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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1622, 27 April 1875, Page 2

While attention is awakened to the dangers to personal rights and public welfare likely to arise in the remoter districts from the procedure of secret semi-military tribunals, by the case of Sergeant King at Tauranga, th c proceedings among the Waikato Militia are worth watching. There have been within the past week wholesale dismissals among the Engineer Militia, some sixty or so having been sacked. We have reason to believe that this procedure has a relation to the efforts making for the suppression of the investigation into the gross irregularities among the force ; and that primarily those who showed aay sympathy for the positions taken by Corporal Craig and Sergeant-Major Small, as protectors of public property, have been marked and removed. Not unconnected with this, also is probably the recent burning at Rangiriri, in which a quantity of Government tools, and stores, and other property has been, or is said to have been consumed. We do not say that the approaching visit of Colonel Gorton and his stamping irons has struck the match, but when we know oic these irregularities in the sales of horses and the traffic in other Government property and the commissions thereon, we cannot fail having some suspicions of three burnings of Government buildings and th eir contents or alleged contents in that district and connected with that body of Engineers during the past eighteen months. Possibly these fires may have been accidental, and if the following reveals the ordinary life of an Engineer Militia officer, and the rank and file take example from the same, Colonel Gorton's coming visit may not have ignited the buildings. The following letter has been placed in our hands. We withhold the name of the officer inculpated. " Auckland, April 22,1875. "I the undersigned declare that I saw Lieut. , of the Engineer Volunteer Militia, abeut the 16th April, lying beastly drunk in the Government Stables at Rangiriri.

John Sanderson." As read by our readers these stables were since burned down. Altogether there is a pretty state of things in this fancy force 5 but will the Government honestly enquire into it ? Not a bit of it. Public opinion on anything relating to the laches of public employes may dash against the Government, about as profitably as the waves against the rocks of Gibraltar. The rottenness at the fountain has permeated the whole service, and nepotism, jobberry and coreuption appear to be the begianing and the end.

The Hero will not leav* before Saturday, and in consequence the farewell entertainment of the ilev Charles Clark, in combination with Miss Christian, will take place on Friday evening instead of Thursday.

The friends of the Wellesley-street Baptist Sunday-school will hold their anniversary soiree this evening. Tea will be on the table promptly at six ©'clock. Addresses will be given by Revs. Messrs. Cornford, Williams, Turner, and Messrs. Battley, Martin, and Ewington. The Chapel choir will take part, and sing several selections of music.

The annual meeting of the friends and patrons of the Pamell Orphan Home will be held this evening, when the annual statement will be presented. His Honor the Superintendent, Sir George Grey, X.C.8.. has kindly consented to preside on this occasion. Sir George Grey will also take the chair at the meeting of the friends of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children, to be held on Thursday evening in the large room of the Young Men's Christian Association.

On " Horse and Dog " Dr Home forwards us the following additional interesting notes : __»Si r] _ Waiting for master and horse to spend a pleasant day at the farm. Dog Spot is, and as usual, has lefc his breakfast untouched, this being his weekly day for a bursting run of several miles, but how he knows the morning has arrived is a doggy question, bub a puzzle to solve. Wmle waiting, take the following anecdote of an Auckland dog. Friend Lewis's saleyard wag left open, and Chanticleer walked out to give battle to a neighbour's. His sagacious yard dog saw the fierce fight, parted the combatants, drove his master's home, and shut the outer gate. Now we leave London by the Paddington exit, the Kilburn, reaches Cricklewood. Being in advance of some friends*, we make a detour, leaving Hampstead on the right. Pull up at Highgate to take a peep at its picturesque churches and neighbouring scenery. But what have we below, eclipsing all other sights? The magnificent panoramic view of the mighty London, the metropolis of the world ! and beyond, the chalk hills of Kent, Surrey, Sussex ; and to the right, Windsor Castle, with its home and great parks, lost in the grand forest scenery beyond. On the road again, and we pass over a piece of sacred ground, made memorable at least by the retiring abodes of many old favourite English authors. Before we reach the end of our journey we have to quit the high road, and with unerring judgment, and without the least assistance from the driver, our noble beast, although stoneblind, takes the sharp turning, with its ugly descent and ascent, into the byeroad that leads to the farm, with perfect ease and safety. Our friends arc also drawing near, aud their crack driver has already begun slacking pace, and with the ribbands firm in hand, mak«.s the turn successfully. In the depth of darkness with the one, and and full daylight at.noon with the other. — Yours, &c, J. H. Hornk." The American Irish citizens of New York are busy in getting subscriptions with a view of presenting a testimonial to their countryman, Dion Boucicault, expressive of their appreciation of his efforts to elevate the stage representations ot Irish scenes and character.

The Lome-street Hall concert in favor of Widow Jdoltham last evening was successful. The concert was projected and brought about chiefly through the labours of Mr E. Clair, assisted by his dramatic friends. The programme was of a varied and cheerful character, and gave much satisfaction in its unfoldings. The Temperance Band effectively aided the conceit by overtures. This, with Mr Glair's balancing act, recitations by Mr Smith, and a bone solo by the other Mr Smith, a capital motto song by Mr Marson, and subsequently a quadrille party made glad the hearts of the visitors, and rendered musical the evening in its passage to the night. We shall bo able shortly to shew to what extent the wid»w has been benefitttd by Clair's Magnet Troupe and the Temperance Band. The Prince of Wales Theatre was very well attended last evening, notwithstanding other attractions. The piece presented was a four act drama, entitled "Blow for Blow." The most striking character of the piece was Alice Petherwick by Mrs. Darrell. Alice is represented as one of those genuine women who can love and hate with equal force, and when she fancies that she has been wronged by a mean-spirited wretch, who loves but to deceive, she seeks revenge, but when she finds that she has been misled and that there is no foundation for the offence she supposed another committed, her passionate grief returns with tenfold force. This character brought forth those talents and colouring for which Mrs. Darrell is held in such high estimation Mr. Darrell represented the peculiarities of Charles Spragg with much ability, although we could not see that Charles Spragg was closely allied to the drama. Mr. Aveling came out as Sir Harry Linden, Mr. Deering as Dr. Grace ; Mr. Holloway as John Drummond, and Mr. Thornton, as Craddock. All these characters were well sustained. Miss Patty Holt appeared as Kitty, Mrs. Jones as Mrs. Mowbray, and Miss Maggie Knight as Lady Linden. The little drama was lively and varied throughout without any very striking attractions, and sufficiently interesting to please those in attendance. The drama will be repeated this evening, and tomorrow, " Black Sheep" will be the subject of entertainment in which the Dan-ell's will appear for the last time in Auckland. We have often noticed a striking contrast between sentences on prisoners in England and New Zealand, and ia looking over sentences recorded in March last, at the Surrey Sessions House, Stones End Borough, we observe that persons for the most trivial

offences have received the moat severe punishment whilst for graver acts, persons have been lightly dealt with. In proof of this we notice that Catherine Regan, seventy years of age, for stealing 41bs. of beef, value 3s 4d, was sentenced to seven years penal servitude. John Glover, a boy, for stealing tbree half-pence from a counter, received four months imprisonment with hard labour. Theresa Dearden for stealing an old shawl, value Is 6d, was subjected to eighteen months, and Ann Young, for purloining a pair of sheets, to 'seven years imprisonment ; while Joseph Arundel for a criminal assault was sent to prison for three months ; and Thomas Crutch, a man of education, and a commercial traveller, for embezzling several hundred pounds, only received a sentence of one year in "durance vile." It would seem therefore that at the Surrey sessions, the greater the crime the more lenient the punishment.

A printed code of rules and regulations anent " The Southern Trip Cup" has reached us. From the compiling of these rules it may be assumed that the rumour that a certain gentleman intends presenting a Challenge Cup for competition among the Cricket Clubs of Auckland in commemoration of the famoua Southern Trip, is not without foundation. It is pleasing to hear that the history of an expedition of which the province has so much cause to be proud, is to be handed down to posterity in such a manner. It may be that the rules, as already drawn up, are not absolutaly settled. If they are not the framer will perhaps listen to our suggestion to expunge the handicap element. This is sure to provoke dissatisfaction, and besides is not crickat. Mereover such a method of of equalising tke different competitors is not necessary in the prtitat condition of Auckland Clubs. We have for instance the Auckland, the United, the North Shore, the Carltoon, the West End and Ponaonby Clubs, with very little to choose between. And then again if there is no handicapping there will be some incitement to the weaker clubs to look up new members. We understand that the trophy is to be a Tery handsome on,e : it is to have the names of those gentlemen who took part in the trip 'inscribed upon it with the dates and results of the four matches, and other mementoes of the campaign. The donor makes it a condition that the cup shall never become the absolute property of tne winning dab.

A Provincial Government Gazette was published to-day containing notifications of the election of Messrs liees and Crawford to the Provincial Council. Appointing the Harbour Board election| vice Mr Tonks for MayflO ; appointing Captain Chrisp pilot of Poverty Bay ; notifying that vessels clearing for Tonga must have a clean bill of health, in accordance with quarantine regulations enforced in that island ;- accepting the tender of W. E. Babe 2|d for rations at Howick. The} Gazetts also contains the proclamations delegating the goldfields powers to Sir Geo. Grey; various statements of goldmining companies ; of the Improvement Commissioners, and distribution schedules.

A deer shot by Mr Johnstone, of Whitson and Co.'s at Motutapu, is hanging at Mr Giles butcher, so that a treat in the shape of venison is in store for some at least of those who relish that description of game.

A correspondent, under the signature "Koadster," writes that, while riding from the Three Kings towards Auckland, he saw a bull, called " Wanderer," on the road, and two respectable girls coming to the crossroads, from Mr Udy's, ran back towards him, frightened, and scrambled up a bank out of the way. Our correspondent properly thinks that it is dangerous to allow such animals to roam at large.

The annual general meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society will be held tomorrow afternoon in the office, Museum Buildings, Princes-street. An inquiry touching the origin of a fire on the yjremises of Mr. Cranwell, of Shortland street, on the evening of the 21st inst., will be held to-morrow in the Exchange Buildings before Dr. Phiison, coroner, at two o'clock in the afternoon.

We have received from Mr and Mrs Case (Grace Egerton) two little phamphlets describing Grace Egerton's successful tour round tho world. We shall notice them at greater •iength in a future issue. We would call special attention of the business people of Auckland —grocer 3, provision dealers, storekeepers, and others—to Mr G. W. Owen's new catalogue of goods daily expected from London. The goods are fresh from the first houses, and will arrive, we presume, in opportune time to supply the market which is now rather low in some of these lines. Mr Owen's new premises _in Fort-street allow him ample accommodation to keep a very large stock.