BIRKENHEAD RIDING.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 269, 15 November 1887, Page 8

BIRKENHEAD RIDING.

(To the Editor.)

Sin, —I would urge every well-wisher of Birkenhead to vote for the candidate who will not sacrifice Birkcnhead for the sakeof Novthcote, as it is a bad sign that the chief workers for Mr Thompson arc nob really Birkenhead pooplo—such as Mr Joshua Jackson, who is a voter for Northooto, but who is not on the roll for Birkeuhead. He presided at Mr Thompson's meetings, and docs his best to for':e his man in. Then take some of the other leading spirits, and sco if they have land down the Northcote Road or not. Examine the minutebook of the. Road Board, and sec if Messis Thompson, Jackson, and others have tried to stop money being spent on other portions of Birkenhead with the avowed object of (spending it on the Northcote Road. Now, lam nob objecting to the Northcote Road being repaired. 1 agroe, as wo ull do, it should l>e done, and done well; but J. do object to Birkenhead being made a stalking horse for Northcote, as appears to be the case, and 1 regret that a violent nonvoter, bub partisan of Mr Thompson, should be boasting that Northcote will have two members in the Council if Mr Thompson gets in, which means that Birkenhead 0 will bo practically unrepresented. Mr Witheford has shown an enterprising spirit in various ways by engaging special steamers for Harbour Board capitalists and Government officials to inspect the valuable water frontages, to further coal prospecting operations, and in arranging for the erection of a public wharf at the Point, and obtaining land for main roads through the central part of the district. The arrangements for einking and boring for coal, if successful, would make Birkenhoad the Newcastle of New Zealand, through the deep water navigation along its shores, and would lead to the immediate construction of a bridge across tho harbour connecting Auckland with the North, and ensuring a first-class metal road past Lucas Creek on to Waiwera, with mail coaches running every day. It is only by soma groat impetus that a district can bo lifted out of stagnation and forge ahead into prosperity. A coal discovery would cause an immediate accession to tho population and an increase to its wealth. There may not be adiscovevyof payable auriferous deposit, though the precious metal lias been scon in the district and n solid button of gold obtained. Mr Witheford believes that truo coal measures exist in the Birkenhead district., and deserves every encouragement to continue working in our midst. Tho easy access to Lake Takapuna from tho Waitetnata will increase the value of Birkenhead properties, while the wharf at tho Point of Hellyer's Creek will, as Dr. Wallis says, enablo settlers up tho river to land at any time, and, taking tho eaey grade road to Birkenhead Wharf, reach Auckland by an easy and pleasant route. A similarly easy and pretty drive will also bo provided from the landing pluce, through Mayfield, past Mr Crook's to the Lake. Messrs Brett, Cameron and Witheford have, at a cost of Homo £300 to thempelves, assured to the district a splendid landing place and the most level and direct road obtainable from tho Waitemata to tho beautiful Takapuna Lake, with ornamental trees planted for a milo along tho road leading from tho site of the wharf. They have cleared and graded the road as required, and this has been done without appealing to tho local authorities for any financial aid. 1 refer to these works to show tho class of representative Mr Witheford would be. Birkenhead can never progress on strawberries alone—l am, &c,

BIRKENHKAD,

A wire was received by a well-known " sport " from Murphy, stating his willingness to meet Jack Hall, the Sydney lightweight. On Hall being informed of this ho at once booked his passage for Wellington, where Murphy is, and sailed by the Gairloch yesterday afternoon. The contest will come off in about three weeks time in the "breezy city."

A meeting of property owners interested in the cutting down of Upper Queen-street takes place at 7 p.m. next Thursday at tho Council Chambers.

Mr A. E. Devore was yesterday nominated for a second term as Mayor of Auckland. On dit. That on the new Municipal Corporation Act, it is proposed to make the mayors of the four principal cities in New Zealand, Lord Mayors.

The return of JAddy to Auckland heralds the approach of theMajeroni Dramatic Company on their return tour. The manager however, is undecided whether or not to risk the advertised seven nights in Auckland. He is rather chary of the venture in view of the fact that the previous season here entailed a loss of £280 while everywhere else throughout New Zealand the Company did remarkably well. Therefore, if snfficient inducement is not forthcoming, the Company, on its arrival here on Monday next, will straightway hark back to the South via the west coast, where favourable guarantees have been effored them. In the event of the public of Auckland holding out adequate encouragement, the following novelties will be presented in a season of seven night:—Ohnet's great drama, "The Foundry Master," the farcical drama of "The Masked Ball;" "The Old Corporal" (the title r6le ot which is one of Signor Majeroni's most effective impersonations); " Canaille ;" and the celebrated temperance drama "A Woman of the People." We trust that this most efficient dramatic combination will meet with due support and encouragement at the hands of the public. If not, we need not complain if theatrical entet'preneurs are driven to boycott Auckland as a show town.

Mr Dobbie proceeds to Sydney to-night for the purpose of patenting there his goldsaving process.

Among the passengers from Sydney today by the s.s. Wairarapa were several of our townspeople who were returning from atrip to "the other side." Of the new visitors the principal waa Mr Wm. McArthur, M.P. for Cornwall, who is here on business connected with the firm of McArthur and Co. of which he is a member. Mr McArthur, who only recently obtained a seat at a by-election, will only remain in New Zealand about a fortnight as he means to be back in England in for the time assembling of Parliament in February next. Mr Edmund E. Sager, Secretary of the Board of Health Department in Sydney, also arrived by the Waifarapa on a tour of the colony.