REMENISCENCE OF A DAY IN AUCKLAND. A FRAGMENT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 8, 10 June 1843, Page 4

REMENISCENCE OF A DAY IN AUCKLAND. A FRAGMENT.

** * The " Diana touching at Auckland, en route from Sydney to the South Sea Islands, afforded me an opportunity of seeing this embryo city of a future great and prosperous country. Much has justly been said and written against Governor Hobson's mal-administration of New Zealand, but the colonists have to thank him for one great good he has done them, viz. : the fixing the site of the metropolis on the Waitemata. Any one who takes the trouble of ascending Mount Eden, in its vicinity, and views from its summit the rivers and harbours of the east and west coast, all but joining, must give his assent to " Hobson's Choice," as being the very key to the whole country. I had just returned from an early walk which I had taken, to this extinct crater, delighted with the bird's eye view I had obtained of the country, and was sauntering into town when I was delighted by meeting my old schoolfellow S >iyho, I was aware, had j become a settler in but whom I had not been fortunate enough in seeing before. My friend accompanied me into town, and was initiating me into the particulars of his life since his sojourn in New Zealand, as we wended our way down the principal thoroughfare, Shortland Crescent, while I inspected the varied architecture of the mushroom houses as we walked along. Now we passed the " Shamrock Rose and Thistle," kept of course by a Patrick, as one might have surmised, from the modesty of putting the " Shamrock" foremost in rank, and the noise that issued from the

house; told us that Erin's sons were true pat-Hots, even in the antipodes. A little further down on the opposite side was the " Waterloo House," where Auckland's fair daughters delight to display their taste in the choice', of those gewgaws with which they adorn" their persons ; a fair creature came tripping .out, arid -I felt a slight tremor over my frien4'^_arm, on which I leant, as he 1 made hiif^fiaSiti, but she did not fall to his lot. , Stqpp>ng' short, my friend turned into st'6re" immediately opposite ; there was nothing ; either in the external or internal appearance of the building to attract attention, but the number of gentlemen 'congregated together, discussing thej^pics !of the day, told me Messrs. ■H4'-&-held some little importance in the settlement. ' This, whispered my friend, is sometimes called Radical Hall — 'tis here the schemes of the Government are canvassed and the train of opposition laid to their iniquitous measures, which they are forcing upon the settlers to the ruin of the country. — You see that person talking so energetically, that is , he came from Sydney to conduct a newspaper for a printing company we had here, but only edited four or five numbers, when the Government managed to quash the press, because he spoke his mind more freely than suited the taste of certain parties in this place ; however, he sued the company and made them pay him a/y ear's salary. — He is a perfect eye-sore to our officials, but has the ear of the people, and hence possesses no small power in our community. ll,e has sent to Sydney for a press, and will soon wield lus powerful pen in behalf of the settlers and .country. That comfortable looking gentleman to ,whom he is talking, with the knotted cane in "his hand, is related to the lost tribes, and is also a strong opponent to the powers that be— he has had several tough battles with them,, always fights determinedly, for he will have his rights — and who, said I, turning towards another group who appeared to be keeping up a lively conversation,) is that little darklooking, unobtruding man with the spectacles ? That, said my friend, is the senior partner of the firm in whose premises we are, he is a striking example of the saying that "quiet waters run deep," he has probably the best head of any in the room, he was bred to the law at home, but threw it aside on coming to this colony, it is dangerous being in company with him with your hat off — for, being a profound phrenologist, he reads your inmost thoughts and eharac- | ter by even getting a glimpse of } r our caput — : he has written more memorials and petitions than would fill a quarto volume, but notwith- ! standing he stands on very friendly terms with his opponents. They say, when the inhabitants accept the corporation bilj, he is likely to be Lord Mayor ; — you see that fairhaired slender young man, looking as if he "could 'nt help it," that is his partner, he is a grandson of one of your oldest Scotch baronets, and took his degrees both as surgeon and physician at the famous University of Edinburgh, butfinding New Zealand a shockingly healthy country, he exchanged his lancet for an a — ti— o — r's h — m — r ! he has not made money enough, however, to reconcile him to the change ; — and that more elderly person who is talking to him, with his coat buttoned with such mathematical precision, and unruffled countenance, looking like a philosopher of old, who may he be ?—? — oh ! that is good-natured kind-hearted , who goes to England shortly to advocate the interests of the much-injured land claimants, he will return to , but tell me, who is he with the large moleskin shooting coat and Jewish countenance, walking to and fro like a tiger shut up in his,cage ? that ? that is the oldst son of Sir— 2t-,M.P., who has made so much money by his land speculations, he has been a dreadful thoi'n in the side of our official land jobbers, having shewn them up to Lord Stanley in such style iha£ they formed a regular conspiracy against him, but he was riot the man to be frightened or care about ";' Those gilded flies ' Thai, basking in the sunshine of a court Patten on corruption, what are they ? The drones of the community ; * * * j I had now but one person to ask about, and ! that was a tall active looking person, prob- j ably the eldest "in the room, and I was informed that he was from Sydney and claimed | considerable tracts of land, he was just' returning to the sister colony with the inten- ' tion of forming a company to work the copper mines on the Great Barrier Island — my friend had arrived so far in his explanations, when we were deafened by a Native passing the door ringing a large bell, with a placard on his back, intimating that "A Public Meeting will be lield, this day, at the large room in the Exchange Hotel," &c, &/c'., and on looking rjjjund the room I saw all the different members of the Senate (for it was the members of this formidable little body I had been scanning) all in a bustle, a political move was on the carpet, and they betook ihemselves to the meeting. ****#**,