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Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2676, 15 November 1878, Page 2

The Volunteers of Auckland are in danger of being so heavily handicapped at the forthcoming annual rifle matches at Nelson as to preclude the possibility of their competing with any prospect of success. They are at present armed with rifles which have not been subjected to the regulation test, and are consequently unreliable as to their sights, where accuracy of shooting is indispensible ; but on the other hand, the Volunteers of the South possess a superior weapon, which has undergone a careful scientific ordeal. Unless this inequality be rectified, and the Auckland Volunteers placed on a fair footing with Southern competitors, it is feared that tlie Volunteers of this district will .be unrepresented at Nelson, and tkat their more favoured brothers-in-arms will monopolise all the honours and the profits to themselves. We understand that Captain Morrow has been in communication with Mr F. Stevens, of the Defence Department and NewZealand Rifle .Association, with the view of securing certain concessions which are necessary, in order to enable our representatives to compete with any fair prospect of success. The first relates to the free conveyance of volunteers over the railways. A similar request was made to the Minister of Works during the recent session, when a reply was made substantially to the same effect as that which Mr Stevens has given, as follows:—-" I am authorised to say that the Public Works Department will not grant free passages ; but,, any member of the Association having occasion to travel on the railway going to or returning . from Nelson, should take a receipt from, the Booking Clerk for the sum paid, and forward the same to me,' when I will submit all claims on that account to the Executive Committee, with a view to ascertaining what proportion (if not the whole) should be refunded out of the money voted by the General Assembly." With regard to the supply of properly - tested weapons, the reply is not so satisfactory. The Government will not undertake to replace the inferior arms now in the possession of the volunteers with weapons of a class equal to those which are in the hands of Southern Volunteers, but require that any replacements should be obtained by purchase. Mr Stevens states that the stock of rifles and carbines iv the Government stores is small, and that therefore the sale to members must be necessarily limited. He, however, invites a requisition to be sent in, showiDg the number and description of arms required, promising that the applications shall be submitted to the Government. The price of Snider rifles is fixed by regulation at £3 6s 9d, and of carbines at £3 Is 3d. The Government has acceded to an application made on behalf of the Association to supply ammunition to be used at the Nelson meeting, and will hand over all the tents, targets, belts, and other colonial prize-firing equipment, when official applicacation shall be made for them; and, as already announced in the Parliamentary telegrams, the Legislature has voted a sum of £2,000, out of which substantial pecuniary assistance will be given to the New Zealand Rifle Association. Mr Stevens also states that he is negotiating with the Union Steam Company for the conveyance of competitors to Nelson at reduced fares, and is in hopes,of concluding satisfactory terms. Iv conclusion he describes the site of the rifle range as being situated a few miles out of Nelson, on a dead level, the direction being N.W. by S. E. for a distance of 1,000 yards, with a hill at the back forming a natural butt. Added to this there is railway communication between Nelson and the encampment ; a stream of clear water, with bathing places, running through the locality, and other attractions, so that there is every prospect of the health and comfort of the representatives being well cared for. The one thing needful is for the Government to add to these natural advantages by furnishing reasonable facilities to the Auckland Volunteers to compete on a fair basis. It would surely be better that the spare rifles and carbines now rusting in the Government armoury should be lent for the firing than that the Volunteers of this district should be practically shut out from the competition, in order perhaps to gratify the caprice of some Jack-in-office who desires to unduly favour the South. Let there be a fair field and no favour.

Whilst it is admitted on all hands that the Agricultural Society's Show was an undoubted success, the affair has not passed off without that inevitable accompaniment of grumbling, however small, which is one of the privileges of Englishmen. On the whole we have every reason to believe that the judges and stewards discharged their onerous duties with as much care and impartiality as can reasonably be expected from ordinary mortals, and that all parties connected with the management of the affair laboured zealously to produce the utmost possible success. Whilst saying this, however, we do not admit that the system of awarding the prizes has reached the acme of perfection. Where the competition is so keen between near neighbours, some dearee of jealousy, whether well or ill-founded, will always exist, despite every effort to remove grounds for it; and the only method that is likely to reduce it to a minimum is the adoption of the plan which was so successfully tried at Napier and Cambridge— of selecting as far as practicable from outside—judges who are known to be utterly disinterested in the prizes. With the rapid progress of the agricultural interests, it ought to be possible to arrange a reciprocal system of selectiug judges with other leading districts of the colony; and of so arranging the dates of the Shows as not to clash with each other. Another admirable plan, which was successfully adopted at Cambridge some time ago, is the inspection of entire crops, by which the general results of: agricultural enterprise can be better ascertained than by the exhibition of picked specimens, which, in many cases, afford; no actual test of the general condition of the crops, or the Skill of the competitor ,as a practical f»*mer. Mr Swanson was a'strong advocate, for this, system in connection withiWorking Men's Gardens, and the plan was found to provide a very beneficial stimulus to the industrial classes to adorn their homes and supplement the resources of their families by the utilisation of leisure time; which might otherwise be wasted in idleness or intemperance. One omission which struck us in

the speeches at the dinner was the absence of reference to the very creditable exhibits of local industries. Though many of these are as yet in their infancy, they canaot receive too much encouragement; for while the back bone of the city's prosperity must be the welfare of the out-districts, it is incumbent on the former to develop practical utilisation of the raw products of the country by the establishment of manufactures and local industries, and thus to retain within the colony, as far as the existing skill and appliances will allow, that wealth which is derived from the cultivation of the soil, and the employment of its latent natural resources.

Referring to the rumoured change? in colonial Governorships the, London correspondent of the " Sydney Morning Herald, writing on September 27th, says :—Nothing is yet known of the reported appointment of the Duke of Buckingham to succeed Sir George Boweu. This was evidently an Indian rumour. It-is not beyond the range of possibility that such an appointment will be made, but you may judge of its improbability when I say that nothing is known of it to this hour in those official quarters in London where you might expect to obtain information on the subject. In fact no appointment or selection has been made in regard to any of the Australian Governorships. Sir Hercules Robinson goes on for an indefinite period, and it still seems to be the opinion of those best able to judge that he will be succeeded by the Marquis of Normanbj. One circumstance only is likely to disturb the routine of the colonies on your side of the globe, namely, the expression of a wish on the part of some nobleman or leading supporter of the Government to take au appointment in New Zealaud or Australia. At the present moment I am unaware of any such step, and certaiuly the selection of the Dake of Buckingham is regarded, ia London at least, as exceedingly improbable.

Mr A. S. Rathbone, formerly of this journal, and present editor of the "Bay of. Plenty Times," has become the purchaser of that journal from Mr E. M. Edgecumbe. Since Mr Kathbone took charge of the litorary department of the paper there has been a marked improvement in it, which promises well foi the success of the journal under the new proprietor. Further outlay to make the paper equal in all respects to the requirements of the prosperous and rapidly-growing district are proposed, and we have no doubt that in Mr Rathbone's hands the paper will become exceedingly popular.

Invercargil won the riffe match against Chris tchurch. At a meeting of the College and Grammar School Commissioners, itjwas agreed, with regard to the new Grammar School building that the opinion of Mr Mahoney, the architect, should be obtained as to size and style of a building to cost £4,000, capable of accommodating 300 boys and 300 girls. It was further resolved to hold the examination before the Christmas holidays, and Colonel Haultain was deputed to ask the Rev. C. M. Nelson and H. H. Lusk, Esq., to undertake the examination of the scholars. ■■ V At a meeting of the New Zealand Lead and Galvanized Iron Works Company, in the office ot Mr Elliott, Fort-street, Mr Masefield in the chair, it was unanimously resolved " That the affairs of the New Zealand Lead and Galvanized Iron Works Company (limited) have been fairly wound up, and that the Company is now, and is hereafter declared dissolved."

At the City Council meeting yesterday, a communication was received from Messrs Whitaker and Russell, notifying the arbitrator's award intheMorrin v. Blewden contract case.

The reduction of import duty on Australian wines commeaces on Jan. Ist. A certificate from the Collector of Customs at the port of export will have to be produced at the port of entry iv order to entitle the importer to the reduction. ~■ , ■

At the Court of Appeal yesterday the case of Morrin and another v. Kissling, an appeal from a decision of Judge Gillies,came on .for argument. In the Court at Auckland the appellant (defendant) demurred to plaintiff's declaration, and the learned judge over-ruled the demurrer with costs. The present case was an appeal against that decision. The case arose out of the alleged employment of Mr Kissling as agent to purchase for appellants the Maungateparu block in the Piako district, which Mr Kissling now claims as his own. Mr Hesketh, for the appellants, argued in support of the appeal for four hours, and Mr Whitaker commenced his argument this morning.

In our report of the Agricultural Show yesterday the winner of the first prize for Irish setter dogs was printed Morrin instead of Morrow. Major Morrow was the winner. In the introductory remarks to the shorthorn department the champion bull Duke of Newcastle's dam was misprinted Countess of Kintore. It should read Countess of Taunton, as! it appeared in the prize list. Mr Hobbs' brown retriever dog "Ranger," though entered, was not' on the ground. The "first prize for greyhoxind dogs under 12 months old was won,by Mr T. Byrnes, with Louchfoil. Mr H. H. Smith obtained first prize for a spring cart of the Newport Paguall class. It was not Messrs Beale who exhibited home-made wine in Wednesday's Show, and who were not awarded because they were absent. Mrs Beale exhibited some wine at the above named Show, and obtained a Ist prize.

The " Northern Advocate" has come out in an enlarged and improved form, and contains much matter of interest to country and general readers. Referring to the change, the "Advocate" says :: — " We have been induced to make the change by two considerations. Firstly, a newspaper being the reflex of a district's progress, we conceive it to be our duty to carry out the representation in as substantial and truthful a manner as circumstances will permit, and in this we hope not to fail; secondly, we find the new issue to be of a more convenientsize; while with improved machinery the journal will in future be printed in first-class style. Nuff sed." ,

At the City Council meeting yesterday, the surveyor reported that he had fixed the levels of the following streets:—Part of Shortland-street, Emily Place, Princesstreet, Waterloo Quadrant, Eden-street, Eden Crescent, Symonds-street (part of), Grafton Road, Havelock-street, Wynyardstreet, Jermyn-street, Short-street, Parlia-ment-street, and Stanley-street.

Mr James Carlaw, jun., has been appointed assistant turncock to the city. Some people complain of the tone of the colonial press ; what [would they think of this style of criticism, which is clipped from the "Englishman?":—"How pitiable Was the spectacle of Disraeli the other day, as I passed him in Whitehall, crawling slowly like a snake up towards the statue oh Charles 1., the lack-lustre, lifeless squint eye, swivelling towards the banqueting house. He wore dirt-coloured trousers, and a frock tightly buttoned around his quivering frame. But the expression of the man —oh! how mean it was ! The kicked of Lord Lyndhurst, the loathed of Peel,, the despised of O'Connell, the flunkey who allowed Lord Derby to pay for his political dinners ; the lineal descendant and heir-at-law of Judas Iscariot; the shambling, sneaking, tool of Cairns; the man who always smiles and sniggers when John Brown condescends to shake his hand—all these were there; and I sighed, as I saw this wretched trickster."

At a meeting of the members of the Fraternal Home Lodge of Good Templars, the following were installed by Bro. O. S. Ellis, G.W.S. t—Bro. C. G. Hill, W.V.T. ; Bro. Jones, W.S. ; Bro. H. G. Dorrington, W.F.S.; Bro. Thome, W.T.; Bro.: S. Hemus, W.C. j Bro. .J. B. Williams, W.M.; Bro. Simpson, jun., WXG.; Bio. Eitchens, W.0.G.; Bro. Ross. K.H.S.; Bro. Bell, L.H.S. ; Sister, L. Piper, A.S. ; Sister Dorrington, D.M. : Sister Proude, P.W.C.T. ; and Bro, G. Rhodes.

The quarterly meeting of the Pioneer Lodge No. 1 of Good Templars was held in the Temperance Hall, Albert-street, last evening, when tfee following officers were installed by Bro W. Waymouth, D.G.W.C.T., and Bw Sims, W.LM., Sis Ellis, D.I.M. :—W.C.T., Bro B. J. Esam ; W.V.T., Sis M. D^bson; W.S., Bro Dobson; W.F.S., Bro Waymouth, junr. ; W.T., Sis A. Dobson ; W.C., Bro Madden, senr.; W. M., Bro T. Nightingale; W.1.G., Bro T. Bell; W.0.G., Bro P; Drummond ; W.D.M., J. T. B. Dines; W.R.H.S., Sis Mary Dobson; W.L.H.S., Bro Henderson; P.W.C.T., Bro Woodruffe.

At the Ashburton races yesterday, Nellie Gray won the County Hurdle Handicap, Chancellor the Racing Club Handicap ; and Luna the Publicans' Purse.

The Gazette notifies that Sir G. Grey has been appointed Minister in Charge of the Marine Department and of the administration of the Shipping and Seamen's Act 1877.

A very interesting entertainment was given yesterday aiternoon by the young lady pupils of St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, consisting of a historical drama and a number of musical selections. A large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen were present, also the Very Rev. Father Fyues, V.G. ; Rev. Father Walter Macdon aid, Rev. Father Paul (Onehunga), and Rev. Father O'Hara (Otahuhu). The programme was in two parts, vocal and instrumental, and dramatic. Three pianos were on the stage, in order to give effect to the proceedings. Especially noticeable was the new colonial anthem, " God defend New Zealand," which elicited much approval. " The Geraldmes " was a very pleasing drama, and executed in a highly creditable manner by the pupils. The prologue was delivered with appropriative earnestness by Miss K. Mahoney, and happily contrasted New Zealand of the present day, with its sunny scenes of peace and happiness, with the melancholy condition of Ireland in the days of the burly monarch Henry the Eighth. The young ladies who represented the historical characters were—Misses Briscoe, S. Lynch, N. Dunnet, Corcoran, Staff, Flood, M. Casey, Hair, M. P. Darby, K. Mahoney, and Errington. The performance was very praiseworthy, and the whole afforded much satisfaction.

We notice that a substantial presentation has been made to Mr Alderton for his efforts in connection with the proposed Whangarei railway. The cricket match, Parnell v. Union C. Club is unavoidably postponed till Saturday fortnight. We regret to observe, in our obituary column an announcement of the death of Mrs Alexander Black an old colonist, who came to this colony in 1842. The deceased jady was much respected and esteemed for her many excellent qualities, and more particularly for the prominent share she took in assisting at social and religious rneetingsl In the report of. the case, W. J. Offer v. E. L. Green, in the JR. M. Court yesterday, Mr J. Mumford was reported as being called for the plaintiff instead of for defendant.

The following: eleven of the Epsom C.C. will play Otahuhu on theDomoin ground tomorrow. Play to begin at 2 p.m, sharp : — Messrs. Aitken, Cheeseman, Colbeck, Cotter, C. Hesketh, S. Hesketh, Marsden, Mears, Nicholls, Reid, Williams. Emergency men.—Maxwell and Bars tow.

The entries for the Amateur Athletic Club sports on the 30th inst., close at the Thames Hotel at 9 p.m. on Saturday night, 16th inst. The Handicaps will appear on the following Wednesday. A committee meeting will be held after the closing of the entries to arrange what ground the sports will be held on. The programme appears in our ad vertisement columns.

The anniversary tea meeting at the Newmarket Primitive Methodist Chapel, on Wednesday evening, was largely attended. An excellent tea was provided by Mesdames Palmer, Gladding, Jones, Johnson; the Misses Stainton (2), and Kennedy. The subsequent meeting was presided over by Rev. P. W. Jones, who made one of his -characteristic speeches, full of pith and humour. - The secretary and treasurer read the reports. The balance-sheet showed that £112 18s lid had been raised by various means during the year, and that a balance remained on the credit side. A number of Moody and Sahkey hymns were sung between the speeches of Rev. P. W. Jones, D. Button, and Messrs Booth and Hayter, Mrs Palmer presiding at the harmonium. At the close of the addresses a handsome musical album was presented to Mrs Palmer, in consideration of her gratuitous services as harmpniumist of the chapel. Mrs Palmer briefly and modestly thanked the friends for this recognition of her labours. The whole woundup with a Christmas tree distribution, the gift of Mrs Stainton and her daughters. On the motion of Mr Gladding votes of thanks were accoided to the chairman, speakers, and choir.

At the Waste Lands Board Meeting yesterday, a letter was received from Mr. Joseph Newman, enclosing a letter from a gentleman of Melbourne, asking if he could get from 10,000 to fiO,ooo acres of land for a special GermansettlementinlNew Zealand, but the; Board had no power to set apart land for such a purpose.

A social gathering was held in the Darby street Hall on Tuesday evening, in honor of the coming of age of Mr. George, Fortzer, tea-dealer ot Queen-street. The spread was creditable to the; provider, Mr. J. G. ■Little, of the Thistle Hotel. About 70 sat down. Mr. Thomas Cole presided, faced by Mr. -Thomas Holland. Compliments were paid to the character and general disposition of Mr. Fortzer. Toasts Avere drank in bumpers, and all went merrily. About 30 couples shared the festive dance in the hall, the music by Messrs Davis and Reed's string band.'.

A party of Hauhaus are at Orakei, having come from the King country to proselytise at Hotea. ; / ..-:';

The members of the No. 3 Company of Volunteers will meet for parade this evening at half-past seven o'clock. ;

Mr A. Backland sold to-day Mr J. S. Graham's Ist prize filly by /--■' „• ~- .^j - , foaled since August Ist," 187& Theae was very spirited competition, the amount realised being £52 10s.

Amid a flourish of trumpets the " Herald " of yesterday proclaims the latest and most correct news from the railway, stating that thare has been an "inquiry by railway authorities into late mishaps." #Our contemporary next publishes the names of various officials who have been fined, but in the dark ignorance which prevails in the " literary tunnel," it has confounded night with day, past with the present, present with the future. In the reference to the fines paid nearly a year ago in connection with the Taupiri collision, the "Herald" alludes to these fines as having just- been inflicted. Had our unfortunate contemporary sent a spare devil over to the Star office, we could have supplied a, correct statement of fines, &c, many months ago. The six chain curve mishap was during Mr Fallon's contract. All are liable to err, and the punishment following railway officials' mishaps is quite severe euough without republishing their names, &c. months or years afterwards. After the erroneous paragraph of-last week deprecating our publishing the Papakura incident, why does the " Herald " believe in the possibility of any Auckland resident either approving of or believing so stupid and malicious a paragraph as yesterday's, headed " The late railway collision," in which, among other enormities, the writer represents that the traffic manager "told the ballast train that, they could go on."" We have decided to> forward our family physician to examis* the "Herald," and repoift on the state ©f the brain (if any}. ; ;. j ; The Public Works Committeelof the City Council recommended the following fe«s for slaughtering :—For large cattle, Is 3ii a head; 'forsheep, 4da head; and ff©r pigs and calves, 7d a head. The report also recommended that some, systematic action should be taken to inspect the supply- of dead meat to the public markets "The recommendation was adopted, :

earned forward £600. Its wnfi? o * ' an* year were £Sjs4l. p nbt* ** % An authentic analysis of the A™** ~ in all their Eaglish matches l?tralian* Charles Bannerman heads th e ife WB-i ha* runs; Midwinter, 17; Bailey 2l Bannerman, 16; Jtloran and BlaVu, ; A' each; Murdock and Gregory ?q^ forth, 12., Garrett, H , Alfa^lO The « Grey River Argus" of th 5Z '* currency to the following rumoS S^ stated that Sir George Grey win go '7 o §£:« land immediately after the session? a» not resign the Premiership, an d therS! W^ is probable that he will be back S re U session. The reason for his eoi^v ext yet leaked out." gmgh£lsaot Talking of sensationalism, nrohaliiw « the moststartUng.ofmode^es^* given by a mannamed Burleigh inTm • discribed by the London CofresponS?B'' the Melbourne "Argus." Oneday EnKr ? { ed «a card » informing, hisfellow P c^ h" that since they had a'fondness fortra T he had resolved' to indulge them undertook to deliver a lecture in Thnl t Hall, at the conclusion of which fJu' gratify the audience by blowing his W out, and -'secure for himself eternal I DS by annihilation. » And.the firsH ar ? ace; least, of his programme he acconvDliiLi After the delivery of an infidel Sffit crowded audience, he suddenly <w° a Derringer, placed it to his forehead an^ shot himself. The proceeds of the wT he had arranged should defray hi* fc expenses, and the residue be sperit t obtaining the works of Huxley Tvnd i and Darwin for the town library.' ' The inaugural meeting of the' Auckland Teachers' Association will; be held f morrow afternoon; Henry . Worthing^" Esq. in the chair. , . ,° 1011 Katepaying defaulters are informed that if rates are not paid by the Ist proxiZ legal proceedings will be. imniedS instituted for the recovery of the same Rev. A. W. Webb will deliver hislecW this evening at the Young Men's Christian Association, on '-' Christmas Evaiis ?Tth famous, Welsh preacher." Those p^onk who take an iuterest in the lives of»« of genius may enjoy a treat of no.Common order this evening. Christmas Evans the self-taught expositor of ißible: traths' was as great in his way among the mountains of Wales as Farmer WiUiam"Dawson was among the Yorkshire hills,' .and might have stood for one of Crabbe's original children of nature. :'■'. •- rrvr-T; The Temperance meeting at the; Alßert street Hall will be held to-morrow (SatUN day) evening, at the usual hour, when something spicy may be anticipated-also a numberj of songs, recitations,'aud : ,an address by the chairman

In the Victorian Assembly a long dis. cussion took place on the I/and Bill, and the nou-residence clause, bywMchitis required that selectors shall pay, 2s an acre rent for 20 years, and make improvements -to the extent of £2 per acre. Whenaperioctbtsix years has expired the rent may Be paid-up and a grant issued. '. '