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New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 682, 20 January 1866, Page 5

Transport Service. — Captain. Spain, (lie Resident Transport Officer, notifies tliat the time for receiving tenders for the conveyance to Enjland of' the (58th and 43rd Regiments is extended until noon of the day following tlie arrival at Auckland of tlie Sydney mail steamer, due on tlie 22iid. Masonic. —Tlie regular monthly meeting of the ]>dgc St. Andrew will be held in 'the Lodg? lioom, Star Hotel, Albert-street, on Monday evening next, at lialf-past 7 o'clock. Hessbs. Hunter & Co. will sell to-day, at the Durham-street sale yards, 25 medium draught horses, 17 extra heavy ditto, 30 hacks, and 25 light harness horses, two new and strong spring carts ; also 43 lieavy draught horses of the Military Train : also 8 heavy draught horses, and () heavy draught colts. Mr. Alfred Bpcklaxd will sell to-day, at the Haymarket, a bay gelding, 2 horses and their harness, a spring cart, and sundry sets of harness; also 60 bushels of oats of a very choice sample. Supreme Court.—Yesterday his Honor sat to hear arguments upon two very important eases, which will be found reported at length in another column. The first case called was Muir t. the Auckland Gas Company, in which a rule nisi for a new trial liad been obtained on the application of Mr. Gillies. Mr. "Weston for the plaintiff, appeared to show cause against the rule. His Honor granted a new trial on the ground of discovery of fresh evidence. The next case was Wright v. Beilly, involving several important legal points, arising out of an arrangement entered into by the City Board with the plaintiff, to make the well-known cutting in Albert-street. The case came before the Court as a special case, sent up by the Resident Magistrate. The arguments will be found stated at length in another column. His Honor deferred pronouncing judgment until he shall have looked into the authority bearing upon the question in dispute. Mr. Keals invites tenders, receivable until the 27th inst., for additions to a house in the Exber Pass-road. Plans to be seen at Mr. Keals' oifice Victoria-street. Youxg Men's Christian Association. —The Committee of this Society announce that although the opening of the rooms is deferred for another week, the Sabbath arrangements remain the same. There will be a Sabbath morning dedicatory prayer meeting at 7 o'clock, in the rooms in "Wellesly-street. In the afternoon the Eev. James Hill will deliver and address at three o'clock. Messes. Jokes asd Co. will sell to-day, a large quantity of provisions, beef, pork, flour, potatoes, groceries, wines, ales, porter, and. brandies, also a quantity of furniture, comprising iron bedsteads, tables, chairs, glasses, washstands, saddlery, and sundries. Messrs. Stichbpey and Son will sell today, under a bill of sale, a' large quantity of furniture, comprising—mahogany chests of drawers, side-board tables, chairs, carpets, leather coloured sofas and chairs, pictures, damask, window curtains, a double barrelled gun, dinner and tea services, baths, bronze fenders, and a chest of tools. Dbuby and Papakuba Districts. —These districts have been quite alive for the first few weeks, everyone having seemed determined " to make hay while the sun shines" in making most of the holidays, large picnic parties have been held at Tuakau, Pokeno, Rhodes' Clearing, and Papakura Valley, all of which were numerously attended and passed off very satisfactorily, every one enjoying themselves to their heart's content. It is now the intention of the residents in these rising districts, to continue the hilarity and enjoyment in quiet evening parties. The first was given on Thursday evening last at the Papakura Hotel, invitations having been issued by Mrs. Reed to a large number of acquaintances both from Auckland, Onehunga, and elsewhere. The large ball room was most tastefolly decorated with evergreens, ferns, «fcc. Dancing commenced at 9 o'clock, and was kept up with unflagging vigour till an early hour vestirday morning, when the company separated highly delighted with the evening s enjoyment. The refreshments, wines, &c., which were most plentiful and of first quality, reflected great credit on Mrs. Reed and her household. llim; Practice Ground. —A very general complaint for some time past has been made by our Auckland marksmen that they had no pubJic ground on wliicli tliey could practice at tliG lsng range now in vogue for firing for the Government prizes. This want, we are happy to sav. has been remedied by the appropriation for that purpose by the Provincial Goment, of a long neck of level land near Low and Motion's mills, where an excellent range up to 700 yards can be obtained. Major Tighe, we believe, waited on the Superintendent some little time since, in reference to the setting apart and preparing this spot for the purpose of a rifle practice ground, and was met by the hearty acquiescence of his Honor. The. assistant engineer, Air. Allri"ht, at once took the spot in hand, the ti-tree was cleared off, and a good cart road over the scoria ground adjoining it was soon made. Sheds are now being erected as receptacles for the target, &c. By an advertisement which appeared in Thursday s issue, it will he seen that the prize firing commences on Tuesday next, on which day the Auckland xtlilc Volunteers will take the field, and Wednesday has been set apart for the Militia, Cavalry, and Volunteers. Competitors must be on the ground at half-past 10 o'clock, and the firing will commence at 11. Ammunition will be served out to intending competitors on Monday next, the 22nd inst., at the Militia office, between the hours of 10 and 4. During the time of firing a red flag will be hoisted at the mast head upon the ground, as a signal to vessels on the river to keep out of the line of shot. 'Mb. Alfhkd Buckland will sell at the Triangle, on Tuesday next, 100 jaerrao wethers, Ales parfcs bred, from paddocks.

Litebaey Association.—The usual meeting of this Association took place oh Thursday evening last, Rev. J. Hill (President), in the chair, when ,a paper was read by Mr. Murray on the subject " Is man of greater antiquity than 6000 years." The essayist arrayed a great mass of physiological, philological, and geological evidence in favour of his view of the question. He referred to the various flint weapons and those of bronze found in certain geological strata, and to the arclir6ological remains in Germany, Belgium, and elsewhere —giving token of a civilization which was hoary before the dim traditions of ancient history, as known to us, had found a place in the memory of the nations—remains puzzling and surprising the antiquary, while the very names of the races whose industry and genius were thus memorialised, are still enshrined in mystery. Dividing the human race generally into the three great primary types, —Caucasian, Mongolian, and Negro—Mr. Murray contended that there existed between each an impassable gulf which prohibited the theory of a common origin. Climatic influences would not account for the physical distinctions observable, as it was a well known fact that the Negro had remained essentially a Kegro after a residence of over 200 years in the high latitudes of America. Adam, lie held to be the great ancestor of the Caucasian type,—the race essentially progressive— remarkable for social and political activity, and flowing westwards in its migration had worked out the social problems which found their issue in our modern civilization. The Mongolian type, on the contrary, simply presented a petrified civilization, formed in the earlier ages, and of which little was left save the memory; while the Negro seemed incapable of progression, save by external pressure from the greater advancement of a superior race, I and the conformation of the cranium, together with a variety of other physical peculiarities, seemed to point strongly to a distinct and separate creation. The essayist was of opinion that these views were not necessarily opposed to Scripture, and quoted over a dozen passages from Genesis, showing that in some places definite allusion was made to the Adamitic race, and in other cases the particularity omitted; it was noticeable, however, that the theological difficulties which naturally arise on the very threshold of inquiry in this direction were confessedly untouched and unsolved, as being beyond the boundary lie had marked out for himself. Mr. Murray was greeted at the termination of his delivery with applause. The discussion was merely incidental, it being generally felt that the subtle and intricate problems enunciated required some further consideration ; and it was ultimately arranged that the question should come on for debate at an early date, llie business for next night of meeting (Ist prox.) will consist of Readings, See. Messrs. Sidings and Dowden will sell today, 4 cases of assorted marrow oil, a lot of jewellery and watches, rings, &c., also, a large quantity of provisions, groceries, furniture, pannel doors, mathematical instruments, a medicine chest, shop fittings, also, the fittings of a large sawing establishment. Messrs Ttjrkell and Tonks. —will sell today a large lot of stationery, account books, letter books, ink, twines, &c., also, a quantity of furniture, provisions, &c. Police.—lsaac Robinson was committed for trial yesterday on a charge of escaping from the stockade before his term of imprisonment was expired, on a charge of assaulting one James Griffiths, and on a charge of highway robbery. George Goodall was ordered to find two securities of £50 each to be on his good behaviour for six months, in consequence of having attempted to poison himself by swallowing a quantity of oxalic acid. Jason Kernahan was fined 20s. and costs, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment for having assaulted one Daniel Brett. Thomas Smith and George Giles were each fined £10 for having slaughtered some animals on their premises. John Linton was fined £3 and costs for throwing rubbish on the public thoroughfare . William Knapp was ordered to find securities to keep the peace towards his wife for six months. William Wilson was sentenced to two months with hard labour for stealing a Crimean shirt from John Slater. Trade Protection Society.—A meeting of the principal merchants of the town was held jresterday evening at the Chamber of Commerce Rooms, at 4 o'clock, to arrange the preliminaries for forming a society of this nature. A sub» committee was formed to inquire into the best method of proceeding, and after a little discussion the meeting separated. A full report will be found elsewhere. A man named Edward Logan came to the police office at Onehunga on Thursday, and reported that on Sunday, the 14th instant, the lead body of a man was picked up about six miloutside the South Manukau Heads. The body was so far decomposed that it was utterly impossible to identify it. It was buried close by where it was found. About four days precious a fragment of a wreck came ashore at the same place. Gun Practice.—Yesterday being practice lay with the men-o'-war, the whole fleet in harbour, consisting of the Curagoa, Esk, Brisk, Falcon, and Eclipse, went to general quarters, when several broadsides and rounds of blank jartridge were fired. The signal was " Prepare to engage enemy." Hokitika. —Through the courtesy of Captain Sheehan, of the Meteor, we are in possession of Hokitika papers to the Bth inst. There is no idditional news. The Meteor has brought back a large quantity of bonded goods. Flax.—Nothing could be of greater use to this Province than a steady exportation of the prepared fibre of the Phormium lenax, and we are glad to find that the subject is attracting attention in different quarters. Among other projects for the production of flax, we understand that there is a prospect of the resumption by a company of the Waitangi Flax Works of Messrs. Purchas and Ninnis. These works were stopped by the outbreak of the war in that district,- but up to that time their progress was, we believe, satisfactory. Some fibre was prepared and exported, and we believe fetched a good price in Australia. We shall be very pleased to find the scheme of which we speak meet with success, in which case both the new company and the Province will be gainers.