Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4487, 31 March 1876, Page 2

Some further correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Superintendent is published elsewhere. In. regard to the proposed diversion of the remainder of the grant to the Pumping Association, for the purpose of driving southwards from the 650-feet level of the big shaft, we may say that the Superintendent has given his consent, so that we suppose the details of arrangements with the • companies, only remain to be settled.

The residents of Princes-street and its immediate neighbourhood have been for the last two or three months sorely exercised in spirit by the mischievous pranks and annoying conduct indulged in by a band of "hoodlums," who make the vicinity of St. Paul's Church their nightly rendezvous. This place is selected, we suppose, from the fact that there are not many lamps near it —the sportive youths in question evidently loving darkness rather than light, their deeds being evil. They are in the habit of assembling in front of St. Paul's Church on Sunday evenings, and stationing themselves by the door, make use of highly offensive and insolent language to the ladies as they pass out. Some time ago the Insurance Companies' fire-ladder was hung on the fence of the church, but in consequence of the canvas with which it was covered being cut and torn in a most mysterious manner, it was removed to the opposite side of the street. The change does not appear to have been a happy one, for last night we observed that the work of spoliation had again commenced, one corner of the covering having been industriously stripped off. We would strongly recommend Mr. Broham to put a stop to the reprehensible practices of these youths, by either placing a constable in the locality, or instructing one to pay frequent visits to it, more especially on Sabbath evenings.

The West End Cricket Club held their closing meeting of the season 1575-6, yesterday evening, at the Young Men's Rooms. After the minutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed, the Secretary read a short report on the proceedings of the season, and the Treasurer shewed by his statement that the club had a credit balance of £3 17s 7d, "while to the practice ground account the credit was £9 16s 6d, after fencing, advertising, and partly levelling; and as this would not be anything like enough for what was wanted, the best modes of raising funds were discussed, the result or which was that Mr. J, C. Macky was deputed to request the St. James' Mutual Improvement and Discussion Class to give the club a benefit entertainment. These entertainments have been invariably great successes, and it is to be hoped that this will be no exception. Mr. J. Macky then vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr. Muinford, who presented the bat to the highest average scorer of the season, viz., Mr. Macky, who receives it with the best wishes of all the members. Mr. Mumford also presented a like token to Mr. T. Macky, ho having done most execution in the bowling. Batting averages of the West End are, Mr. J. Macky, 11$ ; J". Mumford, 0 ; R. Mason, SJ-; C. Glceson, 7 2-3; T. Macky; 7 1-3; H. C. Choyce, 6 1-6 ;E. Cook, 5i ; E. Castelli, 4 2-3; C. Western, ; li. Brown, 3£ F. Cook, 3.

On Wednesday evening a meeting of Wesleyans and their friends took place on the occasion of tho Re\. Mr. Crump's departure for St. Alban's, Christchurch, The room was crowded, and the soiree was admirably conducted. Mr. Kernick in the chair. The appearance of this gentleman in public was looked upou as an omen for good, illness having for a long time prevented his taking any active part in public meetings. Mr. S. E. Richards read an address from the church trustees to Mr. Crump, expressive of the high opinion in which the rev. gentleman was held by the members of the Wesley an Church. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, and with the usual exercises, the evening was moat successfully brought to a close.

A well-attended meeting of the Grafton Football Club was held at 4.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, at the office of Mr. E. A. White, Shortland-street. The retiring secretary, Mr. J. F. White, read the balancesheet, which shewed a small balance in favour of the club. The meeting then proceeded to elect the following officers for the ensuing year, viz.: Messrs. T. Wliewell captain, F. Earl secretary, and Ewen, Mason, and Moss the committee. The secretary announced that twenty-four of the new uniforms (red, white, aud blue) had arrived, and would be distributed next week to the members. The club is to be congratulated upon having obtained these uniforms at a very reasonable price through Mr. Rattray.

At a late hour last night not a single prisoner graced the inside of the police cells by his presence, nor broke the stillness which reigned supreme, by the sound of his melodious voice. The watchhouse-keeper was oppressed withewmi, and the constables paced the streets with unbroken monotony, not enlivened even by tlie approach of a single midnight brawler. This merning, however, several men were arrested for drunkenness, and Thomas Mulvany on a charge of attempting to commit a rape on Fanny Bowman.

Now that all Government assistance is withdrawn from local institutions established in aid of popular instruction and amusement, their claims upon the general public have become apparent. The Mechanics' Institute is, undoubtedly, one of the most useful of these establishments. The committee propose to give a literary and musical entertainment in the Choral Hall on Thursday. We observe that the programme is very attractive, and the gentlemen who are to take part are well known for their successes already achieved.

The annual meeting of the members of the Young Men's Christian Association will take place this evening, at 7.30, at the rooms of the institution, Wellesley-street. The President (the Ven. Archdeacon Maunsell) will take the chair. The usual report and balance-sheet will be submitted to the meeting ; and the attendance of every member is earnestly requested. We understand th.it the financial expectations of the committee have been to some extent realised, and that a reduction of the mortgage has been effected during the year.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Education Board was held yesterday. On the motion of Dr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Luckie, it was resolved unanimously to fix the rate. The rate was fixed accordingly at 20s for householders and 10s for non-house-holders of full . age. The particulars of the discussion will be found in another column. Several applications were received from outdistricts, and dealt with as set out in our report.

We hear that Mr. £>. L. Murdoch, Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, has obtained a twelvemonth's leave of absence, and proceeds at once on a visit to England. His duties will be discharged during his absenc* by Mr. John Murray.

The members o£ the Education Board, at their yesterday's meeting, resolved tostrike the education rate, notwithstanding the Superintendent's assurance-that if the .General Government carry out: the agreement* made; with him and the Provincial Secretary last session, there will be need for the tax..' The Board have thus determined to leave< the matter between the- If the General Government pay the. money, which they promised that the prorince "should have, then we suppose the rate will not be levied. If they do not, then we suppose the tax will have to be collected.

In. the report of the Henderson's Mill races, which appeared in our issue of the ISfcli instant, we fell into an error, in stating that the refreshment booth was kept by Mr. Briefly, of Onehunga." It should have been Mr. Martin O'Brien, of the Orotiu Hotel, Henderson's Mill. We believe that the project of another race meeting in a "week or two is seriously entertained by the enterprising residents of this district. i A Provincial Government Gazette was published yesterday, containing the correspondence which we publish elsewhere and a number of notices under the Native Lauds Act. "We understand that Mr. Quick has disposed of the new steamer Quickstep to the Waikato Steam Navigation 00. The Thames Advertiser writes in an unfavourable tone of Sir Julius Vogel's speech. It says : —" In cases where it is not necessary to have Road Boards, the County Boards alone will carry on the local Government, but in every case the boroughs are to be excluded. We have a strong objection to this proposal. One great object, now that there is to be a change, should be to secure uniformity of system if possible, as well as uniformity of endowments for the local bodies. But under the proposal of the Premier this could not be obtaiued, and the system would not work at all unless the measure were made permissive in nature. We really require a strong uniform system of local self-government, and not anything approaching a bastard constitution. In one part of the colony there would be a double system of Boards and counties—and in another portion counties only. Under the double system there could not be any great economy, and we certainly prefer the scheme in the bill of last year, where the Road Boards ceased to exist on the formation of a county. Regarding the powers of the counties, Sir J. Vogel said very little, and we shall have to wait for the bill itself before we are in a

position to say much upon tlie point. Ho was particular in sketching out the mode of election, but only stated that when the counties were elected they would * have charge of main roads, and would construct other large works.' This is very vague and indefinite, and may mean anything or nothing, as the Premier had previously stated that the General Government were to take over the railways, and would undertake other large works. Where the line is to be drawn between the two powers, so as to prevent clashing, we cannot say. From the whole tone of the speech by the Premier, we are led to believe that as much power and authority will be 'taken over' by the General Government as possible. We have gained that impression, but we hope that when the bill is published it will shew that we are mistaken. The Ministry will fall if they attempt to steal away powers which should be given to the local bodies, and we are much mistaken if the Opposition do not make a virtue of necessity by accepting Abolition, and then put a programme before the country of a more liberal and suitable character than the one sketched out by Sir Julius Vogel."

The following letter appears in yesterday's Thames Advertiser :—"Sir, —l see by the report of to-day's Herald of the extraordinary meeting of the Tairua Gofd Mining Company (Limited), held at Auckland yesterday, that Mr. G. S. Graham stated that Mr. Ehrenfricd was the cause of the rupture in the directory of that company. I, as a lover of truth, deny in toto the allegation made by Mr. Graham, and state that he (Mr. G. S. Graham) was the cause of the disagreement on the directory, by being charged at a meeting of the shareholders of that company, held at the Pacific Hotel, Grahamstown, with appropriating one thousand shares to his own use, alleged to be the property of the company. The only part Mr. .Ehrenfried took in causing a disagreement was in making one to compel Mr. Graham to refund five hundred of the alleged appropriated shares to the company, the shares in question being worth over two pounds each at that time. This probably explains the remarks that fell from Mr. Graham at the meeting.—l am, &c., A Shareholder."

A very interesting lecture on the "Lost Tribes of Israel," was delivered by W. L. Rees, Esq., M.H.R., in the Temperance Hall on Tuesday evening, in aid of the funds of the Church of England. Considering the kindness evinced by Mr. Rees in so promptly acceding to the request of those gentlemen who asked him to lecture, it must be regretted that there was not a larger audience to enjoy the intellectual treat thus offered ; but the reason of this can easily be discovered in the fact that there was not sufficient time to give the matter publicity. —Bay of Plenty Times.

Two fare-well services to the Melanesian Missionaries will be held before the departure of the Southern Cross, to which all persona interested in the mission are invited. This day (Friday), evensong and address at St. Matthew's Church, 7.30.; and on to-morrow (Saturday), Holy Communiou, with short address, at St. Sepulchre's Church, S a.m. Another charming song, "My Own Home," with pianoforte accompaniment, is published in this week's issue of Saturday Nhjht; price 3d. Also moral tales, essays, scientific gossip, wit, humour, varieties, &c. The lease, for twelvemonths, of the Auckland Market : house, will be sold by public auction, on Thursday next, by Mr. J. Sibbin, on the usual terms and conditions. A general meeting of members of the Pakuranga Hunt Club will be held at the Exchange Hotel, to-day, at 2 p.m. A clearing-out sale will be held at 3 p.m. to-day, by Mr. R. Arthur, at Mr. A Dornwell's old premises, Queen-street. A call of three pence per share has been made in the young Colonial, payable on the 12th of April. The sale of Mr. Graham's properties has been postponed, in consequence of the surveys not having been completed.