AUCKLAND. [From the New Zealander.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 180, 21 April 1847, Page 3

AUCKLAND. [Fro m the New Zealander.]

The Revenhje. — It appears from the Retarns in the Government Gazette of Wednesday last, that the Revenue for the district of Auckland for the quarter ending 31st December, 1846, exceeds that of the preceeding quarter, ending September, to the amount of £1617 Is. The total receipts for the quarter ending September 30th, arising from ordinary revenue, amounts to £2587 10s. 2d. and from land sales £122 10s. 4d. ; while the receipts for the quarter ending 31st December amounts to, from ordinary revenue, £4181 4s. Od., and from land sales £145 16s. 6d. We believe that the result of the quarter just ended will be still more satisfactory ; and should Taranaki and the Southern province be equally productive of revenue, the average income of the colony will amout to about £35,000 per annum.

Native Labour. — We have not been unobservant of what we consider a most important step lately taken by the Government, in the employment of aatives upon the public works ; and, from what we have observed, we are certain that the amount of benefit to the colony to which this will lead, cannot at present be foreseen. The acuteness displayed by the natives of this country, in already acquiring knowledge of several of | the handicrafts, from very scanty instruction, is really extraordinary — and, in our opinion, fully proves their capability to advance rapidly to the higher stages of civilisation. Sawyers, who have frequently, from necessity, been compelled to employ Maori mates, have confessed that after a few days' initiatory instruction, they have become as useful as many Europeans would be after as many months' practice. In carpentry, also, they have progressed ; several throughout the country have, with their own hands, erected weather-board-ed houses, the framing of which has been as firmly fitted and put together as houses built by more experienced hands : and we find the Rev. Mr. Cotton acknowledges, in his letters on the management of Bees, that after

a few lessons, several native pupils of his became his superiors in the art of constructing bee hives. We heard it frequently alleged, by those whose residence in the country should enable them to form pretty correct notions of native disposition, that no success would attend attempts to confine the natives of the present generation to any given occupation. Every days' experience, however, is refuting this assumption ; and any one who has watched the progress of the men employed on the Ordnance works, must admit, that labour is visibly becoming pleasant unto them, and that they are perseveringly and eagerly working onward for their own as well as for the colony's good. The system adopted of varying their wages according to their proficiency, is a very wise one ; and is as necessary in their case as iv that of a school boy, who is stimulated to learn his lesson by rewards promised and bestowed. A portion of the scoria wall, now erecting around the extensive grounds at Albert Barracks, is being put up solely by natives, under the superintendence of Mr. G. Graham, R. E., assisted by an interpreter. The stones have been prepared by native hands, and those which form the quoins are so well hammered and faced, that it would be difficult to point out any marked difference between them and the I work performed by the Europeans. This experiment on the part of the Government is certainly a momentous one, and we hope to see it followed up by the colonists, who may, by degrees, most beneficially introduce their Maori neighbours to the various systems of agricultural and mechanical pursuits, and thus firmly cement the interest of the two races into one common bond of prosperity. Nothing will tend more to induce an influx of capitalists to the colony, than the certainty of labour to be easily procured on the spot ; and no better class of labourers will be found for New Zealand than the New Zealanders themselves, when they are trained to our plans of performing their work.

Pleasing Incident in Military Lite. — We understand that the Serjeants' wives of the 65th Regiment took the opportunity of presenting to Dr. Clifford, on his late departure from this garrison, a very handsome silk counterpane, an elegant specimen of their own handiwork, as a small token of their gratitude for his kind, unremitting, and most valuable services to them and their children, during their voyage in the Sir Robert Peel from England. We observe with great satisfaction about one hundred natives at work, forming a beautiful turnpike road from Auckland across to the Manukau harboui , several miles of which are already formed, and preparations are being made to cover this fine line of road with scoria, which abounds in the neighbourhood. Despatches for the Governor have been received by the Louisa Campbell. It is said they convey very important instructions ; if so, we feel assured that they will soon be laid before the public, for his Excellency's invariable course is ti keep nothing back that should be made known to the colonists. From the EngUsh papers in our possession, we have not been able to glean anything of importance to New Zealand ; but we are informed that Mr. Eyre has been appointed to the Lieut. -Governorship of the Southern Province, and may be soon expected. This of itself is sufficient proof that the residence of the Governor-in-Chief will be at Auckland, although, when the Louisa Campbell sailed, the question had not been finally set at rest by an order of her Majesty in Council ; but it was supposed that the new constitution of the colony would shortly be established. — Emigration to this colony is to he revived under the auspices of the Government ; and we understand that the arrangements at home respecting New Zealand are, altogether, of a most cheering nature. The Company was still struggling feebly, but was not expected to survive many months.

We have great pleasure in publishing the following official report made to Captain Graham, by Capt. Hoseasonof H.M. Steamer Indexible, of the trials made on board that vessel of the Massacre Bay coal, the result of which, is considered to be very satisfactory. The coal, the subject of these experiments, was mere surface coal which had been lying for some months on the beach at Nelson, and it appears, in some respects, to be superior to the Australian coal ; but if a further trial should be made, on a larger scale, as suggested in the report, of coal obtained some depth below the surface, there can be no doubt that the result will be still more favourable. As so much depends on the issue of these experiments, we are sure that the parties most interested in them will spare no exertion or expense in procuring such favourable samples as will render them decisive, and we confidently anticipate that in the course of a few months this coal will be used on board the steamer to the exclusion of Australian coal, and will also be gra-

dually introduced into general consumption for fuel by private families in both settlements. While on this subject we may mention that the Ocean arrived on Monday from Massacre Bay with a cargo of coal obtained some depth below the surface. The coal is in large pieces and is said to be of a superior quality : — [From the Government Gazette.'] Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 30th March, 1847. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to direct the publication of the following letters for general information. By his Excellency's command, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.

Her Majesty's Ship " Castor, 1 ' Auckland, N.Z., 27th March, 1847. Sir, — In accordance with the wish conveyed in your Excellency's letter of the 24th inst., I directed Commander Hoseason to report on the nature and quality of the New Zealand coal put on board her Majesty's steam-sloop Inflexible, for trial, on that vessel's recent visit to Nelson ; and I- have the honour to enclose a copy of that officer's letter to me on the subject. I have the honour' to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, C Graham, Captain, and Senior Naval Officer at New Zealand. His Excellency Governor Grey.

H. M. Steam-Shop "Inflexible, At Auckland, N.Z., 27th March, 1847« Sir, — In compliance with your request, contained in your letter of the 24th inst.,that I should report on the nature and quality of the coal put on board her Majesty's steamsloop under my command (at the colonial expense by his Excellency Governor Grey,) at Port Nelson, with a view to try its fitness for the use of steam vessels, I have the honour to inform you, that I have taken the opinion of Mr. Tucker, the first engineer, on the subject, and have received a most favourable report on the same. I am enabled, moreover, to prove this by the duty done by the coal ; for we find by a comparison with the best Newcastle (Australia) coal, obtained at Sydney, the following to be the result :—: — Newcastle (Australia) coal. 14| revolutions on 3rd step of expansion, 24 cwt. per hour. Nelson Coal. 15^ revolutions on 3rd step of expansion, 25 cwt. per hour. Thus it will be seen that from about equal quantities of fuel, equal work has been obtained ; but there is one peculiarity in the Nelson coal, which is being much slower in combustion than the Newcastle coal, and, therefore, would not furnish steam for the cylinders with equal rapidity to enable the vessel to go at her greatest speed in smooth water, but it is far more economical when all weathers are considered : this would make it highly advantageous when mixed with the Newcastle (Australia) coal, as the bad qualities of both would then be counteracted. In justice, however, to the Nelson Coal, I ought to observe, that it is mere surface coal, and not obtain >d from a pit, like the Coal of Newcastle, and has been for more than six months lying on the open beach, where it was placed for the use of the Driver, had she touched at Nelson. As only 33 tons were received for trial, (that being all on the spot), I am not able to make as full a repoi t as I could wish ; should you, therefore, be pleased to order a larger quantity to be placed at the depot at Wellington, (I would advise not less than 100 tons), obtained, if possible, from a little below the surface, and subjecf to rejection if, on inspection, it be deemed not equal to that already received on board, I do not doubt but that I shall then be able to make a full and satisfactory report. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, J v ('. Hoseason, Commander. To Captain Graham, C. 8., her Majestys' ship Castor, and Senior Naval Officer at New Zealand.