AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 264, 9 February 1848, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

[From the New Zealander, January 8 to 26.] The Court of Requests for the Northern district has, by the dictum of the Governor, been abolished. This is a change we were quite unprepared for — and we are sure our readers will feel no little regret, that a Court which has so long, and so equitably brought their disputed debts to a speedy settlement whenever its arbitration was necessary, no longer exists. The Resident Magistrate's Court will in future take cognizance of those matters of dispute which were formerly brought before the Court of Requests. We are glad to find that the want which this active community has so long suffered from, is now about to be supplied. The Union Bank of Australia will be open for business on Tuesday next, the 11th instant, at the office, Prince's Street. Another detachment of the New Zealand Fencibles, under the command of Lieutenant Gray, arrived in the Clifton on Sunday. There has been, we are sorry to hear, much sickness on board, and considerable mortality, as many as forty-six deaths having occurred, principally amoug&t children during the voyage. Intelligence from England to a late date in September had been received at the Cape of Good Hope, where the Clifton touched ; we have been favoured with the perusal of some English papers up to'the 25th September, extracts from which will be found in our columns of this day. There is no news of great importance. The Queen had returned from the Highlands. A scheme of military colonization, it is said, is about to be adopted for all the colonies, so as to form "a colonial standing army, to be paid for by the se.tlements respectively, and so to reduce the expense of maintaining the troops of the line in our distant possessions." The project is favoured by the Times. A charter of incorporation for a company to establish steam communication with Australia had been obtained by Lieutenant Waghorn in conjunction with several eminent merchants. The route proposed and approved of by the Admiralty, is that by way ot Egypt, Ceylon, Singapore, Batavia, Fort Essington, and thence by way of Wednesday Island to Sydney, which will thus be brought within sixty days of London.

Kawau. — A public tea meeting in connexion with the Sabbath School established at this place, was held in the open air on Saturday week last, being New Year's day. The concourse, considering the place, was what may be called considerable. About 130 persons sat down, and partook of the various good things provided for the occasion. Among those present was a party of about twenty Maories, who shewed visible satisfaction at the sight of the feast, and did ample justice to the viands set before them. After tea, a report ot last year's operations was duly read, and an address del'vered by Mr. Rowe, the superintendent. It is stated that considerable progress had been made during the past year by the children generally, especially in commuting easy portion j of the Holy Scriptures to memory, oi which one child had learnt as many as 1,600 verses. The amount expended in the purchase of books during 1846 was £11 ; and the amount received £12 : 10s., leaving a balance in the Treasurer's hands of £1 : 10s. The present condition of the school is said to be such as to afford the greatest degree of encouragement to its conductors and friends. The number of children attending already is forty-three, vith one female and nine male teachers.

After a rational and pleasant day's recreation, the party separated with much cordiality, and the prospect of renewed exertions, and increased pleasing results until the next day of meeting.

TheFeegees. — The American ship Auckland, Captain. Cutter, which arrived from the Feegee Islands on Wednesday last, brings intelligence of the probability of the war that has been raging among the natives for some time past, soon drawing to a close from sheer inanition, eleven villages having been destroyed, and only one remaining to complete the work of demolition. The Auckland was ten days on her passage to this port. Besides sixty-seven casks of cocoa-nut oil, and a number of cocoa-nuts, she has brought three natives as passengers from Rotumah. She saw nothing of H.M.S. Dido. The mission"under the Rev. Mr. Hunt is reported rather favorably than otherwise, as making slow but perceptible pi ogress.