AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1276, 18 March 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[FROM OTJfI OWJST COBBESPONDENT.] Our gold returns are now only small, and scrip is consequently duller of sale week after week. Caledonians are of no account now, paying no dividends. The field needs another spurt. The Waikato election has ended in the unopposed return of Major Jackson, who did some service in the district during the war. He claims some land, and the question was before the House last session, and was near being carried in his favor; probably it will be so during the ensuing session. What are his politics on other subjects I cannot tell. The nomination for "Rodney is to be on the 10th inst. No opposition is expected to Mr Sheehan, ;< the bold colonial. 1 ' Thus two seats are to be filled, both vacated by their occupants accepting billets. Two more seats are supposed to be only held on very slight tenure, their holders being understood to be in some way, either directly or indirectly, in receipt of public money. If the representatives from other provinces are provided for in the same proportion, the salaries of ex-members of the House will foot up a tolerable sum in the next annual Civil Service List.

Our Supreme Court is likely to have a heavy calendar at its next session. Without prejudging any man's cause, it may be said, if so and so has done half the deed* charged against him, he is not fit to be at large. The man who wilfully sets on tire various buildings is too dangerous to be at liberty.

Our Harbor Board has been to some extent at issue with the Provincial Government on some questions of finance. The Council voted a sum to the Harbour Board, but the Provincial Executive insist on terms equivalent to the acceptance of a smaller sum in lieu of the whole.

Since the rain the great outcry for water to the city lias ceased, but the City Council are expected to make an effort to secure a sufficient supply. Of the schemes proposed, that for bringing the water by gravitation from the Waitakerei ranges has atti acted the most notice, but it will be a very expensive job. Probably in ail it would reach ,£IOO,OOO, although some of our engineers estimate it at a lower figure. Over twenty miles of distance, some of it over rough, hilly country, is a matter of no small cost. Another scheme—co secure w T ater from some large springs within four miles of the city—would involve a serious annual outlay for engines, pumping, (fee. In both cases there would be claims for compensation, In the springs case the firm of how and Motion, millers, occupy and use the water; in the other the owners of the laud included in the watershed would have to be bought out to secure the preservation of the forest, otherwise the supply might soon fail. Both places referred to are on the west side of Auckland. On the south, distant 20 to 25 miles, are some streams flowing from the Hunna ranges into the Manukau, which might be made available for the city. Compensation claims would, however, be raised here also. But the route is more favorable, and would consequently be less expensive. On the other hand, the constant supply being smaller would necessitate reservoirs, and of course expense. The Right Reverend Dr. Croke, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, has attacked the management of the Auckland Grammar School in a long letter to the His objections are such as might be expected from one of his faith. The class books la which he refers especially treat in plain terms of certain subjects which are generally handled delicately, here at any rate.

Accoiding to the Otago Daily Times some persons have recently been endeavouring to. defraud the revenue by using postage stamps which, have been taken off old letters ; and it may be well to remind such that, besides not having their correspondence forvyarded, they are liable to a penalty of £(SO. for every such offence. The Tirnaru Hoard of Works, contemplates the erection of a jetty at a cost of ,£20,000. Tirnaru imported during the year 1870 12,82.5 tons of go.o.cis,

Respecting Mr Blight's return to Parliament, the Economist says:— Everybody will feel the liveliest satisfaction that one of our greatest*orators, most imaginative political thinkers, and at bottom, we firmly believe, most sensible public men, should be able to return 10 his place in Parliament. Mr Bright is, with all his reputation for passion and vehemence of speech, a thoroughly sober, and, in a certain sense, even Conservative politician; in fact, we should be disposed to say that he does not intellectually give half enough weight to considerations which. seem to have no root in British history, that his mind, as a Reformer, is somewhat limited as to.the political ways and methods of the country in which he hasgrown up. His presence therefore in Parliament, and his presence therefore as an independent member,, will domore than anything else to moderate that irritability of desire for change which has attacked some of the younger members of the party, and ha=; gained a certain influence amongst the people. If any single man can check the premature and eccentric attacks on the constitution which have lately sprung into fashion, Mr Bright is the man..

Besides this he has gained all his influence by his thorough going Radicalism. He is known as a rather, extreme economist. His speeches prove him to be a not unwilling satirist of the House of Lords. He has the Disventer in his very blood. Hence neither republicans nor economists, nor reformers of the Peers, nor the friends of secular education can despise his authority ; and we may be sure that, on the whole, that authority will he used on the side of modelation. The great "tribune of thepeople," as he u<ed to be called, has mellowed in latter life into a statesman who, though he has not deserted one of his old principles, has gained the reputation of standing on the ancient ways in his mode of supporting them.

A determined case of suicide took place in Wanganui on March 5 in the person of a man named M'Loughlin, at one time a private in the 57th Regiment and lately Sergt.-Major in the Mai ton Militia. M'Loughlin we understand, had lost his ion in the Militia, and the circumstance it is said, had preyed upon his miud to a certain extent. He came into Wanganui some days ago, and took up his lodging at the house of Charles Robinson, at the* back of Ridgway-street. He had been drinking, but there was nothing about the man to excite the least suspicion of aberration of intellect or of his meditating any desperate act. He rose this morning in his usual way, and after walking about for a while, he went into the outside closet, about eight o'clock, and there perpetuated the fatal deed. The report of a revolver speedily attracted attention, and looking into the closet M'Loughlin was found reclining on the seat with a ball through his skull. It had entered at the forehead, gone right through, and lodged in the stud of the closet behind. Death must have been instantaneous. The revolver had fallen from the grasp of the dying man and lay above his two hands, which rested on his knees. On taking up the revolver, a the barrelled one, all the chambers were found loaded except the one. The shot had been sure and fatal. M'Loughlin was unmarried, a shoemaker by trade, and was well known in Wanganui. The police weie informed of the fact and Constable Coakley took charge of the body.. An inquest was held at the Commercial Hotel, and a verdict of " temporary insanity " returned. A late Dunedin Evening Star, says : The cry is " still they come." the Whirlwind, which arrived from Hong Kong to-day, added 3.50. to our Chinese population; and it is reported that another ve&sel was loading at Hong Kong for Otago when she left.

The Waiuku correspondent of the Southern Cross under a late date, writes :—" The Hax mills here are now in full awing, and a large quantity of fibre has been sent to market this week,, including 600. bales consigned to. MxWalker for shipment to America."

Henry Ward Beecher commenced; preaching and got married on a salary of 400 dollars a year.. Nou he has tir>

same wife, but a salary of 20,000 dotla.rs a