The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2211, 22 August 1864, Page 4

The Daily Southern Cross.

LXJCEO NON UKO " If I have been extinguished, jet there lisa A thousand beacons fiom the spaik I boie "

210RDAY, AUGUST 22.

The iipvh by the mail, which we publish, as fully as our space will permit us to do, is of more than ordinary interest. As it regards the American war, the particulars of it, received via California, which we published a few days ago have anticipated a considerable portion of the intelligence now to hand, which is only a week later. The most important fact is that Grant had not captured Richmond, and that there was a probability of his having to retreat. On the 3rd June, as previously related, he attacked the Confederates in their works north of the Chiekahomiuy, when he was repulsed with a loss of 5,000 or G,OOO men. We now learn that, although contending with many difficulties which some thought would make his approach to Richmond hopeless, he had not given up the idea of accomplishing it. There is much speculation as to his movements j some asserting that

failing to cut bis way through. Lee's array hehad commenced siege operations ; ■while on the other hand it is stated that it will be impossible for him even to l'eaeh that city, and that he^T will be compelled to retreat to Washington. The unprecedented rise in the value of gold is urged as a reason for believing that Grant has been unsuccessful, but this is as likely to hare been caused to a considerable extent by the additional loan of eighty millions required b the Federals, and which must naturally harehad a depressing effect upon the price of gold. The general tenor oF tlio nows 19 certainly that Confederates are not losing strength ; and the fact of their being able to keep Grant with big large army at bay is one of the best proofs ofib. The destruction of the • Alabama,' which has obtained more celebrity than any vessel of modern times, will in lessening the power of theConfederates to capture Federals vessels be a great loss to the latter, although not such a loss as if Captain Semmes had been made captive.. The gallant end of the ' Alabama ' has certainly been consistent with her previous career. Thi3 vessel, as many of our readers are probably aware, was built in England, and sailed from there on the 29th .July, 1862, with a picnic party on board, who were landed at a convenient distance from the harbour. Captain Semmes' policy throughout was to avoid conflict with Federal men-of-war, and to confine himself to capturing weaker vessels, by which there was less danger and more profit to the eavise represented. In accepting the challenge of the ' Kearsarge,' a vessel of superior power in every respect, Captain Semmes seems to have made a false and ruinous step ; but his gallant conduct and that of his crew, who fought to the last, show that, having taken it, he determined that he would make the only reparation ho could, that of not giving the Federal commander the gratification of securing a prize. The 'Alabama' has done good service to the Confederate cause, and her loss will no doubt not be considered irreparable, or other than might have been expected. The breaking up of the conference on the Danish and German question, and the renewal of hostilities, as reported in the latest telegrams, is another principal feature of the news. What will follow this abortive attempt to ensure peace will now be a fruitful source of speculation, but there can be little doiibt that if Denmark is left to her own fate the straggle will be a brief one. Whether England will be brought into it or not is yet uncertain. Earl Russell's hope that the independence of the Danish monarchy may be preserved, may stand for much or little ; but the state of political affairs in England leads to the supposition that England cannot escape taking part in putting an end to this uuhappy conflict. The news with respect to the Loan is reassuring and satisfactory. When the mail left one million of it was placed on the market by the Crown agents, the debentures bearing fiv e per cent, interest, and redeemable in fifty years by the operation of a sinking fund of one per cent. This is, of course, exclusive of the one million to be guaranteed by the Imperial Government, and to do which a bill was before the Imperial Parliament. It is evident from the proceedings in Parliament that ihe security offered is considered ample, and that Mr. Brader Wood would have no difficulty in raising the required sum.

A piehuiinary meeting of electors was held iv Auckland on Satuulay, to cousicler the mo->t eligible candidate to succeed the late Colonel Niton in the House of Representatives, for the electoral district of Franklin. The names of several gentlemen weie mentioned, — some as having " designs " on the constituency; but it was unanimously lesolved that Colonel Haultain ou<*ht to be communicated with, asking him to allow himself to be put in nomination. We believe a lettei containing such a request has been foi warded to the gallant colonel, and, should hisieply be in the affiimative, we have no doubt of his letuin. It would be a "taceful tiibute to the memory of the late representative if Colonel Haultain should have a " walk over. " Colonel Haultain was the fuend and fellow-soldier of the late Colonel Nixon ; he has lisked his life iv the same cause which cut off Colonel Nixon ; and lie is, besides, an old colonist, ai d experienced politician, having sat for the distuet of FranMin iv a pievious Parliament. The friendly native? of the Ngaiterangi tribe brought up by the colonial gunboat ' Sandfly from TauriJiign, and the Kawau still remain in town, and are likely to do so for a few days to come. Their object in visiting Auckland is represented to be a paiticular desiie on their part to have another interview with his Excellency the Go\einor relative to the confiscation of land at Taiuanga, aud to urge their claims to have all their lands lestored, as they had lemained fiiondly during the war at that place. This, it will be lccollected, the Governor promised should bo attended to on their behalf, but after the confeience which took place on Satuiday, the 6tli instant, the fiiendhes, it is reported, made a statement to his Excellency that almost the whole of the talk had been on the side of those who had been reba'lous but had suriendered; while they were deprived of an oppoitunity of having their say. His Excellency told them to come and see him in Auckland, and the natives came \ip on the first oppoitunity offering. They were to have an interview with his. Excellency at Government House on Satuiday last at eleven o'clock. The names of the natives aie coirectly given in the following list: — - Hamiora Tv, Meie, TKauiera Te Hiahia, Mere Taka, Wiremu Paten*, Wit emu Patera, Hohepa Hikutni.a, Tam.iti Manuao. Tomika Te Mutii, Eauapia, Turere, Maihi Pohehope, Tawaewae Paerata, Bini Te Matekapua, Te Patu, Aiama Karaka Whati, Pikaka, Hohaia Piisoners released at the Kawau : Iraia, Ihaia, Ha.ika Te Imnana, Te Namu, Nuitone. Our Te Awamutu coi respondent repoits the surrender of five rebels, who brought with them and garo up at the same time thiee stand of arms. We aie compelled to hold over the letter detailing the circumstances of this surrender. A landslip of considerable extent, fortunately not attended with injurious consequences to life, occurred on Fiiday evening last, at the rear of the premises occupied by Mis. Evitt, dressmaker, and Mr. Wisotski, general dealer, Queen-street. Most of our readers will remember that after the sale of the ground on which Dove's foundry was situated, and also upon which Mr. Inigo Jones, K.G-. (Unife-grinder), had hi 3 residence, extensive excavations weie made to reduce the allotment fiom the higher level of Coburg-street to that of Queen street, and a thick scoria retaining wall was built to prevent the veiy accident which has now to be chronicled. The landslip has of course been earned by the late heavy rains, and the earth, although apparently well-bound together by the roots of the trees growing on the higher ground, fell with a tremendous crash about 8 o'clock in the evening, carrying away the upper half of the scoiia wall, and projecting portions of it into the middle of thi yard at the rear of the shops. Seveial tons of earth must have fallen at the time. Tlnee small out-offices connected with the piemises, and which had been erected ag.vinst the wall, \\ ere also thi own over and broken. The retaining wall at the rear of the Odd Fellows' Hall— also of scoria — fortunately did not give way.

A mass of colonial news, correspondence, local reports, and a variety of other matter is held over in consequence of the pressme upon oui space l>y the .English news. A meeting of the local committee of the New Zealand Exhibition for 18G.5 was held in the offices of the committee on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Heaphy piesiding. A number of communications were laid before the meeting, received by the honoraiy secrefcaiy, since the last sitting of the committee, as also « list of articles pi omi«cd and yot wanting for the 'exhibition. It w as arranged that the committee would pay a pi opoi tion of the cost of any special specimens necessary, and would supplement the cffbits of all anxious to send coutnbutions to the exhibition, a sum of .£2OO ha\ing been voted by the Council foi such puipose. Our full lepoit stands ovei in cou&e. quence of the anival of the English mail. The plans and specifications for the new Congiega- I iionnl Chinch, Remnein, have been piepaied by Mi. Wiigley, aichitecfc, and tenders for the election aie invited fioin buildeis, up to Thmsday next. Tlie new church will be constructed of wood, in the decorated style of Gothic aichitectme, with buttiesses and pinnacles in front, with scoiia foundation ; the building running east and west. The length of the nave will be seventy feet, width twenty feet, and 3ieight to the spring of loof twenty feet; the full <widih being foity one feet, not including the tiansepts. There will also be two side aisles and tiansepts, he width of the foimer being ten feet six inches, and the transepts twenty feet wide. Cn each side of the nave theie will be five pillais and niches, with sunk trefoil spandnK In the clerestory seveial ventilatois will be placed. The aisles will be lighted by two-light windows, with Gothic heads; and the tiansepts by two five light windows. Over the fiont cntrmce a five-light window, with ornamental tmceiy, will also be inserted. The pitch of the roof will be equilateial, juul open timbered. The entianoe to the clnuch will foe gained by a lobby, from which a doorway opens on •each side into the aisles. About 150 persons, it is believed, will be able to be accommodated with seats, which are to be open, with Gothic ends. Upon the completion of the new chinch it is contemplated to use the old building as a schoolhouse. The site of the church will be on an acie of gionud puichased fiom Mr. Jackson. A public meeting was lecently held in the Hemueia Congiegational Clnuch, to decide upou the best means for increasing the chuich accommodation foi the district of Eemuera ; the place of woiship at piesent 5n use for ditine worship pio\ing very midequate to aneet the requirements. The Bsv. J. F. Mandeuo, the pastor of the church, occupied the chaii, and the mpeting was very well attended. After the business of the meeting had been explained in » vei}' inteiesting addiess by the ohaiimin, the following lesolutions were pioposed, seconded, and canied : — Pioposed by Mr J. Newman, and seconded by Mr. S Jackson, ''That the plan for a new Congiegational chinch at Eemuera, diann by Mr. \Yiigley and now piesented befoie the meeting, be adopted." Agreed to. Moved by Mr. S. Clark and seconded by Mr. S. Reay, '-That D. B. Thornton, Esq., be requested to act as tieasuier, and that the male membeis of the Chuich constitute the building committee, with pow er to add to their numboi." Curiied. Proposed by Mr. Jackson and seconded by Mr. Newman, " That Messrs D Gialmn, 8. Claik, nnd Philipson, be requested to act with thf> committee." This concluded the business, and the meeting then (.'ispeised. William McKay, a piiv\te iv the Militiuy Tiain, was brought up at the Police Couit, on Satin day, charged, in foui separate cases, with having stolen certain ai tides of clothing. The prisoner was found guilt}' on each chaige, and sentenced to nine mouths' imprisonment in all. Henrietta Claik, Winificd Robinson, Citheiine Murray, and Ann Sullivan, weie charged, at the PohceOouit, on Saturday, with keeping a house of illfame iv Chancery stieet. Defendants weie bouud over for three months. A meeting of the creditors of Mews. Rxttiay and Mathesor will bs held this day, at 3 pin., at the office of Mr. Brookfiekl, sohcitoi. Professor Heatly -a ill give a lectuie on phrenology at the Onehunga Institute this evening. Robert Milhs a labourer, lesident in C'hapdstreot, died suddenly on Satuulay evening lavt. A man ef the name of Fonest, a piivate of the 14th Regiment, was ariested about 2 a.m , jesterday, in "West Queen-Street, bpiug given in chaige foi stealing a purse containing some money, aud a bottle of •wine. The California Ciieus was well attended both in the afternoon aud evening on Saturday. "We nndcistand that next Saturday will be the last day peiformanee, and that the circus lt.elf will now only lemaiu for a limited period.