AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume I, Issue 28, 9 February 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

THE GOLD FIELD. The following it the only item of gold news ' received by tho last overland mail from the North, 1 which we extract from the New Z;a!rmdcr of the ■ 19.hult.i- " We have seen acveral letters received tbj, week frtm Coromandel, bringing intelligence to Friday. We lenrn that the diggings nro as when we last reported comparatively unworked, the majority of those who Imd come to Auckland at Christmas, and dm ing the week of the races, uot having hitherto returned. From various couies it would seem also thnt some of those who are on the ground are not exerting thomiclves with the per* ■rvcrance or lira/finest of purpose that are essential 1 to success In iv han undertaking. We hire been informed that a principal came of disruption in , some of the pnriios win, ihnt ceruin of the diggers who were entrusted In hring up gold to Auckland mude an ini|.roplr use of it, and their companions who rcmw'nt'd nt the diggings, receiving " no returns." and lieiinf left without provisions, botanic dissatisfied and d>i;usled. We are Informed, however, that in a few instances such a measure of remuneration ha* rewarded even a mideratc exer. tlon as might rnsourage to atJhetentcA effort. Of tho diggers at Kapungn.Mr. 8.-nnett is represented as particularly hardworking and succe<»fril. At the pits where Mr. Bryan'* party hnd previously dug, Mr. Honpy had himself washed 7s. worth of gold from one pan of earth. The best instance of recent euceesi which we have hrnrd of, however, was a' the Walau, whero Mr. Untliank, with a party of two, obtained between Thursday and Sunday sbout Hi ox., which they brought to the Commissioner for weighing and safe keeping. Several of the old diggers on the spot were likely to resume working on the 15th, when they would lake out the semi-monthly licenses. We copy the following from a leading article in the * Cross,' on the subject of the Auckland Gaol, I from which it will seen that it is even worse than our own wretched place of Imprisonment, to which we lately called attention :— "We have received several communications complaining of that inhuman kennel the Queen- ( street Gaol, and of the barbarous and perilons | manner in which criminals and lunatics stilt con. I titmc to be pscked witliin its nsrrow and fetid cells. We are told that those cells are from 11 to ' 13 feet square, low in the ceiling, and worse than ' bsdly ventilated ; and that into this circumscribed area it is by no means an uncommon occurrence to pack up during the dismal watches of a close and muggy night from ten to a dozsn goffering fellow creatures 1 We have heard a description of the aroma which asiails the functionaries whose duty it is to set open those lairs of a morning ; bnt as our aim is not to harrow up tho feelings of our rciders, bat to incite them to make some combined effort for.t he relief of the wretched taffcrori, we need only remind them of the Black Hols of Cal> cutta, which these crowded dens are said much too closely to resemble.

I "In itl Tory best condition it wit but « con. fintil and ill.contrived wooden structure. In itl present it if a rotten and rulnon« hovel, overran with roti, nod only lit to be utsd ai a plnce of torture We repeat wo have received ommunications describing the stato of tlio Auckland Goal ai Absolutely revolting to hum unity. We hare hoard that the Governor bis been compelled again and again to draw attention to tho glaring defecti of the gnol under hit control ; but as its abomination* are still unrcmedied, and at human (uttering still goes on, we trust our humane and benevolent Chief Justice will perceive the propriety of some effort on his part to relieve the ' unfortunate confines from punishment not contemplated by law." I From the itmi paper, of the lSth ult., vre extract the following i — | " Since the rcoent arrival of the Broinen ship ' Kepublik' In hnrbuur, an affair of the greatoit coniequenco to the interests of foreign lhipping has orlien. As far at we can learn, the ship's com* pany yesterday exhibited an unequivocal spirit of insubordination, peremptorily refuting to obey their officers, or to do their duty v seamen. To I such in extent was the spirit of Mutiny carried, and so entirely was the attention of the Csptain and Agenti engrossed in claiming the protection of I the Authorities) that no time coulJ be snatched I for the customary form of entering the ship. There is no maratime oidinanco for the pro'eotion of j ships, ship matters, and merchants visltlng/fhii port. In tuch cases, however intelligent our Itssident Magistrate, however anxious to perform tha onerous duty confided to him faithfully and conscientiously, he is altogether powerless. Foreign ships, to be induced to visit our ports, must expetience every possible degree of protection. They are the custodians of vast amounts of mercantilo property, and if the in'eretts of the owner* be not carefully protected, they must In future touch at other havens where tluy will,"