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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8556, 2 May 1891, Page 4

Apart from the proceedings at the Conference, at which he played a lone hand, Sir George Grey's tour in Australia has been a great success. He hag kept in good health throughout, and has been able without detriment to make long journeys and to deliver lengthy speeches. He has been received with acclamation by all. Those with whose political and social tenets he has less or more in common, have been delighted to hail an ally whose ideas are matured, and who has the gift of expressing himself with fluency and force. They know that he gives them the prestige of a man of advanced years, who cannot be sneered at as a mere youthful enthusiast with crude notions ; of a man of ripe experience in many lands, who has held high office in the empire before men now in active life were born. Those who think that. Sir George is hopelessly wrong in his political notions have crowded to see him and hear him, on account of his career as an Australian explorer and Governor, as a (iovernor of New Zealand, and of his doings in South Africa at a crisis in its history. Sir George is now at Broken Hill, but will shortly return to Adelaide. The statements made from Wellington about his intention to visit England, and about the wish of the Queen on the subject, and other particulars, are mere romancing. Sir George Grey" has lately received letters urging him to visit England, but so far as his relatives here know, he has no intention of going on. The latest letters from Adelaide make no mention of any travelling beyond Western Australia, and even that is doubtful.

Our cable messages this morning stato that Captain Verney, M.P., who is charged with a criminal offence, has been committed for trial, bail (which was forthcoming) being fixed at £15,000.' The anarchists in Italy are continuing their propaganda among the soldiers, and a large number have been arrested in Rome on a charge of inciting the troops to revolt. It) is reported that the Chilian insurgents are now anxious for peace. The President of the Republic is said to be contemplating a trip to England. * Whether this means that he finds his position untenable or nob it is impossible to say, in the absence of full and reliable information of the true state of affairs in Chili. The Portuguese, carrying: out their previously avowed intention, have occupied Massikesse. They raei with no opposition from the officers of the British company. May-day meetings have been prohibited in Paris.

The Hon. R. Seddon, Defence Minister, will arrive to-day from the South by tha Gairloch, in company with the Hon. A. J. Cadmati, Native Minister. Mr. Cadman is specially visiting Auckland in order tc attend the funeral of his sister, Mrs. J. B. Gatland. Mr. Jackson Palmer, M.ff.R.j has received a telegram from Mr. Soddonj in which he states that he will be in Auckland to-day, and that he will probably go on with Mr. Cadman to Coromandel, and visit the goldfields, but on his return t<J Auckland will remain two or three days.

The committee of the Auckland Board of Education, appointed under a resolution recently passed at the suggestion of Mr. Grant, to investigate the teaching in the schools in order to consider suggested improvements, particularly in regard to textbooks, met yesterday morning, when they decided to ask the inspectors and principal teachers for suggestions, to be given to tha Board in writing. The committee then adjourned for a week.

In dealing with the case of Richard Smyth, who pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny of money and goods from the premises of Walter Parkinson, of Wellesley* street, Mr. Gordon, one of the presiding justices, stated that the habit of betting and gambling was becoming such a widespread evil in our midst that a person could nob walk down our streets without continually noticing groups of young peopla talking of nothing buD betting, and such matters. It was quite clear to any thinking person that this sorb of thing could no# be. carried on without money, and he felp sure that these young fellows could not earn sufficient money to carry on in this way 111 an honest; manner, but must resort to> irn* ; proper means. It was saddening to thins f of the alarming prevalence of the gambling evil in this country. Mr. Tole, the coUllS .®, for the defendant, agreed with the remark of Mr. Gordon, but pointed out that.hi wa<not aware that his client was addict ;d 10 gambling. The promoters of the Bolensville Coal Mining and Prospecting Company m L ,fi 0 Wednesday evening at Helensville J en , report was given of the prospects of undertaking. lb was agreed to contin operations! whilst the present funds las • 6 « as the indications of coal were encouraging enough to warrant further progress 111 prospect for this commodity. The meed & was adjourned for three weeks.

There has been a more general interest, manifested in the sporting season which opened yesterday than there has been for some time, but as licenses are issued from all the principal money-order offices in the district, exclusive of the Thames, no approximate can yet be made of the number absolutely issued. From the Auckland office there were 40 licenses issued on April 30, and twenty yesterday, making, with those already issued from this office, about 100. So far no returns of bags have been received. A large number of sportsmen have pone into country districts, and reports as to the quantity of gam 3 available have not yet been obtained.

A correspondent writes speaking highly of the lectures delivered by the Rev. Mr. Nelson, who is at present filling the position of Professor 'of Classics and English. Our correspondent suggests that if practicable Mr. JNelson should bo retained in the work, or at all events might permanently take the department of English.

A meeting of Helensville residents was held at the Foresters Hall, Helensville, on Wednesday evening last for the purpose of taking steps to induce a medical practitioner to settle in the district. Mr. R. M. Cameron occupied the chair. Mr. E. C. Beale stated to the meeting the result of his endeavours towards securing the services of a doctor, and after some discussion it was agreed to appoint a committee of five householders to make arrangements towards obtaining a sufficient guarantee to a medical man to take up a practice in the neighbourhood. A majority of those present at the meeting affixed their signatures to the form of guarantee, it being decided to make a fixed annual consideration with option of doctor charging a certain fee for medical attendance to the guarantors. It was stated at the meeting that the result of the rccent census showed that the population within eight miles of Helensville, consisted of at least two thousand inhabitants. The district, although devoid of a medical man for some months past, possesses the advantage of having a practical pharmaceutical chemist (Mr. M. Eccles) established in Garfield Road, Helensville.

Mr. Robert Darlow writes from Waimamaku as follows:—"As chairman of the meeting of householders of the Waimamaku Valley school district, I am directed to forward 'the following resolution passed unanimously:—'That this meeting strongly condemns the mode of election of school committees prescribed by the School Committees Election Act, 1590.'"

Considerable interest was displayed at the Police Court yesterday morning with regard to. the case brought against two seamen, of the ship Broom hall, for broaching the cargo and stealing IS bottles of whisky. A warm discussion took place between the Bench and .Messrs. Cotter and O'Meagher as to the advisability of placing the defendants in the witness-box. The Bench eventually decided to dismiss the case without prejudice.

Owing to the Rev. H. Driver, minister of the Baptist, Church, Wellington, having to relinquish active ministerial duty for the present, through his health having given way, the Church there has requested the authorities of the Auckland Tabernacle to permit- of the Rev. P. H. Cornford proceeding thither as ministerial supply. This the la;ter has consented to do, while deeply grateful to Mr. Cornford for his aid at the present, juncture, and he preaches his valedictory sermons to-morrow, and leaves for Wellington by Thursday's steamer. Letters have been received from Mr. Thomas opurgeon that, he expects to be in Auckland the first week in June.

There is on view in the show-window of Messrs. Hesketh and Aitken, seedsman, a beautiful specimen of a chrysanthemum of the Mrs. Alpheus Hardy variety (sometimes called the ostrich plume chrysanthemum, which has been grown by Mrs. Dewes, of Parnell. It is greatly admired, and has been much written about in the English and American horticulturalist journals. An opinion has prevailed at Home that it is very difficult to grow, but in Auckland it appears to be easy of cultivation. A great man)' visitors (more especially ladies) inspected the above beautiful variety of chrysanthemum yesterday at the premises of Messrs. Hesketh and Aitken.

/ In a recent issue we referred to the handsome pedestals, in imitation of marble, which had been manufactured for the statuary of the Mackelvie collection. The three statuettes have now been placed in position in the Art Gallery, on the pedestals. The statuary is well worth inspection. The show cases, containing curios, have also been re-arranged.

There were in the lock-up last evening a man named Watson for being drunk and disorderly, and Annie Hooker on a charge of behaving riotously. About nine o'clock last evening she created a sensation in Queen-street by setting to and belabouring a man. Whatever was the causa of quarrel the man did not retaliate, but endeavoured to get away. At last the police interfered, and notwithstanding their remonstrances she gave the man another blow where she thought it would do him good. The police had no alternative, therefore, but to "run in" the arnazon.

Our Waiotemarama correspondent writes: —" The want of a doctor in the district is greatly felt. We have had three accidents in a week, either in this settlement or the neighbourhood. The first was a Maori, ho broke his arm. This was set by Mr. Winklemann, who is very good in giving what help he can, and who keeps the only supply of drugs to be had in a large circle. The next was the wife of ono of our settlers, who went out at night to drive off a steer which wa3 eating the kumaras, the beast turned on her, knocked her down, and then ripped her on both thighs. Fortunately Dr. Forbes was in thejneighbourhood, with the Goverment insurance agent, and he dressed the wounds, which were luckily only flesh wounds. Had the beast gone a little more one way or the other the case would have ended fatally. As it is the sufferer will be some time before she is about again. The third accident was to Mr. Hawkins, native teacher, who was kicked in the face by a horse, having all his front teeth knocked out and both lips cut. The presence of Dr. Forbes was again taken advantage of, and the upper lip was sewed up.

The newly-formed Auckland Tandem Club met yesterday at the Auckland Racing Club's rooms. Dr. Challinor Purchas, Lieut.-Colonel . Carre, and others were present. Arrangements were made for the opening meet, to be held on the 9th May. The Earl of Onslow has consented to be president of the club. It is the intention of the Pukuranga Hunt Club to assist in making the opening a /success, and they will meet close to town to enable the Tandem Club to see a good run.

The bootmakers' strike is likely to enter on a new phase next week, as weenderstand the president of the Union returns to work on .Monday. No doubt he has taken this step ftoin sufficient and satisfactory reasons, and will bo prepared to give them to the operatives over whose deliberations he has presided. In another column will be found a manifesto issued by the Union's and Employers' Delegates who attended the late conference in Wellington, in which they give a statement of the case.

On the occasion of his leaving Sydenham the Rev. L. M. Isitt was the recipient of two purses of sovereigns subscribed by "ienas outside his Church and by the ■Prohibition League, and of a handsome clock presented by the members of the gymnasium.

" Sound, and Its Relation to Music," will be the subject of a course of lectures to be delivered by Professor Brown at .the University College on Tuesday afternoons, at four o'clock. The lectures, of which there Will be six, are primarily intended to meet the wants of the students of the School of Music, but they will be of such an elementary character, and will be illustrated with such numerous experiments, as to render ™em of interest to the general public. *he first lecture will be given on Tuesday,

The monthly parish evening in connection 'th St. Selpulchre'sChurch was held in the schoolroom last night, and proved most enjoyable in every respect, The audienct wrs a large one, Mr. T. Charter presiding, lie program me was as follows :—Pianoforte oio, jUiss Turner; song, "Out in the e ep, ' Mr. Hamerton ; song, "My Lady's ower,' Miss Purchas; recitation, Mr. ionlague (encored) ; song, " Oh, Fair ( ove; Oh, Fond Dove," Miss Davis ; song, -My TT Moth Bids Me Bind My Hair",", la^ S f Handyside; violin solo, Miss Buck- „ (encored); reading, Mr. Templar ; J*. 10 Last Watch," Miss Turner; p./;, " Estudiantina," Mr. Edwards (enTOred ); song, « The Diver," Mr. Charter.

At the half-yearly meeting «of the Colonial Sugar Company (Limited) held in Sydney yesterday, a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum was: declared, as against 9 per cent, for the previous half-year. Recently Sir Robert Stout was at Sydenham, and delivered a-speech on the temperance question. In the course of his address he made some remarks which, having regard to his pronounced views as an Agnostic, have been made the subject of goodhumoured chaff in some of the Southern fjapers. The passage alluded to is as folows :—"lf there are in this room any men and women who believe in immortality, they should vote for prohibition. There were many in that room who believed in the heaven of tho Christians. He turned to the revelation granted to St. John. The heaven found there is described as a city of clean streets and clear waters. Its inhabitants were pure, their raiment white, and no centre of moral degradation existed there. He had heard Christians defend the earthly grog-shop ; but ho (Sir Robert) wished to say he had never heard men picture a pub-lic-house in tho heaven they hoped for. If you men and woman are honest, I ask you to try and make this earth as good as the pictured future state of existence. If you think we can enjoy tho brightest'happiness of which one .can dream, without publichouses, then why have them here ? Every religious man in the room, if ho be honest to his creed, whatever it may be, will vote for prohibition ; and I am told there are as many public-houses in Sydenham as there are churches. I ask the orthodox, arid those who look at the question as I have put it to them, to make this earth a place of bliss.'' We have to hand the Monthly Record (Young Men's Christian Association) for May. An appeal is made for aid to pay off the floating debt of £'250, towards which £120 have been already promised. The treneral secretary (Mr. Brakenrig) is on a trip to Hobart, Melbourne, and Sydney, visiting kindred associations. Our old friend the Rev. J. S. Hill has been asked

by the Rev. W. H. Aitken to join him in a mission to Australia next year, but, it is stated, this is not likely to eventuate. Reference is made to the visit of Mr. Hind Smith, to the new de par tare in the management of the Young Men's Christian Association, the literary and concert course, and the Literary and Debating Club. The Rev. F. Sherwood will give a lecture on "Christianity and Modern Thought,"and the Revs. Joseph Berry and Scott West will bo among the lecturers, and. Professor Schmitt gives one of his concerts. The leading article is devoted to the miracle by faith-healing performed in the Choral Hail recently. We quote a passage—" The ever-recurring question of miracles has recently been raised a«aiu in Auckland by the alleged miraculous cure of Pastor Birch's cold.

Now we hold that Christianity is inseparably bound up with miracle. If miracles were never performed, Chistianity is a lie. But do miracles occur now-a-days ? This is a somewhat awkward question, butwe will try to answer it. It will suffice to define a miracle as a suspension of a natural law where such suspension is not by the operation of any other natural law known to man. First of all let us say we do not believe that any miracle was worked in connection with

Pastor Birch's cold. Under the excitement of the occasion, Pastor Birch himself may have fancied a miracle to have been performed ; but we doubt much if even he would now insist that the temporary relief he experienced was due to other than natural causes. Moreover, we altogether deprecate such claims to miraculous interposition. But it is our deliberate and solemn conviction that miracles, as above defined, are daily performed. We believe that prayer is answered, if it be true prayer, and in accordance with God's will. "

The eighth anniversary of the establishment of the Salvation Army in Auckland will be celebrated by meetings which commence this evening at the Salvation Army Barracks, and continue till Tuesday. Colonel Bailey, who has just succeeded Colonel Taylor in command in the colony, will take part, and other officers. He is an officer who served eight years in the Army in London, four years in Canada as chief secretary to Commissioner Coombs, now in Australia. During that time the work advanced from 175 corps to 322, and from 500 officers to 919, occupying all the large towns in Canada, save in the French provinces. Seven Rescue Homes, three other Homes, and a Children's Shelter Home were established. Afterwards he went to Africa, where the work wasamongstthe English, Dutch, Zulus, Swazis, Kaffir.-«, etc., where Rescue Homes and a large Prison Gate Brigade Home were established. The Cape Government gave free access to every prison, for the purpose of conversing with and reforming prisoners. Colonel Bailey has been in the colony about six weeks, coming up from the South, and en route visiting the large centres of population. The meetings to be held here are expected to be interesting. He hopes soon to establish a branch here of the Army Rescue Homes for Women.

A musical and dramatic entertainment will be held in All Saints' Schoolroom on Monday evening next. The musical programme provided is an excellent and varied one. Adams' Band will also contribute a selection. The second part consists of the drama "Chiselling." ■

Her Majesty has given directions that arrangements should be made for throwing open to the public, at an early date, the riverside promenade at the/Tower of London on Saturdays and Sundays.

American judges frequently furnish strange exhibitions of eccentricity when on the bench. But ib is not often (writes a New York correspondent of the Manchester Examiner) that they venture to go as far as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of JS'ew Mexico, who actually expressed not his regret, but his positive delight, in sentencing a murderer of the name of Martin to death. " Usually it is a painful thing," remarked his Honor in addressing the prisoner, "to pronounce upon a human beine the sentence of death. Happily, however, your case is relieved of all such unpleasantness, and the Court takes a positive delight in sentencing you to death." After appointing a day for the execution, the Chief Justice concluded his address in the following extraordinary manner: — "The Court was about to add, 'May God have mercy upon your soul,' but the Court will nob assume the responsibility of asking an All-wise Providence to do that which a jury of your people have refused to do. The Lord could not have mercy upon your soul."

The annual meeting of the. Auckland Regatta Club will be held at the clubroom, Waitemata Hotel, on Thursday evening, at eight o'clock.

Meeting of trustees Auckland Savings ank, on Wednesday next, at three p.m.

There will be no rehearsal by members of the Amateur Opera Club on Monday next in the Choral Hall. Mr. W. Skeates, jeweller, of Queen-street, notifies the public of his intention to remove shortly to larger and more convenient premises, in South British Insurance Company's Buildings, opposite the Bank of New Zealand, and, in order to avoid removal as far as possible, is now offering his large and valuable stock at low prices.

It was Mr. James Dunning, timber merchant, of Devonport, that was one of the purchasers of the Waikanae bush at the Crown Lands office on Tuesday la3t, not Mr. Dunning, of Mahurangi.

At the City Hall, to-night, Miss Amy Vaughan's company appear in a new programme, the first part of the entertainment consisting of a fancy dress carnival, in which the performers will be gaily attired in various character costumes. New and effective scenery has been painted for the occasion. There will be new features and specialties in the second part, which will also include a dramatic scena and descriptive song, " Ere the Lamps Are Lit," in which Miss Amy Vaughan scored a great success last Saturday. .

The various ecclesiastical notices appear in our eighth page. The Newmarket Sundayschool anniversary services take place tomorrow, the Rev. A. Reid, morning; Rev. A. J. Guy, afternoon ; and the Rev. W. Lee, evening. Devonport Presbyterian Sundayschool anniversary services take place to-mor-row, Mr. Enoch Wood, morning; Mr.Hunter, afternoon: and evening, Rev. Scott-West. The Rev. H. J. Lewis will lecture at Newton

Congregational Church ,to-morrow evening on, "la Christianity of Divine Origin," in reply to Mr. Collins. The Rev. P. H. Cornford at Ponsonby Baptist Church in evening, and the Rev. J. D. Gilmour in Tabernacle in evening;. Choral Hall services (Pastor Birch's supporters) to-mor-row forenoon fellowship meeting; half-past two, Sunday-school: and evening, evangelistic services by Mr. H. J. Ross. On Monday evening, a meeting of members of newlyI formed Church will be held.