AUCKLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 181, 18 April 1866, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

By the Kennedy we have Auckland papers to the 7th instant. We extract the following : — The last, week closed with the severest gale, preceded by the heaviest fall of rain that has occurred in this colony for several years before. The damage done to property, both by sea and land, has been considerable, and is not the less severely felt that the flood by which it was caused was occasioned by the complete block up of the sewers, owing to the incautious throwing and laying about timber and other debris. Nine small craft were sunk, and several larger ones damaged. The gale subsided on Sunday forenoon. Some idea may be formed of the extent of the flood, from the fact that three fire engines, each manned by a dozen men, were pumping the water out of three cellars in Queen street, from Friday evening at 8 o'clock, until 2 o'clock on Sunday morning. The losses are variously stated, but the following figures are accurate :— Messrs Owen and Graham, £1500 actual loss ; S. H. Smith, £4000 (goods damaged) ; Copeland, £400 (injury to stock and trade) ; Phillips (goods damaged), £2000, actual loss, £200 ; Mr, Cates, £130 (actual losa) ; Quick, United Service Hotel, £140; Hyams, storekeepers, £30. A great number of large storekeepers in Lower Queen-street state their losses in round numbers from £50 to £100. The first portion of the 43rd Regiment have sailed for England in the Maori, and numbered 378 souls ; 278 rank and file, 15 sergeants, 7 drummers, 18 women aud children, 6 officers and their ladies. On Thursday, Mr M'Millan made experiments in the preparation of New Zealand flax, in the presence of the Superintendent, Dr. Pollen, Mr Carleton, Mr Owen, Dr. Goldsborough, Dr. Corsett,and other gentlemen. The experiments were successful. Mr M'Millan used a common oval boiler, and the flax was boiled, with an admixture of cow dung, in water, for about two hours. It was then taken out, and rubbed between the hands in cold water, which effectually stripped the fibre, leaving it clean and marketable, fit for cordage manufacture. William, Thompson, of king-making celebrity, appears in a new character thus week, as the supporter of European law in his district, and is engaged in leasing his land to European ; settlers, whose energy and capital will, it cannot be doubted, soon render the hitherto almost useless plains of the central districts of the island sources of wealth both to themselves and the colony at large. It appears that the claim of Thompson to part of the run he wished to lea-e was disputed by another chief, and it is a cheering inindication for the future that all parties seem to have been quite ready to appeal to a European tribunal to settle the question. The decision was against Thompson, so far as part of the land was concerned, and that chief appears to have acquiesced in the de cision with a frankness which does him no •mall credit. Sir George Grey is reported to have gone inland to Rotorua, but there is no clear information to be had as to his purpose in taking the journey. The country through which he would have to paei would be principally, no doubt, that of the lojai Arawa tribe, and therefore it is improbable that he would run any risk. The conclusion of the trials of Maoris for the East Co^st murders has at last been arrived at. In, all 29 men have bad sentence of death/ passed upon them for these

crimes ; but it is Hot probable tKat a very large proportion of these will suffer the extreme penalty of the law. Four of these men are sentenced for the barbarous murder of Mr Volkner, atOpotiki, and 16 for that of the seaman Ned and Mr Fulloon, at Whakatane, while 9 have received sentence on the charge of being accessaries to these murders. — N. Z. Herald.