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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8541, 15 April 1891, Page 4

The Victorian loan lias proved a partial failure. Only two-thirds of it were subscribed. The cause is said to be the depressed state of the money market. In the city, the rebuff which Victoria has met with.is regarded as a wholesome warning to the Australian colonies, that they must curb their borrowing propensities, This they perforce require to do 'if lenders refuse to lend. A very destructive fire has occurred in Chicago, causing damage estimated at two million dollars. Madame Melba's adventures, real or fictitious, are keeping her name well before the public. We now learn that her house in Paris caught fire, and that the gifted songstress had to effect her escape in her robe de nuit by means of a ladder. A London evening paper states that warrants have been issued for the arrest of Captain Verney, M.P., who served in the Crimea and India with distinction, and an Ulster member whose name is nob given, for grave criminal offences. The Ulster man is said to have absconded. The influenza epidemic is raging with very fatal effects in New York. His Excellency the Governor has abandoned his intention to visit the districts to the north of Auckland. He will, however, probably go to Kaipara for some pheasant shooting. ' ■

Amongst the passengers fay the Tarawera wore Lady f Charles Scofcfc. Admiral Lord Charles Scott, and Lord Onslow and the Countess of Onslow were down on board the steamer to bid her ladyship farewell. The Rev. T. S. Forsaith and Mrs.' Forsaith were also passengers, returning to their home at Parramatta, after making a tour of the colony ; Dr. Posnett, luto professor of the Auckland University, returning to the mother country," and Mr. G. VS._ Rex, manager of the Hobart Mercury printing establishment, returning homewards after visiting the colony from end to end. He has held the post of manager for 36 years. Mr. Hex has been greatly pleased wit" his visit to New Zealand, and says he will take away pleasant reminiscences.of the country and its people.

Private letters received from Sydney state that Sir George Grey has been buying some more valuable books for our Free Public Library, and giving long prices for them. It is his intention to go on making purchases for the Library wherever he may see works it is desirable to secure, in order to make it more complete and unique. Sir George Grey is evidently determined to lay the people of Auckland under still further obligations to him, in addition to the debt of gratitude they owe to him for the magnificent gifts has already given to them. The New Zealand delegates at the Federal Convention recently held in Sydney, Sir Harry Atkinson and Captain Russell, returned to this by the steamer Manapouri, which arrived in Auckland yesterday. Sir H. Atkinson is staying at the Grand . Hotel, and Captain Russell at the Northern Club. They will probably leave on Thursday. An interview with the delegates is published elsewhere. Our London correspondent hears that the New Zealand Estates Company are disposing of their properties to great advantage. They recently obtained £00,000 for one estate in New Zealand, instead of £30,000 at which it was valued. It is now generally admitted that the valuations were too low. A valuable property at Parramattii, upon which a large amount had been lent, recently fell into the hands of the company, and lias been promptly cut up into building allotments, with the result that the land realised far beyond the amount advanced. The London Times contains the following announcement: —"Wo are requested by the Agent-General of New Zealand to state that Mr. Ballance, Premier of the colony, has announced the decision of the New Zealand Government that the raising of the new loans in this market shall be discontinued. The right continues to be reserved to convert outstanding securities into three-and-a-half per cent, inscribed stock."

An extraordinary general meeting of the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company (Limited) was held on March '2, at 7, Leadenhall-street, London, Mr. H. J. Bristow in the chair, to consider a resolution altering the articles of association by the insertion of a clause, to be numbered 46a, limiting the total amount of the debentures, bonds, and debenture stock issued at any time to one-half of the subscribed capital at that time. The chairman said the effect of the resolution would be to limit their borrowing powers to £1,000,000, thus reducing the shareholders' liability from £9 to £5 per share. Those who lent this amount would, he reckoned, have the security of £3,500,000 for their £1,000,000 and he thought they might be enabled to obtain their debentures on easier terms. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by •Mr. W. K. Graham, the resolution was unanimously adopted.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Mortgage and Investment Association, held on February 26, at Queen Victoriastreet, London, the chairman (the Hon. Norman Grosvenor), in moving the adoption of the report —after alluding to the appointment of Mr. T. Calcutt as general manager in New Zealand, in place of the local board there, and expressing confidence in him, and after entering into details connected with the accounts, remarking incidentally that the estates account then stood at £121,123, which was £6000 less than the account at the end of the preceding year, the expenses having been reduced by £955 —said the position and prospects of the company depended on the outlook of affairs in Now Zealand. On the one hand, the position of trade and of the Government securities would lead them to suppose that New Zealand hud improved; but on the other hand, Mr. Calcutt said in a letter that people who went to the colony with money to buy land did not buy any, and in another letter he said he could buy back at a reduced price land which he had sold for the company during the past year. If they were not able to do more in that way within the next year it would become a serious question whether it would be worth while to fight the ship any longer. One bank had offered to take to the property for a minimum profit of £10,000 ; but the directors came to the conclusion that it was not desirable to accept such terms. The motion having been seconded by Mr. C. F. Macintosh, M.P., director, who said he though the chairman had taken too gloomy a view of the company's position, an opinion afterwards endorsed by Dr. llae, was adopted.

Miss Frances Ottawa Chew, of Auckland (writes our London correspondent) has been a successful competitor for one of the scholarships for the violin at the Royal College of Music. In all 547 candidates competed for 11 open free scholarships. Of these 159 attended the final examination, of whom 43 competed in the violin class. Four scholarships were awarded for the violin, one to a man and three to girls. The Newcastle Morning Herald comments at length on the action of the New Zealand Ministers in withdrawing the right to acquire the freehold of the land occupied by certain classes of settlers, and says : — " Parliament will have something to say in the matter when the Bill is presented, and the 34,000 settlers m lands in New Zealand will also doubtless make their voices heard. Such legislation probably explains in a </reat measure why, during the last week, 15 passengers from New Zealand arrived in Sydney, with corresponding numbers for Melbourne."

The briskness noted in the sharetnarket during the last couple of days continued yesterday. Good reports from the Hazelbank and Saxon caused active inquiries for these stocks, and business was done at advanced rates. Of the Kuaotunu mines,' Red Mercurys were in sharp demand, and TryFlukes and Mariposas changed hands at good figures. Amongst the passengers by the s.s. Tarawera from the South on Monday were Mr. W. S. Lyell (of the firm of Wildman ami Lyell, booksellers and stationers, Auckland) and his brother Mr. James Lyell. These gentlemen have been on a trip to the home country, and have been absent about nine months. They return in excellent health, and appear to have thoroughly enjoyed their excursion. Mr. E. Harrow is in receipt of a letter from Johannesberg, South Africa, which gives some interesting particulars of gold mining affairs in that district. There has been a severe period of depression there, and many people estimated to be worth many thousands of pounds were reduced to nothing, but at the time of writing there was a slight improvement, and the gold yield for the month of December, 50,000 ounces from Johannesberg alone, was the largest ever produced, in any month previously. The month of January, however, was not so successful, as owing to the heavy rains which fell several of the dams burst, and mining operations were considerably retarded. _ v

In our advertisement columns will be found a brief address from Mr. Shepherd Allen to the electors of Te Aroha. He deeply regrets that he will not be able to be a candidate for Te Aroha when the wit is issued, the penalty falling upon him, although at the time of the contest he was absent in England, and was not connected, even in the most distant way, with the act which disqualified him. We may remark that the disqualification for a year attaches only to the Te Aroha constituency. ' Mr. Shepherd Allen could contest and sit for any other district, Lieutenant-Colonel Carrd, who attended the volunteer encampment at Oamaru for the purpose of reporting to the Government, has returned to Auckland; He says that the statements made by a Southern paper as to the bad behaviour of the men were grossly exaggerated. The men were well behaved throughout, and their drill and discipline were most excellent. His re- , port to the Government will be of a most 1 favourable character.

The general health of the city is , 00( i the present time, and although there hav been a few cases of typhoid admitted to a 9 Hospital during the past few weeks, the has been no visitation like that which in years past, to occur at the close of J, summer. By a steady policy of completing by degrees the drainage of the city and taking the worst places first, the mortality rate from such causes has steadily dimirf ished.

There is little new to report respecting the bootmakers' strike, • A number of th« men are still drifting away Southward while those that remain are " picketing the non-union factories and establishment' So far, they have not gone into the estab'. lishipents to inspect the new " wages statement" of the Boot Manufacturers' AssoeiTtion. The operatives give as one reason for nob prosecuting the co-operative factory scheme, that they can scarcely be open-,, tives and masters, and that the whole policy ,of the union is to avoid in that way competing with the masters. Messrs, William McArthur and Co. notify elsewhere that they have vacancies still open for a few more hands, under' agreement for a term, namely, five benchmen, a clicker, and two finishers.

The funeral of the late Mr. James Carlav will take place to-day. It is intended that the funeral shall be a Masonic one, and th» members of the Districo Grand Mark Lodge and brethren of private lodges under the English Constitution will meet at, the Masonic Hall at half-past two in full regalia. Brethren of Lodge Eden and Lodge Ponsonby will also meet at the same hour in the lodgeroom, Masonic Hall, Karanjahape Road. The brethren of the New Zealand Constitution are invited to attend the funeral, which takes place at three p.m. As Brother 'Carlaw was an old and respected member of the order no doubt there will be a large attendance. Our Huntly correspondent, writing on April 13, says The insufficiency of £utn on stamps issued by the Government has often been commented upon ; but the other day a certain gentleman had to pin the stamp on a letter he forwarded to his relatives, in order to ensure the safe delivery of the same without a fine being imposed. Surely this is rather rough on those in charge of the Stamp Department, but it b nevertheless the truth, and the sooner a change is made the better. The whole thing is so very like New Zealand Government proceedings. The committee of the Otago branch of the Educational Institute, re the Xkw Zealand Herald's article, reply that many of the statements are irrelevant and without foundation. The tone of the article is condemned, as betraying ignorance re the state of education in the colony. Special exception is taken to the style of writing employed in the article. The committee admitted that the standard course o: instruction might very reasonably be altered in the direction indicated by members in a recent deputation of the members o< the Institute to the Ministers.

On Sunday last a new Catholic Church was opened at Mercer, the ceremony beinj attended by the Catholic community of that township', and large numbers from various parts of the country. At eight o'clock Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Morissey, of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland. The blessing and solemn opening took place at eleven o'clock, the Very Rev. Father Paul, V.G., officiating, assisted by the •' Rev. Father McMillan, pastor of the church, and Father Morrissey. At the end of mass the Rev. Father Morrissey crave an excellent address, taking for his text " Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her." Ht took opportunity to speak in great praise of Father McMillan, and also of Father MoManus, the late pastor. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament then took place. The young ladies of the Pukekohe church rendered the music, and amply showed the excellent training of the Sisters of Mercy. During the day Mr. T. Porter gave valuable aid. The people contributed so handsomely that the church has been opened free of debt, there being a credit balance to hand. .

The Mayor (Mr. J. H. Upton) desires us to acknowledge the receipt from Messrs. Wilsons and Horton of a number of printed copies of Sir .George Gr.ey's "Historical Message" (in the telephone). One copy, specially printed on vellum, will be deposited with the message in the Public Library. The question of the erection of gates upon the Queen-street Wharf was again discussed at tins meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon. The subject came forward in the form of a petition from a number of citizens praying the, Board not to carry out the resolution which had been passed authorising: the erection of the gates. The advisability of putting up the gates had been agreed upon on two separate occasions by the Board, but only by very narrow majorities. However, the tables were turned yesterday, when it was agreed by a majority of one that the prayer of the petition .be granted, which means that the barricades will not now be erected.

Yesterday Constable James Green, oi Wallsend,. New South Wales, left in the 3.5. Tarawenv for Sydney, having in custody Keuben Smith, against whom extradition was granted. Accused was arrested in Auckland on a charge of perjury committed at Wallsend in a certain judicial proceeding before Robert J. Perrot, Stipendary Magistrate, in action brought by accused against one Smith and his wife. He was identified by Constable Green, whe was sent over for the purpose. ' Owing to Inspector McGovern's police district being added to that of Inspector Broham, the latter officer has left, for the North to inspect the northern stations on taking them oven He will probably be absent for nearly a fortnight, as the district is a large one, and some of the places he will have to visit by steamer. Sergeant-Major Prate is in temporary charge at the Auckland Station.

At the annual excursion of the orphanages on Monday last, the neat appearance of the children of the Parnell Orphan Home, girls and boys, in their new winter clothing, was the theme of general comment on the part of the visitors. The whole of the clothing, of all descriptions, is made up at the Home, and i&he mending also executed there. As there are nearly one hundred children in the Home the seamstress' office must be no sinecure. Nearly 20 of the lads are taught cobbling, under the instruction of Air. Brooks, of Parnell, so that they can be able to mend the boots, or to mend their own boots in country districts where they are placed, out, if a shoemaker is not available- Th<3 healthy appearance of the children, and their orderly behaviour reflected the highest credit on those in charge of them. The same remarks apply to the native lads from St. Stephen's Native School. It seems that the attendance at this institution fluctuates through the varying moods of the parents. A few pupils have been withdrawn through the arrest and sentencing of Mahuki, the prophet, the parents sympathising with the Maori agitator, and in consequence desiring to have nothing further to do with the pakeha or his works. As showing the strong affection the natives have for their children, there are some of the lads in the institution who are regularly visited once a fortnight by their friends to see that they are in good health and progressing. It may be questioned."whether European pupils would . be similarly favoured with such visits by their parents and friends.

The executive committee of the Gospel Temperance. Mission met yesterday, when, anions: other business, the arrangements for Pastor Birch's lecture were to be inaue. Pastor Birch stated he did not now feel drawn to deliver his lecture on " British Burglars and Prisons." He explained that certain circumstances had compelled him to ask the executive to release him from his promise. In order to help to make up f° c the disappointment of the friends of the Gospel Temperance Mission, lie had brought them a cheque for fifteen guineas, a" trusted that other friends would come foiward, and help to clear the debt. Aftet consideration the following motion wa» proposed by Mr. A. C. Caughey, ana car* ried unanimously "We regret that circumstances have arisen which lead F ast ;° Birch to ask to be released from his P r ° m V" e to lecture on behalf of the funds of * e Gospel Temperance Mission. We sympathise with him in his reasons for declining, and heartily thank him for his generous an unsolicited donation of fifteen guineas, being his second contribution to the fun of the Mission for the present year."

' The Prahran Telegraph of the 28b ill*,, contains a portrait and sketch of Dr. jer Erson. We quote a passage:— "In difcion to holding the position of chai an of the Prahran Board of Advice, ho ■doctor is closely identified with many ■ ier ■of our public and semi-public institutes, • including the Prahran Working Ah's Institution, and the Prahran Club, th of which he is president and one of U founders of. He is also a member o^ e Council of the Board of Advice of\ictd, and of the Victorian National LeagueU well as vice-president of the A ictoin Amateur Opera Company, and Associk Austral Salon. In literature, Dr. Erson fc ■written an important work upon the sal tary condition of New Zealand, which 4 tracted considerable attention in the neig bouring colony ; and many of the able communications to the Melbourne pape upon sanitation and school hygiene of la years have been from his pen. Ho has ah published two musical compositions, an some poetical effusions of more or loss mer have ■mnearcd in colonial publication Six times has he crossed the world. . ] fact his reminiscences would fill a book." i

The Citv Council rate-defaulters' list I now compiled, and may bo inspected t She rate collector's office, Municipal Buil jnirs, dining office hours. Those who wi to* ensure their votes for Municipal licensing elections, or to avoid legal c penses, should at once pay rates in arret to ensure their names appearing on t burgess list. j

At the inquiry into tho wreck of ti iVanaka yesterday, Findlay McArtln captain of theGairloch, stated that he Id been on the coast for a number of yea, and found in fine weather the steamerjn his command had been drawn toward? le land by an unknown influence. In no weather, on one occasion, she had tin drawn into the Urenui Bight. Ho cjld not account for the vessel's steering in [at way iu fine weather. The Airedale waist north of tho Wait-ara, and the Rangira went ashore near where the Wanak is now. The Hawea went ashore at Waira when making for New Plymouth, butras got off" again. He would certainly ruiilG miles of the 120 from the Manukau bore heaving the lead. A young baritone singer, of Wellin/on, named Prouse, who has been singing iplr. William Carter's choir, at the orat<ri<performances given at St. James's HdlLondon, had a chance of distinguishing hipself the other evening (says our Londoi corespondent), and instantly availed hinslf of it. Signor Foli, who was singing tnqprincipal part in " Klijah," became tcondisposed to sing the later solos, am: Mr. Prouse was put on to complete the tsk of the great singer. This he did adnvably, exhibiting a voice of <;ood quality ail well trained. Several other colonial are beginning to distinguish themselve, Mr. R. F. Cunningham, a young Sad'nurst tenor, has just secured a three ytrs' engagement with the Carl Rosa Ccnpany. Messrs. Edwards and Morton, t\D other Victorians, are members of tho LjCygale Troupe, and Miss Nellie Stewart incoming home under the impression thatEhe has secured a redoubtable offer frto Mr. Edwards, of the Gaiety. Mr. jdwards does not go quite so far as thealonted young singer. He only admits legotiations which may eventuate in anengagement when the principals meet. He also says that it is unlikely that Missitewart will appear in the new theatre has building, but- much more probable nab her London debut will be at the Gaiety However, it cannot matter much to hf so long as she is afforded the opportunity ? display her quality. I The dispersion of the squadra of warships which have graced oib harbour for the past month, will befh to-day, when H.M.s, Orlando will lea's port for Sydney. Last night all the libetj men and stragglers were got on board, feiig accompanied to the wharf by name mis friends, whose farewell demonstrations yere heart} - , if noisy. Admiral Lord Charles Scott went on board the flagship last nigh", aid she is expected to weigh anchor earh bis morning. *' j

A deputation from the Wellington Chamber ot Commerce interviewed ib Premier yesterday on the subject of bilLsof lading, pointing out that so many exempions were inserted that it was almost imtossible in the case of damage to obtain redess. Mr. Ballance thought it was a mater for the Imperial Government to legislaß upon, as the colony could not pass an Act which would affect the bills of ladinj issued at Home. He promised, however, to consult the law officers of the Crown aid see whether anything could be done. Jhe deputation also asked whether the Companies Act could not be amended so that articles of association might be altered in the direction of allowing an expansion of trade of a company. The Premier said ho would lay the matter before the Cabinet.

A popular lecture on " Mount Cook and the (Glaciers of the New Zealand Alps" 13 to be {riven at eight o'clock this evening, in the large lecture theatre ii Eden-street, by Professor Thomas. The bcture is intended for the general public a.' well as. for students, and admission will be free. The lecture will be illustrated by lime-light views.

A committee meeting of the Burns Club Association was held last night, for the purpose of taking steps to make the organisation more popular and general. It was never intended, of course, that it should merely become a medium for exhibiting Scottish dances or hearing Scottish songs only, and the promoters feel that something more is required. It is sow proposed to ask leading citizens and clergymen to prepare essays on Scottish subjects, and that at the meetings these should be features, the proceedings, of course, to be interspersed with selections from Scottish songs and Scottish dance.

On referring to our advertisement columns it will be seen that a vigorous effort is now about to be made to establish the system of electrical lighting in Auckland and the surrounding district. Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond have been appointed solicitors for the promotion of a Bill in the !New Zealand Parliament, giving the requisite powers to a company to establish electrical works in Auckland, to break up streets, etc., so as to enable the company to distribute the electricity for lighting, motive power, and other purposes. The Town Clerk notifies that licenses for billiard and bagatelle rooms, bowling and skittle alleys, theatres, public halls, and places of public amusement, etc., must be renewed on or before the 30th instantMessrs. Benjamin Short and John H. HePhilling announce themselves as candidates for a seat on the directorate of the Australian Mutual Provident Society. A special meeting of the Onehunga Perpetual Land, Building, and Investment Society, will be held at the office, Onehunga, on Thursday, the 14th May, to consider certain alterations of the rules. The Newton Borough Council notifies its intention of striking a general rate of Is in the pound. ''