The Evening Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1890.

Evening Star, Issue 8108, 7 January 1890, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1890.

Fifteen members of the Ashburton Fire Brigade have accepted the Governor’s mvitation.

The Roman Catholic Diocesan Synod meets on the 15th inst., and on the followmg day Bishop Moran proceeds to Sydney to assist at the ceremonies at the opening of the now entirely Completed portion of the cathedral.

Tho circus again attracted a large audience last evening, the reduction in prices doubtless causing an increase in the attendance, although no cause for grumbling had been given so far as patronage was concerned. As before, the tricks, acrobatic and equestrian feats of the various performers evoked loud applause, which was heartily bestowed.

The Port Moresby correspondent of tho ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’ gives some illustrations of the peculiarities of “ defence, not defiance,” in New Guinea, The boats attached to Sir William Macgregor’s expedito the Fly River carry sheets of galvanised iron as a defence against native attack. Further, there is a strong galvanic current transmissible through the rail of tho steam launch, and tho grief and dismay of the gentle Fly River habitant when ho gets hold of that rail should be truly interesting.

News from Samoa states that a public meeting was held on the 7tb December, at which all the districts of Samoa were represented by the chiefs appointed for the purpose when Mataafa resigned the title of King of Samoa and Malietoa was reinstated in that position. The three consuls issued a proclamation stating that the Governments of Germany, Great Britain, and the United States would from henceforth recognise Malietoa as King, and urged the two parties at Samoa to effect a reconciliation. Four Tamasese chiefs met Malietoa, and told him they were satisfied with the turn events had taken.

On Thursday of this week the Resident Magistrate (Mr Carew) will be asked to state whether the City Tramways Company are or are not justified in charging double fares after 9 p.m. Four or five informations have been laid against persons who have refused to pay the extra fare, and we understand it is the intention of the informants to proceed against the Mayor of Caversham and a representative citizen living at the northern end, so as to settle the question as regards both extremities of the track. On the same day the Tramway Company will be called ou to answer a charge of overloading a tramcar.

The Madrid correspondent of the ‘ Daily News ’ states that telegrams from Lisbon say that considerable excitement was caused in Court and social circles there by the Patriarch of Lisbon having stated in a funeral oration on the late King that His Majesty was undoubtedly in purgatory, purging his sins before he could enter eternal rest in Heaven. The Papal Nuncio protested against the words of the Patriarch, on the ground that the King could not be in purgatory, because the Pope had sent his blessing and an absolution for all his sins to the dying monarch in due time. The matter has caused an exchange of acrimonious communications between the Patriarch, the Nuncio, and the Portuguese Foreign Office, The ‘Church News’ says:—“We have received the Bishop of Dunedin’s letter, in which, we are glad to see, he concurs with us in wishing for an early meeting of the General Synod; and, as the Bishop of £Tie ‘ liisiiop’ oi‘ uuneain in 'desiring the meeting, the way is made clear for the Primate to proceed in accordance with clause IS. Title B, Canon 1., which says : ‘lt shall be competent for the Primate, on the application of two Bishops, to convene special meetings of the General Synod from time to time, as occasion may require.’” The ‘ Church News ’ must of course know that there is no Bishop of Christchurch yet. After giving evidence at the inquest this morning, Dr Coughtrey asked to be allowed to call attention to the total absence of control of tho street traffic in this City. What he was speaking of had nothing to do with this case, but he might be allowed the opportunity of saying that in driving about the town he experienced great difficulty, and others made the same complaint, owing to expresses being allowed to* loiter about and to carts being backed on to the kerbing, instead of standing sideways and allowing room for other vehicles to pass, and so forth—things that would not be tolerated in any other city. Perhaps some representation might be made on the subject. His Worship remarked that if matters of this sort required attention the body that should properly be applied to was the borough council, which had the power to make by-laws for regulating the traffic.

The following characteristic greeting was circulated by the officers at the Wellington railway station, and deserves jto be widely read : —“ The New Zealand Railways, January 1, 1890. The officers of the Wellington railway station wish you a first-class journey over the lines of the coming year. With zeal as driver, integrity as guard, good fellowship to ease the friction of the reverse curves ; and with the caution signal displayed, may you safely travel along the narrow gauge track to fortune, the head light of which station we shall make a special effort to attain as being the point to where we had taken a single ticket, when we may switch off our carriage from the train and retire as respectable ‘ old buffers’; and with ‘ line clear ’ may you without being derailed or shunted into the siding for cripples to undergo repairs, finally arrive in good order and condition at the great terminus.” Commenting on the ludicrous mistakes perpetrated by the compilers of the cablegrams sent to the Press of this colony, the ‘ Timaru Herald ’ says very forcibly ; “ Under the present arrangement the blunders which are transmitted as English and Continental news form in the course of the year a vast and costly mass. The interprovincial blunders are quite numerous enough, but they are beaten hollow both in quantity and quality by those in the cablegranis. The fact is that the directors of the United Press Association should insist on being better served in Australia, where the New Zealand cablegrams are concocted from the messages received from Home by the leading papers. We frequently check the messages sent to us by reference to Australian exchanges subsequently received, and we find that whereas the Australian messages contain useful information, intelligibly expressed, the same items, or what are intended to be the same items, are mangled and transmogrified before they are despatched to New Zealand. There is verily ample room for improvement, but the individual papers are powerless to help themselves.”

The meeting of the Arthur street School Committee last evening was attended by Messrs R. N. Adams (chairman), A. Burt, M‘Gregor, Crawford, and M'Adam (hon. secretary). Mr Burt, as treasurer, reported that there was in hand L 26 2s Id, that there were outstanding accounts to the amount of Ll7 Ms, and amiability due next month of Ll2 10s, The Committee nominated Mr James Fulton, M.H.R., and Dr Stenhouse for the Education Board vacancies. Circulars were received from Dr Hislop and Mr J. Green, and on the motion of Mr M'Gregor it was resolved “That this Committee are of opinion that all communications between members of the Education Board and school committees, beyond mere consent to nomination, should come through the secretary of the Board, since canvassing has been so strongly deprecated by members of the Board.” The head-master reported the attendance for the quarter ended December, 1889, to have been as follows: Average attendance; Boys, 302; girls, 244. Number on the rolls ; Boys, 334 ; girls, 277. Highest attendance on any half-day: Boys, 322; girls, 260; total, 582. Number admitted : Boys, 17; girls, 10. Left; Boys,

Robert L. Stephenson, the well-known novelist, is now at Samoa.

Tne Hon. T. Fergus left for Wellington this morning, but will return to Dunedin about the end of the month. As the “ guaranteed” train from Dunedin to Oamaru on New Year’s Day carried only 1,05 passengers, the Oamaru Caledonian Society have to make up Ll2 to the Railway Department,

It seems that unnecessary alarm was felt tor the safety of Mr and Mrs S. J. Deck, of Invercargill. They never had any intention of crossing from Stewart Island to the mainlaud in a boat,

The many friends of Mr John Alexander Dougalk who has been stationed on the Quarantine Island for the last twenty-two years, will hear {with regret of his death; which took place this morning after a short illness. Previous to being appointed keeper of the island he was in the pilot service. He leaves a wife and grown-up family. Communications are said to be passing between the English and New Zealand Governments with regard to the British Consulate at Raratonga, and the Government of this colony have been asked if they would contribute to the maintenance of the Consulate on a more permanent basis than at present. Active operations are being resumed in the harbor. The Vulcan is at present employed at the entrance of the steamers’ basin, and will be kept in the Victoria Channel until a depth of at least 15ft at low water is obtained. Twenty men have been put on at the Head works to get out stone in readiness to deposit it ou the present mole, with the object of raising it at the outer end to at least low-water level.

There was another good house at the Princess’s last night, and the continuance of ‘ Sweet Lavender ’ evidently meets with the approval of the public. It is no use going to the theatre much after eight o’clock if one wants anything but standing room, as every part of tho house is crowded every night. Dick Phenyl meets with just as phenomenal a reception as did the Rev, Spalding, and the frequent appreciation of the audience is emphasised night after night. A curious point in canon law was recently raised by the suicide of the sexton in Peterborough Cathedral. At a meeting of the Cathedral Chapter a discussion took place as to whether it would not be necessary to re-consecrate the cathedral; but the Chapter Clerk reported that there was no canon or statute law to make it imperative, and he was not aware of any precedent. The question was left open. The same point was, we believe, raised here a couple of weeks ago.

According to the ‘Age’ a project is on foot, rind is reported to have received good support, for the formation in Melbourne of a cremation society. The idea is being canvassed amongst the scientists, and is being generally received with favor. It is considered by those who have the matter in hand that, owing to the great improvements which have during recent years been made in the construction of incinerators, together with the improved methods of cremation and the extension of sanitary knowledge, th.cre will bo little difficulty in forming a strong society. E. B. Molt, of Bank of New Zealand fame, lelt Australia a fortnight ago (says the ‘ Loader ’) to seek fortune anew in other lands. It was originally Holt’s intention to start business in Sydney, and try to overcome the past, but he received so little encouragement from his erstwhile friends—many of whom he put on the road to fortune —that he abandoned the idea. His wife, the gallant and steadfast woman to whose persistent pleading he owed his release, went with him. Holt attributes his misfortune to having too many friends. The Now South Wales Railway Commissioners have reduced freights by twenty per cent, in order to facilitate the getting of produce in the interior to the large centres and to port. Hitherto the inland farmers have been unable to compete in Sydney and other ports with imported grain. As an instance the rates for grain from Mudgee to Sydney, 190 miles, have been reduced from 22s 6d to los 9d per truck of six tons. According to the gazetted scale of freights, the charge (says a contemporary) in Nov/ Zealand for that quantity of grain the same distance would be L 4 11s.

The teachers of Knox Church Sabbath School received an unexpected treat, in the shape of a picnic, at the hands of Mr Downie Stewart, M.H.E., on Thursday, 2nd inst. It was the intention of the party to proceed to QuaranJ;io.eJflau^J^Tru , c'atS§fii^' fi ßpecfal carriages were secured in the Port train, and they afterwards proceeded to the island by the s.s. Onslow. At noon the teachers, headed by Dr Stuart and the superintendent, made their way to one of the buildings, where a substantial repast was partaken of, and full justice was done to the goods so liberally provided by “mine host,’’ Dr Stuart, in a happy speech, thanked Mr Stewart for his kindness to the “working been” of the church, in whoso welfare he had always taken a keen interest. The teachers afterwards dispersed over the island, and took part in games and excursions throughout the day, .and at the close, on the return journey, saluted Mr Stewart with hearty cheers—“ three times three.”

Mr S. Vaile, of Auckland, evidently has railway mismanagement on the brain. In a letter to the ‘ New Zealand Herald ’ he endeavors to lay at the door of the Railway Commissioners, who have enough sins of their own to answer in all conscience, the present condition of the Bank of New Zealand. This is the strain in which he writes:—“ Our local bank is not as prosperous as it used to be. No one able to judge doubts its ability to regain its former position; but in the meantime we feel the effects of shaken confidence. What placed the_ Bank of New Zealand in its present position ? Incapacity, or worse, on the part of its management and directors, say Mr Buckley and others. I hold a totally different opinion, and believe that the bank’s difficulties have arisen chiefiy from causes outside of itself and beyond its control. They arise from a failure of a still larger concern. Those who have managed the affairs of the bank have no doubt made serious mistakes, but these would not have been felt had not the value gone out of country lands to such an extent that the owners were compelled to abandon them to the bank, and the bank directors have been unable either to realise or utilise them. It was never thought that the bank would have become the owner of these properties. This loss of value is due to maladministration of the railways,” The italics are our own, _ Discussing the probabilities of a dissolution of Parliament in the early part of this year, the ‘New Zealand Times’ says:— “The number of candidates for the City seats will be larger than it has been for some years, and the elections will be very keenly fought. Of the sitting members Mr Fisher and Mr Izard are pretty certain to stand again, but Mr Menteath may not be a candidate, and there is just a probability that Dr Newman will contest the JELutt. Mr Duthie will be a candidate, and so will Mr T. K. Macdonald and Mr F. H. Fraser. Rumor has it that the Mayor, Mr C. J, Johnston, who represented Te Aro until 1887, will offer his services to the city electors, and Messrs A. W. Brown, E. G. Jellicoe, and W. M‘Lean are also mentioned as probable candidates. Thus it seems safe to assume that Wellington is likely to have an excellent choice of representatives for the first session of the eleventh Parliament of the colony. Whether or not a dissolution and a general election really are in the immediate future is, however, a question which has more than one phase for consideration. The Government will unquestionably meet Parliament stronger than when they parted from it last, and opposition, either from Mr Ballance’a or any other of the various sections of ‘ outs,’ will have to be a [great deal stronger, and very much better organised than it was last session if it is to succeed.”

Tailoresses’ Union meet in City Hall to-night at eight o’clock. An excursion train will run from Dunedin to Lawrence, in connection with the races, on Wednesday, the 15th inst. A meeting of secretaries of the various cricket clubs will be held in the O.R.F.U. Rooms to-morrow evening at eight o’clock. Anti-sandfly gloves—a requisite for tourists visiting the Sounds—also silk gauze for veiling. To be had only at Brown, Ewing, and Co.’s.— [Advt.] The defendant in the case of Mollison, Duthie, and Co. v. J. Gallic, heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, was Jessie Gallie,

The public are reminded that this is the last opportunity of purchasing crockery, Xmas presents, at slaughter prices, at Montague’s, Princes street,— [Advt.] Mr J. S. Maitland, for many years connected with the Now Zealand Clothing Factory (Dowling street branch), has received a responsible appointment in the Kaiapoi Factory. He left for Christchurch this morning to enter on his

Entries for the New Zealand Rifle Association received to-hight and to-morrow. -

The first prize for the Irish jig at the Caledonian games was won by J. M’Keohnie. So far nearly 100 bookings have been received for the excursion trip to Lake Wakatipu tomorrow. Those intending to go are remindbd that tickets must be secured before 8 o’clock to-night, i

The installation of the newly-elected officers of Leith Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was performed last night by G.T. Alexander (in the unavoidable absence of D.6.M. T. Cole) and 6.5. “W. Reid. They are; N.G., Bro. W. Thompson; Y.G., Bro. Cohen; treasurer, Bro, M'Peake, jun.; secretary,, Bro, D. M. Miller (re-elected); warden, Bro. Russell (re-elected); marshal, Bro. “Walker (re-elected). One member rejoined the lodge. On the motion of Bro. Reid, it was unanimously decided to initiate a subscription, open to past and present members, for the purpose of placing a suitable tombstone over the grave of Bro. John Boyd. The mover, G.T, Alexander, and other speakers all dwelt in loving remembrance of the good and faithful work done by Bro. Boyd, whether as N.G. or treasurer of the lodge, or as one of the G.L. officers; and general regret was expressed that his burial place had been allowed to remain so long unmarked by a suitable headstone; To the toast of the visitors N.G. Cossgrove responded, and gave an interesting account of the progress of the Maheno Lodge. The following new patents have been applied for: —Thomas Collier, of Masterton, for scouting wool by a cold-water process; Edwin M. Kellogg, of Chicago (U.S. A.), for improvements in sheaf carriers; Henry F; Pridmore, of Chicago, for improvements in harvesters and grain-binders ; James Beresford and Joseph B. P. Bedson, of Manchester, for improvements in the reels or spools on which barbed wire, etc., is coiled for the purposes of transport; Carl Linneman and T. W. Honeywell, of Hokitika, for a patent self-acting marine pendulum governor; J, F. Campbell, of Sawyers Bay, for an improved butter powder specially adapted for keeping butter firm and solid in hot weather ; Archie “Wilson and Lawrence Walsh M'Glashan, of Auckland, for “The Oscillating Perforating Machine”; Albert Unna Lewi?, of Melbourne, and John Donaldson, of Kew (Victoria), for an improved door detainer; Arthur Graham, of Auckland, for an invention for kindling fires; Arthur Graham, of Auckland, for an invention for a washing fluid; George Ashcroft, of Sydney, for improvements in machinery for crushing minerals and in separating metals from the same; Ernest Herbert Potter, of Auckland, for an invention for separating and disuniting the sap, juices, and other substances in the Phormium tenax ; George Fraser, of Auckland, an invention for a flax drum dresser; Thomas Firth, of Auckland, an invention for ventilating and warming; John Briton, of Auckland, an invention for making compressed bricks and tiles without the necessity of burning; John Howard, of Sydney, an invention for an improved joint to bo used iu flexible shafting; Oscar Axel ISnholm, of New York, an invention for galvanic batteries; Edward “Waters, of Melbourne, for improvements in and relating to the manufacture of twine; Frederick Stiiiver, of Pine Creek, Queensland, for improvements in the manufacture of butter and in apparatus therefor; Harold Pyke, of Paparoa, Auckland, an invention for a boot cleaning machine; Samuel Carroll, of Wellington, for improvements in electric arc lamps (being a communication to him from abroad by Rupert Schefbaner. of Dresden, Saxony); Albert Preis?, of Norwood, South Australia, for an improved joint for the rails of railways or tramways; Thomas Summerton, jun., of Christchurch, and John Brown, of Onehunga, an invention for improvements in engines in which steam and other expansive fluids are the motive power; James Reynolds and Hugh M'Gloin, both of Little River, Canterbury, an invention for a horizontal wool press.