AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 550, 10 February 1858, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

We (Wellington Independent) Lave Auckland papers to the 4th of January, by Saturday's overland mail. They are devoid of other than local interest. The Annual Race Meeting- had taken place on the Ellerslie Course. The weather was peculiarly favourable, and there was a large and animated concourse drawn together on both days. On the first'day-ex-pectation which had run high was doomed to bitter disappointment, the ■■ racing throughout being far inferior to anything ever witnessed on an Auckland course, exhibiting a lamentable falling off from contests of former years. On the second day, the morning- looked rather doubtful, and there were one or two heavy showers, "but the day on the whole was a delightful one, the attendance being even more numerous than on the previous day. The •fine band of the 58th too was on the ■ground to add to the attractions, and the expectations that had been formed were fully realised, the sports of the day being .incomparably superior. H.M.S. 'Iris' was signalled outside "Tiri Tiri Maitangi, on the morning of -January 1, at 10 a.m., and came into harbour and brought up off Port Britomart at 6 p.m. She sailed from Sydney on the 27th November, with a view of enquiringint© the particulars of a murder committed I>y the natives of the island of Tana upon the mate and carpenter of the barque New Forest, a sandal wood trader belonging to Sydney. She arrived at Aniteum, New Hebrides, on the Bth December, and the day following sailed for Tana, which she reached on the 10th. Inquiries were forthwith instituted, and several of the natives were taken on board the frigate : no clue however could be found to implicate them, and all that could be done was to caution them how they conducted themselves for the future towards mariners trading among them. The Iris made the circuit of the island of Tana, and during- her stay the New Forest called there, but her people were unable to throw any light upon the business. Returned to Aniteum on the 13th, and remained -until \ the 16th, on the evening of which she j took her departure for New Zealand, j making the Buy of Islands on the 25th, > and experiencing the most delightful , -.v eather throughout a remarkably pleasant ' • cruise. Her stay in our waters depends j entirely, we are informed, upon the wish \ of his Excellency the Governor. !