IMPORTANT FROM AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 23 November 1867, Page 5

IMPORTANT FROM AUCKLAND.

PIIOBABLE OPENING- OF THE UPPJEJK, THAMES COUKTEY. The arrival of the s.s. Airedale puts us in possession of Auckland files to the 18th mat. THE THAMEB GOLDEIELD. Wo arc happy to say that there seems to be a reasonable prospect of the Upper Thames country being opened to the diggers. The Weekly Herald of Saturday last says :— " Mr George Graham, M.G.A., has, as is well known, long been negotiating with the King natives with the view of'iuducing them to give way to the Government in one matter or another. It would seem that in the matter of opening the Upper Thames country he is likely to be successful. About three weeks ago he wrote on the subject to Ngapora, the King's unole and to Eewi. He has received a reply through a third party, to the effect that at the present Matutaera, the King, was absent from Tohanga, but a direct answer would be given on the 10th of the month Tamati Ngapora stated that if the King and head chiefs consented to allow the Upper Thames to be opened, he, Ngapora, would go down to Auokland to make the necessary arrangements. On Thursday a telegram was* received in town from Mr Buckland, stating that Matutaera had consented to the opening up of the Upper Thames country." One of the fruits of the new order of things is, that an indirect offer haa been ma4e by Te Hira to arrange for the opening of the Upper Thaineß country.

The news fronj the diggings still continues to bo of a satisfactory character. The Karaka correspondent of the Herald, writing from Shortland on the 15th saya .- — " As the Tauranga goes this morning, and I did not succeed in getting away last night, I add a fevv lines. The 4lbs of stone from Mulligan's claim was tested by Mr Bishop, of Mackay street, and the stuff" was panned off by Mr John Clarkson, a brother of Mr George Clarkson, of Hunt, White, and Clarkson's party, of Kurunui. lam warranted in saying that the idea of sending a party to treat with the natives of the Upper Thames country has been abandoned, and that the subscriptions hare been returned. After mature deliberation, the movers themselves see that there is a more politic course than the one they were about to take. Mr Warden Bhillie is away North on duty, and Mr Mackay is, I understand, about to proceed to Bucklaud on account o( illness in his family. The general news of the field continues satisfactory, a number et new finds being reported. Messenger's reef is as being still better." The s.s. Midge and Tauranga arrived at Auckland on Saturday, with 300 ounces of gold, the produce of the Thames diggings. THE MA.OBI KING AND THE GOVERNOR. The Southern Cross has received news of tho manner in which Governor Grey's letters were received by the King and his more immediate following. The tenor of the news, though indicating a desire for peace on the part of the King and Rewi, would not seem to show any intention to surrender, at least unconditionally. VISIT OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. At the request of the Colonial Secretary, that the public of Auckland should meet to consider how arrangements can be best made for his Royal Highness's reception, the Superintendent has called a public meeting for Saturday, the 22nd inst., in the hall of the Mechanics' Institute. The Provincial Council meets on the following Thursday. A boat accident has occurred in the Manukau, by which the mate and the carpenter of the schooner Albatross have lost their lives.