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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6542, 5 April 1882, Page 2

To make room for. mail news we have been compelled to hold over other matter in type. Up to the hour of our going to Press the s s. Hinemoa had not arrived from the North, though she was expected about 2 a.m. A meeting of the Wellington Teachers’Association was held at the Athenasum on Saturday. Mr McMorran, of the Mount Cook School, was nominated a member, and Messrs McGregor, of the Parliamentary Library, 6. V. Shannon, of Thompson, Shannon, and Co., and Mr J. Smith, of Te Aro House, as honorary members. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Brann for the painstaking manner in which he had performed the duties of Secretary in the past, and to Mr Mowbray for having granted the use of his schoolroom for so many years as a meeting place.

Wellington had a very narrow escape from a very serious conflagration last night.. It appears that shortly after 9 p.m., some person living at Mrs Eadford’a millinery establishment on Lambton-qnay went to a back bedroom upstairs, and left a lighted candle burning on a table near the window, and within reach of the cnrtains. Several journeymen in the employ of Mr Evans, saddler, who wore working overtime on the upper floor of the aJioining premises, noticed a glare of fire, and looking out of a window, saw that the curtain was ablaze. Two of them, named 0. G. Eorle and Chappell, immediately took out the sash in their room, affixed a hose—which is always ready—to a tap, and played- upon the fire, which they quickly put out. The damage done is very trifling, but tjie room was saturated with water. The readiness with which the hose was applied was apparently not appreciated, for when all danger was past; Mr Evans’ men were saluted with, You fellows are very quick with your hose over there. ,It was certainly lucky that they were very ready, for had the firo obtained a strong hold upon the building there is no saying how far it would have spread.

The Wellington Salvage Corps held their first practice last night since their late reorganisation. About 20 members turned out under Captain Shannon, and were kept bard at work for over an hour and a-half.

This being the second day Passover, Rabbi A. J. Messing, from San Francisco, will deliver his second lecture in the Synagogue at 11 o’clock forenoon, subject, “Liberty.” His third sermon will take place about the same (ime on Saturday next. All denominations are invited to hear him.

The Union Co.’s steamer Penguin, carrying the inward San Francisco mails, crossed the. Mannkau bar at 12.45 p.m. yesterday, and as she does not call at Picton and Nelson, she is expected to arrive here about 8 o’clock tonight. The steamer Hawea is to be detained awaiting the arrival of the Penguin, in order to take on the southern portions of the mail. At the weekly session of the Rising Star Juvenile Temples, held on Monday evening, one candidate, after having answered the usual questions, was admitted to membership. The Superintendent and Bro. W. Price, the G. W.S., having addressed the children, the meeting concluded, and the Rescue Lodge then held its usual session.

Ths numerous friends of the Eev. A. Reid in this city will be pleased to know that an opportunity will be afforded them of hearing him again on the platform. Mr Reid is to lecture this evening in Wesley Church on his recent tour through Palestine. No charge will be made for admission, but a collection will be taken up during the evening in aid of the school fund.

The hoardings throughout the city whereon public enteitainers display their pictorial and typographical announcements are at present adorned with some new and startling combinations of colorand pictorial effect. Thompson’s Zulu War Panorama is announced in the best possible style. The cartoons are novel and effective, and the agent in advance has, with his billstickers, made excellent use of every facility at command. The company arrive by the Wanaka this morning.

From an Adelaide telegram, published in the Melbourne “ Argus,” it appea-s that the recent smuggling of cigars from the German gunboat Habicht was done in a most daring manner. The telegram says “Yesterday (March 21) a person from shore landed from the German gunboat Habicht with 2000 secreted cigars. To-day, a butcher’s cart was detected driving away with a few hundred cigars. Both lots have been seized by the Customs."

The usual weekly meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held in the Mayor’s room, at the City Council Chambers, yesterday afternoon, Mr J, G. Holdsworth in the chair. The business was confined to dealing with the ordinary applications for relief. The Committee appointed at the special meeting, held a week ago, to bring up a report on the subject of the establishment of a home for aged and indigent persons, have not concluded their labors yet.

From the provincial meteorological returns for last month received by Dr. Hector, we note that at Auckland the mean temperature in shade was 66’8, the average for same month in previous years being 65 6 ; the highest in shade was 80, the lowest 45'3 ; the total rainfall 4-355, the average being 2'BB inches. At Wellington, mean temperature, 62’4 ; average, 62 3 ; the highest 78, lowest 47'9 ; total rainfall 3'652, average 2’84 inches. At Dunedin, mean temperature, 56'9; average, 55’4 ; highest 83, lowest 42; total rainfall 2 458, average 2'722 inches.

A little girl between 11 and 12 years of age was a witness in a criminal case heard in the Supreme Court yesterday, and was subjected to a rather severe cross-examination as to her habit of “tolling stories.” She readily admitted that she had been flogged for untruthfulness, but when pressed as to whether she had a proper regard for the truth now, replied, “ I was bad once, but I’m not near so bad as I was.” The answer of this youthful and contrite sinner caused a laugh in which even the Judge could not help joining. At the Supreme Court criminal sessions on Monday the Grand Jury threw out the bill against a youug man named John Smith, who had been committed for trial on a charge of criminal assault. Smith celebrated his liberation yesterday by getting uproariously drunk and making use of obscene language in Willisstreet. He was arrested by Constable Lenahan, but before he could be conveyed to the lock-up he assaulted that officer and tore out a portion of his whiskers. Smith will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. We have heard several persons express sympathy for the man J. C. Huysman, who was on Monday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labor for uttering a valueless cheque. It may not be generally known that the cheque cashed by Mr Barraud, and on which the late prosecution rested, was not the only one passed by the prisoner. Two other tradesmen in this city are in possession of valueless cheques, which they confidingly cashe d at the solicitation of Huysman, and both will be found to readily re-echo the Judge’s expression of regret that the prisoner did not carry out his intention of returning to his own country before he commenced a caresr of crime in New Zealand.

Seven out of the nine oases on the Supreme Court criminal calendar have been disposed of, and in only one instance has a conviction been obtained. The Court was occupied all day yesterday hearing a charge of criminal assault against a man named Robert Hickling, residing at Polhill gully, The evidence was very contradictory, and the prisoner was acquitted. , To-day Jane Fuller will be tried on a charge of having wilfully set fire to the premises occupied by her in Mulgrave-street, and the case will probably occupy the whole of the day. The only other case on the list is a charge of stealing from the person against James Donoghue. This case could not be taken yesterday owing to the absence of an important' witness, who is now on her way to Wellington from Hawere. We .learn from the “ Wanganui Herald ” 'that Mr Collier, of Blenheim, who has for some time been experimenting in the manufacture of parchment, has decided to remove to Wanganui, and establish the business there in connection with fellmongery. Mr Collier has a contract from the New Zealand Government to supply all the parchment required in the public offices, the price and quality of the colonial manufactured article being found to favorably compare with the imported goods. One of the chief reasons far selecting Wanganui for the 'horde of the industry lies in the fact that the large-framed sheep of this district are better adapted, the skins enabling a larger sheet of parchment to be prepared than, the comparatively small-framed merinos of the Marlborough district. The parchment trade of the colony is valued at £IO,OOO per annum, the whole of which at present .is sent to England, there not being, to Mr Collier’s knowledge, a parchment factory in the. whole of the Australasian colonies.

. Mr James Kirton, sharebroker, has received the following, report from Mr Geo. Wise, Manager of the Inkerman Quartz Mining Company at Reefton. It will interest shareholders resident here The work in the Inkerman mine is progressing steadily. We now have the reef from 26ft to 32ft wide, proved from the surface to a depth of 269 ft by the 50ft and 100 ft levels, and the shaft *unkT69ft from the No. 2 or 100 ft level, and the'stone has improved steadily in quality down to its "present depth. No. 3 level, which is to be the main level of the mine, is. to be 800 ft in length; of this nearly 200 ft has been already driven by 'the contract which is now in progress. The level is to be 60ft below the bottom of the shaft, or;339ft from the surface,'so that we shall have many years’ work before us for a battery. I have every faith in the future of .the claim, and look upon it as, for an investment, one of the safest in the field. The 11,000 shares recently sold realised £2600, and as the conditions of the sales were that the proceeds should be devoted to machinery and the work in connection therewith, of course this money cannot be touched for any other purpose. A meeting of the Directors of the Welling-ton-Manawatu Railway Company was held yesterday afternoon, when Mr H. B. Higginson, M. 1., C.E., was appointed Engineer to the Company. No applications had been invited, but the Directors knowing that Mr Higgiuv son’s services were available, and having satisfied themselves that a more competent man could not be obtained to fill the office, made the appointment without delay. Mr Higginsou was formerly Inspecting Engineer of railways in the Middle Island, under Mr Blackett, and since relinquishing that appointment he was. Engineer to the Waimea Plains Railway, the works of which have just been completed. He brought-with him the most flattering testimonials from "bis late employers. Mr Higginsou is at present in Wellington, but he will leave on business for the South by the first opportunity, expecting to be absent about ten days. The Directors of the Company have resolved to commence work forthwith at the Wellington as well as the Palmerston ends, and the necessary surveys will be carried out without delay. It is understood that the plans for the first section of the Wellington end are so far advanced that tenders can be called within a fortnight. The Engineer has already received instructions to that effect. Plans for the first section at the Palmerston end will probably be ready in a month’s time.

Mantles are now being made in the rich heavy materials fashion dictates shall be worn in the present Autumn and coming Winter. Silk Matala-se, Stamped Velvets, Plush, Moire Silk, Broche Silk, will be used largely for Wraps and Jackets of all kinds. The shapes most in vogue comprise the Granny, Mother Hubbard, and, par excellence, the Dolman in its many varieties. Stamped and Brocaded Velvets are largely used in combination with other materials for ladies’ dresses. Nothing can possibly exceed in richness of effect a Brocaded Velvet Dress with Cashmere drapery and overskirt looped together with rich Cord and Tassels. Ladies can select their own materials at Te Aro House, and have mantle or dress made in the latest styles and with prompt despatch in the dress and mantle rooms of 'i'E Abo House.—[Advt.]

The Ellis’ Patent . Gas Burner ensures absolute economy ; warranted to save from 15 to 50 per cent, over any other gas burner ; more than 1,000,000 sold in America; and last year in Melbourne alone there were 30,000 sold. Convincing testimonials from all who have used them. The following is an extract from the proceedings at a meetingof the South Australian Gas Company, at which suggestions were made for the reduction in the price of gas “ Instead of reducing the price of gas at present to our consumers we can point to a means of economy—use Ellis’ Patent Gas Burners, they give as much light for an equal coat of any two of the old ones.” All who calculate in the cost of the household expenditure the gas bill, will certainly use Ellis’ Patent Gas Burners. Price 2s 6d each. Robert Gardner and Co., Wholesale and Retail Ironmongers, have been appointed sole agents.—[Advt.]

T. R. Procter, oculists’ optician, opposite Barraud’s, chemist, Lambton-quay, announces that this week will be the limit to his present visit, as he will be leaving for Christchurch about the sth of April. We should advise all those with weak sight not to lose this opportunity.—[Advt.] Thames-street Industries, by Percy Russell. This Illustrated Pamphlet on Perfumery, &c., published at6d., may be had gratis from any Chemist in the world, or John Gosnell amd Co., London. —[Advt.] “BXEQI MONUMESTUM .ERE PEBBNNID3,” he might have truly said, who, by his sagacity and judgment, saw in the composition of Ins great elixir an adjuvant that would materially aid in the dissipation of certain symptoms ox disease, a tonic that would strengthen the organs, a diuretic that would act efficaciously upon the kidneys, and a stimulant that would sharpen the appetite, and assist directly the gastric functions, such as is embodied in Udolpho Wolfe’s Schiedam Abomatio Schnapps.— [Advt.]