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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4898, 28 July 1877, Page 2

Public opinion in Auckland seems to lie in favour of the Education Bill brought into tho House of Representatives by Mr. Bo wen. There is some talk of getting up a meeting to urge the passing of the bill.

We hear there is some likelihood of the ehallciigo isailed by the Thames Scottish Volunteers to shoot against any corps m the Thames or Auckland district being taken up, as it is said tho Victoria Company, who boast a number of good shots, hoip.o of them exrepresentatives, are ready to meet tho [ l,un<!73 men oil the terms propeseil. As the I hames Scottish are the challengers, the Victorias, if they take up the challenge, will have the choice of ground.

A very serious accident occurred last night at the skating match at tho Albert Hall. A yonng man ir. the employ of Mr. Murchic, tailor, of Short-land-street, who is sai 1 to have had considerable skill in the use of roller skates, came to grief in a fall, and sustained a fracture of the left leg above the ankle. lie was conveyed to tho establishment of his employer, where medical assistance was procured.

The annual meeting of tho Auckland district of Oddfellows was hold at tho Oddfellows' Hall, Cook-street, last evening. The Prov. G.M., F. Coombes, ia ail interesting address, referred to the progress of the district for the past year. lie also alluded to the loss sustained by tho Order in the recant deatli of the corresponding secretary of tho Order at Manchester, Mr. Henry Ratolillo. Tho election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in the election of Deputy G.M. J. J. Holland, as G. M. and P.G., Tbos. Holland as Deputy G.M. A resolution was passed that tho next district meeting should be held at tho Thames.

A musical and litorary entertainment wan helil yesterday evening in the Franklin Koad I'rimitive Methodist School-room, the proceeds being in aid of the trust fund. The attendance. w.n rather sparse, a fact, however, which in no wise appeared to militate against the success of tho entertainment. Tlie programme was divided into t>vo portions, sacred and secular. Selections of music wore sung by the choir, speoehes were delivered by several gentlemen, while a few readings were interspersed, and gave variety to tile proceedings. Mr. David Goldie oliiciated as chairman, while Mr. Charles J'arker presided at the liarmoniu.n, and Mr. Booth acted as leader of the choir. The evening was pleasantly spent by the audi-

The weekly meeting of St. James' Mutual Improvement Association waa to liavo been held last night, but in consequence of the paucity of attendance it was adjourned till Monday evening, after some necessary business had beou transacted. Part of this business was the reading of a communication from the Beresford-street Mutual Improvement Association, declining a challenge to n competitive debate with St. James' Association. The Beresford-strcet Association gave as reason for its non compliance tho short period it had been in existence, and promised to take np the gauntlet when it had surmounted the perils ot infancy. A similar challenge, despatched to the recentlyestablished Free Methodist Mutual Improvement Association, has been accepted, and tho preliminaries will shortly be arranged.

The Auckland nurserymen have done a larger business this season than any previous one in the sale of fruit trees, especially iu apples. Thcee are principally grafted on stocks blight-proof. Orange trees have also commanded attention, and several hundreds of tho best varieties have been forwarded to various Northern settlements, chiefly the Bay of islands districts. We trust that in a few years our country settlers will be able to meet the large demand for fruit of this description which exists in this city. Lemons thrive well around Auckland, Wangarei, and in the Albertland district, and constant shipments are received from the Northern districts, and tho quality and size of this h.mie grown fruit are such as to shut out importations, dealers preferring tho local article.

Somebody must surely bo responsible for the intolerabio nuisance which was caused

yesterday by the nesv privy and urinal which has been placed at the corner of Grey and Queen streets. If such a nuisance existed on private premises, the owners would certainly be punished, and deservedly so. The privy does not appear to have been cleaned out since its erection, and it overtlowed in a most disgusting manner, creating an oll'ensive stench. We desire to call tho attention of the Inspector of Nuisances to the matter in order that he may find out who are responsible for the nuisance, and to have steps taken to have it abated as speedily as possible. In cities iu Britain n here public erections of the same character have been put up, they are cleaned out every morning, and a similar plau here ought to be observed.

At Uu> Polieo Court, yesterday morning, a hi"hly-respectcd member of tile long-robed fraternity — Mr. K. Ilcsketh — appeared before the Court in the rather unusual role of. defendant, and through his solicitor —Mr. ,1. I). Kussell—pleaded guilty to a charge of having failed to register tiie birth of his child within the prescribed six month". Xhe chiUl was born in October, IS7G, and the half-year had slipped away before the father had applied to have the birth registered. Of course, tho Registrar, Mr. Wayland, pointed out that registration now could only lake place upon a conviction for a breach of the Act being recorded. Mr. Heskoth MYcred to pay auy penalty that might bo imposed, but to no purpose, and, as a last resort, ho induced the Kegistrar to take proceedings against him. There is doubtless many a regretful paterfamilias in exactly the same predicament as that from whi h Mr. Heskcth has escaped, but it remains to bo seeu whether they will adopt the same mode of extrication. Those who are in such circumstances may take heart of grace and undergo the ordeal through which it is alleged no less a personage than the late Prince Consort lir.il to pass, with this essential ditl'erence that the Bench which tried his rase imposed a line of £10 and costs. ith tin: examples of Prince Albert and Mr. Heskdth, no one need to he ashamed ..f being convicted of a breach of the llo(.•i'ltration Act.

Considerable prominence was given lately, iti the New York papers to the death and funeral of the late Kiederich Lahrbush, who was called in America "Captain Lahrhuyli/ 1 who asserted that lie was 111 years of jvjo at the Lime of his death. This .statement has been proved to be a gioss falsehood. Lahrbunh was of German parentage, though a British-born subject. He at one time nerved in the army, and was afterwards a prisoner of the Ciown in New South Wales. After his liberation, he went to Amcrica, and then proclaimed himself of a groat age. After, according to his own account, lie passed his 100 th birthday, his birthday was annually celebrated by a dinner, at which, beside personal friends, many public men were generally present. Amongst this latter class was Mr. W. -I. Thorns, editor of "Notes and Queries," who paid much attention to cases of asserted great longevity. He inquired into Lahrbush's ca-*e, went to the Horse Guards and elsewhere, and found that Lahrbush's statements of his ago were gross exaggerations, and his story generally respecting his mill t-iry services and adventures s tissue of The date of his entering the army, and age at the time v.vrc matters of ollieiul record, and therefore there could n > possibility of doubt as to his rial According to the ollieial information oht tinrd by Mr. Thorns, l.ahrbusli was twenty years younger than he asserted, and at the time of lus death wa.i Ul, instead 111 yearb.

Tho Board of Education have resolved to give two prizes, a senior and junior, for the best essay or analysis of Mr. Severn's lectures. Colonel Porter, of the Royal Engineers, has been despatched by tho British Government to Ivars on a special mission, to report to the Government on the war in Asia Minor.

One of the regular meets of the Pakuranga Hunt Club and hounds, will take place today at 1 o'clock, at tho Ellcrslic Hotel, and on Wednesday next at the Kennels at llowick.

A seaman named John Greenland, belonging to tho bill-quo Memento, was given in charge yesterday for being absent from his vessol without leave. He will be brought up at tho Police Court this morning to give an account of his conduct.

A coursing match for £5 a side lias been arranged to take place 011 Monday next, between Mr. ISucklaud'a b and w b Little Xell and a greyhound belonging to Mr. Mcl.aiighlan, I'apatoitoi. The match v. ill be run oil' at Mr. Me kail gldun's farm. The concluding ties of the ree jnfc coursing match will be run off at East Tamaki, 011 Monday week.

Some of the finest beef ever offered for sale in Auckland is now 011 view at Messrs. i'isher and Co. 's shop, and during yesterday it commanded ;;rvat at tention. The cattle were fod in Napier, and from the mottled appearanco of the sirloin and other joints, it is evident that the animals were of a superior breed. The weight of one carcase was 1-I'^wt.

Captain the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by twenty naval officers, arrived at Cairo 011 the ISth May, and was received at the station by the Khedive and the leading English residents. Mr. Vivian, the British Consul-General, gave a it'jcuncr in the Piince's honour, and on the l!)ih his Hoyal Ilighucjs dined with the Khedive. He left 011 the 20th for Port Said, and arrived at tho i'ineus 011 the 21th.

A. discussion has been going on recently in the .Sydney papers respecting thecoinparative rate of mortality in New Soutli Wales and in Britain. Out of 10,000 children born in Britain, 2,032 die before attaining the age of live years, but in New South Wales it is found that the mortality out of tho same number of children born is for the period of ISSG to 1800, ],592, and for the period from 1860 to 1575, only 1,705.

IJuring last year 0009 new books were published in Britain. Among these books were •177 new theological publications, and 210 new editions of old works of this class ; 278 new wr.rks ; and 102 new editions of educational and classical publications; and 452 new books, and -105 new editions of novels and tales. -Next to the Bible, " Pilgrim's I'rogres-s" is the book most largely circulated.

The recently-elected board of trustees for the Arcli-Hill Highway District held a first meeting on Wednesday night, at which all the members were present. Mr. E. W. Morrison was elected chairman ; Mr. \V. Baxter, treasurer ; and Mr. Chapman secretary. -Mr. J. H. Jouning was appointed collector for the Board; and the Chairman was instructed to take the necessary steps for giving notice of the intention of the Hoard to levy a rate of 9d in the £1.

There ie a good deal of grumbling amongst tho settlers about Auckland at the action of tho Waste Lauds Board in prohibiting the taking of scoria from Mount Hobson, and others of the volcanic hills. "Grant-d,"

tliey say, "that doing so would to some extent destroy the beauty of these hills, is not utility before beauty 1 Suppose a poor man's rates to bo iloubled bccause of the necessity to bring rord material from a great distance, will he be able to console himself by the thought that he has preserved gratification for the njsthetie members of the Waste f .amis Board, anil others?*' The Wiiau Hoard arc not allowed to take scoria from Mount Albert during the winter months by the action of tho Mount Albert Board and the Waste Lauds Board.

Some lew months ago. Captain Beadon S'.nfc a memorial to his Kxcellency the Governor, in i;fe:\ncc to his land claim. The features of this case most of our readers are no doubt familiar with, Captain Beadon cone to New Zealand about IS 10, aud invested a considerable sum in the purchase of a large block of bind on tho Piako River. Subsequently, tlie person who was acting as his agent withdraw his claim, aud this the Government allowed him to do, although he had no authority from his principal to take such a course. Captain Beadon now contends that he ought not to be injured by this act of his agent and of the Government I'flieer. His claim lias been before the Government in various shapes. This lastappeal to the Governor was auswered after some months' delay, and in the answer Captain Beadou waa gravely recommended to take actiou under the Crown Redress Act. On referring to this Act, Captain Beadon finds that it does not permit any redress for any occurrence further back than 1572, so that His KxcclIcuoy was cither ignorant of the provisions

of the Act to which he made relerenee, or could not miss the chance of poking fun at the gallant petitioner. However, Captain Beadou is not daunted, but has drawn up a petition to the Queen which is certain, it is said, if she reads it, which no doubt she will do, to throw her into hysterics, which of course, would be a pity—but justice muit be done.

In reference to the deputation from the unemployed of Auckland which waited upon the Mayor on Wednesday, it may be stated that the corporate authorities, desirous of relieving any existing case of distress by the meaus within their power, have directed the contractors of the several city works to proceed at once with their operations. It is also considered probable that tho Harbour Board will do the same as the Council. In order to provide immediate work for those in necessitous circumstances, or who allege they are, the City Council have offered them employment at stone-breaking, the remuneration for which will prove very acceptable to able-bodied men, while others of less vigorous physique and strength may easily earn sufficient by it- to keep the wolf from the door. It is thought by some that the agitation lias been got up by only a few ; that it does not represent auy true destitution, and that the few individuals alluded to were stimulated to action by the telegrams published in the daily papers, announcing the proceedings of the Punediu unemployed. This opinion appears to be strengthened by tho fact that most of the signatures appended to the petition presented to the Mayor were obtained in the street, and that it is not clearly shown that they arc those of persons in indigent circumstances anil eager for honest employment. The members of tiic deputation were apparently possessed with the desire that the Government would let the formation oi the railway line from Kivcrhead to Auckland out oil day labour, but it is a wish the gratification of which is rather remote. At auy rate the unemployed of the city have the means given them whereby they may maintain themselves till the spring sets iu, when there will be no lack of employment.

The Wellington Eccnimj Post has the following :—" Tin; (un-oruiucQt steamer lline1110a is at last to be laid it p. The captaiu has received orders to pay oil' tl.'C crew, /mil they ore all consequently under notice. The steamer was moored out in the stream this afternoon, where she M'iH remain till I'arlia ment decides what is to be done with ner. The chief reason for laying her up is that there is nothing for her to do, as one vessel is ample for the Government requirements; '* v e think it is a great pity that this was not considered before deciding to spend an enormous sum of money 011 this Government toy." _ The usunl ecclesiastical notices appear in our adv«/t columns. The Ueinuei"\ ltuail "Board vtivo notice of their i:.; !){;.: 1 '.U ritrilxO a V:1to of ill t ho. £1. Tt ii'ter* are hy the Blount Kuskill Bwd for metalling ami cut-ting. .Mr. W. Aitkeu intimates that the Goveruluent ,tro arranging to purchase at par all unexercised Volunteer orders.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT TAIRUA. By tlic arrival of tlio Tairua, cutter, from Tairua harbour, wo arc placed iri possession ; of details of a fatal accident which occurred , in the bush in that neighbourhood on Tues- , day morning, The victim of the accident is a young man of *11 years of ago, named William (iambic, who for several years past hau been, a resident in the district. He wa? in the employment of Mr. Burr,'ess, subcontractor for the supply of logs to the Sawmill, and at the time when he met his death he wan ongagetl, with a mate named Walsh, cross-cutting a log. Other men, \\ho3e names Mr. Mi uix\ the master of the cutter T.-iirua, had not ascertained, were felling a tree some distance up the side of the range above the deceased, and by some untoward accident thi;y net loo::e a heavy boulder which rolled flown the incline with great velocity, it struck (i.irnhh: full in the chest, throwing backwardn, and eruHhing his ehesfc and skull, and causing instant death. Walsh rf-eaped uninjured, but hi.» escape wa?i an extremely narrow one. A number of the employed in the vicinity at once came t-he assistance of deceased, ji-id constructed a rude stretcher, upon which they carried the body to Mynus Hotel, at Tairua, a distance of about .'*evcn miks. An inquest on the body was to have been held p.b so-m as the Coroner could bo rnmmunicated witii, but up to the tune the cutter left, on Tuesday night, it had not been held. There is no doubt, however, but that the poor fellow met his death through one of those accidents to which bunhmen are always liable, lie was much respected byIds employers and mates, and was the chief Mil-port of his aged mother, who resided with him at Tairua. A younger brother named James is also resident in the district.