TOWN TALK.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 11, 18 October 1843, Page 3

TOWN TALK.

Launch of the «' Maid of the Mill''— rHiK line Schooner was launched the other day at Maiiakau. Sha was built by Mr. Richard Wadeson White, under the superintendence of Cap'. Heale.and after the mode] o( Sir J. Symonds. (''Father of the late lamented Capt. Symonds), Prom what we can learn she is finished in a most B'ipeiiorand careful manner; size, 27| tons, carvel built; and possibly draws tbe lightest draught of water, of any of Ihe vessels that have hitherto been constructed in New-Zea'and ; and besides being strong; and aubs'&rftial, from her exact symmetry and beaotv, she is calculated to be a regular clipper,|and fi>3t=iate sea-boat. No pains have been spared to render her useful, Safe, and manageable. She was launched upright upon rollers, supported by a ciadle, and considering ihe dis ance between the water and the stocks (be'ter than a £ of a mi'e !) it is surprising that no injury occurred to ber—and we certainly think great praise is due to U. W. While for this, as lilt.< wise lb-' the attention and skill bestowed upon hei workmanship. Mr. Robert While, of the •• Mechanics Honse of Call," is the owner, we wi-h him good lock in bis new undertaking. The Police.—Crime has certainly been on the iucnase of late, but we >-r-' of oois nion, (considering the universal incentives given to it by Ihe distress that unhappily prevails -throughout the counny,) that it would have been Of far rri >re frequent nocurr< nee had we not possessed Bich a Vigilant and scrutinizing Police Force; a "d we a- e even astonished at its small amount, when we Consider how very limited is the number of peisons employed to watch over, the midnight security of tbe People of Auckland ; great praise and many I hanks are due to this Useful body of men. The Police Establishment is decidedly the best managed one in ihe Colony, mean of those U'>der the control of Government* Night alter night do (he Po'i'e patrol the street, wet or dry ; and when all eise is buslied in gloomy darkness, do they watch over, and protect us from harm ! What is the recompense ? a bare livinar —and tue ignoble epithet of " Trap" appended to iheir coat tails by those very persons whom they protect! true they are "Traps" but are set to catch the vidian, and secure ihe interests of the innocent. Only the other night, as Mr. Chief Constable Smith, and Sergeant Ste-le, wre p rambulating their nightly circuit, they discovered a house in High Street, to be on fire—they immediately climbed to the roof ot the house and succeeded in extinguishing the fire—or perh p-, but tor this promptness, a great deal of ve.y valuable propeity might have been destroyed. ■■:?

Improvements in Shortland Maimed newspapers? Whose perquisites are Jbey ? We have b"en favored with a Teport from tlrer Bay of Islands, which states that lieenty five of the' passeDgers, &c, of the " Brigand," (widely sailed fiom this port a few daysagoj have deserted! Oor literary friends will be sorry to learn that the Ce ebrated Allan Connrnghain died on the night of the 29th cf October 1842, aged 56. Mr. Cnnuingbam had completed ihev life of Sir D ,vid Wilkie only two days previous to lri* decease; Dr. Claiming, the famous American preacher arid scholar, is likewise dead. Opening op the Tees Total Hat.l.—On Wednesday last, the opening of ibis Building was celebrated bv a Teasparty, and pnblio meeting r We were not present at tbe tea drinking, but we understand it was Very well attended—about 150 hiving sat down to partake of the refreshing beverage. When we did attend (about half past eight or nine, p. w.) we wtfe agreeably surprised to find the spacious room crowded with a most respectable audience, and still rhorp so, when we observed the platform occupied wiih such a number of influential gentlemen. The chair war fi ltd bv C. W* Ligar, E*q., the Surveyor General, as previously announced. On the, platform were ,'lie A'tiorney General, Dr; Johnson, Felton Esq., &c. Nothing can be a more con» vincing argument in favour of the principles of a society—so far as consistency, and capability oj promoting ihe advancement of morality tjanity are concerned—than to see it paironized, by persons hcldinij some of the first situations in, the district where it is formed—and we think conduct of those gentlemen, previously mentioned, cann >t be too highly applauded, ia the present instance. Mr. McNair delivered a good address we believe.—The Attorney General spoke with his. usual eloquence and fluency—and eminently displayed the feelings of the philanthrophisfe and the christian -Mr. Somervill e «rMr. Josbu* Robinson—Mr. Gardiner,, and Mr. Hunter like* wise, addressed tfee meeting—Mr. Hunter was! happily facetious—but amongst all those who spoke we are inclined to plaee most importance on Dr. Johnson's words, than on those of anyodier persons present because of his professional experience t and altho' we did not hear him, we are told he made a good speech—and went a* f*rin advocating the piinciples of Total Abstinence, as he could, with propriety— A. vote of thank* was unanimously passed to th& chairman, far his able exertions on the ocoasion. Other may be formed throng-bout the colonies for the diffusion of useful knowledge and for the purpose of benefrttiug or refining mankind, by promoting? a literary taste—but none nre calculated so aft* mirably to confer tbe greatest benefits on Catonial, Society as this—whose object is the suppression of the monster drunkenness, where he revels in hit greatest pride—and daily practioes his greatest abominations. We understand that the " Russell"' has got a hole knocked in her bottom somewhere off the Kiapara, and that she will be unable to put to sea again j at least foi sometime.