AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1244, 2 October 1875, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

"We are all rejoiced at the prospect of a termination to the abolition weariness. It is generally believed here that the Governor will not now assent to the Bill, even if the Upper House pass it. He is the guardian of the privileges of the next Assembly as well as the present, and will not allow them to be curtailed by putting in the Statute Book an Act which will divide and embitter parties at the outseij while the postponement of its operation shows that there is no urgency in passing it all. The Governor will certainly raise himself to the highest point in the estimation of the people here if he does refuse his assent. Sir George Grey continues, if anything, more popular than ever, and preparations are being made to give him a great welcome on his return. Many of the moneyed interests are opposing him, but not all, and the great advantage his supporters have is the enthusiasm which leads scores to give their time freely, while the other side, working in cold blood, has to do all with hard cash. The great petition sent to Sir George in Wellington only cost 30s — the mere cost of printing. The gentlemen who stood at street corners and in the market on Saturday evenings, and who went about on other clays to get signatures, were volunteer workers. Enthusiasm of this kind must tell when the elections come on, and there is every sign of its increasing rather than decreasing:, as people think over the great danger from which Sir George Grey, at great personal sacrifice, has saved them. Everyone here believes that, but for him, the Government would have been able to overbear all opposition, and while they are proud and thankful for the services which Mr Macandrew, Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Rolleston, and others have rendered, they believe that, without Sir George Grey's prestige and position, the attempt to meet the Government, with its great array of expectant and ardent supporters, would have been vain. The Auckland people, believe me, speak and feel strongly on this point, and will be more united in the next session than they have been during the present. The University muddle with reference to the Auckland students is still unsettled, except in the case of Mr Edward G. Moss, whose iinsition in the published list showed that it was a mere clerical error that led to his being down among those who failed to pass. The Chancellor has promptly corrected this, and done the best he could by getting a corrected list in the Gazette. The case of the Grammar School students i?, however, not yet settled, though they are pretty sure to be put down as passed, too, before it is over. The dispute turns upon the point, did they keep their terms or no ? and there can be littie doubt they did keep them strictly in accordance with the rule. Of their proficiency there is no question. As to the other undergraduates, their case is still sub jvdice, and no decision known beyond, as I formerly wrote, that Mr Power had been informed he had also been the victim of a clerical error. It is to be hoped the thoughtless publication of the names of those alleged to have failed will be a lesson, and no such unusual course be again allowed. The University cannot afford to discourage students in the slightest degree in this small community if it hopes for permanence or success.

The Caledonian is again on gold. The Union Beach is prospering. The Old Cure, and Red Queen are looking up, and mining matters are brightening generally, and I think soundly. Tairua is to be the great card, however, and its first crushing battery has just been opened. The Freemasons of the Prince of Wales Lodge, under the English Constitution, had their annual banquet yesterday. Over 50 sat down, and it was a pleasant and successful affair. I mention it because the newspapers tell us how young New Zealand came out on the occasion. The masters of the Lodge are all — past and present — native born New Zealanders. and the occasion was taken to give expression to a feeling among many young Masons here for a New Zealand Grand Lodge. They want to merge the Irish, Scotch, and English into one, but the older Masons prefer sticking to their respective Constitutions, and see nothing so attractive in a New Zealand Grand Lodge to compensate them for a change of their allegiance. The feeling, however, among young Masons here is strong, and no one likes to discourage it too much, for it rests on a laudable, if mistaken patriotism, and the accomplishment of the desire is only a matter of time. I think they will have to wait, though, till some of the older brethren have died on, and till the number of native born is very largely increased. lhere have been changes in the Herald's staff. Mr James Browne, better known everywhere by his norn de plume of Snyder, has left the Herald, and is now the proprietor and editor of the Coromandel Mail — a paper with an excellent prospect before it, especially with the new impulse mining has received in the district. In Mr Browne's hands, theCoromanctol Mail is suiq booh to bare a distuwtivt

character of its own, as the vein of humour for which he is remarkable begins to find free play. The paper has been enlarged and improved in every respect already.