The Evening Star MONDAY, JULY 10, 1882.

Evening Star, Issue 6030, 10 July 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JULY 10, 1882.

We observe that the ‘Otago Daily Times’ of this morning explains the reason of the absence of Mr Drivbh from his parliamentary duties by tho fact that private business, which must bo admitted to have beer urgent, necessitated his presence in Dunedin. We fail to understand, however, why tho hon. gentleman did not obtain leave in the ordinary course, in order that he might have set himself right with his constituents and the country by a statement in the House of tho reasons why he would not bo able to be in his place for a week or two. He has, by absenting himself without leave, rendered himself liable to be held “ guilty of “ contempt” under the Standing Orders, and is subject to a heavy penalty at the discretion the House should action be taken to that effect. We must altogether, however, demur to the opinion expressed by a correspondent in this issue that it is the duty of the Colonial Treasurer, as leader of the House, to move in tho matter. It is clearly no business of his to act as schoolmaster to truant members, and a little consideration will show how unreasonable it would be to thrust such a function on a Minister, who, being but mortal, might bo exceedingly pleased at tho prolonged vacancy of the seat in the House of a troublesome member of the Opposition, whilst he could hardly be expected to come down on a supporter. In the Imperial Parliament it is understood that every member is under a constitutional obligation to attend the service of the House to which he belongs, and in the Commons on a “call of tho House.” Members not attending arc subject to committal to tho custody of the Sergeant-at-Ai - ms and payment of the incidental fees. Calls, however, now-a-daysaronovorenforced, and there is no precedent, wo need hardly say, in earlier times, for a Minister of tho Crown taking on himself tho invidious task of bringing members to book for nonattendance.

At the Qucelva Theatre last night Professor Salmond delivered an address on “ What use is there of a coascionco ? ’

AndrmV Boyle was received into the Hospital early yesterday morning suffering from a fracture of the left fore arm. Ho met with the injury while trying to separate two men who were fighting.

It is stated that the now trial of Connor v. Maekay will after all take place in Dunedin, the defendant having decided not to take advantage of the change of venue granted by Mr Justice Williams.

A ten-year-old girl was arrested in the Christchurch Exhibition on Thursday, charged with picking the pockets of a lady visitor. The sum of twenty-five shillings was found on the child.

According to the 1 Timam Herald ’ an old South Canterbury resident, a carpenter named Dee, has recently discovered through an advertisement in the Melbourne ‘ Argus' that he is entitled to a fortune of L 35,000. The Adelaide Government have informed the police of this Colony that a little boy Warned Charles Grimes has been missing from his homo in South Australia since April. It is thought he has come over to New Zealand.

New South Wales now has 1,064 miles of railway open for traffic, 507 miles in progress, of which 206 miles will be open before the close of the year. The railways of the colony are now paying 6£ per cent, on their cost '6E construction.

Mr Maekay, the American millionaire, has arranged to build on hotel In London somewhat on the scale of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, which is equal in she to about five of our biggest hotels. There will be 1,600 suites of rooms, and the cost of the undertaking will be L 2,000,000. Passaic, the winner of the City and Suburban Stakes, is the horse which Mr Lorillard presented to Archer, the jockey, after the fatter won the Leger on Iroquois, and which Archer afterwards sold to Lord Rossmore for 500 guineas. On dii that Lord Rossmore landed L 20.000 on the City and Suburban, In the Hanover street Baptist Church yesterday morning the Rev. A. North, newly-appointed minister, preached to a largo congregation from the text 2 Corinthians, 4th chapter and sth verse-—''For wo E reach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the nrd ; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’s sake.”

An article headed “Legislative Spree Jottings,” in the Christchurch ‘Telegraph,’ contains the following “One result of the visit of members has been to * harden ’ the feeling in favor of the removal of the seat of Government from Wellington to Christchurch. More than one hon. legislator has confessed himself converted.”

A very old and efficient public servant (Mr C. D. Whitcombo)the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Province of Taranaki, has tendered his resignation on account of illhealth. The Government, however, have granted him a further leave of absence for six months. This is a proof of the value the Govcrment put upon Mr Whitcomhe’s services.

The Oamaru ‘Mail’ has heard that the proper name of the man who is now in custody for the Papakaio murder is Thomas Alexander Beattie, and it is said that ha has a wife and family in County Down, Ireland, where he was in good circumstances as a general dealer. Misfortune overtaking him he came out to this Colony, and became acquainted with the murdered woman about seven years ago.

A fatal accident occurred at Kapunda on June 21. A young man, twenty-six years of ago, named Joseph Ludlow, wont up from Adelaide to fix fresh gas-pipes at the Bank of Adelaide. He was found dead in the afternoon. He was engaged plugging a pipe, and it is supposed that while ho was reaching down the pipe the gas was turned on at the gasworks, and that before he could get his face away he was suffocated. Never since the production of “ Our Boys ’ has any play been received in Dunedin with such continued support as “The World.” On Saturday night there was again a crowded house, and the sensational incidents of tho drama were capitally worked out. There were over 1,000 people in tho pit, and yet tho house was cleared in a trifle over three minutes. “Tho World” will hold the boards at the Princess’s for tho remainder of tho week.

Tho death is announced of Sir Horatio Henry Wraxall, the fourth baronet, in his fiftieth year. He was a grandson of Sir Nathaniel William Wraxall, M.P., tho author of “ Memoirs of My Own Timo,” and a brother of the late Sir Lascelles Wraxall. Tho title passes to his brother, who is married and has a youthful family. The late baronet had for some time been chargeable as a pauper on the Southwark Union, and ho died in tho Wandsworth Asylum. Ho at one time followed the profession of a betting man.

Mr Driver, who returns to his parliamentary duties on Wednesday, gives an emphatic denial to the statement that he contemplated resigning in favor of Sir Julius Vogel, with whom he has had no communication for some months past. Tho cause of Mr Driver’s absence from Wellington has been thus explained : The local directors of tho New Zealand Agricultural Company, it seems, sent Home therr resignations some months ago, consenting only to act until some arrangements were made to relieve them. A week after Mr Driver went to Wellington the London manager arrived, and Mr Driver had to return to hand over everything—an operation necessarily Involving a good deal of timo. Mr Driver- has now severed all connection with tho Company. Tho Hon. B. Richardson, in addressing the electors of Knightstown, made a somewhat peculiar reply to a question asked him. He is thus reported : —“ Mr Richardson was asked if ho was in favor of a return showing tho number of officers, constables, etc., professing no religious convictions. Tho questioner said he thought civilians were at liberty to please themselves in the matter, but that in regard to officers in Christchurch, members of the local police force, and certain others in the Government service, it should be made a point to ascertain whether or not they were of any religious standing. (A voice : * What does it matter ?’) Mr Richardson replied that the census returns dealt with tho subject. He thought he was not at present in fayor of tho Bible being read in schools. As far as ho knew and had observed, the general feeling of the Colony was adverse to its being so read.” Tho Hokitika papers of the 3rd inst. state that Duncan and party, who washed up at Woodstock last week, obtained 15£oz of gold from thirty-five loads of wash-dirt, A share in this golden claim has just been sold by James Greenhaigh to Joseph Carter for L 55. Two shares in other claims changed hands at Woodstock last week—one at L6O and the other at L4O. The Boucher’s Gully rush is fast becoming an established success. There are now reported to bo seven parties on gold, viz., Acasfcor and party (the prospectors), Irvino and party, Roberta and party, Nankernis and party, M'Farlane and party, and Falconer and party. The depth of wash-dirt averages from 4ft, and yields from 4dwt to lOdwt of gel! to tho load. Four or five fresh claims have been recently taken up, two of which arc supposed to bo on the lead. The sinking ranges from 18ft to 2d ft, and the claims average from 50ft to 400 ft in length. The anniversary sermon in connection with the Loyal Orange Institution was preached yesterday morning by the Rev. C. E. Ward, in St. John’s Primitive Methodist Church. About sixty members of the Order, who appeared in their regalia, _ attended, besides tho ordinary congregation. _ The subject of tho sermon was contained in the words “Hold fast that which is good, Provo all things.” Previous to dealing with this subject the preacher made a few remarks on the constitution of tho Order and the duties of its members. Tho Order, he pointed out, had boon founded for tho upholding of the Protestant religion and those privileges for which their fathers had fought and bled. In upholding their principles they were not, however, to express or exhibit anything but a kindly feeling towards their Roman Catholic brethren. The preacher then, in tho words of his text, urged on his hearers to hold fast to tho good tnings which it was their privilege to bo possessed of. In speaking on the second head of his discourse he adverted to tho progress which bad been made both in science and religion through individual thought, and exhorted his congregation to take tho Bible as the great standard wherewith to “ prove all things.”

Mr Ivcsa, has begun an action for libel against the ‘Ashburton Guardian,’ for having published an alleged defamatory letter on the eve of the late Wakauui election.

An offer has been made to the South Australian Government by a private speculator to lease the whole of the unused ground within the railway fences for wattle plantations.

Cap'ain and Mrs Kitchener arc progressing steadily towards recovery, hut wo regret to learn that a change for the worse has come over the baby. Its life is now almost despaired of. The Westland-CHm-Canterbury caucus on Saturday was not a happy family. There were some disagreeable scones, in which Messrs Weston, Fitzgerald, and Seddon figured prominently. Cuthbort M'Kellar, an ex-clerk of the National Bank at Mosgiel, who failed to answer a charge of embezzlement at the City Police Court on Thursday, was arrested at the Bluff on Friday afternoon, and is to be brought back to-night. In bankruptcy this morning, in an unopposed application for an order of discharge, it transpired that the debtor’s solicitor had failed to file an affidavit of the postage of notices to creditors. Tho omission was held by the Registrar to be fatal to the whole proceedings, which accordingly will have to be instituted de now by tho debtor, The struggle for tho loaves and fishes has begun in earnest. Canterbury and Westland ask for L 1,300,000 of tho now loan, of which 1400,000 is to be set apart for the Hurunui-Blenheim extension, and a like amount for the Canterbury-Westland line —truly a moderate demand, In tho lobbies they do say that if the claims of the various caucuses are to be satisfied a L 7,000,000 loan will be needed.

The witnesses in the case of prize-fighting in a chapel in London were of the lowest order, and consequently it is not surprising to find some amusing incidents reported at the trial. One of them, on being crossexamined as to his antecedents, indignantly retorted upon a question from counsel whether ho had not been brought up on a habeas corpus, that he came to the Court in a cab. Another appeal’s to have been equally at sea as to tho use of legal Latin. Asked if he noticed anything in terrorem populi, he convulsed the Court by replying that ho didn’t see him there.”

“The best of ns,” remarks an English paper, “cannot insure happiness, and even Mr Joseph Biggar may sometimes, in homely phrase, take his pigs to the wrong market. It seems that in Bygone times Mr Biggar’s father purchased a small property, the rents on which he immediately raised to the extent of 30 per cent. The Commissioners sitting in Judgment have just reduced the rents to the original figure, knocking off the 30 per cent, which tue paternal Biggar had enforced,” Mr Biggar is one of the coarsest and most vituperative of the Land League party. Of course he will bo louder than ever in his denunciations of the Sassenach now. The Wellington correspondent of the ‘ North Otago Times 5 says that certain newspaper proprietors purpose taking advantage of so many journalists being assembled in Wellington at present to consider a method of obtaining European nows otherwise than by Reuter 5 a agency. Strong complaints are made that while full and wearisome minutice are sent about cricket and rowing matches and suoh matter of comparative insignificance, grave affairs of world-wide Interest are dismissed in a few words. The meagre details about the Irish assassinations and the Egyptian oriels are cited as cases in point. For some time past advertising has been carried on in London after a fashion hardly surpassed by that of America itself. All previous efforts in the advertising lino must, however, pale before the expedients recently resorted to by a popular London theatrical manager. The latter recently produced a comedy called “ Fourteen Days ” at the Criterion Theatre, By way of publishing the fac'' ho retained the services of a string of “sandwich men,” who, dressed as convicts, paraded the streets accompanied by a warder in full uniform, and armed with a gun 1 The idea was a success, but it resulted in some of the crowded city streets becoming almost impassable. The people thought the men were veritable convicts, and stared at them just as the manager wanted them to stare. The illusion did not last. Each man bore the legend across his chest in bold typo “ Fourteen Days.” With another sot of sandwich men, dressed as “ moths 55 (the title of another London comedy), and a few more as “mothers-in-law 55 (the title of a third drama), the streets would be blocked and all traffic suspended. The expression of feeling in Ireland over the Dublin Park assassinations has been scarcely less pronounced than in Great Britain. In Dublin the signs of mourning were general. The best shops put up their shutters. In many cases a wreath of black crape, tied with white in the form of a cross, was attached. Amusements, races, and private parties were postponed. In Belfast, os might bo expected, the crime was denounced with one strong sentiment of horror. “The assassination, 55 says a letter from Cork, “has sent a thrill of horror throughout the South of Ireland, snch os no occurrence within the memory of tho present generation ever evoked. To say that It is heartily condemned on all sides would be to convoy only a faint idea of the feeling of humiliation and sorrow which is everywhere felt. 55 In Cork very elaborate arrangements had been made to illuminate in honor of the releas of tho Parliamentary suspects and Davitt; but a widespread feeling quickly manifested itself that under the circumstances such a demonstration should be abandoned. Practical form was given during the ay to this sentiment, when a meeting was convened by the Mayor. Although only an hour’s notice had been given, there was an immense meeting of tho citizens, embracing all creeds and classes. The Mayor opened the proceedings with on address, condemning in strong terms the assassination as a blot on tho national character. This view was cordially endorsed by the meeting, and resolutions wore adopted expressing abhorrence at the crime. It was also resolved to abandon tho illuminations.’ 5 In Limerick a similar feeling was shown, and tho projected illuminations there wcie also abandoned. But we were warned, on tho other hand, not to attach too much practical weight to this ebullition of feeling. Tho Dublin correspondent of a Belfast newspaper describes the “ribald jests and indecent exultation 55 of the crowd who stood staring at tho blood of the murdered men on tho roadway in the Phoenix Park on tho evening of the murders. “Not a compassionate muscle was stirred, not an expression of abhorrence escaped their lips. Their faces were as inscrutable os that of the Sphinx, until ono of them cried out * That's two more of them gone, 5 when their features relaxed into a hornble smile, and their satisfaction at the success of tbo tragedy became apparent to everyone. 55 Thero are depths of debasement doubtless in every city, Tho most ominous fact is that while so strong a feeling is manifested by the better classes, it has not availed to secure the arrest of the assassins.

Lodge Ivanhoo, U.A.0.D., meet to-morrow. Lodge St. Andrew, 432, 5.0., meet tomorrow.

Dunedin Curling Club’s medal competition to-morrow morning.

Mr Bayllss’s shorthand classes commence at the Athenreum to-morrow evening. Public lecture in Ka korai Church by Rev, R. R. M. Sutherland to-morrow evening.

A course of lectures on "Home Nursing of the Sick ” will bo given by Mrs Bernard Moore. Dr Brown will take the chair to-morrow afternoon, and Dr Batchelor on Thursday evening. The admissions to the Dunedin Hospital last week were 20, whilst the discharges were 11. On Saturday there remained 142 inmates. There was one death (Annie Robinson) during the week.

The pedestrian contest J. M. O’Connor v, W. J, Burk has been fixed for September 2, a* the Caledonian Grounds; the stake to be LSO a side, with the option of increasing it to LIOO. Mr G. Dowse was appointed stakeholder, and the first deposit has to be made to morrow. The secretary to the Otago Rugby Football Union sends us a neat little brochure entitled "The Annual for 1882.” Besides tho rules of the game and a list of delegates from the varieus clubs there is a compendium of tho matches played last season, which should prove useful to all players. The Union now numbers ten clubs, representing over 600 members.

Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., meet to-morrow.

Mr J. Eskdalo, manager of the Dunedin Brewery, was on Saturday entertained at a dinner, got up by the employes of tho firm, at the Robert Burns Hotel. During the evening ho was tho recipient of an address and a miniature hogshead, worked in gold, as a mark of the esteem entertained for him. Mr Eskclale retires from tho service of the Company, after five years’ connection with tho Dunedin Brewery.