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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9216, 20 November 1888, Page 4

The controversy respecting the appointment of Sir H. A. Blake to the governorship of Queensland shows no signs of diminution either in variety or vigor. If Sir T. Mcllwraith's object in formulating his now historical demand was to advertise the colony, he has succeeded to the fullest. The name of Queensland is now known wherever there is a telegraph and a newspaper. Lord Carnarvon has written a letter to the Times on the subject, criticising the language of Sir T. Mcllwraith's objections toSirH. A. Blake, and pointing out that the demand he makes is inadmissable. AH the leading journals now take the same view. As a matter of course, however, the question is to be discussed in the House ot Commons, so we are likely to hear a good deal more about it yet. The Empress Dowager Victoria of Germany has left Berlin on a visit to her mother, the Queen of England. The Emperor William took a cordial farewell or her Imperial Majesty before her departure from the German capital. A secret treaty is said to exist between Russia and Corea, by which the former is bound to protect the atter against foreign aggression. We understand that Captain Colbeck has been elected chairman of the Chamber ot Commerce, in the place of Mr. J°" n Buchanan, who has resigned. Mr. A. &■ Nathan has been elected to represent the Chamber at the Harbour Board. Mr. L. O'Brien, formerly registrar of the Supreme Court, and afterwards for some years a Judge of the Native Lands Court, has, we learn, been reappointed to tne latter office, and goes on duty at once. * was notified some days ago that Mr. *■'■ j Barton, of Wellington, had been appointed a Judge of the Native Land Court. borne persons will be asking for explanation* <» these appointments, in view of the fact tnao only a short time ago the Government ea tht'ir way to dispense with the services u several Land Court Judges. To-day, the 20th, is the last day on which payment of property tax can be made ffu ' out a penalty. We understand that n> tax has been coming in well. Yesterday ■«.- payments were made, and to-day P roD i, ■ there will be double that number. w 30th of the present month is the lftst "-, for receiving returns of the new a3»&. ments. Afc the Ponsonby Hall yesterday evening, Mr. T. Peacock, M.H.R. for Pbneonbj,,a£ dressed his constituents, his speech Deiufc review of the events of last session, a of confidence was passed. Mr. J. ■»• ham occupied the chair. The Anglican gynod resumed its sitting yesterday afternoon. The principal. «- cussion in the afternoon sitting was motion brought on by the Re v -_. " Watpole on the subject of the qrg* 0 *"/ clergyman and the Home Mission i"' • This lasted until the adjournment. i" evening, after other business, the detwu, the report of the committee on the f' e "' the fund was resumed and cone uue a > reporb being reported to tho oj > with amendments and passed. A ni of the resolutions, of which notice tnui given, were considered, and f,ie . nt ji adjourned ab half-past ten o'clock unw four o'clock this afternoon.

Some months ago a paragraph appeared }n the local press reporting remarks marie by Mr. Speight when deprecating small attendances at technical lectures at the jfapier-stroet School, in which ho stated that German cutlery was being largely imported into the United Kingdom, giving as his authority the Ironmonger newspaper. One of our citizens who takes an interest in such matters wrote to Messrs. Joseph Kodpers and Son, of Sheffield, the eminent cutlery manufacturers, regarding this statement,"and he has received a reply under date •2tith September, in which the firm state as follows:—" We feel quite sure that the .statement relative to the importation of German cutlery contained in the newspaper extract you enclose never appeared in the Ironmonger, but for your more complete satisfaction, we wrote to the editor, who replies, 'We have no recollection of any .statement about German cutlery importation? into the United Kingdom, and which J? so absurd or. the face of it that wo are sure it never appeared in the Ironmonger.' There is no doubt that a pretty fair quantity of German cutlery has been imported into this country, and some of it stomped with British names to delude the public, hut the Merchandise Marks Act may be depended upon to put. a stop to it. Very probably the deception may continue to flourish in the colonies and foreign councries, until it is seen to be to the interest of the people to apply the provisions of our Merchandise Marks Act, or some similar enactment. Very little German cutlery finds its way into Sheffield, and it, is principally cheap scissors, well polished up to look better than they really are. Technical education is no doubt highly valuable in some trades, for instance, the textile, but the Shetiield cutleiy trade is a handicraft, leaving but little room for technical education. Wβ experience no rivalry from German or any other foreign cutlery ; so far as we can see, our trade is not in the least, affected by them, and our own opinion is that they are nowhere in the race of quality combined with style and price. , '

Yesterday we inspected, at tho studio of the Messrs. Aldis, artists, the series of excellent sketches (twelve in number) of the Hot Lake district, taken by Mr. Aldis, jun., during his recent tour. These sketches ;ire, indeed, more like finished pictures, so carefully are they painted, consequently the pictures made from them are much less conventional than pictures that are painted from what are termed''rough sketches." The subjects are well chosen, and the result i> a series of interesting pictures. Both father and son have been hard at work on rive of the best to complete the number for the art union. Great credit is due to these indefatigable artists in their endeavours to distribute far and wide the beauties of New Zealand scenery. They are far in advance of the pictures at the previous art unions, and are now added to those on view at Coombes' Arcade.

At the Police Court yesterday three brothers, named Chamberlain, were churned with bathing at Devonporfc without '■ trunks,"' anil also between the hours of eight a.m. and six p.m., contrary to the borough by ■ laws. Defendant?; pleaded guilty, and stated that they were ignorant i f breaking the law. The magistrate? lined the defendants half-a-crown each, which with costs made the morning bath foot up to close on half a sovereign to each defendant. Now that the bathing , season is routing in, the offence of adults bathing in view of the public in public places will have to be tirmly put down.

The Association for the teaching of Divine Healing through faith in the Lord .Testis Christ, held their half-yearly meeting last evening in the social hall of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Foster (president) presided. The meeting opened with the usual devotional exercises. Mr. Foster was re-elected president, and live vice-presiclent? and a committee of management were appointed. After dealing with various, business matters, the balance-sheet was submitted, anil proved of a satisfactory character, the balance being to credit of the association. The association was said to be in a healthy condition, there being weekly meetings held at the rooms, and monthly meetings at the North Shore ami Newmarket. The sacrament was partaken of before separation.

Yesterday a Lascar, named Francis Benjamin, went into the Pier Hotel and ordered a pint of beer, tendering the barman what purported to be a sovereign, as it was seen not to be genuine, his attention was called to the circumstance, and extracting fourpence from his. pocket, he paid for the beer and cleared out. He was followed and handed over to the custody of Sergeant Clark. He was brought up at the Police Court yesterday and remanded till to-morrow.

Yesterday the City Engineer inspected the footpaths in the Domain which require grading into the new carriage drive. The tenders for this grading, and for cutting grass in the Domain close to-day, and some curiosity is evinced as to whether the lately discharged stonebreakers or other unemployed will avail themselves of this opportunity, as they did not do so on the first occasion of tendering. One of the members of the Charitable Aid Board, who wanted .some nine men to go down the coast, stated last evening, that up to that himj'he had only "promises from three men to go on the work offered, while the other applicants had declined to leave the town.

Yesterday afternoon a boy named John Cook, about eight years of age, son of Mr. Michael Cook, of the Freeman's Bay Glass Work?, met with a painful accident. He was returning to school after dinner, when he met another boy named Walter Mills, who was experimenting with some powder. Just as young Cook looked over Mills , shoulder to see what he was doing, the charge of powder was exploded, tho explosion singeing Cook's eyebrows and part of the hair of his head, while his eyes were also injured. Dr. Knight was sent lor, and attended to the injured lad. He thinks that the eyesight is nob permanently affected, but the danger will be erysipelas in the head. It is said that young Mills, who is about eleven years of age, some four yeare ago was conducting some investigations as to the properties of gunpowder, when he nearly succeeded in blowing his head off, and was partially blind for three months. It is believed his curiosity will be finally gratified one of these fine days.

The incident of the disqualification of the Scottish Rifles at Christchurch, for independent and volley tiring, on the ground that the hits exceeded the number of cartridges issued, and consequently some of the men must have fired more than the proper number of shots, seems to show that the Scot is degenerating. Perhaps the riflemen learned the wrinkle from tho late Burns Club elections, when, though it is alleged only 72 persons were in the hall, the votes cast amounted to lo !

During the meeting of the Anglican Synod the Home Mission Fund has been much discussed, and some uncertainty has been expressed as to the amount of the income. We publish the following figures to show what the income has been from 1878 to June 30, 1888:—1878, £484: 1879, £547; 1880, £569; 1881, £484; 1882, £618; 1883, £065; ISS4, £885; 1885, £835; 1886, £930; 1887, £91/ ; 1888, £864. The Home Mission Soejety was formed in 1838.

At a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society Dr. Hector produced an exhibit in the shape of a piece of greyish stone called allutnite, whicli is found in large quantities in certain parts of New South Wales, and from which by a simple process pure alum A large piece of stone wystalised and turned into alum was shown and excited lively interest and curiosity.

Mr. Barth, of Dunedin, has received the results of tlie musical examination at Trinity College, in London. Blanch .Joel heads the list with 94 and 90 out of a possible 100; Maud Fitchett 92 and 83 respectively. Claimholders on the O.P.Q. line of reef at Waipori received a cable offer of £1000 cash and £.5000 scrip for the property, but the minority declined, and want £30,000, half to be in cash.

Mr. H. B. Vogcl writes to the Wellington Post, saying that the novel about to be published in London is Sir Julius Vogel's own writing, and will be published in February. It was commenced shortly before he left New Zealand. Ho also took home a novel written by someone else, but not by a Wanganui lady, to introduce it to a publishing house.

The Hon. E. Mitchelson, it is stated, is Riving up racing. He sold Whakawai ab Melbourne, bub there was no bidder for ■Tranter.

■llie Invercargill Borough Ijas selected Richard Knight, of Melbourne, to manage the corporation gas works. There were 23 Rr,r >'i cations.

About three o'clock yesterday afternoon an alarm of fire was given, and it proved to be at Graf ton Road, bub of trilling importance. The fire broke out in a small shed adjacent to the private residence of Mr. F. Lambourne, ironmonger, of Karangahape Road, in which a quantity of tow for mattress-making had been stored. The fire was first discovered by one of the children, who saw smoke issuing from the shed. Fortunately there were some men in the vicinity at the time, and through their exertions t lie fire was put out before more than two or three pound's worth of damage had been done, and which consisted of charring the end of the shed slightly, and partially burning the end of some of the bales of tow A buggy in the adjoining stable was dragged out in the excitement, and one of the shafts broken. The building was insured in the Royal for £'20. Superintendent Hughes, of the Auckland Fire Brigade, and some of his men wore early on the .scene, as well as the Salvage Corps under Captain Field, but their services were not required. Detective Tuohy also was promptly on the spot.

We understand that His Worship the Mayor has caused letters to be written requesting experts and others to favour him by going out to the foundry of Mr. A. Beaney, ironfounder, Great North Road, notifying Mr. Hannaford beforehand to be in attendance with his drawings. The object is to compare the beacon there in po-ition ready for taking to pieces and conveying to Cuvier Island, with .Mr. Hannuford's drawings, and report as to whether or not. the Government have stolen his scheme.

A preliminary meeting of the shareholders in the Kauri Timber Company was held at Scott's Hotel, Melbourne, on Oct. 30. There was a large attendance, and Mr. John Sharp, chairman of directors, occupied the chair. He explained that the meeting was called in accordance with the articles of association, to formally announce that the company had been formed. Tho 450,000 shares "ofi'ered to the public had been taken up by 700 persons. oo'i.OOO shares were held by residents in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania, but the bulk of them were held in Victoria. 117,000 shares were taken up by Now Zealand residents. The company was taking over the properties purchased, transfers being in course of preparation from the various owners. The business of the company in Victoria had increased f>o per cent, during the past year, and a leasehold had been obtained on the Yarra bank for the storage of timber. The value of the property purchased in Sydney had increased very much, Offers had been received for the lease of portions of the land purchased in New Zealand, and the directors were in treaty with regard to those offers. It was expected that there would be a considerable revenue from the deposits of kauri gum on the forest lands purchased. Hitherto persons had been allowed to take away tho gum without any payment, but the company would expect some, remuneration for it. Scrip tor the shares in the company was being prepared as rapidly as possible, and was now ready for issue to thos L who had paid the fourth call. After the chairman had answered several questions, a vote of thanks was tendered to him, and the meeting terminated.

The total number of shares applied for in the New Moanataiari Company is .'!(!,700. The property, assets, and liabilities have been duly taken over, and the old company lias become :i thing of the past. A meeting of shareholders in the new company is advertised to be held on the "28th instant, for the election of directors, and to take the necessary steps for working the mine. No mining property on the Thames has a better record than the old Moanataiari, nor better prospects of success in the future. It is hoped that the new directors will pec their way to vigorous operations, and that the shareholders will reap a rich reward for their expenditure. Nothing would give more general satisfaction, both at the Thames and in Auckland, than to sue this old mine again in the full swing of business.

Special service? in connection with the twenty-second anniversary of the Mount Albert Wesleyan Church were held on Sunday last, when the Rev. £• Best preached in the morning from the text, ''And he brought him to Jesus.'' The Rev. S. Luwry, of Te Aroha, preached in the evening from these words. •"Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day o! salvation.'' The congregations were good, the services very impressive, and the collections about equal to last year. The annual soiree will bv held on Tuesday next, the "27th inst.

The Burns Club has of late nob been so united and agreeable nu association as it should be. One of the vice-presi-dents has sent the following letter to the secretary, Mr. R. Peace:—" Auckland, November 17th, ISSB. Sir,—l bejr to give you notices that at the general meeting of the Burns Club, to be held on Thursday next, the 22nd instrint, I will move the following resolutions : First. ' That in order to remove all cause of dissatisfaction the whole of the office-bearers elected at last meeting be requested to resign, with a view to the elections taking pi.ice de uovo.' Second. ' That the name of the Society be altered to "The Auckland C'-declonian Society and Burns Club ;" that dancing-, athletic spoils, &c, be embraced in its objects, and that a special co-minittee be elected to revise the constitution and laws.' Third. 'That the Auckland Burns Club and Literary Society be dissolved, and the whole of its property and funds handed over to the Auckland Caledonian Society so soon as the latter Society is registered under the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act.'—l am, &c, Joil.v L. Kklly. P.S.—ln the event of Nos. 1 and 'J being carried No. '.) falls to tho ground. J.L.K." Other members dissent strongly from this movement. They say that the malcontents were fairly beaten in their attempt to gain possession of what the skill and good management of others had accumulated.

Five lads at the North Shore were yesterday arrested by Constable O'Brien, on a charge of larceny of lemons from an orchard.

At tho Newton Congregational Church, on Sunday evening last, the Rev. H. J. Lewis delivered a special sermon to youngmen on the subject of "Self-preservation," taking his text, from Acts xvi., 28, "Do thyself no harm." The rev. gentleman stated that self-preservation was an instinct in man that did not need strengthening, but directing, and went on to mention five finger-posts tie wished every young man to observe for direction through life. 1. Do thy body no harm, either by intemperance or idleness, possessing "a sound mind in a sound body " being a certain step towards the attainment of happiness. 2. Do thy intellect no harm, man's reason being the most royal faculty with which God lias endued His creature. ."!. Do thy emotional nature no harm. Strong feelings are good servants, but wretched bad masters ; a feeling a man cannot control is like a horse he cannot manage ; be on your guard especially against envy and cynicism. 4. Do thy moral nature no harm. The preacher instanced gambling, or trying to make money without giving any equivalent, as a practice most certain to dwarf and injure man's moral nature, f>. Do thy spiritual nature no harm. This is the highest and most sensitive part of man's nature, and therefore the most easily injured ; man may injure his spiritual nature by shrinking from making an open confession of his religious convictions, also by keeping his spiritual life to himself. All life that does not spread must die. The discourse was listened to most attentively by a Wire congregation.

The All Star Company's performance last evening at the Opera House was well attended. The first part of the programme consisted of ballads and comic songs, and the sketch of "Sharp-shooting Outdone." Sylvo performed some clever feats in balancing. Mr. Rogers gave his Irish character impersonation, and Mr. Alfred Lawton and Miss Clara Spencer their Dutch sketch, " Tony and Tina's Troubles," which caused a good deal of amusement. Messrs. Turner and Crawford gave the laughable act, " Phoebe's Birthday." Miss Ada Clements •.ontributed a choice ballad. The Donaldson Brothers gave their wonderful exhibition as contortionists, and the performance closed with the farce of "The Arrival of Gilbert." There is a capital programme for this evening.

The Dunedin Bench have intimated to respectable Hower-stealers brought before them that they are liable to six months' imprisonment. Our local justices now stand astounded at their own moderation in tapering ib off ab a fortnight).