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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7885, 2 March 1887, Page 4

Our cable messages thin moraine atSia that the Ministerial crisis in It.i„ has resulted in » political deadlock No prominent statesman will nndertaU the formation of a Government Th Queen's jubilee is to be celebrated the da, alter its completion, June 21. Her Maieitv on that day will attend a special service il Westminster Abbey. Archbishop Croke'a letter to the Irish tenantry is eneaeinu th* attention of the Government. The b.b. Wairarapa took from here f« Sydney the following packages of gold. Two boxes, containing 27490z ldwt lo'~~ and valued at £10,996 ; one box, contain, 10l3oz 17dwt, and valued at £2557. Th two boxes were shipped by the Bank of New Zealand, and the one box by the Bint « New South Wales. 0 Lord Bettie, aide-de-camp to Lord Car rington, the Governor of New South Wale/ was a passenger from Sydney by the Tar wera yesterday. Lord Bertie, who is «t» D in at the Northern Club, is on a tour of th" colony. His stay in Auckland will on l! extend over a few days. ' It is stated that Mr. McKerrow, Surveyor General, Mr. Percy Smith, Assistant Sur' veyor-General, and one or two other scientific gentlemen, will shortly' visifc the volcanic region at Tarawera. There is reason to b# lleve that their mission is to locate tho «lt« of the White Terrace. Mr;, Ballance, it will be remembered, stated that If by cross bear ings the site could be located, and the White* terrace found to be only covered with vol canic mud, he would have the mud removed" even if fifty feet deep. Professor Thomas states that while looking down the riit of one of the craters, he saw a patch of green : which puzzled him, but on using his glass he discovered that it was beautiful fern fronds growing up, 100 feet from the top of the cliff, showing that the original soil was still there, while many a yard below the hot water was boiling furiously. The Assessment Court for the hearing of i objections to the city valuations for the current rating year commenced Us sittings yesterday. The North Ward and nearly the whole of the East Ward were got through. The South -■» ard and the rest of the city valuations will be taken to-day, as soon as the East Ward is completed. In the majority of cases in which the objectors entered an appearance redactions were made. The city valuer took into consideration the present low rentals, and difficulty of ohtaining tenants, and therefore did not offer much opposition to the reduction of his valuations. Details of the business will be found in another column. The Under-Secretary for Customs (Mr, Seed) iB at present in town. While visiting the Customs Department at some other porta he has effected a reduction in the staff, and probably his visit here is with a aimiiar object in view. The No. 3 Battalion of the Auckland Garrison mustered at the Drill-shed last night, under command of Major Biroie. The Newton Kifleß were in good force, under command of Captain Robertson, but the College Rifles. Veterans, and Gordon Rifles had tut -indifferent musters. The College and Veterans were paraded together, and the two other companies independently. Each division was put through manual exercise, in accordance with the new regulations. The Victoria Kifles had a muster in the committee room for drill. At the No. 3 Battalion drill last night, a district order was read announcing th« promotion of Lieutenant Robertson to the acting-command of the Newton Rifle*, and also of Sergeant C. Reed to the actingcommission of a lieutenant in the same corps. A party of 25 special settlers leave to-day for the Northern Special Settlements by the s.s. Staffa, Captain Johnson. The Church Gazette for March has been issued, and contains a large amount of readable information. Besides the various itemi of diocesan and parochial intelligence, there is a sensible article advocating the use of concrete as a material for church buildings, some thoughtful remarks.on "Temptation," and on other subjects. The emotional play "Mad," in which the leading part is sustained by Miss Marian Medway, was repeated at the Opera House last night. To-night the "Wife Poisoner" is to be produced. The play is said to have been suggested by a recent cause cei6bre.

A large number of Maoris have now assembled at Putiki, near Whanganui, where, in addition to a number of tents, a large marquee has been erected for their accommodation. They have assembled at the instigation of Ihaka, who styles himself the principal prophet, his companion Raumste being his assistant. These two individuals appear to be making a very good thing out of their credulous brethren, who are bled to the extent of four shillings each, in return for which they are supposed to receive a diagnosis of their real or imaginary diseases. To discover the ailment and its remedy the prophets go through some absurd performances, in which a raw potato forms the most prominent feature. While the "diagnosing" is going on Ihaka and bis companion deliver addresses which are a curious mixture of religions and rabid teetotal cant. The business of the prophetic impostors appear to be likely to prosper so long as the natives can be induced to part with their money. The Hospital Board contemplate appointing an honorary ophthalmic surgeon to the Hospital, and the opinion of the hon. medical staff is to be asked on the subject. This action is being taken at the instance of Mr Mackechnie, The justices presiding at the Police Court protested very strenuously yesterday morning against the inconvenience that the Court was put to through the Assessment Court having taken up the Court room. Consequently the business had to be taken in the Clerk of the Court's office, _ where there was very limited accommodation in' deed lor , Bench. Bar, and Presi. representatives to perform their flni'M, Not even a chair was forthcoming tor those who had to write, although the chairman of the Bench inquired whether some could not be procured. Great surprise was expressed at the Police Court being ma • subsidiary to an Assessment Court. One of those present jokingly remarked that the next thing would be the Assessment Court marching np tb the Supreme Court, but there it was said they would bo most unceremoniously ousted by Jadge Ward or nil officials. A meeting of the member! of the Msnnkrt Rowing Club was held in the Terminus Hotel last night, when there was a goo( attendance. Dr. W. R. Erson occupied the chair, and stated the object of the meeting, expressing a hope that after the efforts ms" 6 at the late regatta the club would be reorganised. After a lengthy discussion on the position of the club it was unanimously resolved that Messrs. W. R. Erson, B. Hollis, G. Taylor, and W. Bruford be » committee to wait on the representatives 01 the Onehwuga Rowing Club with a view ° bringing about amalgamation. The meeting was then adjourned until Saturday evening' The trowel presented to His Worship the Mayor on the occasion of the laying of j foundation stone of the Government Life insurance buildings was made by Mr. * ■ • Lewisson, and the mallet, which was ot « Zealand wood, tastefully inlaid, by Mr. a. Seuffert. In no recess that we can call to m ' n( * there been so many deaths amongs members of the Legislature as during time since the House adjourned, a . the deaths, too, have been under P»' niu L a> cumstances. Tho following is the list • . Mr. Henderson, Hon. Mr. ° do °' fc u r . Bradshaw, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Hurst, Coster, Mr. Te Ao. The Sydney Morning Herald of 24 contains the following par.:- 1 ". iDg master-General has received the foil cablegram from the secretary to tt \ . „ Zealand Post Office :-'«'Fr.sco Service^ The London Thursday despatch t - d York abandoned, and fast service 0 day substituted. Postmaster-General des^ me to say that commencing - Wednesday, our mails leave London on stelim Contractors instructed to d°sp»tc for a day earlier from 'Frisco. One re- rae the change is, probably, to »1 '°. t#| the for crossing the American C occasionally steamers for Australia have occ rriv ,f been detained at 'Friico awaiting the of the train.

At the Ctiaritabie Aid Board yesterday the report of Messrs H. Atlright and Mirfin upon the working plans of the new refuge at Eilerslie was considered, A portion of the report was given in yesterday's issue. Thfe above gentlemen farther report that the kitchen is made three feet shorter, and no sinks provided for. The number of windows in the werds are deficient. Id No. 3 ward two windows ate lett out No. .4, four windows ; No. 5, four windows; No. 6, throe windows ; and No. 10, two windows. In the dining-room, the windows should bo double in the working plan*, the same as shown in competition ones ; they are only single ones. We consider this important, as the rooms will not be sufficiently lighted. The condition!! state the walla are to be plastered inside, but the specifications provide only for whitewashing in certain portions. Some of the partitions of the central and kitchen blocks are of wood, instead of brick. In letter on compotitive design, it states block earth closets, entirely detached from main building, should be placed, that for males at end of No. 7 ward, and for females at No. 10 ward. No provision has been made in the plans or specifications for them. Messrs. Allright and Mirfin conclude by saying, " Wo consider it would not be right or just to allow the above omissions or deviations to be made, as they would materially affect the stability, completeness, sad value of the building when finished, as compared with the competitive plans." The following resolution was passed by the Board :—"That a copy of the report be sent to Mr. Wade, and that he be informed that his working plans and specifications must be in ftccord»nce with the competitive desigus." A letter from Mr. Edmonds, architect, was received, and ordered to be acknowledged. It related to the competitive plans, but the Board did not deem it advisable at the present time to enter into a discussion of the question.

A telegram in the Sydney Morning Herald gives the following particulars of the Sandhurst explosion, which resulted In the loss of eight lives :—"Shortly after eleven o'clock, whilit the employes were eating their lunch, a terrible explosion took place, followed some minutes afterwards by a lesser explosion. The force of the explosion was very great, and was felt at Esglehawk, half a mile away. A large concourse of people Immediately found their way to the place. A lad named Maxwell Parker had been picked up dead behind some bushes 50 or 60 yards from the factory. 'I he manager and a lad named Cooper had been taken out of a waterbole. whither they had gone to extinguish their burning clothing. Another boy named Wild was got out from under a wall which had been thrown down. He was badly injured. Thomas Dawer, the engine driver, was also hurt. The whole building was now a fierce mass of fire, with the exception of the standing chimney stack and the powder magazine, and round the latter the flames burned with fierceness. Whilst this went on the fumes of charcoal, sulphur, and other ingredients of powder were heavy in the atmosphere. There came at times a worse and more sickly smell that of human bodies roastiug in unapproachable fire. It was a sickening spectacle, and one most harrowing to the bereaved relatives grouped around. As to the cause of the fire nothing is yet ascertainable. Great care was taken to guard against a mishap. The men and boys had to change their clothes before going in ; all had to wear slippers, and were not allowed to have even metil buttons, knives, or even pockets.

The mission known as "Our Boys' Rest" has been carried on among the oyster boat lads and others, with some success during the past eighteen months, the attendance occasionally rising as high as 70. The promoters now intend moving out of the sheds at the rear of the Sailors' Rest, having taken the building known as Hull's Bond, corner of Swansonand Albert-streets. They invite tenders in our issue of to-day for whitewashing and cleansing it, and intend fitting it up as "Oar Boys' Rest," with reading room, gymnasium, etc., and other appliances. To accomplish this requires funds, but as the object of the mission is to suppress the larrikmism which now scourges the city, and to give the boys a taste for home life which they sadly need, and have never in most coses known, the management confidently appeal to the public to support them in the good work to which they have put their hands. At the Boys' School, Whanganui, a few d»yi ago, before the scholars were dismissed, Norman Anderson was presented by his teachers and companions with a handsomely bound copy of Southey's " Life of Nelson " in recognition of his bravery in rescuing young Withers from drowning a few days ago. Mr. Fenn, who made the presentation, accompanied the gift with a few appropriate and encouraging words. It was also an Bounced that Dr. Harvey had offered to take Anderson into the Collegiate School free, as & mark of his appreciation of the boy's oravery. The wonder is that there is not more sickcess about, considering the " bargains " in the provision line which some people purchase on account of cheapness. The other day the thrifty provider for a household bought 11 piece of rolled bacon at auction, at threepence per lb. On his wife examining ft when brought home, she took it back again and demanded the purchase money. This the auctioneer refused to give. His defence was that he did not pretend to sell it as being fit for human food, and what could she expect for threepence ? The bacon was ahot»n to Dr. Stockwell, City Health Officer, who reported it as being " black and putrid at one end, infected with insects, anH wholly unfit for human food." Some o0 rolls of such bacon are said to have been disposed of, but as Dr. Stockwell was not consulted in the other cases, it is concluded the purchasers knew what they were buying.

A rather curious request came before a meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, yesterday. The Rev. W. Tebbs wrote a letter calling attention to the case of Mr. and Mrs. Woods, of Wei lington. He said the husband was an engineer, and Mrs. Woods was an artist. Owing to bad health, Mr. Woods was unable to 'earn a living, and they both desired to return to Britain. He (Mr. Tebbs) asked the Board to contribute ab:>ut £20 towards the cost of their passage, and he would endeavour to raise the balance by other means. Mr. Suiter said he thought the. granting of the application would be a bad precedent to establish. Ihe Ct^spf e who there were, no dog^ d to have their pas2!geipai<i*'to t or some other place. Mr. Maceechnie moved, and it was carried, " That the Board regretted that their position was such that they conld not make any advance,"

We have to acknowledge receipt from the Government of tde "Handbook of the Fishes of New Zealand," prepared under the instructions of the Commissioner of Trades and Uaitoms, by Mr. R. A. A. Sherrin. The book Is plainly but neatly got up, and it has evidently been intended that it shall be a complote and practical treatise on the.- fishes j of New Zealand, embodying all that is ] Itnown about them. A good deal of labour has been spent in bringing together the information given, and the author deserves credit for his work. Wa shall take an early opportunity t of noticing the work more at length. Messrs. Robert S. Carter, Henry Gollan, Arthur Hunt, William Jones, and Andrew Btevenson Thompson were nominated, yesterday, at the district schoolroom, Ellerslie, as candidates for the Licensing Committee for Mount Wellington district, and being only the number required, Mr. Seaman, the Returning Officer, declared those gentlemen to be duly elected. The first meeting of committee for the election of a chairman was held subsequently, when Mr. R. S. Carter was chosen chairman for the ensuing year. Twenty-sir speelers went to a Maori race meeting at Otaki a day or two ago, but the brown brother refused to let them play. One of the men wandered off among the thistles, where a few Maoris followed him, and they were soon enticed into ohowing the courage of their opinions on the three-card triok. They spotted the ace five times running, for £1 eaoh time, and the banker put his shutters up. A Maori boy lay behind his friends, And could see under the cards as they fell, and gave them the straight tip. The- gang generally groaned in chorus, "Are the days of the pant gone by ?" while the bankrupt of thistletown added, " And is the Caucasian played out?" Our Normanby correspondent writes : — I have to record another of those sad acci dents which happen so frequently through riding with large boot* and small stirrup irons. Mr. Copeland was riding after his cows and got thrown, the horse dragging him until his Watertight boots was torn off across the instep. When found, he was insensible, and remained unconscious to the end. He leaves • widow and three young children to mourn bis uutim«lw

There is on view at the premises of Messrs. Kidd and Wildman, stationers, » literary ouriosity, the property of Mr. R. J. Duncan, namely, a copy of the first number of Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, printed on Saturday, February 4, 1832. • It appears to have run through five editions, the last dated Saturday, M*y 19. 1832, the price l£d. The editor, Mr. William Chambers, In his introductory address to his readers, makes the following remarks :—"The great leading principle by which 1 have been actuated is to take advantage ot the universal appetite for instruction which at present exists, to supply to that appetite good of the best kind, and in suoh form, and at such a price as must suit the convenience of every man in the British dominions. Nothing could afford me more unmitigated pleasure than to learn that Chamber's Edinburgh Journal yielded equal edification and delight to the highest conservative party in the State, and to the oldest advocate of an universal democracy; or was read with as much avidity at the cheerless firesides of the Irish Komau Catholic peasantry as at those of the more highly cultivated Presbyterian cottages of my native laud. I have voluntarily, and unprompted, taken in my hands an engine endowed with the most tremendous possibilities of mischief. I may have it now in my power to initil the most pernicious opinions on almost any subject into the minds of three millions of human beings. But I see the straight path of moral responsibility before me, and shall by the blessing of God adhere to the line of rectitude and duty. On account of certain laws affecting unstamped periodical publications, coming out at briefer intervals than 27 days, this journal, as a matter of course, will not be expected to contain any news of general events, or any political or parliamentary intelligence. All information of that character, when wanted, must be sought for in the ordinary sevenpenny stamped newspapers." Messrs. Kidd and Wildm*n have also on exhibition some of the earliest copies of the Illustrated London News.

During the last few years the progress made in electric lighting has been wonderful. Ever since Jablakoff produced his electric candle the methods of lighting by electricity have increased by leaps and bounds. As to the superiority of the light over gas or any of the modern illnminants, there can be no doubt, and even now, light for light, it is generally admitted to be cheaper than gas. Bat hitherto there have been met several practical difficulties in adapting it for domestic purposes. For lighting wharves and other large spaces the large arc lights are admirably adapted, as was proved by the trial made on Queenstreat Wharf some time ago. On board steamers, large and small, electric lighting is now common, and it is only a question ot time when the glow lamps will be so perfected as to be in general use. For healthiuess theelectriclightis far superior to gas, kerosene, oil, tallow, or any other ordinary mode of house lighting. The'neatthrownoutby an electric glow lamp is very small indeed, and the air of the room or apartment is not vitiated by any of the products of combustion as in the case of all the ordinary modes of lighting. Of the various forms of glow lamps in use that known a3 the Thomson-Houston system appears to give the most satisfaction. At the Inventions Exhibition in ISSS this make of incandescent lamps was the only one that was awarded a gold medal for a perfect syttam of arc lighting. Mr. Walter Prince, well known for several years as the electrical engineer to the Union Steamship Company, has ju*t fitted up the necessary appliances for lighting the town of Reefton, which is tho first electrically-lighted town in the colonies. Mr. Prince was also engaged in fitting uptlie plant for the transmission of power by electricity to drive the qaartzcruahing plant at the Skippers Gold Mine, Queenstown, Otago, by which about 20-horso power is conveyed over a mountain range a distance of several miles, to the maohinery at the battery, from the waterfall where the electric current is first developed. Though this is the first application of this novel power to drive mining machinery in New Zealand, the success whioh has attended, it will likely cause many other installations to bo made in districts where abundance of water power can be obtained. When this is the case the electric ourrent developed by the falling water can be carried cheaply for a long distance with but a limited loss. Now that the City Council and Harbour Board are both considering the question of establishing the electric light in their several spheres of action, it is to be hoped that the claims of this new form of arc and incandescent lamps, known as the Thomson-Houston, will not be overlooked, though the Swan, Edison, and others may be more familiar to the general reader.

The new truant school wm opened yesterday in the Temperance Hall, Albert-street. One effect of its being opened baa been to largely increase the attendance at the regular public schools. The Hon. W. Swanson has offered the City Schools Committee a block in Sale-street, at a nominal rental, as a site for the proposed new city school. The Board of Education has a sum reserved towards the erection of a new school when the site has been determined. Many complaints have been made at different times against the way the nightsoil men carry out their duties, which, if true, should be looked into. This useful class of city officials have necessarily to do their work while the majority of citizens are sound asleep. They come into premises and leave them again while the occupants are in bed. While this is a necessity of their occupation, the practice of leaving gates wide open after they leave cannot be said to be a necessary part of their duties. Indeed, it is a practice which should he stopped, if not voluntarily on their own part it should be made. compulsory by the action of the City Council. The lax way in which the impounding of straying horses and cows is carried out by the police and city officials makes the practice of leaving gates open after a visit of the oightmen, not a pleasant contemplation to the owners of gardens or orchards. As is well known there are not a few cow and horse keepers in the city who deliberately turn their animals adrift after nightfall, and allow them to prowl where they take a fancy to, and the leaving of gates wide open by the nightmen, after having performed their duties, is very convenient to these vagrant horses and cows. The non-shutting of gatM by nightman and the_turnlne f 'ffiofi should be stopped, as neither la calculated to produce good fellowship.

The following information concerning British and colonial patents applied for in 18S0 will be read with interest, and is furnished by Mr. W. Greenshields :—Great Britain, 16,944 ; New Zealand,so3; Victoria,4B7 i New South Wales, 224. In proportion to population, there are more applicants for patents in New Zealand than in any other p-rt of the world. In New Zealand there is one application for every 1200 of the population ; Victoria, one for 2050; Great Britain, one foe 2060; United States of Amerioa, one for 2700; and New South Wales, ono for every 4470 of the population. As usual, New Zealand stands at the top, and New South Wales at the bottom of the list. This may be attributed to two causes in favour of New Zealand—cheap patent fees and an inventive turn of mind on the pari of the people; while exorbitant charge* are made in New South Wales, which some way or other appear to fossilise the minds of the people, so far as invention is concerned. We are informed that Mr. J. B. Blaikie, slater and plasterer, of Auckland, holds more patents than any other man in New Zealand.

The well known public accountant, Mr. J. Waymouth, announces by advertisement elsewhere that he has taken into partnership his son, Mr. O. B. Waymouth, and that in future the firm will be Waymouth and Son, accountants. For the past seven years Mr. Waymouth, jun«, has been engaged assisting his father in thu offiso, and has therefore received an excellent training, Mr. J. Waymouth being regarded as one of the most skilful accountants in the colony. The Crown Solicitor of Wellington, Mr. H. D. Bell, ia at prfsent in Aucklanfl. He has been retained to argue the points reserved on behalf of Hall before the Court of Appeal. Mr. Bell is consulting with Mr. Edwin Hesketh, solicitor of this city, on the case. It is understood that Mr. Hesketh has been retained to act as counsel with Mr. Bell. The Hon. G. Waldegrave will deliver an address to business men to-day at 12.30 in the New Zealand Insurance Co.'s hall. The time for receiving tenders for the new Customhouse is extendod to March 14. To-day Mr. T. M. Jackson will offer for sale that grand business site, lately the Criterion Hotel, at the comer of Cook and Hobson street, at his mart, Vultian Lane. Captain Edwin advised at 12.39 p.m. yesterday, that a change of weather may be expected from between N.E. and N. and W. : glass wil fall again aeon, and heavy rain within 12 hours.