The Evening Star MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1892

Evening Star, Issue 8773, 14 March 1892, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1892

The Constituents of Mr A. £. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., intend presenting him with a massive silver salver suitably engraved, as a wedding gift. Agent-General Perceval has invited the leading colonial bankers, merchants, and others to meet Lord Glasgow, the now Governor of New Zealand, on Thursday next. It is rumored In Christchurch that Mr A. H. Turnbull, manager of the Canterbury Farmers’ Co operative Association, who has resigned, has been offered and accepted a responsible position in connection with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agehcy Company in Sydney,

Bishop Moran-, assisted by the Revs. Father Lynch and father O'Neill, solemnly blessed and Canonically erected the stations p! the cross at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, North-east Valley, yesterday afternoon. The ‘Stebat Mater’ and benediction hymns Were sung by the whole congregation,

The Wellington enrresp indent of the 'New Zealand Herald’ writes:—“l have heard that the Government are likely to bring in a Bill next session to amend the present mode of election of school committee's. The Bill will, I am told, assimilate the elections for this purpose to those for county councils and other corporations. The general meeting of householders will be summoned for a day named for the purpose of receiving the written nomination of candidate?. The names of candidates will bo published, and the election fixed ter a day to bo named not less than a fortnight after the nominations. Persons non-resident in a school district, but having children at a school, may v ote lor a committeeman, but are themselves ineligible to ait on the committee,”

With a vie?/ hi making chess more popular in this City and giving beginners an opportunity of improving themselves in the principles of the game, the Committee of the Otago Chess Club have decided to give free instruction for three months to non-members desirous of acquiring a knowledge of the game, Several of thC members will bo in attendance at the club room for this purpose every afternoon, and on Wednesdays and Saturday evenings from seven to eleven o'clock ; and a committee, consisting of Dr Stenhouse and Messrs Siedeberg, Cleland, and Mount, has been formed for the purpose of classifying the players under the perpetual handicap system. By this system a beginner by good play can rise from the lowest tlasa to the higher classes without the interposition of any personal authority, and even the weakest player will bo able to encounter the strongest on terms of perfect equality, and the game will thus be rendered interesting and instructive to both. The ‘ North Otago Times 5 complains that although the sale of the Maerewhenua runs is fixed fc-r the 26th iast, no maps of the rune will be available till the 19th, thus giving intending purchasers one week In which to make an inspection. It goes on to say: 11 If the runs are for bona fide disposal, they should be offered in such a way that intending buyers will not be rushed into committing mistakes which they will afterwards regret. If this cannot be done, they should he left in the hands of the present lessees. It appears as if the Minister of Lands had decided to dispose of the Crown lands with an almost electiical speed, fearing that his record will not he up to that of hia predecessor if he does nut put on a full head of steam. The 31st of March is the end of the Government financial year, and wo suppose Mr M'Korz’e is hurrying along to run the total of his settlement statistics up, but if settlement in this agitated way is a success we can aimnst expect anything in the way of putting the people on the lard.”

It is not generally known that King Malietoa ouce lost a portion of hia realm at “poker.” His opponent, wo are told, was a paymaster in the American navy, and the funds with which His Majesty started to play consisted of only 27d01, a worn-out naval officer’s suit, and a second hand Snider rifle. The game Wts played without a “limit,” and the time came when the paymaster, who had several months’ pay in his pocket, placed 575d0l on the table. The Ktug, being now out of funds, asked that his word might be taken for the amount. This request was refused, and Malietoathen ottered to put up the island of Manono against the sum. A deed of transfer was executed on the spot; the game proceeded, and Malietoa lost. When the affair came to the knowledge of the American Consul at Apia he ordered the paymaster to return the deed to the King. Tnis ho did, receiving in exchange a number of mats and other Samoan articles of value. Malietoa has never played poker since. The case at Auckland against the Hon. J. B. Whyte, M.L.C., and A. F. Etheridge, receiver of land revenue, arose as follows Two brothers bought some laud from the Government, and ou the 13th of October last made the final payment by a cheque for L 1,652. Instead of that sum being placed to the credit of the department’s account L 319 of it was paid into the account of Whyte. On the other hand, Government land orders (commonly called “scrip”) to the value of L 319 were placed to the Government’s credit, and thus the full sum paid by the two brothers was made up. Etheridge was paid commission by Whyte on the purchase of the scrip, which, according to Whyte’s own evidence, was offered fer L 303. Whether the difference (Ll6) constituted Etheridge’s commission, or whether he was paid commission on the whole sum although only paying L 303, are questions that have to be settled by the case being heard. This explanation does not prejudicially affect either of the defendants, as it is their own story, Whyte having been charged with consp racy after giving evidence to that effect in Etheridge’s behalf.

The Rev. G. C. Grubb’s mission services have “caught on,” as the phrase goes, to the extent, at any rate, of attracting the people. St. I’aul’s Church was crowded to the doors yesterday morning, when the rev. missionary preached on the subject of the credentials of true discipleship. There were, he said, numbers of professing Christians who had never taken op any cross for Christ. Although nominally belonging to the church, they were just as much of the world as the unconverted, and they were deceiving themselves. Christ got His cross in the world because He loved our souls. He loved human souls so much that He could not see the multitudes around Him without trying to do something practical to save them. And He did so by doing the works of His Father; and because ho was faithful to His Father the world and church of those days put a cross upon his shoulders. There was no gold and there jwere no jewels upon that cross. Thorns there might have been upon it; and it was smeared with his own blood. It was no light thing to take up the cross for Christ. Nothing but the love of Christ conquering his will would constrain anyone to do it. Not till that love burned brightly in our hearts ciuld we bear witness for Christ in the office, in business, and in our drawing rooms. The hardest place of all to bear witness for Christ in this nineteenth century was in one’s drawing room, where everyone was so polite, and no, one would say anything to hurt anybody’s feelings. The service at the Garrison Hall in the evening was attended by a congregation that completely filled the hall, and a large number unable to enter were addressed at the Triangle by others of the mission party. The services were continued to-day. At the Bible exposition, which was largely attended, the Kev, Mr Grubb first directed attention to Amos Hi , 3: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.” He feared that as regarded practical fellowship with God many who wore >aved trum sin aad parted company with the Pa'-hcr, end bad no c mueptb' -i the true sweetness of walking with God Wiitu the Holy Ghost pointed to something in tho life f hat ah.mid be altered, or something in the personal habits, or in the way of treating fellowChristians, and one turned away from the warning, it was time for the soul to take care lest the Spirit should be grieved. To those who were at agreement with God the counsel was full of glory and hope, as stated in Romans vl., 4Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by tho glory of the Father, even so we also should walk In the newness of life."

Ihe governor of the gaol (Mr Phillips) bat obtained leaVe of absence, and goei to to-morrow by the Hauroto. The principal warder in obarge (Mr T. R. Pointon) will assume control daring Mr Phillips’s absence.

What may happen to a man in America.— Last cprlng George A. Borekling sued for a divorce from Madeline, hia wife, bttt she filed a cross-complaint and Secured a deofretii with 1,500d0l alimohy, besides the teturp of her maiden name of Boyle. |on January 12 she brought stilt against her former husband, f claiming fi.OOOdol damages for Breach t'f promise. It appears that after their divorce Mr Borekling again paid court to her, and there was a betrothal. Tty marriage was appointed for July last, but on the 25th of the month Borekling served notice that be had changed his mind, nor would he assign any reason.

In speaking on the subject of education at St, Joseph’s Cathedral last evening, Bishqp Moran explained how he was misinformed in reference to the .Use of Collier’s 'British History ’ in the Queenstown public school. Be regretted this, and at once withdrew the imputation, and if an apology was necessary he willingly tendered it. But he added that it made no difference so far as his argument in Invercargill was concerned. His argument there was that the present system of education acted . unfairly and unjustly towards the Catholics of this country—that it took their money for godless education, Ihe money that should be spent in their schools, and officially authorised the use of books in schools which contained insults and calumnies on Catholiok and their ohnrob.

An announcement re Knox Church singing classes will be found in this i«ue.

The box p!au for the Myra kemfi’e season is now open at the Dresden music warehouse. The Taltri county inspector notifies that the Grey town bridge will be closed to traffic on Wednesday. The Bank of Australasia’s colonial share register will be c osed from March 19 till April 1. Tne half-yearly dividend is at the rate of per cent, The Dunedin Hospital leturns for the past week are as followßemainlng from previous we;k, 5?; aimitted dutirg the week, 17 ; di»chargcd, 13; deaths, nil; totallromalning in the institution, til. A special missionary service will be held in the Garrison Hall to-morrow, at three o’clock in the afternoon, in connection with the ev. Mr Grubb's mission. This evening Mr Grubb will ho'd a mission service at 7.30. To mortow’s fixtures are advertised.