AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 57, 10 September 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

(from our ow* cokhespo>*di:nt.) September 9

The new arrivals by the Countess of Kintore have not yet lost their identity, but are to be seen promenading in ajistleafi xcuuiner Queonstreet, Micawber like, I suppose, waiting for something to turn up 1 exqept, .of course, tins portion came Qut Wider to Mr Brogden, who feel suflicientl \ .it ease to indulge their proclivities, one oi which is a love of. (I was about to say strong) beer. Their weakness in this respect lias already made them acquainted with Mr Beckham. It transpired at their examination at the Policc Court that no provision had been made for their accommodation at the. Barr;wkß, but they were left to shift for themselves. The shelter of the buildings has since been denied them, (hey having received notice to quit. The position oi these navvies is certainly a hard one. Although under engagement to Mr Brogdcn, he declines to recognize his"liability in the matter of wages until he has work for them, of which there is no immediate prospect. This is certainly scurvy treatment, and has placed the men in a difficult position, as nearly all of them are without means. Moreover, they are prevented by their engagement from seeking employment elsewhere. This treatment of the men is not calculated to re-assure intending immigrants under contract. Another shocking accident arising from drink occurred at the Thames 011 iridaylast, resulting in the death of a miner named John Holt. A party named Sanderson, engaged in the Caledonian mine, obsei\ed a man lying motionless at the head of the Moanafcaiari culvert, and on further examination discovered him to be dead. The body was partially immersed in sand and water. Assistance as procured, and it was removed to an hotel to await an inquest. There were 110 marks of'violence beyond a slight abrasion upon the left temple, and it was therefore surmised that in attempting to eross the tramway that connects the Caledonian quartz paddock with the Government line he must have fallen and been rendered senseless, and thus have become smothered by the sand and water. The deceased had been at a ball and supper, | and bad left to go to his hut considerably the worse for liquor. Ho has unfortunately left a wife and two children, who reside at Howick. A verdict oi accidental death has been returned. Holt was formerly, I believe, a sergeant in the Waikato Militia. On the eve of the departure of the ' Nevada' mailship an arrest was made of one of the passengers Mr Frank Hussey, negro delineator, who was arrested on a warrant from Melbourne, charging him with ha\ ing appropriated three horses and two buggies to his own use, valued at £100. An impromptu sitting of the Court was held, and presided over by the Mayor and G% P. Pierce, Esq. The prisoner was defended by counsel, and the Inspector of Police prosccuted. The depositions forwarded from Melbourne were submitted, but the Inspector of Police decliried to ask for a remand, so that the accused might be sent back to Melbourne, on the ground that he could not prove that the documents were genuine; and left the matter entirely in the hands of the Bench, who were of opinion that the case should Ipe dismissed. Mr Hussey afterwards proceeded to California by the ' Nevada, and he may thank his stars on having had a very narrow escape of losing both his passage and his liberty. The transaction is another of those sharp practices resorted to to raise the wind, as it is termed, llusscv, it appears, having hired the horses and buggy, and afterwards sold them, with the proceeds of which he came ou to New Zealand.

The "Corner" was/thrown into an unuraal state of disquietude on Thursday last by the report that one of its chief operators, of Tasmania™ notoriety, was missing, and had left not a few anxious friends to mourn his .absence who held sundry:t:-ansfers as collateral security for money advanced. Several neat " rises " are reported to hate been made by the defaulter, the leas'- of which was obtaining the loan of two shares in the Caledonian Company to enable him (as alleged) to have a vote at the 'ate meeting. Ail accommodating friend supplied them, accopted a -rre-transfer, but found to li's chagrin on wishing to reinstate himself on the books that the shares h d been re-sold for a consideration to another part '. This collapse of one who was considered as safe as a " gun " has had the effect of bringing business to a standstill, and caused quite a rush to the Stamp office. More shares have been registered within tie past few days than ar>> in an ordinary way put upon the books for a month—Caledonians in particular. It required something of this kind to put a stop to the " sale note " principle which has prevai'e 1, by which brokers have speculated and given share or shares for a fortnight together without the seller's name transferring, or transfer changing hands,"the. consequence of which has been that the brokers have worked the market to suit their own book. Now it is to be hoped transactions will assume a more bon& fide character,-and that transfers will accompany the parsing of cheques. By this means the healthiness of the market; can be deterrrnned, and some guide as to the operations of those capitalists who sway the market. —Business in the sharemarket ha' been very dull, Caledonians have advanced to £36, with a decided upward tendency. Cures scarcely hold their own, while a little rise has taken place in Central Italy. Other stocks are a drug. A new ferry company has been suecessf illy launched in opposition to the monopoly hitherto enjoyed by the Messrs Holmes, to run boats between Auckland and the North Shore. A tender has been accepted for the completion of a steamer within three months at a cost of £2,375. The enterprise is not only likely to prove a paying investment of itself, but will do much to advance the district, which has been much retarded in consequence of insufficient and unfrequent steam communication. I should advise the new company to lower ths rate of charge to three-pence, a charge, looking to the increased traffic, quite sufficient to cover expenses and leave a fair per eentage on the investment. That amount is the prevailing ferry charge in Australia for the same stretch of water.