The Daily southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4607, 30 May 1872, Page 2

The Daily southern Cross.

LUOEO, NON FKO. If I bitvo been exUnnnlthefi.yot there rli* A. thomasd beaconi from the ip*rk I bore.

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1872.

The idea of a Free Public Library has been often mooted in this city, but hitherto has resulted in nothiug. There are few if there are any to question the value of such an institution ; and the great success that has attended such a means of popular education cannot fail to strongly prepo&Bess in its favour all those who have had experience of its working. During last session of the Provincial Council, an effort was made to initiate a Free Public Library ; but evident jealousy of the Auckland Institute, and a suspicion that a Provincial grant in aid would be a mere subsidy to a semi-private institution, made shipwreck of the project. Another effort we observe is being made, with the Mechanics' Institute as a basis of operations, and, if the movement is judiciously conducted, it affords many grounds of promise of better success. It is difficult to say what direction the projected movement may take, as this will depend on the views which the members of the Mechanics' Institute may liold j but if liberal and generous counsels prevail, and the members show themselves to be really animated by a desire to admit the public to a shaie in their privileges, there can be little doubt that the representatives of the public, whether in the City Council or the Provincial Council, will meet the members of the Mechanics' Institute in the most liberal spirit. In effecting such a change from a private into a public institution, it cannot be said that the members will lose any of their rights, as they will still possess their privileges, in common with the Vftsfc of the general public; while through the bounty of the provincial and civic authorities, and the powers conferred by recent legislation, the public will not come empty-handed into the partnership. The question of the site and building for a Free Public Library is one of detail, and may be subsequently arranged. The present building might for a time, if requisite, continue to be used for the purpose, or more commodious and conveniently situated premises might be leased ; or, better still, the present site and building might be disposed of on satisfactory terms for a District Court, or other similar purpose, and the funds accruing would together with a grant from the provincial and city revenue form an excellent beginning for an edifice that might be as ornamental to the city as it would be a boon to the public." That all this could be effected without trouble is not to be supposed. It seems clear that an Act of Parliament will be requisite for the purpose if a change of the property is contemplated, but, as there would practically be no abandonment of the principle of the Mechanics' Institute, the apparent diversion of the trust could not be attended with very great difficulty. The present Mechanics' Institute is merely a library and newsroom. The Public Library would bo the same on a greater scale, and, if it were desired to carry out the other usual purposes associated with Mechanics' Institutes, which, in our local institution have hitherto been ignored, there would be nothing incongruous but the contrary in classrooms and other subsidiary aids to education beiog attached to the library building. It seeihs that nothing but a very narrowminded and exclusive spirit on the part of members of the Institute can interpose obstacles in the way of generalising and popularising the privileges already possessed by a few. The apathy that has been chronic in our local institution, and its profit lessness as a popular educator, force the conviction on the mind that the timehas come for a radical change ; and it is gieatly to be desired that the subject will be^ taken up with vigour and determination, and that no unwillingness or resistance on the part of those who believe that " whatever is, is right," will avail to prevent a total revolution in the history of what should be our literary and scientific institution. A large amount of new blood has recently been infused into the membership of the Institute. To these new members, as well as to the more liberal-minded of the old members, the pujblio will look for vigouroua and effective 1 action.. At the general meeting f 6f members to-morrow night it will be in their hands to modify the Institute so as to meet the legitimate requirements of the city and the province; and we trust that the institution, instead of being any longer a reproach and a byword, will develop into a- form of which the city may feel justly proud. j

Th« necessity of * reformatory for the criminal youth of the city of both sexes ii again brought under the notice of the publio in the shape of a resolution adopted at the annual meeting of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children. The experience of the past twelve months conrinoes the conductors of that institution;, that there is yet a want which needs to be met, but which it is n not poisible' for 'existing organisations to supply. Neither, the Orphan Homo. nor -, the rßefuge* f or Neglected inaDeititute Children ii adapted for the work of a "reformatory ior- the class of young perapnff ;that are;bein^ continually Drought>before "the, jaagiisfcrates on original tlftt^r^alw^s felt to !be sp^iffioultf to d(p#||(r : 3aiis;Bubject tow come up for diibussioh bnoe arid

again, and so it will be until something ia done to meet the case. Nothing is to bo gained by postponing action in this matter, for the cost of restraining crime in one shape or other is still being continually borne by the public. We may choose to go without a reformatory, but wo cannot help ourselves in the matter of police and gaol*; and, if n c will not nip tho evil in the bud, wo shall certainly be compelled to deal with it afterwards in the fruit. The question is, what can bo done? Many valuable suggestions have been made through the Press already, but all are agreed that two things are requisite— organisation and means. Some experience has been acquired through the successful operation of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children ; and this may, we think, serve aa a guide for extending the principle to the more advanced classes somewhat similarly circumstanced. It is the case of criminal or convicted children, of all ages, that requires to be dealt with, and the object is to rescue them, if possible, from profligacy and vice, and lead them to adopt a better mode of life. Something has been said about the Government initiating the necessary measures for the j establishment of a Reformatory for the province, but vre are of opinion that the kind of organisation needed in this instance would be better managed by a committee of private persons, as in the case of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children — certain powers and privileges being secured by I legislative enactment. Of course, tho co-operation of the Provincial Government would be necessary, and some pecuniary assistance from that quarter would be expected. But the cost of the undertaking at the outset, if conducted on a right principle, need not be very great. A. beginning might be made, as was done heretofore, by holding an influential public meeting, and appointing a suitable committee. By this means a fund might be raised in the first instance, to be supplemented by the Government; and which might be added to from time to time by subscriptions, collections, and the institution of an annual course of lectures or other entertainments, calculated to arouse and sustain public interest in the movement. Ofcoureeihe system of discipline to be adopted in nn institution ofthiskindis a question of primary importance. We assume that the loading feature in a reformatory would be a course of industrial teaching, to be followed up by a judicious system of apprenticeship, with a view to teaching the young people trades. When boys and girJs had acquired a certain proficiency, they would be apprenticed to responsible parties, on suitable terms and by this means the ability to obtain a respectable living would be secured, and a bias formed, it may be hoped, for the future, in favour of a virtuous life. The absence of the first of these qualifications, the ability to earn an honest living, has undoubtedly mnuh to do with the proneness to vagrancy which chanictcrißes the uneducated and uncared-for of all ages, and to remedy this defect would bo itself a considerable guarantee of ultimnte amendment. The class of young persons we are writing nbout.and who sire causing so much anxiety to the community, as a rule have no settled occupation — no special fitness for any particular branch of labour; and, being without character or friends, it is not greatly to be wondered at if they betake themselves to evil courses, and become a burden and a pest to society. But withdraw them from the scenes of their degradation, let them be subjected to a kindly but improving restraint, insist on their acquiring habits of order and industry, and finally leach them an occupation which will qualify them to earn an independent living when thrown upon their own resources, and there is every reason to believe that the labour bestowed upon them will nocbe in vain. It would appear from the report rend at the annual meeting of the Home for JN'eglecled and Destitute Children that a larger number of inmates offered last year than could well be accommodated. In view of this circumstance, a timely and valuable suggestion was made in the Rev. Mr. Dudley's letter, published in the Oeoss yesterday, that the Orphan Home, at Parnell, was open to receive a proportion of children of a certain class, in the event of the Home at Newton tbeing straitened for accommodation. This will prove a relief in the meantime, xintil more effective steps cun be taken to supply (.he want, so universally felt, of a permanent reformatory.

The Auckland portion of the Suez mail, and the mails and cargo oiiginally placed on board tho ' City of Melbourne ' tor this port, were brought on by the ' City of Adelaide yesterday. Latest Australian intelligence' will be found elsewhere. Writting before the departure of the steamer, a correspondent at Coromandei mentions a report that was in circulation as to a very rich discovery of gold on Borne private lands near the township. It is believed the report is genuine, but, in consequence of the precious metal being obtained in such large quantities and on private lands, the exnct spot is at present kept a profound secret. By a private note from Cororaandel we learu that 1001b. of very rich specimens was the first haul, but no doubt our correspondent will be able to send us further details to-morrow. In a Provincial Gazette yesterday his Worship the Mayor is gazetted a member of tho Board of Health, and Mr. Heather a member of the Harbour Boaid. Mr. S. J. De Carteret haß applied for permission to construct a dam across the Papakura river. The Impounding Act has been brought into operatiou in the Ginborne district. Mr. Thou as Mitchell has been apyoiuted keeper of the public pound at Mount Eden. Mr. Charles McDonald has been appointed a member of the Whaingaroa Highway District, and Mr. Joseph Newman ot the Pukekaroa Board. Application is made to register the Specimen Goldmining Company. The great " dock " case reached the third day of its hearing yesterday in the District Court. There was a very large amount of additional information furnished to the Court as to the history of the dock : its origin, rise, progress, and presumed uses. The mythological fable mentioned in classic works, in which the god Gonilion swept over the fair lands of Italia and destroyed the whole of its fertile plains with the trail of his mantle, is supposed to have been merely allegorical of the growth of the dock. The subject of the dock will probably be exhausted with this day's hearing. It is stated in a Queensland paper that New Zealand stands second on the list amongst the Australian colonies for the value j of her exports :—": — " Queensland exports per head of population per annum £22, New Zealand £19, Victoria £18, New South Wales £15, South Australia £15, Western Australia £8, Tasmania £6 10a. " There is yet aome hope for this colony escaping from the " ultimate financial embarrassment, if not absolute ruin, " so sedulously predicted by a contemporary. The President of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce lately asserted, in a speech to the Chamber, that- the gold produced in Victoria coat more than it was worth. The view of the president is that of the ancient • apple-woman, who always Bold her apples at a loss'— but then Bhe Bold §o many. The quantity did it.

I Last evening — it is presumed somewhere i about six o'clock — a sailor named John Edwards, whilst very intoxicated, fell from the Gore-street Jetty at a height of about 20ft. into the harbour ; his head afc the spot where lie fell not being more tkui a few inches from a stone boulder. Hera the man was found lying just as the tiilo. whioh was Bowing at the time, had all but covered his body. Information was given to tho w.Ucr police, when Sergeant Carriynn procured assistance, and caused the man — who was quite insensible —to he conveyed to the i guard - house. Medical assistance wns 1 immediately sent for, when Dr. M K. B Nicholson soon after arrived, aad upon making an examination found tho man to bo> insensibly drunk, and at the same time much hurt. It was ascertained by stripping him that the man had received a very Bevere cut on the left knee, extending down the leg, and some bruises on the left side. The injuries were attended to, and the man, > well wrapped up, was placed before the guard fire, where he was permitted to remain for the night Had the man not been observed at the time by a passer-by, in leBs than a quarter of an hour the tide would have covered his head, and nothing would have saved him from a miserable death, as he was too helplessly druuk to raise himself up. Edwards, who is a seaman on board tho ' Mary Eliza,' will be brought before the Police Bench this morning on a charge of drunkenness. We learn that Mr. Hugh Craig, the general manager of the Auokland Steam-packet Company, has applied to the Provincial Government of Auckland for permission to erect a goods store at the punt landing-place, Kapanga Creek, Coromandel, for the convenience of the shippers of goods by the ' Royal Alfred' steamer, but it is believed the space is so limited at the point in question thcit the erection of any buildings there would inconvenience the traffic. Evening classes in connection with the Grammar School are advertised to begin on Monday evening, the 3rd June, at tho Albert Bat racks, On Monday evening the cLvs will he Chemistry, by Dr. J. Pi. Nicholson ; on Tuesday evening, History, by Mr. H. H. Lusk ; on Wednesday evening, Classics, by the Rev. Dr. Kidd ; and on Thursday even me, Mathematics, by Mr. McEae. The scale of fees, &c. , may be learned on referring to an advertisement in another column. A correspondent writes from Tasmania :— " 800 clergymen, members of Parliament, &c, have memorialised the Bishop to put an end to ritualistic teachings becoming prevalent in some of the churches in Tasmania : but he seems indisposed to act The bishop's son is involved in the confessional charges. — Thp Government has served a notice upon the directors of the Launceston and Western Railway Company, requesting that the overdue interest on the guaranteed debentures, £36,800, be covered. As this cannot be complied with, judgment may be entered up and the line sold. — The practice of fireraising is becoming prevalent. — At the age of 95, died old Booth : another of the Wateiloo veterans in the colony who are now getting few and far between. Yet, within the last 20 years, annually some 25 or 30 of them met in Launceston, and fought their battles over again, after their well-arranged dinner." At the Melbourne City Court recently, a case which has excited some interest in mining circles came before Mr. Sturfc, P. W., and Messrs. Wilton and Jt\ Cohen, J.P.s. Mr. McKean stated that he appeared on behalf of Mr. Dunkley, the prosecvitor, and he then read the information, which was laid under common law and read as follows : — " The information and complaint of William James Dunkley, of Melbourne, mining speculator, laid on the 18th April, 1872, that on or aboiit the 3rd April, 1872, at Melbourne, Louis Barnard, Hugh A. Edgerton, and Henry Read, of Melbourne, mining agents, did unlawfully, fraudulently, and deceitfully conspire, combine, confederate and am-ee together, and make and propagate and cause to be made and propagated certain false reports, rumours, arts, contrivances, sales, and purchases of certain shares, and the scrip thereof, of and in a certain goldminina company called the Golflen Sovereign Extended Tribute Goldmining Company (Limited), having a claim situate in the Beiidigo mining district;, near the town of Sandhurst — of an almost worthless character— theieby to occasion, without any just or true cause, a great inciease and rise of the said shares and the scrip thereof, and with a wicked intention thereby tn injure and aggrieve William James Dunkloy, and obtain from him money for shares and scrip of the said company, divers sums of money to a large amount, and by divers false pretences and subtle means and devices, as aforesaid, falsely and fraudulently to acquire and obtain with intent to defraud him and cheat him of the same, and did by such pretences, &c, falsely and fraudulently acquire -occasion an increase and rise in the price of tho said scrip and shares, with a wicked intention thereby to injure andj aggrieve the said W. J. "unkley, and obtain to yourselves said sums of money, &c." The evidence tended to show that the prosecutor had been urged to buy sharos in tho company mentioned, and had been induced to do so by the repeated importunities and the representations of the accused individually, who, it was alleged, were acting in consort. Tho case was dismissed, Another valuable atone quarry has been opened in the Hape Cieek valley (says our Thames correspondent), a short distance above those quarries out of which Mr. Briton has obtained the foundation stone of the United Pumping Association's works. The new quarry is in the hands of a company termed the Mount Sorrel Granite Company, which has made elaborate preparations to work it thoroughly. A steam engine, saws, &c, have been purchased, and the erection of the plant is to be proceeded with immediately. The stone i8 of very superior quality— hard, and dark grey fn colour. It closely resembles granite in appearance, but is really a trachyte. Tho Mount Sorrel Company haa made a good beginning by obtaining the contract to supply the Auckland Corporation with street flagging- They also expect to supply the Auckland Harbour Board when the harbour works commence. The Thames appeais to be particularly rich in building stone, and in course of time will doubtless export large quantities of it to Auckland and elsewhere. Besides a few worshippers of Bacchus, there were confined in the police cells last ; night a man named Michael OBrien, charged with a breach of the Pawnbrokers Act by illegally pawning three pair of boots, the property of Mr. Maurice Kelly ; and Robert Gilmore, arrested by warrant charging him with unlawfully assaulting his wife Charlotte Gilmore on the 28th, "by striking her on the body, knocking her down, and dragging her by the hair of the head." The City Hall waa again crowded lag. ! night, and the entertainment was much appreciated. At the Prince of Waleß Mr . Peirier made a decided hit in Rob Roy. It was in all respects a masterly impersonation, and was as distinct from the immature efforts of an amateur aa well could be. Mr. Perrier was ably seconded by Miss Aitken as Helen Macgregor. Ihe play was a great success, and received the most unqualified applause fiom the rise to the fall of the curtain. The f olio wing appears am ongat the abstract of recent specifications for patents published in the Melbourne Leader: — "Guatavus Wolff, doctor of philosophy, Grahamttown, New Zealand : ' An improved, apparatus for separating and saving metals, ores, and olher minerals from material containing the same.' The invention consists of a combination of endless blankets or tables of flexible materials with percussion tables. The percussion table is caused to produce a continuous lateral motion to the material uuder treatment. 'he percussion table is enveloped in an endless flexible tube, so m to produce a continuously laterally inclined surface, moving lengthwise. The- material is well mixed with water, and is also subjected to ft shower thereof. August 29, 1871. Completed."

\ meeting of the creditors of Mr. Willians Ljnrtst*, was held yesterday in the office of Mr. Joy, 80u"' to? \ »t 2 o'clock. There was a gr.od i.-fendaiiutf of creditor*, and it was agreed by tli.w in attend*:?™ to take a compo*inn.i of 10=. in the ponntt. The he.irii.^ of oijeciions to the mining compuii'-s' schedules in the District Court has boen adjourned to the lllh June. _ The Official Aj*ent intimitcs tint parties interested ncud not attend until that date. Robert! H. Eyton, the young man, describing himself aa ft journalist, who gave himself up to the police because he had uttered valueless cheques to Mr. W. B. Oat, of the Globe Hotel, Swanaton-street, , a P* peared in the Melbourne City Court on April 22. The opinion had been expressed that he was not right in his head, and he bad been remanded. He was brought up on remand, and Dr. Moloney deposed that, hiving seen and examined the prisoner, he had found him quite rational. In the future, however, the least drink would quite unsettle the man permanently. Mr. Sturt, P.M., drew the prisoner's attention to the stale into whioh Jttis habits of intemperance had brought him, and trusted that he would not give way to the habit of drinking. He was discharged. " A fellow passenger of the Earl of Pembroke on the Peninsular and Oriental route" has informed a writer in the Australasian, " that he thinks, unless his lordship waa taking especial paina to conceal his literary abilities on board ship, the book which ; purports to be written by the Earl and the Doctor is but slightly indebted to the | former. The only striking peculiarity about the young gentleman -and it waa peculiar in a youth — was that he carried his own little tea-pot about with him, and was as particular about his young hyson aa a mandarin of three buttons, a London teataster, or a maiden lady of 60." The Upper Hnnter Courier states that aa unfortunate man of the name of David Cameron was forwarded on to Musclebrook, from Maitland. He states that he served.in the Crimoan war on board the ' Agamemnon* as a dailor ; he got his discbarge at Sgifheafl j then he shipped as an ordinary seaman for the "run out" on board the 'Robert Hen*derflon,' and landed at Port Chalmers, New Zealand, some seven years ago, He then tried the diggings, but failed ; eventually ha joined the Volunteers, at 3s. 6d. a day and 50 acres of land, to fight the Maoris as he terms it for "death or victory." He got taken with two mates prisoners by the natives, who bound them to a tree in a state of nudity, smeared them, with k*uri grnn, and set fire to the same, leaving them to their fate. His two mates died, but he, after suffering most excruciating torture, managed to release himself, and wandered into the bush, where he was found by a search, party, who at once attended to him. The poor unfortunate fellow had his left arm burnt off, the fingers also of his right hand almost to the knuckles ; his right side and thigh completely shattered ; aiid where the flames careered round his chest and back, most unmistakable signs are left to record the agony he must have endured. He was an inmate of the hospital twelve months, and recovered. He met in Musclebrook a few kind friends amongst the Freemasons, of which order ho is a member j they attended to his wants, in addition to which other gentlemen, whose names it is needless to mention, gave aid to his relief. He was kindly provided by Messrs. Jonea and Bragget with a free passage on Wednesday, to proceed to Casilis j and further arrangements were made for him to reach Gulgong, where he hopes to find his brother. We mentioned some time ago the fact of a prospecting party, under Captain Morrison, having gone to Tuhua, across the Taupo Lake from Tapuaeharuru. We learn that they brought borne with them some black sand taken from the beds of streams in the Tuhua raDges and falling into the lake on its western side. The sand on being washed was found, in every instance, to contain gold. Captain Morrison is sending some of it down to Napier, and it will shortly, along ■with come specimens of quartz promised to be sent by the Taupo natives, be open to inspection by the public. — 11. B. Herald. A meeting of the members of the City Band of Hope was held last night in the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms. The attendance was excellent, and Mr. Francis Cherry occupied the cbair. The evening's entertainment consisted of singing temperance songs, recitations, and addresses. The recitations and readings were given by various members of the Band, and were all of a temperance character. Mr. Coupland gave an address upon the importance of habits, &c. I he hecretary intimated that the next meeting would be held that day fortnight, after which the meeting was brought to close by singing part of a temperance hymn. A race for £40 a side took place this afternoon between Mr. McGregors Nuraa and Mr. Snells Nero ; distance, two nailes. It was a capital race, well contested, and resulted in Numa winning by one length.— [Coromandel Correspondent.] R.R.TI. Prince Joseph Celua, son and heir of King Cakobau, at present studying in Sydney, is evidently a very fine fellow, with a considerable amount of common sense. His speech the other day, when responding to the toast of "Prosperity "to Fiji," might be b • keu aa a model for fcho after-dinner speeches of priuces under similar circumstances. It i 3 a good omen for the future of this " new thing in kingdoms," that the son of the present King give 9 signs, not only of manliness and courage, but of sound common sense. Government xiuder him will probably not be merely ajrefuge for the destitute. — Weekly Times. At about two miles south-east of the Miranda, there is an excellent spring, having a heat of about lOOdeg., which comes up like a fountain in the midst o£ a raupo swamp. There are also several hot springs on the Piako river, where commodious bathing-places will no doubt be erected some day. We may say, also, that on our own side of the river, between Puriri and Hikutaia, there is a copious mineral spring. — Advertiser.

The monthly meeting of the Colonists' Protection League is anuouncecl to be held afc the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, on the afternoon of the 4th instant. The transfer books of the Caledonian Goldmining Company are announced to be closed <it noon on Friday, and to remain closed until noon on Tuesday, the 4th June, when a dividend of JE3 per share will be payab'e. Creditors of the Caledonian Mutual Mining Investment Company are requested to send in the particulars of their claims to Mr. J. Davty, on or before the 13th June, else their claims are not to be recognised. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Tookey Qunrtzmining Company (Limited) is convened for the 14th June, to be held at Craigs Royal Hotel, Ballarat, for the purpose of increasing the eaoital of thecompany fr0m £62, 500 t0 £77, 500 by the issue of ten thousand new shares.' The annual meeting of the shareholders in the Harbour View Goldmining Company is advertised to be held at the Company's office, Coromandel, on the 20th Jane, to receive the directors' report, &c. - . The half-yearly meeting of the Mutual Mining Investment Company ia to be held at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association on the sth June, at 8 o'clock p.m. 1 An extraordinary meeting of the.shareholders of the Wood's Point Goldmining Company is announced to be held in the Company's office, Eapanga Road, Coromandel, on the 21st June, for the purpose of passing rules, appointing directors, and for the transaction of other business. ■ > The half-yearly meeting of the Queen of the May Goldmining Company is advertised for Monday, 'Juue 17, at the Mechanics' Institute, Grahamstown j and an extraordinary general meeting will be held immediately after it the same place. A canvasser of a life assurance office (he doesn't represent the European now) w,as so vigorous in his solicitations that he enraged > the gentleman whose premium he was trying to get. "No," said he, " I won't insure my life — but if you could insure my soul Iraighfc give you a turn." *' Oh, no," was the reply, "we are strictly a life "office— we don't tr.ke fire risks."

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH. ISf^' '? Mf "*» t 12 °' clock . very S?W tU occu ™*« At the time Mr. Kobert bollock, the well-known cart proPjioto /f waa standing near the Waitemata **° *el, speaking to Mr. Jamoa Butcher nnd ?Ar. Johu Harding, carters, upon business matters, when Mr. Pollock suddenly dropped down dead at their feet. Tho assistance of Dr. Hooper wa3 obtained within four minutes of the occurrence, but he could do nothing and pronounced life extinct. A cab was procnred, and the body, accompanied by Dr. Hooper, waa taken to Mr. Pollock's late residence in Drake-street. After a more ■careful examination of the body then, the ■doctor was unable to say what the cause of •death was, and in all probability an inquest Will be held to-day, at the usual hour, 2 <> clock. In the afternoon Dr. Philson, District Coroner, was communicated with. The deceased was 68 years of age, and was a.very old resident here. He was well known and generally respected for his npright dealing. As these sudden deaths seldom come in alone, and inquests follow the same rale, several others may be anticipated shortly. The police remarked to us that their experience lead them to the conclusion that sudden or violent deaths are more common during the waning of the moon than before her full.