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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7319, 4 May 1885, Page 4

©■According to oar oabl e messages this morning the peaoe prospects are improving. Consols have advanced, and it is evident that a better tone prevails at home. The Daily Newa states that th- Czar has expressed hie anxiety to preserve peace, and has offered to refer the question to arbitration. In spite, however, of these pacific indfcations the British Government are not abating their war preparations, and have chartered a number of steamers tc convey troops to India, while arrangements have al«o been made to: despatch some by the regular mail vessels.

The steamer Janet Nicoli returned from her maiden cruise to .Tahiti and Karotonga last evening with a cargo of fruit, which has been brought into port in excellent order. The Janet Nicoli, despite the heavy weather experienced, has proved herself an excellent sea boat, and one that for the trade in which she is to be engaged is in every way suitable. She Iβ to be berthed at the Queen-street Wharf to-day,

The Premier of Hon. A. T. Stuart, accompanied i»ir* Stuart, will leave forSydneytaJJS*?* the Wairarapa. Mr. Staart rX£%£ Soutn Wales greatly benefited in Si?t* hie trip to New Zealand. He will, on wiL? resume the active duties of ha position Premier. Yesterday morning BfirVend y"* Stuart attended Divine urvice at St Mw Church, Parnell. and in the afternoon! walSj? down to Point Resolution to view th« def* works now in progress there. „ It is gratifying to learn that Profetw Brown's lectures on elementary drawing a goodly number" to hear them. that the opportunity offered of awning knowledge in science »is being seized!? many. The lectures are given on Saturd.! forenoons, and teachers are thus enabled t£ attend. The seating apace in the preießt College building is taxed to its full ££?/ The lectures are illustrated with namero experiments. w

There was some remark on the fact thai while there are in Auckland four paid office!! of volunteers not one of them attended °»t the meeting of the Garrison Artillery con* on Saturday night. The services of th company have been accepted, officerj h*., been elected, and Saturday's meeting «» for drill It might, therefore, have been expected that some of the officers we h»Y» referred to would have been present u u encouragement, and to drill the company till a drill instructor has been provided. Happily it turned out thai; the company has sufficient resources within itaelf to make it indipen. dent of the staff in the meantime.

The annual meeting of the Newton Highway Board took place on Friday evening .t the Richmond-road Schoolroom. There nu a fair attendance. Mr. B. T. Warnock presided. An abstract of re venue and expen. diture was read by the Treasurer (Mr. Joha Billington). The revenue of the year in. eluding balanoe at beginning of year of £167 12s, amounted £658 Os 4d. This expenditure was £425 16a 5d ; balance in bank, £223 17s 3d ; and in Treasurer's and Collector's hands, £8 6s Bd. Liabilities due, £38 lot 2d, and rates recoverable, £6 14s 6d. a resolution was passed authorising the erection of ten gas lamps at various loouities In the district, and a lighting rate will have to be passed in conformity therewith. The meet, ing was of a harmonious character.

The Secretary of the Seamen's Beit nj Home informs us that the committed, having the greatest disposition to serve iieafMaw men, are prepared to make every effort ia that direction. In considering the matter It was decided by the committee that the Sailors' Rest and Home should only be used for the work of the institution, and that tin rooms in future could not be rented bt purposes not under the control of the com< mittee.

Or. Huxtable, of Wellesley-street, who has been in practice in Auckland and the Thames for the past seven years, hag relinquished his practice for twelve mcntU, for the purpose of visiting England, America) Paris, and Germany, during which time hi intends visiting all thu principal hospitals.

The Church Gazette has reached as again, and as usual we find it full of news interesting to its patrons. The notes of the Bishop's annual visitation tour afford extensire information as to church life and extension in the country districts, and give great reason for encouragement. A paper on Mr. Bell, of the firm of Clayton, Bell, and Co,, the donor of the Elleralie stained glass windows, is interesting. The other naptr, part of one read by the Rev, Percy Smallfielii of Bombay, at the last church meeting touches upon Bible teaching in State schools. The number is completed by a selection of the usual interesting extracts.

The Otahuhn autumn races took place oa Saturday, but owing to the wet and boisterous weather the attendance did not exceed 500 people. A detailed report of the races it published in another column.

Several very valuable greyhounds h»ve been poisoned within the last few days in the Mangere district, amongst others Mr. Bainbridge's grand bitch Lady, which he valued at £50. and which was certainly one of the finest in the province. Mr. Sainbridge hu had the stomach of Lady taken out foi analysis. This is the second of Mr. Bain* bridge's dogi that has been poisoned within a short time, and one of Mr. Wills' greyhounds has also been poisoned. There is » good deal of feeling on the subject in the district. -. . .

At the monthly meeting of the Piako County Council—Mr. Williams (Chairman), and Messrs. J. C. Firth, W. T. Firth, Brunskill, Gould, Chepmell, Maclean, ,ind Murphy being present—it was resolved, ia answer from an application from the Tan* ranga County Council, to allow that body to expend certain moneys upon the TaurangaCambridge Road, within the boundaries of Piako County. Permission was granted to the Waitoa Road Board to run a new road through a portion of the Oaraho block. The tramway report showed a great falling off in the transmission of qnartz from the hill, and, as a consequence, the wages bill was leu than it has been on any previous occasion. The Engineer reported that the Taotaoroaroad deviation contract was proceeding satisfactorily, half the earthworks being nearly completed, and he expected the work would be finished within six weeks from date. The completion of this road will cat oat the two most dangerous pinches between Cambridge and Matamata.

There were four prisoners in the lock-n t last evening on charges of drunkenness, and David Mills, for having no visible means of support.

Mr. Jonkers, of Paremoremo, Riverheai sent the following communication to tba Water Police on Saturday : —"There wail» man drowned opposite our place to-day. I went to his assistance, but could not snva him." This report was so bald, and gavew little information, that Superintendent Thomson has direoted Constable Foreman, of Eelensville, to proceed to Riverhead to ascertain the particulars.

We understand that Mr. J. Gaut, artist, has just completed a half length portrait, ia oil, of the Ngatimiiniapoto chief, Wahanui.

A correspondent, who resides at the top of Grey-street, writes, complaining about the defective pressure of the city water supply in that locality. Hβ states that for the past few days the water will barely dribble through the household taps, and he wants to know if this ia what is called "tie Kyber pressure ?"

There is on view htPnlman'e, photographer, Shortland-street, a creditably executed photograph of the chief actors in the ceremony of the turning of the first sod of the Main Trunk Railway. The central figures are, of course, Mr. Stout, Bewi, and Wahanui; bat around them are a number of Auckland and Waikato residents, who were present o> the historical occasion.

The annual meeting of. the Bkkenntad Road. Board was held on Saturday, at Zion School-room,—Mr. J. R. Banderson, Chairman of- the Board, presiding. The report and balance-sheet, which showed £171 to the credit, were read, and on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Mitchell, were adopted. On the motion of Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Randall, it was ireaolved, "That the best thanks of the meeting be accorded to the outgoing Board ifor their services for the welfare of the district daring the paat year." A special vote of t hanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings

A "Blue Ribbon" meefeg was held on Thursday evening at the Kohimarama Industrial School. There was a good attendance of the children and settlers in tbe neigh* bonrhood. The Rev. Mr. Pereival presided, and some students from St. Jonas College took part in the proceeding*.. After the Chairman's address a duet, •• The Wmd and the Harp," was rendered by Mm* Hogan and Oharnook, who, at » sral»eqoM» period of the evening, sung "Beanfaio* Star" and "Glorious News." The choroi (with solo) "Roses Underneiith toe Snow," and "On the Bright Shores of Gold " were nicely given by the choir. M*Haselden contributed a comic song, a recite tion, and the song of " The Midshipnnte, and Misses Hogan and Kilpatrick a awh "The Flower Gatherers." Mr. €ox ga« an appropriate reading, and Mr. Gardiner *» address. At the close of the meeting, orer 64 persons donned "the bit o' blue."

The old man Brown, who was knocked down by the railway engine at the Auckland station the other day, is progressing favourably towards recovery, as is also the ee»f»» Stewart, who was revolveredby M<pK«vie»i a city boarding-house. ri J , . ".>;■ ?' - - The Rev. R. Bavin held a service yesterday at tho Hospital in the ; operating room. There was a Mr attendance. . Th« GraftoJ* roacTWesleyan Church choir ww'm •*» ance, and | aided the Hospital choir « »• musical portion of the service.;-,v>,:

The electoral roll of the Palismentary tJnion closed at four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of a general election. As soon as the voting papers are printed and circulated, the day of polling will be fixed aad advertised. Aβ there are over 300 men on the roll, each of whom by virtue of being an elector becomes of necessity a candidate, a lively struggle for the 95 seats tnay be anticipated.

John Thackabury, better known as " the Mount Eden Barber," came to the police station last evening in a pitiable condition from the effect of hard drinking during the past week, and begged to be looked up, to as to give him the shelter of a cell. He was accommodated, bat became so ill about nine o'clock that Sergeant Pratt deemed it advisable to send for medical aid for him. Thackabury belongs to that numerous class who are "nobody's enemy but their own," and for years past his professional services as a tonsorial artist have been in requisition at Mount Eden Gaol, whenever he got " run in," which was pretty often. During Mr. Booth's mission he was got to don the " blue ribbon," and soon became a tidy, well dressed, respectable man, and being a good tradesman, was doing well. In an evil hour he was induced to take drink, and John is again on the fair way downhill, and is again qualifying for his old post of " The Mount Eden Barber."

Yeeterday afternoon an incident occurred which raises the suspioion that " the Caucasian is played out" One of the Japanese attached to the circus was diiporting his manly form on the Devonport Wharf, when a man, one of .a crowd, stared hardly at him. The Jap bridled up, and asked tartly " Who was he staring at ?" In retort the man said, "You, if you like." The Jap drew back and gave him one straight from the shoulder In the eye. On reaching the city side an adjournment was made to the rear of the circus tent, on the reclamation, the Jap being nothing loth, in order to the little difficulty being further adjusted, but Constable Mackay put in an appearance, and the meeting was adjourned sine die.

There were two or three scrimmage* in city hotels on Saturday night. The first took place at the Waitemata Hotel, where the barman, Robert C»mpbell, got severely out on the elbow, through being pushed against a half glaee door in ejecting some drunken rowdy. He went to Dr. Tennent's surgery, where his injuries were attended to. At a later hour a fracas occurred at the Oxford Hotel, Victoria-street, where another man was forcibly ejected.

Wciodyear's circus on Saturday last gave two performances. The first was in the afternoon, for the convenience of country visitors and children, and it waa well patronised. In the evening the second performance took place, and the tent was crowded. The performance—a most excel* lent one—was ably gone through, and gave every (satisfaction. During the performance Mr. Love, the well-known agent tor the company, in thanking the public for the liberal patron»ge, especially in the face of the bad weather, took occasion to announce that the circuit would be open during to-night, tomorrow, and Wednesday, and after that they proposed to make a tour through the Waikato district. The dates of appearing there are announced in another column.

The Thames Advertiser says :—" The idea of. tending quartz to Sydney for testing purposes, appears to have found favour with more than one of our mining companies. The manager of the Beep Level Croso mine has shipped sixteen sacks, containing about a ton of quartz, from the workings on the crosslode, to be sent with the Cambria parcel to Messrs. Hudson and Bros, for treatment. The nature of the process to which the stuff hai to be submitted has not yet transpired."

Mr. Farquhar Macrae has sent a telegram expressing his gratitude for the kindly remembrance by his "old boys," as manifested by the telegram .which had been forwarded from their meeting the other night congratulating him on having passed the recent law examination.

Tenders for the erection of twelve shops, with frontage of 270 feet to Karangahaperoad, Howe and Jersey Streets, were received by Mr. T. B. Jackson, architect, en Thursday last These buildings are for Meiers. Garrett Brothers, the enterprising boot manufsotarers of this city, and are to be erected upon the city endowment property reoently purchased by them. The frontages are of most ornamental design, with blue Btono piers at sides of shops, and pressed brickwork with Oamara stone fencing above. Ettch shop has a floor area of §12 feet, and has alflo sitting room, living room, bed rooms, and kitchen complete. The tenders are as follows":—A. McKay and Co., £7034; W. Stephenson, £6969 ; Newiion and McKemieh £6948; Jamea Heron, £6691 ; Alexander Todd, £6666; K. Kay, £6614; George Rhodes, £6461; J. W. Jones, £6396; J. B. Mell, £6394; James Wilson, £6324; W. Fawkes, £6280; C Rhodes, £6207 5s 2d ; Peak and Allan, £6119; T. Colebrook, £5998; J. Morris, £5970; J. Wood, £5890; A. Maguire, £5662.

The following Is the weekly report of Captain little, of the Salvation Army Male Prison Gate Brigade, for the week ending May 1 :—Number of meals given, 149; beda supplied, 53; persons' admitted, 7; discharged, 9; still in Home, 6. Donations : Of meat, from Messrs. Fegau, Holme, and Hellaby; of bread, from Mesdames Howie and Robley; of blankets, from Messrs. Smith and Canghey. Donations of groceries and firewood would be thankfully received.

Professor Geoghan,- one of the teaching ttaff for the new St. Patrick's Roman Catholic College, Wellington, received priest's orders at the hands of His Lordship, Bishop Luck, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, at the eleven o'clock Mass, yesterday.

A poll was taken on Friday, Ist instant, at the Dairy Flat school-room, to fill the vacancies in the Pukeatua Road Board, with the following result:—James Inglis, 26; David Lochead, 25; Erni Bond, 21; Timothy Foley, 7; and James Dodd, 2. The first three were therefore declared elected by Mr. T. W. Seaman, who acted as substitute Returning Officer.

■ The Wellington Post has the following :— " A rather interesting case of canine sagacity has come under our notice, which is worth recording. For a good many months past it has been noticed that a large black retriever dog has religiously attended all the parades of tha Naval Artillery Volunteors. This animal as a puppy followed the battery into the surf boats on their return from the Parihaka campaign, and has attached himself to the corps ever since, with the result that he has been much petted by the men. On the visit of the battery recently to the Nelson encampment, he again followed the men on board the Hinemoa, and on arrival at the camp was rigged out in a small Union Jack and seaman's dickey, whereupon he took his place at the head of the battery, and was specially noticed for bis digaified demeanour in the march past. For this good conduct he was, elected a member of the cbrpi, and entered under the Dame of ' Bo'sun. , At the parade on Monday again, be took up his place in the van, rigged out in s, dickey, and caused much amusement to the public by his good behaviour. It is the intention of the battery to subscribe for and purohaie for him a brass collar engraved with his name and regimental number."

At the opening of the Maori Hall at Little Hirer, Canterbury, the Hon. H. K. Taiaroa laid he was very glad to see so many Maoris and Europeans present, and must congratulate the Little River natives as to the handsome hall they had erected, and suggested that it be named Moko from the name of a Maori who was a great man in the old days. He would advise the Maoris to hare all their children educated, so as to Le able to compete wr.th the pakeha. At present they were not abler to do so. In the event of w*.r breaking out between England and Russia the Maoris would assist Great Britain all they could. He would warn the Maoris present not to be led astray by false prophets, especially such a one as had lately apj>eared in the North "Land. He thought nhe Maori and European ought to act together in unity for the good of New Zaaland.

There were a couple of accidents on Satur°»yi neither of & dangerous, though both of a painful charaoter. The first was at the Auckland Timber Company's mill, where if* re dk- -Eyre was sharpening a saw, when the stone broke and struck him above the elbow of the left arm, breaking it. Eyre w « taken to the Hospital for treatment, where the House Surgeon, Dr. Bond, attended to him. In the second case, Mr. yrowther, while walking among some shaft"W got hit on the heed by n falling pulley, inllioting a severe bruise. Dr. Evans was c*Ued in and attended to his injuries.

A match took- place at Surrey Hills, on Saturday, between a team from the Beresford■treet School Foot Club and the Black *«we (second), the former winning by four points to nothing. T. Blewdea was successJβ! m getting two tries. , ;' '■-*• ! - -

A discourse was delivered last evening at the Temperance Hall, Albert-street, by Mr. Aldridge, on the subject, "May Christians Engage in Wars ?" The hall was filled with an attentive audience. Mr. Aldridge took, aa the basis of his remarks, John, chap. 18, v. 36, " Jesus answered, My kingdom ie not of this world ; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence." The lecturer referred to the war spirit now abroad, and said it was extending even to their churches and the Y.M.C. Association, members of which talked of forming rifle corps. On enquiry he found that the officials of the latter institution repudiated the movement having official sanction, and that was, so far, good ; but it showed defective teaching that any of its members should ever have contemplated such a procedure. Last Monday morning the Hkkald devoted several columns to sermons in which war was justified, if, indeed, * warlike spirit was not stimulated. It was not pleasant to see professed followers of the Prince of Peace bedraggling - the white robes of Christianity in the quagmire of war, and fostering that spirit which would culminate in bloody deeds in war, in which they declined to share, and from which they themselves shrank. The Old Dispensation had passed away, and the New proclaimed the brotherhood of man ; to " love thine enemies, and to do good te them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despltefully u»e you." When peace overspread the laud, the clergy talked of men beating swords into ploughshares, and the coming in of the millennium, but when the war cloud was over the horizon they: fell back on the Old Testament, and dragged in by the head and shoulders every text which would justify war. No man could preach a sermon on war or In favour of it from the Sermon on the Mount. He might be pointed to a Hedley Vicars, a Havelock, or a General Gordon to prove that Christian men engaged in war ; but he wan not affected by the glamour of great names, and went back to The Book. Good men had erred on other questions before '• now, and why might not these good men have erred on this subject of war. The lecturer quoted from the Fathers and from ancient history to show that the teaching of the Primitive Church was opposed to war, and that Roman soldiers had, after their conversion, preferred to be put to death rather than bear arms and engage in war. It was not for him to say whether Russia or England was in the wrong, and on that he would express no opinion. All he had to say was—" Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they oan do, but fear Him which after He hath killed, bath power to cast into hell." He concluded by recording his protest against the demoralising dogma that war and Christianity could coexist together.

The venerable Dr. Somerville, of Glasgow, continues his evangelistic labours in the Wast, and he has been visiting the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia. At Thyatira, we are told, the people attended a service in large numbers, and were most attentive. Utter desolation and ruin prevail at Sardis, where only r. few Mohammedan huts are to be eeen. A meeting was, however, held in the house of the Sheikh, attended by his wives and neighbours, numbering twentysix in all. Philadelphia is a thriving place, and a goodly number of people were got together to hear the memorable epistle expounded. The famous temple of Minerva, founded by Alexander the Great, was also visited, In the open air on the floor of the temple the people assembled. Sankey's hymns were sung in Greek, and "instead of the worship of the Goddess of War," writes one who was present, "we bad the Gospel of the Prince of Peace." Dr. Somerville and his party passed along the road undoubtedly traversed by the Kpheaian elders when they went to meet Paul, leaving the isle of isles, Patmos, to the right. Colossk has disappeared, and in vain they looked for any trace of Philemon's house or Epapras's Church. At Ephesus they taw the theatre into which Paul wished to go to quell the infuriated mob. There was neither house nor hut even at Laodicea. Pergamos was the only site of the seven churches not visited, its distance being too great to suit the convenience of the party. Dr. Somerville's meetings in Smyrna have extended fiver several weeks, and efforts were being made to organise a Christian Ladies' Association there, also a Y.M.C.A.

A meeting was held in St. Patrick's Cathedral Hall, Melbourne, to consider tho advisability of forming an Irish-Australian Volunteer Corps for the defence of the colony against a possible attack. Mr. Hood alluded to the achievements of the Irish-American Brigade during the civil war in the United States, and stated his conviction that, should occasion arise, Irish-Australians would be equally valiant in the defence of this land ot their adoption against any attempted invasion. It was intimated that the corps, if formed, would not be confined to Catholics, but would be open to Irish-Australians of all denominations.

In the course of a lecture delivered in Sydney on April 21, Mr. G. A. Sala said that as regarded the present policy of Russia the people did not want war, and the Czar, from his domestic ties, desired nothing but peace with England. The people counted for nothing, and the engines and instruments of evil in Russia were the dominant military clique formed of army officers and bureaucrats looking to the East for provinces to rale when the Russian Empire might be broken up. In the family of the Romanoffs grand duke had always been pitted against grand duke, and if a Czar did not satisfy the demands of the military party he was sacrificed. He did not think the unhappy gentleman who lived in the Imperial Gaol wished to go to war with England, but lie thought that some of the Russian generate, wished it. However, Russia was trebly bankrupt, and if she commenced a war in India, would be unable to carry it on in Europe without ready money, which she did not.possess. Peace might, and probably would be, patched up for a time, but the patience of England would sooner or later be worn out by lying protestations, and the greatest lover of peace would be found to admit that if we were to fight Russia in Central Asia or anywhere else, it might be for the best if the fight took place sooner instead of later—(applause) —when England, Australia, and Canada were banded together, shoulder to shoulder, to defend and uphold the interests and the glory of our beloved mother oountry. (Applause.)

The usual Evangelistic service took place latrt evening at the Theatre Royal. Dr. Kenderdine presided. The addresses were given by Mr. Fell, missionary at the Sailor's Rest, and Mr. Brackenbury, General Secretary.