AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 459, 27 January 1864, Page 1

AUCKLAND.

[feom oxjb own correspondent.] January 22, 1864. The position of affairs in this Province has not been very materially altered since my letter of a fortnight ago. The visible steps made towards the suppression of the rebellion have not, on the whole, been very striking ; but this is, of course, no proof that they have not been important, or even numerous. The truth is, that the war has now reached perhaps its most difficult stage. The natives know their streugth as they are now situated, and it is very difficult for the General to bring his force to bear upon them at all. That he will do so shortly I have no doubt, but, from careful enquiry and some knowledge of the particular part of the country, I conclude that his movements cannot be rapid, and that we need not look for a great engagement for ten days or a fortnight to come. The great failure of the means for commissariat transport is the grand cause of this hitch, although there are others not so generally apparent. At the actual front, which is not less than 105 or 106 miles from Auckland, the troops, with General Cameron, have again and again been reduced to a scanty fare of hard biscuit and rather indiffei'ent salt pork, eked out by private speculation in native potatoe aud kumera grounds. From some unexplained cause, however, the potatoes, &c, are very late this year, and the marvel is, that, dependent so much as they have been upon very green aud unripe vegetables, the troops have not suffered more than they have. Their suffering in the way of illness has been very slight indeed, aud I understand the general health of the troops on the river is admirable. The campaigning, however, is by no means of that kind suited to feather-bed soldiers, and I have heard a man, who had gone through the Indian mutiny, say that he had never suffered half the privation he has done at head-quarters on the Waikato. The 'Pioneer,' as I think I mentioned in my former letter, is unable to go up the Waipa owiug to her too great length, and she was employed in bringing up stores to Ngaruawahia — which, by the way, is generally transformed amongst the military now into 'Niggerywire' — and there transhipped to the 'Avon,' which brought them up at least to Whata-whata, from which place an eight-mile laud transport reached the extreme front. Now, however, the 'Pioneer' is laid up, having broken an important part of her machinery, which will take some time in mending, aud consequently the 'Avon' has to come down to Eangiriri for the stores, which are now conveyed by cart so far. The ' Koheroa,' which will be in working order in another week, will no doubt do more than supply the loss of the 'Pioneer,' and restore the transport to more than its original goodness ; but, meanwhile, a good deal of delay is caused. There are at this moment fully 1,500 meu aud teams at work as a commissariat transport corps (or 'Moke' corps, as they are familiarly called), aud yet the greatest difficulty is experienced in gettiug up goods. The extraordinary wetness of the season is probably as much to blame for this as anything else, as the roads cannot bear the combined strain of excessive rain and excessive traffic. Between Drury aud the Queen's Redoubt, Pokeno, there are not a few terrible holes of the worst kind in the militax*y road, which, a few months ago, looked as if nothing could prove too much for its beautiful and substantial formation. The 'Koheroa' is to tow four flat barges, each capable of containing 25 tons of goods, and thus, without sinking her more than 15 inches, she can be made available to a very great extent. The daily convoy

from Drury does not amount to more than 50 tons, although there are often 70 or 80 drays in the convoy. — The township at Waikato Heads is now surveyed off, and is ready for sale as soon as Government think fit to set about it. Meanwhile, the surveyors are busy atNgaruawahia, where a considerable town is being laid off at the point. Probably both will be sold together when they are ready. I am sure high prices will be obtained for both ; although I quite think that at the Heads is the most promising investment. — Great efforts are going to be made, I understand, to push on the Railway scheme — the Council having voted money for its prosecution, and £1000 for an extended survey as far as the Waikato river. There are two places where this can be managed, and, indeed, true economy will eventually point to the management of both lines. The one which should be first tried for is that which meets the river in the neighbourhood of Camerontown aud a short distance from the new township. This need not involve a line of more than 38 miles from Auckland, while the other to Ngaruawahia must involve one of at least 70, probably 80 miles. — The Raglan expedition has now all but joined the main body with its road encampments. The distance was but sixteen miles, aud the road is all but cut through. When it is, no doubt an attempt will be made to supply the troops with food, &c, from the coast. — The day before yesterday another expedition left Auckland for Taurauga (Bay of Plenty.) It consisted of about 400 men of the 68th, aud 100 men each from the 43rd regt. and 3rd Waikatos. The whole is under command of Colonel Carey, whose curious position as major of his own regt. (the 18th) aud full colonel of the senior army rank in the Colony, seems to be considered a good deal in his selection for the commaud of all these expeditions. It is not unlikely that the company of the 3rd Waikatos may be a pioneer corps for the whole regiment, who are likely to be settled somewhere not far from Tauranga, if my information is correct. What duty the 600 men of the Tauranga expedition are to perform is still only matter of conjecture ; but I should imagine one of the first steps will certainly be the cutting of a road through the ten miles bush which aloue divides the Tauranga district from the plains at the head of the Piako river. If more men could be poured in at both these points, Avhen Colonel Pitt's two regiments are filled up the island might be crossed by an armed line of posts from Raglan to Tauranga almost in a straight line, passiug close by Whata-whata. — Our principal arrivals here since my last have been the 'Australian,' s.s.. from Rangoon, with some 290 of the 68th ou board ; the 'Chariot of Fame,' ship, from England, with detachments principally of the 18th, 70th, 57th, aud 40th regts., numbering in all 500 rank and file. These were followed by the * Light Brigade,' ship, with detachments of the 68th aud 43rd regts. on board, completing the complement of the 43rd, and bringing up the numbers of the 68th to about 360 men. There are as many more of this regiment on board the 'Armenian,' which put in damaged to Adelaide, and left that port 18 days ago, being now overdue and auxiously expected. — The sitting of the Council is nearly at an end, and I suppose they will be prorogued in another week at all events. They have got through au unusual amount of business this session. — The native accused of the murder of Droomgould, at Mauku, has, after a very tedious examination, been committed for trial at. the assizes. Ido not fancy evidence will be producible for his conviction ; at least, enough was not brought at the preliminary examination to do more than establish a moral certainty that he was of the party who committed the crime. All is perfectly quiet at the North, and no feeling seems to have been excited by the capture of Ruarangi. Several large land purchases are being made there, which, when completed, will, give us about ' 100,000 more acres for settlement.