AUCKLAND. [From the New Zealander, Sept. 20.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 332, 4 October 1848, Page 3

AUCKLAND. [From the New Zealander, Sept. 20.]

The schooner Sir John Franklin, arrived on Monday fiom Kantavu, which she left on the 2nd instant. Since her departure from this port, in April last, she has visited the Feejees and Rotuma, heing engaged in trading throughout these islands. The Albion and Colcastle, schooners, of Sydney, were likewise trading amongst the islands at the period of the i-.tr John Franklin's departure. The American whaler, Alfred, three months from Sydney, had put into Ovalau on the Ist of May, with 300 barrels sperm oil. The barque Catherine left the Feejees for New Caledonia on the Bth of May. She had been ten months among the islands, and had procured 400 piculs of beche-le-mer. The Sir John Franklin has brought to this port, Captain Walden, the first and second officers, and the crew of the brig Tim Pickering, of Salem, which was wrecked on the Feejee group, having been driven on shore on the island of Ovalau, after parting from both anchors, in a violent hurricane, on the sth of April. She had been seventeen months in the beche-le-mer trade, from the United States, and had only arrived at Ovalau the previous day. She bilged immediately after she struck, and was driven high and dry upon the beach. As soon as the -tide receded, the natives, in great numbers, and armed with clubs, proceeded to board the vessel, plundering her of everything valuahle, and stripping the master and crew of all they possessed, and telling them, in reply to their remonstrances, that they might think themselves fortunate that their lives were spared. A missionary, Dr. Lyth, was present at the time, having gone on board the evening hefore from a small schooner, in which he had been passing from one island to another, and which was wrecked during the night, with the loss of all hands, save one. On the same night, the schooner Colcustle, of Sydney, was lying at Saulivu, and was driven into a mangrove hush, but, was floated off without damage. The natives attempted to possess 'hemselves of the copper of the Tim Pickering, but the American barque Catherine havingopportunely arrived, Captain Walden was enabled to drive away the marauders, tie then proceeded to burn the brig, and, thereby, saved the copper which was shipped on board the Catherine. Subsequently a dozen canoes crowded with natives returned, and carried off the fragments of the Tim Pickering. Captain Walden and his crew embarked in the Catherine, and were coveyed from Ovalau to the Wesleyan Missionary Station at Viwa. where they remained for two or three months. After this they went to Niculau, the residence of the U. S. Consul, J. B. Williams, Esq., where they continued till the arrival of the Sir John Franklin, by which vessel, as"we have already stated, they were brought on to Auckland. H. M. Ship Calypso, Captain Worth, was at the Feejees, about the middle of June. During her visit she burnt the town of Unduvau, some eight or nine miles from the Missionary Station at Viwa. This summary act was caused by aggression of the natives of that village, who, about a year before, had taken forcible possesssion of a boat belonging

to some white residents, murdering two of their number. On the 20th of June the Calypso opened upon the town, keeping up a heavy fire. On the following day, under cover of her guns, she landed her marines and blue jackets, marching them on the town, and burning it with but little resistance. On the retiring of this force, the natives rushed out and attacked them, wounding one of the seamen in the thigh. They were, however, speedily put to the rout, with a loss of eight men killed, and twenty wounded. After this affair, the British re- embarked, without further molestation. On the same evening, the chief of the village proceeded on board the Calypso, soliciting pardon, according to native custom, by presenting to Captain Worth, a whale's tooth, three hogs, and a basket of earth. The Roman Catholic Missionary schooner was at Lekaba, Feejee, about the middle of July.

Narrow Escape. — We had, yesteiday, a startling demonstration of the wisdom which prompted the removal of stock ships from the busy haunts of men. In the course of the day, whilst Captain Clarke and Mr. Maxwell were observing the debarkation of some of the cattle from the Elizabeth and Henry, in the vicinity of Freeman's Bay, an enraged ox made at ttie latter gentleman, but, being received with a heavy whip, be suddenly changed the object of his attack, charging Capt. Clarke like a whirlwind. The gallant tar, deeming discretion to be the better part of valour, fled incontinently, but still with an eye, over the left — shoulder. A precipice in the van and the bullock's horns, close on board, in the rear, Capt. Clarke had barely time to spring a little aside ere he beheld his assailant, in the fury of the onset, precipitate himself head foremost, over the cliff, where he fell wiih such violence that be remained for a couple of hours apparently dead. Captain Clarkes escape was a most providential one, and, as we have said, the occurrence only serves to confirm the propriety of withdrawing such debarkations from the town. Had this animal exhibited his prowess at Official Bay, we might, in all probability, have been called upon to record the fatal resuhs, at a Coroner's Inquest.