The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2809, 27 July 1866, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCEO, NON TJBO. " If I hurt been extinguished, yet there riie A. thousand beacons from the spark I bore."

FRIDAY, JULY 27.

We congratulate importers on the arrival of the ' Monarch,' a report of whose passage will be found elsewhere. Leaving, however, that vessel out of consideration, let us turn, to the ""project of a Shipping Company, broached by us on Wednesday last, and which, we are glad- to find, has been favourably received by a considerable section of the public. We do so in the..interest of Auckland commerce. It is time"*this influential and opulent port were somewhat independent of the , very respectable brokers who have heretofore managed its English trade. Whether they did the best they could for us, or whether they only considered their own interest, is not now the" question we propose to discuss. We leave our readers to draw their own conclusions on these points ; but we do think the time has arrived when the import and export trade of' Auckland ought to be principally done -by Auckland ships. It is no new idea this. * The subject was discussed some years ago, and action taken by Auckland merchants resident in London ; but there were so many difficulties in the way of carrying out the project, and the want of it was not so pressingly felt at the time, that it was then abandoned. It is to be observed, however, that the * initiative was then taken on the ' English side : it will now be taken on the Auckland side, and the' uncertainty of support, which lay at the bottom of the withdrawal in the first instance, will not operate "now. The entire trading community feel, the

want of a better system, and as a whole would take shares in a company which would be under local management, and worked with the view to the advancement of our trade and commerce. Nor would there be anything like a risk in the matter, as there was with some of our now prosperous local institutions. The project of the New Zealand Insurance Company was considered to be a venture fraught with great risk, and by some deemed certain of failure. But it proved to be a ' certain success. And why ? Because it retained in this community a considerable portion of the accumulated trading capital, and added materially to the public wealth. It succeeded, because it was based on the elements of success ; and can any One readily estimate by how much this institution has advanced the interests of- Auckland ; by how much it has stimulated its trade, and in hard cash added to its fixed and floating capital 1 And so also of the Bank of New Zealand. Started in the days of doubt and uncertainty, when the Oriental Bank, without making a single bad debt, -took - fright and withdrew its capital from the colony, leaving it entirely in the hands of the Union Bank, what has been its fate 1 Has it been an. error in banking 1 Has it ruined its shareholders 1 Has it not, on the contrary, upheld the credit of the colony, in a crisis of unexampled severity? Look at the condition of Queensland to-day, compressed in the strong-box of a foreign bank, powerless to extricate herself from her temporary difficulties except by the issue of " green-backs ;" and let any reasonable man ask himself the question, whether this colony could have weathered the gale but for the New Zealand Bank. It stands to reason that she could not. The demand for money elsewhere would have induced the foreign "banks (if we may so term them) to withdraw their capital, and dispose of it in apparently safer investments. The proprietary of these Jbanks have no sympathy with New Zealand commerce, no interest in the progress of the colony, beyond the purely speculative one of making a profit by trading with us ; but the New Zealand Bank proprietary were differently situated. Their stake was in the colony. New Zealand was their adopted home ; and they were personally interested in maintaining the public credit, and protecting the trading and commercial interests from ■undue pressure from without. The good the Bank of New Zealand has done to this colony is, incalculable. "It created a revolution in commerce, and gave an elasticity to domestic trade and industries perfectly marvellous. And so also, in degree, may we say of the Bank of Auckland and the Auckland Insurance Company. They have succeeded; because they could not but be successful with careful management.. And the basis of these and kindred institutions was this — to do for ourselves what it paid others haftdsomely to do for us. One or two could not establish a bank or an insurance company ; but it could be, and was, done by cooperation. It was not a matter of speculation : the profits were certain, because it was only to step into an'established and lucrative business. Now, we say the proposal to establish an Auckland Shipping Company is not a proposal to encourage speculation. It is not as if we asked our merchants to fit out a whaler, and go to a large outlay for a very uncertain return. "We ask them to apply their capital in another way, and, by cooperation, establish a company which shall be strong enough in time to do the great proportion of' bur English and foreigu trade. It pays brokers to charter ships and take up Auckland freights : why should not importers unite to secure the brokers' profits to themr -selves. ' We think it may be done; and if not at present, it certainly will ultimately be done.' A company, say, of 10,000 shares of £10 v each, with £25,000 paid up capital to start with, could go into the market and purchase several suitable vessels of North American build to begin with, and would be in as good a position to charter bottoms for this port as any London broker. The headquarters ought to be in Auckland ; and with. London directors and agent, no doubt the business of the company could be well and profitably conducted. Importers, being shareholders, would naturally order shipments by the company's vessels, and New Zealand produce, instead of being sent by way of Sydney or Melbourne, would invariably be forwarded by the return ships. By this means freight would alwjays be secured, and the profits of the company become a certainty. Moreover, inasmuch as the captains of the company's ships ought to be compelled to have their families resident in Auckland, this would be a guarantee in itself for orderly conduct on board ; and such a line of ships would present an opening to our young men, who might choose the sea for a profession, which they could not otherwise count on. In conclusion, we would suggesj^an early meeting of the leading importers and capitalists of Auckland, to consider this question. We do not urge unnecessary haste ; but we think it is high time that action were taken. We regret that so many of our leading men are in 'Wellington ; but we have no doubt, were a preliminary meeting of our merchants held, and a report drawn up embodying the views of the meeting, pointing out the. advantages and necessity for the establishment of such a company, that these gentlemen would readily fall in with the movement.

Onr Opotiki correspondent confirms the news published by us on Monday last, frero our Tauranga correspondent, to the effect that ,Captain Leggetfc, temporarily commanding at Opotiki, had deemed it expedient to. withdraw the small detachment of- 25 men from the Gorge'redoubt for the present. The post atill remains unoccupied. The surveyors had been 'warned that it was unsafe in the neighbourhood , of Ohiwa, but they asked for and receive t arms, and mean to defend themselves. Hostilities are expected to recommence on the return of Patara aud Kereopa, who are «aid to be away on a recruiting expedition . In our shipping columus will be found a narrative of the voyage of the ship 'MonaVch,' which arrived here yesterday, -from London, 150 days out, with 69 passengers, after a most eventful trip. The 'Monarch' is aa old East Indiaman, freighted by Messrs. Shaw, Savil), and Co., and commanded by - Captain Macey, who was in this port about 1 1 years ago, in the ship ' Oriental. ' The greatest difficulty was experienced during the passage with the crew, aud the vesael was' compelled to r put into Rio Janeiro for repairs to a leak". > -The following are the trades and occupations, of the passengers : — ' 1 shepherd, 1 labourer, 1 millwright, 9 farmers, 1 baker, 2 farm servants, 1 "Ironmonger, 1 farm labourer, 1 grocer, 1 carpenter, 1 wheelwright, 3 merchants, 1 miner, 1 .L;!cliemie,t, 1 bricklayer, 2 surgeons, 2 geutlemenjpl engineer, 1 civil eugineer, 2 clerks, 1 soldier. English, 50 ; Scotch,. 7 ; Irish, *10 ; foreigners, 2 ; total, 69. Several of the passengers left the vessel at Itto de Janeiro, and returned to England, owing to their dissatisfaction with the chapter of events during the first part of the voyage. . :■ A Provincial Government Gazette was published last evening, and contained a notification that seven allotments on the north side of the Whahgamarino Creek, Waikato, would be offered for sale by public •notion, at the Wast< Lands Office,, at noon, on the 17thproximo.

A -Port Albert correspondent kiudly forwaida us tbe following nota of the state of the weather at that place, on tbe evening of the thunderstorm south of Auckland : — l< In reply to your request I have to state, that the weather here on Juue 28th was verj wet in the afternoon and evening ; wind N.N78.. with one or two peals of thunter, but not h?avy. Thursday, July 5 : Fine. \fiud E., blowing strong, and continued »o uuti] Tuesday lait, wheu it commenced to raiu." A double tiagedy has taken place at Opotiki, amongst the military settlers there. It would appear that a sentry on duty, named Patrick Do'an, shot bis comrade William Hanuan dsad, at about 7 p.ni., on the evennj of the 9ih July ; and private William ■fSlbson, of the *»roe regiment, wh'tlit engaged pitching a tent for the reception of the corpse, fell into the river and was drowned. He was intoxicated at the tim*. The jury, empanelled by the commanding officer, returned a verdict amounting to wilful murder against Dolan. Details will be found in our Opoliki letter. We cannot help thinking that the inquiry should be tnken up by the proper authorities where it has been broken off, as it 's quite clear that the sentry was intoxicated on his poafc. Indeed, there would appear to have been far too much drunkenness, and an absence of that strict discipline which ought to distinguish a camp situate in the centie of a suspicious native population, and in the immediate presence of hostile natives. We likewise think that the military farce of martial la,y has been pla id out on the East Coast. Let the Government appoint two or three local justices of the i eace and a coroner, and the district would soon dtrive a decided benefit from the change. We observe by advertisement in another column that Mr. G-. T. Chapman ha 3 received a few copies of Mr. Fox's new work, "1 ho War in Js T ew Zealand." The work has been reviewed by the leading journals, both home and colonial, and pronounced at once candid and to the point. "From ths author's long experience with New Zealand affairs hi 3 opinion is of some consequence. Amongst the cases tried before the Resident Magistrate yesterday was one affecting the obligations of auctioneers. Four yeais ago, Mr. Kigg sold a piece of laud to a Mr. Wood, plaintiff in the present action, and, according to that gentleman's evidence, lold him to go to Mr. Walter McCaul, tailor, High street, who would give him the conveyance. Mr. Eigg statt-s that he referred Mr. Wood to Mr. George McCaul, who had given him the order to sell the laud. Mr. Walter McCaul, to whom, it seems, the laud really belonged, now refuses to convey. The present action was brought against Mr. Rigg for the repayment 'of the purchase money, or to procure a conveyance, and Mr. Wynn, who appeared for the plaintiff, contended that an auctioneer ought to satisfy himself that the land he was selling really belonged to the party giving him the order to sell, and also that, before handing over the purchase money, he should see that the purchaser had got a conveyance. Judgment was deferred. Au action for payment for an advertisement that had been inserted in the Aucklander newspaper in 1862, was brought against Mr. John Copland, of the Waitemata Hotel, but after hearing the evidence his Worship ordered a nonsuit to be recorded . The other cases were not of general interest. The description of two boys— James Robinson and George Jones — runaways from the Auckland City Mission and Children's Home, Durham-street, will be found in another column ; and persons are cautioned against harbouring them. Mr. Benjamin Cunningham, manager of the Home, will gladly receive any information which Will lead to the recovery of the truants. Mr. Beckhain, R. M., is likely to hear a good deai about the eventful voyage of the 'Menarch' in various ways. Three passengers— two brothers named Clarke and a man named Makeham — were given into custody yesterday on a oharge of broaching cargo, and will be brought up at the Police Court to-day. On Wednesday evening, a soiree was held in' the Otahnhu Public Hall, for the purpose of raising funds to enlarge the school-house in connection with the Episcopal Church (Rev. Mr. Goulds). About 350 persons were present There were some fourteen trays furnished by a number of ladies, and amply provided with tea, cake, and fruit. The Rev. John Macky, Presbyterian Minister, presided. After tea, addresses were delivered, and an efficient choir contributed much to the enjoyment oE the meeting by the selections of music so admirably rendered. Miss Bevan accompanied on the piano. At the close of the meeting the juvenile portion of the assembly joined in the "festive dance," which was kept up until 12 o'clock. The entertainment wai I successful, £20 having been realised for tbe desirable object in view. A quarterly ball, in connection with the Parnell Quadrille Club, came off on Wednesday evening, in the Dramatic Hall, with much success. The spacious hall was profusely decorated with a tasteful display of flags, ornamental sbrubbmy, Ac., and presented a pleasing appearance. There 'were about fifty persons present, principally members of the club and their partners. Dancing commenced at nine o'clock, and was kept up with unflaggiug energy until an advanced hour. The music was under the direction of Mr. West, who, from the commencement of the club, now four months ago, has shown much inteiesfc its progress. The refreshments were provided by Mr. Hale, cook and confectioner, Parnell. _'1 he ' Zillah,' which arrived from the islands last night, reports five Spanish men-of-war lying at Tahiti when she sailed, refitting for sea. Miss Aitkins will make her first and only appearance in Otahuhu on the evening of Wednesday next, for the purpose of giving one of her popular readings. The Rev. J. Macky will take the chair, and Mr, Haydn Flood will preside at the pianoforte. The members of the Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade held their monthly meeting last evening. The proceedings will be found reported elsewhere. A phantasmagoria entertainment was given last evening, by Mr. Burgham, in Craigs Buildings, Symondsstreet. There was a good attendance. A new comic series of original Oriental sketches, entitled, " The Tale of a Tub," was given in a very pleasing manner, and provoked considerable mirth. Albert Smith's " Mont Blanc," and several other interesting scenes, were also .displayed, and were much appreciated. Mr. Burgham will repeat his Phantasmagoria Entertainment this evening at seven o'clock in the fjarmon school-room, Albert Barracks. The fifth lecture of the series to be given at the Young Men's Christian Association will be delivered this evening, at half-past 7 o'clock, in the large room of the association, by the Rev. R. Kidd, LL.B , on the subject, " Prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling." The" Newton Total Abstinence, Society held their usual weekly meeting on Wednesday evening last, the attendance being very good. Mr. Robinson was in the chair." After singing a temperance hymn, Mr. Cox was called on and delivered a very earnest discourse, effectually answering the flimsy objections urged against the principles of total abstinence by the moderate drinkers of the present day. Ihe choir sang "^Ellenßlane." Recitation," "The Gambler's Wife," by Mr. Farnham. Solo by Mr. Lambeit on the harmonium. Mr; VenaUes then addressed the meeting in a practical speech, and displayed a beautiful scarf which, together w ith a medal, were presented to him at the close of a contest of six teetotal coal-whippers against an equal number of moderate-drinking coal-whippars in London, and whom the teetotallers beat three times. He wound up an excellent address by earnestly requesting the working classes to try the teetotal principles, as he, being a working man, and always accustomed to hard work, felb he could better perform his daily toil without than with strong drink. The choir stng, "Be Kind to thy Father." The chairman wound up the meeting by lamenting the great deal of distress existing in the place, and most of it selfinflicted. The Doxology was sung, and the meeting dispersed. — [Communicated. ] The annual general meeting of the Auckland Gat Company (limited) is appointed to be held this afternoon, af three o'clock, at the company's office, Nelson-street, for the purpose of receiving the annual report, and electing two directors and auditors in the place 61 those retiring. The next meet of the Auckland Garrison Hunt Club will take place at three o'clock this-afternoon, at the Prince Albert public-house, on the Onehung* Road. We have been requested to state that some very superior samples of New Zealand flax may be seen at Mr. A. Woolleys store, Queen-street. It is prepai ed by tbe natives. Messrs. Ridings and Perston will sell by public auction to-day, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, piino, books, plants, tobacco, schooner ' Ono,' and house and allotment in Ireland -street, Alma-place. Mr. L. W. Eaton will offer for sale by public auction to-day, at 10, o'clock, at the stores of Messrs. Eaton and Dewolf, beef,* -pork, butter, bacon and hams, maize, onions, &c. Mr. Samuel Cuohrane announces that he has received in»truo£ions to sell by public auction, to-day, at eleven o'clock, at his mart, Fort-street, household furniture, rifle, books, &c.