The Probinces.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 188, 9 August 1859, Page 3

The Probinces.

AUCKLAND.' Wr have papers to the 26fh ultimo. From the Southern Gross we extract the following :— Mh. Bhooke's Concert.—This gentleman's conceit took place on Wednesday evening last, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, under the patronage of Hs Excellency tho Governor, who was-present, nu- j companied by Mrs. Gore Browne. The hall, we were glad to see was full. Burns name has quite a titlismanic effect in Auckland ; and a " Nicht wi' Burns and Ramsay," with Mr. Brooke's harp and Mr. Schmilt's violin, was quite an irresistible programme to all v kindly Scots." Both these gentlemen played in their usual style, and were encored. Tullocli-gorum seemed to have a magical effect on all of the North of the Tweed feet in the room; and if there had been room we should uot have been surprised to have witnessed an extempore reel in the middle of the hall, Mr.; Leoeh gave " John Anderson my Joe "in bis usual correct manner, but he is not a Scotchman, and Burns' songs require a Scotchman to sing them. The glee, " Willie Brewed," was well given by Messrs. Leech, -Fjeetwood, and Anderson, anil encored. Three Scottish songs were given by an amateur and Mr. Ruth bone. Mrs. Anderson's performance on the piano seemed to be generally ■ liked. •■:• J ■■;, We are sorry to have to say that none of the sparrows, 360 in number, shipped by Mr- Brodie on board the Swordnsh, lived to see New Zealand.! They began to die shortly after leaving England.; We regret-that Mr. Brodie's spirited enterprise should have failed of success ; he deserves, however, .no. less credit for having made the attempt. .We saw on board the Swordfish a very healthy well conditioned specimen of our old friend the blackbird. We understand that the sparrows were shipped in five cages. Thelargenumbevnec.es-' sariiy together in one cage must, we think, have contributed to tlie mortality amongst our old hedge friends. - The first concert of. the Philharmonic Society was given on the 19th ultimo, with complete success, —with much more, in fact, than we had ourselves expected. The steadiness of the amateurs, so lately brought together, was remarkable; and though something yet remains to be accomplished in precision and perfect aplomb, its future is secure;, and we are bound to state that'the society are not a little indebted to the indefatigable exertions and masterly leading of Herr Schinitt, their conductor. . , It is with much regret that we announce the unexpected decease, ( after a very short illness, of; our respected fellow colonist, Alexander Shepherd, for many years Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand. Opinions, so nearly as we can learn, differ as to the immediate cause of his death ; but one of the various forms of apoplexy appears to be the most probable. The old familiar faces are beginning to disappear from amongst us. ' We have lost many good colonists of late, but none, we believe, will be more universally regretted than. the subject of this notice. ; <. . The township of Ellerslie was sold by auction on Wednesday, the 20th ultimo, by Mr. Alfred Buckland, at Messrs. Henderson and 'M'Earlane's stores. The number of acres sold was 60, and. thcgross amount realised ,£<3.°>s3. This township is situated on the northern side of theOfcahuhn-rovd, immediately above its junction with the road to PaiiMivire.. It was subdivided into a large linm-; ber of allotments,-of which those having frontages to the Great South, and.the roads traversing.t?ie property, contained about a quarter acre each. 'These sold at the highest prices. The'coiher allotment, next to the," Harp of "Erin,"" running K-iok 224 links, sold at 255. per footfrontag'1* The other lots, fronting the same road* sold at from 8s per foot upwards. Back lots sold at from 2s/3d. to 10s. per foot. ■■■'■'■ ■ ■ ' •'.■■' The Customs Revenue collected at the port of Auckland for the week ending 23i;d July, amounted to £13:17 11s. 2d., shewing an increase of £77 10s. Gd, on the reccipls of the previous week.. The townshipi of Mount St. John was sold on the 25th July, and realised high prices. The whole amount realised was over ill,ooo. , Prices ranged from ss. fld. to £Q 15s. per foot frontage; The latter was what the corner allotment between the Otahulm and Onehunga roads was sold for, a piece com prising rather more than half an acre. Several publicans have been lately fined for opening their houses on Sunday, contrary to the provisions of the act. The magistrate has of course no option, according to the present law, and must fine delinquents; but it must be, at the same time, a great satisfaction to all right-minded individuals, to see the sailors from the Elk, when they get their liberty ashore on a Sunday, debarred from having a quiet tea at a respectable inn, the furnishing them with which on Sunday week caused one publican to be fined. Where there is demand it is. possible to regulate, though it is impossible to cut off the supplies. The 'public will soon find this out; and unless our legislators wish to. see our Police Court! perpetually taken up with cases of drunkenness in disreputable and,irresponsible houses, they had better repeal the whitened sepulchre clause' of our Licensing Act. i Sensible men in our Provincial Council ridiculed it when it was being pasped.; We regret to have to announce a fatal accident which occurred to Mr. Maddison, late of the Clyde, and formerly of the Raven. During the gale on Saturday. he wss;'engaged, with two others, in carrying out an anchor and warpfrom. the former vessel, which was lying alongside the wharf, when the dingy sunk at about fifty yards from the vessel. His companions escaped by swimming— one of them, Mr. Ellis, with greatdimctllty; but deceased sank immediately;, and his! body, .was, not1, recovered till-after the lapse of lialf-an-hpur, .by, means of the police .'drags'. ■" An inquest wasi'lield': the same evening at the Metropolitan Hotel,,when a verdict of accidental death was returned: '. - -