AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5577, 7 January 1879, Page 7

AUCKLAND.

[l'llOJt OVJt OWN COItBESI’ONDBNT.J . Deo, 27, last week a very pftihfnl case, which has been before the Police Court for several weeks, was settled. Borne time ago worshippers in the various Protestant Churches were surprised and annoyed at the manner in which their pew bibles, prayer books, hymn books, Ac,, disappeared. For some time the disappearance of these articles was attributed to removal from one scat to another by strangers, and no anxiety was felt, each sufferer thinking that he or she was the only one who hod occasion to complain. It, however, became known that more than one wore in the tamo situation, and the matter wiis referred to the police. Boon similar complaints came to them from various ohurehes—Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Wesleyan, Methodist, Ac.—and the police became convinced that a system of church plundering was in vogue. A search among the pawnbrokers’.* shops showed that a largo number of bools bad been pawned for small sums. In some cases the name of too owner had been carefully removed by some 'chemical, but in others the baptismal name was left. At length a duo rewarded their watchfulness. One night a circumstance occurred in a public house which directed the attention of the Eolice to the Rev Hugh Anderson, who came ere in the Lady Jocelyn in company with the Yesoy Stewart’s last batch of settlers for Katikati. Since his arrival Mr Anderson had obtained no regular employment at his profession, but had preached in St David’s Church, Kyber Pass road. Having-satisfied themsolves of the.correctness of their suspicions, the police arrested Mr Anderson, and after various adjournments ho at last, with the advice of his solicitor, pleaded guilty to no fewer than seven cases of sacrilege. Ani attempt was made to prove his insanity, but’ it failed, and Mr Anderson was sentenced to periods of, imprisonment aggregating six months, without hard labour. Ho is well adJanced in life, being about sixty years old, ut is a slave to bis appetite for stimulants. This terrible craving has been the bane of his Kfe, and not only has he disgraced the profession he followed, but has left a wife and numerous family quite destitute.

, Some time ago I advised you by telegraph of the murder of Captain Holler, of the brig Herrilies, an island trader belonging to the firm of H'Arthur and Co., warehousemen, of this city. The murder was committed by one of the agents of the , firm, named Bennells, stationed on the Island of Bautaritari, one of the islands in the Gilbert Group. Bennells wm stationed there by Captain Holler some; eight months before the' commission of the outrage, when Bennells was very “hard up 5” in fact, it was an act of’charity on the part of Holler to do so. Traders like Bennells are entrusted with a quantity of goods such as the Natives -of that and surrounding islands are -likely to require, and between the visits of the (Vessel the trader is supposed to exert himself in disposing of the goods, or “trade" as they are called, to the Natives for island produce, copra, t.e., dried oocoanut, pearl shell, Ac. When the .vessel makes, its next round,the island produce collected is taken on board, stock taken of the “ trade" remaining, and a general squaring up of accounts, the trader supplies, Ac.. It was atone of these periodical .settlements that Bennells i abd Holler disagreed. ■ The occotmts would . mot “square," and Bennells did not seem inclined to put them to rights. Captain Holler informed' him that in such cases his instructions were to take the “ trade” from him, and let him shift as he liked among the Natives. It was while removing a small cask of beef that the fatal shot was fired. When the case came on for trial here, the question of jurisdiction was raised, and almost proved fatal to the cause of justice. After several remands, an enquiry was held, and a primd facie case clearly established. Prisoner’s counsel challenged the right to pass sentence, and the Magistrate at last decided to remand the prisoner, to await his . Excellency’s pleasure. In the course of the investigation it cropped up that neither the Hagistrate nor either of the Counsel engaged in the case had seen the Imperial Act which : constituted Sir Arthur Gordon Governor of Fiji, High Commissioner in Polynesia, and empowered him to appoint deputy Commissioners at various places, where offences committed by British subjects in portions of Polynesia outside the boundaries of any British Colony might be dealt with as if the offence had been committed on British sod. No copy of the Act was known to be in Auckland, nor any proclamation relating to the same, yet all admitted they were aware that such an Act existed, and that Bennells’ case could be dealt with at Levuka though not at Auckland. It appears to be a neglect on the part of Sir Arthur Gordon not to have appointed some representative of his almost ( universal authority in Polynesia at Auckland; and this neglect is more prominent when it is remembered that an extensive trade exists between Auckland and the islands. Scarcely a week passes but one or more vessels either arrive from or depart to some of the multitudinous islands in the vast Pacific, and yet, as has been shown to be the case, he in whose hands the welfare of our British subjects in Polynesia is entrusted, has no representative at this place. Now that the necessity for such an appointment has been made apparent, the want will probably be supplied, j ust as a local Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Fiji has been appointed, and has been found to be very useful to business people having dealings with that Colony. The Chinese question is occupying the attention of the working men here to a considerable extent. Both the doily papers have joined in the popular cry, and would show no mercy or'kindness to John Chinaman. In fact, judging by the manner in which these organs express themselves, it would seem that John Bull was afraid of the quiet, plodding,' and temperate living Chinaman. But the working men os a body have given no very distinct utterance upon the subject. It was intended (hat a deputation from the Working Hen’s Club should have interviewed the Premier on the subject when he returned from his visit to the Thames, but somehow the interview did not take place. It is reported that opinion on the suojeot is divided, some being inclined to carry out the exclusion policy in a wholesale and most arbitrary manner, {while others with more moderate opinions, with more selfreliance and pride of race, don’t regard the Chinese with such abhorrence, and urge that, if they are compelled to, compete on equal terms with the British workman, the beefeater has nothing to fear from the rioe-eatcr andopium smoker. This party urge that the Chinese could be made a very useful element in the community, if the Government would take the proper steps to secure that end. They hold that the introduction of Chinese should be 10 regulated as to form them into useful settlors and colonists, instead of the wandering vagabonds they now frequently are.‘ They regard the Chinese as an ordinary member of the human family, having all the instincts of home life, lore of children, love of place, Ac., that we ourselvee hare, and that if the Chinese were permitted to enjoy that life in a British Colony, and give daily effect to those instincts, instead of being an element to ho feared, they would form worthy co-workers with Britain’s sons, doing much of the drudgery work which many tradesmen dislike. This party would have the Government frame Chinese introduction regulations providing that no Chinaman unless accompanied by his wife and children should oe permitted to land, and they argue that if a Chinaman had his wife and children to support in a British community he would bo free from many 0! the vices now K chargeable to John, and he would be is likely to work for low wages than ho now is. They argue that the Chinese areas fond of money us we are, and from Chinamen, under such circumstances, there would bo little to fear on the score of wages’ reduotion. .Indeed, this reasoning is borne out by the action of the Chinese gardeners who have

established themselves here. A year or two when they were beginning to got their cultivation* into working order, a great cry w»* got up by the Britiih market gardener* here against the new comer*, but it wn» shown that while John Chinaman had increased the supply and quality of vegetable* m the market he had not reduced the price. This hold# good atilt, and while formerly fresh vegetable# were brought into the market generally once, and never more than twice a Week, now they , are supplied daily of a quality never before produced. The price however, i* practically still the game, the difference being that the *upply is abundant and regular, and the articles good. Another thing might be urged in favour of treating John Chinaman so that he shall become a colonist instead of a wanderer, which is, that being accompanied by hi# wife, some members ofhis family will have to regard New Zealand as their home country, instead of China, Thu# slowly but surely the power of the guild* which now make# the Chinamen in the British Colonies little else than slaves to their wealthier countrymen, would become broken, and under equal protection o! British law, John would struggle bravely for the welfare of his wife and little ones. The desire for returning to China after he had amassed a little “ pile R would become Weakened, and as he looked upon the greater part of his olive branches as free-bom British subjects, and as ho viewed the little grave* winch enclosed the remain# of hi# lost loved 9008,1 think the chances are in favour of his remaining hero, and spending the wealth he hod honorably accumulated. Being in the bosom of his family, the home ties that now pull him back to China as soon as he has acquired a little wealth, would year after year Cease to have a controlling effect upon his actions, and the lessons of patient industry, thrift ana contentment to be learned, from the sons of the ilowcrj Land, who might thus become permanently settled in New Zealand, would not be in vain. Whatever may be the outcome of the variety of opinion oh the subject of Chinese ip British Colonies, I do not know but it is wise to consider all phases of the question before embodying the decision of the Colony in legislative enactment#.

; Notwithstanding the generally dry spring and early summer which wo have had, reports are very favourable in regard to the present condition of the crops. In many districts from 27 to 30 bushels is the expected yield df the wheat crop. Such expectations are however generally based somewhat too high, and while some farmers will be cheered with such a return, lam afraid the majority will have to bo content' with less. The general satisfaction, however, which is entertained of the probable yield may be taken as fair evidence that the wheat crop will at lease bean average one. The reapers and binders will be tried in this district for the first time this season, and it is a good thing for the farmers that some of them have been introduced, for in i the present condition of the labour market they would have had considerable difficulty in getting the necessary labour to harvest the crops, it has been arranged that a public trial of the M'Oormick reaper and binder shall be made at the farm of Mr W. Goodfellow, at Papatoitoi, next Tuesday. The machines Me supplied by Messrs T. and S. Morrin: [The result of the trial has already been made known to our readers.] The hay crop as a rule has been fairly abundant, and though some of it has been damaged by rains which fell when the first of it was cut, it has been saved in very good condition. There seems to be a desire growing up among our farmers to prepare winter feed for their which is an improvement upon the former practice of turning the cattle out upon the adjoining unoccupied land, and allowing them to pick up a scanty livelihood as best they could. Many of our farmers, especially those to the northward of Auckland, have suffered, and are, still suffering considerable loss of stock. At first it was thought some disease was prevalent, but close investigation has shown that they are being poisoned by one or more of the Ranunculus family, principally J2, rivularis, and S. acris. These plants grow in great abundance among the_ herbage at the edges of swamps and moist places, which during dry weather form the principal feeding grounds in many districts. Sometimes death is very rapid, and at other times it is produced more slowly, just in proportion to the quantity of these plants eaten, and _ whether they are partaken after partial fasting, or when the stomach is well supplied with other food. The symptoms, however, in every case are the same; the liver is affected and the stomach has the appearance of having been destroyed by some corrosive acid. Putrefaction soon sets in, and the consequent decomposition of the poisoned animal is very rapid. In previous years farmers have suffered losses from similar causes, but it is only occasionally that these plants are in such abundance as to become a source of danger to the stock owners. Ail the members of the Hanunculaceae order are well known to be more or less poisonous, but as cultivation becomes more general they gradually become extirpated, and the changed condition of the soil, through drainage, &c. t renders their growth as a wild or wayside plant more difficult.