THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 888, 18 October 1854, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir, —As I am anxious to see our next Regatto, —what it never yet has been, —a fete worthy of the commercial a id maritime importance of the port and province of Auckland, I have been induced to offer a few remarks in the hope that the business of getting up a Regatta may be taken in hind in time, and that the Anniversary may be celebrated in real Festival style, land not in a manner likely to increase apathy or provoke contempt. The Regatta, as yet, lias been a “alow and slovenly affair; and the Races, —once tolerably good —have been, year by year, deterioating, until, last season, they reached the culmenof indifference. So keenly has this been felt by the lovers of the Turf, that this year they are not only early a-field, but by large and liberal prizes, by calmest exertion, anda concentration of their energies, arc endeavouring]to retrieve the character of the Auckland Course, and render the ensuing races worthy the patronage and attention of the Auckland public. With that object in view, the “ Maiden Plate,” to be run for at the first clay of the meeting, on the Ist of January, has been raised to £IOO, and the Metropolitan Plate, to be run foron the second day, to £OO. In addition to these, a Maori Plate, ot £SO, to be given to the best Maori horse and rider, has long been advertised, so that these, taken in conjunction with the other customary stakes, arc calculated to bring not only better horses but keener sportsmen into the arena. I solicit attention to this activity on the part of our Horse Racers, in the hope that it may lead to something like a corresponding activity on the part of our boat and small craft racers ; —a class, which, without any disparagement to the equestrians, I conceive to be fully as consequential in a great and growing Maritime community. I think I may venture to assert that the arrangements for the Auckland Regatta have never been initiated with the same timely energy and industry as that which has ever been observable in the arrangements for the Auckland Horse Races, and I would fain inquire why this should he so, seeing, as I take it, that the funds for both arc mainly derived from the voluntary contributions of the public ? The Regatta, it is notorious, has always been got up in a hurry and at the last moment; and then all is bustle and confusion, and so in,inadequate adequate arc the means to|rendcr the sport worthy of the end, that actually the amount of the prizes to he given cannot be made public until after the various competitors have entered their icspcctive boats! So strikingly has this become the case, that the Watermen on the beach have declined, of late, to enter I heir boats ; the entrance to be paid, and the prizes, even when won, being altogether beneath the consideration of any hard working man. Now this, without the slightest desire to find fault, is in my opinion a state of things not only to he regretted hut to he immediately remedied. If our Regatta Committee will only bestir themselves and take time by the forelock, they will assuredly render the Auckland Regatta of 1855, a very different affair from nil its precursors. There is no indisposition on the part of thepuhlic to assist; and as the legislatures of Now South Wales and South Australia have (I believe) voted sums of money for Racing plates, I can see no reason why, in a country like this, —whose maritime interests arc its hack-hone, —the Provincial

Council should uot'set rtpartlOO/. annually, to ho open to the competition of all or any of that coasting flotilla (Maori and else) from which Auckland derives such essential benefit, and of which she is so deservedly proud. The money would be tyeli bestowed, because it would lead not onty to competition on the Race-day, but in the construction of a better class of vessels. Well aware of this, Sir John and Lady Franklin spent much money in fostering the Hobart Town Regattas, an example which the astute Sir William Denison industriously followed, by striving to render them, both in the amount of prizes given, and their in general attractiveness, the most remarkable of the Southern Ocean. Here, in Auckland, we possess an element of attraction which Sir John Franklin and Sir William Denison never did possess. It is the admirable competition which might be excited in the Maori Canoe Races.

Some years hack, these were a theme of admiration to every beholder, but, latterly, they, too, have undergone an eclipse ; —And why 1 Simply because of the want of due and timely notification given to the natives, added to the meagre amount of the prizes to he contested. Timely activity would remedy all this; and I cannot but think that if a Subscription Dinner were to be got up, and the Native Chiefs invited to meet their European fellow-subjects at such an entertainment that the Auckland Regatta would then he rendered a Festival really worthy of the Anniversaryof the foundation of a great. Colony, and of n Maritime Province second to none in the Souther Ocean. The Superintendent of Wellington, in the entertainment which he last year gave to the Native Chiefs, lias set an example every way worthy of the imitation of Auckland. Native influence is much more powerful in the North t‘ an in the South.

We arc by no means slow to recognize the value of the native alliance in the capacitylof the nativesas cultivators, consumers, labourers, mariners, and the other industrial pursuits of life. Associated as we are with this energetic and intelligent r«oe, the Anniversary of the foundation of Auckland should lie held as a day of general Jubilee, one on which both races should be drawn together not only in social enjoyment, but in promotion of the best interests of the Province. There is also another element calculated to render the Auckland Regatta of 1855 (if promptly and energetically organized) one of more than usual attraction ;—that element is Steam which has at length been so happily introduced. The William Denny will be in port on that day ; and, it is to be hoped that, before then, our Local Steamer will have arrived and he in full operation. The anchorage, too, will, no doubt, exhibit a goodly display of traders ; and, in ail probability, there will be more than one new yacht to try the poweis of the victors of fonner years. One, I know, is partly in frame, and with her canvas ready when she leaves the stocks. Of another 1 have heard a whisper ; so it must be evident that upon the conduct of the Committee the success of the Auckland Regatta for 1855 must largely depend, “Auckland expects every man to do his duty”—let the Committee do theirs. It costs the Jockey Club some 50Z. Tor the rent of a Race Course, and I know not what for fencingatid a Gvadn Stand. With a Ship for the Grand Stand and the Waitemuta for a course fenced to their bonds, the Committee ought to be able to advor ise as good prizes, and to render the Auckland Regatta fully as attractive as the Auckland Races. Numero Ottavo. Oct. !f>, 1854.

Greenwood’s Bill contemplated no unfair advantage. It sought to establish a Right by right means. If the right be with the South, Fiat justitia mat caelum. That should be the maxim of high minded, and not pretentious statesmen. But the Representatives of the Cross know that Auckland is not adequately represented. Their Southern allies know it also, else they would undoubtedly have been but too happy to have taken the Northerns at their word. They have sold the pass ; ami a the lope of the Cross, and its confederates, cannot blind the Auckland constituency to the damaging fact. 20th October, 1854.

To the Editor of the New Zkai.ander. gi Kj lam aware of your reluctance to allow your columns to be encumbered, when it c an b e avoided, with matter in controversy with the Southern Cross— but I trust I may be permitted to reply to the following paragraph, penned by your truthful contemporary, in his paper ot Friday last, in reply to a communication ot mine which you thought worthy of inserting iu your number previous : Certain remarks appeared in the • New Zealander’ of Wednesday last, which, although written in good temper, depart so widely from fact, as to call for immediate notice. The writer charges the‘Southern Cross’ with inconsistency, in objecting to pledge* at the Hustings; and states that certain pledges, ■ • by Mr Brown’s desire,*’ were to have been propounded to, and exacted from. Colonel Wynyard, •< by an lion, member for the Hen and Chickens,” on the nomination day for the Supenntendency. had the Colonel attended at the hustings- We request that the nature of these pledges may be pointed out-or, that the untruth of the assertion be admitted. We can take upon ourselves to assert that no pledges whatever had been prepared or would have been exacted. Certain awkward questions were to have been put, although not by “ the lion, member for the Hen and Chickens,” who never shews upon the hustings for any one. Now, sir, it is well known there is no such electoral division in New Zealand as “the Hen and ( hictensy; «>eiTam well aware,) that a certain handy man of Mr. Brown’s, who did show on the hustings at the nomination for Superintendent, with a string of questions and pledges for the candidate, is known among us ever since his discomfiture in the election for the Suburbs, as “ the lion, member for the Hen and Chickens.” So much for the Cross's vaunt that “ the hon. member for the Hen and Chickens never shews upon the hustings for any one.” But now for Mr. Brown’s challenge and assertion, lie says— We request that the nature of these pledges may be pointed out —or, that the untruth of the assertion may be admitted. We can take upon ourselves to assert, that no pledges whatever had been prepared, or would have been exacted. Sir, we have all of us too painful a recollection of Mr. Brown’s capability to go even beyond bold and barefaced assertion to secure the discomfiture £ an opponent ; —the temerity with which lie Lav thrown down this challenge to me lias therefore not surprised me. Let me meet him, then, with some of his own words, quoted from his own report of the proceedings of that memorable nomination day, as it appeared in his Southern Cross of the 21st June, 1858 : And, ill consequence of Colonel Wynyard’s refusal to be present, the following interrogatories, which Mr. Walter li.-odie was desirous of putting to him, had to stand over : Would you be willing to carry on the Government with the present staff of officers ? Will you use your very utmost and strenuous endeavours to introduce the system of responsible government here, so that no officer should be allowed to retain his place if the people refused electing him to a seat in Council ? Will you exert all your energies to obtain for Hie Superintendent the power of appointing the heads of departments of the Provincial Government ?

' The foregoing, among other “ interrogatories,” were read by Mr. Brodie, hut no one ever accused him of their preparation, and I remember well the curiosity of some on the hustings to get a peep at the paper, and those who succeeded de’■f dared, loud enough for Mr. Brown to hear, “0, they are Brown’s own—l know his handwriting !” S And yet this truthful man will deliberately write F print and publish now that no pledges were to be i exacted from the Colonel ! The Cross tells us I that “ when an honest man is convinced that ho | has been wrong, it is a point of conscience with I him to admit his error.” Here now is a capital opportunity for Mr. Brown to put this good preS cept into practice. He says himself that “No man is worthy of representing a constituency who S would refi se to do so.” Again, the Cross of Friday says — It is also stated that Mr. brown lias submitted “to give ■ pledges on the hustings !’’ What pledges ? Let them be named. « * * le member for the City has never given a pledge on any :| uecasion. Let us see. I need not go through the various self-blown trumpetlngs of Mr. Brown’s services ; performed, lor which be is so notorious, or his numerous pledges, in a general way, to anything ||or everything for the good of “ the people,” but . jshall confine myself to two or three plain quo- | tations front his own paper. in the Southern Cross of July 20, ip.52, when

Mr. Brown was a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council, I find a letter addressed to him by “ An Elector,” containing eight questions to which the writer desires “ tht earliest answer,” for Ids own satisfaction, and for the guidance ot others in the exercise of their votes on that occasion. The whole of the questions and answers would occupy more space than 1 wish to crave from you, but the following specimen will show whether Mr. Brown is now quite up to the truth in stating that “ho has never given a pledge on any occasion .” What is your opinion of the elective franchise ' Anil if you are returned for the City, amt the subject conies under discussion, would you support or vote against a motion for its restriction, —that it should remain as it is, or for its ei tension i Answer The elective franchise for both the Municipal and Provincial Councils might safely, in my opinion, be vested in all those who have resided six months in the Colony. Now, sir, what was this but a pledge to “Elector,” and to all others (and Mr. Brown wed knew they were not a few ) who took an interest in the question proposed, that ho (Mr. Brown) xceuld support a liberal franchise it ever it came before the Council to which he at that time aspired. And it is not unworthy of remark that, although the military residing out Ol Barracks were then entitled to vote, and had exercised that privilege under the Municipal Charter, yet Mr. Brown, in Ids liberal reply to the” Elector,” makes no exception with respect to them. And will he sa} that the views he professed to hold at that time have been consistently maintained by him in Ids conduct in the House ot .Representatives when he voted against Major Greenwood’s Bill, which had for its sole aim and object a fair apportionment of the franchise to every individual entitled to it by the Constitution, and a full and fair representation not of Auckland only , but of every other Province according to its proportion. Mr. Brown it was thought by some would be the last to deliberately betray this Province into the hands of its enemies as he did on that night. I l or my own part, I was not disappointed; I plainly observed that, notwithstanding all his “ travelling tauter ” had told in the South ot his importance here, he was humbled much in the presence of the “ flower ttb Tntfuence wlmtever m «].„ -..c iuiu nougui 10 nope 101 irom the Auckland members—an inward gnawing feeling of Ids inferiority to many of them tormented him—and he embraced the Southerns only to be laughed at for his trouble and expense , for when he tried to talk about the Customs he was next to being “coughed down,” and Ids great motion of the session for a Return ot all persons who had employed military labour during the year could hardly command a seconder. Still “he gave them all, he could no more”—the votes and interest of himself and his “ man Friday!”

But, sir, you will excuse me, T trust, for this digression. I have been led into these thoughts while reading and copying out Mr. Brown’s reply to No. lof the “ Elector’s” questions. The electors arc told, when Mr. Brown wants their rotes, that he is for an extension of the franchise—and this I maintain was given by him as a pledge for for his tuture conduct as a representative, and understood as such by his supporters. That pledge has never been withdrawn—he has made an impression on the minds of many of those who voted for him that their liberties should not he restricted by him—and yet, without once acquainting the constituency of his intentions, he, on the very first opportunity which lias been afforded him of fulfilling that pledge, sets it at nought—and by way of explanation, insultingly tells the inhabitants ot this Province, amongst whom he has risen from obscurity, that— The cliances are, if all those who are qualified to vote throughout the Colony were [dared upon the Electoral Roll, and all those who are not qualified were struck off, that Auckland, so far from gaining, would be a loser.

This will sound very clever and candid at the South, Mr. Brown. Verily it will not be surprising, if ever your truthfulness be brought again to trial, to find you moving (not merely for a change of venue to the South) but oil’ towards the steamer at Onehunga, in company with the “ Illustrious Stranger,” to the tune of a popular march. Readers may go through, for themselves, the other seven questions put by the “ Elector,” and read Mr. Brown’s answers to those questions; then turn to the Southern Cross of August 27, li!o2, where Mr. Brown pledges his opinions on the Education question in reply to Mr. William Rowe ; and again in the same paper of the 20th, where he volunteers about four columns of pledges on things in general, being especially clear in pledging himself to Provincial separation; yet, notwithstanding this, he was either ashamed or afraid to open his mouth on that subject when an attempt, made by Air. Fitzgerald in the llouso of Representatives, to remove the Seat of Government to “a more central place,” only failed through the absence of several Southern members, who, not wishing to vote on a question on which they have had good reason to alter their views since they arrived here, kept out of the way. Now Mr. Brown knows full well that the bulk of his constituents are, since the meeting of the General Assembly, more than ever in favour of Provincial Separation. I believe that, for reasons best known to himself, he is no longer favourable to that measure, hut lias become an ultra-Centralist. I ask, then,does Mr. brown repre-

sent, or does he not, the views and wishes of the people of this City, on this important question, which must be settled sooner or later 1 Mr. Brown states that he distinctly declined to give any pledge at the late election. None were asked, so far as I know —it was taken for granted that whoever was returned would at least count a rote in favour of the Province on all questions vitally affecting its interests. Although “ the member for the City,” as he is not ashamed to style himself, is conscious that he no longer represents more than a small minority of the "citizens—and that minority composed of some of the veriest parasites who hang upon him —still it is vain to expect irom him an honest voluntary resignation ot his seat, so long as lie feels, that however his conduct may be disapproved ot, lie can secure support through the various channels of electioneering corruption which his peculiar mercantile position enables him to command. 1 think, however, that, notwithstanding his display of virtuous indignation at my charges, ho must inwardly admit that he has been a party to attempts (which I do not censure) to exact pledges from other candidates —that he has given pledges ou great questions himself,—but that while others' of his representative colleagues, of whom he is very jealous now, have fulfilled their duties in strict integrity to their constituencies and to the Colony, and to the best of their ability reflected the mind of the bulk ol the electors ou public measures generally —he has utterly disregarded the pledges and implied pledges, which have been given by him from time to time—and tor a breach of which—owing to the apathetic indifference of a busy people—he now, in bold defiance, declares himselt not amenable. —\ ours, &c., An Ei.kctok.