NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 70, 29 August 1874, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The Albion, with the Suez moil on board arrived on Thursday, but the bulk of the intelligence has been anticipated by the Tartar.

Tub concert in aid of St. Joseph's School, came off in the Masonic Hall, on the 21st, and, we are glad to state, proved a genuine success. Indeed, so great was the demand for front seat tickets, that the stock was early exhausted, and to supply the deficiency the space had to be considerably enlarged. Notwithstanding this, however, the accommodation wus scarcely equal to the numbers present ; but, so far from any dissatisfaction being evinced on that account, the greatest good humor was apparent. Our readers, and those who lent their aid, will bo pleased to learn that between £30 and £4tQ have been netted for the laudable object fur which the entertainment was given. An extended notice appears in another column.

It is currently reported that His Honor the Superintendent has recommended the appointment of Mr J. L. Gillies to the post of Secretary of the Harbor Board. It appears there are twenty-three applications for tho appointment, but as the salaiy is £500 per year, it may be looked upon as a foregone gift to Mr Gillies. But how, then, about bis scat and the Speakership ? Will not the holding of the office bo fatal to hi* scut in the Provincial Council ? j^f so, a, dungerous man has been quietly provided for.

Ik accordance with a announcement to that effect, an interesting and instructive lecture was delivered by Mr B. Gordon, in St. Patrick's schoolroom, Naseby, on Saturday evening ; the Mayor occupying the ohair. The subject chosen by the lecturer was " Some of the Poets of Ireland," amongst whom were Goldsmith, Moore, and D'Arcy McGee. The attendance was numerous, and although the room was densely crowded, the lecture was listened to with earnest attention through its delivery, extending over two hours. Dnring the evening, tUe lecturer, in a very happy aud lucid manner, portrayed with telling effect the respective characters of his subjects, and proved the claim of D'Arcy McGee to take a high place among the Irish poets. The

various selections for recitation were rendered in a highly creditable manner, plainly indicating that the lecturer possessed ability as an elocutionist of no mean order ; and his delivery of "Homeward Bound,"

— one of poor McGee's last; efforts — evoked unbounded applause. It is a source of great gratification to find the entertainment was equally successful in a pecuniary point of view, and will placo a handsome sum in the hands of the School committee. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman, and a like courtesy to the lecturer, terminated*^ most enjoyable evening. Amongst the items of news to hand by the mail is the intelligence that John Mitchell, the Ii ish exile, had returned to his native land. The intimation simply appears, without either explanation or comment, and as there has been nothing of late to lead us te the belief that the "Royal prerogative has been extended to him, after on expatriation of over a quarter of a century, the explanation must be sought in the supposition that he has been elected to represent an Irish constituency in , the British Commons, and has determined to take his seat. The paragraph, as clipped from the telegrams, reads as follows : — " John Mitchell arrived at Cork on July 17. He is ill, but will go to Dublin. The Fenian Amnesty Association will form a procession with a torchlight demonstration. A banquet will be given in his honor." Our liberal -contemporary, the 'Guardian,' in noticing the item in its resume of the mail news, with a characteristic perversion of facts in matters relating to either Catholics or Irishmen, regrets the old Irish rebel should have permitted himself to be dishonored by a Fenian torchlight procession ; and adds, " But some men never learn wisdom." To any one possessing one particle of impartiality, the animus conveyed in the despicable inuendo so covertly put forward must be apparent, as there are but few who are unaware of thu wide distinction between a Fenian Amnesty Association and a Fenian Association itself. There are very many whose sympathies would be freely given to the first, who would rigidly stand aloof from the latter, holding a belief that the objects of their sympathy had sacrificed their liberty through a noble devotion to their country, aud whose only crime

lay in. their method of proving it. But, with the ' Guardian,' we may , exclaim : There are some journalists to whom the meaning of the words " honor and justice will be ever stmngers !"

The committee appointed to investigate the telegram mystery in connection with the Ward-Chapman scandal, have brought up their report, but — like the cause which made the committee needful — itis far from satisfactory. It has been made painfully evident that flat perjury was resorted to with a view of baffling the inquiry ; and the committee, in despair at fathoming the mystery, urge that a Royal Commission should be appointed to make a full investigation into all matters connected with the inquiry, and that if necessary an Act of Parliament should be passed, giving extraordinary powers to such Commission to enforce the production of evidence, and granting indemnity where witnesses may criminate themselves. This, no doubt, may be a most necessary step to protect the inviolability of telegrams in the future, but there is another aspect in connection with the matter which has evidently been lost sight of in this rigid search after the culprit. A direct charge of gross impartiality was made against a high and important functionary, filling an office the holder of which should be, like Caesar's wife, " above suspicion." Either those charges were

true, or they were not. If they could be substantiated, or even the slightest leaning calculated to sway the scales of justice to one side or the other could have been proved, then the judgment seat should have been relieved of ao unworthy au administrator, and the temple of jnstice no longer allowed to be contaminated by his presence. On the other hand, were those charges proved to be without foundation, condign punishment of such a nature should bo meted out, as the enormity of the offence so richly deserved, and as would attest the detestation of all honorable men for such mean and despicable conduct. In the dispute between the parties in the present case, the official position occupied by each, warrants us in looking at it rather as a public than a private quarrel, and, while rigidly abstaining from blaming any one in particular, we maintain that by allowing the matter to pass into oblivion, a grievous injustice is being done. At a caucus of the Government supporters, held at the residence of the Premier, at which forty-nine members of the Houbo were present, to consider the'political situation, the Government received unqualified promises of support in the work of abolition. It was intimated thut the Ministry would prepare the Bill during the recess, and a distinct promise was given that nothing should be done to disturb either the land revenue of the Middle Island, or the jseat of Government.

We haye to acknowledge the receipt of the ' Illustrated New Zealand Herald' for August from the publisher, Mr Wheeler, of Stafford street. The ' Herald ' is conspicuous this month for the number and excellence of its illustrations, numbering over a dozen first-class cuts, of which three a.re page- sized. The selection, too, has been a judicious one, all the colonies being represented. Queensland, with the " Opening of Victoria Bridge ; " Sydney," with its " Free Trade Banquet j " more advanced Victoria, with a " Coursing Match," and New Zealand, by its rugged mountain scenery. In addition to this, there are sketches of the Overland Route, including King George's Sound, a Bombay Bungalow, Aden, the Suez Canal, Gibraltar by Moonlight, and various others of an equally interesting character.

Anotheu, and by far the most serious fire which has taken place for some time, has to be added to the already large catalogue. Wo publish a full account of the calamity in another column, from which it will be seen that, were it not for tho punctuality and untiring efforts of the Brigade, there is no doubt we would have had to chronicle a vast destruction of property, and, possibly, a saorifice of human life. When it is remembered that, notwithstanding the inflammable material by which the fire was surrounded, and the very small area over which the flames were allowed to rage, some faint idea can be formed of the labor entailed upon the Brigade before arresting its progress. Although the premises and Btock destroyed were covered by insurance, still the destruction of so much property will naturally cause a cessation of work, which, in an indirect manner, will fall upon the shoulders of those least able to bear it.

The telegraphic wires state that the Italian Freemasons have expelled the Pope from their Society. We do not know till we receive our usual files the precise meaning of this ; but we may state that the Holy Father has never been a member of that accursed society ; and that if such a sentence lias been passed, the meaning of it is — as in the case of Napoleon 111. — that an Attempt will bejmade to assassinate His Holiness.

.A, meeting, convened by His Worship the Mayor, in accordance with a requisition, was held on Monday night at the Athenaeum, for the purpose of establishing a Workingmen's Club in Dunedin. The Chairman explained that, some time since, Messrs Clarke and Larnach had subscribed, the former £100, and the latter £50, towards the above object, subject to certain conditions, the prohibition of the use of wines or spirits at the Club being one, which sums were available whenever the public had contributed a like amount. Dr Bakewell opposed the restriction, and spoke in favor of workingmen being allowed to enjoy their smoke and glass, pnd moved "that the kind offer of Messrs Lainneh nnd Clarke be declined, on the conditions named in! their letter," but ib fell to the ground, finding no seconder. Mr Burt spoke at some length as to the peculiar kind of entertainment to be furnished to members, and urged the policy of ulluwinfr billiard and card tables, as such enjoyments when indulged i i nt hotela, wrro a considerable item of expense. He stated he believed he expresseJ the wishes of Mr Larnach, in advocating that the Club should be a place of recreation and amusement for the working classes — such as were in Glasgow — rather than a institution of the same nature and in opposition to the present Athenceum. Ultimately v conimilleo was formed to collect subscriptions, with the view of raising a sum equal to that bo liberally donated, and obtain information with regard to the working of aimilar institutions.

A TEIEGBAM from Wellington, speaking of the intended departure of Sir James Fergusson, says the announcement of the Governor's reeignation was received with creat surprise. In answer to a question asked by Mr Stafford, Mr Vogel said the Governor had resigned because of a desire to have more active life than Q-overnor of a Constitutional colony. The Mavquis of Normanby will be succeeded in Queensland by Lord Cairns' brother, at present Lieutenant-Governor of Honduras, at £1,800. Queensland last session raised the salary of the Governor to £7,000. Mr Cairns was appointed by the Secretary of State in 1852. He was writer in the civil service, Ceylon, in which colony he resided till 1866 He was first Lieutenant- 3-overnor of Malacca, next Lieutenant- Governor of St. E"itt'<s, and from 1870 Lieutenant-Governor of Honduras.

It wotjxd appear there is a great want of unanimity with regard to abolition throughout the North Island. At Grrahamstovvn, on Saturday night, a most enthusiastic and crowded meeting was held, at which the following resolutions were adopted :—": — " That this meeting cordially approves of the resolutions passed by the "G-eneral Assembly for the abolition of the provinces in the North Island, and trusts the same policy will be extended to the South Island, as it believes the time has arrived when provincialism should be superseded by a simple and '.inexpensive form, of pelf-government." 2. "That an equitable and well- devised scheme for the re-adjus'raent of tlie representation should be passed by the Assembly before any appeal bo made to the constituencies on the question of the abolition of the provinces." From other provinces in the North Island also come demonstrations of approval of the steps taken by the Premier. The ' Taranaki Herald,' of (he 22nd, in a leader on the question, says that the quicker the resolutions are carried out by the Assembly the better for the colony, and asserts that in Auckland all outside Queen and Wyndham Btreets are in favor of the abolition of the provinces.

The following somewhat strange fact iB chronicled in the ' Wanganui Herald :—": — " One of the greatest • finds' of frost fish ever made in the colony, was made by the driver of Cobb's coach, between Otaki and Baikakarika. He picked up no less than one hundred and sixty, and reports that the Maories had filled about fifty sacks and baskets. Some of the fish were cut or broken in two, in a way that would lead to the conclusion that it must have been done by a sharp knife. The reason why this fish is never found except on frosty mornings is still a mystery, and that so many of them should be cut or broken is a thing that can only add to it. We should suppose that they were broken by the severity of the frost."

A telegram from Wellington states that seventy-eight members of the Assembly met on Thursday, and subscribed £500, with the view of forming a Constitutional Association. The object is to resist by all constitutional means the proposed fundamental changes in the Constitution of the colony,- until after the changes contemplated shall be clearly set fortli by the Bill or Bills, and that, after such Bills are introduced, the House of Representatives should be dissolved, and nn appeal made to the people before legislation on such an important matter takes place. — The same authority states that the first count-out of the Session took place on Monday evening. While Mr T. L. Shepherd was speaking, almost every member rose aud walked cut. The Speaker's attention was called to the state of the House, the bell was rung, and the Q-overnment had great difficulty in keeping a quorum. Members •would not listen to him. He got very warm, and was called to order by the Speaker three times, and was compelled to retract several allusions. He refused to record his vote, and complained bitterly that the Government ddi not recognise his claim. Dubing the hearing of a case at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Clyde, the following rather guarded reply was given in answer to a question from the Bench : — A witness, on being asked about what amount of profit would be derived from the use of a sausage machine for one week, after considerable hesitation, stated that " it would materially depend upon what the sausages were composed of." The evidence rendered was no doubt conclusive, asj he retired without being further questioned. our i3sue of last week we published a paragraph with regard to the care and attention bestowed on the great clock of Westminster, but we have been informed that there has been a oloc£ in the office

of this paper, which has always been under the special superintendence and control of the youngest imp. Whether there is some myaterioui preserving influence in the atmosphere of a printing office, or, according to the old saying — being watched by|one of his imps — " the what's-his-name takes care of own," we know not ; but certain it is, that during the past twelve years it has undergone the cleaning process on but two occasions — once by the application of the office bellows, and once by the internal administration of a bottle of castor oil, notwithstanding which we would back it against Westminster, and give five minutes in every hour.