AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 16 June 1864, Page 3

A UCKLAND.

The. latest. Northern news .possess notliing exciting, regarding the of. the >\var. : . > i ,< ' ) Colonel' Nixon, tvho lias been identified with tlie war .from its commencement, >didd>on;th'e 27 th u!6. The New Zealander notices the: sad'oventi in <the following, terms: — "It is'with much grief: ;that" we announce the death of Colonel. Nixon, which took place yesterday morning at seven o'clock. This event, though not altogether unexpected, will bring grief to the hearts Qf most of the old residents in this Province. It would be difficult to meet with any person in the neighborhood of Auckland more universally esteemed, or whoso loss, at the present juncture, will be more severely felt than that of tho late Colonel Marmaduko George Nixon. Colonel Nixon had in Ins earlier days seen much service in India, for which .he held several medals, and where he attained the rank of Major in -H.M.s 39th Regiment. From the time when lie became a settler in this . Province till the outbi-eak of tho present w^ar, ho had been living: in retirement from active, service .on his farm at, JVfangarei. 5 - The kindness and amiability of his disposition endeared him, to a large circle of friends, and he had entered with much relish, and considerable success into farming and pastoral pursuits. i " From tho first commencement of tho present war, he had placed his services at the disposal; of the Governor, and had held various posts, of .high trust, in. which lie had always proved himself an able, energetic, and high-spirited oHicer. To ; his men he was ever kind and considerate ; at .the same time ho permitted no breach of discipline. The duties for which ho was always selected:were ; those which gave him command of forces, raised from the ranks of his fellow-colonists, but he- enjoyed in a liigh degree the respect and esteem of the otlicers of the regular army. lie was Colonel of the Auckland Militia, and of the Royal Cavalry Volunteers. He was also Commandant of the- Local Defence Force. He received the wound which has, after a lingering illness, terminated in his death, in the 51st year of his age, at the attack at Raugiawlua, on the 21st February." Tho following, which has been communicated to tho same journal, gives a very satisfactory account of tlm Coromandel diggings :— "There appears at present every indication that our gold lields will be worked by as many if not more , people during this winter as were employed in the summer months. All those at present engaged 6eem determined not to allow any time to be lost, not withstanding that tho worst of the, season is still before them. Tho Coromaudel Gold Mining Company intend, during tho next few days, to commence sinking their shaft. While this is going on, the engine pumping hi id lifting gear will bo put in working order. It is not more than two months since this claim, under t\io. new company, commenced operations ; during that time the engine, boiler, and' almost everything necessary has bee.ll taken from Kapauga to the Driving Creek. The boiler is in its place., and waiting to be bricked in. Kelly's party (the Southern Cross claim) are still sinking ; they have about eight feet to go down before they open out on a lower level. No. 5 (Golden Point) still continues rich. Lust week lf>3i ounces of the precious metal was sent up Uj Auckland from this claim; we hear there ""in another dividend of £5 per share to be declared soon. In the Albion, in spito of (he dilliculties with which they have had to contend in overcoming the water, tho men have struck gold in their old shaft, and have taken out about 12 lbs. of first-rate stone, besides a deal of wash-dirt, which will be turned to good account. Tho White Swan people are working on their leader, and we may expect to hoar something good from this claim before many clays. Murphy and party, on the ' Matawai,' will, it is to be hoped, astonish the unbelievers in Coromandel; they have only been working four week*, an 1 some, days since struck a fine goldbearing body of .stone. We do not hear much of Paul's Creek, but understand that ilouu and party are still getting gold."