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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7006, 1 May 1884, Page 4

It is stated is atated in our cable messages to-day, that Osmah Digha, "encouraged by the disaffection of the Berber garrison, is collecting a new army, and that he threatens to advance as far as Assouan. There is much uneasiness in Cairo. ° Sir Michael Costa, whose death is announced to-day, was born in Naples in ISIO, He early displayed: a strong taste for music, and received a sound musical education. His first ' original composition was a cantata entitled L.' Immagine. In 1328 he visited England, and assisted at the Birmingham Musical Festival of, that year. -In 1831 he assumed the bdton of conductor at Her Majesty's theatre, and in 1839 he became a naturalised British subject;. In 1869 be was knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle. His greatest work is the oratorio of "Eli," which was originally produced at the Birmingham Musical Festival in 1855. Hi* oratorio, "Naaman," brought out in 1864, was also a great success. He was for many years conductor at the Boyal Italian Open, Oovent Garden. . . Wβ understand that Mr. Moat has decided to come out for Rodney at the general election, in opposition to Mr. Seymour George. Major Cautley, the officer of the Imperial service who was selected to assist His Excellency'the Governor in preparing plans for the defence of the principal ports of New Zealand, arrived in Auckland from Wellington on Tuesday by the s.s. Hotorua. Major Cautley has been engaged -at Wellington for some time past, drawing the plans for the "defence of the Southern- ports, and he has come to Auckland while. His Excellency is here to inspect the harbour and gather the necessary information for the preparation of plans for the. defence of this port. Major Cautley visited the North Shore yesterday, and has already surveyors at work there. Major Cautley expects to be a fortnight in Auckland. ■ - Sir George Grey will probably be a passen* ger for the South by the s.s. Manapouri tomorrow. Major Te Wheoro has requested Sir. George. to ask leave <of absence for him from the- House of Representatives daring his absence in England. The half-yearly meeting of the Nβ* Zealand Sugar Company was held yesterday at the company's office,- Queen-street. Sir F. Wbitaker occupied the chair. The bnaness was of a formal character. Mr. *>• L. Murdoch, the retiring director, was re* elected. "Votes of thanks to the Cbairoam and directors concluded the business. A : New Zealand-Gazette published on the 24th April contains a proclamation taking certain portions - of land in the Mangapito road district. A few weeks back we. gave particulars tot -the proposed excursion trip of the Un""* Co.'s steamship Wairarapa to the islands oi the South Seas, and stated that if snfficienS inducement offered the vessel was to leave this port on Wednesday, June 4th nest, tor a cruise extending over a month. - 6 " 0 learn that the -company have definitely decided that the excursion is to coiae on, the requisite number of passengers beiog booked for the trip. The berths ere to t» allotted in »faw d»ys; ,;

.We have received a very long letter from. Mr. Murdoch Sinclair, Ararimu South, reBpecting the disputed question of the school Bite at that' settlement. The letter is "far too long for the space at our disposal, and we are therefore unable • to comply with the writer's request to insert it in full. He traces the whole history of this school question, and uses some language calculated not to act aa oil upon troubled waters. .This will easily be understood when suoh charges as '.'falsehoods," "unscrupulous settlers," " malcontents," etc., are used throughout the letter. Mr. Sinclair says: "The aim these one or two unscrupulous persone have In view is to secure a .majority on the School Committee, when they would at once recommend th's Board of Education to remove the school one and a half miles nearer the sonthern end of the district, and to make it a full time one. By this plan they would cause about 30 children to walk from three to fonr miles to school, whereas about 20 children would only have to walk a distance varying from one quarter to three quarters of a mile." As to the qualification of those > who voted for the election of a School Committee, the writer says: "It is clearly well-known that every one who voted have been residents within the meaning of the Act for over twelve months." He is opposed to the proposed removal of the school, and thinks that instead of two half-time schools, as at present, the old school should be closed, and the new one made a full-time one, as the best thing for the district. As there has been such a lengthened controversy about this school site, and as only a local knowledge of the locality and circumstances can enable the membere of the Board of Education to fully understand the merits of the contention of the two parties to the dispute, we would luggest that the uett.lers of Ararimu South arrange for a picnic on the ground, to which the Eduoation Board should be conveyed. By this means the members of the Board would be able to judge for themselves when on the ground, as to the merits of the two school sites.

A conference of New Zealand Jewish ministers is being held at Wellington. Hitherto all technical matters in connection with the Jewish religion have had to be referred to Victoria, but the Chief Rabbi has now authorised the formation of a Jewish Synod for New Zeal&nd. For the future all ecclesiastical affairs of a special character will be dealt with by the New Zealand Synod, which will, undoubtsdly, be a great convenience to the New Zealand Jewish congregations. The Kev. Mr. Dalliston, Baptist minister, of Christohnrch, is expected up in Auckland next month, to fill the pulpit of the Welle?-ley-street Baptist Church for a few weeks, on the departure of Mr. Thos. Spurgeon for England. Information!! have been laid against two well known caterers, for that they did unlawfully expose for sale liquor at a place known as the Ellerslie racecourse, without being duly licensed to sell the same, and contrary to seotioa 159 of the Licensing Act, 1831. The real object of the action, it is stated, is to ascertain who is entitled to tie license fees. The appointment of Mr. F. D. Fentou as ft Governor of the Auckland College and Grammar School is gazetted. We have been shown by Mr. T. Cheeseman some specimens of the fruit of the Japanese persimmon, grown on a tree in his garden at Eemuera. Mr. Cheeseman received the tree four years ago from San Francisco. This is the third season of its fruiting here. Last year it produced nine fruit, three of which were exhibited at the Horticultural Society's show held in the Choral HalL This year it has borne 150, specimens of which may be seen in Mr. Lsvers' window, Qtxeen-street, and_ at the Museum. There are over 40 varieties of this fruit raised in Japan. Nearly every variety is excellent, some being sweet, others 'art amd sour. A model of the very best find in papier-mache was presented to Mr. T. F. Cheeseman by Dr. Aolri, of the Tsukuba, and may be seen at the Museum. In Japan this fruit is used both fresh and dried.' It is a very handsome tree, and grows well here. It can be propaguted either from seed, from the root, or by grafting, and might be cultivated with profit.

There were two prisoners in the lock-up last night, namely—a woman, fo? drunkenness ; and Wm. Thompson, alias King Cole, arrested by Detective Hughes on a charge of larceny of a saw, value 6s, the property of Messrs. Morgan and Pilkington. ' Messrs. Mahoney and Sons, architects, received a number of tenders for the erection ef the new Shamrock Hotel, bnt r o decision has yet been arrived at as to the acceptance of any of the tenders. An old man named Patrick Moras, a pen-' otoner, who was' arrested on a charge of drunkenness, and who, on being brought up before the Bench on the 28th ult., was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on a charge of vagranoy, died yesterday morning at Mount Eden GaoL It was discovered at the gaol that Moran had three of his ribs broken, but it is alleged that before his death, he stated that he had received these injuries accidentally. A Coroner's inquest will be held by Dr. Tennent, Coroner for the at that establishment, this morning, at lalf-past eight o'clock. Referring to a letter from "Iron," another arrespoodent, " Light," writes stating that ' Iron's " proposal* would delay the laying "f the water mains so urgently required, vithout any corresponding benefit. Our present correspondent thinks that if " Iron " was aware of the contract price obtained by the City Council on a tender for last year he would not have written as he has done. " Light " adds : " Our correspondent is not very complimentary to our leading firms here when he thinks they are not competent nor .ible to supply a qnantity like that now aked for."

The fee paid for permits to buy ammuniiou in the North Island has been abolished. Che permits themselves will probably also Oβ abolished by means of regulations for that purpose shortly, as the existing law is no longer necessary, and, besides that, it cannot be enforced without ineeuant prosecutions of the natives and others. The following telegram wag received from the mine manager of the New Prince Imperial Gold Mining Company: "B3nk'edsix hundred and twenty ounces retorted gold." The Melbourne Argus'is inclined to think that the object of Tawhiao's visit to England MS some reference to the right to shoot surveyors in the native country without any reservation of a close season. The annual examination of the Dunedin Hebrew Sohool took place on April 20. The teachers are Key. B. Lichtenstein, and honorary assistants Misses Liohtenatein, P. Moses; L. Cohen, and Master E. Isaacs. The members of the Ponsonby Social Union will hold their first gathering this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, Ponaonby. Aβ this is the first dance of the season' in connection with this union, there: is little doubt that there will be a large attendance of its members.

Mr. Binstead, sen., of Richmond, writing respecting the inefficiency of the present fire-alarm system, makes the following suggestion :—"lt has struck me that a method can be adopted in conjunction with the alarm, and bells which wonld at once indicate the position and commencement of a fire by means of a rocket or rockets made expressly for the purpose with a bursting charge in the form of a cross or letter T, to be used only in the case of fire. A by-law could be passed making it punishable for any person using them except for the purpose they are intended; each householder to be supplied by at least two. The insurance companies would doubtless furnish them gratis, with printed instructions for their use." On Tuesday evening the members, of the various Bands of Hope in town met for the purpose of practising the pieces to-be sung at the annual gathering on the Qneen's Birthday. There was a very good attendance, and the younger ones especially entered thoroughly into the learning of the exercise songs. We are requested to state that no reheareal tickets will be issued after next Tuesday's practice, so that societies not yet represented should take steps to send their members to- the Newton Congregational School at half-past seven on that evening.

Messrs. K. H. Bartlett: and Co., photographers, have just Completed a series of portraits, handsomely framed, of the various Vioe-Presidento, . etc., of the "Auckland Savings Bank, to: be placed in the Board-room of the new . premises. The names comprise those of the late Messrs. W. C.3 Wilson,. Richard Ridings, Arch. Clark, W. Rattray, Alex. Shepherd, David Graham, Dr. Sinolair..: Of those atpreeent -connected .with the inatitution we note Dr. Campbell, Captain Daldy, Messrs. David Nathan, James Boy lan, and James Dilworth

A Synod of the Catholic clergy of tie diocese is to commence to-day, and tke proceedings will be of considerable interest to Roman Catholics. generally, as.it is the first ever held in the diocese of Auckland. The Synod ia composed exclusively of clergymen, and the proceedings will not be open to the public. Mass is to be celebrated at nine o'clock in St. Patrick's Cathedral, after whioh the Synod, presided over by Biahop Luck, will commence its sitting/ Should nothing intervene to interfere with his present intentions, Bishop Luok will leave Auckland on his home trip on Monday by the steamer whioh leaves for Sydney. '

The business of the New Zealand and Intercolonial News and Advertising Agency, which has been for some time past conducted by Mr. W. S. Pulford, is to be carried on -in future by Mr. J. H. Withe, ford. For a number of years. Mr. Witheford has beon connected with the Press in Auckland, and for upwards of three years he conducted the Coromaadel Mail. He has, therefore, that extent of special training which such a business requires, and nnder his management the agency established by Mr. Pulford. is likely to be considerably extended. The business will be conducted in the old offices, Shortland-streot. Letters of naturalisation have been isened to Anton Hoboltb, bookseller, Auckland ; to Theodor Reinhold Preuss, clerk, Mercury Bay ;. and to Dack Wood, gardener, Auckland. . . Some singular circumstances. have come to light in connection with the recent fire in Victoria-street West. By some bungling a fire-plug cover has been placed over the valve at the corner of Nelson-street, the consequence was that on the night of the fire the Brigade, misled by the cover, lost time in opening it, and on finding a valve underneath, were obliged to go lower down the street, and seek for a fireplug to which to attach the hydrant. A more peculiar incident remains behind. At half-past five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, Superintendent Hughes, in passing this particular cover, noticed that a piece of wood had been whittled down to a wedge-like shape; and driven home at the edge of the cover, so as to make it difficult to move it. Mr. Hughes removed this wedge, arid left the cover ready for use. When the Bremen examined the cover on the Sunday night, it was again jammed tight with a fresh wooden wedge, the person doing so being apparently under the impression that a fire-plug was underneath, and that be was rendering it unfit for service. This matter should be sifted to the bottom, and the offence sheeted home to the author of this dastardly triok.

A little while ago Captain Graham, and Mrs. Lieutenant Graham, of the Salvation Army, held meetings in connection with their mission at Otahuhu. They succeeded in reclaiming a goodly number, whose subsequent conduct haa proved their sincerity of their change of life. Healing that Captain and Mrs. • Graham were to leave this station shortly, a number of Christian sympathisers of various denominations, and the converts alluded to, got up a tea-meeting by way of farewell in the Public Hall. The trays were all given by friends in and around Otahuhu, and the proceeds of the tea (£ls), to whiob. 300 sat down, were devoted to the Auckland Barracks Building Fund. The Salvation Army Brase Baod went oat to the settlement, and leveral other soldiers. The meeting was led by Staff-Captain Wright. Several persons "testified" on the occasion. Mrs. Dorman (American Evangelist), Captain Graham and Mrs. Graham, gave short addresses. Nearly a dozen names were given in for enrolment as "soldiers." There is in the window at Lennox's, in Queen-street, a portrait of the olever little pianist, Miss Clarice Brabazon, ten years of age, whose concert is announced for the 12th instant, at the Theatre Royal, under the conductorship of Mr. Pooley. ■ Mr. Thomas Spurgeon will. deliver a lecture this evening in St. James's Hall entitled " The Truth, the Whole Truth,. and Nothing bnt the Truth," and in whioh the lecturer will treat instructively and humourously of lying, equivocation, exaggeration, gossip, flattery,' boasting, etc.' As this will be the last occasion on which the public will hear Mr. Spurgeon, prior to his departure for England, no doubt there will be a large attendance. The proceeds willbe in aid of the Tabernacle Building fund. A meeting of Gavin Weir's creditors was held yesterday, for the purpose ~ of" considering an ofter by Mrs. Weir (made through her solicitors) to pay 10s in the £, and the Official Assignees' expenses, upon condition of releasing the bankrupt's reversionary interest in the British Hotel, Queen-atyeet, from distribution under, the Bankruptcy Act. The ! offer was accepted with the condition that the expenses of proceedings in bankruptcy should be paid.

The annual meeting of the Society for The Prevention of Crnelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon in the Theatre Royal, His Excellency the Governor presiding. The proceedings were of an interesting character, although the attendance was not very large. The proceedings are reported in another column. The adjourned meeting of delegates from the various Friendly Societies in Auckland, will be held in the Cook-street Hall tomorrow, for the purpose of considering the report of the sub-committee. All persons interested in the operation of the Friendly Societies Act, and the system of valuation adopted by the valuers under the Act, are invited to attend. Woodyear's Electric Circus Company have returned to Auckland, having completed their New Zealand season by a week's excellent business at the Thames. Mr. Woodyear's many friends and* the amusementgoing public generally will be pleased to know that this popular proprietor's venture, .has been a great financial success. Mr, Woodyear's home is in Auckland. It was hqpe that he organised his last company and started the show, and it may fairly be claimed to be a local concern. Few people have aay idea Gf the amount of capital involved in the maintenance and working of a circus of the proportions of the Electric. The performers and others connected with the establishment will now take a brief holiday preparatory to proceeding to Australia. If arrangements can be made the management will erect the tent on Saturday next to give a well-earned benefit to the young and promising Jack Cousins, "the colonial rider." Mr. Love proceeded to Australia, per the Wairarapa, to arrange for the company's advent; and Mr. Jones goes to America by next steamer to look for novelties for next season. , .. .

There was a large attendance at the Opera House last night to witness the third performance of "The Lights o' London." This new and popular drama will be repeated tonight. - A gentleman in London, writing to a m«rohant in Auckland on the 29 th of January last, makes the following reference to the position ■of Auckland when the Panama Canal is cut. He says :—" Lesseps says (and he is a most accurate man) the Panama Canal will be opened in four years' time. Then Auckland must try to get the Panama Canal Australasian steamers to run direct for Auckland, and pass out west to Australia, via Manukau. This _ gives a' "straight line.- If Auckland should succeed in this, there is a prospect of Auckland becoming a vaet city ; at any rate, it is worth the trial." After referring to the class of vessels sent to the colony by Shaw Savill and Co., he says :—"This is just the difference with the New Zealand Steamship Company. They do the correct and strictly modern thing, but their drawback at present is, they are Canterburioniaus, or Centralists, that is as far as Auckland itself is concerned. But this will be altered on the opening of the Panama Canal, Auckland being striotly en route to Australia, that is if you can pass.through the Manukau. But notwithstanding the New Zealand S.S. Company's present programme, I think it is better to have this small portion of the sweet loaf than the S.S. Company's stale and soiled cruets. The opening of the Panama Canal will place in the bands of Auckland an unquestionable choice; id I hope you will not be haety in making a mail contraot for ten knots. Such will be the competition with fast steamers thitt yon will almost get your mails carried for a nominal sum. It appears to me that Auckland is now putting on the proper amount of eteam which will be the making of her. Hitherto she has been touched with two very bad complaints in these go-ahead times, and they are disunion and over-modeety. The ball is now at her feet and near the goal; will she avail herself of the opportunity ?". .

The following is the report; of the Auok- • land Lunatic .-isylum for the week endingApril 26, 1884 :—Remaining last week, 296; admitted since, 2 ; discharged, 1; died, 1 ; remaining, 199 males 97 females; total, 296.

New Guinea has jest witnessed the completion of a large .new church, which though described as utterly devoid of beauty, and belonging to an unknown architectural order, ia noteworthy as the first plastered chnrch in New Guinea. ■ It is 70 feet long by 25 feet broad. It was filled on the morning of the opening service. About 400 were present, and they were quiet and attentive. -

A novel institution in the shape of a ladies' club has been opened in Melbourne. The. promoters of the clu.b—several of whioh have been successfully establithed in English cities—offer their patrons a reading-room, materials for correspondence, the use of umbrellas when required, a cloak and parcel room, and facilities for the ' despatch of messages, together with ' many minor conveniences not obtainable at an ordinary restaurant. In a neatly famished dining-room refreshments will be served every day between the faonrs of twelve and two o'clock, a menu being furnished after the style of the cafe's or coffee palaces. Another special inducement to ladies with household responsibilities is an arrangement with the leading registry offices by which domestic servants of proved capacity will be furnished when required. A house and land agency has been established in the same way. There are other benefits that will accrue to members, and as the entrance fee is only a nominal one of 5s per quarter, tho ladies' olub • will probably meet with general appreciation. '

Recently in the gymnasium of the New York Athletic Club, from a board floor, Mr. W. Ford undertook to beat the American amateur record at three standing long jumps and etanding hop, . step, and jump. He' took sue attempts at th« jumping, but failed to beat the record, 32 feet 4 inches, by Larkin, on Jnne 17, 1878.. His longest distance was 31 feet 7J inches. He was successful ia beating the standing hop, step, and jump record, clearing in his first attempt 28 feet 3£ inches, which is two inches better than the previous record. Subsequently Ford made five attempts, three of whioh were measured, viz., 29 feet 3 inches, 29 feet 5 inches, and 30 feet S inches; but in these trials he was allowed to start from both feet, instead of one foot. The 30 feet 8 inches performance,, however, is the beet ever made by sa amateur with the two-feet start.

After repeated paragraphs abont the purposed opening of the new formed extension of the railway from Kawakawa to Russell, again and again deferred, at last it is un fait accompli, and withoutany of the long talked of ceremonies, public holiday, &c. On Monday, the 7th inat,, it was quietly opened for the publio use and general traffic. Although this extension of the line is a great boon to Kawakawa and the travelling public, doing away with the very vexatious delays of a tidal river, steamer, and the weary pull up river when the steamer was unavailable the owing to the state of the tide, atill there ia a far greater advantage to be looked for in the step this event makes towards the opening up of the interior, and the probability of a farther extension of the line both across the Island to Hokianga, where there are the finest forests and almost inexhaustible stores , of timber still in the hands of the Government. These only require the railroad as a means to open up a magnificent trade, and to give employment to hundreds, besides making available the fine land for settlement. If the line were continued in a southerly direction to tap the. Puhnpuhu foreits, also in the hands of the Government, a great impetus wohld be given to the development .of the internal trade in this diatriot. It might also be extended so as to meet the Kamo line to Whangarei, and so touch on the different new formed settlements along that route. I allude more particularly to the Homestead Settlement of the Rnapekapoka, which, though oommenoed and settled on over ten years, is now being more extended. Two parties of surveyors have; been for some months past at work there preparing lota for eeleotion and for sale, according to the demand for them in that locality. There is, however, a great demand here for a road through these holdings, and great anxiety and constant complaints that the promisee made by, the Government to the old settlers still remain unfulfilled, and though fresh sections are constantly being taken np and new surveyed lots sold by the Government, the long promised road is still left in abeyance, and the urgent demands of the settlers unheeded. It is to be hoped that the action now taken by the Government in working the Kawakawa and Newport line will be an inducement to. them to remember all their promises to settlers, and thus open feeders to the railway now under their immediate control. — [Own Correspondent, April 7.] ■

The Auckland Wkbbxt Nws, the largest, but, and most readable family journal in the coloay, will consist this week of forty pages. Beside being admirably illustrated, it Iβ characterised by the fulness of its intelligence and the variety of its corntents. Its agricultural articles ore carefully written, its country, colonial, English, and foreign news full and well selected, and its literary matter both interesting and edifying. It publishes eaoh week sermons by the most prominent preachers of the age, serial tales by the ablest authors of the day, special articles on general topics by well informed writers, entertaining letters from it«_ corres'pondents in America and England, and a large variety of Instructive matter. As « weekly newspaper asd family journal, the News is without an equal. This week the News will contain a portrait of Genera Qraham, who was in command of the British* troops In the Eastern Soudan, during the recent operations against Osman Dlgna, and of El Mahdi, from a sketch taken In Kordofan. It is said to be a faithful likesess of the victorious rebel.

To-day at eleven o'clock Messrs. E. and A. Isaacs will hold a large sale of ship's stores, after vrhleh a sale of wines, etc., belonging to the estate of Mr. Lionel Phillips will take dice. In Mr. TMlUp's estate the goods will be sold without reserve. A number of nre and thief-proof safes will also be submitted by Messrs. E. and A. Isaacs.