The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1657, 10 June 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1875.

Fep the cause that lacks assistance, rot the wrong that needs resistaaoa. fw the fpture In the distance, A»« tht ftod that we can do.

The history of the Tairua Goldfield may well be made to point a moral. Rarely has such an illustration been afforded of how the rewards of private enterprise may be filched, or attempted to be filched, by greedy and unscrupulous men. But we do not hesitate to say that the most discreditable part of the business is when we find an effort made to arouse up public feeling in favour of the wouM-be wrong-doers. We believe the Thames Advertiser to be about as respectable and' honestly conducted a paper as in the colony, ■ but either it has become suddenly afflicted with a moral obliquity of vision, or must be grossly misinformed as to the circumstances, or it never, would back up such a palpable wrong as is attempted against the discoverers of the Tairua goldfield. Whatever may be the legal or technical quibbles, whatever may be the validity attaching to priority in the driving of a peg, there are principles of common honesty at the bottom of the relations of man with man, which not even the smart practices of gold-fields' life must induce men to ignore. The discoverers of Tairua gold-field had spent the time and the labour and the costs of years in making the discovery, and the ordinary feelings of human nature would prompt us to say that the deserved to reap some reward for their pains. They might have blurted out the discovery and caused an indiscriminate rush, and either retired from the scene in the happy consciousness of having done the public service, or they might have gone in and taken their chance with the 'ruck. But they didn't do. either the one thing or the other. They treated with the Government, a goldfield for ascertain portion of it. In such negotia-

tion they had as distinct a legal position as if they had been pegging nlgflfrand day for a year. They might have had by law a lease of sixty acres, but they were promised thirty. True, the lease was not actually given; and we think there should be the most stringent enquiry why it wasn't ; and we think that such enquiry will bear fruit profitable to the general weal. But the granting of a lease was the payment promised for the making public the discovery. It seems, however, to have been suggested to the prospectors that the same ends could be compassed in another way equally effective for their interests, and which would not raise complications and embarrassments to some other interests, which remained veiled in the background. That other way was the proclamation of the field open to all, and with prior information to the prospectors, so that they might secure, by the simple process of pegging, what in all equity and reason was already secured by the engagement entered into with the Government. It is asserted that this substitu" ted and left-handed arrangement, was

thwarted through some bungling about the date of proclamation, and that the pegging by the discoverers was anticipated by certain of the class of people who are all too ready to help themselves to the fruit 3of others'

labours. This may be so, or may not be so. It is asserted that the discoverers are right in their pegging, an& that wholly irrespective of their oii^inaj rights they hold the ground by virtue of the peg. It is asserted on the other hand that Che partie3 who were dogging them were successful in supplanting them, and are

prepared to swear by their peg, and to its being poked into the ground at all possible hours and days before and after the hour of proclamation. Whether this is true or false is not of the value of a pin's head, as affecting the equitable rights of men who had previously contracted with the Government; and we are indeed surf rised to find a paper of the character of the Thames Advertiser giving either sympathy or countenance to such an attempt at sharp practice. If these men, who have been watching and dodging the discoverers, in the Lopes of wresting from them the jusb reward of their labours, can establish any rights created by tho bungling or premature proclamation of the Tairua

goldfie'ld, by all means let them establish t'aem against the Government and claim conpeasation. But that they should be encouraged in any attempt to snatch from the dis-

joverers of the goldfield the rights deliberately bargained for, and sanctioned before the field was proclaimed is one of those things that ought to give paia to any properly regulated mind. Althdugh goldminiag hasbaen productive of vast advantage to this, as to mmy other countries, it must be admitted that it has a tendency to develop a peculiar class of ethics, noS conducive to the general moral welfare. Wits are quickened and in so far

good is done, but they are nob uafrequently loo3ened from moral restraint by the sudden chances and changes and temptations incident to this peculiar calling. The development of the "jumping fraternity" is one of the direct results of the legislation inton ded to extend and develope mining operations, and no unprejudiced mind can fail to see that the moral features of such a class, though recognised by law, are. identical with those of the other members of the d; n^erous classes, who without the sanction of law place their hands in other people's pockets, and appropriate their pockethand kerohiefs. This one" does the business unde r the shelter of technical legialation ; the other not being sheltered by such law does the business more cautiously, but the moraj feelings are precisely the same. The growth of such feelings is one of the evils among the many good things attending goldfields > and; we cannot help thinking that i l would be the duty of a journal in the position of the Thames Advertiser to discountenance the indulgence and growth of such immoral tendencies, rather than seeking to elevate tho.se dangerous classes into the position and fame of public benefactors. Many persons are doubtless wondering why the builders are mutilating the front of Messrs! L. D. Nathan's finefstore in Short-land-street. In explanation of the apparently inexplicable fact we may mention'fchatj it is intended to carry the building out on one design to the corner of High-street. The architectural ornamentation of the whole front will he somewhat different from the present building. The windows for example will be circular headed and more in number, and the general decoration bolder. The builder, Mr Watson, is making the necessary alterations. The new Post-office, Onehunga, which has been built at the cost of some £600, has just been taken possession of by the local Postmaster, where the postal business of the thriving township is now carried on. The new building, which fronts Queen-street at the entrance to the rail way-station, although a strong building, isj anything but a handsome structure, and contrasts most unfavourably with the neat little railway station and atation-master's residence close by. The roof of the new office, which is shingled, is remarkable for its width and flatness, extending jaa it does in one continuous line over the verandah attached to the front. Its front faces the prevailing winds from the west, and receives the strong gusts from the Manukau Heads. Strange to say, the public have not as good accommodation in the new building as was given in the old one, which only contained two very small rooms and a passage where the people were permitted to go to receive their letters. According to the present arrangement, letters are handed out through a window fronting this weather-beaten and much exposed verandah, upon which the rain freely falls. In the present building there is a compartment not at present in use, with a door opening into it from the verandah. This would answer the same purpose aa the passage in the old office, and the necessary Iterations should be made to allow people to receive letters there. The jockies of Auckland have presented Mr Edward Perkins with an illuminated address on the occasion of his departure for England, in recognition of his support to the turf in the Province. The address was prepared by Mr Hammond, of Shortland-sfcreet, and is surmounted by photographs of the principal provincial thoroughbreds, attended by the jockeys in colours. We are glad to hear that the effort to clear off £500, of the debt on the Young Men's Christian Association has been nearly crowned with . success. £480 has been subscribed, and ib is hoped that the balance will be forthcoming. In addition to this, £80 interest and £40 outstanding accounts have been met. The committee|very wisely do not overlook the fact that if the institution is to retain its position, it must keep up its supply of: recent works, and £25 have just been expended upon standard books. The list is advertised in Another column to-day.

A twelve-year-old girl is on trial in the United States for the motiveless killing of three children. She fed them on rat poison "just to see them die " as she explained. ' It was stated at the Wesleyan Conference, ■which has recently closed its sitting in Melbourne, that there are now in Victoria 60 Wesleyan circuits, 373 churches, 152 other preaching places, 554 class leaders, 717 local preachers, 3614 (Sunday School teachers, 33,375 Sunday scholars, 10,417 church members, and 73,871 attendants on public worship. Many of the circuits were unable to meet their expenses, some having not more than sixty members, and some only about thirty. The grants made to these circuits vary from £20 to £100 per annum. A revival movement is proceeding at Port Chalmers, Otago, and in connection with it a large tea-meeting was held about a fortnight ago, specially with a view of attracting the seamen in port. At least six hundred persons were present, and a choir of forty members from Dunedin sang some really beautiful hymns, the whole of those present joining in chorus. A French writer says not an American in ten has a handsome chin. But, in nine cases out often, what he lacks in chin is more than made up in cheek..

During last session of Congress a law was passed directing that prisoners of the United States, who have been sentenced to imprisonment for a period exceeding six months, on beino; rH-cba?ged from the penitentiary shall be supplied by the wardens of the prison, at

the expense of the Government, with a good plain suit of clothes anrl $5 in cash. The Backer .scandal has had a fearfully demoralising influence on public morals in the United States!;: It crops up in every form. The manufacturer of a truss publishes Beecher's "picture and a facsimile letter of indorsement. .. The patentee of a collar calls it the "TiltoniFavorite ;" another fellow sells "Elizabeth Muffles ;" another "Bessie's

Necktie." A prominent restaurateur on Park Row hanes out his prize cod and Palmon with the label, " Theo. Tilton" and " Henry Ward Beechcr ;" another small place on Annstreet placards its front with "Tilton Stews," "Beechpr Pot-pies" and "Morse Dumplings." Then we have " Moulton Hats," " Bowen Bitters" and "Halliday Cough Drops." The bar rooms and restaurants are posted with cartoons and the street corners crowded with urchins selling ballads on the Bcandal. In the possession of the men about town are seen obscene pictures descriptive of some incident brought out in evidence. Indeed," says a writer, " the Rcandal has utterly demoralised the community, and if it continues much longer the filth will be apt to corrupt every family circle into which the daily papers find an entrance. The divorce courts also feel the effects of i*;, and a prominent clerk of one of

the courls asnirps roe that since the publication of it. applications for divorce have increased fifty-fold, For the sake of society, for decency, it is to be hoped that something will soon occur to shut off the flow of scandal

in Brooklyn." A Western editor, thinking to stock his depleted larder, advertised, "Poultry taken in exchange for advertising." The villainons compositor, seeing his opportunity to pay up a long standing grudge, set it up " Poetry taken, etc."- and since that time the officeboy has been clearing fifty cents a day from the waste paper man. The meeting of the shareholders of the Wanganoua Goldmining Company, called at the offices of Mr Mowbray, lapsed for want

of quorum. Auckland city ratepayers complain of the taxation, and not without cause, but we are hardly bo had off as our neighbours in San Francisco. There it costs to ran the municipal government of Ran Frnncisco 3 500,000 dollars per annum—about 16 do]s 64 cents (£3 8s), for each man, woman, and child in the city. They have a heavy state tax to pay in addition to the above. Mr L. H. Green is greatly improving his nur:ery. ' He possesses a thorough prac'ical knowledge of hia profession, having been trained in his business for many ypars in one of the first European gardens. He has a very large variety of trees, shruhs, and flowers under his caro in his nursery at; Seofield View, and raises the choicest fruit trees. His prices arc also exceedingly low. Beautiful two-year ornamental trees are offered at ono shilling each, and other trees and plants at equal prices. An inspection of his nursery in Seafield View, or at his stall in the market on Saturdays, repays the trouble. P. S. Barnum, tha great showman, is still experimenting in ballooning, and recently j made a trip with Professor Donaldson and eight journalists. Mr Vogel'a expedient for getting rid of the Agent-General, our readers will remember, waß to send home Mr Kennaway as secretary to the London office,, without consulting Dr. Featherston. Mr Kennaway went home in the vessel with the Premier, but no news have yet been received as far as we are aware, of his establishment in his new office. The Timaru .Hera/<2 states, on good authority, that Dr. Featherston, rightly regarding the pitch-forking of Mr Kennaway into his department, as a piece of impertinence, wrote to the Premier on the Continent to say that he had no occasion for his services ; and that therefore the post of Secretary has been hitherto a sinecure. A large swordfish was captured in a singular manner at tke Waikato Heads the other day, and has been on view to-day in the Auckland Hotel stable. It is about thirteen feet long, and has the usual characteristics of the species—no teeth, dark blue back and white belly, with small scales. The fish had stunned itself against the beach at the Heads and got stranded in shallow water, where it waa captured ; it was brought to Onehunga in the steamer Southern Cross. The fish is evidently a young one. The fish will be exhibited this evening in the Market .Reserve, and is called the Kytus Cutis. It was seen on Sunday afternoon, and was caught on Monday about noon by William Franks and Henry Somers, of the s.s. Southern Cross. The fish is a remarkable one, and quite a curiosity. An interesting question has arisen in Dutch Borneo as to the extent of the duty a wife owes to her husband. The circumstances, as detailed in a letter written from Banjermassin, and published in a Java paper, are as follows : It seems that the fugitive rebel chief, who is now well stricken in years, has lately, with commendable prudence, Jbeen making arrangements for the disposition of his property after his departure from this life. Among other directions he has given orders that immediately on his decease his two youngest wives shall be killed in order that they may accompany him to the next world. The ladies for whom the honor is designed strangely enough fail to appreciate it, and have fled to the Dutch fort on the Tewch, where they have put themselves under the protection of the commandant. • The venerable chief is naturally incensed at their having taken this ill-advised step, and has expressed his intention of compelling the fugitives to return to their domestic duties without further nonsense. His indignation is shared by his family, friends, add followers who have rallied round him in his trouble, and by the latest accounts he was preparing to attack the forb where kis wives had taken refuge. In the meantime the Government steamer JBaritoy had been dispatched t» tke assistance of the commandant, with a reinforcement of twenty-five soldiers; and a howitzer with artillerymen had also arrived at the fort. This painful family difference has naturally created a profound sensation in the colony, and it is to be hoped that it will be satisfactorily arranged without recourse to arms. The usual monthly meeting of the members of the City of Auckland, No. 1, Royal Orange Lodge will take place this evening, in the Wellesley-ntreet lodge-room. r ::

Beneath the heading "Rowdyism under the garb of gentility/ a Parnell resident writes.:—" Sir, —Knowing your assistance is always available for putting down rowdyism and bringing the perpetrators under the scourge of public criticism, especially in the case of nighf£prowlers, I bring before you the following case : I had occasion to transact some bus-mess on the by-roads of Parnell on a recent evening, and when between Messrs. Watts' and McCoy's residence, I observed a tall figure standing at a corner, . muffled up and genteely dressed. I was about to proceed on my business, when I felt a severe thump on the head. I then caught sight of the long-legged individual making off at a great speed from his lurking post, his head bent 180 degs. from its original perpendicular. My ejaculation and remarks brought forth a respectable person living close by, who heard the thump, when it was noticed that my hat and coat were covered with a most offensive matter. Now, sir, if the individual in question, who3e name is known, does not furnish me with an apology in writing or otherwise, I assure him that the public will hear what Captain Beckham has to say in the matter." The winter course of lectures at the Young Men's Christian Association will commence to-morrowevening with a lecture on "Sound," with numerous experiments and musical illustrations by Mr Josiah Martin, head master of the Auckland Model Training School. Mr Martin's abilities as a public lecturer az*e well known, and his discourse on "Sound" will, we have no doubt, afford much instruction to a crowded room. We notice further that a number of new books (about forty volumes) h^ve been added to the library, including works of the late Professor Faraday, George Eliot, and Miss Thackeray. Some persons have expressed fears that there would be a dearth of amusements in the city, and that the Prince of Wales Theatre would be silent for tome time to come. Such persons are informed by the enterprising lessee that on Saturday next the theatre will be re-opened, and Miss May Howard, an old favorite with the public will re-appear for a short time previous to her departure for the shores of America. This talented actress will appear in Wilkie Collins's popular drama of the "New Magdalen," which has met with great favour in London and New York. The drama will be associated with new scenery and effects by the artist; with suitable accompaniment by the members of the orchestra. Several old favourites will also appear, including Miss Sfcephenson and Mr Collier, in order that the "New Magdalen" may be presented in the best and most perfect manner. "Fra Diavolo," whif-h met with a favourable reception on a previous occasion, will be repeated this evening by the members of the Dramatic Company at the Ponsonbv Hall. ■ *

And now for Moody and Sankey, -writes our London correspondent "Greenstone," in his letter of the last mail, " they are really quite the feature of London society just now. Everybody has been to see them. Everyone talks about them. They drew immense concourses of people at the Agricultural Hall and personally I believe they are doing good. They are countenanced by most of the feading preachers who seem to think they are on the right tack. Moody ig very vulgar, very Yankee, but in listening to him one does not seem to be offended by it. Sankey's singing is very fine and the way in whioh the huge congregations join in the choruses is perfectly marvellous. When I tell you that since their arrival in London in one city ohurch alone an addition of two-hundred persons has been made to the number of the regular communicants ; when I tell you that after their visit to Dublin, foe Roman Catholic priests were compelled to satisfy their people by circulating great numbers of the Douay testameat; when you hear that in Eiinburgh, Newcastle. Liverpool, and other large towns, the people are in numberless cases eminently cleaner-lived and better, I thiuk you will agree -with me that Moody and Sankey are not doing any harm at any rate. It is easy to cay that tho whole thing is vulgar, but then the Apostles were mostly dreadfully vulgar people ; tho God-Man was only a common carpenter; Wesley was notoriously vulgar; so was John Bunyan, the tinker. But we don't think of that now. The question is what do these men preach ? Not bogus companies, not stock exchange swindles, but repentance, faith, and ultimate salvation. Can we object to this ?

The enquiry into the suspicions circumstances attending the late match between Daybreak and Maori Weed is to be resumed to-morrow, at the Racing Club's headquarters, Auckland Hotel. The remainder of the investigation is to take place before a general meeting of the Club, -the committee having discovered that all members have a right to be present. We understand that Baron, the trainer of Maori Weed, and others who are supposed to have been concefned in the "little game," have cleared out. This will not" save them from disqualification, should they be found guilty. "We all admire your Almanac very much," writes our London correspondent, "It is a first-class specimen of colonial work, and lots of folk who have an idea of what you can do in Auckland have beec astonished by. an inspection of your excellent handbook."

A Calcutta correspondent, writing of the massacre in Naga Hills, India, of the surveying party under Lieutenant Holcombe, says the heads of the slain were taken off by the survivors to prevent their being paraded in the villages of the Nagas, as those savages think as much of a caput as the American Indians of a scalp. The number of killed and wounded, as far as ascertained, is 80 killed and 51 slightly wounded; 52 were unhurt. The Supreme Government intends to send two regiments forward at once, when the massacre will be avenged. The orders of these regiments are to exterminate, root, and branch, all of the villagers and villages of what are known as the Sanua and Ninin villages of the Naga Hills tribea. The savages, nearly. 200 in number, obtained access to the camp of the surveyors under the pretence of bearing presents to the officers and of selling provisions, etc., to the rest of the party.

The members of the " Ponsonby Literary Society," will meefc this evening in the Ail Saints' school-room at half-past seven for discussing matters in connection with the progranfme of the Society's intended operations. Young men are invited to take part.

The fancy sale of goods in aid of the library of St. Peter's, Onehunga, will be opened at threeo'clock, to-morrow afternoon, in the Onehunga Institute.

It may not be generally known that the late Baron de Thierry, of New Zealand celebrity, was one of the first who undertook the construction of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Great Eastern and Western oceans, a work which, according to mail advices, is now likely to be carried out. In January, 1835, a grant was made to Charles Baron de Thierry, of New Zealand, by the Government of New Granada, for the construction of the canal between the two oceans, to connect the Bay of Panama and Leinui Bay, by way of the Rio Grande and Chagus River. The canal was to be adapted to vessels drawing ten feet of water, and to bo called the Panama Canal, the grant to extend over a period of fifty years. In 1836, CoTon»l Briddle, procured a grant for a railroad or macadamized road, subject to the non-fulfilment of Thierry's grant. In 1836, Briddle died. In 1838, the Government failed to carry out the contract with Thierry and made a grant for 99 years to Salaman and Co., for a railroad or canal. The earthquake at Point Petro (Point-a-Pitre Guadaloupe) destroyed all evidence of this grant, and it was reserved for Americans to perfect this great work. , :

A petition signed by a large number of burgesses in favour of the division of the city into wards has been forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent. As the petition bears a larger number of signatures than is required by the. Act, it is expected that the prayer will be granted. In January, 1870, M. Margolidet—as an experiment in natural history—placed a frog in a hole dug in solid stone, and closed and hermetically sealed the opening. On the 17th of last month the stone was opened at the Museum of Natural Bistory in Paris. The frog was living, but not lively. In these days, the memory of the great Maori warriors of old New Zealand is passing away, or wholly unknown to the race of new-chum colonists. Hongi Hikawaa.the greatest general of Maori history, and in relation to the death of this chief, we make the following extract from the unpublished journal of the late Baron De Thierry :— " The weight of Hongi Ifika's aruiour was very great, and tired with hard fighting, he satdovpn upon the etump of a tree in the Manganuka, one of the branches of theHfkianga River, and a native called Maratea, belonging to the Ngatipo tribe, took good aim and shot him, and he died. As he was being carrid awaa to hia pah, some attempt was made to hold communication between the pah and the assistants beneath, who were left in charge of the fighting party, but owing to the shouts of human voices on the brink of the dizzy river, and in the ' surrounding kauri forest, Hongi's people bees me timid. But, wild as the sounds were above, and beneath, and around the forest, and doubtful and dangerons as the mode of passing the path appeared to be, with a sudden rush, the whole body of natives dashed through the rugged scrub into the pah. The history of Hoogi Hika's wars, on his xeturn from Engand covered with armour, is fresh in the minds of the natives, and the death of this great warrior concluded the Ngapuhi war in the North. The name of Hongi Hika is held in reverence among the native tribes to the present day.