MISCELLANEOUS. [From July 2 to August 1.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3134, 2 August 1867, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS. [From July 2 to August I.]

The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Agricultural Society was held on July 2nd at Otahuhu, when a motion, involving the question of protection, or free trade was discussed and negatived. The schooner / Mariner^' which arrived on July 2nd, brought up' the chief officer, four seamen, the. cook, and two passengers of the wrecked barque •Torquil/ which was runashore in Spirits Bay, North, Cape. His Excellency the (governor, accompanied by hi* prirate secretary and aide-de-camp, left -Auckland on July 3y in H.M. s. 'Charybdis,' for Welling, ton. The following gentlemen also left the same day to attend to their legislative duties at Wellington ; —Colonel Peacocke, M.G A., Mr. O'Rorke, M.G.A., his Honor the Superintendent, M.G.A., Mr, Dignan, M.G. A., Mr. Farmer, M.G. A., Mr. Carleton, M.G. A., Mr. Bartley, M.G.A., Mr. Clar*, M.G.A., Mr. O'Neill, M.G.A., Mr. Ball, M.G.A., Mr. Graham, M.G.A;," Major Heaphy, V.C.., M.G.A. On July . 2 the Howick troop of Royal Cavalry Volunteers mustered on the Village Green for parade, and, after most oreditably executing tha usual evolutions, the yearly capitation fee was paid. The annual dinner took place in the evening, at Brady's Hotel, when a most sumptuous repast was served up and done full justice to. Toasts, songs, and sentiments were afterwards given, and the troop dispersed at a seasonable hour, after spending a very agreeable evening. Our Ngaruawabia correspondent writes as follows : — ' ' Most persons who travelled in the Waikato about six months ago were surprised at the almost entire absence of birds. With the exception of an occasional solitary hawk, they seldom caught sight of any of the feathered tribe. But it is different now : it is really a pleasure to travel, as you are no longer lonely. From nearly every clump of fern on passing you are saluted with a chirp of welcome, or of fear, by » ■mall bird,, similar to a green linnet, but of a smaller species, reminding one strongly of home and its pleasant lanes, and hedges. If they increase in the same proportion, im a short time the Acclimatisation Society will find their occupation gone as far as tha importation of insectivorous birds is concerned, aa these birds,, I am infor med, ate almost entirely insectivorous. They also devote themselves to the destruction of the blight on fruit trees, which is very much on the inorease in numerous localities. The only annoyance from our little friends will be when the fruit ripens, as they are somewhat epicurean in. their tastes, and only select the choicest parts, spoiling theremainder. This however can be easily guarded against. I have been credibly informed that at the Thames, the Taupo country, Napier, and the Bask Coast generally, these birdsare exceedingly numerous. The pheasants are also increasing, and may continually be heard, and occasionally seen. As the salmon ova experiment has proved a sue* cess in Australia, it is to be hoped that before long our Acclimatisation Society will turn their attention to introducing this appetising fish into our rivers. The Waikato appears peculiarly adapted from the strength of its current, and clearness of its water — qualities whioh distinguish the rivers which are the favourite resort of the salmon at home. There is also easy access to a number of lakes, with sandy bottoms, which render them precisely suitable for breeding grounds." July 4 being Independence Day of the Great Republic, those of our oitzens who are Americans, or have American "proclivities," decorated their places of business with that "star-spangled banner" which has covered such unexampled national energy and progress, and also so much national crime. A number of American citizens met at noon at Mr. Darby's Thistle Hotel, where the health of the President of the United States was proposed and duly honoured, Mr. J. W. Bain, United States Consul, in a short pithy speech, referred to the advantages of Republican institutions, as shown in the fact that the present President was a self-made man, and had from a tradesman raised himself to a position of which many hereditary Emperors might well be proud. He hoped that every true Amerian. citizen, wherever he lived, would duly celebrate the 4th of July. The fifth of a series of entertainments arranged to be given during the present winter at the Young Men's Christian Association took place on July 4, and attracted a very large and respectable audience. The chair was occupied by Mr. S. Hague Smith : and Mr. Stretton presided with his accustomed ability at the pianoforte. The entertainment comprised solos, duets, and choruses by aome of the principal amateur vocalists of Auckland, under the skilful conductorship of Mr. Westmoreland, and recitations by well-known talented gentlemen. In accordance with announcement, a meeting of the ratepayers of Mount Albert Highway District took place on July 4, at 4 o'clock, at the Whau Road Schoolroom, Dr. Thomas Aickin in the chair. There was a large attendence of residents in the district. It was resolved not to alter the boiuidaries of the district. Another lecture on the preparation of flax was delivered on July 4, by Mr. S. Brown. Mr. Mason occupied the chair. The lecture comprised a description of the various methods of preparing flax from tin green fibre, with practical illustrations of the same, showing the ingredients required, &c. The lecturer showed how a payable article, whioh would meet with a ready sale, might be easily produced, and afford employment for the unemployed. A specimen of matting, manufactured out of hackled flax, by Mr. Greenwood, of Otahuhu, was exhibited, and much admired. A vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer at the close. An entertainment was given on July 8 at the Oity Mission by members of the Auckland Band of Hope, and was extremely well attended., t Mr. J. Watson Bain has been re-elected chairman of the City Board for the next twelve months, at a salary of £150. A meeting of journeyman tailors was held at the Queen's Ferry Hotel, Vulcan-lane, on July 8, for the purpose of taking steps for the formation of a benefit society in connection with the trade. A meeting in reference to the erection of a public hall and assembly-room for the North Shore was held at Mr. Cock's Masonic Hotel, North Shore, on July 8. £70 was subscribed in the room for the purpose, and a board of directors appointed. Owing to the inciease in the price of flour, the bakers of Auckland have determined to raise the price of the 21b. loaf to 4|d. Correspondents from all parts of the province— from the coast settlements north and south, and from the Upper Waikato— have written lately about the appearance in their neighbourhood of flocks of a small bird, whioh has been named the blight bird, as it is supposed to feed on the blight that destroys so many of our fruit trees. If this be so we bid the tiny stranger welcome for its usefulness. Even our readers in Auckland, "in populous city pent," mtwt have noticed this bird making cheerful the dingy gum trees in dirty back yards. We have abundance oJ birds in the forests of this province, and on our swamps, rivers, and coasts; but hitherto we have been deficient in what may be termed "social" birds, of which the common house sparrow is the bestknown home type. It may be that these pretty little birds heard that we had established an Acclimatisation Society, and came, thinking that they would be well used, to aid us against the insect tribe that seemed to be getting too strong for us. And we hope they will be kindly treated, and regarded as tabued from every disturbance and molestation. In the meantime, we have, nfeyer yet seen a quite satisfactory account of where they have come from, what are their habits, and if it may be feared that they will Jfoon' go away again, , and disappear ai "mysteriously as they have ,come. The case of Rosie v; Bain passed through its last "stage aiitheSupreme Court on July 9, when a perpetual was issued;against the City Board, prohibiting them," from cutting down or in any manneraltering, the level, of "Drake-street in, front of 4jhe 'land of the plaintiff." This; would seem to_.Jbe stringent enough. Defendants were ordered tolpay the costax>f the'action. \ • , .. ?i , •V The' council 6f the Northern Assoofafyra^nd ■B*fornileTjsrmet at 'Mr; S. CpchranV. xaontt, Toft-street*- pn -M^i JS& ' thetfVe're "s*•■*» *M*. V< tf.' Mitchell, $mh«

dent, in the chair, and seven other members. The meeting had been convened to receive the resignation of members «nd fill up vaaanoies, bnt no resignation! were sent in. The secretary reported that a meeting had taken place in Newton, on Wednesday last, for the purpose of forming a branch League, and that an adjournment had taken ,place until Wednesday evening. Dr. Merrett gave notice of motion for next meeting, that a quarterly financial report should be prepared, and submitted to. the council. The League alto held a meeting on Wednesday, July 10, in Neirton, when Mr. TOilkes was elected chairman of the Newton branch, and Mr. Cottiogham a member to represent the branch at the meetings of the Council of the League. Several other meetings of the League have been held during the month. An entertainment was given on July 8 at the City Mission by members of the Auckland Band of Hope, and was extremely well attended. Mr. Watson concluded the proceedings by observing that a day-school had been opened for children, at 6d. per week, and where four came from one family, Is. 6d. A penny bank had also been started, and was progressing favourably. There was also a school for adults, and a library ; and a temperance club was about to be opened by females. The declaration of the polls in the late double election for the Northern Division took place on July 6\ at the polling-place, Takapuna. Mr. T. Macfarlaue was declared duly elected as member of the House of Representatives for the division, and Mr. Dacre as member of the Provincial Council. A debate took place on July 9 in the Newton Hall on "Moderation and Teetotalism," before a very large audience. At the close of the discussion the meeting declared itself unanimously in favour of teetotaliim. Mr. Joseph Case, of Wakefield-street, has recently furnished some excellent specimens of handicraft in ironwork, for the doors of the New Supreme Court House. The facings, mountings, and handles are of novel design and exquiiite finish. The letters of our Opotiki correspondents in another column complete the narrative of the circumstances attending the murder of Mr. Bennett White and Wi Popata* The bodies bad been found, in a shockingly mutilated condition, with the flesh sliced off, probably for the purpose of cannibalism. All doubt is now at an end as respects the fats of Beggs and Moore, the bodies of these men having been found in a frightful condition, and brought into camp. Nor does the tale of horrors from this unfortunate place end here. One man had been burned to death in his whare, and another drowned in the Waioeka, in one of the expeditions. It would appear now to be quite certain that these four murders hare been committed by men of the Uriwera tribe, inhabiting the wild mountainous country at the back of the Opotiki plains. A meeting of the shareholders in the Devonport Public Hall Company was held at the Masonic Hotel, North Shore, on July 15. A site was selected for the Hall on a piece of land belonging to Mr. Duder, near Mr. Seddoes's ship-building yard. The shareholders met again on July 22 at the Masonic Hotel, when directors, treasurer, and secretary were appointed. There are now 150 shares taken, and we presume that, as soon as plans and specifications can be prepared, the hall will be proceeded with. We are informed that it is the intention of Government to make the necessary provision for the distribution of rations to the destitute poor of Howick, Panmure, and Otahuhu, at those settlements, in lieu of in Auckland, as heretofore. Mr. W. C. Ryland, Crow* ranger, and trapper to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, succeeded in capturing, on July 17, in a steel trap set in the Domain, an unusually large male wild cat, and which ■we believe it is his intention to have preserved. The cat in question, which measured from the snout to tip of tail 30 inches, and weighed ll£lb., has proved most destructive to feathered game and small birds in the Domain during the present -winter, having succeeded, with the proverbial good fortune attending the lives of every specimen of Fdis catus /eras, in avoiding the most tempting snares until yesterday, whan "Master Tom" put his two fore feet into a nicely-concealed steel trap. On the 12th inst., Dr. Jakine lectured at the Young Men's Christian Institute on " Life : its Forms and Varieties." The chair was occupied by Mr. S. H. Smith. The Treasurer of the Auckland City Mission acknowledges the receipt of £10 banded over to him by D. Nathan, Esq., as treasurer of the Cameron testimonial fund, being a portion of the balance of that fund now remaining. The treasurer of the Orphan Home Has to acknowledge the receipt of £10 handed to him by David Nathan, Esq., treasurer of the Cameron Testimonial Fund, being a portion of the balance of that fund remaining in his hands. The Auckland Cavalry Volunteers met for practice on July 17, in the hall of the Catholic Institute, Wellington-street, and went through the foot drill and sword exercise. After practice, the company proceeded to discuss the propriety of accepting a challenge to a firing match received from No. 1 Company Auckfand Rifle Volunteers. Captain Marks occupied the chair. After some conversation, the Secretary was instructed to intimate the company's acceptance of the challenge, providing an allowance was made for the difference between the short carbine of the Cavalry Volunteers and tho long Enfield in use amongst the Rifle Volunteers. We understand that the survey has been made for extending the telegraph from Opotiki to Tauranga, in connection with the line from Wellington to Napier and Opotiki. The telegraph works between Wellington and Napier nre being vigorously pushed on. The Northern Telegraph District, under the charge of Mr. Weaver, C.E., the Engineer-in-Cbief, begins at Opotiki. As soon as may be deemed ex<pedient, the line of telegraph will be continued from Tauranga to Cambridge, thus linking Auckland in the telegraphic chain of the colony. A free pardon was granted by his Excellency the Governor en June 13th, to Simon Peter Burns, convicted, at Auckland, en the 9th September, 1864, of burglary, and sentenced to four years' penal servitnde — on the following condition, viz , that he shall, within seven days from the date of his discharge, quit the colony of New Zealand, and not return thereto daring the residue of the term of the sentence unexpired. Description of Burns : — Native of Dublin ; age, 38 ; height. 5 feet 74 inches ; complexion, swarthy j hair, black • eyes, grey ; M.B. inside right arm. The anniversary soirSe of the Auckland Catholic Institute, Wellington-street, was celebrated at the hall on July 16, under very favourable auspices. The ploughing and draining match of the New Zealand Agricultural Society was held on June 19, in afield near Otahuhu. On Tnesday evening, the 9th instant, a numerous meeting of the friends and hearers of the Rev. A. Anderson, Presbyterian minister of the Whau district, met at the residence of A. Buchanan, Esq., for the purpose of bidding him farewell, and presenting him, on the eve of his departure to the mother country, with a purse of sovereigns. A public tea-meeting was held on July 11, at tfce Edwardes-street Chapel, in aid of the fund for the purchase of an organ for that place of worship. There was a good attendance. On Sunday, the 21st July, the members of the several Courts of the Ancient Order of Foresters in Auckland mustered at their meeting-rooms for the purpose of attending the funeral of the late respected Mrs. Alexander. A great number of friends followed, the chief mourners being Mr. S. Alexander, Mr. Albert Myers, and Mr. James Middleton. The funeral service was read very impressively by the > Rev. Mr. Harper. A dinner was given at the Belfast Hotel on the 19th to the members of the Volunteer Band, by the noncommissioned officers and men of the Commissariat Staff Corps, on their departure from this colony. We observe that Police-Sergeant Clarke is engaged in endeavouring to get the proprietors of vehicles to conform to the law by which it is enacted that the nami of the proprietor, with the registered nnmber, must be legibly painted on every vehicle. / Our own correspondent, writing from Port Albert, states that on the 19th July a paper on " Free Trade versus Protection " wa*~read before the Literary Club by Mr. Gubb, and occasioned considerable discussion. At the conclusion of the proceedings, the voices were declared in favour of free trade. The club, we are glad to learn, is increasing in usefulness and numbers, additional names being added to the list every meeting-day. On July 26 the Rev. Dr. Wallis delivered a lecture at the Young Men's Christian Institute, on " Pulmonary Consumption." Mr. S. H. Smith occupied the ohair. **? ? n $* h mail via Suez arrived on July 23, per ■.«. 'Auokland,' and the s.s. 'Wellington' wrth Manama mad, on July 28, being three days overdue. The Great World Circus company took their leave c* the Auckland public on July 24. The entert&?}!? WM a *?l *? b . eM ?* of **"> R « fQ g« fi* the Destitute and the Lying-in Hospital of this city, and the areas was crowded to overflowing. Amongst those present were General Chute and stiff, Colonel Bcatcon, 8.E., and aTarge number of fno merchants, together with the ladies and

gentlemen of the committee of the institution. The ' performance vm gone through with great success, »nd received frequent applause from the numerous audience. At the close of the entertainment the proprietary expressed their thank* to the Auckland public for the liberal support awarded them during their second visit. The Committee of the Acclimatisation Society met on July 20, afc their rooms, Canada Building?, Mr. T. JB. Gillies in the chair. Mr. Mackelvie made a statement as to the progress of the works in the Domain. Our Harapipi correspondent writes on July 19 :— Oar settlement has been, unusually quiet for the last few weeks. On Saturday, the 13th instant, a meeting was held by the subscribers to the Presbyterian Church Fund, to discuss future proceedings ; Ensign Sfrerret being chairman, and Staff-Sergeant MoMinn hon. secretary. Mr. Blanc, the ' Presbyterian minister, has hitherto paid us a visit omce every month, his duties at the other settlements in the Waikato not permitting a more frequent call. The settlers here have raised a subscription for his benefit ; and the object of last Saturday's meeting was to determine whether or not part of the subscription fund should be reserved for the purpose of building a church in the settlement. On the chairman stating this, and putting it to the vote, by far the majority of the members were of opinion that at present the funds should be disputed of as they hare hitherto, as there is no immediate necessity for a church, the blockhouse serving pretty well instead. At a special meeting of the members of the City Board held on July 29, it was resolved that a general rate of ninepence in the pound, and a sewerage rate of one penny in the pound, should be levied on all property assessable under the City Board Act. It will be seen that Mr. John Kerr has addressed the electors of the Pensioner Settlements, as a candidate for the seat left vacant by the resignation of Colonel De Quincey. 1 The Council of the Acclimatisation Society met on July 27, when, after some discussion, a committee was appointed to consider what alterations were expedient on the present game law. Mr. Hall proposed a motion to the effect that the present license fee should be reduced to £3, but withdrew it in favour of a motion for the appointment of a committee. We have much pleasure in being able to state that Mr. Chamberlin has thrown open his land at Waiperira, near Wood's Island, comprising 2,000 acres, to all who may be willing to dig for gam or prepare flax for market. The cutter 'Wanderer 1 brought up from Coromandel, on July 28, 200 ounces of gold, the result of one month's crushing of the Eapanga Company. The Treasurer of the Orphan Home has to acknowledge a munificent donation of £85 10s. to the funds of the institution, from T. C. Williams, Esq., Wellington, by the hands of Alfred Buckland, Esq. A Provincial Government Gazette was published on the 19th containing the following additional list of persons who had taken out licenses to kill game in this province, under the provisions of the Protection of Certain Animals Act Amendment Act, 1866: — Mr. Charles Hooper, Newton; Mr. John: Palmer, Parnell; Mr. John George Styak, East Tamaki; Mr. Frederick Howard, East Tamaki; Mr. George P. Donnelly, Maraitai. Mr. F. G. Ewington has been appointed rate-collector for the Flagstaff highway district. ', The total amount of gold exported from New Zealand daring the quarter ended 31st March, 1867, was U 9.232 ounces, valued at £577,637. The total gold export from Ist April, 1857, to the 31st March, 1867, a period of ten years, was 3,208,693 ounoe», valued at £12,417,935. The produce of the goldfields in the province of Auckland during the quarter ended 31st March was 735 ounces, of the value of £2,210. From the Ist April, 1857, to 31st March, 1867, the gold exported from the province amounted to 21,522 ounces, of the value of £63,041. The annual meeting of the sons of old colonists took place at the Star Hotel, Albert-street, Thursday, July 25, and was largely attended. Mr. H. F. Andrews occupied the chair, and Mr. James Russell the vice-chair. Messrs. T.Guilding, Atkyns,and Henry and Frederick Kissling were croupiers. The dinner was supplied in the iwell-known excellent aty^e of the host und hostess of this hotel, and the wines and liquors were of the beat description. The cloth having been removed, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed and responded to. The toast of " The Army and Navy" was also proposed from the chair, and briefly acknowledged by Captain Simpson and Captain Guilding, N.V.