AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 316, 21 August 1858, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND.

[From the Register, August 9.] Although the Caroline E. Foote has brought Sydney dates to the 27th ult., the English Mail for May had not arrived. The latest news fiom England was to the 24th of April, leceived by the clipper ship Lincolnshiio, a new individual of Messrs Money, 'Wigram & Co.'s maritime celebrities, and which like her sister ships had made a splendid passage to Melbourne of 7 1 days from the Downs. The intelligence so received is the same as that which had previously reached us by the White Swan via Nelson. The new-born movement of the Melbourne merchants in reference to the New Zealand trade has not escaped the vigilance of our Sydney friends. Touching that interesting question, the Herald of the 9th ult. writes'thus : — " The affairs of New Zealand demand special attention in New South Wales, to which it is closely allied in tiade. Though politically independent, it has always to some extent been commercially tributary to this colony, and an intercourse profitable to both sides is continually cairied on. Much ol the wool and other produce of New Zealand comes to Sydney for sale or shipment, and in return a large quantity of imported goods is supplied to the various settlements fiom the entrepot of Port Jackson. This fact lias occasionally given rise to a little jealousy in Melbourne, some of whoso merchants are ambitious of centralising in that city the whole commerce of Australia ; and efforts have been made to divert a part, if not the whole of the New Zealand trade towards Hobson's Bay. But the greater facilities that Port Jackson offeis for shipping as well as its gieatei pioximity to the metiopolis and most productive districts of New Zealand will always secure for it the lion's share of the trade." From the Herald of the 20th, we extract the following pertinent lemarks on the imperfections of the existing means of Steam Postal Communication. The sooner the present contract is smashed, and a new one substituted, the better will it be for eveiy colony of the Australasian group. Speculation as to the arnval of the May mail per steamship Victoria has ceased. Fiom some circumstances lespecting the slow speed of this vessel, and the fact of her having touched the ground on leaving Point de Galle on her way to Suez, it appeals highly probable that the next steamer, the European, will bring down the May and June mails. These irregularities, and the annoyances they caus>e to all class.es of colonists, have originated the idea, that the Australian colonies should undcitake then own postal service. The matter could not be in a worse position than itis in at this moment. The original company, the European and Australasian, have made a bungle horn the beginning. The loyal Mail Company's directory, without the assent of its shareholders, agreed 'to come foiward and assist the former with its powerful steam fleet. But this movement has caused a fall of 20 per cent in the piice of shares in the latter institution, and at the half yearly meeting of its proprietors early in May, it was thought more than probable that the act of the directors would be absolutely negatived by the shareholder. Should this take place, the postal service may be suddenly checked. The prescribed notice may be given to the Home Government, and the stipulated fine be paid. The whole question then comes back upon the colonies, and cither our own steamers must do the por-j tion to Galle and back, or the Panama line must be adopted with the Royal Mail Company. A fearful murder was committed on board the American ship Oliver Jordan, lying offMacNamaia's Wharf, on the 23rd ult. The victim was William Alden, the chief mate of the ship, who was stabbed in the neck— the blow dividing the jugular vein —

by one of the seamen, who was immediately apprehended and admitted being the guilty man. A rich gold field is said to be discovered on the Fitzroy River, Port Curtis. The Escaped Prisoner i-rom Wellington. — The man Wood, who escaped from the Gaol at Wellington, has been seen in this district, and is now said to be on hit. way to the Wairoa. — Hawlce's Bay Herald. Towton.— This horse was intendedfor Wellington ; but owing to the Regulations of the Passenger Act, the Swordfish, for this port, was the only vessel on the berth for New Zealand in which a passage could be procured for him. We trust that the Auckland breedeis will not allow him to proceed to his original destination. Towton, in England, was the property of the Hon. S. Hawke. He was first favourite in his year for the Derby, but from an accident in work was thrown out of training, and never again put into it. His pedigree is as follows : — TowroN, a good bay, black legs, 8 years old, stands 15 hands 1\ inches high, was got by Melbourne, out of Cinizella, by Touchstone ; grandam Brocade, by Pantaloon \ — Bambozine.