AUCKLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 270, 31 October 1862, Page 5

AUCKLAND

(prom the daily times correspondent.) October 15, 1862. Since the despatch of my last letter, events have not been very stirring in this city. Coromandel continues of course, to be the chief theme of conversation, and a^ain it is gladdening to write that success has attended the efforts of those who have, through good and ill-repute, stuck to the diggings in this oft-tried field.

I informed you in my last of the arrival in this city of the 23lbs. of pure gold which had been crushed by hand from quartz obtained in No. 13 claim; and on the 9th instant two shareholders of claim No. 16 Driving Creek came up to town with lOlbs. loz. of gold, crushed from a portion of the stone taken from their leader, and which they had brought as a sample of what their claim will produce when Keven's machinery once commences crushing. The holders of shares in this claim are about forming themselves into an association under the Joint Stock Companies^ Act, and will be styled " The Albion Gold Mining Company, Limited." Several other associations have been formed, and the prospects are considered most satisfactory. Additional arrangements have lately been made to test more fully some of the quartz leaders which have lately been discovered. Amongst them is the one on M'Gregor's claim, No. lon Grey's reef, near King's Creek. Pros ■ pecting will there be carried on in order to discover the main reef, and when laid open a joint stock association will be formed to work it efleetually. A correspondent writing in the Daily Southern Cross states, that " the existence of an auriferous backbone running north and south, from one extremity of the island to fche other, is now established beyond a doubt. The predominant existence of alluvial gold in the South, decreasing in richness towards tiie North, and being supplanted there gradually by the appearance of specimensjleads to the conclusion that we will find in a comparatively intact, and compact condition what has been scattered broadcast amidst the watersheds in the south. It is true the contracted form of the peninsula of Coromandel, runningout to a point at Cape Colville, and keeping a due northerly course, must necessarily bring all reef formations closer together they "farther they lie 'north; a dense community of leaders and a consequent wealth of gold will therefore exist in the more northerly formations. Already Paul's Land, to the north of Peter's, has given abundant proof thereof; but when we touch the very nucleus of the reefs themselves, what results will come to light then ! The nearest point south of us, where alluvial gold will probably exist in any quantity, is the Thames in her upper course; the rolling ground in that neighborhood has much of the characteristics of Australiau gullies and flats, traversed by alluvial leads. So soon as ever Coromandel will have formed a permanent nucleus of a mining community, the mysteries of the Thames treasures will soon have some light thrown upon them. Then would follow the unavoidable "alluvial rush," with its wi!d bands of wild men, pushing their way through all obstacles. Mining operations are now being extended to Matawai, above Messrs. Firth, Roe, and Co.'s mill. A splendid three ounce specimen was obtained there lately, and the gold is much finer and heavier than that found in the Driving Creek. The specimen mentioned came from a leader but had apparently travelled much, being,well waterworn. Two large reefs have lately been discovered in the same district, and I have no doubt before the summer is over a great many claims will be taken up in the locality. It would appear from information lately received, that Messrs. Dwrt and others, the finders of the Victoria nugget, are not to be allowed quietly to retain the proceeds of it. An action before the Supreme Court has been raised against them by Messrs. Donoughe and others, who allege that it was found on claim, No. 5, Driving Creek, belonging to them. This however, is dispixted by Messrs. Dwrt and Co., and in all likelihood the point will have to be settled-by a jury at the next civil sittings of the Supreme Court in December. From Mongonui, I hear some satisfactory specimens of gold in quartz have been obtained 'within thirty miles of that township. An experienced party is spoken of as about to depart on a prospecting excursion. The district whence the gold came, had been previously described by Dr Dieffenbach as auriferous. Gold is also reported' to have been found in the Wairoa. At the Papakura market a few days ago, a large rich specimen of goldbearing quartz was exhibited, and which had been found on the land of Mr Allies. It contained about 30 per cent, of gold, and was supposed to have been washed down from the quartz reef known to«be in the Hunna and Wairoa hills. The specimen weighed rather more than 3 ozs. and the gold was evident to the naked eye. Suspicion had long been entertained that a quartz reef existed in the Hunna, running in the direction towards Paparata and Mangatawhiri, and a few years ago some good specimens were obtained on Mr. Clare's land. A party has been formed to proceed on an exploring tour. From | Raglan, likewise, news has come to town that a j quartz reef lias been discovered. Two men ■ strolling near Woody Head Wliaingaroa, found some specimens of quartz, which are declared to be of the same description as that to be met with on the Kapanga Quartz Reef-Company's claim, Keven's Reef, Coromandel. This information has not been confirmed. Copper is Jknown to exist in the Woody Head range. I have little to report respecting native matters. The road at Raglan is being pushed on vigorously, under the superintendence of Mr Todd; and has been formed as far as the Three Swamps.. The other week the. natives struck work, owing to some disagreement about wages. Capt. Macgregor, R.M., was wishful that they should work from eight a.m. to six p.m., during the- summer months, and be paid at the rate of. 4s per day. , The natives, however, stuck to their rate of previous payment, 4s per day, -from nine a.ra.'to five pan. A compromise, however, was. effected^

on the natives promising to commence work at tne proposed rates at the expiration of a month it -appears there are about forty-five engaged on the road, and these are reported as not Lein» the most : diligent laborers. However, Cap*-" McGregor has acted with great firmness wit;, them, and so far all has gone well, From Kawfra 1 gather that a short time ago a native named Busley forcibly drove off three head of cattle belonging to the Rsv. Mr Sehnackenberg, the Wesleyan Missionary at that place. The last known ot the cattle was that they were being driven overland towards the Waipa. More recently six natives entered Mr Green's store £at Takatahe and throwing down some money, said they must have Greens gun which was suspended in view Ihe people in the store refused, but the natives would take no denial, and ultimately carried away the gun by force. This is said to he the second occasion on winch a like occurrence ha« happened at TaUtahe. At Wainku. one of the old native chiefs, well known to Europeans as Old Peter " has breathed his' last. He was noted for clinging strongly to old Maori superstitions, a devout believer in witchcraft. He labored under the impression that his last illness Avas consequent upon some witchery, and no doubt, this belief aided the disease and nullifiel the exertions nvule for his recovery. He possessed extensive land tracts

Several events of city importance have taken place since the despatch of my last Ou the 9th a most interesting re-union of old settlers who had voyaged to this colony in the good ships Jane Gifford anil Duchess of Argyle from the Clyde, celebrated their 20th anniversary in the Odd Fellows Hall. Two hundred and twenty persons were assembled, and Mr Robert Graham, M.G.A., presided. The proceedings commenced with a dinner, after which complimentary toasts were drunk, and the whole concluded .vith dancing. The meeting was a most successful one, and the interesting reminiscences called forth by the occasion, with the relation of the struggles undergone by the early colonists were most entertaining. The event was productive of the utmost unanimity and fraternization, and it was determined in future to hold the festival annually.

A successful bazaar has been held in the Brunswick Music Hall, to clear off the debt upon the building fund of St. John the Baptist's Catholic Church, Parnell. The sum of £280 was owing, aud the receipts upon the sale of articles was upwards of £400—exclusive of the large remnant of choice goods which remained on hand, and are to be disposed of on some future occasion. The Volunteer bazaar succeeded, and this has likewise been well supported. The pro ceetls are to be applied to the band fund. On Saturday the. 11th instant, anew clipper barque was launched from the shipbuilding yard of Mr Niccol, Mechanics' Bay, and was in every respect successful. The barque had been built for Messrs Henderson and Macfarlaue of the Circular Saw Line, aud was of a beautiful model. For the information of your seafaring readers, I may give her dimensions :—Length of keel, 133 feet ; length overall, 147 feet ; breadth of beam, 27 feet G inches ; depth cf hold, 14 feet 9 inches ; tonnage, builders' measurement, 495 tons ; registered tonnage, 376 tons; quarter-deck length, 58 feet ; quarter-deck height, 3 feet. The launch was followed by an elegant dejeuner ala Jouremetic, after which the usual congratulatory toasts were drunk and responded to. Nothing further has transpired with regard to the Superintendency. Mr Williamson continues to fill the office until the arrival of Governor Sir George Grey. Mr Newman is as yet the only candidate in the field. Our Gas Company is yet in a quiescent state, no proceedings being yet instituted, so far as the general public are concerned, to secure the light- | ing of the streets next winter with gas, although ; it has been promised for some time.. ; The Town Board has at last elected a per-; manenfc Chairman,- and is apparently determined \ to proceed with vigor in the repair of the streets, j Many commendable improvements have already been effected in the roads through the instrumentality of the Board. The assessments are ail but completed, and ere long it is expected Auckland will present a much improved means of traffic. Thfi sales of cattle during the last month have been large, and prices have been firmer, with a disposition to still further advancement. Best fat cattle have realised 60s the lOOlbs ; store cows feteirfrom LlO 10s to Ll4; steers, from L 9 to LI 5 ; yearlings, from L 5 to L 7 10s ; and calves, L 4 to Lf> each. A considerable demand has been experienced for sheep. Fat sheep have been very scarce, and fetched 8d per lb ; ewes and lambs, 38s to 43s the couple : hoggets, 23s to 2Gs each. The Customs receipts for the week were— L 1297 2s lOd. October 16. His Excellency the Governor returned to Auckland this day, having come direct from Wellington in the.Harrier, which place he left on ■ the 10th October. Nothing is yet known as to whether he will accept the resignation tendered by the Superintendent. At the Chamber of Commerce meeting this day, the Panama steam postal service was taken into consideration, and a committee appointed to prepare a report on the subject, after waiting upon Government and taking their opinion on the qnestion. The fact that the last two mails sent by Otago had been too late for despatch home via Melbourne, proved a strong incentive to the Chamber to take action in the matter. The committee are expected to report on the subject in a few days.