THE PORT OF AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 610, 9 April 1864, Page 4

THE PORT OF AUCKLAND.

'"It is astonishing to notice the daily ''increasing i mportance of the port of Auckland. A year or "■two ago and two or three first-class merchant ships ' Jvingat anchor or unloading at the wharf, were all ' that we could boast of ; but now the forest of masts •and rigging which meets the eye in every' direction and the frequent arrivals of large steam vessels, give the port of Auckland a maritime importance which • none who have not visited it would give it credit for. 'At the present time there are the Lord Ashley and '*' Claud' Hamilton lying at the wharf j the Omeo and 'Sotichays in the stream, waiting foi berths; the "Woniora, on the eve of taking her departure for "Sydney; and the Corio which has just returned from Tauranga. We have not arrived at the limit yet ; and we hope, before long, to see Auckland ' -second to no port' in New Zealand. It is superior .' to any in regard to its natural advantages as a har- ' '" bout ; and, as respects its commercial importance, it ranks only second to Port Chalmers. Itis cer- j tainly a cause for congratulation thet such fine steamers as the Omeo and Souchays are laid on for j this port ; and we hop? to see many mote like them enter these waters. — Ibid, March 30. '• COLONEL NIXON. It 5s witß great pleasure we hear that Colonel ' Nixon has sufficiently" recovered to be removed to Auckland. The gallant officer arrived yesterday in an ambulance cart, accompanied by Lieut. St. "'" ' Hill, and was taken to his own house, where^ he will be attended we believe, by his private physican : ' Dr. Goldsboro.' • Colonel Nixon lias, we believe suf- • fered much since the unfortunate injury he received 11 in the engagement with the rebels, but he has a soU *-d ier'B consolalion7 J -th'at of knowing tnat he : hasdone "the state some service. — Ibid, April 1. Capital Punishment. — Tlnee men now stand condemned to snffer the dreadful penalty of the law , on charges of wilful murder. The first, Ruarangi, for the murder of Mrs. Thompson and her daughter ; ,■ Okeroa Iwitaia, for the murder of Mr. Jas, Droom. ■r gould, at the Mauku. A full report of the latter cage,- which was tried on Wednesday, will be found in another column) from which it will be seen that - the wretched culprit was- fully aware of the dreadful nature of the sentence passed upon him, and dig. . played great coolness during the delivery, protesting > liis innocence at the close;- ' Psychologically, the , unhappy man is of a low, vulgar aspect, find exhi- ■ bits much of the bull-dog in his appearance. Of t his guilt there can be no question — " out of his own • mouth isheeondemned." If tbe evidence had not been sufficiently strong in the case to condemn him,, would still have been liable to be convicted on the charge of murdering some one unknown. The three culprits only await the fixing of the day by his Excellency, when they will be executed privately in the Stockade at Mount Eden. — New Zealander, April I. ! Public BuiLDiNos.—Thelong talked of public i buildings may be set down as certain of erection at r no very distant date, " designs for public buildings a for the^Government of New Zealand" being asked for in our advertising columns of this day. Archi- . tects in this and adjacent colonies are invited to sub. .• mit to the Commissioners designs and estimates for ' the election of the following pubic buildings in Auckland ; A Government House in the Domain ; a Supreme Court House and offices ; and a PostOffice and Custom House (combined) fronting the harbour. A premium of £200 for the best design, \ and £100 for the second best.— New 'Zealander, April 1.