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Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 252, 24 October 1893, Page 4

A very pleasing ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon at the Domain Cricket Ground, when a trophy—a nicely executed silver medal, with a batsman and name of winner engraved on it—presented by Mr Dymock to the Ramblers C.C. for the best fielding of last season, was awarded to Mr A. Mitchell. Mr Miles, Secretary, presented the medal to the successful winner, complimenting him on the prize he had won. This year there are three prizes offered for competition, for the best batsman, bowler and fielder, which no doubt will infuse much enthusiasm. It is also the intention of the Club to form a second team from the largely increased camber of members this season.

At a meeting of the Auckland Institute in the Museum Buildings last evening, a very intereebing paper on "The Piako and Waikato River Basins," by Mr Laurence Cußson, the well-known surveyor, was read. Id the course of the paper Mr Cussen dealt with the changes in the courses of the Waikato and Piako Rivers. It may nob be generally known that geological and topographical observations have shown that at one time the Waikato River debouched into the Frith of Thames. This is stated to be proved by the existence of waterworn valleys with terraced banks leading into the Thames Valley. The Waikato must at some not very distant age have changed its course through some great natural convulsion. It is also believed by many that in ancient days the great Waikato plain where - Cambridge aud Hamilton now stand, was a lake,, and that the waters of the great lake eventually forced a new passage to the Bea along the present course of the Waikato River. In his paper, Mr Cussen combats this belief, and also Dr. Hochstetter'B theory that the middle Waikato basin was, previous to the last elevation of the North Island, a bay of the sea, extending from the Hauraki Gulf far into the interior. He wenb on to say that if this were so, as the land gradually rose and the sea receded, tidal channels would have been left within the estuary through which the rivers and stroamo would continue to flow out of the basin to the sea in the Hauraki Gulf —that was, if no change of the surface took place to divert the natural course. "We find," continued Mr Cussen, "that the valleys where these estuarine channels might be looked for are filled with an alluvial deposit of the detritus of the volcanic country brought down by the Waikato River and placed in stratified horizontal beds as they could only be laid in very slowly moving or impounded water. The depth of those deposits varies considerably. In the Rukuhia swamp between Hamiton and Ohaupo they are from 50 to 70ft deep, in the Piako swamp from 40fb to 60fb, at Hamilton .from 40 to 70ft, and in the neighbourhood of Taupiri; the lowest point in the basin, ib is a remarkable fact that the deposit is lightest." Tho paper also dealt with the course of the Piako River. Mr Cussen, in the course of his paper, said that the whole topography of the country and the character of the alluvial deposits were all against the theory that the deposits were estuarine, and were laid there when the middle Waikato basin was an arm of the sea. Thero was no trace of marine deposits.

To the Editor: Sir, —Our attention has been drawn to a report in your issue of last evening of some remarks made by a Mr Sayera at Messrs Cochrane's mart yesterday. The real facts of the case are that Sayers agreed to buy the property from us aa agents, and paid us a deposit of £15, and the balance (£SO) to his solicitor, Edward Cooper, who levanted with it. The £15 baa been paid by us to the proper parties. We bave never had any interest in the property except as agents. Sayers' assertion that he has a deed is absolutely without foundation, but it is true that he has had possession of the property for over two years rent free. Thanking you for the nsertion of this explanation.—Wo are, tc.i Saml. Vaile and Sons.

The Auckland Orphans' Clab had a most successful meeting last night to terminate the session for 1893. An excellent programme had been arranged and all the items were rendered in a highly satisfactory manner, as testified by the hearty applause of thote present. There was a large attendance of members end visitors, including the officers of the warships now in porb. Mr T. Henderson, the President, occupied the chair and in a few valedictory remarks commented on the present high position the. Club had attained to since its inauguration and the great future it had before it. Songs were excellently rendered by Bros. Busby, Bell, Guilding,*Worrall and Leslie Dix, the lastnamed gentleman's performance eliciting prolonged applause and repeated encores. A zither solo was played with masterly feeling by Bro. Winkelmann, a pianoforte solo by Bro. Maxwell, and amongst the visitors who assisted Messrs Montague and Chambers contributed humorous readings and songs. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman and those who assisted, and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne " by all present brought the " meeting of the Orphans ' iov the present session to a close.

The Committee representing; the various denominations, appointed ab the united conference in regard to Scripture lesson books in schools, have agreed to hold a public meeting in the City Hall, on Tuobday evening, 7th November. The Committee, we are informed, will also issue a statement in a few days thab will entirely remove any suspicions of any sectarian or denominational intentions, advocating the lesson books on the ground of Christian patriotism.

The following articles have been donated to the Auckland Museum lately :—Mouse with enormously enlarged teeth, Professor Brown; eggs of bittern, P. F. Cheal; green lizard, A. Black; case of crystalline limestone, from a diamond-drill bore, at Ramo, Mr Bell; brecciated quartz with silver, from the Woodstock mine, J. A. Pond; two Maori spades, fern-pounder, kumara shovel, snare-stick (all found in the Mangawhero Greek), C. Shipherd; Indian Kookery, H. F. Wagstaff; copper coin, A. Peterson.

This morning Profn&BOr Pannell opened his swimming classes at the Albert-street baths with an invitation exhibition. A number of ladies were present. Mr Sb. Clair, Hon. Secretary of the New Zealand Swimming Association, gave an explanatory address on the art of swimming, and pointed out the advantages of bathing as a recreation and in saving life. Professor Pannell's display of fancy swimming was remarkably clever,- and included plunging, floating aud diving, besides other feats: This afternoon, at five o'clock, the exhibition will be repeated for gentlemen only.

The coming juvenile ball by Mrs Sowerby, in aid of the funds of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, comes off on November Ist. The Secretary of the Ladies' Benevolent Society says that they hope to get sufficient funds by this ball to enable them to give a large donation to the Baillie family.

The Governmenb has decided to order 70,000 rounds of Martini-Henry ammunition from Messrs Whitney, of Auckland. An order is also to be sent Home for a quantity of ammunition for big guns. This latter is in accordance with the recommendation contained in Colonel Fox's report.

The following will represent the Newton Cricket Club against the Butchers on the Domain to-morrow :—Row© (2), Hoyden (2), Holden, Winn, Cottingham, Colgan, Wood, Fountain. Emergencies: Vercoe, Smith, Holland. Aba meeting of the Auckland Boob Manufacturers' Association held lasfi evening, Mr T, Hodgson presiding, it was resolved, in consequence of a statement thab some operatives had been offered labour at " cutting rat«s," contrary to the local statemenb which has been in force for over two years, " thab as rumours are current thab some of the manufacturers who are members of thin Association are not adhering to the local statement, but are paying lower wages than that statemenb demands, this Association desires to state that they are unanimous in their determination to adhere strictly to the terms agreed upon."

We have just efiected some large purchases of clothing from the Kaiapoi Mills, at special " job " prices. These goods include boys', youths' and men's suits and trousers, and are all marked at specially low rates. We are the largest buyers of Kaiapoi clothing in the city.—Smith and Caughey, Queen-Btraeb.— (Advfe.)

Mr H. Roberts has applied for protection for a patent to be called Robert's Eureka Beer Cooler, for making beer and other drinks iced, and judging from the plan we have seen we are sure it will prove a great boon to hotelkeepers and others who may be desirous of giving beer and other drinks iced during the summer months.

Ab the Opera House this evening, the annual concerb of Mr S. Adams and pupils will be given. Orchestral items will be played by ab large band,. under the conductorship of Mr Adams, with Miss Edith Whitelaw as leader. Solo items will be contributed by pupils, and vocal items by Mies Rimmer, Mr J. Ferriday, and Mr A. S. Reid. The dress circle seats have been nearly all booked.

The full programme of Mr John Fuller's Wednesday night concerb, published to? day, is exceptionally attractive. It comprises songs by Mr Fuller, Mr P. Dufaur, Miss Featon, Miss Mabel Maxwell and others, the duets "In the Dusk of the Twilight" (Madame Favart) and "The Fisherman " will be features of the concerb.

Thab feeling of weariness so often experienced results from a sluggish con* dition of the blood. Ayer's Sarsaparilla strengthens and invigorates the system. I(j is a highly concentrated extract and economical to use.—(Advt.)

"Samples."—We have jusb secured a large manufacturer's stock of clothing samples. Men's suits, coats, trousers, and boys', knicker, sailor, and jeraey suits at a discount of 35 per cent less than usual prices. All picked patterns, and not two alike.—Smith and Caughey, Queen-streeb, —(Advb.)