Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6569, 6 December 1882, Page 4

In another column will be found a singular speech made by Mr. Arthur Mills, who recently visited New Zealand, with a reply by Mr. Gisborne, who is now ou a visit to England. It is stated in a cablegram from Melbourne that Mr. Redmond, M.P., is about to visit Australia, for the purpose of raising funds for the now Irish National League. It is announced in one of our cablegrams this morning that Mr. F. N. Broome, Lieutenant-Governor of Mauritius, has been appointed Sir W. C. F .Robinson's successor, as Governor of Western Australia. Mr. Broome is the husband of Lady Barker, and was formerly a settler iu Canterbury. The mail steamer Australia, which sailed yesterday for San Francisco, was the bearer of ten boxsa of gold containing 949!)0z5. lOdwts. 12grs., and valued at £34,36- 4s ; also, five bars of silver (55140z5. lOJwts), valued at £1*240 15s 3d. The gold was shipped by the Bank of New Zealand. It is hardly necessary to draw the attention of our readers to the fact that the trau'sit of Venus takes place early to-morrow morning. If the weather prove favourable, the transit should be seen clearly at Auckland up to nearly hali-past seven o'clock. The suu will rise with the transit in progress. On the sixth page of the present issue of the Heualu will be found particulars respecting the great event and an account of the preparations made hero to record the observations. There will be a number of observers in New Zealand. The principal stations will be that of the American expedition, in the Auckland Domain, and the British expedition at Burnham, near Christehurch. Mr. Ueale will take observations at l'oint Resolution, Parnell, and Mr. Lambert on a rising grouud ou the New North Road.

There is a little difficulty on in theKarangahape ward at present, regarding which tlie public will hear more anon. It appears that the Karangahape Highway Board let a contract for the formation of Dublin-street and part of Edwin-street, which was thought by mauy to be beyond their means, but as Karangahape was goinc into the city, no objection was made by the ratepayers of the district, as they thought the work would be dealt with in a general way by the city. A delay occurred in the amalgamation of Karangahape with the city, and also in the taking orer of the accounts by the city till they had been audited. During this interval the Karangahape Board were unable to meet the certificates of the Eugineer for progress payments, and consequently the contractor was unable to carry on the work for want of funds. It is said he lias now abandoned the work, and threatens an action against the City Council for breach of contract," while his workmen in their turn, unable to obtain their wages, contemplate taking proceedings against him. He has written to the Kngineer to use his good offices to get his deposit back for him from the City Council, hut there seems little probability of that being done, as the city authorities cannot leave the works in their present dangerous state, but will have to complete them at a considerable advance on the present contract price.

Judge Fenton's work of allocating land to returned rebels uuder the Waikato Confiscated Land Aet is progressing favourably, the only difficulty which has cropped up, owing to the large number of applicants, being the scarcity of really suitable places for Maori settlements, 'lhe bulk of the Waikatos have done well in seizing what was probably the last opportunity of getting back the lands ot their ancestors for themselves.

The New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited) has issued with its first annual report and balance-sheet a schedule of properties belonging to original and capitalist shareholders ; also, a supplementary report commenting at considerable length on the operations of the company for the past year. The report of the directors presented to a meeting of shareholders held at Gisborne, of the 7th ult., showed that the net profit for the year ended 30th September, after deduction of all liabilities, actual and contingent, was £10,12!) 12s 3d, which it was proposed to appropriate as follows:—Payment of dividend at S per cent, per annum, £1444 Gs lid ; balance carried forward, ilSl'iS 1 1 js 4d.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Hugh Seth Smith delivered a lecture on "The Transit of Venus," to the boys of the College and Grammar School. The boys appeared to be much interested, and showed their appreciation of the lecturer's kindness by hearty applause. We understand that invitations for some of their pupils to be present were received from the head-masters of tha High School for Girls and the Church of England Grammar School, but that for various reasons advantage could not be taken of the offer in either case.

There was only one prisoner in the lockup laat night, a woman for drunkenness.

There has been, we understand, some little difficulty between the chief Parore, of i Northern Wairoa, and Mr. Dargaville, respecting the carrying of the Kaihu Valley railway through the lands of the former. Sydney Taiwhanga used his influence with the old chief, and explained to him that the passage of the railway would greatly enhance the value of the remaining lands, so that it would actually pay him tu give the land for nothing to have the work prosecuted. It is believed there will be no further trouble, and Sydney regards his success in promoting the settlement of thi-; question as the first fruits of his English mission. He left last night by the Manapouri for Russell to be preseat at the great native meeting at W.iitangi. Bishop Selwyn was a passenger from Norfolk Island to Sydney by H.M. s. Diamond, which arrived at the latter port on the 2ord ult. Very little business was transacted in the stock and share market yesterday. Southern Cross's found purchasers at 20s, and Imperials 445. All other stocks seemed entirely ncglected. The following telegrams were received during the day :—ln the Southern Cross mine "Six feet driven from winze lOlbs of specimens gold showing in back." "The return from the Waiotahi mine for the month is - 2Soozs. melted gjld." Tfee Kev. G. H. Somerset Walpole, M.A., who arrived yesterday, in Auckland, by the mail steamer Australia, was formally inducted yesterday evening to the incumbency of St. Mary's, Parnell, bj' His Lordship the Kishop, whose address and the details ot the proceedings are reported in another columu. A meeting of the Presbytery of Auckland will beheld to-day, when the famous case of the Kev. Mr. Breach, of New Plymouth, wiil again be brought up. The Kev. Mr. Breach has been summoned to appear, but it will be seen that he replies to the charges made against- him in a letter to the Presbytery in our columns. According to an advertisement elsewhere in our columns, Mr. H. <!. th-Smith will re-deiivsr his lecture ou the transit of Venus this evening at 5.30, after the evening service in St. Sepulchre's. As the transit of Venus will take place to morrow morning, the lecture to-night should be doubly interesting. Mr. Seth-Smith's well-known ability as a lecturer generally draws a good audience, and as the school-house repairs fund is said to need help, there is an additional incentive to attend the lecture. Herr Carl Sehmitt's concert takes place at the Choral Hall to-morrow night, and the programme prepared should have the effect of drawiug a large audience. HerrSchmitt's

very high reputation as a musician is a guarantee that the concert will be a musical treat. All the performers are requested by advertisement to attend at the Choral Hall this evening at 7.15 sharp, as the final rehearsal will take place. At the Police Court yesterday, Mr. C. 0. Davis appeared to a summons charging him with malicious aud unlawful injury to property. The information was laid by Mr. Peter Oliphint, a solicitor, of Auckland. It turned outthat the information was defective, or rather informal, and was withdrawn. The facts of the case did not transpire, but it was stated that Mr. Peter Oliphant hold a power of attorney from a Mr. Comrie to administer the property in question. The nature of the defendant's claim aud justification was not examined, but Mr. T. T. Ma-e----!ield also claimed to be owner. There were nearly a dozen witnesses subpoenaed. The case will in all probability be brought forward again in some other form. A report wis in circulation yesterday that Mr. Koe's hush at the Manukau Heads was on fire. Our informant was one Charles Kdwanl Stewart, who stated that fro-u 20 to 30 gum-diggers and bushmen are out of work in consequence. According to his account some Maoris in the neighbourhood had asked permission from Mr. Stans Sutciill'e, in the employment of Mr. Roe, to dig for kauri gum on the bush laud. This permission was refused, and the Maoris left vowing that they would yet "be even with him." Stewart states that on that night or early next morning the fire began, and they bad to leave. The occurrence is said to have occurred last Thursday or Friday morning. If it is so, it is a matter for surprise that word of the outbreak of the fire has not been heard sooner. It is to be hoped that the result will be not of such a serious character as -. eported.

A uev circular has been issued by the Tc -graph Department respecting the telephones. The price is fixed at £17 10s for a year for any distance not exceeding half a mile from the Telegraph Oti'ce. For each subsequent year the subscriber will pay only £12. The other rates for a portion of a year are in proportion. We learn that the charge in Melbourne is £1G per annum, whether first orany subsequent year. The New Zealand rates will thus be seen to be very favourable as compared with those prevailing in Melbourne.

Messrs. Stanley and Darbyshire's Juvenile Opera Compsny again appeared at Abbott's Opera House last night in " Les Cloches de Corneville." There was a very good attendance in all parts of the house, and the performance passed off most satisfactorily, the children playing with much more ease than on Monday evening. The same programme will be presented this evening.

Messrs. Bailey and Kerr's Egyptian War Exhibition and Diorama was again well attended last evening, and the various tricks of conjuring afforded great amusement. This exhibition is well worth seeing. It will be open again to-night.

We are requested by the friends of the late Mr. Blackwood to state that the funeral took place yesterday.

At the Mayoral election at Wellington, Mr. George Fisher, the retiring Mayor, was re-elected by a large majority over his opponent, Mr. Andrew Young. Mr. Fisher polled Sl'2 votes, and Mr. Young 194 votes.

The allotment at the corner of Queen and Customhouse-streets, opposite the Waitemata *Hotel, originally intended as the site of the Coffee Palace, will shortly be covered with a block of three-storey warehouses. Tenders will be called at an early date for the foundatioßS. The plans for the warehouses are in course of preparation by Messrs. Mahoney and Son, architects.

As has already been announced, Messrs. Kellar and Cunard, the clever and accomplished illusionists, will appear at the Opera House on Saturday evening, in their pleasing, startling, and novel entertainment. In their particular line these two artistes are par excellence, and their performance is highly spoken of by the Press. In addition to the usual legerdemain business some marvellous automata are introduced, and are made to perform some wonderful feats with extraordinary precision and skill.

The Aucklaud Institute of Architects hold auother meeting to-morrow afternoon to consider the reply forwarded by the Builders' Association to their last letter, and the Builders' Association hold their annual meeting the same day. The controversy between these two august bodies is getting rather wire-drawn, and the negotiations and documentary correspondence between them sufficiently protracted to have settled the Eastern question. The public are getting rather weary of being told that the architects and the builders " have had another jar."

On Sunday afternoon last an act of wanton desecration was committed in St. Stephen's cemetery, some evil disposed person having broken a white marble cross on one of the graves. Captain S. F. Sewell, of Parnell, offers a reward of £1 for information that will lead to the conviction of the offender.

An entertainment was held last evening in the school-room of the Ponsonby Wesley an Church, in connection with tie closing of the session of the Ponsonbv Mutual Improvement Association. The Rev. H. R. Dewsbury (president) presided. There was ail excellent attendance. The following was the programme, which was creditably gone through :—Pianoforte duet, Misses Main and Hamilton ; origiual poem (recitation), " Barbara Lee," Mr. John Blackman ; trio, " Ye Shepherds, Tell Me song, " Walter's Wooing," Mrs. Goodison ; reading, "The Cottar's Saturday !Nfight," Mr. Russell; song, "A Life on the Ocean Wave," Mr. Goodison; dialogue, "The King and the Miller,'' Messrs. H. and W. Johnston ; readine, "The Boots atthe Holly Tree Inn," Mr. Theo. Cooper; pianoforte selection, "L'Allegro," Miss Goodacre; song, "Tit for Tat," Miss Main; pianoforte duett, "Qui Vive," Misses Goodacre andSheppard ; reading, "The Famine Dirge," Mr. T. L. White; dialogue, " Brutus and Cassius," Messrs. Siirikeford and Newbold ; recitation, "Mark Antony's Oration," Rev. H. R. Dewsbury. A refection of fruit was handed round during the evening, and the entertainment passed off pleasantly and successfully.

A large number of persona may be rpm. -la.ly gaping upon a gorgeous scene, suspended outside the premised Arraf' rt"' Qneea-atreet, near Goodaon'e Arcade. It is intended to depict the Glen pove estate of Mr. Fairbara, Othauh. (about to be sold by auction by Mr. Hick, son), as well aa the beautiful views to ba obtained from it of Mangere, Manger* Bridge, Oiiehunga, the Wa-'takerei Ranges t,lc ,- Man ukau Heads. These views ari ",™", n ! n Wllh the Crown e;rant. Mr - ltre.l bhirpe ia the artist, and as a scenia -uKer.isement the sketch is one of the best tuat has yet been attempted here.

The following transfers of licences were granted at the quarterly meeting of tha licensing Committee o£ Auckland North Ihe _ Black Bull Hotel, Albert-street, from Annie Clements to Michael Gallagher • tha Lriciclayers' Arms Hotel, Chapel-street, 'from Henry Parslow to William Francis Madigan. Among the passengers by the Australia were Mr. and Mrs. Miluer Stephen, of Sydney Mr Stephens alleged healing virtues have been the subject of much con troverST in the Australian Press. He norposes delivering a series of lectures in A uc fe laud.

A correspondent, Mr. John Charles Irvine, jealous of the honour of Howxk lorwards a protest against the statement tnat the recent murder was committed at Howick, or in the district. He states that it was committed at Turauga Creek, si x miles distant. Our correspondent concludes by saying, " The misdoings of Howick havg alieajy been magnified cjuite enough without having such an atrocious crime laid to her charge." His Excellency the Governor of Fiji visited Samoa in H.M. s. Diamond ou the '2-Hh October. The object o: tin; visit was t 0 inquire into some outrages which had been committed upon British subjects. The result of the inqu ry was that, the natives implicated weretined £100, which they paid. His Excellency then returned to Fiji, arriving there on November 3rd in the same ressel.

The following is the report of the Auckland Lunatic Asylum for the week December 2, ISS2 : —Remaining last 263 ; admitted since, G ; discharged. 1 ; died' 0; remaining, 205, —ISI males, 34 females. '

On Saturday last Mr. Solomon litmus, the temperance lecturer, returned from another successful tour. Three very excellent meetings were held in the Wairoa Hall, one specially for tfie Band of Hope, all of Which v.-ere attended by large numbers of the settlers. Good meetings were also held at Pakuranga Valley, Ness Valley, Hunua Papakura, and Drury. At Drury-10 pledges v.-ere taken, and arrangements were also made to establish a Band of Hope. Altogether SI persons signed the pledge, and at all the meetings votes of thanks were passed to the lecturer lor his excellent lectures, and also to the Auckland Temperance Mission. Mr. Hemus leaves for the Wairoa North in a day or two.

Mr. Garrard lias not succeeded in making much out of the Hon. .John Bryce, Kative Minister, in respect to his claim for a grant of land under the Naval ai<d Military Settlers Land Grants Act, formerly in force in this province. Ihe Native Minister, through Mr. T. W. Lewis, Under-; ecretary, informs Mr. Garrard " That the. report of the Koyal Commissioners as to his claim must be regarded as final. Tiie matter, however, as it relates to a laud claim, is riot in the Native Minister's Department, but in that of ths Minister for Lands." Mr. Garrard is now passed on to the Hon. Mr. Kolleston, and the Minister of Lauds has "a bad quarter of of an hour " before him. Certain forest sections within the Thermal Springs district, Kotorua, are to be leased for a term of seven years on the ISth instant, at eleven o'clock, in the Crown Lands OHice, Auckland.