NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, January 26, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 781, 26 January 1853, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, January 26, 1853.

We noticed in our last number the lame and impotent conclusion of the municipal elections at Auckland, which has had the effect of suspending the functions of that corporation. In trying to account for the apathy and indifference manifested on this occasion, the New Zear lander adduces several reasons, such as the conduct of last year's Council, the hostility of the party opposed to Government, who endeavoured to bring about such a result, the disallowance of the Land Fund Appropriation Ordinance, authorising the appropriation of a third of the proceeds of Land Sales to Municipal purposes, which would have the effect of considerably diminishing the means at the disposal of the Corporation, but chiefly the uncertainty which prevails with respect to the New Constitution, and the effect of its provisions on Municipal Institutions. Previous to .this another electidh had taken place at Auckland under the Provincial Councils Ordinance, which, we imagine, is now practically set aside by the proclamation of the New Constitution, and from the elections under this last, whenever they occur, we suppose our Northern neighbours will at length arrive at a practical result. Whatever indifference might be felt by the Northern Settlers to a Municipal Council annually elected, we imagine the same amount of indifference will not be displayed *at the election of Provincial Councils, either in Auckland, or any of the other five Provinces, under the New Constitution. The fault committed in the first instance might be repaired after a year's interval'; the powers of a Corporation are comparatively limited, and it could do no great amount of harm, if from the perverseness of its members it would do no good. But in the Provincial Councils the case is widely different ; with larger and more extensive powers, their duration is for a longer period; the Councils are elected for a term of four years, and considering the changes which take place by the continual accession of fresh settlers, considering especially how the population of this colony will probably be increased during the next four years from the overflow of the extensive emigration from England to the Australian Gold Fields now going on, and the improved facilities of communication afforded by Steam, an interval of four years in a new colony is more than to a septennial period in an old country — the limit fixed to the duration of the English Parliament. Any apathy shewn in the forthcoming elections,, any neglect in securing the return of "fit and proper persons " will for the reasons just adduced be the more mischievous, as it will be the more difficult to provide a remedy for the mischief. "Under any circumstances, it may be a question whether it may not be expedient to dissolve the first Council after an interval of two years, to allow of those who may become colonists of New Zealand in the interval the opportunity of exercising their privileges, and who otherwise would be taxed without being represented.

Coboneb's Jnquest. — An inquest was held in the Hutt district hy Dr. Fitzgerald, coroner, on the body of Henry James Edwards, a little boy who was' killed by the fall of a tree. It appeared that the deceased and another child were playing together on the 13th inst., near an old rotten tree which suddenly fell and struck deceased on the head, completely smashing his skull ; the other child was also struck and was much injured. Verdict, Accidental Death.

An inquest was held at the Hutt on Monday the 24th instant, on the body of Frederick Smith, a lad aged ten years, who was drowned in the river on the previous Saturday. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased had gone with a m»n named B. Williams to drive some cows ; when he got to the river below Mr. Burcham's deceased said he would bathe, Williams tried to dissuade him but without 'success, Williams then drove the cows further on, and returned to where he had left the boy Smith, whom he saw in the river in the act of sinking, but was unable to save him. He .succeeded in procuring the assistance of a Maori, who dived for the boy, and got him oat of the river, but he was found to be quite dead. Verdict, Accidental Death.

Whaleboat Race, prize £15 ; second prize £5. Three boats started for this race r one was pulled by a crew of whalers belonging to this place, the second belonged to the Government Brig, and the third was pulled by men of the 65th Regt. They all started pretty well together, and kept so until nearing the flag boat, when the shore party got a little a-head and rounded the boat first, followed by the Brig's boat; they kept in this order and came in about 1 minute apart — the time in pulling round 18 minutes, distance about two miles and a half. Owing to the wind blowing very hard they only went round the vessels once. The next race was a sailing match for decked vessels of twenty tons and under, prize £15, second prize £5. For this race the Catherine Ann, Fisherman, Gipsy and Mary started — the Mary, owing to her being over the tonnage having to allow five minutes. At starting the Gipsy and Mary got foul of each other, and in passing the Schooner Esther the Mary jammed the Gipsy between them, carried away her bulwarks and broke some of her gear, which caused the Gipsy to return as soon as she could get clear. The other three continued the race, the Mary coming round first, followed closely by the two other vessels : they continued in this way nearly all the second time round. The Mary came in first, and beat the Fisherman by twenty seconds, but owing to having fouled the Fisherman in passing the flag boat, she lost the race and the Committee have awarded the prize to the Fisherman. We were sorry the Gipsy was obliged to return, as it was generally thought she would have stood a very good chance of winning. The next race was between the Cargo Boats, for which four boats started, but the race lay between G. Houghton's Dart and Hawkins' Burnham. The Dart won by about ten minutes. There were only two boats entered for the Dingy race, Mr. Mills' Hope and Mr. Creeds' Midge. This race did not keep the spectators long in suspense, for the boats had not started many minutes before the Hope was caught in a heavy puff of wind and went down; the other boat went to her assistance but two of the persons from her swam on shore, the third was picked up by a boat from shore. The other boat then went round without opposition. This sudden termination of the race caused great disappointment, as the race had excited a good deal of interest, and a good many bets had been made ; the Hope was the favourite at starting. There were three boats started for the Licensed Waterman's Race ; Lambert's Dolphin, Martin's Jane, and Clarke's Swan. Lambert took the lead and kept it all round. After the boat racing the weather began to clear up, and the committee decided on carrying on the sports on Te Aro Flat. These commenced with a Hurdle Race for untrained horses; six horses started, Lieut. Marsh's Quicksilver, Mr. Skipwith's Maria, Mr. Wilton's Grasscutter, Mr, Stackworth's Steamer, Mr. Robinson's Scantling, Mr. Jenkins' Madame Vestris : at the first hurdle two of the riders were thrown, and the others in getting over knocked down the hurdles, Steamer then took the lead to the last hurdle, which he refused, and Quicksilver, who had been taking it very easy, pulled up and got in first* In the second heat Grasscutter went off at a good pace and cleared all the hurdles and won easily, Maria second. In the third heat Grasscutter threw his rider at the first hurdle and bolted home, Maria then took the lead and came in first, followed by Quicksilver. In the last heat Maria ran and took all the leaps but the last, which she refused, and Quicksilver went over and won. This race, although run by horses which had been ridden about the flat and only entered at starting, caused agood deal of amusement, and the race was so well contested that it took four heats to decide it. There was also a horse race for £5 between the Maories, which was well contested and was won by Mr. Bethune's lad. During the racing a Shinty Match was played, which was won by a side chosen by Mr. Sutherland. Several persons started for the Foot race, for which a prize of £2 was offered, and which was won by Copestake of the 65th Regt.; a Foot hurdle race , which followed was won by Galhaney, also of the 65th Regt. During the afternoon there were several Jingling matches, Jumping matches, and other rural sports whi Jh continued to the close of the evening, and appeared to afford considerable amusement to the spectators. A prize of £] 0 was offered for a Canoe race but there were no competitors. The band of the 65th Regiment, by permission of Colonel Gold, were on the ground during the afternoon and contributed to the amusement of the holiday folk by the performance of a selection of excellent music. On Monday afternoon some horse racing was got up in continuation of Saturday's sports. A hurdle race in which several horses entered was won by Mr. Skipwith's Maria.

On Saturday the 9th instant a fire broke out in the buildings of the Church Mission Station at Ahuriri, one building detached from the rest and separated by a plantation of young fruit trees, was saved after being twice on fire ; the other buildings were all burnt down, and the furniture and other property they contained to the value of about £300 was destroyed. It is supposed that the fire must have been communicated to the buildings from the fire-place, and as the buildings were constructed of raupo, and a strong westerly wind was blowing at the time, the flames quickly spread, and in a very short time completed the work of destruction.

Pbogramme of the performance of the Band of the 65th Regt., at Thomdon Flat, on Friday the 28th inst.:— 1. OTcrture— Fra Ditralo Auber 2 . Selection— Bohemian Girl Balfe 3. The English Quadrilles Jullien 4. Duet — Conte conte Prendi — Norma . . Bellini 5. Deux Tempo Yalse , Jullien 6. Postilion de Longuemaun Adamt 7. Polka Linter'-

On Friday last as a young man of the name of EusselL aged about 19, who was working with a relation on his farm near the Half-way

House, on the Porirua Road, was cutting down a tree, the tree took a direction contrary to what was anticipated, and fell across his chest, killing him on the spot. An inquest was held on the body when a verdict of Accidental Death was returned.