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Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2601, 19 August 1878, Page 2

"An Expressman " complains of the bad state of the road at the stand in Victoriastreet, opposite the Theatre Itoyal, and hope 3 the authorities will do something towards filling up the indentations and smoothing the way. He quaintly adds : Business is bad, but the road is worse, and so long do we wait fdf a^turn that a great effort is necessary to-,set the wheels in motion, besides many of our fraternity are troubled with]rheumatics."

The Marionettes brought a successful season to a triumphant close on Saturday evening. The hall was crowded to Buffocatlon, and a large numhfcr lof persons were unable to get in. The "company left for the Thames las^-^jghj£ per special steamer, and will*:*Sp.dDi*i in Grahamstown this evening. We;Ht|^ $t££rri a continuance of the good luclft experienced here. MiGardner, to whom the great success achieved by the Marionettes is largely due, leaves for the South per Taranaki on Wednesday. Whilst in Auckland he has >nade many friends, and the courteous and able manner in -.which he has discharged the duties entrusted to him merits the highest praise. The neighbourhood of Newton is not only distinguished by its disastrous fires and midnight quarrels, but, more recently, by a number of fowlers, who are bent upon henroosts. During the past' week" a large number of fowla have, been stolen from the premises of Bottlers, but hitherto the robbers have escaped. We learn, however, that Constable Abrams is on the scent, and in all probability some of the blackbirds Avill ere long appear before the sitting magistrate.

Mr Charles BloomJield made , a witty speech in the Young Men?s-Christian Association in introducing the pretty song of " Beautiful Rain" to the audience. "Few," he said would feel the force of the song in ,i the senso of beautiful on a . soaking wet 1 night, but as they were comfortable and ■ dry inside, they might indulge in a poetic fancy, and imagine that the sun was shining in a cloudless sky. He might add that the name of the composer was " Bliss," that he had chosen a blissful theme, considering the fructifying influence of rain on the earth, and that his life was blissful for it was honourable and manly; .; ; . ,

The monthly inspection of the corps and band of the Hobson VoiunteersAvill be held in the usual place to-morrow evening. A Confirmation Service was held last evening in. S. Mary's Church, Parnell, by Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, when 9 Moari boys, and 4 otherswere confirmed.

Mr William. Hogg has been elected a member of the Newmarket District Board, .

A footrace of 100 yards between Mclyor and Hart, for £100 a side, took place at Blenheim, on Saturday, and was won by Hart. /

. _. We . have to record the-rather sudden death of Mr John DiniiisoiV grocer, of Newmarket, in the 72nd year of his age. Mr Dinnison had been'ln the enjoyment of good health until-withiu the last fortnight, and | attended, as usual, "d,t the Presbyterian I Church, Remuera, and .on returning partook of dinner. Towards evening, he complained of" pains iti his chest; <uid."went to bed. Ho vomited slightly, and', expired in the presence cf his son. Dr. Stock well-gave a certificate* as to the-cause-of death. ;His sons and daughters are all grown up, and several married. Mr ... Dinnison, was a native of Orkney, and came to this colony in 1860.,., He was remarkable for extra: ordinary energy', of .characteiva'nd shrewd business talents, •' He was,! nioreoverj an upright, conscientious man. During; the last fc.w'years he :has':'ceased, to take an active part in business',*feeling tliVinfirhtityv of years, although to .the last his mental faculties were very -active.'''-'Jn local matters,, 'tUough. urged to;\ta'lte ,a: prbminent part, he ileclined, oil; the grqnWd of advanced:age. Un Saturday,eveniug he. wa» conveiaiug ■ pleasantly with ; the .tradespeople ok NNcrw r iriaiket, among whom he hus-liYed, gieiitly respected, for, about 14 years. He has lived ■a temperate life, and has died a gentle death at aripo old age; He suffered very little. The lamp of life'had burnt very low, and with a gentle nicker, it went out;'bbtokeuing that he had gone to his long rest.

A large number of the passengers by the. Lady Jocelyn, were on shore; this morning making purchnses, and seeing the " lions... of the place, snchas they are... They appe&r a fine class of people and-"very, desirable fellow colonistsj andastheyhave all;some, capital, they will scon be able to bring their laud, or the greater portion of it, under cultivation. It has not yet been decided when they:-shall" leave, -but -they are nearly ■ all desirous of spending at least a week in Auckland in order to make all uecessary purchases. -This morning they were engaged m. packing up and making the necessary arrangements to leave the vessel. They will, we understand, be conveyed to Tauranga in the Hinemoa^ the Lady Jocelyn remaining here to discharge her cargo. There are a number of passengeis on board who booked for Auckland, and they will therefore remain here, most of them having friends in and about Auckland. The wives §an&4 families of : the steerage passengers of the Lady Jocelyn will, we understand,',be accommodated at the immigration barrack's until there is time to erect quarters for them on the land. ; It may be well to remind the new comers that the acr commodation at.the settlement is of the most limited descriptbn, and although the hotels at Tauranga are good, they are not capable of meeting the demands of a large influx of. opalation. We understand : aboti 40 of the party who were left behind are following in the ship Halcione, which left London on May 30. We are also informed on good authority, that Mr Fisher, one of the party, will return and bring a large party of gentlemen with their wive 3 and families, all of whom are well-to-do. They iutend to arrfve here in 18gO, and settle on the laud immediately on their arrival. ! The s.s. Australia is due any time after twelve to-night. We understand^ Mr DeLias has, at considerable inconvenience, given the use of the Theatre Royal for the proposed meeting with the Rev. Dr. Somerville, which will, take place at 1 o'clock tomorrow. All arrangements are, of course, subject to the arrival of the steamer in time. A large number of shares have been subscribed in the Kaipara Steamship Company, including many from residents on the Wairoa and other rivers. Intending subscribers are reminded that their applications to Mr Saunders must be lodged on or before Saturday the 24th. For cool cheek and eftronterylwe know nothing to beat the exploit perpetrated by Mr W. B. Langbridge, of the '• Northern Advocate," this morning. Arming himself with a bundle of "Advocates," containing articles urging the settlers to go to Whangarei instead of Katikati, he went on board the Lady Jocelyn and distributed copies among the passengers, being very careful to keep out of the way of Mr Vesey Stewart. Mr Langbridge is evidently determined that neither his own light, nor that of his district or newspaper, shall be hid under a bushel if consummate im«. pudence can make it known. ! Messrs Guthrie, Larnach and Co. have purchased the business of Messrs Tapper Bros., Invercargill for £50,000. The concert and ball for the funds of the Victoria Compauy's Band will be held in the Lome-street Hall, on the evening of the 21st inst., under the patronage Of the officers of the various Volunteer Companies. An excellent programme has beea prepared. A member of the Royal Albert Orang Lodge will deliver a lecture on "Lodge Etiquette," at the monthly meeting to-mor-row (Tuesday) evening.

The schools of the Sisters of Mercy re-opeu this day (Monday, the 19th inst.). Saiut Mary's Boarding and Day Schools: The new hall, capable of affording accommonation to over 100 young ladies, is nearly finished. Weekly boarders received. For terras, apply to the Superioress, St. Mary's Convent, Posonby. Also the schools of the Nuns in Wyiidham-street, commence duties.

The 7iexfc performance of the Choral Society takes place to-morrtw evening. iWe understand that Signor Riccardi has kindly tendered his assistance, and, from what we have heard of his ability, can confidently predict an unusual pleasure to the subscribers of the Society.

" W.T.F." wants to know why, since the arrival of the Lady Jocelyu, Auckland is likely to be, well supplied with girls ? Do you give it iip ? Why, stupid ! because she'has got a; couple of Milyou girls aboard. (Vide passenger list.)

We notice that the Directors of the National Bank have declared a dividend for the half year, ending 31st March, at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, and will be paid on or after the 27 th inst.

A mere of great interest is now on exhibition in the window of the Occidental Hotel. It v/as presented to Mrs Kemp, of the Bay of Islands, by the mother of Maketa, the murderer of Mrs Robertau, her three children, and black servant. He was hung at the Auckland gaol, 1842, being the first Maori ever hung in Auckland. He was the son of the renowned chief Kuhe, andjuephew of Tamati Walker. It is. made of Okara stone.

On Saturday first-class smoking carriages were attached to the trains, thus affording a line of demarcation between first and secondclass travellers, winch Has at times beenfouud very desirable^ •- We -have seen; an .= exquisitely gofc'up1 swell- puffing his Havaiina with a Maori woman seated on, each siije',-. dressed in clothes of considerable antiquity, with dirty little 'pipes in each wahiriVs mouth, talking t© one another with their noses'almost touching Dundreary's face, on "whose" expressive features .could be traced the marks'of the most reriued disgust at his obnoxious companionship. Now, however, the elite can puff away without fear of contamination by second-class smokers. ' y

We have received complaints to the effect that the metal now being spread ujpon the Great South Road, is being scattered in 'an improper manner and without due regard fe the requirements of traffic. The complaint is chiefly , with allusion to the scoria being spread, entirely across the road, instead of like the old system of covering one half only with fresh metal, so that a -wearied horse with a heavy load.when not compelled by other vehicles to keep on the metal, could get relief by going on the beaten portion of the road.

The Star of Freedom Lodge of Free Templars will hold their third anniversary in the Cook-street Oddfellows' Hall, on the :4th proximo, consisting of a concert and' ball. -

The "Bay of Plenty Times" says : '*The weather for the last two or three weeks has been wet and boisterous, and heavy rain still falls at intervals. The winter, 7 now nearly over, has -been, very severe; snow having^ fallen several feet deep on theI'hills at Katikati—a rare ocnurrencft so far north. We are looking^ hopefully forward to the more genial weather which will denote the arrival of spring." s , :

The lecture on " Coleridge" this evening, at the Young Men's Christian Association, "will be descriptive of the singular life, [poetry, and philosophy of that remarkable man, with intervening glimpses of him as a student, soldier, preacher, lecturer, dream or, and sage. The Orpheus String Band, under the conductorsliip of Mr.Hanukin, -Willperform several musical selections, and a: lady and gentleman will sing several ballads. The principal object of the lecture is to assist in making up the passage moiicy of. Mrs Thompson and her taniily, to enable them to proceed to their friends in America*

," f^e-iifUi of Mi;:Martiu' rt popular scientific lectures was •given on Siitn'rilaf evening on •uofeßP -liye, v.aucl,, was attended' by teachers; others. Tlie .Vlocture jwoV illustrated with diagrams,; assisted .Kyi Mr aJucid and poetic manner; explaining1 tkov wave theory, tho camera and photofiraphri structure of the aye, nbrre fibre's, wnsatian; lens and : .pns*n. ..edacatiaii of ihT !eye ■ ■memory, association, mental picture, With illustrative teaching. ; These lectures are lull ofl instruction;-tleltrered in afreelund' lamiliai mauner, and calculated to inform young persons on subjects of great ! im--portance. <

,;Mr A. Wilson,^eU^r7o7sSw?^ has-left at our office a'quantity o fPomt> peasjor public inspection, for tL I greei1 * offshowing to the friends of Sr^Pl?UrPOselargo amount of mischief which ™W8 th^ ;,are capable of doing in a garden -Hrtow. s ;:inuch sympathy evinced towards *t c** by humane individuals, partly P^" there is a kind of sanctity attached K^ in connection with Scripturef-:teacfin?*'*eni because; they are supposed to do morn'? D£' than'harm; to the agriculturist g^d damage .done to. crops at home,bv tk c feathered intruders is not so muoh ** owing to the comparatively, .^ elt domain of their operations, but nSSr 8 the crops are limited to isolated JtA under cultivation, the mischief is seVn o i felt in a much greater.degree. and A series of; amateur opera* perForman are about to be •inaugurated in Chriat/^7, ? by Signora Venosta. nnswhurch St. Patrick's Church, South Dunerti,, .was opened yesterday by,. Bishop MW The collections amounted to over<£lQo When the Jsawea,;ivas in this port p tain Worsp,-Surveyor -to the InsurS Companies, :mamtatnedi that; the dama&e t her rudder might be, repaired.withoutloW into dock. In this view he was supported by some of our best shipwrights, butowin!! to a rhistaken" opinion respecting theicon struction of the rudder, the proposal' tn un ship it here was over-ruled, and a temporary,appliance substituted for per" mauent repairs. We learn that on thl vessel's anaval at Dunedin, the damage y/a made good in an hour-aud-a-half as" thp vessel lay alongside the wharf. She>as afterwards docked and painted. Ther^V^ no reason, therefore, why, without docking the repairs should not have been 'done here. Such nustdkes are calculated to give Auckland, very undeservedly, abadnaniP To the Editor : Sir,—Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane as agents, for the Rptorua would greatly oblige many of their bub' porters by delaying her departure for Sydney only a few hours, until the in. coming Australian mail was delivered, and short replies returned. — Yours, '' &c Impokteb. --'-~ — "'

The subject of debate this evening at the S. James' Young Men's- Class w^thjis stated : —" Is it advisable that Ministers of Religion should be members of our Boards of Education ?" Affirmative Mr Gorrie Negative Mr Schmidt. . '