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Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1849, 4 September 1874, Page 2

Ti Hira came acrosi from Wakatiwai yesterday morning to Shortland, and is there now, awaiting better weather to complete his journey homeward. Te Hira for years was represented to us as something terrible—aj being determined never to see the face of a white man, and as having, in fact, sworn an oath against civilisation. But this was only part of the mysteries of the Native Office. Te Hira expects tint Mr'McLean will come up North soon, but does not appear to have any definite informition. He Baya that during the meet, ng, Mr Mackay telegraphed to Mr McLean,

and got for answer—" Karaite whakahaere a Te Hira rami ko Mere Kuru." This being interpreted is—" The management of Te Hira and Mere Kuru is good," That is aa interpretation of the words used, but \ikg- the meaning may be is quite anothtWhing. It may he only a small piece of flattery, such as Native Ministers have from the first been in the habit of addressing to natives whose good will they were anxious to gain, or it may b8 an approval of Te Hira's wish that the district of Ohinemuri should be kept closed, Mr McLean ' also telegraphed referring to Dr Pollen as hiving power to settle certain matters, so that we presume we shall have jthe Colonial Secretary on the spot first. We would suggest that some of our citizens should lionise Te Hira a bit, and that he should not bo allowed to sit in tho bare shed where he spent yesterday. Unfortunately, the Mayor ia ill, or he might take him round the city and show him 'our municipal improvements. Here is another idea. We got up a dinner to gain the goodwill of Mr Vogel; and we do not see why we should not for the same purpose' get up a banquet t° Te Hira. At al) events, ha might be taken round to see the big pump, and be told how much it had cost to sink the shaft and carry on the drainage. Perhaps, however, he would come to the conclusion that we were a lot of maniacs. We must say thit we believe that Te Hira, calmnly reviewing the Ohinemuri negotiations of the last two years musk think that we are indeed a very strange people. The public have had one version of the alleged charges of improper treatment by hoB- • pital servants in the case of Maurice Power placed before them in the report signed by the Rev J. Hill, but until the other side of the question is also before them, they are requested by letters in our correspondence column to suspend their judgment upon the merits of the case. We think the request is a reasonable and proper one, and have no doubt it will be acceded to, especially when we are told by the Hospital Surgeoa that "the report has been arrived at as much by the suppression of what is true as by the suggestion of what is false," and by two honorary surgeons, the dis-' penser, two wardsmen, and another wit* ness that "the evidence set forth in that report is both incorrect, incomplete, and calculated to convey false and erroneous impressions," because material evidence given before the sub-committee, pointing to conclusions contrary to some of those contained in the report is not alluded to. The case, as it at present stands, looks too much like a piece of special pleading on the part of some one anxious to bring home a charge of inefficiency and negligence, and if the matter were allowed to be decided upon such an evidently one-sided and garbled report, very grave censure would rest upon the management of a most usefuj public institution. The public have a right to demand that the fullest and fairest inquiry should be made into charges of such importance, and those implicated have an opportunity of defending themselves. The first error into which the sub-committee fell, wis the exclusion of the press. Nothing should be kept back from the public where the public are concerned; and if the committee had only the public interest at heart in the inquiry they acted indiscreetly, The evidence of each witness examined should have been taken down by a competent person, read over, to him, and signed a3 correct. We understood this was not done, and that each member of the sub-committea took down what interested him most, irrespective of any attempt at a reliable report of the inquiry. The report prepared by the chairman, we are told, was not read over to the members of the subcommittee for their final concurrence, so that the charge of distorting evidence utty yet be backed up by members of the sub-committee themselves. Under all the circumstances we are sure the general committee cannot allow a matter of such grave importance to the wel • fare of the institution to rest upon an inquiry so conducted, without hearing also the other side, and taking proper precautions against charges of inaccuracy in the evidence taken ; The question is one which may involve a withholding of support to the institution unless it is fairly and fully ventilated, without reference to prejudices, or any attempt at a combination to secure certain ends. Shortly before 9 o'clock last night the fire bells of Gtrahamstown rung out an alarm, which soon caused a large number of people to assemble in the streets. They were for a considerable time unable to discover the locality of the fire,. for although the night was extremely dark there was no reflection, but it was soon discovered to have occurred on the Beach road. It was fortunately not a serious affair, only a chimney on fire in the cottage occupied by Mr Colebrook, near to Eraser and Tinne's buildings. The family were sitting round the . fire at the time, and suspected nothing until the roar of the fhme in the chimney was heard. Mr Colebrook was absent at the time in Shortlaud, but Mrs Colebrook appears to have acted with promptitude in throwing salt on the fire and stopping the current, A person who observed the flame, instead of mounting the roof and assisting Mrs Colebrook, hurried off to the fire bell, Only a few minutes elapsed before the flame - was extinguished. The prompt ' action displayed by the fire brigade of Grahamstown was extremely creditable; scarcely had the first notes of alarm sounded than the engine house was lighted, A horse was quickly attached to the engine and, accompanied by members of the brigade, it was driven quickly towards the scene. The Shorfcland fire also mustered speedily, and with their hose reel and accoutrements reached the Karaka bridge, when they were informed that the fire was extinguished. We were much pleased jo notice such a large number of officers and men of the brigades so promptly. In regard to this . fire alarm we are informed that a curious scene occurred at a lodge meeting of the Foresters. When the bells rung the members were engaged In a warm disoussion, but a rush was at once made to the door. The janitor refused to allow their exit, and kept them at bay for some minutes, while the presiding officer strictly forbade him allowing any one to pass, but the excitement becoming stronger they rushed in a body to the door, and despite the protestations of the door-keoper and his efforts to keep them back, with his "good sword in his hand," they got out into tho - streets without the usual formalities. A sitting of the Native Lands Court will be held at Shortland to-day. Judge Munrowibjk preside, assisted by Native Assessor Hikairo. It is not anticipated that the proceedings will be of much general interest. We are glad to observe that, although the Thames and Piako districts have received no assistance towards being opened and settled from the public works scheme, there' is -an increasing demand for good land in these quarters. Iu the upper, parts of the Piako especially, a large extent of land has lately passed into the hands of men who will set about improving it. A considerable quantity of timber and stores have lately been taken up the Piako for the purpose of commencing work on ( the land. Amongst others, we understand that Mr W, A. Murray, M.H.R. for the district of Bruce, in . • Otago, is making preparations to improve the land he purchased some time since at Maunga- . tapu. If the Government would only do its duty, we have no doubt we should soon find' many Southern men coining here, not merelyto , buy laud as a speculation, but for the purpose, of immediate improvement and cultivate, ■..

The Bank of New Zealand shipped to Auckland yesterday, per. p.s. ' Golden Crown,' 4,2520z3 gold, The Magnet Variety Troupe of amateurs will give an entertainment in the Theatre Royal to-night. It will consist of feats on the trapeze, rings, tight rope, and horizontal bar; besides which there will be character and comic singing, eccentricities, dancing, &c.

The third of the series of concerts in aid of the building fund of St. George's Church was held last evening at the Academy of Music. Notwithstanding the wretched weather, there was a good attendance, and the choir rendered a choice selection of mu-ical gems The concert concludei shortly after 9 o'clock. The hall was then cleared and dancing commenced, which was kept up wiih spirit for several hours.

Last night was the usual sitting night for the Thames Borough Council, but at half-past seven o'clock the meeting was adjourned till Monday night se'en o'clock owing to a quorum not being present. The Councillors present were—Dr Kilgour, Mr Anthony, Mr Wilson. The Mayor is ill, and Messrs Reushaw and Ehrenfried are in Auckland.

Thes.s, 'Taranaki' arrived in the Manukau on Wednesday morning, but owing to the state of the tide was not able to come alongside till the afternoon. Passengers—f-'aloon: Mr and Mrs Jones, Mrs Otway, Miss Jackman. Messrs Hunter, Porter, Steward. Tourman, Davis (and family), Lukeman, Brown, Bulsland, Frazer, Ross, Wilson, Norman, Crocombn. Steerage: Messrs Daniels, Parker, Vayner, Miss Mayner. Messrs Foster, Berry, Hoskin, Taylor, Hosken. The ' Taranaki' also brings 68 Scandanavian immigrants from Wellington. These should have been landed at New I'lymouth, but the weather was too rough, and they had to he brought on.

The ship ' Zealandia,' sailed fr< ni ffravesend for Auckland on the 10th July. Passengers:— Saloon: Miss' Nathan, Mrs and Miss Uridlcy, Mr and Mrs Hawkins, Mr A. Brawn and family (4), Miss Metcalfe, Mr and Mrs lowell Symonds, Mr and Mrs J. D, Innes, Mr 15. Dashwood, Mr R. 8, Abraham, Mr G. B. M'Queen, Mr Frank Brady, Mr Hyam Davis, Mr W. H. Thornton, Mr. J. G. F. Gilbert, Mr Bartley, Mr Charles Stovin, Mr Foster Stcvin, and Dr. T. J. Ti-he. Second cabin: Mr J. 0. Wood and family (4), ATr D Cope and family, Miss J. Baxter, Miss le Mesurrier, Mr J. Renouf, Mr F. P. Maclean, and Mr I'e Cartent. Also 220 steerage passengers. The baique 1 Stanley Castle,' 414 tons, also saile I from Gravesend the same date as the ' Zealandia,' The ship 'Chile' is loadiug at london for Kelson, NZ. Tha ships ' Oospatrick,' 1,199 tons, and ' Hydaspes,' 2,092 tons, were on the berth for Auckland on the 27th of June

The Auckland City Council are applying for tenders for £20,000 secured on city endowments.

Mr Eeader Wood intimates that he will address the electors of Parnell, in theParnell Hall, this (Friday) evening. Mr T. i>. Gillies intimates that he will address the electors o£ City West in the Mechanics' Institute on Tuesday evening, respecting the late session of Parliament.

The entrances to the studios of our city photographers (says the Auckland Star) have great attractions for the public genenlly, and it is interesting to pause for a few moments and listen unobservedjt) persons' remarks upon the photographs. Yesterday two men wore looking intently at the portrait of a well-known solicitor in the outer gallery of a Queen-street artist. The solicitor bad been taken in a standing position with one hand in his pocket. One man, a farmer from Otahuhu, said, "Oh, hew like him, 'tis the very picture of ■."■ "Tamt exact though," replied his companion, "his features are life-like, but, you see he has got his band in his own pocket; it would be as like again if he had it in the pocket of a client."

The hon. Mr Parkes of Sydney has pledge 1 the position of the Government that the San Francisco mail service should be carried on. The Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, writing on the subject, says:—"The A S.N. Company, though not prepared to work the temporary contract by itself, is quite willing to lease to the Government any one of its boat< on the same terms as those on which they were chartered to Mr Hall, and that it is a3 far as the negotiations have gone at present, except that the ' City of Melbourne' will leave for this month with the mails. She is to sail under the company's flag, but this by no means implies that she will sail at the company's risk, although it does imply that Hall's contract has fallen through. The Government is already assured that it can continue the services of the ' Cypkrenes,' the ' Macgregor,' and the ' Mikado'; and it also has the ruu of the fleet of theAS.N. Company, so it cannot he left in the lurch for want of vessels, and the worst that can happen will be the trouble of having to become its own contractor. Although this unexpected denouement has been very annoying in Sydney, the known facts connected with the traffic on this line, so far as yet developed, prevent any fear of ultimate disappointment The service cannot possibly be abandoned, and the impression here is that if the capitalists involved were fully informed, they would not hesitate to go through with their contract, certain that they would more than recoup all present losses. A temporary embarrassment there may be, but as to the future of the service there is less doubt than ever."

Mr J. S. Macfarlane met the electors of the Whan district in the Whau Hall on Wednesday evening. Mr Macfarlane said that the next session, of Parliament would be the most important by far of any that had ever been held in New Zealand. The scheme of the Government for the abolition of all the provinces of New Zealand would be brought forward, and the establishment of one Central Government for the whole of the colony. If he was returned aa the member for Waitemata all his ener»ie3 would be devoted to the accomplishment of that object, and he hoped that all the other members would do the same. The scheme that Mr Yogel had set forth in his resolutions was no new idea of his (Mr Macfarlane's), For years he had entertained the opinion that a central system of Government was the best for the country. He was in a position to state that two years ago it was the intention of the Government to bring forward a scheme similar to that embodied in the Premier's resolutions for the centralisation of the Government; aud it was now their intention not only to abolish the provinces of the North, but also of the South Island. Mr Vogel, he considered, was entitled to the credit of having initiated the public works scheme of the colony. Ho had succeeded in doing so in face of great opposition from some of the wealthiest men in the colony. If he had done no' more than open tip the country by means of the railways that he had inaugurated, he was entitled to the gratitude of every colonist. What was wanted to look after the interests o£ the North Island was a.League of all its members pledged to devote all their energies in Wellington towards the abolition of the entire provincial system and the advocacy of all other great questions, such as a comprehensive universal scheme of education suitable for the entire colony, and other beneficial schemes of advancement. Such a League was in process of formation, and its establishment would be duly annou'ncod in the public papers. Brought face to face with their constituents, to whom they would have to explain their views and future line of conduct in the House of Representatives, an organised plan of action would be framed, and an unanimity secured, which would bo of the highest benefit to the North. In conclusion, Mr. Macfarlane said he would he happy to answer any questions which might be put to him.—At this juncture, Mr. You dcr Heyde, accompanied by Mr. Staanus Jonc3 and gome other friends and supporters, entered the hall amidst the -most vociferous cheering. When the applause had subsided, f&srs, Oeo. Staines, 8, Jones, J, Lamb, and others, addressed the meeting, when a vote of confidence in Mr. Von der Heyde was carried amidst cheers,

A Tokomairiro farmer, broughtjjup near London, Canada Weap, states to the Bruce Herald that the ashes of* the mapu, inauuka, kauri, black pine, and other woods are worth Is 6d a bag to farmers complaining of sorrd, sour soil, stiff clays, &c.,-besides giving farmers'wives the means of making plenty'of soft soap,,