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Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 238, 7 October 1891, Page 4

Mr E. Lake, who has been elected to the Waikato Parliamentary seat vacated by Mr Bryce, was educated ab Oxford, and subse qusntly was engaged farming , on an ex. tensive scale in Kenb. He came to New Zealand aboub twelve years ago, and since then he has occu pied various public positions, such as member of the Crown Linds Board, and Chairman of tho Waipa County Council. He is nob new to Parliamentary work, having occupied a seat in the House of Representatives as the representative of Waipu in 1884, having defeated Major Jackson at the general election. At the next election, Mr Lake did not contest Waipu, and Major Jackson was returned. Mr Lake contested tho Waikato on this occasion' as an Opposition candidate. His election will be on accession to the ranks of that party, bub will not increase the numerical strength of the party, as he will replace the Hon. J. Bryce, late leader of the Opposition. •

Brett's "Auckland Almanac' , for 1892 is at present in course of compilation, and secretaries of clubs (athletic and otherwise), religious, Masonic, friendly, and other societies are requested to send a lisb their officers for the directory to this office, addressed to the compiler. Ib is necessary that the lists should be sent in ab once, as the Almanac will be published afc an early date. A number of new features will be introduced into this year's work.

The hardiness of the oak is exemplified by a sapling ot present on view at Messrs Lester Brothers' shop in Pifcb-streeb. A young tree is there shown with its roots entwined around a large block of scoria stons. The tree is aboub three feet hieh, and it is a matter of wonder how it attained that height upon such peculiar nutriment.

A school teacher named O'Shea, a passenger on board the -Mahinapua for Auckland, nearly lost his life at New Plymouth last evening , by falling off the wharf into tho water. It appears the gangway was hauled on board, and O'Shea attempted to get on the steamer bub fell, drawing the gangway into the water with him. It was some minutes before he was rescued by the sailors. He was unconscious when hauled on board, and Sylvester's treatment was resorted to with succcsp. He leaves by steamer for Auckland to night.

By the last trip of the Tekapo, says the " fJrey Argus," arrived scores of disgusted New Zealjuiders from Zeehan, including many \Ve3b Coasters. They give a mosb deplorable account of the silver fields. Over 1,200 men are destitute in Zeehan, with no chance of leaving the place. There is great poverty and no work of any sort. Hundreds are leaving Tasmania for Sydney and Melbourne every week.

Mr F. Lawry, M:H.R., in a letter to the " Canterbury Times " on the scarcity of cattle, strongly deprecates the practice of speyiug heifers, and the wholesale destruction of calves. He points out that under thia wasteful and careless process stock is deteriorating in quality and is becoming reduced in quantity, and he mentions that Mr Wm. Lowes, of Lowes and lorns, Mnsterton, states that the supply of store cattle this season will be 50 cent, belcw the requirements of the Wairarapa.

The annual meeting of the Waitemata Boating Club was held last night ab the Waitemata; Hotel. Mr T. B. O'Connor presided, and there was a good attendance of members. The balance-sheet showed that after disbursements to the extent of £85 there was cash in haud, while the statement; of assets and liabilities proved that the Club had a qredifc of £21 3s. Reference was made in the report that a number of members had allowed their subscriptions to get into arrears, and the need of additional shed accommodation and new boats was mentioned. The report concluded by thanking Messrs L. Ehrenfreid, J. Clarke, T. Inglis, J. Dalton, T. Foley, and others for services rendered. The office-bearers for the following year were chosen as follows :—Commodore, Mr L. Ehrenfried ; vice-commodore?, Meaars D. McGregor, J. Hughes, J. Endean, T. Inglia, A. Porter, Captain J. Fisher, Captain H. Parker; captain, Mr T. B. O'Connor ; deputy-cap-tain, Mr G. Moore; ti-easurer, Mr J. Clarke; secretary, Mr M. H. Keesing; committee, Messrs W. Smith, C. Bailey, T. Foley, R, Thorne, E. Moore, G. Moore, G. Tuck ; auditors, Messrs T. Foley and VV. Skeen ; delegate to Auckland Rowing Association, Mr H. Parker; toN.Z.A.R. Association, Mr J. B. Speed.

Mr A. W. Brown, Mayor of Wellington and the Grand Master of 1.0.0. F., American Constitution, is now on his way from Wellington to pay an official visit to the Northern Lodges, and will arrive in Auckland on Saturday morning , . It is the intention of the Star of Auckland Lodge, 26, to drive him round the city on Saturday afternoon in a four-horse brake. Mr Brown will hold a special Lodge meeting of the Star of Auckland on Saturday night, and will leave for Kawakawa per Clansman on Monday night, thence on to Kaeo, in both of which places he will hold special meetinge.

The Government evidently intend to lose no time in proceeding with the extension of the railway from Te Aroha to Paeroa. Messrs Morse and Bray, surveyors, have made a start by taking oub fche tents, etc., belonging so the party, to a point on the line about three miles from Te Aroha, where the camp will be pitched for a time until, as work progresses, they will have to move further on. The main work to be done, it is understood, is to peg out the railway as previously surveyed, the pegs to be a chain apart all along the line. A3 soon as this is completed to Paeroa, which will in ali probability occupy about six weeks, tenders will be called for the railway formation between Te Aroha and Paeroa, for which a sum of £20,000 has been voted for expenditure during the current year.

Mr J. W. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, made the following statement at the last meeting of the Wellington Land Board :—" I see it is stated in one of the evening papers that the Minister of Lands has ordered 'that in future no deferred payment selector shall be permitted to capitalise his payments.' As such a statement if not corrected would be misleading, I beg to state no such instructions have been°given to the Crown Lands Department here. A question ha 9 arisen whether a deferred payment selector, who is able to and asks to complete the purchase of his land, is entitled to have his iinal payment capitalised without his applying for it to be done, which has hitherto by the order been done. 1 consulted with the head of the Lands Department, and it was decided final payments must be made in full, unless the selector had previously given notice of his intention to ask relief under the 126 th section of ' The Land Act, 1885,' as it is evident this clause was intended to give relief to deferred payment selectors who could not meet thoir payments, and was not intended to apply to selectors who were in a position to complete the purchase of their land."

A gumdigger named John Davidson died ab Nevesville yesterday, near Tairua. Deceased was 60 years of age, and came to the colony with the 43rd Regiment. Constable Joyce heard that he was unwell, and made arrangements to remove the man to the Thames Hospital, bub by the time he arrived death had released the man from his difficulties.

The 5.6, Stormbird, on entering the Wanganui River last week, touched on a sandbank on the south side of the channel. This caused her to lose steerage way and bo take the ground on the other side of the channel, about 100 yards off the seaward end of the breakwater, where she remained all day. On the following morning she was hauled ofl and towed to the town wharf. She was a good deal damaged, buther cargo, which was a large and very valuable one, consistingof transshipments from theTainui, had not been injured.

A man named Robert Sullivan went inbo an hotel last night and created such a disturbance that the police were called in, and the result was he appeared ab the Court this morning to answer to the charge of having been drunk and disorderly. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 40s, or seven days' hard labour in default. Dr. J. Giles, R.M., was on the bench. There is a tribe of blacks (says a Sydney paper) in the Northern Territory of South Australia who do not allow bksir women bo speak at all after marriage. This law is strictly enforced, and obeyed. The gins above a certain age all converse by means of signs. This tribe occupies the dry country between the heads of the coast rivers running into the Gulf and those falling inland, a sorb of debatable land between the coast and the interior. In the earlier days of the overland telegraph-line a.i old man and his gin came in to Powell Creek station and were allowed to stay there. They got some rations, and a little tobacco, which they soon learned to use, and did the usual blackfellow's work of bringing up the horses and milkers. Nothing could induce the gin to utter a word. As an experimenb her rations and bobacco were stopped, but it availed not. Then they stopped the old man's rations, and at last his tobacco. This was too much for him, and he sternly commanded her to speak. She did so; she turned on her husband, and belaboured him with all the long-pent curtain lectures of years ; all the bottied-'up abuse that should have been doled out in instalments was paid in full. Next she went for the station-master, and then for all hands, winding up witsh the Chinese cook, who encountered her valiantly in Chinese, and the two went at it for hours. Finally, as she could not be stopped, she had to be cast out like a second Hagar, into the wilderness.

The Payno family had a erowdod House at Otahuhu last night. In spite of heavy continuous rain and muddy roads, about 400 persons, many from Onehunga, Mangere, and the Tatnaki, gave a cordial reception to these talented performers, who, by request, have promised to renew their visit early next February.

The usual monthly meeting of the Parnell School Committee was held in the school'building last evening, when there ware present: Messrs C. Wood (Chairman), J. Hill, A. Campbell, C. Kay, H. Schotield, ■Joseph Smith, C. H. Smith, and Stevens (Secretary). On the motion of Mr Kay it was resolved to appoint a sub-.coinmittee to get fche estimated cost of putting a permanent path down on the girls' side and report to the next meeting. The inspector's report was received, and other matters of detail having been dealt with, the meeting concluded.

There was quite a Httle crowd round Howden the jeweller's shop, in Queenstreet, to-day, looking at the prizes which that gentleman has given for the Agricultural Show. One, a dog collar, handsomely mounted in silrer, is for the beafe-trained sheep-dog, and bears a suitable inscription. The other is a gold medal, of Maltese design, for sheep-shearing. Both prizes are handsome, and have the name of the donor engraved, as well as the special inscription. The medal bears on the obverse side the emblem of the shearer at his work.

The Beresford - street Congregational Sunday-school hold their anniversary services on Sunday next, the 11th inst., which will be conducted in the morning by the Rev. H. J. Lewis ; afternoon, by the Rev. J. Ward; and evening, by the Rev. J. Chew. Special hymns will be sung by the children, who have been trained for the occasion by the superintendent, Mr R. Tudehope. For the convenience of friends coming from a distance, light refreshments will be provided in the school-room between the services. The annual tea and public meeting will be held in the school-room on the Tuesday following, at half-past six, when addresses will be delivered by various clergymen, and selections of vocal and instrumental music will be given. All those interested in tho school, or who have at any time been so, are heartily invited to be present.

The adjourned meeting of the Victoria Cricket Club was hold in Lester's Rooms, Pitt-sireet, on Monday evening. There was a large attendance of members. JVlr R. Sader was elected captain ; Mr W. Holdswortli, deputy captain ; J. Mollov, secretary and delegate ; Mr S. J. Ambury elected president; Mr John Burton and E. Gatland, vice-prosidents. A second eleven was also formed, of which A. Molloy wa« elected captain, W. Evans vice-captain, J. Proud secretary. Ife was further decided to have a concert at an early date. The Club's colours are black and gold.

Lodge Poneonby, 708, S.C., held its usual monthly meeting last evening, Bro. Anderson, R.W.M., occupying the" chair. There were a number of visiting brethren from recognised constitutions present. One brother was passed and five raised. The nomination of officers for the ensuing year also took placei

A child at Talmerston South was attacked by stoats, which fastened on to the neck until driven off by the child's parents Several lambs have been found dead in the same district, believed to have been killed by the stoats.

The work of dismantling the stranded steamer Wanaka, which has been carried out under the superintendence of Mr Daniels for some weeks past, will, it is understood, be completed this week. The hull of the steamer will in all probability be sold by auction at an early date.

Referring to the agitation now being carried on by the Northern Railway League the " Taranaki Herald " says: " The Auckland people are again lo"udly protesting against being isolated from Taranaki and the southern portion of the North Island. We are not surprised at their action, but they have only themselves to blame for the position they now find themselves in. Had they exerted themselves when the question of diverting the route was first mooted, when large loans were being easily raised and money plentiful, they might have carried their point; but the intriguing of the Wellington people was permitted without any exertion on the part of those in Auckland, the result being that the southern members attained their point. Had those in Auck< land who had any influence helped Taranaki at the time, instead of showing a leaning for the present route, it never would have gone that way. Mr Mitchelson, an Auckland member, was Minister of Public Works at the' time, and ib !is a 'known fact that althdiigh he was pretending to be in favour of the Taranaki route, he had already authorised the plans and specifications of the central line to be pushed on with all speed. Mr Mitchelson visited Taranaki, and was supposed to have come through the country the line was to take, but it was all a sham. The Auckland members are, therefore, chiefly to blame for the Wellington people getting the line carried the way they wanted it. We do not suppose that any agitation in Auckland will be the means of changing the route, although they mighc succeed in stopping the work for a time at the Poho-o-tapao tunnel. What we would suggest, therefore, is that a good metal road should be pushed through the country connecting this district with the railway, and with the land settled on either side of ib we might in five or six years her.cc begin to think of going on with the line. Past experience has shown that it ha 3 been a greab, mistake making railways through unsettled country ; for the lines cannot be utilised probably for some years after they have been constructed. On the other hand,. where roads and settlement have preceded a railway, they have proved profitable concerns. Let the people and the press of Auckland, and we in Taranaki, advocate the making of a main trunk road between the two places, and the benefit that will result to both districts from such a course will be incalculable."

With reference to the Chinese riots, about which there have been so many references in the cable messages lately, a gentleman in Timaru permits the "Timaru Herald" to publish extracts from a letter he received from a relative holding a high official position in China. The letter is dated June 12th :—" You will have seen from th» papers that people in mid-China, especially at the Yangtsze ports, are having at present a somewhat unpleasant time. Since the first outbreak at Wuhu there have been disturbances at sundry other points, all in the Yangbsze valley. So far the attacks had been directed against property, chiefly that) of Roman. Catholic missionaries. Just a week ago, however, the movement assumed a new feature. Ab a place 27 miles above Kiu Kiang two Englishmen were murdered by a mob. The affair .began in the usual way, with rumours thab-children had been kidnapped in order eyes and hearts might be cub out for use in medicine. However idiotic such accusations are, they always seem to gain credence, and the consequence was that an unfortunate missionary, Mr Argent, was set upon and his brains beaten out wibh stones. A Cusbonx house officer, Green, who gallantly W6nt to his assistance, unarmed and single-handed, shared his. fate. Four ladies, whose husbands were luckily absent on missionary business, and as many children, escaped, with difficulty into a passing steamer. Gα the 6th instant there was an abortive attack on a hospital at Ohm King ; on the 9th an outbreak of rioting at Kiu Kiang, fortunately promptly suppressed ; and on the same day ab the R.C. establishment ab Woo Sih, eighty miles from Shanghai, was burned to the ground by a tnob of ruffians several thousand strong, who had come from Yangtsze. Now the belief which is gaining ground is that those outbreaks are nob, as might he supposed, signs of renewed malevolence against foreigners, but rather the first mutterings of a general insurrection against the Manchu dynasty. These attacks on foreigners are, it is held, meant to provoke a misunderstanding between China and foreigners, of which advantage would ba> taken by the malcontents to work the overthrow of the present Government. '

The acoustic properties of the Police Court have been so frequently commented upon that it is almost useless to refer to the subject. The position allotted to the press representatives had various disadvantages, owing to the situation of the box, before and behind which there usually copgregated _ policemen and others connected with the Court, making tha, reporters' task frequently a very difficult! one to obtain an accurate account of tha proceedings. Acting upon representations made on the subject, Dr. Giles has nowkindly had the press box removed to * better position in,front of the dock, it being taken for grauted, of course, that the public will not commit such a serious blunder as to mistake the reporters for prisoners, who are to occupy a position immediately behind the press representatives.

Two interesting presentations have jusb boett loaade in the local establishment of ArcbT'Clark and Sons, Stfdrtland-streeb, in the clothing factory department. Miss A. Mclndoe, who is to be married shortly, arid, who is one of the oldest employees in the factory, was on Saturday last presented by the other employees with a handsome marble clock suitably inscribed, as a token of esteem and regret at parting. Last evening Mr R. Smith, one of the factory cutters, who is very popular with his fellow employees, was on the occasion of his departure for Wellington the recipient! of a silver watch, also suitably inscribed. Tlve preteutations were made by the factory manager, Mr R. L. Holle, who in both cases expressed his regret ab losing such good servants.

The Graf ton Road Mutual Improvemenb Society held their closing social in the VVesleyan Schoolroom on Monday evening , , and itwas largely attended by members and friends. A mock banquet on temperance principles was introduced, and proved a great success. The tables were tastefully decorated with flowers and ferns by the lady members. After light refreshments had been partaken of the following toast* were ably proposed and responded to :■— Tho Governor, the President and vicepresidents, the Committee, kindred societies, the guests, the ladies, the press. The lattor part of the evening was devoted to social amusements, a special feature of which was a ventriloquial entertainment by a gentleman visitor. At 10.30 p.m. the friends dispersed, having spent a most enjoyable evening.

Ab 1.30 p.m. to-day, Captain Edwin wired : " Exnect strong -west to south and uouth-east winds, and glass further rise."

Mr Robert Chisholm, who has just returned from a visit to the Old Country, informs the " Otago Daily Times " that the utmost confidence was felt at Home, up to the time of his departure, in the stability of New Zealand, the colony's abstinence from borrowing being a considerable factor in the creation of this feeling. His experience in commercial circles in Great Britain was that the leading hou?es_ were most anxious to obtain a connection in New Zealand. He was most favourably impressed with the substantial evidences of prosperity which he observed in the varioue portions of England and Scotland visited by him.

A certificate of honour from the Jamaica Exhibition, awarding a silver medal to the X.D.C. Company for their famous dyspepsia remedy, advertised elsewhere, is referred to in Canadian papers of rocenfc date, together with congratulatory remarks upon the great success the Company has met wherever this remedy has been introduced.

To-morrow evening Colonel McEie, International Commissioner of the Salvation Arm", will deliver an address tn the Auckland Salvation Army Barracks on "Trap-doors to Hell." Stair • Captain Plant will sing during the evening.

A somewhat gruesome fact was mentioned by a gentleman named Steel, who read a paper before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria the other day on " Maori Heads." The author exhibited a jjood "specimen" in illustration of his paper,* and concluded by stating the fact that before the head came into his possession it had been neglected, and most of the hair had been destroyed by moths. After Mr Steel had kept ib some tims he noticed that a thin growth of very fine hair in scattered patches had taken places. . In order to gain definite information of future growth the hair had been closely shaved from a marked patch. Ib is a fact we believe, has been frequently noted, that the hair does continue to grow after death. It, however, does seem remarkable that a fresh growth should have started on the head of this ancient Maori, who, in all probability, had been dead ab least fifty years, and whose flesh had been smoked to a mummy-like hardness and dryness. It is a striking illustration of the vitality which hair is capable of exhibiting. It is also an of what may be termed hirsute perversity, aioce while the fresh growth is starting on the skull on this long defunct old Maori, who certainly does not require it, there are thousands of bald heads, which,despite the utmost efforts of their living owners to ensure a fresh crop, remain bald and show no sign.

The Wellington " Evening Post" reports that Mr Alfred Hill, well-known in Auckland, who is studying music ab Laipzic, continues his prosperous career. Nob only has he been playing with brilliant success at some of the highest class concerts in Leipzic, and has found a leading firm ready publishers for his musical compositions, bub he has also carried off Herr Helbig's scholarship and special prize as "one of the most excellent and worthiest scholars, as a lasting memento and in encouragement for the future." His brother, Mr John W. Hill, who went to Germany ab the sams time to study, and who will be remembered as a most promifing tenor singer,- is likely ere long to be very prominent in the world of musical art. Under the bestsGerruan tuition, his voice is said bo have developed mai-vellous beauty, compass, and power, while his vocal execution ia described as exceptionally fine.

Amongst tho visitors to Auckland at the present time is Mr G. B. Leith, one of the leading builders in Melbourne, who has come over to New Zealand for rests and change. Speaking aba meeting of builders at Wellington recently, Mr Leibh explained that his object in coming to New Zealand •was to benefit his health, bub that at the request of the Federated Builders' Association ot Australasia he had undertaken to look up the various associations of builders in his journey through the colony and urge them to send delegates to the annual convention of builders to be held in. Australia in a few •weeks. Matters of great interest to the trade were, he said, to be discussed, and it was hoped that New Zealand would be well represented. The travelling expenses of vhe delegates would be borne by the Federated Association, which would make a levy of 4s per head on the members of the various Associations belonging to it. Mr .Leith spoke in terms of approval of the conditions of contract adopted in Dunedin after conference with the architects, and expressed a hope that they would become general. An interesting account of the rise and progress of the Melbourne Builder 9* Association was then given. The number of members at the present time is over 220, and there- are funds in hand amounting to between £1,700 and £J,SOO. The Association is an influential one, and has been successful in seeing justice done to many of its members. The fact was pointed out by Mr Loifth that in Melbourne there are four" firms whose business it is to take out quantities for contracts about to be let. Tho quantities for any particular job are taken out by one of the four firms only, 80 that each intending tenderer can rely on getting the same data to work out his estimate as any fellow-contractor. All are on the same footing. Mr Leith gave an interesting account of the Builders' Exchange In Melbourne, and concluded his address by urging that Wellington should send a delegate to tho approaching convention. Ab the conclusion "of his addreea Mr Leith replied to a number of questions. On the motion of Mr T. Orr, seconded by Mr J. H. Meyer, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Leith tor his interesting address. Before the meeting the Chairman expressed a hope that before long the Builders' Associations of New Zealand ■would soon see their way to join together and federate with Australia. Our friends the Maoris are always getting up some surprises for us, but their latest is a startler aa narrated by the Gisborne *'Herald," being nothing less than a resurrection. Ib appears that some weeks ago when an old native woman died a tangi was faeld over her remains, bub it happened that as there wa's a dispute between the sorrowing friends as to the division of the old woman's property the proceedings were nob as happy and harmonious as they usually are on such occasions. In fact, the friends, when they were not loudly bewailing the losa of the dear departed one, were bitterly quarrelling over the property. On the third day of the tangi, it is alleged by •the Maoris, the corpse rose to a sitting attitude, and in loud and hideous shrieks abused the natives for their unseemly disputes. Mosb of the natives fled, and many of them have not been near the place since. The Maoris of the district are greatly agitated over the ■.occurrence, and they have been seriously Peeking advice as to whether it was possiole 'for a person who was dead to rise up and .deliver hereelf of such utterances as the old woman did. Some of the Maoris, more sensible, are of opinion thab a wily old ■woman ea«er to obtain the property by the (Strategy of frightening her opponents, gob ; underneath the table on which the corpse was laid, and by a clever illusion made \those round about think the dead had come .to life. ___________