Auckland Echoes.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4254, 19 August 1882, Page 3

Auckland Echoes.

(FBOM OUB SEMI-OCCASIONAL CO-RESPON-DENT.) Your leader (he other day, slating the Herald for its remarks re tbe voting on the Loan Bill wa*s greatly appreciated here. It stated the true facts of the case, and was a clever expose of the " old woman of Wyndbam street's" barefaced endeavor to throw dust in the eyes of the people of tbe North. The Herald, true to its ancient traditions, is sitting "on a rail " just now, but that is of no consequence, as tbe influence of that journal as a leader of public opinion in matters political is simply nil. The Auckland Star is becoming a strong Ministerial organ, and its influence is likely to bolster up considerably the Whitaker Ministry. Its influence is unquestionable, indeed it is admitted on all sides that at least two members for Auckland city owe their election to its advocacy. The journal referred to is true to tbe interests of the North, and no doubt the 'power behind the throne" sees that the forthcoming political 'struggle will be North versus South. -It has always been so—when there is a loan to be allocated principles and parties are forgotten, and "the largest wooden building in the world," i.e., the Parliamentary Build* ing „< becomes the scene of a vast money scramble. Writing about newspapers reminds, me of the wonderful deterioration of the Observer since Mr Rathbone- severed his connection therewith. Though, the present editor is a clever man and a thorough journalist, somehow or another the paper has lost the piquancy and dash it possessed under the old regime, and clever skits and mirthful jokes have given place to a heavy rechauffe of stale news.

Recently death has been busy in the ranks of the old colonists. The other day Mr John Smith, the well known draper and racehorse owner, departed thislife, and as»" Honest John " was as well known in Quees street as the Town Clock, or the pie«stall at the corner of the Crescent, a gap, not easy to fill up, has been occasioned. A few days before his demise a valuable foal out of Maid of Honor by Musket died, and this seems to have preyed on Mr Smith's mind con siderably. He did not realise that there was any danger until the evening before his death, when he offered the medical man in attendance £50 to "set him on his legs again." Burley John and his " cherry and black " colors will be long remembered amongst the sporting community of Auckland. Peace to his ashes. Another old and respected citizen who has gone to his long home since my last is Mr Saul Charles Philips, father of our respected Town Clerk, Mr P. A. Philips. Mr Philips, sen., was 89 years old, and a colonist of 25 years' standing, having landed in Auckland in 1858,

Amongst the departures to the old country by the lagt outgoing mail steamer was Mr Samuel Morrin. For some time past, Mr Morrin has been suffering acutely from an affection of the eyes, and it is for the purpose of consulting the best medical talent in Europe that the present trip is taken. Mr Morrin is accompanied by his wife, a Canadian lady, but his children are left under the care of Mr Thomas Morrin. Mr Sam Morrin is a good citizen, and I wish him a pleasant trip and restored health.

Our present Mayor, Mr James MeCosh Clark, is one* of the most popular, able and benevolent meo who has yet filled the civic chair. Daring his term of office he has spent thousands in doing the hospit« able to distinguished visitors to our city, has given the whole of his honorarium to the Erio Public Library for the purchase of books; and the latest instance of his benevolence and kindly feeling is the promise to the Auckland Society of Arts of the munificent donation of £500 towards the erection of a suitable building for art exhibitions, etc. I hear that practical steps in this direction are shortly to be taken. Our Society of Artists is not at all " one horse." It possesses 243 members, over half of whom are deft with the pencil and brush.