Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6211, 13 October 1881, Page 4

J The time when the names of elector, be placed on the roU for the coming is drawing to a close. Saturday first if!? last opportunity, and those desirous of Lhe cising the franchise should see that t£ Er ' names are on the roll. The necessary may be obtained at the office of this ion,;'? No one should take it for granted that C name is on the roll, for during the nSt f years someone has been at work preiw • more than one roll for some purpose \» s of actual residents have been removed mysterious manner, and each ele t ' should see that his name is noi ,1, smuggled off the rolls. S thosc Sir George Grey did not arrive from Kawau as was anticipated It ann» that though not ill in health, he hafnJJ recovered from the fatigues of the «essio He may be expected in Auckland neu Wednesday. " r The negotiations for the formation of company to construct the railway are progressing satisfactorily, and it is anticipated that the prospectus will kI published shortly. "*

The "glorious uncertainty of law" i 3 „„. verbial. Yesterday a case came up at th> Supreme Court— J. C. MacCormick v. Josenh Merrick—which has been before the Court for three successive Circuit Sittings, anj postponed for one reason or other, wTii'le the action remained hangiEg over the defendant's head. Yesterday was no exception to previous experience, and the prosecutor was again unable to proceed, this time through the absence of two material witnesses Defendant's counsel said that Ins client could not afford to go on defending the case session after session, and if it was atrain postponed he would be obliged to let juJb. ment go by default. Judge Gillies agreed that that sort of thing was a hardship to the defendant, and quoted from the authorities the course to be pursued to obtain a remedy. The monthly meeting of the W.iiteinata County Council was held yesterday. The business was mostly of a routine character except in the case of the Fukeatua i\ound,' when the Council, in spite of the re', monstance of the Highway Board, insisted on the appointment of a pouudkeeper. Mr. Seaman was appointed Returning Officer for the county. A report of the proceeding will be found elsewhere. Mr. A. Buckland held his second cattle fair yesterday. The number of cattle yarded wa3 good, in fact larger than usual, but the prices were hardly satisfactory to vendors. An outline of the result of the sale is published in another column. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the annual report of the Dimedin Chamber of Commerce for the year ending the 30th of June last. The Chairman, in his address, after pointing out that during the tat year the output of the coal mines of New Zealand was 300,000 tons, against 1C3,000 tons in

1579, and that the average yield of wheat in the colony was 2S bushels per acre ; oats, 36i bushels; barley, 30i bushels; and potatoes, 5k tons—said -. Our banking statistics are "interesting for a young country, with half a million of people, to be able to show deposits in haud, not including Government, of nearly eight and a half millions, and a noto ciroulation amounting to over £900,000. Insurance companies' returns are also striking, as vritt be seen by the comparative statement here printed. The six New Zealand offices, although younger than those of Australia, ehovr an aggregate paid-up capital of £530,000; reserve funds, £415,000; and dividends paid, £62,000. New South Wales, with eight older companies, exhibits capital paid, £159,000 ; reserve, £205,000 ; dividends paid, £24,255. Victoria, with six companies—Capital, £181,003; reserve, £249,000; dividends, £07,800. South Australia, five companies—Capital, £161,000; reserve, £241,000 ; dividends, £20,499. Queensland, one company—Capital, £1S,000; reserve, £12,000; dividends, £1800: the dividends of which refer to one year. By the foregoing it must be admitted that the insurance business of this colony is neither of an undue risky nature, nor incautiously managed—on the contrary, the figures speak well for New Zealand." In a subsequent portion it is pointed out that " It is a significant fact that while in ISSI South Australia returns 5,606,510 bushels of wheat from 1,733,542 acres, New Zealand in the same year returns S, 147,705 bushels of wheat from 324,933 acres, and the yield in that year was by no means a remarkable one. The returns from Victoria for the same year were 9,709,049 bushels of wheat from 976,416 acres.

The funeralof Mr.William Atkinyesterday, although at the North Shore during the busy part of the day, was very largely attended, there being about 230 persons present. Amongst the company were a number of the older citizens of Auckland, many of the representatives at the Anglican Synod, of which deceased was a member, and the workmen who had been in his employ. The following clergymen attended :—The Bishop of Auckland, Rev. Mr. Nelson, Rev. Mr. Bates, Rev. Mr. Tebbs, Rev. Mr. Dudley. The service was read by the Rev. Mr. Bates, and at the conclusion the Bishop of Auckland briefly addressed those present. His Lordship referred to the sudden death which deceased had met with—sudden, as it came without warning, but not sudden in the sense of being unprepared for. Deceased was truly a Christian man, and had left an admirable example in all the relations of life. He bad been brought frequently into contact with Mr. Atkin since £is arrival in New Zealand, and had found him ever upright in conduct and punctual in all engagements. The chief mourners were the two sons of deceased, Mr. Edward Atkin and Mr. William Atkin, and his two sons-in-law, Mr, Burgess and Mr. Malcolm Niccol. Agnes Hinga, a young Maori woman, was brought up at the Police Court yesterday, upon a charge of having committed perjury at the recent circuit sittings of the Supreme j Court, in the case of Rudolph Anthony Soubritzky. The indictment there preferred was for rape, and the present prisoner was the prosecutrix. Her evidence at the trial waa so contradictory, that it was pronounced by the learned Judge to be unreliable, and the jury, after hearing the first of thirteen witnesses subpeenaed for the defence, returned a verdict of "not guilty." The defence was an alibi, viz., that the young man -was not at the place at all, where the alleged occurrence was sworn by Agnes Hinga to have taken place. The shorthand writer's notes taken at the trial were put in, and the transcript of them read. The further hearing was adjourned to Friday (to-morrow), at 9.30 a.m. The meeting of volunteer officers convened last night for the purpose of arranging with regard to the Prince of Wales' Birthday, was adjourned until next Tuesday. There was a fair representation of the companies, and Major Withers was in the chair, b"ut the opinion of the meeting was that all the volunteer companies should have an opportunity of having a voice in arranging the programme, and hence the adjournment..

The commodious premises lately erected in Dunedin by the i'oung Men's Christian Association are likely to be soon free of debt A -warm friend and member of the inn titration has offered to subscribe the sum £•233 if the other members and friends of the association will, during the next six or nine months, collect or subscribe £4G7, and so wipe off the debt of £700. The offer was nuite spontaneous, and an appeal to the members associates (nearly 350 in all) lias been made, and it was reported to the Board of Management on the 15th that replies from about 50 had been received, representing the sum of £125. The Australasian has the following :—"ln a recent issue of the Auckland Weekly News appears an interesting account of an interesting man. This is Mr. J. C. Firth, a good specimen of the best class of successful colonists. He forwarded, at his own cost, 50,000 salmon ova to this colony to the care of Sir Samuel Wilson, and if we remember rightly, there was at the time some want of clearness in the manner in which the facts were presented to the Victorian public, which, for a time, awarded the credit of liberality to the wrong man. There are in these colonies wealthy men who are assiduously ' cracked up ' as great public benefactors, whose disinterested contributions of money and wisety-directed labour to public objects would compare very unfavourably with those of Mr. J. C. Firth." A young man named Thomas Bond, son of Mr. Bond, member of the Waitemata County Council, met with a nasty accident a few days ago at the Wade wharf. The tramway is on a very steep gradient, and while going down on a truck by some oversight the brake power was not applied, and on reaching the bottom of the line Bond was jerked off, and received injuries of such a character as threatened concussion of the spine. His friends sent to Auckland for medical aid, and Dr. Kenderdinc, at considerable inconvenience, responded to the call. The patient was ordered to be removed to the hospital, Trhere he is now undergoing treatment with satisfactory results. The triangle at the bottom of Drake, Union, and Franklin streets, near the Freeman's Bay reclamations, is now being filled up to the permanent level, which will be a great improvement. The earth for Idling is being got for by cutting down a heavy embankment at the corner of Cook and Salestreets. Mr. Kirby, who ha? the contract in hand, is making" good progress. It is intended to taper oil the filling-iu in Franklinstrcet, up to the intersection of JCapierstreet, which will greatly improve the gradient of the lower portion of Franklinroad. A portion of the earthwork is also beiiif done on the l'onsonby side of that road = at the reclamation culvert, in order to make the new ground accessible for traffic in the direction of College-road. Mr. Kirby has also the contract for kerbing and Franklin-road (city side) to its intersection with Wellington-street. There was some talk a short time ago of cutting down Upper Franklin-road from Welliugton-street to Tonsoiiby-i-oad, and if this was done a fine thoroughfare of easy gradient would be obtained as an outlet for traffic to the western suburbs of Auckland, and thus greatly ease the traflic on Collegeroad, which is inconveniently steep. Another necessary improvement which the l'ousoiiby Highway Board should undertake, as soon as it is placed in funds, is filling-in the hollow between Franklin-road and the gasometer up to the building frontage line, and thus give the residents of the western side of that street a continuous pavement down to the reclamations, instead of the ugly and dangerous gap at present existing. The Borne Mission Fund, for the extension of the work of the Anglican Church in the diocese, is so badly supported that main' country clergymen are in a state of poverty too painful to describe. The Bishop's voice faltered at the Synod as lie said that one such unfortunate man had not the necessaries of life for himself and his family. A committee is being employed during the recess of the Anglican Synod, who are preparing a scheme for improving the fund. The subject should commend itself to the serious consideration of well-to-do citizens of the Anglican communion. About £1000 per annum is needed to give the country clergymen a bare living. The fund is now about £4.">0 per annum. The Auckland Fire Brigade Quoit Club desire us on their behalf to acknowledge the following presents of prizes : —Mr. R. Rew, grocer, a silver albert; Mr. Williams, 4 gross of rire kiudlors : Mr. J. Gallagher, a trophy of pendants made of greenstone and gold. These prizes will be competed for in accordance with the rules of the club. The other day we published some curious items in the bill of a Wellington lawyer, in which he " instructed" himself to order the publication ef an advertisement in various journals. The Victorian lawyers seem to be eveu better at that sort of thing. A legal bill of costs for £127 13s 9d, on being taxed was reduced to £6 ISs 4d, which included costs of taxing. Arbitrators are not bad at the same game. A Victorian official sued the Government for £1000, deductions made from certain monies without his consent. It was referred to arbitration. The arbitrators handed in a sealed award, to be handed over to either party on payment of cost 3 £640. The official and the Government had sufficient sense left to leave the award alone. At a meeting of shareholders of the Auck land Steamship Company, held yesterday afternoon, it was resolved, on the motion of Captain Daldy, seconded by Mr. G. S. Kissling, that the company be voluntarily wound up. Mr. William Lodder was appointed sole liquidator. The Government are specially careful about the facilities for shipping both in Dunedin and Wellington. Money was borrowed for the Dunedin dock by a Dock Trust, but the interest could not be paid, and the Government were persuaded into taking over the concern and working it. Thus Dunedin may be said to have had its dock made by the Government. An item appears on the Estimates : " Wellington Patent Slip Company, guarantee of interest £2450." Mr. Dick, in explanation, said that the Government had guaranteed interest on a certain amount for twenty-one years. He continued: "The Patent Slip Company never managed to get any money on their own account, and the consequence was that the country had always to pay interest, and he feared it would be so for some time." In another column will be found a list of runs and farms on which there are infected sheep at the present time. It would seem by this return that scab is very general in this province at present, a circumstance not favourable to the succese of the Agricultural ami Pastoral Association's Show at Ellerslie next month. Private intelligence has been received through Baron F. Von Mueller of the death ot Mr. G. Bentham, C.M.G., F.RS., President of the Linnean Society. This distinguished botanist was more than 80 years of a gs at the time of his death. He was the author of many learned and scientific works, uut that by which he is best known in these colonies is his great work entitled the " Flora Australiensis," which extended to seven octavo volumes. Messrs. Partridge and Woollama have had a v ery handsome show card lithographed, setting forth the merits of their " unrivalled cut tobacco." Copies may be obtained on application to the firm.

Mr. T. Spurgcon, in response to an invitation from the Rev. James Bruce to visit Onehanga, preached on Tuesday evening in the Presbyterian Church, Onehunga, to a large congregation. He left yesterday for Coromandel, with a view of seeing the district, and is expected back on Tuesday next, in time to take part in the recognition service to be held on that evening in th'e Ponsonby Baptist Church, the Rev. Mr. Carter, late of Ceylon, having accepted the pastorate of that church. The Australasian is devoting a considerable amount of attention to New Zealand affairs and politics. In a recent article it says, respecting the present Ministry : — " We quite concur in the belief that whether the end of the Hall Government comes soon or late, it will be entitled to the credit of having restored honest and capable government to the colony, the sense of confidence to the public, and order and equilibrium to the finances of New Zealand." ".Egles," in the Australasian, has a dig at Mr. Macandrew'a scheme for freezing potatoes. He says :—" Have you ever tasted a frosted potato ? Unless you were country-bred I don't suppose you have. But I may say that you would not want to taste that tuber twice. Yet, I see that Mr. Macandrew, a former Superintendent of the province of Otago, and a farmer to boot, has solemnly and seriously proposed the freezing of New Zealand potatoes, and their shipment as a delicacy to the London market! Frosted potatoes wont suit epicurean Patlandcrs." Messrs. J. Walker and Sons, of Kilnrnrnoek, who gave the " Walker Trophy" of £300 to be rowed for at Sydney, of late greatly extended their business in Kilmarnock. The trade consists chiefly in the bottling of -vines and spirits for exportation to India and the colonies. The firm export to these colonies 0000 dozen of bottles per month, and their business is rapidly cxtendding. Mr. E. Lewis, of Customhouse-street, is the sole agent here for Messrs. J. Walker and Sons. The annual general meeting of the Canterbury Chess Club was held in Christchurch on October 4. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. J. Tancred, president of the club. The report stated that tke committee had made an attempt to get a match on with the Sydney Chess Club, and has issued a challenge to that association, providing the cost of conducting the same by wire is not too expensive. The Hon. Mr. Hall (the [Vernier) has very kindly promised that, so far as New Zealand is concerned, every facility will be afforded by the Government for the carrying out of the proposed contest. The Irish drama "Kerry Gow" was played for the third time, before a fair house, at the Theatre Royal last night. The piece passed off very satisfactorily, no expense or pains having been spared by the management to render its production sucsessful. The stage presented quite a rustic appearance, induced by the presence of horses, cocks and hens, pigeons, and other matters associated with souutry life. To-night the drama "Waiting for the Verdict," founded upon a celebrated picture of that name, will be produced for the first time in Auckland. Mr. W. H. Leaku takes the character of Jonathan Roseblade. Wherever " Waiting for the Verdict" lias been played it has evoked the pronounced appreciation of £he critics. A meeting was held at the Mahurangi Ileails on the Ist instant, to consider the question of holding a regatta on Boxing Day. Captain Kasper occupied the chair. It was resolved to have a regatta on the 26th of December, and Sir George Grey was elected president, and Mr. Seymour George, M.H.R., vice-president. The programme will consist of a cutter race, open to all comers, and two open sailing boat races, one of them being for "20 feet boats. There will also be five eveiits for rowing boats. A duck hunt will be included in the day's amusement. Some thirteen or fourteen years ago the regatta at Mahurangi was an event not only jf local but of provincial interest. Several :>f the best rowers who did battle gained many a pluckily contested race for, and sustained the credit of Auckland in bygone ilays, hailed from Matakana and Mahurangi. The names of these champions are as familiar is household words to hundreds of yet young Aucklaudors. Much enthusiasm was maniFested at the meeting, and high hopes are 3iitertained that the district will once more xssert itself as one of importance in aquatic iports. The Dunedin Tablet, referring to the subscription opened for the Jews in Russia, says :—" In countries where the Jews are now being actually persecuted, or, at least, subjected to grievous annoyance, Catholics liave come forward to reprobate the treatment shown towards them, and to prevent it so far as possible. We, therefore, hope that in New Zealand also Catholics will manifest x like spirit—the only one consistent with their creed—and not allow the opportunity to pass by without doing whatever they can to reach out a charitable hand in aid of the people so cruelly visited by unmerited misfortune.'. At a trial of the chiming apparatus connected with the peal of bells in the Christchurch Cathedral, "Home, sweet Home," "Blue Bells of Scotland," and "The Last Rose of Summer," were the secular airs chimed, while the hymn tunes " Oft in danger" and "Who are these like Stars appearing," were also rendered. The Sydney Bulletin gives a sketch of Mr. Walter Reynolds, from which we make the following extract: —Among the rising men connected with the drama and Belles-lettres in Australasia, Mr. Walter Reynolds is one upon whom considerable expectations are placed. In 1872, being then 20 years of age, he adopted the stage as his profession, appearing in a small part at the Globe Theatre. London. Once on the boards, Mr. Reynolds felt that he had found his vocation. He attached himself to various travelling companies, and with them toured the United Kingdom, professionally, from Land's End to John O'Groat's, learning his business, and steadily working his way upward. In 1577 he had progressed sufficiently to come out as a star at the Queen's Theatre, Dublin, in the part of Shaun the Post, in Boucicault's drama, " Arrah-na-Pogue." Already he had felt the inventive faculty stirring within him, and had essayed a drama of his own, Entitled "Faithful," and which was produced during the same engagement, the author sustaining, as might be expected, the leading character. Having thus broken the ice as a dramatic author, Mr. Reynolds kept his brains- and pen moving, and produced at the Theatre Royal, Sunderland, a farce called " Such a Scrape," which had considerable success. In 1878 he emigrated to Autralia. Mr. Reynolds has appeared in his own plays in every part of Australia, and has three timc3 toured New Zealand, on each occasion with enhanced success. He was for six months lessee of the Princess' Theatre at Melbourne. A dozen successful comedies, and dramas, and adaptations from the French have proceeded from his pen, and, as he is yet quite a young man, there is no saying what fortune may have in store for him.There were in the lock-up last evening two men and a woman on charges of drunkunness. Emily Hornby and Jane McManus for breaches of the Vagrant Act by having no lawful visible means of support; and Robert Stephenson also for a breach of the Vagrant Act, by being the occupier of a house frequented by thieves and other diereputable persons.

(The squadron on the Australian station is to be further strengthened by the addition of the schooner Lark, which is to be employed in surveying duties. • The Lark, under the command of Lieutenant C. P. Oldham, has sailed from Plymouth. A recent visitor to Parihaka, writing in the Wanganui Chronicle, says:—"Theonly useful wooden build ingin the village is a three-roomed cottage, neatly painted, with muslin curtains hanging at the windows. This is the residence of the great prophet. It is situated on an eminence, and attracts the attention of the visitor immediately he enters Parihaka. Evidently some of the natives have an idea of architecture, for several miniature model churches, &c, meet the eye. These models are painted, colours well chosen, and I noticed that the fast colours, often seen in a pa, do not offend the eye at Parihaka. It is certain, should war break out, the Maoris would not fight in Parihaka, for nothing would be easier than to fire the whole village. The passages between the huts are not more than four feet wide. The village is neatly laid out, bnt shows a want of survey knowledge. A few hundred feet below the pa is the laundry, canopied by the heavens. Numbers of women were washing their clothing, while children of all ages were swimming and paddling about in the stream. Cleanliness seemed to be the order of the day." Great preparations are being made for the consecration of the nave of the Christchurch Cathedral on November 1 (All Saints' Day). The Bishop of Auekland is unable to be present, but the Bishops of Nelson, Wellington, Dunedin, and Waiapu, have accepted the invitation of the Primate, and have promised to attend and take part in the opening services. Messrs. Cutten and Co. have in hand a i traction engine designed by a son of Captain Scott, R.N., for taking loads along ordinary roads and up steep grades. It is of much lighter weight than the usually ponderous traction engine, but is calculated to draw 14 tone up inclines of 1 in 20, and to travel with a light load up inclines of 1 in 7. Remember that the First Coupon for the Observer Xmas Prizes will uppenr in next Friday's Observer, and that if yon miss taking it, you will miss your chance for 25 valuable gifts, including — Materials for a First-class Christmas Dinner for 0 persons, viz.: Prime CVistinas Turkey, Ox Tongue, Sirloin of Beef, Oxtail (for soup), 4 Dishes Vegetables, Materials for Plum Pudding, 12 Mince Pies, Calfsfoot Jelly, 2 Bottles Preserved Fruit for entremets, 4 Pishes Dessert,' 3 Bottles Champagne, 1 Sherry, 1 Port, 2 Claret, 1 Brandy. 2nd: Handsome Clock for Mantlopicce. 3rd: Christmas Hamper, containing Turkey and 0 Bottles English Ale. 4th: American electro-plated Clock, suitable for sitting-room. sth : Sucking I'ig. 6th: Two Vols. Gentleman's Magazino (handsomely bound), and eighteen other prizes. Mr. E. Bartley invites tenders until noon on the 20th instant for a small villa in Ponsonby. Mr. J. Boylan, C.E., invites tenders for the erection of a stone culvert in St. George's Bayroad, until the 24th instant. Madame Bottenelli intimates by advertisement that sho has removed to Vincent-street, where she will continue to take in orders for drosses, &c. To-day, Messrs. E. and A. Isaacs will hold thoir first spring sale of thirty-two cases of men's, boys', and youths' clothes. There are also twelve cases linen, and union and colton ticks, felts, &c. The sale begins at 11 o'clock. Herbert Brnnton, cab-driver, Auckland, has filed a statement of insolvency, and the first meeting of his creditors is fixed for the 22nd instant, at 11 o'clock. The time for receiving tenders for the erection of the works of the Auckland Fibre Manufacturing Company has been extended until noon of the 24th instant. Patrick Gribbon, of Auckland, merchant, has filed a statement of insolvency, and the first meeting of his creditors is fixed for the ISth instant at 11 o'clock. An entertainment to celebrate the second anniversary of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Band of Hope is to be held to-morrow ovenintr, at 7 o'clock, in the school-room. The Hev. W. Morlcy will preside on the occasion. Addresses, recitations, and musical selections will be given on the occasion. Tenders are invited by Messrs. W. MeArthur and Co. for the assigned estate of Mr. A. Cass, draper, Wanganui. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders in the Little Nell Gold-mining Company is advertised to be held at Coromandel for tho purpOEe of re-forming the Board of Directors, &c. The first annual general meeting of the shareholders in the Break o' Day Gold-mining Company is advertised to be held on the 27th instant, at 3 o'clock, to receive the directors' report, (fee. The meeting U to be held at Mr. .1. It. Handerson's oilice. The cleariug-out sale of drapery at Mr. W. Rattray's is postponed until Monday first. Messrs. R. B. Shalders aiid Son, general drapers, invito ladies to inspect their new and choice stock of goods. The anniversary services in connection with the Beresford-street Congregational Sunday, school are to be held on Sunday rtrst. In the morning the Rev. A. W. Webb will preach, in the afternoon tho Hev. S. W. Baker, and in the evening the Rev. H. R. Dawsbury. A collection will be made at each son-ice in aid of the Sunday-school funds.