AUCKLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 249, 23 October 1867, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The Southern Cross states that a meeting of the Auckland members, convened by Mr Thomas Macfarlane, had taken place in Wellington on the Bth instant, with the view of hearing from the Superintendent an expression of opinion as to whether he was still able to carry on the affairs of, the Provincial Government; and if he could not satisfy the members that he was in a position to do so, it was the general opinion that some steps ought to be taken before leaving Wellington for transferrin^ the management of the. province to the. -Geueral Government. Mr Willi. mson ; declined to give a definite answer. He had responsible advisers, and until he had consulted them he could not express any opinion. The Superintendent was thee asked whether he would devote the £25,000 to he obtained from Otago for the completion of the railway; and on this subject likewise he declined to give any pledge.

A reunion of old colonists, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the arrival of emigrants hy the ships Jane Gifford'and Duchess of Argyle took place at the Oddfellows' Hall on the 9th instant. XJ pwrardß of 200 of the settlers, accompanied by their wives and children, sat down to dinner, -which passed off very successfully, and ended with a dance kept up till a late hour.

A fire occurred in Ponsonby-road, Newton, about half-past 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, the '6th inst., which resulted in the destruction of five wooden cottages, all of which were, however, insured.

On the 3rd instant the funeral of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Matson, formerly major in her Majesty's 58th regiment, took place at St. Stephen's Cemetery-, Parnell. Aa was natural, the remains of so old a folonist, and one who was so much respected during his lifetime, were followed to the grave by -a very large number of his turviving friends.

Although ,it seems pretty well ascertuined that there is no alluvial gold on the Karaka goldfield, there appears to be no^ question that there are rich quartz feef there, which only require machinery to work them, and it is said that the main ' reef Jbas -ever been struck as yet.'

„ The Lynchburg Virginian states that in Montgomery County, Virginia, a child has been christened, 'Andrew Jackson Gordon James Buchanan Raise the Flag aud Fire the Cannon Dobyns.' 'Have you not mistaken the pew, sir ?' blandly said a Sunday Chesterfield to a stranger who entered it. 'I beg pardon,' said the iutruder, rising to go out, 'I fear I have ; I took it for a Christian's.'