AUCKLAND NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2038, 30 July 1885, Page 3

AUCKLAND NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Aicklan'l), Monday. Ir is gratifying to have to record that the meeting lately held for the purpose of deciding in what way it would be best to erect a mutable memorial to the memory of the late Mr John Sheehan was ho successful, for few will deny that the deceased M.H.R. for Tauranga was during his lifetime not only a credit to Auckland, but to the colony ; consequently the committee has been formed so as to represent no creed or particular party but Now Zealand. Mr John Sheehan, whatever his faults tuav have been, and never yet was nun made perfect, proved himself one of this colony's worthiest mm and greatest statesmen. The committee formed is a most influential one, and the movement gives fair promise at the present time of ultimately having a good termination. It is felt that there is a show of justice in your articlo of Satuiday on tho haid whips now being enduied by fanners in the Waikato, o\\ ing to the action of the Meat Fieezmg Company, which it contends is being conducted in a manner ad verso to the interest of county s,ettleis. When it is recollected that a large number of t>e Waikato farmers were induced to invest capital in the cmcern on the uuderst uuling that the company would assist to use or dispose of thrir fat cattle and sheep, it is r.vthcr disappointing to find the company at the picsent time importing beef largely fiom Waitara. This seems more unjust when beef it n«w so plentiful in Waikato, and they have thus no excuse to offer on the ground* of scarcity. Provided that they import more live stock than they n«e m their works, they will naturally have to be sold in our live meat market, thus creating a just cause of complaint from those parties, who, upon taking •harm, were given to understand that they might rely upon the co-operation of the company to forward tlieir interest m •the sale or disposal of their h\o stock, and instead of now getting a steady market, and the demand being more regular, it is likely to be made worse. The farming interest is low enough, without being made worse, and the policy is suicidal indeed which should inanywiy clash with thit productive of profit to tho farmer. Much ot the depresmon now existing in commercial circles may be traced directly to the gloomy and unprofitable state of agricultural interests. Our colony must depend chit-fly for its advancement upon its agricultural prosperity, and any movement or policy which would militate against it should be opposed by every right thinking colonist. The Anglo-Russian crisis has again assumed rather alarming propoi tioii". It is shown that tho recent movement of the Russian troops on the Afghan frontier was but a wifful attempt on the part of the commander, Colonel Alikhanoff, to bring about hostilities. The Penj-deh incident was generally supposed to have been done with the same object, but the possible misunderstanding which may have existed on either side afforded fair grounds for overlooking and settling tho difficulty. If, however, it was a certainty that Colonel Alikhanotf committed the outiage in question with tho object indicated, it will piobably not be so easily settled. In (lieat Britain the position appeared to be thought so serious as to create a panic on the London Stock Exchange and the Bourse in Paris. Hluutly after the receipt of the telegram defining the Alikhanoff affan, we hear that Russia is again prefurnng explanation* relative to the movements of her troops. Is this apologetic action of Russia, however, to bo relied upon, or is it only another ruse on her part with the ostensible object of gaining time, so that she may have further opportunity to prepare herself before an appeal to arms is made. The M.iruchak and the Zulhkar Pa.ss part of the disagreement between England and Russia does not appear to be finally settled, but after all it does not at piesent seem probable w ith the near approach of w inter, that war is very imminent. Local politics have formed no insignificant portion of the conversation of the people of Auckland during the past week. The muddle, financially, which the affairs of our city council seem to be in, is much commented < n, and more still the inability which one and all of our city fathers manifest to devise any means by which to rectify matters. Their meetings during the week have been simply wordy squabble*, each and all of them appearing to be anxious to tlnovv the blame of their mismanagement upon the otlieis. Councillor W.vj mouth aptly defines their position when he says they " aie as sheep without a •hephurd." They seem to have no means 01 authority to procuie tellable data toasceitain a correct estimate of their financial situation, and consequently they have done little as yut but indulge in personal recrimination*. Few of tho councillor* oc cupy a very enviable position, and it will be well for each and all of them when they finally decide in what way they arc to set their house in a better state of order. .Editions of the Revised Old Testament are now to be had here, but this circumotaucc has not cieated the enthusiasm which wan anticipated. After the laboui of ho many yoa™ having been expended upon it by such a numbei of learned divines, it is to be wondered at that many of theme who hold pet doctrine^ relating to tho divinity, immortality, and other religious opinions were no more anxious fo see how their several fancies had fared at the hands of the revision committee. (ireat excitement pie vailed here on .Saturday when the news was circulated that a man named Wakeham, living at Fiueman's Bay, had lepoited himself to the police m having killed his wife with an axe. Like many other troubles, di ink seems to have been the chief factor in the concern The capture of Dunn the buiglar by Con nUble Herbert reflect* the highest credit upon the policeman. The inneiil had only ju«t e^ca-pod iinpnsomeut at the hands of Judge (fillies, and no sooner did he feel himt-ely at libeity again when he recommenced his careci of cinne. Constable Herbert had, however, bis eye upon him, And befoie long he caught him again redhanded in crime. Just for one moment reflect and put yomself in Herbert's place, and you will too more readily recognise the merit of his action. For d.iys he had followed his man with much patience, and on Saturday night last caught him in the act of burglary. He tackled, single Landed, this desperate villian, and succeeded in cleverly capturing him. Constable Heibert is a tiue detective in every sense of the word, not waiting for information legarding his man, but setting to work to hunt it up for himself. Such a piece of wrwee as he did for thin community on Saturd iv night last deveive« wome recognition from head-quar-ter*, and I will be much deceived if we do not soon find him made a detective of the first grade. Air Sloane, formerly of To Awamntu, chemist and druggist, has, I understand, bought f.*me land and a now shop in the rapidly rising township of Whing«iioi. Ho at first leaned tlio pieiniscs m Waltonstreet, known a« the "Old Bank," but finding, after living there a month, that he would require nioie extensive accommodation, he acqnued some premises vyhich belonged to Mr Cafler, an old resident. I trust that ho will be successful in his venture as a chemist and druggist there. A jnan of his profession was very much wanted for the welfare of the district. Mr Sloane has tnude extensive alterations in his new premises.