AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4023, 9 January 1875, Page 6 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND.

(from otjr owns" cokkespondext.)

Festivity is the order of the day ; and if ever a people enjoyed themselves thoroughly, Aueklandera have been doing bo for the last two weeks. The race 3 were capital—the best, in every sense, yet held here. They attracted a large crowd, and everyone came away thoroughly pleased. The Caledonian sports, also, at EJlerslie, and the gardens at that place, were largely attended. The ■weather was beautiful, and the only hitch occurred in the railway charges, which were raised instead of being lowered, as usual. A great deal of grumbling has naturally been hoard'on thi3 subject, and Mr Graham, the j owner of the gardens, is especially indignant in the papera." The charges to Ellerslie were actually higher than those to Penrose, some two miles farther; and the only reason given is that the traffic to the former was greater, And the opportunity of Biaking money couid Hot be overlooked. It doe 3 not seem to have struck anyone that a ticket to Penrose woiildenablethe holder to getout at any intermediate station, but it assuredly will strike j people next tiineif thesamedodge is repeated. ! Ho alteration could be made in the vatea till ] authority was received by the manager here j from Wellington, and the public have had to j grin and bear the imposition, and take it out I in grumbling meantime. At Alexandra, Te Tawhiao's son came in to the races thGre •with a large retinue—a hopeful sign of peace and amity. Unfortunately the illness of the "Princess" Sophia coxnpallecl him to return to the Koyal home before the races began. Some of the Itosario's men have been celebrating Christmas in town by the most violent and prolonged fight with the police ever witnessed here. It began by an attempt to arrest two drunken sailors, who resisted, and were supported by some of their shipmates. The police were reinforced, and so were the sailors, until, for more than an hour, the melee raged in Queen street and adjacent lanes. A great crowd of men and boys looked on, swaying to and fro, as at one time the sailors and another the police, worked their way through them. Now and then the venue was changed to some hotsl, into which the sailors had escaped, and which they barricaded against the police. The police used their batons freely, and at last resorted to handcuffs as weapons of offence. The sailors used anything at hand, and threatened to bring knives into play if the handcuffs were jiot dropped. Finally, the police captured niue men, some sober and a few drunk. They were brought up at the Court next day. The Magistrate wished to hand them over to the Captain for punishment, and the Captain ■wished as eagerly to leave the worst of them behind. So a courteous contest arose, but the Magistrate was not to be caught, and declined to relieve theltosario of one or two doubtful characters at the Coloay's expense. The men ■Here handed over to be dealt with on board, and there ended a matter which caused considerable excitement at the time. The Rosario's men have always borne a high character for sobriety and good conduct here, but two or three black sheep are evidently amongst them. They complain, too, that the police were indiscriminate in their arrests, and that they lost temper, and used their batons too freely. This is very likely, for policemen are but men, while they were very , roaghly handled, while only numbering 7 or 8 against 20 angry sailors, and no few sympathisers with the latter in the crowd surrounding them. Mis 3 May Howard and the Collier Company aro drawing capital houses at the Prince of Wa'es. Poole ia. his comic characters is inimit-tblb, and keeps the house in roars of 1-iughter. At tbe City Hall a- rare treat is offered by Misj Christian, whose voice and style charm her liearer3 to enthusiasm. Miss Christian and Mis 3 Howard both, I believe, visit Otago before they return to Australia, avid with both, in their respective ways, you have a treat in store.