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Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1206, 4 December 1873, Page 2

We are indebted to our contemporary the Cross for some geographical information. In to-day's leader we find.: "In Sau I?rancisco, however, the great penal establishment at Sing Sing, has provedto|be a prominent exception. " We had heard something of American progress, but the expansion of the limits of San Francisco surpasses anything we had before known. Our contemporary has also discovered the direct effects of Sing Sing on the industry of the City—or. State ? which ?—of San Francisco, in which it is placed. " Prison labour," he says, "in San Francisco is self-supporting," but then the work of one Munschausen-like watchmaker within the walls of Sing Sing, who does as much work "as any free watchmaker in San Francisco " is such that he " competes disastrously with the outside labour of free honest men," and he even "drives the froe workmen into the slough of less work and lower wages." Poor San Francisco! Poor free honest men ! Pity that Sing Sing has been brought so near to you. Besides we had thought that by the laws of America the products of prison labour were taboo in the Sbate, and were necessarily exported, and that it was because of the operations of thi3 law that the Victorian artisans rebelled at first, and gave birth to Victorian Protective tariffs. Could we not take Sing Sing a little farther, and plant it New Zealand ?

As will be seen by advertisement a most delightful treat i 3 to be afforded at the Devonport Hall, North Shore, to-night. It is the " Service of Song, " entitled " The Voyage of Life," which some three months ago created such a sensation at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. There are some forty voices,- including Mrs Mitchell and others, who of themselves individually would draw a house. As the funds are for one of the best of objects, the Sunday school of Trinity Church, and a 9.30 p.m. special boat will leave North Shore immediately at the close of the entertainment, we would strongly recommend a moonlight trip by sea, and a most delightful musical treat to. all who huvi' an evening to spare.

Our readers probably have been wondering at the meaning of a curious advertisement in our " Wanted" columns of yesterday, beginning " He's come ! ! Tie's come ! ! It was brought to this office yesterday and paid for by Mr King, livery and bait stablekeeper of Franklyn-street/Parnell, and was, as we find, in bended to annoy his neighbour, Mr Frederick Ledger, whose wife's maiden name is made a pun of, and a birth in the family held up as an object of ridicule. It appears that this is the third time that King has taken this means of wreaking his paltry and unmanly revenge on the same lady, and as it appears that on each occasion the advertisement columns of this journal have been unwittingly made the means, wo take this opportunity of undoing what lias been. It appears that some three years ago a small business dispute occurred between King and Ledger, and ever since King appears to have been nursing his wrath to keep it warm. We can understand a man when angry having it out with a man in a manly way. But ICing's mind prompts him apparently to assail the weaker sex. That Mr Ledger has borne with this unwarrantable impertinence so long without pounding King's head speaks volumes for his respect for law and order. But as there are some offences which the law cannot and does not reach, such as this, we certainly think—well, we shall nob say what we think. But we know what we should do if we were Ledger. Although our advertisement columns are not to be regarded as in any way representing our views, we decline their being used for shelter by any sneak who would come behind a man's or woman's back and give a stab in the dark.

To-day two persons called on us respecting a letter which appeared in our columns on Sunday liquor-trading in Dedwood. They tried the bouncing system, stating before they had even fully explained the subject of reference, that if we did not give up the name of the writer the " Licensed Victuallers' Association would take it up." To the Licensed Victuallers' Association we give the most contemptuous defiance, and bid them or any other advocate of Sunday-trading to conic on and do their worst. ft may be indeed that these two representatives of the Licensed Victuallers' A association were selfelected, and spoke without authority iv threatening us with Licensed Victuallers' thunder. IE &owe shall be happy to find and furnish the names of the two who thus tend to bring the Licensed Victuallers into contempt by idle threats of "chawing" us up. if in our columns an}' wrong is done to any man it affords us genuine pleasure to give every satisfaction. But if people think that by threats they will prevent the exposure of abuse they had better try them elsewhere.

The Takapuna lias been laid up for the past two days, and will be laid up probably till Saturday morning for a general overhaul of her machinery. Intimation of this was posted up on the wharf the day before the hiyingup of the boat, but some malicious person tore it away, and some little inconvenience to passengers has been caused thereby. There are only two trips in the day however that are affected by this, the other two boats being able to keep the hours with the exception of the trips from Auckland at two and five p.m., and the return trips of half-past two and half-past live. Passengers will please take a note of this, and not kick up a bobbery about very littlo, seeing that thero is a trip half an hour after and half an hour before each of these trips. Boats like all other tilings mundane are liable to little ailments, and the Takapuna has had a wheezing in her chest and pipes which will be all right in a day or two.

Wo have received the following letter from the Cbristchurch cricket team, which evidently refers to the scandals regarding the team, circulated, we are sorry to say, by persons residing in Auckland. It is of course unnecessary to state that our correspondents have never been associated in the public mind herewith the authorship of the scandal : —"To the Editor of the Evening Star : Snt, —We have read with the greatest surprise the following telegram, published in the Christchurch newspapers this morning : — "Auckland, November 2f>th.—There is great indignation in Auckland regarding slanders against the cricketers circulated in (Jhrtstchnroh and Dimedin." We sincerely hope that there is no truth whatever in the statement that any slanderous renorts are being circulated here in connection with the

Auckland cricketers. If there arc any such we aro sure that they have not originated in thia province, and that they will be universally discredited and treated with the utmost contempt. We do not believe that any match was over played with better feeling throughout on both sides than the late one between Auckland and Canterbury, and we can only express our deepest regret that any person should have endeavoured to create tho slightest Ul-feeling in connection with the match.—E. Fowler (captain), H. H. Loughnan, A. E. Ollivier, J. Fowlor, C. Barker, H. CotteriJl, 0. C. Corfe, G-. Dickinson, E. P. Maples, A. J. Cotterill."

An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Union Sash and Door Company is announced. The meeting will bo held' in the olfice of Mr T. L. White, Canada Buildings, on the list inst., and its purpose chiefly the appointment of unallotted shares.

One is sure to be disappointed when ho first enter 3 the interior of Jerusalem. The filth will surprise and annoy him. One who comes to Jerusalem from Egypt can endure a good deal in this direction, but even he will have attained to a high degree of equanimity if he does not occasionally lose -his temper amidst the superabounding filth of this city;, and what is worse, it seems to gather most about the most sacred places. You cannot with any comfort approach through the old bazaar of the cotton merchants—what was doubtless the "Beautiful Gate" of the Temple—without holding your breath. The Mohammedans, while guarding with keenest vigilance the sacred enclosure from the pollution of infidel feet, seem quite regardless of the intrusion of filth. Yet it must be confessed that the Jew.ish quarter of the city is quite as unclean as any part of it ; and it often give 3 one relief, when traversing these dirty streets, to think that the Jerusalem of the Bible lies half a hundred feet or more beneath the present surface.—Home paper.

Mr Anthony Trollope, in concluding his account of Western Australia, says:—"leannot conclude this chapter without giving a copy of a certificate which was handed to me by a policeman ofAAlbanyy y just as I was about to leave the colony : ' I hereby certify that the bearer, A. Trollope, about to proceed to Adelaide per A.S.N. Co.'s steamer, is not and never has been a prisoner of the Crown in Western Australia.—(Signed) , Resident Magistrate.' It is perhaps something of a disgrace to Western Australia that the other colonies will not receive a stranger from her shores without a certificate that the visitor has not been a ' lag.' Such a resolution on their part must remind the poor Western Australians grievously of their disgrace. So many have boen convicts that the certificate is demanded from all ! But I think that they should not charge a shilling for it, and thus raise a revenue out of their own ill fame. It was not my fault that South Australia demanded the certificate. Considering all the circumstances I think that they should give the passport and say nothing about it."

We are glad to learn that his Honor the ' Superintendent has proclaimed a public halfholiday for to-morrow (Friday), on the occasion of the cricket match with our representatives. The offices of the Provincial Government will be closed at noon, and probably most of the leading merchants will close their places of business "during the afternoon. The dinner to the representatives, | cricketing and volunteer, will take place in the Choral Hall to-night by special permis- j sion. A good view of the proceedings may , be obtained from the gallery which has been reserved by the committee for la-Hes who ! will be permitted to see the lion's feed. Gentlemen attending the entertainment have the right of introducing lady friends, and wo hope to see a galaxy of fair ones to grace the occasion. The match between the representatives and an Auckland eleven takes plq,ce at Ellerslie to-morrow. A drag for the conveyance of the players will leave Hardington's yards at half-past nine, and 'busses for the public will ran during the afternoon, conveying passengers at one shilling per head. The cricket ground has been thrown open free of charge, and the spacious grand stand is reserved for ladies. The committee have in fact done everything in their power to secure for the public an opportunity of witnessing the game and of spending a pleasant afternoon's holiday, and we hope the result will be the complete success of the affair. Nature, according to common belief, "has1 many freaks," and is continually ministering to man's love of the marvellous, and the latest wonder which has been exhibited in our city is the "hairless horse," to be seen alive every day at the corner of West Queenstreet, opposite Shortland-dtreet. The horse' is a remarkably fine animal, is worth looking at, and is daily visited by large numbers of citizens. O'Farrell's defalcations were brought under the notice of the Victorian Parliament by Mr Woods, who was desirous of knowing whether the Audit Commissioners were to be made responsible for the amounts lost to the country by the careless system of audit a lopted by them. The Treasurer explained that an inquiry into the matter was now taking place at the Lands Office by an officer from the Treasury, and consequently nothnig more could be said at present. P>y advertisement it will be seen that the People's Dispensary has removed to those new premises next to Messrs Blair and Lambert's, Queen-stroot. A woman named Nelson was charged at the Thames Police Court yesterday with attempting to commit suicide by throwing herself off the Grahamstown wharf. She was remanded until Saturday, when she will appear as prosecutrix against a painter, named George Element, with whom she has been living for the last six months, and at whose hands she states that she hasmet with ill-treatment. The Literary Association of Newmarket is progressing. On Tiicsday evening Mr Hogg read a new essay on an old subject, viz. : "lias the conduct of the Uritish Govcrnmcnttowards Ireland been justifiable?" and although the question would seem to admit of but one answer a considerable amount of discussion followed. The essayist argued that England had not been just to Ireland. Mr Witheford considered that the greatest boon ever conferred upon the green i.sle was the establishment of National school-!, of which there are at the present time 7,0 C:), numbering 100,000 children. Mr 'Witheford then read an extract from Carlcton's Irish Schoolmaster of the olden time Mr McNuill supported the views advanced by the essayist, and spoke of the Irish girls with then- bright eyes and generous hearts as the finest g'fts of nature, and worthy the muse of Tom Moore. Messr3 Russell and Carlislo took part in the discussion, and at the close the Chairman announced that on Tuesday evening next Mr John Angus would read an essay on • • Law."

The Jewish World says that replies to nddresses of congratulation forwarded to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, and to an address of condolence to Lady Salomons, have been received by tho Jewish Board of Deputies. The following sentence occurs in the address received from the Duke of Edinburgh : —" His lloyal Highness is well aware of the loyalty and attachment to the Throne

of the subjects of her Majesty professing the Jewish religion, and he is very sensible of the kind scntimonts and the good wishes for ths future welfare of tho Grand Duchess and himself which, through their representatives, they have now expressed to him."

The Scotch papers state that the Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lome, will shortly make an addition to the house of Argyll.

A statement of the accounts of tho Auckland City Council for the year ending the 15th of November last shows that the receipts amount to £8792 IGa Id, and the disbursements (including liabilities on the loth of November, and deducting £8928 15s Sd for loan expenditure), £BGBI 17s Gd ; leaving a cash balance and re-funds amounting to £110 18s 7d.

His Honor the Superintendent cautions the public against cutting or removing timber on native lands, the title to which has not been determined by the Native Lands Court, :ind also not to cut or remove any trees growing on the waste lands of the Crown without first obtaining a license, which can be had on payment of £5.

Tenders are invited for the cutting, tunnelling, and masonry of the head works for the Thames water race.

The following are the nominations for the Auckland St. Ledger Stakes :—Mr H. C. Young's br c Bedouin ; Mr H. C. Youn«'s g c Tattler • Mr H. Princes' eh filly Discord. The stakes are £IC3, added to a sweeo of £10 each. Weights, colts, Sst lOlbs ; fillies and geldings, Sst 71b. Distance, 1 mile, G furlongs 132 yards. fa '

The animal meeting of the Wesley an Auxiliary Mission in connection with the conference was held last evening at the Pittstreet Church. Mr J. C. Firth occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of the clergy and laity. In his opening address the chairman alluded to the return of the Rev. A. Reid to the same day. having been appointed by the Church of England for intercession on behalf of the missionary cause, and to the calumnies which * had assailed the missionaries of New Zealand. He exhorted all Christians not to be alarmed at the spread of infidelity. Free thought and free inquiry should have no terrors for us, for after all these will not give us clearer views of man's duty to man and man's duty to God. The Rev. Mr Laury read the annual report, which was in many respects of a very satisfactory character, but pointed out the necessity of largely increased funds, in order properly to carry out the missionary and other works of the church. The report was adopted. Several of the clergy and others addressed the meeting. Thanks were passed to the chairman, 'the committee, and the officers of the Missionary fund A collection was made at the close of the meeting, which realised £12 4s 4d. The choir performed during the evening seYoral selections of sacred IPmusic, and the proceedings terminated by th<s singing Q f the doxology. Q

fgjlt will be very satisfactory to tlie Whaii people to learn that so promising is the traffic between that district and Auckland that Mr. Quick has added a second trip daily. Hi 3 coach now leaves the Whau every day at eight a.m. and three p.m., and Auckland opposite the Union Bank at twelve and three p.m. The members of the Queen's Variety Troupe, who arrived by the Wentworth, open to-night at the Prince of Wales Theatre. They conic here with a high reputation from the other colonies, foremost amongst them in popular favor is Miss Lizzie Watson, who is unquestionably the cleverest character - singer that has visited Auckland. Mr. Harry Braham is a singer of the Barry O'Neil type, and sustains a leading part in the company. Madame Blanche, as a gymnast, is graceful and easy, and her performances have been everywhere much admired. Air Alexander O'Brien is almost unequalled as a delineator of negro character. His rendering of songs of that class—but particularly of " Salamander Sam " — invariably win for him the favour of his audience. Mat Ililey and Charley Baker strengthen the company in their various rules, and unitedly the performers provide an entertainment that cannot fail to be popular in Auckland.

A case is reported in which the desire to do a humane action led to angunlookod-for result : —"A gentleman w.°s traversing the embankment of one of the reservoirs of Stawell at a late hour on Wednesday, November 5, and in doing so met a young woman rather hastily walking in the other direction. She carried a small bundle, from which came at intervals a plaintive wailing, like that of an infant. She was evidently endeavouring to still its cries, which were unceasing. When she had reached a position opposite the centre of the dam she gave a hurried glance around, and then threw the burden far in the water. Stopping but a moment to see that it sank she huriicd off, giving one hasty glance around to see that she was unobserved. The gentleman rushed after her, but failed to catcli her. Without loss of time he ran back to the dam, hastily undressed, and dived for the child. The night was bitterly cold, but he remained in the water for some time, and at length succeeded in bringing the bundle to the bank. Without waiting to dress he tore open the bundle, which was weighted with a large lump of quartz, and tenderly lifting it disclosed the murdered remains of half-a-dozen puppies."

Of the numerous entertainments that from time to time have been presented to • the Auckland public none have given greater satisfaction than Mr Gourlay's, notwithstanding its run of many weeks. The success of this admirable exhibition is due in a large measure to its interesting and instructive character, and the musical attractions of the promenade concert. Mrs Gourlay, who has been indisposed for a short time, met last evening with a very warm reception in her pleasing rendering of the .sweetly pathetic ballad of "Little Nell." Miss Minnie Gourlay sang " Who'll buy my pretty flowers," and appeared in the character song, "Military Style." The concert was well attended.

The King of Ashantee is allowed to have 3333 wives, but not to exceed that number.

An establishment for the supply of trained nurse-i has been lately formed in Carlisle.

A great billiard tournament has commenced at the Occidental Hotel, and is creating considerable interest in sporting circles. Two prizes are offered.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Pioneer Lodge of Good Templars, for the initiation of new members will be held this evening at half-past seveu, in the new Temperance Hall, Albert-street.

Mr Punch, with hi 3 usual courtesy, has pledged his word to us this evening that he will produce his weekly budget of wisdom, fuu, and comicalitios to-moi'row morning in time for breakfast, and more than this he has shewn the contents. We can shadow forth therefore coining events. The illustrations comprise " Aaron Fat," the pianoforte tuner, whose portrait will be recognized by ladies as the man of their choice ; also " A bed of roses or thorns," highly suggestive, and " Home Truth," which will be keenly relished by hundreds of readers. Jokes, puns, fun, politics, poetry, and the delicacies of the season, sufficient to gratify the exquisite taste of the author of the comic Blackstonc, will be unfolded to-morrow by National Punch to his known and unknown friends. The Man with the Carpet Bag will appear on the scene, and a few more melting leaves from the diary of a young Auckland lady, whose name must be kept a profound secret.

The views of Chinamen respecting the sacredness of an oath have once more cropped up in ah Australian Court, this time at Maitland, New South Wales. The Newcastle Chronicle reports that at a recent sitting of the Circuit Court at Maitland "some difficulty arose as to the manner of administering the oath to a Chinese witness. The witness said he was a Christian; but his notion of future rewards and punishments was rather novel. He said that bad people becavne snakes and cows after death ; and if a, man told a lie he would be killed by lightning. The good people went up into the sky ; but he seemed puzzled as to where the bad ones went to. He had heard of Jesus Christ : he was in the Bky. Good people came back to the earth, and bad people also—but as snakes."

The police have not yet been successful in clearing Auckland of petty thieves who intrude upon other people's premises without leave and gather flowers without permission. Lnst evening, just after the going down of the sun, while Mrs Bruce, of Wellingtonstreet, was putting her children to bed, some person stole her best quilt from the clothes lino and made off unseen, and neither thief nor quilt had been discovered at eight o'clock this morning. Ladies, clear your lines before dusk, or your linen may gently pass to other regions.

Mr Plunkett vill give a series of readings this evening in St. Patrick's Hall from the works of celebrated authors.

A general meeting of the Early Closing Association wiU be held this evening at the large room of the Men's Chiistian Institute, Wellesley-street to take into consideration the antagonistic attitude of Mr Friend.