Local Intelligence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIII, Issue 908, 11 March 1856, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Stealing by a Maori. — On Friday, a Maori named Edward was charged at the Court of the Resident Magistrate with having stoLn one pair of boots from the shop of Mr. Henry Somervell, Queen Street. It appears that, on the previous day, between 12 and 1 o'clock, Edward \i ent into Mr. Somervell's shop to buy a pair of boots. After trying on several, he did not succeed in getting a pair to fit ; he then left the shop, saying he would go somewhere else. As he was walking out, Mr. Somerville imagined that he saw something like a boot under the fellow's coat, and went out after him. On coming up, Mr. Somerville, in accordance with his suspicions, found a pair of boots where "boots should na* be," and, recognising them as his property, gave Master Edward into custody. The prisoner, who is cousin to Ruka, but who indignantly disclaims the connexion, pleaded that he had bought the boots and paid for them. Unfortunately, however, for the consistency of this story, the identical blucheis were produced, and, on being applied to the feet of our hero, were found to be a world-too-wide for his shrunk shanks. This was an " unmitigated staggerer" to Edward, who forthwith became dumb. The value of the boots being under 20 shillings, the maximum punishment that could be inflicted was 6ix months' imprisonment, with hard labour. The Magistrate sentenced the prisoner to the full term.

Death by Dkowning. — An iuqnest was held, on Friday altei noon, at the William Denny Hotel, upon the body of John Brady, a dischaiged solder of the fiBth, who was found drowned the same morning. It nppeared from the evidence that about 8 o'clock, Major Nugent, on bulhing at Tanraroa Point, between Judge's Bay and Oraki, saw the body floating on the surface of the water, with its face downwards. He immediately ( hailed three names who were passing in a canoe, nnd , who, at his lequtßt, conveyed tho both to town Ith id 1 not been divested of any poition of clothing, and bore no maiks of external injury. Tlnee or iour months j pieiiously. drc°ascd had attempted suicide by cutting i his throat and abdomen, and had been lbr a considerable tune under tuatnu-nt in the hospital. His wound"* had bcon healed, but his mind, according to thee\id>ncp, , had never recovered its proper tone, and hence the preI sumption that his death was his own act. He had been residing for about a fortnight in MeGrath's lodging houee, and had been last aeen alive on Thursday atternoon, walking in a paddock, belonging to the Attorney General, by one of Major Nugent's servants. The jury returned a veidiet of found drowned. Wno si olb tub Ham?- -The recent conviction and sentence of a seamttn belonging to the ' Oriental,' for abstracting a ham from the ship's Btores, teems to hat c created some little dissatisfaction amongn is brother tnrs —a circumstance easily accounted for by the probability that Jack's doings in the way of ' cribbing' were not intended for his own exclusive benefit. Oif Wednesday, a seaman named George availed himself of a suitable opportunity to remonstrate with the 2nd officer upon the manner in which Jack had been dealt «vuh. Tl c officer in question declined to discuss the question, and had turned to walk away, when Geoige struck him a severe blow with his fist on the back of hi* hr>ad. The offence was clearly proved, notwithstanding an ingenious attempt on the part ot the defendant to prove an alibi, and he was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour. Chamber of Commerce. — The ordinary meeting of the Committee was held on Thursday in the William Denny Hotel. The report of the sub-committee upon the tariff was brought up and laid upon the table.^ Its consideration by the committee was defened till Thursday next, until which time it cannot be rogaided as public property. We are consequently unable, at present, to speak of its contents. A vote of thanks was then pioposed to the following gentlem?n, for contiibutions to the Chamber, and the meeting separated: — Capt. Grange, Mahurangi, gift of Steele's Shipmasters' Assistant and Rules of the Hobart Town Chamber of Commerce; J. I. Montefiore, Esq., Lloyd's List, and loan of McGregors Commercial Statistics ; Walter Brodie, Esq., loan of Post Office London Directory ; J. L. Campbell, Esq., loan of files of the Economist, and Australian and New Zealand Gazette ; J. A Gilnllan, Esq., loan of the Evening Mail, nnd Sydney Empire ; Charles Davis, Esq., loan of files of Sydney Herald, and Shipping Gazette ; D. Graham, Esq., nUes of the S\dney Chamber of Commerce. Mechanics' Institute. — It will be seen, from our advertising columns, that Mi.C.Kemble Mason has volunteered a Shaksperian lecture for the benefit of the above Institute — the subject of which is to be the tiagedy of Othello. The entertainment will conclude w ith a repetition of Tarn O'Shanter, the recitation of which, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, was so waimly applauded. The readings from Othello will no doubt be deeply interesting, anu, the programme being ot a lighter character than has generally been presented in this Hall, we trust to see a larger and more diversified audience than has usually attended lectuics of, perhaps, a moie instructive, but less amusing chiracter. Land Sale.— We beg to call attention to the Sale of Rural Land in the Waiuku Block, which takes place this day at 11 o'clock, in the Odd Fellows' Hall. Presentation. — We neglected at the proper timo to notice a recent presentation in the sqaare of Albert Barracks ; we now take an early oppoitunity of supplying the omission The presentation was bv Colonel Wynyard, on a Saturday aitcrnoon Ha\mg icatl the Queen's letter, which accompanied three nvd\U of good conduct, the Colonel presented them lespectitcly Mr. Gallagher, baker, late a sergeant in the sSth, and privates Patrick McMahon and Win, McLaughUn, all of whom had performed the full period of service v ith unexceptionable characters. The-.e token-., not toi their intrinsic value, but for the ciicunistances undoi which they are presented, must be very grateful to the feelings o the paities more immediately concerned. Tut. Xnw Thkatuk Roy.vl — That Auckland, a city of considerable wealth, importance, and fa-Mon— the capital of a highly- prosperous colony, should be almost destitute of p-übhe amusements— should be the \ery personification of dulness, has often boen lemaikpd ,is an extraordinary fact, both by the old lcsidcnt and the new ai rival. To the nimeious da 1"?— who have "O'-np from the neighbouring colonies, and who have seen, in a veiy lew years, a taste spring up, and be almost uniuisally dissemin ited among the population, foi mu ical and theatrical entertainments and ior other vanetics of evening recreation, the dulness peruuling the atmosphere of Auckland has been paiticul nly difficult of ' comprehension. The implied repro ich exists, however, ■ no longer, for, thinks to the enteipnso of Mr. Foley. j Auckland (an now boast of a very pietty theatie, far supeiio , iPil-'ul, io anything that Melbourne orSjdney could boast of, in the eaily years of their existence. Tho the ilrc, wth its adjuncts, stands upon a space of 100 ket b> 'JO, of which the main building o cupies 80 by 40. A neat, lonmy sUge, tastefully ornamented, and the sceneiy ot which is appiopnatc and exceedingly well painted, diminishes by 30 teet the portion of the structure demoted to the accommodation of the public, but leaves sufficient room lor no less than 700 spectators. The pit, which is capable of holding upwaids of 500 persons, is well seated, and seems to be the ta\oiite part of the house. The bo\os and dic-.s-cnclo forma gallery, with a separate entiance ; the latter the puce to which is now reduced to the shillngs, be'ng oapabl ■ of seating 72 poisons, and fitted up with e\ei\ vijw to convenience and comfort. Each ticket is accompanied by a number, which indicates the scat to be occupied throughout the evening— a system which enables the occupant to li\ue tempoiarily without finding, on his return, his scat token up, and which effectually precludes the annoyance attendant on over-crowded benches. The seats are backed and cushioned ; the floor carpeted ; visitors shewn to their seats by an attendant ; and every arrangement made that is hkelj to conduce to the comfort of the audience. Though not profusely ornamented, the theatre has an aii of extreme neatness, and the front of the stage, especially when, between the acts, the drop scene, in which the arms of England arc ■surrounded by tho flags of France, Tin key, and America, forms part of the picture, appears to veiy phasing effect. Sc much at present for the buiUlmg, the election of which must have involved a heavy outlay, and of which we will only adil that it is one of which Auckland may well be proud. The opening night, as most of our readers are aware, was Monday the 3id instant. The theatre has since been open four evenings— thuse of Tuesday, Thursday. Sntuiday, and yesterday Ihe pieces selected — Othello, The Sciious Family, The Denouncer, or the Miser of Maiseilles The Hough Diamond, The Charcoal Burner, The King's Gaidener, Betsy Baker, and the Dead Shot, indicate a wish to place the legitimate drama befoie the public, which, in a community so generally intelligent as our own, is the course that must, ultimately, be the successful one. Whatever qualities Mr. Foley may possess, he certainly does not lack entei prise. Not only has this been exhibited in the expendituie of his all in the erection of a substantial building, but in having procured, from the neighbouring colonies, the sei\ices ot proiess'o .1 gentlemen, of whose talents the journals have written in terms of the highest commendation. We allude more especially to Messrs. Craven, Southwell, and Jackson, who hold a high pioiessional rank in those pairs ot the sister colonies where there is no lack either of discrimination or criticism. It is true that the fiist of these gentlemen only appeared for two nights, and then returned by the "Denny," but we learn that lie is, likely again to return, with a further accession to the company. Mr. Southwell is described as a gentleman of very high attainments, and, although we have not yet seen him in a favourite chaiacter, we believe that his debut in Auckland, has been quite success I ful. Mr. Jackson is in himself a host. His comic personations are lriesistible. Although to our taste he exceeds nature rather more than is necessary, the audience generally, and this, after all, is the best guide, do not seem to think so. Every contortion of his facial muscles seem to be the signal for a general roar. The present notice, which we regret should be the first that we have been able to take of Mr. Foleys enterprise, is not intended, with regard to the performance, to embrace details. Subsequent and better opportunities will enable us to revert to this part of the subject with more minuteness. In the meantime, will Mr. Foley and the gentlemen of the company pardon us for remarking that there are serious difficulties in the outset of such an undei taking, which are too apt to engender feelings of irritation, out of which hasty words may, and, in a recent instance, did arise. The necessity for mutual forbearance, under such circumstances, is so evident that we need only make a passing allusion to it. It will be seen that, commencing with yesterday, the prices for the boxes and dress circle have been considerably lowered ; and that the' half -pi ice system has, very judiciously, been introduced. The reduced prices, even in the present straitened times, are very moderate j and we trust that many will take advantage of this circumstance to witness those highly creditable performances. Believing that the public of* Auckland are under no small obligation to Mr. Foley, who, successful in his equtstrian exhibitions, chose rather to invest in Auckland the proceeds, not of these only, but of other ex- i hibitiuns, than to settle in another colony, where a

better leturn might possibly ha\e resulted from the outla)', we tiust that a succession of bumper houses will show that, in this respect, the public think with us, and will affoid Mr, Foley thnt encouragement to which his public spirit fairly entitles him The next evening of performance; will beThui«lay, the pieces selected {or that occasion being the Golden Farmer, an interlude, and the Dead Shot