FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1872.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 625, 12 January 1872, Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1872.

The letter ofa correspondent" Thames" in to-day's issue, raises a question that has been frequently pressed on our attention, namely, the delay that appears to attend the winding up of claims placed in the hands of the Government Official Agent, Mr. Warner. \Ve should like to not say anything that would hurt the feelings of Mr. Warner or any other man; but a sense of justice compels us to say that a very unwarrantable delay does attend the settlement of the affairs of burst up claims. Such unfortunate institutions, when placed in other hands, appear to have their funeral obsequies performed decently and expeditiously ; but Mr. Warner seems "to keep a species of Court of Chancery, into which a cause may come, but the question as to when it leaves being adjusted, remains for the solution of posterity. Strange that Mr. Warner should find this business more tedious than other people, but so he does; unless it happens that all the more complex and difficult cases fall into his hands, while the simpler ones are placed in the hands of other people. What on earth, we would ask, has Mr. Warner been doing with the Band of Hope during the last fourteen months ? On its share list are the names of a number of our waalthiest and most prominent citizens. Is Mr. Warner afraid to touch them ? If so, we do not hesitate to say, he should be bundled summarily out of the official agency. We do not say this from any disrespect for Mr Warner, for we un-. derstand that he is a gentleman whom every one respects and esteems and even likes. But that is the mischief of the thing. An amiable man should not be an official agent, any more than he should be a bailiff. An official agent cannot afford to have any room for bowels of compassion, and should set his face like ilint against the endearments of friendship. At the Thames it is quite well known, that people boast of how they have " done" the official agent, and his amiability of disposition is regularly traded on. We regret that it is so, but it is so, And as no man's disposition is capable of radical change, we really think that the Government ought to find some other position for Mr. Warner, and, we sincerely hope, a better and more lucrative one, but in any case one in which his amiability of character and gentleness of demeanour would find congenial occupation, without doing injury to the public interest. We could mention several Government offices where the officials are notoriously "grumpy," while their surroundings, and the nature of their occupation, suggest and demand the utmost amiability of demeanour. One of these bears might be placed in Mr. Warner's office, and the present official agent might take the more gentle occupation; and the interchange might be in every way to the advantage of the public interests. But really something must be done ; and if Mr. Warner retains his present position, he must abandonee suaviter in modo, altogether, and exhibit only the fortiter in re. These poor fellows at

the Thames have, many of them, wives and poor little hungry children, waiting on these long overdue wages ; while fcheir debtors in Auckland are, figuratively speaking, living in purple and fine linen and faring sumptuously every day. And while Mr. "Warner concedes courtesy and forbearance to the bland smile of his comfortable well-to-do fellow citizen, he should not close his eyes to visions of sad little domestic scenes, of weary, waiting, worn out fathers, in anxious consultation with wife and little pale-faced children, wondering and wondering when such and such a claim will be wound up; and all the while, there is being done — nothing. Mr "Warner's amiability should extend to such as these. He has neglected, all the time when the Caledonian was pouring its treasures through all classes of the people, to bring- pressure to bear on those who could and should have paid ; and now the necessity of payment, which was at all times inevitable, will be more severely felt. Wo arc quite aware that in urging this, we shall give general offence, but that is nothing. Mr. "Warner should do his duty despite the consequences, and should be ashamed of the unwarrantable delay in the completion of business placed in his hands. If he finds the work irksome, then he should retire, and let it be transacted by some one with a disposition as if he had been suckled by a she-wolf, and without a drop of the milk of human kindness.

Wo desire to draw attention to a notice t® advertisers, with reference to delay, generally needless, in sending advertisements. We are most anxious to meet the wishes of our readers, by publishing at such an hour as will enable t!'em to have the Stab before the close of usual oflLe hours; but we have been prorented hitherto by a rush of advertisements shortly before the proper hour for publication. We feel that this has only arisen from advtr* tisers being unaware of the inconvenience caused by delaying advertisements to the lust moment. We wish to keep our columns open to the hour of publication, for telegrams and latest items of the news of the day, but have been seriously embarrassed in carrying tin 8 intention out, by advertisements coming in, which in almost every case, could, apparently, have been sent to the office at noon. Attention to this request will confer on U9 a very groat favour. An entertainment of an exceedingly pleasing character was given last evening by Mrs. R. J. Morressj to her pupils and their friends. The large hall of the Catholic Institute, in Wellington street, had been engaged; and long before the tirue appointed for commencing the musical portion of the entertainment the room was crowded with a fashionable and brilliunt audience. The concert was most succoessful, and some of Mrs. Morressy's pupils achieved wonder?, aud both by vocalization and iustrumentalization showed the amount of care which had been bestowed on their education by that lady. 4fter the concert, the beaches were revnoved and dancing commenced and was carried on with spirit until after daylight this morning. Altogether the aiTuir was a vast success, and one of the most pleasant entertainments which have been given this season.

Some people have been making enquiries as to the movements of our corps of Volunteer Engineers. They say they have hitherto been drilled in the regular infantry movements, and that skirmishing manoeuvres have been practised ad nauseam. The3C inquisitive individuals also enquire whether engineers and sappers and miners are expected to cover the advance of a body of troops by going in front and checking the enemy by a desultory fire, or whether they ought not rather to promote the advance by going in front with the pick and shovel —in fact "axing tho way," as pioneers ought to do.

Detective Ternahan apprehended a man named George Campbell this morning, for stealing two saddles from Mr. W. Stephenson, at Lucas' Creek. It appears that Air Stephenson, in consequence of the theft-, felt compelled to replace the stolen property; and on going this morning to Mr Bucklcnd's sale for that purpose, discovered the saddlei for sale, and the prisoner waiting about to receive the proceed?. His transfer to the official building in Chancery lane followed.

This evening the Skating Rink will open in the City Hall proper. It has formerly been held in the room above, but owing to tho ex. tensive patronage the management have received, tho room has been found inadequately small, they have therefore found it necessary to engage the lower room where this invigorating, healthy, and amusing pastime will henceforth be carried on.

A commission of inquiry was held in the Court-house, Onehunga, yesterday, to enquire into some charges brought against Capt. Wing, Pilot and Harbor-master, Manukau, by Henry Jeffares, lately employed in the pilot boat. Capt. Burgess, Chief Harbor-master, prosided, assirted by J- Sheehan, Esq., of the Provincial Executive. The enquiry was adjourned till Tuesday next.

Tenders are required for the supply of about 600 cubic yards of stone suitable for pitching a sea embankment. The stones are to be laid down in Mechanics' Bay in positions that will be defined by stakes. The embankment is for the extension of the Auckland and Waikato railway. The Auckland Artillery Volunteer Band will perform a selection of music in the Albert Barracks to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon from 3 till 5 o'clock. Programme :1. Grand March, Marie, Brepsant; 2. Overture, Riche de Occur, Conturier ; 3. Polka, Adrian, Conturier; 4. Waltz, Ada, Farmer ;5. Quadrilles j ChrißtmasEchoes, Pearson ; 6. Polka Mazurka, Edith, Lee ; 7. Galop, Night Watch, Clarke. God Save the Queen. The curator of the Acclimatization Society's gardens has a small quantity of silk grain of choice kind and of mulberry seed, just received for disposal.

The principal cause tried this morning at the Resident Magistrate's Court was that of George Hart against Captain Farquhar, for wages due to him as mate of the Duke of Edinburgh. He had been dismissed before the expiration of the period for which he had been engaged. A largo amount of evidence was taken, and ultimately his Worship deferred judgment. Other cases of an ordinary character was disposed of; and the Court was still sitting when we went to press. As appears from a notice in another column the first number of the New Zealand Volunteer Gazette and Colonial Forces Eeoord will be published to-morrow. As might be expected, almost all the Volunteors are subscribers, and the enterprise is launched with an amount of 1 encouragement in the form of assured circula- [ tion that augurs well for it« success. The journal cannot fail to prove of benefit to the causo of our citizen soldiers, and is deserving ' of the encouragement of all who wish well to the defence and general welfare of the country.

The Town Clerk has notified that the City Endowments having been handed over to the Corporation, the tenants are requested to pay their rents in future to M. J. W. Diddams, tho City Collector. The duties of Mrs. Addey's boarding and day school. Spring Villa, .Fonaonby Road, will be resumed on Monday next. The young ladies connected with Mr and Madame Winter's schools, Melbourne House, Karan^ahape Road, will ro-asaernble on Monday next. At tho trial of Mr. J. S. Gibfeons yesterday, for assault, tho jury returned a verdict of "Not guilty." A meeting of the sub-committee of the late Caledonian Games will takeplaoe this evening at Fort Fritomart.

A meeting of the Auckland Regatta Club Committee will bo held this evening, at 7 o'clock, at the Thames Hotel.

A meeting of shareholders in the Conquering Hero Gold Mining Company was held yesterday afternoon. The mine manager's report, recommending a small engine for pumping, waa adopted. An extraordinary meeting will take place for the purpose of electing directors and passing rules.

Lovers of dates are informed that owing to the famine in Persia, the authorities of that country have prohibited its exportation. The consumption in England alone is something like from 12,000 to 15,000 tons annually. At the opening of the American Congress, the President in his message recommendod a subsidy to the mail service in the following terms: —"I would also recommond liberal measures for the purpose of supporting the American lines of steamers now plying between San Fra cisco and Japan and China, and the Australian line, almost our only remaining lines of ocean steamers, undof increasing their service. Two robberies have lately been committed at the Dunedin police station. One member had some £18 or £20 stolen from his box ; and anotber, haying received his salary, placed it among hia effects, from which it was abstracted.

A London letter speaking of the Tichborne trial says the cost of taking and printing the notes of the ovidence has been 9,000 dollars a week. Hundreds of witnesses have been brought from South America and Australia. This week witness after witness comes up and swears he recognises the claimant as tho real Sir Roger ; the defence will try to provo that they are all mercenary, and therefore perjurod witnesses, or are utterly mistaken.

There lias been placed in the Crystal Palace aquarium, a largo specimen of tho Octopus, that extraordinary monster which Victor Hugo describes in his "Toilers of the Sea ;" and of which he writes:—" It is difficult for those who have not soon it to believe in the existence of tho -Devil-fish. Compared to this creature, the anciont hydras are insignificant." This peculiar animal, hitherto scarcely known save by roport, will, it is said, attack a man, and by fixing itself unto his body by suction, co that it cannot be removed, will destroy him.

Tho Grey River Argus says : —" Something of a glimpse of ' life in the Fijis' is given in a letter from a resident there who was at one time in business in Hokitika. Writing to a friend, he says that he had lately becomo possessed of two Fiji girls. How they came into his possession he does not say, but he had got them Bafoly locked up during tho night, intending to send them to his plantation next morning. During the night, however, two Europeans contrived to liberate the girls from their confinemect, and mado off with them. The writer of tho letter expresses hig regret and vexation, as each of the girls, he say?, was was worth £20.

A mooting of the Licensed Victuallers' Association was announced to be hold last evening, but owing to the unavoidable absence of four members of the committee the meeting was adjourned until a future day to be convened by circular. An unoccupied house at Howick belonging to Mr. Braithwaito, unaocountably crvught fire on Wednesday and was burnt down, The Kaipara annual races will take place on the 14th proximo. An American editor withdraws from his profession in the following valedictory :— " The undersigned retires from the editorial chair with the complete conviction that all is vanity. From the hour he started his paper to the present time he has been solicited to lie tipon every given subject, and can't remember having told a wholesome truth with* out diminishing his subscription list, or making an enemy. Under these circumstances of trial, and having a thorough contempt for himself, he retires in order to recruit his moral constitution."

An American paper saya :—" It is asserted that in England more people are killed on the side walks by slipping upon bits of orange peel than perish in railway accidents. To equalize the two classes of deaths in this country would involve such an expenditure of orange peel that we could not afford to use it for flavouring a pie."

A Wisconsin Justice of the Peace granted himself a divorce,