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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4444, 10 February 1876, Page 2

The harbour extension works under the contract of Mr. Taylor are progressing iu a most satisfactory manner under the management of his foreman, Mr. White, who seems to be thoroughly well qualified to conduct the work he has in hand. The new jetty, so far as the piles are concerned, has been carried out to its full length, and a number of the beams laid and stringers placed in position. The projection from the new jetty towards the end tee of the Queenstreet wharf has also been commenced, and piles of forty-three feet in length are being driven. The end of the jetty, it may be mentioned, is on the very verge of the channel of the Waitemata, and vessels of almost any tonnage will be able to come alongside the projection. The whole work has been thoroughly well done, and the timber of the best quality. No contract in this locality has been carried out more faithfully than that of Mr. Taylor.

j The Rev. A. Reid gave, last evening, in i the Pitt-street School-room, a condensed acI count of the proceedings of the Wesleyan I Conference which was lately held at i ton. He stated that this was the third I annual Conference held in New Zealand i since its separation from the Australian Conference, and thtf ; arrangement .was found to work with •.. great advantage to , the Wesleyan Church of New Zealand. The system of* "open conference'' throughout all its meetings wa3 ( adopted first at Welling ton this year; but i although this privilege was granted to the I public, so great was their confidence in the I integrity of the ministers and in the wisdom | of their decisions, that the attendance was at !no time very great. The public appeared. c[uite satisfied that the Conference would do its duty. The speaker referred to the Three 1 Kings Institution and its re-opening as a training college for young men destined for the Maori and European work in New Zealand. Steps to this end will be taken at once, the necessary funds being forthcoming. • The Rev. Thomas Buddie has been appointed governor, and under his able management good results are expected. The demand for more ministers was also remarked upon, and the rev. gentleman stated that we were better off in the matter of ministers than they were in Australia—while we have one minister to every 50 members, they have only one to every ICD. Mr. Reid said he was glad to see the large number of lay representatives that attended the Conference-a far larger number than had yet been present at any similar meeting. Men from all parts of the colony were there, many of them young men from whom most radical measures of reform might have been expected to emanate ; but this was not the case. They were, on the whole, quite as conservative as their older clerical brethren. The number of scholars attending the Sun-day-schools of the Wesleyan Church iu New Zealand, was stated at 10, COO, and out of this number a very fair proportion nr.glit be expected to join the Church as members. lro —-t;u s olosed with singing and prayer. We may add tiiac me Rev. A. Reid has been elccted President of the New Zealand Wesleyan Conference, tliis I year, and the Rev. John Crump, secretary. -

An open meeting of the Pioneer Juvenile Temple 1.0. G.T. was held last evening in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms. Before the entertaining part of the evening commenced, a vote of thanks to the Saturday Night Entertaiument Committee was passed for their kindness in giving an entertainment for the benefit of the Tcujple. The first song, " Juauita," by Sister Spurgcon, was given very weR The next was a song by Sister Botwick, "Maggie's by my side," which was received with great applause. Sister Jones sang "Write me a letter from home," very well. Mr. R. Salmon sang " Driven from home," in very good style. Brother Parker read Mr. J. Blackman's piece, "Mrs. Brown's Gooseberry Wine." Recitations were also given by Bros. Reid, Cranch, Brown, W. Atkin. A dialogue was given by Bros. Cranch and Brown, and addresses by Bros. McKenzie, Salmon, and Stickley.

Last evening Chevalier Blondin gave another of his attractive entertainments in his monster pavilion, and, judging from the numerous attendance, the performances of this world-renowned funambulist seem to grow in popular favour. He went through a variety of unique and-astonishiug feats with perfect nonchalancc, and when ho amusingly feigned a fanx pas on his slender and aerostatic pathway, the spectators were by no means affected with fear; on the contrary, it seemed to add to their enjoyment. The brilliant pyrotechnic display with which the entertainment is brought to a close, evoked the hearty plaudits of the admiring assemblage. The fireworks, in brilliancy and lustrous effect, excelled those previously exhibited. The line band performed a selection of choice music. We would remind the people of Auckland that these entertainments will terminate this week.

A meeting of the United Men Servants Association was held hist evening, at which a report was read, of which we give the principal points :—The executive committee have taken a regular office near the junction of Queen-street and Shortland street. All members of the Association are requested to apply there, if in want of employment. Members are requested to refer masters iu want of servants to the office, for the benefit of both parties. The secretary is instructed to receive applications for employment from any class of paid servants, and. to give attention to the application of any employer.

Some difficulty is likely to be experienced with the natives before traffic is permitted to Taranaki by the Mountain road. We learn that, on Friday mcrning, Mr. Hawkins, of Kakaramea, was driving a flock of some 800 sheep, about three miles from Ketemarae, when he met a party of about fifty Maoris, believed to be Pipi's adherents, who put a stop to their further progress, and turned them back, saying that the Government had not paid for the road. The Native Minister was immediately telegraphed to on the subject.

The dead body of a man was discovered .last week at Flyger's camp, about twentysix miles from. Fielding, province of Wellington. The deceased was known by the name of Mick Brannigan, and formerly belonged to the 65th Regiment. Prior to his decease, he had been suffering from a severe cold, which was aggravated by exposure, and to which, being away in the bush, out of reach of advice or assistance of any kind he eventually succumbed. '

We learn, in reference to the ruinous houses in Bank-street, alluded to in our issue of yesterday, that notice has already been served on the proprietor by the CitySurveyor to have the same pulled down. Failing this notice be attended to, they will be condemned as dangerous, and an order obtained for their removal under sub-section--11, part 5, Municipal Corporation Act ISG7.

The Rev. Robert Somerville was ordained yesterday, and inducted to the pastorate, of the Presbyterian Church at the Whau. There was a ! large attendance of clersy and clmrcli member.-; from town, ,is well 23 of the (libtiiut. In tiiu evening a soiree was held in lienor of the event. The prucaedings will be found detailed in another column,

The Good Templars are to | the temperance schaplmaster abroad. \ The , other morning % af party „ was quietly nignt's IjoozeTj About he Knock at thedoor. He>jstsirxedion enct«Wt nia.l hind broa»hthim-;£oVbhe of the noiseC Thence *he x d evel op e voice, "What's there?"—"A friend." "Pass friend, and give#the countersign." So. the'.friend' came-in,t:and said," .Vl'-'am sorry to find you have been boozing too much lately." The victim admitted the" fact —positively he was not in a position to deny it. " Wouldn't it be well to join the Good Templars ?"; " Yes," says he,- "?I'll do so to--morrow." During the morning, while the unfortunate was stillsufferingfroin the effects of soda-water, another kuock came at the door.' He struggled up and met the party, who said, without preface, " Have ' you got a God, and do you know what God it is ?" The victim, being only half awake, said he didn't know anything at all about it. But, he i .says, if Good Templars come badgering him iu this kind of manner, he won't join the fraternity, or society, or whatever it .is.

Yesterday's Thames Advertiser says ''The rejiected Puriri workmen, or at least a number of them, have not made their way-to Waitekauri, because they assert that they are not sure of meeting with employment when they get there, and after expending their means on a fruitless errand to Puriri they are disheartened. A message was despatched, on behalf of themselves and others., to the Provincial Governments of Wellington. and Viißediu yesterday, asking for work, and entreating the Superintendents of those flourishing provinces to arrange for the passages of some of 300 ablebodied workmen, who are without the necessary means to enable them to travel South."

A correspondent of "the Thames Advertiser, sends the following telegrams from Dunedin: —Both the morniug papers have articles on the financial condition of the colony, and fear a serious falling off in the revenue. The Guardian declares that the banking returns do not disclose a very encouraging state of affairs. The Daily Time# says "We are, -therefore, in this dilemma, if our merchants continue very large importations, a commercial disaster must ensue; if they r do not, the revenue will be disastrously affected. We should like to have some greater effort after retrenchment than the Government has yet made. Sir G. Grey declared he could diminish the expenditure to an extent that will pay a fourth of the interest of the debt. We shall be glad to see him in office, if it were only for |Che sake of his fuliilliog this promise." It is stated on good authority that Mr. Macandrew has lately received letters from Sir Julius Vogel, and that there is every prospect of an understanding being arrived at between them. It is said that the Otago members will agree to another loan rather than imperil their laud fund. A few them are likely to support the Thames "Valley railway, but the others are afraid of a native difficulty. There will not be much opposition to the line if the native bugbear can be got rid of. In this province railways are being asked for to each man's door. The Otago settlers are making the best of their opportunity. Many of them laugh at Auckland for not securing more of the plunder.— A" meeting of the Guardian Company was held to-day, and it was resolved to sell the whole property, which is 'being caused by internal squabbles in the directory and expensive management. The receipts from the paper alone, without job printing, reached nearly £6,000 for the half-year, but the expenditure showed a loss of £2,032. It is thought that the Government party will endeavour to secure partners, and get Mr. Creighton back as editor. Mr. G. P. Pierce, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, and Mr. Boardman, of the South British Insurance Company, have arrived here to hold a conference with other managers' of insurance companies respecting the marine rates along the New Zealand coast. The iton. Mr. and Mrs. Giiamborlam wero passengers by the s.s. Hawea. The editor of the Dunedin News, Mr. G. M; Heed, returns to Auckland to-morrow.

The Thames Evening Star has the following article on a letter which recently appeared iii our columns : —ln a letter in the New Zealand Herald of Saturday, which we publish to-day, a correspondent, one " Long Snider," more than hints that the excellence which the Thames Volunteers invariably show above those of Auckland is due to what, in plain English, is cheating in the scores they are represented to have made. This assertion, for to an assertion it amounts, he makes without one particle of evidence on which to rest his calumnies, and the only excuse he has for his gratuitous lies is that his spirit naturally smarts at the ignominy which has fallen on the Auckland Volunteers in being ouly able to qualify one representative while ail other districts in the colony have enough and to spare. He draws a comparison—of course to the disparagement of the Thames—between the commanding officers of the two districts, and asems to derive comfort to his conscientious soul in that Major Gordon constantly changes his markers, which (according to him) Major Cooper does not. We fail to see the force of this reasoning, if by such name it can be dignified, for if one marker will cheat to enable the Thames to be fully represented, why wiLl not another, and if all be banded together to score bull's-eyes where none exist, what use is there in changing markers " every few seconds ?" On the contrary, wo can imagine that if a marker had a friend or enemy, this constant shifting of markers might give occasion to the lovers of fair-play to speak evil of their doings, and declare that a particular marker had a bias one way or other against a particular marksman. As regards the suggestion of,, a match between the Thames and Auckland, we believe our men would have no objection whatever to its taking place, but we would suggest that if two matches are to be fired, ono should in common fairness be fired at the Thames instead of, as " Loug Snider" proposes, both at Auckland.

An inquest was held at the Waikawau sawing station on Monday, before Dr. Kilgour, on view of the body of the young man William Shaw, a blacksmith, who was accidentally drowneh whilst bathing on Saturday afternoon. Deceased dived into a waterhole near some logs, aud on rising to the surface caught himself in such a manner underneath the logs as to be unable to extricate himself. body was afterwards found in this position by one of the mill hands. The Waikawau is a secluded spot some miles below Tapu, near the Coromandel peninsula, and employes fourteen hands, half of whom are married. The latter muster over thirty children, whose educational requirements are duly provided for at the expense of the parents. A school-room is erected, and furnished with maps and other appliances for the use of the scholars. The mill is in charge of Mr. Kelly, whose experience in snch a position enables him to manage the business of the station, and to keep the settlement in a comfortable and improving condition to the satisfaction of all interested. The mill is oweed by Messrs Combes and Daldy, of Auckland.—Advertiser.

Messrs. Ring, Woolams, and Dr. Hovell waited oil Mr. Header Wood, the Provincial Secretary, yesterday morning, and made a complaint that some metal which they considered belonged to them had been given to the Tiki Board. Mr. Wood promised to investigate the matter, and said he would at once put himself in communication -with Mr. Gatland, the district engineer.

We believe that Mr. Barry and Mr. Albert Walker are going to take a prospecting tour in the ruhua country, whence we often have new. reports of the. existence of gold. The prospectors are, we believe, to hare the sanction and assistance of the Provincial Government. "

; We have received a pamphlet containing a , carefully compiled Journal of Proceedings ■r j " Annual Session of the Grand Lodoe of New Zealand North, 1.0.G.T Kynouth, Taraflaki, on the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th January, 1576.- -

?. ur P^v' r of Gtraaa immigrants arrived via the South were;..passengers' yesterday morning by the cutter Bertha, for Pohoi.: i

We notice that the trnstetes-of "the.Mounfc Eden Highway Board have cbmmenced : to"lay' >out their money in a prud&it "tial manner. AcOntrlwtjisiiow being-corn-' ipleted by Mr. 8.^14c4 0 4K d^ r onttujfci! filings, and forming tlle-road, and \pdening the, iootpath, commencing atj the' town itheir district, and<fwe trustees intend' to, continue tho -«*>rk on as far as the money will allotv at present. The work done is & credit to those who have • had : the' management, and: a vast; improvement. to the„ district. . Mr. Shaw is the engineer for the.' Board, and, from his experience in superintending the Government roads;-the~ratepayers will feel satisfied as to ;his abilities. The trustees have evidently had their eyes to business, for in the contract they included the re-opening of the old gravel a pits, at a depth of some 30 feet lower, by cutting a road round the foot of the Blount, and thereby saving the wear and tear of a -considerable distance" of~road that has been ;in the past very expensive to the As this road is the only way for pedestrians ! who. enjoy the walli. on to the top of Mount Eden, we are sure they will feel the benefit of what • has been done. And also those who enjoy a quiet ride, either in a trap or on horseback, will now be able to do so.' inconvenience to themselves or their animals. This district has made rapid pro- , gress during the past two years, for here and there beautiful villa residences'have been built, and the grounds planted with forest and other trees, which, in a few years, will make this-one of the most pleasant suburban districts about Auckland. We only wonder that?it has lain dormant so long; but experience teaches, and now tracLes people find that, unless they have healthy situations whereon to reside, they more or . less suffer. Hence the spreading oat and enlarging of our suburbs, and this district in particular. We believe a movement is on foot to have the mountain laid out as recreation grounds, by planting and forming footpaths up and around, and otherwise beautifying it. ; .Last season Mr. Firth planted a large number of forest trees on the hill at his own expense. . These are progressing favourably.

We make some extracts from the account given in the Ooromaudel Mail of the christening of the new engine at the Union Beach :—" When steam had been turned on, and at the instant the huge fly-wheel began to rqvoire, Mr Woollams broke a bottle of wine'upon it and named the engine 'The Excelsior.' Previous, however, to this being done, Mr Woollams made a very interesting speech which was listened to must attentively by'those' present ou "the" occasion, and was received at its conclusion'by the most hearty applause, and in terms of highest approbation. Mr Woollams told how this now rich mine had commenced from the very smallest beginnings; how under many extreme difficulties the directors had to fight their way; how step by step every obstruction was successfully met; how by degrees the hidden wealth of the mine was brought to light; how after a time it was found absolutely necessary to purchase a second and much more powerful engine, in order that the rich deposits known to exist in the claim might be more extensively worked. 'And,' continued the speaker, ' I think at no long distance of time it will be found, as the mine becomes developed and continues to give up its golden treasure, we shall require -even more steam power than we now possess. In the mean time let us give three hearty cheers for the success and progress of the Union Beach* Mine; success to the Engine; tb the Directors; the Shareholders ; the Mine Manager; the Hands engaged below and above; and to all in auy way connected with the mine who are interested in its prosperity."—Three hearty cheers where then given by all, Then three more. Then another three. Then one more. Then just another byway ofa finisher. Then all adjourned to a workman's bench whereon were 1 placed wines, spirits and fermented liquors of which all partook, with the exception of those who had taken the pledge of abstinence. Afterwards G. McLeod Esq., the next we believe largest shareholder in the claim, made a brief but pithy and telling speech. He said a few months ago he thought the miue was going to send him to prison ; but what he had seen of it lately he thought it was likely to allow him to pay a visit to the Philadelphia Exhibition. Everything looked well about the mine. Gold had been seen in all parts of it; seen where it was not expected, and seen where it was expected. It had more than answered expectations, and he hoped soon to find a dividend of a pound per share had been paid to the scripholders. Mr. McLeod's speech was received with vociferous cheers. At its close there were more refreshments—wine, ale and spirits of the best brands. Everyone enjoyed himself ; for the afteruoon was magnificent and the surroundings delightful. Then those present weut to take another look at the engine, which was working smoothly, silently, but with a rapid stroke, doing the pumping with only twenty-five pounds of steam on and a few shovelsful of coal in the furnace. Afterwards there was another adjournment to the bench and more replenishing of glasses. Then a general dispersement; previous to this, however, the health of Mr. Haunay, the manager, was drunk, as also that of Mr. Williams, the engineer, and Mr. John Robinson, the captain \ of the battery/ The healths of the directors I and shareholders were also drunk. I

We regret to hear that the accident to Lieut. 11.I 1 . W. Paul's eye is much more severe than it was at one time considered to be. JDrs Fox and Payne made a careful and minute examination of the injured eye yesterday with an ophthalmoscope, with the result that they pronounce that a dislocation of the lens had taken place. This will entail on Mr Paul loss of sight of one eye for at any rate a period of six months, after which time . there is hope that a cataract may form, which, if sucessful ly removed, may result in the sight being restored.—Thames Evening Star.

The only business transacted at tlie Police Court yesterday morning was the punishment of two persons for drunkenness, one a Maori and the other a native of the Emerald Isle whose name occurs rather frequently in our police reports. The presiding justice was Mr. A. Beetham.

A new Wesleyan school-room was opened at Wanganui on. the Ist instant, and at the tea meeting the Rev. Mr. Buddie delivered his lecture on " Courtship and Marriage." Joseph Hart gives notice that he has filed a statement, under the provisions 'of the Debtors and Creditors Act, and that the first meeding of creditors will be held on Monday, February 14. Mr. De Lias intimates that Mr. Charles "Wheatleigh will give two farewell performances, commencing on Monday evening next. Notice is published that Mr. R. Home has been appointed agent for Dalgleish and Reid for the town and province of Auckland. The first of three lectures, on " The Great Pyramid," by Mr. Batger, will be delivered to-night at St. David's school-room, top of Symonds-street. A notice is published respecting late trains on. the Auckland and Mercer Railway an Friday and Saturday next. The annual meeting of the Ponsonby Musical Society will be held this evening, at 7.30. 6 A notice in the estate of George "W. Friend is published in oiir advertising columns.