AUCKLAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 660, 26 March 1879, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

March 25 The Glenelg is to be docked to-mor-row, to be cleaned and fitted for the coastal trade. She is a new steamer built on the Clyde. She is 155 tons register, and is fitted with machinery capable of driving her 10 knots an hour, which she has done on her way out, and eleven knots under canvas. The engines are of nominal 75-horse power, capable of working up to 355 indicated, with 27-inch stroke. The following is Captain W. Brodrick's statement of the difficulty the steamer was m last week : — ' ' I notice m the papers that it has been reported that our sails had been blown away, and that we were short of provisions, that we were nearly starved. So far from that being the case, we had sufficient food left to last for two or three weeks, and water enough for another week. It was only a few small stores that had run short. Had we not had passengers on board the crew could have managed until we reached port. Being near land and not being able to beat \ip against adverse winds, I decided to send the mate ashore to report the ship and endeavour to get coal and provisions sent oft*. The ship remained m the same position for two days but, the boat did not return. We experienced a gale from S.W., and I headed off our course, reaching North Cape on Friday morning. We were delayed there by contrary winds until picked up by the Argyle on Saturday. Instead of any damage being done to the ship's sails, we have never had them off during the whole voyage, and no damage whatever has been sustained by the ship or sails. I suppose the erroneous report got afloat through misunderstanding between the boat's crew and the native who conveyed the news to the nearest settlement." Messrs. Sims and Brown, shipbuilders, North Shore, have just begun the construction of a schooner to the order of the Government for the use of the boys at the Kohimarama Training School. She- will be rigged as a fore-and-aft schooner, and wUI be adapted for cruising along the coast. By the Hero will arrive an English Operatic Company engaged by Signor Pompei on behalf of the DeLias Company. It includes the prima donna, Misß Wangheim ; soprana, Miss Leslie ; contraltors, Misses Walton and Cpmpraini; aria, Miss Williams ; tenors, Messrs Florence and Crowther ; baritone, Messrs Brown and Sherwin (brother to Miss Amy Sherwin) ; second tenors, Messrs Mitchell and Dilson ; bass, McLean ; conductor, Professor Hughes, with a full orchestra and chorus. The operas to be produced are Somnambula, Maritana, II Trovatore, Bohemian Girl, Martha, Faust, Satanella, Lucia, Grand Duchess, mid others.

Mrs Major Croker has instructed Mr. Rochefort, solicitor, to enter an action for libel against the Herald for £5000. The Herald has retained Messrs Whitaker and Hesketh to defend the case. Pressure is being brought on Mr. McMinn, the member for Waiapa, to induce him to explain his vote on Mr. Curtis Bill. The Bay of Islands electoral roll inquiry is proceeing. Both sides are hunting up evidence, and witnesses have already sworn that their names were placed on the roll without their knowledge. Lord Harris has been asked to officiate as judge at the sports m aid of the Kaitangata fund on Saturday next. Lady Harris is to give away the prizes. The native meeting at Te Kopua will probably be delayed another fortnight, awaiting the arrival of the Ngatiraukawa contribution of food. JSgakau is engaged threshing and grinding wheat, which will be conveyed from Maungatautavi to Te Kopua. A large number of natives have already arrived, and contingents from all parts of the country are awaiting Sir George Grey's arrival, and are becoming impatient. Alfred Searle, assistant Government Engineer at Kawakawa, has been drowned while bathing. Mr. Wildman, Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge, E.C., intends to resign, and will be suceeded by Captain Lodder. The mau-of-war schooner Sandfly has arrived from the Islands with several cases of fever on board. The German war vessel Albatross was visited by the various Consular agents yesterday. The German residents celebrated the Emperor's birthday with a dinner.