AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 325, 20 November 1865, Page 1

AUCKLAND.

Death of Archdeacon Kissling.—Tlio New Zealand Herald, November 10, says —“ Wo regret to notice in our obituary column the demise of the Venerable and Reverend Archdeacon Kissling. Mr Kissling was born in 1805, and studied at Basic University, and afterwards in 1827 proceeded to Liberia in connection with tho German Mission Society. Prom Liberia he was removed to Sierra Leone in 18—, but his health failing lie returned to England. In 1812 Mr Kissling arrived in New Zealand, and during the then subsequent years had charge of the Mission Station at flicks’ Bay ; from thence ho was removed to Auckland, where the native chapels and their immediate neighbourhood wore placed under his charge. Subsequently Mr Kissling took charge of St. Stephen’s institution, and was advanced to the order of Archdeacon of Waitematn. For some time past the rev. gentleman had been suffering from ill-health, and to the regret of very many—for ho was generally esteemed and respected—he expired yesterday in his sixtieth year.” The same journal of the 13th instant thus remarks upon the funeral of the deceased gentleman,—“The last remains of a faithful servant of tho Church and highly esteemed and respected colonist were yesterday carried to the tomb, attended by a large assemblage of citizens. The decease of the Venerable Archdeacon Kissling, though long expected by his more immediate friends, lias thrown a gloom over the community, and the sorrowing numbers who followed his remains yesterday to the tomb fully testify to his personal worth and the general estimation in which he was held. He was buried at St. Stephen’s, Taurarua, the Revs C. Baker, T. Chapman, Kinder, and Sir W. Martin being the pall bearers. The Rev Thomas 'Buddie and the whole of the ministers of tho Wesleyan denomination showed their regard for the deceased by their attendance. The chief mourners were his three sons, now in Auckland, and many ladies in dress mourning were present at the ceremonial, made more solemn than is ordinarily the case in the colony by the tolling of the bells of St. Mary’s, St. Stephen’s, and at the Bishop’s library. The Bishop of New Zealand road the beautiful service of tho Church over tho body of his faithful friend and fellowservant, in his wonted impressive manner, and the grave soon closed over the mortal remains of one who, in his missionary career in New Zealand, faithfully fulfilled the duty allotted to him, and in doing so won the esteem and respect of colonists and natives alike.” Public Holiday.—Laying the FoundationStone of the New Supreme Court house.— Yesterday (says the Southern Cross of the 10th) being the anniversary of the Prince of Wales’ birthday, it was right loyally observed as a general holiday, and was appropriately chosen as a fitting occasion on which to lay the foundation-stone of the new Supreme Court-house. This ceremony, as our readers arc aware, was to be attended with a Masonic demonstration, which it was expected would add greatly to its interest, and in this tho spectators were certainly not disappointed. Yesterday was also set apart for the opening of the Provincial Grand Lodge, and what with the Foresters’ fete in the Domain and the many other holiday amusements, w© can safely say that no public holiday in Auckland passed off with greater, if with ad great, success as that which occurred

yesterday. The beautiful weather—the best of “ Queen’s weather ” —which gave animation to all around, contributed, no doubt, greatly to this success. It is needless to say that all business in tha city was suspended, and that the public offices and banking-houses were closed. As if, however, closed shutters were not sufficient to show the day was to be devoted to pleasure, flags and banners were flying in all directions ; and, as the morning advanced, the crowds of gaily-dressed people, who assembled in various parts of the city, clearly indicated that business had been thrown to the winds for one day at least. The great centre of attraction was of course the site of the new Supreme Courthouse, where the important ceremony of laying tha foundation-stone was to take place. An hour or two before the stone was to be laid a large crowd assembled there, and thanks to the very efficient management and liberality of Messrs Amos and Co., every facility was afforded to the general public for either taking part in or being spectators of the ceremony. A grand stand had been erected for ladies, and this was completely crowded, and a sumptuous luncheon was provided by the same firm, and of which about two hundred and fifty persons partook.

Waikato and the Ebbed Districts. — A lecture was delivered on Monday evening, at Onehunga, by J. C. Firth, Esq., on “Waikato and tbs Rebel Districts,” to a crowded audience. Mr Harrison occupi?d the chair. The lecturer commenced by giving a detailed description of his trip up the country, and of the most important objects which came under his observation, alluding to the vast extent of grassy plains in the Waikato, and their adaptability for sheep runs. The reception which the Maoris gave him was kind and hospitable, although their condition was such that they were verging on starvation. When asked by him if they liked fighting, they replied, “We like it very well, but there were two bad things connected with it, namely, too little kaikai and no pay.” He considered that they were gettion tired of fighting. On conversing with Win. Thompson, he found him undecided as to the Pai Mari re faith. After relating several anecdotes relative to Maori superstition, his lecture was brought to a close. After a vote of thanks to Mr Firth, the meeting separated.—Southern Cross, 9th November.

Pat Your Debts. —Sixty or seventy workmen were yesterday collected round the Railway Commissioners’ Office in Princess-sircet, clamouring for arrears of pay, which, unfortunately they are not likely to get. It seems that a portion of Mr Gwymielh’s contract on No. 3 section of the Auckland and Drury Railway had been sub-let to a contractor named Evans, who has been missing for the last few days, and as he is in arrear with, his workmen for wages they arc naturally anxious about him. Nothing, however, can be ascertained as to his "whereabouts.—lbid.

Fire in Queen-street. —About four o’clock yesterday afternoon a lire broke out in a stable at the rear of the premises of Mr Carrie, baker, Queenstreet, situated a short distance shore Wellesleystrsot, on the west side of the street. At the back of Mr Carrie’s shop is a bake house, between thirty and forty feet in length, and the stable was erected at the back of it. It seems there had been nobody m the stables for sonic time before the fire broke out; there were no animals in it, but it was merely filled with liny. It was quite evident from the first that no efforts could save the stable itself, and indeed there seemed but little prospect of keeping the fire from communicating with the bake-house, and thence to tiie row of valuable shops fronting Queen-street. However, a body of constables, under Mr Commissioner Naughton, bavins; arrived, and a number of sailors belonging to 11.M.5. Falcon, who happened to be near, these, aided by several citizens, worked as men work only in the excitement of a fire; and although the boards and roof of the bake-house were smoking and charred, men sat on the roof and kept pouring water on tho part most exposed, till others, by means of planks converted into battering rams, knocked the burning building to pieces, and away from the bakehome. One cause of the fire not communicating with the bake-house is, that the back wall, for the greater part of its height, is built of stone. Wet blankets had been quickly nailed on the exposed part of tho adjoining buildings, and this measure probably prevented the fire catching tho nearest. As the danger was not past with the demolition of the stable, water was poured from buckets and by the engines, which had now arrived, till the mass of blazing hay was reduced to blackness. Had the fire been a few minutes later in being noticed, or had the exertions to put it out not been so prompt or so well directed, it is almost certain that a largo portion, if not whole, of the row of shops in that division of Queenstreet would have been burned down. It is supposed that the fire originated through the oven in tho bake-house having heated the hay in the stable. The loss, amouting to £GO or £7O, is covered by insurance.—Southern Cross, 9th November. Important Gold Discovert at Wangaeei,— The Southern Cross, Bth .November, contains tho following account of a discovery ot the precious metal in the above district:—“The Tasmanian Maid arrived in harbor at 12 o’clock last night, and brings intelligence of the discovery, about three miles from Wangarei, of a fine specimen of gold in quartz, containing apparently about 25 per cent, of the precious metal. The discovery w as made by a man named Lynch, and anotherman, both in the employment of Mr VV alton ; and tha specimen has been sent by Mr Walton to Ancle*-

and, in charge of Mr White, Lands Purchase Commissioner in the North, und recently Resident Magistrate at Wanganui, who will hand it to the Superintendent. Mr White has succeeded in purchasing from the natives the land on which the gold has been found, and nothing remains but to pay over the purchase money. We have the testimony of two or three gentlemen that the specimen of gold ia extremely fine, and that there ia not the slightest doubt of the genuineness of the discovery. It will be recollected that some two or three weeks ago, we stated that gold had been discovered by “ a Victorian digger,” but that we were prohibited from staling the locality of the discovery for certain public reasons, which would thereafter be made known. Those reasons were that the gold was discovered on native land. That land, it appears, hae now been purchased, and the locality ia pretty nearly the same as that described by the “ Victorian digger,” who, however, has not been the discoverer in this instance. We hope that immediate steps will be taken to turn this important discovery to profitable account. Another coalfield has been discovered at Wangarei, and the coal is described as being of first-rate quality.” The same journal of the 10th thus further alludes to the subject:—“ In yesterday’s issue we announced that another important discovery of gold had been made in the Wangarei district, and we are now able to give further information on the subject. At an early hour yesterday morning Mr White, Lands Purchase Commissioner, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent with the specimen containing gold handed to him by Mr Walton, of Wangarei. It is about the size of a five-shilling piece, and three times the thickness, being apparently, from weight and appearance, thickly impregnated with the precious metal. The discovery was quite accidental, and the locality of it is in the vicinity of the waterfall, and within two and a-half miles of the town of Wangarei. A settler of the name of Lynch, who had been for some time employed by Mr Walton, but had lately gone to settle on a small patch of ground, left Lis house on Saturday for the purpose of pigeon-shooting, taking his dogs and hatchet with him, to be prepared also for a pighunt. In passing over one of the creeeks some short distance from his house, he noticed a glittering piece of quartz, and, taking his hatchet from his pocket, knocked off the specimen. On his return home he showed the quartz to. Dr Walton, who at once pronounced it to be gold, much to Lynch’s surprise, who was far from being convinced that he had come across the precious metal. Subsequent tests applied to the quartz proved that the surmise had been correct, and Mr Walton, therefore, took the earliest opportunity of forwarding the specimen to his Honor the Superintendent, at the same time authorising the bearer (Mr White) to claim the reward for the discovery, to be paid to Lynch. We may mention that on the quartz being first placed in Mr Waltons hands he examined it closely to ascertain that it was freshly broken from the bed, and he was thoroughly satisfied that it was. The existence of gold in the same vicinity and creek was subsequently verified by a native exhibiting to Mr Walton some gold-quartz on Monday last; and we aro informed that gold has been discovered in four other places in Wangarei not twenty miles distance from each other. It is of course most satisfactory to know that the land on which the present discovery has been made has been . Bold by the natives to Mr White, in his capacity «s Land Purchase Commissioner—a block of 7,000 acres having been purchased, and all arrangements completed, with the exception of paying over the money. The quartz was left by Mr White in the hands of his Honor the Superintendent, but we may expect it will be shortly exhibited, and speedy means taken to ascertain the extent and gold-bearing qualities of the reef from which it was taken.”