Our Local Budget.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1317, 31 July 1860, Page 5

Our Local Budget.

The Meeting op Chiefs. — Preparations are being actively made for the assembly of friendly natives. It is to be presumed that "flour and sugar" will reign Again predominant for a time, and that we shall have to pay. We have no desire, however, to raise the old cry again. If we must invite them, we must give them ■omething. They would give us a potatoe, in one of their own pas. All that we ask is, that there should be no ostentation of hospitality on dur side — no gluttony on theirs. Let us not take pattern by the profusion of a Maori feast, but supply their real wants, amply, yet decently. They are to take up their quarters at Kohimaiama, (Bishop's Bay). Two buildings, (we speak without having taken the trouble to verify particulars), each 100 feet by 16, have been contracted for, to become the property of the builder after the lapse of two months ; a kitchen of corrugated iron, and a wooden store for supplies. Mattrasses and other articles of necessity are ordered. It is also said that a cook and steward are engaged ; this expense, however, would probably tend to economy, in the prevention of waste. — June 29. The Depasture of the Mail. — The close of the month has become in Auckland a season for everybody to be very unsettled, very busy, very anxious about nothing, very fond of gossiping, and then on the departuro of the mail steamer to relapse into a state of exhaustion. The front of the post office during the short interval allowed for receipt and answer of letters is a place where Leech or Doyle might find a few good studies amongst the anxious group. There is the man who is sure to get letters, and would rather not get them, the man who wants to get letters which never arrive, the unfortunate clerk who as he carries away the mighty pile dolefully calculates how many hours it will take to answer them all, and his chances of getting away from his office for the next three days before midnight ; then there is the angry man, who swears there must be a letter, and takes it as a personal affront when the clerk at the window tells him there is none. Near the Post Office are men reading their letters, while philosophical lookers on are amusing themselves by conjecturing from the expression of their faces, whether the kindness of their correspondents at home is of the remitting or unremitting order. Lastly trying to get through the crowd are many of the fairer half of the community looking rather alarmed and unable to edge through the crowd, which we are sorry to say does not treat them always with the courtesy which would make a similar crowd in America spontaneously open up a lane to the window for any female, instead of permitting her to elbow and jostle her own way. And so things go on till the mail is just going out, when one if inclined to think that their must be some law obliging everybody in Auckland to put off writing till the last moment. At last the gun fires at the end of the wharf, and Auckland is itself again for a short time, when bets begin to be exchanged as to when the next mail will arrive. — Ibid. Lower Queen Street.— This part of the town ii getting every day into a worse state, and is rapidly becoming a hot-bed of pestilence. The decaying vegetable matter from the burnt-down mill is thoroughly mixed into the natural mud of the atreet, and the late mini have converted the whole into a ilough of despond which stinks aloud on being stirred. The " Abericad Clips " recommended by the swell in Punch some time back for wearing on the nose, whilst riding in the neighbourhood of the Serpentine, would be found very useful to any adventurous individual bound toward* the wharf, for the " effluviob is really awful." Typhui fever and its companions muit be gradually generating, and great fears are entertained for the health of those residing in the neighbourhood. Something ought tobe done. At one- time there wai a Health Officer in Auckland, and it would certainly have come within his province to recommend to the Government even an unauthorised expenditure of public money in a case of emergency, where time is important, and the health of everybody at stake. There seems, however, at present to be no one to perform the duties of that officer, and it is probable that even if these were, no money would be forthcoming out of the public chest for the purpose. The state of the town at present is one fruit of the reckless, and useless expenditure of provincial funds during the last few years. It is gratifying at the same time to.see that some residents in Queen-,, street have not remained perfectly apathetic. Those residing on the east side have, by private subscription, done something towards bridging their side of the mud ; and it is possible *with care to "move about in that quarter. The evil however remains, deluging rains, no drains and the money spent -whioh should have gone towards building them. — Ibid. , * < The Weathjsb.— Not even that high authority the oldest inhabitant remembers such a fall of rain as that which we have lately had. From, all' accounts, however, it is calculated on the whole to be 'beneficial to farmers; though; of course, there, must be, individual sufferers. The extraordinary drought which, prevailed so" long rendered something more than' mere showers necessary to, refreshen the earth, , which ''»V 'the commencement of these' rain's was isr dry 'as brickdus'fc a short distance below the surfaced An extraordinary remedy iwas necessary, and,wehavehadit. "Low lying farms have suffered, but on hill-sides and slopes there: Hoc been'»lmo»t » spring growth of grassland should * dry summer follow, the filling up of swamps and water holes will be found to have been almost fortunate cii^ cumstance for; those who; are now tlamenting the ■ riun.

Dfrtqttfe hM, yeie»r;,been done on some, farms jwhere wh^fk^l t&lfoWj «&;hop<ttiai it'U o v«rr»ted. /G^t ai the ,qii«ntity of^in'hM been 'the aoil was neVe"? id^ft better state to absorb* it jfSnd, should we' •hojrtly lifcre^ bright wenther, ihe country will soon! nut in'itt lipriiig 'dre«s. ! Sheep have ; in some" instance*,, suffered, and cases of foot-rot have been mentioned to v* as ocourring.atnongjt »tock in low.-lying paddocks, and the constant wet has proved trying to most floctts ; bift our stock farmer* will not in all probability be loser* in the long run by the winter of 1860. — Ibid. Mbktino Op Maori Chiefs.— The following natives have arrived in Auckland :— From Wellington, Porntu, Hemi Parai, Manihera (Maunsell).' From the Wairarapa—Baniera to Iho, Te Wereta Kawekftirangi, Ngatuere, Wi waka, Te Koronehe, and 2 other*.— From, JTuranga, Poverty Bay — Waaka Perohuka, Tamati Hapimana, and Tamihana. From the East Cape— Wiremu, Wikiriwhi, Te Irimana. From the Bay of Islands— Tamati Waaka Neve, Wiremu Han, Wiremu Tete, Wiremu Kaitara, Mangonui) Tango Hikawai. Many more are expected in the Victoria to arrive in ihe next few days from Wanganui via Wellington, Hawkei Bay, and East Coast generally. Mr, McLean may be expected by the same opportunity. — July 3. Thb Laik Fire.— ln reference to the fire of Thunday night last, we have to correct an error into which we fell in our notice published the following morning. One engine unmintakeably distinguished itself on the night in question, and it was generally supposed to be the barrack engine. It proves, however, on enquiry to have been the No. I.— Cadman; Captain. The origin of the mistake was the following : — No. 1. was at the fire at an early hour, but in consequence of a "kink" in the hose, had to remove to the rear in order to be set to rights, and just as this had been done, and it was in working order, the Barrack engine came downShortland Crescent. Those not near enough to distinguish, of course concluded that the effeotire streams of water which immediately succeeded, 1 came from the newly arrived engine, whilst in reality they proceeded from the recovered invalid, which just then was beginning* to play on the fire. — Ibid.