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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7402, 10 August 1885, Page 4

Our cable dispatches this morning give an interesting epitome of the world's doings. The British Government have decided to assist the Ameer in placing Herat in a complete state of defence, and a number of engineer officers are to be sent to that city for that purpose. The recent military preparations on the frontier have sorely taxed the Indian exchequer, and there is a deficit of three millions. The Enabling Bill has passed the House of Lords. England and China are reported to have entered into an offensive alliance against Russia, a circumstance which has provoked a number of bitter articles in the French press. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff has started on his mission in connection with Egypt. Before proceeding to Cairo he is to visit Kenua and Constantinople. The Emperor of Germany aud Austria have had a cordial meeting at Gastein. London has- been provided with a sensational scandal in the shape of a divorco suit in which Mrs. Crawford is respondent, and Sir Charles Dilke, M.P., and formerly Foreign Under-Secretary, is co respondent. In a recently issued book on London Society the latter's relations with the lady are very broadly hinted at. The German squadron has proceeded to Zanzibar to enforce the German claims against the Sultan.

Owing to the great waste of time at the recent meetings of the City Council, in relation to retrenchment aud making charges against the officials, a considerable quantity of really urgent business has bad to be shelved. Id regard to one matter, a notice of motion in Mr. Aicken's name has been standing on the order paper for several weeks regarding the manner in which hackney carriages perambulate the streets at a very slow pace, and thus obstruct the traffic, and we hope to see it dealt with without unnecessary delay. The motion is that the Legal Committee frame a by-law dealing with the matter, and enforcing on drivers the necessity for remaining on the regular authorised stands when waiting for fares or hire. Great complaints have been made as to the obstructions caused by the practice complained of, for it frequently osours that two of these perambulating cabs meet at a street crossing, and stop while the drivers carry on conversation. If there are not sufficient stands more should be provided, but the crowded traffic of Queen-street should not be impeded in this way. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that a public meeting in connection with Mr. W. L. Rees's New Zealand Co-operative Land and Labour Company will be held this evening, at eight o'clock. The company, it may be stated, has been formed and registered, and Mr. Rees is now engaged in endeavouring to secure a sufficient number of shareholders to enable a local directorate to bo at once appointed. Probably Auckland will become the head centre of the new enterprise. Among the gentlemen announced to address the meeting upon Mr. Rees's proposals are the Rev. W. lebbs, Councillor Garratt, and Messrs. H. R. Jury, Masefield, and Wright. Mr. Rees will also afford further explanations and reply to questions concerning his scheme. It was announced at the Baptiat Tabernacle yesterday that the whole of next Sunday's collection would be devoted to a contribution in aid of the funds of the New Zealand Baptist Union. This Union has brought out several additional clergy from home, assisted weak country churches financially, besides sustaining a mission on the West Coast of the Middle Island. It is intended, if possible, to make tho contribution a sum of £50.

The City Council, though somewhat lit in the day, are getting chary a let)in! private landowners build over their allot® merits as they may think fit, and especial] * at allotments with street frontage# h*vi ? right-of-ways with second rows of house* at the back. An application was made durin the past week to the City Council by ' citizen so to build in Grey-atreet, an!! the permit was granted under the conditio set forth. The section is about 132 f"1 square, four houses being built on the str t frontage, with right-of-way in centre of ee c tion to lane 20 feet wide, which will rim '' front of the proposed two double tenements 'J* be erected at rear, of four rooms each, Th will give a space of 50 feet between the first and second rows of houses. Xhe tenements will have a space between ant be all drained, with yard sinks, into a IS-inch socket pipe-drain, which will rep'. a the open sewer at present existing. All th* houses will have brauch 6-inch pipe-clraint. 6 and tne houses fronting Grey-street v- e also to bo drained into the 18-inch drain. Jf house proprietors on the Vincent sr;e<> aide of the gully would connect with tins latter drain, it would greatly improve the sanitary condition of what in known as th«, Grey, street gully. As it is, in too many instances the buildings are crowded on to lections as if they were rabbit - warrens rather than habitations intended for human beings. In one case there are time rows of dwellings on the allotment— on® row lronting the street, a second in the centre and the third built up against the boundary fence, so that the unfortunate tenant! have not even a back door, to eav nothing of a back yard. Last week a" u application was made by another citizen f,_ r permission to build a row of eight houses at the back of an allotment fronting Bedfordstreet, access to which dwellings was to b« obtained by a lane 27 feet wide irom How. street, leaving the Beresford-street frontage to be similarly built upon at a future date" Sixteen tenements on this flection, running their household drainage into the open sewer formed by the gully running between them would make a sweet and pleasant adjunct to the Beresford-atreet public school, adjacent. In this instance the Council refused to give the easement solicited,

Another of Auckland's most useful aDd enterprising settlers has passed away in the person of Mr. John Thompson, who expired at his late residence, Lowe Bank, near Flat Bush, East Tamaki, on the ssh instant, at the comparatively early age of 43 years. Mr. Thompson came to the colony from Scotland between 30 and 40 years ago with hi« parents, and soon after the family arrived, nis father, the late Mr. David Thompson, purchased the estate known as Lowe Bank, upon which he lived for a number of years, and until his death, which took place in 1879. After the death of his father the deceased occupied the farm, and continued to do so to the end of his life. The immediate cause of death was consumption, which he appears to have contracted over a year ago, though no great danger was apprehended until recently. Being advised that a change would be very beneficial, Mr. Thompson, at the beginning of the present winter, took a trip to Australia, via Dunedin, but unfortunately he experienced verybad weather, and on his return to Ancklanc, about six weeks ago, he was in a wore; condition than before he left his home, ana from that time to his death he sank rapidly. On Saturday his remains were followed t.> the Otara graveyard by nearly all th> settlers, besides many gentlemen from the city. Among the passengers by the b.b. Wairarapa from Wellington, due here to-morrow, are Colonel Wbitmore and Major Bodham. Colonel Whitmore is coming up to review the details of the working of the lunteer system in Auckland. Major Bodhnm has recently been at Dunedin on a visit of inspection of the harbour fortifications. The scheme of the Government for extending the defences of the colony includes t'ae purchase of 23 additional guns—lo of 8 inch, and 13 of 6-inch calibre. These ha re been already ordered, and are to be deliv sred by instalments every few months, the whole to be ready within twelve months. A very good house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening last welcomed the third production of the comic opera of H.M.S. Pinafore, and taken altogether the perfor* mance was -a most creditable one, all of the performers using their utmost exertions to make it successful. To-night the opera will be again produced, and as an additional attraction, the opera will conclude with a tableau entitled "Rale Britannia." The Auckland Bowling ajd Lawn Tennis Club trophies, consisting of seven, cups, and pairs champion bowls and prize bowls, have now had the necessary inscriptions suitably engraved, and as soon as Mr. J. Winks, the skip of the winning team, returns from Wellington, the Secretary will convene a meeting of members preparatory to the formal presentation of the trophies to the successful competitors. We have seen the trophies, which are all artistic in design, and there are no "leaden" arrangements among them. The champion bowls are an exceedingly handsome pair, being silver-mounted with shield and crown. Mr. W. S. Jones, a member of the club, has * presented th« winner with an ornamental leather case in which to keep them. The club are at present engaged in enlarging the playing area for tennis, and will have next year foi\r firstclass tennis courts available. Both bowling greens are being top-dressed and levelled, and it is anticipated will be in better condition than on any previous season. It ii hoped that the enterprise displayed by the club will be rewarded by a large accession of members during the coming season.

The Gisborne Gasworks were erected about a year ago, under the supervision of Mr. Atkinson, manager of works of the Auckland Gas Company. The Gisborne company has recently done what is scarcely ever done by any gas companypaid a dividend of 10 per cent, on its first year's operations. Already a reduction has been made on the original tariff, which was 15s per 1000 feet; and 12s 6d when used for cooking. The local journal, referring to the progress of the company, says :— "Judging of the rapid progress and equal success of our small company, it must be borne in mind that the commencement of its opera* tions only date back to August of last year, and yet, notwithstanding the prime outlay and expense attending first operations, they have within such an unprecedented short time been enabled to declare a substantial dividend. Of course, this result could not have been arrived at except under exceptional local advantages, such as perfectly level roads, and the facility and ease with which pipes can be laid. Then, again, they have much to thank Mr. Atkinson for, both in giving able advice, and also in giving the company the advantage of Mr. Hawley •- services. The judiciousness of the selection is proved by the fact that not one single mishap or accident has occurred since the starting of the company. Hence, its except tionally rapid progress and success." A Court for the purging of unqualified persons in the electoral rolls of the districts of City East and Eden, was held before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M., on Saturday, when a large number of names were struck off. and 10s costs allowed against each. In the case of John Ross, of the firm of Sargood, Ewen, and Co., the Bench ordered his name to be retained on the City North roll. A meeting of the Crimean Veterans' Association waa held on Saturday night at Robson's Commercial Dining-rooms. Th* business was entirely of a routine character —to receive members' subscriptions, &c., and to make arrangements regarding the annual dinner. This latter was discussed at some length, and finally referred to a committee to take the necessary steps. Superintendent Thomson received a gram yesterday from Sergeant Gillies, o Mercer, announcing the drowning of a marnamed Cox at Rangiriri, on Saturday evening, and that the body had been recovered that morning. He stated that an inqucsi will be held to-day by Mr. Searanoke upon the body of the unfortunate man. Further particulars of the accident will be found in a Waikato telegram in another column. The following is the report of BrigadeCaptain Little, of the Salvation Prison Brigade, for the week ending August 7 :-~ Number of meals given, 141; beds supplied. 43; persons admitted, 9 discharged, i ! still in the Home, 6. Donations : Of meat, from Messrs. Garrett, Boyd, Hulme, ana Hellaby ; bread, Mrs. Howie, Messrs. Waddell, and Parsons; potatoes, _ Mr. JDavis; cloth, "A Friend"; clothing, Mr. Bamford ; half a dozen combs, " A F'riend , firewood, Mr. Warnford ; vegetables. Mrs. Chatfield. Requisites : Groceries and tirewood. Remarks : There are mora P*™ 0 " seeking admission than can be accommodated. The finances of the institution are low, and donations will be thankfully received. •,

It iB lamentable to think that in this young country, and in a city scarce a generation old, we should be doing our best to reproduce the social conditions which generate the filth, disease, and crime which have scourged the cities of the old world, and which they are now spending millions to remedy or abolish. From the way in which allotments have been cut up and built on, and rights-of-way created, it is evident tnat the colonial, provincial, and municipal authorities have all alike been criminally negligent in fulfilling the very first duty of a Government—due regard for the public health and the social welfare of the community. It is pleaded on behalf of land owners who thus act, that the city taxation is now so heavy, and the price of land so high, that a decent profit on the investment cannot be made except on the rookery system. Councillor Aickin, we are glad to see, has taken this truly " burning " question up, and It is to be hoped that the outcry of vested interests notwithstanding, he will be able to attain as the outcome of his motion some practical result. The following are the terms of his motion, which will come up at the next meeting of the City Council: —"That the Legal Committee be instructed to obtain legislation whereby power shall bo conferred upon the Council to make by-laws deA.ing with rights-of-way, narrow streets, luiss, alleys, &c., and the erection Oi buildings thereon ; also for providing for such sanitary arrangements [in connection therewith as are not already enacted by statute. The usual meeting of the Harbour Board will take place to-morrow (Tuesday), at halfpast two p.m. The following notices of motion have been given Mr. Devore to move, "That the Calliope Dock Engineer and the Consulting Engineer jointly report to the Dock Committee, at an early date, as to the desirability or otherwise of decreasing the amount of excavating at the upper, end of the Dock, for, say '200 feet, with a, view of affecting a saving in concrete, by allowing the rock to remain, in lieu of excavating and concreting." Mr. Owen to move, " That the Engineer be instructed to submit to the Works and Tariff Committee, as soon as possible, plans, specifications, and estimates for portions of two permanent tee's off Quaystreet, to form buttresses for strengthening the sea-wall, in order that the railway reclamation contract may be forthwith completed." The ma-, R. Willis, who has just served a sentence of seven days, with hard labour, on a charge of stealing a book from the Free Public Library, writes a lengthy letter to assert his innocence of the charge He complains that the police have retained property of his (a revolver) for two years, and that he cannot get it out of their hands, but it appears that Superintendent Thomson does not consider it safe to return it to him. Our correspondent goes on to say that if Mr. Thomson thinks him insane, he can only refer him to Dr. Philson, who has examined him. and appears satisfied. The charge of larceny, he alleges, was false and malicious, and In swlf-defence, he will now be compelled to make it the subject of a petition to Parliament. He concludes as follows " The librarian told the Court that I had been frequenting the Library for three years. Allow me to tell Mr. Shillington that three years ago I was frequenting much better libraries than any I have seen in Auckland yet, when as a member of the Sydney Mechanic's School of Arts, and a frequent visitor to the Sydney Public Library, I never experienced any difficulty in getting any books I wished to read at home. I had a book belonging to the former institution in my possession when I left Sydney, and owing to ill-health, forgot to return it ere leaving. As soon as 1 was able, however, I sent it from here per book-post, at a cost of 4s to 5s myself. If my experience in the best libraries of Australia be of any service to Mr, Shillington in classifying the books, si usual in good libraries, I shall be happy to render him any assistance in my power, when the new building is finished." The usual Evangelistic service was held last evening at the Theatre Royal. Mr. Knight occupied the chair. The Rev. J. S. Hill gave the usual address. There was a good attendance.

Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M., delivered judgment in the R.M. Court on Saturday in an objection raised by the Registrar of Electors under the Registration of Electors Act, 1879, against the retention of the name of Mr. John Ross, of the firm of fargood, Ewen and Co., on the roll of Auckland North electoral district. Mr. Ross's claim to have his name retained was supported by Mr. J. P. Campbell, on the ground that although the legal estate in the property was in another of the partners, yet as a partner Mr. Ross was beneficially interested, and was entitled to vote. The magistrate upheld Mr. Campbell's contention, and decided that Mr, Ross was entitled to have his name retained on the roll.

Messrs, MacMahon and Leitch's Dramatic Company have succeeded so effectively in '' The Pearl Divers "in organising a Salvation Army procession—band, bugleman, uniforms and allthat "t;he Array" have been compelled to adopt further novelties to enable the to discriminate between them and the unrcgenerate ecclesiastical Baahi-Bazouks now doing duty at the Opera House. At three o'clock yesterday afternoon a .Newton detachment of the Army marched down Grey-street, headed by three "Hallelujah Lasses" playing tambourines, en route to join the main body at the lirebell. The procession traversed the street in serpentine fashion, so as to endeavour to secure the passers-by on both sides of the street, and induce them to come along to the preaching station. The Dramatic Company must have had an inkling of the projected changes as on Saturday night they had added to the attractions of their corps by throwing in, as extras, a tambourine girl and a negro. On Saturday last the Auckland portion of the mails brought from England by the s.s. Tainui, which arrived at Dunedin a few days back, reached here, having been brought to the Manukau frcm Waitara by the s.s. Gairloch. On Saturday evening last there was a very good attendance ait the entertainment provided at the Temperance Hall by the Gospel Temperance Mission. The programme was a very attractive one, and waa rendered by the members of the Newton Excelsior Bind of Hope. An unpleasant incident occurred at the Opera House on Saturday evening. During the performance of "The Pearl Divers," by the McMahon and Leitch Dramatic Company, some of the light fingered gentry entered Mr. Leitch's dressing-room, and appropriated his watch and chain— valued souvenirs for 25 long years. It is supposed that the thief caught Mr. Leitch on the hop, during his stay in the Lunatic Asylum, in the third act. When the truth of his loss fully dawned upon Mr. Leitch, he was not equal to saying in his usual inimitable style, " I'm such a dawg !" There was a large attendance at the Opera House last evening to hear Mr. Gerald Masaey's lecture on "The Fall of Man." lecturer contended that the Mosaic ccount of the creation of man was in- . ccurate ; that there was no first pair, man And woman, but that the human race was the result of Evolution, and that at the time of man's assumed fall he was "on all fours," consequently was not capable of falling. It was incredible how much misery woman had suffered through the legend being propagated that she was the active agent in causing man's fall, and he said she should never forgive or forget the calumny thus circulated against her sex. The Iccturer quoted a mass of curious and quaint astronomical and mythological lore to show that the account in Genesis of man's creation was all referable to and explainable by these legends. The Triumph totalisator, patented by Mr. T. W. Hickson, has been exhibited two or three times a week of late in actual working at the Phcenix Foundry, where it has been constructed, to those interested in racing matters. It is understood that the patentee has made a proposal to the Auckland Racing Club regarding the use of his machine at the Spring Meeting, at Elleralie. This would give the best test of the merits of the new totalisator, as it would be subject to all the contingencies and exigencies incident to good fields of horses and large crowds of investors on the totalisator. At St. Benedict's yesterday Madame RitaRadcliff Bang Gounod's " Ave Maria," and a duet from Rossini's "Stabat Mater" with Miss Stephenson. Mr. \V. H. Pulford, who executed the large transparency of one of the most striking scenes in " The Pearl Divers," exhibited nightly at the foot of the Crescent, contemplates proceeding to Melbourne, with the purpose of devoting himself wholly to the business of a stage artist. The scenery of the above drama, at tht Opera House, was executed by Mr. .Williams, scenic artist. There were in the lock-up last evening two persona on charges of drunkenness.

The Rev. J. Robertson, M.A., delivered the third of his winter course of lectures on Duty," to young men, last evening, at the Boresford-stieot Congregational Church. The discourse contained much valuable counsel to young men. There was a good congregation. The Parliamentary Union meets this even* ing, when an interesting programme of business is on the order paper. Among other matters the second reading of the Land Tax, Property Tax Repeal, and Voting Hours Extension Acts, will take place; also the debate on the Abolition of Oaths Act further continued, while the Representation Act will be again considered in committee, It is anticipated that the second reading of the Rill to amend the law relating to blasphemy (a private Bill) will also be moved by its promoter, Mr. Wm. Cooper. Friday night's " social " of the Ponsonby Social Union, which passed off successfully, was the last of the ordinary season. It is understood, however, that arrangements are being made for supplementing the original programme by two or three additional reunions. The numerous friends and acquaintances of the Rev. McKenzie Fraser, will be glad to learn that ho is gradually recovering from his late serious illness. We would direct special attention to the sale which takc3 pl.icn to-morrow at tlio mart of B. Tonk-i a;.d Co , of flowered china. Bohemian chssware, torra cotta ware. etc. The collodion is perhaps the finest over submitted to public auction in this c ty, and it embraces many new designs. Tho attendance of visitors at the roimi on Saturday to view tho collection then just opened, was very large, and general admiration was expressed, the poods are well worthy of a visit, and the auctioneers wish tho inspection of all admirers of tine art w.ir.\ We call the special attention of our readers to tho fraud mcred concert to bo giv.-n next Wednesday, August 12th, it) St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, Ka'mu- ra. The programme is excellent, and will douUless command a largo audience. The following tenders for a shop and dwelling were opened on Saturday by Mr. R Mac ay Fripp, architect K. Hailey, £249 10s ; Thos. Lynch, £260: Bra-key. £207; A. M. Martin, £273; W. It. Smith, £273 ; Uarrihal, €575 ; J. Petherick, £274 : J J. l'ooley, £253 10t: Burns and Ksneally, £294 ; Hardingßro:hers,£33o ; J. Boylo (informal), £294105.