AUCKLAND

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 96, 10 December 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND

(PROM OUll OV.N CORUKSrOXDKXT.) December 9. His Honor the Superintendent has very adroitly shelved the responsibility of giving practical eilecl. t<i tin , vote obtained bv a majority o( one on, tho .subjpet. oi' hsui ling over tlic control of the Police to the Provincial Council by somewhat similar tactics at t/tose of an Irishman, who to evade an unpleasant query answers it by putting another. And so wiih the Superintendent. Without cpinnutting himself on the question of police control one way or another ho raises a difficult v by which in all likol.hood matters will remain in, stain quo. lie now discovers that to give practical oil'eet to the vpti! o£'t ! ie .Council an additional vote of cCii.OOO per annum will be necessary if the pre-sent ctJleieney of the police force is to . b.a maintained, thui virtually reopening the whole question again, for discussion, and relieving himself thereby of a dillleulty, While on the subject I may remark that an " indignation,'" meeting been held at the Thames, at which the, participants rather overacted their part. Not satisfied with passing, resolutions condemnatory of the proposed handing over of the. H bobbies " to Provincial control, the meeting took steps for forming a Vigilance Committee. This is too palpable a joke, ai;d calculated to .bring into eontempt the. action. of, the meeting. Coromandel, also,, has forwarded its remonstrance against tho proposed change,.but with much better taste.. Fires, like misfortunes, nevpv come singly, and the axiom is borne out certainly in Auckland with respect to the former, for rarely has one occurred but three have followed in immediate succession. Two ajwir.s were given on Saturday morning of firq.. Thq, scene of one. was at Now Market,, the other Eden Crescent. The latter fortunately did not prove, serious, but at New Market the house of Captuin Armstrong was burnt to the ground. So rapid was the progress of tho fire that tho occupants had barely.time to with their lives. The whole of the furniture and clothing was d - stroyod., '-Jic, property, which bplongcd to tho Rev Mr Lallv, was insured for. £400 in the New Zealand Company. Captain. Armstrong's effects unfortunately were uninsured. The barque Gladiateur armed in harbour on Saturday morning from Liverpool. She brings a general cargo and the following passengers:—Dr. apd Mrs Hathaway, Mr and Mrs Smith, and Mr G-illcsby. Mr West, music .seller, died suddenly at his residence,. Freeman's B/iy, on Friday, of apoplexy. Ho was apparently in good hpalth in the morning, and whije taking his ,usual bath was seized with a fit, to which' he succumbed during the day. Mr West was an old colonist, and much respected. Drurv and its environs are beginning to assume a lively aspect in consequence of the works in progress along the line of route. Gangs of workmen are busily engaged clearing the ground preparatory to tho laying down of tho permanent way. There 13 no sign of the mail steamer Dacotah, now ovordue. Visitors from the Waikato district during the Christmas holidays will have a choice of entertainments. Iu addition to the usual picnic, boating, escnrsions, and athletic sports, in the evening there will be on exhibition the performances of a mammoth circus company and the exhibition . of. the feaf.s of a Japanese troupe of conjurors, &c. The Auckland Steam Packet Company has instituted moonlight trips on ,Saturday nights.in the harbour, the. second of which came off on Saturday last. Like all other novelties, they have,proved up to t)ie .present a success. A. band of music is provided, so that the lovers of terpsichore cau indulge in the light fantastic- to their heart's content. The Cit.y of Auckland left this port for England on Saturday morning, with a,fulL complement of passengers and a full cartri. Her popular commander, Cantain Ashby, entertained fri.'n:lsonb).arcl at a farewell luncheon, it being his intention to retire from the profession. The. ship was accompanied to RangitoLo reef by the Heet of boats belonging to the Auckland Yacht Club. All speculation in mining property is dead. During the past, week business, has been only nominal, and confined to dummy transactions between the brokers with a view if possil.lo to.. promote business, Caledonians are £15; Cure-, 28.3 ; Albiun, £6 ; Moacataiari, £2 12s 6d.. In City of London and Queen of the...May_ there has been has been, a .slight advance, which, .however, has not been sustained. In Coromandel stocks there is literally nothing doing, stocks in the best mines boing unsaleable.