Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9463, 6 September 1889, Page 4

Last night another adverse motion was made against the Government. On going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Gnmmond, the member for Hokitika, appears to have sprung a mine by moving an amendment practically involving Mr. Fergus, the Minister for Justice, in the censure passed by the Legislative Council on his colleague, Mr. Hislop. The Premier at once moved the adjournment of the debate, followed by the immediate adjournment of the House. The Opposition protested against the last adjournment, as there were many Bills with which they could proceed. The Premier was obdurate, and everything is again hung up until the Government have made up their minds whether they will regard this as a want of confidence motion or not. Cynics will say that their ultimate decision will probably depend on whether they find it in their power to command a majority. At all events, they have taken till to-day to consider the position, and we must wait their decision with such patience as we may. How far the opposition as a body is connected with Mr. Grimmond's amendment is not known. Our correspondent telegraphs that few were aware that it would be made, and that he is assured it was a sudden result of the Premier's statement in the afternoon respecting Mr. Hislop's resignation. However, on the Premier's moving the adjournment, Mr. Ballance, as leader of the Opposition, declared his intention to support Mr. Grimmond, and it may therefore be regarded as sure to receive the support of that party. There can be no doubt that it is unseemly and improper that Mr. Fergus should remain unmoved under the censure passed upon his colleague. He, as Minister for Justice, was the really responsible person.

There is not much change in the strikes at the London dockyards. The men and the companies still remain firm, bub in the case of the wharfingers the former are showing a disposition to yield, and many of them are returning to work. In the timber and iron trades strikes are also taking place, bun the movement has not extended to trades generally. The French elections take place on the 22nd inst., but so far little public interest has been aroused in them, and for many seats no candidates have yet been announced. The Shah of Persia lias had an unpleasant, experience of the perils of railway travelling. While on a journey in Russia the train by which he was a passenger came into collision with another and his carriage was seriously damaged, his Majesty having to be extricated through one of the 'windows. He wns fortunate enough, however, to escape without injury.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the general committee of the recently-formed Railway Reform League was hold. The names of those suggested to form the permanent general committee .were read, and 20 gentlemen expressed their willingness to act. An executive committee of five, who are to draw up a draft plan of operations and report to subsequent general meeting, was elected, the gentlemen chosen being Messrs. S. Vailo, A. Bell, J as. Russell, C. C. McMillan, and R."W. Moody.

Several gentlemen were moving yesterday in the matter of getting up subscriptions to aid the dock labourers in London now on strike. A sum of £20 is now available from the railway employees, and two gentlemen have promised each £5. It is felt -that it would be well that something should be done as soon as possiblo, and that at all events a first instalment should bo cabled this afternoon or on Saturday morning. We shall be glad to receive subscriptions at tho Herald publishing office, to be remitted with the money at present in hand. .

The usual meeting of the committee of the Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon. There were about 25 cases for relief, most of them chronic. One applicant, who comes up to time smiling, in response to the chairman's question, " Well, Jones, what's the trouble?" retorted: ''Trouble! why, the same old trouble— rations !" He got them. It was stated at the Board that' during the past month 14,4001bs of bread and 14,582 rations had been issued by tho Relieving Officer.

greatly irritated over thfef *?* ar « lease rentals for the™ ° f state that similar reductions havT' not T > made by Europeans in the rentals V*? adjoining to native lands, and ?ha i Y**' auctions are desirable, they as I,„S -re should be fully tt Wnera - The Panhaka movements to be Kits vigour. There are nob so manvV.« " g there as formerly, and it I ?-?* Government and the European* »Jr 7, 9 felt these native gatherings?^3*"' the whole affair would speedily ou ' It has transpired that the clerical 1». ber of the Auckland Presbyter, wlT*' cently visited places of evil rep&ftfv city in company with Detective IWhe- l frankly confessed that his investigations'),, led him to change his views to a certain. ! tent on the CD. Act. He sS£ tw from the facts brought under his not; and which he could nob gainsay it clear that two things had resulted from'T? suspension of the Act in Auckland—fir-/ a great addition to the number of worn openly living an evil life ; second, a lar7 increase in juvenile immorality. * e

One of the causes of friction between th Hospital Board and the hon. medical staff it is alleged, has arisen in a very «i mnl ' way. From an incident which occurred the Board took steps to instruct the officer? of tho Hospital to keep a register of th visits of members of the visiting staff The medical men thereupon resented this as an indignity. The majority of the members of the visiting staff claim that the rules of the Hospital do nob provide for daily attendance ; that they are the judo-o-of the time and number of visits ; and that the entries in the visiting book pive no real test of the amount or value of work done. Or. the other hand, the Board claim that the register is to some extent a check upon neglect. The practice of keeping such a register, it is said, does not prevail in the hospitals of the mother country, h is suggested that much of the friction between the two bodies would be avoided it two medical men Baton the Hospital Board and all complaints were made thrown the chairman of the visiting staff. The alterations and improvements at the Sailors' Home consisting of the subdivision ol the upper floor, and fitting it up as additional bedrooms, are now completed, and the rooms comfortably equipped. It says much for the popularity of the institution, as now managed, that the whole of the extra rooms are already applied for and occupied. The great want of the institution now is a decern social room for the inmates, the pokey little apartment used as a smoking-room being insufficient to accommodate the half of them, while the vitiated air of the place must be detrimental alike to health and comfort.

A correspondent writes:—"A contemporary of yours makes a preafc mistake in coupling Dr. Campbell along with Messrs. Clark and Claude as one of the trustees who made Mr. Pay ton's appointment. Dr. Campbell has nothing to do either directly 01 indirectly with the Elam Trust and School of Design to be ; but he lias a very direct connection with the Auckland Free School of Art, which he established, and has maintained at his own sole cost for nearly ten years. Seeing that Mr. Watkins has "held the appointment of instructor to the pupils of the Free School since its foundation, and still holds that appointment, it is not to be supposed that Dr. Campbell could ever have passed over so well-known an artist, and tried and faithful a servant as Mr. Watkins, in favour of the comparatively unknown new arrival Mr. Payton. The Elam trustees are Messrs. Jackson, Clark, and Claude."

The ample proportions of the new Mount Eden prison are now looming up, and a goodly number of prisoners are busily engaged in building their own cage. As fast as accommodation is available, the prisoners are transferred from the wooden buildings to the more permanent structure. It is expected that the building will be ready for roofing early in next year. About ten o'clock yesterday evening a man named Reynolds was arrested at th United Service Hotel on a charge of stealing a bottle of wine. At an inquest on the body of Charles Roberts, a verdict that he shot himself while temporarily insane was returned. II appears he had been despondent, as he had lost some money lately.

The following nominations were received at noon, yesterday, for the Thames Borough Council, one member of each ward having retired through effluxion of time :—North Ward, Jas. McGowan and Thos. Brown; South Ward, J. B. Mason and Theo. Wood; Middle Ward, W. Deeble and W. H. Potts. An election for one-member of each ward will take place on the 12th instant. The usual Gospel Temperance " social", was held last evening at the Temperance Hall. Mr. J. T. Garlick (president), presided, and gave a brief introductory address, and referred in complimentary terms to the new secretary, Mr. H. Ross. Sir W. Fox also congratulated the Mission on securing Mr. Ross, and predicted a fresh era of good work. Mr. Ross announced his intention of forming a Gospel Temperance choir, and several ladies gave in their names. Addresses were delivered by Sir William Fox, Mr. J. H. Gregory, and Mr. Ross. During the evening a pianoforte solo was executed by Miss Gregory, who also sung Children's Voices the song, " Queen of the Earth," was given by Mr. J. 11. Gregory, and a recitation, "The Wreckers," by Mr. Barry, jun. A start has been made by the contractors* for laying the saltwater mains, the pipe" being now laid down from the Graving Dock, through the harbour reclamations. The visitors to the city baths for the most part are greatly pleased at the prospect of the baths being supplied with salt water instead of fresh. There are at present about 300 visitors a month. Advantage has been taken of the winter months by the custodian, Mr. Caldor, to paint the interior columns and roofing, and revarnish the dressing compartments. The baths have now a pleasing appearance, everything being in capital order. Sets of dumbbells and Indian clubs are provided for the juveniles, so that they are able to get off their superfluous energy harmlessly, instead of damaging the property and committing act* of Vandalism. During the coining summer season the baths promise to be very popular.

A good deal of curiosity is evinced as W the operations at the new Fish Market. TM Harbour Board has definitely decided M open the market for business on and after the 11th instant. Applications for stalls have to bo made to the Board, whert copies of the by-laws recontly adopted cat be obtained. The arrangements madl should give the fishing industry a fillip. ant also help to bring that article of diet, fisn, more readily into consumption.

Yesterday evening in the Beresford-stwet Hall a'debate between the Improvement Societies connected with the Bared** street and Mount Eden Congregation Churches was held. The Rev. B.L. Thoroa. occupied the chair, and there was a l«j attendance. The subject of discussion w« the question, Is the Present System « Insurance Against Lops by ; Fire Benencia to the Community ?" Mr. S. Gray, of w Mount Eden Society, opened in the affirmative, and was succeeded by. Mr. P. faP of Beresford-street, in the negative. »*> R. Tudehope for the affirmative, ana ju. J. E. Baker for the negative side,-aw spoke. A couple of visitors also took pan in the discussion, the weight of opinion being that insurance companies aspresent conducted were certainly a benen to the community, though, like every ims concorn, they had some defects which mign ;? be removed. The usual weekly meeting of the Auckland Athenajum took place last evening the rooms of the Society of Arts. t Public Library. Mr. Jorda.n presided. i% . Rev. Mr. Sprott gave an extremely«nte ; e ing and instructive lecture on JPJ rf ■« Faerie Queen." The leefuwrgj" jW description of the poet, with "M to which descriptions of the stirring times in j he lived, as also a careful poem itself. Mr. Cox and the ch fc alr^ 1 J, 01) , part at length in the subsequent» <hsc n J L well as other gentlemen, jfjjrjh" Sprott replied. Mi. O. r. «o < - u ot gve a lecture next night of m»w =„ '« Famous Men and Women I Lave me* now completely empty,, the P» rt magazines having been for we m transferred to the lend"g b ranoh. the to the Free Library state tU«c tioo from removal of the bulk of the. now , QII thence it has had an appreciable * th,i attendance.