Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1891, Page 4

By the end of this week H.M.s. now in dock, will be the only warship lot't in Auckland harbour. Admiral Scott has decided to leave for Sydney to. morrow in the flagship Orlando. H.M.s. Cordelia, Captain Grenfell, leaves on Friday for Samoa. H. M. gunboat Goldfinch, Captain Kingsmill, is to leave in a day or two for Rarotcnga direct, and H.M.s. Lizard will most likely leave for Australia on Thursday or Friday. The stay of the Squadron in the VVaitemata has on this occasion, as on previous visits, resulted in considerable pecuniary benefit to the tradesmen of the place, and it is estimated that several thousands of pounds sterling per week have been spent by the various worships in port during their sojourn here. The officers and men of all the ahipa agree in pronouncing their stay here very enjoyable, and those amongst them who have hitherto been strangers to Auckland have formed excellent opinions of the city and surroundings generally. A large quantity of stores arrived from Sydney this morning by the e.s. , Manapouri, for the squadron, and during the day they were being shipped off to the Orlando and the other ships by the cutter Stag and the ships' boats. The Orlando • and Cordelia were getting all hands of their crew on board today, in readiness for sailing. There are iour deserters at large, two seamen from the Orlando, and two from the Cordelia, and ft diligent search was being made for them to-day. Last evening the master-at-arms of the Cordelia had a rather exciting chase after a recalciterant sailor in the vicinity of Swanson-streeb. The errant blue-jacket was at last ignominiously " collared " by the leg in the act of ecrambing over a fence, and taken back to his ship.

A letter from Admiral Lord Charles Scott was read at the meeting of the Harbour Board this afternoon, approving of the Board's , proposed arrangement with regard to a reserved anchorage for H.M. ships, and suggesting that the proposed reserve should "be in the form of a parallelogram 600 yards by 1.200 yards.

William Ogilvie, of Auckland, farmer, has this day tiled a petition to be adjudged a bankrupt.

The Prieatman dredge has during the last fortnight taken 27 punt loads of silt from the southern side of the outer western tee, Queen-streeb Wharf, and when the dredging is completed vessels drawing 21 feel; of water may be berthed ab low water spring tides.

The Rev. J. Berry, who arrived here froni the South yesterday by the e.s. Tarawera, is to take charge of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church Circuit as the Superintendent Minister, in place of the Rev. E. Best, who has gone to Napier.

A special meeting of the Grafton Football Club is called for this, evening in the Barrel Hotel, for the purpose of considering the by-laws. Members of the Second Fifteen are particularly requested to be present. ■■ - . •. ; - * .: :.

Messrs Wilson and Horton have printed on vellum a copy of Sir George Grey's " Historical Message " in the phonograph and have forwarded it to the Mayor's office, to be deposited in the Public Library.

The Auckland Institute of Architects propose to make a number of experiments with the purpose of gaining fuller information regarding local limes and cements. They have applied to the Harbour Board for the use of a portion of an open shed near the Auckland Dock for the purpose. In support of the application they point out the great advantage to bo gained by such tests, not only by architects, but by the Harbour Board, City Council, and other public bodies.

The Trust Commissioners' Court sab yesterday afternoon, Dr. Giles presiding, and made certain statutory inquiries regarding the alienation of "allotment 29, and part allotment 30, section 1, parish of Takapuna. Mr F. W. Hammond appeared in support of the alienation, and the evidence being satisfactory, certificates were granted in respect of the two deeds.

The Marine Department at Wellington have decided to adopt the International system of buoys as regards colour, from Ist September next, but will hot at present iltor the shape owing to expense. This International system was recommended by the Maritime Conference held at Washington last year. The Department ask the Harbour Board to arrange for the colouring of the buoys as required.

The Harbour Board Foreman of Works reports that thesewage deposited at the outlet of the sewer at the approach to Queenetreet Wharf has so accumulated that there is now no water at the watermen's steps at low spring tide, and the stench is abominable. The sewage hie also spread eastward and one of the ferry boats ran aground one day last week. He suggests that the Ciby Council should be called on to pay the cost of dredging and should be asked to carry the sewer out 150 feet along the wharf into deeper water where the dredge can work more conveniently. He also reports that the work? at Calliope Dock are in progress and will be completed in about a fortnight* while good progre?s is being made with the addition to the outer westeifti tee Queen streeb Wharf.

At the Gnehunga R.M; Cottrfe, before Dr , Erson, J. P., a respectable tradesman'was brought up, charged with being drunk, and fighting in the public street. After a severe admonition from the Bench, a fine of 10a and costs was imposed.

The following are to-day's recommendations of the Works and Tariff Committee of the Harbour Board:—l. That the consideration as to site for mortuary be deferred. 2. That the consideration as to rfeudi.ovai; roi the 1& ton crane,. ; b% 3. That application be made through the Auckland Collector of Customs to the Commissioner of Customs, to cause the hours for closing bonded stores to be extended to 5 p.m. and an hour allowed between 12 and 1 p.m. for luncheon. 4. That Mr Lockie, engineer in charge of the dredger No. 121, be directed to act as engineer at Calliope Dock when required, and that he be remunerated for such services at the rate of £4 extra per month, for the time he is engaged at the Dock. 5. That the Foreman of Worka be authorised to hire a donkey engine, for say'two weoksj for- reclamation works at Freeman'a Bay.

- Some T;ime ago we had occasion to draw attention to an illustrated map of the North Island of New Zealand, published by Mr D. Griffiths of Rotorua. Wβ have now before ua a companion map of the South Island, illustrated with over 30 views of the principal towns and genre landscapes of the South Island, with well defined map in centre part, just completed to Mr Griffiths' order ab the Star litho department, on which the work reflects great credit. The two maps form a handsome pair for adorning an office or sitting-room, an appropriate souvenir for tourists, as a pleasing present for home friends, tho work showing in a characteristic manner the immense progress the colony has made within the past 50 years. Tho Government ought to give special support to works of this description to enable the publisher to distribute copies to all the leading cities of Europe and the colonies so as to place the characteristic features of this colony prominently before the eyes of the travelling public and intending emigrants.

A petition from merchants and other 6 against the proposed erection of pates a Queen-street Wharf has been signed by fifty merchants and others and was laid before the Harbour Board this afternoon. Tho Board are asked to re-consider their decision for various reasons. First, it is said, the gates are not necessary for commercial purposes ; second, for saving life they are inferior to chains along the sides of the whaif ; third, they will interfere with the free use of the wharf by the public; and the wharves having been erected with public money, the Board have no right to exclude the public unnecessarily or at their pleasure, from what should be a free public thoroughfare.

A rather inaeniou3 method of raising the wind is at present being practised by a party in Auckland. The said party gets to know all about the men in a particular office. When one of the clerks is found to be out for the day or otherwise out of the road, the man calls and asks for him. He is told chafe he ia out, and then the visitor expresses his sorrow,adding'the remark that he hoped to be able to- borrow a shilling or two to send some urgent) telegrams. "It is very unfortunate," he says, " but perhaps you could lend me five shillings for a couple of hours ?" The man looks decent enough, and as he appears really to know a lot of people, the-man , lie addresses probabiy lends the money.'. He doesn't come back, and as he has done nothing criminal the game is a pretty safe one.

A wire from Dunedin says that quite a number of premises were burglariously entered on Saturday evenimg or Sunday morning. At Sparrow and Co. s foundry, on Saturday night, Mr Sparrow returned to the office about half-past just in time to disturb the burglar.*, who escaped by a side window. The drawers had been pulled about, but the burglars did not get anything. They were evidently busy at the safe when disturbed, as it was in ~ the middle of the floor, and in another quarter of an hour it would have been opened. It contained £50. Joseph Sparrow's office, near the wharf, was also entered, but, though everything was turned over, no money was found. The New Zealand Implement Company's Works were entered and £15 taken from a diawer, which was broken open with a hammer. The premises of A. Burns (agent) and Woods (binder) were also broken open, but nothing was taken.

The teachers, elder scholars and other friends connected with the Beresford-street Congregational Sunday-school spent a pleasant hour or two last night, when a social was held fco bid farewell to one of the oldest workers in the school, Mrs Eady, wife of Mr William Eady, senior. This lady, after many years of labour in the school, was at last necessitated to withdraw in consequence of ill-health. The pastor, Mr Jaraea Chew, presided, and on> behalf of the teachers and scholars presented a handsome shield to Mrs Eady con. taining the photographs of the teachers and officers* .' .

Sydney advices to hand to-day state that a Chilian steamer called the Guayacan, arrived atNewca3tle unexpectedlylaat week direct from Valparaiso. The Guayacan ie an iron screw steamer of 879 tons net.ofthe cargo-carrying type. She was built in 1872 by Messrs Pearse and Co., of Stockton-ori: Tees, and belongs to '-The Sociedad' Chilena -de Fundiciones " of Valparaiso; She has hitherto been engaged in the Chilian and West; Coast of America trade. Owing to the revolution now going on in Chili, her owners were afraid of her beiosseized by one or other of the contending parties, so sent her to Newcastle to seek employment, until matters quieten down. 1 Slio brought a cargo of hay," honey, wine, etc,, and ie in command of Captain Steele who has a crew or 29 all told. Owing to tne death of a fireman on the voyage, from supposed small-pox, she was quarantined ' on arrival and will be fumigated before berthing , . The voyage from Valparaiio occupied 44 days. She ie now at Sydney.

As showing one aspect of the labour troubles in Australia, the following , extract} is, to say the least, interesting. It ia taken from a report by the Melbourne *' Argus," of a meeting of Unionists :—" Mr W. Spence, president of the Amalgamated Shearers' Union, said that if the shearers wanted a republic they could hare it in & week. They had 10,000 men who perfect horsemen, and all carried arms to' shoot kangaroos for a living, and they could grot 10,000 more in New South Wales. They could put a bullet in every spot of the six of hearts wibh a revolver. (A voice: "My word !") He had come there to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, as' the only chance the shearers had of stating their case was from the platform. All that the newspapers had to say were deliberate untruths, but it would not do for him or any other labour leader to tell falsehoods. The shearers were merely living in camps because it was better than living singly, and they-camped near railway stations so as to get rations from their friends in the south."

Speaking ab Brussels recently, Sir Charles Dilke (says our London correspondent) expressed his -belief that the; principal result of the recent Australian: strike would be to impel the workingclasses in the colonies to take a moreactive part in political life, and spare no effort to increase the taxes which touched: capital. He added that his sympathieswere with the men during the ; struggle,, but in spite of their admirable organisation,, the workmen had been defeated—a proof of the power of-well - organised capital.. As to the Chinese question, it seemed to> him bhab the "hostility of the Australians to , the might compel the mother country to- renounce ber treaties with China. It would be better to exclude the Chinese once for all- than have onai day to take measures for'their protection' from violence. Sir Charles, who is contemplating an early return to active publi© life, and has been invited to become the) Liberal candidate for the Forest of proclaimed his confidence in the futuce prosperity of Australia with its enormous resources and great public wealth, which was increasing ab a rate unktiowa in Europe. . "^l"**^!:^''

~ Mrs Walsh, of College Road, called upon us to-day and asked us to make keotPh a clever cure of partial blindness and squint performed upon her ten-year-old daughter, Dolly, by Dr. Wilkins. Th& squint and injury to the eye were caused to the little girl when she vrifik four years of age, by the reflection' 6f rays from a broken mirror which had been place by some boys above where she slept. Two operations were? performed by Dr. Wilkiiis, "and 'tfiS child, who accompanied her mother day, can see quite well again, while tier eye is,-perfectly-' s*raiglii; Mrs Walsh wai asked if she had taken the child to the', doctor because of the previous cures men-' tioned in our columns, and she replied in the negative. She said she had known the doctor by repute duriDg her former residence in Ctaristchurch,. and added—" I - knew a man heattended to who was wholly blind from birth in one eye, and seven years blind ira the other. Dr. Wilkins operated on him and restored the Bight in both eyes, arid that's how I came to take my little Dolly to him."

Just now some scores of men usually employed in the local kauri gum stores are out of work, having been thrown out of employment by the existing stagnation of the gum trade. In flush times, when gum orders were numerous, over a hundred an<! ; fifty men and youths have been employed.' at gum-scraping and sorting; ia the local? stores, but at present there are not more than about a score in all at work. The; gum dealers give as a reason for this; slackness of trade, which has compelled them to temporarily dismiss nearly all their hands, the unsaleable nature of the gum sent into town by the gumdiggers,.' the quality being very poor, and unsuitect to the present demand. Very few ordera are coming in just now from Home or America for gum, there being no buyers, and large stocks have accumulated in theAuckland warehouses, which it will take gomo time to get shipped away. The gum market is altogether very unsettled. The inmates ot the Auckland Orphanages' and. Industrial Homes returned to about 7.30. last evening from their outing, and picnic at Motutapu, in the p.s. Britannia, after having spent a vory pleasant day. As they neared the Queenstreet wharf the children gave three cheers for the Devonport Ferry Company and for Mr A. Kidd, to whose exertions the sue-, cess of the* affair wae , largely due.; During the afteriioca at Homa Bay, Messrs Kidd, J. B. Gilfillan, Hop-an, Davis, nrid Smith, got up a series of races for the children, which resulted as follows :—Under II years of'age . Sullivan,!; Courtney, 2; Aley, 3. Under 12 : Gardiner, I; Wilson, 2; Lamb, 3. Twelve years of ace and over: Marshall, I; Cody, 2; Smith, 3. Half-mile : Mack, 1; Marshall, 2. Walking Match, one- mile: Thompson, It Haufaki, 2. Long-Jump: He'ta;"l (22Teet)7. Sack Race i Marshall, 1: Mack, 2. Three-J legged race: Albert Marshall andPunipi, V. Mack and Gv : Marshall 2. Girls' races— ■' Under 10 years of age: Emma Major, 1; Ethel Reid 2. Twelve yeare of age and under: Foy Waddell, 1; Mary Reynolds, 2. Thirteen years of age and under : Violet' Wardell, 1; Annie Jamieson, 2. Special pri2;e for girls of Girls' Industrial School: Martha Johnson, 1 ; Jane O'Neill, 2. Ladies'race : Mies Biddick,.l ; MiseCbar--nock, 2. Consolation race: Nellie Nazer, 1 ; Blanche Baskitt, 2.. A popular lecture on "Mount Cook ar,d, the Glaciers of the New Zealand Alpa" willbe given at G o'clock to-morrow evening at the University College by Professor. Thomas. The lecture is intended for the general public as well as for students, and admission will #c free. , ' The lecture will be illustrated by limelight views. Any clergyman in Auckland except .Pastor Birch may Have -sixpence/per lb on hie tea by getting it direct from the importers, John Earle and Co., 207. Queenntwet,—(Advt.)