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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7644, 22 May 1886, Page 4

Tho signs of war increase. A sensation has been caused in Europe by a proclamation issued by the Czar in which stress is laid upon the necessity for the adoption of precautionary measures for the defence of the empire. Significant allusion is also made to the peaceful "development" of Russia, The precautionary measures seem to be the putting of the Black Sea fleet on a war footing. An order has been issued commanding the officers and men on furlough to at once rejoin their ships. In consequence of this order and the Czar's proclamation, stocks in Vienna and Berlin have fallen. The Bill for the temporary renewal of the Arms Act in T reland has been read a second time in the House of Commons. The Irish party voted against it. Lord Randolph Churchill has repeated his declaration that the landlords in Ireland would be justified in forcibly resisting a Parliament sitting in Dublin. The Herald Monthly Summary, for transmission by the San Francisco mail, will be published on Monday next. It will be of special interest, containing the figures showing the results of the census of Auckland and neighbourhood, and all the usual items of news. The San Francisco mail, which closes here on Tuesday, at 11.30 a.m.. will reach London on the 30th of June. Yesterday a meeting was held of clergy and laity of the Church of England at the Diocesan office, and resolutions were passed to join in the protest of the Presbyterians ! and other religious bodies against the cession of the New Hebrides to France. The Bishop of Auckland (the Right Rev. Dr. Cowie) presided, and the clergy of the district were strongly represented, a number of lay members of the Church being also present. The New Zealand Shipping Company's R.M.s.s. Kaikoura, from London, via Capetown, arrived off Dunedin yesterday morning at half-past eight o'clock, and after landing mails and passengers for the South Island, she resumed her voyage for this port, leaving at two p.m. En route the Kaikoura is to call at Wellington for a supply of coal. The steamer should reach Wellington this evening, and will no doubt get away again early to-morrow morning, so as to arrive here on Tuesday next —her dur late. The Kaikoura left Plymouth on the 10th April. In our shipping columns will be found the list of her passengers and report of her passage from home.

Last evening a telegram was received from Colonel Eraser, M. fcL.il., stating that he was about to bring in a Fishery Bill, which would remove all doubt as to the legality of selling as Mr. Eaton lias been doing lately at the Fish Arcade. Colonel Fraser is the most suitable member to deal with the matter, as the fishermen are mostly resident at the Thames. In these circumstances perhaps it would be as well if the summonses were withdrawn.

The Post Office will be closed on Monday, 24th inst., and as the mail leaves on Tuesday persons should secure their stamps and money-orders to-day.

Owing to the prevalent dissatisfaction at the present method of crowding the industrial schools with the children of parents well able (if compelled) to provide for them, Councillor Goldio has given notice of the following notice of motion for the next sitting of the City Council: — " That this borough, having to provide for the maintenance of destitute children committed to the various homes in this district, claim it as our right that we should have a voice, through our representatives upon the District Hoard, in the committal and supervision of sijcli destitute children ; aud not be called upon, as the law now directs, 'to provide for their support without haviug any voice either in their admission or supervision. That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier and the Auckland members of both Houses, urging that tho aforesaid resolution be embodied in any further legislation uponthia subject."

Referring to the letter from the Rev. W. Tobbs, relative to the cemetery fees, which appeared in our issue of yesterday not being read at the Council, we are informed that ic was not received until the afternoon of yesterday, and the Council rules provide that all letters for the Council require to be forwarded the day prior to the sitting of tho Council to enable the business paper to be printed. Repeated notice to this effect has been given.

The civil sittings of the Supreme Court wero concluded yesterday, and at ten o'clock

this morning His Honor Mr. Justice Gillies will sit in Chambers to deal with the business which has accumulated during tho protractod session.

Yesterday afternoon as Dr. Macmullen's buggy was being driven along Ponsonby Road the horse bolted, and the lad driving it was thrown out, but did not sustain any serious injuries by the accident,

We are informed that the Library Committee have in hand, from the proceeds of the rate and the accruing .interest on the Costley fund, £2000 to sand home for new booki' with which to stock the shelves of the new building.

The anniversary sermons in connection with the Foreign Missions will be preached to-morrow in the Grafton Road Wesleyan Church. The Rev, A. Reid will preach in the morning upon "Foreign Missions and the temperance work." Special collections will he made morning and evening in aid of the Foreign Mission Fund,

The concluding portion of the civil sitting! yesterday were occupied with the hearing of divorce cases. The first taken was Fawcett v. Fawcett and a co-respondent. There was no defence filed, and adultery on the part of the wife having been proved, a rule nisi wag granted, and costs were granted against the co-respondents Downing, the co-respondent, was living on the farm, of which Fawcett was manager, for two years. During this time he had twice been severely injured, and was nursed in bis employer's house. The evidence : showed that he made this an excuse for : seducing his benefactor's wife, and finally eloping with her to Napier. The next , case was that of Lambert v. Lambert, a , petition for divorce, on the ground of : the wife's adultery. No co-respondent wat joined, and the circumstances were exceedingly peculiar, John Lambert, an illiterate | Greek, a fisherman by trade, after about three weeks' acquaintance with the re- ' spondent, married her at the Registrar's 1 office. He had no previous knowledge of i her, but. as he said, married her to do her a . good turn, as she told him that she was i tired of her life, and wanted a home. She subsequently left him, and became a , common street prostitute. His Honor did not consider that the marriage had been sufficiently proved, or that the petitioner's action had been sufficiently explained. He ' had heard of marriages with prostitutes, in which the parties lived together for a day or two, but if they thought so lightly of the marriage tie the Court would not be a party to granting a dissolution. On the application of Sir. Earl, who appeared for the appellant, the case was adjourned until the next civil sitting of the Court, Yesterday morning Hia Worship the Mayor, Mr. W. R. Waddel, pursuant to announcement, met the sufferers by the late fire at Mr. Borsboom's Boardinghouso on the Queen-street Wharf, at the Council Chambers, and proceeded to. distribute the sum raised by Messrs. E. McKeown and B. Dawson. Both the last two named gentlemen, and also Mr. Borsboom and D. Lepino were present to assist His Worship in the allotment ot the money raised. The money was distributed as follows : Swan, £3; Ryan, £2 10s; H. Farrell, £210 a; Nelson, £3 ; Ginger, £3 ; Shanaghan, £3 ; Hart, 10s ; C. Smith, £1 ; Miller, £1. £20 was retained by Mr. Waddel to meet other claims that may be received, and the following Bams were apportioned to the men who are at present lying in the Hospital, such amounts to be paid them upon their coming out: Orr, £7 ; Houghton, £7 ; Neal, £3; Mc« Laughlan, £3 ; and Finch, £3. The census returns of the following dis« tricts were completed yesterday : — Total Total M. F. 1836. 1831. Kankapakapa ' — ?.U ICQ 404 311 Waikomiti .. 189 138 327 175 Waiheke Island .. 83 63 146 192 Motatapu .. ..7 3 10 8 Kawau .. ... 27 12 39 64 From the investigation that has been made of the returns for the counties of M&nukau and Waitemata, it is believed that their populations will exceed 15,000 and 7000 respectively. The adjourned public meeting in connection with the Monsignor McDonald testimonial will be held to-morrow afternoon at the Marist Brothers' School, when the form the presentation shall take is to bo decided upon. Next Wednesday evening a rare treat is in store for the lovers of Macaulay's works. The Rev, H. R. Dewsbury will deliver a lecture on Macauley, in the schoolroom, Pittstreet Church. During the lecture Mr. Dewsbury will recite selections from the great historian's prose and poetical works in his usual characteristic and entertaining manner. Mr. Dewsbury is not unknown to an Auckland audience, and his name should be sufficient to ensure a full house, while the subject matter of the lecture is sure to be instructive and entertaining. The following nominations for the city auditorship were received at the Town Clerk's office yesterday Charles Adolphus Jones nominated by F. G. Ewington and Alex Thome ; Moritz Samuel Leers, nominated by Lawrence D. Nathan and W. P. Hoffmann ; William L. Mitchell, nominated by 3. W. Heath, Henry White, and Henry C. Bell; and Thomas Leigh White, nominated by Richard Cameron and W. S. Cochrane. With reference to the native who died in the Asylum under circumstances already recorded, we understand that instructions have been sent to Superintendent Thomson to have the body exhumed and forwarded to the Thames to the deceased's friends. Owing to the manner in which schoolrooms are sometimes used, the Board of Education has deemed it necessary to is3ue the following circular for the guidauce of school committees .-—" The Board finds it necessary to call the special attention of school committees to paragraph 10 of the regulations, as follows : ' Subject to the approval of the committee the schoolroom may be used as a polling booth for public elections, and the teacher may act as returning officer in such cases.' By clause 3 of section 84 of the Education Act, 1877, it rests with the committee to prescribe the terms on which the school buildings may be used on days and at hours other than those used for public 'school purposes,' and the Board suggests that committees should not allow the schoolroom to be so used without their consent, and that, as far as postible, the use of the schoolroom for election purposes should be so restricted as not to interfere with school duties." Yesterday evening a soinSa and concert were given at St. Peter's Presbyterian Church, Surrey Hills, the proceeds being in aid of tthe .building fund. Tables were provided and presided over by the following ladies Mrs. Sommerville, Mrs. Buchanan, Mrs. Garrick, Mrs. Finch, Mrs. Donald, and Mrs. Palmer. There was also a bachelors' table, presided over by Mrs. White and Miss Flora Gilmore. After tea, the Rev. Mr. Sommerville, pastor of the church, explained that the object of their meeting that evening was mainly to raise money to dear them from all financial difficulty ; but it was also for the purpose of enabling members to meet together, and become more thoroughly acquainted with each other. He thanked those present who had attended with a view of carrying out these objects. The Rev. Mr. Jones also addressed the meeting. The following programme of music was effectively rendered Chorus, "On yonder rock reclining" (Auber), choir; solo, "Oueen of the Earth,' Mr. Barnes ; solo (piano), " Andante Dflat' (J. Ascher), Mr. W. H. Hardwick; duet, "Is there a vale" (Spohr), Miss Culpa, and Mr. J. Hanna; solo, "Mignonette" (Champion), Mr. T. Burnham ; solo (flute), "Hope told a flattering tale" (Farmer), Mr. A. Elyett; solo, "The children's home" (Cowan), Mi«s Culpan; chorus, " The dreams of home" (Thome), cboir ; solo, "Come unto me " (Cowan), Mr. J. Hanna ; duet (piano), " Der Freischutz " (Weber), Messrs. J. F. Bennett and W. H. Hardwick ; solo, " The Chorister" (Sullivan), Miss Main; recitation, Mr. W. Pitkethley ; solo, " In this old chair," Mr. J, Hardwiok ; duet, "The pilot brave" (Millar), Messrs. H. VV. and W. S. Fell. The accompanists were Messrs. J. F. Bennett and W. H. Hardwick (organist of St. Paul's).

A well-attended concert took place last evening in the Lorne-streot Hall, the proceeds going towards the funds of tho Bootmakers' Union. A most attractive programme was presented, and the various performers apparently gave every satis* faction. After the concert a select ball took place, and dancing was kept up until an early hour this morning. The Artillery Band during the evening rendered a number of selections in a most excellent manner.

A meeting of sympathisers with the cause of Home Rule in Ireland is convened for Monday evening at St. James's Hall, in Wellington-street, the object being to consider and forward a cablegram of thanks and congratulations to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.

"An Aucklander " writes to say that the paucity of attendance at Professor Aldis's lecture at the annual meeting of the University College was owing to the want of notice given, and that he and others would have been glad to have been present had they known that such a lecture was to have been delivered;

I James Green, of Parnell, whose applica- ' tion for relief caused some discussion at the last meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, writes: "Sir,—At the meeting of tho above Board, as reported in the newspapers, I am represented as owning valuable city property, and am otherwise, myself and family, held up to public scorn, so that I am compelled to speak in self-defence against the slanderous statements made. Some time ago I came into possession of an allotment in Parnell (always ambitious to have a place of my own) for which I agreed to pay weekly instalments for a number of years, when this land would become mine. Before the time expired the Parnell Borough Council required a piece of this laud, for which I was awarded £35. Of this money 1 never saw one farthing. It went to pay the balance on the land, and enabled me to raise a second mortgage whereby I built the house. Well, Bir, having this house with a mortgage on it, myself idle, and the house empty, the handtome margin is all moonshine, and chances to be on the wrong aids of the book. It is stated 1 earn 7s a day, leaving the inference that I earn that amount every day I get up. But they might as well say I earn 7a a week or 78 a month, as I have Leon out of employment for months together, and •till, from the report, I earn 7* a day. The '.Ms a month I not from Judge Kenton I am thankful for ; though small, it tills a gap. I consider Mr. Graham had no business in drawing my wife's mother's name into my affairs. I wonder if he has a mother-in-law, and hofl much lie gets from her. I have now beci. in Auckland for 33 years, and have never been before the Police Court on a charge of drunkenness. Unfortunately, a short ago I was assaulted by a man named Stafford, in th a vicinity[of a publichouse; ami, in cross-examination, for the defence the question of drink was raised, but I was not charged with drunkenness. My wife has never been before the Court for being drunk. My offence is this :— During an illness and subsequent want of employment—actual starvation staring me in the face—my wife, in order to save her children from herding with the criminal population of tho city, applied to Judge Smith to admit her three girls into tho home, when, after a careful examination, he admitted theui, and thus saving them from death or worse. for this Mr. Graham is to boss her for the future. 1 never refused work, but if I could better myself without injury to others I have done 90. T left the defence works to work for Mr. Maguire."

The usual meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday, Mr. Luke (chairman) presiding, and a large amount of business was transacted. Some of the correspondence which come before the Board is provocative of a good deal of amusement. One settler, writing to the Board, complains that in his district educational matters are generally fixed up by two committeemen at a publichouse, while the nomadic gumdisgers living in tents, here to-day and away tomorrow, figure as "householders" in electing the school committee. One applicant for the post of school teacher, who besprinkled bis note with capital letters as if from a peppercastor, assured those concerned of his " intrest" in the school. On coming to this latter clause the Board lost all interest in bin appointment. A young lady, applying for the charge of a school, forwarded her " testamonials." The chairman could understand "spelling 'taters' with a p," but he stuck up at spelling testimonials in the above fashion. Mr. Cooper gallantly came to the rescue of the damsel, and remarked that bad spelling was not always a sign of lack of ability. He had seen communications from some of the University Professors, which showed that these gentlemen were occasionally rather weak in spelling.

Last evening an interesting experiment with the telephone test was tried. A subscriber was in communication with Mr. Pooley's teaching chambers, when (by request) Mr. Pooley played his " Kawau March," and Madame Pooley sang the popular song, " Estudiantina," both of which were clearly heard, every gradation of light and shade being distinctly perceptible, When subscribers to the Auckland Exchange desire a unique musical treat, they should put themselves in communication with Mr. Pooley's teaching chambers, and doubtless that gentleman will courteously afford them an opportunity of proving the musical conductivity of their " phones."

We understand that Mrs. Aldis, wife of Professor Aldis, who has taken such a prominent part in the controversy and agitation about the C. D. Act, has obts.ined permission from the W.C.T.U. to address the next meeting of the Union on the subject of the petition in relation to the Act, which is being promoted by her. Two petitions are now in course of signature in the city, hostile to the continued operation of the Act, one being addressed to the Mayor and City Council, and the other to the General Assembly. They are as follows : — "To His Worship the Mayor and councilors of the city of Auckland: The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of the city of Auckland and neighbourhood showeth :— I. That in the opinion of your memorialists, it is undesirable that public money should be spent in the endeavour to make it safe for men to sin. 2. Your memorialists therefore pray that your honourable Council at onco to put a stop to all expenditure of the city funds, incurred in carrying out the Contagious Diseases Act." " To the Hon. the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled The petition of the undersigned electors and bona fide settlers of the colony of New Zealand showeth : 1. That your petitioners are convinced that the Contagious Diseases Act encourages immorality to an alarming extent, and should consequently be repealed without delay. 2, That they are of opinion that the statute should be so amended that no child could lawfully consent to her ruin before attaining the age of 18 years. Trusting that your Honourable House will take this petition into its most serious consideratiob, your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray."

The first anniversary of St. Stephen's Band of Hope, Ponsonby, was celebrated last night in the Oddfellows' Hall. There was a very large attendance of young folk, who were bountifully regaled with fruit, etc., during an interval in the programme. The report presented by the secretary was of a most encouraging character, and spoke well for the future of the society. Thanks were returned to the Rev. D. W. Runcirnan for arranging to hold the meetings in the church, and to the Rev. J. S. Hill, for furnishing the children with a treat by exhibiting his limelighton Friday last. During the year 168 persons had taken the pledge, and reference was made to the success of two of the members at the Band of Hope Union competition in December. The statement of accounts was of a most satisfactory character, showing that the receipts balanced the expenditure. Mr. J. Buchanan, > president, occupied the chair. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. G. B. Monro, A. J. Smith, and J. H. Jones. The children, led by the choir, sang several hymns; while vocal and instrumental selections were given by several friends, and recitations by Miss Porter and Messrs Bell and W. Baker. The gathering concluded with the passing of votes of thanks to the speakers and the choir.

At the Board of Education yesterday, Mr. W. J. Bobinson, teacher of the evening science classes at the Training College, in which drawing, solid geometry, and applied mechanics are taught, submitted a series ofdrawing lessons, drawn up in accordance with the school standards, which he desired should be forwarded by the Board to the Government for their sanction. It has agreed to comply with the request, although Mr. Upton opposed the decision, on the ground that Nelson's drawing series contained all that was requisite for the public ■chools, and that to work out practically Mr. Robinson's scheme would entail considerable expense for printing, &c.

There was another crowded meeting last evening at the Theatre Royal to hear Mr. Noble's temperance address. The Rev, S. Hlacfarlane presided, The address was oriucipally on the national benefits derivable rom total abstinence. During the address "ie strongly denounced the class of professional gamblers who made their living by preying upon the weaknesses of the community, and the mania for gambling, which is now eating the heart out of our social life. He gave a capital sketch of Thomas Whitaker, one of the seven working men of Preston who, fifty years ago, aided in founding the total abstinence movement. There was an after meeting, and some pledges were taken. To-night Mr. Noble will give a description of a reform meeting at Hyde Park, London, touching the land questionthree acres and a cow, robbing the poor man of his beer, &c. and some remarks on " True Reform." On Sunday morning, at half-past seven there will be a united prayer meeting, conducted by Mr. oble, in the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church Schoolroom.