MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Auckland Times, Volume 1, Issue 7, 26 September 1842, Page 2

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Our readers will see by advertisement, that the regular business of the Institution is commencing, in earnest. The second lecture will be delivered onThursdav evening next, and a succession, from week to week, may be now depended upon. The formation of the Library is succeeding rapidly, and by the strenuous exertions of the indefatigable Secretary, books will be delivered in circulation, next week. His Excellency the Acting Governor, being applied to, for his patronage, immediately returned the following handsome answer. Altogether the Auckland Mechanics’ Institution is likely to become an honour to New Zealand. We need hardly say we wish it every success. Government Houce, Auckland, 22nd Sept,, 1842. Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day, with which you forward a Copy of a Resolution adopted by the Managing Committee of the Mechanics’ Institute, solciting me to become the Patron of the Society. In accordance to the request pieferred by the Committee, I desire to express to you how much I am gratified by the honour the Committee propose to confer on me ; the more so, as I hope thereby to be enabled to contribute, with more beneficial effect, my best aid towards the ultimate success of the Society. 1 have the honor to remain Sir. Your obedient servant, WILLOUGHBY SHORTLAND, Mr J. Kitchen, Secretary to the Mechanics’lnstitute, Auckland.

Lieut. Bennet, R.E., Dr. Gatnmie, 80th Regt;, and D. Rough, Esq., our harbour master, have gone in the Government pinnace to the Barrier Reef, to make a survey of the Copper deposits, long since known to exist there, and, before they return, they will al&o visit Ma Hu Rangi; they will bring up,from the latter place,a considerable quantity of the Glance Coal, which has been discovered there ; this description of Coal is of a nature peculiarly adapted for smelting. The above named gentlemen are all possessed of practical scientific knowledge upon the subjects they are gone to investigate, and much public expectation is excited by their personal service on this occasion. Joint Stock Companies, for the prosecution of both these laudable enterprises, are in the course of formation—and what, in these times, is rather a scarce, and always a valuable spur to speculation— money is ready for She purpose. —We are in possession of much sanguine detail upon the subject, but we forbear to say more, till these gentlemen return, when we are promised the favour of their report. W. S. Graham, Esq., and Capt. Richards, with a stout crew, have gone down in the Black Johe to the relief of the Aril, schooner, of which the former gentleman is owner. It will be remembered this vessel was stranded on the evening of Sunday, the 4th instant, during .he violent gale that blew. Strong hopes ire entertained of getting her off ultimately, al<hough hitherto her critical situation has hardly been sufficiently attended to. We understand that a “ Blue Book” from a certain redoubtable doctor is about to appear, which is to be as effective upon the mental sens bilities of all and sundry the administrators of the Government—as ever was the Blue pill of Abernethy upon the body corporate of London free livers in general—let them all “ screw their courage to the sticking place” that may not fail,” —forewarned they may be forearmed—the tug of war is coming Dr. Stanley, the fashionable physician of Downing-street —is to be called in. ° i to our readers for delaying the publication of the Maori Gazette promised; and while we do so, we feel it imperative, for our own sake, to state the cause of this long and continued delay. We were anxious, before we issued our second number, to lay this document before our readers, because we thought it would serve the public interest to do so, and further we know, as a Colonial curiosity, it would be acceptable to all our friends in Europe.—We called, therefore, upon the Chief Protect' r of Aborigines, from whose office the manuscript of the Maori Gazette always issues to the printer, laid our views before him, and begged the favor of a translation of the current number, for this purpose That gentleman warmly approved of our views, and kindly promised to comply with our request in a dat or two. When it was wanted, however, a qmstion arose about payment for it; and as we thought that in carrying out a public object of this nature, we were undertaking already our full share of the expense, we met this demand by a rtspectful request to His Excellency the Acting Governor, that he would favor us with his commaids to the office of the Protector of the Aborigines for a copy, of what, of course, must be in existence there. To this request His Excellency poltely and promptly acquiesced : strengthened by his authority, we renewed our solicitation we were now asked for our written application fouls tied upon the Governor's order —with this we complied, and since then have only received evasive answers, till Saturday, when our messenger was told it was no use applying, for we could not get it. The delay, therefore, is no longer—a question of temporary convenience, it is hdefinite. Of course, we shall apply to His Excellency again—but we will not be defeated in cur object, whatever may be the cause of the extiaordinary circumstances we have detailed. The strange disinclination of The Protector to carry out the view, he himself so warmly espoused, is to us an incomprehensible riddle but, as we doubt not, this gentleman has good reason for it, we forbear to make any remark beyond , this, that in our opinion : if the parties who con- { duct the duties of his office are competent to their i business—this mighty intrusion upon their la- j hour could not exceed, at most, a demand of a couple of hours upon the time of one single in- , divifual. We have said thus much for our own < justfication to our subscribers, many of whom j have reproached us with a breach of promise. , The Maori Gazette— translation and all— shall , appiar in our next, l £

Cricket. —The Officers in garrison, and some others of the Bachelors and Benedicts of Auckland, who are made of the right old English sort of stuff, have met the first approach of jovial spring by a wise determination to revive the King of field sports. CThis is, as it should be, no moping!—“ if there’s bad luck now—worse another time,” as Paddy says, “ who’se afraid ?” ' We hope the game will be kept up with spirit. f No better indication can appear in a British Colony, than the immigration of our national out-door sports. The Garrison are rather uppish, they say they have the “ Best’’ on their side, and no “ Gamm- on,” while the Civilians, boast they are “ Young ” in every thing but their skill—that they have been West ’’ iu their time, and have seen Mary-le-bone ! Among the latter too, the Sheriff will doff his “ Coat’’ and as he is expected to be rather long at his “ wicket’’ (a word to the wise) some of the knowing-ones may “ steaL a notch," now and then, while he gets his own “ innings There’s a new chum among them, who, they say, has had a good deal of recent practice—for he had the “bats, balls, and stumps,” regularly under his charge on board the Medusa the whole these gentlemen, there is a very good judge of the game, in the field—folks are rather shy of backing his activity—they say he will be a heavy runner—but he says not a whit, an acre or two, more or less, makes no odds to him ; and then * to see the Albatross at anchor, she sits all of a f lump like a goose, one would not think she ! cou’d sail, still vve prophecy well of her log at the end of the run. Confidence on both sides, is a sign of a sturdy contest.. The wickets will be pitched at Epsom, for the first time, on Thursday next! —Meantime a good example is not thrown away, and the “ hopes and joys” of the Papas and Mammas of Auckland, have magnanimously coalesced into a club, under the appropriate maritime name of “The Blue Jackets,” and they say, with a little time, a fair field, and no favor, they will be able to bowl or bat, sco it or catch, “ with ’ere a long CoAT-es among ’em !” Additional subscriptions to Saint Paul’s Churchy Captain Daldv £2 0 0