The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo." THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1876

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2029, 10 August 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo."

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1876

i«flr tfce cft-.se that lacks as.'fctanca, 2. o. the T7_or,g that needs resistance. Fur the future in the distance, .

And the eood thai we csn tio.

Mr. Reader Wood last night made an estimate of the finance of Separation, which tallies very closely with the one that appeared in our columns when the basis of Sir George Grey's resolutions was first announced. He said that the proposed adjustment was founded entirely on financial expediency and equity, and that it would give the following results :—"For North Island: Customs revenue, £600,000 ; land fund, £130,000; interest on colonial debt, £190,000; provincial interest, £67,000, which being deducted from the other two items, left a balance of £473,000. For the South Island : Customs revenue, £961,000 ; land fund, £799,000 : total, £1,760,000. Interest on colonial debt, £625,000; provincial interest,£lso,ooo ; which taken fromrevenue, would leave a balance of £994,000." The division, judged by the standard of population, is a very fair one. The adjustment recognises the advantages enjoyed by the South in its possession of a large land fund, and apportions the liabilities for the public debt accordingly. The balance available from the Customs revenue of the North Island after all the charges for interest are met, is £353,000, while the charges for interest against the South Island will leave only £186,000. The large land revenue of the South, however, and its release from native and defence expenditure are more than compensatory advantages. The sum of £473,000, which Mr Reader Wood shows to be available for administrative purposes and public works in the North Island is irrespective of .the provincial revenues. It is instructive to compare these figures with the prospect afforded Auckland under abolition. The measure . Introduced by the Government propose two things : The absorption of the whole Customs revenue to pay interest on the public debt, and the demands of an extravagant civil establishment; and the charging of provincial de-. «, surveys, two per cent, on the cost of railways, two-thirds the cost of education, and half the road board and county subsidies, against the land fund, or where no land fund exists, against a local debt raised on Treasury Bill 3. The effect of this adjustment on the various provinces has been very carefully calculated by a writer in the Canterbury Press from the figures given in the Financial Statement, and shews conclusively the following results : — - Chai'ges on Land Fund. land Fund, £ £ Auckland ... 22,425 ... 97,442 Taranaki... ... 18,884 ... 11,447 Rawke'sßay ... 26,516 ... 22,851 Wellington ... 51,476 ... 74,032 kelson 13,200 ... 30,536 Marlborough ... 5,786 ... 10,492 Westland ... 4,186 ... 25,270 Canterbury ... 453,248 ... 134,502 Otago 248,694 ... 192,017 That is, the whole Customs revenue and land fund raised in Auckland will be insufficient by £75,017 per annum to meet the charges for interest and administration levied upon the province, and that sum will be charged against it as a local debt, the interest being deducted by the General Government from any funds it can lay its hands upon. While this is the case with Auckland, Canterbury after being allowed an expenditure of £46,162 per annum for educa-

tion against £28,741 permitted Auckland for the same purpose ; £21,124 for surveys against £4298 for Auckland, and other appropriations in proportion, will still receive for expenditure on local works, £318,746. Otago, although more fortunate than Auckland, is hot so well off as Canterbury, receiving only £56,677 from the land fund for local expenditure, unless the future revenue from that source greatly exceeds the receipts last year. With the exception of those two provinces and small balances from Hawkes Bay and Taranaki, the Financial Arrangements Bill contemplates an expenditure in excess of revenue from all sources, at the rate of £140,000 a year, without one sixpence beyond the road board subsidies, £112,000, being expended on public works or available for that purpose. When it is considered that the

revenue thus administered by the General Government borders on three million sterling, namely £2,317,417 consolidated revenue and £598,589 from landj fund and Treasury Bills, the huge proporti-tas of that terrible incubus of Government under which this unfortunate colony now groans will become apparent. But, not satisfied with the seizure of all our ordinary revenues, providing us with Government services on an infinitely meaner scale than those granted the two large provinces of the South Island, and even saddling us with debt for the little pri. vileges we enjoy, the Ministerial measures contemplate the creation in this province of nine new governments under the name of Counties, each involving an annual departmental expenditure of £1,200, to be supported out of local taxation. If the people of Auckland submit on any terms to proposals so grossly iniquitous they are unworthy of the privileges of self-government.

We have much pleasure in giving insertion to the following telegram from Mr Sheehan, M.H.R. and when the bereavement which that gentleman recently suffered is remembered, his constituents will understand the circumstances which led to his temporary withdrawal from parliamentary duties :— " I have just seen your leader of the 2nd inst. commenting on the debate on Mr Whitaker's resolutions. You notice my absence, and kindly suggest that the division was perhaps not anticipated by me. I was well aware that the division would take place. Por private reasons I had remained away from the House for two or three days, but was careful to be paired with Government sup* porters on each occasion. On Mr Whitaker's resolutions, I was paired with Mr Kelly, member for New Plymouth, so that, in fact, my vote was recorded." John Sheehan.

An advertisemeet to-day gives notice of the closing of tbe Union Beach books, from the 12th to the 16th instants, for the purpose of declaring a dividend.

A meeting of the Football Selection Committee will be held at the Thames Hotel this evening at five o'clock.

The Free Templars of Onehunga held an open meeting last night to a large and respectable audience. Before the doors were opened to admit ticket holders, several new members were initiated and some business transacted, and then friends were admitted Bro. Warburton, W.P. of the Auckland Free Templar Lodge, was called upon to take the chair. In doing so, he delivered a very telling address in advocacy of the cause. The following ladies and gentlemen kindly assisted in the programme : Sister Pritchard, Bros. Hunt, Whitem_.h, and Hughes (of Auckland), Bros. Bobb. James, Such, and Sister Such, with the following friends : Mr R. Bilkey and Miss J. Vause, of Onehunga, who also kindly assisted. Mr Patterson presided at the piano, and Bro. Stebbings the violin. All the performances were received with much applause. The Chairman, on closing the meeting, intimated to the public that the meetings would be closed for a month, in order to allow tbe lodge to get through with the business on hnnd. A vote of thanks to the singers was given, and the meeting then closed by singing the National Anthem.

At a meeting of the Educational School Committee.JMei-cer, held at Mr? Wells' store, to consider the several applications for the situation of teacher Itgwas decided, as at present there is no school master's house, it would be the better way to get a probationer until the committee were in a position to make the situation more attractive to a qualified teacher. The school will be opened in Mr Higging's store pro tern.

A meeting is convened by advertisement for to-morrow afternoon to take into consideration the propriety of holding the annual November cattle and horticultural show in the M arket house. The movement origin ates from the apathy displayed by the New Zealand Agricultural Society in making preparations for holding its usual show at Ellerslie. The myßtery is at length made plain. This is how Vogel came to appoint Captain Campbell-Walker as Inspector of the New Zealand Forests. At least, a correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says so. He writes :—To those who hate hitherto been in the dark on the subject of the appointment of Captain Campbell-Walker as Conservator of the New Zealand Forests, let me explain how it came about. A few months before he came to this colony, Captain CampbellWalker published in London a little book entitled "The Correct Card, or How to Play at Whist: a Whist Catechism." In certain circles, moveover, he had given signs of his high attainments as a whist player, and this piece of information reached the ears of Sir Julius when at home. Whist players all know the story about the 10,000 people who are now wandering about the Continent in a state of destitution, brought about by their neglect to load from tramps when they had five or more trump cards in their hand. Some " awful examples of this sort had come under the eyes of Sir Julius when he was drinking Germaa waters, and he determined to eavo the erring whilst players of this colony from ruin by inducing Captain Campbell VVaiker to visit JN ew Zealand and teach them to play th . " correct card " If the captain can show us to do this, and at the same time can instruct us in the art of planting forests, he will no doubt be a most useful member of the community.

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of £2 from Mr and Mrß Maud, for the Destitute Children's Home.

At a meeting of the Mercer Town District Board held at Mr Well's store, convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability or .^^erwise of giving up certain portions of the district in compliance with the request of some ratepayers living without the district, it was decided to inform the Provincial Secretary that the Bo.rd would oppose tne relinquishing any portion of their district as it would be moso pernicious in ifca effectto the remaining district, and instructed their Chairman to convey their decision tothe proper quarter. For the information of those forwarding English dispatches, the Telegraph Department notify that steamers leave Penang for Galle on August 22nd, Sept sth and 29th, and October 3rd and 25th. Leave Singapore August 13th and 27th, September 10th and 24th, and Ootober 7th and 26th. Steamers from Galle arrive at Penang August 19 th, September 2nd, 10th, and 30th; October ]4_h and 22nd ; Singapore, August 14th and 29th, September llth and 25th, October 9th and 27th. A new skating ring will be held in the Catholic Institute to-morrow night, when ladies accompained by gentlemen will be admitted free.

The dock contractors, Messrs Jones and Ware, have made a start upon the cofferdam. Up to the present their work has been mostly that of gathering material and taking soundings. Yesterday pile-driving was commenced and a row marking distinctly the N.E., face of the dock have already been placed in position. The work will now rapidly take a definite shape and the publio will be able to take in at a glance the progress that is made.

Those who intend to take part in the performance for the benefit of Mr. W. Mahoney are reminded that a rehersal will take place at the Lorne-streefc hall on Friday evening at half-past teven.

The Lighting Committee of the City Council have agreed to recommend that a large addition be made to the number of city lamps. No better use could be made of the funds of the Corporation than this. We might mention Freeman's Bay at the West end and Alten Road at the .East end as mportant thoroughfares where the supply is it present very deficient.

Artesian wells are a remarkable success in Christchurch. It was stated at the meeting of the local Drainage Board last week by the engineer, that the discharge of the water from the city during twenty-four hours reaches the large quantity of 240 gallons per head of the population, the greater part of which was artesian water.

A cablegram from Sydney informs us that the English mail steamer left San Francisco on the 19th July, her proper date. She is therefore 22 days out, and may be expected at any moment, although she is not absolutely due till Sunday.

A large number of the civil engineers and architects of the colony have memorialised the Government to prevent civil servants from competing with them in their professions. The memoral has been forwarded to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, but as yet no reply has been made.

" A Fellow Creature " expostulates against the "wickedly careless and dangerous practice of throwing orange peel on the pavement. He says :It is such a mean piece of carelessness, that it is somewhat difficulty to understand how anyone with reasoning powers of any extent can be guilty of ib. If those who are so careless had a near and dear relation brought home some day with a broken limb, perhaps they would see the evil of it; for some persous are so stupid that nothing but violent means are of any use to bring them to their senses."

The sixth of the series of Temperance Hall lectures will be delivered to-morrow evening in the Albert-street Hall; the subject of the lecture will be " Water," by Mr Josiah Martin, of the model training school. Water is one of the greatest gifts of Providence to man,and its uses and benefits are past calculation. Those who despise ear th's common things simply because they are common, should hear Mr Martin's lecture of to-morrow evening, and they will hear the subject elucidated and explained, chemically and philosphically, by a scholar who devotes much of his spare time

from other duties, to a study of tbe poetry of nature We believe the committee will add other attractions, perhaps a little music and a song, to please the audience.

A Victorian Judge seems to believe in the saying that brevity is the soul of wit. He summed up a case the other day in the following terms —" Well, gentlemen, is this felony or is it folly ? that is what you have to decide." Such an address as this is an excellent contrast to long-winded orations.

At the Science Congress at South Kensington lately, Mr Barnaby, Constructor of the Navy, read a paper, in which he said he had no doubt the fighting ship of the future would be of the class of the Nelson and Northumberland, building in Scotland, with central armor protecting all vital parts, and a strong shield fore and aft, a high broadside battery, trained and fired by electricity from fore aud aft screens, without any exposure of the crew. These ships would cost £350,000.

The danger arising from coloured lollies has been brought under the notice of the Melbourne Central Board of Health so forcibly, that it has issued a circular dawing public attention to the matter, and especially cautioning the public against the use of confectionery which is coloured yellow, orange, or green, these colours being in many cases produced by means of chromate of lead, arsemte of copper, or other highly poisonous materials.

An influential meeting was held lately in Sydney to organise a subscription for a testimonial to the Rowing Champion of England and Australia, E. Trickett. The meeting wa3 unanimous that the testimonial should take a very substantial shape. A large committee was formed to receive contribution., and a letter was read from the New South Wales Amateur Dramatic Society, offering to give a performance in aid of fhe testimonial. Trickett will next be heard of at Philadelphia, where he will compete in the champion_sculling match. The United States Minstrels, the best company of " burnt cork " entertainers that has ever visited the colonies, including

Rockefeller, Braham, Taylor, Campbell, Hudson, Holly, &c, are now drawing good houses in Sydney, and will arrive per Hero for a season in Auckland about the middle of August. The Lynch Family of Bellringers have been attracting crowded houses in Victoria, and will call here on their way to San Francisco about January next. Hegarty's Combination Troupe is now in the South, and expect to reach Auckland In October. The monthly inspection of the Artillery, No 3, and Scottish Companies, will be held this evening in the Drill-shed. Efficiency certificates and marksmen's badges will be issued to the members of the Artillery. The company-shield of No 3 Company will be presented for inspection. The parade will be in undress, without arms or accoutrements, Major Gordon the inspecting officer.

A supply of meteorological instruments,for use in connection with weather forecasts, has been received in Wellington. The shipment comprises twenty-four standard barometers upon Foster's principle, four mountain barometers, 20 anemometers, on Robinson's principle, registering to the tenth of a mile, and giving continuous registration to 500 miles ; twenty-two sets of thermometers, for hygo-metrical observations ; and two hypsometers, for ascertaining the height of elevated stations by the temperature of the boilingpoint water.

An adventurous expedition has lately left Sydney to attempt the recovery of the large quantity of gold which went down with the General Grant, off the Auckland Island. The Mount Alexander Mail writes :—" This is not the first attempt made to recover the lost treasure. AMr Wallace left Victoria with a party of men, on board a ship he fitted up for the purpose. They neared the spot of the wreck, and Mr Wallace put off with some of his men in a boat to observe the shores of the island, in the hope of finding the precise spot whore the gold went down. His -hip, and these on it, waited several days for. his return, but he never was seen again. The ship, with the remnant of his crew returned to Melbourne, and his widow, a fter some time, obtained letters of administrations, the Court considering him dead. The expedition must be a highly perilous one ; and if the enterprising me_ who have set out to this Elderado at the bottom of the deep, deep sea, have taken, as is reported, enough dynamite to blast sufficient rock to make a breakwater at the mouth of the fatal cave, no doubt many would prefer letting the gold—estimated at half a million pounds sterling ■--- lie undisturbed, rather than be one of tho novel prospecting party."

The Featherstone Memorial Committee have decided that subscriptions shall be devoted to procuring a marble bust of the late Dr Featherstone, on a granite pedestal, any surplus to form the nucleus of a fund to be appropriated to the erection of a Featherstone Benevolent Institution.

Those gentlemen who are to take part in the entertainment for the benefit of Mrs Williamson and family, on Monday, August 21st, are requested to meet for rehersal at the Catholic Institute, this evening at halfpast seven.

It was stated at the recent meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company that in the year 1875, the total number of ships despatched from Great Britain to the whole of New Zealand was 140. Out of that number the New Zealand Shipping Company despatched fifty-four vessels in twelve months, or an average of over four ships a month. During the past wool seasoD, up to the present time, there had been loaded independent vessels, and vessels belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company, to the number of 49. Out of this number the New Zealand Shipping Company had despatched twenty-five, or rather more than one-half.

The monthly inspection parade of the Auckland Scottish Volunteers will take place this evening in the Drill-Bhed, at half-past seven o'clock.

A conversazione of the members of St. Matthew's Church will be held this evening at seven o'clock, in the School-room, Hobsonstreet.

Mr P. Doran and his co-partners in the promulgation of pleasure held an entertainment at Devonport last evening. The audience was not quite so large as was expected, still the numbers fairly represented the district. The musical department was under the leadership of Mr McGuiness. _ The programme was of the usual type, consisting of songs by Messrs O'Hare. W. Doran, C. Hill, and W. Downing. Meltam Brothers sang their favourite " How is that for High ?" which has given the brothers a local fame. Messrs Wilson and McEwen performed acrobatic feats ; Merton Bros, came out on the trapeze. The entertainment throughout was of a satisfactory character. Mr P. Doran's great farce, the " New Prima Donna," was much applauded. P. Doran himself was most amusing in the veritable coat which had been the subject of a learned discussion on the previous night in the City Hall. We are glad to notice that Mr Doran's new farce is nearly ready.

Mr Lusk. in the course of his speech on the Separation resolutions, made a very effective comparison between Sonth Africa and New Zealand. He said the European populationl^ Sonth "Africa in 1875, was'something nnder 250,000 souls; native population, 500,000 ; and therefore it was a very much larger oommunifcy than that of New Zealand. The revenue of the: former colony in 1875, L 1.445 000, and from that revenue all but L 358.000 was devoted to reproductive works of the same, and from that L' 558,000 there was taken L 125.000 for defence and native purposes. If hon. members would bear this in mind, and look at the aspect of the colony at that time—its records of difficulty and disaster—it would be apparent to hon. members that the expenditure of South Africa should he greater than the legitimate expenditure of New Zealand. Comparing the state of New Zealand in 1870, when the Immigration and Public Works policy was initiated, with the present year, he stated that the increase of exnenditure on unproductive works was far from being calculated to place the colony on a sound financial basis. He compared' the Wellington of 1805 with Wei Hngton of th . present day. Other provinces had paid largo sums of money, but none had received so much in return. The population of Wellington was of a melancholy character; a population almost entirely of Civil Servants — a population artificial, unhealthy, and necessarily corrosive on the constitution of the colony, and this Btate of things would be continued by the new system which they had been told would do so much for the

people of New Zealand. We notice that the parting concert to Mr. W Mahoney previous to his departing from Auckland, will be given on Wednesday next the 16th inst, in the City Hall. A large

programme for the occasion is in course of preDaration, on which will appear the names of the leading vocalists, dancers, gymnasts, and elocutionists of the city.

A gaming tragedy is reported from Monaco. A Russian Count, having ruined himself at roulette, pnt an end to his life by jumping over a precipice near the town. He is said to have lost £30.000 in two days.

In reply to the .query of a corresqondent yesterday, we learn that Mr La Trobe was Superintendent of the Port Philip district prior to the oreation of that part of New South Wales into a colony. He arrived in Port Phillip in October, 1839, as Superintendent, and was appointed Lieut.-Governor in July, 1851.

The Auckland Gas Company offer coke at their works at the reduced price of 25s per ton nett cash ; smaller quantities are Bold at a reduction !of 25 per cent on former prices. Coke is becoming a favourite article of fuel, and those using it appear to be well satisfied.

" Nemo " Writes a strong letter relative to the dredge. He says:—"Allow me to point out the why and wherefor of the red spot in Mechanics' Bay intake. When, as you incorrectly remark, a few punt loads of mud had been removed from the intake (they were only shifted from one spot to another inside of the intake), it was found that the winches approved by the Board's engineer were unable to perform their intended function, and extremely dangerous to life and limbs of the men employed, so much so that on one ocoasion one of the handles spinning through the air at a tremendous velocity broke and penetrated the deck to the depth of one inch, and there stuck. The winches were thrown back on the contractor, who of course objected, as they had been approved of by the engineer. The matter was hushed up, the winches returned to the maker, and new winches the order of the day." Our correspondent proceeds to express doubt whether the new winches will be any better than those rejected.

The rumor that S. Brighting, the wellknown Christchurch fish-hawker and bottle-

collector, had come into an enormous fortune, is now fully substantiated. Brighting and his wife who, the other day, were living in a state of extreme indigence, have now almost unlimited credit at every business establishment in the city, and, figuratively speaking, they roll in riches. They are leaving substantial reminiscences among their old acquaintances in the shape of costly presents, and intend proceeding to England in the American mail boat. The gross amount which Mr Brighting has inherited is, it is affirmed, over £100,000. Considering that he occupied the lowest social position conceivable, this is one of the most marvellous strokes of fortune on record. Miss Lizzie Morgan, an actresß who gained considerable popularity in Auckland, has arrived in Wellington under engagement to the Bates Company.