AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8169, 28 April 1888, Page 6 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND.

(From Our Own cqrbbspondent.)

April 19. At last we seem to see " the beginning of the end" of Kingism, and to the Hon. E. Mitchelson, Nativo Minister, is apparently reserved the honour of giving it the happy despatch. Iv this he but enters into tho labours of his predecessors, more especially the Hon. John Bryce. Time, the great touchstone, has also been working with the Government, coupled with the action of $hg Native Land Courts, Tav/hiaa is how disposed to accept the terms -formerly rejected, and landless and homeless, is willing to oome down to Mangare, where his father, old Te Wherowhero, formerly resided, and where the Government will see that land and a suitable residence are provided for him. In what he believed to be tho interests of his

people Tawhiao relused every bribe held out to him—refused to abandon them—and he lays down his " crown " with infinitely more dignity than many of the crowned puppets who have figured in European history bave done. With all his little foibles Tawhiao has enjoyed the goodwill and respect of the Waikato settlers, and a liberal treatment of the fallen mier will be regarded with satisfaction. The matter is one which must of necessity oome before the Assembly, but there is little doubt that the practical and businesslike proposals of the Native Minister

will be duly ratified,

The Hon. Georgo Fisher, Minister of Education, has been kept busy during his stay in Auckland dealing with matters con-

nected with his department. He was greatly pleased with his visit to the various city primary schools, and admitted frankly that as regards the teaching staff and the hygienic condition of the schools, Wellington

was a long way behind Auckland. I have reason to believe that no attempt will bo made to raise the school age during the approaching session. It ia difficult to see how it C3B he done, in tho face of the figures given by the Minister that secondary education is costing £12 per pupil, Native schools £7 10s per pupil, and the primary schools £3 15s per pupil annually to the country. With regard to the Industrial School, Mr Fisher was not so well satisfied, as the appliances

at the disposal of the master only enable

him to keep the children in custody aud in health, but admit of no industrial training in the trus sense of the word. In respect to

management be puts the three great industrial schools of the colony in the following order:—Caversham first, Burnham second, and Auckland last. As the lease of the Kohimarama estate runs out shortly, ifc is believed that the Government contemplate building a new industiial school buildings on the fine spacious reserve at Mount Eden, where the master of the school will have a fair opportunity of showing his practical ability and administrative capacity. During his stay here the Minister has visited a number of the local industries likely to be affected by the alterations in the tariff, so as to enable him to

judge personally of their claims for con-

sideration. So far the tariff propounded by 'the Wellington Conference, and published in the local papers, has elicited little discussion or controversy; and the press has been cautious in its comments on the new scheme, waiting possibly to see whether Providence will be on the side of the biggest battalions. The Industrial Association is also biding its time and awaiting the development of events. With regard to tho North Island Trunk Railway question, it is pretty well under-

stood by the Auckland represeutatives thai

it will be hung up this nexfc session. Mr Thompson, M.H.R. (Marsden) has expressed his willingness to accompany Mr Frank Lawry (Franklin South) over the Central and Stratford routes, so as to enable the Auckland members to come to a fair and accurate judgment as to the merits of the rival routes. Both men are practical settlers, experienced agriculturists, and good judges of land. From their high personal reputation a report by them on the agricultural capabilities of the country traversed by the two linos would have considerable weight with the Auckland lepresentatives.

The recurrence of Sir George Grey's birthi day, the 76th, has been made the occasion of renewed manifestations of respect and good will towards him. On the anniversary ho I received congratulations from citizens of all classes, and all shades of political creed, many of these taking the form of birthday cards with unique but appropriate insctiptions. Sir Georgo has just presented the Free Public Library and Art Gallery with further gifts of rare historical documents and works of art, which must lay the people of Auckland under life-long obligations to him as a public benefactor. The value of some of these gifts oan scarcely be estimated from a pecuniary point of view, as money could not replace them.

Our recontested licensing aud local option elections arc now over, and tbe temperance party have been beaten along three-fourths of tho line, partly by bad management, but largely by trade terrorism and a lavish expenditure of money by their opponents. At no previous licensing elections in Auckland have such largejjsums been spent. Some of the features of " the bad old times" have been revived, as at every contest personation occurred. As a sample of the sack as to the class of people who turned the scale, City North may be given. In that district two voters for the temperance party required assistance from the returning officer; of the brewers' party close on 100 being unable te read and write 1

Tho health of the city is greatly improved, and tho advent of cold weather has led to a diminution of typhoid fever. Judging from tho correspondence in the papers, the doctors are as much puzzled as laymen as to the cause of tho outbreak. The way that these gentlemen have been slanging each other over their mortality bills, which in some cases, according to the stories, had reached 40 per cent,, is not calculated to increase one's feeling of veneration for the profession. As some wily old birds appear to make the correspondence a means of getting a cheap advertisement, the council of the Medical Association have taken tho matter up. According to the now ukas, members of the profession who indulge even in what may bo regarded as legitimate newspaper advertising, aro to be boycotted, and the old members of this new trade union—for that is practically what it amounts to—intend to make it lively for the new arrivals who attempt to encroach on the old medical preserves. The public are watching tho present row with amused feelings, not unmingled with curiosity as to tho future developments. It seems that human nature i.s pretty much the same, whether under tho broadcloth of tho medico, or the woolleu jersey of the sailor or lumper belonging lo the Scamcus' Union—self-preservation the first law.

As to the appointment to tho Chair of Music some further explanations have been given, which tend to modify the expressions of opinion given at the time it was accomplished. It is explained that it was only

made for one year, and that by an overture made by the Choral Society in ISS3 ihrough J K- gei£t?n tLe University Council can claim £100 from that institution by way of contribution. Owing to tho dull times and the changes in the composition of the committee of the Choral Society, it is now considered doubtful whether tbat sum can be considered a reliable asset. It is not denied now that the Amy Sherwin business provoked the council somewhat precipitately, if no^t to love, at least to good works? There has been a revival cf the Home Kule question in our midst by the advent of Mr Molloy, M.P. It had had a rest since the visit of the Redmond brothers. Yen* great eftorts had been made to ootain the presence of the local magnates and others, but lor the most part, like those of old, "they all began to make excuse," from the Hon. George Fisher downwards. An attempt was made to get Sir George Grey to preside, but that astute politician bad got a diplomatic cold. A further effort was mado to secure his presence at all events at the meeting, but in the long list of apologies there was none from Sir George. There is much comment and curiosity evinced as to his attitude on this occasion, in view of his action at the memorable Home Rule meeting in Wellington, in concert with Mr John Lundon. As lor the Hon. George Fisher, he was suddenly absorbed in tho oares of State, but it is au open sooret that he regarded the whole business as another phase of the squabble between Archbishop Redwood and Bishop Moran, and was content to stand aside and let them fight it out in the bid for the affections of tho Irish section of their coreligionists. The only ecclesiastics who graced the platform were the dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church; for the eccentric Presbyterian divine who hails from Mahurangi, the Rev. Mr M'Kinney, who has been an ardent advocate of Home Rule for some years past, also sent an apology for non-attendance, Tho most remark*i9le incident of the meeting was that Mr J. A. Tole, the ex-Minister of Justice, seconded the vote of thanks to Mr Molloy for his lecture. On the visit of the Redmond brothers he was only conspicuous by his absence, but probably at the next general election his present good ollices will not bo forgotten by a section of the Newton electors. Bishop Luck also has made a change of front to some extent. When the Redmonds were about to visit us he issued a pastoral which gave great offence to the Nationalists, and did n,o.t favour thoir lectures with his patronage, ' The Home Rule section lif,yo. fleyer'forgiven or forgotten Ujp incident, and his present attitude, though it has mollified them, has not closed up the breach which tho pastoral created. The oonolusion of the lecture was marked by a singular mishap. The gas began to get somewhat erratic in its movements, and suddenly went out, and Mr Molloy's peroration was given to the audience with suoh light on the subject as coflld be obtained from sundry penny '.'. dips'*" At first it was suspected that some "Derry Boy" had been playing pranks with the meter, but it proved to be nothing of the kind. The new meter put in that day had simply developed anti-Home Rule tendencies. Mr itylQ.Uoy must have gone away from Auckland with a very poor impensjori of' it, for at the Thames, where he had beon working night and day to start his hydrogen-amalgam process for saving gold before he left for England, the Thames County Council turned the water off at the last moment till the " little bill" of his predecessors was settled, and he had to leave the goldfields without seeing his hopes realised. The press condemns the action of the council in no measured terms, and regards the discourteous act, or, rather, piece of sharp practice, as a poor waj of encouraging inventors to introduce new processes for saving gold on the Thames goldfields.

Our present art exhibition, under the aus? pices of the Auckland Society of Arts, shows considerable improvement in quality, though there is a slight falling off in the number of exhibits. The competition from the public schools and the art classes are fewer in number and poorer in quality than last year, while in tastefulness of get up tbey are greatly inferior to those sent by Canterbury on a previous occasion. The picture of the exhibition, L. J. Steele's " Story of a Saddle "■—an incident in Australian bush life—is far and away the best work in -"Joint of artistic finish and composition that has ever been placed on the walls of the society's art gallery. It must be a source of satisfaction to Mr Steele to ki.ow that his sterling merit and talent have been at last duly recognised, I undorstand that the picture, whioh is going to the Melbourne Exhibition, has already been brought under the notice of Sir William Clarke, Bart., and that there is every probability of it being purchased by him or some other Australian magnate. Mr J. M Gibb, of Ohristchurch, has in his large sea piece completely overshadowed the attempts of our local artists, and the work has been greatly admired by visitors to the exhibition. In water colours there has been a steady advance in quality. Messrs Kenneth Watkins and Atkinson bear away the palm, and in "Studies from Life" and "Still Life" there is steady progress visible, with an increasing display, which speaks well for the Auckland artists.

The exodus to Australia still continues, principally of artisans who have saved a little money—a class whicii the country can ill spare, if it is to progress industrially. They all contemplate returning to Auckland when times are brighter. It is hoped that the projected changes in the tariff will arrest this outflow by finding work for the men nearer home. The exodus is beginning to affect the churches, and there is not a church gathering at which the loss of some valued worker, through his departing for Australia,is not reported. Another movement from the town is quite as significant—namely that of the youth to the gumfields and the country, owing to the lack of openings for them iv the industrial establishments of the city.

There is a considerable feeling of relief in the community generally at the abortive issue of the negotiations between the timber compauies of the province and the Australian syndicate. The more the matter was looked into, the more impolitic did it seem to hand over the principal industry of this district to the entire control and tender mercies of a ring of Melbourne and Sydney capitalists. The companies now intend, instead of crying to the Australian Jupiter to help them out of the rut of depression, to put their own backs to tho wheel and face their difficulties manfully and resolutely, in a spirit of self reliance. Thero is no doubt this is the true policy after all, and will be crowned with ultimate success. ""*""*

In tho way of amusements there is little to record. The Brough and Boucicault Bur- [ lesque Opera Company did not complete their season here, owing to the audiences having fallen off. Their expenses are said to be £GOO a week, and that they lost £300 here. Tbe reason for this result is that the drama has given place to rinking to a great extent, and the latter amusement bids fair this winter to crush out the social dance assemblies which were so numerous last season. The Choral Hall even is to be fitted up for this popular pastime of the hour, though a rinking hall capable of accommodating 1000 people is already in full swing.