TO THE ELECTORS OF FRANKLYN.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2829, 20 August 1866, Page 3

TO THE ELECTORS OF FRANKLYN.

Ii will be seen, from our advertising columns, that at a meeting of the council of the Northern ■ Association, held on Saturday, the rotes of Colonel Haul tain, one of the members for Franklyn, came up for consideration. It was unanimously resolved to invite the attendance and cooperation of the electors of Franklyn, at a public meeting, to be held at the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, on Tuesday (to-morrow), at 3 o'clock, when a public expression of opinion would' be taken on the conduct of the gentleman named. We may state that the Northern Association takes the initiative in this matter, by the consent, if not at the request, of many of the most influential electors of the district misrepresented by Colonel Haultain. It was felt that the Council of the Northern Association could best organise a meeting of this kind, and elicit a general expression of opinion from the electors, more especially as the action taken by this executive body could not be attributed to personal motives. The Northern Association is composed of the entire adult male population of the prorince, and its Council includes the members of the House of Eepresentatives and Provincial Council, besides twenty-three gentlemen elected by public suffrage. Such a body may well presume to take the initiative in this matter ; and we are strongly inclined to censure it for deferring so long. But the error, if error there was, lay in this — respect for Colonel Haultain. The Council of the Northern Association had a more tender regard for that gentleman's honour and consistency than he appears to have cherished on his own account ; but the Council has at length become convinced that his backsliding is not accidental, and that it is now necessary, as he persists in his political apostacy, to let the country know that he does so in open defiance of the opinions of his constituents, and his own promises. For our ovrn part, we think action has been too long delayed. Colonel Haultain ought to have had a memorial calling upon him to resign i-nis seat, in his hand to-day ; but it is better late than never. We trust the electors of Franklyn will, on this occasion, prove themselves in earnest. We know it is a hard matter to ask gentlemen to leave their farms at this season to attend a political meeting ; but on the other hand, if the policy which Colonel Haultain support! is to be forced on the colony, it will be of comparatively little use to farm in the province of Auckland. Colonel Haultain has not only voted against Separation but against any temporary measure for the better government of this province. He "goes in" to support the financial policy of the Government also, which, while it saddles every penny of debt that can be saddled upon Auckland, takes away our only means of meeting public engagements — namely, the surplus revenue fund, — and leaves the Middle Island free to the land revenue. This, be it remembered, in open violation of the financial compact by which the land fund became provincial revenue. If the electors of Franklya do not speak out unmistakably at this crisis, they will set the seal to the spoliation of the province.

The * Queen of the North,' as will be seen by our shipping columns, leaves a full ship for London tomorrow, having 62 passengers and a large valuable cargo, comprising 4,754 cases kauri gum, and a quantity in bulk, hhds., casks, &c, amounting to some 450 tons. She also takes a quantity of Auckland flax, wool, iron, sanil,>glue, &c, besides artillery stores, shot, shell, and guns. Our Hamilton correspondent sends us particulars of the foundering of the 'Pioneer' in the Horotiu ; but the details have been already published. Our correspondent states that on the 13th there was no chance of raising the steamer, she having settled several feet deeper into the bed of the river owing to the floods of the 11th. He states that a gang of 50 men, including some of the Ist Waikatos from Hamilton, were employed ; also a large number of men of the 57th Regiment from Ngaruawahia. He says nothing of the strike. A new warehouse is to be erected at Onehunga for Mr. Samuel Rout, on the site rendered vacant \>y the late destructive fire at the junction of Queen and Princes-streets. The one destroyed was a new threestorey wooden building leased to Mr. Christey, and used as a post-office and general store, having been erected at a cost of £900. The new store will have a frontage of 60ft., and is to be of wood, with brick sides, divided into four compartments, each having a large shop window, with small cased window underneath for the cellarage, which will be very capacious. There will be a main entrance in the centre of the building. The residence of the storekeeper will be a lean-to at the rear. Mr. Keals is the architect for the warehouse, and invites tenders for its erection until noon of the 23rd instant. A. meeting of gentlemen interested in the Auckland Hunt was held on Saturday, in the Exchange Hotel, for the purpose of making arrangements to carry on the hunt efficiently. On the motion of Captain Griffiths, seconded by Mr. Strickland, Captain Sterling took the chair, Mr. Matravers acting as secretary. The principal business was the appointment of a committee to conduct the affairs of the club, and after some conversation, the following gentlemen were elected : — Messrs. Strickland, B. McLean, Walters, and Woodfield; the master (Captain Sterling) and the secretary and treasurer (Mr. Matravera) to be members of committee ex officio. Mr. T. Bassett was proposed as a member of committee, but that gentleman stated that he could not pledge himself to attend the meetings, although he was willing to do all that he could for the club. Mr. Strickland proposed that the treasurer be authorised to collect funds to import hounds as early as possible, and that he should report to the committee when he had col lected the sum of £50. Mr. Walters said 'that to start the subscription he would guarantee £10, and Mr. Strickland, Captain Sterling, and Lieutenant Applin each guaranteed the same sum. Mr. Strickland said that he had spoken to gentlemen who had formerly been connected with the Melbourne Hunt, and he was assured that ten couples of dogs could be brought over here for £25. It was proposed by Mr. Matraveis, seconded by Lieutenant Applin that the Master place himself in communication with the Master of the Hunt in Melbourne on the subject, and report to the members. It was also agreed that the members of the Hunt should dine together on Monday, the 27th inst., and that the dinner be preceded by a hunb. On the motion of Mr. Strickland, a vote of thanks was given to Cantain Steiling for presiding, and the meeting separated. It will be seen, from our Hamilton letter, that the agitation amongst the military settlers is only commencing, and if we mistake not the Government will regret, in the end, the course they have taken. When we say that the men have both law and equity on their side, and that the Government shirk an inquiry into the matter in the Supreme Court, we only state the simple and unassailable truth. A soldier of the Military Train, named William Pope, vras apprehended on' Saturday on a charge of stealing a saddle »nd bridl* from the Military Train stables. A man named John Silk vras taken into custody on the charge of stealing a pickaxe.

A meeting of the City Board will be held, to day, at two o'clock, when the following business will be considered: — Correspondence, &c. received since last meeting ; petition of Seymour Wells as to expense incurred in watering the streets of the city ; report by Finance Committee as to improvements in Karan^ahape Road ; report of Streets Committee, as to interview with deputation of ratepayers interested in the formation of Cook-street ; report by Foreman of Works on Fire Brigade ; Mr Keetley to move, "That a gas lamp be placed on the Karangahape Eoad, opposite the space between the shops of Mr. Aickin and Mr. Dewolf, and another at the end of Howestreet ;" Mr. Swanson to move, " That this Board take into consideration the propriety of extending the boundary of the Building Act, and also any alterations in the present Act;" Mr. George to move, " That the footpath on the west side of Queen-street, from Wyndham-street to the Union Bank, be kerbed,' widened, and channelled, forthwith ;" accounts, &c. The re-investigation of claims for compensation for losses sustained during the war will be resumed before T. Beckham, Esq.. R.M., Commissioner, this day. The Court will be held in the Provincial Council Chamber, and the business will commence at the usual hour. We have been requested to direct the attention of admirers of the fine arts to a highly finished and strikingly correct landscape water-colour drawing of Auckland, now on view in the shop window at Messrs. Upton and Co.'s establishment, Queenstreet. The executant is Mr. Hoyte, of Brighton, an artist, whose faithful re-production of local scenery has made his name famous in this and neighbouring provinces. The stand-point has been chosen near Stokes's Jetty, and an exquisite panoramic view of the Auckland side of the Waitemata has thus been afforded and perpetuated. The drawing is well worth the inspection of all interested in this branch of art. A runaway horse took a curious course on Saturday, happily without any serious casualty. A bout two o'clock a spring cart, belonging to Mr. William Wesley, of Mangere, was left standing in Princesstreet, and the horse, having got startled at something, ran at full gallop towards the Albert Barracks. The sentry, seeing the horse approach, shut the gate, thinking to bring the animal to a standstill. The check was, however, but for a moment, as the horse dashed down the barrack hill at the steepest p art; the onlookers expecting every moment to see the horse fall, and the vehicle roll over it ; but no such catastrophe happened, and the children who were on the hill managed to get out of the way. On passing the Mechanics' Institute two of the posts there were struck by the vehicle, and broken. At the turning towards High-street, the passage proved too narrow, the spring cart caught, and with a strong jerk the horse was free. He ran to Hardington's yard, where he was quietly taken. The cart and harness are but slightly injured. A meeting of the Council of the Northern Association was held on Saturday afternoon last, in the Council-room of the Chamber of Commerce, at which the conduct of Colonel Haultain, in voting against the Separation resolutions, was considered; also correspondence received from the London committee per the last mail. The resolution* which were adopted by the meeting will be found in our advertising columns. At the Police Court yesterday, a private of the 14th Regiment, named John Perry, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour for stealing shirts from a yard in Pitt-street. A New Zealand tree fern was exhibited at the last International Horticultural Exhibition, in May, at Kensington. The Field says :—": — " Grand as the scene from the mound undoubtedly i», it would have been comparatively poor were it not for that noble New Zealand tree fern (Cyathea medullaris) rearing up its thick stem and wide-spreading graceful crest, and crowning with verdure and grace the brilliant parterre." It may be a pleasing piece of intelligence to many of our readers to be informed that active preparations are now being made for the holding of a vocal and instrumental concert in Auckland, iv aid of the St. Stephen's Orphan Home. The voluntary services of most of our local amateur vocalists and instrumentalists have already been kindly promised ; and the concert, we believe, will take place in about a fortnight. We are informed that the new steam-boat which h&3 been built by Captain Wing, for trading purposes between Onehunga and Waiuku, will make her first trial trip on the waters of the Manukau on Monday next. A large number of invitations have already been issued to settlers and others interested in the success of the enterprise. Mr. Pulman, lithographer and engraver, Short-land-street, has left at our office, for inspection for a few days, a chastely executed address engrossed on parchment, which is to be presented by the noncommissioned officers and privates of the 2nd Battalion 18th Royal Irish, to the Very Rev. Joseph McSweeney, previous to his departure from the colony for Fngland. The address is written in the style of the 14th century, with illuminated capitals, ornamental border, &c, and is in every respect a beautiful piece of work. The lovers of billiards will be glad to learn that a handicap sweepstakes will take place this evening, at eight o'clock, at Cox's Exchange Hotel ; acceptances receivable until noon to-day. At Hoffmann's Assembly Eooms, this evening, Bellini's charming opera of "Norma" will be performed. The Newton penny readings came off on Friday evening last, Mr. P. H. Herapath in the chair, who in opening the proceedings expressed the pleasure he felt in "being able to contribute to the enjoyment and amusemeut of the working classes, and hoped they would take advantage of the opportunities afforded them by those who were catering for their welfare. He called upon Mr. Ripley, who read "The Birdcatcher." "Living in Play, or Life's Gay Hours," by Mr. Bullock, followed. He prefaced his reading by telling how universal these popular amusements had become, and the good likely to accrue by the establishment of such cheap and sound entertainments. Duet, by the Misses Jones ; "George the Third's Visit to Whithead's Brewery," Mr. Hunt; reading, " Against Boys," Mr. Haghes; reading, "Fight with Pirates," Master Corn ford ; Irish song, Mr. Hunt; reading, "King Edward and Queen Philippa," Mr. Fry. The Doxology being sung the meeting dispersed. — [Communicated.] Messrs. Ridings and Perston announce the receipt of instructions to sell by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Queen street, the whole of the furniture, stock-in-trade, bar fittings, &c. Mr. Samuel Cochrane will sell by public auction, to-day, by order of the trustees in the estate of M. H. Roe, upwards of 40 houses and allotments in Onehunga, and land at Awhitu.