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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 4

I In our cable messages this morning will | be found some terrible particulars of eviction scenes in Ireland. The houses of the tenants against whom eviction orders had been obtained were demolished by battering rams, and their defenders were driven forth at the point of the bayonet. The bailiffs appear to have used their crowbars with deadly effect upon the unfortunate wretches who were resisting the law, and one death from injuries thus received is reported. The affair has caused a "reat sensation. A dreadful railway accident has occurred in France, resulting in the loss of 12 lives, and injuries to 40 others. . Among the latter is Lady Bo wen. Attempts are being made to terminate the miners' strike, but at present there does not appear to bo much likelihood of their succeeding. The committee of the Educational Institute are preparing for the conference of teachers, to be held during the Michaelmas holidays, and judging from the amount of interest already being shown a very large gathering of those interested in education is likely to take place. It is proposed to hold the conference on the Tuesday and Wednesday and, if necessary, Thursday of the vacation ; and, as a means of attracting country visitors, a conversazione is to be held on one evening and a lecture upon another. Invitations are to be sent to the members of the House of Representatives and of the local governing bodies, as well as to the public generally ; so that the opinions of experts upon matters which have for some time past been exciting the attention of thoughtful persons may have publicity and consideration. Teachers themselves should attend, since a gathering such as the one intended will do much I towards banding together a body of men whose responsibility in the State is ot almost unlimited extent. Those who an present may anticipate enlightenment on many educational topics, as already it has been decided to discuss a large number or subjects of importance. We were glad to observe that Mr. Thos. Morrin had yesterday recovered sufficiently from his illness to be in town going about his usual business. A special shew of grain and agricultural produce in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition, similar to the one fixed for nest) i month, is to be held in January next.

The civil sittings of the Supreme Court opened yesterday. The jury sworn in for t he criminal sittings were re-sworn for the civil cases, but in regard to one of them, an action by Thomas Bell against Moss Keesing and others, trustees of the Eureka Court of Foresters, a claim for £1049 14s 6d, a written confession was sent in and the cafe did nob therefore come on. There ff re two cases against Allan McDonald for specific performance or damages, but it appeared that after the service of the fl-rits the defendant had been adjudged 9 lunatic, and proceedings had to be staved until a guardian ad litem had turn appointed to defend the case, and not ice served on the guardians. The only cri -e taken was that of \Ym. Alex. McGregor afjiinst the Northern S.S. Co. for £877 10s, commission. There was a counter claim a l-o. The plaintiff, son of the managing director, was sent to Glasgow, and claimed a ; their agent commission at five per cent, on out-lay on various steamers, the property of •he company. The counter claim was in c :i',vt. that the steamer G air loch was not built in accordance with plans, that she did not meet the requirements as to draft, and that the company was put to a large amount of expense in altering her by lengthening her 17 feet. A large amount of evidence wn- taken, the cases being taken separately, alt!''ugh the issues for the jury will no doubt be combined. The case had not concluded when the Court rose yesterday.

Mr. James Frater, of the firm of Frater Fro.-., is about to pay a visit to England. He leaves by the mail steamer on Monday.

One who is thoroughly conversant with Tonpan affairs denies the truthfulness of the sensational story supplied by a correspondent of the Fiji Times, to the effect that King George was becoming less responsible for his actions every day, and had recently endeavoured with his own hands to hang a man who had been guilty of a trilling theft, but was interrupted on account of the hour for Divine service having arrived. The paragraph is evidently from an unfriendly pen : and in this, as in other matters, the wish may heve been father to the thought. Latest advices from Tonga bear out our informant's statement, that there is no foundation for the story which appears in the Fiji paper.

As a result of enquiries made in resp'ect of the fishing boat Pat, which, it is supposed. has been lost with Alfred Joe, O'Hanarahan, and another on board, the Thames police ascertained that a vessel answering the description of the Pat, with tanned sails, was seen by Captain Bolton, of the steamer Pearl, at Cabbage Bay. on ljt instant. It was therefore hoped that the three men were safe, but yesterday a li-herman named I. Hunt reported to Serjre.mt Clarke at the wharf that his yacht, with himself as occupant, was at Cabbage pay on the Ist instant, and was carrying tan-coloured sails, and that he sighted the Cramer Pearl. Therefore the probability still exists that Joe and his companions have been drowned.

There was only one case before the Police Court yesterday morning, that of a man who pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness. Sir William Fox, who was the only justice present, catechised the prisoner as to the circumstances of the offence. The accused stated that he was in three publichouses on the previous evening, the last of these being Mr. Gleeson's hotel in Hobson-street. When he went into the latter house he was already under the influence of liquor, and had ten or eleven shillings in his pockets ; but only 1? 6d was found upon him when he was taken by the police. The prisoner was lined £1 and costs, with , an alternative of 4> hours' imprisonment. He was a first offender. Sir William Fox directed Mr. Hauitain, the Clerk of the Court, to note the statements made by the accused.

We give the following further particulars c? the inquest held at the Raglan Hotel by Mr. S. Luke, J.P., acting coroner, on the body of James Grove : —By direction of the jury. Dr. Bewes made a post mortem examination, and found that the heart was flaccid &nd empty, the stomach, liver, and kidneys were healthy. The stomach contained about half an ounce of yellow fluid. After testing the fluid for strychnine, he found that there was strychnine in its contents. He had no doubt that poisoning by strychnine was the cause of death. Constable Walker deposed to searching the pockets of deceased, and finding a small bottle confining strychnine crystals in the vest rocket. He also found in deceased's box at Piumpton Park an official discharge from the 65th Regiment. From that document fc-: appeared ;o be about 58 years old. He enlisted at Weymouth in the 65th, on the 4:h of May, 1854, at the age of 24} years. He served in the army nine years, was born st Dorchester, in the County of Dorset, and was discharged at his own request on October 5, 1565. Character and conduct as reported by Regimental Board, good. From the evidence given by Mr. Martin, the landlord of the Raglan Hotel, it appears that deceased came to the Raglan on Monday evening, had breakfast on Tuesday morning, had three long glasses of beer before two o'clock that afternoon, then went to ted. On Wednesday morning at about six o'clock he aroused the landlord and asked for a glass of beer. This was given him, and he went to bed again. During breakup it the hotel, about eight o'clock, Mr. McKeaud heard deceased shout, "Martin, here r Mr. Martin went up to him, and Mr. McKeaud followed soon after. He was calling for a drink. They tried to raise him. but could not ; his body had become thoroughly rigid. A doctor was sent for, tut before Dr. Bewes arrived at half-past ten a.m. Groves was dead. The jury found the following verdict:— That deceased died from strychnine taken by himself wnile of unsound mind." The fact of deceased being possessed of a quantity of strychnine was explained by Constable Walker. Deceased had facilities for getting "'rychnine where he had been employed; he used it for poisoning hawks on the Rumpton Park property. As far as known, Proves had no relatives in the colony. For force time past he had been in a state of great mental excitement in consequence of s dispute with his employers, which last *eek ended in his discharge by the Plumpton Park Company.

f A few days ago we published an article from a Canadian paper, stating that a Mr. 1 ■ Champness had in his possession a ttuminy in a glass case, discovered by him Hindon, on the Taieri river, Otago, in : that he had taken it to England, and '"'it l>r. Owen had pronounced it to be the remains of an adult woman, whose height, w hen living, was not more than three feet. %• Adam Porter, who was at Hindon in informs us that he remembers the discovery of the object, which was believed w be a child petrified. Some of the lathers of the bird which was found with it were still fresh. In January, 38G5, the petrifaction was exhibited in Dunedin, and "■M then advertised in the newspapers. *' ir - Porter says that when the petrifaction found many of those present thought it £»ght to have been secured for the museum, kit the price asked by the finder was more ttan the authorities felt inclined to give. this valuable and unique specimen was tat to the colony. At the time of the discovery there was a good deal of excitement, "'. the policemen wanted 1 it buried, not kiiine into account its historical and Semitic value. We may say that we think "•& pity that such a curious object should !i av e been allowed to leave the colony. -Times are altered now, and much more '®portance is attached to the antiquities of •Vw Zealand. The whereabouts of the Petrification is known, and Dr. Hocken, or SCl ®e of the officers of the Otago Museum, H'ht to endeavour to obtain it, and to rui g it, back to Dunedin.

_ The manufacture of fire-kindlers appears f 5 if it were to become an established trade ,n this district. Not long ago we drew atntion to the invention of Mr. Waite, and Mr. La wrenceColeman, cabinetmaker, *°rth Shore, has patented another inven,lon for this purpose. There are several ■Bportant points of difference between it ? r '; the one made by Mr. Waite. Mr. ~°'6man regards his as practically indefectible, and the kerosene required in a 6ek by using it once a day to kindle the re with in the morning is only one penny- • ort ». Each lighter, after being dipped a tin of kerosene, burns nearly ten 'lutes before it becomes exhausted. The Jj w invention is handy, and is sufficiently ' l! to pass easily between the bars of a They are rather neat in appearance, v a turned wooden handle, which prefits the heat becoming troublesome to the r son using it, and those who have used did 31 s l ea k very favourably of the new can'°r P u^c favour. The price at tilt,' 0 the y can bo sold places them within teach of all.

At Karaka, in the Poverty Bay district, on Wednesday night, a native named Karatiana Eruru was burned almost to death by a tent, in which ho was sleeping, catching fire. He was asleep, and a candle, which had been left burning, fell over, and the canvas caught fire. Before the man was awakened, by a little boy who had also been sleeping' in the tent, ho had received severe burns. The child was not injured. Last night the annual meeting of tho Auckland Amateur Athletic Club was held at the Imperial Hotel. There was a good attendance, and Mr. R. Garrett occupied the chair. The acting treasurer, Mr. B. J. Esam, read a statement of accounts, which showed that the club had a credit balance of £4 17s 9d, leaving £173 unaccounted for by the lato treasurer, according to the balance-sheet prepared by him. An opinion from Mr. T. Cotter, solicitor, upon the ! legal aspects of the question, whether the club could prosecute the late treasurer criminally, was read, and it stated that the club would have but little chance of success if such an action were instituted by them. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and the following gentlemen were chosen: —Vice-presidents, Messrs. R. Garrett, J. Logan, and L. Coupland ; secretary, Mr. J. Halyday ; treasurer, Mr. B. J. Esam ; auditors, Messrs. J. Waymouth and Son ; committee, Messrs. H. H. Davy, A. H. Cotter, L. Meldrum, W. H. George, H. B. Lusk, C. F. Reid, J. Upfill, B. Owen, G. S. Osmond, \V. Speight, A. Buchanan, A. H. Clarke, and J. Cooper. The splendid stone front of the building erected by the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Australasia, facing Queen-street and near the corner of Fort-street, was yesterday further ornamented by the erection of a mass of handsome marble statuary, emblematic of the design of the company : " Pro?visa Mala Pereunt." The block is a large and massive one, which has been imported from Italy, and it is a fine specimen of marble statuary. The centre figure is a powerful man. The features, the muscles, and the action are splendidly shown. His arm bent over his head, holds a short sword, with which lie threatens an angry hungry monster, which, with one paw 011 his thigh, glares open mouthed into his face, and at his right, and crouched between his distended leys, are a woman and child, whom he is shielding from the monsterthe genius of hunger, want, and rapacity. This j beautiful piece of statuary is erected in a niche over the front window of the building. and the dark-yellow stone throws it out in strong relief. Some idea of the difficulties arising from its transport here may be gathered from the fact that it weighs '2J tons. The whole was placed in position by Mr. J. J. Holland, contractor, yesterday morning between the hours of six and eight, but of course he had his shearlegs and tackle all erected previously. It was, however, carried out, so that not only was all danger, but all obstruction to the traffic prevented. This group of statuary is not only an ornament to the building. but an ornament to the city, as it is really a work of art. and a beautiful specimen of Carrara marble. That there are good butter makers in the Auckland district is becoming very evident since the discussion upon the butter question began. We have already noticed several samples of excellently made dairy butter in this district, and yesterday we received a sample from Mr. C. Taylor, Ponsonby, of butter made by Mr. Robert Wallace, Mangere, of as good a quality as any one could desire. It is pleasant in colour, rich in flavour, and free from the defects with which butter sold in town is sometimes possessed. It- is to be hoped dairymen will continue to maintain a high standard of excellence of this necessary article in every household. At the quarterly meeting of the Avondale Licensing Committee, held yesterday, at 44, New Zealand Insurance Buildings, there being present : Messrs. Bollard (chairman), Booth, and Haigh, with the clerk,, a transfer of licence was granted for the Avondale Hotel, from James Murdoch to Daniel Arkell. The Rev. Dr. Hannay and Mr. Henry Lee, who are now in New Zealand as representatives of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, will make their first public appearance in Auckland on Sunday, September 16, when in the morning Dr. Hannay will preach in Beresford-street Church. The full programme of the arrangements for that day will be found set forth in an advertisement in another column. On Monday, September 17, a public meeting of welcome will be held in Beres-ford-street Church. Dr. Hannay and Mr. Lee have come to the colonies in connection with the jubilee of Congregationalism in Victoria, the first meeting in connection with which wijll take place on the Sth of October next. Dr. Hannay is a man of great influence in the Congregational body in England, having been secretary of the Congregational Union of England and Wales since 1870. Mr. Lee is a Manchester j manufacturer ; he was a representative of j Southampton in the House of Commons for , several years. He is one of the treasurers of the Church Aid and Home Missionary Society. Dr. Hannay and Mr. Lee will reach Auckland on Thursday next. After concluding the meetings here. Dr. Hannay and Mr. Lee will leave for Sydney. The Church of Christ Sunday-school held their anniversary tea in the Foresters' Hall, Karangahape Road, last night. The walls were decorated with illuminated texts, and ferns and flowers—the hall presenting a very inviting appearance. After a bountiful tea had received due attention, the scholars were grouped on and near the stage, and an interesting programme was gone through, the school superintendent occupying the chair. The secretary's report showed a balance in hand, but regretted the loss of a number of scholars through their parents leaving Auckland. Songs were given by Misses E. Rendell, L. Robertson, and B. Aldridge, and Master Harold King (who was encored for his excellent rendering of "The Fairy Jane"); and recitations by Misses F. Pickard, B. Powell, L. Miller, R. Jarvis, L. Payne, and Masters L. Falkner, E. Aldridge, G. Stowe, and Mr. C. Clark. Mr. George Aldridge gave an address, and at intervals the scholars sang selected hymns under the conduetorship of Mr. C. B. King. The annual social meeting in connection with the Ladies' Association of St. Stephens' Church was held in the Ponsonby Public Hall last night. The Rev. D. W. Runciman presided, and addresses were given by the Rev. J. Chew (Beresford-street Congregational Church) and the Rev. R. F. Macnicol (St. James' Presbyterian Church). A very attractive musical programme was arranged, and the anniversary was, on the whole, a very satisfactory one. The performance at the City Hall, tonight, by Miss Georgie Smithson's company, will be of a most varied and interesting nature, and will be under the patronage and in the presence of the Auckland and tho English football teams. The doors will be open at a quarter-past seven punctually, so all who wish to secure front seats should go early. •>

The next lecturc in the winter course of the Young Men's Christian Association will be one of unusual interest. Mr. W. C. W. McDowell, A., will lecture on "A Recent Tour in Lower Palestine." The lecture will be illustrated with new and beautiful limelight views, which will be shown by the Rev. J. 8. Hill.

The St. James' Literary and Debating Society will hold their next meeting on Monday at St. James' Hall, when Mr. J. G. Blyth will open in the affirmative on the question of " Women's Suffrage." Mr. G. M. Johnson will take the negative side of the debate.

The shorthand class held in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, under Mr. Jarrett, has just finished the first quarter. An advertisement in another column announces the commencement of a new quarter next Wednesday. Young men desirous of joining the class will please enrol their names with the librarian.

Next Monday, at St. Sepulchre's Schoolroom, will be exhibited a grand panorama of the world, a colossal mirror of New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, and other scenes of interest.

The annual soiree in connection with the Otahuhu Wesleyan Church is to be held in the Public Hall on Tuesday next. At the public meeting after tea, at which the Rev. R. Bavin will preside, addresses will be delivered by Revs. J. S. Hill, H. J. Lewis, T. Adams and D. J. Steele. An attractive musical programme, vocal and instrumental, will be submitted, and altogether an enjoyable soiree is confidently expected. At All Saints Church, Ponsonby, a recital of sacred music is to be given on Thursday next, commencing at eight o'clock. A very excellent programme, which will be found elsewhere, lias been arranged, which should undoubtedly attract a large audience. Admission is free, but a collection will be made in aid of the choir music fund.