HUMILIATING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 847, 1 August 1866, Page 6

HUMILIATING.

To tho Fditor of tho New Zealand Hebald. Sin,—Will you kindly inform the public of Aucklaud Province, that js to say, will you give your opinion as to whether or no we are to submit cooly to tho abominable imposts daily thrust upon us by the powers that bo. I saw th'j other day a letter in your paper on tho subject of tho powder rogulutions, and did not fully f-cl its forco until subject myself to undergo tho operation of procuring for my men in thebushafow pounds of blasting powdor for tho purposo of blasting timber for fencing purposes. Now, Mr. Editor, I havo been in Auckland tho biggest part of 20 years, and really do think the regulations to be most unmitigated humbug. That, of course, is my opinion, and 1 will leave it to tho common sunso of the community whether lam ri"ht or not. ° But to return. Igoto a most respectable licensed shopkeeper to buy four pounds of blasting powd. r, and am told that I must fill up u paper. Well, all right, that matter over; but whore is tho powder? Uh ! you will require to get tho permission signed by a Justice of tho Peace. Alt right, 1 know plenty, and ~ff I go. But my friend tho shopkeeper seizes i tho moment to remind me that unlets I am personally k : nown'to Mr. Andrews, of Her Majesty's Customs, I shall reqniro tho signature also of a respectable shopkeeper that doc-s know me, ns well as tho J.P. liut, being'-an old hand, I fortunately know Mr. Adams, and much respect him (I was going to say knew him beforo ho was breeched). This being the case, and having obtained tho tignaturo of J. S. Mncfarlaue, Esq., J. P., and paid the Customs one shilling. I was then givon a document privileging me to purchase my blasting powdor, and obtaiu posts and rails in due course.

Sir, unless Mr. 'Whitakor unci our Auckland men get a better (system entirely for tho management of our own affairs, wo 6hull not only drive away Capitalists thut would occupy our soil, but shall thoroughly disgust tho mo-t respectable merchants i.f tho Proiinee by the most confouaded pot yfogging humbug practised on this community day after day, that is moat distateful and humiliating to any class of men that have any pretentions to intelligence.—l am, &c, SoilEnstT.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. The number of events happening during the past month has been considerable, but they are not very important, if we except the. proceedings in the General Assembly, where the Auckland members* headed by their Stvperintendent, have opened the political campaign. The resolutions of the hon. Mr. Whitaker are the great political theme of present discussion. They will be found seriatim in another column. The next parliamentary entertainment was provided by the hon. Mr. Fitzgerald, who has taken the subject of reporting and the people called reporters under his especial protection, "Wo think the singular ignorance displayed by tho chairman of the committee on this subject explains the state of things described by Mr. Dillon Bell As existing at Wellington. Tho only practical suggestion that was made on the subject was made by Mr. John Williamson, and would have been an immense saving. Of course when the object was to give £1500 to two local newspapers, Mr. Williamson's practical suggestion was of very little account. Nevcrthejess, the committee was exceedingly near-sighted in not giving it attention, for it is tho only way by which ingredients can ever be brought together out of which to form an efficient staff of parliamentary reporters. •It is really a very great pity that tho wonderful genius of Canterbury is not capable of reporting all the debates. We have not heard of one gentleman conversant with the subject being consulted in the matter. A very fail' pi'oposition was made to Auckland last year, but it had the demerit of coming from an Auckland reporter of ability, and was rejected. Considerable energy is being manifested by our.local leaders of opinion, to organize classes, readings, and other useful entertainments for youth. The rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association arc occupied once a week by a lecture from some eminent person. The lecturers already have been the rev. gentlemen at the head of tho several religious denominations, Major Heaphy, Dr Kidd, L.L.8,, and others. The account of the Valparaiso bombardment, received here by the barquo Peru which sailed the day after the affair took place, caused iutense excitement. The cowardly cruelty of the Spaniards stirred up an unprecedented indignation and disgust in all circles. We had. quite a laugh here when we were informed that some misgivings that had been felt about the further proceedings of the Aborigines' Protection Society in the Waikato, were unfounded. It was said that an emissary from that busy body was tampering with the natives, A person was, we believe, in the Waikato, and might, if he had been a person of ability, caused mischief. . , More Fires! Three incendiary fires have occurred. By one in Newton, six two-storey houses were burnt to the ground, and twt others considerably. These houses were the properly of Mr. Thomas Penk. a builder, whe was absent at Wnngnrei at the time of the catastrophe. Mr. Penk was the head of alargc Manchester firm (Penk and Co.) before cominp to IS ew Zealand. He will be a largo loser bj this occurrence. The second incendiary fixe was in Durham-street, Auckland, when a twostorey house was totally destroyed, and twe others greatly damaged. The third was in the village of Otahuhu, when two two-storej houses, standing by themselves a distance o two chains from any other house, were found ir the early morning to be burning furiously, anc in an hour after not a stick was left. Theworsi of it is . that oiir Coroners' juries do not appeal to see that, their business is when suspicion rest! on anj* person, to refer the subject to a mon competent tribunal, but leave the matter cxactlj where they found it, Keally, until some mon resolute effort is made to track the winding: of the incendiarism, "Crowner's Quest Law "v. exactly in tho snme predicament in this lOtl century that Shakespeare's grave diggers founc it in the 10th :— 1 Grave Digger: And is that Law ? 2 Gruvu Disrircr: Aye, Marry, ia't " Crovner'i Quest Law." The other lire was at the United Service Hotel belonging to Mr. Norman, where, owing t< leaving about or dropping some lucifer matches amongst tho hay, the stables caught fire. A large quantity of hay was destroyed, and twe horses were burnt to death. We have a very lamentable accident to re cord, arising from tho incautious handling oi firearms. The occurrence, which produced the most painful excitement throughout a very large district, happened on the Otahuhu road, or Saturday morning the 21st. The whole storj illustrates the extreme danger of having firearms loaded without proper warning, and ol using such weapons for the purpose of ordinary pastime. Three young men, stone masons, had been employed upon the Auckland and Drury Uailwaj-, building a bridge or " cattle opening" upon tho land of Mr. Scarrott. The names of the three persons are Alexander McDonald, Robert McKay, and James Walker. McKay is the person whose untimely death led to the proceedings which are detailed at length below. The three men rented a small house from Mr. William t-harpe, a farmer, whose place i« about 120 yai-ds from the Otahuhu ltoad and the Harp of Erin. On the Tuesday before McDonald observed n hawk flying about, and he expressed his gre.it wish to try his hand at a shot. McKay had some time previously borrowed a fowling piece, and he and Walker used to amuse themselves by snapping caps to see the force of the explosion which would be sent down the barrel, which could extinguish a candle at tho greater distance. McDonald, on Tuesday last, loaded the piece to have a shot at the hawk, but by the time he had loaded the piece the hawk had disappeared. He says, however, that he was careful to take the cap off the nipple, and to shut down tho hammer upon the nipple to prevent any accident. llaving done so, ho laid the gun standing upon the butt in tho corner of the window. To clearly understand what follows, we must explain the position of the parties when the accident occurred. The whare is divided into two apartments, the partition however, being only eight feet high, in the larger division there were only three beds, that opposite the door being occupied by McKay, thus laying with his his head against the partition. The smaller apartment behind his head had a fire-place, and was perhaps about six feet long by seven or eight feet broal. Tho men used to talk and joke with each other from each apartment. It was extremely wet, and McKay and Walker seeing that they could not go to work talked of coming to town. Some banter passed between them, and AValker thinking to startle McKay, and arouse him out of his bed, put a cap upon the nipple, and discharged the gun in the direction of McKay's bed, the charge went through the three-quarter boarding, and passed into the unfortunate man's skull, shattering the cranium to pieces, and leaving the brain protruding,. Of course deatli was instantaneous. An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon, when a verdict of " Accidental Death" was returned.

A somewhat mysterious occurrence happened to Mr. Styak a few clays ago. A man came out a field, and attacked him with a revolver and knife. Mr. Styak was armed with a doublebarrelled fowling-piece, and wounded his assailant severely, but he bolted, and has not since been heard of. The police constables have been despatched to enquire into the affair. The annual general meeting of the Auckland Gas Company was held on Friday, July 2 7 , at the Gas Works, Brickfield Bay, Mr. Thomas Macfarlane iu the chair. The following is an abstract of tho report which was adopte3. Last year the Company borrowed £6000 from the Savings Bank, the whole of which is paid back except £1200. £5000 is expected from the allocation and sale of the stock. The ordinary income, together with this amount, is expected to clear off the whole of the company's liabili-

ties during the present year. The calls on the new stock have been well met. Extraordinary expenditure will at ODce cease. In his speech, while moving the hdoption of the report, the Chairman said the income, instead of being £3000, would probably be from £7000 to £8000. In reply to questions put to him, tho Chairman made two very important statements ; first, that Wangarei coals produced a greater quantity of gas, but inferior in quality to that of Newcastle coal; second, that the " steel sand" of the New Zealand coast was believed to be a better purifier than lime. Experiments were in progress respecting the matter. Mr. Cadman brought under the notice of the directors the case of the Kawakawa coal-field, Bay of Islands, and hoped that some influence might be exercised with the Provincial Government to proceed with their development. The Chairman held out the most favorable hopes that all encumbrances and extraordinary expenditure being discharged, there would be a dividend for the shareholders next year. Messrs David Graham and Waterstoh were re-elected directors. Messrs. Cadman and Ewen were re-elected auditors, A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business. From the country the news is good, m the sense that no news at this particular season.ot the year, means that people are too busy with their lands and gardens ; and when people are tolerably busy they do not afford as much news. We hear something of distress now and then, but we believe it is local and temporary, and we may add migratory. This were only to be expected after the subsidence of a large influx of population, whtch leaves behind it a considerable residuum of unprovisioned misfortune. Individual cases may perhaps be cited of more than ordinary suffering, but we have not beenable to gather that any particular class has been cast into want owing to the failure of any particular branch of industry. Country settlers inform us that if suitable people will go into the country and gather gum, or if they are fit to do farming work, they will find employment. Men who have been accustomed to high wages will not willingly abandon the hope of better times, and perhaps some of the distress is due more to the unsettled state of the labour market than to the want of employment, if men will accept the wages offered. A. Coroner's inquest was held on the 13th insfc., in the Star Hotel, Newton, beforo T. M. Philson, Esq.. M.D., and a respectable jury, to inquire into the origin of the fire that occurred on the premises of Mr. Peiik, in Hope-ton-street, Newton. Several witnesses were examined, and an open verdict was returned with a rider to the effect that there were strong grounds of suspicion that the fire was not accipental. J. Caspar, a seafaring man, has reported to the police that on a recent voyage from Matakana, he fell in with a dead body, clothed

in a' blue serge shirt, one leg drawn up towards the chin.. The body is supposed to be that of one of the men of the lost cutter Two Sisters. There was a light sea running and an adverse wind, so that the informant could not recover the body. Mr. Aitkin, who, with his family, were burnt out of their dwelling, by the late fire in Hope-toun-strcet, died on Sunday morning, the loth ult. We do not know in our. experience, any case of such dire misfortune falling upon a family as this, some six or seyen souls being by two successive fires, reduced to actual destitution. On the 19th ulfc., a public tea meeting was held in aid of the funds of the City Mission and Children's Home. An enquiry took place on Tuesday, the 17th ultimo, before -Dr. Philson, Coroner, into the cause of death of William Khytnes, a boatman, who was found dead in a bunk of the cutter Dusty Miller, on the passage from Wangaparoa. The evidence was to the effect that deceased had lighted a coal fire in the cabin to dry his clothes, and that a quantity of carbonic aeid gas, had accumulated in his bunk, by which he was suffocated. The jury returned i a verdict in accordance with the evidence, attaching a rider to theii? verdict that the practice of lighting coal fires in such circumscribed space as was allowed for a cutter's cabin was very dangerous, and ought to be discontinued.

The ordinary general half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company was held on the 18th ultimo, at their offices, Mr. S. Browning, Deputy-Chairman, presiding. A dividend of ten per cent, was declared amongst the shareholders. ' The report describes the losses upon the local (Auckland) transactions of the year to have been rather heavier than usual. No doubt this is explained by one or two of the mysterious fires that have occurred. The report shows a condition of unexampled prosperity. The capital actually paid up is £55,000 —the reserve fund, £19,521 —balance on profit and loss, £13,518 —investment, £62,900—fire premiums, £'14,010 —marine premiums, £9GGB. We are informed that since the first starting of the company there has not been one.disputed claim. £5000 are put to the augmentation, of paid up capital, £60'18 are carried forward for unadjusted losses. The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Bank of Auckland was held on the 18th ultimo, at the Banking House, Shortland-street, Mr. David Nathan, the Deputy Chairman presiding. A dividend of ten per cent, was declared. After the ordinary business the meeting was made special for the purpose of considering the best means of calling up the remaining capital. The following resolution was agreed to : —" That the Directors be empowered to call up the remainder of the capital, in accordance with the deed of settlement, namely, by calls of 10s. per -share, payable at iutervals of not less than three months between I each call." Amongst the passengers by the Phcebe, we I notice the name of Mr. Walter Combes, of the firm of Combes and Daldy, a settler of twentysix yc:irs' standing in this city and province. Mr. Combes will proceed to England via Panama, and he will carry with him the kind wishes and respect of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Combes' intention is to return again to this city. A meeting of the Kapanga Gold Mining Company, was held on the 23rd ult., at the company's offices. Theophilus Heale, Esq., in the chair. It was unanimously resolved that the sum of £1800 should remain as a reserve fund to the credit of the company, after paying all debts. The members of No. 3, Company, (Parnell), A.It.V., met at the Exchange Hotel, Parnell, on Tuesday, 24th ult., for the election of non-commissioned officers, and other business. Major Heaphy was in the chair. Mr. Alexander McConnell and Mr. Harrison were elected corporals, and Mr. Shelton lance-corporal. The chairman, during the proceedings, paid a high compliment to the band for their efficiency. Some further routine business was transacted, and the meeting separated.

The members of the St. Andrew's Masonic Lodge have communicated to the Committee at Tauranga their intention to defray the whole cost of the re-interment of the remains of the iate Mr. James Fulloon. The Committee, through their chairman, Captain Frazer, acknowledge their thanks to this lodge, and to the public for the subscriptions. The Committee state that the reason the other victims of the Whakatane massacres were not included is, that the bodies were not recoverable. Further subscriptions will not be needed. On the 25th ult., the Circuit Meeting of the Wesleyan body was held, for the purpose of considering the affairs of the Wesleyan Church. The chair was occupied by the Bev. i Mr. Buller. There was a very large attendance, j Tho report was read by tho Steward, and adopted,

A man, name unknown, supposed to be a soldier of the 14th Eegiment, was drowned in the gale on the night of the 21st ultimo. The particulars, so far as we have been enabled to gather them, are as follpws. , A soldier went on board the Egmont on Saturday night. He said he wished to sell some articles of military clothing. He was turned ashore by the watchman, who says that the man was slightly under the influence of liquor. Almost immediately a heavy splash wiis.heard.at. the bow of the Egmont; on the watchman looking over the side ne saw the form of a man rise out of the water about fifteen yards from the vessel. The body, however, sunk immediately, and was not afterwards seen. A very numerously-attended meeting of the Auckland Yolunteer Fire Brigade was' held on the 26th ultimo, in the bonded stores, of Messrs. E. and H. Isaacs, Fort-street, to receive communications from the City Board, andlnsu* ranee Companies. The contents of the communication of the Insurance Companies was very important, enclosing resolutions of the intentions of the agents to pay half the cost of a thousand feet of hose, provided the City Boaid would pay the other moiety. Mr. Pierce suggested that returns of the premiums received by the different Companies on risks within the city bounds, as it was the intention of the Companies to contribute rateably according to their respec*

tive risks. Considerable discussion took place tin the subject of taking over the Auckland Engine No. 1, but full power was left to the Superini tendenfc of treating as to the conditions of so doing. A unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Norman, of the United Service Hotel; for his letter enclosing a cheque for £10 towards the sick fund. ... .: . . ■ • . i We were invited to inspect a capital sample of newly prepared flax recently, in the store of Mr. Sydney Woolley, Fort-street. This sample is prepared by Mr. Murray's process (Papakura), and is in every respect the kind of article for the market. There is something over half a ton of it, for which Mr. Woolley paid at the rate of £28 a ton, but he says that quantity is wanted now that the quality is assured. It is evident that unless supply is guaranteed they, will not be at the trouble and expense of altering their machinery to give experiment a fair chance. We invite the attention of those who may be concerned in the preparation of this yet undeveloped source of wealth to these representations. Mr; Albert William Hansard, some years back of this city, and who left here for Japan, has, we now learn, died, on the sth of May last, of scarlet fever, while on. a on a visit to England. Mr. Hansard left many creditors in Auckland, and these will be not a little pleasantly surprised to learn that by his will, Mr. Hansard has made the whole'of his property (with the exception of that in Japan,) said to be considerable, subject to those debts: Mr. Thomas Eiissell, now in London; and who* may be expected in Auckland in about a month, and Mr. Brookfield solicitor, are, the trustee* under the will. Miss Aitken gave her third, and we believe her last reading on Monday, the 30th instant in the hall to a house crowded to the ceiling, and an audience as enthusiastic as the most susceptible of applause could desire. The per-. fOrmances were under the especial patronage of the Eight Worshipful the P.G. Master .of the Irish Constitution and the Eight Worshipful the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of the Scotch Constitution of Freemasons, as also of the Eight Worshipful Masters of Lodges " Ara," " Waitemala," " St. Andrews," and " St. John's," Otahuhu. There was a very unusual display of the most influential and fashionable people in town; which, together with the undoubted merits of the lady, .artist,' produced an effect nothing, short of:" a.really brilliant success. The Band; .of. the Auckland Volunteers, under Mr. Balnier, took their place upon the platform, and played several selections very creditably, which speaks well for the efficiency and attention of their leader. Mr. Brown presided at the piano, and the members of the Orpheus Glee Union rendered very effectively some very charming glees. Tha programme foretold an - exceedingly laborious performance, which was gone through with imflaggirig spirit.from beginning to end. We sincerely regret that, owing to the arrival of the Southern mail, we cannot do justice to the performances in detail, but we may record that the lady was greeted with a shower of bouquets. Miss Aitkin's forte is unquestionably in the rendering of descriptive poetry, of which, we may mention her " Young Lochinvar," the "Dream of Inkermann," " Scots whahae"—a singularly powerful essay in declamatory effect —the "Bridge of Sighs," the "Song of the Shirt." There were three more arduous readings, the celebrated trial scene from Henry the" VIU, " Mary Queen of Scotts," and the famous interview between Argyle and Jennie Deans'; froin the Heart of Midlothian. Miss Aitken displayed a thorough appreciation of the beauties of these beautiful compositions, and reproduced with full development and with the greatest effect. The enthusiasm of the audience at the close was something unprecedented here, aud Miss Aitken seemed not a little moved by her reception. She informed the audience that she was about to leave! Auckland, that she had received here mofd kindness in a week or two than elsewhere, even after a sojourn of a year. She said she would be returning probably in a month, and offered her services for any charity that the people of* Auckland might select. This,, of course, brought down another valedictory cheer, and the lady was led off the platform by Messrs. De Burgh Adams, and Andrew Beveridge, as representing the masonic. The whole.affair was one of those impromptu manifestations of enthusiasm, which is as creditable to those who bestow as to those who receive it. Mr. Beveridge, in thanking the audience for the reception they had given. Miss Aitken, took occasion to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. E. H. Cox, who, notwithstanding his own benefit was to take place.on the succeeding night, placed : the. Hall at her disposal he being, at the. time:agent

to the proprietor. The 30th ult„ being the anniversary of the opening of this popular place of amusement, was celebrated by a soiree in the hall in Wel-lington-street. Although the weather was very unfavourable in the afternoon, the room was crowded by the time the tea was placed on the table. Four large tables were laid the whole length of the room, and these were filled with a joyous and happy looking company. The gallery and stage were likewise filled, but numerous as were the applicants for the favors of the fair presidents of the tables, their wants were fully aud promptly attended to. eight o'clock, the tables were cleared away, ' when- a varied and interesting programme .was gone through, addresses beinggiven by.the promoters of the Institute. Several glees, recitations, songs and duetts were sung by lady and gentlemen amateurs, and altogether a very delightful evening was spent. On the 27th ult., Eev. R. Kidd, L.L.8., gave a lecture in the commodious rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, subject *' Prophecy FulElled and Fulfilling." The lecture was of a very comprehensive character, requiring great research, and a capacity for exposition more than ordinarily possessed. ■ It would be impossible to follow the rev. gentleman through the several divisions of-the. sub--; ject. That the lecture was highly we infer from the very high compliment'paid to the lecturer, at the conclusion by the Eev. Dr. Maunsell.