Our Aucklaud Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3863, 17 May 1881, Page 2

Our Aucklaud Letter.

(feom otjb own cobbbspondbnts.)

Auckland, yesterday: THE NEW ZEALAND INBUBANCE COMPANY.

Mr Warwick Weston,'lnspector of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Is *" present .travelling in ludU and China, with a view of establishing branohelin" ' connection with his .popular- companyira the^e remote cities of the East and m West. The American connection has proved so satisfactory to the shareholdbn that the directors very wisely determined to still further augment their business in the principal centre* of the Xaripfrea: alluded to above. The general manager of the Company, Mr<Jeo. P..Pierce, is at present on a totir of inspection amongst^, the different branches of the head office in^ the Middle and Soufh Islands, and may return to^our city at theeod of the preplbt month. ' *"■' ': ■'-■-•> ■>■

THE TABANAKI CBNBUB. y; gv The population of New Plymouth tod the whole provincial district of Taranaki turns out after all to show but a slight increase, notwithstanding the Armed Constabulary and the large "removals of criminals from other districts to tire New Plymouth goal previous to the census night.

POIITICAt W^IBpKKINGT." s" ; T Some of the friends of the honorable Attorney-General state that he will contest one of the City West electorates should a dissolution take place. Both Mr W. L. Kees and Mr George McCullough Keed are also likely; to be trotted out for Auck* land constituencies..

WEST COAST EXPENDITURE.

The Star has at last, taken a sort of side move and pitched into Major Atkinson for the scandalous expenditure going on in the favored Taranaki provincial district, especially in connection with the New Plymouth Harbor. The Herald h««.»l$o shewn its' teeth' in conn ction : wilh the large increase in the number of Native Land Court Judges, but the article was too personal, especially as regards both the conduct of- the Chief Judge .and. Mr Brookfield's appointment, and therefore lost its force so far as the public is .concerned. The Herald said it was.independent of parties. The writer who penned such trash must have written to order, as ninety out of every hundred people, assert that the Herald's policy is that of the Bank of New Zealand and specially so as regards its directprsj one of whom is the Attorney-General of the colony. The leading article reviewing Sir George Grey'sr speech at the Thames was a most unfair one, but this need not be wondered at considering the strong animus which Mr Harrison has to both Mr Berry, the Victorian Premier, and al«o to the present leader of the Opposition. The silence which the Herald almost whollyl'displays in not adversely criticising the present Government, more particularly in the treatment which &*ckland is receiving at the hands of Messrs Hall and Co., is as marked as itr is apparent. There is, however, ene consoling thing when one sees how the Star and Herald, have been leading whaTtheT call public opinion, but so far as thlir politics are concerned, they hare never done so since the rats ratteti. In fact, "it is their advertisers, and not the public, they study.

THE NATIVK LANDS COURT

There is a nice bit ot scandal now being circulated over a re hearing easeT which has just been concluded at the HelensVille Natif c Lands Court, in connection with the second sub-division of a block of land in which the son of a great supporter of the present Government is mixed lip. The details will be forthcoming shortly, and spicy they will be. : "* ';

INCBEA.SE OF CRIME,

The cheese-paring policy of the Detective Ministry is now showing itself to"advantage" in the large increase of of various classes of crime in our city. The reductions in rank, pay and expected promotion for deferring police officers appeared only a secondary consideration to a Ministry who intended to retrench,but when these reduetons came to be dealt with, care should have been taken to maintain the efficiency of a department specially engaged in the detection /and prevention of crime. The number of policemen doing duty in Auckland is so far short of public requirements 'that complaints are daily published showing a large increase in a certain class of crime which I regret to chronicle is fast accelerating a very uneasy feeling, and that is " larrikinism." Many persons attribute this youthful penchant for notorienty to our common school system, others to absence of moral training, but no matter to what cause the increase has been brought about, it is much to be deplored. and will necessitate; a speedy and effectual check, otherwise breaches of the criminal laws will so rapidly increase as to botipme absolutely alarming. ".

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT,

It is rumoured in well-informed circles that the House will not be called together for the despatch of business until July., This is most extraordinary if true, but it is stated that it would be unwise and very impolitic to hare the Assembly; meet until all the new IJative Land Court Judges have had a few innings in some of the more pressing iustances where large blocks of native land have to be considered, .: and memorials of ownership ordered to issue, in order that some favoured persons may make their own arrangements for large purchases or long binding leases. Ido not yet believe the postponement will follow.

RETRENCHMENT.

The late Sheep and Cattle Inspector, .Mr Henry Dacre, of the Lake, has bad his office refilled by the appointment of a , friend of Ministers from Gisborne,with an increase of £100 a year added to hit salary. Bather a new sphere of retrenchment this. r

AN INTEBESTING BECOBD.

A return of Ihe Europeans mho are interested in the several blocks of native lands which are now being passed through Mr Special Commissioner Brabant's Court, would be a document well worth perusing. Let me hope it will be available during the coming Parliamentary campaigu.