The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 111, 18 May 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDA Y, MA Y 18, 1870.

That the members of the City Board should evince solicitude as to the proposed constitution of the city is com* mendable; and that its details, especially with reference to the future revenues of the Corporation, should be carefully scanned by them as the acknowledged conservators of city interests, is expected by the people of Auckland. But, we think, that in their laudable desire to conserve city interests, they have shown a disposition unnecessarily to stand on their civic dignity, and to take offence where none was intended. That the Superintendent should decline to receive the City Board of Commissioners in globo, may seem an indignity to the Commissioners ; but it is a mistake on their part to suppose that it will be so viewed by the public outside the civic Council Chambers. Nay, we may see in it the highest tribute rendered to the civic powers, and we can easily understand how a plain unsophisticated man like Mr. Gillies should fear to be enveloped in the full effulgence of civic glory, in receiving the whole body of those whom Auckland loves to honor, in Council constituted, fresh^ from the solemn deliberations of their" chamber, and in the panoply of civic dignity. Like the nymph who longed to receive in her ams the mighty Jove as he appeared in Olympus, the Superintendent might be consumed in the blaze of glory.

It is really not a question as to whether Mr. G-eorge or Mr. GKllies is the greater man, nor whether the Superintendent, if weighed in the balance with Mr. Macready, would not be found wanting ; but whether for the ends to be attained, it were not preferable that the head of the province should have a rational and quiet discussion with the chief man of the city, on points that require grave and sensible consideration. If the chairman of the City Board had chanced to be a man of inferior intelligence, or wanting in the confidence of his brother commissioners, the desire and the annoyance of the Board would be intelligible; but Mr. Phillips is a clearheaded intelligent man, acquainted with the points ab issue, fully aware of the views of the Board, acknowledged even by those that try to stir up the civic authorities to good works, to be keenly alive to the interests of the citizens, and his position as Chairman bears testimony to the confidence reposed in him by his brother Commissioners. We would ask which is likely to be most productive of results for good—a meeting between two sensible gentlemen, each representing an acknowledged power, where the subject can be calmly talked over without being pestered by reporters, the present crying pest of public movements; or a warm, and possibly acrimonious, wrangling between a body of Commissioners and one man, who, in self-defence, will " reserve the points for further con- " si deration." Petition is the cherished prerogative of Englishmen, but 11 deputationising " — the modern excrescence on the good old systera-^-is becoming a nuisance, and, if carefully analysed, is generally found to be mainly the growth of self-conceit. To the Board of Commissioners, in their threatened public meeting, we would say beware! The citizens will see no slight put upon their civic representatives, but they will not sympathise with a needless assumption of dignity, and a taking of offence where none was intended.

Thb Rev. Mr. Berry waa a passenger by the s.s. Auckland for Sydney to-day. A splendid collection of South Sea curios will be sold to-morrow by S. Cochrane and Son. The articles are many and curious, and will well repay inspection. Thb Grahamstown Evening Star, commenting on the departure of Mr. and Mra. Boberts from the Thames, says :— "Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been on the Thames now nearly a year, during which time they have alwnys maintained a high place in public favor. They brought with them no mean reputation as accomplished artistes, and they may assure themselves that it has in no way suffered during their professional career on the

Thames. They carry away with them the good wishes of all who have witnessed their clever impersonations, and of those who have had the good fortune to become acquainted with them in private life. We sincerely trust that in the place to which they are going they will be more prosperous than they have been on the Thames, where,' offing to the long-con-tinued depression, theatrical business has been at a low ebb. Their departure from amongst us will cause a gap in the profession on the Thames not easily to be filled." We cordially agree with the expressions of our contemporary, and trust that, ere Mr. and Mrs. IKnberts depart from Auckland, we may again hare the opportunity of seeing them in some of their principal pieces^ Mr. 'Jioberts as an Irish comedian stands unrivalled; while Polly Leake (Mrs; Boberts), as a burlesque or other actress stands high in her profession. Wherever they go we wish them every success and prosperity. In the City Hall last night the Diorama of the Apocalypse was exhibited to a crowded house, which manifested by repeated and vigorous applause how thoroughly this beautiful series of pictures has taken with our citizens. The hesitancy shown by ladies and others iegarding a visit to this entertainment at its first presentation has entirely passed away, and our fair friends mustered in great force. A single visit to the Diorama has not only sufficed to dissipate from every mind the silly prejudice with which the advent of these pictures was received, but has fixed the conviction on many a mind originally prejudiced, that the tendency of the Diorama is to produce the most elevated, solemnised, and hallowed feelings. We have no patience with those who object to the Diorama without having seen it; and would strongly urge every Sabbath school teacher in Auckland to go and judge, and then not permit such a beautiful and instructive series of scriptural illusirations to pass away from Auckland without arrangement being made to have it visited by all our Sunday-school children. The judicial power was of unusual strength to-day in the Police Court, no less then four of ourunpaidmagist.ratesappearing to dispense justice, Mr. Otway subsequently retiring on finding his services not required. The fact is in the highest degree creditable to our justices, and we are glad to see that the gentlemen holding Her Majesty's commission, in the district, feel that there are duties and responsibilities, as well as honor, attached to the commission. There was but a small attendance at the drunkard's levee, only a solitary representative appearing to show the potency of drink. The poor fellow who appeared yesterday to answer the charge of violent language was adjudged a lunatic, and forwarded to the Lunatic Asylum ; and two old goal birds, one of them of very forbidding aspect, were sent back to Mount Eden, for misplacing fingers in another man's pocket to bis pecuniary loss, and thereafter knocking the poor old fellow down for expressing a natural objection to the proceeding.

Mbs. W. H. Newton's benefit last night drew, as we anticipated, an excellent house, and the performance gave great satisfaction to every one present. The comedy of " A Silver Lining" is one of the most beautiful modern comedies we have ever witnessed, abounding in excellent language aud fine situations. Mrs. W. H. Newton, as the dashing widow, Mrs. Dorrington, had a part well waited to her. She was most enthusiastically received, and was greeted with a shower of boquets; she was also honoured with a similar tribute before the curtain at the close of the piece. Her spirited actinggave life to the comedy, and fully stamped her reputation as a comedienne. Mrs. Walter Hill was most successful as Helen Maltravers, both as the loring girl or the neglected wife, and was much applauded. Mr. Clifford, who re-appeared as Frank Fairleivjh, played excellently ; and Miss Raymond made a sprightly Dora Merrivalo. Mr. Eyan did not make as much of Arthur Merrivale as we anticipated, and we should have thought a change of costume necessary where the action of a piece extends over a period of years. The comedy on the whole was, however, a great success, and we hope to see it repeated. Mr. O'Brien sang "The Death of Nelson," and there was an excellent tableau at its close. The farce of "The Captain's . Not Amiss," concluded a most enjoyable entertainmont. Gold fbom Tapu.—Yesterday Mr. JBuckland lodged in the Union Bank, Thames, 106 ozs. melted goli, from the Tapu Gold Mining Company. The p.s. Williams brought up last night 4,148 ozs. gold for the Bank of New Zealand. The p.s. Samson will make an excursion trip to the Hot Springs on the Queen's Birthday. A dividend of 2s 6d per share will be paid to-morrow to the creditors in the estate of S. Lipstine. Supreme Cottet. — His Honor was occupied yesterday with the argument by Mr. Whitaker, in reply to Mr. MacCormick, in support of a motion for a rule absolute for a writ of prohibition directed to the Judges of the Native Lands Court to restrain them in proceeding to issue a Crown Grant to Mr. ft. Graham and another. It is notified that the following persons ! have become insolvent:—Alexander Gillan, George Smale, William James Casely. Meetings are advertised to be held in the estates of the following bankrupts : —Henry Bush, 25th instant; James .Russell Anderson,-25th instant; David Orme, 25th instant; Frances vStuart Igoe, 24th instant; and .Ralph Wylde Brown, 25th inst.

Jl very uniatiifactory sort of bread— The Roll of Fame.

THE EttG-LISH BUE2 MAIL. We shall iv all probability receive tlie next English 'mail via Suez by the s.s. Hero, which may be expected here abqut the Ist proximo. The barque Novelty was to leave Sydney on the 16th instant (Monday last), aud she may therefore be expected here about next Tuesday, bringing the English telegrams. It is possible she may be detained in order to bring on the mail.