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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7008, 3 May 1884, Page 5

The proposed Egyptian Conference is not progressing very smoothly. France has raised some objections about which we are likely to hear a good deal more by-and-by. She is willing enough to join the Conference, bat she object* to the limit assigned by the British Government for the deliberations of the Conference. Turkey, always dilatory and behindhand, has not yet deigned to reply to Mr. Gladstone's proposal. It is perhaps only natural that she should regard with suspicion this late&t application of the European concert to what she still looks on as part of her territory. She has had a bitter experience of, European Conferences. They have always ended in making her poorer, and curtailing the limits of her dominion. All the other European Powers have consented to the Conference. This, of course, was to be expected. Tney all want to sit in judgment on the conduct of Eogland in Egypt.

, The dynataitards bare changed the scene of their operations from .London to Toronto. They?are now at their nefarions work in that city, and according to a cablo message from there have attempted to destry the Parliament Buildings. A number of powerful dynamite cartridges, with fuses attached and ready.for firing,-were found in tbe basement of the'bail ding. Happily the- discovery waa made in time to avert the intended catastrophe. The affair, as may readily be believed, has caused intense excitement in Toronto. No clue, however, to the identity, of the guilty parties has been obtained.

One of our cable messages to-day states that the House of Commons have rejected a Bill to legalise the cremation of dead bodies —human bodies, we presume. But according to Mr. Justice Stephen there is no doubt of the legality of. human cremation. Ac the trial recently of an eccentric Welsh doctor, who had burnt a child's body, the Judge declared there was no. law against human cremation "If effected without nuisance to othzre." If this view of the law is correct, the necessity for the Bill referred' to in our" cable message is not quite clear. .There is a Cremation Society in existence in England, and they have a crematory at Wofcing. Hitherto, however, they have cremated nothing more sensational than the carcases of sheep and other animals. Sir-George Grey w*s a passenger for Ljtteltdn by the s.s. Manapoari yesterday. The committee of the Ponsonby Regatta Club held a. special" meeting yesterday, when it was decided to withhold any action as to the disputed whaleboat race for a few days. .. . .. . -. \.. ■ It would appear/ in spite of the' repeated refusal of the- Government to consent to. the despatchof a-British force into the. interior of the Soudan to relieve the besieged garrisons, that such a step is actually in contemplation. Papers laid before Parliament disclose the fact that some ten days ago Earl Granville wrote a, despatch to Genesal Gordon instructing him to state what force would be required to relieve Khartoum and the other Egyptian garrisons in the Soudan. ' The following is the : state of the District' Hospital for the week ending 2nd May :— Remained last state, 88;'. admitted since, 17 ; discharged since, 9 ; died since, 2 ; remaining, 72' males j22 females; total, 94 ; out-patients, 15. ■ : - ■■ .."'". The detailed report of the coroner's inquest on,: the body of Patrick* Moran, at Mount Eden Gaol, will be found in oar sixth page.' Some of the : statements given in evidence demand the attention of the Hospital Committee. .-, i :,»'.c". ..; : .. ; The Messrs. Bycroft and Co., of; the City Flour Mills, and the ■: well-known fancy: biicuit manufacturers of this city, have made' still further improvements in their Oeborne fancy biscuit, as. well as many,other : kinds. Their trade in this class 'of fancy biscuit, as well_as.,inpther;classea,;with v the southern provinces, has'quadrupled" daring .the past four years, :. , ..

• The steamship British; King,'.'of the New Zealand Shipping Oo.'s line, came into harbour at about twelve o'clook last night from London, bringing a large number of immigrants and a general .cargo..- ,Upbn : tbe arrival of the vessel, there being no appearance of the Health or Immigration Officer, Captain Sainty, the pilot in charge,'decided to anchor the vessel in the stream. Wβ presume the vessel will be visited early this morning by the officers named. From Capt. Kelly we learn that the' immigrants have arrived in good health, and that, only one death (that of an infant) occurred during the passage. The vessel is to be berthed at the Queen-street Wharf about ten o'clock this morning, j Consignees are desired to at once pass entries and obtain delivery orders for their goods. '

Two Highway Board elections take place to-day, one at Birkenhead, and the other at Archhill. The hours of voting are from nine o'clock a.m. to six o'clock p.m., and the polling place, Zion Chapel. At Birkenhead the following are nominated (three to be returned): -Messrs. Henry J. Hawkins,. James Muir, Jonathan Picturing, John Kendall, Wm. Stevenson, Wβ. Thompson. At Archhill, Messrs. John Boyes, George Chilton, and Alex. Edger are nominated. Only two are to be returned. The place of Toting is Newton West school-room. •

The following notices of motion have been given at the City Council offices for next night of meeting:—Mr. Mackeclinie to move, " That Mr. Devore's name be added to the Drainage Committee." Mr. Aickin to move, "That the question of the better lighting of Lower Queen-street and its immediate vicinity be referred to the Engineer "to report upon." Mr. Mackechnie to move, " That an additional gas lamp be erected in Kyber Pass-rosd, near to the residence of Mrs. ConnelU" Mr. Thompson to move, " That the Financial Committee be instructed to enquire into and report on the following, namely :—The works • already completed or in course of construction in each of the wards of the city, and all expenses incurred in connection therewith, fairly chargeable against the portion of the loan allocated to such wards."

The fire at ■ ArehhiU reported in our yesterday's ieeue, proved to be at the stables of the night-soil contractor (Mr. S. White), and situate a little below th« Chinamen's gardens, Archhill. A man, uamed Taylor, in charge of the stables, and who sleeps in a hnuse adjacent, was awoke about two o'clock a.m. by the noise made by the horses, and on getting up eiw that toe •tables were_on fire. He roused up Mr. White and his son, who lived a ehort distance away, and they proceeded to get the horses and drays out, one of the' former being badly singed aod scorched. The supply of water being limited, little could bp doue to arrest the fire, and soon the premised were burned down. The buildinga, which were fitted for fourteen stalls, and harness, were insured for £140 in the London and Lancashire, but the loss over insurance will be £250, as in addition to tho new stalls, £40 worth of horse feed and a number of sets of harness have been destroyed, and some of the drays more or less dameged. Captain Field and a detachment, of the Salvage Corps went out, but too late to be of service. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire. None of the workmen had been in the stables for three hours previous to the outbreak.

We understand that a petition in regard to the seizure of the Gazelle, to be presented to the House of Representatives at the forthcoming session, is now in coarse of preparation, and will be ready for signature in a few days. We have no doubt, seeing the manifest unfairness with which Mr. Ellis has been treated, that it will be signed by everyone engaged in mercantile pursuits. Our opinion of this matter has been already placed very clearly before the public, and we see no reason to alter it.

• The contractors for laying the street tramIways are now busy in Customs-street West, where they are making rapid progress, having already laid the chairs and rails and opened the trenches to Hobson-street. In this street the work is of a temporary nature. The rails and chairs are not being imbedded in cement as in the other streets, the reason being that the street has to bo raised several feet to its proper level, and when this is done the rails will also be raised and properly bedded. ..'.'.

The weekly meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday. There was a large number of applications'for "aids" in various forma to various schools. It was resolved to rent the Sunday-school room of the Primitive Methodists in Franklin-road as additional accommodation for the city; also to admit 50 additional' children to Weliesley-street School. The principal matters diacassed were the contention from the Ararimu district re a' second school. It was agreed to divide the district. The next in order was the " relations" of Mr. Talbot to the head-master of Grafton-road. A letter was read from Mr. Talbot, which it was agreed should not be received. The proceedings of the meeting are reported in another column. . .

The case of Frederick Thomas.Hayle, adjudicated a bankrnpt on Thursday, ou .the petition of a creditor, Henry Hodge (£63), is curious. The debtor "levanted" by the barque Lnttertvorth, which sailed for England towards the end of last month. Mr. Sandall, a batcher, clamed everything in the bankrupt "estate a3 having been assigned to htm. The petitioning creditor is a relative of the bankrupt, and produced letters confirming his act of bankruptcy in runniDg away. The purport of these letters was that the bankrupt bad no money with him, and he begged for a little to keep him for a while alter his arrival in London.

TheanDual meeting of tbe ratepayers Of the Archhill Highway District was held at the Newton West School-room laet evening. There was a good attendance. Mr. G-. Chilton (Chairman of the Road Board) occupied the. choir. The Secretary (Mr. J. H. Jouning) read the statement of Accounts, which showed that tbe receipts had been £319 93 9d, and the expenditure £293 2s 9d, leaving a balance of £26 7s. Mr. J.' Jen Ida moved, and Mr. A. JUdger seconded. , the adoption of the balance-sheet. The Chairman invited any ratepayer to make any remarks he detired on the statement of accounts or any relevant matter, but there being no response, the balancesheet was put and carried unanimously. The Chairman was glad that the outgoing Board had performed its duties so satisfactorily, to the ratepayers, as was indicated by' the unanimous approval of the expenditure during the year. Iα reply to a question by Mr. Jenkins, the Chairman said that contributions had been made for repairs to the Great North-road, although a resolution had been passed last year stating that this-should not be done. The reason was this ; that an application had been made for the road to be pat on the schedule of main roads, but Mr. A. Porter, who was in Wellington on other business at the time the Bill was passing, got the word " New" put in before the words "North Road, Auckland to Wbaii,. seven milea." The Highway Board had applied to have the old North-road declared a main road, but the Government had declined to do so. A deputation had waited on the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson recently, and urged upon him the desirableness of making the road a main road. It was still hoped that this would be done. A short and amicable discussion took place on several roads in the district, and the meeting terminated. The eleotion of the incoming Board will take place to-day, at the Newton West school-room.

There was a rather animated discussioD a the Education Board yesterday in respect to a'somewhat gnrious error. Mr. Cbappell contracted per schedule for certain ' domestic implements, and his contract was accepted, 'except* "for Indian clnbs and poles." His price was 3a 6d for Indian clubs. 'But.the New Zealand Timber Company's tender for these articles was just half the price, and their tender was accepted. Nevertheless,' orders were continued to Chapell, who thought he had got the whole contract. ! He laid in a large stock of the necessary kind of wood. He had supplied 200 pairs of clubs, but 500 paire'were leffcon his hands, and the timber he bad bought. Mr. D. Goldie'eaid the error must have occasioned great loss to the parties, as well as a lose of £19 to the Board. The matter was referred to a committee,to report upon. ... ■ , The Auckland Tobacco Company have begun work in their new premises in. Fort;* street. The carpenters. are still employer! oh the premises, but work has begun,'and the various tradesmen are expected to have the work finished early next week;: ; ' In the month of April 149 births were registered in the district, 92 being in the borough. Ninety-one deaths were registered, 5t being, in the. borough,* of which 22 were irifants under one year. Sixty-one marriage certificates were taken out, 22 for solemnisation in the Registrar's Office. •. ... V

A meeting of delegates of the Friendly Societies. was held last night, to receive the report of the sub-committee appointed previously to report on what, alterations were required in the Friendly Societies Act. A detailed report of the meeting is published in another portion of this issue. . ./..

: A prosecution was instituted at the Police Courtr yesterday, • against Mr." Thomas Macffarlane, agent for the Official Trustee, for a breach of the Pnblio Health Act by causing clothing which had belonged to a man who had' died of typhoid fever to be removed to Queen-street without having them disinfected. The proceedings were instituted by the City Council as the local Board of Health, for whom Mr. Cotter appeared. The chief evidence was that of Mr. Macffarlane himself, who volunteered to give evidence. It appeared that in March last a. man named Cook died of typhoid fever, and not having made a will, Mrs. Cook and her solicitor waited on Mr. Maeffarlane in his official capacity to realise the estate. Mr. Macffarlane was not informed of the cause of Cook's deathi and arranged to have the'household effects and clothing sold at Cochrane's auction mart. This was done nearly a month after Cook's death, and some of deceased's clothing was bought by a man named Paul, who snbsequently learned that the man to whom they had belonged had died of typhoid fever. He became greatly alarmed, and at once gave information to Mr. D. Goldie, the officer oE the local Board of Health, by whose instructions he burnt the clothing and procured disinfectants. Mr. Cotter, after the Bench had heard the- statements of Mr. Macffarlane and Mr. Paul, asked leave to' withdraw the charge, as there could be no conviction against Air. Macffarlane, who had acted in his official capacity, and in entire ignorance of the fact that deceased died from typhoid fever, but hoped the object of the prosecution would be gained by making it known that auch a clause existed in the Act. The section had a very wide bearing, and is applicable to persons vho may carelessly transgress. The following is the section of the Public Health Act, 1576, under which the prosecution was laid :— Sub-section 3, section 31 : " Any person who gives, lends, sells, or transmits, or exposes, without previous disinfection, any bedding, clothing, rags, or other things which have been exposed to infection from any such disorder, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5."

The monthly meeting of the Mount Eden Domain Board was held yesterday morning, in the City Council office, at eleven o'clockPresent : Mr. T. Thompson (in the chair), Jlis Worship the Mayor of Auckland, and Messrs. Bridgeman, Harper, Lawry, and Potter. The ordinary accounts were pre»ented, and unanimously passed. Mr. R. TJdy was, by the unanimous vote of the Board, selected as I the successor to Mr. G. B. Owen, who has resigned, and this recommendation will at once be forwarded for the approval of the Government. The Chairman of the Epsom Road Board thought that it would have been better to have a gentleman more entirely an Epsom man, bat so satisfied was he of the desire of the present Board .to administer the affairs of the Board with justice to all concerned, that he readily accepted Mr. Udy, from feelings altogether apart from the knowledge that he would attend to the duties of the Board, and aid it in its course of rectitude and justice. He further stated that the Epsom people had been remarkably apathetic in the tion of their great interest in this magnificent Domain, and if they were not represented by a gentleman resident on the south-east side' of the mountain, they were themselves in a great measure to blame. It was resolved that the Chairman and Mr. Potter be authorised to interview the Waste Lands Board with a view of. obtaining control under the Domains Act of a small section of waste land at the corner of the Mount Eden and Windmill Roads. It was stated that if this land becomes vested in the Domain Board, it can be mnch more effectually dealt with than by the Road Board. If this is obtained, as indicated, the Domain Board will at once take steps to improve and beautify the place. The Chairman and Messrs. Potter and Bridgeman were duly authorised to effect certain works in the matter of footpaths, fencing, planting, and other matters generally needed on the Domain. .It was also resolved that a letter be sent to the Bank of New Zealand, stating that the Chairman was again authorised to sign cheques, which; since his accident, has been kindly done by His Worship the" Mayor. This was all the business, aad ths Board adjourned hi the usual way.

The football matches to-day will be played in the large paddock in the Domain, not in the cricket ground. The Epsom Road Board met in Mi , . W. S. Cochrane's office yesterday afternoon at three . o'olock. There was a.. full meeting. Mr. Dinnison, Clerk of the Board, declared the late election for two members, which, resulted in the unopposed return of Messrs, fltather and Lawry. Mr. Lawry was unani-. mouely re-elected Chairman of theßoard. The Chairman, in thanking the members, stated that he should not have accepted the honour conferred on him only that be felt that the business engagements of the 'other members (they being all city men) would prevent them from representing the Board and the' people of Epsom on the Mount Eden Domain Board, of which tho Epsom Road Board Chairman is an ex officio member. He also said that during the eight years he had been a member of the Epsom Board there had not been one cross vote or a discordant word. Neither bad there been a complaint received.relative to the administration of the work of the as one result of the satisfaction given to all parties, there had been dnring that time no contested election, and he thanked the members sinoerely for so largely aiding in producing such a satisfactory state of things. On resuming the businees, the widening of. certain: portions of the. Windmill-road was considered, and it was resolved to have the dangerous places widened. The defaulters were to be notified that unless their rates were at once paid legal proceedings would be taken, and where no notice of appli cation made for rates had been-taken, that proceedings be instituted at once for their vecovery. It was resolved to hold the annual meeting of ratepayers on Tuesday next, in tho Epsom Ball, at eight o'clock, or one hour after the advertised time of holding the meeting of the One Tree' Hill ratepayers. It was announced that Mr. Baber would have the plans and- specifications ready for the Quarry-road in a few days, and then tenders for the work would be duly advertised for. It was resolved to ask the Government to assist the ' Board to extend the foot-path, along tho main road from its present termination at Mr. Browning's gate to the southern boundary of the district. •

We understand that Mr. W. S. Pulford was obliged to resign the business of the New Zealand and Intercolonial News and Advertising Agency, owing to ill-health. He has not yet wholly recovered from the effectsjof Professor Payne's experiments. The New Zealand Tobacco and Cigar Manufacturing Company commenced . operations yesterday in the four-storey store and brick building formerly occupied by Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Beach-road. Mr. Volbracht is the manager. Accommodation is being provided for 40 hand*, and when the machinery by the British Kint; is erected,.the employ6s will be increased to 50. About a dozen hands are at present engaged, .. A grand vocal and instrumental concert, under, the management of Miss Sbanagban, will be given in the Theatre Royal, on Tuesday next. The object of the conoert is to raise funds for a bazaar in aid' of St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby. "We understand a deputation of the Gospel Temperance Missi' Blue Ribbon Army, consisting of the Rev. W. S.: Potter, Mr. F. A. White, Mr. J. Knott, and Mr. A. Cor (Secretary) will proceed to Kaipara on Monday next for a week's mission, taking Helensville, Pahi, Paparoa, Maungaturoto, Mangawai, and Otamatea. - * We have to acknowledge receipt of Mr. Cecil Gardner's Auckland Penny Time-Table and. North New Zealand. Guide. for ' the month of May.. .The various time-tables are correoted up to date, and other useful information furnished of service to .the traveller and the tourist. •.-.■*. The shooting season opened on the Isti ; According to all accounts the birds are shy and scarce, • and few '' bags" have been made. The supply of pheasants, to the poulterers and butchers has been very limited. ' ' '■ ■ : •'■'■' ■'■•*•' - On Tuesday next, a literary entertainment will be given in St. Sepulchre's school-room, in aid of the Benevolent Society. Dr. J. F. Wanstall will reeite "Enoch Arden." •The,average yieldof wheat in the Queenstown 'district will - be the best ■■ever. experienced there, . .; . r

I The foundation stone;.of '.the Roman Catholic ' Cathedral, Wyndham-street, adjoining the present pro-cathedral, will be laid to-morrow (Sunday). by Bishop Luck at three o|clock.':' Tbe clergy, of- the district who are in Auckland attending the Synod will take part in- the ceremony. A large gathering ia expected. :- ... We understand that Mr. Frank ■ Lawry has been asked to stand at next eleotion for the ' district"- of Franklin - North," but has' positively declined. . ■ . ~- ' ~ <- Mr. Albin Villeval's late concert,for the benefit of Madame Duquesne, realised £46 lie 6d net, which sum has been placed in the Auckland Savings Bank tocher credit, to-be used as required. He takes this opportunity to thank-all who aided in making the concert an artistic and financial success. -

The Auckland ■ Weekly News, the lurgeat, best, and moat readable family journal In the colony, will consist this week of forty pages. Besides being admirably Illustrated, it Is characterised by the fulness ot Us invelligence and the variety of its contents. Its agricultural articles are carefully written, its country, colonial, English, and foreign news fall and well selected, and its literary' nutter both interesting'and edifying. It publishes each ■ 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 its correspondents in America and England, and a large variety of instructive matter. As a weekly newapaper and familr. journal, the News is without an equal. This week the News will contain a portrait of General Graham, who was in command of the British troops In the Kastern Soudan, during the recent operations 'against Osman TMgna, and of -El Mahdi, from a sketch taken in Kordofan. It is said to be a faithful likeness of the victorious rebel. :

The following list of tenders were received by Messrs. Mahoney and Sons, architect*, for the erection of the sew Shamrock Hotel, Welleiley-iitrett: —J. J. Holland. £3920 ; BaU'ion and Stephenson, £3900: C. Rhodes, £3850 ; W. Blewden. £3800 ; T. Colebrook, £3797 ; J. W. Jones,' £3666 ; H. Shailer, £3657; McConachie and Son, £3800 ; A. Pollard, £3586 : W. Phtlcox, £3548 ; E. J. Matthews. £3<BO. Mr. Matthews' tonder was accepted. Contract time, seven months. ■ . We beg to draw the attention of business men, investors, etc., to Mr. Arthur's advertisement announoing the sale, next Thursday, at noon, of two valuable freehold business sites, 'acing the grand Queen-street Junction. An this property must increase greatly in value, it is. one. of the soundest investments under offer to the public. It will be seen by an advertisement elsethat Mr. John King has been appointed Secretary to the Auckland Mcensed Victuallers' Association. The following tenders were received by Mr. Holder for Mr. Malcolmson's residence, SelwynBtreet:—J. A. Fetherick, £628; Smith and Rowe, £635; Alderton. £633; A. Martin, £695; Elllngham, £725; Hanson, £735 ; YVrigley and Hancock, £856.8

In this utilitarian age, only that kind of knowledge which -is practical and useful is worth having. What good wonld it do, for instance, if ire could tell to the sixteenth part of an inch how far distant the sun is from the earth ? Wo know that it Is far enough away to make it perfectly safe, yet sufficiently now to benefit and bless us, with its genial influences of light and heat. So it vouid be no irood, oven if we were able to explain the reason why our bacon is so nice and streaky, or why we sell twenty per cent, cheaper than anyone else. We are only anxious therefore to impress the public mind with the fact that it is so, and we feel sure that iheir own good sense and self-interest will load them to make a right application of such knowledge. To-day we shi.ll have the best ebow in Auckland of Canterbury bacon and cheese, and our prices will be: Cheese. 6d per lb.; bacou, 3d and 9d: and tho quality unexcelled by any house in town.—Auckland Provision Company, Right Corner Stall, City Market; A. Bettany, Manager. —[iDVX.]