THE The New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1876.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4664, 25 October 1876, Page 2

THE The New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1876.

It appears that the agents of the Pacific Mail Company have stated that they are desirous that the steamers of the San Francisco service should not call at Honolulu. The New South Wales Government are in favour of the proposal, and have asked the opinion of tho New Zealand Government upon the subject. We do not know that the point is of much importance to us. The Government of New South Wales do not seem to care much whether the service is continued or not by the present company, and knowing that considerableimportance is attached to it in New Zealand, take up a very positive position. All along they have had the best of the arrangement; we have paid half the subsidy, while Sydney has been the terminus. However, all this trouble comes of making an arrangement at first which was absurd on the face of it. The " coast service" and the " forked service" were both mistakes, and in conducting negotiations for another arrangement, Mr. Whitaker is at an obvious dis-1 advantage. The people of Auckland have; done their part, the clear statement i drawn up by the-Chamber of Commerce! .baying expressed what is the unanimous : opuuonhere. We can only aWt"e~Yents. ; '♦—-—'.'•'-.'■ ''■■".f i -onS ISir ? ear . 3 S L nce Mr. Firthi of a series afterwards published in as follows:—" We muatput our best men

\jslo tjhie Provincial CouncilJ'niSi''itfwfibm' 4he Europeans and, as far as poanble. the jiatives also have confidence. If this be -doneirwe• ina^*n^ : Tinf€asonablyexpeettd" ise-j the Provincial ■Council become the, .'supreme Legislature' of "this -ftarfc of the ;colonyc.;Bejngkojiv the,spot v well quainted.vd.ti. the native Having the confidence of the'natives, made wise by experience and,.above all, being the iconstituted authority-of'the province, j neither Mr. Oardwell (the Hon. Secretary I for the Colonies) nor the: South can long jignqreit." .■ • \-'-.-.\ -,■''r■'■'■. V ' ".- Since that letter was penned a great change has come over, the spirit of Mr. Firth s dream, and of the dream of many I others who then thought with him. Conitumely and reproach are now the lot of jtheProyincialCouncils which were then to jbecome "the, supreme Legislature of this part of f/'the colony/" Is it the [Councils that changed, or the critics who were oiice their keen admirers 1 Or ■is it the circumstances of the colony 1 A little of each,; perhaps, will be the reply of the candid enquirer. The councils allowed themselves to be robbed, plundered, andsnubbedby the General Government. They allowed themselves to be deprived of power, and they surrendered privilege after privilege, and right after right, without struggle or protest. So long as they could get money to carry on the affairs of their respective provinces they were satisfied. The mean and truckling policy which resulted from this, has brought down Auckland, at all events, to a. position in which she has- neither money nor power, while it has created in the minds of the people a deep disgust for the past, and a deeper discontent at the prospects of the future. From these causes the old have fallen in public estimation, tilLvJtneir warmest mends do not desire to "see them restored unless with larger powers, larger means, and a more independent sphere of action. Mr. Firth He and those who think with him, speak of "local governments" to replace provincial institutions, but none has yet ventured to give to these "local governments" a shape and definite description. Nor has any one attempted to make it clear how " local governments" can possibly exist if they are. to be dependent on the enactments and finance of a Legislature in a distant city. Such a Legislature will be necessarily out of the public view. It will be influenced by the wire-pulling which can always set district against district, and which must acquire additional force from the imperfect and unequal representation of its various sections in the General Legislature of the colony. At the present moment, when the fate of the colony and the direction of its public life will be affected for many generations, we find the smaller provinces banded together, for what they can get, against the larger provinces, who are too big to be bribed, and who are therefore tonave their wishes entirely disregarded. We might except Canterbury, but she is for the time eclipsed. Her representation has fallen into the hands of a powerful and selfish class, and her position is meaner than that of the smaller provinces. Small provinces barter their votes at least in exchange for benefits to the whole of their people. Her's are bartered in exchange for benefits to her ruling class. They know well that the peculiar conditions of time and place isolate the Assembly, and remove it from the regular and direct influence of the people." They find therefore that it suits their purpose better than the vulgar and low Provincial Councils, which, as Mr. Firth so well put it, are " on the spot," and are easily watched and understood by the people and the Press around them.

Nor can it be overlooked that society I lias also changed during the last ten years, and that the change has materially ministered to the opposition to provincial institutions. There has sprung up, during that time, a tendency to divide into castes and sets unknown in the earlier days of the colony, and which has been very largely fostered by the enormous expenditure of the last few years. A different tone now pervades society— a desire for exclusiveness and a thirst for the acquisition of political power without the toil and the competition hitherto necessary to attain it. Men of Mr. Firth's stamp are but little likely to be affected by this feeling, but there are numbers, no doubt, insensibly or otherwise, affected by it in their ardent support of centralism and their equally ardent aversion to provincial institutions. To the remaining possible cause—an alteration in the circumstances of the colony— much weight cannot be given. At the same time, the great expenditure of the General Government, its possession of a financial credit which the provinces had not, and its capacity therefore to undertake works at once which they could only have approached gradually, have for some time surrounded the Parliament in Wellington with a halo of glory, and added largely to its prestige while the expenditure lasted. Like the jewels that give lustre to the dress and throne of an Eastern monarch, this expenditure may prore in the long run to have only aggrandized a few at the expense of permanent burdens to the toiling masses around them. In the glare of its fictitious splendour this has not yet been seen, and doubtless no small influence hr.s been exercised on those who have been brought within its range. In any case the change has come. The Provincial Council which was to become " the supreme Legislature of this part of the colony" has lost its attractions to those who held this lofty view of the future before it. May they not be as much deceived in the future of the Assembly to which their hopes are now so eagerly turned 1 May it not be that the Assembly will be rushed by the vulgar adventurers and the self-seeking politicians of all classes who have hitherto been scattered among the several Legislatures of the colony? A crowd of this character, elected for five years, independent during that time of their constituents, and without a vigilant Press or public opinion in Wellington, may become the ready tool of artful and unscrupulous men. We believe this to be far from unlikely, and that, with the concentration of power, patronage and potentiality of plunder, in an isolated city, the character of our institutions and of pur public men must continue to deteriorate. It behoves those who do not think otherwise, but who are yet in favour of the new policy of centralisation, to point out clearly and definitely the gain to be derived by running the risk of thus poisoning all the springs of the future life of the colony. At present none of those who so loudly cry out for a change, and who are so ready to take the leap into the dark" of unalloyed centralism, hare attempted to do so. * They give us abundant abuse of the old institutions, but break down signally when' they attempt to replace them with hew.

We are informed by cablegram from' Sydney that the Batavia..and '■ Singapore cable "is interrupted;''Tir is obvious" that* the cable communication between Europe and Aus- ! tralia is in an unsatisfactory, state, and that a new line will have to be laid. From MeK bourne, we learn that the inspectors report the new disease in sheep in the western district to be caused by rank, unwholesome herbage.

Goldie, Inspector of Nuisances, against Mr. Inspector Brohau, took place yesterday afterCommittee oil.tne. City Council." ~A~~lefcter from" Inspector ilßfphanxoil thc-eubje<3t wae'readrr -Vfcwteadj |"of having'to offer an explanation;" saye Mft ian apology from,the.lnspecjtor of-Nuisances (for forcing himself' into the' Police Offices, land tearing one of the closets to pieces, iout right or authorityto do eo>" [Mr. -Broham then goee onto say that the which 'empowers an Inspector of Nuisances to •enter offices or dwelling-houses by day or by ■night, is not law,, and. is entirely op'posed to . all' British law. He concludes ;his communication by asserting that the -Inspector of Nuisances had no more rightto intrude upon the premises, of the. Police. , Station in- the manner he did, than would a police constable have a right to enter the premises of the City Council. TKe following memorandum. ; was appended 'to - Mr. Broham's letter by Mr. Goldie:—"Mr. Broham omits in his remarks on clause 38, Municipal Corporations Act, the: words, ' except herein otherwise ; provided, shall not without consent, &c.y'&c: The by-law passed in February,, 1872, was drafted by Mr. Brodie, and -he states that it is an exact copy of'a , by-law in Dunedin or elsewhere, and, being made under the Act, it would be a 'provision , alluded to in clause 38. Clause 29 of the Public Health Act, provides power to_ enter premises, ■in cases of emergency; without notice, and clause-60, of the-Victoria, 1870, has a similar power. After hearing the evidence, the Committee expressed their opinion, as follows:—"The Committee are of opinion that while they; believe the Sanitary Inspector thought he was acting in the -execution of his duty, he shewed a want of discretion in not obtaining permission from the Inspector of Police, the case not being one of emergency.. At the same time they feel that the Inspector of Nuisances might have been met by the Inspector of Police in- a more conciliatory spirit, especially as permission had been granted by an officer of the force to inspect the premises." It is probable that the settlers of Poverty Bay will .speedily make another application to the General Government for the improvement of the entrance into the Gisborne river, to preveit pot only disaster to shipping, but inconvenience and loss in shipping and landing goods, consequent upon the most dangerous state of the entrance from the existence of rooks, as well as lack of sufficient depth of water for navigable purposes. Serious accidents to vessels, amounting almost to shipwrecks, constantly occur here, but notwithstanding, the Government hare - not yet done anything to remove the harbour obstructions, beyond the expenditure

of a few pounds' worth of dynamite, although they are well aware of the intolerable drawbacks which the present state of the river entrance causes. The loss of property and the public inconvenience occasioned by the recent stranding of the Pretty Jane, ought te weigh well with the Government in the perception of the propriety of voting an adequate sum for harbour improvement at Gisborne, especially as that port yields an annual Customs revenue of about £11,000. Should the people of Poverty Bay again bestir themselves in the matter we are confident that Captain Morris will aid them to the utmost of his power.

The fourth quarterly meeting of the Kawakawa Co-operative Society (Limited) was held in the school-room on the 18th October, at 7.30 p.m.,—about 40 shareholders present. Mr. R. E. Finch was elected chairman. The balance-sheet and report were highly satisfactory. The usual dividend of 10 per cent, on capital, and a bonus of 3s in the £ sterling on shareholders' purchases, was declared. The purchases for the quarter were £2699 4s 10d, and sales for same period £3387 6s lOd. It speaks volumes for the success and soundness of the society, that a sum of about £440 should be available for division among shareholders for .three months' business, and that a society which started two years and a half ago, with a stock valued at about £30, should have developed so rapidly and surely. The savings bank in connection with the store is as great a success, the deEosits during the quarter having increased y £180, making a total in bank of £41fc The fate of several members of the Vogel Ministry ought to be a warning to our public men not to retain office for more than a reasonable time—not to be too greedy of power. Sir Julius Vogel, although still a yonng man, is a confirmed invalid, and it is doubtful if he will ever again recover robust health. Sir Donald McLean ought to have retired two years ago, when he received his knighthood. He has been suffering for some time from ill-health, and worse than all, he has lost for ever his fame and prestige as Native Minister. That he might have retained, and have kept his fame for ever, if he had been wise enough to retire from office in time. Dr. Pollen has been in weak health for some considerable time, and probably this is the last session during which he will take any prominent part in the Legislative Council. He also ought to have retired some year or two ago. At the Police Court yesterday morning a man named Lyvvford was charged on a single information with a breach of the Dog Nuisanco Act, by allowing his two dogs to sue their peregrinations without having licensed tickets affixed to their collars'. Mr. Hesketh pointed out the fact that as only one information had been hud, the defendant could only be punished for one breach. That course was accordingly followed. The police authorities had charged the man on the one information, in order that he might not be saddled with unnecessary expense. The effect of the above proceeding, therefore, will be that when a person has more than one dog minus legal collars a separate charge will be laid for each, entailing, in case of conviction, the payment of bo much more. Court costs. "The policy which saved Mr Lawford from being mulcted in an additional penalty of ss, will, therefore, in the end be found a penny wise and pound foolish one. The 2ev. J. Selwyn, son of the Bishop of Lichfield, is to be the successor of the late lamented Bishop Patteson, of the Melanesian Mission, for which office he will bo consecrated in January next, after the close of the session of the General Synod of the Church of England in New Zealand, which will be holden at Nelson during that month. According to the canons of the Church the Bishop of Melanesia must first be elected by the Synod, and then consecrated. Mr. Selwyn, who has beea labouring in the Mission field during the past two years, has already given ample proof of his fitness for the bishopric of the Melanesian Islands—the important duties of which he is shortly to assume.

We hear that it is doubtful whether the General Government will comply with the application from the Katikati settlers for an additional grant of 10,000 acres, on the same terms as the 10,000 which the latter now hold. There is abundance of land available in the vicinity of Katikati for a large grant in excess of what the settlers thero now hold, but it would appear that the Government are desirous of disposing of their land in that quarter to greater advantage than they have yet done.

We have . been informed by a gentleman from Tauranga, who is now in Auckland, that the skull supposed to be that of a Moa, recently-found.by the natives in the Bay of Plenty, awj purchased for the Wellington Museum, is likely to turn out to.be the skull of a whale, and not that of a bird. Where the skull,was found ther,e are. many loose bones , small whales, which could be soiput togetfiejras-tomake it appear to be the skull of a Moa. The Wellington naturalists will, however, soon settle the .question,, result. ~ M*. George Price; "of" the-Arm of "OPnce! Bros., iron founderrf; J Kas'been unanimously elected superintendent of the Thames Fire Brigade.

Mr. Lionel Browne, late sub-editor of the Haioke 8 Bay Herald and formerly of iAuckS %x acoe P te d an editorehip in the

At the will be,produced the drama of "Rose Michel, ">in which Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Hall Wβ nj»y«giTe J A,briel.. outlwe. "of theTat»iy~:" ;;:: Some"yearir^o t fcrthe'city -, o£ - iiyons,"vtheiamily of the De Grandchamps ! livat l -They'''haa j a'gamekeeper whose name ,wm: ffamily was a great and c between him land the gamekeeper a close friendship existed ifor ; -good or evil;, but, as future events, bne'wed,' mostly'for-evil.' , They, in order k> Wet: the .estates to revert to the nephew,' changed two babies, placingthedoad child of (Rose Michel's in the place of the living daughter !i _of Jfradamet. 'De -Grandchamps, thus constituting_theArascally nephew the sole heir.to the estates. Pierre.leaves hie employ, and, with* his wife' Rose and' the living child; 1 becomes an: innkeeper; Rose fondly imagining.,the child to be her own. Eighteen years aftet'bur.stibrir-opens,. at.Jthe house of.Mons. Bernard, the rich Lyons silk-, weaver, on the occasion, of his' birthday,' where Louise, : the .child,., is "help" in the ~ f&story, .and ; here,,, in. . cqnBideration of her; good . character,'.' Louise is betrothed to the sort 'of- she rich weaver,- and Rose, her.'.supposed mother, is pleased beyond measure,.and returns home to tell the. good newa to. her husband, Pierre. On her return ahe asks her husband for some money to buy a wedding trousseau, which Pierre refuses. She, knowing his secret bank, determines to help herself, and is in the act of doing so when Pierre finds it out, and is about to proceed to violence to get the money back, when a knock is heard and Pierre sends her to bed, and opens-the door to. admit his .visitor, .whom to his; astonishment he discovers to be his old companion in villainy, De Grandchamps, who has just received a large sum of money to leave France and never return. The .sight of the money is too much for Pierre, and he determines to murder him in order to gain possession of it. He is in the act of committing the crime, when Rose, who cannot sleep, comes from her room to return the money she has taken from- her husband, and is startled by hearing a deep groan from the chamber to which Dr. Grandchamps had retired. She advances and peeps through, and is struck senseless by the terrible sight.. Pierre discovers that his wife is cognisant of his crime, and silently warns her that if his crime becomes known'it will be the death of her child. Count De Bussey, who paid De Grandchamps the money to leave France, is aocused of the murder, the money and pocketbook being found in his desk, Rose having secretly placed it there for the double purpose of not allowing her husband to nse his ill-gotten wealth and believing it ia returned to its rightful owner. An examination takes place in the presence of the Prefect of police, and Rose is terrified by this double blow, and determines to reveal everything to the police. She does so, and then rushes to warn her husband, who is about to make his escape, when he discovers that he has been robbed of all his savings. He accuses his wife; she protests her innocence, and begs of him to save himself. He tell 3 her that the child she so much loves is not their child, but is the child of the murdered De Grandchamps, and he is about to kill her when he is overpowered. He, however, breaks from his captors, and flees for refuge to his own house. In order to capture him the officers of the law are about to break open the door, when Pierre ia discovered trying to make his escape by the river. He is called upon to surrender, but defieß them, when the genn d'armes fire upon him, and he falls lifeless into the river. Such is the plot of this most interesting drama.

A concert was given last evening in the Public Hall, Newmarket, in aid of the building fond of the new Primitive Methodist church of that place. It had been announced for the previous Tuesday, but postponed in consequence of the inclemency of the weather. Mr. David Goldie occupied the chair, and explained the objects in view. There was an excellent choir. The selections were chiefly from Moody and Sankey's collections of hymns and sacred songs, comprising " Scatter seeds of kindness-," "Tell me the old old story," "The Armour Bearer," "The life-boat," "My Home is Above," "My Home is There," "What shall the Harvest be?" and others. All these songs were sung with great precision, and in excellent unison. It is not difficult to account for the popularity of these songs when one considers that they are full of animation at the eame time that they are characterised by great emotional expression and delicacy. The songs were interspersed with recitations. Tennyson's " Queen of the May," by Miss Curry; " The Charge of the Light Brigade," by Master Curry; " The Heart's Charity," by the Rev. Mr. Harris. There were also several secular songs, principal of which was " Call me not back from the Echoless Shore," by Miss Woods. The attendance was numerous notwithstanding that inadequate and very brief notice was given of the entertainment. The intervals between the singing were occupied by short and appropriate addresses upon various subjects by Mr. Goldie. The entertainment as a whole was very enjoyable and pleasant.

An order was lately sent from the English Admiralty to the vessels on the Australian station directiong that experiments should be made as to the coals of Australia and Now Zealand, for the purpose of comparing them with English coals. Experiments have, believe, been made on board H.M.S. Sapphire with the .Newcastle and Bulli coals, with the result of showing that about onethird less heat is derived from them than from the English coal, and that the Bulli coal is somewhat better than Newcastle. We do not know that anything has yet been done with the New Zealand coals. It would seem that these experiments are being made all over the world. We learn from the Madras Mail that from experiments recently made in the Gun Carriage Factory, Madras, with the view of testing the respective merits of Australian and Indian, in comparison with English coal, it has been found that Indian coal can bo advantageously employed in the workshops, iE procurable at a cheaper rate than the English article, but that it is unsuited for smiths' work. Australian coal, however, works equally well with the best English steam coal, with the only drawback that the consumption of the former averages a little over 5 per cent, in excess of the latter. This excess in consumption is, however, neutralised by the in cost of the two descriptions of coal, leaving a small margin in favour of the Australian article.

On Saturday next a most interesting cricket match will take place at the North Shore, when the champions of that district will' try their strength with the Carlton Cricketegftrb, Should the weather be fine, lovers"of "onoket will seen, good game, and the trip across the water will probably induce man£ visitors • to epend a few hours on the opposite shore of the Waitemata. Apropos of_ cricket, secretaries of clubs must bear in mind that to-night they are requested to be present at the meeting, which takes place for the purpose of arriving at some conclusion for the settlement of a general programme of matches for the season. It would also be well for officers of clubs to remember that thin day week entries close for Mr. Buckland's Cnp % and club 3 desirous of competing for the prize uiiisfc send in a written notice to that effect to Mr. Buckland.

The Bishop of Auckland will hold: a confirmation service in St.. Paul's Church, on Wednesday next, the Ist proximo, when the Melanesian youths, who arrived here by .the Mission vessel, the Southern Cross, will be confirmed. .' It is expected that this interesting ceremony will be largely attended. We are glad to hear that these dusky sons of Polynesia possess aiargftimpunt-ojc religious •Knowledge; and. is better,, they'endeavour to -practise. , wjhat .; tljey .know. of them are exceedingly apt in the acquisition of, knowledge* The missionaries .have their instfuc- > tion and. training, ' !awL the progress/ tftey i have made is a credit to their instructors.'

A member of the Chnroh of England at the Thames has offered to subscribe £400 towards the purchase of- an organ, provided an equal sum is subscribed towards the liquidation of the debt on the church.

?"Mr. Samuel nnt^«my>.y°lHfi«rti •mission Agent and rent aqdidebt coUectornTj Auckland, departed unexpectedly for Califorjua inj&ejniailgteamerAustralia, on Tuesday last 1 , leavmgrit is eaidrunsatSfied'deniJuidrto the amoant o£r. £1000 behicd Some time ago 'hft-became- eeonrity for a firiend ■ffho r had- failed^-and^by-whom he had lost a lionm3erab'le"'euiir of "moneyi""" ,, ' pelf in such an einbarraeeed state as to be unable to mee{"Jiis^r«ditorsT--Boin6 r of whomhad .been threateningwtri* resolved,'' no doubt most reluctantly,to leare- the colony/ for tSw Prandseo, and thus evade the > trouble and annoyance he expected to be shortly subjected by those to whom he waa indebted. Mr. .Wells has beea : always considered an upright man, an 4 no one accuses him of intentional dishonesty.. It is thought that, had he rei his-oreditora manfully, he would havo, been leniently, dealt with, and'wbuldfprobably be_able to make such : an: arrangement with, them as would.obviate any immediate'pressure. '.'.,' .'" f

: The opening of KftfmaT : for gold prospecting is now occupying the eerious attention of the inhabitants' : of Tauranga and- other parts of the Bay of .Plenty, who are patting forth every possible effort to induce the Government to remove the obstacles that stand in (the way of .accomplishing this desirable object. An energetic committee has been formed at' Tanranga for the purpose of facilitating l the early exploration of Traitnai, which, there seems little doubt, contains auriferous quartz reefs. Now that there' is intense desire on the part: of the public that every auriferous locality should'be thrown open for mining purposes, it is to be hoped that the Government will see the propriety o£ doing so in respect to Kaimai. Captain Morris proceeds to-day to. Tauranga, to" render whatever aid he can to further the public interest in this respect. • Being the member for the district, bis representation to the Government ought to receive attention.

The Mammoth. Diorama was again well attended last evening, and the exhibition seemed to be as interesting, to the audience— not a few of whom saw it more than once previously—as ever. Many of the scenes were applauded, whilst "the lecturer (Mr. Searle) was highly complimented upon the clear and lively descriptions he gave of the scenery and events embraced in the diorama. At the close of the exhibition the usual distribution of gifts took place, including a silver- plated teapot and a£s note. Owing to there being a ball in the Lome-street Hall this (Wednesday) evening, the diorama will not be exhibited. The exhibition will, however, be open to-morrow (Thursday) and Friday evening.

The representatives of the German Navy who are at present in Auckland receiving every attention at the hands of their countrymen resident in the city. Buggies have been called into requisition, and the strangers driven into the suburbs, and shewn the many beautiful and historical places in the neighbourhood. Last night the Deutscher Verein held a reunion, and greater interest than usual was manifested on account of many of the Naval representatives of the Fatherland buing present.

The Thames serip market for the last two days has been nil. The brokers not having quotations to give, have decided.for the present not to appear in the usual evening's share-list, but by way of diversity two of them (Messrs. Wtckham and Gellion) have to make their appearance and explain to the Resident Magistrate to-morrow morning the meaning of their erratic conduct last Saturday. Many distinguished "corner" men have been aubpcened for the-occasion.

The Kumara rush, on the West Coast, has been gradually draining our local goldfields of good men—not a steamer departing for the South but several have gone by her. The last two vessels carried four or five familiar faces, who - have bid adieu to the Thames and Coroiaandel, and again on Saturday the Ladybird will take at least half a dozen or so, who are going to try their luck on the alluvial El Dorado of the South;

In our issue of Saturday last we stated that Mr. Darby, of the Commercial Hotel, purchased from Mr. Corcoran, the lease, goodwill, and stock of the Greyhound Hotel, for £4,000; it should have been £2,000. The error was not, however, ours, but that of our informant.

Volunteer Armstrong, of the Thames, who won the second aggregate prize at the Colonial competition at whanganui, shooting on Saturday last at 200, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range, made 57 ont of a possible 60.

The Sydney Morning Herald states that upwards of £1000 has been collected for the relations of those who perished in the Dandenong, and that further contributions are expected. One gentleman in Sydney contributed £50 to the fund.

The tender of Mr. Peters, of Napier, for the conveyance of the mails, by coach, once a week, between Tauranga and Napier, for £2080, has been accepted by the Post-master-GeneraL

Two drunkards and a vagrant quietly reposed within the precincts of the police station at a late hour last night.

Messrs. J. B. Buer and Co., auctioneers, business and commission agents, notify in our advertising columns that at the repeated solicitations of their numerous clients, they have removed from higher up Shortland street to commodious and lower premises built expressly for the Auckland Banking Company, at the foot of the same street, near the Bank of New South Wales, and that they are now prepared to transact business upon a larger scale than they were previously enabled to do. They have several properties and business places for sale at present, and to which the attention of persons requiring such is directed. Some of the business places can be obtained on very cheap and easy terms—an. advantage which people about to embark in business generally look for, especially in these dull times. Messrs. Buer and Co. have, in addition to their other business, established an exchange and mart, for the sale or exchange of all descriptions, as well as live stock, without, the expense and inconvenience of attending the ordinary auction marts. It often happens that people have an article of furniture, a cart, a horse, or a cow, which they would be-glad to dispose of in order to purchase, with the proceeds thereof, some other article or articles they are in greater need of than any of those they are ready to part with ; and in order to accomplish this object, they are necessitated to go round the various auction marts, and, perhaps, find it difficult to suit themselves! By the system of exchange established by Messrs. Buer and Co., all this inconvenience and disappointment may be readily obviated, and that, too, without having to pay cash for what is required at Messrs. Buer and Co. s exchange.

Messrs. Hunter and Nolan will sell by auction, to-day, at 1 o'clock, the dairy and store cattle, breeding ewes, horses, &c of Air. John Massey. The sale will be held on the farm, at Panmure, and special attention ia called to the stock as being carefully bred and well selected.

Contractors for the Wellington Waterworks Reservoir, are informed that tenders maybe telegraphed to the Mayor of that cityup to .noon or to-morrbw, provided the deposit is lodged previously with the Auckland Town Clerk, i i. ■•.;.;. . ,

Tickets for the annual festival, to beheld on .Monday next, -at-St.- Matthew's Church, in: .cpnneetaon.wijih;; the Diocesan Choral. Association, can. be obtained; from any of the clergy or .churchwardens connected with the The Kawakawa" Go-.opetati've.Sobiety intimate,, they have no Aooneoj!ip:n:.>s^|h... ; the Bay of Islands Cooperative Society, who have recently started' a store at Kawakawa.

Tenders are invited by the • New Zealand Insurance Company for the erection of offices at Wellington. Particulars can be had at the Auckland office.

Hold discovery at the ptjhot On Monday morning we gave «n 'l some prospecting which had been goiael prospects lad frjen found; * e i j^ 8 that neighbourhood, r. and yeeterdavthr* eettlere-came to-town-bririSng a snecrmJrS mtatp&pgm Wl ■»- been discovered about a mile from thelana ing-place on the-Puhoi Creek. 'The »ff shewn U8 looks "likely,- and th*menS have come to town inform us that in the niT session of those who are working the reefa several pieces' orquartz' in which gold & v }^l^ Blhle - reef -■■*» about three weeks smce; and the party hari * been working on it ever since. We arennf aware who the land belongs to on -which th« reef is, but the neighbourhood : is owned almost exclusively by German settlers. v? need'not-'epeak of the importance whHi discovery of gold at present-tit -the Pri, n ? would have for the Province of Aucßandsm? for^theTlTofQC;;"The ."place"uroaiy~ a;-&S-• hours' *a3 : • • y e w