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Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 473, 17 July 1871, Page 2

Now that efforts are being made to fit out a vessel for the whale fishery, it may not be amiss to call tho attention of the public generally to the advantages which a fleet of whalers, sailing out of Auckland, would cause in this port. At present the sperm whale fishery is almost entirely in the hands of the Americans, and from the town of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for moro than a century their vessels have been despatched to the Pacific. In 1859 they fitted out and sent to sea no less than 39D whale ships, and the quantity they took that year was 0,952,021 gallons of sperm oil, besides 4,715,583 gallons oi' whale oil, and 2,010,882 pounds of whalebone, and New Bedford is tho richest town in proportion to its population, in America, and ships alone do not constitute its only wealth, for it has thirteen oil and candle factories, four soap factories, hoop iron manufactories, and barrel factories. Now the question naturally arises, why should not we have the same ? "We have followed the example of our brethren in Australia in regard to gold mining speculations, we have had "rushes" and "panics"—in fact we have gone through every stage of tho gold - fever. Some of us have risked our all, many have been ruined, and some have been successful. Now let us imitate our American cousins in their spirit of enterprise and in their patient and .untiring industry. The Auckland tradespeople and mechanics ought to give the subject their earnest attention, for supposing that the vessels fitted out by them for the whale fishery were ouly moderately successful at first, the money they might make, would, most of it, be spent here. Almost everything required by a whaler could be provided here. An impetus would be given to our few manufactories. Boats, ropes, sails, casks, iron-work, provisions, will all be needed, and thus employment will be found for many who now find great difficulty in obtaining an honest livelihood for themselves and their families. Then each whaler might take two or three lads to tea, thus trainiug them effectually as sailors, and rendering them capable of being the defenders of their country. If each merchant and tradesman, in Auckland would now take a share or shares according to their means in this whaling company, how different would be the condition of this city in the course of a few years. It is scarcely probable that one vessel will pay, but by fittiug-out five or six, surely some certainty of success may be anticipated.

I We would direct the attention of those I interested in the Whale Fishery Company to J the fact that the share list is in tho hands of Captain Clayton, tho lion, secretary. In the interests of the city nnd the province, we earnestly hope that the share list will be such as to enable the company to start on a scale commensurate with the importance of the undertaking.

Meetings are advertised to take place in the following gold mining companies :—Tokatea No. 2, 7th August; Golden Belt, 6th August; Middle Star, 25th instant; Nolan's Candle; light No. 1, 28th instaufc. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of theDevouport Highway District will be held at the Devonport Hall, North Shore, on the 25th inst.

The promenade concert, advertised to be held at the City Hall to-morrow evening, in aid of the Destitute Old Women and Lying-in-Hospital, has been postponed until further notice.

Notice is given by tho harbour-master at Oneliunga that during the late gale the South Head Spit Buoy parted from its moorings, und is now away.

The regular monthly meeting of Lodge Waitemata No. 689,'E.0., will be held at the Lodgß-rooin, Mnsouic Hotel, at half-past 7 o'clock this evening.

A capital joko, and all tho more palatable because it is true and can be vouched for, took placo a few Sundays since at one of the proinincnt Fourth-street; churches. It seems that a worthy deacon had been very industrious in selling a now church-book costing seventy-five cents. At the service in question tho minister, just before dismissing the congregation, arose and said : " All you who h:ive children to baptize will please present them next Sabbath." Tue deacon, who by the way, was a little deaf, and having an eyn to selling the books, and supposing his ppstor was referring to them, immediately jumped up and shouted : " All you who havn't any can get as many as you want by calling on me, at seventy five cent a each." The preacher looked cross-eyed at the brothers, the brothers looked at the clergyman, the audience punched t-hc audience in the side, the babble grew louder, until it burst into 11 loud guff" w ; ladies coloured up, crimsoned, blushed, aud thanked the Lord for the low prii;e of peopling the earth. There was no benediction that morning worth speaking of. The deacon, after ho found out his mistake, changed his -pew from tho front of the church to the third from the rear, and though he cannot hear the sermon, he is consoled with the thought that the young Indies can't snicker at him.— New Je,rsy Patriot.