Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9149, 3 September 1888, Page 3

The whole of the communications -with ' he Eden Terrace water supply mains having been completed, and the meters fixed, the mains were tested on Wednesday j.jpt with the pressure from Mount Eden re^e rvoir, and they stood the test to the satisfaction of all concerned, not a single bin' occurring through the whole length 0 the mains. The joints all proved perfect, fin the whole work reilects credit on the contractor, and on Messrs. T. and S. .Morrin and Co., who had the contract for the pipes and fittings. Eden Terrace has n ow a water supply equal to any portion of the city, for with the Mount Eden reservoir they have a very high pressure. The sooner now the District • Board makes arrangements for the services of a fire brigade the better. Settlers and others who have to travel along the Panmure Road complain of the dinger arising from pigs in large numbers being allowed on the roadway near the slaughter yards, and beyond it. At irg'nt- especially the danger is very great to lu . semen and people in traps, as the lazy animals lie about oil the roadway and will scarcely move, so that horses are liable to stumble over them. Considering that there is a ranger appointed, and that there is a • jui-d in the district, the District Board Mould take steps to abate this nuisance. A London cablegram in an Australian paper states that it is announced that Mr. Fitzgerald, a native of Australia, is about to marry a daughter of Baron North. The rxoectant bridegroom (says the Evening St.-.r) is the first, native Australian admitted to ?. matrimonial alliance with the British peifage. The Star congratulates Australians generally on the absence on their part of an ambition to contract patrician marriages, and comments in terms complimentary to colonial ladies on the rebuffs they have frequently administered to aristocratic heiress hunters. A horrible case of. Chinese barbarity was brought under the notice of the Melbourne police by a woman residing in Little Bourkeetreet. According to her statement a Chinese cabinetmaker, named Sam Pak, and his wife, were slowly torturing to death their adopted daughter, a child barely six years of age. Sam Pak and his wife, who i also a Chinese, have no children of their o'.vn, and adopted the girl in question, payi:■ JT her father, a hanger-on at the Chinese p-.ming tables, a slight monetary consideration for parting with her. After a time their affection waned, and thenceforward the girl was subjected to a systematic r arse of ilhreatment. The child's shrieks attracted the attention of the neighbears. It is stated by several of the English wonien occupying the adjoining tenements that it was customary for the woman, Pak to tie the child up to . ;V'St in the yard and then belabour her Diked body with a clothes prop. Another practice was to roll up hard balls of Chinese paper, light them, and hold them against the unfortunate girl's breast, and under her irms. afterwards sluicing- her down with buckets of cold water. In consequence of Ihe-e statements the woman was arrested, v >1 the child taken to the Melbourne Hospital. where an examination by Dr. Crowfher proved tlAt it had been the victim of terrible illusage. The whole body was covered with bruises, some old and some of recent- date, and the upper part of the arms a mass of putrescent sores. The child has been sent to the Industrial School, and the woman has been admitted to bail awaiting the hearing of the case. The Melbourne Herald has of late been giving wide scope to dissertation and discussion on this question, "Is hell - fire material?" the opinions of; many clerics and divines having been solicited • and printed. " Boiled down" their replies are, ts a matter of course, all strictly non-com-mittal, but the Rev. John A. Stuart, writins: from the Manse, at Bacchus Marsh, rery pertinently shows the absurdity of the whole discussion. He writes :— " I have I read until I have wearied myself the views €•:' certain Christian ministers on the above subject. Such expositions and views I cann'"t but think are waste of time and brain. There is a previous question, and until it is settled nothing that may be written on the subject can be intelligent or satisfactory. And the question is, Will the resurrected body have a nerve centre, with a nervous system, or not ? Upon a correct answer to this question will depend the utility and intelligence, or otherwise, of what has, or nay be, written on this subject." If there •re no nerves in the resurrected body, the inference is that it will be immaterial whether hell-fire is material or not. On Saturday evening there was a large audience at the Opera House, when " Hans the Boatman " was again produced. This delightfully simple piece, brimful of childish mirth and sunshiny gladness, momentarily darkened at appropriate intervals by the passing shadows of life's trials and sorrows, seems to grow in popular favour. During the week more persons witnessed It than in any other New Zealand town during a like period, which shows that Auckland is regaining its former reputation of being the best theatrical I '.'?! in the colony. To-night the play will be produced for the last time, as the company leave to-morrow for Sydney. During the second and third acts, Herr Gustav Ku-ter, the musical conductor, will play a violin solo, "'Home, Sweet Home," with orchestra! accompaniment. It is Mr. Arnold's intention to revisit New Zealand v. no distant date. OarOpotiki correspondent writes thus : — Our maize crop this year has been exceptionally abundant, and of a sound and heavy quality. The drying season has been particularly fine and suitable, and the corn cribs are almost bursting with their contea:? but the unprecedently low price which has ruled lately has discouraged the tamers from shelling or selling, except snrre obliged to under pressure of circumstance?. it seems to be the luck of the Opotiki fanners to have some disadvantage to rii-ht against every year. In spite of our genial climate, rich soil, and the steady and earnest application of intelligent men to make their farms pay, some disaster or misfortune has to battled with every year. Now. while our granaries are full to overBowing, all we want is to see maize go up to five shillings a bushel, when Opotiki will - v the biggest "boom" on record, and ®e would turn up our noses at even a goldfield. At the luncheon in connection with the f'Owolk Show, Mr. Clare Read, before propoking the toast of the "Members for the Ljur.ty,' said :—lt was necessary generally to preface the toast with a few remarks on agriculture, and so he would give them the opinions he had heard for the improve- „' ;t - of farming. In the Nineteenth -entury of this June lie read an article by * prince on the revival of British agricullJre. All that, he could make out of it c<lS that-, in order to restore agriculture to J prosperous condition, it would be needful r 'srmers to cover their farms with grass, r '" warm the soil with hot air pipes. In ariotaer article the}' were assured farming P'o-pccts had greatly improved, and that 1,1 die opinion of the writer agriculture had n °t pissed through any great crisis. He Kid.ed he could endorse the idea that their P ro >pect«, as far as crops were concerned, * er e exceedingly good. He feared that fcy would have the thinnest wheat crop the poorest hay crop that had been ? r own or years ; and though the winter jjraanjr had paid better this year than it tL ast > yet he feared this resulted from e total failure of the root crop in the south ' "'j'l'ile of England, and not from any s-eat. increase in the consuming powers of k' e nat ' on - As far as prosperity in relation 4 fees was concerned, after keeping tat for nine months it was no great boon v.-- r< ' 8 ' ! so 3-s per quarter for it, when'that a "hilling below the cost of production, 'fy . were told that agriculture had not yj iUnfc much loss during the last few J jr ea !'-- This was not the place for figures &i v laCtS ' but he would simply state a fact sen to him the other day by a mathe!Ca* friend who had worked out the pror?am - The year 187S was the last year of Cr >ona ble prices, and comparing the corn j, J P grown then with those grown in 1886, ere Was a difference of no less than r, / > ( -W,OOO between tlfeir values. Had not Cr & , £17,000,000 deficiency been felt with Ent>[ ! '" severityby the corn-growers of East Another very successful entertainment *3-? given on Saturday night at the Tempence Hall, when a number of songs and her musical selections were rendered by • isses Tremain, White, Davis, and E. , m -Vth. Recitations were given by Miss L. "nth an Messrs. Blott, Cook, and Moran, rr, a p address by Mr. Gar lick. Mr. remain announced that next' Saturday's programme would be given by the friends fec - John's Wesleyan Band of Hope.

! Owing to the .summer-like warmth and brightness experienced yesterday, the excursion to Takapuna Beach announced by the Devonport Ferry Company proved a great success, the p.s. Victoria being densely crowded when she left at half-past two yesterday afternoon. The excursionists were allowed ample time to have a good ramble on shore, and were safely brought back to town before dark, well pleased with I their outing. The carnival in connection with the Eclipse Skating Rink took place in the Onehunga Volunteer Hall on Thursday evening last, and was an unqualified success, many visitors voting it second to none held in Auckland. The building was beautifully decorated with evergreens, Japanese lanterns, while coloured lights illuminated the whole building, the scene being picturesque and beautiful in the extreme. At nine o'clock the Garrison Band (Auckland) got into position for the grand march on skates, and a few moments later an imposing spectacle wended its way in beautiful unison around the spacious hall, the Pirate King and the lady representing Starlight, with her long train of blue satin leading those in costume. The evolutions the processionists went, through in perfect style. At the close of the march the manager (Mr. White), announced the judges' awards as follows :— Ladies' prize (tea and coffee service), for the most handsome costume, to "Starlight" (Mrs. J. Kelly); for the best - sustained character to Baby" (Miss liargreaves); and for the most original to "Ladybird" (Miss Hills). For the gentlemen, the prize for the most handsome dress fell to " Pirate King" (Mr. J. Kelly) ; for the best-sustained character to "Charley Hugo" (Mr. A. Duthie). A mile race followed ; then Master Harrison gave an exhibition of fancy and burlesque skating, at the conclusion of which dancing was indulged in until the following morning. At an adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of W. Stephenson, builder, who had been adjudicated a bankrupt on a creditor's petition, was held on Saturday. At the request of Mr. Hesketh, who ap- ! pea red for Paul and Schenk, creditors, the debtor was asked to produce a statement of accounts, and the meeting was adjourned until the 6th instant to enable him to do so. Algeria has again been visited with locusts, the plague having proved the most terrible that has been known for many years. The insect is believed not to be the Acridium peregrinum which ravaged the colony in 18(36 and 1877, but a smaller and more redoubtable species of insect which propagates itself with amazing rapidity, and continues its devastation for years. The females lay from 80 to 90 eggs each. At Scuff the streets and walks are invaded by the insects, which obscured the sun, and leave acres upon acres of desolation behind them. At Bon Saada the natives go out to the fields playing their ' nouba' or national music. They dig a few big trenches in the soil, by the side of which are placed pieces of canvas covered with metal bands. When the trenches are tilled with the enemy, the canvas coverings are turned over, and the Arabs beat the locusts with flails until they reduce them to pulp. The Government have been unable to find any proper means of fighting the insect army. In 1866 and 1873, squadrons of cavalry were employed in beating down the locusts, but to little purpose. An enjoyable conversazione was held by the members the Auckland Athenaeum, at their rooms, Victoria Arcade, on Saturday evening. There was a large attendance. An excellent musical programme was opened with a pianofore duet, " Massaniello," played with tasteful effect by Mrs. Tebbs and Mr. Wiseman. Mr. Gilmer sang "Anchored," and Mrs. Tebbs "Cherry Ripe." Herr Tutschka contributed as a violin solo, the "Blue Danube Valse," Miss Wright playing a pianoforte obligate in her usual creditable style. " The Tide," a charming j duet, was sung by Misses Turner and Mackay. Mrs. A. Coates sang " Fiddle and I " with marked effect (Herr Tutschka playing a violin solo), and this lady also took part with Mr. Morev in the duet, Tel Kaimenti," an excellent number. A valse by Mattei was played as a piano solo by Mr. Wiseman, and Miss Turner rendered the song " When Sparrows Build," whilst another fine number was contributed by Herr Tutschka in the violin solo "Impatience,"' which is his own composition, and which was ably interpreted, Miss Wright contributing a pianoforte accompaniment. Dr. Moore sang "Anthuea" very creditably. During an interval in the concert refreshments were dis ributed to those present. Mr. C. Blomfield's studio j was thrown open, and his fine collection of oil paintings was inspected with much interest. One picture, spattered with mud, and pierced in three places, was examined with much curiosity. This paintingsingularly enough a representation of Tarawera—hung in .Mr. Haszird's house during the Tarawera eruption, with the result that though it was utterly ruined as a picture, it remains an appropriate memento of that historical occurrence. There were also on exhibition working models of the telegraph and the telephone, made by Master Tebbs, and two microscopes and a spectroscope, under the charge of Mr. D. S. Galbraith. Sets of excellent photographs, by Mr. Josiah Martin, were shown ; and Dr. Murray Moore had a Dudgeon's sphygmograph, an instrument by which the beats of the pulse are recorded on carbonised paper, and are therefore accurately timed. By this instrument the beats are traced in a regular zig-zag line, similar to that which might be described by the periodic vibration of a musical body. In the course of the evening the Rev. W. Tebbs, vice-president, expressed on behalf of the Council gratification that so large a number of visitors had accepted the invitation. He pointed out the advantages of membership in the institute, as beside the evening meetings, the rot m was open during the day, and periodicals and newspapers. could be there read, whilst an attendant took charge of parcels, messages, etc. At the close of the proceedings several new members (including ladies) joined the Athenaeum. The yearlings belonging to Her Majesty were lately disposed of at the Royal Paddock at Hampton Court. The sale realised the splendid sum of 12,335 guineas. There was a large attendance, many prominent turf men being present. Twenty-six lots brought the extraordinary average of 474igs, much more than expectation, even allowing for the exceptionally good quality of the horses. Mr. MacLennan, who was buying for Buenos Ayres, secured several good lots, including a grand chestnut colt by Muncaster —Land's End, for which he paid 1100g=. There was some sensational bidding for the first of the young St. Simons, and the Duke of Portland, who had evidently made up his mind to have them almost at any price, gave 2600gs for a grand-looking colt by his old Favourite of Lady Glady's, and Jsoogs for a sweet, pretty filly out of Quiver, the dam of Archer and Satchet. Mr. R. Marsh, the Newmarket trainer, paid 1450gs for a beautiful filly by Springfield — Cran Tair, and Mr. D. Cooper wave OOOgs for a pretty filly by Hampton— (jfallantry. Our Blue Ribbon Society held its monthly meeting on Saturday last. Mr. Vickers occupied the chair, and Miss E. Bond presided at the harmonium. There was a large attendance. The programme was good, but rather short. Songs were sung by the Misses V. Lord, E. and M. Bond, and by Messrs. Howell and Vallock; recitations by Messrs. Home, Llovd, and Lions ; the dialogue entitled " The Lawyer's Clerk " was performed with credit by the Misses Moffat and V Lord, and Messrs. Home and Lloyd. The doxology closed the meeting- The meeting was very orderly; the rowdy element that formerly made its appearance, I am happy to say, lias died out.—{Wade Correspondent.] If a sufficient number of ladies and gentlemen leave their names at Messrs. Hoffmann and Sons' Music Warehouse, as desirous of joining a beginners'class for singing and reading music at sight, under the "old notation," Mr. Pooley announces that he is willing to form such class at the nominal fee of rive shillings per quarter. Musically inclined people should not miss this opportunity. The lecture on " Dr. Judson" by the Rev. T. Spurgeon to-morrow (Tuesday) evening is well worth hearing. Dr.' Judson was one of the greatest missionaries of his day, and a most wonderful man. The accounts of his sufferings, trials, imprisonment, travels, and labours are intensely interesting and soulstirring, and in Air. Spurgeon s hands will prove an intellectual treat. lhe proceeds are for the building fund of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Missionary Society. The shareholders in the Leader Newspaper Company (Limited) are requested to meet in Robson's Rooms, Queen-street, at 12.30 today, to confirm certain resolutions passed at a meeting of the company held on the 16th ult., including one to wind up the company. I We are requested . to state that a few I minutes will suliice to transact the business.