AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 486, 20 June 1867, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[mm ous uw.i comoisPo.N i>t,aT.j June IS, 1837. Time “ drags its slow length along ” here without bringing iu its train anything of importance. In fact, we have almost remained in statu, quo since my last, with the exception of the visit of the Superintendent to the Thames. His Honor went for the purpose of having a korero with our dusky brethren, who, in their usual hyperbolical language, expressed themselves good and true subjects, aolicitod him to become their father, &e., &c. After the orations, there was a “ spread ” to which (as the reporters say) “ample justice was done by the numerous guests.” But the cream of the joke was that in the course of hi* afterdinner speech Mr Williamson seized the opportunity to descant upon the sumptuous repast of which he had just partaken, contrasting it with the poverty existing in Auckland. His eloquence so fired the heart of Qarata Eanu Ueke that, like a second Pocahontas, pity for the stranger—the hard-up Pakeha—moved her princely ' bosom, and she declared !ter| intention of sending the remnants of the feast to Auckland tor the benefit of the needy. How a committee of the destitute would have received a supply of cold kumeras, half gnawed pork chops, and shark, with sauce; au naturet, deponent sayeth not. Still, the I oiler shows a good feeling, and as we are promised by some of our sucking statesmen “a grand transformation scene, with the Maori and European walking hand m hand towards the bowers of eternal prosperity,” I as the play-bills have it, let us hope lust! the days are pest when the atm and object j of either race was to obtain a “ pot shot ” at the other. I give the bill of fare provided at this reunion, and I think we may safely challenge Very’s or the Loudon Tavern to surpass it : Eleven tons of Hour, t four tons of biscuit, three tons of sugar, • eighteen hundred dried sharks, three bul. locks, twenty tons of potatoes and kumeras. Certainly tiio Maori approaches the Englishman in one thing—he believes in a 1 good teed on festive occasions. Ingoldsby / says that

There's a proverb that's old, Yet fit, to my Untiithi-. — Which is dim good ealiag Daseryoth i,omi drinking. But the press is silent rejecting the flow ing bowls provided on this occasion. No doubt tne Maori tinnymedes fulfilled their duties .nib i 'o.fit, and the tvaipini was probably dispensed under the liuruToss oc.-ig- 1 nst ion of tea.

Al ij >r Heaphy, Y.C, Ims been rot urnod in represent the district of I’uniell in the i'ieneral Assembly. The gallant major wh no doubt feel at homo lu the contest wham will no doubt take place between the Anck isml phalanx and the Dictator’* forces. H> will certainly deservean a> iditionai bar to Ins \ let.iria Cross if he tloiiioiisllci SlaifordVj chijnc, hut the rumor is that the canny J Son; herner carries too many gun* for the' North to stand a chance. 1 V) o have ha i tv very light calendar all the Supreme Court this time. Thu case oij 1C J. Cox, committed for trial lor fehmT,i was not pence led with, the Grand .fury I caving thrown out tho bill ; so .Mr C'oxj was set at liberty, no doubt feeling Inmseil a much maligned and injured individual. U e hate had a paper warfare respecting iho existence in Auckland of a “ Secular ■Society, ’ —tho 1 Cross ’ and tho 1 Herald ' firing broadsides at each other with hearty goodwill, while no doubt the “Society” chuckled at tho encounter, having attained .Is object— KoroiUKTY. The Due de Chartres once said that next to the reputation ot being an upright man came that of being » notorious scoundrel—anything for pub licity,— and so no doubt thought tha Secularist# on this occasion.

A concert was given to His Excellency the Governor on Thursday evening last bv the members of the Auckland Choral Society. In accordance with the expressed wish of Sir George Grey the receipts were devoted to a charitable purpose. Tito af fair was a brilliant success—the proceeds amounting to about £iOd. Beethoven's Grand Mass in G was the first piece performed, A select mob of Maoris (ornamented in dresses mostly borrowed for the occasion from the Native Interpreter’s office) occupied the back of tho stage, and in the con: so of the evening favored Elis Excellency with the following lyric in the native language :

Fondly my passion, like a constant flame. Enkindles hi the mention oi thy name ; Absent at liukauni tho’thou lie, Xliy kindred -pint now draws nice to mo. Deem not, O kin, that I ever sleep; Awake tlie live-long night 1 watchful keep ; Consumed by ardent love, I dailv fear Tiie taunts of vulgar crowds as t draw near. My loud attention, ah ! let no man know, but let me ling’riiig wear the mark of woo. Mow distant far Tauhani's wilds 1 see, The dreary path 1 roam’d in quest ol'thcc; And then I sought thee in that place of fame, dke house that’s called by Kawhi-ruwhi’s name. O' he not angry now, nor hence depart. Bearing ungentle feelings in thy heart Elis person, lo! is ever near to thee, Then let his friendly shadow rest on me. A war dance loilowcd, which wsa vociferously applauded, and repeated three tunes, the natures evincing the greatest disinclination to quit the scene of their triumphs, and having to be informed b; Sir George himself that it w«s time to “cut it.” A richly illuminated address was presented to His Excellency, the work of a gentleman in the Native Lands Odice. Nothing has been discovered concerning the murder at Mongonui. There was » rumor that a Maori and his wife had been apprehended, hut Detective Crick denied the statement when he returned to Auckland. A native has been committed for ’.rial, charged with the murder of a f.-ifow-native named Taurutute (Trouser.-) by kicking him in the it-mac!'.. It appears lo have occurred during a uruukenyVucar

Rain is again in the ascendant—or, rather. descendant —in “ the most delightful climate in the world ” at the time I am writing. A lecture by the Rev. Mr Coruford has been twice announced and twice postponed through the inclemency of tho weather. We need a local Satby here—though, as Mrs Partington would remark, ‘‘Polks do tel! that he makes wrong calicoOur volunteers have taken a step in tha right direction, by initiating- friendly con* tests between respective companies. “Emulation is the soul of success," says the "reverb ; it certainly is applicable to riha shooting.