ARRIVAL OF THE 'AUCKLAND.'

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 278, 30 November 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE 'AUCKLAND.'

LATEST FROM FIT! f», Orange'

By the' arrival of tho a.s. Auckland we have received files to the 10th inst., from which we take the following : — The wreck of the Albatross was sold for £54. The new nutter Meva arrived after a passage of 11 days, on t vie 11th inst. We go to press this week some hours earlier than usual in order to give »"r readers at a distance the latest intelligence. Hie first, item in our opitorao of news is unfortunately a death. Mr. Smith, of tho firm of Markhum and Smith, planters, of Nandi, succumbed to heart disease on Monday la-t. Tho deceased gentleman was very young, and seems to have been much respected by his friends. The brig Fire Fly hna left for San Francisco; Mr. Victor, a gentleman connected with the Press in that city, came-< a compilation of statistics which lie intends laying before the Chamber of Commerce and the Secretary of State at Washington. The object, of the communication is to induce Mr. Webb to make Levuka a coaling place or terminus of the Pacific and Californian Mail Service. The Rosario lias returned from the Lino Islands without seeing any labor vessel. Captain Challis just missed the notorious Hayes, who left some time before the arrival of the Rosu-io. The master and crew of the barque Anna are accused by two white residents of attempting to kidnap natives at Byron's Island, and filing on them in the water when they jumped overboard. Tho Anna left, hero for Honolulu in September last. Tho Rev. W. Floyd arrived in the steamer Auckland, bringing a parsonage and Church. The rev. gentleman can enter on his sphere of usefulness with the certainty of having an' arduous task ; hi 3 flock as yet havo been rather apathetic, but the actual presence of their pastor may have a beneficial effect. The Auckland did really come, although many doubts were expressed as to her putting in an appearance. If the A. N. S. Company wish to keep a boat in the trade there must be no doubt as to its arrival on or about a certain date. A boat like the Auckland will find payable traffic even at first, if people are certain "of her coming; spasmodic trips will neither pay the company nor benefit Fiji. . The meeting of the Constitution Committee is postponed till tho arrival of Thakombau, who is to be requested to sign a conveyance of land to the frame of the document. Mr. Fennei-soy, the seer, tary to ihe working committee has resigned. There is a report of a Prussian—we beg pardon—German mar. of-war beiiii* placed on the Fiji stat on ; tho news wnnts confirmation. The Earl of Pen.broke will be a passenger by the Auckland. Lie will take with him tho hearty good wishes of those who have made his acquaintiUT'e in i.evuka. We are sure everyone will join with us in wishing the affable young nobleman long life and every happiness. The experience he is now acquiring iti his travels will be of more service to him when ho becomes a statesman than years of study in the school of legislative professors. Dr. Kingsley, who is himself an author, and was a frequent contributor to Fraser when it; was the giant among magazines, accompanies the .Earl. Although Dr. Kingsley has relinquished authorship, there is little doubt that the cacoethes senbendi will attack him again, and we shall have his experience in the Pacific, and Fiji in particular.

If it were not for the importance to Fiji, the second batch of investigations at the Consulate would be a screaming farce for the residents of 3>vuka —never in any British community was justice rendered so ridiculous. We sincerely pity th« commander of the Rosario, who is placed in the unpleasant position of a judge without jurisdiction, and forced to arbitrate in such paltry trifling cases as he has heard as yet; an excited cripple waves his stick in the air and vows he cares not for the British Consul, and forthwith Captain Challis, who has but to spenk and one of the largest guns in Her Majesty's navy would belch forth destruction, is called upon to investigate the matter; a veritable bringing out a cannon to shoot flies, and the investigation is to be private and confidential, in order that the autocrat of the office may not be crowded, or to hinder humbler individuals from coming " between the wind and his nobility," and the request of any person representing the Press to be admitted is about the blatest treason possible. We do not for one moment defend the ludicrous impertinence of De Maus towards Captain Challis, but the uncalled for remark, or rather explosion of concentrated rage made by Mr. March to a man already excited was so misplaced as almost to deserve the rejoinder. _ It is to be hoped (hat the Kosario before leaving the group will be employed on some mission to prove that a British man-of-war is a Nemesis, and not an expensive joke and a sham.