Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2798, 16 January 1873, Page 2

The telegrams from Southern provinces are brief, but not altogether devoid of interest or importance. The wool sales at Wellington and Dunedin fully maintain former rates for quality. The ironaand of Taranaki aud Port iiolyneux is obtaining increased notice. Messrs. Binuie and McG-ill have manufactured steel from both irousands, and given preference to that taken from Port Molyneux. A very heavy northerly gale, accompanied by ft high spring tide, has done great damage at Nelson. The stonowill facing of the bench roud has been damaged, and a portion of the land over which the tramway runs has been undermined. Mr. Atkinson has addressed his constituents at New Plymouth, and, like all tho other representatives in the General Assembly who have cjine forward to give an account of their stewardship, has receive'! a vote of thanks for the course he pursued in tho House during tho late session.

Business was resumed at the Onehunga Smelting Works yesterday, when about hulf-a-ton of malleable steel, in balls, was made. The furnace was kept running from 10 until 4 o'clock. For the last two duys Taranaki ironsand has been worked. There is a perceptible difference in quality between the Tarunaki and Manukau sand. A small piece of tho steel made yesterday was drawn out into bar, and brightened with a file by a smith at Ouehunga. It may be seen at our publishing office. This sample shows the superior quality of the metal. The necessary machinery ou a largo scale alone is wanted to make this industry one of the most important in the colony.

The hill upon which tho Flagstaff is erected at the North Shore is to be handed over to the Devonporfc Highway Board, to bo used for recreation purposes. The grant has been made by the Colonial Government, conditionally that the Superintendent of the province gives his consent. The top of the hill will still remain a signal-station; but the remainder, with the exception of a roadway at the buse, will be placed in the charge of the Highway Board for the purpose mentioned. The consent of the Superintendent ie a mere matter of course.

The usual monthly inspeoiion of the Engineer and Hobson Volunteer Corps wae held at the Drill-shed, Princes-street, last evening. There was a good muster of men in both the corps, and they were put through a course of drill under the inspection of Major Gordon. The Naval Volunteers held their weekly parade last evening, under the direction of Captain LeKoy. This Company's parade was also fully attended.

A complaint comes Corotnandel that no mail reached there by the Golden Crown yesterday.

How utterly ignorant women are of police law is frequently and most amusingly illustrated in Auckland. A day or fcvro since a married woman resident in one of the eide thoroughfares called in a constable and insisted that her next door neighbour should be taken into custody, because she had told her she was no better than she ought to be, and farther said that ahe had no right to -wear the wedding ring she had on her finger. The constable, an intelligent man, hoping to conciliate, said that none of us were better than we ought to be ; or in fact nearly »o good as we might be if we tried. He -was afraid he could not take the woman's neighbour into custody for making use of Buchan expression. As for wedding rings, he considered they were a sort of marital feminine luxury -which might perhaps be dispensed with aa the wearing or not wearing of such symbols was oftea the cause of considerable scandal. The constable was afraid he could not apprehend the woman's neighbour even upon the second charge porferred againet hor. Whereupon the woman declared she would make her husband send a petition to the Governor to have the constable dismissed for disobedience of orders. This same constable tells us he has been called in off the street by women, and other constables in the same manner have been called in by women to take other women into cuetody upon the following charges:—For saying the -woman's first child was born five months after she wae lawfully married. For saying that if she (the woman charged) had her own way she would put her child (that ie, the child of the womanpreferring the charge) into a bucket of water and drown it as she would a kitten. For saying that a woman's husband regretted he didn't marry some one else than the drab he had got. (This was considered as calculated to cause a breach of the peace.) For a woman saying that if she hadn't better linen to hang out on her clothes line she would rather dry them up the chimney than let such rags be seen by the light of day. For a woman saying that she (anothor woman) was a deceitful atheist. For laying to a woman that her black eye was never done by a pump handle. For saying to a woman (the mother of the eight blessed children) that she did a larger business with her pawnbroker than she did with her butcher. For Baying to a woman that her children were wretches. These we are assured are the kind of charges for which one or other of our police are constantly being called from off their beat and ordered to take women into cuetody. The police say that when women's quarrels come before the Police Court there is more hard swearing and perjury committed than the most hardened of criminals would be guilty of. The police generally think if there were no women in Auckland there would not be two rows in a year, or three at most.

Considerable progress is being made with the erection of the framework" of the new market-house. The outside studs and wallplates are up rouad the entire building. An excellent idea may now be formed of the size of the market, which will be sufficiently commodious to answer all purposes for many years to come. We cannot expect to have grand colonnades or fountains in the " centre tranacept," but we do expect, and certainly shall have a most useful market, which had been bo long wanted by country settlers and townspeople alike. Besides the whole of the wall-studs having been put up, the lean-to has been commenced on two sides of the structure, and some of the long posts which are to support the roof in the centre, have been fixed. The whole of the earthwork has been filled in, bo that the contractor can now get on with his work rapidly. From the manner in which he has commenced the contract, we have no doubt that tho market will be put up in a proper and workmanlike manner. It has been suggested to us that the city might derive a considerable addition to the revenue which will be receivable from stall-holders, by setting aside the large angular pieces of ground outside the building for the purpose of selling horaes, hay, &c, by auction. Aβ it is, the market ought to yield an income of about a thousand a-year.

Shortly after two o'clock yesterday afternoon a sudden squall of wind passed across Queen-atreet at its junction with Victoriastreet, and in almost, the twinkling of an eye a dozen or more of hats were blown from the heada of their owners. The squall, assuming the form of a whirlwind, gatherod these head coverings into a moving heap, in which one hat would be lifted over another and under the next, and the whole would shift and change places in so strange n manner aa to remind one of a jugglor with a number of brass balls, so manipulating them, and passing and re-passing them from one hand to tho other as to dazzle the eyesight and astonish the mind. The scene did not last more than a few seconds. The whirlwind broke, aud tho hats scattered themselves along the roadway. One mau, rushing to obtain possession of his own, came in violent contact with a horse and dray which was rounding the corner from Jiast Victoria-street. The dray was found on examination not to be materially injured, but the man, after regaining his hat, discovered that iie had received a severe cut over the eyebrow from coming in collision with the tire of tho wheel. This, with a epraintid ankle, a torn coat, and the abuse bestowed by the drayman, wero the whole of the injuries sustained.

Yesterday afternoon a gentleman passing through Paruell observed a boy who was riding a bure-backed horse suddenly fall off. The gentleman hastened to render assistance, but before he could reach the spot the boy had leaped on to tlie animal's buck and put him to the canter. Then the boy was observed for a second time to fall off, and for a second time he retrained his barebucked seat. This exhibition was repeated several times, when the gentleman's perturbution eiiltned clown. He now discovered that tlie boy was rehearsing tho daring feats of tho "Flying Indian," as witnessed almost nightly at Chiarini's circus. At the present time there is not a fence, or a post, or a gate, or a clothes line, or a ladder that, boys may not be seen standing head downwards on, or hanging by their feet, or balancing themselves by one "leg, or turning somersaults backwurda and. forwards, or otherwise doing things at a season of the year when parents can ill afford to pay for funeral expenses so likely to be incurred.

Anyone desirous of seeing what rapid strides have been mscle in the art of photography within the last year or two, have only to pay a visit to Ihe ptudio of Mr. R. H. Bartleti., where they will see a series of photographs that for clearness, beauty of shading, aod general tone, have never.before been approached in this city. By a new patent which has lately come out, photographs are made to assume an appearance as though they were taken upon ivory, and to staud out in very bold relief as though seen through a stereoscope. We believe Mr. Bartlett went to Melbourne a few months ago, in order to purchase the right of using this patent. He has now succeeded ia thoroughly mastering every detail of the process, and as a consequence turns out such photographs as could be excelled in no part of the world.

Hie Honor the Chief Justice was occupied yesterday with the trial of Thomas Henry Barclay, charged with receiving 128 lbs. of quicksilver, the property of the Puriri Quartz Crushing Company. Mr. Rees renewed his objection to the testimony of Mr. Alfred Beethnm, on the grounds reported yesterday. The point was reserved. The prisoner was found guilty, but sentence was deferred until the decision of the Court of Appeal in respect of Mr. Beetham's evidence shall be known. The subject is one of great social, political, as well as. Jegal interest ; but the two first aspects of tho question are governed by the last. The prisoner will be held to bail. Odium, charged with horae-killing, was held to bail: two sureties of £150, and his own bond for JEIOO.

"We quite agree with a letter which has been sent by the secretary of the Auckland North Shore Steam Ferry Company to the Harbour Board, that the present amount of wharfage accommodation for the North Shore steamers is quite inadequate. The suggestion of Mr. Nicuol that the staging should be extended round to the south side of the Queen's warehouse i≤ an excellent one, and we recommend its consideration so the Wharf Committee, to whom it has been referred.

Last evening Caiarini's Boyal Italian Oircu.3 was packed in every part, large numbers of people having to stand. Several new features were introduced into the programme, and the whole entertainment waa, as usual, highly successful. Miss Emelie Bridges appeared for the first time on horseback, and went through a number of poses that were both daring and graceful. A neir trick pony, called "Cuban," was introduced by Signer Chiarini, and caused intense merriment. Miss Katie Holloway, in her backward and forward feats on horseback, was as graceful as ever ; and Miss Bridges, the " funambulist, created. a furore of applause in her extraordinary performance on the tight-rope,—her drumsolo itself is well worthy of very favourable comment. Another horse was introduced by Signor Chiarini—viz., " Sylvia," an English blood-horse, brought from the Gape of Good Hope. The clever way in which this animal waltzed, polkad, and danced generally, elicited great applause. The whole concluded with the laughable pantomime of " The Four Lovers." To-night there will be another change in the programme. Among other things, a trained equestrian monkey will appear and go through a number of feats of horsemanship. This monkey 13 said to be the largest ever introduced into these colonies. We believe that Signor Chiarini has received a letter of thanks from Mr. Gr. ir. Pierce, the Secretary of the Orphan Home, for his kindness in throwing open the pavilion free to the children of that institution on Saturday afternoon next.

On the west side of Upper Queen-street, and nearly opposite to Mr. Staines' furniture store, is a deep hollow, at the bottom of which are erected some three or four cottages. At the side, and about half-way down this deolirity, is a small whare inhabited by an old Maori woman, who live solus ; and for some weeks past she had been subject to gross ill-treat-ment at the hands of a number of boys, who are the pupils of a large school in close proximity to the hollow we have referred to. The ill-treatment these young gentlemen scamps are guilty of consists in pelting the old woman with ecoria, turf, sticks, and lumps of earth. Yesterday morning their acts culminated in throwing stones on to the roof of the whare until nearly the whole of it was broken in. The unhappy hunted Maori woman ran out of the hut, and flaw to the shop of Mr. Fowler, a provision dealer, living at the corner of Edwardes-street, where she received shelter and protection. The rev. principal of the school where these gentlemen pursue their studies will, we are quite sure, upon being informed what has occurred, enquire carefully as to who were the delinquents, that they may meet with their due reward. Young gentlemen larrikins must bd kept in check by the police just as little blackguard street boys are, if parents, pastors and masters, aad guardians are unable to keep them under proper control, so that old women may not be hunted to the death and quietlydisposed people kept in continued terror.

Our Coromandel correspondent says:—"A meeting of those who had memorialised the new Education Board with regard to forming an education district under the New Act, was held la3t night at the old Maori Chapel adjoining the Anglican Church. Owing to the heavy rain there was not a large attendance, but the business was gone through. Mr. Woollams being called to the chair, read a letter from the Secretary of the Education Board, asking the memorialists to define the boundaries of the proposed district, and to state the locality they thought best for the school. After a long discussion on the subject;, it was proposed by Mr. Kirkwood and seconded by Mr. Vaile, 'That the boundaries be from Thorley.s at the Tiki, round by the ranges to the Courthouse Creek, down that creek to Wynyard Town, and thus on to the sea beach; and that Mr. Aitken be requested to furnish correct particulars of the boundaries.' This was carried, and it wa3 resolved that the best lecality would be somewhere between the pose office and the Kapanga Creek, and as near the main street as possible. Mr. Woollams was requested to forward the above information to the Education Board as soon as possible, and the meeting then broke-up."

The number of cases at the Police Court yesterday was somewhat numerous, but all were such as could be summarily dealt with. Three persons were convicted under the Yagrant Act. One of them was desirous to know under which clause of the Act lie was prosecuted ? He was told that the information had been laid against him under the fifth clause of sub-section four of the Vagrant Act. This answer was slowly repeated by the prisoner, who, after a moment's thought, expressed himself satisfied of the technical correctness of the information. The Bench asked him how it was that he was so well acquainted with the Vagrant Act, and he replied, very patronizingly, that " he always liked to support the Bench." As a return for his kind desire to support the Bench, the Bench ordered his support at the Mount Eden gaol for two months. The prisoner charged with larceny, and who was remanded for the purpose of obtaining witnesses, was unable to prove an alibi, and was sentenced to one mouth's imprisonment. An assault case, nnd a troop of drunkards, completed the charge-sheet. The usual report may be seen in another column.

Yankee notions! We have all heard of these "notions," but few of us have seen them in bulk as they leave a ship. The Polar Star, from New York, is now alongside the wharf discharging her cargo of this character. Among these will be found articles that may be devoted to almost any purpose under the sun. Axe and hatchet handles for bushmen, pails and brooms for servant-maids, nests of tubs, clothes pegs and washing boards for washerwomen, churns and agricultural implements for farmers, turpentine for paintere, Townaend's celebrated sarsaparilla for chemists (and invalids ?), and kerosene for everybody. But really the articles are so multifarious and heterogeneous, that we have not space to mention one-half. We are almost inclined to believe that on board the Polar Star any mortal thing can be obtained—from a Chinese Catherine wheel to a Singer's aewing needle - from a polished pine coffin with all the latest improvements, to a half-crown clock, that will go for eight days without winding, and then won t go any more, even though it were wound up till doomsday.

We are eovry that the question of signalling from Tintiri to Mount Victoria has been allowed to fall through by the Harbour Board although after the report which was read from i-n J, - Ot i W f aro , not B«atly surprised. We still think it would have been quite nossible to have sent communications from Tiritiri to Mount Victoria by means of semaphore- The great objection which Captain Burgess had to this was that the semaphores would be often difficult to see at such a long distance off. ±Sut we thmk a young man with good strong eyes and a powerful telescope could read such signals quite easily. With regard to having an electric wire from Tiritiri to the town, o? to the Flagstaff Hill, North Shore, there would be many difficulties in the way, not the least of which would be the necessity of keeping a telegraph clerk stationed at Tiritiri. However, the whole matter has fallen through for the present. °

We are glad to see that Mr. Boulter, who has lately taken the Auckland Hotel, has reopened the thoroughfare through the passaee into H.gh-street, which was long and so obst£ nutely closed by his predecessor. The abort cut Bβ great convenience to people going to the Mechanics' Institute, or having business at the Police Court. We therefore trust that Mr.Boulter will keep the thoroughfare clear while he remains proprietor, of this hotel. We believe that in accordance with the Tue dav"l *?"£ *£ the Harbour Board "a Tuesday last, the Board will commence to bore almost immediately. A series of rods are in the possession of the Provincial Governrnent, and these will, we have no doubt, be willingly lent to the Harbour Board to cirry on their experiments with.

The arrangements for filling the water carts have been completed, and work Yery satisfaoffiuif ° W M thafc the , Carte caa be a" 6 * httle delay, they surely OHg ht to prevent the dust from rising m our main streets-at least thie aight be reasonably expected of them.

A meeting of butchers' assistants was held last evening in the British Hotel, for th e purpose of considering the propriety of submitting to the maeter-butchera a eeriea of propositions for the reduction of the present hours of work. It was stated that hitherto there were no fixed hours,-, and eome masters kept open till seven, eight, or nine at night, commencing at any hour irs the morning. Ij was ascertained at a series'of interviews between the employers and employed that the masters would not offer any objection to such redaction as would not interfere with the ordinary business. The proposition submitted by the men is that the working hoars eiiall be from six in the morning till six in the evening for five days of the week, the Saturdays to be left at the disposal of the masters. This proposal ha 3 been favourably received by all the masters except one. On the motion of Mr. Wood, seconded by Mr. Gr. Clark, Mr. H. ChaDman was called to the chair. The Chairman having explained the objeet of the meeting, Mr. Wood said they would get what they wished for if they fairly considered the interests of masters and employers. He thought a day of twelve hours fair, leaving the Saturdays to the masters. But this Saturday was a very long working day, from four in the morning, perhaps, to midnight, and a man was little fitted for Sabbath duties after it. But it was not asked to interfere with the business, and twelve hours in the day was but a moderate equivalent. He believed there would be more work done in the twelve hours than at present. Most of the master-butchers had been spoken to, and acted like gentlemen. Mr. Sandall thought some special arrangement should be made with respect to the Friday night. It would not do to leave hot meat in the shop all night. Mr. Wood thought no man would hesitate to turn out earlier on Saturday morning. It was moved and carried, that twelve hours should be the recognised day's work, and that the masters' (as many as poasible) signatures should be procured, with a view to ascertain their intention ; —another meeting to be held, at the game time and place, to give effect to the views of employ ers and employed as far as possible. It was also carried that the Saturdays should be left open. Messrs. Wood, Fenton, and Ludlam were appointed canvassers. The meeting adjourned for a week.

What are things comirg to at the Police Court ? We have had occasion several timee to draw attention to the filthy state in which the reporters' box was kept, until at length there was some little improvement made in this respect. Then the windows were often so dirty that the sun fought its way into the justice room with extreme difficulty. Now, the complaint is the disgraceful state of the floor, or rather the matting with which the floor is covered (?) Xhis matting was, we have no doubt, new at some remote period of history, but it is now nothing better than a collection of holes showing, indeed, more floor than matting. Hardly a day passes but some unlucky constable or witness saves himself from going to earth only by clutching at the dock as he falls. The filthy-looking remnants of matting would, not be tolerated in the poorest horel in England or Ireland. We would suggest that if the Government cannot afford to purchase a few feet of new matting, that the old stuff should be removed altogether. Then, at least, the floor itself could be swept and kept clean.

The Wanganui Chronicle says:—The fact is continually receiving further confirmation that the intellectual pabulum of tea meetings is of the lowest order and worst quality. "With every regard to the sacred character of the office, ministers of religion, as 8 rule, fail to sustain at these meetings the diginity of their high calling, and very often by association degrade the pulpit far below the level of the political platform. To give an instance or two in point: we have only to refer to the speech of a reverend gentleman who in referring to instrumental music, spoke of " fiddling to the praise and glory of Grod," repeating the horrid slang two or three times in rapid succession, amidst the loud laughter of a portion of the audience. Again in describing the walk of a drunkard, the same reverend asked a friend what was the matter with " that man," and the answer was he was " tight." Then commenced a long dissertation on the term, the speaker urging that he was " loose." If this is what the people appreciate in their ministers, they are suited to each othor, arid we should hardly complain.

Wβ notice that the short-termed prisoners who are retained in the lock-up, High-street, during the period of their brief sentence are kept well employed by the " powers that fee." There are generally two or three " drunks" kept at the station in lieu of being sent to Mount Eden for a day or two, and during the time of their incarceration they are kept hard at work drawing water, chopping and splitting wood, or anything else of a useful character that may suggest itself to the officer in charge. We observe that the latest thing in thia way is that the men have been set to work to thoroughly clean and paint tho guardroom, their own cells and corridors, the police rooms, and indeed, the whole of this part of the building. This is as it should be, and it would be a very good thing if the whole of the prisoners at Mount Eden could be so beneficially employed.

The Thames Advertiser says : There are eighteen licensed brokers in Grahainstown, each paying to the Government £25 per annum for the privilege of exercising his profession, but if the business does not soon improve, the revenue from this source, neit year, must show a lamentable falling off. We are informed that the whole business effected by the licensed sharebrokers of Grahainstown, yesterday, was the transfer of five scrip in the Black Augel Gold Mining Company. The same journal says : The firing for men to represent the Thames at the colonial campetition, at Nelson, ia now being proceeded with, and there appears to be no doubt that the district will qualify the competitors allowed to it.

The Q-reymouth Gas Company, says the Qreymmilh Argus, took a holiday on the da-r preceding New Year'e Day without announcement. About ten o'clock in the evening, the supply ceased, and the police were anticipated in their usual desire to Eee that all publichouse lights are put out at a certain hour. A good many other better things were "put out," including people who produce plays and morning papers. The players had to provide candles for footlights, and the performance of the Octoroon was continued, and successfully concluded, by the aid of tallow. The printers' holiday troubles were aggravated by the same circumstance, and any defects discoverable must be debited to the Gas Company.

The company representatives of the various Volunteer corps of the distriet, and those of the Otahuhucompany, are to aaaembleat the Mount Eden range, on Wednesday next, at 7 o'clock, a.m. to fire the first stage of the choice of representatives to proceed to Nelson to compete for the General Government prizes. The second stage is to be fired the next morning (Thursday), at the same time and place. Competitors to provide their own ammunition.

We would remind the members of the Chamber of Commerce that the annual meeting will take place to-day, at 3 o'clock. A special meeting will be held at the close of the annual meeting, for the purpose of considering the advisability of cancelling a resolution passed at a special meeting on the 21st April, 1870. A full attendance of members is particularly requested.

We CWestland Register) have good reason to believe that a payable reef has been discovered some twenty miles up the Hokitika River. Our informant, who has seen specimens, describes them as containing plainly visible gold, and as looking promising. The bulk of the sample brought to town is now in one of the banks for anaylsu, so that we presume the value of the discovery will be soon ascertained.

At the Papakura Resident Magistrate's Court, on M-.aday last, Frederick Cox, for driving without reins, was fined 5s and costs, and eleven men, for being drunk and disorderly, were punished in the usual manner. At the Pokeno Resident Magistrate's Court, on Friday, there was not any bueinesa of impor* tance.

A. case of eudden death occurred a little after V> o'clock last night, in Hobson-street. It aopears the deceased, Mrs. Murphy, retired to Test in her usual health and spirits, and at about the time above mentioned her daughter aveoke and found her mother dying. She at once aroused her brothers who were sleeping ? an adjoining room, and one of them went off jn haste for Dr. Hooper, who upon arrival pronounced life to be extinot. Decoased was between fifty and sixty years of age. An inquest on the body will probably be held to-day. The ship "Warwick left London for this port on the 4th of November, having on board one hundred and twenty immigrants, the majority of whom are under engagement with Messrs. John Brogden and Sons, to work upon the Auckland railway line. We understand that among the public improvements to be carried out at Coromandel will be the erection of suitable Government buildings- The buildings at present iu use w ill then be handed over the Hospital Committee, as a hospital for the district. An application was made at the Police Court yesterday, by Mary Ann Featon, for a protection order against her husband. Having »ati«fiecl the Bench as to the justice of tho claim, the protection order was granted. The collection in aid of the Martin's Bay Belief Fund amounted last night to £19 133 6d. The programme of the musical and literary »oiree in" connection with the Pitt-street Weslevau and Methodist Mutual Improvement Association, to be held on Fridaj next, ■will be found in our advertising columns. The programme of the Auckland Annual Begatta, to be held on the 29th inet., -will be found in our advertising columns. A meeting of creditors in the estate of W. Butters was" held on Tuesday, in the office of the Provisional Trustee. No creditors appeared, and the meeting was adjourned for a ireek. A meeting of tho creditors of Charles Moller is convened for the 21st inst. The half-yearly meeting of the Morning Star Gold Mining Company is convened for the 31st inst. The duties of the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell, will be resumed on Monday, the 27th instant.