AUCKLAND NOTES. [by our OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Auckland, Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2007, 19 May 1885, Page 2

AUCKLAND NOTES. [by our OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Auckland, Monday.

Ik tho costliness of «ome ot the buildings now being erected m Auckland is any o\idenci) of its prospetity, wo lia\c at the pie sent tune plenty of evidence to offoi in suppoit theieof. The block which lias just been finished, and which stands at tho corner of Queen and Wellesley-stieets, and aKo on the cornel of Wellesley and Loinestieets, having a fioutage to Queen street of OOft. by 100 ft. to Wellesley-stieet, and is the prupeity of Stone Bro^., is a splendid specimen of modern building. The corner position is occupied by Milno and Choyco, one of the principal importers of drapery and millinery, <fee, in Auckland. This shop is 100 ft. long by 27ft. wide, and has been furnished ma style regardless of expense. The show-room is 50ft. long, and has the floor covered with Brussels carpets, handsom# glass show cases for the millinery and fancy ai tides, glass-fronted wardiobe for aostuines, h\o or si\ lirge pier glasses, and a nutnbei of hanging baskets with artificial flowers, ferns, lycopodiuni 1-, &c, has a \eiy pretty effect, and is one of the handsomest show-rooms in New Zealand. Four handsome gasahers give light to the establishment. The first floor is devoted to the use of millinety, costume, and mantlemakers. of whom there aie geneially about fifty employed, the stock-room and other necessary convenience* taking up most of the remaining space. The cellai is lofty, has a conciete floor, and is devoted to holding and unpacking the cases bi ought in fioin Lome-street. The street veiandah is on an improved principle, it being circular on section, thereby allowing three feet of glass, from the roof to under side of shop girders. Next to Milne and Choyco, Messrs Close Bros, have opened a piovision store, which for its light, clean, and aitistic up pearance hah not its equal in Auckland. It was the centre of much attraction last Saturday evening, and if the proprietors always merit as much support as was accorded to them that night, they have a fair future before them. The whole of the block is built in a most substantial manner, with all the latest improvements in lighting, ventilation and lavatory acccssoiies, according to designs furnished by Mr E. Baitlpy, architect. I will offer a description of Messrs Coupland and Co.'s splendid block of buildings m a future issue. Although it has been several times stated that peace between England and Rubsia is fully assured, we may still infer from telegrams received during the past week that political waters are still in a \ery troubled state. The resignation of Sir Peter Lumsden, the discontent of both Liberals and Tones, and also the Peer* generally at the action of Mr Gladstone is much commented upon. And now we hear that Russia declines to accept the proposals offered by England for peace ;so weare&lmost viitually in the same position that we were a fortnight since. It is generally thought in Auckland that we must fight sooner or latei, and that any peace made at present will be only a patched up affair, and will be of short duration. The public here are daily expecting to heai that the disgust which appears to have been cre.ited by the action of Mr Gladstone will be the means of depuving him and his colleagues of ofhee. Should this occur at the piesent juncture, it is impossible to say what turn matters may take. In our piesent state, theoutbieak of war and the consequent stoppage of all public works would throw us back a geneiation, and create a financial disturbance we would not recover from for years. It is generally hoped that a settlement of tho Afghan question, fraught with honour to England, may yet bo arrived at, and our minds made easy. It m amusing to observe how tho butchers here, giving as a reason that the price of sheep had l isen, when auch was not the case, raised the price of mutton by Id per lt>, and before three days had gone past took it off again. For the reason of their so quickly changing their front we have not far to seek. A suggestive paragraph appearing in the papers that tho co-opera-tive association were about to come to the rescue did the business, and the public generally are anxiously waiting for the coopeiativo association to make amove. It is thought that a good oppoitunity exists for them to make a profitable move in this direction, and there can be little doubt that the establishment of some medium in people's inteiest, who will control and prevent the exoibitant prices now being charged by the butcheis for their meat is greatly lequired. Perhaps the most noticeable impioieincnr which ha« been made for some timo in the matter of highways in or mound Auckland, in the filling in of Symonds street, opposite the English cemetery, and also of Kyber passfioin Parson's coiner to SeaHeld view. In both those streets sin even gradient not exceeding 1 in I<> now exists, and what formerly was a very rough road is now almost as smooth «,s Queen-street, and ceitaiuly much moie pleasant to walk on than nouir parts of the latter. The Austrian waislnp Saida has been a isited by a large number of persons during the p.ut week. Tho officers have shown niucn courtesy to tho visitors, pointing' out and explaining to them as far as their knowledge of our language would permit, everything of interest on board. The ship herself and hei fittings aie well worth seeing, and a vit-it is well lepaid. She is on a thiitccn months' ciuiso, and loaves for Fiji in a day or two. Hit officers and ciew will cany with them the good wishes of the Aucklanders.

A notice regarding the Alexindcr Pound .ipi>< irs in . mother column Mr Kno\ will hold his usual silo at the Hamilton Auction Mart on Saturday. Miss Steel, Kcmberton Cottage, Chapelstreet, Cambridge, has apartments to let. Mr J. S. Kdgerumbe. Wuik.ito Times Buildings Hamilton, has for sale 100 acres of (,ood land at Kmkirirou, at £1 per acre. Mi T. Gomtnill has for private sale .1 six roomed house, with out-buildings, &c, in Dukcstrret, Cambrulfie. Mr J. S. BuclvLind will sell at the Cambridge I)i7a.ir, on Saturday next, a largo number of horses of all descriptions, harness, Cortland waggon, &r , Ike. Mr K. K. M. Campbell, To \wamutii, is agent for the «,dc of 8000 acres first class land, n«ar railway station, in lots to suit purchasers. All* 60 acre lot near Cambridge.