Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7003, 28 April 1884, Page 5

We were sorry to hear that His Excellency the Governor was confined to the house yesterday with renewed indisposition, which, however, we trust is not of a serious oharaoter. The Dublin police have made an important discovery. An attempt was made to destroy the.barraoks by means of au infernal machine, but happily it proved abortive. The enquiries of the police in connection with the outrage led to the discovery of the existence of a Fenian plot, and documents showing that a rising had been planned. A quantity of arms, etc., was also found in a garden belonging to Patrick Egan. It is not- stated whether this is the same person—it is the same name —who acted as Treasurer for the Irish Land League, and who subsequently fled to America. The documents found prove that Egan, who is said to hav.e been arrested, and the officers of the 1.R.8. are implicated in the recent outrages in London. The Egyptian question threatens to become the question of the hour, and to be fraught with as much combustibles as the now torpid Eastern question. The European Conference, which Mr. Gladstone has convened to consider the question, is being hotly disoussed iiv the French Press, and if France does not find in it an excuse for re-asserting her claim to a controlling voice' in the affairs of Egypt, co-equal with that possessed by. England, it will not be because the French Press failed to impress upon her the necessity of doing so. It is teeming with the subject, and all sorts of extravagant claims are being suggested or openly brought forward. There is no doubt that the French Government will make an effort to re-establish the Dual Control. But there is as little doubt that the attempt will be unsuccessful. The. Dual Control is dead and cannot be revived, If England is wise she will not allow any other Power to share with her the task she has set herself in Egypt. _ She must exercise in that country a predominating influence. The Conference is not likely to result in any praotical good. On" the other hand it is not unlikely to lead to confusion and complications, to misunderstandings, dissensions, and a host of international jealousies. The European concert is a very pretty thing in theory, but the moment it begins to play, discord and jangling is the result.

The recidlvistes question is again coming prominently to the front in our cable messages. We publish to-day despatches from both London and Melbourne in reference to the ..question. The opinion" seems to be gaining ground in official oiroles in England that the colonies have made out a good case against the Reoidivistes Bill. There appears, however, to be little prospect of the measure being withdrawn, abandoned, or modified ■in deferenoe to the wishes of the Australian colonies. M. Ferry is determined to stand by the measure. In Victoria the subject is exciting lively interest, which is in striking contrast to the apathy which prevails here. Mr. Service, the Premier, has issued a circular to the other Premiers of the colonies asking for their views on the question in order to enable him to draft Bill relating to -the threatened importation of French convicts, which will be introduced in the different Legislatures. The Trades Union Congress, at present sitting in Melbourne, has also taken the matter up, and has determined to send a working man delegate to England, "to appear at the bar of the House of Commons to appeal for assistance to prevent the influx of French reoidivistes into the Australian colonies !" '

The Hon. E. Mitchelson, accompanied by Mr. Knorpp, engineer, left for Te Awamutu by special train oa Saturday morning at twenty minutes past nine o'clock. Mr. Holmes, surveyor, who alio accompanies Mr. Mitchelson, and is well acquainted with the route, arrived from New Plymouth early on Saturday morning, and at once left by train for Waikato. Mr. Mitchelson leaves Kihikihi for Te Kuiti this morning, en route for Stratford and New Plymouth via the line explored by Mr. Holmes for the railway. In about a week we may expect to hear of Mr. Mitchelson appearing-at New Plymouth. He will then return to Auckland, and will probably meet the Premier there. It is known that Sir George Grey will at the next session of Parliament again introduce his Bill to facilitate the admission of persons to practice the law apqp passing an examination ot a character which will show that their knowledge of law is complete without their being subjected to any examination in what is called general knowledge. . Sir George Grey has, we understand, decided to proceed direct to ChrUtchurch and Dunedin, and to deliver addresses at these towns first. Gisborne and other places will be visit.ed on Sir George's return from the South. . The second of the. weekly concerts and balls inaugurated by Mr. Horace Dean, and carrisd out in the Lome-street Hall; was held on Saturday night, and passed off agreeably and successfully, Mr. Heed's band supplying the necessary music. Messrs. Montague and Dean sang several selections during the evening, and dancing was kept up with spirit until half-past eleven o'clock, Alfred Henry Smith pleaded guilty to two charges of petty larceny on Saturday, and his only excuse was that he had been drinking, and that larceny was then a mania.with him. The accused had some months ago been convicted on his own confession of similar acts, but Mr. Karl, who appeared for him, then made an able appeal to the Bench, tbo reault of which was that while the convictions were recorded against him he was not sentenced. He then went to New Caledonia, from which he returned a> couple of weeks ago, and soon found himself again in the hands of the police. He was sentenced by the Court to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. T. Peacock, M.H.R., and a director of the Bay of Islands Coal Company, has paid a visit to the Bay of Islands for the purpose of witnessing the Government modus operandi of loading steamers with coal'from the Railway Wharf, Opua, On this subject the Northern Luminary says :—"At the loading of the first large steamer on Wednesday last, we learn that Mr. Peacock was so disgusted with the modus operandi that be would not come np to Kawakawa with tho manager, Mr.-Moody, to visit the* mines. It took twelve hours to put 220 tons of coal on board the Waihora, with a large gang of men, steam-cranes, and the assistance of the steamer herself. Under the old barge service (at a cost to the company of 6d per ton les* for delivery) and basket jumping double the quantity of coal have been put into steamers in two-thirds'of the time." The Burgess Roll Revision Court sita today at noon. . Ratepayers paying rates to : eleven or twenty minutes past eleven to-day ' will be enabled to be enrolled. •

A meeting' of the Waitemata _ Rowing Club-was held on- Saturday evening last. There was a goodattendance of members, the business for ' which •'the meeting was called being to consider the ; action of the Ponsonby Regatta Club in desiring the disputed Whaleboat Race to be pulled.-over agaiujon Saturday next. : It was-unanidiSu'sly agreed'that aB the club's solicitor had"given his opinion that the club was entitled to the money, and as the opinion of numerous authorities on ' rowing matters had been obtained, and they were all of the one mind that the Waitemata Club had justly won the race, they would not allow their crew to again row the race, bat -take legal action to recover the prize money.

On Saturday afternoon Sergeant Clarke, of the Water Police, assisted by his men, arrested a number of the crew of the barque Alastor, from London, on warrant, on a oharge of broaching cargo on board that vessel during her voyage to Auckland.The names of the men are—B. Haslett, A. White, W. Wilkinson, R. M. Coy,' CI. Oekenden, G. Robiosoa, G. Jones, H. A. Upperton,. G. H. Lae, and H. Percy. The value of the missing property is set down at £10. The men were brought up before Superintendent Thomson, and remanded to gaol till Wednesday next. During the past week an entertainment was given in the District Hospital for the benefit-of the convalescent■ patients. The programme consisted of a pianoforte duet by Mrs. Nicholson and Miss Puckey ; songs by Miss Kempthorne, Dr. Bond, and other lady and gentlemen amateurs. A recitation, "Midsummer .Night's Dream," was also given, and "Mrs. Jarley's Waxworks." On Friday evening there was a service of song. These entertainments are much appreciated by the patients. The exhibition of the Auckland Sooiety of Arts, in the .Choral Hall, was open on Saturday afternoon and evening. The attendance in the afternoon was very good, the rooms in which the exhibits were arranged beiog as full as they .could conveniently hold. In the evening the attendance ,\vaß very large. The attractions were enhanced.. by : Mr. Hunter's band, which played-several operatic selections and other music. 'We regret that pressure upon our . space, occasioned by the departure of the - mail, compels us to hold over oar third notice of, the "exhibits. The exhibition will b§. open this afternoon and evening, and every afternoon and :evening until the 2nd of May, inclusive, from twelve to five p.m.'and from seven to nine. The drawing for the annual art nnion will take place on Wednesday evening at eight o'clock. The exhibits are so good this year that a large number should take part in the art union. A promenade concert will be given this evening by ladies and gentlemen amateurs. "Youth" was performed at the Opera House on Saturday evening before a- large audience. To-night "TheLightso'London," a cleverly writtea Rnd ■ highly attractive drama, will be produced for the first time in Auckland. Special scenery has been painted for this ' play, including some realistic views of well-known London buildings, etc. During the overture each evening Misd A. Wooldridge will sing the song " The 'Lights o' London," which suggested the play. The performance will terminate at eleven o'clock each night. We notice in the Huddersfield Examiner of the 9th of February an account of the marriage of Mr. John Thornton, of Monterey, Wimbledon, son, of the late Mr. D. B. Thornton (of Thornton, Smith, and Firth, Auckland), and formerly of St. Petersburg. The young lady whom he has espoused is Miss Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lease, of Kirkfield, Baildou, and granddaughter of the late Mr. Isaac Wright, J.P., of Bradford. Among the bridesmaids were Miss Thornton, MiBS G. Thornton, -of Wimbledon, sisters of the bridegroom, and Miss Lease, sister of the bride. The service was choral, a special choir being engaged from Bradford. - The Rev. Denis Carey officiated. Amongst the wedding party were Mrs. Thornton, Mr. an<i Mrs. T err yi Lockwood House, Huddersfield, and other friends. The presents were numerous and costly, amongst them being a magnificent bridal bouquet from Nice. The bridegroom's presents to the bridesmaids were gold and diamond brooches. In connection with the above, the employes of Messrs. Henry Terry and Co., of Huddersfield, of whioh Mr. Mr. Lease is a partner, had a supper and a dance. '' 1 -

At the Police Court on Satarday were a number of prosecutions under the Licensing Act' against two publicans for selling liquor to persons who were neither bona Jide travellers nor lodgers at their hotels. In the case of Mr. Lynoh, of the Alexandra Hotel, only one case out of three was proceeded with, the other two being withdrawn. Mr. E. Hesketh for the defendant admitted that there waß a technical breaoh of the Act in supplying a glass of beer, to a man who had been.in the habit of staying at the hotel, although on this occasion he had not' slept there on the previous night. A mitigated fine of 20a and costs was imposed. .The other oases were against Mr. Retallick of the York Hotel, Newton. Mr. Hesketh appeared for the defendant. In this case two men and a woman were fonnd by. the constable drinking a glass of gin each in the kitchen of the hotel. The explanation was that these people bad been invited to supper, and .before leaving were asked by the landlord to partake of a drop of something to keep out the cold. There was no sale or purchase of drink, and it was not supplied in the business part of the house. This case was dismissed and two others were withdrawn.

A young girl named Bertha Freak, died suddenly on Saturday morning at Ponsonby. On the previous evening she was in her ordinary health, and had been out making some purchases, but on Saturday morning she was discovered in her bed in an unconscious condition. Dr. Dawson was called in, but the girl died before his arrival. Jt appears that she had been subjeat kto heart disease from her birth, and Dr. Dawson gives heart disease as the canse of death. Superintendent Thompson has received a telegram from Constable Foreman, of Helcnsville, stating that a young man, John Atokison, was killed at tbe Makarau Btish on Friday afternoon, by a log rolling over him, and . that the body had been brought in to Helensville to await a coroner's inquest. The young man's parents reside at West Pukekohe, and the melancholy news has been communicated to them by Superintendent Thomson. A Russell- correspondent writes undor date April 24th: —"The railway lino was opened on the 7th instant. It is only eight miles in length, and is solely dependent on the coal mines for support. Over 600 tons of coal were brought down last week. Two sohooners like the Mariner can be loaded in less than a day. She only occupied about three and a half hours last trip tiking in over 100 tons,' one crane being uaed. The Waihora took in last week about 220 tons, and the Wairarapa on her trip to Sydney calls today. These boats are all very high out of the water, almost too high for the cranes to work them at all, and it would be better to have a crane with a longer jib. There- is good deep water at the whari, sufficient to admit of the Waihora and vessels of her class leaving at any time of the tide. Some of the piles used in the wharf are said to be 60 feet in length." There were five prisoners in the lock-np last evening, namely, four on charges of drunkenness, and John Wilson for larceny. The sailing race' between the open boats Ely (Warmao) and Vic (Bailey) came off on Saturday afiernoen last., The course was from the wharf round the coal hulk, thence down round the Gazelle, and back to the wharf; twice round. Mr. J. Weymouth, sen., acted as umpire and startor. Xho Ely went; away with the lead, but was soon overhauled by the Vic, which boat managed to maintain the leadiug position to the finish. The stakes were-£lO a-side. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that Mr. Dowden will offer for sale to-day at noon, at his mart, Queenstreet, 102 acres .o£ scoria land. situated at Western Springs. Attention iB drawn to this land, a3 being the only block of scoria formation within the throe-tnile radius of Union Bank corner. It. is also stated that if cut up into allotments there would be nearly 20,000 feet of building frontages in quarter-acre sections. . - • <SAt the next meeting of. the City.Counoil, Montague is to move :—" lii That the levels of Nelson-atreet, betweenVicto'ria iind Cook Streets, be fixed. 2.. That the Engineer report as to the best method of carrying out the resolution :of the Council re cutting down H obson-strcet; also, > the formation of Customs-street West, Moore, and Chapel Streets, to their permanent levels." Mr. Crow.ther is to move :—" That the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans and speoifi cK tions for drainage works in Sfamley-streefc