AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 873, 22 November 1870, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

Saturday, Nov. 19. The long drought has been broken by a welcome fall of rain. Two mon, named James Friers and Irwin Armstrong, have been convicted of illicit distillation and fined £IOO each. The American correspondent of the Southern Cross says that Mi* Webb's and the North Pacific Company's first boat starts from San Francisco in February. It will call in at Honolulu and Fiji, and a branch boat will be despatched to Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. The main line will continue to Moreton Island, there transhipping mails and telegrams for Brisbane ; thence, the boats will go on to Sydney and Melbourne. There will be four steamers employed, viz., the Neva. Nebraska, Dacotah, and another (as yet undecided.) The time occupied will be 24 days to Auckland, and 28 days to Sydney, Mi Neilson, the San Francisco agent of the amalgamated company, is now here conferring with Mr Vogel. The consideration by the Provincial Council of the Superintendent's proposal to subsidise a steam service between Auckland, New Caledonia, and Fiji, has been postponed until the estimates have been brought down. A message from the Superintendent to the Council requests attention to the immigrants and railways required under the Public Works Act. H.M.'s ship Blanche leaves h< ; re on the 21st inst, fur Wangarei, with the Governor. His Excellency 'intends to visit Sir George Grey at, Kawau. The first season sale of wool and flax was held by Mr Buckland' yesterday. Wool, in grease, fetched 4|d to 6|d ; washed, 8d to lid. Flax, favourite brands, £l6 15s; medium, Jgll to £l3 10s. Mr G. W. Binney, auctioneer, reports having sold wheat ;»t from 5s 3d to 5s 6d; barley, 2s 8d to 3s. xlrrived—Taranaki.