CRUISE OF THE SCREW STEAMER AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1908, 15 August 1863, Page 3

CRUISE OF THE SCREW STEAMER AUCKLAND.

We, New Zealander hare been furnished with the following items of the cruise of the s s. Auckland, chartered by Government for a tour of harbor service : —

Having embarked the Naval Volunteers, in command of Captains Daldy and Copelaud, Lieut. Guilding, and Sub-Lieut, Stepbenson, the steamer cast off from the Queen-street Wharf, at 10 p.m. on the sth inst ; great coats and blankets served out, and watches set, with orders to hail boats. At 12.45 p.m., over-haul-ing a craft which refused to heave to, sent a couple of shots across her fore-foot, which induced her to comply. She proved to bs toe

Alice, from Coromandel, bound for Auckland. Reported that some of the Coromandel settlers had been warned off by Taraia, who was about to hold a meeting there the following day. At 140 a.m. on the 6th, came to anchor off the entrance of tbe Wairoa, mustering in the morning for inspection, and firing twelve rounds of ball cartridge in quick and slow time. As day broke the gunboat Caroline, Captain Marks, was descried dodging off and on. Sent a boat on board her, in command of Captain Copeland of Naval Volunteer Company No. 2, with orders for the Caroline to come alongside. Capt. Marks having boarded the Auckland — required the services of a surgeon, one of his men having fallen down the hold — shortly after the Caroline e&iled for Auckland. '

Three boats were ordered to cruisse in differeat directions: —

No 1 Boat iv charge of Sub-Lieutenant Stephenson and Mr Burgess, pilot, took a course in the direction of the Thames. They were absent until 5 p.m.. when they returned, reported that they had landed, scoured the shore, but had seen nothing whatever. Boat No 2, commanded by Lieutenant Guilding, proceeded in the direction of Waiheki, where the party landed ; saw but one native woman : very few natives are reported to be at Waiheki, they having taken their departure for Taupo on the other side of the Wairoa. Boat No 3, in command of Capt, Copeland, went to the Wairoa. The settlers ieported that two canoes full of natives had been seen in one of the bays in the course of the night, but, perceiving the steamer at anchor at day. break, they had immediately moved off, but in what direction could not be ascertained.

Friday, August 7. — At 3 a.m. Mr Burgess and the sentries on the bridge perceived a schooner on the port bow. Reported to Captain Daldy. Hands piped to quarte.cs, aud a boat in command of Captain Daldy, started in search of the stranger, who was bugging the shore. After a fruitless search the boat returned withont having seen any vessel. Every precaution was taken to protect the boat ; the other boats were manned, signal rockets ready to be fired, &c.

The cruise of the Auckland has so far been a blank ; nor can it be a matter of surprise that it should be so. If blows are to be struck, if objects are to be obtained, the design must be secret, the execution swift. It was buzzed throughout the town on Wednesday that the Auckland was to be employed, and that the Sandfly was fitting out. The Naval Volunteers were warned aud paraded in the Albert Barrack Squaie. What, therefore but a grand coup could be afoot — and with Maori spectators and spies, wondering and w*4ching our earnest preparations, was it likely that their friends would be suffered to remain in ignorance that something was brewing? Wairoa is quite as accessible by land as by sea, and until the "War Office" can keep their councils dark, they cannot hope to effect any satisfactory surprise. The Auckland brought up off Point Brito. mart at 10 a.m. ; and Captain Daldy having landed and received fresh instructions, took her departure for a further cruise, the Militia detailed for service on board the Sandfly being transferred to her.

The Sand fly remains, for the present, at anchor off the Wynyard Pier, where her repairs will no doubt be made complete. She bus been put in good defensive and offensive condition: mounting a brass 12-pounder forward, and a brass howitzer aft. Barricades to prevent her being carried by boarding, and bulletproof shields have been set up around her gangways — every service that could transform a small commercial coaster, to an extempore cruiser having been pressed into requisition. Were the Rangitira, expected from the Clyde, and now due, to airive, the services of a craft of her exaelleut performance would no doubt be he gladly purchased at a juncture like the present. — New Zealander, August 8. \