REPORTS ABOUT THE NATIVES.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 687, 11 January 1865, Page 3

REPORTS ABOUT THE NATIVES.

The Auckland Herald saye :— DePAUTURE OF Ex-PRIBONER3 FBOtt MimTRANCH.—We oientioned in our summary article of >esterdny that large parties of the escaped Kawau prisoners passed through the Wade from Puhoi ett route for X lipara, stopping at Maurice Kelh's houw, and asking for refreshment, which we are informed was refused them. They were armed, and spoke civilly to those who accosted them. Yesterday, about eighty more passed through the Wade in the same direction, co that there can be none now left in the settled district. The report therefore contained in the New Zealander that his Excellency's viait to the Kawau had anything to do with these Natives, is untrue. They must have left Mahurangi before hie Excellency's return to Kawau. The whole party are to cross the Kaipara Heads, and proceed to the settlement of Onyarcha, where they will remain for the present until arrangements can be made for their location in Waikato. The conduct of these men is reported by those who saw them en route as civil and orderly. That they had nothing whatever to do with the outrage committed on Thursday week last, at Mr. Meiklejoliu's dwelling-house at Matakana, there can be little doubt. Tiiat was the act of Natives resident in the district, and was committed by part of the tribe to which the murderer of the Thompsons, Ruarangi, was related. The outrage, too, was com* uiitted on the anniversary of the day on whick Ruarangi was taken by the police at Kaipara. The object undoubtedly, say those who know these Natives best, and who are well acquainted with" Maori character, was not plunder, but it was hoped that one of their number might liave been killed or wounded. This view is strictly iv accordance with Native custom. Such a sacrifice is often courted with as much heroism as would have graced an ancient Roman, for the Maori believes that in entering on a war, the party who kills the first man loses. "We printed, a day or two ago, a statement from the Southern Cross as to this affair of Meiklejohn's, which asserted that the Government had paid the Natives to give up the plunder of Meiklejohn's house. These are instances of the manner in which these journals write, the one sole object being to keep up a feeling of irritation on the part of the Europeans against the Natives. The facts of the case were these, co far as we can ascertain them. Meiklejohn's sons or servants, we do not know which, appear to hare taken a part in burning an old pah —a matter, we believe, of no great consequence—but for which the Maoris took utu by the outrage on their house. Mr. Mantell did not go to the district on purpose, but being in the neighbourhood went to Meiklejohn's with Mr. Itogan, the liesident Magistrate, to enquire into the matter. He saw instantly that the case was one for the police, and directed informations to be laid before Mr. Rogan, in the usual manner. This Meiklejohn refused to do, saying he had rather not give up the names of the Natives. There was, therefore, nothing further to be done in'the matter. There is not a word of truth in the report that the Government paid for the goods being returned. But it is not at all unlikely that Mr. Meiklejohn, feeling that the Natives were not wholly in the wrong, and being a sensible man, may have made them some small acknowledgment, which was responded to by the Natives returning the goods. The Ltsteb T&oupe.—English .operas do not seem to be bo popular with the drew circle here as with the pit and boxes, for whilst the latter were well filled there was a very poor gathering in the boxes last night to. hear one of the prettiest of modern English operas. Never was there a tale which seems so suited for a good libretto. . The fanciful legend of the water spirit or sea nymph falling in love with the mortal, has been told from time immemorial, in a multitude of forms, from the simplest child!* fairytale to the exquisite and finished story of Undine In Wallace's opera, Lurline (Miss Escott), is a Spirit of the Rhine, who falls in love with Count Rudolph (Mr. Squires), a young gentleman, who having spent all hie fortune, tries to supplement it by marriage, with Ghiva (Mies Hodson), the daughter of the Baron Truenfels (Mr. F. Xyster). The lady and her father discovering his poverty, reject "him; but Lurline has placed the magic ring on his finger, so that when he plunges into the Rhine water he re-appears in the halls of the Water King at the bottom of the river. Attracted by the voice of his companions, whom he hears singing in a boat on the surface of the water, he longs to return to the air, and is allowed by Lurline to do co for three days, during which he is to preserve the ring as a lovetoken, and is to meet. her at the LurUebergr Rudolph takes with him abundant wealth from the treasures of the Water King Bhineberg (Mr Wbar« ton) Lurline's father, and reappears again in his own. castle. Ghiva hearing of his wealth, again courts him,, and suspecting that the ring is the pledge of a rival seizes it from his finger and throws it into the river. Of course it falls into Lurline's hands, who joins him on the earth, and after the necessary scenes of distraction at the loss of the ring, she restores it to him again, saves his life from his companions who would have killed and robbed him, and is united to her lover by her fatlier.. Such is the tale which offers every opportunity to the master and the scenio ' artist. Of the latter we may say that (he very plot is so suggestive of scenic effect that the reality falls short of the anticipation. The opera is not so well got up in this branch as many we have seen. The music is peculiar throughout.- The recitatives are mostly in- the artificial composition of the English school rather than in the natural outpouring, of the Italian recitative, reminding one of Oalcott, sometimes even of Handel, more seldom, in some richly-accompanied recitatives, of Mendelssohn— never of the Italian masters. The accompaniments are frequently full and display a good deal of melody. The airs in all the parts throughout are , quite common-place; the melodise are pleasing and popular, especially with those to. whom anything beyond melody of very simple construction 19 difficult and therefore anpleasing : but one two only of the airs in Lurline rise abovje this standard. " Sweet spirit hear my prayer " —for example, notwithstanding the ordeal of barrel-organism which it has had to go throngh, never faOs to delight aY audience, especially when it is song with the exquisite taste and feeling which was thrown- into it last night by Miss Escott. There is a griat deal for .the tenor to do, and plenty of opportunity for the, display, of the higher notes, of which Mr Squires, toot 4 full advantage, and which the audience were j hear, and well they might be; but the ples*fltr|roli|bljj&-~; ing toperfeefsingirtg cannot seduce us to 'tfifrirejßfcwv* ledgement that the opera contains i single t<jdsf'seng

of any high value. Truth to tell, they are utterly common-place. Nor are the baritone airs much better— "Afkther'aearly love" is perhaps a shade ■*o*» the rest; it was very well eung by Mr Wharton, but the consciousness that the melody was uninteresting beguiled the einger into a tour* deforce of -a rery applause-drawing but ill-timed and undsssical character. To our taste it makes the air no better and the singing not quite so good. If a composer will write trash it is always better to leave him to his fate. Ghiva's song "Troubadour enchanting" was very charmingly given by Miss HodVroi. w) !O gives a character to all her •ongsby a taste and style peculiarly her own, and exceedingly captivating. Mr. F. Lyster had little to do in the way of singing, but his acting of the Old Baroo was simply perfect. There are two pieces in the open which deserve special notice. One, a chorus in the second act* " Peace to the memory of the brave," song behind the scenes, reminding one of aome of the chorales in the St. PauL It is very good, and was admirably given by the chorus last night. Indeed several of the choruses were very well given though not at all easy. But the quartet in the third act, " Though all the world with transport bless mc," is a very beautiful composition, and waa most excellently sung, and most rapturously «nd deservedly encored; the only fault, if we mnst find one, was that the alto (Miss Ada King) did not ■ing out enough, and the part wss lost to the harmony. On the whole, LtrKne is a very pleasing opera, containing some exceedingly good music, and deserving of a much better bouse than we saw last night. Tmt Nxws from ths Noeth.—By the Lord Ashley we have our files from Auckland to the 3rd, and from Wellington to the 7th inst. The most important news is the issue of a proclamation by the Governor bringing the Native Lands Act, 1862, into force throughout the whole colony. The Auckland people are principally engaged with their race meeting which began on the 2nd, and was very successful. The Southern Cross rays that the settlement of the Waikato will not be much longer delayed, the terms on which the province will agree to undertake the work being almost arranged. Everything is said to br quiet in the neighborhood of Matakana. H.H.s.s. Falcon arifi Eclipse left the Manukau on the 2nd for Wanganui, with 50 men and two officers of the Boyal Artillery, 468 men and officers of the 18th Beghnent, and 83 men and two officers of the 50th Begunenfc. From Wanganui we learn that the Natives ap the river are quiet, and likely to remain so, bnt at Waitotara they are making preparations for resistance. The workmen on the Waitotara road have been armed and formed into a militia corps, and 650 men of the 50th Begiment, and 380 of the 57th, and 20 men of the Boyal Artillery, with" two sixpounder Armstrong guns, have marched for Waitotara under the command of Colonel Waddy, C.B. Thb Wist Coast.—An official letter from the West Coast, dated from the T-remakau December 21, contains the following information relative to the West Coast goldfields:—" In reference to mining attain there is nothing of importance to communicate. The rush to the Waimea has, like all those which have preceded it, been found not equal to its reported richness; those who have returned disappointed report that some eighty men are there congregated with very indifferent prospects, they admit that there are one or two parties who are likely to do well, but the rich claims are lew in number. In eonsequenoe of the number of stores now erected (seven), provisions are sold at very reasonable prices. lor some weeks past aome twenty men have been at work at the Paroa river (four miles from the Grey) ; the number has now increased to seventy ; the gold is of a very fine quality, and much resembles that found in the Molyneux. An ounce per man per week would be an average of the quantity of gold obtained in the Paroa; the same would be a £ur average of the quantity obtained throughout the West Coast, allowing the mining population to number some 680. The entire population would now number about 830." With reference to the steamer Nelson having crossed the Hokitiha he says :—" The event of the entrance of a steamer into the Hokitika will materially alter the prospects of diggers on theTotara. Claims which previously would only pay for AceierwOl now be taken up, and those claims which paid but very small wages will now pay welL The price of provisiene will not be modi greater than half the cost of the previous exorbitant prices, and this will encourage parties to thoroughly prospect the surrounding country. Already some 20 men have started South from theTotara, and more are likely to follow. The weather baa improTed much within the bat month ; the usual seven days' fill has dwindled into one day. The heat is very great, quite as hot as an Anatafian summer. New Poem, BxenxATiOKS.—The General Gvoermmtut Gtxette of December 31 contains a proclamation imposing postage on newspapers. After the Ist February next every newspaper published in the colony and posted in Sew' Zealand for any other part of the colony, and every newspaper posted in Hew Zealand for England, via Southampton, or by ship or for any place beyond seas, will be charged one penny, to be prepaid. By other prookmations the fee for registering letters is fixed at 6d, instead of the present rate, and the power of franking letters is limited. eimii GorranoKT Gazxtte.—A General Government Gazette was published on Saturday the 31st ult. It contains a proclamation bringing the Native Lands Act, 1663, into force within the whole of the colony, and a notice that by order in Council the rate of interest on money raised under the Ttew Zealand Loan Act is to be six per cent. The acceptance of the resignation of his seat in the Legislative Cornell by the hon. F. Whttaker, is notified, and also the resignation by T. B. Gfllies, Esq, of the caaee of Registrar General of Land; the hou. H. BeweHis appointed Begistarar General in the room of *• letter. Some resignations and appointments among the official, of the Supreme Court, and in the Aoddaztd UHitia, are gazetted. The Marine Board it authorised to impose light dues at the several ports of theeokmy. The Gazette also contains the quartatiy returns of tits Customs. Pbwibcui. GoramntST Gjtxnrs.—A JPrtmmcsaf ffesavaauaf Gazette was issued yesterday, containing the following notices j—A proclamation of the •week of mc Honor the Superintendent to the byesstws of tew Kstwpof ICameifMl GoaneS ; the fyityitwMat of & Davis* Esq., to be a member.ef|Aai PoawMS. Oosroassion ; a fist of footpatiDswxtihx&lSMr twVß~of Ghristaburoh prodanaed under the Foot-

r paths Ordinance; disallowance of two Ordinances, i and a list of others left to their operation (these are i copied from the General Government Gazette of • December 16, and bare already been published) ; J notices relative to the lights to be exhibited on various ' parts of the coast of New Zealand ; a notice of a sale ■ of town and rural lands in the Land Office, Timaru, > on February 23; a notice that the Supreme Court i will sit for the despatch of business on February 15 ; r a list of persons applying for relief under the Debtors' ', and Creditors' Act; a list of arrivals and departures i in the port of Lyttelton during the month of Novemr ber; and the returns of the Inpector of Sheep during I the same month. > Reception ov his Excbixxucy the Gotekxob. [ —The Committee and Municipal Council of Lyttelton l met on Monday evening and determined that the enl tertainment to the Governor should be given in Fairf hurst's Music Hall, in London-street, and appointed f the following gentlemen as sub-committees :—Decoration Committee—Messrs. Donald, Kissling, "Wilcox, t and Bayner. Committee for preparing the entertainI ment in the Town Hall, and arranging the boats— ; Messrs. Messiter, Rayner, Weastall and Jenkins. For ■ preparing an address to the Governor—Messrs. [ Donald, Ward, Wright, Ayneley, and Bayner. Invitation Committee—Messrs. Donald, Ward, Wright, : Hargreaves, Bitchie, and Aynsley.