Untitled

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2173, 18 July 1864, Page 3

To Watermen.— Tenders are required by the Postal Authorities for conveyance of mails from the Beach Post office, Onehunga, on board the steamers in the Mannkau. Surrender of 1 Rebels At Tauranga. —The information brought by Capt. Black, of the Hope, on Friday, that rebel Maoris had cl me in and given up their arms at Tauranga, was confirmed on Saturday by the arrival of the Albatross, schooner, which left Tauranga on Frida;-, and made a very good passage of some twenty-four hours. The Captain reports that nine rebels surrendered their arms to Mr. Rice, the interpreter, on Wednesday, and five more on Thursday, and that a large force are in the neighbourhood almost persuaded to follow this example. They are reported to be in a very destitute condition, and are expected to lay down their arms in a few days. By the arrival yesterday of the colonial gunboat Sandfly, from Tauranga, via Kawau, with His Excellency the Governor on board, we have further intelligence of the sunenderof twenty rebels. These were brought in by Mr. Rice, the interpreter, and have given up the sword of the gunner of the Miranda, who had his head cut throngh the centre, with four other swords, and a gold watch. The rebels in the neighbourhood are said to be in a very destitute condition, and there is every probability of their yielding at an early date. The chief Hopeha, a native magistrate, is a passenger by the Sandfly, and the bearer of some important credentials from Matutaere to His Excellency the Governor. There are likewise five officers of the 68th, six of the 43rd, and 13 soldiers amongst the passengers. Robbery of £I,OOO worth of Jewellery. —A daring burglary was perpetrated in Auckland last evening, by which Mr. R. Beck, watchmaker and jeweller, of Queen-street, has sustained a loss estimated at £IOOO. It appears that whilst the family were at church last night, between the hours of six and eight o’clock, the shop-door was unlocked by means of a false key, and the window, counter, drawer, and show-cases, stripped of their valuable contents, including gold and silver watches, rings, brooches, pins, and other articles of jewellery. The premises were secure when the family left, and on their return the door was found open and the shop ransacked. The burglars must have gone about their work in earnest to have effected such a clearance and escaped the vigilance of the police, whilst the night was almost as clear and bright as daylight. They must, too, have had some capacious pockets, or perhaps a sack, to have carried off the booty so successfully. No clue has been ascertained to the detection of the thieves, but it is believed they will not escape justice for such a daring crime. The Cattle Trade with New Zealand. —By recent advices from New Zealand, it appears that the market is at present well stocked with cattle of all kinds, and the price realised at late sales leaves but a small margin of profit for the shipper. The result is that several of the regular traders from here are obliged to go out of that line, and avail themselves of other charters for the time being. The Adelaide Bell, howerer, we understand, makes one more trip with stock. Last Saturday the 11. L. Rutgers sailed for Auckland with 164 head of cattle on board, and during the week the Oregon has shipped 170 head of fine cattle, of the estimated value of £BSO, for same destination. —Newcastle Telegraph, July ‘2. The Weather of the past week has been all that could be desired by even the most fastidious, and perhaps the most cheering result is the altered aspect of the streets effected by it, and by the diligence of the City Commissioners. The improvement of the streets by the laying down of machine-broken stone was continued on Saturday, with an earnestness betokening the dawn of better days. We hope that whilst the fine weather lasts the good work will not be allowed to flag. Lighthouse Tower. —Tenders are required for conveying from the ship Queen of the Deep the material of a lighthouse tower to Tiritiri Island. Accident. —A painful accident, through a fall from a horse, occurred on Saturday to the of Mr. Win. Griffin, Hobson-street. He sustained a serious scalp wound and had his arm broken in the fall. Dr. Stratford was called in to attend the youth and carefully set the bone. Leap Year. —lt must be a subject of solemn reflection to the whole estate of bachelorhood, that during the entire year of 1864 the privilege of making love is taken from them, and bestowed on the ladies. It may nor, be known to all unmarried what their respective rights and duties are. We will, therefore, produce the law on the subject, showing that the advent of every leap year completely overturns the old rules which have governed the kingdom of love. In an o'd law book, printed in 1606, where it treats of “ Courtship, love, and matrimony,” we find the following : —“ Albeit, it has now become a parte of the Common Laws, in regarde to the social relations of life, that so often as ever le besextile year dothe returne, the ladyes have the sole privileges, during the lime continueth, of making love unto the men, which they may doe, either bv words or looks, as unto them scemeth proper, and, moreover, no man will be entitled to benefit of clergy who doth refuse to accept the offers of a ladye, or who doth in any wise treat her proposals witli slight and conumely.”

THE SCULLING MATCH ON SATURDAY. The sculling match, between Foster, of the Waitemata, and Braithwaite, of the Mannkau, came off on Saturday, according to arrangement. A bright sunny afternoon, the exact counterpart of an English midsummer day, attracted some hun Ireds of spectators to the Queen-street Wharf. The barque Harbury, which was moored at the end of the wharf, afforded a good view of the startingpoint, and her deck and rigging swarmed with lookers on. The wharf was very crowded, and Britomart Point, Wynyard Pier, and the banks of the Waitemata were also lined witli visitors. A good show of small boats were skimming the harbour in search of a good position. There was, however, a great scarcity of the fair sex amongst the spectators. One was, perhaps, rather conspicuous amongst the rest, waving a pocket handkerchief in honor of the successful sculler. The watermen were busy, and business on the wharf seemed for the time suspended. We had an opportunity of inspecting the boats selected for the contest. They were both built by Mr. Henry Morgan, of Official Bay. One was the old champion boat; the other is a new production from his famous champion yards. The toss was won by Braithwaite, and he consequently selected the new boat as his choice for the match. The two boats were, however, as nearly alike in construction as possible. They are both twenty-one feet long, by tonr feet nine inches in width. It was estimated that the old boat would prove the fastest, though some had greater faith in the latest production. The issue, however, successfully maintained Mr. Henry Morgan’s reputation as a skilful boat-builder. The weight of the boats, ready equipped for the contest, was something like one cwt. The contest was for £SO a side, and the final deposit of -£‘2o between the men was made at the Waitemata Hotel on Friday night, in the presence of their friends and supporters, under the presidency of Mr. Copland. It was then arranged that the match should come off at half-past three in the following afternoon, ■neather permitting. The course decided upon was about four miles in length, to commence abreast of the end of Queenstreet wharf, in the fair tide way, from thence round a boat moored off the east point of Judge’s Bay, and thence back to the starting post, the boat to be rounded ou the north or starboard side. Captain Thomas Williamson, of Ouehunga, was selected by Braithwaite as Ins umpire ; Foster selecting Mr. Morgan, the builder, to act on his behalf. Mr. Copland was appointed starter, and to act as referee. When the last deposit was pah 1 , Braithwaite offered to back himself, and was taken up by Foster to the amount of £lO. Braithwaite also backed himself with others to the amount of about £IOO. The match excited considerable attention amongst sporting men, and the friends of both Braithwaite and Foster were equally sanguine of their man winning. A little betting was got up amongst the fraternity prior to the race, Foster being the favourite, so far as we could learn. There was also something done quietly in betting on the event. Foster was out practising ou the water on Friday, and shaped admirably. A party of four, well-up in acqaatic exercise, were unable to keep up with him, and expressed their astonishment at his supreme command over the boat, and his extraordinary strength. Braithwaite came into town from Ouehunga on Friday, and took his boat over the course in good sty le, although he did not afford much clue to his ability. Exactly at 3.30 the men were at their posts, and the starter, with his gallant crew of nautical champions, made his appearance in good style. A good start was effected, and the men went off in capital trim together. Foster shot a-head considerably, leaving Braithwaite perhaps some twenty yards in the rear. This success was, however, very short-lived, for not many strokes were taken before Foster was seen to falter and to look confounded. A hitch was apparent in one of his sculls, and he was very soon brought to, in spite of his wish to proceed. Braithwaite maintained his course at a steady pace, with n® attempt to exert himself. Foster hesitated whether to proceed or turn back, his skull having quite failed him by giving way at the rullock leather. He made the attempt, but found the task would be a hopeless jone. He then called on his umpire, Mr. Henry Morgan, to furnish him with a fresh pair, which was done, after a delay of five minutes had elapsed in testing the strength of his old sculls, and hesitating as to whether he should give up the contest. Braithwaite had, by this time, taken the lead some half-a-mile, or thereabouts. Foster exerted himself at the second start, and gained ground during the race. There was still about half-a-mile between them on rounding the boat off Judge’s Bay, and although some good sculling was manifest, there was still about the same gap when Braithwaite reached the starting place, amidst the' prolonged cheers of the Wharf and Harbury spectators. The race occupied about thirty-five minutes. No doubt if the start had been kept up a much less time would have been taken. It was thought by some that Foster’s conduct was a “ sell,” and by others that he wanted to get up larger stakes, and so refused to exhibit his prowess for such a trifling consideration. How this statement could be reconciled with the fact that he backed himself to tbs tune of about £l2O we are at a loss to conceive. The settling took place at the Waitemata Hotel on Saturday evening, when the stakes were handed over to the winner. Mr. Copland was called to the chair. The return match was fixed to come off in the Manukau, from Rowe’s Wharf, this day week. The first deposit of £lO a side was paid on Saturday evening. The second deposit of £2O will be paid at the Commercial Hotel, Ouehunga, to-morrow evening ; and the final deposit on Friday evening next, at the Waitemata Hotel.