AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2158, 18 March 1870, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The electors of Mongonui have sent a requisition to His Honor the Superintendent, asking that gentleman to come forward as their representative in the General Assembly in the place of Mr Ball, who has resigned in consequence of his intended visit to England. Mr G-illies, we understand, has accepted the invitation of the electors, and after his visit to the Bay of Islands—for which place he left in the Comerang on Monday—will proceed direct to Mongonui. The nomination will take place on Wednesday, the 23rd instant, and the poll, if necessary, on the 30th instant. There is, bowever, not the slightest probability that any opposition will be offered to the election of Mr Grillies.

King Thakornbau of Fiji has sent by Mr Drew, in the Jennie Duucan, as a present to the Governor of New Zealand, two rolls of the native cloth made from the bark of the mulberry tree, known in the island as " tappa." They are of the choicest patterns and manufacture, and were prepared for two of the young chiefs to wear ou the expected visit of the Duke of Edinburgh last year. Some fine roots of the " piper methisticum," of which the " yagona," or native grog of Viti and " kava " of the other islauds are made, accompany the " tappa." A large turtle was also sent, but unfortunately died a few days before the arrival of the vessel here.