AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 436, 6 October 1849, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

As we were not of those who "much doubted" whether " the Governor's Deputy Registrar expedient" to meet the immediate difficulties of the Marriage Ordinance question, was " made in earnest," we learn without surprise that bis Excellency has already taken the necessary steps for bringing it into practical operation. An official communication to this effect has been addressed by the Colonial Secretary to the Ministers of the aggrieved bodies, with the additional intimation that the fees which might be charged on licenses issued by the Deputy Registrars appointed under this arrangement* will be remitted ; — a concession which we knew formed part of the Governor's plan, but which we did not previously advert to, because • there seemed some doubt whether he was legally empowered to grant it. The communication concludes by stating — "This arrangement, which is but temporary, is the only one which it is in the power of the Governor, under the present state of the law, to carry out ; but an alteration in the law shall be submitted to the General Legislature at its next meeting, with a view of obtaining, in as -far as possible, for the Presbyterian and Wesley an churches, and other religious denominations, the privileges they are anxious to possess. — New Zecdander, September 4th. The native feast about to be held at the Bay oMslands is, we understand, to be on a larger scale than any that has taken place for a number of years, and is exciting considerable attention both among the natives and Europeans in that' district. As we mentioned last week, this feast is given by the chiefs of the Waimate district to Ruhi, in return for one given by him about two years ago, to, iNa Manu, Na Whai, and Nga tt Kianga, and as

fcoth the hosts and guests belong to the Ngapuhies, it is quite a friendly entertainment, cud to a certain extent t family one. It is not, however, such a feast as Europeans are accustomed to, either as regards the nature of its viands, or the cost at which it is got up. For six mouths, throughout the whole of the 'district inhabited by Na Manu and the other •chiefs, the preparations for the feast have *been the one object of paramount importance, •and nothing has been spared or leit undone that could in any degree add to its extent or hospitality. The " Potehe," or Temple of Food, (on which the food for the feast is stoTed,) erected at Kororarika, is one of the Jar- j gest ever put up. It is of an oblong form, measuring 211 feet in length, and 18 feet in width at the base, and is at the top about 8 feet wide. One hundred and sixty Kauri spars, raised perpendicularly, form the frame work of this singular pile, several of them are squared, and five of them from 90 to 100 feet high, to which smaller spars of from 10 to 15 feet are again added, bound firmly together by the strong vine Torotoro, making the total -height- of the turret in the centre from 115 to 130 feet, from which 8 other turrets, ranging from 70 to 80 feet run the length of the erection. On these turrets are erected, at elevations of from 10 to 12 feet above each other, from the ground to their tops, the platforms on which the food is- laid out, which consists of potatoes cooked pigs, dried sharks, pumpkins, kumeras, &c, the probable quantities of which there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining. We have received accounts of the preparations up to Friday last, at which time there were not less than 200 pigs on the ground, several of them weighing 3 and 4 cwt. About 2000 double baskets of potatoes had then been collected, equal to about 40 tons, and several piles of dried sharks were also to be seen, whije further supplies of these and other articles were arriving daily. It was expected that the feast would commence on Monday next, and continue during the week. 3000 natives at least are .expected to be present, and this estimate, of both the people and preparations, we believe will be found to be under rather than overstated. These feasts were formerly of much more frequent occurrence, but since the settlement of the couutry by the Pakeha, have fallen considerably into disuse. These ancient observances are however warmly cherished by the tribes of the northern districts, who look forward with much expectancy to their recurrence — by the chiefs for the purpose of settling matters of political and arranging whatever differences may have occurred, and by the people, for exercising those traits of kindness and civility towards each other, for which they are so remarkable. — Southern Cross, Sept. 4. H. M. S. Havannnh may shortly be expected with the Lord Bishop of New Zealand from New Caledonia, it having been arranged that that vessel after visiting the Navigator Islands, should meet his Lordship in his schooner the Undine, at the Isle of Pines, for which he sailed hence on 3 1st July. — Ibid, Sept. 11.