SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1243, 25 September 1875, Page 9

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL.

The great feature of the Parliamentary Session since our last Summary has been the Abolition Debate ; and we may say that the great feature of the debate was. the ultra Provincial speech delivered by the newly-elected member for Caversham, Mr, Stout. It is spoken of on all sides as decidedly the most eloquent and logical speech of the debate. The correspondent of the Daily Times says that " rarely has any speech before excited such general applause from both sides of the House. " Af cer Mr. Stout's speech, on the 27th. of August, Mr Wales followed in support, and Mr J. C. Brown against. There being no other speakers, Major Atkinson was called on to reply, which he did in a very vigorous speech, answering categorically the chief arguments of the opposition against the Bill, and adducing additional figures in support of his financial proposals. Mr OUorke called for a division, and the following was the result : — Ayes, 52 : Noes, 17.

Ayes :— Andrew, Gibbs, Tribe, J. E. Brown, Bluett, Ormond, Richmond, Reynolds, Wales, Pyke, Katene, Mervyn, Murray, W. Kelly, J. Shephard, T. L. Shepherd, Yon der Heyde, Bryce, Buckland, Parata, T. Kelly, Luckie, Stafford, Creighton, Pearce, Bowen, O'Conor, Outhbertson, Ballance, Harrison, O'Neill, Curtis, M'Gillivray, Wilson, Richardson, Atkinson, Williams, Carrington, Johnston, Baastian, G. M'Lean, C. Parker, May, Munro, Wakefield, Sir 3>. M'Lean, M'Giashau, Stewart, Webb, J. O. Brown, Inglis, Jackson. Noes.-— Sip George Grey, Messrs Reader Wood, Thomson, Dignan, Sheehan, C/Rorke, Stout, Macandrew, Takamoana, White, Fitzherbert, Reeves, Hunter, Swanson, Reid, Montgomery, Bunny. Pairs.— For: Parker (G. B.), Kenny, and Bradshaw. Against: Rolleston, Ward, Brandon,

Major Atkinson moved that the House •hould go into Committee of the Whole to consider the Bill on the Ist of September. Carried ; and the House adjourned at a quarter to two a.m. The battle was resumed on the motion to consider the Bill in Committee,|and after a great deal of caucusing, debating, and negotiating, it was decided that the Abolition Bill be proceeded with and fairly considered in Committee, and, as amended, be finally passed without further opposition, in consideration that the Act shall not come into operation until one day after the first Session of the new Parliament. The House has since been considering the Bill in Committee on its merits, and greater attention is being given to other Bills before them. Sir Julius Vogel has written to a friend in Dunedin to say that he and his family will leave London for New Zealand so as to reach the Colony sometime during November.

The Daily Times has taken Mr. Stout severely to task for advocating the retention by the State of the fee-simple of the land, and charging a rental for its use.

MUNICIPAX.

A. meeting of Dunedin electors, to consider the abolition measures, was held in the Drill Shed on the 31st ulc. A motion by Mr R. Gillies—that the thanks of the meeting be tendered to the Dunedin members for the action they had taken in connection with the Abolition Bill — was lost, only eight hands being held up for it. An amendment by Mr Ramsey that the city representatives should have consulted the electors before voting for abolition— was carried with enthusiastic cheering.

A special meeting of the City Council ■was held on the 3rd, tj take into consideration the "prospective financial requirements" of the city. After two hours' discussion, a report of the Finance Committee was adopted, recommending that the Council's borrowing powers be increased from £200,000 to £400,000, and that a municipal 6 per cent, loan to the extent of £100,000 be negociated on the London Stock Exchange. Mr Genever, resident engineer and manager of the Gasworks, has written a long article on Courtis's report to the Council, advising that body to erect new works. He showed that the present works are quite capable of supplying the town with gas. Action is now being taken for the carrying out of the projected street improvements around the Railway Station and towards which the Provincial Council has roted £1000.

The Dunedin Waterworks Bill passed through Committee considerably amended.

At a special meeting of the City Coun<al» he** on the 20th, Mr J. K. Johnston and Mr B. Lowry were appointed assistant sanitary inspectors for Dunedin. There were 52 applicants.

An official visit was paid on the 24th nit. by the District Officers, A.0.F., to Court Robin Hood, Port Chalmers. A meeting of the Perth, Angus, and Mearns Association was held in Murray's Temperance Hotel on the 24th ult., to arrange for the public inauguration of the association. Mr Keith Ramsay, president, was in the chair. A committee was Appointed to arrange for a conversazione and ball. At the annual meeting of the J*odge of

Dunedin 931, E.G., on the 24th ult., Bro. E, Nathan, P.M., was duly installed Master of the Lodge. The following brethren were then invested in their respective offices :— Bro. W. Asher, P.M., Treasurer ; Bro. D. Ross, S.W. ; Bro. J. Peak, J.W. ; Bro. P. Murray, Secretary ; Bro. Brown, S.D. ; Bro. Orbell, J.D. ; Bro. W. Johnstone, I.G. Referring to the half-yearly report of the Colonial Bank, the Cross states that this young monetary institution is making considerable headway. After summarising the report, our contemporary says : — " It is surprising that an institution so young, amidst so much competition, should have been able to achieve such a degree of success in so short a time, especially when, during the greater portion of tins period, the war amongst the Banks prevailed.

The thirteenth annual soiree and ball of the Pioneer Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was held in St. Georges Hall on the 26th ult. The G. M. elect, Bro. Braithwaite, presided. There was a very large attendance. A numerously attended meeting of the Ayrshire Association was held in the Provincial Hotel on the 27th ult. The Vice-President, Mr William Caldwell, occupied the chair.

The Sailors' Home contained 14 boarders on the 28th ult, nine having entered and nine left during the week. The installation of officers of the Grand Lodge of Dunedin, 1. 0.0. F., tookplace on the Ist at Carroll's Hibernian Hotel. The following brethren were installed in their respective offices for the ensuing year by P.G.M. Brother Michie :— Bro. J. Braithwaite, M.W.G.M. ; Bro. P. Ruasell, R.W.D.G.M. ; Bro. H. M'Nair, R.W.G.W. ; Bro. J. Boyd, R. W.G. Sec; Bro. Alexander, R.W.G. Treasurer ; Bro. R. T. Wheeler, R.W.G. Chaplain ; Bro. T. Bracken, R.W.G. Marshal ; Bro. Hanna, R.W.G. Conductor} Bro. Henderson, R.W. Guardian : Bro. P. M'Kenzie, R.W.G. Herald.

The number of patients in the Hospital on the 4th was 170, of whom 39 are females.

There are, in the Benevolent Institution, 84 persons, including 30 men, 8 women, 22 boys, and 24 girls. One hundred families are at present dependent upon out-door relief, at an expenditure of over £30 a week.

The Government has decided that, in in future, the Hospital shall continue under the management of the Provincial Surgeon, Dr Hulme, but that there shall be associated with him Drs Ferguson, Hocken, and Brown as Hospital physicians and surgeons. The third annual Show of the Dunedin Canary and Poultry Association was formally opened by His Worship the Mayor on the 3rd. There was a numeious attendance of visitors.

During the week ending September 4th six entered and nine left the Sailors' Home, leaving eleven. There were in H.M.s Gaol, Dunedin on the 4th, 131 male and 25 female prisoners.

A social gathering of the members of the Perth, Angus, and Mearns Association, and their friends, was held at the Oddfellow's Hall on the 10th. Professor Black delivered an address, and the entertainment concluded with dancing. A large meeting of the inhabitants of Kaikorai, Roslyn, and Half Way Bush districts was held on the 10th, for the purpose of forming a Lodge in connection with the Independent Order of Oddfellowß. Bro. Joseph Braithwaite attended, and gave a very concise address on the Order and its objects. It was unanimously resolved that a Lodge be formed under the name of "The Linden Lodge.' .^i*^ ? Ir James master of All Saints' School, gave a lecture in the Mormngton District Hall. The attendance was numerous, and the proceeds will be appropriated in aid of the Sunday School library. The subject was " Halfhours with the best authors." A congratulatory testimonal, intended for presentation to the Prince of Wales from the Masons (E.C.) in Otago, is exhibited in the window of Bro. Nathan. On the 11th the Sailors' Home contained seven boarders, ten having entered and fourteen left during the week To make usefully available the two ends of railways the one at Balclutha and the other at Mataura, Cobb and Co. have placed upon the road to join the endings an efficient plant of coaches and horses, and run this new line daily a distance of 5o miles from the two points, in such time as persons leaving Dunedin in the morning will reach Invercargill at night, the total distance being 140 miles The regular monthly meeting of the Otago Schoolmasters' Association took place at the Athenaeum on the 4th. Mr ****** « * «*

•«* a , m l e , etin g <* Athenajm Comto 23 Siff if ~ th > st was resolved srSoS? to the Home agents * **-

The number of inmates on the 18th in the Dunedin Hospital was 188, of whom 40 are females.

The regular meeting of the Otago Institute tookplace on the 14th, whenabout 30 members and several ladies were present. Mr R Gillies read an interesting paper on "The habits of the trapdoor spider." F On the 15th, the D. D. Grand Worthy Chief Templar, and tlie Grand Marshall, assisted by Brothers from the Triumph Loage, Mosgiel, opened a lod^e of Good

The half-yearly meeting of the Preas Dramatic Club togk place fc ZllZl

Club Reading Room on the 11th, when there was a good attendance of members. The Daily Times states that the first number of a new quarterly periodical, to be entitled the New Zealand Magazine, will be published on or about the Ist of January next. The editors will be Professors Sale, M'Gregor, and Brown, Rev R. L. Stanford, and Captain Hutton. The employe's of the .Victoria Brewery entertained their employer, Mr Strachan, at their annual supper in the British Hotel on the 17th.

The annual meeting of the Field Naturalists' Club was held at the University Building on the 17th. During the past sesson thirteen excursions had been made by members.

The eleventh anniversary of the Court Pride of the Leith, A.0.F., was celebrated on the 17th, at the North Dunedin Drill Shed. There was a crowded attendance. A numberof storekeepers and merchants have been summoned to the City Police C»urt to answer to charges under the Dangerous Goods Act of keeping petroleum in large quantities in their places of business.

There was a large muster of Foresters at the Caledonia Hotel, Great King st., on the 15th, on the occasion of the official visits of Courts Enterprise and Pride of Dunedin to Court Pride of the Leith. The Good Templars are bestirring themselves with spelling-bees and tea-meetitigs. Between 50 and~6o former pupils of the High School met on the 16th at Wain's Hotel, and united themselves into an association to be called the High School Club.

On Saturday, September 18, the Sailors' Home contained twelve boarders. Ten entered and five left during the week. There was an excellent attendance at All Saints' Schoolroom on the 20th, when Mr J. Kirby re-delivered his lecture entitled " Half-an-hour Among Authors." On the evening of the 10th. the Peninsula Total Abstinence Society had an entertainment in the shape of readings, songs, and recitations. One hundred and twenty have signed the pledge within the last year.

RELIGIOUS.

The weekly meeting of the All Saints' Young Men's Association was held on the 31st ult. An entertainment is to take place on the 14th October, and the Committee has decided to initiate a spellingbee on that occasion, a prize to be given to the best speller. Mr Percival °then gave his paper on the " Physical Construction of the Sun."

The St. Paul's Young Men's Association assisted by several lady amateurs, gave a capital entertainment at the Oddfellows' Hall on the 27th ult., when about 100 persons were present. A donation of thirty Bibles has been made to the Sailors' Home by the Otatro Bible and Tract Society. The weekly services, under the auspices of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association, retain their popularity. Mr Virtue and Mr Wright addressed the congregation at the Queen's Theatre on the 29th ult., when many persons were unable to obtain admission. During the course of a sermon at St. Pauls, on the 29th ult., Bishop Neville advocated the ancient system of tythes. The Presbytery of Dunedin, on the Ist mst., by a majority of nine votes to five, agreed to approve of an overture fer the introduction of instrumental music. The consecration of a Scroll of the Law presented by Mr Julius Hayman to the Dunedin Jewish congregation, took place at the Synague on the oth instant, when about 500 persons of various denominations were present. The Rev. B. Lichtensfcein oificiated.

A children's service was held at St. Paul's Church on the sth inst., when the Rev. R. L. Stanford delivered an interesting address.

The Dunedin Young Men's Breakfast Meetings appear to be thoroughly appreciated. About 50 persons were present at Murray's Hotel on the sth, when Mr F. Graham conducted the service.

At the regular fortnightly meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association on the 10th, the Secretary read an interesting paper on "Scandal."

A lecture on "Luther" was delivered on the 10th by the Rev J. G. Patterson, of Waihola, in the lower hall of St. Andrew's Church. There was a numerous attendance.

At a meeting of the members of the Dunedin Synagogue, held on the 12th, Mr J. Hyman was unanimously elected President for the next j ear. "The New Zealand Churchman," is the title of a new journal to be published in Dunedin next month. Its object is to promote the interest of the Church of England.

A social meeting of the members of the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church has taken place. There was a good attendance. The Rev Dr Copland occupied the chair. The tables, besides being bountifully supplied with choice provisions, were tastefully decorated with vases of flowers. Addresses were delivered by the Chairman, Messrs Glendinning, Reid, Fraser, Duncan, and others.

On the 19th the Queen's Theatre was again crowded to inconvenience, and the discourses were delivered by Messrs Innes (Saddle Hill) and ConneJl.

The Rev Mr Kirkland, who was "called" by the congregation of West Taieri on the loth insfc., has telegraphed his acceptance Bishop Nevill delivered a Synodical address on the 20th, in St. Matthew's Church. There was a large congregation and a fine choral service, at which the choirs of St. Paul's and All Saints' assiatedt

A meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin took place on the 20th, at which a subject of unusual importance was discussed—namely, that of the union of the Church of Otago with the Church of New Zealand, The Presbytery resolved cordially to approve of union. The Presbytery, in private conference assembled, deliberated for several hours on the state of religion within its boundaries.

RAILWAYS. The completion of another link in the chain of Colonial progress was celebrated on the Ist by the first passenger train proceeding from Dunedin throu«h the Chain Hills Tunnel to Balclutha. By invitation of the Provincial Governmens above 350 gentlemen visited Balclutha. The distance to Balclutha is 52 miles.

The railway works on Messrs Morrison & Co.'s contract are progressing satisfactorily. The services of Mr Adamson, who was manager at the Chain Hills tunnel, have been secured, and the Round Hill tunnel is now being pushed on as rapidly as possible. The Otepopo tunnel on the Oamaru and Moeraki line, about 14 miles from Oamaru, has just been completed. The tunnel cuts through a gpur of Mount Charles, between the township of Herbert and the Otepopo River. It is 13 chains long.

AMUSEMENTS.

At a general meeting of the Dunedin Rowing Club at the Pier Hotel, on the 26th, the Melbourne Rowing Club's rules, with but slight amendment, were adopted Mr L. O. Beal was elected President. The Dunedin Chess Club now numbers about thirty members, and may be considered as fairly established. The entries , for the tournament closed on the 21st. The Darrells have been succeeded by I the Bates', at the Queen's, and Mr Davies has added Natator, the man-fish to his excellent troupe at the Temperance Hall.

The long-pending match between Edwards and the boy Scott, and which re-, suited from a challenge from Edwards on . Scott beating his (Edward's) time in the 1 feat of 100 miles within 24 hours, took place at the Drill-shed on the 7th. The stakes were for £50 a-side. The distance was seven miles. Scott walked the distance in 60 mm. 26| sec. ; Edwards, in 61 mm. 11 sec.

On the 9 th, two bricklayers' labourers, named Robert Bird and George Bedford, walked a distance of twenty miles, at the Drill-shed, each carrying a hod of twelve bricks. Bird walked the distance in seven hours and five minutes, and Bedford in fifteen minutes less.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Golf Club was held at Wain's Hotel on the 10th. During the year there had been eight monthly competitions, besides ten competitions for the St Andrew's Cross. Mr W. D. Murison was elected Captain.

At the Headquarters Drill Shed, on the 12th. Wiltshire finished his task of walking 150 miles in 36 hours, with 45 minutes to spare. The football players to represent Otago in the forthcoming Interprovinciai Match with Auckland have been chosen and they meet for practice at the Caledonian Grounds every evening between five and six o'clock.

The Dunedin Harmonic Society's third concert was held in the Temperance Hall on the 14th. There was a tolerably numerous attendance.

The Port Chalmers Choral Society held its third concert on the 17th, at the Masonic Hall. It was a decided success. The Harmonic Society gave a concert at the Lunatic Asylum on the 12th. Between inmates and visitors there were about 200 present. The sixpenny concerts at the Oddfellow's Hall, on Saturday evenings, continue to be well attended.

ACCIDENTS.

On the 23rd, a man named Alexander Jeffreys was accidentally drowned in the Water of Leith.

On the 19th, Charles Gardiner of the Waihopai Flour Mills, was killed by a ballast engine, when drunk, on the Mataura line.

On the 3rd, a fire occurred in George street, which destroyed the shops of MiAdams, tailor, and Chink Shink, cabinetmaker, and partially damaged the premises of Mr Leach, clog maker. They were partially insured. On the 4th, there was a most destructive fire in the Phoenix Bond, Hope street. Messrs Henderson, Law <fc Co. lost goods to the amount of £7000, and Messrs Andrew & Ester to the amount of £2000. The loss was covered by insurance.

A man named Henry Steadman, was killed near Saddle Hill, on the 7th, by the upsetting of a coach. A hawker, named Robert Stivens, was found dead in a yard adjoining Pavletdch's Universal Hotel, Maclaggan* street on the 18th.

A man named Hancock was smothered in a drive at Author's Point while working in a tunnelling claim on the 17th.

MINING.

The Phoenix claim at Skippers started crushing on the 11th, with ten heads. Six hundred tons of stone will go through befere the machine stops. The starting was celebrated by the presence of many visitors. The stone in the paddock and mine looks splendid, and a large yield is expected.

Southberg's party are making £10 per man weekly. The surface stone is also good.

The Nuggefc Company is driving along the reef on the deep level, with improved prospects. * -

River mining on the Shotover is pros* perous. p At Cromwell there is little or no atir and nothing of special interest to report on. Water is still very scarce, and every week the Warden is asked to grant pro., tectien to a number of claims, they being unworkable, owing to the very inadequate supply. ' * The outlet to the Kawarau of the Arrow lead of gold appears to have been discovered in private property, Fitzgibbons farm, on the opposite aide of the Arrow River to the land which has been the subject of contention between the miners and Mr Patrick Kerrin before the Waste Land Board. The lead is said to be very rich, paying about £17 per man weekly. ,

The Rip and Tear river claim, after tiring out the patience of several European parties, is now yielding good returns to a Chinese party, who have .been so favoured by immunity from, flood that terrible enemy of the river miner, The Niagara party, who are bringing up a drainage tunnel under the river bed are now near their expected prize, and have had some very good dividends lately.

A very payable quartz lode is being developed by the Crown Terrace Quartz Mining Company, who are sinking to the lode. They are down Bft, and the reef is over 2ft wide.

Mining news' from the northern Gold' fields is, on the whole, satisfactory, and very distinctly indicates that the threatened collapse of the Auckland mines has been staved off for an indeffinite period Not only are the old Thames workings contributing a latge quantity of gold, but the new field at Tairua is promising beyond expectations.