OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 335, 24 November 1875, Page 3

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

(prom oue own correspondent.) Auckland, November 20. Rattier a lively econo occurred in Queen street yesterday, the actors in which were two gentlemen well known in literary circles, namely Mr Langbridgo, one of the proprietors of the Waikato Times, and some fifteen months ago editor of the Bay of Plenty Times, and Mr C. 0. Montrose, who up to the last few days has been editor of the first named paper. I must preface my description of the scene by stating that when Mr Montrose went to the Waikato Times his energy and general enthusiasm in his work won the hearts of the settlers, and in less than a couple of months he became a big man, in fact much bigger than either of the proprietors. But his discretion is not equal to his ability, and forgetful of his subordinate capacity Mr Montrose preferred to follow his own dictates rather than condescend to follow the lead or advice of his employers. This brought about in the office a state of affairs contrary to that which existed outside, and when the variance had reached such a pass that articles were inserted by Mr Montrose totally opposed to the policy of the proprietors, the inevitable £< bust up” ensued in the friendly relationship of the parties,, and Mr Montrose got notice to quit. This gentleman and Mr Langbridge have been in town some days, and early this week it was announced that Mr Montrose intended suing Mr Langbridge for breach of agreement; the declaration of the action being that the engagement was for one year, whereas it was in force only for three or four mouths. Yesterday afternoon the litigants met in the neighbourhood of the Cross office, and the public were slightly entertained by Mr Montrose making a rush at Mr Langbridge, at

the same time flourishing a suspicious looking blue document in his hand and exclaiming, “ That’s what I’ve got for you,” “ That’s what I’ve got for you.” Mr Laogbridge, as might be expected, was taken ail aback at the singular rencontre, and as collectedly as be could dc rounded an explanation, “ Here, I’ll shew you the seal of the Court,” cried Mr Montrose, pointing with one band to the document in the other, “ This is for you, Sir, and you’d better take it.” Mr Langbridgo wishing to cut the row short, took the writ, for such it proved to be, ami retired to peruse it in the Cross office. It is generally thought that Mr Montrose might have chosen a more dignified way of asserting his wrongs, if ho has any, and the a flair will scarcely do him any good. I suppose the next we shall hear of the suit will be in the Supreme Court, The damages are laid at .€SOO. Messrs Lusk and Beale have been engaged as solicitors for the plaintiff, and Messrs Jackson and Russell, with Mr Whitaker as counsel, for the defence. On Wednesday last Messrs J. C. Firth, F. Whitaker, and T. Morrin waited upon Dr Pollen as a deputation to urge upon tho Government the importance of at once taking steps to open up a road between Cambridge and tho Lake country. In urging tho pressing need of tho road Mr Firth slated a fact which if confirmed is about as good news as any heard in Auckland for many months, which was that the Ngatiraukawas had withdrawn all opposition to tho opening up of the country. Dr Pollen said ho had not been officially informed of this by Major Mair, but that if it was found to be correct tho Government would certainly employ tho Armed Constabulary upon tho work at once, as it was only from the fear of a disturbance that the road had not been begun already. Dr Pollen promised to communicate with Major Mair upon tho subject at once, and as Firth is a man who rarely speaks without knowing what ho is saying, 1 think it is probable wo shall have tho road started in a month or two* A good deal of interest was manifested in the assault case at EllorsUe Gardens, which came on for hearing on Tuesday last. Mr Robert Graham is such an enterprising old fellow and spends his money so freely in venture a which if they benefit himself must benefit the public too that there was very general indignation felt that a young man like Mr Hampton should retaliate a fancied wrong by nearly stunning tho old man with his umbrella. Hampton laid a counter-charge of assault against Mr Graham, but his witnesses failed most cgregiously to substantiate it, and it was at once dismissed. For tho attack on Mr Graham Mr Barstow fined Hampton £5 and costs, amounting altogether to nearly £2O, and told him that if it had not been that ho thought it just possible that ho might have received an accidental blow, he should not have deemed a pecuniary punish* mont sufficient.

Signs of the approaching elections are getting thicker every day. Swanson has issued hi* address to the electors of Newton ; Farnall and Moat have declared themselves in the same way for Rodney; Rees lias strenuously denied that lie means giving way to Clark for City East; Mr Troup Ims issued an address to the electors of Franklin. It is said that Mr George Holdship is going in for tho Bay of Islands; if so, it will be on the Opposition platform. Nothing has yet been elicited from Sir George Grey as to tho Opposition programme. Tho public mind is exercised to discover whether the policy is to bo that disclosed in McAndrow’s pamphlet, tho argument of which was telegraphed up here on Thurs* day. In its advocacy of Insular Separation with a Federal Council, its distinguishing features are so exactly characteristic of the scheme expected from Sir George that I think (hero is little doubt wo have tho right key at last.

The Board of Education have been at tho Government again for more money. This time it is for school buildings. On Monday Colonel Haul!,ain and Dr Campbell doputalionised Dr Pollen, and told a most pitiable story as to (ho straits to which tho Hoard was reduced to find money for the most necessary works. It seems that tho rate now being collected will bo wholly swallowed up by tho overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand, and the new rate cannot be levied before April next. Tho Government have had already to provide nearly all the current expenses of tho Board, and Dr Pollen staled that although £50,000 had been voted for school buildings, yet the loan out of which it was to come had not been raised, and it would bo impossible to pay over Auckland’s portion at once. Col. Haultain remarked in the course of the interview that for some months tho Board had been so deficient of funds that tho paying of teachers' salaries had been quite uncertain, and only the other day they had to refuse £5 to provide for common decency at one of tho country schools. Dr Pollen at last said tho Government were willing to do what they could, and if the [Board would consult and determine upon tho smallest sum it could do with till Parliament met ho would undertake to try and get tho money. The Board met the next day, and it was decided to nek for £IO,OOO, trusting to get a similar sum from the loan to be raised on tho security of tho Old Supremo Court site.

Good Templarism is not if seems an unmixod blessing. On Thursday an eloquent female in the Police Court was declaiming the wrongs she had endured at the hands of her husband, “ He was bud enough, your worship," said she, “ when he was a drunkard, but since ho became a Good Templar he’s been a perfect devil." I take it that this view of Good-Tern-plarism may be accepted m an illustration of those lines of Dr Watts’:— “For Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do." When an old toper gives up drink, he, to a groat extent, finds “Othello’s occupation gone," and turns his hand on his wife for want of something else to do. Our Horticultural Spring Show begins to-day, and extends over to-morrow. The exhibits are displayed in a largo marquee erected in the Government House Grounds, and look very pretty. The Show, I hear, is.well attended, but the number and quality of t!i© entries do not bear favorable com parison‘(with the preceding shows,most probably on account of ike late season. The Society have a brass band on the ground, and the arrangements are generally very good. One of the features of the exhibition is the flowers and vegetables sent in by the boys at the Naval Training School at Kohimarama, which are most creditable to the youthful gardeners, who have an excellent tutor, in this and other reepects, in Mr Speight, who himself takes several prizes for his beautiful plants. Not before it is needed, St Paul’s Church

lis about to bo renovated and repaired I externally am! internally nt an expense of ! .£OOO,* which lias-beoa raised by a Committee } of the Congregation. j We are to hate another new block of j buildings in Queen Street, nest to the Bank jof New Zealand, on the south side. At present the site is occupied by a half dozen } tumble down looking wooden shops, which j would go like a match if a fire occurred any where in their neighbourhood. Their [ removal will take away a great eyesore in our 1 principal thoroughfare, and by the description j which I have received of the proposed new buildings, the substitution will bo an ini' portant addition to our already numerous street improvements. I have just heard that; it is more than likely Sir George will resign his seat for City* West to stand for the Thames. The object of this is to secure one of the Gelde field scats for the Opposition, for Sir George, it is thought by his party, would be certain to get in there, while bis nominee would ba pretty well sure to be successful for City West, Johnny Sheehan would roost likely be the substitute, as he is not in very higlu favor for Rodney, and Farnell and Moat are already io the field there against him.