AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume III, Issue 264, 4 September 1863, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

There is little additional news of importance from this province relating to the war, but what we published yesterday. The following, however, are some extracts from tlie Auckland journals, which are deserving of notice. QVS BOATS FOB TnK WAIKATO. The Government have purchased three cargo boats, which nre intended to be used as gun boats on the Waikato river. They are to be iron-plated, and two of them will be ready in the course of a week, and will bo sent to Drury, from whence they will be taken to their destination. The cupola for the Avon, which we spoke of in our issue of yesterday, was sent up yesterday.— lbid. TBE AVON*. Messrs. Yickcry and Masefield are at present constructing a cupola to be placed on the fore deck of tlie Avon steamer. It is of a triangular shape, and there is a loop hole with sliding doors on each side of it. The top is covered in, and the entrance to it will be from the deck below.— lbid.

The L.vdy Barkly.—The Southern Cross of August 19th announces the arrival of the Lady Barkly, recently purchased by the Government as a tender to the man-of-war in the Manakau anil elsewhere.

Grati'ity to the Maoris Assisting at the Wreck of the Orphei's.—lt will be perceived by an announcement in another column from the Colonial Secretary, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have in recognition of the services rendered by three Maoris from the pilot station, at the Manakau, in assisting to save part of the crew of the Orpheus, been pleased, to assign a gratuity of £20 to each of them, and have requested the Governor to thank them for their gallant conduct on the occasion. The gratuity is to be paid on petsonal application at the Native office. Mr. Hut, the father of one of the officers of the Orpheus who was saved, has given a sum of £10 to bo divided among the throe Natives above referred to.— Daiiy Southern Cross.

The Threatened Attack o.v Auckland.— ' That we are no alarmists we think we have already shown by ahstaininm;* from recording the multiplication of rumors that have recently prevailed on this subject. That the rebels may be foolhardy enough to make such an attack is possible, but it is quite a different matter to be constantly raising the apprehensions of the nervous portion of the community by harping upou the , probability of it, A correspondent, who would not say what he did not think, aud who has a right to form a, judgment on the subject, says the Thames Natives do meditate au .attack upon this city, and that they have their canoes all ready for the event. We are further informed that the Natives at Coromandel have, together with the Thames Natives, numbering altogether, it is said, 31)00 (?) promised their immediate aid to the Waikatos. We say our informant would not intentionally mislead us ; but where are these canoes that are " all ready," and how have they escaped detection by the Sand Fly, and the other vessels that have recently cruised along the shores of the Waitemata. Our informant makes one suggestion, which it is not our province, but that of the defence authority, to say is a good one or not. He suggests that there should ue boats stationed on the line of coast from the mouth of the Tamaki, at present unguarded, except by the occasional visits of the Sand Fly, in the direction of the north head To say more is not desirable, but a glance at the map will convey the rest. We repeat that we are no alarmists, but to' be forewarned is to be forearmed, and our readers will take these remarks in that spirit.— lbid. " AVCKX.A2n> "WASTE LA2fDS ACT A3IEXDMEST ACT." We desire to draw the attention of that class of our fellow-colonists, who have immigrated to this Province under the provision of the " Forty-acre" system, to the following we transfer from the Jseu> Zealand Gazette, issued last night. On and after the Ist proximo, parties •who have resided in the Province for three years from the day of arrival eliall be entitled to receive Crown Grants for their lands.— New Zealander. THE GBEAT BARBIEE SAW MILL. Our readers are already awaro of the works that have been going on upon the Great Barrier Island, the most important of which is the new steam saw mill. The machinery and plant for this have now been completed, and the first fruits of it which have reached Auckland are some samples of broad boards of an unusual size, wliich are to be seen at Messrs. Owen and Graham's in Queenstreet, and other places in town. Mr. Albert J. Allom, the manager of the Great Barrier Company, has, it will be seen, announced that orders for timber will now be received, tho machinery < for producing the same being in working order. We have inspected the sample of boards alluded . to, and so far a3 we can judge they seem to be first class. The dimensions of the boards are 25} l feet by 14 inches, and one inch thick. These, we i are informed, are the broadest boards ever cut in the 8 colony by a circular saw, and the manager states , that he can produce them three or four inches broader. To be prepared against any hostile * action on the part of marauding Natives the s manager of the company is endeavouring to get up a a volunteer corps for tho defence of the island, which corps will consist of about GO bushmen, properly armed, who would no doubt prove a formidablo defensive force in the event of any fi contingency snch as we have alluded to. We j trust this new development of colonial industry » may be successful, as we have no doubt it will be. '