The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo, MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 194, 18 August 1890, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo,

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1890.

*— For the cause that lacks assistance,. For the wrong that needs resistance, _or the future In the distance 4__ the good that we can do. .

The Behring Sea difficulty, according to our cable despatches to-day, is still causing some uneasiness. From American papers by the Sin Francisco mail, it would appear that a consider, able amount of excitement prevailed at one time in consequence of a report that Sir Julian Pauncefote, the Briti-h Am. bassador at Washington; had broken off diplomatic negotiations with Mr Blame upon the subject, with an intimation that should any vessel sailing under the flag of Great Britain be seized in Alaskan waters by United States revenue cutters, the entire British squadron lying off Victoria would be instructed to recapture the prize at any cost, without regard to possible consequences. It was pointed out that under the laws of nations, recapture of Canadian sealers by British men-of-war would not, of necessity, constitute an act of war. Nevertheless, the gravest apprehensions were considered to be warranted by the situation. The assembling of a powerful squadron at Esquimault gave colour to the current rumours. These vessels comprised the flagship Warsprite, a firstclass armoured cruiser of 8,400 tons, commanded by Rear-Admiral Hotham, ;C.8., H.M. Amphion, H.M. Champion, and H.M. sloops Daphne, Espiegle, and Nymphe. Rear-Admiral Hotham, on his arrival at Victoria, British Columbia, was promptly interviewed by a representative of the Press Association, but he positively denied that he had received any instructions to send any of the fleet to the North to protect British vessels from seizure by American cutters, or to retake any that might be seized in Behring Sea. The only reason he had to give for the presence of so many ships in port was that on taking command of the squadron it was natural fdr him to want to see as many of the ships as possible at the summer headquarters at Esquimault. He considered that the question ofthe Behring Sea Was purely one for diplomatic adjustment He could hardly see how the United States could establish a tenable claim 1 to close the Behring Sea, and thought that Canadian interests must win-in the fight now progressing. • The claim made by the JJnited States Government to exclusive rights dyer this vast sea. is cWtainly a very extraordinary drieY Adedrding td international law, a nation has only jurisdiction over the sea to a distance of

three miles from its coasts, whereas the narrowest part of Behring Strait is thirty-six miles, while the sea over which the American Government has claimed the right of seizure extends to a width of hundreds of miles. The American claim is founded upon a contention set up by the Russian Government many years ago, as owner of the territory on both sides of Behring Sea. This right, it is asserted, was transferred to the United States Government with the sale of Alaska. But in his correspondence with Mr Blame upon this subject, Sir Julian Pauncefote pointed out that not only had Great Britain always refused to acknowledge Russian supremacy in Behring Sea, but that the United States was the first to resist it and declare that the United States could never agree to any such pretension. In proof of this Sir Julian cited to him the correspondence between the Russian and United States Governments, and also the treaty of 1824 between Russia and the United States relative to navigation, fishing apd trading in the Pacific Ocean, which' expressly provided that the subjects, ofthe contracting powers should not be disturbed or restrained either in navigation or in fishing in any part of the Pacific Ocean. It has been so well understood that tbe United States never agreed to the claim set up by Russia, relative to its exclusive jurisdiction over Behring Sea, that Sir Julian contended that Mr Blame could not at this late day make a claim which the United States had protested against nearly seventy years ago. The correspondence was conducted on both sides with considerable skill, but Mr Blame was compelled to abandon most of his positions as untenable, and he finally assented to the proposition advanced by the British Minister, which was to prevent the destruction of seals in the breeding season and to keep British and Canadian fishing vessels away from the vicinity of the Pribylov group of islands until the matter could be referred to a joint commission, appointed by both Governments. The President, however, would not consent to the compromise, and a breach occurred in the negotiations'which gave rise to the sensational rumours already referred to. But although the United States Government declined formally to ratify an arrangement in open violation of an enactment passed by Congress only last year, directing the President to warn all persons against entering these waters for the purpose of capturing seals, and to cause one or more vessels of the United States to patrol the sea and arrest all persons and seize all vessels found to be, or to have been, engaged in any violation of the laws of the United States therein, yet it was well understood that in consequence of the firm attitude adopted by Lord Salisbury the United Stat.es revenue cruisers in Behring Sea had received instructions to avoid capturing Canadian vessels, and further friction has thus been avoided. Already the claims arising out of previous captures amount to about We have no doubt whatever that the matter will be amicably adjusted, and that at the same time some arrangement will be made for the protection of seals during the breeding season. But though it is impossible to believe that the United States would, upon the strength of so untenable a claim, persist in committing acts necessitating physical resistance by Great Britain for the protection of its subjects, the position seems yet sufficiently strained to justify the London "Standard" in entertaining some misgivings with regard to its amicable adjustment. Our cables bo day state that in commenting on the diplomatic relations with the United States Government re the Behring Sea fisheries dispute, tho English press generally applaud the action of the Marquis of Salisbury, and the firmness bhat was shown by him. The " London Standard," while admitting that the position is not without misgivings, considers thab England cannob surrender the Canadian righbs to those waters. A despatch sent by the Marquis of Salisbury to bhe United States Governmenb, on Augusb 2nd, refutes and disallows Mr Blame's proposals that the question be referred to arbitration. New Zealand is, says a Melbourne paper, the healthiest country in the world—-not one of bhe healthiest, bub the healthiest. Statistics just published vouch this fact, its finances may be shaky, but the basis of the population is sound. The l a -t census of tho colony was taken in-1886, and in 1888 the execs- of births over deaths in the whole population of under 608,000 amounted to no less than 13,194. The whole surplus of births over deaths in Franco, with a population of 38,000,000, was 52,000 during, bhe same ' period. The average number of children in a family in New Zealand in 1888 was 530, to 4-16 in England and Wales, and 2 95 in France ; but notwibhsbanding this high birth rate, which in a.European counbry would inevitably be followed by a high death rate, bhe mortality in New Zealand in 1888 was only 9"43 per thousand, as againsb 18-8 per bhousand in England in 1887, and 22 per bhousand in France. Messrs J. P. King and H. Wade, Jusbioes, presided ab bhe Police Courb this morning. Two first offehdine inebriates were each fined ss, or in default bwenby-four hours' hard labour. Mary Ann Clark was charged wibh having used provoking language towards Margaret Grant. After hearing the evidence, the Bench dismissed the information, expressing the opinion thab the charge was of a trivial nature. James Grant was charged under the compulsory clause of the Education Act with having neglected to send bis daughter to school. Mr Small appeared on behalf ;of the School Committee, and obtained an order thab bhe girl should be sent to school. Costß were allowed. The streets in the suburbs are very bad in some places ab the presenb time, and in Ponsonby especially the number of ward workmen is nob .sufficient to keep pace With the repairs necessary. Or; Swales has, therefore, given notice 6f his intention to move e-bli-i next meeting of bhe Ciby *'Thab, on account of the greab amount df urgent tfork required to,be done in the Ponsonby Ward, the Engineer be instructed to supply two or three extra workmen in order to meet the pressing demands of this ward."

Our local Bankruptcy Courb promises to make quibe a record at present. Not a single bankruptcy has occurred in the Auckland branch since bhe changes took place in the office three weeks ago. Everybody wants to know who will break the ice. Since the above was in type the record 'has been spoilt. This afternoon Peter Davidson, of Te Ahuahu (Bay of Islands), hobelkeeper, filed his petition to be adjudicated a bankrupt. Mr Alexander, business manager f° r Messrs Wirth Bros., returned by the R.M.s. Mariposa on Saturday nighb from San Francisco, having completed arrangement for bhe visib of tho Wild Wesb Show to these colonies. Mr Wirth leaves 'Frisco on the 23rd instant for Auckland, when he takes with him the Indians, Mexicans and cowboys engaged in Arizona by John Sutton; The Indians aro fine specimens, each over six feet tall, and are under a six months' conbracb, and their return is guaranteed by agreement with the Government Agent. It isinbended to open the show here in tho Metropolitan Grounds at the back of Governmenb House, if possible. Tho exhibition will, wibhoub doubt, creabe a furore in bhese colonies. Mr D'Orsay Ogden, the well-known actor and theatrical impresario, arrived in town on Saturday evening from San Francisco by bhe R.M.s. Maripoßa, having made arrangemenbs for several American theatrical novelties for these colonies. AtproviousmailadvicesMr Ogden had been running- a theatre ab Honolulu. He states thab Mr F. Meades, lessee of the Grand Opera House ab San Francisco, has arranged for bhe companies of Mr Joo Grismer, Miss Davis, Mons. Hugh. Herman, and bhe Bostonian Opera Company to visib bhe Ausbralian colonies. Tbey will all play first in Auckland before going on bo Ausbralia. Mr Grismer and his Company open their season here in November next, aud the other troupes follow in rotation. Mons. Gounod, wibh hiß Grand Opera Company, now playing at 'Frisco, may possibly come on to Auckland and Australia. In dealing with the subject of " The Influence of Christianity upon Slavery," ab bhe Opera House, on Sunday afternoon, Mr G. Aldridge gave a vivid and bhrilling description of slavery as it existed in the ancient Roman Empire. Mr Aldridge then showed how the principles of Christian teaching brought aboub gradually a bobber sbabe of bhings. Ho drew a broad disbincbion bebween the Church and Christianity. Christian bodies had frequently erred in their attibude towards social reforms, bub Christianiby is thab which centres in or is drawn from Christ. Christianity ameliorated the condition of the slave by beaching tho docbrine of equaliby, and by teaching the digniby of labour. Ib gradually affecbed legislation, and in the reign of Constantino a number of enactments were passed in favour of the slaves. The early Christian Fathers used their influence for the abolition of slavery. Mr Aldridge quoted from a number of authors in support of his position, and the lecture was listened to by a large and deeply-interested audience. A presentation of a photographic album to Miss Kato Sheehan by themembersof the Guard of Honour Society took place at their meebing at St. Patrick's Cathedral, yesterday afternoon. Miss Sheehan has been president of bhe Society since its formation, and her gentle demeanour and evident earnestness in bhe work ot tbe sodality has made hor a great favourite wibh bhe Guard of Honour young ladies. Miss Sheehan has been on a visib to New Plymouth recently, and it was determined bo prepare a little surprise for her on her return. The album contains the photos of all the members, and a short poem, expressive of good wishes, composed by Miss C. Lorrigan, accompanies It. The Rev. Father Hackett (spiritual director) made the presentation on behalf of the Society ; but MisaSheehan wastoo overcome to reply. She could only Bay thab she had long wished bo hare the photos of the members, bub had never expected their beautiful gift, and felt she did nob deserve ib. Ib is hoped thab she may be long spared to continue ber unobtrusive work in connection wibh Sb. Patrick's Cathedral. The Thames footballers who visited Auckland on Saturday returned by the s.s. Rotomahana yesborday aftornoon. The Wanderers were beaten by Ponsonby, and the Nationals beat Albany. Both teams were entertained by their opponents on Saturday evening. The competitive examination on Dr. Ridge's Band of Hope Catechism is bo bo held on Friday next in the following districts :—Aratapu, Avondale, Cambridge, Devonport, Drury, Henderson (and Swanson), Helonsville, Howick, Kamo, Mahurangi, Maungatoroto, Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Newton East, Newton Wesb (Arch Hill, Surrey Hills, and Kingsland), Ngaruawahia, North Alberbland, Onehunga, Parnell, Paparoa, Paterangi, Ponsonby, Porb Albert, Pukekohe (East and West. Bombay, and Tuakau), Takapuna, Thames, Tauranga, Te Aroha (and Waiorongomai), Totara North, and ab tbe Temperance Hall, Albert-street. Full instructions have been sent to each competitor, but incase of any miscarriage, competitors who fail to receive the same are requested to attend at the Temperance Hall nob later than 7 o'clock next Friday evening. In the meantime copies of regulations may be obtained from Messrs Hill and Co., Victoria-street West. Notwithstanding,the unpleasant abate of the weather on Saturday nighb last, the friends who had promised the programme at the Sailors' Mission Hall braved the elements, and came across the water from Devonport en matse, bringing with them one of the best programmes yet given in connection with the seamen's weekly concerts. Amongst the mosb interesting items on bhe programme were four dialogues, which were faibhfully given, heartily enjoyed, aiid well received. Among tbe vocal eems, we might notice two pretty pieces by a young lady of nine years (Miss Willetts), "Always Take Mother's Advice" and "Riding on a Load of Hay," and three quartettes excellently rendered by two lady and two gentleman members of tbe choir. Mrs Clark was really good in her rendition of the solo, " Eastern Window." Mr Whitham presided, and the Band of Hope pianist (Miss Lander) left nothing to be desired from a musical.point of view. The " Olive Branch "Band of Hope will provide the concert next week. Mr Crosher's course of lectures on " Electricity" have been so much appreciated that he has consented to give a fourth lecture on Thursday next, when a grand display of electrical apparatus, including the celebrated Wimshurst machine (7 inch spark), and many new illustrations, will be given. Special services were held in the Alex-andra-street Primitive Methodist Church during yesterday, in honour of tho reopening of tbe building after bhe recent repairs. The Rev. Mr Salter conducted service in the morning, the Rev. Mr Birch in the afternoon, and the' Rev. A. J. Smith in the evening, all the services being well attended. The choir rendered special selections of music. A sacred concert is to be held to-morrow evening in connection wibh the church, and His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. H. Upton) will probably preside. This evening, Professor Brown, ofthe University College, will deliver a lecture at the Auckland Institute on "John Dalton and His Work." Dalton was the discoverer of the atomic theory, on which the whole of the modern science of chemistry is built, and ft popular account'of his life and work canpob fail tpibe interesting. Fowlds, Victoria Arcade, is Clearing Out his Choice Stock of Gent's Ties, Scarfs, and Hats ab Greatly Reduced Prices,--(Advfe.)