TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1872.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 634, 23 January 1872, Page 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1872.

"We observe that a writer in to-day's Herald takes on himself to lecture us, on the part we have taken with reference to the strike on the railway works.- He has evidently made the discovery for the first time, that Mr. Brogden ia not a contractor for the works in the ordinary sense of the term, and says, "If the Star had taken the trouble to make enquiries, it would have learned that the men on strike were not in the employ of Mr. Brogden, but of the Colonial Government." And if the writer of the paragraph in our contemporary, had only taken the trouble to intelligently read what we said on the subject, he would have learned this fact, without making any enquiries at all. "We said —" Mr. Brogden's contracts are not fully arranged, and it is important to the satisfactory arrangement of terms, that the matter should be distinctly understood. At present, as we understand, the contractors are proceeding on the provisional arrangement, by which they receive a percentage on the money actually expended in the construction of the works. It is therefore at present of no consequence to the contractors, whether the hours are eight hours or nine." Every one is, or ought to be,aware that Mr. Brogden is only the agent for the Colonial Government in the present case, and receiving a percentage on the cash expended in the conduct of the works. But the works are none the less under the entire control of him and his agents, and it is only folly trying to throw dust in people's eyes by rolling over the blame of this " nigger driving" on the Colonial Government. The Colonial Government would not dare to take the responsibility of such a thing; it would be more than their position would be worth ; and if Mr. Yogel, for example, identified himself with an attempt to thus squeeze the life blood out of humanity, he would not dare to face again his constituents in City East. It is not the General Government that has done it, but Mr. Brogden's agents ; and we tell them distinctly, that the sooner they repudiate all connection with " nigger driving" the better for their own credit. And we further tell them, that if they raise a storm against them in the colony, their contracts will not be a bed of roses; for be it known to them that, constitutionally, the people rule in New Zealand. We would counsel them to pause till Mr. Brogden returns; and if they are determined to enforce a nine hours system, they may prepare for as bitter a struggle as ever they encountered; nor need they suppose that they can roll over the blame on the General Government, who have too' much respect for their own skin, aim too much love for the sweets of fllfice, to accept th,e responsibility. ;W"e trust the menwill stand firm, so -that in the initiation of our great public works, it may be once and for all time determined' that the hours of manual labour in New Zealand, may b* consistent with the dictates of humanity.

Judge Eenton's bowels of compassion have been moved: whereat we are glad. The " loud battering noises" that have disturbed the serenity of the judicial mind, are, we may presume, still as shattering to the nerves of Judge Eenton; but Judge Eenton looks with a pitying eye upon sweltering humanity, and tells them they may make rain. We can appreciate the feelings of a clever lawyer, with a keen sense of the ridiculous, in being called upon to be the medium of communication on the subject, between _ Judge Eenton and the public, as in Mr. Eees' letter in to-day's issue of the Southern Cross. " I beg to inform you," aays the legal adviser of Judge Eenton, " that Mr. Fenton and those that are with him, are quite willing that guns should be fired from Eort Britomart, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m." "We cannot but admire the condescension of the Judge, in thus conceding permission to our Volunteers to practice for the defence of the country; and to our citizens, to make rain. And it is only equalled by the dignified demeanour of the Judge in fixing the limits of his condescension. Erom eight a.m. to eight p.m., twelve hours out of the twenty-four, may you, our fellow citizens, blazo away. But hitherto shall you come, and no farther. Judge Eenton hath spoken; and by the beautiful machinery of the law, he is temporarily possessed of the power to carry his orders into effect. To those who have not the power by personal influence to sway the popular mind, it must be pleasant to exercise the powor of making the popular will bend per force ; and we should be sorry to say a word that might tend to lessen Judgo Eenton's enjoyment of a little temporary authority. Eor twelve hours citizens are free; for twelve hours they must speak with bated breath, for Judge Eenton sleeps. At eight o'clock p.m. he consigns himself to the gentle embrace of Morpheus ; and at eight o'clock a.m. ho re-opens his lustrous eyes on this wicked world. Sweet must be his slumbers, undisturbed by the " loud battering noises " of those who fancy themselves to have a higher appreciation of the claims of public duty than has Mr. Judge Eenton. Overcome by the arduous duties which he has to perform every day for an ungrateful and unappreciative country, he feels that the least requital he may have is that he should have undisturbed communion with " Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep ; " and it is really too bad that a " fellah " must be disturbed by other " fellahs," who get out of bed at unearthly hours, instead of dozing comfortably till eight o'clock. Eor the concession made by Judge Eenton, we feel warranted in tendering the thanks of the community. Had it not been for this important communication through the columns of the CrosSj we might have been under the impression that Judge Eenton lies abed all day; and the City Council, out of respect for him, might have been passing a byelaw for the suppression of the cart and dray nuisance. As it is, we are now aware of the hour at which the serene mind of the judge is restored to consciousness, and we breathe freely. Still, something further might be done. Eor it is quite possible that even after the eyes of the judge had been fully opened, his nervous system might still be enjoying that deliciom dozey feeling, that frequently makes us reluctant to tumble out of bed; and 'we would respectfully suggest that a code of signals might be devised, by flags erected on the Eort, for guiding the volunteers and others as to the progressive increase of loud battering noises. Signal No. 1 might indicate that Judgo Eenton had stretched his legs and yawned. Signal No. 2 might indicate that he had pushed down the sheets and blankets off the judicial chest. Signal No. 3 might show that the Judge was rubbing his eyes. Signal No. 4 migLt tell that he had removed his nightcap. By certain reversals of signals, it might be indicated that the Judge had relapsed into any of the previous stages, aud silence might be observed accordingly. When indicated that His Honor's leg had really been seen protruding from the bed clothes, the volunteers might prepare for action ; while the signal hoisted to show that Judge Eenton had assumed the perpendicular, that he had divested himself of his robe a nuit, and was about to step into his bath, might be instantly followed by a, feu dejoie from the volunteers, and " loud battering noises" from the big guns. We respectfully make this suggestion to " Mr. Eentoa and those that are with him," feeling confident, that it would tend to increase that very great popularity, and respectful esteem^.in which his Honor is at present keld by all his fellow citizens.

We are happy to say that vre are instructed by Mr. G-. H. Layers, of Wyndham street, to invite those in want of water to the free use of his well, to which the entrance is from Mill's Lane. The well is one of the finest in the city. It has at present seventy feet of pure water, and is said to be capable of supply, ing the whole city. The entrance will be open from 8 o'clock a.m. till 5 p.m., the premises being closed at other hours. "We feel warranted in conveying the thanks of the public to M t Layers for his generous kindness; and so valuable and well situated is this magnificent source of supply that the City Council ought to connect it with a temporary stand-pipe in Wyndham street, and go to the Bmall expense of keeping pumping operations going on for the benefit of the public,

We have also to convey our thanks in the name of the public to Mr. Baird, Principal of the Auckland College, who places at the disposal of the public a well in the College grounds. Those drawing water will require to provide themselves with a iropesomo twenty feet loHg, but with this small appliance an abundant supply can be obtained. It will afford us much pleasure to receive the names of any others who, during the continuance of this drought, will do the kind and neighbourly act of inviting the public to share with them in their supplies of water.

We have just learned that Mr. Brogden has returned to town to-day.

A foot race between Mr. A. B. Isaacs and Mr. Watkin for £5 a side, came off yesterday evening in the Albert Barracks. The distance was 280 yards. Mr. Isaacs won easily.

The Principal of the Auckland Colloge will deliver the opening address of the session in the English room of the College at 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon.

The members of the Choral Society will meet for their usual practice, in the Council Chamber, at half-past 1 o'clock this evening.

On tho subject of the water supply, Councillor Macready moved in the City Council yesterday, " That the Mayor be requested to call a public meeting of this Council, the Provincial Q-overn-ment, and those interested, to take into consideration the question of an immediate water supply." This was agreed to.

At tbe City Council yesterday it was agreed on the motion of Councillor Q-eorge, to sink a well at the comer of Wellesley street and Lower Barrack street, as near as pessible to the spring.

The Gas Company have offered the City Council the use of all the pipes they hare for the purpose of bringing the water offered by Messrs. Secombe, from the Brewery to the

Domain Reservoir,

A gas lamp has at length been erected at the corner of Barrack and Rutland streets, a ipot whore a little light has long been needed.

The Sunday School Union tea meeting takes place this evening.

We would draw the attention of the authorities to the continual annoyance occasioned to passers-by at tho junction of Queen and Wakefield streets by a parcel of boys, who congregato round a photographer's shop near the corner of Rutland street, and insult and annoy by rude remarks every one, both male and female, who pass by. This has occurred nightly for some time past.

The treasurer of the Homo for Destitute Children has received the following sums on account of tbe Institution : —January 10, workmen, Albert street Foundry, £2 Bs. 6d. ; Lloyds' rope walk, £1 2s. 6d. January 13, donation from tho Thames, £1 7s 6d.

Mr. R. C. Dyer has received tho sum of £20 17«., paid to him by R. B. Lusk, Esq., in aid of the Bishop Pattcson Memorial Fund.

"We understand that tho fire is still burning at Coromandel. A large quantity of valuable timber has been destroyed. If tho wind should veer to the northward, further damago is anticipated.

Eight tenders wero sent in for the erection of the new hall for the Choral Society. Mr. Blewdon's tender for £2,160 was accepted, and the works will commence immediately. This time it is to bo buit of brick.

A mandate having gone forth in Blenheim against cattle grazing in the streets, the local paper warns the citizens against the risk thej now run from firo through a match being dropped into the street pastures, no longer kept short by cows and horses. The wheeled traffic in Bleuheim must be about as great as in Venice.

We have heurd repeated complaints of tho illegibility of the pencil marks on telegraph office forms purporting to contain the substance of messages from the country; One has been shown us, and we must Bay that neither Colonel Eawlinso n, nor any other ex* pert decipherer of arrow-headed inscriptions or hieroglyphics, could by any possibility have made out the meaning of the disjointed letters. This ought certainly to be amended : and if the clerks are so hard pushed for time as not to be able to write legibly, tho Government ought to provide additional clerical assistance, tho more bo as a handsome revenue is derived from the department.

An acccident has happened to a man named James Watson, who had this morning been taken on by Mr. Jaggers to work at the excavation in Wellesley street, near Freeman's Bay. It appears he was at work in the cutting when the earth fell in on him, injuring his leg and lower extremities Tory seriously. He was at once conveyed in an express van to the Hospital, where he now lies. We have not yet learned the nature of the injuries he has received.

This morning His Worship the Mayor and Mr. Macready went out to inspect the Brewery Springs, and to conclude arrangements, if possible, with Mr Soccombe. v The business was not definitely concluded, but Mr Seccombe promised to give a definite answer to-day« The meeting of the Executive, the City Council, and principal merchants, for conference respecting water supply, will be called im. mediately after the departure of the mail

steamer,

The return of sick treated at the Provincial Hospital during the week ending Saturday; Jan. 20, 1872 :—Remained last return, 72; admitted since, 8 ; discharged, 7 ; died, 1 j remaining at present, 72 j males, 62 ; females, 10. Arrangement of cases: —Cancer, 5; scrofula, 4 ; syphilis, 1; phthisis, 3 ; rheumatism, 4 j delirium tremens, 2 j hypochon* driasis, 1; paralysis, 7 j epilepsy, 3; amaurosis, 1; heart disease, 2; bronchitis, 3 j pneumonia> 3 ; dyspepsia, 1 heypatitis, 1 ; hydrocele, 1 . fistula, 2 j stricture, 1; necrosis, 3 j fractures, 5; ulcers, 4 ; cutaneous, 2 ; wounds and contusions, 4 j debility, 3. A man died on the 16th instant, of heart disease. Supplies of old linen are acknowledged with thanks from the following ladies—Mrs, J. B. Russell and Mrs. Coombes.

We have received a letter from "R. C. Rodwell" of Newmarket, in which he desires us to inform the public that he has "had more drink from Richard Sandell" than he has "had from John Mullally." We do not know what interest the public has in the matter, but we have much pleasure in conveying the desired information.

The usual monthly meeting of the Central Board of Education, was held this afternoon, and was proceeding when we went to press.

The annual meeting of tho Auckland Dispensary will take place on Tuesday, tho 30th instant, and not this evening as previously stated.

We learn that the supply of fresh water to the steamers has been cut off to-day, by order of the Provincial Government.

We observe by advertisements that Mr. K. 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 the remainder of term, hold an unusually cheap sale, and solicits an early call to secure bargains : [Advs.]

To any one who will show a larger stock of Auck-land-made Quartz, Greenstone, and Mosaic Jewellery, within six months, I will give a rewardof fifty pounds. I also challenge New Zealand for style and beauty. Two thousand pound worth of Colonial-made Jewellery always on hand.— V. H. Lbwisson, Qneen street. -LAdvt.]