AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 62, 22 October 1864, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The Ministerial crisis still continues. The Assembly has not been convened; The following description of the pah erected by the escaped Maori* ia from the New Zealand Herald:—' . . ' :, ; " The pah ia jituated about ibur miles from the Omaha Bay, upon a lofty range, eleven hundred feet aboye the level of the sea, but not far from it is another range, from which it might be shelled. To take it by storm would be attended with a large sacrifice of life ; the ascent is steep and rugged, and the pah itself is built with a double palisading, and covers about half an acre of dand. ;The uprights of the inner palisading are placed at intervals of three inches apart, and within them, round the whole pah, are lines of rifle pits — the outer palisading reaching only to within about fifteen inches from the ground. The men in the rifle pits can fire through the inner palisading; and under the bottom of the outer ones, at an attacking party. The palisading is constructed with great strength and solidity. . . ; " We learn that since the taking up of this position by the Waikatoa they havtf been joined by the natives, both men and women, of several neighboring settlements, and that their numbers have been thus very considerably increased. Oi' arms they have plenty, and it may be. 1% ferred that they not want for ammunition, when they can afford to throw it away mthey do now upon pigeon shooting. The flour they have is used only by the chiefs, the main bulk living on the settlers' cattle, -which they are killing daily; and from fish procured at the beach.'! Great alarm is manifested by the set tiers, many of whom have sent away their cattle. ' The report of the Seat of G-overntnent Commissioners has not been published. j Mr. Blanford's tender for the whole of j the works for the Auckland and Drurv j Railway has been approved by the Rail- j way Commissioners, and forwarded for j His Honor the Superintendent's approval. The total sum is about £90,000. Sir George G-rey is said to be in bad health. i