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New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4387, 4 December 1875, Page 2

In all parts of the city asphalt is spreading its way, and the footpaths bid fair ere long to become second to none in the Southern Hemisphere. The material is so easily obtained, that those who spread the mixture on the trottoirs can afford to do it at a much lower price than would be asked for legitimate nagging. Every small bay on the western coast of the great Coromandel peminsula has shingle and gravel for its Deach. This is "l:eadily..jshipped, except during the continuance of the winter southwest gales. It forms, when sifted, the substratum of the path. The upper part consists of sand and coal tar, both of which are plentiful and cheap. Of course, for a day or two after laying the mass in position, great hobnailed boots, and the heels of delicate little bottines, make holes in in it. But, presto! the great roller is revolved by two or three sturdy sons of labour, and the whole mass which seemed to have been previously of a similar consistence to the great pitch lake of Trinidad, becomes solid, and its solidity is ensured by scattering on it some composition of au unknown character which perfectly hardens it. It is said that this concrete will last longer than any imported stone flagging, and, indeed, it seems like it, for it is more than three years since the first of it was laid down, and it shews no signs of weakness, while the stone pavements laid down about the same time are worn into holes, which, in rainy weather, afford baths for the ankles. A few days ago we announced that the time for firing had been postponed, in accordance with a circular sent from the defence office. As the time has been considerably altered, and the date of selection thrown back, there will be plenty of time for those who intend to compete to qualify themselres. The present fine weather offers a good opportunity, and the mornings are so long that anyone can have a couple of hours' practice. The circular is as follows : " Native and Defence Office (Militia and Volunteer Branch), Wellington, 25th November, 1875. 1. On account of the delay in the issue of Sniders to several corps, and in order to give each corps the opportunity of testing the new weapons with which it has been supplied, the Hon. the Native Minister has approved the following changes :— Choice of representatives for the Colonial Prizes for Infantry, in lieu of the District Representatives, having to be seleeted by the 11th December, no fixed date will be insisted on for the preliminary firing, but the two competitions must be completed before the 31st January, 1576, and the returns despatched so as to arrive in this office by the 10th February. 2. All winners of the long Snider rifles which were given as prizes at the North and South matches at previous competitions for - Colonial Prizes will be permitted to use such rifles in the firing for the Government Prizes, provided they have been in no way tampered with since their presentation to the respective winners J. H. H. St. John, Lieut.-Col., for Acting TJnder-Secretary Defence.

On Thursday evening a number of gentlemen interested in the formation of a branch lodge of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia met at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, Auckland. Messrs. C. Joynt, D.G.M., and T. R. Jones, delegates from the Thames ledge, were present to give all necessary information. Mr. T. R. Jones was called to the chair, and Mr. T. W. Guarde acted as secretary pro tern. The Chairman fully explained the objects and nature of the benefits, and the working of the society generally, and answered various questions put by those present to their satisfaction. It was duly proposed and seconded, and unanimously carried, that an application be made for a dispensation to open a branch lodge of the society. The Deputy-Grand Master, Bro. C. Joynt, being present with all the necessary documents, and a dispensation, the required forms were soon filled up, and a dispensation granted, and the lodge was duly inaugurated by the delegates present, and a number of members initiated. Some good counsel and advice was then given to the new members with reference to the future working of the lodge, and a vote of thanks to the delegates from the Thames terminated the meeting,—all present leaving seemingly well pleased with the result of the evening's business. Princes street is not to be left behind in the way of progress. A short time ago the pavements on both sides were put into good order. Now, we see, one of the energetic tradesmen in that thoroughfare (Mr. Hatswell) has made a vast improvement in front of his shop. He has had a substantial verandah erected, on the plans approved by the City Council. It is a pity that more in the outlying parts of the city are not imbued with the same spirit of progress. It is with pleasure we hear that SergeantMajor Pardy has been raised to the position of a Sub-Inspector. No man was ever more deserving of such promotion. Since he arrived in Auckland he has passed through several grades, and in each has approved himself to his superiors, while he has been courteous to all, and no man could possibly hare conducted the arduous duties of his station in a more efficient manner. •'There will probably be three candidates for the office of Mayor of the Thames—possibly four, as besides Mr. Graham, the present Mayor, Mr. William Davies, Mr. Macnab, and Mr. J. E. Macdonald are spoken of.

Three women, named respectively, Anne Finn, Ellen Cordon, and Emily Diver were brought before the Bench at the Police Court yesterday, charged with breaches of the Vagrant Act. It appeared that the women in question had on the previous evening been imbibing rather freely from the contents of the "flowing bowl," t atthe house of the prisoner Diver, situated in Centrestreet, Freeman's Bay. The debauch was kept up without intermission until 3 o'clock yesterday morning, at which time the ■cursing; swearing,-and vile language, which tad been freely indulged in all night, "may be said to have reached their climax, and the services of the constable were obliged to be called into requisition. On being charged with the offence at the Police Court, the .woman Diver, who was described as keeping the house of ill-fame in question, which was the resort of the most abandoned of both sexes, disclaimed all knowledge of the matter. She said she was quite ignorant of the nature of the charge upon which she was brought up, and gazed on their Worships and the people inside the Court with looks of wondering innocence, but on receiving her meed of punishment betrayed, by a half-con-cealed smirk, her relief at being dealt with more easily than she deserved. Anne Finn, a bleary-eyed, decrepid old -woman, was charged with having no lawful visible meary \ of support, and with being an y rogue. She denied the first part of the charge, and said that she earned her livelihood by selling fruit, but her statement was effectually disproved by the evidence of the police, who characterised her as being a notorious prostitute. She was almost continually in a state of semi-intoxication, and ■was therefore hardly capable of knowing what she was about. Her appearance certainly did not belie the abov.e description, and she was despatched to the seclusion of Mount Eden for a term of 12 months. The remaining prisoner—Ellen Conlon—was the only one who appeared in the slightest degree penitent for her misconduct. She was evidently keenly sensible of her position, for during the time she remained in Court she did not once raise her head. She was dealt ■with in the same manner as the first-named prisoner. Constable Graham, we are quite sure, deserves the thanks of the residents o£ Freeman's Bay for his efforts to eradicate an evil which they have had to endure for some little time past, and which, if continued, must have subjected their children to daily exposure to the bad influence of the abandoned women referred to.

In one of our leading hotels there was rather a curious sight. Five youngsters, of ages ranging from two and a-half to five, appeared in front of the counter. One of them had opened a silver mine, and discovered a threepenny piece. He headed the procession, and knocked timidly. AH the others were drawn up under the protection of the ledge of the table. When Hebe responded to the knock she could see no one, and, hauling up her skirts, gracefully retired. She had hardly started again on the French novel she was reading when there oame to her ears the sound of another rat-a-tat-tat. She dropped the book and rushed to the front. Still nothing was to be seen. After an interval of about two minutes, daring which she composed herself into a fascinating attitude, the knock on the counter was again heard. The spring sofa threw her up immediately. She went cautiously to her station. It was evident some mesmeric influence was under way, and she thought it possible ehe might be suddenly elevated and hoisted through the ceiling to a place where some psycologists were carrying on their scientific investigations. But all was serene. Then it occurred to her that there might be rats among the bottles under the counter. Without fear, she dashed into that sanctum, but found no rodentia there. While in that den the knocking was repeated. She then was struck with the brilliant idea that there might be something making a noise in front of the counter. Accordingly she armed herself with a stick, and went to the fore. There she found the aforesaidyoung ones squatted down. One of them was the fugleman, and ever and anon he beat the tattoo on the wall dividing the common public from the after part of the hostlery. She said, "What on earth are you doing here 1" The "boss" of the children said, " Please, ma'am, we want a bottle of ginger-beer." The ginger-beer was at once provided, and the youngsters passed thebottle from mouth to mouth until all was absorbed. The beauteous maiden then returned to her contemplation of the deeds of the knights of old, and all became serene. The children have not yet been advertised for, although it is possible they have ascended to the skies in the shape of balloons, having been inflated by the gas of the ginger-beer. The attention of labouring men seekirig employment is called to a portion of our Warkworth correspondent's letter, in which he states that the Highway Board there are offering 6s per day to labourers for some road works long in contemplation. On account of a settler at Mahurangi absorbing, by some large contract works on hand, nearly all the available working men in the Mahurangi district, labour there is at present scarce. These contracts will, however, be completed by about Christmas time, when men will be glad to accept 5s a-day for work in the district. House accommodation will be found while the road works are on hand to any who offer themselves.

We understand t hat a cricket match will be played to-day, on the North Shore ground, between the North Shore and Carlton Clubs. A good deal of interest attaches to the event as both sides are expected to bring up their best men. Players are requested to leave Auckland by the 1.30 steamer, ao that the game may commence sharp at 2.30. The following are the names:—North Shore— Rees, Thome, Waterhouse, Brassey, Nolan, Dacre, Swanson, Whewell, Saunders, Wells, Cochrane, and Burgess. Carlton—Yates, Kent, Mears, Buttle, J. Lawry, Dufaur, Choyce, J. Lawry, Reid, Caldwell, Orchard, and Ewen. We would invite the attention of persons desirous of possessing an unexceptionable site for private residences to the land to be offered for lease (on behalf of the City Council) for 66 years, by S. Cochrane and Son, on Monday, the 13th inst. These allotments command an uninterrupted and magnificent view of the town, harbour, Hauraki Golf &c, and the view cannot in any manner be shut out. They abut on the new park, are of an unusually large size, both as regards frontage and depth, and the conditions of lease are few and unimportant. Two persons were fined at the Police 1 Court yesterday for breaches of the City By-laws, by allowing cows to wander in the Kyber Pass Eoad. One of them urged in palliation that the animal in question was of such an erratic and adventurous disposition that he had been unable to keep her within restraint, and at length was obliged to sell her. He had paid about £30 in fines during the present year. The Bench took a merciful view of the case, and only inflicted a fine of 2s Gd and costs. By regulations lately passed by the City Council, it is now necessary that the hours of the departure of 'buses from the various termini in Auckland city and elsewhere, and the name of the street and the position of the authorised stand, be endorsed upon the licence. The prescribed space in which all vehicles plying for hire are subject to the city regulations is a radius of ten miles from the General Post-office. The business at the Police Court yesterday was confined to the punishment of three vagrants and the fining of two individuals for breaches of the city by-laws by allowing cows to roam at large. The usual batch of inebriates were conspicuous by their absence, a fact that will no doubt be very interesting to Good Templars. The ordinary weekly sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court for the determination of small debts claims was held yesterday. There was a long list of cases, but several of them were settled, or referred to arbitration. The details will be found in another column. The Bank of New Zealand shipped per Llewellyn for Levuka, yesterday, one box of gold coin, valued at £3000.