AUCKLAND

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 501, 19 August 1867, Page 2

AUCKLAND

[from our own CORRESPONDENT.j August 12. Tite progress of the Thames gold-fields forms the principal subject of interest here at the present time. The accounts arc, on the whole, encouraging : bat another week will enable us to i'ot in a better opinion as to what may be expected from them. Several meetings have lately been bfld in Auckland for the purpose of considering the subject of flax-dressing. A Benevolent "-ociety has been formed tor supplying hackles for dressing the flax, and several gentlemen have placed their land at the service of the committee. Mr Mason, the city missionary, stated that a new process had been discovered, —that of steaming the loaf, which would render its preparation easier, and produce an article worth from £SO to £do per ion. It is calculated that men can earn from 5s to 7s per day at dressing the flax. Some sanguine individuals go as far as 10s, but that is more than dophtful. I

The attractions of the gold fields have proved too strong for many of the River ’ head gum diggers, who have gone to the Thames, for which the Herald b'anes them. It, certainly would have been wisir to have waited until something more ue finite was known, but no doubt if they are not successful it will not be long before they return to their gum digging. The amount in value of the latter article sent into Auckland weekly from the Riverhead district averages about £soo—not a bad

rcsidt for less than 20J diggers. The “ Wondrous Barline,” who some years ago astonished the people of Melbourne by hie feats on the trapeze, has been performing hero !hb time on the public credulity. Ha was announced to give an exhibition of his powers, and an audience had collected, when it was discovered that the “ wondrous ” individual was unable to perform—being unable to walk a straight line on the floor, much less on the ceiling. Tickets of admission for the next night were accordingly i-sued, but when presented it was found that the “ Professor ” was non. est.: he had walked —off altogether.