Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9147, 31 August 1888, Page 4

lb is stated in our cable news this morning that peace has been restored in Zululand. The threatened attack on the Brit* forces in Tibet has been postponed. Jincreasing number of the enemy is <* u 3 some uneasiness regarding the P°' UIU . the British troops. In order, it is» r posed, to avoid giving any cause ot onto Italy the French war vessels, had assembled for the purpose of lag part in some naval manoeuvres nave ordered to disperse. Several «*»"'* lto board vessels in the Red Sea are re P or "T ftt! have occurred, owing to the intense nt, present prevaiiine .in that Quarter

JgfiLi — : • nr ld The ship Bratsberg, from Sydney to Xi n „ treal has been wrecked. Fifteen of those „ board perished. Sir Francis Dillon Bell is favourably impressed with the Abt railway s-«tem which it is intended to introduce flnorfcionof the New Zealand Midland Railway. Mr. Dillon, M.P., is said to be Offering in health and spirits from his im,rjj:onmeat. Evictions have been resumed on the Clanricarde estate in Ireland. The British Government have renewed their contract with the Oceanic Steamship Company for one year. The remainder ot the Finance Committee's retrenchment proposals were considered by the City Council yesterday evening, when the salary of the Sanitary Inspector was reduced from £200 to £175, mid it was also decided that the wages of the carpenter in the employ of the Council should be 7s per day. A saving of about £ 10S0 will be effected by the reduction in salaries alone, and the other wrings include £180 now paid to the keepers of the baths, which are to be leased; -'111 16s in Park expenditure ; and an estimated retrenchment of £771 in the lighting of the city by the extinguishing the street lamp? at midnight. Some time ago a cablegram from Sydney informed us that a swindler, disguised as a Persian priest, had victimised many people, :,ti i that at the trial the money found on him was, by order of the Judge who heard the case, to be distributed among certain charities. A telegram in the Melbourne Argus says:—" Jon an Abrahams, who was entry sentenced to six months' imprisonment for obtaining money by falsely pretending that, he was a Persian priest collecting money to build a church in his native land, has been released on bail, pending an appeal against the sentence. It Mas proposed to distribute the £500 found on Abrahams among the metropolitan hospitals ; but it transpired that the law would not admit, of the money being thus disposed of, and it has been returned to Abrahams." Referring to an item in yesterday's "News in Brief," which stated that Alderman Benjamin, the present Mayor of Melbourne, was the first member of the Jewish race who had held that position, An Old Victorian" writes :—"Allow me to inform you that you are in error, inasmuch that the first mayor of the Jewish race was the Honourable Edward Cowen, who was mayor about twenty-six years' ago, and who celebrated the event, by giving a fancy dress ball, to which one thousand invitations were issued, nine hundred of the number being present."' One sad feature in the ease of the young man William Moore, charged yesterday at the Police Court with horse-stealing at Pome Valley, is that he was married only en Wednesday morning at Warkworth, and came to Auckland on a wedding trip when he was arrested. He arrived in this city on Wednesday evening, and on stepping on to the wharf he was accosted by Detective McGrath. Moore remarked to his wife that be would be back in ten minutes, but his astonishment was great when the detective revealed his identity, and arretted Moore on the charge of stealing a horse in April last. He was placed in custody at the police cells, and was brought before the Court yesterday morning, when the ease was remanded for a week. Mr. Jackson Palmer, who appeared on behalf of the* accused, stated that a relative of Moore was about to proceed to the Port Albert district to make inquiries in the matter, and if the results of his investigations were such as to convince him that the man was innocent, Moore would be assisted to defend himself.

In another column Mr. Aitkin Connell deals with the present position of the lunacy law, which is admittedly unsatisfactory. He propounds a very feasible scheme by which the evils which are alleged to exist may be entirely obviated. We have received from the Union Company's Office an amusing little publication, namely, Vol. I.—No. 1, of the " Mararoa Ob-erver," a newspaper compiled on board the Mararoa on her last trip from Lyttelton t? Melbourne, and printed on arrival at the latter ;ity. This spirited little production seem.*; to have had a rival named the "Mararoa Independent," against whom it pours forth its invective in characteristic and amusing fashion. On Friday last a young man named Ja ties E. McCracken, a stockman in the employ of Mr. A. Buckland, while at the Jiav market, was kicked in the stomach by ; } -rse. Although he felt ill, he did not Aink that he was seriously injured, and merely went home for the day. Later on, however, he became worse, and Dr. Lewis wis called in, and attended to him till last Monday, when he advised his removal to the Hospital. Since then he grew worse, and died at one o'clock yesterday afternoon. A very valuable work has been received by the Auckland City Council in reply to a communication with the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, asking for information as to the codlin moth pest. This book contain? the annual report 0! Mr. Norman A. Coleman, Commissioner c: Agriculture, and also reports from the following State officials : — The entomologist, chemist, botanist, vegetable pathologist, statistician, and others. Experiments in dealing with all insect pests are detailed, and useful advice given as to the treatment of cattle, etc., whilst the diseases of apples, plums, grapes, raspberries, and other fruits, are exhaustively treated of. A number of beautifully clear illustrations accompany the work, the coloured plates being especially fine. The Remuera Dairy Company intend to have for exhibition at our publishing office today a sample of butter in a form not usually seen in Auckland, though it has become quite common among the wealthy classes in America. We allude to butter in the granular form. It is to be shown just as it is formed, and before it has been worked into a lump. It will be thoroughly freed from buttermilk, flavoured with salt, and be shown in an attractive and presentable form. Xo hands or butter-workers will have touched it, and we have no doubt it will be an object of no little attraction on the part of farmers who may be in town, as well as that of townspeople. There was on view yesterday at Messrs. V>". Phillips and Sons' establishment, Queenstreet, an invention by Mr. R. Jenkinson, whose belief in the utility of concrete for every conceivable purpose seems to be unlimited. This exhibit is a concrete kitchen sink, lined with glass, and fitted with the ordinary stop-plug and washers. The glass is so thoroughly bedded into the cement that it will stand hard knocks, and we ate assured that it stands the heat of boiling water. If so, it is much preferable to enamel or zinc, for the former cracks, and g'asH is much easier to keep clean than one. This invention, however, applies not only to sinks, it is suitable for butter manufacture for wash tubs, in fact every place where thorough cleanliness is requisite. >Ve are informed that these concrete pans can he made of any size, and that they can he produced cheaper than the old-fashioned article.

The musical evening in connection with the Takapuna Mutual Improvement Society w « held in the Lake schoolroom on Tuesday evening; the Rev. H. S. Davis presided. The large schoolroom was crowded, '"■'■" i the various selections were much applauded. Man}' friends of the members from Auckland, Devonpcrt, and the adjacent districts attended, showing the popularity which this society has attained. The following programme was carried out: — bii'-t. " Douze Rondeau," Mrs. and Miss Barrow; song, " The Three Sailor Boys," Mr. C. R. Williamson; pianoforte solo, 'Dan.«e Neapolitaine," Miss A. Bates; quartette, "The Happy Peasants," Miss I'nilcox, Miss Williamson, and Messrs. C. R. and F. H. Williamson ; pianoforte solo, Brawling Stream," Mr. Baker; song, "The Miller and the Maid," Miss Philcox ; Y' n l r , " The Hazel Dell," Mr. Blyth ; pianoforte solo (March), "Fresh Life," Miss " ilkins ; song, " The Sea, Mr. H. Houchen ; Pianoforte solo, " Faniska," Miss Chambers ; song, "All that Glitters is not Gold," Mr. Barrow; song, Only a Little Mountain ?°y>" Miss Philcox ; pianoforte solo, one of Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, Mrs. £ a W. song, " The Tar's Farewell, Mr. C. **■ W illiamson ; pianoforte solo. " Dreams Dt Heaven," Miss Wilkins.

On Wednesday evening last Mr. Oswald's "KakspeareanClass held their usual meeting, Which passed off very successfully, Several Scenes from " King John " were acted, and there was a marked improvement in all of *' ie members. Readings were given by Messrs. Peace and Oswald, who also read a Paper on King John. It was decided to "Iter the night, and the meetings will jpceforth be held every alternate Thursday, the next meeting being on the 13bh of September.

We have received the following intimation from tEe telegraph , authorities :— " London advises that Bombay-Aden cables may .be : restored soon, but owing to unfavourable monsoon, ship can only work during lull. One break is near Bombay, and the other 350 miles from Aden, which ship is on." At All Saints' Schoolroom last night an excellent entertainment was given in connection with the All Saints' Sunday-school. It consisted of a series of tableaux vivants, in which all the characters were represented by the children, and the ladies and gentlemen of the congregation. The first tableaux staged was entitled "Fairy Voices," in which about twenty young children, arrayed in appropriate and tasteful costumes, executed a quaint waltz in splendid time, and with so pleasing an effect that a repetition was loudly demanded. In the witch scenes from "Macbeth" which followed, a very realistic picture was given of the " Weird Sisters" of Shakespere's great tragedy. "The Babes in the Wood" was next presented, and a splendid representation of the familiar yet pathetic nursery fable caused the curtain to be raised a second time in response to loud applause. The next tableau was " Queen Catherine's Dream," in which that Sovereign is represented as asleep in a bed of State with angels hovering round. The effect was charming. Another simple yet touching scone was that of "The Foundlings," which was characteristically displayed. Three well-known scenes in the life of the beautiful but hapless Mary Queen of Scots followed, and were excellent in every detail of costume, posturing, and surroundings. A song by Mrs. Upton. " The Four Maries," rendered in good voice and with much taste, served as a fitting introduction to the tableau. The solemnity of the execution scene, in which " the sullen headsman with Ids broad axe that soon must drip with blood" was a prominent figure, had a visible effect upon the audience ; nevertheless a repetition of the tableau was loudly demanded. A pretty picture of rustic lovemaking, in three parts, entitled " Dresden China,"' was the concluding scene, and again the curtain had to be raised a second time. The singing of the National Anthem by the company brought a very pleasing entertainment to a close. Much of the success of the tableaux was due to the valuable aid of Mrs. Calder, who took upon herself the difficult task of scenic artist, with a result that was as high a tribute to her ability as it was gratifying to the audience.

Mr. Josiah Martin. W. M. of the Masonic Lodge, Prince of Wales, delivered the concluding lecture of the course on "Magic and Mystery," at the Masonic Hall, Princes-street, last evening, and although the evening was cold and wet there was a good attendance, including a large number of ladies. Dr. Dawson presided, and introduced the lecturer, and in doing so said that although this was the last lecture of the course? he hoped it was not Mr. Martin's last lecture, as lie trusted he would be induced to lecture again on some cognate subject. The subject of the lecture last night was of very great interest, involving a journey through the Valley of the Nile. The lecturer did not, for want of time, go into the geological formation of this valley, but he said they were all acquainted with the spread of that winding river, its overflows, the wonderful fertility of its land ; and, in reference to the latter, he said that the whole of the agricultural land was only equal to a square, of which the Base would extend from Auckland say to Hamilton or Cambridge — say eighty miles square— and yet that had supported a population of seven millions of people. He then referred to the wonderful civilisation achieved by the Egyptians, and to the leading characteristics of that once mighty nation. The lecture was most profusely illustrated by limelight views, and was treated in a very pleasing manner.

The members of the Civil Service Supply Association held their first half - yearly meeting at the New Zealand Insurance Buildings on Wednesday, Captain Daldy presiding. The directors, in their report, stated that after the retirement of Mr. George White from the management, Mr. C. A. Jonas examined the books, and found there had been a loss of £186 18s od. After consultation with two directors on the subject, the directors, however, had resolved to carry on business, and the loss during the past 13 weeks had been only £62 7s sa, as against £186 ISs 5d in the first quarter. The business had covered expenses during the last few weeks. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said that had the association received the support they had the right to expect from "0 or SO members who never dealt with them, they would have had no loss to report for this quarter. The directors were fully satisfied that they were working on sound principles, and the business must therefore succeed if they received the support of the shareholders. It would be necessary at the annual general meeting to alter the Articles of Association, so as to enable the directors to hold less than 100 shares. The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

A very successful organ recital was held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre yesterday evening. The hymn No. 308 having been sung, the programme opened with the anthem, "The Lord is King" (Trimnell), sung by an excellently-trained choir of forty-two voices. Mr. Hamerton sang the air, Arm, Arm, Ye Brave," whilst Pinsuti's " Lead, Kindly Light," was tastefully rendered by Miss C. Mackay, a violoncello obligate being played by Mr. Edger. The popular air from "Elijah," "If With All Your Hearts," was contributed with fine effect by Mr. Hosking. MissK.CilnTlan'ssolo, " The Better Land," was one of the features of the entertainment, the charm of its effect being enhanced by a 'cello obligate by Mr. Edger. Miss Gilfillan also took part with Mr. Martin in the duet, " Love Divine." The air, " My Hope is in the Everlasting," was sung by Mr. Martin, and Mr. Charter contributed a solo, "Jerusalem," whilst Mr. Edwards sang " Angel's Lullaby." The concerted numbers were also excellent, and the anthem, "God Hath Appointed a Day," the quartette being rendered by Miss Bleazard, Mrs. Pierce, Messrs. E. and G. Harker, was especially fine. Mr. Edger played an organ solo with great taste. At the conclusion of the recital a collection was made for the choir music fund, which realised £7 17s, the proceedings were closed by a short prayer by Archdeacon Dudley. Complaints are made that some persons are making free with the contents of meat safes in the neighbourhood of Ponsonby and Newton. Joints of meat and provisions of various kinds have been stolen, but as yet no dishes are reported to be missing. Doubtless the police will soon be on the track of the offenders, and an end will be put to this petty but annoying form of robbery.

About three years ago Mr. R. Jenkinson, builder, produced a scheme for coating wharf-piles which would not only prevent their destruction by the teredo but give them additional strength. The theory was to encase the pile in a coating of three inches or more of concrete. The inventor submitted his scheme to the Harbour Board, and in order to give it a thorough test, Mr. Jenkinson, by direction of the Board's engineer, drove a long pile at the extreme and most exposed point of the Railway Wharf. It has recently been said that the patent had proved a failure, as the skin had broken of!', but this is not a fair explanation. The object in the first instance was to prevent the teredo from lodging in the piles. It is true that the coating on the outside of the pile, which ought properly to have been guarded by a fender, has worn away through the friction of vessels bumping against it, but everywhere else the coating seems to have stood the test. It might be well for the Harbour Board to ascertain the particulars, and as to whether the patent establishes its claims, for if so, a large saving might be effected in repairs to our wharves, as instead of having to draw damaged piles and replace them with new ones, they might be cased in this concrete, which would in effect become a concrete cylinder around the stem of the pile. in the lock-up last night there were two men, one being Harry Halmer, alias Halmer Schaw, a German, who was recently committed for trial at Waipu on a charge of breaking and entering a store at Ruakaka, and who has been brought down to Auckland to be lodged in Mount Eden. The other man, Arthur Kirk, was arrested on a charge of committing a breach of the Prisoners' Act by attempting to deliver tobacco and a newspaper to a prisoner undergoing a sentence in Mount Eden Gaol. He is also charged with attempting to communicate with a prisoner.

A Scotch concert was given in St. Andrew's Hall, Lower Symonds-street, last evening, by the choir, in aid of the funds of St. Andrew's Church, and Mr. Culpan officiated as conductor. There was an appropriate orchestra, and the various items of the programme were very satisfactorily rendered. The selections were as follow: —Overture, "Guy Mannering," band; song, " Scots Wha Hae," Mr. W. George ; part song, " Caller Herrin," choir ; song, "Auld Robin Gray," Mrs. Culpan; song, "The German Lairdie," Mr. Menzies; recitation, "Pastor McKnock's Address to His Flock," Mr. \V. F. Wilson ; trio, "Annie Laurie," Messrs. Tait (2) and Menzies; song, " Wae's Me for Prince Charlie," Mrs. Newcomb; part song, " Within a Mile o' Edinbro' Town," choir ; overture, " Balmoral Castle," Miss M. Chapman; duet, "The Crooked Baubee," Mrs. Tait and Mr. Menzies ; song, " Memories Dear," Mr. A. Tait; song, Ye Banks find Braes," Miss Taylor; part ; one, " Comin' Thro' the Rye," choir; ;ong, " Lochaber No More," Miss Tait; recitation (comic), " Wham's My Stocking," A. Smith ; song, "My Nannie's Awa," Mr. Menzies; song, "Jessie, the Flower o' Dumblane," Mr. Cuthbertson ; quartette, " The Blue Bells of Scotland, choir ; "Auld Lang Syne," choir. " Hans the Boatman" and his "kiddies" again played high jinks at the Opera House last night, to the entire satisfaction of a large audience, who were very liberal with their applause, and insisted on encores to the various songs. The piece will only be played three nights longer. The musical illustrations for Dr. MurrayMoore's lecture on " Tennyson," at the Young Men's Christian Association, this evening, are advertised elsewhere, aud include quartettes and songs by well-known amateurs. The latest photograph of the poet will be on view. Sir William Fox will preside. This evening, at half-past seven p.m., the Mount Eden Public Library will hold a conversazione in Waite's Hall, and a novelty is to be introduced in the way of admission, which is to be by ticket. The tickets are to be had from any member of the committee by the payment of Is, or upon contributing an approved book for the library. This American idea has taken well in various parts of the States, and it is to be hoped that the Mount Eden Public Library will be enriched by a large accession of useful books as the result of the venture.