NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6142, 27 May 1885, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lecture.—Professor Bickerton'a lecture on applied science last night was occupied with the properties of castings and the use of flaxes in smelting. The fusibility of the different minerals was illnstrated by experiments. Thxatbb Botaii.—There was a very good house last night at the Theatre, when the bill of the preceding evening was repeated. To-night there will be a change of programme, the bill including "Founded on Facts" and the musical burlettaof "The Waterman." Smokk Concebt.—The first of a series of smoke concerts projected to take place daring the next montL. or two, was given last night in the commodious rooms of the C.M.I. There was a capital attendance of visitors, and an excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music was gone through very successfully. The next one will take place in a fortnight. Salmon Ova.—At a meeting of the Council of the Acslimatisation Society yesterday it was resolved to write to the various societies in New Zealand, requesting them to join in an application tv the Government for a subsidy to send Mr Farr Home again about August next for a further supply of ova. Thk Fishing Season.—The Council of the Acclimatisation Society have fixed the date of the trout fishing season from let October to 81st March. The date of the peich fishing season was also fixed. Thb Sink.—Skating will be resumed at the Queen's Bink this evening, when the City Beed Band will be in attendance. STKAbBUBG Clock.—The exhibition of the model of the Strasburg clock is now drawing to a close, Saturday being advertised as the last day. Constotxtion.—"Eobin Hood's" unlimited consultation on the Grand National was drawn last night with 1850 subscribers, and passed off satisfactorily. Sudden Dbath in Lytibi/ton.— A boy nine years old, named Thomas Turner Carter, son of the Assistant Pilot at the Beads, was brought up to Lyttelton at noon to-day, and died about two hours afterwards, the immediate cause being tetanus. His father/ Mr T. Carter, states that his eon was generally healthy, but complained on Sunday last, and took to his bed that day. His condition was not considered dangerous until yesterday morning, when the doctor ordered him to be taken to Lyttelton. Lawn Tobnnib.—The Sheffield Club closed flieir season on Monday. There was a large attendance of players. During the afternoon the Bey. Mr Bean, on behalf *f a few friends, presented Mr Colthartwith a handsome racket, mounted with a silver plate, suitably inscribed, thanking Mr Colthart and family for the many pleasant days they had enabled the Club members to spend during the season. The recipient suitably acknowledged the handsome gift. All admitted a most enjoyable day Dad been spent. Spkingston Weslbtan Church.—A very successful sale of work and live and dead stock took place at Springeton on Monday last. There was a very large gathering, I the Springston Brass Baud was ia attend- ! ance, and gave general satisfaction. A capital tea was provided in the District schoolroom, presided over by ladies. Nearly everything was sold at fair prices. The proceeds of the sale and tea, together with, subscriptione to hand, amounted to over £80. There are other, subscriptions yet to come in, which it ia hoped will clear off a long standing debt of nearly JBIOO. In tie evening a public meeting was held id the church, presided over by Mr H. W. Peryman, when a lecture was given by F. IW. Isitfc en the subject of as exhibited by Mr Booth.

Dibxct &MAM.—A cablegram in Mon- I day's issue reported the arrival at Flymonth of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Boyal Mail Steamer Buapeiu, and the Shaw, Savfll and Albion Company's steamer Tainoi.. The former left Wellington on Monday, the 13th cf Apifl, at 6 pan., and the latter took her departure from Lyttelton early on the morning of the 12th of April; the Boapehu thus making the Toyage in about forty-eight hours less time than the TafrnaL Cnn SxsviCß Examination. — The results of the Civil Service examination, which took place last month, appear in the "Gazette" of 21st. Mr H. A. Jackmaa is the only candidate bailing from Canterbury who was successful in the junior examination, the names of no local students appearing in the senior list. Quxkn's Birthday at Ashbubtox.— Monday woe observed as a closed holiday in Ashburton, all the business places being closed. A considerable number of Volunteers and others proceeded to Christchurch by the special train, and the Ashburton platform presented a lively scene at sue o'clock in the morning, when the special train from South arrived. Mr T. Quill and his assistants had a merry ten minutes in the refreshment rooms. There was a large number of passengers, and their early rising appeared to have given them a keen relish for Mr Quill's excellent coffee and other refreshments. During the day many of the residents of Ashbuiton and the surrounding districts went to the meet of the Ashburton hounds at Lagmhor, and enjoyed a capital day's sport. Ktlh.—On Friday evening last a concert and dance was held in the Kyle schoolroom. A number of friends from Bikaia and Ashburton contributed musical items. Daring the interval, Mr John Lambie, on behalf of the residents in the Kyle district, presented Mr McCandlers with a purse of twenty-five sovereigns. Mr McCandlers has had charge of the school for the past three yeurs, but is nowremoving to another district, and the prei sentation was made as a token of the I esteem in which he is held. After the concert a dance was held, Mr Lambie kindly supplying the music from his violin. There was a large attendance, I and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent. Cicxrao.—Tke annual B rthday ran of the Pioneer Bicycle club took place this year in the form of a tour occupying two days, the destination being Akaroa. The hon. sec. had notified sDmu time.previously that the meeting place for the start -was to be Cathedral square, and the time 7 a.m., consequently on the morning of the 24th eleven members of the P.6.C. assembled in fall touring order, with knapsack?, lamps, &c, not omitting the photographic camera brought by Mr A. E. Preece, with the intention of giving others soma idea of the beautiful scenery encountered en route. An early start was effected, the reads being found heavy uotil reaching Halswell, but after leaving this place they showed a decided improvement, and all went merrily along at a rattling good pace until .Lake Forsyth was reached. Here the difficulties commenced, the road now (if road it'could be called) being in a a fearful condition from the recent rains. At one time the wheelmen actually had to leave the road and proceed along the newly made railway embankment. Just before reaching Little Biver a halt was called for lunch, where Mr Preece took the opportunity of photographing the cyclists in three positions, one on the hillside, one mounted on the road, and the other on the embankment, giving a view of the Lake in the background. After lunch another start was effected, and the base of the hill was reached. Here all dismounted, and reversing tbs machines, struggled- manfully to the hill top, when the little' steam launch Pioneer, engaged by the parly, was seen steaming to Barry's Bay, so all mounted, and with brakes hard down, wended their way carefully down the somewhat steep hill. The machines were passed on board, and in due coarse Akarca was reached, where all sat down to an excellent tea prepared by Mr Grange,. of Bruce's hotel. The next morning af.er exploring the town, "all aboard" was again the cry, and the cyclists went f;r a tour-around the lovely harbour, all on board thoroughly enjoying themselves, and being eventually lanued at Barry's Bay, the hills and plains were once more pedalled over with much the same experience of the. former day, except about twenty miles of hard riding, against a stiff wind, Ghristchurch being reached about &30, where ail admitted they had had a most agreeable outing. Magi-.tbate's Cottbt, Eavgioea.-—At. this Court on Tuesday, before C. White--foord, Esq., 8.M., and A. ivory, Esq., Mayor, H. Davis was charged with, violently assaulting Mrs Harlow. Mr Gresson appeared for complainant, Mr Spackman for defendant. The case appeared to have arisen through complainant alleging that accused had kissed her daughter. He thereupon took her by the Bhouldere and kicked her off the premises. Dr. Gordon gave evidence that complainant wa3 bruised. A fine of 20a was inflicted, accused to pay medical fee, £1 Is, and counsel's fee, £1 Is. J. Kinley, d. Kinley, and T. Powell, on the information of Mr Beginald Foster, inspector of Sheep for the northern sub-district cf Canterbury, were respectively fined 20a and costs for being the owners of sheep infected with lice. J. Kinley, who did not appear, was informed against on a second charge, but did not appear, and wa3 fined 403 and costs. P. McCann, charged with drunkenness, was fined 103. In the case cf A. Campbell, jnn., v J. Kinley, jun., £1, and Same v Captain Cook (a Maori), .£1 7s, judgment was given for plainuff. A. Brown vJ. Hurse, £7 2s 9d,tendered 5s 6d,set-off £2 3a, judgment for plaintiff for £3 Os 6d and costs. W. HolcrofC v E Dailley, .£3B 2s 6d; Mr Greeson for plaintiff, Mr Holmes for defendant; adjourned for hearing in Christchurch on Friday. J. Kelcher vN. Noble, claim £60, for rent of a farm ; aijourntd for evidence of a witness. Concebt.—The Halswell and Spreydon brass band gave their second concert in aid of their uniform fund on Friday last in Halswell Schoolroom. The evening being fine the room was crowded to excess. Two selections by the bands were played in a very efficient and pleasing manner, and would have dons credit to some of our older bands. Songs were given by Miess Soott, M. Dewsbury, Brake, and Marriner. A duet was sung by Mr Petrie and Mrs Kinsman, also one by Mr F. Dewsbury and Misa Dewsbury, which created a great deal of amusement, and is well worthy of a word of praise. A quartette by Mr B. B. Petrie, D. Petrie, Mra Kinsman, and Miss Petrie, was loudly applauded. A recitation was (riven by Mr F. Dixos, and was thoroughly enjoyed. Songs were also sung by F. Dewsbury and P. B. Petrie, the latter being accompanied by the band. Bath songs were well sung, and were loudly applauded. Miss A. Dewsbury kindly played the accompaniments for the various singers. Lxeston Paeliamkntaet Debating Clttb.—The second session of the above Club was opened on Friday night last, in the Library, Leeston. Mr B. G. Park was re-elected President, and Mr Lunn was elected Chairman of Committees. The Premier, Mr F. Jameson, tendered the resignation of his Committee, which was accepted. After an adjournment of five minutes a new Committee was formed as follows :—Mr J. McLachlin, Premier; Mr B. Lochhead, Treasurer; Mr Mark, Secretary ;Mr W. Durant, Clerk. After an adjournment of ten minutes the Premier give an outline of his policy for the session, also notice of motion for next meeting—, " That in the opinion of this Committee, should the East and West Coast Baflway be constructed, it will be better for it to Deconstructed by the Government than by a Syndicate." The next meeting will be held on Monday, Ist June, when a speech will be delivered from a member as the Governor. ASHBOBTOH A. AND P. ASSOOIATIOW.— The Committee of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association met yesterday afternoon. The rules, as revised by' the sub-Committee, were submitted and approved. ■ Gifts.—-The House; Steward of the Hospital acknowledges, with thanks, books from Mr J3. Edwards, flowers and fruit from Mrs Inwood, and papers from "A Friend."

SpoßTnre.— The Grand National Steeple-1 ?hase meeting will be held to-day on the I C.J.O. coarse. Trains will run at short I intervale as usual, and as the Backs and J merchants have decided to close their premises, no doubt there will be a good atteotawa, SoTJTmmr Csosa PsißOistnc Comfakt. —The directors of the Southern Cross Petrole m Company have received intelligence that the depth of No. 4 bore on Friday ]&sc was 240 feet. The same favorable indicationscontinued, and everything waa progressing satisfactorily. Jxwish Sykagogttk.—A concert In aid of the funds of the above will be held in the Theatre Boyal on June 23rd, when a very attractive programme 'will be submitted. Nsw Brighton Tramway; — The prospectus of the Kew Brighton Tramway Company appears in another column. Annivebsaby—The anniversary of the Loyal City of Ohristchurch Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.TJ., will be celebrated by a ball and cupper this evening. Political—Mr U. Harper, M.H.E. for Avon, will addresß his constituents at the Papanui '1 own Hall to-moriow evening at eight o'clock. Mbrivale ENTBETAiKMHNrr. —At the concert in connection with at. Mary's, Merivale. this evening, feign or P. Luisetti will contribute some vosal selections. Songs will also be given by some of our best *nown.'amateurs. glees by Mr Sims' glee party, and a reading by Mr F. J. Garrick. Keskrvh Corps.—A meeting of the members of the above corps will be held at the City Council Chambers to-morrow evening, when.Uy* question of alteration in the present uniform, &c., will be discussed. An Alabastkb Box. —Young girls finding their complexion growing sallow, and their skin becoming rough or freckly, resort to perfumed ointments for a restoration of their bloom. All such should uea American Oo's Hop Bitters, which will restore bloom to cheeks, whiteness and their complexion, making rich blood, good health, and happy smiles. Bead.—[Adtt.] Wobking Men.—Before you begin your heavy spring work after a winter of relaxation' your system needs cleansing and strengthening to prevent an attack of billions or spring fever or sickness that will unfit you for a season's work. You will save time, sickness and expense if you will use one bottle of American Co.'s Bop Bitters in your family this month. Don't wait. Bead—LAdvt.] Tbtcs Abchbishop or Dublin. —We ("Argue") have been a little surprised, but not distressed, at hearing that Dr. Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, is to leave for Koine, perhaps not to return. He is a great falling off from Dr. Vanghan, and though he Eatisfies the desires of the Catholics, by reeson of his being an Irishman, he has not done anything to put his church on a better footing with the country generally, nor h&3 he succeeded in making a favorable impression. Dr. Vaughan, though a fighting man, commanded respect all round, and everything he said and did carried weight. If tha people of Dublin would like Dr. Moran for an archbishop, they are heartily welcome to him, and ie surely ought not to be difficult to find a better man, and one more suited to the archepiscopal chaL- in Sydney. Mαjoe Atkinson's Speech.—Prom a leading article in the "Otago Daily Timee" on Major Atkinson's epeecb, we extract the following passages : —" Major Atkinson's address at Haw era confirms our impression, that he does not want to get into office this year. The tone which he adopts is rather that of the candid friend than of the leader of the Opposition. There can be little doubt that he has given us his opinions upon current affairs with the utmost impartiality possible to a man in hiß position. We shall expect to find him maintaining the same attitude during the-session. Upon matters of finance, iv which he and the Treasurer are rival doctors, he will vigorously oppose the Government for the maintenance of his reputation, but he ..[will make no Eerious attempt to oust them from office. The House will have the? benefit of his criticism upon the measures which the Government bring down, but it will be for the improvement of the measurea and not for party purposes. As waa the case last ssesion, we may expect to find Mr Bryee the practical leader of the Opposition, and Major ATftinson frequently doing, the Government; a good turn where he thinks that they deserve it. The Major will not, however, for that reason lose his hold upon his party. They for the most part now recognise that their right policy is to " bido their time," and we expect that tbe Goyernihent will fie d their chief difficulty lies in keeping their supporters together. From external dangers they have little to fear. . . . . . . . . From first to last the address has a pleasing ring of outspekenneEß, and is remarkable for the complete absence of anything like captiousness, or elevation of molehilla into mountains. It is a plain, commonsense deliverance, and as euch cannot but be useful both to the Government and to the House—the former in that it tells them in what direction they may expect opposition, and to the latter in that it gives the lead to their private, criticisms oa the Government poiioy. Whoever may be in power, there is no public man in New Zealand who commands so wide confidence aa Major Atkinson. He may not be a great statesman, nor an original genius, but he is an industrious and straightforward politician, who does his beet for the colony, and acts up to a higher moral stand ud than is usual in politics. Even those who dislike his policy most, and deny his capacity, are forced to admit his integrity and honesty of purpose. Ababi Pasha on the Soudan Rebellion. —The " St. James' Gazette" publishes the following as a translation of part of a letter written by Arabi Pasha at Colombo on the 2nd of March :—" I grieve with a great grief over the decline of the star of England, caused by her misdeeds in Egypt and the Soudan. But God Las heard the cry of the oppressed and the voice of the blood which haa been shed, and the terrible cry of the widow and of the young children; and surely He baa taken His vengeance on the covetous. Yet, believe mc, the people of Egypt used to. believe good of the English nation. It was they of ail others that they trusted as the foremost' among the nations, and as the chief hope of those who sought to obtain their freedom, and they grieve now, seeing their belief a deception, and their trust a delusion. And what has England gained by her invasion of Egypt, and what in the . Soudan P Bather let us say what has she lost? For God knows she ha 3 gained nothing. She has lost her good name, the friendship of our lord the Sultan, and of all Moslems. She has lost, too, Gordon Pa?ha, through acting on false counsels, Stewart, and Hicks, and Earle, and how many other other officers; aud she baslost the respect of all hearts by this Avar against freemen in the Soudan. When will she cea>e to rush forward on her course to send armies of revenge on men who are themselves avenging their Egyptian brothers; on men defending their country, and who delight to drink the cup of death rather than they should see an enemy left within its borders. I tell you 15,000,000 of such as these occupy at this moment the Soudan country and Darfour; and all of them are partisans of the Mahdi, having made a convention with him unto death, and in accordance with tbe precepts of our noble Koran. Thus the Mahdi increases in strength with the English aggresaon." A Pbima Donna Dbjven fbok Paris — It was mentioned in the nummary of news by the last Sao. Francisco mail that the intense opposition shown by the geers of Paris to the American prima donna, Mdle. Van Zandt, had driven her from Paris. Some particulars as to the extraordinarytreatment of this lady were furnished by the Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph," writing on March 27th. " The ' Van Zandt incident/ which has entered an acute stage, is about to be settled a.t last," he observed, " and in the only possible manner. Injustice to the sorely-persecuted young artist, it is right to state that, as Boon as she perceived that a dead set had been made against her in the Parisian preea Jaat November, she expressed her wash to resign, and that, when in Euesia, she repeated tbe propoal that her engagement should be contiicrtd noil and void, offering,.moreover, to undertake not to sing, in public until after the original date of its expiration. Mdlle. Van Zandt made this offer in order th?t she should not even be euepactedof dceiiing a more lucrative engagement.

M. Carvalho, however, refused to accept her resignation, and not unnaturally tried t» persuade her toconclude another engage* ment for next season. He was determined to stand by his prima donna, and was probably inflaenced by the fact that Mdlle. Van Zandt attracts more money to his treasury than any other artist in the theatre. She had fought most valiantly during four stormy performances, bat although ahe sang splendidly last night, she almost broke down at the end of the evening, and it became evident that she could not recommence the unequal struggle. She has, therefore, renewed her offer of resignation, which her manager must now perforce accept. It is evident that Mdlle. Vau Zandt cannot be expected to stand up night after night to be exposed to insults from which tho police seem to be powerless to protect her. Among the cries heard from, the dense crowd massed, some say to the extent of 6000, round the Opera Comique lasc night, was heard that of ' Tan Zandt a l'eau ;* and the ruffians who lay for hours in -wait for the young lady's carriage, and rushed after every vehicle like EO many wild animals, would not have hesitated to carry out their tbresu of throwing the prima donna into the ; water if they had had the chance of doing? so. Each time that she ha 3 sung since her reappearance Mdte. Van Zandt ha? had to escape from the theatre by a side door, and last evening the windows of the etage door were broken by the infuriated mob. It is only fair to add that the disturbances inside the theatre have been perpetrated by a minority of perhaps a dozen individuals, and that the general audience have protested by every means in their power against the unwarrantable behaviour of those who had come for the mere purpose of hissing. A Claimant fob the Fbbnch Throne.— Anotner claimant to the French throne has turned" up in a man named Antoine Dnjol, who is a timekeeper in a factory near Marseilles, with wages of JBS per month. Antoine Dujol (saysthe "Daily Newe ") claims to be descended in a direct line from Francois, Due d'Alencon, the fourth son of Henry 11. It has hitherto been supposed that the Due d'Alencon left no issue, but Antoine Dujol asserts that he has discovered among bis father's papers a number of documents which prove that the Due d'Alencon married a. lady of the Medina Cccli family, and had a son, who succeeded him; that his son in turn married and left a family; and that daring the reign of Louis XV. the then Due d'Alencon was, by the King's order, put into the Bastile, where he died in 1757- When he was arrested his wife and their son, a boy only ten years of age, fled into the province of Auvergne, the young prince being entrusted to the care of a farmer, named GuinetDujol, and his wife, who adopted him as their own child, his mother having in the meantime died, and he was brought up in ignorance of his origin. He lived and died a small farmer, and is, beyond all doubt, the great grandfather of the present claimant, who, however, will have to prove, first, the marriage if the Dae d'Alencon, and, secondly, the identity of his great grandfather with the child who was brought by bis, mother into Auvergne. In the meanwhile, Antoine Dujol has instituted a suit in the local Court for the purpose of having his chums recognised, which can be done in France by applying for a rectification of the civil register, and has had visiting cards printed, upon which are set forth his style and titles. Bat, assuming that he proves his case, he will only add one more pretender to an unhappy list. Russian Colonisation.—ln an article oa the Russian settlements in Central Asia, the "Journal dcs Debate" traces the growth of Russian colonisation in that part of the world since its first development in Turkestan thirty years ago, and remarks that—"As all the land best adapted for cultivation is situated at the foot of the mountain?, the result is that the Russian colonies are settled along the principal mountain chains. The Government encourages this colonisation by granting to the settlers a certain quantity of land without payment, upon condition that they at once put it into cultivation. After ten years* occupation the settler becomes the owner of the land, but should he leave it before it reverts to the Government. Numerous colonies have been founded not only in the steppes of the nomad Kirghiz tribes, but in that parb of the country inhabited by the Tadjiks and TJsbegs, who have been sedentary and civilised for-centuries. Thus it is that in the province of Syr-Daria there is a series of settlements which help to consolidate the strength of Bussia in that region, the most important being Tashkend, which has more than 12,000 Bussian inhabitants. These are nearly all merchants, domestic sexvants,and Government officials; while jnst outside is the village of Nikolaewka, where General Tchernaieff won a victory twenty years ago, which has become a flourishing agricultural settlement, upwards of 7000 acres of barren heath having been transformed into flourishing farms occupied by 300 Buesian peasants. The result of an inspection made by competent officials was that the province of Syr-Daria was found to comprise 320,000 acres of good laud not cultivated by the natives, and 6500 Russian peasant families have now been settled upon it, there being seven other settlements besides Nikolae wka, some of the settlers having come from the neighbourhood of Kuldja rather than become a subject to the rule of China. In the province of the Seven rivers (Semiretchie), the colonisation of which by Bussia dates from 1854, .the number of Eussian towns aad villages is much larger, and the settlers are over 30,000, among them being several thousand Cossaoks. In the valley of Zerafchan, where the native population is very dense, the Russians have not been able to establish many settlements, though they number 2000 at Samarcand, while there is a floating population of several thousand. In the delta cf the Ozus there are several colonies of Cossacks from the Ural, who were exiled for having revolted against the Government, and who now gain a living by gardening and fishing., In the Trans-caepian deserts there is an impoitant Brasian colony at Askabad, and several secondary ones at Mikhailovsk, Kizyl-Arvat, and Merv, among the settlers being many Armenian and Moscow traders." '