GUMDIGGING LICENSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 138, 12 June 1888, Page 4

GUMDIGGING LICENSES.

In support of the contention that the regular professional gumdigger is desirous of being duly licensed to pursue his calling, it should not.be forgotten that more than one half of the, gumdiggers' in Mongonui County some time ago petitioned the County Council to issue gum licenses and impose license fees. A consideration which doubtless has weighed with these petitioners is the fact that the holding of licenses would give gumdiggers a social and political status which is at present denied them. It would form a bond of union between them, and they could combine much more readily than they can at present to regulate _ the price of gum, exercise political influence, and generally conserve their own interests. The total number of diggers now on the gumfielda is probably £,500, certainly not near 10,000, as stated by a correspondent, and it is not difficult to see that such a body of men could exert.a great influence were it. put forth unitedly, while by cooperation they would be able to prevent such a fall in the price of kauri gum as was recorded in our cable news yesterday. The revenue derived from gumdiggers' licenses, which would be but inconsiderable, should assuredly be apportioned among the local bodies, who could best undertake the collection of the fees, and in return give the required supervision to the operations of gumdiggers. The County Council of Mongonui, in a petition to.the House of Representatives, state the arguments in favour of the license thus :—

1. That there are large areas of Govern; ment land in this county from which kauri gum is obtained. "' 2. That there are a great number of persons, both native and European, engaged in digging gum. , 3. That the general public are not benefited in any great measure by this industry. . 4. Thab the nuwher engaged in this wp,«

5. That the county has fj , . these roads over the yJ£ &,*!**_* C E n,andnowwedcC? o tt^: 7- That in order to remed.♦_• ' some measure, the G_.Z. y thla wflfa the Council Si™ fa^ both native and EuropSn w£ S P*"". « the Government allow _v, ,__ Counals to impose and oLt a £ of this kmd, the Councils S h on iV_ required to render valnßhio m^^

So many of the common inn. __ to attend the present l n 7-SUmmoned Supreme Court JSSSSB °f t of their being over age and rt l accounl that the lilb was ££. b caus<s. In the case of bS^^S^W indecent assault, this -HSJffl* W. l* lege of challenging iurorT w,. V . PnTi" by both the p grosecS S S&T* took place pending^ &» jury engaged on a larceny fc whrnh- the other three &%*£ the rank /^Z^°^ friends of Mr Pr_t_ __ii . e.ttM_' his elevation, \ rnd Pwul\„treS2 at present the . honour dj.^jj it is well for pu&mnt to ffgg thankful for small merei__ lw ~ time that Sergeant-SS ffh* 9 stationed in Auckland 3 the b ft police prosecutions at the Court h™__ conducted by him in £t given satisfaction to all but ?he 0 cupanS of the dock, many of whom would no fib prefer him to have had what «ggf an Irishman's rise. • ■ • . aa i.iX h<-_" *J. e ~' Zealand Times» Bu__est_ that the CD. Act should be nuffS pulsory of enforcement in all the prin£ cities. Our contemporary is evident? a warm admirer of this now discredited piece of social legislation. UlSCreai«a A further cablegram received from England states that Mr Watt died fin days prior, to the, arrival of the Ruapehu and was buried at sea. .";-'_.

a, w UL re, porfc of the funeral of the late Mr Waddel vve otmtted 'to state thaithe members and officers of the Harbour Board were present in four special mournine carriages. ' 5

An.error occurred m the list of civil cases before the Supreme Court, by which it was made to appear that Mr and Mrs Metcalfe were defendants in two libel actions.' ihere is no action, Smith v. Metcalfe, as was erroneously stated.

A verysuddea death occurred at Ponsonby yesterday morning, a i_d named' Percy Thomas Sharpe, aged 7_ y^areliving with his parents in Ryle-streefc, being taken off by an attack of convulsions. The boy on Sunday was in; the best of health, and attended Sunday-school in the afternoon, and church in'the evening.' After church he had some supper, and then wend to bed. About half-past nine he began to cry out, and his'parents running to see what was the matter, found him in convulsions. In spite of everything done to lessen them; the 'convulsions continued, and then the boy lost consciousness, and so remained until he sank to rest at halkpUst six yesterday! morning. Br. F. T:Myntun, who was called in and endeavoured to save the boy's I^6, is oi opinion that the " convulsions were caused Ijx^ overloaded stomach that caused a sudden rus_ of blood to the head, and so brought on the fits. He will give a certificate to this effect, so thab no inquest will be necessary.

Colonel Morgan, the Consul-General for United States in Australia, has returned from a visit to iWashin'gton, undertaken principally for the purpose of arranging for j. the representation of tne United States at the Melbourne Exhibition. He states that the Exhibition is exciting considerable in- . terest in the United States, and that, • de- ■ spite the fact that the passing of the appropriation for Exhibition-expenseSi and tho appointment. of, the commission, were unavoidably delayed,, America ■ will be well, represented at , the E:ihibiti«n. 'The whole of the space,- 1.0,000 ft., allotted for-the United ,Statest.Gourd at the Exhibition, will be fully, taken up,. and it is expected that the exhibits will reach Melbourne in plenty of timeto allow of their being effectively displayed on the opening day. A portion of the exhibits were on board the Zealandia, the next mail steamer from San Francisco wil I bringa still larger shipment, and the bulk ot-t* exhibits from the-Eastern States will be sent direct to Melbourne by sailing vessel. The Secretary for the United States navy promised Colonel Morgan that he would send one of the largest of the United St* . cruisers (probably theoTrentonVto Melbourne at the time of the Exhibition, Tonga is aboub to be suppliedlwith t M clock fnd apealof bells. *WGee*ehg through his Premier-the Rev -Shirley W. Baker-had erected a fine ohurcMM interior of which is beautifully carved, wStheexteriorisembenisbedbyac^e of towers with spires. Mr Bakerjas* cided to place in one tower a peal of WJ while the other is to affixed! a-tjnj clock. Arrangements have been enterea into between the Premier andUM-A. ft Bartlett, of this city, to supply ado similar to the -omr placedJ>y_ him » the New Zealand Insurance Bu« f 8 years ago, in 1870.As tot^^j good trial now and has not been w Anting, the Tongans may' «^*gS that our townsman will SWL 0 L which will give every "™2£Ztt** clock will have all the including compen_ation pendulum. dial wilfte five feet. _The MjggJ to be supplied with a 3cwt W*": that ol the Auckland Town Clock ■ Th* '« Te Aroha and Ohinemuri Sfl^ by Mr Warden Northcroft. it says... , , pointment to this district has teen nearly every V^rffJvlT^ Monday last, in the face of *&£„&. severe weather, he personally^Jgjj eX . special claims applied ff<f^S Aroha and Waiorongomai; and the resu» visit has been we consider most^ ~ factory and of great ■£!&%£& this district, as shown to Jg J bTe at the sitting of the %™g*Stf& Aroha the following day *£fflj^ for special claims made b^Messrs» d and Gavin (Day Dawn, Waiorwg Jas. Don (Golden Crown, 4 to-the approval of £p£vgg ®fy Mines. The Warden also, m reply. Cotter, solicitor for theapg^ that if it was in his power to do .so ne grant tho application _ for the**» The Ipecial Claim •» *«g"ffi* &** "News" believes that the re J * grants will be to encourage theiawy of capital into the district. . . -v,. The a tt e ndahceattheGos#g^ service hold in the JWgg? e reoKarangahape ing ,was very good. Mr R. *$ nc c< % pra g;, A veteran .in the mSp"?' sen..gaveanaddressfull#J* o{ -ft ing Mib did several reminiscences . work in the days gone m ...- l#

ljsrTKerco, of this city, has very # Ge<_ *!L>d the question of why the should float over W effnd Government vessels oi this ifor Vhen there is a recognised New t&K £ Mr Pierce has published Wand &%• d a coloured represeni • T «£e Standard of New ZeaH*". % the following extract from U W oun of New faZealand, showlf^ B w the idea originated and on fcajr- h°ff.-, Z. nl] fchonty this can be claimed •» teen presented by the British i°* eV6lnt and accepted by the natives ; 6of _lw any vessel bearing a register *sthat2vo chief, countersigned by the KI R_ Sent at New Zealand and hoisfritishKe"" 8 d wUI be allowe d *SSSSi Majesty's ports, aud will """iwhert acknowledged and protected ty Ltnnate accident occurred on h\Z h S football match between the |A tS and tte Gordon 2nd. Mr CmV 11 nne of the Varsity backs, was j iDg3 weU, one o &nd coUarcd CJa vere bump on.the ; back of tho ■^ This was very early in the game.and T ia-t_ only felt a trifledazed at the time. l!ieP _f, ~ed on playing for the rest of the HeCltiS in excellent work for his side. rthS home quite safe, though his h r n om! could not understand his lightffflS and this continuing' Dr. Lewis MS in who pronounced it a case of '"Son of le brain. Mr Kingswell is COn-rrecovering from his shock, and we this morning is rather better. A very pleasing entertainment was given itheForesters' Hall.Newton, last evening £ Mr Herbert Smith, in the shape of a °y-„ of limelight views. The hall was Sed, showing that the quality of the exE and the low prices ot admission Appreciated. Besides the usual comic lies that form a necessary part of these J te tainments, Mr Smith took his audience Tins through London, Paris, America, S d Xtf ? h the Hot Lake district, S> before and after the eruption Ihe amusement closed with a ' splenIdreal waterfall,' 'the appearance of which Shailed with signs of evident admiration. 5Je show is to be repeated at the Ponsou by HaU next Friday evening. From all part 3of the country come denunciations of the Codliu Moth Bill. The Taranaki "lN Tews" says :—From a careful mtosol of the Bill we think thero is little Lb- but that the objections raised to it are fully sustained, and the wonder is how ,ach a measure passed through the Lower House unchallenged.

A pitiful case of filial ingratitude and cruelty was brought under the notice of the Footscray Bench yesterday (says the Melbourne "Argus"of tho 29th ult.), when jfary Lynch was charged with vagrancy. The poor old creature, who had seen her EOfch year, as she sat in the court was a picture oi helplessness and misery. Sergeant jiutledge stated that she had been found pandering aimlessly about some old cuarries. She was quits childish, and (ouldnot be left alone. She had married tons, and daughters living in different luburbs around Melbourne, but not one would trouble about her. One daughter, however, had gone to the trouble of recommending that her mother should receive a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment for vagrancy, although the poor old woman, the tergeant said, was very respectable and well conducted. The sergeant added that she lad no covering for her feet, and that her clothing generally was insufficient. She m sentenced to six months' imprisonment, in order that she might be properly cared

As a sign that Parnell is about to throw i the name of " Sleepy Hill," which was kiely given it by a wag, we may mention aong other improvements a fine, twoWied brick shop just erected opposite I John's Roman Catholic Church for Mr If. C Griffiths, butcher.- The style is ]___»_, the facade being in good taste, and n«tj striking. The shop and the apartments above it are spacious, lofty, and well ventilated. A special feature in the plan ol this buiJding is the cellarage, which j probably superior to anything yet 'proraed here. The cellar is very roomyand of great height, while the walls are of solid bluestone. The floor of this apartment is of the best concrete. The cellar is many feet • beneath the surface, and therefore the temperature winter and summer will be very even. The architects for tho building were Messrs Keals and Son, and the builder was Mr W. J. Ellingham.

The decorations for the Feast of Corpus Christi, and which remained up during the Sunday within the octave of that feast were of very elaborate character. The adornment of the main altar and tbe oratories was'tastefully done hy Miss; Kate Sheahan and Mr" Peter Kgnan, assisted by several joung ladies who are members of the Confraternities of the Guard of Honour of the Blessed Sacrament and the League of the Cross. Over the tabernacle on the high altar was a beautiful baldachino in white ah. crowned with a, golden crown. -The baldachino was exquisitely adorned With flowers in appropriate taste, due consideration having been given to contrast in the matter of colour. Prominent ■ amongst these flowers were some lovely white camellias, with which the front of the baldachino was bedecked, 'wero■was a wealth of flowers and pot Plants on the retable of the altar, and in front of the tabernacle was a beautiful veil '« satin. In front of the altar and raider the mensa there was a very handsome ftependium with the inscription in large golden letters " Venite Adoremus " (Come Wus Adore). The oratory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (this being the month defeated to the Sacred Heart) was also Wantifnlly decorated. A large amount of the well-known decorative skill of Miss oneahaTii and her fair assistants had Wdently been displayed upon it. m festival of Corpus Christi was insti'ited about the middle of the thirteenth Wnry.by a bull of Pope Urban IV. • «3 bull or proclamation was received and »Mn__i!d by the General Council of Vienne jpoliill in opposition to those who denied ms doctrine of the real presence. A proj^ionin Catholic countries takes place on Bm ,The feast of Corpus Christi We body of Christ), called in Italy Corpo given the name to the famous Mm college of Corpus Christi which *«Nl> in Catholic times.

Bojealis, or the Seaman's Star," was; gJ performed at Abbott's Opera House g| Mfchfc Tho attendance was not so rp a .might have been expected from the fc f S? e promised, tbe members of the je Brigade aloDe bein? present in fair aumbsrs The scenery, as painted JMf; Thornton, is very good. The «»ea.i3 is itself a fine scene, while b! .*atetwhcel and rocket apparent! 1S« lWe11 "presented. The various SJWferswere well sustained. Miss Daisy «ornton as "Kedah," the servant girl, SjJJgy *>» hfe of the piece. She was Sf 1? encored throughout the whole Miss Esdaile took the part _tt_tt 18 y*""' The other characters were gm__.follo.ws : _Simon Engleside, Mr ton. randar ;Ru Carroll, Mr N. Thornsv En Sl63ide. Mr Herman ; Joe Ll y,l "h" Robinson ; Captain Stone, Mr S V yW^-Mra Ashton ; Christopher, t^™^;-Augustus, Mr Ashton; %__roto3s- Mfs Rogers; Little Annie, to.:i 08* Andrews; Mrs Betty Engleside, 'Ba';Autlerson. tj^l George. Muller, by request, will Gjf ,Bif .nine in the Parnell Wesleyan D!p^.' er^ ls subject will be "Tho Power Bowl°i! dJ. ar >' neetlne of the Devonport lnpsod **■*eveßlng for

Tho Eureka Skating Rink was well patronised last evening. On Wednesday week a ladies' and gentlemen's race will take Elace for silver medals. It is intended to avo a grand fancy dress carnival in a few weeks.

This year's "Football Annual," edited by Mr H. C. Poulaen, is a very well-arranged and most comprehensive work, which we imagine will be found an indispensable portion of the library of every footballer in New Zealand. To show the scope and extent of the work, it may be mentioned that the book consists of close on a hundred pages, and deals with football matters in eight different divisions. The first part is devoted to a review of the last season's football in Auckland, the second and third to reports of Senior and Junior Rugby Union Clubs, the rules of the game, programme of Cup matches, etc. ; the fourth embraces several interesting articles on " The History of Football in New Zealand ;" the fifth, to Auckland representative matches ; the sixtb, to Auckland Football Association, with laws of the game, etc. ; the seventh embraces valuable hints on the Rugby and Association games ; and the concluding part is made up of records of football matches in all parts of the colony. Such is a bare statement of the plan of the work ; how well that plan has been carried out can only be learned by a careful inspection of tho book itself. Considering the completeness of the Annual, it is a matter of wonder how it could have been compiled and prepared iv the short time that the editor had at his disposal —the resolve to issue it having been arrived at about two months a<ro. The book has been very neatly got up at the Star Printing Works, and is embellished with two photographic plates, one containing the portraits of the Auckland "reps." of 1887, and the other the Ponsonby team, who last season won the Senior Cup. A humorous article, "The Intelligent Foreigner on Football," and a song, "Over the Goal," complete the contents of this valuable annual.

We have been shown by Mr H. Oberlin Brown a most ingenious little contrivance which he has invented for the purpose of holding in position the pages of book or sheet music, and which he has already patented in England, the United States and Canada. It consists of a holder of nickel, fashioned for adjustment tv a music rest in the same way as the metal ho deis at, present affixed to pianoforte music rests. The superiority of Mr Brown's holder lies in the fact that it yields to the slightest pressure from the side, and that once the pressure is withdrawn it reverts to its normal position. Conseq nently the player has only to hastily turn the leaf of his music, and the pairof holders yield at once to the fresh leaf, and on the hand of the performer being removed, keep the leaf in position. As these holders are on sale at Eady's at the very moderate price of 3s the pair, we anticipate a large sale for them.

The following incident is stated to have occurred recently at the Auckland Grammar School: —The science master asked the head boys in the class, "Can you explain the principle contained in'Dalton's atomic theory?" "No, sir," "No, sir," came in succession till reaching an atom of a boy at the end of the class. " Yes, sir. Please, s ir, it means the giving of a. second pair of trousers with each suit of clothes bought."

A meeting of fruit growers, at Bombay was held on Saturday night, June 9th, to discuss the Codlin Moth Bill—Mr G. White, junior, in the chair, Several spoke on the matter before the meeting, and some very warm expressions were made use of towards the members who had hurried such an iniquitous measure through the House. The meeting unanimiously agreed to forward telegrams to the Hon. Mr Swanson and also to the member for South Franklin that the Codlin Moth Bill be thrown out. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

As notified in our advertising columns, the Auckland Industrial Association have called a general meeting of members (to which the public are invited) for to-morrow evening at 7.30 o clock to consider the tariff proposals of the Government, etc. As this is the time when the tariff is largely discussed, we have no doubt buf what there will be a large and representative audience.

Captain Edwin wires at 1.30 p.m. today, "Expect north to west and southwest gale within next 12 hours. Glass further fall. Indications for rain."

Mr Hugh Campbell, of the legal firm of Russell and Campbell has just returned to Auckland from a visit to Wellington.

Last night Mr W. J. Ferguson,. the cele" brated Scotch lecturer, gave one of his popular entertainments in the Public Hall, Onehunga. A fair number of Scotch people assembled to listen to the songs and stories of their dear native land so ably delineated by Mr Ferguson, his humorous readings keeping the audience in roars of laughter. At the conclusion of the entertainment Mr Ferguson said he hoped at some future date to return to Onehunga and give them " A Nichtwi'Burns "—a hope which was reiterated by everyone present.

The second public meeting of the Progressive League was held in Robson's Rooms last evening when the room was crowded. The Chairman (Mr T. West) welcomed the visitors in a brief speech, after which Mr Farrington recited "The Charge of the Light Brigade," which was loudly applauded. Mr White then gave a very interesting address on "Woman's Suffrage," which was listened to . with marked attention, especially by tbe ladies, as he strongly advocated their cause. The amusing dialogue " The Heir at Law" was well given by Messrs Peet, Creath, and White. Readings were also rendered by Messrs W. Robson and Mack, "Lnequal Marriages." Mr C. T. Renshaw also addressed the meeting, his subject being "Gambling,' and he strongly condemned the various ways of gambling, especially that of the totalisator. Next Monday Mr W, Robson will continue the subject now before the League, namely "Socialism."

We have great pleasure in being enabled to chronicle the success of one of our Auckland young men of business —Mr J. H. Dalton, tailor, late of Victoria-street East, butnowof Queen-street. Mr Dalton, when he commenced business in a small way, determined to give the public who paid cash real value for their money, and he was enabled to procure his materials at the lowest cost. This plan has been so satisfactory that he has steadily built up what he proudly announces to be "a first-clas3 ready-money trade."

At their auction mart yesterday afternoon, Messrs Cochrane and Son sold a part ox the Mataitai block No. 6, situated at Ness Valley, Wairoa South, containing 26 acres and 3 roods, for £206.

Mr D. Wright gave an address last ovening at St. David s Presbyterian Church on the "Precious Blood," and will continue the subject this evening at 7.30. Considerable interest is being taken in the mission since its commencement on Sunday last, the attendance being in every case most encouraging. To-morrow (Wednesday), Mr Wright will give an address to mothers in the church at 3 p.m.

Isn't there enough trouble in this life without having misery in your boots ? Try Hannah's Gentlemen's Easy Fitting English Balmorals at 16s 6d. Ladies' Walking Boots from Anatomical Lasts. The Cash Boot Palace, 172, Queen-street.—(Advt.)

Wellington, this day. GEAR MEAT COMPANY, Directors of the Gear Meat Comnany, at a meetin" yesterday, declared r dividend for half-year ended Bin _ ef May often per cent,