AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 5

AUCKLAND.

(from otjr own correspondent.)

3rd September.

The accounts from the Goldfields are most encouraging. There are many fortunate diggers, some few lucky speculators, and full employment for all who will work. The constant and rapid influx of population, the erection of new buildings, and the putting up of machinery, cause a. great demand for labour, the Value of which in the market is necessarily increased. That the Thames district will continue to increase even at this rapid rate is beyond all question. The large amount of ground that is daily being pegged off for mining purposes is very considerable, and it is somewhat remarkable that allotments within the town, boundaries, or close to it, are being taken up for this purpose. Claims have even been marked out extending below water mark. All the ground at the foot of the hills is being appropriated, and some very good specimens of gold-bearing material have been taken out of the shafts which, have been sunk. The land in the district adjoining the diggings has been bought and leased to a very considerable extent. It is stated that the Church Missionary Society hold about 800 acres on the banks of the Puriri, purchased from the Natives some years ago, for a few fishhooks, blankets, and such like articles. A surveyor has been sent down to cut up the land into allotments, and the Society will, no doubt, make a good thing of it. The Natives appear willing to lease the adjoining lands to Europeans. Various pieces in the vicinity of Shortland are also being surveyed for the purpose of being leased — blocks of from one acre to 20. Mr Gillies, the solicitor, has purchased not less than 10,000 acres of land at Wharekawa! The daily traffic between Auckland and the Thames by means of the steamers is really remarkable. The lloyal Alfred is the last addition to our coasting steamers, and has received more than her share of patronage. Shß is a fine vessel, is the swiftest we have ; and best of all, she is punctual, and may be relied on. The Go-a-head is also expected to trade between this place and the Goldfields. The accompanying review of the progress of the Thames Goldfields by Mr O'Keeffe, may be interesting to your readers.

This being the period of the anniversary of the Thames goldfield, Mr O'Keeffe deems it important to place upon>,.record, &A&vr statistics showing ifsftrbgreßS during the pa3t year. The goldfield was proclaimed on the 7th of August, 1857, and about 7,000 acres were then opened for prospecting. The area now available is 340 000 acres, or about 700 square miles, extending from the Thames river to Cape Colville, and thence by the East Coast to Whangamata. The number of claims taken up for quartz-mining amounts to about 1,500, occupying an area of not more than 10,000 acres. The actual amount of money invested in shares in several of these claims amounts to about LBO,OOO, giving employment to 6,000 men. The value of permanent wooden buildings in Shorland is about L 30,000, and in Grahams Town about L 20.000. Buildings are in daily course of erection, and these townships are rapidly extending. The value of qaartz- crushing machinery driven by steam on the Shortland branch of the goldfield ia L 16,000, and of machinery ordered and now being set up L 22,000, thus giving a total of 400- horse power, capable of crushing 400 ton* of quartz daily, which at an average yield of 3oz. of gold to the ton, would give 12,0000z., at 50s per oz., say L3OOO per diem, or nearly one million sterling per annum. This averaoo is much below the results of past crushings on the field. In. crease the crushing power, with improved machinery, and the yield of gold must be proportionately increased. The owners of the crashing mills employ permanently 400 men.. Thus there is established within a year a substantial and increasing industry, benefiting alike the province and the colony. The development of the Thames goldfield has likewise stimulated a l r ng established industry of the province, namely, shipbuilding. There ia now a fleet of nine steamers, of an aggregate of 320-horse power, and costing Xi31),600, manned by about 100 men. These steamers, with a single exception, have been built at the port of Auckland, entirely of New Zealand material. Since the 14th of February to the 31st July last, these steamers have conveyed to the Thames 18,000 passengers, and from the Thames 34,000, leaving a margin of 4,000 in favour of the goldfield. The gold forwarded from the local banks at Shortland by these eteamera, was 22,0000z. The aggregate tonnage at Shortland during the same period, was 28,500 tons, independent of the fleet of small sailing vessels, which had been, rather unprofitably employed along the coast previous to the gold discovery at the Thames. These coasting vessels are now fully employed in the transport of merchandise from Auckland, and timber from the saw mills, which, latter are now fully and profitably employed. Another local industry stimulated by the goldfields, and which will materially assist our steam fleet and tho working of machinery on the claims, is that of coal-mining. Although there are several valuable coal de.

posits in the Province, those worked to the best advantage are the Bay of Islands (Kawakawa) and Whangarie mines. The coal at the Bay of Islands is quarried out of the Bide of a hill from a seam 10 to 18 feeb thick, without band or shale, and sold at the mine at 16a per ton, or from 24s fco 26s delivered at Shortland. When the present proprietors took over the mine 30 tons daily was the average yield ; now from 70 to 80 tons are being delivered, and arrangements were recently completed to deliver 150 tons daily for local requirements only. This coal is unsurpassed for steam purposes. ■The gold export to the 31at July was 34,0000z., on which L 4175 export duty was paid. Remaining in the Banks to date, there was 11.00D0z., the duty on which would be LI 375; showing a total yield for the year of 45,0000z., and L 5550 for export duty. The revenue paid by the inhabitants of the Thames on the goldfields for miners' rights and rentals would amount to about L 15,000, out of which the Natives (to whom this amount is payable) expended L4OO in surveys, and about L 450 for indicating lines of road (not making them). In other charges to the General and Provincial Governments, the inhabitants of the Thames have contributed about LSOOO for the year. There is also another source of income and expend!* ture, namely, the rentals obtained for about an eighth portion of the land leased from the Natives by Mr Robert Graham on Waiotabi, which amounts to about L4oooper annum.

Notwithstanding the obstruction offered by the General Government to the development of the Thames goldfield, as indicated in Mr Mackay's recent speech, the above facts are sufficient to establish the importance of the mining and commercial interests created at the Thames within the last year. The goldfields population amounts to about 12,000, the greater proportion being ablebodied men engaged in mining and other purBuits. As soon as a proper system of tramways is established, which is proposed by the Provincial Government, for the' conveyance of quartz to the crushing machines, and a sufficient supply of water has been obtained, the Thames goldfield may fairly challenge competition. Of the large expenditure indicated above, almost all is Auckland capital, which iB a complete answer to those who assert that Auckland capitalists have done nothing for the Thames Goldfield. The value of mining property in the above statistics has not been touched upon ; but if Hunt's claim, 300 feet by 300 feet, at L 200,000, the K.uranui Company's claim at 150,000, or the Middle Star at L 20,000, and others of proportionate worth, be taken as standards of value, the total wonld amount to an almost incredible sum.

There is a decided improvement in the trade of Auckland. The numerous new arrivals and weekly visits of gold miners to spend their earnings, makes the city very lively, and money seems plentiful. Sharebrokers and agents are, however, the busiest — there is nothing more nor less than a good deal of respectable gambling going on under the name of speculation, and if a good many individuals do not see cause ere long to rue their folly, I am much mistaken. In the sale market there has been a novelty. Mr Jones had a sale of birds on Saturday, and the prices are quoted as follow : — 24 greenfinches, Is 3d each ; 25 blackbirds, 2s 6d each; 25 thrushes, 3s 3d each ; 6 bronzed-winged pigeons, 4s 3d each ; 5 skylarks, 4s 9d each ; starlings, 3s 3d each ; chaffinches, 2s 6d each ; and Java sparrows, 9d each. As for the native morepork, the Acclimatisation Society has set a price upon "his head, as being the deadly enemy of the birds they are at the expense of introducing into this country. The rebellion against the Provincial authorities-, occasioned by their attempt to impose a 10s Poll Tax, has terminated most in gloriously. To think that the question should be settled by a lawyer's quibble instead of by a pitched battle, is very mortifying. When the people of England, some 300 or 400 years ago, resisted the imposition of a Poll Tax, at Is on every man, woman, and child, they put to death a Chancellor and a Prime Minister, as evil counsellors of their sovereign : and in return, the powers that were hanged no less than 1500 peasants for their share in the rebellion. Here the people have talked much, threatened more, and done little, if we may except one good woman who saluted a collector first with a billet of wood, and, then to prevent any ill effects from the blow, emptied a pail of water over him. Mr Secretary Creighton, instead of being put to death, according to analogy and poetic justice, was invited to public meetings to discuss the question ; and having attended one or two, he seems to have made an impression that the -Government scarcely knew what to do in the emergency, and that they did the best that could be done under the circumstances. The tax was introduced merely to meet an exceptional case, and was not intended to be perpetual. The people, although understanding all this, deemed that it was admitting the thin end of an ugly wedge. That they have not had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves by resisting to the death and all that sort of thing, will be annoying to a good many individuals, and especially to our country cousins at— —

(I forget the' name of the place), who, with Sir Osborne — a live baronet — at their head, declared they would resist payment of any poll-tax with "fixed bayonets/ if needs were. The way in which the matter has been disposed of is doubtlessly known to you. The Resident Magistrate — wise man — adopted the exposition that was given to the Sick and Destitute Act by one of our acutest lawyers — " that the tax was not due until a year had expired from the passing of the Act." And this after ■ the Provincial Solicitor, aye, and the Attorney- General, had carefully examined the draft of the Bill. But this is not -the first Bill drawn up by the Provincial Solicitor that has afforded matter for discussion in the Law Courts. I have heard him myself tear one of his own Acts to tatters in the Resident Magistrate's Court. It was the " Sheep" Act, and so constructed that he managed to drive a whole flock of scabby sheep over it. The Government talked of appealing to the Supreme Court against the Resident Magistrate's wonderful version of the present Act ; but it seems they have thought better of it, as the fourteen days during which they could appeal have elapsed, and as the tax was for the support exclusively of charitable objects, the public will have to thank itself if these objects suffer. It will be a sad pity if the Government cannot, and the public will not, support the Hospital, in which there are at the present time no less than 79 or 80 suffering from the direst afflictions ; and the Lunatic Asylum, where there are about the same number of unfortunates. There are not two better managed institutions anywhere, and it will be a grievous thing if they suffer from a want of means. As the population of the Goldfields increases tHe demand for Hospital accommodation will necessarily increase. I met the«relieving officer a day or two ago, when., he told me that he had received no less than eight applications for admission that day. For my own part, I abominate such a tax as the one in question; but I have also a strong antipathy to the conduct of that respectable body — the public. They send the most incompetent men they have to represent them in the Provincial Council ; their representatives assume powers that are utterly at variance with the spirit of the English Constitution, if not with the letter thereof ; and then they turn round and abuse the men who after all are the fitting representatives of an inconsistent and foolish people. It is to be regretted that the Government have failed to enforce the tax. It would have been beneficial if they had put the screw on " delightfully tight " (as the telegram said), so that the people misfht have sought after Provincial reform by reforming themselves. There can be no doubt that in this Province there is a thorough dissatisfaction, on the part of the settlers, with the Provincial Institutions, which were introduced under Sir George Grey's governorship. The pleasing conceit of that talented gentleman — that the Provinces would, 'in the course of time, require an Upper as well a3 a Lower House of Legislature — is never likely to be realised The residents here would gladly see the whole machinery of Provincialism abolished, and something less pretentious and more workable substituted for it. No one can mistake the signs of the times in this respect. There is, however, an unwillingness on the part of the great majority to their abolition, until they have a clear understanding as to the mode by which they shall he governed in the future. They have no faith whatever in the General Government. There is evidently so much political hypocrisy in the gentlemen who so strongly advocate the cause of the " General Government versus Provincialism/ that they have no confidence in either one party or the other. The member for the Bay — a late Provincial Treasurer — and others, who are the most noisy in the matter, have helped so assiduously to empty the Provincial exchequer, that their movemen's are looked upon with suspicion, if not with intense disgust. There has been no political movement of importance during the past week. A meeting of some halfdozen individuals was held at the North Shore a few days ago, over which an O'Neill presided. Like the tailors of Tooley street, their talk was very big — their actions small. It is not by movements such as these that any good can be effected.

The school-teachers have held a meeting, for the purpose of keeping their grievances before the public. They seem determined that whoever may suffer by the dreadful collapse of the Provincial exchequer they won't. They came to New Zealand under certain expectations, and they insist upon their realisation whoever else may be disappointed. If talk and print will do it, they will accomplish all they are aiming at. Mr Secretary Creighton was invited by the teachers to meet them publicly. He wisely declined, and they are consequently very pross

about it, and consider his denial of certain charges they have trumped up against him "as unworthy of credence." So far as the teachers themselves are concerned, they ought to expect to suffer from the general depression as well as their neighbors. It is sad, after all, to reflect upon the prospects of education for the young in this Province. Cheap schools are now a rarity. The Wesleyans for instance, had two — both are closed. There can be no doubt tha+- the arrangements for educational purposes will have to be local, and will devolve upon the Highway Boards, and the sooner the people get about it the better. It -would be far more creditable to them to do this than to pester either General or Provincial Governments, in their state of impecuniosity, with their complaints. Jove helps those who put their own shoulders to the wheel.

Sir George Grey lias taken his departure from Ms delightful island home, at the Kawau, for England, via Wellington. His. late secretary, Capt. Holt, -will hold the estate on lease for a term of years. The inhabitants of Auckland are greatly disappointed because Sir George did not pay them a visit before leaving New Zealand. He has many admirers in this locality, and those "who have objected to his policy are -willing to give him credit for meaning well. One cannot help contrasting the mode of his reception with that of his departure. It clearly demonstrates that his policy, so far as the Native race is concerned, has been a thorough failure.

Referring to Native affairs reminds me that Mr Mackay, late Civil Commissioner at the Thames, has positively declined to continue in the service of the Government. He has commenced business at Shortland. and as an agent between the Natives and settlers, will no doubt do more good than if he had continued in the position he formerly occupied. He has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the treatment of the Native race by the Go* vernment ; and he is of opinion that no more effective means of civilising them can be adopted than bringing a large population into the district. This he conceives will be the most effective means of " ridding the country of that Native difficulty which has been a bugbear so long,"^and will be a much better way to get out of the difficulty by civilising and enriching the Natives than by exterminating them. Mr Stafford's admissions in the House that Mr Mackay has been overworked and underpaid, and that his principal trouble has arisen from the Government being "unable" to keep faith with the Natives, is not only humiliating — it is disgraceful. Mr Mackay is universally and deservedly held, in esteem in this Province, and his retirement is a matter of deep regret.

The manner in which the General Government treat their servants is anything but creditable to them. In the Survey department it is said the clerks have not received payment for the last three months. The having a General Agent in Auckland is, as everybody knows who has had anybody to do with the Government, a perfect farce.

The Post Office has been removed to the new and costly building, which the Province has built on "tick," and left for the children to pay. The internal arrangements are, however, in no way improved. One attendant, it seems, can only be spared for the delivery windows. We have a vast deal more there than is at all necessary, and the costly Chief Postmas'er might be dispensed with altogether. I should like to see the chief of the establishment, as I have seen postmasters elsewhere, stripped, in shirt sleeves, and at work some hours before ten or eleven in the day.

The sitting _of the Supreme Court for the trial of criminal case 3 commenced on Tuesday, the Ist inst. The calendar was not a very heavy one, considering the unsettled state of the district from the rush to the goldfields. A large proportion of the offences arose in the Thames district, but no serious crimes had been committed except by two natives. One wa3 the murder of a Mr Smith, a settler residing at Mongonui, last year. The murder was a mystery for a considerable time, and then a portion of it came out in the shape of a confession, to other natives. The murderer was placed on his trial, and defended by counsel, who set up the plea of hereditary insanity. The trial has already occupied the greater part of two days. Four prisoners were also placed before the Chief- Justice for having escaped from Mount Eden Gaol, they each receivingtwo years' additional imprisonment with, hard labour. Were it sot for the facfc that the Provincial Government are benfe upon having a costly, showy wall round the Gaol (which at the ra+e it has hitherto progressed, will take twenty or thirty years to finish), a strong substantial wall would by this time have prevented 1 all chance of their escape, saving them from an additional punishment, and the country from the cost of their nwintenr anes foy tw years,