Untitled

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 39, 21 November 1871, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor has granted letters patent to Messrs Charles O'Neill and Daniel Simpson, civil engineers, Auckland, for wire tramways, double and single lines —the latter being wire rope, with pass loops, a very simple but useful invention. The Hon. James Farmer is gazetted member of the Provincial Council for City West. The District Couit will not sit to-day (Tuesday), but will be adjourned until tomorrow (Wednesday), at 10 a.m., in pursuance of a telegram received yesterday from the District Judge,—Mr. Beckham,

A numerously-attended, practice of the Fire Brigade took plafio lftst riigHt, under the command'-of Captain Btm and Lieutenant Ellwoith. ttie streets 1d the viciiiisiy of the well were hlcelr ’watered' for the morning. We noticed'''that several of the ; .members wore their armlets Of red and white cloth. After an hour's pumping, the engine returned to the shid. , • •f. ' ' s ;. f Respecting the “ contretemps ” yftiich took place at the: Caledonian mine yesterday, we have been favouredrviiih^the-following particulars. It seems'ttfiriljSssrs Sims, Wright, and Richards received instructions from Auckland to visit the mine and see if their recommendations with regard to the works of the mine had been carried out, On arriving at the shaft they were refused-permission to go down until Mr Rp\ye was.present. This gentleman arrived in a short time, and begah to abuse Captain-Riohards, saying that that gentleman was the cause of all the inspections and bother about the working of the mine. Some high words were. made use of, Captain Richards denying the charges made against him. We think it incumbent, for the satisfaction of i the shareholders and the public, also on the part of the directors that they should place both these geutiemen in their proper positions towards one another, such scenes as that of yesterday being calculated to bring both manager and directors into great disrepute. The Auckland team of cricketers will arrive per ‘ Golden Crown,’ this afternoon, for the match which is to be played tomorrow. We sincerely hope that the weather v ill prove propitious on the occasion.- Wc understand that the Volunteer Band arc to be asked ,c they can attend (luring thC afternoon, and have no doubt that they will, with their usual Lndness, accede to the request, We beg to acknowledge the receipt of the latest Australian papers from Mr. Samuels, of the Varieties.

There was a very good attendance last night at the-Theatre Royal—especially in the pit rind'gallcry—on the occasion of the benefit in aid of the funds for the relief of the widow and orphans of the late J. Baty. The favourite comedy of “ Leap Year,” or the ll Ladies Privileges,” was admirably performed. This was followed by a ballad by Miss L. Wiseman, and the amusing song “ Do’nt hit a man when down.” The whole concluded with the screaming farce of “ Brother Bill and me.” Want of space, alone prevents our giving a more ex--tended notice. /J, • „ . .

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Inames Total Abstinence Society was held last evening, Mr. Jones in the chair. Mr. Mason spoke at some length on the beneficial results of temperance and soln-icty; and the Rev. Mr. Williams thought that the temperance cause was very much prejudiced by the outside world, who, instead of giving their support to the pause, not only conkl not keep silence, but ran it down, and placed numerous obstacles'in the way. Mr. Bride said he was very sorry to sec so few persons present. He illustrated the subject with some amusing anecdotes connected with the celebrated temperance lecturer, Mr. Gongli. The chairman followed with a capitally rendered song entitled the “ Temperance Tree,” Mr. Speight fully endorsed all the chairman had said and sung, and also remarked how annoying it was for the meeting to lie delayed through the late attendance of the lecturers. The Doxology conclude:! the proceedings. We have to acknowledge the receipt of Nos. 18, 10, 20, and 21, of the Hansard from, the Government Printer.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of 21 numbers of Parliamentary Reports and Tapers as follows : —Report of Goldfields Committee, Colonial Industries Commitrce, Chinese Immigration Committee, Report Honorarium Committe, San Francisco Mail Service, Defence of the Colony, Working of the Distillery Act-, Purchase of Land in Middle Island, Commisssioncrs on Water Supply, Measuring Longitude aud Latitude by means of Electric Telegraph, Colonel Haultain’s Report, Working Native Lands Court, Statistical Tables, Pctitiou of Paora Tuhacrc, Petition of John Martin, Main and Coalfields lines of Railways. To Warn, a notorious scoundrel, and who was present at the Poverty Bay massacre, is walking pompously about the Tauranga streets. Captain Hutton, F.G.S., Assistant Geologist, has just published, by command, a “ Catalogue of the Birds of New Zealand, with Diagnoses of the Species.” It contains a large amount of useful information, well arranged and neatly printed. It is published in connection with the Geological Survey of New Zealand.' _ . , During the discussion on the stamp duties, Mr. Gillies suggested that instead of a tax on receipts for £2, they should impose a tax on photographs. Mr. Vogel said it would be quite time to impose fancy taxes when they went into fancy expenditure. We (Independent) are authorised to state that there is not the slightest foundation for the Auckland rumours that Mr Charles O’Neill intends to resign his seat for the Thames district. Northern aspirants for the representation of the largest district in the Colony will, therefore, be simply disappointed. By a General Government Gazette , of the 3rd instant, such of the powers vested in the Governor by the seventh section of the Marine Act, 1867, as enable him t j erect, superintend, and maintain harbour marks, buoys, lights, aud beacons, within the limits of the port of Auckland, subject to certaiu restrictions, as well ns the powers uuder the tenth section of the same Act, are vested in the Aucklautl Harbour Board. “ Silver Peh,” who, in consequence of the crowded state of newspaper columns during the session, was only able to publish a very few of her . “ Parliamentary Skits and Sketches,” has placed them before the public in a tiny volume dedicated to the members of the House of Representatives. There has been sufficient of the authoress’s sketches published to indicate the ability she possesses as a poetical satirist, and the little volume will, no doubt, find a place in each member’s records and recollections of the proceedings of the .session,— Wellington Independent. Capt. J. G. Martin, of the Special Constabulary, together with Sub-Inspector Senior, Constables Roche and Raymond, acting on information received, boarded the cutter ‘ Coral,’ aud seized 24 muskets, 10 fiasks of powder, 1,200 military caps, belonging to some native labourers, who were paid off for their services from the firm of Tart. Robinson and Kingston, of Taviuni, contrary to the proclamation of the King. —Fiji Gazette.