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New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6696, 4 May 1883, Page 5

The wisdom o£ the Government in prohibiting the farther importation of grape vines, grape vine cuttings, grapes, &c., from any of the Australian colonies, was called in question by some Dunedin traders. Efforts were made to put pressure upon the Government to compel them to withdraw the prohibition which they very wisely threw over the grape vines now in healthy growth in the eolony. The object the Government had in view in aating as they did was not to proteGt the prospective industry which may be created here in wine growing from foreign competition, but to prevent the introduction of a disease which, wherever it has been introduced, has never been got rid of. We allude to the vine louse known as phylloxera vastatrix. Eight or nine years ago it wa3 introduced into the colony of Victoria, and though legislation has been passed upon the subject, and a very large amount of public money spent in up-rooting and utterly destroying the vineyards affected in the Geeloug district, last week a telegram informed us that the disease had spread to the Ararat district. The havoc which the disease has made among the vineyards in .France is painful to contemplate. .From 1860 to 1869 the wine production of France averaged 50 millions of hectolitres, and during the eight following years it rose to an average of 54 millions of hectolitres. A hectolitre of wine is almost 2Gi imperial gallons. It was in 1865 that the vine disease was introduced to France from America, but a few years elapsed before its presence was detected, and a few more year 3 expired before its destructive character was recognised. When this became known the disease had spread so far that it has been found practically impossible even to stay its progress on a large scale. The extent of injury done may be recognised when it is known that in 1832 the aggregate production of wine in France was only 30,886,352 hectolitres, in place of 54 millions before the disease had begun to do its evil work. How sad must it be to the vinegrowers throughout the country to see their property year after year diminishing before their eyes, and no known means of saving the remainder. Instead of being a very large exporter of "wines, France has begun to import. For ten years, from 1372 to 1883, the imports into France averaged 2,312,000 hectolitres annually, though it was not until 1878 that the imports were more than nominal, but last year they amounted to 6,541,000 hectolitres. The exports for the ten years ending 1881, averaged 3,173,000 hectolitres per annum, but last year they reached only to 2,398,000 hectolitres, not much more than one-third of the imports. Such have been the disastrous effects of the operation of an exceedingly minute insect on the vineyards in France, which the New Zealand Government have done what they could to prevent being introduced amongst the vines in New Zealand. With such facts before them, few will desire that freedom in dealing with vines from foreign countries which will have a tendency to introduce such an enemy in our midst. Having done much in respect to the vines, the Government ought to do something for the protection of our apple orchards from the ravages of the Codlin moth, which i 3 now proving so destructive in Tasmania, and which prevails to a large extent in America.

Ik another column will be found a letter from Mr. E. Hadrill, in reference tc the establishment here of a branch of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria. He fully explains all the circumstances. The Humane Society of "Victoria were willing to establish a branch here, and to alter their name, so as to include Australasia. But some steps were taken here on the ground that we should have a Humane Society of our own. This came to nothing, but it had the effect of stopping the movement for the establishment of a branch. It seems to us that the wider the basis of such a society the better. Its certificates and medals would be more esteemed, and in other ways it ia likely to do more good. We commend the perusal of Mr. Hadrill'a letter to all who are interested, and advise that action should be taken as soon as possible.

Hie Hon. the Premier (Mr. F. Whitaker) was a passenger for Wellington' by the Union Company's steamship Rotomahana yesterday afternoon.

The regular meeting of the City Council was held last night. The fact of the previous week's meeting having been allowed to stand over entailed an accumulation of business, and a3 it was of some importance, some time waß taken up in discussion. The correspondence wa3 soon disposed of. The committees' reports gave riee to some discussion. Tenders for several works were accepted, and the remaining business, including several noticeß of motion, was postponed until next regular meeting.

The Kingites are still holding meetings about the opening of the country and the land question. 'I hey are not by any means unanimous, except that they want nothing done just now. Some of them want to give over their landß to VVahanui to hold, while not a few are anxious that there should be a solemn recommittal into the hands of Tawhiao. The Ministry, the Parliament, and the Kingites will all be engaged with the lund question during next session.. His Worship the Resident Magistrate (Mr. H. 6. Seth Smith) decided an important legal question yesterday in the case of Cleverly v. McKenzie. The action was really for wages (£7 7s Id), although formally brought on an account stated. The facts were published in our report of the previous sitting of the Court. An outline of the case appears in another column. The question was whether in an action to recover a balance upon an account stated—the balance being within the jurisdiction, but the whole account much beyond it—the Magistrate oould hear the cause. His Worship held that the case must be discharged from the list for the want of jurisdiction. After being closed for a week, for the purpose of having a general clean up, the Auckland .vluseum was again rc-opened on Wednesday last. The Curator, Mr. Cheeseman, has had Mr. Mackelvie'a collection of water colours placed on the walls, interspersed with the oil paintings that gentleman formerly presented. The water colours appear to much better advantage at the Museum than they did at the Choral Hall, the lighting arrangements being apparently more favourable. His Excelleucy the Governor who, it will be remembered, expressed himself so highly pleased with our harbour, dock, &c., at the time he was taken round by the H-irbour Board a Bhort time back, at the request of Mr. Stone, the Chairman of the Harbour B>arJ, promised to give him a rep irt upon the harbour, dock, and fortifications. Yesterday morning His Excellency sent for Mr. McDsnal.i, and also for the plans, &c.. of the harbour and works named above. Mr. McDonald spent about an hour with His Excellency, giving him all the explanations in his power. The result of the interview has not transpired. At a special meeting of the University I College Council yesterday, Sir Maurice O'Jrtorke, Chairman, made some touching and appropriate remarks regarding the death by drowning of Professor Walker. It was resolved that the Chairman telegraph to the Agent-General, requesting him to break the sad news to the parents of deceased, who reside in Durham. The Ageut-General will be instructed to select a professor for the chair of Mathematics. Business in the stock and sharemirket yesterday was not very brisk, sales being confined principally to Deep Level Cross, which were disposed of at 53 od to 5s 6d. Queen of Beauties at ISs and 17s, and North D<;vop3 at 5s 3d to 5a 6d. The following encouraging telegram was received yesterday afternoon from the mine manager of the New Prince Imperial : —"2ooc >vt. specimens from drive No. X, section west, No. 5 level. Rich show of gold in back of drive." The erection of the iron railing fencing round the City Park has been completed, so far as the present contract is concerned. When the made ground in Victoria Quadrant has settled down sufficiently, the fencing will be carried round that frontage to Princesstreet, thus enclosing within the iron railing fencing and in the Park the belt of trees on the north side of Bowen Avenue. The piers of the upper and lower gates of Bowen Avenue are of Hobart granite, and of the smaller Park gates of Raglan stone.

Mr. Boardman, in his place in the City Council, has given notice of his intention to propese the following resolution I "That waterworks by-laws 1532 numbered 2 and 3 and 5 and 12 inclusive, ordinary supply, also those numbered 14 and "29, extraordinary supply, be rescinded with the view to substituting lower rates and charges than those named in the said by-law ; (2) That in by-law No. 4 (nonconsumers' rate) the words 100 yards from any part of the waterworks by and now vested in the said Corporation be omitted with the view of substituting th-re-for the works —' Any street in which water mains are laid(3) That any by-law or resolution of the Council fixing the special water rate to pay charges on waterworks loan account at 5 per cent, per annum be rescinded with the view of fixing a lo*er special rate in lieu of the 5 per cent, rate."

Contractors for alterations of buildings in the thronged streets of the city do not take sufficient care, or adopt necessary precautions to prevent accidents, and some time or another an inevitable accident will occur, which will forcibly direct pubiic attention to the fact. Yesterday forenoon a man was passing by the Thames Hotel (which is now undergoing alterations), when a brick fell from the parapet close to his feet, and narrowly escaped hitting him on the head. There is, so far, no protection whatever at this building, and pedestrians wo ald ba wise to give it a wide barth, or keep a bright look out when passing it.

The only case for hearing at the Police Court yesterday was a charge of drunkenness, preferred against an old man named Austin. Austin was suffering from deiiriuni tremens, and was remanded far a week. Mr. Lincoln Green, who was formerly with Messrs Arnold, Hines, and Co., of this city, was drowned in A;pinwali harbour on the 19th January. The body was not recovered at the date of writing. After the annual meeting of ratepayers of the Mount Eden district held on Wednesday niyht a question of considerable importance to the district was brought up for consideration. It was iu regard to a dangerous railway crossing on the Mount Roskill road. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Tole, M. H.R., Potter, Bell, and Bailey was appointed to wait on the Premier in respect to the dangerous crossing. They were not, however, able to obtain an audience with the Premier yesterday, as he proceeded to Wellington by the s.s. Rotomahana at twelve o'clock. At the meeting of the Harbour Board, held on Tuesday last, the memorandum of agreement which was submitted by the Hon. the Premier for the taking over the c .ntract for the filling in of the railway reclamation was duly considered. Several of the clauses were either expunged or altered by the Board at that meeting, particularly that one referring to the possibility of actions for damages arising, and the revised draft was returned to Mr. Whitaker, who declined to accept the suggested alterations. As the stay of the Premier iu Auckland was exceedingly limited, ho intending to proceed to Wellington by the s.s. Rotomahana, a special meeting of the Board was called yesterday morning, at which we are informed the Board, after carefully reconsidering the matter, decided to take over the contract and fill in the reclamation, as at first proposed, with material to be obtained from the landslip at Point Britomart and a portion of Emily Place. The committee have further agreed to accept all the responsibility, although it is at the same time understood that the Government agree to give every possible assistance to the Board in the event of any claims being pressed for damages, &c. The work, it was agreed, should be commenced with as little delay as possible after the necessary documents have been drawn up and completed between the Government and the Harbour Board.

Amongst the business postponed by the City Council last night are the following resolution of which notice has been given Cr. Thompson to move: " That a monthly return be prepared and laid on the Council table, bhowing the expenditure in each of the wards of the city, such return to specify cost of day labour! gravel or metal, and contracts, sewerage, channelling, asphalting, &c. , r - Harper to move, ''That this Council take under its immediate consideration the advisability of acquiring that' portion of land extending from Lamb's new mill to a point on the Beach Road." Mr. Aickin to move, "That the Engineer be instructed to submit at an early date a complete scheme dealing with the drainage of the city—that is, providing for house sewage and surface drainage, and showing tbe best method of ultimate diepoßol of wune."

We are informed that the Secretary of State has instructed the Governor to recog nise Mr. Harlan Page Barber, as vice-Consul for Sweden and Norway, at Auckland.

Messrs. Hursthouse and 2s'ewaham started from New Plymouth on their exploration journey on Tuesday. They will proceed about fifty miles up the Mokau river, and from thencd they will work their way back through the bush to New Plymouth, with the object of discovering the most practicable route for a line of railway.

We are given to understand that the names of the three " larrikins " who were prominent in disturbing the meeting in the Congregational Chapel at Onehunga on Monday evening last are well known. The tallest had well trimmed dark whi kers and moustache ; the second, nhorter, fair juvenile, girlish and hairless, as to the face. This is the lad who used a pea-shooter. The third, the shortest, who sneaked behind the other two, cultivates a sickly moustache, nurses a faint outliue of whisker, md apparently the callow down is fructifying on his chin. They are all three respectably connected, and probably had their fathers been present they might have been he'd in check. Sergeant Greene was simply a dummy, motionless, neither acting nor speaking. But he knows the three unmannered snobs, and should summons them. From the testimony of many witnesses, tMey could be convicted and punished, and taught betttr manners. It is disgraceful that peaceable citizens cannot meet in a place of worship to s ng, pray, and exhort their fellow-sinneis to turo over a new leaf, without being subject to interruption and outrage from those who, from their position in society, ought to know better. Some thirty-four cases of telephones and electric batteries were rectived by the mail steamer, City of Sydney, and for-varded by the Telegraph Department to Wellington. There is only one subscriber to the Anckland Telephone Exchange now awaiting connection, when the number on the list will be 148. Dunedin tradesmen are far ahead of Auckland in the use of the telephone, for business purposes, as th :*re are 225 on the Dunedin Telephone Exchange. A statutory meeting of the City Council will be held on Tuesday to receive the annual accounts. These, we understand, have been signed by the auditors as correct. The attendance at Abbott's Opera Theatre was again very large last evening to f.oe Miss Jennie Lee as "Jo," although the dress circle and orchestra stalls were not so full as has been usual since the season commenced. But the other parts of the house were crowded. As on every previous evening, Miss Lee was loudly applauded, and had to appear before the curtain in obedience to the call of the audience. "Jo" will be repeated this evening. Now that the upper portion of the Albert Park has been pot into pretty good trial, the custodian (Mr. Wells) is turning his attention to that position of it fronting Bowen Avenue. Some of the paths on that frontage are being sod bordered, the adjacent ground dug up, iu order to be sown with grass seed, and the ovals at the turnstile and Bowen-street gata prepared for the planting of native shrubs and trees. Yesterday being Ascension Day, religious services were held in several of the Anglican churches. There were three services at St. Paul's, namely, one at eight a.m. when Holy Communion was administered, the incumbent, the Rev. C. M. Nelson, being the celebrant; at eleven a.m. there was another Bervice, when Holy Communion was again administered, the Rev. J. W. Alloway being the celebrant. These services were fairly attended. In the evening, at half-past seven there was a choral service, when the anthem, "Lift up your heada " (Hopkins), was rendered by the choir. The sermon, which was preached by the incumbent, was from Psalms, chap. 21, v. 7-10. The above anthem wil! be repeated at the forenoon service next Sunday, and in the evening Stanier's beautiful composition, "Leave us not," will be given. Two services were held at St. Matthew's Church. At the eleven o'clock service Holy Communion was administered by the Incumbent; there were a goodly number of communicants. In the evening, at half-past seven, there was a bright service, and a good attendance for a week night. The Psalms were set to well known chants, and appropriate hymns were also sung.

A peculiar case was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday which is instructive in many ways. A young lady named Blake wished to get lessons "in the whole course of equitation" from the riding mister, Mr. Hazell, whose riding school is in the New North Road. She pays £5 53 in advance. So long as the lady might be taught separately everything went well. But in the " whole course of equitation" it was necessary that the lady should join a class where she would be associated with

"respectable married ladies." The riding master had heard something, and he would neither admit her to the class nor return any part of the money. Hence the action for breach o t contract. What aroused Mr. Hazell's suspicions was the fact that the lady in the first place called herself "Mrs. Blake,"anid he found out from her own admission that "there was no Mr. Blake." He " jumped" to the conclusion that something was wrong and he would not allow her to the " Chevy Chase" of the riding class. The explanation of the lady was extremely simple and natural. She said she kept a boarding house, and it was better for her business tuat she should be known as " Mrs." than as '' Miss." Blake. It was convenient that she should be so regarded for many other reasons. But Mr., Hazell thought there was a "barsinister"on the lady's 'scutcheon and he would,not have her with the "othermarried ladies." What might have happened bad the fair spinster taken the lead of the dowagers of the riding academy it was impossible to say. There was no data for arrival at any opinion. The defendant had to pay back to the lady the five guineas, and thus she is the gainer by five lessons in equitation, while Mr. Hazel has received one in law that will cleave to his mem Dry.

The prospectus of the Auckland Tobacco Company (Limited), which appears in our advertising columns, is another step in the introduction of new industries, which must prove of vast benefit to New Zealand, and the district of Auckland in particular. The Auckland Tobacco Growing Association, whose business it is proposed to extend by means of the new company, was formed some cine months ago by the following gentlemen, viz.: —Messrs, A. Clark and Son, L. D. Nathan and Co., Job. Howard, F. W. Brookfield, H. A. Martin, A. Martin, jun., R. G. Nash, W. H. Metcalfe, R. K. Davis, B. Wayte, and Captain McGregor— for the purpose of testing the poasibility of growing tobacco of pure quality under skilled management, "which they obtained by the employment of Mr. F. Gaytou Clarke, a gentleman of experience in growing tobacco in the Southern States of America. The Secretaryship of the association has been undertaken gratis by Messrs. Metcalfe and Hill, as from their' intimate knowledge of the northern district, they were convinced of its suitability for tobacco culture. Mr. Clarke was most unfortunate iu the weather for his operations. The extreme drought in the early summer having prevented the planting of half the land prepared, and the e excessive wet in the latter part of the ' season doing considerable damage. Such, however, was the luxuriance of the crop harvested, that it completely filled the sheds provided, and which wcte estimated to be sufficient to contain all the tobacco likely to be grown on the whole area cultivated. The leaf grown has been pronounced by competent judges to be equal to any grown elsewhere, and it is only necessary that skilled labour be procured to manufacture it to turn out an article equal to any imported and much superior to that in general use. The importance of the successful manufacture of tobacco in Auckland, to the settlers on small holdings, in the north of Auckland especially, can hardly be overestimated, as the cultivation of an acre or two of tobaceo (which could be easily accomplished within the family) would prove a source of income such as could not be obtained from auy other crops. We anticipate a ready response from the public to the invitation given them to subscribe for the limited number of shares (3000) offered. Intending investors will do well to make application without delay, as the shares are to be allotcd pro rata. The survey of the projected roads and streets through the Surrey Hills estate were completed yesterday by Mr. Hickson and hia staff.

The next daylight parade of volunteers will be held on Saturday afternoon at four o'clock, when all arms of the service will parade for inspection. Steps are being taken to aßphalt the Bide pavements of Bow en Avenue,.

The Council of the Auckland College have expended some £50 or £60 in repairs .to the ola District Courthouse,, n order to make it suitable for the purposes of the College. The roof has been repaired, the ceiling painted, and the walls papered. The inside of the building now presents a light and cheerful appearance, and is a great contrast to the interior ot the Courthouse as it was two or three weeks ago. A lecture platform for the professors has been constructed at the eastern ecd of the building.

The meeting of the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Association last night was very pleasantly passed in considering the Lie and works of Alfred Tennyson. Mr. T. McMaster, in introducing the subject gave a brief biographical sketch, and pointed out the chief characteristics of the works of the poet laureate. The fol'owing members gave selections from his writings :—Mr. Porter, "Dora Mr. Wykes, "In Memoriam ;" Mr. J. IV. Witeman, "The Relief of Lucknow;"Mr. VV. McDowell, "In the Children's Hospital." A number of members also expresued their opinions in regard to the poet, and favourably criticised the manner in which the readings and recitations had been rendered.

The uaual weekly meeting of the Hope of ManukauLodge, 1.0. G.T., was held on Tuesday last, and after the reports of the officers, which showed the lodge to be in a very prosperous state, the following officers were installed by Brother S. R. Skinner, D.G.W.T., assisted by Brother J. Franklin as J. M. and Brother Thomas White as D.J.M. :—W.C.T., Brother James Howard; W.V.T., Brother George Wood; W.S., Brother Stephen R. Skinner (re-elected) ; W.T., Sister Thamer Coldham (re-elected); W.F.S., Brother C. C. Fleming (re-elected) ; W.C., Sister E. Bulcraig; W.M., Brother Henry Jeffery ; W.A.S., Sister L. Skinner; W.J.G., Brother John A. Skinner; W.D.M., Brother F. Oxen ham ; W.0.G., Brother W. Bulcraig; P.W.C.T., Brother John Franklin. For the past two months a party of workmen have been engaged in effecting the improvements ordered by the City Council ' at the Western Springs, in order to increase the purity of the city water supply. These improvements consist in arching over and building in two of the three " Bpring heads," it not being deemed necessary at present to cover in the larger spring. The three mains have been carried up to these spring heads and connected, namely, 18 innh mains to the smaller springs, and a 24 inch main to the larger one. The work has b-.-en cairied on nnder the supervision of Mr. Errington, C.E,, Water works Engineer, and he is satisfied that a thoroughly good job has been made of it. The expenditure entailed will be well recouped by the increased purity «f the city water supply—the water beiug bow pumped up, clear as crystal, as it wells up from between the scoria boulders. Professor H. Sample, who is described in his advertisement as '• the celebrated American horseman," etc., will deliver a lecture iu the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening ok the "Management of Horses." In the recent batch of books added to the Free Public Library about 20 per cent, consists of fiction. As the object of the Institution is not to attract idlers there to amuse themselves by reading fiction, it is a pity that the money was not m»re judiciously expended. The works of reference are being increasingly resorted to, and the list would weli bear enlarging. In the Sydney Free Public Library, containing many thousands of volumes, there are scarcely a hundred volumes of fiction.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of Le N6o Zealandais for the present month. It is quite equal to its predecessors, and contains a variety of interesting news. The editor again recurs to the actiou of the Uninersity Senate in prescribing Voltaire's " Candide" for study ty undergratuates, but it would appear that the name of the obnoxious work has been withdrawn. The journal contains a lengthy review of the Auckland Society of Artists' Exhibition, as well as an article, by Mr. K. Watkins, on matters relating to art, and other miscellaneous reading.

Constable Walker, of Mercury Bay, brought up two prisoners yesterday from that district, who had been committed to terms of imprisonment in Mount Eden Gaol. They were "William Davy (a Maori), and a young man named John Peter Evans, who had both been found guilty of robbing a bushman. The Maori had taken about £10, and thu lad about £3. The Maori was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, and Evans to three months.

Yesterday evening a man named John O'Shea, who is well known to the police, went into the pawnshop of Mr. Bloom, Victoria-street, and endeavoured to pawn a coat there. Mr. Bloom, having reason to suspect him, looked at the article, and made the remark, " Why, the coat has been stolen!" when O'Shea bolted out of the premises, leaving the coat behind him. Constable McLellan was instructed to look up O'Shea, and at last, after some inquiries, found the object of his search in a Queenstreet hotel. As he seemed to be somewhat "pigeon-breasted," Constable McLellan had a look at the abnormal development, and, to his surprise, took out of the culprit's shirt-bosom a silver chalice and paten. Aided by Constable Collis, the prisoner was taken to the-lock-up on charges of larceny. Subsequent inquiries showed that the coat was the property of Sidney Asher, and that the chalice and paten belonged to the communion service of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The chalice and paten had only been deposited at noon, yesterday, in the tabernacle in the vestry of the cathedral. The value of the chalice and paten is about £8.

There was an alarm of fire about two o'clock yesterday afternoon, and the Fire Brigade turned up at thestation. Asitproved, however, to be only a case of a chimney on fire, iB the premises of Mr. Chambers, Abercrombiestreet, they did not proceed. The fire was extinguished by the aid of the neighbours. Although the printed instructions at the fire alarm stations enjoin that an alarm Bhould not be given from them in the case of » chimney, the disc at the nearest station was smashed as usual. A party of men were yesterday engaged in dismantling the house belonging to Mr. Lamb, in Emily Place, which occupies a perilous position on the edge of the cliff, whore the great landslip recently took place. The material will be stacked on the front of the allotment, pending the completion of the arrangements, in regard to cutting down the cliff, by the Harbour Beard. The offer of prize competitions for carfully writinc and committing to memory a portion of Holy Scripture, made by the Scripture Gift Association at the beginning of last month to scholars in attendance at the city public schools, has met with fair response. A total of 345 prize books have been awarded. At an early hour yesterday morning the Water Police again proceeded in their boat to search for thebody of Professor Walker. They were assisted by the Rev. Mr. Runciman, Mr. Bydder, and others, in private boats, but their exertions were not rewarded with success. The Auckland Weekly News (illua. trated) is the best and largest weekly journal publl&hed in the colony, and contains an ample and well-assorted collection of general* commercial, political, mining, agricultural, and sporting news; the latest English, American, and Continental tablegrams, recording tbo principal events throughout the world; special contributions from enr travelling correspondents, tales by the moat popular novelists, and iiitere&liDg items relating to art, literature, science, music, and the drama—the whole combining to render it the most attractive and readable weekly journal published in New Zealand. To-day's Observer will contain correct list of drosses at the Citizens' Sail; Dresses at the Opera; Portrait of Jennie Leo ( t4 Jo A Medical Don Juan; The Citizens* Ball (verse by " Biddj Murphy with illustrations ; The Ball-room Bumble; The Observer and the Bali Committee ; Queer Stories, Bill from Tairua; Rhymes for the Times, 41 The Maori Scarecrow" (with illustrations); Incidents in the Life of a Journalist; Lucubrations by our own yEstheta; The Salvation Army and the New Commissions ; with all tho latest Society, Fashionable, SpoztiDg, Athletic, and Theatrical Naws.

The Sheriff of Auckland announces in our advertisement columns to day a sale of land under a writ issued at the instance of the Union Steam Moulding Sash and Dooc Company against Mr. John I*. Oaken, of Parnell.