The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 35, 12 February 1890, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1890.

S'or the cause that lacks assistance, Fcr the vnong that needs resistance, JFor the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

We are convinced that no feeling is more generally entertained among all classes of the community than one oi

utter discontent at the supineness ol the Government with regard to the auriferous deposits which are known to exist in various parts of the Auckland Provincial District. Their action in obstructing the opening up of Puhipuhi was absolutely scandalous. But

even when overt opposition is not offered, there appears, on the part oi the Cabinet, to be a feeling of totai indifference to a branch of industry which might, under judicious encouragement, be the means oi pushing the colony more rapidiy ahead than any other industrial effort that can be named. Population arid wealth flowinio a country with amazing rapidity when ever there is the attraction of. a profitable goldheld, because gold is the one product ior which a standard price maybe absolutely depended upon, No fluctuation in the world's markets seriously affects it, and increased tillage of the land and a stimulated commerce necessarily attend the better prices oi products of every description, which result from the presence of a large mining population. We are glad to notice, however, that the strong representations that have been made from time to time on this subject, as it affects the Auckland district, have not been without effect. Mr Gordon, a thoroughly practical man, has been sent up to make an inspection of the various new fields, and as a result of his visit the announcement is already made that Puhipuhi will oe opened at once to the miner. We have good hope that other changes for the better wiii accrue from his tour of inspection. Beyond doubt, at present one of the chief difficulties which prevents the development of reefs in new districts, is the difficulty that miners experience in getting their stone treated. It is all right when the stone is free milling ore and yields up its treasure to primitive appliances, but when the gold is very fine, or is locked up in what is termed " refractory " ore, the miner may lose the fruits of years oi labour and thecolony be deprived oi the benefits which a larger output of gold I would confer, simply because there are !no proper means of saving the gold or giving the miner the market value of his stone. Experienced men are well aware that we are a long way behind every other important mining district in these respects, and we believe that the proposal made some time ago by Mr J. H. Witheford for the establishment of a State plant at some convenient point on the Coromandel Peninsula, easily accessible by water, is one of the most feasible and practicable measures for aiding our goldfields that have ever been put forward. At such a State plant not only should a prospector be enabled to ascertain readily the value of any ore he may submit, being thus advised whether it is prudent to pursue or abandon his claim, but he ought to be able to dispose of small lots of ore at their assay value, as may now be done at the great smelting works in Germany. If tests obtained at these works were in all i cases available for public information, j there could not be a repetition of the proceeding which in the case of Puhipuhi served to mystify the public and finally to destroy confidence. The fact that large quantities of mixed ore may be treated at a profit, when parcels of two or three tons would entail a loss, is one strong reason why such a plant as this, receiving ore from all quarters, would be of enormous advantage. And it may be justly urged that the annual appropriation for the Assay Department now maintained at Wellington would be better applied if it were spent upon an establishment such as we have indicated.

We understand that Mr Gordon has given a good deal of attention to this question, and has made numerous inquiries on the subject during his tour, and his report to the Government will be looked forward to with very great interest. , .

The opening of tbr, Imperial Parliament, which was to hav, e taken place afc London yesterday, is ? <a fcicipated by a cable message, giving a forecast of the Queen's speech ir^va the throne. Satisfaction, it is. said, will be expressed at the partial removal of the difficulty wifch Portugal over the status of Noassaland. The sitting of the AntiSlaeery Conference at Brussels will be mentioned. The relations with foreign countries will be deemed satisfactory. The Country will be felicitated on its increasing prosperity, and the order in Ireland, which, it is hoped, will allow some relaxation of the present stringency. There will bo no reference to free or assisted education. A measure will be promised dealing with Irish land purchase, and an Irish Local Government Bill will be vaguely indicated. Bills dealing 1 with the following subjects will also be promised :—Tibhes, Land Transfer, Sayings Banks, Employers' Liability, Public Health, Better Housing of the Poor, Allotment Act Amendment, Barrack Extension, and Scotch private legislation. Ib will also be hoped that it will be found possible to deal with Scotch crofters. The federal movemenfc in Australia will be welcomed as extremely satisfactory, and a hope will be expressed that a practical result will be arrived at.

By the steamer Arawafca last evening His Excellency Sir John Thurston, Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, left on his reburn trip to Fiji. The steamer left the Queen-streeb Wharf ab seven p.m. The guard of honour ordered by Colonel Shepherd for bhe occasion had to be dispensed with, owing to the late hour of departure. Amongst those who saw Sir John off at the Wharf were : Mr F, J. Moss, M.H.R., Lieut.-Colonel Shepherd, and Capb. Savile, A.D.C. to Lord Onslow.

Mr David Hean, formerly manager of the National Bank in this city, arrived by the Ringarooma last nighb, and renewed many old friendships in town to-day. He has been appointed by the London directorate of the Bank of New Zealand to examine and reporb upon the affairs of the Bank, and hence his visit. The voyage out appears to have done Mr Hean a great deal of good, and he is looking very well, and is, we believe, in much better health than he has been for some considerable time past.

Private letters received at Wellington from London do nob bear oub the intelligence recently telegraphed, to the effecb that Sir Julius Vogel wa3 ab tho time suffering severe illness. He had sustained a fall which had caused him to feel some effecb of it for some time, but he had recovered from that accident. He is described as able to eret down to his office, and likely to be quite recovered in a few days.

Matterson and Sfcephenson have obtained seats in the Dunedin Rowing Club's fouroared gitr, and will take part in the Champion Four-oared Race ab the Exhibition Regatta. Both will also take part in the ■Champion Sculler's Race. Tho yacht Mananga, from Akaroa, arrived last night, and the Madge (Kaiapoi), and Eva and Lily (Riverton) arrived by train. The Pastime has sailed several times over the champion course, and her sailing qualities have made a favourable impression. Mafcterson and Stophenson are oub daily practising. The only ono of bhe candidates from the Auckland College and Grammar School whose name did nob appear in either the '• credit" or the " pass " list of persons who had qualified for matriculation ab the Neiv Zealand University was Miss W. Ricken. Those who were acquainted with her previous record were greatly surprised, and felt that some mistake musb have occurred. This has proved bo be the case, as information has been received from bhe Registrar that Miss Ricken has passed "with credit" on the scholarship examination, obbaining 2,958 marks. This gives her the 27th place —a very honourable position for one who will be eligible again at bhe next competition. The delay arose from an inadvertence on the part of one of the examiners.

Ab bhe Police Court this morning Ernesb Lawson, a boy 13 years old, was charged with stealing a cardboard box containing a gold scarf pin, 24 neckties, 2 silver rings, one razor, and one silk handkerchief, value £3, the properby of Alfred Macindoe, of Ponsonby. Sergeant-Major Pratt said some of bhe property had boen found on accused, but he wished for time to recover the rest, and would ask for a remand. His Worship, Dr. Giles, R.M., granted a remand till Monday next, bail allowed in two sureties of £25 each.

Mr R. Hobbs, M.H.R., yesterday proceeded to Russell by the s.s. Arawata, to be present ab bhe regabta there on the Jubilee of the signing of the Treaby of Waitangi. The Hon. T. W. Hislop is unable to be present owing to pressure of Governmenb business, and he ha 3 asked Mr Hobbs •to explain to the native* the reason of his absence, as they were very anxious to have a Cabineb Minister ab the festivities.

Mr Bryce, M.H.R. for Waikato district, arrived in Hamilton yesterday, on his first visit to his constituency. A committee has been appointed to arrange for the delivery of a number of addresses by Mr Bryce at various centres, and the following dates have already been arranged: Hamilton, Saturday, 15thinstant; Te Awamnfcu, 17bh instant; Whatawhata, 20fch instant; Raglan, 22nd instant; Ngaruawahia, 24bh instanb ; and ab Ohaupo, on Thursday, 27th instant.

The first meeting after the vacation of the Auckland Amateur Orchestral Society was held last night in St. James's Hall, Wellington-street. There was a good attendance. Two very important resolutions were passed, viz, : That St. James's Hall be engaged for weekly practices, and that the public be admitted to one practice in each month for a small fee. We understand that a quantity of music will arrive by next mail. The Society is steadily increasing, and the monthly open night should make it popular with the public. There are a few vacancies in the orchestra, especially for wind instruments.

It lately came to the knowledge of the Poneke Football Club, through the officials of the Wellington Club, that one of the Poneke's most doughty champions had made an offer to secure for the Welliugtons the services of the four leading Poneke players, in consideration of payment of a stated sum of money. The introduction of such mercenary conduct into football circles was deserving of the strongest reprobation, so the Committee of the Ponake Club wrote to the alleged culprit, giving him an opportunity of making any explanation he desired. As no reply was forthcoming after a reasonable interval had been allowed, the Committee held a meeting, and decided to strike the name of the offender off the roll of membership.

The annual meeting of St. Matthias' Church, Panmure, was held a few evenings ago, the Rev. F. Gould in the chair. The people's warden, Mr A. Thompson, read tho balance-sheet, which showed receipts £136 15s lid, and expenditure £131 Is, the latter including the clearing off of a debit. The report mentioned an endowment falling to the church through the death of Mrs Chas. Holt. The illness of Mr G. E. Ireland, minister's warden, was referred to, and the Standing Committee of the diocese was thanked for its attention to the affairs of the church. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Mr A. Thompson was elected people's warden and Mr G. E. Ireland was appointed minister's warden. Messrs Brown, Jordan, Hamlin, Morley and Wi&con were appointed vestrymen, and Messrs Loomb and Kay auditors.

To the Editor: Sir, —With reference to the probable surplus at the disposal of the Jubilee Committee, I think we could very well do without another boat-race to swallow up £500, as suggested by " Shipwright," and leb the Barotongans have part of it.—l am, etc., One Who Sympathises With Them.

We understand thab 48 boys and 16 girls have been presented for admission to the Auckland College and Grammar School this term, and ib is supposed that a feir more have been prevented from putting in an appearance at the opening of the term.. About 22 boys and 13 girls have left. In the firsb term of 1889, 28 boys and 28 girls joined, whilst 28 boys and IS girls loft.

The weather in Melbourne is again oppressively hot. Colonists of 40 years' standing state thab this is the hottest season they have ever experienced. Mr Ellery, the Government Astronomer, says there are no signs of a change in the weather just now. He states that from January 16th to date the weather has been the hottest on record for Jannary—the hottest month of the year. The mean temperature for the month of January just ended exceeded by 5 3-10deg. the mean average for January for the last 30 years. The average of days in January during which the thermometer reached 90deg. in the shade is 46, but during last month the number on which the thermomotor reached this record was over 12 days.

At the Police Courb this morning, before Dr. Giles, R. M., Wm. Farquharwas charged with stealing a kauri board, value Is, the property of the Kauri Timber Company. Mr Dufaur appeared for the Timber Company and said that the manager had missed timber frequently, and the boy had been seen with a board carrying it to a bundle tied up nicely, and ready for.removal. The lad admitted he had taken the board, but put it back. Ho had no intention of stealing it. Mr Dufaur said there waa no wish to punish the lad, as some of the men about the mill were considered the guilty parties, and the Comoany wished to catch them. His Worship then dismissed the boy with a caution:

In connection with the enlargement of the Newton Primitive Methodist Church a capital lantern entertainment was given last evening by Mr Culver. During the evening Mr J. Watkinson read a statement showing that £205 had been spent in renovating the church, all of which amount had been raised, with the exception of about £9. The latter part of the evening was devoted to a sale of work of the goods (about £20 worth) left from their late Christinas tree and bazaar.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Lodge, U.A.O.D.,was held at the Cook-street Hall last evening, A.D. Bro. Deberg presiding. There was a fair attendance, and a good amount of business was transacted. Communications were received from the Grand Lodge, Melbourne, pointing out the fact that the annual gala to be held there at Easter time will bo carried out in a style hitherto unheard of, and prizes of great value will be distributed. Five candidates were proposed for election ab the nexb meeting of the Auckland Lodge..

The special yacht race to be sailed in the harbour on Saturday next is exciting considerable interest, and a large number of entries are expected. The priz9s are of considerable value, the first being a tenguinea trophy presented by Mr H. Rees George, on behalf of the North German Fire Insurance Company ; the second an oil painting and the third also a valuable oil painting, which are now on view in Mr Kohn's window. Mr D. H, Ross, Queenstreet Wharf, receives entries until noon on Friday.

Last evening the draft of the proposed rules of the Tailoresses' and Pressers' Union of the city was read at a meeting of the Committee in the V.M.C.A. Rooms and carefully discussed and considered. Some, alterations werp made, and subsequently the rules were adopted as amended. On Tuesday evening uext they will be broueht before the general meeting of the Union for confirmation. The names of all tailoresses and pressers who wish to join the Union will be received by Mr H. W. Farnall, Secretary fro tein , at the Lomestreet Hall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The body of Nicholl, night-watchman to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was found yesterday afternoon washed up on the rocks under the breastwork, 60 yards from where his lantern was found yesterday. His coat was off, but his hat was still on his head. His watch had stopped at sevea minutes past three.

The question of local government (writes our Whangarei correspondent) will have to be considered betore long. Th 9 counties are a basis to start from. There are at present too many committees and boards, and local government will never grow while there is so much red tape and official humbug. For the county governments to grow they must have greater power given them.

The continuance of the drought in the up-country districts of New South Wales is causing much anxiety among farmers and paaboralists, in consequence of the shortness of the water supply. One hot day succeeds another without any apparent prospect of a change, and the thermometer shows a maximum of lOOdeg and over each day. The oldest residents of the district cannob remember such a period of dry weather, and but for the heavy spring rains which caused a wonderful growth of herbage the consequence would have already been most serious.

The smoke concert called for this evening in connection with the West End Rowing Club has been postponed till some future date. A notice appears in another column.

Geo. Fowlds, Victoria Arcade, having purchased at auction a large portion of F. and T. Woodroffe's stock, desires to intimate that he will be closed to morrow, Thursday, marking down, and will re-open on Friday with a great clearance sale.— (Advt.)