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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8660, 1 September 1891, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning confirm the report of the insurgent victory at Valparaiso and the capture of the city. The losses do not appear to have been as large as was at first supposed, and the fact that three thousand prisoners were taken shows that Balmaceda's forces must have realised the hopelessness of continuing the conflict. The victors were received in the city with great enthusiasm, bub owing to a mob securing firearms from the battlefield a serious riot occurred in the streets, and several persons were shot. The object of the mob was pillage, and several incendiary fires broke out. but eventually order was restored. Santiago, the capital of Chili, yielded without bloodshed. According to tho London Standard, Turkey has consented to open the Dardanelles to Russian vessels, and to pay an indemnity for having some time ago refused passage to some vessels flying the Russian flag. A parachutist in America has met,with a fearful death. He fell from a great height, and was clashed to pieces.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened yesterday. His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly, in his address to the grand jury, laid special stress on the facilities afforded to thieves to dispose of their plunder, and the' temptation to crime afforded by, the readiness with which business people take cheques in payment without knowledge of the signatures or of the person presenting them. The calendar is an unusually heavy one of 42 indictments, but a very considerable amount of progress was made through the pleas of guilty of several prisoners, who were dealt with in various sentences. A detailed report of the proceedings will be found on another page. There was a large attendance of females in the Judge's gallery during the whole of the proceedings.

By the last mail from England Mr. Albert Potter, Mount Eden, long well known in connection with inventions for cleaning and dressing phormium tenax, received a letter from Manchester which shows that New Zealand flax is now brought face to face with a keen competitor, The st China grass" of commerce, the fibre of the rhea or ramie plant, has been brought to great perfection recently by Thomas Barraclough and Company, Limited, Globe Works, Whitlcystreet, Rochdale Road, Manchester. This cleaned fibre, which is as white and lustrous as the finest silk, can now be prepared with the machinery invented by the above firm, at a cost of from 3d to 6d per lb. In their letter to Mr. Potter they state that they have found that the phormium tenax dressed by Mr. Potter's patent mixes well with Barraclough's dressed ramie fibre, and that the mixture can be prepared in suitable fabrics which it is anticipated will prove acceptable to purchasers. This invention is of importance to New Zealand, as the ramie plant grows fairly in the Auckland district, and to the northward of Auckland will produce probably at least two crops of stalks a year. Prior to tho opening of the criminal sittings yesterday, His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly held a short sitting in Banco, to hear an application by Mr. E. Cooper, who appeared for the plaintiff in the case Hooper v. Walker, and applied that the certificate of accounts taken by tho Registrar be approved by the Court. Mr. Clayton appeared for the defendant, but did not oppose the application, and it was granted. Mr. R. F. Luks was nominated yesterday as a candidate for a seat in the City, Council as a representative of the North Ward by Messrs. Arthur Heather and Wm, Bluikic.

After considerable delay the New Zealand freight ex the steamer . Bancoora, which was stranded near Port Phillip when on her way. from Calcutta to Melbourne, is now coming forward, the first shipments being on board the a.s. Rotomahana due to-day. Owing to the casualty to the vessel the usual average of loss upon the cargo was -struck, and consignees here will receive all details concerning the average, bond at) the Union S.S. Company's oflice. The work of salving the Bancooni's freight was owing to her position on the rocks, a very tedious and expensive job; as a steel wire rope of 1000 feet in length had to be built specially for the conveyance of the packages from her hold to the shore,

A meeting of the Auckland College and Grammar School Board was held yesterday, and was attended by Sir Maurice O'Eorke (chairman), the Rev. C. M. Nelson, Professor Brown, Colonel Ilaultain, and Messrs. Lennox and Luke. It was decided to accept the offer of the Railway Commissioners of £300 for land at Mount Eden taken for railway purposes, subject to certain conditions relative to fencing recommended by Mr. O. Mays, but to inform; the Commissioners that the Board regretted that its carefully calculated valuation, £388, had been reduced. The Chairman reported that he and Professor Brown had authorised a vote of £10 towards the musical and dramatic entertainment at tho school, the matter having been referred to them with power to act. A number of repairs requisitioned for by the head master were authorised, and several recommendations of the Property Committee relative to houses belonging to the Board were adopted. Accounts amounting to £434 18s lid were passed for payment. The question of providing gymnastic instruction in the school was referred to the head master to report.

The law with relation to grand juries is very peculiar indeed. Twenty-four gentlemen have to be summoned to serve on the Grand Jury, but should they all attend and by some inadvertence be sworn in, their whole proceedings would be ultra vires, for there cannot be more than 23 sworn in to form a grand jury. It so happened that when the grand jury panel was called yesterday forenoon everyone answered to his name except Mr. Prior, who was a few minutes late, and only arrived as the other jurors were being sworn. He was nob asked for any explanation, and was simply told that he was not v. anted. Of course the only action open to the registrar in the event of all being 1 present would be not to call the last name, but a mistake in this respect would entail very serious consequences.

At noon yesterday the following gentlemen, were nominated as councillors for the Borough of Devon port, viz., Messrs. M. Niccol, Glenny, and Lankham. As the number nominated did not exceed the number required all the above gentlemen were declared duly elected. Tho retiring councillors are Messrs. E. Burgess, Le Bailly, and Glenny. . The new councillors will take their seats in a fortnight.

About eight years ago a man named Mildenhall, who had suffered for many years from pain in one of his arms, went into the District Hospital, where it was discovered that the bone was diseased, and amputation of the right forearm had to be resorted to. The man despaired of ever being able to use the portion of the arm which was left, but a hook was made for it, with which he has got along during all these years as best he could. The other day he came to Mr. A. Mackie, the well-knowi. coachbuilder, to get it repaired, and Mr. Mackie, seeing thai; he was an industrious fellow willing to work, said he would try and give him something better than a hook to enable him to earn k living with. After a deal of careful planning, Mr. Mackie manufactured a metal adjustment for the arm stump with a thread screw, and a moveable arrangement, double jointed, to which can be attached the various implements which the man desires to use. Mr. Mackie has made quite a series of metal adjustments, by which the man can use an axe and chop wood, use a handsaw, frame or crosscut saw, or dig, mow, or rake. We saw the man ( yesterday engaged in many of these 'processes, and he used the tools as deftly as if he had never lost his arm. Mr. Mackie has made an adjustable knife for him, which is affixed to the stump of the arm by means of a thread screw," to enable him to take' his meals comfortably. Mildenhall is in great spirits over his new accessories, which will enable him to follow his old occupation of gardening. Mr. Mackie has acted most liberally, owing to taking an interest in the man, and has made the apparatus at merely nominal rates, though it has cost him a good deal of time and money to perfect it. The various devices certainly show him to be a most ingenious mechanic. Ib is intended to give a public exhibition of the apparatus as used by Mildenhall, and application has been made to the Mayor for the use of the plot of ground at the triangle of Bowen-street, opposite Messrs. T. and S. Morrin and Co. warehouses, for the purpose. Tho Mayor expressed his willingness to accede to tho request, but suggested a formal application to the Council. This will be done at Thursday's meeting, and the time and place of the exhibition duly advertised.

The Colonial Sugar Refining Company notify in our advertising columns that they have reduced the price of Nos. 1 and '2 ten shillings per ton, and No. 3, twenty shillings per ton. The annual meeting of the members of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle took place last evening. There was a large attendance of members. Previous to the meeting, there was a social tea, to which the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon receive a special invitation. After tea, the Church business was proceeded with. The annual report was read by the church secretary (Mr. S. 11, Matthews), and unanimously adopted. On proceeding to the election of officers, the whole of the outgoing officers were ro-elected, deacons and elders, in token of the Church's endorsement of their action during the past year. A hearty vote of thanks was also unanimously accorded them for their past services. A letter was read from the Rov. Thomas Spurgeon, in reply to the requisition inviting him to resume the pastorate of the Tabernacle. He said that he thanked them for the practically unanimous invitation conveyed to him and pressed upon him by a deputation of the officers, ana the requisition kindly worded and numerously signed. Though feeling somewhat stronger, he did not feel that he was sufficiently strong to do justice to the work required— " the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak." There were also considerations of a personal and family nature —the continued illness of his fatherwhich made him reluctant to engage himself permanently just now. He earnestly trusted that they would be directed aright at the present juncture, and assured the officers that he would be willing to serve the church after the Conference if they desired it and he was able. A resolution was passed unanimously in which the church tendered its heartfelt loving sympathy to Pastor C.H. Spurgeonin his recent illness, and expressed its joy that in answer to the prayer of God's people the wide world over, Cod had been pleased partially to restore him. A hope was expressed" that many years of usefulness might yet be vouchsafed to him, and the world nave the benefit of his consecrated talents in the production of that literature which has been so wondrously owned and blessed of God. Reference was also made to Mrs. Spurgeon, and the resolution will be forwarded to Mr. Spurgeon. A second resolution was also unanimously passed in which the church desired to record its grateful thanks to the Rev. J.Walter for services rendered it during the three months ho has occupied the Tabernacle pulpit. His earnest, thoughtful addresses had been the means of strengthening the spiritual life of the members. They heartily commended him to the churches and the people with whom he might in future be called to labour. The proceedings of the meeting throughout were of : a very • harmonious character. Mr. Spurgeon apparently intends to make some stay in Auckland as ho has just taken a residence. There is some dissatisfaction among Christchurch journalists at the action of the Journalists' Institute electing all V. ellington residents on the Council without consulting journalists in other places. A meeting is to be hold to protest. At a meeting of the Wellington Typographical Society a motion was carried unanimously that thanks be conveyed to Sir Geo. Grey for. the manner in which he has advocated the principle of an elective Upper House, and requesting. him to continue his efforts in that direction. I

. Mr. Seaman, clerk to various lie.*.committees, reports that of the n£ ¥?* tricts in his charge no quarterlv H for September will be required fn*X t ng ' them, as no applications for a ? ° licenses have been received Tt,l „,\ of trict in which a meeting will L i y , di ' - ' Tainaki ' West, which wdl talL ri d " Thursday; September 10th at the £ ° n Road Board office, to cons do r ' mur < for the removal of' the fi™, 'ft*'»»' mure and Duke of Edinburgh HotS. I within the Panmure township whor*;' I now. buildings have been erecS] , which the removals are applied for' tc Mr. James Wingate, who In, f years been , head of the firm o man Wingate, Burns, and Co. O mH favourably known in commercial i "i"' and to the public, has b<ST Messrs. James Anserine, Jame« Wi.'?, MoncrieffM . Medium 'asf™ new firm will occupy extensive and con, nienb premises in Lower Queen. ,"° Vl opposite the railway entrance whirl, at present undergoing alterations 0 T them. for a first-class wholesale and '' tail ironmongery and hardware hmZ' Messrs. Medium and Wi<r„ ha ;* • for many, years m the e«nplov raen , 0 " Messrs. Wingate, Burns, ami Co i, Customs-street, and have won "er r esteem on account of their excelled if ' ■ ness capacities and personal ch-iru'" 1 ' They have just returned from a bujiL, ■ visit to Sydney and Victoria. Mr i), Callum is a son of the I{ev .{ I?" McCallum, and is one of Auckland's ki marksmen and a member of the "V Battery of Artillery. The new ti rm gW confidence in the commercial pro*i>mni Auckland, and will no doubt secure a £ share of business. c On Sunday memorial services in conn* tion with the death of the late P Alexander Koid, Principal of Wesley a' lege, were held in Birkenhead and lj ev 7 port Wesleyan Churches. They w conducted by the Rev. J. Ward, and \ V( ! largely attended. At the Birkenhd morning service the "Dead March n Saul" was played, and at DevonpChurch, in the evening, the aiithn "Blessed are the Dead that Die in | e Lord " was given by the Devonport dieMr. Reid was planned to preach at Devc. port on the Sunday, which made the swie more impressive. In the We.-ley an c ; churches the pulpits were draped'in blac and it was announced that next Sundt evening in memori&m services will be he l At the Wesleyan Church, Onehiwa tt pulpit was draped in r mourning, 'ail reference made to the death of Mr. Keid

A new invention in water tue-irons ft blacksmith's purposes, has been devised I Mr. A. Mackie, of Chapel-street. As t present manufactured they wear out at Linose, and cause a leakage in a short tim! His invention, for which lie has secuid protection, and is taking out a patent, .M, Mackie says, speaking as a practical blacsmith, is the best thing of the kind yet invented. The feature of the invention is i wide band on tho nose of the tue-iron, an an extra nose welded on. A second pateu is a tue-iron forged with a square nose, ad then a malleable iron socket with a r'outi nose shrunk on. This causes an exta thickness, which retains the heat and keps the fire from going out when left .n----attended. He further shows a patters of how tue-irons ought to be made on the model of his invention. Whenever the malleable cast-iron nose wears out-al-though he has no idea when that eent would take place—they can be replaced at about a shilling a piece. He states iiiat it would pay the ironmongers to adust the ordinary tue-irons to the new patmt. At present he has four tue-irons all lorrodecl, and leaking at the nose, which ire being renovated on the lines of his 'nvention. He intends to exhibit the models this week on a day and time which will Ire duly advertised.

A most successful reunion was held last night at the Auckland College and (Jrammar School buildings, Symonds-street, which reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. The programme included " Les Marionettes .of Girlitt," which the school orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Trevithick, rendered admirably. This was followed by a scene from Moliere's "La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas," the characters in which were admirably rendered, the Corntesse of Miss Winifred Dudley being a distinct creation. A violin solo by Robert Walton was well done, and evidenced an apt pupil and clever teacher. A number of the young ladies of the school then gave scenes translated and adapted from Moliere's " Malade Imaginaire." This was a (our dc force ; the plot was retained, the play was compressed into about 40 minutes, and the subtle humour of Moliere well brought out in its English garb. To notice any one character in particular is useless when all were good. The school orchestra now gave Haydn's "Toy Symphony," which went splendidly. Miss Trevithick was leader, Miss Sloman piano, Miss F. Smith organ; the toys were played by a number of young ladies on the stage. Although the symphony is a long number, the audience would not be satisfied till they had obtained ail encore. The boys finished the evening with scenes from "The Rivals." The inimitable humour of Sheridan was splendidly brought out, and the audience was in a simmer of laughter the whole time. We must congratulate the school on the thorough way in which ♦they Staged their performances. The stage appointments, we understand, were kindly lent by the Auckland Furniture Company, and certainly gave an artistic setting to the phiVß. As usual on these occasions, the hall of the school was crowded notwithstanding many other attractions.

The Auckland Ministers' Association met yesterday morning in the room at ie Tabernacle, Rev. G. B. Monro the chair. Special mention was made of the death of two well-known minister?, the Kev. A. lieid, of tho Three Kings' Institute, and the Rev. W. Tebbs, late of St. .Matthews Church. The secretary was instructed to write, in the name of the Association, a letter of sympathy to the bereaved families. The Rev. J. Chew brought the claims ot the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before tho Association with the view that its work might be mentioned a Band of Hope meetings and other gatherings of young people. It was agreed tna the future meetings of the Association should commence at eleven a.m. instead o half-past ten. Donald Robinson, carpenter, died a ' Dunedin yesterday from injuries tliroug falling off a scaffolding at Montapet.ier. Upwards of 700 persons visited the Art Gallery on Sunday afternoon. At u o'clock, the hour of closing, the place vafilled, and the lady attendant bad to go round and tell those present that the room was about to bo closed. A cheap catalogs of the pictures is much wanted. One m>g l be prepared and sold for, say, 2d. There was a fairly good attendance a the City Hall last night, when .Mim, Amy Vauglian'e company repeated their . day evening's programme. They ; H- . succeeded in thoroughly pleasing audience, hearty applause frequent y warding their efforts, and all the p pals being honoured with encores. ' lively hour or two of mirth and music, , j entertainments have now an cstab ■. reputation, and their popularity » servedly increasing. Mr. Gabriel Lewis will hold ™ |" ctl °" sale at Messrs. W. 11. lentous \r.J lo lf eleven o'clock, and continue unti c | ltinc j of the mercery is disposed of. J. hisi a rccr t seldom met with to obtain high-class at a sacrifice. , . /-: t7 The Artillery Kami concert nl ess . Hall to-night promises to be a git...« "J wi| , During the interval Major 1 nie tKil »' ul present the District best shot .^-Sergt i,' 0 " Battery champion medal to ■ M. McCitllum, now in the ' A J"'" • • An open meeting of the (j 0 ? Debating society will be held, it the w | lell a Library to-morrow, at S Strodebate on Socialism will take 1 V all J duced in the affirmative by K. 0. i lll in the negative by \\ .H. Goldit. ~ • gfc A tea and concert will he to Jn con George's Hall, Newton tins e ° „) ien ft nection with the tmphany C at tjw number of musical friends iy r j„ht, Mrs. latter, ' amongst them Mrs. » » yj sS Maxwell Mrs. Murray, M'-s • c Qregor, Adams, Messrs. A. K. } „rtf-r (harp). Tait, Smith, Hood (violin), Carter (mm