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New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5336, 23 December 1878, Page 2

Many of our residents will be glad to welcome back Mr. Laughlin O'Brien, tho former Sheriff and Registrar of the Supremo Court, who was a passenger by the ship Clan Perguason, which arrived here on Friday last. Mr. O'Brien has been absent in the mother country for about four years, and returns in excellent health. This evening the members of tho Auckland Choral Society will t»ive their annual performance of the "Messiah." We notice that the selections are all but exclusively taken for parts 1 and 2 of the oratorio. Signor Riccardi is announced to play the bass solos.

Our telf-grama from Tanranga intimate that Mr. Keane, mate of the a.s. Rowena, wa3 cccideutally drowned when passing Cape Colville on Friday night. Mr. Keane w.%3 form'erly a long time in the employment of Messrs. Owen and Graham, and was at one time mate of the schooner Coronet, when Captain Rose was runiflng in that vessel to the Islands. He was afterwards master of the three-masted schooner Loch Lee. Subsequently he .became ill, and went for some time as second mate of the Argyle, which position he resigned to take the position of mate of the s.s. Rowena. He was a sober, careful, and industrious man, and his friends, of .vhom then; are many, regret his untimely end.

Although tin Government has abolutely promised that aboutjElOOO would be exp. nded in the construction of roads in the PuUekohe, Bombay, Ararimu, and other adjacent districts south of Aucklaud, there is no sign yet of the works being commenced. JN r o doubt, as Mr. Macandrew is now on tho spot, a gentle remiu ler will ba sufficient, and we trust that instructions will be at once issued to the Public Works Department to take advantage of tho favourable period of the year, and have the works done.

The following is an extract from a private Wellington letter :—"At last a change has been made in the Deputy-Commissioner of Stamps, Mr. John Owen Lord having been gazetted to the Wellington district. A new map of the North Island has be-n published from the office of the Surveyor-General. It will only co3t 2a 6d a copy, and will prove very convenient and useful. The difference in the colouring of the lands Shews the difference in title and ownership. The now map also gives a correct statement of I&biU oto-.h! by Hurop* -ns, confiscated lauds. eonl;..R.:vsd lands, iii'vjii! native ' XQtttvPi hold by • natives urirl-.r certificate, memorial of ownership, or Crown grant lands of unextinguished title, and proclaimed lands aud Croivn lauds, the whole b' ing brought up to the end of last June. It is now authoritatively stated that Mr. Dignan will bo called to the Upper House, and the vacant Speakership in the Upper Cliambnr being in the gift of tho Ministry, Sir W, Fitzherbert; is likely to receive the office, owing, it is said, principally to his desire to be relieved from the long and tedious hours which the Speaker of the Lower House has to endure."

Eight arrests were made during Saturday aud Sunday, five of which are for drunkenness. Reginald Fitzpatrick is locked up for conducting himself in a manner tending to provoke a breach of the peace. A woman has been arrested for stealing a decanter and tumbler from the (Jriterion Hotel, and a sailor is in custody for a breach of the Merchant Shipping Act.

An interesting case, in which the legitimacy of art unions and lotteries is being tested under somewhat novel circumstances, came up at the Police Court on Saturday. Mr. Burton, confectioner and baker, had, it appears, inaugurated a lottery or art union in Parnell, but the tickets were sold in Auckland. The case was brought under the 17th section of the Municipal Police Act. The contention for the defence was that the Borough of Parnell was never proclaimed a place ui which the Municipal Police Act should be in force, although the Highway Board of Parnell had been so proclaimed. This point was argued at some length by Mr. Hesketb, for the prosecution, and Mr. Lusk, for the defence. The other point at issue, should this be decided" in favour of the de. fence, i 3 that although the lottery was got up in a placo where the Act is not in force, the sale of tickets in the city, where the Act b in force, is a breach of the law. The prosecution has been instituted at the instance of the bakers and confectioners of the city and suburbs, who allege that their trade hn,3 been injured by this lottery.

A gentleman who has been in the habit of making excursions through some of our grazing and farming districts, noticed that in parts of the road, bounded by a fence on each side, cattle on their way to market had become injured by being caught in the wires which form the " rails." This i 3 attributable to the fact that in many places there are no wooden cap pieces. The animals, desirous of leaving the barren road and testing the green stuff hard by, break from the droves and rush for it. The thin wires are invisible in the dim twilight, and the beasts become almost inextricably mixed up with them before they are aware of the net spread for them. Bruises, and sometimes even fraoturea are the result, and a corresponding deterioration in value takes place. On reference to schedule A of the Fencing Act of 1871, it appears that these fences are perfectly "legal," and that no cips are required. This is possibly an accidental omission, and may be remedied. It does, however, appear rather extraordinary that in any case farmers (should neglect this obvious means of preventing damage to themselves and injury to others. A shilling a rail, and much les3 where saplings abound, would cover every expense.

The social gathering ami Christmas tree in ■St. Matthew's School-room this evening promises to bo a great success, as much trouble has been taken in getting it np. Some of the attractions are a silver watch, two or three clocks, a largo Christmas cake, and an endless number of toys, &c. As the number of things is largo, there will be several toys, &c., to bo bought at low prices. Parents and children would do well to go and see for themselves. Admission being free, many will, no doubt, bo attracted. The tree will be on view from 4 to 6 p.m., and in the evening from half-past seven o'clock.

The Government has sauctioned the necessary authority for the granting of a Christmas treat to tho inmates of the Asylum, Hospital, Gaol, and other public institutions, and no doubt many of tho charitably disposed in and about tho city will not omit to hand a few delicacies to the Hospital, Asylum, Orphan Home, St. Mary's Orpanage, Old Men and Women's Refuge, and the Industrial Home, so that a number of tlnse who are housed in these institutions may have a pleasing rsmombrance of the year about expiring. We presume the Relieving Officer will also be authorised to issue orders for some extras for tho sick and clestitutp, and so add a little comfort to many afllitjf.cd and deserving parsons, who are not likely to be amongst us when another Christmas comes round.

Superintendent Thomson want to the Thames on Saturday, accompanied by SubInspector Kenny, the new head o£ the police force for the Thames district, and who lias already entered upon his duties. Mr. Kenny has the reputation of being a very impartial police officer, and is likely to givo satisfaction to the inhabitants of tho goldfields. Mr. Thomson returned to Auckland yesterday. SubInspector Bullcn, who is at present in Auckland, will leave by the steamer for Taranaki on Wednesday, to assume charge of the police department in tho Taranaki Provincial District. It is stated in private loiters from Wellington, that the Defence Office is about issuing instructions for the shifting of the detectives in various parts of tho colony, and ii not unlikely that some change may take placc after the commencement of the year in the Auckland police district, especially in the removal of a few of the sergeants quartered in various parts of Mr. Thomson's district. No doubt, if the latter changes take placc, the sulections will be judiciomi and needful.

Reflecting to the scarcity of available labour in this province, the Waikalo Times of Saturday last aaya : —The scarcity of hands is beginning to be severely felt all over the colony. However objectionable the employment of Chinese labour may be, that of the Maori Is not felt to bo so. The Maori puts the money that he earns into circulation again, and quickly too, and white men and Maoris work agreeably together, on the same job. It is said that it is uot improbable but that arrangements will be made, during tho visit of Ministers to Waikato, whereby some native labour may be employed in tho construction of the Oliaupo and Te Awarautu railway extension. Air. Fallon, the contractor for the undertaking, employed natives during the progress of tho Kiverhead and Helensvillo branch, for which he was the successful tenderer, and his experience is favourable to them as workmen. Wo have ourselves seen Maoris working on the line, under Messrs. Topham and Angus, who had the contract for the Hamilton-Ohaupo extension. ,

The Engineer and City Band will play in Albert Barrack reserve to-morrow evening, commencing at 7.30. In addition to the programme, they will pla.y the following Christmas Carols:—"David's Royal Son," " Tho Babe of Bethlehem," and "The Holv Well."

The New Zealaudcr, in dicussing the Chineso question, says if it is in the direction of an alteration of treaties, we shall have to look for support in keeping out the Mongoian flood.

Tho Wellington Building Society has beon more snccossful this year than any previous year Bince it has been started.

Shortly after the meeting at Grahamstown on Saturday evening Sir George Grey went on board the Hinemoa, by boat from Tararu. Owing to the state of the tide, the Ruby could not leave tha Grahamstown Wharf, with the visitors from Auckland till 1 o'clock. The Hinemoa left for Auckland about 2 o'clock, and arrived at the Railway Wharf between 5 and 6. The Premier will remain here till the arrival of Mr. Sheehan, after which he will leave for Kawau to spend his Christmas.

At a meeting of the Thames Borough Council on Friday, Mr. McGowan moved, "That the thanks of this Council be tendered to Mr. Sub-Inspector Bullen for the excellent order maintajned while in charge or the police force.'.' It was c t necessary for him to say much in support of this resolution. The absence of crime on the Thames was a clear evidence of the manner Mr. Bullcn carried out his duties. Mr. Graham seconded, am! it was carried. It was decided to have the resolution engrossed and forwarded t;o Mr. Bullen.

A' Little Omaha a committee has been formed to make arrangements for a Christmas /lower show. A programme of sports has also been agreed upon, and the inhabitants of this pretty district seem determined to make such arrangements for the festive season as will induce all persons to share pleasant holidays, and keep them t igether, without wandering awa'y from their homes and friends on the winding-up of the old year.

By our Sydney file 3 just to hand we learn that a man named Crawahaw and his wife were tried at the Central Criminal Court, Sydney, a few days since, for arson, and after three days'-trial foundguilty and sentenced to *.ealh. The trial created great excitsmenfc, is th; prisoners had occupied a very ra sjrwable position it Bambala. When the c' s«..it--aac rM.-c. Gi'--.%»shaw faiulcd. and L.r h'lhuv',

into tears. The Judge stated tlat in reporting the case he would recommend a diminution of the punishment, as no lives were lost at the Are, and the female prisoner had «iven the first alarm. It is not generally known that any persons found guilty of setting fire to any building in which any human beings are contained render themselves liable to be sentenced to death.

A Thames correspondent writes: —lt is somewhat strange that a number of the members of the Armed Constabulary force, who were engaged during the beginning of the last year in the taking of the census returns, have not yet got the small amount of allowance for the work to which they are entitled. Possibly the mention of the matter may hurry a settlement, as it is not the correct thing to keep the men out of their money so long.

" Old Turfite " writes as follows:— Mr. Walter Parker Mynn, the celebratod cricketer, died on October the 22ud, at Peckbam. He and his brother Alfred, the celebrated bowler, learnt their cricket under the auspices of Lord Sonde3, Mr. Wykeliam Martin, Lord Romney, Mr. Inysden Hodges, and other gentlemen who fostered the game in West Kent. Walter Mynn first appeared at Lord's in 1533, when he was 28 years of ac;3. He was a member of Fuller Pilch's eleven, which consisted of Felix, A. Mynn, Martingale, Hillyer, and other celebrities. Alfred Mynn, who gradually reduced his ten ific bowling to great precision, had great difliculty in getting a longstop until his elder brother Walter undertook the office, and on hard, rough ground it was a great undertaking. Alfred Mynn will probably never be reproduced, as he was 6 feet 2 inches, and weighed IS stone when 30 years of age, after training hard previously to playing Dearman for the championship of England in IS3B, without au ounce of superfluous flesh on him. He used to stand his full height when delivering the ball, and his powerful arm came round with a swing level with his shoulder and as straight as a pump handle, delivering the ball with terrific force, so that the office of longstop was no sinecure. Walter Mynn was a safe bat, and when lie and Hillyer got together they made a good pair of stickers. He was nearly as tall as his brother, but not so stout, and a very handsome man. He was engaged in the hop trade the greater part of his life, and was very popular among all classes. He sprang from a family of old Kentish j'eomen, who date back several centuries. Doubtless there were better cricketers in bis day, but there never was a truer or more hardworking man in the old Kent Eleven than Walter Mynn,— always punctual and up to time, and never despairing of victory till the last wicket fell. He was born in ISOS, and was therefore in his 73rd year. His brother Alfred died in ISGI.