The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1702, 2 August 1875, Page 2

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1875.

vtl «*£* Cmuse *?"*lackß assistance, Aai ton rood that we can <io.

That the Government have presented a very attractive picture in the finance of abolition is undeniable, and if they could but afford the assurance that the promise would be equalled by the performance, in no part of New Zealand would abolition have reason to be hailed with heartier plaudits than in the province of Auckland. The city itself receiving an equivalentiioits local rates from the consolidated revenue, and thia supplemented

by all the publicans' and auctioneers' license fees obtained within its bounds, would be in a position of such affluence that there would be no holding the Councillors, If such a condi^ tion of things could only be secured for a permanence, he would be a fool of a citizen who did not heave up his hat and hurrah for abolition. The Thames, with not only all its Goldfields revenue, but its license fees and grants from consolidated revenue would have no further grievance, and deputationising would cease to be. The rural districts with grants of rymnd for I pound from land fund and pound for pound from the consolidated revenue, and with the publicans and dogs fees, billiard licenses and scab fines, would become perfect Arcadias, inhabited by a happy peasantry, to whom the struggles of the pilgrim fathers of New Zealand will be atraditionof the past. Altogether the scheme has a rosy tint and the wonder is how abolition can do it all. Neither the Abolition Bill nor Local Government Bill nor the Financial Statement conveys any idea how the new revenues are to be raised, and that such new and grand results cannot arise without new revenues is as sure as that ex niliilo nihil fit. While all the ordinary and well known sources of provincial revenues —of land funds in the South, and license fees in the North are generously distributed among local bodies, the consolidated revenue takes up the sustenance of all institutions, and almost all works that hitherto have been the main burthen of the province. The sop is altogether too sweet to be wholesome, and excess of generosity breeds suspicion. There is such a similarity between thepresentbid for popularity, and that promise of large and fixed capitation allowance which was the purchase of consenttothegreatrailwaypolicy, that men are driven to the conviction that when the purposa is served and the provinces are abolished, these grand endowments if available for a year will very speedil ybe withdrawn. It i3to be observed that local i'ees and revenues are not to be collected and disbursed by local authority ; they are to be paid into public account and thence transmitted to local authorities as capitation money has been paid. It is needless to say that should a pinch come to the Colonial Treasury and money is wanted to pay interest on the loans or do other necessary work, those local revenues on public accouat will be stopped in tranntu, as the capitation fund was stopped, and with quite as little compunction of conscience, and that such pinch will come is as sm*e as the assurance that the public works expenditure is to end in two years. From the borrowed millions flowing over the land, it was reasonable that a portion should have returned to the Treasury, and that the reveuues should have been inflated. When the millions c?ase to flow, the Treasury will have a vacuum that must be filled. That our vaticinations may prove false, we sincerely hops. Abolition of the provinces must come, ani come speedily, nor is it, we believe, in the power of mm to stay its comiug ; but we believe that there will be too much common sense in the community to be lured by the phantasmagoria of beautiful things, made to surround abolition, so as to swallow this huge, undigested, and indigestible scheme.

The following produce telegram dated London, 22nd July, has been -received by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company :—"Up to date 250,000 bales of

wool have arrived for next sales, and there is a little private enquiry. The tallow market is quiet, mutton, £42; beef, £40. Leather marker easier ; 7000 sides Australian sole changed hands since last report. Copper dull at £86 for Burra and £80 for Wallaroo. Unfavourable weather is afFecfcina the wheat crops, and rendering the market firmer ; Adelaide quoted at 555; New Zealand, at 51s per quarter."

We are informed on good authority that Mr Vesey Stewart will probably be a candidate for the representation of East Coast in the General Assembly.

We notice that the enterprising proprietors of the WaiJcato Times have commenced alterations in their columns, which will give largely increased space.

The Solicitors of Auckland have determined to close their respective offices tomorrow as a mark of respect for the late District Judge Beckham.

The members Jof the Victoria Company, A.R.V. are convened for monthly inspection on Tuesday evening next in. grey uniform, when the Snider rifles will be issued. Members in arrear with their subscriptions will be required to clear off such matters. The Company assemble in Victoria-streefc and march to the drill-shed.

The Templars' weekly entertainment was well attended on Saturday evening last, at the Wellesley-street Young Men's Rooms, several excellent speeches and songs formed part of the programme.

The operetta of the "Crimson Scarf," by members of the Choral Society, is postponed until Thursday evening on account of the illness of Mrs. Mitchell.

The beautiful scenes of Ireland, known a3 Baker's Hibernicon, was largely patronised on Saturday evening at the City Hall. The beautiful songs, from Moore and other poets, were received with acclamations of joy, while the pictures of the historical and poetic parts of the land of Sheridan, Curran, and Grattan, revived pleasant memories and pleasant thoughts of the scenes far away. The Messrs Baker will give their unique and mirthful entertainment this evening at Onehuaga, and, on Wednesday evening, they will appear in the City Hall for the last time, for the benefit of St. Mary's Orphanage, previous to their final departure by the s.s. Hero. '//V! .'

The first appearance of the Fakir of Oolu to-night, in the Prince of Wales Theatre, is anticipated with a great amount of interest, and from such reports as have come under our notice, we believe the people will not be disappointed. The entertainment, with its wonderful illusions and musical associations, has elicited great applause in every country where the doctor has put in an appearance. The most remarkable features of the performance are said to be the entranced young lady and the fairy fountain, the lady being suspended without any visible support. I'he doctor has recently exhibited in the cities of the South, where crowded audiences have expressed admiration and wonder at the illusions unaccountable which passed before their wakeful gaze, like evanescent dreams or pictures from the Arabian Nights, with all the hues of eastern romance about them. The Neio Zealand Times (not an' indifferent authority) says that the Fakir of Oolu eclipses ail the wizards from the four quarters of the globe, and under his enchanting hand all their wonderful deeds sink into insignificance. We await therefore with pleasing anticipations the first appearance of the Fakir of Oolu, the "great thaumaturgist of the age."

The invitatioa night of Mr Joseph Brown's part singing class, will be held this evening at eight o'clock in the large room of the Young Men's Christian Association.

We are indebted to Mr Walter X Watson, a passenger by the Hero, for a file of Australian papers.

The Kyber Pass road, from one end to the other, is benefittin^ by a variet3' of improvements. A good footpaih is made nearly the whole length of the road ; at the top on the south side, Mr Bartlett has built a substantial dwelling-house, adjoining which, in course of erection, is the villa residence which was arranged to be built by our late respected fellow citizen Mr. T. Macready ; lower down the road is the Great .Northern Brewery, an imposing structure of stone. The premises have of late been extended by excavating into the rock, and forming a fine storage department, enclosed with ornamental iron railing and gates. This brewery has not only satisfied the palates of the Auckland people, but has proved a great blessing, through its unfailing supply of water, which was obtained during late trying seasons of drought, by the public. Another marked improvement is visible at this part of the road, inasmuch as Messrs Seccombe and Son have purchased from Mr. B. X Turner a few acres of ground below the Brewery, with a frontage to the Kyber Pass. This spot has long been distinguished for its unsightliness, whiie pigs, goats, and dogs, have been for years a pest to those travelling with horses past the place; the old dilapidated and dirty sheds, which have by a miracle withstood many a gale, are now no more having been broken up and burnt; the scoria walks are being rebuilt, the ground ploughed up, and the whole estate is undergoing a transformation which will greatly add to the respectability of the place. Lower down ia is the Captain Cook Hotel, with its famous drinking trough for horses, the water in which horse 3 are knawn to prefer to any other; further on Mr. Edwards has built new premises and another shop is in course of erection on one of the next allotments, and Mr. Heron's neat residence is the last house : facing the Kyber .Pass road is the Royal George Hotel, with the new and tastefully designed verandah, more than fifty feet in length, with its three burner gas lamps, enlightening the dark shades of the road past the Quarries leading to Parnell, feeding and drinking troughs for horses are also furnished by the enterprising proprietor.

We would draw the attention of those who take an interest in the furtherance of intellectual pursuits, and especially of all young men who desire to improve their minds and increase their knowledge, as well as imparting a similar benefit to others, that to-night at balf-past seven o'clock, the St. James' Mutual Improvement Association commence their fifth session. Judging from the programme wo should say that they will have a most successful session, as it comprises subjects of very great interest and variety, and several debates which, from their titles, will certainly lead to an animated discussion. We would heartily recommend it to those who have a prediliction in this path, and visitors, who are cordially invited, will be sure to benefit by the visit.

A special permit was granted to the captain of the Hero by the Collector of Customs this morning, to put out fruib and potatoes at once on coming alongside.

A telegram was received to-day from Melbourne by the Hero giving the sad intelligence, that Mr Robert Stone, the father of Mr C. J. Stone, of this city, and of Mr R. Stone, shipbuilder, at the Thames, died at Brighton, near Melbourne, on the 24th July, aged S9. The day is, singularly enough, the same as that on which Mr William Stone died. Mr Robert Stone was resident in Parnell in the year 1847. He was one of the first European settlers in that neighbourhood. Since IS4B he resided for some time in Latrobe-street, Melbourne, but finally removed to Brighton to be near many members of his family who reside there. Mr Robert Stone was one of tho earliest colonist 3to Melbourne, going there in 1839, and his portrait, with that of Mr C. J. Stone, appears in Mr Church's portraits of old colonists published in Melbourne in IS7O.

On Saturday night or early on Sunday morning, some sneaking thief found his way into the garden of Mr Marks, of Hobsonstreet, and stole two beautiful camellias. As this is not the first theft of tho kind which has recently been perpetrated in Hobson-street, we hope the thief or thieves will shortly be brought to justice and exhibited to the public gaze.

The prevalence of'sicknesss in Newton has determined the chairman, of the Karangahape Board to take active steps for the suppression of all nuisances. One resident has been served with the following notice :—" Sir, — Complaints having been made respecting your closets I have carefully inspected the same and find them to be a quagmire of filth and fever. Therefore take notice that if the said nuisance is not removed and thoroughly cleansed, not covered over as at present, but cleaned out to my satisfaction within fortyeight hours from this date I will enter an action against you under the Health Act by virtue of powers vested in me by-Shis Honor the Superintendent.—By order of the Board, Thomas Barnes, Chairman and Health Officer, Karangahape District Board."

Messrs E. and H. Isaac's sale of goods as per advertisement is without reserve. The goods will be sold to the highest bidder. This is a rare chance for to stock.

The fr.ee entertainment given under the auspices of Good Templary, on Saturday evening, in the large Hall of the Young Men's Christian Association was a great success. The Temperance Band, under its able leader Brother McComish, rendered several pieces of music in the street prior to the opening of the entertainment. Mr Edwards presided on the occasion, and in a neat speech congratulated the committee on the success that had attended their efforts to supply a good evening's amusement, as evinced by the necessity of opening the large room ; and trusted still larger numbers would be induced to spend their Saturday nights there instead of elsewhere. The programme, which was exceedingly well gone through, consisted of the following recitations, songs, duetts, trios, commencing with the Bth ode Good Templary :—Music, full band ; song, Mr Hitchins ; trio, Messrs. Edwards and Redfern ; recitation, Mr Jenkins ; song, Miss Woods ; music, band ; song, Mr Redfern ; address, Mr Tremain ; song, Miss Edwards. Part II: Music, band ; recitation, Mr McDermott ; song, Miss Sinclair ; recitation, Mr Eedfern ; song. Miss ColemanU' The young ladies who so kjndly assist at these entertainments, and realljr rendei\such good service, deserve the thinks of the community for their disinterested kindness. Mr Redfern who presided at'the piano, and Mr McComisb with his fine band, are deserving of all credit. These entertainments should afford amusement for many who scarcely know how to spend Saturday night inexpensively.

We have to acknowledge receipt of ss. for the family of the late Mr. Doble from a "Friend."

On Saturday a well-contested match between the Parnell and Grafton-road clubs took place in the Domain. The Parnell club at the start of the game mafle a " grand burst," and carried the Graf ton players (who were about half the weight of their opponents) entirely before them. Prom this opening the Parnell thought they were going to have it all their own way with the small boys ; but with good play and a determination not to be beaten, the|Parnell club were driven back to where they came from, and had decidedly the worst of it for the rest of the game, which at the close showed one touch-down for Parnell, with one goal and three touch-downs for Grafton.

Mr Crocker, Victoria-street, wishes us to call attention to his sale of boots and shoes which is going on at his premises. The goods he has recently purchased a great sacrifice, and he gives the benefit to his customers. The children's boots are specially cheap, and ladies' and gentlemen's boots of quality and prices unsurpassed.

Mr W. C. Dennes the well-known importer of sewing machines, announces by advertisement in another column his intention to give a lecture on these indispensable aid to household work, when a valuable machine will be given for the best essay on "Needlework" written by a young lady under seventeen years of age. This announcement should create a flutter of excitement and friendly emulation among the fair residents of the city, and provide a pleasant evening's entertainment on the occasion chosen for testing the merits of these literary dissertations on a most important subject.

The Committee of the Young Men s Christian Association, in thanking the friends who so liberally responded to the recent appeal on behalf of the Association, beg to append a statement shewing the total receipts and disbursements. The list of subscriptions being so lengthy is, from motives of economy, not published m detail, but may be sesn at the Library: - Amount of special subscriptions as per list, £483 18s. ; net proceeds of Choral Society's concert given last February, £17 19s. 3d. Total, £501 17s. 3d, Amount paid in redaction of mortgage, £350 ; interest to May 1, 1575, with arrears, £106 12s 9d ; balance carried to building account, £45 4s. 6d. Total, £501 17s. 3d.