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Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 248, 17 October 1894, Page 4

The battle of the Midland Railway was once again fought out in the House of Representatives last night, when a Bill proposing that the colony should enter into a new contract with the Midland Railway Company was thrown out on the motion For second reading by 32 to 26. The amendments, made by the Legislative Council in the Dairy Industry Bill, were .agreed tp^ The report of the Labour Bills Com. mittee on the Masters and Apprentices Bill recommended its postponement till next session. In tho Upper House the Trustees' Acb Amendment Bill, ,the Sta.mp Aces Amendment Bill, the Water Supply Act Amendment.Bill, the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Bill, the Public Works Bill, and the Dairy Industry Bill were read a third time and passed. A resolution was carried by 25 (o '8, affirming that, the tenure of office of District Court Judges and Stipendiary Magistrates should bo "during"ability and good behaviour," and not, as ab precenb, during the pleasure of the executive, and also affirming that* the salaries ac present paid to district judges and magistrates are wholly inadequate. .

Nows has beon received via America of the unexpected death in England of Mr Thomas Writrley, of Tauranga, while on a visit to tho Old"Country, ab the ago of 67 years. Mr Wrigley was one of tho oldest pioneers of Tauranga, and had been in business there from the earliest commencement of the settlement. He arrived in the colony in 1858, and started business at Maketu in 1861, while the British troops were there. He was Mayor of Tauranga fcr three years, and was universally, esteemed and reepected.

An open meeting of the. Knights of Labour was held lasb night in tho Alexan-dra-street schoolroom, to consider the petition, to the Government re Shop-Hour* Bill. Mr Dixon presided. The following organisations were i-epresented : —Trades und Labour Council, Messrs J. Eaucus, F. Roycfoft v: "Workers" Political '• League, Messrs Hadfield and Ruge; Wombni's political League,, Mesdamos Batty and Craig; Women's Political Roform League, Moadameß Shera and Hendre ; Carpenters' and Joiners', Messrs Smith and Johnson; Early Closing Association, Mesßrs Beehan and Gower, and a large number of the Knights of Labour were present. Mesdatnes Collings, Batty, Shora, and Hendre spoke in favour of the Saturday half-holi-day ; also Messrs Beehan, Fawcus, Hadfield and others. A good deal of discussion took place, and the following resolution was passed unanimously, " That this meeting is of opinion that Saturday is the best day in the week on which to have the halfholiday, and thac the delegates present bo requested to ask their respective organisations to consider the same, and co-operate with every movement that may be made to secure the Saturday half-holiday."

From a return presented to tha Welling* ton Hospital trustees, ib appears there hits been a considerable increase in the number of cancer cases treated of lato years. In 1886, out of -615 patients, there were only seven cases of cancer, while lasb year, pub of 1,201 patients, 51 were treated for this disease.

The usual fortnightly meeting of Court; Victoria, No. 6699, A.0.F., took place last evening in the Deyonporb Foresters' Hall. Bro. J. Still well, presiding. A number of the executive officers of the Auckland district were present. After business a harmony meeting took place, items being contributed by Bros. Bowerman, Bowers, Hammond, Ingham, Nordoo, Robinson, Chieman and others.

The greater part of the proceedings at the opening session of the Auckland Anglican Diocesan' Synod at Bishopscourt last) evening, consisted of a very interesting debate on the proposed ecclesiastical enfranchisement of women. The discussion arose over a motion by Mr Criape, a layman, to the effect that the canons of the General Synod be amended so as to give women power to vote at) parish meetings and at the election of Synodsmen, and that the1 Synod take such action as was necessary to carry out this reform. An amendment was moved by Canon Mac> murray, " That in the opinion of this Synod it is not desirable that the General Synod should, by legislation, alter the status of women till 'the opinion of the Lambeth. Conference of 1897. be first obtained." A debate lasting for. eotne. three hours took place on the question whether women should receive ecclesiastical enfranchisement or not, and some of the opinions ventilated were rather amusing. Amongst those who favoured the proposal wera Archdeacon Willis, Rev. Gould, Canon Nelson, Revs. Dr. Purchas, Hawkeg, Wyatt, and Messrs J. H, Upton, S. Luke, Batger, Thorp, Doonin. Those who opposed the motion ' were chiefly the clergy, including Archdeacon Dudley, Canon MacMurray, the Revs. W. E. Lush, Katterns, P. Walsh, W. Beatty, Richards, and Messrs Rice. Heather, Speight and others. The Rev. Mr Beatty (warden of St. John's College) made a very strong attack on the proposed change, and condemned women as not being possessed of any sense of justice, and of being incapable of ruling or directing affairs of government, which was, ho alleged, essentially a male function. He considered that the doctrine of sexual equality was promulgated by those men whose writings had prompted the French Revolution. He considered that the innovation would be fraught with grave peril to the Church. Other speakers considerably discounted the value of Mr Beatty's remarks, and Canon Nelson, Mr Gould, Mr Hawkes and others made out a very rosy caie for the ladies.' When the question wont to the vote, however, the motion was lost by 42 noes to 33 ayes, and on the amendment being put it also was thrown out. On the question of the ecclesiastical enfranchisement of woman, the Synod therefore stands "as you were." A full report of the debate will be found, elsewhere in this issue,

Meßsrs Goodall and Firth, prospeclott for the Geolgardie Prospecting Syndicate floated in Auckland by Mr R. C. Greent wood, sailed last evening 'in . the e.b. ! Wairarapa. Quite a number of friends and shareholders ia the Syndicate were dowa to wish them a Bafe voyage and "good luck." Mr Greenwood informs ug that) there are still 4 or 5 shares left to bo takea up by the public. A meeting of Bub. scribera will bo called ab an early date. Brett's "Auckland Almanac " ia now in the preaa. Secretaries of societies, etc., aw requested to send in a list of thoir officers for publication in tho local directory. Mr Bell, of .Belt and Sons, who have started a match, factory at Welling, ton, recently said to a Sydney press representative:—" Most of the other colasUg"' have duties on matches which we should have to pay juab as the Italians ar4 Bolgians do, and we could nob compel with them. In New Zealand, where 1 have, already established a factory* ab Wel« lington, the duty oh ' wax.'vestas strange to say, is higher than in Victoria! Ib is aboub 45 per cent, on landed value. With federation or intercolonial ■ freetrade I could get command of - tha markets of the other colonies and give em« ployme-nb to from 600* to- BQo'handir;o'f i:iall sorbs. Tho New Zealand factory sue. ceeding very well indeed. The hands are. getting into the work now. The New Zealand Government was very geod to me in letting in the machinery duty free. Ib U special,machinery, that could not bo made in the colony. They are CBUsidericij whether they will adinib tho Btearine rj« quired also free of duty. Already they ar« letting the boxes in free. l: Tho directors of the Auckland Gag Company have made another reduction in tha prico of gas. Tho present price of gaa in Auckland is 6s lOd, discount 10d r making tho net price 6. The reduced price will ba * 6s 4d, discount lOd, making net price 5b Cd—a reduction of 6d per I,oooft. Gas was first supplied in Auckland oil April 15th, 1855, and the price then was £1 5s per 1,000 cubic fe'efc. The directors have very wisely resolved upon a policy of returning to consumers the profits from increased business, and should the present reduction result, as the last one did,in a larger sale of gas.still further reductions may bo expected. No doubt) the lowering of the price will lead to tbs wider use of gas stoves. Gas for lighting is now two shillings per 1,000 cheaper than in Christchurch or Dunedin, the prica charged in those places being 7a 6d net per 1,000. In .Wellington the price is 6s Bd. The police havo recekpd information fromPapakura that a dwelling-house and out-buildings belonging to a settler named Andrew McLean, residing at Hunua, wera burnt clown at aboub 1 a.m. this morning. The house and buildings were insured, buc the office is not known. ; : Tho Ponsonby Catholic Literary Society • ,on Monday evening debated the question . " Monarclual versus Republican form of Government;." Mr O'Brien opened for tha republic, and Mr E. Mabony replied Tory ; ably for tho Government. On the e.ouelu* sion of the debate a poll was taken, and tha republicans won by a small majority., ..,;■. The annual meeting of the Auck!arJ Photographic Club is to be held on Thursday evening in Mr Payton'a rooms, Municipal Buildings.' The business ia to :«chu the report and balance-sheeb, end tho elec* " i tion of officers for the ensuing season. An announcement appears" elsewhow to, tbo effect thai general meeting of the msm- : bers of the Auckland Bowling Club will ;ba held;on the 27tli'insf., to consider the drafb . of declaration' of "Trust), which can nowba inspected. ' ' t Ji \ ! The usual weekly meeting 6(-tbe Anqk« land Catholic Literary and ..Deijatipk': Society was held at St. Patrick's Hall, last) evening, Mr R. Levi presiding. The literary business consisted of a uobato entitled "Would ib BenefibNow ZoaWd ~ to Federate with the Australian Colonies." Tho leaders were': In tho affirmative, D. Flynn ; negative, Mr F- J. O'Meara. - Discussion ensued, during which several members took part. The debate was do- ' cided in favour of the negativo side by one vote. . ' The season of Fitzgerald Bros', cireui and menagerie was brought to a conclusion lasb night. A large crowd gathered in tha tont and the performance was a successful one throughout. The circus 'appears at1' ■; Huntly to-night. ' ■ .'• , On Sunday lasb the Avondale Prasby terian Sunday-school held their ■. annivers»ry services, the church being tastefully decorated for the occasion. Addresßea were given by the Rev. Bell In the morn' ing, Laurie Wilcock in the afternoon, snd ; J. B. Lane in tho evening. The scholars sung special hymns in a creditable manner. Instead of the usual tea meeting, Mr .Win.. Brakenrig, of the V.M.C.A., gave a very interesting lecture on " Africa ■ and1 Mm :■ Africans." During an interral, Miss Grindrod sang " The Old Cathedral," with beautiful scenic effects. ... Miss Harper played the accompaniments in finished style. ; : .'•:■''■; :^Sk ft is announced thai) the next cohcisrfc of the Auckland Sestet Club will take place in the V.M.C.A. Hall to-morrow evening , tickets being fixed ab the very moderate price of one shilling. An attractive programme has been prepared, vocal numbers being set down opposite the names of Miss Kilgour,- Mr W. George, Mr A. L.-Ed-wards and Miss Kate Beat), while instru' ■ mental selections will be pliyed on 'flute, t horn, violin, piano, bassoon, clarionet bnJ obde. Mr Arthur Towsey will supply the ' pianoforte portion of themuaic, while Mr A. CookAviirassist tho Sesteb Club with tha vinli'n'

violin. ■ . .■• ■-:,;.■■_ Signor Alberto Romani, of the Consor.W;^ toires of Milan and London, and formed? prirao. baritone of Lyster and Carl Kosaa Opora Companies, notifies that he intends shortly to-commence tuition in voice production and artistic singing in Auckland.Signor Romani has excellent testimooiaw ; | from eminent European mueicianß, wv;- ; gl eluding Manuel Garcia, Sims Reeves, Gaebano Nava (Santley'a master), and fair Michael Costa. The latter wrote to Signor Romani in 1884:—"In response tqjna request of my friend, Signor Koneoni, or ■; Paris.vtbab should use-my-lriflußifce'oh. your behalf in London, I have moctt. pleasure in abating my opinion concerning your method of voice production and styw, of singing. You have evidently studied in » good echool. and posseaa the necessary vocal means and intelligence to renderwiW iclat all styles of composition. I-.anouia consider you to be a capable instructor to students who require a singing master. St. John's Mutual Improvement Society will give a musical and literary entertainment to-morrow (Thuraday) evening » « o'clock. This is the final entertainment) xo , j wind up the eeason, and Bdmjgeion » j free. A very large number is expected.w, | be present. The programme is wa"? K'-$ capital one. Notwithstanding the many ooropjaints one hears about dull trade, it isafignin-v| canb facb that-Row's grocery stores,, VICV, toria-atreeb, are always the scone of a t>m , throng of. buyers, who are evidently.weu ■ pleased with their purchases. Mr Keff s advertisement appears in another colunin, and after reading it the explanation ot su9 fact stated above is very easy.—(Advo.) The talk of the town is Geo. Fowls' | tennis shirb show. He is sellipg silk stripa shirts at 4a 6d. The new "Matt,' os.oo, and 63 6d ; Cashmere and silk, 7a C,d ; new. shades in pale blue and pink, 5b 6d ana.js 6d; all made in the town. See Arcaw J

window.—(Ad vb.) " Reliable" Teas are good stock, a8 every grocer knows. - ~.„ They sell rapidly because the pu&»c appreciate a good article.—(Advt.) v s