Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8582, 2 June 1891, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning, state that the condition of Sir John Macdonald, the Venerable Premier of Canada, is so critical.that the doctors have given it as their opinion that death is imminent. Her Majesty the Qileen has sent a' message through the - Viceroy of Canada to the dying statesman. Another financial crisis is said to, have arisen in the Argentine Kepublic. Bulgaria has ordered 40,000 repeating rifles to bo delivered by September.

■ A private letter received from Mr. F. Battley, of the Loan and Mercantile Company, dated London, 17th April, states :— ,-■•? We arrived on the Ist instant, after an exceptionally favourable vdyago. Both Mrs. Battley . and myself wore decidedly invigorated by the voyage. I aih hoping tlmt when I gob rest,-1 shall gain' strength in my limbs. I have consulted a physician who tells me all I need'ie rest."

We are requested by the Chief Postmaster to etate that the following hours will on future Saturdays be observed at the Money Order and Savings Bank branch of the Auckland Post Oflice :—From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m., instead of 9 a.m. till 2 p.m ; and in the evening, for tho receipt of Savings Bank deposits only, from 7 to 8.3J, instead of 6.30 to 8.30.

■ From all the accounts received from the •Waikato the introduction of sheep is go.; •<* to revolutionise the value of property in that district. =Two or three years ago property which;; was :' unsaleable ;, find : unproductive, is now ■ being \tindo to carry sheep,; giving a. handsome return after allowing interest on the then value of the property, so that : there is' ii. brighter prospect ■ for holders of property there. We have seen the ' balance-sheet of one of these estates, : which, after debiting it with interest at the property ; tax value, ?; and payment of all current expenses during the year, shows a handsome profit to > the good. In ;another estate, where, three years ago, ib was carry- ■ ing 4600 head | of-cattle, and 5000 sheep, ib is now carrying 6100 head of cattle and 50,000 sheep. r : Next year they hope to increase the ; ; carrying capacity by at ; least 50 per cent.} and in'tho succeeding year in the . same ; ratio. Y The explanation of the increased* carrying capacity of the land is not far to seek.; The settlers by ploughing, grassing, and stocking have been able to conquer the fern, which has been the great difficulty .'they; have had to ■ contend , with since taking ;possession^ of ; the Waikato land. Nil desperandum should ibe ■■■'■ the motto of every -Waikato settler.

-When Hie Excellency the Governor, Lord Onslow, .visited tho Albert-street, truant school, he was so pleased with the discipline and management of the school thab he requested the head beacher, Mr. Burlinson, to furnish him with a report thereon, in order that he might forward ib to the Governor of Victoria, Lord Hopetoun, who took an interest in social questions, and also for the general information of the Victorian Government. The request was complied with. ; Mr. Bitrlinson s reporb has been published in some of the Melbourne journals. Colonel Sir F. T, Sargood, Minister of Education, contemplates summoning a cdnfereticebif persons who take an interest ! iri the subject of dealing with the above ,cjass ,of children, and he has also been brocuring reports and inviting suggestions, jjtfany of the suggestions now made in the Melbourne press as to the best method of dealing with truant and neglected children were made by Mr. Burlinson eighteen months ngo. It is intended, we learn, to establish four truant schools in Melbourne, on eomewhab the same lines as tho Albertstreet school,in order to get the "putter children" within the reach of the benefits 6'f the splendid system' of national education now in force in Victoria.

A short time ago a settler at Birkenhead named Werhham, died somewhat suddenly, leaving a widow and family, some of the children being young. Since his death his widow has lost her reason, temporarily only it is hoped, and has had to be sent to the Asylum. In view of the distressing circumstances, the committee of tho Birkenhead and Norbhcote Fruitgrowers' Association hold several meetings, Mr. J. Barber piesiding, with n view of making arrangements through tho medium of a working bee, to plough up, harrow, and prepare litilf an aero of land, and plant ib with strawberries, &c. On Saturday last, the ground being all prepared, from twenty to thirty settlers made tip a working bee, and proceeded to the land and planted out about 12,000 strawberry plants, the whole work being completed by three o'clock in the afternoon. A luncheon was provided for the Workers by Messrs. J5. White and Barber, and Mrs. White and Misses Jackeon and Mitchell attended upon them. The whole affair wns carried out in the kindliest; spirit by all concerned in the working bee, and the aid thus giv"en will prove of great service to the atfliebed and bereaved family.

■x We have to hand , the Monthly Record i Young Men's Christian Association) for tine, from which :" we : take ' the , following items :—The £250 to defray the Bank overdraft has been subscribed, and, the committee are indebted to. Messrs. Whitelaw and Douglas for their devoted labour in the matter. ■. The general secretary , gives ■?•• an account of his late trip to Australia. Mr. Southwell, gonftral secretary. of tho Melbourne Young Men's Christian Association, showed him over their grand new building, and afforded him every opportunity of getting an insight into the work. ; Mr. Edwards, the assistant secretary, , was also very kind. Many New Zealanders whom he met in the : city j asked about Auckland and the friends here.' In Sydney he met Mr. David Walker, the general secretary of the j: Young Men V Christian >, Association, and saw the ; grand work carried on there under his supervision. Mr. Arundol invited him to luuch ab Petty'* Hotel, Sydney,' where ho had the pleasure" of meeting the r Primate of 'Australia {Dr. J. hmith), the Bishop of Newcastle (Dr. Stanton), tho Rov, .lames Chalmers, ami Mrs. Chalmers. Mr. Brakeurig hopes to bo able to give an account of hi« Australian trip bhis month at olio of the AsKOoiation'fi meetings. The Rev. J. S. Hill is . conducting a mission ) at Bristol, fA i letter has been received from Mr. George Wilson, who recently left Auckland to go into training for mission work under the Church Missionary Society. "•■ He gn y a: _" On arrival at' the Royal Albert Docks,; I was kindly mob by Mrs. J. S. Hill, Mr. Hill being away at Bristol holding a mission. 1 was received very kindly in-, doed by Mc3nre. Wigiam and Drury, principal of . tho College. To-day I was examined by the -Society's doctor, who, I believe, gsive ; a yoryKOod certificate. I expect, indeed it is almost certain, that when you get this/I;shall bo at j tho Society's training institution in the country." -r.:.'■■. ,■■ The entertainment given by the children of tho Auckland Band of Hopo Union at the Choral Hall on May 25tlj, was repeated yesterday evening at tlio City Hall before a largo audience. Mr. A. C. Ciuighoy presided. The children, who > wore assembled on an improvised gallery on tho platform, sang their choruses with very good 'eflbct, undor tho direction of Mr. Frith. The accompaniments were played by Miss I'lnmtner and Messrs. Walker 'and Spragg. Somo now recitations and other features' wore introduced into the programme, whioh was well recoivod. One of the common jurors summoned for attendance at tho Supreme Court yesterday was 'i Mr. R." Dudetr, and as ' ho was not present to answer to his name a fino of 40s ■ was ; recorded ? against him. Mr. Dutlor, however, appeared at ono o'clock, and produced his summons which showed that ho had been called for . one not for eleven o'clock. ': There whs a' clerical; error } for which he was not responsible, , so tho hno was remitted, . and ho was sworn iu as a juror.

——-—: —, ■ , , —j 1 ——————— Miss MeKenzie, daughter of the Hon. Jh MoKenzie, Minuter of Lands, and Miss McKerrow, daughter of 53 r. Mclierrowj chairman of the Railway Commissioners, are' at present! on d yipib'to Auckland. They are staying with Mr. Hale?, district 'engineer. ■, , The . local option poll for the Epsom Licensing District was- taken by Mr. Dinnieon, the returning officer* at Mr. Edgerley'a workshop, yesterday. There are 115 persons on the roll entitled to vote, but of these only eight exercised their rights. Six voted that the number of publicans'licenses might, hot be increased, and there were no votes for an increase. Two informal votes were polled, one voter striking out the instructions,; and the other the introductory lines which stated : the object of the poll. It »s most extraordinary that such mistakes should be made over a matter apparently so simple. ■ ' ' We understand that the Operative Boot- *. makers' Union have opened up communication : with the executive committee of : the Employers' Association, through the President of" the Knights of Labour, with a view to the leading officers ' haying an interview with them. The object the Union has in view has nob been disclosed, bub the executive committee Of tho Employers' Association has i been 5 convened to meet to-day in view of the communication received through the Knights of labour. '

The Auckland, Yacht Club has elected Messrs. T. Henderson and .J. ( B. Graham as delegates to represent them ,, at the forthcoming conference of : yachtsmen, -; which opens nt Wellington next week. ■ The conference will be attended by ; : delegates -i from Lyttelton and Dunedin, and should do much towards the furtherance of yachting', interests throughout the colony. Our delegates leave for the Empire City on Saturday next. ■■..- ■■/.■.- ■ : ■ ~. .■■.-. , ■■; Amidst a good deal of croaking .which; has beeij going on, it is refreshing to meot with business men who are occasionally fiiiding a silver lining in the cloud. A land agent) said yesterday, "If I was to believe half ; ; what I hear 1 should say the.colony is'; gbiiVg to the devil. . As a matter of fact, all I can say is, that during tho past month I have sold over £10,000 worth of property ,of;■ all . kiiida. j: One '■'; property within three miles of Auckland, ; .which I bou»hfc as agent three years «u;o for a party in England; I have just resold to their order at an advance of 100 to 300 per cent.on the price then paid. :? That looks bad, doesn't it?" At the annual meeting of the Takapuna Licensing Committee, 4 held yesterday at the* office; of the clerk, , Mr. Seaman, Victoria —present, the chairman (Mr. W. H. Shakcsp'car), and h Messrs. * : Oliphanb, Shea, and T. W. Seaman—the minutes of the previous "meeting were confirmed, and a satisfactory report received from the; inspestor, ; Sergeant Kelly, respecting, Takapuna Lake Hotel, a renewal of its license was granted. to Patrick O'Meagher, 1 with permission "to extinguish the , outside lamp at ten p.m., the time for closing the \ hotel.

Yesterday the 'French sailor, Lβ Rohan, belonging to the French warship Champlain, who was injured by falling off a staging while engaged in painting the side of the vessel while in dock, was taken to the District Hospital, so that he could be , better attended to than aboard the ship. Another French sailor who met with a like accident during the previous week, still remains at the Hospital, to which he w.13 taken at the time of the accident, in a critical state. % The well-known waterman Harry Keane, who was the subject of blood poisoning through being bitten by a katipo spider at Motutapu eomo weeks ago, is etill an inmate of the Hospital. So far his condition is not much improved, and he is likely to remain in the institution for some time to come. , . . .. A man named Wilhelm Schiller, engineer of s.s. Waitoa, was admitted to the Thames Hospital" on Sunday evening suffering from a dislocated shoulder caueed through a tall. " ■

Ib will be seen by district orders elsewhere tbab the Governmenb inspection parades of the folowing corps" will take place during the present month :—Auckland Naval Artillery, Ponsonby Naval Artillery, *'" A , *' Battery, " O "Battery, Auckland Engineers, Victoria Rifles, Auckland City Guacda, Newton Rifles, and Auckland Royal Irish Rifles.

A srreafc success is anticipated over the exhibition in the Devonport Hall which is to be held to-day (Tuesday) and to-morrow. Some of tho exhibits are really firstrate, and are calculated to inspire respect for the cleverness of the rising generation. The entertainments are varied, and calculated to create infinite amusement. As a great many people are desirous of seeing the famous Zouave March it is to bo executed euch evening.

One of the gentlemen who was summoned for service on the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. T. T. Moscfield, asked for exemption, on the grounde that a meeting of a Licensing Committee, of which lie was a member, was to be held that d.ay. The meeting was an important one, and he further urged that lie had served on the Grand Jury last session. Mr. Justice Conolly accepted the pleas and granted exemption. For some time past Mr. Moresby has been clerk in tho Supremo Court office, Auckland, where he has'by his courtesy find attention made friends amongst all who were brought into contact with him. He is-now transferred to Wellington, and his place will be filled by Mr. Jordan, who, we understand, is a cadet from the head oißce. It is with great plensure we notice that the accomplished vocnlieb, Mr. Putey, has so far recovered from his accident on board ship as to bo able to take a prominent part in the programme of his gifted wife's concert to-i)ij.'ht. Mr. Patey is down for the renowned buffo song; " Largo al Factotum," and' as it is said to bo one of,his greatest performances, wo recommend our readers to take this last opportunity of noting tho style and method of one of the most polished and accomplished operatic singers of his day. Our rising generation of vocalists may never have another chance of listening to such a master of his art as Mr. Patey is acknowledged to be by those who are competont to give an option on the matter.

The Government has definitely decided to appeal to the PrWy Council in re Judge Edwards, and the necessary papers are now being prepared. Argument in the Sydenham licensing election case having been concluded. Hie Honor reserved judgment, Sir R. Stout undertaking that 11 meeting of committee fixed for Wednesday next should be postponed for a week to emible His Honor to givo judgment in the meantime. Amongst the retrenched is Mr. Hammond, one of the oldest oflicers of the Native Department, who has in pursuance of the present policy been retired from office Under the Department. This, howevoivdocs llofc interfere with or affect his position as interpreter to the Supreme Court, and ho acte'd in that capacity yesterday. The disgraceful condition of the interior of the Choral Hall is sufliriontly annoying to one's senso of tho beautiful, bub when the upproiichos to fcho main entrance become dangerous ib is time something is done either to end or mend matters. Last niulib Mr. Poole, Madame Patey'e manager, in stepping oft' the main step on to the vestibule received a sevore sprain of the ankle on account, of the broken etato of tho concrete flooring. If Mr. Poole's present stute of mind continues, we Blmll nob be surprised to honr of someone having to pay the piper for this neglect. There are no loss than 652 carts licensed or registered within tho city of Auckland. This tides nob include all bhose in suburban boroughs or districts.

■The Auckland Harbour Board invite tenders for repairs to silt punts. A meeting of the shareholders of the Kuaotunu Bonanza Gold Minim? Company (Lim- ; ited) will toko place at the Company s olUoc, A.M.P. Building!, on tho 10th instant, uc three o'clock. "' Tho road '■■:■ known as Crawford's Road, Epsom Road District, is dosed for vehicular tridKo (being .dangerous) until repairs are made. % Tho annual public meeting: of 4he Aupkland Auxiliary of tho British and ft aroign Bible i Society takes plaoo i (by the/; kind permission of the church authorities) .in ; the■ 'Tabernacle on Monday next, at half-past seven. Addresses by well-known irionds. ' Tho treasurer of the Orphan Home, Parnoil, acknowledges with thahks a present of brooms ; and •■■ brushes for the Institution sent through Messrs. D. Tonics and Co.