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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8222, 5 April 1890, Page 4

The situation in Russia is growing more serious. The punishment inflicted upon the students has created a strong feeling throughout the country, and intense excitement is said to prevail. An uprising of the peasantry is reported, a symptom which shows how critical the position has become, for hitherto the superstitious awe in which they have held the " Little Father"—the Czar— kept the great bulk of the Russian peasantry aloof from political and revolutionary movements. On the present occasion the rising appears to have been of a, serious character, for it is said to have been quelled only after severe fightingand bloodshed. The internal condition of Russia being such as is here represented we may, as in the past under somewhat similar circumstances, look for a renewal of activity abroad. We already see it in the Balkan States, where the action of Servia in regard to Bulgaria is believed to be due to the influence of Russia. According to Stanley, the action of Emin Bey will be confined within the limits of the German territory in Africa, and will not interfere with the operations of the British Company.

His Excellency the Governor (Lord Onslow), the 'Jountess of Onslow, ami the Hon. E. Mitcholson returned to Auckland by special train last evening, at 0.30, from their visit to the King Country and the Waikato.

The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, accompanied by Mr. F. Lawry, M.H.R., will go to Mangere to-day, leaving town at ten o'clock, in ordor to decide in regard to the reserve.

The subscribers to the Telephone Exchange are reminded that if their subscriptions are not paid by Tuesday-morning, the Bth instant, they will find themselves cub off. Monday being a public, holiday it might save them inconvenience- if they paid their subscription some time to-day.

Some 90 men are now employed on Mr. Fallon's Rotorua Railway contract, of whom 20 are Maoris, who are working in the bush, bush felling. The length of the line to be constructed is from ten to eleven miles, twenty-three months being allowed for completion. Mr. Fallon is rapidly getting his old men round him. Some of them have tramped up from Palmorston North overland to get on the works. This speaks well for the kindly feeling existing between master and men.

It will be learned with regret that Mr. Hugh Knox, of Otahuhu, died at an early hour this morning of pneumonia, at the District Hospital. He was an old and respectod settler in the district.

Yesterday evening at the Temperance Hall, Mr. T. B. Hall, of Sydney, gave an exhibition of the art of palmistry. There was only a small attendance. Mr. Hall read the lives and characters of several of those present by studying their hands, and also gave them advice as to their health, etc. A man aillicted with paralysis went on to the platform. He was told of the nature of his ailment, and received information as to its cure. Mr. Hall was to have given an address, embracing nob only palmistry bub kindred subjects, but it was announced that the address had been postponed, and would be given in a fortnight hence.

About nine o'clock yesterday morning information was received by the Water Police from some passengers by the p.s. Britannia, from tho North Shore, that a body had been observed floating in the stream off Devonport. Thinking ib might be the corpse of Mr. Henry Talbot, who was drowned under such sad circumstances last .Sunday, the police lost no time in manning their boat and proceeding to the spot, only to find that the supposed body was only a coat, which, being buttoned up closely, presented the appearance of a partially submerged corpse.

The Wellington Press, in noticing one of Mr. Christie Murray's lectures, says : — ■' Mr. Christie Murray last night gave one of the most brilliant series of sketches of a life experiences which it has ever been our lot to hear. It was not onlythat his treatment of his subjects was made with a rare dramatic power, but that the whole was dominated by a refinement of mind, and a nobleness of ideal, and expressed in a relined and cultivated language, that gave the profoundest charm to the whole. So great was the dramatic power shown in some cases, especially in the scene of the colliery on fire, that we can only compare it for power to the scene in the Bells where Irving as Matthias tells, under the influence of mesmerism, the story of his murder of the Polish Jew. There is this difference, Irving is assisted by all the accessories of the stage, Christie Murray stands on a bare platform in simple evening dross. The whole lecture was an education in itself, and so enthralled were his audience that they could hardly believe when he bowed and left the stage that the end had come."

At Wellington it is proposed to make a charge for admission of visitors to the (Caster Encampment at Island Bay. The men feel that it is an injustice to make a charge on their friends who wish to visit them and spend in their company a very small portion of the holiday they are depriving themselves of for the sake of conforming to the regulations of a duty they have voluntarily taken upon themselves.

The Rev. Dr. Harper, who has just retired from the Primacy, and the Bishopric of Christchurch, was consecrated at Lambeth as Bishop of Christchurch' in New Zealand, on August 10, 1856, and on Christmas Eve in the same year ho arrived in his diocese. In 1808 ho succeeded Bishop Belwyn as Primate of New Zealand. After 34 years of episcopal service, 22 years having been in tho Primacy, he resigns his charge. A Wellington paper, in noticing Bishop Harper's retirement, says:— Dr. Harper lias ever proved himself a thorough Christian gentleman. Of an exceedingly loveable nature, he was yet a firm and determined supporter of all he thought right, and a contemner of all that approached to evil. Learned but modest, he was ever ready to lend his assistance to all who needed it, and though a thorough Churchman, he was mild and tolerant to those whose religious views differed from his own. Ho was no bigot, and he attached more value to an honest-minded attempt to live up to the fundamental principles of his faith than to any mere observance of outward forms and ceremonies." hi the Otahuhu Public Hall on Wednesday night there was a splendid gathering of the many friends and acquaintances of Mr. C. A. Bowdcn and family, in order to give them a " farewell " Mr. Bowden is a very old and well-known resident in Otahuhu, having settled there some twenty-seven years ago, and has been engaged in farming ever since. The family is uow about to leave Otahuhu for tho Waikato. During a long residence in Otahuhu Mr. Bowden and each member of his family have won and maintained for themselves the affection and esteem of a wide circle of friends, and they have always been ready and zealous to assist in every work which has had for its.object the welfare and advancement of the district. A large number of invitations were isoiied for the "farewell dance" on Wednesday night, and a large gathering was the result. The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion. A very enjoyable evening was spent. Supper was served in the anteroom. After this, tho company adjourned again to the hall, and then a very pleasing part of the proceedings was gone through, in the presenting to Mr. C. Bowden, jun., of a handsome watch and chain, suitably inscribed, by the subscribers to the Otahuhu Public Library, of which institution Mr. Bowden has been for a long time the attentive, courteous, and obliging secretary and librarian. The presentation was neat as it was thoughtful, and was made by Mr. Armstrong as chairman of the committee, who addressed a few words to Mr. Bowden suited to the occasion, and to which Mr. Bowden responded with evident feeling, and concluded amidst loud applause. Dancing was then recommenced, and kept up until about two o'clock. The music was excellent, being supplied by Messrs. Reid and Davidson's well-known string band.

The Te Whiti-ites are active again, and are collecting food and supplies for a great meeting near Manaia. The Day of Judgment is at hand, they say, as usual, and the great prophet this time is to be Tohu, on whose shoulders the mantle of Te Whiti at present is supposed to rest. It is commonly asserted among those who are conversant with the mental attitude of the Maoris, that so far from Te Whiti having lost influence through his recent imprisonment for debt, he has added to his " mana" by his submission to the indignity.—Hawera Star. This afternoon a very pleasant outing will be afforded to those who patronise the West End Rowing Club's Aquatic Gala at Lake Takapnna. Both the fine steamers Eagle and Britannia are to be laid on, and the trip will thus be made without inconvenience. The landing will bo made at the now wharf, so that no trouble or discomfort need bo feared. Impey's Band has been engaged for the afternoon, and will play selections on both trips, as well as on the ground. In addition to the gig races, there will be included in the programme a ladies' race, tub race, duck hunt, greasy boom, while a feature of the afternoon's proceedings will be a walking -on - thewater event, in which three competitors will engage. We are glad to learn that tho proprietors of the Freeman's Bay Glass Works (Messrs. M. Cook and Sons) have received orders through the railway contractors for the manufacture of railway carriage lamps for both tho local lines and those in some of the Southern provinces. Tho firm have also received an order for the manufacture of class shades for electric lamps from San * rancisco, which would go to show that they can be made more cheaply here than in protected America.

The following appeared in a recent num. ber of the Lyttelton Times : —As a proof o£ the benefits that may he "obtained from the system of scholarships existing in connection with the present State education in New Zealand, no better instance can well be found than the record of Mr. T. Hilliet Green, whose friends have just received advices that he has passed his M.A. examination with first-class honours. Mr. Green, who is nob yet of age, is the fourth son of Mr. Thomas H. Green, of Christchurch, and received the rudiments of his education at the Normal School, whore, in ISSI, when but twelve years of age, ho gained the B Government scholarship of £40 a year, tenable for two years. He did nob hold it, however, for two year?, as ho in the following year gained the C scholarship, also of £40 a-year, tenable for two years. This also he relinquished at the end of a year, as in 1883 he again distiu. guished himself, winning the D scholarship, of equal value, likewise tenable for two years. During these two years lie studied afc the Boys' High School. In 1835 he pained the Gillies Scholarship, the bet -'est of the late Mr. Justice Gillies, of Auckland. This was of £100 a year for three years, and necessitated his residence in Auckland, where, in December of 188$, he passed his final examination for the B.A. decree, and obtained a University senior scholarship in Chemistry, tenable for one year, and of the value of £00. In December, 1889, as stated above, he has taken his M.A. degree with first-class honours in chemistry. lb will thus be seen that while he has been steadily advancing in literary and scientific knowledge, he has earned, by his mental efforts, during eight years, the substantial sum of £520, or an average of '£05 a year. Though, undoubtedly Mr. Green has made an extraordinary record, what he has done, it is open to any student of the State schools to do, and certainly his career ought to stimulate others now beginning their public education to do their utmost to achieve similar distinction. As yefc young Mr. Green cannot know of his latest, success, as he is on his way to England, where he intends to study for the medical profession at the London University, and where all who know him and his friends trust he will make his mark as he has done in New Zealand.

The Catholic Times having made som< remarks on the late speech of Mr. G Fisher, that gentleman replies in a Ion; letter, from which we quote the following passage:—"ln brief, my examination )i the public accounts, as published in tie Gazette, shows this : that the ordinary an] territorial revenue for the nine months ws insufficient to meet the annual and permanent charges by no less a sum thai £495,862. That result being demonstrated we are next brought face to face witi another 'achievement.' In the June quarte: the Treasurer, as he is bound by law to do, paid to the Sinking Fund Commissioners f. sum of £275,200, which he immediately borrowed from them upon the security of debentures issued under the Consolidated Stock Act, 1884, the money being paid back into the Treasury as ' revenue !' The sum duly appears on the revenue side of the account. The deficiency of £495,862 is therefore reduced by. that amount. Could anything be more preposterous or absurd ? But suppose the legitimacy of this class of 'revenue' to be not questioned—although it cannot be lost sight of that any debenture issue must have its period of redemption—there is still a deficiency on the nine months' returns of £220,062, instead of the glorious predicted surplus; and this deficiency can only be met, and another surplus ' achieved,' by the continuance of the process of stealthy suppression which ha- 8 been persistently practised in the past."

Murray, the Maori who escaped from the gaol at Ly ttelton some time ago and created much excitement at the time, died in ths prison there yesterday morning.

A visitor, who is returning to Australia, writes thus: —The public of Auckland should be—in fact, 1 have no doubt they are—honestly proud of their Public Library, as it is the best in New Zealand. It ranks next to that of Melbourne. I may even go further by saying that in many respects it is superior to Melbourne, inasmuch that it contains works which Melbourne has not, and I very much doubt if even the British Museum has them. I refer to works in the " Grey Collection," works of history. Those dealing with the several colonies in the Southern Seas are most valuable, for one if able to become acquainted, by reading them, with the history of the land of hi; birth, or that of his adoption. Another matter I should like to touch upon—an important one—viz., the uniform kindness and attention shown to all, visitors or citizens, by the librarian and his assistants. Visitors I am sure must feel, whilst in Auckland, a great pleasure in being able to use an institution, free of charge, which is second to none in the Australian colonies.

The Prahran Telegraph (Victoria) publishes in its issue of March 19, a series of notices of motion which have been tabled at the Prahran Board of Advice by Dr. Leger Erson relative to a proposed medical supervision of State Schools, and which will be considered at the next meeting of the Board. They run as follows :—"That this Board of Advice, in view of recent disclosures with regard to the hygienic condition of the public schools, and believing that the excessive rate of mortality and illhealth amongst school children has a potent cause in the same, is of the opinion :— 1. That the State is imperatively called upon to order an official and complete hygienic inspection of the localities of all private and public schools in operation. '2. That the Government should appoint: First, a school physician-in-chief having a consultative and deliberative function with the Minister of Public Instruction ; second, likewise a school physician for each school or schools containing 1000 scholars and under, a school physician having a seat upon the Board of Advice of his district. 3. That the school physician should have consultative and deliberative functions equally with the school principal, who should be held responsible for the carrying out of the hygienic rules recommended, and that in the event of differences arising between these officials the school physician-in-chief to be arbitrator. 4. In the instance of new buildings the school physician shall give his opinion on the site and plans of the building, and shall superintend its construction. His opinion, relative to number, position, and dimension ol the windows, must be regarded, as also the method of warming, ventilation, furnishing, and disposal of excreta. 5. The school physician should measure all the pupils at the commencement of every six months, and place them at desks and seats comformable to the height of each. 6. He ought each year to determine the condition of refraction of eyes of all the pupils." Three other resolutions deal only with the carrying out of the above.

Captain Jackson Barry is at present in Tasmania lecturing. He is engaged on his new work, entitled "Australian Men of the Times," on which he has been working for six years, and which is now nearly ready for publishing. He purposes shortly revisiting New Zealand. The following are from Lloyds' list of missing friends of February 16 and 23:— Charles Ernest Hows (35) was at Paparata, Auckland, New Zealand, 1880. Mother, brothers, and sisters ask. James Donovan sailed in the Dorrete for Auckland in 1874, and when last heard of was employed bv a Mr. Knox at Waikato, Now Zealand. His mother writes. Thomas St. Leger, A.8., went to New Zealand on the Conflict about 15 years ago. Is supposed to have joined a whaler. Brother Harry asks. Alfred Scrivens left Kent for New Zealand about 15 years ago, and in 18S6 was living at 16, Upper East-street, East Greenwich. Sister asks. Reuben Ellesley, of Woking, went to New Zealand 16 years ago, and was last heard from in 1885. Sister Lucy asks. George and Jamqg Goscomb are inquired for by their sister Jane. George was last heard of in New Zealand 30 years ago; James is believed to be in Liverpool. Mrs. Barnard and her sister Mrs. Milgal are sought by a sister. Mrs. Barnard sailed to join her brother in New Zealand in IS7-. and was last hoard of 1874; Mrs. Milgal was 10 years ago in the same colony.

A peculiarity about the blind is that there is seldom one of them who smokes. Soldiers and sailors accustomed to smoking, and who have lost their sight in action, continue to smoke for a short while, but soon give up the habit. They say that it gives them no pleasure when they cannol see the smoke, and some have said that they cannot taste the smoke unless they see it. This almost demonstrates the theorj that if you blindfold a man in a room full of smoke, and pub a lighted and unlighted cigar in his mouth alternately, he will not be able to tell the difference.

Mr. Henry George arrived in Melbourne on March 25. Mr. George was met by Mr. T. S. Cope, Dr. Maloney, M.L.A., and Mr. Trenwith, M.L.A., as well as several members of the Land Nationalisation Society and the Social Democratic Association. Ho was heartily cheered by the crowd as he took his seat in a cab to be driven to the Grand Hotel. Here he was tendered a welcome in a formal manner by the members of the Land Nationalisation Society, who presented him with an address which complimented him on the scheme which ho has promulgated for the welfare of mankind, and referred to the growth of the land nationalisation movement in Victoria. Mr. George returned his thanks for the kind reception which had been accorded him, and referred to the fact that ho was greeted nlike by freetraders and protectionists. Ho remarked that he quite understood how tho system of protection had found favour in the colony. It had been promised by those who had espoused it that it would do something for labour, and it appeared to working men that they would get more through protectionists than through those who falsely called themselves freetraders. Tho battle of free trade had yet to be won, however, and the men who would carry freetrade to its full culmination would be those who would bring about the reform that Richard Cobden fought for—the reform that would make it impossible for women and children to die of hunger. It seemed to him that men who appreciated the real dignity of labour could not long continue to be protectionists.

The Rangitikei Advocate says :—" Mr. Bruce informs me that he has definitely decided to stand for the Waitotara seat. He was unwilling to announce himself until he had received offers of support from the northern end of the constituency, where ho is personally unknown. But he has already had such offers of support that he has determined to contest the seat against all comers. - ' A writer in a Dune-din paper says that a deal table was sold recently and fetched a price many times its value, because it had been used as a writing desk by Lord Cranlev. the son of the Karl of Onslow, and ho bid scrawled his name on it in several places. "In Hoc Signo Vinces " returns to the charge, and criticises Dr. Laishley's last utter at considerable length. The communication, however, is too purely rhetorical to be of value as argument, so that we cannot print it in full. The writer says :— "Dr. Laishley has constituted himself the champion of the high priest of Materialism, and l am ready at any time to take the other side. I will meet him in the columns pf the press, or on the boards of a public platform. But tho issue must be clearly defined. My position is expressed in the following words of Henry George :—'The equal right of all men to the use of land is as clear as the equal right to breathe air : it is a right proclaimed by the fact of their existence.' It is now for Dr. Laishley to cleariy define his position, and I hope he will do it in as few words as I have done. What dost thou mean? What are you driving at, O Kongo the Furious? In the last number of the " Nineteenth Century" Professor Huxley writes another article,'which is merely a continuation of the tirst. Dr. Laishley calls the latter a "most amusing article,'' but where the amusement comes in I fail to see. If his lot was cast like mine, in the ranks of the crushed and toil-worn millions, upon whose bending backs is erected the splendid fabric, miscalled civilisation, he would not laugh so loudly."

The first lecture? of the several course? in the University College are open to the public. The particulars will he found in our advertising columns. The lectures are to begin on Tuesday next. We observe that Professor Thomas's department — biology and geology—is to be opened in the building lately transferred to the College from the Government; Survey and Land Olhces, which building has been in process of alteration for College purposes during a number of weeks past. The departments of Professors Aid is and Posnett—classics, English, and mathematics—are for the present retained in Admiralty House, the building in Parliament-street not being as yet ready for them. Professor Schmitt's classes, we understand, are permanently to meet in the Choral Hall. The classes in technical drawing are also to continue in the building of the Auckland College and liraramar School, by permission of the Board of Governors of that institution, the buildings belonging to the College being fully occupied otherwise. Professor Brown's department--chemistry and experimental physics—is to be, of course, still located in Eden-street. The College's recent acquisition does certainly afford an amount of relief which has been badly wanted ; but after all it is a pity that. Auckland does not possess a College building adequate to its needs, and more in keeping with the importance of the city and provincial district.

The Feilding Star saj's: —"We have pleasure in putting on record the fact that there was one editor on this coast who reverenced Sir Robert Stout so much that lie named p. splendid Langshan rooster after the Knight, because he was such a fine bird, and made such a blasted row about nothing."

The Lyttelton Times, of the 29th ultimo, Fays : —As showing the large number of frozen sheep now awaiting shipment here, it may be mentioned that last week six thousand carcases were sent from Timaru to be stored on board the hulk Edwin Fox until tonnage can be procured for their shipment. Yesterday three thousand carcases were sent from Oamaru to be stored, and these will be followed by three thousand more from the same place to-day. It is stated that there are, in addition, some thirty-five thousand frozen sheep stored between Oamaru and Dunedin.

_ The Otahuhu Public Hall is to be enlivened on Wednesday in Easter week by a gift auction, the proceeds to be given to the Parsonage Fund of Holy Trinity Church. The varied contributions from the people of Otahuhu, the farmers in the neighbourhood and other friends, will be ex-posed for sale at three o'clock in the afternoon, and at seven the balance will be sold by auction. Mr. T. M. .Jackson has kindly consented to officiate on the occasion. There are many who, while not able to give in money, will gladly contribute in kind towards tins good object. It is to be hoped that the efforts of the Ladies' Guild, who are getting up the affair, may be eminently successful in materially reducing the debt incurred in building the new parsonage.

At Wesley Churcn, Wellington, on Sunday last, the Rev. W. Lee preached a valedictory sermon, he having been appointed by the Wesleyan Conference to a charge in Auckland. He said he felt that during the three years he had been in Wellington he had not had one solitary disagreement with one single person, and ho did not think that in any circuit he had been he hud realised more real comfort and happiness.

The Salvation Arm}' held their anniversary and harvest festival last evening at the Barracks, Albert-street. There was a crowded attendance. Addresses were given by Colonel Taylor, Major Rolfe, and a number of local officers.

An excursion of the Franklin-road Primitive Methodist Church will take place on Easter Monday to Hobsonville by the s.s. City of Cork and s.s. Vivid, from Queen-street. Wharf, at 9.15 a.m. Various amusements for young people, and a camp meeting in the afternoon, when addresses will be given by the Revs, A. J. Smith, W. Laycock, and other .

The usual meeting for united prayer and Bible reading will be held this evening in the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms at 7.30. A meeting of members of the Mangere Farmers' Club will be held in the Mangere Public Hall on Monday evening, at seven o'clock. The St. Barnabas Needlework Guild will hold its third annual sale of plain and fancy work in Wake's Hall, Mount Eden, on Friday next, in aid of the Church Debt Fund. The Columbia Skating Rink will be open ; iis afternoon and evening, The London and Berlin Piano Company are How offering a large number of pianos and organs at less than wholesale cost. They nave several of Brinsmead's and Sons and Bud Ibachsohn's. Highest class. Prize medal pianos to be sold at less than landing cost, is they are absolutely compelled to reduce their enormous stock, in consequence of the arrival of some heavy shipments from various makers, by whom they have been appointed Bole agents. This is a splendid opportunity ■or those wanting a high-class organ or piano at a low price- Particulars to be found in outadvertising column-