The Evening Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 220, 22 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1870.

One of the standing subjects of complaint with our local corps of volunteers has been the long-coveted rifle rau«e. The targets erected at Point Chevalier have been almost useless ; practice there necessitating an expenditure of time and effort not generally at the disposal of those constituting our defence force. The grant, therefore, of tho site for a rifle range at Mount Eden was hailed with gratification by all interested in the movement. We find, however, that the volunteers are yet " calling on Jupiter." That there is not sufficient interest taken in the encouragement of volunteering, considering our exposed and helpless state, is true; and the increase of the capitation grant is but a small measure of encouragement for a force, on the efficiency of which the safety of the country may in future largely depend. But the self-reliant suggestions of his Honor the Superintendent to the deputation which waited on him relative to the rifle range, at Mount Eden, may, if spiritedly carried out, do more than any grant to infuse life and vigour into the service. The putting the ground set apart into a fit state for rifle practice is really not beyond the powers of our local companies ; and even though the country corps might at times avail themselves of the range, the efficiency thereby gained would be all iv behalf of the same cause. The removal of a ftsv boulders and tons of earth should not be a serious obstruction to men who, if called on for active service against an enemy, would have far more difficult operations to conduct; and, divided amorg all the men of the various companies, the work to each would be very light indeed. It is true that many of the men from their ordinary dv.''<s could ill afford the leisure, st" ihcre n-o few who could not take ah 1 day and devote it to the work. There arc except! nal cases, where a substitute might be provided; but if the operations needed were undertaken with real esprit dc corps, not only would the vigorous handling of the pick and shovel in such a cause be in no way derogatory to the dignity of members, but produce a zeal and emulation for similar works which might be of incalculable advantage to the cause of volunteering. If such a spirit were manifested by the volunteers themselves, it will be found that a generous response will be evoked from the public. "We are so thoroughly governed that we have learned to call to the Government for everything ; but of nil classes or institutions, it is to the Volunteers we should look for an exhibition of the " self-reliant" policy. We trust that the spirited advice of Mr. Gillies will be carried through by the Volunteers, not for the direct advantage alone of bating at once a rifle range, but for the effects that it will have indirectly on the cause of volunteering.

The Carandini Concert last night was very largely attended, it being a benefit to Mr. J. Small. As might have been anticipated, this most amusing of vocalists appeared in bis best, and with the charming singing of the Carandini family, secured a great success.

In the Prince of Wales Theatre last night, Miss Evans appeared with excellent effect as Marie Stuart. There was a fair house, and plenty of applause. The " Lottery Ticket" was also produced, evoking the usual fun. The same programme will be repeated tonight.

To those desirous of investing in literature, we would recommend a visit to Mr. Sibbin's auction mart. A library of some seven or eight hundred volumes, consigned to him direct from London, is on exhibition, and is to be sold by him to-morrow. The collection is of the most miscellaneous kind, including 'every description, from Classics to children's toy books ; from fiction to theology. The library has been selected so as to suit the most varied tastes.

We are informed that two junior members are about to rejoin the Carandini family ; and a series of concerts at the Thames will be followed by a similar treat in this city.

The officers of the U.S. war steamer Resaea were yesterday evening entertained by the members of the Northern Club at dinner. Complimentary toasts were, of cousre> interohanged.

At an adjourned meeting of the embryo Cricket Club, at Campion's Hotel, yesterday eveninc, new members v.ere_ enrolled and officers appointed : —His Honor the Superintendent, President ; F. D. Fenton and J. M. Dargaville, Esqs., Vice Presidents ; and Messrs. Cotton and Pocock, Secretary and Treasurer, respectively; and Messrs. Russell, Kees, Kissling, Gleeson, Brassey, Clifford, Newbury, and McGann, members of committee. The annual subscription fee was fixed at 10s. 6d., and rules and regulations and general affairs discussed.

We are glad to see the Union Jack floating this morning from the tower of the New Zealand Insurance Company's Offices in Lower Queen-street. The last brick has been laid, and we are enabled to form an idea of the proportions and appearance of this really handsome structure. The apertures for the faces of the public clock show what a benefit it will be to the citizens. The loftiness of the clock-tower, its admirable position, and the unimpeded view obtained from every point, will make the clock what it should be, a convenience to the whole peopie ; while tho fagade of the building is such as will make it one of the most striking and attractive in the city.

We are informed that the last sale of Tookey's shares was at £5, that being the highest price reached. There have been no transactions to-day worth recording.

As will be seen from another column the Ethiopian Troupe owning allegiance to the Mechanics' Institute is generously extending its sympathies, and appears on Saturday night next at the Devonport Hall, North Shore. We have no doubt that the same success proportionately will attend our dark brethren before a North Shore audience that has been awarded among our denser population. The Enterprise has been generously and gratuitously placed at the service of the niggers.

We are glad to learn that a large shipment of rope, manufactured by Mr. Neil Lloyd, at his worts on Ponsonby Road, has been shipped by the Santon for America. As Mr. Lloyd's machinery for the manufacture of New Zealand flax is the finest in the Colonies, and consequently in the world, we can congratulate ourselves on knowing that our Yankee cousins will see a fair test of the capabilities of the phormium tenax for cordage.

R. Hobbs, wholesale and retail Draper and Clothier, has just opened, to order, a choice lot of Cricketers' Belts. An allowance to clubs.—[Advt.]

The total Customs receipts for the colony for the last quarter are £183,117, of which Auckland contributed £-17,905.

At the recent meeting of No. 3 Company A.R.A r., Ensign Harrison informed the members that he would have pleasure in giving the sum of five pounds as a prize to be fired for by the company.

At a meeting of the members of No. 3 Company Auckland Rifle Volunteers, held at the Alexandra hotel, Parnell, on Tuesday evening, Mr. W. Harrison was unanimously elected ensign in the place of Mr. E. Scotter, resigned.

Mr. Whitaker called at our office yesterday and showed the promissory notes he had obtained in his capacity as solicitor to Mr. John Lundon, when the respective amounts were paid on Friday last, in satisfaction of the debt due by the natives, and in order to release Moananui from his retreat at the Piako. The chiefs are to assemble at Shortland tomorrow and discuss the payment of the amounts of the promissory notes, and the large additional expense incurred by tho employment of a body of men to put the law in foree —an expense which they distinctly decline to defray.— Advertiser, 21st.

The Essay and Discussion Class, Young Men's Christian Association, meet this evening, at 7.30, at the rooms, Wellesley-street, when a paper will be read by one of the members on " A Few of our Public Requirements."

The Saturday Review asks—ls the world, after all, so very absurd in its love of pretty women ? Is women so very ridiculous in her chase after beauty ? A pretty woman is doing woman's work in the world—not making speechs nor making puddings, but making life sunnier and more beautiful. Man has forsworn beauty altogether. But woman does for mankind what man has ceased to do. She clings to the Periclean idea. Her aim from very childhood is to be beautiful, liven as a schoolgirl she notes the progress of her charms, tho deepening colour of her hair, the growing symmetry of her arm, the ripening contour of her check. We watch with a silent interest the myslcrou. reveries of the maiden ; she is dreaming of a coming beauty, and panting for the glories of eighteen. Insensibly she becomes an ai List, her room a studio, her glass an academy. The hours work w-th hr, but she works with the hours. What silent nui3liiigs before her mirror, w at dreams, what discoveries, what disapppoiiitmrnls, wb rt careful gleaning of expedience, what sudden flashes of invention ! Perhaps we enjoy beauty less than we might from the absurd connection which men have established between the enjoyment of it and love. We fancy it impossible to care much about a pretty face unless we can hang it in our own gallery. " What c.ire I how fair she be, so she is not fair to me." It is perhaps truer to say that nine-tenths of our enjoyment of beauty disappears with possession. The lover dwells on his mistress's face till he loses all sense of the world of beauty without it. The real way of enjoying pretty women would be never to fall in love with a pretty woman at all. The truest enjoyment of beauty lies, not in the observation or analysis of this face or that, but in the sense of pretty forms and pretty faces about one. The joy of variety, the pleasure of the inexhaustible range of the beautiful comes to the admirer of pretty women, never to the lover of pretty women.

Victorian female society, it seems, is too virtuous and well conducted to supply the required number of waitr. sses for the cafes that have been recently opened, in which propriety is outraged, and immodesty flaunts itself in the most merotri. ious style. Ihe keepers of these cafes have had to go farther afield in search of prey, and Tasmania was resorted to as the place "where they thought they could catch their victims. In the Hobart Town Mercury of the 19th instant the following advertisement appears : —" Wanted 20 respectable females to proceed to Melbourne as waitresses, 30s. per week. Fare paid to Melbourne. Apply Mrs. Davies's Registry Office, Harrington-street, this day a. 12 o'clock sharp." The Mercury, in a leading

article denounced in the strongest language this trap thus laid for the unwary girls, and an indignant correspondence is appearing in its columns. For the sake of Victorian journalism it is to be'hoped that a univeral hue-and-cry of execration will be raised a'_inst those persons who defame out national character, and make it appear that vice characterises us as a community. A storm of indignation is raised against those persons in Melbourne who now and then seek to engage .the services of girls for dancing and worse purposes at hotels up the country. Now the storm should be turned on those who seek to supply girls for the same purpose from a neighbouring colony, for what the fate of girls who will stoop to accept a situation at some of the cafes will be needs no prophet to predict. The sooner a law is passed by which these places can be put down the better. — Melbourne paper. A meeting of the shareholders of the Junction Gold -wining Company is advertised to be held on the 30th instant. The Long Drive Gold Mining Company advertise for the supply of a quantity of timber, &c.

We learn that the Auckland Provincial Coun cil is to be summoned to meet on the 26th proximo. The Gazette containing the announcement will appear to-day. A good deal of work will have to be done during the session, and members may, therefore,look forward to a good amount of work.

Last evening a meeting of Germans was held in the large room of the Auckland Hotel, Mr. Bucholz (German Consul) in the chair. Messrs. Luks, Hagen, and Buske, delegates upon the Thames, were added t.> the committee. A good deal of discussion took place on the subject of tho address, and it was ultimately resolved that it should be drawn up by the committee as soon as possible, in order to be submitted to a general meeting, to be held on the 3rd of October. If it is then approved of, it will be signed by the committee, on behalf of the Germans in the province of Auckland, and forwarded to the Fatherland, as a proof of their loyalty and attachment to the German cause, and as an expression of their sympathy with their brethren now engaged in the struggle. The subscriptions collected on behalf of the wounded, the widows, and orphans will be sent by the same mail, leaving here on the 7th prox. After the committee had received several subscriptions, the meeting was adjourned until the 3rd October. We understand that the amount already collected is about £50; but this sum will, of course, be largely augmented before the departure of the mail.