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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6148, 1 August 1881, Page 4

— t . —... ■ == . V There has been some speculation in . luring the last few days as whet h er Cawhiao, if invited,-would extend his %Hsit ;o Auckland. JEM pinion o! those who mow sometm'jQ 0 £ na tj ve mind is, that f he iuvjted he would come". He has a plunge which nobody ever expected to see, and the likelihood is, that having gone so far, he will go on to the end. He is coming to Mercer. We have no doubt that he will be anxious to see Mangere, where he spent nearly all his days till the outbreak of the war, and where there is-still a small piece of land held by his family. Tawhiaoand Manuhiri are also the owners of a piece of land named Pukapnka, running down from the St. John's College road to the Orakei basin. It a thought that Tawhiao would prefer to leave the main body of his followers at Mercer, and come on with a few of the prin:ipal men. As a matter ot coarse, if the people }f Auckland invited Tawhiao and his foliowent, they would have to feed ihem. ilr. Sandeii, ,vho is familiar with what was done at Cambridge and Hamilton, gives us the following is ti mate of what would bo required : — | "Food required per diem to keep Ring natives at present travelling round Waikato: 9001bs. beef, at3id, £13 2s 6d; 1£ tons potatoes, £6 ss; 600 loaves, £S 15s; 1 chest tea, £8; 3001bs. sugar, £5; biscuits, £5; fish, Co: total, £31 2s 6d. In lien ol beef a lot >f fish would be, I think, better rppreciated. firewood (about 2 tons) would be .necessary; joilere for cooking ; a few tomahawks. The latives do not care much about beer, &c., rat a couple of hogsheads would make the i-ar-dance better. On arrival some one hould be ready to show them to their [uarters, whither-they could go through; ;he principal streets as the King would jrefer walking to driving. The procession rould take some time to get through, so hat the public would have a good chance of eeing the natives. Separate accommodaion and of a superior sort would be required for the King."

The railway authorities are just completing arrangements at the Breakwater for discharging timber sent from the KaiparaJ>y raiL A siding has been constructed the full length of the stone work, and at the outer end powerful skids are built from low water mark up to theheight of the waggons. This will do away with the old plan o! having the logs rafted down the harbour from Riverhead, and also lessen tlje cost of forwarding timber from the Kaipara.

In our obituary column vrill be observed recorded the death of Mr. »7. S, Cousins (of the well-known firm of Cousins and Atkin, coach-builders), which took place early yesterday morning at the early age ot 40. The deceased about ten day 3 2.30 beg2n to feel unwell, but continued bis usual attention to business until Saturday, the 22nd ultimo, on .the evening of which day he attended a rehearsal of the Band of Hope " Service of Song," which is to be given to-night in Sit. James's Hall. On returning home he stated that he felt premonitory symptoms of erysipelas, a disease which had attacked him more than once before. The malady rapidly took so malignant a form that the best medical attendance and nursing availed nothing in averting its fatal effects. Mr. Cousins came to Auckland as one of the members of the Xoncomformist settlement founded at Albertland, and arrived in the ship Matilda Wattenbach in ISC2. He spent the first six months at Albertland, and subsequently returned to Auckland, where he entered into partnership with Mr. Charles Atkin, which alliance resulted in a prosperous career. He was a son of Mr. \Vm. James Cousins, coachbuilder, of Abingdon, Berks., who still survives. His two brothers—the Revs. William and George Cousins —are engaged in the mission field in the island of Madagascar. Mr. Cousins was a member of tlie Congregational Church, Beresford-strcet, and highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens as a man of unblemished reputation and strict business integrity. He leaves a widow and six children. The funeral will take place to-morrow (Tuesday) at 3 p.m. Owing to his decease the coach factory of the firm will be closed to-day and to-morrow.

When our reporter visited the Ashmore yesterday afternoon he was told by one of the steerage passengers that for a time some very bad meat was served out to them, and it was not until some of it cooked had been presented to the captain to feast his olfactory nerves on, that a better class was given. It is too frequently the case that ship victuallers place on board of the vessel old beef and pork unfit for human consumption, picked up in job lots for a trifle at auction. Their motto is "anything is good enough for a steerage passenger." From what this parson says it would appear there was no ship's medicine chest, and the only physic on board was what little the doctor carried privately.

The French Literary Club held its usual weekly meeting on Saturday evening at the club-room, Young Men's Christian Association Buildings, W ellcsley-street. There were over fifty members present, of whom nearly one-third were ladies. Mr. A. F. T. Ansley gave an excellent reading from Delille's "The Catacombs of Rome, and Air. Seward another, which was a criticism of Victor Hugo as an author. The president (SI. de L'Eau) gave the first part of an amusing original paper, entitled "The Story of a Sparrow," after Douglas Jerrold's Story of a Feather." The usual criticism followed. On next night of meeting M. Gamier will give a lectures on "Electro-Magnetism, as applied to Healing," with practical illustrations, and readings will be forthcoming by M. Ansenne and other gentlemen.

Mr. J. Mayo, of Drury, writing in respect of apples capable of being artificially dried, says :—" Seeing in your article on the apple that Lord Suffield is said to be an excellent apple for drying, allow me to point out that come error has crept in in some way. Lord Suffield is an early apple that will not keep long, although an excellent apple. It wa3 shown in its last stages at the late fruit show. As apple-drying is likely to become an important industry in this province, the first stage towards success is to plant the best sorbs for that purpose. The variety used in England is Norfolk Beefing, hence the "name from the likeness to dried beef. The Americans cultivate largely Maiden's Blush, and consider it the best for drying. It is also a vigorous grower and an abundant bearer, being also a fine showy marketable variety. No doubt other sorts are valuable for drying, but as these two varieties are proven Al, we cannot be far wrong in taking advantage of the knowledge obtained by the experience of others."

A communication (says the Hawera Star) having been sent from Hawera complaining of the exceptionally high tariff on the line between Hawera and New Plymouth, a reply had been received from an Auckland stating that enquiries will be at once made into the matter from headquarters. It is really surprising how readily, with a general election in full view, members respond to the least hint of a constituent that everything is not as it should be. This is one of the indirect advantages of triennial Parliaments.

An instance occurred in the District Court,, at Hamilton, the other day, showing thomistake„made bythe'framers of the Stamn, "Act "in " not- allornng' j tostage stainps-tp. v-" used for receipts." A receipt wa» - -which had not Decn stamped -produced was made, but subse"-' time it the receiver • r 6 ? & and cancelledby recentf *- "J«tead of the maker of the _and simply because no stamp -was ! available at the time. Fortunately for the litigants, the receipt was not pat in to prove but the warranty of the horse told, which was attached to it, or each would have been subject to a £10 fine. Yet

neither parity could be really blamed that the document was unstamped. ' Country settlers meeting on a farm 2nd striking a bargain for a horse or cattle then and there, cannot be supposed to run the risk of it 3 falling through until they shall have the opportunity of getting a receipt stamp from a post town, whereas ten to one they have postage stamps in the house. It may be convenient for the Government to know what is raised by duty stamps and what by postage, bat the knowledge is gained at great inconvenience to the public and loss to the Government. Iu the country, amongst persons knowing each other well, the ag receipt is as oiten waived as not, with no desire to defraud the revenue, for they would gladly, if allowed, atSx a post Etamp of double value, but bccause receipt stamps are not available. Stamps serving the double purpose of postage aßd receipt are now issued iu the Home country, anu an i alteration in the law here would a great boon.—[Own Correspondent.] A correspondent (" Tit for Tat") writes and asks, " Apropos of the stories told at the meeting of the Law Society of the blunders ' of the great unpaid, could not a pretty good volume be compiled of the blunders of the greatly paid ? or to go further, of the gentlemen of the long robe ? The only difference that can be urged being that while the former give their time and services freely and gratuitously, often to their own detriment, but thereby largely conveniencing residents in the country districts, and saving the country some thousands yearly, the latter got well paid, more particularly the profession, for they seem to all get fat and wealthy, while the clients get visibly thinner and poorer."" —

At the annual meeting of the VictOiia Rifle Company, held last, week, it was announced that the officers would give a prize for riflo competition. We have been shown the prize sheeted. It i-. a Tery handsome rap, ct riSea in tripod form. At ihz v. tl~.fi guns they are encl*>is»i '■'/ 3: £sce of the cup Is a repr«a?-USw.n; tis-gsS practice—one rr\r. « the ii«sa; pissS tofctug aim, theotliec standing I»kkss4. s&s <ipyvate side is a shield, witaia vhl-ih titsntsis of the winner i» to fce t-gri.red. TLt crip was procured iron Mr. Kohoj erta&lLihment, Queen-tirt'-i. Tee ire that it sliall be find for every trire> months (points being ill-jwed tor atieadauee at parades), and tho competitor twice iu succession, or three times at. intervals, is to be the owner oi the trophy.

There was a very good house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening to witness the performance of Boucicault's sensational drama, " The Colleen Bawu." Mr, Carden appeared as Myles-na-Coppalcen, and played the part with great spirit. Mr. Elliot, as Hardress Cregan, acquitted himself well, as also did Mr. Welsh as Danny Mann. Miss Marston Leigh, as Eily O'Connor, wa3 very successful. She was much applauded. Miss Tanner played the part o£ Ann Chute with much taste, and also received the well-merited applause of th« audience. The other characters were all well sustained. Seldom have wo seen this popular drama better performed than it was on Saturday night. For to-night, a dramatised version of Wilkic Collins' work, " The Frozen Deep," will be presented, with entirely new and appropriate scenery. It is one of the most realistic and graphic stories of this popular author. No pains or expense has been spared to make this drama one of the most spectacular and effective of the new productions of the season.

The Breakwater-road is in its usual state of mud for the time of the year. The authorities have asphalted the footpath iu Customhouse-street. Could the improvement not be carried along as far as the rail-way-station, and thus do away with all the inconvenience travellers by rail have to suffer in reaching the station ?

Mr. E. West will deliver s lecture on "The late Earl of Beaconsficld " at the meeting of the St. James's Discussion Class to-night. The subject is a luost interesting one, and as Mr. West is a thoughtful and intelligent writer, his lecture will no doubt be worth listening to. The . meeting mil probably be held 111 the vestry-room of St. James's Church, as the hall will be occupied by the Band of Hope Union.

Our correspondent "Monitus" writes as follows in reference to the criticism of Mr. W. D. Campbell on his article on the geology of Waikato :—"Mr. Campbell's exceptions to the ecological appearances of the Waikato district, as sketched in the Herald of Saturday, wears too hasty a tone, to call for other than a few facts which influence ' Scientist,' for his further information. The existence of vast areas of diluvial gravel, containing •fragments of primary rocks, point more clearly to first degradation by glacial action, than to other causes ; and under the head of glacial drift, are comprehended all those extensive accumulations of claj T , sand, gravrZ, and boulders, which cover the true tertiaries of the Northern Hemisphere. The course of slow climatic changes.on the earth's surface, may be instanced in the discoveries cf fossil remains of animals and plants in Greenland, the Arctic coast, and Van Dieineu'a Land, that had growth only within a tropical temperature; and perhaps may also be observed in the secession towards the north, of the New Zealand kauri, .remains having been found considerably southward of its present zone. The obvious typical error should have read ' calx and flint fromfragments of felspar and those of other primary rocks, are mentioned as forming some, with the upper constituents of the diluvial drift plains of Waikato. With regard to auriferous rocks, it may he remarked—first, that plntonic rocks are highly crystalline, cooled slowly under great pressure; secondly, the schist order were originally deposited under water, and subsequently altered by subterranean heat, thereby altering their texture. Above these two primative formations appear the aqueous rocks, as instanced in the trachytic products and breccia of the Colville range, where arc found certain of the auriferous veius of a crystalline structure, showing other metamorphic process and conditions of cooling. By a proper examination of such texture, Sir Roderick Murchison was enabled to detect the similitude of the auriferous veins of the Urals to those in the Australian ranges, years before gold was discovered in the latter."

The Lyttelton • Times • tlius severely admonishes a careless contemporary:—"The New Zealand. Times is rapidly acquiring a reputation for ignorance which bids fair to rival the absurdities of the Lyell Argus. Its last escapade -is the statement that Mr. Sheehan took as his guide in the construction of his Repeal Bill the old motto, 'Dc lando est Carthago.' One 'would think the Times supposed old Cato's famous watchword had something to do with the piscicultnral art."

•Our Waikato Correspondent writes:— The members of tho A.C. force have now all come into Cambridge from the camp above Okorire, where it was supposed they would winter and continue on the work ot the Cambridge-Rotorua-rdad through lapapa. "When the Hon. Mr. Rolleston passed along this road the rain had ]ust set in, and he left the district with a lively sense of disgust at the miserable condition of the road he had to travel, which m some places through the bush is horse track, though thousands h av ° spent upon it. It is supposed by the calling iri of the constabulary road party that the Government are about to abandon _the further formation of Moss s road and adopt Simpson's line, which skirts to the left of Tapapa bush, then cuts diagonally through • it on to the open ridge again, keeping a good dry ridge all the way, and only traversing the bush a distance of _CJ miles, that portion of the bush too being very open, and free of large trees. To cut the road two chains wide on the present road would be a heavy expense, and less would not suffice, and merely too for the caving of a couple of miles.

The introduction of "The Chimes of Coraeville" by the Liliputian Opera Troupe is no longer a problem, and judging from its production on Saturday night at rehearsal, it should prove a pronounced success. The troupe gave a private rehearsal on the floor of the Lorne-street Hall on Saturday evening. There was a highly critical audicnce in attendance. Amongst: those present "*vere Judge Fenton and family, Herr Carl Schmidt, Mr. Groom (correspondent of the Daily News, now on a tour through the colonies), and a number of influential gentlemen. Those present manifested the greatest pleasure at the. manner in which the rehearsal went off. The critics present were competent judges, and, with their applause, we are prepared for a genuine success for the Chimes of Corneville. The opening is fixed for Wednesday evening. By that time Mr. Thornton, the scenic artist, will have everything ready to make the production a success.

The Rev. Thomas Spurgeon again conducted the services at the Wellesley-street Baptist Church yesterday, and preached two excellent discourses. In the morning there was a crowded congregation, and forms had to be placed up the aisles. At the evening service it was necessary to close the front doors before its commencement, but the doors leading into the adjacent school-room having been taken off their hinges, the balance of those desiring admission were accommodated in that hall as far as possible.

The principal item of police news is the arrest of a carter named Thomas Whittle on a charge of stealing a bag of oats. The charge is not definitely laid. It appears the accused is in employ as a carter, and was engaged in unloading the vessels Darcy Pratt and Oamaru. The charge is, we have little doubt, preferred in order to stop stealing from vessels unloading at the port. The case is one which exercised the detective y force ot the city, and the evidence was traced up by Detective Brennan and Constable Jones.

The last section in the Pavihaka Block recently opened for sale, has now been sold. It will be remembered that none of this land was taken up when first offered for sale, even the deferred payment land passing. By degrees, however, the whole of it has been taken up ; by far the greater part has been bought by bona Jidc settlers.

A correspondent, "Truth," says he does not wonder at Mr. Morton drawing the attention of the Chamber of Commerce to the way in which goods are carelessly landed on the Queen-street Wharf amidst slush and dirt. He can corroborate the statements made, and recommends that certain of the Harbour Board should be employed in sweeping the wharf and keepimr it tidy.

Mrs. Gleany, so widely known in Auckland from her able lectures on " Anglo-Israelism," died in Melbourne on the ISth ult. She had gone to Australia on a lecturing tour in connection with her favourite theme, and the Anglo-Israelites have lost in her an earnest and enthusiastic worker.

The Canterbury Press, in a leading article on the powers of the local Board of Health, says it concurs in the views of the Board that they have not the necessary legal power to act, but, as the colonial Government have expressed a different opinion, the obvious course is to defer to the superior authority, and leave the onus of failure with the latter. It says :—" It is agreed on all sides that inspection of dairies is absolutely necessary, and the Board have hitherto only hesitated, because they imagined themselves not sufficiently empowered to act. By the highest authority in the country they are now informed that they do possess the necessary powers. There remains, therefore, only one thing to do; and that is, to at once appoint their inspector of dairies, and set him to work energetically. It is of course possible that the highest authority may be wrong, but that is not the Board's affair. If, after taking action, it is found that they have exceeded their legal power; if, after their inspector has been at work, opposition should be aroused and legal proceedings should be taken, the Board is free from responsibility. Acting in the undoubted interests of their constituents, and on the dicta of the colonial Government, they will have done that which a right sense of their duty impelled : them to do, and the public will not, in case of error, be slow to put the responsibility on the right shoulders and acquit the 3?ard of blame."

Whilst Sydney (says the Taranaki Herald) 13 troubled with the small-pox epidemic, and the Thames with the scarlet fever epidemic, we in New Plymouth appear to have a libel cpidemic.' The Herald and News have each been served with a writ for an action for libel—the •. former being sued for £200 damages, and the latter for £500. We do hear of another libel case being threatened against our contemporary, owing to some unkind remarks made by it respecting Mr. Lamb's donkey. Mr. Lamb says hu does not so much care what they say about him, but no one has a right to insult hi 3 donkey.

At St. Paul's Church last evening, the Rev. C. M. Nelson preached an excellent sermon, taking his text from 2nd Chronicles, 20ch. Uv. Copies of a statement of accounts of the Home.Mission Fund, which is devoted to assisting poor country districts in the Auckland diocese, were placed in the seats. It was also announced that a collection in aid of the above fund would be taken up next Sunday (7th prox.).

As an erroneous impression i 3 current that four of the gentlemen who are to represent St. Andrew's Association in the forthcoming public debate on Free-trade are not members of that association, Mr. J. A. Haslett desires, through our columns, to give the rumour an emphatic contradiction. He says : " Each of its representatives is, and has been for the last six months, enrolled upon St. Andrew's reccistry, and has been in regular attendance at St. Andrew's meetings."

The usual evangelistic service was held at the Theatre Royal last evening. Mr. Smith, presided. Excellent addresses were given by Messrs. H. Field and S. Parker. The chairman stated that the amount collected at the boxes at she door on the previous Sunday evening amounted to £2 2s. It was also announced that the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon would give a discourse at the Choral Hall on Thursday evening, at half-past 7 o'clock, on behalf of the Young Men's Christian Association,

The master of the ship Ashmore is not a man to be trifled with. The representatives of the butchers went aboard yesterday afternoon, as is usual • when vessels coma in, to solicit the order for meat. He refused t<s give an order, and peremptorily ordered them into their boats. These individuals, not remarkable for bashfulness, nor easily rebuffed, tried to stand their ground, but a threat of being slung overboard had the effect of inducing them to obey orders. One particular pertinaceous canvasser was told that if he did not haul, his boat off, heavy weights would be thrown into her, and the boat sunk. Using belaying pins was also freely spoken of. The watermen and canvassers unanimously declare that Capt. Whitmore is the greatest terror they have yet encountered. No doubt the master of the Ashmore has had considerable experience of this class of canvassers at various ports throughout the world, and was determined thereby to take the bull by the horns. Capt. Davis, of the Handa Isle writes that at New York the ship chandlers' touts almost drove him crazy, and ho fonnd no rest until he had thrown some two dozen of their cards overboard.

The outrages perpetrated a few months ago at Ravelston and Leith, by two men from Australia, who shot several policemen and others, will not be forgotten by our readers. They will remember that one of the men shot himself, and that the other was captnred on the failure of a similar attempt at suicide made by him. This miscreant, who passed by the name of James Grant, was tried in Edinburgh on May 23, and found guilty of each of the four charges brought against him. The Judge (Lord Young) thereupon sentenced him to l'i years' penal servitude, saying that if the crimes of which the prisoner had been convicted had not beenso rare, he would have passed a much heavier sentence. . Granfc,. who - -seems'-d . utterly callous throughout, asked the Judge to sentence him to death, saying he had intended to kill, and had no wish to live. The Judge, with characteristic sangfroid, chided him as a foolish fellow, and sent him away. Un reaching his cell, Grant again expressed a wish that capital sentence should be passed on him. He is only 20 years of age.

A complimentary benefit will be given in the Theatre Royal on Wednesday next_ to the funds of tho Engineers and Scottish companies of -Volunteers who gave such effective assistance in tho re:ent drama, " Jessie Brown, or the Relief of Lucknow." The drama is not named, but everything will be done by the company to make the entertainment a most successful one.

In a speech delivered, oy liitn at Cashal, Archbishop Croke said:—"We were^ badly clad, we were unable to educate our children, we were herded with the swine in our own houses; these houses were the worst ever tolerated in a civilised land. I have been among the Maoris of New Zealand—savages as they are called —and they have houses better than many of our fellow-countrymen have."

A correspondent writes to us from Ohaiawai, describing a visit he made one Sunday among Maori settlements in the Waimata district. The first Maori hut he went into was that of a netmaker, and our correspondent mentions with some degree of surprise how earnestly the Maori offered up a blessing before partaking of the food set before them. The next settlement he went to he he was reproved by au old Maori for going withhisgun and shooting on Suuday. Ourcorrespondent seems to have felt the poiut of the rebuke, and expresses surprise at the hold which Christianity has upon the Maoris. Both the Maoris referred to were old men, one had eaten of human flesh, and the other had been present at many feasts of human flesh though he had never partaken of it himself.

The Dunedin Star says that the North v. South Island football match, which has been repeatedly mooted, will probably come off at Wellington' on the last Thursday in next moatli. The Northern team will consist of players from Wang&nui, Wellington, and Auckland; and the Southerners will probably be' comprised of the best fifteen in the Interprovincial Mateli played at Christchurch on the 23rd. of the same month. ...

Mr. Orraond (says a Southern Journal) was not even to get the credit of bringing about the downfall of the occupants of the Treasury Benches; for we read in the report of Sir George's speech that he begged those who loved their country " to follow him into tlie lobby in order to give New Zealand free institutions, and deliver it from the restraints which now pressed so heavily upon it."

Mr. T. Clinkard writes from Makarau as follows :—"At the last meeting'of the Wai : temata County Council a proposal was made by Mr. Lamb to ask the Government to survey a new road over the Makarau ranges. As I am the only settler to be benefitted by this road, I think their be3t plan is to put the old one in repair, as neither Council nor Highway Board have spent five shillings within five mile~3 of my place in the last fifteen ycar3, and even refused me leave to work out my. rates on .the"road near my place. The bridges put up by Government are fast falling to pieces ; the one on the Rauhiri creek being half washed away. Mr. Lamb has never been to the Makarau since I settled here, and can know nothing of the road, and at all events the money would be better spent making the present road passable than in a new survey. There are seven miles of road in this district that the Waitemata County Council have never spent a shilling on. I, for one, hope County Councils will soon be abolished, and increased powers given to Highway Boards."

The Bay of Plenty Times says:—"The damage done by the late fire at Tauranga is gradually being repaired,. and we hope that before long all trace of the disaster will have disappeared."

The Thames Star says "We are sure that all who know Mr. R. Comer, will regret to hear that he has determined to sever his connection with the Moanataiari mine. He has been in charge of the property of the company for over seven years, and has succeeded in winning a great quantity of gold for the shareholders. -This week will end his work for the company."

The nomination for two auditors for the Ponsonby Highway District takes place to-day, and the election, if necessary, on the 10th instant.

To-morrow evening an entertainment is to bo given in Mount Albert Hall, in aid of St. Luke s Church organ fund. The entertainment is a varied one, and to enable town visitors to be present an omnibus will leave the Union Bank corner at 7 o'clock, returning after tlie entertainment Is over. .

The dividend of 7s 6d declared by the directors of the Aucld&nd Gas Company other day is payable on and after to-day, on application at the company's office.

The fourth general meeting of the shareholders in the Auckland Timber Company is advertised to be.held to-day, at the company's offices. Customhouse-street, at 3 o'clock, when tho directors' report, &c M will be submitted. A meeting of the members of the NewZealand Rifle Association is advertised to be hold tomorrow evening, at which business of importanco is to be discussed. The place of meeting is the Auck and Drill-shed. -

Mr. E. Bartley invites tenders until the 9th Instant, fer tho erection and complotion of a manse at Onehunga.

Mr. W. Carpenter, Thames, announces that ho will hold an extensive sale; of Thames and other properties on the Oth instant at 11 o clock. • ; On the 9 th. instant at half-past seven o'clock an extraordinary meeting ef the shareholders In the West Coast Gold Mining Company to advertised to be hold for tho transaction of business set forth in oar advertising columns. .