THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1889.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9368, 18 May 1889, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1889.

The interference of some of the Maoris in the King Country with the survey there is not of course of much moment, but it must draw attention to the very unsatisfactory condition of the native land laws to which we have more than once referred. The question is of more importance to Auckland than to any other part of New Zealand, for no other has anything like the quantity closed in this way against settlement. There are some millions of acres in what is called the King Country and along the line of the Great Northern Trunk Railway. All of this huge tract of country is closed against purchasers by the Native Lands Alienation Restriction Act of 1884. Anyone negotiating for an acre is liable to a penalty of £500. Again, there are great tracts quite as effectually closed in Tauranga and along the East Coast, although they would at the present moment bring large sums of money for the Maoris, and find employment for numbers of people with the flax that so thickly covers some of them. Unfortunately these lands are held under memorials or certificates granted by the Land Court under previous Acts, and containing in some cases the names of 400 or 500 owners. Here the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act of 1888 steps in. The sth, 6th, and 7th sections of that Act prohibit, under a penalty of not more than £500, any dealings whatever with natives for such land, without previous subdivision into parcels ot which not more than twenty Maoris shall be the owners. Notice of such subdivision must then be published, and forty days elapse before dealings are free from penalty. The intending purchaser in such a block may have to advance £1000 or £1500 to pay the costs of subdivision ; and after doing so, and encountering the inevitable delay and vexation, he can only go into the market and buy like anyone else. Of coarse, no one now takes the trouble or risks the money. The Maoris cannot do it themselves, settlement is impossible, and the colony sutlers. The wonderful Thermal Springs Act shut up over 600,000 acres. Mr. Kelly, the member for the district, pressed this upon the Government last session, and they undertook to see to it. Hopes were held out that so soon as they had marked off the actual Springs the prohibition over the rest should be removed. We trust that Mr. Kelly will not allow Ministers to sleep on it during the next session, if they have not taken the requisite action before.

As if all these drawbacks were not enough, there are also innumerable small sections scattered over the country, perfectly useless to Maoris, who do not live near them, but on which j certain restrictions against alienation j were made when granted many years ago. These sections are generally grants to natives for services during the war. There may have been necessity at that time to prevent the grantees selling, although we cannot see why they should be. placed in a different position to similar European grantees. If the necessity existed then it certainly does not now. All Native Ministers had for some years been in the habit of authorising the removal of these restrictions when it could be proved to the satisfaction of the Frauds Commissioner that the owner had other land on which to live. After this practice had prevailed for years, and come to be regarded as a custom, Mr. Ballance, when Native Minister, abruptly stopped it, and left numerous engagements between Maoris and Europeans were in a state of confusion, in which they remain to the present day. What his object was no one has ever been able to conceive, but the mischief was done, and the Maoris were left unable to meet the obligations they had confidently incurred. Worse still, their morale was sapped, and they were told that the European could not recover the money paid to them. It is to influences of this kind that may be largely traced the fall from the old Maori sense of honour. The ignorant interference of their friends has been even more injurious to them than the exertions of their enemies. What , European could live the same life, and be

taught the same lesson, without , ~ , or later becoming demoralised ?W however, is the lesson which ha, K at » too successfully taught to the V To remedy these an! similar evih tt Native Acts of last session J' 1 ' 9 brought in. They were vehemltf opposed by the native members' if though they gave Maori owner fj I power to have restriction?S„ ? and to deal in all matters with th? lands as they liked. The oSJT' were the chiefs, who feared t W their own influence would eo il one tune, and with the old class T? chiefs, that influence was enorm« Their people placed in them i mpli trust. They knew that the chief £5 as much for their money interests his own This cannot be said of -111 modern chiefs, and hence the decay rf their mana. The other opponents of the Bill were Europeans on varin theoretical grounds, but chiefly 1) who thought the State should acquit these lands and deal with thein land nationalising principles. ever differences there may be anio us about land nationalisation, we all agreed that it would be desirah? the Government should acquire t! ' 9 lands. And how are they to do sol They have no money to spare, and if they had, their purchases in the p. 'l have not been so encouraging as t make us eager for their resutnpti n ° The Maoris say, and we believe just!that they have fared worse at the hand' of the Government than of priv 3 agents, and that while they can hotw for redress if wronged by private per sons, their case is hopeless against tip Government. During Mr. Ballaiw, administration, every difficulty w -> thrown in the way of private dealint in the hope that the Maori would thus be compelled to go to the Government But he did not go, and has not gone yet except when he had land to sell which no private buyer would look at as wnrrh having at all. Clearly, this cannot last. It is hard i to convince the Maori that land has its I duties as well as its rights. It is hard to convince him that he has no right to | keep huge districts in a state of waste while all round him people are deprived of work and sustenance. It is even, harder to persuade him, when he does sell the land, to appropriate the proceeds to the cultivation of that which he has left. He has learned to look on his land as a reserve which he can use, by selling parcels of it whenever he wants money. A more damaging view it would be difficult to take. The contrast between the Maoris working their farms in the Middle Island and ours in the North, living by selling their surplus land, is apparent to all beholders. What, _ then, is to be done Native Committees have been tried and found failures. The Public Trustee holds large blocks of land on the West Coast and in other places, takes down bags of gold and silver at certain periods to the natives, and enriches them for a short time with money which they have not had to use either brains or labour in earning. Europeans are killing themselves by the high rents they have been paying for these lands, but abatement, with the consent of the Maori owner, is not to be obtained. The dealing with these lands has been a burning question for the Government and the Public Trustee for the last few years, and we observe is at the present time the subject of hot dispute on the West Coast. All means hitherto tried have proved failures. The Maoris are the worse, morally and pecuniarily, and the country is closed against settlement. The simple way would be to make the Maoris pay taxes like Europeans. They would then soon learn to value land for its uses, and torn into cash what they cannot use. .But to take this course would be too unfair, and in the highest degree wrong, while we lock up their land and prevent U\evr turning it to account. The Ikst step any useful reform must be to tix. their position. Are they the owners, or are they not ? If they are, let them accept, after a reasonable t : N ie to prepare for the change, the responsibilities as well as the profits of land ownership. If they are not the owners in freehold, then let us settle what is their real position. In any case the distinction between Maori and European in this matter cannot last. Experiments are pretty well exhausted, and the strain is becoming too severe.

It has been said that there are a good many of us in the colonies who ought to be thankful that we are not Irishmen and in Ireland, for with our colonial way of looking at things, the best of us would most likely have been in Kilmainham or hung long ago. But infinitely more thankful ought we to be that we are not Germans honoured with a. ten minutes' audience by our mighty and most gracious young Emperor, What could those men, the delegates from a hundred thousand of his people, have thought of the cool brutality with which shooting them down was contemplated by their gracious young lord and master ? What could the wives and children of these rough miners think ? Here we have a hundred thousand men working in accord, making great sacrifices, and no doubt enduring, with their families, the most severe privations. Men done go in for this kind of thing for the pleasure and the fun of it. There must be some solid grievance to bring them together in such resisting masses. They wait upon their Emperor. He gi ve 3 them ten minutes, does not want to hear their case, as he has heard all about it already, and dismisses them with the comforting promise of a fusillcuk if obtain events, not clearly stated, should come to pass. Gracious young t®' peror ! Happy people ! How queers the position of Europe altogether at tW present moment from a colonial P® 1 " of view. Rulers training their p#f fl to arms by the million. Then sen«®S them back to civil life and calling oU " their friends and relations to shoo* them. We should regard the exp erl ment as a little hazardousto and we see by the telegrams tua Prince Bismarck is "becoming cO ?J cerned" at the position. We shout think he well might be.

Our cable messages this morning reco a great fire in Quebec, by which five dred houses were destroyed, and a t^ ousan t people rendered homeless. The Erop 6 !' William received a deputation from owners in connection with the strike, is not stated whether the interview limited to ten minutes, as in the case o workmen's deputation, but it is satistac to note that the Kaiser adopted a . ferent tone in regard to the dispute, urged the employers to deal fair V . i 3 justly with their workmen. Whether , due to this advice or to other reasons not appear; but it is now state an amicable settlement of the dun "for likely to be arranged on _ the ter » which the men are contending. {. ijt- e ly ported that Her Majesty the Queen is to visit Ireland. The Herald Monthly SuinnnuJ» transmission per R.M. s.s. Zealan Ijgjcf, be published on Monday morni 20th instant. The mail for ne 6 will close on the same day a eleven a.m. ■; ~.,!th0 The recent English cablegrams rev magnitude of the gambling car I'h.a fashionable London gambling fwedi Countess of Dudley, whose son*as ftct till failed to get the London P° . him, the Home Secretary, on her PP®® voJ stirred them up, /* h «Y.' better » c£ promptly. They aref nt , , worse evidently than peir _ c y side a* r 0 * Auckland is not without its sea wan ts ' 3 . ft pacta gambling. tVh* fc . e rouble Countess of Dudley,! b u the Ho® 9 nobody knows where 100 for Secretary.

M T R Ivoy, tor mniij cars manager nf "he Bank of New South Wales in Auck- . j will leave on Tuesday next to assume management of the head office in Sydan his friends and well-wishers will B %'t, him on Monday afternoon, at the iTamber of Commerce, for the purpose of e-entiiK' him with an address and testimonial prior to his departure. We under"d that Mr. Ivey will be entertained at dinner this evening by the members of the Northern Club. Amongst the passengers who arrived by the 8.8. "Richmond, last, night, were M. Jfrjdoric Pecheur (Director <■>'■ Public Works a t.Tahiti) and Lieutenant G iur (harbourBtwter at Pajxtete), and Mr. W. Hrander, & scion of the celebrated house of John inter. Both the first named gentlemen are (ccompnnied by their wives, en route, to Trance, on a visit. M. Pecheur has also ither business of a more important character on hand. He represents the party of regress at Tahiti, and during the eighteen nonths lie has been there, has striven jy pen and speech to carry through ■ spirited policy of public works by neans of which the island should be •lt-erseeted at all points by capital roads, he town furnished with a water supply ■bundant enough to meet the growing rejiirenients of scores of years to come, the miners of the coast-line marked by buoys ad lighthouses, and the wharves and pilot srviee improved. The scheme also contmplated the construction of a gravingilck. so that in the event of the opening of tb Panama Canal Papeete should be able t<take advantage of the opportunities thus pNsented. Unfortunately, however, in the Gvernor, M. Le Cascade, the energetic t.'ief of Public Works had to cope with ai official wedded to the notion that the pisent will suffice for the future, and who stbbornly opposed any change. The result is hat it. Pecteur has obtained leave of ate nee, and goes home for the purpose of snmitting his programme to the Minister oiMarine with his go-ahead ideas.

y the outgoing mail steamer, Zealandia, V,!ch leaves Auckland for San Francisco on.ionday, a large quantity of flax will be {orarded to America. The whole shipmet will amount to about lot) tons, and thtportion that was landed out of the ait-- hold of the R. M.s.s. Mariposa will bo ineided in the parcel. The major portion of ie flax is, however, from Waikato and Times mills ; and this, during the time it. Is been stored in the wharf sheds, has exc-ed a great deal of admiring comment [orhe fineness and silkiness of the fibre, anche beautifully clean and soft condition to hich it has been wrought. In these pasculars it compares very favourably vii the samples of Southern tlax which haJ recently passed through Auckland for sh'Uient, and the care taken in its preportion will no doubt obtain for the local ft!" a higher figure from the American brers. in inquest took place on Thursday on a inmate of the Lunatic Asylum named Jin Ocho, a Spaniard, before Dr. Philson, (Toner. After hearing the evidence adcced a verdict was returned that death jsulted from acute mania. So far as Town deceased had no relatives in the deny. The annulling of a bankruptcy is not a latter of everyday occurrence, and the iritv of the event constitutes its chief sterest. Such a circumstance is recorded i another column, when the proceedings 3 the estate of Mr. Alfred Kidcl were yeserday annulled with the ready consent of is creditors, whose claims had been fully atisfied. The bankruptcy in question, it ril! be remembered, arose out of the action if ihe Bank of New South Wales in respect if certain land transactions with a syndi•>te, of which Mr. Kick! was a member. The roceedings, however, in his case have had 'singularly satisfactory termination, which oust be no less gratifying to himself pertonally than to the large circle of friends chom he has made in his business and piblic capacity.

The Rev. J. H. Simmonds, who has been appointed to the vacancy caused by the rtnoval of the Rev. C. H. Garland, toother with several earnest laymen, has dcided to commence a Conversational Eble Class for adults in the large building ajoiniug the Pitt-street U'esleyan Church, crner of Karangahape Road and Pittgreet. Mr. Sitnmonds, who has had some onsiderable experience in the conducting i ;ach a class, will deliver the inaugural ildress to-morrow afternoon, commencing t three o'clock, the subject being "How o Read the Bible," and ample opportunity nil'. be given for discussion. The gentleBen who have taken this matter in hand have prepared an interesting programme covering a wide range of Biblical subjects, stud it is anticipated the consideration and discussion of these subjects will prove most Instructive. The committee seek the cooperation of all who can spare an hour on the Sunday afternoon. The class is open to adults, and all who care to come and Hke part will be made heartily welcome.

. Messrs. Hancock and Co., brewers, have 'md a curious experience with their beer, for a month or so the brews proved erratic, for while some turned out well, in others a ialse fermentation set in. This caused the proprietors a great deal of anxiety, but by taretul watchfulness they have discovered the cause, and removed it, and connoisseurs Dow say that the beer which this firm is brewing is not only unexceptionable, but tally equal to the best brews before the difficulty arose.

The Northern Luminary states : —The T'oroti native meeting, which has been going on for the f>ast nine days, came to an fcnd on Tuesday, when the arbitrators gave their decision, which was to the following effect:—l. The two pieces of land, To Mafaponga and Pukakoikahera, are awarded to the three tribes, Uriroroa, Paravvhau, &wl Marengarenga. 2. Rangatira of the three Taurau Kukupa. 3. P. Kingi's claim to the money to be withdrawn on account ft taking the law into his own hands. Hori Rewi's claim of £600 10s, for loss on land# and general expenses, thrown out;. 5. Em Hiri, boine the cause of all the trouble, to leave Poroti, but will be allowed to retain the rights to the lands."

The Railway Department announce that Saturday return tickets will be issued from my station on Wednesday, the 22nd instant, to Saturday, 2:3 th instant (both days inclusive), and will be available for return up to and including Friday, the 31et instant.

District orders have been issued by lieutenant-Colonel Shepherd to the Volunteers of the Auckland Garrison (including '•he Onehunga Naval Artillery) to parade it. nine o'clock a.m. on Friday next IQueen's Birthday), in the Metropolitan Ground, when a ftu-de-joie will be fired. A limelight exhibition of more than ordinary interest was held at the City Hall last night, in aid of the funds of the library of the Young Men's Christian Association, and although the weather was far from being favourable, the attendance was very good, indeed, the dress circle, the only part of the house for which admission charge was made, being well patronised. After the hymn, "Hold the Fort," had been sung, the Rev. T. Spurgeon led in prayer, and the Rev. J. 5. Hill then proceeded with his exhibition. The views were really works of art, and were admirably shown. They were not merely views selected at random. On the Eontrary, they were pictures illustrating »ell known tales, including "The Lifeboat," Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night," "Little Jem, the Collier's Boy," and " The Jane Conquest." The poems and stories were read by the Rev. T. Spurgeon, and the dissolving views brought the numerous incidents strikingly before the audience. At the close an exhibition of statuary views *ere presented effectively. During the intervals the choir sang a number of hymns, "id the proceedings were brought to a sonclugiof, in the usual manner, after a collection had been taken up in aid of the horary fund. It is understood that Dr. Giles, R.M., aas arranged to hold an inquiry into the -omplaint made as to the action of the R.M. bailiff in respect to a distress wartent case. Canterbury Rugby Union has re--1 lv ftd / 0 accede to the request of the Auckand Union to recommend it for affiliation the '-uglish Rugby Union. *rV "i win b e Been * rom an advertisement, seen from an advertisement, 'c.i appears in our columns to-day, the company, known as the Baby w=' 13,1 1 "uibination, will open at the Opera ';r- 011 the 24th, in the popular and belli"" V 1 ly w hich has not, we Jen— J ; ' } 'p en , produced here since Miss Oori'i ''- ee ' s visit five years ago. "Baby" H clever little girl of some six Jtapp 'r' w 036 performances upon the Stamn i ls ' a y, remarkable precocity, and in the r fi Sthe , most ta led child actress Southern hemisphere.

Recent Wellington telegrams referred to the institution of junior and senior examinations for constables desiring promotion in the force. The outlines of the scheme have sent terror and dismay into the hearts of aspirants, as they see among the requisites in their haversacks for the future a young law library, the senior examination alone requiring, the study of thirty-three Acts of the General Assembly. With regard to the junior examination, candidates have to be masters of the Police Code Book of Regulations and Police Force Act, and Evidence, pages 13 to 7"-i Johnston's Justice of the Peace, and Summary Convictions, pages !)<> to 108 Johnston's Justice of the Peace. The second or senior examination is to be on the following Acts : —Coal Mines, Coroners, First Offenders, Gaming and lotteries, Impounding, Industrial Schools, Introduction of Convicts, Juries, Justices of Peace Act, Larceny, Licensing, Lunatics, Malicious Injury, Alining, Offences Against the Person, Animals' Protection, Public Offences, Penalties' Recovery, Dog Registration, Distillation, Sale of Poisons, etc.

Wo have received from Mr. ildman, bookseller, Shortland-street, a copy of the Graphic's Special Commission number, being an interesting illustrated record of the proceedings of the Parnell Inquiry.

A very pleasant ceremony took place on Thursday in St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, Kemucra, when Mr. Charles Hesketli, at the close of the. choir practice, received a presentation on his retiring from the position of organist and choirmaster. It, took the form of a complimentary address and a valuable gift of sacred music, from the members of the choir, as a token of respect and esteem. Mr. Hesketh was both surprised and pleased at the unexpected gift, and appropriately acknowledged it. The debating society in connection with the Auckland University College held the first meeting of the session for the present year last evening. Dr. Posnett, president of the society, presided, and there were about fifty present. Before the actual business of the evening began, the Chairman delivered a brief address, in which he gave the members some practical advice upon public speaking. Mr. J. Wooller then opened the evening's debate, taking the affirmative side of the question, '* Will Socialism Alleviate the Condition of the Poor?" The speaker, while disagreeing with the present methods used for securing Socialism, held that its tendency to produce a brotherhood of mankind in which the poor would enjoy the advantages and privileges now held exclusively by the wealthy, was deserving of approval and encouragement. Messrs. Withy, Purdie, ls'en, Rev. R. Coates, Whitehouse, and Misses Shrewsbuiy and Gilford also spoke, and the subject of land-nationalisation and its relation to Socialism was introduced and discussed. After the leader had replied to the criticisms, the chairman summed up stiongly against Socialism, as he held that the terrible power that would fall into the hands of those who apportioned the recompense for the work done by each person, would exceed that possessed by the greatest despot of history, and would almost certainly crush out all individual liberty and independence of action. On the question being put to the meeting, a large majority voted for the negative side. At the Mount Ed on Congregational Church on Thursday night, the Rev. H. M. Livens delivered a lecture on Sir Walter Raleigh, sketching the various scenes in his life in an able manner—as courtier, statesman, sailor adventurer, and lastiy State prisoner. There was a fair attendance of the, Young Men's Association (under whose auspices the lecture was given) and their friends. The Rev. B. L. Thomas was in the chair, and moved a cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was heartily supported by Messrs. Ewington and Cox, and carried by acclamation. The meeting closed by singing the National Anthem.

Information recently received from Wellington stated that a circular had been j issued by the Commissioner of Police, which it was said has caused considerable dissatisfaction amongst the members of the force throughout the colony, owing to its purport being a warning against belonging to any policical or religious society. One of the Wellington journals applied to the Commissioner for a copy of the circular, but it states that that officer refused to give it. The following we find are the terms of the circular : —" Members of the police force are not to join political or religious societies. The attention of the I! on. the Defence Minister has been drawn to a late case in a Resident Magistrate's Court, when an attempt was made to discredit the evidence of a police constable by showing that ho was a member of a jwlitical society, and had allowed his prejudices as such to interfere with his public duties. Although there does not appear to be any grounds for the inference drawn on this occasion, yet it is evident that the credit and authority of any member of the force can be materially weakened where it is possible to show that he is a member of any political or religious society. Members of the force are, therefore, cautioned joining any such society, or taking part in their meetings or ceremonies, such conduct being likely to prejudice the interests of the force by causing individuals to be objects of suspicion or dislike to large and important sections of the community." The reference to a late case, it is conjectured, is an allusion to " the Newton cart case," in which Constable Christie was crass-examined by the defence as to whether he had, on a certain notable occasion, received " the Orange grip." If the circular alludes to that affair, it is singular that while it is stated " there doos not appear to be any grounds for the inference drawn," the unfortunate constable (of the first-class, with a grand record), lost his station and lost his grade, being put down to the bottom of the second-class. Some of the Southern papers, it is said, suggest the withdrawal of the circular.

The footpath on the Surrey Hills' side of Ponsonby Road has for the last two years been in a disgraceful condition. The scoria and metal have loner- since vanished—in fact, the path seems entirely innocent of ever having had any, and a huge open drain is allowed to remain and grass to grow nearly out to the street in some places.

The friends of the Young Men's Christian Association will be pleased to learn that the committee are preparing an excellent programme for the winter season. The annual meeting will be held on the 31st inst., and the winter course of lectures will begin early in June,

Full particulars of the annual gathering of Hands of Hope, to be held in the City Hall, on Friday next, will be found in our advertising columns. The chief attraction of this gathering is undoubtedly the rendering of action songs and choruses by 500 young people, under the conductors!)ip of Mr. S. Frith, who has been training them for some time. An excellent programme of other items will complete a good entertainment.

The Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association have engaged Professor Carrollo as instructor of the gymnasium for two nights in the week. It is proposed to open the winter session with a grand gymnastic display at an early date.

At the first opportunity Constable O'Brien, of Surrey Hills station, will go to Fiji to bring back to Auckland the errant secretary of the Archhill Highway Board, who was arrested there, and is charged with embezzling certain moneys of the Board.

The proprietor of the Switchback railway, Mr. Noel E. Ruck, near the Firth's Mill, has invited the children of the charitable institutions to-day to visit the switchback and have a ride. Among those going to-day are the St. Stephen's Native School and the Girls' Industrial School, while next week the lads of the Kohimarama Industrial School will visit it.

On Thursday evening Sergeant McMahon discovered an incipient fire in Chancery-street, in a blacksmith's shop, occupied by Mr. John Dickens. The sergeant and Detective Herbert extinguished the fire with a few buckets of water. It appears that Mr. Dickens was galvanising iron in the afternoon, and it is possible that a spark accidentally falling smouldered and did the mischief. His tools and stock were uninsured. The City Council owns the building.

A young lad named Robert Bull, belonging to the Devonport public school, sustained a fracture of the collarbone while playing football. Dr. Parkinson attended to the lad at his residence, and the boy is not expected to sustain any permanent injury through his jL.jau.enture.

In connection with the Wesleyan Foreign Missions, the Rev. Isaac Rooney, with a native teacher, will shortly visit Auckland. Mr. Rooney and his companion are visiting New Zealand as a deputation from the Australasian Wesleyan Missionary Society, and the services and meetings already held by them in the Southern cities of the colony have been attended with great success. Mr. Rooney has had a long and varied experience as a missionary, having laboured first in Fiji, and afterwards in the islands adjacent to New Guinea. His thorough knowledge of the language and customs of the people, and his intimate acquaintance with all the details of mission life and wo. k, qualify him to speak as but few are able to speak on such subjects. His companion is a native of the Duke of York Island, and a convert from heathenism. He addresses tho meetings in his own language, and his earnest words of thanksgiving and appeal are translated by Mr. Rooney. The deputation will arrive in Auckland on May '20, and commence their work in the city on Sunday, May 20, conducting service at the Grafton Road Wesleyan" Church in the morning, and at the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church in the evening. The collections made at tho various sorvices and meeting 3 will be in aid of the Foreign Mission funds, for the support of present missions, and to aid in the 'further spread of Christian knowledge amongst the heathen.

The Board of Reviewers will sit at the R. M. Court to-day at ten o'clock, when objectors in tho Newton district will be heard.

Messrs. E. Cox and .Son wish to say, in reply to repeated inquiries, that their partnersnjp continues as before, but that Mr. J. Goodwin Cox having left Auckland they arranged to take his practice and rooms, where Dr. H. Cox may now be consulted, and Mr. E. Cox at Kingsley House, Hobson-strcet. Old members and those intending to join the " Ponsonby at Home " are reminded that no tickets will be issued for the first dance, on the :24th inst., after twelve noon to-day. Our matchless wicker-chairs (various patterns) possess elegance and comfort which, combined with cheapness, place them at an advantage over all others. Every description of wicker furniture and basketware at English prices.—T. Cole, 1, Wellesley-street East. Mr. George Rhodes, builder, Custom-street West, by advertisement elsewhere announces that he has a quantity of Oaniaru stone, just arrived, for all sorts of jobbing work. Mr. W. C. W. McDowell, 8.A., will deliver his popular lecture on "London in Jubilee Week and Round the World with ti Camera," in the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton West, on Tuesday next. Messrs. Stone Brothers are sole agents for the Auckland Tallow and Manure Manufacturing Company's bonedust. The annual meeting of the Auckland Permanent Co-operative Building and Investment Society will be held in t.he Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, on June next. Parties interested in the corn trade are invited to attend a meeting, to be held in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, on Tuesday next, at three p.m., to consider the grain bag question. Mr. Thos. MeLwin notifies elsewhere that he will have real turtle soup at the British Buffet to-day.