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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9088, 23 June 1888, Page 4

There appears to be no longer any doubt regarding the perilous position of Stanley. In an encounter with the natives he was wounded by an arrow, and his little band of followers suffered severely. An expedition ha 3 started to rescue him. A serious revolt is stated to have broken out in the districts in China recently inundated by the Yellow River. The troops are fraternising with the rebels. The expulsion of two French correspondent;-; from Germany has caused great excitement in France, and it is not unlikely that the incident will lead to serious trouble. . The European situation is described as more hopeful. At a meeting of the Conservative party, a wide divergence of opinion on the Local Government) Bill was manifested.

Up to the time of going to press there was no sign of the mail steamer.

An inquest was held at the Asylum on Thursday upon the body of a man named James Granville Gravell, a labourer, 40 years of age, who died on the same day. The inquest was held by Dr. Philson, as coroner, and a verdict returned that deceased died of " Apoplectic convulsions." Deceased had no property, and was admitted to the Lunatic Asylum from Mount Eden Gaol, upon the medical certificates of Drs. Haines and Macmullen, suffering from delusions, on Juno 9. He was sent to the infirmary in March, suffering from paralysis of one side. On June 17 he was seized with an apoplectic lit, and remained unconscious till within a short time of his death. There is no record of his antecedents.

In accordance with a requisition of Messrs. L. D. Nathan, J. H. Upton, W. Crowther, and 680 other gentlemen, tho Mayor (Mr. A. Devore) has convened a '' public meeting of the citizens of Auckland " for next Monday evening at half-past seven p.m., at the Lorne-street Hall, to consider and discuss the advisability of reducing the Government estimates for the current year. Copies of the estimates are very scarco in Auckland, but Mr. Peacock, M.H.R., very thoughtfully sent by steamer, leaving Wellington yesterday, a few copies ,for the Financial Reform Association. These will prove opportune for Monday's meeting.

At the Supreme Court yesterday, David Asher, who had been convicted on the previous day, and Pine A wa nui, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy by falsa pretences to obtain money from Her Majesty, were brought up for sentence. The case arose out of the purchase of the Papamoa block of land near Tauranga. Asher was engaged to procure the signatures of the grantees, and was to obtain £5 a-head for each. Pine was the principal owner ana chief of the tribe. Several of Pine's children were dead and some living, and the alleg»" tion was that the two prisoners procured other natives, to impersonate those gr« n " tees and sign for them on the deed. P" 10 Awanui was sentenced to six months imprisonment, and to pay namely, which he had wrongfully received, and ti towards the costs of the prosecution. A™ l3 ' was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, and to pay £50—namely, £25 w" he had received for the forged signal and £25 towards the costs of the expen s - A nolle prosequi was entered by the W „ in the prosecutions entered against se other natives for obtaining money by l" pretences. These were the natives w » according to the evidence, had impers j, the others, but the evidence showed they did so at the request of the two c victed prisoners, and that they obtaine part of the money. This brought the cr inal business to a conclusion. Mr. J. Purnell has been appointed To* o Clerk of Wanganui.

The fourth lecture on " The Second Coming of Christ, at the Young Men's Christian Association Lecture Hall, by Pastor G. Muller, last evening, drew a larger audience than has been present on any previous evening, the. hall itself being hlled to its utmost capacity, and many unable to got sitting room The subject was "Antichrist, his power, reign, and destruction." At tho close of the lecture Pastor Muller announced that he had received notice that his departure for Sydney would be deferred from Tuesday to Wednesday, and in view of this, and the further fact that he had received a nnmber of letters and questions on the subject, he would try and devote Monday evening next to their answers, and a few final thoughts on the subject.

Shortly after six o'clock last evening Detective Herbert arrested a young man named Henry Darby, on a charge of breaking into the office of Mr. Maurice Casey, Albert-street, near the Freshwater Baths, and stealing 3s 6d therefrom.

The first Ponsonby At Homo'"'of the season was held last night in the Ponsonby HalL There wore about ninety present, and tho gathering was vory successful and joy able. Mr. Adams' band provided the music, and the ladies of tho committee attended to that very necessary proviso for all such entertainments—tho refreshment department.

A somewhat clever capture was effected yesterday by Mr. Lander, at the North khore, who succeeded in landing an octopus at the rocks near the Victoria Wharf. The creature, whoso tentacles measure ten feet from tip to tip, was discerned in shallow water, and was caught with a pole, to which it grasped so firmly with its numerous clinging arms that some little difficulty was found in disengaging it after it was brought wifely ashore. It is now on exhibition at the ferry wharf, being kept alivo in a large tub filled with sea-water. The presence of such undesirable monsters in the waters of our harbour will cause alarm to bathers.

Immediately on the conclusion of the criminal business of the Supreme Court yesterday the civil business was commenced, and the case Ada Freestone v. Dr. Kender4ine, an action to recover £400 damages for negligent treatment, was taken before His Honor and a special jury of four. Tho facts of the case are very brief. In September, ISS6, Mrs. Freestone was suffering from inflammation of th© left eve, brought on by a cold, and consulted Dr. Kenderdine, who prescribed a fly blister and a lotion. Mrs. Freestono alleges that the doctor's direction was that she should place the blister over her eye, and she says she did so by- shutting her eyelid and placing the blister on that, 'the result was that the eye was reduced to a jelly, end the sight completely destroyed. The defence is that these were not the instructions given by Dr. Kenderdine. The case for the plaintiff had only concluded last evening, and Mr. Button opened the case for the defence. Evidence for the defence will bo taken to-day.

In reference to the question of precedence In the Police Court of police cases, the Resident Magistrate, Dr. Giles, has issued the following instructions to the clerk of the Court :—" For the information of Justices of the Peaoe, the Inspector of Police, and professional men, please let it be understood that my practice in the Police Court U as a general rule to take police case? first, whether summary or indictable." Inspector Broham also tells us that when Mr. Theo. Cooper stated that police case» did not have precedence when he (Inspector Broham) was here previously, that Mr. Cooper is mistaken, and that wherever ho has been previously Inspector Broham says police cases have always had precedence. This is true of the time ho was in Auckland before, and the only exception he has ever found to this rule is his present visit to Auckland.

Speaking of linking, the Christchurch Telegraph talks of a certain hall being converted into a salon platt (a nice hall) for skating in, and after sagely remarking that where there is a wheel there is a way, it dilates on " the hoary-headed old gentleman with spectacles on nose ; the dumpy matron with feathers erect; the masher, the school girl, the doctor, the parson, the lawyer --nil these, with vapid smile, perched on wheels, and with legs and wings extended, cutting such ridiculous fig-ares as are seen nowhere else except in a lunatic asylum—and say i.' this is not dementia ? Mad, mad, my masters, mad 1"

The Mount Wellington Road Board, finding that their gravel-pit is getting into a dangerous state, have posted notices warning people against taking gravel from the Mount Wellington quarry, as it was aot safe. The reason is that there are a great many boulders in tha face, and there is a dangerous overhanging mass which may topple over at any time.

A gathering of railway employees will be held to-night at the Waitemata Hotel v .o present testimonials and other more substantial recognition to Mr. William Elliott, late foreman of the railway workshops, and to Mr. Ballantine, late leading fitter.

A very successful and enjoyable concert, in aid of tho school library, was held on Thursday evening last in the Nelson-street School. Mr. Gorrie, Chairman of City Bchools, presided. A feature of the entertainment wcs the prominence given to pupils, some of whom acquitted themselves remarkably well both in singing and recitat&tion; indeed, in one or two cases the children showed such ability to please an audience that their presence again upon the stage was vociferously demanded. Among the many items of the very varied programme the one that seemed to be ' most appreciated was the rendering of the " Spider and the Fly," by a very small boy, named Jagger, who quite won the hearts of hid listeners. Mr. Philpot sang two songs in fine style, and Misses Harris and Slater contributed a solo each, as well as a duet. Other songs wore given by pupils, among which may be noticed those by Misses M. Smith, L. Smyth, M. Bailey, and particularly " Watching for Pa," by three children—May Tapp, May Cochran, and Alice Wilson. Recitations were given by Mr. Purdie, Masters H. Andrews, A. Brown, T. Bowden, and Misses Daisy Sprngg. Ada Patterson and Maria Meagher, all of which were, to judge from the applause, highly appreciated. A piece that is specially worthy of mention was "Chiming Bells," by the children, which reflected great credit upon their teacher. Tho instrumental music was contributed by Miss Blom, Miss Elater (who accompanied), and Mr. and Miss FarrelL A part song by the teachers brought the first part of the programme to a close, when Mr. Cronin, the headmaster, took advantage of the interval to thank the committee and parents for their patronage, and the performers for their assistance A charade in four acts was then performed by the teachers with very considerable success. The loading characters wore taken by Misses Harris and Spragg and Mr. Pnrdie, all of whom performed their parts well.

The second entertainment of Professor Herbert's present season was held at the Opera House yesterday evening, when a number of clover and amusing feat* were performed. Tho Professor introduced tho trick during: the performance of which at New Caledonia he was shot) in the leg— that of permitting one of the audience to fire at him with a pistol, when he produces the bullet from his mouth, as though he had caught it between his teeth. Ho wm loudly applauded as he hold up the bullet. His many other illusions—baiting it cake In the hat of one of the audience, mending a broken plato by firing the pieces from a pistol, producing bouquets of flowers from a handkerchief, and Chinese lanterns, etc., from a hat, or taking money from the whiskers of persons in the audience, and numerous other amusing tricks, were exceedingly clover. A anatinea is to be held this afternoon, and Professor Herbert appears for the last time this evening, prior to bis departure for Melbourne.

The following will represent the "A" Battery in a friendly carbine match against the "0" Battery, to take place at the Mount Eden range this afternoon :—Lieutenant Ansell, Sergeant Henderson, Sergeant Parslow, Gunners Lutnsdon, J. Webster, Doughty, G. Webster, Kearsley, Woolley, and Payne; emergencies, Corporal Trovarthan and Gunner Hatswell.

There was a very crowded attendance at Uie Columbia Skating Rink yesterday evening. An oDstacle race was run during the evening, and, after an amusing contest, was won by Snrman, who beat seven others. One of tha obstacles was a board placed in see-saw fashion, the efforts of the skaters to cross it provoking great laughter. H. Bennett won a two-mile rftC<X The other rinks were well attended.

On Wednesday evening next the Jubilee Minstrel Company are to open a season at tho Opera House. Miss Amy Vaughan is tho loading lady, and she will be ably supported by a strong and effective company ; almost every item produced being new to the Auckland public. Miss Vaughan, who is better known as Miss Aimee Thornton, is one of the most versatile of colonial actresses, and the fact that she is directress of the company should bo a guarantee of the success of the entertainment.

The second performance of the Blondinette Minstrels, under Miss Smithson's management, takes place to-night in the City Hall. Great preparations hove been made during the past week to present as successful a performance as the last; and as several new faces are to appear, together with an entirely new programme, there is certain to bo a pleasant evening's entertainment. To ensure a special programme for next Saturday, June 30. Miss Smithson has been negotiating for talent from Sydney, who are expcctod by the incoming mail.

The sale of some -1000 acres of unimproved land along the line of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway, to be held by Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., on Friday, the 29th June, at Wellington, is attracting considerable attention in all parts of the Island. From the announcement in another column, it will be noted that the land is situated at tho Company's raihvav station, Paraparaumu, .13 miles from Wellington, and subdivided into medium-sized sections. The terms of sale are exceedingly liberal, and should suit the convenience of buyers. Lithographic plans may be had on application at the office of this paper, or from the auctioneers, Messrs. 1. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., Wellington.

Notice is given in our advertisement column that the time-table of the Auckland Tramway Co. will be suspended on both circuits to-day between the hours of twelve noon and half-past six p.m.

On Thursday next a dramatic _ entertainment consisting of Tom Taylor's comedy, "Nine Points of the Law," "and the farce "Hugger Mugger," will bo given at St. Sepulchre's schoolroom by the members of the Eden and Epsom Lawn Tennis Club.