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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9025, 11 April 1888, Page 4

General Boulanger's popularity would seem to be increasing. He has been elected for the department of Dordogne, although he was not a candidate, and it is regarded as certain that he will be returned lor the Nord. His return to power is, therefore, a probability which must now be taken into serious account. The Italian press is again asserting that a maritime alliance has been entered into between Italy and England. A somewhat guarded denial of a similar rumour was given in the House of Commons some time ago. While it is probably true that no formal alliance has been contracted between these Powers, it would not be surprising if an understanding existed between them for joint naval action in the event of certain contingencies. The Porte, it is said, is desirous of reopening the Egyptian question. Lord Salisbury, however, is not. It is somewhat curious that Turkey should at this particular juncture of European affairs manifest such a desire. The .Northumberland miners have reconsidered their former decision, and have now resolved to continue their payments to Messrs. Burt and Fen wick, who are their specially-chosen representatives in the House of Commons. Both men were formerly ordinary coalminers, and it says volumes for their ability and sagacity that they should have been able to pass from the pit into Parliament. The American Tariff Bill is now under discussion in the House of Representatives, and as a means of getting rid of the question and shelving the revision of the tariff, it is suggested that the enormous surplus which the Government have in hand, and which they are at a loss what to do with, should be divided among the several States. A number of interesting items of Australian news will be found in our cable columns. The most important of these is the announcement that the Government of New South Wales have resolved to prohibit foreign war vessels from entering the Sydney harbour. In future they will require to anchor at the heads at the entrance to Port Jackson. A private cable message was received in town from Sydney yesterday, stating that Mr. George Stuslrt, the United States Consular Agent at New Britain, had arrived in Sydney all well. The party of natives with whom he was were attacked by another party, but Mr. Stuart escaped. This will be gratifying news to the friends of this gentleman, who will be remembered as being in the United States Consulate here during Mr. Griffin's term of office, The Hon. E. Mitchelson (Native Minister) left by the Waikato train yesterday morning for Otorohanga, accompanied by his private secretary ana the Under-Secretary of the Native Department.

The Hon. G. Fisher, Minister of Marine and Commissioner of Customs, leaves for the Thames to-day, to investigate the question of the Thames harbour limits, refarding which the Upper Thames settlers ave some grievances. He will inspect the Thames educational establishments if I time will permit. Among the passengers who left Auckland yesterday by the s.s. Waihora was the Rev. J. S. Hill, who proceeds to Sydney en route for Ballarat, where he intends to hold an -evangelical mission, extending over a month. He then purposes to return via the South, and conduct a similar mission in Dunedin before coming home. Mr. Hill is accompanied by his sister-in-law, Miss Leach man, well-known in this city through her connection with mission work. The annual meeting of the Auckland Acclimatization Society was held yesterday. The report was a comprehensive if not entirely an encouraging one. Some discussion ensued on the subject of the restocking of neighbourhoods near Auckland with pheasants, also with regard to the proposal to renew the issue of licenses for the sale of game. The proceedings are reported in another column. Some little curiosity has been manifested as to the nature of the will of the late Hon. James Williamson, probate in which was granted some few weeks ago. The exact amount of property left by Mr. Williamson has not yet been ascertained, the accounts not yet being' closed, but it is, we understand, very much under what was popularly believed, the great depreciation in property of recent years having greatly affected the property of the deceased gentleman. So far as is known at present, beyond the fact that Mr. Williamson has by will appointed his three sons trustees in his estate, he has bequeathed his whole property to his family.

The regular meeting of the City Schools Committee' was held yesterday evening. There were present .-—Messrs. Gorrie (presiding), Crowther, Farrell, Ussher, McMaster, Blades, and Batty. Mr. E. T. Hart applied that the Napier-street school be furnished with nine frames for the class time-tables. The request was granted. Mr. B. Cronin wrote returning thanks for his appointment as headmaster of the Nelson-street school. Mr. Worthington requested that the boys of Standards V. and VL be granted a half-holiday in order that they might play a game at football with Thames boys, who had sent a challenge. On the motion of Mi 1 . Blades, seconded dv Mr. Batty) the application was not granted. A letter was received from Mr. C. M. Carter, applying for permission to leave the school (Beresford-street) at twenty minutes to four o'clock on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, in order to attend the Latin lectures at the College. The application was referred to Mr. Harrison, headmaster of the school. Mr. G. M. Burlinson applied that his salary be fixed according to scale. He had passed the E examination, and in nine months would be entitled to a certificate. The letter was referred to the Board of Education. An intimation was forwarded by Mr. W. H. Airey, that the Beresfordstreet school would* be examined in standards on or about Monday, April 23rd instant. Mrs. Golly was appointed cleaner at the Beresford-street school. A large octopus, measuring 5 feet from tip to tip of the arms, was caught a fa" days ago near Wellington.

A few days ago we enumerated the titles Of a number of rare and valuable books which Sir George Grey had purchased from Mr. Shaw and presented to the Auckland Free Library. Since then he has made further purchases of books of the same class. The boxes lately sent from Kawau contain about a thousand books and pamphlets, some of an exceedingly interesting ind. Sir George Grey has also sent_ several cases of rare curios, namely, Indian images, Japanese work, rare wood carvings, native ornaments, a number of curious flags taken from the Kingites, and part of tne cross erected by Bernalclies before rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Some moa bones m limestone formation he has directed to be sent to the Auckland Museum.

An old identity has just passed away in Sydney, who was formerly a New Zealand colonist. The Herald says A large circle of our readers will learn with much regret of the death of Mr. Alexander McDonald, which took place at his residence, Adelaide Cottage, Potts Point, early on Tuesday morning. The deceased gentleman had for many years been a member of the firm of Messrs. McDonald, Smith, and Co., general importers, of No. '29, Hunterstreet. He was a native of Scotland, and nil his early experiences were in connection with banking institutions. After establishing several banks in England, Mr. McDonald proceeded to New Zealand, arriving in that colony about the year ISO. He instituted at Nelson a branch of the Union Bank, which was afterwards transferred to Wellington. Mr. McDonald came to Sydney about the year ISIS, and for some time acted as inspector and general manager of the Union Bank in this colony." . At about five o'clock yesterday evening a spring cart, laden with groceries, seeds, &c., and owned by Mr. McKerras, came to grief on Parnell Rise. The shaft broke, and the contents of the cart were spilled about, but beyond a few of the cases being smashed, and some of the contents scattered about, no serious damage was caused, and another cart being procured, the goods were forwarded to their destination.

Some miners engaged at Coromandel, in prospecting the mining property on the flat at the back of the Court-house, purchased bv Australian investors, were sinking through a deposit of gravel, evidently an old riverbed, a few days ago, when they discovered the complete skeleton of a Maori within three feet of the surface, and close by a fragment of quartz was found showing colours of gold. The miners deemed the incident as a lucky omen, indicative of hidden treasures near.

The " hanging" committee of the Society of Arte were busy yesterday, fixing up the pictures on the walls of the Choral Hall. The difficulty is to find wall space for the Numerous exhibits. A special prize was offered by Mrs. J. McCosh Clark for the best Study of a head, life size, in oil or water colours, on canvas or paper 24 inches by -0 inches. The competitions which complied with the conditions were not up to the standard, while the competitions which were worthy of the prize did not comply with the conditions. The judges therefore did not award the prize, but recommended one entry of special merit to the consideration of Mrs. Clark. That lady did not give the prize she originally intended, but has given a special prize to the competition recommended. A study of a girl's head by Miss Marion Wright, daughter of Dr. Wright, of Parnell. The prize is a splendid volume, entitled "American Art." Impey's Band has been engaged for the conversazione tomorrow evening. Members who have not yet received their tickets can have the same by applying to the secretary, at the Choral Hall.

The friends of Holt are making desperate efforts in Sydney to get him out of prison. The Sydney Morning Herald of Thursday last has the following in regard to the matter :— The case of the prisoner Holt, who is now undergoing a sentence of four years' imprisonment for embezzlement, is still under the consideration of the Minister for Justice. There is no improvement in the prisoner's health ; and a petition, largely signed by members of Parliament and others, praying for his release, has been received by Mr. Clarke. The Minister stated in the .Legislative Assembly last evening, that no decision had been come to with regard to the case."

At the Police Court yesterday a man named James Fleming was charged with unlawfully wounding James Addison by tabbing him with a pair of scissors. It appears that accused, with his wife, went to a boardinghouse in Nelson-street on Monday night, but about midnight he up and ran amuck through the house. The nolice were called in, but before he was uverpowered he wounded James Addison with a pair of scissors. Inspector Broham expressed doubts as to accused's sanity, and applied for a remand for a week, which was granted.

The relatives of the late J. W. Bradfield, ;vho was killed on the tramway line on the Onehunga Road a few days ago, request the insertion of the following As we were personally acquainted with the late Joseph William Bradfield, who was killed on the tram line last week, we think it bub right, in justice to the unfortunate deceased and to his widow and family, to contradict the insinuations and reports which have been circulated as to his drinking habits. We have had ample opportunity to judge of his character, and we can only say that we always found him to be a steady, industrious man, and one of whom we had a very high opinion. We think the case is one which calls for public sympathy, inasmuch as the widow and family (the youngest of whom is but a fortnight old and the eldest about 17 years) are left almost entirely without means of support. —We are, etc., John Geey, Chaeles Sutton, James Wilkie."

The anniversary soiree of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Sunday - school was held last evening in the schoolroom. There was a crowded attendance. The following ladies presided at the tea-tables : — Mesdames Phillipps, Craig, Hosking, Crowe, J. M. White, Reed, Parkinson, Purdy, W. S. Wilson, Misses Pascoe, Walker, G. Rintoul, Wiseman, Cooke, and Shorland. The after meeting was held in the church, when Mr. Thomas Buddie presided. The church was tastefully decorated with ferns and flowers, legends were on the front of both galleries, while the word "Welcome" was displayed on the front of the organ gallery, the meeting also being in the nature of a public reception of the new minister, the Rev. E. Best. After singing a hymn, the Rev. W. 'GittOß engaged in prayer; and the chairman made a brief introductory speech, urging the maintenance of the efficiency of Sunday-schools, as being the complement to the State secular system. Mr. Purdy (secretary) read the annual report. There are 42 teachers on the roll, and 432 scholars. The Bible-class (young women's) had 23 members, under Mrs. Woodham, while the young men's Bible-class, under Mr. Douglass, had 15 members. Missionary boxes yielded £27 6s, and the Blailce system £16 6s Bd, making an increase for the year of £4 2s 9d. For the support of a boy in Dr. Stephenson's home, £5 only was raised of the £15 promised annually. The Band of Hope, under Messrs A. Tnorne and James Wiseman, junr., was prospering. There were 820 volumes in tho library, and new books were being added. The class room accommodation recently added is fully occupied, and proving suitable for teaching purposes. Mr. T. McMaster (treasurer) read the statement of accounts, the total receipts being £149 13s 4d, and the expenditure £124 10s. A balance was carried forward of over £15. Two of the female

scholars then rendered some recitations in

a very creditable manner. Mr. W. Thome, on behalf of the circuit stewards, gave a few words of welcome to the Rev. Mr. Best, who bore the reputation of being an earnest Christian worker. Mr. Best, in responding, made an admirable speech, defining his ■ relations • to the Sunday-school, the Church, and the congregation. He was content to go wherever Providence led him, his sole desire being to do * his Master's work. At the Thames he had' been associated with zealous,' devoted men, and asked for like co-operation in Pitt-street. The Rev. C. 11. Garland made a humorous speech, in which he gave the! Sunday-school scholars some excellent advice. Mr. Winstone spoke briefly on the work of the Sunday-school. Mr. Shackelford moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, the ladies, and the speakers. During the evening the children of the school occupied the galleries, and sang a selection of choice hymns in a pleasing manner. Professor Lambert presided at the organ. The proceedings were closed by the Benediction by the Rev. E. Best. Acceptances and nominations in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club's meeting are due to-night.

The Sydney Morning Herald contains the following regarding a gentleman who is at present in Auckland Mr. J. C. B; Seaver, M.L.A. for Gloucester, who has been away for the past two months in New Zealand, has been granted leave of absence for a month from his Parliamentary duties on account of urgent private* business requiring his attention."

A meeting of the Flumpbon Park Coursing Company was held at the Commercial Hotel last night, to consider their financial position. There was a large attendance, and Mr. J. Macready presided. It was announced that a very liberal offer had been made to the company by Mr. W. McLaughlin, the owner of the Park and principal creditor of tho company, and by Messrs. T. and S. Motrin and Co., who are also creditors, to accept 5s in the £ in payment of their accounts, so as to enable the company to carry on. After a good deal of desultory discussion, it was agreed to make a call of Is 6d per share on tho shareholders to enable them to pay off their liabilities ; and also to raise subscriptions from dog-owners and others to enable them to carry on and secure a new lease of the park. It was suggested that the company should bo constituted a coursing club, and the idea met with general favour, but the chairman pointed out that before that could be done, they must first secure the lease of the ground. Subscription-lists were token up by several leading members present, and the meeting then terminated.

Yesterday morning the engineer of the waterworks pumping station, Mr. Gibson, telephoned to the municipal offices that some parties were depositing nightsoil in a ditch about one hundred yards on the town side of the bridge. The Town Clerk sent an urgent message to the Mayor of the Newton Borough, and also to Inspector Broham, with a view of putting the police in motion. Sanitary Inspector G oldie was despatched in a cab to the scene, but soon came back stating that the deposit was only dry refuse. Mr. Gibson had only casually looked at the heap, and at a distance he would have himself been deceived by the appearance. He brought a small quantity of the refuse with him into town to prove that the deposit was as stated by him.

A meeting of the committee of the St. Barnabas Mount Eden Needlework Guild was held yesterday afternoon in Mr. T. H. Webb's reading-room, View Road, the Rev. T. H. Sprott in the chair. The treasurer reported that after paying all expenses the balance in hand from the late sale of work was £37 10s 2d, a sum which exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine, and which it was resolved to hand over immediately to the church committee to be applied towards the reduction of the debt upon the building. The following resolutions were then unanimously adopted — 1. " That, on behalf of the Guild, we sincerely thank the many kind friends who contributed in various ways towards the success of our late sale of work, and especially the Auckland Press, which assisted materially by giving it such wide publicity." '2. " That circulars be sent to all the members of the Guild to remind them that the annual meeting, to elect officers for the coming year, will be held in Mr. Webb's room on May Ist at three p.m., and request them all to attend, and bring their friends with them to join the society." 3. " That the committee suggest to the Guild, at its next meeting, that a gift auction be held, to dispose of the goods unsold at the late sale of work."

The Government of New South Wales now evinces a very lively interest in the mining industries of New South Wales. A Sydney paper says — The Minister for Mines has decided to establish in connection with the Mines Department an inquiry office, which is intended to supply a longfelt want. Facilities will be afforded in connection with it for obtaining information upon all matters relating to mining. It will be placed under the charge of Mr. Morgan, a competent officer, who has a good knowledge of mining questions."

Yesterday a mob of draught horses, comprising twenty-nine young geldings and mares, were shipped by the Waihora to Sydney. They were under the charge of their owner, Mr. Hill, of Hamilton, who expects to realise considerably better prices on the New South Wales market than are prevalent here for stock of the description of the animals he has taken.

The 37th anniversary of the Alexandrastreet Primitive Methodist Church was celebrated last evening by a tea meeting in | the schoolroom, and a public meeting in the church. The tables were amply laid, j and were presided over by Mesdames Mewburn, Mcholls, Cox, Leonard, Little, and Woods, and Misses Leech ('2), Potter, Jowsey, and Simpson. The public meeting was presided over by Mr. Tien with, who briefly introduced the business, and after devotional exercises Mr. D. Goldie, M.H. R., read the annual report and balance-sheet. From the report we gather that the work of the church in its -various departments during the year has been progressive, and that, with regard to the balance-sheet, there is no reason to complain. The weekly offerings had realised £205 8s lid, being slightly in excess of last year. The seat rents for the year were £3-1 13s 6d, which was £1 6s 6d less than last year. The quarterages of the members was £13 18s less than last year, being only £38 9s. This deficiency was accounted for by the fact that so many of the members were not earning so much as formerly, and were not in a position to give as much as they otherwise would. The gross receipts from all sources, including the Newton school, and trust at Newmarket, and Alexandra-street Church and school, amounted to £726 19s 6d, being at the rate of £13 19s 7d per week, which, considering the long-continued commercial depression, was very encouraging, and they felt they had much cause for thankfulness. The balance sheet showed the receipts from all sources to be Alexandra-street Church, £408 8s; Alex-andra-street School, £166 lls6d; Newton School, £50 18s 2d; Newton trust, £49 Is sd; Newton services, £32; Newmarket church, £20. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Smith, the Rev. Mr. Ward, and other friends, and the meeting was brought to a close with singing and prayer.

Mr. H. E. Whitaker, secretary of the New Zealand Stud Company, notifies intending visitors to Sylvia Park that during the winter months the inspection of stock will be limited to Wednesdays only, from 12 to 3 o'clock.

The fifth anniversary of the Gospel Temperance Mission is to be celebrated on Monday evening next, at Robson's Rooms. Tea will be laid at half-past six, and a public meeting will be opened at half-past seven "o'clock.

Replying to " A Resident" re nuisances, etc., at Archhill, a correspondent, "Enquirer," writes:—"Can 'Resident' tell us which contractor it is depositing nightaoil in an open ditch ? and is it not the Newton borough contractor ? And why . does ' Resident' not at once bring the matter under the notice of the Archhill District Board, who alone are answerable for allowing these nuisances to be continued within their boundaries? If there is a constable about he ought to find out the perpetrators and get them punished." "Enquirer" adds-.—'' It is also reported the Newton borough contractor's nightsoil cart leaks." At the Opera House last evening a large audience attended to witness tne production of Dick" by Messrs. Brough and Boucicault's Burlesque Company, and the performance again won the hearty appreciation of those present. As the company leaves for the South on Thursday, to-night is the last opportunity that Auckland playgoers will have of seeing this popular operetta.

The defaulters' list for all the city wards is lying at the City Council offices for inspection. Those who do not pay up arrears of rates before the 22nd instant will have their names struck off the burgess roll.

The polo team has now been arranged which visits Wellington to contest the provincial polo match on roller skates.. Steady practice has been commenced, and a preliminary competition match, of seven a side, will take place on Saturday week.

From the announcement in another column it will be seen that a very extensive property sale will be held by Mr. D. F. Evans, at his land mart, Queen-street, to-day at noon, by order of the liquidator of the Kamo_ Colliery Company, Limited, in liquidation, viz. :All those the several real and leasehold properties, plant, machinery,' tools, implements, chattels, effects, and things particularly specified in the schedule, on view at office of the auctioneer, Queen-street. .