AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 802, 9 April 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

Testimonial to the late Rev. J. F. Churton.—We are gratified to know that a move^ merit is in progress to erect a suitable Monument or Tablet in memory of this lamented clergyman, and that the subscription list already exhibits a large number of names including persons of all classes and religious denominations. The amount of subscription is limited, so as not to exceed five shillings from any individual; and it is proposed that, at a general meeting of the subscribers, the nature and the site of the Testimonial shall be deter mined. —New Zealander, Feb. 23. We have learned with sincere pleasure that His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief has lately made Grants in aid of some of the Schools in the Northern District, which are very liberal in themselves, were much needed, and are likely to promote most materially the cause of Native Education, of which, —as even his most bitter opponents are forced to admit, —Sir George Grey has been the steady and earnest friend. Many of our readers are aware that the Schools of the Rev. Mr. Morgan, at Otawhao, the Rev. Mr. Maunsell, at Waikato Heads, and the Rev. Mr. Ashwell, at Tukupoto, were embarrassed by serious debts; the encumbrances, amounting collectively to several Hundreds of Pounds, have, we are told, been nearly or entirely liquidated. It is possible that other Schools have been similarly relieved, but we only mention those respecting which information has reached v?, although indirectly, yet from sources which we consider reliable. We have further learned that a sum not less than £250 has been granted by His Excellency for the completion of the buildings of the interesting Female School fof St. Stephen's, near this city, under the superintentendence of the Rev, G A. and Mrs. Kissling, where such an outlay was indispensable before the Institution could be deemed properly fitted for all the purposes of its establishments. These are the expenditures of public money which will command the grateful approbation of the true friends of our aboriginal people both in the colony and in England ; and whereever Sir George Grey's lot may be cast in future years, or however political hostility may assail parts of his administration, he will have at least tbi3 cheering consciousness: —that he has zealously employed the power and the means entrusted to him in such a way as to bring within the reach of multitudes of the Native New Zealanders, the inestimable blessings of Education based upon sound, because religious, principles. —lbid.

Survey op Manakau Harbour. —lt affords us the utmost gratification to learn that the survey of this very important harbour is being carried on in » manner the most satisfactory to Captain Drury( and the officers of H. M.'s Brigantine Pandora, under whose able directions it is being perfected. The opinion, which we have invariably expressed, that the channel merely required to be well buoyed and beaconed, to be readily available is, we are told, about to be immediately demonstrated. Six temporary buoys, properly ballasted, with staffs and distinguishing flags attached, have already been laid down, and the requisite remainder are about to be laid down forthwith. When this shall be done, we understand there will be no difficulty whatevet to any vessel's entering this harbour during the daylight. Of course, until lights shall be erected, and a pilot provided, it will be altogether different during the night. Large vessels will not be able to approach within from three to five miles of Onehunga; but about that distance from the village there is a bite of the estuary, where the shore is admirably adapted for the site of a port town. The inhabitants of Auckland have every reason to feel indebted to Captain Drury and his officers for the intelligence and the zeal with which this survey has been conducted. There has been no public work of equal importance to the prosperity of Auckland nndertaken since the foundation of the settlement. Our distance from Sydney and the other Australian ports is about to be materially and mightily diminished. And if, as we are assured, the Manakau will almost immediately be open to vessels of every class, a very momentous impetus to our commercial prosperity is at hand. We await the report of Captain Drury on this important survey with much impatience.—Southern Cros$ t March T.