AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 304, 26 September 1857, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

"By the Solent we (Lyttelton Times) have our files of Auckland papers reaching to the 26th August. The news of most importance is, of course, the progress and termination of the " dead-lock." We have already hinted at the results attained. The narrative in full would be interesting, but it is so difficult to eliminate from the intemperate language in which it is clothed as it comes to us in the columns of the Auckland papers that we content ourselves with a mere outline. The Council, it will be remembered, was brought to a stop by prorogation, when the difficulty first occurred. The Superintendent carried on the expenditure without any Appropriation Act. This was to be remedied by a dissolution by the Governor, which was deferred only until the new registration should be complete. Before this time the "binary members" resigned, after which the Governor declined to dissolve the Council, though requested to do so by the Superintendent. The evident reason was that the difficulty was removed. The Superintendent seemed determined to push on a dissolution, and therefore intimated his intention to issue two writs, on the plea of the double resignation, though there was only one vacancy. This intention caused a strong remonstrance from the General Government, and an argumentative correspondence ensued, the concluding letter of which is brief and pithy : — Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 106, of the 25th instant, in which you inform me that you have issued writs for the election of two members of the Auckland Pi ovincial Council — there being but a single, vacant seat in that body. I have the honour to be, &c, 1 E. W. Stafford. Two writs were issued, said to be essentially informal, and two allies of the Superintendent were returned. A session of the Council containing these elements of discord was called on the 17th August ; an adjournment was moved at once ; the house divided, a scene ensued, and the Speaker struck off the lists the names of both members for the one seat, the adjournment being carried. The same evening the Council was prorogued by the Superintendent, and, the following day, dissolved by his Excellency. A fresh general election and a fifth of Superintendent will take place. The Superintendent's party seems strong. On the 20th July, a quantity of gold, mainly in quartz, obtained at Coromandel, was deposited at the * Southern Cross' office for inspection. The gross weight was 21 ozs., and it was estimated that the net weight of gold would be from 14 to 15 ozs. This gold is said to have been obtained by three men in five weeks. The natives still evince a disinclination to permit the gold field to be worked, but it is hoped that the Government may purchase the land piece-meal. A resident has been commissioned by the General Government to watch for and take advantage of any opportunity that may arise. A prospectus has been issued (we believe in England) of the Great Barrier Land, Harbour, and Mining Company, with a capital of £50,000, in £5 shares. The alleged object is to develop a land and copper mining property called the Great Barrier Estate. The sum to be given for the property is £30,000, one-third in paid-up shares. The ' New Zealander' of the Bth inst., in mentioning the formal opening, in Auckland, of a branch of the Oriental Bank, says that " to Nelson also this banking corporation intend extending their business as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made." We do not know upon what authority this statement is founded, but we should be happy to see it realized. The Wonga Wonga arrived at Napier on Monday last from Wellington, and was under steam for Auckland on Wednesday, with 300 sheep on board. Unfortunately, the. flood- tide was then setting in strong, and, the steamer, after clearing the Iron Pot, was carried by the force of the tide upon one of the banks in the harbour. There was a " fresh" at the* time, and, should the water fall, it is feared that the sheep would have to be put ashore before the steamer would be light enough to float off. At all events, when the Sea Serpent sailed, eight hours afterwards, the Wonga was still aground. She had not yet made her appearance, although her continued absence may be partly accounted for by the fact of her having been without her full quantity of fuel. — Southern Cross, Aug. 11. Steam Postal Communication between England and New Zealand. — However keen ma^y£be the interest at present existing as to .ihejflnaFpstie of the Dissolution or No-Disso-lution q&estion, the people of Auckland are by no means disposed to lose sight of other topics of vital import to this Province. Among those .topics, none can be named as having a greater (

inherent claim on our attention than that of steam postal communication between this portion of the colony of New Zealand and Great Britain. When Mr. Dillon Bell returned from Sydney, we showed our readers that he had concluded an arrangement with the Government of New South Wales which would have the effect of giving both to the northern and southern sections of this colony a fair share in the advantages to be derived from the contract proposed to be entered into between the Australasian Governmentsand the Royal Mail Steam Company for securing a regular postal communication with the mother country via Panama. A doubt was subsequently thrown upon the accuracy of our statements ; and it was said in one or two quarters that the agreements' entered into, finally, between the New South Wales Government and Mr. Wetton, (the agent of the Royal Mail Steam Company) would shut out New Zealand from any participation in the benefits of that contract. We proved that there was no valid ground for those fears ; and the Sydney papers brought by the Sporting Lass have amply confirmed the confidence we entertained. On the 27th of June, the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales addressed a communication to the Chairman of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, in which he recapitulated the terms of the agreement entered into between the New South Wales Government and Mr. Wetton, as agent for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. This recapitulation shows that we were quite correct when we lately reasserted that the main terms of that contract were, that the Government of New South Wales was to take upon itself the entire responsibility of the payment of the sum of £50,000 a-year, for the term of seven years, to the Royal Mail Steam Company, and that the steamers of that Company were to call at Auckland on their way from Panama to Sydney, and at Wellington on their way from Sydney to Panama ; in return for which participation in the benefits of the postal route, the Government of New Zealand was to contribute the sum of £15,000 annually during the continuance of that contract. It is true that the circular-letter of the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales does not specifically name Auckland and Wellington as the ports of arrival on the two courses of the Royal Mail steamers, but the decided manner in which he alludes to the agreement between his Government and Mr. Dillon'Bell, for the payment of £15,000 annually in return for this share in the new Ocean Steam Postal Service, places the matter in question relative to Auckland and Wellington beyond dispute, so far as regards the New South Wales Government. No allusion is made in the letter of the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales (Mr. Elyard) to the Sydney Chamber of Comi merce of any desire of the Government of Victoria to re-open negociations with that of New South Wales for a share in the new postal service ; but we have no fear on this head. Calmer reflection has before this ensued on the former hasty determination not to play second (in appearance even) to Sydney ; and we have 1 good hope that the next mail from Australia will bring us confirmation of our views on this head. But beyond this there are hopeful indications of still more frequent and speedy communication between New Zealand and England, in which we have reason to trust Auckland will most certainly share. We learn from a gentleman recently arrived from Sydney, that news has been received from London of the English Government having called upon the European and Australian Steam Packet Company to fulfil the strict letter of their contract, which is, to deliver the mails to all the Australian colonies by steam service. If this prove to be the case, New Zealand will come in for its share of this service ; and Auckland is looked upon as certain to be the port of call for the steamers. — New Zealander, August 1. The summary of the" Census returns taken on the 31st March are published. The European population of the Province numbers 15,518 souls, exclusive of the military, being an increase over the total of 1861, of 6038. The Oriental Bank had commenced operations, and the effects of competition were telling favourably for the public. We quote the terms on which it begins business. The Corporation receive deposits on the following terms :— Ist. Current deposit accounts, on which no charge for commission or otherwise is made — and no Interest allowed. Cheques and pass books are supplied free of charge. 2nd. Fixed deposits, subject to notice of withdrawal, on which interest is allowed at the following rates: If le-payable on 3 months' notice 2J per cent, per annum " 6 " 8 " « 12 •• • 4 «« Notice of withdrawal may always be given at the ' time of depositing. No partial payments allowed on these deposits.

The Union Bank has issued a jSTotice to the same effect, "With the exception of the charge for pass and cheque books being still continued. Mr. W. M. Elles, the " Oriental" Sub-Inspec-tor, has come down in the Wonga Wonga with the view of making preparations for the commencement of the Branch here with as little delay as possible after the arrival of the Southern Cross, in which vessel Mr. Adam Burnes, the Wellington Manager, and his staff,' were to sail from London. The Gazette contains a notification of instructions from the Queen enlarging the Legislative Chamber — the Nominee House — from fifteen to twenty. The following despatch is also published, relative to the retiring pensions voted on the introduction of Responsible Government. Downing-street, 7th January, 1857. Sir, — I have laid before the Queen the Act passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand on the 7th of May, 1856, intituled "An Act to " provide for the retirement of certain Officers of " the Executive Government," and which Act was transmitted with your despatch, No. 45, of the Bth of May, 1856. I have to inform you that that Act will be left to its operation. I entirely concur in the propriety of the course which you adopted in this case. The Legislature having left it to myself to fix (within certain limits) the amount of the pensions to be awarded, I had no other guide to follow than the precedent afforded by the proceedings of the Australian Legislatures on the like occasion. That of New South Wales gave the retiring Officers pensions equivalent to their full salaries ; that of Victoria amounts varying from 4-sths to 3-4ths of their salary. I believe that the grant of the maximum amount by the Act now before me — that is, 2-3rds. of the salary — will most nearly meet the analogy afforded by the above mentioned laws, and I am therefore to signify to you Her Majesty's approval of that amount. I have, &c, H. Labouchere. Governor Gore Browne, C.8., &c. &c. &c. The Bills increasing the Governor's salary, and extending the powers of Superintendents and Provincial Councils, which were reserved for the Queen's disallowance or otherwise, have been assented to. — Independent.