ITALIAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 21, 24 January 1894, Page 4

ITALIAN AFFAIRS.

When the French take to sensationalism they excel in ib. American journalism may be audacious, but the Parisian press can on special occasions bear away the bell for the daring improbabilities it give 3 countenance to, or invents. In treating of crowned heads, the newspaper men of the American Republic allow themselves the largest ' license and publish accounts of the innermost lives of kings and emperors that are eminently amusing to Englishmen, as they aro without any foundation or shadow of probability. The French press, too, though they cannot, like the Americans, plead complete inexperience of monarchical institutions fcr any extravagant rumour they may circulate, were little behind the Yankee journals in a recent report to the effect that the King of Italy is seriously thinking of abandoning his country, and than the Queen is always in tears and engaged in prayer. Such a rumour would be received in England with derision, bub the credulity of the Parisian populace in such matters is only equalled by their scepticism in others. The great majority of Frenchmen aro contentedly ignorant of their neighbours in other countries, ignorant of their history, ignorant of their literature, ignorant of their social life, and ignorant of their public life. So the newspapers in Francs have it all in their own hands to mould the popular public opinion regarding any thing or any person outside ot the Republic. If, as ia the case with regard to Italy, they desire to unfavourably prejudice the minds of their fellow-countrymen, their task is easy indeed. No doubt their latest presentation of the Italian difficulties is discussed with all seriousness on the Parisian boulevards, or in provincial cafes aad bowling alleys. Is it a correct one ? We have no hesitation in saying that it is not. But though Humbert IV. may have no intention of forsaking Italy, and his Queen may not be perpetually bathed ia tears, the complications with which they are Burroundedat present are of a mcst serious character. A cloud of trouble has been gathering over the country for years back, and the brilliant prospects which the founders of United Italy seemed to see are not likely to be realised unless a very great change take place in the government of the country as well as in the character of its inhabitants, who are quite satisfied with the position they have obtained among the nations of Europe, and confident of the future. Their new proverb, Italia fara das 6, meaning tbao Italy can do for herself, expresses this confidence very well, but the proverb is not likely to prove a true oijei The Italians are eminently unbusinesslike, and manage their aCairsin the most extravagant, loose, and corrupb fashion. Low salaries prevail among tha GoYerntnenb officials, with the result that bribery has honeycombed all ranks of the public service. The existence of scores of courts of justice—fcr every town which had its court whon Italy was divided, clings to ib still; the power of getting cases re-tried almost endlessly; and the fact tbab tho judges are so ill-paid that they, aro tempted to eke out a living by taking money, all tend to make the administration of justice cumbersome and uncertain, and criminals are not slow to take- advantage of such a state of things. With regard M> commerce, manufactures and agriculture, they are in anything bub a flourishing condition. Italy, iustead of developing those industries that are especially hers—corn, wino, oil—goes in for vast armaments, and trying to place herself among the great European powers, oppressively taxes her people. Sho has yet, to learn to make hoc ideas suit her capabilities. No doubt), with another people raora enterprising and business-like than the Italians aro, the country could support her debt of over £475,000,000 and heary increasing annual expenditure, fcr i& has been shown that the whole kingdom is capable of enormouß development. No doubt if a new spino could be infused into the people, the dream of Garabaldi of a united Italy might ba realised, and the land that was once tha most famous in arms and in arts might to some extent regain her lost pre-eminence. But as it is at present, there is no prospecfl of such a consummation, and as far as one can judge, the tendency of everything in Italy is downwards. Whether the appearance of an Italian. Bismarck would, as some have suggested, do for her what the German Chancellor dia for Germany, is not by any means clear; the two races are composed of so very a»" ferenb materials. But ib is certain that« ber presenb downward progress is to oa checked sarnb such man is necessary. Ib 13 not without warning than Italy has fallen into her present precofbus position. Mr Gladstone, who lias always been her warmest friend, poinDea out some time ago whither sho was tending, and her enemies have all along been Pacing evil for years. To any visitor to Italy within the last dozen years who »yen» through the country with his eyesi open,, w was not difficult, notwithstanding tba enthusiastic confidence of the Italiacs, to see what the end must be. Now it wouiu seem, according to our cables, that matters are coming to a head. Threatened by national bankruptcy on one hand, wiii national discontent and anarchy ram^, on the other, with her commercial inflwi" tions in a lamentable condition, and dis cord and disloyalty in the Cabinet, Italy" in a bad condition, and her King may wnj cause to wish he might abandon the co« try, though he certainly can have no jmen tion of dsing bo.

■^Wellington "Post" is responsible eoorfr that those members of the who opposed the GoWl2rmeaapresin the U PP er Chamber f^Li Will offer no further opposition if introduced into the next Parlia. '"jibe ground on which they are said Pt wcotne to this decision is that the ■*■, having had aaple opportunities of ■*J2 the merits of the outcast Bills !"Earned to power by a largo majority arty «hich introducßd them< If we v nlace implicit) reliance on the opnonia pi» the Government in the Upper 2? D L'ntr influenced by such a common*oti6S of the matter as the "Post," *"ST2 them, we might look forward to a A*Mlv auieb sessson of Parliament ■**?■?£ "nd one that would be perhaps lit\ rfJSof moregood and less guiltyof loss J llO- h«n Sy of its predecessors. With d r JSamber in which the Opposition is '.I that foolish obstruction will be out TStSiaod an Uppe, r Cihan^ 6r ' 'S o( *fflf which are agreed that it. would f m institutional on their part, whatever hJ nriS"■opinion might be, to endeatbe'rf n Ihwart the intentions of the GoToDr'lr with regard to those "Cres the «»ntry may have had T2£ ilat the election, there will I Lrv reason to expect great X 33 things from the next Parliament. !° the Ster of labour legislation alone LtAre many very important principles s oald be^ncorporated in the Statute 'Sim early aa possible. They would Xb ac n ffre already had it not been for he hoSlifcy manifested towards them by a •!,itv in the Council. It was with deep m Ih&t the Minister for Labour, Mr SSL id the best friends of tho lal!Z■•bbw this majority triumphant. X they must be rejoicing now if they "tinfthemselves to believe that what Z "Post" says is correct. Mr Reeves !m be meditating yeb more measures to Iddto those he has already drawn up on Zr or in imagination to advance Bintewrtß of the working classes. SJ H is somewhat difficu b to reZ that the hostile Councillors Xd have honestly declared such fSe intention. With the defeat o their «rtv » >8 nob to be supposed that Sw h»ve grown suddenly amiable \ to their opponents or alive to their merits. The liiost we can reasonably hope for is thib these councillors will nob press their laition to such of the labour Bills as toefound favour with the country; but (hat they should extend their clemency towards measure* breathing the same spirit inconsistency hardly to be looked for.

Alter full consideration, the New South Wales Cabinet has decided that the best Interests of the country will be served by jot accepting the resignation of the Hon. MtCopeland, who recently distinguished himself while in a state of inebriety at tbedoor of the House of Parliament. His colle»sj»88 bave come *° tne conclusion that theaerricea which Mr Copeland is able to lander 'to tbe colony are such as to justify them in overlooking such discreditable conduct as that of which the Minister has been guilty, and disregarding tbe bad moral effect) which such a step is likely to have in the degree of respect with which Parliament is presumably regarded. Both the Sydney " Morning Herald" and "Daily Telegraph," are loudin their denunciation of the resolution arrired at, and accepb the decision as a wresignof the decadence of the legislature tint has been going on for the past few jean,and which has told deplorably to the dbcredife of the country.

Mag to a break in the overland cable la Westerc, kxwtralia, caused, it is supposed' ty a hurricane, we are to-day without news Si any description from abroad. The interruption is, however, only slight, the break having ocenred between two stations 200 miles distant), and ib is expected that commnnication will be restored almost* immediately.

The public school inspectors of the colony will meet in conference on Wednesday next ab Wellington, to discuss matters in regard to the syllabus and educational matters generally, on the invitabion of the Hon. the Minister for Education. The Auckland inspectors will leave for Wellington on Monday next, in order to attend (be conference.

A caae of some interest to friendly tocieties and to members of the medical profession was decided at the Nupier Resident Magistrate's Courb, before Mr Tarnball, K.M. Dr. Innos sued John Boss to recover £4 4s, fees for medical attendance, which defendant declined to pay on the ground that he was entitled to plaintiff's Bervicea as surgeon of Court) Captain Cook, A.O.F. Ib appeared from the evidence that on the sth of May last defendant was found lying on the Taradale Road, having either fallen or been thrown from bio horse. He was conveyed to.the Napier lock-up, charged with drunkenness, and the arresting constable deposed tbab Bops was undoubtedly drank. The fall from the horse caused bjuries which Dr. Innos was called to tteit, Subsequently a question arose as to payment, nnd Dr. Innes took the stand tortander rale 137 of the society's laws, nefendanb could nob claim to be treated •saclub patient, the injuries having been "wired while he was drunk. This defendant most strenuously denied, asserting tbab hie fall was due to some sudden "Bare. After hearing the evidence, His Worship gave judgment for the amount sclaused, with costs and expenses amountIk to £119a.

The small boys who usually congregate «'greao numbers on such occasious, were worded a great deal of sport this morning, *<jen the Auckland Graving Dock was "lip; emptied after it had been vacated by •toßteamer Richmond.. A motley variety. •> the finny tribe waa imprisoned, and JWb tmfoTtunate fiah were chased and h"T all over the basin by boys •jwea with pieces of old iron, wooden "Mgeons,. bags, kits and stones. «T«»1 big fish caused a vast . JWnt of excitement, and the frantic J™ of about a dozen thoroughly 'orated youngsters to secure the coveted W elicited shrieks of laughter from JL j crow<* °* spectators on the upper ™"id. One little chap, however, in his "Wness to participate in the fun, fell «»> the third altar of the dock and re- ■ W n° me Painful bruises about the • He waa unconscious when picked up, /won recovered and waa taken home. Flo "ones were broken. J^}ot^ Island farmer was leading a bull »J" allln9 adjacent to his homestead last hi*' j L e. n the beasfc rushed at him and ■ w'? D ™ | ™»i-»gahißt a stack of hay. ReVte Belf'P°BSeßßi°n, the farmer told (o». k ye?r old «on, who accompanied him, ■ttfthl n ! Ork frOm the barn> Ha- vin2 tin ,m ' T boy w«8 told to put it againßt Cb *[ tha bal1 ' 5n fche re £ion of the Wed i . k°y obeyed, and waa then UUjT, push quick, with all your tiiti.oi« ~otJ'dBo; the tines went their Kr<J,K bs ls»to the bull's side, and the 'oiled no jth 0"° tremendous bellow, VlNrawn -u d< Ab fche bull>B horns were •tatw. 9 Plucky farmer, who was *«• tLn 'fell down insonsible. and ib o! |)j, i fen that, despite h ; 8 coo i nePSt one tt'Wiißo.Jfa 69" Rightfully furrowed.tJf*ldrt.arejOtl entsrely stamped out in l*tled tn Mr,m occasional case ia rei*thr' a r Gold!o' th« Sanitary Intotott/j <*** in Lower Symonda-street 'Wed ( ha other day.

Captain Edwin wired at 1.30 p.m. :— ''North to eaßt and south east gals, with rain after 24 hours from now, glass fall. Indications very good tidoa."

An accident happened on Saturday at Hamilton to Mr Jail, whilst driving a buggy near the Hospital on the Ohaupo road. Mr Jull and a lady friend were driving very quietly when the shaft of the buggy broke, and the horse bolted. The trap wa3 capsized into a ditch, and the occupantf thrown heavily. Mr Maunder fortunately happened to be passing ab the time, and came to the rescue. He lifted the buggy off the lady, and conveyed both her and Mr Jull to the Hospital, where they were kindly treated and Mr Jull's wounds were attended to. His leg is badly cut along the shin bone, and he received a severe shaking, as did his friend, but both are doing well. A child who was in the buggy escaped unhurt.—(Waikato correspondent.)

The Board of Education has accepted the following tenders :—Tenders for improvements to the Kaueranga School, Messrs Moore and O'Hara, £268 ; improvements to Te Awamutu School, Wrigley, £220. Tbe tender of Mr Hlarrop, £46 18a 6d, was accepted for certain work ab Kowakawa School.

In connection with the wreckage that was picked up near Waiwera yesterday, it will be seen en reference to our shipping columns that the French warehip Scorff, which left here on Friday last, arrived safely ab Porb Chalmers this morning. The flotsam reported as having washed ashore has thorefore, apparently, been thrown overboard from the cruiser after leaving port. It is moTe difficult to account for the portions of cabin fittings, which would hardly have belonged to the Scorff. They may bo part of some old wreck.

The interest in thab sensational and thrilling romance " Utu," now running in the " Graphic," increases week by week. The villain has now apparently gob the game entirely in his own hands, having committed one or two murders which clear his path from vexatious checks. He has apparently got clean away, but one knows vengeance will be meted out in due course. This week's " Graphic " is, by the way, one of the extra popular mail numbers. The pictures of local scenery are very fine ine'eed, and the paper is well worth posting Home.

The Customs revenue collected at Lyttelton and Christchurch in 1893 amounted to £276,273, an increase of £9,274 on_ the previous year. The beer duty received amounted to £10,811, an increase of £82. The total value of imports was £1,272,860, as againsn £1,205,924. Exports show a considerable falling off, owing to the low prices for grain in the English market. A decrease of £114,113 appears, and would have been more marked but for the exports of specie to the United Kingdom and Australian colonies, which amount to £113,990.

Newa from the Kaipara states that Mr Duncan McDeugall, of Tatarariki, Northern Wairoa, meb with a serious accident) on January 19th. He was taking a loaded dray along a rough road, when a sudden jolt knocked him over, and falling on the ground, the wheel passed over his body. The ground was a bit spongy, or Mr MeDougall would probably have been killed. As it was, he had three of his riba broken.

John Henry Prior, an inmate of the Costley Old People's Refuge, Epaom, died yesterdayl morning, from the effects of cancer. ' The deceased was a son of the late Major-General Charles Prior, of the Indian Army. For services rendered as a volunteer in the .Jndian Mutiny, Prior received a commission in the 95th Regiment. Leaving the army he came to New Zealand some 20 years ago. Bishop Covrie attended Prior in his last illness.

The Revs. T. W. Dunn and Frackleton, two of the members of the Presbyterian deputation who arrived here recently from Sydney to investigate the special settlement system in New Zealand, with a view to establishing similar settlements in New South Wales, are in Auckland at present. They have interviewed Mr Mueller, Crown Lands Commissioner, who has given them all the information ab his disposal. To-day they went up to Swanson to inspect the village settlement in that locality. They will afterwards go to Te Aroba, and to the Firewood Creek special settlement, between Ngaruawahia and the Woingaro Hot Springs. The third member of the deputation, the Rev. Mr Fitzgerald, is at present in the Wellington district. The party will return to Sydney in about three weeks' time. The settlements they propose to establish are in connection with the Presbyterian Church, and for the benefit of the unemployed of that Church. It is intended to maintain individualism, and yet accepb the beat features of the communal system.

The excessive heafc still continues, says our Waikato correspondent. On Sunday at Ngaruawahia the glass registered 130 degrees in the sun and over 90 in the shade. Ib is very hard for those who have to work in the open iv such sevorely warm weather.

As will be noticed by advertisement elsewhere, the Worth Bros, and their variety entertainers open in the City Hall on Saturday night next, and repeat their enteitainment on the Monday following (R?gabta night). In all, twenty artists have been engaged for the occasion, and a programme is being prepared which will include many novelties to Auckland theatre-goers and visitors. Amongst the artists are several fresh faces, who will appear in conjunction with a combination of old Auckland favourites, and intending patrons can look forward to an enjoyable evening on either night. The performance will consist of conga, dances, duets, gymnastics and weight-liftine, local hits, and will conclude with a new burlesque, entitled "Justice in Hawkland." The prices are popular ones, being Is circle seats and 6d to all other parts of the house. The musical portion of the entertainments is in the hands of Mr E. Burke.

In another part of this issue will be found particulars of the annual Scottish concerts which are to be given at the Opera House under the auspices of the Caledonian Society on the ensuing Saturday and Monday evenings. The entertainments give promise of preab excellence, and the programmes have been compiled to suib all tastes. Among the contributors are such well-known and popular singers as Misses Warren, Featon, Butler and Fifzpatrick, and Mr J. Fuller. Scottish songs,' reels and dances will, of course, be the features of the evenings, and care has been taken to introduce favourite selections. Mr and Mrs Sceats, who have nob appeared in Auckland for four years, will also appear in two of their character duets.

The ladies' school, at Lake Takapuna, of which Miss Hunter is Principal, is increasing in favour with parents. Miss Hunter, who is assisted by Miss M. 0. Hunter, has made arrangements to take over the large house lately occupied by Mrs Alexander in Milford Road. The house contains 14 rooms with a largo schoolroom, and everything about it is very complete. Further, the house is in a healthy position and quite new, and suitable in every way for a highclass seminary; Duties will be resumed on the 6bh February, and further particulars can be obtained elsewhere.

The steamer Eagle will run to SbHelier's Bay to-morrow, via Devonport, making trips at 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. Female Franchise Act, 1893. The Ladiea now do their duty, ■• and vote unonimoasly for 5 •• Reliable Tea," (Advt.) Noth withstanding cheap sales, etc., we continue bo please onr customers and give them as good value as can be got in the city. Note the address—New Zealand Clothing Factory, 158 and 160, Queenstreet.— < Advt,)

Today another of the sailors belonging to the French flagship Duquay Trouin was admitted to the Hospital suffering from typhoid fever. This is tho fourth case which baa occured on the flagship since being in harbour. Altogether, at tho present time there are 13 patients at the Hospital suffering from typhoid fever.

A telegram from'Dunedin states that the position of Inspector of Telegraphs for Otago, rendered vacanb by the promotion of Mr Logan, lies between Mr Greenaway, of Nelson, and Mr J. Orchiston, of Auckland. The Minister (Mr Ward) will not make the appointment till he returns to Wellington. Mr Orchiston is the present Inspector .of Telegraphs in the Auckland district.

A returned digger from tho Coplgardie goldfields, in Western Australia, was recently interviewed ab Albany. He stated that the sparse water supply was the greatest drawback ab the diggings. In answer to the question, " What i» tho general opinion as to the future of the lield?" be Baid, "Ib is believed that- there are hundreds of miles to prospeot'yet, and thab the Coolgardie belb of auritefoua country will be traced through^to the Murchison-^-a, distance of aboufr) 600 'miles. In my opinion, Bailey's is nut the only phenomenal auriferous deposit in the country ; bub I would nob advise "aroypne to go on to the field, unless welliitted out and prepared in every way to ' rough ib.' To go there otherwise would be madness." He said that the best way of reaching the field was to go to Albany and to Northam, 150 miles off, by train. From Northam trains run 120 miles north to near the Southern Cross goldfield. Coolgardie is 130 miles east from that place. The nearest water to Coolgardio ab present is 35 miles distant, and the charge made for this water in Coolgardie is Is per gallon. At Coolgardie a shaft 165 feet deep affords an almost unlimited supply of brackish water, for which tho charge is Id per gallen, 6d each per head for horses per drink, and Is each for camels. Horses and camels can bo starved into drinking this. Water is taken a distance of 70 miles to Hannon's by means of camels, and for this the charge is Is 6d to 2s 6d per gallon. The returned digger further said : "There ia plenty of gold thore, if you can only hit upon ib ; but any knowledge or experience gained elsewhere ia of no value there. You may chance to pick up gold on the surface, and yeb find no colour below. Bailey's is the wonder of the world for richness. The escort was, ab the time we left, coming down with 10,000 ounces of gold from this claim. They realieed 13,000 ounces out of 11 tons, mostly got by dolleyiog. The deepest sinking at Hannon's is only Bft; and that, ab Bailey'H which is at Coolgardie, is only 35ft. Hannon's is one network of reefs for miles—all good surface show.'

Last evaning's moonlight excursion gofc up by St. John's Wesleyan Church cboir> was in a marked degree a greab success, and the festival funds of the school will be much benefited thereby. The trip over the harbour was lovely and in every sense invigorating. The moon and the electric light of tbe p.a. Eagle lib up the passage like a fairy land. The concert was worth the cost itself, arid the programmo~elicited much commendation and applause. The excellency of the brass band made it a happy feature and did as much as anything to make the affair a success.

An important advertisement appears in another column re the Foresters' Jete at Onehunga.

The Payne Family appear to-night a t Onehunga.