AUCKLAND MEMBERS, MEET YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3195, 12 October 1867, Page 3

AUCKLAND MEMBERS, MEET YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

The Auckland members having returned from "Wellington, it is the duty of the electors to call them to account. The Southern constituencies, -when the Assembly met in Auckland, were in the habit of having a " settling day" on the return of the members ; and the custom has prevailed since then. Every Otago and Canterbury member meets his own constituents, or the constituents of the whole province at a great public meeting. 3STow, we maintain that the representatives of Auckland ought to be requested to meet their constituents. There are four gentlemen absent, but their absence need not influence the public in this matter. Doubtless they will individually satisfy those who sent them to the Assembly. In the meantime, we recommend that a public meeting be immediately held at the Brunswick Hall, which the members ought to be invited to attend ; and besides giving an account of the session, they might also profitably discuss the position of the province.

The steamers 'Tauranga and ' Midge' returned from the Thameß last evening, but bring no further news. They report the claim-holders anxiously awaiting the arrival of machinery, when they will be iv a position to forward a considerable quantity of gold to town. Hunt's reef party are sanguine of being in a position to send up I.OOOoz. before the departure of the Sydney steamer. The brig ' Pakeha,' which sailed for Sydney last evening, took a small shipment of 124 bales of Auckland flax. A large steam eDgine was shipped to the Thames yesterday in the cutter 'Triad,' which is to be used in working powerful crushing machinery. On "Wednesday last there was a great rush of hon. members of Parliament on the Treasury at Welling, ton for payment of their honorarium. No doubt the legislators had sundry blls to pay, Bellamy's amongst the rest, of pressing demand. They made several calls without finding the Sub- Treasurer, Jonas Woodward, Esq., to sign the cheques. The hon. member for Newton became impatient, and on his last visit demanded of the cashier if Jona(s) had not come out of the whale's belly yet. This was too much for the cool and calculating Mr. Best, who managed to have the cheques signed shortly before the bank closed. One of the heaviest showers we have had in Auckland for a long time fell yesterday morning between four and five o'clock, accompanied with a great deal of thunder and lightning. The rain, however, laited but a short time, and we have not heard of any damage done, except at the premises of Mr. Bartlett, photographer, corner of Wellesley and Queen-streeta. Mr. Bartlett was getting an addition made to his premises, and, the shingles being off the roof, a considerable quantity of water got in through the tar ( aulin which had been substituted. We are glad to learn that, in consequence of the recent painful occurrence at Fiji, H.M. s. 'Brisk' has received orders to start at once for that island. This I promptness on the part of the Government, of Commodore Lambert, and Captain Hope, is highly creditable ; and we feel assured that such energetic action will meet with the waraest lecogmtu-n on the part of the community generally. The half-yearly meeting of the Auckland Land Society No. 6 was held last evening at the office, Queen-street. The report and abstract of accounts, which are crowded out, were re-id and adopted. The Melbourne Argus is responsible for the following :— " The 18th Royal lii^h is the only regiment to be left iv New Zealand. It is to be stationed at Auckland." The adjourned meeting of the ratepayers of the Howick Highway District was held on Tuesday evening last, at Brady's Hotel, when the following gentlemen were elected trustees for the ensuing ) ear : — Messrs. Mackay, Jackton, Crewe, Dunn, and Mclnnes ; and a rate of Id. per acre was agreed to. On the following Wednesday evening, the newlyelected trustees met at Mclnnes's Hotel, aud Mr. J. J. Jackson was chosen chairman. Little business was transacted, however, as it was found that the chairman of the former trustees, Mr. J. White, refused to deliver up the books, papers, &c; and legal proceedings were ordered to be taken for their recovery, under the 21st clause $ the Highways Act.

r On the night of Wednesday last, about 10 o'clock the house of Mr. B. Turner, Retreat Cottage, Parnell, wa^ entered by a burglar and several articles of wearing *m>p rel carried away. We have been sup* plie 1 with the following particulars of the occur* renoe : -On Wednesday night, about 10 o'clock, Mrs. Turner heard a little noise in the kitchen, bat thought it was occasioned by a rat. After hearing the noise continue, she went to the kitchen door, and to her surprise saw the window forced Tight open and a man escaping through it. There is not the least doubt but that the thief would have stripped the kitchen if he had not been disturbed. As it wts, the only articles he took away, so far as at present known, were two cloaks and two or three half-worn-out ooatf. The Nathan Juvenile Troupe re P?»£ d t^™' ing's amusement at the Prince of Wales Theatre last night, before a fair audience, and were again received very cordially. The pieces were the Hibernian burlesque entitled « Paddy in Jndi*, ••The Colonial Servant," and "Dancing Mad.' The pieces will be repeated this evening, doubtless, before another crowded house. * Friday last being the festival of St. Francis of Assisium, the Right Rev. Dr. Pompallier, Bishop of Auckland, celebrated a pontifical high mass in the Church of St. John the Baptist, Parnell. His Lordship was assisted on this occasion by the Very Key. Walter McDonald as assistant priest, the Rev. J osepn Greoori as deacon, and the Rev. FnancisDel Monte as subdeacon; the Very Rev. Dominic Galosi as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Fathers Jordan and Mahoney were present in thesanctuary. The sanctuary pupils, who were very numerous on this occasion, performed their duties with edification. The Bishop preached an eloquent and impressive sermon from the following text:— "After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands." His Lordship explained in a clear and convincing manner the doc« trine of the communion of saints. He showed also the mercy and goodness of God, who f*v° u » ia . * special manner many of his servants for the edification of the faithful. The choir of the church executed with much taste and discernment the various pieces of sacred music appropriate for such B ° lemn occasions. The congregation was large, the church being completely filled, and the faithful of Parnell will, without doubt, remember for a long time with feelings of devotedness the edifying ceremonies of that day. — [Communicated.] The members of the Auckland Jockey Club are convened to attend a meeting this afternoon, at two o'clock, at the Royal Hotel. Divine service will be conducted at the Parnell Hall to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock, by the Rev. S. Edger, when he will resume his discourse on "The Atonement Unfolded." In the evening the Rev. Mr. Booker will officiate, at half-past six o'clock. A correspondent has furnished us with the follow* ing description of the pastoral staff presented to the Bishop of Dunedin by his friends in England, taken from fche Churdi TTime;—" The* ;— "The pastoral staff of the Bishop of Dunedin, recently completed, is one of the most beautiful modern specimens of Gothic art. It was designed by Mr. W. Burges for the Ecclesiastical Society, and is in every respect perfect. The crook represents, carved in ivory, St. George and the Dragon. In the crockets there are jewels of great size and richness. The staff itself is of ebony, with bands of silver-gilt. The beaten work of the knob and crook is most exquisitely done, and the whole may be regarded as a work of real excellence. The Bishop's episcopal ring is of pure gold, with onyx stone." — Nelson Examiner. The Wairarapa Mercury of the 7th instant states that there is every reason to anticipate the opening of the telegraphic communication between that district and Wellington and the Middle Island in a week or two. Amongst the passengers by the ' Kaikoura to-day is Captain D. McKellar, formerly of the barque « Midas,' who goes to Opara as agent for the Panama Company at that island, and who will remain there in charge of the Company's coaling establishment. The French occupation of the island has rendered it necessary that there should be a properly qualified representative of the Company resident there.— Wellington Times, October 8. The storm that has loured over our Homes for the past few dajs, blew over last night, and the political horizon is again sufiiciently clear to allow us to see the end of our troubles without the ending of the session. This highly desirable object has been accomplished by Mr. Stafford's prompt action in bringing back from their homes four of hia supporters in the Upper House, bo as co throw the " amendments party" into a minority. This was demonstrated when the report of the new Conference, appointed in the afternoon, was brought up. On the motion for its adoption, a, division took place, when Messr?. Harris, Richardson, Acland, Richmond, Seymour, Peacock, Domett, Grey, and Tetley voted in favour of it, and Messrs. Menzies, .) ohnston, Kenny, and Mnntell against, thus carrying the point by a majority of five, and affirming the principle of colonial liability for provincial debts— a clear loss to the country, as its opponents maintain, of £450,000, without a single advantage to any one bjt bank speculators.— Wellington Evening Post, October 9. Mr. Mantell made a rather spiteful remark in the Legislative Council yesterday. Major Richardson, in moving the adjournment of the House for a short time, in order to allow of the Conference sitting in the Chamber, alluded to the conversazione then going on at Government House, which he spoke of as an * ' intellectual treat. " The remark was caught up very happily by Mr, Mantell, who said that, as an "intellectual treat" would be a distinct change from what members ordinarily obtained in the Council, an adjournment till the next day might be beneficial both to the members and the country. — Wellington Independent, October 5. Since the passing by the Legislature of a bill enlarging the powers of the Provincial Council of JS'elson, to construct a railway from Nelson to the West Coast, steps have been taken to initiate the works without delay. Last Monday week Mr. H. Wrigg, C.8., started with a staff of labourers to commence a preliminary survey of the country through which it is proposed the Westport and Cobdea Railway should pass. The result will not probably be known till the end of the year, when the most suitable line will be adopted. — New Zealand Times, October 8. The bill to fix the salaries of the chief officers of the two Houses of Assembly has passed its third reading. The salaries of the Speakers of the two Houses have been fixed at £600 a year each ; Chairman of Committees of the Upper House, £300 ; Chairman of Committees of the Lower House, £400, inclusive of all allowances. The Clerk of the Legislative Council will receive £400 a year ; Clerk of the House of Representatives, £600 a year.— Wellington Independent, October 5. "We regret," says the Wairarapa Mercury, "to have to record the destruction by fire, on Saturday last, of a house and outbuildings, the property of Mr. James Leydon, of West Tar^tahi. It is not known how the fiie originated, and we understand that an inquest will be held for the purpose, if possible, of ascertaining thi=» fact. It will be seen in our adovrtising columns that a reward of £50 is offered for the discovery of the offender, the owner believing it to have been caused by an incendiary. It was officially stated last night in the Legislative Council that the names of all those members who have been absent without leave for two successive seshions would be struck off the 'roll.— New Zealand Times, October 9. The J)efence Estimates were brought on for consideration last night, and Colonel Haultain (who has been absent from his teat for some time through illness) to ,k the opportunity of explaining the present condition of the colonial foices, and the mode in which Government propose to provide for the defence of the island during the current year. The subject naturally leada one to remark the ingenious artifice by which the Ministry have managed to evade a lengthy debate upon the defence estimates. It will be remembered that they wero eet down under the head of "Extraordinary Expenditure," and several members have at different times taken occasion to remark that they objected to the cost of t'efence being so charged — some upon the greund that defence ought to be made a special charge upon the North Island ; while others contended that it should be p iid out of current revenue. Ihe Ministry, probably forereeing that some difficulty might arise, very ingeniously coutrived to geb the extraordinary expenditure for the present year covered by the Public Uebts Bill ; thus altogether evading the two objections we have alluded to, because, although the various items of extraordinary expenditure most be covered by appi opriation, yet the bill will come on for consideration at a time when all discussion will be practically burked. We do not allude to this letter because we anticipate that the colony will suffer any serious injury from the action of the Ministry ; but because certain members of the House of Representatives have been deprived of a very important piivilege of representative government— the power to freely express and record their opinions.-— Wellington Independent October 6,

Mr. George Sibbin announce the receipt of instruc tions to sell to-d»y, at 11 o'olook, at his mait, groceries, furniture, Ac. ; and at half-past 12 oolock,^ on the wharf, Custom-house-str. et, 30,000 feet of fint-class timber. Messrs. W. Hunter and Co. will off*r for sale bj public auction, to-day, at 1 o'clook, at the Durham•treet wlf yard*, hor*M, carts, drays, harness, ploughs, boneJugt, m«ize, snddlery, &o. Mr. Henry Ridings will sell to-day, by public auction at 11 o'clock, at the Market Auction Mart, maize, potatoes, kerosine, porter, furniture, &o. ; also, at 12 o'clock, book debts in the estate of George Holdship. Messrs. Bright and Co. will sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at their stores, maize, oats, flour, beef, hams, raisins, wines, spirits, piano, harmonium, furniture, revolvers, nails, \o, Mr. S. Jones and Co. will sell, to-day, by public •notion, at 11 o'clock, at the Brunswick Buildings, btef, pork, herrings, bacon, hams, maize, potatoes, butter, cheese, tea, sugar, Ac. Mr. Alfred Buckland will sell to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the Haymarket, honer, drays, harness, &o. Messrs. C. Arthur and Son will sell by public auction to-day, at 12 o'clock, at their mart, potatoes, maize, butter, groceries, poultry, piano, furniture, Ac. Mr. C. Stiohbury* will offer for sale to«day by public auction, at 11 o'clock, at his stores, groceries, potatoes, maize, wine, clothing, sundries, &o. Messrs. Turrell and Tonks will sell to-day, by publio auction, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, maize, potatoes, sperm candles, boots, shoes, furniture, &c.