AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3685, 26 November 1873, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORKESi?ONDENT.)

Tv Tawhiao—son of the Bang—has been at Alexandra, and his movements are duly telegraphed. He is described as a modest, shy young man, but has rather impressed in his favour those with whom hehas come into contact. The visit has given satisfaction, as it cannot but do these people good to see for themselves the progress made, and the firm hold gained, by the Pakeha in the Waikato district. But whether the visit have any immediate significance it is impossible to say. The; Maoris preserve the iiukati line very rigidly, and allow -no one to cross. Hence we are entirely ignorant of what ■is going on among themselves, and all I can again' say is that no one acquainted with their * customs and modes of thought attaches the least political importance .to these; visits. They have their fixed notions, and will not easily throw them off. Their difficulty and our gain is in the divisions among themselves. So long as these divisions last they cannot move, and it is a knowledge of. this .which makes those behind the scenes look with concern at the weakness and vaccilation that have alienated so many of the friendly tribes. The Government have now the whole of the land-purchasing*in their hands, and their relations with the Maoris will be put to a ruder test than for many years past. ■ Finding themselves deprived of opportunities of dealing as heretofore with private individuals, the Maoris will be'too likely to regard ; the operations of the Govtrmnentwith suspicion—i-a suspicion which will require to !be encountered with great tact, promptitude, and wisdom in administering the Native Lands, Act of last session. The Act comes into operation on Ist January next, and meantime private purchases have been wisely stopped by a proclamation, issued under the Immigration and Public Works Actof 1870. ; .....

On Saturday the first train with passengers ran from Auckland; The Crickeb (Jlub opened the season on the new ground at Ellerslie—a very beautiful spot in one of our most beautiful suburbs—Remuera. The friends and families of the members of the Club were invited, andßrdgderi's agent was induced to put on three passenger carriages, which conveyed the guests free of charge to the ground. Croquet, archery,' and other sports were provided, and the ground was visited by about 1500 people. The day was beautiful, and the opening most successful. People are longing to see this line at work— at least to Onehunga—and it is astonishing to findso much delay. There is nothing toprevent its being worked at once. There has been nothing to prevent it during the last Bix . months if ordinary energy and foresight had been used, and surely it is better the line should be earning something than lying a dead letter. With whom the blame rests, I cannot say.

Mr Williamson will be delayed another week or two in assuming office by the demand for a scrutiny. It is thought that a good many have voted twice, but it is exceedingly unlikely—even if this has been systematically done—that the number would be sufficient to affect materially his large majority of 451. What will he do with the Superintendency .now that he has it ? is the question most frequently asked. The Education difficulty will be the greatest to be at once faced, and possibly, if that can be got over till the next' Session of the Assembly, Mr Williamson may be able to do something by "^working in 5* with the General Government. There will be, some day at all events, the railways to work, and it is believed the Provincial Government will have to work them. But they will not add to the Provincial Revenue, though they may to Provincial influence. Then there is the land to be bought from the Natives, and resold or settled on - behalf of the -Province. But the land has to be bought first, and when bought will be of little revenue value unless made accessible. The Provincial prospect, financially, is not bright, but Mr Williamson as Superintendent will be a good rallying point for Auckland members in the Assembly, and anything that would unite them must be a great public gain. Our Customs revenue has largely increased under the new tariff, but as the Province does not derive one farthing of benefit from it, and as the Customs is the only revenue on which, the Province can rely, the increase is not looked on with much favour.

The Protection League took advantage of the Ag/icultural and Horticultural Show to invite the Road Boards to send in delegates to a Conference for considering the best means of advancing the .farming interests. Excepting as a step towards union of the farmers for the strange object of getting protection for manufactures and for political purposes generally, this Conference has not done much. The main basis on which it is proposed to found the union— Protection, has not taken any hold on the public in this Province. But as a beginning of the political union of which people instinctively feel the necessity, the movement is regarded with much favour. The man who knows how to turn this feeling to account would soon be the most popular in the Province, and lead the people without much trouble. But protection is too narrow a basis on which to rest it. lam inclined to think separation would be much more likely to succeed, or perhaps a more definite settlement of the relations of the Provincial Governments, or their abolition altogether, would meet with more general support. The elections for the Council are proceeding, and a strange, inexplicable interest is manifested in them, considering the smalhiess of the funds attieir command, and the apparent unpopularity of Provincialism. Several new men are out, and the debating powers of the next Council promise to be of a much higher order than those ;of its predecessor. Some curiosity is felt as to what the new Superintendent will do when he takes office. He is avowedly opposed to responsible government, and a change of Executive is regarded as the first likely issue. Both Lusk and Dargaville are receiving requisitions to stand for the Council, and are likely to comply.. The former has been invited by a very influential requisition to stand for City East. The latter, it is thought, will stand for a country district, but there is no doubt he would be elected readily as one of the city members.