Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7269, 6 March 1885, Page 4

It will be seen from oar cable memget this morning that Russia has stopped for the present her march for India. The Ameer of Afghanistan, Abdurrahman Khan, who wu formerly for many years the recipient of a pension from the Russian Government, ii about to visit the Indian Viceroy. Hit j reception is intended to be very impeding, and some twenty thousand troops will take p3rt in it. Many of th» native troops are volunteering for service in the Soudan. Some of the reinforcements have arrived at Suakim. A battle is expected to take place in the neighbourhood in the course of the next fortnight. Lord Woleeley, whose eyes are affected, is ex. pected to return to Cairo. The British army is to be increased by 15,000 men. Telegraphic communication was ajjaiu interrupted lass night. For stations from Oamaru southward the Auckland Telegraph Department refused messages in the evening, while between iSapier and Wellington, owing to contacts, only one wire was available. About 400 persons were waiting outside our publishing office last night, in order to learn the result of the Australian Cup. Owing to telegraphic interruptions, the message was somewhat delayed. Mr. Norman Wilson's Ringwood proved to be the winner. It will be seen from a telegram elsewhere from Wellington that Dr. Tennent has bees removed from the offioe of coroner. Lait session of the General .assembly a resolution was passed that it was not desirable that members of the medical profession in practice should held the office of coroner. In accordance with this resolution, the Government communicated with both Dr. Philson and Dr. Tennent. The reply of both gentlemen, we understand, was that they were not in "full practice ;" therefore they did not feel called upon to resign, but left the Government to take what action they thougkt fit. Seeing that the explanation of both gentlemen was identical in terms, it seems tomewhat of a mystery that the one is removed and the other left alone. A coroner's inquest was held yesterday at the Star Hotel, Newton, before Dr. Philion, Coroner, on the body of the late Mr. William McKinstry, commission agent, who committed suicide on the previous evening in * gully on the Surrey Hills estate. The evidence of Dr. Bayntun, who had been medical attendant of deceased for eighteen yean, and his son* William McKinstry, jud., went to show that for the past week or so he had not been of sane mind. He had suffered from depression of spirits, caused by illhealth, more particularly indigestion, and had had scarcely any sleep for the past we?L Mr. McKinstrey seems to have been under the belief that he was embarrassed, but hie son, in his evidence, emphatically stated that to the best of his belief there was not the slightest foundation for the*e fears. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity. A fire broke out in a small tenement in Rennell-street, Ponionby, occupied by a man named John Connelly, about eleven tfclock yesterday morning. Thanks to the heavy downpour of rain, and to the aeeutance rendered by a number of labourers employed in the formation of College-road, who formed a bucket brigade, and also to other resident in the neighbourhood, the outbreak was kept well under until the arrival of the Ponionby Fire Brigade with their hose, when it wai immediately suppressed. The house, we &re informed, is insured in the South Bntisn. Ofiiee for £70, and the damage done will probably not exceed £20. No one was in tnt house at the time of the fire, Mrs. Connelly having gone away early in the forenoon charring, while Mr. Connelly had not been w the house for an hour previously. The nre appeared to have originated in the corner o! the kitchen near the fireplace, but Mr. Connelly stated he put the fire out beicre leaving, and the condition of the firepi*« showed that the fire did not originate then.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. F. L. Prime and D. G. MacDonneli, J.P.'s, an alleged charge of riolent aseinltoo Mr. G. P. Downes, master of the cutter Annie Eliza, against James Smith, a young nu Q who boarded the cutter about one o'clock en Tuesday morning, was remanded to Monday, as Mr. Downes, who is being treated »t the Hospital for the wound he received on nw head, was unable to appear. The °*f e Cl larceny against Thomas Farrah occupied. tn« Court for a considerable time, and ww tnen adjourned to the afternoon. The Bench m> poeed a fine of 20e and coats, or seven d*y» imprisonment in default.

It was resolved at the meeting of the Otf Council last evening to request the Governor by Order-in-Council to direct that burials n> the Auckland cemetery be discontinued on and after the Ist of January, ISS6. i & " will not, however, wholly close tbe cemetery, for the 76th section of the Cemeteries Act, ISS2, makes certain exceptions in caaes w near relatives,

The monster steam road roller is at being kept constantly employed on the to sonby-road, and will soon have it m «" eo" dition for traffic. It proves, howeV 'V lr perfect terror to horses, and will P roD * th ; e occasion some serious accident betore work is completed. As a case in point, »■ Philson, Coroner, had yesterday » »«* escape of contributing to an inquert we* of holding one. He had just ndden , ap tne Star Hotel. Newton where the on the late Mr. W. McKmstoey was to held, and was in the act of the steam road roller hove in sight, pu« » a thoroughfare to the back of Newton, w it was subsequently captured. ~. committed to the medical testimony of Dre. Coomftnd »t»»

The New Zealand University Senate met »t Government House yeeterday, and were engaged in committee all day considering a scheme for degree* in science. Mr. Samuel Vaile leaves to-day for the Sooth on his lecturing tour in connection ■with railway reform. A public meeting was held at St. James's Hall last evening to welcome the Rev. Charles Murray, lately ordained by the Presbyterian Assembly in Christchurch to labour in the New Hebrides. The attendance was not large. Mr. T. Peacock, M.H.R., presided. The Revs. J. Patereon, of Wellington ; W. Evans, T. Mackenzie Fraeer, R. F. Macnicol, R. Carlick, J. Bruce, and G. B. Monro occupied seats on the platform. The Chairman said the object of the meeting waß twofold, viz., to hear the Rev. Mr. Murray, and for the purpose of obtaining greater interest in and larger support for the missionary work, especially in the New Hebrides Islands, which was specially a misiionary field of the Presbyterian Church. There had been already good results from the mission. Ha believed something liko SOOO natives had been brought within the pale of missionary teaching in the thirteen islands of the sroup. The speaker referred to the baneful influence of adventurers and of the labour traffic, and quoted from letters from the mi«sionaries to the home Government, stating the position of affairs and nraine the annexation of the islands by Great ■Britain Interesting addresses were given Sine - Rev. C. Murray and others. The choir of St. James'e Church was present, and » B »isted in the music. A collection was made in aid of the miesion. Between eleven and twelve o'clock last night a man named Charles Chapman, began making a disturbance at the cab stand, and greatly annoyed the cabmen. Ultimately Constables Henson and Christie came on the scene, aid persuaded him to come up to the lock-up, and argue the point out thete. Intelligence was receired yesterday from Port Albert that the s.s. Durham burst her boiler while going down the river in the morning, and would require to be towed to Helen*ville. Her engineer, Mr. Stuart, is said to have had a narrow escape of being killed. It was intended that she should have taken on the Auckland excursionists from Heleneville to Dargaville for the races, but other arrangements would have to be made. In the Customs revenue returns published yesterday, the amount collected at Auckland should have appeared as £23,312 instead of £13,312. The charge of arson against Madame Valentine, arising out of the fire in Rokebystreet, on Monday morning, comes on for hearing at the Police Court this morning. The police, we understand, have supcecaed a large number of witnesses. A gentleman who arrived from Tairua yesterday informs us that the bush fire in the forest of the Sash and Door Company was still burning fiercely when he left. The rain, however, which fell yesterday may have helped to extinguish it. It is said that about one thousand logs, comprehending about one and a-half million feet of timber, have been consumed, besides the damage done to the dams. The fire is confined to the Tairua side of the range, and has not touched, and is not near, Mr. Blair's bush on the Hikutaia side. It was reported some days ago that two men had been burned, but there has been no confirmation of the rumour.

On Tuesday, the 10th instant, a cheap excursion railway trip will be made to Hendereou. The train leaves Auckland at nine a.m. for Henderson, and leaving there for Auckland at six p.m. Keturn tickets will be issued at 2s and Is 6d, for first and second class respectively. Mr. Hudson, the energetic district traffic manager of the Auckland railways, is determined to educate people to travel by rail instead of by coach and steamboat. He has arranged tor issuing return tickets to Te Aroha and back at a cheap rate, beginning on Monday, the 16th instant. These tickets will be available for one month. The fare charged includes the coach fare from Morrinsville to Te Aroha. The hot baths at Te Aroha, which have been growing in popularity of late, will, no doubt, ensure a large number of visitors to nature's own doctor

The local agent of the Colonial Insurance Company informs ue that the risk of the Colonial on Mr. T. Inglis's premise* expired a- year ago. He believes, however, another company holds a risk on them. Our informant was Mr. Inglis himielf. The directors of the Waiofcahi Gold Mining Company have declared a dividend of 2s 6d per share, which will be payable at Mr. F. A. White's office, on Wednesday next.

We understand it is not improbable that the Rev. H, Driver, who has just returned to the colony, after completing his studies in London, will be appointed to the charge of the Vivian-street Baptist Church, Wellington, in succession to the Rev. J. T. Hinton, who has just severed bis connection. The last mentioned gentleman is about to fill the pulpit of the Baptist Church iu lnvercargill for a few greeks, and will very probably be requested to take permanent charge of the congregation there.

On Wednesday evening Constable Inger, of Port Albert, in virtue of a search warrant, seized a quantity of bottled wine in possession of Alfred Woodcock, near the Port Albert Public Hall. It is alleged he intended to offer the wine for sale illegally. During the show day a surveillance had been kept on Woodcock's movements. He had a horse loaded with two sacks, in which the wine seized, some twenty-seven bottles, was discovered. Alfred Woodcock, sen., and Alfred Woodcock, jun., will be brought up in due course before the local Bench to answer a charge of a breach of the Licensing Act.

The monthly inspection parade of the A Battery of Artillery was held la«t night. There waa a very good muster, and Captain Payne and Lieutenant Geddes were present. Major Shepherd was inspecting officer. After the parade the battery was handed over to Corporal Henderson, who was under examination for the position of Sergeant, and he passed through the ordeal with flying colours. Slightly nervous at commencing, he soon acquired command of the corps, and put them through a course of manual firing and bayonet exercise, in a very creditable manner. He then took command of the detachments in big <?un drill. In this he had not only to give the orders, but had to tell the members' duties and positions on the guns, and this he did correctly. Mr. Henderson went through a Eevere course with credit to himself and satisfaction to the company, and he was complimented by bis officers -at the close ef the parade. The Garrison Band was in attendance, and played a number of selection?, but on account of the weather there was no march, out.

The regular meeting of the Resident Magis trate's Court was held yesterday, and a large number of cases were set down on the cause list. A considerable number were settled out of Court; In a large number of others judgment went by default, and the few cases ■which were defended poßsessed no features of special interest. The proceedings are reported in another column. At the Post Office, Henderson, Mr. Seaman, as Returning Offioer for the Waitemata County, received the following nominations for the Waitakerei Licensing Committee, viz., Messrs. Albert Beethatn, Richard Caatwell, Robert Laurie William Laurie, and Henry William Stebbing, and being only the number required, those gentlemen were f.eclared duly elected ; and at a meeting subsequently held, Mr. Robert Laurie as elected Chairman of Committee for the ensuing year. Mr. J. Newman, Chairman of the City East Licensing Committee, fearing that there i» some misapprehension on the subject, desires us to state that the committee will allow only one bar in each licensed house. Those hotels which have two bars opening into different streets will therefore have to dispense with one. The rainfall in the Thames ranges has been so great as to enable the batteries to be started again. A meeting of the microscopical section of 'he Auckland Institute was held last evening « the Museum buildings, when Mr. Steele, analyst to the New Zealand Sngar Company, exhibited to members the best methods ot mounting objects and a number of objects lor inspection. A. very plea3ant and profitable evening was spent, about twenty member* being present. ", The Adelaide Register estimates that the present season's crop of wheat in the colony of South Australia will be equal to nine bushels nine pounds per acre. This is" a MAT* 8 * yidd . com P«ed with the 24 to 28 buehelfl per acre in New Zealand.

Yesterday Mr. Froude, the historian, and Lord Elphinstone paid a visit to Hja-Lord-ship the Bishop of Auckland (the Right Rev. Dr. Cowie), at Bishop's Court, Parnell. Mr. Froude and Lord Elphinstone leave for the Lakes in a day or two. Sir George Grey will be unable to accompany them, as Mr. Brady, the eminent naturalist, whom he is to meet here, is expected from Samoa on the 10th inst. Lori Macdonald of the Isles, accompanied by Mr. Livingstone, an officer of the 42nd Highlanders, who served in the late Egyptian campaign, but is at present on leave from his regiment, yesterday vieited the Sylvia Park Stud Farm. The heavy showers of yesterday give promise of a change from the dry and sultry weather we have recently been experiencing. They did excellent service in scouring the watercourses, and olearing away the stagnant drainage. At the adjourned meeting of the Onehunga Licensing Committee —present Messrs. A. Dunwoodie (Chairman), C. C. Fleming, and John Bycroft—the application of George Codlln, for a transfer of the license of the Exchange Hotel to James Edward McLennan, was granted; also the application of Eliza Maria Collino, tor a transfer of the license of the Manukau Hotel from the late John Gill Collins to the applicant. As showing the argentiferous value of some of the lodes of the Karangahake district, a chance fragment of quartz recently taken away by a visitor to the Woodstock mine, and privately assayed, yielded silver at the rate of 98ozs. per ton. A meeting of the shareholders of the Otahuhu Public Hall Company (Limited) was held in the Board-room of the hall on Wednesday evening. There were present twelve shareholders, but as it was found that it required thirteen to be present either in person or by proxy, the business could not be formally concluded. The business of the meeting was to authorise the directors to borrow £300 tor improvements and additions to the Otahuhu Public Hall. It has been found for some time past that more accommodation in the way of class rooms was required to meet the wants of the public, and after taking fully a year to think over the question, the directors submitted the above proposition for the approval of the shareholders. Mr. Luke and Mr. Sturges fully explained the proposed alterations and additions, and which met the approval of all those present. The additions and alterations to the present building are estimated to cost £350, and when finished will make the Otahuhu Public Hall one of the; most complete buildings in the provincial district.

The usual annual trip—provided by the Union Steamship Company—to the children of the various charitable institutions came off yesterday, and despite the unfavourable, state of the weather proved a complete success. The Union Company for the purposes of the trip had placed at the disposal of the authorities the fine steamship Te Anau. The following were represented :—Kohimaratna Training School, 69 boys, in charge of Mr. M. Hogan, assisted by Mrs. Hogan and the Misses Hogan, Cbarnock, and Kilpatrick ; Parnell Orphan Home, 23 boys and 9 girls, in charge of Mrs. Scarlett, Miss Biddick, Mr. G. P. Pearce, and Mr. Rawlings ; St. Stephen's Native School, 31 boys, in charge of- Mr. Davis; St. Mary'e Female Orphanage and Industrial School, 72 girli, in charge of the Right Rev. Monsignor Fynes, V.G., assisted by Mrs. Grsgory, Mr. Darby, and Mr. Swete. The younger children were conveyed to and from the steamer in cabs, &c, which were kindly supplied by Messrs W. Crowther, Darby, Coupland, Dignan, and others. In addition to the children (numbering some 200) there were also present on board about 250 of the general public. After a pleasant run Motutapu was reached and without confusion the whole oi the children were landed, and games, &c, were started for the especial amusement of the littlo ones, there being also a liberal supply of refreshments. At the early part of the trip the weather threatened to seriously interfere with the day '8 pleasure, but about two p.m. the nun broke out and for the rest of the time a moat enjoyable day was spent. Shortly before five o'clock the work of re-embarkation commenced, and it was most expeditiously carried out, and by six p.m. the Queen-street Wharf was reached. As the vessel neared her destination the children gave, three cheers for Captain MoGee and his officers. Impey's Band was in atteadauce throughout the day, and added much to the pleasure of the outing. The Ten-mile Bicycle Championship Race will take place in Auckland on April 11. On Tuesday the hon. eec. of the Waitemata Bicycle Club received an intubation from the N.Z. Cyclists' Alliance that Mr. W. H. Langdon, of the Pioneer Bicyole Club, Christchurch, and one mile champion of the colony, would come up to compete for the event, and that probably Mr. F. A. Cutton of Dunedin, the leading cyclist of that city, would also be a competitor. The medals for the race are to be procured from Melbourne. The settling on the Otahuhu races took place at the Star Hotel, Otahuhu, on Saturday evening last. The total amount paid away was £196, besides a cup of the value of 2050v8., given by Mr. Adams to the winner of the Maiden Plate Race ; but by some accident Mr. Adams was not able to be present at the meeting with it. If; is to be handed over to the Secretary, to have the name of the winner engraved on it, when it will be sent on to the owner, Mr. N. H. Lumsdeu, at Cambridge. Mr. Lumsden received £50 ; Mr. Burtt, £10 ; Mr. Carter, £25; Mr. Thorpe, £10 ; Mr. Barker, £53 ; the second and third horse in the Cup getting £10 and £5 respectively; J. Gallagher, £20; E. Kelly, £10. It is gratifying to state that the meeting was a success financially, as there will be some £40 or £50 to the credit of the club after all accounts are paid.

Auckland Wkkkly News. —In order to keep pace with the growing requirements of the agricultural community the proprietors have introduced a number of new and attractive features in this popular and widely-circulated journal, which have greatly enhanced its interest and usefulness as a repository if information on all subjects affecting agriculture and kindred matters cf importance to settlers and others engaged in rural pursuits. nitberto a considerable portion of space has been devoted to these topic*, but It has been found that, to do them full justice, it is necessary that this limit should bo extended, and this will also permit of prominence being given to a number of subjects which are now beginning to engage the attention of many tettlere, and especially to th"» cultivation of sub-tropical produce. No piins have been spared by the proprietors of tho Auckland Weekly News to render this important department as perfect as po«sible. Arrangements have been made to have the various article; treating on the different pursuits of the settlers profusely illustrated, and notjang will be left undone to maintain the higli roputpion which the News has enjoyed for so many years as the leading agricultural journal in the colony. It is the largest, best, and most readable family newspaper In New Zealand, and consists of forty pages. - Besides being admirably illustrated, it is characterised by the fulness of its intelligence and the variety of its contents. Its agricultural articles are carefully written ; its country, colonial, English, and foreign news full and well selected, and its literary nutter both interesting and edifying, It publishes each week sermons by tiie most prominent preachers, of the age, serial tales by the ablest authors of the day, special articles on general topic* by wellinformed writers, entertaining letters from its correspondents in America and England, and 4 large variety of instructive matter. As a weekly newspaper ana family journal, the News is without an equal. In this week's issue wll appear an excellent view o' St. Paul's Cuurjli, ftoui Selwyn Terrace; a portrait of M, Dβ Harv : and it number of w*od-cuts of special interest to the settler. We call attention to aD advertisement of a meeting to be held in Newmarket Wesleyan Church it eight o'clock to-night, respecting the nomination of I.censing comuiUsioners. Mr. R. C. Greenwood sell* to-day at noou at his ii>arl, Vulcan Lane, the well-built and commodious paddle steamer City of Cork. She has good passenger anil storage accommodation, is fitted with 46 horse-piwer engines and is in every way suited for ariver and pas enger boit. She now lies off Freeman's Buy. At the same time will be sold two comfortable and well-built four-roomed cottages on goodsized allotments, Howe-street. lhe terms for which ■ire made very easy.