Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7636, 13 May 1886, Page 4

The prospects of Mr. Gladstone's Homo Rule Bill escaping defeat on the second reading grow less and less. Its rejection has been moved by Lord Hartington, who in this instance — although, of course, by pre-arrangement—has usurped the legitimate functions of the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. Next to Mr. Gladstone himself there is no statesman in the House of Commons who carries more weight in the counsels of the Liberal party, and the attitude which he has deemed it incumbent upon him to assume towards the Irish policy of the Ministry, of which he was, until quite recently a member, cannot fail to deeply impress a considerable section of his party. That he does not stand alone in his opposition to the Home Rule proposals of his chief is made manifest by the statement, contained in one of our cable messages this morning, that one hundred aud thirteen Liberal members are expected to vote against the Bill. Should this calculation turn out to be correctand the probability is that it underestimates, if anything, the Liberal opposition to the Bill—the defeat of the measure by a decisive majority is a foregone conclusion. The uneasiness respecting the popular feeling in Ulster, to which reference lias been made in previous cable messages, is accentuated by the report, given currency to by the London Times, that as a precautionary measure the Government intend to extend the operations of the Arms Act to " tho loyal North." This looks as if the fears of an armed rising in that quarter were not, in the opinion of the Ministry, altogether groundless. . The situation in Greece is improving. M. Lapoulos has been entrusted with the task of forming a Ministry favourable to an amicable settlement of the present difficulty. Upon his success depends, in a great measure, the issues of peace or war. It is greatly to be regretted that M. Tricoupis, the ablest statesman in Greece, did not see his way clear to resuming office again, but from the tenor of our cable despatches from Athens there appears to bo a reasonable prospect of the present strained relations between Greece and the Powers being satisfactorily adjusted. It is expected that the demobilisation of the army reserves will shortly commence, and, as this is the pivot of the whole question, a peaceful solution of the difficulty may now be regarded as within a measurable distance. The attitude of Russia, which has been distinctly equivocal so far, is assuming a less suspicious appearance, and it is. now announced that tho Russian Charge d'AJj'aires is preparing to leave Athens. In the meantime, the combined squadron is not remaining stationary. Six British cruisers have arrived at the island of Zea,jfto be in readiness for any contingency. Tho French three per cent, loan of forty million pounds has been successfully floated. This brings the indebtedness of France to the enormous total of eighty thousand millions sterling. The new loan has been raised (with the exception of a comparatively small sum for military .stores) to pay off a floating debt which has already been contracted. Hence the Ministerialists argue the present loan is no loan at all, only a i mere borrowing from Peter to pay Paul,

The Australian Eleven will open their campaign in England to-day on Sheffield Park, Surrey, when they will meet Lord Sheffield's eleven in a three days' match. Scott has been elected captain of the team. Intelligence has been received from Sydney that Mr. Richmond (of the firm of Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond, solicitors), who went to Australia for a trip for the benefit of his health, is seriously indisposed. Yesterday, at the Supreme Court, an action was brought against the Davonporfc Steam Ferry Company for damages for neglect by the company's employes, the main point at issue being as to whether proper care had been used in placing the staging for landing passengers on one of their steam ferry boats. Mr. Hannan was the plaintiff, and claimed £500 damages, alleging that as he was going on board the steamer Alexandra at the Victoria landing, the staging, through not being properly secured, had fallen upon his boot, and caused such serious injuries that his business losses and other expenses consequent on the accident justified his claim. After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict for the defendants. From information received by the Janet Nicoll, it seems that the French residents at Tahiti take very little interest in the New Hebrides annexation question. It has been supposed by seme that Mr. William Noble, the evangelist and founder of the " Blue Ribbon" movement, intends to leave Auckland for Sydney without visiting the southern portion of this colony. It seems | that he has no fixed programme, but will be glad to visit the South if invited to do so. ! It has been circulated that Mr. Noble has j said that any law dealing with the liquor traffic would be a failure, whereas what he did say was that any such lav/ would prove & failure without public sentiment behind it. The "Bolton case" was resumed in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, M., and the evidence for the prosecution was closed about three o'clock, when an adjournment was applied for by the defence, and granted till Monday next, at half-past ten a.m. The evidence taken was that of Mr. Furby (officer in charge at the Auckland telegraph station), who produced a telegram sent by Bolton to Mr. William, son's agents, requesting them to instruct the bank to cable the money urgently, and of Mr. Ivey of the Bank of New South Wales, who was recalled, and of Mr. Theo. Cooper, who deposed to interviews re orders Messrs. Devore and Cooper received from Mrs. Bolton and her husband upon the money expected from England. A report of the proceedings will be found in another column. There are said to be a good many cases of cruelty to animals in the suburbs and country, where the police cannot keep ho close a surveillance. la the great majority of cases they simply occur through ebullitions of passion, but in tome instances they are the result of cold-blooded innate cruelty. The first meeting of the Devonport Borough Council is fixed for June 14, at seven o'clock, the election of Mayor on the Sth June, the election of councillors on the 10th June, and the election of auditors on the 11th June. The honorary secretary of the late committee of the Grey address testimonial has handed us the fellowing letter, received a few days ago from Hone Mohi Tawhai, ex» M.H.R, for the Northern Maori division, and a well-known chief of the Ngapuhi tribe :—[Translation.] " Waima, Hokianga, April 27, 1836. To Mr. Duncan : Greeting, —I have only just received your letter, owing to my being away on business. The address sent me would have been more numerously signed had there been more time. What was done was done in hurried manner, as the mail was about leaving. My people, numbering some 500, did not see the address, as there was no time for it to be returned during the month of April. All the old chiefs and myself were very much pleased with the address to Sir G. Grey, as they were his allies during the war with Hone h'eke and Kawiti at Ruapekapeka. These chiefs were personal friends of my father and Sir G. Grey during that war. I, their child, was also present at that time.---From your loving friend, Hoxe Mom Tawhai." A meeting was held at the Thames on Tuesday to consider the propriety of bringing the Codlin Moth Act into force in the county and borough of the Thames. Present: Messrs. R. A Wright (chairman), Allom, Marshall, Burrs, Townsend, R. N. Smith, W. H. Smith, Charles Hill, and Evans. The unanimous opinion of the meeting was that the Act should be brought into force as soon as possible. A great many faults were found with the Act, but it was resolved to adopt it as it stands, and to consider the propriety of petitioning the Government to amend it. The chairman was requested to communicate with the fruitgrowers in the Ohinemuri county to induce combined action. A strong desire was expressed to form a Fruitgrowers's Association, with monthly meetings. The impression at the meeting seemed to be that the inspectors under the Act should bs appointed by the Government, and not by the borough or county councils. A fortnight ago it was reportod to the water police that a seaman known as " Mick " had left the cutter Lark at Babbit Island in a dingy, and as he had not returned to his vessel it was concluded he had met with an accident and been drowned. It appears he has since turned up on Taratau, aud the dingy found smashed on Mackintosh Island. No explanation as to the cause of bis disappearance from the cutter has been vouchsafed. Now that the annual licensing meetings are approaching, the police are inspecting the various hotels, with a view of furnishing full reports for the information of the licensing committees. Sergeant Pratt has been so engaged during the past week. Among other changes in She Auckland police force, Constable Collis, of Ponsonby, proceeds to Newmarket, his place being taken by Constable Graham, of the latter station. Some forty or fifty of the unemployed went to the Queen-street Wharf yesterday morning, expecting to be put on the harbour defence works in accordance with the announcement in the papers, but they were disappointed, as the Engineer had no instructions to engage them. He has orders, however, to put some of the Armed Constabulary men on the works, A further meeting of men willing to work at the Government scale for unemployed, 4s 6d per day, will meet at ten o'clock this morning with a view of proceeding to the District Engineer's office, in order to interview that official. The inaugural entertainment Of the winter course of lectures at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms will take place this evening. It will take the form of a concert and entertainment, and will be under the conductorship of Herr Schmitt. The tickets for the course of lectures will give admission to the concert. There was a general meeting of the Operative Bootmakers' Union, held yesterday afternoon, at the Temperance Hall. About 150 members were present. It was decided to revise the scale of charges proposed in the men's statement, and to make several reductions, with a view of meeting the employers half way on various points in dispute. This is a hopeful sign of the dispute being amicably settled. The revised tariff will be submitted to the Boot Manufacturers' Association at their meeting today. The recent boot strike in Chriatchurch is bearing some of the fruits which were expected to arise therefrom—namely, the closing of factories which could not be profitably worked in the face of tho recent demands made by labour. The Press of the 7th instant says:—"ln consequence of the business of the Crown Boot Factory in Tuam and Madras streets being wound-up, the whole of the bands have received notice to leave on Friday next. The late firm of Heymanson, Low, and Co., whose headquarters were in Dunedin, employed about eighty hands in the factory when in full operation." There were in the lock-up last evening two prisoners on charges of drunkenness. The premises lately the scene of the Pittstreet fire, and owned by Mr. Palmer, are being repaired and reinstated. Mr. Edward Davis is the contractor, and the work is being carried out under Mr. Herapath, architect, who originally supervised the erection of the buildings. The health of the city is pretty good at present, and no cases of infectious disease have been reported within the last day or two. There have been seven cases so reported during the past fortnight. A Maori woman, of the Arawa tribe, who is now in Auckland, has a part of her note tatooed. We have never seen before a native woman decorated in such a manner, the tatocing in the fail' sex being confined to , jhe chin aud lips.

At the R.M. Court, Papukura, on Tuesday before Mr. Thomas Jackson, R.M., eight parents were summoned to answer the complaint of Mr. C. Wall is, Chairman Papakura School Committee, that they had failed to send their children to the Pnpakura School for the time required by law during the quarter ended March 31. An order under section 02 of the Education Act, 1877, to attend school, wan made in each case. No costs were imposed, as the committee wished the proceedings to be more in the nature of » warning than of punishment, and as these were the first proceedings which had been taken against defaulting parents. Tha following civil cases were disposed of :— Burnside v. Shaw : Claim £'.); judgment for plaintiff for £S without costs. Shaw v. Bumside : Claim £19 6a 6d ; a set-off for £15 lis 3d was filed by defendant; judgment for plaintiff for £1 Is 9J without costs. Mr. Franklin appeared for Burnside, and Mr. Wastencys for Shaw. The third of Mr.Noble's Gospel Temperance Mission meetings was held last night in the Tabernacle, and was the most successful yet held. There must have been 1000 people present, and many had to stand throughout, being unable to get seats. Mr. 'Ihoinas Buddie presided ; and on the platform were tho Revs. J. S. Hill, H. Bull, T. Sturgeon, A. J. Smith, C. Ward C. W'orboys, Dr. Kenderdinc, Mr. Liddy (editor of the Leader, temperance organ), Mr. J. T. Garlick, etc. The proceedings opened by the choir singing "Sweet Galilee," after which tho Rev. A. J. Smith read a portion of Scripture. Mr. Liddy, as a member of the general committtee of the Gospel Temperance Mission, moved a hearty vote of thanks to the .Rev. T. Spurgeon and the otiicers of the Tabernacle tor having placed for three nights their handsome and spacious building at the disposal ot the mission, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Spurgeou acknowledged the vote, and said that he and liia officers had much pleasure iu further placing the Tabernacle s.t the disposal of Mr. Noble, for Monday afternoon, in order that he might address a meeting of women under the auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The chairman (Mr. Buddie), in' introducing the lecturer, said he hai much pleasure in presiding, as the mission was being conducted on lines which every sensible Christian man could endorse. Mr. Noble, on coining forward to address the meeting, was received with cheers. His subject was " Moderation," which he treated in an argumentative and withal humorous way, keeping the attention of his hearers rivetted throughout, lie showed that total abstinence waa the only safeguard, as the abstainer never became a drunkard, but the moderate drinker frequently did. Moderate men complained that they were classed with drunkards. He did not place them there ; lie found them there. Whether viewed as a matter of health, or as the best for time or for eternity, total abstinence was the right thing. The meeting closed with singing, and the benediction by the Rev. 11. Bull. A larger number took the pledge at the close of the meeting than at any previous meeting. Mr. Noble will deliver an address to-night, at half-past seven, in the Pitt-street Wesley an Church, on "The Power of Sympathy." The Thames Hospital trustees and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board are not a happy family. The managers of the Hospital (the trustees) estimate the expenditure will be £747 above the revenue, and applied to the Board for that amount. • At the meeting of the Board two members, Messrs. W. S. Greenville and J. H. Walsh, attacked the estimates vigorously, an opinion being expressed that £300 for a building, £"200 for repairs and alterations, and other items could be dispensed with. Finally Mr. Walsh moved, "That inasmuch a3 this Board was prepared to carry on the Thames Hospital for £"2000 per annum, and have made demands on the local bodies based on this estimate, we object to the statement Bent in of £25-4 §3 as unreasonable and excessive, and, in accordance with clause 60 of the Act, refer the matter to the Colonial Secretary." Mr. Greenville seconded the motion, which was carried. It may be mentioned that the only other member of the Board present was Mr. James Renshaw, who did not seem to be quite in accord with his fellow-members. Some time ago we intimated that Mr?. Hetley was preparing an illustrated work upon the New Zealand flora. She has travelled in many parts of the colony to see I specimens of the different plants she is to paint growing in the natural conditions and j in blossom. One of these illustrations is now j on exhibition in the window of Messrs. Upton and Co. shop. This illustration is beautifully painted, and the plant chosea is what is generally known as the " lace bark" tree, on account of the peculiarity of the appearance of the bark. This plant is known to botanists by the name of Fagianthus Lylii. The sketch was made in the Otira Gorge, and will give a fair idea of the class of coloured illustrations which Mr?. Hetley intends to appear in her forthcoming volume. Yesterday she showed us a large number of the sketches which she had made, and there were many very uncommon plants admirably painted, There are many trees and flowering plants in the district north of Auckland painted—some from the Thames Valley, some from the Taupo district, Fast Coast, Mount Egmont, Arthur's Pass (in South Island), Lake Wakatipu, and other places, appear to have been visited to see the plants when in a state of blossom. Many of the sketches were made from plants growing in the "Maori garden" at Chriatchurch, a place where a large collection of native flowering plants has been gathered, and carefully attended to by Mr. Armstrong. It is to be regretted that a similar garden is not to be found in Auckland, where the lover ol: Nature might have an opportunity of seeing the plants native to New Zealand growing and blossoming without travelling all over the colony to find in some cases widely separated plants. Those who have not hitherto noticed the painting of the "lace bark" plant in Messrs. Upton and Co. 's window should take an early opportunity of doing so, as Mrs. Hetley leaves Auckland on Tuesday next. She goes to London to arrange for the publication of her work in the best possible style. She has received commendations on her paintings from Professor Kirk, Mr. Cheeseman, Mr. Thomson, and other scientific gentleman entitled to speak. The book will be published in imperial quarto size. 1 The Lyttelton Times has the following : — "About 600 of the salmon hatched from the ova brought from Scotland by Mr. S. C. Farr about a twelvemonth ago remain in the race constructed for their accommodation in the Acclimatisation Society's gardens. These fish are in excellent health, judging from their activity and their appetite. They vary in length from threa to six inches. The 36,000 young salmon obtained from tho ova brought to New Zealand by the a.s. lonic in March last are in the boxes in the hatchery, and, though not so large as those of the first shipment were at the same age, are, for the most part, healthy and lively. The exception consists of the unfortunate deformed fish, which, when hatched, were found to be bent almost in the form of a ring. No fewer than 4000 of these poor little creatures have been separated from their healthier comrades, and placed in a box by themselves, where, to the eye of a pisciculturist, they present nourly as melancholy a sight as would a hospital full of ailing human beings. They have been put there to die, for it is expected that scarcely one per cent, of them will recover. They cannot eat, and seem to be capable of no other motion than twirling round in a vain and purposeless struggle. Many, indeed, do nothing but lie gasping on the gravel at the bottom of the water. The reason for so large a proportion of the fish being unhealthy, is that the ova from which they were batched were taken from young aalmon— what are known as the " first run," i e., the first to come up tho rivers to spawn. The older fish, from which the best ova are procured, do not, it appears, ascend the rivers till late in the season," "Visitor" writes calling attention to the desirability of having the large room in our Hospital partially divided, as they are done at home. Four beds are fixed lengthwise, and then a partition is brought out about a third of the width of the room, then four beds again and another partition continued the length of the room, and the same on the opposite side, leaving one-third of the centre clear. This give 3 a little more privacy to the sufferers, and permits of a little classification without impairing the ventilation or occupying much apace. The Thames Hospital trustees have decided to advertise for a resident surgeon. Mr. Edward Honiss has '.been appointed house steward, at a salary of £120 per annum. The Tai&roa relief fund, so far as the Dunediu committee is concerned, is making very slow progress. The total amount received by the Town Clerk is £243 4s 7d, and the balance available for distribution £17*2 7s 7d. Thirteen applications for relief have been received.

Yesterday the attention of the police was called by Mr. Goldie, Sanitary Inspector, to the state of a man named Thomas Young, who was lying in a place in Symonds-street in a til thy condition, and in a state bordering upon delirium tremens. Tho police went up and removed him to tho look-up. Yesterday a man named Frederick Altren was arrested on a charge of illegally pawning a watch and chain, value £410 a, the property of Frank Waller. The members of the Auckland Philharmonic Society are rousing themselves to fresh exertions during the coming winter. Dissatisfied with recent want of success, the committee have determined upon strenuous efforts to placa the society in a more satisfactory position than it has hitherto occupied, and, towards the accomplishment of this object, they have taken an important stop by securing the services of Herr Sohmitt as conductor. A meeting of tho society was held last night at the St. James' Hall, Herr Schmitt being present, and a general feeling was expressed that a good prospect of success was before tho society, many new members having promised to join, and old members to resume their connection with it. The secretary, Mr. Campbell, intimated that more complete arrangements for the work of the society for the coming season would be made at a future meeting, of which members would rcccivo notice. Yesterday a drunken squabble arose in Lorue-street in tho residence of a man named Joseph Riley. The upshot of it was that lie assaulted his wife with a bottle, and cut her badly about the head. Mrs. Riley was taken to Dr. Tennent'a surgery, where her injuries were attended to. Riley disappeared in tho direction of tho Domain, but although the police have scoured the town and suburbs for, him up to a late hour last night lie had not been arrested. The detectives and police are still investigating the late case of attempted incoudiarism at Devouport, North Shore, but nothing of importance has transpired. The whole thing tis ;i puzzle, as both the owner and tenant would have been heavy losers, and they are not aware of having any personal enemies in tho district. A well-attended meeting of the committee of the West End Rowing Club concert was held at the clubioom, Ponsonby, last night, Mr. K. Wilson occupying the chair. A large amount of routine business was transacted. The secretary was instructed to write to the captains of tho various boating clubs, also to the Mayor and city councillors, asking for their patronage on the occasion of the concert. At the conclusion of the meeting a very successful rehearsal of the " Major's Dilemma,"' to be produced on the 20th, took place, the cast being in the bauds of several well-known Auckland amateurs. A meeting of fruit-growers was held at Thames on Monday evening. It was resolved that it would be advisable to bring the Codlin Moth Act into operation, and a committee was appointed to arrange for a public meeting on the matter. It was also decided to seek the co-operation of Ohinemuri fruit-growers. The St. Mary's Mutual Improvement Society commences its session for ISSti tonight. The society is under the presidency of the Rev. G. S. Walpole. Mr. D. R. S. Galbraith will give a lecture on " Flame : its Chemical Aspects" (with demonstration). As this is an open night, visitors are invited. The syllabus for the session includes debates on "State Education." "Imperial Federation," and " Public Works of New Zealand and the lectures comprise one by Judge H. G. Seth Smith, on "Books: their Use and Abuse," and Fiji : Past and Present," by Mr. F. J. Moss, M.H.B. The Wellington Meat Export Company are busy freezing 3200 carcases mutton for the Tainui, and the Gear Company have 5000 carcases in preparation for the same boat. A strong decoction of New Zealand flax lias been used with success by Surgeon Monckton, of Kumara Hospital, as a dressing in hundreds of cases of lacerations and amputations. In his opinion there is nothing equal to it in promoting healthy granulation. At the Opera House yesterday evening, Mr. G rattan Ri£«3 and the dramatic company supporting him appeared in the ssnsational drama " Peep o' Day." Tho audience was thoroughly appreciative, and the excellent, acting of the principals, as well as the highly-effective staging of the piece, were warmly applauded. In compliance with a generally expressed desire, "The Irish Detective" will be produced to-morrow evening, and will no doubt attractalargeaudience. Un Saturday evening "Green Bushes" will be played." The Auckland Weekly News was established twenty-three years agj, and is the best known and most widely circulated weekly newspaper publithed in New Zealand. Its readers are to be found in all parts of the colony and Australia, and it also largely circulates in England and America. The aim of its conductors has been to make it a high class family journal and country magazine, Its contents, therefore, are of the most diversified character, and encyclopedic in their ope. They embrace a very wide raDge of subjects, suited to all tastes, clisse3 and conditions. The News is copiously illustrated, ami its selection of colonial and foreign intelligence is extensive and interesting, and carefully made. Its serial tales are written by tho most popular novelists cf the day—such world-wide celebrities in literature as Wilkie Collins, William Black, Miss Braddon. and Walter Eesant. The social topics of the hour are dsalt with by competent writers In a bright and lively stylo, and each week a sermon, by one of the foremost praachors of the age, ii published in extensi. Special attention is devoted to agriculture anil kindred subjects, and contributions from experienced and practical authorities on all matters connected with the Farm and Field appear weekly. Tho following headings indicate the miscellaneous character of its general reading:— '' I'"or the Ladies," " I'icful Household Hints," " Fashion Notes," " Children's Column," " Wit and Humour," ' Poetry," '' Ch- ss and Draughts," " Literature, Music, and the Drama," Science and Art," ire. Portraits of Mshops Si-lwyn, Neville, Sutcr, and .Stuart, and Sir Charles Warren (the new Commissioner of the Lond:n Police), will be found amongst the illustrations in this week's issue. The opening services of the new Ponßonby Baptist Church will b-gin on Saturday evening by a praise and thanksgiving meeting On Sunday the services will be taken respectively by the Rev?. I'hos. Spurgeon, R. liavln, and J. 11. Jones (pastor). A public meeting will take placo on Monday evening, anil a soiree on Tuesday evening, when addresses will be given by various clergymon. Mr. E. M. Clayton has opened the premises la'ely occupied by Mr. Edson, chemist, Queen-street, with a large assortment of china, earthenware, glass, and / incy goods. The members of All Saints' Athletic Club aro notified that the plane of meeting for practice, this evening, is Professor Carrollo's establishment. A general meeting of the Auckland Philharmonic Socicty will be held in St. James' Hall, this evening. Jurors in the ca3e Jenkinson v. the Auckland Harbour Board will not be required to attend until to-morrow.