AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 264, 1 May 1860, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From the New Zealander.) Volunteers and Militia.—The Militia is now being enrolled according to localities. The enrolment has already been carried out.in Onehunga and Howick, and arms and amunition are ready for supply to other districts. Cavalry Guards have been formed—Thomas Bickham, Esq., Resident Magistrate, to be their captain. They assembled on Monday for their first foot drill. The show of horses was very fair. The Coast-Guard Service already numbers 43 top or A. 1 mariners and watermen, and there are plenty of amateur and other volunteers ready to come forward as Boon as Captain Campion has signified his wishes as to the numbers and duties of the force. The Papakura, Drury, Waiuku, Mauku, Wairoa, &c, Rural Corps, mustered on Monday; about 70 settlers gave in their names as members, to be under the command of Major Nixon. At least 30 more are expected to join. The first number ol the Otahuhu Company of tlie Volunteer Cavalry was held at One 'IVee Hill on Monday. Melancholy Accident. —On Sunday, the 24th March, a boy named Michael Costello ahout 13 years of a?e, went into the Waiau to bathe in a deep pool near Messrs. Roe and Co.'s saw mill, not being able to swim he got beyond his depth. Another.boy was with him who immediately gave the alarm, but the distance being considerable from any house, fully twenty minutes had elapsed before he was got out of the water : every exertion was made to restore animation but without success. An inquest was held on the Monday following by James Preece, Esq., Coroner of the district: verdict of the Jury, "Accidentally drowned.''

Rather Loose Composition—A correspondent writes to ask whether it is true, as stated in the Southern Cross of last Tuesday, that Captain Cracroft and six boys of the Niger took the rebels' flag at the Waireka pa ? We rather think our querist has been misled by the involved and doubly parenthetical construction of the sentence, which runs thus : " It was the presentation to his Excellency the Governor, of the flag captured from the insurgent natives in the Pa of Waireka, by Capt. Cracroft and six hoys of the Niger, who represented on the occasion the crew of that vessel."

(From the Auckland Weekly Regis'ev.) Opening of the Presbyterian Church at Whau. —This place of worship was formally Opened for public worship on Sabbath, the Bth ultimo, by the Rev. John Macky of Otahuhu, who preached an excellent discourse from Psalm xiv„ 11. The attendance on the occasion was very good, and the collection in aid of the building fund amounted to £& 4s. The erection of the Church in a locality rapidly rising into notice, has gratified the desires of not a few who. have long resided there, and had often occasion to deE lore" that there was no place of worship near their omes. The building is in a very central position, occupying the corner formed by the junction ofthe road to the Lower Whau with the Great North Road. This site, which comprises ahout three acres of land, is the liberal gift of John S. Adams, Esq., of Sydney, and his sister, who resides at Edinburgh. There is ample room for a manse, and school-room in addition to the Church, aud if the district advances as rapidly as it has done within the last few mouths, those additional buildings will certainly be soon required: meantime, the Church is to be used for tlie purposes of a school, and steps aye now being taken to secure the services of an efficient teacher. .•

( From the Southern Cross.) Resident Magistrates Court.—Tamati and Tairua, two aboriginal natives, were charged with highway robbery, with violence. Both these prisoners have* been before convicted of larceny. Tamati was sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Auckland, aad Tairua was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by Mr. Fenton, late Resident Magistrate at Waikato.'. Both prisoners were" committed for trial for highway robbery, with violence.

The Provincial Council.—Wo are glad to 836 thafc an improvement is taking place in the Provincial Council; Although as much had language as usual is uttered " there, honorable members are'beginning to be ashamed of it, and refuse to allow the words to be taken down. For, if taken down, in order that the member using them may be reprimanded, they remain upon the minutes, where they certainly do not look ornamental, and have also the awkward effect of transmitting to posterity the character ofthe Council. JYAttera. scripta manet; but merely spoken words are forgotten; and honorable members find it pleasanter to hinder the record from being made, than to put a check upon themselves. Yesterday, :the member for tho city, Mr. Carleton, moved that an expression used by Mr. Cadman be taken down, stating that he would always pursue the same course when such shameful language, was used in Council; hut failed, as he has invariably done ever since the members began to think that it was unwise to chronicle their own style of proceeeding. But as they cannot hinder us from recording, we shall make mention of the tact, and of the names, whenever such a motion has to be made. If we foil to expose bearfnanothe? neS ' 'a one ca Pacit^ will succeed

"""Late last night we were visited by a settler at the' Wade of several years' standing, who informed us that on Sunday last a party of natives belonging to Maketu, but who have been lately digging gum at Okara, called at his brother's house in that district, giving him friendly warning to leave his homestead, as it was thsir intention, in case news should arrive from Taranaki that any of their relativeshad been killed by the Europeans there, to take ntu on their account, and to join in a rising in the north, could any such be effected. It is always possible that a stray party in the North may commit outrages, but we have no apprehension generally about the Northern tribes. Ngapuhi in particular, would be well-pleased to see W. Kiugi's party get a good thrashing.