Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7593, 24 March 1886, Page 4

We published a cable message a fortnight ago, to the effect that the British garrison at iemotha, in Burmah, consisting ot 300 mem, were in imminent peril, being surrounded by a rebel force estimated at 9000 men. On l;he news of the garrison's situation reaching Mandalay, General Prendergaat at once collected a relief force, and marched to 'the assiotance of the besieged troops, We now learn from our cable despatches to-day that he has been successful. The garriison apparently were ab'e to hold out until the arrival of General Prendergast, when the rebels were completely routed, and scattereu in all directions. It speaks volumes for the courage and coolness of the British garrison that they were able to maintain their po«i tion in the face of the fearful odds opposed to them.

; The British army of occupation >■ to be reduced/to 8000 men during* present year, A provided, of 00 8 ur the that no untoward circumstance T*l' looked for contingency arises to "J* the carrying out of the scheme t possible or inadvisable. But Egypt is . u 1 where the unexpected happens mo" i? d than not Similar dreams of evacuation 2? cherished by a former Gladstonian Oow? mem, but at the very moment when Sri', realisation seemed most hopeful, when *!?' sky was all serene, and the air tranquil tl were dispelled a« swiftly as thoie It Alnaschar. The Soudan disaster, the .„ f hilation of Hickß Pasha's army, put all an L" thoughts out of the question. It is to be honed that no such catastrophe will again prevent tK execution of the Ministerial policy a noli which, it may be noted, differs in a "»? important particular from the former I that case it was a complete clearing out 1 the country. The scuttling-out idea has now been abandoned. A British force is to h still maintained in the country. It 18 0 | proposed to reduce its strength. y Mr. Seed and Mr. Moss, who are to nrn ceed to Fiji to report on the relation, between that colony and the Government will leave per the Arawata on or about

When the e.s. Arawata arrived from Fiii early yesterday morning she dropped anchor at the quarantine ground, and ther remained until passed by the Health Offi'-er This is in accordance with the resolution of th • Government arrived at prior to the departure of the Arawata on her last trip to Fiji I"* consequence of having to obey strict quarai" tine Captain Cromany had to give on ere his arrival not to allow anyone on board anyone or anything to leave the vessel until eiter she had been admitted to pratique Th Arawata was visited by the Healtu (jffi ce r shortly after daylight, and at about eix o'clock she was berthed at the Qaecn-street Wharf, everyone on board having been found to been in good health.

In another page we publish an exteude! report of the arguments which took pl ace yesterday before the Keaident Magistrate in regard to the petitions lodged respecting the recent election of a licensing committee for City South. It will be recollected tbat there were two petitions lodged, one by the temperance party against the election of Messrs. Anderson, Harper, and Winks, and the second by the moderate party against the validity of the election as a whole. It was anticipated that when the latter was lodged objection would be taken that it was not lodged within the prescribed time, but the temperance party's solicitors not only acknowledged that it was lodged in time but admitted all its allegations, and asked to have the election declared void. Thu procedure was objected to, and the moderate party claimed the power to withdraw th* petition. The whole argument yesterday was on the questions of whether they had the power to withdraw their petition ; and, if not, whether the respondents or any other person could proceed with the petitiou if the petitioners offered no evidence. Mr, Laixhley and Mr. Cotter appeared for the modera « party, and Mr. Button and Mr. Theo. Cooper for the temperance party. The arguments are of more than usual interest, as the questions raised are novel, and few authorities could be adduced on oitner side, flia Worship, Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M, reserved his judgment on the points raised until Monday next.

The hurricane at Fiji on March 4 proved fatal to several Auckland-built vessels. They were, however, all chiefly owned in Fiji. The schooner Coral Queen, which wae blown from her anchors ana out to sea, was built at Whangaroa in 1880, and wan owned by Mr. J. A. Joyco, of Levaka. The Wairiki was built at Auckland in 18S2, and was owned by Mr. George McKiesack, Tnis vessel was stranded at Natewa Bay. She is not much damaged about the hull, but both her masts are gone. The sehocuer Eastward Ho, which was wrecked at Mango, was another Aucklaid-built schooner of 45 tone register. The s.s. Clyde, which sunk in Levaka harbour, was a wooden vessels of about 45 tons register, and was built here in 1878. She was owned by tbe Fijian Government. The New Zealand Insurance Company held a policy for £500 on this vessel. The other vessels lost and referred to elsewhere in this issue are unknown to Auckland.

A meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday. Messrs. Melville, Young, and Hcfferman's tender (£1917 7s 6dJ for redecking a portion of Queen-street Wharf was accepted. The Engineer submitted plane (accompanied by a report) for the reclamation of Shoal Bay. He recommended that a portion of this work should be gone ou with at once. The matter was referred to the Work 9 and Tariff Committee. A report of the Engineer re certain proposed alterations and improvements to Northcote Wharf was also referred to the Works and Tarifl Committee.

At the last meeting of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Committee, relative to the inquiry into the conduct of Mr. Walters, of the Refuge, it was stated that Nosworthy, who had been prominent amongst the complainants, had been sent away from the Hospital by Dr. Fhilson. We are informed by Dr. Phileon that this is a mistake, that he had no difference with JS'osworthy at all. Nosworthy was removed from the Hospital to the Refuge because the place was full, and nothing could be done with his case by medical treatment.

It is stated that Mr. Hobbs will be opposed for the Bay of Islands district by his old opponent, Mr. John Lundon. It is believed that Mr. Morrison, who has lately been acting throughout the colony on behalf of the publicaus, may aleo be a candidate, relying on the support of the Orangemen,

We learn that the Sugar Company have received advices from Fiji to the effect that no damage whatever is reported from their estate on the Ba River, where they have a large crop of sugar thie year. The gale appears to have been confined to one side of the islands.

At the Police Conrfc yesterday morning before Messrs. D. G. MacDonnell and J. Macfarlane, J.P.'s, Joseph Welling, a wellknown habitue of the Court, on charges of larceny of flowers, &c, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for stripping a valuable apple tree in Mr. H. R. George's orchard, Epsom. Besides this charge, he was convicted ot stealing a fieh-hawker's basket subsequently, and received an additional month's hard labour, which, wit'a the sentence of a month imposed on. March 13, brings his sentence up to live months in all. For some time past, the orchards in Epsom and Mount Eden have been stripped almost wholesale, and the spoil disposed of in the city and suburbs. The A.C. Field Force have shown their appreciation of their late comrade, Sergeant Charles Collins, by erecting to his memory in the Church of England cemetery a marble tablet surrounded by an iron railing and stone coping. The tablet bears the following inscription:—"Sacred to the memory ot Charles Collins, late Hospital Sergeant, A.C P. Force, died 27th September, 1885; aged 27 years. Erected by his comrades of the N.Z. Armed Constabulary Field Force." The work was entrusted to Messrs. Tait Brothers, Rutland - street, and has been neatly executed.

At half-past five on the morning of the 19th instant—the day after the Tarawera had left Sydney—the alarm of a man overboard was raised. At that time the chief officer was on watch, and he at once ordered the engines to be stopped and reversed, and had a lifebuoy thrown overboard, whilst one of the quartermasters was sent aloft to keep watch on the spot where the man had fallen over. Whilst this was being done one of the boats was lowered, and, being promptly manned, was sent away to the relief of the drowning man. Captain Sinclair was also called. The boat was fortunate enongh to pick up the man—one of the crew—but he was insensible. Nine mioutee from the time the alarm was given only elapsed until the man was placed on board the steamer again, and eight minutes later the Tarawera was going ahead again on her course. No sooner was the man placed on board than restoratives were used, w'«t Q such good results that in a very short time he recovered, and next day was all rignt again. The rescuing of this man was prompt work, and goes far to show that the officers and crew of the Taraiwera are in au e&oient state of training, and are always ready lor emergencies. In fact, in all the accidents that have occurred on the different boats or this company the same pleasing results nave beea noticeable ; and it must be assuring to those who have to travel by. the boats ot tat Union Company to find that they are so wen officered and manned. The law examinations were going on al the Supreme Court yesterday, and will be continued to-day. There are about twelve caaditUtes. The Rev. D. W. Banciman n supervising the examinations.

Commenting on the result of the BryoeUoßcien libel case, the Sydney Morning Herald aays :—" It needs bat a glanoe at Mr. Koaden's pages to see that hie mind was strongly prejudiced against Mr. Bryoe and his conduct of native affaire. The libel complained of was contained in t, statement that on a certain occasion during the Maori outbreak, Mr. Bryce and Sergeant Maxwell <g»llantly dashed in and cut down, gleefully and with ease,' several native women und children who were oat on a pig hunt — which meant nothing less than a coldblooded mtssaore. For such an imputation aa that Mr. Bryce was not only justified in seeking the vindication of his character, bat he was morally bound to seek it. There were other reaeone, however, which combined to influence him in taking the matter into a Conrt of law. Mr. Rusden had abused his functions as an historian for the purpose of attacking not only Mr. Bryce, but many other local statesmen, to whom the conduct of native affairs had beeu entrusted. Bis work betrays the influence of a prejudice against the administration of affairs in all that related to the native race In one of the first sentences of his preface he tells hie readers tbat the centre of historical interest in New Zealand is to be found among the Maoris aud not among ' their invaders.' That was the text which he undertook to expound in three large octavo volumes, in a style which Mr. Bryce's action, has now made familiar. The best excuse that can be made for a history written on such principles—if any excuse can be made at all—is that the writer was misled by his nltra-philanthropy of tho Maori race, Hβ is evidently one of those hot-headed enthusiasts whose ehildiph faith in the ' noble savage" has led them to adopt tho most bigoted notions with respeot to English tyranny and usurpation amoug the native races. The contest in the Queen's Bench was something more than a trial of strength between Mr, Btyce and Mr. Kusden. It was a contest between the English settlers and the men who love to denounce their own countrymen as monsters instigated by greed and selfish ambition. Mr. Bryce has vindicated the ' good name' of Kugland as well as his own, and in so doing he has earned the thanks of colonists in every part of the Empire."

We are requested by the clergyman and churchwardens of St. Peter'?, at the Lake, to tender their sincere thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who so kindly assisted at the concert on Monday evening. In addition to the names mentioned in our yesterday's impression, Miss Whitaker sang with excellent effect, and Herr Tutschka gave a splendid violin solo. Mr. Hanna was prevented from being present owing to lilness. The concert was most successful, financially and otherwise.

The difficulty between the Auckland Bootmakers' Operatives Society and the masters has not yet been settled, though hopes are entertained of a peaceful solution. The eociety hold another meeting on Friday evening next in connection with the question. A communication has been received from Sydney, snggesting the union of all the bootmakets' societies in Australia and New Zealand. It has been decided to fall in with the proposal.

An account of Lord Tollemache's cottage farms is given in Chambers' Journal:— " Each consists of three acres, and each tenant has a cow grazing in his own pasture. The cottages contain six rooms, with a yard to the rear for coals, a large oven, a piggery, and cowshed, and the rent for house and land is £10 per annum. As a general rule the labourer pays this out of the profits on hie farm, besides providing his family with an ample supply of dairy produce and bacon. All that he earns in wages is therefore available for other items of expenditure ; and lit is the proud boast of the neighbourhood that the labourers oc the Tolletnache estates are unexcelled in England.' Each tenant recoives a 21-year3' lease, and he i 3 thus perfectly secured of hia farm."

The Newmarket Borough Council held a special meeting yesterday evening, for the purpose of opening the tenders received for the water supply plant for the borough. There were only three— namely, Messrs. George Fraser and Sons, £2900 ; Messrs. T. and ». Morrin and Co., £2795, and Messrs. E. Porter and Co., £2259. The latter was accepted.

Apropoe of the revelations respecting the Commercial BaDk of South Australia, the Otago Daily limes opens up the question of tLe efficiency of auditing. It says :—" Since auditors can be deceived so readily, and by a process bo childlike, we cannot but ask the question, Are auditors any good at all ? Tbe payments of these officials range from £'25 to £100, and wa cannot- but think that under present conditions the money is in many cases worse than wasted. *Ve understand that the examination α-ade follows as a rule the routine of the office whoso accounts are under audit, and does not deal with anything in the smallest degree outside that routine. It is made too generally by incompetent men who are extremely anxious not to make themselves disagreeable, for fear they should not be appointed another year. The ordinary layman would imagine that the receipt for securities by a bank would be quite insufficient to satiety a tolerably astute man who felt; his responsibilities to shareholders. A demand for the inspection of the securities themselves would have put an end to this frand years ago, but such a requirement was never insisted on. If it be the whole duty of an auditor to accept all that he is told as truth, we question the propriety of giving him £50. As we have said before, so we say again, we must have trained ami responsible men to some extent responsible for losses undetected by them. The officials are quite able to do the regular thing; no shareholder wants an auditor to Touch for tbis. Bat no auditor seems able to detect the irregular thing, and the ability to do this is the main purpose of holding audits. In banking, owing to the nature of the business, auditing is necessarily quite without value, unless, indeed, the auditor were daily and entirely engaged in the work, in which case the name would change with the surrounding. In other companies business men should be always employed who understand actuarial work, not commission agents and clerks, who as often as not know nothing about the work they undertake. The Commercial Back exposure ought to awaken too credulous shareholders."

A curious case of assault occurred yesterday in the police lock-up. A man named James Marshall, who wae drunk, was placed in a cell with another toper named Joseph .Riley. Something or other occurred which riled the later, and he lifted up the nightbucket and commenced hitting Marshall on tho head with it. A great outcry arose in tht cell, and the police officers in the station, above and below, rushed to the cell, got the door unlocked, and seized hold of Riley, who had got Marshall down, and separated the combatants. Riley was removed to another cell, and will be proceeded against this morning for the cowardly assault upon his fellow-prisoner.

There were in the lock-up laefc night one person on a charge of drunkenness ; James Marshall and Alex. Boaz, drunk and disorderly ; Joseph Riley, drunkenness and aaaault; Jane Beveridge, larceny.

We hear a dood deal about woman's rights nowadays, but Jane Beveridge, who was put in the lock-np last night on a charge of larceny, is likely to be made acquainted with the face that these rights bring corresponding responsibilities. It appears that she took eome of her husband's effects and pawned them, and he had her arrested. This is a orange from the good old days, when the wile was hereelf a chattel—one of the husband's properties —and therefore could not be «harged with stealing her husband's goods.

The tjontroverey aa to the architect entitled to the third prize for the competitive designs ior the Government Insurance Buildinge, Wellington, seems to be at last conclusively settled, if we may judgo from a paragraph in the Wellington Evening Post of the 19th instant, which is as follows .— "Aβ Mr. Turnbull has withdrawn his plans, we presume that the premium which he has lefueed will be paid to Mr. P. F. M. Burrows, whose plans were placed third in the original award, but who is now, by Mr. Turnbull's ■withdrawal, entitled, in fairness, to the second prize."

The Lyttelton Times has the following paragraph:—"The committee of the East and West Coast Railway Guarantors met on Monday evening to consider important communications from Londen. It would appear, from information supplied to us, that, notwithstanding the attempt** made to dissuade Mr. Scott from continuing his ettorte, he has persevered, and now there is every reason to hope that he will succeed. Though nothing definite has been settled as yet, it is understood that a strong syndicate is in negotiation with the committee and the Government for the construction of \ the Wilw»y." \

There was a large gathering of children and elderly people at the meeting of St. Stephen's Band of Hope last night, the ohnrch being more than half full. Earnest aud heart-stirring addresses were given by Mr. Thompson and Captain Lehoy. Misses Carlaw and Leftoy recited with great effect, and Miss Mabel Jowitt read a very suitable selection celled "John Trot." On the motion of Mr. R. S. Barry (Superintendent) a hearty vo.e of thanks was accorded to all those who had taken part in the evening's proceedings. Miss Chapman presided at the harmonium wii;h great efficiency. The meeting closed wiiih the bonediotion,

The iron gates in Bowen street, which street runs through the Albert Park from Pr nces-streot to Victoria-street East, were securely padlocked on Monday night, for the purpose of the city authorities averting their right to treat the avenue as a portion of the Park. Before midnight the lower gates were broken open by some person unknown. We understand the right to stop traffic is a mutter of dispute, as it is contended that the street is still dedicated as a thoroughfare.

In a private lotter received from Fiji by tho Arawata yesterday the writer says of tho late etorm there :—" We had all been an.cious to encounter a hnrricane, so as to be able to judge of the force ; we are all now quite content, as the Suva had to do her best to ride tho gale out. lam afraid the natives will suffer for the want of food, and planters will have a rough time of it, as times were bad enough with them before the hurricane. There is certainly one good thing, that the sugar estates escaped."

We are informed that two brothers named Shakespere are working away at supposed auriferous land up Lucas' Creek way. In panning off the " colour" is obtained at every washing. The block is adjacent to the land belonging to Dr. Wallis, and that gentleman was in town yesterday endeavouring to procure a digger's tin-diah, in order to commence operations on hie own land, but he was unable to procure one. Five tone of crushing stuff from the locality has boon sent by the men to the smelting fornioe at Onehunga for treatment.

Arrangements were to have been made last night for a walking match between Messrs. S. Goodman and VV. Speight, but ae the conditions could not be settled the match foil through. Mr. Goodman is still open to walk for the championship.

Some of the residents above Cox's Creek, who claim riparian rights, have written to the Government desiring that a swing bridge be erected at Cox's Creek. The Government decline to entertain the suggestion, stating that the bridge has been up for years, and that if any rights existed they went by default, when the parties tacitly consented to the erection of the bridge.

The Auckland Cricket Association will meet in the olub-room, Albert Hotel, to consider a petition from four ot the ;;unior elevens re the decision of the Match Committee in ordering the tie between the Holland C-C. and the Franklin C.C. to be played over again.

Four cases of typhoid fever were taken to the Hospital yesterday, and it will be seen from the districts in which the patients residod— Ponsonby, North Shore, Mount Eden, and Avondale—that tha scourge this year ;.s pretty general.

We are requested by Mrs. Hutchinson to acknowledge a 401b bag of sugar sent to her by " Snooks" for her poor.

A newspaper correspondent in Dunedin speaks of the Ministry as "the variety troupe to whom the colony is at present jobbed out."

Dr. Hassell has been appointed to the Wellington Hospital out of fourteen applicants.

Captain TCdwin predicts bad weather approaching between the north-east and east, and isouth with rain. Barometer further fall.

Th« return cricket match between Emer--Boe's Minstrels and the Publicans will be played in the Domain this afternoon.

At two recent meetings of the committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club 32 new members were elected, bringing the roll up to nearly 200.

The Emersoci Minstrel Troupe repeated their tuirth-provoking entertainment at Abbott's Opera House last evening. The performance will be repeated this evening.

Today at eleven o'clock Mr. G. Lewis will sell a lavge lot of general drapery. The lines are well assorted to suit the season, and should command a good attendance.

The following is the report of the Female Prison Oat« Brigade for the fortnight endintr March 21 :— Roceived intn Home. 3 ; left. 3; raniiinint. 4 ; number of beds giveii, 33; meals supplied, 101. Donations :—Of oreid. Messrs. fi*a"s, Waters, and Grade ; buns, Mrs. Ford ; railk. London and Devonshire dairies; met', Me«sr3. Wont and Co., Hnlme and Maxwell; clothing, Mrs. Ford. Requisites : Firewood, coal, potatoes, anil ies.