The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4. 1882.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3558, 4 January 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4. 1882.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistaoc For the future In the distance, And the good that we can do.

The criminal calendar for the. present sessions is one that called for but little commebt, and except in explanation of the technical bearings of the various offences, His Honor's remarks were very brief. A fact, however, is disclosed in the calendar to which His Honor might, with public advantage, have directed more attention—ire mean the large proportion of crimes committed by Maoris. It bai to be borne In mind that these crimes are almost wholly confined to country districts, and yet on the present calendar they bear the proportion of one-third of the entire list of offences. It would thus appear that more than hali of the crimes sent np for trial from country districts were committed by natives. '- -We do not know whether the present calendar is an "exception to the rule, bu| the fact stated is snlficlently ! significant to excite enquiry into the ■pauses' of ; those" ''oiuies, "and,: the agencies at work among onr large native population to teach respect for the law,: to punish, offender*, and inculcate- a higher grade of morality. .We fear that .thesa ■ agencies ate vow practically nil., and wher. evorn.itiveS contain contact withEurcpeana in the out-settlcmeats petty crimes abound, a large number of which- escape; punishment, T. h<j sweeping abolition by Mr Brycc of the small ■mi Did paid to native 'assessors j who* were. reapociiWe for the preservationof oitlor in tiieirdistricts, lias been a penny wine aod pound foolfah policy. There is now uo representative of .the authority of j .the Cruwn iv many large-Maori district?, and I LciJ.ce no Check upon the-nativc*, .whose in-' . tlifiorcntmoral, perceptions arid cominuhislic hair' 'ies them to offences which arc hir' "''f/d amohfi t.hbnwelyes, but are f*■ ' 'o)y, by,the, Eurupcaa Jaw, '■' - -^■■ts«.iai-Ciri*enj«BQo i , ;,;■■■. ; r ■■.•■.:•■".' ■ . '''.''^^^''■'•^;yprr-:

steadily underfiuning the authority 6f the j European iafr. We hoar, for example, that, an influential and friendly chief like Marsh; Brdwii of the Kgapuhi?,' who offered c;6t. many years afjo to find a. ri&tive contingent; to do battle agaii&t the Kihgites, is end'ea-; vo'iirlo/i toi rcctf&p the £60 a.year which lie' lost uriae'r the retrenchment .policy bj' setting 'ifp Courts aud laws oj: Ms tiwn. '1 he heavy and wliollV UM*al fines which j are enforced tt'naer thesic, laws have! iafcse'cl ii good , deal ■of dis&atis•fiction among the victMS. Ahotlvcr mode of getting , mutu ,oWt '61 the pakeha for fee loss ojf b£s Salary is the imlositfdn o* fivfe shillings per head upon fevety European who veuturea into the settlement of Waiomio for the purpose of seeing tho caves. Before "fell ifutopeanß' were made welcome without distinction or | recompense,. Wlthiil the last month, two! Europeans who - visited the caves in ignor-j aftcs of tho new rule were sekod uppn and? threatened with the conEswitKin of .their: clothing. A. lemiultfe band stood round1 eager to pci^drm the delicate office ol stripping them, ami for .some time theyj were left in -doubt whether they \yould not; have to, make their way htiik t& Kawakawa «titircd is tifc costume of the Greek .slave-. After much parleying, however. Marsh Brown let them oil* with the confiscation of their hats, and they returned home with naught butpocket-hftndkerchiefa, to shield thoir noble Anglo-Saxon foreheads from the sun, They were not greatly impressed with the majesty and predominance of British-law in this pnrtof Her Majesty^ dominions. Whoa oue of tile Itiqst in-, fluential chiefs in the North, and a. fprmor' Government onjcttr, 'sqVs ~aii o taking the law In'tp hia own jiaupls, it is. quite certain, that lie will find many imiy&t'ora. h The prospect of. tlie growth among the natives of respect for our' laws is, therefore, anything, but promising. The large proportion pf Maori Oltences on the calendar, road py ttils light, gathers im« portanee> tvvi becomes an occasion for some anxfciy. There are about 40,000 Maoris in the North Island. 'The traffic in land, with its attendant encouragement of intemperance, is exciting an overwhelming influence in the direction of demoralisation and pauperism. If the Government do nothing to counteract these agencies, we may prepare ourselves for a steady development and aggravation of the evil which already crops out so unpleasantly upon the criminal calendar. A number of orders have been received at this office requesting copies of " Brett's Auckland Almanac and Provincial Bandbook "by post To prevent disappointment we are requested to notify that such orders must be accompanied by Is for tho book and 7d for postage if within the colony, and Is 2d pestago if to be forwardod beyond tho colony. Messrs W. H. Glon and Co., of Melbourne, have published an excellent Christmas number of their muaical periodical, "The Colonial Musical Cabinet." It is procurableat ttie local music sellers. It is reported that Colonel Trimble, of Taranaki, will be proposed by the Government lor the Chairmanship of Committees in the new Parliament, vice Mr Seymour, ■who failed to secure re-election. "Consistency" writes inquiring why a miserable stowaway by the mail steamer should be sent down to Quarantine Island for a fortnight, while the Hon. F, Whitaker was allowed to go aboard for a confab.; with Sir H. Parkes, and left again without the slightest obstacle, tie thinks "what is sauce for tho goose ought to be Sauce for tho gander." . The concert in aid ot the funds of the Church of St. Benedict has been postponed nntil Monday, the 30th inst. Tickets sold for Tuesday, January 3rd, will be available for that night. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of "The Thames Directory" for the current year, a valuable little publication, printed aud published at tho "Advertiser' office, Thames. It contains amongst other interesting and useful matter, garden and bee-keepers' calendars, the Goldiields regulations, an alphabetical list of the residents of the Goldtield, and a summary of ttic local events for tho past year, The typography'is excellent. Owing to tho inclemency of the weather ye3tcrday,the St. Sepulchre's Sunday-school children were greatly disappointed in their annual sports, but they are requested by their teachers to meet at the school-room, Symonds-streeti to-morrow (Thursday) at fonr o'clock, when they will bo; informed what furthcr^arrangemtnts arc to bo made for carrying through the programme. On Monday last a regatta took place on the vVaikato river at Ngaruawahia. Close on 1000 people were present, large numbers coming from Hamilton, Cambridge, lluutly, Taupiri, and other settlements, The pairoared race was won by tho JNellio Grey and the sculling event by l Jurdy. The fouroared race was won by a crew trom tho steamer Hangariri. lutorspcraed with tho boat races were several running and other athletic events. This morning about ten o'clock a young lady who was drawing water from a deep well had a very narrow escape from what might have been a mclancbolly death. She had almost succeeded in drawing tho water up when, by some unknown cause, a largo quantity of the earth gave way, and she was [precipitated headlong down the well. Her shrieks brought several persons in the house to the rescue, and she waa dragged up by a rope more dead than alive. The young-lady happily suffered nothing beyond a thorough immersion in the water, and a severe shock. A correspondent sends us a wail from Northern Wairoa over the irregular and unsatisfactory mail arrangements. Though there arc tbrco' steamers a week, tho mails aro not made to correspond. There is no mail by the Saturday steamer, greatly to the disgust or residents on the river. He also complains that "On Thursday, the 22nd, we had a telegram from a representative of the company at Hclonsville that the Minnie Casey would leave on her downward trip on Friday, in the evening, and requesting that the announcement might be posted up. This was done, aud Christmas visitors for Auckland made their arrangements accordingly, >. hen, to the disgust of everyone, she started from Dargaville at noon, passing, tho othci stations shortly after tbat hour, and thus depriving many of tho pleasuro of reaching your city before tho following Monday evening." To the Editor,—Sir,—On looking over your paper of yesterday's date I observo that an individual named Scholield narrowly escaped a heavy live from the R.M., for " attempting " to ride " on " (not " in "j the "ladies' carriage "on the railway. I cannot help thinking of the old caso of one man being allowed to|boldly eteal the horse, whilst another must not even look over the hedgo, 1 when I remember that from four to ten men may be soon any morning stepping on to the platform from the same " ladies' carriago " after riding "in "it; but I suppose a line must be drawn somewhere, between bankers, surveyors, etc., travelling daily, and country storekeepers travelling perhaps once a mouth, Jf somo kindhearted official would notify this line through your columns it might save some other poor unfortunate from what would appear to him to be something very like a persecution.—Yours, etc., An observer. Dr. Hugh Kennedy, formerlyof Glasgow, died yesterday at his residence, Beresford. street, in tho 78th year of hia age. Dr. Kennedy had been practising in Auckland as a medical man for thirteen years, and was much esteemed for his general courtesy and kindliness of disposition. During several years he was medical attendant at the Howe-street Industrial School for neglected children, and took interest in their physical and moral welfare. The doctor had a cheerful, ruddy countenance,-and few who knew him could believe tbat ho was within two years of fourscore. He was ill but ten days, and his death was causrcl by dysentery. He was naturally of a retiring -temperament, but possessed of a large •amount of knowledge and experience. Mr Thos. Kennedy is, a brother of the deceased. The funeral will take place to-morrow (Thursday), starting from Bcrcsford-strect at 3 o'clock. ■■■■': ; /;; ..■',

A most extraordinary acuidcnlia reported from England, arising out of. foolbardiuess in unnf» firearm?, A man who Had a friend Koing out to Australia (aays tlic correspondent of a contemporary) bought a revolver as a present for him, imagining, doubtless, that thocolonies were in aefite of chronic disturbance, and that every other person ho met would be a bushranger* Of course, lie imagined the weapon to bo unloaded, and to illustrate, "for fun," and tor the benefit of hisinaid-serrauf, tho cit'eetaof it, he put the muzzle to his mouth, pnlled the trigger, and foil down a corpse; The terrified sir-1. vact rushes into a neighbor's with tbe newe, taking tbe woapoii with her, end imiißhriug, I coDclndo, it'to be an ordinary j>istp|, puts it to her mouth to show what happened to her mtsMter, pulls the trigger, and is dhot dead, "if I were J^ie person'for whom thisuiilucky !>itt, v/.w orif^ruilly-iiiteudcd/. I Bhbnld loudly HI: efo take it After Uyq sachcatastrophes; but thisJs n matter of sontiju-.;al;\ -" Psssing iSotes-," " Qtu : go.

The lon.i conveyed about 150 excursionists to Kavaii yesterday. Ther#w&s t uo rainy ah'd, th's Visitors enjoyed themselves heartily, retelling t'6 Auckland at 7.30 Martin Murphy, of Cor'6rhaildel> w&a presented With a jjol'd lifeg tor playih» tlic tenais 'cl&iiipioh match of Auckland at Mr ', Gleeson's ball-court, which he won easily. "The Koyil Middy " wjj^£cne«;ed H the theatre l&at pigM to a gooa iiouse. It will' be praEotinca again this evening. A sailor belonging to the cutter Mary Anne,uamcd William Kemp* WW3 dr6\Vne'd in the Mahur&ngi riybr yest'erdriy afternoon; by the capsiiing of 'a boat. The body haS| not yoi; boon recovered*. \ Something like £?Q was taken at tko! Cathloic Bazaar last evening, thus raising . the grand total liey'cnd £8.00. The articles ! Btill remaining unsold will bo put up toi auction to-night commencing at Seven \ o'clock. • . . , Tha poli^a have fett^cS'sid street preaching,, i'\ Favr.-irmitta, New Soiith Wales. The practice had become an intolarablc nuisance, and on one or two occasions recently had nearly led to a public disturbance. On Monday last a lad named Knight was knocked down by a train while standing at the Carlton Gere crossing, breaking olio ot his arms above the elbow* attd inflicting a bruise on the head. The lad had his in-, juries attended tb at the hospital And, was afterwards cony'pyijd. uorac,-. w.hero ho is being attehacd tp by Br Hooper, , « i A paiiiful accident occurred on New Year's afternoon to a little girl aged four years, a stack of timber, now being used by the contractor for the erection of houses, &c, at the corner oJ Kybcr Pass and SymSnGs-strect, falling upou her and breaking the leg below the knee. Sho was promptly taken out by Mr Sandal and carried to an adjoining house. Parents should be careful not to allow children of so tender an age to go unattended! A bottle was found on Waikrjuaiti buach, about thirty railtjs from Duncdinj containing the following message i—" Tuesday, December 21th, 1881,,' Please send assistance as soon as possible) Sbipreck abont eighty miles off Cape Saundcrs. God help us. Captain- ———. Whoever ilnds this let him send, to headquarters.'' No names are givem it is prtJbably a stupid hoax, tred Flunimer, now awaiting bis trial in the Supreme Court, seems determined to give as much trouble aa possible, and has applied to Mr Justice Gillies for subpeenas for about thirty witnesses, in his defence, and whose presence, he contend?, is necessary. A number of these witnesses are ladies, who .have no personal knowledge of Plummerj and wonder what he wants with them. He altoo asks pcrrniesion to have the.Supreme Court Law Library at hand for his special use, or such works as •he may Consider necessary tor his detence. A dreadful outrage Was perpetrated at Sandhurst on Christmas morning, about daylight, by seVeh larrikins, who broke into a house occupied by a woman named Annie Gevan, nearly 50 years of age. They afterwards dragged her into the street, in on almost insensible state, and brutally maltreated her. A neighbour interfering, the scoundrels ran away, Eivc of them have been arrested. On Monday last an outing was afforded to the children of the Richmond Wesleyah Sunday • school-. The party, under the superintendence of Mr K. Smith, assembled shortly after : nino o'clock. The children, who numberod about forty, were accompanied by their parents. Mr and Mrs Maxwell wore indefatigable in providing for the amusement of the little one, aud allowed them to romp abont their pnddock to their hearts' content. The weather was most propitious, and a very enjoyable day was spout by all, everything passing off quietly and without accident. A lad named Holtz, who had been lost in tho bush for live days, was foand on December G, by sooio native*, neir the Adelaide Kivcr, 30 miles from Soutnpoit, South Australia, Ho was not much the worse for his long exposure. The inquest yesterday afternoon on the body of Wm. I'rancis Short, who met with his death in the Manukau on the previous day, resulted in a verdict of " Accidentally drowned." The inquest was held at tho Edinburgh Castle, before Dr Philsou, coroner, and a jury; foreman, Mr Holmwood. Ihe several witnesses were Charles Baker, Arthur Robinson, and Dr Scott, but no fresh facts wcro elicited beyond those stated in our last issue. It appears that Mr Short was a, fair swimmer, and tho probability is that soon after getting into the water, he was seized with cramp. Mr Short was only 32 years of ago, and was much respected by those who knew him. Much sympathy ie felt for his widow aud children. We learn that Mr Holland, builder, >vjs tbo first gentleman who loaped into Iho water aud saved tho boy who fell overboard from tho steamer which convoyed the Sunday school children of St. Andrew's to Stokes' Point. Mr Jamca Himlttt was the second to go in, but as Mr Haslett will acknowledge, tho praiso is chiclly due to Mr Holland, who picked up the boy in tho last stage of drowning, ho. Wng nearly suffocated, Mr Holland spoilt a suit of clothes and got his watch considerably damaged into tbo bargain. The parents of tho boy were both on board, but seemed" to take matters very coolly. Wo have to state further that tho boy was not a eon of Mr Hatswel), our reporter having been misinformed in til's instance. The name of the boy has uot yet transpired. H.'M.S. Nelson, tho new flagship for the Australian station, has arrived at Perth, and will have all despatch for Sydney. Tho Sunday - school children of Si Sepulchre's, tho Kpiphany,and St. Barnabas Church schools :u ranged for their annual treat ill the Domain yesterday, but the woather was against them, The children of St. Sepulchre's were under tho caro of the llev. B. T. Dudley and Mr C. C. George, number, 350; tho Epiphany children, about 130, were led by Kcv. John liasclden; and those of St. Barnabas, about sixty, in Mr Shirley Bill's charge. The down-pouting rain spoilt the pleasure of tho day, and the cry was, " To your tents, oh ! Israel," from which, however, a hrtsty retreat was necessary, despite the appeal of tho children, " Bain, rain, go away, come again another day." In order to compensate the children as far as possible, Mr Dudley and the friends will provide a tea and entertainment to-morrow evening, in St. Sepulchre's school-room, Symonds-strect. A revolting instance of the depravity of human nature was heard at the Police Court this morning, before Messrs Cosgrave and Hursr, and which, despite its shocking details from tho lips of unblushing children, had the effect of attracting a grinning crowd into, court, The person who occupied the "dock was William .Francis Crowe, who has spent nearly half his life-timo in prison for various offences, The charge was that of being the occupier of a.house in Oxford-street, Newton, frequented by thieves and prostitutes. The evidence against the hardened| Crowe was overwhelming, and even Mr Tyler, who appeared in defence, evidently felt that his eloquence would be expended in vain in attempting to make this crow] ot a brighter hue, hence ho judiciously left tho bird of darkest dye in the hands of the Court. Crowe Was dressed in black clothos, wearing a huge pair of blackrimmed goggles, a dingy neckerchief, onco white, was bandaged round his throat; and one would be led to suppos^by his shabby clerical garb, that he had been studying the character of titiggins, for a dramatised version of lickcns's memorable "Pickwick." He looked rouud the Court with the air of conscious rectitude, and an approving conscience. It was bad enough to witness this hoary sinner in his studied callousness of heart, but it was a sadder sight tp those unhappy girls of tender years ranged in a row, and some of them morally ruined by this competent sinner; tho majority laughing at each other in giving evidences of their infamous course of life. Crowe, it appears, has a house of his own, and he h not, therefore, ill tho hands of a landlord. The Eench regretted that its sentence upon tho offender was limited to three racnths.