AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2782, 9 January 1869, Page 5

AUCKLAND.

Oue dates from Auckland are to the 2nd inst. The New Zealand Herald of that date reports : — MADAME AfcNA BISHOP'S CONCEET. The last of the excellent concerts in Auckland by Madame Anna Bishop was given last night in the New Music Hall, Symonds street. It was under tbe patronage of fche Earl of Pembroke) and Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott and the- officers of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment. A .splendid selection of pieces was sung by Madame Bishop and Mr Lasceltes, and the appreciation of the audience was shown by repeated and continued applause. There was the usual miscellaneous collection of pieces, composed of passages from operas and old and favorite songs, and iv addition the bouquet musicale, comprising national melodies from the various countries . which Madame Bishop has visited. They include England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Prussia, Italy, Spain, America, and richly deserved the unbounded applause of the audience. We shall not enter into, any lengthened remarks on this grand concert. It is sufficient to know thafc Madame Bishop and Mr Lascellea were in fact themselves, and sung and played in their usual admirable manner, and gave a rich and rare treat to the Auckland musical public, able to appreciate the efforts of the singers. Last evening there waa a full and fashionable audience, most of the officers being present. At the close of the concert, Madame Bishop received a large shower of bouquets. AUCKLAND ANNUAL BAOES. The racing yesterday was in every respect the best fchafc has taken place in the province. , The performance of Satellite the first day made him fche general favorite for every event, which had the effect of putting the trainers of the other horses to their best to come up to the " dark un." Satellite carried of the Queen's plate yesterday (a three mile, run), Numa second. The Maiden Produce was won by Mr Owen McGee's Harkaway easily, his competitors being Moonbeam and Evergreen. The event of greatest interest was the Garrison Plate, in which Satellite and Orlando appeared to be matched — (If miles). Satellite won by half a neck. A magnificent race this. Tbe next race was the Thames Handicap, in which there, were eleven entries,* and only four acceptances. The handicapping, by whomsoever done, was simply execrable. The race was won by Abbess, beating Orlando and fche Yatfcenden filly. The events* thafc followed were of no interest, being a hack race, and the Consolation Handicap. For this last there were only three started — Numa, Native and Canary. Numa won the race. The. sport was excellent, bufc it would have been better had the handicapping been done with something like average skill. OPENING OP OHINEMUBI. The Thames Times, January Ist, says:— Mr' Mackay returned from Ohinemuriin the p.s. Clyde yesterday morning, and has obliged us with the following particulars of his visit s Te Hira has gone to Mataora, to the Ngataparous, bufc waa . nofc accompanied by armed men. The rumors to that effect, and also in relation to the burning of Rapata's whare, and the murder of. the native mailman being all false. It i 8 more than probable that he will absent himself from the district until the proclamation of the goldfield, but that as scon as this has taken place, that he will continue to go backwards and forwards as usual, and will not retire to the Upper Waikato. Mr Mackay did not hold any runanga on this occasion, but was visited by both Mary Xuru and Hobson, in itself a very favorable and significant circumstance, 'as, whilst there was any chance of a successful • opposition, neither of them would have paid such a visit, They have adopted quite a different style from that which was theirs a few weeks since, and have abandoned all their angry reticence. There is undoubtedly a far better feeling prevailing amongst fche Hau Haus, and all opposition has practically ceased. There is reason fco believe that a messenger has been sent through to the King ; bufc ifc is not likely that he will interfere. The steamer got upsfcemaaboufcnineo' clock on Tuesdaymorning.and was taken this time higher up the river than she has ever gone hitherto. Mr. Mackay leaves for Coromandel early this morning, and will thence proceed to Auckland. On his return, he will ngain visit Ohinemuri, and complete all the necessary arrangements for throwing open the district to miners. OPEN AIE CONCEET. The New Zealand Herald, of Jan. 2, says : — An entertainment of an extremely novel kind is advertised for this evening. The wharf ia to be lighted up, and a pyrotechnical display presented, and the great singer Madame Anna I Bishop, assisted by Mr Lascellea, will give a concert of vocal and instrumental mu6ic. The admission to this very delightful entertainment will be at tbe nominal prico of a shilling, so that we should imagine that fche wharf, which ie geuerally so much frequented on Saturday evening, jvill be crammed upon this occasion. Thiß will be the last appearance of Madame Anna Bishop in Auckland. SHOETLAND. December 31, 1868. The All Nations crush again at the Kuranui machine on Monday next, and the shareholders are expecting a good return. The previous results of this well-known claim leave little doubt that their anticipations will bo realised. The Inverness has just declared agood dividend. The Alburnia commenced this morning to crush at the Victoria battery ; the shareholders intend putting through about sixty-five tons. The tables are looking well. The result of the crushing of stone from the Long Drive claim is astonishing ; fancy 25 tons of ordinary Btuff making a return of 420 ozs. of gold ; and there are several tons more to go through the machine, and it is expected with the like result This claim is fronting fcho beach, and closo to the Kuranui Company's claim j the shareholders are to bo^congratulated. £5 shares have already gone u_* to £10, and must continue to advance. I The Eureka still continues crushing ; the tables have been frequently cleaned, and with good results. It is the. practice in this and other rich claims to count thegold by "lbs " and not " ozs". Mr Mackay has returned from Ohiuemuri, where'he has been ou a cruise of inspection, or in fact a pleasure trip ; the result has been very satisfactory. He did not favor the natives with, any set speech "j but simply had a chat here and* there . He proceeded further up tho river than he has ever ventured before, in fact to the stubborn chiefs castlo (Te Hira). Mr Mackay leaves here to-morrow morning for Coromandel, he then leaves for Auckland en route for tho Waikato, and then back here for the Upper Thames. Doubtless the usual proclamation 1 and opening of that district will be issued shortly ~ after this. GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS. Tho Southern Cross of the 31st ult says ;— A very interesting cermony took a place yesterday morning within fche Albert Barracks, when threo medals were awarded to the undermentioned for long service aud general good conduct : — Gunner James Linn and Bombardier O'Brien, of the Artillery ; and Sergeant Chandler, Musketry"lnstructor of fche 18fch Royal Irish, formerly of the 78th Regiment. Tho medals were accompanied in each case by a gratuity of £5, which sums, however, tho men will nofc receive till they obtain their discharges, when the gratuities will bo handed oyer, to them, with interest at the rate of 2£ per cent.,

to dateffrom fche time of fche award. The troops were drawn up in the barracks at half-past ten o'clock, and, after the band had discussed several martial airs, the three men were called up to fche front. Lieut.-Colonel Elliot fchen read the Goneral Orders fronvkome, and, after a few words to tlie recipients on fche subject of fche presentation, he proceedod to pin the medals ou the breasts of the men. This concluded the proceedings.