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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7648, 27 May 1886, Page 4

Among other interesting news by cable this morning it is stated that Mr. Gladstone has convened a meeting of the Liberal party to consider the Home Rule Bill. It ia expected that the Premier will b» able to announce that a compromise has been arranged, with the object of reconciling the whole of his party. Some com* ment has been caused by a visit of Mr. Gladstone to the Queen. It is stated however, that the visit had no political significance. The betrothal of Prince Oeear of Sweden to the Princess Louise, eldest daughter of tbe Prince of Wales, is announced. The Princess is nineteen years of of age, and Prince Oacar ie twenty-seven. The Greek and Turkish commanders on the frontier have agreed to withdraw their respective forces for some distance in order to avoid the danger of a recurrence of the recent conflict. A petition has been recently in circulation here for presentation to the General Assembly, praying that the local bodies may have some control and supervision over the destitute children placed in the Industrial Schools. The petitioners certainly appear to have some warrant for their action from what has recently transpired on this head. The other week the Auckland Bench committed no IeBB than sixteen children within the week to the above establishments. Mr. Graham, the Relieving Officer, felt it his duty to call the attention of the authorities to the injudicious, if not reckless manner in which alleged neglected children were being saddled upon tbe ratepayers and the country. As a result of these representations, Sergeant Smith, visiting officer of the Industrial Schools, came up from Wellington, and speedily discovered, after a little investigation, that in a number of cases ■ the parents or relatives were able to maintain the children. The upahot of his correspondence with Wellington

is that no less than 10 out of the 16 committed as above related, have been sent out again—all of them from St. Mary's Orphanage, Ponsonby. Application is now being made to have two more children removed from the Industrial Schools, as the relatives are in comfortable circumstances. It is scarcely to be wondered at under the present system, that the vote for such institutions should go on mounting up by thousands of pounds every year, but the strangest part of the business is that the Government should pay the Magistrate to put the children into the Industrial Schools, and then pay the visiting officer to run them out again. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's steamship Arawa left London on the 22nd instant for this port direct. From here the steamship proceeds to Wellington, then Napier, Dunedin, and Lyttelton. In reference to the announcement that Mr. Oliver Mays was likely to become a candidate for the mayoralty of the newlyconstituted borough of Devonport, we ere informed that Mr. Mays, although frequently applied to some weeks ago, invariably declined to bo nominated for the office. Some of hie friends, with the view, it is presumed, of inducing him to change his mind, started a requisition from the burgesses yesterday. Mr. Mays, however, whilst appreciating the intended compliment, wi'.l not be a candidate, as be feels that the two offices of chairman of the Waitemata County and mayor of Devonport should no* be held by the same person, as the duties may be found to be inconsistent with each other. Mr. Malcolm Niccol, the chairman of the lately-defunct Koad Board, wil! probably be returned unopposed. Tuesday next is the day for receiving nominations of mayor, councillors, and auditors. Mr. B. Tanner is the Returning Officer. On Tuesday evening a large audience assembled in St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, Remuera, to hear Mr. Noble give one of his entertaining and instructive lectures on temperance and the temperance question. Last night Mr. Noble gave a lecture at Onehunga, when the R.ev. W. H. J. Miller presided. To-day, in connection with his visit, there will be a convention of Christian and temperance workers and other friends in the Auckland Tabernacle, commencing at ten a.m. The Rev. C. Worboys (president) will preside. A paper will be read by the Rev. H. Bull on " The Work of tbe Holy Spirit;" atao one on " Bible.reading," by the Rev. S. Hill. In the afternoon, at half-past two, a conversation will be held on "Aggressive Temperance Work," led by Mr. Noble. In the evening, at half-past seven, Mr. Noble will preside, when addresses will be given, and a praise and prayer service will be held. Questions on the papers will be invited, and an interesting discussion is anticipated. Tea will bo provided in the lower room at half-past five o'clock. The Waitemata County Council have juet let a contract to Messrs, Wallace and Co. for forming an approach to the Northcote Wharf, the contract price being £1200. A party of mon started on the work this week. It includes taking 15,000 yards of material from the hill, and thrown into the sea, giving a solid causeway or mole, whioh will be faced with bluestone pitchings. The earthwork will extend from the shed on the present wharf up to Captain Slattery'e residence, with a uniform grade of 1 in 16£ feet, a minimum width of 20 feet, and providing a space of 100 feet in width as a oartstand. The contract time is four months, and the work ia being carried on under the supervision of Messrs. Boylan and Lundon, civil engineers. Mr. G. S. Graham has issued a notification to the policyholders of the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Association, which will be found in our advertising columns. The circular issued by Mr. Graham defends the action of the Board in regard to the purchase of Messrs. Shera's property, the Chnetchurch and Wellington properties, and Mr. Driver's appointment. Mr. Graham ntates that he is willing tc support Mr. Fisher's motion: " That the Board consists of seven members, four elected by policyholdars, three nominated by Government (not to be officers of the Government), and chairman to be elected by the Board." The Police Court was occupied for a considerable time yesterday in hearing two charges against one of the trimmers of the s.s. Kaikoura for disobeying lawful commands when on tbe high seas, and with assaulting the fourth engineer of the steamship. The first information, for disobeying orders, was dismissed on the ground that the statement of the accused should have been entered in the log-book, and the second charge resulted in the accused being sentenced to a month's imprisonrneut with hard labour. One of the witnesses, a trimmer, caused considerable amusement by his "backing and filling" when under examination. A report ot the case will be found in another column. A meeting of property-owners in Upper Queen-street, and others interested in diverting ,that thoroughfare, is convened for tomorrow evening, in the Newton Athenseum. Mr. M. Niccol is a candidate for the mayoralty of the new borough of Devonport. Mr. Niccol has for the past two years been chairman of the Dovonport District Board, and has for many years taken a very active interest in the concerns and welfare of the district. We are glad to learn that Mr. Corkill, secretary of the Sunday-school Union, whose absence from the Tabernacle at the anniversary gathering on Tuesday excited some uneasiness, has returned home, though not without having sustained some injuries from accident. In the course of his waJk on Monday in the Waitakerei ranges he fell down a bank below the Nihotopu Falls, Muddy Creek, a height of about ten feet, into the water. His thigh was hurt by a boulder, and hie left hand injured through being doubled up under him. He was unable to proceed that night, which he had to spend in the bush. On Tuesday he reached a settler's house and borrowed a horse, by which he was slowly carried to Avondale. There he obtained a trap, which conveyed him to Auckland late on Tuesday night. The injuries sustained by Mr. Corkill will, it is anticipated, be remedied by a few days' rest. Monday having been a holiday the draper shops wili not be closed this afternoon. We have received a sample of apples grown by Mrs. King, Waiuku, upon a tree raised from seed. The apples are on view at our publishing office. It will be seen from an advertisement in our columns this morning that an important sale of Crown lands is announced to take place to-day by public auction at the office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The house steward of the Auckland Hospital desires to thank the children of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Band of Hope for their present of cakea and oranges for the use of the natients.

The mortuary chapel at the Waikomil cemetery was taken over from the contractoi yesterday, by the arohitect, Mr. H. G ; Wade, on behalf of the City Council. Th I Rev. Mr. Calder was out there yesterdaj ' and informed the sexton that he wa surprised to see the cemetery look so wel and expected matters to be very different : after perusing the letters in the papers Other clergymen have expressed themeelve as satisfied with the mortuary chapel an the arrangements. An improvement i I required in regard to the burial of th I pauper class. At present the two sexton I nave to meet the train, and wheel th f coffins in a wheelbarrow about a quarter of i mile. The sextons are occupying their spar time in forming paths in tho cemetery. I is said if a funeral train ran once a day a I two o'clook, it would answer the convenienc 1 of the great majority of those attending , Already in the three or four weeks th i cemetery has been opened, some 60 inter inents have been made. On Tuesday evening a mooting of th Bootmakers' Association was held at th Working Men's Club, and a committee fron the Bootmakers' Union attended by invita iion to discuss the matters at issue. A • lengthy discussion took place, and sorm Blight progress was made. Tho meeting thei adjourned to last evening, at Kc-bson'i Rooms, when some further steps were taker likely to lead to a settlement of the dispute, The proportion of boy labour has beer settled on the basis of a compromise, and is fij;ed proportionately at one boy to three and a half men, two boys to seven men, throo to ten men, four to fourteen men, fto. It has also been agreed that forty-fivt hours should constitute the standard week. The tariff is now tho vexed question ai issue. The Manufacturers' Association and the Bootmakers' Uuion have each appointee a committee with full power to settle matters aud this joint committee will go over thi tariff this evening, at Robson'e Rooms, with a view to arriving at a definite settlement A number of tho bootmakers on strike leavi to-day for Wellington and other Southerr. ports. The Weeleyan evangelist, tho Rev. J. S, Smalley, accompanied by Mrs. Smalley anc Mrs. Donald, will resume his mission worl at Onehunga to-morrow evening, which wil be continued throughout next week. Earlj next month the rev. gentleman will visit Auckland proper, and begin his opening services at the Grafton Koad Wesleyai Church. A man named Charles Rogers teas admitted to the Hospital yesterday, from the Northerr Wairoa, who had sustained a fracture of tin leg by coming accidentally into collision witL another horseman. Tha Rev. J. S. Smalley, Wesleyar Conference evangelist, assisted by Mrs, Smalley and Mrs. Donald, have just completed a most successful ten-days' mission at the Thames. Every night the large new church has been fiiled. On Sunday evening last the building was inconveniently packed. The mission closed on Monday last with a lecture by Mr. Smalley on " St. Paul" The church was crowded, and a collection taken up in aid of the evangelistic fund. Mr, Smalley begins a similar mission at Onehunga on Friday next. At the Police Court yesterday two re> spectably dressed men, named George White (alias G. W. Walkinshaw) and Arthur Haywocd (alias Arthur Wood) were charged with obtaining £5 by means of false pretences from Miss Florence Widdows, boardinghouse-keeper, Grey-street. After hearing the evidence adduced, the Bench considered that the charge against Haywocd was not sustained, and dismissed the case without prejudice, so that ie might come on again, while White was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. As Haywood waa leaving the Court he wis again re-arrested by Detective Walker on a fresh charge, that of passing a valueless cheque for £5 10s on Mrs. Parker, butcher, Grey-street. White will also be brought np in connection with the same affair. " The drink bill of the colony," as shown in the Customs returns for the last quarter of the financial year, reveals some curicus feats. It shows a decrease in the consumption of beer of 7*23,550 gallons since 1852, which represents a diminished expenditure of £368,57S per annum. The decrease duriig the year ending March, ISS6, amounts to £104,662. Taking the different items ss they appear in the drink bill, spirits exhibit a deoreasn of 39,824 gallons; wines, a decrease of 12,730 gallons ; colonial beer, of 43.562 gallons. The reduction is attributed to twj oauses : first, to commercial and social depression ; and secondly, to the continued spread of temperance views. We have to acknowledge the receipt of the May number of the New Zealand Countrj Journal, published at Christchurch. Thii agricultural and sporting journal has now entered upon the tenth year of its existence. and the present number is filled with interesting information relating to the farm, the garden, and the hunting field. From this publication we learn that the .New Zealaud Herd Book for breeds of cattlf other than shorthorns has been completed. It includes 653 entries of pedigree Hereford, Ayrshire, Jorsey, Devon, and Dutch cattle, with a history of the Hereford, Ayrshire, and Jersey breeds. From the same numbei we learn that the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association is in a prosperous condition. The money taken at the gates at their last annual show was £536 13s 4d, against £712 4a M taken during the previous year. The total number of entries for the November show is stated to have been 1265, as compared with 129S in 1 SSt. The sum of £554 10* was awarded in money prizes, besides a larye number of gold and silver medals, as well as a number of useful books. The private prizes offered in cup 3 and cash amounted to £150 10s, the greater portion of which was awarded. We should be glad to see the Auckland sister association in a similarly prosperous condition, and capable of giving an equally good record of the work accomplished during the year. Sergeant Lyons, who has been connected with the Wellington police force for the last seven years, waa presented by his comrades, on the eve of his departure for Auckland, with a valnahie gold aibert, to which a gold locket wan attached. On Tuesday evening a lecture of a very interesting and instructive kind was given in the Birkenhead School by tne Rev. A. M. McCallum, on behalf of the Northcote Debating Society. There was a large attendance, the building being quite full. Mr. JJouee, president of the society, introduced the lecturer in a few complimentary words, the subject of the lecture being " A Summer Tour in Norway." The lecturer gave a rapid sketch of the beautiful scenery of the country, and its physical features, including its far-famed fiorde, lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers. He then gave an interesting and graphic account of the national system of education, which includee both religious instruction and military training ; the agricultural pursuits of the peasantry, who are moatly freehold owners of their farms; the system of government, and tho agreeable social manners and customs of the people. The lecture, which was listened to with the greatest interest throughout, concluded with the recital of some vorses of an old popular ballad in the language of the country. A hearty vote of thanks, seconded by a native of Is'or way, who was present, was given to Mr. MoCallum for his excellent lecture. Our Helensville correspondent writes :— The teJegraph messenger, Wm. Smethurst, broke tie right arm on Sunday last. In dismoujntiug from his horse he lost hia grip of the fpaddle, which caused him to fall to the the weight of his body snapping the large bipae of his arm. There are several points in tho Financial Statemjent which require clearing up, and one of these was yesterday dealt with. Mr. Graves ( Aickin, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, yesterday wired as follows to Sir Jajlius Vogel :—" Financial Statemont not ole»r that main trunk million loau will be raised this year in addition to proposed loan off one and half million. Kindly wire reply." The answer was as follows : — " Prol ably raise part of each loan; in all, not me re than million and a-half,' , " Mjr Partner" was repeated at tie Opera House last night, and was enthusiastically receive d by a large audience. Thei e were in the lock-up last evening : Arthur Haywood, for passing a valueless cheque, and a man for drunkenness. Nearly a score of Justices of the Peace have now been reported to the Government as not having taken their term of duty in the rota of attendance. It appears that the attendance of each Justice is only required about eight times per annum. The population in the electorate of Rodney ie :—Males, 3701; females, 2756; total, 0457 ; an inoreaau of 1103 over that of 1881,

\ Mr. Adam Young, deputy-chairman of i the Board of Inland Revenue, formerly of • Saltcoats, is to be mad eaK.C. B. The London correspondent of the Livorpool Mercury of a recent date eaye :—"Lord Iddesleigh was very angry the other day when somebody said that Mr. Adam Young intended to retire from the deputy chairmanship of the Board of Inland Revenue, and that Lord St. Cyres would succeed him. It tarns out, however, exactly as was stated. But Lord Iddesleigh had the prescience to recognise that he would not long be in office, and that it was better for his son and heir to be promoted by Mr. Gladstone than by his father. The thing which was not true before the fall of the Salisbury Government is true to-day. Mr. Adam Young resigns, and is to be made a K.C.B. Lord St. Cyres succeeds him, and the place at the Board which he vacates will probably be filled by one of Mr. Gladstone's aristocratic young friendH." Mr. Younjj is a brother-in-law of Mr. Alexander Campbell, the head teacher of Warkworth School. There seems to be an impression abroad that something like £1000 or £1200 per annum is expended upon the maintenance of the Lock Hospital. The ajnount tor the half-year war £220. It is stated that there ia no likelihood of any agitation being revived on the question of the enforcement or non-enforcement of the provisions of the CD. Act, as only three councillors arc known to be in pronounced hostility to the present system. The police official!, who are responsible for the working of the Act, bpeak in the highest terms of tho beneficial effects of the measure. They state that one of the first results of the enforcement of the Act was to cause a number of women to give up prostitution and get married, and they are now leading decent, respectable lives ; secondly, it swept clean off the streets all the juvenile prostitutes, of from 14 to 16 years of age; thirdly, the percentage of cases of disease has diminished from 1 to 3 (as at the first medical examination) to 1 in 20; fourthly, a number of young girls, who would probably have died miserably from neglect and disease, have after remedial treatment been got away into situations or out of the town, through the medium of the Salvation Army and the Female Prison Gate Brigade and other homes. The officers stato that the unfortunate victims of vice themselves fully appreciate the advantages of the sanitary institution, and in many caeos voluntarily come to the police authorities for tickets of admission, in order to secure remedial treatment. This class frankly admit to the police that the Act has a deterrent effect on tho less depraved class of girls, and were its operation to ceaae that the ranks of city prostitution would be at once largely increasod. Last night a musical entertainment and lecture on " Lord Macaulay " were given in the schoolroom of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church, the lecturer being the Rev. H. R. Dcwsbury, and the musical portion of the evening's proceedings was rendered by the Pitt-street choir. The chair was occupied by Mr. G. A. Buttle, secretary of the Home Miision Fund, who, after devotional exercises, and the singing by the choir of the anthem, " Stars of the summer night," gave a short opening address. He expressed his pleasure at seeing bo large a gathering in spite of so many counter attractions. One of their objects in introducing the lectures, of which the present was the first, was to give better knowledge as to the objects of their Home Mission. Many friends who contributed to the fund were ignorant of the object for which it waa disbursed. He believed no money was better sp mt than that which was given to the Home Mission. They contributed to the support of European missionaries and native missionaries, and also to help young circuits,. These and other works required money, and he mentioned that last year Pitt-street Church had contributed £300 to the fund. The choir then rendered "The fairest flower." The chairman introduced the lecturer, who in appreciative and eloquent terms, dwelt on the career of Lord Macaulay as poet, essayist, historian, and statesman ; his independence, , contempt for the low arts of political life, and denunciation of what was wrong, marked him aa almost a model English statesman. An interesting lecture was concluded by an effectively-delivered recitation from Maceuley's poems, a discriminating eulogy of his " History of England," and a feeling tribute to his memory. The choir rendered " Sweet and low." and on the motion of Mr. Prime, seconded by Mr. J. Buttle, a voto of thanks was passed to the lecturer ; thanks were also given to the choir and chairman.