OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 329, 3 November 1875, Page 3

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

(PUOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Auceand, October 29. The session is over and our Auckland members, with the exception of Sir George Grey and MrSheehan, have returned to town. For tho first two or three days after their arrival they were quite lions; you could not walk down Queen street without every now and then coming across a knot of politicians busy talking over tho late proceedings in Parliament. Perhaps the central figure was Willie Swanson, with his good-humored square-cut “mug” and dry laconic utterances; perhaps grave Dignan with his pointed beard and unpretending quiet speech; or it might be header Wood in his senatorial manner, laying down tho law with measured emphasis and nicely rounded periods. Our citizens evidently look upon them as warriors fresh from the field of battle, and are anxious to learn from their lips the true version of the contest. We may as well accustom ourselves to look the probability of separation in the face, for no attempt is now made to hide the fact that this will bo the battle cry of the Opposition at the elections, How the difficulty of tho apportionment of loans ia proposed to be met is not at present clear. This we shall hardly know before the return of Sir George Grey, which I believe will take place next weak. We shall then have a definite programme. The people here do not as yet shew any decided leaning either way, but inasmuch as it would be almost impossible for Auckland to get less separated than she is in union, it is highly probable that the new platform will be extensively patronised. There are already indications of tho coming elections being keenly contested. Yon der Heyde has to fight his battle over again for Waiteraata with Jai S. Macfarlane, and a third candidate is mentioned in Dr Lee, a very worthy onelegged medical man, living up near Hobson street. We bear of Mr F. Whitaker, Charles O’Neill, William Eowe, and James Mack ay, jun., as all ‘‘going for” the Thames. Half-a-dozen of all sorts and sizes of political opinion state their intention of contesting Eden. After Joseph May telling his constituents of Franklyn they “ must bo either blind or mad ” for not thinking as he does, it is not likely he will be unopposed when ho comes before them again. Altogether we shall have a very lively time of it, and a good job too, say I, for times have been dull enough lately in all conscience. The most important event of the week was the opening of the Kaipara and Riverhead Railway on Thursday. Although this line is only 1G miles in length, and presents no engineering difficulties of any kind, it has been four years in construction, owing to the various vexatious delays. The ceremonial was scarcely of an imposing character. About a hundred people went up to Riverhead in Casey's steamers, and a train was in wailing to convey them and tho officials to Helensville. Etre in a little room about 12 feet square Mr Passmore drank the health of Mr Stewart and Mr Stewart drank the health of Mr Passmore. Two or three speeches were made by nobody in particular, and the line was declared open The feet is the lino has been so muddled ail through that the constructors and the Government t o, I believe, were anxious to have bi little fuss as possible made over the inauguration. Until the line is carried on to Auckland its benefits will be only half felt, but in these days we have to be thankful for small mercies, and there is no doubt that the connecting of the Kaipara and tho Waitemata will not bo devoid of advantages. The Harbour Board have had a special meeting for receiving tenders for the reeiama tion works in Freeman's Bay. Martin Donagher has obtained the contraot at the figure of $12,850. The work has been begun already. When completed it will be a vast improvement to the western seafront of the city. A fine broad road will be carried along under the cliffs and splendid allotments will bo available for timber yards, shipbuilding yards, and other purposes. X never knew a in which to many horrib'e events have happ tied. L>- st Friday nsght there was a fearful shimh at t hues© qP m Ktiot Coast trader named We sa who

lives in Shortland street. He is an awfully rum little fellow: always drool and staggering about the streets in the mast disreputable manner, with his hat on one aide and hi* arm

in that of a gaudily dressed girl about a bead taller than himself. This young lady passe# as his wife and possesses a wife’s privilege-of whacking him unmercifully whenever she likes, an operation which not unfrequently occurs in the middle of Queen street. The strangest thing ie the man is as shrewd a bargainer m any in Auckland, and directly there is any business to he done pulls himself together in a marvellous way. On Friday night ho and a friend—an old mat named Ki chard Barrett, who lives in the lame house-caught (i Mrs Welsh'' with an admirer named Moore. Welsh himself stands sft Sin, and being rather shaky' on his pins thought it unwise to attempt any forcible eject ion, so quietly went down for the police. During his absence Moore, who is a low brute, fell foul of poor old Barrett and beat him about the head with the tongi*. smashing his face and nose in a frightful manner. All the pasties, I ought to mention, wore very drunk. When the police arrived they found Barrett half dead and Moore de« camped. They took the woman into custody,, but had an awful job to get her to the station* house. Moore was found after about two hours search, among some lilies on the clifT, and now is waiting for Barrett to recover sufficiently to be able to give evidence against him.

A fine young fellow, named Edward O’Neill* was killed on Monday by a fall of earth while he was excavating on the Mercer railway. On Tuesday two men named Duke and Nicholls, belonging to Oaebunga, and engaged in oyster fishing, were capsized in their boat while off Muddy Creek, in the Manuk&u. The bout was found bottom up by the captain ot a cutter, but nothing has been heard of the men.