THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9242, 20 December 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDA Y, DECEMBER 20, 1888.

A perusal of the statement of civic finance submitted to the City Council at its annual statutory meeting yesterday, prompts us to say that citizens may with justice congratulate his Worship on his resumption of office, and themselves on the very satisfactory condition of .the city's finances ; whlcn is to a very considerable degree to be credited to the Mayor and his firm and vigorous administration. There is of course one rather dark aspect of the city's financial condition, which there is no cloaking. But it was not created during Mr. Devore's terms of office, and the evil of it he is doing his best, and lias been doing his best, to repair. A condition of tnintrs in which f.ha fiypj

and unavoidable charges — mainly of interest on debt, of sinking fund, and of otfier items equally inevitableexceed the ordinary income of city rates by a couple of thousand pounds, is not a pleasant thing to contemplate. The city has plunged beyond what it was warranted in doing, and following the lead of the national recklessness, our civic administrators have given us a legacy of debt which will demand the mosT-StringSnt care and delicacy in finance for a good many years to come. It is probable—judging from what we see—that had we had Mr. Devore's clear head and steady hand earlier at the helm of affairs, we might have'been spared something of the present burthen ; at all events, from the statement before us, we feel that the city has done wisely in. asking Mr. Devore to continue his administration for a third term of office.

In the period of two years the overdraft lias been reduced from £34,000~t0 £25,700. Had theTcourse been taken, which we so strongly urged, and which was favoured by the Mayor, and urged by several councillors, that overdraft would have been virtually obliterated to-day. It was that a large portion of the last instalment of the loan should be used, to recoup expenditure, already made from revenue account in the construction of public works ; or, in other words, to pay oil' overdraft so incurred. But short - sighted greed and Avardjealousies prevailed, and the money has been frittered away. However, passing over that, the civic resources have been carefully husbanded ; and though there has been and will continue to be a depreciation in valuations, and consequently in rates resulting, the estimates for the coming year, apparently on a safe basis, show a surplus of £8600 " over and above the actual necessary and ordinary charges of the city." Turning to sanitary matters, the Mayor refers with satisfaction to what has been done. In truth much has been done with the resources available. Pity is that from the huge debt raised by the city the first and largest share of the money was not devoted to a thorough scientific and effective system of drainage, instead of being squandered on so many avoidable things, useful only for stopping the clamour of ward jealousies. But that mistake being past redemption, probably as much has been latterly done as could judiciously have been done to improve the sanitary condition of the city ; and what there is remaining of an insanitary character is more attributable to filthy negligence on the pare of citizens themselves and on individual premises, rather than to maladministration or neglect , on the part of the sanitary authorities. To this, indeed, we ought to add the shameful and cruel indifference of some property - holders in _ the cutting up of properties in infinitesimal subdivisions, and the placing and crowding of population under conditions unfit for human habitation. Pity is that the Council are not armed with authority to reach such cases, and to compel such offenders against humanity and decency to repair the wrong done to the public health. However, despite of all this, the city compares most favourably in healthiness with any other city in the colony. Tyjihoid, which is becoming the pest of colonial cities, is an absolutely preventible disease, and it will be to the credit of the city authorities if they succeed ultimately in eradicating it from the place. His Worship expresses the hope that the n.ightsoil question is solved. We hope so too. The utilisation of such a valuable agent of fertility is only second in importance to its becoming inoffensive to the community ; and if the new scheme does both, the Mayor may have another victory added to the credit of his regime. We are told that presently we shall learn where the depot is to be. We trust it will be at some place having access by sea ; for, of all means for the removal of the city night soil there canbe nothing comparable to barges moored in convenient positions, and conveying it to fertilise the semi-barren areas of land abutting on so many scores of miles of water frontages around our harbour.

His Worship next refers to the light: ing_pf the city. Economy is, of course, always commendable, but the saving of seven or eight hundred pounds by leaving the city in absolute darkness from midnight, is a cheeseparing economy to which very little credit can attach. Fortunately, we are an honest and a God-fearing people beyond our fellows, or the city would be a very thieves' paradise; but apart from the danger from this source, and to which we may be suddenly awakened sometime, the dismal condition of our streets in the small hours of the night is discreditable as a piece of public administration. Indeed, at any hour of the night it is so, and were it not for the publicans' lamps, the city lamps would barely suffice to do more than make darkness visible. The policy of the Gas Company in shrinking from lowering the price of gas to a reasonable cost to the Council for public purposes is an antiquated method of doing business that is preparing the sure way for the coming sooner or later of the electric light. Probably the Council is wise in waiting to see the working of the installation at Wellington ; but it is surprising to hear the Mayor say that "in Wellington they are getting the lighting of the city done at a cheap rate comparatively, because there is so much water-power there which can be utilised;" while he knows that in the Nihotupu and Waitakerei Falls there is water-power enough available for not only lighting Auckland, but giving electric motive power to all machinery likely to be required in the city for a generation to come. The conveyance of electric force from a distance is a simple matter, and if electricity for light or power is ever required at Auckland, the generating power of falling water should be as cheap here as at Wellington, or any other place in New Zealand.

His_ Worship refers with reasonable gratification to our magnificent Public Library : but it is humiliating to be told in the next sentence that pilfering of the books is proceeding unabated. It comes of an extreme love of literature, no doubt. Some of us evidently love it "not -wisely but too well," and the annexation of favourite volumes, however creditable to our appreciation of the treasures of learning, is somewhat trying to that " conceit o' oursels" for which, as a community, we are rather 1 distinguished. There are evidently thieves among us, as there are in all communities ; but notwithstanding the vigilance of which His Worship speaks as being applied by the Library authorities against pilferers, from the fact as stated by him that they have caught a receiver of stolen volumes red-handed, a-nd hesitate about prosecuting him, we are forced to the conclusion that the Library authorities have not impressed on the public mind a sense of the gravity of the offence of stealing from the Public Library. The oftence is of the meanest possible kind, and the utmost severity of the law, and the utmost exposure before the public, should be dealt out promptly, without any compunction, to any man, if he were the highest in the city, who can be caught stealing, or receiving as stolen, a book from the Library. One or two vigorous examples followed, not by a paltry fine, but by imprisonment, would promptly and effectually put an end to a practice which is not only an unworthy injury to an institution maintained for the enjoyment and profit of all, but brings discredit on the whole coniinunitv, I

A battle is imminent at Suakitn a posal is gaining ground in England" favour of a British protectorate "' Eastern Soudan. The policy of thp °P if vernmentin connection with that Sunh?" was sharply criticised in the Hn ntry Commons, Lord Randolph Churchill?'- ° its most bitter assailant. Th l *'"*• Emin Bey and Stanley is still ° : certain, but from a statement Un " in the House of Commons^ aS* , as if the Government were now faffiS to accept the news of their capture ,1 l improbable ; but the curious FSnZ" •' made that it is hopeless to parley Sh ,!" Mahdi for their release. The pi l Government are to make another atterrX assist M de Lesseps. The excite* JS seems to have subsided, and confident reviving. "-- is The Christmas number of the Accki 4Vn Weekly News is now ready, and theft*, edition struck off the printing pressed hKelyto be quickly exhausted, is Si are pouring into the publisher from ,11 parts of the colony. Regarded either as literary or artistic production it i 3 h yond all doubt, the best and finest tW has ever been published in New Zeuhmi The beautiful* chromo - lithograph t sented with each number, printed in ten colours on fine enamel paper i* work of art, and will, we venture say, be found adorning the walls of thousands of homes throughout th colony before the old year expires The number consists of sixty pages, compri«inr! three hundred columns, clearly printed" and neatly cub and wire stitched and with its coloured pictorial wrapper forms an exceedingly attractive and handy publication* The special reading matter suitable for the season is of a varied and interesting charac ter— thrilling, pathetic, amusing—and in its selection all tastes, those of the younp as well as the old, have been admirably provided for. It may be mentioned that in spite of the great expense in connection with the production of this Christmas num. ber no extra charge is made. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. G V* Richardson) returned late last night" by the Waikato down train from his tour of the Thames goldfields, having taken this route in order to see the Government forest plantations at Wairangi. Mr. Richardson will now proceed to the North to visit the special village settlements. Among the passengers who arrived ab Wellington last night by the R..\l'.?V Coptic from London were Captain and "js{ ts [ Williams, the former of whom is "well known here from his long connection with the Customs Department. It will bo remembered that Captain Williams weno home some time ago to have an operation performed upon his eyes, which had been failing.

The election of a councillor to fill the vacancy caused in the Devonport Borou"h Council by the retirement of Mr. Jag. Mays created considerable interest in the marine municipality yesterday. The candidates were Messrs. H. J. Le Bailly and \V. H. Fenton, and the partisans of each worked hard to return their man. Mr. S. Y. Collins acted as returning officer, and declared the result of the poll to a large number of voters, shortly after six o'clock, as follows : —Henri Jean Le Bailly, 210; William Henry Fenton, 157. Mr. Le Bailly was iherefore elected, and will take his seat at the next ordinary meeting of the Council. The junior scholarships are being competed for during the present week by pupils of the various primary schools, the examiners being Messrs. Gulliver and Campbell. On Wednesday morning the paper of questions (six in number) on geography, drawn up by the Rev. E. H. Gulliver, M.A., was issued to the candidates, and to the consternation and amazement of the youngsters was found to be entirely foreign to the sylkbus issued by the Board of Education. Thab document defines the knowledge of geography necessary for the scholarship to bo "Names and positions of places of political, historical, and commercial importance in New Zealand, in Great Britain, and on the European Continent, the drawing of outline maps of New Zealand, Great Britain, and Ireland. Physical geography : Distribution of land and water, mountain and river system--. Mathematical geography : The form of the earth, day and night, the seasons, the zones, meridians and parallels and climate in this connection." The following are the questions :—l. Where are Benares, Cawnpore, Rangoon, Singapore, Washington, New Orleans, Ottawa, King George's Sound, Perira ? »For what are they, any of them, famous ? 2. DFaw an outline, map of the North Island of New Zealand, inserting the chief seaport towns and capes. 3. If a ship were to sail round India from the mouth of the Indus to the Hooghly, what important seaports would, she pass ? Mention them in their order, 4. What is the cause of rain ? 5. What are the trade winds? 6. From what countries do wool, sugar, cotton, chiefly come? Distinguish between the three products. It will be noticed that of the nine places given in question 1, not one is in New Zealand, Great Britain, or on the European Continent. We understand that at vigorous protest against the paper will be made by teachers whose pupils are candidates. The questions are not in themselves too difficult, but the objection made is, that they do not correspond with the syllabus issued by the Board.

Some of the mayors of our suburban boroughs are gettiug "into the purple" somewhat quietly this year. At Newton there was no installation yesterday, owing to there being a special meeting of the Newton Borough Council on the previous evening. At Birkenhead the Mayor-elecb was absent, being engaged in a case at the Supreme Court, while at Newmarket a quorum of the Council could not be obtained, and the installation will take place at the next ordinary meeting , .

An inquest was held yesterday ab tho Northcote Hotel on the body of William Kinnerney, who was found dead at Northcote on the previous morning in his residence. The facts have been already published in yesterday's issue. Colonel da Quincy, Coroner for the district, presided, while Sergeant' Gillies represented the police. The evidence was taken of Mr. Thos. Homewood, who found deceased dead; Mr. Gee and his daughter, who had seen deceased on the previous evening : Dr. Parkinson, who made the post mortem, and Sergeant Gillies. The jury, of which Mr. Hilditch was foreman, returned a verdict of " Death from apoplexy." Deceased was buried yesterday according to the rites of the Catholic Church by Father Madan, a number of the settlers following the remains to the grave. He has a son, a solicitor at Timaru, and it will be a satisfaction to him to know that everything was done which could be done under the circumstances.

An important decision was given at New Plymouth the other day, which is of interest; to Charitable Aid Boards. An old man named Murphy, who for years has been in receipt of charitable aid, has recently become entitled to a remission land certificate under the Naval and Military Settlers' Act of last session, which was valued at £30. The Charitable Aid Board applied to the Court; for an order authorising the Board to sell the land scrip and retain the proceeds. The secretary stated that the Board had expended £49 in supporting Murphy. It was objected to by Murphy, who said as long as the money lasted he guaranteed not coining on the Board for relief. The Court sanctioned the disposal of the scrip by the Board, Murphy protesting, and stating ho would write to the Horse Guards about it. Replying to a deputation which waited upon him in Dunedin, in reference to the appointment of Mr. Shannon, the Premier said that Mr. Shannon was not responsible for the instructions issued. The responsibility remained with the permanent officers of the department, though the opinions expressed by the deputation seemed to indicate that they believed Mr. Shannon had been appointed Chairman of Customs, which was absurd. His recommendations were simply considered as those of an expert, but the responsibility rested on others. As to Mr. Shannon's appointment, he could not entertuin a vague general statement alleging- that the appointment was unsuitable. So far, he had every reason to be satisfied with Mr. Shannon.

The drapers' assistants are deeply agitated over the Christmas and New Year holidays, owing to the attempts being mado by one or two drapers to break in on the customs. hitherto prevailing of closing on Christmas and Boxing Day and the lffc and 2nd January. The " new departure "is to give only Christmas Day and New Year's Day. A hope is expressed by the drapers assistants that the general public will nob permit them to lose their privileges for the sake of one or two- men-

Among the Southern visitors oi late to the kake country have been the Rev. Mr. Wills atl( l his wife, of East Taieri, Otago, who came up for the benefit of their health, and t0 rr y the waters of Te Aroha and Rotorua. They leave to-day by the Te Anau for their Southern home. Mr. Wills visited Auck-

land som'j twenty-hve years ago, when attending, the first meeting of the General of the Presbyterian Church in AuoKland, and is agreeably surprised at the changes and progress which lie now witnesses. Early in the present year he vieitcd Lake Manapouri and the country •idjiicent, and expresses his fears that Professor Brown has met an untimely death. The district is uninhabited, well wooded, broken, and swept by storms of hail and sleet. His impression is that the Professor was not lost in the bueh, as he would bo tini.ble to pet away far, but that he has fallen accidentally down a ravine or over a fnull cliff concealed by the undergrowth, and thus got disabled.

The Newton Schools Committee hold their ordinary monthly meeting last Monjay evening. Present: Mr. T. McMaster (chairman), Messrs. J. Jenkin, K. Boyd, ,1. M. White, T. Hobson, W. Service, and t i. Diivies. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the usual ordinary business transacted. A circular was received stating that the Board proposed inviting tenders for painting Newton East School, half the contract price to bo charged upon the school funds of the district. It was resolved to inform the Board that the schools most certainly required painting, but the committee regret t h:it they are unable to contribute anything towards that purpose out of the "school funds, said funds being insufficient to meet ordinary requirements. A circular was received stating that the compulsory teaching of temperance in the public schools was postponed until the first ii.iy of July, l!>S9, in order that the question might be brought, before the householders at the annual meetings which take place in April next. The following resolution was passed:—"That the committee guiysjest to the Board that they arrange to have Dr. Richardson's Temperance Lesson Book printed, chapter by chapter, in the daily papers, so that the householders may bo the better enabled to pronounce upon the question at the annual meetings to be hold in April. ISS9." Mr. Coates, headmaster of the Newton East School, stated th.it other committees had granted Friday next as a school holiday, and suggested that the committee act in a similar manner villi regard to the schools in their districts. Mr. Dickenson, headmaster of the Newton West School, invited the committee to attend the school concert, which takes place in St. George's Hall to-morrow evening, and desired permission to close the school at mid-day, in order to make preparation for the concert. It was decided that both schools should be closed at noon.

At the recent meeting of the Otago Cattle Board, the Hon. Matthew Holmes presiding, the following resolutions were passed : —" That representations be made to the Government urging the necessity of immediately imposing a five-months' quarantine on all cattle arriving from Australian ports ;" " That a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to the different Cattle Boards in the colony, requesting their co-operation in the matter."' The Auckland Cattle Board rio not appear to have as yet taken any action in the above matter. It is desirable chac a meeting be held to consider the juestion, as pleuro - pneumonia is always nore or less prevalent in the Eastern Australian colonies.

At the Young Men's Christian Association Hall yesterday evening, a limelight entertainment, 'consisting of views in the south of Europe, was given by the Rev. J. S. Hill. There was a good attendance, and i collection was made on behalf of a fund to obtain a piano for the Young Women's Christian Association.

At the Museum yesterday evening the work of the pupils of tiie Free School of Art. was on exhibition, under the supervision of Mr. K. Watkins, the teacher, and was inspected by a number of the students' friends and relatives.

Mr. Philip Newbury appears to have gained the good opinion of Home audiences. A Glasgow paper which we have received, referring to his singing at a concert in the City Hall, says :—"'Mr. Philip Newbury, an Australian tenor vocalist, made his first bow to a Scotch audience. His singing was one of the features of the concert. After his first essay in Balfe's ' You'll Remember Me,' in which he showed that he had a voice of great purity, the audience insisted on hearing more of his powers, and he responded with a vigorous performance of an old sea song."

Mr. John Endean, of the Waitemata Hotel, has just had manufactured by Mr. Slaney, jeweller, Queen-street, a handsome gold medal, which is to be sent to the Hamilton Volunteers to be competed for by members of that corps. This is in remembrance of the visit paid to Auckland by the corps in November last, on the occasion of the review at

The special jury summoned in the case, Sarah Stevens v. the Tramway Company, are notified by advertisement elsewhere that they will not be required to attend, as the case has been postponed until the March civil sittings of the Supreme Court.

The Gospel Temperance Tent Mission was continued last evening in the tent at the corner of Customs-street. There was a large attendance, Mr. D. Goldie, M.H.R., presiding. He congratulated them on the rapid strides the cause had made. At one time it was difficult to insure a total abstainer's life, but it was now much more difficult to insure that of a man who indulged in drink. The drink bill of New Zealand was once £10 10s per head, now it was only £3 ss, but there was still room for improvement—till the amount expended on drink should be nil. Mr. F. G. Ewington then followed. He said there were four things which make men threat—intellect, will, emotions, and spiritual life—all these were destroyed by the bondage of drink, which was as truly lavery as that to which the enslaved African was subjected. He appealed to hem to abstain as their only safeguard, if hey would be strong and true. Pastor ipurgeon next addressed the meeting, and Aid lie was glad to say a few words for •emperance. He said those who indulged •ot only suffered themselves, but made the iinoceiit sutler. Drink was no respecter of jersons, and brought down the educated as veil aa the illiterate, the poor and ■ich, but temperance levelled up not iown. Mr. Hunter said if every Temperance man in Auckland would make a resolution to get ten other men to take the pledge, what a change it would make in the city. He gave some of his own experiences in the old country, of some of his own comrades who had fallen by the way. It was a pleasure to see so many young men present, and he asked them to cast in their lot with the cause, and help to rescue the perishing. Mr. W. K. Cook added a few words specially to working men. The Total Abstinence Choir rendered some selections during the evening. Twenty-four pledges were "taken. To-night Mr. J. H, Harrow presides, and the speakers will be the Rev. B. Hutson, Rev. J. Smith, and Mr. J. Aldridge. The North Shore choirs will be present. The Gisborne Standard of December 11 eayg : _A touching incident occurred yesterday afternoon. Tuta Nihoniho was coming into our office to interview the wiitui" when he caught sight of the photos of the late Mrs. Pook and her child, and immediately burst into tears. He appears to be very much affected at the dreadful occurrence.

A meeting of ladies interested in women's *ork was held at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Chri.itehurch, a few days ago, when addresses were delivered by ladies on " Ihe Mother's Influence on the Home Circle and Environments;" "Mutual Confidence and Sympathy between Mistress ■ and Servant;" "Mothers and their Little Ones; " Womanhood—its duties to neighbours, rich and poor, and its three foes—Drink, Impurity, and Foul Language." At the speech-day of the Dunedin Boys' High School the rector complained of the publication by the Education Boards of the names of candidates who had failed for scholarship examinations, as he considered it cast a stain upon them. He said that, in coming from murky London, lie thought he was escaping the examination fiend, but he found its grasp here if anything greater than in London.

Mr. John Darling, marine engineer to the Union Company, was yesterday presented at Dunedin with an address and purse of sovereigns b£ the engineers in the company's employ, be being about to return to England.

By tho s.s. Gairloch, which arrived yesterday afternoon, a man named Frank Fletcher was brought to' Onehunga from the Huia (Maimkau Heads), where he had been badly injured three hours' earlier. It appears that he, in company with throe other men, was engaged jacking logs over a cliff, and after jetting a number on the beach, and in the water, he proceeded to the beach to float and i-nft them. Meanwhile, however, his fellow-workmen were still jacking a log, which came over, and without any warning struck him on the back, knocking him forward on to another log in tho water, and then jammed him, where he remained till assistance came. On extricating him from his position, it was deemed advisable to bring him on to Onehunga, and as the Gairloch was passing at the time, a signal was given, and Captain McArthur promptly altered his course, and picked up the man. On arrival at Onehunga, Dr. Scott was summoned, and was quickly in attendance, but considered it advisable to have tho injured man conveyed to the Hospital, where it was found that he was suffering from a fractured pelvis.

The capture of George Chines, the young man charged with a forged cheque upon Messrs. Smith and Cuughoy, drapers, it appears, arose through his being encountered at the cemetery bridge by a young man named Bridgwater, an employe of the firm, who at once identified him. He shallowed his man, and then telephoned from the nearest telephone (Canhum's store) to the police station, when Sergeant Mc.Mahon and Constable Keany went up, and searching the cemetery, soon fell upon Chines, whom they recognised by the description. He was brought up at the Police Court yesterday, and remanded till to-morrow. It is alleged that two tradesmen were also duped by similar cheques as well as Messrs Smith and Caughey, but one succeeded in getting his money back again, and the other would as soon lose his as go to tho worry and loss of time of a prosecution.

In connection with the accident in Queenstreet last Saturday night, the ofh'eer in charge of tho Salvation Army, Captain Ross, has been summoned on a charge of obstructing traffic in Victoria-street. The case comes on at the Police Court tomorrow, and will attract some interest, as a prosecution of the Salvation Army in Auckland has been a rarity.

At the installation of Mr. H. Gourley as Mayor of Dunedin Mr. Dawson (the retiring Mayor), in dealing with the financial position, said that while in the aggregate the receipts had decreased per cent., the expenditure had decreased per cent.

To-nipit there will be a Christmas tree at All .Saints' Sunday-schoolroom, when tho Jiresentatioii of the certificates won at tho ate Industrial Exhibition in connection with the school, will be presented, ami some carols sung by the children. There will be '" Fairy Voices,' , and a scene from the primeval forests. Also a procession of Father Christmas, the yule log, the boar's head, and the punch bowl. -With regard to the latter vessel the "Saints"' have abandoned the convivial habits of our forefathers, and in order not to raise the ire of the Blue Ribbonists they intend to till the punch bowl with lime juice.

Our Tairua correspondent writes :—Another of New Zealand's earliest colonists has joined tho great majority. Mr. John Murray, of Boat. Harbour, Tairua, who died on December 13, aged Hi, was one of the few survivors of the hardy pioneers who titty years ago contributed their part to the colonisation of this country. Mr. Murray landed in New Zealand in 1837, remaining some time in Hokiauga, whence, in or about 1840, he went to Kaitaia, where he remained several years. He next removed to Mercury Bay, where he followed his trade of shipbuilder, turning out some tine rishing boats for the native.-?. His last remove was to Boat Harbour, Tairua, at which place he has resided for '20 years, during which time he, almost unaided, built two line cutters, viz., the Halfcaste, and Te Earawa, the latter of which is running still. The deceased was a man of indefatigable spirit, and if, instead of electing a secluded life, he bad frequented the busy haunts of men, his name as a shipbuilder would have been better known. Being a keen observer of men and things, as well as a great reader, Mr. Murray's reminiscences of the early days, when a man's life often depended on the strength of his arm, were most interesting. Mr. Murray was a native of Scotland, and leaves a large family to mourn their loss. A daughter of the deceased gentleman is married to Mr. S. Yates, of Parengarenga, North Cape. Since writing the notice of the death of Mr. John Murray, I have just heard of his son David's demise, which occurred at eleven o'clock on December 14. David Murray was wellknown as a prospector, he having discovered the gold-bearing reef at Te Raro. He was about 45 years old. The s.s. Effort goes to Boat Harbour to-morrow (Saturday) morning to bring the remains here for interment.

Gas and coke consumers are notified that Monday next is the last day upon which full discount can be allowed on their accounts.

A very good entertainment, consisting of tableaux vivants, vocal and instrumental concert, was given at the Three Kings School, on Friday last, by the '.Merlin Dramatic Club, in aid of the .school library. There was a crowded attendance, and every thing passed off successfully. The tableaux being encored every time.

The Gaylord and Silbon Combination repeated their wonderful gymnastic and acrobatic performance at tfie Opera House vtsterday evening. The attendance was rather poor. To-night is advertised as the last appearance of the company, and will be a benefit performance for the Silbons, who will appear in a new and beautiful act, called "The Roman Studio."

The Columbia Rink was well patronised last night, and the half-mile backward race was won easily by L. Dixon, Anderson second, Hough third. To-night there is a boys' polo match for championship Rink Boys v. Allcomers, and One Mile Handicap Race. Complimentary tickets, it is notified, will not be good after to-morrow night.

There was a musical festival at All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, last evening, the choir (some .SO strong), under the efficient conductorship of Mr. Edger, rendering some carols and other music appropriate to the season very effectively. Considering the counter-attractions there was a fair attendance. The proceedings opened with a collect, and the hymn, " O Come, 0 Come, Emmanuel." The carols were: "The First Nowell," "What Child Is This?" " The Manger Throne," "Upon the Snowclad Earth," "Come Ye Lofty," and the anthems " Let Us Now Go On Even Unto Bethlehem" (Hopkins), and "The Strain Upraise" (Sullivan). The air, "He Shall Feed His Flock," was taken by Mrs. Edger, and "Come Unto Him," by Mrs. JucTson, Avho rendered them with tasfce. The choral sung for tenors and basses, " Nazareth" (Gounod), followed. An organ solo, "Impromptu," by Schubert, was effectively given by Mr. Edger, organist. A duet, "Love Divine" (Stainer), by Miss Henderson and Mr. Ferriday.' was one of the best items of the evening:. A double quartette, " Sleep Holy Babe," succeeded ; and the hymn, "Jesu, my Lord, inv God, my All," and a collect, closed the proceedings. As a voluntary, the organist played, " For Unto Us a Child is Born." The offertory was devoted to the music fund. Mr. Joseph Newman has just presented to the Auckland Free Public Library a number of volumes of voyages and travel, dating from the commencement of the present century. They are stated to have formerly been part of the library of our lirst Governor, Captain Fitzroy, R.N. The annual excursions organised by the Union Steam Shipping Company to the West Coast Sounds will shortly take place. The Tarawera leaves Port Chalmers on the first excursion on Wednesday, the 16th January. Further particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

A sale of work and Christmas tree on behaff of Newton Congregational Church and school funds will be held this evening. The following is the report of the Salvation Army Prison Gate Brigade Home for week ending loth December instant:—Number received into the Home, G; discharged, 2; number at present in Home, 9; number of mi-als given, 131; number of beds 49. Secretary Gladding desires to thank the kind friends who have provided food and clothing for the week, viz. : Bread, Messrs. Brown, Crowe, and Howie; meat, Messrs. Hulme, Hullaby Garrett, and Wood; vegetables, Messrs Worth, Head, and Davies ; groceries, Mr J M. White; buns, Mr. Phillips: saw •uidliic. Mr. Davies; six shirts from Mr. G. Fowlds. Donations: A tnenU, fci ; J. VY.. 2s 6d; per Mrs. Little, Os.

For months past men have been working on the open air concrete rink in Stanleystreet, which is being constructed to order of Mr. Gibbons, of Onehunga. It will be the largest in Auckland, being ten laps to the mile. Ifc is intended to open it on Christmas Eve, under the management of Mr. Rix, formerly of the Columbia Rink, and after Christmas it will be lit by the electric light. There is to be a switchback railway, toboggan slide, American bowling alloy, and rifle gallery. It will be seen from these facts, that the proprietor is laying himself out to give the Auckland people a good time this Christmas. The opening night, as already stated, of the Zealandia Rink, as the new rink is named, is Monday next, and admission will be by invitation only. Tenders ire invited elsewhere for a bvass band for the new rink.

Attention is called to the sale of city and suburban properties to be sold by order of the executors of the late Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, by Messrs. B. Tonics and Co., at their mart, Queun-street, to-day, at two o'clock p.m. These properties consist of allotments, shops, and dwellings situate in Victoria and Chapel-streets. The shops are let at good rentals. There is also an allotment in the host part of Hobsonstreet, adjoining Oram's Hotel, and a number of very choice building sites for suburban residences situated in St. Mary's Road, I'onsonby. As the estate is directed to be realised without delay, this sale affords an excellent opportunity to acquire good city freeholds at present bona tide market prices. Plana and all other particulars are obtainable at tho office of Mr. <). Aitken Council, attorney for the executors, or from the auctioneers.

Tho Salvation Army intend to have a demonstration this evening at the Barracks, Albert-street, and tho following temperance organisations will take part in it: —The Good Templars, Reehabites, New Zealand Alliance, Gospel Temperance Association, Hand of Hope Union, and tho Women's Christian Temperance Union. Among the speakers will be Mr. Glover (the New Zealand Alliance agent), Mr. D. Goldie (M.H.R.), and Mr. C. G. Hill.

An excellent entertainment is promised in St. Andrew's Church to-morrow evening. Mr. McDowell will deliver his interesting lecture on "A Tour Through the Holy Land,' , illustrated by large limelight views. There will also be Christmas carols and an organ recital. The proceeds will go to the Sunday-school funds, and assist in giving the youngsters their annual treat.