AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 810, 7 May 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The Auckland Gold Field Gold. — Some of the most attractive specimens of New Zealand gold which have hitherto come und"r our observation, are at present to be seen at Mr. Hansard's office. They are from the Waiau diggings, from which Mr. Hansard has received, since his last report appeared in our columns, about forty ounces of gold qmrtz, with a quantity of richly auriferous sand. . . . We understand that a party of experienced Californian diggers, arrived in our port by the Wil Ham, have gone to Cororaandel in the Bon Acdord on a prospecting expedition. The result of their visit will be looked for with some interest. — New Zealander, April 6.

I Disastrous Floods on the East Coasts. — IWe had recently the misfortune to chronicle a

sad loss of life and property which had taken plar-e at Hawkes Bny, through a continuance of wet weather altogether unprecedented at this season of the year. We lament to be so soon called upon to add yet more extensively to the li=t of casualties. From the subjoined painfully authentic communication, it will be seen that very heavj losses have been sustained, and that, in all probability, severe sufferings will be experienced, especially among our native fellowsubjects, the fruits of whose toil have been swept away in a moment. When more ample particulars shall arrive, we cannot doubt that the Government and the Colonists will devise immediate and active measures for the relief of the sufferers. On Thursday, the 10th of March, the district of Poverty Bay was visited by a most alarming flood. For t«w days previous it rained almost without intermission, with gales from S. to E. N.E. On Friday morning the water was observed to rise over the banks of the river, and gradually to cover the' flat land for many miles, until about 12 o'clock a.m. it suddenly rose to such a height that the inhabitants, both European and Native had to retreat to the higher grounds in boats and canoes. As many as forty Europeans had to occupy one house, being the only one on the plain that could be with any safety depended on. At 2 o'clock p.m.. of same day, only the tops of houses, the forests in the distance, and the mountains far back could be seen ; the desttuction of crops, fences, goods, and live stock commenced. Ground which had recently borne most luxuriant crops, was then under water some ten to twenty feet ; and the whole of the native food, viz., the kumera, was totally annihilated. The schooners Eliza, Dolphin, Dauntless, and Mendelsham, were in the river ; the masters of the two latter succeeded in putting their vessels aground high upon the bank of the river, but the Eliza was dragged to the entrance of the harbour, where she remained in the greatest jeopardy for fifty six hours, with reefs on both sides, and a current running at least ten miles per hour ; had she drifted a few fathoms further, she must have been capsized and dashed to pieces, and all the hands would have perished. The Dolphin was more fortunate ; she held on, and was enabled to avoid a great portion of the logs, wheat-stacks, &c, which came flying past every minute. It was most providential that the flood first made its appearance in daylight, otherwise many lives would have been sacrificed. The amount of property destroyed has been great. Mr. A. Smith has been the greatest sufferer individually, but all have severely felt its ravages. The natives have lost a great portion of their wheat crop, a number of horses, pigs, goats, together with all the crop of kumeras, and they say they must now depend on wheat and fern root the remainder of the year. Nearly all the houses on the north side of Poverty Bay | are under water, and all partially so. If the same quantity of rain has fallen over the whole East Coast, at least one half of the wheat crop must be destroyed.