AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1525, 14 November 1873, Page 15

AUCKLAND.

An Obstinate Tenant.

The Daily Southern Cross, 30th October, says :—lt is not every man who can obtain quiet possession of a house even after he has purchased and paid for it. This is just now unpleasantly evident to a citizen of Auckland, who, a short time ago, bought a two-storied house for about £4O, not a hundred miles from the bottom of Wakefield-street. In order to secure an increased rental he gave the womau who occupied the house notice to Jeave, and at once commenced the repair of the fence ; but, when this portion of the contemplated alterations was completed, he failed to get a footing inside the house, and has not effected his purpose yet. A friendly attempt was made by a policeman to get the woman outside, but he only got boxed about the ears for his pains* As a last resource, the shingles were stripped off the roof a fortnight ago, and, whilst the pleasant weather lasted, very little discomfort, no doubt, was experienced by the occupants. But the last two dismally wet days which have been experienced in Auckland must have rendered matters slightly unpleasant. Nevertheless, the fire seemed yesterday to burn as brightly as ever, and no banner was hung on the outer wall tp announce a desire to capitulate. It is generally acknowledged at home to be heavy weather when it snows in bed ; and two days' heavy rain must rather damp the ardour of even a determined amazon.

Female Offenders. The Southern Cross, of October 30, says:—Out of the five cases brought before Mr Beckham, R.M., at the Police Court yesterday, four were charges against women, viz., two for drunkenness, one for assault, and one unfortunate lunatic. This does not speak very highly for the good conduct and morality of a section of our female community. Certainly the proportion yesterday—omitting the sad case of lunacy—was above the average, but the presence of females at the Police Court is a matter of almost daily occurrence. While such a state of things exists it is scarcely to be expected that the children of the rising generation will be free from the effects of the bad examples set them by their mothers, whose influence is so 1 great ou the youthful mind. Severe Gale. The Southern Cross of the 30th ultimo reports:—Yesterday we were visited by one of the heaviest westerly gales that we have had for some months past. On Monday and Tuesday the weather had been threatening, with strong N. andN.E. winds, and on Tuesday night, about 10 o'clock, the wind, which had been blowing strong just previously from the northward, suddenly shifted to the westward, and . commenced to blow with considerable force. It gradually increased in strength during the night, and at daylight was blowing a strong gale from that quarter. Every precaution had been taken by the masters and owners of vessels on the eastern side of the Queen-street wharf, whilst those anchored on the western side were not so well prepared. At about 5 o'clock a Utrge raft of timber moored off the west side of the wharf, broke loose and drifted alongside tLe wharf, where it remained during the day, bumping heavily against the piles. The various small craft all hung well to their anchors until about 2 o'clock, when, during a very heavy squall, the cutter Catherine commenced to drag, and in a very short time fouled the cutter Dee, smashing her bowsprit and doing other damage. The Catherine smashed in a large portion of her own bulwarks and stern. For some time the cutters Leager, and Harvest Home, and Diamond were in considerable danger of fouling each other; but fortunately men got on board of them in time to prevent any damage being done. The cutter Julia, laden with firewood, was for a long time in imminent danger of fouling the p.s. Effort, but she took the ground about 30 yards distance from the steamer, and so saved both vessels from severe damage. The schooner Jessie, which arrived here on Tuesday last, although having both anchors down, drifted some distance. The Yachts Fleetwing and Energy moored to windward of the wharf, safely rode out the gale. About four o'clock a number of large piles became adrift from near Smale's Point, and at one time it was feared that they would foul the piles of Messrs J. and D. Oxley's block-making establishment j with considerable difficulty the piles were fended off: clear of the building. Several small boats insecurely moored came to grief during the day. Captain Farquhar, of the p.s. Golden Crown, reports a very heavy sea runinng in the Thames Gulf. From Grahamstown we learn that several small crafts parted their anchors and drifted on to the beach. Little or no damage was fortunately done to them. The larger vessels moored alongside the wharf received no damage, every precaution having been taken in anticipation of the blow. At about 9 o'clock last evening the wind decreased slightly and at midnight it was blowing pretty fresh. The watermen did good service yesterday in taking off lines, anchors, &c, to the several vessels lying to windward of the wharf. An Opportunity of Acquiring Land. The Grahamstown Evening Star, 27th October, writes:—We hear from Ohinerauri, through the medium of a gentleman who has just returned from the district, that the natives are now generally inclined to lease their hill country for goldmining purposes, but wish to retain the flat land, ostensibly for cultivations. There is also a disposition shown by the owners of the Aroha block to part with that piece • of land, which possesses a Value over and above the ordinary estimate from its reputed mineral richness. Now would be the time for the Government to step in with spme portion of the quarter million voted for land purchase in the North Jflland. The natives—owners of the land

—are reported to be as badly in want of money as the province is of available land; and it is an incontrovertible fact that the Thames would be less subject to long periods of depression if it had the benefit of a back country for settlement. We have now a big strip of land at Hikutaia, extending to the East Coast at Whangamata ; atid Ohinemuri and Aroha can be had for the asking. ( If something bo not done very soon it will be evident to every one that the Native policy of the Government is most injurious to the district. To Hira and To Moananui, the obstructionists, seem to be all-powerful in counselling the Native Minister, but with their own people their influence is rapidly waning, if we may believe those who are supposed to be competent judges.

NELSON. Colonial Industry, Referring to the Nelson Cloth and Woollen Factory, the Nelson Colonist says : Messrs Webley Brothers are about to extend their woollen productions, and have imported new machinery and skilled labor from the mother country therefor. These deserving young tradesmen, with plodding perseverance, have for some time successfully carried on the manafacture of these excellent tweeds known as Nelson cloth, and which, for good wearing qualities, we know from experience, are equal to, and in many cases excel, the foreign manufactured and imported tweeds. We wish our fellow-townsmen further success in their new venture, and extended operations.

The Approaching Ram Show. The Nelsoc Examiner writes as follows : —lt is gratifying to observe that the efforts of the Nelson Agricultural Association to promote a Earn Show at Richmond, early in November, are likely to be crowned with success. No one, however, will be more pleased than the indefatigable Secretary, whose the idea was, and who found not a little difficulty in carrying it through, from the diffidence of the farmers to bring their stock into competition. There was a general apprehension among them that they had nothing worthy to bring forward. The results of the local shows already held, however, will tend to remove their apprehensions as regards future exhibitions. The rams exhibited at the late shows at Stoke, Wakefield, and Moutere, though not numerous, were reported upon as having surpassed the expectations of the judges, and the comparatively large numbers selected at each of these local exhibitions, as worthy to be sent to the central show now to be held at Richmond, under the auspices of the Nelson Agricultural Association, apparently is a proof that there are in the province a larger number of good rams, of various breeds, than was supposed. The Society's object in this show, of course, is to endeavor to improve the breed of sheep, with a view to increasing in quantity and quality the wool exported from the province. Similar efforts elsewhere have succeeded almost marvellously. The variations in the price of wools sold in London is a proof that where good judgment is employed in the management of sheep, and where superior animals have been introduced to improve the stock, better prices for the wool is obtainable, while the increase in the weight of the fleeces makes a very important addition to the profits of the farmer. When once a particular brand or clip acquires a character for superiority, it can always command a higher price than other wools. It is a great feature of the Inverness annual wool and sheep maiket, that not a pound of wool and not a sheep is to be seen there during the week of the show j yet buyers assembled from all parts to meet the northern sheep-farmefs, and wool and woolbearers change hands to a very large extent, at prices agreed upon on the knowledge the buyer has of the previous clips of the seller's wool. It is entirely a " character market," and grows in importance from year to year; while it is the boast of buyers and sellers there that in forty years or more no dispute has ever arisen between them that has led to an appeal to law. The Nelson Agricultural Society will no doubt persevere in their praiseworthy effort, and we hope that Show after Show will prove, by the increasing importance of the exhibitions, that the Society's efforts have been of benefit to the Province.