Auckland Echoes.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4312, 26 October 1882, Page 2

Auckland Echoes.

(fbom oub own cobbesponbent.)

il*have' it on the best authority that during the next session of Parliament at least two members for constituencies in this provincial district intend moving in the direction of a commission of enquiry into the working of the" police force; and not before it is required I say. I prophesy that a little stirring up of this branch of the public service will display as much rottenness and filth as burly Hercules in the old days of Grecian fable discovered when he essayed the task of cleansing the Augean stable. Amongst the subordinate officers there is a widespread and general dissatisfaction, and it is a well known fact that the greatest favoritism prevails in the matter of promotion. I knuw of constables who; hate conscientiously and efficiently carried out the duties of their office for six \ and seven years without receiving a single step of promotion, while others with shorter periods of service, but more adept in the art -of-toadying- to the officer in charge, have;ascended the golden ladder of advancement with rapid tread. In many instances—inefficient .themselves —the superior officers dread to advance men whose efficiency is unquestionable; and woe to the constable who happens to be the pet of a sergeant-major! a sergeant with whom the Grand Bashaw of the district is at variance. Ifcform is most .urgently required in the matter of the ■' control. of the smaller police districts, the Thames for instance. The placing of important; stations under tbe charge of a noncommissioned officer has been a fruitful source, of trouble, and the nice crop of «can"dals that have seen' light in this, provincial district recently from this very cause should" be by itself a warning to the authorities that some radical reforms are necessary. Noncommissioned officers with paltry salaries and with no status on the force cannot be expected to discharge the functions appertaining to the charge of. large districts as conscientiously as commissioned officers, who have a position to lose. From all parts of the country there is a demand for re-organisation, and 'as" Shakespeare says— . . ■ ■ ■*..■•;■•„ : --:>.rv* . "If t'were well t'were done, t'were well t'were done quickly."

People Here are absolutely going " land mad." A week or two .ago. An auctioneer made a contract with an old man who owned several acres of swampy land at the North Shore, the principal clause of which was that, the knight of the hammer should guarantee the owner £2000 clear of all expenses, the auctioneer having for his trouble all surplus. The proprietor of the land jumped at the offer; it was at least double what he had imagined the land to be worth. The auctioneer advertised the laod well (Oh! the potency of printing ink), and to the astonishment of everyone the despised land produced over £5000. The auctioneer pocketed ihe nice little sum of £3000 for his enterprise, and now fully halt a dozen properties are. in the market. The devices of the auctioneers to attract attention to their " wonderful land bargains " are in many instances both novel and ingenious.; One advertises a free excursion to the paradise he has for sale, with a frea lunch on the ground; another temptingly announces free busses and a band of music-: while a third promises to name the streets of an embry^4ownship .afte.i; the first two dozen purchaser* c#seeiibrisl ' ' p

If the recommendations of the Engineer to the Harbor Board are carried out quite a metamorphosis will be effected in^the \ appearafiW ':ofe font* part.-' _ TE(C salient features of the Engineer's plan, as your "readers are doubtless aware, 'art—fisst,' the removal ofc Queen-street Wharf '"'and/ the substitution of a small jetty; second, the removal of the present dock and the reclamation of a large extent of ground from its site towards the Queen-street Wharf; third, the erection of a wharf of permanent materials 2GQO feet long, at the end of Hobson street; fifth, the extension of two long tee 3 from the Eailway Wharf v I and the new wharf, a sheltered inner harbor ! *oT v]so acres in extent, thus being second in the space between the two jetties. Should a wharf be extended from Hobaon street that thoroughfore will soon rival ■Queen street for business. During the past few years rents in Queen street hare become so dear that many retail businesses being forced into the side Btreetfl; and I predict that before many years hare gone over our heads that Queen street will.hare become a quiet, stately succession of wholesale stores.. .

On Wednesday last Mr Joseph A. Ttifev member for the electorate of Eden, was married in St. Patrick's Cathedral to the eldest daughter of Mr E. Lewis. For the benefit of my lady readers I may mention that the tying of the hymeneal knot was a gorgeous affair. The bride wore a dress of white satin with long train trimmed with Limerick lace; the veil was of tulle, and the head-dress of orange blossoms. Presents were showered on the young couple so prolifically that two carts would scarely contain them.