HOUSE ROOM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 159, 17 May 1864, Page 3

HOUSE ROOM.

Tfikkk is still {{rent want of increased house room in Auckland. This want amounts to move than a serious inconvenience, it is positively the, occasion of serious distress to many. INew arrivals have to drag their wives and children wandering wearily round and round the. town, in the attempt to find a place in which to laj' their heads, and are giad at last to take refuge in a public house, unless they are fortunate, enough to find some acquaintance who can give, them a rough shake down on the lloor, unless more fortunate they are able to lind some house of three rooms or even two, andareable to pay the enormous rent required lor it, liiteen shillings or may he one pound a week. People ol small means linil that they are obliged to deny themseives many necessaries to provide tor the high rate of rent demanded for the miserable apology lot , a house they are compelled to eontent themselves with. It reaiiy shows u considerable neglect of their ovi 11 interest, on the part of builders and owners of suburban property not. to extend the house accommodation uf Auckland. With the presentrateot rents, paying soinetlniiii like lilty per cent, on the outlay, it would be hard to lind a better investment. The excuse cannot be made that building materials are too | dear, tor the prices of umber and shingles are falling. And there is no doubt that the present high rents will be kept up for some time. it is not only now that the want of more buildings will be felt, for the termination ol the war, whenever that desirable consummation shall he brought about, will only send in further applicants by hundreds lor accoininodalioii, and it is hard to say where they will lind it, lor at the present time every room of every hotel, including bar, dining room, and sitting rooms, is crammed with wayfarers only too glad to get the offer of his width of the tloor and little or nothing but the clothes he stands in to cover him ; private lodgings for families are not to be had, boarding house keepers' charges are necessarily high, and private dwellings it is dillicttlt to obtain and only at a high rate. "What is required most urgently in Auckland is more buildings on a large scale. "We have always taken the greatest interest in the increase of Auckland in that direction, as it is one of the most important considerations of a young colony, and we believe that at the present time there is ample requirement ibr a very large number of houses, and they would prove exceedingly remunerative to the builder. There is nothing in Auckland at present of the nature of a company of association of several individuals, as in London, for the purpose of building, and at a pressing emergency like the present it would assuredly pay those who seek an investment, to combine to build extensively, and for several dilTerent classes. Several houses of the better class, with from live to eight rooms ; as many of a lower class, with from three to six rooms; and any number of a still interior class of from two to lour rooms, and ol a rent, which would place them within the reach of the working man, would amply repay the builders I and would confer a wonderful boon upon the inmates present and increasing oi' Auckland. .Really it appears so contrary to the law of supply and demand, aud an instance of such inertness on the part of those who at least might be expected to study- their own interests if they neglected those ol'all the world besides, to allow the state of Auckland house accommodation to remaiu us it is, that w e cannot refrain from expressing astonishment at it. A t all events ii'it is allowed to remain as it is, one of the most important items of the outfit of an intended emigrant to JS'ew Zealand will be u marquee to live in on his arrival until he tan get upon his farm.

Auckland Hahboub.—The harbour now' presents a wonderfully lively aud busy appearance, crowded with shipping from all parts of the world ami more coming iii daily. Yesterday eleven more came, in from London, Adelaide, lasinania, Sydney. Newcastle, Circular Head, Wellington, Otago and the Coast. The pilot's start even is insullicient and will require strengthening; The Auckland Savings' Bank.—We have been requested to notice tiro errors iuto which the JS'ctr Zeuhimier has fallen in'its remarks upon the .Auckland Savings' Bank. It is not true that tlic funds of the institution as stated by that paper, are ever used in discounting approved biiis ; neither is it true that on mating his first deposit, the party so doing is charged •sixpence for a copy of the rides. Jjujj Boat j-ok Sib Geouge Grey.—By the 'Avalanche, , which arrived from England tins morning, after a run of 99 davs Froiu the Land/s End, His has received a life boat, 30 feet long, which has been built to his order, by the celebrated builder, White, of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. Cattlk fbom jN t In'.S.W.—We extract the following from the llaitUmd Mercury, of the 3rd instant. The ship ; Severn,' arrived on Friday last, and the • 11. L. Butchers' made (lie Waitemala, yesterday morning, aud iiiicliored oil' Judge's Bay :—" The cattle trade with New Zealand lias received a slight clieck in consequence of the action taken by the authorities at Otago for the prohibition of"stock beiuj; landed at that port. The port of Auckland, however, still remains available, and in no instance, we believe, lias it been established that a case of pleuropneumonia lias been detected in ;>»y of the stock imported irom this place. The ' Severn,' ship, left here in the course of the week with 22i> head of cattle aud 110.) sheep, for Auckland, the former bearing the brand of the Messrs. Button, of JN'anioi, shipped, we believe, on account of Mr. Bell, carcase butcher, of Sydney. The American barque ■H. L. Butchers,' is also now taking on board 150 head of the same brand, intended for the same destination, on account of the Messrs. York, of Sydney, and will be ready for sea in a day or two. Connoisseurs pronounce the cattle shipped, in both instances, as remarkably line bred stock, in excellent health and condition, and altogether of first-rate character, and lit for any market." Township o>- Diivbv, —Messrs. Mabin and Graham, advertise that early in June they will submit to public auction this valuable property. There can be no doubt that when the railway is completed, Dvury will hold a central position between Auckland aud the "Waikato Districts, which will render property there of great and increasing value to its owners. As a manufacturing town too, Drury will, doubtless, take up a position when her coal can be properly worked, and if as is hinted, there should be discoveries of gold made in the Jiuinia Banges, great indeed will be the prospects of Drury. Those who take the opportunity of acquiring property there at the present time, will tind ultimately that they have made a judicious investment.

Gold jn the jS'oktji.—lt has always been reported that gold existed in the neighbourhood of the Manugntanewha Mountain, lying between Mongonui and Hokianga, and in the streams that llow thence through the level h.nds in the direction of Mougonui, repeated discoveries of small pieces of quartz containing the usual indications of gold have confirmed the belief. Latterly, however, a regular reef of this quartz has been discovered, specimens from which have been forwarded to His Honour, the (Superintendent, and from experiments made, there is little doubt that it contains gold. Should this prove true, it may yet be found, as has always been asserted by many to be the ease, lint on the north of Auckland are some of the richest mineral districts of Mew Zealand. L'VI.TIVATION OF jNkYV Zk.U.AKD l> LAX IX lit i<:laxi>. —At a recent meeting of the .Royal Dublin Society, Mr. Locke, who was in the chair when the subject of ilax culture was under discussion, suggested the introduction of JNew Zealand hemp (the plant J'lwrmium Icint.v) into Ireland, stating that the corcass lands of the Shannon and its tributaries, and the alluvial soils, were generally suitable lor its culture, and the climate not adverse. I'kli) I'ocjj Knkmies.—To show how little the Maories are embued with the true spirit of religion, we copy from the M'unyumi Ciiruuirlc, of the 4th inst., the remarks of two native Chiefs who had returned from the YVaikato. The L'ln-ouicle says —"J\io and Xepa, two friendly chiefs from the neighbourhood of 'W anganui, who had been to Auckland mid the Waikato, on the invitation of the government, had returned. They consider that it is loolishncss for us to be feeding the wives and children of men viho are still in arms against us." A cry ditl'erent appear to be our notions on this subject. We destroy the enemy's cultivations —when we can ; but we allow him to purchase from our traders, and others, stores and provisions to make up the deiieiency, and as in the case of the Putiki natives, we place a couple of thousand pounds to his credit in case he should run short of (he nmlltil ! Laiiy Audlkv's Skcket.—A dramatized version of jMiss Uraddon's remarkable novel was presented at the Prince of Wales theatre last night with unequivocal success. The story is so wi'il known from the extraordinary popularity that pertained to its introduction to the public that any synopsis of the im-idcnt would be a work ot supererogation ; sulliec it that the incidents of the story were closely followed ami produced till the ullbct that might reasonably be expected from so sensational a source. To many the story of Lady Audley's Secret is objectionable as having a meretricious and immoral tendency, but we fancy that they are in the minority and are of the class who would strain at a gnat and swallow a camel ; the main points of the story although most exciting are perfectly natural and allbrit evidence of the masculine mind and powerlul pen that yielded them io the public. The draniu is terse, vigorous, and condenses the interest of three volumes into two acts ; the dramatic; company did full justice to their several ruUx. Miss i"aimy Young surprised us by her admirable rendition of a heavy tragedy part, a part of such weight and presenting such peculiar characteristics that we should have been fully satisfied with a respectable representation of it, but must confess our surprise :il; the admirable impersonation that was presented. Mr. JJarry's George Taiboys was good, and, in the last scene of the Ist" act, a powerful piece of j acting that elicited the warm approbation of his ! admirers. The principal characters were well supported by Messrs. Clifford, O'Urien, Selwyn, M iss Grifliths and Miss Corcoran. The burlesque of Yillikins and his Dinah concluded the euler- ! tainmeut, and was greeted with the customary j laughter and applause. Lady Audley's Secret, it will be seen by the advertisement, will be ! repeated for the last time this evening.

Moke Ammunition fob the Ukhkls.—We learn l'rom tho Wanyauui C/tivitirle ot' the 4th instant: —"that the balance of the purchase mom , }' of the Waitotara block was delivered to the l'uliki natives ou that day. The amount was 4; J '.loo. .How much ammunition this large sum uillpurclia.se —of course for "sporting purposes" —it would be diUicuit to determine. If the fact becomes known to aHobart Town or an American whaler a large quantity may be obtained by our brown-suiimed fellow subjects lor .CIiXXJ, and the records of the Supreme Court will show that there are not wanting individuals amongst ourselves who will supply the natives with guus and ammunition for a quo." City of Auckland Assessment.—Notice is givin in the advertisement by the Chairman of the City Board of Commissioners, that the above assessment being now past due, all parties are requested to make payment of the same to the collectors, who will attend at the ollice Canada

Buildings, Queen-street, daily on and after' Monday the lljtk, current, butw eeu the hours of 10 a.m. and noon, for the purpose of receiving payment thereof. The undermentioned days have been decided by lot for the competition of the various corps, stationed in Auckland, for the prizes for rifle shooting offered by the General Government from the Kith to 18th instant for the lloyaL Cavalry Volunteers. The Ist Class Anckland Militia from 19 th to s:3rd instant. The Auckland I'illu V'oiuuteers from the 24th to 27th instant. The Auckland Naval Volunteers on the 28th and 29th instant, mid the 2nd Class Auckland Militia on the 31st May. and Ist June. Thk "Wabdexs of mi; J luxdeed of Auckland have, we perceive, issued a request to all holders of depasturing licenses, to brand their cattle with their registered brands, (a legible tar brand will be accepted)—and to make a correct return of their caEtle when called upon by the .Ranger and to assist him in the discharge of his duty. By reference to the advertisement sheet «ill be scon the list ot lines for all unlicensed and unbranded cattle impounded by the -U anger. Glenkubx. —This beautiful suburban property, subdivided into ninety-nine building allotments, has been largety visited by intending purchasers during the past week. It will be oii'ert'il for sale this morning by Mr. Samuel Cochrane, who, taking Thatcher s advice "to cheer up and not let ins spirits go down,'" conlidentlv expects a large audience in Fort Street, this morniug, the threatening appearance of the weather la>t night. Odd .Fellows' Hall.—ln consequence of the indisposition of Mr. Thatcher, there was no performance at the Odd .Fellows' Hall, last evening, and Mr. Small's benefit is postponed until ■Wednesday next. We trust the Inimitable is nut going to remain in a roupy condition for long, and we wish him speedy restoration to Ids health and his platform. The Oaniarii Times has the following on the subject of pieuro-pueimiouia:—The disease called pleuro-pueimioniu has made but little progress in the district during the past month, thanks to the vigilance of the Anti-JL J leuro-Pneumonia bociety's Committee -:ud their Inspector. A few fatal cases only have been reported, and they are said to have occurred among native-bred cattle. It cannot, therefore, be concluded that the disease is dying out in the district now proclaimed infected. It is still there as plain as when tliu district «as first proclaimed. jN'otwiihstanding, stockholders, stock-salesmen, and bankers, having interests in the district, are doing their utmost to inlluencc the Government to break down the present boundaries and proclaim the entire Province an infected district. This measure carried, they would then be in a position to bring their cattle to market. It is said there is now over £'30,000 worth of cattlo locked up through the present arrangement. The reason assigned for making this demand is, that if the present boundaries were done away, butchers' meat would fall in price considerably— a very feasible reason certainly, but it is illogical, for the present high price ot butchers' meat is not owing to any scarcity of cattle in the market, but simply to monopoly among the butchers. Lt is to be hoped, therefore that the Government will not concede one iota in the matter, but make, if possible, existing rules more stringent. A movement is being got up in this district to petition the Government not only to do so, but aiso to appoint an Inspector to watch the JN orthern boundary of the present infected district. There are more cattle in the district lying north of the boundary (Horse liange) proposed to be done away with than in the remainder of the i'rovince, and a singie case of pleuro-pneumoiiia has not yet appeared in it. It would, therefore, be a fearful tiling to takeaway the only protection stockholders in this district have, aud allow cattle from a district known to be infected to mix with theirs.

I'icTOK.—in speaking of tlio newly discovered Pelorus gold Held, the JJuneilin Daily Times says'- —All prizes aud no blank:, is of course a motto inapplicable even to the richest gold field the world ever-saw, but it is a tact that inJNelson, the gold diggings have rather yielded a few splendid instance of success than a steady return. to the mass of miners. The plrysical features of the country may have much to do with this ; and there can be no doubt that these are much modilied in the Pelorus district. If gold be found in any widely distributed quantity, the discovery will exercise a most important influence on the young, and hitherto unimportant Province of Alarlborough. Pieton, its chief town, possesses the rare advantage of deep waier close in-shore, for a thousand ton ship could be moored with its yard ann projecting over the main street. The town itself consists of only a feu holies aud stores, and the site is like that of Duuedm, somewhat confined. For sonic time 'Wellington will doubtless share the general coniii.erciai advantages of the new discovery—providing it turn out to be extensive, but Pieton being die nearest port to the Pelorus, will ultimately become the commercial centre. The following is the funeral oration of the AYorshipiul .Master of the Jiirwinning Lodge, (Jingo, on the occasion of the Ledge held in incmon" of His Grace the Duke of Athol: — jilv I)i;LTiiKb>—V.'c ure now assembled to render it Inst token ot rospect to uui- departed Brother, iiiid e o ieoiued (.iiand Haster, His Grace the lateliiike o! Athole, who has beta taken lroin us by a lingering dieeate whilst yet in the summer of his exisLuiiv. lev of us know him save as the Chief of our Order*, but thu.-o to wliom he was best known, most kci-uly ngret his lte-s. 2\o greater tribute can bo paid to the worth aud excellence of any man. To quote iroui the " IJirgc" composed by the Ciraiiu Board ot tjeoilaiid on this melancholy occa- •' Well may the Wnnsmi-n lament their bnivc eliieftain'. Wei! limy «u UroUieis urn- luv'd .M;isn.t wiiH'. lie »lm inuimsimeit m iHeir imre iirisiiuc glory The l.i'-'lit nf Uic Crsill, imil inu iunie of I lie (iael; And now—tliotixli liu slcups mid'iiis own native mountains— Walei-'d iirni noiirUli'd swelling fountaius. His inline in our sLull bloom ever lair." Kveiy solemnity of this kind should be viewed as a summons to each ;uid to all of us to prepare for our own approaching dissolution. For, my brethren, we arc nil born to die. Jlan gooth to his long home and the mourners go about the streets. "We accompanv our iiiends to the brink of the grave, and standing on the awlul shore of eternity, we behold them recede lrom our longing gaze in that dread iuture, whieh the eye of I'aiUi can alone assist us to penetrate. Yet a few years—with some of us it may be a few days—and we too shall follow them in that perilous journey through the Valley of the Shadow ot Death. The sun will rise and set, the seasons will come and go—sweet nowers will spring

and bloom, and golden com will ripen—but we shall have departed, and strangers—who knew us-not— will puss our sepulchres with' cold indifference. A lew there may be, perchance, who will remember us kindly and luoum our lobs ; but these lew will soon follow us to the silent land, and none will then concern themselves with our past joys and sorrows. Another generation will arise to occupy our places, while wo shall be conversing with the amazing realities of another world.

Nothing can avert the inevitable doom of all mankind. Death payeth no respect to rank or beauty— to wealth or genius. There is no royal road to the tomb! The statesmen, the heroes, the philosophers —whose arms and eloquence have shaken empires and changed the lute of worlds, are all alike resting in silence. tio too, the Chief whom we now mourn has been removed from his high station ; and the Lodge which lie adoinul shall know him no more. The silver cord iutth been loosened, and the golden bowl hath been broken ; the dust hath returned to the earth as it was, ami the spirit unlo Gud who gave it. Here we have a striking instance ot the uncertainty of lilt, and of the vanity of all human puisuils—one veil calculated to induce our most serious contemplation. The last sad offices paid to the dead, ever convey a warning to the living. Who shall declare unto us the approach of ttie spoiler—Death, which eomexh like a thitsl in the night r It may be, that even now the inexorable tyrant is in our midst, and hath set his fatal teal upon some of us lor his speedy prey. Let us then no longer postpone tho

important concern of prepnrins for Eternity; but -embrace the present moment-, trhile time and opportunity offer, to provide asruinst that, crent- ehantre. when all the, pleasures of tin''; world siinll cease, to -delight, nnd the reflection of a tnilv virtuous life shnll yield the only contort :.nd consolation. Let us support with pronvk-ty the clv-nicfor of ouv profession as Masons—over romemberi:i<.r flip nature uf our solemn ties, and scrupulously ma'ntriin (In , tenets of our Order: and then with becoming reverence let us supplicate the Divine CI race, so as to enMire tlie favour of that Eternal ]*oin<r whoso goodness and mercy aro boundless: so that, when tlu> awful moment arrives—lie it soon orb.to wo may "bo enabled to prosecute- our ioitruey, without dread ■or apprehension, to flint far distant country whence no traveller returns. For. my brethren, death is hut <he harhimrer of otonml !ife. Aided l.y the \\s)\t of (he Divine ('omi--tenanee, we may hum V.lv trust to omor-o from the Sloomv portals of the jnive, .-iTid win- our tiii-.-.nph-;uir flight t'i the r*vr.o,,s of immorfnlitv. Ami in tral last great and awful dav when all trio people of the ■earth shall he ;UT:u K iied Vic-fore, tlio tribi"i:d of uuiTrinir ju ; tioi-, may we h,, found, w'rh Hi" brother whose loss vp now'deplore. amo 7 Ilio.--" who sb:dl be declrr.-ed worthy of admittance t<. that irlorious mansion not n-.,..d0 with hands, which is eternal in tlie lioavens— where the spin's of iust men made perfect f=liall ilwi-ll in peace and perfect bliss for ever and. for ever. 'Hie choir then snns the following anthem. I.pmic the «, m ,.. ns was smiiri-t tin- (.rand l-od-e ceremony m hdiuhurtth :— Trail niiin , hnwlikp thiMm-teor's l>la/i\ IJmv eva:.rs>'i-nt n\v t!>y days: How short the time iii.tulaM hy l":ito. fnivp I'l'Jtlh's luiUMit :ivri ran ltraveNor Wisdom's •.(•Iγ i-lu.W llio cthv.- : IVl.ervcr <>,»■ vai-ioT.H i-imiio-i lend. To this wo soon or In' i- ilusi'i'inl. Tliithor. tVnin m.irtal -•γ-s iv'in-il. T!i.«iisli »f! bf'icM. f.nil -till sirii.iiivil.— A-rnoi.K to i\nst his i-lsiim .Am! in sublimes) resioas shim-. I.il. u<. whom tin- fnitornal Mud IL-yoiMl tin-r.-l •.!nnilii.-;il kind, Atii-i..: live, liki- Atil.i i. i!ii- — Tliiui jniu the Kti:i-iial I.'nhn: mi l(i-,-li.