Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 9 December 1878, page 5


NEWS OF THE DAY,

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His EXCELLENCY THE GOVBBNOB on Saturday refused to grant a dissolution of Parliament, and, in conse-quence, the members of the Farnell Ministry at once tendered their resignation. His Excolloncy subsequently communicated with Sir John Robertson, who undertook the task of forming a new Administration. It is too early yet, of course, even to hint as to who will bo the

successors of Mr. Farnoll's colleagues.

OUR cable messages of this morning add little or 'nothing to the information already published on the European and Asiatic questions. The Earl of Beacons-field, in the House of Lords, has warmly vindicated the object of the war with Afghanistan. Under the cir-cumstances the Premier could scarcely do less. In both Houses motions adverse to the action of the Government in regard to the Afghan expedition have been tabled. Our commercial telegrams show that the market for colonial securities is still steady. The quotations for < the New South Wales 4 per cent loan is the same as

last week, namely, 09 ; whilst the 5 per cent, loan is up to 104. Consols have slightly weeded in value ; lost week the quotations were 95 J to 96 ; they are now given at 94|. The metal markets also show a decline, tin having fallen from £64 and £65 to £62 and £62 15s. ; and copper from £68 and £69 to £66 ^10s. and £68 10s. In the wool markets the

lower range of prices reported last week has had the effect of encouraging purchasers. Up to the latest date 115,000 bales have been catalogued, the withdrawals amounting to 15,000 bales. The stock markets are said to be depressed by rumours of impending banking troubles. Trade generally, however, appears to be recovering, to judge from a statement by the Earl of Beaconsfield in the House of Lords, "That the worst phases of the depressed state of trade aro over."

"PBOM papers laid before the Legislativo Assembly on the 8th of November, and now distributed among hon. members, we observe that the trustees of the Wesleyau Cemetery have inquired into the irregularity alleged to have happened at Rookwood on Sunday, the loth October, in the failuro to provide a grave for the burial of a child named Healy. They ascertained that the order for the grave, which should have been sent out by the 3 p.m. train on Saturday, did not roach Rookwood , until 6 p.m.,an hour after the sexton had left the ground.

The trustees " find that the order did reach Rookwood at 6 p.m., and was handed to the sexton's assistant, who was just leaving by train, aid who, as the grave could not be opened that day in the absence of his superior officer, resolved to make the inteiment pro tem. in the brick vault specially constructed by the .trustees for the reception of urgent cases, and for con-tingencies which may possibly ariäe through the nontransmission of orden.. The convenience of this vault however was declined on the Sunday by the parties who attended the funeral of the child. The trustees further find that the sexton's assistant acted with indiscretion in not having the grave prepared, and have duly admonished him ; at the same time they regret jthe unreasonable exactions to which their men aro not unfrequently exposed, owing to the delays which occur in the transmission of ordeis. As to the allegation that such ii régulai ¡ties are o£ frequent recurrence, the trustees meet that with a Simple denial. During the past eight years ouly one other case of a similar nature has been reported at the officenand that case waa rigidly investigated and satis-factorily explained, but owing to the very shoit notice the sexton sometimes gets, because of the very inade-quate means of communication with Rookwood, or the remissness o£ those who take out orders, the trustees would scarcely be surprised if disippointments were more frequent." We observe that the trustees of the" various portions of the Rookwood Cemetery have recommended that the telegiaph wire should be taken to the waiting-room at the moituary, and it "has been suggested that a lad in charge could perform all the telegraph business of the cemetery as well as for the district generally. It may be hoped that so humane, reasonable, and presump-tively profitable a suggestion will be carried out ¡without any avoidable delay. It is marvellous that ¡telegraphic communication has not existed there for years past ; but unhappily for the public convenience it Seems that nothing can be done through Government instrumentality except as the result of persistent agita-tion by i eoplo from without. Whatever may be the theory of Government, its practice seems to be wholly directed to the attainment of a masterly inactivity.

Eia-TY-rouB inhabitants of Mulbring and Mount ¡Vincent have petitioned the Legislative Assembly for exemption from the operation of the Dog Act. They 'say :-That in consequence of the existence of the Dog ! Act in this locality many persons are prevented from ' keeping the number of dogs required for the destruction of kangaroos, wallabies, and other destructive animals which are to be found in great numbers in this neigh-bourhood. That, since the passing of the above Act these pests have greatly increased, so much so that in some places fields of young wheat and oats and other ' ¿reen crops have been entirely destroyed. That in the ,adjacent district of Wollombi the Act has never been in force, being an agricultural district, and would do much injury to farmers and stockholders by the destruction of

crops and grass. ,

Tut information moved for hy Dr. Bowker respect-ing the construction of the Public school buildings of ¿he colony has now been published by order of Parlia-ment The return gives the following particulars, in tabular formai each Public school in the colony .--1.

The height, length, and_bread_, of ita schoolroom or schoolrooms. 2. The averagVnumber of pupila attend-ing such school,'with'the maximum and minimum number of pupils during the six months immediately preceding the date of the return. 8V Tho number and size of the windows and1 other openings of each ach olrooin. 4. The general plan pf ventilation of each school-room. 5. If the teachers' residence be under the samo roof as the school or schools. 6. the rm»t9rialof'the roofing. ' 7, If the school be one oforitwo stories. < *8. The distance of the ground-floor from the earth.1

THE lighter portion of tho European < mail vii Suez reached Sydney on Saturday morning, over-land. The Assam bringa fourteen days' later news, and is considerably in advance of .contract timer ~ j

Fon the last two or three days the weather in the metropolis has been very warm and close, through at times ¡* strong breozo has prevailed.r Yesterday morn-ing a heavy thunderstorm passed over the; city,( begin-ning at about 5 o'clock and lasting a little over an hour. While the storm lasted, tho thunder was almost incca. sant, but comparatively little rain fell, and by half-past

6 it became clear again. During the day it was very close, but by evening it became cooler, and the night

was pleasant.

WE have received samples of the incoming wheat crop of Soutli Australia from Kendall and Sons, of Argyle Mills, and also ta Messrs. Bright, Brothers. The samples aro very fine, and indicate not only an early but an excellent harvest.

WE have received from Messrs. Nicholson and Ascherborg a quaito pamphlet on " The Art of Singing, and tho formation, development, and cultivation of the Voice," by-Albeit Richardson, professor of singing-and lite primo-biiiitono of the Boyal Italian and English Opera. It is published by George Robertson and Co. Tho title fauly describes the scope of the work, which deils exclusively with the mechanical principles of tho subject. It is, in short, a manual for singers, and the infoimation and directions which it contains are fully and clearly stated. In hiB preface, the writer says that his object in publishing the work is to " supply a want," by placing before the public something which shall not only "be explicit in character, but have the special design of affoiduig the fullest information on those lead-ing punciples of the art which are necessary for the edu-cation of a ainger," the majority of existing works on tho subject containing so few practical directions that the student is, for the most pait, left to his own devices. A pei usai of the work shows that the writer has fairly succeoded in his object, and the work may be commended as a valuable addition to musical literatuie. A word of praise is due to the printers, Messrs. Wilier, May, and Co., for the admirable manner in which they have pioduced the pamphlet.

GOOD TE_FLAHÍ has sustained a great loss by the death of Mr. Percy Gibson, who has so long been iden-tified with the movement, and who had sustained the pruicipal offices in the Older with so much distinction and success. His funeral, on Saturday, was attended by about sixty members, and by the chief officials of both sections of Good Templars-a favourable omen, it is hoped, of a speedy reunion. After the Church of England, service had been solemnized, the burial ceremony, according to I. O. G. T. ritual, was impres-sa ely rendered by Brother E, A. Jones, G/.W.C.T. Mr. Gibson leaves a widow and a numerous family to lament his loss, and his eaily death is greatly regretted by a large ciicle of .friends, especially within the Order, where his untiring zeal for its promotion|and advani ement was heartily appreciated. The funeial procession was headed hy Masonic brethren.

THE first anniversary of tho pastorate of the Bev. Mr. Olley at Mauly was observed by a tea and public meeting on AVednesday, the 4th, and hy sermons on the Sunday previous, preached by the Rev. Mr. Olley and the Rev. Thomas Johnson respectively. Mr. W.

G. Barker addiessed tho children and friends m the afternoon. The Rev. J. P. Sunderland presided at the public meeting and gave an address. After prayer and a general statement by the pastoi of the church, excel-lent addresses were given by the Revs. J. C. Kirby and the Rev. T. S. For&aith, and by Mr. W. G. Barker.' The church was well filled and a very enjoyable evening was spent, and congratulations made over the success of the past year's work. The church choirs rendeied in good stylo several sacred pieces of, music The chairman closed the meeting by pronouncing the bene-

diction.

PIOEON-FASCIEBS will do well to inspect an importa-tion of real Antwerp carriers just received direct from Belgium by Mr. J. B. Olliffe, of the Royal Hyde Park Hotel, corner of Bathurst-street. These fine binls were carefully selected to Mr. 01 line's order by a friend at Antwerp, and they were Bent out per ship Hesperus to Melbourne, thence per -steamer Macedon, and they have arrived in splendid condition. They comprise one pair -red mealy cock and black hen, have flown 400 miles in fair time. Red mealy cock has flown 500 miles, competing against seventy-five birds, and won the matchin very good time, beating second bird by one hour, third bird by one hour and forty minutes ; some of the other birds turned up in three days after, and some in a week, but the majqpity were lost. Blue chequered

cock has flown 400 miles. Bluo cock, has flown 450 miles. Blue chequered hen has flown 450 miles in a private match, against twenty-five' hird«, winning by two hours. There are other birds from the best stock in Prussia, they have each been tried 400 miles, and have been engaged in races from Berlin to Antwerp, finishing first, second, or third. The parents have all distinguished themselves in the great national races, and are considered to possess great homing capacity. It is the intention of Mr. Olliffe to use these splendid flyers for breeding purposes, and no doubt they will prove a very valuable addition to the pigeon stock of this colony. Mr. Olliffe has received news by the mail that two birds from the same loft as the red mealy rook above-mentioned have flown in a match fiom Rome to Berlin, and won. They were afterwards sold to an English fancier for £45 and £50 respectively.

A COMMITTEE meeting of the New South Wales Cricket Association will be held this evening at Tattersail's hotoL Members and delegates are requested to,

attend. .

AT 10 o'clock on the night of Friday, Mr. Clements, the vice-president of the Bathurst Agricultural Society, paid the prizes won at this meeting to the winners. Mr. Maritin, of Messrs. Lassetter and Co., as the agents for the M. Cormiok machine, was handed a cheque for £20. This, after a short speech, in which he complimented the Bathurst Society for the great care which had been exercised to ensure a crucial trial, he gave to Mr. Thompson, whom he requested to forward it to the treasurer of the Bathurst Hospital as a donation from Messrs. Lasseter and Co. Mr. Fleming, the agent for the Osborne, received the second prize, a cheque for £10, which he promptly handed back again as his donation to the Bathurst Agricultural Society. Mr. Fleming also returned thanks for the kind treatment he had re-ceived from the officers of the association.

YESTEBDAY morning, about 5 o'clock, a fire, the origin of which is unknown, broke out in an attic abo\e the shop of Mr. Nicholas M 'Keime, clothier, of 256, George-street. Constable Aroher gave the alarm, and the fire was extinguished by the police and super-intendent Camb, of No. 2 Fire Company, with buckets of water. The fire engine from No. 2 was in attend-ance, followed by four others, but their services were not required. The damage consists only in the destruc-tion of some articles of wearing apparel worth but a few shillings. ,

THE Snails Bay Amateur Regatta will take place on Saturday next. The events on the programme include a race for yachts over 8 and under 20 tons, contests beI tween amateur soulls, a match for senior sculls in club

skiffs, and an open boat race. The latter event will, probably, prove close and exciting, as professional« have been engaged to manage the competing croft.

A LA.ROB and successful social gathering of the mem-bers and friends of the Presbyterian Ohurch, Liverpool ' Road, Ashfield, took place in the church/ on Thursday 1 evening, the 5th December. After tea a publio meeti ingwas held, when the Rev. John Auld occupied the

chair, and was supported on the platform hy Rets. G-. Woolnough, H. Macready, R. M'Kinnon, B. S. Pater-son, anitJ". Copeland. Mr. Paterson opened the meet-ing with prayer. After introductory remarks from the chairman, instructive addresses were, delivered by the various ministers on the platform, the interval between each speaker being filled up with anthems by the choir, solos by Mr. John Walker, and a duet by the Misses Drake. ^ When the programme was nearly completed, i the chairman said that the main object of this social

gathering was "to raise money, to liquidate th» ' debt still on this church, in J order that we might be in a position to build an edifice at Canter-bury, which ' was greatly needed for <the accom-modation of our large Sabbath-school there. We had

the promise of £50 each from Messrs. Pope and Good-let, on condition that we ^subscribe the remainder now ; aad he (the chairman) hoped that we would not suffer so good a chance to be lost. Mr. Pope, treasurer of the building fundí then gave a statement of the account up till I date. He said that he had received subscriptions amount-

ing to £50 since the congregational meeting in October, which reduced the debt to £160 ; and that tho congre-gation, therefore, had now to raise £60 in order to ,sepure the £100 promised by Mr. Goodlet and himself. He hoped that snm would be subscribed to-night, as he did not feel justified in saving that the £100 would bo forthcomipy-irrtthe matter were deferred any longer. After remarks" from Mr. Goodlet, and also from the Rev. R.i-M'Kinuon, the amount required was subscribed by the audience, in aunts ranging from one shilling to ten pounds.

A BERLIN telegram to the "Pall Mall Gazette" states that the news of the occupation of Upolu, one of the Samoa Islands, by the German corvette Ariadne, has occasioned some little excitement here. The occu- pation is thought to have some connection with the repressive measure about to be adopted against the Socialists, and the Government's motive in taking possession of the island is popularly believed to be the wish to establish a colony to which to transport cri-minals. The surmise is scarcely correct. Prince Bismarck has always shown himself averse to the acquisition of colonies, and all that is probably intended is to secure a convenient coaling station.

Two fatal accidents (saya the "Argus") at sea occurred on the voyage of the Loch Rannoch from Glasgow, and the Eaton Hall from Calcutta to Mel-bourne. The Loch Rannoch left the Clyde on Sep-tember 5, and three days afterwards, when in latitude 55-41 N. and longitude 10-26 W., one of the appren-tices (named John M'Vicar) fell into the sea while assisting to stow the niizen topgallant sail. Three life-buoys were thrown to him, and, although the wind was blowing a gale from S.W., the mamyard was backed and a boat got out with the chief mate and six hands m it, A gallant pull was made for the spot where the lad was last seen, but the search was unsuccessful. His cap and the three lifebuoys were recovered. The boat returned to tho ship after being away for two hours. There was great risk incurred in the attempt to save the poor fellow, but he was a general favourite on board, and the men were eager and willing. M'Vicar was 10 years of age and a native of Glasgow. In tho, case of the Eaton Hall, the accident occurred on October 17,'when John .Graham, an ordinary seaman, fell on deck from the maintopsail yard. It was supposed that only his arm and wrist were broken, in addition to the severe shock to his system, for he was quite con-scious, and the limb was Bet as well as could be with the appliances on board. The accident happened at 10 o'clock in the morning, but about 7 in the evening he drew himself up on the couch in the saloon where he had been laid, and, on being asked his reason, replied that the position was easier, and shortly afterwards he expired, it is supposed from internal hemorrhage.

THE cable contract, says the " Argus " of Wednesday, has at lost been ratified. The copy signed by the Hour J. P. Burns was received from Sydney last week, and Mr. Berry appended his signature on Monday. The date when the reduction of rates on Press and Government messages is to come into force has not been fixed, but Mr. Berry has written a memo, to Colonel Glover, urging strongly that the arrangement ought to take effect without delay, in accordance with a verbal promise given some time back.