Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7919, 11 April 1887, Page 4

The poiHt of interest in general politics bow changes back from the relations between France and Germany, or the position of the Bulgarian difficulty, to Afghanistan and Herat. That is a direction in which England is more immediately interested. The Russian Press is, it seems, advocating the immediate occupation of Herat. It is not at all impossible that, seeing the many difficulties attending action in Europe, Russia may again seek to find scops for her diplomacy and for her armies by action m Asia towards India. In connection with the Imperial Conference, knighthoods are to be made wholesale. On the iater aspect of Tongan affairs, a letter from the Rev. Lorimer Fison, M.A., will be found In another column. In our sixth page to-day will be found a, detailed description of the sham fight in connection with the Easter encampment, and also of the chnrch parade and proceedings at the camp yesterday. To-day the encampment will break up, concluding with a review and march past at the Takapana- racecourse. The interprovinGial cricket match, Auckland v. Wellington, will be played on the Domain ground to-morrow, the match commencing immediately after the arrival of the s.s. Rotomahana from Gisborne. The Auckland Association, who have the details of the oontest to arrange, have made all of them of a complete character. Lunchaon will be served in the pavilion by the well-known caterer Mr. Johnson, of Newton. The match will be continued on Wednesday. At the present the Auckland eleven are strong favourites among the betting fraternity. An accident ocourred yesterday afternoon at the Encampment to H. Ward, a member of the Ponsonby? Naval Artillery,, Ho was out for a ride on one of the Cavalry horses along the Main Lake Road, and when about a mile and" a-half from the Camp he came into collision with another horseman, and was thrown. The small front boue of his right leg, between the knee and ankle, was broken. When word of the accident was brought to the Camp, Dr. W. Erson, of the Onehunga Navals, rode off to render assistance, and the ambulance waggon was quickly brought into requisition, and started after him. Dr. Erson at once took steps to set the bone, and then, without waiting for the arrival of the ambulance waggon, placed his patient on a passing omnibus and brought him Into Camp, He was placed in the hospital tent, and attended by Drs. Erson, Tennent, and Walker.

Majors Hamlin and Harris and Captain Rutherford have good reason to be proud of the physique and proficiency of their men. The former and latter officers' command, at any rate, first-rate cavalry corps. This they owe to traditions of the war times la their own district, and to their steady application to drill for years. In this connection we may mention that in a wrestling; match between an equal number of picked men of other corps and of the Te Awamutu Cavalry corps, the Te Awamutu men were victorious. Sergeant Loane being specially distinguished. We believe that the Te Awamutu men are about to challenge any 10 men, Volunteers or civilians, to pull them in a tug-of-war for a good sum. Surely we must conclude the present generation are not inferior to their fathers when we find three such giant-like young men as Troopers Halliburton, Campbell, and Lindsay Johnstone, of the Te Awainula troop. These young gentlemen average 6 feet 4 inches, and are built in proportion. They are sons of the late Captain J, C. Johnstone, of Raglan, and are universally liked in the troop. The records of our Police Courts show that nearly every Monday morning a considerable number of people are fined for being drunk on Sunday. The following novel idea from America might be adopted here :— Mayor Dsnning, of Indianapolis, U.S.A., has given a curious decision, discharging from custody all persons arrested for drunkenness on Sunday, on the ground that since the men bought their liquor in saloons running on Sunday in open defiance of law, it Is "'a mockery of justice to sit hero week after week and take the bread out of the months of innocent women and children by fining men for being drunk on Sunday, when the guilty parties who sell them the liquor are not molested." In our Saturday's issue we mentioned that a man had fallen off the return excursion train the previous evening, but as to who the person was could not then be ascertained, or whether he had been killed or not By the arrival of the train, from the' Waikato on Saturday night we ascertained that the person was Mr. Forgiu, baker, of Ponsonby. The engine that had been sent In search from Mercer found Mr. Forgie not only quite well and unhurt, but also fast asleep alongside the permanent way. He was unhurt, and by the Saturday night train returned to Auckland, where he received the congratulations of his friends upon his escape from injury.

The result of an inquest on the body of Maori is sometimes decidedly inconvenient 8 At Otafrehe, it is said •' the Maori* hav "tapu ed" both the hotel where the inqu ,t was held and the owner of the cart in which the corpse was carried after being di»i terred. At first the natives believed th' cart belonged to the local baker, and seat for their bread to Manaia. On finding out their mistake they removed tha "tapu" ron it. A correspondent thinks that a good i¥ for the Auckland Savings Bank to cel.braie the Jubilee would be to use part of their surplus fubds in giving their depositors mora interest for their money during the year, and also to pay interest on deposits from the da» the money is paid in. He says :—For an example, at present If I, and say nine other members of my family, pay in £100 each on the Bth of April, and have occasion to draw it all out on the 6th of June, we do not get one penny as interest, and the bank gets the use of the £1000 for two months for nothing Multiply this £1000 by very many, and it % easy to see how the bank is so flash of UEU j s with the interest derived from poor people', hard savings. He also says that another very popular method of celebrating th« Jubilee would be for landlords to reduce their rents to one-half for the year, and which would be a good thing for both parties, as the present high rates, especially in Queen. street, are only forcing tenants into the insolvent Court. On Saturday afternoon a fast passenger train left Auckland station for Ngaruawahia Ohaupo, Te Awamutu, Hamilton West, anj Cambridge. About 50 or 60 passengers left by the train. X-ieturn tickets were issued available for return by any train up to and including April 25.

On Saturday night a " Mammoth Minstrel Variety Troupe" opened for a short season at the City Hall, and met with a fair amount of support, considering the powerful rival attraction at the Opera House. The troupe included one or two well-known Auckland favourites, who met again with a very hearty reception. Mr. Cecil Beryl acted as inter, locutor, Messrs. Francis and Small as bones and Messrs. W. Knowls and Paddy Doran were the tambos. all of whom showed themselves well qualified for their respective parts in the entertainment. Mr. C. F. Edmonds sang excellently "Sweet Angel of My Dreams" and also the opening ballad of the second part. " The Limekiln Club," with its lively ohorus, was very successful, as were also subsequently the songs of Messrs. Sullivan, Francis and Cecil Beryl. Mr, Faddy Doran was heartily applauded for his humorous and vigorous rendering of " Only Eighteenpence," and Mr. Small was thoroughly effective in "Mary's Gone Away." Miss Nellie Sims sang with appropriate action "The Alarqulg ol Camberwell Green," and in response to an encore gave "Money." The clog dances, withiaccompanying songs, by the Dumont Brothers, were warmly encored, and a short extravaganza and a farce included in the programme evoked abundant laughter. For this evening a grand ball is announced, to which patrons of the dreas-cirole win be admitted free.

An altercation between two sporting characters took place at the Plumpton Park meeting on Saturday, which looked at one time as if about to assume the proportions of a regular "row," but happily friends of the disputants interfered, and the matter passed off without any serious damage being done. Mr. Philip Stuart, the theatrical agent, ia now in Auckland, making arrangements far the appearance of Dr. Lynn, the celebrated escamatenr and illusionist from the Egyptian Hall and Crystal Palace, London. Dr. Lynn will appear at Abbott's • Opera House next Monday evening, the 18th instant, .in his entertainment Mirth and Marvels, and will introduce, among other novelties, the Phenomenon of the Vanishing Lady. The quality of the entertainments provided by the doctor may be gauged from the fact that he has appeared by command five times before her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H, the Prince of Wales. A correspondent writes as follows :—" Considerable surprise was expressed on Saturday morning at the non-despatch of the usual train leaving Onehunga at five minutes past seven. It was stated that the man who usually lights the fire «nd gets up steam had been relieved from attendance and no one told off to take his place. To make matters worse passengers were' kept waiting ten minutes after the advertised time of despatch, before being informed, nor was the information telegraphed down' the line for about the same time, ten minutes late. Considerable inconvenience was occasioned to those who have to be in town by eight o'clock."

A match was arranged last Saturday night, between W. Murphy, the well-known Auckland light-weight, and Charles Taylor, of America. Murphy's performances, both here and in Australia, are too familiar to sporting readers to need'recapitulation, while Taylor brings a big reputation with him from San Francisco. He is the principal of a large gymnasium in that city, and brought out and trained J. Derapsey in his famous fight with Mike Cleary. He scales about 10at 81b in condition, and is, therefore, over a stone heavier than his opponent. The mates is to take place in three weeks, and a deposit from both men is held by Mr, J. Gallagher. The Onehunga Choral Society, which, it will be remembered, so ably produced the "Pirates of Penzance" some months ago, under the conductorship of the late Mr, Gurr, and which has been defunct ever since, was re-organised again last week, and bids fair to make good progress again during the winter months. Several meetings have been held, presided over by Mr. Brown, and the following officers have been elected:—President, Sir G. M. O'-Rorke ; vice-presidents, Dr. W. G. Scott (Mayor) and Mr. F. M. P. Brookh'eld, Captain Worsp, and Colonel Shepherd ; committee, Dr. W. R. Erson, Messrs. Wasteney?, Walrond, Fellows, and Stevenson ; the secretary and treasurer to be elected by the committee. It was resolved that the fee of membership be half-a guinea per annum, payable quarterly in advance, and for honorary members one guinea. In all, 25 persons have submitted their names as intending mem' hers, and it is expected during the present week fully double that number will be enrolled. Mr. G. J. "Brown (late conductor of the Napier Choral Society) has been chosen conductor, and the society is to be congratulated on securing the services of such a talented musician. They have deputed Mr. Wasteneya to consult with the Auckland Choral Society with a view of getting some music, and if successful will commence rehearsing at once, every Monday evening being selected for. meeting. A highly entertaining and instructive lecture was delivered on Saturday night by Mr. A. G. Daniells, on "Alcohol, Its effects on the human system," to a large audience, the hall being comfortably rilled. Mr. W, J. Speight occupied the chair, and Mr. S. Frith's choir assisted during the evening. The lecturer first explained to his audience, by the aid of anatomical diagrams, the funotious and properties of the various systems of nerves, blood vessels, lung tisaues, etc, of the human body, and then proceeded to detail in simple yet forcible language the injurious effects of the use of alcoholic spirits upon these systems. The lecturer also touohed upon the noxious effects of tobacco and its ingredient nicotine. Throughout his leoture Mr. Danieila kept the attention of the audience with him by several illustrative experiments and anecdotes of his personal experience.

With respect to the letter of our correspondent, "A Would-be Subscriber," which appeared in our issue of Saturday last, we are informed by Mrs. Dudley Ward that the appointment of a mistress, to the Kindergarten School will rest, not with herself, but with the proposed committee of ladies, by whom the claims and testimonials of all Auckland candidates for the situation will be fully considered prior to engaging a trained lady from the South. At the Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs. Gordon and Gilmour, J.P.'s, Louis Napoleon was fined 5s and costs for being drunk. Two men- were each fined 5s and costs for allowing their cows to wander on the Surrey Hills. The Ferry Company's steamers plying to Lake Takapuna yestorday were well patronised, the friends of the volunteers, including their wives and sweethearts, going down to see them. From one to, two thousand pa*' sengers were carried. To-day the company will make another trip with one of their fine steamers to Lake Takapuna, leaving Aack* land at eleven o'clock, and calling at Devonport en route. It will be seen from an advertisement elsewhere that the first leotures of the courses on "Physics and Chemistry "will be delivered on Friday next, and on the Tuesday following. The laboratory will be open for the first time on Saturday next.

The codlln moth has been making heavy ravages at Takapuna, as well »a other district! Mr. Harrow, of the Lake, has in consequence erected a older plant, which w capable of manuacturing a ton of apples per day into cider. It is portable, and can be easily taken from one district to then This method of utilising the apples, owing to the spread of the pest, will prove a benefit to the local growers, and also to those recent in the adjacent districts. One of the moat pleasant adjuncts to camp life at Takapuna ha* been the arrangemerits made for affording bathing to the men. Ihe day before the arrival of the volantern Harrow fixed up conveniences, planking. Springboard. &c, for the use of the men, and Xo put his boats in the lake at their disP An Incipient fira took place on Saturday morning in the library of the new Municipal Buildings. It arose through a gas ]et being left burning in an air shaft behind tho shelves of the library. The shelving took fire, but the fire was suppressed with trifling damage. While on a visit to his son at Cambridge, Waikato, last week, Mr. S. E. Hughes, solicitor, had an attack of apoplexy. His friends have gone up to attend upon him. Mr. Hughes had » similar attack twelve mouths ago. The tidings will be received with regret, as Mr. Hughes is one of our most respected citizens. It is stated that in all probability there will be an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the late fire in Stauley-streot. The unpleasant state of affairs in connection with Avondale Presbyterians still continues, and the breach between minister and congregation is as wide as ever. The large congregation meeting in the public school, who form the seceding party, numbering some SO persons, are fully determined never to go back to their church until the Rev. A. MoKenzie is removed. Meantime the local Presbyterian Church is comparatively deserted ; the attendance can be counted on one's fingers.

The Rev. John Alexander Dowie opened his mission last evening la the Choral Hall, in connection with the propagation of the doctrine of " Divine healing, through faith in Christ Jesus." At the hour of commencement of the service the hall was tilled. Mr. and Mrs. Dowie ascended the platform, and he at once gave out the 277 th hymn, " I've reached the land of corn and wine," the singing being led by a volunteer choir, with organ accompaniment. In his preliminary remarks, Mr. Dowie said it had been their custom on opening the mission in any city to pray for those with whom they had been in intercourse on the subject of healing in America, France, Swiss Cantons, Russia, Great Britain and India, not particularly but generally, and joining with them in concerted intercessory prayer. Many of those •appeals were from beds of sickness in all parts of the world. The hymn, Jesus of Nazareth Passeth by," was then sung, after which Mrs. Dowie read Psalm lxvii,, Luke iv., 14—22, and Acts iii., I—lo. Mr. Dowie again addressed the meeting. He and his wife had landed in New Zealand early in December. They had spoken to 90,000 persons in the aggregate since commencing their mission, and had now come to this city, with no one to introduce them. He then announced the arrangements for the meetings during their three weeks' stay. Mr. Dowie then chose as the basis of his discourse on "The Beautiful Gate of Divine Healing," Acts iii., 10. The mission was to the whole household of faith, of every denomination or sect, for he "attached no value to denominational distinctions. He came in the name of no Church and no body of men, but in that Name which was above every name. The Beautiful Gate of Divine Healing was being again opened in all parts of the world—in Australia, the Continent and the East. There Were over 120 centres of " Divine Healing through faith in Christ Jesus" in the United Kingdom, and some of our ablest and deepest thinkers now thought the doctrine of Divine Healing a present day doctrine, and the results a present day reality. He would teach first that disease W",B evil, and the work of the devil; that disease was not good, but corruption, and corruption never came from an incorruptible God. Disease came through sin, and was the work of the devil. He would teach that health was good, but would never teach that disease was good, and that we should be resigned about it. Jesus Christ was a present healer, not a past healer. Mrs. Dowie then delivered an addrega, on "Some miracles I have seen in connection with healing." She narrated a number of cases, in which cures had been effected by Mr. Dowie's agency, of cancer, paralysis, etc. The hymn "She Only Touched the Hem of Bis Garment" was then sung, after which a consecration service was held, to which a large number remained. To-morrow (Wednesday) evening Mr. Dowie's subject will be, "Two Chains : Good and Evil," illustrated by a diagram, and Mrs. Dowie will discourse upon "Narratives of Healing Without Humau Touch."

We would call the attention of the lads and young men of the city to the advertise ment in to-day's issue, which announces the opening of Our Boys' Rest, in Albert-street. It is a plain roomy building of three stories. The top floor has been fitted up as a fairly complete gymnasium and reading-room for the older lads and young men, and will be open every evening from seven till ten o'clock. The ground floor will be for the little boys under fifteen, and will be open (D.V.) on Monday, April IS. When complete, the ground floor will also contain lavatories, bath-room, and coffee-room for all, in addition to the reading «room and gymnasium for the little boys. The large number who attended the small, and barely furnished rooms, or rather sheds, at the back of the Sailors' Rest, showed how great was the need for such an institution—a work wh'ch forms an introduction to the Young Men's Christian Association. The need for separate rooms for the older and younger lads was clearly seen in the work in the old Boys' Rest, when scores of little ones had to be sent away for want of accommodation. A special feature of the work this week is that each evening, at a quarter to nine, the gymnasium will be closed, and a short service conducted by the Hon. G. Waldegrave. Daring the last ten years (says the 'Christian Commonwealth) 51 Free Methodist ministers (cut of a staff of under 400) have, willingly or unwillingly, left the denomination. Some of them engaged in business, but the majority became ministers of other churches. Thirteen of them became Congregatiooalists, though one of these has since returned ; three became Baptists, three Episcopalians, three Presbyterians, three joined tho Methodist Episcopal Church of America, one the Methodist Church of Canada, one the Wesleyan Church of Now Zealand, one joined the ranks of the Unitarian ministers, one became a Swedenborgian, fend another occupies the position of pastor of an undenominational church.

1 For to-day several excursions are announced, and amongst these may bo mentioned that of the Northern Company's to the island of Kawau, and for the convenience of intending excursionists the company flamed have laid on their fine steamer Clansman, which is to leave the Queen-street "Wharf at ten a.m., returning again from the island early in the evening. The Devonporfc Wesleyan congregational picnic will be made to-day, and the place of visit is to be the Mahurangi Heads. To convey the members and friends of the church the 8.8. Glenelg has been engaged, and she will leave the Queen-Btreet Wharf at nine a.m. sharp. On the return journey a concert will be given by the choir. There. is a capital wharf at the place of rendezvous, so that the excursionists will be able to land. In addition to theße, the steamers of theDevonport and Birkenhead Ferry Companies will make special trips to iheir respective places of call, and the former company will also run a steamer to the Lake Takapuna beach, landing passengers within a few minutes' walk of the volunteer encampment. Yesterday a steamer made two trips there, and she was mo3t liberally patronised each time. The s.s. Vivid will run trips to it Heliera Bay, and other excursions will, no doubt, be also arranged for the day. The employees of the Auckland Tobacco Co. held their annual picnic on Saturday last. Takapuna was selected as the spot for it, and a moat enjoyable day waß spent. Auctioneers' licenses expire on Friday, the isth instant, and require to be renewed before ihat date.