Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7785, 3 November 1886, Page 4

Few poeple have any idea of the extent to which the depression, which has prevailed in the Colony for some years past, was due to the fall in the prices of wool. But it is, nevertheless, a fact that if the prices realised for this staple ten years ago had been maintained, not only would that depression have been unknown, but, in place thereof, a sustained and growing prosperity would have been experienced. In 1875, for example, there were exported from this Colony, 54,401,5401bs of wool, at an estimated value of £3,398,155. On the other hand, the export of this article in 1885 amounted to 86,507,4311bs and ought to have had a value corresponding to the decided increase ; but, owing to the fall in prices its estimated value was only £3,205,275. Had the prices of 1875 been maintained, the export of 1885 would have been worth £5,403,G44; that is £2,198,369 more than the amount actually realised. The recent rise in the prices which has been experienced in the London and other foreign markets has indeed been very welcome, securing as it did, an increase of upwards of half a million to the income of the country, and giving a perceptible impulse to trade. If, however, there had been a return to the prices of 1875, then two and a quarter millions would have been available for circulation, and the glow of prosperity would have been fully as bright as that witnessed in the palmiest days of the past. Still these days may soon again return, and it is cheering to know that things are on the high way towards iso desirable a realisation.

The proceedings atth~~n L —- 55 yesterday were of more than S" Boar * interest, a. many iubjw £ Jj«y general consideration were of important Und « of the proceeding,,, including r(m P° r » the engineer as the feasibility P^ rfc °m ability of dredging a o h*3 and "W light draft llW||3rt*lJ the Takapuna district, St B V*, * other column. lOail d in an.

The dedicatory services of rt raises of the Young Men's Christi'LT Potion were held yesterday, "ESS 4 "*!* ings will be continued during thJ. w **& full account of yesterday's proceeL* Bek • * found in another column. CeedlB g« will be The charge of uttering a fa*. j , against Charles W. Lan{«tone g ° surgeon, who was arrested in m! » riDaf was heard at the Police Court „ i kit °. before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith {T< after hearing the evidence or th " an <J tion the charge was dismissed «.■ pr °ainsufficiency. Mr. W. R. Frank?! *to & for the accused. Klm a PPeared Yesterday Sir G. Maurice O'r . Speaker of the House of e L,° tke - the presented to Colonel Rookea a h ati ™> illuminated copy of resolutions M a % New Zealand Parliament in ? l Jfc that officer for his services at m ' the Weraroa Pah, on receipt of *!»* <* Rookes handed to Sir Maurice i Colon el which the following is a ° «■ "* Maurice o'Rorke,-I grea ti Va ? a y ;-~"Si pression of approval of my feu" , ae «■ contained in the handsomely ill C ° • its > resolutions you have, as Bpe»ke House of Representatives, don tilß honour of presenting. I attach to T } hi tional worth from receiving it at th v, '" one so high as Sir Maurice O'W - of social position, and who is held • ' 8 in estimation by the citizens of th - " 1 ,ach colony. These resolutions, to<Jk Breat those I have received from Sir F d- With bert, the Speaker of the LeeiiWl ri' tzher ' I shall hand down to my pwteriw C ° Uncil ' they may well be proud of. AltL»»? 00rd8 than 21 years have passed since th? m ° t8 transpired for which I am personalis h,"? 0 * 1 I cannot forget that it was entire J 0 w? H the admirable strategic arrangement. »L 0 by,, and to an act of daring „d ?.£?', courage of, the officer in command «»V? colonial forces and. natives. Governor £* George Grey, most loyally seconded bv th officers and men, chiefly New boys, that the important post— Wen Pah—was captured. - Charles Cm? Rookes, late Colonel Commanding Wan* 2 U IBS6V' tia District AUCkland ' NoTembß «

Mr. Suttor, Postmaster-General of New South Wales, has notified by advertisement m the Sydney papers that, until farther notice, it will be necessary to prepay ill telegraphic messages (Press included) handed in at Sydney for transmission to New Zea land.

In another column appears a requisition presented yesterday to Mr. Monk, inviting him to stand for election as representative in Parliament for the electorate of Waitemata together with the reply of that gentleman accepting the same. The requisition is of a representative and influential character containing the Barnes of electors resident in all parts of the electorate. It was announced yesterday in town that Mr. Lennox had retired. It was also stated that Mr. E. W. Alison had determined to become a candidate, and in all probability the contest will be between him and Mr. Richard Monk. Both these gentlemen are interested in the district, and are acquainted with its wants. Probably there would be more candidates but for the fact that whoever wins mint stand the chance of having to fight another battle next year. It is rumoured that Mr. John Bollard, of Avondale, may possibly be a candidate, many of the Waitemata electors being desirous of *eeing a gentleman identified with the agricultural interest as their representative.

Mortgagees do not seam to have had a good time of it with the houses recently built on speculation on the Surrey Bills Estate, on which they have made advances. A goodly number have fallen into the hands of the mortgagees.

The b.s. Tarawera, which left for Sydney last evening, took, amongst other passengers, Messrs. Geo. floldship and P. Comiaky.

Aa the nominations of candidates for the office of member of the Pharmacy Board of .New Zealand, on the 12:h nit., did not exceed the number of vacancies, those gentlemen. nominated have been reported as elected, namely : Messrs. G. BonningtoD, John Valentine Ross, E. C. Skog, C. J. Wilson (Chnstchurch), J. A. Pond (Auckland), Geo. Mee (Wellington), Taos. Meritt Wilkinson (Dunedin).

As was predicted at the time of the Tarawera eruption, the mud deposit has proved a benefit to somo of the agricultural and pastoral districts in the Poverty Bay districts. Mr. Thomas Seccombe, of Oreti, informs ui that his grass is now most luxurious, and is much better than it has been at any previous period. It is anticipated that the whole pasture lands of the Poverty Bay district will benefit by the volcanic deposit. On Mr. Seccombe's land the eilt was about an inch thick on the average, but the land is now covered by the most succulent grasses.

Two cases of scarlet fever in Freeman's Bay have been reported to the sanitary inspector.

Tenders are invited for additions to the Whau Asylum, and three sets of drawing* of the contract for them are now on view at the Public Works Office. This work has been long needed, and is at last ta be under. taken*

Mr. John Lundon has taken the Free' mason's Hall, Karangahape Road, for a meeting on the subject of village settlements, He is desirous to have the Mangonui-o-VYai block, of 20,000 acres, opened under this system.

Complaint has been made to us by several of the shareholders of the Kotorua Railway that the last instalment due by the Government has not yet been paid. It should have been paid long ago, and in the present hard times everybody wants all the money he i! entitled to.

An inspection parade of the No. 2 Battalion of the Auckland Garrison was held in the Drill-shed last night, when there were fair musters of the four companies comprising the battalion. The Queen's Own had the best turn out, while the Victorias, City Guards, and Hobson Rifles were fairly represented. Lieutenaat-Colonel Dignan was in command, and Major Clifton was also present, with Captain Skinner as adjutant. The Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Morris, mustered in full force. After usual formations the adjutant collected the reports, and the battalion was taken over by the commanding officer and put through a number of movements, and the parade was then dismissed.

We understand that, in addition to the particulars mentioned in yesterda) 'a paper } a regard to the finding of the Royal Commissioners on the Stark purchase inquiry, they declare that the evidence gives no ground for thinking that there had been any conspiracy or collusion between any p»» ie = to defraud the Government. They pom' out that this accusation was virtually » b * no °°:° by all the witnesses at an early period or m inquiry.

A vocal, instrumental, and dramatic entertainment was held at the Foresters &** last night in aid of Miss Shevlins scnooi building fund. The school is, we ° el ' ev "l in connection with St. Benedict's ChurcD, » all events it is a school on the same lines» the convent schools. There was » P»h* good attendance at the hall, and the enter tainment was very successful. l»e certed portion was especially P{" s ' Dg \iJ ßS principal vocalists being Miss Roth, » Thompson, Miss Coffey, Miss Mulrany, «* Shepherd and the pupils of the •enSeveral piano duets were also played dv pupils. An amusing comedy " Leave me*' brought the entertainment to a close. Bicyclists will have to go ■° f . t ty a ." O JJ they desire to be prosecuted under so* by-laws. Complaints are made 01 i™ riding within town and suburbs. There will beanother «■ drawfog"'Jj£jj tions in the Government village "J"*™ to-day. It will take place at the Crown Lands office. .« On Saturday next the Bicycle Ojj• JJ, open the season by a procession, wow , k . leave the foot of Grey-street at three o « The route to be taken will be along W street, Customhouse. Albert, * na " long street to Karangahape Road ; thence a g Kyber Pass and Manukau Road *°^ aRB . Road, returning to starting point vi muera. All 'cyclists are invited to an The trophies to be competed lor »* dat bicycle and athletic sports to_t«fl« Ellerslie on the 9th inst. are on view » Lewisßon'e,, Queen-street;

Some time ago Messrs. Carder' Bros, J he city fti = - gyj-S oTaTde th oSk is the following inSpti»l- First band perfor-jwoj. W. R Waddel Esq., Mayor. February la, 1884? 1*1; intended toplace these obelisks p the angles of the principal paths in the Albert Park where they will remain as £*.< souvenirs of the public spirit and liberality of the present Mayor. While playing with a dynamite cap on Sunday a lad named McDermott, at the Waiotahi creek, had three of his fingers blown off and two others badly lacerated by the explosion of the cap. The clever comedy, " The Three Hats, ' was repeated at the Opera House by Mr. Alfred Wyburd's Dramatic Company last night to a very good house. As on the opening night, the piece was received with roars of laughter from the beginning to the end of the performance. Certainly it is the most mirth-provoking comedy that has been played in Auckland for some time. An Incipient fire was discovered last night at eleven o'clock, in the premises owned by Mr. Andrew Bell, two doors above the Shakespeare Hotel. They have recently been leased by Mr. Wm. Dunn and fitted np as a billiard saloon with two tables. At the hour abovenamed, Mrs Jane Hughes Who resides on the opposite side of the Sheet was standing at her door when she saw a glare of fire in the billiard saloon, and at once gave the alarm. Messrs. Fred. AVchard and Alex. Bedingfield, who were passing along the street, promptly burst in the door, and, aided by others, trampled out the fire, which was in an armful of flax tow In the middle of the floor. The place was full of smoke, and the fire had extended to a box, which was partly charred, but a bucket or two of water effectually suppressed the tire, and the sodden mass of flax was thrown out into the street* Constable White was shortly on the scene, and remained in charge of the premises till enquiries could be made. He was subsequently joined by Constable: Martin, and later by Sergeant Lyon. Shortly before midnight Mr Dunn, who was passing along Wyndham-street was surprised to see a light in his premises, and entering to see what was up, than learned the particulars of the affair. He stated that he left the saloon about half past ten, in company with two visitors who had been playing at billiards. His impression was that they had been smoking while playing. He had taken the flax out of one of the seats, being engaged in repairing it, and it was just possible a match might have been carelessly thrown down by a player, or the ash knocked oft the end of his cigar. To the best of his belief Mr. Bell was not insured at all, but he had an insurance of £200 in the Norwich Union on the fixtures and the two billiard tables. His lease of the premises was for two years. It is fortunate that the tire was so promptly arrested at the outset, as otherwise it might have developed to serious proportions.

Judge Harvey and Mr. Westenra, members of the Stark Inquiry Commission, were passengers for the South by the s.s. Penguin which left the Manukau yesterday afternoon. Yesterday evening the N.Z. Shipping Co.'s ■hip Piako from London, after a OS days' usage from port to port, came into harour, and having explosives on board dropped anchor at the powder ground. The ship brings no pasiengers. Her cargo is valued at £26,900. Captain Sutherland, who last visited this port in the ship Waii»to about two years back, comes in command of the Piako. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. R. Wsddel) received a cheque yesterday for £4, being proceeds of a performance by the Onehunga Town Band, in aid of the Rotorua sufferers by the Tarawera eruption. At the Police Court yesterday before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M., three men named Sergeant, Weston, and Fidler were committed to stand their trial at the Supreme Court in January next on a charge of stealing 16 cow hides and a calf hide, the property of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company. It will be remembered that the accused disposed of a number of hides at Messrs. Garrett Bros', tannery at Avcndale, and subsequently it was discovered that the hides were stolen from alongside the freezing works St the Railway Wharf. There will be a public missionary meeting In the Newmarket Wesleyan Church tonight, at which Mr. McArthur will preside. The Revs. A. Reid, W. Gittos, J. Mather, and Professor Locksteadt (of Berlin), with the Rev. R. Bavin are announced as speakers. Professor Locksteadt is a highly esteemed member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and is on a visit to the colonies. We understand that it is likely that a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce will be held at an early date to consider the very troublesome and awkward business of the cable charges. Anything in the shape of local industries, CO matter in what part of the colony, excites in interest and commands legitimate support* We now hear of the extensive cocoa and chocolate works at Dunedin of Messrs. R. Hudson and Co., who have imported Intricate and costly machinery, are employing a large number of workmen, and are turning out an article quite equal if not superior to any of that imported. They are now introducing their manufactures into the Auckland market, and are adopting energetic measures to bring them under notice. The testimonials published by the firm are unusually convincing, for they are all from men eminently qualified to express an opinion, and that so many doctors should agree is noteworthy. We have tried the samples of " Pure Soluble "and *• Breakfast" cocoas forwarded up, and can attest to their excellence. Entirely destitute of flavouring mixture they retain the very essence of the cocoa itself, and are deliciously palatable and very easily prepared for use, being absolutely soluble in boiling water. Messrs. Hudson and Co. have established agencies throughout the colony, and are pushing their productions with remarkable success. Mr. John Buchanan, Custom-street, is the sole agent for the Auckland province. At a meeting held yesterday evening at the Convent Schools, Hobson-street, His Lordship Bishop Luck presiding, arrangements were made in connection with the monster meeting to be held at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday afternoon next, in order to devise means for the liquidation of the cathedral debt, and a set of resolutions was drawn up. An important scheme for the clearing off of the debt ba3 been mooted, and will be discussed at the meeting on Sunday. There were two prisoners in the lock-up last evening, both on charges of drunkenness. Tenders for gas fittings for new Public Library and Art Gallery will be received up to November 18. In our advertisement columns to-day will be found a list of those members of the gas committee, from whom printed forms may bo obtained by gas consumers who have complaints to make, la an advertisement elsewhere Mr. As W« Armitead, broom manufacturer, draws attention to a number of specialties.