AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 318, 6 November 1860, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From the Southern Cross.)

The Auckland Coast Guard.—The other day this volunteer force embarked in their new gun-boaf, and a cargo boat engaged for the occasion, and proceeded up the harbor to the target ground beyond Freeman's Bay. The gunboat seems a smart handy vessel, and gave great satisfaction ; but she is small for her gun. The ball practice on Saturday was good, considering that this was the first time the corps had tried their rifles, and that the wind was not favorable to accurate shooting. The firing was at 200 yards, 5 rounds each man, and the greatest number of points scored was 7, by Mr. Alfred James. A pair of pistols bad been presented by Mr. Landers, of the corps, for the one who should prove best shot, and they were consequently handed over to" Mr. James.

Fire.—Oo Sunday evening (14th) between the hours of nine and ten, the glare of a conflagration was observed in the direction of the Epsom Eoad, and the various alarm bells and the bugles of the military soon announced the fact. The towns-people were immediately on the gui vive, some flocking to their respective alarm posts, and many hurrying out towards Parneli and the Kyber Pass, to ascertain the exact site of the fire. Some anxiety prevailed in town for a short time as to the possible cause of the fire, till news arrived that it was merely an empty house belonging to Mr. Cox of Auckland, which had caught fire. It is situated near the Epsom Road, at the foot of Mount Eden, about two miles and a -half from town. There was no chance of saving the building, which was totally consumed. Part of the city cavalry were under arms, and some of the corps proceeded to the spot. Before eleven the light on the horizon had faded away, and Auckland was quiet again. His Excellency sbordy after the alarm was given, proceeded to the alarm posts accompanied by Colonel Kenny. We cannot urge too strongly on our militia nien on duty the necessity in these critical times, of falling in at their alarm posts. The safety1 of many may possibly depend upon their doingjov " Lumping."—The Colonial Treasurer, in supply, revived the question of the £339 paid to Mr. Travere' fordrafting bills—a sum whic i had been on a previous occasion disallowed. He stated that some misapprehension had prevailed, partly, he admitted, by the fault of the (jrovernmentj and desired to explain it away. He defended the Government strongly from the. imputation of jobbing, assuring the Committee that no skeleton was to be found in their cupboard. After some smart sparring, during which the explanation wbs treated as unsatisfactory by the other side of the House, the item, sent down in a Governor's message, was agreed to. The simple fact is, that no job seems to have been inteuted, but that «£339 of the public money was thrown away; aud, most certainly, au item so open to objection ought to have been allowed a separate place on the supplementary estimates, instead of, being lumped up with others under the general head "Legislative," where it might haye remaned undiscovered, but for the Lynx eye pf the member for Lyttelton, Mr. Ward.

Erratum.—An error crept into our last lead* ing article, which we hasten to rectify. The sum paid to Mr. Travers by the Government for drafting bills was set down as .£339, whereas

it should have been £139. As Mr. Stafford observed in the House, the latter sum was quite large enough, without making the matter worse.