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New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3602, 28 May 1873, Page 2

The English and Australian telegrams per s.s. Tararua, via the Bluff, commenced to come through at half-past eleven o'clock last night, and were not off the wires until past two o'clock. Tho news is not important. The engagement of His Koyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh with the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandra of Russia is announced. The war with the Ashantees on tho West Coast of Africa continues, and troops are leaving England for the scene of action. The Pope is in very indifferent health. The Australian telegrams are unimportant. If ever there was a plane in this world for driving off things to the last momenf, Auckland is that place. Steamers are advertised to leave at a certain time, but always at the last minute goods come tumbling down, to the annoyance of the captains and eveiybody else concerned except the shippers themselves. Yesterday the Kangatira was to have left at three o'clock p.m., but at that time express carts and vehicles of all descriptions came crowding down and discharging quite a pile of goods upon the wharf. At the same time, and even later, people were Bending down cart loads of stuff to the Rowemi, which was to leave at four (but did not), and the s.s. Southern Cross, which was to have left at two o'clock, but of course, could not get away. And yet there is no reason in the world why the whole of this stuff might not have been shipped by two o'clock, m it ought to have been. The punctuality of the Golden Crown is proverbial—yet hardly a day passes without some procrastinator losing his passage, while intending passengers may be Been running down the whavf at one minute to eleven, as though for their very lives. It is the same with our public meetings. They never begin till half-an-hour or so after the time advertised—all of which things tend to great disorganisation and confusion. It is to be hopod that the railway when it opens will, if it be of no other service, tend to instil a greater attention to punctuu'ity than prevails at present.

Rev. J. C. Andrew, one of the Council of I,lie Now Zealand University, haa been appointed to inspect the affiliated institutions, and to report upon their organisation and general efficiency. Mr. Andrew is oxpooted in Auckland shortly, and will examine the College and Grammar School, as woll uu the evening classes connectod with the University. We are glad to hear that some of our most promising youug men have matriculated as students, and hope they may succeed in a few years in getting the B.A. or M.A, attached to their names. Tho evening classes, which only cost the University £300 a-year, promise in their way to be a great boon to Auckland students, and to give them an opportunity of keeping up with those in the South, who have greater local aid from their laud revenue than we can hope for here. Apropos of the University, it is extraordinary that only two candidates have come forward in Auckland for its valuable scholarships of £70 a-your. Wo cannot understand this, and should be glad to hfive a reasonable solution of the apparent neglect or want of interest in a matler one would have thought sure to excite keen interest among uur schools and sclioolmastcra.

Among the persons yesterday brought up at tho Polico Court for infringements of the Dog Nuisance Act, was tjto Rev. D. Bruce, who was charged with allowing his dog to be at large in Wynyard-streot, on the 12th inst. Mr. Bruce was present, and urged that the case ought to be dismissed, as tho dog was a household dog, created no nuisance, and did not, in his opinion, come within the meaning of the Act. Owners of good dogs which creuted no nuisance were held liable, while owners of unregistered curs escaped the penalty of the Act. A short time ago, a dog took refuge at his place, and had pups. He sent to the police on the subject, but after looking at the dogs, they decided to take no steps in the matter. As a rule, his dog remained within '.he enclosuro, but doubtless, seeing such a rara avis as a policeman, he had ran ouUide in astonishment, and hud immediately been collared. The Bench remarked that they must take the law as they found it. They fined the defendant Is and costs, and recommended the rev. gentleman to take out a collar, which he promised to do. Captain Miller, master of tho Undine, trading: to the Thames, was charged before the presiding Justices at Grahamstown, oil Monday, with neglecting to hand over gunpowder brought by his vessel to be placed in the Government magazine. The w.;s adjourned to the following day. Referring to the subject, the Thames Advertiser says : —" There certainly does appear to bo considerable looseness in this matter. Tho other day we noticed about 150 kegs of powder piled up in the middle of Coromandel-street. Al. 110 time should this bo suffered to tako placo, for tho risk of accident is great. At present, especially, neither powder nor arms should bo left in insecure places, and we may hint that several of the Volunteer companies might have their magazines in better situations. At the recent Voluntoer review at tho Thames, a purse containing ten sovereigns was presented by Major Cooper, on behalf of tho Thames Rifle Rangers, to Sergeant Sydney Stidolph, as an acknowledgment of their appreciatioa of his services as secretary to the company. Mr. Stidolph, wo under-st-nd, has volunteered his services to the Government to go to the Waikato, in any capacity in which it may seem fit to tho authorities to employ liim. Ho is known as a leeturer on New Zealand affairs, as well as a Volunteer, and served under Colonels Whitmore, Eraser, and St. John, in the late campaigns on tho Bast and West Coasts. At the present crisis of affairs, it is satisfactory t Q find men of his stamp coming forward in this manner. A man who was under tho influence liquor fell over the Queon-Btreet wharf, at about 11 p.m. on Monday last, but was fortunately rescued by the night watermen. This is another proof of the necessity which exists for the police to prevent persons who are intoxicated from going down the wharf at night i and the object would be best accomplished by having gates placed at tho Queen-street end of the wharf, whioh could be closed at night, and a small passage with a wicket gate to it left at the ouo side, so that persons going down the wharf would have to pass in single file, and would individually be exposed to the surveillance of the police. Wo notice that a goods landing-place has been formed on the Official Bay railway embankment, close to the Wynyard Pier. Tho landing-place has been built of large heavy stones, which will do much towards giving strength to this portion of tho embankmont, especially in times of heavy northerly weather. It is intended to discharge the heavy portions of tho railway material upon this landingplace, for transportation to the various places along the line. By this means a considerable amount will be saved in the shape of wharfdues and other incidental expenses attached to the landing of this class of material upon the Queen-street wharf. The ordinary bi-monthly meeting of the District Court waß hold yesterday. There were several cases on the list, but they were settled without coming before the Court. In the case Ashton v. Williamson, claim £100 for highway rates, Newton District, a judgment was given for the plaintiff. The p.a. Royal Alfred, from Coromandel, brought Up two boxes of gold last evening, containing 2500 ozs., consigned to the Bank of New Zealand.

Our Coromandel correspondent says: — Monday was kept as a general holiday in the township, though not in the mines. Kapanga looked so very lively, that one was reminded forcibly of 11 The Deserted "Village," and was •very glad to get away to the hills. Numerous picnic parties—by water or land —took place, and the weather being magnificent left nothing to nßk for in that way. At night a ball was held at Mr. Glover's Coromandel Hall, which was well patronised by some twentyfive couples or more, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. A most recherche supper was served in the dining-room of the Royal Hotel, the half-hour spent at, which was by no means the worst part of the evening's entertainment. The only toasts drunk were,

" Her Majesty the Queen," " The Governor," and when all was over " Our Host and Hostess." Comparing this season with the same last year, what a difference is observable ! The Green Harp was then on in full swing, and Coromandel was Tisited by hundreds of excursionists, to see tho races, &c.; yet a far more healthy feeling prevadeu the district now than at that time, and a bright future seema to be looming at no great distance. The Hamilton correspondent of the Waikato Times writes On Friday evening a number of Maoris who had been imbibing liberally at one or other of the public-houses, were creating a great disturbance in a house in East Hamilton, where they had taken up their abode for tho night. So uproarious were they that some women and children, whose husbands and fathers were away from home, got very much excited and wished to see Mr. Mackay's proclamation carried out. A Volunteer oflicer, who talks a little Maori, was sent for. He demanded their passports, and after some little delay, during which the noise in the house was deafening, succeeded in getting a document from them, of which the following is an exact copy : —" Mr. Mackay's notice otily applies to Maoris waudering about the townships between certain hours. Maoris stopping quietly in their sleeping places or houses should not be disturbed.—W. Searancke, R.M. Hamilton, M»y 23, 1873." Query: Does a Resident Magistrate's permit overrule a Government agent's public notice, and how are we to know cur friends from our foes ? It will be remembered that, some months ago, a schooner nnmed the Florence, left Dunedin for this port with a full general cargo. She never arrived at Auckland, however, and there wore a number of circumstances connected with the affair which clearly pointed to a case of barratry. By the arrival of the schooner Prima Donna, last evening, we learn that the vessel has not been lost, but that she lu-.s steered her course for tho bright and suntiy islands of the South Pacific Ocean.

When the Prima Donna was lying at Papeete, the Florence was discharging and Belling her cargo. Sho was forty-seven days from Wellington. Captain Norris does not think, from the length of time that elapsed Bince leaving Dunedin, that her draught beer was likely to realise a very good price. Several persons lose heavily by the bolting of the Florence. So soft is the upper portion of the earth at the reclamations recently carried out at Mechanics' Bay, that it has been found necessary to fix up a notice marked " dangerous," to prevent heavily laden carts going upon it. We are glad to observe that fascines are now being placed upon this ground, prior to the scoria being put down. Upon completion of this work the land, which has been cut up into allotments, will be let by public auction. The sooner it is finished tho better, as St. George's Bay is now being completely cut up by the landing of firewood, which is now taking place to a considerable extent in this Bay, much to the annoyance of persons living in that locality. Notwithstanding the bumper house at the City Hall on Monday evening, there was a very good, attendance last evening, when a most excellent programme was gone through. The Carandini concerts never appear to lose their charm, and we believe that if continued another month they would still draw full houses. To-night tho performance will be uuder tho patronage of his Honor the Superintendent and tho officers and men of the Scottish and Engineer Volunteer Companies. A number of the national melodies of Scotland will be given, and will doubtless attract a large number of our friends hailing from the oLher side of tho Tweed. Some short time ago wo pointed out the desirability of having the dead-house removed from iti present position in Official Bay, and shortly afterwards a jury empaunelled to sit upow tho body of a drowned man added a rider to their verdict to a similar effect. But up to the present time nothing has been done in the matter. We do not know who are the proper parties to see that tho wishes of tho jury are given effect to, but it is high time that something was done. We have at different times heard many complaintß of this dead-house being stuck right in front and within a few yards of gontlemen's villa residences. Wo understand that in a few days the contract for forming the new road from Official Bay to Mechanics' Bay will be commenced, and will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible. This beach road has long been talked about, and looked forward to with considerable interest by the people of Parnell, to whom it will prove a great boon. It will form a short and direct cut from the railway station beneath Britomnrt Point (when completed) and the eastern portion of the city, and will relieve tho Alten Road and Stanley-street of a good deal of heavy traffic. Wo understand that Mr. Owen Jones is the contractor for this new piece of work. We think that if tho public authorities were to exercise a little patient, vigilance they would succeed in bringing those scoundrels to punishment who are defacing portions of our public buildings with obscene and ribald inscriptions. There is not a public edifice in the city but what these obscenities meet the eye and outrage all feelings of decency. As some of these aro scribbled by men evidently possessing a certain degree of education, we think an identification of the handwriting would lead to detection. The punishment, upon conviction, can be made a very severe one, and we trust the first offender will be made an example of. Tho body of Richard Dunn has been found about two miles below Churchill. It will be rememberod that he, in company with a man named Poole, started in a boat from Rangariri for Churchill some ten days back, and that tho deceased had not since been heard of. An inquest will bo held this day at Rangariri. When the body was found a piece of pipe was between its teeth. This confirms the impression gonerally entertained that deceased fell overboard when in a state of inebriety. It is rumoured that Mr. J. S. Macfarlano is about to come forward and stand his candidature for the Superintendentship. This gentleman's friends express their confidence in the certainty of his being returned. Mr. Macf&rline, it is also rumoured, intends standing for the Bay of Islands, to fill the vacant seat caused by tho resignation of Mr. McLeod. The not uncommon practice of sailors shipping for a voyage, receiving an advance-note, getting it cashed, and making off without joining the vessel, is stated to have been resorted to yesterday. The men had shipped to join an American whaler at the Bay of Islands. We notice that the shedding purchased from the General Government by the Harbour Board has been pulled down from its old site in Fort Britomart, and is stacked upon the Queon-Btreet wharf. lb will be shortly erected on the western tee, for the convenience of shippers and others. The members of the Armed Constabulary stationed in Auckland were each served, yesterday, with 40 rounds of ammunition. A case of warlike stores and accoutrements was also forwarded to the Thames by the evening steamor. On Saturday Mr. Aitken, the District Engineer at Coromandel, took the precaution of having the powder in store at the. magazine, some 250 kegs, removed to Bafer keeping in the township.

A woman, about 27 years of age, who gave her name as Mrs. Inkatan, was apprehended at an early hour this morning by the police. She was found upon the Queen-street wharf, and it whs surmised from her conduct that she was about to commit suicide by throwing herself into the water. When accused, Bhe did not deny that she meant to commit the rash act. She was taken to the loi:k-up for safety. We acknowledge the receipt of tea shillings from Mrs. Burns, to be applied towards a bath-room for the inmates of the Poor Men's Refuge. 'The money will be handed to the manager of the Refuge, towards a fund for that purpose. We trust the example set by our correspondent will find many followers. An amended table of the rates of postage to be collected on correspondence, forwarded via Suez to the United Kingdom, for transmission to foreign countries, is posted for general information at the Post-offices of the colony, by order of the Postmaster General. Messrs. Grant and Morton call the attention of drapers, warehousemen, and the trade to a large consignment of new and fashionable drapery and clothing which they will submit ts auction, at their mart, at 11 a.m. to-day.— [Advt.] The Alburnia Gold Mining Company announce that a dividend of 5s per share is payable on Friday nest. The previous dividend was declared on the 18th ultimo, making a second dividend under a period of six weeks. The sale of town and suburban lands notified in the Provincial Government Gazette, No. 18, dated 21st April, will take place at the office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, at noon, to-day. The inaugural meeting of the Devonport Literary Institute was held last evening. This is a new institution, and the first meeting was a great 6UcceßS. An outline of the proceedings is reported in another column. The fittings of the ship Parsee, tanks, boat, medicine chests, baths, &c., will be sold by Messrs. B. Tonks and Co., on the wharf, today, at 11 a.m. —[Adtt-3 This day 44 years ago Sir Humphry Davev died ; this day 53 years ago the first steamengine was set to work in Sydney. The Bank of New Zealand at has altered the day for the ordinary weekly half-holiday from Wednesday until Saturday. A Lyttelton paper indignantly protests against the proposed exhibition of a tattooed Maori head in the Canterbury Museum. Dr. Carr, after an absence of nearly five years, has re-appeared in Hokitika. A meeting of the shareholders of the Black Angel Gold Mining Company is convened for the 30th inst. The annual meeting of the Central Italy Gold Mining Company is convened for the 20th inst. A dividend of 5s per share will be payablo to shareholders in the A'.burnia Gold Mining Company on Friday next. A meeting of the shareholders of the Inverness Gold Mining Company is convened for the 4th June. A call of 10s per share has been made in the Coromandel Tunnel and Gold Mining Company.