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Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1976, 9 June 1876, Page 2

Telegrams have passed between Sir George Grey and the Native Minister relative to a statement marie by Mr Alley, in a letter to the Herald, to the following effect.—" The Hunpahunga and other blocks were to come on for hearing after I left [Cambridge.] Mr William Nicholl received money to assist with his in fluenco to put some blocks through. T know for a fact he received £l. r>o from a Native Land Commissioner to assist to put through the Hungahdnga block." His Honor wished to know if it was true that; Mr William Nicholl received £150, or any sum of money, from a Native Commitsioner to assist to put the Hungahunga block through. In reply, the Native Minister slated that from information furnished to him by Mr James Mnckay it appeared Mr Nicholl received the one hundred pounds, but for what particular purpose ho was not aware, as the Government had nothing to do with the transaction. Sir George Grey replied, stating that he did not quite understand the statement that the Government did not know for what purpose Mr Nicholl received the sum of £100, as the Goverment had nothing to do with tho transaction, as according to Mr Mackay's sworn ;- testimony, he merely made the suggestion for this transaction, which was agreed to by the Government and carried out with their sanction. His Honor requests that the Native Minister, as Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, will institute a searching enquiry into the matter as well as into the allegations in connection with the same subject, which were made in the Thames Advertiser of the 23rd and 24th ultimo.

Parliamsnt will be opened by Commission, instead of by his Excellency the Governor in person, who will not deliver his speeoh until the following clay. This is the regular and ordinary practice in opening a new Parliament. The Speaker, of course, cannot be chosen until Parliament has been opened, thus it is usual to open it by Commission, and then, when the Speaker has been duly elected, for the Governor afterwards to deliver his quasi-Royal speech, containing the customary outline of the Ministerial policy.

An old man named Donohue, was commited for trial to-day on a charge of stealing a set of harness from a farmer at Mangere, Tho old man was for many years " mine host" of the " Trafalgar" Hotel, once situated in Queen-street, near to the Bank of New Zealand, nnd bore a good character, but since that period he has experienced a variety of vicissitudes, and suffered a great deal of poverty. He was bo reduced that he was compelled to solicit bread and water from cottagers, sleep under haystaokp, and at last the broken down old man turned to lying and thieving, as will bo scon in the police report of to-day.

Under the heacing " Morn Bribery and Corruption," the Poverty Hay Standard says :—" The cry is still they come. We learn that civil proceedings have been taken againat Hori Ngatai, and Enoka te Whauako —two of the principal witnesses in the lato action against Major Pitt for the recovery of £100, for having received bribes for the purpose of securing votes during the last East Coast election. This, if well followed up, should be a deserved retribution."

An Auckland sportsman, Mr Brodie, whilo sporting in the neighbourhood of Patumahoo on Wednesday afternoon, seeing a cock pheasant probably on the ground, could not withstand the temptation of bagging his game, and did not perceive two small children who were sitting on the ground. The bird rose, but the children went down, for the shots took effect in their legs, and they were carried into a house close by, and a doctor sent for, who extracted the shots, and no serious consequences are apprehended. Ladies are strongly recommended not to wear pheasants' plumes in their hats at this season, or there is no knowing what havoc these Auckland sportsmen may make of them. We heard of one mistaking a tame cat for a wild rabbit lately.

A comparative roturn of the number of telegrams forwarded the rovenue received, and the value of General Government telegrams transmitted for tho quarters ended 31st March, 1875, and 25th March 187G, shows that there were 35,128 more telegrams sent in the latter than there were in tho 1875 quarter, giving an increase in revenue of £1095 14s 7d. During the same period thore were forwarded Government telegrams of the value of £4331 7s Id, as against £3362 10s lid during the corresponding qnarter of 1875 the increase in value for the quarter being £968 10s 2d.

The Waihato Times in a leader, brim full of the usual gush over the Native Minister, alludes to Sir George Grey's influence with the Maoris as being formerly equal to what Sir Donald McLean's is now, but proceeds to express the opinion that this influence has been destroyed through his Honor threatening " to dig round Maori institutions till they should fall" and by the confiscation of their lands.

Mr Green, nurseryman and florist, will exhibit in the Market to-morrow a fine collection of choice plants of special variety, together with a stock of evergreen and fruit trees, comprising peach (various kinds), apple, pear, plum, cherry, quince, gooseberry, black, white, and red currant. His hot' house plants are very special. He always keeps a supply of cabbage and califlower plants and sells very cheap as ho is at a very little expense. Auckland is at present honoured with the visit of three Princesses—the daughter of Manuhiri, the Maori King's Prime Minister, and two maids of honour. These lovely and noble ladies are new to the arts of oivilized life, and scorn to encase their feet in highheeled booth and pork-pie hats, after the manner of weaker members of their sex and race. They say they will go about barefooted as is the custom with their tribe in the King country. The buildings of Auckland present a perpetual source of wonderment to them, and the Princess wanders down the centre of the street followed in single file by her two attendants, all gazing from side to side and mentally taking notes. She upholds the dignity of her nation, however, with royal pride, and declared to a questioner that although beyond the confiscation border there are no buildings so large as the new post-office, yet that little edifice was nothing to what they could do if they liked. Her Royal Highness has, we understand, made a State visit to Sir George Grey.

Mr Standish has requested the Taranaki Herald to state that he telegraphed to Mr Henderson to know if he was prepared to make the harbour, and to take debentures in payment, and that he has received a reply from Mr J. R. Davies to the effect that Mr Henderson was in Australia; but that the firm " can construct the whole of the harbour .for a definite sum, taking"dcfbentarrft at par in payment."

The "Iron Pot," at Napier, is silting up so rapidly that now the small steam launch Bella cannot get into the stream at low water.

Mr Vause, the well-known ship chandler, mourns daily over the decaying remains of the Onehunga wharf, He may be seen in the morning glancing anxiously down at the shaky structure to see if all is in its right place, and ere the shadesof evening fall he scans its framework, and with an ominous shake of tho head walks along not knowing if it will last until he gets to the end of it. Mr Vause is himself a steady prop to Onohunga, a sturdy pillar of the township, and his opinion of the dangerous character of the wharf should'not ho disregarded. It was his intention to have brought the state of the latter most prominently before his Excellenoy the Governor's notice by enrtaciing ft stream of calico over it at Vne time of the Governor's " _-ival from town tinder escort of the volunteers, but Mr Vause had not the inscription ready which was to have been as follows : — "Onehunga deserves a better wharf." Mr Vause will probably have it ready for the benefit of representatives who go down South next week.

An action for £50, damages, was heard yestfirday.in the Resident Magistrate's Court, in consequence of the bite of a dog. The plaintiff was William Anderson, and the defendant was Mr John Lamb, of Kiverhead. The evidence resulted in favor of plaintiff, who obtained judgment for £5, costs £0 13s.

It may not bo generally known that the unwieldy monster which used to go shrieking through our streets at midnight, known as the " Black Elephant," has lost his boiler. The same has been transferred to the new steamer of Mr Gibbons.—The Tam-o'-Shanter has been growing lately, and is now about half as large again as Bho was a month ago. Owing to the threatening aspect of the weather and the ruffled appearance of the water, a lady who hart yesterday embarked on the steamer for Mahurangi made a rush for the wharf just as the vessel was off, unwilling to face the trip. The Annie Milbank is proving herself a thorough good boat, and while under the management of the careful and skilful Captain Kaspar there is nothing to fear.

The first match this season between the Auckland and Ponsonby Football Clubs is arranged for to-morrow, on the field near the Choral Hall. The blue and white men will be, Henderson, Caverhill, Gudgeon, Carter, Abrams, Woon, Philson, Pollen, Whitaker. Sharland. Mowbray, Rnssell, Castelli, and Nolan. Black and white: Macky. Macky, Jones, Dunnet, Yates, Fairburn, O'Sullivan, Kerr, Hemes, Bravewater, Haultain, Hignan, Recce, Bucholz, Hanna, and Jones. Fifteen a side, play to commence at three o'clock. A good game is expected, as the Ponsonby boys feel confident of making a good show, and their opponents are not to bo sueezed at.

To the Editor : In your report of the case in the KM. Court yesterday. "Normanby v. Millias,"it is quite mis-reported. The amount sued for was the balance of account for clothes furnished by me to defendant, and not for the proceeds of any wool sold on my account. No ono has uoro reason to regret being obliged at times to speak in a " low voice," as I am subject to a sudden hoarseness, which comes on mo without warning, even when speaking to a customer in my shop. Trusting you will find a corner for this in your paper, yours faithfully, A. M. Nokmanj.y.

A deputation of Good Templars recontly waited upon tho Victorian Minister for Education, to bring under his notice the desirableness of having the subject of alcohol from a physiological point of view included in the topics introduced In the reading books in use in the Stato Eohools. The Minister promised to sco how far the views of tho deputation could be carried out.

Speaking of the rumoured];six million loan the Wellington Post says .—" Nobody now is foolish enough to believe the assertions of Government organs, made by order of Ministers. Thus, although the Times and the Southern Cross vehemently protest that there is no truth in the report which has for some time been current of the intention of tho Government to propose a six million loan, yet people believe all the same that it is very likely to be the case. Again and agaiß, positive^ denials of specific^ assertions have been made, yet, after the {"lapse of a short time, it has been found that tho assertions were substantially correct. We believe in tho rumour about the new loan, partly because Government organs say it has no foundation, but mainly because the financial exigencies of the colony will make further borrowing inevitable. On this subject, the Jjytlelton Times observes : —" The contradiction by the Southern Cross of tho rumour that the Ministry will propose a new loan of six millions is hardly ontitled to much weight. Possibly the amount, possibly the extension over three years are wrongly stated, but that Borne further loan will be required and asked for is tho conviction of all parties. It is significant that the contradiction comes three days after the rumour was telegraphed round the colony. Such delay is not in accordance with the Premier's instincts, and renders it questionable if the utterance of tho Cross has official sanction."

In the Manukau harbour a most welcome deepening of mid-channel is observable since the building of the Mangere; bridge, the solid portions of which at each side of the harbour have caused a groater body of water to flow in tho centre. The tide is consequently stronger, and has swept away much of the mud. Vessels can now oome up far earlier in the tide than they wore formerly acoustomed to. The wharf itself is more rotten than ever, and presents a melancholy appearance near high water mark. All the piles but one at the end of the wharf have rotted through, and parted asunder. The top of these piles (to whloh vessels are moored) are supported merely by the upper structure of the wharf. In other words the wharf is supporting its own supports. Vessels moored to these fragile piles are subjected to great risk during a westerly gale, and unless improvements are soon made we shall have to chronicle bad news for some of them. If a westerly gale carries away the wharf, the Mangere bridge will probably share the same fate.

An entertainment of a vocal and intellectual character will be given this evening by the members of tbe Pitt-street Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Class. The Rev. W. Kirk, tho chairman, will give the introductory address. Readings will be given by Mr Jessop, " Political Economy ;" Mr Sinnett, " Sam Slick Again ;" Mr Mitchell, " Marriage in a. Baloon ;" Mr Theo. Cooper, "Kipil's Palace ;" Mr Beaumont, an original reading, "Presidential address"; Mr MoMaster, "The Irish Member ;" Mr Martin, " Our first Cigar, and its wonderful effeots on the Brain ;" Mr Spicer, "The Origin of the English Nation." Recitations will be given by Mr Buddie, " The Eve of Waterloo," from Byron ; and the " Jackaw of Rheims," by Mr W. Eastwood. The choir will sing a variety of choice selections at intervals to the satisfaction,of all present. Ample re*, freshments for the inner man will also be provided. ,

"Parabola" desires the insertion of the ' following letter t—" Sir,—An elevation in drawing is exhibited in the window of Messrs Wayte, Queens-street, of a'proposed paddle steamer, with a view, I suppose, of inviting public attention and criticism. As many people are liable to have their opinions largely influenced by the prettiness of a picture, some expression concerning its properties in relations to its purpose may not be without value. The motive power stated, and the " Stanley-street stamp" impressed, offer every guarantee of such being ample and most efficient. With regard to the properties of immersion, they are very conspicuous by their absence, which gives an " eye model' air to it, and a happy freedom for equational value, thus leaving by far $c, larger portion of ppople interested in m cxhibitipn entirely in the dark." «.„.,,, I

The supple-Hunt to the Star of to-morrow, will appear at five o'clock, meteor-like, and steeped in the sunset dews of arc.idia, with its freight of story, anecdote, essay, and song. In addition to a number of sketches of decided literary merit, will appear a very remarkable and intensely interesting paper, rather of a speculative character, entitled the " Day of Judgment -Will it occur during the current!year?" also, startling revelations from the pyramids of Egypt, with a vivid description of .Garth's final throes, before the dissolution of all things, and the appearance of the new Heaven and the new Earth, which engaged so much of the thought of Swedenborg and other free writers. There will also be found a pleasant paper on "Children's Fancies," a solemn sketch of a blighted life, and a yankee orator on " Capital Punishment," worthy of Wendell Phillips. " Suspended Animation" and "An Eastern sketch," will attract attention. " Hidden Miseries," another view of everyday life in certain quarters, will tickle Borne of the citizens of Auckland. " Easy Arithmetic will provoke a laugh, with a ditty from Captain Marryat's "Snarley Vow," a strange weird novel which the author could never understand. No man tried more than Marryat to write sensible rhyme, and the best of the bits of his naval muse that remain are almost worthless. Campbell used to sing the "Pleasures of Hope" in his ear, until Marryat declared that his muse was hopeless. A few parnassian flowers grace the supplement, as well as the flowers of prose : some pleasant verses on the scotchman and "The penny he meant to gi'e" appears ; also, a poem, the " Spirit-Voice," written by a local hand, with a WiLKES-like-vengeance. when,that once [famous radical threatened the head of Home Tooke, and lastly—all for a penny !

A second edition of the "New Zealand Handbook " will shortly be published. The Nap:er|Chess Club is seriously thinking of challenging that of Auckland. _ The proposed match is not to be played in tournament fashion, but by each club nominating its champion and pitting the two together in a match of seven games, the losing club to pay the costs. J)r Home is (the Telegraph believes) the champion of Auckland, and Mr Coatcs is reckoned tho best player in Hawke's Bay.

The case of Stephen E. Hughes .Tun against George Patrick Dower, for two guineas commission on the sale of allotments in the Waikato, after several witnesses on either side had been examined, it was clear to the Court that Mr Dower had paid the commission. Judgment therefore, was given for defendant with costs £2 Gd.

The rabbit plague in Southland has attained an alarming development. The Superintendent of Otago appointed a commission _to inquire into the nuisance, and the following extract from their report indicates the nature of the evil which runholders are vainly contending against :—" Take, for instance, a run where three years since scarcely a rabbit was to be seen ; there are now sixteen men with one hundred and twenty dogs employed, costing the lessee two pence for each rabbit skin and ten shillings a week for each man. On this run the average number of rabbits killed weekly is between four and five thousand, and though thirty-six thousand were killed last year, yet the report is that there is no appreciable decrease. On another run we learn that close on sixteen thousand rabbits were killed during the first three months of the present year, at a ccst of twopence a skin. On a third the expense each week averages £27, and fifty thousand rabbits had been killed since last year. On a fourth we find nine men employed with sixty dogs, killing at the rate of two thousand per week. This enumeration might bo almost indefinitely extended."

"Observer" writes calling attention to the removal of sand and stone from the public roads. Which road is referred to does not appear quite clear from the wording of the letter, but apparently Karangahape road. Ho say 3 this is done by the cartload early in the morning. No doubt the city surveyor will inqnire into the matter.

An entertainment will be given during the prosent month in the Whau Publio Hall, in which the Auckland " darkies " will figure conspicuously, and additional interest will be given to the occasion by tbe introduction of Mr P. Doran's new farce •' O'Sullivan's Ghost j" on which the author has been engaged for some time, and in which some straight shots will be fired at local follies.

The recent serious illness'of the Sultan of Turkey was of a complicated nature, consisting of indigestion, colic, and boils, and was greatly increased by his own gluttony. The special correspondent of the Times at Pora mentions, for instance, that the Sultan ate no less than 18 eggs for breakfast one day. One of the boils presenting the appearance of a carbuncle, it was cut open by a regimental surgeon, a Hungarian, whose skilful surgery" was rewarded by his patient with a large money fee, and a decoration of honour. So ill was the Sultan that one day he neglected to pay his usual visit to the mosque—an event which has not occurred for a hundred years, though some Sultans have had to be carried to their devotions in blankets when suffering from illness. On the present occasion, the Sultan's indisposition caused the liveliest and most unrestrained joy in Constantinople, and his subsequent recovery equally great and openlymanifested disappointment. His execrable misrule has brought him into deep odium even with the Faithful, whose commander he titularly is, yet none of them has the pluck to get up a revolution and depose the insane sensualist, who is fast hastening the entire break-up of his Empire.

Yesterday afternoon a quarrel took place near the wharf which resulted in a fight between two men, one of whom had a leg broken. A very great difference of opinion existed as to the origin of the row. It appeared however that the man who suffered most was the aggressor, having struck the first blow, His antagonist was a Bmaller man, and after returning the blow, a mutual pounding took place. One of them who had on a previous similar occasion got his leg broken, now had it broken a second time, and his face much bruised. He was conveyed to the hospital in a cab. It is a pity that a proper vehicle is not kept for the purpose of conveying persons who are suffering from serious accidents.

Messrs Champtaloup and Cooper have just published a map of the middle part of the Province of Auckland, on tho scale of four miles to the inch. The territory embraoed in the map extends from the head, waters of the Wairoa river in the North, to the mouth of the Thames and Piako rivers in the South. All towns, villages, roads, and telegraph stations are shewn. This addition to the geographical knowledge, and chronicle of the advance of settlement in our province will, no doubt, be widely appreciated. The map has been- very creditably lithographed at the He raid office.

Mr W. Hough has forwarded to this office for sampling a bottle of his New Zealand tomato sauce, prepared from a rare recipe. The article is one that will commend itself to a large section of connoisseurs, as being admirably seasoned and stimulating. The sauce differs in flavour from most of the other preparations of the same excellent fruit, and can be recommended as a very excellent sauce which will stand very well on its own merits. Mr Hough has not, we understand, gone largely into the trade during the past season, .but intends to launch \ out on an increased scale in the coming summer, when we have no doubt his sauce will make a good position for itself in the New Zealand markets.

The Rev Dr Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, will preach in the Whau Public Hall, on Sunday next, in the afternoon, and after the service will be administered the Holy Communion. ~,,, \"„