AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2589, 25 May 1870, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

May 22th. Had anything occurred of great moment since the date of my last letter I should have written you by last week's steamer. In trading circles, things here are still much depressed, and I have to report one seriou3 failure—the amount, L30,00(k The debts are -pretty equally distribute* among the mercantile community, andrthe deficiency in the assets about Lll,00(X This failure has fcad the effect of breaking down a few smaller men. I believe the whole of t 7ae late failures have been caused by scrip speculations at thaThames. The yield of the precious metal is still increasing over the field, although, the more celebrated claims are not returning the quantity they, did some months a?o. Long Drives are now down to LI 3, arid Golden Crowns have gone back to L4OO. This claim was made into a company with LIOOO scrip, so it is. now about 60 per cent, below par. But I. believe these claims are as good as ever and this may be said of most of the claims on the field. The opening of the upper country to the miner is, I think, drawing near, as the Government has at lengtlt acceded to the reasonable request of persons interested, both Maori and Pakeha and called a sitting of the Native Lands Court at Ohinemuri on Monday next, at which, there is no doubt, the famous Te Hira and his more famous sister MaryKuru will appear. They will, I am. told on good authority, submit theic claims to land to the adjudication of theCourb, and thus another barrier between us and peace will be broken down. If the Court can succeed in passing any portion of the country through the Court, the whole will soon follow, and then good by© to the STLean policy and Mr Tawhiao. The Natives, however, are still anxious about our proceedings at Taupo, in connection with roads and telegraphs. You will have observed some letters from the Prime Minister of the King, Manuhiri disapproving of our inroads in ths country; but it is to be hoped that we" shall push on as fast as we can in the direction specified, and not let ourselves be thought imbecile by the late and able advisers of his brown Majesty. To-day, Mr Reader Wood was elected without opposition, for Parnell, and thus has returned to the House one of the race of professional place-seekers who believe with the Taper and Tadpole of MbDisraeli, that the art of Government consists in the receipt of LI2OO a year, paid quarterly in advance. This election does not alter the position of parties in the-. House, as Mr Wood follows Mr Foxthat is, he will follow him so long as he remains in office. The Government is trying to strengthen itself in the 4 Lords." A seat was offered to MrWood, but he declined it, and I have heard it hinted that Mr James Williamson, of the New Zealand Bank, is to be called up to the serene region of the Legislative Council.

_ By way of a counterblast to the Wellington people and the Collie contract for mails, a dinner was given to Me Togel the other evening, at the Northern Club. The presa was not inviied, so no report has been issued of the proceedings; but I understand that great was the rejoicing when the gun was fired by the Wonga, on her return from Honolulu. This took place while the feasting -was going on, and the consumption of No % was greatty increased in consequence So far the Hall-Vogel contract is a success, and the Auckland people all hope ife will continue. Docks are now talked about, and a loan of L25G,00a is . desired l but, I imagine, the good folks here might as well cry for the moon. But there is no knowing how far a subservient majority will go in favour of a Ministry whose policy ft is to give plums to the provinces all round.

In social affairs we have had the somewhat rare occurrence of a criminal libel case, brought by Mr Whitaker, jun.. barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, against Mr James De Hirsch, ona of the litigants in the Native Lands Oomk This arose out of the proceedings at V> ellmgton last session, when it will ba remembered a bill was passed, whicft greatly benefited De Hirsch, and destroyed the position, of Whitaker. Af fcec two or three postponements, the case was partly heard, but De Hirsch quietly vamosed in the City of Melbourne ta baa Francisco, and the prosecutor was left to chew the cud of bitter disappoiafc meat. It is thought a few more of thes^ litigants will come to grief.