The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3056, 13 May 1867, Page 4

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCEO, NON T7RO. ' If I bava baau axtingnished, yat thera tisa A thousand beacons from tha ipuk I bore."

MONDA T, MA Y 13.

When the great Volunteer movement commenced in England, an important question arose as to the appointment of officers to command. According to all military precedent the Crown alone could grant commissions to those who would have to represent her Majesty's authority ; and any dictation as to appointment could not, in the nature of things, be recognised. On the other hand, for the Crown to appoint officers without regard to the feelings or the wishes of the Volunteers themselves would have been the death of the movement. The question was, however, speedily disposed of by the Government ratifying, in the generality of cases, the appointment of officers recommended by the corps. There exists, therefore, a healthy and good feeliDg between officers and men of the Volunteer force. This matter settled, a grave question arose as to selection. It was thought by some that country gentlemen should be nominated on account of political motives, or for pecuniary reasons ; but in most cases these ornamental appendages were found rather to hinder than to facilitate progress. Officers of the army on half-pay, and militia officers, were much sought after, because of the training they had received. Some of these gentlemen answered exceedingly well, although the majority of them despised the movement, or showed too muoh of the martinet to render the service agreeable to those who could attend to duty when, and only when, they pleased. A third selection took place of popular men from the ranks, who had the means and the time to devote to the movement ; and from this class, we hesitate not to say, have arisen some of the most popular and the most creditable officers of Volunteer corps. These gentlemen, at considerable sacrifice, consented to undergo a course of speoial training, and to learn the minutise of military movements ; and the creditable manner in which they and their men have gone through company and battalion drill has shown the good feeling that has existed between commanders and commanded, and elicited the unqualified commendation of military inspectors. In this colony the various corps of Volunteers have nominated their own officers, and, we may say, with as happy results as in England. The best of feeling has invariably existed between the two classes, because the corps have had confidence in the men of their choice. That they have elected good and brave men will be readily admitted by those who know anything of the services they have rendered in New Zealand. Amongst the bravest of the Volunteer officers will henceforth be recognised the name of Major Charles Heaphy, who, on Saturday, received the decoration of the Victoria Cross, and who had the honour enhanced by the mode in which it was bestowed by her Majesty's representative on the occasion, Major-General Chute. Some four years ago Mr. Heaphy was a non-commissioned officer in the corps now commanded by Captain Clarke, and we have a perfect recollection of the discussion that arose at a meeting held in the Mechanics' Institute for the nomination of officers to fill up a vacancy in the company. It was proposed that Sergeant Heaphy should be nominated to hold a commission, but not without two or three dissentients. There were a fewgentlemen present, who, from their size, were qualified to take the right and left of the company. These wanted a man of stature like themselves to do " honour to the "corps." The large majority, however, considered that bravery was before bulk, and devotion to the cause above everything ; and so it was settled : and so it has turned out that the choice was a happy one, and one that did "honour to the corps." As a subaltern officer, Mr. Heaphy was attentive to his duties, and, when elected to the command of the Parnell Company, he was, if possible, more so. He served with his comrades through the unfortunate times when the Volunteers had toi leave their homes and occupations, and undergo the drudgeries of martial life. Major Heaphy's services were

probably of more value at that period than tEose of many other officers/ from the intimate iitnowledge^ that lie possessed of the country where lay the scene of ooufliot. The bravery of •lris- li nutuTe led him vohantarlly into danger, and, above all, to risk his life for another. But the brave deed which commended itself to the General then in command, and for which he has received from the Queen the decoration of the Victoria Cross, is so well and so tersely told in the London Gazette of the Bth February that we should fail to improve upon it. The province may pride itself upon the occurrences of Saturday, for it reflects credit upon the community that counts amongst its members a man like Major Heaphy, V.C. "We have not the slightest doubt but that the district of Parnell, in which the gallant Major resides, will show its sense of this by returning him without opposition %p the House of Representatives as its member. We may well trust to him to uphold the honour of his constituents in the Assembly who has so well upheld the honour of the local forces in the field. Major-General Chute has earned from the colony a grateful feeling for the handsome and honourable manner in which he carried out her Majesty's intentions. It was evidently the recognition by one brave man of the worth of another. The General might have dispensed with much of the military display of Saturday, and still carried out the Queen's intentions creditably. But all that could add to the honour of the presentation was brought into requisition, and, to crown the whole, the officers of the Imperial and looal forces were invited by the gallant General to meet him in the Brunswick Hall in a way that Englishmen so well understand. Eor this and other acts of his, General Chute's conduct will not be forgotten by the colonists of New Zealand, and when he may be far away from our shores, the honour he did the people of Auckland will be remembered by them, There is no doubt that the honour conferred on Major Heaphy, V.C., will have its influence upon the Volunteer movement. There are brave men amongst them, as time will show, should the " in- " surgent native tribes " still maintain their feelings of hostility towards the colonists. The high distinction of the Victoria Cross is within the range of any one belonging to the local forces in New Zealand, and this is enough to stimulate them to brave deeds,

It will be seen by the mail notices in another column that the ' Lord Ashley has been detained until to-day. She will leave the harbour for the Southern provinoes at 4 p.m. Our Harapipi correspondent, writing on May 6th, supplies us with the particulars of a somewhat ■ingular accident which occurred near that place a few days ago. It appears that a team of six bullocks were passing along the road with a dray, when a tree, which had been partly sawn through, but left standing, fell upon the first yoke of bullocks, killing them instantaneously. Two children are also reported to have narrowly escaped death by poisoning—having eaten honey which had been taken from a tree near Alexandra. After suffering greatly from convulsions they ultimately recovered. Our Wade correspondent reports that a very successful concert and ball was held at that place on the 25th ultimo, with the object of raising funds for the erection of a public hall on the reserve granted by Government for that purpose. Already the reserve has been cleared.and the blocks placed on the Ground, so that it is fchoped before the expiry of a few weeks the settlers of the Wade will be able to boast of the possession of a commodious and handsome public building. The return rifle-shooting match between 10 men of the 3rd Waikato Regiment and 10 men of the 4th Waikato Regiment came off at Cambridge on the 3rd instant, and resulted in a victory for the 3rd Waikatos, the numbers being 387 against 267. The match was succeeded by a dinner and a ball at the Alpha Hotel, which was kept up until day-break next morning. We must certainly give our contemporary credit for punctiliousness. In Saturday's issue the editor of the New-Zealand Herald acknowledges the receipt from the Provincial Government printer of the Auckland Police Gazette No. 21, of date Wednesday, May 1. It may be pleasing intelligence to be able to convey the announcement of the issue of a publication which ought to have been delivered ten days previously : but it unfortunately happens in this instance the Gazette was not delivered at the police-office and elsewhere, as it undoubtedly should have been, tt the time the editor of the New Zealand Herald announced its delivery to himself. At the Police Court, on Saturday, three drunkards were mulcted in the usual penalty or alternative. His Worship, in giving judgment in the remanded bastardy case, Mary Sweeney v. Patrick Moylan, said he regretted the Court had no power to order any maintenance money in consequence of the bond for acceptance of £10, in full of all demands, signed by the plaintiff. James Gardner, John Read, and John Williams, charged with the robbery at Mr. Stiohbury'B store, Queen-street, were fully committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, on a charge of house-breaking and robbery. William Wilkinson, a discharged soldier of H.M. 12th Regiment, charged with insulting Sergeant Hill, of that regiment, admitted the offence, and was fined ss. and costs. The unappropriated portion of One-tree Hill reserve, suburbs of Auckland, parish of Waitemata, oounty of Eden, being section 12 of lot 11, area 100 acres, will be offered for lease by publio auction, to-day at noon, at the Waste Lands Office, at an upset price of £25. The annual services in connection with the Weslpyan Foreign Missions were held yesterday at the chapels in High-street and Pitt-street. The Rev. G. H. Harper officiated in the morning at the High-street Chapel, and the Rev. P. H. Cornford (Baptist minister) in the evening. The Rev. J. Buller preached in the Pitt-street Church in the forenoon, and the Rev. James Hill (Presbyterian Minister) in the evening. There were good attendances on each occasion, and collections in aid of the missions were made after each service, amounting at the Pitt street Church to £8, and at the High-street Church to £9 Bs. 9d., total |£17 Bs. 93. The annual publio meeting will be held in the High-street Church this evening, commencing at seven o'clock. As the Volunteers were returning from the Barracks on Saturday afternoon, after the presentation, preceded by the band, an accident occurred to a young gentlemen on horseback which might have resulted more disastrously. It appears the horse became restive and threw his rider in Wakefieldstreet. The young gentleman was picked up insensible and taken into the Fitzroy Hotel, where medical aid was summoned, when upon examination he was found to have sustained a severe cut over the left eye, but was removed to his own home, and is doing well. The Rev. S. Edger will deliver his long-promised lecture on " Ecce Homo" this evening, at the Parnell Hall, commencing at half-past 7 o'clock. The following is a synopsis of the subjects to be treated of : — The phenomenon of notorious books — liking and disliking books— the style and method of "Ecce Homo"— the figure of Christ— a want and error in logic— analysis of first part — the founding of Christian Church— admirable interpretation of the Church — modern principles — analysis of second part — the genius of Christianity— Christ in man — failure and corruptions of the Church — the ideal realised. About eleven o'clock on Saturday night a respec-able-looking tradesman was walking up Queen-street on his way home, when he was assaulted by a rough burly-looking fellow named Hugh McGrorty. The person assaulted was speaking to three persons with whom he was acquainted at the bottom of Victoriastreet, when McGrorty came up and gave him a violent push, which knocked him on his back on the ground. After committing the unprovoked offence, the fellow sneaked off j otherwise he no doubt would have fallen into the hands of the police. A meeting of the managing committee of the Auckland Gymkhana is called by the secretary for three o'clock p.m. this day, at the Royal Hotel, when the members are most particularly requested to Attend.

The Nathan Juvenile Troupe played at the Mechanics' Institnte, Onehunga, on Saturday evening, to \re should imagine the very best attendance that had ever assembled within its walls. Long before # the d^ors were opened, a large number of intending visitors thronged the entrance, with the evident determination of being in time to secure seats ; and well, indeed, was it for them that they did so, for when the doors were opened a few minutes elapsed before every available seat and corner of the building where standing room was procurable had been appropriated. The programme of the night's performances consisted of the popular burlesque, adapted by Mr. Small, entitled "Paddy in India," in which character little Marion has made herself so popular. A musical interlude followed, which was succeeded by Mr Small's amusing farce of " The Colonial Servant ;" whilst Mr. Chamber's pantomimic ballet " Dancing Mad" furnished a very pleasing finale to a capital evening's bill That the audience was in every way delighted with this clever trout c must have been self-evident to anyone who witnessed the entertainment, the only matter for regret being that the room was not better adapted to accommodate comfortably so large an attendance. It was quite a sight to see with what perfeot equanimity some of those in the back •eats occupied not the easiest or most comfortable of positions ; every projection of woodwork incidental to the interior of the building was made available either for a foot to rest upon or for a hand to cling to ; whilst the utmost good humour and orderly conduct prevailed throughout the evening. No doubt, amongst a few, this was to a certain extent attributable to the presence and exertions of the members of the police, to whom Mr. Nathan has requested us publicly to make his acknowledgments. As regards; the success that attended the whole entertainment, it is quite needless for us to say a word upon that soore, as all those who have visited this clever little company — and who indeed has not? — must be well aware what it must have been. Wherever they go the Nathan Troupe are bound to be appreciated, and Saturday night was very decidedly anything but exceptional. To-night, the Prince of Wales Theatre will be re-opened under the distinguished patronage of General Chute and the members of the various forces, both military and colonial. A very attractive programme has been selected, and we do not for a moment doubt that the attendance will be fully commensurate with the occasion. During last month the following robberies from the person were committed in Auckland : — From the person of — Montrose, Wyndham-street, on the night of April Bth, a single-cased silver Geneva watch, No. 33,610, marked F. Danks inside case ; a long silver chain, repaired, with a seal attached. From the person of Thomas Hollywood, Parnell, on the night of April 27tb, a silver Geneva open-faced watch, No. 5,888. From the person of Denis Scullen, in Chancery-street, on the night of April 30th, a double-cased silver lever watch, No. 2,725. From the person of Alexander McKay, Onehunga, on April 28th, a purse, with brass clasp, containing one halfsovereign and a colonial gold ring; pattern of ring, two hands clasped and a pearl on eaoh side ; £1 reward offered on recovery. We have been requested to remind the electors of the Northern Division that the poll takes place tomorrow. A subscription list on behalf of the widow and nine children of William Taylor, who was drowned at the North Bead on Friday morning last, has been left at our office. We shall be glad to acknowledge the receipt of subscriptions in aid of the destitute family. The members of No. 6 Company Auckland Rifle Volunteers are requested to meet this evening, at half-past 6 o'clock, at the orderly-room. The members of the Auckland Hunt Club will meet this afternoon, at half-p&st 2 o'clock, at St. John's College. We find from the Police Gazette that a warrant has been issued, by the Auckland Bench, for the apprehension of Charles F. Johns, on a charge of perjury, by wilfully taking a false oath to a return made in pursuance of the Bankers' Returns Act, 1858. Description : — Age, about 28 ; height, 5 feet 9 inches ; complexion, fresh ; hair, light ; gentlemanly appearance j weak eyes; wears glasses ; late manager of the Bank of Auokland. A man named Henry Lambert was apprehended by Serjeant Murphy on Saturday evening, on a charge of using obscene language in the public streets. By advertisement it will be perceived that Messrs. Jones and Co. will sell at the Brunswick auction mart, on Wednesday next, at noon, the right to booths, gate, stand-cards, &c, for the Autumn Gymkhana, to be held on the 23rd and 24th May. A man named Clune was arrested by the Onehunga police on Saturday night, on the charge of having attempted to stab a man named MoNaughton, and also of having beaten in a very brutal manner another man named Johnston. Mr. Russell, of the Public Works Department, is at present absent from Auckland, on a visit to the Wade and other Northern settlements, for the purpose of inspecting the condition of roads and bridges damaged by the recent floods. The following list of robberies is extracted from the Police Gazette : — From the dwelling-house of one Thomas R. Jamieson, Woodland, Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, on the 16th March, a pair of black cloth trousers, a pair of white trousers, a pepper-and-salt tweed waistcoat, a black felt hat, a check flannel shirt, a puce Lindsay dress, a grey poplin dress piece, a piece of brown Lindsay, a black silk jacket, a white flannel petticoat, two pieces of cambric i muslin, a brown cloth shawl, a tortoise-shell card case, a tin box of sewing-needles, two pair of scissors; also a _ dressing-case containing a gold ring with turquoise set in midst of pearls, a small gold brooch with brown hair in front and two letters on back, j an alumina bracelet with true lover's knots, a pair of gold studs, a gold locket containing hair, tooth brushes, and several cotton spools. £10 reward is offered on conviction. — From the store of Mr. Day, Matakana, on the night of 21st March, the follow* ing artioles, viz., six or eight pair of moleskin trousers, six pair of tweed trousers, a boy's suit, eight alpaca coats, four serge coats, six magenta Crimean shirts, four white shirts, eleven white shirts with fancy fronts, and three pair of elastic-side boots. From the Albert Barracks, on April 9th, the property of Colour-sergeant Joseph Hill, l-12th Regiment, a silver double-cased English lever watcb, No. 1117 or 1171, maker "Phillips, Cockspurstreet, London," and bearing the following inscription :—: — " Presented to Sergeant J. Hill, l-12th Regiment, as a token of respect for his efficient services as drillinstructor of the Y.Y. Rifle Regiment." A steel Albert chain, with split steel ring, was attached. On March 30th, a silver Geneva watch, No. 11,142, property of George Hayes, in the employ of Mr. Marks, bootmaker, Queen-street, Auckland. From the Railway Terminus Hotel, Official Bay, a plated coffee pot and a plated teapot, marked with a cross at bottom, property of Joseph Senior. From the Royal George Hotel, Newmarket, between 17th and 19fch April, a hunting lever watch, joint of case loose, brass hands ; and two old-fashioned Geneva verge watches ; makers and numbers unknown. From the premises of Lieutenant Featheratonhaugb, Symonds-street, on the night of April 19, a gold Geneva watch with gold and greenstone cross attached; a gold match-box, and number of silver dessert and table spoons, with " 12th" scratched on them. The continued illness of Commodore Maguire having rendered his return to England advisable, Captain Luce, of the * £sk,' being senior captain on the station, has temporarily taken command of the squadron, and shifted the pennant from the 'Challenger' to the 'Esk.' The latter vessel has completed her time of service on this station, and orders for her return home are daily expected. This will probably necessitate further changes. — Sydney Mail. We understand that by the arrival of the mail orders have been received from England for the detachment of Royal Artillery, stationed in Sydney, to hold itself in readiness tc* embark from this colony for Penang. — Ibid. Mr. Alfred Buckland will sell, to-day, at 12 o'clock, at the residence of Mr. Althorpe, Remuera, cows, pigs, produce, drays and harness, &c. Mr. Henry Ridings has received instructions to sell, to-day, at 12 o'clock, at the warerooms of Mr. i W. J. Young, about five tons of New Zealand flax, manufactured at Cox's mill, Whangamarino Creek. Messrs. W. Hunter and Co. will tell by auction, to-day, at 1 o'clock, at the Newmarket sale yards, fat and store cattle, dairy cows, fat sheep, fat and j store pigs, &o. Messrs. S. Cochrane and Son have received instructions to sell, to-day, by public auction, at 11 o'clock, at the Newton Sash and Door Factory, the entire stock-in-trade, consisting of carpenters' tools, building materials, horses, carts, harsest, Ac. Messrs. Turrell and Tonka will sell, today, by public auction, at 12 o'clock, at their mart, land and houses in Alten' Road, at Mount St. John, Waiuku, Paparoa, Arapajme, Mahuwmgi, &o. '* ,

The annual public meeting of the AticklancP, auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Socie^* will be held on Wednesday evening next, at 7 o'clock, in the Young Men's Christian Associationrooms, when several clergymen and other gentlemen are expected to address the meeting. The chair will I c taken by T. Macfarlane, Esq. At the conclusion of the meeting, a collection will be made in aid of the Society^ funds.