AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 664, 13 December 1851, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

An Auckland Steam-Vessel.— The friends of our advancing settlement will learn with pleasure that a steamboat of about 50

tons, to ply between Auckland and the neighbouring parts of the coast, is likely soon to be launched on our waters, the hull being now in progress, and the work daily proceeding at Freemans Bay, under the direction of Mr. Robert Stoue, on behalf of Mr. C. J. Stone one of our earliest and most active settlers in developing and turning to account the capabilities of the settlement—and his partner Mr. Langford, in whose enterprise the undertaking has originated. The model is very creditable, and well suited to the service for which the vessel is intended, combining safety with speed. The length of the steamer is to be 60 feet over all; length of the keel, 49 feet; depth of hold, 5 feet; and breadth of beam, 13 feet 6 inches. ‘ Her engines, of ten horse power (five horse each), andjpachinery are now progressing rapidly at Mr. William Bourne’s Foundry in Queen-street, under the immediate and careful superintendence of,that experienced engineer, sn that her whole material and construction, it may be said, will, as tar as nossible, be native, her timber being of pohutakawa, (so well adapted to the purposes of this department of sbip-building), and the planking of kauri. It is scarcely necessary to point out how favourable it is likely to affect traffic generally in the district, the Maories as well as the Europeans participating in its advantages. We believe that the vessel is expected to be ready for her first trip on New Year’s Day next. This will be the first steamboat constructed in New Zealand, but we trust it will prove the precursor of not a few others of larger capabilities and more extended spheres of action.— New Zealander, Nov. 1.

The Survey of the Hokianga.—By accounts recently received, we learn that H.M.S. Pandora, Capt. Drury, arrived in the river on the 7th ult., after a fine run of four days from this port, crossing the her under most favourable circumstances, after a westerly gale had taken off. Mr. Richards (master) and party who proceeded by land from Monganui, to trace the Northern Coast Line, from that harbour to Hokianga, joined the Pandora on the day of her arrival, having accomplished their fatiguing journey in safety. On arrival Capt. Drury immediately commenced his important services and aided by the favourable state of the weather great progress had been made in the survey of the mouth and bar of the river. The importance to the Colony of the services being performed by this vessel, can scarcely be over estimated, and we look with much interest to their results. From the high character of her commander and officers, and the efficiency of the crew, we may naturally anticipate a more valuable addition to oar knowledge of the coasts and harbours they are to survey, than any we have had in the Northern Island since that of the Waitemata was performed.— lbid, November 8.