Local Intelligence.

Our readers will be interested in seeing a diagram, explanatory of the geological structure of this province, prepared by Mr. Haast (the gentleman who has been engaged by the Government to "explore and survey the valleys of the West Coast), from the joint researches of Dr. Hochstetter and himself. In a short paragraph we can do no more than call attention to the evident industry and practical knowledge with which, this diagram has been prepared, and congratulate ourselves and the province generally on the circumstance, that the services of so able a labourer have been secured for the intended exploration. In a future number we will endeavour to explain the principal points intended to be illustrated by the diagram. It is now on view in the Literary Institution. Nelson Fibe Bbigadb. — On Wednesday some members of the fire brigade turned out for practice, and the newly turfed portion of the hill in Trafalgar square was watered from the ditch in Trafalgar-Btreet by means of the engine. But after some short practice, a portion of the engine got out of order, and ns the efforts of those present were unable to repair the defect, the engine had to be taken back to its depositary. This incident should show the necessity for more frequent practice if the brigade hope to be of any service when danger arrives. The Governor's Visit.— It is expected that his Excellency will reach Nelson on Tuesday next, and the foundation stone of the College will be laid on Thursday. The programme of the arrangements is something to the following effect :— The Governors of the College have invited a number of gentlemen, the heads of departments, representatives, &c, to meet Colonel Gore Browne in the school-room at eleven o'clock, where his Excellency, as Visitor of the College, will make himself acquainted with the present state of the institution ; and an address, thanking his Excellency for his visit, will be delivered by one of the scholars. The party, accompanied by such of the public as wish to join them, will then proceed to the site of the new College on the Waimea Road, when the ceremony of laying the foundation stone will take place. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Governor and party will partake of luncheon in the Masonic Hall. We notice that the day will be observed as a holiday in all the public offices, and no doubt this example will be generally followed, and that the ceremony will be performed iv the presence of a vast crowd of spectators. The New Pbovince.— We learn that a memorial from a number of the inhabitants of the province of Marlborough has been entrusted to one of the late representatives in the Provincial Council for presentation to his Excellency the Governor on his arrival here. The prayer of the memorial is, that the Governor will defer the issue of writs for the election of the Provincial Council of the new province, until after the next registration of voters has taken place ; and it is contended with some show of justice, that if the number of members is to be apportioned to each district according to the present electoral roll, it will be the means of bringing into force an unequal system of representation that must continue for the next four years ; whereas, if a sort of provisional governmental staff were appointed until after the next registration of voters, there would probably be less cause of complaii.t. The Wbatheb and the Chops. — The weather, as generally happens at this season of the year, is rather too dry to suit the wishes of the farmer, although up to within the last fortnight there has been a succession of heavy showers. The hay crop appears to be generally good ; nor do we remember, on the whole, to hare seen the corn look better. Where slovenly and bad husbandry prevails, the effect is readily seen, bat where proper culture has been bestowed upon the land, the crops promise to be abundant. The gardens likewise are looking well, and lead us to expect a plentiful fruit season. MOTUEKA. The attention of the Resident Magistrate at Nelson having recently been called to the frequency of intoxication among the natives at Motueka, the following notice was issued to put a stop, if possible, to the practice of supplying the natives with liquor :— - " NOTICE. "It having been represented to me that the Aboriginal natives at Motueka obtain spirits and beer from publicans and others at Motueka, by which they become intoxicated and riotous, I beg to call the attention of the person or persons who furnish such spirits and beer to the following clauses in the ' Sale of Spirits Ordinance,' Session vill., No. 3 :— " ' Ist. That it shall not be lawful for any person whomsoever either to sell or supply or to give any spirituous liquors, or mixed liquor, part whereof is spirituous, in any quantity whatever, to any person of the native race.

" ' 2nd. It shall not be lawful for any person whom* soever either to sell or supply or to give any wine or any fermented liquor or mixed liquor, part whereof is fermented, in any quantity respectively, which shall produce intoxication, to any person of the native race.

" c 3rd. If any person shall sell, supply, or give any such spirituous liquor, wine, or fermented liquor, contrary to the provisions of this ordinance, he shall forfeit and pay for every such offence any sum not exceeding ten pounds, to be recovered in a summary way over and above any penalty which may be incur* red for the sale of any such liquor without a license. " c John Poynteb, " 'Resident Magistrate. " Nelson, 4th November, 1859."

This notice appears to have caused a sensation among the natives ; and our Motueka correspondent has furnished us with the following account of a meeting held by the natives at Motueka on Tuesday last:—

A public meeting of the aboriginal natives of this district was held at the Motueka Hotel, on Tuesday evening, the 22nd instant, to take into consideration the late proclamation of the Resident Magistrate relative to the sale of spirituous liquors, &c., to the native race. The meeting was very numerously attended by almost the entire native population. The substance of the various speeches was to the following effect : — That they, the Maories, felt themselves hurt and aggrieved at such a notice ; they did not thus like to be singled out and treated like slaves. That they, the Motueka Maories, had for a long time lived in peace with the white man, had conformed to his laws, had learned his habits ; that they were under the same Queen, to whose government they were always ready to render implicit obedience ; and that they, as British subjects, felt themselves equally entitled to any and all of the white man's privileges. That they could not and would not, in the coming harvest, submit to the degradation to work side by side with their white brother, unless they were to be treated alike, without any invidious and insultiug distinction. That individual Maories did occasionally disgrace themselves by drunken and disorderly habits they were ready to admit ; but they thought it hard that they should all be made to Buffer for the faults of the few. But that they, as a body, were drunken, riotous, and disorderly, was a libel and a falsehood of the person who had given the information to the Resident Magistrate. They would not have complained, if the white man was at the same time included in the prohibition ; but if beer was necessary for the white man, it was as much so for them. In their former course of life beer was not necessary ; but it was now, as much for them as the white man, whose manners and habits they had adopted ; and they challenged any one to say that they were more drunken or disorderly than the white man. In conclusion, they begged to say, that one of their Maori friend* had been for six months and mow •mploTfd m «n Miirtant ia a bnircift mm » «wy

were not permitted to purchase, they could and would brew their own beer; they would put up a brewery for themselves. This last announcement elicited loud and continued cheering of the whole meeting, both native and European.

The natives have furnished us with their account of the meeting, of which the following is a translation :—: — "To John Povntee, Esq. "Listen to me. We are Pakehas now. You \ bionght us spirits, and of course we may drink them. ] If any. person gets intoxicated it's all right. We contend for drink when we go out to work. If there be no beer, the people will not go to work. If one man gets drunk, well. Because I get drunk, I pay for my error : therefore, do not condemn another man for my drunkenness.

" Listen, Oye men of Motueka ! all ye who are met here, both Pakeha and Maori. We dwelt in ignorance formerly ; we had neither shoes nor trowsers. The first law we received was the law of Religion; and we then concluded that all persons whom we should see would be missionaries. Afterwards came spirituous liquors (Waipiro). This we did not like ; it was very nauseous when we first tasted it, but the Pakehas said that it was very good ; and when we had tasted it the second time we said likewise, 'It is good. 1 Thenoeforth we looked upon all these things as good for food, viz., rum, beer, flour, pepper, salt, and every other nasty thing brought by the Pakeha.

" Now, listen ! This is what we all of this meeting say : — Let «* have beer. The beer we drink is not stolen by us. If we get drunk we go to the lock-up, and we are fined ; and if we do not pay the fine we are sent to prison. If we go to work for the Pakeha and there is beer given to the white men, are the Maoriea to drink water — that would be wrong. One of our people has been working at the brewery for six months, and if the Governor does not choose to allow the Maories to have beer, we will build a brewery and make our own. " One word snore— Beer was made to be drunk. " This ends the talk of this meeting. Written by order of the meeting at Motueka." [No Signature.]