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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9049, 9 May 1888, Page 4

Ifc will be remembered that some timo ago two Russian Generals, supposed to be in the confidence of tho highest military authorities, predicted that war would break out in the month of May. Since then the news from Eastern Europe has been of a character to strengthen the belief that thoir prediction would be realised. The intelligence which we publish to-day gives stronger evidence of the accuracy of their views. In that quarter of Europe preparations, wo are informed, are now ready for beginning a deadly struggle, and only a spark is required to fall into the powder magazine to cause the most terrific explosion of modern times. This is the view of the situation which presents itself to those on the spot, whose business it is to watch the signs of the times and chronicle the popular impressions of the hour, and whose high character, experience, and journalistic training entitle their utterances to carry great weight with all thinking men. On the other hand we have the declaration of Prince Bismarck, whose sourcos of information ought to be'the best in Europe, that he is confident that peace will be maintained. The sanguine expectations of statesmen are not, however, always , borne out. . It will recur to every student of the history of our own times that only a few days before tho outbreak of the FrancoPrussian war the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, one of the best-informed men of the day on the course of European events, gave utterance to similar sentiments, and failed to detect a single cloud on the political horizon in spite of the thunderstorm .predicted by the newspaper correspondents. There is no certainty, therefore, that Prince Bismarck's optimism is more likely to prove correct than Earl Granville's. The utterances of statesmen do not always reflect their true opinions. On the thereforej we are inclined to accept the views of the newspaper correspondents as niore likely to turn out right in the lone run. The German Emperor's condition is reported to be worse. An alarming report that the eastern squadron of the French navy had sailed with sealed orders caused

some excitement, but Ministerial expl an tions show that'tnere is nothing in it ti President of Venezuela talks of emplovin the whole resources of the republic («? army numbers 2500, and the militia T paper, about 60,000) to resist " tho unj u "1 claims" of England. The strained relation thus indicated are due to a dispute rel tive to a certain strip of territory t the ' north-west of British Guiana tn which Venezuela considers she has a ci&inT particularly as it has been found to contai' gold. Last year this little trouble led to temporary suspension of diplomatic rela tions. General Boulanger, true to ht character as the hero of the revanche, dn clares that war against Germany is sary to redeem the national-honour. FlooH in China have destroyed three thousand lives. The Pope is determined to execute his decree in spite of the opposition which it has evoked from those whose actions it paralyses, and whose designs it frustrates. So far it does not appear that the people, of Ireland resenb His Holiness' action. Ene land recognises Tamasese as de facto Kins of Samoa, and refuses to interfere in the dispute between Germany and the unfortu nate Malietoa. This decision reflects little credit on the foreign policy in the Pacific of the British Government.

As the session approaches our M.H.R, B are beginning to take their departure for tho Empire city. The following Auckland members left yesterday morning by the Penguin by way of the Manukau :—Mes srß R. Monk, W. P. Moat, E. Hamlin,'])' Goldie, Fraser, R. Thompson, and Hobba." Hons. Messrs. W. Swanson and P. Dig nan M.L.C.'s, also left for Wellington in the Penguin. Messrs. Withy, Moss, and cock will leave by the Tarawera on Thurj. day. The monthly meeting of tho Thames Drainage Association- was held yesterday The most important feature of the meeting was the communication received from the Deep Level Cross Company, enclosing a demand for settlement of their overdraft. The Deep Level Cross Company are the owners of the pumping plant, and if the bank, as it threatens to do, takes possession it simply means the stoppage of the pumpg| the discontinuance of low level and the throwing of about 1000 men out of employment. The Board could only regret the circumstance. They were powerless, as they were without funds unless the Government fulfilled the promise to contribute £2000. Mr. Brodie, Mayor _of Thames, ■itterly complained oi the. position in which they had been placed by the Government They had as a Board been called into existence without revenue or means, and without pumping plant to carry on drainage operations, and after repeated promises the money promised them had not yet reached them. These repeated scares as to the stoppage of the pumps frightened away those who would desire to invest capital in the development of the deep levels, and did irreparable injury. It was agreed to request the Auckland members to urge on the Government the necessity for taking the whole matter into consideration. At the

same meeting Mr. Downs was appointed engine - fitter for the Association out of fifteen applicants. A detailed report of the proceedings will be found in another column. Tho ship Oamaru . has brought to the order of T. and S. Morrin and Co. the plant for the Eden Terrace waterworks.

Some of the fittings have to come on by the Mercia, but there is all on hand necessary to enable the contractor to proceed without, interruption. Considering the short time since the order for the plant has been received by Morrin and Co., the despatch with which the plant was sent is very creditable. . .. The committee appointed at the late meeting to obtain signatures to the petition to Parliament for the abolition of the property tax have taken measures to ensure its being largely signed throughout the Auckland Provincial District. Lists are being forwarded to Waikato, Tauranga, Kaipara, and other country districts ; whilst in the •city requests are to be made to the various banks and other public offices to permit copies of the petition to remain at these establishments for signature. Yesterday morning a fire broke out in a shop in Queen-street,; near the wharf, occupied by Mr. Levinsohn, tobacconist. A few buckets of water speedily extinguished what might have proved a serious conflagration. ' The cause of the fire is not known. It was discovered among ■ some boxes of tobacco in a back roo by the shop boy, who gave the alarm. The firebells were rung, and the Fire Brigade soon arrived, but luckily their services were not required. The damage done was.trifling. The insurances on the building and effects are:Stock, £300 ; furniture, ' £100; personal effects, £50; billiard-room over the shop, £350—a1l in the North German office. Volunteer matters, , although now rather dull, still have reminiscences which are dear to a large number of old residents in Auckland who recollect the time _ when volunteering was more than playing at soldiers, and when the citizen-soldiers had to bear their share in the full brunt of battle in the Maori war. The anniversary of the incorporation or swearing in of the Hobson Rifle corps was yesterday. Seventeen years ago on the Bth of May the Hobson Company was sworn in, andCaptam Andrew Burns, now a major in Dunedin, was elected captain. Of the original members of that corps there are now none in the company, although there are some on the roll of honorary members who have never severed their connection with it. Colonel Dignan, who was amongst those first sworn in as a member of the company, is now colonel of the No. 2 battalion, and Major Clifton, who was sworn in at the same time, is removed from the company by his promotion, so that literally there is not, intMJ brief period, one original member of toe old company left in the ranks. » are the changes which occur in 8 brief period in colonial life. As a curious coincidence, we learn from the Supreme Court records that Colonel Dignan nad a double anniversary yesterday. Seventeen years ago he was sworn in as a hamster and solicitor of the Supreme Court, and on the same evening he took the oath of auegiance as a full private in the newly-tormea Hobson Rifle Volunteer Company. At the Drill-shed- yesterday evening there was a good muster of the Victor* and City Guards Companies, when a number of prizes were. presented Aiajui Clifton. A New Zealand war medal was given to Bandsman Middleton, of the garrison Band, for good service in the »' Regiment as bugler during the »evr «* land war. This medal arrived fromMf land a short time ago, Lieutenant IWB* having interested himself in obtaining" from the War Office for Bandsman Mkm* ton. Major Clifton, in making the presentation, congratulated. the.. recipient, »« was loudly applauded as he returned tow" ranks. The following prizes for ■shooting were also distributed' by Major Clifton. City Guards : Captain. Waddel's cup, wuu by Colour - Sergeant Stirling. Rifles : Captain Cooper's medal, Corpora. Saville ; Major Isaacs* star, Volunteer too lin. Corporal Saville was presented the medal for regular attendance, conies by Staff-Surgeon Dawson. Our Otahuhu correspondent writesi:--Complaints have frequently been made m responsible residents in Otahuhu m tow disturbances caused from time » V, n through the demonstrations of the =»w v *" Army. Without entering into tie K. and cons of the question, I may etftt »* a repetition of Monday night's P> rf TC n is neither desirable or expedient «n owing to the glare of torches and tie w> ing of the drums, etc., a horse was canw to .bolt, and carried away two vegj posts from Mr. Johnstons new boWBt Had these posts been of the ordinatv ■» struction they would have .been emasiea pieces, or twisted beyond recovery »*».,. they will have to be reinstated, apoi seems hard that the -owner shouldjw«j be pubto that expense, as J unaeffiH"' the Army declines any responsibility. The Inangab.ua Times the following :—" It is said that the wn of the Midland Railway Company > stan , Greymouth have received six mo« leave of absence. . This does not ook t encouraging for the progress of *« Further than this, however, we gf";, r weeD the matter of the terms »f agreemea.w» hg the company and the Government wu again brought before P arll * mo » a pplica coming session, in the form of as *W tion for , a further modification of the tract.", ■*■' ■■-.'• ! .t"' j^jj The Auckland footballers who■» v J fteeo chosen to play against the -Engl* JJ , will hold a practice match this aftrnoo the Metropolitan Ground, i andji IPJ w who can conveniently attend are ejwmake up a fifteen to play against tiem.

The return match between the English team and Canterbury is to be played at Christchurch to-day, and great interest is being evinced in athletic circles concerning the probable result. It is believed that tho colonials will profit by their post experience, and lessen the difference in their respective scores from that which appeared at the conclusion of their first contest with their doughty antagonists.

It will be remembered that a deputation waited on Mr. C. Hudson at Onehunga on Saturday morning, relative to the excessive import charges, and more particularly to the charge of 2s 6d per ton port haulage on all goods which were put on the wharf. The manager promised to remedy the matter, and on making inquiries at the Onohunga wharf oflice yesterday, we were informed by the officer in charge (Mr. T. W. Brownell) that he had received instructions to allow goods to lie on the wharf (at the request of consignees) for a reasonable time, provided that the consignee or his agent accepted all responsibility. Mr. Hudson's prompt attention to such an important ninttor was favourably commented on during yesterday by the townspeople. Considerable alarm was caused to passorsby in Wellesley-street yesterday, about one o'clock, by the bolting of a horse down the incline. It appears that the animal, which ii tho property of Mr. G. Wilson, of Nelsonptroct, was being driven in a dray along Hobson-street when the saddle girth broke, and the saddle slipped underneath the horse. This caused the horse to take fright, and dashing round the corner of Wellesleystreet it galloped down the hill. When nenring Albert-street it swerved from tho road and came to an abrupt stop by colliding against the side door and wall of Mr. W. J. Butler's brick premise's. The horso's head struck the door with such force that tho framework was carried away, while tho impact caused tho animal to halfway into the shop, and one of the shafts to go clean through the nine-inch wall, tearing down a portion of the brickwoak. A crowd quickly gathered and ready hands soon extricated tho unfortunate animal from its unwonted position. Although considerably stunned and shaken the horse had not appirently sustained any injury, while a broken propstick was tho only damage done to the dray. " Ratepayer No. 2" writes again in anpwer to "Ratepayer." He says :—" If ' Ratepayer' will clear tho mist from his eyes he will find in print in the Herald of March '29 the clause ' amalgamation of offices' in tho petition. Will 'Ratepayer ' oblige by r-aking the trouble and expense of ascertaining the number of empty houses ? Will you kindly permit iue to ask ' Ratepayer ' and all ratepayers, for what object are rates raised ? Are they not raised to be spent for the comfort and convenience of tie general public—to be spent by or under the order of the City Council upon all kinds of works required, save blunders ? Or are they raised for the express purpose of paying lavish salaries to a number of officials ? There is nor. a ratepayer in the city of Auckland that will grudgo a fair salary to all their servants. If the councillors will be true to their trust thero will be fewer complaints. " The following handicaps have been declared for the bicycle road race, which is to be held on Saturday next, under the auspic« of the Amateur Athletic and 'Cycle Club :—A. G. Clark, scratch ; A. Stewart, imin ; J. A. Stewart, lmin : W. Johnson, Umins; A. G. Buchanan, Hniins; H. Kicholson, 2smins ; F. Battley", 3£mins ; J. A. Walker, .^mins; M. McCallum, 3Jmins; P. Spencer, 4mins ; T. M. Hammond, 4£mjns ; T. Grange, o^mins.

At a recent meeting of the City Council, Mr. Jenkinson brought under notice his patent cement water and drain pipes, with a view to their introduction into use for city purposes, and the matter was referred to the engineer to have tests made. Some tests were made yesterday at the City Market. The water-pipes submitted were 3-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch, and they stood the water pressure of the city supply, about 751bs to the square inch, satisfactorily. The drain pipes were also tested, and stood a good pressure. In all probability there will be a report on the subject submitted to the City Council at its next meeting.

The funeral of the late Mrs. Jones, whose death we recorded on Tuesday, took place yesterday. The remains of "the deceased lady were removed from her late residence in College Road to the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby Road, and at 8 a.m. a solemn requiem mass was offered at the church by the Rev. Father Lenihan. A crowded congregation was present, including Captain H. F. Anderson, Messrs. D. B. Cruickshank, P. Lanigan, J. A. Tole, D. A. Tole, P. Darby, Boylan, and others. The funeral procession, which was of considerable length, left the church at 2 p.m., and on arrival at the wharf proceeded to the Devonport steamer. The service at the North Shore cemetery, where the interment took place, was read by the P.ev. Father Lenihan, assisted by the Rev. Father O'Gara, 0.5.8. Mr. Jones and Mr. James Burke (brother-in-law of deceased) were the chief mourners. A number of the children from St. Mary' 3 Orphanage accompanied the mournful procession to the Queen-street Wharf. The deceased lady was a friend of that institution, and a graceful tribute of reepect was thus paid to her memory. Some particulars of the escape of the prifoner Jonathan Roberts from Timaru gaol, where he was under five years' sentence for torse-stealing, are given by the Timaru Herald. It appears that in the morning fche warder went to open the cell door and let him out for exercise in the corridor. He forjfofc, however, to close and secure the door to the corridor and that opening to the grounds, and the moment the warder opened the cell door Roberta darted out, passed the closot where the clothes were kept, and secured a suit of pepper-and-Balt clothes, and rushed out in full view of Mr. Swan, who, of course, flew after the belt and in the direction of Saltwater Creek. Seeing, however, that P.oberte, who is a noted runnor and athlete, was gaining ground rapidly, Mr. swan wisely returned to the gaol and informed the police by telephone of the occurrence. Almost at that moment Captain eumo, inspector of prisons, who happened to be in Timaru, arrived to make an in-

epection of tho gaol, and Mr. Swan had to follow up his salutation to the officer with the tidings of "an escape." Captain Hume immediately held an inquiry, and his report waa forwarded to Government. The warder on duty tendered his resignation at once, which Captain Hume declined to then receive.

A deeply interesting address was delivered at the City Hall yesterday evening by the Rev. George Miiller. Basing his remarks on Rom. viii. 28, " All things work together for good to them that love God," Mr. Miiller gave a number of illustrations from his long experience in proof of tho truth of tho text. He said that during his We, although he had passed through hundreds of trials, ho had always seen in the end that they were for his good. He related now a donation of £1600 was sent to him «>r his Orphanage at a time when his need of money was great. Shortly after be received a lettor from the donor begging him, on account of opposition from friends, to return the money. Ho at once did so, being assured that "all was for his good, and scores of times since he had felt deeply thankful that the money was returned, as it had been shown to him that it was for the highest welfare of the institution. Mr. Muiler gave some plain directions how to Know the will of God, and how clear guidance may bo obtained by Christiana, ibis evening Pastor Muller will preach in ot. James' Presbyterian Church at half-past seven. To-morrow he will deliver a special missionary address in tiie Tabernacle, at «>e same hour. On Sunday morning he will occupy the pulpit of Beresford-street congregational Church, at eleven a.m., and at eight p.m. will speak at the Sunday HalJ mS evan gelistic service in the City

Gar?il?L *" en , 1 is directed to Messrs. SnS ?Dd Gran r ll 8 advertisement, which "Ppeaj-8 m our columns over leader. foil es^irday Mr r Pecy Holt received the JoB??? h* nd8 for , feeing the Purewa (St. tion of »° 80) bu ground, and the formaflew 11 ™"™ dx } ve : Subjoined arc the 80S '* : ~ Hound ary fencing: S. White and £&' W n , d standar de £44, posts only Bond ,<2a 6d ~ £ 62 10e ; .\7 te Iγ 12s M -£54 16s 4d ;T. Lc Hugnct 10a; J. JJownmn, £59 SS ttr^ , ? 14s 6d ; Kerry and Co., £62— £Ki • A WilWs £G| loe i £63 10b: J. Sii* ,^- "?* 1* •*'• Formation of enl »nd Co «r : G K,,l « ht t £33 15s 6d ; Berry Bwtv* ftnmi Acton *»-. £35; Oarrett Geo fr>T 2! : Fer ?usson Bros., £40 14s 4d ; ,e V £7? d^ w , der l? £57 163 J Wm. Stan"fijJw^iaa, G ' ugh * t79 l9a 6dj T