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Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1892, Page 2

The 1892 edition of Brett's "New Zealand Pilot and Nautical Almanac," carefully edited and corrected up to the latest date, is now nearly ready, and will be published about the 18th inst. The " Pilot " is now an established nautical work and marine calendar amongst New Zealand and South Sea Island shipmasters, and its value to the shipping community is bacoming very widely appreciated. The supplement issued with bhe book contains all tho latest data in the way of nautical cajjendar, tides, Marine Department notices, etyfr, and will be found an especially

Tho " Neleo-a Colonist" says that a natural enemy to tho pear and plum leech has been discovered- Mr H. Batt, a fruitgrower residing a>. Wakofiela has bean fortunate enough to discover an enemy to the leech blight, which is proving so de sfcructive to the foliage of pear and plum trees, as well as to hawthorn hedges. The enemy is a small ladybird, having a trunk which it thrust 3 into tho body of the leech, in Mr Batt's garden several plum trees had been completely cleared of tho leech, and it is to be hoped that in a short time the lady ■ birds will keep them down altogether.

In a communication received from the Grand Lodge of England by Bro. J. P. Clark, District Grand Secretary, the following paragraph appears, in answer to an inquiry as to the right of thr. loyal members of a lodge to exercise their privileges : " That the Grand Lodgje is of opinion that any lodge under the English Constitution in New Zealand is enabled to retain its warrant and exercise its lawful Masonic privileges, notwithstanding tho fact that a majority of its members may have seceded." This ruling seta rest a matter upon which tfeaw. has been a difference of opinion among Lha members ot the craft in New Zealand.

Speaking at Oldham on December sfch, Mr John Morley, M.P., thus referred to the House of Lord?,:—" Again they heard many threats of the House of Lords was troing to do in tae way of over-ruling the House of Commons. Was the sense of civil and political unity in the nation promoted by maintaining the authority of a handful ot men who represented nobody, who were most of them accidents of accidents whoso only service was that they had given themselves the trouble to be born ? VVjere they to be maintained in possession of privileges which, as John Bright said, were an intolerable anachronism in a country calling itself self-governing and free ?"

The schooner Jessie Niccol, belonging to tho newly-formed South Pacific Trading Company, is now expected hero from the Hervey Group of islands from her first cruise for the Company. She left Rarotonga last month for Auckland, with a good cargo of general island produce, having made an extended cruise round the group to the islands of Aitutaki, Mangaia, and Mauki, where trading stations were established. A largo number of new shares in tho Company have been taken up by tha Hervey natives, on the co-ope: itive system, local produce being given in exchange for scrip. The prevailing very rainy season in Rarotonga is militating against the successful manufacture of copra at present,

At a recent meeting of the Wade Farmers' Club a paper was read by Mr Bayos, a prominent member of the club, "On truit as an article of diet." The paper was an able one and contained much valuable advice and information. He contended that ib would be much to our advantage if we were to adopt tho Edenic diet, which was made up largely of wholesome ripe fruit. He (Mr Bayos) affirmed that too much meat was consumed in New Zealand as food as well as in the old country from which most of us came. He urged that the common practice which obtains hero, of taking meat three timed daily, while fruit is only taken between meals, and then as a luxury, was wrong 1 , and he pointed out that a dish of apples at breakfast or as part of any meal whether cooked or not would be much better.

The Supreme Court Eat in Chambers this morning. Probate was granted in the deceased estates of John Pearce, Andrew McMahon, Alex. Winks, and Robert Otway. Order for administration by the present administrator was granted in the estate of Thos. Lyons (deceased). The Judge ordered in the case William Deeblo v. James Ward that the order nisi issued herein be mado absolute. An order was made to print certain papers in the action Carr and others v. Thomas for tha Court of Appeal, and an order was also made in the bill of sale Lawrence Coleman to MaryLouisa Ann Coleman, that the time of liling affidavit of renewal be extended to tho 26th February. Leave was granted in Union Bank of Australia v. Gulliver and another to eerve writ out of the colony. In the matbnr of the Maori Real Estate Man- j agement Act, 1888, and of a lease from To ; Hau and others to the Mokau Coal Com ! pany (Limited), the terms of leaso wero approved. I

Mr T. A Dnnlop, manager of the Saxon mine, was interviewed at the Thames on the subject of the amalgamation of the Saxon and Queen of Beauty mines, when he said :—Looking at the matter from every standpoint, and in the interests of the goldfield, I think that such an amalgamation would be a step in the right direction, both for the Saxon and tho Queen of Beauty. The prospects at No, 6 level of the Saxon and No. 11 of the Queen of Beauty fully warrant the erection of pumping machinery. —How would you propose to raise the necessary capital ?—Mr Dunlop: That is a matter for afterconsideration by ail interested, butl think the proper plan would be to make a new issue of shares in the Saxon, by which means £12,000 or £15,000 could be raised to erect the necessary pumpiag gear to work the joint properties. As the properties adjoin one another, there would be a shorter distance to drive to where the runs of gold are in the Saxon from the Queen of Beauty shaft than from tho Saxon shaft.

The fortnightly meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr Kent), Crs. Whyman, Angus, Edgerly, Laxon, Heron. Mr J. C. Hanna, manager of the Bank of Now Zealand Estates Company, wrote stating that the fence which was complained ol should bo attended to. lb will be remembered that the fence was said to encroach on the road. The letter wa3 received. A letter was read from the Onehunga Borough Council asking for particulars anent tho constitution of the Newmarket Fire Brigade. The information was forwarded. The turncock's report stated that the works of the water meter wore nearly worn out, and recommended that new ones be brought from England. The cost will be aboub £30. The Mayor gave nobico of motion that the duplicate parts of the works which were worn out should be ordered without delay. Cr. Whyman gave notice ot motion, "That the motion re three months' notice to Stockloy be rescinded, as the motion is irregular and nob in accordance with standing orders."

Archdeacon Dudley, speaking to ono of tho motions at the Anglican General Synod yesterday, commented strongly upon the unsatisfactory position in which most of the bishopric endowment funds stand. Hesuid that none of the bishoprics, with the exception of Christchurch, were adequately endowed. In ono case the official income was only about £400, and in another the income was under £500. This was altogether inadequate for the position which a bishop was required to keep up,and it was a reproach and scandal to the Church that when a see became vacant it wa3 necessary to look around for a man possessod of private means, and in fact to naa.ke his wealth one of the principal considerations. Quit 6 lately he bad received information from Dr. Codrington in reference to a candidate for the Bishopric of Melanesia, who was a good linguist, a noted traveller, and in every way a desirable man, only that he happened to be poor. This miserable state of affairs was almost disgraceful to the Church, and he urged the Synod to save as much as possible each year from the General Church Trust Fund, and allot the money to the funds of the poorer bishoprics on tho principle of £1 for every £3 contributed in the diocese claiming a grant, so as to stimulate well-to-do members of the Church to put the Endowment Fundi upon a proper foot-1 ing. ; if M- . ■.—•. :'■ ■'*■:,... V-" :^<

Mr David Lundon, of the Customs Department at Wanganui, has been appointed Acting-Collector of Customs at Auckland for two months untii Mr Alexander Rose arrives from Lyttelton. Mr Rose is to be permanent Collector at this port, in succession to tha retired Collector of Customs, Mr T. Hill. Mr Lundon takes up his duties here next Monday.

The s.s. Clansman, which returned from the North this morning, took a large number of the inhabitants of Mangonui out or; an excursion to a neighbouring bay on Wednesday last. The outing was very enjoyable, the occasion being the annual picnic of the Mangox.ui people. Hunters brass band, which went up to Mangonui for the excursion, returned to-day by tbo Clansman.

Mr W. Gordon, who saw service here with the forces in the early days, is at present nnfortunately in tho Hospital. Ho was one of those who a few years ago went to the Village Settlements, whore his family still remain. 11l health compelled him to como to the Hospital, and one of his sons had tho misfortune to fracture his arm a few days

Mr Walter Benfcley and his dramatic company are meeting with success in the South. " The Bells" is the play in which Mr Bentley is seen to greatest advantage. The part of Matluaa, the Burgomaster, is the same that electrified London ab the commencement of the career of Henry Irving, who created the role. Mr Bontley was Irving's leading man for many years, and the chief supporter of Madam Reston when at the zenith of her fame.

One of the most flourishing of suburban musical societies a couple of years ago was that of the West End Musical Union. From some cause or other there has been a falling off in interest in the Union, but the Committee aro new putting forth special efforts to revive it, and circulars with that end in view are being circulated. The Committee will be glad to receive the assistance and support of anyone musically inclined in the Ponsonby district. Mr li. Binstsd is Hon. Secretary of tho Union.

The members of the "A" Battery held their thirty-fifth annual meeting ab the Drill-shed last night. Notwithstanding the small support given to volunteers, the Battery showed a very satisfactory position. Money was voted lor sending rive men to represent the Company at the New Zealand Rifie Association Meeting at Wellington. The competition for representatives will be fired off at the Mount Edeu Range on Saturday, 13th inst., the ranges to be 300 and GOO yards, 10 shots each range, with Martini-Henry rifles.

Yesterday's " Waikato Times " contains the following :—" When the Auctioneers Act came into force, it was thought the troubles of the small settler and fruitgrower in not beinu able to obtain the return for their produce would be over. It does not appear to havo, so far, made any difference, as we were waited on yesterday by a fruitgrower in this unfortunate position—that he has been sending fruit since the beginning of the season to Auckland, and up to this, notwithstanding repeated applications, he has not succoeded in getting payment."

Messrs Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, of Wellington-street, Strand, sold recently a fine Egyptian mummy, in its decoraied casket, dated from the later period of between .600 and 400 B.C. The sale of such relics of late years has been rare, and the fashion of purchasing such gruesome memorials of the past (which not a great many years ago was prevalent) has practically dropped.. This particular mummy comprised the mortal remains of a lady with the euphonious name of" Ta-ta-amen-neb-nest-tarm," who was the daughter of " Pe-ta-amen-apb." This interesting specimen of ancient burial was eagerly bid for and eventually secured by Mr Green for £33.

Two seamen named Albert Schultz and Robert Brown, belonging to the s.s. Morayshire, lying at the Queon-streeb Wharf, mob with a serious accident last eveuing. They wero clung down outside tne bow of the vessel engaged in painting, whe»> suddenly the anchor catted above was accidentally let go byseveral links of the cable and knocked the two men olf into the water. A boat was soon gob out by the rest of the crew and the two sailor© were rescued. Brown escaped with a few scratches and bruises, but Schultz was found to havo received a bad blow on the head and also his leg broken. Dr. King was soon in attendance and Schultz was sent up to the Hospital, where the broken leg wa3 set.

The following crows have been selected from the members of St. George's Rowing Club to row for the trophies presented by Mr Richardson, of Orakei. Tho contests will take place on Saturday, February 20tb, the courses being from Railway Wba f to Judge's Bay -—-No' I: Hull, Kelly, C. Kitfoyle, Frater. No. 2: Dutbie, G. Clarke, Philson, Hammond. No. 3: Busby, Marriner, Bilton, Stubbs. No. 4: Buchanan. A. Clarke, Sbeggall, Owen. No. 5: C. Haringbon, Moore, Saunders, Slator. No. 6: Gordon, E. Roes, J. Wmk«, Ashton. No. 7 : Jervi3, Walker, L. Johnston, Philips. No. 8 ; R, Johnston, W. Winks, King, Raiuger. ISo. 9: Hargreaves, Harington, A. Nicol, C. Kisslinf.. No. 10: Whyte, Brigham, T. Kilfoyle, Perry.

A sugar-laden steamer, the New Guinea, arrived ab Melbourne a few d?.ys ago, from the island of .lava, after a very anxious experience ab sea. After taking in a cargo of sugar at Java, the New Guinea left for Australia, on tho 30tb December, and two days after leaving, malarial fever made its appearance tho crew. There were occasions when everyone on board, from captain to cabin boy, was affected by it. Some took it in a severe form, and with other:.! it derlt mildly, bub not one escaped irorn its inliuenco. For several days the deck was entirely in charge of Captain McCartney and one of tho crew. It had a most depressing eilbcb on all hands, and on the 10th January it was decided to put into bhe nearesb porb — Fremantie, W.A. —for medical assistance. The New Guinea remained there until tho 19th January and then left lor Melbourne.

Our Whangarei correspondent writes : In the olden time, the contest tor the ■ Superintendency was a groat event in our provincial world. Ab one of these the question arcse who was the most suitable man available to take the offico. Mr Walter Brodie, who then contemplated becoming a candidate, advanced this opis.ion : That no man was fib to holct the office except he could swim across a river with his clothes on his head when he me? with such an obstacle in his peregrinations about the province, and when he clothed himself would feel noille3ect? from a damp flannel. These were robust days that the old colonists will remember, when Dr. Campbell hold the office. Every one was young then. It seems, however, to come back to us again when a full-blown Cabinet Minister goes to explore bush tracks over 80 miles of difficult country, with a very short commissariat, accompanied with two otb_er members of the House. But these are days of retrenchment and economy—very different from the days of profuse loan expenditure. And other Nabivo Ministers have had a record nob easily beaten. When Mr Donald McLean —afterwards Sir Donald — was Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, he managed to overcome some difficulties. At the time he was endeavouring to get a footing in the Hawke's Bay district, the Government then not having any land there, the great native chief there called Whapuka, or Ha-pijka, beintr adverse to dispose of any land. Mr McLean wanted a small piece for the Napier town site, which he only obtained after living with the old chief for a month in a very rough way, and»in jjuite a

Monday next, the 15th instant, i.. thff last opportunity for objections being lodged to tho city valuations. It is hoped by the Town Clerk that the undervalued and the universal objector will not omit to lodge their objections.

Tho February competition of tho Auck" land Martini Henry Rifle Club has bqea arranged for Saturday, 20th inst., to bef fired at Onehunga, competitors proceeding by train ab 1.10 and 2.10 p.m. This will. givo the volunteers a chance to practise* ab the 700 yards range for the N.Z.R.A. meeting at Wellington next month.

A conversazione in connection with the Presbyterian Assembly will take place at St. James's Hall this evening. Addresses will be given by Professor Dunlop, of Otago, and by other prominent members of the Assembly, and selections of music will bo provided by the Presbyterian Choral Association.

The largo French frigate Dubourdieu,' the flagship on the French Pacific station,, which paid Auckland a visit last year, is expected to call here again shortly, with the new Admiral of the station aboard. On leaving hero last year the Dubourdieu did. not go home to France as had been intended, bub instead remained in theEaatern Pacific, and was joined a couple of months ago at Tahiti by the new commander, Admiral Parrayon. Tho ship left Tahiti at the beginning of last month for Sydney via New Caledonia, Admiral Parrayon expressing his intention of visiting Sydney and Auckland. Tho Dubourdieu may therefore bo expected here during tho course of next month.

A defended case was heard at the R.M; Court yesterday subsequent to our going to press. The plaintiff was Mark Marks, and the defendant William James Lloyd, the claim being for £17 2s 7d alleged to"be due as balance of a partnership account. Mr E. W. Burton appeared for the plaintiff and Mr G. N. Brassey for the defendant. Evidence was given showing that tho other two supposed partners had each paid £17. Defendant denied his liability, and after an amount of evidence had been .aken, His Worship, Dr. Giles, R.M., nonsuited the plaintiff with costs, on the ground that the case broke down in the absence of satisfactory evidence that a partnership had existed.

An elderly woman named Mary Brown, alias Danielle, was sent to gaol for six months today, for sneak thieving. She was charged at the Police Court this morn-, ing, before Messrs H. R. George and J. j Gilmore, justices, with having on the 2nd of September stolen one cloak and certain other articles of a total value of £3, the same being the property of George Myers. Accused pleaded guilty. She was further charged with having on the 2nd of Novem-. ber sbolen one clock, value 7s 6d, the pro- j perty of David Thomas Orr. The prisoner j pleaded guilty to this charge also. The Bench said that the woman had only just been released from gaol after three months for larceny. She ivas sentenced to six months for each offence, the sentences to run concurrently. \

Mary Ann alias Minnie Mooney was/ charged ab the Police Court this morning j with the larceny as a bailee of one skirt, f two feather pillows and other articles of a j total value of £1 3s, the property of Martha j Lindsay. Defendant pleaded not guilty,! and said thab she had agreed to buy the* articles and pay for them by instalments. X After hearing the evidence of Mrs Lindsay,,' Mr and Mrs Berry and Detective Chrystal, the Bench (Messrs H. R. j George and J. Gilmore) sentenced the accused to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. Mr Berry, second-hand dealer, asked the Court to make an order with regard to the money he had advanced on the articles, Mr George said no order

would be made, as he considered ho de3ery|4 to loso the money. If more caution was used with regard to buying; stolen things! there would be fewer cases. Mr Berry'; said what were they to do if a woman came and stated that the goods were her 1 own ? The Bench declined to make any order.

At the monthly meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council last evening all . were present, the Mayor presiding. The Treasurer reported financially : January, credit balance, £10 12s Id ; rates received, £12 6s lid; accounts paid, £1S 16s 7d j present credit balance, £42s sd. Arrangements having been made with the Bank of New Zealand for a temporary overdraft not. to exceed £50, and the sum of £10 being about to be paid by the N.Z. and R.P.L.M. Co. for the transfer of portions of roads nob now required, deed for conveyance of which Crs. White and Hardy were appointed to sign, accounts amount-. ing to £54 7s lid were approved-: for payment. In reply to a question l , from Mr Thompson as to whether contracts; were by resolution of the Council confined; to ratepayers, it was shown that such was; not the case, and tbab some of 'bhe largest contracts performed within the borough had been accepted from outsiders. The Mayor j and Cr. White were appointed to arrange, with the Waitemata County Council certain J ; financial matters necessitated by the recent; extension of the borough. On suggestions i being made for several road and footpath j improvements within the district, consideration of the ( same was deferred until next meeting, Councillors being appointed to j bring up thereat required estimates. It j was resolved thab a plan of the borough j since its extension bo provided.

Tho other day a Picturesque Ablas agent called ab a farmer's house in the Taieri dis-:. tricb to deliver a complete set of the Atlas parts. The agent was rather surprised to be very cordially received, and invited into the best room, instead of, as he expected, being met with a firm refusal to take delivery, and probably have the door shut in his face. The books were handed over and accepted in good spirit by the farmer, who laid thorn by. When the agent asked for; payment the farmer with a twinkle in hiß ] eye said the agent must apply to tha Official Assignee for that, because the state of his \ affairs had compelled him bo file, his schedule a few days previously, therefore he could expect no money from him then. The agent then begged that the farmer would give him back his books. This the farmer could not possibly do. After a good deal of persuasion the farmer ultimately agreed to return the books on the condition that the agent) gave him a clear receipt from any future liability in connection with the work should he bo able to get through his bankruptcy | all right. This the agent willingly save, and the books were handed back. At his hotel the agent related his transaction with tho farmer. The words that wicked agent said when he was told that the farmer in question, far from heing a bankrupt, waa worth thousands of pounds, are too expressive for reproduction.—" Globe."