THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3011, 9 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1878.

The Chairman of the Auckland Institute was able to announce to the members, at the ordinary meeting held on Monday last, receipt of two munificent donations, one from Mr, Thomas. Russell, C.M.Gk, and a second from Dr J. Logan Campbell. The Herald has the following 1 on the subject:-— . • , ;

"•The proceedings _of the Auckland Institute were of a more than usually interesting character last, night, not so much as pertaining to the papers read, but in the announcement made from the chair having reference to the Russell Donation and proposed School of Design. We alluded some time aso to a valuable presentation (now soon to arrive per Lock Fleet), from Mr* Thomas RusselV, for our Institute and. Museum. There ate no fewer than'twenty-two life-sized piaster of Paris statues, which, with two exceptions (by Thorwaldsen), *are all copies of the mosi celebrated' antique originals. There are also twelve life-sized-busts from the antique; and terracotta busts of the Prince and Princess of Wales, by Count Gleicheh. This r tr.uly splendid donation will fully occupy "all the existing spare spaces in the hall of the Museum.' Dt Campbell has undertaken to fittingly place on the required pedestals-and brackets this donation, thus relieving the Institute of the attendant expense.

" It will be seen on reference to the proceedings, that Dr Campbell has arranged with the Council of the Institute to be permitted to establish a Temporary School of Design to commemorate the inauguration of the Russell Donation, and which will enable art students to reap the 1 benefits of the valuable collection, which will soon be open to the public. .'Free instruction will be given twice a week to students, who, on proving that they can use their pencil, will be admitted to the '" Pupil Free Instruction Class," and which will secure to its members certain privileges.

" Students will have access to the mqdels at all limes the Museum is open, upon previous application to the instructor or secretary of the Institute. This routine becomes necessary in order to regulate the sittings of copyists before the models."

A cobeespondent telegraphing from Auckland to-day says : Major -Withers will make the Thames inspections this month. The Auckland Artillery, Hobson and Victoria Companies are likely to join in the review at the Thames on the Prince of Wales' Birthday.

Messes Brodie (County Chairman), Aitken (County Engineer), and Grace (Government Land Purchase Commissioner) left here on horseback to-day for Komata for the, purpose of completing arrangements with Tukukmo re' the pushing of the Ohiriemuri road through Komata block. As Tukukino stands virtually alone in his opposition to the road, there is every probability of all obstruction being removed.

The only business on the charge sheet at the Jbfc.M. Court to-day, was a case of assult, which, however, as neither of the parties appeared, was struck out. Messrs Allom and Goldsmith were the presiding Justices. 1 '■'"' '■■ ..■<<.'...., ■-■- „•;...{ .

We are sorry to learn that the "exigencies of the service " necessitate the departure of another citizen: Mr Woodward, Bank of Few Zealand, received orders tp-day to proceed to Auckland and report himself at headquarters,/his ultimate destination, we; bel:"eve,. beine; the South. Mr Woodward's friends will just have time to wish him good-bye to-night, and we 'have no doubt that the cricketers and other lovers of athletic sports, as well as those who have known Mr Woodward in business and in the social circle, will do that cordially. There is one agreeable feature in the departure of our friend,: he goes to* promotion, and we join in wishing him a further share of it. ' .

We are informed that the band iustruments to the order of Captain Parrell, Thames JRifle Kangers, arrived per Hero from Melbourne yesterday, and we are requested to intimate to those desirous of joining the company's band to- meet the bandmaster, Mr Ardern, at the company's drill shed on Thursday evening next at 7.30 p.m. It is, no doubt, very gratifying to the officers and men of the Eanger company to see the interest taken in their wel'are by the general public, particularly the-residents in Shortland, who, we believe, subscribed liberally to. the band fund. Now that this company will have the spirit stirring drum and ear piercing 'fife to head them on their several parades, we have no doubt but that their musters will be much larger in the future than they have been in the past. From the activity and zeal displayed by Captain Farrell in the company's welfare, in which he-is ably assisted by his junior subaltern,- we do not hesitate to predict that this old volunteer company will again regain the position that it once occupied, which, when attained, will be a sufficient recompense to those who have been active in promoting its welfare.

The following extract "is from what purports to be a report of Sir George Grey's speech on the Land Tax Bill as it appeared in Monday's Auckland Star:— 3-iet members read the,-late accounts of destitution in England; how fast the land-holding people wcra numerically decreasing there; how lands which once belonged to the people nnd were reserved for,their use had fallen into the hands, or were given to, men of worthless charac-

such action.- The landlords of England had absorbed land that was set apart for charitable objects, and the former occupiers had been turned out worthless. Take a case well known for illustration. The occupiers of these lands were turned put to beg or starve ; when the accession of a new'monarch reinslated them, their supplanters were then obliged to. beg for sustenance from the men they had ousted from their possessions ; asking, pardoa and forgiveness for their past action. Well, another monarch succeeded the one who had reinstated them, and the usurper was again reinstated, who told the men who had treated them so well, now in a.state of destitution, to 'go and spin, go and spin.' The lands were the heritage of the poor. They had been held from them ever since. He contrasted the action of the Mayor giving large landed estates fqr educational and charitable purposes with that of the English landlord, and wanted to know where was manifested the, Christianity so loudly vaunted.

DtrctLNG the last few months several parties have been engaged prospecting in the Hokianga district, which lies about 170 miles to the north of Auckland. This districts abounds in quartz reefs, and gold of considerable value has been found in some of the creeks. Some time ago one of the prospectors forwarded' some stone from one of the leaders to Mr J. P. Hall of this town for the purpose of having it chemically analysed, and it was found to be worth 4 or sdwts per ton, while from the appearance of the gold, Mr Hall valued it at about £3 17s 6d per oz. The same prospector yesterday sent some more of the stone to Mr Hall, who showed it to a reporter of this paper.; The quartz, which is evidently from a well-defined leader, is exceedingly flinty, and appears *o have been- subjected to igneous: action, there s being contractions in the stofae, evidently caused by intense heat. This piece, of quartz, altogether, does not look very promising, but some intelligent prospecting might develop a good payable goldfield. -, •, „ * Fob some time past, says the Herald, there has been a considerable amount of anxiety relative to the holding of the proposed sitting of the Native Lands Court at Cambridge, Waikato. It was generally expected that it would be held on an early date. Telegraphic information has, however, been received from Wellington to the effect that the Court will not sit at Cambridge before February, next. This Will be disagreeable intelligence to many, and cause a very great amount of incon-1 venience to suitors. Large amounts-, of money have been paid on blocks in the expectation that the lands would be dealt with and passed through the Court immediately, and the interests in many cases are interwoven. -No doubt the Government have, good reasons for- the action they have taken; not the least of which probably is the desire to cement the good feeling and friendship which exists between the'Xing party and the Government before dealing with lands in regard t6 which the Kingites might have some grievance. We trust, however, the delay will not materially retard tbs settlement and cultivation of the country.