The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo." WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1876

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2045, 30 August 1876, Page 2

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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1876

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The discussion raised in the City Council , a short time ago, upon the question of Corporation officers and their duties, led to the employment of various aocountants for the purpose of examining the books, and reporting upon the best and most economical way of keeping the financial records of the city. Messrs J. Waymouth, H. Wright, P. McTavish, and Brodie, have each reported separately on the subject, and their inquiries disclose a most discreditable state of things^ whioh cannot be too speedily remedied. In a supplement to-day, we publish the reports of Messrs Waymouth and Wright, whose conclusions are generally confirmed by Mr McTavish's elaborate and careful review of the grossly faulty system of keeping the sets of books in which city financial affairs have been muddled for several years past. Mr Wright is particularly plain in his statement of the case, and his remarks are calculated to excite surprise, and a strong feeling of disapprobation among ratepayers. He says : " Some of the largest and most important items are absolutely not shewn at all in the Corporation books, leaving sums of money amounting to many thousands of pounds totally unaccounted for." Mr Waymouth points to precisely the same conclusion. "Sinoethe 15th of November, 1873," he says, "Your accounts have been kept on no system at all." Selecting one example— that of the stone-breaking machine, he proceeds to shew that, on the date named, the account was closed with a balance of £927 15s lid, which has not been carried down. Of this sum, £577 15s lid, he has discovered in some way not explained, was passed to various streets account ; still leaving a balanoe of £350 to credit, but " there is no such asset on the ledger." Other remarkable illustrations of a similar kind are furnished. Thus, in November, .1872, "working tools and plant," are .ass^sed at £50,

and the folio win g year, withont a single entry ( meanwhile, th? same 'items are put down ft* £100. In the accounts for horses, drays, and harness, an expenditure of £223 5« fid v shewn, bn* the . *set anpears m the printed statement as £120, and in the absence of any uarticu'nro. even that ameunt mi^ht he wholly fictifious. It must not he inferred that tbpse .prions r.spc. rensncieß indicate ar>vthing move thnn a grossly inaccurate svsterr. of hook-keepin.., for we believe that e^erv pen ny has been legitimately expended and m ieht, with trouble, be traced ; but it is wi- | dent that the system has been «"■ cally bad as t 0 -' „_ radL guarantee agai^'' givft no proper c xplie-" 1 _. a . fraud. Mr Wright is very ' -.xc on this point. "The hooks," he says, " afford no adequate ftieans of check nor do they in any way preseht a true or reliable record of the transactions of the city." "It is ip fact utterly impossible fo r any person, he he ever so practiced an accountant, to ascertain the financial affairs of the city from its books of account." Unless these statements can be disproved' the continuance of such an extraordinary condition of affairs for a number of years reflects very seriously upon the Council alid its officers. Rumours suggestive of a loose and blundering system of keeping the city accounts have frequently gained currency. Tt is, we believe, pretty well understood that the auditors have received payment in their private capacities as accountant, ft* putt-ins the accounts in such a shape as to make the annual audit possible. Other public accountants, it is asserted, have been employed for a similar purpose. There is ample evidence in these reports that Scandalous incompetence exists somewhere ; it. remains for the Council to fix the onus and apply the remedy. But the gravity of the results disclosed by the inquiry conducted at the Council's own solicitation, leaves no middle course. The statements must either he disproved, or their occasion removed by sweeping and unsparing reforms.

The Ministerial statement and personal explanation made by Sir Julius Vogel yesterday are very characteristic. He had discovered, he said, " That public life was inconsistent with attention to one's own affairs," and thought "the welfare of his family bad claims upon him that ho was not ■j ls.ified in ignoring." A glance at the antecedents of the ex-Premier will show that no colonial statesman has ever made politics so completely subservient to personal aggrandizement. From a nosition of unprofitable obscurity, Mr Vogel succeeded, by tbe not too scrupulous use of public office, in raising himself to his present dignities and emoluments. in his acceptance of the Acent-Genoralship, the best paid office in the gift of tbe colony, he displays a remarkable aptitude for considering the claims of his family. The tone of the brief d'scus-ion that followed the announcement predicates a brewing storm. Mr Andrew's strong expressions of regret that " the leader of tbe Government should resign, in order to take a petty office ih London,' 1 and " that the state 01 the Premier's health should compel him to forfeit the public esteem," are especially significant as coming from a Government supporter. No doubt great efforts will be nut forth during the adjournment to strengthen the Cabinet, but, contending against the reluctance that surrounds recruiting for a failing cause, any very important accession is hot probable. The dashing away of the coveted cup just as the Premier's lips were closing on the brim, hinted at by our correspondent as a not impossible contingency, would be a rude shock to all the Premier's dreams of greatness.

This morniDg Auckland suffered a friendly invasion from a band of Canterbury football players, who intend trying their best to repeat on our own ground the thrashing they gave our Auckland players at Christchurch last year. We aro pleased to see that the example set by Auckland in instituting these Inter-provincial trials of pluck and skill is likely to be followed throughout the colony, and we admire the promptness with which the footballers of the Southern plains have returned the visit paid them by Auckland. From reports which reach us of the capabilities of oi_r selected team* and from the reputation of the southerners, the game ia likely to be well contested, and whichever side wins we feel sure that the meeting will be productive of none other than harmonious feelings. I Such competitions between the representatives of different parts of the colony* are useful in widening the sympathies and incalculating a unselfish tone of thought, In every well-fought contest the opponents, after the fight is over, invariably respect one another the more for the trouble they have given each other ; and it is certain to be the case after the battle of to-morrow, in which both sides will strive tooth and nail for the mastery, that no more convivial party need be wished than the lads who will meet at the Star Hotel to dine together and drink to each other's future successes. We trust that our Canterbury friends will enjoy their visit, and the greatest harm we wish them is a good licking at Ellerslie Gardens to-morrow.

In our supplement of to-day will be found two importants reports on the state of City accounts, and the speech made by by Mr Tole, M.H.R., upon Separation.

The multitude of his other public engagements, has, we learn, caused Captain Daldy to resign his position in the City Council. The election to fill the vacancy cannot take place with the three now approaching, and the nomination for which is fixed for Monday next. The members who retire in rotation, are Messrs. Hurst, Brett, and Holdship ; and, if rumour speaks truly, we are likely to have a lively and wholesome contest. At least we hope so. The names of Messrs. Doonin, Johnston, Masefield, and M. Nicol, have been mentioned as probable candidates, and we trust they will be induced to enter the lists and give the ratepayers a fair field. An account of the execution of six of the men concerned in the murder of the French and German Consuls at Salonica is sent by a correspondent of the Daily News. They were undoubtedly (the writer says) among the murderers of the Consuls, but they were notorious as assassins, and consequently men more likely to be employed by others than to originate such a deed. The wife of one, as he struggled in the air, expressed her pleasure at his death, rejoicing at ber freedom from such a monster. Another had recently extorted money from his own mother with a violence which caused her death. All of them died with a false heroism which great brutality seems to give. They were executed by the seashore. Each of them, as his turn came, refused the assistance of the officials, and placing the rope around his neck, kicked the stool from under- his feet. Iv a later letter the same correspondent states that the Commissioners are still pursuing their investigations into the murder of the Consuls, but they have not been very successful, owing to the difficulty of obtaining evidence. Many persons who were arrested have been discharged because no one would come forward and speak against them^

The eleventh anniversary of St Sepulchre's Church will be celebrated by a choral service this evening, and a sermon by Rev. R. T. "B>ssJ.r<-. of St. Matthew's. We have been furnished with the balance pftee*-. she^ini? the result of the re-ncert by fho V.orietr Trnnpe -n the O^v TT "11. on the t>_r\ insr , jriren fre* t*>e benefit r>f Mrs (YHara. Rent nf ball, £3 10s ; cleaning, &c. 15s ; music £2 10=> : pas, IS=> ; printing and nr-vertis.merits. £2 14", Tntal expenses, £10 7«. TioVets fold, £12 lis fid. T-alanne in favmtr of Mrs O'FTara, £2 4s fid. Si*"""* J. Dugsrin, manaper ; J. Stanl^ and N. "Blair. treao"- rt —>ui A lit* 1- * " j, secretary -.».e_, ... net'ore the s.s. Wellington left or Monday afternoon, a passenger named Robert Scott, who was somewhat under the influenc. "f alcohol, fell down the fore-hatchway intf the hold-a distance of sotne twenty feet Se was at once lifted no on deck, and it wa. found he received no further injury than s severe cut on the back of the bead, whicV was hot of such a character as to prevent him proceeding pn, bis voyage. The fall was fortunately broken by a plank before he reached the hold, or the results might have been ranch worse. " Atticns" thns writes in the Melbourne Leader :—Several statements have been published lately about an expedition that it is said has sailed for the Auckland Islands for the purpose of recovering tbe £500.000 worth of gold supposed to be lying buried in the sunken General Grant. Messrs S. De Beet and Co., the agents for the unfortunate ship, for the purpose of relieving speculative anxiety in the matter, have forwarded to the papers a copy of the ship's manifest, for which it appears that tbe totnl amount of gold on board was 2575"ZS fidwt. " Yon may be surprised," writes Mr De Beer, "as we are confident many others may he. that tbe half million has dwindled down to ahont one-fifth, namely, £10.000 sterling." What I am principally surprised at is to find that £10,000 is one-fifih of £500 000. Still, I suppose the agents ought to know. The Wanganui Herald, says that Wanganui is acquiring a most unenviable notoriety through the frequency of the insolvencies which had almost daily to be recorded, as occurring within its narrow and circumscribed limits. Some of these occurrences it describes as "shnmless swindles." Mr McKean, whose name has been removed from the roll of Executive Councillors of Victoria for vilifying the House, will be succeeded by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. Tho Melbourne correspondent of a Southern }ourual mentions as a curious fact that the • members of the House who are the most excitable, who have least control over themselves, who make use of the most violent language—as Messrs Berry,Longmore,Munro, 1 and the gentleman who has just been expelled i —are all staunch Teetotalers, Good Templars, . he. some of them holding high positions in such societies.

The Rev R. L. Stanford, of Dunedin, has decided not to allow himself to be nominated for the vacant bishopric of Waiapu.

Captain Morris's seat in the house is a pretty costly honor. When before the .Election Petitions Committee, Captain Morris said he had spent a sum not exceeding 10* in shouting drinks at the election. His expenses altogether, including law expanses, would amount to about £700.

The friends of the Newton Congregational Sabbath- chool held an excellent entertainment last evening in the school-room. The room was crowded, and presented quite a festive appearance on tbe occasion This school is doing a great deal of good in an unobtrusive and quiet manner, and the friends have long and earnestly worked in favor of the poor children of the district, and by this means many have been kept from running tbe streets on the Sabbath, and have Keen brought to feel a greater interest in listening to the kindly and well-meant instruction of the teachers of the Newton Congregational School. Tho programme of last evening was judiciously selected, and was very lively and entertaining in its general character. The singers of the evening were Messrs Baxter, Webster, Towg, Ryan, Wood, Spragg, Redfern, Brinsden, and Masters Buchannan. Mr T. L. White gave a reading from Picwick, and Mr McMaster, Paddy and the Bear. Mr Lambert presided nt the harmonium, and the Newton choristers gave several choruses, trios, and solos, in a very excellent manner, and were much appreciated, and a pleasant evening was the result. At the conclnsion. Mr E. Wood thanked the choristers and audience and the whojo concluded appropriately with the National Anthem.

Excursionists to the North Shore tomorrow will have the advantage of winding up their holiday by attending the soiree at the Devonport Hall, and returning by moonlight in the Ferry Company's comfortable steamers Takapuna and Tainui.

The checks at eaoh of the Opera doors are a novelty in the way of advertising by Host Perkins, representing the various comic pictures in hia house, viz, "Don't; Tommy," " What a Time we have had," " Childhood's Happy Hours, " What are the Wild Wave: Saying, Sister," "She Wandered Down li.. Mountain Side," " Home, Sweet Home," &c, &c.

Mr Darrell the well-known actor, has been sued in Dunedin for refusing to accept at £9 a week, lodgings ho had engaged by telegraph from Christchurch. On arrival he discovered that his own apartments, servant's bedroom, and luggage closet, were to be a kind of mixed-up arrangement. Mr Evanß, who professes some experience in the management of "theatricals," had divided off with a green baize drop-scene the servant's bed-room from the luggage store-room, and ai ranged matters so that Mr Darrell would have had to invade the privacy of Mrs Darrell's lady's - maid's sleeping apartment in order to reach his wardrobe. The landlord was nonsuited.

It is understood that Mr Bridges is no longer a Director of a National Bank, and that he ceased to be so, shortly after his return to London. It is said that his conduct towards the Bank of New Zealand last year has had something material to do with his retirement. — TaranaTc ilferald.

" It is very seldom we take the trouble to complain of the unfairness of our contemporaries in Auckland availing themselves of news from our district correspondents without even saying by your leave," says the Thames Advertiser, "although not without good cause. But the bare-faced appropriation of our Ohinemuri and Tairua correspondents' news-letters, published on Saturday, and reproduced in yesterday's Cross, is more than human nature can stand without remqj>strance. If our contemporary does not possess enterprise enough to pay for news'; from these districts, at least let him acknow-, ledge the source irom whence he obtains his news. We keep a staff of correspondents at Waitekauri, Mackaytown, Tairua, Owharoa, and other places, and do not object to their letters being transferred to the columns of the Cross, but we do ask that they shall be acknowledged, in accordance with the common courtesy of journalism."

To tbe Editor, Sir,—ln reply to the letter of Verity in to-days issue of the Cross, I am aware that Hiriru Taiwhanga was not sent to Wellington as stated in your issue of Monday for the purpose of guiding or councilling the member for Northern Maori District. If Verity does not already know the fact, I may however inform him that the ex-member, Wiremu Katene, at the request of Sir D. McLean, and cost of the Government, went from the Bay of Islands to Wellington at the commencement of the session, to bring his influence to bear on the oonduot of Hori Karaka, with a view to getting that member to support the present ministry. Having fulfilled his mission successfully, he has returned to his Kainga a richer man. Yours, etc, —Whakapono.

Canterbury has a balance of £300,000 in the Provincial Treasury whioh, apparently it does not know how to spend,

There is some hope of the Oil Sprint? Hompanv's property, at Poverty Bay, and :>lant being purchased on behalf of Melbourne -.npitalists with the object of giving the »ronnd a thorough trial. A Ti.rl.pr .rt T»ur>pdin. named BaTnnce. Tp--^ntlv endeavoured to enmmit suicide, a lo tbe late Sultan of Turkey, by cutting; one of the main arteries in his arm. He succeeded by means of a table knife, in spv°":in bis right arm. «•**•- „_,-,;_,♦• — . -_.xug a vein _j.«_r which he called for ....»..«. Balance is expected to recover his balance. The period for receiving applications for the head-mastership of tbe Nelson College (rendered vacant by the death of tbe Rev. Erank Simmonds). will close on the 31st instant. Mr Tuckey, second master of the Wellington Colllege, who is one of the candidates, is generally believed to stand an excellent chance. A concert will be given this evening in the Temperance Sall.consisting of two parts,of a musical, recitative, and interesting nature. The programme is a good one,''and will be sustained by ladies and gentlemen of unquestioned talent. Mr Binney sold at his Mart to-day three £10 shares in the Daily Southern Cross and Weelcly News Company for £3 5s each. One of the directors of the company was the purchaser. We were in error in stating in last night's issue that the skating rink would open at Ponsonby to-night, as we see, per advertisement in another column, that the rink opens at the City Hall to-night, and that a limelight exhibition is open at Ponsonby. The following packa.es of gold were shipped on board the Hero today : Foi Sydney: 1 box, 758 ozs 14 dwts, value £2050 ; 3 boxes. 3025 ozs 19 dwts, value £12557 13s lOd (Thame«).—l box, 45 ozs 19 dwts 4 grs, value £162 (Ooramandel).— For Melbourne: 2 boxes, 117G ozs 15 dwt. 8 grs. value £4105 (Coromandel) : 1 box, 779 n Z 12 dwt. 15 gr , value £2760 (Thames), We believe it is probable that Major Greer will permanently retain the office of Sheriff, rendered vacant by the death of the lat( Colonel Balneavis. « This is the rock of ages,' said a tirec father who had kept tbe crndle going foi two hours, and the baby still awake.