RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF A COLONIAL TOURIST.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1641, 8 January 1862, Page 2

RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF A COLONIAL TOURIST.

The Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand is now un fait accompli. The Dunedin Conference which accomplished the auspicious work of laying down a basis upon which all the scattered elements of Presbyterianism throughout the Colony could be united into one body, is a matter of history. The interest taken by a large number of colonists on this subject rests chiefly, as a matter of course, upon the official doings of the Conference ; hut there are many who may feel interested in reading some account of the experiences of those who took part in this movement. Upon this assumption the following stray leaves from the note book of one of the delegates are placed at your disposal. They may serve the purpose of filling a column or so at any time when a dearth of more important news makes an editor feel anxious and fidgety. Our party consisted of three, —one reverend divine and two laymen. We left Auckland at different times, but met again on the evening of the 6th November, at Manukau, under circumstances not the most comfortable. It was a dark, gusty night, with occasional smart showers of rain. One of the laymen, whose better-half appeared anxious to see the last of him—or, rather, who was devotedly determined not to part with him until the last moment —arrived at mine host’s of Onehunga, with his exemplary helpmate, and a tolerable “swag,” about 11 o’clock at night. It had ibqen reported that the steamer would leave at daylight. Hence no little anxiety was manifested to jet on board. But how was this to be accomplished ? One man had a boat, but no oars; another, who owned a cockleshell that he called a boat, had made the attempt with another party, but after giving his passengers a good ducking, and placing himself and thtm in considerable peril, had been compelled to put back in despair. Others, besides the Conference delegate, were in a fix. There was His Lordship the B- p and Mr. K , besides a number ol nondescripts who were evidently too much occupied in nobUrising to be very much concerned about the means of embarkation. “ I’ve got a first-rate boat, sir, and if Mr, P will lend us his oars, I’ll soon make a party to pull you on board. You’ll go 'for one, Jem, wont jou, and you, Tom, for another?” “ Aye, we’ll go,” said Jem and Tom. The proposal was at once accepted, and the goodnatured boat-owner set off to request the loan of the ashen propellers. In a short time he returned with a disconsolate face “ I knocked until I was tired, sir; Mr. P has just gone to bed; he wont get up to get me the oars though I told him the B p was one of the party.” “ I’ll go with you and see if 1 can persuade Mr. P— to turn out,” said Mr. , and off they set again. After another period of anxious suspense, they returned again with the melancholy tidings that all the lights were out, and that no amount of importunity or knocking could elicit a sign of intelligent audience on the part of the sleepy Inmates. At length one of the bystanders volunteered the information that a cargo boat was lying at the end of the wharf, and that we might all get on board of her if we liked. The alternative was gladly embraced. The trap which had conveyed the layman and his wife to the trysting port was filled with the luggage of the party, and a careful hand who knew the ups and downs of the locality took the horse by the bridle, while the passengers followed on foot. Is it not a strange and discreditable fact that no better accommodation is afforded to passengers about to embark in the Company’s steamers ? On reaching the boat, it afforded our layman no little gratification to find that his colleagues were there before him, —one of them stowed away under the forecastle, in what seemed to be intended for a bunk, the other sitting jammed up amidship between boxes and packages of every description. The boat was crammed full of lire and dead cargo, and it was only after a little contrivance that the new accessions could find room to stow themselves away. The Bishop got a berth close to his brother of the cloth, and by their friendly and animated conversation it soon became evident that, although not ecclesiastically related, they were, nevertheless, brethren in the best sense of the term. The tide would not serve for a couple of hours; and there we sat individual examples of “ patience in a boat smiling at grief.” A short time before we started an incident occurred which served, at least, to break the monotony of the scene. A warmhearted, lightheaded Irishman, accompanied by two or three friends, who, with himself, had evidently taken too much poteen, made their appearance, and this son of the sod seemed inclined to make a diversion in our midst by dancing u hornpipe upon the heads ot those who sat beneath in the boat At first he was so uproarious that the men in charge were determined to tjirust him forcibly back to land. But after he had taken pepeat’eS ndieqs of hi? booq companions and in

bulged in sundry riitHer equivocal proofs of his own assurance “ that he was all right,” he got settled down in the only place which appeared to be vacant, and that was at the feet of the Bishop. Extremes often meet ; and in this instance, the proximity between his Lordship and the drunken. Irishman was such that in the dark it appeared ns if Paddy was sittity*.in thV Bishop’s lap. It Is A pity ffiat tlife'podr fellow had not had the privilege of Mrfirig, from his youth, at the feet. Of Well a Gamaliel. As already noticed, the night was gusty with occasional squalls. The Bishop probably for comfort, or for the security of his beaver, had tied a •white handkerchief over his head. For a time the Irishman sat perfectly quiet, evidently unconscious of his privileged position. Presently, however, he turned round, and under the illusion, probably favored by the white handkerchief and the darkness of the night, that he was incommoding one of the softer sex, with the proverbial tenderness and gallantry qf His countrymen he suddently exclaimed, “Ah; tay detlf, is that you?” ami appeared to bb inclined to manifest his attachment in a more cordial manner than fftmld have beSfa agfeeablei It Whs torturiate that the darkness favored the desperate attempt made by all hands to confcfcal the agitation of the risible muscles of their faces. The Bishop, however, like 4 niari of, a thousand-.—as he truly is—displayed thp utmost good ,humour, .and the obstreperous Hibernian, though seemingly but half satisfied that he was mistaken, was for a time overawed and quieted. But ever and. Undo—as if this vision of a white handkerchief had resusitated old memories r.n.i assoclatlous of ideas — he would break out in snatches of song—all of au amatory tendency, “ Och, did ye never hear tell of Kate Kearney,” “ Och, Widdy Mncree,” &c., &c. At length, ho - ever, the welcome order to cast off our moorings was given, and we made sail for the steamer. It was long past midnight when we got on board, glad enough—those of us at least who were fortunate enough to be able to do so—to retire to their .berths and get a . few hours rest. I.say fortunate enough, for strange to say, there were more passengers on board than could be accomodated fvilh cabins. This may be profitable to the Company, but it certaintly is not comfortable to tke passengers, and shomld not, I think, be permitted. The forenoon was considerably advanced before we were ready for sea. Several more passengers came on board —some of them having been prudent enough to secure a berth beforehand—and lastly, the well-known and justly respected pilot of the Mnnukau—who was soon at his post, conning the vessel by semaphoric manual signs to the helmsman, through the narrow channel of the upper Manukau waters. On approaching the Heads we were glad to perceive that the bar was comparatively smooth. Amongst our passengers was Capt. H—ll, the Manager of the Company, a gentlemanty-, pleasant man, who soon made himself at home with everything and everybody. Taking leave of the pilot, we entered the south channel, and under the skilful guidance of Capt. J., we soon cleared all danger, and were steaming away at full speed for Taranaki. The south channel of the Manukau appears to be by far the easiest and shortest route for vessels either entering or departing from the harbor southwards. It is much to be regretted that it is not perfectly buoyed. The oversight of such matters should not be left to Provincial authorities. The General Government should take Upon itself the duty of providing and maintaining all the necessary helps to the safe navigation Of the several harbors of the Colony. For a time all the passengers seemed delighted With theniseves and with everything AroUnd then!—the Sky was clear and the sea comparatively calm, but ere long the Wind increased, the Sea rose, and one by one passengers with awfully pale faces might be seen “ creeping like snails unwillingly’’ not. te School j but, to their beds. Brother C’. stood it manfully for A long time, although every now and then when the vessel descended with a long heaving pitch into the hollow ot the sen—causing an indescribable sensation in- the abdominal regions, he would dolefully exclaim, “Oh my b —lly,” to the no small amusement of his more seasoned companions. The Bishop seems never to be out of his element, but it is questionable whether the revd. brother of the Conference would have been found equal to the task of a sermon, even though all his congregation had united in allowing him the privilege of reading it. During the night it blew hard, and if the secrets of the various prison houses which are facetiously termed cabins could be revealed, many a tale ot doleful suffering might be told. On Friday the Bth we anchored at Taranaki. The wind had moderated, and commnnication with the shore was carried on without difficulty. The place bore unmistakeable evidences of the calamities of war, aud awakened many painful recollections of what had been done and suffered. Some of the passengers had reached their destination, and mtiSt of those who were going further took the opportunity of the vessel’s temporary halt to go ashore and look about them. I remained on board, And therefore can only report at second hand what I heard of the occurrences. It was said that some of the settlers had the oad taste to surround the Bishop on his landing, and manifest their disaffectation by significant groans. Some said His Lordship was robbed, but this expression is perhaps too strong. He is not the man, however, to be daunted and put down by clamour. Conscious of his own integrity, he met them with the calmness and boldness which only those who have the testimony of a good conscience can in such circumstances display. He listened to all they had to say, replied to all "their questions, and, if report speaks true, managed in some measure to turn the laugh against his would-be assailants. This is the on.y incident that occurred at Taranaki worthy ot notice. The stay of the steamer was too brief to allow of a visit to the celebrated sap, or to any of the localities that have become historically famous. Before dark we had landed and taken in all the cargo belonging to this port, the passengers returned on board, and just as the daylight was departing we were again under weigh and steaming for Nelson. Here I must pause ; if you dcsirt it, a few more stray leaves from the diary shall be furnished for your next.

Auckland Anniversary Regatta. —A meeting, which was very numerous!} - attended, took place at Mr. Webb’s Saloon, Fort-street, to initiate the preliminary measures for celebrating the Regatta of 1862. Captain Casey officiated as Chairman, and Mr. Geo. 8. Graham as Secretary. The main busirless of the evening was the appointment of a Committee, which we think was done in a manner likely to insure the financial and executive success of the festival. The following gentlemen were named, with power to add to the number:—Capt. Casey, Capt. Kelly, Messrs- J. S. Macfarkne, David Burn, C. Robinson, W. H. Hobbs, Paora Tu Ira, H, Nicnl, C. Stephenson, H. Wadham, J. Copland, Knapp, G. Bcddoes, \V. (Jarr, G. Clarke, Fitzgibbon, Boyd, McLeod, Geo. S Graham. Captain Casey was appointed Treasurer, and Mr. Waymou.h, Secretary. Commander Sir Malcolm Macgregcr, Bart., and Commander Cator. are to be invited to act as President and Vice-President; and his Excellency the Governor, and his Honour the Superintendent as Patron and Vice-Patron of the Regatta. There was a business-like earnestness in the meeting which augurs well for the conduct ot the matter, and it has been entered upon this year not at the eleventh hour, but in sufficient time for the finance committee to test the public pulse, which we cannot doubt will beat as heartily as heretofore. We have been told that the War Canoe race, once the most brilliant event of the Auckland Regatta, is, this year, likely to be revived in all its former interest. The course is not to be left in undisputed possession of the Natives in our own immediate vicinity, but canoes and crews are promised from other quarters. We hope that with a sufficient fund, the Regatta of 1862 will far outstrip all its precursors.

St. Paul’s School. —We are informed that Mr. J. Diddams, of St. Paul’s School, has succeeded in obtaining a first-class certificate at the late Government examination of Teachers.