The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4639, 8 July 1872, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LtXOEO, NON JJRO. If I hare bien extinguished, y«t thert rlio A thouiand beacons from the tpark I boie.

MONDAY, JULY 8, 1872.

j What are we to do with our boys ? is a question which we often hear asked byrespectable parents in the colonies, who are naturally anxious to discover some opening by which their growing-up sons ! may hay« a fair start in life. Everyone is desirous of advancing his social position, if not for himself, at least for his family j and improved circumstances and better education] are [usually | accompanied with aspirations incompa- i j tible with the primitive occupation of a i I " life of labour." Yet it is obvious that labour is the necessary condition of most men, and any attempt at inverting tho law of nature in. this respect must ultimately be followed by reactionary cousequences inimical to the, true progress and wellbeing of society. The mistake is not in the desire for social advancement, but in the means by which this is sought to be brought about, and the manner and mode of life un which it is supposed to consist. The mechanic or artisan, who, has been compelled to work hard for a living, seeing himself olassed ,a grade , l&low; the clerk, book-keeper, or .genteel idler^ seeks • some higher; occupation i for^hisjisons.- > Me .saves* t mqney : .from his hard earnings^ to. educate his boys, and to train them for' some more supv posed respedt'able calling r . thin that t of an artisan. '*\T& consequence. ,i^ : tnat

we have a large sut^lua- of "young onen' of a class for which it is difficult to find occupation at all ; while steady, skilful mechanics are not always to be obtained, and usually command good wages and full employment. This is a great evil in a young colony like this; and, if permitted- to go on unredressed, in a few generations we shall find ourselves in a condition of educated barbarism, without anyone competent to manufacture the necessary articles of civilisation, or stimulate progress in scientific attainments. It is one of the weaknesses of our social economy iihat labour -is looked upon as a disgrace and humiliation, and everyone appears anxious, as far as possible, to avoid hard work. Yet it is not the work that degrades, but the associations of coarseness and vulgarity that too often accompany it. The absence, as a rule, of education and refinement creates a prejudice against occupations otherwise honourable in themselves and highly necessary to the well-being of the community. The question arises, cannot this state of things be remedied ? The demand for education is the watchword of the day ; but education alone, that is, mere school instruction, is not sufficient to effect the reformation that is needed. Nay, it may be doubted whether it will not rather intensify the evil complained of, by widening the breach still further between mechanical occupations and a spurious, superficial, though educated gentility. We aie sure no one would feel surprised if it should be so. A little learning is a dangerous thing. If mnaccompanied by a judicious industrial training, in the case of those who, so to speak, have to -make their own way in the world, not only will it fail to accomplish what had been expected of it as a means of social advancement, but it will become the instrument too often of precipitating its possessors to a still lower level. Our great object should be, to combine industry and education in one, by instituting a training system for practical instruction in the mechanical arts in connection with our elementary schools. The idea is not new, having been broached some time ago in America, but the principle we believe to ba a thoroughly practical one, and, if generally adopted, there is good reason for expecting that the results would be found eminently beneficial. The hours of school instruction are now generally reduced to four hours in the day. If these were supplemented by two or three hours additional to be devoted to instruction in some mechanical art, say for boys over 14: years of age, a taste and aptitude for useful occupations would bo acquired, which in conjunction with a liberal education, and the pursuit of more intellectual studies, would have the effect of raising the standard of mechanical labour in the estimation of the educated mind. " A u trade learned in this way," says an American writer, " would be the pride " of parents, and a noble calling for " the son. Such mechanics would " astonish the world with their inven- " tive skill, by making labour-saving " machinery do the drudgery of toil, " and establish the fact, that our 11 powers of improvement extend to " trade and tradesmen, as well as to " so-called professional occupations." The fact is, that to preserve tho balance of society, and guard against an overdose of educated idleness in the community, the inculcation of habits of industry and a fitness for wholesome employment ought to be made a part of public educatiou. It is not mere book-learning that makes all the difference among men, but the method of acquiring general information, aud the manner in which the aspirations of the mind are directed ; while yet the rulea of grammar, and the lines and figures of geometry, are being mastered. Education is necessary, of course, for all occupations. 80 is the plough necessary in breaking the ground for a crop ; but if no seed is sown and harrowed in there will be no harvest. This subject is capable of being pur&ued much farther, but our space is already exhausted, and we can do no better at present than recommend it to the earnsst consideration of those amongst us who take an iuterest in the causa of education.

We have on several occasions urged upon the attention of the various social, literary, and benevolent institutions of Auckland the desirability of inaugurating a course of lectures on a popular basis at a fitting season of the year, with a view to the dissemination of profitable and entertaining information, and in order that more praotioal effect might be given to the object for which those institutions exist. It is with pleasure, therefore, that we notice an intimation to this effect thrown out by the President of the Auokland Institute in his introductory address on the 24th ultimo. Referring to the I progress being made in the formation of a library of scientific works, Captain Heale observed, "It was his wish to ',' utilise those books, as far as lay Ms "power by contributing from time to " time popular lectures on scientific subjects of a character capable of . convey"mg a large amount of information.". This is precisely what is wanted. ' Such a course would do more than anything else to bring institutions of this kind favourably before the public We believe ifc is not too much to lay that one-half the benefit of scientific research is lost to the world, apparently, from the inoapaoity or want of tact on the park of those who, from taste oofr f leisure, are in the habit of, giving attend tion to scientific pursuits. It willbe well>. both for the true disciples of science and 1 for the more benighted portion of; the public, who n r eed' all* the 'illumination 1 they can obtain in, this way, when men of erudition and/: refinement shall ''take .'£ .pleasure in , commanioating the 'informaItiori they are pojMesaed\of4o,'oj&er« r . ,' ifc •is by such means, we conceive, "that a , taste is . tol.be screated, foi ,the ; t highly branches of- t ftuoation -whew as- yefeiit has no beginning^, arid to be B^reiiitlipned and; encouraged where it V already eiis't's"; The?fieid\bgBoienlii%f J researeU;Htt* f 'tli% present < day; ii< Bo tr ,f lpHi'ftv^Slfel that"- .there A jieed *be -little difflomtjy~'in atfcfadtive'tbiSkedia^ ,way;Mubht?re|Sl^g o^d^offldiVefCa^om-} iplisßedr^^But jti^o^y^so^Kt^^biinatitiL.^ tion above referred to readii good cer vice

bySdofttlrigtli^praGbe^recommended, fttut other institutions as well might, we witli great propriety follow the same example. ' We are not oblivious of the fact that musical parties, rather than addresses on elementary subjects, However useful, are the order ot- the day." But, notwithstanding that it is so, we must still contend that ar,t, joi©njCB,jitera-. ture, and mechanical inveiitjion^are a valueof theirown.not simply as a means for exciting the curiosity of an audience, and gratifying a few individuals with an insight into what ib not commonly known, but' as educators' of the people, capable] of el orating the masses in the social scale, and qualifying them for a higher mental and material prosperity. This ought we, to do, and not leave the' other undone. There is no necessity that we should forego the lighter entertain* ments, because it ia desirable to inform ourselves betimes on subjects calculated to make a weightier demand upon the energies of the mind. All our relaxations need not be in the direction of music and song, or, if they are, certainly we are not in the way to the highest olass of either social or political advancement. Our youth especially need to be stimu lated in respect to useful studies, and nothing would be so likely to have this effect as the oreation of greater facilities for the class of entertainments to which we have made reference. Our Young Men's Christian Association' has been repeatedly referred to, as a successful instance of the course here recommended. So xnuoh is this case, that something like a feeling of dissatisfaction appears to have sprung up in some quarters because the abovenamed institution is not of a more cosmopolitan oharaoter. This is clearly unreasonable. The success of that association, such as it ia, is a thing of late date, and is attributable mainly to the initiation of a course of lectures, which, although not in all respects of the class best calculated to fix the attention and improve the mind, yet on the whole are sufficiently attractive to be acceptable to large and respectable audiences. Instead of wishing to secularise such an institution, or in any way divert it from its legitimate objeot, it is for other public bodies to imitate the example of the Young Men's Christian Association by promptly initiating a course of popular entertainments of an intellectual and improving charaotor on their own account, and in this way, while conferring a boon upon the public, promote more effeotually the particular object for which they are supposed respectively to exist. We hope yet to see this course more generally adopted in Auckland, as it is already in Sydney, Melbourne, and other Australian cities ; but if anything is to be done in the matter this season there is now no time to be lost. '

We are indebted to Captain Millar, of the brigantin© ' Magellan Cloud,' which, arrived at the Thames from Newcastle with coals on Saturday last, for copies of later Sydney and Newoastle papers, extracts from whioU will he found elsewhere. On Friday morning there was alarm in the sharemarket in the matter of Coromandel scrip, which on Saturday colminated in a wide-spread panic. The barometer early in the morning had sunk lower than hai, with I one exception, eTer been known on any previous occasion. Towards afternoon the share-glass gave slight indications of improvement, but it still ranged very low. Almost almost all descriptions of Coromandel stock, excepting Tokateas, may be said to have sustained a fall in price— rm some oases to a very considerable extent, as will be seen from the share reports published elsewhere. At present we refrain from assigning any cause for such a decline in some of our leading stocks. A very ' searching inquiry will, we have no doubt, be instituted, and we have reason to know that there will be some very singular disclosures made as to the manner the market has been rigged with respect to some of the claims. If only a few speculators will have sustained serious losses, and two or three are ruined, it will be of small consequence in comparison to the good results which will follow if the present panic will put an end to the reckless manner in which new companies have been floated in the Coromandel field, and older- ones bolstered up. The storm which has raged in the sharemarket will we should hope have the effect of purifying the dense unwholesome atmosphere which has of late overclouded it. There wore many long faces on Saturday, and there were strong denunciations against the acts of persons whose names it would not be right to mention until they are introduced to the public through, some one or other of our law Courts. This much we may state — that several speculators in scrip are likely to be informed against, and brought to Court for acting as sharebrokers without being duly licensed as Buch. At the present time there may be seen in the office of Mr. J. W. Waller, at the Custom-house Timber Yard, several specimens of laminated stone, admirably adapted for flagging and kerbing purposes. Although of a different quality of stone than the " Caithness flags," its various laminal were as smooth on the surfaces as the best Caithness flags. The ston« is very hard, and so far as durability is concerned we should think it would be almost everlasting. The three pieces we saw were brought up from Port Charles by the cutter 'Agnes' on Friday last. It is the first of this kind of stone that has been brought to Auckland, and it is not long since it 3 existence was known even in the Port Charles district. It is found on some land, the property of Mr. Kensington, about a quarter of a mile from the " reef," near the Port Charles Sawmills. It is found in unlimited quantity in vast beds, and the blocks required can be out out any size that may be desired. From 3£in. to 4sin. is the thickness of each lamina, which would be the very size required for "flagging to our footpaths. -It■' is not like the stone that comes from 1 Mangawai, Hape Creek, and elsewhere, which has to be cut into thin skbs as may bo required. Tht stone from Port Charles is by nature in thin slabs, and the surfaces are as smooth as if they had' been cut by. a saw.., Mr. Blewdin, the contractor for th« Musio Hall, saw th« slabs on Saturday last, and. expressed hims*lf surprised to see 'stone of that riatur*, and gave an order for a quantity of it. The stone is of * dark colour, and if used for flagging would not be so hurtful to the eyes as the white stone from'Marignwai is during bright sunshine. Little by little we expect the resources of the province will become fully known, if not fully developed. " , We observed on Saturday last that the steps, leading t down ,frpm , Emily ? place to r Custom-house.street wer« in a" rather dan* jgerous condition. Near the top of the lower >9ight of steps a considerable landslip had j taken place during the -previous night, and this made them very insecure. There was a large bank of earth and iftok that apptwred to 'be on the point of falling; andwnenit I gives iwjr the ' lower jflight of rsteps will be. ! considerably eridangerc'd.'!^ Spirs \had been ' place'd'acrois 'the .passage; Wl nailed to ' the handrails ,a£ WMn^dr-atjlgveraLplaoes, besides, -those at/tlie lopt*pf' ttf£?tbeps ' »t the level ofeCuitom^howe-Btjeefc/.and at the toft leading from Emily-place." YeSnotwithstandfogthelpre^ up -Imi'dbfvn^'Tas^H^iherejWiS *zko*a«iger, dttringJjhfl.greafsßJ^^^ will be seen l>y.advertiBement iff' another' column /v* ! Xfle^pw^ioTOni«vK)T*nmient'h»vo : v©toed ' £ett«tiry^ind inttn»tidn t iwas giyen^himjtbt ■uoa-effiptrv iThrialinr , ?raf £600, j&iaum;>W*'r* >.f :^^ w :;.'

. An accident of a very serious character (says our Coromandel correspondent) occurred to one of oar fellow-townsmen on Thursday night. Mr. Sykes was galloping his horse along the road when the animal, in some unaccountable manner, rushed headlong into an approaching cart, The shaft of the cart penetrated Mr, Sykea's leg several inches, completely splintering the bone. Large portions of bone protruded through the skin, and, from what 1 can learn, amputation may be necessary. On calling at Mr. Sykes's residence this (Saturday) afternoon, I ascertained that he was much worse j and arrangements were completed for sending him to the Provincial Hospital, by tho steamer, for future medical advice and attention. Dr. Ho veil has been particularly attentive since the lamentable affair took place, and, together with Mrs. Sykes, goes to Auokland with the sufferer. A notorious character, named John Thompson, was taken into custody on Saturday, charged with stealing a door-scraper and an iron bucket. This man has been previously convicted for the same olass of offence— that of visiting back-yards and out-offices, and laying hands upon any article of the smallest value, whioh ho manages to dispose of to persons who lay themselves out for buying anything at a fourth of its value, without asking any question. The police have now in their possession a quantity of property, consisting of axes, saws, buokets, and the like, which have been stolen, but to whom they belong they know not. Owners can receive the whole or any of these articles by identifying them. We have been requested to publish the following :—-" Information was received on Saturday, from the Green Harp, Coromandel, that 1261b. weight of amalgam resulted from the crushing of 100 tons. When reduced it is expected to yield 4570z., equal to 4£oz. to the ton." A correspondent writing from Coromandel says:— "l hear that the Orangemen here and at the Thames intend to hold a demonstration shortly. The Superintendent's answer to the deputation who waited upon him with reference to the proposed procession is considered unsatisfactory by the Catholics on the goldfields, and I fear if this party demonstration, which can only be accepted as an insult to the Catholic portion of the community, is permitted, a serious disturbance will be the result, as I know several who are preparing for it." i I State of her Majesty's Gaol, Auckland, for the week ending July 6, 1872 :— Awaiting trial, 3 males j penal servitude, 49 males ; hard labour, 67 males, 23 females ; imprisonment, 2 males ; default of bail, 7 males, 2 females ; debtors, 4 males. Received during the week, 15 males, 1 females ; discharged, 11 males, 2 females. Total in gaol, 132 males, 25 females. A man named William Wataon was imprisoned and tried lately at Ballarat for passing a bad half-sovereign. Just before he was sentenced a constable came forward, and stated that he had been at the trouble to get the half-sovereign analysed, and, to his astonishment, he found it was perfeotly genuine. The Wellingtonlndependenttia.ys•.—'•Whatever change there may be in the position of political parties next session, the question of Provincialism must of necessity occupy a very prominent place in tho discussions of the Legislature. Since the failure of Mr. Stafford's Government in 1868 to carry measures having for their object the supplanting of Provincial Government pur et simple, by a large and general scheme of a municipal character, the question has been allowed to drift about without any controlling hand. Strong as weie the ultra-provincialista — representing as they did those whose occupation was threatened by any reform in the Constitution — the course of events since that time has undoubtedly shaken their \ position. The colony has from one end to the other endorsed a large and comprehensive scheme of immigration and public works. Money to enable this schemo to bo carried into effect has been borrowed by tho colony upon its united credit, and the management and administration have been by common consent placed in tho hands of the Colonial Ministry. This policy of itself drove a heavy nail into the coffin of Provincialism as it was ; and public opinion throughout the colony has since encouraged the efforts of those who desire to see at one and the same time a strong central authority, and a liberal system of local administration." We understand the Catholics of thia city will assemble at St. Patrick's Cathedral for the purpose of receiving the Right Rev. Dr. Croke on his arrival from Sydney. The belk of the different churches will be rung to notify the fact of Dr. Croke'a arrival. Our Coromandel correspondent writes : — " The Agent of the General Government at Auokland, with Mr. Mackay and the chief Taipari, chartered the steamer ' Lalla Rookh ' yesterday, for the purpose of proceeding to Cabbage Bay, with a view of solving the case of the abduction a native woman in an amicable way if possible. Dr. Pollen returns to Auckland by tho steamer to-night, but I have not heard the result of his negotiations." The roads of Coromandel daily grow worse and worse, and yet the Government make no sign. Private enterprise stepped in some time ago and asked for permission to make a tramway, so as to connect the jetty with the Government line, but the reply to tho application was that the Government "had the subject of tramways under consideration." I We should like to know how long it will take the Executive to come to a decision on the >■ matter.— Goramandel Mail. On Thursday evening, a man walking I along the beach, at Tararu, saw something I shining just about high-water mark, and, thinking it was just ordinary phosphorus, he i had a look at the object. He states that he picked up two things which looked like sticks of sugar more than anything else, and carried them into the house, and left them on the window sill, or on a board near tho window. After lying there for a time they became ignited, and burnt furiously, shooting flames to a considerable height. The stuff smells like very strong phosphorus ; but we cannot understand its being picked up where it was and carried about before going off into a flange. — Thames Guardian. We ( Wellington Independent) direct attention to a very interesting letter from a London correspondent, which appears in another column. ■ The writer is a gentleman well able to judge of the subjects to which his letter refers, and in the matter of emigration his opinions may be taken with some degree of authority. He points out with great clearness tht obstacles against which this colony has to contend in its efforts to obtain a large British immigration, in the high rates of wages ruling in all brandies of industry, with exception of agricultural labour, and the competition of other countries vicing with eaoh other in the temptations and facilities offered to the emigrating classes. For instance, " Canada not only offers free grants of land, but will clear a few acres of the bush to begin with." He refers also to one considerable difficulty in the way of procuring a supply of the poor .farm labourers who would prove valuable [settlers if we had them, through their j .extreme povexty making it impossible to .defray the cost of their necessary outfit and .conveyance to the port of departure. 1 It is understood (says the Queen) that ■ H.R.H. Prince Arthur, Captain in the Rifle 'Brigade, at Dover, will shortly, be promoted [to 'the rank of major j and, after » brief- stay at his residence in Greenwich Park, will proceed to India for' two years' service in that country. The Prince is said to be attentively pursuing his studies in the various branches of Ma profession, YQn' June 18 » portion^ of ■ the Pentridge Stockade was committed to? the flames by the aoi;, it is surmised, of one of the prisoners who was employedaa' a shoemaker in the prison yrorkshep- C ,Ifc is alleged, .that * rigid inspection of the workshop 'afters the pruonera left it of an evening might have revealed the plot to barn down the prison, and go have l*v«d £1,300 to tk« oomntry.

Mr. Ooodall, of Grahamstown, has just i completed a miaing survey of the lauds at Preeoe's Point, Coromandel, the property of the Hon. James Williamson, of Auckland, which will be pegged out during next week. The Government of Sweden and. Norway have thought it worth their while to send nn agent to Victoria, with the view of ascertaining what market can be found there for for Scandinavian produce, and what openings there are for Swedes and Norwegians who may be desirous of emigrating. Although the population of these countries is small compared with their area, the number of persons who leave annually for America is very large. In 18G9 it amounted to 39,064 persons, and it is not at all impossible that the results of the inquiries now being made by Mr. Christophersen may result in Melbourne being substituted for New York aa the El Dorado of the Norseman. A German, [named Apfel, has absconded from Sandhurst, after obtaining between £3,000 and £4,000 worth of property by means of valueless cheques. A telegram received on Wednesday stated that the defaulter had taken his departure for Europe in the mail steamer 'Nubia,' but as that vessel had anchored at the head of the South Channel on Wednesday, and the detectives had taken a tug with the view of pursuing and arresting the fugitive, it is likely, if he be on board the 'Nubia,' that his flight will be stopped. A Sandhurst correspondent writes as follows :—": — " Con»iderable consternation (particularly to those mostly interested) was caused in Sandhurst thia morning by the sudden disappearanceof a broker, named Apfel, who has taken with him suma of money owing to several wellI known mining speculators, to the extent of : between £3,000 and £4,000. One gentleman had a dishonoured cheque presented to him this morning, over £900, for fifty Extended Hustler's Company he sold to him on Wednesday, and others in several large sums. Apfel has only been here about six months, and it seems singular he should have trusted with such large sums of money." The Bendigo Evening News says that another sharebroker is missing. The Sydney Morning Herald says that, in consequence of a theatre not being obtainable in Sydney, the Cagli Opera Company will not visit that metropolis until May, 1873. They proceed to New Zealand, and on their return will visit Tasmania and Adelaide. The Herald complains of the " low saloons and mountebank comic singing with which the city of Sydney is at present deluged." In Melbourne the company of the " burnt out," who have been playing at the Polytechnic Hall upon the co-operative system, on making up their accounts for the week ending Saturday, June 8, found that the net sum to be divided between them was just five shillings each, nf ter paying rent and expenses, together with the sum of £1 per night due to Mr. G. Coppin for the privilege of performing the copyright play produced at the above place of amusement. Mr. John Badcook, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, before leaving Melbourne for England, was presented -with an address and a purse of 600 sovereigns. The annual meetings of the ratepayers in the following highway districts are advertised to be held as under:— The Karaka district at the Farmers' Hotel, Drury, on the Lsfch inst., afc 10 o'clock; the West Tamaki on the 15th, at 3 o'clock, in the school-house ; the Papakura on the 17th, at noon, in the school-house, Papakura Valley ; the Wairau district, in the ohurch at Maungaturoto, on the 19th, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Mr. K. C. Furley, L.R.C.S., in a lotter to the Scotsman, says he is able to prove that vaccination is not only a preventive of disease but a cure. It is, he says, ascertained that when a person, liable to take j small-pox is exposed to the infection the poison circulates in the blood for eight days j before producing any febrile symptoms j then commence headache, sickness, pain in the back, suffused eyeß, and a peculiarly whitefurred tongue — a group of symptoms that belong to no other disease, and which, last for three days. It has been held and acted on since Jenner's great discovery, more than eighty years ago, that it is not only wrong, but fatal, to vaccinate any one during that stage of the disease, or the subsequent one when the eruption makes its appearance. But Mr. Furley says he can show, from cases under his care at the present time, that if you vaccinate during the febrile stage the fever is slightly increased, but the eruption does not make its appearance, and if you vaccinate during the eruptive stage the eruption is immediately arrested. The mature lymph overtakes the immature poison, and the disease terminates. If the eruption has gone the length of having white tops, there is danger of infection ; if not, it dies away as pimples. Mr. Furley feels confident that if every doctor were to vaccinate each case of small-pox that comes under his care at once, many hundreds of lives would be spared, and many thousands of p^ oundß would be saved. In the meantime, he invites members of the medical profession to accompany him through the patients he haa under his care, and thus possibly stamp out the epidemic in a few weeks. Geelong no longer stands where it did, but somewhere else. It now turns out that it ought to have been placed on the map half a dozen miles furtherjeast, west, north, or south from its present position. Who can jjtell what dire events may accrue from tho blundorjof Borne unhappy trigonometrical surveyor ? A new survey is at once to be made. Prince Pierro Bonaparte, the assassin of Victor .Noir, is so little depressed by the fact of his wife opening a millinery shop in London, that ho boldly declares he looks with entire resignation upon the crnel fate which throws him upon his wife for support. The Rothschilds will hold a great family reunion this July at Frankfort-oa-the-Maine, when it is believed important changes will be agreed upon in regard to the management of the various branches of the great firm. The Empress of the French is said to be suffering from a painful, although not a serious indisposition. A London pompous scientific lecturer reminded his country audience recently, in conclusion, that the same shooting star can never be seen twice. Some one at the back exclaimed thereupon, " You b« a shooting gtar, then, mister." Prince Bismarck completed his fifty-eigb>h year on the Ist of April. Decidedly AllFools' Day got the worst of it in the cv« of the Prinse. Mdme. Patbl has just received at Vienna the present intended for her by the Emperor of Russia. It is a splendid ruby, surrounded by twenty-four brilliants, valued at fifteen thousand roubles.

The annual meeting of the ratepayers in the Newton District advertised to be held at Mi\ Edwarda's Newton' Aoademy, on the 13th instant, at noon. A meeting of ex-members of the Auckland Troop Royal Cavalry Volunteers is advertised to be held in the Governor Browne Hotel, Hobson-street, to-morrow evening at 7 o'clock. Those only who are entitled to land certificates are invited to attend. The monthly inspection of the Auckland Engineer Volunteers is to be held in the Drill-shed, on Wednesday evening, at halfpast seven o'clock. The annual meeting of the ratepayers in the Mount Eden Highway District will pc heldinthe'Edeu Vine Hotel, on the 15th instant, at 7 o'clock in the evening. The annual meeting of the ratepayers in Devonport Highway Distriot is announced to be held in the Devonport Hall, North Shore, . on the 16th instant, at 6 o'clbok pirn. The quarterly meeting of the Royal Arch Chapter ia advertised to take place this evening at the Masonic Hotel, at 7.30. Visiting companions are invited to attend. A general meeting of the shareholders in the Fanny Goldmining Company is advertised to be Held in the Queensferry Hotel, on the 22nd instant, at 3 o'clock. . The fourth, ordinary general meeting of the shareholders in.the.Neptune Goldmining Company is 'advertised to be'Tield at the Bridge Hotel, Coromandel, oa the 16th faiturt, at 0 o'clock p.m..