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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9022, 7 April 1888, Page 4

We are rather surprised at the assurance of Mr. Famall and others who went to the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson yesterday, and complained about the employment of Kanakas on board of Messrs. Donald and Edenborough's steamer which runs the island trade. Whether the Government are continuing to pay a subsidy or not, we hope that there will be no yielding in this matter to the dictation of Mr. Famall and his friends. It is acknowledged on all hands that the island trade, which has been created by Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, and which is niainly supported by the monthly trips made by the Richmond, is of most essential.service to Auckland at the present time. It bids fair to be the beginning of a great trade for Auckland, and of making this port the centre of Pacific commerce. But there is, we suspect, not much margin of profit, and it may be that, if the operations and endeavours of Mr. Farnall were successful, the steamer would have to be withdrawn, and the trade would be lost. But who are the men whom these self-constituted representatives of the working classes would condemn to starvation? They'are the natives of those islands to which the steamer trades, and of the same race as the Maoris, Yet Mr. Farnall denies them the right to toil in these seas, where their forefathers lived many generations before a European was seen here. These men belong to the islands which yield the trade, and from whence the profits are derived. We will venture to say that there is not a Kanaka employed on board the Richmond—probably there are not more than four or five altogether —who is not more useful and profitable to New Zealand than Mr. Farnall. We are rather surprised that Mr. Mitchelson received these monstrous,barbarous, and cruel proposals in the way he did. telegraphing in hot haste to the Premier to see 3 the Government had it in their power to punish the owners of the Richmond for employing men (who are better suited to the work than white men) who are natives of the islands at Avhich the steamer calls, and from which she derives her trade. We are quite sure that the vast majority of the working men of Auckland would have been well pleased if the Minister had, on this subject, administered a severe snubbing to Mr. Farnall and those who accompanied him.

The reported resignation of Prince Bis. marck, of which particulars will be found in our cable messages this morning, has caused great excitement in Europe. Two causes are assigned. He is said to have resigned, or intends to resign, because of his opposition to the marriage of Prince Alexander and Prin. cess - Victoria, or to ill-health. The former ig more likely to be correct. The Chancellor's antipathy to Prince Alexander is well known. Indeed, it was said to have been due to telegrams from the German statesman of a distinctly misleading character that the Prince was induced to abdicate Queen Victoria is said to be strongly ii x favour of her granddaughter's betrothal to the Prince, and her intended visit to Germany is supposed to be in connection with it She has always shown a strong leaning towards the Battenburgs—one of whom her daughter, the Princess Beatrice, is married to—and if the present engagement is one of pure affection, she is not likely to raise any objection to it because the Iron Chancellor for personal or diplomatic reasons sees fit to object. General Boulanger has been interviewed. He is confident. The pre. sent crisis is to his advar ;age. Like Gladstone he has a policy, but declines to rlivul<r Q it. He foresees a succession of Ministries in France.

Yesterday afternoon the Council of the Chamber of Commerce waited upon M r Mitchelson, at the office of the District Manager, railway station, to confer respect. ing the North Island Trunk Railway an d otner matters. The interesting discussion which ensued is reported elsewhere.

Yesterday afternoon the Hon, George Fisher (Minister for Education) accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. Amdlius Smith) and Mr. David Goldie, M.H.R one of the official visitors of the institution' drove out to Kohimarama Industrial Schod. The Minister for Education, wh o has recently visited the Burnham and Caversham Industrial Schools, made a thorough inspection of the buildings and also saw- the children. As the lease of Kohimarama expires in a twelvemonth, it is necessary that the Government should 'come to some determination as to whether they will build on the Mount Eden reserve or not, and it was to understand the situation that the Minister went clown. To-day Mr. Fisher will regard as an "off-day," but on Monday he will commence a tour of inspection of the educational c* the city.

Tin the supplement will be found soma "Notes About New Plymouth," by our special correspondent.

It will be seen by our cable messages that the Champion Gold and Silver °MininoCompany of New Zealand (Te Aroha) has been floated on the English market with a capital of £75,000. It is also announced that the Beach Gold Mining Company is floated with a capital of £50,000. This," we presume, refers to the scheme in regard to which Mr. Tapp, M.E., recently visited Auckland, the project being to save the gold which is supposed to exist in the tailings deposited on the Thames foreshore.

Attention has already been drawn to the fact that while pieces of ground on our goldfields are floated for large sums, only small fractions of these amounts come in any shape to the goldfield itself. We understand that the area known as the surplus ground of Mcßrinn's claim (the Marototo property) has been sold. The price paid to the owners was £1500, but the claim has been floated in a company in Sydney for £45,000.

The Waitemata County Council met yesterday. A special meeting was at first held, at which a deputation presented a petition praying that the Birkenhead Road Board, be abolished ar/d that the district be absorbed in the county. The petition, which was very largely signed, was received, and it was resolved to comply with the request. At the ordinary meeting subsequently held, a large amount of general and routine business was transacted. The meeting was a very prolonged one, and an outline of the proceedings appears in another page.

We have received several communications echoing the desire expressed by Mr. Ewington that there should be some public meeting or deputation to Ministers on the subject of the property tax.

We understand that the City Council are about to consider what steps they should take to stop the waste of water thac undoubtedly goes on in many houses and fardens. It is a very difficult matter to eal with, but it seems there is an urgent necessity, because it has been found that, for some reason at present unexplained, the flow of water has not increased at all from the late copious rains. We are now pumping more than half a-million of gallons per day, and are obliged to do it to keep the reservoirs up to the mark.

To-day the Hon. E. Mitchelson -will receive a number of deputations at the railway station buildings (railway manager's office). At eleven a.m. a deputation from the Rodney Council; at half-past eleven, one from the Waitemata County Council; at noon, one from the Remuera Road Board; and later, one relating to the milk rates on the railway. Tomorrow he will proceed to Henderson Valley, to see the settlers on local matters, and on Monday he will proceed to the Waikato, at least that is the present understanding.

From investigations made by Inspector Broham, he is satisfied that the two castaways picked up by the Howard 500 miles from Noumea are French escapees from that island. It is stated that one of the men was under seven years' sentence, and the other one for twenty years.

A coronial enquiry into the recent fire at Gaeth's premises, Devonport, North Shore, took place yesterday afternoon, at the Flagstaff Hotel, before Mr. Baddeley, R.M. Detective Walker represented the police authorities, being assisted by Sergeant Gillies. Mr. E. Bartley, architect, watched the case for the Royal Insurance Company. Mr. Philcox was foreman of the jury. One good lady who had been burned out, asked for her expenses before giving evidence, as she was not insured. She had wasted a forenoon over the business already. Mr. Baddeley consoled her by eaying that she was not the only person in the room who was wasting time. A great deal of evidence was taken, but of a very general character. After a short deliberation, the jury returned an open verdict, there being no evidence to show how the fire had originated.

The Onehunga races, under the auspices of the Onehunga Racing Club, will take place to-day at the Epsom racecourse (Potter's Paddock), the first race coming off at one o'clock. The Tramway Company have made every provision for the transport of the public, the time-table being suspended on both circuits between half-past eleven a.m. and seven p.m., and cars being despatched about every five minutes on a fast service during the middle of the day. Fare are sixpence each way, and 6ingle tickets including admission to the course, Is 6d.

The adjourned meeting of the delegates from the Auckland Industrial Association and the Auckland Burns Club was held in the Industrial Rooms last evening, to go into the matter of holding an entertainment in aid of the former association. It was decided to hold the entertainment in the Opera House in about a month's time.

A meeting of the newly-elected Takapuna Licensing Committee took place yesterdftyi at Mr. Seaman's office, Insurance BuildingsThose present were Messrs. G. P. Pierce, C. S. George, Jas. Kno-x, and M. SheaMr. John Mackay, who was the only one o! the prohibitionists elected, was not present. Mr. Pierce was elected chairman. It was agreed that the quarterly meetings should be held at the office of the clerk, Mr. Seaman.

A goodly number of pictures were re ceived yesterday at the Choral Hall, for tb> forthcoming exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts pictures will be received today from ten a.m. to six p.m. at the ballThose who desire to have their pictures well placed should promptly forward them, & the " hanging committee" start to M'ork on Monday morning, and it is a case of first come first served.

The Victoria Rifles tatZ City Guards will have a church parade at Trinity Church, Devonport, to-morrow forenoon. They wul march to the wharf, crossing by the halfpast ten ferry steamer, and will be met by the Devonport Navals and band.

At a meeting held last evening, a strong committee was formed to promote the success of Mr. Molloy'e coining lecture on Ireland and Home Rule. It was resolved to invite the members of the Government and of the House of Representatives now in Auckland to attend.

A special general meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association will be held in the Club-room, Albert Hotel, on Wednesday, to consider the amended proposals received from the City Council re Domain cricket ground, aiad for the amendment of the rales.

The fino new three-storeyed building (shops and offices) adjacent to the Auckland Savings Bank in Queen-street are now completed. Hi has been built to the order of a gentleman absent from the colony. The architects are Messrs. E. Mahoney and Sons, and the contractors Messrs. A. Nelson and Co. The cost is over £3000. The first etorey is of Port Chalmers bluest-one, and the second and third of Oamaru stone. The masonry work is first-class. As to the facade, it is of a highly ornamental character, and the building will be one of the handsomest of the kind in Queen-street. The ground floor is subdivided into two shops, with plate-glass front?, and with entrance hall to offices on the middle and upper floors, for which the building is well adapted. The workmanship is excellent, as is also the design, and the whole work reflects credit on both architects and contractors. The verandah is of a very handsome design, and tho heavy castings, as also the ornamental castings on the roofing, have been executed at the Archhill foundry by Mr. Beaney. These are good specimens or local industry.

A concert in aid of the St. Luke's Anglican Sunday-school was held in the Mount Albert Public Hall on Thursday evening last. The programme was as follows :— Part I. : Pianoforte duet, the Misses KerTaylor; part song, "Spring's Bright Glances;" "La Somnambula" (Bellini); eong, " Turnham Toll," Miss E. Thomson ; duet, " Beauty Sleep," the Misses Chambers and Taylor; song, " When Other Lips" (Balfe), Mr. A. Culpan; reading, "Princess Bonnibell," Mrs. W. Rattray; part song, "Choosing the May Queen;" " Figaro (Mozart). An interval of twenty minutes took place, during which Mr. Kensington read a list of scholars who had gained, during the year, 350 marks out of a possible 468, and the prizes were distributed by the Rev. J. K. Davis. Part 11. : Pianoforte duet, "Sleigh Bells" (Sydney Smith), the Misses Scfierff and Taylor ; pong, "An Awful Little Scrub," Mr. L. Wright, and for an encore " We'll All Go a Hunting To-day," duet, "The Elfin Call," Mrs. Ross Watts and Miss Meier ; song, "Vanished," Miss E. Thomson; song, "The Little Pigs," Mr. Jackson Palmer, and for an encore "The Irish Jaunting Car ;" song, "The Warrior Bold," Mr. A. Culpan ; part song, " Away, Away " (" Masaniello," Auber). The various pieces were well rendered, and elicited the wellmerited applause of an appreciative audience, the whole joining in conclusion by singing " God Save the Queen."

Mr. Clutsam desires us to make the correction of a slight error in our report of Mr. Wcbbe's concert, on Thursday. The prize for the competition of piano solo, " Caprice Hongrois," was awarded to Miss Kate Taylor, Miss Gilmer being an extremely close second. Hβ states that these two young ladies played the piece so well that he had the greatest difficulty in deciding as o which one he should award the prize to.

The usual monthly meeting of the Auckfand Tabernacle Band of Hope was held last night. Mr. Rountree occupied the chair. Mr. French, from the Band of Hope Union, gave the temperance address. The programme was as follows:—Hymn, "Bright Jewels j" pianoforte solo, Miss Steven ; address, Mr. French ; duet, " All's Well," Messrs. Kilpatrick and Blakey ; dialogue, Master and Miss Smith ; song, Master \Vm. Groves ; pianoforte solo, Miss L. M. Brame; recitation, Master H. Wood; pianoforte duet, Master and Miss Rountree ; song, Miss L. Petty; reading, Mrs. F. Hay ; song, "Isle of Beauty," Mr. Blakey. The singing of a hymn and the benediction brought a very pleasant meeting to a close. A special vote of thanks was accorded the Brame family for their kind assistance in connection with temperance work.

Afc the request of the Panmure Road Board, acting in their capacity as local Board of Health, Dr. Leger Erson inspected and reported upon the existence of a nuisance which has caused much complaint for some time past in that district. It appears that from time to time extensive deposits of offal, hides, and bones, have been made on certain paddocks for the purposes of manure. The result of the proceeding has been the presence of foul and obnoxious odours, which, when aroused by southerly winds, have made life intolerable to the eettlers of the village and district. Already two cases of typhoid have occurred, and those in the immediate viciniiy of the nuisance are now taking steps through the Road Board to test the legality of the proceeding.

On Monday evening next the Progressive League 'will hold its hrst public meeting in Robson's Rooms, Queen-street. Though it has only been in existence a few months, it has made good progress, and promises to become in time a powerful organisation. The objects of the League are the development of character and independent thought in young men, and the drawing out of their latent powers, by educating them on all questions relating to the social and political welfare of the people. It is worked entirely by young men, no person over the age of thirty being eligible for membership. At the meeting on Monday night addresses will be given by Mr. T. West (president), and Mr. F. Renshaw, on " The Progressive League : Its work and objects," interspersed with readings, recitations, &c, by members. It is very desirable that those who are interested in the improvement of the social condition and welfare of the people should make an effort to be present. Young men are especially desired to attend. Ladies are also cordially invited.

The competition of the Victoria Rifles for Condon's trophy, 3econd-class medal, and Major Isaacs' star, etc., will take place this afternoon, at the Mount Eden riftfj range.

The final trip of the Auckland Fishing Club will take place to-day, leaving the Queen-street Wharf in the p.s. Alexandra at 1.10 o'clock p.m.

A practice muster of the Gordon Football Club will be held to-day in DilWorth's paddock, opposite the Junction Hotel, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

The eale of work in connection with St. Barnabas' Church, Mount Eden, was continued yesterday afternoon and evening. It was well attended, and the result of the sales should prove a handsome addition to the funds of the church.

A negro entertainment, in three parts, consisting of songs, conundrums, readings, recitations, etc., was given in the Titirangi fechoolroom on Thursday night, the 29th ultimo, by a number of boys and young men, whom Mr. Castles brought to spend their Easter holiday. The building was decorated with ferns and nikau, and when lighted up with Chinese lanterns presented quite a gay appearance. The audience was small, but very appreciative. Mr. Castles kindly handed round fruit during the intervals. All who took part in the entertainment put forth their best efforts to please, and a few were deservedly encored. There was one young man, the Doctor's Assistant, who, if he had been a " born nigger," could not have succeeded better in acting his part. He possesses considerable humour and originality, and might do worse than adopt the stage as a profession. The entertainment waa repeated the following Saturday night, at the residence of Mr. Mackay, Eig Muddy Creek, where the party pitched their tent and held their eports.—[A Correspondent.]

The tea meeting in connection with the Devonport Wesleyan Church will be held in the old portion of the church, on Monday evening, at 6.30. The public meeting will commence at 7.30, when addresses will oe delivered by Rev. E. Best, C. H. Garland, and J. Duken. The choir will render several selections of Music. Collections will be made at the service ii on behalf of the trust funds. A large ealo of young, good horses is announced by Messrs. W. J. Hunter and Co., to take place at the Commercial Yard 3, Hamilton, on Thursday next, at noon. A number of isho horses are for unreserved sale.

The eleven tons of gold-bearing ore sent from Auckland by the Tarawera on Thursday, for treatment at the Australian Smelting and Refining Works, came from the Goldwater mine, Whangamata, and not from the Paroquet as stated, through an error of the legal manager, ',-v>: - "'>■-■ *■■■ ■-■ :;, ■■ It is notified by the officer in charge of the Telegraph Department, that all telephone exchange connections which are not paid for today, will:,ber cult off on Monday, the 9th instant. *' ' " '-'