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Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2890, 21 July 1879, Page 2

A Post and Money Order Office has been '. opened at Huntley, on the Waikato rail- ' way. An amateur dramatic society has been [ formed in Cambridge, and the first entertainment in connection therewith will be held in the public hall on Thursday eveniug next. The committee of the Young Men's Cbritian Association, return their thanks to a "Friend" for presenting their new Ker.dingKoom with a cheSs board and chess men. To the Editor :—Sir, allow me through the medium of your columns to thank the leader of tho 1.0. G.T., and the Auckland public who have so willing assisted me over my late misfortune.—lt. W. LUCAS, Vic-toria-street. A seaman belonging to the Uangatira, which arrived at Onehnnga on Saturday, was arrested for breaking into the samples belonging to Mr Robertson, commercial traveller for Messrs Black aud Sons, and stealing theretrom clothing. A meeting of the Lower Waikato natives was held the other day for the purpose ot celebrating the hoisting of a flag, and they appear to have taken the opportunity to discuss various political matters, amongst others the regulations affecting the sale of liquor in Maori districts. The choristers of St. Paul's held their mid-winter sports on Saturday in the Domain, including hurdle and other races. , Masters Fred. Pnlma'n and F. A. Twinamo acted as judges. The successful competitors were: Speight, Cole, Lccky, and Alison. Several of the races were postponed in consequence of the weather. Mr S. J. Taiwhanga sends us a long letter rebutting the story of his domestic troubles, as published in the " Herald." lie admits the soft impeachment of having, "in his temper," struck his wife, but leaves it to her conscience to say whether he had not cause. He concludes that " Mrs Taiwhawga ought to ask the editor of tho " Herald" to help me in keeping her child, instead of disgracing me ; then it would be something near what they call gratitude in both of them." Return of sick treated at the Provincial District Hospital for week ending July 19th IS/S :—Remained last return, 100 ; admitted since, 14 ; discharged, 15 ; died, 3; remaining, %" j males 79, females 17. Arrangement of cases : Zymotic, 23 ; constitutional, 4 ; local, 2S ; dcvclopemcntal, 29 ; violent, 12. Thrco deaths have occurred, viz.— 1. 15. McG. male aged 17 years, on the 12th in_t. of disease of brain. 2. E. R. female aged 28 years, on thclGth inst. of peritonitis. 3. A. D. male aged 72 years, on the 17th inst. of old age. The City Market looked quite lively on Saturday evening, every stall, excepting ono or two, being open. The centre was gay with evergreens and (lowers, the growth of Messrs Green and Bailey. On ono side of the. pedestal was a machine for trying strength, headed "Electricity is Life," while beyond was a busy pieman, crying " All hot; only threepence each." To the left stood A. 8., dealing out rose-butter, etc. There was a good show of beef especially at the butchers', and the vegetables at the different green-stalls were of a first-rate quality. To the Editor : Sir, —As the contractors for forming and completing works in Wil-liam-street have asked for extension of time, I think it high time the residents made known their grievance through their evening friend. A little more than half the street has a graveled track for horse and cart the remainder is impassible, and if people residing in the lower end want lirewood, the men have nothing left to do, but carry home a Gd stick at the risk of breaking their necks. Using coal at this time of the year is out of question. If it were not for the kindness of Mr Marsli throwing open his grounds, the people residing at the lower end could not get in or out.—Yours Respectfully, Wail. The " St. James's Chronicle," supported by the talent of the St. James's Class, is a journal of much literary merit, and has creditably reached its eighteenth number. The issue for the present week contains a well-written article on " Toleration," by Mr J. M. Geddis ; a poem, by Matthew Fitzpatrick, deceased, touching the Taranaki campaign.; a biographical sketch of Rev. B. T. Dudley, of St. Sepulchre's; the current news of local institutions; a sketch, "Our' Life," by Win. St. Clair Tisdall, M.A. ; and the "Poet's Good Night," by John Blackman. The number is very readable, and creditable to the writers. Mr Briton is approaching the finish of his contract Yesterday W. Smith, the driver, brought his locomotive up as far as the Station House with ballast waggons. A ll the rails and sleepers are down, and the final work of ballasting is being rapidly pushed on. T\Vo roads are also being formed from the main street—one road to the Station ; the other to the Goods Shed. There arc four sidings laid with a view to future traffic requirements; and, as before stated, the main line is ready for the engine ; and ere long, the great hopes of the Hamilton people will be realised ; and they will be drawn into the town without having to tranship into one of Ben. Edwards' coaches. But there may be a little disappointment experienced ; as instead of a sixty horse power engine drawing or propelling the Hamilton train into the new station, there is some heretical talk of a one horse-power quadruped being the motive power. In plain English it is said that instead of the engine whistling and snortiog into Hamilton with the carraige, that one Mr Ben Edwards' 'bus horses will come snorting into Hamilton, dragging along its railway freight, to the supreme indignation of the Hamilton people, who have based their expectations on the genuine engine, and the bona, fide locomotive ; and this with all

It is uncle-Stood that, ihe Licensed Victuallers of Auckland intend to renew their efforts to have the license fees Hai'd in the provincial districts -._Bigne_ for that purpose. A _ir_ilar step was taken last year, without avail, and from the reply given by Mr Sheehan to a deputation in Wellington the other day, there is no intention to grant relief this session unless the House is moved thereto;

Messrs. Coohibes ahd Pdscoe have commenced business in Hamilton East as produce merchant, commission and forwarding agents. Produce of all kinds is bought and sold on commission, the arranging of the conveyance of the goods and all trouble being saved the seller or buyer. Goods are promptly forwarded to all parts of the Waikato and Piako, according to instruction.

During this morning intelligence! was received of further breakages in the telegraphic communication, and the following notice wis posted up at the Telegraph Office :—" Notice. —Telegraph lines interrupted in the following places : Southern lines, hoyondWainui (YVaipawa), Gisborne, Wairoa (Hawke's Bay); Northern lines, beyond Helensville, " Manukau Heads, Wainku." All telegrams were refused for the above-mentioned places.

A public debate on the question "Dave we any right to dictate to a man what he shall eat or drink," was to have taken place to-night in the Alexandra-street schoolroom, between two members of the Sir Henry Havclock lodge, and two members of the St. James' Discussion Class, in which the Templar orators were to have taken the affirmative. The matter has, however, fallen through on the part of the champions of aqua pura. The representatives of St. James' Class, viz., Messrs Napier and Burton, were well prepared for the discussion, and the withdrawal of their antagonists from the lists of debate, therefore, will be construed as an admission of weakness.

Persona who affect an afternoon stroll on the Queen-street wharf found matter to engage their attentiou to-day in tho operations of a diver, who descended underneath the wave in quest of some packages of tobacco,which an unfortunate porter in the cnioloy of Cruickshank & Co. let slip into the water on Saturday while he was endeavouring to carry them on board the ship Weymouth, then alongside the wharf. The accident was of serious moment to him, for he was not only responsible for the safe delivery of the goods, but also responsible for the duty upon them, which amounts to £S. He has subsidised the diver to search for thorn, aud as they are bulky and must be lying contiguous to the wharf, we have no doubt the rcault will be of a successful character.

A very eulogistic description of the new Roman Catholic Church at Gisborne, erected through the exertions of Father Chaatagnon, appealed in the local papers recently. The church is one of the most commodious in the province, and is a credit to the Catholics. It has come under our notice that there are now circulating in Auckland collecting cards in connection with a canvass for subscriptions to liquidate the debt remaining on the building. No doubt the Catholics of Auckland will respond liberally to this appeal on behalf of their co-religionists in Gisborne, who, though few in number, have undertaken a great work. Subscribers will have their names inscribed on n tablet in the church porch. The subscription merits success, being one designed to greatly assist a weak but zealous congregation. Such appeals do not interfere in any way with the collections already on foot.

Tho long correspondence between Mr C. A. Harris, the Harbour Board, and the Customs authorities, relative to the stoppage of. the clearance of his vessel for a trilling amount of harbour dues, has terminated in the position taken up by Mr Harris beiug affirmed. Mr Harris contended that the power under the regulations was never intended to be exercised against owners resident in New Zealand,from whom the just dues could be recovered at any time, and that the action in relation to his vessel was arbitrary, insulting, and an abuse of the provisions of the law. The Marine Department has now instructed Collectors of Customs not to withhold clearances under similar circumstances again, and this decision was conveyed to Mr Harris in the following letter:—"Marine Department, Wellington, July 7, 1579.— Sir : Referring to your letter of the 29th ultimo on the subject of the detention of one of your vessels by the Collector of Customs at Auckland for non-payment of dues, I am directed by the Minister to inform you that instructions have been given to Collectors of Customs not to withhold the clearance of vessels owned and trading within the colony for the nonpayment of dues payable to the Harbour Board.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, It. Johnson, Secretary. C. A. Harris, Esq., Auckland."

The football match between Grafton and Ponsonby Clubs was played in the Domain on Saturday afternoon. A number of players met at tho prohibited Choral Hall Ground, an! shortly emerged from the sacred precincts lnden with the parnphcualia of tho festive game, to wit, goal-posts, crossbars, and flags. As they filed down Grafton Road they presented the appearance of a company of sappers and miners, being led by a light forward, bearing the colours in the shape of a round dozen of pink flags, showing the muddy marks of many a hardfought battle. In the centre proudly strode .ho "Doctor," with a ball slung on each side of his umbrella, while the rear was brought up by " Kitey," a white-looking " feather," who was armed with an ironspiked gonl-post, which was useful in urging on stragglers. Arrived at the ground, all was soon ready, and the match commenced. In the first half-hour Orchard followed well up, and Ponsouby's backs, mulling disgracefully, allowed him to run in close to the goal. Bindon took the try, and kicked a coal.. The play was very effective on cither side, though Grafton had decidedly the best of it all through, and in the third terrr C. Burgess ran into Ponsonby's goal and got a try. The punt out was a failure, and no further score was made before " no side " was called. Ponsonby was.weakened by the absence of Cook, Arncil, aHd J. C. Mackay, while Grafton had the assistance of Bindon and Burgess, of the Auckland Club. Grafton meets Auckland next Saturday on the same ground.

Our rcvivalistic fronds will bo Interested to know that tho news of their Sunday evening peregrinations has been borne into the heart of Maoridom by a curious aboriginal who attended the Wellcsley-strect Church several weeks since, in response to the urgent solicitation made him. Wo are in receipt of a characteristic letter from this unknown Maori correspondent, and, as we have been at the trouble of translating it, the substance may be given. In doing so, we may remark that the noble savage's ideas respecting the purport and scope of religious service appeared to be of a very mixed character. It seems then that this literary Maori was proceeding up Queenstreet on a recent Sunday evening, when the appearanco of a body of people singing, and surrounded by a great crowd, attracted his attention. He joined the crowd, aud followed with it to a buildiug in. Wcllesley-strect, into which the singers entered. Seeing that admission was free to all, he entered also and sat down upon a " bench " near the door. Presently the people began to sing, then the minister preached, and then again the people sang, while once more the minister preached. Further singing followed, and the minister in his turn renewed the speaking, this time, however, addressing his remarks particularly to our Maori correspondent (so, at least, he avers, and doubtless believes). To quote his words :— " The minister looked at me and I looked at him. Then he looked at me again. I looked at him again and thought a great deal of his looking at me. Then he commenced to speak to me." All thathccsuld comprehend, however, were the words : " Welcome to you my children," though lie has no doubt that the sayings were wise and true. On going out after the sermon, he saw the people busied in putting money into a box, but he does not iuform tis whether or not he followed their example. At any rate, the deference which he thinks the minister paid him in delivering a sermon for his special benefit, has moved him to endeavour to acquaint the world at large with the fact.

Professor Eraser's next lecture will be given in the Temperance Hall, on the evening of the 24th inst. ; the subject. "Phrenology ; its nature and use," The programme of the vocal and instrumental concert, at the Parncll Hall, appears in the •' Star "of this evening, The concert will bo held on Tuesday evening next, in aid of the renovation of St. Mary's Church.

Messrs Cochrane and Son will hold a sale of misc-i Uaneous literature at their mart tomorrow (Tuesday), including the best works of modern authors.

Mr W. St. Clair Tisdall, M.A., will deliver a lecture this evening, in St. James's Hall, on "Heathenism's Buried Truths Disinterred, commencing at 7.30.

The nausea incident to sea voyaecs is not, infrequently prod need by the condition of the sys'om. 'I rue, the undula'ory niotion of the vessel is apt to Stir the bile at any time, but if the Status of the organs is sound and tho whole physical organism is in a pcr:eotly sanity state, this "mat <lc mcr," or ueasicknoti, may be slight, or only of t omporary duration. To attain this desideratum use Udolpho AVolfo'S Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps.