HAWKE'S BAY.

Press, Volume V, Issue 558, 13 August 1864, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY.

The Hawke'a Buy Herald of the 6th, which is the latest to hand, in its summary for the past mouth, save : — We are able to write favourably of the prospects of this province. Some time since a good deal of apprehension existed of a raid on the part of the rebel Natives congregated in the neighbourhood of Taupo —causing his Honor the Superintendent, whose great experience in native alfairs is a cuarantee against his having been misledjby unfounded rumour, to apply to the General Government for a larger military force to be stationed in Nap'or. Accordmgly, the head quarters of the 14th were sent to this province—lho additional companies being composed of men who had taken part in the successful charge at Koheroa, and subsequently seen service at the Waikato. Other precautionary measures were taken, in the concentration of the Defence Force towards the northern portion of the province, the call in? out of tha militia and volunteers for an additional source of training, and the enlistment of a company of military settlers. Fortunately, however—not unDnoroinflfi tn nnntinnfi in n siniv pr peace aaa w»arit». ;2Sh 12 WM 111 B Mm 81 fcaco am. ... r His Ilonor -J Jonnston, upon tlie orcasiori of opening the circuit of the Supreme Court, ill Xapifll , , Oil flip Ist inst.. remarked, in his charge to the Grand Jury, upon tlie si.-ns of progress lie saw aroUrtU IUfU. Wo hare not a full report of lm Honor's aMre», bat I he spoke to the following effect : —' : Sitting here for tho seranth time, he was glad at seeing the realisation ofmanv of the hope 3 he expressed upon the occasion ofhis first vieit—huppy at the absence and removal of evile which then existed. He saw many signs of social progress—progress of the safest an:l most satßfactorv character ; in these i-espocts differing from the progress in one province, where it was attended by the "evils of war, and, in others, where it was attended by the allurement, excitement, and anxiety of the search for sudden richness. He could not help seeing I an increased respect for general social principles—a

decidedly improved tone in the condition of society." TTis Honor also alluded to the increase of population : and in thie reapert th? province has some cause for gratulation. Tin , passengers by the Rangoon, npwsrd* of a hundred in number, are generally of a superior class ; and, coming tie they do in most rose* to relative*, or under engagement to employer?, they may k> regarded as useful and permanent settlers. 4.n«?her s-'iip, the Strathalhn, was to follow in July for tli - p-ii t dir<vt, with probably an equal number —most of whom will come out under the system of guaranteed passages. The Provincial Council has been iv session since ' the 2Sth June —a period of nearly six weeks—and the work on hand is likely to occupy a week or two more. This session is, we believe, the longest iince tho firrmtion of the province, and a l-irge amount of, work hns been done. Select committees have been sitting upon a great variety of subjects in connection with the condition and prosperity of the province ; j one subject in particular has been gone earnestly into —that of a revision of the Wellington Acts in force prior to separation, and, indeed, still in force in this province. Bills have since been brought in, with the view of carrying out the recommendations of the committee. A. considerable number of measures have engaged the attention of the Council, not the least important of which is one to re-ap- l propriatc the loan of £60,000, agreed to in a former session. The alterations aro of minor! importance—the principal items remaining nearly the same. The appronriation now stands as follows : — £30,000 for the purchase of land from the. Natives ; 610,000 for immigration ; 1000 for a lighthouse for Napier port: £5000 for a bridge over tho Ngaruroro; £7000 for completing the main trunk line known as the Te Ante road ; and £7000 for harbor purpose! — the last item not to be expended until an opinion has been obtained from a competent authority in England. Among the bills passed, in addition to the Loan Appropriation Act, is a Highways Act, a Drainage Act, a Sheep and Scab Amendment Act, and a Police Act; while several others aro in different stages of progress. With reference to the item of £30,000, appropriated out of tho loan for tho purchase of Native lands, it was stated in the Council by Mr. Ormond, one of the members of the Executive, that Mr. McLean, in his capacity of Native Land Purchase Commissioner, was sanguine of being able shortly to purchase some good land from the Native owners. Should this hope bo realised, the land will bo set aside for agricultural purposes, so as to make the province more attrictive as a field for immigration. We trust that Mr. McLean will be successful in his efforts in this direction ; although in the present state of the Native mind, it is almost too much to expect.