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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8950, 14 January 1888, Page 4

A terrible railway collision ia_ reported from America. After the accident the wrecked train took fire, and many passengers were burned to death, while the injured who succeeded in escaping from the flames perished in consequence of the intense cold. The scene was one of indescribable horror. An English clergy related, to the Earl of Lonsdale, was found in his bedroom with his brains blown oat. A summons had been issued against him charging him with a criminal assault. The greater part of the United Kingdom was enveloped in a dense fog on Wednesday. Several accidents and fatalities are reported. Italy and Abyssinia ate on the eve of war. The health of the German Emperor is causing renewed _ uneasiness. The silver boom in Australia is increasing.

Again a fair amount of business was done yesterday in the stock and share market. New Zealand Insurance shares sold at 675, and Auckland Gas Company's found buyers at £10 12« i, while New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Ageioy Company's sharss were disposed of at 655, and National Mortgage shares realised 7s 2d. In mining stock, Saxnns changed hands at 6s Sd and 6s 9i, and Paroquets at 5s 101 and 6s,

A large number of passengers went away by the s.s. JRotomahana, which left yesterday for Southern ports. Among those who left were Mr. Justioe Gillies, who proceeds to Gisborne, for Lyttelton Mr. Baddeley, Assistant R.M. ; Mr. A. Porter and the Revs. W. J. Taylor and C. E. Ward were also passengers by the same steamer. By the Takapnna, which left Onehunga last evening, Major Dane, the well-known lecturer, was a passenger to Wellington. He goes to join the annual Sounds excursion.

The construction of the tram line to Epsom has greatly improved the general appearance of the road along which it passes, and in its construction the company have filled many places which were previously of a very dangerous character, notably those in front of Mr. Barstow's residence. The company have also cut through the crown of a very nasty hill near the Junction Hotel, and it is probable the local Road Board will, as Boon as they can, cut down the crown of the road to the tram level, and thus confer » great benefit on vehicular traffic generally. The residents of Epsom are highly pleased with the general work of the company, and they reasonably expect that the increased con* venienoe thus afforded for travelling will have the effeot, at no distant date, of inducing more people to settle in this beautiful suburb.

Mr. J. S. Duke, who was lately olerk in the office of Mr. S. Y. Collins, Registrar, and who was discharged for alleged irregularities, has sent us a long letter going fully into the charges made against him by Mr. Collins, and furnishing answers. Mr. Duke states that he hid intended to press for an inquiry into the whole matter, but has been dissuaded from doing so. The public interest in the affair having expired, long ago, and the whole sabject being now merely a personal one between Mr. Duke and Mr. Col* lins, we cannot give space to publish the letter.

Yesterday morning Detectives luohy and Hughes returned from their search in the Mareatai district, for the " plants" of the goods stolen from the yaoht Malna. They left on Wednesday, acoompanied by the lad MacDowell, who had been arrasted in connection with the stealing of the yaoht, and who has oonfessed ta the details of the affair. Guided by MacDowell they have reoovered about £20 worth of the stolen property. The party had long and weary tramps, travelling mostly by night, to avoid the discomfort of the excessive heat by day. On Thursday night they reached Nathan's farm, Turanga Creek, and came on to Auckland yesterday morning, by the steamer Waitoa. No trace has yet been got of the missing plate. The police are still on the track of the third member of the gang, and it is believed will shortly effect his arrest.

We are informed by Mr. Whitney (Messrs Whitney and Sons) that in his opinion the defect which has caused the accidents with the Remington Lee rifles lies chiefly in the cartridges. The bunting of the cartridge at the base is caused by the metal being too thin, and from it being praised too muoh. This could be remedied by using a more suba stantial and high-priced cartridge. There would not then be so many accidents. The cause of the neck of the cartridges bursting is owing to the too sudden taper in the bore of the barrel, or to the cartridges themselves not exactly fitting. The former reason is, he thinks, most probable. The loose fit of the cartridges may be intended to facilitate extraction and allow for expansion. At pre* sent there are no.fewer than eight different | sizes of Saider rifles used by the volunteers, j The rifles of the Armed Constabulary and the Remington-Lecß bring up the list to ten. The Government seem determined to get Martini-8. This will make eleven different sizts of cartridges needed. Mr. Whitney says the Martinis' have been completely discarded at home, and that it would be worse than useless tor the volunteers to get them. Whatever arm the British Government select should b? the weapon for New Zealand, but till that seleotion is made, he thinks we Bhould rest content with the Sniders. We should beware of making a rash choice, as some of the oleverest heads in England are at work on the question, and if we only wait we will have the benefit of their investigations.

Laat night an inmate of the Lunatic Aiiylum named Elizabeth Foley escaped from the institution, going in the direction of Meant Albert. She has been a long time a patient, and is some 33 years of age. At time of leaving she was dressed in a brown woollen dress, trimmed with red.

At half-past one o'clock to-day the p.g, Britannia is to leave the Queen-street Wharf for Kohimarama, where the annual treat to the lads of the Training School is to be held. Holders of tickets issued by Mr. Eowe, tha promoter of these treats, will be carried to and from the place named by the Britannia. Ths Devonport Brass Band is to accompany the vessel. In addition to other sports arrangements have been made for some swimming races between the crew (natives) of the Island trading briganfciae IkaVuka. Foot races, etc., will also be arranged, and as prizes Mr. o.' Rowe has received a number of very pretty and useful articles, in addition to which money prizes will ba given, With fine weather the treat pro. raises to be a very great success. Presents have been given towards the treat as follow:—Hams, beef, etc., Messrs HeW laby, Binstead, Hulme; toys, hats, caps, pocket knives, shirts, perfumery, etc., by K, Porter and Co., VV. G. Allen, W. H, Ftmton, CJrnickshank, Miller, and Co., J. L. H»tswell, T. and S. Morrin, Owen andGra* ham ; fruit, etc., A. B. Donald, B. Dawson, B. Tonka and Co., E. Ellingham, C. Hes l keth ; cakes, biscuits, etc., Stone Bros., J, Liimb, Bycroft and Co., E. MoKeown ; con. iecticnery, nuts, etc., L. D. Nathan and Co., W. S. Whitley, H. B. Morton, a. Elsather, G. W. Owen, A. H. Nathan; lemonade, eto., M. Gallagher, Hancock, & Winter; bonbons, jewel packets, etc., Mr L, Coupland; illustrated bookß, Mr Cuthb<irtsori

A meeting of temperanoe representatives from various districts was held on Thursday evening, in the New Zealand Alliance rooms, to consider the overture made by the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association that there should be no contested eleotion this year in the city—that is to say, the Isorth, South, and East wards, Mr. G. B. Lilly occupied the chair. The proposal was in the nature of a compromise, the ticket submitted containing the names of three Bine, ll.ibbonites and two moderates, and was contained in a communication from Mr. Joseph Newman, who was unable to be present at the meeting. Tha names submitted in the proposal were thoie of Messrs H. F. Anderson, J. Winks, C. E. Button, G. Winstone, and J. Newman. Tha question was fully discussed, the meeting being addressed by Messrs. D. Goldie, M.H.R., Ambury, Cranwell, Wilson, Cook, IVaymouth, and others. It was admitted that the offer was the fairest they had yes received, or were likely to receive, but it wis felt that if the Temperance organisation accepted such an offer they would lose the moral power at present at their back, and as tlie nominees of the Licensed Victuallers' Association could only regulate the liquor tir&ffio, but do nothing towards further restriction or diminution, on principle they deemed it best to leave the issue in the hands of the people, and accordingly unanimously dscided not to accept any compromise. It was detarmined to hold meetings in each of the city wards, as also in the Boroughs of Newmarket aud Parnell, for the purpose of selecting temperance candidates, and conveners were appointed in each district. The platform adopted was that of late years—ten o'clock closing, no upstairs or private bars, no Sunday trading, and no increase of licenses,

When the new St. Benedict's Church ii finished, in all probability a farther addition will be made to the block of buildings by the erection of a suitable reiidence for the accommodation of the clergy attached to the church. It is desirable that such an adjunct to the new church should be provided. The question, it is stated, is simply one of finance.

A young man named John William Wyatt was brought in from Whangarsi yssterday by steamer, on remand. The charge against him is one of obtaining money from Mr. Cohen by fraudulent representations.

" Tenderer" writes: " Tenders were called through your columns for the supplies to the Asylum and closed on Deoember 24. Although three weeks have passed since the tenders closed, no publio notification has been made as to who the tenderers were, what the prices are, or whose tender, if any, lias been accepted. In the case of all other public institutions calling for tenders the result is made public as soon as the tenders are opened. Can you tell me why this iniititntion is ruled different to others in thi3 matter ?"

No decision has jet been arrived at as to l;he acceptance of any of the tenders for the alterations to x the Catholic Presbytery. It Is expected that some arrangement will be come to to-day or on Monday next. The constable injured in the affray be' 'tween the police and some seamen of Admiral Fairfax's squadron is still in the Hospital. 'Donstable Christie had hitherto been very fortunate in capturing stragglers and netting the prize money, but the petty officer he took in hand on this last occasion was too rapid for him.

The out-door relief cases for city and suburbs for last month were 240 adults, and 297 children; and the new cases relieved, 119 adults and 20 children. There appears to be but very little change in the amount of charitable aid in the oountry districts. The ration account for Auckland and suburbs for the past month was £140. Daring the past winter it mounted in month to £300.

.Last summer, Mr. A. G. Darnells, the Seventh Day Adventiat from the United States, delivered an interesting series of lectures in a mission tent on the Surrey Hills estate, on prophecy, and on various phases of social and temperance reform. His co-religionists rallied round him, and built a neat little meeting-house in Mackelviestreet, capable of holding three hundred per* sons. The tent being no longer useful is Surrey Hills, Mr. Danielle has transferred it to the Grafton Road, where he has commenced a fresh mission. The tent is nicely seated, well lighted and decorated, and well* adapted for such services.

The name of Mr George Cozens was inadvertently omitted from the list of the committee eleoted by the Judge's B»y Begatta Club. The date of the regatta is fixed for Saturday, the 25th of February for tha pulling races, and the following Saturday for the sailing races.

The Thames Advertiser says The total number of excursion tickets issued by the two Auckland steamers daring the lite holiday season amounted to 1500. A correspondent well versed in the ways of ex cur« eionists informs as that £5 par head may be set down as a fair average expenditure, consequently we are left with the pleasing reflection that during the holiday week alone the plaoe was denuded of at least £7500 of fits ready cash. Besides Auckland, it is a well* known fact that large numbers went to Te Aroha, Waikato, Coromandel, 6tc., so that mo one need be surprised if the total expends ture of this place for holiday-making made up the respeotable sum of £10,000. Againit these figures we have, of course, to place the incoming excursionists, but these were both few and far between, when compared with those that went away. Then, again, it is said the local sporting fraternity made a few pounds, on the Auckland racecourse. Nothing, however, is said about their losses, so we would not be astonished to learn that the one pretty well counterbalanced the other. Tbe credit on that acooust therefore is niL

" W.E.8." writes the following in reference to a family that have had intimate connections with New Zealand :— '* The Tajmaniaa reporter has made a slight mistake (per Nk* Zealand Herald) in narrating the grand reception of Dr. Dale at Hobart. He says George Clarke is now pastor of a Congregational Independent Church at Hobart, but his father was an Episcopalian clergyman of New Zealand of tha Church Mission. Strangers would infer from this that George Clarke was a recent proselyte, now settled at Hobart, which is extremely incorrect. has been the stated pastor of a oburch there for a quarter of a century, with a very larg« and costly chapel, and was trained at an Independent College near London. Bis >»• tellectual mother was a member of an Independent Church in England before marriage. His father waa & tradesman-missionary here of the Churoh Missionary Society, which sent several tradesmen to teach trades to Maoris. His mother was sister to the wife of Alexander Maodonald, once minister here of iiig"* street, and formerly medical missionary the South Sea Islands,' of the London Missionary Sooiety. Archdeacon Clarke here 1 brother to George. . Pastor . George CUrJ has often preaohed in Auckland, and aiw»j to crowds. I reckoned him one of the very best preaohers ever was here—though" 17 1 earnest, eloaneot. free.''

The steward of the Rotomahana (Win. Smith), who jumped off the Quean-street Wharf at the time Mrs. Harvey was thrown Into the harbour by the upsetting of a oab, is to be awarded a Humane (Australasian) Society's certificate.

Mr. E« E. Bilbrongh left the Manukau yesterday afternoon per Union Co.'a Takapuna on a trip to the Sounds and South Island generally. Mr. Bilbrough hopes on the trip to make arrangements with regard to Cook's Excursions, and to gather material for a Handy Guide to New Zealand, which he hopes to have ready for the Melbourne Exhibition. A tourist boom is confidently expected over here.

The handcart men are somewhat aggrieved at the statements which have been published as to their blocking up the wharf or the approaches to the gangways of vessels with their carts. They state when down the wharf they are under the control of Captain Fisher, of the water police, and that they obey the orders they receive as to where they shall stand. The wharfingers sees to it that tho approaches to vessels are kept dear.

The architects for the new Customhouse, Messrs. Mahoney and Son, have received as pet no intimation that the contract has been given to Mr. Newson, the lowest tenderer under the old design.

The heat yesterday was tolerably oppressive, and the public parks and the grounds In the suburbs Are presenting » parched and burnt-up appearance. A little rain at the present time would do a groat deal of good.

A very carious effect was noted at Waiwera when the Rotomahana, passed for Auokland on Wednesday at noon. Usually all vessels that run in outside Tiri are hull down, and the masts only are thus visible. On this occasion the deck of the steamer was plainly seen. Above the sea-line there was a streak of white of the same brightness as the rest of the sky, which touched the sea ; and above this was the deck of tho steamer, carrying the funnel and the masts. It was very straDge to see this ghost-like body gliding onwards above the sea-line.

Yesterday afternoon a Chinaman named Fong Yea was arrested by Sergeant Kiely, on the information of Messrs. Garrett .Bros., on a charge of wilfully breaking seven panes of glass at the latter's premises in Wakefieldstreet. From the facta of the case at present known, it appears that the Mongolian was acting under considerable provocation when be committed the damage. Bis yard is overlooked by the window in question, and he has frequently been subject to annoyance by some mischievous apprentices in the boot factory throwing articles at him. A little amusement of this sort was perpetrated at Fong Yee's expense yesterday forenoon, and on his rushing to the window to discover who were his assailants, it was violently pulled down before his face. This roused the Chinaman's ire, and, thoroughly exasperated, he pioked up some brickbats and demolished the window. An information was subsequently laid, and he was taken into custody about two p.m., but was speedily bailed out by a couple of bis compatriots. We understand that Messrs. Garrett, on hearing the oircnmatances of the ca«>, intimated their willingness to withdraw the charge against the Celestial.

A meeting of the Epsom Hall Association's committee was held in the library on Thurs« Hay evening. Mr. L. J. Trollops, the hon. ■ecretary, presented an abstract of the accounts for the past year, which showed the Association to be slightly In a better finantial position than it was twelve months »go. It was pointed out that the hall and library are badly in need of a coat of paint, but from want of funds the committee are unable to undertake the work at present. It was arranged to hold the annual meeting of the Asiooiation on the last Friday in the present month, when an effort will be made So raise funds to paint and effeot the neceslary repairs to the buildings.

A man, while polling off to one of the buoys on the west side of the Queen-street Wharf in a boat yesterday, accidentally fell overboard. He reached the buoy, and there held on until rescued.

A novel and interesting feature of the entertainment given by the Auckland Burns Club and Literary Society, on the 25th inst., will be the dancing competitions, for which the club are offering prizes in the form of medals or other suitable trophies. It is expected there will be a senior, junior, and ladies' competition, and as a number of young; people have lately acquired the art of Highland dancing keen contests are anticipated. Reliable judges will be appointed for the occasion.

By the steamer Takapuna, which left the Manukau yesterday, Constable Abrama proceeded to Wellington in charge of two prisoners. One of these—Vincent—is a deserter from H.M.s, Rapid, while the seconda young man named Walsh—is remanded to the Empire city on a charge of wile desertion.

The play, "A Ran of Luok," was again successfully produced at the Opera House yesterday evening before a crowded audience. This drama will be repeated to-night for the last time ; and on Monday the grand spectacular play, The World," will be staged, Mr. Bland Holt sustaining the part of Moss Jewell. Mr. Holt's impersonation of the vulgar and illiterate, intriguing and unscrupulous money-lender will be remem bered by Auckland play-goers as being a powerful attraction during his visit to this city fire years ago; and on this occasion the play will again be mounted on the scale of magnificence which then contributed so much to its success.

There were in the lock-up last evening two prisoners, a man for drunkenness, and Alice Olsen, alias Murphy, charged with drunkenness and vagrancy.

Mr Frith, photographer, has executed two excellent panoramic views showing the harbour iyith the men-of-war lying at anchor, and the city from the Northern Clab.

Mr A. _ Ma Arthur, LL.D., barrister and soil* citor, intimates in another column that he has commenced practice at 8 and 9, Government Insurance Baildiugi, Queen-strast,

Oar lady reader* should see those undresed kid gloves at McM asters, Shalders, and 00., (worth 3s) for Is lid, and a variety of other make*; also, stylish millinery, aheap costumes, mantles, and oapes.

Our attention has been drawn to a new Illustrated Bible, published by the eminent London firm of Virtue and 00., which, besides being; perfect as a Bible, is an illustrated geography of Bible lands. It contains nearly six hundred engravings of a high class in steel and wood, and much valuable information is given which not only throws great light on the text of Scrip* tare, but also elucidates manners and easterns of the East. We commend this important work to our fsllowotownsmen. Thu company's agent is now engaged in taking orders for the book.

The Devonport Steam Ferry Oo.'s St. Efelier's time-table for this month will be found in our advertising oolumns.

Special attention is directed to the auction ■ale on Monday by Mr. D. F. Evans, of valuable oity and suburban freehold*. The Karangahape Road property is a safe and good invest' ment ; the Pousonby Road property has great prospective value, while Customs-street West will handsomely repay tb.e investment. Capitalists and investors should make themselves acquainted with the properties to be sold on Monday, as they are for absolute sale the vendors must realise. See advertisement.

Mr F. G. Ewington acknowledges with thanks the receipt of parcels of illustrated papers for the inmates of the Lunatic Asylum from Mrs J. Fisher and the Town Olerk.

At the Y.M.C.A. Rooms this evening the Rev. J. 8. Hill mty be expected to give a practical address to Christian workers. Service commences at half-past seven. Strangers are cordially invited.

In our advertising columns Mr. T. Harla Giles, certificated teacher of the New Zealand Educational Department, and Professor of Writing, announces that he will receive new pupils on and after the 16th January, at his evening class rooms.

A meeting of butchers is convened at Robson's Booms for Monday next, at eight o'clock p.m., to form a committee to carry out the annual picnic.

Tenders are invited elsewhere for the erection of a new parsonage at Otahuhu.