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Tauranga Argus and Opotiki Reporter, Volume 1, Issue 1, 24 November 1866, Page 2

Tlie favorite screw steamer Storm Bird, Captain Gleadon so well and favorably known on the West Coast, arrived here on Sunday, 18th instant. It is intended by the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company to place this vessel on the berth|as a regular trader between Opotiki, Tauranga, and Auckland, and judging from the numerous testimonials that Captain Gleadon has received since his appointment as commander of the above steamer, We congratulate the settlers at the wise choice the Companv has made in placing Captain Gleadon, and the vessel he has the honor to command at the disposal of the inhahitauts of Tauranga and Opotiki. Advance Tauranga. The contract baker, Mr. Douglass, has made a considerable reduction in the price of bread, and he deserves the thanks of the communitv for so doing as he is the only baker in Tauranga, and could have kept the price up if he had chosen to do so ; but he says " that as flour has fallen in the market, he is giving the public the benefit. The bread baked and supplied by Mr. Douglass is of a first-class description.

By the arrival of the s.s. Storm Bird, on Sunday, 18th instant, we received a visit from the hon. the Defence Minister. On Monday a full parade of the 1st Waikato Regiment took place, under the inspection of Colonel Haultain. Colonel Harrington having put the men through the various maneuvers — Colonel Haultain expressed himself highly gratfied at tlie efficiency displayed by the men. They were then asked if they had any complaints to make. In reference to prioritv of choice by lot. Colonel Haultain said it was a mistake of the printer, and they had to do the same as other regiments had done before them. Block Houses. — He could not say whether they would get a thousand feet of timber or block houses, but most likely it would be block houses, when the commanding ofllcer of the regiment and the Government had determined on the most eligible site. Crown Grants.-— They would have to pay for he said if they bought land in Auckland they would have to pay for deeds [But their conditions clearly state that at the end of three years they would he entitled to Crown grants. We consider this a gross breach of contract on the part of the Government, and one that should be thoroughly sifted in the proper quarter.] In reference to the back pay, he said he wondered why they had not received the pay for the rnonths of August and September, for it was in the hands of the subTreasurer. One of Ihe officers stated that he had called at the Treasury several times for his company's pay, but on each occasion was told there was none. A four-oared race took, place on Friday, 16th instant hetween a picked crew from the 12th Regiment, and onefrom the 1st Waikato Regiment. At two o'clock the crews of the two boats took up their position opposite Mr. Black's store. Tlie men in both boats were apparently in good fettle for the contest, and a good deal of money changed hands on the event. Exactly at the time annointed the pistol was fired by the starter, when

both crews let out, the Waikatos taking the lead, which they maintained throughout, coming in, a winner three boats' length; Time: forty-three minutes. The match had been looked forward to with great interest by the various partisans of both regiments, and the beach was lined with spectators, amongst whom was a large sprinkling of the fair sex, and presented quite a gay and animated appearance. There was a couple of instances of fouling, which proved to he accidental. Both crews on arriving at the winning post were loudly cheered. The following are the names of the boat's crew of the Waikatos : Cox, (coxswain) Ritchie, (stroke) Stevenson, Provost, and*Davey. We have heen tooable to ascertain the names of the crew of the 12th. We believe that another inat'ch is ahout-to he made for £20, when an otficer from each regiment will act as coxA Frenchinan, kuown hy the name of Lquis, made an atleinpt to coinmit suicide, on Friday, 16th instant, hy cuttiug his" throat. It appear's that Mr, George, proorietor of the theitre and canteen in the miiitary camp, } in whose'emnloyjie was ; l ihe time, left hira to taka oluirire of the bar duri • ; biv iie having goou t.» ..

the r.i.sh ar- •'•nu , m ou-,; • -.in ot ta» throat. He was immediately conveyed to the liospital, arul attende l hy Dr. Manlev, who . sewed up thc wouml. We are happy to say that the unfortunate man is progressing favorably. We take the present opportunitv fo welcome to Taurar.ga, Mr. Leary, solicithr, w!,o has come to settle here. Hisiocation amongst us will be the means f saving - litigants a great deal of the fe^pmi.-es lliex have liithertq hedi put. to hy having to send to Auckland for legal ad- . vice. We trust, though we are no lovers of law squabhles, that be* will meet with su81cient succees to indtice him to rcmain.

On Sunday last, the 13th instant, a detachment. of the 1st Waikato Regiment, proeeeded under the command of Captain Bower, to Opotiki, there to be stationed lintil placed1 011 theic farm aud town allotments. They pre senled.a fine sol'dierly appearance when marched to the place of emharkation. Between fifty and sixtv men, , aiul tliree offioers, with Dr. Ilooper, in medical charge, proeeeded on board tlie scbooner Rapid, and the cutter Hira, at 9.30 a.m. A favorable opportunity waft'ed tliem from our " oi 1 Tauranga shore," and although many gssoeiations are dissolved hy this — separation ' from liead-quarters — we have no liesitation- in saying that the pro^pects of the Opotiki settlers, are not inf'crior to those resident here. We cordially agree in wish » ., > ing them success. A farewell benefit was given on Wednesday eveniug at Mr. George's new theatre, to Sergcant M. M'Carthy, 1 of the band of the 12th Regiment, previous to his deparj ture from the regiment fo'r Sydney, under the distini guished paironage of Col. Hamilton and tlie officers of ! the 12th stationed here. The pieces selected for per- ! formance, were the '• Irisli Lion," to be followcd hy the I Waipa Minstrels. Corporal Haynes took ' thc part of ' the Irish Lion, and elicited/ roars of applause from tlie 1 audience. The singing of the minstrels, and their

makq-up was capital, the wliole performance gomg with such smoothness, was a proof that all had studied tlieir - various paids. An old negro favorite is inlroduced towards the close, in the shape of Miss Lucy Long,i (Mr. George) who lcoked and acted the eharacter admiraWly. His dancing was really first-class, and lie. fully maintained tlie well known reputation lie has alwajs lield here. His make-up for Miss Lucy was one of the best wehave seen. In conclusion, we would recommend Mr Tambo, not to spoil the effect of tlie sentimental portion of the singing by making such horrible grimaces in the choruses, we do not ohject to them in tlie proper place. The giee sung h}' Messrs. Bryant, Haynes, and Hutchinson, Mr. Brvant ai'companying on the piano, was ren- - dcred very ell'ectively. We understand that a consideiable number of the 1st Waikato Reginunt this moniing made applications for their discharges fiom the militia, on the gvound tbat 'uey had completed the service rrquivcd of them by the New Zealand Government, their tliree veats having been more rhan " put in/' Considering the immediate necessity for their service, the expedition leaving on

fir.!r«I»v, we mav raise a ratural inquiry as to theori,;f 5'ji.h secession at tliis time, if we ,may u?e the ... j prti lently to men who have done their work. It ;;nol fur us to question vight or 'otherwiie in lnilitary e,M. but we must say tliat the expedition oji Thurs- > >• igLst", as far as mimbers and militavy dctermination jroes, was one that supports in everv way the prestige of tWoId lst Waikato Regiment. We believe the distiuction ot the fovce consisting of two captains, thveesub,'jierns, and about one hundred rarik and iile, is the vicinity of the Wairoa, but it wonld be impolitic to state %}.ore under the cirdiimstauces, and the uhsettled state of v« . iotentidhs in that locality. VVcc-ip the followingpfrom the Hawkes Bay Iimes> ;fi vefovenea to the starting of'a ifetrspaper for Tauranga : — "Ti e Tauranga corrdspopdent of the Daily Southern fVoss intorms us thatra newspaper is about to be started

Jtthat place. A meeting having been field for the ^pnrpose ofctakingit into consideration, and ihat it was \ v t0 be carried out. The Cross expresses its grati- i lieation, and savs that it will save them no end of inoney | f ifr correspont'cnce. . . ti L * On Sundav evening, Mr. M'Millan, accompanied by j j 3,] r. Henderson, met H-ori Tupaea on his way to ie I Lp*r>. when he told them that fifty Ngatiporous had ar- j | riv. l'at the Tahiwai, and that they wero on their way ] % ihe Pirerehaus ,to commence hostilities. Tupaea if ji 5 j d Mo nonui stopped them, and would not allow them ! so ,,ass th rough their settleinent. Hori Tupaea had not i here when tliis report reacbed ue. We 1 -lieve in the course of a few days some amusing Ireadings frcim Dickeqs will be given in the school-room , f ,he lst Waikato Militia, by the permission of Colonel ' Jiariiia-ton. The Christman Carol, selections from ... : and Martin Chuzzlewit, will, vvo understand 1;p ; material for sueh entertainment./

T.Z.S.N. Gompany's s.s. Storm Biid, -arrived jrt at 8 a.m. yestercbw iiiorning, after a rapid ?f fe'freeri hours from the Auckland wharf, leavI . . Hon Thursdoy afternoon at 5 p.m. A very pe- j 'i;,r 1 ■ itU'C with respect to the vigilance of the pilot , ; nrratigc-.nents here, is, that Captain Gleadou, on his : . i p to Tauranga, brought his own boat up to | ■ ;e gVound, opposite the township, whilst the %, pilot himself, we are iuformed, was yet, on a bright "••v- .s m0ri;ins, still in the arms ot Morpheus. . Sueh &, n uf things should be inqifireU into, and gre.ater S ntter. i :i and caro given for the security of life and jiroL pevty. Nothing rau be admit'ted as a palliation for > ro'ii'iigedce. Had it becn a .heavy foggv morning, evcn [ Captain ,G leadou5? acdu.ttwledged ability, and sueh we 1 ^eror.'.i-:se, it roiirht have been .insu'fficient to pvcvent not ouU' (h iav, but absolutely »langcr to those on boani. •-*- ();i the departure of tlie Storm Bird from Auckland pn Thursdav 22n 1 iiwtaut, there was m sign of the English mail. Captain Percival, pavmaster of lst Waikato Begii: . vill leave by the lirst steamer for Napier for th purpose ot g^iting the back pay o>r the nvtij