Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7920, 12 April 1887, Page 4

The importanes of establishing the new Ambulance Corps in our volunteer service has been proved already during the short encampment which has taken place at Takapuna. In two minutes after the word was brought in to cimp that one of the Ponsonby Navals had broken hie leg two miles down the Lake Road, the ambulance men were running down the slope at "the double" with a stretcher, splints, etc., while Dr. W. Erson, eeizing the first trooper's horse, leaped into the saddle, and wan at once gallopping down the road to the aid of the wouuded man. In five minutes the ambulance waggon was harneesed up, and following the party. At the (Saturday's sham fight the value of the ambulance service was brought out in the case of Bugler Nairn, no such appliances being available for accidents at the Papatoitoi encampment. It would be well, however, in future sham fights, if the German system, now need in the English regular service, were adopted, namely, getting a number of men to simulate being wounded, and who are picked up by stretcher-men, and carried on stretchers, and in some cases improvised litters, to the ambulances. Fortunately, there are medical officers attached to the volunteer corps, in addition to Dr. Dawson, who are well up in ambulance work. Dr. Erson, who was with Captain Fenton's detachment of Navals, lectured for four years on ambulance work at Buddersfield, and Dr. Parkinson, who was with Commandant Leßoy's detach ment, served in the Zulu and Boer wars. Attempts are about to be made to make Lake Takapuna district a greater resort for the holiday-seekers of Auckland than it has hitherto been. It is said that a firat-clasa family hotej would be of advantage, as many people would go over for a day or two to enjoy the change of scene, who do not care to tax the hospitality of the residents. Mr. Harrow, of the Lake, it ia stated, pro pose 3 to put up such an establishment at a cost of £2000 to £3000, on a commanding section of hie estate, which has a magnificent view alike of Auckland and suburbs, and of the Hauraki Gulf, with a frontage to the Lake. It ig contemplated to build a promenade balcony right round the four sides, so as to command the view for miles around, also to provide boats on the lake for pleasuring. These arrangements, it is hoped, will make the district additionally attractive to visitors. At a meeting held the other day at Invercargill, at which questions relating to the railway were discussed,.one speaker said that " to make Mr. Vaile's scheme a success, all the colonists would have to give np work and take to travelling. It was not cheapness that made people travel. It was necessity. If the railway charged one-fourth the present rates he would travel no further than now." It appears that the cannonading ia the three-gun battery on Mount Victoria, of the Auckland Xavals, under Captain Com- . mandant Leßoy, is likely to prove an expensive affair. The windows of the Government store on the Mount were shattered to pieces, and the sashes got jammed. Owing to the signalman opening the windows of his house before the firing began, he sustained no damage. Oα Commandant Leßoy, after the firing, passing along the base of the hill, one irate dame rushed out of her house and, holding up a cap and saucer, the balance of her crockery, gave the officer a bit of her mind. Other householders are said to have suffered similarly. The camp meeting held by the Salvation Army yesterday at Otahuhu was the means of attracting a great crowd to that pleasant village, the bulk leaving town about nine, and after a " real good time" started for Auokland about half-past four. The evening was occupied by a Salvation meeting at the Barracks, which partly took the form of a farewell to Major Berritt, who is leaving for the Thames, Addresses were given by Mr. T. W. Glover, Major Barritt, Captain Freeman, of the Thames, aud some of the local staff, to a congregation which filled the large hall to its limits. A Sydney contemporary tells the follow - ing anecdote :—" Thursday last being a private inspection day on the R.M.s. Ormuz, every visitor was supposed to produce a ticket before stepping on board. A gentle maa was making his way on board, when he was asked by the man at the gangway for his ticket. ' I have not got one, , said the gentleman; •is the captain on board V ' Well, if you haven't got a ticket, sir,' replied the tar, smilingly, ' I really must ask you to put something in that,' pointing to a box for donations for the sufferers by the Bulli disaster) ; ' and I need not tell you that it is for a good cause. . The gentleman dropped a sovereign into the box, and went on board. Just as he was leaving, the man at the box introduced the captain to the visitor, and he handed the captain his card, upon which was inscribed, ' Lord Carrington, Governor.' The roan at the box seemed to experience heavy weather, and nearly fell overboard. The captain offered to show His Excellency over the ship. ' No, thanks; I have been all over it, , replied the Governor." The culinary department of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly is in almost as i deplorable a condition as the Assembly it- , self. The Epicurean complainants point out I that the sauce is an abomination. The second complaint is about the vegetables, of which it is stated that there would seem to be only some four or five varieties of these comestibles within the ken of the chef—and only one unvarying way of cooking these, namely, by boiling, The third complaint refers to cheese. The firet principles of serving cheese are unknown to the staff. What ie served is generally a frowsy, stale bit of New Zealand or Bodalla cheese, which is handed round in broken fragments, with no snowy cloth surrounding it. Why could not a proper cut of oheese of various kinds, including English and Gruyere, be provided, and let a corresponding charge be made if it is found necessary? The fourth complaint refers to the utter inadequacy of the service of waiters, and, as a remedy, the complainants suggest a trial of the ordinary oiub system of attaching to each table or tables particular waiters, whose duty it shall be to attend to these tables solely. In the fifth case the subscribers express the opinion that a better selection of colonial wines might be kept. Sixthly, it is a matter of common remark that the oysters for supper are about the worst procurable in the city. The curries are simply beneath contempt, and the cook does not understand how to boil rice. A lunatic named Charles Flag was brought into Auckland yesterday from Remuera on a charge of lunacy. The Sydney papers report the trial of Henry Ham Britten, minister of the Church of England, and incumbent of St. Ann's, Ryde, npon an indictment charging him with having, on the 11th November, ISB6, at Ryde, malioionsly set fire to a dwelling-house situated at Ryde, in his possession, with intent thereby to defraud. The indiotment further charged him with having on the same date maliciously set fire to a certain building, to wit, a stable, at Ryde: At the close of the case for the Crown the jury intimated that it was not necessary for the counsel for the defence to call witnesses, as they had already made up their minds. A verdict of not guilty was then returned, and the accueed was discharged. It may be remembered that some yesrs ago the Corporation of Leeds, England, incurred a large expeneo in renovating the building of the Free Library and Victoria Hall, and in re-binding the books, on aocount of the injury caused by the action of sulphuretted hydrogen evolved from the gas then need. Although gas in Leeds is the cheapest in England, Iβ 10d per 1000, and the works owned by the Corporation, they deoided to use electric light, so as to prevent further renovating expenses, and for which £10,000 was granted by the Council in May, 1883, and of which £4932 7s have been spent in providing the necessary machinery. The last annual report of the Electric Lighting Committee says "that the system of lighting gas by • incandescent , lampe is about 100 per cent, dearer than the system by gas, yet taking the actual quantity of light produced, viz., 2669 candles of gas against 5620 candles by electricity, electrio light costing even so much is, in fact, cheaper than gas lighting, besides avoiding the objectionable features of gas, and the renovating expense. The syllabna of Mr. Spnrgeon's lecture on " Luck," in connection with the Tabernacle Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society, appears in another column. The lecture takes place this evening in the Tabernacle schoolroom, and admission is free, which is a piece of luok in itself. The usual weekly Gospel Temperance mission service was held in the Foresters' Hall, Karangahapeßoad, on Sunday evening, and was largely attended. Mr. R. French presided. Mr. T. W. Glover gave a very interesting and earnest address. The choir sang several selectiona in a very pleasing manner, and as the audience retired an appropriate Easter hymn waa sang.

Colonel King-Herman, who has figured prominently in connection with Irish troubles, hag been appointed Under-Secre-tary for Ireland. The difficulty which has cropped up between England and H&ytl seems likely to lead to active hostilities, and there iB talk of the bombardment of the island of Tortuga. President Cleveland appears inclined to go the full length of American animosity towards Great Britain in regard to the fisheries dispute, and talks in falutin strains of the national interests and the national honour. The steamer Triumph is reported to have reached London. The rising in Afghanistan, according to latest acccounts, is spreading. Colonel Fraser, M.H.R., Mayor of Thames, with Mr A. Brodie, Chairman of the Thames County Council, and Messrs. R. Comer and S. Turtle arrived in town yesterday for the purpose of attending a meeting of the Thames Drainage Board, which Is to be held at the office of Mr. D. G. MacDonneil, this morning. The business to be transacted will be of importance, inasmuch as the question of raising an amount of £2000 is to be considered, in order to gain an equal sam from the Government, which was authorised to be spent on this work on that condition by the Hon. Mr. Larnach during hia recent visit to the Thames, The first day's racing in connection with the A.B.C. Meeting took place yesterday. The attendance of the public was scarcely up to former years, but possibly the Easter Encampment kept many away. The racing throughout the afternoon was of a capital description, and some very close finishes took place. The principal event of the day was won by Mr. A. Drake's fine mare Spade Guinea, while the St. Leger fell to Mr. Bobbetfs filly Lady Norah, which beat Mr. Drake's Teddy Yuille by a nose after a great race. A detailed account of the meeting will be found in another column. The unused portion of the Tiritiri cable has been laid down across the Piako River, the turret towers for carrying over the telegraphic wire a having been dispensed with. Mr. Orohiston, District Inspector of Telegraphs, is about to carry on a telephone line to Mauku, the residents having obtained the boon after five years' petitioning for it. A member of the Australian Mutual Provident Association, writes:—"Can you | inform your readers which are the old members and which the new ones nominated as directors to be elected on the 25th instant ? Owing to the Easter holidays in the ordinary course of events, I should not have received my nomination paper until the 12th instant, and, as the steamer leaves tor Sydney on the same day, it is evident too little time has been given to the Auokland members to enquire into the qualifications and opinions of new candidates before voting. Whose fault this is I am not aware. If you can enlighten your numerous readers you will be doing the members service." We may state that the only old member among the candidates is Mr. W. G. Murray, of the firm of Gibbs, Bright, and Co. The brevity of the notice iB accounted for by the by-law which requires candidates for the directorship to give only 21 days' notice before the meeting for election. The voting papers had better be sent by to-day's steamer. Next Tuesday's eteamer willarrive in time, however; but caro should be taken not to send them by the steamer going South on Thursday. Care must also be taken that all the directions in the circular are rigidly complied with. Yesterday evening at the close of the Ellerslie races, Detective Hughes arrested a respeotable - looking 1 man named Howard Osborne for a breach of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, by establishing a lottery and issuing tickets by which prizes were given on the races. A meeting of the stewards of tho A.R.C. was held in the stewards' room, and a resolution passed, after hearing a statement of the case, that the police be recommended to proseonte Osborne. Ho was accordingly arrested and charged as above. Osborne is lately from Queensland, and has commenced manufacturing courier bags and carpet bags in Queen-street. He complains that the police allowed him to go on all day, instead of warning and stopping him at the outset. , Another man named Alfred Chatland was arrested for the "under and over" business. , The second service of the Rev. J. A Dowie's mission in the Choral Hall took pl&ce last evening. A report of it will be found elsewhere. Whatever opinion may be formed as to his viows' on the dogma of " Healing by Faith"—and no doubt there is considerable diversity of opinion on the subjectthere can.be none as to his being a debater of great mental power, and considerable oratorical ability. His addresses, judged merely as the lnge» nious reasonings of a skilled debater, are an intellectual treat; while those of Mrs. Dowie, for vigour and withal simplicity and artleßsneßs of style, at once arrests the attention of the hearers. Three of the local clergy were present at the meeting last night, and evidently i were interested in the views set forth. A correspondent makes the following remarks on the Art Gallery arrangements "It is much to be regretted that the Art Gallery is not in a fit state to show the pictures that will soon be exhibited therein. In the first place, there is no provision made to hang pictures on the wall, which should have been boarded— very grave oversight on the part of the architect. The dado is also a mistake. There should have been only a bold skirting ; but the greatest evil of all at present is the glaring white wall, which will come in juxtaposition with the larger and darker pictures, and will materially injure some of them, the contrast being too great. But the public will be able to get over the difficulty by making a tube with a catalogue, or by partially closing the hand and looking through, shutting one eye, thereby excluding all surrounding objects. In some galleries tubes are provided blackened inside. I hope that before another exhibition matters will be better arranged, but a compliment is due to the Fine Art Committee for doing what they have done."

* The Chri»tchuxoh Press of April 5 g ays . Bp "The frequently disputed question a» whether the codlin moth had made itg pearance in Canterbury has now been cor '■' clusively settled. Yesterday the owner of *' small orchard in St. Albane showed Mr. to* ill Murphy, of t&e Agricultural and Pastor i Iw Association, two apples of the golden n ear ii| main variety, botb of which betray unmij. takeable signs , of the ravages of the moth" f. ' In one of the apples the grub was f oUn( i' f The other was bored through, and the oor >* was destroyed, which is the caee with a ii i"apples attacked by tho moth. The ap p i e , may be seen at the rooms of the Assooia ' tion. Mr. Murphy directed the owner of i the orchard to thoroughly cleanse and dreii : the two trees upon which the moth wa s found, and to destroy the sarrounding weedj - There is some little consolation in the hope that the pest may not spread very faat \, )'''■ there is evidence that when it has been found in other parts of the colony its ; a . P crease has not been at all rapid. If prompt P and effective measures are taken, we mL hope to hear that there is no likelihood Jf the matter becoming serious. It would be as well, however, if gardeners and others were to take a careful look through their '■'■ orchards to make sure that their apple treei and fruit are not affected by the moth. A concert and entertainment will be gi Ven in the Oneihunga Hall to-night, in aid of tb e funds of S*. Peter'e Anglican Church, a very choice piogramrae has been drawn up to which a number of Auckland frienda promised to contribute. The dance in aid of the Devonport Liwn Tennie Club comes off to-night. The com. v mittee intimate in another column to those who have invitations, and who have nobeen able to procure tickets, that cirdi o j admission can be obtained from the commute; during the day, or ia the gentlemen's room to> night. It is expected the affair will be a great success. The Wellington cricketers and a number of Volunteer officers have accepted invitation and signified their intention of being present, '