Local Intelligence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1005, 13 February 1857, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Local Posts. —The Editor of the 'New Zealander' has replied to the notice in our last, under this heading —not by argument but by the old 'New Zealander' method of abusing the presumed writer. Any statement that may appear in the columns of the 'Southern Cioss,' if unpalatable to the Superintendent in his legislative capacity, is immediately met in his editorial capacity, by abuse of the late Provincial Secretary. We repeat, what is well known, that the da3*s of departuie for the local mails were formerly Tuesday and Friday, that, during .Colonel Wynyard's Superintendency, they were summarilly altered by Colonel Ilulme, without any reason been assigned— the obvious reason, however, being that the 'New Zealan er' was the oigan of the party in power, and that its interests weie held to be paramount. The gross injustice then committed is now being perpetuated on a large scale by the present Superintendent, who is personally interested in the success of the ' New Zealander' — and we think we are perfectly justified in entering our protest against it. In doing so we need not say that we have not attacked Mr. Corbett. We attach no bla nc to him in the matter, and have always experienced the utmost courtesy at his hands. The arrangements under the Local Posts Act are entirely in the hands of the Superintendent who alone is responsible to the public ; and if he chooses, first, to benefit his own printing establishment to the time of 254 per cent— for such it appears is the correct rate of advance upon the Provincial printing — and, second, to make the local postal arrangements precisely to suit his own newspaper, irrespective of all other considerations, we think we may safely leave to public opinion whether or not we have a fair dealing man at the head of Provincial affairs. Once for all, we must request that the other journal will give over stating, as fact, what they cannot by any possibility know anything about. Whenever it suits their purpose to attribute authorship of any thing that may appear in these columns, they do so without hesitation, and are con inually wrong. Sale of Spirits Ordinance.— On Saturday, at the Co irt of tre Resident Magistrate, Mrs. Londergan, of the Caledonian Hotel, appeared by Mr Londergan to answer an information charging her with having, o 1 the 17th ult., sold a bottle of rum to one Sydney, a native. She pleaded guilty and was fined 40s. and costs, with a caution. Mrs. McGrath, of the Thistle, pleaded guilty under a precisely similar information, aid was fined in the same amount, as well as cautioned. Mrt>. DeZestre, of the Crown and Anchor, pleaded not guilty on a similar information. The evidence of Sydney and of Corporal Syms was, however, decisive, and she was likewise fined and cautioned by the Bench. Mr. Meniman for the prosecution —the respective defendants appearing in person. Presentations to the Mechanics' Institute. — At the annual meeting of the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, held on Monday, the 2nd instant, a valuable presentation was made to the Institute by David Rough, Em]., — William Connell, Esq., acting for the absent gentleman — consisting of the following statuettes :— Venus de Medici ; the Knife-grinder ; and Fawn playing on the Lestiphou, commonly called the Dancing Fawn ; — the originals of these three in the gallery at Florence. The Apollo Belvidere — the original in the Vatican palace ; the Dying Gladiator — the original in the Capitol, at Rome. All arc splendid specimens of the fine arts, and the donatio l is one highly creditable to the donor — showing that although absent, he has not forgotten us. At the adjourned meeting on the following Monday, another valuable pr.sent was made by Charles Heaphy, Esq , of a map entitled " Sketches of the geological formation of the Auckland district," — prepared with much artistic skill, and containing much valuable information. We trust that these donations will be followed by others of a suitable character, so as to assist the Institution in becoming, what its friends and supporters intend it to be — a great public good. Presbyterian Church.— A tea meeting of the childfen attending the Sabbath school in connection with this Church, together with a number of their parents, and others interested, was held in the school-room on the evening of Friday last. The chair was efficiently occupied by Mr. W. ltattray, superintendent of the school. The tea table, to which about 120 children, besides adults, sat down, having been cleared, a suitable address was delivereJ by the chairman. This was followed by the mission box being opened — the amount collected by the children during the year proving to be £G 17s. 3|d. After this Mr. A. Clark addressed the children, and, at the suggestion of the teachers, called on them to appiopriate £4 of the amount towards the mission now being carried on by the Rev. Mr. Inghs, at the New Hebrides. Mr. Clark was followed by the Rev. D. Bruce, who in like manner called on the children to devote the remainder of the amount collected t) the purpose" of the Home Mission Fund. The juveniles acquiesced enthusiastically Fruit, &c, having been distributed in the meantime, other addresses were delivered by Mir. McCaul and the Messrs. Gorrie, after which the meeting closed at an early hour. '

Auckland Mechanics' Institute.— At the adjourned annual meeting, held on Monday last, the rules were revised, and ordered to be printed. The alterations Were not important. The Committee continues 15 in number, so that the names we formerly gave are all included. .