Our Correspondent.

Otago Witness, Issue 1355, 17 November 1877, Page 7

Our Correspondent.

AUCKLAND. Sir George Grey's advent to power has re-awakened the interest in politics, and proved the strength of his hold on the people of this Province. I hear nothing but gratification andconfidence expressed, with — which is perhaps the most siguificant sign — a complete absence of criticism with respect to his speeches. People are content to leave everything ia his hands, well knowing that their welfare is his only object, and thoroughly approving of the broad means — reform of Parliament — by which he seeks to give them the power of directly seeking that welfare in their own way. His last speech, in reply to Major Atkinson on the No confidence motion, was received with universal admiration, and will' probably be reprinted for more permanent circulation.

The natives are greatly rejoiced everywhere at Sir George Grey's being again in power, while no one is better known, more popular, or more trusted among them than Mr Sheehan. Tawhiao has already, through Manuhiri and Te Whero, signified a desire to hare an interview with Sir George. It is the first time he has made the slightest overture to any one, and the event is regarded as of importance, indicating that there will be no difficulty in the new Ministry opening negotiations withoub repeating the process of running after the natives which has been so common, and so injurious during the last few years. Old Te Hira and the well known Mere Kuru have left Ohinemuri, or are about to leave it, with their people, for Tawhiao's settlement. A great gathering of the Maoris is going on there, and they intend uniting as much as possible. I don't thins. anything need be apprehended on this account, as although they maintain the aukati most rigidly, they are drawingtoo good rentals for the land thoy leave behind, to risk losing it by needless rebellion.

The Waste Lands Board has just published a return of the forest lands in this Province. There aie 10,500,000 acres in round numbers, of which the General Government hold 1,301,438, the natives 8,400,000, and private persons or companies 750,000. Of the lands held by the Govern* ment, 47,700 acres are kauri, and of those held privately or by companies 110,500 are kauri, while the quantity of kauri held by the natives is unknown. The other timbers have, of coarse, their value, but at present kauri is the only tree greatly sought, and is the timber from which, our trade is done Much of the bush held by natives will not be of great value for many years, from tho difficulty of getting at it. The kauri is confined almost entirely to the part of the piovince north of Auckland city, and much of the land owned by natives is to the south of that line. Still they own a good deal on the west coast of the kauri belt. While on this topic I may state that tbe mill and bush owned by Cruickshank and Co. at Kennedy's Bay have just been bought from them by J. Holdahip -and Co., one of our timber firms, who also own the mill and bush, at Whangaroa. They are reported to have given £13,000 for the Kennedy Bay property. The mills on the Wairoa are actively at work, and that district is making rap<d advances. Its chief centre is Dargaville, a rising little town admirably situated to catch the traffic of the great river system of that part of the country. Dargaville is named after the gentleman who stood for Superintendent against the late John Williamson. He is a large landed proprietor in that district, owns a large mill, established the township on his land, and is devoting himself very energetically, and with marked ■access, to settlement on the Wairoa and the development of its great resources. lam told by a recent visitor te the district that there is a large quantity of very fine land in the valieys.away from tbe river, and that it ia sure to be a valuable agricultural as well as timber district before long. An interesting paper was read at the Auckland Institute on the disappearance of native birds, especially of song birds, in this part of the Colony. The birds more particularly referred to were the kokako, tni, koromako (bell bird), and pitoitoi (robin). Their destruction was attributed by some to rate, but others thought it due to the destruction of the trees on the honey of whose flowers these birds largely depended. The trees are all of the kind that grow near the coast or rivers, and are therefore the first to be attacked by the settler. Bush fires are also hold partly responsible for the destruction of these birds, whose diminution in number is becoming very marked, and whose loss is much regretted. At tbe same meeting Mr Firth stood up for the housesparrow, aud maintained stoutly and eloquently the cause of that bird. He was certain that the good it did very far indeed outweighed the evil, and that the time would come when the Acclimatisation Society would be congratulated on all sides for the introduction of a true farmer's friend. Mr firth laid great stress on the fact that for eight months in the year the^ sparrows had neither fruit nor grain to feed upon in this neighbourhood. Yet they increased wonderfully, and must be well fed. Upon what then did they or could they feed during the remaining eight months of the year? He quoted also from ths reports presented to the Imperial Parliament from a Commission appointed for this and kindred purposes, and made out the best (ass yet submitted in defence of this much maligned and daring delinquent, who is to be seen twittering and chirping all over the place, anu taking forcible possession of every possible shelter for his domicile. The Union Bank has a building, the stylo of which I cannot pretend to determine, but the front may bo described as all column, with a cavernous maaß behind it. The foliations that form the capitals of these columns, wore tempting objects to the sparrows, who invaded ana occupied them so successfully, that the capitals had to be wrapped round with wire netting, givine; them a singular appearance, and making them a puzzle to all uninitiated beholders.

/"he Cologne Gazette says that the merit of having f unrobed Krupp cannons to the Turkish artillery belongs exclusively to Iskender Pasha, » Prussian by birth, original nutne is £w»vaJd,