AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3205, 29 May 1873, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(BY OUR TRAVELLING REPORTER.)

1 have a few notes, I find, anent the City of the North. I observe few signs of progress since my previous visit three years since. I know no large town in either island that has improved so little in the same period. Mr Jno. Williamson, addressing a meeting at Helens•viUe, on the 12th. mat., remarked— “ From his first identification with the Province of Auckland he had always felt that it would be the E rainier Province of New Zealand, for it had itent sources of wealth which the others had not ; and these resources only wanted systematically and economically developing for it to arrive at and maintain that position.” It is un fortunate that a gentleman who scenes to become the future Superintendent of the Province, a statesman who at times can almost give a casting vote against a Ministry, should manifest such a lack of political and statistical education; or should have,, allowed such vast sources of provincial wealth to have remained dormant under his regime. The hyperbole of election speeches weigh not however in contributions to revenue; and fibres either contradict such sweeping assertions or prove the incapacity of rulers. Money may be abundant in the Province, but it is not diffused as among Southern people. The poor hero are more numerous and poorer than with us. We happen to know more about New Zealand than Trollope can tell us—and no Southern working man need come here to hope to better his position. The people at Home may be interested by observing Trollope’s kaleidoscopic views—but we know they are only such, and hence fail to attach any impprtance to their coloring. The writer in the Bendigo Tima gave the traveller no more than his duo. We nave scarcely yet arrived at such a state of mental and political mediocrity in these Southei n waters as to enable a third rate man to interview us, sit in judgment over our manners and inodes of thought and action, teaching ua what

to do and what ?o avoid. There are several great improvements being effected in the town. The breakwater is in a forward state, and promises speedy completion. The remaining portion of the T of the Queen street jetty is nearly completed. It is composed entirely of Colonial wood. Totara is used underneath the water line. Imported timber is here estimated at its proper value. Blue gum, jarrah, and iron bark are ftere considered inferior to the native article. A large market has been erected in the central portion of the town. It is cruciform in shape - out built of wood and iron. Where stone is so abundant, the choice seems singular. With reference to the mines at the Thames, although in a stagnant state at present, good hopes are entertained of theirimprovement, Their present depressed condition many well informed people declare to be the result of the sharp practices and sharobroldng ruses that have been so rife on this new field. Of its permanent character there can be no doubt.

The Hospital is still in its old condition : the two wards being apportioned to the living, the dying, and tbe dead. It is not only a disgrace to Auckland, hut to tbe Colony as a whole. Your readers know well what the gaoHs like not capable of holding any person inside who may wish to get out. Hence criminals ofa ■ migratory character are sent to Dunedin. The Museum is supported by voluntary subscriptions, so can scarcely be deemed a fair subject for criticism; but it may be mildly considered capable of improvement, like the Auckland Mechanics’ Institute, where strangers are not allowed either to read or visit. Ihe librarian of this Institute can learn some of civility when he goes to Dunedin. The Province seems to have no “go” in it. Its semi* military character appears to influence its develoi ment, a kind of stiff stillness pervading its whole length and settlements are founded, military settlers alone should be found in them, "hey appear not to fit into the niches of ordinary society after they leave their military careers, but stand at street comers waiting for employment. As I heard a person remark, half the people in this Province are captains ; and we have also a large sprinkling of colonels. You can hire as many as you please of the former for LIOO per annum; the colonels will want about Ll5O. , The wretched military settlements of Onehunga, Ho wick, Panmuir, and Otahuhu lend conviction to these hard assertions. In one street containing twenty four houses, I counted fifteen of the number vacant. As Billings would say, military settlers and military settlements are “small potatoes and few on the hill.” I shall let Auckland stand over till its objectionable features'die out—l hope* by the time of my next visit.