The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7341, 13 October 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1887.

The mail steamer Alameda, from San Francisco, was signalled at Auckland at one o’clock this afternoon. A Jubilee exhibition of articles more than fifty years old will be opened at Wellington this evening. His Rxcellency and Lady Jervois will be present. A petition to the House of Representatives, praying for the extension of the franchise to seamen and the prohibition of the employment of colored labor on coasting vessels, is being extensively signed at Auckland.

Herr Von Dere-Lasa, the celebrated German chess author and player, is at present in Wellington, and has played a game with Mr Benbow, the local champion. Tho Ruy Lopez opening was used. The game ended in a draw, but another meeting has been arranged. At the inquest yesterday on Mrs Olivia Hobbs, aged sixty-seven, who dropped down dead at Timaru on Tuesday, the jury returned a verdict of “ Death from natural causes," The immediate cause of death was effusion of blood on the brain.

Four Germans, named W. Bargotte, Carl Bargotte, H, Bench, and Jean Wallick, were brought up at Papakura Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with being concerned in the recent eviction case at Papakura Valley and with assaulting White. They were committed for trial. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs J. Hazlett and Di Hislop, J.P.s, G. Kininmont v. Joseph Scott was a claim of L 8 14s 4d, for meat supplied. Mr Calvert for plaintiff, Mr Stuart for defendant. Judgment for plaintiff for aigonnt claimed, and costs. An Invercargill correspondent wires:— “ Quite a stir has been caused here by the news from Melbourne that sealskins were on board the schooner Awarua, which lately rescued the shipwrecked sailors from the Auckland Islands. People formerly engaged in the fisheries arc considerably excited, and wonder what further action will be taken,” At the Geraldine County Council meeting yesterday a motion was adopted that the subsidies given to local bodies under the Local Bodies’ Finance Act should be con tinned, to assist the payments for hospital and charitable aid purposes ; and, failing a continuance of subsidies, that a return of some portion of the property tax should be made instead.

In the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday the case of Lahrnann v. the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company, a claim for L 75 insurance on the wine vaults damaged by fire in June last, and L 25 damages for breach of contract, was heard. Defendants refused to pay the insurance on the ground that the place was set on fire. A verdict was returned for plaintiff for Ll6. The Excelsior Lodge of Druids have decided to write to the trustees of the Church of England Cemetery expressing regret at the latter’s refusal to allow the lodge to erect an emblematic memorial stone over one of their members. Should the refusal still be insisted on, a petition will be presented to Parliament asking an amendment in the Cemeteries Act to enable lodges to erect suitable memorials.

A silver tea and coffee set and dessert service Were presented to Mr F. M'Guire at Hawera by his supporters in the late contest for Egmont seat as a mark of their appreciation of the gallant struggle he had made against Major Atkinson. It was decided to telegraph Sir R. Stout expressing sympathy with bis defeat and regret at his temporary retirement from public life, as well as a hope that he would soon resume the leadership of the Liberal party, A telegram from Lyell states that Mr Walter Prince’s electric machinery for the transmission of power at the United Alpine mine was started on Saturday with every success. The rock drill apparatus which it drives is not.quite completed, but a few days will see it finished, when permanent working will commence, and it is expected that No. 7 level will then be driven at the rate of 160 ft Eer week. The mine and premises will also e lighted by electricity shortly. At a meeting of the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board yesterday, a letter was read from Mr Purnell, who contested the Ashburton seat with Mr Walker, complaining that Mr Fox, master of the Ashburton Old Men’s Home, had unduly influenced the inmates to vote for Mr Walker, who >3 a member of the Board and exercises control over the Home. The master, in reply* stated that he had gone to the polling-booth with the inmates, twenty of Whom voted, ! as jib; did not think it right to allow so many; tb leave the. Home without being under his care. As op every other occasion, he had not influenoedbsheir votes. The Board considered the explanation satisfactory. During September 611 cases were relieved by the Charitable Aid Board. The amount spent and distributed .during the past six .months wap the rate of.'LSSd’ per annttm over'the pre-

A Bill for the punishment of seduction has been introduced into the New South Wales Legislature. Mr Lalor, ex-3peaker of the Victorian Assembly, intends to make a long stay in this Colony. Mr Thomas Ross was to-day elected counj eillor for Rothesay Ward in the West Harbor Council.

The New South Wales Assembly, by 30 to 23, have again affirmed the principle of payment of members. Mr J. C. Firth, of Auckland, has presented fifteen Martini rifles to the local Volunteer corps for competition.

The Hew South Wales Government have awarded LI,OOO to the widow of Wilson, the engine-driver who was killed at his post during the Peat’s Ferry railway accident. Six hundred ratepayers have signed the requisition asking Councillor Dawson to stand for the Mayoralty. The requisitionists have received an affirmative answer. Mr Robertson’s offer to sell the Dunedin floating dock to the Bluff Harbor Board for L4OO has been declined, and steps are to be taken to construct a slip instead of having a dock.

When the steamer Balmoral Castle, which arrived at Auckland from London on Saturday, was three days out from Home, the dead body of a man was found in one of the coal • bunkers. He had evidently stowed himself away, and had been suffocated by the coal-dust.

A seven-roomed wooden house, belonging to Alexander Patterson, at Walton Park, was discovered to be on fire about half-past three o’clock yesterday morning. The flames were, however, quickly extinguished, and the damage will probably be covered by about Lls. The house was insured for L4OO in the Equitable Office. The woman Mary O’Connor, mother of the child recently found dead near the Thistle Hotel, at Auckland, was brought up yesterday at the Police Court, charged with infanticide. The case was remanded until Wednesday next. Bail was allowed accused in LSOO, and two sureties of L 250 each but, as she was unable to obtain sureties, she was compelled to go to gaol to await trial.

Herr Blumenthal, who not many years ago was only a reporter upon a Berlin newspaper, but has become a millionaire by writing some successful dramas, is expending a portion of his wealth in the erection of what he calls “an Author’s Theatre ” in that city, where he purposes that all dramatic authors shall have “a show.” He could scarcely have hit upon a more expediditious method ofjdissipating his fortune. One of the sensations of the day in Berlin is a chimney sweep, who was overheard singing while pursuing his sooty calling by a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra. He was so enchanted by the exquisite sweetness of the sweep’s voice that he sought him out, took him next day to the director of the society, who immediately arranged for the musical education of the sable prodigy, who has suddenly become famous. Fashionable French ladies adopt the antique style in their letters just now, and write on old-fashioned paper, adorned with medieval monograms or coats of arms. Further, they despise the ordinary gummed envelope, and seal their epistles with wafers or perfumed white wax. When possible, they tie the letters with different colored ribbons, or gold thread on important occasions, and send them by their domestics, instead of using the commonplace post like the work-a-day public.

The cantata “ Under the Palms ” was given last night at the First Church, in aid of the Russell street mission and school organ fund, by a choir of 150 children and friends, under the conductorship of Mr J. R. Reid. There was an excellent attendance, The choruses, which were of a spirited nature throughout, were, with one exception, rendered in a highly creditable style, the children’s voices blending nicely with the voices of the adults. The choruses “ ’Neath the palm’s protecting shade,” “We kneel by our tents,” and the trio (with invisible chorus) “God thy prayer” (by Misses Mollison and Adams and Mrs Frazer) call for special mention. Misses Mollison and Adams and Messrs Stewart and Adams were the soloists; Messrs Lane and Dickson also giving aid in some of the concerted pieces. Mrs Salmond and Miss Morrison (piano), Mr Tucker (cornet), and Mr Wyper (organ) supplied instrumental accompaniments; and the Rev. J. Gibb gave the explanatory address. The following university intelligence is given in the ‘ European Mail ’Mr Ernest Robinson, of New Zealand, and Mr Joseph Stapleton, of Australia (colony not given), have just had conferred upon them by the University of Edinburgh the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The following candidates have passed the final professional examination for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery: Mr W. Allan, New Zealand : Mr Herbert Llewellyn Barker, New South Wales; Mr Albert Jobson Beehag, New South Wales; Mr W. Alex. Fleming, New Zealand ; MrG. Ernest Morrison, Australia ; Mr Walter H. Toft, Tasmania; and Mr Alfred Williams, New Zealand. Mr David Hardie, of Brisbane, has received the degree of M.D. from the University of Aberdeen ; and Mr J. Johnstone, Port Chalmers, Mr Leslie S. Manning, Christchurch, and Mr C. H. J. Soutar, Emmaville, N.S. W., the degrees of M.B. and C.M. from the same University; Mr James Johnstone, of Port Chalmers, also taking a “diploma in public health.” Thomas O’Brien and George Hopcroft, each apparently about sixteen years of age, were charged at the Police Court this moruning with disturbing the peace by assaulting a Chinaman named Ah Que. Both lads pleaded guilty; but Mr Carew, R.M., who was on the Bench, decided to hear the evidence of the chief witness, Mr Mockford, who said that on Sunday evening last complainant was walking up Walker street, when without the least provocation both accused struck him on the head. Witness added that the accused were continually offending in the same manner, and were members of a gang of lads who frequently maltreated the Chinese in the neighborhood. O’Brien’s statement was to the effect that he and Hopcroft were sitting on the ledge of a window; that, as the Chinaman came past, he (O’Brien) stooped down and made a feint at his legs by way of a joke; that Ah Que thereupon kicked him on the shin, and left a bruise which he had shown to the constable ; and that the blows were in retaliation. Mr Carew said that O’Brien’s version of the affair was a most improbable one. The Chinaman did not look like a man iyho would commit an assault; and then there was the evidence of Mr Mockford that the Chinaman had given no provocation. Accused would each be fined 40s, also Gs 6d costs of Court, and 5s witness’s expenses; in default a week’s in prisonment.

three years’ hard work, the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Forestry have sent In their report. They state that the science of forestry is in a terribly backward state in England; in fact, that it can hardly be said to exist at all. Pupils lor the Indian Forest Department have to be sent to Prance and Germany to learn the rudiments of their work. The manner in which many of the English Crown forests are treated is ridiculously incompetent. And yet, even as matters stand, there is a large opening for skilled forresters. The woodlands of the United Kingdom cover no less than 3,000,000 acres. The acreage of the English woods is one and a-half million. In Wales there are 163,000 acres; while in Ireland there are 330,000. Of course, also, there are large tracts of hitherto barren soil that might be most advantageously employed in the growth of timber. Particularly in Ireland is this latter the case, the climate there being very favorable to the growth of trees. Again, taking an Imperial view of the question, the British Empire possesses more wood-covered country than any other nation in the world. And yet, in no other nation is greater ignorance of forestry displayed. The report just completed advises that an English School (or schools) of Forestry should be'staftedj and suggests that a commencement might easily be made at Cooper’s Hill, where young men are trained for the Indian Ciyil Service.

A social, to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone, will beheld in the Lyceum Hall on Monday. Sir R, Stout will deliver 1 an address.

The meeting of the Otago Lodge of Druids last ev suing - was attended by P.D.P. Bro. Bishop, of Wellington,. D. P. Bro. Morrison, of No, 19 district, and Grand Lodge representative F.A. Bro. Mathieson, of Linden Lodge. Bro.’ Mathieson gave’ a return 6 of t.he business transacted at the Grand’ Lodge Session in Melbourne, and Bro. Bishop spoke ’on the District Grand Lodge .question'at some length, urging them to continue under the’jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge. D.F. Bro. Morrison reported that the recent Druids’ concert and ball .had been successful, having, resulted in a profit of over Ll6, And: this sum would: be available for' dlviqiono aWOP# the .various lodges. One new member was initiated’ ■ ’

A notice rc withdrawal of sale will be found in onr advertising columns. No. 1 Company, Dunedin Highland Rifles will parade on Tuesday, the 18th inst.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company send their August circular.

To-morrow night a juvenile entertainment in connection with the Children’s Lyceum will take place in the Lyceum Hall.

The fortnightly meeting of Pioneer Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was held on Tuesday evening, when there was a fair attendance. The second prize of L2 10s, offered by Bro. W. Thompson for. the brother that introduced the first ten new-’ members, was won by Bro. T, Dunne. Two new members were initiated. The usual weekly meeting of the Cargill road Wesleyan Church Bible ajd Improvement Class was held last evening, and was the gentlemen’s evening; the Rev. W. G. Parsonson presiding. There was a good attendance of members. The pro.ramme consisted of readings by Messrs S. Bridgman, Cole, and Kitchen; recitations by Messrs Craig and W. Colo ; a song by Mr Parsonson; duets by Messis Paine and Hindle, who received an encore for their rendering of ‘‘Larboard Watch,” and in response sang “All’s Well;” and dialogues by several members. Mr A. Lilly efficiently presided at the piano. Refreshments were served during the interval.