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Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1875, 12 October 1874, Page 2

There are evident indications of an improvement in mining affairs, anil the tone of the' sharemarket, during the latter part of the week especially, showed very favourably as compared with the depression which has prevailed for some time past. In our mining column to-day numerous importants finds and enencouraging results are recorded. Gold has been struck in the Waiotahi mine in two places. The dead work carried out by the Lin • coin Castle Company is at length resulting in something which savours of success. One of two reefs has been intersected, and gold shows through the stone. The Golden Calf Company has also met with a reef in which gold is visible, in the deepest level of their mine. The new level of the Bird-in-flaad is yielding handsomely, and the Moanataiari Company, by a series of profitable returns, are working themselves into a good position financially. New works are being undertaken in the Central Italy mine to open their upper levels, and the Caledonian Company inaugurated an important Bcheme of works to test their mine to the level of the Pumping Association's shaft. The Queen of Beauty has resumed its position as a heavy gold producer, and the Bright Smile is crushing with a large force and satisfactory prospects. The proposed amalgamation between the Italian and Nonpareil Companies Js looked forward to with considerable favour by the shareholders in both companies, A commencement has been made with the excavation of the foundations of the new battery for the Bright Smile shareholders. _ We have to record also the important fact that in the Old Whau mine communication has been effected between the adit level and the old workings of the mine, thus opening up an important block of ground, in which there are rich prospects; and in addition to this, two other reefs, one <of which is entirely now, are being opened up in the mine with good prospects, and it is proposed to resume permanent crushing with 20 head of stampers in the course of a week. A trial crushing from the new reef opened in the Crown Prince mine has yielded an average of 3ozs to the ton, and in the Exchange mine the *o. 2 reef of the Crown Prince has been discovered and opened with very favourable prospects, Altogether, the events of the last few days have exercised a marked effect upon mining matters generally, and there are evident indications of a restoration of confidence, which will no doubt keep pace with the further development of the mines Amongst the most important items which we have had to record is the amicable settlement in two instauces o£ the much-vexed question oE drainage contributions, and we have no doubt the example set | by the Queen of Beiuty and City of London Companies will be largely followed by other companies whose mines are benefited by being drained. The settlement of these disputes will do more to restore confidence than any find wbich could take place just now.

The barquentine Prince Alfred was towed out of the I hames river ou Saturday afternoon, and left for Port Lyttelton with a cargo of 105,000 feet of sawn timber, shipped at Mr ifibbons's mill. >Sho will return with a cargo of produce on owner's account.

It will be seen by advertisement that a meeting of tho committee formed to receive subscriptions for Maurice Power is to be held in the Pacific H >tel this evening.

The anniversary sermons of the GraLamstowu Wesleyan Sunday School were preached yesterday, in the morning by the Rev 9. H. Turner, from Mark, 10th chapter, part of the 14th verse. In the afternoon the Rev J, Dawes delivered an address founded on Ist Samfp, Ist chapter, 27th and 28th verses. In the evening tile Rev G. H. Turner preached from Genesis, 7th chapter, part of the Ist ver3e. The rererend gentleman was listened to with great attention by a large congregation. The collections for the day amounted to £1417s lid. We notice, by advertisement, that the soiree will be held this evening, instead of to-morrow evening as previously intended. From the excellent programme, combined with the low price of the soiree tickets, we anticipate the gathering will be as numerous aa on any former occasion,

The time is now approaching when some steps should be taken to inaugurate same pports or amusements for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, and the sooner the matter is taken iu hand the more likely will they be to prove successful. We havo no doubt a race meeting will be decided on, It would be necessary to take early step's, so that owners of horses which might be entered as competitors might have a fair opportunity for putting their horse 3in training. We would suggest that a meeting should. be called soon to consider what steps should be taken in the matter. We have been spoken to on the subject by several owners of horses and others, and we throw out the hint for these who are interested ia sporting matters to act upon.

The efforts of the proprietor (Mr Robert Graham) to rescue that delightful summer rl- - the Tarara Gardens, from the blighting effects of former negligence iu its cultivation and management, are just beginning to be manifest to the visitor, and there is every prospect that a few weeks of fine weather and plodding industry will convert it into an elysium, not in the name ouly. Last week the first sample of ripe strawberries—full flavoured and large sized —was gathered from the capacious beds now fast ripening in. these gardens, and distributed.

Mozart's 12th Service is to be produced by our local Choral Society to-morrow night, and should attract a large audience. This beautiful and deservedly popular composition, better known by its usual name of " The 12th Ma9s," was written about the year 1778, and was intended, we need hardly say, for the celebration of the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church on important occasions, but during the present century it has obtained, especially in Great Britain, a far more extensive application, owing to the rise and progress of Choral Societies, which could hot fail to welcome it as one of the standard pieces, of their repertoires. To get over th'e difficulty of the Latin words, to which some might object, several adaptations to' English • words (generally from Holy. Writ), have been published. The score as arranged by Mozart is for four solo voices and chorus, accompanied by the usual stringed quartett, two hautboys, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, and drams. Some of these instruments are now seldom heard, others having taken their place in modern bands; it is, therefore, not unusual to substitute such modem instruments as are most available, and it is a matter of opinion whether or not the general effect suffers by the exchange. ' Of the various movements in this work, several have became familiar to the public as pianoforte and band pieces, such as the Gloria , and Dona Nobis, others, as the Credo andSanctus, are well kn )wn to choirs and singing classes, but perhaps the greatest favourite of them all is the Kyrie, the leading theme of which is so frequently heard in the responses of the English Church, and the psalmody of their Nonconformist neighbours. ,

Mr T. A. Bowden, the enterprising publisher and bookseller, of Wellington; has established a New Zealand Educational Depository, and supplies schools, clergy, and subscribing members with books, &c., at English prices. Schools, school boards, and clergymen ave free members, others subscribing one guinea per annum. We have received Mr Bowden's general catalogue ofbooks, maps, atlases, diagrams, school apparatus, and materials, The colonial series of elementary school books published by him command great attention, and must ultimately come into very general use throughout New Zealand and Australia. To the "Manual of New Zealand Geography " there has just been added "Astronomy for Beginners who live in the Southern Hemisphere, by Archdeacon Stock,", and also a pamphlet on "The transit of Yenus, and how ta observe it,*' by the same excellent authority;

The members of the Thames Naval Brigade competed again on Saturday for the silver cup. There were 28 competitors- in the two squads, and . the cup'was won by seaman Gr. Clark for the fourth time. He fired in the morning squad, which had the fortune to be allowed fine weather in comparisou to what the afternoon squad bajl, or, notwithstanding the very excel, lent score Clark made, he would have been very hard pushed. The cup has to, be won five times to become the property of any member. The following are the leading scores:—Seaman Clark, 70; petty officer Gordon, 68; petty officer Thomas, 68; seaman Grundy, 67; petty officer Wewdick, 67; seaman Armstrong, 66; seaman Sykes, 65; Lieutenant Bennett, 61; petty officer Brown, 60; Reaman Chew, 60. The second class also competed for a valuable gold pin, presented by Mr Shappere, which was won by seaman J. Gordon with 56 points. This pin has to be won three times to bjcome the property of the competitor. Gordon has now won the same for the second time. Thfj Navals were allowed to compete at the range by permission of No. 2 H.R.V., whose day it was to use the targets.

The firing for the company's medal of the No 2 H.R.V. took place on Saturday at the new rifle range. This was the first time that the company have had an opportunity o£ firing since the closing of. the Tararu. rifle range. The winner of the medal on Saturday waa Volunteer Stockdale, who keep 3 it, this being the third time he has won it. He also, by his score on Saturday, wins the, first chance of a Snider rifle presented by Captain Hazird, but which has to be won three times in succession, or five times at intervals. Voluute'er Stockdale also wins 100 rounds of ammunition, presented by Volunteer Paul. The firing was at 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range, and the total score ' made by the winner was 51 points. This score, was made in the morning, and rather damped the spirits of those who fired in the afternoon. However, Volunteers Dennis, Kemp, Stafford, and Paul were making very good shooting,. when unfortunately at the 610 yards, a very heavy gust of wind with rain rendered the target almost invisible. - This lasted all through the last stage of the firing, and caused a number of the youug shots to drop out. Captain Murray, of the T.8.V., who was firing for practice, made a' remarkably good score at the 300_ and 400 yards ranges, scoring no fewer than nine bull's eyes in succes» sion. lieutenant Dignan was iu charge of the firing. The following are the five , highest scores'. —Volunteer Stockdiie, 51; Volunteer Kemp, 42; Volunteer Stafford, 41; Sergeant Deuuis, 40; Volunteer Paul, 39.

There are very few persons o£ any lengthened residence in Coromandel but will learn with pleasure of the marriage of Dr Martin H. Payne with Miss M. A. Preece, The generalshabit, and pains-taking devotion to his sion, and the skill shown on many; trying occasions, will cause the worthy doctor to be remembered for a long time with feelings of respect. The lady of his choice was so well . and widely, known in this district and so deservedly esteemed by all who enjoyed her friendship, that. we, most heartily, unite with their many well-wishers in desiring Jong life, happiness, and that prosperity may smile upon the newly-wedded pair.- Gdronmidd Mail.

The following shipment of gold wa3 made in ; Auckland by the mail steamer' Mikado' for Sydney:—3 boxes/ containing 4580z5, value £1,832, produce of Westland; 1,201 cm 3dwt, value £5,044 12?, produce of kelson; 2,473 ozs 15dwts, value £10,266 Is 3d, produce of tHe Thames goldfiold. Total, 4,192023 lftlwfo Total value, £17,14213 a 3d. Duty paid on tho same, £419 5s lOd. • i

The Zavistowskis, who' captured the. hearts of so many Auckland youths, have miuwi ( settled dosvß, .

A match has been made In Auckland between Mr E. Halstead's Glameboy and Mr Kirkwood's Sultan, for £50 a-side, distauce two miles, over eight flights of hurdles. The event is to come off on the fillerslie Eacecourse - on Saturday, the 17th. The horses ran second 4 and third for the Captain Cook Hurdle Eace, On paying a visit to the Naiional Bank yesterday, we observed six large bars of gold .awaiting shipment to Auckland. We learn that these bars, which have recently been melted, weigh about 1,5000z5, and will in all probability be put on board the 'Hauraki' shortly.— Coromandel Mail, Oct. 8. A man named Kelly, a seaman employed on board the schooner 'Alice Merrick,' who arrived in San Francisco from the Bay of Islands, has been arrested for killing a seaman named Brown on the 15th of August. Brown was bnried at sea. He was a native of Prince Edward's Island, A Wangjanui paper says that a most heartless case of wife desertion has occurred at Wairoa, ■ A man has decamped leaving a wife and three young children without any means of support. He first sold his farm &c., and went off to Taranaki on the pretence of purchasing a new farm there; he wrote telling his wife that he had secured a nice place and sailed for Auckland about the same time, and he is supposed to have ahout £1,000 in ca«h with him. It is most likely he is across the sea before this, or if he gets his deserts at the bottom thereof

A most important item of news, in reference io mail matters in connection with America, Australia, and New Zealand, is furnished us by our special correspondent at San Francisco. Writing ou the 13th of September, he says ;— "The delay of the 'Mikado' for a few hours enables me to send you the following particulars of interest to you in reference to a proposed new Australian line. For the past twelve months there has been a bitter rivalry between the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the Central Pacific Railway. There have been several abortive efforts to effect a combination; but the recent withdrawal of the Trans-Pacific China line, and the transfer of their steamers to the Pacific, has brought about a possibility of a grand combination. The railway must either put on a line of their own, or depend upon the Pacific mail for freight from China and Japan. As very, large quantities of tea and other goods are passed across the continent, consigned by China houses to New York houses, of course, the success of an opposition line of steamers not inimical to their interests was a matter of serious moment to the railway people. But now that they are dependent upon the Pacific Company, their greatest rival, it is proposed to combine their interests. Last night's despatch from New York says:—'The latest phase of the controversy between the Pacific Mail Com-; pany and the Trans-Continental is a proposed combination embracing railroads between Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and San Francisco, with steam connections to Honolulu, New Zealand, and Australia, to run exclusively in tho interests of the railroads and their European connections.' The name of Leland Standford has be?n prominently mentioned in connection with the enterprise, The latter, if the negotiations are successful, will visit Europe and purchase the necessary ships. In the meantime the Australian line could be supplied by the steamers ' Vasco di Gama' and ''Vancouver.' It isalso said that failing any satisfactory arrangement with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the railroad magnates will establish a China and Australian line in their own interests. '—Herald,

By the last trip ot the s.s, 'Japan' (writes a San Francisco correspondent) there was a large importation of coffee copper-coloured, almondeyed Cypriaces from the " Flowery Land." Two thousand Chinese "ladies of doubtful morality having already found a home in these sunny regions. Unc'e Sam thought it time to cry "hold, enough," and the landing of this additional batch.of soiled doves was forbidden. It is just possible that Mr Vogel's gigantic schemes ■ may sooner or later lead to the introduction of the Heathen into your Province. ' Should youv. Immigration schemes fail, the temptation to carry'out his railway hobby by means of "Ohiuee cheap labour" would be very great.' In view of this possibility, I would take the liberty of sryiog to MrVogel, don't, Egypt was afflicted, but her troubles were as nothing compared with what is in store for you if ever John Chinaman gets a footing in New Zealand, more especially in your province. It is only right that I should give ray reasons tor this assertion; before doing so I will give you a brief sketch of the Heathen Kingdom in San Francisco. There are 60,000 Chinamen in this city—nearly onethird of the entire population. It is a phys : cal, moral, and mental impossibility that this people c-tn ever become amalgamated with the Caucasian races. Except in the imitative arts they are a thousand years bahind the citizens of this country, and they will never overtake the distance. Morality, religion, cleanliness, are purely abstract terras with them, and the sole motive power in their nature, the desire to make money, is the only principle they have in common with the " Melican min." Again, they have no interest at stake in the country, and are governed by a secret society composed of wealthy men of their own race. There are six Chinese compinies here, very wealthy and very powerful. Whatever social discipline is exercised is through the influence of these companies, who tax thenhumble brethren with a3 much regularity and persistency as their models in this respect, the U.S.A. Customs officials The most recent instance, the levying a tax of six dollars on every adult Chinaman, as a subscription to a fund for clean scraping his bones ■when dead. Steadily and surely the Chinese workman is driving the American to the wall. In every branch of trade they are ramifying to an extent scarcely creditable.

,< The Volunteers of New Zealand cannot be expected to rise to a state of efficiency while there are in high places men who make it a constant practice to express their contempt of the force, and who refuse wilfully to acknowledge merit. A commission some time ago sat to enquire into the merits of claims for the Colonial Cross. Several of the claims were as strong as it would be possible to imagine. One claimant had carried off ms officer amidst a shower of bullets and was recommended by General Chute and Colonel McDonnell in the strongest terms. For such cases the Colonial Cross htmour was specially founded, yet the Commission rejected all applications, not less than six of which had the strongest testimony in their favour, Wq have heard from the best authority that some members of the Commission, who are old • Imperial officers, have so low an opinion of Colonial Volunteers that they persistently refuse to see any good in them whatever, and Bpeak of them in such terms as these: " Shoot them," '' hang them" I General Chute, a man of strong sense and genuine experience, has always taken a different view of the colonial forces, and can recognise merit when he finds it. But it is not strange that colonists who have risked their lives, and whose valour has been specially brought before the Government of the Cjlony, should, after their petitions were rejected, have to appeal to an English General to confirm the testimony of the commanding officers whose recommendations alone should be sufficient? The Native Minister finds it difficult to do.anything after the report of the Commission; and still something is demanded. The men who have good claims feel themselves resting under a wrong, and the public has a right to be informed why the conditions surrounding the Cross should be ignored- W« might instance cases where the evidence is complete and convincing, whore there is not one tittle of a contrary nature, and where the Cross should come as a right and not as a favour. Cut it would avail nothing at the present time. If the Native Minister i? not prepared to re-open the enquiry) the matter must be brought before the Assembly by petition. It is intolerable -that two or three men with an antipathy should arbitrarily set aside the will of the Legislature and of th*» Government. When a commanding officer recommends one of his men for the honour, and where there is nothing to detract from it, the reward should come with the certainty which is cxpected to follow the clear intention of lav.— Wawjanui Times,

Numerous letters appear in the London Times re the treatment received by passongera the 'hands of the Anglian Miil Qomgany.

A telegraphic item from Coromandel relative to a reported case of specimen stealing and crushing affords the editor of the Auckland livening Star scope for a fuuny article on the action of the police in cases of this kind. The editor "gushes" (if we may he allowed the expression) as follows:—" We learn by a telegram from Coromandel, which appeared in yesterday s Herald, that ' the police authorities have obtained information which is likely to lead to some apprehensions for specimen stealing and crushing ot same.' Now, here we have the police at their little games again, doing violence to every sense of manly feeling, right principles, and fair play. There' is vagueness about the intimation, but it is not improbable that, as has occurred before, the police have bjen going out of their way to fossick out private information and prevent decent, hardworking men from supplementing their miserable wages by a few specimens which shareholders have never seen and which thertfore they have no right to grieve for. And here again we have the police throwing difficulties in the way of the private enterprise of some unfortunate berdan-owner, who on public grounds and actuated by manly feeling has been quietly crushing these specimens with the object of elevating the poor hard working miner to the level with the bloated shareholder. Viewing the whole transaction as a deliberate attempt to check private enterprise, we call on every one actuated by manly feeling, right principles, and a'sense of fair play, to join with us in a howl of execration and indignant, denunciation of this impertinent meddling on the pavt of the Coromandel police. We know .on high authority that we are not to muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn, which would mean, being interpreted, thou shalt not tie up the hands of him that diggeth out the gold, and why should we° not apply the gentle principle to those who extract the precious ore from the bowels of the earth ? What in the name of thunder is the use of shareholders but to pay calls', and who is there with a spark of manliness that will not deprecite the meanuess of a company that declines to allow a man to glean a few nuggets from fields that we know to be bursting the granaries of shareholders with dividends. From what we have learned of the tendencies of the police we shall not be surprised indeed if they have even laid a snare for some poor devil who has been caught unawares in honestly doing what hundreds have done before, who have thereby been enabled to acquire a comfortable independence; and to retire to the homes of their childhood in distant England bedizened in jewelry and laden with spoil. How much more becoming to the dignity of the service, how much more accordant with every manly feeling, with right principles and fair play, would it have been for the police to have waited until these specimen stealers, if we may use the disrespectful term, had come to them with the specimens, and told them whence they had obtained them, and where they were about to have them .crushed and how much more honorable and consistent with true English feeling would it have been to have waited until' the crushers of such specimens came and gave information of their proceedings. Indeed we would not even have allowed them to 'inform' against the procurers of the nuggets, it is so unEuglish to play the part of informer, and so utterly repulsive to right feeling to accept such information. These proceedings at Coromandel show a most demoralised mental condition on the part of the police, who should have quite euough to do in minding straying goats and orange-peel scattered on the footpaths, without prying into things that do not concern them, and attempting to paralyse a recognised and established industry. We shall be anxious to watch the evolution of this affair,- and if Major Keddell presumes to overlook th's impertinent intrusion of the police into the domain of specimens, we trust he will be snubbed by the Government if not sacked, and that he will becoue an object of deserved scorn to everyone actuated by true manly feeling, rightprinciples, and fair play.''

A San Francisco correspondent of an Auckland contemporary, referring to the arrival there of the' Mikado' from Australia, with Mr H.H.Hall on board, says:—"The 1 majority of the passengers were from Sydney, and man/ of them had through tickets, which, as has been the rule here of late, were refussd endorsement by the railway people. Mr Hall sold the through tickets, took the money from the Australians, knowing perfectly well that no arrangement had been made for through passengers This the deluded ones discovered on their arrival here, Yon can guess their indig. nation when they found on -Monday morning (the steamer came io on Sunday) that Air Hall had left by the morning train, and is now 'ten thousand miles away,' without having made the slightest provision for these unfortunate passengers. As this is the third time on which a similar d fficulty has occurred, of course the line under the present management is emphatically damned. The farce of sending H. H. Hall's brother here to look after the comfort of passengers and accompany them across the continent is pretty well exploded. There has been too much Hall, and the best thin? he cm do is to keep out of the way, or some of the disappointed and swindled passengers will make it hot for him . His conduct is bringing disgrace upon the cjlonies, and colonial trickery is brought forward as a proof that that kin'l of game is not confined to America"

The Morning Post gives a lengthy summary of the proceedings in connection with the remission of Gardiner's sentence, and adds, " The whale subject, whilst bringing under notice the lawlessness an.l immunity from crime that for a brief period prevailed in the colony, is highly illustrative of the gradual emancip itiou from even the slightest home control that is still exercised in our possessions which enjoy constitutions of their own."