OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 18

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

(Ffloar Oub Own Cobrespondent.) April 24.

The vice-regal party left Auckland for Wellington on Saturday, greatly to their regret. It had been Lord Glasgow's intention to stay until the 20th of next month, and a shooting expedition to the north had been arranged. However, the tour of duty for the s.s. Hinemoa had been fixed before definite information was received by his Excellency from the Consul-general of Austro-Hungary at Sydney, that the visit of the Austrian Archduke to Wellington in the Eaiserin Elizabeth would be delayed till June, and the vice-regal party had either to go on Saturday or proceed to Wellington later on by the Union Company's boats, at a cost of £200. What Lord and Lady Glasgow and family have especially prized is that they have been left to enjoy themselves in any way they pleased, and to have the retirement and privacy of home and family life. They make no secret of their intention to return to Auckland as soon as they conveniently can, although it is just possible that their present purpose of going to Melbourne to see the Melbourne Cup run may delay their arrangements. While in Victoria they will be the guests of Lord and Lady Hopetoun. Lady Hopetoun, as their guest, greatly enjoyed herself in Auckland — shooting, fishing, deerstalking, and hunting being the order of the day. Her ladyship — who in addition to her varied accomplishments as a shootist, angler, deerstalker, equestrienne, and charioteer, is an expert photographer — has taken back with her to her Victorian home a series of views of the Waikato lakes, oh which in a Maori canoe she had been engaged duck-shoot-ing. These will remind her of her exploits in a domain in which lovely woman has not been wont to earn much distinction.

Lady Glasgow prior to her departure from Auckland formed a branch of the New Zealand Mothers' Union. The meeting was well attended, and Lady Glasgow delivered an admirable address. Her ladyship was .very pronounced in her explanations that the union was not a society in which ladies only were to instil into their poorer neighbours r;ght principles on the subject in question. There was to be no talking down from a higher platform to a lower. There were women in every rank of life who required wakening up, and guidance as to the moral welfare of their children, and there were iv every class mothers who were in all ways fitted to be a help and guide to their less fortunate Bisters. Lady Glasgow delicately alluded tbthe criticism which had been übtered by some ladies of the Women's Franchise League, as to her presence at tho racecourse and the theatre, in the following terms : "I have been often appealed to by many different people as to my opinion on dancing, novel reading, theatres, racing, drinking wine, and playing, and while I have the greatest sympathy and respect for those who hold these things to be wrong, yet I do not feel that personal questions of this kind have anything to do with the union bsyond showing the necessity for such an organisation. Whatever different opinions we may hold on some subjects, I know we must all agree that what it urgently needed is to train our children from babyhood to carry religion into their amusements and enjoyments." Her Ladyship subsequently invited the mothers interested to meet her at Government House to arrange matters for the working of the Mothers' Union, but only a small number responded to the appeal, and those not of the class who most need its help. There are many practical difficulties in carrying out Lady Glasgow's benevolent scheme, not the least being the social distinctions prevailing even in colonial society. Steps are being taken to get the electoral rolls in readiness in case of eventualities. The Liberal and National Associations are both exhibiting a good deal of activity in looking up the rolls, wbroh, after all the so-called purifioa.

tion, are in anything but a satisfactory state. In a conversation with the ex-Native Minister (Hon. E. Mitchelson) the other day, he informed me that he would contest Eden to the bitter end, and that owing to the readjustment of the boundaries of the electorate it would ba much more easily fought than on the previous occasion. Owing to his geniality and reputation for integrity, Mr Mitchelson is personally popular with his constituents. Judging from Sir Patrick Buckley's remarks the other day, we are likely to be favoured by a visit from at least two Ministers to enlighten us on the political situation, and that other "talent" from the Ministerial ranks will be forthcoming if the Opposition put up speakers in reply. I understand that Mr Eugene O'Conor/M H.R., who is at present at the Rotorua Sanatorium taking a course of the baths for the benefit of his health, intends next month to take to the public platform and give his views on party government and the scheme he intends to propose in the Assembly to terminate the struggle for the loaves and fishes between the "ins" and the " outs."

A sense of relief was felt here when the tidings came that Te Eooti, the instigator and leader at the Poverty Bay massacre, had gone to his final account. The Aucklanders tolerated rather than approved of Mr John Bryce's action, as Native Minister, in pardoning the arch-rebel and murderer of women and children, and the Waikato frontier settlers would never have endured his presence at Orakau,' where it was proposed to give him a seclion of land upon which to reside. The last time I met the old ruffian he was deeply agitated with an overdose of colonwl "swipes," and was graciously pleased to extend his hand as a token of friendship for the pakeha. I had too keen a recollection of the dark days of the Poverty Bay massacretoo strong a remembrance of men and women I had known who had fallen in it— and declined the proffered courtesy with thanks. He shrugged his shoulders, with a sinister grin, aud we parted. With Te Kooti's death is closed a chapter in the history of the colony which reflects but lifctle credit on anyone coricerned— of bloodshed, vacillation, and bluuderiag relieved here and there by heroic deeds.'

There soems to be quite an eruption of benevolent schemes of one sorb or another at present, and the charitable and religious section of the public are being tolerably well mulcted in contributions. First was a mission to the gum-digger, in which two agents are employed. Their object is to wean him from his beery proclivities, and induce him to change his washing and laundry day from Sunday to .Saturday afternoon. Then, with the larrikin at our doors of the "played-out Caucasian type," we are importing a Chinese missionary from Ballarat to look after the resident' Chinese, although for quietness, industry, and obedience to law the "heathen Chinee" puts tb shame a large section of "the conquering race." In addition to the New Zealand Mothers' Union, there is being started a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Women and Children. One would imagine that in this young country, if the magistracy did their duty in cases of wifebeating or cruelty to children when brought before them, there should .be no necessity for such an organisation. As it is, thejsentences inflicted are practically non-deterrent, and bring "the law into contempt."

At the time that a mission is being to reform the Chinese, a King country correspondent has depicted in the [Auckland press the state of things in that district. "No distinction," says the correspondent, "is made by the Natives and a large majority of the pakehas between Sunday and the othfer days of the week. House-building, gardening, erection or repair of fencing are gone on with, and shooting, football, and other amusements } while on last New Year's Day (a Sunday) the event was celebrated at one settlement by horse racing and a social dance." Large quantities of spirituous liquor — some of it of the vilest description — is said to be taken into the district and disposed of surreptitiously, the illegal traffic demoralising alike the Maoris and the Europeans. The authorities do their best to suppress it, but a community which pays little attention to Divine laws is not likely to trouble itself much about the provisions of ;an act of the General Assembly of New Zealand. If the Auoklanders would send a missionary to the "heathen" in the King country — Maori and European, — instead of worrying the unfortunate Chinamen with theological; dogmas, they would be doing something useful and practical. A meeting has been held of the Ohura Settlers' Association— persons desirous of settling on the Ohura block — at which a good deal of ill-feeling was shown. It appears that during tho Easter holidays a party of prospectors went up to spy out the } land, and on return gave a very bad account 1 of it, and virtually charged Messrs Lawry, Oliphant, and Jackson Palmer with having given an erroneous description of it after their exploring expedition in company with the Hon. A. J. Cadoaan, Native Minister. At the meeting these gentlemen, whose statements had been impugned, made a vigorous defence. They contended that the prospectors had never penetrated to the Ohura Valley proper at all, and that the valley was all that they had represented. It was the story of the shield— the prospectors were talking about one side of the block and they were talking about the opposite side, and both statements were relatively true. The intending settlers are becoming tired and disgusted, as they seem to be no nearer getting on the Ohura blook than they were 12 months ago. Hospital matters are again getting somewhat mixed. The suicide of a patient, who was left temporarily unguarded, and who flung himself out of a top-storey window and dashed his brains out, led to some curious statements at the inquest. The man had on the previous day attempted suicide at his residence, and was apparently suffering from suicidal mania. At the inquest the house surgeon deposed that the man was perfectly sane when admitted, and then went on to say that "instructions were given to remove all knives and anything with which the patient could possibly injure himself." He had also advised the nurse "to see that the man did not get on the balcony." Another doctor, a member of the hon. medical staff, deposed that he saw the patient with the house surgeon, and considered the man a lunatic, and that he should have been sent t^ 'he Lunatic Asylum ! The nurse, in her turn, tktly denied that she had been advised respecting the patieut, " The doctor did not tell me to see that the deceased did not get on to the balcony." The remarkable conflict of testimony is not likely to impress the public much with the value of medical • ' expert " evidence, or to give them an impression that the hospital mnnag^ment is any improvement upon the regime of Dr Collins. Both medical men are agreed that the police authorities should have watched over the man in the hospital ward, though as he was not a prisoner, and had not been formally charged with any offence, it is difficult to see how the constabulary can be lent out as male nurses to hospitals. The police authorities contend on their side that when they have taken anyone to the hospital Buffering from wounds self-inflicted or otherwise, in order to secure for them prompt surgical treatment, the responsibility for the care and safety of suoh persons lies at the door pi the hospital officials, There is likely to be

a sultry discussion at the Hospital Board over the sad, miserable business.

Mining affairs at the Thames goldfields are still quiet, and there are no finds of moment to break the monotony of dull plodding work. Low grade ore, which would not be looked at in the palmy days of the Long Drive, Shotover, Caledonian, and Golden Crown, are now being carefully treated, with a small margin of profit. The month's yield of gold is under 3000oz. The project of "testing the deep levels to a depth of 1500 ft by boring, at a cost of £3500, still hangs fire. Mr Seddon, as Minister for Mines, has offered the loan of a diamond drill from the Government for boring purposes, and the Auckland Deep Levels Committee is keeping the matter steadily in view. The London Gaiety Burlesque Company is doing a splendid business at the Opera House, there being crowded houses every night. The Vicn-regal party from Government House paid the.ii the compliment of being present on the first night of the production of each piece. Their advent here was well timed, as there are no competin? attractions. The dress-circle of the Opera House reminds one of the "boom " period and its palmy days, and shows that there is money in the pockets of the Aucklanders if only the real magician comes along who has the gift of extracting it.