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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1656, 9 June 1875, Page 2

We understand that it has been industriously circulated that Mr Morris, one of the candidates for the representation of Waipa, having sold his business as a storekeeper in Hamilton, has no more right to represent the district than the " unfortunate man" whose aspirations were lately damped by our critiques. But Mr. Morris's interests are still as great in the district as ever they were. The proceeds of the sale of his business remain in his own hands, which is not un unimportant difference. But besides this, Mr. Morris merely retires from business to more closely apply himself to his large farm situated between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia; he has leased his business premises in Hamilton at a good rental, and his property in that township still retained by him is worth over two thousand pounds to sell. This is somewhat different from mere escaping from smothering by the skin of the teeth ; and his fortunes are very far removed indeed from inducing Mm to sing, "Oh ! but I am the unfortunate man."

At the Court of Bankruptcy yesterday, his Honor Mr Justice Gillies refused the application of Mr Rees for an order of complete execution of a deed of arrangement in the matter of Samuel Henry Webb. His Honor said there must be a transfer of property in such a deed, not only a promise to pay. Mr Uses after the refusal of the order declined to show cause against the adjudication in bankruptcy. Mr Hesketh then applied for the estate to be vested in the hands of the Provisional Trustee from the 19th May last. The proceedings in bankruptcy having been op-. posed, the Deputy Registrar had not attended the meeting of creditors on that date. Mr Rees after some argument obtained his Honor's sanction for another meeting to'be held on the 16th instant At the Pro-

A singular accident occurred at Kawakawa. While Mr. Angus Stewart was endeavouring to release one of his cows which had got bogged, the animal struck one of its horns right through his boot, completely smashing one toe and injuring three others. Dr. Agassiz of Waipu was sent for and dressed the painful wound.

A section of the North Kaipara natives have had a dispute about the Tanoa block sold by Adam Clarke and threatened to appeal to arms. The Rev. Mr. Gittos has gone to endeavour to prevent a collision.

It hae been defcermiaed to enforce rigidly the provisions of the Health Act, requiting persons to report to the local Board of Health existence of contagious diseases in the households. The penalty for a breach of this provision is £10.

Wans of the new shop to be erected by Mr John Smith, draper, in Queen-street, have been prepared by Mr Edward Mahoney, architect, who invite 3 tenders for the erection of the building. The building will be a very handsome one—its height equal to that of the United Service Hotel, and the style of design will correspond with the fine structures adjoining, so that, with the hotel and Messrs Me Arthur, Shera, and Co.'s new warehouse, the corner of Wellesley-street will in no way bo inferior to the handsome corner now existing at the Junction of Queeu and Wyndham streets. The main shop in Mr Smith's building will be 75 foot Jong by 33 feet wide, and 15 feot high, with opening and ballustrade in the centre of the ceiling. The upper floor is to befitted as a showroom, and light from a glass roof will stream right down into the lower shop. The front windows are being imported from England, and will be of a new and superior kind, giving the Bhop a very attractive appearance from the street. Mr Mahoney also calls for tenders for building a large family residence on the estate of R. H. D. Fergussoß, Esq., near Cambridge.

At a meeting of the residents at Otahuhu (held in the public hall on Monday, Mr John Gordon presiding) it was resolved that a road should -be made from the township to the railway station, and that the Government should bo left to complete it, as the Highway Board has already expended all its available funds on the present road. The resolutions are to be forwarded to the Government.

City ratepayers must have paid up all arrears by the 20th instant, if they desire to appear on the burgc-33 roll and exercise their electoral privileges.

The omission which resulted in the defeat of the cases against vendors of adulterated milk, has now been remedied. The residence of Mr J. M. Tunny, Provincial Analyst, has been gazetted, and offenders' against the stringent provisions of the law need not entertain any idea of escaping again on a technical point.

The Chairman of the Harbour Board has called for tenders for the construction of the Auckland graving dock, receivable till the 30th of Movember. This will allow contractors lo prepare careful estimates, and also admit nf outsido competition. It is satisfactory to see this important work now fairly under way.

As an instance how long some insects 76----tain life while immersed in fluid, a writer has been .assured by a very ingenious and accurate gentleman that, being present at the opening of a bottle of Madeira wine which had been brought from Virginia to London, threo flies were found in ib. He immediately observed th'it they had a fair opportunity of trying the truth of the common opinion that a fly cannot be drowned, and desired the company to Uy the (lirs in the sun, the day being very warm. The flies were accordingly laid on a china plate, and in less than an hour took wing. M. de Reaumer kept bees under water for nine hours, and all of them came to life.

A football match between the Parnell and Grafton Road Clubs, will take place in the Domain, next Saturday afternoon. Three o'clock is the hour for kicking off, and it is particularly requested players will be punctual. It will be interesting to mark the relative prowess to which these two young but rising clubs have attained. We understand strenuous efforts arc being made on both tides to bring their full strength into the field.

Sneak theives who prowl about meat-safes and hen-roosts or rob a clothes-line, are about the meanest of the fraternity, and we trust that the reward of £5 offered by Mr Holt of Parnell for the detection of tho offender who early on Sunday last robbed his safe and carried away several fowls, will be instrumental in bringing the rascal to book. Property of this kin 1 is necessarily exposed, and the punishment awarded to offenders when detected ought to be of such a severe character as will deter others from similar speculation. As the lowa editor put it, "he who steals my purse steals trash, but he who robs me of my Sunday's dinner deserves the maledictions of every honest man."

India rubber side-walks are coming into fashion out West. For small towns they are admirable—combining economy and durability. The first experiment was made in Danvile, lowa, where three hundred yards were put down on one of the principal streets. All the boys of the place ran over it, but there was no noise. A leading merchant stopped in front of his house; then jumped on his heels. The elastic forces hidden in the rubber threw him over the gate to the roof of the piazza. But after a few trials he was able to light on the steps with the graceful accuracy of a flying squirrel. The chief drawback to the walk is its odorous familiarity in hot weather; but it can be neutralized by a weekly wash of borax and coal tar. Its principal advantage is that it can be stretched. As the town grows, is is pulled out towards the suburbs. Two yoke of cattle can lengthen it three miles a day.

The Good Templars of Albertland have held a very successful gathering at Part Albert, at which eighty sat down to tea, and Brother P. Edger delivered a practical address urging Good Templars to do more and say leas. He said Good Templary was not doing so much good as was anticipated, and that in town especially the jealousies respecting office and the frivolous contention about show and frippery were causing the Order to lose the confidence of society. They should aspire to be great moral and social reformers, more by their example than by persuasion.

" A Ratepayer " writes complaining bitterly of the inconvenient situation of the Pokeno railway station. His letter is too long for publication in full. , He says that Pokeno proper is 1J to 2 miles from the station, and that Porter's paddock was undoubtedly the proper place for the station. He adds :—"I would strongly urge upon the settlers and the public to petition the Government to have it shifted as being of no benefit whatever whera it now Btands."

The brothers and sisters of the Fraternal Home of Good Templars held a tea-meeting and social entertainment last evening in the Albert-street H»U. About two hundred persons sat down to tea, and were waited upon by a number of sisters with smiling looks. Mr Atkin, P.W.G.T., was subsequently called to the chair, and having made a brief, but pithy speech, he called upon the choir to sing the opening ode in favour of the Order. Mr Allen sang the "Temperance Ship ;" Mr Smith gave the "Labourer's Complaint." which was well received; also the "Hungry Vagabond," in response to an encore. Mr Howden sang two songs, and the Newton choristers displayed much ability in the rendering of "Onward to Battle" and other pieces. Messrs Turner (from the United States) and Key W. J. Williams spoke at length on the advantages of a sober life. Mr W. Huston presided at the harmonium, and altogether a pleasant evening was passed in the Albert'

Ponsonby Hall was crowded last evening by persons desirous of witnessing Mr Dennes' limelight exhibition of the beautiful scenes of the United States of America, and the old castles and ruins which give a charm to ■ the land of Burns. The scenes were briefly but pleasantly described by Mr Dennes as they passed in brilliancy before the interested audience. The entertainment was given on behalf of the funds of the Sunday-schools of the district;, and we were glad to observe so many influential residents present, and though the hall was not so full as on a previous occasion, the undertaking will be nearly if not quite as profitable, whichexceeded the expectation of the most sanguine. Great credit is due to the people for their cosmopolitan spirit displayed in the arrangement, and carrying-out of their amusements. The labours of Mr Dennes also, in favour of youth, is note-v/orthy; he explained his views, and stated that they were originally brought out for the purpose of inducing persons to emigrate from the old country. The descriptive lecture was interspersed with anecdote and illustrations of brother Jonathan's extensive notions of things in general. The musical accompaniments, under the direction of Mr Rees, aided the entertainment very considerably, and some of the solos were remarkably well performed, a duet by a young lady and gentleman was prettily rendered, and " Driven from Home" obtained an encore. The audience seemed thoroughly to enjoy and appreciate the pictures, and joined in a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, proposed by Mr Hammond and seconded by Mr Brown.

On Bankruptcy, " Starry" writes :—" Sir, —You lately gave us a good and disciiminafcing article on the latest of the numerous bankruptcy laws, and on the management thereof in the Supreme Court of Auckland, and I have observed that several stnail writers have since been giving their opinions thereon. Evidently there are two classes of bankrupts; first, the oppreased and distressed ; and plucky fellows, though by accident, without money, will not be browbeaten and then crippled if a preventative offers ; and second, there are scheming, unprincipled fellows, not at all needing legal protection against any spiteful oppression, but preferring to get some confederate to jam the creditors to 6s in the pound, whilst all the time having and holding the 20s. Aw, well, you know ; aw, well, gentlemen, just as you like, you know; at Court, about 9d in the pound nett, you know. Well, now, gentlemen, aw, I will give Gs, and take over the lot at a venture ! Ato, a very pretty confederacy ! the 20s was there ! And on some thousands of pounds, here in a rare day's haul for the two. Does Mr Justice Gillies thoroughly discriminate, so as to nail only the schemers."

At least one important reform seems likely to come out of the agitation of cremation. This is the substitution of other material than wood for coffins. Just now the municipal authorities of Paris are deliberating the propriety of requiring that all coffins shall be made of cement, as they -were, in fact, in the Gallo-Eoman period of French history.

The Hobson Company met last evening for weekly drill at headquarters, and were put through their facings by Lieutenant Clifton. The band, under Bandmaster McComish, also practised on their instruments of sound. The whole proceedings were very satisfactory.— The members of the Arillery Band, under the direction of Mr Hunter, met for practice last evening in the shop of Mr Gee, blacksmith, near Cook street, and played several walrze3 and quadrilles very creditably. The music created quite a sensation in that locality. We hope this accomplished band will soon be better accommodated. Tho cart of Mr Yates, grocer, of Parnell, came to grief to-day on the rise. When trotting down hill some of the harness gave way, and the groceries in tho carl; were thrown on the roadway. Beyond a sacrifice of tea and sugar, no particular damage wa3 done. Under the heading "King of Elis," w.3 have the following letter :—" Sir,—l perceive that " Augess," after trying the Danedin hercules by-law to cleanss the Auckland stable of its filth, is about to try the Canterbury hercules. Now, why was not all this trying done before the lsl; June ? Is it a fact that tho " taxation rod " is so light that a " scorpion tax " must be used ? We get a hint of some people who are quite agreeable to spend other's monoy, bub not a hint of the enormous tax on the earth system ; not a word of tho difficulty and annoyance they are subjected to by the mismanagement of the whole affair ; not the least hint of the official ignorance of the true earth system which but hands it over entirely to the mercy of the contractors, and then adds insult to injury by saying that the people will not use dry earth, when it is not supplied tb them as it should be, and paid from the same rate as the water-closet is paid out of. " All must pay or none ;" the authorities should do their own work and duty. They have the power in the 38th clause of the Health Act to move any difficulty, let alone the spreading of about a pint of earth. The Poll-tax was equity itself compared

with the attempts to raise the needful for cleansing Auckland by taxing one and not the other. The neglect of the authorities in providing for the Ist of June will yet bear fruit of more kinds than one. We pooh pooh the, measles : it only took four and a half times the proper death-rate to glut it; perhaps the next visitation may take the same number of our merchants princes, &c. ; then some Cromwell will send the Mace Bauble into the harbour.—Yours, &c, J. B. Strange. P.S.— At LatterLammas, "Augeas"can come to Parnell and see the earth-closet system, ' not a nuisance."

A new "Rape of the Lock" is reported from Gorlitz, in Silesia. A young Baroness residing in that town had struck up a clo3e friendship with the daughter of a tradesman there, who boasted of a magnificent head of hair, terminating in two black locks behind • while the Baroness had but little hair that was not supplied by the hair-dresser. Her friend the other day made an offensive allusion to this circumstance, and the Baroness determined to be avenged. Taking advantage of au unguarded moment, she cut off the two objectionable locks ; but her punishment has been more severe than that inflicted by Pope's Belinda. The tradesman's daughter applied to the Crown Prosecutor for redress, Ippon which a prosecution was instituted Itgainst the Baroness in due form before a jury, though the law officers were in great doubt as to whether the offence should ba ragarded as an " infliction of bodily harm." an insult, or a theft. Ultimately the jury decided that it was a case of bodily harm, | and the Baroness wag sentenced to five day's imprisonment.

At ft second meeting of the settlers of Pukekohe, relative to railway fares, a letter from Mr Macdonald, manager of the Auckland line, was read promising to forward their memorial to Mr Passmore. The meeting determined to take further steps to secure a more favourable carrying rate by petitioning Mr Joseph May, the member for the district in the General Assembly. It w»8 als* agreed that the settlers of the surroundinf districts be invited to attend another meeting in the Pukekohe schoolroom on the 19th instant, to press the matter on. To-morrow evening the members of the Ponsonby Dramatic Club will, by particular request, repeat their successful performance of " Fra Diavolo," in Ponsonby Hall. The United Bootmakers will hold an extraordinary meeting to-morrow evening in the Wellesley-street rooms at half-past seven. Extensive alterations and additions are to be made to the Cosmopolitan hotel, in Queenstreet, which will bring it more in keeping with the improved architecture of that part of the city. Messrs E. Keals and Sons have prepared thejnecesaary plans and invite ten-

The Racing Clubs inquiry into the ques- ] tionable proceedings connected with the race between Maori Weed and Daybreak, was adjourned yesterday, after taking evidence, till Friday next, when other witnesses will be examined. The action of the stewards in sitting with closed doors has caused a general feeling of dissatisfaction and distrust. We are informed that their reason for pursuing this course wa3 to prevent the witnesses who are to be examined hereafter from knowing what evidence had been given. We are further informed that all depositions have been taken and signed by the witnesses in the presence of a J.P., and will be. handed i to the press for publication.

The Newmarket Literary Institute held their first meeting for the season last night in the reading-room, the Vcn. Archdeacon Pritt in the chair, who, iv referring to the few meetings held during the last year, attributed the same to the universal sickness which prevailed. He felt much pleasure in again presiding over their gatherings, and called on Mr. Witheford to read a paper on the '' Discontented Inhabitants of New Zealand," which was listened to with evident interest by a good number of ladies and gentlemen in attendance. —Mr. McNeill supported Mr. Vogel in his policy, and thought that -he was entitled to the thanks of the people for what he had done.— Mr Carlyle alluding to a. similar policy introduced into other colonies with most beneficial effect. He liked to see a spirit of discontent, believing it to be the foundation of all progress. Mr Hogg was pleased to see the Newmarket people had not lost their energy in literary matters, and hoped to see the meetings continued. He congratulated the residents on having settled the toll - gate question. .Mr Causeley viewed Mr Vogel in the light of an adventurer ■ who had personally everything to gain but nothing to lose. Mr McColl stated hi 3 experience of Auckland and other provinces had led him to prefer the former. Twelve years ago it was predicted that Auckland was going to the dogs, but fee saw on every hand fresh indications of progress, and, he believed, a good future was yet in store for this province. A vote ofj thanks was accorded Mr Witheford for his paper, and the next meeting to consider the question of building a hall takes place on Tuesday. The specimens of ceramic statuary on view in the windowgof Messrs Phillips and Son have been much admired. Messrs Jakins and Willcox are Auckland agents for the great " Ceramic and Crystal Palace Arb Union," and have baen rceiving the names of subscribers for the drawing in July. The subscription entitles holders to a chaste work of art and chances in the drawing. Schedules of prizes may be obtained from the aeents. Their list is announced to close to-day. We learn that there is a very greatly improved demand for property in the city and suburbs. Several residences and building sections have been disposed of lately at good rates. During the past two years property has been at a discount so far as the number of purchasers is concerned, and it is a healthy sign to see it looking up. Mr Alexander Saunders, mining agent, has taken office Nr>. 2, Insurance buildings, vacated by Mr H. E. Wil'iams. An intimation to this effect appears in our advertising columns. There seems to be no doubt that Sir Arthur Helps' death was caused by his catching cold at the Prince of Wales' levee. It is scarcely possible to imagine a more cruel ordeal for an elderly man in delicate health than to. have to stand for some houis in cold, draughty waiting-rooms, clothed only in a thin uniform, and probably, for greatest part of the time bareheaded. The whole system of levees and drawing-room 3 is perfectly barbarous. It is a fatigue and a nuisance to everybody concerned, and some more civilised} method of enabling the sovereign to receive the homage of her principal subjects might surely be devised. The West End doctors have a busy time every drawing'room, and many a poor lady owes a serious illne?s, if nob death, to her royal devotion. Man, being usually more robust, suffer le3S at a levee than the other sex at a drawing-room, but every now and then they get hit, too. The city debt of Dunedin, apart altogether from the large commitments for the Waterworks, which may be regarded as reproductive expenditure—is about £102,000, and that the sum set down for the annual interest and sinking fund amounts to £8,500? The present rate roll amounts to £150,000 as the annual value of rateable property, and that the interest and sinking fund alone represents a rate of rather more than 14d. in the £1. Very fortunately for the citizens the Corporation enjoys other sources of revenue. The proposed expenditure is :—Salaries, £3,600 ;», street lighting, £3,700 ; works, maintenance, and day labour, £17,740 ; contingencies, &c , and Fire Brigade £2,000. Total £27.040. The ordinary revenue is :—Rents, £7.600 ; fees and licenses, £4,740 "account to be collected," £3,205 ; Total, £15,545, not a great deal more than half the proposed expenditure. The actual deficiency in the year is £11,455 ; if to this is added the interest and sinking fund (£8,500), there is a grand total of £20,000 in round numbers as the actual deficiency for the .year to be provided for. Taking the rent-roll at £150,000, it would require, including cost of collection, at least two shillings and ninepence in the pound to meet this deficiency.