Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 34, 4 November 1863, Page 3

Launch of the,Wanganiti, Steamer.— On the 20th July, a Sue new steamer was launched from the iron building yard of the Messrs Gourlay. The vessel is named the and is to be .commanded by Captain Linklater. She is similar id size to the Bangatira, lately launched by the jsame firm, and is also intended for the New Zealand coasting trade. The Wanganui is 170 tons register, and 300 builder's measurement. * Queensland.— Great anxiety is felt for the safety of h is Excellency Sir George Bowen and party, who left Brisbane on the 2nd Oct., for! Execution Bay in the river steamer Premier, and j have, not been heard of at our latest dates, j Very stormy weatherhad prevailed since they left, '

Mb. and Mrs. Charles Kean arrived in Melbourne by the ship " Champion of the Seas " on the 25th September. They were received on the boards of the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne, on the 30th, by a body of upwards of forty members of the dramatic profession. Mr. R. Younge read an address of welcome, in which he said : — "Less than thirty years ago the unlettered savage walked iv solemn dignity in his native wilds upon the very spot where now flourishes an elegant populous city, in which no less than eight temples to the dramatic art have successfully arisen, and in "which we now welcome the greatest living exponent of the greatest of all poets to the land where the kangaroo and emu but late held an undisputed sway. The poetry which was then breathed by the voice of nature through primeval forests, and whispered through the trembling foliage prophecies of the brighter days to come, now mingles with the grander eloquence of those utterances which stir men's hearts and render them alive to the deepest and most endearing duration. In this new-born metropolis, the liberal arts are beginning to find a fostering and permanent home ; and we have the fullest confidence that, urged onwards by your example, and acted upon by your influence, the day is not far distant when the stage of this country will be pointed at by other nations as a model of that excellence it should ever strive to reach, and will assume that place among the powerful teachers of a people which is accorded to it by all enlightened minds in advanced systems of society." In his reply Mr. Kean adverted to the circumstance of the presentation taking place on the anniversary of his first appearance on the stage. He said : — ''When I first appeared upon the boards of Drury Lane Theatre, a friendless boy, Melbourne had no existence. In the wilderness, as you have just remarked, where the kangaroo and emu then sported, has arisen this prosperous and enlightened city ; and the youth, who, on that day, trembled with the contending emotions of hope and fear, now looks back on long years of active service, while he receives, with honest pride, the congratulations and welcome of his professional brethren in this brave, new land, that has such wonders in it." Regretting the inability of his wife and himself to protract their stay in Australia, Mr. Kean said : — " To gratify a long cherished desire to see Australia before our final retirement from public life, obliges us to confine our visit to a simple welcome and farewell. Within six months we must be again on the ocean, retracing our way to England, there to conclude our professional career. But even were it otherwise, an only child at horne — a daughter — demands a mother's care." Mr. and Mrs. Cbas. Kean made their first appearonce on the Australian stage at the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday, the 10th iust. The play selected was " The Gamester." The Argus says : — " The selection of the piece fixed for the introduction of the English actors to a Melbourne audience, was perhaps influenced as much by considerations of their personal convenience as by reason of its intrinsic interest or excellence. Mr. Kean not havingquite recovered the enervating effects of a, long sea voyage and a recent indisposition, it was thought desirable that he should make his first appearance in a piece of the less ambitious sort before venturing on his greater performances." The same journal observes :— The part (of Beverley) is one which, though not the greatest of Mr, Kean's performances, brings out strongly some of his chief excellencies — his freedom from the conventional exaggerations, his superiority to the commonplace stage devices, and, lastly, his pathos, his intensity, and his self-command. In spite of the defects of person and of voice— defects which time has not rendered less prominent — Mr. Kean succeeded in establishing all his old power over his audience ; and in giving us a performance such as, taken as a whole, has never been equalled on an Australian stage. To Mrs. Kean the only tribute would be but stale homage to a lady who holds an unique place in the affections of every true lover of the drama. It is with something deeper and warmer than a critical welcome that Mrs.. Kean has been received by the Australian public,, among whom are few who have not been moved and delighted by her acting, in days gone Panama Route. — We are glad to announce that there is every probability of Mr. Ward arranging for a Panama service. As soon as the negotiations with the Imperial Government were over, an offer was made to Mr. Ward by a company to do a slow service to New Zealand and Sydney for £100,000 a year. The New South Wales a^ent was precluded from acting for the present, and Mr. Ward, of course, could not undertake such a contract. Subsequently, the offer was made to him for £60,000 a year, the company to take the chance of getting a New South Wales subsidy. Mr. Ward again declined, but intimated that he might be willing to guarantee something like £50,000. The affair was still under consideration, and there was every likelihood of its being i accepted. Mr. Ward stipulated that the company should be properly formed, the ships satisfactory, and that, of the New South Wales subsidy, a portion should go towards reducing that paid by the New Zealand Government. The latter was to receive the postage revenue, both in New Zealand and in England— the Imperial authorities agreeing to pay the same over. The service would only be only 85 knots, the ships were to be those of the General Screw Co.'s : the Golden Fleece, Hydaspes, Indiana, Calcutta, and Queen of the South, 2000 tons, and 300 to 350 horse power. The company was to be left the choice of N.Z. terminus, and it was anticipated the selection would fall on Wellington. It is to be hoped, however, in the event of the affair going on, that the Otago Government will be able to offer induceineuts to make Port Chalmers the port of call. It must be distinctly understood that nothing was definitely settled, that this is simply the outline of an arrangement under consideration, and which not improbably would be car- , ried out. — Daily Times, October 20. Thompson Tarapipipi has been to Ahuriri, and has promised to send down a supply of ammunition and a few guerilla bands to commence operations there, and unless his plans are frustrated by the movements of the troops atWaikato, a diversion will be created in that district to draw off some of the Queen's forces from the Waikato. Thompson was armed with a sword and four revolvers,.one on each thighj and one on each side.. — Taranahi Herald, Oct, 24.

iNTER-COLOXIAIi CHAMPION KACE AT VICTOEIA. — The great sporting event of the season — the Inter-colonial Champion Race — duly came off at Ballarat on the first of the present month, and in spite of the confident predictions of the knowing October ones to the contrary, resulted in a double victory for this colony. The Sydney people Beem to have been actuallystaggered by the news of Archer's defeat, and telegrams were forwarded to the Melbourne press on the day after the race to the effect that they considered they had been hoaxed. They could not believe that their Favorite had been left in the lurch. By this time however they are fully aware of the fact, and must put up with it as well, with that of the money lost by backing him, as best they may. The town which delights in the title of the " metropolis of the gold-fields," perhaps never before saw so large a concourse of persona within its boundaries as were drawn together to witness the great race, and a fine harvest was reaped upon the occasion by the hotel-keepers there, who could scarcely find room for the crowds thafc flocked thither from all quarters, by road and by rail on the day before the event. The day was remarkably fine, although there had been enough wet weather previously to leave the course too heavy for the achievement of a very rapid race over three miles of ground. Five only of the crack nags entered for the Champion event put in an appearance for the start, namely Barwon, Mormon, Archer, Zoe, and Haidee, and they came to the winning post in the same order as that in which I have named them. Barwon went oft with the lead, and was never once passed by either of his competitors, but there was a tine struggle for the second place. Zoe shewed well in the early part of the running, but she was soon obliged to succumb to the greater powers of endurance of Mormon and Archer. Of these two, Mormon ultimately beat the Sydney crack by about a couple of lengths, so that both the first and second places at the close of the race were taken by Victorian horses, and the result stood thus : —

Zoe and Haidee, nowhere. Time, six minutes and four seconds. The comparatively light weight carried by the champion, may have had something to do with his easy victory ; for while Mormon and Archer were resectively handicapped at lOst. 4lbs., the winner bore only Bst..lolbs. The total value of the Champion stake £1955, Mormon as second horse getting £300, and Archer as third, saving his stake. — Correspondent Daily Times. Canards.— One of the most outrageous canards ever perpetrated jnade its appearance amongst the items of intelligence comprised in the telegram of European news which reached us by the Aldinga. We allude to the paragraph which announces the probability of an approaching matrimonial alliance between our beloved Sovereign and Don Ferdinand, the father of the late and present Kings of Portugal, and the widower of the late Queen Donna Maria de Gloria: The statement is so heartlessly insulting to the Queen, whose intense and long-protracted mourning for her beloved Consort has occasioned such serious apprehensions amongst her people, that we should purposely have abstained from recurring to the matter, had we not discovered that it afforded subject for discussion and comment amongst the gobemouclws of our good town. In order to show the utter impossibility of such an alliance, we may state that the King Don Ferdinand is a Catholic, being one'tif the Kohary branch of the Saxe-Coburg family, who all adhere to the ancient faith, and we need" not remind our readers that, by the provisions of the Constitution Act, Her Majesty would forfeit her Crown by such a marriage. Neither is he the uncle of the late-Prince Consort, as stated by La Presse, for in that case he would be related in the same degree to Her Majesty, whose mother was a Cobur-;, but his first cousin. The story which accuses H.R.H. the Prince of Wales with committing bigamy pure et simple, might as easily be reduced ad absurdum, and is evidently the product of some poor lunatic's ravings. Such an union, contracted without the consent of the Crown, by the Royal Marriage Act would obviously be null and void, as in the case of the Prince Eegent's marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and we believe that most persons will acquit so sagacious a prelate as H.B. the Cardinal Wiseman of any desire to be involved in the inevitable results of so very questionable a proceeding. It is, we think, a subject of legitimate regret that such publicity should be afforded to statements of this nature, which are calculated to convey very erroneous and mischievous notions in the minds of the ill-informed of the moral character of personages who are entitled to our highest respect aud honour.— Daily Times. Imported Stock. — The " New Zealand Examiner " of the 17th August, states :— •' By the John Bunyan, for Wellington, which vessel sailed a few days since, we noticed the shipment of a choice bull of the Channel Islands breed — the Lord of the Isles. He carries with him first prize certificates obtained at the Agricultural Show in England in 1861 ; and we understand his descendant, Young Lord, obtained similar distinctions at the Society's Show, at Witham, this year. He is the property of J. W. Morris, Esq., of Ohigwell, Essex, who is sending him out to the colony, under the care of Capt. Allen for sale." The Channel Islands' breed is, we believe, a novelty in New Zealand, and we never before heard of the exportation of a pure bull of that breed ; his certificate ■- states him to be a pure Jersey, and as the cross with the shorthorn is much approved by dairy farmers, the Lord of the Isles will, doubtless, be eagerly sought after on arrival in the colony. Volunteers foe New Zealand.— The Illustrated London News of 15 th August, has the following: — An order has beea received at Colchester Camp, permitting soldiers to volunteer into any of the regiments stationed- in New Zealand, viz., the 2nd battalion 18th, the 40th,. 57th, and 70th regiments. All the men who volunteer, and are found fit for active service will .receive the bounty of £1.. A number of men from the different depotg'at Colchester have come forward for service in the colony," , . _ • . Dr. Chalmers once asked a woman what could be djine to induce her husband to attend k.ifk.>'l dbnWknow,' she rep\jeft,' v unress y.ou.were to put, a pipe and a pot df-^evfe'i'hthfe'p'eW"" " v ' '''"'"

The All-England Eleven its New Zealand. — Mr. S. Jones, a gentleman who went to Melbourne from Otago for the purpose of negotiating with Mr. Marshall for a visit of the AllEngland Eleven to New Zealand, has succeeded in his object. By the terms of an agreement that has been drawn up between the high contracting parties, the Dunedin ambassador biads himself to pay to Mr. Marshall the sum of £3,500— £2000 -on the departure of the English cricketers for New Zealand, and the balance of £1,500 before their return. The duration of the engagement is to be one month, and they are to play three matches, the first and third at Dunedin, and the second at Christchurch. A few of the best Melbourne cricketers are to accompany the All-Eng-landers on their trip to this colony, and to play against them in company with the members of the New Zealand teams. With reference to the approaching event, the Daily Telegraph says : — We have been favored by Mr. D. Hamilton (a sportiug celebrity of Melbourne, whose services have been judiciously secured by Mr. Jones, to aid in organising and carrying out the various preliminary and eventual details of the English cricketers' " mimic fight " on our New Zealand turf), with the perusal of a letter received by the last home mail from George Parr, the captain of the " chosen band," and its tenor is most satisfactory. He dates from the well known cricketers' rendezvous in London. Ltllywhite's, and mentions that he has "just returned from Liverpool, after takiug and paying the cabin passages for our All-England Eleven, or rather Twelve. All of the team will come, whose names you have already received, and such a dozen players at all points of the game have never yet been brought into a cricket lield. They are full of spirits at the trip, the former Eleven always giving stunning accounts of their hospitable treatment in the colonies. There won't be only a dozen visitors from the " auld couutrie," however, for several of our young lords and squires, who always patronise, and often play with or against us, have declared openly their intention of sailing in our company, and sticking to us through our cricket travels." Only fancy a marquis, two or three earls, four or live baronets, and half-a-dozen honorables (all alive, ho !) perambulating the streets of Dunedin, and wonderingly receiving the information that our handsome and rapidly-spread-ing city might be said to be hardly a couple of years old. Such an occurrence is likely to be realised, in a less or more ratio, and it will prove the passionate love of high and low for England's national pastime, whilst unmistakeably closing the mouths of those cavillers who pretend to sniff at the fuss made about a game at bat and ball. Death of Honi Ropiha Tamaha.— We annouuee with pain the death of the Chief Honi Ropiha Tamaha, better known in Auckland under the name of " John Hobbs." He died at his own house, in Mechanics' Bay, on the morning of the 13th October, after a long and painful illness. A firm and faithful friend to the Government aud the settlers, Honi Ropiha, during . the last 18 years, rendered many and important services to the Colony. In May, 1845, at the attack on Okaihau, he brought out, under tho lire of the whole side of the Pa, a wounded seaman of H.M.S. North Star. His gallantry was cordially acknowledged by Captain Sir Everard Home and the whole of the crew. He also on several occasions brought in wounded soldiers, and discovered the ambush which had been laid by the Natives in the same action at Okaihau, thus in all probability saving the Lieut-Colo-nel of the 58th and detachments of the 99th from severe loss. On every occasion he went in front of the troops, and often pointed out the hidden en&ny. At Ruapekapeka he headed the friendly natives in an attack, and drove the enemy into the Pa with loss. He was constantly employed by the Government in later years on confidential communications with various Native Tribes, and was ever distinguished by the fearlessness with which he contended on the side of the Government and the European colonists. No matter how dangerous the service might be, he was ready at any moment to undertake it. Just before his death he made a new will disinheriting some of his relatives who have joined the king party. He was the friend and companion of Sir George Grey in many a long journey, and in many a difficult interview with the natives. We trust that the Assembly will be asked to make some provision for his widow. — New Zealander. Mb. Wakefield's Pamphlet. — We have received a pamphlet by Mr. E. J. Wakefield, entitled " What will they do in the General Assembly," which deserves the attention of all persons interested (and who are not?) in the present state of affairs in the North Island. The greater part of the pamphlet is taken up with a disquisition on the causes which have led to disagreement between the Government and the natives. Mr. Wakefield attributes the disturbed state of the North Island chiefly to the hostility shewn by the Missionary party to colonization, to Sir George Grey's temporising policy, and to the conduct of the runholders in Native Districts, whose private interests tempt them to sacrifice, those of the colony. Indeed the charges brought against the latter class is the most noticeable, feature of the pamphlet. There is, no doubt, a great deal of truth in it ; we have always been-, at a loss to understand how any Government which winked at an infraction of the law such as. that committed by holders of runs from the na-. tive owners of Jand, could expect to enforce law and order among the Maories. We recommend Mr. Wakefield 'a pamphlet to the consideration, of our readers. — Lytielton Times. The New Zealand Mail .of last month would appear to stand a chance of arriving in Melbourne too late for the Galle steamer. The mail should have been despatched from IJunecliu.on the 17th,, but the Aldinga, with the English mail on board, did not arrive at Port Chalmers until 10 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, owing to very boisterous weather having prevailed throughout a great portion of the voyage. In the. mean time* however, every effort was made in preparation for her re-coaling and despatch at the earliest possible moment after her arrival, and, thanks, tot the promptitude pf the measures adopted, she : feft for Melbourne on the evening of the same day. It was hoped she Would arrive in Mcl- * bourne in time for the despatch of the Nc\y Zealand home mails.

Barwon 1 Mormon 2 Archer 3