THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1881.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6061, 21 April 1881, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1881.

" Pale death with equal foot strikes wide the palaces of theu'icli and hovels of the poor." The man who yesterday was a living force is to-day but a relict of the past. The Conservatives hare lost a great leader, and England a great statesman. The man who as Ben Disraeli commenced political life as a Radical, and told the House of Commons, which disturbed him, that the time would come when he would make it hear him; who as the vehement assailant of the late Sir Robert Peel engaged the attention of all England; who vindicated his budget against Mr. Gladstone's criticism with hysterical violence, trained his party to wait patiently for years for oflice, and became the ruler of the destinies of England—that man is dead, descending from the highest honours to the tomb as he had ascended to them from the position of a successful novelist. The grave is about to close on an eminent statesman, on the brink of which stands the ! great rival who for so many years barred his approach to the highest oflice, and, when he had attained it, hurled him from it. It cannot be said of the late Earl of Beaconsfield that he was a

great man, but it may certainly be said of him he was a man of genius. It is probable that, had power come to him earlier in life, and a prolonged opportunity, he "would have shown capacities for government which would have placed him in the front rank of British statesmen. To talents of the first order were added an indomitable will, great tact, and a fine imagination. In his speech, and in his policy, he was of the. . old school—the school of Pitt, rather than of that modern school of which Mr. Gladstone is the illustrious representative. Fortune, kind to him in most ways, deserted him in this, that she withheld from him an adequate opportunity of giving effect to his views. If the policy which he pursued as Premier of exalting the power of the Crown, and which chiefly caused his downfall, was that on which his heart was set, then it was well for England that his opportunity was no greater. The late Earl was, above all things, an Englishman, a man of active force, and in foreign affairs the resolute opponent of the laissez faire system of which the Liberals are the baneful exponents. The power and prestige of England was as dear to him as to that sturdy and inflexible representative of them, the late Lord Palmerston. Had he retained office, he would have succeeded in raising the reputation of the Empire to a point only exceeded by the times of Pitt. -—We may judge of that policy by his resistance to the ambitious designs of Russia during the late war with Turkey. England guided by him, and without an ally, arrested the progress of the Russian arms at the very gates of Constantinople, tore up the treaty of San Stefano, which placed Turkey under her heel, and, assembling the Powers of Europe at Berlin, deprived the Autocrat of the North of all but the smallest fruits of a perfidious and wanton aggression,: scarcely to be exceeded in the pages of history. He knew how and when to dare, and might have dared much more but for the pro-Russian fanaticism of the Liberal party. His was a policy, not of timorous watching, but one of confronting and defeating the aggressive aims of that Power wlricli hungers for Asia and • threatens the confines of India. Had he retained office, it was; his design to have rendered British power omnipotent in Asiatic Turkey,' checking Russia near home, and repelling her in Central Asia. He would have created in Asiatic Turkey, a formidable power and a powerful ally. He would have emancipated Persia from Muscovite thraldom, advanced the frontier of India to Herat, overshadowing her in Central Asia, and held her at bay on the frontiers of Afghanistan. He deemed her to be the most dangerous foe of the empire, and was prepared to baffle her with all its resources. It was no day dream, no illusion of the imagination, but a settled and grand policy designed to curb her in time, not wait for her at the door. It was the application to Russia of that policy, which, in the hands of Pitt, hurled the first Napoleon from the throne of France. He rejected the policy of the Manchester school, the policy of cowardice in the garb.of prudence. He deemed that the maintenance of national honour, prestige, and power, was no less important than the expansion of trade, and the limitation of national expenditure. But though he has not lived to give effect to his views, and a policy of retrocession in Afghanistan has lost to England the fruits of victory, he asserted for his country a protectorate over Asiatic Turkey which his successors may not enforce, but have not dared to disavow. He did more. He established an understanding with Germany and Austria which, whilst checking Russia on the one hand, raised a barrier-to any designs of France, and regained for his country the recognition of her potency, and redeemed her from the jibe of having fallen to the rank of a second-rate Power. He gave England a vigorous, definite foreign policy, only to find it replaced by one of self-abasement and penitence. He shook her sword at her foes, his successors have substituted for it pretty moral maxims. "Who will now be the leader of the party which gave him such unwavering allegiance, and for so long a period, is for tho moment diminished by the fact of their expulsion from office. Of the leaders of the Conservatives the Marquis of Salisbury has the best claim to succeed his late chief, of whose policy lie was the foremost supporter, and whose confidence he possessed to the largest extent. Our cablegram of to-day, however, gives him a rival in Lord Cairns, and asserts that pledges secretly given to the French Government by the Marquis to support its Tunisian pretensions, may prevent his selection by the party. Lord Cairns is a very able man, but we are disposed to think that the mantle of the late Earl Beacoiisfiekl will fall on the shoulders of the colleague of the late Earl at the Berlin Conference, and preeminently the strongest man in the Conservative ranks, and one of the strongest of any party. Meantime, all Engla.nd will mourn the loss of a statesman, in many respects a remarkable man, and one of the best exemplars of the eminence to which humble • origin and great talents may attain in a free country and under representative institutions. Of Ben Disraeli there remains but the memory, but he did not pass away until he had made the magnates of Europe in the council chamber of Berlin listen to that voice asserting the rights and power of England, to which he had told the

— House of Commons it should listen and which raised him to the exalted position of a foremost leader amongst men. The last number of the New Zealand Gazette contains a list of the Acts of last session, and the usual notification is made that in respect to these Her Majesty will not be advised to exorcise her power of disallowance. From this list, two of the Acts passed last session are omitted, the Native Land Court Act and the Act to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister. In regard to the latter measure, it was freely stated while the Bill was passing through the House that it was so drawn that the Imperial law officers could not assent to it. They would make no objection to any measure legalising such marriages in the colony, as they have been legalised in several other British colonies but the terms of one of the clauses seemed to attempt to do more that the Legislature of New Zealand had any right to do. Vs affecting the marriage law, the Act was specially reserved for Her Majesty's anproval, and it is likely that it is at present under the consideration of the law officers of the Crown. The Native Laud Courts Bill stands in a different position. The reason why it has not been included amongst tho others, is because a protest against it was sent to England, signed* by several members of the Legislature. The Government have received a letter from the Secretary of State, asking explanations on several of tho points raised in the protest, and in the meantime the signification of the full -Assent of the Crown is withheld. The protest was signed by three or four European members and three native members. From tho speeches made in the House and the Legislative Council, it would seem that the grounds on which the protesters rely are—the excessive powers given to the Chief Judge, who may or may not grant an appeal in any case; the want of provision for proper notice to claimants. The natives protest against the Bill on the ground that it is opposed to the treaty of Waitangi. The likelihood is, we think, that after somo explanation, the Act will he put in the same category with the others. There is, however, a certainty that next session a number of matters in respect to the constitution of the Court for dealing with native lands will be brought before the House. The civil business of the Quarterly Circuit Court commenced yesterday with the common juries cases, which were all disposed of before the rising of the Court. Only two cases were defended. They will be found reported in anothor column: Special jury cases will be taken on Monday next, the 25th instant. There are only two cases set down for trial, namely, the National Bank v. Bedell, and Field and Henry Palmer v. James Bruce. We learn that out of the total sum to be collected in the' Auckland Provincial District for land tax; only about £400 remains unpaid. That, out of between £30,000 and £40,000 of a tax only so small a sum should still be due, is absolutely wonderful. It was anticipated that a meeting of Tatfcersall's club would have been held last night, but it lapsed. The Steeplechase affair was on the tapis. Mr. W. Potter was in attendance to substantiate, the statement he had made on the previous day before the stewards, and the two bookmakers named by him—Messrs. Belcher and Poole—were also present at the Occidental Hotel at the time stated. . We have already published.the result of the stewards' investigation and decision, and outside the four corners of'that there is no getting away, so far as bets are conc»rned. Mr. Potter was in town all day yesterday. He was accosted to by one of the bookmakers, but he held to his position. The" only new features of the affair are that one of the stewards asked to see the betting books of the most noisy of the protesters, and when he refused to produce his book, and was . cautioned that .his .evidence would be taken on oath, he subsided. . Mr. Potter says he does not know the name of the . Southern . bookmaker who was with Messrs. Poole and Belcher, but he can recognise him. The race and stakes are settled, but we are greatly mistaken if further action will not follow. We regret to notice in our obituary the name of Henry M. Morton, printer, who died at his residence, North Shore, yesterday'.' Deceased has been ill for about three weeks only, and within the last few days it ha 3 been evident that his sickness has been of a-very serious nature. Mr. r Morton, with his family, came out with the Albertland settlers in 1862. For a number of years afterwards he was employed as day foreman in the printing office of the Southern Gross, having charge of the Weekly News. In this position he was respected by his employers, and highly esteemed by his fellowworkmen. Of late years deceased has been engaged in the office of his son, Mr. H. B. Morton. At 11 o'clock yesterday morning the S-inch water-main leading down Customhouse-street East burst at the corner of Commerce-street. The cause was a defective pipe, a section of which, 2h feet in length by from 4 to 5 inches in width, was blown out. The road was of course soon ripped open, and, with the pressure of lOOlbs. to the inch, a large body of water was ejected. There was a danger that the water might find its way into the cutting made by Mr. Blewden for the main sewer, but this was averted, and within a very short time the valves were turned off. Mr. Carlaw, turncock, had men promptly to work, and by evening a new pipe had been fixed, and the water supplywas available as usual. This was the cause of the disturbance in the water noticed by some photographers, whose work depends upon the purity of the water supply. A good deal of work was destroyed in one photographic establishment by the sudden muddiness of the water, and the circumstance at the time was the cause of much conjecture as to the cause of the water so suddenly assuming such a muddy condition. There was on view yesterday morning at the shop of Messrs. Upton and Co., an exceedingly neat and artistic testimonial. It was the work of iNIr. Slator. The border was elegantly flowered, the lettering neat and' chaste, the capitals in gold letters, beautifully brought out, and the initial letters artistic and in place. The large initial W was in gold and blue, and in the cavities of. the letter were an engine-house and the I poppet-heads of a mining shaft. The | testimonial was to Mr. Straughan, manager I of the Union Beach mine, Coromandel, from the workmen, on his leaving tho sen-ice of the company. The presentation was made in the mine by Mr. Norman on behalf of the employes. Mr. Straughan madaa brief and appropriate reply. The Taranaki Budget, of Saturday, saj'3 : —" A large shark, fifteen feet long, encountered the whaleboat Faugh-a-Ballagh, while out in the roadstead on Sunday morning. The monster attacked the boat, and seized hold of the steer oar, capsizing the coxswain, and taking a piece out of the oar of fully eight inches. Making a second appearance alongside the boat, the shark was rewarded with two severe thumps on' the head from the stroke-oar of the boat, and then disappeared. Apples 14 inches round are the latest "unconsidered trifles" produced bv-° nurserymen. _ —— —

A correspondent complains that not one flag was placed half-mast high yesterday in Auckland, "to show respect to the demise of one of the greatest statesmen that England has produced in this or any century." He says, in conclusion, " Perhaps I can give an explanation of it: one of the representatives of Foreign Powers has told me that ho j waited for the first flag to declare itself, j How many more have waited in the same : way ? " I The bath-keeper's residence at the City Baths will be finally completed this week. He enters into occupation to-day. The front of the sheds has been closed iu, so that tlie complaints as to the exposure of lads, in a state of nudity, to the dwellers on the cliS's will be obviated in future. Tlie wait-ing-room for ladies is also in process of completion. It is probable that some additions I in the way of dressing-rooms will be made j to the ladies' compartment, so that they can I go directly from the dressing-rooin3 into the baths. Tlie City Solicitor's bill of costs in the case of Climie v. Corporation of Wellington to £528 7 s Gd, in addition to which there will probably be £10 or £50 to pay for costs of demurrer. The ratepayers are now demurring to pay the little bill. During the quarter ending March 31st no fewer than 1100 summonses were issued from the Dunedin Resident Magistrate's Court. Of this number 520 were heard. The hearing fees and cost of summonses amounted to £750, and the aggregate of disputed claims was £11,219 19s lid. It will be seen from a cablegram elsewhere that Mrs. Fletcher, the Spiritualistic medium, has been sentenced to a year's imprisonment for imposition. From the details of the preliminary trial to hand by the mail, it appears that she had obtained undue influence over an English lady, and induced the lady to transfer a quantity of jewellery to M rs. Fletcher, on the strength of Spiritualistic communications that that was the wish : of her deceased mother. About 3 o'clock yesterday morning, as one of tlie crew of the cutter Lizzie, named Alexander Watson, was proceeding down the wharf, he heard a splash and a cry for help. He at once proceeded in the direction whence the sound came, in the vicinity of the schooner Sovereign. In the meantime an Islander named Tom had jumped in to the rescue, although one arm only was available, the other being in a sling. Not being able to pull the person oat, he called on Watson, who immediately jumped in, and between them they managed to get him out of the water. The individual whom they thus risked their lives to save proved to be very drunk. His immediate wants being attended to, he was handed over to the.police. His name is said to be William Fisher, and he was charged at'the Court with drunkenness, " but, as he seemed very feeble, he was forwarded to the Hospital, where hot fomentations were applied. An important decision, affecting insurance companies and insurers, was delivered in the Supreme- Court, Brisbane, on the 22nd -March, in - the case of Patrick O'Meara v. the Royal Insurance Company. T'ne plaintifT claimed £214 ou a policy of insiirance issued .to .cover his dwelling-house and shop from •■'fire.- The contract was not denied by the defendants; no insinuation was made that the fire: had been otherwise than accidental; but they /rested their . case on the simple assertion; that a fraud was attempted to be : perpetrated, and that. the insured claimed more than he was justly, entitled to recover. : On the policy issued by the company to the plaintiff appeared a condition that persons insured must give notice to the agent within' ' fourteen days, with a particular account of tlie loss or damage as the case admits. 1 And a following clause requires that the assured shall. make proof required of the same by a declaration or affirmation, or by their books of account, or such proper evidence as the agents may require. In directing the jury on these points, his Honor the Chief Justice laid down that if the , defendant had iu any way violated the conditions 'imposed, thien he would have to bear the loss • sustained. In the case heard no suspicion of incendiarism attaching, it became necessary only for the jury to be satisfied in their own minds whether the plaintiff had actually suffered loss to the extent of his claim. That he had been a loser to a certain amount was not attempted to be contradicted, and the defendants were even prepared to allow a loss sustained of from -£30 to £40; but the Attorney-General, resting on the Insurance Act, pleaded that inasmuch as the statement of claim of £214 was fraudulently excessive, .the plaintiff lo3t all right in the policy. This law His Honor upheld, and remarked that strict truth was necessary in any statement - of claim under a policy of insurance, for it was impossible that the companies could make a daily inspection of all places insured by them in order to see that there was on the 'premises a sufficient stock to justify the amount they held covered. In fact every insurance policy is an open policy" covering the insured up to the full extent of its value if that loss is sustained, but not'having the absolute value of a life policy which must be paid iu full. The night-cart business is still causing dissatisfaction in the suburbs, and it is a pity that one general law is not made to operate, instead of the limited control given by the Municipal Act and the Public Healths Act to check the nuisance of which, so many complain.- About two months ago a largely signed petition was presented to the Karangahape Highway Board, praying that body to take steps to prevent the nights-carts xbeing brought along the main road during prolubited hours. The complaint was that they often come along the road to the city between 7 and 9 o'clock, sometimes later, and generally when business people are sitting down to breakfast. The petition was forwarded by the Board to the City Council, who however took no notice of it j and one member of the Board who spoke on the subject yesterday, complained bitterly of the want of courtesy as well as want of accord displayed by tlie Council. There are numerous cases of typhoid fever in the Newton district, and many attribute it to the latitude allowed to the night-soil carts. Whether or no, it is a source of disease we cannot undertake to say, but, it is certain that these carts going along the main road at such an unseasonable time, is a source of annoyance to a great many of the residents. The Taranaki Herald has obtained two census papers filled up in 1867 containing the names, ages, and all the other information respecting two families in New Plymouth. It further states :—These papers are the originals sent into tlie Census Office in 1867, and sire signed by the householders. "We have not been plundering the Census Office to get possession of these papers ; — they were brought to us by a gentleman who happened to get them in a store in Stratford wrapped about a parcel of 21bs. of nails, which he had purchased. He states that he saw twenty or thirty similar papers in the same store, and that they had evidently been purchased from , the New Zealand Government as waste paper. Captain Fairchild called at Mayer Island and brought away a considerable quantity of obsidian—a dark, brittle, bright, glass-like substance—which exists there in great abundance. pt begins in the rockß about 15 feet from the beach and extends to near the surface. Captain Fairchild would willingly give some to any persons who would like it for ornament or as a curiosity. The Stella lies at the railway pier.

Among the olcl colonists who have recently ! left South Australia for a tour in Europe, is J Mr. J. G-. Pitcher, accountant of the E., S., and A. Chartered Bank. This gentleman has taken a special interest in the subject of a Trans-Continental railway, and purposes making inquiries in London as to the pros pects of floating a company for its construction. The prospectus seta forth—capital, six millions, in 12,000 shares of £500 each, with power to increase to 24,000 shares. £5 to be paid on application ; £45 within twelve months ; the balance in instalments of £50 at intervals of not less than "twelve months each. To construct and acquire a line of railway through Central Australia, from Port Augusta to Port Darwin. The length of the line proposed to be constructed is 1535 miles. It is estimated that only £1,500,000, or £150 per share, would be called up, for with that sum about 500 miles could be constructed, and the company would thereupon receive the title to 7,500,000 acres, the moiety of the grant, and borrow upon the bonds of the company, supported by mortgage of this real estate, a sum sufficient to construct another section, and so on to the completion of the work. Although previous to its exploration it was considered sterile, Central Australia contains immense areas of very fertile and wellwatered country, and the climate and products would be varied, as the line would run from 32deg. to 1 Ideg. S. latitude. Pastoral industry is successfully carried on upon several portions of the route. Sugar growing iu the Northern districts bids fair to be a very important interest, and would be extended over a large area of suitable soil. Many rich tracts of auriferous deposits have been already discovered, as well as promising mines of copper, tin, and lead. For nearly 150 miles along the proposed route payable gold'has been proved to exist. The teeming populations of Asia and the Malayan Archipelago must become important markets for the food produced upon the broad central prairies of Australia. The success of the Bell-Colman frozen meat process for shipping must facilitate the production and carriage to market of meat. One penny per lb. would cover the cost of its carriage for 700 miles to either terminus, for that, would be at the rate of £3 153 per ton. The railway would carry English and Asiatic mails to the colonies of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and a large passenger traffic would spring up, for the route would be much shortened to India and England. As the connection of Adelaide with Sydney and Melbourne by railway now occupies the serious consideration of the colonics, and, as railways having that end in view are already constructed, there is little doub* long before the completion of this lino the important capital cities, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, will have been joined by the iron road. Port Augusta is now connected with Adelaide. It requires but a glance at the map to show how very direct the route proposed wou Id tie to Melbourne and Sydney, via Port Darwin and Adelaide. The area, of the land to be granted, it may be noted, would bo equal in extent to that of Great Britain or the colony of Victoria. The townships laid out by the company along the line would become important foci of the trade and produce of the immense tracts surrounding them, and would thereby be incalculably enhanced in value. . A Highlamlman waited upon tlie Raugitikei Highway Board with a grievance, but, in liis fervour, dispensed with the dialect of the once hated Southron, and went at the members of the Board in Gaelic. The ActingChairman (Mr. Simpson) replied to him in the language of his fathers, which so delighted him that he waived his grievance and went away delighted. The " gift of tongues" 13 sometimes a blessing it would appear. •. . . Referring to the acquittal of Procoffi, the Thames Advertiser says :—"The jury have entirely, and rightly, too, disregarded the attitude of the Maoris, and determined to 'let justice be done, though the heavens fall '—and that spirit of justice has been given expression to in giving the accused man the full benefit of the doubt. It cannot be said that the prosecution has gone out of its way in any endeavour to sheet the perpetration of the crime home to the accused, neither can it be urged that the Crown Prosecutor was in any way inconsiderate in the discharge of his duty; if anything, he favoured the prisoner. To Mr. Brassey every credit is due for the position lie assumed on behalf: of the accused man, from the commencement of the initiatory proceedings until he witnessed ■him walk forth a free man from the iron grasp of the law. His coming forward and defending a friendless man in the moment of his direst extremity—independently of all that has been said and written under the influences of impetuosity —redound to liis credit, and will doubtless' prove a stepping stone in his future career." j A writer in the South African, a paper devoted to South African interests, says: — " At the time of the annexation of the Transvaal the writer, then in New Zealand, was told by Sir George Grey, formerly Governor of the Cape, who still takes a lively interest in the country, that he had received a cablegram stating that an English regiment, on its way to the Transvaal, had been surprised by a force of Boers and cat to pieces. Some other particulars were added which the writer does not think proper to mention. Time went by, and as nothing of the kind occurred, he concluded that Sir George Grey had dreamt it. Lately, however, the writer has made the acquaintance ! here of a Dutch gentleman, who has informed him that he was then a member of the Volksraad, and that a resolution was moved to the effect that 500 men should be sent to intercept the troops on their march. This resolution was rejected. It is therefore evident j that some movement was in the mind of the Boers at the time, and that it has since been realised in the lamentable destruction of the detachment of the 94th Regiment. It is, perhap3, due to Sir George Grey to make this explanation of what has hitherto seemed an inexplicable circumstance." Professional enthusiasm is not peculiar to soldier or the cleric. It is shared by the policeman, whose burning zeal for the incarceration of Her Majesty's lieges is so often quenched by an unsympathetic magistracy. This pleasing trait in the characters of the guardians of the peace has lately had a notable exemplification in Newcastle. A policeman stationed outside St. Thomas' Church, for the purpose of keeping the adjoining pavement free from obstruction, was told by a wag that his professional services were required inside, j The "active and intelligent" officer promptly ! entered the building, and stood, helmet in hand, awaiting instructions. Achurchwardcn, whosupcrintendedthe seating of thecongregation, seeing him, and thinking him an intending worshipper, pointed him out a pew in which was a respectable, and, as it turned out, an unfortunate working man. The policeman, imagining this poor fellow the delinquent he had been called in to arrest, requested him to step out, took him into custody, and haled him off to the nearest police-station. This able officer then returned to the church, and asked the churchwarden in question what accusation he had asjiiust the prisoner. An explanation ensued, fol lowed by the release of the innocent, and a great lnany humble apologies. The wag who iuvited the policeman in lias not yet j been discovered. Efforts are being made to have the rowing races which did not take place at the Ponsonby Regatta pulled off on Saturday afternooii.

This evening a concert is to be held at Northcote to provide additions to the harmonium fund of St. John the Baptist's Church, Northcote. Ample preparation has been made for the visit of Auckland residents to this rising suburb. A boat will leave the Auckland Wharf at 5.10 p.m. for Northcote, which will return to Auckland at 11 o'clock. The weather is favourable, and ample accommodation is provided, and a good attendance may therefore be expected. In the race for 12-feet sailing boats at the Ponsonby Regatta the Coy takes third prize as the Meteor did not go round the buoy. Statistics just published show that the total imports of South Australia for the year 18S0 amounted to £5,551,497, as against £5,014,150 in 1879, being an increase of £567,347. The total exports amounted to £5,574,505, against £4,762,727 in the previous year, showing an increase of £811,778. The Auckland Weeklt News of this ■week will contain portraits of the late Earl Beaconsfield and the Ker. William Morley Punahon. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a parcel of old linen from Mrs. Mihoney, Wellingtonstreet, for the Hospital. _ The Churchwardens of All Saints acknowledge with thanks the receipt, through Mr. Upton, of £5 from an anonymous friend of the church. To-day, at noon, thelialf-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Bank of New Zealand is to be held at the Bank premises, Queen-street. The halfyearly report of the directors wi 1 be submitted, and any other business transacted that may be brought forward. An announcement appears in our advertisement columns, that By-law No. 5, made by the Borough Council of Parnell, is to coins into operation in that borough on the 29th instant. Edward Gilbert, railway waggon builder, Auckland, has filed a statement of insolvency, and a first meeting of his creditors has been fixed for noon of the 3rd of May. To-day, Messrs. Cochrane and Son are to hold an unreserved sale of zoodine, in different sized bottles. Fresh tenders are to be received until noon on the 30th instant, for the erection of a banking house in Auckland for the Bank of New South Wales. The plans, &c., may be seen at the bank at Auckland. An emergency meeting of the Licensed Victuallers' Association is to be held to-day at halfpast 2 o'clock, at the United Service Hotel, to consider matters closely affecting the interests of the association. A meeting of the members of the Parnell Musical Association is to be held in Mrs. Clayton's achool-room, Parnell, at half-past 7 o'clock on the 2Stli instant. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Bright Smile Gold mining Company is advertised to be held on the 2Qch instant, at 4 o'clock, at Mr. Loer's oflice, New Zealand Insurance Buildings.