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Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 82, 8 April 1891, Page 4

There was no business of ony importance for the City Schools Commibtee to transact when they mob last night. Mr Blades was in the chair, and there were presenb Messrs Farrell, Sherson, Crowther and Dr. Walker. Ib was stated that none of the candidates for the Board of Education vacancy had been nominated by the Committee. Nominations for the election of a new Committee musb be forwarded to tbe Chairman on or before Monday week.

Minnie Silva Waymouth was this morning charged at the Police Courb with stealing 4 yards of flannel and an assortment of other articles, valued in all at £2 15s, the property of Edward Mills. Mr E. W. Burton appeared for accused. The police were not propared to go on with the case, and an adjournment was granted till next Saturday. Accused was admitted to bail, himself in £10, and one surety of £10.

Quite a number of oversea sailing vessels arrived in the port of Auckland last night and this morning, including six from Australia and a barque from Fiji. To-morrow the large cargo-steamer Maori is due here from Melbourne to load frozen meat,

Yesterday aiternoon, Lord Onslow, accompanied by the Countess of Onslow, Admiral Lord Charles Scott, Lady Scott, Captain Barlow (H.M.s. Orlando), Captain Grenfell (H.M.s. Cordelia), Captain Guthrie, A.8.C., and Mr Walrond, tho Governor's private secretary, paid a visit of inspection to Mr Thomas Morrin's stud farm at Mount Wellington. The Governor drove the party out himself in a four-in-hand, and on arrival at the Park the viceregal party were heartily welcomed by Mr and Mrs Morrin, and several friends, including Mrs L. D. Nathan, Mrs N. A. Nathan, Mr and Mrs C. C. McMillan, Mr and Mrs H. Thompson, and the Rev. Monsignor McDonald. The whole of the stud of equine celebrities were inspected, and Lord Onslow was loud in praise of the different animals brought under his notice. Captain Grenfell, an expert with the camera, secured excellent negatives of the four stallions located at Mount Wellington, and several of the brood mares and foals. During the afternoon the whole party were hospitably ontertained by Mr and Mrs Morrin.

The official inquiry into the loss of the ill-fated steamer Kakanui of Macquarries "fame," has opened at Dunedin, and promises to last some days. A considerable amount of evidence was taken yesterday by the Board of Inquiry. Keith Ramsay, owner of the steamer, gave evidence as to her outfit and general fitness of the vessel, and expert evidence was also given by Christian Hansen (shipmaster), J. Morgan (Insurance Companies), R. Sparrow and Jos. Sparrow (builders of the steamer). Captain Thomson (Lloyd's surveyor), A. B. Campbell, C. W. Chamberlain (Collector of Customs), and H. C. Mellish (manager for Mr Hatch at Macquarrie Island). The latter said that the Kakanui reached the Macquarries on the 3rd January. The captain and two men tried to land in a diugy, but could not, and the whaleboat was landed, Mr Stewart and four of the crew landing. Witness' wife said she would not go back in the Kakanui, as she did not like the look of her, being too deep. Witness read and explained Hatch's letter to the men, and some of them said, "Oh, Hatch is bound to make some excuse; we won't trust him, but we'll trust the Government." The vessel only stayed about an hour and a-half altogether. He had advised Captain Best to go away, or he would not get away at all. The wind changed to the westward, and blew stronger than he had known it for sixteen years. The Kakanui would then be about 100 to 150 miles from the island. The wind was 30 strong that ifc blew over a house which had stood many gales, and stones a« largo as marbles were lifted into the air by the force of the wind.

before Mr S. Y. CollinSand J. D. Crawford, J. P.'s, there were a number of drunks this morning ab the Police Court. Jos. Whalen for a second offence was fined 10s and costs; Ann Swift was fined £3 or 14 days, and Joseph Mannix the same ; James Clare was fined 20s or 7 days for being drunk and disorderly ; two first offenders were fined each 5s and costs ; and one out on bail did not appear and had his bail estreated.

A fair-complexioned man with rather a blotched countenance and wearing a seedy suit is at present engaged in the sneak thief business in our suburbs. His style of work ia to go to a house and knock quietly to see if anybody is in. If an answer comes to his knock he inquires for Brown or Jones and goes away. But if no one comes the windows are tried, and, if open, sundry artic'.es disappear. He is not a violent thief, for the other morning he gave back without a murmur a ring he had stolen. He had knocked and got no answer ; the lady of the house, thinking it was her mother, called round to see her. The sneak opened a.window, put his hand in, and rattled the things on the toilet-table. - The lady, hearing the noise, went to tbe front and caught the thief. He asked for McPherson, but on tho lady remarking that she wouid call the man next door, he said : " I see you've watched me. Here it is," and handed back the ring. This man is said to be an old hand at the business.

The charge of murder against Tbos. Floyd or Fry was heard this morning at the Police Court. Inspector Broham asked that ib should tako precedence of other caces, but as there was not a third justice (Mr Crawford, J.P.,being a witness), it had to be postponed. Mr Broham commented on there not being a proper Bench for such an important case, but the clerk, Mr Haultain, explained that ib was not known till 10 o'clock this morning that Dr. Giles, R. M., would not be present, and from thab time there had been going on a search for a justice. The clerk had received a note from Dr. Giles stating that he was prevented by illness from attendance.

There was a good attendance at the concert and dance held in the Newmarket Hall last evening, in aid of the WidowMcCarthy and family, and a tidy sum was netted, which is to be handed over to the beiieficiaire. An excellent musical programme was gone through, the items being conbributed mainly by local residents. W. Murphy, Eden Terrace, writes stating that he was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on the I9th February, suffering from a fractured leg, and that he left the Hospital on the 14th of March, being then able to get home on crutches He says : "I cannot speak too highly of the ability and kindness I received from Dr. Collins while in the above institution, and any patient I spoke to while there, gave him the highest praise. I also thank the nurses of No. 1 Ward for their kind attention.' The Onehunga Musical Society intends to perform "Sanford's Revenge," a ballad of the Fleet, the words by Lord Tennyson. The naval engagement which this poem celebrates took place off the island of Flones on the 31st August, 1691, jusb 200 years ago, between the Revenge, an English ship, commanded by Sir Richard Grenville, and 53 Spanish line of battle ships. After fighting all day the Revenge was captured and manned by a Spanish crew, but a gale sprang up and she was lost on the island. The anniversary soiree of the Sundayschool connected with the Pitt and Vincentstreet United Free Methodist Church took place lasb evening, when there was a large attendance. About 140 partook of the tea in the school-room, the tables being presided over by Mesdames Booth and Waterhouse, Misses Mason, Knight, Hill (2), Wheeler, Manson, Tattersall, Tudehope, and Bain. At half-past seven a public meeting was held in the church, Mr E. Withy presiding. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. T. Sherwood and E. 0. Perry, and several musical selections were rendered by the members of the choir during the evening. A meeting of the Pitt-st. Wesleyan Band of Hope was held on Monday sight in the schoolroom. Mr G. Winstone occupied the chair. The following items were contributed : —Piano solo, Miss E. Marty n; recitation, Miss B. and Master F. Souter ; song, Master G. Boulton ; pianoforte duet, Miss M. and Master A. Peak ; recitation, Mr H. Watkins, who also responded to a recall. Mr Macdermott (Auckland Band of Hope Union) was the speaker. He pointed put the strides the temperance cause bad taken during the reign of Her Majesty. Pianoforte duet by Misses Taylor and Jackman. The Chairman then presented the certificates won by the scholars at the late Sunday-school Industrial Exhibition. He spoke of them as a work of art, and also mentioned the fact that they were produced in this city. Fifty-two certificates were distributed. There was a large attendance.

Herbert Hotham was this morning fined 108 and costs at the Police Court for working a horse with a sore back. William Redgate and Constable Collis gave evidence of the offence, which took place at Devonport. Defendant did not appear. Mr E. T. Dufaur appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Humane Society. The annual meeting of the Native Rosa Football Club was held last evening, when 20 new members were elected. Ib was decided to play for the Junior Cup. The following officers were elected .-—President, Mr J. Foley ; vice-presidents, Mr W. Wright, Mr M. Keesing, Mr G. A. Coles; captain, Mr H. Hales; vice-captain, Mr Blewden; committee, Messrs Hales, Blewden, and McKenzie ; delegate to Union, Mr A. J. Farauhar. It was decided to hold the first practice on Saturday week.

A special meeting of the Auckland Yachb Club was held last evening in the Auckland Harbour Board's Buildings, for the purpose of considering the question of rules for the proposed New Zealand Yachting Association and other matters. There were present : The Commodore, Mr J. Wiseman (in the chair), Messrs J. B. Graham, T. Henderson, Goldie, Bindon, Reynolds, Little, Waymouth, Ross, Gibbs, and MacCormick; On the motion of Mr J. Waymouth, the following new rule, previously tabled, to prevent evasion of sail area measurement regutions re yachts, was passed :—" That if the topmast be longer from masthounds to pia sheave, then 9-10 th of the length of the mast from deck to hounds, such extra length ba added to the three-fourths of the length of the mast mentioned in the rule." The proposed rules for the mooted Yachting Association were then considered, tha Committee having brought up a report on them, making amendments in some respects. Several additions and alterations to the draft were made. After considering these seriatim, ifc was decided to forward them to the Secretary of the Yachting! Association as approved of by the Auckland' Club. The question of amateurs and professionals then came up, and after some little discussion Mr Henderson gave notice of the following motion:—"That thia club holds an amateur yachtsman to be ona who has not received any remuneration for his service in sailing any yacht." It waa decided that it was too late in the season now to hold a "rescue" competition for yachts, as hnd been proposed, and tha matter was accordingly deferred until nexft year.

Among other business considered by tha General Council oi the Gospel Temperance Mission ab the meeting held yesterday was the advisability of the executive officers signing testimonials without first calling a Council meeting. The discussion arosa through the action of the Chairman ia authorising the Secretary to sign the letter of sympathy presented to Pastor Birch lasb evening. Pastor Birch proposed the following resolution, which was carried, " That the officers of the Society shall, before officially signing any testimonial, call a meeting of the Council, and thab Mr C. B. Stone be asked to remove the word ' Secretary ' from the testimonial recently signed." Regret was expressed that from a letter published by an ex-President of the Mission the public had inferred that tha Secretary had obtained permission to sign the testimonial by false pretences, and ib was resolved to giv6 publicity to the fact that the permission was not obtained bythe Secretary, and that in signing it he simply did his duty.

David Thomas Fox, according to his wife's story in the Police Court witness box thi3 morning, has been iv the habit of getting drunk and leaving her to provide for herself as best she may ; and on Monday evening lasb capped the climax by coming home drunk, and twistine her asm when' she remonstrated with him. He denied tho charge of twisting her arm, but Messrs Collins and Crawford, fined bim '5i and costs, and ordered him to find sureties for £25 to be of good behaviour for three months. At the same time they warned him that he was in danger of a much, heavier sentence, and advised him to give up drink and look after his wife and family decently.

Mr C. J. Owen, who has been for some years in the Christchurch Office of tho Mutual Life Association of Australasia as accountant, has been promoted from bhaf> position to that ot district agent for Wellington, vice Mr Alfred Gilbert, who recently received the appointment of Secretary for the South Island for this flourishing Association. MrW.H.Metcalf, who has conducted *the Wellineton business since Mr Gilbert's departure for the South, has been appointed to a prominent position ia the Association's principal oflice at Sydney. Mr Owen is a young Aucklander, and was for years a resident of Ponsonby, where his parents reside.

At the meeting of members of the Tabernacle Church held on Monday night, the letter sent by Pastor Birch requesting the cancellation of a vote of censure passed upon him was taken into consideration. There was also submitted the circular referred to in our issue of Friday last. A vote of censure on the officers who had issued this circular was defeated by a large majority. A motion to rescind the vote of censure passed on Mr Birch was ruled out of order, the necessary notice nob having been given, whereupon it was moved,' "That this church regrets the vote of censure which has been passed upon Mr: Birch." An amendment was moved, " That ib is inexpedient to re-open any matters in connection with Mr Birch's pastorate," and this was carried, the motion being lost.

The eleventh annual exhibition of the Christchurch Art Society was oponed last night by Mr Beetham, president, who said that every art society in New Zealand was represented, and pictures were sent from places where there was no art society. There are 212 original works. In spite of the heavy expenditure on building, the society had £190 in hand. They were en-: deavouring to got an additional grant of land for further building:. The society had to lament the death of Mr Vesey Hamilton, the art critic for the Lyttelton "Times," who would be sorely missed.

. The late Mr Hingston, of Te Puke, Tauranga, who was drowned while bathing in the Waihi Creek, near Maketu, on Easter Monday, was one of the special settlers brought out some years ago by Mr Vesey Stewart in the ship Lady Jocelyn. His body was recovered by a Maori in a canoe, and all attempts to resuscitate it failed.

Last evening a.meeting of the Commitbefi of the city and suburban tire brigades appointed, to arrange details for the reception of the. Southern Fire Brigade delegates, was held ab the Central F' r e Brigade station, Superintendent Hughes presiding. Votes of thanks were accorded to all who had assisted in making the Conference' a success, to the Mayor, to Mr Adam Cairns, and others.

The congregation of the North Shore Wesleyan Church have fare welled the Rev. J. Dukes, who goes to Masterton, and have passed the following resolution :—" That the quarterly meeting placos on record its sincere thanks to the Rev. J. Dukes for the faithful and energetic manner in which the spiritual and financial responsibilities have been carried on during his term in the circuit, and trusts. thab the divine blessing may follow his labours in his new circuit. Also that the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to Mrs Dukes for her hearty cooperation in everything pertaining to the best interests of the church."

Owing to the bad weather the orphanage picnic and sports which were to have been held at Motutapu to-morrow, are postponed. The affair will come off on; Monday,