AUCKLAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2243, 26 May 1880, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[BROW OUR OW)T CORRESEONDENT.] POLITICAL DELIVERANCES. The waters of the troubled political Hethesda have been troubled lately through the addresses of Mr Header Wood and Sir George Grey, and at the near prospect of a visit from the youngest Liberal in the House, the beardless choice of Eden —Mr J. A. Toie —the agitation still continues. The speech of Mr Wood was looked forward to with particular interest, inasmuch as he is regarded as the ringleader of the four secessionists of last session, while he possesses also the reputation of being the most fluent and polished speaker in the House of Representatives. He addressed a meeting of his const! tuents at Daren port, Auckland’s pretty marine suburb, and by a very narrow majority secured a vote or confidence, but this questionable triumph was considerably detracted from in eclat, by the determination of the audience to give three cheers for Sir George Grey. The speech was simply' an ingenious narrative of the events which led up to the defection, and a plausible attempt to explain it away on public grounds. According to the gentleman’s aflirmation bo would have remained faithful to his trust had Sir George Grey not resigned, but a resolute elector exposed this sophistry by putting the inconvenient question—if Mr Wood bad not proposed Mr Macandrcw as Sir George’s successor ? to which a reluctant assent had to be returned. Other interrogations proved equally cinbanassing, but fortunately' for the representative, lie was not plied very closely with queries. Sir George Grey, a week later, met, in the Theatre Loyal, a crowded and enthusiastic assemblage, whom be addressed for fully two hours. Although an eloquent and weighty speech, its want of originality has produced a a unmistakable feeling of disappointment. Instead of discoursing at such great length on the well ventilated land question, describing the infamous system of gridironing which formerly obtained in Canterhiny, and relating illustrative annccdotes that lie has told before, it was hoped that the unfortunate disruption of his party and the necessity of reconstruction would have led him to disclose the policy' which he intends to pursue in the future,, besides .stimulating him to give a hasty review of the notable occurrences of the last-session, Sir George’s heart is hound up with the proper settlement of the waste lands of the colony, and his sound and statesmanlike views on the subject are sure to meet the approbation of the working classes throughout the colony. His strongly marked desire for an elective Governor does not meet with the same amount ef sympathy in this part of the colony,whatever it may experience elsewhere, for there is a growing feeling in this community that nothing should he done which might have a tendency to weaken the tie which binds ns to the mother country. This effect, it is feared an agitation for the right to elect our own Governors, might have, and as wc are virtually' self-governed already’’there is a disinclination abroad to abolish the only tangible symbol of our connection with the Empire. . Bu t to return to the meeting. Af er a vote of confidence, viz., “ the old man eloquent” had been passed with acclamation, Messrs Tolc, Speight, Moss, Wadis, Hamlin, Harris, and Swanson wore successively called upon b_y the •audience to address them. Dr Wallis had the temerity to express dissent with one or two of his leader’s opinions, hut directly' he found that ho was running counter to the popular feeling he changed the subject with characteristic astuteness. He is an inveterate trimmer, and thus feature of Ids character is now wc 1 I known. Mr Swanson was treated in a grossly unfair manne I '. He responded to the calls of the assemblage, hut on doing so he was icccivcd with a stnrm of losses, lie attempted to sneak several limes, hut Iks voice was only aiuMMc to the reporters and those who were in his immediate vicinity'. When partial si'cncc had been gained a person who was concealed at the hack of the siage began to interrupt the elect of Newton with pcisonal and offenswe remarks. “ Honest Wnlly,” as his cro lies term him, was driven frantic by' this unexpected attack, and with much punching’ of the table he dared h s accuser to come out hefeue him. Somebody in front at this stage threatened to pull the s icaker down, and this threat proved the last straw that broke the hack of the representative’s patience. He leaped off the phuform without more ado and began a sea’eh for the challenger, while the greater part of the audience rose to thou’ feet in order to observe the anticipated fray r . It did not come off. however, for llic local Pistol remained prudently' silent, and Mr Swanson’s vengeance therefore remains unwreaked.

.' EVASION OF CUSTOM’S DUTIES. The public sympathy has been aroused on behalf of Mrs Bos took, a widow' lady, who recently arrived in Auckland, and who has been sentenced to a term, six months imprisonment for evasion of the Customs duties, upon a large quantity of jewellery, which she brought with her. The poor woman it seems, is the widow of a Birmingham watchmaker, and in leaving with her family for New Zealand, she was induced to take her late husband’s stock with her, believing that she could find a’ better market for it bere than in the Old Country. She appears to have been unaware of the fact that they were dutiable goods, and as a consequence it was not long after her arrival that the detectives had her in custody. She made no attempt to deny the offence and as she was wholly undefended she suffered the utmost rigour of the law, viz:—the-forfeiture of the whole Jof her valuable property and a sentence of imprisonment to boot. The “ Star ” at once took up the poor woman’s case, and through its instrumentality an ininfluential memorial praying for her release has been drawn up and signed. It contains over 600 signatures beaded by that of the Mayor, and it goes South to-day accompanied by a letter from the mofiimitting magistrate who recommends a compliance with its prayer. Ho regrets that he was obliged to deal out such punishment as he has, but he avers that the law allowed him no discretion in the matter. If so it is in urgent need of amendment, for Mrs Bostock’s case is a very hard one, JUVENILE RUFFIANISM. A trio of Auckland youngsters of the mature ages of seven, nine, and thirteen, have just brought themselves prominently before the public bj r a series of remarkable enterprises, which have ended in their introduction to the police Magistrate. After engaging for a lengthened period in the preliminary exercise of playing truant from school, they betook themselves one line da}' to Freeman’s Hay, secured a dingy, and having relieved a neighboring boatshed of a pair of oars, they paddled to a yacht in the stream and assumed possession of her. With the nonchalance of old salts, they unmoored the vessel, and hoisting the sails, they sped away down the harbor before a smart breeze. The wind prevented them from returning that night, and their distracted parents imagined that they had found a watery grave. However they turned up all right on the following morning and the intercessions of the mother of two of the lads averted a legal prosecution. After a week’s respite they planned a marauding tour and without Joss of time put it into execution. Breaking into a furnished house while the occupanis were temporarily absent, they helped themselves to a plentiful repast and then decamped with a valuable assortment of jewellery. They visited anothcrbousc in the same street but were not successful in annexing anything of much use. The discovery of the j r oung ruffians followed closely upon the burglaries fovouo of the little housebreakers on the following day bartered a silver watch for the promise of a live seagull. The younger boys have been committed to the Industrial School, while the eldest one will lake his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. INTER COLO XIAL REGATTA. Our next annual regatta is to assume .proportions of intercolonial importance, for provision has been made for prizes of such enhanced sums as will assuredly attract competitors even from Australia. For the Gig Itaco crews are half promised from the Thames, Mercury Bay, Wellington, Nelson, and Lyttelton, while Sydney is also likely to be represented, and perhaps Dunedin too. Endeavors arc being made i.O form a strong local c:.cw which may bo depended upon to sustain the aquatic prowess of Auckland, but before this result can be attained petty differences will have to be subdued. For the Schooner Face a first prize of over £IOO is to be offered, and it certainly will not yield iu interest to any event on the programme. AMUSEMENTS. Mr B. Fairclough, an eminent tragedian, whose name is well known all over New Zealand, arrived last week from Sydney in company with Miss Clara Stephenson, and on Saturday evening lie commenced a dramatic season with the production of “ Hamlet.’: His impersonation of the leading role is one of the most appreciative that has ever been witnessed in Auckland; and if he journics South, as I expect he will, the people of your Province ma} r expect a dramatic treat. J, B. Steele made a fair Ghost and Player Tung, Miss Stephenson a good Queen, Marie Wilton an indifferent Ophelia, and Mr Hay garth a creditable Polonius and First Gravedigger. “ Othello ”is announced for presentation to-mo'—ow night, at the Albert Hall. Paddy Doran has a miscellaneous company, playing a negro burlesque of Pinafore ” to capital houses, while a wild beast show, and a “ photographic ” affair are also bidding for the public patronage. Arthur Sketchley drew one big house here, and then collapsed. Professor Proctor, the renowned astronomer,'has gone on to Australia, alter giving a promise, however, to lecture on his return.