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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 75, 31 March 1902, Page 4

. The Governor and Countess of Ranfurly are expected to arrive in Auckland shortly and will give a bail at Government House on April .15.

This is the anniversary of the historic day on which the last battle of the YVaikato War commenced at Orakau. in 186-1. The British forces were under the command of- Briga-

dier-General Carey, of the 18 tl

Royal Irish, and subsequently General ■'Cameron took control. It was at Orakau that the now famous res-

ponse of Iho .»faior-i chief was given when summoned to surrender. The position having- been supped, General Cameron .called upon the Maoris to surrender, but they declined. He then asked them to at least send out the women and children, and the reply, was that they would all die together first, and then the cry,' "Ake! ake! ake!" was heard. Captain Iting and Major Hereford were loth fatally wounded at the engagement which followed. Most of the Maoris got away by rushing an angle from which the 40th had been temporarily withdrawn. Some 70 to 80 natives were, however, killed in the swamp. Some of the men engaged in this battle are still resident in Auckland, and although they subsequently served under General Sir Trevor Chute, at Wanganui, nstlf' 1866, they still wait for their land grants. -A The Hon- James Carroll, Vative Minister, intends coming up to Auckland shortly on business connected with the new native land legislation, He proposes visiting the Bay of Islands, the Waikato, and King Country' districts, and Rotorua, in order to give the new Native Land Administration Act a goiod start in those localities. There, are Maori Councils to each of these districts — the Tokerau (North of Auckland), Waia katb, Ngatimaniapoto, and WaiArilci (Thermal Springs). It is ercpected that considerable areas of land in the. North and in the Maniapoto territory will be handed over to the Native Councils, and thrown open for settlement on lease nnder the new Act. On the East Coast there is considerable difference of opinion amongst European residents and settlers as to the merits of the new legislation, but Mr Carroil is very sanguine tot its ultimate success He has already made excellent progress in inducing the natives .n the Wanganui,/ and adjacent districts, and more lately the East Cape people, to hand over their lands to the -Council for administration, and as the result it is expected that there-will L- before long very close oh a million acres of good to fair pastoral country owned by the natives in this island opened for European settlement.

Although the Premier was not successful .in reaching Waiomatatini, near the East Cape, where a big Maori reception and farewell were to have been accorded him by the tribes of the East Coast, he is not to be allowed to leave New"Zealand for England without- a Maori send-off. The Ngatiporou: and other tribes .assembled at Waiomatatini had rehearsed some splendid hakas and welcomesongs and dances in honour of Mr. Seddon, but owing to the non-arrival of the Premier and the breaking-up of the meeting last Tuesday they were not able, to do honour on their ancestral lands to the Premier of the colony. However, it is now intended that Mr., Seddon shall be invited to a large native gathering at Papawai, in the Wairarapa district, shortty before he leaves for England, when a typical Maori farewell will be accorded him. The natives who~vttll be gathered there will be chiefly members of the Ngatikahurigunu, Muaupoko, IS'gatiraukawn. and allied tribes, and it is expected that numbers of East Coast and Wanganui natives will also be present. The Hon. J. Carroll will attend Ib* meeting with thp Vreznior.

It is expected that the Pacific cable line from Doubtless Bay to Queensland; via Norfolk Island, will be opened for business in about a month's time.

The Huddart Parker steamer Zealandia, sailing for Sydney this evening, talces, in addition to a large number of passengers from the South, 145 passengers in - both classes from this port to Sydney. Her cargo list includes 12 bars of bullion valued at £9000, shipped by the National Bailk of New Zealand to the Orient Pacific Company; one box, of gold coin, valued at £235; 461 sacks maize, 191 boxes of butter, and a large quantity of general unspecified merchandise.

To the Editor.—Sir,—With reference to your paragraph in the "Star" of 27th inst. about the incident in. the Albert Park where a Japanese gentleman was mobbed, I beg to say that I am quite sure that the so-called "mob" never intended to injure me. If they had they could easily have done so, and I have come to this conclusion from the fact that when \ I waded up through some 200 or more of them at the Central Police Station I got three cheers. I therefore think it is only right to say that the youth of Auckland thoroughly appreciated my joke. The Japanese gentleman's cloak they got is only a kimifio, or Japanese gent's bathing dress worth 2/o.—l am, etc., R. Motherell.

On Saturday the Trades and Labour Council took the Southern delegates, who had arrived to attend the

conference, to the top of Mt. Eden and round the city in a brake. Yesterday the delegates who'arrived by the Ngapuhi.were met on arrival, and were shown round the principal fights of the city. To-day the Council chartered the steamer Rose Casey, and took the delegates on an excursion to Motutapu. Mr Tom Mann will arrive to-night, and the conference will be commenced in the City Council Chambers to-morrow.

The peripatetic American G. M. Schilling, who has been through New Zealand, arrived at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on 29th January. Schilling has now tramped across America, Australia, and India, and,' landing at Durban, walked westward in the Dark Continent till he struck Grahamstown, covering in all about 27,000 miles. He was at first allowed four years to finish his little "stroll," but owing to his, so to speak, having to walk through three wars, the time has been extended by two years. He has seen the American-Spanish war, the Chinese war. and now the Boer war. He has tramped along the railway line, slept in blockhouses, been fired on by sentries, had narrow esqapes from Boer patrols, and met with adventures imtokl.

A Northern correspondent, of the YYharigarei paper writes: "The trip lately taken by the Tokerau Native Land Council to explain to the natives "The Maori Land Administration* Act"' has been a great success, as the Maoris are almost iraatiimously in favour of this Act. The proof of this is that" they have handed over their" tribal or Papatupu lands to the Tokerau Native Land Council to administer on the East Coast, from Helena Bay to Russell, also the most part of the Kaikohe, Ohaeawai and Mangakabia, comprising some of the best volcanic and alluvial lands in the North Island, quite equal to g,ny of •the volcanic lands about Auckland; also a great 'part' of the coast lands between Russell and Whangaroa, and about twenty thousand acres of choice land at Aliipara (Mangon'ui County). Besides? this, the natives have applied for some -hundreds of papakainga land to be set aside for settlement for themselves and chil-, dren. When these lands are open for settlement a. great change will be ef- ! fected which will help the despised North. '

The steamers Drayton Grange and Norfolk, which are to convey the Tenth Contingent from New Zealand (the -former taking her departure from Wellington with the North Island section, and the latter from Lyttelton with the South Island section), are new and splendidly equipped, the Drayton Grange particularly so. She is capable of steaming thirteen knots an hour, and is 450 ft long, with a net, tonnage of 4246 tons. The Norfolk wai built, in-190.0 at Sunderland. She is a four-masted steamer of 340;) net tannage, 420 ft 7in long, and 54ft lin broad. —

In replying at Gisborne on Thursday night to the citizens' address presented to him Mr Seddon said: — "There is only one discordant note in the whole address, but to me it sounds very harsh." The committee here looked in blank astonishment at one another, wondering afjter the care they had taken and everything having gone" so well up to that moment what dreadful blunder had been made. "I refer," said the Premier, "to '• the name of Poverty Bay! I detest that name—(Applause)—and do not see why the place should be branded with such an odio\is name through a little disappointment of Captain Cook a hundred years ago. 7.t -was a libel on the place and they should try to remove it. Indeed,*' said Mr Seddon,

"I would almost carry through an Act of Parliament to blot out that name— stamp it out of existence, so'much do I abhor it. Strike it out," he again vociferated, "strike it out of my address, at anyrate." Again, when Mr Seddon was leaving Gisborne by the Tutanekai on Friday night, on someone suggesting he should pay a future visit to the town, he said: ""I hope if I do it will be no longer Poverty Bay. Fancy eating nmtton coming from a place called "Poverty!"

A thunderstorm the other night (says the Tauranga "Times") was very severely felt on the Matakana gumn'elds. One of the campS1 * was visited by that hard-to-define phenomenon described as. a thunderbolt. A number of men Avere standing- in one of the stores at the time when the place seemed to be filled with flame, and a terrific report followed, the air being filled with ruby coloured sparks. The men were thrown about, some falling against each other, but no one appears to have been hurt, al-thoug-h considerably shaken by their narrow escape-

There are at the present time about 150 Maoris and some $0 white men digging gum at Matakana, near Tau-rang-a, the" former, apparently as a rule having the better fortune. The gum is-of the finest quality (says the "Bay of Plenty Times") and is at present commanding' the top price in the Auckland market, the value rangine as h-.ip-h a« £12P 3 ton. •

The colonial mails which left Auckland per the s.s. Ventura for San Francisco on February 22 were delivered in London on March 27.

The Norfolk Island correspondent of the • "Sydney Morning HeraJd" wrote under date March 15: "The contract mail steamer Titus, Captain Bibbing, arrived from Sydney early on the morning- of the 7th instant, bringing the island mails, the chief and three officials of the cable staff, the overseer, carpenter, and upwards of 400 tons of cargo for the island. The steamer went to the Cascade, which was the best landing place, and immediately bega"n >to unload. The work of discharging such a large quantiy of goods, with small boats, was a task of no .small difficulty, but the islanders and Captain Bibbing worked very amicably together, and there was no unavoidable delay. The steamer will finish unloading Monday, 17th, and resume her voyage to the islands. "The islanders rintend presenting Captain' Bibbing with a testimonial thanking him for his efficient help. Work1' at the cable staton at Anson's Bay appears to be o-oing on briskly. The foundation piles for the cable buildings are planted, and are either ready or nearly so to receive the lower plates. Once a good start, is made there will be no defay, as all the timber is marked, mortised, and ready, and any amount of men available to put it together.'

The shooting- match between the Ponsonby -Naval Artillery and the Seddqn Horse Volunteers.on Good Friday (the scores of which were given in'our Saturday's issue) was fired at the Mounted Rifles' range, at Brown's Bay, beyond Lake Takapuna. The range is a very good one, situated onthe property" of Messrs Little and Hqitding. The bay possesses a lovely beach, some nice native bush, and is one of the few bays near Auckland which have not yet been cut up into building1 lots- It is only an hours steam from Auckland wharf, a.nd is destined in the near future to become a favourite holiday resort and campingout ground. . The visiting team, with a number of lady friends,- went out from town and proceeded via Revonport and Takapuna by brake, arriving at the .ground abotit 11 a.m. At the close of the match a start was made for home at 0.30 p.m., escorted by a number of the mounted men, arriving in town about 8.30 after a most enjoyable day's oaiting.

Canon MaeMurray has received a cable stating that the mission schooner Southern Cross arrived safely at Norfolk Island.

. The Hon. James MeQowan, Minister for Mines, received deputations in the Council Chambers at Coromandel on Saturday. The chairman and members of the County Council .waited upon him and brought under his notice several urgent reqiiirements of the county. Authority was given for the balance of unexpended grants, amounting to £3000. A deputation was alsit received from the Jubilee Gold Exhibition Committee to,ask for Government aid in carrying" out the exhibition. Mr MeGowan promised to place the matter before his colleagues, . and he himself would give five guineas, although he considered the project rather a big one for a small place like Caroiriandel. Another deputation complained of the great number of mining properties lying under protection. The Minister said that the English, capitalists having spent large sums on the mines had been compelled to.close down until more funds were raised. Meanwhile, it .was only right that such companies shotild be protected. If it was shown that any area of ground was being held for speculative purpose* he would do his utmost to have the ground thrown open. Mr McGowan proceeds to the Mercury Bay ana Gunrtown districts with the county chairman and engineer to inspect the site of the Waiwaiwa bridge.

Mr. P. 13. Severne reports oil the state of His Majesty's prison,. Auckland, for the week ending Saturday, 29th March, 3902, as follows: On remand,'") males, 1 female: awaiting trial. 6 males: penal servitude (life), 2 males: hard labour, 145 males, 17 females; imprisonment, 1 male; default of bail, 2 males; received during the week, 17 males, 2 females; discharged, 16 males, 2. females; tota^ in prison. 161 males, IS females.