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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7657, 7 June 1886, Page 4

By our cablegrams this morning it will be seen tha 1 - the United States Government, owing to the Canadian fisheries dispute, has despatched » squadron to Portland, Maine, to prevent a possible conflict. Cholera has made its appearance at Florence, and is reported to be increasing at Venice. At a Trinity House banquet, the Prince of Wales presiding, His Royal Highness gave a cordial welcome to all colonists present. Mr. Gladstone has stated in the House of Commons that the Government did not consider that the period of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition was a favourable occasion for a Conference on Imperial Federation, «o that this project is, we presume, at an end. Neither is a naval review to be got up for the express benefit, or pleasure, of the visiting colonials, but they can visit ths dockyards. Probably these disappointments may have been made up to the colonials by the honour paid them by the Princess Louise, who on Friday gave a garden party, when no fewer than 1300 colonial visitors were present, persons who no doubt consider themselves the 6lito of all the colonies, and who at all events ara wealthy enough to be able to take A trip tv England at the present time. A Sydney cablegram in another column states that intelligence has been received from Noumea that two French men-'o-war have left that port under orders to annex the New Hebrides Islands, and that, consequently, there is great excitement among the British residents in New Caledonia. It is probable that this is only a canard, arising out of the excitement over the general question,

t hi—— ■ ————■ The Counties Bill, to be introduced by the Premier, is a consolidation of the present law relating to counties. The Pablio Health Act is to be incorporated with it. Provision is made for the alteration of ridings. Anting chairmen are to have the powers of chairmen. Tower is given to construct drains for preventing the flooding cf low lands. There ia an entirely new clause for the purpose of levying general rates of counties by districts therein, and tho expenditure of such rates in such districts, leas a fixed contribution towards the general expenses and liabilities of the county. There ia also it clause requiring that separate accounts shall be kept of the county expenditure within road and town districts.

At the Police Court on Saturday Mr. H. G. Seth bmitb, R.M., delivered judgment in the case against Mr. R. J. Carbines, auctioneer, heard on Saturday, May 29, when the defendant was charged with a breach of the city by-laws by keeping swine within the city, and the fact admitted that young pigs were on the premises for a night to be sold by auction the next day. The Sanitary Inspector (Mr. G. Goldie) represented the city authorities, and Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the defendant. His Worship said it was evident that the pigs liad been kept within the city by the defendant; but whether, under the circumstances, it was a breach of the by-laws was another question. It was quite competent for the City Council to make by-laws forbidding the keeping of swine within the borough, and they were justified in making such by-laws. He considered it right that there should be rebtrictions to prevent people keeping swine in crowded centres, but he did not think such"[,measure applied in the present case. Kef ping swine meant keeping them regularly, as done by farmers and others, but it would be altogether unreasonable to think thit it applied to merely keeping them until such time as was necessary for their sale and removal. The information was therefore dismissed. Mr. Cooper applied for costs, and pointed out that it was evident that the information should not have been laid, nor would have been had the officials of the Council made the necessary inquiries. The Inspector objected to costs being allowed, as the swine had been kept in the city, and it was merely a question of the reading of the Ace, and if allowed would, he feared, form a bad precedent. Mr. Cooper replied, contending that the information had been laid by the Inspector under express orders from the corporation, and he thought it only fair that the Council should pay the costs. His Worship thought that costs should follow, and grauted the application. The costs amounted to £2 12s.

The variousattempts which have been made to establish the woollen industry in Auckland, are about to be practically realised, the directors of the North New Zealand Woollen Company having determined to invite tenders at once tor the erection of woollen mills at Cnehunya. It was recently announced that Mr 3. Ward, wife of Judge Ward, who is President of the Women's Christian Temperance organisation in New Zealand, would pay a visit to the various centres of population in the North, where branches of the Union were established, in order to inspect their working, and to counsel and encourage them in their labours. Mrs. Ward arrived in Auckland last week in pursuanco of her mission, and will be present at the next meeting of the Auckland Women's Christian Temperance meeting. The usual Evangelistic service took place last evening in the Theatre Royal. Dr. Kenderdine presided. An earnest and practical address was delivered by the Hon. Mr. Waldegrave, from a passage in the 40th Psalm : "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock." There was a good attendance. On Saturday he gave a Bible-reading at the Young Women's Cnristian Association. "A Policyholder" writes suggesting that the Auckland members of the A.M.P. Society should follow the example of Danedin, and give their expression of opinion in meeting assembled upon the advisability of opening a branch agency in London. The San Francisco Chronicle of May S Says Walter E. Whittle, a native of ftew Zealand, IS years of age, was committed to the Napa Insane Asylum yesterday." The usual monthly meeting of the Mount Eden Domain Board was held at the City Council offices on Friday. Present: Mr. Udy (in the chair), His Worship the Mayor, Messrs. Bridgman and Harper. A letter was read from Mr. J. Craig offering his scoria pit at Mount Eden to the Board for £600. The Board decided to forward his letter to Mr. Thompson, M.H.R., and request him to bring the matter before the proper authorities. The matter of the proposed reservoir on the mountain was discussed. The Board decided to recommend the Government to grant permission, as the residents of the district will be benefited by it.

On Saturday last the schooner Mimiha arrived from Long Island with a cargo of guano. Whilst cruising amongst the various slands, the schooner was chartered to convey from New Caledonia to the New Hebrides fourteen French immigrants, who were proceeding there for the purpose of settling there on land provided for them by a company, which had recently been formed at Noumea. Matters were quiet at New Caledonia and New Hebrides when the Mimiha visited those place*. The annexation question of the New Hebrides was receiving considerable attention at Noumea. Naturally the feeling was strong that the group should be placed under the French tricolor. On Satnrday afternoon last the ordinary monthly meeting of the members of the Monnt Albert Road Board was held in the Chamber of Commerce room. The business transacted, however, was of a purely routine character. The Parnell Licensing Committee, composed of gentlemen elected on the Tamperance ticket, held their annual meeting on Saturday. There were three applications for renewals of licenses, and in each instance the committee insisted on certain alterations being made in the premises, and on properly constructed fire-escapes bring attached to each house. They also referred to certain reports having reached them of Sunday trading being carried on, and intimated their intention to rigorously enforce the law in this respect. " In the Ranks " was repeated on Saturday night at the Opera House, before a very Isirge audience, and with the same success as on previous occasions. At the close of the various acts the principals were heartily applauded. To-night this splendid production will be repeated under the patronage of Colonel Lyon, Major Shepherd, and the officers and members of the volunteer force, and, as Colonel Lyon has given permission to wear uniforms on the occasion, no doubt the volunteers will add to the attractions of the performance by acceding to the request of the management to appear in uniform. Judging from the Tablet's last article the Roman Catholics intend to test their strength at the general election. "If for the last two sessions," says Bishop Moran's organ, "they have not moved as to this (education) question, this is not to be taken as a sign that they mean to desist from agitation. But they have been quiescent for a reason that will be seen when the general election comes round."

A return of the sheep frozen in the South Canterbury district, from the starting of the industry till the 31st of March last, shows the number to have been 25,795. During the twelve months immediately preceding that date 45,652 were preserved, and 11,408 were boiled down. The Napier Daily Telegraph says After all, the expert opinions which have been published on the locally - grown tobacoo amount to this, that the leaf cannot compete with American-grown, nor is there any market for it in the Australian colonies, because the colonies protect locally-grown leaf to the extent of one shilling per lb. Months ago we gave those moving in the matter the same information, as we published the duties en leaf in each of the colonies, and while high and fancy prices were talked about the value of leaf, we stated that the highest price paid In either Victoria or New South Wales in 1885 for colonial grown leaf wa3 eightpence per lb, It will no doubt be gratifying to Auckland cyclists to learn that the the Pioneer 8.C., of Chrlstchurch, at whose race meeting in November last Mr. J. Selby, of the A.8.C., represented this district in the championship event and other races, have sent him as a souvenir of his visit a very handsome album containing photos of all the members, ineluding the champions of the wheel of the City of the Plains. The letter which accompanied it expressed a hope that Canterbury wheelmen would soon repay the visits cl Auckland men.

The Australian cricketers, as will be soon by our cabled report of the match, have achieved a brilliant victory by defeating the Gentlemen of England at Lords, on Friday, with seven wickets to spare. The victory was enhanced by the fact that they had not tha services of Spofiortb to bowl in the second innings of the Englishmen, and they also batted him short in both of their innings. To-day they play Derbyshire, and on Thursday will meet Cambridge University eleven. It will bo seen by our Parliamentary telegrams that Mr. W. J. Hurst, M.H.R. for Waitemata, has been obliged to return to Auckland through ill-health. He left by the s.«. Wairarapa on Saturday, and has paired against the Government for the session. We trust that Mr. Hurst's health will improve in the more genial climate of Auckland. It will be seen by the proceedings of the New Hebrides Vigilance Committee on Saturday that they are determined to continue working till the object is assured. _ A number of signatures to the petitions against handing them over to France were obtained at the church doors yesterday. The severe galo cf Friday night appears to have been more than local in its operation. Early on Saturday telegraphic communication was interrupted between Auckland and the South. The liuo was down south of Wainui (Napier), and the West Coast line near Wacganui also interrupted. Communication was restored on Saturday evening ; but the annoyance thus occasioned to the commercial community would bo obviated by the erection of an alternate line. The City North Licensing Committee meet to-day, and considerable interest attaches to their proceedings, as they have given notice to three hotels respecting the second bars, notwithstanding the recent decision of tho Resident Magistrate. The position they claim is that they gave the license under certain conditions, which have not been fulfilled, and that in making these conditions they were acting within their powers. Last week the committee inspected a number of the hotels, and some of these they reported as having defective fire-escapes, as dirty, and being mere drinking shops. When the Temperance committee tookactiou last year with regard to the United Service, as not giving suitable accommodation to the travelling public, their conduct was deprecated in some quarters as being too exacting, but the public are now reaping the benefit, as will be seen by the following passage from the police report:—"James Condon, United Service Hotel : A two-storey brick building ; clean and well furnished. Since the present holder took possession the accommodation for the public has been much increased, and improved to the extent of five bedrooms and diningroom, the former having been a clubroom and the latter a billiardroom. The kitchen accommodation has been increased. The diningroom is a great improvement, and more desirable for the public than a billiardroom, and no doubt will be taken advantage of by those attending the Opera House." The Albert Hotel has followed suit with extensive improvements, and now ranks as one of the leading first-class hotels of the city.

In Saturday's impression we stated that Captain Webb, Acting American Consul, had returned from Russell, where he had been in connection with certain charges made as to the conduct of the captain and mate of the barque Petrel. The matter is still under investigation, and the statement* of the men are being taken by the American Consul at Russell. Captain Webb informs us that the crew only complained of illtreatment after they were arrested for desertion, and then no gross cases of cruelty were mentioned, and he heard of no acts of cruelty having been used towards the cooper of the vessel. The ship on her way out called in at Fayal, where the cooper was examined by a British medical officer, who gave a certificate that the man was liabln to insanity. This certificate the master of the Petrel has now. Amongst the cooper's effects was found a letter written to him by a lady in New Bedford, written some six weeks after leaving that port, in which the writer states how pleasant the ship was, and speaking in high terras of the officers. Captain Webb is determined to probe the matter to the bottom, bat does not believe that there ha* been any special act of cruelty committed upon the men, and this is proved by what Captain Webb could gather from the men themselves during his visit to Russell.

The death of Mr. James Bruce Mclntyre at his residence, Manukau Road, Parnell, which took place shortly after nine o'clock yesterday morning, created a feeling of surprise and regret amongst his numerous friends and acquaintances. Mr. Mclntyre was a carpenter by trade, and was in the prime of life, hale, hearty, and full of vitality, until Tuesday last, when he was .seized by a stroke of paralysis, which disabled the whole of one side. His friends were in hopes that he would recover, but Dr. Wright, who has been in close attendance since the stroke, always considered the symptoms dangerous, and the patient never rallied. He died, as already stated, yesterday morning, at the age of 51 years. Mr. Mclntvre was an old colonist. He arrived in New Zealand 46 years ago as a child. He now leaves a widow and 12 children to mourn their bereavement. One daughter, the eldest, was married, but her husband (Mr. Laßoche) died within a week of their marriage, and she has since resided with her parents. One son is also married, and the youngest child of the deceased is now iittle more than six months of age. The funeral will leave Parnell for the Symonds-street cemetery at three o'clock to-morrow. On the application of Sergeant Pratt, at the Police Court on Saturday, three children of the name of Austin, who were taken out of a den of infamy in Grey-street, were committed to the Industrial Home as destitute and neglected children. The disclosures made in the case of destitution and vice show the dark side of some phases of Auckland social life. According to Detective Hughes' evidence, the Government rations issued to the wretched mother of the children appear to have formed the commissariat reserve of the half-dozen men and prostitutes nightly sleeping on the floor. As for the children, they were found by Detective Walker, huddled on rags, without food. Even Sergeant Smith, who keeps an argus eye on the admission of children to the Industrial School, gave evidence to the effect that these children were fit subjects to lie committed. We understand that the Bench, in order to prevent the commitment of children whose parents are in a position to maintain them, requires the police authorities to furnish a report on 'the cases, the day before the application, so that the whole circumstances may be within the knowledge of the Magistrate, in making his decision.

The President of the San Francisco Tram- i ways Company, Mr. A. S. Hallidie, who viiited Auckland lately, is giving his impressions of the Australian colonies in the Sail Francisco Bulletin. He thus explains why Melbourne has gone in for such large expenditure on cable tramways :—" Melbourne has in it a number of Americana and many wideawake Englishmen. They have gone in for the cable tram, as it is called, and are going to spend from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 dollars in building and equipping OS miles of single track, and the way they do it is this : the Parliament of Victoria passes a Bill, empowering the various municipalities of Melbourne and its suburbs (every suburb lias its mayor, aldermen, and town hall) to guarantee the interest on the cost by taxation if necessary, and to construct the roads ; also to turn them over to a private company for thirty years to operate, which company pays a rental equal to 4 per cent, on the money borrowed in the London market, and 2 per cent, as a sinking fund per annum, ho that in thirty years the municipality will own the whole system of cable roads without any outlay whatever. And the company operating them, having a monopoly, will realise handsomely on them, and will be able probably at the end of thirty years to operate them on favourable terms for another term. It is a bold enterprise this jumping at one bound from buses to cable railways, ami laying down such a lot of it at once. However, they have studied the whole questisn. The manager was for some time in .San Francisco, and visited all the other points where cable roads were operating." The programme given at the annaal gathering of the Bands of Hope in the Choral Hall on Queen's Birthday will be repeated to night in St. James' Hall, as a large number of friends were unable to gain admission on that occasion. The Choral Hall tickets- unexercised will admit two. All the celebrated action songs (with limolight effects) and recitations will be given, and the President of the Gospel Temperance Union will deliver an address.

The term "hard lines," says a Napier paper, has its exemplification in the case of a young gentleman who has arrived here from tho South. Before he was shifted ha was given a short holiday, which he spent in a walking tour. He did not think it worth while during his absence to communicate his whereabouts to his friends, and in the course of his trip he borrowed a horse, and, after enjoying the change, returned in due oourse and came on to Napier. Unknown to him, however, during his absence, his friends had become alarmed, and had organised scarch parties. The men were engaged at so much a day, and now this young gentleman has received heavy bills, and ia called upon to pay the cost of wholly gratuitous and unnecessary labour. The "A" Battery of Artillery fired for the gold modal presented by Dr. Tennent, surgeon to the battery, at the Mount Eden rifle range on Saturday afternoon. There were also seven other prizes which were competed for subject to a handicap, while the medal fell to ttie highest scorer. The weather was unfavourable to good shooting, the wind being very changeable. The prize-takers were as follows :— Handicap. Gunner J. Webster .. .. 52 points scratch Corporal G. O'Brien .. .. 50 points 7 points Gunner G. Webster .. ... 50 points 2 points Gunner Mitchell .. .. 49 points 10 points Gunner Williamson .. ... 4S points 16 points Gunner G. Lipscouibc.. .. 47 points 8 points liuuner Ualluuline .. .. 45 p.iinto C points Bombardier Trovarthen .. 44 points 2 points A public meeting of those interested in establishing the proposed Athenaum, for the interchange of opinion upon matters relating to politics, literature, and art, will bo held at Robson's Rooms on Wednesday next, at eight o'clock. His Worship tho Mayor will preside. Owing to the appoach of winter tho expenditure on charitable relief-is increasing. Inquirer " writes :—" Can yon, through the medium of your columns, give me any information regarding tho whereabouts, or the name, of the secretary to the Onehunga Hall Company ? lam a holder of shares in the company, and am considerably in arrears for calls (with interest daily accruing), in consequence of my inability to ascertain the whereabouts of the secretary. I may mention that the company advertise an office, with a duly appointed secretary, at Onehunga, and, notwithstanding the fact that I have been at various times throughout the day, and invariably every day for the past three weeks, to the office so advertised, still I can find no ono there to whom 1 could pay my calls. Will you therefore oblige mo, if possible, with the above desired information." There were in the lock-up last evening five persons on charges of drunkenness; John Coombes for assault; Henry Bosaar, for wilful exposure ; and Robert Marsh (on warrant), for using provoking language to his nife, who has a protection order. On Saturday two men were charged at the Police Court with travelling on the railway without having paid their fares. One was fined 5s and costs, and the other 20s and costs. They have now come to the conclusion that the system adopted by them was not the well known one " the further you go the lees you pay." The Pitt-street Wesleyan String Band give a vocal and instrumental concert in the lower schoolroom this evening. A varied and attractive programme bas been prepared. A prisoner named Neil Swanson, was brought up on Saturday by Constable Riat, and who had been sentenced by the Coromandel Bench to a month's imprisonment for larceny. An organ recital will be given by Mr. Neville Barnett in St. Matthew's Church on Thursday evening next. A very choice programme has been prepared.