NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 81, 14 November 1874, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

A. 3?ire resulting m the destruction of a four-roomed cottaee, belonging to Mr Haulon, of Cumberland street, took place on Wediiesl day night, close on to midnight. The accident appears to have been caused by a safety lamp which had been left burning in the bedroom and i so quickly did the flames spread that it was with difficulty that the tanuly could be rescued before the destruction of the premises Ihe Fire Brigade with their usual promptitude shortly arrived on the' spot, and by their exertions prevented the spread of the flames fco tho adjacent cottages. The building was insured for £130 ia the National Insurance Company.

As the May Queen, on board of which are two clergymen for tho Diocese of Dunedin, is now 91 days out from her date of sailing her arrival may be looked for at any horn-. We are also glad to hear that our venerated and indefatigable Vicar-Gbneral, Father Loleman, may be confidently expected during the middle of next month. We have been informed that it is intended to celebrate his return by inviting him to a dinner, to be followed by a musical entertainment. As the matter is but still in embryo, we are not yet in a, position to give particulars, but from the high esteem in which Father Coloman is held by all classes, and in appreciation of his indefatigable aud untmng exertions for the progress and welfare of the diocese, we rest satisfied that his reception will be one worthy of himself and worthy of the flock for which he has so ardently and strenuously labored. - "*

George Amos, an engine-driver in the employment of the Provincial Government, was charged at the District Court on Tuesday with negligently placing some trucks on the line at Hill Side, Cavershani, on the 27th ult., thereby endangering the lives of passengers. Prisoner was defended by Mr Barton ; Mr Stout prosecuting on the part of the Government. Evidence of a very leiigthv character was heard, and the highest testimony as to steadiness of the prisoner "was given, he having been an engine-driver of twenty years' experience. It having been proved in evidence that the train on which accused was, had been despatched hi the face of an incoming train, and that no guard accompanied it, his worship held there had been no culpability on tho part of accused, and dismissed the charge.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr Henry Wise, of a pamphlet entitled " The Coming Crisis," being a sketch of the financial and political condition of New Zealand, with the causes and results of that condition. Its author is Mr W. L. Eees, a barrister of Victoria and New Zealand. Mr Eees certainly takes a somewhat gloomy view of the future of 3S T ew Zealand, and attributes all its ills to the arch-traitor Julius Vogel. Indeed the whole work is occupied in denunciations of the Premier, and in revilmgs of the Legislature. Of the latter he says : "In other colonios the Houses of Parliament havo been growing in ability, in uprightness and popular favor. In Now Zealand, howoror, this is not the case ; and although we started with the best of all Colonial Assemblies, we have sunk in twenty years to the very lowest depth. There is not now throughout all the Empire a Parliamc.it so venal, so solfish, or so unfit to govern a people, and perhaps there never was." This is strong lauguago, but those who do not admire Julius Vogcl, and those who possess no admiration for our legislators, should purchaso Mr Bees' pamphlet, for ho certainly agrees with, them,

The steamship Otago, with later Australian news, arrived in Port Chalmers on Thursday morning, but the items of intelligence she brings possess no importance. From them we learn that Count Arnini, who had been imprisoned by Bismarck for detaining documents belonging to the Paris Embassy, had been released. The Imperial Government had telegraphed to the Victorian Premier that Fiji is not to be an appendage of any of the Colonios, but has been annoxed as a, distinct Colony of the British Empire. This will cause some disappointment to some of the Australian Colonies, a spirit of rivalry having existed for some time, and efforts being made with a view of ultfmately securing the coveted prize. Of the Australian items, the most noticeable is one which states that of the million and a-half of the \ ictorian Loan placed on tho London market, only £900,000 had been subscribed ; but the remainder, however, had been taken up by the Associated Banks at the London minimum. A cobbespoxdent lias written to us inquiring in what spot the remains of the Terence Eellew McManus reposes ? In answer to the above, wo would state that whon McManus died in exile, in California he was an unpardoned convict of the British- Crown. So much was he beloved by tho citizens of that far-off land in which his last breath was drawn, that, knowing that his last wisli was that his bones should bo buried in the land so clear to his heart, application was made to the iM-itJSh Government to allow of their transportation to Ireland for ' purpose. To the request the Government graciously and generously acceded. On tho arrival of the body at Dublin from San Francisco, it was conveyed to the Music Hall, Abbey street, and after lying m state for throe clays, was finally deposited in Glasnevin r~ Cemetery, not far from the remains of the immortal O'Connell. We do not know whether the following fact has been derived from the same source from which our High street contemporary is usually supplied, but at all events it is worthy of quotation :— " Cremation has its advocates even in Dunedin. A certain medico, whose winter residence is not many miles distant from the Flagstaff Hill, is a strong supporter of the proposed innovation, and a rival practitioner has been heard to aver that, although the medico in question cannot earn his living by the profession, ho would have plenty of practice if he commenced to burn his dead. It is a burning shame to make such remarks as these about votaries of the noble science of cremation." The people of Coromandel have a grievance, but one which to most people would appear to be a rather equivocal one — they are not favored with a lawyer amongst their residents. The ' N ews '' says : " There is seldom a court held, but some plaintiff or defendant, as tho case may, loses his s lit for want of legal assistance." It woiild appear to have never struck this sapient community, that wore they possessed of the valuable acquisition for which they pine, it is somewhat more than probable that either" plaintiff or defendant, as the ease may be," would possess but small advantage, and the result be somewhat as at present. Beside, the ' News ' seems to be ignorant of the fact that one lawyer in a community could not possibly get an existenco, and that it is only by the importation of a brace that any business is to be done — and then possibly to an amount to more than satisfy even the Ooromandclonians. "We know of a community that would gladly change places with a people so bereaved. A meetikg- of the committee of the Working Men's Club was held on Saturday evening at tho Athenaeum : His Worship the Mayor being in the chair. The meeting had been convened with a view of conferring with delegates from tho various Trades and Friendly Societies, representatives of the following being present : Bricklayers tailors, plasterers, carpenters, and joiners; as also of the Foresters and Oddfellows After the chairman had explained the objects of the proposed institution, and stated the principles upon which it was to be based, a warm discussion ensued, the prevailing opinion seemin<v to be that it would bo impolitic to accept the donations of Messrs larnach and Clarke, considering the conditions attached thereto. A motion was ultimately carried, respectfully declining tho donations of those gentlemen, exception being taken by tho committee to tho conditions with which the money had been 'offered, but intimating that > when rules have been drafted if favorably received by those gcutlcmen their offer would be thankfully received. ' We notice by proclamation in the 'New Zealand Gazette,' of October 29/ his Excellency the Governor appoints that the seal or badge to be worn in the TJnion Jack used by the Governor of New Zealand, when embarked in any boat or othor vessel, shall be the Southern Cross as represented by four five-pointed red stars emblazoned on the white shield aforesaid, and. the monogram N.Z. in red letters in tho centre of the Southern Cross. The Queensland papers announce that His Excellency the Governor's preparations for leaving Queensland for his appointment in New Zealand are nearly completed, and that his stay in the colony will not be later than the middle of November. It is not known at what time his successor will reach Queensland, but between the d-cparturc of the Marquis of Normanby and the arrival of Mi* Cairns the Government of the colony will be administered as on former occasions, by the President of the Legislative Council. It may not be generally known that much of the deafness with which persons arc afflicted, has been the result of their having been rudely struck on the ear at one time or other. The following melancholy circumstances should act as a warning as to what manner persons in authority inflict punishment on juveniles : The ' South land Times' says that "a son of Mr W. Grant, settler atWaikiwi" died at one o clock in the morning, after an illness of nearly three weeks. Tbe deceased was a pupil attending the district school at Waikiwi, and on the 16th of October ho complained when he came home of pam m his head. He said that Mr Macdonald, the teacher had taken him and another boy named M'lhvrick and knocked their heads together for misbehaviour at school that day. He continued to complain of his head, and on Saturday, the 24th, Dr Cottcrell attended him, and Drs Grigor and M'Clurc were subsequently called in hut without avail. '

A couBEsroNDENT of the 'Post' suggests that amongst other schemes Mr Vogel may, when in England, revive Ms famous project for paying off the national debt. Some twelve years ago he published a pamphlet on this question, and now lie may perhaps commend it to the consideration of the Conservative Government. His scheme was that the mother country should borrow money at a low rate of interest, and lend it to the colonies at an advance, the difference going to the reduction of Ibo national debt. Mr Vogel now as Premier would be able to give the cordial co-operation of at least one colony in' that patriotic scheme. He would doubtless be quite willing to borrow any amount of money for New Zealand in order to relieve England of its load of debt. Ho could begin with six; millions by "way of experiment

It is whispered that there is a great deal more truth in the report circulated concerning the probable appointment of Sir Donald M'Lean, to tho Governorship of Fij i, than many are willing to suppose, says the ' Daily Telegraph.' It has been said that the report originated at a festive gathering, and was circulated for fun. At all events, the Wellington • Post' first publicly gave currency to it, and that journal is usually pretty correct in what it says. We now learn that Sir D. M'Lean will very shortly visit Hawke's Bay to put bis house in order, preparatory to leaving tho colony for Fiji.

The London correspondent of the Auckland 'Evening Star' writes as follows : — We are somewhat curious here as to the reasons which have led to the resignation on the part of Sir James Fergusson of the Governorship of New Zealand. We have noticed both, in the Now Zealand and Australian Press comments on him and lus ways which arc by no means complimentary, and have been a little surprised. As a sporting and yachting man I should have thought he would have Weed your Colony immensely. Has his wife anything to do with it ? I have underseood that sho did not care about the society, which she thought rather mixed. Still she could hardly have expected anything else in a new country. As regards the Native question Sir James seems to have got his name tip wonderfully, and to have impressed the. Maori mind more favorably than his predecessor, "but then Sir George was the incarnation of soft-sawder and bosh.