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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9004, 8 October 1892, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning give additional particulars of the death of Lord Tennyson, whoso end appears to have been a singularly improssive and beautiful one. A few hours before he expired the dying poet received a kindly message from the Queen, which seemed to gratify him much. As his end approached in the early morning the members of his family were grouped round his bed. The lights in the rooms were extinguished, and only the moonbeams illuminated the room. They fell upon the face of the dying songster. The watchers saw him pass away iuto the great unknown calmly and peacefully as if gentle sleep had

closed his eyelids and steeped his sense*in sweet forgetfulness. It was an end innpressibly beautiful, and well befitting tie inspired bard who had Bung in me!tii« . cadence the divine tragedy of de«£ and immortality. Many interesting itet« ' are recorded in our genera! cable oevt With regard to the " cholera the' e*. deinic at Hamburg has apparently d a . appeared if no news is to be accepted t good news. At Cork a death has occurrd from cholera. Severe fighting continues u Dahomey, and the slaughter of the is appalling, in one engagement ti») thousand of them being killed, The civl war in Venezuela h is nob yet ended, and 5 13 reported that the rebel general hs gained fresh successes. The conference of the two Houses of th Legislature have been unable to agree upo the amendment, of the Council giving th electoral rights to women in the countr districts. A debate upon the question wa adjourned this morning, a step which th advocates of women's franchise declare wil shelve the Bill entirely. This will mea> th it the franchise will remain a dead lette for four years. Yesterday the Legislativ Council passed the Native Land Validatio of Titles Bill. The two Houses of th Legislature have agreed to a conipromis upon the Shops and ;«hop Assistants Bill the amendment made by the Council allowing shops to remain open, beinj carried. A conference has been greet upon to consider the amendments of th Council in the Selectors Land Valuation Industrial Conciliation, and Factories Bills The mail steamer Mariposa arrive') frorr Sydney last night, en route to Samoa Honolulu, and San Francisco, with th English and American mails, after i pleasant passage of 4 day 13 hours. Amon' the through passengers are the Ovidt Musin Company, who are returning to the United States, after a very successful torn of the colonies. On the way across from Sydney, a concert was held in the social hall of the steamer, in which the company were the principal contributors. Mr. R. Hudson, of the Hudson Brothers (Limited), of Sydney, and his secretary, is also a through passenger, and is bound to Chicago, as general superintendent of the New South Walos exhibits at the coming World's Fair. Dr. Cleghorn, of Blenheim, who has been attending the recent medical conference, in Sydney, is also a passenger, and leaves for the South, to day. Mr. W. H. Sims, of Adelaide, also arrived by the steamer, his intention being to visit the Hot Lakes, for the benefit of his health. The Mariposa resumes her journey to Samoa, Honolulu, and San Francisco at two o'clock this afternoon. We have received a number of letters for which we are unable to find room today. We are glad to see that Mr. Connolly, United States Consul, who has for some time been confined to his room by severe illness, is now about again. The New Zealand Shipping Company'* eteamer Rimutaka arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday morning from London, via Teneriffe, Capetown, and Hobart, after an uneventful passage. Among her passengers are the Hon. H. Matthews, who occupied the position of Home Secretary in the late Salisbury Ministry, and Mr, Batger, one of the New Zealand representatives to the late athletic carnival in Britain. . Mr. Northcroffc, R.M., Warden of the goldiieldn, proceeded to Corornandel yesterday per s.s. Corornandel. Mr. Law lor, recently at Te Aroha, also went by the steamer, and will occupy the position of mining registrar and clerk of Court at Coromandel, in the place of the late Mr. Gatland. With reference to the statement in yesterday's issue in our special correspondent's telegram from Wellington that on the resignation of Bishop Hadtield of the Primacy of New Zealand, Bishop Cowie would become Acting-Primate, we understand that no papers in connection with the matter have yet been received by the Bishop of Auckland. On his becoming Acting-Primate all the duties of the office would be performed by him from Auckland, as was done by Bishop Harper in Christchurch. When the Diocesan Synod of Wellington hag nominated a successor to Bishop Hadfield, the nomination will have to be approved by ail the other dioceses. It would of course be necessary for Bishop Cowie to go to Wellington to assist at the consecration of the new Bishop of Wellington. The Railway League sent a telegram to the Minister ot Public Works, with a view of ascertaining whether the Makohine viaduct was in the mileage of railway proposed to be constructed on the Central line. A reply was received stating that it was included, but it is understood that this heavy and costly work will not be gone on with till the purchase of the Awarua block is completed. Another telegram was sent by the League yesterday to some of the Auckland members, stating that the recommendations in the Parliamentary Committee's report were not wholly satisfactory, and asking for further information. An inquest was held yesterday, at Avondale Asylum on the body of Thos. Fraser, an inmate, who died on the previous day, by Dr. I'hilson, coroner. After hearing the evidence adduced, the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. Deceased was a widower, and was admitted in June, from Punga Flat, Thames, suffering from chronic disease of the brain. Ha has no relatives in the colony. The construction of an approach to the proposed Takapuna Wharf was again considered by the VVaitemata County Council yesterday. It was stated that when the Council passed a resolution to the effect that they would construct the approach members had no idea that the Harbour Board expected them to undertake a work of such magnitude as t-h«t now proposed, the engineer explaining that according to the plans they were asked to take the " approach" '250 feet from the land into the water, and that the cost would be £270 if in timber, and £460 if in stone. After discussion the Council authorised the expenditure of £15 on repairing the present approach in the event of the wharf being built. The number of applications for relief ab the committee meeting of the Charitable Aid Board yesterday were under 20, and few were new*ones, but simply renewals of rations. None of the cases had any special features of public interest. V esterday, between one and two o'clock, an incipient fire took place in the grounds of Mr. A. E. Devote, of Ponsonby Road, among the undergrowth and vegetation, caused, it is supposed, by some of the boys from the school on their way to or fro carelessly throwing a lighted match over the fence. As everything was dry the fire burned apace, and the fencing would have gone if it had not been promptly dealt with. The garden hose was run out, and brought to play on the burning debris, and some of the neighbours—Messrs. Hutchinson, grocer, and Baddeley, plumber—lent willing aid in getting the fire extinguished. The number of passengers by the Northcote Ferry boats has of late greatly increased. The waiting-rooms at the Northcote Wharf have been much improved in comfort and conveniences. With the excellent ferry service provided by the I'evonport Ferry Company, and the short time required to make the passagefrom 10 to 12 minutes, the distance being less than from Quay-street to Devonport—this ought to be one of the most popular of our marine suburbs. The whole district beyond the point, on which there are many pleasantly-situated houses, possesses great advantages for residence. It is wellsheltered from prevailing winds, and yet so situated as to be almost always open to a refreshing air from the ocean. The greater part of the district being well elevated, has a fine natural drainage ; fogs and malaria being unknown, and frosts being very rare. In this way the whole district enjoys a charming climate, which is highly praised by all residents for its extraordinary healthiness. Some fine clumps of native bush add much to the amenity of the Lake Road, and a few kauris are still to be seen in Kauri Gully, and from every height views of Auckland and the harbour meet the eye. Northcote has one of the best suburban hotels, two public halls, several neat churches, and a commodious and well-filled public school. There is also a telegraph office and telephone in connection with the Auckland bureau. With all these advantages, the demand for building sections and small farms for fruitgrowing is increasing, several new houses being on the way to completion. The well-known American evangelist, Sam Small, has been shot in the thigh while conducting a prohibition campaign at Vincennes, Ind.

It has been decided by, the committee to Wake arrangements in connection with the 4 reception of Lord Glasgow, for the city and suburban school children to sing the National Anthem, on the allotment in front of the Municipal Buildings, as His Excellency passes by. Yesterday the Rev. W. Calder, Mr. Blades (Chairman of the City Schools Committee), and Mr. Farrell visited the schools and arranged for the teachers to train the scholars of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Standards. A rehearsal is to take place on the ground the evening prior to His Excellency s arrival, and Mr. lunes will officiate as conductor. It has been decided by the Auckland Rugby Union to bring the football season to a termination this afternoon, and the local footballers will take this opportunity to make an effort to raise funds for the relief of the sufferers by the recent lamentable boating fatality at Whangarei. In the execution of this generous undertaking they will doubtless receive the heartiest support of the general public, and a large attendance may be confidently anticipated. Apart from the object of the gathering, the game itself promises to well repay a visit to Epsom. Two very strong teams, containing nearly all our best local players, and representing respectively the Eastern and Western divisions of the city, will try con- j clusions. The Auckland public have, in the past, ever been ready to come forward to help the unfortunate, and it is to be hoped that they will make no exception to this rule on this occasion. Our Thames correspondent telegraphed last night—Seaman Weir, of the local Naval Artilleiy Corps, has decided to take part in the New South Wales Rifle Association meeting, which commences on the 17th instant. He goes at his own expense, and will leave here for Auckland to-morrow morning en route for Sydney per Tarawera. Mrs. Schnackenberg, president of tho Women's Christian Temperance Union, has received a letter by the s.s. Monowai from the headquarters of the W.C.T.U , Chicago, in which reference is made to tho illness and death of Mrs. Wiilard (mother of Miss Frances E. Wiilard), who has just passed away at the ripe age of 87. The late Mrs. Willard was a bright, intelligent woman, of keen intellect and strong force of character. The Temperance cause is indebted to her for training and developing those special qualifications which helped to make her daughter the successful leader and president of the National and World's W.C.T.U. Miss Willard was so much prostrated by the cares and responsibilities of her official duties and her mother's illness that she was persuaded to take some much needed rest, and pay a long-promised visit to England. During the past few years Miss Wiilard has positively declined all invitations for visits or holidays that would necessitate her leaving home, preferring to attend to her duties of the W.C.T.U. and remain with her mother during her declining years at Rest tage, Evanston, near Chicago. It is fully anticipated that this visit will have the desired effect, and that. Miss Frances E. Willard will return from England to her work with renewed vigour and energy. By the latest advices Mrs. Andrew, M.A., and Dr. Kate C. Bushnell are concluding their visit to Queensland, and may be expected to arrive in Auckland on or about the 25th inst., when they will deliver addresses on " Social Purity," and the work of the W.C.T.U. At the monthly meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council, the Mayor presided. A draft of the new Municipal Corporations Bill and an application from the Hawera Borough Council re an Atkinson memorial were received, both of which were ordered to be laid on the table. The committee appointed to report on promised alterations to Birkdale Road presented a plan and specification, which had been prepared by Messrs.Greaves and Swindail, in accordance with a resolution of last meeting. Mr. White reported that, as one of the committee was not satisfied with the production, he had, on his own responsibilty, obtained a plan and specification from Messrs. Bell and White, engineers, and offered the same to the Council, if they chose to adopt it. After careful consideration of the two, the Council resolved to accept the latter conditionally, with some slight alterations. Re representation on the Auckland Harbour Board and the petition now before the House of Representatives from a number of Auckland merchants, proposing to abolish the representation on the Harbour Board from the boroughs of Birkenhead, Devonport, and Parnell, it was resolved—"That this Council strongly disapproves of the alteration psked for by the said petition so far as regards the Birkenhead Borough, for the following reasons : (1) That the Birkenhead Borough, through its various industries, contributes very largely to the Harbour Board revenue ; I*2) that it has about nine miles frontage to the harbour ; and (3) that the members hitherto elected by the district have shown as much desire to advance the welfare of the port of Auckland as any member elected by the shipping interest of the city." Financially, the treasurer reported as follows : - Credit balance last month, £41 9s 4d ; rates received to 30th September, £26 17s; accounts paid, £27 Is2l, leaving a credit balance, as prepared for the audit, of £41 5s 2d ; rates received in October, £16 17s 6d, making now available £58 2s Bd. Accounts amounting to £18 17s ere approved for payment.

Mr. W. H. Jude, composer and organist, is announced to perform at the services in the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church to morrow. He gave a practice last night in the presence of a considerable number of musical visitors, who were so delighted with his performance that they regretted the discontinuance of the rehearsal. On Sunday afternoon at three o'clock he will give a lecture in the City Hall on " The Morning of Life," with sacred organ solos and vocal selections, to which admission is free. On Monday evening he will give an organ recital in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

A very unique and handsome design for 1 headstone and grave fence has just been executed by Mr. Alexander Mackie, of Chapel-Street. It will be remembered that Mrs. Mackie died about four months ago, and it was with a view of erecting something in the nature of a permanent memorial, that first brought the idea to Mr. Mackie's mind, which he has now practically wrought out-. The headstone consists of the usual marble slab rounded on the top and suitably sculptured. Immediately over the usual inscription Mr. Mackie has cut out of the marble a square in whhh is inserted an opaline photograph of the deceased lady, a piece "of slate being first let in and securely cemented, as marble admits moisture. The photo, after insertion, was edged with slate and cement so as to be impervious to moisture, and protected by strong chamfcred glass. An ingenious device, consisting of a brass plate, nickel plated, covers the photograph, and works on a swivei, so that it can be put aside when required by the visitor, to look at the photo., and bears the inscription " Please cover," enjoining the person to replace the cover in its normal position. The inner side of the plate contains a chamois-leather lining, so that, the mere act of putting aside the plate to the right or left of the photo causes the chamois leather to clean the face of the glass. .By this arrangement the photo, is protected from the light and thus remains good for an indefinite length of time. Over the photograph Mr. Mackie has sculptured an open Bible, with a leaf turned down, surmounted by the symbol of the shield of the Salvation Army (of which communion Mrs. Mackie was a leading member), taken from the design on her own shield. The fence consists of eight massive bub elegant ports of totara, with intermediate chains ot galvanised iron, and they are put up on quite a new principle. First of all totara foundation posts are placed in the ground, having upright pins in the centre, through the solid being partly cut out 011 either side. The fence post has a corresponding bore hole, and the fencing is simply raised over the foundation posts and the pins go into the holes. As totara lasts 30 years in the ground, all that is necessary at the end of the time is to renew the foundation posts, the superstructure being almost as good as 3ver. The fence posts are elaborately painted in black, picked out with gold, *nd surmounted wit h crowns. Mr. Mackie is a coachsmith and coachbuilder by trade, and the manner in which he has executed the sculpturing, the fence, and the painting, would do credit to a tradesman in any of these branches of workmanship, and would never be taken as the work of an amateur. The headstone and grave fence as is notified elsewhere will be on view at his residence throughout the whole of next week, prior to erection at Waikomiti Cemetery, and Mr. Mackie will be happy' to show them to the public, and especially to those who are interested in placing memorials over their loved ones.

A good number of rough sketches were shown by the members of the Mahlatick Club at the usual monthly meeting held last night- in Mr. Leech's room. The subject of "Repose" brought out a few excellent illustrations by Messrs. Trenwith, Gregory, I'henoy, and W. Wright, while Mr. Ball's contributions, which consisted of a small series of picturesque rocky subjects from the Mount Boskill district, done in his usual happy manner, were well worth study. The members intend to draw again on Domett's poem of " Ranolf and Amohia" for subjects for illustration.

The Devonporb Wesleyan Church was crowded last night, when the Rev. Dr. Brown, F.R.G.S., delivered his interesting and able lecture on "Picturesque New Guinoa and New Britain." After the meeting had been opened by the Rev. Mr. Ward with praise and prayer, Dr. Brown began his description of missionary life and work, traversing the same ground practically as at his two previous lectures here. The photographic views which he exhibited at the close of his remarks were inspected with marked attention, Dr. Brown's explanations of the scenes and incidents they represented adding considerably to their instructive attractiveness. The large audience appeared to be delighted with the lecturer and his pictures—a fact they did not hesitate to manifest.

After a prolonged tour on the Continent, the Right Rev. Dr. Luck, Bishop of Auckland, will return to his diocese by the next mail boat duo from San Francisco. As will bo seen elsewhere, the Vicar-General of Auckland, Very Rev. Father Paul, has summoned a meeting of the clergy and laity which is to be held at tho Marist Brothers' sch iol, Pitt street, to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon at four o'clock, when arrangements will be made to welcome his lordship on his return.

The departure of Mr. G. M. Burlinson, of the Chapel-street school, for Dunedin, was yesterday made the occasion of a pleasing little ceremony. The teachers of the school presented Mr. Burlinson with a handsome inkstand as a testimony of the cordial relations which had so lon*' existed between themselves and him ; wdiile an address of very gratifying import to the recipient was sent in by a large number of the parentis. The children look leave of their master with apparent regret, their offering being appropriately a handsome bouquet.

Two young clergymen have recently arrived in the colony to strengthen the ministerial ranks of the Primitive Methodist i hurch, namely, the Revs. J. Hay ward and Barnett. They came out to Sydney via the Suez route, and thonce to Wellington. Mr. Barnett has been stationed there for the present, and Mr. Hayward came 011 to Auckland by the Mahinapua, via the West Coast. He will be stationed here as helper to the Rev. J. Guy, of Alexandrastreet Church. Mr. Hayward has a good record in the old country, and is regarded as a young man of much promise. Both the appointments are but temporary, and pending the sitting of the Primitive Methodist Church Conference in January next.

A meeting of the Auckland Sports Protection Association was held at the British Hotel last night for the purpose of confirming the rules agreed to at a previous meeting. Mr. E. W. Burgess presided. In rule 9 the words " two months" wore altered to " four months," and in rule 10 " a week's notice" was altered to " a month's notice." These amendments having been made the rules were confirmed.

Mr. W. H. Webbe and pupils gave their fifty eighth musical evening at Berlin House, Kyber Pass, last night, the commodious music rooms, being as usual on these occasions well filled with a highly-appreciative audience. The following interesting programme was successfully gone through :— Four piano Quartettes by four different classes, Auber s " Muetti di Portici," Mo«kowski's " Valse Brilliant," O. Schmitt's No. 2 Polonaise, and Paner's " British Guards' Quickstep;" concert duo for two pianos, Ketterer's " Marche Oriental;" piano solos, " Moonlight Sonata," beautifully played ; Greig's " Bridal Procession March," Bergmuller's "Etude No. 11," with accompaniment on second piano ; Chopin's " Nocturne No. 11,"and " Faust," both with organ obligato. Two new songs were nicely sung by a young lady pupil. The visitors' items were contributed by Mrs. Cooper, Messrs. Tapper and Winkefmann Mr. Webbe announced that the library for the use of the piano-quartette classes now contain over 2400 pieces.

Last evening Mr. and Madame Steen, who arrived in Auckland by the s.s. Monowai, under engagement for a colonial tour to Mr. Oscar Smith, gave .1 private exhibition on the stage of the City Hall to press representatives and a few others, and there is no doubt about the extraordinary intuition possessed by the lady. She was seated, blindfold, and with her back to the spectators. One wrote on a blackboard a row of figures, an addition sum, another a column of names. After adding one row of figures she spelled one of the na<es, then returned to the figures, and vice versa, until the sum was completed, and the names all spelled, and she could not be misled by attempts to puzzle her even when figures or letters were taken at random. (Jailing out successive cards from a shuffled pack before their faces were turned seems not to require an effort on her part, and the rapidity and accuracy with.which "lie solved that chess problem, " the knight's tour," starting from a square selected by one of the audience, was a most puzzling manifestation. She also accurately interpreted the thoughts passing in the minds of those present, and even told the birthday of one of them, adding some matters of detail with which he was not familiar himself. The exhibition was a very interesting one. Arrangements have not yet been made for public performances, but when they are we have no doubt our American visitors will be heartily appreciated.

A musical and literary entertainment was given last evening in the Catholic Institute, by the pupils of the Nelson-street public school lMr. B. Cronin head teacher), in order to raise funds for the forthcoming Christmas sports for tho scholars. There was a good attendance of the children and their friends, among those present being Mr. Adams, one of the members of the City Schools' Committee. The following was the programme, which was gone through in a highly creditable manner:—Pianoforte solo, " Alice," Mr. Schroff; song, "l'eek-a-Boo," Miss A. Vandle; recitation, "What Does it Matter," Amy Blewdcn ; chorus, " Three Fisher Maidens," three girl pupils ; pianofjrte duet, Miss E. and Master K. Cconin ; song, " Sparkling Streamlets," Miss M. Myles ; recitation, " The Quarrel," Miss E. Btillen ; song, " Tho Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock." Miss 1,. Levy; song, "The Old Church," Master \V. Diamond; song, Mr. Twinamo ; pianoforte duet, " Woodland Whispers," Miss E. Harrison and Master It. Cronin ; Then followed the cantata entitled " The White Garland," which was capitally given, the caste being as follows:—Queen, Miss M. Samson ; Punctuality, Miss V. Evans ; Perseverance, Miss M. Gumming; Generosity, Miss A. Patterson ; Quarrelsome Scholar, Master S. Woodman ; Tardy Scholar, Miss B. Bullen ; Selfish Scholar, Master G. Sampson. An entertainment was given last evening at the Public Hall, Onehunga, by Mr. Snazello. There was an excellent attendance, and, judging from the applause, the programme submitted of " Music, Song, and Story" was greatly appreciated. Mr. Snazelle promised to revisit Ouehutiga on a future date, and give them another entertainment. The first of the series of concerts to bo given by Signor Foli is announced for Friday next, in the Opera House. The great success and enthusiastic ovations that have been the experience of Signor Foli in the South have awakened considerable intorest in his advent here. The company assisting him has received high encomiums. Tho box plan for the concerts will be opened this morning, at Wildman and Lyell's. The only occupants of the police cells, last evening, were a man on a charge of drunkenness, and another named Benton, on a larceny of 30lb of beef from the ketch Terarawa. Strangers who want good value in Drapery, Clothing, Dress Goods, and Millinery, should try J. H. Hannan's, Victoria and Chapelstreets, who imports direct, and sells at prices which defy competition. An advertisement of Messrs. John Burns and Co., ironmongers, Custom-street, will be found elsewhere, containing items of interest to farmers and others generally. Nominations for the second billiard tournament, to be held in the Auckland billiard saloon, Queen • street, close on Saturday next.