THE New Zearland Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, ISS6.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7539, 19 January 1886, Page 4

THE New Zearland Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, ISS6.

A telegram from Sir Julius Vogel conveys the information that the Cable Company have become stubborn over the question of reducing the tariff of charges between Australia and New Zealand. It will be remembered that, a short time ago, they agreed to lower tho Press charges to threepence per word, and those for ordinary messages to sixpence; but stipulated that, in consideration of this concession, the subsidy of £5000 a-year should be continued for a period of ten years longer, and that there be a minimum of ten words, that is, that every message should count for ten words at least, though it should only consist of two. To these conditions Sir Julius Vogel very properly objected, insisting that a five years' Subsidy was all that could reasonably be demanded, and the charge per word should be threepence and sixpence for the respective messages, irrespective of their length. It was hoped that the Company would acknowledge the fairness of this contention, especially as the Press of New Zealand had agreed to lake messages at the reduced scale, sufficient to secure the Company against loss. Instead, however, of accepting these terms, they threaten to raise the tariff unless they obtain a ten years' subsidy, while they, at the same time, insist on the ten words minimum, as well as the Press guarantee. As an alternative proposal they will accept a live years' subsidy, and adhere to their present high charges. In other words they think New Zealand is in their power, and are resolved, under either of their proposed arrangements, to have their pound of flesh.

Wo feel sure that all the inhabitants of this country will approve of the stand which Sir Julius "Vogel has made against this attempted extortion. He has in tho interests of the colony refused even to entertain the company's exacting proposals, and has cabled to the Agent-General to ascertain the cost of making and laying a new cable between Australia and New Zealand. This is undoubtedly the right course to take with unreasonable men. It is very undesirable that an important country like this should be dictated to by the directors of a company that has obtained a monopoly. Rather than submit to such threats as this company has held out, the colony ought to go in at once for a cable-line of its own. In the estimation of the Postmaster-Gene-ral the cost to the Colony would be less than it is at present, and there can be little doubt that he is corrert. Say that the expense of laying a new cable was £50,000, the subsidy the colony now pays the company would more than meet the interest on the outlay; and, while that interest would be supplied by the revenue derived from the tariff of charges, some of the Australian colonies with which we have extensive commercial relations might be expected to bear a part of the original cost. It might almost be taken for granted that New South Wales would most cordially join in the undertaking. « But even if the cost should bo a little more than it is now, the true policy would still be to render the colony independent of a company that has no scruple in taking a mean advantage, and that might, in its greed, resolve any day to both raise the subsidy and exorbitantly increase the tariff of charges. There is nothing so effectual in bringing to reason a company of this character as a determination to get rid of it. It is in no braggart spirit that this assertion is made. We have no intention of following the example of this company by indulging in threats. Wo simply accept them at their word, and toll them plainly that as they think they are in a position to bully us, we intend shaping our own course. We hope, therefore, that Sir Julius Vogel will resolutely maintain the attitude he has assumed, and that an announcement will soon bo made to the effect that preparations for laying a new cable are under weigh. He has the country generally at his back ; and, though on some points of his colonial policy we do not agree with him, we shall yet heartily support him in his endeavour to save the colony from being imposed on.

Whiy should the trouble in Eastern Europe die out so soon 1 There are so many people —both big and littleinterested in the trouble that it would be odd if it were to expire without further developments. The latest feature has been presented in the refusal of Servia and Greece to come down from their warlike attitude at the call of the Great Powers, and demobilise their forces, as the new phrase is. Little Greece therein knows what she is about, though it may not avail her just yet. The Treaty of Berlin remains unfulfilled on her behalf, and as there is now in some sort a redistribution of territory in the Balkan Peninsula, there is no want

of tact in again asserting her title to the still unceded portions of Thessaly and Epirus, and in keeping the claim 'well before general attention. But the foolish potentate who rules over Servia has only placed himself in a ludicrous position. Ho has nothing better to say than that the Bulgarian Prince, having acquired some extension of territory, he, too, should obtain it. Poor King Milan is a sadly disappointed man. He has been for years sedulously cultivating the Court of Vienna, figuring in the eyes of his own people as its very obedient servant; and he has been running about in the train of Prince Bismarck, seizing the opportunity to show his gratitude for favours to come. And to think that it should end in this way ! No support for his ambitious hopes and views; not a word said on his behalf among the assembled representatives of the European Governments—only a summons to disarm and keep quiet. No wonder he loses his temper, and brandishes in the face of the Great Powers that sword which proved so feeble a weapon against his Bulgarian neighbour. King Milan expected to be made Monarch of the Southern Sclavs. As King of Servia was he not entitled to the position? For of the other Sclavic States of the Peninsula, Montenergo is diminutive, and Bulgaria has but a tributary standing. Besides this political superiority, the Servians boast an intellectual leadership in possessing more of a literature and speaking a more polished dialect than any other population of their race, either in the Austrian Empire or in the former Turkish one. But he quite overlooked the fact that his views were not those of his patrons, and that Austria wishes no more than Russia, the creation of a strong independant Sclavic Kingdom. Neither ought he to marvel that while his patrons acquiesce in Bulgaria obtaining some extension of frontier, they do ' not intend that he shall have an eqnivalent, because such strengthening of Bulgaria lies in the way of Russia advancing on Constantinople, whereas a strengthening of Servia would be in the way of Austria advancing on Salonica and ultimately on Constantinople. King Milan experiences the usual fate of one who is at the same time a tool and a fool. And it may be that against his will he must still prove useful in the same line, for it is likely enough that a revolution in Servia may come about. There is a family with rival pretensions to the throne and there has been always a strong party adverse to its present occupant. The Servians in general cannot but be weary of their imbecile ruler, as poor a soldier as statesman, and who has only brought them disgrace and difficulties in the field and the Cabinet. A revolution in Servia would astonish nobody; and if it occurred it would at once afford a pretext for the Austrian Government to send their forces to occupy the country— course, with the usual formula, " for the preservation of law and order." If the Servians do not shake off King Milan, probably it is because they have this danger before their ey< a.

Whatever else may be produced by the renewed confusion in European Turkey, and in what used to be included under that name, there is one thing it must finally produce—namely, a conflict between Russia on the one hand, and Austria, backed by Germany, on the other. Time Was when Muscovite diplomatists spoke contemptuously, not only of Turkey as " the sick man," but of Austria as "the sick woman." All that is changed by the coalition with Germany, presided over by Prince Bismarck. Austria is no longer weak but powerful. She has become a most formidable empire, and with the annexation of Bosnia, with her well-known designs about an extended Adriatic sea-board, and for an iEgean sea-board, and with the general course of events in the Peninsula, and the influence exercised over the Porte by Prince Bismarck, the situation cannot but be peculiarly exasperating to Russia, whose designs in the same quarter have not only given infinite trouble in our day, but are historical, and date even from the tenth century. If Austria were at Salonica Constantinople would be near her hand, and recent events certainly served to smoothe her way to Salonica. As for the two empires ever coming to an understanding about a division of the spoil, that is wholly out of the question, because, as we have ere now explained, Russia, to get foothold in that quarter, would have to cross the Danube. To possess the mouths of that river would then be indispensable' to her, while, on the contrary, it would be indispensable to Austria tp have the entrance of her great internal waterway free from the keeping of rival hands. It is plain that they can form no plan to divide between them that Balkan region. And it would be easy to show that no quid pro quo device can balance the matter. They may be relied upon to carefully " shepherd" each other on this question, and they may be expected to eventually fight over it, or the intertwining Sclavonic one, for no States in Europe have more radically conflicting interests and ambitions.

The discovery in Chicago of a gigantic plot for the destruction of Washington is a startling but quite natural result of the slackness which the United States authorities have shown in dealing with all societies secretly leagued against order, property, and life. They were warned often enough that the persons who were allowed to avail tliemaolve3 of the unlimited margin of American liberty for the purpose of despatching their agents on missions of destruction in other lands, would in the long run turn against the institutions of the country that harboured them:' But somehow they paid little or no heed to these warnings. It was, it is true, very difficult for them to impose restraints where there was no visible display of the weapons of ruin and blood. But something might have been done to prevent the conspirators against public safety from openly advocating the use of explosives for the ruin of British buildings and British life, or the public solicitation of funds to enable them to accomplish their vile ends. Yet, somehow, no effort at repression or even detection was ever seriously made, and the leaders of the Great Republic stood charged before the world with being indifferent what disasters might befall other countries, so . long as their own escaped. Now, however, they have been , taught the bitter lesson that the nation which forgets its responsibilities to its neighbours is doomed to suffer for it. They have, now had personal experience of the fact that the nurtured passion for inflicting ruin, having been by official vigilance i

held in chock in the lands against whic it was specially directed, must by t a law of its nature find objects newer hom . on which to expend its force. Baffled in its designs against its acknowledged foes, it must needs discharge its virulence a those whom it professed to regard as friends. To a morbid and vindictive Socialism the presence of order and security for property and life are crimes, and the direction in which it may seek to indulge its propensity is merely a question of convenience. Hence, when finding that they could not carry out their foul plots in London, these red-handed Socialists who have collected in America wore impalled to try their effectiveness on Washington. And what they wished to do they meant to do thoroughly. No fewer than . nine thousand explosive bombs are said to have been distributed among the on " spirators ; and, on a given signal, these were ready for the havoc. But detection is possible in the States as well as in Britain; and now that the American authorities have got upon the tracks of these secret enemies of society, it is to be hoped that they will spare no eflort in securing all the ringleaders and bringing thorn to the punishment they deserve. In the performance of this duty they may feel assured of the sympathy of all civilised nations.

Our news from Europe to-day relates to a number of interesting subjects. The equivocal attitude assumed by Mr. Gladstone towards the demands, not only of the Irish, but of the extreme Radical party, has produced an intense feeling of dissatisfaction among the moderate Liberals, and we now learn from the London Daily News that an attempt is being made to oust him from the leadership of the Liberal Party. The Duke of Bedford announces his intention of seceding from the Liberal Party in the event of Mr. Gladstone yielding to the demands of Mr. Parnell, and no doubt the example of His Grace would be followed by a no inconsiderable or insignificant section of the party. ' There is nothing new to chronicle with regard to the Balkan crisis. Greece has notified the Powers of her refusal to demobilise. hat action the Powers will now take is uncertain. It is hardly likely, however, that they will repeat the Dulcigno naval demonstration fiasco. The Arabs in the neighbourhood of Suakim continue troublesome, and desultory skirmishing is becoming of frequent occurrence. An extraordinary report comes from America of the discovery at Chicago of a plot to destroy Washington. The Socialists are credited with the authorship of this latest sensation.

The Melbourne strikes have happily come to a conclusion, at least for the present. A Board of Conciliation has been appointed to settle the question in dispute between the wharf labourers and the shipowners, and in the meantime the men have returned _to their work, and the loading and discharging of the various vessels were proceeding as usual yesterday. The Hon. Mr. Richardson arrived in town yesterday evening from his visit; to the Waikato. The Sainoan Ambassadors had an interview with the Governor and a number of members of the Cabinet yesterday. Our Wellington correspondent sends us an interesting communication on the subject. The annual meeting of the Harbour Board, to consider the accounts for the past year in terms of section 55 of the Harbours Act, 1875, was held yesterday, and the statement of accounts as printed was adopted. A special meeting of the Board was held immediately afterwards to consider the questions in regard to the contract for No. 1 buttress where the reclamation wall fell in. The offer of the committee, and the reply of Mr. Jenkinson, also the Engineer's report were read. Mr. Jenkineon's letter intimated that he would be in attendance, and the Board decided to call him to ask him, aye or nay, whether he would accept the offer of •Be committee. Mr. Jenkinson, however, at this stage was not in attendance, although he was present a few minutes afterwards, and he was allowed until four o'clock to give an answer. We are informed that the answer was declining the offer made, and the matter therefore reverts to the Finance and Legal Committee in accordance with the resolution of the Board. A detailed report of the proceedings appears elsewhere. An accident occurred yesterday to an of the Sugar Company named John Sheehey. While discharging sugar at the company's stores, Customs-street East, he slipped between two bags of sugar and fractured his right forearm and dislocated his wrist. He was taken to the hospital, where his injuries were attended to by Dr. Bond, the House Surgeon. Mr. Hobbs, M.H.R., has left for the Bay of Islands, in order to be present at the regatta. He will not address the electors of his district until March, as it requires about a month to traverse the Bay, Hokianga, and Mangonui districts. In another column will be found a report of the charges brought against the three men, William Siaims, William Jameson, and Charles David Sherwin, alias Charles David Sherman, at the Police Court yesterday, of doing wanton damage in Upper Queen-street late on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning, and also of resisting the police when endeavouring to arrest them. Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M., presided on the Bench, and dismissed the charges of resisting the police without hearing the defenoe. On the charges of breaking the city gas lamp, and the lantern over the door of the Queen's Head Hot«l, and windows of adjoining premises, His Worship said he had no doubt that the men had broken the lamp, but, as the evidence did not fully support this charge, he was compelled to dismiss the case. In doing so he said the conduct of the men was extremely discreditable to them. ' Mr. T. Cotter appeared for the accused.

With reference to the drowning case at Motuibi, we learn that the name of the deceased was Fanny Vesey, and in town at present are her only relatives in the colony —Elizabeth Vesey, twin sister of the deceased, who is employed as a domestic servant by Mr. Kempt, dentist, and a brother, who is in the employ of King and Walker, commission agents. The three left Devonshire, England, about eighteen months ago._ The deceased was not, quite 20 years of age- From a private letter received from a lady on the island we learn the following particulars concerning the accident:—"Fanny Vesey, the young girl who is dead, evidently went to bathe when all the other occupants of the quarantine island were asleep, for she was not missed until about half-past seven, when Mrs. Paul and her family expected breakfast. As the girl did not turn up a search was made, and at half-past nine her clothes were found by Mr. Oulpan under a tree, and Mr. Williams, caretaker of , the station, took charge of them. When it became evident that there was a fatality, two sons of Mr. 0. Mays, with Mr. Frank Hill and Charles Kissling, manned the yacht and brought the news to Mr. T. Hill, Collector of Customs, and he proceeded to the island in the Revenue cruiser Hawk to make investigations." Mr. Hill returned to Auckland yesterday morning. Up to that time the body had not b«en found, and a search party which has been organised will proceed to the island at eight o'clock this morning. The engineer in charge of the first section of the North Island Trunk Bailway, Mr. C. W. Hursthouse, is at present in town, having arrived from Taranaki on Sunday by the Roturua. He has been on a visit to Taranaki during the holidays, and is returning to his duties. There is, we learn, likely to be some trouble about the prospecting in the King Country. The natives have taken advice on the subject, and have been advised that the' best plan is for Tawhiao to sue the prospectors for trespass! Sydney Taiwhanga has written a letter to the Napier Evening News, in which he says:—"l begged the Native Minister to withdraw the surveying and prospecting parties, or it might lead to a No. 2 Waitara difficulty. The Native Minister's answer to this request was to ask whether Taiwhanga would fire the first shot. I was very sorry indeed to hear such a remark made by a Minister of the Crown, more especially before these Maori chiefs. 1 only reminded him of what Honana Maioha had written to me, that in this work of surveying and prospecting the Government is acting like disobedient children to their father, and they will be very (ketekete) sorry in future for it." >, We understand that the shareholders of the Rotorua Railway Company will shortly receive a refund of 10s per Share. J

The directors of the Moanataiari Gold Mining Company have appointed Mr Thomas Radford manager of their mine. \yl understand he will take charge from the U of March next. The closing mission services at St. Patrick'. Cathedral were attended on Sunday by ] #rg ® congregations. At nine o'clock the Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society were present, and received Holy Communion. Rev. Father O'Farrell officiated. The eleven o'clock mass was celebrated > by the Rev. Father Lenihan, His Lordship Bishop Luck and Very Rev. W. McDonald being present in the sanctuary. Rev. Father Hegarty preached an impressive sermon on the worri» of St. Paul, " God forbid that I should gl ory in anything save the cross of our Lord J eßu , Christ." After mass His Lordship bl eise( the mission cross, the gift of Miss Tole to the cathedral. The Sacrament of Confirm. ation was also administered by the Bishop to about seventy adults. The four Redemptorist Fathers assisted in the administration of the sacrament. A mission for the children was opened at three p.m. by the Rev. Father O'Neill, and will be continued during tho week. The Bay of Islands Regatta, which is to take place to-morrow, has been creating a large amount of interest in nautical circlet here. The s.s. Rotomahana and Clansman both left last evening for Russell, well patronised with excursionists, and the former vessel was the bearer of several boats that are to compete. Amongst these is the Alice, the champion boat of the Mercury Bay Regatta. It is rumoured that Mr. Hurst, M.H.R., does not intend to stand again for Waite. mata, and Mr. R. M. Stark, who has long been identified with the district, is mentioned as a probable candidate. In his book on "New Zealand Rulers and statesmen," Mr. Giaborne thus describes Sir Julius Vogel :—" The leading characterise tics of Sir Julius Vogel's mind are restless energy, great self-confidence, quick per ception,dialectical power, persistent tenacity, fertility of resources, constructiveness, and fertility of rapid combination. He sees his object a long way off, and is indefatigable in its pursuit. . . . One great gift he has is the wonderful vigour of his mind. . . . His knowledge of figures is almost inotinctive, and he delights in abstruse calculations. His political failings are his over-fondness of personal power and of popular adulation, hi* proclivity to self-show, and too great speculativeness. He is apt [to become a dictator in disguise, and there Is in his nature a dangerous love of experimental politics . . . Upon the whole, the public character of Sir Julius Vogel may be summed up as sensational, autocratic, far-seeing, endowed with great force and strong will' persistent, fertile in resource, ambitious, adventurous, and remarkable for general ability. As a statesman left to himself he would be original, but unsafe. His mind iB rich in precious ores, but care, time, and co-opera-tive labour are needed to make them marketable. The besetting danger of his public life is egotism." « Nothing (writes our Kawhia correspondent) has yet been done to give effect to the Native Minister's promise to Te Huki, that he would build a Courthouse here. At present, justice has to be dispensed in a building built by the members of the A.C. force as a library and recreation room, and of course at an inconvenience to the owners and to the magistrate. The catapult nuisance is again being experienced, and the increasing number of broken window panes testify to its virulence. At Wanganui, a few days ago, a boy of about five or six was put on the stand as a witness in the fire case. He stated that ha could not read or write, and did not go to Sunday-school, though he said prayers to God. • When asked where wicked boys go to, he replied "To God," and the magistrate then refused to accept his evidence. At the Mount Eden Baptist Church on Sunday last successful Sunday-school anniversary services were held, when the church was crowded, and the collections amounted to about £10. The Rev. Thomas Spurgeon preached in the morning from the text I Thessalonians v. 22—taking both old and new versions of the text. At three o'clock the Rev. T. Bray addressed the children, and also preached in the evening from James v. 19*20. The soiree will be held on Monday next, 20fch January, not the 29th as advertised. Rev. T. Spurgeon, Rev. T. Bray, Mr. Battley, and other friends will address the meeting. The usual service held in the Protestant Hall, Karangahape Road, in connection with the Gospel Temperance Mission, was well attended last Sunday evening. Mr. A. Dewar presided. Excellent addresses were given by Mr. Hill, a recent arrival, and Mr. Downie. The forthcoming licensing elections were referred to by the speakers. During his visit to Cambridge the Minister for Public Works (remarks the Waikato Times) may be said to have "scored one" against the ' deputation of gentlemen who waited upon him. Mr. Wells and a few other gentlemen, Mr. B. Whyte being of tho party, took Mr. Richardson down to see the courthouse. Every defect of the old temple was enumerated, how the presiding justices were constantly being affected with severe colds, swooning fits and nausea, how the public were frequently suffocated out of the building, and how the want of sufficient accommodation so seriously affected both public and officials generally. After a patient hearing, Mr. Richardson asked, " Bave you not previously set forth these complaints to the Minister of Justice?" "That we have, and very frequently, too, for the last four or five years," replied one of the gentlemen. " And what reply did he give yon ? " asked Mr. Richardson. " That owing to the stringent nature of the retrenchment policy which the Government were obliged to exercise in every department they could not reasonably entertain the request for the present." "Now," concluded Mr. Richardson, "this is one of the effects of the retrenchment forced on the Government by the Opposition ; you cannot therefore blame the Government, but the Opposition who have deprived them of the means of letting you have what you require. Your member here is one of the strongest retrenchment men we havo," Mr. Whyte politely informed the Minister that what he had said about him was perfectly true. He was in favour of retrenchment, but on the usual Parliamentary principle— other people's districts, not in his own.

Signora Fabris, whose first concert takes place at the Choral Hall, to-morrow, was educated in the Royal Conservatory of Music, Milan. From the time of her first appearance in public, when only a child of twelve years of age, she has enjoyed an uninterrupted career of success. For the period of three years she was prima donua at Scala La Milan, and subsequently scored great triumphs both in Spain and America. All the members of her family have been distinguished by musical abilities . of the highest order. Signora Fabris was the first to produce, with Madame Link, "The Lohengrin," in Melbourne, taking the part of Ortruda, which proved a great success. Miss Minnie Uhr, who accompanies Signora Fabris, and is one of her pnpils, is a contralto mezzo soprano. She is a Sydney young lady, and makes her first appearance in public tomorrow evening. Among those who will take part in Signora Fabris' concerts are Miss Minnie Uhr (contralto mezzo soprano), Mis* Stephenson (noprano), Miss Culpan (soprano), Miss James, Mr. Tayler (bass), Mr. Hanua (tenor), Mr. Kdger (violoncello), Mr. Hemus (violin), Mr. Clutsam (piano), and among others Mr. Sydney Smith, a baritone singer, from the South Island, a gentleman who wields the baton for one of the Choral Societies in Christchurch. The annual picnic of the Auckland Builders' and Contractors' Association will take place on Thursday next, the excursion party proceeding to Suckland by rail. The traffic manager of the Auckland Suburban Tramway Company has kindly consented to run two extra cars on Thursday morning to carry those who intend joining the picnic party of the builders. The oars leave the Three Lamps at a-quarter to eight, eight, five minutes past eight, and ten minutes past eight a.m. From the number of tickets sold and inquired for, it is expected that there will be a larger number attending this picnic than any of the former ones got up by the Bailders' Association, consequent in a great measure to the very liberal manner in which Mr. Maxwell,. General Manager of Railways, treated the deputation that waited upon him. He consented to take the builders and their friends at 3s each, return fare, to Buckland, the usual price being 9a 2d. The train leaves at half-past eight o'clock. There were in the lock-up last evening two prisoners—women—on charges ofjdruuken" nefis. •- 'Vf?;

The old Hospital Com&ittee met yester day for the last time, being now supersede by the District Charitable Aid Board, unde the legislation of last session. The present Committee of Management o the Auckland Hospital ceases its function on the 22nd instant. The duties will b taken up on that date by the Charitabl Institution Board. A number of subscrip tions which have recently been received b the committee will bo returned to th donors. Over one hundred informations have beei prepared under the Dog Nuisance Act by th Registrar, Mr. G. Goldie, and are now read; for service. Unless the fee for collars is pail promptly and collars taken out, the offender on the defaulters' list will be proceedei against in the Police Court. The sensational drama of "The Squatter was last evening again performed at th Opera House by the Darrell Dramatic Com pany to a fair " house." Mr. Darrell as Net Kverslee, the old sundowner, was repeated]} applauded by the audience for the manner ii which he played the role. Tho play will b< repeated to-night. The Harbour Board dredge is at present dredging in front of the reclamation wall hut some little distance off and to tin westward of No. 1 buttress, so that th« dredging operations are not likely to afiec the stability of that section of the wall. By the a.s. Rotorna, which leaves One hunga for Southern ports this morning, tin . following will be passengers :—The Hon. G McLean, M.L.C., Chairman of Directors o the Union S.S. Company ; Colonel Fraser M.H.R.; and Miss Christian. The half-yearly meeting of the "A' Battery of Artillery was held at the Drill shed last night. The Treasurer brought uj the balance sheet, which showed a gooc balance to credit, and the question of sendini representatives to the New Zealand liilli Association at Wanganui was then discussed It was agreed to vote £30 towards thi expenses of a team of six, of which tin present carbine champion, Gunner Parslow is to be one. The other five are to bi selected by three competitions at 200, 300 and 500 yards, of which the first is fixed ti take place at five a.m. on Wednesday, ami the other two must be completed on Saturday. A vote of thanks to Captain Payne concluded the meeting. The following letter from Mr. George Fisher, M.H.K., a member of tho Government Insurance Board, appears in the Christchurch Press :— " Sir, — Touching your article of Wednesday, upon the subject of the Government Life Insurance Association, and regarding that portion of it which says, ' It may turn out that the new appointment [Driver's appointment] meets with the entire approval of the elected members of the - Central Board,' I desire to inform yon, as an elected member of the Board, that the appointment meets with my distinct disapproval, and that disapproval is duly and properly recorded in the association's minutes of proceedings. The Clansman returned from Waiwera yesterday, bringing back a number of the excursionists who went on Saturday. These Saturday trips by the Northern Steamship Company's boat* are greatly appreciated. Mr. Graves Aickin, who returned by the steamer, had an interview with Sir Julius Vogel during his stay at Waiwera, in his capacity as President of the Chamber of Commerce. The details have not transpired, but it is understood the interview had reference to various matters connected with the trade and commerce of the port. They will no doubt be submitted to the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce shortly to beheld. .Among the passengers who arrived yesterday by the Rotomahana, from the South, were Dr. and Mrs. Haines, after a pleasant trip to the mother country, and who will be heartily welcomed back to Auckland by their numerous friends ; Captain Babot, who comes here to meet the Doric, due from Hobart to-morrow; the Revs. D. F. Barry and J. O'Connell, and four of the Marist Brothers; The Piako County Council have been advised by Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond not to pay the contributions demanded from them under the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, on the ground that the Act of last session has not constituted Boards under the games referred to in the notice. The forthcoming Fair of All Nations, in connection with St. Benedict's Church, promises to be a very brilliant affair, and extendi v« preparations are being made to make it j one of the most, successful spectacular enter- ! tainments Auckland has hitherto seen. Our Kihikihi correspondent writes : — " Your Te Awamutu correspondent is somewhat in error in attributing Louis Meyer, the psendo-detective's capture to Detective Jones. The latter bad left for Auckland, and the capture was effected by Policeconstable Ryan, who has been stationed here ever since Sergeant Gillies' removal. As it happened, Detective Jones was one of Meyer's victims, for the latter borrowed 2s from him." The following is the report of the Prison Gate Brigade Home for the week ending January 15 :—Number of meals given, 174 ; beds supplied, 43 ; admitted, 3 ; discharged and left, 4; still in Home, 4. Donations of meat and bread, and one box tea received ilia week. Requisites : Flour, sugar, and eta toes. We have to acknowledge the receipt of * Jeems Kaye : His Adventures 'and Opinions," as reprinted from The Bailie, a Scottish humorous journal established in 1872. The brochure is illustrated with sixteen original page illustrations. The adventures of Jeemß, which are of a Pickwickan character, are narrated in a chatty, easy fashion in the Scottish dialectYesterday was one of the hottest days of the season, and the heat was very trying alike to man and beast, but the temperature lowered sensibly in the evening. There is still no sign of rain, and the stock in some of the country districts is suffering severely. A curious story is told of how Mr. Woodruffe, a settler at Stratford, saved himself from being burned to death. He had taken refuge in the well. Seeing all escape cut off, he bethought himself of this refuge as the last and only resort. Lowering himself by the rope from the windlass, he soon found himself out of tho reach of the fire, and in an atmosphere that could sustain life. Looking upwards he could see the flames running along the ground like a continuous stream of tire, and occasionally they would lick down the well and threaten him even there. The windlass could be seen burning. First the rope became detached and fell down, and it was at once apparent that a new danger was threatened when the supports of the windlass should give way and the heavy piece of timber which formed the drum should fall in upon him. The burning length of log at last fell down, and it was only by squeezing close to the side of the well that he escaped being struck by it. It was, of course, alight whet, it fell, but the water soon extinguished wha'; would otherwise probably have proved to be the means of smothering him.

It was recently resolved to erect a new Ponsonby Baptist Church, the present erection proving too small for the increasing congregation. With that object in view, Mr. Edmund Bell, architect, was instructed to prepare plans, tenders were invited, and that to Mr. W. Hutchinson accepted for £600 odd. The interesting ceremony of laying the memorial atone of the new church, Jervois Road, will be performed by Dr. Kenderdine this afternoon at half-past four o'clock. An opportunity will then be given to friends to l»y their contributions on the stone, after which addresses will be delivered by various ministers and friends. In the evening, at half.past six o'clock, a soiree will be held in the Ponsonby Hall. At the after public meeting Mr. C. C. Mann, of London, will preside, and addresses will be delivered by pastor Thomas Spurgeon, llev. Mr. Bray, Kav, J. H. Jones, and other friends. At the Police Court yesterday Duncan right, late steward of thei.s. Argyle, was brought up before Messrs. Prime and J. wlmour, Justices, upon the charge of embezzling £43 138 9d, the moneys of the Northern Steamship Company when in their employ, It will be remembered that on friday last the case had got as far as the completion of the examination-in-chief of Mr. Malcolm McLcod, chief steward to the Northern Steamship Company's boats. Mr. Napier, who appeared in defence, crossexamined him at great length. Other evidence was adduced, when the Bench intimated that they were satisfied there was a case to go before a jury in the Supreme Umrt. The case was then remanded to uilay next, when the depositions will be eaa over. Two other charges of embezzling -7''* committing larceny as a bailee of o lbs Gd in money and orders, the property of the .Northern Steamship Com- * 1) were also remanded to Friday next.

The appointment (says the Otago Daily Times) of Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H.R., as & member of the Waste Lands Board, has at last been gazetted, and adds another to the list of those indefensible —we had almost written disgraceful—political appointments which have, under the present regime, been so numerous. Beginning the list with the unnecessarily numerous "elevations'" to the Legislative Council, and continuing it through its various gradations ' of paid Chairmen of Committees of the House, J.P.'b, members of Waste Lands Boards, &0., &c., the present Government will, by the time it is ejected from office, have a more dishonourable reoord in this particular branch of political patronage than any of their predecessors in the history of the colony. Of this last appointment wo can only write in terms of the strongest condemnation and most thorough contempt. Never was there a more unblushing case of rewarding political sycophancy. Presumably to punish a former member of the Board whose term of office had expired—a member who had performed the duties entrusted to him in a competent, diligent, and praiseworthy manner, but who had been unable to reconcile it to his conscience to support the party who are now in power when he was a member of the House—he is thrown aside, and his place on the Board given to a member of the House who, beyond his servile support of tho Stout- Government, has no earthly claim to the position. Apropos of tho Driver appointment at Duuedin, the Timaru Herald remarks that if the commission is at all on a substantial scale Mr. Driver may be soon bo rovelling in as princely a salary as that spoiled favourite of fortune, Mr. George Thome, jun., who drew as much as the Premier and another Cabinet Minister combined, and was bidding fair in the course of time to bask in a salary as large as that of the Governor himself. There will be a number of ministerial changes submitted at the New Zealand Wesleyan Conference which opens at Christchurch to-day. Ono Free Church Methodist minister (the Rev. W. Taylor) has resigned in connection with his own denomination, and offers his services to the Wesleyans. It is understood that. tho Rev. R. Bavin has ! received an invitation from the Conference of New Wales, and is desirous of being transferred. Reoently we referred in notes of a trip to Roeville, Taupaki Bush, to the fact of Mr. A. H. Burton, of Duuedin, being up in that locality taking views of tho surrounding scenery. The views are thoroughly illustrative of a kauri forest, including sketches of " the home of the kauri," tho "falling" of the trees, the crosscutting of the prostrate logs, and the hauling up of these logs by wire tramways from deep gullies, as practised at Mr. M. H. Roe's Taupaki Bush, and their eventual conveyance to a mill and a market. Some 700 views have been taken during the trip, including those of south-eastern part of the King Country. With reference to the disturbance in Upper Queen-street on Saturday night, reported in our yesterday's issue, we deem it necessary to state that the Mr. Hemus mentioned as one of the assaulted is an at the Queen's Head Hotel. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the general opinion in that oity is that Mr. Larnach's address to bis constituents is really a carefully drawn up statement of the policy of the Ministry. We have before us (says the Timaru Herald) three wrappers of papers which came to hand by the San Francisco mail yesterday. The first is from London, and is addressed to " Miss , Tumorrow, Canterbury, New South Wales, New Zealand the other is from Paris to "Mr.

, Tunaris Herald, Tunaris, New Zealandwhile the third, from San Francisco, runs, "Mr. , Timeorau, New Zealand." We give the Post Office officials credit for their "nous" or instinct in getting the papers delivered into the right hands. Of course where we have marked •, names appeared. During 1535 the amount received for pilotage at the port of Auckland was £1478. The weekly drill of the Hobson Company was held last night, Mr. Jennings, one of newly elected lieutenants being in command. There was a moderate attendance, and the company was exercised in marching movements and formations by some of the non-commissioned officers. At the fiist meeting of the One-tree Hill Domain Board, a report of which appears elsewhere, Sir Maurice O'Korke was appointed Chairman. The treat to the boys of the Kohimarama School on Saturday (to which reference was made in yesterday's issue) was an enjoyable affair. The idea originated with Mr. Hogan. the master, and through the instrumentality of Mr. Howe, of the Customs, £24 were raised. The Tongariro was chartered on Saturday to take down subscribers and friends. Among the visitors wero His J Worship the Mayor, Mr. Jeune, Hospital | Committee; Mr. Laßoche, Mr. Graham, Relieving Officer ; Mr. Anderson, City Sur- ! veyor ; Rev. Mr. King, and Messrs. Dacre, Rowe, Mason, and Howarth. We are informed by Mr. Hogan that there were 64 boys resident in the Home, and there were also present 12 boys belonging to the Home who are employed in town, and 14 girls from the Kent-street School, under the charge of Miss Jackson, matron. The domitories, schoolroom, &c,, presented a particularly clean and cheerful appearance. The boys seemed thoroughly happy, and spent a most pleasant afternoon in various sportsjumping, racing for prizes, &c. —and were afterwards regaled with a most ample spread of good things. The DevonpOrt Band kindly gave their services, and added very materially to the enjoyment of the day. A number of people who were left behind at St. Heliers by the steamer came on to Kohimarama, and were entertained at tea and brought on to town by the Tongariro. Throe cases of diphtheria at Devonport have been reported to the local authorities. One case, that of a child aged four years, terminated fatally. At a special meeting of the Newton Borough Council held in the borough offices, St. George's Hall, yesterday, the proposed buildine regulations were considered, and ordered to be advertised for the information of the burgesses before they are confirmed by an Order in Council. There were present at the meeting:—The Mayor (Mr. R. T. Warnock), and Messrs. Billington, Lee, Hastings, Gordon, Riggs, and Buckley. There was a large attendance at the Bowling Green on Saturday of members of the Bowling Green and Lawn Tennis Club. Miss Polk was elected a member of the Lawn Tennis Club. The first draw for Mr. Geo. Holdship's prize for ladies was fixed to be played off on or before Saturday next. It has been suggested by several new members that a series of muff matches should be arranged for those who hare recently joined, and who are not engaged in other matche?, and the Match Committee have been requested to take the matter in hand. It is proposed to receive entries for muff matches up to the 30th instant. All members on the roll on that date will be eligible to enter. At a meeting held at the Wade Hotel on Saturday night last, the following entries for the first throe rases were received :— Maiden Plate, 7 ; Hurdle Race, 6 ; Wade and Orewa Handicap, 9. The majority of the members of the Liberal party are opposed to the suggestion that an Irish Parliament should be established. The Napier Theatre Royal was re-opened last night for the first time since the alterations, and was crammed. Miss Juno Taylor's company produced " Called Back " very successfully. Special attention is directed to the sale by public auction ibis Day (Tuesday), at twelve o'clock by I). K. Evans, at his land mart, Queen-street, of the following valuable frenhold properties. That comfortable villa residence and allotment situate In Nelson and Union-street, having two frontages, pleasantly situated, near the Scotch Church ; nil conveniences, gas and city water, etc. Alio those grand bulld'ng sites at Eilerslle, close to the railway station, level, and grand views. At tho same time, Marmlon-street, city, just off Upper Queen-street, fronting the Girls' High School, three houses on one large allotment, to bo sold In one lot. The houses are always let. So close to the city, and a most desirable and safe investment. At Brighton ll'iad, Parnoll, a comfortable house of live rooms, on allotment 44 x 126; stands high ; god views. Also a valuable freehold allotment, at Sackville-street, Ponsonby, off Richmond Koad, 49 x 148. lot 46; and at Pearl-street, Norlheote. nice level allotment, good view, 08 x 130, all cleared, and near to main road. It will be seen by referring to our advertising columns, that Mrs. Glover's school for young ladies, Symonds-street, will re-open on the 2nd of February. The best matters are engaged, and the success which has always at ended Mrs. Glover's efforts In the spreading of a high class of oducatlon, will no doubt attract to her school a large number of new pupils for the ensuing scholastic year. A moonlight excursion will take place tomorrow evening round the islands Id tho harbour, the *.s. Wellington loaving the Quoen-street Wharf at eight o'clock. By an advertisement elsewhere, it will.be seen that a manager is wanted for the Woollen Company. i.