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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1759, 4 October 1875, Page 2

t .Po. or ' wret'ned Cyrus Haley! With talents at mighfc haye rai g ed him to a of respectability and usefulness, he has met the fate mentioned in another column. The burner of the Music Hall twice, and of the kerosene store, and the attempted murderer of the family of Mr Thomas Eussell, he has at last closed a desperate and dangerous life by a bloody death. True a life of crime is a Jlife of misery.

A small error of judgment, not perhaps worth recording, was made by a benevolent lady in the course of last week, not far from Government House. The lady in question is very fond both of children and cats, and for some time past she has had a pet cat, which she called by the vulgar name of " Jack." The animal grew, was sleek-coated, and much attached to his mistress—for Jack was supposed to be of the masculine fraternity of cats. Jack was well fed by his mistress and would gratefully roll and purr at her feet with cat-like tendencies, especially after indulging in a saucer of " unmixed" new milk. Jack, naturally enough, improved in size and weight under such genial treatment, but on Thursday last he suddenly disappeared, which caused much unhappiness to his thoughtful mistress, who hunted in every place where Jack was likely to be found. It was conjectured that Jack had been maliciously poisoned by one or other of the city ragamuffins. Towards the close of the following day, however, the lady's eyes brightened with joy on seeing poor Jack come pouring forth from the bedroom, thin anrl hungry, as though in the laat throo of consumption, having fallen away to a mei-e skeleton. Shortly after a feeding, Jack returned to the bedroom, and feeble voices were indistinctly heard under the bed. The lady lifted the valance and discovered a nest of five mewing kittens, the progeny of poor Jack.

To the Editor : Sir, —I can entirely corroborate Mr Main's statements concerning the Spelling Bee of Mr Dennes. Permit me to say, in addition, that the "Bee" was altogether mismanaged. It was, in the first place, absurd to begin it at twenty minutes past ten. In the second place, the pronouncer, who was also judge and referee, was by no moans equal to his task, either in the enunciation of the words or in the conduct of the "Bee." There were also many who appeared on the platform consider;il>ly after the spelling began, which, r>f course, was not fair to these who had started first. From these and other causes, the " Beo " was a miserable failure There is one question which 1 should like to abk of the Good Templars, and that is, Why do they exclude ]>rifce-takers at one "Bee" from competing in another? If a person pays for his admittance, he has a right to compete, unless the conditions are advertised beforehand.—l am, &c, Wii. Cooper.

"Snyder thus discnurses in the Coromandel Mail on the Baroness Burnett Coutts : "In a supplement to the Auckland Evening Star, nearly a column of reading mattor is devoted to eulogising the Baroness Burdett Coutta. Miss Burdett Coutts, by which name she is better known, is the richest woman in the world. She is an old maid, more's the shame for her, considering she has been asked in marriage as many times as it would take a cannon ball seconds to reach the Sun which is ninety six millions of miles within a foot or bo either way. Afterf extolling Miss Burdett Coutts many virtues, showing how at an outlay of £50.000 3he found three Colonial bishoprics at Adelaide, Cape Town, and British Columbia, aud founding other things beside, her eulogiser goes on to say that the wealth of Lady Burdett Coutts, if told in sovereigns, would weigh thirteen tons and fill a hundred and seven flour eacks. Now we say with all deference to anyone who may dissent from us that Miss Coutts is not a good woman, or she, without chick or child to provide for, would not be in possession of thirteen tons of sovereigns which would fill a hundred and seven flour sacks. So far from Miss Contts beiDg a good woman, we must think her the reverse when we hear of the complete misery and utter destitution of thousands of families in London ; when we hear of them dying in garrets of starvation ; when we hear of children fading out of existence for want of nourishment ; and all this while there is an old girl, with never a husband, who has got thirteen tons of sovereigns which will fill a hundred and eeven sacks. And yet she is pronounced so good because she founded three bishoprics which would have founded themselves if she hadn't done it. What a pity it is that Miss Coutts couldn't get an Act passed by which she could take her, sacks of gold with her when she left this w orld to live in another climate! What peace of mind it would bring to her ! Even in the auriferous district of Coromandel we could do something for the lady. If she feels inclined to send two or three tons of sovereigns this way we will undertake to ißvest them for her in a way she has little idea of."

At a farm-house up North, where fowls are kept, the hens had not been laying for some little time during winter —the only egg on the place being an old addled one which lay in a nest. It came to pass that several hens began to lay somewhere ! But where I That was the question ? The addled egg remained in its lonlihess in the nest, and there Was no accounting for the fact that the fowls were laying elsewhere than in their regular place The farmer's boy, however, persisted that the hens knew it was a bad egg, and would not lay more to it. Whether such was the case of course it was not found out, but as the hens shortly began to sit away, the old egg was dismissed, and a few creek ones were sent for from Mr Bloom's shop in Auckland, and these were added to largely by the rest of the poultry. Because (contended the boy), any old hen could tell they were not addled.

The Lord Mayor of London has been distinguishing himself by a costly banquet, the arrangements for which are said to have cost £180,000. It was a grand idea of the the proper civic type to entertain tne mayors of the world. He was successful in getting together the mayors, syndics, or municipal presidents of Home, Florence, Turin, Brussels, Amsterdom, Geneva, Lisbon, Quebec, Christiana, and many more foreign capitals, with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and hosts of provincial dignitaries.

The Hope of Auckland Tent of Eechabites will hold a quarterly meeting in the tent room at half past seven o'clock this evening for the discussion of important tent business.

' Mr John King, late Inspector of the Lunatic Asylum and Provincial Hospital, bas taken an office in No. 37, Insurance Buildings, where he intends carrying on the business of a general commission agent. Mr King has a number of friends, and we have no doubt but he will receive a fair share of support in hi« new sphere.

At Mudgeo lately, a man named Michael Dillon was found dead in the street. Dillon was one of those fortunates in the early days of the golo I 3-ush to Australia. He was a tailor in Melbourne, and Sold out 20 years ago for £20,«900/ ■ His death was caused by exposure and temperance;;::: > ~,,, ... ~

A concert is announced for Tues v th 12th. inst., in the Otahuhu Public Hall, M," proceeds to go toward^ clearing off the debt on the Church of the Holy Trinity in that settlement. The comnjittee are preparing a good mnsical and literaty programme for the occasion.

To the Editor: &ir>4Wduld you be kind enough to stat6 in your next issue whether the ship Northfleet wag at anchor or under sail afc the time of collision with the s.s. Murrillo.—Yours, &c, John Brown. [The Northfleet was at anchor in the English Channel.—Ed. E.S.]

The gentlemen who have kindly offered their services for the entertainment on behalf of the widow and orphans of the late Thomas Salt are requested to meet at half-past seven o'clock this evening in the Lome-street Hall for rehearsal.

The days when the tide flowed to the National Bank corner are again called to mind by the difficulty of finding a good foundation for the new buildings about to be erected next Mr Somervell's new block. The ground is wet and soft, evidently sea mud. Mr Taylor is driving the piles necessary to support the brick structure. These will, we believe, be about eighty in number, support ing heavy cross-beams. The foundation of the brick walls will, as in the case of Mr Somervell's buildings, take the form of a series of arches so as to throw the main weight on the ends of the piles and prevent sinking.

The Good Templar Entertainment of Saturday last at the Wellesley-streefc Young Men's Rooms was most satisfactory in every respect. Mr E. Tremain occupied the chair, and made one of his telling speeches in favour of .the cause, songs, recitations, and music followed, ending with the Templar Spelling Bee. Malcolm Ellis won the prize.

Families, who may not possess & family Bible, are informed by Mr Edward Wayte that he has a large and carefully selected stock on hand at a reduction of fifteen per cent, including Dore's Cassell's and Collins's illustriated Bibles.

Bundles of fish were seen floating down the harbour this morning. This fact seems to indicate thab the fish-market had been found dull during the week. It is a pity dealers do not offer the fish at a lower rate when hauls are heavy. Fish lately has been very dear, and we are quite sure that had the bundles which were to-day pitched into the tide been offered at a reduction, there would not have been any difficulty in disposing of them.

As the Pakuranga races will take place on Wednesday next, Mr. Geo. W. Binney has postp* ned the sale of the splendid household and freehold property in Hob3on and Nelsonstreets until Wednesday, the 13th inst.

An entertainment in aid of the funds of the Auckland Cricket Club, is to take place in the Choral Hall, on the 15th instant, under distinguished patronage. The performances of the evening will consist of a concert of vocal and instrumental music, for which the best available talent will be enlisted, and a Spelling Bee on an entirely new and ouginal principle. The immediate object of the entertainment is to raise sufficient money to put the Ellerslie ground into complete working order. As it is probable that a Southern cricket team and a Sydney eleven will visib us during the approaching season, it will be seen that it is desirable for the credit of the province that we should have our ground in apple-pie order. The sympathies of all are therefore invoked.

The Building Committee appointed to carry out the preliminery arrangements for raising fund 3 for a public hall at Newmarket;, aro requested to meet in the reading rooms to-morrow evening at 830 to report profin S3. So far, the Committee have worked in the face of the dullest times experienced for many a year in Auckland, the late winter having greatly interfered with business of all kinds -thc-^irrival of spring weather will no doubt give fresh vigour to every pursuit, and make the money market easier than it has been. Allowing for the general depression, the result of the committee's appeal to their own pocket, and to their friends, must be regarded as very generous, more than one hundred pounds sterling having been promised by men whose word is as good as their bond—more than this — promises are made that in the event of the committee deciding to erect a good commodious hall, suitable for every public purpose, from an opera or entertainment to a magic lantern exhibition and Spelling Bee —that farther donations will be given to those now forthcoming. The position of the hall site at Newmarket is such that it will be available for the use of several other distinct districts whose boundaries run very near, and in view of the approach developement of the station works of thatplaee, and the general advancement [of the neighbourhood, it would seem advisable to try for a good hall.

We have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt from Dr. Kenderdine of one pound for the benefit of Mrs. Church, and from the same gentleman one pound for Mrs. Salt. We have also pleasure in giving publicity to the following letter which we have received from Mrs. Church. 4th Oct. 1875. To the EditorDear Sir, —Will you kindly give insertion in your next issue of my acknowledgment, with thanks, of the receipt of the following amounts: —Collection at Aritapu Saw-mills, £*j, per Captain Lowrie ; and £2 from the ketch Wild Duck. —I am yours faithfully, Mrs. Church."