The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1708, 9 August 1875, Page 2

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1875.

Far the e»uae that, lacks *"9inx:icsi For the wronj Uip.l iimjs wiiai'i War the future in the diaT.;:icr. Aju»". Liid seod that vrt can at.

We sincerely hope that the electors of Eden who meet tp-night to consider the Government abolition proposals will look at the question broadly and intelligently, and will not be earned away by the proffered bribe of £2 for every £1 of rates gathered within the highway districts which embrace a large portion of the area constituting the electorate* There is, we understand, an intention to make the meeting a "cut and dried" one, and the Herald tells us this morning that the resolutions are already prepared by the promoters urging on abolition, but we do not believe that the free and independent of Eden are to be led by the nose in that way when called together to discuss a great public question fairly upon its merits. We would hav e them to remember distinctly that this is not a question of the continuance of provincialism. As the Wellington correspondent of the Cross telegraphed a few days ago, there is no provincial paity now. Even Sir George Grey admits that the provinces as at present constituted are effete, and an alteration must be made. If the General Government bill had provided for the total absorption of all colonial revenues and their distribution among local bodies equitably, we should have hailed the measure as the best under the circumstances that could be brought down ; but the proposed bills only continue provincialism in a more obnoxious form than a^ present. .The i!and revenues of the South a re still secured to the provinces, and the representation of the South is to be increased so that the hope of securing justice to this pare of the colony will be rendered more difficult than ever. Some people have supposed that the provision which provides for the collection of the land revenue by the General Government is a new one and a step towards the ultimate appropriation of that fund for colonial purposes. This is in no way the case; ua. der the existing system the General Government collect all land revenues and pay to the provinces as they will, under the new bill, pay to the provincial districts. The System is precisely the same as the existingone. An able letter, in another column, so fully deals with the question that we really need not refer to it at length here. There is one feature of the question, however, which we think has not been sufficiently brought out. It is quite possible to distinguish .between the financial and adminis" trative provisions of the Government proposals. If the Government is in a position to pay these endowments during the ensuing year, there is ho obstacle in the way of payment even without the abolitionparfc of their proposals becoming law this session. Their appropriation for provincial services, apart;

irom tnese giants/i^aßlMgea^^resent Let the meeting accept their money in the meantime, and their law after they have seen whether it will be to their advantage. It will be an everlasting disgrace to the people of this province if they pursue any course calculated to obstruct Sir George Grey in the battle he is fighting for our right3-if they sell their birthright to the South for a mess of pottage. We would suggest for adoption by the meet, ing to-night the following resolution, which sufficiently affirms the principles of local self-Government and endowment without committing the people to an endorsement of an infamons injustice to this part of the colony which Has steadily depressed Auckland ever since the memorable year of 1856 :— '■' ■ 'i'ad.'ftll »• .■,•■'*■;:■-■ vrvr ;.,» Xf.i/?,C'l''? s'>».?-.S?f^ ' A- ■' 'i "■-.! ■■. ■ • ~'■' '■'. . ™ Wv--1 M ' ■'■"'', *>;■>. '■':;< i' ! »*• ■ • ' ' ''<* . ■-, -v^/1' '• •

] A very good thing appears in the Cross this morning in a sub-leader contrasting the prosperity of Victoria with that of New Zealand, which is attributed by our contemporary to the Shire Council and Highway Board system. If, argues our contemporary, this has done so much for Victoria, " may we not reasonably hope that similar results will flow frora the adaptation of a like policy to New Zealand." Now, for the last five years, is it not a fact that, session after^session we have had Mr' Vogel in his financial statements adducing elaborate calculations to shew that New Zealand is by far the most prosperous colony in Australasia Appended to Major Atkinson's financial statement; this year we again have Mr Vogel's table re-produced shewing that whereas, while the exports of produce firm Victoria are equal only to £12 19=) 2d per head thoseof JSew Zealandamouutto £17 9s yd,and this on the basis of a seven years' calculation. If our contemporary is right, and Victoria is, in proportion to population, a larger producer than JMew Zealand, Mr Vogel's statement must be wrong. But (continues our contemporary) look to New South Wales : see how Victoria has lefc that colony behind, and mark the proof of our arguments. Will the Cross inform us wherein the system of Government in New Bouth Wales differs from that which it advocates as the panacea for all our ills ? We really do not know whether to attiibute these silly statements to ignorance on the part of the writer, or a presumption by him of his ability to impose upon the ignorance and want of thought among his readers ; but either supposition is not calculated to call forth any great feeling of admiration. The system of Government in Victoria, as everyone knows who knows anything of the subject, has been to concentrate population in great cities, and leave the laud to ruuholders. Nearly onethird of the entire population of the colony live in Melbourne ; Ballarat, Sandhurst, and

other cities also contain large quotas of the drones of the colonial population. 'J ho total exports of produce from. Victoria, shewn by Mr Vogel's table on the basis of a seven year average amounted to £9,433,103, of which £9,322,123 were gold and wool; the agricultural produce expoited from that colony yearly was £100,918 while New Zealand with its small population exported £152,101 in addition to its £1,859,838 wool. The system of Government in Victoria thus tended steadily to crush the true agriculturalist and elevate the squatter. In 1807 — seven years ago—Victoria exported £122,912 worth of agricultural produce and in ISGS, £194,350 but in 1873 the export fallen to £91,982. The Cross has suggested this comparison as applicable to the present situation ; let the intelligent reader say what these figures, given on the authority of Mr Vogel, tend to prove. The true secret of Victorian progress is not its Government but its gold, which forms more than half its gross exports. So dissatisfied are the true industrial classes with the Government that repeated threats have been made of a large emigration from thence to New Zealand.

We would draw the special attention of Farnell electors to the announcement in another column that their meeting to consider the abolition proposals has been, severed from the one at Newmarket to-night, and will be held in the Parnell Hall on Wednesday. To the Editor : Sir, —Will you allow me through the "medium of your valuable paper to return my sincere thanks to my fellowtradesmen coachmakers who so liberally sub-

scribed for my benefit on Saturday last ; and also his Worship the Mayor and to other

benevolent friends who have assisted me. I am, &c, G. Pate.

The business of the District Court, which had been accumulating for some time, was unusually heavy this morning. On taking his seat, Mr Fenton informed the Court that he only acted temporary until the appointment of aDistrict Judge in the place of the late Mr Beckham. The meeting of the members of the Acclimatisation Society called for to-day lapsed for want of a quorum, Mr. James iiurtt and the Secretary being the only persons present. Mr. Firth was prevented from attending through indisposition, and other members being at Wellington. " Industry Versus Genius." Such is the title of the debate which will occupy the attention and bring out the literary and oratorical abilities of the members of at.

James' Mutual Improvement Association,

From such an extensive and interesting subject we would auger a very good discussion and also a good attendance. The meeting commences at half-past seven, and visitors are cordially invited.

The latest story from Howick, relates to a great mistake made by an old dame who had made up her mind to ride by train from Ellerslie into Auckland. Arriving a few minutes too late to catch the same, she sat by the wayside waiting for it. The day was bright and warm, and our elderly friend was exceeding tired. She was not what is com.monly termed a tea-drinker, it could not therefore be traced to that mild vice, that she was very drowsy ; she fell asleep nevertheless, and woke to hear the clatter and noise of a train which drew up at the station. Without a thought as to the destination of the train, the old dame hurriedly rushed into it, which moved off en route for Onehunga.

To the Editor : Sir, —As the annual meeting of the Resjatta Committee is to be held on Tuesday evening, I would suggest, through the medium of your valuable paper, that one or two races be set apart, next Regatta for youths under twenty-one year of age. Now, as we have three rowing clubs in the vicinity of Auckland, with a goodly proportion of the rising generation, I feel confident that nothing would do more good for this most manly of sports than to cause a spirit of rivalry between the clubs. Hoping that the incoming committee will think well of this suggestion, and let us see at the forthcoming regatta what ourcolonialyouths can do in the way of pulling.—Takapuna.

Entertainments will be given to-night and to-morrow night at the Parnell Hall of a varied character, by Mr., Mrs., and Miss Thornton, assisted by Mr William Baker and Mr Verner, of the Hibernicon Company.

The reduction of prices of admission to the Prince of Wales Theatre on Saturday

evening had the effect of filling the house. The representations to which we have daily referred were of the sain'e, remarkable and illusionary charaoteb, tricks which elude detection and Excite wonder, the entranced lady, and the beautiful fountain with its

ever-changing sparkling hues This evening a new feature will be introduced into the entertainment, viz., the Doctor's most astonishing and startling illusion, entitled " Anoetos, the Incomprehensible," which illustrates a legend of the Haiti* niountains, and has been eulogised, by thb Australian press aa a s'eeile b'eVond anything attempted by atiiy illusionist before. Another feature will be of a spiritistic nature, including the sealed packet mystery, calculated to astonish even the Davenport brothers and startle the most ardent spirits of Ai\ierica,

We havp received from Mr Kowe, the Castdrns shipping clerk, the sum of £14 18s Gd., being the total of subscriptions received

. by him on behalf of Captain Doble, late of | the cutter Hero. The list of subscribers is j lying at our office and can be inspeoted by 1 anyone who wishes to see it.

% An accident occurred on Saturday evening I on board- the Devonport, steamer, in crossing j from 'the '.North Shore to the Queen-street \ wharf, which caused a great deal of merrij ment among a group of gentlemen who had, lit w.is understood, been to a funeral. These ; gentlemen were chatting together, enjoying \ the fragrant weed, when an alarm of fire

■ was raised, and a passenger pointed to Mr ll— s' umbrella ; " Nonsense !'* Baid Mr £t —: "where." " You smoke awfully, at all events," returned the man who

had raised the alarm. At this moment a flame bursb through the umbrella close to the nosizle, -when upon opening the silken weather protector one half of it was rendered completely useless. The flame was at onoe smothered, and a round of laughter followed, ia which the unfortunately owner sorrowfully joined. The accident was caused either by a spark from the funnel or a companion's pipe. The Alexandra correspondent of the Waikato Times gives particulars of the feasting at the funeral of the youngest daughter of the late William Turner, beyond the confiscated boundary, and says of the singular practice of feasting at native funerals, " It is a great pity that the natives in this part ef the country, do not take an example from the Thames people, who have determined to have no more feasting at their funerals, as they undoubtedly cause not only great trouble and expense to the friends, but fre-

quently absolute poverty, I know many

instances lately one for instance, a native named Tawhia, waa very comfortably off some four months ago, since which time he has lost bis six children by death, one after another, he and all his relations have now

not a thing to call their own. they have been

completely eaten out by their sympathizing friends. A great number of deaths at the

Kuiti from faver and diptberia the latter disease being very prevalent just now.

The Relieving Officer begs to acknowledge the receipt of £5 per Mr Wilson for Old

Men's Refuge, the gift of JEnire Nous,

Amongst the items of town talk is a recent elopement of a young medical gentlemen (writes a Melbourne correspondent) with a young heiress in the position of what, in England, we call a ward in chancery. Another inexhaustible subject is the dress and doings of two or three young women belonging to the " wealthy iower orders," overgrown tomboys of mannish taßtes, who have cut their hair short, and have donned a costume as nearly resembling that of men as the law will allow. These foolish young women walk and drive about, seeking to attract as much attentiont as possible by their uncouth dress and impudent manners; and, indeed, amongst circles of people as foolish as themselves their movements are an engrossing subject of converaa-

tion. A singular affair lately occurred at Sandhurst, where a young woman—a barmaid—who was happy in the possession of a luxuriant head of hair, was treated in a ruffianly manner by two men, one of whom held her while the other cutoff her hair close to her head. After this had supplied Sandhurst people with talk and matter of speculation for some time, and was well-nigh forgotten, an imbecile Presbyterian minister revived the subject last Sunday by a sermon on " Modern Hair Cutting," in which, taking as his text the shearing of the locks of Samson, he applied this to the case of the young woman, who was a member of his congregation, and whom he constantly referred to as "our bereaved sister." A more idiotic instance of what has been appropriately termed " the foolishness of preaching, " it would be hard to iind in ancient or modern

times,

The return of pauperism, which was issued lately in England, shows what is the invariable course in the winter season, that the relief lists increased as tha new year advanced. At Christmas the number of indoor and outdoor paupers was 750,415 ; in the first week of January the total was 757,512 ; in the second week 762,900 ; in the

third week 764,830 ; in the fourth week the

number receded about 1000, being 763,847 ; and in the fifth week 765,408 ; so that January closed with 15,000 more recipients of poor relief in England than were on the hands of the guardians at Christmas, 1874. Paupers in lunatic asylums and vagrants are not counted in these numbers. Compared, however, with the corresponding date of 1874, the present document offers a satisfactory contrast. At the close of January last the decrease, compared with the same week of 1874, was not much under 25,000, or 3.2 per cent. The decrease of pauperism was general throughout the divisions of the kingdom, though in one or two instance the diminution was insignificant.— Pall Mall Gazette. Old Time first covers our heads with hair, Afterwards quietly mows them bare ; First cuts our teeth with a mighty fuss, Anon takes care that our teeth " cut" us ; First manufactures us nimble legs, And then converts them to " stiff old pegs." Coming to earth with squalls and tears, Pleasure beguiled a few brief years, Harrassed thereafter by care and doubt, Fighting- for much we might do without, Hoping and trusting for bass to come, So, in amazement, we reach the tomb.

The members of the Auckland Regatta Club, will hold their annual meeting at the club-room, Thames hotel, to-morrow evening, at half-past seven, for the election of a com-

mittee and the general business of the Club,

That useful body of men, the journeyman bakers, held a meeting on Saturday evening at the British Hotel, for the purpose of arranging for their annnal ball and supper. It was finally settled that the affair Bhall come off on the evening of the 7th September, and an acting-committee was elected.

The monthly inspection of the Victoria Rifles will be held to-morrow evening in the new drill-shed, at half-past seven o'clock. Members must appear in full dress, with arms and accoutrements. At the close of the inspection a meeting will be held at which all members are invited to be present.

The chimney of Mr George S. Graham in Grafton Road, was on fire yesterday morning about nine o'clock, but fortunately was extinguished before damage 'was done.

Between nine and ten o'clock on Saturday night a narrow escape from fire occurred in the house of Mrs. Herbert through the carelessness of her nurse, who in arranging the bed-clothes around the invalid, set fire to the curtains. Mr. Cadman and other neighbours, hearing the screams of the nurse, rendered immediate assistance, and succeeded in subduing the flames before they had got too great a hold, or a large conflagration would have ensued. The wind was blowing tolerably hard at the time.

Owingjto the uncertain state of the weather the Hobson Company muster at the drill-shed instead of Head Quarters as usual for monthly inspection to-morrow evening; full dress with rifles and belts.

The Good Templars attracted a.,large audience on Saturday evening at the Young Men' 3 Christian Association, the hall being quite full. Mr Tremain occupied the chair and called upon Mr Bushcombe, who opened the proceedings with several selections on the piano. The Chairman then delivered a speech on the importance of the cause of temp'.ary in connection with human progress Mr Marson and several other members inteie3ted the audience ivith songs A young member gave a recitation. A humourous comic fcctig was well given, being a remote parody on the adventures of Robinson Crusoe. . A Suffolk poem, "The Broken Crutch," from the works of the poet Bloomfield Was listened to with much attention. Several ballads, readings, and musical pieces helped to make up a very pleasant and instructive entertainment. We are glad to notice that these Saturday evenings for the people are doing good both in a moral and physical point of view, and we hope they will receive the countenance of those for whose special benefit they arefcontinued.

The performing members of the Choral Society meet this evening to practice the "Last Judgment."

We would remind our readers that owing to the last practice before the performance of Sphor's Last Judgment, taking place this evening, Mr Brown will be unable to be present at the part singing class. The usual practice will take placa on Monday next, bfiirg the commencement of the new quarter. Musical people who profess a slight knowledge of music should join this class.

The Chinese occasionally betray a fiendish ingenufty in their mode of committing capital crimes. A few days ago one of the native newspapers iv Shanghai reported that the body era woman had been found crucified on a shutter or doorway, floating in the river outside Woosung. The head of a man was attached to the waist of the woman's body, and both were taken to the district city of Paoshan. The ciriumstances of the crime have not been discovered, but it ia conjectured that the poor crucified wretch had been faithless, and thab this revolting revenge had been taken by the injured husband and his friends.— London Telegraph.

Mr Walford Briggs, whose decease we recorded in Friday's issue, was interred in the Church of England Ceinetry on Saturday afternoon. The ileoeaaed gentleman was a native of Liverpool, and until the outbreak of the Civil war in the United States held a leadiDg position as a cotton merchant in JMew Orieans. The ravages of the war, however, deprived him of his fortune, and he came to this colony seven years ago, and invested a considerable sum in the various claims at the Thames then popular. For some time past hs has been a

clerk in the office of Provincial Treasurer. He .died of a pulmonary affection after a| cry short illness. Mr V. E. Mice, Mr Thomas Water*-1, and other Provincial officials attended the funeral. The firbt part of the service was conducted in the Trinity Church, when the choir chanted ihe 39th psalm, Mr Rice presiding at the harmonium. At the grave, the choir sang the,24Bfch hymn. The Rev. Joseph Bates conducted the funeral service, arJul we have rarely heard it rendered more effectively than on this occasion.

Liputensnt Conder, the officer in charge of the English Survey of Palestine, reports the discovery of the City and Cave of Adullum. Last year M. Clermont Ganneau found that the name " Ayd el Mieh " was given to a ruin in the " Shephelah," a low country of Judah. Further research has led to the already given conclusion. The ruiDS consist of the remains of dwellings, tombs, aqueduct?, fortifications, and wells still open. The city stands in a commanding position in tne supposed Valley of E!ah, ami was well placed as a stronghold against the Philistines. Outside of the walls are a series of caves, still inhabited, and sufficiently Urge to hold David's followers The ruin is eight miles north-east of BeitJibrin, which the explorers believe to be Libnah. The ancient city of Hareth is also thought to have been found in the immediate vicinity of tLe caves.