The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3219, 9 November 1867, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCEO, NON ÜBO. If I h»T« b«en •xtlnroiihtd, yet tli«r« tit* A thoniand beacona from th« ip&rk I bort

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9.

The near approach of the date of arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh in this province must be our excuse for suggesting to the people of Auckland that it is high time they bestirred themselves in making the necessarypreparations for the suitable reception of the Royal visitor. If the demonstration is to be carried out with becoming honour, and a thoroughness so essential to the success of any public display of loyalty by her Majesty's loving subjects in this remote dependency, we assert that a moment ought not to be lost in calling a public meeting for the appointment of a reception committee. Their duties would, of course, be to collect subscriptions for the erection of triumphal arches and other decorative details, organise processions of benevolent and trade societies, and schoolchildren ; with possibly a regatta and land sports during the three days' stay which the sailor Prince is likely to make here. We admit, at the outset, that the people of Auckland cannot be accused of dilatoriness in originating and heartily carrying out public demonstrations, when once the idea may have taken possession of their minds, as exemplified in the Cameron leave-taking and the more recent public reception accorded to his Excellency the Governor. But it is to be feared on this occasion, without timely promptings of the emergency of the case, that a dangerous delay in taking the requisite preliminary steps will materially militate against the success of any hurriedly organised display, although attended with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of loyalty, but without the all-sustaining concertedness so essential to secure satisfaction to those concerned. The mere assemblage o£ a tumultuous crowd of people on the wharf and in Queenstreet, scrambling and jostling to get the best view of the Prince on his landing, with a few stray flags flying from merchants' storehouses, will not, we trust, be the mode taken in this province to receive our royal guest. Yet this is likely to occur, if we are to judge from the apathy displayed up to the present by those who ought to be taking the initiative in the preparation. The G-eneral Government, it is true, have been empowered by a vote of the G-eneral Assembly to spend £5,000 in suitably entertaining the Prince during his sojourn in this colony ; but it is to be hoped the people will uot, on this ground, stand aloof, and consider themselves free from any responsibility in showing due honour to the Prince. His Excellency the Governor, with Mr. Stafford, and no doubt other members of the Ministry, will be present in Auckland to receive the illustrious guest, and the public, as the Frenoh would term it, must also " assist " in the ceremony, or the whole affair will assuredly prove a signal failure. For weeks past the good folks of the Empire City have been organising rifle, cadet, and veteran corps. Squads of cavalry are being formed in the out-settlements, and boat and other clubs are to contribute their little quota to the general manifestation of rejoicing. In the Australian colonies the arrangements made assume very large dimensions, and are so far perfected, owing to the energetic endeavours of the Reception Commissions and Entertainment Committees, as to require only the finishing touches. At Adelaide, triumphal arches have been erected in the streets since the beginning of September. A grand agricultural show is to be held, and subscription balls are to come off. The Germans will give a great torchlight procession, and addresses are to be presented

from both Houses of Assembly • and the Civil Service Club, who are to have a week's holiday granted, are also to present a very handsomely mounted address. The Prince will lay the foundation stone of the Post-office tower, and the trowel will be manufactured from gold raised at the Echunga diggings. The official programme, which has been issued for the reception and entertainment of the Prince, shows that ample provision has been nfe.de for twenty days' round of amusements. The Victorian Government have voted £15,000 for the reception. A free banquet to the Prince is to be given, a Highland welcome, a regatta in Hobson's Bay, and a monster picnic at Sandhurst. At Sydney, the several steam companies have determined to combine in sending out a fleet of between 30 and 40 vessels to welcome Prince Alfred. A show of produce and stock is to take place at Maitland; and a late telegram informs us that money has been cheerfully voted to defray all expenses of the reception ; and entertainments of all kinds are being devised in honour of the Prince. It is withi regret we confess it, but, cast our eyes on which side we may, the citizens of the respective places to be visited by the Prince, stand, forward in most enviable contrast with the people of Auckland, for taking Time by the forelock and being in a state of preparedness. "We learn from Wellington, that every particle of scarlet cloth has been bought up for the volunteers, in order that they may make a presentable appearance before the Duke, and the sister colonies have been put under contribution to make up a deficiency in the material. At Melbourne likewise, the Government, almost immediately upon hearing of the intended visit of his Royal Highness, took the precaution of purchasing all the available gas-piping in the market, for illuminating purposes, much to the consternation of the local plumbers. So far as we can ascertain, the only action taken in Auckland, beyond the preparations now being made by Government at Government House, has been in the case of a few orders given for transparencies, emblems, and mottoes to a local artist.

It will be seen by advertisement that Messrs. James O'Neill and Thomas Macffarlane convene a meeting of the electors of the Northern Division, at the new Hall, North Shore, on Tuesday, the 12th, at three p.m. We trust there will be a large attendance of the electors on the occasion, which is the first which we are aware of on which members for Auckland electoral districts have specially convened tbeir constituents. It is to be hoped that the example thus set will be generally followed, and that we shall have a "clean breast" from all our representatives before the meeting of the Provincial Council. At a late meeting of an insolvent's estate there were a lawyer in the chair, a lawyer to watch proceedings, two lawyers to the estate, and a few more lawyers to pick up any crumbs which might by accident fall. What do the creditors expect? The trustees of the Hunua highway districb are to be commended for being the first in the field to grapple with the dreaded pest of the agriculturist in this colony— the thistle nuisance, — and it is to be hoped the example thus afforded will be quickly followed by other highway boards. An advertisement will be found in another column bearing the signature of Mr. William Hay, chairman of the board of trustees, warning all occupiers and proprietors of lands in the district that, unless all noxious thistles growing on such lands are eradicated within ten days from the date of the notice, they will be proceeded against under the Thistle Act, 1858. A meeting of the creditors of Mr. I. B. Vialou was held at the Auckland Hotel yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. J. Hurst in the chair. The meeting was called by the trustees appointed by the CourtMessrs. D. Nathan and W. J. Young — to ascertain the views of the creditors as to how the estate should be wound up. Mr. Mabin, who was employed by the trustees to examine into the position of the estate, submitted a report, also statements of accounts. It appeared that the property was estimated at £1,000, and the liabilities amounted to £4,000, which would allow a dividend oE ss. in tbe pound, exclusive of costs or Court expenses. Mr. Wynn, on behalf of Mr. Vialou, aaid there were only three proposals that could betmade — to let the estate go through the Court, or that Mr. Vialou should pay ss. in the pound, a certain time to be allowed him to do so, or 2s. 6rl. in the pound cash down, Mr. C. Davis proposed that ss. in the pound should be accepted from Mr. Vialou— 2s. 6d. to be paid down, and 23. 6d. at twelve months guaranteed < An amendment was proposed by Mr. S. Jones to the effect that the estate should be continued in Court unless the debtor gave up the Greyhound Hotel and the stock-in-trade, also the farm and stock thereon, whiob. was carried. Mr. Jones subsequently made a proposition that the doors of the premises should be at once closed, and the trustees authorised to sell the property, either in whole or in part, in such a manner as they might deem best for the interests of the oreditors. Mr. C. Davis proposed an amendment that the proposition to close up the house should be deferred until after the next Bitting of the Insolvency Court, which was carried on the casting vote of tbe Chairman. The meeting then separated. The schooner 'Tauranga,' which sailed for the Bay of Islands last night, took fifteen wagons for use on the tramway at the Kawakawa coal mines. The wagons formed part of the plant used in the construction of the unfinished Auckland and Drury Bailway line. The ' Tanranga ' also took five miners, who hare been engaged by Mr. McLeod to work at the Kawakawa colliery. An adjourned meeting of the creditors of T, W. Marsh was convened at the Brunswick Hall, at noon yesterday, to receive tbe report of the gentleman appointed to examine the insolvent's stock with a view of accepting an assignment. Mr. A. Beveridge presided. The statement showed that the assets h*d been over-estimated by insolvent, and another j property vr&a found to have been retained. Considerable discussion arose as to the course to be adopted, and it was ultimately resolved to have the insolvent arrested on a charge of obtaining goods ! under false pretences. Later io the day an information was laid by Mr. Stannu9 Jones, and the insolvent arrested. He will be brought before his Worship, at the Police Court, this morning, charged with obtaining goods of the value of £120 under false pretences. Divine service will be conducted to-morrow, a* the Parnell Hall, when the Key. S. Edger wil 1 preach in the morning at 11 o'clock, from the text *• Difficulties of Prayer considered/ and in the evoning at half-past 6 o'clock, on "God's Treatment of Humanity contrasted with Man's." } At the Police Court yesterday, three persons were punished for drunkenness. John Warmoll was convicted on the charge of sealing a door from a hous9 in Mills-lane, belonging to Mr. Halstead, Wake-field-street, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. A mitigated penalty of 53. and costs was inflicted on Thomas Fossett, for allowing his horse to stray about Graf ton Eoad. The anniversary of the opening of the Onehunga .Congregational Chapel, Princes-street, will be celebrated on Sunday next, when the Rev. J. Warren will preach in the morning at 11 o'clock, and the Bey. G. Brown will officiate in the evening at 6 o'clock. Collections will be made at the close of each service. On Tuesday next a tea meeeting will be held, in the school-room, at 6 o'cltck, followed by a public meeting at 7 o'olock, when addresses will be delivered by several clergymen and other friends, and a selection of sacred music performed. " A rather remarkable case," says the Geelong Register, *• was brought before his Honor Judge Brewer, at the County Court-at Colac, on Saturday last. A man named Thomas Kettle, in his public capacity as one of the managers of the Birregurra Farmer*' Common, sued himself, in hi 3 private capacity, for £11 Bs., for depasturing cattle on the said common. He employed two lawyers, one for the plaint and another for the defence. Of course, he might have made short work of the case by giving himself a receipt for the amount, or he might have sworn, as defendant, that he had paid the money ; but query, if he had done so, and then, as plaintiff, sworn that he had never received it, could he have prosecuted himself for perjury ? The solicitors were by far the greatest gainers in this action."

The London Times has the following paragraph on the subject of the failing trade of the Australian colonies: — "The present year appears likely to prove a dull period in connection with the Australian trade. In May the total shipments of British and Irish produce and manufactures only amounted to £1,053,672, as compared with £1,471, C04 in May, 1866, and £1,148,549 in May, 1865. The decline was observable as regards every colony. In the five months ending May 31 this year the total shipments were £3,407,723, as compared with £5,502.014 in the correapondiug period of 1866, and £5,037,696 in the corresponding period of 1865. The shipments to Western Australia to May 31 this year were £26,500, against £45,204 in the corresponding period of 1866 ; to South Australia, £267 931, against £658,466 ; to Victoria, £1,679,090, against £2,519,720 ; to New South Wales, £699,811, against £1 191,555 ; to Queensland, £82,131, against £230,772 ; to Tasmania, £41,414, against £62.660 ; and to New Zealand, £610,846, againit £793,637. It » to be (eared that these figures indicate an unfavourable state of affairs in the Australian settlement", which, however, still absorb a considerable amount of our products." A public meeting of the miners at present located on the Thames goldfield is convened to be held on the beach at Shortland this afternoon, at half-past 4 o'clock. The members of the United Cricket Club are requested to meet to-day, at 2 o'clock, in the Domain ground, for the first field day of the season. The Auckland Bowling Olub green will be opened this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, for play for the season. The ground, we are glad to learn, is in fiwt-rate order for a rink at bowls, and we hope there will be a large muster of old members and intending members. Mr. Stackpool B. ODell advertiser that he will give a lecture on phrenology, with publio examinations and diagrams, on Monday evening, at the Parnell Hall, at half-past 7 o'clock. Mr. Alfred Buckland will sell, to-day, horses, maize, farm at Mangonui, &c, at 12 o'clock, at the H&ymarket. Messrs. William Hunter and Co. will offer for sale by auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the Durhamstreet saleyards, the imported short-horn bull •• Young Knight, "and seven Leicester rams j horses, spring cart, drays, harness, saddles, &c. Messrs. C. Arthur and Son will hold their usual sale, to-day, of produce, groceries, kerosine, waterproof sheets, furniture, poultry, &o. Mr. S. Jones will sell by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at his mart, beef, pork, potatoes, maize, butter, cheese, candles, tea, sugar, soap, | keroßine, &c. Mr. Henry Ridings will offer for sale by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the Market Auction Mait, furniture, spirits, shoe lasts, boots, maize, kerosine, billiard and bagatelle tablets, drugs, &c. Messrs. Turrell and Tonks will sell by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, sugar, rice, tea. maize, potatoes, buckets, flax, tow, &c. Mr. George Sibbin will sell by publio auction to-day, at 11 o'clock, at his stores, sugar, tea, spices, cheese, flax, candles, wines, kerosine, furniture, &c. Mr. Charles Stichbury will offer for sale, by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at his stores, onions, flour, tea, Bugar, kerosine, maize, furniture, sundries, &c.