AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 918, 18 March 1868, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

"We have files from Auckland to February 4th :— A public meeting to consider the question of financial reform was held in Parnell on Friday evening, Jan. 31, , Major Heapy, M.Gh A., in the chair, when it was resolved that a Financial Beform Association should be established in the province. „,-.„■ A strong gale, which the " Herald describes as blowing from E.S.E., and the " Cross " from the N.E., was felt in Auckland on Sunday last. During the storm the ketch Cassia parted her cable and drifted up the haibor. It is feared she came to grief on the North shore. A silver and copper lode has been discovered by Messrs Williamson and Smallman,"at Waiomu. The lode is three feet wide, the mine is leased for a term of years. It is the intention of the proprietors to commence operations at once; about thirty tons will soon be ready for shipment to Auckland for the purpose of sending it to Australia, in order that it may be thoroughly tested, &c. The "New Zealand Herald" has been informed that a rush has taken place at Tapu to a spot some six miles distant from that township. It would appear that some men have been quietly working for some time past, the washing stuff yielding from two to three dwts to the dish. This got wind a day or two since, and a large rush took place, the ground round the original working party being pegged out for a considerable distance. The Pi ovincial Council on the motion of Mr Davy, has passed the following resolution : — " That in the opinion of the I Council, while recognising the necessity of a change iv the form of Government, no change should be made which would deprive the Council of its legitimate power to legislate for the local government of the province." Mr GrUfillan haa resigned the office of Provincial Secretary on personal grouuds. On Saturday, Feb. 2, the intended departure of the Eight Key Dr Pompallier was announced in the Catholic churches of Auckland and surburbs. Bis lordship

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gots, according to the custom of the Uatholio Church, to pay his decennial visit to the Holy See. He leaves on JTeb. 15 for Tahiti, in the Oherest, which has been kindly placed at his disposal by Captain D'Estienne. A meeting of the Catholics was to be held on Feb. 6, for the purpose of making arrangements for giving .expression to the sentiments of filial devotion and esteem entertained by them for their beloved and venerated Bishop, i Mr Mackay, Dr Hector, and Mr| Xjundon reached the Tapu creek on the , afternoon of Jan. 81, and went up to ! Molsaac's reef. Dr Hector has expressed a favorable opinion of the formation of the Thames district as gold-bearing. It exhibits a similarity to the Whakamarina, in the province of Marlboiough, where gold was discovered in 1864. The correspondent of the "Southern Cross" has visited the Karaka, Waitohi, Moana- ; and Kuranui creeks and has ascertained j that the claims now producing gold-bear-ing quartz have over two thousand tons weight waiting for machinery. The labour employed may be estimated at 1200 men. Prom the character of the stone he would suppose it will average five ounces to the ton which, at the rate of £2 10s, would return £25,000. Since the commencement of the year, many new claims have been opened in the locality, of the Monatairai, every foot of ground is taken up for a distance of three miles. On the Kuranui Creek there is an area of ground worked extending over one thousand acres. The miners have named the ground, " The Golden Hill," and, from the yield of gold in Hunt's, Barry's, All Nations,' Tookey's. Kelly's the Homeward Bound, and other claims, the name is appropriate. The only machinery in operation now is that at the mouth of the Kuranui, and Mr Goodall's, which crush together about sixteen tons in twenty-four hours. In a few days two more engines, will beat work, one at the "Waitohi, and the other on the Karaka. Besides these there are several Berdan machines worked by single claims. One of the shareholders in the Star of the South claim goes to Auckland with fifty-seven ounces of retorted gold, taken from 75lbs weight of stone. The Popatoetoe and Carpenters' claims, on the same spur, are getting out specimens of a similar character. A 20oz nugget was obtained from No. 1 gully at the Tapu creek. Sellable intelligence has just reached Aucklaud that no discussions whatever took place at the great Tokangamutu meeting, held on the 25th January. The assembled tribes formed themselves into a circle, and the King and his councillors were in the centre. The meeting opened with a religious service, after which there was a silence for some time, when the silence was broken by a chief from Otaki, named Hapi, who proposed to the audience that the mana, or authority, relating to the Maori confederation or kingship should be transferred to himself and party. A dead silence followed, which prevailed all that day. Two other silent meetings were held, and then the great assemblage broke up, for no one had the courage to grapple with Hapi, nor was it known why such a proposition came from him. It was announced that another great meeting would be held, the day to be fixed hereafter. The late meeting, it is said, was called by the two leading spirits of the present religious movement among the King party, who are Taranaki natives, and are named respectively John and Te Whiti. The next meeting will probably be called by Tawhiao himself. It was estimated that about 4000 were present, amongst whom were a number of loyal natives; the strongest measures hitherto observed in regard to the aukati having been relaxed for the purpose of admitting the loyal party to the meeting held at Tokangamutu. The great leading man of the whole of the King party at present is Tamati Ngapora, who was ejected from Mangarei in July, 1863, and who is thoroughly wedded to the idea of Maori nationality. He is a very cautious, prudent man, and extremely intelligent, and has much light in religious matters— was for many years an exemplary native teacher in connection with the Church of England. Tamati is still remembered by his old European friends with feelings of respect, and by the King party he is looked up to as a model of "virtue and prudence. Whitiora, Te Tapihana, Te Wetini, Kati Te Waitere, Hitiri.Eeihana, Hikaka, and Tawhiarangi, are also leading men. There is a growing desire to unite with the loyal party in the bonds of brotherhood, but j the same feeling is not extended to the J European race. Kingites say that we must confess our sins and make reparation, and then a reconciliation thorough and permanent will be effected. The late meeting broke up in bad humour, many being sorely grieved that not one subject out of the many which were to have been submitted to the meeting was settled.