AUCKLAND

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 17 February 1865, Page 2

AUCKLAND

LATEST NEWS. (From the Daily Southern Cross.) iMPOUTAeT X-KOJI Tauranga.—By the cutter Whitby, which arrived last night from Tauranga, we have received a communication from our correspondent, stating that the Tai cutter, had arrived that morning (the 7th inst.), from Makctu, with intelligence that the Southern natives had at last armed in that neighbourhood, and that the troops and the Arawa natives were all under arms to the previous night, the Gth inst., and were expecting an attack upon Makctu. Knowing the detenninalion which these Southern rebels expressed to be revenged upon the Arawas, we may expect to hear of an engagement by the next arrival. Our eorresppndent- speaks very dcploringly of the unsettled state of affairs at Tauranga, and trusts that a few days will disclose whether the course of events will be for good or evil. A detachment of about forty men of f lic GSfh Regiment embarked for Tauranga,An the 10th.

A Public-house Robbeby was reported to the p Aice last evening. It appears that a seaman and a person panted Edward Butler were drinking in company with others at the Waitemafa Hotel, last evening, when the former had occasion to take out his purse, containing £6. Duller, it is supposed, saw it, and before many minutes had elapsed contrived to extract the purse and money from the seaman’s pocket. The man missing his money, and, suspecting the thief, left the house in search of a constable, and returned with constable Duffy, on duty on the wharf, who at once took' the suspected thief into custody. On being searched at the police-station the exact sum stolen (£6) Vas found on his person, but the purse was missing. The prisoner will be brought before the. Resident Magistrate this morning 11th.

We arc informed that Mr. Peter Grace, the accepted tenderer for the first see'ion of the Auckland and Drury Railway, will turn the first sod on Wednesday nest. A special meeting of the Nison Memorial Committee was held on Saturday? at two o’clock, in the Council-room of tie Chamber of Commerce, for the purpose of selecting the design of the monument to be erected to the memory of the late Colonel Nixon. There was present—Messrs." Albyn Martin (chairman), Creighton, Firth, Bassett, J. Ruciman, Dr. Fischer, Major Walmsley, and T.W. Harrop, secretary. The several designs, which have already been mentioned in the Daily Southern Cross, were displayed on the table, and tlie chairman stated that the members had merely to select the one they approved of subject to the question of cost. The votes of the committee were then taken, and the secretary announced the result of the voting as foliovvs4 votes in favor of No. 1; and 2 each for the two designs bearing the motto “Hope,” and numbered Ca. The chairman •then, announced that the successful design was ‘that marked “IX in circle, furnished by Mr. Rumsey,: arebitot. Dunedin. The design is of Gothic style, 25 feet in height, and is to be con-

structed of Hobart Town freestone, at a cost of

£550, inscriptions and drinking fountains to be , on alternate sides of base. The chairman sugV gested that a 1 committee should be appointed to communicate with Mr. Ruifisey, and also with Mr. Domett, Secretary for Crown Lands, as to the site. On the motion of Mr. Bassett, seconded by Mr Runciinan, Messrs Harrop, Martin, Creighton, and Dr. Fischer were appointed a committee to carry out the work, after which the meeting separated. We understand that the two designs bearing the motto “ Hope,” and which were highly spoken of, were furnished by Mr. Cameron, architect, Auckland. One of them was an octagon pedestal, having an ornamental spire with flying buttresses and drinking fountains at the base, and forty eight feet high. The other was a pedestal of . similar design, with a handsome spire supported ■ on Gothic pillars, the height being fifty feet A large number of gentlemen have signified their desire to attend the dinner to Major General Galloway, and have consequently given their signatures to the proposed invitation to the gallant General. The whole of the records of the Defence Office will be taken on board the Lady Bird this morning, for conveyance to Wellington—these (with the exception of (he printing-office being the last remnants of General Government trappings remaining in Auckland. A few of the clerks employed in the office are also to take their departure per the Lady Bird, but Mr Holt, who has succeeded Mr Seed, as Under-Secretary, will not leave until the next steamer on the 23rd inst. We understand that the Government printer has also received orders to pack up. The Alabama, a cargo boat, in charge of Mr John George, was coining down the river yesterday morning, from Thomas’s mill, loaded with bricks, and at some short distance above the 'Watchman, a boat turned bottom up .was observed ■ floating about. Mr George immediately despatched two men in a digny for the purpose of turning the boat over, but it was found impossible to right her without file assisfa ce of the cargo boat, which was ultimately brought alongside, and after some little difficulty the boat was- turned over. It was discovered that she bad all her sails set, the mainsail and jib being made fast, with one reef in the mainsail. Both of the oars had washed out, but there still remained one of the rowlocks. On the stern (inside) was written the name, Mary. The boat is painted black outside and white inside, and is about 16 or 17 feet in length on the keel. After bailing out the water she was fastened astern of the Alabama, and towed down to the wharf. Some of the boatmen on the wharf have since examined the boat, and recognised he! as belonging to a person up the river, in which direction she was seen sailing on Saturday afternoon with all sail set. A strong southerly" breeze was blowing at the time, with squalls, and it is therefore supposed that the boat must have capsized shortly after she left the wharf but as yet it is not known whether the persons in her were drowned or not. On Thursday morning last a number of natives, between 30 and 40, passed through Remuera, coming from the direction of Orakei Bay. They were heavily laden with camp equipage, blankets, and cooking utensils, and appeared to bo thoroughly accoutred for a long march. From a short conversation held with them by a European, resident in the neighborhood, ho was given to understand, so far as his comprehension 1 of the Maori tongue went, that they were some of the escaped prisoners from the Kawau, and were on their way to the Waikato. It is with pleasure we learnt that, from the voluntary gifts of the charitably-disposed inhabitants of Auckland and its vicinity, the Auckland City Mission has been of great usefulness. Hitherto the working members of the mission have studiously refrained from soliciting any contributions whatever, feeling satisfied that in the city of Auckland, would be found a sufficient number of liberalminded and Christian friends willing to give something from their wealth towards the support and education of the pariahs of this city. This rule, wo now understand, is about to be altered,' and contributions will be solicited in future, in' order that the usefulness of the institution may be extended still further. A few weeks ago no fewer than twenty applicants for admission were refused owing to want of accommodation and funds to sustain more than the number already provided for. A gift of the lease of a piece of ground on the Ponsonby Road, for twenty-one years, has been recently made over to the trustees of the mission, with right of purchase at the expiration of that period, at the present value of the proparty. Body Fouyd. —A mau was found hanging from a tree near Cambridge, about a week ago, by a party of the surveyors. There is little doubt that his name was Buckley. He deserted under peculiar circumstances, about seven weeks ago, from the 3rd Waikato Regiment. The body was so much decomposed that it was impossible to identify it, but I learn that from his clothing there can be no doubt of the identity. An inquest was held, but I have not heard the result— probably an open verdict.

We Shall See! —The Southern Cross of the 10th instant has an article commiserating" the people of Otago upon the disappointment they will experience owing to the fact'of llis Excellency being unable to be present to open the Exhibition. They, of course, assign (he removal of the Seat of Government as the cause, and tell the people of Otago that it is a very great shame. They allege that this is only one specimen of neglect resulting from this impolitic proceeding, and lots more are looming in the distance “ The real government of the country 'cannot be carried on away from Auckland for any length of time, but the attempt to carry it on from" Wellington will divide its force, and cause greater neglect of Otago than ever before.” No doubt the sepnrationists may think (hat Auckland is New Zealand, and that it is the only place from winch the Government of the Colony can bo administered, but the experiment of having it located in a more central position is just worthy a trial.— New Zealand Advertiser. We learn from the New Zealand Herald that the alpacas recently introduced into Auckland Province are progressing catisfactorily. Our contemporary says : —“A few months ago the Messrs Robert and David Graham gave orders for the purchase of a few alpacas in Sydney. Four males and four females were purchased and shipped on their account. Since their arrival they have greatly improved in condition and general appearance, showing that the climate agrees with them. The females have now each a lamb, and the young alpacas appear to bo remarkably healthy. To those who are desirous of inspecting those animals, we may say that they can be seen in Mr. Graham’s paddock, at Remuera.

The following particulars of the capture of the Florida, will be read with interest:—While at Pernambuco intelligence was received bv the John Gilpin that the Confederate cruiser Florida had been captured in the harbour of Bahia, under the following circumstances: —The United States steamer Waehusett was in Bahia harbor when the Confederate Florida entered on the 15th October. The United States consul protested against the admission of the latter, but without effect, and next day the captain of the Florida gave “ leave ” to about half of his crow, and, with some of his officers, went also on shore himself. The two vessels were lying at anchor not far from eacli other, and under the guns of the Brazilian fort. Some time during the day, as wo are "informed, three boats’ crews from the Waehusett, all armed, of course, proceeded to the Florida, and in the surprise, managed to get safely alongside, and some of them on board. A hand-to-hand fight ensued, in the course of winch the Waehusett fired a shot into the bows of the Florida, and within a short time the boarders became masters of their prize. The Waehusett next appears to have come alongside, with steam up, and towed the Florida from her anchorage.- Meanwhile, the Brazilian battery fired seven or eight shots, without taking'any serious effect, and the Waehusett, without answering, proceeded out to sea. As soon as possible, one or two Brazilian men-of-war went off in pursuit, but came back, reporting that the fugitives had got out of sight— Cape Argus, Not. 29.