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Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2602, 20 August 1878, Page 2

A fire which might easily have been attended with very serious consequences, broke out in the Devonport Hall on Sunday evening last It was first noticed by Mr William McKenzie, who was passing along the road about 8.30 p.m. He gave the alarm, and Avith assistance broke in; the door and put it out. It originated under the stage, immediately beneath the footlights. The cause of the fire cannot be determined, bat it is conjectured that one of the gentlemen attending the rink on Friday last must have dropped a match or fusee through the holes near the footlights, which afterwards ignited.

Mr Newman read a paper last night; before the Remuera Library and Musical Association on "England's Duty and Responsibility to Kussia and Turkey." There was a goed attendance. Mr Newman took the Liberal side, and, in the course of his remarks, showed how the policy consistently advocated by Mr Gladstone before and during the war had been adopted by the Berlin Conference. His viewes appeared to meet a large amount of support among his audience. Mr Greenwood announces a sale of trees, shrubs, &c, at the Market-house to-morrow (Wednesday) at 11 a.m.

"if? ■*#/ - <mt jfj^ ' ■■■■ ■'- . g §:,' i P M. meetmg of |lq Ip?hau ratepjiyers^was| MS lastfight a|jthe|Wliau HMI to ifcpn-1 Jlo&r the dangerptis condition ofphe GreatNorth Road which fpasssa through the County of Eden. Speeches were made by the Chairman (MrR. C. Greenwood), Messrs Bollard, Bell, and Forsyth, and the ifqllowing resolutions were passed: —(l) 'f'That, in the opinion of this meeting, the .Government should expend a portion of the County revenue in keeping in repair the main roads through the County of Eden, in consequence of the County Council haying suspended the Counties Act in the said County." ' (2) " That this meeting respectfully request the Government to take immediate steps to have the Great North Road through the County of Eden put in food repair, as it has become exceedingly angerous, and in several places is now; impassable." (3) " That the chairman of this meeting be requested to forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to 'the hon. the Minister for Public "Works, and also that copies be forwarded to the members for Eden and Waitemata."

The Pakuranga Hunt Club will meet tomorrow (Wednesday) at the [)Kennels, Howick, and on Saturday next at Mr Smales' gate, at Tamaki East.

James Berghan, or Ahipara, and William Fleming of Panmure, have filed petitions in bankruptcy, under the Debtor and Creditors Act.

Messrs Baker and Farron have taken the Lome-street Hall and will arrive here per Rotorua on her return from Sydney, In consequence of! this change the ioumeyman bakers annouce that they will be obliged to postpone their ball, which will not take place on the day originally fixed.

The new s.s. Hannah Mokau arrived in the Manukau on Saturday morning from her maiden trip to the Mokau River and Waitara. She created a great sensation at Raglan, Rewi, Te Whetere and others coming on board and taking shares.

The members of the St. James' Mutual Improvement Association held an animated debate last evening on the question, " Is it advisable that minsters of religion should be members of our Boards of Education ?" Mr W. Gorrie opened in the affirmative and Mr Schmidt replied. The disscussion was lively and interesting throughout, and opinions on both sides were abont equal.

The Auckland Choral Society will give the splendid musical performance of Gounod's solemn Mass, with selections of secular music, this evening in the Choral Hall.

A lunatic in the asylum at Hokitika escaped through a skylight perfectly naked, and scrambling down the precipice run along the shore for some miles. Afterwards he got into the bush, and was found near Auahura at 6 o'clock at night. He had no clothing on and nothing to eat.

A lecture on Coleridge, the poet and philosopher, was delivered last evening by Mr J. Blackmail in the lecture room of the Young Men's Christian Association, Mr Ewington in the chair. The object of the lecture chiefly was to assist in completing the sum necessary for the voyage of Mrs Thomson and her family to America, and more than that amount was contributed by the friends and the public who purchased tickets for the lecture. The proceedings opened with the "Young Colonial March" by the Orpheus String Band, under the direction of Mr Hanuken, and during the evening other musical selections were givenin excellent style. Several songs were sung, viz., Tennyson's Christmas idyl, " Ring out wild bells," by Miss Peace, given with much appreciation and feeling, and worthy the applause which followed. Mrs Carr presided at the pianoforte. Later on, Miss Gribble sang very sweetly, " Thy voice is near," and Mr Nairn gave "Happy be thy dreams," in a very spirited manner. The lecture was full and interesting, and listened to with much attention by the auditory. The whole of the more striking incidents in the life of Coleridge were introduced and commented upon; his career and growth of thought minutely traced from scepticism to Christianity ; the halfstarved olue-coat boy in Newgate-street; the democratic college youth at Cambridge ; the wanderer in London; the unskillful soldier in the Dragoons; the poet at Nether Stowey ; the Unitarian preacher ; the gradual change of mind, spontaneous talk, and closing years of this singular man were all depicted in due order, and gave satisfaction to the listeners. The whole concluded with the National Anthem.

The agent of the Scripture Gift Association attended yesterday at the Whau Public School, and distributed nineteen book prizes among the successful scholars, and subsequently a similar distribution took place in the Newton West School. The children in both schools gave great satisfaction by their written exercises, and recitations from memory. A number of residents and friends were present in both cases, and evidenced much interest in the proceedings.

To the Editor: Sir,—l see that the Victorian Municipalities are appointing inspectors to look after the metres and examine them on behalf of taxpayers. What check has our City Council on its gas bill ? Mr Goldie, we pause for your reply and action.—Yours, Taxpayer.

An emergency meeting of the Lodge Ara ,will be held this evening in the Lodgeroom of the Masonic Hotel at the usual hour.

The Auckland shipwrights held a special meeting last evening in the large room of the Working Men's Club, for the purpose of forming a co-operative labour society on the principles of similar societies iii England, with the view to better employment. The rules were submitted to the meeting, but postponed for further consideration before their final adoption.; It was suggested that the capital of the society should be £,2000, to start on £1,000. Considerable discussion followed, and the meeting was adjourned until the 27th instant.

To the Editor : Sir,—When the proposal to form the Newton Borough became public, its unknown promoters were styled in the local press the leading residents, &c. When the action of those "leading residents" forms the subject of an extrajudicial enquiry, it might be considered worthy of serious treatment in the press, rather than of burlesque, as in your last night's issue.—l am, &c, "An Opponent OF THE BOROUGH.—[Our correspondent appeals to be troubled with inquiry on the brain.—Ed. E.S.]

The s.s. Australia brought the Auckland portion of the English mail via Suez.

To the Editor : Sir, —While all the rest ot the colony gets railways and public clocks, of course we get nothing, "but I promise you." There is Christchurch being told that "a handsome clock is on its way out." Why is not the spire and clock tower on our Post-office finished ? As Gladstone used to say, "Don't flatter your members to much, but agitate, agitate ; keep them from going to sleep."—Yours,'&c, TickTICK.

To the Editor : Sir,—lt is always painful to have to find fault with a body of persons whose avowed object is the good of their fellows, and especially to complain of any section of the highly intellectual Order of Good Templars, known by the attractive title of " Good Samaritans ;" but last night, sir, while the lecture was being delivered at the Young Men's Christian Association, a number of these professed Samaritans did their utmost to interfere with the harmony in the lecture-room, by kicking the side door, " smoking the cobbler,' and making hideous noises. So hilarious were the noises of these young Samaritans that the lecturer was compelled to pause until a stick was introduced, which had the happy effect of restoring order In justice to the W.C.T., we may add that he was not present, and, therefore, not responsible for the un-Templar-like disturbance.—l am, &c., A. W. R.

The members of the fortnightly Quadrille Assembly will meet to-morrow evening in the Cook-street Hall, at eight o'clock, dancing under the management of Mr fjW. D. Jfooley.

I: By the outward mail steamer Mr W. J. Davis, who came.to the colonies for the ffche purpose of • ascertaining; the ™Z™ c ments of the passenger trade, u™s ™ America. Mr Davis has made a complete tour of the colonies, visiting every chief centre, and has been most assiduous in his exertions to establish a perfect, undeistanding and promote the P?P, ularM ie ™ overland route-efforts which *c Relieve will be crowned with a large amount of . success. We understand that Mr Gardner the energetic agent of Messrs Baker and Fax ion andihe Marionettes, has received letters stating that the two "stars'' l °?| UP ported by a company twenty, str™g PP THaII effective orchestra The Ha^ has beeu engaged, and will be specially fitted up for the season. The Directors of the National Insurance Company advise a dividend of ten per cen The profit and loss account shows a credit balance of £21,258. • The number of cases of infelicity in married life are greatly on the increase in this city, as the almost daily reports of the Police Court shew. Several cases of domes, tic quarrels were settled yesterday at the Court door, and to-day at the close of the Court, a young married women of 19, with a baby in her arms, applied, after twelve months of married life, for aprotection order A year ago, she was smiling ia the presence of the Registrar as the wedding ring was placed by her lover upon her finger ; to-day she stands before Mr Cunningham, with tears in her eyes, wishing she had never changed her name. Her husband had turned out a - brute, aud her life was intensely miserable. Mr Cunningham offered his advice and consolation, and endeavored to persuade her to reconsider her step. " But," said _ she, " I aud baby are starving, and John is so unkind, he has not given me any money for three weeks." The protection order was J granted. Mr G. D. Chaplin, an actor of considerable celebrity who has Leen doing leading businesa in Australia for the last two years with great success, arrived last night by the Australia en route for America. He has been engaged by Mr De Lias, aud will appear next Monday. We understand the Lady Jocelyn passengers will leave by the Hinemoa for Tauranga at midnight or to-morrow. The luggage, &c, is being transhipped into her at ggThe tradesmen of Newmarket closed their shops this afternoon during the funeral of their lato esteemed neighbour, Mr Diunison. There will be a special meeting or Presbytery, usual place and hour (11 a.m.) on Weduesday. To the Editor : Sir,—To whom, and "where, are the 300 £1 contributions promised to-day at the Rev. Dr. Somerville's meeting to be paid ? Will the Secretary appoint a very central spot in Queen-street at once ? —Yours, &c, A Contkibutor.