AUCKLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 19, 22 January 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

O • (Erom the New Zealand Herald.) Mr. Brogden has gouo to the Waikato* we understand, and during his visit he is likely to inspect tiie coal mines and other points of interest along the line. Iv all probability he will go through to Taupo, aud thence by the Lukes to Tauranga and the East Cuast. Such a journey would give him a fair idea of the capabilities of a large section of the interior. The Baok of New Zealand has, we notice, shipped four cades of iron sand by tho Cily of London for London. This sample is being forwarded for testing purposes, and it ia to be hoped that further experiments may lead to some cheaper method than has already been discovered for the preparation of iron aud steel from the deposit, of which the colony has such abundance. The total value of the City of Auckland's cargo is nearly £45,000. This is one of the most valuable freights that has ever left this port, and we hope to see the same gallant vessel sail from the Waitornata with many moie such cargoes, evidencing tho prosperity of our trade and commerce. I In the manifest of (he City of Auck-' land appears an item of 20 pieces of timI ber. This is a nice lot of mottled kauri, shipped home in the rough state. This kind of timber, so universally admired in cabinet work, would no doubt be in demand in Euglaud if sufficiently known. Our fancy varieties of timber are too little known amongst the manufacturers of high class furniture in England, and we should be glad to see them pushed a little more into notice. . A visit to some of our local workshops would show at a glance how beautiful in grain, and how rich in color are many New Zealand woods when properly worked up. The vessels which have lately arrived from the Islands have replenished our fruit market in an agreeable manner. Even strawberries are apt to pall upon the appetite by prolonged indulgence, and for some time past there ha 9 been little of any other variety of fruit. Pine apples and bnnanas have, however, lately appeared in very good condition, and the Hero's consignment of oranges, apples and pears has been very welcome. Several persons have expressed some curiosity to us as to the use niade of cotton seed upon its arrival in England. A very large quantity of this Island production has been shipped on board the City of Auckland, and scarcely a vessel leaves this port without a considerable quantity. We find ou enquiring that the seed is reshipped to France, where it is crushed in oil mills. Tbe oil, done up neatly in those pretty little decanters so familiar to us iv the grocers' windows, comes back to England as the fiuest Lucca Oil, whilst the pulp is used to make oil cake for the purpose of cattle feeding. We hear that in consequence of the passing of the new Stamp Duties Act, several agencies of Life Assurances, which formerly carried on business in this colony, have been withdrawn, on the ground that the amount demanded of them in accordance with the Act, was so great that they were unable to carry on business profitably. " We understand that some companies have to pay quite £200 a year under this Act. A tour around the gardens of Auckland makes us fear much for tho success of the forthcoming Horticultural Show. Fruits will certainly be very scarce, and of vegetables there can scarcely be any. Flowers have suffered greatly, more especially roses and dahlias, which have greatly failed for lack of moisture. This is greatly to be regretted, since had we experienced our usual amount of rainfall about Christmas there is every reason to believe that the March show would have been remarkably good. Even yet there is a faint chance, although present., rain cannot fully repair former damages. The weatherwise, however, agree that there ore no symptoms of any relenting on the part of the skies, and that we must not expect any considerable degree of moisture before March. By way of Fiji a report reaches us that

H.M.S.Rosario had "shelled aud destroyed some towns upou the island of Gunu, io retaliation for the murder of a white man oud some colore 1 mea." For remainder of news see fourth page.

Chables Ddrber, a young lawyer of Zanesville, Ohio, shot bimßelf through the head on the night of October 17, at the bedside of his sick wife, on being told by the physician that she could not recover. His wife died a few minutes afterwards. The United Friendly Societies of Victoria appear to have been particularly successful in the establishment of dispensaries. The first was founded in the year 1869, at Emerald Hill, for which seven Courts and Lodges combined to try the experiment. The Argus contains a summary of the proceedings, from which it appears that a subscription of Is per head for nearly 900 members, sufficed to pay the preliminary expenses, aud a contribution of 3s GJ. for the first quarter was levied from each person to cover the cost of medicines and their distribution. Fresh lodges, however, ■were enrolled, until in 1871 it was found desirable to reduce the subsciption for the three months to Is 6d., and now a further reduction is contemplated. • The following is an explanation of the system : — Every subscriber in exchange for the trifling quota which he contributes fo the general funds, is entitled to a gratuitous supply of drugs for himself and his family, and as these drugs are purchased in the first place of wholesale houses, which guarantee their purity, he can rely upon their genuineness. The services of a competent dispenser are also secured. Besides this, another dispensary upon a similar system has been established at Melbourne, a third in Coliingwood, and another is about to be started at Richmond. But why, as tho Argus observes, limit the co-operative system of the Friendly Societies to the supply of drugs and surgical appliances ? Why not extend it to the supply of the general necessaries of life ? At all events the success that has attended these dispensaries in Victoria and elsewhere, should stimulate our own Societies to determined efforts in the same direction, or even to co-operate in securing good and wholesale articles of general consumption at wholesale prices and of the best quality. Old English Customs. — Some of the old Standing Orders of the House of Commons might be revived, even iv New Zealand, with advantage. On the 17th May, 1614, it was ordered — That this House shall sit every day at seven o'clock in the morning, and enter into the great business at eight o'clock, and no new motions to he made after twelve. Ordered, That whosoever standeth in the entry of the House shall pay Is. presently to the sergeant. 1641. Ordered, That all the members who shall come to the House after eight o'clock shall pay Is., and that if any member shall forbear to come for the whole day, he shall pay 5b., to be disposed of as the House shall think fit, and tbe serjeant is tv gather in the money. 1642. Ordered, That whosoever shall not be at prayers every morning shnll pay l"s. to the poor— a box to be prepared and set up at the door for this purpose, and the burgesses of Westminster are to take care that the money b 8 duly paid. 1647. Ordered, That so soon as the clock strikes twelve Mr. Speaker do go out of tbe chair, and the House shall rise ; and that, in going forth, no member shall stir until Mr. Speaker shall go before, and theu all the rest shall follow. Whosoever shall go out of the House before Mr. Speaker shall forfeit 10s., but that the reporters. shall go first. Ordered, That while any stranger is in the House no member to stir out of his place or to speak unto another ; and if any member shall whisper, or cross the House, or read any printed book in the House, he shall pay Is. into the poor box. 1692. That no member do accept of any entertainment at any publichouse for the carrying on any matter under the consideration of the House ; and that tho offer of any money or gratuity to any member for matters transacted in the House shall be deemed a high crime and misdemeanor. Ordered, That no member ought to receive or give any visit to any foreign agent or ambassador without the leave and consent of tho House. Ordered, That no member have leave to go into the country without limiting a time when he is to return. 1693. Ordered, That no member of the House do presume to smoke tobacco in the gallery, or .at the table of the House, sitting at committees. A Female Lecturer. — Among the novelties in the way of Sunday lecturers now in the metropolis is Miss Emma Hardinge a spiritualist, and the propounder ofdivers strange opinions. She is an American, between thirty and forty years of age, and on Sunday evening last, when she discoursed on the " physiology of sin," wore a black silk dress, with a little white tulle round her neck. The scene of her labors was the Clevelandstreet, Fitzroy- Square, which on week ds>yß is used for dancing and a variety of purposes. Artificial flowers still hung on the glasß chandeliers, and the preacher^ addressed us from a raised platform, at tbe back of which was a painted scene partly hidden by a green screen. She began her proceedings by a short prayer, delivered standing, and then launched into her _fluJagct, Her voice was particularly clear '

and strong. Every word was plainly enunciated and powerfully given. She had no notes, and there was not a moment's hesitation, or a word misapplied;, she lost herself completely in her theme, and had uo mannerism whatever. Sho gave emphasis to her words now aud then by a uatural and graceful action of both hands, but generally stood with hc j r arms folded, end from time to time look n step or two backwards and forwards on the platform. I have heard all kinds of orators, both legal and political, but I never saw one who seemed to forget their own identity more completely, or who seemed more thoroughly in earnest. Ido *uot wish to say anything in favor of the substance of her discourse or her opinions: they would find little sympathy with the majority of English people, though there was good in them. — English paper. In?. Blessings of Moemonism. — Nearly four weeks ago an intelligent English lady arrived in this city from Sacramento, where she had resided for two or three years. Her story is simple, but it tells the depth and silent power of maternal love : " Once a happy and contented girl in her happy home— -a town of ' Merrie England,' our true heroine dwelt. In that British town the priest of Mormonism appeared. Many were they who listened, and a few followed after him to share the promises of the Western Israel. Of these infatuated persons one was that angel of the household, the young girl here mentioned . Our young convert joined the caravan with her fellow proselytes for the weary journey. She had become a Mormon in all (he strength of her soul, and believed in the new dispensation. On the way to America the same false preacher was with them from Liverpool to Salt Lake, aud on the way be married her, and a true and honorable wife she became to him. But later the husband, tiring of the gentle helpmeet, must need obey the great commandment — polygamy. Another wife and then a third in quick succession ; but at this, the only one entitled so that sacred title rebelled, and was driven out to occupy a separate hut. She had two children, and asking these as her portion, promised to leave the place for ever. Did she get her little ones ? Oh, no. But from that wicked place and the treacherous husband she went to California. During these last four weeks, the mother made hasty visits to her neglected children and craved them oper and over again. In this she as often failed. Then the courts were appealed to with partial success. The adulterer is iudicted for his crimes, and now awaits trial and certain punishment, Without money, now Mrs. Ofield gees the chance of obtaining her two boys growing less every day, aud she must return to her home in Cincinnati." Not, however, without one more effort, and sol yesterday this persevering woman went afoot to Brigham City, silently crept through the streets, enger, anxious, now full of hope, now sickening in despair, lest detection overthrow the work she had to do. God was the guardsman of this enterprise. She found her boys asleep, and, waking them up, it was but another moment until this strangely united family were away in the solitude hurrying from the dark places they • shall never know again. That journey hither 4o Corinne was a flight to be remembered. Here agaiu, in the dead of the night, not waiting for repose, the mother and. children left on a western freight train for California — that State whose laws are adequate tp shelter the wiHak, and whose people will not neglect those needy but honest fugitives from Mormonism. — Corinne Reporter.

High Water at Nelson. Morn. Afternoon . Monday Jan. 23 ... 6.51 7.18 Tuesday „ 23 ... 7.40 8 3 Wednesday „ 24 ... 8.24 8.45 Thursday „ 25 ... 9 5 9.25 Friday „ 26 ... 9.44 10. 1 Saturday „ 27 ... 10 18 10.35 Sunday . „ 28 ... 10.53 11 0