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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1566, 17 February 1875, Page 2

We learn that telegrams have been received in town from the Colonial Secretary and Defence Minister expressing regret that they cannot arrive in the city before Friday, so as to be present at the funeral of the late lamented Superintendent. These messages were sent on the supposition that the funeral would be at an earlier date, but as intimation has been forwarded to the Ministers that the funeral will take place on Saturday, there is no doubt they will be present.

The ex-Minister of Justice, Mr Bathgate, now Resident Magistrate of Dunedin, makes proceedings on his bench a series of startling surprises. Fun was anticipated from the appointment by those who bad long known him, and anticipations have not been belied Though commonly regarded in Parliament, and on the Treasury benches, as a quaint type of that peculiar kind of man commonly known as " an old woman" there was always a vein of individuality in Mr Bathgate that prepared people for original and somewhat outre developments. This latest pronouncement is against mothers-in-law. This morning a man came before the Dunedin Bench charged with deserting his wife, and he pleaded that he could not stand his mother-in-law. His feeling appears as old as humanity, and Adam has been often envied for that he had not this embelishment to his household. But we believe it is the first time in history that the objection has been accepted a3 of legal validity, and Mr Bathgate is the first that has put on it the imprimatur of the Court of Justice. Said the magistrate, "few men could stand a mother-in-law." We are not sufficiently up in current colonial history to know in what relation the worthy magistrate stands towards* his wife's people, or if he has ever taste.l the broomstick ; but the magisterial dictum will, we doubt not, be received with a deep Am by all the suffering sons of Adam, who groan under this peculiar form of bondage. And here we see the advantage of having a man of original ideas, and .disregard for conventional opinions, in a place of authority and influence. Many might have thought as well as Mr Bathgate over this cause of domestic discord, and have suggested the most flimsy palliatives. But however we may chance to differ on the question of a mother-in-law being an unmixed evil, and might even show how in coddliug the babies and looking after their little toothums and dumptidimities, she exercises important functions in the great economy of nature—still we cannot but admire the independence of the magistrate who boldly on the bench formulates the doctrine secretly cherished by so many that "few men could stand a mother-in-law."

Another of "our leading commercial companies announces a handsome dividend and bonup. As will be seen by announcement in another column the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company declare a dividend of ten per cent, and bonus of two and a half per cent, are now payable at the Bank of New Zealand. The call of £1 per share on the Company's new issue will be payable on the llth March, and the further call of 10s on the llth June next.

As Mr Boucher, of Newton, butcher, was riding across an empty allotment of the New North Ko*d, his horse stepped on an insecurely covered well and fell through. The rider managed to get clear of the animal, and subsequently the horse was got out of ,the well-a shallow one—without having übtftined serious ißJury. ;

We noticed a natural picture last evening in Hobson-street worthy the pencil of Claude, and which might .with much propriety illustrate the window scene in Romeo and Juliet. It was composed of two figures, visible in the still moonlight. The young man was endeavouring to scale the garden fence of the young lady's papa, and she with wistful eyes was admiring the struggles and perseverance of her adorer. At length he conquered, and in a second was in a wooing attitude beneath her window. We passed on and It ft them happy.

The workmen . engaged in cutting down Fort Britomart must really be a little more careful, or some of them will be incurring a prosecution for manslaughter. Yesterday morning, about ten o'clock, as a horse and dray belonging to A. Clark and Son was passing along the road under the cliff close to the Breakwater a huge boulder of sand-stone came crashing down into the thoroughfare and struck the horse, nearly carrying his legs from under him. JSfo harm was done as it happened, but the occurrence is woith recording if only to call the attention of the overseers of the works to the possibility of a serious accident being sntailed, unless more caution is used. The man who loosened the boulder acted very badly. He exhibited a high state of amusement, and called his companions attention to the accident in a jocular manner.

A sensational local by the facetious repctter of a morning journal, had the effect of drawing together a number of unemployed persons, or, what Detective Jeffrey terms, '"loafers," to see the young girl, described as so beautiful, and listen to her tale of sorrow, as detailed in our police report, which reminded the sensitive spectator of Goldsmith's lines—

When lovely woman Etaops to folly, And finds too late tnat men betray, "What charm can soothe her melancholy ? What art cam Wash ncr guilt away ?

The demolition of the old dilapidated building, known as Noah's Ark was commenced yesterday, and on the appearance of this issue, it 3 last vestige will be cl.ared t»way by the workmen* As soon as its doom was inevitably sealed by the City Council, without waiting for further order, the neighbouring lads began the work and carried away board after board, until the ark appeared but a hollow symbol of winter and age.

We learn from a private source that the Kennedy family, who will be remembered in this city as the exponents of Scottish poetry and song, have been singing with great success in Launceston, Tasmania, to full houses. The members of the Auckland Artillery Voluntceis are reminded that tomorrow, Thursday evenings is the monthly inspection with arms And accoutrements. The battery and baud will assemble at the Grey-street junction at a quarter-past seven.

Major Ropata has had a letter recently from Te Kouti, who chaffiogly asks after his welfare now that he is no longer in receipt of Gljvejntnent rations. Te Xo jti wants to know how Kopata is off for biscuits, and if he is not getting tired of leadiDg a paaceful life ; and he infers in his letter that, probably the jNgatiporou tribe would onca again like to ba on the war trail, hunting down the Maori enemies of the Pakeha.

According to advertisement th.3 fir3t of Mr J. Mania's evening classes for Mercintilo instruction Avas held at the Choral Hall yesterday evening. We regret to state that only eight attended, although Mr Martin has received about twenty-five applications. To those desirous of acquiring instruction, or of perfecting themselves in this branch of education, an opportunity now presents itself which should not be neglected.

The Auckland Scottish Volunteers ■will meet for inspection parade this evening, in the Diill-shed, under Captain John Mowbray, after which the election of officers will take place.

Messrs G. and W. Healop of Napier have sustained a severe loss by tha death of their valuable imported bull " Firsb Lord," that they recently bought at the Uanterbnry Show for £450.

In response to the advertisement by Mr W. F. Hammond, architect, Shortland-sfcieet,

for tenders for the erection of two villas at Home Bay, Ponsonby, the following were received : Penk and Hill, £579 ; Malcolms, £584; Stanford, £59(1; Gratton, £G4O ; Constable, £G47 ; Barr, £651 ; Pooley and Kernott, £710 ; Anderson, £795. Messrs Penk and Hill's tender was accepted.

The prevailing epidemic: —Bob Smith meets Tom Jonea, who is walking quickly down Queen-street. Bob : Hullo,, old man ! what a hurry you are in —Tom : You mustn't stop me, Bob. All our fellows at the office are down with the measleg, and there's only me and the old buffer to do all the work.—Bob : Why, it's been the same with me all last week, but thank goodness I've got'em thia morning, so I'm off home now. Bye, bye, Tom; ta,;ta. .Exeunt.

The A.S.P. Company cannot be very popular with the people of Poverty Bay, if we may judge from the following remarks in the Standard:—" Whatever may be the end of the steamer Pretty Jane—and opinion, so far, seetn3 to differ—the Auckland Steam Packet Company will find few sympathisers in Poverty Bay for the inconvenience sustained through the loss of that boat's services. Our hope is that such an expression of opinion will be made upon the occasion of its adversity as will moat unmistakably demonstrative to the Company's management that if public supporc is to be continued, and popular sympathy exerted towards it, the present time affords Ample food for reflection on the causes which are operating in such a way as to lessen the one, and to withdraw the other altogether."

A meeting of the Auckland Branch of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia was held last evening in the room of the Wellesley-street Young Men's Association, but it was but thinly attended. J. M. Dargaville, Esq., was called to the j nhair, and explained the object of the ■ gathering which was to hear the remarks of ;Mr Plant, a delegate from the Thames. Mr Plant then addressed the meeting, and said ; that before coming to thia city he was .not aware that such a friendly Society existed here. He then expounded the principles and rules of the Independent Order of Free ! Gardeners, which he characterised as purely la Protestant Society. He regretted that it was now too late for amalgamation. Mr. ;R. Talbot followed Mr Plant, and spoke in .'favor of the Free Gardener's Society, which jhe thought was, in several respects, a better ■society for Auckland than the Protestant ; Alliance would be, as it offered greater advantages to members. Mr Plant differed from the last speaker. Mr Dargaville said that the question of amalgamation might be profitably discussed by the two speakers. After further talk upon the subject, on the motion of Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Leslie, it. was resolved—"That in the opinion of thia meeting it is not desirable that a branch of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia should be established here, feeing that another Protestant Friendly Society—the Independent Order of Free Gardeners—already existed." A vote of - thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.

It is unquestionably admitted that of the many achea and pains to which the human system is Bubject, that of toothache is the most distressing. Many specifics have from time to time been compounded _ for its alleviation, the benefits from which have only been transient. A benefactor to sufferers, we are pleased to ice, has now, however, been found in Mr P. f. Martinson, chemist, &c, Karangahape Road, who has been successful in preparing a tincture, which is guaranteed not only to be instantaneous but effective in its action.

- All debts daa in the estate of J. and J. Jami«Bon must be paid within fourteen day

The Hobson and Victoria Volunteers passed their usual monthly inspection last evening in the Drill-shed. Major Gordon, in a well-merited tribute to the memory of the late Mr Williamson, told the men that there would be a muster on Saturday afternoon with Bide arms, for the purpose of paying a last tribute of respect to the deceased, particulars of which they would be hereafter informed. Sergeant R. Digoan was then elected color-sergeant, and corporal Little, sergeant to the Hobson Company.

Three absurd printer's blunders appeared in a paragraph referring to the erection of the museum yesterday. One sentence in^ which it was intended to state that the building would be "worthy" of the city, the typo made'it " North" of the city, and two handsome doaation a of £500 each he reduced to £50 each. The cost of the building £2000 was multiplied to £8000.

The steamer Tararua is expected to leave Bluff at 11 a.m. on Thursday the 18th insfeant. Telegrams _ for the Australian Colonies or Europe via Java Cable, will be received at the Telegraph office for transmission to the Bluff up till 10 a.m., of the 18th instant.

The Engineer and City Bands, will play in front of the Supreme Court, this evening at 7 p.m. Programme, march, "Quick Silver," Hartner ; overture, "La Dame Blanche," Auber ; quadrille, "Rossini," Godfrey; selection, " Forza del Destino," Verdi; waltz, "Galatea," H.RU. the Duke of Edinburgh; mazurka, "Evening Fairies," Tallot ; galop, " Don't be in a Harry, " Geeks; " God Save the Queen."

The wanton destruction of bush in the outlying districts is appaient to aU. Year after year our forests are being destroyed. Surely with the lessons we have of San FrancisCo and Victoria bsfore us (where timber for all purposes is at exorbitant price 3, owing to the vandalism practised in former times), oar outsettlers and sqaatters should awake to the necessity of planting largely of useful timber, tree 3 which would at once afford shelter to their homesteads, and in\dne course pay for themselves tenfold. We notice in another column that Mr Robert Brewin, the indefatigable seedsman of Qaeenstreet, has just received by last mail a very choice assortment dl forest and shelter trees from his San Francisco agents, all of which Mr Brewin has found, during his eleven years experience here as a practical horticulturalist, to be of sterling merit. The colleclection includes all the principal pinu^ and cypress family, Wallingtone's abies (deal of commerce), and all the finest varieties indigenous to the seaboard of the Pacific.

An emergency meeting of the members of the United Service Lodge, No. 421. I. C, will be held this evening in the lodge-room Princes-street, at the usual hour.

Mr Alfred Buckland announces a sale at Whiteford Park near Hovick, on Monday next. Messrs Cochrane and Son will sell a shipment of pianofortes ex Dilharree to-morrow ; also cabin fittings, compisses &c., on Friday. Mr G. W. Binney wi'l offer 180 shares in the Bay of Islands Coal Company on Tuesday next.