AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 990, 12 April 1871, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[from our own correspondent ] You have of course heard of the mail between Taurangaand Hauraki, virtually between the whole South and Auck n and, being forcibly stopped by orders of the Kingites. Whether a large amount of cash, judiciously applied, will overpower the opposition, is not yet certain. Whether or no, the fact'remains, thao at an order from Tokangamutu, the Queen's mails are prohibited passing through a district which is bounded on two sides by lands in pakeha hands, and by the bea on the third, leaving but one small portion of it actually abutting on Maori territory proper. And this at a time when the creat Maori doctor-in-chief is at the helm. Since the Caledonian claim at the Thames has yielded such good returns, we have had a return of the share mania, but it is not likely to be nearly so dangerous as before, so many of our people, in all ranks of life, of all ages ol both sexes, having suffered severely by it on its last visit. You are doubtless aware that the Caledonian bounds the Golden Crown on one side, and that the rich lodes of the Golden Crown dipped towards the Caledonian, and, were worked to the boundary of

the latter, before the latter found them in their own workings. Consequently the Caledonian stood in a different position as a speculation from any other claim on the field. Yet it was but a speculation; for although very likely, of even tolerably certain, to catch the Golden Crown lode, it was very problematical whether it would be very valuable when found; for it is understood that it was not yielding very well in that portion of the Golden Crown nearest the Caledonian. Varying in quality as even the beat known lodes are, it was a lucky turn of fortune when it changed in the Caledonian for the better. The dividends paid lately should make an appreciable difference in the money market. But a word of caution may not be amiss. The Auckland press does not take care that all their, statements of quantities of gold are correct'. Even the quantity expoited by a cercaiu vessel a few weeks ago was incorrectly given, by several thousands of ounces. Surely the actual amount passed through the Customs, and on which duty has been paid, should be given, not an imaginary amount. A Wanganui paper has asserted that Sir G. A. Arney, Chief Justice of New Zealand was about, or wanted to, retire. It further states that his not retiring was caused by the Government not agreeing to the amount of pension he required. If the statement is true, it is a very ill-looking affair. Sir George Arney is a man of years and experience, in whose ability and integrity the whole community has full confidence. It is very doubtful if we should get as good an officer in his place if he did vacate it; but we are entitled to look for many years' service from him, in the natural order of things. To induce him to resign, and put a less fitting man in his oince, would be a double crime. Yet it is to be feared that such an offence has nearly been committed ; for it can hardly be supposed that the proposed resignation was not either directly or indirectly prompted by the Ministry. Among other examples of the way in which public money is wasted take this one. During last session an Act wa? passed altering many of the electoral districts. While that Act was on the tapis, the Government allowed some of the electoral rolls to be printed, as if no alteration was proposed. Such a roll, for instance, as that for the Franklin district, the largest constituency in both acreage and names, must have cost a tidy sum, and is absolutely worthless, as it contains a great number of names that should not be on it, as for instance residents at the Thames, and has not on it the names of many holders of property in another part, of the district, now Franklin, formerly Raglan. It may be added, that portions of the foimer Franklin were cut off, part to Eden, part to the East and part to the Thames; and a portion of the former Raglan thrown into Franklin. Consequently the printing of the (old) Franklin roll in August or September last was simply a waste of public money. Had the Franklin election been contested, I cannot see how it could have been done, except by making out and printing another (new) Franklin roll. Another distinguishing feature of our New Zealand Government is pluralism. A gentleman has the good fortune to get into an office on a fair salary, when his friends see some other little thing that would suit him, with another hundred or two attached to it, and so it is given him ; perhaps in a little time another help of the kind turns up, and follows suit. Consequently we have some officials who hold two, three, or more billets, one being at a full salary, the others at about half pay ; but one whole and two halves added make a very nice total. During the late rifle contest several officials were in full charge, and the press always gave them every praise. One inoident occurred which has never got into print, as far as I am aware. A Sunday parade was held, and on leaving Chutch the force began to form in Princes street where the old garrisons, 58th, 65th, &c, always formed. Then officers running to and fro, and lots of Confusion, eventually ending in the troops forming at the Emily Place end of the Church, instead of Princes street. Next move was on the parade ground In the Barrack square, where the men

(position sergeants, I suppose) had just been despatched to take ud their places, for their respective companies, when another running of commanding officerti occurred, the men were called back, got. fresh orders, and were again despatched to take up their places at the head of column, marched on to the ground. Some more .confusion ensued, raising the idea, if such a mess occurs in broad daylight on the parade ground, what, could we expect in the bush, and in the face of the foe. It was nofc the Volunteers, nor their officers; tytit the paid staff, supposed to be composed of professional military men, who made the blunders here described, of which I ha-ppeixed to be an eye witness.