Sydney, September 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 301, 22 September 1888, Page 3

Sydney, September 13.

CONSUL GRIFFIN AT SYDNEY. Consul Griffin, so well and favourably known in Auckland, has been banquetted at Sydney in recognition of his services in connection with the introduction of Australian wool into the United States of America. Amongst those present were, Sir Henry Parkes, Sir Alfred Stephen and Mr S. A. Joseph, M.LvC. It wiJl be interesting to New Zealand readers to know that Mr Griffin expressed his conviction that the Bill admitting Australian wools free, which has passed the House of Representatives, would pass the Senate and become law, without doubt. On this subject he said :—: — " The President of the United States has in the most emphatic manner signified his intention of giving the measure his approval. The Bill will, I think, be of great benefit to both countries, and especially to my own. The fine longstapled wools of Australasia cannot be easily grown in the United States, where they are greatly desired by manufacturers to mix with American wools of a coarser and shorter growth. The best authorities are very decided in the opinion bhab the millowners in the United States can compete successfully with those of Europe in the manufacture of fine cloths and dress goods as soon as they can obtain Australasian wools. At present they are obliged to import the great bulk of these goods from England, France, Germany and Belgium. Nor would the change in the law affect injuriously the American flockmaster, for there would then be a greater demand than at present for domestic wools to combine with foreign wools."

THE GREENWOODS. Better fortune is attending; the Greenwood family in Sydney. Mr Greenwood has obtained the position of caller on bhe Sydney Stock Exchange, for which there were seventy applicants. The salary is £500 per annum. Miss Maribel has been promised by Rignold the position of leading lady in the dramatised version of "Mr Barnes of New York," which he intends to produce. Miss Agatha has been seriously ill with inflammabion of the lungs, but- is convalescent, and gradually recovering.

THE PRISONER HOLT. The case of the prisoner Holt was before the Supreme Court dn Monday, September 3rd, when an appeal was brought in the Equity Court to restrain Uiblin and others, trustees in his estate, from transferring to the Bank ot New Zealand a one-third hi the lands comprising the Rosehill racecourse, which had been purchased by Holt with moneys which he advanced when manager of the Bank. The appeal was not sustained, and the Court directed the costs of appeal to be paid as between solicitor and client.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. New Zealand has for several year** had an Agricultural College at Lincoln in Canterbury. New South Wales is about to establish one a few miles out of Sydney, at llookwood, and buildings intended for a reformatory were erected at a coht ot £15,000 are, to be used as a college. The lands surrounding will be made into, a model farm.

AUCKLAND VISITORS. Aucklandera continue to pass thiouerh here to and from the Exhibition. Mr J. M. Alexander and wife, Mr K. A, Carr, and Mr and Mrs Jas Kus^ell and family have been in Sydney for some days, having " done '* the big t( show." while Mr X, W. Moody is in Melbourne at present, having some coal mining business which will detain hiii there. Mr Hack worth, late Collector of Customs in Dunedin.has been here for a day or two, and goes on to Melbourne. It seems a striking anomaly on the " bad times" in New Zealand to see so many business men running aero&& for plea&uie. Tn the course of a chat with Mr Carr he said he thought that the land speculation " boom " wa* about done in Melbourne. He thought that if many of the !New Zealanders who contemplated coming over saw the country between Sydney and Melbourne they would not be in a hurry to seek "fresh fields and pastures new," but remain in their own fertile country.

THE SCIENCE CONCLAVE. The Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science has just concluded its first conference in Sydney. The sessions were held in the Sydney University. The Society, which now numbers 820 members, ha* every i*eason to be pleased with the manner in which their delegates were treated by the (Sydney members. A reception by the Mayor, garden parly at the Observatory by the President, Mr H. C. Russell, and harbour and land evcui-sions, etc., tilled in the afternoons. Sir Jat>. Hector (Wellington), Mr S. Percy Smith and Mr J. A. Pond (Auckland), Professor Black (Otago), and Mr S. H. Cox, late of Wellington (Canterbury), were the New Zealand delegates. Sir James Hector's address in the Town Ball upon the Tarawera eruption was highly spoken ot in Well-informed circles here. Baron Yon Mueller was elected the new President. The conference meets in Melbourne in 1889 and in New Zealand in 1890. It is a good thing, it Would &eem, to be a Commissioner to the New Zealand Com t at the Exhibition. Only eight gentlemen, I am informed, were appointed. Mr S. Kohn, the well-known jeweller in Wellington, and formerly of Auckland, has been on a visit to Sydney. He is a commissioner, and one cf the privileges is a free pass over all the railways in the Australian colonies, along with other social luxuries which the honour brings with it. He has gone to Brisbane for a trip. The many friends in Auckland of Mr Keith Wilson, late assistant officei in charge of the Telegraph Office, will be glad to learn ! of his success in Sydney. He is at prosent travelling for a Commercial Union Ifire Insurance Company, and doing well, but he contemplates accepting the offer of a large printing iirm to travel the colony. I am sorry to have to record a serious acdent to Signor Riccardi, who was some time ago a leading light in the musical circles in your city. He slipped on the pavement last week, and was unfortunate enough to fracture his leg just above the knee, fie ie, lam glad to say, getting on well under medical care.

DISPERSAL OF THE FLEET. The fleet has dispersed from Sydney Avioh the exception of H. M.S. Orlando, which is the only warship lying in Farm Cove. H.M.s. Diamond has sailed for England via Auckland, H.M.s. Rapid left on August 28th for New Guinea, with Governor Macgregor on board. 'H.M.s. Calliope, accompanied by H.M.s. Lizard, with Admiral Fairfax on board, has gone to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Tonga, leaving port on Tuesday, September 4th. H.M.b. Royalist will replace the Diamond on the South Pacific station. H.M.s. Opal, from New Guinea, left Cooktown for Sydney yesterday. H.M.s. Swinger remains there a fortnight longer.

THEATRICALS. The theatrical event is the Nellie Farren — Frank Leslie season at th 3 Theatre Royal The London Gaiety Company, of which they are the " stars," have been drawing crowded houses nightly to witness Monte Christo. " Esmeralda " was produced this week. " Lights o' London," after a run of nearly two months at Her Majesty's, was withdrawn last week by Messrs Rignold and Alison, and " Uncle Tom's Cabin " staged in place of it.

MEMORIAL TO MR SEDDON. The committee appointed to raise a fund to erect a memorial over the grave of the lace Mr R. L. Seddon, captain of the British Rugby Team, are meeting with a very generous respon&e from footballers. The Unions of New Zealand have been written to and it is fully expected that their contributions will be liberal. The renowned lecturer, Major Dane, gave a lecture upon the Olympian games, etc., in Maitland last week in aid of the fund. It is anticipated that the fund will reach between £300 and £400.

MR JAMES RUSSELL. Mr James Russell and family have been here on a visit for some weeks. They have been to the Exhibition. He speaks very unfavourably of the display in the New Zealand -Court, especially in the mineral department and the poor representation of the Thames goldfield. He was much pleased with the splendid shows made by New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. In their courts every point was j gained. The exhibits were in the forms of trophies, large blocks of ore, etc., which were all carefully labelled, giving the district where obtained from, the yield of gold or silver in ounces, and value, etc., which, all combined, would not fail to leave the impression upon the.visitors that these colonies were exceedingly wealthy in the precious metals. Mr Russell also said he thought the New South Wales and Victorian' people who were well aware of the real resources of New Zealand, were laughing up their sleeres at the mess that the Commissioners had made of the mineral display. In his opinion that part of the Court should have been entrusted to a business man to arrange. He hoped, however, that the efforts that were now being made to redeem the colony's character would be successful. As to the Exhibition itself, he thought the courts were all still unfinished, and pointing to a huge scaffolding and travelling crane used in connection with the new Union Bank's premises here, said the great building was full of them, and while a concert was

going on in one end of the Exhibition, workmen were hammering away at another, so much so that it had to be stopped to enable the auditory to hear the music. By the time the Melbourne Cup is vuu he thought the show would be in order, and then well worth seeing. It was, at any rate, better than the first exhibition. Mr D. Hean, of the National Bank oorf r New Zealand, has returned to Sydney from Queensland. He still seems to be far from the best of health. Those who knew Mr A. K. Murray, who was the publisher of Murray's time-tables for SiOine time in Auckland, will be gratified, to know that he is doing pretty well in various business matters hero. THE GREAT LIBEL CASE. The great trial for libel, in which the ex-Colonial Treasii'er, Mr G. "R. Dibbs, sought to recover £25,000 damages from the "Daily Telegraph" for publishing a libellous article entitled " A Challengo to Mr Dibbs," resulted, after a lengthened tiial of some seven days and the jury being locked up for a night in a verdict for the plaintiff for £100 and costs, on Friday, September 7th. A very large Bar was engaged, and the case should be a harvest for tho lawyers. Sir Henry Parkes was one of the Hrst \\ i r.n esses called, and ho little interest wass displayed when Sir Henry j was on the witness s*tand that there I were only two or three in the gallery. As the trial proceeded the public came in hundreds to hear the case, \ and the public and barristers' galleries were crowded daily. The verdict is considered as tantamount to no verdict ab all, as the costs will be <o heavy apart from tho&e allowed by the Court. The claim was for £25,000 damages.

ATTEMPTING TO BRIBE A MINISTER. The other day Sir Henry Parkes received a letter from a man named Breen, who sought a billet in the Lands Office, and enclosed £10 as a douceur for the Premier ; but Sir Henry was not on, and ordered a warrant to be taken out for attempting to bribe a Minister of the Crown. The charge was hoard in the Water Police Court on Thursday, .September 6th, and the man committed for trial. About three years ago a man tried the same thing on the Colonial Secretary, and was given two years for his pains. Among the Aucklanders here are Messrs E. and G. Mills, who, as cricketers, made quite a name for themselves, not alone in the Northern city, but throughout the colony. A leading club here is -endeavouring to secure their services during, the present season. *' Ned'" played- 1 a good forward game in a Rugby match '"on the Agricultural Ground at Moore Park bb v n a { recent Saturday. Mr W. Hamliu, who was for some time an officer in the Telegraph Office in your city, has succeeded remarkably well over ! here, and now holds a i*esponsible position in the Commercial Union Assurance Company, one of the largest insurance companies in tke colonies. Kussell oysters are imported largely here. Eight hundred bags came over by the last steamer. If you ask for New Zealand oysters in a saloon they palm ofl, inferior ones, which are local and got >it Port Stephen. i