggravated from time to time by outbursts of popular fury, connived at by the authorities.

These cruel conditions have never been ameliorated, and it is astonishing how the three millions—some estimates state the total as five millions—of Jews who live in Russia have survived, and in many instances flonrishe'd, under laws that afforded ihem neither security for life nor property. But it would appear fa the case of the unhappy Russian Jew's that there is " in the lowest deep a lower deep," which they are doomed to sound. For some months past the Semitic subjects of the Czar have had good cause to fear that a new yoke was being fashioned for their necks by the Senate. Attention was drawn to this in a pitiful appeal forwarded by the unfortunate people, in the form' of a petition, to their co - religionists in London early in June. This document, which is referred to in the "Jewish Herald," of Sydney, of the 18th July, implored the influential Jews of London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna "to intervene for upwards of two million Jews, who are to be expelled from their dwellingplaces, and have their means of subsistence cut off.?' The Jewish version ' of the Senate's intentions was as follows :— 1. The decree of 1865, which permitted Jewish handicraftsmen to live in the Russian interior, ie to be abrogated. This will involve the expulsion and pauperisation of 200,000 families and upwards. 2. All Jews who lived in villages before 1882 are to bo expelled. This will affect 500,000 persons. 3. Jews are to be expelled from euch commercial centres as Riga, Libau, Rostow, and other towns on the coast. This will alsso ruin 500,000 coreligionists. 4. The old law of Nicholas—now, except as regards' part of the Galician frontier, a dead letter—which forbade Jews to settle within 50 versts of the frentier, is to be applied to the whole of the Russian frontier —Austrian, German, Roumanian and Turkish- and the 50 versts to be extended bo 100. 5. The existing law, which punishes the relatives of those who escape military service with a fine of 300 roubles, is to be made more severe. 6. Jews living in Poland are to be brought within the operation of the May laws forbidding Jews from leaving their towns to reside in villages, from dealing in spirits, and from renting land from Christians. 7. All Jews employed in the Government service, in however subordinate a capacity, are to be summarily dismissed. The apprehensions of the people were not, it appears, unwarranted, for the terms of the new ukase, as cabled to us, confirm in the main the forecast j contained in the Jewish petition. Every humane person must be deeply moved by the heart-rending cry with which this petition closes : '• For God's sake help us. No time dare be lost. At the beginning of September the new laws will come into iorce. By the God of Israel, by our common brotherhood weconjureyou, do not forsake us!" But how can help be extended to them ? The cruel treatment of the Jews has been denounced in scathing terms by the British press and British statesmen, but if the Czar ever hears anything of these remonstrances, which is very doubtful, h« is deaf to them. True, England or any other great Power might

make these oppressions a casus belli with as much semblance of justice as Alexander 11. had when he invaded Turkey for the avowed purpose of delivering the oppressed Christians ; but there is no likelihood of any Government resorting to such a measure, and even British remonstrances with regard to the grievances of the Russian Jews, might not improbably draw from the Czar the retort that Great Britain would do well to establish peace and contentment among her own subjects in Ireland, before attempting to remedy grievances in other countries. Even agitation among the Russian Jews for the amelioration of their own condition is debarred them, for the Government of the Czar has rather summary methods of stamping out such movements. Altogether, the case of the Jews in Russia is an exceedingly hopeless one, and the only means of ameliorating it appears to lie in the encouragement, by their more well-to-do co-religionists abroad and other sympathisers, of an increasing exodus from the land of bondage to more favoured countries. Already the effect of the persecution has been to drive a large number of Jews from Russia into Palestine, and it may be that this last act of Muscovite barbarism will herald the re-peopling of the Promised Land by. the descendants of Abraham.

Bub little business was transacted at the Police Court this morning. One first-offend-ing inebriate waa fined ss, or in default 24 hours' hard labour. Maria Lysaght for being drunk was fined £3, or 7 clays in default. Mr Joseph Gibbe was fined 2s and costs for not having a registered number on his cart. Hβ stated that the number had fallen off, and he had not replaced it. OurDargaville contemporary says: " Last week we stated that Mr Lodder, late manager of the Northern River (Kaipara) S.N. Company, had gone to Sydney merely for the benefit of his health, and not, as had been reported, for the purpose of obtaining a suitable steamer for the Helensville-Dar-gaville trade. We are now, however, able to state, on excellent authority, that Mr Lodder is fully accredited to select a steamer for the purpose, if he can find a suitable one at a satisfactory price, and to bring her straight back to this port with him. it is full time that faster and more commodious boats were provided for these rivers, and unless the present Company bestir themselves in that direction the splendid trade, both in passengers and cargo,thaii they are now monopolising will slip away from them. No fewer than 6,000 pereoue travelled by the. Kina and Minuie Casey during the last twelve months, and the quantity of kauri gum and other general cargo they carry is steadily increasing. The Auckland Ferry Company are again talking of putting the Eagle into the trade; but although we would have been glad to see the Osprey here last year whenHhe Company promised to send her, we have now come to the conclusion that we must have a better boat than either of them." The master-at-arms of H.M.s. Orlando having arrived from Sydney yesterday, Dr. Giles sat in the afternoon at the Police Court in order to deal with a man named Henry S. C. Jackson. The defendant had deserted from H.M.B. Opal til the 17th of February, 1888. For ednae! time he made a living on the gumfields, but when the winter came on he decided that life on a man-of-war waa preferable and therefore gave himself up to the police. He has been remanded from time to time pending the arrival of a vessel of war. Dr. Giles ordered that the man should be sent on board, and he wa? then handed over to the master-at-arms, who started on his return journey to Sydney last evening. There is something deplorable in the Police Court and declaring that he in unsight of a full-grown man appearing at the able to control a boy nine years of age. Such a parent was spoken to somewhat plainly. a'b the Police Court this morning by the presiding justices, Messrs D. G. MacDonnell and Oliver Mays. A little boy named Vincent Duimovich pleaded guilty to having stolen half a pound of butter, half a loat of bread, and one tin dish containing rice pudding, belonging to Florence Herz. Sergeant-Major Pratt said that although the offence seemed trivial still there had been bo many complaints about pilfering that the police felt it necessary to take action. Mr Duimovick stated in answer to the Bench that he had a wife and three children. He said he could not control the boy. He was a bushman. The Bench said that if the boy was properly trained there was no reason why he should be a thief any more than anyone olse. They considered it to be the fault of him and his wife if a child of nine could not be controlled and was allowed to become a thief. They ordered the boy six strokes with a birch rod, and expressed regret that it was not the parents who were to suffer, as they considered that they were culpable. During the week, says the •* Northern Advocate, , ' business in the mining world has been somewhat dull, owing to the ■wretched state of the weather putting a stop to work of every kind, )ye are able, however, to state autheritatively that the Puhipuhi Prospectors' Company have been successful in getting an offer of funds for the erection of machinery should they fail in disposing of all of the shares now ottered to the public. Applications are receivable for shares up to the 13th August, and nothing can be known at present as to what number will be applied for. It ia expected that quite a large number of applications will be received from Australia, as a good deal of interest has been taken in the claim in Sydney and Melbourne, to both of which places atoue has been sent and tested with highly satisfactory results. Agents are acting in both placss for the Company." A number of Southern people are also expected to apply for share 3, one, a Hawke's Bay man, who was recently here, taking away a number of application forms, stating that he would not only take shares himself, but also induce his friends to do so; A larg** concourse of the inhabitants of Tnakau and adjacent settlements on foot, horseback, and in conveyances, paid a last tribute of respect on Tuesday afteruoon to their late friend, Mr J. Widgery, who now rests beside his granddaughter. Miss Laura Walker, in the Tuakau new cemetery, llev. Mr Carr was the officiating minister, and he read the beautiful eervice in a most impressive and feeling manner. A meeting of the shareholders in the Pinfire Goldmining Company yesterday considered some reports which had been circulated regarding tho genuineness of the investment, and eventually decided that the explanations offered in reference to these reports were sufficiently satisfactory to warrant them in going on with their operations. Every confidence was expressed in the mine and the work of Mr Edwards in connection with it. Another pleasing entertainment, entitled " The Dark Chamber and the Magic Lantern," ia promised to the Sunday-school children of St. Matthew's on Friday evening next. They will be taken a trip round Auckland and afterwards introduced to three English heroes—Jack of the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, and John Gilpin. There will also be a concert) in which the music and recitations will be mainly contribufced by the children,

The Whangaret Heads correspondent of the •'Northern Advocate" writes : The hull of the cutter Rose Blanche, which a few weeks ago was wrecked on the Mangawai beach, was, after a series of persevering efforts, floated off on Monday, 14th inst, and towed safely to port on Tuesday morning. She was later on in the day towed up the harbour to her mooring place close to Mr Aubrey's houee, and as this was being done the melancholy scene revived afresh in the memories of those who witnessed it, as well as those of the other residents who heard it, the sorrowful feelings which the Bad accident; had caused when it happened. Mr Alan Wight, in his report on phylloxera at Whangarei, says :—" I may summarise as follows : Harden and Hanion, very badly infected and very dangerous j Hoey, apparently clean, bub circumstances so suspicious as to render a summer investigation exceedingly desirable; Horn, aenr., some cause of doubt, further investigation desirable; Boult, junr., slightly uncertain, might be looked to. All the others are as yet perfectly clean. From the isolated position of: the majority of the vines at Whangarei we might expect that the progress of phylloxera (as in many of the States of America) will be but slow, and will afford ample time fco get the vines grafted on proof-roots, which is the best, and indeed the only sure and permanent cure. In the district there is a great abundance of Isabella vines, which are generally supposed to be phylloxera-proof, and if such is the case, there will be no difficulty in placing the vines beyond danger this very season.. I have explained to the vine-owners how this can be done without losing a single bunch of grapes and they are more than willing to adopt the plan, in which case Whangarei need give you no further trouble. I wrote at once to my friend, Pro- • fessor Sir C, V. Riley, asking him to inform me by return post whether Isabella is or ie nob phylloxera-proof, and as I have grave doubts of it, I also asked him to inform me if seeds really reliable (in all respects) of proof sorts can' be obtained in America. When answers to these questions arrive, I shall take the liberty of writing to you again. In the meantime I have made an arrangement (subject, of course, to your approval) with Mr Weaver to plant) a large number of Isabella cuttings and to procure and grow a very large quantity of proof stocks from approved American seeds (if they may be landed). Mr Weaver has also agreed to furnish cuttings from hie vines free of charge to anyone requiring them so as to prevent importation from Auckland. At the Onehunga R.M. Court this day, before Dr. Erson, an old man, William Randerson, was charged with vagrancy and sent back to the Costley Refuge and cautioned against roaming from that Institute. Last evening the Church of Christ, Foresters' Hall, held their annual school tea meeting. Over 200 children partook of the abundant tea and at the after meeting sang some exercises, and other special songs, under the leadership of MrC. B. King, to the ereat satisfaction of the audience. Misses M. King, E. Simes, L. Collings, R. Jarvis, L. Picard, and F. Jarvis took the eoloa and duets. Mr Aldridga presided. Recitations were given by Misa Grinrod, E. Aldridge, and F. Picard; song by Miss Dixon ; flute solo, H. Garrett. MrL. Wilcock gave a stirring address and the secretary, Miss Falkner, read the reporb showing the progress made during the year, the roll number being 219 and the attendances satisfactory. During the evening prizes were given for a cake competition, in which the test vtas who could make the beet cake. The cakes to be for the tea, and the competitors being classed by age. In the young ladies'division Miss Falkner, C. Clark, E. Beecrofb, M. Collinee, in the next division Miss L. Munns, V. Payne, B, Afctridge, and the little girls L. 'Hardy, M.. Hamilton, A. Sheldon, F. Slinn all took prizes in the order named,; There,was a writing competition for the boys over thirteen. W. Borbhwick, A. Whitten, L. Falkner , ; under 13 F; Jarvis, M. Strong, E. Aldridge, H. Aldridge in order named gob suitable prizes. The Hall was crowded to its utmost capaciby and a most enjoyable meeting concluded at 9.30. Rev. E. Hampden-Cook, 8.A., spoke a<) Mount Eden Congregational Church last night, on the Second Advent being an event of the past, with its accompaniments of a firsb resurrection and a spiritual judgment of the Jews. The theory he advocates proves to be a reproduction, with certain modifications, of that contained in Dr. Steuarb Russell's remarkable book, "The Parousia." In course of his lecture, whilst drawing attention to the clear predictions given in John v, 29, and. Rev. xx, 12, of a universal resurrection and universal judgment yet to come at the end of the world, he yet insisted that what is commonly spoken of as the second advent is limited throughout the New Testament by plain and emphatic marks of time which connect it indisßolubly with the cloee of the Jewish dispensation, and which no candid and unprejudiced searcher after truth dare evade or explain away. The Book of Revelation loses its value for us if its oft-re-peated statement that it describes events which were then t (but are now no longer) in the immediate 'future, has been falsified. Further, the divine authority and inspiration with which the apostles are believed to have written vanish if they werein error when they one and all ceaselessly and emphati- v * cally insisted that at the time they wrote the day of the Lord was immediately at hand. And he also contended that, worse than all, the commonly acceptedpre-millenarian view of the second advent strikes at the very foundations of our religion, since it will compel the belief that our Lord Himself was in error when He solemnly and emphatically declared that He would personally return to judgment within the lifetime of His contemporaries, and that He would be personally and visibly seen at the destruction of Jerusalem (Matt, xxiv, 30 ; x, 23 ; xvi, 29 ; xxvi, 64 ; xiii, 37; xi, 14 ; Mark i, 15; Luke xviii, 8; xxiii, 30; John xiv, 3; v, 25 compare John xxi, 22. The mere « silence of history proved nothing either way. A concert was given last night>.in St. Sepulchre's Schoolroom in aid of the Kingsland Drum, and Fife Band. There was a large and appreciative audience. The Band have made good progress since their last appearance in public, and the excellent style in which they played " Ehrin on the Rhine" (valse), " Honours Divided," " Woodman, Spare That Tree," speaks for itself of the careful tuition they have received at the hands of their conductor, Mr J. Ewarb. "Thd Anchor's Weighed" was very well rendered by Mr Vinicombe. A pianoforte duet by Misses Spooner and a comic song by Mr.. Dabble were verj Mrly rendered. Mi Ellis sang "The Lighthouse by the Sea," and.got deservedly encored. ■ This gentleman also contributed " My Heart's Best Love," which gave good scope for his baritone voice. Miss Coombes contributed a solo in a very pleasing manner. The comic songs by Mr Nairn caused considerable amusement. A solo by Mrs Anderson, "Waiting," was sung with capital effect. The orchestra, under the leadership of Mr J. Ewart, played two or three selections during the evening. A very enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the laughable farce, "Tweedleton's Tail Coat," by the Southern Cross Amateur Dramatic Company. The indefatigable secretary, Mr Thos. Rose, deserves a word of praise for the manner in which he carried the programme through. This evening the second anniversary of the Edendale Presbyterian Mission will be celebrated by a soiree and concert in the Mission Hall. An excellent musical programme has been provided, and the affair is expected to be well attended. The Rev. R. Scott West will preside. Tea will be on the tables ab half-past six. A 'bus! leaves for town after the concert, the return! fair beipg only sixpence,

Afc the meeting of the City Council tonight the question of the continuance or otherwise of the abattoirs will be discussed The Committee appointed to consider this question have prepared a report recommending that the abattoirs be closed. Lady Stout will be the guest of Mrs J A. Tole, New-street, Pousonby, during her sojourn in Auckland. The sum of £300 has, says the "Northern Advocate," been paid over to the Puhipuhi Caledonian Company by an Auckland gentleman for a three-seventeenths interest in the mine, the sum to be used in opening up and prospecting the mine. The shareholders meet to-night for the purpose of electing a working committee, and to decide upon the besb way of opening up the mine, and also to arrange preliminaries for registering the Company under the Mining Companies' Act (with no liability). A hundredweight parcel of the or© has beon sent to Mr James Napier, Waiorongomai, to ascertain its va'luo and best mode of treatment. It will be remembered that tbe ore assayed from this mine by Mr Pond went over 30oz to the ton, that) Mr Galbraith's assay was ever 60oz to the ton, and that the Thames School of Mines gob from one ton. The ore is a hematite and the gold is invisible. Three shares in the Star of Waiariki, a thirty-acre holding adjoining the Caledonian, were sold during the week for £50, to an Auckland gentleman. This claim is most favourably situated, being between the Caledonian and the Ruby Silver. The Tongan correspondent of the "Samoa Times" makes some Btrange statements relative to the prices of oranges in Auckland in the following letter:— " But few oranges are gathered in the town of Nieafou itself, the owners of the trees having formed themselves into a ' ring, , and holding out for a stiff price. The eaying that ' all things come to him who waits ' may bo perfectly true, but I am seriously afraid thafc in this case the nativos of Nieafou will wait a lone , time before 2s a hundred comes to them as the price of their golden fruit. The two last shipments wore certainly nob a success. Each oransre case costs Is, and the oranges in it — about 150 — 2a, and the freight Is —in all §1, yet many of these cases of fruit in good condition were hawked about the streets of Auckland at Is the case. One "shipper averaged only 4d a case for his fruit, and lost some £16 or £18 in freight alone. NotWithstanding these losses, the traders were as busy as bees and by the time the Wainui returned from Samoa there were some 3,000 cases packed waiting for her." _As our readers are aware, 6d per dozen is the lowest price at which oranges were hawked about the streets of Auckland, and that was an exceptional case. The usual fortnightly meeting of the St* Peter's Mutual Improvement Society was held last evening in the presence of about sixty members and friends. An interesting debate took place, the subject being "Is Marriage a Failure?" Mr E. Walton taking the affirmative and Mr Spiers the negative. The argument that followed was both interesting and amusing. The younger members especially took a prominent parb, the married meh_ contentedly keeping: their opinions to themselves, perhaps in fear of saying too much. After the Chairman (Rev. It. Sommerville) had made a few closing remarks, the question was put to the vote, whether "marriage was a failure or not ?" the result being a tie, the Chairman deciding nofe to use his caeting vote. The Hope of Parnell Lodge, No. 3, 1.0. G.T., celebrated its 17th anniversary last evening by a concert. The tea was held in the Lodge-room, Russell-street, and the hall was crowded by both adults and juveriiles. The lady membors of the Lodge waited ably at the tables. The feast being over, theassemblage crossed over tbe road to the Scarboro'-streeb Hall, where the concert wae to be. held. The following programme was gone through, the fudience being very enthusiastic throughiut: —Chairman's speech, Captain Leßoy ; glee, "The Bells," Company; song, sentimental, Miss King ; song, comic, Mr W. Perry (encored); pianoforte aolo, Master Worrall; song, Mrs Maxwell; song,cOmie, Mr Boulter (encored); ecmg, Mrs Button ; song, Mr <X Burrow ; pianoforte solo, Miss Good ; song, Miss Turk ; song, comic, Mr C. Double, followed by a laughable farce entitled "Cool as a Cucumber," By Messrs C. A. and J. Burrow, and W. Perry and Misses A. Cox and M. Hay ward. Sister Elakeley, of the Helping Hand Mission, Freeman's Bay, desires to thank Mrs C. B. Stone's Ladies' Sewing Meeting for the gift of children's dresses and undergarments for her poor people. Also to gratefully acknowledge bundles of lefb-off clothing from Mrs Thomson, Princes-street; Mrs Parkinson, Victoria-street; Mrs Spargo, Hobson-street; Mrs Barry, Ponsonby ; Mrs Wilson, Collingwoed • street; Mrs Layer, Kyber Pass; Mra John McKenzie, Franklin Road ; Miss Sheddan, Franklin Road ; Miss Newcombe, Symonds-streeb; for clothing and money for boobs and food, friend, from North Shore, and others ; Mr "vViseman, for gifb of books for lending purpbses; the Scripture Gifb Association, brinks for landing purposes; Dr. Kenderdit\e, for medical attendance. It would gratify the friends of this cause to see how these little gifts are appreciated by the many very poor with whom Sister Blakeley comes in contact dailj\ The need is very great, and clothing and funds will be very gladly received by her at Bennett's Chambers, Queen street, or at Lower Hepburn-street; when she will be pleased to give any information. Employment for ■w omen urgently wanted. . The Auckland Tabernacle people might be 'excused for somewhab bombastically calling their concert last evening a special entertainment, eince it was certainly far ] above the average of amateur concerts ift Auckland. The attendance was excellent, and all the items were first-class. Pianoforte solos were played by Mies A. L. Colegrove, "The Cascade" (Ernest Paver), and Mendelssohn's " Serenade allegro," beino- rendered in fine style. Mies Lester also "played a Minuet by Bocheririi. Mr Boak recited "Caged," or "The Jailbird's Story," and "Libfcle Nell. in a manner that caused him to be recalled. Mr W. W. Cox recited " Rhoderick Dhu " admirably, and Mr ,W. Turley " The Uncle." Miss Walker sang "The Winters Story " (Watson) in an agreeable manner, whilst Miss Davies did full justice to Sullivan's beautiful song, " Will He Come. } The Misses Davies also eang Blockleys charming duet, " The Convent Bells." Mr W. Martin was in . good yo>ce lasb night, and his rendition of Moirs song "Besb of All" was fine, the effecb being heightened by the flute oblieabo. " Queen of the Earth " was well rendered by Mr H. Bradney, and Mr R. Abel was beard to advatage m Judes «' Better Land." Mr J. Johnston also sang "The Village Blacksmith" (Weiss) in a manner that called forth prolonged applause. The ' rocal quartette 'I he Woode" (Mendelssohn) was nicely sung by Misses and Mr Colegrove and Mr W. Martin. One of the finest items on this splendid programme was an instrumental trio, " A Barcarole " by A. Fesca being bhe piece selected. Mrs limes officiated the piano, whilsb her husband played the flute and Mr Cook the baesoo. During the interval ample refreshments were handed round. A musical treat will be provided at the Choral Hall to-morrow evening, when tbe second concert of the season in connection with the Auckland Orchestral Union will be held. Mrs Bahnson will sing an air pom "DerFreischutz," and a "R 0 " 0 *"" V Heiee. Mr P. Dufaur and Mr T. M. Jackson are also announced in the programme. Excellent instrumental numbers havfli been prepared by bhe Union, conducted py wr U, A, Paque,