Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8372, 27 September 1890, Page 4

There is apparently a difficulty about constituting the conference on the strikes. We anticipated from the first that it would be hard to get a basis for the conference. It would be absurd to assemble at Wellington two bodies of men who would have no power to do anything else than stare at each other. The Auckland Employers' Association met yesterday, and agreed to despatch the following telegram in answer to that sent by the Premier :—" Inasmuch as Auckland employers are bound to protect the free labour which has come to their assistance in the present difficulty, they see no good in a conference until the unions acquiesce in the right of employers to take on unionists and free labourers indiscriminately. On that being agreed upon, and the labour party stating the points they wish to ring under discussion, the Auckland employers will further consider the propriety of appointing delegates." It is difficult to see what the employers can do. There are no grievances that they can redress. The men have no complaints to make. The unions must take the initiative. But in the circumstances they are also helpless. The Maritime Council has called out the seamen of thesteam shipping companies, the coal miners from every mine, and the lumpers from all -the wharfs. To supply their places, as far as possible, free labourers have been employed. The boycott has not been removed. The seamen still stand out, and the mines are still for the most part closed. The masters could not send away the men whom they have engaged to supply the places of those who voluntarily left their situations, putting the employers to great inconvenience. In many cases they have become legally bound to retain these men for a term. Then take the coal mines. The men have left these mines simply because they supposed that the owners might sell the coal to the Union Shipping Company. Their strike was a boycott. Probably their first demand in a conference would be, that the owners should pledge themselves by a written agreement not to sell to the Union Company. No owner could do such a monstrous thing as to bind himself in that way. This is the one point, so far as the coal mines are affected. If the men cannot waive this point, there is no need at all of a conference. It would only be a useless trouble to both parties. If the men are agreed to waive this point, they may return to work at once, without any conference, and they will be taken on so far as their places have not been filled up. The men have walked away from their work ; the employers have done absolutely nothing. It is, therefore, for the men to take action. If they have been coerced from Australia it is for them to free themselves from that coercion. The owners of the mines in Waikato and the Bay of Islands could do absolutely nothing if they were all assembled at Wellington to-morrow. Certainly they could not agree to the demand of the unions that they should join them in the practice of boycotting. That is a monstrous thing to ask. In all probability, when the employers in the different 'centres come to consider the situation closely they will see that a conference at Wellington of parties who have it not in their power to do anything is futile.

The Labour Conference in Sydney has made another attempt to bring , aboufe a' conference between their representatives, and those of the employers. They express! themselves as anxious for a settlement oft the present dispute, but the latter do not! appear anxious to make any arranger) ;n J for holding a conference in view , the impending conference between <} labour party and the employers in j\' e bourne. At Adelaide, which has 'bee, the last port to feel the effects of th,{ strike, the action of the stevedore! 0 7 going out has not caused any serious nlocl,\ ing of shipping, as free labour is oornijt. forward. At home a somewhat lurid iifj'l is thrown upon the feelings of the unionist towards the strike in Australia by th announcement that threats are necessary to compel the dockers..to subscribe to the strike fund. , Anyone who has any knowledge of the condition of the majority of the London dockers can well understand * their reluctance to subscribe to the support) of men who have gone out on strikejf who have been receiving handsome wage? in comparison with those paid at Home As Mr. Champion, the English labour del gate to the colonies, told an interviewer n Melbourne, the contributions of the Lend <1 dockers to the well-paid strikers i[ Australia meant the difference bet we bread and herrings and bread arid 'J, herrings. The strikers in these colonies should feel humiliated to receiver- t \ miserable pittance of men in such wretch .-.,1 circumstances. Our general Europe. ;A cable messages state that a revolution hart taken place in Oudh, that Lord SalisburA is not disposed to make any further conce* sions to Portugal, and that serious bloodJ shed has occurred at Goa. J We are sorry to learn that Mr. R. m. Barstow, who for many years occupied tlB position of resident magistrate at the Bi» of Islands and at Auckland, has been ill fA some days past. The news that he wM confined to the house came with a surgriA on his many friends, as few men of M* Bars tow's years are so hale and hearty aA he was up to a week or two ago. ' At the present time Mr. W. H. ClarkA, of Parnell, is desirous of setting forth ha scheme of land settlement, which he believ® would be a means pf settling all laboiß troubles. At the recent meeting, howevelcalled by him he could not get an audieucfl. He blames both the working man and tl|r capitalist for not attending to his scheme. It was mentioned at a meeting of tV Auckland Board of Education yesterday bj one of the members who have returned frou. Wellington, that whilst Auckland had asked for only £3000 or £4000 of the £40,000 devoted to the education vote this year, Otago had applied for £12,000. tj It is not, fortunately, a very common occurrence to hear of mischievous destruction of boating property in our harbour, js case of this sort has happened recently to the owners of the yacht Italy, which & at present laid up near Shelly Beach. % window was placed the other day in tht side of the boat and the next morning; wat found knocked out. • From the position the window it is almost impossible for thif to have been an accident, and one is forced to the conclusion that the action must have been deliberate.

A meeting of fcho Auckland Gasworks employes was held last night in the Foresters' Hall, Mr. C. A. Ruge presiding. A considerable amount of routine business and correspondence was dealt with. A guarantee of federation whs received from the Dunedin Gas Employes Union, and the secretary was instructed to forward tc thern a similar guarantee from the AuckUnion. These guarantees admit the men* bers of either union free to the privilege! of the other. It was resolved to take pari in the coming labour demonstration procession, and it was agreed to alter the nigh of meeting from the last Friday in th month to the last Tuesday. f Yesterday, at a meeting of the Auckland Board of Education, a discussion took plac i regarding the appointment of a teacher from the Ponsonby school, where there is 3 surplus in the staff, to a school in tli country. The chairman remarked thin whilst the country committee, one hundret miles away, had replied to the Board,l letter on the subject, the committee &} Ponsonby had not yet sent a reply, though they had been communicated with twa days before the Board wrote to the country 1 . Eventually Mr. Devore, chairman of th< Ponsonby Committee, was telephoned to, when he replied that as the Board had in formed the teacher in -question-of his pro posed removal at the same time that the committee were informed, that body b~d nothing to sAy ; they did not want ail», surplus teachers, nor did they want th<! school at Ponsonby made a training school. The appointment was made.

Yesterday a trial was made of a nev tram-rail cleaner, patented by Messrs, Malcolm and Freeman. It did the work efficiently of six men. The machine is very simple in its construction, has no delicate mechanism likely to get out of order, and any unskilled man can work it. If the company decide to adopt it, only a man and a boy and two horses will be required to keep the lines clean. The machine besides doing the ordinary work more economically, also does it more completely, as when the water tanks are fixed on, the rails can be kept clean even on very dusty days, thereby doing away with the fearful wear and tear of horseflesh at present going on. Owing to the tracks being made macadamised, instead of square set blocks, a very difficult task is sob before th« machine, as through the roads being banked up on each side to the rail it is difficult to clear the dust from the scraping brushes. The patentees intend to offer the invention to the Southern tramway companies, and they are also making arrangements for the Australian colonies. .

In the match with the City Guards today, the following team will do battle for the "O" Battery: Lieutenant Webster, Sergeant Ronayne, Sergeant Fairs, Sergeant McCallum, Corporal Airey, Gunners Brown, Ellyett, Head, Hughes, Greenshields. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Dr. Giles, R.M., about a dozen judgment summonses were disposed of. The only case in which an oyder was made was that of Brown, Campbell, and Co. v. l'araku Rapana, claim £10 lis 6d. By consent defendant was ordered to pay in three months, credit being given for £2. The remaining cases were adjourned. The principal business at the Police Court yesterday morning consisted in the charges laid under the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, there being no fewer than seven cases heard, in four of which orders wore issued, and a tine of . js and costs, with the option of seven days, was inflicted on Jane Harrington, for not having complied with an order previously made. In addition to the above a couple of drunkards were dealt with, and also a charge of using obscene language, which was dismissed, with a caution to the offender. A strenuous effort (says the Northern Advertiser) is being made just now to obtain the p.s. Osprey for the Dargaville trade. She would, take the whole of the passenger traffic! from the other steamers, owing to her greater speed and the comfortable accommodation she possesses. The most objectionable feature in the present service is the night running, which compels passengers to huddle together for so many hours in a small stuffy cabin, entirely void of proper sleeping accommodation. This discomfort, which the public are now again forced to endure, would be obviated by the putting of the Osprey into the trade, as she could easily make the trip either way in daylight without risk of missing the train. \Ve are informed that the negotiations for the charter are nearly brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The Auckland avals had their weekly drill last night, under Lieutenants Smith and Little. There was a good attendance, and the company being divided into detachments, were instructed in knotting and splicing, big-gun drill, and other cognate drill, by Sergeant-Major Bush and Sergeants Webb and Gunn, of the Permanent Force.

The Army and Navy out-pensioners in the Auckland district will have thai? quarterly pensions paid as follows :—Auck. land, on October 2, at the Imperial Pensions Otlice ; Onehunga, Otahuhu, and Papakura, October 4: Panir.ureand Howick, on Octobor 6. The half-pay, Indian, and Civil pensions will be paid on October 1, ab the Imperial Pensions Office. A correspondent is indignant at the letter of South Briton," which questioned the existence of such a thing as humour in the Scottish character. He recommends "South Briton" to get a copy of Max O'Rell'a "Friend Macdonald," where lie will go ft some' specimens of the article.

Yesterday the n»»«S« »' th ° Tramwa, \este y v A White) received the Company letter from Mr. Bust, secretary of fnllowimr letter from » J So Trades and Labour Council:- 'lam instructed to inform you tbafc » deputation 0 Meters. Desmond, Boonstra, 01 11 . and Turner will wait upon you to soe if you ™e prepared accept the Tramway Em ; are pre par eel to we t hoy J Union rule., as previously agreed » / Tt is imperative that we have to bv you. iC 1 , , • . , • , • i:,i« and decisive reply 111 order an lnimeriifue •> out our arrangements to provide to c j' r )' flic members of the above Union work £ of - „ ork, and we desire to lay the 111 ",'"r ore you for decision before taking may affect a business already 'iW' 1" tilie course the depu{"tin waited yesterday afternoon upon the ,, stager and desired that the old employes, ."-charged recently, should be allowed to rejoin, aput from the non-affiliated union, and retain their connection with the Trade" and Labour Council. The manager declined to accept the proposal. He stated the present employes desired to be free of all the labour organisations, and from the liability of strikes and of being "called out,'' and he agreed with these views and would sustain them in their notion. The old employes could come in. individually, up to till that evening, and join under the same conditions as the present employes were working under. After'hat time fresh men would bo taken on. As a result of the interview, and the decided action of the manager, tho old employes, in the evening, came in in a body, like sensible men, and rejoined the company's service. They are all experienced drivers, Ac., and some of them had been in the company's service almost from its formation. It goes without saying that the whole of the tram care will be out to-morrow, and the men in their places, doing a fast service to the Wild West Show, Potter's Paddock, Epsom (as per advertisement), while the Omnibus Co-operative Company is still in the future, and likely to be so.

Mr. Ernest. Eugster writes saying that he is taking steps to expose Mr. Justice Conoily '•( erratic ways of administering justice. He conclude.", thus :—" My humble request to Mr. Justice Conolly to grant to me alone, or to a larger deputation of dissatisfied citizen*, an interview, having been peremptorily declined, I must either drop the important subject or bring it before a higher authority. After careful reflection, 1 have come to the determination to follow the latter course, in which 1 now hope to be supported by every true lover of justice and fair play in this beautiful land of my adoption. As I have, to my knowledge, never seen either the Judge or any of the witnesses, or criminals concerned in the cases referred to, everybody will see that I am entirely unbiassed, free from undue sympathy on the one hand, or antipathy on ;he other."

The usual meeting of the proposed , Auckland Agricultural and Industrial Show Committee was held at the office of the Matigere Farmers' Club, Queen-street, yesU'rdav. Mr. W. P. Maesey presided. There was a large attendance. A letter was received from Sir W. Fox, president of the New Zealand Alliance for trie suppression of the liquor traffic, requesting the committee to make no application for a licensed booth on the Show ground, urging that the presence of such a booth would be distasteful to a large portion of the general public. .Mr. Hesketh proposed, "That the letter be laid on the table." This was seconded by .Mr. Washer, and carried. Mr. F. La wry agreed to submit to the secretary the names of gentlemen living at the West Coast, willing to act as judges. It was decided to allow the committee of the dog and poultry section, and also to allow the Auckland and One'nunga Horticultural Societies to nominate their own judges. Friday next was chosen as the day for the appointment of judges. A committee to superintend the laying out of the show ground was elected, consisting of Messrs. Short, Gardner, Grainger, and Heskath, md the chairman and secretary. Copies of the programme, printed at the Herald office, were submitted, and unanimously approved of, and it was decided to distribute them at once. The quarterly conference of the Sundayschool teachers of the Church of England in Auckland was held yesterday evening, at St. Thomas' School-room, and wan largely attended. Bishop Cowio presided. The Rev. T. Farley pave a model of a lesson by the teacher of a Bible class, choosing as his subject. "The Culling and Sending Forth of the Apostles." A discussion took place on a paper read at the .June Conference by Mr. Duncan, on " The Duty of th« Church In Relation to Sunday-schools." The R»v. V. Caluer spoke of the importance of regular catechising in the work of the Sunday-school, and suggested that on one of the days of the month there should be an examination of the work of the other three Sundays. The Bishop agreed with Mr. Calder as to the importance of catechising, and said that during a visit to the Sunday-schools he had been struck with the inability of children to answer the simplest questions. He had been trying to arrange with tho Synod for the appointment of an inspector, not to find fault with the teachers, but to sympathise with them, and assist them. Some persons had not the experience required, but credit was due to them for coming forward and doing the best they could if others would not come. He had felt quite sorry for the teacher, who had stood by at the time, when he (the Bishop) had asked the children the simplest questions and could not get an answer. Other •peakers also took part in the discussion. During the evening a programme of music was gone through. On Thursday last tho ordinary routine of country life in the district of Papatoetoe was relieved by a ceremony in which the majority of the residents took a more than ordinary interest. Early in the afternoon a large assembly gathered in the Otara Presbyterian Church, for the purpose of witnessing a wedding which they had been looking forward to for some time. The church was very nicely decorated, and over the rostrum a very appropriate [motto had been fixed, "God Bless the Bride and Bridegroom." The bride was the eldest daughter of one of the oldest settlers in the district, Mr. .James Wallace, of Hillside, Papatootoe, and the bridegroom Mr. Maurice Harding, of Horo Horo, near Dargaville, Northern Wairoa. son of Mr. John Harding, of Mount Vernon, Haw ko's Bay. There were four bride-maids, three being sisters of the bride and the fourth a niece of the bride groom. The groomsmen wero the brothers of tho bride and brother of the bridegroom. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. Macky, M.A., assisted by the Rev. D. J. Steele. After the conclusion of the ceremony, those who had taken part returned to Hillside, where their relatives and friends, to the number of over forty, had been invited to meet the happy couple at the breakfast. On arriving at the house, the friends inspected the many valuable and useful presents which had been sent to the bride, noticeable among others being a very handsome tea and coffee service, with dessert knives and spoons, the g'.ft of the Presbyterian congregation, in recognition of the many valuable services rendered by the bride, more particularly in the musical portion of the church services. The largo room in which the sumptuous breakfast was laid had been profusely decorated with evergreens and flowers. There was ample sitting accommodation for all the family | and friends, and after full justice had been j done to the good things provided, some | felicitous and congratulatory speeches were made, and a very pleasant evening was spent under the hospitable roof of Mr. and Mrs. James Wallace.

At the Mascotte Rink, last night, an amusing burlesque of the Wild West Show, entitled, " The Wild Worst Show," was performed before a large audience. Many of the items, especially the attack on the Dark town coach, were very amusing, and sreated roars of laughter. The performance will be repeated this evening as a Benefit for Mr. Travers-Vale. This will ;lose the skating season, as the rink has been engaged for other purposes after this ;vening. The Choral Society's fourth performance of the soason will take place in the Choral Hall, on Tuesday evening next. The works to be produced are Bennett's " Woman of Samaria," and Stainer's " Daughter of Jairue." The soliotn for the former work are, Miss Battley (soprano), Miss Featon (alto), Mr. A. L. Edwards (tenor), and Mr. Archdale Taylor (baas). For the latter work, Miss Bleazard (soprano), Mr. W. Martin (tenor), and Mr. A. i C. McLean (baas). j

| A lecture on "English Son,?," one of the winter course of the loung Men's Christian i Association, was delivered at the rooms of j the Association by the Rev. W. Tebba j yesterday evening. There was a largo attendance. The lecturer pointed out that a nation's songs pictured the people with all their characteristics, and he quoted several instances of this. He maintained that many people listened to so-called classical music, which was not music at all. A mechanical succession of musical sounds was not music. An educated man might ; write verse which would not be poetry, or an . educated theologian might preach a sermon, , vet touch no heart, mould no life, nor litt a soul heavenward. So of music there migh* b« the rhythm and the grammar of harmony, bub the melody, the life and I soul, *.h« music, might bo wanting. Mr. i Tebbo -vonh on to relate the growth of ! "English song in its various periods, and i gave a great deal of useful information. | The lecture was accompanied with songs 1 and instrumental pieces, chosen with excellent judgment, to illustrate the various styles of music. The soloists were Mrs. Morrin, Mrs. Tebbs, Messrs. Tapper, Maitland, Bolloway, and Parish. Glees weralso rendered. The instrumental pieces comprised " The Country Dance," "The Minuet," and " The Quadrille," played by Miss Buck land, Miss ''how, Miss Essie Chow, Mrs. Tebbs, and Mr. Reed. Each of these were given with taste and skill. A vote of thanks was given te the Rev. W. Tebbs, and to the ladies and gentlemen who had contributed the musical illustrations. Mr. Tebbs said that thanks were also due to Herr Tutschka, who had kindly supplied the orchestral parts. A settler complains of the dilatoriness and red-tapeism of the Survey Office. He says he applied fifteen months ago for i 40-acre section alongside of his holding, and after that period the land has been withdrawn from sale. This, he says, is a common occurrence. Ho has known men so treated leave the country in disgust. A very enjoyable concert was given at St. Mary's Hall, Howfck, on Wednesday evening last, and. notwithstanding a counterentertainment. in the neighbourhood, was well attended. The programme was of a varied character, and the rendition of the items reflected no am* 11 share of credit on the performers — especially the school children, who were carefully prepared for the occasion by their excellent teacher, Miss Mulkere. The night being bright and inviting, a number of kind friends from Panmure favoured the hall with their presence, and enjoyed the journey to and from as well as the evening's amusement, to their hearts' content. Light refreshments were handed round during the evening, and the after music was obligingly and effectively supplied by Mr. J. Brady (violin), whilst the onerous duties of M.C. fortunately fell to the lot of Mr. .T. O'Halloran. The accompaniments throughout were played by Miss Mulkere,and Monsignor McDonald, who presided, introduced the following programme : —Chorus, " Let Erin Remember," pupils of school ; song, " Won't You Buy My Pretty Flowers," Miss Mary Finlay ; duet, "Footsteps on the Stairs," Miss A. Finlay and Miss Hilda Kerr; song, "Happy Moments," Miss Finlay ; recitation, " The Well of St. lveyne," Miss Brady ; song (?el».."ed), Mr. H. Cunningham. Interval of five minutes. Chorus, " Come, Birdie, Come," pupils of school; recitation, "Young and Thoughtless," Miss Lord ; song, "The Harp that Once," Miss E. Brady ; recitation, " You Little Twinkling Stars," Miss F. Brady ; flute solo, Mr. Cunningham; recitation, " The Irish Maiden's Song," Miss Lord. One effect of the shipping strike was to reduce last Saturday the size of our vivacious contemporary, the Northern Luminary, to a small four-page sheet, each page measuring 11J by SJ. This was owing to the non-arrival of its paper supplies due to the irregular running of the steamers. Owing to the s.s. Australia being late, and not largo enough to carry the Wild West Show, with its extensive impedimenta, Messrs. Wirth Bros, have now chartered Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane's steamer Janet JJicoll, just arrived from Brisbane, to convey the show down the East Coast, where they will play at Cisborne and Napier. The Janet Nicoll will leave on Wednesday next. The concert of Mr. Martin Swallow on Thursday's evening, promises to be one of the most attractive and successful he has ever given. The full programme appears in another column. The items are very choice and very varied. Mr. Swallow is to play Rode's beautiful, but difficult, " Aria Variata" on the violin, the Italian National hymn on the harp, and a guitar solo. He is also to sing the ever famous " My Pretty Jane," in which he will accompany himself upon the harp ; and will sing the pleasing air, " Beautiful Venice," with guitar accompaniment and clarionet obligato. His piano selection will be Thalberg's grand caprice on " Sonnambula." Mr. Jackson is also to contribute one of his magnificent clarionet solos. Miss Derbyshire and Miss Wilson are the other vocalists, and there are also to be piano solos by Misses Thomas, Missen and Knox, and a violin solo by Miss Ruth Easdown. The box plan may be seen at Wild man's.

We learn that active preparations are on foot to promote a complimentary concert to Mr. E. O'Hare, the well-known athlete and vocalist. For many years Mr. O'Hare has been prominent in giving the benefit of his talents to any deserving charitable object, while in the arena of athletics, particularly in rowing and football he has always been very ready to aid all by his experience. His recent serious illness having incapacitated him from hard work for several months, the present is a very fitting occasion for his friends to rally round him. The entertainment will be under the patronage of the Auckland Kugby Union, the Hibernian Society, the Auckland Rowing Association, and other bodies. Several prominent vocalists have already tendered their services, and the concert is sure to be of a high order of merit.

The Gospel Temperance Mission is renewing its operations again by producing the popular service of son? entitled "Father Come Home !" which will be rendered by the choir, iri St. James' Hall, on Tuesday next. There will be a chorus of 50 voices, under the conducfcorship of Mr. J. L. Innes, and other musical friends will assist.

The attention of the members of the Orange institution is called to an urgent notice in our advertising columns. The ecclesiastical notices, etc , will be found in our eighth page. The annual meeting of the Waitemata Boating Club will be held on Wednesday in the club-room, Waitemata Hotel. Tenders invited for D.T. wards District Hospital. A meeting of the trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank is to be held on Wednesday next at 3 p.m. The annual meeting of the Mangere Farmers' Club will be held in the Public Hall, Mangere, on Monday evening at halfpast 7. The secretary of the Eight Hours' Demonstration invites tenders for four bands for Demonstration Day. The ordinary meeting of _ the Auckland Savage Club will be held this day at eight p.m. at the large room, upstairs, New Zealand Insurance Buildings. The quarterly meeting of the Operative House Painters' Union will be held in the Foresters' Hall at half-past seven. Attention is drawn to the sale without reserve on Friday, October 3. of the valuable leasehold property having frontages of 30 feet to Little Queon-street and Lower Albertstreet with a depth of 121 feet, together with a substantial brick building. Further particulars will be seen in Messrs. S. Vaile and Son's advertisement. In consequence of the delay occasioned by the strike, detaining our goods per s.s. Kaikoura in Lyttelton, the intended grand millinery show which was to have been held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 4th, flth, and 6t« of September, will be held in our show room this day, Monday, and Tuesday, the 27th, 29th, and 30th September instant. Exors. Thomas Short. (No lady will be expected, unless she so desires to make purchases on those days.) Amateur photographers who desire to go in for Instantaneous '"detective" photography will find an interesting advertisement in the " For Sale" column on the front page of this issue. The coming season promises to be a successful one, as far as the Pousonby Rowing Club is concerned. About thirty new members are to be added to the names already on the books of the club. A meeting was held in the Ponsonby Club Hotel last night to consider the necessary steps to be taken for the fitting-up of the boats.