AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 69, 8 October 1872, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(PROM OVU OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Mr Anthony Trollope and his lady left here on Fridav morning by the 'Nebraska , en route for America. His visit, to Auckland has been but brief, but during that visit it appears that he made the bent of his opportunities; he inspected most, if not all of our public institutions, and no doubt, as is his wont he has duly noted everything likely to be of permanent interest to our home friends. A banquet avis "iven to him on Wednesday night at the Northern' Club, but as it was rather of a private than public nature, members of the Press were not invited; n report however appeared in the Southern Cros*. Mr Trollope expressed the pleasure he felt at the kind reception he had met with in different parts of the colony, and especially in the Waikato district, where the' beautiful scenery of the Lake country and the urbanity of the industrious settlers had much interested him. It is rarely that a mail steamer leaves Auckland for California but one or more of our celebrities quietly skedaddle bv it. Since the collapse in scrip matters some score or more have unostentatiously bid adieu to the land of their adoption and their erst-while friends and associates. To betray an interest now in shipping matters is to give rise to a " horrible suspicion," especially if any of your scrip transfers are {nocking about, and the books of the company should happen to be closed for the payment of a dividend— a rare occurrence now-a-days. It is seldom however that the levanters are stopped and made to disgorge their spoil, although in the case of the ex-secretary of the Harbour Board, Mr Lowe, such was the case. Whether the fact is owing to a laxity, in the police supervision exercised, or the connivance of those: on board the steamer*, it is difficult to say, but the latest attempt of the kind has certainly been frustrated by the prompt action of the captain of the 'Nebraska. It appears that a young man named Cuthbertson had concealed himself "(it is reported by the aid of one of the chief officers of the vessel) on board the Nebraska, and eluded detection until the steamer put to sea; but finding his quarters (a locker) rather close he had been released to get a mouthful of fresh air on deck, when he was recognised by the captain, who at once made evmals to a vessel that was passing for Auckland, and handed Cuthbertson over to the master of it with instructions to deliver him m charge of the

police on arrival, which was accordingly done. Cutlr bert.wn is under bail to appear at the coming sessions of the .Supreme Court on a ciiurge of embezzlement, lie was brought up at tV.e Police Court on Saturday mid ordercd'to be kept in custody to answer both charges. Tin* '-riminnl calendar for the Supreme Court has the urtUttl quantum of cases set down for hearing on Monday. It contains the names of the six directors of the Green Harp charged witli conspiracy, although J it is very doubtful if the case can come to a trial after j the opinion of the Attorney-General, by which he decided that there is not sufficient evidence to warrant a Government prosecution. The remainder of the charges are rape, horse-stealing (2), cattle stealing, stealing gold ore, embezzlement, malicious injury to property, false pietcnees, breach of the Arms Act, forgery (4), and two of larceny. The YVaiksito railway works at this end are progressing. In the vicinity of Otahuhu some sixty navvies are at work, and about six miles of the line a e completed. Combination and strikes appeal' to be the order of the day. The latest phase is that of the brewers, by which they have agreed in solemn conclave (until broken) to charge in future £5 sterling per hogshead for beer, and to allow only ten per wnl- discount, on accounts. As a corrolhiry to this step I suppose the publicans will next meet, and decide upon raising the retail prices of beer. The alleged justification for the increase is the high price of hops. Truly a most, lame and impotent excuse if the body of the beer they manufacture is any guide as to the consumption of the hops. The defeat of the Stafford Ministry is a matter of general satisfaction with the bulk of the citizens, although it is felt that it will be impossible to carry on the Government of the country with sides so evenly balanced, and that there is no alternative but a dissolution. The lovers of the drama during the past week have had the gratification of witnessing the efforts of one of its best exponents in the person of Miss Roe.' Evans, who has lately arrived from America after a highly satisfactory tour. Many of the pieces produced are new to the Auckland stage, and were written expressly for Miss Kose Evans, so that her re-debut to an Auckland audience was made under the most favorable circumstances, and as a result she has played to houses sufficient to warrant Signor Vraguizan entering into a re-engagement with her. There is no change for the better in mining affairs. Prospects in Coromandel arc decidedly blank, with little hope of any immediate change. The bulk of the mines are mi worked, and there is no particul ir i result from those that are in operation. A little apcrulaUuTi lias f-.iktiii place in Thames stock, Otagos having suddenly risen to 355. They have since receded to 225. Caledonians are firm at what is looked upon now , as their minimum figure, £30. The bad news from the Charters Towers diggings has had I the effect of stopping the exodus of minora that was taking place, which was becoming serious.