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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6140, 22 July 1881, Page 4

The principal subject of discission in town yesterday was the political position ia Wellington, where matters have suddenly and unexpectedly assumed a critical aspect We bebeve it can hardly be said that ontbe' mam practical points there is any differences Of opinion. Nobody appears to feel the slightest enthusiasm for a Government whose head would be Mr. Ormond, who is deemed.of all others the champion of the plutocracy of the colony, and who has alwaye been regarded as unfriendly to. Auckland. The proposals of Ministers with reference to local government are not thought much of, but they appear to be considered the only practical propositions before the country and as better than going back to provincialism. It is urged that they admit, at all events of being improved into reasonable ehape. It is. remarked that the people have no deeiro to see, on the eve of a general election, the country cast into turmoil by a chance of Ministry. " During the last few years it has been. frequently stated, with wliat degree of truth, we are unable to say, that the leaders of thought in Australia"have become somewhat jealous of the progress made by our own. little sea-girt colony, and that our contemporaries in Australia generally ignore our existence. Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, a knowledge of our true etate and prospects is gradually becoming known among our fellew-colonists in Australia. The International Exhibitions at Sydney and Melbourne have done much to make ourcolony familiar to our friends "acros3the water. Not a few wealthy men have become permanent residents in the Auckland district, in consequence of the information obtained at these Exhibitions. Some havo met friends from New Zealand at these Exhibitions, and been induced to pay us a visit, and having done so, were time in a position to judge of themselves as to the prospects here. We could name not a few from the various Australian colonies and from India, who have, during the last eighteen months selected' Auckland as their future home in consequence of the genial climate enjoyed here, and the beautiful scenery with which the city is surrounded. One of the latest of these is Mr. P. Auld, the proprietor of the Auldana vineyard, in South Australia. Having been for several years in Europe obtaining all the information possible regarding the wine industry there, making inquiries respecting that vine scourge, the Phylloxera vastatrix, and opening up in London a market for the produce of his South Australian vineyard, he visited New Zealand after his return home. - His health not being very good when he landed ,jn the South, lie pushed on to Auckland as rapidly as his health would permit. Here he has resided for the last few months, and hasso improved m health and vigour that he has decided to dpend the remainder of his career among6t us. He has purchased a place near Lake Takapuna, and the remaining members of liis family may be expected to rejoin him in the course of a few months. His South Australian vineyard is at present left in charge of his son, Mr. W. P. Auld. This is one of the oldest and best vineyards in South - Australia, having been established between 1847 and 1557. in the culture of the grape and the preparation of wine therefrom Mr. Auld has attained great excellence, and at j n * uternation al Exhibitions at "Vienna and. Pans he was a successful competitor against both French and German growers. The Auldana wines have acquired for themselves a name even in the London market, and now that Mr. Auld is to be a permanent resident amongst us, it would be desirable that some effort were made to prove the suitability of the Auckland district or province or too production. The market is almost limitless if the produce is of a superior quality, and the permanent residence Jwn; of an expert in this industry might help to solve this problem, which has been often conBidered, and about which there exists many various opinions. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday, The Chief Commissioner presiding. Present : Messrs. Firth, May, and Moat. There was a goed deal of merely routine business disposed of. Mr. Firth handed in his resignation as a member of the Board, giving his reason for doing so, which will be found at length in another column. The civil business of the Circuit Sittings of the Supreme Court was concluded last night. In the case of Costley v. Lewie the jury (special) not being able to agree were discharged. In the case of MacCormick v. Merrick, the record was withdrawn. The Court adjourned sine die. The officer in charge of the Auckland lelegraph Department, Mr. Furbey, is making active preparations for the inauguraa jj-°- telephonic exchange in this city. Additional firms are giving in their adhesionto the movement, and the list of subscribers is considerably over the minimum required by the Government to give the system a good prospect of success. A meoting of the Harbour Board will be held to-day to consider the following notices of motion :— Kb I.—Mr. McMillan to move: That this Board art of opinion that the second schedule to the Harbours Act, 1878 should be amended to the following effect; (1) That three members be elected or the ratepayers In the borough of Auckland, one member to be elected by the ratepayers in tho borough of Parnell. and ono member to be elected by the ratepayers of each of the highway districts of Ponsonby and Devonport • f2) Ihat »u elections of members of the Board be Leld under the provisions of the Regulations of Local Elections Act, 1876; (3) That the chairman belaid such amount as the Board may decide upon. That a ;opy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. *«' 2 n^s - I S K f n2 i£ *° movo : Th »t the Eecretar> a tho Board be instructed to communicate tritU h!? S R n i S3 rl tJ?. n i? S n naeld .' "Westing them to furnish his Board with nil particulars in connection with ■heir iron floating docks, including, price and dura™ft*r { al fS w ?T a l n 2 l S. b b e " "V." 'heir docks re in use in the United Kingdom or elsewhere nS™ 3 T^ W JL t l ll< L se !: rßtar3r b(! aUo taetructed to with tho harbour or dock authorities oi fow York, Boston, Montreal, and Quebec requestinc nronnation with reference, to dock aooommod»tion at liese ports, cost of docking,.end the kind of Uo:k lost approved.of. . ■. ~

We\havereceived from Mr.. j Bon, farmer, Stpney Creek, Opotiki.a sample x of syrup made By him from common sorghum, T grown upon his farm this season. He states j that he extracted 6$ pints, of juice, and j toiled this down to 1$ pints. The syrup is j well tasted, and has been-reduced to the a consistency of treacle, perhaps a' little a thicker than the ordinary run of treacle, as J it is retailed, by the grocers. He asks & us to • ascertain from grocers in town j the value of the syrup. It is useless to j do this, because in its present condition it is very unlikely any one would be found willing to purchase it, even ii it was available in quantity. Mr. Thompson has evidently . shown neglect to his syrup in its preparation. r Jnst before it comes to the boil a large quan- ' tity of froth and sediment is thrown up, which should be carefully skimmed off as it rises, until it- boils pure, without more of j the matter rising. It seems that the skim- g ming of this refuse has been neglected, and ' has become mixed with the syrup as it * gradually thickened. In the small vessel containing the sample sent to us this J sediment has sunk to the bottom, and for £ some distance near the bottom the syrup is t quite cloudy and dirty looking. With this I defect removed, there should be no difficulty <3 in disposing of really good syrup of equal <J flavour with what we have received and freed a from all impurities. It shonld be rememuered, however, that crystallized augar has s never yet been produced in quantity and 1 with regularity from the juice of the common f sorghum, but the granulation of the juice of v well-ripened maize stalks appears to always s yield mare or less dry sugar. Whentheseedof " the early amber variety of sorghum is obtain- f able in small qualities in the colony the experiments for sugar making should be confined to ' this and other proved varieties, or to different " kinds of maize stalks. Ac previously stated 3 Mr. J. C. Firth is likely to make an experi- a ment during the-coming season on his estate i at Matamata, and Mr. Justice Gillies will ( repeat his experiment, at Epsom. In an I article which appeared in the Weekly News t of the 2ud instant is detailed the method of a treating the juice as practised at Washing- e ton. c " Never Too Lafe To Mend" was repeated ] last night to a good house for the fifth time, , and with thorough acceptance, to judge by j the applause of the audience. The realism , of this drama, its almost historic claims to £ recognition for the influence it exercised { upon the question of gaol discipline, its ( completely effective mise en scene, and the . excellent acting of the company, should , carry it prosperously through the present , week! The compliments paid to Mr. Carden ( and his company are thoroughly deserved. £ He is making the theatre a real source of ] intellectual entertainment. In consequence ] of the great success of " It is Never too Late j to Mend," it will be continued on Saturday ( evening, instead of "Jes3ie Brown," as an- j Eounced. The latter piece will be put on the stage on Monday night. Messrs. Foy Brothers, photographers, of the Thames, have sent us several photographs which they have executed as mementoes of the great misfortune which has befallen the district in the flood of last Saturday night. A view of Pahau-street is given, the middle of which is covered with logs and driftwood, which could only have been carried there by a powerful torrent. The Hape Creek is shown, where in Grey-street it ciit a new channel, leaving the bridge spanning a fillednp bed. Pollen-street is shown at the Junction Hotel, where the metalling is torn np and destroyed by the fierce torrent which had run across it, and which had also left enormous logs and a deep deposit of mud. To those especially who know the _ localities, these pictures convey a vivid notion of the extent of the calamity. The views are well taken. A painful case came before the Justices at the Police Court yesterday morning, in which a young girl fourteen years of age, named Annie Long, was charged with breaking and entering a house at Penrose occupied by Mr. E. Hall; also, with the larceny of a watch and some money from the same gentleman, during his absence and that of his wife from home. The accused is said to be the daughter of ■ a very respectable man at Christchurcb, and she has been living with her grandmother at Penrose. The police took the case in hand, and ultimately traced the matter to the girl r who denied her guilt, but ultimately made a confession, and the watch and chain were discovered secreted. The Justices remanded the case till to-day, in order that Mr. Barstow, R.M., might deal with it, and take such steps as might seem best underthe circumstances. Professor Eraser, phrenologist, gave another of his interesting and instructive lectures, in the Temperance Hall, Albertatreet, on "Our Young Folk 3, and What to do With Them." He gave some excellent advice as to the training of children, and the necessity of adapting their occupations to the mental and physical qualifications with which they were endowed. At the close of the lecture he made a phrenological examination of the heads of three subjects (having been previously blindfolded by one of the audience), and the audience by their plaudits testified that the delineation of character under such difficult circumstances was pretty correct. The Professor announced that on Sunday night he would lecture on "The Religious Teaching of Phrenology," and on the following Thursday on "Parentage, and the Primal Cause of Defects in Children." A stable at the rear of a house situate in Prospect Terrace, Ponsonby, and occupied by Mr. James Spry, was burnt down on Wednesday night. Some harness was saved. The stable was the property of Mr. Cargo, of the Tamaki,. and rented by-Mr. Spry, along with the residence. Some youngsters had been playing about it, and the origin of the fire is believed to be accidental. Mr. Worthington will give the third of his Friday evening series of lectures this even- ' ing, at 8 o'clock. The subject is "The Pyrrhic Wars," and it will, we are assured, be as entertaining and instructive as those ■ before delivered. By special request, Mr. Worthington will read Macauley's "Lay of Virginius." - The magnificent scenery for the production on Saturday evening next, at the Lorne-stree-hall, of "Les Cloche 3 de. Corneville " is almost finished. A number of carpenters will be put to work early on Saturday morning to enlarge the stage, and the opera in its entirety will be presented for the first time to an Auckland audience at 8 p.m. on that evening. It is intended that the representation shall • be on the whole one of the finest ever witnessed in the colony. A most singular occurrence was brought to our knowledge yesterday. A lady residing intone of our suburbs drove in in her carriage, and before leaving fresh' candles were placed in .the lamps. During, the drive to town one of the . lamps was especially exposed to the sun, and the lady noticed that the wick of the candle which was! in the focus of;.the sun's rays : was. smoking. On alighting and opening the lamp she found that it Jhad; sprung into flame—rfcb.e sun had condescended, to light the candle- ■•■..-;, - ■ > AmongVthe'ininers who have suffered from the rainfall' of' Saturday, we learn that Mr. '.. l>. Tookey and mates, of the Otunui, have had a pile of quartz, the result of twelve months' irorkj swept awaly. The men had just got up a : berdan and mortar to the claim, and were about; commencing to reduce the atone when•the.flopd Swept it all away. ■'■■■_■ •'' -

On Tuesday night the..residence of Mr. Lowe, storekeeper, Ponsonby Road, was robbed: During the night Mr. Lo'wewoke up and noticed a light through ■ the chink' of his bedroom door, but thought that possibly his son was about. After a short time he heard a noise as if a chair had Tbeen moved, and got out of bed to ascertain the cause, and was in the act of unlocking the front door when he heard some one proceeding along the passage at the back. Looking out, he saw a. man running along the street. Examination showed that the uninvited visitor had admitted himself by forcing back the snib of the back window. He had managed to find bis way into the shop and secure the cash box. which contained £4 or £5. The thief also helped himself to a silver watch which was lying on the dining-room table. No trace of the thief has yet been discovered. A number of burglaries have been perpetrated in the suburbs recently, and it is to be hoped the police will soon give an account of the offenders.

Mrs. Hamley, of the Auckland Hotel,, gavo a ball at the Lorne-s'treet Hall last evening, to the members of the Liliputian Opera Company, who have during their stay here made her establishment their head-

quarters. It was intended to celebrate a double event—the birthday of her daughter, and also as a compliment to the troupe, whose conduct while jgpder her care she speaks in the highest terms. ; Mrs. Haraley had issued invitations to a large number of friends and acquaintances, and the gathering, which must have comprised about 200 persons, bore all the aspect of a family party. The hall was elaborately, decorated with flags and evergreens, while potted plants were judiciously distributed throughout the hall, and thus heightened the general effect. The supper-room was similarly decorated. Dancing commenced at an early hour, and soon the little folke were tripping it in the mazy dance. Sir Joseph Porter forgot his (or her) " official utterances;" Captain Corcoran,, instead of addressing himnelf to the " fair moon," had an eye on matters of a more sublunary character; Dick Deadeye's name was not " agin him" on this occasion j while Hebe and Little Buttercup were everywhere; Ralph Rackstraw exalted his office in. the garb of a British nian-o' war's-man; the Boatswain was genial as ever; and even "the bear" danced his best with his , liliputian partner. Mr. Darbyshire officiated as M.C., and supervised effectively a programme of some twenty dances. ' Mr. H. Pollard presided at the pianoforte and furnished the dance music, until the orchestra of the Theatre Royal were' enabled to arrive. Supper was laid out in the ante-rooms in a tasteful .style, and comprised every delicacy of the season. No expense or trouble was spared by the hostess in adding to the comfort and enjoyment of her guests, and the reunion was: one of the most pleasant and enjoyable that has taken place for some time past. Our Welsfbrd correspondent writes on the 15th instant:—" After being closed for three months, onr district school is again opened. The teacher (Mr. O. Dean) appointed by the Board of Education arrived the last week in June. Some anxiety was manifested as to the class of "teacher the Board would appoint, and it is gratifying'to'find that all are well j pleased, and as a consequence the attendance lias materially increased, and promises fairly to'double any former:attendance." In our advertising columns will be found a notice respecting the Young Men's Institute, which appears to be realising the most favourable hopes- of its projector's. Mr. Edmiston,' the secretary of the institution, notifies that he will be in attendance at the institute, corner of Cook and Albert-streets, on Monday next, .from noon till 2 p.m., .and from 6 to S p.m., in order to receive subscriptions and enrol members. The institution has met a long felt want; refreshments are provided at moderate rates, and papers, periodicals, games, &c, are furnished so as to enable visitors to the institute to pass a pleasant hour. The secretary invites those interested in this social movement to pay a visit to the premises. That indefatigable caterer for the amuse-ment-loving public, Mr. P. Doran, will open the Albert Hall, to-morrow (Saturday) evening, r.or a season. He has made arrangements for securing the services of a number of. new variety men from Wellington, who will submit for public patronage a Kood'.'illround entertainment, consisting of danc£T>, comic singing, and other attractions. A gentleman reported to Mr. Hughes, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, yesterday evening that he had noticed a. light burning, and then go out, in the premises of Messrs. Hesketh and Aitken, Durham-street, rather suspiciously. The custodian of the premises was thereupon sought out, and it was ascertained that a candle had evidently been laid on some bags of produce, and left burning. It finally expended itself without doing any damage. A quantity of grease was found to be spread over the bags. A correspondent of the Nelson Colonist has been writing about the slaughter of wild pigs on the Plains. Most of his assertions are quite correct, but to the following we take exception:—"Scores are often destroyed in cine day by a single person. Mr. Martyn (late, I. think, of Waikato), with a friend, bagged seventy ferocious monsters in a day." Tue numbers killed may be quite correct, but it is " the seventy ferocious monsters" that won't go down. A pighunter may run across one such brute in a month, which rips his dogs, chases himself, and gives ample proof that there is an element of danger in the sport; but seventy all ferocious and all monsters! A faith which might remove Mount Egmont would be unable to digest that statement. We are quite satisfied that Mr. Martyn never made so rash an assertion.—Hawera Star. The House Committee of the General Assembly have issued a notice with reference to Bellamy's which runs thus :—" The tariff from this date has been raised 10 per cent., but discount to that amount will be allowed on monthly accounts, if paid within one week after the date of rendering the same." It will be seen that the inducement has to be held out of a liberal discount for cash. The special Parliamentary correspondent of the Taranaki Herald thue describes a scene in the House :—"No sooner had Mr. Swanson' thrown himself into his seat than, pale with suppressed wrath., up rose : the member 'for City East, Mr. Speight. He went right, at Swanson's throat, and gripped him with determined fangs." The combat must have been highly interesting to patrons of dog fights. . ' ' ':'■".. The rumour is being freely circulated in the Manawatu that another volcano , has■ burst forth—the outcome of tho earthquake. It is stated by many that they have seen the smoke issuing from a peak in the Tararoa: Ranges, and others even avow that flames have been seen by them from the' same spot., The alleged.volcano is said tOibe situated in the ranges, about midway between Palmer- • ston and Foxton. ' : ' •" : Through the courtesy of the' Chief Surveyor (Mr. Humphries), '.we (Taranaki Herald) have been supplied with the exact altitude of Mount Egmont and: surrounding ranges as obtained by. triangulation recently carried on in the district., The exact height of Mount Egmont ia 8260 feet; Pouakai Ranges,-4590 feet; • and Patua or Tataraimaka Ranges, 2240;", feet. " Mount Egmont was set:down.by the.i Admiralty; as being 8270 feet, which - : was a very; close approximate from "observationß, made; on; shipboard;

A correspondent, referring to _the proposals respecting the Chinese question, asks, "ought a law not to be-passed making it compulsory to have all Chinese vaccinated as they enter these colonies ?"

Yesterday evening about 7 o'clock the firebell in the Kyber Pass-road rang out the alarm, and the surronnding bells took up the chorus. The brigade turned out in readiness to proceed to the spot, but, atter careful inquiries had been instituted, no fire could be heard of, so the members dispersed again. The Colonial Register of the 14th May thus refers to our harbour :—" The harbour of Auckland, New Zealand, one of the finest in the world, is to be improved by the construction of a first-class dock. The present dock is too shallow to accommodate the larger class of vessels; and hence the proposition now under consideration has been made. The proposal seems worthy of support ; for it shonld be remembered that Auckland is the New Zealand terminus of the steamers of the San Francisco mail route; it is the only harbour in the colony where an abundant and cheap supply of coal can be obtained; that it will He in the direct course of the navigation between Europe and Australia when the Panama Canal is made; that it is a convenient headquarters for the men-of-war in the Pacific; and that it is the only place suitable for an emporium of trade with the islands in the same ocean."

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, a person who had been summoned for his account by the proprietors of a newspaper, pleaded poverty. "But," said his Worship, "this is for the subscription to a newspaper. It is highly laudable to keep one's self au coward with the current history of the day, which can best be found in the columns of a respectable newspaper, and to supply it the best talent of the day are invariably informed, who of course must be paid. If you could not afford to pay the very moderate price charged,_ you should have been content with borrowing from your neighbour, though that practise is not to be encouraged. The extravagance was rushed into open-eyed, and now you must pay for it. Judgment for plaintiff, with costs. The New Zealand Times thus refers to the death of Dr. Harding, of Wellington, who was formerly in practice in Auckland: — " Dr. Harding was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and after passing his examination in Dublin, he joined the Royal Navy and came out to this colony as assistant surgeon in H.M.s. Miranda, in the year 1861. He served through the greater part of the Maori war, and for his service during the siege of the Gate Pah was awarded the New Zealand medal for his assiduous attention and kindly disposition to the troops who were wounded. Before leaving H.M/s service Dr. Harding was married to Miss Rose Brigden. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne and Captain Edwin, of this city, married two other sisters, and the most friendly relationship existed amongst the three families.. The deceased gentleman left the navy in 1864, and commenced practice in his profession in Auckland. Thence he went to Waikouaiti, in Otago, where he endeared himself to a large circle of friends, but when Dr. Norris, a well-known medico, died here, Dr. Harding was advised to come to Wellington, which he did in 1874, and from that date up to the hour of his death (indeed, he almost died in harness), he carried on his practice as confided iD, respected, and even.loved by all who knew him." . . The accuracy of the following has been vouched for as a correct record of a scene which occurred last week :—Scene, country road—harrassed farmer from Flat Bush, in charge of team heavily laden, and stuck up. Enter swell from Mangere (with glass at eye): "Ah, Mr. , your horses won't draw!" Harrassed farmer: "Draa-aw, ye-e-es; draw the attention of every ass that comes along the road." Sir, —You have a report published from the General Assembly of New Zealand, where the name of R. J. Feltus appears, and his claim is not recommended. Little do the public know the ground of the petition. I do not myself care a fig, whether I get a shilling a not, but still it is hard that I should lose £300.— R. J. Feltus. In the Auckland Weekly News this week appears a portrait of the late Dean Stanley and that of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, besides illustrations of interest to country settlers. A new story. "Lost— A Pearl," by the author of " Earl Wayno's Nobility," is also commenced in this number. . Shameful Conduct of a Parson.— Clerical Gay Lotharios About—A. Widow's Ewe Lamb and a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. The wholo story of this shocking affair in to-day's Observer. Ministerial Crisis. —Important telegrams disclosing the true stato of affairs in to-day's Observer. Grand Double Number of the Observer. —Sixty-four columns of the news and gossip of the week—Portraits of tho Eoyal Midshipmen and Earl ClanwiUiam. Buy early. Thomas Milne Machattie, commission agent, Auckland, has filled a statement of insolvency, and the first meeting of his creditors is flxed foe tho 28th instant at 11 o'clock. '. Mr. P. Herapath invites tenders for two brick shops in the Karangahapc-rosd. Plans, &c, to be'seen at his office. The annual meeting of the ratepayers in the Graf ton highway district is to behold this eveningin the Nugent-street school-room at half past seven o'clock, when the question of amalgation with the city will probably be discussed. Dr. Wine announces his departure from Auckland for a month. The nineteenth annual meeting of the shareholders in the Auckland Gas Company is advertised to be held on the 29th instant, at 2 o clock, for the purpose of receiving the balance-sheet, annual report, i'O. The half-yearly meeting of the Bay of Islands Coal Company is advertised to be held In the large room of the Now Zealand Insurance Company s buildings on the Bth August, to receive the directors' report, &c. The transfer books are to be closed from Monday, the 2Sth, until the Bth August, both days nclusivc, ■