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New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3847, 12 March 1874, Page 2

Secretaries of country libraries desirous of participating in the annual grant of £250 usually made by the Provincial Council, should make immediate application by letter, addressed to Mr. Leggelt, clerk and librarian of the Provincial Council, stating the books they require. The Library Committee are desirous of meeting the wishes of up-country settlers in this matter as far as possible, and an early application will facilitate business. A meeting of the members of the Auckland Institute took place yesterday, when the president, Sir George Arney, presented the late Secretary, Mr. T. Kirk, with a purse, containing fifty sovereigns, in recognition of the distinguished services whk-li ho had rendered tho Institute.

The enquiry into the stranding of the barque Anazi was continued yesterday. A few questions by the Nautical Assessor completed the examination o£ Captain Holman, who volunteered to explain why he declined to state whether he waa drunk or not at the timo of the stranding of the vessel when the question waß put to bim on Saturday last. His explanation waa that he was confident that there would bo sufficient evidence exclusive of his own to prove that he was not suffering from the effects of drink. Threo passengers stated that from his appearance and conduct they believed him to be in liquor when the vessel stranded. The second officer, who saw tho master repeatedly up to the time of tho stranding of the vessel, and who deposed that ho hud charge of tho deck from 11 p.m. to tho timo of striking, stated that he did not notice'anything unusual in his conduct; but judged that something was wrong bv his giving an order which the witness believed to be an evidenco of very bad seamanship. The evidence of this witness was directly opposed to that given by Captain Holman. A lady passenger deposed most positively that Captain Holman was not the worse for liquor, and that she had never told Detective Jeffrey that tho captain was intoxicated when the vessel stranded. Detective Jeffrey was called, and gave u flat contradiction to this witness's evidence, and other portions of it were contradicted by the second officer. The enquiry will be resumed this morning, and will probably be concluded before the rising of the Court in the afternoon. The annual meeting of the members of the Young Men's Christian Association will take place to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 7.30, ' in the Lodge-room, in the Young Men's Christian Association, Wellesley-street, to receive the various reports for the year, financial statement, &c., and also for election of officers for the current yenr. It is anticipated that the meeting will be one of the most interesting held in connection with the institution for sumo time ; the visiting agent will furnish a report of his labours in visiting the various immigrant vessels at this port, and short addresses will also be given by clergymen and others on the operations of" the ass ociation during the past year, and the work conteru- plated to be taken in hand for the future. The executive committee have worked uritedly and harmoniously during the year, and the various departmental reports to be submitted will shew that the duties of committeemen have not been fulfilled in a porfunctory manner. The clergy of the various Churches have been invited by circular to be present at the meeting, and all young men who feel interested in tho moral, intellectual, and religious improvement of their class wili be heartily welcomed on tho occasion. • The Prince of Wales Theatre was opened last evening for the appearance of a troupe ol French artistes. Tho occasion, therefore, supplied a novelty, and the theatre was consequently well attended. The performance opened with the farce entitled " The Omnibus," by the ordinary company, followed by a specimen of rope-tying. This might possess interest for Bome, but cannot be called a theatrical performance. The so-called dancing to which the public were treated last evening may have been the vogue in certain ambiguous quarters of Paris, but it is neither agile nor graceful. It seems a combination of high kicking and low taste. It is not concealed by outward gracefulness of person or action. There are not even the attractions of the bayadiere to compensate for an abandonment of all delicacy. That the exhibition had many admirers was evident from the uproarious laughing and cheering that accompanied it, but there were also manifestations of a very different kind. There is a limit to tolerance, and we doubt very much whether these persons have kept themselves within it. " JEgles" in the Australasian writes: — That is a capital idea of the Sew Zealand Government shipping their prize criminal, Sullivan, off to America. It is a thousand pities the affair got wind. The game might have been kept up until the gaols were completely emptied, and what a saving that would have been to the colony ' Now I fear thoro is nothing for it but to enter into negotiations, like generals after a battle, for an exchange of prisoners. Or a bureau might be established, where a regular Dr. and Cr. account could be kept, as is done in some cases with Customs duties. If Australia were to open books of that kind with England, what a debt we should be proud to owe the mother country. We should have to go on paying out criminals for years before we were entitled to strike a balance. How Btupid it is of us, when a good healthy malefactor starts off on his own responsibility, that wo take infinite trouble to catch and bring him back again. The New Zealand authorities would never' act in that absurd fashion. It yi 111 be seen in another column that Captain Burgess, the chief pilot, contradicts Captain Eoberts's statement that ho has frequently had to come into harbour without tho assistance of a pilot. A more efficient and painstaking servant of the Government is not to be found than Captain Burgess, who has devoted 24 years to the pilot service of the port, and who has always done his best with the means at his disposal to meet the demands of the shipping. No one here who is aware of Captain Burgess's duties doubts his efficiency or can find fault with the manner in which he performs the duties. The only question is whether the chief pilot with the growing trade of the port ia not over-worked, having to attend to his duties as ohief harbourmaster as well as acting as pilot? Also, whether it would not be advisable to engage the eeivices of an additional pilot to be stationed on Tiritiri to aseist Captain Burgess by lightening his duties. 9She members of the Newmarket Literarv Association held their meeting on Tuesday evening. The attendance was very good, but had the weather been favourable it would have been much larger. Tho Yen. Archdeacon Pritt took the chair at 8 o'clock, and called on the members of the N.L.A. Glee Club to make their first appearance, with a glee, " Ye Gentlemen of England." Keadines, glees, iSr;., occupied the attention of tho audience, who appeared highly gratified with the first mus : - cal entertainment in Newmarket. A number of ladies had braved the storm to be present. The introduction of music to these meetings will still further add to their popularity, and supply a want long felt in that district. The next meeting is for debate—subject, " Are Mormonism aad Spiritism in accordance with the Scriptures ?" Our "Thames correspondent; writes in reference to the forthcoming municipal elections as follows :—" Intending candidates to represent the various districts forming our newlyfledged municipality are likely to be as numerous as blackberries in season, and the electors cannot fail to secure good men out of such a number as are now fairly before the public. There are no less than ten who signify publicly their intention to seek the suffrages of the electors, while there are several more who are keeping in the dark until the last moment. The following are the candidates :—James Eilgour, James Eae, R. N. Smith, E. W. Hollis, Wm. Howe, John Butt,' B. Eencan, John Rrown, M.P.C., Henry Diiver, Jas. McGrowan, and L. Ehrenfried." The return match between tho Brighton and We3t End Cricket Clubs will take place in the Domain on Saturday next. In consequence of the last match being so closely contested, this match will not be decided by one innings'. Interest ia taken in both of these clubs by the local cricketers. Subjoined is a list of the players:—West End: J. Macky, C. Western, J. Hosking, T. Macky, D. Mason, C. Colwell, H. Taylor, T. Clarke, C. Taylor, E. Gleeson, G. Hales, and C. Ewen (12th man). Brighton : J. Stichbury, D. Tonks, B. Mitford, T. Davies, W. Xonks, H. Phillipson, A. Brooks, A. Mears, D. Snodgrnss, I - . Von Tempsky, and W. Williams (12th man). The annual meeting of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society took place yesterday afternoon, —J. C. Firth, Esq. (president), in the chair. The usual annual report and balancesheet were read and adopted . After which the moeting proceeded to the election of officers for the ensui"-: y-w. A ' 'V.-l : report will be found elsewhere. I

The following is from the pen of a country teacher of long and varied expsrience, relative to the resolution now under discussion by the "Teaohers* Association:"—Tho second proposition, that appointments of teachers be made by the Board of Education will, I consider, terminate the present -vague and anomalous position of the teachers. The freedom indulged in by committes of criticising, cavilling at, and in some cases positively hindering the teacher, calls urgently for reform. The writer concludes by observing that no school systen- can be complete without compulsory attendanceThree days and a-half frr-n Lyttelton to Auckland is a passage which a steamboat mav feel proud of accomplishing. Two brigantinej arrived in harbour yesterday, one havin" made the run in three and a-half days, and Hie other in two hours under four days, having however, hove-to for ten hours out of thu time. This would make the time occupied by both vessels on the passage equal. Both the Ryno and the Magellan Cloud—the vessels referred to—bear the reputation of fa»t sailors. The business at the Police Court yesterday was confined to the punishment of three persons for drunkenness. The Oxford Combination Troupe will make their bow to the public of Auckland at the City Hall to-night. The troupe consists o; the following talented artistes:—Hiss Blanche Fane, Seyrao'-'- L'rsuk. Verten, Dave Fox, John Keiu, ana .e. v/. Ouuimore. The programme appears in our advertising columns. We notice that tho Board of Education has instructed Messrs. Samuel Cochrane and Son to offer for lease to-day, at their Land Mart, Fort-street, the Grammar School Endowment at Devonport, which has been subdivided into nine allotments. Mr. "John McLe"-' notifies that he is ~ooiT. to form an association for developing on springe, coal seams, <£c., and that he is prepared to receive communications on tue subject. Mr. S. Lipstine is on the point of leaving the colony, and the whole of his household furniture will be sold by auction to-day, at his residence in Wakefield-street. Messrs. J. Cosgrave and Co. notify that their warehouse in Queen-street will be closed on Thursday and Friday, for the purpose of remarking their stock. A meeting of the Improvsmcnt Commissioners was held yesterday afternoon. A report of the proceedings appears elsewhere. The Carandinis will re-opeu at the City Hall for a short season ia grand operatic and : ballad concerts on Thursday evening next,