NEWS OF THE MONTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 29 January 1887, Page 4

NEWS OF THE MONTH.

SUMMARY FOR HOME READERS.

AUCKLAND. N.Z.. January 20th, ISS7,

Anotueu unovontful month, politically considorod, had noarly closed whon tho wearieomo monotony was to some extent broken by Iho Premier's nddroas to his constituents on Tuo?day ovoning last, a rtmane of which is givon in another column, With this oxcoption, lhe past four weeks havo boon barren of political soneation, although thoro has been n mild intcrost ovoked by tho announcement that tho Now Zealand Parliament will muot for tho transaction of business i> month or six iveclis oarlicr than usual. Tho object of the early mooting is to allow of tho lleprcscnta lion Bill having full consideration and being passed into law In araplo timo to havo tho next gonoral election conducted in tho redistributed districts, which ara to be mapped out, on a population basis. This question, and that, of tho reform of tho Legislative Council (or Upper Houee), are the only matters likely to cau»e eerioue dis-

cutfcion in tho moribund Parliament, which moots in tho courso of two months for its closing session. Sir Julius Vogel libh remained at Wniwera up till tho closo of thi=i week, having derived much bonelit from the water*. Bo soon returns to tho eeat of Government, and tho Premier and other Ministers will ppeodly also converge thither. His Excelloncy tho (iovornor hus boon residing at Uunodin for some weeks, and hns now gonoon a tour of tho WostCoatt Sounds. Sir Geo. Grey, whoco Bplondld library has been Rent from Kawau to its now nabitat in the Freo Public Library bui'dings in Auckland, hns beon rathor indisposed of lato, but wo aro glad to say la recovering. Sir Fredorick Wnitakcr has also beon unwoll, but no ecriouß results aro approhendod.

Thoro oro low but, wido?proad murrauis of discontent becnuso of tho continued inaction of tho loado's of Hor Majesty's Opposition in Now Zealand. Sir 'John Hall hiis remained completely quiescent fiinca hia return to tho colony, and so far as is known thoro Inn been no ra/iprmhincut bolweon him md Major Atkinson with n view to tho (ormttion of a solid opposition to Hie present Government. It h felt on many hands that a Ministry coinprising Major Atkinson, Sir John ball, and tho Hon. John Bryco, would command tho "onfidonco of tho country, but " hopo doforred " in this matter is baginniog tn havo its usual effucts. It waa roportod tho other day that Mr Bryco was about to consult wilh Major Atkinson prior to addressing hie constituent', and thin may huvo to bo tbo first stop towarJa the formation of an opposition planol campaign. By Ihoway, it is stated thattho Bryco Hidden libdawardhfts novor bcon acted upon owinj; to tho indoqiaion of Mr Hu-don ill tho iniltor of a new trial, und of CtmriiO Mr Bryco ia kept o-it o! tho damages nud cxponnos awarded him. Mr 13. ' Mitcboleon, M.II X foi Maredon, has intimated his intontion of retirin", and alroady a requisition is beinL' »ot up nuking Mr Allan Macdonnld, formorly M..11 11 for tho Eo«t Coast district, to contest tho seat. Tho probability is that Mr Mitcheleon will not resign, but will allow tho seat to bccouio vacant at tho termination ct tho proeent Parliament.

ThoCustotns revenue fort ho throo quarters of tho financial period ended 30th Docember shown a deficioncy on tho nine mouths' proportion of the estimate of i!)1i,247, and a falling - off compared with tho corresponding period of ISBS of £102.572. The total rorouuo lot the last nine months was £061,252, and that for tho tiMt three qu'irtorn of ISS.S was £1,01)5,837. Tho beer duty also shown a falling off both on tho estimate and on tho amount col lectod for tha lirat three quarters of ISS.'>. Tho nmount collected for tho niuo mouth? ended 31st December last was £38,210, or a dcl'u-iuDcy on Hio proportionate e-itimitc for tho year of £3,039. Tho falling off on tho amount collected during the same period last your is £2,120.

Tho economists of the Hou?o of llopresontatives who have made onslaughts upon tho Ministerial residences will find now ground for attack in a return just issued. Another £994 was spent during the year onding 31st March on theso coatly appurtenoncea of Government in furniture maintenance and repairs. Tho proper course to pursue with regard to I base establishments is to make Ministers a fixfld allowance for house accommodation, and soil the residences. Tho same return contains a statement of tho travelling exponses of Ministers during the year, a? follows : — Travelling allowance, £1,323 ; travelling expenses, £777; expanses of attendants, £711 The most exponsivo travellers were : — Minister of Minos, £799 ; Native Mtnirtor, £195; Sir J. Vogel, £483.

A happy idea, and one which is as much to bo commended for its originality as Us fitness to give expression to iho aspirations of the people of Auckland, has emanated from Hie Colonial Treasurer and been very warmly taken up by the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce — tho idea, namely, of holding a Marino Exhibition in Auckland. When the plan of holding Industrial Exhibitions in various parts of New Zealand was formulated over a year ago, it was promised that an Exhibition .should be held in Auckland in IS9O, with a. possible connection between the Exhibition tind Iho celebration of tho opening of direct railway coiniun nication between this city and Wellington. The augsestion now is that the Exhibition of I SOU should be a marine ono, and should have importance added to it by being thrown open to exhibitors from all parts of the world. Tho appropriateness of having ouch a "show" in tho maritime city of Auckland is apparent, and it is very gratifying to citizens to know that, instead of an Industrial Exhibition, like that recently held at Wellington, there is a prospect of having an International Marine Exhibition in the Corinth of the Southern Hemisphere.

Auckland occupies tho leading position among New Zealand cities as a shipping port, and she has from the first taken the foremost plaoo us a shipbuilding centre These facts will add immensely to the interest attaching to such an Exhibition us that proposed, and will stimulate exhibitors in all parts of.the world to enter the lists. Tho results of this kind of exhibition cannot fail to be beuoficial. A large display of the finest models of marine architecture, along with tho latest marine appliances, will serve a good educational purpose, and will at tho same time prove highly interesting. Then the Exhibition would give an opportunity to the. different electric lighting companies to show their inventions and submit them to a practical test in presence of ship-owners, ship-builders, Harbour Board representatives and others. The application of electric lighting to the illumination of wharves, the lighting of steamers, as well as for lighthouse purposes, could thus be demonstrated, and many companies would be sure to send their appliances for exhibition. So thoroughly were

our commercial representative men enamoured with this idea, that they asked Sir Julius Vogel to visit Auckland before he returns to Wellington, and give a public address on the subject—an invitation to which Sir Julius readily consented.

Tho irado of tho color.y fhow« signs of reviving, a ,d this ib cl.ictiy duo to the improved prioflß of colonial Pro<juct ? , amla vigorous prosecution of public works. Three works of somo importance descrvo mention, especially on ac, t!VV P?J™H w are just about to bo started. On Monday the Minister of Public Works (Hon. B. Richardson) performc 1 «1\ I c.°, r, em°nX ?,' turning the first FOd of tho Midland Ka. ■ way, which is to be constructed by'ling list.capitalists ou the land grant system. This work 1b expected to b a of Pjiit bo. eht to Canterbury, and we .trust all ant.o potions in connection with it may bo «^. ot!; AtNapier, the port and capital of Hawkc, s Bay diatticb. the firjt bock of the breakwater was laid on Tuesday last by M -J. D. Orraond, and tho ceremony was made the occasion of a great popular demonstration. Napior U at present one or tho most goaliead places _ in tho colony, and the energy and entorptiee of .hor p.oplo arc worthy of all commendution. lhe third public undertaking has a raoro immediate connection with .f. n«*l»* trict. Work in connection with making the first eection of tho Kaihu Valley Railway is to be started at once- the contractor Mr Owen, having recently visited Dargaville to arrongo tho nocesaary preliminaries IMO sectioii ot which Mr Owen has the contract is 16.J miles long, and is estimated to cost, with rolling stock and building, a sum of £58,000. Tho kauri bu-h which will bo tapped by this railway is said to contain 300 millions of ioet ot good Umber, und in ndditioo to work lor over 100 man being found in 'ho construe tion of Iho lino, it i« estimated that within a year 300 mon will bo employed hi cutting down tho timber for transit along thg lino to Auckland or Helon.vlUo. Although the whole of tho railway plant und ro. mgßtoc. Zji be brought from England the prosecution of this enterprise will do munn to cau»e a revival in tho Auckland labour market. Work is still proceeding on tho Main Trunk Railway to connect Auckiaik with Wellington, and Sir Julius \ ogol etatoa that the lino should bo coinplolod in sno.

Mr E, W. Blair, C E., under instruction* from the Ciovornincnt, lias made a report upon tho sehemo for connecting AucKianu and Mnnukau by a canal. This has always been n. cherished project, and many roams of papor have been wasted in discussing it. M r BlairH report appears to show very great ditli.nilties in tho successful working of such a canal, owing to the differences in the tide levels on the East and West Coasts of the island. These apparently may be partially overcome by the construction ot a central look, but tho strong current would act destructively upon the canal mcl nialco it costly to maintain. lo construct ,1 canal for coastal steamers is a projoct possibly within the attainable means of the port authorities, if such a work were considered worth Ilia money ; but the.greater undertaking of a canal for ocean steamers of the iirst class involves the stupendous work of arresting tho treachorUUS sands of Manukau bar, and from even New Zealand's small experience ot harbour works wo can form a pretty shrewd idea of how many hundreds of thousands of pounds may ho thrown into the sea over such experiments. -tlic advantages of the work are also not _so great as is popularly supposed. A saving of three hours in point of time in the voyago to Sydney is too infinitesimal for steamers to pay the canal dues and incur tho rinks of tho passage out of the .Manukau, Mr Blair expresses no opinion upon the effect which the tide raco through the canal might have upon the harbours of Auckland and Manukau, but he says enough, wo think, to show that the experiment of constructing such a canal is not likely lo bo made during tho present generation.

Tho business transacted during last year at tho Tost Olli>:o Savings Bank in Auckland gives evidence that tho " depression ' hap been felt as woll i\k heard about. Tho Chief I'ottninpttr has made tho following (iliatruct of tho year's transactions in tho Money Oldor and Savings Bauk Dej'arLm.nts :—

-7.SU Money Orders Inncd for .. £99,900 n n Uoniinlssion on tl-.uv l.o'JO lo 10 S8 319 Moacy Orders paid tor .. 103,3318 0 1503J8ai-lDßßßuukdoptsi«for 151,800 i 11 l2'oi7SB Bvioßß Bank withdrawals for 176.1711611 I 171 scnns'itaoloectl. KJecoss of withdrawals orer deposils 21.011 U 0 l)n. Atoroditof dopoeitoraou Jan. 1. „,,,., Iggg £SIG.HI 1 3 Deposited during 1888 ■■ ■■ 151.5C0 111 InieruM paid au3 allowed.; .. srall v Total £3V'J,273 IS 1 Cli. Ainnunt of wittidriiwals durlntf 1888 176,171 IS U Aiiiouninl cru'ln of duputilurdou 31st Dec, I^o 2^,B''2 1 2 'I'Olul £37'J.2'3 18 1 While it ia satisfactory to leim that 2,41)5 now accounts havo been opoocd againet 2.171 oloaed, tho withdrawals tiro found to exceed tho deposits by £21,011 Vii. Thin, although it is apparent thnt thtro his been a drain on tho reecrvo funds of tho industrial elacsc->, it ia ovidout that habit? of thrift aro being moro widely diseeminatod, and tho fact that in tho Post Otlioo Savings Bank ulnno a earn of £154,860 4a lid w«s deponted by Auckland working men and their families, an tho savings of a single year, proves that thore ia still a considerable surplus of incomo over expenditure.

Fires hay» been very prevalent of late, and their dentructivenees has been increased by the prevalence of extremely hot ami dry woather. Bush fito< have been numerous in Auckland district, but their ravages havo not boon ec> serlni? ai in eomo former \ ens. A deplorable affair i-1 r^porfod from i)unodin, viz , the total destruction of a largo factory and warehouses, involving the death of four men, whu were overwhelmed by tho failing ruins.

Mr Gulliver, tho City Valuer, has just completed tho valuation of tho property in the eoveral wards for municipal rating purposes. A return which has been propared, and which is boforo v«, thows a substantial incroaso in tho East Ward, and email iucroasGS in the Grafton and Karangahapo Wards. There is, however, a largo reduction in the valuation of the North Ward, and emaM decreases likewise in Pousooby and South Wards. The following table shows the valuation for tho current year in comparison with 18So 6: -

ISSSB. ISSG-7. Increase. i Eastward £115.<.K6 £1:>I,1S:) £2,227 Grufton Ward iti.lliK IO.Mi 230 KaraiiKuhnpo W'd 27.U51 27,9X1! a 1.1 North Ward BS.U2J 55,1'JS 3,121 Decrease. Ponsonby Ward 50.551 81,470 101 South Ward G7.U00 <i7.l!H> JOl Dec £370,180 £369,023 £1,072 Auckland is not singular amongst the cities of tho colony in hiving a reduction in its valuation. I» Christcburch tho assessment is £23,000 leas thau last year.

Tho Auckland Fico Public Library and Art Gallery aro to I o formally opened by Hia Worship the Mayor on Saturday, the sth nf March, at 230 p.m. Bir Geo. Grey's library has been insured by tho City Council for £5,000.

To-day is the anniversary of tha founding of the colony, aod is observed as a general holiday in Auchland. The worklDß. men aro holding their annual Eight, H»urs' Demonstration with athletic sports in tho Domain, and the annual Regatta is taking place in the harbour. Tho Wellington Anniversary wan celebrated on Saturday last. Tho 20lh of January, ISOO, "ill introduce tho Jubilee Year of Now Zonland, aud tho International Marino Exhibition at Auckland, which will in all likelihood be opened on that datp, will be but ono incident in I be many joyful observances which will mark tho auspicious onoision

Crimiual sonsationa during the month havo been the Great Barrio* murdnr trial, and the trial nf Th^mi? Hill fcr the. alloged poisoning of Ciptain Cain. In the <!r,~at; Barrier caafi, the two prisoners, John Cuffrey and Henry Albert Term. wero found guilty of (ho wilful 'DUrder of Robert Taylor, and wore sentenced to be liaoger] Christehurch has f upplied a froah criminal horror, in tho shape of a cbargeofprocuringaborfoti preferred against Dr. Ruseell, of that city, and 2 women. Whon arrested on tho charge ihe doctor tried to poison himself by swallowing a quantity of aconite, but ho was driven to tho Hospital and hie life saved, Tho accused were committed for trial.

Ostrich fanning is to have a fair trial in the Auckland district, under conditions favourable to the success of this important industry. A telegram from our correspondent states that the barque Johannn Brodersen with 49 ostriches on board was towed into Kaipara Harbour on 26th inst. These birds are being introduced by Mr Victor Nissen, who, we learn, left Auckland, in July last on a trip to Australia. via Mauritius, and thence to South Africa, -with the idea of feeing the industries of other conn, tries. The upshot of his inquiries and observations was that after travelling

through South Afrfca ho dooidod upon taking back with him a number of ostuches to this district, where on tho Otimatoamw, ho holds some 10,000 acre.. In Porti^atol. South Africa, Mr Nissen charteiecl the Danish barque Johann Brodcrscn for convevinsr his cargo of 50 birds to Kaipara, the S being Selected by himself from out of the best breeds and troops of birds in South Africa, somo of thorn originating ram tho famed Nobecl flock, near Wullrpdfthth in thoMossol Bay district, where they were secured at a cost of 150 guineas each. Ilia birds were shipped on board the Johann Brodcrsen in November at Port Natal. A male bird was accidentally killed during tho voyaVo, and six others we're lost by sickness SS.X^^^hasl^ he ostriches so far, that no further mishap will occur to damp his enterprise. Ostrich farming has been successfully established in Panterbury where tho climate is not carl' ™« table as here, and there is Sable expectation that the ostriches now landed at tho Kaipara will but prove theVrrt of many importations to Auckland district.