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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 4

Representatives of both parties to the present labour dispute are now assembled in Sydney. Yesterday the Labour Conference appointed a deputation to wait upon the owners, while the latter were engaged in drawing up a manifesto which will be issued to-day. It is now probable that something definite will be decided upon shortly. The loading of vessels with coal at Newcastle is proceeding in spite of the Unions, and the Queensland miners remain at their work, having decided not to go on strike. Mr. Champion's outspoken opinions and moderation have given great offence to the leaders of the labour agitation in Australia, and the Sydney Trades Council has declined to recognise him as a representative of Trade Unionism. At Adelaide a number of officers have returned to work. The New Zealand Unionists appear to have been making inquiries respecting the disposal of the money coming from home. It seems, however, that the English organisations that have transmitted money have specified where they wish it to be disbursed. New Zealand is nob one of them. The Southampton strike is practically at an end. The men loudly complain that they have been sold by paid agitators.

The trial of Henry Funcke for the wilful murder of Constable Neil McLeod at Northern Wairoa was concluded yesterday, and resulted in a verdict of not guilty on the ground of the prisoner's insanity. The case for the prosecution was closed on Thursday evening, and yesterday • Mr. Tole opened the case for the defence, which was that the prisoner was insane and not responsible for his act. He produced medical and other testimony which was simply overwhelming, showing that Funcke is a chronic lunatic, and has been so for years. The learned Judge did not call on Mr. Tole to address the Court and jury, and Mr. Williamson left the matter in the hands of the jury without addressing them. His Honor summed up, and the jury after a brief deliberation of about a quarter-of-an-hour brought in their verdict. His Honor made an order that the prisoner be kept confined in the Auckland Asylum until the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary was made known. The accused throughout the day sat quietly in the dock apparently not taking the faintest interest in the proceedings. Occasionally he appeared to doze into sleep, and frequently yawi

Last evening Mr. J. D. Connolly, American Consul here, received a wire from Russeli to the effect that theU.S.S. Mohican had been sighted oft' the Bay of Islands approaching the harbour. The Mohican left here on Tuesday night for Ohua to take in coal, but meeting the easterly gale outside Captain Sheppard probably deemed it prudent to run out to sea. The Mohican arrived at Russell last night, and will coal to-day.

The civil sittings of the Supreme Court will be commenced on Monday. There are two jury cases and six other cases set down for hearing, but we understand that the case Deane v. Norwich Union Insurance Company, a claim for £498 on an insurance policy which was to have been tried by a jury of four, has been settled out of Court, and will not be proceeded with. Argument in the case Ehrenfried v. Gleeson will be taken immediately after the jury cases.

A meeting of the committee of the forthcoming Auckland Agricultural and Industrial Show was held at the Mangere Farmers' Clubroom, Queen-street, to consider the revised schedule of the show, to be held on Saturday, November 15. Mr. W. F. Massey presided. There was a numerous attendance. The schedule of the local industries was placed before the committee by .Mr. W. Dunwoodie, the prices to be charged for stand room to be 6d per lineal foot frontage. Mr. Short said he thought boxes of butter should be put into the local industries section. This suggestion was agreed to. Mr. Hesketh said that the two horticultural societies of Onehunga and Newmarket had amalgamated, and would take charge of the horticultural department of the show. In accordance with this arrangement the following members were placed on the General Committee : —Messrs Styche, Brown, Hcsketh, Mclndoe, Knight," and McDonald. The chairman said that Messrs Porter and Co. had offered a handsome silver cup as a special prize for the best pair of farm horses.

Yesterday morning some waste paper was burning in a grate at the Equitable Insur ance Office, Fort-street-, when a blazing piece was carried up the chimney. A passer-by, concluding that the premises were on fire, gave an alarm, and the firebells were rung.

A lecturo on the " Life of Cyrus the Great" was given at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms yesterday evening, by the Rev. P. S. Smallfield. There was a moderate attendance. Mr. T. Buddie presided. Captain Logan, of the steamship Manapouri, was also on the platform. The lecturer sketched, in a con versational and interesting way, the career of the great conqueror who founded the Kingdom of the Medes and the Persians, pointing out that for what we know of Cyrus we are indebted to the historians Herodotus and XenOjd.on. The boyhood of Cyrus at the court of his grandfather. Astyages, King of Media; his noble and generous youth, and his power, after succeeding his father, Cambyses, as Prince of Persia" when he conquered Media and the kingdom of Croesus, and then took Babylon, slaving Belshazzar, and finally his death in a battle with the Scythians, were aptly told. Mr. Smallfield was given a vote of thanks. During the evening nusical selections were rendered.

The curtailment of the train, service is now felt by many. " Rusticus" writes complaining that the stoppage of the Onehunya Sunday trains isolate* him from his town friends, who cannot visit any other clay ; a " Foot-sore Pedestrian " hopes the ordinary week-day traffic will be resumed in its entirety ; while " Mourner " wishes to know why the Waikomiti Cemetery train was stopped at all. We can only counsel our correspondents to have patience.

A benefit concert has been tendered to Miss Kate Howarde, formerly of Brongh and Boucicault's Company, Sydney, who lias unfortunately through unforeseen circumstances been compelled to remain in Auckland. The following amateurs have kindly promised their assistance : — Mesdame ooper and ; Miss Lester and /s.« Freda Marsden (violinist) ; Messrs. A. L. Edwards, Dufaur. Charter, Martin, Forrest, Montague, Hamilton, White, and Mr. Eady's orchestra. In addition to the concert programme, the comedy "Written in Sand" will be produced.

A meeting of the members of the Auckland Institute will be held in the Museum Buildings, Princes-street, on Monday evening, when Mr. J. T. Nofcb, 8.A., will give a lecture on " The Remarkable Character of Our Native Fauna."

Jurors summoned for Monday, are notified elsewhere that their attendance at the Supreme Court at Auckland on that date will not be required.

- lb is surprising the aid that even an in. dustry nob much talked of adds to the general wealth and well being of the com! munity. A. manufacturing industry may appear small, but when its various ramifications are traced it affords an instructive lesson to ascertain how far-reaching are its effects. Take, for instance the Colonial Ammunition Company, Limited, at Mount) Eden, though it has been established in our midst for several years, few realize the help it gives to our young community. We l earn that during the last month, August, this Company turned out 8£ miles of solid drawn rod lead preparatory to being converted into Snider bullets. This quantity is equal to 600,000 bullets, and in their production about "20 tons of lead were used. The res . sure in converting *die lead into rods i 8 about 20001b to the square inch. When such a large quantity of lead is being used per month, it is time that an effort wax made to turn to commercial profit some of the deposits of galena, known to exist in several parts of this province and th colony.

The usual monthly meeting of the Auckland Photographic Club was held yesterday evening, when Mr. R. L. Caldwell gave an interesting account of a trip to Kuaotunu, He spoke with animation of the activity manifested, and of the prospects of the field, tempered with painful remembrance of the depth of mud that had to be traversed to reach the battery. The lecturer regretted that the weather had prevented his preparing slides, but promised to show them at the next meeting of the club. The secretary then exhibited a number of hntern slide* of English and .Scotch scenery, and Mr. Will showed some of Auckland. The members present were supplied with photographs of the interior of the club rooms, showing the pictures on exhibition last June.

The exhibition of limelight views illustrative of the city of London attracted a large audience to the Ponsonby Baptist Church last night. The working of the apparatus was undertaken by Mr. A. C. Caughey, and Mr. James Brown gave the descriptive readings The views are quite new, being shown on this occasion for the first time in Auckland. The entertainment was of an interesting character.

Great preparations are being made for the opening of the Wild West Show, which will take place on the School Reserve, Wellesley-street, next Monday week, '23rd inst. All day yesterday a large staff' of workmen were to be seen on the ground busily engaged making the various arrangements for the hippodrome track and circus ring?. The American portion of the show will arrive by the 8.8. Zealandia, expected this evening or to-morrow, and doubtless a large concourse of people will assemble on the wharf to see them.

The full programme of the concert to be given by the Auckland Choral Society next Friday evening appears in our advertising columns, and the conductor, Mr. Paque, and the Society are to be congratulated on the excellent selections made. There arc several special features, not only novel, but of great interest to the musical public. There is a pleasant variety of vocal and instrumental music throughout, and amongst the vocalists we notice the names of the Misses Lorrigan, Miss M. Harper, and Mr. A. L. Edwards. Probably the leading musical feature wiP be the quintette for wind instruments (No. 3, op. 88, andante, Reicha), the instruments being the flute, oboe, clarionet. French horn, and bassoon. This difficult production has, wo ore informed, never been successfully played in Australia, owint* to the great difficulty of getting capable instrumentalists together, so that besides its other musical merits it will have the attraction of being entirely new. The instrumentalists will be Messrs. Innes (flute), Clough (oboe), Jackson (clarionet), Craig (French horn), and Cook (bassoon). Another feature and novelty will be the duct from the Stabat Mater, " Quis est Homo," which will be sung by the Misses Lorrigan as a duet, with orchestral accompaniments.

As a sign of the improvement in strike matters, the Onehunga train service is being enlarged again.

The adjourned conference between the officers of the Tabernacle and Pastor Birch took place yesterday afternoon, and matters were advanced a stage, and the conference closed. We understand that a special meeting of the members of the church is convened for Monday evening next.

At St. Sepulchre's schoolroom, last evening, there was a crowded audience to witness the entertainment given in aid of the funds of St. Alban's Church, Mount Roskill. The programme was of rather a novel style, nearly all the songs being given, in character, while a "shadow" play, in which all the adventures of "Cinderella" were depicted upon a screen, was a feature of the performance. The character songs were: "Gipsy John," by Mr. G. Shirley; " Caller Herrin'," by Miss Harper ; " Three Old Maids of Lea," and "The Vagabond," all being given with much effectiveness. Items were also contributed by Misses Buckland, Gilfillan, and Messrs. Hudson, A. L. Edwards and J. J. Boak. During an interval, Mr. F. G. Ewington presented to Mr. G. Shirley a. handsome and valuable telescope, as a mark of esteem felt for him by his fellow parishioners of St. Albans. Mr. Ewington spoke highly of the great zeal displayed by Mr. Shirley in parish work, and concluded by wishing him every prosperity in his new sphere of life in Sydney. Mr. Shirley, who was quite taken by surprise, suitably acknowledged the gift.

At the Opera House this evening Mr. D'Orsay Ogden and a new dramatic company will commence a season of six nights under engagement to the Trades and Labour Council, in order to raise money for the strike fund. The piece selected is Mr. John B. Cough's great temperance drama, "Tempted, or t'.e Prodigal's Return," for which Mr. Ogden has secured the-colonial rights, and which on this occasion will be produced for the first time in Auckland. .Mr. Ogden himself taking the role of Edward Drayton, the reformed drunkard. The after piece will be " Peeping Tom, or the Humours of a Domestic Strike." Mr. Nelse Seymore. the celebrated Ethiopian comedian, will make his first appearance in Auckland to-night should the mail steamer arrive in time, but at all events he will play during the present engagement.

The annual winter tea meeting was held in All Saints' schoolroom last night, and proved a very pleasant affair. All the available accommodation was taxed to the uttermost, and willing hands ministered to the children's wants. After the tables had been cleared way, an entertainment con sisting of musical items and a gymnastic display was provided, and met with a hearty reception.

The attention of parents and guardians is directed to Mr. T. Harle Giles' advertise meat in our educational column. The success which has attended Mr. Giles' system of teaching is well known. The commercial department is under the personal supervision of Mr. Giles, and the Training College is in charge the Rev. J. W. Alloway, 8.A., St. John's College, Cambridge, sometime assistant master Auckland College and Grammar School.

Mr. J. Thornes, land agent. 31, Queen-street, reports the sale through his agency, of Mr. Dickens' coal and firewood business at Parnell, together with house, land, horses, and carts as a going concern, to Mr. Wadsworth, late of Christchurch. Mr. Wadsworth will continue the business at the same premises, and hopes for continued support from the old customers.

Attention is called to the sale of house and allotment in Franklin-road, to be sold by Mr. R. C. Carr, at his rooms, Palmers,ton Buildings, on Wednesday next, the 17th inst. The property is in a capital situation and commands a good view of the harbour and surroundings, is well worth the attention ol anyone who desires a good residence within easy distance of Queen-street.

The usual ecclesiastical notices will be found in the eighth page. It will be seen that various addresses and discourses will be given on various phases of the laboui troubles, while the Rev. J. Dukes has on hand " An Impeachment of Secular Education."

The art classes of Mr. F. Wright will begin on Monday next.

The quarterly meeting of the Hibernian Society will be held at the Catholic Institute on Wednesday next.

A meeting of shareholders in the Pride of Karaka Gold Mining Association, Thames, will be held at the office of Mr. H. Gilfillan, jun., on Tuesday, for the purpose of forming a company. >

A meeting of the members of the Operative House Painters' Union, will be held in the Foresters' Hall, Beresford-street entrant on Monday evening next, at 7.3u p.m. *