TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1872.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 628, 16 January 1872, Page 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1872.

We have just had the pleasure of seeing the Champion Bolt to be presented by Captain Jame3 McCosh Clark, to the Auckland Rifle Brigade. It has come to hand by the Hero, having been brought from England by the Suez mail. .. It is the most beautiful and elegant article of the kind that we have seen in the colonies, and we are informed by those that know, that it is much superior to the Champion Belt of New Zealand, and all others hitherto presented in the colony. It consists of silver filagre ornamentation on aground ot purple velvet, fern leaves constituting the *nam feature ; acorns, oak leaves, &c, intenr" lngllDgThe lolid ornamentation of the belt is in block silver, the sterling character of wh;lch is shown by the usual mark: A large, P^te oa the pouch bears the foi'n %~[f^&&Jg£hi§4-&<* "Presented to the Aucklandxu^obrigade by Captain J. M. Clark, of the 3rd Company , January, 1872." We are informed that it was manufactured by Johnson, Simpson, and Simon, of 10, Little Britain, London, and i» to be the property of any member of the Brigade who first succeeds in winning it three times, whether in Succession or otherwise. It is to be seen in Mr. Upton's window. We cannot let pass such an occasion without commenting on such an evidence of genuine good feeling and public spirit on the part of the donor. The recent accident that befel Captain Clark brought out evidence of the cordial relations existing between himself and those under his command, and the presenta* tion of such a valuable gift to the Brigade shows that his sympathies are not confined to his own company, but are enlisted in the general cause of the volunteers. It is by such tokens as these that the spirit of volunteering can be kept alive, and we do not hesitate to say that an officer who has shown again and again such an interest in the organization of our citizen soldierß should be regarded as being in himself a public good. The prize now to be presented iij a most valuable one, and from its intrinsic value and its exceedingly ornamental appearance, will be worn with pride by the winner. But it will be prized for a value beyond its intrinsic worth, and we have no doubt will play an important part in producing that military spirit among our people, and in building up that military organization to which we must soon look for the safety and independence of the counfry.

The Supreme Court yesterday morning was utterly unbearable. The stench was like that supposed to come from the Stygian pit, and the efforts of a man who was employed in the lower regions in sluicing the cloacse only seemed to make matters worse. Several com' plaints were made of illness from inhaling the noxious fumes ; and at last His Honor had to order certain doors to be Bhut and others opened, so as to ventilate the ill-constructed place to some extent,

It does seem a most inexplicable circumstance that no one possessed of a carfc has had ingenuity enough to see what a trade could be done in carrying water for thirsty citizens. Probably two out of every three families are in want of water, and hrve no resource but to beg or borrow of their more fortunate neighbours. The absence of rogular water carriers in Auckland is to be attributed to the regularity of our rainfall, but it is remarkable that such a drought as the present hae not extemporised a whole host of water carts. Nothing could more distinctly show the want of enterprise in the place. A man with a horse and cart and a couple of barrels, could at present do a roaring trade, and would confer a great boon on many who do not like to place themsolves under compliment to neighbours which they cannot repay. So many wells contain delicious water that people would give a good price for it, in preference to using the peasoup-looking fluid commonly seen, or going without any, We trust the suggestion will be taken up.

A mysterious disappearance of £95 10s (consisting of, gold £22 103 and cheques £73) has occurred ou board the Lootitia, schooner, on her voyage from Levuka. Tho package had been entrusted by Mr. B. Hooker, a draper at Levuka, io the captain for transmission to Messrs. McArthur, Shera and Co, and was placed on a shelf in the captain's cabin. On the vessel's arrival, the parcel was gone. The oaptain sent for the police, who searched passengers, crew, and vessel, but with afruitless result.

A second steward is wanted for tho City of Auckland, bound for London. One steerage berth i 3 still vacant, and the half of a cabin is also disingaged.

To Mr. Clare, of Customhouse street certainly belongs the credit of constructing an entire novelty in the boat-building line. The curious-looking craft is intaoded to be used in the sculler's match for all comors, at the regatta of tho 29th instant. Below tho water line she is a3 fine as any outrigger; above it, with the view of coming within the orthodox measurement, tho planks are spread out in a most extraordinary fashion, giving tho midship section quite a bats-wing formation. Tho boat will doubtless have great speed : the only thing to be considerel is whether the smallest preponderance of moustache on one side of the face of the rower will not cause the whole affair ,to revolve on its axis. Any person accustomed to the tight rope would of course be able to perform the feat of remaining perpendicular. Others had better not tempt their fate. Sho has, however, been built specially for the use of a gentleman who is sanguine of being able to accomplish the feat, and jj.he work lias been accomplished in n manner highly creditable to the builder.

A meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's parish is to be held on Tuesday evening, the 23rd inst, in the vestry, for the purpose of appointing a churchwarden and a vestryman Meetings of this kind are generally! but poorly attended, and tho members of the Church of England in particular are usually held to bo guilty of the charge of neglect in this respect. We hope to find them more attentive to their duties in this respect this day week.

One mistake lias boon made in regard to the contract for cutting down tlio summit of Wakefield street. On the average twenty or thirty loaded carts pa 33 down the street every hour. The wear and tear of the road may be imagined, and already the carriage-way ha? been worn into immense holes. What these will become developed into wheru the wet weather commences, which* we may certainly expect by the mirVdle of March, it is not difficult >o foresee. Moat certainly tho contractor should have been bound to keep. ♦•»« r(>a& in repair. It is to be hoped tlWt, in future operations of this kind steps tV™M De taken to prevent evils of this kind •

By the arrival of the Lsetitia from Levuka /last evening, we learn that at the time of her leaving on the 7th inst., fears were entertained that two white men had been murdered by blacks. They had left Levuka a fortnight before in the schooner Peri, for an island thirty miles distant, to fetch up twenty blacks to Levuka. She had taken her freight and left .v- fV.^ ocjfi, i ; • but up to date oftae Lmtitia sailing, imu xiui macfe &a appear* ance at Levu ka.

It affords u» much pleasure to learn that Lieutenant Wr Gh Harrison of the No. 3 Company of the Auckland Eifle Volunteers has presented a valuable gold ring to bo shot for to-morrow morning at 5 a.m. by the com pany. This is the second ring that has been presonted by Lioutenant Harrison, reflecting the greatest credit on his public spirit, and zeal on behalf of the force- Our local volunteers may not in the past have distinguished themselves in th« use of the rifloj but we venture to say that but a very Bhort period will elapse till they stand in the van of our colonial competitors.

We have been shown by Mr. H. Kohn, jeweller, a handsome gold keyless hunting watch, gold albert and locket attached, fo presentation to Mr. Moss, the late purser of the Taranaki, who has now gone to Japan. The case of the watch contains the following inscription neatly engraved : —"Presented to Mr. C. D. Moss, late purser of s.s. Taranakb by the officers and crew and a number of friends in New Zealand, in recognition of many kind services rendered during his stay amongst them." The presentation is accom panied by a beautifully illuminated tablet executed by Mr. R. Eiches, containing the names of the officers and crew of the steamer and the gentlemen who have subscribed to the testimonial. These will be forwarded to Mr. Moss, who is now on his way to Japan, and they will doubtless be prized by him as souvenirs of his stay in New Zealand.

The sitting of the Supreme Court, Nelson, which, owing to the new regulations, followed bo closely upon the last session, resulted in a maiden assize, in token of which the sheriff, as is customaiy, presented the Judge with a pair of white kid glovo.?.

The Coromandel Mail of Saturday says :— " Mr. Manning and other gentlemen in Auckland are organising a party to prospect favor* ite localities on the Tokatea Eange."

A Gazette of the Auckland Provincial Go. vernment has been published this day, in which the tenders for the Provincial Service during the ensuing year are detailed at length. 'Upton and Co. have the contract for the supply of stationery; Leighton, for binding; McCashin, for carting road metal, &c.; T. Wilson, for rations to Mount Eden ; T. Teasdale, for supplies to Lock up; ; R. Hale, for general supplies to Prison and Polico . J. 0. Morrin, for supplying the Hospital; Eoberfc Hale, for the Old Hens' Refuge ; J. C. Morrin, for Lunatic Asylum ; T. Teasdale, for bread for Hospital and Lunatic Asylum ; T. W. Doonin, for groceries for sick and destitute ; and Archard and Brown, for coals and firewood to the various departments.. Other matters are of no general public interest.

The charge of perjury against Charle 8 Anderton was under investigation all day at the Supreme Court, and an immense amount of very conflicting evidence taken. The evidence had not been concluded when we went

to press.

The Mount Eden Rifle Range will, by per. mission of the officers commanding Nos. 2, 4, and 6 Companies, be reserved for No. 3 Company A.8..8. to-morrow morning.

The construction of a railway from Waitara to New Plymouth, in the province of Taranaki, has been commenced.

The committee of the Auckland Regatta Club will meet at the Thames Hotel at seven o'clock this evening,

The Auckland annual sheep fair will take place on the 14th of next month.

The Thames Guardian states that there is a probability of Mr Swan contesting the district of Rodney with Mr Sheehan.

Flotow is making a new opera, " Elizabeth." Shakespeare is one of tho characters in the libretto.

Beta in Paris are that Napoleon vill bo back within the year.

It is said there will in fufcnre be no resident Judge in Nelson. Judge Richmond will reside in Wellington, and go on circuit to Nelson and Marlborough, -while Judge Qresson will take tho West Coast Circuit.

We observe by advertisements that Mr. R. W. Dyson, so long and favourably known in the drapery trade, is about to relinquish the business, and consequent upon the expiration of his lease will, for the remainder of term, hold an unusually cheap sale, and solicits an early call to secure bargains : [Auvs.J