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Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2922, 26 August 1879, Page 2

The short-sighted policy of the Harbour Board in making the Dock of the small dimensions adopted and refusing to deepen

it when the opportunity oilcred has just lost Auckland shipbuilders and workmen £15,000. The German man-of-war Bismarck, which has arrived at Sydney, is to receive a complete overhaul, and would have gone into dock here in preference to Sydney, but the want of facilities at this port has left no alternative, and the work will be done iv a place where foresight and enterprise have made the requisite provision. It has been resolved to carry out the alterations and repairs iv Sydney.

THE Canterbury members of the Opposition party have adopted the title of Constitutionalists. It is imposing but vague, and we have searched in vain for anything like a definition of it in the speeches of the gentlemen who range themselves under that Hag. We find, however, that the party was not unknown to liosea Biglow, and he oilers this ingenious explanation of its sobriquet:— " Hero wo stan' on the Constitution by thunder I It's a fact o' which tbur's bushils o' proofs; Per how could wo tramplo on't so I wonder, If't worn't tiiot it's ollors under our hoofs'.' Scz John C. l alhoun, sex he, Human rights hain't no more bight to come on this floor, No inor'n tho man in tho moon, scz ho. Tho Northhaint no kinilo' bisniss with nolhon' An you've no idea how much botlior it saves; Wo aint none riled by their l'rettin and frothin', We're used to lay in' the strings on our slaves. Scz John C. Calhoun, sob ho, Scz Mister Footo, " 1 should liko to shoot Tho whole gang, by tho great horn spoon I" scz ho.

The case of Pickmcrc v. Wren, being a claim for damages, was commenced iv the District Court to-day, and is now proceeding.

We have received two letters in tho same hand-writing with refcrcuce to the Home for Neglected aud Destitute Children. These letters do not emanate from the porsons whose signatures have been forged at the bottom of them. We would caution the writer, whose caligrapby is well known, agaiust repeating this trick.

At an early hour on Monday morning three boys, Robert Batcman, John Hauna, and James Harkins, absconded from the Naval Training School. They were taken near Onehunga by Sergeant Greeno on Monday evening, aud brought into Auckland this morning.

" H. J.S." writes urging the Central Committee to get sonic other candidate than Dr. Wallis to •represent tho Grey interests in City West. He complains that Dr. Wallis did not answer questions put to him straightforwardly, and says that "though he votes with the Grey party, ho leans to the other side, which liis speeches in ' Hansard' most plainly show."

We have received from Mr Harris his Auckland Catalogue of Local Industries, shewing the extent and nature of the industries established in Auckland, and other articles which might be manufactured. It is Mr Harris's intention to give great prominence to local industry in his new business, and his window contains numerous specimens of the useful articles which are now manufactured in the city. This is a subject deserving of all the prominence that an be given to it.

A large assemblage of the members of the N.1.0.U.F., Auckland District, met at the Temperance Hall, Albert-street, on Monday evening, to witness a very pleasing ceremony of presenting to Brother Joseph Dixon a Past Provincial Grand Master's silver medal. Brother Allen, P.G.M., being called upon, made the presentation, and spoke highly of the services of Brother Dixon as an Oddfollow, expressing a sincere wish that he might long be spared to wear the medal. Brother Dixon very feelingly replied, and assured the members that he should be only too happy at all times to render his services for the benefit of the Society.

The "St. James's Chronicle" for the present week contains an article on " Health and Morals," a pen-and-ink sketch of Mr Frederick Battlcy in connection with institutional progress, and tho continuation of Mr Barstow's excellent lecture. We notice that there is a probability of au enlargement of the " Chrouiclo." We would suggest, however, that the editor should keep his eye upon the contributions of his correspondents, asa certain citizen is threatened to be hanged next week without a fair trial. Sub-Inspector Pardy, no doubt, will endeavour to prevent the promised outrage upon an unoffending man. Au inquest was held on the 22ud inst., at Lower Ma.akana, before Mr Angrove, the district coroner, on the body of Mr George Young, an old settler, who had reached his 70th year. The evidence showed that deceased had given way to habits of intemperance, and the jury returned the verdict '' That the deceased, George Young, died from the effects of excessive drinking and want of sufficient nourishment." The funeral was conducted on Saturday, and deceased was buried in the cemetery ot Upper Matakana. The burial service was performed by the Rev. Robert McKinuy, Presbyterian minister of Mahurangi. Young was a native of Invcrnesshire, and reached Auckland in 1853, under Sir George Grey's Land Regulations. Ruth, rclect of the lute Tamati Waka None, who died at Uusscll, Bay of Islands, on Sunday, the 24th iust., was in about the 7_th year of Iter age. Tamati was the friend and ally of the Government and Europeans and of his own countrymen. The deceased was a woman of undaunted courage, often assisting in the operations iv the field against the rebel natives, and displaying much tact in the negotiations which were afterwards followed by a general peace during Sir George Grey's administration as Governor. 'I he small pension which she received was recently increased by the present Premier and Native Minister in acknowledgement of her husband's great services to the country, which however she survived but only a short time to enjoy. The practice of petty pilfering from back yards and gardens is again on the increase in Ponsonby, and there are loud complaints in consequence, riant and flower stealers naturally cause considerable annoyance, besides damage to property,by their depredations, and we trust that any offenders who are detected in the act will be handed over to the police to recoivc well-merited punishment. A gentleman residing in College Road, who has been at considerable trouble and expense in laying out a very pretty flower garden, complains of the loss of valuable plants from it. Last night or early this morning a beautiful camelia was torn up by the roots, aud other instances might be cited. It is to be hoped the police will endeavour to detect and puuish offenders and thus prevent a most troublesome nuisance to those residents iv the city and suburbs who possess and cultivate a taste for flower-gardening. To the Editor: Sir,—l feel sorry to have to contradict the truthfulness of your telegram re the meeting at Waiuku. In my opening remarks I referred to the fact of all the members (four) being present, the lateness of the hour, 7.10 p.m. Saturday, hinted to the speakers tho desirability of beiug as concise as possible, and to those of the audience who had questions to put to make these questions as pointed as possible, and as the candidates were all old colonists' sons, and might be looked upon as personal friends, to give a patient hearing,to remember well what was said, and instead of giving a vote of confidence to any, to simply thank them and on polling day to vote for the two that electors in their judgment thought most lit for the position. A vote of thanks was proposed by Messrs Hoskins and Hull; an amendment was proposed by Thomas Cardon, but not liudiug a seconder did not require to be put, and on the whole a profitable meeting terminated with the usual vote to the chairman. For the truth of the above statement I refer to the candidate's themselves, or to Mr Cardon, -who proposed the amendment. If the meeting had wished to test the motion, the chairman would not have refused to put them.— John Wallace, Chairman.

An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Corby's Mate Gold Mining Company will be held to-morrow (Wednesday) in Mr Kanderson, office, Insurance Buildings, for the purpose of considering the propriety of lesumiug operations iv the mine or winding up the company. The journeymen bakers of Auckland have iixed upon Tuesday, the 16th ultimo, for the celebration of their seventh anniversary in the Lome-street Hall, particulars of which will be duly announced. Mr R. Arthur will offer for sale on Thursday next, the 28th August, those central business premises adjoining the New Zealand Insurance Company and formerly occupied by the Colonial Bank. The site is a good one, and the building is in fjrstclass order and should command gootf competition,