News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 11, 3 July 1885, Page 11

News of the Week.

Friday. The Wellington correspondent of the Daily Times wires as follows :— Although some reticence has been observed on the point, I understand that the following are the resolutions of the Freetrade Committee yesterday, which can no longer be deemed confidential, as they have been circulated among members. They are as follows :—: — " That the Committee object to the proposed increase in the customs duties on the following grounds : (I) That such duties appear to be designed in the increasing the customs receipts to press more heavily upon the poor than upon rich. (2) That such duties that appear designed to protect the agriculturists are so misleading as to apparently protect items of export. (3) That such duties as are protective in their nature are in many cases not wanted by local producers, and in other cases protest some industries to the detriment of others." A general meeting of Freetrade members has been convened for Monday next. In the House of Bepresentatives yesterday, the following bills were introduced :— The Juvenile Accidents Prevention Bill (Mr. Hatch), the Mortgage Debentures Bill (Sir Julius Vogel), the Postal Note Bill (Sir Julius Vogel). Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of the Mines Act Admendment Bill. He said the fees for miners' rights had been reduced in all the other colonies, but had been retained at £1 in this Colony. The present bill proposed to reduce the charge for rights to 10s. It also proposed to reduce the charge for business licenses to £3 instead of £5. The motion was agreed to. James Fletcher, a well-known West Coast carrier, left Beefton at midday yesterday for Greymouth with a seven-horse team. At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon a man ridiog in the same direction found Fletcher lying in the wheel-way of the road with his leg broken. A cart went out from Beefton to bring him on, but he died on the journey. He was conscious when found, and explained that he fell off the box, and the waggon-wheels passed over the small of hip back. Deceased was widely known in the Colony. He leaves a wife and family in Greymouth. Several deferred-payment settlers applied to the Southland Land Board yesterday by petition, to permit them to suspend payment of rent for three years, on account of the difficulty of bringing the land into cultivation. The Commissioner informed them that the Board had no power to grant such permission, but bad just passed a letter to the Under-secretary for Lands, recommending that capitalisation be permitted after one instead of three years' residence. It is announced that the Very Rev. Dr. Walsh, Bishop of Eildare, has been appointed Archbishop of Dublin, in succession to the late Cardinal M'Cabe. The Most Rev. Dr. Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, will be created a Cardinal at the next Consistory. The Agent-general have interviewed the Bight Hon. F. Stanley, the new Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the recidiviste question. Germany annexes all the islands off the coast of New Guinea between the Equator and the eighth degree south latitude, and between the one hundred and forty- first and one hundred and fiftyfourth degree of longitude. General Gordon's diaries have been published, and have cansed an immense sensation. In them be compares himself to Uriah the Hittite, whom King David ordered to be placed in the foremost position in battle, subsequently causing the army to desert him, and thus causing bis death. The members of the new Ministry were sworn in on Tuesday. The Bight Hon. Sir William Hart Dyke, M.P., has been appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff replaces Sir Evelyn Baring as British Consul-general in Egypt. The Right Hon. B. Bourke has been appointed Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Henry Chaplin, member for Mid-Lincolnshire, will be Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ; and the Right Hon. Bavid B. Plunket, Q.C., Minister for Works and Public Buildings. It is considered probable that Mr. William J. Harris, M.P. for Poole, will be Under-secretary for India, and Lord Dnnraven Under-secrctary for the Colonies in the new Ministry. SATURDAY. In the House of Representatives yesterday the following bills were introduced : — The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1881 Amendment Bill No. 2 (Mr. Fitzherbert), The Patea Harbour Board Bill (Major Atkinson). — Sir Juiius Vogel moved the second reading of the New Zealand State Forests Bill. He said many hon. members would recognise in the bill a reproduction of the bill be brought in in 1874, and "it was substantially the same. There were, however, some alterations in the present bill for which there were several reasons, one of which was that when the bill was introduced previously the provincial section of the House was warmly opposed to it, on the ground that it bad led in some measure to the introduction of the bill for the abolition of the provinces. After detailing the principles of the bill, which was brought in for the preservation of the State forests, be uaid it was proposed under the bill to borrow £50,000, of which £10,000 was only to be borrowed in any one year. It was also proposed to vest the control of the forests in a commissioner, who would be subject to the authority of Parliament. The chief duties of those who would be entrusted with the charge of the forests would be to look after the existing forests, and, when accessary, to plant new forests. The bill also provided for proper Parliamentary control of the scheme, and in no way give the Minister in charge of the forests any extraordinary powers. He thought it was evident, as timber was decreasing all over the world it would immensely increase in value. It was altogether deplorable the manner in which the forests ware destroyed at the present day. Their preservation, it was well knows, affected the rainfall to a very considerable extent, and it was most necessary to take some urgent measures to preserve them.

The New Zeatand Agricultural Company are asking for. an extension of the timei for paying off their debentures. The annual meeting of the company will take place on the 30th. The Agent-general will ask the Hon. J. Stanley tojendone Lord Derby's approval of the prohibitive laws proposed to be taken should the French Government insist on their recidiviste scheme. Reports have been received from Gippshnd that a promising goldfield has been discovered on the Snowy River, and a rnsh has commenced in consequence of the glowing accounts of the prospectors. The Home Government have decided to grant two commissions in the Imperial Army to New Zealand and to each of the Australian Colonies for young men from 19 to 22 years of «ge who have served at least two years in the Colonial forces. Competitive examinations will be held for the commissions, and the examination papers wjill arrive by the next mail. The House of Commons met on' Thnraday, and after the issue of new writs rendered necessary by the appointment of the Ministry, adjourned until July 6, when the result of the election* will be known. Mr Ellis Aahmead-Bartlett has been appointed , one of the Junior Lords of the Admiralty. The positions of Attorney-general and Solicitor-general have not as yet been definitely filled. In the House of Lords tbe Earl of Salisbury stated that he had at first refused to reconsider his proposed resignation, but that her Majesty tbe Queen appealed to him to accept Mr. Gladstone's assurance of support. Monday. Mr. Errington, who has for some time acted as unofficial representative for Great Britain at the Vatican, has had a baronetoy conferred upon him. Germany and Austria are encouraging England to adopt a firmer policy in the administration of Egyptian affairs. The appointments of Lord Dunraven as Under-secretary for the colonies, and Lord Harris as Under-Secretary for India, are confirmed. Reports from various parts of, Spain show that the cholera epi* demic is increasing in violence, no less than 1100 cases, of which 600 ended fatally, having been reported to the authorities yesterday. A London special of June 3. says the desperate condition of the Scotch land market is shown by tbe surprising number of estates now offered for sale in Scotland. One auctioneer alone advertised to sell on June 2, estates valued at £2,500,000. Many Americans are in the market looking for Scotch property. Berlin papers of May 29, have alarmist articles over the trouble between the Sultan of Zanzibar and tbe German East African Company. They bint that Germany may be compelled to declare war against both England and Italy. Mr. Dion Boucioault, D. G. Boucicault, Mina Boucicault, and a select company of players, are passengers by tbe Zealandia for Sydney. They will make a tour of the Colonies and give New Zealand a round of Boucicault's well-known Irish dramas, and also produce a brand new play called " The Jilt," the last contribution of Boucicault to dramatic literature. The fund now being raised in Ireland for the benefit of James Stephen, ex- Fenian bead centre, recently expelled from France, amounts to £7000. When the Bill is introduced in Parliament, as is proposed, to provide a royal residence in Ireland for young Prince Victor of Wales, it will be opposed by the Parnellites, on tbe ground that Ireland has more than enough of vice-regal pageantry now in Earl Spencer's Court at Dublin Castle. The Anglo-German Fiji Commission has agreed that Germany will not establish a penal settlement in Southern Pacific. Some difficulties have occurred between some French and Italians. One of the latter slapped tbe face of a lieutenant of chasseurs as he was coming out of the theatre. The Italian was arrested and condemned to six days' imprisonment. The French genera,! thought the punishment inadequate, and issued an order commanding all officers in future, on the least provocation from Jews and Italian*, to draw their i swords. He also decided to punish the orderly officer whose face had been slapped for not running bis assailant through. Sir Peter Lumsden, in an interview, said, referring to the Anglo-Russian situation, that it might be weeks or months before matters were again brought up, but that tbe difficulty was sure to break ont afresh sooner or later, and that before long. Tbe old frontier included all that was best in tbe 80 miles of desert land that was now to be given up to Russia. Sir Peter further said that Busssa is now able, through the possession of Penj-deh district, to provoke fresh complications. Russia wants an ethnological frontier, and he proposed a geographical one. The Ameer has now 15,000 troops at Herat. When tbe Russians first advanced that place was quite open, and it would have fallen at once, for the population were, and even now to some extent are, siding with Russia. Sir Peter arrived at Vienna on June 5, and proceeded to London, In an interview he said Colonel Alikanoff had openly boasted to the Afghans that the Russians wanted to take Herat, and a great deal more. He further said Russia would never hare urged bar absurd demands if she had believed England was in earnest in resisting them. Later despatches from London say tbe Government is in despair over tbe fierce and outspoken denunciation of tbe Afghan breakdown which he has scattered along bis path from Constantinople to Paris, tie is throughly exasperated, and be does not care who knows it. When be arrived in Paris, almost tbe first greeting he received was a telegram from tbe War Office ordering him to see no more interviewers. Efforts are being made to caabier him, but it is known he has groat influence in the highest quarters. A London special of May 27 says the Russian censors of the Press are exerting themselves to tbe utmost to suppress the fact that, notwithstanding favourable prospects of peace, Russian preparations are still being pressed with extraordinary vigour. News, however, reaches London by various round-about routes, and it is known there if an immense movement of troops towards Central Asia. Large bodies of infanlrj, cavalry, field artillery, and railway snd telegraph builders are pressing forward in almost a continuous stream from European Russia through tbt Trani-Caucaeian provisos.

across tbe Caspian Bea towards the Afghanistan frontier. The work of strengthening the Russian defences on the Black Sea is actively progressing, and the fortification of Sebastopol is especially being pressed with feverish energy. Tuesday. At a special meeting of the Asbburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday the following resolution was carried :—": — " That it is desirable, in the opinion of this meeting, that direct steam communication should be opened up with Queensland, and that the co-operation of kindred associations in the South Island be invited for the purpose of obtaining from the Government a subsidy for a direct steamer between New Zealand ports and Queensland. The detachment of the Guards' which has bean detained some time at Alexandria on. their way Home, have been ordered to Cyprus. The Standard, in an article on the Egyptian question, hints that the re-occupation of Dongola by British troops is possible. The re-election of Lord Randolph Churchill as Secretary of State for India is being opposed by the Conservatives. Lord Berry has been appointed Under-secretary for War. The high estimation (says tbe Nelson Colonist) in which the venerable Father Garin, as the Arch Priest is still called, has long been held, not only by his own people, bnt by a large section of the general community, has of late years extended to the Rev. Father Mahoney, further proofs of which have recently been afforded by those amongst whom he labours, and with whom he daily comes in contact. Father Mahoney is always seen to advantage at the St. Mary's Industrial School, whether he is devoting his time to the welfare of his young charges, or is helping forward their amusements and endeavouring to make their young lives as happy as possible, and it was no doubt deeply gratifying to him when the boys of this school, assisted by the juvenile members of tbe rev. gentleman's flock, evinced their love and esteem by presenting him with an easy chair. The occasion was, of course, one of great moment, too, for tbe youngsters, and the schoolroom having been gaily decorated, was filled with beaming faces when the presentation took place. Some addresses were delivered, and there was some capital singing by the boys of the Industrial School, this being accompanied on the harmonium by Mr. Stewart. In addition to the presentation by the boys, there was another present for the Key. Father from the girls attending tbe different schools at the Station. This present, or rather these presents, consisted of three sets of vases, with a like number of artificial flowers (the artistic handiwork of the young ladies who are boarders at the school). Father Mahoney has of late come in for quite a lot of good things, for the senior members of bis enre, extending over a large area, having put their heads together, have subscribed a sufficient amount to pay the purchase money of a buggy, which he had just bought for the purpose of enabling him to get about the country, and they appropriately made the presentation on the feast of St. William in allusion to the rev. gentleman's Cbristain name. During the progress of a particularly interesting case in the Bankruptcy Court at Wellington yesterday, Mr. Justice Richmond said he should be glad to find that tbe duty of taking notes of evidence had been taken away from him and placed on the shoulders of a shorthand writer. Mr. Travel's, after pointing out that the idea of employing shorthand writers came from America, remarked that be had his doubts as to the efficiency of the system introduced in that country His Honour said it was somewhat singular that in New Zeiland the people who were most concerned were rarely consulted when a change was contemplated. His opinion was that to be able to take the notes which a judge was obliged to take a shorthand writer should be quite fit to occupy the judge,s seat. He thought, however, that the system was not such a good one as many believed it to be. Wednesday. In the House of Representatives yesterday the following bills were introduced : —The Law Practitioners Act 188? Amendment Bill, No. 2 (Mr. Fisher), The mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr. Larnach), a Bill to Amend the Police Offences Act 1884 (Mr. Fisher), The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr. Balance). — Replying to Mr. Seddon, if the Minister of Mines will, as advised in the goldfields report of bis predecessor (.the Hon. Mr. Rolleston), establish the electric light in connection with the working of the Kumara water-races, the Hon. W. J. M . Larnach said the cost of the whole of the works wonld be £2000, which the Government considered would not be warranted.— Sir G. Grey gave notice to move, when the House is in Committee of Supply, that his Excellency the Governor be informed that his Ad risers do not possess the confidence of the House. The Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway Company met to-day, and authorised the directors to make such arrangements as they think fit for the sale to the Government of the Company's property, subject to the approval of Parliament. The annual report showed the traffic receipts to be £6392, or £1399 in excess of the working expenses; but there was a debit balance of £11,606, against which was set rates unrecovered £11,697. Mr. Gladstone nan intimated that he will not retire from political life at present, and further that he will sapport the Marquis of Salisbury as far as possible. News is to hand from Afghanistan that a serious rising in that country has taken plaae. Isa Khan, ordered by Russian allies, broke into open revolt against Abdullah Khan, the Afghan governor of the piovince of Khanduze, and is stated to have taken forcible possession of tbe town of Kbanahd, a short distance from Khunduz, the capital of the province, and bas there seized treasure belonging to Abdur rtahman, Amser of Afghanistan, to the extent of £1,000,000 sterling. Dispatches from Edinburgh, May 26, say that a great sensation has been caused in Free Church circles over the alleged apostacy of a distinguished preacher, Dr. Adam Stuart, Minister of Trinity Free Church, Leith, whose appeal from his dismissal for pulpit

practices was unsuccessfully heard on the 25th in the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. Dr. Stuart was accused of teaching baptismal regeneration, the worshipping of God in night by prayer before the presentation of Christ and the cross, and sanctioning the sale of his own portrait in an attitude indicating approval of Popish doctrines and practices. He defended himself in an address, which is admitted by his accusers- to have been very eloquent. In the course of it he said : '* I hear the voice of ' the Almighty speaking now, and what does he say 1 If the Free Church grasped in her nerveless, withered, bloodless fingers a vague negative against the Holy Catholic Church, then would the Divine Master withdraw from her His presence." In concluding he caused almost a riot among the learned and dignified church assemblage, when he quoted Cardinal Newman's hymn, "Lead Kindly Light," and taking an ivory crucifix from his pocket, he held it up. with his light hand, amid, cries of " Shame." He added: "The time will come when- 1 shall die with the emblem of your faith on my bosom." He is now expected soon to enter the Church of Home. rr ' ' ' ! Thubsday. ' In the House of Representatives yesterday the f jllowing bills were introduced :-Tbe Auckland University College Reserves Bill (the Hon. Mr. Stout), the Industrial^ Schools Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr. Stout), a bill to re-constitute the Auckland Harbour Board (the Hou. Mr. Tole), theGisborae High School Bill (Mr. Locke), t ' Wanganui Harbour Bill (the Hon. Mr. Ballance.) The debate the no-confidence motion was continued. A syndicate, the shares of which are fully subscribed, has been formed at Melbourne for the purpose of equipping and despatching an expedition to New Guinea in search of gold, of which' several,' excellent specimens were brought from the island by Mr. Kelly, of the recent Age New Guinea expedition. A grand naval tournament has been held at Bantry by the' 16 ironclads under the command of Admiral Seymour T. B. Hornby, which were dispatched to the coast of Ireland for the purpose or carrying out an elaborate system of naval manoeuvres. The tournament was a splendid spectacle. . ..' '[' Russia is actively engaged in completing the railway between Kizil-Arvar, and Merv. Germany and other Powers have restrained M. de Freycinet, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, from pressing!' the Marquis of Salisbury at present regarding Egyptian affairs. The young woman, Yseult Dudley, who bad been arrai^nel oi a charge of" attempting to murder o' Donovan Rossa in February la-t, has been acquitted, the jury finding a verdict in her favour on the ground of insanity.