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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1678, 5 July 1875, Page 2

In another column will be found details of the gale which has been blowing in our harbour. It has been exceedingly disastrous^ though we trust no to human life. Our neighbours at the Thames appear to have been peculiarly circumstanced, and their v npleasant position will be found set forth iv telegraphic columns. It appears to st andamongthefiercestof the gales wherewith our coasts have been vexed for many years, and we fear that as additional intelligence comes in, the catalogue of misfortune will be greatly magnified. ,

In a recent issue we drew attention to the inconvenience caused to consignees as well as the ship by the action of the Customs' authorities in refusing to allow the landing of perishable articles from the Hero for several hours after arrival. We think there can be little doubt in any mind that the utmost facilities should be given to tbe despatch of steamers, and that regulations suitable enough for ships arriving from Englard may be applied with very great inconvenience to stesmers. The Hero, to which on that occasion we made more special reference, is only an illustration ; a Dd we would not presume to advocate that she should be treated otherwise than is due to her class. But taking her as an illustration, it may be borne in mind that she rents part or all of a shed on the wharf on her own account, for which she pays heavily monthly. She would even be glad to rent a store entirely—but could not. Again it is no fault of the Hero if there are not; facilities for taking away cargo as fast as it is landed. Other ports arrange that the moment a steamer gets to the jetty, she commences unloading, as long as this is paid for. To put a steamer such as this on the same footing as an English ship which designedly lies in the fltrea m three to four days to allow the numerous consignees (and the Hero's consignees are far more numerous th?n an English ship's) to pass entries would be simply to disgrace the port. Again, it is notorious that —from the system that obtains on the wharf where almost every consignee has bis own receiver consignees do not and will not take away their cargo as it is landed, and it is do fault of the Hero if there is no law empowering the Harbour-Master, as in other ports, at the end of each day to cart away and store these goods at expense and risk of such consignees ; but, unfortunately, Auckland law is, that until the ship has got a receipt her responsibility remains. For instance : two months ago some iron was put ashore from the Hero. The recaiver for that iron either was not on the spot, or would not give a receipt for it at the time, and, two days after, when he came to take delivery, the iron was gone, and the steamer had to pay. Again, in every other port it is considered no breach of Customs for a steamer by paying for it, to have all the facilities of discharging early and late, putting goods into sheds, etc. And unless steamers get despatch and every facility, how can we expect steam communication to be kept up between this and Australia ? The solution of the trouble is : that the whole of the outer T should be shedded in for steamers, foreign. Cargo should be discharged into that shed, and delivery taken by one responsible man. This man could then deliver to the various consignees when the steamer has gone, and all the inconveniences now felt would be wholly

obviated,

The following letter reveals a state of things that should open the eyes of purchasers of settlers' produce. There can be little doubt that the sole culprit in this case was the drayman, and we think his employer has as much reason to look out as any body else. This is a case in which the police should see to it that justice is not defeated. We have urged our correspondent to see Sergeant Pardy on the subject — To the Editor of the Star :—Sir,— Being a constant reader of your paper, and knowing you wish to do well by all, I a9k you to insert the following. On Friday last I bought at Buckland's Haymarket a load of hay, weighing 1 ton 2 cwt 3 qrs., belonging to a farmer iD the neighbourhood of Otahuhu, whose name I give you I paid £4 14s 9d., and it was to be delivered to me by the same, dray, half at my place in the Kyber Pass, and the other half at Kemuera. lne drayman refused to have it weighed for me afc Newmarket bridge, but immediately after delivering the one half, the drayman appears to have started Belling the trusses by the way at eighteen peDce a truss. (I had paid about three shillings) I caught him in the act of selling two trusses close by the Captain Cook Hotel, and he returned the money for these to my. brother at Kemuera. There were still three trusses missing, which must have been Bold. There was also a large block of wood on the top, of about a hundred weight, concealed under the wet tarpaulin. I wish you, sir, to publish this as a warning to persons buying produce from country settlers. —I am, &c, B. McG-arry, Kyber Pass.

The monthly communication of the Masonic Lodge Ara, 348, 1.C., will be held this evening at 7.30, in the Lodge-room, Masonic Hotel. Visiting brethren are invited.

An article on the Auokland College and Grammar School appears in the Otago Daily Times, in which our chief educational establishment is spoken of in terms of warm eulogium. The article concludes :—" Judged by the common tests, the efficiency of the school has reached a very high point, and deserves more suitable treatment. In Auckland at least, higher education has been well cared for, and we rejoice at seeing this result, without one particle of jealousy. In schools, at any rate, the improvement of one means a rise in the standard of all."

We understand that Mr. Fraser, who has purchased about 3000 acres of land in the fiako district, says the Waikato Times, is making preparations to improve the estate, and reside upon it. Mr. Fraser has the reputation of being a most enterprising settler with considerable means, which, combined with experience, will make him a valuable acquisition to the district.

{j nines© lottones m JVlelboume nav^oecon^e a great nuisance and source of evil. The Ag°, says that "a case tried in the Police Court only a few days ago showed that a man who, with an income of £2 a week, had a wife and family dependant upon him, had been led into crime in order to follow this Chinese Will-o'-the-Wisp. Nor are the victims of this dangerous form of gambling confined to the sterner sex, or to persons of mature age. Young girls, lads and married women are among the most regular purchasers of tickets, and a visit to any of the Chinese banks will show that this gambling made easy, which is brought within the reach of everyone who can spare a shilling, has its votaries amongst all classes, from the richest to the poorest.'

He left the spelling bee at 10 o'clock and stopped in a saloon on his way home. Here he met several friends who " set 'em up" divers times, and he reached home about midnight' with a confused brain, and a very demoralized pair of legs. Then he swore that somebody had stolen the keyhole, but his wife with a fearful scowl on her brow and a lamp in her hand admitted him. '' Drunk !" she exclaimed. "D-r-u-n-c (hie) drunk. Thaz easynuff." "Brute!" ."B-r-o-o-t ( hie ), give us a harder one." " Idiot 1" "Tharz harder (hie), but I kin spellum. I-d—l-d-g—l-d-i-g-t, Idiot. Now give us a stunner ( hie )." She picked up a poker and gave him a ''stunner," and the spelling bee adjourned.

The release of the murderer Sullivan and the bushranger Gardiner, on condition of leaving the country, has led to a despatch from Earl Carnarvon, which has been read in the Melbourne Assembly. The Secretary of State says : " Questions which have recently arisen in the colony of New South Wales have called attention to the fact that; the act of that colony, 11 Vie, VA, which" is still in force there, though passed in different circumstances from those which now exist, permits the Governor to grant to any person under sentence of hard labour who has served two years of his sentence, a remission of the remainder of the term on condition that he shall not remain in or come within the colony during the remainder of the residue of that term. The Government of New South Wales with a readiness highly appreciated by her Majesty's Government, has offered to repeal this enactment, which it is obviously inexpedient to retain in force in any colony at the present time, looking to the questions that are liable to be raised with respect to its operation by other colonies, or foreign countries."

A Board of Commissioners appointed by the Victorian Government is enquiring into serious charges of alleged cruelty brought against the warders of the New Asylum, Melbourne. The evidence shewed that some of the warders had been in the habit of beating the patients in a most brutal manner.

Charles Peterson, a seaman, has been cured of lockjaw at the hospital in Adelaide, after suffering from it for more than forty days. He was admitted on the Gt,h'April, suffering from an injury to oue hand, caused by the bursting of a flask of gunpowder, as reported at the time. The patient was in a weak condition uutil the 17th of the month, when tetantus set in, and it showed itself at intervals till 26th May. Ou tlie aprjearance of this malady Dr Phillips took tho case, and he conducted it until the man was out of danger. The system acted upon was that of iho hypodermic injection of morphia, as much as four grains being injected during twenty-four hours. Hydrate of chloral was also given to the extent of eighty grains in twenty-four hours. •

A supposed case of sloping from creditors is referred to by the Raglan correspondent of the Waihato Times, as follows: —"On Friday morning last, about daybreak, at Ruapuke, jusfc off Mrs Charlfcon's farm, between it and Gannets Tsland, a small boat was seen going southward with the small sails set, as well as two oars being smartly plied. Glasses were quickly brought to bear on her, and the general opinion was that she was hound for Kawhia ; but about mid-day she passed across the entrances of both Aotea and Kawhia harbours, closely rounding Albatross point, and passing out of sight. At the same time a steamer appeared in view. Has anyone in Auckland given their creditors the slip, if so, they must have had a long and dangerous trip to catch the steamer, supposing the occupants of the boat were bound for tho steamer ?"

Mr TBomas CranweU'fi Elementary Tonic Sol-Fa music class will be commenced this evening, in the Presbyterian School-room, Parnell.

The Hope of Auckland Tent of Bechabites will hold their quarterly meeting this evening, in the Albert-street Temperance Hall, for the purpose of electing and installing officers and other business of importance to the Order.

The annual meeting will be held this evening in the reading room of the Newmarket Hall, at eight o'clock, for the purpose of electing a committee and other business.

A meeting of the Soiree Committee of the Orange Institution will be held this evening in the Protestant Hall, Newton.

Two lads named Donovan and Woods, who escaped from the training-ship some weeks ago, were arrested by Constable Green at the Huia and brought into town to-day. A lad named Norfolk of Christchurch is still at large. He left his companions at Muddy Creek and is supposed to have gone in the direction of BiverLead. Any settler acquainted with his whereabouts will be doing the boy himself a kindness by giving information to the police.

William Matson, apprehended by Constable Green on Sunday at Onehunga, on suspicion of stealing from an omnibus on Tuesday night a parcel containing wearing apparel, value £2 10s, the property of Mr Jas. Mclntyre, was brought up this morning, and remanded till Wednesday.

The City West No 2 night-school haß made very good progress. The names on the roll have now reached the number of one hundred. Of these, about thirty belong to the linquistio and geometrical classes Only a few attend both of these and the English commercial school. The majority belongs only to the latter, which is conducted by Mr Harrison. The French scholars number now more than thirty, working on three divisions. A Euclid class was opened last week, with nearly a dozen pupils. It will meet on Thursday evenings at eight o'clock. • It does not seem unlikely that a German class may begin next week. Persons wishing to join the Euclid or the German classes had better give notice, with the least possible delay.

A Chinaman named Ah Chaw, residing at the Durham Lead, Victoria, was struck dead by lightning about seven o'clock on the 3rd instant. His mate, who wag in the hut at the time, escaped uninjured. The part of the body where the lightning struck presented a peculiar appearance.