AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 11 May 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[FKOM OI'K OWN (.'OHIIKSf'ONDKN'T.] ! To-day has been a close holiday, every placn of t business being closed," Tlw Vol*mtc*>rß turned out in force in the morning fir Ohurdh P.-vrmle, an.l and attended the places of worship of the various denominations Although the day has proved beautifully tine, I have not seen ..much' pleasureseeking, every person apparently bent on showing his gratitude to God and ' sympathy with Her; Majesty on the restoration, to health of Albert ! Edward, Prince Jof Wales. in his own peedia' way by enjoying himself ;it home in the bosom o: his family. The quantity* of fish gambolling about the bar- ; hour,'in the vicinity of the wharf, attract daily a number of young urchins who have piscatorial propensities. Thu way these young rascals climb about the piles is a caution, while now and we hear of an immersion and a gallant rescue. ! Tt appeirs now that, a hoy named lienry Webb, ! aged 11 years, son of Klijali Webb, a painter. ' was last seen alive on Saturday last. His body j was found floating oil" the Watermen's Steps on ; Wednesday, ha\iig apparently been in the water : three or four days. No fears were entertained for ; his safety by his family, as he was in the habit ; of playing tiie truant, although enquiries appear 1 to have been made about liiin. Evidence was : given at the inquest held on his body that lie was iishing in company with other boys on Saturday, but no facts as to how he met with , Ilia death were adduced—the rest we mutt sur- ' mise- The verdict was—" Found drowned." Steps ; will probably' be taken now to prohibit fishing j from the wharf. I Last night the Raiigatira took away, for con- : veyance to Dunedin gaol, eight of our most ! dangerous convicts from Mount Eden Stockade, i They consist of Johnson, under a life sentence for j murder; Muirhead, ditto, ditto; liemi Te Kara, ; ditto, ditto ; Elcoek, for* life—arson ; Cyrus l laley. ; also for life —shooting with intent to kill, &c. ; i Plummer, for burglary and escape, 12 years ; and Bryant ami Goldsmith, for garotting, 10 years. 1 They were conveyed on board, securely ironed | and handcull'ed, shortly after dark, and placed j down the fore hatch, and are well guarded; They ■will be safer in Hunedin gaol than in the insecure wooden structure at JMouut Eden. Poor forlorn Mrs. Haley took her departure for England yesterday morning, in the Caducous, with | her four little children. i I am informed that the services of Mr. Barry, ; late of the Kuranui claim, and Mr. Nolan, for- ' merly of the Candlelight claim, have been en- j gaged for the purpose of prospecting the land j reported to be auriferous in the VVaikato. They j leave to-morrow morning, thoroughly provided for j the expedition, and—may success attend them. I We have lately received some reinforcements j to the Armed Constabulary from the Waikato. j The change has been made the instance of com- j mencing a raid on shopkeepers in Queen-street, j compelling them all to take in their goods exposed j for sale outside their sh.tp doora or windows, j liumour says that the action has been instituted j by the Mayor, but this he denies. All I know is, J that while drapers and clothiers are compelled to ] take in from their door a piece of print or a pair ! of trousers as an obstruction, a JN T o. 2 Lyndon j shovel, a pitchfork and a rat-trap are to be seen ' hanging outside the ironmonger's shop of his : Worship any day of the week. Last evening an j indignation meeting was held in the rooms of the I Young Men's Christian Association. The room was crowded, and great interest evinced in ths ! proceedings. Mr. Co.-grave, draper, occupied the j chair. Several trade,-men spoke on the subject ; ! the meeting M as almost unanimous that the clause | of the by-law relating to "exposing any article j whatsoever in any shop window or doorway abutting : j on any public thoLOUghfare or street is obnoxious j ! and arbitrary} and injurious to the shopkeepers at j j large and a proposition to this effect was arrived J J at, with an addition— ' That a petition be pre- j pared, to be signed by the ratepayers of Auckland, j ! requesting their representative in the Council to ; amend the said bye-law." When I say almost i unanimous, I mean there was one dissentient—a I Mr. Cass, draper, of Cheapside House, Queen i street. This tradesman entirely concurred in the | action taken by the police, giving that body a j character of politeness and gene.al urbanity of j manner. His motion met with an unfavorable j reception, and an association was agreed to ! be formed for the purpose of protecting themselves from the arbitrary proceedings complained of, and, in the event of prosecutions, of providing for a means of defence, and if necessary, of appeal to the higher i powers. It is probable that the actions taken by | the tradesmen last night will have the effect of the : City Council amending a bye-law that is unpalatable , to the bulk of the ratepayers and their ! own supporters. If not, at the expiration of their ! term of office, a re-installation will not be worth j the price of a kit of oysters. ~ ' j Our end of the Waikato Railway works is ; progressing favourably. Tenders are invited for ! the supply of stone-blocking and rubble required j at Parnell tunnel. The filling-in at Mechanics' j Bay is slowly beginning to make some show, 1 while Fort Britomart is already almost numbered ; with the past. Its demolition is, however, a work ; of time and patience. Some temporary delay has j i been caused by orders coming down not to fill-in ! ( any more of freestone until a sea-wall has been ' ( erected. This is in order to prevent any ! ' possibility of the silting-up of the harbour. j 1 Before closing my letter, I must inform you that i the Waikato Tijies has given general satisfaction ; , to all who have seen it, and its praises have been ; sung by those connected with the press in Auck- : land, and who profess to "know a thing or two, ; 1 rather." Its style and " get up" has exceeded all : expectations. j