AUCKLAND

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 223, 26 June 1872, Page 3

AUCKLAND

(from off our own gridiron.) Have you ever been wrecked at sea ? Neither have J, but I have ashore. I had taken up my abode at “ Ilis Lordship’s Larder,'’ situate on Queen-street Wharf. My object in choosing such a locality being to get pure air; but I was bitterly mistaken, for the out-pouring ot the sewerage of this noble township offended my olfactory nerves. I, however, remained, being satisfied with my landlady and with the fare, yet at nights, when I lay on my couch, when the Hoods and the stream beat vehemently upon that house, so much so that it did shake palpably, 1 bethought myself of the foolish man, and wondered as I tossed on my piiiow, whether it would fall,for 1 verily believed that great would he the fall thereof. On Monday morning my fore-boilings were realized, and “His Lordship’s Larder” came to grief, her timbers were shivered, and in spite of the gallant efforts ol a band of noble sailors, she foundered in sight of an assembled multitude of Auckland citizens and oil izem sses, leaving only the summit of her smoke-stacks to mark the ill-fated spot. At low-water marie you can, however, discern tiie starboard portholes as she lies imbedded in the mill of the Waitemata. 1 am now a homeless wanderer, with my portmanteau containing all my worldly possessions lying at the bottom oi' the aforementioned river, left to be spoiled by unprincipled wreckers. 1 could not help feeling amazed in spite of my misfortune to S :e just two hours alter the final foundering of the rickety old craft ; large bills posted ou such parts that remain above water, calling fo tenders for tlie re-erection of tiie domicile that had but so shortly before met with destruction. This convinced me that, if the proprietor of the structure had been deaf to the entreaties of the occupants to place it on a more firm and substantial basis, lie was determined that he would not he deprived for long of his weekly rent. The property, I am told, was worth £l,ODD—that is, valuing it by his revenue. It will not cost about a third of the amount to replace. I am informed, and verdy believe, that if the Tichborne claimant is not convicted he will get oil. 1 ground my belief on this fact:—A letter has been received in London from George Orton, located somewhere out in some oulhcsdish place, staling that he h is seen the portrait of the claimant, and denies most emphatically that he is his biother. Further, he expresses his surprise that his sister should be so mistaken as to assert such. Again 1 learn that information has been given to Hill End Observer by a gentleman of that town, on whose w ord reliance can be placed, that he is acquainted with a mail who knows where Arthur Orton is, and can produce him in a Jurluight. Wonderful! Is it possible ? Then why does he not redeem liis word ? Docs lie waul a ransom ? or is the Simon Bure doing a little “ time,” and won’t bo out for fourteen days. 1 begin to look upon the wiioie ail'air as quite a joke. I once, as a great favour, was allowed to see the lash administered to a fellowcreature, and should 1 live to the extreme age allotted to man, I never, never wish to see another such degrading or more sickening sight. The occasion I refer to was the flogging of a ga rot ter in Newgate gaol by the hands of an almost imbecile old man, one Mr Calcraft —you might have heard of him. The stone walls of that time-honoured institution echoed and re-echoed the groans, ihe shrieks, the imprecations an l oatiis, mingled with heartrending appeals for mercy, that entered the inmost soul of men present, who were made of sterner stuff tiiau I can boast, i turned away disgusted at the curiosity that had prompted me to accompany my friend to witness such a disgustful spectacle. But what in the name of humanity would you think of a similar exhibition rc-eiiacied in our harbour of Auckland to two of our gallant tars—the defenders of our country’s honour, for, probably, some slight breach of olileial, or rather naval etiquette —a punishment ordered at the caprice of one man, a man whose indigested break last may pornaps have prompted the punishment. Un Saturday last two seamen were lashed to the triangle on hoard 11.M.5. Rosario and received at the hands of a stalwart boatswain and h.o sturdy mate a punismnent of three dozen and three dozen and eigiit lushes respectively. Uowper once wrote in allusion to the slave trade : v Think, ye masters, iron-hearted. Lolling at your jovial boards ; Think how many Lacks have smarted For the sweets your cane adonis. 1 ask all who call themselves Englishmen to think of the backs that have not only smarted, but have been cut and lashed and wailed crossways by the terrible eat-o-uiue-tails, in order that discipline may be preserved

in the navy, a service in which the culpable incompetence of those in authority dispatched a vessel like the Megara on a voyage when it was known that she would never reach her destined port. Do not Cowper’s lines again come in where lie says : “Is there..as..ye sometimes tell us. Is there One who dwells on high ; Has he bid you buy and sell ns. Speaking from bis throne, the-sky ? Ask him if your knotted scourges, Matches, blood extorting screws; Are the means that duty urges, Agents of His will to use ?” I say shame on the system, and shame on those who. bent on carrying out an antiquated rejimi, resort to such practices, and I am quite sure that all throughout the breadth and depth of the land will re-echo my sentiments.

Wo are wiring into trade unions now and no mistake. Last week I was called on to take the chair at a meeting of jouri neymeii blacksmiths, farriers, locksmiths, ami hell-hangers in the town, called for Hie purpose of forming a combination to compel the masters to either raise the | wages or reduce the hours, we carried the flay, and sang in our joyousiiess the “ Yili lage Blacksmith” to the time of the old 109th. On Monday a deputation of Cordwainers waited on me to ask me to preside at a meeting of their era ft. I reluctantly consented,and weadjounied to the “Contented Cottage” in Vietoria-st., to discuss mat ters. We all agreed to cvcrythiug, and decided that we would in future keep up St. .Monday properly amongst us, we would strike unless wo received the full value of a pair of side-springs —for attaching the soles to the uppers. Wo agreed that if the masters did not agree to our terms, “ watertighls ” as made by ns should no | longer he “ water! ights ;’’ am! further, if! our employers did not fall in with our | terms, they and their patrons might walk j on the uppers of their boots for all we I cared. We were unanimously of opinion that a fund should he raised to support us during our intended strike, should those who employed us not fall in with our views. This looks like mischief—-don’t it? and what is more, the gold-beaters, skin manufacturers, and the spectacle makers, and the scale-beam forgers, and the sausage skin makers, are about to follow our example, and form respectively societies of their own, and all honour to them. There is a glorious day looming in the distance for Auckland, with the prospect of the loan being exhausted, the interest to he raised and Vogel’s pet mail service knocked on the head. Verily we will then heartily join in with our old and esteemed fiioud Dr Waits : “ I thank the goodness and the grace, That on my birth has smiled, And placed me in this imtaxod land, A blest colonial child.” G ridiron.