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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9066, 29 May 1888, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning report terrible disaster in the Soudan. An been diary fire destroyed the camp of Osman Digna, the rebel chief, and two thousand of his followers are reported to have perished in the flames. The Czar hopes that the present year will not be disturbed by war Herr Tisza has made a speech which has greatly irritated the French. Ho ha* advised Hungarians not to exhibit at the Paris Exhibition, as in the event of political troubles their goods might be demolished Meetings have been held in Ireland to pro. test against the action of the Pope in interfering with the operations of the League The death is announced of the veteran actress, Mrs. Chippendale, who came out to the colonies some years ago with Miss Maria de Grey, and subsequently made a tour through New Zealand with Miss Genevieve Ward. Her husband died a few months ago. Small-pox is raging in Martinique. The Duke of Edinburgh is reported to be suffering from blood poisoning.

The story announced to be commenced in next Saturday's Herald has been withdrawn in order to substitute a new tale entitled "A Double Life; or, the Darkrlale Mystery," by Helen Crainpton Dale. The authoress is new to our readers, but she is an able and vigorous writer, as lovers of pure and wholesome light literature will ascertain on perusing the opening chapters in next Saturday's Herald. There left Wellington yesterday by the Mararoa, General Schaw, who is on his way to Whangarei to visit his friends. He has at the same time (says our Wellington correspondent) been requested by the Government to inspect the Auckland harbour defences. By the same vessel there also left Captain Powell, Petty Officer Grant, one tester, one Whitehead torpedoist, and one engineer, to take charge of the submarine mining defences.

Inspector Broham has received a report from Constable Foreman, of Helensville, stating that on the 25th inst., at low tide, he had searched the mouth of the Kaipara River, where the man Michael Kenny was drowned a few days ago, but without finding the body. Constable Foreman also states that he has learned that deceased was a married man, and had a wife and three children living somewhere in Ireland.

A rather novel point was raised in the Police Court yesterday, in an action for an order for seamen's wages. Clause 292 of the Act, in alluding to the service of the summons, says it may be served "on any ship to which he may belong." _ When this clause came to be taken as a guide against the owner of the ship, it caused the antculty to be raised that while a ship might belong to an owner the owner did not 1)6 long "to the ship. The R.M. eventually adjourned the case to allow time to obtain the owner's consent to the sale of the ship, the summons nob having been .served personally on him.

An inquiry into the charges of ill-treat-ment of the late Mrs. Sharpe, who died recently at the Refuge, was held yesterday afternoon at the Lower Refuge, before tie members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Evidence having been heard at some length, the chairman (Mr. May?} announced that the Board would give their decision at an early date, probably on Monday next.

A short sitting of the Supreme Court in bankruptcy jurisdiction was held yesterday, before Mr. H. C. Brewer, Registrar. In the matter of the bankruptcy of William and Jeremiah Beehan, drapers, Mr. Campbell moved for an order for taxation of costa of the bankrupts' solicitors. The order was made. In the matter of Robert Arruitage, on the motion of Mr. Napier, solicitors costs were fixed at £6 6s, and costs out of pocket. In the matter of Beehan Brothers the costs of the debtors 5 solicitor were fixed at £10 and costs out of pocket, and those of the Official Assignee's solicitor at £lo 15s.

Our Waipu correspondent says:—' The police made a raid on Simson's house on Saturday evening. They seized two dozen bottles of ale and whisky." An extraordinary vacancy having oc curred in the Newmarket Borough Council through the resignation of Mr. Burgess, the Returning Officer, Major Pine, was present yesterday to receive nominations oi candidates to till the vacancy. .Mr. h. Lowe was nominated by Messrs. Bishop and Whyman, and there being no other candidate proposed Mr. Lowe was declared duly elected. Our Wellington correspondent states thai the well-known chief Tuhaere, of Orakei. a at present suffering from a severe attack « gout, and has gone out to reside at the law Hon. Wi residence at. the Hutt. From a report in another column of a case heard at the Police Court yesterday, parents may learn one of the means v? which their sons are led into gambling, a Hobson-street butcher, named Ben/ Schussler, brought a charge of wanton air turbance against a youth named Frederic Palmer, on May 20, and in the course « hearing the case, it came out thatanumw* of youths had been in the habit of going' » complainant's house to gamble with au» » "Yankee grab." The Resident Maytrato, Mr. Baddeley, severely censurw Schussler, and asked the police to look «"" such places. A meeting of the University College Council was to have been held y**W afternoon, but it lapsed for want oi quorum. The members present wereColonel Haultain, Revs. D. Bruce an** Reid, and Mr. Devote (Mayor of Auckguwj It transpired that the only other memM. the Council at present in Auckland »* 1 J. H. Upton, and as his presence w» quired to constitute the quorum, a senger was despatched for him, butwjj to other business he was unable to attend and the meeting fell through. A rather important case affecting res • rant-keepers came before the && ••» Baddeley, yesterday, at the Pokce W»nj when a man named Edward Uaw» beer charged with selling a luncheon w» ft without having a license to sell beerwas pointed out by Mr. p>«f'AS peared for him, that defendant had on ' , unwittingly, and that as soon asid« A he was breaking the law he stopper a plea of guilty was then put m, Ara . nominal fine asked for and inflicted, port of the case appears elsewhere. An impression has got abroad that to* An impression has got abroaa » Marototo Broken Hills, of which heard so much of late, is closely con with the Marototo (Mcßnnn s) and n D of reefs. We have been asked to swthere is no connection whatever, a the Broken Hills is fully one ana wto . miles to the westward of tnei ing The reefs in the Marototo are „ north and south; the reefs intne Hills are running east nd , w „ nat ion bemust not be a general condemn*^ cause someone hasPP r * a with one piece of mining props . „ have just heard that the Marototo turning out some very good crushing Owing to pressure of other mat w understand that Mr. E. E. f WuckUaJ resigned the secretaryship of fc » e Gird il Athenaeum, and that Dr. £Aacting as secret for the time

There is little *° add to the account we have already published regarding the fire •n Shortland-street. Its origin is not yet Stained, and the theory that it was used by rats upsetting bottles of enemies is the only one advanced. An inspecff~ 0 f the premises of Messrs. Sharland, Peacock, and Nathan yesterday showed that the damage is extensive. This is not entirely caused bv the fire, although a con- « derable quantity of damage arises from khis cause; but the smoke and steam penetrating through partitions and crevices did «(rreat deal of damage, more especially in Messrs Sharland's and Peacock's. An inspection was made yesterday on behalf of the various insurance offices affected, and inventories are being taken, but so far no estimate of the actual damage can be made. We find that the firemen and Salvage Corps engaged in extinguishing the fire wore very seriously affected by the fumes emitted "from the drugs and chemicals in Sharland's shop. Superintendent Hughes, Captain Field, and several men belonging to the Fire Brigade and Salvage Corps wero yesterday suffering from very violent headache, and described their feelings as that of a bursting sensation, or, as lome of them forcibly described it, '' they felt their heads swollen as big as iron pots." The tiro was, it appears, first discovered by cabman named Joseph Johnston, who states that he was sitting in his cab in Shortlandptroet, and heard glass breaking, and on looking out he saw a light in Sharland's window. He thought this unusual, and called out " Fire !" He saw no one about, And was at first afraid to leave his horses, Jest they should be frightened, but on pecond thoughts he ran across Queen-street to the Insurance Buildings, and rang the alarm. While he was ringing the firealarm the clock struck one, and the watchman answering to the alarm, he told him what was the matter, and the fire-bell was then rung, and Johnston, after calling to Constable Hansen, jumped into his cab and drove up for Mr. Nathan, who came rjown with him.

Mr. Wray, who for a number of years has been Resident Magistrate and Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Patea district, was lately, on his return to Patea to remove his family, entertained at the Central Hotel, and presented with a purse of sovereigns. The Slayer (Mr. R. A. Adams) occupied the chair, and in making the presentation said be had been requested by several gentlemen in Hawera, Waverley, Manutahi, Manaia, and Patea to present Mr. Wray with a purse of sovereigns, with a wish that he a-ould purchase something that would be a memento of his long residence in this district, and also be a token of the regard in which he was held by those whom ho was about to leave. Mr. Cowern said he could cot allow the occasion to pass without making a few remarks, as he had known Mr. Wray for a great many years. Mr. Wray had identified himself with almost everv public movement that has tended to the advancement of the district. He Identified himself with almost every local movement, and his purse Shad been freely used to further and foster our local industries ; in fact his faith in the future of the district had never wavered. The health of Mr. and Mrs. Wray was drunk in flowing bumpers. Mr. Wray said he had to thank them heartily for the kind manner in which they had expressed themselves in regard to himself and Mrs. Wray, and for what they had said with reference to himself in his private and public capacities. The Victorian Secretary for Mines has leceived the following extraordinary communication from a resident of Gobur, suggesting a novel method of prospecting for gold :— " I have a very great favour to ask from you. I hope you will be kind enough to grant it. I have a brother with me, a Dew chum. hen he stands on ground ▼here there is gold ho receives violent thocks in some places, in others the shocks axe not so severe. Now, what I want from you is to test his gift. You have men at work in Gobur. Will you authorise them to sink where my brother is affected, and not where there is nothing? If my brother's idea is correct, you could then employ him at a less cost than boring rods. Ii yon are acquainted with G. H. Neighbour, he can explain to you how he is affected. I tease my brother by telling him about a clergyman that was the same whenever he trod on a grave. Do please try him. There need be no expense attached to his first trial. All I want from you is to authorise the men in Gobur to sink a shaft down where my brother says there is gold, or thinks so. I must now ask ten thousand pardons for what I have taken upon myself bo do." Mr. Langtree has referred this novel proposal to the Central Board of Health for scientific investigation."

A social gathering in aid of the fund 3 of St. Benedict's Church was held yesterday evening in the temporary church building. Lieutenant-Colonel Mahon acted as M.C., and the music was supplied by Mr. Sheahan's string band, the programme being an excellent one.

Mr. Duncan Wright, the evangelist from Otago, has returned to Auckland from the tauntry districts, where he has been labourirg so successfully for the last five or six weeks. He commenced his mission by a service in St. James's Hall on Sunday evening last, when he gave an earnest and stirring address to a crowded audience, not a seat Deing empty. A band of workers have been visiting the district, and everything has been done to make the services a success. A large choir, principally of young people, is a leading feature in the services, the singing being bright and hearty, while Mr. Wright varies the service by singing occasionally one of his gospel hymns. The Krvice will be held every evening this week, at 7.30, in the Hall. A special meeting for women will be held on Thursday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, in the Hall, when Mr. Wright will give an address.

The following notification is from Lloyd's Weekly of April 22 : —" Mrs. Annie Hammond left Plymouth for Sydney in 1878, and her brother, William Henry Sampson, vent to New Zealand one year earlier. Both are requested to communicate with their anxious sister Ellen. The man has a striking peculiarity in one of his ears being turned down." The following is the state of Her Majesty's prison, Auckland, for the week ending May 26th, 1888 :—On remand, 2 males ; awaiting ferial, 13 males, 1 female ; boys, 3; penal servitude, 43 males, 3 females ; hard labour, 94 males, 21 females; imprisonment, 3 males ; default of bail, 15 males, 1 female ; debtors, 1 male ; received during the week, 15 males, 2 females ; discharged 16 males, 4 females : total in prison ; 174 males, 26 females.

On Saturday evening, between half-past seven and eight o'clock, Constable Kelso found a man named Christian Petersen, a foreign seaman, lying in Victoria-street West under peculiar and somewhat suspicious circumstances. He was without his trousers, but had on a pair of drawers. He was cut about the head and face, and was very much intoxicated. The constable took him to the Hospital to have his wounds dressed, and as he was drunk Dr. Lindsay detained him in order to make a further examination of his injuries. Although the impression at first was that he had been robbed and maltreated, it now appears that he mast have torn himself out of his troupers, for the waistband was found under his ehirt, and previous to being found by the constable no was seen coming up Chapelstreet without his trousers. The man was apparently getting on all right yesterday, and will probably be discharged from the Hospital to-day.

The result of the solicitors' preliminary examination, held in March last, has been published. Of the eight Auckland candidates who presented themselves for examination, Mr. P. A. Vaile is the only one who has successfully passed.

At tho annual meeting of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, in February last, the following resolution, brought forward by the Bradford Chamber, was voted unanimously by the numerous representatives there present:"Considering that influential parties in the United States ind in Great Britain are anxious that a treaty be concluded, by which both counties shall bind themselves to subject to arbitration every difference or dispute which may arise between them, and which cannot be settled by negotiations ; considerlnf? further that such a treaty, which would prevent even the possibility of war between 'wo nations bound together by so many ties, well deserves the attention and support of wis Association, it is resolved that Her Majesty's Government be urged, by memorial or deputation, to give every encouragem£nt and eventual support to a movement which, besides being rich in future promise, J&auraes a practical shape when limited to Stat U » kingdom and tho United

At a meeting of the Christchurch City Council on last Monday week it was moved, "That the question of the public lighting of the city be referred to a committee, with instructions to obtain a reliable estimate of tho present cosb of a complete gasworks plant sufficient for the requirements of the city." It was stated that the previous contract with the Gas Company had been £6 a lamp, and the present one was £5 10s. The Gas Company replied that they would make a reduction if a contract was made for several years, but had given no further information. In Dunedin the price was £4 4s 6d per lamp, and 7s 6d per thousand feet, 17J candle-power; at Wellington the price was £4 5s ; at Nelson it was £4 4s ; and in Invercargill, £4 6s Bd. It was stated that the present company made a profit of 100 per cent., and it was believed the Council could make a 25 per cent, reduction on tho prico by supplying their own gas. An electric lighting scheme was also favoured, and it was stated that forty-six cities in America were successfully lighted by this means. One councillor suggested using oil in the street lamps. Kerosene lamps now gave a very satisfactory light. After some further discussion the motion was carried. A number of carters wero yesterday before the Police Court, charged with obstructing the public street by leaving their carts unattended there, and also with leaving their horses. Substantial lines were inflicted in two cases.

The A.C. force at Opunake is, it is said, to be totally disbanded. The Taranaki News says Te Whiti will be again left to work his designs without lot or hindrance, and he has declared his intention of making the natives assert their right to the confiscated lands.

The Parnell Public Hall, which for some years past has done duty as a Salvation Army Barracks, is now metamorphosed by Mr. J. C. Polham into a commodious wellfitted skating rink. A splendid floor, mitred at tho ends similar to the floor of tho Columbia skating rink, has been laid, and tho whole building neatly fitted up, and painted internally. The side passage is made suitable for beginners to exercise in without interfering with tho more advanced rinkers, and the stage is fitted up for the accommodation of onlookers. The rink was formally opened last, night, and although the weather was very unpropitious such a large number responded to Mr. Pelham's invitation that very many were unable to obtain admission, and in consequence Mr. Polham purposes giving another "complimentary" next week. The floor was fully occupied all the evening, and many of those present wero manifestly expert in the art of rinking. The number of ladies on the floor was in full proportion to the sterner sex. All were thoroughly pleased with the floor, and the adaptability of the hall for a rink, and no doubt during the winter season the votaries of this amusement, which now seems to hold full sway all over the colony, will amply patronise the Parnell Eureka Rink.

Mr. Gabriel Lewis will hold a large sale of wines, spirits, etc., to-day, at the stores of Mr. Thos. Macky, Fort-street.