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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7403, 11 August 1885, Page 4

Our cable messages announce to-day the death of Viscount Halifax. He was born in 1800, graduated at Oxford in 1821, succeeded his father as third baronet in 1546, and was raised to the peerage as Viscount Halifax of Mont Bretton in 1566. He was first returned to the House of Commons in IS-6. In 1532 he was Secretary of the Treasury, in 1535 Secretary to the Admiralty, and Chancellor of the Exchequer in Lord Russell's first Administration from 1846 to 1552. On the formation of the Aberdeen Cabinet in 1552 be became President of the Board of Control, was First Lord of the Admiralty in Lord Palmerston's first Administration, and Secretary of State for India, and President of the Indian Council from 18f>9 to 1566. He becama Lord Privy Seal in Mr. Gladstone's Administration in 1870, and continued to hold that office until 187-1. Since then, up to the time of his death, he took no part in political life.

There was a considerable amount of business done yesterday on the xtoct Kxchange. They were buyer* of Colonial Bank at 423, National it 20s, and » €Ter -i other stocks. In Cambria, sales were mid at 13i and 203, closing with buyers at 13, # There were numerous transactions in d 4 *' win. Golden Crown, Manukau, MoanaUUri* Karangahake Crowns, and wanted. ' The regular meeting of the Parnell Boron?}, Council was held last evening An outli-e of the proceedings is published in aooth^ column. * ' r

In the Herald a few days back w» fc-j occasion to refer to the action of the United Federated Seamen's Union, who wished tr make the Northern Steamship Company Mr their firemen an extra 20s per mouth 0 v»and above that agreed upon at the time "' the strike ia November last. We now he--that the Union have withdrawn their annh cation, and are willing that the firemen should remain on the Northern Company : vessels on the terms agreed to. '

Detective Hashes yesterday arrested Edward Hazard on a charge of drank ness. He was suspected of being concerned in the theft of tools which took pla 0e Bruce's Coach Factory on Friday bus, the detective coming across him took him in charge. Although only informed of th* robbery yesterday forenoon, Detective Hughes succeeded in obtaining sntficiec evidence by the afternoon as to iasti-'" him in chargiDg Haggard with the larceny of tools, value 15?, the property of Messrs George Pelham and Frederick (Joombea.

The death of one of our oldest identities will be found recorded in our obituary column, in the person of Mr. Alexander Cromwell, of Archhill, father of Mr. Crotn. well, baker, of Queen-street. He was sne of the pioneer eetslers by the Jace Gifford and arrived in Auckland in 1549. The deceased leaves a wife and family grown up. He wa3 a native cf Scotland. Throogh his industry in the early days, and judicioui investment of his earnings when land wa.. cheap, he h»d achieved a competency, an; thus leaves his family comfortably proTiitj for.

In reporting to Sir J. Vogel, Postmaster' General, on his trip in the Janet Nicoll, M:S. B. B:-s, Postmaster at Auckland,says ; _ "The steamer hss been in very light trim through .-at the voyage, and this has seriously interfered with her speed. With fair winds and smooth sea, from nine to ten knots has been attained, hut with head winds and high i>ea she has cone from five to seven knota. With another 200 tons of ballast or cargo a much higher rate of speed would have Been secured. The commercial delegates and myaelf have everywhere been received with very much kindness, and much valuable information was obtained. Letters from the Premier of Tccga and His Excellency the Governor of Tahiti are posted to you to-day and my report will follow by an early man! There is a good prospect of obtaining a subsidy from Tonga, Mr. Baker being very favourably disposed. He has promised to do his best to secure a vote from the Tonga Parliament. At Tahiti the leaning is towards aline to San Francisco, but the whole Question is at present under the consideration of th» Government, and the Governor has promised that the claims of the New Zealand line snail receive careful consideration, and that he will communicate with the PostmasterGeneral on the subject. At Samoa and Rirotonga there is no properly constituted Government, and no contribution may be expected from these places.

For the period between March 31 and June "20. the railway receipts for the wnole colony were only £256,685, as against £273,056 for the same last year; while tha expenses were £161,147, as against £154 last year. There is thus a falling off in the net revenue in less than three months of nearly £20,000—a very serious matter in the pre'ent state of the colonial finance?. In the North Island there has been an increase in the receipts of about £7000, and an increase in expenditure of nearly £5000. The falling off, therefore, is in the Middle Island alone, and the BurunuiBluff returns account for the whole of it. The receipts on that line are less than last year by £21,400, and the expenditure a fewhundred pounds greater. As regards goods, the grain traffic fell off by 25,277 tons, but merchandise and timber increased by 14,322 tons. The grain rates were lowered considerably by the present administration in response to a Canterbury cry, and this, coupled with the falling off in quantity, ha? a good deal to do with the deficiency. We have 79 miles more open than for the same period last year, and w» are earning less at a greater total cost for working expense.. The percentage of expenses on earnings this year is 62'05, as against 56 - 68 for the lams period last year. If this goes on there will be a deficiency at the end of the financial year of £80,000 on our railways alone.

A project is on foot for constructing a tramway at the North Shore, from Victoria Wharf to Cheltenham beach, on to Narrow Neck, and back to the point of commencement by way of the western side of Flagstaff Hili. 'i he circuit would be about five miles, and the fare threepence. It is understood that the matter will be gone into during the week with a view of testing the feasibility of the undertaking.

William Henry Wakeham, who committed a murderous assault upon his wife with an axe in Dock-street, Freeman's Bay, about a fortnight ago, came up on remand at the Police Court yesterday, and on the application of Sergeant Pratt was remanded for another week, a3 Mrs. Wakeham was still confined to her bed, and unable to leave the Hospital.

"T. C." writes strongly against the visiting staff, or the House Surgeon having the sola right of admitting patients to the Hospital, instancing a case in which the power was abused.

Captain Raymond, of the Grasmere, in addition to his other troubles referred to elsewhere, is in difficulties with the members of some of his crew. On Saturday he prosecuted the steward and cook, the one for refusing duty, and the other for desertion. Iu the one case the accused was discharged, and in the other the man was ordered on board ship. It seems a further squabble arose on Sunday night, in which these men allege that the captain acted in a threatening manner to them with a revolver in his hand, and they have accordingly laid information against him for threatening language, alleging that they are afraid of going to sea in the vessel.

Amateur theatricals are in high form during the present season, especially in the suburb of Remuera. Members of the Remuers Social Union have been for some time preparing to place on the boards a worthy representation of Byron's admirable piece, "A Hundred Thousand Pounds." The performance, which is advertised in our columns, comes off on Thursday evening next, and promises to be a great success, as the dramatis persona include some wellknown performers of more than usual talent, who have " a reputation to keep up." The hall is well adapted for dramati purposes, and the roles are such as at calculated to make considerable demand upon the ability of those who support them.

Mr. Mathew Barry, referring to the statement in yesterday's paper that Brennan's prospecting party had been at Pongapung* Creek, aud had gone to Whatiwhatihee to arrange for prospecting the Rangitoto country, says that to his certain knowledge Brennan's party was never at Pungapunga. He does not believe that they will obtain leave to prospect Rangitoto.

The Rechabite Jubilee will be celebrated to-day and to-morrow all over the world. The New Zealand District No. S4 will open the District Council to-day, at Excelsior Hall, Newton, at eight a.m., and at half-past six p.m. a banquet will be spread in the Forresters' Hall, Newton, for the brethren and friends (ladies invited), to be followed by a conference ot Temperance workers, when papers will be read on distinguished features of Temperance work.

" The Pearl Divers" at the Opera House if still having a very successful run, and last night another large audience assembled to witness this startling spectacular drama. The management have produced a drama which will fittingly close a season that has been unprecedentedly successful in this cl '. r - The various scenes were much appreciated last night, and evoked sustained applause, especially the diving scene and the London street during a thunderstorm ana shower of rain, which were scenes almost marvellous in their realism. The character! were all well sustained by the full strength of the company, and the piece, which has no less than six acts, went with great smoothness throughout. " The Pearl Divers n announced for to-night and until furtxi9 notice.

The Timsru Herald says:—"The other day a resident of Auckland petitioned the House for public recognition of his services in having, as "matrimonial agent, "negotiated a large number of marriages, and therefore added to the prosperity of the State. Now, into the vexed question as to whether such a person ought to be hansomely provided for during the rest of his declining years as a public benefactor, or whether he ought not rather to be handed over to the tormentors as a destroyer of the public happiness, we do not propose to enter. All that we venture to say is that if he had conducted the business on the principle of his English colleagues, and had bean patronised by anything like the same proportion of clients, he ought by this time to be a wealthy man, in a position to do something handsome for the State, instead of expecting the State to do anything for him."

Baron Hubner, the Austrian diplomatist, has been lecturing before the Oriental Museum of Vienna on a visit he paid to Australasia in ISS3. He disputed the right of the colonies to regard the Western Pacific as an Australasian lake, and expressed his decided conviction that an international agreement, sanctioned by all the European and American States, would alone suffice to extend good government to the Pacific, and protect the white against tho coloured races, and vice t(rsn.

The usual Evangelistic service iu connection with the Newton committee of the Gospel Temperance Mission was held on Sunday evening in the Protestant Hall. Addresses were given by Messrs. R. Downie and M. McPherson, Presbyterian city missionary. Mr. A. Dewar occupied the chair.

In the letter of " Paterfamilias," in yesterday's issue, the price of prime roasting beef should have been 3d to and not 3d to s^d.

At Onchunga, on Friday evening, the stewardess of the Herald while proceeding on board accidentally tell into tho water, but was got out without having sustained anything more serious than a ducking.

Notwithstanding that the A.C. barracks at the North Head are finished, the men have not been permitted to occupy them for some unexplained reason.

Tenders are called for the Te Kuiti con tract of the North Island Railway.

Dr. Finsch. the German representative in New Guinea, in reply to a representative of the South Australian Register, who waited upon him, said that he had explored the whole of the northern coast of New Guinea, He speaks in favourable terms of the country, and compares the climate to that of North Queensland. Tho coast land is rich, cedar is abundant, and the country is suitable for agricultural and pastoral purposes. The natives are good agriculturists, and grow sugar-cane, bananas, arid yams. He found no trace of minerals, and does not believe that they exist, unless in the interior, which he did not explore. A large river was discovered, named the Empress Augusta. He thinks that a prosperous colony may be founded. The first thing to do is to establish steam communication with Germany, which is now losing by emigration about 60,000 persons every year. He hoped to induce some to go to New Guinea.

By the last mail from Wellington information was conveyed to the committtee of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club that Sir ■William and Lady Jervois had conferred upon the club the honour of becoming its patron and patroness. The time for the first performance of The Sorcerer" is now approaching, and the excellence of the rehearsals predict a moat pronounced success. We would suggest to our readers the advisability of at" onco booking their seats, as the box plans at Lennox's are rapidly rilling np.

An advertisement appears in our columns to-day inviting tenders for the new mail service between San Francisco and Auckland, with branch service from the latter port to an Australian port.

The Sydney Morning Herald says Archbishop Moran, we are informed, has in a telegraphic message from Rome, just received by the Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran, Administrator of St. Mary's Cathedral, announced his intention of returning to Sydney in a few weeks' time. The intelligence from the Archbishop is, we understand, of a definite character, therefore it may be fairly assumed, notwithstanding the many current reports, that there is now not the slightest likelihood of his appointment to the Archiepisoopal Sea of Dublin. Dr. Moran's intentions are to visit Great Britain and Ireland, and, after completing some business in connection with the Sydney diocese, to return to Australia in October next.

The plans for the line of railway connecting the Wharekawa coal mine with the Waikato line at Pokeno station, are sufficiently advanced to admit of their being at once sent to Wellington for the approval of Parliament. According to the scheme of Mr. Knox, C.E., the line will be a narrow guage, about 2 feet wide, with 301b. rails, and constructed on the principle of the Festiniog railway, in Wales.

Professor and Mrs. Baldwin arrived yesterday from the South, and will give a series of performances illustrating Thought-reading, or Muscle Telegraphy, in the Theatre Royal, commencing on Friday night. The Professor and his wife were here some half-dozen years ago, and exposed the Davenport cabinet trick and other Spiritualistic exhibition*. With regard to the mind-reading, his illustrations of it seem more difficult than those of Professor Rice recently field here, and which could not be regarded as either conclusive or satisfactory. An Australian journal says:—"Among the experiments fjiven at Professor Baldwin's entertainments may be mentioned the pin test. In this test olio of the committee takes a small pin, and when the Professor i 3 removed from the room in charge of two others of the committee, the pin is carefully hidden iu lome out-of-the-way place in the hall. The protestor is brought in blindfolded, and with a sack tied over his head, the committee-man who hid the pin then places the tips of his fingers lightly to the professor's forehead, and for a few seconds thinks intently of the place where the pin is hidden. The professor then dashes off as fast as he can run, and at once finds the pin in the secret place where it is hidden. In the bank-note test a gentleman is requested to think, cl the numbers of a note held in his pocket, and these numbers are then written on a blackboard by the professor, who is standing on the stage. Lost and stolen articles are described, words in strange and foreign languages are written, all that is necessary is for the experimenter to think intently of the articlo he wishes described, and to place the tips of his lingers to the forehead of the mind-reader." The business agent of the Baldwin Company is Mr. Smith, who has acted for the Rita-Radcliff Company throughout their New Zealand tour.

To-morrow evening a lecture will be delivered in the Auckland Institute by Mr. E. A. Mackechnie on "Turner, the Colourist."

The following is the weekly report of the Female Prison Gate Brigade (Mrs. C. J. Hutchinson, lady superintendent) for the week ending 9th August :— Received into home, 7; left, 1 ; remaining, 12; number of beds given, 71 ; meals supplied, 295. Donations : Of bread, Mrs. Howie, Messrs. Evans and Waddel ; eggs, Mrs. Tuttie, Onehunga ; box of tea, "A Friend milk, Devonshire, London, and Belfast dairies ; meat, Messrs. Garrett, Barnett, Mead, Hulme, Fisher, Wood ; clothing. Mrs. Chambers. Urgent requisites : Coals and firewood. Remarks : A good many destitute calling for meals.

There were in the lock-up last evening five persons, on charges of drunkenness.

The health of the city is good at the present time, and no cases of infectious disease are reported.

The Rita-Radcliff Company left last evening for the Thames, whore they perform to-night and to-morrow evening.

The Foreign Missionary meeting in the Devouport Wealfiyan Church, which was to have been held to-night, is unavoidably postponed.

The new offices of the Colonial Mutual, late Imperial Hotel, corner of Queen and Fort Streets, will, it is anticipated, be ready for occupation next week. They are being fitted up in an elegant manner. There are iron doors fitted to various apartments to prevent spread of fire. Part of the Queenstreet frontage is sublet as offices to the Standard Company. A large emblematic statue, which is being imported from Germany, will be placed on the top of the building at the corner. Tenders are out for altering Fry's warehouse adjacent to the Imperial, so as to make it an extension of the hotel, and thus provide increased accommodation for boarders.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Kihikihi Town Board was held on Friday evening last. Present : Commissioners Farrell (Chairman), Grace, and Ellis. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk laid before the meeting a list of thirteen rate defaulters. It was resolved that Mr. Greaham, solicitor to the Board, be instructed to institute legal proceedings for the recovery of the several amounts due : and also that the requisite form of notice prescribed by the Act be served upon fifteen persons for the removal of the furze growing on the streets opposite their respective allotments. The Chairman reported that, notwithstanding the repeated public notices and warnings given by the Board, the objectionable practice still continues of residents making pitfalls by removing earth from the roads and side walks in the township. It was therefore decided that legal proceedings be taken against persons so offending in future, and the local constable was instructed to take action in the matter under the Municipal Corporations Act. The Clerk, on the motion of Mr. Grace, seconded by Mr. Ellis, was directed to telegraph to Mr, Lake, M.H.R., re the application made by the Board for the town endowments. It was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, "That tenders be invited for repairs and improvements in Moule, Carey, Walmsley, and Churoh Streets." Several accounts were passed for payment. —[Own Correspondent.]

A largely-attended meeting of persons interested in the formation of Mr. W. L. Rees' Co-operative Land and Labour Company was held in the Temperance Hall last night. A report of the meeting will be found in another column.

The annual meeting of the members of the Otahuhu Racing Club takes place on Saturday evening next, at the Criterion Hotel.

" Under any circumstances (remarks the Melbourne Argus), it would be a matter for regret if the San Francisco line were abandoned,.is the agreement proposes. To maintain this line, no doubt a subsidy is necessary ; hut it may be urged that it is worth while paying a subsidy in order to insure rapid and regular communication between Australia and the great New World with its Englishspeaking communities. The line brings trade to Australia, and it secures us visitors. The trip round the world which this route makes possible is becoming more and more popular, especially with a class of literary, artistic, and professional travellers, whom it is good for Australia to welcome. And in the event of war, and the possible closing of the Suez Canal, the San Francisco line is a valuable second string. All these are points to be remembered. 1 '

Apropos of Mr. Boucicault's new play "The Jilt," which was produced at the Melbourne Theatre Koyal on July 25, the Argus says: —"In skill of construction, vivacity of language, and effectiveness of situation. 'The Jilt' is fully equal to the best of Mr. Houcicault's earlier productions ; ami "20 years ago it would have achieved a success of enthusiasm, in place of a success of esteem. Iu the interval, the tastes of chose sections of the audience which are most demonstrative have been so debauched by strong sensational dramas, that they resemble the palate of an inveterate ' rumsucker,' who has lost the power of discriminating between genuine Chateau Margaux and a chemically concocted claret, manufactured .it Cetto. - The author of "The Jilt" has given us a magnum of the vintage, but the delicacy of its flavour and the fragrance of its bouquet were not only unappreciated by their majesties in the gallery, but one or two of the most charming passages in the comedy were rendered almost inaudible by their restless inattention."

'I he public debt of Victoria to-day amounts to £31,757,407, but in October it will be reduced to £25,576,757. Of that sum £21,000,000 has been borrowed on account of railways, but at the end of the current year a surplus of £46,000 over interest and working expenses ia expected. The interest on money borrowed for other purposes amounts to £270,000 per annum, of which £140,000 is paid by the Yan Yean and other investments. The balance of £130,000 has to be made up out of the consolidated revenue, because the works on account of which it is paid are tinproductive. Mr. Service thinks that the indebtedness of the colony should be treated as a whole, and that the railways should help to pay the deficiency in the interest all round.

The usual half-yearly dividend in the Union Bank of Australia, at the rate of 16 per cent, per annum, is now payable to colonial shareholders.

The golden sword which the Emperor of Russia presented to General Komaroff is described as being a very magnificent weapon indeed. Its shape is that of an old French sword ; the blade is made of Damascene steel, the scabbard as well as the hilt is of gold, between the chaste ornaments on both sides of the scabbard there are rows of jewels, and at the upper end of the sword there are clusters. of six or seven large diamonds. At the lower part of the soabbard are engraved the words, "For Valour," also surrounded by precious stones. Further ornaments in the shape of roses formed of jewels are set in different places.

Messrs. MacMahon and Leitch hare sent through Captain Little, of the Salvation Army, an invitation for the Army's band to be present at the Opera House to witness the remarkable reflex of their performance by their confreres in the great rain scene of " The Pearl Divers."

Dr. Taylor, D.D., preached at St. John's Church, Northcote, on Sunday morning, and in the evening paid a visit to St. Peter's Mission Hall, at the Auckland Sugar Company's Sugar Works. After concluding an earnest address to a very attentive congregation, he said it would afford him much pleasure if he could be the means of adding a board or a few bricks towards a permanent building, and expressed a hope that they would progress until they could afford to have a clergyman to live amongst them—a real friend and a brother, to whom they could speak at all times. With a view of contributing "a brick" the worthy doctor delivered his popular lecture, "Incidents of Travel in Many Lands," in the Northcote Public Schoolroom last evening, the proceeds being devoted to St. Peter's Building Fund.

Arrangements are ibeing made for the annual dinner of the Auckland Institute of Architects, which will take place shortly.

Meetings of the Onehunga Rifle Volunteers, th« Auckland College Hlfles, and the Victoria Itlflea are called for this evening.

R. Matthews, champion of New Zealand, as will ho seen l>y a challenge in another column, offers to box W. Wilkinson for a stake of £30 a-side.

John Keid and Co. will sell groceries to-day, at eleven.