AUCKLAND. [From the Southern Cross, Nov. 28.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 458, 22 December 1849, Page 2

AUCKLAND. [From the Southern Cross, Nov. 28.]

By the Nancy, arrived yesterday from the Bay of Islands, we learn of the arrival th««

of the Danish schooner Johanna Oluffa, Capt. Engers, from San Francisco 13th Sep. teniber, fid the Sandwich Islands. Through the kindness of oar friends at the Bay we have received a few newspapers by this opportunity, their contents, however, are unimportant, their news having been forestalled by that brought by the Lady Leigh. By Mr. Lloyd, passenger by the above vessel, we learn of fever and dysentery having been very prevalent when he left, ten days after the schooner had sailed, he having only joined that vessel at Honolulu. The schooner Johanna Oluffa is a fine Danish brigantine of about 140 tons, and having come direct to the Bay of Islands, for timber, we have now additional proof of the scarcity of that article in San Francisco, and of the name now obtained by New Zealand as a near and ready source whence it can be supplied. We regret, however, that through the cupidity of our timber merchants, both at the Bay and at Wangaroa, whither the Captain went on a visit Overland, that the prices they should have asked were so exorbitant that Captain Engers did not feel himself justified in giving them, and accordingly sailed for Sydney a few days afterwards. This we trust will.be of service in guiding parties holding timber to be more cautious in regulating their prices for the future. *Capt. Engers we understand, would have shipped 130,000 feet, had he been able to obtain it on reasonable terms, but exorbitant prices having been asked, not a loot was taken. By this opportunity we also learn of the success Capt. Dring of the "Janet" had met -with in his cargo of timber shipped at Hokianga tome time ago. That cargo it seems, was originally intended for Tahiti, finding no sale lor it there, he took it on to San Franeiscu, where he arrived in time to avail himself of the exhorbitant prices then ruling for such a cargo as that he had on board, by which it seems he realized a handsome fortune. The brig Fanny Capt. Leathart, was £5 days on her passage hence to San Francisco, and having sailed again for this port, Capt. Engers, judging from the fine winds and weather he recently experienced, says she may be daily expected. From the Sandwich Islands there is no news of importance. Below we give such extracts as a-.e or interest in the papeis come to hand by this opportunity. The rapid growth and improvement of the city of San Francisco is a subject of remark and sur-prise to all.-- An absence of a week, and one scarcely knows where he is on his return. Fine store-houses are taking the place of ten is and hovels, and beautiful goods are arriving daily from China and elsewhere, which dazzle the eye of him who expected to see nothing in California but pick-axes, India rubber boots, and tents, or pistols, bowieknives, and dirks. Society, too, is as good in San Francisco as in any cisy of the east, excepting, of course, a scarcity of that best gift of man, women. We notice, however, with pleasure, a daily increase in the numbers ot the fair sex — ladies who have braved the dangers and trials of a sea or land passage in company with their i usbands in search of the riches oi California. The whole world seems to be represented here" by its shipping. England, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Sandwich Islands, Van Diemen's Land, China, Manila, Hindostan, &c, &c, and the natives of every country named are labouring in California. — The magnetic influence of the yellow ore has brought them all together. About all these vessels have been deserted by their crews, and, we' are sorry to add, some by their captains. They are scattered so closely and indiscriminately together, that whenever one leaves, it is apt to get a-foul of its nearest neighbour before getting, a breeze and ample sea-room. Some good and wholesome harbour regulations should be at once established, and these difficulties avoided. Brig.-General Persifer F. Smith is at present on an expedition to the Sierra Nevada. Governor Shannon, of Ohio, ex minister to Mexico, is now working in the mines of the Rio de los Americanos. Commodore Jones is stationed here. Commodore Voohees has lately arrived in port. Major Garret is at the present time at Santa Barbara. Colonel Fremont is at Monterey. Hon. T. Butler King is lying dangerously ill.