THE 19th ANNIVERSARY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1321, 5 February 1859, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE 19th ANNIVERSARY.

The 19th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Immigrant ship in this colony took place on Saturday. On the 22nd Jiintiu'ry 1840, the Aurora, ih emblem of the glorious day about to dawn on New Zealand, cast anchor in our noble harbour, since which date, the anniversaries have been kept up, moro or less heartily, and will doubtless continue to bo, until some "Independence day" shall perhaps take its place. Owing to the race course having been converted into cultivable land, llie sports were this year confined to aquatic., and into whicli more life was consequently thrown. The morning was fine but sultry, scarcely enough of wind to give zest to the various mutches. In the after noon there was a slight thunder storm and in the evening it rained unmercifully. The harbour looked unusually gay Irom the number of vessels dotted over its surface, aim the arrival of the five little Swedish ship Equator, and the steamer Lord Ashley added to the beauty, for which it is celebrated.

Ibe Wonga steamer, made two excursions round the hiubour and narrows ; on both trips ehe was much crowded, though we regret to say on each occasions the passenger were caught in the rain. Capt. Kennedy's attention under these circumstances was rewarded by loud and hearty parting cheers. The first match was by dingys and skiffs, the following being the entrances. Gooden's Four Chums. X. Hewitt's Active. 2. Mnokity's Midge. 3. Woodgate's Flying Cloud, 4, Anderson's Alma. 5. The sunt was a good one, all the boats getting away together in first-rate style. On leaching the Flag bout, the Active took the lead, closely followed by the Four Chums, und Midge. The other two were left astern, but a very pretty race took place between, them the boats evidently beingso well matched. The yall kept the same relative positions until rounding the winning boat the first tune, when tlie Four Chums took the lead, wliich she kept throughout the remainder of the race. For the Whale boat and Gig race there were entered :— ~, Captain Darke's, Robert Smalt, I, ■ Mr. Hunter's Lord Duncan, 2. Mr. Valentine's Wonga Wong a, 3. Mr. Wills' Ellen, A. On the gun firing, they all started together,' the Lord Duncan taking the lead, with the' Robert Small close behind her. On reaching the Flag boat off Pipitea, .the Robert Small passed her competitor, and took the lead, the Wonga Wonga and Ellen beiiig a considerable distance astern. They kept their several . .positions until rounding the Flag boat the first v .tiuie. when the Wonga Wonga aud Ellen gave up the race, leaving the Robert Small and Lord Durcan to contest it between them. After a closely contested race, the Robert Small «ame in the victor, beating her competitor by about two hundred yards. v j9Ph'. match between the cargo boats was almost devoid of interest, owing to the light . variable winds, and could scarcely be called a match, it however gave an opportunity to the City of London to show her quod qualities in a light breeze. They came in as follows :— Wills' . City of London, 1. Haybittles' Petrel, 2. Houghtons' Dart. ' 3. Hewitt's Burnham, 4. Will's Maori, 5. Tlie next match was for coasters uudcr 60 tons." Three started, viz:—The Emerald, Emertddlsle, nnd Mary Thompson, In consequence •ojf.'the lightness of the wind, two of the vessels ~4rO_g_t up again, the Emerald Isle being the ■only one that went rouud the Island. This race was again contested on Tuesday,

The day's sport concluded with a match between ship and pleasure boats over 20 ft. keel. At starting the Robert Small took the lead, closely followed by the Aci.tie and jßiur Chums, the Psyche and Midge bringing up the rear. On rounding the flag boat off Ngahuranga, tbe Four Chums took the lead, the Active being in close attendance, the Psyche being the third boat; the Robert Smalt and AftV.egettiiigbecalmed, were nowhere. If there had bcenanytliing of a breeze the race would have been between the Psyche] and the Active. The following is tbe order in which the boats came in.

Gooden's Four Chums I Woodgate's Active, 2, Pilcher's Psyche, 3, Mackay's Midge, 4. Darke's Robert Small, 5.

Two pulling raatc.es advertised did not conic off, on account of there not being sufficieat entrances.

The whole of the sports were well arranged and the thanks ofthe public are certainly due to the Committee, and more particularly to the most active of them, for the excellent manner in wliich the whole of the day's sports were conducted.

On Tuesday, the coasters Emerald Isle, ond Emerald contested the match postponed from Saturday. The Emerald took a long lead, but the Emerald Isle, an Auckland craft, soon crept up to her, and on rounding Somes' Isand took the lead, and came in lirst, the Emerald a few minutes after her. STBEBT AND SEWERS ELECTION. The meeting of Electors of that portion of Te Aro comprising the swamp and its neighbourhood, called by tbe Sheriff, under the Superintendent's proclamation, for tbe purpose of choosing twelve commissioners, took place on iVlonduy at the Resident Magistrate's Court. The Sheriff in toe Chaii.

Mb, St. Hill opened the proceedings by reading the proclamation and stated the object of the meeting.

Mb. Courrs Cbawfobd then rose and said that as a direct attempt had been made upon him in connection with tbe prop ,sed road, he trusted that the meeting, before proceeding to husiness, would spare him a few minutes to rebat the insinuations which had been thrown out in the columns of 11 newspaper of this place, in un attempt to injure the prospects of this rond. He wished to avoid personalities as much as possible; but, as a newspaper was not generally published without builds, although sometimes with very little head, he trusted the meeting would excuse his milking a fjw peisonul allusions, which might be necessary for the statement of his cuse. He was the more anxious toavuid personalities, ns lie was credibly informed, the Editor of tbe naughty periodical he alludod to, was a person of the female sex—not one of those houries who enchant the senses and delight the eye—but a stupid and very plain, ugly, disagreeable, wicked, dreadful old woman.

Here Mr. Crawford was called to order by Mr. B.iwler, and hv the Chairman, amidst considerable uproar. The Chairman put the question whether Mr. Crawford held property in the District and was theref.ie qualified to vole. On replying in the affirmative, Mr. Crawford proceeded to say that be yielded to the question of older, nnd was quite willing to suppose this old ludy to he a myth, and would now lay a plain statement of facts before the meeting I whicli would explain bis share in the promotion of this road. He had taken no steps nor made any movement toward; the promotion of the proposed rond, until he had been requested again und again by, be believed, ihe great majority of the resident settlers iv the southern district and on the verge ofthe "Great Dismal Swamp," to assist them in procuring this road. He believed lie would have been most supine, and guilty of a great neglect of duty to his fellow settlers had he declined to join them in obtaining what would be n great benefit, not only for the immediate residents, but for the whole town, vi*/,., the opening up ofthe "Great Dismal Swamp " by a well drained and Macamixed road. Those whom he had joined considered anxiously whether the proposed improve meßtcmilJ be effected by means of subscription, but considering the magnitude of ihe work and the small number of settlers who would be expected to come forward with their money, they were reluctantly forced to come to the conclusion that n good and sufficient road, passable for wheeled carriages, could not be made without resorting to assessment, therefore it was that they hud requested the Superintendent to put the Sewerage Act into operation. This was all his tale—but in conclusion, he would ask them lo resist all attempts to change the qu.s----j lion at issue, and to judge the road on its uwn merits ulone. This was a question of a road and not one of slandcr--it was a question of local improvement and not one of general politics. If the majority of those present were of opinion that v road was necessary then they would vote for it. If on the contrary they held that the denizens of the southern portion of the town were to be denied the benefits of one of the first elements of civilization—a mad for wheeled carriages, they would vote accordingly—but they could hardly fail to see tliut sooner or Inter the road must be made, and he for one did not see any means of compassing tho object unless by local assessment. He again urged them to resist all attempts to change the question at issue, and would conclude with giving a wholesome piece of sailor's advice to the editor, whose effusions he had been obliged to bring to their notice, " Never to throw anything to windward, except hot water and ashes."

During the interruption above reported Mr. Stokes wished to be informed what newspaper had attacked Mr. Crawford, to which that gentleman replied " The Spectator." "By name?'asked Mr. Stokes "No, inferential.." replied Mr. Crawford. " Oh, inferentially" rejoined, Mr. Stokes. To wliich Mr. Crawford responded " Yes, as the owner of certain property, you could uot describe any one in plainer terms without mentioning his name." Mr. Bowleb rose to propose as an amendment—"That the Meeting stand adjourned until that day six months, and that the Superintendent be requested to withdraw his Proclamation." After some discussion the amendment was thus altered—" That the Meeting do adjourn till the Ist of August, 1859," Mr.' Bowler proceeding lo remark that he had been requested tv move (his amendment at a numerously attended meeting on Saturday last. That there were strong objections to the excessive powers of taxation given to the Commissioners, and that he should not like to be one of them. That the previous meeting a deputation to the Superintendent ought to hare been called by public advertisement. That he himself was most anxious for the formation of a road through the swamp, and that he would take care that a meeting should be called by public advertisement for the purpose eousideiing the subject more fully. That ho would be glad to wail on the Superintendent with a deputation ou this matter, and that he was convinced the Superintendent had only looked to the public interest.

After some desultory conversation, Mr. Craw" ford rose and said, That as he saw the great necessity of unanimity in this matter, and as the proposer of the amendment was anxious to promote this road, be would be happy to second the Amendment, to give time for consideration, and be should be delighted to find that any way of procuring the object in view could be hit upon which would meet the views of all parties. . . The amendment was put aud carried with only two dissentients.

Pkess Dinnkh.—The following song was sung at the recent dinner given to Mr. Fox, to celebrate the triumph of tbe Liberty of the Press.

Tone—"TAe King ofthe Cannibal Islands."

There are two merobants in the town, Who have labour'd hard to gain renown, Which did at last their efforts crown— Tis Varnham and old bowler.

They thought to cut it very fat, Because they in tho Council sat; They'd talk of this, and then of that, And sometimes condescend to chat With those who stood in mighty awe Of these expounders of the law ; But greater muff* you never saw— Than Varnham and Old Bowler.

Tbe worthy pair with dire intent, To stop supplies were fully bent, Unless they to their pockets went — This Varnham and old Bowler,

The Independent did review, .As .was its duty so to do,) The acliens of ihe precious two — This Varnham aud Old Bowler,

And justly did rebuke the pair, For th' imnairiotic share They took in those proceedings rare ; And laid their selfish actions bare. It told them in ibe plainest tune. They card not for the poor man's home. They passed no items but their own. Did Varnham and Old Bowler,

Then up the precious pair did spring, They rushed like mad to Bunny and King, And bade them libel nciions bring—

For Varnhnin and Old Bowler,

One Thousnnd Pounds they Ihen did lay— As damages—nnd did essny, Muir Se McKenzie down should pay— To Varnham and Old Bowler.

But now some doubts within them rose, If here they had more friends than foes ; The Judge iheir prayer did r.ot oppose, So the case to Canterbury goes ; For ihey mnde oath and did declare, Tbe Wellingtonites such rascals were, They could not net a trial fair— Did Varnham and Old Bowler.

Sure suoh a pair were never seen, Nor ever will again, I wecc. So fill.d with pride, with spite and spleen — As Varnham and Old Bowler.

When King the lury did address, He strong.y (111 upon ihem pess, " They should the grievous wrongs redress, Of Varnham and Old Bowler,

If not —the Independent low, With triumph loud woul.l overflow, .0 suor as it the cuse should know— And boih his client, overt.irow ; , To quit ihe piace they must perforce, If subject to this vulgar course." He talked so lon*,', it made him hoarse— For Vnmbam and Old Bowler

Who would not have such lawyers rare, To fret and fume—and start and stare,. 7 To stamp and twirl, and te.ir their hair— Fur Varnham und Old Bowler,

When King had finished, Fox arose, Declared " he w,is there to oppose, Itwas his duty io expose— This Varnhiim and Old Bowler.

Who strove the public press to gng, This mighty pair—it was their brag. None dare, at them, his tongue t.) wag; Who e'er tbe wight, ihey would him lag. Those men, who could not English speak, No more tluti they could Ancient Greek, Yet damages they came to seel;— Did Vamhnm and uld Bowler.

But none ho hoped would ihey get there, He wished he'd lind the precious pair : In the box, to shew what muffs they were— This Vnrnhnin and Old Bowler.

It did him very much surprise, That King should tell such dreadful I —s; That they'd be lost in nil men's eyes— This Varnham nnd Old Bowler.

When hy this case their names would be, Emblnzoned to posterity, Aud famed to all eternity ; When all mat's now, should cease to be, When the traveller look'd for Old St. .aul's, Fr.m London Bridge's broken walls. Their names would he 'graved on brazen stalls, Would Varnham and Old Bowler.',

So tbe jury declared without delay, The plniutiffs should the expenses pay ; And '• It sarves them right," our Fox did say— This Varnham and Old Bowler.