AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume V, Issue 424, 3 November 1849, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

(From the New Zea lander.)

Launch of thh Moa.—Preparations were made for launching this vessel at high water on Thursday morniug last. Notwithstanding that one or two disappointments had taken place, owing to lowiiess of the tides, and although the morning was not so very fine as it had been when the launch was to take place, on that day fortnight, yet a large concourse of the inhabitants had assembled by eight o'clock in the neighbourhood of Mechanic's Bay. The tide was at the highest about half-past eight, when every thing being in readiness, the beautiful brig was set at liberty, and as she glided gallantly off" the stocks, amid the cheers of the spectators, the ceremony of naming her was performed by Mr. John Robertson, brother-in-law to one. of her owners (Mr. Wright of Sydney.) Th 6 Moa is named after a very large bird, a native of New Zealand, now supposed to be extinct. She has been built by Mr. Henry Nicol, who also built the Maukin ; she is a most creditable specimen of naval architectural skill, and wherever she may go she will do honour to our port as well as to her builder.— Except her keel, she is built entirely of New Zealand timber. Her length, from the inner part of her main stem to the fore part of the stern post aloft, is 96 feet; her breadth,' at the broadest part inside in midships, 23 feet 5 inches ; her heigth, in hold, 13 feet 2 inches—and admeasuring 281 tons. Sho is carvel built, well coppered and copper-fastened, no expense having been spared in rendering her substantial Her figure- head is a carving of the bird after which she is named. She has a spacious and lofty caliin, elegantly fitted up, the panelling executed of ornamental wood. There are six comfortably capacious state rooms besides a large after-cabin. Her rigging is all prepared, as well as her sails, and it is thought that she will be ready for sea in about three weeks, when she will proceed to Sydney laden with copjier. —■ May great success attend the Moa. And may we have many vessels like her launched upon the waters of our bays, whose shores abound with unexcelled material to build them.— Oct. 6.

Friendly Islands.-—The following brief narrative of an occurrence at Tonga has reached us from a source on which we can rely, and may interest some of our readers. About two or three years ago, a Frenchman landed there, and notwithstanding the general reluctance to. admit foreigners amongst the population/ was not prevented by v King George from, residing in the island. It happened, however, that,—from what cause has never been satisfactorily ascertained—his house was burned down. The man then went to Tahiti and, after some time returned, making a demand for 600 dollars ascom; c isation for his loss. The captain of a French vessel of war which arrived had also been influenced by his representations, and strongly favoured his claims. Although King George and his people were by no means of opinion that he had any right to compensation, and although his character and conduct had not been such as to secure for him much personal esteem or regard,. the King and his Chiefs determined that, for the sake of peace and with a view of getting rid of one whose presence amongst them was the reverse of agreeable or beneficial, they would make up the amount and hand it over to him, which was done accordingly.... These are, we believe,'substantially the facts of a transaction which rumour might easily magnify into a new French aggression in tho Pacific. That the French may he for various ends, willing to make such afgressicns as they perpetrated in Tahi i, we have little doubt; but, so far as we can learn, there, was nothing in the.affair at Tonga beyond what -we have-now stated.— Oct. 27.

Water Mit.i.s , erected hy ..tub Natives.—During the few years which have elapsed since the first Water Mill" belonging to Natives was erected at Aotea, the Maories have manifested an anxiety to obtain these very useful machines, and a willingness to make efforts and. sacrifices in order to procure them/which afford . highly gratifying - evidence of the progress of industrial' civilization among them. It , will-be remembered that at the late sittings of Council the Governor presented a return, of six flour mills erected at a cost of" about £1160, within a circle of fifty miles round Otawhao. Another is now in course of erection in the ujiper district of the Waipa, oil'the Mongapa, V tributaryrof4hatriveV; The Ngatiraauiapo.to,^

tribe are collecting at Moahoanuu where they intend, tq reside for the future in a body. Itis 'an interesting fact that one of the first things to which they : are; directing their attention is the erection of a mill for the .purpose of grinding their wheat, which they are growing in large ■quantities, (a go id exchange for the rotten maize which they have been accustomed to eat!) They are raising the necessary fund by general contribution, each division of the tribe supplying its proportion. Last week, one of the chiefs left £7, the produce of his pigs sold here,'in the hands of a gentleman in this town, to be paid over to his friends who are shortly expected to purchase the stones. Mohoanui is a fine position for a native settlement; and though it is at 200 miles from Auckland, there is a water communication the whole distance, except the portage from Manakau into the Waikato. It is connected with the Wesleyan Mission Station at Waipa, and,will be under the religious care of the Missionary at that place.— Sept. 27.