AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1987, 24 November 1863, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(from our own correspondent.) November 13th, 1863. I have but little to say this time. There is no particular news from the South, North, East, or West ; not even a Maori slain, a soldier killed, ot a settler murdered. The only change I know of, is the weather ; which from being calm, close, and very warm, has become boisterous, wet and cold. Yesterday, it blew a perfect gale, with vain, and so cold, as to cause one to make a sbift from summer to winter clothing. To-day, the weather is not much better, and what adds to the discomfort, our Auckland principal street^, though fine wide streets, measuring 1 from 60 to 100 feet in width, are badly kept, some of them are metalled with fine hard scoria broken into small pieces, others, with volcanic cinders ; but none of tbem are kept rounded up, with a good rise in the centre, and uniform surface. They are allowed to wear into ruts, holes, and hollows; the former, in wet weather, becoming so many gutters, with streams ol water running down them, and the latter, so many pools of slush, in which tbe water stands ; fortunately most of our streets are up-hill and down-hill, and have a natural drainage, otherwise, they would be in a much worse plight ; no doubt, by-and-by the authorities will remedy this, but at present it tells against this city. Added to this, there (as in other parts of New Zealand) appears to be no rule for building uniformly in street architecture, as regards height and style, and no law' for removing delapidated wooden buildings, which are of all sizes and shapes, aud stand side by side with palatial brick and stone structures, (erections worthy of the old country) and give an appeavance of meanness and iplendour, of wealth and poverty, not justified by ihe wellknown opulence of Auckland. Of course, there are many excuses for this. Auckland is a young city, whose rise and progress has been wonderfully rapid, but still, such defects should begotrid of as quickly as possible. Our Parliament progresses at a slow rate ; it was, J believe, thought the business might be got rid of by the 24th inst, hut there is no chance of that being" accomplished. Fox's resolutions about a Lieutenant-Governor and three Ministers for the Middle Island, together with Mr Cargill's amendment on them, have last night fallen through for the present, the former being altogether abandoned by tbe Ministry, and tbe latter is to be renewed in another form at an early day. I hear the Seat of Government question is likely to assume a serious shape within the next seven days, and that an agreement has been arrived at, by the j great majority of the Wellington, Nelson, and [ Marlborough members, to sink their separate claims to the Seat of Government, and have the question of what part of Cook's Straits tbe seat of Government should be at, referred to an imparted tribuual of three commissioners; whether the House will agree to this or not remains to be seen. The eccentric, Mr Cracroft Wilson, has given notice for the 18th ingtant, "That the next session of tbe General Assembly be held at Chvistchurch." The other day he voted against Canterbury having an addition to the members of its representatives in the General Assembly. Today tbe Transport Corps passed through the streets en route for the Thaunes, there to form a new basis of operations, to stretch across the country, and be connected with our position in the Waikato. There is not the slightest chance of peace at present, the whole resources of the Colony in men and money will be put forth to quench the rebellion and establish British dominion throughout the North Island. Temporising is at an end ,• the strong arm must decide.