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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9164, 20 September 1888, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning contain some important items of news. In conne tion with the Parnell inquiry it is reports that counsel for the Times intends to apnl for a writ of habeas corpus, so that a numb/ of members of the notorious Invincible gang, who are at present serving Uf e tences in connection with the Phrenix p» >- murders, may be called as witnesses with the object of proving that the Land and National Leagues were implicated i n that and other crimes. Mr. John Dillon, who U at present in prison, is stated to be i n so precarious a condition of health tW his life is despaired of. In consequence ttl Government intend, it is rumoured, to lease him unconditionally. The Times ''' an article on the crisis "in Samoa aceu p" Prince Bismarck of allowing himself toh made the tool of a handful of Germ traders. The latest report concerning th Prince is that he is desirous of retir'inA ' 8 official life. The state of things at Ifc! castle is assuming a rather alarmino , aspect" the men on strike showing a disposition ' resort to physical force •in order" to r>^ 0 vent non-Unionist? from working in th" pits. A serious riofc- occurred yesterdav the police being completely powerless t cope with the rioters, ana the 'military hi] to be called out. The Governor ha? i«ued a proclamation calling upon the citizens to assist in maintaining order, and :i force of 2UO artillerymen, with guns, has been sent] from Sydney to Newcastle. ' '

The question of the selection-of a site f<w the Old People's Refuges is not yet sS tied so satisfactorily as tiiose who desire its erection at the Hospital grounds may (It-ire* Mr. W. T. J. Bell, a member of the Board' has given notice to move the following series of resolutions at the meeting of the Board to be held next Monday:—]. Xlrall previous resolutions of the Board a' to the site for the Old People's Refuse be rescinded. 2. That steps be at once "taken to build a refuge on the site at One-Tree Hill. 3. That in order to have the whole of the Hospital building available for i>atients, it is necessary and desirable thp."; a nurse's home be erected on the Hosnital grounds.

Anions the passengers who proceeded to Australia yesterday evening by the s.s. Rotomahana were a number of well-known citizens, including Messrs. A. E. Devote (Mayor of Auckland), J. Grey, H. Green J. J. Craig, J. Milne, and others, who are combining a business visit with a trip to the Melbourne Exhibition. Our recent; visitors, Mr. Henry Lee and Dr. Hannay, also left as delegates from the English Congregationalists to the Australian Churche3 of that sect, while Mr. Beetham, M.H.R.. of Wairarapa, and Mr. Bonar, M.L.C., cf Westland, were through passengers from Wellington.

Among the passengers to Auckland by the Tarawera was Mr. C. Laßoche, formerly city councillor for Grafton ward. He has just completed a nine months' trip Home, and his travels have extended through Ceylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Italy, Switzerland. Germany, Belgium, France, and Great Britain, finally returning by the P. and 0. steamer Coroinandel. While in England he devoted considerable attention to the various sanitary systems in use, with a view of laying the information so acquired before the City Council.

The water mains imported by Messrs. T. and S. Morrin and Co. for the "Mount Eden and Newton water supplies, were tested yesterday under hydraulic pressure at the city market. The whole of the Mount Eden plant and portion of the Newton plant were under survey. Mr. Harden, engineer of the Mount Eden supply, was in attendance. Messrs. Boy lan and Lundon are the engineers for the Newton waterworks, and .Mr. Fisher, clerk of works, carefully tested every pipe submitted. The pressure Masforced up to 2601bs to the square inch, equal to a head of 600 feet, but the pressure was carried beyond this point and up to 2Solbs, and no pipe showed the slightest strain. The pipes tested were 7, 6, 5, and 4-inch respectively. Some delay was caused in consequence of the defective character of the rubber washers for the flanges provided at the testirg works. They are indeed worn out, and require new unc-s. However, the tests were thoroughly satisfactory, and the pipes are creditable to the contracting , firm, Messrs. Morrin and Co.

Yesterday a little difficulty arose on the Queen-street Wharf between a Scotchman named James Campbell and a Swede named August Julius Carlser, of. the barque Stavanger. Ultimately Sandy got the better of the Scandinavian, and the police intervened, the result being that the victor was run in, and will have to explain matters to the satisfaction of the Magistrate.

A private letter just received from a gentleman in Dunedin, who has recently returned from Melbourne, contains the following paragraphs : —As to the Exhibition, the Melbourne people say it is a failure. . . Melbourne, generally, looks to me to be very dull, and tradespeople are beginning to croak already."

We learn (says the Christchurch Telegraph) that Rear-Admiral Fairfax will visit Wellington about December in the Orlando, accompanied by two other vessels on the Australian station. His vuit will be confined to the Empire City so far as the men-of-war are concerned, but he will most probably take a pleasure trip round the South Island in a hired boat. The Admiral is a great disciple of Isaak Walton, and is likely to pay the famed trout-streams in Canter bury and Otago a visit.

A meeting of the Waitemata County Council will be held to-morrow, to receive and discuss the report of the deputation who visited the Waitakerei district last Saturday, to inspect and report upon the necessary road works 10 be undertaken in the Waitakerei district out of the recent Government grant of £500.

Yesterday Mr. A. D. Bennett, commission agent, filed a petition to be adjudged a bankrupt. This is probably the outcome of the recent legal proceedings in which the Onehunga Woollen Company got judjrmenb in the Supreme Court against Mr. Bennett.

A man named Daniel Baxter was arrested yesterday afternoon by Detective Tuohy on a charge of iarceny of gum value £V2 10s from a house at Riverhead. It is alleged that the accused broke into the place and took the gum, and sold it at the Wade coming in to Auckland. From information received he was arrested as above, and will be brought up at the Police Court to-day. There are further charges against him oi obstructing and resisting Sergeant Clarke in the execution of his duty.

There is some talk of having a Protection banquet in Auckland to celebrate the passing of the new Tariff, and to have a display and contribution of food products on the occasion. It is to be hoped, if the project 13 carried out, that the promoter.- will improve upon the Wellington method, which consisted in inviting the members of the Legislature as guests, and " passing the hat among them afterwards, to wipe out the financial deficit arising out of the festivities.

An old Hokianga settler, Mr. Arthur Messer, now of >iorraanby, West Coast, has written up to us respecting the culture of the tea plant, being desirous of initiating it at Normanby. From all we can learn from those engaged in the culture of the tea plant in Auckland, its cultivation cannot be successfully undertaken south Oα Auckland with any hope of success. The most favourable districts for it, and in which it thrives best, are the Hokianga, Bay of Islands, and Mangonui districts.

Some of the suburban boroughs have adopted the plan of letting impecunious ratepayers work out their rates. The experiment does not seem to have been a success, and at the late meeting of the Newton Borough Council some very strong remarks on the subject were made. It appears that some people are just as reluctant.' to work out their rates as to pay them.

A singular accident occurred yesterday to a boy named Jackson, attending the Newmarket public school. He was playing with another lad, when the latter gave him a push, and Jackson fell heavily to the ground, breaking his arm. Dr. Leger Erson was sent for, and set the broken limb, and the boy is now progressing as favourabt as can be expected.

Tfee Americans as a rule take a very keen interest in all matters which affect a n)- of their industries. Fruit-growing is one of the large and growing industries in the United States, and unfortunately all varieties of fruit and fruit-trees are more or less? subject to insects and other enemies. For years past, as our readers are well aware, the orange, lemon, and other trees here have been sadly blighted by the spread and depredations of the insect known to science as Icerya Purchasii, oftentimes known as the cottony cushion scale, on account of its peculiar cottony appearanco when seen at a distance. It has been quite troublesome in California and other places of America, where orange trees are grown. Having heard, or read from our columns, that from some unknown cause this insect had become very much fewer in numbers during the last twelve months, the question to solve was what was the cause of the rapid decrease ? By the last mail steamer, Mr. A. Koebele, the assistant entomologist of the Agricultural Department at Washington, was despatched to New Zealand and Australia to study this question, and learn if the deerease in the Icerya was due to an insect enemy or not. He was introduced to Mr. Cheeseman, who at once went with him in search of the Icerya. After a good deal of searching some live specimens were found in the Cemetery gully, and from a casual investigation made by Mr. Koebele he is of opinion that this insect is being preyed upon by one very much smaller, but what its character is he was unable to determine. The same decrease of the Icerya has been noticed in Australia of late, and during Mr. Koebele's stay there he will have an opportunity of thoroughly investigating this subject, and if it should prove to be the case that the Icerya has at last found a natural parasite, our orange groves will be kept free from this enemy, and Mr Koebele will be able to take with him a sufficient supply to start the propagation of the parasite in California. An insect, has already been brought to California said to be a parasite, but from what Mr. Koebele saw of it before he left he has grave misgivings on the subject.

Tenders have been received by the Public Works Department for a bridge at Waotu, Waikato, and that of Mr. Robert Joseph Kerr, £204 15s, was accepted. A contract for road works at Kaniwnanawhi, Waipa, has also been called for, and the tenders have been forwarded to Wellington, but no reply has yet been received.

Today, being the feast of the Tabernacles, will be observed as a holiday by the Jewish community, and in consequence the warehouses and offices of merchants and others belonging to that body will be :iose.i *~

The Ararat Advertiser is responsible for the following tall story :—" Some years ago p. gentleman resident in Melbourne, who had been suffering from acute sciatica for a lengthened period, came to visit some friends in this neighbourhood. He could only move about with difficulty on crutches; but one bright day he managed to make his way to the sheep dip, some distance from the house, where the men were engaged dipping. He stood at the edge of the pit, snd though warned that the boards were slippery, he endeavoured to push a refrac- : >ry sheep in with his crutch, when his feet slipped and he plurged into the pit. being entirely submerged in the solution of tobacco and sulp'.ur. As soon as he came splattering to tr3 surface he scrambled up to the outlet n.ce, and to the surprise of everyone scorned assistance, and vaulting the sheep hurdles he shouted that his involuntary bath had completely cured him."

Professor A. C. Haddon, of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, has arrived at Thursday Island. He proposes to make a pray of six to nine months' duration in the Torres Straits district in order to study tropical marine zoology. His attention will be mainly directed to the interesting question of the structure and mode of formation of coral reefs, and the life history of the polyps which secrete the beautiful coral growths. He will also direct his attention to the marine animals of low organisations, as no naturalist has ever visited those parts to investigate this branch of the local natural history.

On Sunday and Monday last the annual services in connection with the Wesleyan Home Missionary Society were held in the Birkenhead Church. The Rev. YV. Gittos, the deputation, preached morning and evening, and gave an interesting address to the Sunday scholars and their friends in the afternoon. On Monday evening there was a larger attendance than usual on such occasions, and the Rev. J. Dukes opened the meeting with praise and prayer, and then introduced the chairman, Mr. E. J. White, who, after a short speech, called on the secretary, Mr. S. E. Hulbert, to read extracts from the report. Mr. C. E. Button then spoke of the adaptation of Methodism to the wants of the native population, and Mr. Gittos followed with an instructive and realistic account of his work among the Maoris during the past forty years ; some Df the earlier incidents of his missionary career being especially telling. The financial results promise to be considerably in advance of last year.

The question of what is the meaning of the terms " bad fame and character" in the Licensing Act, was discussed in the Supreme Court at Melbourne on September 8, on an appeal against the refusal of the majority of the licensing justices to grant a victualler's license to one George Poole, a resident at Bherwood, in the Berwick licensing: district. Section 70 of the Act stated that one of the objections that might be taken to the granting of a license was that the applicant was of "bad fame and character. , ' The sub-inspector of police objected to Mr. Poole that he came within this language of the Act, a? he was not only living apart from his wife, but was living in the hotel in open adultery with another woman. Mr. Alley and Mr. Shuter, two of the licensing Justices, held that on this evidence the applicant was of bad fame and character, and refused the license. Mr. Hare, the other licensing Justice, dissented. A case was, however , , stated by the licensing Justices as to whether their determination was right in point of law. The Court held that before the license could be refused it should be Ehown that the applicant was of bad fame as well as of bad character, that it was not sufficient to show that he was of bad moral character, but it must also be shown that he was of bad reputation among his neighbours, and there was no evidence that he had any such bad reputation. It was therefore decided that the justices were wrong in refusing to grant the license on the ground stated.

The consecration of St. Mary's Church (the Pro-Cathedral), has been definitely fixed to take place next Sunday week, at the eleven o'clock service, when His Lordihip the Primate of New Zealand will preEide and officiate. Ib will be recollected that some time ago the new portion of the church was formally opened by the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley, as the "Primate was then unable to attend, and the formal consecration had to be postponed. An address to the Primate is to be presented by the Church of England Working Men's Society, at the Parsonage, half-an-hour before the consecration service.

A return has been laid on the table of the South Australian Assembly, showing the details of all sums expended from Ist July, 1887, to 30th June, 1888, for Governor's allowance?. The charges amounted to £919 6? Id. There were some 283 items of a miscellaneous description, ranging from 6d for a gum bottle to £64 for the rent of telephone lines. Amongst the lines were charges for stationery, spoons, brushes, dishes, pans, dippers, newspapers, coal, gas, towels, napkins, slop-paili, and cab iares.

Very gloomy reports are being received from the western stations of 2\ew South Wales regarding the severity of the drought, 'it is stated that owing to the dry weather the rabbits are dying off by thousands, and there are scarcely any left in some districts. Sheep and cattle are 3ving in large numbers on some stations, &nd a telegram from Wilcannia states that some of the station managers propose to abandon their homesteads and come into the township to live. The present outlook is said to be the worst for many years Past. The continued drought is causing general anxiety, and unless rain falls in the country districts shortly, disastrous results will ensue to many of the stock owners. An entertainmenb was given in St. Mary's Hall, Onehunga, last night, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the erection of ar organ loft in the new Church of the Assumption, now benix erected. There as a large audiemv .mil au excellent programme was <ro:u- ...iroutcb. in a very creditable manner.

A St. Alban's housekeeper, »»,:: the Lyttelton Tines, met with a funny experience on Thursda}', when, on returning home, „'•<s found the loaf usually left by the baker, gone, together with the change out of a shilling which she had left for the baker to pay himself with. She left a note on the aoor requesting the baker to leave one loaf in the washhouse. When she returned she found the following added to her memo. : " I was very much in want, so I have borrowed a piece of bread and ninepence that was on the loaf.—Tramp." The writing exhibits a certain amount of education, and the want was also evident, as the loaf had disappeared in toto as well as the change. A writer in the Wellington Press complains of the unsatisfactory method of freezing adopted by the Direct steamers, and says : —" The meat is placed in the freezing chamber, which contains 15,000, 20,000, or even 30,000 carcases of mutton, pieces of beef, etc. Next to the freezing chamber is what is called the cool chamber, which is simply a compartment of the hold adjoining the freezing chamber, and having a lower temperature than the rest of the nold only because it is next the freezing chamber. The temperature of the cool chamber depends upon that of the freezing chamber. Ndw, each ship has only one freezing machine, which would not be sufficient to keep the temperature in the freezing chamber sufficiently low throughout the voyage, unless it was helped by natural circumstances. As it happens, the steamers on leaving New Zealand go into latitudes where tho natural temperature is very low. For sOtne weeks, therefore, the freezing machine not only keeps the temperature in the freezing chamber below freezing point, but is employed to send the temperature down to zero. Then, when the ship turns northward, after rounding Cape Horn, and speeds into the tropics, the extreme cold which has been acquired in the South Seas, though constantly diminishing, lasts out long enough to enable the freezing machine to do its work fairly well. If the steamer were only a few days longer in the tropics*, this temperature in the freezing chamber would rise too high for safety, and a great part or the whole of the cargo of meat would be destroyed. As it is, it frequently happens that the carcases stowed next r.he sides of the chamber, where the temperature is highest, are damaged before the ship gets once more into cold latitudes. This exposure to excreme cold at one time, and to too high a temperature at another,' continues the writer, "is certainly not good for the meat. The mutton boars it pretty well; but the beef, from the peculiarity of its substance, suffers very much from it. This is the main, if not the only, reason why New Zealand beef has not hitherto been able to compete with the American beef." The usual forttiightly meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union took place yesterday Mrs. Schnackenberg (president) presided. A letter was read from the chairman of the school committee, Paparoa, relative to'scientific temperance instruction in the public schools, which contained some useful suggestions. It was decided to ascertain the practicability of establishing ocal branches of the W.C.T.U. in the suburban districts, aiul a deputation of ladies was appointed to visit the North Shore, and another to go to Onehunga on that mission. The directors of the Wellington Opera House (says the Post) have authorised Mr. Chatfield to consult the engineer of the Gulcher Electric Light Company, who is in charge of the installation of the Kuiapoi Woollen Company, as to fitting up the new Opera House with the electric light. The engineer will probably arrive here in a day or two for the purpose. The contract for the erection of the Opera House includes gas fittings, and it is not as yet intended to introduce electricity as a means of lighting, but in view of it being found advisable to do this when the street installation is in working order, it is deemed well to put in the necessary wires, etc., while the building is in course of reconstruction, instead of having possibly to injure the decorations by doing so after the Opera House is completed. We learn that all arrangements have now been completed for tiie full management of the splendid hotel at Lake Takapuna, recently built by Mr. E. Harrow, being undertaken by Mr. Cairns, of the Star Hotel, who will carry it on in connection with his present well-known establishment in Albert-srreet. The negotiations were finally settled yesterday, and possession will be taken or the o"th of next month. In the meantime the hotel will be fully and beautifully furnished under the direction of the new manager, and henceforth will be known as Cairns' Takapuna Hotel. Situated in one of the most charming localities in the neighbourhood of Auckland, easy of access by sea and land, and surrounded by the most varied and picturesque scenery, it is safe to predict that it will become, under Mr. Cairns' experienced management, a very popular report for families and the public generally, while Lake Takapuna bids ;air to become the Ramsgateor Brighton of the Britain of the South. During , the sum mer months special steamers will run from Auckland, and conveyances from the North Shore, a band will be in attendance, boats will ply on the lake, there will be bathing machines on the beach, and all the attractions and concomitants of a favourite and fashionable seaside resort. It is evident chat there is still plenty of faith left among us in the immediate future of Auckland, and that the belief in the coming good times is growing, for vre learn that instructions have been given to Mr. Mahoney, architect, to prepare plans for rebuilding the old portion of the Star Hotel in conformity with the present new and handsome design. The plans provide for the addition of some thirty bedrooms, new sittingrooms, lift, and a lofty tower which will be a very prominent landmark from the sea, and will command an extensive view of the harbour and islands. On Friday la?t the Silver Star Minstrels one of their amusing entertainments in the Ellerslie Public Hall. The object of the entertainment was to raise funds tor the purpose of purchasing prizes for the children of the district school, and there was a crowded attendance. The first part of the performance was the chair business of negro minstrel entertainment. Mr. G. H. Nixon officiated as Tambo, and Mr. Tizard as Bones, and Mr. D. Crozier made an unexceptionable interlocutor. The items of the programme were agreeably rendered. A well designed tableau of Britannia brought the first part to a close. The local jokes of the cornermen told effectively, and elicited warm applause. The second part comprised songs arid recitations, and concluded with an amusing farce, "Education in the Ellerslie High School," Mr. Kay (the manager) and Mr. Sheffield (leader of the orchestra) deserve great praise for the success of the entertainment. Mr. T. W. Webster, Kaiwaka, has forwarded his sheep tax to the Premier direct, ' for the purpose of enabling him to make a i personal protest against paying any more 1 direct taxation until such time as the | northern districts of Auckland have re- ; ceived fairer justice in the expenditure of ' borrowed money than they have done. He thinks it unfair that the Northern settlers should be taxed for the purpose of enabling unprofitable railways to be kept running in Canterbury and Otago, while the Northern .settlers have not even gob a passable road to their farms. He says there are only 4~> miles of railway in. the North out of 1777 miles in the colony, though the Northern districts contain about one-twentieth of the population in the colony. In the corner of his letter he points out many inequalities as between the North and South, and says the promise of Sir Julius Vogel in 1870, to have a railway from one Bluft to the Bay of j Islands, should be carried out. Whether -' the letter will have any effect on the Pre- j mier time will show. ! Notwithstanding that the depressed timers has affected the support promised to the Jubilee Kindergarten School, as well as to \ all our other institutions, the school is doing j fairly well. One of the teachers has been j retrenched, and her services dispensed with, owing to the difficulty in providing her , salary. There are now about 100 children j attending the school, and its benefits seem to be appreciated by the class for whom it was established. The creche is also fairly patronised by mothers anxious to do something for the maintenance of their families, and who get their infants taken care of for them while engaged in labour during the day. The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has unanimously passed a resolution in favour of a canal from Sheffield to Goole. It is believed the canal could be built for less than a million. It will touch Eotherham, Doncaster, and Xhoruc

1 The Freshwater Baths are in splendid condition at present, and it is a matter for regret that they are not more liberally patronised. Aβ the warm weather sets in, however, the visitors may be expected to increase. The whole of the interior of the bath is scrupulously clean, and everything in perfect order, reflecting the highest credit upon the custodian, Mr. Calder. . Knowing that youthful spirits will have an outlet, he has, at his own charge, provided Indian clubs and dumbells for the lads attending, which gives them better employment than damaging the looking-glasses and whittling on the inside of the bathing boxes. The lads of the truant school are taken by the master, Mr. Burlinson, to tho baths every Monday, to learn the art of i swimming, an acquirement which should ' be the necessary complement to the education of the boys in the public schools. Among the general visitors to the baths, noted for the regularity of his attendance during the winter, has been Sir William , Fox, who takes to cold water as to the I manner born. i To-day Messrs. Sargood, Ewen, and Co. give their second grand display for the sea- • son of spring and summer novelties at their i warehouse, Victoria-street, to inspect which i circulars have been issued to the wholesale buyers. The new season's shipments of i Messrs. Owen and Graham have been added to the firm's stock. The display in the j millinery and dress departments last evening, as seen when brilliantly lighted up, was superb, and one of tho finest witnessed in this city for years past. In hats alone there are forty thousand, ranging from those fearfully and wonderfully made down to the '' postage stamp tied with two straws." The members of St. Andrew's choir give a miscellaneous concert in St. Andrew's Hall, Lower Symonds-street this (Thursdav) evening, commencing at eight o'clock. The programme, which appears in our columns, is specially attractive by the fact, as will be seen, that it contains a. grand selection of English, Irish, and Scottish gems. Mr. A. Thomson will occupy the chair. The ordinary weekly meeting of the Auckiand Athenaum will bo held in the club-room on Saturday, instead of to-night, when Mr. Charles Bloomfield will read a paper on ''Landscape Art," illustrated by some highclass engravings. Judging bv Mr. Bloomfield's practical knowledge of the subject this ought to be an interesting evening. We have been invited to draw special attention to an advertisement in our other columns announcing the postponement until Friday fortnight of the recital of sacred music which was to nave taken place next Friday in St Alban's Church, Mount Eoskill Road. A limelight entertainment will be given in All Saints' schoolroom on Tuesday next at half-past seven p.m., entitled "A Day in London During Jubilee Week."' Mr. W. C. W. McDowell, 8.A., will explain the various and interesting views as shown by the Rev. J. S. Hill on canvas, and musical selections will be given at intervals during the lecture. Admission, Is: children, 6d. It is announced in another column that the entertainment in connection with St. Barnahas's Church is postponed. Further notice will be given as to date. We would call the attention of those wishing to secure first-class pictures, oil paintings, water colours, .and lithographs to the sale at the mart of B. Tonks ami Co.. at 11 o clock to-day, comprising a large variety of new and choice subjects in landscapes, sea views, etc., which will be sold without any reserve. Members of the Ponsonby "At Homo - ' are reminded by advertisement in another column that the next dance takes place to-morrow evening in the Pousonby Hall, and any member wishing to nominate a visitor or friend must do so before noon to-morrow. The City Council are calling for tenders for drainage of part of Clarence-street, and Ponsonby Terrace, and for kerhing and channelling in Nugent-street. The advertisement will be found in another column.