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Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1887, Page 2

Another cantralising move has beon made in connection with the Mines Department. It is proposed that applicants for certificates of competency as mining'managera shall go to Wellington for their examinations. A blast of discontent having already gone forth against this sj stem, it is now stated that arrangements will probably be made whereby applicants may bo examined in the chief mining centres, tho Inspecting Engineer ol the Mines Department acting as supervisor. In that case tho papers will be forwarded to Wellington to be examined by the Board appointed under the Act.

VVe unde'stand that about a week or ten days ago the Mew Zealand Radical Reform League addressed a letter to the Premier, asking him if his convenience would allow him to deliver an address in Auckland on the pleasant position of public affairs, with an indication as to the probable direction legislation might bo expected to take during the approaching session.

The whola of tho tickets for tho oponiug of the Free Public Library Buildings have now beon disposed of, and as winch a« ;~s each was offered for eomo tickets in Quoonslreofc thia morning by peroona who had applied too late at the City Chambers.

A quantity of brauchea off olive trees

laden with fruit are now on view in Mr Steadman's window, Queen street. Tho cuttincs are from Dr Campboll's olive plantation at One Treo Hill. Some of our cottiers would do well to pay attention to this branch of farming.

The Auckland Navala havo acquired the use of an angle on the reclamation at the foot of Hobson-street, and purpose erecting a boat-shed there. It is probable that the building will be a large one, and well fitted up, and with this in view tbo Waitomata Boating Club will probably bear half the expense and share £he accommodation provided. The site is an excollent one, being close to town and having easy access to the water.

The charge of perjury proforred by Ann Roberteon against Jane Graham had not concluded at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and the further hearing was adjourned till Saturday. Mrs Robertson deposed that in giving ovidenee in the Supreme Court Mrs Graham said that her husband waa not in Ohinemutu on the day of ejectmont. He waa either in Tauranga, on his way to Auckland, or in Auckland. Francis Bernard Scott deposed that the arrangements for the ejectment of Mrs Robertson were ! made by Mr R. Graham. He recollected that Mr Graham was present moßt of the time, and he obeyed the instructions of Mr Graham in the Matter. O. M. Creagh aaid ho caw Mrs Robertson pub out so roughly that he protested against it. At this stage of the proceedings the inquiry was adjourned.

The_ no-progrofip policy waa manifested lost night by the Arch Hill ratepayers, at ■•» public meeting held to consider tho advisability of joining the Newton Borough. As the district is too email to do much permanent work, some of the go ahead residents wish to either join Auckland or Newton, but a motion to this effect was negatived, ac was aleo a motion that a committee should be appointed to inquire into the matter and report. It was stated last night that it was this sort of standstill policy that had allowed the New North Road to completely eclipse the Great North Road. A report of the proceedings appears in another column.

About 11.30 a.m. to-day, a youth named Thomas McDonnell, one of the"employees of Mr J. Watkinson, tailor, Wellesley-Btreet, met with an unpleasant accident. While throwing back his arm in sewing he ran n needlo into his elbow so violently that tho head was buried beneath tho skin. McConnell was takes to Dr. Tonnent'e surgery, where he fainted from pain. As tho doctor was uyt in attendance.whea McConnell had recovered sufficiently he went to Haslett's chemist chop and waited until Dr. Macmullan could attend to him.

Tho eocond of tho sories of Mrs Wright's I Very enjoyable soirees'dansahlcs took placo last night in the Masonic Hall, fcarangahapo Road, and pa=sed ofF vory pleasantly indcod, Mr W. J. Wright acting ac M.C. We understand that- theso eociiiblo gatherings aro to bo held evory Wednesday evening during tho current eeason.

Tho business of the Suprorho Court thia morning was transacted in ten minutes. Only one caso waa Fet down for hearing, and that was, on tho application of Mr Napier, adjourned until Saturday.

Mr J. D. Foley, the popular entertainer, baa returned to town after a very successful tour of the country districts, including Dargavillo and othor Northern Wairoa townships. Ho will coon start out again with his excellent entertainment.

The clever dramatic combination who aro now occupying the boards of the Opera House appear to be loairig none of thoir popularity. There waa another large attendanco last evening, whon "The Magistrate " was repeated with tho greatest euccoss. The play ia replete with humour, and tho situations are co irresistibly droll that the laughter of the audience isincessant. All tho characters wero effectively represented, Mes6rs Anson, Stanfielrl, and Misses Taylor, Fisher and Lyetor being especially desorving of cominendatkm. The same programme ia announced for thia ovening, and tho bill is a sufficiently good one to draw large house-) for pome nights longer.

Tho steamer lona mado an excursion from Tuuranga to Motiti Island on Tuesday, with about 100 passongers, and tho trip proved to bo a very onjoyablo one.

Many will regret to learn that Mr Keith Wilson, senior oporator in tho Auckland Telegraph Office, has received ordera to proceed to Napier. Though not coming in direct contact with the public in his official capacity, Mr Wilson formed a wido circlo of frionda during the short time ho has beun hero, by whom ho was highly esteemed for hia many sooial and other gifta. Mr Wilson leavos next week, and bis plaep, we underBtand, will bo takeu by Mr Titchener, now of Dunedin, but formerly of Auckland.

Tho Auckland Choral Society's second performance of tho season ISS6-7, consistinp of Rossini's " Stabat Mater" and miscellaneous selections, takes placo in tho Hall, Symonda-stroot, on Tuesday evening next, commencing at 8 o'clock. Tho final rehearsal will bo on Monday evening.

The City Engineor ia taking steps to strengthen tho Cemetery Bridgo. Quito time, too, or tho name of tho structuro might coon havo attained a now and terriblo meaning.

Fryer's unique and interesting combination pavo their concluding entortainment last ovoning. Notwithstanding tho counter nttractionß, thero was a largo attendance. Tho various feats, together with tho Jnpnneso village, drow forth tho intoresfc and iipplaufo of the audience throughout. An immenso business was dono in tho village, ospocially in tho ponny funs, otc. Tho Company lcavo for tho South to-morrow by tho Union Company's s.s. To Anau.

The allowed porjury c.iho which foil through at tho Supromo Court yesterday will havo put tho country to considerable exponso Fivo witnosecibesidos thelt M.,Mr Biehop,wore broughttotown fromMongonui nnd other expenses woro incurred in connection with tho prisoner. It eooinsns if the law is sadly doiicient whon n logol quibblo

raised on a word wrongly cop'od on tho Indictmont, can p ovont a prisoner obtaining n fair trial.

Tho Warehousomon's C»p crickot match last Saturday was won by Owen aud Graham, and not, as has been stated, by Macky, Logan, Stoen, and Co. Tho latter toam mado 78, and Qwon and Grahbm'a mon had lost fivo wickets for SO. whon Snoddon performed tho romnrkablo feat of taking tho remaining fivo wickets with fivo euccossivo balls, nnd with-

nut any addition to tho scoro. Owen and Graham's team, therefore, won by two runs.

At a mooting of tho Wont End Rowing Club, hold last night, it was docided tb row

ofTtho trial fours on Saturday, April 2nrf. Tb. following crows woro drawn :—F. \V. Ed ward«, J Fisher, 11. K. Dowdon, Mooio

\V. Jones, \Vobbn, A. C. Jonos, Martin J. E. Cooko, A. Cook, Clutsam, Grogory ; ,1. N. Baxter. J. W. Baxter, Farquhar, Dignan ; F. Coopor, C. Dowdon, Adams, Clark ; 11. Jack, T. N. Baxtor, Gentles, Os. mond ; G. C. Chapman, Lumsdon, Sufltins, R. Baxtor ; H. E Griiliths, B. Dn\vden, Roynolds. Diddams. Emorgoncios : Sfauon, Cambie, W. Dowdon.

" England During tho Lust Fifty Years" was tho subject of a lecturo delivered by the Rev. S Maefarlano, in connection with tie Pitt-stroet Free Methodist Mutual Improvomont Cln°s, last M"onday ovening. Tho lecturo treated of the abolition of slavery, tho repeal of tho corn lawß, the introduction of tbo ponny poetago system, and la3t, but not least, the repeal of tho taxes on knowledge, otc. Some of tho leading men of that timo, said tho lecturer, were mon of Christian principles. No great reform had taken placo but in tho teeth of determined opposition. Tho attention of tho audience was kept throughout. Votes of thanks wore then passed to tko lecturer and the Chairman, Mr Chamberlain.

The Auckland Kugby Union has received a letter from the Southern Rugby Union, Sydney, respecting a proposed visit of a New Zealand football team to Now South Wales during tho approaching season. The letter states inter alia :—" Your team ought to arrive hero about tho Ist July, and play in Sydney on throe Saturdays, the intervening dates to bo filled up by country matches, as was done during tho last tour. The attendance of tho public has vastly incroaeod since your last visit, and I feel-sure that, with ordinary luck, your oxponso9 would be more than paid. 1 can offer you the following terms: -You receive 70 per cent, of the gross takings and defray your own expenses, including advertising, men at gatOß,&c. ; or, wo will pay all expenses, except steamer and hotel expenses, and give you half the gross takings, my Union guaranteeing that your half shall not be loss than £300. Tho last proposal in based upon the terms given by Otago to our team last year, namely, ' £75, or half gross takings.' Thia is multiplied by four, to represent your four principal unions. Wo believe that half the gross takingß would amount to at loasb £450, nnd your trip, if you bring only IS mon, could bo ma»a;;od for £400."

Mesera Brotuora and Smith, who went up

to Td Aroha to inspect a large bloak of land in that neighbourhood eolected by the AsF3ietant Surveyor-General, Mr Porcy Smith, fcr (ho purpose of forming a sottloinont under tho Village Settlement Regulation?, hove returned to town. They recommend the cutting up of about 1,000 acres, having frontages to Hamilton Koad and to the railway between Waihou Btation and Te Aroha recreation reserve. The land is good swamp land, is partially drained, and covered with tall ti-treo and flax, and thore is abundance of firewood in the ehapo of tree roots and logs. Thoy also recommond tho cutting up of some 700 acres on the road to VVaitoa that runs through the block. This ia very superior land. Tho wholo of tho land selected is porfcctly level, and will grow anything ; it is surrounded by settlements, and thoro is a fchool at Waihou, whilo its proximity to To Arohn providosamarkot for poultry, oggs, etc. Tliolackof fencing material is tho only drawback that ia montioned, and tho necessity for sinking wells to obtain n water supply. It is suggested that the Government Bhould give woik to tho settlers at cutting a main drain through tho centre cf the block, and forming and draining a road along the line of railway to To Aroha.

Next Tuesday the first annual mooting of the members of the Now Zealand Alliance for the prohibition of the liquor traffic will be held in the Young Men's Booms, Welles-ley-street. The committee are making strenuous exertions to ensure a thorough success of this first annual gathering. Invitations to breakfast at 8 30 o'clock on Tuesday morning havo boon ieeuod to evory member of the Alliance, whose roll now numbers Added to this, a number of prominent public men outside the Alliance have been asked to attend. At 10 o'clock the session of the general council will commence in the lecture hall, when the annual reports will be presetted and new officers and executive appointed. Various resolutions bearing upon the work mill also be brought forward and discussed, which will, no doubt, last till the afternoon. In the evening a public meeting will be held under the presidency of Sir William Fox, when addreeses will bo delivered by various wellknown speakers. It was hoped that Sir .Robert Stout would have been among the public men taking part in the proceedings of the evening meeting, but a telegram raceived from him yesterday states that he will be precluded from attending by Supremo Court business in which he is engaged preventing him gotting to Auckland hoforo the 4th of April Sir lloboit is v ViEo-L'reskienl of tho Alliance, aa is also Major Atkiufou and other memborti of the House on both Uovorunioutaud Opposition Benches. The reports and financial statements show that the Alliance is in a flourishing condition, and no doubt its influence will be felt in the near future.

At tho inquest on tho two boys drowned at Mauku a verdict was roturned, "That tho two boys, David George Cox and Goorgo Perry, wero drownod in tho Mauku Creek on Sunday, March 20th, 1887." The lads wero buriod on Tuesday, in St. Brido's Cemetery. Tho Rev. N. D. Boyos conducted the service in an improssive mantior. Tho two bodies were depositod in tho enitoo grave, sido by sido. A largo number of friends wero present.

Mr T. B, Hannnford writes suggesting that petitions should be signed all over tho colony asking that Sir Wm. Jervois should be continued a3 Governor of New Zealand.

The French man-o-war Duquesno, upon arrival yesterday afternoon, fired a salute of 21 guns, but, much to tho surprise of the public, there was ho response from the batteries on shore. It was suggested that tho Volunteers were probably awaiting orders from Wellington, but it appears that tho real cause of delay was that there was no powder at Fort Cautley. The return salute of 21 guns was fired from tho Albert Park by a detachment of tho A Battery of Artillery at noon to day, tho French flag being hoisted on the flagstaff. This morning the French Consul, Mr D. B. Cruickshank, visited the Duquesne, and was courteously received. On his leaving tho vessel the customary salute was fired.

Yesterday afternoon and evening a num bor of young people were bueily engaged decorating the Beresford-streetCongregatioua' Church in readiness for tho recognition soiroo, which takes place this evening.

Professor Carrollo being the instructor of the Holy "trinity Athletic Club, Devonport, the Committeo took advantage of his return to Auckland, and opened their season last night in the schoolroom lately used by them behind the church. The Club promisee to bo very successful this season, as there was a muster of 30, despite the fact that tho weather being bo warm kept many away. Wo beg to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the "Tahiti Annual" for 1886, issued from tho Govornmont Printing Office at I'apeota. This handbook to the French possessions in Oceania is got up with the usaal care and precision, and tho Government printer deserves to be complimented on the manner in which he has turned out tho work. According to this authority, French Oceania embraces Tahiti, Moorea, tho Marquesas, Gambior, and Tuamotu Archipelagoes, nnd the islands of Tubuai, Raivavno, and Eapa. The total population of French Oceania ia stated at 22,93-1, of whom 9,562 afo in Tahiti, nnd 3,224 in tho Soat of Government, Papeete. Besides giving all needful information oftho prosent state of these French colonies, the "Annual" gives a succinct hietorical (•ketch of the islands, which shows in brief compaas the rico and fall of the " Pomnre " dynasty.

Tho annivorsary soiree of the Ponsonby Baptist Sunday School takes place on Tuesday ovoning noxt.

The Gas Company notify that tho usual 25 por cent, discount will bo lost unlcs tho accounts uro paid by 5 p.m. on Friday next. W. H. Hoskins and Co , Boot Manufacturers, Union and Nolaon atrouta. Auckland. Quality and chcaunotn oomblnod. Htorekooper. mid Bottlerß ploaso note—[Advt )

A Lady's Wish.—"Oh, how I do wish my akin was aa oloar uud soft an jours I" snid a lady to a friend. You can easily niukoit.no, answered tin friend. "Howl" inquired iho IVal ludy. "Hy u«in<r Dr. Sonlc's Hop lliuerc, Ihatmnkm puro rich blood uud blooming health. It did it lor me, aa you obflarvo." Koad.