AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 417, 22 October 1861, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From the New Zealander.)

Provincial Council.—The Auckland Provincial Council was dissolved by proclamation on the 12th September, and writs for the election of Superintendent and members of Council were issued immediately thereafter. The * period of four years' fixed by the Constitutional Act as the term of the existence of a Provincial Legislature would, in the case of the late Council, have expired on the 7th October, that being the day of the month on which the first return of the writs was made. Had the dissolution been left to be effected by the process of time, it would not have been possible to have got the several elections over, and to have had the Council called together, before Christmas. The necessity that financial provision should be made for the service of the year 1862 before the close of the current period has been rendered imperative by the recent legislation of the General Assembly, The pains and penalties of the Provincial Audit Act, 1861, will not, we think, be needlessly braved by any Superintendent in this Province, at least, if the temper ot the new Council should be found to. bear any resemblance' to that of the last. Upon a representation of these circumstances, the Governor dissolved the Council. (From the Southern Cross.) The Natives. —The natives remain quiet and are evidently waiting for us to make the first overtures. Sir George Grey's arrival has not called forth any demonstration on their part,peaceful or otherwise. The Waikatos, it is said, are anxious for peace, but not for submission; whilst the natives to the south of Taranaki look upon themselves as couquerors and owners by conquest of some ten thousand acres of European land in the Tataraimaka' and Omata blocks, and declare their intention of holding it. What the policy of Sir George (Srey will be remains to be seen; but' we very much doubt whether the change of governors has caused any great change in the native mind, and whether it will bo possible to substitute diplomatic weapons for those already tried. Certainly, so far as the southern marauders are concerned, a satisfactory state of things will never be brought about until they have been taught a severe lesson. Everybody is looking anxiously to the future. A few months \yill show whether this island is to remain habitable or not. Men are in suspense at present, more particularly those living in native districts and their neighborhood, and naturally so. Unless our relations with the native population are placed on a proper footing, men will feel shy of investing capital in Buch districts, and all enterprise will cease. Already we see indications of this unwillingness to risk property in unprotected parts of the country in the withdrawal of some settlers from the Thames district. Altogether, what with the unsettled state of the natives and the gold fever, Auckland is passing through a serious crisis. New Zealand Bank.—Captain Daldy claimed the attention of the proprietors for a few'moments, before the chair was vacated. This was the first great colonial undertaking.in New Zealand, and it had been started with unusual signs of success. He had lately gone over the colony, and was enabled to form an opinion of the reception it had met with in the various provinces; and without any disparagement to the rest, he must say that the mercantile spirit in which the gentlemen of Wellington had entered into the scheme, and the business-like manner in which they discussed the question, placed them in the first position for business habits. When the gentlemen of Wellington became satisfied that the thing w|3 right, they supported it with a spirit to which lie willingly bore testimony; and not only in tlie matter of the Bank, but the Now Zealand Insurance Company was also cordially supported by them (hear). lie thought it was a good thing to find the provinces of the North Island working cordially with each other, and this friendly spirit augured well for the future. In the south they were not similarly circumstanced as the northern coloniata; ami although* the goutiit-ra geatfeiuen

did not take up so much stock as the deputation had hoped, that arose from the peculiar nature of the business of the large merchants and runholders. There every man had need of everj' shilling he could spare, for he did not know but some one would buy his run over his head, and therefore desired to possess as much freehold as possible. But when the bank was established it would be well supported by the middle-men, who would require occasional assistance from it. Everywhere, however, the Bank of New Zealand scheme had been warmly received (hear).