Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5017, 14 December 1877, Page 2

The Old Whau Company have declared a dividend of 2s per scrip upon 3001) shares, payable on Friday, the 2ist instant. The mine, after the exhaustion of the rich run of gold some time ago, was continue.! to be wrought by the company, but unsuccessfully, until it passed into the hands of tributes, and silica then several dividends have been paid, a clear testimony in fa/our of the tribute system, which is now proving so advantageous on the Thames goldlield.

Sharebrokers arc complaining bitterly of the dulness in business, and it in the intention of many of them to make an unusually long vacation during the coming festive season. It usually happens at the close of til's year that stock dealing is slack, but the improved business throughout this year, as compared with several of its predecessor*, led the brokers to anticipate thac the extreme inertness which usually prevails at this time would Dot be so great oil the present occasion. Unfortunately it id ao, as a glance at the daily price list ouly too plainly indicates.

The necessity of a urinal being erected on the Kailway Vv'harf is very urgent, and our attention lias been called to the matter on different occasions. At times several vessels are discharging or loading, employing a uurnber of men, and when sucli is the case the want of this accommodation is a serious iucouvenience. The Harbour Board authorities should sec to the matter, and also, if possible, arrange for the erection of a small water stand pipe, which would prove a great boon. This latter might occasionally be abused by unscrupulous masters of small vessels filling their water barrels contrary to the regulations, yet the general public and those whose daily avocations call them down the Wharf ought not to suffer from the fear the authorities may have of unfair advautage being taken iE one were erected.

Mr. Arnold Grossman, a native of Switzerland, has opened business premises in the shop immediately south of the entrance to M essr3. Hemus and Manna's photographic establishment. Queen-street. Mr. Grossman is a dealer in fancy goods and carvings from Switzerland, and he has now on view some remarkably delicate pieces of work, almost rivalling the Chinese work. To enumerate the various articles would be an almost endless task, but it will repay anyone who is at all curiously inclined to step into the shop for half an hour, and inspect somo of the articles which are now unpacked. Among the curios will be seen address cards beautifully printed upon thin pieces of wood, so thin that over 200 are required to measure au inch in thickness. These cards are shavings from blocks of the lime or linden tree.

Thirty prizes were awarded on Wednesday afternoon last by the agent of the Scripture Gift Association, at the Mangere Public School, for home exercises from the Holy Scripture?.

A cricket match was played in the Domain on Wednesday between an eleven of the Auckland Grammar School v. eleven of Parnell Grammar School. The former did not play their full strength, and were defeated by 62 runs to IG. Williams and P. Dufaur were the most conspicuous on the side of the winners.

A meeting was held at the Globe Hotel, Papakura, on Wednesday night, to make arrangements for the annual race meeting. The Secretary (Mr. W. Peroival) was instructed to notify tlie meeting to take place on the 29th of January. The handicap is to be lOOsovs., and the hurdle race 30-iovs., and entries for those two races are to close on the 2Sth inst.

The peculiar walking match (of picking up 100 stones one yard apart frum each other) which we recorded in last Saturday's issue as having been accomplished by Mr. W. J. Macdooald, one of the employees engaged at the graving dock, was stated to have covered a distance of miles. This has been called in question, the correspondent who does so stating that the distance is not more than 5 miles 110 yards.

The Caledonian Company retorted their amalgam yesterday, and obtained the mag niticent result of 10-tlozs. of gold, the produce of 200 tons of stone, or an average of nearly oiozs. of gold to the ton. A few more yields like the foregoing would bring the old mine again prominently before the public. We trust that this is not the last of the good things in store for the shareholders, but that the career of the company for some time ;to come will be one of continued prosperity.

Immediately on the arrival of the steamer Rotomahana from the Thames yesterday, a man named John Williams, alias Walters, was taken into custody on a charge of obtaining £3 by means of a valueless cheque passed by him at the Thames. The arrest was made on the strength of a telegram received from Subluspector Bullen, the officer in charge of the police force at the Thames. Williams is an employee or a mate of the man Keary, who was before the Court the other day on a charge of evading the city by laws regarding the licensing of hawkers, and a similar charge against Williams himself was withdrawn.

An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the l'almerston G.M. Company, Coromandel, was held yesterday, at .Mr. Home's office, Shortland-street. There was a full quorum present, and Mr, J. Newman was called to the chair. A resolution, proposed by Mr. Kirkwood and seconded by .Mr. Alexander, was passed to the effect that the I'almerston U. M. Compauy be voluntarily wouud up for the purpose of amalgamating with the (lolcouda, loua, and Harrison's and Kelly's claims. Mr. R. Home was appointed liquidator. This concluded the business of the meeting.

The difference " here and there" as to the price of water which in Auckland is 2s Od per 1000 gallons, is shown by the following sentence from the report of a recent meeting of the principal Corporation of Launceston, Tasmania :—On the application of Mr. Ackerman for the removal of the meter at hisbaths, the Waterworks Committee recommended that Mr. Aekerman bo still supplied by meter, but that the charge be reduced from 5d to 41 per 1000 gallons." The attention of Auckland City Councillors is directed to this important difference. The cost of providing 1000 gallons by the pumping process for Batluirst, New South Wales, is set down at fijd, but the works there are small, and the estimated distribution is only 250,000 gallons per day.

The decision of the Union Steam Shipping Co. to obtain a large portion of the coal for their steamere from the Bay of Islands Co.'s mine, at Kawakaiva, is likely to prove not only beneficial to the coal company, but to effect a saving of several thousands per annum to the .Shipping Co. At present they are taking from the Bay of Islands about' GJO tons per month, with every probability of the quantity being increased. The price of the tfay of Islands coal is 12s per ton, while Newcastle is 3.'is ; a ton .;l the latter being equal to 25cwt. from the Bay. The total cost of the Newcastle coal at the above rates is £9304, and of the Bay £4320, or a difference of £5154, for the twelve months, in favour of the fj,.y of Islands coal ; against which, however, is the cost of the steamers running to the Bay and back.

Au organ recital, in aid of the choir fund, took place last evening in the church, in presence of a full congregation. Mr- Livingston presided at the organ, and played the opening solo, a sonata by Haydn. Tlii-* was followed by an authem, " The grace of God which bringcth salvation," composed by Barnby, aud sung in an admirable manner by the choir. Mr. Livingston next played the march, u Silver Trumpets," with line effect. This was followed by the trio from Mendelssohn's " Blijah," 44 Lift Thine eyes," sung by three members of the choir. Mr. Livingston next played the spiritstirring march from Wagner's "Tannhauser." A most perfect rendering was the chorus from Mendelssohn's 44 St. Paul," <4 Ho v lovely are the messengers," followed by an t4 Andantino " on the organ, also performed by Mr. Livingston. To this succeeded the line anthem, * 4 Out of the deep have I called unto Thee," from M<»z\rt, sung by the choir. Next so order came the well known Wedding Ma r ch," by Mendelssohn, on the o""pn, and the chorus, "Praise the lord," fr..n Spohr's <4 Last Judgment," the whole •:excluding with au organ solo, " Rest in the Lord." There can be hut one opinion as to the high excellence of this line choir. Their great efficiency is something of which the organist has every reason to be proud. Xo doubt he is gr-;atly favoured by having in his choir the best contralto voice in this part of the colony, and perhaps the best tenor, besides the fact that most of the vo«ccs in the choir arc above the av?»-agc both in qualit}' aud compass. This, however, is an advantage which would count for little in the absence of practice. St. Ma-ry's choir, however, is, in the best sense of the word, thorouglilv practised and trained. The recital last eveniug was a proof, if any were requisite, of the great musical ability, and the well-known enthusiasm for Church music which distinguishes Mr. Livingston. The collection realised a substantial aid to the Choir Fund.

A bushmin named Henry Willi «ms, who ha.l according to time-honoured custom amongst men of his class, come to town for a good spree, behaved in a most unaccountable manner yesterday at the Eagle Hotel, in Albert street. He was not intoxicated, but wan certainly under the influence of drink, not however to a sullioieut extent to account for his violent and riotous conduct. Mia first display of pugilism ivas on a black man named Kiehards, who quietly went into the bar of the notel tor a yla-s of beer. I lis complexion routed a feeling of rancour iu Williams's rowdy breast — »l« fur's his f-silow guilty of a skin Nut coloured liuo hi-t .>svn. After lining some violent language on Africans in general, and the innocent sample before him in particular, he wound up by striking him a heavy blow on the face, which threw the aitonishe I negro on his back outside the door. The wanton assault was observed by a mail named David Haggin, a mate of Kichards. He went to the bar and mildly remonstrated with Williams on his oUtiMLje'-iiis conduct, but th». fellow, instead of regretting his action, turned furiou ly on Ha<;giu for takirg the part of a black fellow, and tic ended by indicting a severe blow on his face with his clenched list. Just then Constable McLellau came on the scene. He had not observed the previous assaults, but was informed of them, and the landlady asked him to remove the madman who was int-rfering with her business. The constable advised him to go away, but the fellow turned on him and planted a blow on his face, which, had it tikeu the effect intend* d would have seriously damaged the constable's countenance. The latter, however, closed with his assailant and not him down, where he held him until another constable and several civilian* came to his assistance, when Williams was secured with handctftFs, and taken to the lock-up. To day be will be tried on thr»*e separate charges—one of assaulting Richarls, the second of assaulting Haggin, ami tm? third of assaulting Const ibb* McL-Han while in the discharge of hi j duty. Such a man as Williams is dangerc U3 to be at large during the Christmas holidays, especially if there are any black men jjbout.

The Kaimai and Whakamarama blocks are now before the Native Land Court at Tauranga.

Scarlet fever has made its appearance in the Industrial Schools at Melbourne, and several cases have been taken from there to the Hospital.

Mr. Thompson, chairman of the Mount Kden Road Board, refering to the Rifle-range, says, so far as the trustees of that district are concerned, they have no intention of making the road which belongs to them, and 13 laid off across the Range, or of " interfering with the Volunteers in any way whatever."

Mr. T. B. Hicks, formerly manager of the City of f.ondon Oompanv'smine, is to takeover charge of the Qneen of Beauty Amalgamated Company's mine to-morrow, instead of Mr. McDonald, who Uas resigned. Mr. Hicks'* large mining experience as well as his intimate acquaintance with the reefs of the Waio-Karaka district will, do doubt, prove of essential benefit to the company in prosecuting operations in their mine. We may add that the amalgamated claim includes the Queen of Beauty and City of London mines.

A meeting of the committee of the Licensed Victuallers' Association of Auckland was held yesterday at the British Hotel, Mr. H. Keane (President) in the chair. After the transaction of the routine business, the Chairman congratulated Mr. Melton, the Mayor of the Borough of Parnell, who was present, upon his election to the highest office in the gift of the constituents of the Borough in which he resided. He was the first member of the Association to be elected to thi3 dignity. Mr. Melton replied in suitable terms. In reference to the part which the Association should take in the reception of Sir George Grey, a conversation took place, and it was agreed to intimate to the Reception Committee that the Association -would wish to take part in the reception. The next business brought before the meecing was the revision of the rules. These were thoroughly discussed, and certain alterations made, which will be submitted to » general meeting of the Association for approval. The draft of a letter to Mr. Johnstone, who for the preceding twelve months has been President of the Association, was read and approved. It thanked him for the interest and zeal he had manifested on behalf of the Association during the time he was its chief executive officer, and concluded by wishing him prosperity and success in his future career. The accounts, &c., were passed, and after some conversation regarding the annual ball, respecting which no definite conclusion was arrived at, the meeting terminated.

The Otago Daily Times of the otli, thus refers to the scarcity of water in the city : —

" Various hotels in the city have had their bath rooms locked during the last two or three days to prevent lodgers using water for their customary morning baptisms. Yesterday however there was but little need of lock and key for that purpose, as there being no water to use, none could be wasted. One hotelkeeper, evidently in grim irony, placed a placard over the door of his bath-room— 'Gentlemen are requested not to use the biith !"' Councillor Fish, at the City Council yesterday afternoon, remarked that he had mot a gentleman at 12 o'clock who had not been able up to that hour to wash his face. It is needless to say the gentleman was by no means singular in his experience."

The Wellington Post, after showing that the Wellington members and Press have been persistently hostile to the present Ministry, proceeds :— We firmly believe that if a plebiscite were taken to-morrow to ascertain the views of the people of Wellington on the present position of affairs, and the question were put: "Do you desire that the Government should remain in office during the recess so as to have an opportunity afforded them of maturing their policy ?" an overwhelming majority would answer it in the affirmative. The feeling of the majority of the people here, so far as we can ascertain, i?, that the policy sketched out hy Sir George Grey on the question of the land revenue, land administration, native affairs, settlement, representation, and taxation, is a broad and liberal one, and that if he loyally endeavours to carry it out, he will deserve the support of the country. With respect to the present Government, we desire that it should receive a fair trial. Should it not possess a working majority when Parliament agaiu meets, then a dissolution could be grauted, and an appeal made to the constituencies.

Dr. Hector, in reporting on the water supply for Wellington, writes regarding rain water caught on galvanised iron or shingle roofs, and preserved in plain or zinc coated iron tanks, or in wooden barrels :—" .None of these can ever afford absolutely pure water, as even rain water, when freshly fallen, contains a minute quantity of foreign matters dissolved iu it, and these are largely added to l»y the absorption of the impurities that settle on the roofs, or find their way accidentally into the tanks. It requires to be noted that when the rain water is caught on zinc or corrugated iron roofs, or collected ami allowed to stand in tanks of thes-? materials, there is always found, besides the substances above enumerated, a minute but variable quantity of zinc. When the collecting tank is zinc or zinc iron, the proportion of zinc to the gallon of water will necessarily vary very mucSi, and when such tanks have been low for a long time in a dry season, the water remaining in them may become so charged with zinc as to acquire very active mcdicinal properties, which are in the iirst instance-tonic, but with after effects that are injurious to the nervous system. In rain water collected in tanks, however, the organic matter is very uncertain in its origin, for there is no conceivable substance—animal or vegetable—which may not, after a long continuance of dry weather, be raised as dust, and lodged on the house tops. The results obtained diselose this fully, and show that no water collected within the crowded parts of the city, either from well or house tops, is safe or proper for human consumption. There one branch of the subjeet which is beyond tht province of chemistry, but which is even more important than -my of the foregoing, aud that is the misery ami suffering entailed, especially on the children, in a city that is badly supplied with water, frofoi the prevalence of intestinal worms. The connection betweeu a defective water supply and the prevalence of tin's disease may not be established as cause and effect, but i heir constant association is undoubted, and there are no meaus found to be co effectual in Wellington as au ample supply of wholesome water,"

Mr. F. J. De Lisle, M. D., Napier, writes to the Herald the following description of the system which is in some cases adopted in the selection of emigrants for New Zealand in the case of hangers-on to the parish, no diflioulty is ever experieuced in obfa'ning the necessary certificates. Members of the Hoard of Guardians cotnc forward and certifyin their capacity of house-holders, to t he respectability of the emigrant, and it is darkly hinted to the parish surgeon that it he desires re-election at the expiration of his term, it will be advisable not to thwart the Guardians in getting rid of their pensioners and saddling our antipodean colonics with a few loafers. The following will show how utterly unscrupulous some Boards of Guardians are in their actions when saving parish money is their end. In the workhouse iu one of the Channel Islands was a widow with four or five children aged from I*l downwards. Outside the workhouse was a widower with about the same number of children. As he was unable to leave his children alone when he went to work, lie was allowed a small weekly sum from the parish to assist him to pay some one to look after them. These two families being a tax upon tile parish, it was deemed expedient to emigrate them ; but there wa* a difficulty—widows or widowers with children could not go as Government emigrants, and the parish would not pay for a steerage passage ; so the two were brought before the Board, and haviug expressed their willingness to emigrate, were coolly asked if they would marry to facilitate matters. The m tii agreed, a Ming, "She'll do for thj voyage;" and the woman added to her ac-([uie-sconcp, 44 When 1 get to New Zealand, if 1 don't like you, I can soon get some one el>e." The rector, who was a member of the Board, and present at the time, at once gave them a license. They were sei.t to church under charge of a constable, and united in the "bond"? of holy (?) matrimony," and the next day packed off to London. This case came under my own observation, i was present in the Board room when the people were brought in ; and if this should meet the eye of the couple alluded to, who are, or were a short time ago, in Napier, they will recogniaa the tale as true in every particular.