AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 438, 14 January 1857, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

Our dates are not, later than the 13th ult A great deal of dispute had taken place about an election for the Provincial Council; it was not quite over, as the Police Court was occupied in hearing allegations against various personsfor illegally personating voters. Opening op the Provincial .Council. —The Sixth Session of the Auckland Provincial Council was opened }-esterday afternoon, in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute b}- thenew Superintendent (Mr. Williamson). The members of Council were almost all present at the commencement of the proceedings, and there was a large and very influential attendance, composed of every section and party, in the strangers' gallery. The Speaker (T. H. Bartley, Esq.,) having read the precept convening the Council and the form of prayer, the Superintendent was introduced and proceeded t > read his opening address. — Neiv Zealander, Dec. 10. Reduction in the Price of Bread. — On Monday the bakers of Auckland reduced the price of the 21b. loaf to 5d. — Ibid. Cricket. —-A sporting match at this noble game comes off this (Wednesday) morning in the Albert Barrack Square. Eleven of the first letters of the Alphabet up to X, intending to contest the palm with eleven chosen from the. remaining letters. — Ibid. Encouragement op the Cultivation and Preparation op Flax.—A deputation from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce consisting of the Chairman (W. S. Grahame, Esq.,) Vice-Chairman (W. Connell, Esq ) J.A. Gilfillan,Esq. and J. Montefiore Esq., had an interview by appointment with E. W. Stafford, Esq. and F. Whitaker, Esq., (Colonial Secretary and Attorney General) on the subject of the best mode of giving effect to the Resolution of the House of Representatives in the last session,—by the offer of rewards for the improvement of the manufacture of New Zealand flax by machinery. The ministers entered very warmly into the matter, and appeared very desirous of encouraging this important colonial manufacture. A series of suggestions, prepared by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, was submitted, and received careful attention from the Ministry ; and the conference terminated by the Colonial Secretary expressing his intention to have a scheme of rewards drafted for publication in the Government Gazette, which he would first refer for the consideration of the Chamber of Commerce.— lbid. Ttie Land Question. —We have received from Dr. Stratford the copy of a Petition, now in course of signature, " from the freeholders, householders, and inhabitants of Auckland; 1' to the Provincial Council on this all-important subject, which "we would gladly give in full (without pledging ourselves to all its detail?), were it only for the sound principles enunciated in the first and second paragraphs, which state that — " The basis of all national and provincial wealth consists mainly in the numerical strength of a healthy and industrious population. We, therefore, pray your honourable Council, that due and effectual encouragement be given to a sufficient amount of emigration, that may speedily serve to develope the rich and varied resources of this noble country, and assist to make Hew Zealand what she is plainly destined to be —the brightest, if not the richest, jewel in the British Crown. " That your petitioners would declare their belief, that the only sure way effectually to secure a large and healthy stream of emigration, is to enable a numerous agricultural population to find a ready home in New Zealand ; for it must be self-evident to the meanest capacity, that if the emigrant can be fixed to the soil there will bo little fear of his again leaving the Colony—that individually he will then be a pi.'-manont improvement to its wealth and importance—and that we shall not again see ship-

loads of good settlers leaving the shores of New Zealand in disappointment and disgust, simply because they could not find a permanent settlement in the country."—Having further stated that " the extreme distance of New Zealand from the centre of civilization, notwithstanding her delicious climate and fertile soil, necessarily demands that more than ordinary inducement be held out to encourage emigration to these shores," the petition proceeds to urge that as considerable ignorance exists with respect to the various advantages of the different sections of the country, that some competent person be employed to inspect and report to the Superintendent of the province upon the most fitting localities for New settlements ; and that the attention of the General Government and Land Purchas' department be called to such selection. Some four or six square miles of such land are then to be divided into fifty-acre lots, which are to be given on certain conditions as to fencing, &c, to actual settlers for seven years, and at the expiration of that time to become their bona fide property upon payment of a fair share of original cost, surveying expenses, &c. It is then suggested that a larger tract of land be divided into two hundred acre lots, to be sold at the sum of ten shillings an acre, to actual settlers only, -who shall be required to reside upon the land, and be liable to forfeiture of their lot upon noncompliance with the terms of grant; and, further, that the surrounding country may be surveyed at the discretion of the Superinter - dent, for settlers, speculators, or others, and sold at the sum of one pound per acre. — Ibid. The question concerning Mr. Charles John Taylor, whose name is spelled Teazer in the Electoral Roll, still awaits decision in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Yet the General Government has long since settled the question. A Ho wick voter, for Mr. Whitaker, whose name had been misspelled, signed liis voting' paper according to the spelling on the roll, in order to enable the poll clerk to take the vote. The regular questions were put to him, which are so worded that he was able to answer them truly. The. vote was objected to, and was reserved by the poll clerk for the decision of the Returning Officer, who pronounced it a good vote, and thus sanctioned the proceeding which the elector in question had adopted. But the Returning Officer is appointed by the General Government who therefore become answerable for his decisions. — Southern Cross.