AUCKLAND.

North Otago Times, Volume III, Issue 46, 5 January 1865, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From our own Correspondent),

Although the late session of the General Assembly was of scarcely three weeks' duration, the result of its deliberations involves the most important interests of the colony. That one of the main objects of the prosent ministry is the removal of the seat of government from Auckland is well known, and that it has been kept steadily in view during the late session tUer,e is no doubt. It is generally believed that the views of the southern members will be carried out at no distant period; but this is not definitely determined. Every citizen of Auckland is asking his neighbor whether the seat of Government will be removed from Auckland j and the reply, although inclining to the affirmative, is generally attended by a certain hesitation, showing that this contingency, although probable, involves serious difficulties. The Treasury Department of the General Government at Auckland has received formal notice from the Assistant Treasurer to hold itself in readiness to go away. This notice has been given, I understand, by ministerial authority. A similar direction has also been given to the Audit Department; and even details as to changes in salaries, &c, have been specified. But the Colonial Secretary's Department has as yet received no intimation of the above nature. Boxes have been mado, and books, papers, &c , are being packed up. Hammering, nailing, and cording is going on; but in this department —the one in which the above directions, it might be reasonably supposed, would in the first place proceed— have received no reliable information as to the expected change. How is it that, although whispers and rumors are rife, nothing is definitely known in the quarter which should take the lead in such a case ? In spite of these appearances of packing up and going away, may there not be a bitch somewhere, which, at the eleventh hour, may make itself felt, and frustrate the wishes of those who most ardently desire the removal of the seat of Government to Wellington ? It has been asserted by those who should know, that the Governor has expressed his intention of not going to Wellington; and if such should be the case, I would ask how is the Government to be carried on should the Ministry determine to go ? As it is certain the body canflot exist without the head, so it would appear that the Government cannot be properly administered without the presence of the Governor. His Excellency, in his speech at the closing of the General Assembly, informed the members that it was his intention to convoke the next meeting of the Assembly at Wellington, and that the session should be held some time within the ourrent financial year--that is, some time before next July; but nothing in his Excellency 5 ! speech is said about the removal of the seat of Government. Although the holding of the seision at Wellington without the presence of the Governor present* grave difficulties, yet tho idea is a more

feasible one than that the Government should be administered at Wellington, while his Excellency was staying at Auckland. But may it not fairly be presumed that Sir George Grey's statement that he would not leave Auckland meant simply that he would not sanction the Government being finally removed from Auckland. That the feeling of the Auckland public is very strong against the proposed Governmental stop, is evident both from the large meeting lately held opposite the Court house in Queen street, and from the tone of the Auckland press. The "Southern Cross " and " New Zealand Herald" are of course violent against the movement, and even the " New Zealander," which has been stigmatised as " his Excellency's paper," is raising its'voice against it. For all these antagonistic expressions of feeling, allowances must be made for interested motives —" number one" of course has something to do with it, but a sense of impending evil appears to actuate the minds of those who strenuously desire the removal of Government. " At the meeting, while many of the listeners evidently came from no other motive than curiosity, the majority of them seemed moved by an urgent purpose. The natives of Auckland seem likewise against the proposed change. At the late meeting, several chiefs made pithy speeches, and striking similes by means of walking-sticks- showing the confusion that would result in removing the Government, by suffering the sticks to drop from their hands. A native lately said to a gentlemon who has mixed a good deal among them at Whangarei: " What is the good ? What harm has Auckland done, that the Government should go away ?" My object in detailing the above circumstanoes is not to enter upon the merits or demerits of the question of the removal of the Government, but simply to indicate the state of public feeling in Auckland upon the subject. It may fairly be presumed that both the Goveenor and Ministers find interests involved in this question affecting the colony at large, which the inhabitants of any single province are at a loss to understand. But that the people of Auckland do show repugnance in the matter is undeniable.

This subject absorbs so much public attention here that other matters for the present are quite secondary. The alteration of the tariff is of course the cause of much complaint, which however scarcely calls for sympathy. If it were time that an increase of the prices of liquors was calculated to lessen drunkenness, it would be subject for congratulation; but, I conceive, a more effective mode of increasing the revenue could not be adopted than the present one. If nobblers were Is each instead of 4d, the parlors and bars of public houses would be nearly, if not quite, as well filled as at present. The opera season is just terminating. Ihis is expected to be the last week of the performances of the talented company who for several weeks have afforded entertainment uf a superior kind to the inhabitants of Auckland. It is taid that Macnaiuara, who had engaged the company for the season, will have lost several hundreds of pounds by his speculation. Other attractions in Auckland, though of a less elevating character, appear to maintain a greater hold upon the imagination of many of the Aucklanders than the opera.

There is a lull at present on the subject of the war in Auckland. An outbreak of the Ngapuhis in the north is talked of; rumors of runangas, drillings, and even practisings of bugle calls by the natives, are afloat; but the gathering storm has not yet burst forth. The exercising of the militia and volunteers is at a standstill, and only monthly parades for inspection of arms, &c, take place. As the fine season has now set in, it may be expected that if disturbances should take place in the north, the time for their commencement is at hand.