AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 2 July 1853, Page 10

AUCKLAND.

We have received Auckland papers to the 25th May. The Governor has been Avinning golden opinions by his complacency. Whatever the Auckland lieges Avished, Avas straightway granted by his Excellency. They require a new Government House ; immediately they are informed that "plans had already been prepared, and if it Avere the will of the -inhabitants that it should be built, he should be ready to comply Avith their Avishes." There is a plethora of money in the treasury; a large portion of it is offered for immigration purposes. A protest is made against any portion being' devoted to the payment of the NeAV Zealand Company's debt ; the deputation is informed by courteous Sir George that he " shall have much pleasure in complying Avith the prayer of the memorial that the whole subject be referred to the consideration of Her Majesty's government." It is perfectly true that the reply is } a trifle ambiguous, and that some of the deputation Avished for a little more explicitness; His Excellency smiles, repeats the same remark in different wm-ds, and the deputation " tender their thanks and express themselves satisfied." His Excellency has smothered politics Avith his politeness, and Aye look in vain for any protest against his determination not to carry out the Constitution Act. With respect to the Superintendency, how-

ever, party feeling is running high, and boththe New Zealander and Southern Cross are filled Avith diatribes against the Competitors, Col. Wynyard and Mr. Brown. In abuse and personality the New Zealander bears the palm, Avhich ought to be rather, extraordinary in the organ of the religious Societies. Apart from this, Auckland-is thriving and her commerce rapidly aug-, menting. Calamitous and Fatal Boat Accident.— It is our painful duty to record one of the most distressing accidents that have occurred in this district, by which one valuable life is known to have been lost, and four others, —though the fact has not been ascertained by the same painfully certain evidence—can scarcely by any stretch of the most sanguine hope be supposedto have escaped. The melancholy circumstances may be very briefly related. A party consisting of Lieutenant Charles Thomas Hutchinson, R.E., Staff Assistant Surgeon Matthews, Mr. G. B. W. Jackson, and two Sappers and Miners, (Corporal Hawkins, and Private Parsons.) went out on a pleasure excursion in the direction of the North Shore. Their boat Avas of a peculiar construction known as "a twin boat," consisting, in fact of two bottoms united by one deck. They were expected to return on Saturday, but did not arrive. On that day, Mr, Carruth, of the North Shore, saw through a spyglass an object which he supposed to be a boat capsized,: although he could not be quite sure that it was not a log. In consequence of his statement, a native Avoman named Anna, with her husband and two other natives, went on Sunday morning along the beach on the East side of the North . Shore. In going round Rocky Point, about 7 miles round the North Head, they found a body (afterwards identified as that of Lieutenant Hutchinson,) lying dead on the rocks ; the body Avhich was totally naked, lay upon the belly,. Avith the head turned towards the sea, and the face bruised. They also found at different adjacent places, a small boat or punt, two oars, a basket, candle, a cap, a Avaistcoat, a portrait of a female, and a pair of trousers, in the pocket of which was a purse containing 18s. 6d. The natives immediately went back and informed Messrs. Poynton, Stewart, McCoy, and Powell, Avho, Avith another native, came to the spot, and ; caused the body to be removed by four natives to the Roman Catholic College. An inquest Avas held at the Caledonian Hotel, before Mr. : Davies, Coroner, at Avhich the circumstances connected with the finding of the body, &c.,-. Avere clearly detailed by the native woman, Anna (a very intelligent witness,) and others. Dr. Thompson, of the 58th Regiment, had made a post mortem examination, and was satisfied that the immediate cause of death was. drowning. The verdict of the Jury accordingly Avas "Found Drowned." The following ''Brigade Order" has been issued with reference to the melancholy death of Lieutenant Hutchinson. 17th May, 1853. It is Avith deep regret the Lieutenant-Colonel has to announce the melancholy and untimely death of Lieutenant Hutchinson, Royal Engineers, who in the course of Sunday last, Avas found drowned on the North Shore, whither he had proceeded but the Friday previous in his yacht. The sudden,death of this promising young officer must be keenly felt by all Avho served Avith him, or had the pleasure of his acquaintance.—Southern Cross. Ordination. —An Ordination Service Avas held in St. Paul's Church by the Lord Bishop of New Zealand, at which two. Deacons, the Rev. .Frederick Thatcher, of Auckland, and the Rev. B. Y. Ash well, of Kaitootohe, were admilted to Priest's orders. A special feature of interest was connected Avith the occasion by the. unprecedented and deeply gratifying fact that one of the aboriginal native race of New Zealand was admitted to Deacon's Orders. The name of the new Maori Minister is Rota (Lot) Waitoa; he has been with the Bishop for several years, aud, we are informed, his intelligence., religious character, and general conduct have been such as to afford to all who had the opportunity of forming a judgment, satisfactory evidence of his fitness for the sacred office to which he has been ordained. He is to minister, we believe, at a Mission Station on the East Coast, and we earnestly trust that his future career may be such as to realize the expectations now formed of his usefulness 1 amongst his countrymen. ..... The

Bishop preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon, the latter portion of Avhich Avas delidered in the Maori language (many of the Native race as well as the candidate for the Deaconship being present.) The Church was crowded to excess from end to end by a most attentive and interested congregation ; and a large number of clergy from various parts of the diocese Avere also present on this occasion— one Avhich cannot fail to be long remembered in the history of the Church in New Zealand. — New Zealander, May 24.