AUCKLAND NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8416, 16 January 1899, Page 4

AUCKLAND NOTES.

_* Tub Exhibition still continues to draw la>-ge crowds, and the entertainments during the past week have been exceedingly well patronised. The musical comedy, "The French Maid," by the Pollard Opera Company, has attracted crowded bouses, and is favorably spoken of on all sides. This evening Planquettc's popular opera, "Rip Van Winkle" will be revived. Tho conipiny will also produce "In Town," and " Paul Jones." The renovation of the Government House is nearly completed, the main building having been finished with the exception of the furnishing. Most of the furniture lias been specially ordered from Home to designs .selected by Lady Ranfurly. The vice-regal party are expected in Auckland towards the end of .March, and will remain there for some time. Tho meetings of the Auckland City Council have of late been attended with considerable interest, and on Thursday evening last over 100 persons of both sexes were present. As an outcome of Councillor Entriean's motion, the services of the city valuer are to be dispensed with. It is stated that opals have been found on certain properties in Tairna, and it is probable that mining operations will before long be commenced. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr D. Goldie, referring to the question of city finances at the last meeting, said the Council must not live in a fool's paradise any longer. Mr W. Leys, ex-chairman of the Fonsonby .School Committee, is a candidate for membership on the Education Board. The Queen's statue was erected in the Albert Park on Friday last. The pedestal had previously been on the ground but on Friday morniiig the statue was taken up and the whole work of the erection was accomplished before evening. The statue is an excellent likeness of Her Majesty, and is admirably shown oil by the red granite pedestal. The inscription, in gilt letters, 011 the pedestal is as follows:— " Erected by the' people of the provincial district of Auckland to commemorate the COth year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria. Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, 1597." The statue was veiled at noon on Saturday, and will be kept veiled until the arrival of His Excellency the Governor, towards the end of March, when the ceremony of unveiling will take place. Up to date there has been produced from property of the New Zealand Crown mine bullion to the value of £190,128 of which £138,103 19s lid was obtained prior to 1808 whilst during the year just ended bullion to the value of £52,024 was obtained. The Mayor of Auckland has received the following letter from Captain Brown of H.M.S. Tauranga: Sir,— l have the honour to inform you that H. M. ships Tauranga and Royalist are shortly leaving the port of Auckland, and I am directed by His Excellency the Rear-Admiral Hugo L. Pearson, the Commander-in-Chief, to inform yon that their departure is due to t.he number of desertions that have taken place from H.M.s. Royalist during the last few days, and to the" complete failure of the local police to apprehend any of the offenders. —I am, etc., \V. L. W. Browne, captain and senior officer in the New Zealand Division." The Mayor replied that he would do what he could to have the nature ot Captain Browne's communication made public. It is estimated that there will be over 8000 names on the. next municipal roll for the Auckland city. Auckland importers are moving to see that they have better representation on the Harbor Board. At a meeting called for the purpose Mr A. H. Nathan stated that it was the intention of the mercantile community to take more interest in the matter of representation on the Harbour Board than in the past, so as to secure the election of three members to represent the merchants of the city upon the Board. The majority of members in the past had not that commercial knowledge, principally of the lauding and delivery of aoods, that was necessary in the interests of importers, and the methods in vogue here were felt to be far behind the standard of excellence elsewhere.