NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1305, 25 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Young Men’s Cheistian Association.— At a quarter-past eight to-morrow evening an evangelistic service, in connection with this association, will be held in the Theatre Royal, Collision. —About twenty minutes past five on Thursday evening a collision took place between a butcher’s cart and a cab, at the junction of Cashel and Colombo streets. The cab horse was severely wounded. Wesleyan Ohuech, Colombo Road. — The Rev, J. S. Smalley will to-morrow commence a series of evangelistic addresses, to be given every Sunday evening in the above church, Sankcy’s solos will be sung by the choir.

Bible Cheistians.— The Bible Christians, having taken the (German Church, will conduct their last service in the Templar Hall tomorrow. Fiee at Papanui. —Mr Maydwell’s loss by the fire at his bone dust manufactoiy amounts to £SCO. The factory cost him £9CO, and he is only insured for £4CO. It is to be hoped that this loss will not prevent Mr Maydwell continuing an industry which was just beginning to become known, and is of so much use to farmers and others. Tb Kooti.— The last sentence of the following paragraph, from the “Poverty Bay Herald,” will no doubt be immensely gratifying to the Ministry “Te Kooti has of late gained a large number of adherents, quite an exodus of natives, we believe, having taken place from the Wairoa with the object of interviewing the High Priest. We also learn that a Maori minister of the Church of England has embraced the new religion. With regard to his long unfulfilled promise to return to Poverty Bay, Te Kooti states that within the next three years, through God’s grace, he will come back. In politics he is favorable to the present Government.” A.O.F.—The enlargement of the Foresters’ Hall was last night commemorated by a grand soiree, which was attended by as many as the hall could accommodate. At half-past six about 100 persons sat down to an excellent tea, at the conclusion of which the tables were cleared away and a concert took place. This again was followed by a quadrille party. _ The concert programme gave the greatest satisfaction, the performers, though amateurs, singing in a manner which would have been creditable to professionals. The part songs were entrusted to Mr J. T. M. Smith’s choir, and the solos to Miss Ness, Miss Kent, and several members of the order. All the vocalists were fully up to the average of amateurs. The quarrel scene from “Julius Caesar ” was recited by Bros. Addison and Ness with much elocutionary effect, and with a fair conception of ttye characters, Mr H. F. Towle played the accompaniments. Bro. W. H. Wynn Williams presided, and (he committee, who were most attentive to the comfort of visitors, were Bros. Ness, Crooks, Tundell, and Phipps. Bro. P.W. Foley officiated as M.C. The catering was done by Bro. S. Farquharson, Yictobian Defences. The “ Argus ” gives some particulars of the present condition of the Victorian navy —the Cerberus, the Victoria, and the Nelson. The Victoria has recently been well strengthened to enable her to carry a 64-pounder rilled gun forward, and she has four 12-pounder howitzers on her quarter deck. She is to be used for laying torpedoes and then guarding them. The old line of-battle ship Nelson is being refitted at a cost of £15,003. With reference to the ironclad, the “ Argus ” says The turret ship Cerberus, with her four 18-ton guns _ (400 pounders), is now in a thoroughly ellicient state. The engines, including those for working the turrets, the st ering gear, and the capstan are in perfect order. The turrets revolve noiselessly and swiftly, making a complete revolution in 39 seconds. A small starboard after boiler was recently found to be somewhat defective, but this has been repaired, and with the remaining boilers are now in good condition. Captain Mandeville found that the “ conning ” tower—that is the tower from which the commanding olltcer fights the ship—was very much confined, and he has had that defect remedied by having a cupola fitted to it. This can be raised or lowered at pleasure by means of screws. Hitherto, there has been no place aloft from which a “ lookout ” could be kept, but Captain Mandeville has obtained permission from the Government to step an iron mast, with a circular “ top,” or platform. Qn this will be placed a Gatling gun, which has been ordered from England, and the electric light will also bo shown from this “top” at night time for torpedo work. This mast if fitted with a derrick will be found useful in many ways. With reference to torpedo work, the Government have granted money for carrying out a scheme for protecting the ship from torpedo attack, and have also ordered a Thorneyeroft torpedo launch, fitted with all the latest improvements, from England. In the meantime the ship is being supplied with all the usual torpedo stores, and a steam-launch and steamcutter are being fitted for spar torpedoes. The ship’s company is certainly a very fine one, pone being taken but stout, well-built men. Many of the able egaman have been chief petty officers, petty officers, and seamen gunners in the Royai Navy ; and a number of them hold second mates’ certificates in the merchant navy,

The Claimant Delusion. —“There ib good reason to believe,” the “Australasian” writes, “that the Tichborne claimant delusion will only perish with the death of the generation which contains the believers in that stupendous imposture. Any expectation that they would ever be convinced by evidence must long ago have been given up. Those who remained unconvinced by the cross-examination of the claimant by Sir John Coleridge and the evidence adduced at the criminal trial, would not alter their opinion though the unfortunate Tichborne should come back from the grave to denounce and testify against his personator. Attempts have been made of late to get up a case at Sydney on the basis of the assertion that the real Arthur Orton has been discovered in the person of a lunatic named Cresswellin the Parramatta Asylum, and the other day Mr Eckford brought the case before the Assembly by an application for the release of Cresswell. This gave Mr Fitzpatrick, on behalf of the Glovernment, the opportunity of pricking the bladder, and he pricked it soundly and deeply. He showed that the statutory declarations were a * parcel of moonshine,’ made up of irrelevant statements and hearsay. As to the tangible facts of the case, he showed that, whereas Arthur Orton had letters tattoed on his arms, Cresswell had no tattoo marks, Orton had his ears pierced twice, Oresswell’s ears were not i pierced. ‘Cresswell did not recognise any of the Tichborne portraits shown to him, nor did he know Mrs Jury, his reputed sister. A Mrs Hay, of Waverley, visited him, and recognised him as Cresswell; he recognised her, and a portrait of his sister, a Mrs Gough. He said, “ That should be my sister, Mrs Gough.” He had previously said that he had two sisters at home, and one was married to a man named Gough.’ Further particulars of the same tenour were given, and this latest of the series of impostures and delusions which have grown out of the great Tichborne case was irrevocably demolished. Of course, where the credulity exists in such ample measure, some other will soon be found to take its place.” Sis G. Geey. —The “Australasian” says:— That harum-scarum politician, Sir George Grey, has again executed the feat of turning his back upon himself. It will be recollected that some time ago a correspondence passed between the Governor and his Premier on the subject of the defences. Sir George Grey then declined to place the Government steamer at the disposal of Sir W. Jervois for the purpose of inspecting the harbors of the coast, alleging as his reason that the steamer was required for special service. Events proved that the special service was the conveying Sir George Grey and his friends on pleasure excursions. But the erratic Premier went further, and intimated that the financial circumstances of the colony would not allow it to incur expenditure for defence ; that it was its duty to provide against its own “internal enemies ” meaning, apparently, to keep the Opposition out of office as long as possible—and “to trust confidently to the fleets of Great Britain ” for defence against foreign enemies. The unworthy and ignoble character of this proceeding may be estimated from the fact that while Sir George Grey was thus endeavouring to devolve the cost of defending New Zealand on the British taxpayer, he was accusing English statesmen of a plot for taxing the colonies for ths support of the English fleet—a plot which had no existence save in the recesses of his own teeming brain. And we now learn that Sir George Grey has requested the Governor to telegraph to the plotting, despotic Imperial Government that New Zealand will undertake the expenses of armament for the defence of the colony. But why, or how ? What is the change between the position now and a few months ago ? The danger may be a little nearer now than then, but surely it is nothing but a confession of fatal blundering in a matter of utmost importance, when a chief Minister tries to shirk the duty of putting his country in a condition of defence till he believes the peril to be imminent, and then changes his mind when it is too late for preparations against the apprehended danger to be undertaken with any reasonable prospect of efficiency. Municipal Dinner.— By way of celebrating Her Majesty’s Birthday in the Borough of Sydenham, the Mayor issued invitations to the councillors of the borough and a few friends, including the ministers oi various religious denominations in the district. The dinner, which was held in the Selwyn street schoolroom, was provided by Mr Gee, and was excellent. About fifty ladies and gentlemen were present. After the dinner had been done ample justice to, the Mayor called attention to the fact that the primary object of the meeting was to celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday, and, though he would not propose to them to drink her health in bumpers of wine, he was sure they would join with him just as cordially in wishing long life and a prosperous and peaceful reign to Queen Victoria —a sentiment which was heartily applauded by the guests. The Mayor then remarked that they had among them several of the ministers of the district, and he would ask the Ecvs. McFarlane and Fynes-Clinton to address them. The Eev. Mr McFarlane responded, and alluded to the new style of municipal banquet then inaugurated by their present worthy Mayor, which differed in two material points from the generality of such banquets. He alluded to the presence of ladies and the absence of all alcoholic drinks. As an old temperance worker himself, it gave him great pleasure to notice these, and he alluded to several instances where the like happy reforms had been introduced, and with great success, at home. The Eev. Mr Clinton also responded. The Mayor then remarked at some length on matters municipal, to which Councillors Whitelaw and Brown answered, the latter eulogising the Mayor, whom he had known intimately for forty years, and who had always as long as he had known him been an earnest worker in whatever he engaged, whether, as he first knew him, as a Sunday school teacher, or as a temperance leader, or in matters municipal, both in old times at home, or here in their new Borough of Sydenham. The Mayor then alluded to the representatives of the Press whom they had with them, and said that he hoped the Council would never have reason to regret the publicity given to their meetings by admitting and welcoming representatives of the Press. Mr Hull, of the “Lyttelton Times,” and Mr Buckland, of the Press, responded. The Mayor then thanked his guests for their presence, and said he trusted that meeting would only be the precursor of many similar meetings. The guests, who had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, then separated after an extremely pleasant afternoon.

A Tattooed Ambassadoe. —The “San Francisco Chronicle ’ ’ gives the following sketch of M. Mamea, Secretary for the State of Samoa, who had reached that city in company with J. G. Colmesnil, Vice-Consul of Apia, en route to Washington as Ambassador from the Samoan Islands to the United States: —Mr Mamea is a fine specimen of physical manhood, straight as an arrow, and about 6ft. Gin. in height. A massive head, surrounded by a shock of woolly hair, sits gracefully upon a pair of broad shoulders. He has a pleasant and smiling face, beaming with intelligence, and adorned with a small coarse moustache of the darkest hues. He converses fluently in English, and has a thorough knowledge of the events of the day. On the Isabel, up to the time of his landing on our shores, he clung to the native and primitive garb of his island home. A colourless shirt descending to the waist, with a primitive cloth attachment, were the only articles of dress, save an extra br< astpin or two, with which he clothed his colossal form while journeying across the ocean. This garb, however, has been discarded for a black broadcloth suit that seta off his stalwart frame, and is in fine contrast with his bronzed countenance. His body, from the waist to the knees, is a gem of the tattooing art. It is completely covered with the distinctive signs and figures common to the chiefs and members of the royal family in the Navigator Islands. He is a devout Christian, being a convert, and a Bible is his constant companion. He will in a few days leave for Washington, where he hopes to effect some good, and bring the islands under the protection of the United States, It is, he says, the unanimous wish of the natives that this country shall guarantee some protection to them, »o that the increasing and profitable trade between Samoa and Europe my be turned this way.

The Case op H. S. Meyees.— With regard to the return of H. S. Meyers to the Auckland Gaol from his rooms at the Hospital, the “ Herald ” gives only the following : —Henry Solomon Meyers has been removed from the Provincial District Hospital to the hospital of the Gaol. On Friday last a warder was sent with a cab to the Hospital, with instructions to remove him. Mrs Meyers was present with him in his room at the Hospital, and the order appeared to be unexpected by both. A Singular History. —A somewhat curious set of circumstances (says the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald”) is related in a letter received by the last mail by a resident in Napier from Meaford, in Upper Canada. The writer commences by asking whether there is such a place as Nelson anywhere near Napier, and then goes on to state that about twentyeight years ago a Mr Pearce went from Meaford to Australia, leaving his wife and a child —a girl—in Meaford. Shortly afterwards the wife had a son. At first Pearce used to send his wife money occasionally, but after a time his remittances ceased, Pearce having then left Australia and gone to Nelson in New Zealand. About sixteen years ago Mrs Pearce saw in a newspaper an account of a shipwreck that had occurred near the New Zealand coast, Mr Pearce being among those drowned. The person drowned was, however, another man bearing the same name. About the same time Mr Pearce received a letter stating that his wife was married again, which was not true. Matters remained in this way for some years, the wife believing the husband dead, and the husband believing the wife to have married again, until two or three months ago, when a letter from Mr Pearce, inquiring about his family, dated from Nelson, was received by his brother in Canada. This has led to the son starting directly for New Zealand in quest of his father, the wife being away at the time on a preaching tour, she having latterly acquired a religious mania ; but it is hoped that when she leai ns that her husband is alive, she will recover her normal state of mind.

A Constable in Quod.— The following paragraph is from the “ Charleston Herald ” —A ridiculous yet amusing incident occurred on Tuesday during the very heavy rain. Late police changes have resulted in the transfer* ring of a heavy-weight constable to Charleston, vice Sergeant M ’Mahon, moved to Westport. On Tuesday, while the rain poured down in torrents, Constable Jeffries (for that is his name) found that the rain was coming down as if through a sieve into his bed, and as the constable expected his wife every moment from Westport, he set to work with a will to stop the leak in the roof. But this said constable weighs 3001 b, and while he was crawling on the ridging, the roof of the lock-up gave way, and down through the roof, on to the logs which ceil the lock-up went the only conservator of the peace in the district. Here his ingress was only temporarily arrested, for these large logs in their turn gave way, and down he went into prison without being entered on the cause-book. The lock-up being barred from without, and few understanding the nature of his mysterious departure to the shades below, his position can be more easily imagined than realised. For hours the lamentations of “Jeremiah” were dwarfed by the howling and whining of a frenzied constable for help ! help! help ! until all hope had abandoned him, when he made one grand Sampsonian struggle, and carried the doors of the lock-up on his shoulders to the great delight of the citizens, who by this time had gathered around the camp to learn the nature of the disaster. A Flash in the Political Pan.— Some short time ago there was a great outpouring of laudation upon the Native Minister for his vigorous action in respect to the prevention of persons from grazing their cattle upon the Waimate Plains, in the Patea district, without authority. The applause of the Ministerial journals, when an unfortunate grazier was hauled before the Court and made an example of, knew no bounds. This is what the Hawea correspondent of the “ Wanganui Herald” says on the subject now : “ Some time since we were led to hope that immediate and determined steps would be taken in respect to a speedy settlement of the long talked of Waimate Plains question. One of our settlers was brought up, and had to suffer the full penalty of the law, for attempting to utilise a few of the many thousands of verdant waste lands in this favored locality. The cattle grazing there were all driven off, and we were led to expect that having thrown down the gauntlet, the authorities would demand their public rights, and finally settle the land ; reserving of course considerable blocks for the aboriginals. Since that high period of excitement consequent on the impounding of the cattle, we hear of nothing further being done. In times past occasional splutters have been made, too soon again to subside. But on this occasion it was a great, a very great splutter. Let us hope it will prove more than a splutter, let us hope that the Q-overnment will not be content with merely punishing one man, but that the matter thus taken vigorously in hand will be carried through, and that ere long a vast population will be settled between Hawera and Oeo.