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New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1658, 8 March 1862, Page 3

Union Bank.— Tlirough the courtesy of Mr. Simpson, Inspector of the New Zealand branch of this establishment, we have been favoured with a view of the plans and elevations of the Banking House about to be erected at the corner of Queen and Victoria streets. The projected structure is of magnificent design, far surpassing any that has yet been dreamt of in New Zealand; and from the various drawings, sectional and else, taken in conjunction with their accompanying specifications, it is obvious that it will be at once the most perfect as well as the most ornamental edifice that has yet been raised. The architect is a Mr. Leonard Perry, of Melbourne. The plans he has furnished arc eleven or twelve in number, and exhibit not only the public but the private chambers of this magnificent structure. The front, which is to Queenstreet, exhibits ,a retiring portico 39 feet in length by 9 feet 9 inches in depth, which opens upon the public office, a spacious apartment of 39 feet by 25 feet, the ceiling rising to the entire height of the building, and receiving light from three large front windows on a level with the second story. The portico, externally, is supported by four Corinthian columns and two pilasters. The Manager's room is on the .entrance floor; the Inspector's office, which is quite distinct, is on the second floor. The Manager's residence will be entered from Victoria-street. It will be a sumptuous place of abode, containing handsome dining room, drawing room, bed rooms, bath • room, with coach house, stables, out offices, and yards complete. This is but a mere outline sketch of the noble structure, which, we learn, is to be commenced without delay. The preference is to be given to our own Colonial contractors; and as much of the expenditure as can be disbursed in Auckland will be the aim of the Bank. This being the intention, there is one point to which we would beg to call tho attention of the Bank directors. It is proposed to employ Sydney cedar in the internal fittings. May we venture to suggest that this is a great mistake, and to say that in the finest and most costly building yet projected in Auckland, it would be infinitely better to make use of the beautiful and choice woods that are to be found in the Province of Auckland, and which elicited such universal admiration at the recent display of articles for transmission to the Exhibition of 1862, It is very gratifying to witness the continual strides which architecture is making here both in materials, in style, and substantiality. The Saviugs' Bank already shows a handsome front. Within the next-twelve months the Union Bank will be far advanced. Before then, we hope that that opposite mass of filth and feculence, the Supreme Court House, and Gaol—the disgrace of the City—will have been swept away, to give place for the noble structures which the sale of such valuable ground would be sure to create.

Rifle Volunteer Concert. —We are instructed to state that the rifle volunteer concert, which was originally in tended tohave been held at the Odd Fellows' Hall, on Monday evening last, has been postponed until Wednesday evening next, and not Monday, the lOtli, as stated in our previous issue. Setting aside the programme, which alone is calculated to afford an entertaining evening's amusement, we would urge upon our fellow citizens the purpose to which it is intended to appropriate the proceeds of the coucert,—that of affording assistance to the band of the rifle volunteers in meeting their present liabilities. Volunteering in Auckland has ceased to be a mere playing at soldiers; the rifle volunteers have cheerfully undertaken a very pressing and constantly recurring duty, and the least that the general public, for whose benefit these duties have been undertaken, can do, is to forward them in their own way, by seeing that no pecuniary obligations render the task which the volunteers have so nobly undertaken more onerous than it need be. The shooting for the rifles presented by the Messrs. Hcbbcrt, commenced on Thursday with the Royal Company. There were very few in attendance. The shooting was more than an average, the highest score being 27 points. A Tea Meeting was held on Wednesday evening, in the Independent Chapel, in Albert-street, the Rev T. riamer, the pastor of the place, presiding. The object of the meeting was to celebrate the liquidation of the debt on the building. A substantial and plentiful tea was provided, and the friends present, who quite filled the room, did ample justice to the viands placed belorc them. After tea the Rev. T. Hamer, in an introductory address, congratulated his friends in the very successful issue of their efforts, and desired all to be thankful to the Giver of all good. Captain Daldy, the senior deacon of the place stated that the debt, which no longer existed, had been the sum of £4OO but now he had great pleasure in laying before his friends the title deeds of the building, free from all incumbrance in any shape or form. At the conclusion of his speech he, in the name of the church and congregation, presented their pastor, as a token of esteem, with a purse containing £SO. Mr. Hamer tendered his acknowledgments, and the Rev. Messrs. Macdonald, Buddie, Mason and Long, and Messrs. Wm. Rattray, S. H. Smith, and J. C. Firth addressed the meeting which closed with the doxology, and was throughout a remarkably interesting and pleasant assembly. A Provincial Government Gazette published yesterday notifies a reward of £2OOO for discovery of a payable gold-field. A return of Cattle slaughtered from the Ist to 31st December. A re-publication from New Zealand Gazette of blocks in this Province over which the Native Title has been extinguished. The appointment of Joseph Newman, Esq., to the office of Provincial Auditor—and of Mr. B. McLean, as Deputy-Auditor. Proclamation of intected districts under the Diseased Cattle Act. Extension of the Thistle Act to the Waiheke District. Appointment of William Berg of Cape Town as Emigration Agent for Cape of Good Hope—and of John Macky as a Commissioner of the Board of Education, vice T. S. Forsaith, resigned. Also the setting apart of 20,000 acres, a portion of the Matakohe block, Kaipara, for special immigrants expected from England. New Zealand Insurance Company.—At a special meeting of the shareholders of this Company held last week, Messrs. David and Walter K. Graham were unanimously elected Directors in the room of John Graham and G. B. Owen, Esqs., resigned. We are happy to see this Company going on extending thesphere of its operations ; agents have been appointed at Rus sel and Wanganui in the Northern, and Picton, Oamaru, and Invercargill in the Southern Island. Decry Presbyterian Church.—The annual soiree of this denomination will, we perceive, be held on Thursday next, the 13th March, in the above place. As several ministers and friends of the body have promised to attend, a more |than usually pleasant evening may be looked for. We have no doubt that many of our citizens will avail themselves of the opportunity of combining a visit to the camp with this excursion. Ladies' Bexeyoeent Society.—The members and friends of this Society will meet on Mondav evening l ue's?i fes loth .ifigftj t.t flsa Odd Falters' H«ll; to hoi?.

the fifth annual meeting of this very desirable and praiseworthy institution. Much as the individual efforts of our worthy townswomon may do towards the alleviation of the sufferings of the poorer citizens, it is only by the enlistment of the sympathies of the general public and their substantial aid that this or any similar undertaking can be extended over a wide field of usefulness-. -Ot all the institutionsof this nature which we possess there- is none,- we believe, which has a greater claim upon our support. From its very nature, seeking quietly and unostentatiously objects of charity among the bye-ways of tho city, many who might bo willing to further so good an object are scarcely aware of its existeuco ; to all such, we recommend a visit on Monday evening, to tho Odd Fellows' Hall, where the meeting is advertised to be held, under the direction of our much esteemed fellow-townsman, Dr. Bennett, the chairman.