MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6495, 11 September 1882, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Notwithstanding the residents of Coromandel have neglected ne opportunity of endeavouring to discover the remains of the missing Lieutenant Zttrn, who was lost on the Tokatea ranges on the 4th May last, not the slightest clue has been obtained ot him, nor has the billy been found which he was carrying with him. His fate is still shrouded in complete mystery. A gentleman who takes a lively interest in the working of charitable institutions, has communicated with some of the city members of the Assembly with a- view to their bringing the following anomalies in the subsidies given to these institutions to the notice of the Government. Among other instances he gives the following : — Auckland Industrial School, 139 children, £1423, or £10 5s per head ; St. Mary's Orphanage, Auckland, 36 children, £563, or £16 per head ; Thames Orphanage, 10 children, £354, or £3S per head ; St. Mary's, Nelson, SS children, £1077, or £2S per head; St. Stephen's Orphan Home, £421, number of children not given. Standard Government subsidy, Is a day, or £1S us per head.

On the 2Gth August a deputation of Mr. J. J. Holland's employes proceeded to the residence of Mr. J. B. Mell (their late foreman of works), and presented that gentleman with a handsome gold albert. Messrs. Guird* Smith, and Leyden represented the bricklayers, and Messrs. McCuit and Finlay representing the labourers. Mr. Guird, in a neat address, said the present was a token of the esteem and respect in which Mr. Mell was held by his late employer (Mr. Holland) and his employes, and referred to the good feeling which had always existed amongst them. Mr. Mell, who was taken by surprise at this unexpected display of friendship and esteem, heartily thanked the deputation, and expressed his pleasure of the gift and the mode of presentation. He felt proud at having the esteem of so many friends, and he was sure the chain would bind his memory of the pleasant year? in which they had worked so amicably together. The Colonial Treasurer laid on the table on the Ist, by leave, a return showing the amount of Customs revenue collected at each New Zealand port during the past financial year, and the cost of collecting the same. I need not quote the sums collectel, as they have already been published in full in the Gazette, but the cost of collection at each port per cent of the sum collected was respectively as follows :—Auckland, £1 19s 4d : Thames. £3 19s 5d ; Russell, £10 ys Sd ; Mangonui, £13 9s 7d; Hokianga, £16 153 8d ; Kaipara, £1 16s 8d ; Tauransa, £1 12s: New Plymouth, £4 5s lOd ; Wanganui, £.'5 2s; Foxton, £2 ss4d; Wellington, £2 3s ; Napier, £2 17s 7d ; Gisborne, £4 Is lOd : Wairau, £4 Is Sd; Picton, £30 3s 7d; Nelson, £2 lis ?d ; Westport, £4 5s 9d ; Greymouth, £1 19s 3/1 ; Hokitika, £3 lis Id ; Riverton, £S 17s lOfcl; Invercargill and Bluff. £3 4s lOd ; Dunedin and Port Chalmers, £1 18s 5d ; Oamaru, £2 17s 6d ; Timaru. £3 7s ; Christchurch and Lyttelton, £2 7s Sd. The following notei s appended:—"The cost of collection fo above-named period was £2 7s 2d per cent.; it was £2 15s lid for the financial year ISSO-1. The rate per cent, of cost of collec tion in the United Kingdom in ISBI, was £3 12s lid, and the average of ten years ending the Ist March, 1881, was £3 Ss 7d."

The following tenders have been received for the erection of the buildings for the Auckland Tallow and Manufacturing Company :— F. R. Alderton, £540; T. Colebrook, £400 ; H. aud G. Brabazon, £46S ; G. Ellingham, £430 ; T. Constable, £39G ; W. Price, £380 ; F. C. Robertshaw, £350.

Operations are being vigorously pushed on upon the Te Aroha (Grant and Forster's) block. About thirty cottages have been erected. Ivlr. Morris has completed 8 out of the 12 he recently contracted to build, and three barge loads of timber arrived last week for the new contract entered into by Messrs. Tonge aud Heathcote, to build twelve more. Mr. Roche is building another large ptable. This gentleman has expendad a large sum of money in improving his estate, and but for his and some few other settlers' expenditure, many of the immigrants who arrived without means would have been unable to remain. The roads are in a bad state, and not long since Mr. Roche lost a fine mare, valued at 40 guineas, through being bogged. The road into tho black is, however, being repaired, but to make it really serviceable at all seasons, it requires that a bridge should be built over the Wairakau. and one over the Waiorongomai creek, also over the blind gully. The latter may be avoided by a detour of about a mile, but the two creeks must be faced, and though the bottom is hard, they cannot be crossed often for days together, on account of the volume of water they contain, besides being often dangerous at half flood.

The marriage of Mr. Alexander Davidson Fraser, second son of Mr. George Fraser, of the firm of Fraser and Tinne, to Miss Agnes Carr, daughter of Mr. J. W. Carr, of the Three Kir.gs. which took place on the Ist September at Mr. Fraser's residence, Wyn-yard-street, was made the subject of a good deal of rejoicing amongst the friends of both families. The bride's sister was bridesmaid, and Mr. IV. Fr.iser, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. Watkins, of the Three Kings institute, formerly stationed at the Thames. The event brought together a good number of friends of the bride and bridegroom, aud at the wedding breakfast Mr. A. Brodie, chairman of the Thames. County Council, proposed, in liappy terms, the health of the young couple. Mr. Fraser is manager for the Union S.S. Company at Gialiorne, to which place the pair took their departure by the Te Anau at 1 o'clock, amidst the hearty good wishes of the friends who accompanied them to the wharf. Both families are Auckland identities, and the bride and bridegroom are Auckland born. A curious circumstance is taat wlitu Mr. A. D. Fraser was leaving Auckland for Gisborno he had to resign the position he held a3 secretary of a lodge of Good Templars, an office which was at once conferred on Miss Carr, now Mrs, Fraser.