AUCKLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 22 May 1890, Page 30

AUCKLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Auckland, May 10. The vice-regal party have at last left for Wellington for the session of Parliament. During their stay there has been a good deal of hospitality extended at Government House. His Excellency and the Countess of Onslow have made themselves popular by their affability, and they will be gladly welcomed back in the coming summer. It is understood that they will return in January, as they are greatly charmed with Auckland and its surroundings. The Earl of Kintore is expected here again about that date, and some other distinguished personages from Australia. Admiral Lord Scott and the squadron will also probably be in this port early in January. Some of the Auckland members — notably Messrs Lawry and Hamlin — have been addressing their constituents in various places, preparatory to their going to the Assembly. They have been well received. Attempts have been made to draw Sir Maurice O'Eorke out, but so far without avail. Auckland members, as a rule, are not particularly anxious to undergo " the heckling " which is usually accorded to them on such occasions. It is possible that Sir Maurice may yet gratify his constituents before leaving for the South, as whatever his shortcomings, inattention to the interests of his electorate is, not one of them. A great sensation has been caused here by the high-handed action of the Government in clearing out half a dozen men in various stages of senile decay from the lunatic asylums, the vanguard of nearly 40 more, and dumping them at the offices of the Charitable Aid Board. The board naturally got its back up, and resented and resisted any attempt of the kind. The general opinion is that the Government have done the right thing in a wrong way, and that their proceedings have been marked by a discourtesy and want of tact and judgment which is perfectly inexcusable. Evidently Dr Macgregor, the Inspector-general, was under the impresion that the Costley Home for Aged Poor was open and in operation, whereas the fact is that all that had been done was to take advantage of his Excellency's presence in Auckland to give him the rather doubtful honour of formally opening our new workhouse. There is not a single inmate in the institution yet, and if it were ready for occupation, the inmates of the existing refuges will almost wholly absorb the accommodation provided. A little inquiry and forethought would have saved the Government and the asylum authorities from perpetrating the absurdities into which they have been betrayed. Several important questions have been raised by the action of the Government. A large number of the cases of insanity in the North Island find their way to the Auckland Asylum, and the Charitable Aid Board justly state that it is inequitable that these should be specially saddled under the projected scheme upon the citizens of Auckland or the Costley bequest. All that the Government can fairly claim is the adjustment, of the liability, so as to comprise the cases belonging to the Auckland district. There are various ways out of the present difficulty, as all parties are agreed that the overcrowding at the asylum must be stopped. One is (1) to add another wing to the Costley Home, the Government bearing the first cost; (2) for the Government to take over the existing refuges about to be evacuated for the same purpose ; or (3) to erect a fresh building on the Asylum Auxiliary Farm, where patients suffering from senile decay and incurables would be under constant medical supervision, and the asylum warders be available in case o£ need. There is little doubt that Sir George Grey, who has taken considerable interest in the cases of the men discharged, will bring up the whole question in the Assembly, and make it lively for the Government. It was never contemplated that the Costley bequest should be used in easement of the colonial revenue, and it is contended that by no stretching of the terms of the trust can the discharged lunatics be fitly placed in a home for the aged poor. Some of the local bodies around Auckland have endorsed the action of the Charitable Aid Board, and so far thej have public opinion with them. The Government cannot work the asylum without the loyal and hearty co-operation of the local bodies, and it is mere official folly to flout them in the way that has been done. It was particularly fortunate for all parties to the embroglio which has arisen that the Salvation Army Prison Gate Brigade Home authorities were willing to step into the breach to take care of the unfortunate imbeciles until matters could be satisfactorily adjusted between the disputants, as otherwise the men must have been brought before the bench as vagrants, and in all probability sent to Mount Eden Gaol. The latest phase of the matter is that the Government have undertaken to defray the expenses incurred by the Salvation Army in maintaining the discharged men, and thus have practically thrown up the sponge. The Auckland suburban local bodies have sustained the action of the Charitable Aid Board in declining the responsibility which was endeavoured to be thrust upon them, and some other form of settlement than intended by the Government will have to be adopted. The squabble which has arisen has directed attention to the dangerous overcrowdiug of the asylum, and the pertinent inquiry is made as to why, in this young community, there should be from 400 to 500 lunatics in such an institution. Some people attribute the cause to intemperance, but I am informed that only 17 per cent, of the cases are _ directly referable to that cause. There is little doubt, however, that intemperance is indirectly the exciting cause in other cases, and would greatly increase the percentage above stated. Among other provocative causes is said to be the solitude inseparable to a large extent from bush life and the vicissitudes arising from mining speculations and commercial depression. The large numbei o£ gumdiggers and bushmen in ths asylum leads to the conjecture that they owe their presence there to the use of the villainous compounds disposed of at some of the bush shanties, and which it is a figure of speech to term refreshment, being

much more like "logwood and tobacco wash." From town and country districts alike come complaints this year of the gross abuse of the cumulative vote in the election of school committees. In the city of Auckland it was simply a public scandal, for lists of men were prepared who had been canvassed and who had agreed to be present and give " plumpers." Attempts were made by various parties to get possession of double voting papers, and but for the prompt action of the chairman (Mr Speight) in impounding a bundle of voting papers put in by one man, ballot stuffing would have been added to the other disgraceful accessories of the election. There is little doubt that if Mr Speight had chosen to be frank over what came under his notice, the whole election proceedings would have been quashed as irregular. There were men brought up to vote who had not a single child at the schools, or indeed in existence, who could not read the names of the candidates when put on the blackboard, or fill up the voting papers when handed to them. The chairman of committee (Mr Gerrie) was ejected from office after 15 years' zealous service in the cause of primary education, because he would not stoop to any artifices to retain or secure bis seat. The whole affair was a lamentable reflection upon the community for its lack of public spirit and interest in the management of the public schools. It simply shows that after all the complaints made by the general public as to the action of local bodies they have only their indifference to thank for unsatisfactory results. Some of the Auckland members will bring the matter of cumulative voting up in the General Assembly with the view of getting this feature of the Education Act eliminated. In Auckland, at all events, it has not secured the representation of minorities, but simply enabled individuals to gratify a grudge or work the oracle. There seemed every likelihood of a great deal of dissension and ill-feeling being raised out of the disposal of the surplus from the jubilee sports. A number of suggestions were made for the disposal of the surplus, of the most varied character, some of them positively ludicrous. The whole difficulty has been got over by the committee agreeing to devote it to an institution for the blind, which has been much needed. The amoant is only to be given on condition that the public subscribe an equal sum, and that the joint amounts are subsidised by Government pound for pound. If this scheme is realised, of which there seems every probability, a [ sum of £600 will be available for the new institution, and this it is estimated will suffice for carrying out operations for the present. The jubilee will thus be fittingly remembered byjfa gracious and humane act — viz., the establishing of an institution where the blind may be suitably taught or cared for. Ifc has been discovered, on making inquiries, that there are quite a number of those unfortunates in our city and country districts, and some of these are now being taught various handicrafts, so as to enable them to do something towards earning their own living, and thus prevent them becoming a burden upon the community. Trade strikes, disputes, and boycottings, legal prosecutions, &s., still go on, and so far without any satisfactory settlement. On both sides — labour and capital — there is a good deal of shuffling, and a want of that straightforward dealing and respect for each other's rights which would make life not only tolerable but pleasant. The Tailoresses' Union are at present having their innings. The Operative Bootmakers' Union are also on the warpath, while the Shipwrights' Protection Society have just subsided after being guilty of one of the most indefensible and high-handed a body of intelligent workmen could be guilty of. The two firstnamed unions have, I believe, some well founded grievances against individual firms, but the Shipwrights' Protection Society would simply " protect " ship building out of existence in Auckland. Fortunately some lingering sense of equity possessed them, and they rescinded their own resolution, so far as "suspending" a firm was concerned as the act would not bear investigation. It is a pity that these unions should replace the tyranny of capital by a despotism not less cruel and exacting. A commencement has been made in the Northern forests and mills to break down the 10 hours system which has latterly prevailed, and the employers have met the men half way by making the working day nine hours ; but I have reason to believe that the men will rest with nothing short of the eight hours movement ; and taking into consideration the climate and nature of the occupation-, eight hours' honest hard work is sufficient. The drapery trades are going in for a Saturday half-holiday from 2 p.m. It will probably be abandoned after a few weeks' experiment, as happened in the case of the Grocers' Association some time back. The mistake is made of each class or trade considering its own interests solely without reference to the general good ; but without loyal and united co-operation of all classes and trades, the Saturday half-holiday will fail so far as the retail trades are concerned. A change in the pay day to Friday, and making Friday night the late night for shopping, must also come of necessity with such a reform as is projected. The early closing movement (7 p.m.) is being fairly observed by the suburban shopkeepers, but the Knights of Labour are satisfied that this state of affairs will only be made permanent by the aid of legislation, and a Shop Hours Bill may be regarded as one of the measures which will be privately introduced during the next session of Assembly. The City Council in deference to public opinion have looked down with regard to the concessions proposed to be made to certain local industries in the vicinity of the Western Springs. It may be only a sentiment, but after all, the city water supply, like Cassar's wife, shculd be above suspicion. So far from contracting the area free from the presence of industries calculated to pollute the water, it should be the policy of the corporation to enlarge it, and this is one of the " burning " questions before the citizens of Auckland in the near future. We have to thank the inquisitiveness of a Southern borough council, respecting the method adopted in Auckland of charging rates on gas mains of the gas company, for enabling the Auckland town clerk to detect an official blunder by which the corporation has

lost nearly £1000 of rates from the company. All the facts are not yet before the public, if they ever will be, as the City Council is investigating the affair without the presence of the representative of the gas company. Some of the explanations vouchsafed, I understand, are more curious than satisfactory. In the meantime the rates are not legally recoverable from the company, and can only be regarded as " a debt of honour," and as corporations have not, as a rule, a corporate conscience, the gas company is not likely to worry the rate collector. Our fruit preserving and export industry is again attracting the attention of the Chamber of Commerce, owing to the continued imports by the mail steamers of dried and preserved fruits from 'Frisco. An attempt will be mace before next summer, either by a joint stock enterprise or otherwise, to take some steps to regularly export green fruit to the Southern, Australian, English, and Californian markets. As the Auckland market is about to be re-leased, the chamber has communicated with the City Council with a view of seeing whether arrangements could not be made for the establishment of a fresh fiuit market in the city. The chamber seems to be baking a new lease of life, for it is also giving its attention to the question of immigration and other matters of pressing interest to the community. While urging the settlement of the land, the consensus of opinion was against borrowing for that or any other purpose. Various schemes were discussed — that of Mr Stead, Captain Daveney, the "40 acre,", and the nominated systems. As a matter of practical experience, the nominated system has proved to be the most beneficial in Auckland. The Government are relieved of all responsibility for the newcomers, and the ! fact that they paid a portion of the purchase money, or had it paid by their relatives in the colony, was a proof of their industry and of their being desirable colonists. In art, as in music, the AucklanJers do not believe that " union is strength." During the past fortnight we have had the exhibition of the Academy of Art, a rival to the Auckland Society of Arts. The two best pictures are by Messrs Steele (an English artist) and Kenneth Watkins. Perhaps we have had nothing better in the way of illustrating old New Zealand history than the picture by these artists, conjointly, depicting " The Blowing Up of the Boyd at Whangaroa," after the massacre of the ship's crew. All the details are carefully worked out, as given in the narratives of Maori witnesses of the disaster to Mr Williams. It is to be hoped that this fine historical painting will be secured for the Auckland Art Gallery. Another grand picture is " The Crucifixion," by Mr Steele, and is a new departure in a class of work which has not been exhibited in this city by local artists. One or two Southern artists also contributed to the exhibition, but the majority of them are keeping their work for the exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts which also takes place this month. Its competitive exhibits are already to hand (including those from the Canterbury School of Arts), and it is stated that the quality of the work is better this year though less in quartity. It speaks well for the improvement in business matters that although we are getting into the rainy season, when the labouring classes make broken time, there has been no outcry from the casual unskilled labourers as to want of employment. The report of the Northern Steamship Company shows that during the past year the company have earned a profit of nearly £9000, and for the first time in six years has declared a dividend, besides clearing off a goodly amount of arrears. As this profit is almost solely derivable from local trade, it marks very emphatically the steady improvement in business which has taken place.