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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9308, 18 September 1893, Page 4

Great preparations are being made in France to entertain with effusive honour and hospitality the officers and men of the Russian squadron which is to visit Toulon. A national subscription is being raised, and the festivities are likely to be carried out on a grand scale. What is the precise pood of it all, is a question which probably the French themselves would be at a loss to explain. It is not even certain that Russia has joined France in an alliance, while no one out of Franco believes that the Czar or his advisers would risk a Cossack in helping: France to give practical effect to her bellicose aspirations. Probably the real explanation of the fraternisation of the French with the Russians is to be found in the acute attack of Anglophobia, which England's Gallic neighbours are at present suffering from. Serious rioting has occurred in Spain, caused by the resistance of the populace to the collection of taxes. The troops were* called out with the usual result—many persons were shot. A very serious strike of French and Belgian miners is threatened. The strike in England still continues, and a ballot of the Miners' Federation has resulted in a decision which can only have the effect of still further prolonging it. Mr. Gladstone is to address his constituents on the 27th instant. Great interest attaches to the event, as it is believed that his speech will be mainly devoted to an attack upon the House of Lords for their rejection of the Home Rule Bill. The Brazilian rebels have now obtained a footing in the capital, which has been abandoned by tiie President. The revolution is stated to be spreading. The French Government are about to undertake a gigantic financial operation, namely, the conversion of 4J rentes to the extent of two hundred and seventy-four million pounds.

Our townsman, Mr. U. Wilding, member of the Board of Education, leaves this week for England, via Sydney.

The New Zealand parcel post system has been extended to New South Wales, which will prove a great boon to both colonies. From the Ist of October parcels may be sent to New South Wales, the rate 3 being 8d for the first pound and 6d for every other pound up to 111b.

It is not generally known, but it is a matter of considerable interest to those who have neglected to register the birth of children within the term prescribed by the Act, that by a special provision they will be allowed to do so up to the 24th of September. By taking advantage of this provision they will be saved the payment of a heavy fine.

A requisition is in course of signature to Mr. Charles Atkin asking him to allow himself to be nominated for the Mayoralty. We have to acknowledge receipt of the Annual of New Caledonia and its dependencies for the present year, and published officially. It gives all the information concerning the administrative services of the colony, public works, and regulations, taxation, etc.

Information was received on Saturday that Mr. C. R. Rasmussen, licensee of the Hukerenui Hotel, died suddenly at midnight. Dr. Hall and Mr. J. Bell, the district coroner, have gone out to hold an inquest.

An adjourned special meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board will be held tomorrow afternoon at -past two o'clock bo consider as to receiving and delivery of goods on wharves. A special meeting will also be held in the evening at seven p.m. to consider the by-laws of the Board as revised by the Works and Tariff Committee.

Great credit is due to the promoters of the Ponsonby Bowling Club for the satisfactory progress already made in the direction of forming a green for the delectation of the inhabitants of the popular western suburb. The greon, which is 110 feet long by 85 feet broad, with the orthodox ditch all round has been duly levelled by skilled professionals, top-dressed by a careful expert, and is now in a forward condition, and it is anticipated will be in a fit state to play upon about the Ist of December at latest. The ground, held under a ten years' lease, is surrounded by a closed fence, commands a fine view of the harbour, and is altogether admirably adapted for a recreation reserve. It is the intention of the promoters to prepare tennis courts on one of the upper terraces for the lady friends of the members, a step which will undoubtedly attract the fair sex, and tend to popularise the club. The subscription has been fixed at a guinea, and already about forty members have joined. A club-house is to be erected, and every convenience provided. The energetic and popular management deserve success, and bid fair to attain it.

A Dairy Flab correspondent sends the following :—•" Ib is with deep regret I have to record the death of another old settler, Mr. Jos. Inglis, son of Mr. James Inglis, which took place on the 24th ult., at his sister's residence, near Sydney, New South Wales. After months of painful sickness and failing health, the deceased decided last autumn to go to New South Wales, in the hope that a warmer climate might result in improvement of health. For a short time his hopes and those of his friends seemed about to be realised, bub a relapse soon came which resulted as above. The deceased was well liked and much respected by all who knew him, His long period of failing health was borne with singular fortitude and composure. Mr. Inglis arrived in Auckland when quite a lad, with his father and the rest of the family, in the ship Ida Ziggla, in 1866, taking up land here in the same year, and the family have remained here ever since. The deceased, who was about 37 years of age at the time of his death, leaves a wife and four small children—two boys and two girls—to mourn their loss, for whom, as well as for the rest of the family, much sympathy is felt."

A handsome and very appropriate presentation has been made to the Auckland Naval Artillery by Mr. demons, photographer, who has been recently elected to the position of lieutenant of the company. It is an enlarged photo, of the Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier and Defence Minister, and it will be suspended in the company's room in the Drill-shed.

An old woman, Mrs. Ann Cartie, was reported to the police, as having died on Friday night, in the Waitakerei ranges. Constable Kelly went to Henderson on Saturday, with a view of getting the body down from the ranges to Henderson, so as to get an inquesb held to-day, bub last evening he telephoned to the Auckland police station thab he had bee/f unable to bring the body down. In all probability an inquest will have to be held now up at the place where she was residing

The free public lectures given by Mr. C. Frusher Howard, in the shop a few doors above the City Hall, upon "Shorthand Business Arithmetic," were attended by large crowds on Saturday evening. The new system has the merit of being of almost incalculable benefit to business people, and at the same time intelligible and easy to master. Mr. Howard is an adept in dealing with his subject, and manipulates figures with extraordinary rapidity. He has a happy method of awakening the interest of bis audience, from whom he receives assistance in working out his examples. He also gives his hearers, especially the youthful element, a considerable amount of wholesome advice during the progress of the lectures. The lectures will be continued during the week. On Saturday Constable Forbes, of Hamilton, brought down Henry Palmer, who bad been sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Mount Eden Gaol on the charge of vagrancy. • i - >

In our obituary Ulumn to-day ' 8 re . corded the death I another of Ne* Zealand pioneer settlk-Mr. Thomatg om . erville. The decet*} gentleman hd f or some, years past hided at Taur Da where he died suddeiW of heart disea, on ' the 11th instant. M Somervilie arived in the colony in 184, and was for j*ny years in business id Auckland as a» rD and produce merchant He leaves a winy and six children to mi irn their loss. The first spring melting of the Auckhd Racing Club took ace at Ellerslie n Saturday. The atteflance of the pul<j was not as large as le importance of % gathering warranted. The racing was fir. class, the number of i arters in each eve being a considerable increase on the p. vious meeting. The bourse was a lit soft after the prolonged wet season. Duri the day the sum ol £3212 was pass through the totalisatorl A full account the meeting appears odour sixth page. During the progress I the football mat played at Potter's Paldock on Saturdi afternoon between Bofessor Carrollo Gymnasium and the m Saints' Athleti Club, an unfortunate lecident occurrec A young man named Rchard Millar, play ing for the Athletic dub, collided wit! another player, and filling awkwardly broke hi? collarbone. He was at onct removed from the field, {id after his injury had been temporarily aiended to he proceeded to his residence In Ponsonby. He is now progressing as fa\jmrably as can be expected. I Afc_ St. Benedict's Church yesterday morning the large congregation present at the high mass, in spite )f the threatening state of the weather, had the good fortune to enjoy a rare musicalltreat, remarkable \ for its novelty and excellence. The mass itself is entirely new to Auckland, and was sung for the first time on the previous Sunday. Although coding from the masterhand of Haydn, it, being entitled his thirteenth mass, its treatment is quite distinct from what we ar« accustomed to hear in Haydn's masses. It is devoid ol solos, and would be a continuous chorus were it not for a few soli quartettes which were duly interpreted by Misses Lorrigan, Brannigran, and Messrs. Fuller and Thomson. The smooth and melodious phrasing of the different motifs would convey the impression of facility, whereas in reality it abounds in difficult passages. The " Benedictus" and "Agnus Dei" bear strong impress of the composer's genius in the sweet melody of the former and the peculiar but marvellously effective entwining of the parts in the latter. Another interesting feature in the morning service was the rendering of a motett for a tenor voice, by Mr. John Fuller. It is an original composition by the Rev. Dr. Egan, the conductor of St. Benedict's choir, and

though written by him some years ago in Italy, it had never as yet been sung in public. Although specially intended to be accompanied by an orchestra of sixteen instruments, the violin obligators interpreted by Herr Zimmermann, and the excellent rendering of the arranged organ accompaniment by Miss A. Mcllhone, together with the advantage of having so eminent a vocalist as Mr. John Fuller as soloist, secured a most successful rendering. It is admirably suited to Mr. Fuller's voice and Dr. Egan is to be congratulated no only upon the beauty of the compositiot bat upon his good fortune in having J beautiful a voice at his disposal. It is 3 be hoped that the general desire to her this composition with full orchestal accompaniment, may be fulfilled whst Mr. Fuller is in our midst A na less interesting association with the abve performance was the duet rendered in fautless style by Miss Lorrigan and lr. Fuller, as it Is the work of the clebrated Gaetano Capocci, conductor of .he famous Luteran. choir in Rome, and unlet' whose guidance the Rev. Dr. Egan studed for some time. Some of Capocci's (impositions were introduced into Aucklancby his reverend pupil, and many are farnliar with his charming " Laudate Pueri," wlich was heard on great festival days at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The duet rendered yesterday morning by such experieiced vocalists will, it is to be hoped, incuca those whom it may concern, to procuce other specimens of sacred music for Wiich the Italian school is so famous.

The Cogill New Minstrel Company, which for the past four weeks has occupied the Opera House, and produced a succession of attractive variety entertainments, had an excellent send off on Saturday evening, when a special programme was presented. One feature was the sketch " Our Voyagers," which afforded the opportunity of introducing 15 finely painted illustrations of Australian, South Sea Islands, English, Scottish, Irish, and continental scenes, the exhibition of which was greeted with rounds of applause. The company proceed to Wellington to-day, arrangements having been already made by Mr. Perman for their season in that city.