Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9016, 31 March 1888, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning state that the floods in Prussia have destroyed seventy villages, and rendered thirty thousand persons homeless. The damage done is enormous. A report from Dublin states that the police there have discovered a plot to murder Mr. Balfour, the Irish Secretary. Mr. John Bright scouts the idea of Imperial federation. The German Emperor is suffering from sleeplessness. Russia is desirous that the Powers should 'take action in regard to Bulgaria. An "in*

cident, which might have led serious consequences so far as France and Italy are concerned, is reported. By L " extraordinary mistake, some French , 9 ships opened fire upon an Italian ste * ar The circumstances which led to thi W* on the part of the French commanded 1? not stated, but satisfactory explanutl have been made to the Italian Governn' ? and the incident, remarkable in even ' spect, is not expected to cause anv f„L re ' trouble, Mr. Goschen's budget i t her ably criticised, although certain details IT objected to. s ar s We publish in another column full r , ticulars of the Opera House fire at WV-llf ton, and the great gale which was e s'" rienced there on Wednesday night 'n, ■ to the inter-ruption of telegraphic cnVmi" s delayed. °" r meMageS h,V ° bcc ° Be ™»%

We understand that the Govern™, have, as part of their retrenchment dispensed with the services of all the 1 : purchase officers with the exception of r and this officer is to be transferred fromT' present station to Wellington. 5 By the Government steamer Stelh „ i • , arrived from the South early v e 4e rH ch morning, Mr. T. W. Lewis, Under sJ? y tary of the Native Department and \T W. J. Butler, Land Purchase CommS^ were passengers. ' ner , The splendid web machinery u -h,v • now being manufactured for tho V,' Zealand Herald by. Messrs. RHn ! Co. is attracting the attention of the ! > in London. The last numbers to i, , de the Printer's Register and the Brti I °! Colonial Printer and Stationer both . elaborate descriptions of tie J in chinery. ' ew m <'- The gentlemen appointed by th rSchools committee to arrant oth P lishment of evening science anH » l " classes have fixed the first week in ? n ' Cal the opening term. It had been intenrtll / use the Napier-street School f:,- tV of the classes, but the Board of Ed»os" refused to light the rooms of that build!™ with gas, and one of the other city S ohooh will accordingly be chosen. A numb" o gentlemen have voluntarily agreed to t. Li the various subjects; an,] it iAiroh.hi V scientific lectures will be delivered weekly to the students and the public. Some time ago the City Council put up some city endowments for lease adjacent to the Western Park, south side The rentals were fixed at too high a firr Ure J,] only one or two were disposed off the' re S being withdrawn. A start has. at last been made to utilise those leased, building ™ tions having commenced. 3 '

Matters have settled down at Pon*onbv after the licensing contest. Two cases of personation, it is said, were successfully perpetrated, and a third attempted but the impostor was detected and run out. One of the clergymen of the district is said to have got to loggerheads with a section of his congregation by pronouncing au-uiiist prohibition and in favour of beer. The newlicensing committee meet to-day at. the Returning _ Officer's office, High-street, to elect a chairman. '

The excursion train to Hamilton anil Te Aroha was well patronised yesterday, about from 150 to 200 going by it. The great majority went on to Te Aroha, where a pleasant time was spent, the train reaching town on the return trip punctual to time shortly after midnight. All the passengers for intermediate stations between Mercer and Newmarket, were left at the former station to be brought on by a late train, the excursion train running through' without stopping at intermediate stations, in order to let the Aucklanders get to their homes at as early a period as possible.

Among other changes in the police and detective force being effected at Wellington it is stated that Detective Walker, of-this city, will proceed to Wellington and take charge of the detective force ; while Chief Detective Browne comes here and assumes control of the detective force of the whole Auckland district. Another and later rumour is that Chief Detective Browne, who is averse to coming North owing to the humidity of the climate, and his suffering from rheumatism, has succeeded in getting the order countermanded. There is likely to be a lively discussion in the General Assembly when it meets over the enforced retirement of Inspector Shearman. It is current that two otheiilnspectors, Atcheson and Weldon, were in "marching orders," but had. sufficient political influence to avert the "happy despatch."

The following paragraph appears in a Melbourne letter in the Otago Witness According to the genial ' Boswell,' the husband of Miss Hurlingham, a lady member of Mr. Harry St. Maur's company, assumed the title of the extinct Wasteneys baronetcy by advertisement on August last. The deed was committed in Auckland, and ' Bosweli' means to inquire into the power of anyone to claim an extinct title by simple advertisement in the London Times. I shall watch the case carefully, and if I find my way clear, I shall have myself at once labelled after some extinct duke or prince. It's very cheap, and does a lot of good in these colonies."

Yesterday the Salvation Army had a big field day, "bombarding" Ponsonby for giving itself away on the previous day on the prohioitioh question. The Army concentrated at the Three Lamps, and breaking up into skirmishing order, sallied into the side streets, under Major Lovelock, Captain Young, Cadet Aikenhead, and a number of officers of suburban corps. On returning to the Barracks, Albert-street, a soiree was held, about 350 sitting down to tea. After tea a march-out took place. Heading the procession was a " soldier " on a grey horse, next came a waggonette and pair, containing a dozen Hallelujah Lasses, wearing red sashes, then two Hallelujah Lasses as standardbearers, followed by the band with coloured fires. The rear was brought up by the Army, carrying banners. As the procession moved along Albert, Queen, and Wellesley-streets it was accompanied by thousands of spectators, and on returning to the Barracks the building was crowded to excess. Addresses were delivered by various officers on Salvation Army work throughout the world.

One of the tramcar drivers, a young man named Brownie, has died after an illness of a few days. It was at first supposed that he was suffering from typhoid, which had attacked several of the company's employes, bub his complaint developed into inflammation of the lungs, which carried him off as above stated, though personally he had no anticipation of a fatal termination, being young and strong. Within the hist week or two he had completed an insurance of £-50 on his life in the Australian Mutual Provident.

One of our most experienced agriculturists, who has recently travelled through the country districts, states that the recent rains have had a very beneficial effect, tie states that in a twenty , years' residence in the province of Auckland he has never seen the country looking better. It has been found that the Salvation Army Prison Gate Brigade Home was rather unsuitably located in a back street, and out of public purview. Last week it was transferred to large two-storeyed premises in Upper Queen street, formerly known as Brame's Temperance Boardinghouse, and which is found to be, bcth as regards accommodation and accessibility, more suitable for the work. The institution continues to be well supplied wit" donations in kind by the public, and these are judiciously applied by Captain Little, the officer in charge. • There are at present seven inmates, ana work and situations are procured for them as opportunity oners. The institution is doing good work among ' the semi-criminal and unfortunate classes, well deserving public support. On Thursday afternoon the pupils of Nelson-street School presented the headmaster, Mr. E. T. Hart, with a handsome electroplate fruit and flower stand, engraved with an appropriate inscription. An address, which was read by Miss Armstrong, said Dear Sir,—" e, ttie scholars of the Nelson-street School, regre that we have come to the last day of you presence among us. We have much pleasur in presenting this gift to you as a slig , token of our regard." After Mr. Hart h addressed the children in reply, 1 ' Bottrill, senior lady assistant, stepped i - ward, and on behalf of the teaching s and sixth standard presented Mr. *iari< with an elegant dressing and writing case, in black Morocco. Alter a suitable - pression of thanks by Mr. Hart, Mr.- h ?i who was present, addressed the children and teachers, in which he referred to tne success of the school under Mr. _ regime. , The proceedings then terminated and the school was closed for the vacation.

rrhnre was no Police Court held yesterday n,T to the holiday. Two prisoners are in 0 , V one for drunkenness and the other cbSi'with indecent assault. They .will be brought before the Bench this morning. About nine o'clock last night a glare of fir f,vas observable in the sky in the direcEon of Lucas Creek. It ™ either a lire at come settler's homestead or a bush tire, * The Rev. E. A. Telfer ' delivered his celebrated lecture, "The Scottish Coveaiitcrs " last evening, in the Mangcre u'eslevan Church. On Sunday he preaches t the 'Thames, after which he leaves for the Lake country, returning to Auckland in •ibcuit ten days to resume his series of lecturo!s' , • ~ 2sow that the weather is growing colder the attendance at the City Saltwater Baths unci the Freshwater Baths is steadily diminishing. Apart from sanitary reasons. these institutions have done a good deal of service in training the young in the art of mining.

Mr. S. Bright, writing of the hot springs at. Oko.'oire, near Oxford, says —" I am pleased to know there is every prospect for differing humanity discovering the value of these springs. To the natives they have always been considered the best for certain classes of sufferers in the island, it is only as a great sufferer that I can speak of their virtues, and this I do with the hope that others may be induced to prove them as T aid. I had been in a state of helplessness for months with a dislocated hip, utterly unable to put. my foot, to the ground, when the virtues of these then out-of-the-way springs were urged upon my attention by the native owners. At length 1 made a trial, and must say the result was marvellous, for in less than a week I was able to walk with a crutch and stick, whereas I had not been able to put my foot on the cround for months. It will afford me great pleasure to give any information to persons desiring to try for themselves the virtues of Okoroire Springs. As regards the wonders of nature around, they arc truly marvellous. and far away beyond my power to describe."

Referring to our paragraph re municipal ipxn nehment, we arc reminded by a correspondent that the City Council here retrenched pretty considerably about fifteen months since, while Christchureh has only now done so.

A public picnic will be held at East Tamaki on Monday next, by kind permission of Mr. Alfred Buekland, for the pur-jx-se of welcoming the newly-appointed minister, the Rev. W. L. Salter, to the Grafton Head circuit, and bidding farewell to the dev. T. G. Carr. The Britannia will leave the Queen-street Wharf at half-past eir-ht o'clock. A public meeting will be heid at half-past ten, at which addresses will be delivered by the Revs. Messrs. Tavlor. Carr, Salter, and other friends.

Water mains are being put down in Kvber Fas-. Symonds-stree-. and Karav.gah.i; e Road, with a view oi giving the city the Mount Eden reservoir pressure for tire jut-poses. When this work is completed, it will greatly add to the effectiveness of the water supply, and efficiency of the Fire Brigade when tires occur in any of the above thoroughfares. The new Ponsonby reservoir No. '2 is still being tested by charging. On Thursday there were -- feet \'> inches of water in it.

On Tuesday the Rev. H. Bull leaves by the Hawea for Blenheim, his new circuit. Purine his three years' term in Pitt-street circuit he has, by his faithful and earnest discharge of duty, endeared himself to many. Vile delivers his farewell sermon tomorrow evening in the Pitt-street. Wesley an Church, at half-past six. No doubt there will be a large congregation to hear his farewell words. On Monday evening a coffee supper will be held in the lecturehall. »: the rear of the church, when the valedictory meeting will take place. The Rev. Mr. Best, of the Thames, is the Successor of Mr. Bull.

Yesterday afternoon the Richmond Road Primitive Methodist Church was filled with an interested audience, to witness the marriage of Miss Florance Alberta Holland to Mr. Charles Veysey. The Rev. C. E. Ward conducted the interesting ceremony. The bridal party drove oil'amid a shower of rice and the hearty good wishes of the large assembly.

The Helping Hand Mission, Freeman's Bay, is doing a good work in the neighbourhood. especially among the larrikin classes. Ail the working expenses are defrayed by about a dozen citizens, and the collections taken up at the services are devoted to charitable relief in the locality. The address to-morrow evening will be given by Bio. W. Hodge, of the Salvation Army, who has an extensive knowledge of Auckland larrikins.

This afternoon there will be a children"? matinee at half-past two at the Rink, children being admitted free, as well as parenta with children. Last Saturday therewere about 1000 children present, and some of thetn. seven years of ape, are becoming accomplished skaters. The polo match comes off on Monday afternoon, and is likely to afford great fun, owing to tin; numerous spills of the contestants. In the Evening 1 there will be a hoop race, and probably Mr. Dixon will do a mile spin against time. The Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Morris, -will play a number of selections this afternoon.

An amusing incident occurred in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, the other Jay. A by-law case was called on. and the defendant, a foreigner, gravely walked up to the Bench, and handed in a document, which, on being opened, was found to be a medical certificate to the effect that the defendant was too ill to attend the Court on that day. In explanation, the defendant stated that the certificate was quite correct, but he thought he had be.rt brine it down himself. Having before them such incontrovertible evidence as to the man's ability to appear, the Bench feet aside the written testimony, and proceeded with the case.

A valedictory soiree on the occasion of the Rev. Mr. Barley, Wesleyan minister, leaving the Mahurangi circuit for Hawera, was held in the Freemasons' Hall, Warkworth, on the 20th March, when a large numberyjf friends Bat down to an excellent tea. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Douse. J. Phillips, I. Phillips, Boon, and Chamberlain, and after several relays of visitors had abundantly refreshed themselves, the hall was cleared for the meeting, which was presided over by Mr. J. W. Boon, circuit steward. An excellent choir, under the leadership of Mr. Witham, contributed largely to the enjoyment of the evening. Mr. Vial presided at the organ. After the formal opening, the chairman addressed the meeting, giving statistics and other information particularly relating to circuit'fund.-,. The Venerable and Rev. Mr. Hudson addressed the meeting laudatory of Mr. Barley, and the Methodist system of itineracy with respect to ministers. The Rev. R. Mcfvinney also addressed the meeting, and spoke of the progression of the present age, in which this district was behind none. He also spoke with regret that in some things we were, or some were, retrogressing instead of progressing, as, for instance, the painful details of pugilistic and prize fights that were given such prominence to by some sections of the Press. Mr. Moor, as representative of local preachers of the circuit, addressed the meeting, and wished the departing pastor Codspeed. Addresses were also given by Mr. Chaplin (as representative of office-bearers of church at Warkworth), and Mr. Witham (as representative of Sunday-schools and teachers of Dome Valley and Warkworth), endorsing the good wishes that had been spoken in favour of the Rev. Mr. Barley. The chairman, as office-bearer of the circuit, stated that he had received letters from several other office-bearers apologising for their absence. The Rev. Mr. Barley addressed the meeting, and thanked the people, on behalf of himself and Mrs. Barley, for their kind expressions of sympathy. The speeches were interspersed with music by the choir, Misses Florence Wilson, Chamberlain, and Cray, and Mrs. Bettany, after which the usual votes of thanks were passed to the ladies and speakers. when the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. R. McKinney, and a most enjoyable evening was concluded. The proceeds of tea and meeting amounted to £11 16a 3d, which goes to augment the circuit funds.—[Own Correspondent]

A pleasant little outing for Easter Monday has been arranged by the agents of the Bteamer Vivid, in the shape of an excursion by that vessel round the upper harbour, calling at Riverhead, Hobsonville, and Pine Island en route. The vessel sails from QueenBtreet Wharf at a quarter-past ten. Performing members of the Choral Society Will observe by an advertisement in this issue that the usual rehearsal will be omitted on ILuesiky next.