DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 7, 21 August 1841, Page 3

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

The New Barracks. — This, the first stone building erected in Auckland, is so far advanced as to be suitable for the reception of the soldiers of the 80th Regiment, now in Garrison, who removed into it on Tuesday last. The portion already erected consists of two rooms, each 54 feet in length by 24 in width, and 12 in height. It is a most substantial building, beautifully and appropriately situated on Point Britomart —a very commanding situation for a Fort. The jams and arches are of a hard and durable brick, manufactured from the excellent clay which abouuds in the town of Auckland. The remaining portions of the walls are of dressed scoria, a material of Which there are immense quantities within a very short distance; and the whole of the timber—consisting of the finest Kauri, Remoe, andTotoura —was obtained in the ; mtnediate neighbourhood of this rising city ; thus affording indubitable proof that it couiains within £saif at', the necessary materials for the construction of first-rate buildings. The entire labour has been performed, within the short space of seven months, by the soldiers themselves, tor which extra duty they received an addition to their ordinary pay from the Ordnance Department. Few of the men, we learn, are practical tradesmen, and yet the workmanship is excellent in every department; and it is worthy of remark that, although the men, since their arrival in Auckland, have been living in tents —suffering severely during the inclement season of the year—yet the labour has never been suffered to flag, nor has there been one day of lost time. For the efficient manner in which the works have been carried on, and brought to their present satisfactory state, great credit is due to Major Bunbury, of the 80th; and also to Lieut. Lugard, R. N., for his judicious choice in the selection of timber, and his unremitting exertions on all occasions. The entire operations of the men have been under the dreation of Mr, Graham, Clerk of Works under the Board of Ordnance. We congratulate this gentleman—who is, we believe, the only civilian who has been engaged in the erection—on the success of his exeilions.— In the present building 56 men can be accommodated , but when the return-wing, iu the direction of Point Biitomart, is erected, there will be ample room for upwaras of 100 soldiers. The plan seems admit ably adapted, not only as a comfortable habitation for the men, but a place of defence against any sudden outbreak. All the windows aTe protected by strong iron fraine-wor.t; and in the lower room there are numerous loop-holes, so situated as to command not only the entrance to the Barrack Square, but the whole of that extensive area. The building is proof, in every part, against musket-shot. There is, at present, a temporary weather-! narf*«4 M use for the Officers ; anu, besides the return-wing already mentioned, the plan of tne bunding in ludes an excellent Hospital and Guard Hoorn, &c. Land Sales. — To show the increasing value of land in the Township of Auckland, we quote the following prices realized by Mr Joseph, at thes.de held by him on Thursday last, in O’Connellstreet, Shortland Crescent: Lot ], James Hassel, 24 feet, at £3 12s, per foot—£B6 8s; lot 2, Phillip Call m, 24 feet, at £2 10s—£60; lot 3, Robert Forbes, 24 feet, at £2 8s —£5/ 12s ; lot 4, John Ai‘Geashel, 24 feet, at £2 Lis — £62 8s; lot 5, Wilson & iLiilar, 24 feet, at £ i 5s —£54 : lot 6. John lYJ'lniosh, 24 feet, at £2—£4B ; lut 7, the same, 24 feet, at £1 19s — £46 16s; lot 8, Adam Chisholm, 24 feet, at £1 19s—£46 16s ; lot 9, Charles Cowley, 24 feet, at £2—£4B. Total amount —£508 Bs.