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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 4

Tho latest news from Australia respecting the labour difficulty there is to the effect that all the Broken Hill Silver Mines will be shut down on Wednesday, owing, presumably, to want of coal. This will have the efleet of throwing four thousand miners cub of work, as well as depriving the strikers of the contributions which were expected from that quarter. The miners themselves are likely to become a charge on the Unions, as foreseeing the closing of the aiines they are said to have resolved to go out on strike for an increase of wages so af, to entitle them to draw strike pay. According to an official return the number of men on strike in New South Wales amounts to nine thousand. Cable messages from London state that the dockers are sending out boxes to be aflixed at railway stations for subscriptions for the strikers, and are appealing to the clergy for assistance. Other trades are also raising funds with a similar object. On the other hand various employers and firms have cabled several thousand pounds to assist the shipowners and others in Australia who are resisting the demands of the Unions.

The Herald Monthly Summary, for transmission per R.M.s.s. Mariposa, will bo published on Monday morning next, Bth inst. The mail for newspapers will close on the same day, at half-past eleven a.m.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued yesterday. Alexander McLean, for breaking into Mr. Howden's jewellery shop in Queen-street, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Joseph Barry, convicted of false pretences, was admitted to probation, and so also was Robert Parris, who was convicted on a charge of cattle stealing. Michael Kirby was convicted on a chargo of breaking into tho Pukekohe railway-station and stealing a safe, but as there are numerous other charges against this prisoner sentence was deferred.

The duties of Messrs. J. Gilmour and S. Y. Collins at tho Police Court yesterday morning were not of a very serious nature. There were only two cases of drunkenness, which were quickly disposed of in the usual way ; and two small fines were inflicted, the one for having a chimney on fire, and the other for a breach of the city by-laws by riding a horse on a public footpath.

Op flip application of Mr. ToleHis Honor Mr. Justice Conolly fixed Wednesday next for the hearing of the charge of wilful murder against Henry Funcke, and His Honor further intimated that the civil sittings of the Court would be postponed until eleven o'clock next Monday week.

The quarterly meeting of the Waikomiti Licensing Committee was held yesterday at the New Zealand Insurance Buildings, Mr. Ussher presiding. Messrs. Atwood, Parr, and Sharp were present, with the clerk, Mr. Seaman, and a favourable police report was received respecting the New Lynn Hotel, and a transfer of license was granted from Richard McVeigh to Elizabeth Patterson.

Information ha? been received that Mr. Alfred Herbert Elkin, elder son of Mr. Elkin, of Home Bay, has successfully passed the examinations in dental surgery, etc., at the Otago University.

A man named John Comport, a wellknown resident, is missing at Hokitika and it is feared he has fallen over the wharf or committed suicide.

A miner named Sullivan was found dead in his hut at Hokitika yesterday, death being due to heart disease. He had served in the East Indian Company's service, and was through the Indian Mutiny.

It is rumoured that a large majority of the railway servants in the Auckland dist>' <>avo declared against a strike, in the recent ballot taken 011 the question.

A meeting of the committee appointed to bring tho coming agricultural show at Epsom to a. successful issue took place at the office of tho Mangere Farmers' Club, Equitable Insurance Buildings, yesterday afternoon. Mr. W. F. Massey occupied the chair. Mr. Saver, of tho Waikato, wrote signifying his willingness to do all in his power to bring the objects of the show before the residents of that district. The committee then went into tlfo question of the schedules submitted, which were discussed at length, and several amendments were agreed to.

A petition of insolvency has been filed by James Mackintosh Eraser, hotolkeeper, Auckland. Mr. Eraser is manager of the United Service Hotel.

The performance at the Opera House last nitrht by the Cowan Dramatic Company took the form of a benefit to Mr. Arthur and Miss Helen Vivian. The piece chosen was the drama " Queen's Evidence." The manner in which the various characters were sustained was eminently satisfactory throughout, and tho scenery as a whole was exceptionally good. Mr. Collet Dobson was specially successful in his representation of (Gilbert Medhurst, a young clerk suspected of being a coiner, who finally proves his innocence. Ho and Miss Helen Vivian were several times called before the curtain. Mr. Cowan, as the villain of the play, also deserves notice ; and Mr. Arthur Vivian, as his accomplice, who finally turns Queen's evidence, made a feature of his part. To-night will be tho last appearance of tho company in Auckland, when tho same play will bo again staged.

Mr. Leslie W. A. Mac Arthur has now on view at the Waverley Hotel one of his Meta portable assay furnaces. . It. seems to be admirably adapted for prospecting parties, and others for testing quartz to discover its value. The whole apparatus weighs lewt, and with necessary chemicals only costs £10. We understand it will be on exhibition at the Chamber of Commerce 011 Monday.

The following is a return of the sheep in the Otago district for the year ended May 31st. Tho total number of sheep was 8,912,409, made up as follows:—Merinos, males 838,837, females 1,077.161 ; longwools, males 38,729, females 62,853 ; crossbreds, males 678,305, females 1,166,524. There was a decrease in the number of sheep in the counties of Waitaki, Maniototo, Vincent, Lake, Waihomo, Waikouaiti, and Taieri, and an increase in the Peninsula, Bruce, Clutha, Tuapeka, Southland (Tapanui division), Southland (Southland division), and Wallace. The total increase over the number of sheep in thd district in the year ending May 31st, 1889, was 77,471. A Napier Press Association telegram states that the sheep returns show that on May 31st last, the number of sheep in the Hawke's Bay district was 3,558,257, an increase of 303,473 in the year.

I We publish in another column the full j programme for the Sisters of Mercy benefit performance, which takes place in Abbott's Opera House on Monday evening. The comedy of " Engagements," which has been in careful preparation for some time, will be the piece ilertmtance on the occasion. The cast, it will bo seen, is very strong, and includes the names of Airs. Cooper. Miss K. A. Ryan, Messrs. Quinn, Montague, Cooper, and Laurie will a'»o appear. A short concert of exceptional merit precedes the comedy.

The winter evening entertainments held in St. Sepulchre's schoolroom for the parishioners and their friends have hitherto proved most enjoyable, and the one held last night, although not so well attended as the others, was by no means an exception. The programme was a varied and interesting one, and was well received by the audience, who evidently enjoyed themselves exceedingly well.

The Howick and Pakuranga Band of Hope celebrated their second anniversary in the new hail, Pakuranga, on which occasion they were visited by the Otara Band of Hope, who gave the entire programme. The usual friendly tea having been partaken of, and the tables cleared, Mr. Hugh Gilmour, in the absence of Sir W. Fox, took the chair, when Hoyle'a Hymn No. 119 was sang, after which the Rev. I). J. Steele led in prayer. The following programme, which had been eagerly looked forward to, was then proceeded with I Glee, "Sing We Merrily," friends ; recitation, Mr. S. Ferguson ; song, " Loch Lomond," Miss K. Wallace; duet, "All's Well," Messrs. (i. Kimpton and Lam be ; address, Rev. D. J. Steele; song, " Sweet Home," Miss L. McGee; recitation, Mr. Bailey; song, " Big Ben," Mr. A. Harrison ; quartette, "Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming," Misses Kimpton and Messrs. G. Kimpton and P. Lambe ; comic song, "Paddle Your Own Canoe," Mr. Horace Harrison; glee, " Deep Clear Spring." friends; solo, ocarino (selected) Mr. A. Harrison ; song, "Dollie's Revenge," Miss L. McGee; duet, "The Flower Gatherers," Misses Kimpton; recitation, Mr. O. Crooks; quartette. " Sweet and Low," Misses Kimpton and Messrs. G. Kimpton and A. Harrison; song, "Oh Fair Dove," Mr. W. P. Hunter ; recitation, " How the Clock Went Wrong," Mr. A. Harrison ; song, " The Wishing Cap," Miss K. Wallace ; comic duet, " Upper Ten and Lower Five," Miss Harrison; God Save the Queen."

The Rev. J. W. Simmonde, of Ponsonby, j«ends the following as showing what may be done on the co-operative principle, though he is not at present at liberty to mention the name of the firm: —"A certain firm in this city has just lately decided oil the following plan without any pressure having been brought to bear by the workmen in the employment. The workmen are to be paid fair wages as at present; the managers, who in this case are the capitalists, are to be paid such salaries as they could easily earn in similar employment if they were not carrying on business for themselves ; six per cent, is to be allowed on capital ; all excess of profit over these charges is to bo divided between capital invested in the business and the managers and workmen who carry it on. The members of this firm have always treated their workpeople liberally, although during the last two or three years the business has not paid interest on capital ; and now that they are making this new arrangement, they are going so far as to ask their men to appoint a committee to confer with themselves as to details in the distribution of profits.

The following Union meetings take place this evening :—Railway Servants, Britomart Hotel; Fellmongers' Union, etc., at Rutland-street Assembly Rooms; River Service Association, at Working Men's Club ; Operative Bakers' Union, Kobscn's Rooms; Cs.rpenters' and Joiners' U*don, Robson's Rooms ; Master Bakers' Association, important meeting, at Dallen's Room. All these meetings are at 7.30.

A nine-roomed house on Aurora Terrace, Wellington, in course of erection, was partly burnt on Thursday night. The contractors have a building risk of £500 in the Colonial.

There is a Mr. King, of Auckland, missing at Whangarei, who has been visiting the district. The police are dragging the river for his body.

According to an announcement elsewhere Messrs. Ross and Ansenne, the well-known ahipchandlers of Lower Queen-street, have purchased the goodwill and stock of Messrs. T. and S. Morrin and Co.'s marine ironmongery branch. Messrs. Ross and Ansenne will now possess one of the largest and best assorted stocks of shipping requisites in the colony, and their customers can rely upon having a very wide range of choice both in regard to variety and quality of goods, while the reputation for care and despatch which the firm possess for the execution of town and distant orders will be fully maintained. The business will be carried on at Messrs. Ross and Ansenne's present premises, and the shops and stores in which Messrs. Morrin and Co. carried on will be closed.

Messrs. Bycroft and Co., of the City Flour Mill, notify they have a small quantity of flour on hand, which they offer to Unionists and non-Unionists at a fair price.

A meeting of the committee of the Auckland Employers' Association will be held in the Chamber of Commerce on Monday, at three p.m., to receive returns from delegates and to adopt rules.

Tenders are invited for supply of bread and flour to the Asylum.

The choir of the Pitt-street. Wesleyan Church will give a concert in the lower schoolroom on Monday next.

A meeting of the members of the late Gordon Rifles will be held in the Drill-shed on Monday next.

The annual meeting of the West End Rowing Club will take place on Friday evening next at the Ponsonby Club Hotel.

It will be seen from our advertising columns that our Scottish friends in Auckland are going to give us a capital entertainment on the l()th inst., of Scottish songs, recitations, etc., for " twa 'oors," under the Burns Club management, in aid of the Blind Institute Fund. There is sure to be a bumper house.

We beg to call attention to Mr. T. B. Hill's advertisement, notifying his return to his old pharmacy in Queen-street, where he hopes to welcome his old friends and customers again.

The musical and elocutionary contest in connection with the Auckland Band of Hope Union is to take place next month, and all who intend taking part should at once obtain the rules, which maybe had of the secretaries of Bands of Hope, as per advertisement elsewhere.

We beg to call attention to W. J. Hunter's special horse sale at Cambridge, on Thursday, September 11, at twelve noon. Intending buyers will require to go not later than Tuesday to Waikato, owing to the curtailment of the railway time-table, no train running there on Wednesday or Thursday.