The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1886.

Evening Star, Issue 6864, 30 March 1886, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1886.

Mr W. White, jun., acting under medical advice, lias resigned his seat for Sydenham. The Christchurch Charitable Aid Board settled tho Lyttelton Orphanage dispute by giving Mr Ritchey his salary to tho end of April and L6B Iffs, conditionally on his leaving the institution on that date. General Lyon-Freemantle, C.8., who took part in the Soudan War in the operations for the relief of Suakin, and with whose detachment the Australian Contingent served, arrived by tho Rimutaka. He accompanies the vessel to Auckland, and after doing the Hot Lakes proceeds to Sydney. Messrs J. Hyman, W. Isaac, and W. Langlamls were the presiding Justices at the Police Court this morning. For drunkenness Hannah O’Brien and Ada Clinton were each fined I Os, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment; Hugh Anderson was convicted and discharged. Frederick William Hoffman, charged with allowing filth to accumulate in his yard, was fined 40s and C °The quarterly meeting of the Church Committee of St. Martin’s, North-east Valley, took place on Monday evening; the Rev. Bryan M. King in the chair. The treasurer read a statement to the effect that, after payment stipend and all other expenses, there was a balance in hand towards meeting the liabilities of the ensuing quarter.

In tho District Court yesterday Judge Ward gave judgment for L 35 and costs in the case of Wilkinson v. the New Zealand Woodware Company.

Miss Maggie M‘Donald, of the Milton lliyli School, has been recommended for the vacant post of mistress of the Waihola School, Miss Watson, the retiring teacher, was presented with a silver tea and coffee service by the parents and with two cruets by the scholars. An interesting lecture was given last evening by Bishop Nevill in fit. John’s Hall, Roslyn, under the auspices of St. John’s Literary and Social Club, on “The Pacific Islands in relation to New Zealand." His Lordship, while referring to the geographical situation of the various islands, the facilities for opening up trade with Zealand, and its political and religious position, related several anecdotes which brought forth repeated applause. The audience was not so lar"e as the lecture deserved, but those present enjoyed a very pleasant evening. A memorial ot tho loss sustained by the Wesleyan Church of New Zealand by the Tarj,rua disaster has been placed in the Durham street Wesleyan Church, Christchurch, where a tablet of white marble set upon a black ground lias been placed on tho end wall of the church, and will be unveiled to-day. The tablet is inscribed as follows:—“In Memoriam, Revs John 15. Richardson and John Armitage, with Messrs Ebenezer Connall and Elenton Mitchell, who were drowned by tho wreck of the Tararua, April 29th, 1881. —‘ He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.’"

The parties concerned in the disturbance that recently took place at the Fry street Presbyterian Church, Grafton (N.S.W.), were brought before the local Police Court on March 19, charged with forcible entry. The defendants were the Rev. Isaac Mackay, Mrs Mackay, Archibald Murray, Mrs Murray, Mrs Pratt, John Pratt, George Fairbum, Frederick Low, Norman M'Leod, James Ross, Margaret M‘Gregor, and Miss Winter. A large number of witnesses attended, and great interest was manifested in the case, which lasted all day. _ The Bench dismissed tho information, being of opinion that the minister had a right to the use of tho church, and that the trustees, not having been gazetted, were not legal trustees.

Under the heading of “ A party of two,” the ‘Evening Press’ says that “the great mortgage companies and the whole class of embarrassed money-lenders and landowners would be overjoyed to see Sir George Grey’s proposals adopted to-morrow ; but they are not the people who attend his meetings and applaud his speeches, and neither are they the people who can provide him with a Parliamentary following. Thus we are forced to the conclusion that though Sir George Grey’s party and policy are both well defined—better defined than any others —yet they are the greatest sham of all, because the party are a party of two (Sir George and Mr Reese, of Stanmore), and the policy is one which the other parties dare not support.

The approaching completion of the Adclaidc-Melbourne railway is causing tie Commissioner of Public Works of South Australia to devote considerable attention to the probable traffic arrangements. Of course (says the ‘ South Australian Advertiser’) nothing has yet been definitely settled, but an attempt will be made to run trains between Adelaide and Melbourne in eighteen hours. The journey from Adelaide to Servicetown, the boundary station, will, it is expected, occupy eight hours, the distance being 180 miles. From Servicetown to Melbourne the distance is 310 miles, and this will have to be run in ten hours if the expected rate of travelling is to be accomplished, Oar section of the line will in all likelihood be opened in April, but the Victorian portion will not be completed for about six months. The question of fares has yet to be considered; but taking the through rate at 2d per mile the amount would be L 4 Is Sd, and it is more than possible that there will be a reduction on this sum.

As indicative of the interest taken in Christchurch in the case cf Dr Stewart v. Royd house and Wakefield we may mention that the ‘ Lyttelton Times ’ and ‘ Press ’ were daily supplied with full reports of the proceedings, the transmission of which by wire was done by the local operators in a way that reflects the greatest credit on them, lletwecn Wednesday and Sunday 75,500 words were despatched, or an average of 15,100 words per day. On Sunday afternoon a message of 13,000 words was commenced at 5.40 and finished at 7.25, employing four wires during the whole and a fifth wire during part of the time. Wo believe that we are correct in saying that this was the smartest piece of telegraphic work ever performed in this Colony. We cannot speak too highly of the carefulness of the staff in forwarding these messages, which were full of medical terms. The ‘ Evening Press ’ also had the trial specially reported. There was a very large attendance at the Garrison Hall last night, when the Rev. S. McFarlane, the well-known New Guinean missionary, repeated his lecture on New Guinea. The Rev. Mr Beckenham presided, and was supported on the platform by a number of the City clergy. The lecturer mentioned that traces of gold were abundant everywhere, and he had no doubt whatever that in New Guinea there was a great amount of mineral wealth and probably of gold. Dr Clark, the Australian geologist, had given it as his opinion that so much gold would be discovered in New Guinea as would ultimately reduce the value of that metal. The lecturer thought nothing would develop the country but the discovery of gold. So far us missions were concerned, however, they did not want such a discovery, as the missionaries wished to keep a certain class of people out of . the country, but would encourage good trading firms. Along the coastline the amount of good land was limited, and those who intended going to New Guinea to take up land he would advise to go up the Fly River, The collection was in aid of the Loudon Missionary Society. On March 19 the Melbourne Board of Health received from the town clerk of Ballarat a lengthy communication with reference to the disposal of nightsoil. It stated that the privilege granted to private persons of using nightsoil as manure was abused to a very great extent, the conditions as to depth of burial and covering being only obeyed in exceptional cases. While it might be convenient to trench large open areas of unused ground for the disposal of nightsoil, Jt was not safe to permit the same process to be carried out in ground adjacent to dwellings unless the greatest care was taken with reference to its proper burial. The only safe process was the compulsory removal of the nights il; but, as the local boards of health were elective, some difficulty might be experienced in giving eli'ect to such a proposal under the present state of affairs. To meet the difficulty it would be well to amend the law so as to prohibit the burial or other disposal of nightsoil on private ground within the boundaries of any city, town, or borough; or, if such a scheme were considered extreme, the power of burial should be limited to an area equal to a given quantity per head of the household.

The rations for out-door relief number 2,000 per week in Napier (says the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’). The weeding out of the recipients that took place some time ago was not before time. Lately it was stated that a man had sent several deputations to interview the chairman of the Charitable Aid Board because he had been knocked off the list. The man had been in receipt of five rations daily, while at the same time he was earning 8s a-day. Perhaps the host joke told at the meeting was of a woman whoso husband was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The “grass widow” was pensioned by the Government to within a few shillings a-week of tho wages received by her husband when in work ; she received out-door relief, and the wants of herself and her children were accordingly attended to, and in addition she was supplied witli doctor’s attendance and medicine at public cost. As a fitting conclusion to the tale, the passage of herself, children, ami husband (who has recently been discharged from gaol) were paid by the Charitable Aid Board for them to Melbourne. Altogether the family—leaving the husband out of the calculation — has cost the country L3OO during tho last four years. Evidently the charitable question was not settled permanently by the Agt of last session.

It is officially denied that France has resolved on sending 1,000 reeidivistes to New Caledonia.

A late cablegram says that Mr John Bright supports Mr Chamberlain in his opposition to Mr Gladstone’s Irish policy. The Rev. Lloyd Keating, on leaving Oamaru, was presented with an address and a purse of forty sovereigns by the parishioners of St. Luke’s.

At Sydney yesterday a warrant was issued at the instance of a private creditor for the arrest of Mr Holt, ex-manager of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand.

Four deaths (including both parents) have now occurred at Lent Hill (N.S.W.) through eating food prepared or boiled in a bag which had Contained strychnine. Of a family of seven, only three children now survive.

While the Navy Estimates were under discussion in the House of Commons, Sir Thomas Brassey spoke strongly in favor of periodical visits being made by powerful squadrons of British vessels to Australia and the islands in the Pacific.

The Kaitangata Relief Fund accounts show the fund to stand at present at L1‘2,218, of which LI 1,550 is invested and L2OO on deposit. Those having a claim on the fund received L 1,201 during the year, and the balance carried forward is L 468.

The Minister of Justice is endeavoring to arrange that Mary Moran, under committal for infanticide, shall stand her second trial at Dunedin during the ensuing criminal session. In the meantime, she will, if she desires, be admitted to bail on her own recognisance. A number of the friends of Mr G. R. West assembled at the Criterion Hotel last evening, for the purpose of presenting him with an address and a purse of sovereigns, the occasion being his retirement from the music-selling business in which he has been engaged here for the last twenty-five years. Mr J..8. Thomson occupied the chair. Mr West intends for the future to devote his attention to the instruction and practice of music.

The ‘ North Otago Times ’ states that the Committee of Conference on secondary education met on Saturday last. It was agreed that a paper of suggestions for eliciting the opinions of school committees in the country regarding a constitution for Secondary Education should be sent to the new committees as soon as elected. It was also agreed to call another conference of representatives of school committees, and to recommend to it a resolution to request inquiry by a Committee of Parliament, with special reference to the Waitaki endowment, regarding the whole matter of secondary education in North Otago. The Court of Appeal, on tlie 26th inst., granted leave to the plaintiff in the case of Ward v. the National Bank to appeal to the Privy Council against the whole of the: decisions of the Court of Appeal, upon giving security for costs to the satisfaction of the Registrar of the Supreme Court at Dunedin. During the argument it was remarked that certain moneys were lying in Court and bearing no interest. Mr Bell, counsel for the plaintiff, said it was a defect in our legislation that no provision had been made for moneys paid into Court bearing interest. He said the consequence was that the parties to an action very often abstained from paying into Court, when they otherwise would do so if the moneys paid in bore interest.

The police have again bungled sadly. It is alleged that a Nelson constable was sent over to AVellington to execute a search warrant for a valuable shawl belonging to the wife of Mr and that instead of reporting himself at headquarters he proceeded to the h.>uae of a respectable citizen, obtained a certain shawl there, and arrested and locked up the man’s wife. Then he sought the aid of the local police in obtaining a remand to Nelson, but Inspector Browne declined to make the application, as lie was far from satisfied that the evidence justified the stop the constable had taken. Meanwhile the woman was admitted to bail on her own recognisance, and the shawl sent to Nelson, when Mrs Levcstam at once declared that it did not belong to her. Of course the information was dismissed and the woman discharged. But what about the annoyance and indignity that she was subjected to ? At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the lion, J. T. Peacock (the chairman) made the following comparison between the Colony and what he termed the Old Country:—“ The pastoral lands of the Colony are estimated at about 27,000,000 acres, and the agricultural at about 10.000. In England the former is 20.000. and the latter 24,000,000, or a very little more in quality than ours. Whilst England carries a population of over 30.000. we have probably, including Natives, 020,000 only. Now, with our much milder climate, there can be no doubt our food production could be quite as large. l)o not these considerations open a wide field of encouragement for further development and rapid prosperity for this Colony ? If we could only induce people from the Old Country of the right stamp to throw in their lot with ours, I feel confident it would be to their advantage.” While at Christchurch Sir George Grey received a deputation from the Protection Association, who placed before him certain facts and suggestions in reference to the question of Protection. Sir George said the arguments were very weighty and many, and he would carefully consider the question. He had never taken an extreme view. He believed that a policy carried to excess, like anything else carried to excess, would produce evil. He was pleased to have information supplied to him, which he would carefully consider. A deputation representing the National Patriotic Party also waited on Sir George, and presented him with an address setting forth their views on the land question, a State bank, retrenchment, and other matters. He said that a State bank would Jiavc to be watched with great care, but agreed with the proposal for general retrenchment. He would carefully consider the point raised as to a cessation of subsidies to shipping companies. There should only be one House of Parliament,

‘ Tablet ’ Company meet 13th April. Wakari Rifles meet Thursday evening. Contributors to Dunedin Hospital meet to' morrow at 4 p.m.

Sir W, Fox and Mr T. W. Glover will arriv e by the Tarawera to-monow morning, and the reception meeting will bo held in the Garrison Hall nt 8 p.m. Mr George Darrell and his company will open at the Princess’s Theatre in the “Sunny South” on April 7, the theatre on the previous Monday and Tuesday evenings being closed and reserved for the necessary scenic rehearsals. At the quarterly meeting of the Antidote Division No. 1, Sons and Daughters of Temperance (benefit society), last evening, Bro. Wiliam Clyde, W.P., in the chair, there was a good attendance. The annual balance-sheet for the year ended December 31, 1885, was submitted and adopted. It showed an increase of twelve new members, making a total of 143, with a cash balance of Ll,l!tl 12s Bd. Messrs B. Baglcy and Son and A. T. Price were elected chemists for the north and south ends of the City respectively.

Applications for patents have been made by F, S. Canning, of Gore, for a joiner’s benchjaw ; by J, Ashton, of Ashburton, for an improved water-spreader; by T. Danks, of ChristohurJi, for an unbreakable wrought-iron pump; by P. H. Postlethwaite, of Geraldine, for a hedgccutter; by J. Warburton, of Lakeside, Canterbury, for an improved plane; by K A. Chapman, of Mackenzie Country, for a wirestrainer ; by B. Garnbam, of Wellington, for improvements in pistons for steam-engines ; by H. Heb ion, of Christchurch, for improvements in telegraph and telephone insulators ; by Isaac Uadey, of Auckland, for invention for amalgamate g metals ; hy D. M‘Kay, of Pangiora, for an improved milk-strainer; by W. Peeves, of Waikari, Canterbury, for an improved brake.