THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1864, 22 September 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1874.

Am of us are deeply interested in the opening of the upper country, and look to it as the only means of fixing this place on a stable foundation, and rendering it, to a certain extent, independent of mining fluctuations, and therefore our readers will ba sorry to hear that the Piako Biver, whioh gives acoess to a wide extent of country, and on the upper waters of which a great deal of land has lately been taken up for settlement, has been closed by the natire3. Last evening •we received the following letter on the subject .— Hotereni, Hepetema 21,1871 Ki a te Kai ta Niupepa, E hoa, tena'Ttoe, he kupu ta matou ki a koe, kua puru te ara o te tima e rere ana ki Piako; te take i putu ai, he he no nga Pakeha a noho ana ki nga takiwa o Piako, Ko te he tenei, ki a rongo mai koe, ko te pakeke o aratou tikanga mo taua tima ra ki a matou ki nga Maori. Kanui ta matou aroha ki a ratou ki nga Pakeha kaore i puare tenei awa a Piako i mua ai; no tenei tau ano i puare ai; he aroha no matou, ki nga Pakeha na reira i puare ai. Ko tenei kua puru rawa; ko te rerenga whakamutanga tenei o taua tima i tenei awa i Piako. Mau e whakamarama atu ki nga Pakeha. Heoi ano. Na Tarapipipi, Na Te Whituiti, Na Hone Rangaunu Na Pineha te Wharekohai. [Translation.] Shortland, September 21,1874. To the Editor of the Newspaper. 0 friend, salutations; this is a word from us to you. The way of the steamer whioh sails to Piako has been closed. The reason it has befn closed is because of a wrong of ihe Europeans who live in tliose districts of Piako. This is the wrong-listen: The hardness (or niggardliness) of their regulations for that steamer to us, to the Maoris. Great is our love to them, to the Europeans. This river of Piako was not opened formerly. From this year it has been open, as a matter of grace from us to the Euro, peans. That is the reason of its being open. Now it is completely shut, This is the last sailing of that steamer in this river of Piako. It is for you to show this forth to the Europeans.—That is all. From Tarapipipi, from Whetuiti, from Hone JRangaunu, from Pineha te Wharekohai. The Maoris never will got the notion out of their heads that we are an insignificant people, living here on sufferance, and doing everything by their grace and favour, and wo havo no doubt but the

four gentlemen signing the above letter, think they hare only to say the word, and the river Piako, one of the principal river highways in the province and the colony, will be shut up to Euro- j peans, and all those who have got farms there will simply be forced to abandon them. Why these natives have chosen to take offence at the steamer they do not make very clear, notwithstanding all their emphasis. Probably the owner of the 'Buona Ventura' declined to carry them and their goods free of charge. We would advise Mr Burningham to take no notice, but to go up the river whenever it suits him, and see if these natives will really dare to stop him. If they do, the Government will probably shrug its Bhoulders and $ay " Well, it cannot be helped; the river must remain closed, we suppose. In order to maintain our credit we must not have the semblance or the j rumour of any bother with the natives, and so the people of the Thames must be sacrificed." Truly, if the natives aot as they are doing, and if the Government continue the policy of the last few years, Tarapipipi and the others will soon not be troubled with many Europeans in this district.

From our English telegrams by the 'Hero,' it will be seen that Mr Disraeli has announced that Fiji will probably be annexed, The agitation by the principal native chiefs and the white residents of Fiji to come under English rule commenced about fourteen or fifteen years ago, and although the English Government has time after time declined the offers made, they have persistently been renewed. In 1858, Thacombau, the king, or principal chief of Fiji, made a proposition to cede the sovereignity of the group to England. Colonel Smythe, R.A., was sent out to inquire into the nature of the cession, reported that it was not available to accept the offer. Since that time the European population at Fiji has largely increased, cotton has become largely cultivated, and now sugar and other products are becoming exported. In consequence, the trade of Fiji has largely increased with the British colonies in the South Seas, lines of mail steamers cross the Pacific, and make a calling station at one of the Islands, and the whole aspect of the qu:stion has materially changed. Still, the English Government, from fear of being embroiled in land questions between the natives and colonists, declined to interfere, and has also rather discouraged the idea of any of these colonies taking charge of the islands. A Con • servative Government, however, is less imbued with the doctrines of the Manchester School of politicians, and is more inolined to extend the dominion of England. One of the first of Mr Disraeli's acts was to direct Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor of New South Wales, to proceed to Fiji to report upon whether Great Britain should assume the control of it, and the Premier has apparently almost made up his mind to add another to the many colonies of England. We will hope for the best for Fij i— that the natives and the colonists may get on peaceably together, and that Great Britain may never have to do there what she had to do in New Zealand. Fiji, according to the first Admiralty report, consists of some 200 islands, islets, and rocks, 1900 miles N.E. of Sydney, and 1200 north of Auckland; the two largest islands may he some 300 miles in circumference; 65 of the islands are.said to be inhabited,

We hear on good authority that Mr James Mackay is negotiating the purchase of a large block of land comprising 300,000 acres, and extending beyond the Aroha to the Waikato, These purchases are of great importance to the Thames, because Mr Vogel ha 3 promised to endow the local boards with a large share of the land revenue raised within their respective limits. A native meeting has been held at Kaimai to discuss the subject of the proposed road between Cambridge and Tauranga, and we are told that the decision was adverse. Kaimsi is a settlement about 17 or 18 miles beyond the township of Tauranga, and on the borders of the forest which stretches between the districts of Tauranga and Waikato. There the disaffected natives can gather from Tauranga and also from Patetere. We hope the Government will pay no attention to this resolution of a native meeting, but will persist in making the road, which is one of the most necessary in the North Island. At all events,' the opposition of the natives to this road ought to stimulate the Government to push on with the construction of a road from Hamilton to the point on the Thames where the navigation begins Important as the road from Tauranga to Cambridge is, this is of far greater consequence. Here the cattle and agricultural produce of the Waikato would find a.ready market,. while the cost of living would be reduced To this road, also, we believe there is no possibility of the natives putting a veto, as the land is all, or nearly all, in the hands of Europeans. Now that we have a prospect of having a visit from Sir Donald McLean, we shall take frequent occasion to press this matter on public attention.

A meeting of the committee appointed to take steps in reference to Maurice Power's case, was held at the Pacific Hotel last evening. There was a large attendance, and Mr W. Bowe occupied the chair, The minutes of last meeting were confirmed. Mr Mcllhone, on behalf of the sub-committee appointed to wait on the Superintendent, reported that they had put the case before his Honor, and the reply, although nothing definite, held out great hopes that something might be done. His Honor had then nothing to offer in his own department, but said if the circumstances were set forth in a petition and accompanied by a. certificate from the Resident Engineer, he would do his best to forward it. He read the following draft letter, which, on the proposition of the Bev. Father Lonergan, seconded by Mr Gillies, it was determined to forward to the Superintendent, accompanied by Mr Aitken's certificate, and signed by the members of the sub-committee :— "Grahamstown, 21st September, 1874. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland.—Sir,— We respectfully beg leave to bring under your notice the case of Maurice Power with regard to whom a deputation waited on your Honor when lately at the Thames. Maurice Power was employed in the works.in connection with the water supply which is being carried on by the General Government in this district, and while so employed he met with an accident by explosion, which resulted in the loss of his right arm, and consequently he is not now in a position to follow his previous occupation. We have the utmost confidence that your Honor will use your acknowledged influence on his behalf by procuring for him some situation to enable him to earn tho means of support. We have great pleasure in informing your Honor that during the long time which Power has been on this field he has borne an excellent character, which, together with his present position, has created for him a very wide spread feeling of sympathy."—The printed subscription lists were then distributed, and lists were ordered to be forwarded to Coromandel and Auckland. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

The fourth and last of the concerts in aid of the building fund of St. George's Church will be held in the Academy of Music on Friday evening. From the success which has attended the other concerts, we have no doubt there will bo a large attendance on this OQOuoiu

Mr Sheehan, and Mr Cadman, M.P.C. for Coromandel, arrived this morning per p,s. Hauraki.

A meeting of the committee for arranging the banquet to Mr John Sheehan was held at the Nil Desperandum Hotel last night, The members present reported on the number of tickets sold, from which it appeared that there was likely to be a large attendance. A list of toasts was arranged, and it was decided toprovide an efficient band for the evening's entertainment. Considerable fear was expressed during yesterday that Mr Sheehan would not be enabled to arrive at the Thamer in time for the banquet this evening, _in consequence of the ' Golden Crown' not making her usual trip from Auckland. Other preliminaries were arranged before the adjournment of the meeting.

Major Jackson, M.H.K., will address his constituents, at Ohaupo, on the Ist October. It is purposed after the meeting to give the member a complimentary dinner.

During last session, the Hon. Mr Water* house made several references to what be had seen and noticed ia his trip to the Thames, Even the grievance of the captain of the steamship 'Buona Ventura 1 was aired ia the Legislative Council, and we hope the effect will be to have it remedied. When Mr Waterhouse was speaking on the Regulation of Machinery Bill, he said:— "While travelling in a little steam launch from Ohinemuri to the Thames, the boatman spoke to him concerning the hardships to which he was exposed in consequence of the operation of the bills which had passed tho Legislature. ' Those bills were undoubtedly intended to apply primarily to ocean steamers, but they likewise -applied in full force to this small steam launch, only capable of carrying about one and a half tons of goods, The boatman said that he had formerly had a ferryboat on the river, but, for the convenience .of the public, and with a view to his own pecuniary advantage, he started the steam launch— a very enterprising act on his part, and a very useful one to the travelling public. Well, no sooner had he started the little launch than he found that it was necessary that the master should have a first-class certificate as a master of a vessel. He found likewise that this little launch was subject to no end of charges, • He told him (Mr Waterhouse) that the total expenses to which he was subject in connection with the launch amounted to something like £2i a year, and that was the difference between Ms venture being a paying one or not. •fhe result was he expressed his desire to get rid of the launch, and be free from all the charges and the trouble and annoyance to which he had been subjected by legislation. As in the case to which he had alluded there was in the mind of the Legislature no special reference to the minor steam vessels which would be influenced by the legislation, so in this measure they must not look entirely to the large machines, but they must look to the probable effect of the bill upon small machines which were in constant employment."

The Brisbane correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald, dating September 11th, writes:—"The colonial Uovernment steamer

1 Kate' returned yesterday, with the Marquis of Normanby and suite, after an absence of thirty days. The programme, which was very carefully arranged before starting, was carried out literally by the Governor, who is a capital man of business—the arrival at and departure from each port fitting the pre-arrangements to a hair's breadth. This is the last 'progress' whieh Lord Normanby will make before his departure for New Zealand, which is expected to take place in October; and I believe I am expressing the general feeling when I say that his departure from this colony will be universally regretted.'' The following is the cargo from Fiji by tb« 1 Star of the South':—s cases preserved milk, 2 qr,-tierces tobacco, i kegs tobacco, Owen and tfraham; 56 bags tobacco, B. Tonksand Co.; 17 bales cotton, 93 bags maize, 3 bags beans, Fiji Banking Company; 140 bags maize* 120 sheepskins, 18 casks bottles, 101 bags sugar,-1 bale wool, 82 bales cotton, 207 bags copra,'2Bs , bags maize, 6 bags-cocoanuts, order; and 5 • packages curios, for Dunedin. A correspondent of the New Zealand Herald telegraphs from Ngaruawahia that a car* penter, named Thomas Ibbetson, fell from the verandah of the Delta Hotel. His spine is supposed to be dislocated, and he is not likely to recover. Mr Holloway, the agent of the Agricultural Labourers' Union of England, proceeds North to-morrow by the s.s. 'Rowena.' He will visit the Bay of Islands, Mongoaui, Wangaroa, Okaihau, and Hokianga. Satisfactory arrangements have been made by the Provincial Government to ensure a thorough inspection of the Northern settlements by Mr Holloway, and experienced guides will attend him on his various journeys. On his return, Mr Holloway will visit the 'Waikato, Tauranga, and Lake country, and will then proceed overland to Napier. It is rumoured that the General Government have given Mr Holloway but a short time to remain in this pro-

vince, .We hope that this rumour is not correct. This province has suffered enough injustice oh the score sf immigration, without having any additional slights given to" it When Mr Holloway was allowed three weeks to visit the important province of Taranaki, surely six weeks or two months .even will not be too long a period to be devoted to in* specting the lands and settlements of this pro* vince. We hope,,however, that the "man in the street" is not right this- time, and that the Colonial Government will give every facility so as to enable Mr Holloway to make a thorough examination of the various districts of the province of Z. Herald.

Coromandel has been honoured daring the last few days with a visit from Air Barraud, an artist of considerable reputation, who is now engaged in making a number of sketches of New Zealand scenery. It is intended to have all these scenes chromo-lithographed and pab« Med in a handsome velume Mr Barraud has been very successful in spite of the unfavourable weather, in obtaining some very fine sketches from the Tokatea, of Coromandel, Kennedy Bay, and other localities, and just prior to his departure, he took a sketch, of the Beach battery and claims.— GoromaiM Mail,

We are glad to find that men are engaged in repairing the Wakoromiko track, and that there is a chance of its being made passable. Ho long, however, as the late unfavourable weather continues, it is almost useless to,do anything, unless it is metalled and drained. Wherever the water lodges there will be a sea of mud. The miners, however,-are grateful for small favonrs/and Mr. Gatlandis to-be commended for improving the miserable road over which the people have had to travei for some time

I The unfortunate Maori Hamip ra ngaßimu, who had his leg broken so badly on Wednesday, was on Thursday taken over to his home at Kennedy Bay by a number of his Maori friends. About fifty of them assembled at the Hospital, and the unfortunate man was placed on a litter carried by four stalwart bearers, who were relieved by others at iutervals, We understand it is the Maori custom to carry a wounded man home, but cannot help thinking he would stand a much better chance of recovery at: the Hospital than he will in his ownwhare at •Kennedy Bay.' The road over the', ranges is not an easy one under any circumstances, and certainly is a most difficult one over which to safely carry a man with a badly fractureddeg, —Goromandel News.

A few days ago(says the Oooktovm Herald) a miner from the Palmer called at our office and told us that a man named Join, Bchwood was found fay him "dyiag, on the left-haqd branch of the Palmer. Our informant; says that the man had been there for seven weeksalmost unable to mors, and that a man named Fitzgerald visited him, washed him, and made him as comfortable as he could, and then went away. When found by our informant Echwood was rapidly expiring, and'he with his mate waited until the man died.-, They- then buried him, leaving his revolver and'kit. at tlie'grave. It would seem that the poor'fellow wasa miner from New Zealand; as he'lad on'his persoA I three miner's rights issued at one of the jJtdv viaceathere, '■>~ ■■

■We are requested to state that the sidewheel steamer 'Hauraki' will not leave here till 1 o'clock this afternoon, instead of 9 a.m., as advertised elsewhere.

The 6.5.' Victoria' was to leave Sydney the day after the 'Hero,' She may be expected therefore about Wednesday.

It is stated that Mr Cashel Hoey, late of the Victorian Agency, has been appointed secretary to the New Zealgg Agency in Loudon. Mr J. C. Bichmond applicant for the office.

The investigation into the charges brought by the surgeon superintendent against the captain of the ship ' Oxford,' terminated on Friday last, and the evidence taken will be forwarded by the Commissioners to the General Government at Wellington.

"If the constitution is to be tampered with and tinkered," says the Post, " the colony has at least a right to expect that the best available skill shall be brought to bear on the task, that the work shall be performed by a master and not by apprentices. Mr Yogel is trifling with his position and endangering the interests of the colony by deserting his post at the present juncture. Had he intimated any such intention to Parliament the House would, we think, have paused before so readily assenting to the resolutions he urged upon its acceptauce, The possibility of a Ministry led by Mr Reynolds being entrusted with such a work was never contemplated, and would never for a moment have been entertained. Mr Vogel'a going away now is a breach of faith with Parliament and with the country. It gives countenance to the insinuation made by a Melbourne paper that he has played his last card in the colony and that feeling his position untenable he is preparing to abandon it."

The Otago Guardian says that in Queensland some newly-found silver mines are just now causing great excitement. The locale of the discovery i 3 at New Zealand Gully, Coorival diggings; 16 miles from Rockhampton. The metal, which is a chloride of silver, has long been regarded as a nuisance by the miners, who, ignorant of its-quality, dreaded its presence in the tin dish, and have been throwing it away in quantities for years past. The true character of the supposed refuse has been tested by competent assayers, who have reported that it contains 50 per cent, of silver, and as much as 10 per cent, of gold, and its value is estimated at £ 8,000 per ton. If the yield is permanent, it is anticipated that the celebrated Comstock lode, and the Nevado mines of America, will be eclipsed. The Messrs Manton, who were the first to develop the Peak Downs, have taken up a great portion of the ground in New Zealand Gully. Besides the silver, one party averaged 70oz of gold per day for a week lately.

Journalistic rivalries are sharp and decisive in Chicago. A young man acting as reporter of the Chicago Post called to'see Mr Storey of the Times, the other day, and asked him if he had shot Dr Johnson, as was rumoured. The old man pulled off his spectacles, squared round to the reporter and replied: "Young man, do you think I am fool enough to do it in time for the evening papers ?"

By some enquiries recently made by the War Office it transpires that no less than 400 old soldiers are still alive who served in the Peninsular war, or at Waterloo, though the last mentioned battle was fought fifty-nine years ago. As most of these veterans are in waut of pecuniary help, it is pleasant to think that under a recent warrant, they will receive pensions of half a guinea a week each.

The Auckland correspondent of the Tablet thus discourses of the political situation: — " No one can doubt the purity of Mr O'Rorke's motives in disconnecting himself from the Vogel Ministry. Like an honest man, he has sacrificed his personal interests to a sense of public duty. He has plainly lost confidence in the Vogel ministry—or at least totally dissents from the wisdom and justice of the course they are bent on pursuing towards Auckland; and he resigns his office, its honours, and emoluments accordingly. This is no more than might have beon expected from a gentleman of Mr O'Rorke's high character; and we may be well assured that in the end he will find that honesty is the best policy. The country will not forget him. He is yet young; and a long and honourable public career is unquestionably before him, if God spares him. What we want is not so much public men of showy and brilliant parts, daring and speculative, men of genius, like Vogel, but clear-headed and honest men like O'JJorke. Heaven-born statesmen of daring minds generally land their country in cruel difficulties at last. Mr "Vogel may be a public benefactor, but he his paving the way for heavy burdens to be borne one day by us and our posterity—for the benefit of the rich—to the oppression of the industrious orders _of society. The Irish may be proud of a man like O'Rorke. We have clever Irishmen in this Colony, more than one "connected with the public service, But some of them are men who stick to office under all circumstances, no matter what principles be in the ascendant. Mr O'Rorke ia of a different sort. A man who does not combine integrity and prudence with Ms ability, generally runs a short but brilliant career, like the meteor ia the heaveas. So it may prove with Vogel. The people in a Colony like this, with so.limited, and generally speaking, so poor and dependent an electorate, cannot well protect themselves against such clever schemers. We have got ' Home Rule' too soon in New Zealand,—before we are fit for it; while Ireland has been too long denied it; but she is now in a fairway to get that boon, in spite of her many and powerful enemies, The 'Irishpersuasion' in the House of Commons is no longer to be sneezed at, as Mr Disraeli has just found out to his disgust The samo 'persuasion' in this Colony could make ttieir power felt too, if they -would show a united front when any gross wrong is about to be afflicted on the people. The Irish party should recognise no distinction between North and South, but exert their power to_ insure justice to all, and especially to the middle or industrial class of the Colony. Speaking generally, the Press will 'follow the multitude, whether for good or evil, since it lives on , -popularity. If it have it not, it dies. I speak of the the Protestant Press. The Catholic Press stands on a higher eminence. Its principles are the principles of the Church, fiat justitw, It will defend the right, come what may. The Catholic party is the party of justice, as well as of 'progress,' all 6ver the world. The poor and defenceless, in an especial manner are the clients of the Catholic Press—be their creed what it may. When the principles of humanity or natural justice ate in question, the Catholic Pres3 recognises no distinction of religions creeds, or political party. 1