THE Tahmes Advertiser. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1875.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2127, 21 August 1875, Page 2

THE Tahmes Advertiser. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1875.

We have received from Wellington n copy of the annual report on the goldfields of New Zealand, compiled by Mr C. E. Haughton, but we cannot congratulate- tho department upon any great improvement in the compilation of their annual statement respecting tho goldfields of the colony. Indeed, Mr Haughton himself appears to think that the report requires some apology, aud he gets over the difficulty by explaining that he had not had time to Visit the goldfields himself, arid was necessarily obliged to rely entirely upon tho information afforded to him " by the Wardens aud other officers" for tho subject-matter submitted in the report. Ho also "regrets" that the returns received from tho mining managers relative to the yield of gold from various parcels of quartz crushed,> havo been so meagre as to be practically use less for purposes of generalisation. We are not aware that it was over intended that the Under-Secretary should pay visits of inspection to tho several .goldfields of the colony, and'we are convinced that it would servo no good, or useful purpose were Mr Haughton to do so. The reports of' tho several Wardens are as comprehensive as we could desire, and-would not bo itn- | proved in the least by any personal visit of the Under-Secretary. Were lie able, like Mr Ulrich, to give us some general geological observations, to give a description of tho reef system of the various fields, to tell us something about the runs of gold, about leaders and stringers, about tho permanency of reefs in depth, and about improvements in crushing machinery and gold-saving appliance?, wo might welcome an annual visit from Mr Haughton. But we are not at all satisfied with the simple iteration that tho report is meagre. We are quite conscious of that fact, and have on a previous occasion pointed'out where improvement might bo mado. The object of the report is to "afford a comprehensive idea of the mining - interest in tho colony.' This it does not do, as the tables attached to the report, and some of the gold returns, are very imperfect aud inaccurate. For instauce, it is stated that the yield of gold in tho province of Auckland for tho fifteen months ending tho 33st Marcb, 1875, was 95,537 ounces, or about 82,000 ounces per annum, In the report of i Warden Fraser, the return given, com-, piled from the monthly summaries of this journal, the return of gold for the year ending 3lst March—not fifteen months—is given as 110,224 ounces, so that Mr Haughton is only some 30,000 ounces short in his estimate of the yield of gold from the Auckland province. A very careful record of the gold production of the Thames is kept, and we challenge tho Under-Secretary to prove that his figures are reliable.

. In tho report thero should bo eotno information about—tho milling companies formed under tho Acts now in forco. Had Mr Hnughtou possessed tinio to search tho' Gnzottop,' ho could bnvo compiled, from tho half-yearly statements of' tho various companies, a return showing tho calls madp, and tho dividends paid, throughout tho colony. By this tueaus wo could lmvo seen whether tho companies had iu tho nggregato been obtaining sufficient gold to make mining profitable. But if tho law, as it stands at presoufc, is inftdo quale to eecuro for tho public a clear and correct idea of tho progress of ono of tho main. industries in tho colony, it should bo amended. Wo hopo that this matter will bo brought under tho attention of tho House, and that wo shall not again have i number of apologies from tho department iu lieu of useful statistical returns.

Tho Tress Association is ft wonderful inslltU" tion. After sending us • columns cf rubbish on tbe Abolition Bill, it bas left us without a lino regarding Mr Stafford's great speed), do livored on Thursday night to' ,a crowded liouto. Wo beliovo that a message' of 2,000 words was sent on lo Auckland that night, but nothing camo to tbo Thatrca. • Wo hopo, however, to publish tlio spccch nt leugth on Monday.

Mary Mack, wife of a man named Peter Mack, died, at tho lnspitil yesterday, under circumstances, we bcliove, which demand au investigation. The woman has been ailing for a series of years, suffering from asthma. Bho resided on premises - belonging to Mr Kennedy, at tho back of Mr Snndcs'a" chemist eatabliehment. It appears that on Moiiday last somo neighbours found her in au apparently dying condition. Her husband was away, up tho river it was stated, and there remained with her only two children, tho eldest eight years of age. They found that th'o house bad been stripped of every particle cf furniture, and not a blnnkot orbed bad. been loft, so that tho miscrablo woman had to lie upon boiuo straw. Sunday night was bitterly cold, and without firo or blanket, the poor crcaturo had to spend tho night iu her empty house, which Bcriously aggravated ' her. complaint. Tbo neighbours called Mrs Sandes's attention to tbo oaso,"iind that lady, being, a member, of tbo ladies' Benevolent Focicty, nt onco > administered to the deceased's most • pressing wants by procuring for her blankets and food, She was too weak to partako of tho latter, and Mr Sandes compounded somo incdicino for her.' Kcxt day Dr Lclhbridgo visited her, and prescribed, and again Mr Saudcs furnished tho medicine. It was then deomcd desirable to remove her to tbo hospital, but sho would : riot consent at first, alleging that sho did not thiuk slio would live lo re'ach it, but on tho following day blio was removed tlicro, and gradually hccamo weaker until pho -expired yesterday. No hopes ,of her. recovery wcro entertained from the first, but a great amount of indignation was caused by the destitute and miserable circumstances in which sho had been left. In fact, to such, an extent did this roach, that tho'polito were communicated with, but ns Mrs Mack declined to lay any ohargo, they wcro of courso unable to take any action.

A meeting of llio shareholder la llio Vesuvius claim, Tairua, adjoining tlio Bonauzt and Great Republic claims, vm held yesterday evening, Mr S, B. Pctey in tbo chair, when it waa resolved to form a oompany under tlio Mining' Companies Aot. Messrs Mcaohoiu, Percy, Sawyer, Seiigar, and Short too chosen provisional directors, and Mr Wildniim was appointed to tako tlio necessary steps for pro* curing the incorporation of tlio company,

Wo observe by tlio Wcstland papers that tlio mcotittgo ftt CU'apmfmH* onrl WcßtPort. Ahn« lition, wero unanimous in favour of the sohcuio, not a single hand being raised agaiust tlio resolutions. Tlio West Coast followed tho Thames upon tliiß question last year.

Tlio Rev, W, Tinslcy, Suporintondeut of tho Auckland Circuit, will preach in the Primitivo Methodist Church, Mackay-street, to-morrow morning and evening, and on Monday evening the rev. gentleman will lecture on "Scotland and her Sons" in the now Templar's Hall.

A meeting of the members of the Soman Catholic Church washeldon Thursday ovoning at tho School-room in Willoughby-o reot, for tho purpose of taking steps to procure tho services of a competent teacher for tho boys' Bchool iu'iWaltcrs-streot. There wero about 60 present, and the Rev Father Chastagnnn was called to chair, The list ctf thoso who had subscribed towards the payment of a master was read over, and it was found that nearly £70 had been collected. It was ngro?d that a letter should bo written to a gentleman in Aubkland holding a iirst-olass ccrlificatc as teacher, and offer him a salary of £200 a-year and a liouto. A coinuuttqe, consisting of Messrs P. Burke, M, O'Haire, D. G. MaoDonnell, and John Gillies, was appointed to carry out Iho rcsolu* tion and act as a school'comwittco.

A meeting of licensed victualler?, hotel* keepers, aiid others was convened to bo held at tho Masonic Hall, Qaccn-fitrcet, last evening. Tho object of tho meeting was not Elated. Thirteen attended, and MrW. Burton was called to tho chair. Ho said that it Mno doubt on account of tho weather that tho attendance was so small, for ho did not think it could be apathy on the pajt of 1 tho hotelkeepers, but under tho circumstances ho thought they had better adjourn tho meeting until somo 'other night, Mr- Mulligan asked what was tho object of tho meeting, and Mr Williatns'explained that tho object was to form a licensed victualler's association to miintain their own rights as had been dono in other towns, but ho thought they ought to adjourn, as they wero mch a snail number, and many of tho principal hotelkeepers wero absmt. Tbero was no uso in their making a false-start, They should start on a good footing, and ho suggested that they should call tho next meeting at tho Pacific or somo other hotel. Mr Mulligan said tho advertisement should havo been sigucd by soiro one, otherwise people would not attend. IE- tho advertisement had been signed they would have had a larger meeting that night, and ho would suggest Ibut this meeting authoriso somo person to convcne tho next meeting. Mr Williams' then proposed that this meeting adjourn, (and that tho chairman be authorised to convcne a meeting to bo held at the Pacific Hotel on Thursday evening next at 7.30 o'clock. Mr Vaughan seconded tho motion, which was carried, and tho meeting then terminated.

Wo aro requested to call attention to Mr Cartwritht's discourso to-morrow evening in tho Karaka Fcliool-room 'J ho subject, which is announced in our advertising columns, will be tho " Doctrine of Christ."

At tho annual, meeting of the Auckland Horticultufal Society tho report showed a la« mentablo state of things, tho society being greatly in debt, in consequent of want (f extraneous assistance. • It wns, however, resolved to carry on tho business of tho society for another year, ,

Tho following aro the trades and occupations of immigrants, arrived per fliip ' Alumbagh ': —Land ! Farmers, 3; farm labourers, 40; general ditto, 1; gardeners, 5 ; ploughmen, 3; navvies, 2; under-gardener, I—lo3. Stock, &c.,: Slaughterman, 1; shepherds, 4 j groom, 1; butcher, I—7. Brick and Stone; lirioklayer's labouror, 1; bricklayer, 1-2, - Wood, iic.: Wheelwrights, 2; sanyors, 6; carpenters, 4; joiners, 2; rough carpenter, 1; cartwright, 1; millwright, I—lo. Miscellaneous; Tallowmclter, 1; plasterer, 1; blacksmith, 3j praters, 1; railway servant, 1; undcr-keepcr, 1 j shoemakers, 2; engine driver, 1; harnessmaker, 1; smiths, 2; painter, I—ls, Total; 143. Singlo Women,—General Servants 2i; housemaids, i; cock, 1; stillroom maid, 1; parlour maid, 1; dressmaker, 1; dairy maids, ; seamstress, 1; housckccvcr, 1; nurse, 1— 0, Total labour, 183.

Dr'Fcatheraton's economy does not seem to como in precisely always in the right place. Ho would not tend out duplicate invoices because bo wanted to save postage, but when he was requested to ask the French Government whether Captain Jacqaemart, of the 'Yire,'* might have the service of plate sent for him by Otago, Dr Featherston was abovo using the pgst, and wont over to France in full fig, with quite < a retinue, to ask Marshal MacMahon a question which would have lost none of ita dignity had it beei put through the medium of a letter. The Bills of Pale let Amendment Bill provides that the registration of bills'of sale shall bo repeated every five yeara, and if registration is not so renewed such registration shall cease to bo of any effect at the eipiiy of five years from the date of registration. There is a provision in the Act which saves existing bills of sale, .and provides that all those which have already existed for five years or upwards, and which shall be registered teforo tho Ist of April, 1876, shall be valid, and effectual for the next five years. It is brought in by the Hon Mrßowen.

"Sir Donald's Highland blood is up." Therefore, Aucklanders,tookont.' It did not materially signify how bis Highland blood was when, as "wood and water joey," he used to hump the loads of fuel aud pitchers of aipia {urn 'for the lew miserable Maories for whom e worked, and with whom ho lived on one of the small is'ands in our gulf Nor was it of momentous concern to man how bis Highland blood felt when as an humble bobby in charge of the little settlement of VVaitara, in Taranaki, he paced bis dull monotonous round, minding tho straying porkers and the col'arless dogs of that primeval settlement., But now, thanks to his improvement of his opportunities in the service of his country, and to the success of those practices in relation to the natives and their lands; for which, they of Hawke'a Bay are famon.', he is the,owner of hills and valleys covered with bleating sheep and lowing kine, .and, they that worship wealth and power worship him; and call on man to tremble because " Sir Donald's Highland blood is up."— Star,

Even for provinces (says tho Canterbury Prm) the prolonged susjense will be no blessing. Lingering agony is crueller than sudden death. As they are lo bo abolished, and as satisfactory arrangements have been made for their abolition on all accounts the sooner, tie operation is performed the better, This is a case in which we may recognise the wisdom ot tho Scotch proverb—Better a finger off than aye waggin'.

The Otftjo Qwdian saysWe trust the Government will unflinchingly adhere to their to pass the measures in spite pf all a factious Opposition or a few inconsistent nowapapers can do or say, and they will earn tho gratitudo of a peoplo too long made the sport and puppets of self-seeking and unscrupulous men. If ever we require a strong and determined Government, it is in such a crisis as this."

The Walkalo Times writes on tho Abolition question" When the Tarioua divisions of the city were passing resolutions hostile to tbe-billa, and when the Provincial party were straining every nerve to prolong the present condition of things by a resort to the old expedient of postponement and delay, it behoved the settlers in this part of tho Province, at least, to show unmistakably that they had no sympathy with the movement. The whole qneation, was fairly talked out last night, and, so far as this portion of the district is concerned, the decision is emphatic and unmistakeable, The resolution passed last evening is comprehensive and distinct. It affirms the nectssity of a strong General Government in order to .conduct the Public Works and Immigration policy .to its legitimate and natural issue, implying, in effect, what has been patent to every unprejudiced observer, that the existence of nine log-rolling, greedy, and intriguing Provinces is an obstacle to progrcssand settlement. It declares, moreover, that the cumbronsnes3 and extravagance o£ petty Parliaments, with their absurd paraphernalia, and horde of officials, are hindrances to the economical and efficient Government. Finally, it distinctly affirms a fact, which has long been patent to every country icttler. that_ in tho face of the essentially centralising instincts and tendencies of Provincialism, the out-districts have had no chance of receiving an equitable share of the revenue. Wo very much mistake the tempers of the settlers in other parts of the Waikato if the opinions expressed and implied iu this resolution will not find an echo in every heart,"

A case to our knowledge of a very narrow cccape of a family from being accidentally poisoned at Poverty Bay. Mr A, 0, Pratt, formerly a well-known resident of Napier, and now of Gisborne, together with his wife and children, had a very narrow escape from being poisoned, by drinking water taken out of anew tank, which had become impregnated with the white lead used for filling .up (he interstices where the sheets are joined together. Tho Bymptons resulted in violent retching for some hours, and consequent prostration. Prussic acid was used as an antidote, and, by last accounts, Mr Pratt and family were recovering satisfactorily. This should act as a caution to people using new tanks.- Hawk's Say Herald.

DrKenealy is getting.worse and worse, and seems, moreover, quite insensible to the wisdom of tho proverb about persons who live in glass houses. Yesteiday week, at Stoke, he made a speech in favour of terrorising the Press ;• he threatened to introduce a bill making signatures to all articles compulsory, and then chuckled over tho prospect of his miners calling to account the authors of anti-Kenealy articles, with their usual weapons. "He (the miner) will go to him (the journalist), and say, 'Was that article which bears your name written by you ?' He will get no answer from the craven wretch, and his interrogator will say, 'Answer mo; I will know. 1 The poor wretched animal will shriek with terror, and I leave -yon to guess what the stalwart miner will do with the villain. That ia the way to stop this lying." Bat Dr Kenealj's audience did not .see. it. They interrupted him with shouts of merriment, and remarks implying that the procedure he advocated might possibly be as applicable to tho writers in the Englishman as to any others, or a little more so. And they were, no doubt, right. The Doctor mado a bad advocate, but he ovidently makes a worse demagogue, and is fast wasting the store of ignorant respect he had accidentally gained,— Spectator,