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Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2023, 19 April 1875, Page 2

The long spell of dry weather we have had seems now to have broken up, and yesterday several welcome and refreshing showers fellA year or two ago,- when drought had prevailed for several months, the wise people of Auck. land called out the Volunteers, and.fired two or three small cannon, in the expectation of bringing down the rain, whereas they might as well have sent for a South African rain-maker. The drought has been very hurtful to every interest, and it is believed also that the long monotonous period of fine weather has had an. injurious effect upon the public health.. .Yesterday morning the sky was clouded all over, and between eight and nine o'clock a very fine shower fell. In the forenoon, however, the sunshine, of which we are now tired, appeared, and in the evening the moon cleared the Bky again. It is to be hoped that the clouds will gather again, so that we may have some water in the creeks. '

We have already noticed the" Official Hand« book of New Zealand," edited by the Hon. Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, and published in London under his authority. We omitted f however, to point out the very slovenly way in which the goldfields are noticed in its pages in the chapter on the province of Auckland. In one page it is stated that the population in the townships of Shortland and Grahamstown and employed in mining is estimated at 10,000, and on the next'we find the following:—"The Thames goldfields townships are well built, but there ia no reliable estimate of the present population. It probably numbers 6,0.00/ f On the same page in which' the population of the Thames is estimated at 10,000 we also read that secoad\in population to the city of Auck« land, which "is about 21,000, is the. town of Onehunga, situate on the Manukau harbour, six miles from Auckland by road, which was shown by' the census of , 1871 to possess a population of 1,913 souls. There are other .' evidences besides the above of the careless way in which the chapter on Auckland has been compiled, There are seven photographs of different provinces, but not one of Auck land. An old photograph of Parriell, in which two miserable hovels occupy the foreground, does duty instead. It is true there is a-wood' cut of the city, hut such a one as no " old colonist', even can identify. The harbour Is represented by the Gore-street jetty, or more commonly known as the firewood wharf, and t% commerce by some half-dozen stacks of firewood, which occupy the most prominent part of the sketch. The shipping, which in reality is usually second to none iu the colony, is here represented by a tiny screw-steamer and two small schooners. Otljer places are favoured with their panoramic views of the townships, and there is no'place which could presents finer view than Auckland city and suburbs, with the magnificent harbour of Waitemataand its shipping. Auckland not only tanks last in. the notices of the provinces, but, also least in comp'eteness and effectiveness. ;',

The seventh competition for the rifle presented to No. 2 H.R.V. by Captain Hazard tookplaca at the rifle-range on Saturday, and resulted in a tie between Sub-Lieutenant Paul andtfergeant Morrison. The former, however, made the higher score at the longest range and takes first place. tJergeant Kelsall made excellent shooting at the two first ranges, scoring at each 18 points out of a possible 20, but broke down/at the last range.

Wo publish to-day some further telegrams In . the correspondence whioh has taken plaoe be* tween his Honor the Superintendent and Dr Pollen. The position seems to be, that Sir George Grey wants money, partly, no doubt, for the sake of new works at Ohinemuri and elsewhere. The General Government agreed to make an advance of £40,000 to the province, to be repaid out of the land revenue; it also agreed, last session, to pay £25,000 as a special grant to the province. These two grants were besides the £50,000 agreed to beadvanced to the Pumping association. Dr Pollen thinks the Superintendent should have some money to spend out of these amounts. To this Sir George replies:—"The Provincial Government had allowed the increase in the amount of "special allowances" to be absorbed in part in providing for. votes of the Council, to meet which no other funds existed in consequence of the failure in land revenue, and partly on public works at the Thames." In regard to the Thames, both Governments hare come short of doing'justice. The General Government ought to have done more than it has in the making of roads and the opening up of the country, while the Provincial Government have given us no part of the £40,000 or of the £25,000, so far as we know. The statement of Sir George Grey that the £25,000 had been partly spent on public works at the Thames we cannot understand.

The concluding match for the Thames Scottish Company's champion belt came off on Saturday, when Drum-Major.Campbellwasthe winner, and having now won it three times, it becomes his own property. . This match was 10 shots at 500 and 10 at 600 yards. It will be seen from the annexed scores that the Bhooting of theprinciral competitors was splendid, that of Campbell on Saturday being rarely, if ever, excelled with an Enfield rifle. Out of his 10 shots at 500 yards, he scored the magnificent total of 37 out of a possible 40 points, and with his 20 shots he made the almost unprecedented score of 69 points. We have previously described the belt as made wholly on the Thames, and one of the prettiest and yet most serviceable prize belts we have seen in the colony, and we congratulate the Drum-Major of the Scottish on its possession. The total number of shots fired during the competition was 60, divided over all the ranges up to 600 yards, and with the eight-inch bull's-eye at 200 and 300. , It will be seen from the scores that Campbell and Murray are considerably over centres, while McLeod is close up. The firing has been carried on according to colonial prize firing rules, and under the supervision of the district staff. Sergeant Kemp, of No, 2 company, acted throughout as marker, and performed his work impartially, and to the satisfaction of all the competitors. The following are the prize winners, with their scores:—Campbell: Ist. match 63, 2nd 63, 3rd- 69, total 195; Murray: Ist match 61, 2nd 67,3 rd 59, total 187; Mcleod: Ist match 60, 2nd 57, 3rd 58, total 175; Girvan: Ist match 40, 2nd 66, 3rd 48, total 154; f'harp: Ist match 55, 2nd 57, 3rd 42, total 154. The friends of this company are determined not to allow the shooting interest to cease, as prizes are affered to the company from hon. members Barty and Murdoch, Lieutenant Johnston, Color-Sergeant Girvan, Lieutenant Dey, and the llev James Hill. As most of these prizes are given with the view of bringing on the young shots, we understand there is a likelihood of alt the more practised ones'being heavily handicapped.

Mr Jobson, the gentleman who was appointed inspector of boilers and machinery for the Auckland district, is now at the Thames, and will remain for a week, visiting the machinery on the field. Any person wishing to see him can do so by calling at the office of the Mining Inspector.

A handsome villa residence is about to be erected at Parawai, on the plateau on the opposite side of the river from Kikorima's house for Te Moananui. The plans have been drawn by Mr Hollis, architect, and the building, whifi ffill be an ornament to the locality, will be commenced immediately. For a long time Te Moananui was not a popular man amongst the Europeans, on sccount of his opposition to the opening of Ohinemuri, but now we daresay that our readers will agree in wishing him long life and health to enjoy his mansion,

We notice by our advertising columns that a service of sacred eong will be given this evening, in the Grahamstown Wes'.eyan Church, in aid of the Sunday school.

The mail steamer .'Cyphrenes' brought the following passengers from Sydney:—For Auckland—Mr and Mrs H. Sellars, child, and servant, Mrs T. Bryant, Mrs John lord, Messrs Ireland, B. F. Hay, Ellis McDonald, EethelD. Campbell, F, A, Solomon, and 40 in the steerage. For San Francises—Mr and Mrs Stitt, Miss Stitt, Mr, Stickey, Miss Stickey, Miss Musgrave, Miss Mends, Bev B, R Bridgeman, Captain Henderson, Captain C. H. Barrett, Captain BUion, Messrs J. L. Hordeß, Henry Franks, ten.,, Henry Franks, jun., Bruxner, J, Mitchell, A. Roinilly, H. M. Everton, Goodlake, B. P. Todd, Henry Hay, G. E. McTherson, W. A. Brake. E. Booth, and forty-five in the steerage, She left Auckland at i p.m. on Friday for San Francisco with the following passengers;— From Sydney as per arrival list. From Southern ports—Messrs I. Brown, W. Wills, A. Creythe, J, Mallock, Craig. From Auckland—Saloon: Major Palmer, R.E., Miss King, Tyler, Mrs and Miss C. Bigginson, Mr and Mrs J, F. Clarke, Miss and Master A, Clarke, Master A, and Miss It Clarke, Master H. J. Pike, Rev B, Albey, Mrs H. Clark, Mr and Mrs Geo. Graham, Messrs J. B. Kenny, Simson, H. D. Warne, E. Bornsby, C. Pike, J. Rhodos, K. B. Bias, Signor Gonzales. Steerage-Mr and Mrs Cake and '2 children, Messrs H. liillison, Edward Mattheson, Geo. Bobertsoo, Alfred Bryant, Patrick Daly, Peter Matson, Kenent, McDonald, Bobert Matson, Charles Brun, John Fawcett, and 12 others,

The s.s. 'ladybird' arrived in the Manukau on Friday from the Fouth. PassengersSaloon: Mr and Mrs Boberts, Miss Colls, Mr Mallock, Messrs Craig, W. Mills, J. Jeffreys, J. Shaw, McChiltlan, A. B. Creyke, L. Brown, Lusk, Palmer, Walters, Bev Williams, Major Palmer, Miss Lodge, Miss Kennedy, 'Mrs Blake, Miss Blake, Miss Leggett, Miss Sherit, Mies Levien, and 16 in the steerage.

The ship 'Dunedin,' 1,249 tons, Captain Whitson, sailed from London for Auckland on the 18th February, and passed the Downs on the same day. She has on board'the following passengers: -Colonel Robert Trimble, family, and party of twelve; Mr J. B. Allen, Mr Henry Matier, Mr Fred, W. Figgis, Mr Glover and wife, Dr Carl Mantel], Mr William Henry Anwyll, Mr Arthur H. W. Hill, Mr John O. Hill, Dr S. Flood, Miss Hoskings, Miss Bobinsod, Mr A. C. McGahey, Mr Alfred Marshell, Mrs Stevenson, Mr C. H. Lobley, Mr Edward S. Lockstone, Mr Ernest William lockstone, Mr Henry W. Lindsay, and 177 emigrants.

A Maori wedding at the Bay of Islands is thus chronicled in the Evening Star:—'' The event was announced by the firing of a salute of six guns from the whaleship < James Arnold.' Hamura, a son of the chief Thaka Tai, was the happy bridegroom. The marriage ceremony took place at Paihia Church. The breakfast was laid out in a newraupo building erected for the occasion, seventy feet long. The refreshments were most lavish; 3 bullocks, 17 pigs, 300 cakes, 300 puddings, 350 loaves, potatoes, kumeras, and melons in immense quantity. The wedding-cake cost .£6. The diinkables consisted of champagne, wine, beer, Ue About 100 Europeans sat down to a most sumptuous breakfast carried out in Al style. Thaka, Moßgonui, and others were most attentive to all the guests. There were numerous waiters nicely dressed, also door-keepeis. There were about nine relays of guests, amounting to seven hundred people. Over a thousand people were on the ground. The children's feast was laid on a mat 40 feet long. The cake was piled along this four inches high. Some of the youngsters had to slacken up belts before retiring. The remainder of the food waVgivento various tribes. This wedding cost £200 besides their own labour, and good dancing waa kept up' to a late hour. The jovial captain of the whale Bhip' James Arnold' «losed the. event with the firing of cannon,'*

The i,i, 'PhSbe' left the Manukau for the South on Friday afternoon, with an average cargo of general goods, and the following passengers :- Miss froone, Mrs James and family, Messrs Nelson, Jenson, Wilson, Binks, Fraser, Hescott, and 11 others,

The Bay of Plenty Times says:-"It is rather amusing that, simultaneously with our notice of the appointment of Mr R. C. Jordan as ranger for this district, under the'"Protection of Animals Act, 1873, it should have devolved upon ua to chronicle the fact that an egregious and most culpable error has been discovered in the Act under which he was so appointed. By an omission in the Act of three words there is every probability that the provincial revenue will suffer to an appreciable extent, and that roa s t pheasants and bread sauce will figure largely in the bill of fare throughout the province during the next three months."

A Maketn correspondent sends the following to the B. P. Tiroes:—lt is generally understood that Mair is removed from the Constabulary, but still hold 3an appointment in connection with the natives. Great dissatisfaction is expressed in consequence, and there is a talk of petitioning Government to remove him to another district.

The barque 'Emily McLaren,' 423 tons, Captain Morrison, left london for Auckland on the 23rd January. She anchored in the Downs on the same day, and sailed thence on the 30tb, and was reported to hare passed west of Falmouth on the 2nd February,