MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1872.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 627, 15 January 1872, Page 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1872.

The workmen of the Caledonian Company's mine are on strike, and are deserving of the deep commiseration of all those who have sympathies for human sorrows. The cause of the strike is a very natural feeling of indignation at the suspicion expressed respecting their uprightness; and worse than this, at the practical and tangible manner in which that suspicion has been expressed. We need not remind our readers that the men had been in the habit of helping themselves —in fact, to the mere crumbs and other unconsidered trifles knocking about their feet in the mine, as a means of supplementing the limited pecuniary returns, grudgingly doled out to them by directors. In fact, they followed but the example of old times when the gleanings of the harvest field were the legitimate perquisites of the indigent; and knowing that on the best of authority, we are not warranted in muzzling the c i that treadeth out the corn, they gav9 to the injunction a liberal and a local interpretation, as prohibiting any one from putting his hands in the pocket of a man that worketh in a gold mine. We rejoice to see the assertion ,of principle ; and the men of the Caledonian have covered themselves with laurels, in boldly resolving to forfeit their position in the mine, sooner than submit to the "right of search." They naturally feel that it is hard enough to be deprived of the specimens, but to be treated as if they were suspects and common thieves, is such an adding of insult to injury that they cannot submit to it, and will not. What right, we ask, has Mr. Eichards, an intruder into Caledonian preserves, to introduce such obnoxious regulations? They were not enforced in the good old times, when the miners all rowed in the same boat, and people were not so "nasty particular." We regard this as an invasion, of popular rights,

and we trust that the men who have been so cruelly treated will hold an indignation meeting. We have no doubfc that as asserters of so noble principles, they will receive the sympathy of the community; and as for being allowed by the public to suffer in the good cause, we have no doubt the employers of labour in other claims will be compelled by popular clamour to receive them with open arms. The persecution to which they are subjected by Mr. Eichards, cannot but be productive of the most beneficial results. For being scattered over the whole gold-field, the miners of the Caledonian can diffuse throughout all the mines the principles for which the Caledonian has been at all times distinguished, and give such an impulse to the practice of "gleaning" already somewhat known over the field, as cannot fail to greatly elevate the character of mining at the Thames and promote the interests of shareholders. We observe that there has been a change of management also in the Alburnia claim, and we should not be surprised if we find the same obnoxious and insulting treatment exhibited towards men, who have also been rowing right pleasantly along in that remote region of the goldfielcl. It is time that shareholders and directors, and mine-managers, should be taught that they cannot trifle with men's feelings in this manner ; and we trust that the miners of the Caledonian will stand firmly by the right to steal specimens. That right may not indeed be admitted by any known form of legislation, but then legislation we know is frequently at fault from taking narrow views of things. Having established a prescriptive right to the appropriation of these little nuggets, by long established usage, the men naturally resent any invasion of their domain. The " .Wight of Search," wo know, is one of the moot points in international law; and for its solution have the cannon of empires been levelled at one another. And in standing up for the right to steal, and in resistance to the '-Eight of search," the men of the Caledonian are doing what has been done before by nations, and endorsed by national cnthusaiasm, and they exhibit a heroic indifference, to ridicule, and scorn, that wins admiration.

The weather is intolerable. In saying ' this we are conscious that we touch a chord of sympathy in every bosom ; and we further feel that if we could relievo the sufferings of our panting fellow citizens, we would win their unspeakable gratitude. With such a ' reward in view, we venture. Does nobody think of the effect of the firing of artillery ? Everybody smiles at this. We don't. But we look on the '. question with a grimness of visage, s .that i 9 begotten of unquenchable thirst. It is asserted that the occur rence of a battle is the invariable precursor of a delifge of rain; and there are not a few in Auckland who havo '■ noticed how salvos of artillery in our own harbour have broken up the rain '. clouds. We are aware that we are treading on delicate ground, and do 1 not ignore the fact that the Supreme Court is protecting Judge Teuton from those "battering noises." But this might be arranged. A deputation of teetotallers might wait on the Judge, and implore him in mercy to suffering humanity, to close his ears with cotton wool for the protection of his sensitive tympanum, and permit our artillery to delude the clouds into the belief that it is thundering. We have heard it said that this horrible drought ia a judgment on the country that allowed the lie-a-bed habits of Judge Fenton to interfere with the volunteers ; and it is asserted that if the practice of the artillery had not been summarily stopped, we should have heard bull frogs croaking in every garden in the city, and had local paragraphs in all the papers about the neglect of the City Council in not sweeping the streets. As it is, we are reduced to a deplorable extremity, and for the temporary alleviation of our sufferings, can only have recourse to bottled beer. But why not try the artillery. With the Blanche in harbour, and Eort Britomart on the one side booming to the Armstrongs on the North Head; and with the volunteers getting up a simultaneous feu-de-joie in the Albert Barracks ; and the Choral Society singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" amid the ruins of the Choral Hall; and the citizens thundering ont " Old John Brown" or some other equally popular melody on the Queen street wharf, such a rousing up would be given to the clerk of the weather, that he could not resist the appeal, and the rain would come. If we only knew to what government to apply, we should gladly urge it to incur the needed expense for gunpowder. The General Government would naturally look on it as a Provincial charge ; and the Provincial Government would regard it as having relations with city endowments; while the City Council would claim that the Harbour Board, and the Domain Board, as well as the two superior Governments, should share the burthen. We really do not know to whom to apply, except it be to Mr. Brogden, who is the Deua ex maclrina to New Zealand, and is prepared to do everything. To Mr. Brogden, therefore, wo do address our plaint; and we implore him to provide us with gunpowder to bring down the rain. The terms can be subsequently arranged, by a percentage on whataver he may charge, in the same

way as for the railways and the rest, and we have no doubt that citizens will only too gladly unite in giving the usual percentage on the expenditure. Mr. Brogden, Save us! Member of a,n eminent English contracting firm, give us rain!

The Supreme Court has been occupied the whole day in investigating a charge of perjury against Charles Anderton, who it seems, swore that he had overheard a conspiracy to make away with an obnoxious individual; A great iinounfc of evidence was taken, but the case had not been terminated when wa went to press.

A meeting of the Hazelbank G-.M.C. was held this afternoon. Mr. Crosbie, Mr Black, and Mr Beveridge were appointed directors for the ensuing year, and the rules were passed. The report of the manager showed a healthy stafce of the mine.

We have to acknowledge an exceedingly pretty little card, designed and lithographed and tinted by M•. 0. Palmer of Shortland street. It gives in colors the various signal?, in the code used in Auckland, showing a a glance how the signalman .says there is " a sail in sight," what it is—schooner, ship barque, or steamer—whether it is " inside" or " outside Tiri Tiri," &c, &c. The little card, which i 3 quite an ornament to an office table, will be productive of great convenience. We find that it is on sale at Sir. Wayte's, and probably with the other booksellors.

We are informed that tho Acclimatisation Society is distributing Prussian carp to all applicants who havo a place in which to keep them. This fish is not adapted for rivers and strsamg, but increases rapidly in ponds and lakes, so that we may loook for an increase to our food supply. Application to bo made to the curator at the gardens.

To»morrow the performance at the Prince of Wule3 Theatre will be under tho patronage of the officers of 11. MS. Blanche. The Two Roses and Serious Family will constitute the programme. We observe by advertisement that there is still half a cabin in the saloon, and four steerage berths disengaged on board the City of Auckland. She will sail on Thursday, providing the wind is favorable. Herr Yon EiForte gave a gymnastic perfor" raanco on Saturday at the Theatre Royal. Several of the feats performed were very clever, and showed that tho troupe had well practised their parts. The skating rink was well patronised at the City Hall on Saturday. The return of sick treated at the Provincial Hospital during the week ending Saturday, Jarj. 13, 1872 : —Remained last return, 74; admitted since, 9 ; discharged, 10 ; died, 1; remaining at present, 72; males, 61 j females, 11. Arrangement of cases:—Fever, 2 (conval.); oancer, 4 ; scrofula, 4 ; syphilis, 2 ; phthisis 8 ; rheumatism, 4 ; hypochondriasi?, 1 ; paralysis, 7 ; amaurosis, 1 ; epilepsy, 3 , delirium tremens, 1; bronchitis, 3; pneumonia, 2; heart disease, 3 ; hypatitis, 1; albuminaria, 1; hydrocele, 1; fistula, 2; stricture, 1; wounds and contusions, 5 ; ulcers, 4 ; necrosis, 3 ; fractures, 4; cutaneous, 2 ; debility, 4 A man died on the 9th instant, 9£ hours after admission, from ganguineous apoplexy, on whom an inquest was hold. , Thanks are returned to Mrs. Hydes, Parnell, for a parcel of old linen. Further contributions! solicited.

The regular monthly meeting of the Lodge Waitemata, 689 E.C., will take place this evening. Two matches took place on Saturday on the Epsom Rice-couree. The first was between Mr. Hales's Black Eagle and Mr. McQ-ee's Marquis. The distance was one mile and the stakes £50. Black Eagle yon easily in 1 mm. 56£ sec. The next match was between the Australian horse Daydawn and the well known horse Harkaway. Ilarkaway beat his opponent by a long chalk. The hon. Mrs. Cowper by last advices, had been again in trouble, but thi3 time was noi. so fortunate. She has been sentenced to five years penal servitude for stealing a watoh and two spoons. A man in the employ of Messrs. Mayall the photographer of .Regent-street, London, recently committed suicide ■with cyanide of potassium after destroying several valuable lensoa and other property belonging to his employers worth over £500. At the Albert Ground Sports, Sydney, on Boxiug Day, a long felt want for providing water for the use of the public was supplied. A tube well was sunk at the back of the pavilion, and water sufficient for all requirements procured. Several fountains were erected on tho ground, from which copiou a streams of clear, cool water were running, and to the hundreds of " thirsty souls " the boon was very acceptable. The tube well was 18 feet deep and 14 inches in diameter, and a permanent supply is anticipated, sufficient to meet all demands. It is a pity something of the kind cannot be done in our own Albert Barrack gr :und for the use of the public. The Presbyterian Church, Ann-street Brisbane, was totally destroye i by fire on tho evening of the 28th ult. A man named Kirby, at Inverell, New South Wales, has been committed for t lia for attempting to poison his wife und her paramour. A shark eleven feet in length has been caught at St. Albans, New South Wales, with a human skull and tho bones of ono arm found in its stomach. The death is announced of fie Bey Bben" ezer Pratt, F.Q-.5., for many years Home Secretary to the London Missionary SocietyMr. Pratt Was in his seventieth year. Mr. James Easton, the founder, and for nearly forty years the senior partner ot a well known firm of engineers, which still bears his name, is dead. No letters of the Rangoon's" mail have been received in Sydney, and only a few newspapers. We observe by advertisements that Mr. E. W. Dyson, so long and favourably known in the drapery trade, is about to relinquish the business, and consequent upon the expiration of his lease will, for tho remainder of term, hold an unusually cheap sale, and solicits an early call to secure bargains: [Akys, ]