New Zealand Provinces.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 10 November 1855, Page 3

New Zealand Provinces.

AUCKLAND.

The Auckland papers received by the Zingari were to the 17th October; circumstances have prevented us from earlier noticing their contents.

The chief matter of interest in the North was the coming elections, and as members had to be elected for the Provincial Council as well as for the House of Representatives, and the seats in nearly every instance would probably be contested, the election excitement throughout the province was considerable. On the day the steamer left Manukau, the election for the superintendency took place, but the result from some of the out-districts would not be known for several days. The impression in Auckland, we are told, was, judging from the results of the polling in the city, that Mr. Campbell was defeated, and Mr. Whitaker, the Acting Attorney-General of the colony, was returned. The nomination for candidates for tlie House of Representatives to represent the city of Auckland, took place on the 16th of October. The candidates were — Messrs. J. O'Neill, T. Beckham, J. L. Campbell, W. Connell, W. C. Daldy, and P. Dignan. The show of hands was declared in favour of Messrs. Beckham, Connell, and Campbell, when a poll was demanded on behalf of the other^andidates. For the suburbs of Auckland the candidates proposed were — Messrs. Merriman, W. Brodie, Pollen, and W. Turner. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Pollen and Merriman, when a poll was demanded on behalf of Messrs. Brodie and Turner. For the Northern Division, Messrs. Forsaith, Lee, Henderson, and May were proposed. The show of hands was declared in favour of Messrs. Henderson and May, when a poll was demanded in favour of Messrs, Forsaith and Lee. For the Southern Division, Messrs. Buckland, R. Graham, Newman, and C. J. Taylor were proposed. The show of hands was in favour of the two firstnamed gentlemen, and a poll was demanded on behalf of the others. For the Pensioner Settlements, Mr. Bacot, Mr. Farmer, Major Greenwood, Mr. M'Gauran, and Mr. J. Williamson were proposed. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Williamson and Farmer, when a poll was demanded in favour of the others.

The first annual meeting of the shareholders in the Auckland Steam Navigation Company •was held on the 3rd of October. The report of the directors showed that the earnings of the William Denny for the past year had been, in round numbers, £17,700, to which was to be added the subsidy of £5,000 from the Provincial Government. After defraying all expenses, £706 remained to be divided as a dividend among the shareholders, which, considering all the difficulties which have attended the speculation, and that the sum of £2,000 •was sunk on her first voyage, is considered a very satisfactory result. At the end of the present year, if not before, a second vessel is to be laid on the same line.

A Flax Company has been formed in Auckland, and according to the report made by the Provisional Committee, a capital of or j62,000 is found necessary to enable the company to commence operations with any prospect of success.

The following is an account of a shipwreck which has taken place at Kaipara : —

"It is with deep regret we have to communicate the wreck of the barque Resolution, attended, we fear, with the loss of the lives of seven of the crew, whilst endeavouring to put to sea on the morning of Friday, the 14th September. The Resolution, if we are correctly informed, was a North American built vessel, of 383 tons register, and was owned, and loaded with a cargo of timber and kauri gum, by Francis Atkins Esquire. She had been waiting for some weeks at Kaipara Heads, for the first favourable opportunity to clear the river. On Friday morning, she weighed with a fine fair wind, and had fetched ■well out between the Tory Channel and the Main, when between ten and eleven a.m. the rain began to fall and the wind flew round to about N.W. This sudden shift threw the ship flat aback, and caused her to make stern way. In thia emergency, one of the anchors was let go and the vessel was brought up. Having filled upon her, the anchor was slipped, and the ship again made head-way. The wind, however, again headed her : once more Bhe was taken aback, and in that helpless position was driven on the inner bank of the Tory, over which Bhe bumped into deep water, where she let go her remaining anchor. Unfortunately the cable parted, and the ill-fated barque drove amidst the breakers of the outer shoal. The boats were then lowered, and in doing so the long boat was stove, and it took three hands to keep her free; every possible preparation was thus made for the rescue of the officers and ship's company, who stuck by the ship until she had five feet of water in her hold, and had given evident indications of quickly going to pieces. The boats then made for the land, Captain Robertson with six of the crew taking their places in the life-boat, and the Chief Officer with the remaining six of the crew occupying the long boat. For some time the life boat took the long boat in tow, but in struggling with the breakers it was found that to persevere in such a course might be to endanger the safety of both; the tow was therefore cast off, and about midnight, the weather being very thiok, the captain with the boat's crew landed in safety at Kaipara Head. A fire was quickly lighted, and the poor fellows made themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit. There wai no appearance, however, of the long boat ; and next morning, it then blowing hard, an anxious but fruitless search was instituted after their missing comrades. The wreck was rapidly breaking up, and but a few necessaries were saved. It was hoped that the chief officer's boat might have fetched Manukau; but this is reported not to have been the case by the crew of the captain's boat, who arrived in Auckland on Thursday night. The chief officer with his crew aro still missing ; but, although strong apprehensions are naturally entertained for then: safety, we would fain hope that they may yet turn up. The Resolution, we believe, was bound for England. She was, we understand, partially, if not fully, insured. It is much to be regretted that the trade of Kaipara is not sufficiently extensive to maintain a steam tug. In casting a retrospective glance at the shipwrecks that have occurred at Kaipara, we are led to conclude that they have not resulted from any want of due precaution, or because of stress of weather, but in consequence of ships getting becalmed or baffled in midchannel, and then being driven in utter helplessness amidst the shoals and breakers."

The Auckland Race Club has resolved to establish a Produce Stake in Auckland, to encourage the breeding of thorough- bred horses. The following is the announcement published :—: —

The Race Club has determined that a St. Leger Stakes Race will be run annually, and that the first •wultoke place at the meeting of ISs£>; open to all produce whatsoever foaled between the Ist August, 1855, and Ist August, 1856. Subscription 15 soys. each, h. ft., and 5 only if declared aix months before the meeting, with 100 soys. added by the club. If 10 start, the Becond to receive 50 soya. ; if a lesser number, to save his stakes ; colts, Bst 71b. ; fillies and

geldings, Bst 31bs. One mile and a half. Entries to be made with the Secretary, on or before the Ist August. 1856, accompanied with a proper description, and the names of the sire and dam.