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Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 286, 2 December 1889, Page 2

The Inspector of Mines has been sont from the Thames to Puhipuhi to make a further report on the recent discoveries. The only reason the Government do not proclaim the district at once is that seven thousand acres of valuable kauri were burnt last year, and they are anxious to protect the forest as much as possible, and not throw it open to the incursions of miners until the existence of a real field is provod.

Mr Witheford has written to Wellington regarding immediate stops being taken to ascertain the vnlue of Puhipuhi lodes, and suggesting, ss private peoplb are not allowed to put on rnori, that the Government ehould otnfiloy a selected staff of minors, who -might also act in tho dual capacity of rangers as well as prospectors. When Mr Witheford was at Wellington during the session, the Premier expressed hie approval of the Geological Department giving practical assistance in developing goldfields, and there is now a big: Hold for colonial geologists to enter. .Professor Parkes, of the Thames School of Miuen, is an efficient fiei'.l and should be despatched with a dozen good miners to Puhipuhi. Their practical investigation and testa would be accepted by the public and tho Government, while the information afforded by Professor Parkea would be of colonial interest, and by obtaining it now, serve a double purpose.

At Rotorua, the Native Land have just given their decision regarding the ownei*shlp of the valuable Wlmbarewarewa block, of 1,144 acres, which includes the most valuable andatfcroctivc springs and geysers in the Hot Lakes district. Tho ciuiiniug tribe were the Ngatiwabiao and tho coun-ter-olairaants the Ngabiwhakaue._ The decision was in favout ot the Ngatiwhakaue, v/ho get about four-fifths of the block, including half of the springs. The remaining portion is awarded to the Ngatiwahiao. Those two hapns, though of the common ancestor, " Whakaue," severed their landed interests sh; generations ago, and since that time have been in frequent opposition. Their most recent contest for Whakarewarowa was a determined struggle. Tho decision does not give satisfaction to the Ngatiwahiao, who will probably apply for a rehearing.

On Saturday an inquest was held at Gleeson's Hotel, Customs-street, before Dr. Philson, coroner, on the body of Jaincs Petersen, the man who was iound a few days ago drowned in Lawson's Crock, near Hobsonville. William Scarlett who found the body in the water), James Bycroft, Robert Petersen, and Sergeant A. Garke gave evidence regarding the finding of the deceased. A verdict of " Found drowned " was returned. •

Sir T. Esmonde and Mr John Dillon arrived at Christchurch yesterday afternoon from Dariield, where they stopped over Saturday night Father O'Donneil. They were met at Riccarton by the Reception Committee and driven into town in Bishop Griines's carriage. There was no public demonstration, brit a considerable number of Irishmen waited on the delegates at Barrett's Hotel, where they are staying They visit the Catholic schools to-morrow morning. Mr Dillon speaks at the Theatre Royal to-morrow night, and Sir T. Esmonde at Lyttelton on Tuesday.

Among the passengers from Melbourne to Danedin last week were a delegation from the Grand Lodge of Druids 111 Victoria, comprising President B°yd> Bros, John Bovd and G. S. Bronnan. Though the object of the delegation is primarily to assist in establishing a district grand lodge for Canterbury, they will make a lengthened stay in New Zealand, and took an official part in the festivities connected with the Exhibition opening. The delegates trill visit Auckland.

The amount passed through thetotalisator on Saturday at the Takapuna Jockey Club's Spring Meeting was £3,839.

A small fire was discovered at 6 a.m. on Sunday behind Mr Bruce's in Wakefieldstreeb by Miss Motcalfe. W. Metcaife woke the neighbours and a few buckets of water soon mado all right. Very little damage was done, except pait of the fence belonging to Mr Skinner's shops. Five minutes more and there would have been a big fire with tho wind that was blowing.

"The Ruling Passion" was repeated for the last time on Saturday evening by Bland Holt's Company. There was a large attendance, and the audience applauded voci ;; feronely as tho various sensational scenes were depicted. Tonight "The -Union Jack" will be repeated .by special request, and will bring what has proved a most successful season to a close.

Mr W. G. Garrard, the well-known dogcollector, called at this office to-day and showed half a brick which he says was heaved at him and his wife yesterday morning about half-past one. Had it not struck the iron post of the verandah, iVir Garrard thinks it would surely have hib one or both of those it was aimed at. Mr Garrard says he saw the party and intends to take proceedings.

A very pleasant " Nicht in Auld Scotia" should be spent this evening with the talented Baimafather family of Scotch vocalists in the Foresters' Hall, Newton, by all canny Caledonian lovers of a good Scottish song, a well-danced fling and ti " pawkily "-told yarn unenb the land o' culiod and its douca inhabitants. Tiie programme is a most attractive one, mid includes a variety of songs by Miss Etta and Lhs Maggie Bairnsfafchor, and Mr and Maxtor Bairnsfather, whilo Scotch dances, recitations and well-told stories illustrating' the wit and humour of blio nation make up s>. really meritoriouu performance, well worth patronising.

To the Editor: Sir,—On Friday, I had occasion to no to Newmarket on business and procured a eooond class return ticket to Auckland, for whiuii I paid 5s sd. On

getting out of Newmarket, i was compelled to pas' single fare from I'apnkura, 2s sli, and la fine for bru veiling without a Ih'h't, idthougli the guard took up from me half ol the return ticket which I held. On returning to I'upakuru by the next train 1 was ajxain compelled to pay 2* 5d single .'ni-e fi-om Nowmarkci, although I held the second part of tho return ticket. Sir, these facts apeak lou-Uy for themselves. What am the Railway Itaform League tkiiwff! —Yours, etc., It. J. L. BiSNSON.

The " Northern Advertiser," in a lengthy article on •'The Kauri," says: " Ib is ascertained that tlio felling and removal of tho U'ogs to tho mills, and the sawing end dressing of the timber, give employment to between 2,500 and 3,000 workmen, and that the digging and preparing tho gum for export employs o.cOO more. The annual export or kauri timber of late years has averaged about one hundred millions superficial feefc, of which eij>'iiiy million foot were in sawn timber, the nrodnc'i ot twenty-one sawmills in various parts of the I'i.-irict, the re.st being exported in log or baulk. It in estimated thuti the quantity Oi kauri loft standing in our for.!-t,5 to-day approximate* two thousand million feet, which, at present rate of cutting, it v.-ili take twenty years to oxhnufit. Efforts arc being made to establish a regular trade in knnri pine between Auckland and Britain, and with, we beiievo, a fair amount of success so far. We trubt theao eiibnt? v. ill not: bo relaxed, .•is vo aro convinced that, when once the timber cotue.s to bo woll known in tho mother country, such a demand for ifc will aiirs as will glaclfUn the hearts of irbe owners of kuuri foroats, and will give a bounding and permanent impetus to the industry."

There is some possibility of a rttthor novel case; coming before the Court shortly, bays tho VVangauui " Herald." A week or more ago a man named I'razer was sentenced to a IQi fine or 48 hours for drunkenness. When he got out of gaol ho consulted a solicitor as to whether, when the Justices had not said " hard labour," in sentencing him, he ought to have been placed in the hard labour iinnff. The result of his consultation is that MrHutchinson willprobably bringtheaction alluded to. From what we can gather it is customary to lcavo the matter of hard labour entirely to thedi-cretionof the Magistrates, but the whole thing in this cases hinges on the point as to whether or not the actual words were made ueo of, and if not, whether they had the power to insort them in the warrant of committal. The Justices interested are Messrs J.T. Stewart and James Tho in.

Mr Davis, the popular representative of Scott's Emulsion in Australasia, leaves to day by the Alameda en route to Europe. Mr Davis' departure will be sincerely regretted by hosts of friends and well-wishers in Auckland, who one and all assembled to-day to wi?h him bon voyage, his health being drunk in bumpers ot choice wine.

The usual entertainment in connection with the Total Abstinence Society was held hist Saturday evening in the Temperance Hall, ■■when Mr J. C. Robinson occupied the chair. The programme was provided by members of the Star of Newton Lodge, 1.0/jK'K I ., and other friends. The items were n's follows :~Seleci ion, Lee's Strinjr Band ; eong, " Remember and Forget," Mrs Mills; lecitatiou, "The Bridge of Lovo," Miss Smyth ; eonjr, "Apart," Airs Porter ,• piano solo, Miss Pilchard ; recitation, " Ben Bobbins," Miss Gardiner ; sonfi , , "Miss Pilchard; violin solo, JVJr Hood; recitation, "A Real English Custom," Mr M. Cook ; (comic), " The Cork Leg" (encore), Mr Lighbfoob ; recitation, Mrs Anctorson ; song , , " Thy Face," Miss Chase; reading, "How Hess Got in with the Landlord," Mr Lighfcfoot ; song, "The Kong that Reached My Heart," Miss IV Smyth. • The programme closed with a selection by the Band. Mrs Mills, Misses Tretnain and Pilchard played the piano accompaniments.

A venturesome voyage to Australia was undertaken on the 12fch of September lasfe from London by a Mr J. S. Englebart, in a lifeboat named the (Storm King. The boat is a remarkable one in its construction, known as Jorgenson'a patent, and its occupant.seems to be an admirer oJ the hardihood of Captain Jorgenson, who is now also on his way to Melbourne from London in a similar craft, it is a decked boat intended for ships' use, and can "be lengthened or shortened as required, according to the number of persons to be saved, and although it can be made a very large boat, it can bo easily placed any whore on board 'a veeeeli as each 3a*ion can be made large or smg.ll, sons to Being divided into several watertight compartmentß, it is said to be unshikable. The route proposed to be taken by thi3 daring sailor is to Cape Town via Madeira, thence across the Southern Ocean—not, it may be hoped, along the " roaring forties " —to Australia, thence to Now Zealand, to Valparaiso, through the Straits of Magellan to Buenos Ayres, Pernambuco, and to New York. The Storm King arrived at Madeira after a lively time across the Bay of Biscay, and resumed her voyage to the Cape of Good Hope. Do not bo " a penny wise and a pound foolish," bub ask for and buy Brown, Barrett, and Co.'s genuine pepper. It is cleaner and cheaper than the adulterated stuff sold as pepper. To make sure of getting our manufacture, ask for tins. Every tin bears our guarantee. —Brown, Barrett, and Co., Coffee and Spice Manufacturers.— (Advt. )

Deception is the order. Sulphuric acid preparations are being sold as limejuice, instead of having Renshawe Rarotonga Lime Fruit Juice. This is guaranteed pure.—(Advt.)

Tho "Church Gazette" for December, published by MessrsUptonandCo., contains information of interest on church matters. It is stated that a meeting of the Standing Committee has been held to consider a case submitted to it concerning the election of Primate, but, owing to an informality in the case submitted, the meeting had to be adjourned. The annual festival of the Girls' Friendly Society is to be held at Bishopscourt on Saturday, 2lst inst. The Diocesan Missionary reports a very successful, though laborious, month's work. Reference is made in feeling terms to the death of Mrs Busby, widow of the first British resident official of New Zoalnnd. The paper read by Mr Wm. Duncan at the late Conference of Laymen on "The Relation of the Church to Social Reform" is published in extenso to the Gazette.

The murder which was committed on the ]6th ultimo is still baffling the police, although they have been making a most keen search all over Sydney. It was committed in a most peculiar way. The victim, a young single man, named Henry Blackman, aged 23, living at Redfern, was standing at the' corner of Devonshire and Hiley streets, Surrey Hills, about eleven o'clock at when he was stabbed by some man unknown with a large butcher's knife, and died within a couple of minutes. The knife had been taken from a shop near by. At the time Blackman was seen to fall, two men were noticed making off as fast as they could, but they escaped, and no trace has yet been found of the assassin. , Blackman had been in company with several men, with whom he had visited numerous publichouses and had drinks. One of these men, named Crosley, has been arrested, but denies all knowledge of the affair.