The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, and the Morning News WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1873.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1127, 3 September 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, and the Morning News

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1873.

For the cause that locks assistance, For the wrong that needs renistanco, For the future in the distance, And tho good that wo can do

The opposition to the Provincial 3Loan Bill has evaporated in the sunshine of Ministerial lyuniflcence, and the second reading of the Bill was carried last night without division. Probably a good many of the members who

frowned portentously upon the Ministry when the Bill was announced have now—to quote,the happy expression used by Mr Bathgate—" got what they wanted," and they are satisfied. Wellington has found the best market for its rotes, and the war-note sounded by Mr Bunny has therefore been changed to a squeak by his leader Mr Fitzherbert. How much of corruption the result of last night's debate represents it ia impossible to estimate fairly, but we know sufficient to lead us to abandon all hope of legislative reform until the House W purified by a general election, and the political atmosphere cleared by the thunder of electors' wrath. If the various constituencies

representatives, we should have fewer repetitions of the demoralizing scenes witnessed every session in the lobby of tho House. The Provincial Loan Bill has yet to pass through the ordeal of committee, where members may give expression to their honest views without incurring the displeasure of the Government, and probably it will come out i]> a very different shape. The debate of last night veill probably end all important opposition to the Ministry for this session, and the Government will hurry through their business and close the session as early I as possible.

We believe that the people of Auckland entertain sufficiently broad views of mercantile progress to recognise in the establishment of new companies of a legitimate character, and on a sound foundation, an evidence of the growth of commerce «md increased self-reliance in the colony. We have much pleasure, therefore (while drawing attention to the prospectus of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company), in welcoming it as a vigorous institution likely to grow into importance and to rank itself with the most successful of our colonial ventures. The company has been started with a very influential provisional directory, and it is intended to seek support in all the various provinces, so as to make tho company a colonial one in every sense of the term. In aUoting the shares the directors propose to consider how far the applicants will be able to contribute towards the business of the company, and it is especially desired that property owners shall become shareholders. Forms of application may be obtained in Auokland*from Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane or at the National Bank. At the preliminary meeting in Dunedin a fourth of the originaljcapital was subscribed, and applications came in so rapidly that the direc - tors were impelled to float the company in the outset with a capital of one million sterling. The demand for shares in Auckland seems no less eager, and to-day, the first opportunity for obtaining forms, no less than ISOO shares were applied for. The Dunedin Guardian has a very sensible article relative to the new company, from which we make the following extract as expressing our views : —" We cannot regard the National Insurance Company of New Zealand as in any sense a rival to the two colonial companies at present in existence. On the contrary it will be a valuable auxiliary to them. The revenue which is derived from the colony by British and and Australian comprnios is in itsolf so considerable as to warrant the founding of the National, with the view of dividing that portion of the profits on the general insurance business of the colony; but, quite apart from this consideration, the largely-increasing demand for insurance facilities holds out the certainty that the new company will be a financial success."

One of those melancholy episodes in social life in connection with excessive drinking was brought to light yesterday at the inquest at Newton Hotel, before Dr Philson, the District Coroner, on the infant Mary Ann Scudder. The story, with its hideous hues, has already been introduced to public notice, and no doubt will form a striking theme for Good Templars and Teetotallers for some time to come. Tho evidence of various witnesses having been taken the jury, after mature consideration, returned a verdict of manslaughter against the women. It appears that these deltfded women had been drinking hard at the close of the week, and Mrs Scudder awoke on Sunday morning burning "with thirst; the grog bottle was emptied to the last drop, literally sucked dry on tho previous evening, and she roared for water. Between six and seven on Sunday morning Elizabeth Kelly staggered in with the view, as she stated, of cleaning up the roomsjand dressing sheeps' heada for dinner ; Mrs Scudder still thirsted for more drink, and Mrs Kelly went on her pilgrimage from public-house to public-house, and at length found admittance at the side entrance of ihe Robert Burns, in Union-street, where she procured a shillings-worth of beer, and a shillings-worth, of rum, in which errand she acted rather dishonestly to Mrs Scudder (but she too was troubled with thirst) and drank half the rum on the way. These liquors were greedily devoured, and a second pilgrimage made for more. After knocking in vain at numerous houses without finding admittance, the barman of the York Hotel listened to the pitiful plaint of Elizabeth Kelly who wanted two shillings-worth for the life of a poor neighbour who could not get up. The fat young man supplied the drink, took the money, and with the exception of one slight Bwig on the road, Mrs Kelly took the liquor to Mrs Scudder's home in Karangahape-road, where the contents were duly swallowed, as Mrs Kelly expressively said, " flip by sip." The women then rolled on the unmade bed, and slept till eventide, when they again arose, mad with thirst; and just as the Sabbath evening Church bells had. ceased, a third pilgrimage was made, and after many disappointments three shillings-worth of rum was prooured at the "Criterion," Hobson - street. This quantity was swallowed without reserve, and .the women, dead drunk, lay down on the bed and literally snored. In tho morning Mrs Scudder was raving to her boy to fetch some . water to qnench her burning tongue. Mrs Kelly then opened her eyes and found that the infant, either from want of due nourishment or want of air, was dead. The boy, in order to clear the women, had evidently been tutored to say to Constable Clarke that he had accidently smothered the infant. The husbands of the were living apart, probably owing to thfeir intemperance,' and three of Kelly's children are supported in one of our public institutions, and! Mrs Scuddor's three boys hafe been committed to the Industrial School $o-day. We need not enlarge upon 'these disclosures,. | they convey their own lesson. Wo may add, however, that much creiditis due to Sergt.-Major Pardy for the able and temperate, manner in which ho conducted the, enquiry. ; , v , ,

Mr Dargaville has announced his intention of addressing the electors of the Whau district, in the Whau Public Hall, this evening.

The National Bank has established hranches at Hamilton, Waikato, and at (Jufoniandel. Mr Hendry will have charge of the Coromandelbranch.

■ Wo have |to acknowledge the receipt of five shillings towards, Mrs Craneh from Mr J. Eraser.

TJhe Diamond Troupe will give a capital entertainment this evening in the Onohunga Chdral Hall. ' The programme ia one of speciaL, jnterest, arid calculated-to < gratify every tasie. Wo truat the efforts of the Troppe will meet with that encouragement at Onehmiga. which in unquestionably due to its energetic and talented mombors.

I ijhe .piistrict Oddfellows will hold their usual monthly meeting this evening in tho Cook-atrecfc Hall. A member, aaid to bo tin elocutionist, will give some reading from the | inimitable pages of Charles Diokam ; but 'whether from the doings of tho immortal Pickwick, or the scholastic habits of old Squeers, or the sweet thought of tho bettatlful Agnfes, we are not at liberty to «taU>. We Are Igfyartooed, however, that the aeleotionw will;be L pf tho spicest quality.

Yesterday three years ago an event Occurred which fell like a thunder-bolt in the political organization of Europe, and which, as its tidings spread, caused wonder, pity, admiration, and alarm to be felt more or iess by the inhabitants of every portion of the civilised worid. On the 2nd of September, IS7O, Napoleon 111. was taken prisoner at Sedan. That event was the first beginning of the end in that stupendous melo - drama of history which resulted in the downfall of the proud Empire of France to the position of a suppliant at the feet of Germany. How rapidly catastrophe followed catastrophe in that rushinw torrent of events; how the nation whom he had governed with parental solicitude, whatever his faults may have been, rejected him in his fallen condition; how anarchy followed defeat, and intestinal bloodshed trod upon the heels of decimation by the enemy; all these things are well known to even us on the opposite side of thff world, — those of us who were in London at the time of the intelligence of Napoleon's capture will recollect the credulousness with which the news was received. The boys who were selling the special editions of the papers, giving the news, had actually a difficulty in selling their sheets owing to the almost universal belief that the affair was a hoax. When the asserted fact became a certainty it was then with difficulty realised. The Standard, daily paper, which had stuck pertinaciously to the side of France during the struggle, had so glossed over her defeats and misrepresented the actual course of events that people, in spite of themselves, looked for at least a long protracted contest, if not for a reversion of the tide of victory. The battle of Sedan and the capture of Napoleon were realities which could not but shew the desperate condition of the French, and the shock of the intelligence was the greater from its total unexpectedness. A fertile subject for a moral is the subsequent brief history of this remarkable man ; but our readers are quite as well able to draw it as we are to point it out, and merely suggesting the subject we^leave it in their hands.

H. H. Lusk, Esq., will deliver his lecture on " Tho Claims of Sciense" this evening in the Otahuhu Hall, at half-past seven.

The contract for rebuilding the premises a short time ago pulled down opposite the old Post Office in Shortland-street, has been taken by Mr Watson, and tho preliminary work of reconstruction began this morning.

Dr Hobbs will deliver his lecture this evening in the Edwardes-strect Chapel (Key. Mr Watcrs's), on " Health Reform," at halfpast seven o'clock. The subject is interesting and instructive, and Dr Hobbd should have a large attendance.

The monthly meeting of the Auckland Permanent Co-operative Building and Investment Society was held last night at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. Dr J. K. Nicholson took the chair. There was a full attendance of members of the committee. Advances were authorised to the extent of £SBO, and the accounts for the past quarter were passed. The Secretary read his report of the operations of the Society during the past month. This showed that IS3 new shares had been issued, that the amount of deposits was on the increase, and that the repayments on account of loans were being steadily kept up. Tho auditors had examined the accounts, and expressed themselves satisfied with the manner they were kept. Mr Garland proposed, and it was seconded, and carried, that in future tho ordinary meetings of tho committee bo hold on the last Tuesday of every month instead of on the first Tuesday as hitherto. Tho meeting was adjournod till Tuesday, 30 th September.

One of the most instructive and interesting lectures of the course, it is anticipated, will be delivered on Friday evening in tho large room of the Young Men's Christian Association by Rev. Eobert Kidd, L.L.D., entitled, "A Popular Aspect of the Science of Reasoning.'' In the hands of so ablo a scholar and logician as Dr. Kidd tho subject will be clearly explained. In addition to the lecture the Orpheus Glee Club will give some of their choicest glees, consequently a most agreeable entertainment will be" experienced. Ticketholders' seats will be reserved until 7.20, after that time persona without a courseticket will be admitted on payment of one shilling, to admit a lady and gentleman.

The Prince of Wales Theatre was again well attended last night by a large number of citizens anxious to see the last performance of " Kathleen Mavourneen, or St. Patrick* Eve." The representation was as successful aa the previous efforts of the company, and provoked great applause. We are glad to notice considerable improvement in the rendering of the minor characters. The curtain was obliged to be raised at the end of the last act in. answer to the acclamations of- the audience.! To-night the company announce the production of "The Man of the World." in which Mr Collier will take the part of Sir Pertinax'Macsycophant; and the farco of "The Widow's Victim." Imitations of several well-known actors will in addition be given by Mr Collier.

We learn that the members of the Garriok Club are preparing to give an entertainment for tho benefit of Mrs Cranch, shortly after that announoed by the Temperance Drum and Fife Band.

Mr Yon der Heyde yesterday waited upon his Honor the Deputy-Superintendent with referenoe to the state of the Great North road. Mr Von^der Heyde was the bearer of a petition from the residents in the Whau and Waitakere^, districts, beseeching his Honor to make arrangements for having the road put into a proper state of repair. The deputation stated that unless some alterations were very soon made the broken and rutty state of the roadway would be productive of a serious accident. Mr May said that his attention had already been called to the necessity which existed for repairing the road, and Mr Allwright whom he had consulted on the subject suggested thafascinea shonhi be put down on the dangert ova places. Mr Yon der Heyde stated that he did not think more temporary repaira would be effective in rendering the road fit to travel over. . His Honor having promised to give the matter his consideration the deputation withdrew.