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Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 102, 7 May 1870, Page 2

The weekly parade of the Auckland Eifle Volunteers will take place at halfpast six o'clock on Monday morning. It is with extreme gratification we learn that at a meeting of the committee of the the Mechanics' Institute, just held, a sub-ommittee was appointed for the purpose of getting up a series of amateur entertainments in connection with the institution. We have been trying to give annoyance to the committee at times, but it was only to provoke them to good works, and from sincere well-wishing to the Institute, on the Irish principle " for love knock him down." The sub-committee consists of Messrs. Diddams, George, and Dr. Bayntum, to any one of whom, we sincerely hope, any ladies or gentlemen willing to lend a helping band in a good work will speedily address themselves. It is intended, we understand, that the entertainments should be of a miscel' laneous kind, consisting of songs, instrumental music, leadings, recitations, part acting, &c, and that the admission should be merely nominal for the public, about sixpence, and for members of the Institute free. Such entertainments, held at intervals of a week or a fortnight for a season of a few months, will bring the Institute into f'amilarity with the public, and in due course we shall doubless find lectures and classes following stiite. We have already guaranteed to the committee a six voice power of amateur talent, and if others willing to aid will kindly leave addresses at our office we shall be happ3r to bring them into relations with the subcommittee.

It will be gra'afyinej to those that like independent journalism to learn that Mr. Henry Anderson, formerly of the Wellington Independent is again in the editorial chair, and from the sanctum of the Wanganui Chronicle is proceeding to give utterance to those terse trenchant sayings so particularly unpleasant to his opponents. Amid the chorus of hostile criticism assailing the ears of the Government from most parts of New Zealand, we venture to say that no voice will be more distinct than that from Wanganui. We candidly bid Mr. Anderson welcome on his return to the field of political conflict, and shall look with interest at "11 times for the glancing of his sword in the foremost ranks.

We see that Mr. H. Eastwood, manager for Mr. Bachelder, is in Auckland making arrangements for tlie opening of the Apocalype during the winter months. Mr. Backelder, who was a passenger by the last mail boat for San Francisco, has gone for the purpose of sending Mr. Kastwood new novelties, amongst which will be a Panorama of the trip from Sydney to Auckland, and from Auckland through to London. We are warranted, we believe, in saying that Mr. Bachelder's endeavours to amuse and instruct will be met with that support the enterprise derserves. The Apocalypse will open this night week. We have to acknowledge receipt of the Annual Keport of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, as presented at the 21st annual meeting of members in Sydney, on the 26th ult. As might be expected it is of the most satisfactoi'y kind. This society has the credit of having made, two years ago, one of the most searching self-examinations on record, and the result on the public mind is seen in its report. During the year closed, new policies to the number of 1855, and value of £767,712 have been taken out; adding the sura of £32,236 per annum to tlio revenue of the society. The sum of £57,702 has been paid on policies fallen due during the year by death of members, while tlie gross annual value is £201,017 17s. Bd. The balance for the year in favour of the society, after distributing £38,761 as bonuses among its members and meeting every claim, has been £92,550, and its accumulated and invested fund is now £679,784 lls 4d ; 10,269 persons scattered over tlie colonies, and who value themselves at four and a half millions sterlings constitute this gigantic corporation ; and as all these are mutual assnrers, and divide the profits, it is not too much to say that this institution not only has the elements of perfect security, but has been eminently successful.

Last week, as our readers will recollect, Charles O'Brien was convicted of a very brutal and unprovoked assault on Mr. W. H. Newton, by which, for nearly a week, that gentleman's life hung on a thread. In a Thames contemporary, bearing our own name, we read that on the return of the volunteers from Tauranga, they paraded at the Volunteer Hall, under tie command of Captain Me Carrol. " Mr. Mullhone, after asking the commanding officer's permission, addressed the men, and laid before them the ease of Mr. Charles O'iJrien, who was lately fined at Auckland, for assault on Mr. W. H. Newton. At the conclusion of the address the men subscribed £5 13s. towards liquidating the fine." It is to be presumed tiiat the volunteers subscribing, were not acquainted with the case on which, an appeal was made to their sympathies. We do not know who this

person is that rejoices m the « euphonious name of Mcllhone, nor what the style of his appeal; but that there was misrepresentation is evident, for we cannot conceive that men with to**™l™**^ impelled them to go and fight Te Kooti, could lend their sympathies to an act so wholly unmanly and brutal as the assault on Mr. Newton. We should like to hear an explanation from the volunteers, and we trust that Captain McCarrol will explain hia connection with this contempt for a judicial decision, or if not, that he will be asked for such by his superiors in command. , Mb. Martin Sholl was very nearly receiving a severe injury yesterday, being struck with much severity on the leg by a cart-seal which had been blown out of a passing vehicle, and was hurled along at a considerable rate, until it came in contact with Mr. Shell's legs. Fortunate was it for that gentleman that it did not come in contact with Lis head instead. It it had, he must have been very seriously injured. ~ . ~ Eabeack-street, instead of being, as it was formerly, one of our worst kept streets, bids fair to be one of the best in our town. For the last few weeks a. very large number of men have been busily employed in cutting it down and levelling it; also, draining, channelling, and putting down a good pathway along its entire length. It is now open for vehicles of every description from Shor'lanclstreet, by way of High-street to Aber-crombie-street- a distance of nearly halt a mile. 'Jhe City Board certainly deserve great credit for the very energetic manner in which the improvements in this street have been carried outEssay and Discussion Class, x.M. C. A.—A preliminary meeting of the above class took place at the Hooms, Wellesleystrcct, on Thursday evening last, when a code of rules was submitted, and adopted. The following officers were appointed for tlie ensuing year : —President, Mr. A. Boardman ; Secretary, Mr. G. Douglas ; committee, Messrs. H. B. Shalders, T. L. White, and J. L. Sinclair. Some twentytwo members were enrolled. Tlie business for next night of meeting (the 19th instant), will be a debate on the following question : —" Is it desirable to substitute tlie Ballot for Open Voting at Political Elections ?"

A very extraordinary letter was, yesday morning, received by Mr. Beckham, while silting on the Bench. After perusing it, liis Worship handed it over to the police who allowed the members of the Press to peruse it. It was evidently the effusion of a lunatic, and contaiued statements of an extraordinary nature in reference to the internal management of the Lunatic Asylum, describing the manner in which some of the unfortunate inmates were dressed; silks and satins, gold and silver laces, and other articles equally valuable were referred to as being worn by certain inmates at certain times ; and persons of quality, not excepting royalty, were spoken of as wearing other peoples' clothes ; who, themselves had to go about without much finery. As we said before the letter had every appearance of being written by a lunatic, -who, we doubt not, will very shortly be sent to visit the scenes which he or she—the letter appears to have been written by a woman, describes in such peculiar language. A concert in aid of the Home for Women, Paruell, will take place at the Music Hall, Symonds-strcet, on Thursday ever ing next, and will be under the patronage of Ladyjßowen and the ladies of Auckland. The subject will be Haydn's Oratorio, " The Creation," and will be under the conductorship of Mr. Jos. Brown. The nomination of a candidate to serve in the General Assembly for the electoral district of Parnell will take place at the Public Hall, Parnell, at noon on Thursday next. Notice is given that Edmund George Steers and John Proctor Hydes, John Howe, Charles Herberte, and Eichard Roberts, intend to apply for their order of discharge on the next public sitting day in bankruptcy. A meeting of the creditors of Benjamin Hill will be held at the Supreme Court on the 13U1 insfc. A deed of arrangement for the benefit of his creditors has been filed in the Supreme Court by Henry Lewis, and tenders are called for in the bankrupt estate of Henry Lewis, of Grahamstown. A Lkctttkk on Palestine, illustrated by diagram-! an.l a panoramic view of Jerusalem will 1)0 delivered at the Baptist Chapel, Welli-sley street, on Wednesdayevening noxfc, by the Key. J. It. Jenkins. The rev. lecturer has travelled in the Holy Land, and we have no doui t that the lecture will be well attended. The same gentleman will preach at ths Baptist Chapel to-morrow morning.