AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 28 May 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

I [From our own Correspondent.] It is often 3aid that "the pleasures of anticipation are greater than those of realisation" ; such, j however, has not proved to be the Oiiae with re' to the events of the Queen's Birthday—the [ Volunteer' Review and the-Athletic jSpoita at the J Albert barracks—as they both 3h\we»l»n unqualified i amouut of succesa quite beyond that, of *any previous like gathei-jpga. At" tho" review close upon 1,000 Voluuteers'were assembled, "with .nearly a similar number ot spectators. His Excellency tho Governor was present,-and a retinue consisting of Capt. Machell, A.D.C., Captain Challis. of H. M.S. Itosario, Colonel Haultain, Dr. Pollen, His Worship the Mayor, Majors Kemp and Eopata, and four leading native chiefs. Occasion was taken after ' the usual military "evolutions had been gone through to present the .New Zealand war medal and prizes won by Volunteers. His Excellency, iu presenting tie medal to Colonel Haultain, pa ; d him a very great compliment for his impartiality and the care and assiduity with which he had discharged the duties of his position. Presentations were then'made in order to the various other recipients, and acknowledged. His Excellency then left the ground escorted by the Auckland Troop of Cavalry. At the Albert Barracks fully 2,000 people were present to witness a capital programme. In addition to the sports there were the usual concomitants, which in no way however detracted from the occasion of the gathering. The running generally was very good and the prizes keenly contested. Judging both from numbers present and the evident interest taken in the sports, I should say t'jafc they are of a kind that are most congenial to the youth of the Colony. Much credit is due to the gentlemen who originated and carried out so successfully the day's proceedings I understand that the proceeds, after paj'ing expenses, are to be given to the funds of the Hospital The penny-a-liner of the herald has taken advantage of an advertisement which appeared in last Friday's paper, "offering a reward of £5 for the recovery ef £H3, accidentally lost in the city." To moralise on the subject of lost cash generally and to convey a gratuitous insult to all tliose who have the misfortune (?) not to have been as long in the colony as himself. He delivered himself thus :— " We trust that the iinder may value honesty and the reward higher than the money which he may pocket by retaining the roll of notes. M ouey come by in this way does no good, and we are certain that no old inhabitant of Auckland would retain it. .We may add, that it is trust money." Doss the writer speak from experience when he says that "money come by in .this way does no good," ami that he has proved "honesty to be the best policy." If so his impertinence to new arrivals may be forgiven in his zeal to prevent them from suffering "the tortures of conscience" the reading of his effusion would evidently imply that he has experienced as a "new chum," and that as an old inhabitant, having seen the error of his ways, he can now speak so confidently in the matter as the representative of tlie class waose honesty is like Cifisar's wife, acoording to his showing, above suspicion. 1 trust that the finder may value honesty also, not for the reward, but for its inherent self, whether he be an "old inhabitant" or one of only a few days' standing, and that the Jess we hear of such distinctions being drawn by people whose minds must correspond with theiV bodies, the better, if unpleasant comparisons are to be avoided-

A most arbitrary infringement of the liberty uf tlie subject has taken place here. A seaman, named Hawthorn was arrested lately on the ground tlnu; he had received a £10 note, instead of a £l note from the purser of the ' Wellington ' just before leaving for the South, Avho telegraphed to that efleet from .Nelson. The man denies receiving the money i,i toto, but in the meanwhile he is retained in custody by the police. The chances are that they will find they have caught a Tartar, and that it may prove a parallel oase to that of 13oyd and the Bank of xSew Zealand. Justices of bliu Teace are multiplying. What does the creation of so many lately portend in- the political horizon? The Government Gazel.e, to hand, notifies the appointment of another four, lias it anything to do with the approaching session of the General Assembly, which meets on the loth of next month ? It cannot be for the services they render as J.P.'s, for it ie notorious that not one out of every six can be got- to take his seat upon the Bench when required, if one may take the experience of the Police Court here.

The Oofomandel Goldfield is in rather a quiescent state at present. For many weeks pasfc, speculation has been -withdrawn almost entirely from the Thames Coldfields and diverted "to the former on account of the supposed superior attractions it offered in consequence of the alleged richuese of the Green Harp, Bismarck, Golconda, and other claims, the results from ■which were expected to surpass those obtained from the average claims of the older field. Doubts, however, begin now to arise as to the prudence of "giving up the old love before you are sure of the new," seeing that these anticipations have not yet been realized. From some cause or another the crushings from the various claims have been delayed, each on some pretext of tKeir own, until people have become suspicious, and speculation is at a stand-still. There is no doubt that the future success of the distriofc heniga in a very great measure on the result of these general crushings, for, up to the present time, there have been none but those of specimens, which in no way afford a fair test. In the meanwhile the lottery of goldmining speculation is exemplified in visages at the " Corner," which alternately depict hope and fear as the various "reports" obtain credence, and the issue of thousands of pounds hangs upon: a die.