The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 397, 19 April 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1871.

The proceedings of yesterday, in the Licensing Court, had the effect of producing no small trepidation among the Bonifaces of Auckland. A glance at the faces assembled in the hall of justice, rubicund and jolly as they usually are, showed that there was fear among the Licensed Victuallers; and the smile that flashed across each jolly visage as 11 Granted " passed the lips of the Chairman, showed the respect in which the new Licensing Act is held. The copious and exhaustive report of Mr. Inspector Brohan showed that the majority of the hostelries required purification, and the attempt at cleansing the Augean stables has been vigorously made. The rooting out of the hot-beds of crime in the suppression of one or two well-known " Thieves' homes " is to be rejoiced at by all who do not desire the dissolving of the bends of society. These served indeed one practical and useful purpose in enabling the police to drop on crime with extraordinary celerity, and the facilities afforded in the rendezvous of thieves, burglars, and prostitutes, will be missed by the police. The large number of licenses held over for subsequent consideration does not necessarily imply anything discreditable in the conduct or character of the houses. Some excellent and well conducted hotels have had their claims held over, often for the most unimportant defects j but there are certainly some hotelkeepers that should look to it, for the police mean mischief, and the Bench seems disposed to weigh questions in very even balances. Mr. Broham has conducted the proceedings with great impartiality, and this being the first really important and trying ordeal to ■which he has been subjected, he has shown that he has in him the stuff of which a police officer should be made. His conduct has been such as must give satisfaction to all the deserving licensees in the city, and that he •hould inspire fear in all others is not to be regretted.

The impudence of the old reprobate Te Hira has found expression, and, as will be seen from the telegram in another column, he has thrown down the glove to Mr. McLean. It would really be a good thing if the old cannibal would be himself arrested. The lodgement of him and his amiable sister-the lovely Mary—in Mount Eden, would have a moral effect of no mean magnitude, and the feat is not one that should be beyond the power of a lightly equipped party making a dash from the Thames. Aa a remnant of the old "man-eaters," Te Hira, -who first was seen by civilisation sitting on !^° «8,. of a mountain, gnawing at «w gthigh-bone of a man, and his sister, whose gaunt and shrivelled old anatomy has been the terror of surveyors, would make a pretly mcture. And their photograph, as cha fl l, a fn couPle who had* force of of SLr reSlBt J t° the last the influences iIZ It 'T d Blmosfc ™fchi* cooey of ient 7and°T^ ineM ' dM the Xnlrl h ab6tted ,Crime With impunity, should be preserved among the historical mementos of New Zealand. ™»wnoai

We would sfrorgly recommend the fixing I of a lamp in the neighbourhood of the Drill- ■ shed, not only for the comfort and convenience of the Volunteers in going to and from their nightly exercise, but a3 a prevc-ntive to a considerable amount of questionable billing and cooing for which this quiet retreat and adjoining localities seem very generally selected. Deeds of darkness hsite the light, and a light pUieeci in that place would have the effect of making it less frequented, p.nd in various ways be productive of goo !. We suggest not this from our own fancies, but from our attention and advocacy having been repeatedly aslied to the subject.

Owing to Mr. Beckham's absence at Taranaki, there will not be a sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday next, nor of the District Court on Monday next. Both Courts will accordingly stand adjourned till the following Court days.

Creditors in the estate of George W. Cameron are requested to prove their debts before the 29th inst.

A call of tsvo shillings per share has been made in the Belfast G-old-mining Company, payable on the 6th May.