Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1893.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 201, 25 August 1893, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1893.

Kauri gnm.diggins is a very important industry iv the Auckland provincial district, ncirly 7000 men being engaged in it. The diners like most other 'psople have several grievances. One is the bad state- of the roads on the gumfields, owing to lack of means to mak; them properly. Most of tho land is owned either by the Crown or by Natives and is not subject to rates, and the greater part of it is of such pooivquality that the rates ou what is held privately come to very little Another grievance ia the influx of for-eignei-s, chiefly Dalmatians, who have arrived of late in considerable numbers. These questions and several others relating to the gum.fiolda wore referred to a Hoyal Commission consisting ot'Dr Giles, Resident Magistrate in Auckland, Mr Mueller, Chief Surveyor, and Mr J. C. Firch. The Commission took a great deal of evidence, and made certain recommendations to the Government, iv which, however, it was not unanimous. Ir Giles chairman of tho Commission disseuted from his colleagues on tho only points of great importance. Tho report suggested that an exoort duty of £3 a ton should be levied on all gum exported, but Dr Giles held that iv tho present Btate of the trade it would be unwise to do so. Another recommendation was that no persou should be permitted to dig gum even on privately owned land without holding a Hceuse. It was proposed that this fee should be five shillings an. nually, and that licenses should be issued only to ownerß of land or persons who had been at least twelve mouths in tho colony. The objects of the suggested licensing eystora wore to prevent a sudden influx of peoplo to thegumfields, to restrict tho output of gum, and to rciso a fuud for the relief of aged and worn out diggers. The main purpose was of course to keep away for. eignere. Dr Giles vigorously protests against the proposal to debar immigrants to the colony, especially British subjects from access to tho gumfields for twelvo months. For one thing it would be apt to provoke reprisals in other countries. But apart from this Dr Giles strongly objects to hampering nowcomeiv, instead of keeping open to them every channel through which an honest living may be oarued. Ho dissents from tho proposal to make a liceiißo necessary for di^giuij on private land*, believing that there should bo no interference by tho State between tho laudowuer and digger. Lit admits, however, that it is quite 'fair that there should bo a charge for tho right to removo a valuable product from Crown lands, and instead of the proposals of his colleagues as to raising revenue, he suggests that 40 j a year should be churged to each digger, tho payments to bo quarterly iv order to meet the caso ot those who only dig occasionally. The Commission no doubt has found L ouo a great deal about the gumfields and gumdiggere, but there is not likely to be much practical result from its labours. Tho Chairman and the other two members aro directly opposed as to tho course to bo taken, aud tho likelihood is that tho gumfieids will go on in the future as iv the past.

i The limelight exhibition at the Richmond Ciub bus been postponed, till further mt;co | The Cornoiittae meeting re the MasonTc ball is postponed till next Tuedd.ij cvei-ing at seven o'oLck. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this i morning the ca3o of Wm. Child v. J;ine ! French was heard. J\lr Pitt appear; d lor i the plaintiff. This was an implication to recover possession of a cottage in Waimcaslreefc owned by the plaintiff acd rented by the dtfetidant. Tho plaintiff had given defendant notice to leave the house, but she i had not dove so. After heariog the evidence of the plaintiff and the defendant His Worphip mtido an oider that the defendant should leave the cott ige within seven daje. He aIBO gave j idgmenc for 13a (two wetks rent) and costs 1 2 j . Mk. J. 11. Newman has just received a telegram i'lotu theLytll giving 1 the rcaulfc of the week's crushii g from the United Alpii.n ii s 493 ounces of amalgam from 225 tons of stone. Mk. Bethvnilr, architect, invites torders on bih.ilf of Mr I<\ Louden, of Wellington, fur the complete restoration and new tdditions t> his property nituate iv Hardy-street at its junction with Vatigunrd-3ti'cel". At a special meeting of the Ilospitil Beard held on "Wi'duc-sday. Miss .lones wa-< appointed nntioa and head nurse at the lloßpitil. Miss Jonca has been acting matron for the lasc two or three week?, and the patients will be gratified by the appointment, as she h is proved herself a very rffi cient and t>ympathetio nurse. iMiss Jomp, who is a member or the Roy-tl British Nursts Assooiatiou, holds very high certificates. Hac l.as had several years experience at the Auckland Hospital, so that she is well qualified for the oflico to which she has heea appointed. Miss Dorsctt, late of the Wellington Hospital, has been appointed to the female word, taking Miss Jones's place. Mi, j s Dcisitt also holds very high testimonial . Miss Pettir, who has proved herself a capital nursi 1 , will retiin her position us night nurse. Dr Macgregor, in his leport of the Nelson Hospital, s-iys ti at everything has hitherto worked with the utmost harmony, and no doubt this satisfactory state of iff lirs will continue to exist. On Moidty evening Mr F. Worley will give a popular lecture on "combustion " in the All Saints' School-room. Tho Bude light will be exhibited, nnd there will be many brillhnt experiments. Iloldeis of School of Mines ticket^, &• d members of the Young Men's Institute will be admitted free, but ethers will bo charged sixpence. There should be a large attendance, as tho lecturer has devoted a considerate; amount of time to the subject, and tho lectuie is sure to be interesting and instructive. It comm.'nces at eight o'clock. Mit J. M'Donald, the Victorian justice of the peace who committed Sir M Davies a' d Mr Milledge for trial offer all tho other members of the Bench had decided on discharging them, died early this month. His illness was caused by the mentl worry of the 35 days tri.l, superadded to the exoiteinei t of ita conclusion. The London correspondent of the Otago Daily 'limes writes that in the London 1! Journal of Education," under the heading "Another Warning to Teachers Going to the Colonies," a trenchant letter from Dr. E. A. Abbott is published giving particulars of the treatment of Professor Aldis by the Auckland University Councils The writer points out that Professor W. S. Aldis was J-Jeuior Wrai gler and First Smith's Prizeman iv 1861, and subsequently, for several year. 3 , principal of the College of Physical Pcience iv Newcastle-on-Tync. The failure of his wife's health induced him, about 1C years ago, to accept the Auckland profi ssorship, at some sacrifice of income— on the understanding, of course, that he was irremovable as long as he could do the work. After nearly 10 years of service he is arbitarily dismissed. The Daily Chronicle remarks that it seems on the face of it a gross and wanton act ot injustice. Our correspondent adds :— " New Zealand has won for itself an unenviable notoriety for scholastic sweating. To attrac 4 ; a head master by a large salary, and then, vlxu he has burnt his ships and sulliciently severed his connection with the Mother Country, to cut clown his salary to the starvation point is apparently considered in the colony a clever .stroke of business," Mr. W. Lock, p.cting under instructions from Mr E F. Burrell, will submit by auction at noon to-morrow his two valuable properties situated at Wakefield. Prevnu? to this sale, at 11 f'.ni a large quantity of furniture and eff.ct-, also a lot of superior plants including rhuba'b raspberries, cabbage, .!c i , will be cold. Messes Bisley Bros .v Co will sell by public auction at their Exchange Auction Rooms. Hardy street, to-morrow, at noon, those desirable properties in the Wood, in the estate of the late George Henry Myer?, also a quantity of furniture, drapery, liarnes?, and traps at noon, at the Farmers S-ile Rooms, particulars of which can be ! found in the udveitbiug coining.