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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1698, 28 July 1875, Page 2

[By Teletgraph.]

The opportunity afforded last night to Messrs Wood and Sheehan for pointing to the action of the Audit and Control Department was too good to be lest. Here we have over eighty thousand pounds deliberately and wilfully expended in excess of the vote for immigration, and not one word of remontrance from the Commissioners of Audi!;; and yefa, forsooth, when Auckland capitation funds were due, these gentlemen Who are supposed to reside in a serene atmosphere above the region of political bree?O3, are moved by conscience to interpose their authority. The contract revealed such a bare scandal that Major Atkinson, who is distioguished from his coll eaguea by honest candour, attempted not even a word of explanation. Nothing fco'uld more clearly show the dishonesty of the pleas put forth by Ds* Pollen when seizing lawlessly funds legitimately due to our province, and nothing could more clearly show the uuscrupulousness with which the checks of audit and control are spurned and thrust aside when the necessities or demands of the Government require.

[BY TEMGPAPHi]. K"o more important question than that raised by Mr Beader Wood relative to the power to abolish the provinces has been tabled

during the present session. On right under

standing ibis moot poikt depends whether the abolition may be pressed forward or whether the struggle for the present must come ignominiously to a close. The utter

illegality of the proceeding is that on which Sir George Giey takes his stand when demandiDg that the matter should be delegated to the people, and that steps should betaken to have additicnal powers if requisite for refoiming the Constitution, and it

i 3 admitted that his argumentation and the le^al opinions with which he wn H fortified have had a powerful effect on the

minds of members The belief that such an

authority on constitutional law is not likely to be in error or rashly stake his reputation in an assertion without authority, and the

deteimination which Sir George Grey ex pressed of contesting his position to the lasi

legal Court of Appeal, have shaken the dogged resolution +0 iorOG the measure U all hazards, -^ncl -we belieVe the reply to Mr .rood's yaestien wf.ll tend in the same direction, f v is carefully circulated that Ministers have employed legal opinion which was in favour of the power of abolition but whatever special valnq this lii'ay have in the face of tii«} colonial legal opinion in opposition to it will be made manifest by the crucial question of Mr .Reader Wood.

[By Telegraph]

THE question of Thames foreshore is again op and likely to come to a solution at last. It will apparently be the subject of immediate legislation, and this valuable endowment will be handed over to the municipality at the Thames. But while none can doubt the propriety of this, we cannob overlook the slander again repeated on this subjert, and this time sanctified by Ministerial lips It is not the firct time that it has been said with the object of creating a piejudice against Provincialitm that the provincial authorities of Auckland have been opposed to the transfer of this endowment to the people at the Thames, but whether from the glib and flippant tongues of stumping demagogues, or from the courtly lips of Ministers, the assertion is none the lets a falsehood. It was ever the desire of the late Superintendent to have this foreshore devoted not to general or provincial, but exclusively Thames purposes, but while the provincial authorities desired not to hand over the entire endowment unconditionally, but to apportion it between harbour, education, charitable, and other purposes in a manser most conducive to the general interests of the people at the Thames, Mr, Vogel and his colleagues sedulously set themselves to cultivate Thames feeling by making the most of their anxiety to hasten the transfer unconditionally. Jt has been always purposely put forth that the Provincial Council and the Provincial Government desired to lay sacreligious hands on this sacred territory, and last night's Ministerial assertion of provincial opposition was but a wilful reiteration of the baseless slander.

The latest telegram from Wellington informs us that Mr Reader Wood intends to propose a motion which virtually amounts to one of want of confidence in the Government system of finance. This is undoubtedly the weakest point in the ministerial armour, and Mr Wood's experience as an ex-Colonial Treasurer specially fits him for pointing out where the defects exist. The most correct and expressive term by which tLe Govern, ment can be described is the one made use of in Mr. Vogul's acrimonious correspondence with the Crown Agent-it is "in a mess."

Our Parliamentary telegrams of yesterday afternoon's business were so long delayed in transmission as to be too late for publication in last night's Star. This is bad enough, but the hardship is still greater unJer the arbitrary aud n a just method of charging for day press telegrams. Although the telegraph department dil not send - the telegrams through until considerably after the time when evening messages are receivable. — five o'clock—they insist on charging them at day rates, because they were presented for transmission before five. It must be borne in mind by readers who nightly receive their three and four columns of telegraphic news that we, in company with other evening journals of the colony, are paying one half-penny a word, or £2 Is 8d per thousand, while the morning journals receive their telegrams at 10s per 1000. And this is a fre« country in which the Government administer justice evenhanded to all sections of the community. The reason of this iniquitous tariff was well understood at the time of its adoption. Mr. Vogel is largely interested in the success of morning journalism in the colony, and the evening papers have made themselves obnoxious by an objectionable habit of speaking out, which, has proved distasteful to the New Zealand autocracy. Appeals and remonstrances are alike in vain, and we have no alternative but to grin and bear it.

Dr. Alexander Young, successor to the late Dr. Nicholson, has been appointed medical officer for the Karangahape district.

English and Australian telegrams received by the b.s. Albion at the Bluff appear on our fourth page to-day. From these we learn that the Suez mail had been telegraphed at Adelaide, and in all probability it will be received at the Bluff peil H.b. Tararua aboi-t Friday nexc The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse is, we believe, expected to arrive by this route, and will no doubt at once assume the leadership of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. He has not had hu eyes shut during his stay in England, and we may anticipate Some account of liis Observations. The only items of importance in the cable news is the announcement of heavy vains damaging to the crops, and a consequent rise infehecorn market. There are those in the colony who have a painful,reflection of what dear bread, means to thousands of poor in the Unified Kingdom. gpMr. Wright, of Hepburn-street, has called at our office with reference to tho sickness of two girla in the Home for Keglected and Destitute Children of a fever which j)r. Kennedy believes may develop into typhoid, and ou account cf Vrhich the master ha 3 determined to have them isolated. Mr. Wright informs us that tie place chosen as a temporary hospital is even more dangerous in his opinion, than represented, in the paragraph in last night's Stab, and fche resiaents contemplate the preSenbattoh 01 a petition to the Board of Health protesting against it* We notice a statement by Mr Stickley in tO-day's Herald, defending the choice of building for a hospital; but We think it would be wise to withdraw from a position of defiance to the strongly"expressed feelings of the residents in the neighbourhood.

The meeting of the Waitohi Gold mining Cjmpany, called to-day in tho ottlce of Mr F. A. White, lapsed for want of a ouorum

The clever [ierforiiiance by the Chor.il Society last night has brought the Soaißty oucn more into deserved prominence, and we are glad to learn that the committee have determhiod to deepen the good impression by giving a series of concerts and operas, the next one being the magnificent oratorio of "The Last Judgment." Before they do so, however, we would suggest that the "Crimson Stia'rf" be repeated at low rates of admission, for the benefit of these who are not members of the Choral Society. Vfe think everyone who was present last night will, buar us out when we say that the 'operetta was placed before the atldiencfe in a manner that would have done Credit to professional talent. The performing members are Entitled to no small degree of praise for the way they acquitted themselves, but we have no, doubt that the approval of such a large and discriminating audience aa had asfeembiod in the Choral Hall last night would go far to compensate them for their exertions. We would draw {.he attention of our readers to the great advantages which may be derived by becoming subscribing members to the Society. The concerts determined on, for the yeilr will repay mauy times over the subscription. Subscribers' tickets may be procured at tjntcn's,

The public reserve at Onehunga, known as Green Hill ia now within the jurisdiction of the Highway Board. It is to be ploughed up and cultivated for a year, following this treatment ib the planting out of shrubs and fWest tree?, so that 'in a years' time (Ireen Hill's summit will be crowned with beautiful foliage, and the ladu and ]acsc3 of Onehunga will find it & pleasant trysting place during the Slimmer holidays.

'i'htj Ohehuiiga wharf has presented a busy appearance during the past day or two. Five steamers were lying at their berths, which, with several coasting craft, made quite a show at this poit. The Go-Ahead '.eft on Monday, and the St Kilda yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The fine steamer Hawra also left the wharf at 3 o'clock, for the .South, with a number of passengers —Mr James Mackay being among the number. To add to the liveliness of the scene about fifty ladies and gentlemen had travelled from Auckland by train and carriages to see the departure of friends by the bwo steamers The remaining steamboab3 axe the Phoebe and Southern Cross.

The remains of the late Charles Davis, E-q., were followed to the gtave yesterday afternoon by most of the Jewish citizens and other leading gentlemen of Auckland, by whom the deceased was known and respected.

We learn this morning fhat Mr Beckbarn is still suffenng from bronchitis, and will not be able to leave his bed for some days to come. He is still under medical treatmeafc. It is supposed that he caught cold while od his duties at Hamilton laßt week, and which induced the complaint he suffers from.

We are glad to see that our bank clerks have formed a Football Club. At a meeting held yesterday afternoon it was decidtd that such a club should be formed. Some doubts were expressed as to the advisability of commencing so late in the season, but the general opinion was that the club would be all the better of being inaugurated this season, notwithstanding the difficulty of arranging a match owing to the other clubs having their arrangements made for some time. Mr. Caveihill was elected secretary and treasurer. The election of a captain was allowed to stand ovsr until a future meeting.

We have much pleasure in acknowledging receipt of the following additional subscriptions towards Mr Jackson :—K., 5s ; Mrs J. Butterwortb, 53 ; Unknown, 2s 6d ; which have been duly forwarded.

A misprint occurred last night in the announcement of Mr L. W. Eaton's sale of potatoes. The sale takes place to-morrow (Thursday) in the Waikato shed, opposite Eoberton and Co., Durham-street.

The Hobson Company Ethiopian Troupe is making active preparations for the complimentary benefit to Mr. McComish on Friday. We shall notice the programme at greater length to-morrow. Mr T. B. Hannaford has forwarded us for inspection various testimonials to the efficacy of the prescription in his possession for the cure of deafness. The prescription was procured by Mr Hannaford in the following way : Being afflicted with deafness, he wrote to the Chief Aurist of the Royal Dispensary for the Cure of Diseases, of the ear, enclosing £10 and stating his case. In reply, he received the prescription with directions for using it and, experiencing speedy relief from it, he offered it to others, who used it with equally beneficial results, a fact attested to by many letters. In offering the recipe he does not lay claim to any medical knowledge, but gives it just as he received it.

That old-established rural hotel, the Royal Oak, has again changed proprietors, it being now in the hjinds of Mr J. T. Smith, who is prepared to welcome his old acquaintances, and to minister to the comfort and convenience of travellers to that beautiful part of the suburbs of Auckland in which the hotel is located.