SAMOA AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 103, 1 May 1894, Page 4

SAMOA AGAIN.

Our delightful little vision of an island dapendency seb in purple spheres of eea fifteen hundred miles to the northward, haß been over-clouded of late by news front several quarters of the world. Our innocenb proposal has fluttered the whola newspaper press of Germany ito would seem, and while one party approves; of our desire, and would be glad to see it granted in order to relieTe their country of a difficulty which her repreßen* tatives have clearly shown themselves un* able to deal with, another party ia, w4 fancy, pouring forth an indignant tirade in those terrible verbal conglomerations which are only to be found in the language of Goethe and Schiller.

Our suggestion to administer Samoa has evidently taken the world by surprise. Germany on the whole, it appears, is aghast at our impudence; the Old Mother Country' is puzzled and nob a little charmed ab the push her youngster has displayed ; our eiater colony^ New South Wales, seems a trifle jealous j and Old Uncle Sam, nob very much eon« cerned about having a finger in the Samoan pie, if all were known, looks on and says nothing. How is all end ? Is our scheme to come to naught ? It certainly looks like ib at present. If only Germany would look kindly on our modest wants the others would very probably feel inclined to yield .good humouredly to ou*'" wishes. ' Even. Ne»» South Wales would forget nflf jealousy. But Germany shows no sign of treating the matter in this easy fashion. She haa interests in Samoa, bigger interests than any other Power, and she ia hardly to bo blamed if she does nob quite see why ehtf should be set aside completely. _ Her dream of a great commercial colony in the Pacific may be over, bub her jealousy may easily be awakened when she sees little New Zealand daring to dream the same dream for herself.

Emperor William himself is said to ba siding with the Colonial Party, which is circulating petitions throughout the Father* land for the retention of Samoa. We know something of William, and we hardly think that our chances are very bright if he really is determined that Samoa shall not be ours. Whether he is really of that opinion or nob we have no means now of judging, but it would be very erroneous to conclude, because the semi-official journal the " Vobsische Zeitung" declares itself somewhat in our favour, that it reflects the opinion ot the German Government.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Minister for Education, and Labour, in response to a general request, is to address a public meeting of citizens this evening in the City Hall, ob political topics of the day. Ho1 will in the course of hia speech deal with the land, labour, education, and other questions, more especially the labour legislation of the Government, and with the various means which are being tried to relieve the congested state of the labour market. He will most likely speak on the subject of the Labour Bills which were blocked last season and which' will ba re-introduced in Parliament next session, including the Conciliation, and Arbi* tration Bill, the Shop Hours Bill, the Conspiracy Bill, and the Shipping and Seamen's Bill, all of which Mr Reeves, as Minister of Labour, will bring up at next session of Parliament). Local questions, such as the grant to be made to the Auckland Hospital, will also probably be referred to.' Mr Reeves is an able and fluent speaker, and his address should be a most interesting one at the present juncture. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. J. Holland, will preside over the meeting. The dresscircle of the City Hall has been reserved for ladies and their escorts.

The majority of the Government House party are ab present) absent from town. Mrs Stewart, Captain Clayton, A.D.C., and the members of Lord and Lady Glasgow's family are the only present occupants of the Vice-Regal residence. Ib is not expected that Lord Glasgow and suite will leave Auckland until the latter end of May.

The Eons. Messrs Ward a»d McKenzie were present- at the opening of a section of the Otago Central Railway to-day. Mr McKonzie will be entertained aba banquet at Hyde in tho evening, and goes on to Naseby. He leaves for ths North on Saturday. ' The Colonial Treasurer waejto leave Dunedin for the South to-day.

With reference to labour legislation during the coming session of Parliament, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, Minister tor Labottr, informs us that a new Eight Hours Bill for New Zealand has been drafted, but anything further will depend very much on the progress ot business next session. Mr Reeveß wiK explain to-night that the labour Bills which were rejected last session will take precedence of any new labour legislation during the forthcoming Bitting of Parliament.

!ho kauri timber industry in the Auck* land province is very busy just now, all the mills along the coast and in Auckland working full time, in consequence of large orders for export being received, A large shipment of dressed kauri timber ia being sent away from this port to London by the New Zealand Shipping Company's barque Rangitikei, now loading, and it is expected thab further shipments are to follow. There is said to be a prospect of kauri coming into favour with large shipbuilding firms in the United Kingdom lor deck* planking purposes.

At 11.25 a.to. Captain ; Edwin wired:— »• Norbh-easb to north a»d west gale, with heavy rain, within ten hours from bow. Glass farther fall." The death is announced of Mr Adam Beaney, of the firm of Beaney andl Sons, Ironfounders and engineers, of Arch Hill, aO thb nga of 62 years. He was an old coloniat, and resided in the Arch Hill district for thirty years. For a long period ho hold n ,-espoDßible position at Messrs Frasor and njinno's foundry. About ton ycara ago ho started business on bis own account at A-ch Hill, with which he remained concectod until his death. The deceasod had Battered from paralytic stroke for some Months past). He leaves a wife and a crown-up family of five, three of whom are tja-ried. The remains of deceased will be Interred in the Waikomiti Cemetery toIftorrow. The Board of Governors of tho Canterbury College decided yesterday, subject to the recommendation of the Board of Ad'ice, to appoint Mr J. R. Charlton, M.R.C.V.S., to lecture on veterinary science at the Lincoln School of Agriculture. The College Committee recommended the Board to borrow £4,000, for the purpose of increasing the accommodation of tho Boys Higa School. The matter was referred to the Estates Committee for its report. Mr K. Webb was elected Chairman of the Board Of Governors. , .._... , Ib has ljeen stated thafa Mr J. J. Holland (the Mayor of Auckland) would strongly lupport the establishment of a night refuge in this city. Mr Holland says he was interviewed in reference to the matter, and he told the person who consulted him to pub hi 3 Views in writing and he would see that the communication came under the notice of the' City Council. Mr Holland expressed no opinion on the subject whatever, and so far as he is concerned be thinks that there is do necessity whatever for a night refuge in Auckland at present. Ab yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the lady superintendent of the Hospital in her report complained of the unsatisfactory way in which the linen was returned from the wash. Some discussion ensued relative to the matter, and eventually the following resolution was agreed to:—"Thab seeing the difference in the statements of the laundress and the lady superintendent, both parties be requested to attend at tho next meeting of the Co.'tley Homo Committee with the view of removing any difficulties that prevent the washing being returned within reasonable time."

Mr Justice Conolly has made an order directing Mr <T. Laweon, the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, to take OTer and administer the estate of the late Mr Robt. tiarrobt, gum merchant).

A boy employed by Messrs Caurb Bros., in Queen-streeb, was walking on top of the verandah of that firm's premises yesterday afternoon when he accidentally fell through the glass skylight, which was smashed. The boy would probably have been badly hurt, but for an iron bar which arrested his The Auckland pnblic cannob complain of the high fares to Sydney. The Union Company announce thp.t tho s.s. Manapouri will convey steerage passengers to the New South Wales capital on the 9th inab. at 15s each. Mr John Savage attended tho meeting of the Parnell Borough Council last night, and pointed oub thab apparently by hia rate receipts he had paid for an extra three jnenths. Crs. Thornes and Withy explained the reason, showing that it was due to the way in which the receipts had been drawn out, and nob because en excess was paid. Mr Savage expressed himself satisfied with the explanation. The minute under which the rate was struck read as follows :.— " That a special rate of 4d in the £ oa acceunb of interest and sinkiug fund on waterworks loan, and 5d in tho £ on account of interest and sinkinr fund on drainage works loan, authorised to be levied, be made, and collected half yearly, the first half year commencing from bho Ist of October, 1882, and ending 31sb March, '83, the second half year commencing on the Ist April, '83, and ending 30 March, '83, and the Parnell Borough Council do hereby make and levy the above special rates for the above purposes on all rateable property in the Borough, Buch rates to be payable in equal instalments on the Ist day of January and lab day of July in each year." Mr Withy fully coincided with the explanation mnclo by Mr Thornes, and Mr Savage accepted it.

Considerable time was expanded ab the meeting of the Farnell Borough Council last night) discussing financial matters. The estimates as submitted by the Town Clerk showed that the income from subsidy, rent of endowments, licenses, etc., including general rate of Is in the £, £1,239 3s— amount* to £2,388 14s lOd. The expenditure includes: Charitable aid, £184 Os 2d ; offieea and salaries, £160; lighting, £130; maintenance of streets and roads, £550; materials for repairs and new works, £650; overdraft, £553 43 8d: total, with obher items, £2,388 43 Bd. Estimated overdraft, 30th Juno, 1895, £427 7s, Ib was pointed out that tbe present overdraft was about £600. The Council then discussed the items. Sereral speakers hinted at the necessity that existed for increasing the general rate to Is 3d in the £.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tbe Auckland Tailors' Union was held lasterening in the Rising Sun Hotel. There was a good attendance of members, and an amonnt of business wns transacted in connection with the Society, which is now in a firm position. Fire new members were enrolled.

The Otahuhu Mutual held their nsnal fortnightly meeting last: night, Mr S. Luke ia the chair. The programme was Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream "by various members, interspersed with songa »nd readings by Mr McDonald, Miss Harding, Mrs Armstrong and others, and a moat •njoyablo evening was spent by all.

The session of Sb. Stephen's Mutual Improvement Aisociation was most successfully inaugurated last evening by a lecture on "Lord Rosebery," delivered by the rresidenb of the Association, the Rev. T. F. Robertson. The audience, which was a fairly numerous one, was highly appreciative of the able manner in which the leverend gentleman handled his subject. Mr Gittos presided, and after the conclusion of the address also made a few remarks on Lord Rosebery. The lecturer, »n dealing with the life of the present _ Prime Minister of England, treated id in a general manner, no political Character being given to the address. The latching O f L ord Kosebery's life was in- , «*™persed with well chosen extracts frtin most notable speeches, and with aneoaotea illustrating the keen sense of humour W the man, as well as of the boyish frankness and fascination of manner which attracted so many Scotch people to support *uml °*en in spite of his connection with ™« turf, which is looked upon with extreme disfavour by many of his Scottish »umuers. Ab the conclusion of the Rev. Robertson's address, a vote ot thanks was accorded to the lecturer, thus ending a moat pleasant and instructive evening. To. morrow a f ternoon the Ferry Company wiu r un a steamer to one of the favourite Bsning grounds, leaving the ferry tee ab at a suitable hour in the evening. Baib will be provided. no.!? 1!. 6 Ba. fctl° Fields of Scotland " will be aeaindescnbedthis evening by the Rev. in tL v bertßon in a lecture to be delivered Bon«^n VOnporb Pre9byterian Schoolroom. X\ U. u! trttti7 e of subject will be B * n at "rtwvals during the evening. 'tak7 a °nf n recitalbyMr Arthur Towsey S P M6^ St-Matthew's Church to*UI cJSk ? ri *onr and Mr A- J- Ta"PPer

Among the most recenb improvements in the city is tho photographic studio which has been builb for Messrs Wrigglesworch and Binns, the well known photographers of Wellington, on the site of the late fire in Quean-street. The frost vestibule has been thrown open 33 in Tut tie's time, and handsomely fitted with cedar show-cases. Accending a brass mounted staircase one lands in a well-fitted office or reception room, while to the left is a sumptuously furnished drawing or waiting room. The exquisite taste displayed in this room is a feature in the building. The dadoing is of stamped Japanese leather, imported specify by the firm for the purpose, and is very elective. Off this room is the ladies dressing-room which is also tastefully fitted, up, the mirrors and all the necessary adjuncts for completing one's toilot, artistically arranged. A wide passage with a handsome velvet) pile carpet leads one to the studio, to the right of which is the gentlemen's dressing-room, which ia alto nicely fitted and furnished. The sbudio measures 50ft by 20ft, and one glance at the contents is sufficient to convince one thab Messrs Wrigglesworth and Binns are determined that expense shall not stand in way of their producing firstclass work. Everything is entirely new and of the latest pattern, some of the back* grounds being works of art in themselves. Tho firm have already started taking sitters, and there is little doubt that a busy time is in store for the next six months, as several thousand deposit tickets have already been sold for the firm's opening offer, viz., 12 enamelled cabinets, and One 15 by 12 enlargement on opal, finished by an artist for 15s.

Tenders for repairs to the Hauraki Steam Shipping Company's e.s. Maori have been received as follows:—W. H. Brown, £47 10s (accepted); R. and A. Logan, £56 ; VTaymouth and Nicholson, £59; Charles Bailey, £59 ; George Niccol, £62 ;. Henderson and Spraggon, £79 10s; Watson, £80.

A deputation of members of the Board of Education waited upon the Hon. W. P. Reaves this afternoon, relative to various educational matters.

Lasb evening Mr Arthur B. Wright, Government Road Engineer, in charge of the Auckland district, left for Russell by the 5.9. Clansman in order to see to the roads of the Bay of Islands district) and also to take over the old Kawakawa coal mines, on behalf of the Crown Lands Department;.

The ueual fortnightly meetingof the Auckland Liberal Association was held in the rovms, Wyndhanvstreeb, last evening. Mr Wm. Leys (President) occupied tbe chair, There waa a good attendance. The evening waa occupied mainly with making arrangements for the meeting at the City Hall to-night. Several new members were elected, and recommendations to the Govern men b regarding electoral and other reforms were discussed.

The Devon port Musical Society held the firsb rehearsal of season 1894 lasb evening, when 64 members attended. The conductor, Mr Arthur Towsey, was very pleased with the efforts of the members. Sterndale Bennett's "May Queen" is the work for the firsb concert, and a highly successful season is expected.

Tho St. John Ambulance Brigade held tiheir usual fortnightly drill lasb night at* Lhe Drill-shed, under Surgeon-Major Dawson und Sergeant-Major Scully. There was a very good muster of members. The corps in addition to their ordinary work were pub though a practical course in roller bandaging and dressing..

The full programme for, Mr Gee's Wednesday concert at) the City Hall is published in this issue. It is a very fine one, and shows that) Mr Gee is determined to keep up the quality of these entertainments. ■

The uanal quarterly social in connection with the Y.P.S.C.E of the Helping Hand Mission was held last evening, when a pleasant and interesting programme was gone through, Bro. S. HoldßWorbh occupying the chair. The following was tho programme rendered: — Chairman's remarks ; dueb, Misses E. Gallot and A. McLennan ; recitation, Bro. J. Rogers ; 8010 and chorus, Sister A. Woodman and others; recitation, Bro. S. Holdsworth ; cornet dueb, Bros. H. E. Pacey and R. H. Lawford. Then followed a few amusing games, which were very much enjoyed. Refreshments were handed round, and the meeting closed with the Mizpah Benediction.