AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 248, 17 March 1855, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

The most important item of local intelligence received by the last mail from Auckland, is the election of Mr. Brown to the Superintcndency, and the defeat of Mr. -Whitaker. At the date 'of the sailing of the Nelson, the returns from some of the more remote districts had not been received, but there was no doubt but that Mr. Brown would have a large majority. This election completely reverses the position of the parties at the former election, when Colonel Wynyard was returned by the old official and military interest, which now is in its turn defeated by the popular party. We attach more importance to.this election than we otherwise should, from the fact that Mr. Wmialcer'sMioporteis have done all they could to damage Mr. Brown's success, by raising a ciy against that geiuleuian lor the intimacy which existed between him and some of the leading members from the South, during the late session of the General Assembly. Mr. Brown refused to give bis vote also to Major Greenwood's Electoral Districts Bill, which would have handed over the government of the entire colony to the Ar.ckland members ; and

no pains have been spared, in consequence, to represent Mi. Brown as a sympathizer with the south, an^d therefore, as little better than an enemy to the hortlu The electors of Auckland had, we are glad to find, more good sense than to be led astiay by these pa^ty ravings aiid we cannot but regard Mr. Brown's return as a great triumph to the popular party, and a "heavy blow and great discouragement" to that ineu?;yv bus, old officialism. >;'.--'•;: '-'/p^ A eompanyV formed in Auckland, has purchased a smart little steamer, the Wanga Wanga, for the local trade of the port. The steamer Pirate continues to run between Melbourne and Auckland; while the William Denriy^ on her last trip from Sydney, had upwards of 80 passengers.— Nelson Examiner, v 'V '/ * THE «'POLAR STAR." At last we ''are able to report the fate of the long expected Polar Star, -.' The"account is from a private letter, and is very meagre. It is as follows:—-The Polar Star took fire at sea on the 4th October, in; lat. 320 south, long. 22s Avesti the fire/waskept uucleruntil ji; vessel hove iik sight, and took off the crew and passengers: shortly after the flamos burst through the hatches, and the ship was totally corisumed. The passengers and crevv were landed at St Helena and from thence returned to England./ —Southern Cross, March 2. ■'"';^-/"/■'•■■■, The following vessels were loading at; London for New Zealand, and were advertised to sail as follows i—New Era on the 2nd, Cressivill on the 10th Decemheiv for Auckland and New Plymouth ; Cornubia oh the loth Dec.y for Auckland, Canterbury, &c.; Euphartes on the 20th, John Phillips, on the 15th Dec, for Wellington and Nelson ; the Sea Snake was onthe berth for Wellinsrtou and Otago; to sail in all December.— laid. ; ; , " ; ■■•;-;;-- ■■■■■■■: ■■■•.• :/ |NELSONV:': '■■'■■.'-'■'■'■ ';■■ " ?■■ ■;'■/. / CONTRIBUTION TO THE PATRIOTIC FcrND.— Tt is one thing^however, to rejoice over our success in these great battles, because of the lustre shed upon our name, and another to lainerit as relaY lives of the deceased the early grave which so many men have found, who a year ago were full of health and hope, surrounded by friends, and in the midst of their families. In addition to the pangs caused by the loss of fathers^ husbands, brothers, and sons, there will be too frequent instances where these pangs must beiupreased,;because to them is added the loss of the sole support and stay of many helpless families, and in niunberless other instances where the lives of the brave men have been spared^ iit will only be at the expense of wounds which will render them cripples for life. The question for every man to ask liimseTf whose feelings are stirred when he hears of these victories, or who vvould maintain the cause of freedom which our troops are fighting, should be, cannot I assist to alleviate the sufferings which of necessity arise out of such a struggle as this ? We may be told that a subscriptidn in aid of the distres* sed widows and families of our soldiers and,sai lo's has already been made in Nelson, and those who subscribed their mites to that fund may trj and shelter themselves under a belief that.they have done all "that is requiied of them. \V( fee really ashamed to mention, or refer to thi.;• subscription at all. The whole ainountcollecte; in this Province we- believe to have been con sklerably less than £100, when it should havf reached £1,000. If the inhaibtants of any portion of the British dominions ought to subscribe liberally on an occasion like this, it is colonist? like those of New Zealand. We escape all the dangers of the war, we are exempted from any share of the cost of maintaining it, and our families are not plunged into ■■"mourning, by thtv loss of their dearest relatives; while an emigration to this colony has proved with a very few exceptions, the means of improving the coridition in life-of all who have established themselves here. We speak advisedly when we say that as a community, the inhabitants of Nelson can afford to be liberal in aiding the distress which lias arisen out of this war, and, under such circumstances, to bo liberal is to be just. If a body of gentlerneu would form a Central Committee, and organise district committees throughout the country, so as to bring the matter'honW to every man's door; and appeal to every man's heart, vve cannot doubt but that a success, fully equal to bur expectations, would be the result. Let those who approve of this course meet tomorrow, at noon, at the Court House, and take the preliminary steps -for: carrying such a plan into effect.- Nelson Examiner^