Our Correspondents.

Otago Witness, Issue 1340, 4 August 1877, Page 6

Our Correspondents.

AUCKLAND. THE B.A. DIPLOMA. The Choral Hall was crowded on an afternoon lately to witness the delivery of her diploma as B. A. to Miss Kate Milligan Edgar, the first lady, it is said, ever admitted to that decree in the Empire. There must have been a thousand people, all taking a warm and earnest interest in the proceedings. Miss Edgar was presented to the Chancellor's delegate by Mr Macrae, the Principal of the Auckland College and Grammar School, in the affiliated classes of which* school Miss Edgar was a student. Mr Macrae was evidently prond of his pupil's success, and everything went off remarkably well. Misa Edgar is the daughter of the Rev. J. Edgar, one of the Non-conformiat settlers, a minister of this city well known for his eloquence, earnestness, and, I may add, occasionally eccentric view 3. He is a very active leader of tho Good Templars, an entirely Free Church man, as he declines to recognise any sects or sectarian distinctions, a man who does not spare himself nor spare others, full of vigour, highly caltivated, a great musician, and always ready for a fight. Such a man must neads have troops of friends as well as many enemies. Both assembled yesterday to do honour to the young lady, whose success wa3 felt to be an honour to the whole Province. Bishops and clergy of other churches were on the platform. So were a number of people of all shades of opinion, and the congratulations of all were hearty and sincere. Miss Edgar carried herself with the quiet and modesty natural to a young lady of 19, and was one of the last in the room that a stranger would have singled oat as what used to be called a "blue-stocking." I am happy to add that she ha 3 been appointed as an assistant teacher at the Girls' High School in Christchurcb, at a salary of £300 ayear. The Christchurch School is under Mr Curnow, who was for a few years one of the masters of the Auckland College. He left it in order to take the mastership of the School to which Miss Edgar is now appointed. DULLNESS OF TRADE. Business is very dull, and there have been a few failures, but none cf serious consequence. The dullness is not confined to any branch of trade in particular. Everyone complains, and money is difficult to collect. THE MINING INTERESTS Are at present the most active, and doing best Last week £10.000 was paid in dividends from three mines, and ethers are entering the field as dividend payers. The operations at the Thames were never bo extensive or so searching as they are now at all depths, and if gold is to be found there it cannot long escape discovery. THE WATER WORKS Are at last handed over to the Corporation. They have been on the contractor's hands for the last two months, and have proved in every way satisfactory. At the final trial, the water was thrown 30ft higher than the Exchange tower — much higher than it will ever be required for practical purposes. No attempt has besn made to turn it to account as a motive power yet. This ought to be worth the attention of Messrs Burfc and Co., of your city, whose little engines are not known here. THE MOKAU. A very good bit of news reaches us from the Mokau— a river about 30 miles north of the Waitara. Some Waitara settlera have secured land and gone to live at the Mokau with their families, and with the fnll consent of the natives, who have always hitherto kept the river closed against Europeans. It - is a fine river and splendid country, and the success of these settlers again shows what can be done if Colonists are left open to deal with natives direct. The annual report of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and Joiners states that the Society now has 390 branches, of which there are 335 in the Unitei KiDgdom, 33 in the TJnited States, 6 in Canada, 8 in Australia, 3 in New Zealand, 2 in Turkey, and 1 each in Trance, Malta, and India, The total membership is nearly 45,000, and the income of the Society from all sources during the year wa3 1i120,206, the expenditure being L 109,701.