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Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 101, 14 August 1893, Page 2

Chief Justico Seth-Smibh, of tho Native Lands Court, arrived to-day by the s.s. Ruahina from London, where he had gone in order to consult an eminent ophthalmist, Mr Smith appears to have benefited greatly by his rest and sea voyage. A youth named Thos. Honno3sy was arrested to-day by Detective Chrysfcal, on a charge of larceny of one bottle of scent, a patent elastic bandage, and a quantity of liquorice and gum, the valuo of 14s, the property of Messrs Sharland and Co., o) Lorne-streeb. A statement was published in our columns a short time since by Mr \V. Crowther, chairman of the Harbour Board, iaifjugning tho accuracy of Mr Napier's statement at a meeting of the Harbour Board, thab the Board epenb £2,400 a year in dredging operations rendered necessary by the discharge of city silt into the harbour, and Mr Crowther alleged thab a return had been made from which ib appeared that the expense of dredging .was £1,000 a year. Mr Napier informs us that he has extracted the rigures with regard to dredging tor the lasb ten years, with the result that tho Board has paid during that period for dredging £30,643, or an average of £3,064 per year. Mr Napier alleges that evon at bhis coab half bhe necessary dredging has nob been done, and he maintains bhat what was done was properly attributable alirost wholly to the silt discharged from- tho city.

The situation ab Birkenhead, as far as the land adjacent to the big slip is concernod, remains the same, and a continuation of fine weather is ardently hoped for, ias it will enable the earth already down to consolidate and harden. Although the Government has so far given no assistance bho matter is nob to bo allowed to drop. A vigorous agitation has been initiated ond pressure will bo brought to bear upon the Government with a view to get monetary or some Kind of assistance. The Foreman of tho Harbour Board wont over on Saturday and inspected tho place, and ho will submit an estimate of the cost of repairing the breastwork ab bhe next meeting of bhe Board. Wo understand that the Board will be asked to assisb to tho extont of the sum named in the estimate. At bho Harbour Board meeting on Tuesday Mr Withoford will move, "That bhe FDreman of Work 3 bo instructed bo secure without delay bhe base of tho land reclaimed on bho oast side of the Birkenhead Wharf."

Some important news was broughb up from Norfolk Island by the Auckland cutter ■Janet, which returned to port yesberday afternoon after a very smart round voyage. She broughb intelligence of two disastrous wreck?, particulars of which appear in another column. The cutter was to have loaded a full cargo of whale oil, bub as Captain Garth and tho crew of the wreckod schooner Mary Ogilvie wero desirous of getting to Now Zealand, she only brought up a small quanbity, devoting the remainder of the hold space to the accommodation of the shipwrecked mariners. The Melanesian Mission authorities expected two of their " boys " by the cutter, but Captain Mincham informs ua that they refused to embark, as bhoy thought thoy would mis 3 a return passage by tho mission schooner Southern Cross. The Janet proved horsolf to be such an excollent sea boat that ehe will probably be despatched hence to Norfolk Island again. Thore is still a large quanbiby of whale oil to be conveyed hither.

Yesterday afternoon a sacred concert was given in the City Hall by the Suburban Concort Company to assist the relief fund bung raised for Mrs Hendorson and her children. The dress circle and stalls were crowded, but only.a few patronised the pit. His Worship the Mayor {Mr W. Crowthor) presided, and made some introductory remarks previous to the concert programme being given. He thanked the Concert Company for their set vices, and the audience tor their patronage, and went on to cay with what was already subscribed and the proceeds of the concert (£2O), the amount would co into the second hundred pounds. Trustees had been appointed for the fund, aud he hoped they would see that it was carefully expended over a series of years, so that Mrs Henderson and her children might get the most benefit from it. It would be easy if a woman wero put into a shop or business, of which sho knew littlo, to lose tlio money subscribed. He had seen that sort of thing before. The chairman stated that Miss Webley was set down on the programme to give a recitation, "The Amen Corner," but sho was unable to be present. Miss Ruby Clifford, who happened to be amongst the audience, subsequently offered to give the item, which she did to thogratitieation of the audience. The following programme was creditably rendered :—Overture, "Ora Pro Nobis," Hunter's Artillery Band; song, "Honour and Arms," Mr F. Dryland ; song, " Children's Home," Miss E. L. Featon (violin oblipato by Mr Davis) ; 'cello solo, "Oh, Rest in the Lord," Mr C. B. Plummor; recitation, "The Amen Corner," Miss Ruby Clifford ; song, " Consider the Lilies," MrH. Tytherleigh ; song, selected, Miss V. Plumraer ; trio, " Andante from Trio in A Flat"—pinno, Mrs McLeod ; violin, Mr Davis; 'cello, Mr Pltnnmer ; song, " The Toilers," Mr A. L. Edwards ; song, "Calvary," Mrs A. R. Hunter (with orchestral accompaniment) : violin solo, Mr W. Davis; song, " Angels Ever Bright and Fair," Miss B. Harvey : sonir, " Rocked in the Cradlo of the Deep, MrF. Dryland. At the close, the hymn, " Brief Lifoia Here our Portion," was sung by the performers and audionco. Mrs McLeod and Miss A. MeIlhono played tho accompaniments. Mr Abbott gave the uso of the hall free, the piano was lent by Hoffman and Sons, and the organ by the Young Men's Christian Association.

The matron of the Jubilee Kindergarten returns thanka for the following donations : —Broad : Messrs Wallace and Nairn, Mrs Smith and Mrs Dollen. Meat: Messrs Salmon, Fentou, -fieri g'oiv Kilgour, Lampkin, Hellaby and Mrs'McNaughton. Milk from I ho London Dairy daily. --Vegetables : Mrs Kemble and Mrs Sutcliffo. Potatoes from Mr Canhaia ; rolls from a friend.

A party of special settlers for Taranaki who have come out to the colony through the agency of Mr Courtney, arrived by the Iluahine from London to-day. Some facts with regard to this movement are given in our leadiDg columns. Tho passages of the new settlers from London to Auckland, which were classed as "intermediate," cost from 16 to 20 guineas. On arrival here this morning, the passengers under Mr Courtney's guidance were met on the steamer by Mr J. E. March, Superintendent of Government Settlements, who had been sent up to Auckland specially by the Government in order to meet the new-comers and givo them all the information they needed regarding lands opon for settlement, etc. Mr March, who is well qualified from hi 3 long oxperience to givo the new arrivals an insight into the exigencies of agricultural life in New Zealand, gave the intending settlers much information regarding Taranaki, the quality of the land, wa#es ruling for farm-hands, ate, during to-day. This evening he accompanies them as far as Onehunga, where they take steamer to New Plymouth. There aro now four parties engaged in whaling at Norfolk Island, and news brought up by the cutter Janeb yesterday would tend to show that the season is likely to prove a lucrative one. Although tho vessel only brought to hand a consignment of somo 12 ton of oil, that was not the full quantity of cargo available, and the amount had to bo curtailed to provide passenger accommodation. Whales have been seen in large numbers disporting in the vicinity of the Island, and tho eighb boats engaged in the business have had some good hauls. Tho work is not without danger, however, and already this season one whaleboat has been smashed to small pieces by a very big fish, while another lost about 70 fathoms of line besides the prospect of another levialhan. These casualties were not attended with any loss of life. From advices received by the San Francisco mail we learn thab Dr. Carl Fischer, of Sydney, and formorly of Auckland, who went to Chicago to attend the medical congress and exposition, died on Juno 23rd of gangrene of the leg and erysipelas. The Hon. Dr. Renwick, the Now South Wales Commissioner, cabled to Mrs Watson, the daughter of the deceased, and roceived instructions to have the burial in Chicago. The New South Wales Commissioner, conducted the funeral at Rose Hill. The members of the Ponsonby Navals engaged in the leather and wood trades fired a match with the members of other trades combined on Saturday afternoon. After some exciting shooting tho combined trades won by one point. Both teams had 10 men with 5 shots each at each of the three ranges. Petty-officer Ewan topped the combined's score with 53, whilst Petty-officer John Spinley scored the highest with 57 for the losers. A team of 10 men, representing the Auckland Navals, beat by 162 pointa an equal number of City Engineers.