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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8157, 20 January 1890, Page 4

Auckland has come out well in the Rifle Association's matches at Mosgiel. The " A Battery of Artillery has won the Teams Match with 23 points to spare. Sergeant Parslow's firing was splendid, 99 points made out of a possible 105. The Championship has gone to Wellington, Seaman Williams, of the Naval Brigade, winning with 453. He was closely followed by Gunner France, of the Wellington Artillery, with 451 points, but Gunner Taylor, of the Auckland Artillery, and Lieutenant 'White, of Auckland, were very close. Taylor's score was 449 and White's 448. For a long while Taylor led, but at the last Williams pulled up and won by four points. Auckland has no reason to lie ashamed, and may be proud of the performance of her representatives, though they did not achieve success. In these warlike days good shooting may prove to be one of the most useful accomplishments for a good citizen. While regretting that our own men did not win, we cordially congratulate the Wellington winner, and are very glad to find such admirable shooting among New Zealand "Volunteers.

Sir W. Jervois, our late Governor, presided at a meeting of the United Service Institute, when Colonel Robert Ellis read a paper on the defences of Australia. It appears to have been somewhat in the same direction as the report received from Major-General Edwards. Colonel Ellis thinks that, in case of European war, Australia must be self-dependent, and that, in order to be so, her separate forces should be united, which is just what General Edwards also recommends. Colonel Ellis also ouggests annual camps and manoeuvres for this united force, the spot to be changed yearly. He does not, apparently, include New Zealand in the federation, as he lays stress on the further necessity of uniting the colonies by rail, so that the fores can operate readily on any point The formation of a standing army of any but the most modest dimensions will ha likely to meet with great opposition in the Australian colonies. By all means let us have an efficient staff, and the nucleus of an army to be increased in time of need. But to stand perpetually armed, as if an enemy were at the gate, will be demurred to as a loss of all the advantages which our distance, ought to bestow. Where is the navy to be all the time ?

The colliery hands of Westphalia appear to be again on the move. This time they demand a" reduction of tha hours of labour to eight, and an increase of 50 per cent, in the wages, ft will be remembered that their strike some months ago assumed very I '# 6 proportions, and was only finally settled by the personal interposition of the Emperor. These miners include numbers of old soldiers, owing to the conscription and forced service of Germany and of the Continent generally. 1"° deputation that waited upon the kmperor, it will also be remembered, consisted of such soldiers, whose breasts were decorated with war medals. Lnder such circumstances a strike .assumes a much more threatening character than it would with men less well drilled an" less well trained to act in concert. I> llS second rising will be watched with in* terest beyond Germany. It mign have been expected that the sett ment come to so recently would lasted longer. But the trouble was, evidently, not settled so thoroughly J all hoped and thought.

Popular feeling continues to be greatly excited in Lisbon, and the resentment to the submission to the English demands is apparently shared by those in high po ßl tion, as our cable messages show that judges and magistrates are resigning their offices in consequence of their views as ® the action of tho late Government. * u ' ther trouble is apprehended, and the a pute is by no menus settled. -in are symptoms cf renewed trouble • £ Crete. A famine in the Soudan is cau % enormous mortality, and the forces ot , Mahdi have in consequence been dls °* n ' It is probable that this calamity will w an important bearing on the political s tion in that country.

"u „ meeting of tlw ciraitteo "l>' &viiuncttjs£ bouse, Carlton amongst })(>vc.s presiding, it was d* Dth or things.to send h„rV tries and pnxe lists to tni . «. ai cultural societies of IJikr.rangi, Port Albert. South Franklin, Thanes, No.then Wairoa. Kawakawa, Warkwoith, Kt kanakapa, Matakohe, ami Onchuuga. it 'vn.fal.~o agreed that, en trie# .nay be posted or sent to Mr. A. E Dewes, the chairman of committee. Box No. 84, General 1 ost Office, Auckland, or left at Uobson s I omruercial Dining Rooms, up to eight o clock on Saturday, the 'JSth instant, after which hour no entries will be received. _ -Mr. Green, of East Tamaki school, hud writte asking for spare for school oxhibits, and it was agreed to grant tho space asked for. Tho number of judges wa.- fixed at four, and it was decided to ask the following gentlemen to act : —Messrs. Bulled (Otahullu), Mayo (Drury), Sharp (Cambridge), and Turner. Dr. Sanders was appointed superintendent, of stewards, with authority to appoint four stewards to assist him ; anil Messrs. McDonald and Payne were appointed a decoration committee, to report to the next meeting. The chairman was instructed to inquire the cost of printing schedules and programmes ; mid it was decided to request Mi** Speight to supervise the making up of children's bouquets. Mr. Henrv Green's letter, which had been previously before the committee, was again brought up. and it was agreed to return thanks to the trustees of the Choral Hall for the concessions which they had granted, and to Mr. H. Green for having obtained this concession for tho committee.

On Saturday morning last a man went to Mr. Shillington at the Free Library, and asked for permission to cut a paragraph out of a recent number of 'he Melbourne Argus. -Mr. Shillington very properly refused to allow public property to be mutilated in this fashion, and the man went away. Subsequently, it seems, a man went to the caretaker in tho newspaper room, and told him that Mr. Shillington had given him permission to cut out the paragraph. The caretaker thought thi? rather kid. but paid no further attention to the matter. At a later st.ige ho found that a portion of the paper hr.d been roughly torn out. When Mr. bhilli::gton heard of it. he put the matter in the hands of the police, who, from the information received, will take steps to trace cat the offender, 1c may seem a small matter, perhaps, tip tear a paragraph out of a newspaper, -those who have experienced the annoyance of searching through a tile of papers mutilated in this fashion will think differently. It is a trick which is very frequently practised by unscrupulous renders at tho Free Public Library.

It is rather curious :o note how history repeats itself in the objection to pay taxes. To- day a strong opposition is being shown to the property tax, or t> any tax in lieu of it. In the Auckland Chronicle of 1545 (neatly halt a century it is stated that "a great many persons lad left the colony to avoid the odious tax-git-heror." If any of thoe men are now l.viug it would be curious to hear their views on the existing taxation and that of the olden time.

Yesterday forenoon, at St. John's Wesleyan Church, Ponsonby, the Rev. J. H. Simmonds referred to the Early Closing Movement. He urged his congregation to abstain from late shopping, ami to do all in their powei to put down this social abuse. The customers Mere just as be. as the shopkeepers, and as much to blar.ie for the perpetuation of the wrong. pointed out the inconsistency and thouptlessness of some professing Christians, mo, enjoyin? short hours themselves, card nothing about the fate of their fellow-oilers less fortunately circumstanced. As-a instance he mentioned one man who .eft off at five o'clock, went home and lid his tea, spent some time with his fanuy in social intercourse, went to a prayer noting, and on his road home dropped in at ten o'clock at a place of business as the tradesman, after fourteen hours' toil, was abut putting up his shutters, to discuss thequestion of " Holiness

The plumbers of Auckland held their annual picnic on Saturday, at be Tamaki, under the auspices of the Maafcr Plumbers' Association. At ten o'clock &e party left the Ferry Company's Wharf, i: the steamer Victoria, and arrived at the iicnic ground about an hour afterwards. junch having been eaten, a programme 'i sports was carried out. There were .welve events, including races for boys, girls, master plumbers, and journeymen plumbers, and a ladies' race. There were also two tugs-of-war. After tea, the picnckers returned, p.nd on the way up the tins was enjoyably spent in singing and cLncing. " Auld Lanjr Syne"' and "Home Sweet Home," and at the wharf "God fare the Queen," three cheers being the: given for the Master Plumbers' Association by the employees.

The open-air meetingof the Gospel Temperance Mission, on thf Queen-street wharf, last evening, was largely attended, over 200 being present. listructive addresses were given by Messrs. -Cromarty, Sunter, Cock raft, and 11. J. Ross. Several pledges v ere taken.

At the annual general meeting of the New Zealand and River Pl;.te Land Mortgage Company (Limited), hed in London on the I'jt'ti instant, a dividend at the rate of eight percent, iwr annum, vas declared for the ?ix imntiis ending Jlst October, 1889. Warrants may now bo obtained by colonial *rn."i-ho!ders in Auckland on application at the company's office, and at the njjeneies.

The;-2 v.-as a good attendance at tho Auckland Bowling Cub's green 011 Saturday afternoon, and tie following matches were played :—No. I rink : W. E. Bennett, <>. Kir.-/, W. E. Pa/ne, W. Gorrie (skip), l f i; v. .1. Green. D. Duthie. A. Thomson, K Irian (-kip), 18. No. 2 rink :D. l)ii:gwajj, J. Lyell M. Macdermott, J. IVerson (skip), "'M ; v. D. Ross, J. J. HolIwl. 0. Humphreys T. Humphries (skip), 15. No. '.) rink :G. Heron, W. S. Jones, J. Bardie, U. Cameron (skip), 13; v. W. '-yell, H. Brett, E. A. Mackechniei P. Oliph.int (--kip), 17.

.The American Coloured Minstrels and Novelty Company, comprising twenty-five ii will open at the Opera House, sndtr special engagement, commencing 011 Thursday evening, the 23rd instant. They *iii produce all the latest musical novelties, i.so in dancing and burlesque. In addition, there will be a grand orchestra and I-anirJe bund. Full particulars in our ad-verti-ing columns.

The list of entries for the Poultry Show Gi'i not clov?, as anticipated, on Saturday Ev There were more than the committee could attend to, and they will be received to-day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and "Orn 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to-morrow, at the offices of Messrs. W. J. Hurst and Co.

fiie entries for the law examination t'osed on Saturday, the following having teen received by Mr. Bas ley, the Del«U r -.—For- barrister law (soli citors previously admitted), 4; for barker r.nd solicitor, 4 : solicitor law, 7 ; Winer,; general knowledge, 0 ; solicitors, , Ihe examination will take place on the .' lfl <)f Mnrch, being the la3t under the old in future candidates will be examined under the Auckland University, and '• "Hcs. There will also be only one each year instead of two, as '"■•rctijfore.

0> Lie il, 'liilterated pepper case was finished t>Vp'- ri ' a -' -""niiig at tho Police Court by ii'A - *i r ''""t Magistrate inflicting a nominal ■J'r''\ 10s : '"' costs. About three years there * cre several "pepper prosecu-

u" r ' lay evc "i'ig, at St. Patrick's Cathesaiio . Mrttnbro, of Warner's Company, -ord' a r vol,,l,tar y Evan's " Fiat Misere-cta-H l *"* a beautiful air, and it reVo j . " e fullest expression. Mr. Hambro's he «f' a l^° wei "ful and cultured baritone; ease un( f distinct enunciation, "is phrasing is most artistic. it.i' Jewell is taking Dr. Daldy'a duties •Held ' ta ' or a ew( fays till the latter ArohjJ 10 80tne private business at Te

kufc rather annoying mishap Ro%inp,.? n Saturday to the St. Georges oa r i f ll }h, in that they lost a pine steer tendwl onf; ' n S to the whaleboafc that is inl»s on* e usec * ' n the Jubilee Regatta. «nd ha* k' ne that it was left on the beach, tbtrt. j s Wn carried away by the tide. As btfor. t i 101 sufficient time to replace it of' t * lo c ' would be glad if notify e i. w , return the oar promptly, and o°e0 ° e doing 6 Wnere they will reward any-

The Postmaster-General of Now South Wales has reoeived the following letter from the Sydney manager of the Union Steamnhip Company of New Zealand, in regard to an allegation that the San Francisco mail steamers aro manned by Chinese labour :—" In acknowledging the receipt of your letter, I beg to say that the steamers employed in the service under the new contract are manned exclusively with Europeans, in torms of the contract made with the Woverniuont of New South Wales. Therefore the report to which you have drawn my attention is quite unfounded.—l have, &c., F. W. Jackson."

Air. Gulliver lectured to a large audience at the Temperance Hall last night. After replying briefly to recent criticisms, the lecturer proceeded to bis subject, " Orthodoxy and its Pretensions—or does Heterodoxy necessitate Practical Godlessness," which hehud outlined on the previous Sunday. He said that he was not dealing with that comparatively small number of people liVing honourably and consistently under orthodox v. but with j>opulftr religion taken as a whole. Various claims with regard to the rule of living were made by this popular orthodoxy, but these were denied by everyday facts, and our social system. He affirmed that could popular orthodoxy be swallowed up by a moral earthquake tho world would not- be altered in the least for the worse, for it was a thorough sham, the onlv difference that might be felt being that the insincerity engendered by the prevailing -hearted belief would be lessened. Passing on to the second part of his lecture Mr. Gulliver said that Christ, from whom we professed to draw the truth, was not orthodox in his time, but heteredox, defying and settling Himself against the systems existing at that time. The result was that he died, a cruel death Thus-heterodoxy laid the foundation of our present great orthodox system, and this might apply to Buddhism, and in many other instances, such as the Reformation. The same principle held good all through. Heterodoxy gave us ne.v impulses, influencod popular movements, enabled us to face the problems of tho day. and showed us the " way out of tho wood." We should do our best to carry out this principle, seeking only Truth, tlmt Truth which demanded not onlv empty assent, but the careful weighing ot' everything in unprejudiced scales.

As was expected, the Resident Magistrate very properly dismissed the charge of larceny brought against Mr. ,James Kelly by his own son. The case was heard at the Police Court, and Dr. Giles after hearing the evidence of the son and accused's statement, decided that it was unnecessary for the latter to call evidence, as this was not a caso for conviction for larcony. Ho did not consider there was any felonious intent, and therefore dismissed the case.

A labour strike of unusual importance has been terminated under circumstances which may affect the conditions governing the strikes all over the world. Andrew Carnegie and Co. are among he largest iron makers in America, their various works employing several thousand men. At their homestead iron and steel works in Pennsylvania a strike was ordered recently, the object being, as usual, an advance in wages. The firm refused to pay the price demanded, and a lock-out was threatened. Several of the works wore shut down, and more were to follow. A committee of the labour organisation had several conferences with the members of the firm, and an agreement was reached by which a sliding scale of wages was adopted, and to remain in force for live years. By this scale the workmen s wages are to bo governed by the ut ice of iron and steel, rising or falling as the market fluctuated. There is a minimum figure below which wages are not to descend, no matter how low may be the selling price of the product, but there is no maximum on which wages shall be restricted. This is the first time that such a compromise has been reached, and a sliding scale adopted for a term of years.

The popularity of Waiwera as a summer resort was amply testified on Saturday by the large number of visitors which patronised the excursions by the steamers Rose Casey and Clansman. The grand weather made the trips more than usually ploasant, and as both vessels will probably leave off the Saturday excursions all who went were evidently determined to make the most of their opportunity and enjoj themselves to the utmost.

Years ago (says the Sydney Morning Herald) there was a good trade from Australasian ports to South Africa, buo whether the facilities for reaching the Cape of Good Hope, or Natal, have decreased or not, it is certain that the passenger traffic has very much fallen off. Since the Suez Canal absorbed tho steam traffic, Southern Africa, so far as these colonies are concerned, has not been included in the familiar vocabulary of travellers. Colombo, once to Australians relatively as far distant as London, has usurped the place of Capetown in the outward and homeward trips. Now and then a sailing &hip is laid 011 for the Cape from this port and Melbourne. That a trade is to be cultivated, however, between Sydney and ports of call in Australia by steamer would seem to be indicated in the demand for passages which has taken place with regard to the White Star steamer Australasian. Upon inquiry at Messrs. Dalgety and Co.'s yesterday as to the prospects in this respect, it was ascertained that the Australasian will take a large number to the Cape in her trip timed for next month.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board will beheld to-day, at noon, at thoir offices, to consider the accounts of the Board for the past year, in terms of section 55 of the Harbour Act, 1878. The ordinary meeting will be held to-morrow (Tuesday), at half-past two o'clock.

There was an excellent attendance last evening at the Young Men's Christian Association evangelistic service in the City Hall. Mr. Jtuiie* Buttle, who for many years has materially assisted the work of the Association, presided, and conducted the opening devotional exercises, and gave a short address. He was followed by the Rev. J. S. Hill, who delivered one of his stirring addresses, taking for his text, part of the 12th chapter of John, And lif£ be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto Me. This He said signifying what death lie should die." In recognition of Mr. Buttlc's departure (he leaves to-morrow for Melbourne), the choir sa'ig, " God Be With You Till We Meet Again." He has been a staunch friend of the Young Men's Christian Association and has twice filled the responsible office of treasurer.

At the Opera House on Saturday night Mr. Charles Warner repeated the melodrama, " Streets of London," before a crowded audience. As on the previous night, everything went smoothly, and the acting of Mr. Warner and Miss Gracie Warner was everything that could be desired, whilst the fire-scene was one of the most terribly realistic ever staged in Auckland. To-night will be the last of the season, Mr. Warner taking a well-deserved benefit. The programme will include the first act of •' Hands Across the Sea," the first act of " The Streets of London," tho balcony from " Romeo and Juliet," concluding with the famous screen scene from "The School for Scandal," a conglomeration that should satisfy tho most exactiu". A buinpor house may be expected." He leaves for Sydney by tho Te Anau on tho 21sbinst. The entertainment at the Sailors' Home on Saturday evening last was kindly provided by tho Souster Family, who kept the friends interested throughout. After the opening hymn, Miss Bertha Souster recited ""Abstaining by Degrees." This piece was nicely rendered and woll received. The Souster Family then sang one of their choruses in a pleasing manner. Master Fred Souster then gave a song, and this "was followed by an address by Mr. Souster, which was both interesting and brief. Miss Isomer executed a piano solo, and this was followed by a chorus by the Souster Family. The Family contributed a number of other equally good items, all well rendered, and which received well-merited applause. The chairman announced that the Beresford-sbreeb Congregational Church choir had promised the programme next Saturday. There were in the lock-lip, last night, two prisoners on charges of drunkenness.

, All persons owing for water supplies at the hour of closing the City Council offices to-day will have their water supply cut off to-morrow by the city turncock. We would again remind our readers of the pianoforte recital and concert this evenlai at All Saints' schoolroom. 11l is given by Mr Sutherland, assisted by a number of ladies and gentlemen, in aid of the church funds The programme is a very choice and varied one. and will, we feel sure, command a large audience.