AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 51, 27 December 1851, Page 7

AUCKLAND.

An Auckland Steam-Vessel.—The friends of our advancing settlement will learn with pleasure that a Steam-boat of about 50 tons, to ply between Auckland and the neighbouring parts of the coast, is likely soon to be launched on our waters, the hull being now in progress, and the work daily proceeding at Freeman's Bay, under the direction of Mr. Robert Stone, on behalf of Mr. C. J. Stone, one of our earliest and most active settlers in developing and turning to account the capabilities of the settlement—and his partner Mr. Langford, in whose enterprise the undertaking has originated. The model is very creditable, and well suited to the service for which the vessel is intended, combining safety with speed. The length of the steamer is to be 60 feet over all; length of the keel, 49 feet; depth of hold, 5 feet; and breadth of beam, 13 feet 6 inches. Her engines, of ten horse power (five horseeach), and machinery, are now progressing rapidly at Mr. William Bourne's Foundry, in Queen-street, under the immediate and careful superintendence of that experienced engineer, so that her whole material and construction, it may be said, will, as far as possible, be natiie, her timber being of pohutakawa, (so well adapted to the purposes of this department of shipbuilding), and the planking of kauri. It is scarcely necessary to point out how favourably it is likely to affect traffic generally in this district, the Maories as well as the Europeans participating in its advantages. We believe that the vessel is expected to be ready for her first trip on New Year's Day next. This will be the first steamboat constructed in New Zealand, but we trust it will prove the precursor of not a few others of larger capabilities and more extended spheres of action. — New Zealander, November 1.

The Survey op the Hokianga.—By accounts recently received, we learn .that H.M.S. Pandora, Captain Drury, arrived in the river on the 7th ult., after a line run of four days from this port, crossing the bar under most favourable circumstances, after a westerly gale had taken off. !Mr. Richards, master, and party, who proceeded by land from Monganui, to trace the Northern Coast Line from that harbour to Hokianga, joined the Pandora on the day of her arrival, having accomplished their fatiguing journey in safety. On arrival, Captain Drury immediately commenced his important services, and aided by the favourable state of the weather great progress has been made iv the survey of the mouth and bar of the river. The importance to the colony of the services being pecformed by this vessel, can scarcely be over estimated^ and we look with much interest to their results. From the high character of her commander and officers, and the efficiency of the crew, we may naturally anticipate a more valuable addition to our knowledge of the coasts and harbours they are to survey, than any we have had in the Northern Island since that of the Waitemata was performed.— lbid, Nov. 8. NELSON. [From the " Nelson Examiner," Nov. 2£>/J The inhabitants of the town of Nelson are to be indebted to Sir George Grey for a public clock, his Excellency, on being applied to for a subscription towards a clock to be placed in the tower of the church, having engaged to provide one at his own expence, on condition that it should be considered as the property of the public, and be placed in the charge of any future municipal body, which should have the power of removing it to one of its own public buildings if it should so determine. The clock is to be"ordered forthwith fioni England, and certainly will be a lasting monument of his Excellency's liberality.