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New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2466, 20 December 1871, Page 2

It is reported that the Pay Office of the General Government at Auckland is to be closed at the end of the present month, instructions to that effect having been received from Wellington. It is supposed that accounts will be paid from Wellington in future.

We would call attention to a plain, sensible letter, which appears in another column, from " An Old Wesleyan," relative to the proposed sale of the church in High-street. ~Froni our telegrams, published in another column, it will be seen that the four-oared race to be held at Canterbury, has been postponed to the 19th February. This will afford a longer space of time for the crews already in training, and remove any ciouss of want of opportunity.

In the Dunedin Daily Times, of December 4, Mr. G\ B. Barton pitches severely into Mr. Stafford for his report upon the Telegraph Committee. 2VIr. Stafford was foolish enough to write a letter to Mr. Barton early in the year, expressing sympathy, &c., and this letter Mr. Barton now publishes. The Opposition leader must realise " Preserve me from my friends." Mr. Stafford's quasi partisans, the two Wellington agents of Mr. Barton, havo also found for him the distinguishing appellative, " the traitor," the result of the late inquiry not being quit© to their liking.

A meeting of the directors of the Thames Gras Company was held in their board room, Vaile's liuildings, yesterday, at 3 p.m. The tender of Greorge Rhodes, for the foundations and erection cf their buildings, wa» received ; and also that of Thomas Colebrook, of G-rahamstown, for the erection of a breakwater around tho company's property, for reclaiming their ground. "We understand operations are to be commenced at once, and all the buildings, &c., will be complete in less than three months from this date, so that there will be no delay when the plant arrives, which is expected from G-lasgow about that time, and there is every probability of the Thames being lighted this winter early.

Mr. Henry Chamberlain has been nominated for the seat in the City Council vacated by the resignation of Councillor Atkin. He is nominated by J. Logan Campbell, G-. B. Owen, and Q-. X. Chapraau, Esquires. Wo are informed that Mr. Jfarmer lias withdrawn from the contest, ho being ineligible.

Our Tauranga correspondent writes us that the Keera arrived on the 17th inst., with 200 telegraph posts and a quantity of "wire for the telegraph extension between Katikati and the Thames. It is pleasing to know that no time is being lost iu eflocting permanent communication between Auckland and the Southern provinces.

A special parade of the Auckland Bluo School Cadet Corps was held yesterday evening, at seven o'clock, when tho Rev. W\ Taylor, in a few appropriate remarks, presented Sergeant Castle, on behalf of the above corps, with a handsome silver-plated tea service. Sergeant Castlo returned thanks, and three cheers were called for him and Captain Taylor, alter which the parade was dismissed.

It appears that some delay must yet ensue before the issue to tho colonial troops of the New Zealand medal. A circular has been forwarded to each person entitled to the medal stating that " a long and indefinite delay must, however, unfortunately take place in the issue of these medals, for the machine sent out for the purpose of inscribing the name of tho recipient on the riiu of the medal has proved to be so faulty in construction as to be quite ussless, and other arrangements for inscribing the names will have to be made."

The Dad*) Times says that throughout the whole ot the Province of Otago farmers are complaining of the prevailing low prices of produce nor can they look forward to any improvement. The other day a party purchased in the Clutha district seve*al hundred pounds of good fresh butter at 4d. per lb., while in a neighbouring district a farmer's wife went to the township to dispose ©f her butter, but was unable to do bo at any price, and rather than take it home again she gave it away.

Major Campbell, clerk of Parliament, has proceeded to Dunedin, having been instructed to examine into and report upon the accommodation available for the next scision of the Legislature in that city.

An adjourned ease of assault came on for hearing at Blenheim on the Ist instant. Before resuming the hearing, the magistrate, Dr. Muller, said lie had to state that ho had received a letter, apparently from the accused, in which reference had been made to tho case now pending; that he had not read the letter, and, as any attempt to tamper with a Judge or Magistrate during the [> ogress of the ease was a very serious offence, he must call upon Mr. O'Mahoney to apologise, or he should feel it his duty to commit him for contempt of Court. The letter was then handed by the Bench, to the accused, who expressed his regret if he had done wrong. The defendant had to be reprimanded several times during the hearing of the case, and eventually he was committed for trial at the next sitting of tho Supreme Court in Marlborough on the charge of a common assault.

' The Guardian's Ohinemuri correspondent writes:—"A few days Binco, Te Ili ni was asked for a subscription to the races. He replied that lie w(is a poor, a very poor, man ; he had laud, a groat deal of it; timber, a good deal of it; but he never sold land or timber. But he would still give a subscription; and he gave a piece of gold. When asked where the gold came from, he replied it came from Ohinemuri. Everyone can put his own construction upon this." A dividend of one shilling per share will bo payable to the shareholders of the Twentythird of Juue, on the 22nd inst. A meeting of the sub-committee of the Caledonian Grumes will be held at the Thames Hotel this evening. Tenders for the refreshment-booths in the Albert Barracks, on the occasion of the Caledonian Games, will be received until noon of Saturday next. TIIO Guardian regrets to hear that Mr. j C. D. Berry met with a serious accident at Taruru. Mr. Berry was a passenger by the tramway, and jumped from the carriage whilst it was in motion. In doin« so, he was thrown to the ground, and his leg broken. Jumping from vehicles of any kind whilst in motion requires great skill and caution, and it is a practice to be avoided, if possible. It is very fortunate, in this instance, that no more serious injury occurred. Notice is given by the Provincial Secretary that persona living in country districts, desirous of assisting their friends resident in Europe to emigrate to this province, can bo supplied with the necessary forms of application by the Resident Magistrates and Postmasters in their various districts. Two seamen belonging to the City of Auckland were yesterday given into custody by Captain Ashby, for disobedience to lawful cotnmauds. Mrs. Colclougk (Polly Plum) will lecture on " Strong Drink and its Victims," at the Young Men's Christian Association, on Friday evening, Dec. 29. Tenders are required by the Calodontan Gold Mining Company for the conveyance, monthly, of 250 tons of coal from the Bay of Islands to the beach, Grahamstown. A call of three shillings per share has been made in the Junction Gold Mining Company.

There was quite a crowd assembled eutside the Prince of Wales Theatre yesterday morning, when the members of Cagli's Operatic Troupe (thirty-sii in number) left for Onehunga to take the steamer for the South. Two of Quick'B coaches were employed, and both were thoroughly packed with the operatic singers. We wish the troupe every succeaa during their Southern tour.

An inquiry will be held at 2 o'clock to-day, at the Aurora Tavern, into the origin of the late fire at Jtlawkeswood's foundery in Chapelstreet.

Cremorne Gardens will be open on Boxingday, when a series of athletic sports will take place.

Tenders are required by the Provincial Government from persons willing to undertake the ferry service between Onehunga and Mangere during the year 1872.

Saddlery.—Jas. Wiseman has just opened, ex Chile, girls', boys', and race saddles, bridles, &c.—[Auvt.]

Families, Coasters, Traders, and others visiting Auckland during the holidays, and requiring to purchase really Cheap Drapery, will do well to avail themselves of the Sale now going on S. and J. ft. Vaile's, as the premises will be closed early in January. The Clothing Department at 96 and 98, Queenstreet, contains a very full stook recently opened, as< wall worth inspection.—[Adtt.]

The Provincial Council met yesterday at the usual hour. The Education Bill was read a second time, and considered in committee. The remainder of the sitting was occupied with the postponed Estimates. The Council adjourned at twenty minutes to 1 o'clock.

Fresh tenders are required fer the erection of the Coromandel church.

Messrs. Clark and Bucklan-3 will meet tho electors of the Franklin district at the Public Hall, Otahuhu, on the evening of Saturday next.

Among the passengers by the s.s. Keera, which arrived yesterday from Wellington, was Mr. John McLeod, ALU.It. for the Bay of Islands.

A friendly match between eiizliti married and eight single men belonging to the Artillery Corps came off yesterday inorniug, at the Mount Eden Rifle Range. The single men gained the victory. They made a total of 191 points ; their adversaries only scored IS2.

The pro 2 rain mo of the North Shore athletic sports, to take place on Boxing Day, appears in our advertising columns.