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Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1493, 23 November 1874, Page 2

Yesterday being remarkably fine and breezy a great many persons availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting the gardens and grounds of the Domain, which are in splendid condition owing to the recent genial weather and gentle rains. Mr BrightODS garden was in full array and blooming with flowers, whilst the gardens of the Acclimatisation Society were in excellent trim.

The horses which arrived by the Wonga Wonga were consigned to Messrs Stone Bros., not to Messrs Oloseßros. as misprinted by us on Saturday.

A eight was witnessed yesterday in Franklin road, which reminded U3 of the days of the days of Methodism in Yorkshire and Cornwall. A number of religiously disposed persons, associated with a chapel in the district, met in the centre of Franklin-street and commenced singing a number of hymns, which were very effective as the friends marched along Irt due order. The scene was somewhat novel in this materialistic age, and seemed like a revival of the religious feelings of the past.

A girl named Margaret Ayre, a nursemaid in the family of the Rev. K. Hayward, accidentally fell into the St. Paul's River, Avoca, near its junction with the South Esk ; and but for the presence of mind shown by the eldest of her little charges, a little girl of six years of age, must have added another to the already long list of those who have lost their lives by drowning in the same place. The child, first sending a younger sister home to the parsonage for help, went a little lower down than the scene of the accident, and climbing out into the tea-tree, pushed out a branch to her nurse as she drifted down, and which she managed to catch. Finding this iusufficient to save the girl, she then let herself down into the river, grasping a bough firmly with one hand, while with the united aid of the other and the teatree she he^yed the girl into a place of comparative safety. Meanwhile the help summoned from the parsonage arrived, and the nurse and her brave little preserver were safely landed on the bank and conveyed home, much exhausted from their immersion and efforts. This little narrative shows how much may be accomplished by those valuable qualities—presence of mind and self-control. It may perhaps be of additional interest to note that the little girl is grandniece of one who possessed them in an eminent degree— the gallant Sir John Franklin."

Captain Bishop, of the barque William Gifford, reports that he has seen a great many whalers on the coast during the last few days. We are very glad to hear this, as there will be a chance of the Albion falling in with some of them. But, perhaps, whales are like crows, and can smell powder. They can afford to have a bit of a gambol round the William Gifford—an old whaler now engaged in more pacific pursuits—but they may not be so venturesome with a vessel which has not had her teeth drawn, like the Albion. If intelligence of this kind on the part of whales can be established, it will be necessary to disguise our whaling ships, and keep all their special gear well out of sight. It might be suggested that plenty of pachouli should be carried on board to stifle the smell of the oil while aboard, with the inscrij felon "There and back for half-a-crown ; children, halfprice," the same being exposed in a conspicuous place in the rigging, might be useful in putting the artful dodgers off their guard. At any rate the subject deserves investigation. The Auckland Institute mign!; take it as a subject for a paper.

We suppose that few of the thousands in Auckland and Southern cities who handle Williams's fire kindlers every morning of their lives s have the most remote conception of how- these useful little articles are made. The happy thought that suggested to Mr Williams the idea of assisting the early labours of the housewife and maid has been progressive in development, until it has now attained to something like perfection. It may not be known to everyone that Mr Williams is a philanthropist, and his feelings were much grieved by the profanity that had its immediate cause in the difficulty of getting fires to light. His attention was first drawn to the subject by observations in connection with his own domestic arrangements, and the thought occurred to him that if he could only remedy all this by supplying at a nominal cost an infallible specific he would become a benefactor of humanity. The remarkable combustible qualities of kauri gum, a product peculiar to Auckland, at once suggested the main constituent in any kindler. With this he set out and for months laboured with one implement for shaping the kindlers. This was succeeded by a shape which cut half-a-dozen at a time, and was worked by a powerful lever, but as the value of his novel invention became more widely recognised, he was compelled to procure better machinery for supplying orders. With this view he has had a cylinder constructed with numerous cutters, capable of shaping a gross of kindlers a minute. The kauri gum for the kindlers is crushed in a machine in a store-room', whence it was removed to the boiling-room, where it is mixed with other ingredients and melted From the boiler, portions are lifted and formed into rolls, ready to pass under the cylinder, where they are shaped and cut off into half-dozens, and pass along a broad circular band through a trough of water, which at once cools them and renders them ready for packing. The boxes requisite for shipping the kiudlers are made on the premises. Mr Williams also stereotypes the labels used for his packages. He has thus everything within his own premises, an absolute necessity in order to make the kindlers pay expenses at the low price at which they are supplied, We are glad to learn that agencies for the kindlers have been established in all parts of the colony with marked success.

The barque Union, expected from Newcastle, is to bring into our market a kind of coal not hitherto introduced here. It comes from the Greta Colliery, about twelve miles north of Maitland, on Great Northern .Railway. It is spoken of as follows by the "Town and Country Journal" : —" The coal is of excellent quality, hard and bright, possessing great heat-giving properties. It readily commands a good market, with an increasing demand, chieHy for gas, steam, and household purposes. Steamers covet it for its quickness and nonliability to clinkers, and its use by the Government for the locomotives of the northern line is good evidence of its valuable properties. Messrs. Stone Brothers are the agents, who will be happy to supply full information to enquirers."

His Excellency's Private Secretary has written to his Honor the Superintendent declining to forward to the Queen the petition of Sir G. Grey relative to the land-fund, but offering to transmit any " proper representation which Sir George Grey, your Honor, and Executive may please to address direct to Her Majesty or the Secretary of State."

The stationing of a constable in the Freemans' Bay district does not seem to have been followed immediately by a magical cessation of the old games of the larrikins in the neighbourhood. Mr Berry, of Cookstieet, Freemans' Bay, informs us that someone jumped over his fence one niyht last week and committed very great depredations on his garden, breaking down plants, stripping all the ilowers, etc. The garden gate was locked. Such measures have been taken as will, we hope, lead to the detection and punishment of the oftenders, a consumation devoutly prayed for by other sufferers from the sata'e kind of annoyance.

It affords us great satisfaction to publish the following : " Sir, — as you are about to issue another edition of your valuable almanac and Provincial handbook, I beg to testify to its usefulness on board my ship. All the passengers read it in preference to three other works on New Zealand which they brought with them, and stated that they got much more information out of your handbook.—l am &c, G. BALLS, master of the ' City of Auckland."

We have been requested to publish the following :—To the Kditor : Sir, —As lam M.C. of the recently-formed dancing class held the Oddfellows' Hall, Cook-street, I am obliged on behalf of the class to flatly contradict the false statement which appeared in Saturday night's Star with reference to the ladies fainting during the dance, owing to, as Mr. Walter Miller states, the over-crowding of the room. This statement, sir, is like his presumptions of putting himself down as the founder of the class—a lie.— Yours, Ac, John Sampson.

Madame Moller's concert will take place this evening in the City Hall according to promise. The programme will be seen in another column. It is of a very choice character, and comprises several excellent sone;s, such as "Strangers Yet," "The Captive Greek Girl," "The Mariner and his Barque," "In happy Moments," "Far Away," and other equally good effusions. There will also be overtures, duets, and choruses, and altogether thia concert will, we believe, be the best of the season.

The monthly meeting of the School Teachers' Association was held on Saturday afternoon, in Mr. Fraser's High Schoolroom. Rev. Dr. Kidd in the chair. The business of the meeting was to consider the best time for the annual meeting and picnic. After some discussion on the subject, in which Messrs. Worthington, Martin, Leonard, Fraser, Edwards, and French took part, it was resolved to hold the meeting on the 31st December, and Messrs. Worthington, Leonard, and Fraser were appointed as a special committee to arrange for the same. Mr. Worthington then delivered an address on the necessity of a training school for assistant teachers. Mr. Worthington stated thet he had obtained the sanction of the Inspector of Schools, and also of the Education Board, to establish such an institution, but when a room was spoken of for that purpose, the plea of no funds was urged. He considered that the question of a training school was most important, as at present, if the master by accident or any other cause, was absent from his charge, there was not a qualified teacher to take his place, amd, consequently, there would be much inconvenience felt. He had formed a class, and about foarteen young persons had joined. He considered the matter worthy of being ventilated, and introduced it for the serious consideration of the Association. Most of the members agreed with the opinion expressed by the Speaker, but nothing definite waa come to upon the matter. It will probably be resumed on a future occasion.

A presentation of an address, and a purse of 300 sovereigns to the Rev Father Chaatagnon, of Dubbo, has taken place prior to his departure for Auckland where he is to labor in future. The address has been, engrossed and illuminated in Sydney by Mr Realph of Elizabeth-street. The whole is lavishly, yet chastely illuminated, and will bear the closest inspection. The address is framed handsomely, and will make a- .conspicuous wall ornament, of which the reverend recipient may be justly proud, both by reason of its execution, and the cordial wishes for his temporal and spiritual welfare, as well as the gratitude displayed for his attention to his duties in Dubbo, contained in it. Father Chaßtagnon arrived here a fortnight ago, and has been stationed at the Thames.

The committee of the select dancing class in Cook-street, wish us to state that the class was formed by a party of young mcD, and not alone by Mr W. Miller, the honorary secretary.

Rv reference to our advertising columns Jay claim to the good wishes and support ol all lovers of music, and we"» BU^™ audience on the occasion will be as worthy, his services in the cause °f »M° "T} concert will be creditable to the talent of Auckland musicians.

In our Tauranga telegrams a few days ago it was stated that an hotel keeper atßotorua had lost his license forj supplying grog to Arihia, a native woman, who .subsequently fell into one of tne boiling springs. Ihere must be some error in the matter as we learn from a private source that the case was adjourned till the 30fch, for the production of an important witness for the defence. The various Volunteer bands will meet tomorrow evening in the Dull-shed for musical practice, preparatory to a display on the arrival of the Marquis of Normanby They will be under the leadership of the senior