WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Press, Volume XLII, Issue 6304, 2 December 1885, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

(Jftr Tblbqbaph.] j IrSOH OTTB OOBBBSrOWDBWT. | WELLINGTON, December 1. The Government attach great importance to a communication received from Wahanui, who has forwarded to the Native Minister a species of martial sceptre, called a "Taiaha," which is alleged to have been in the possession of the Maniapoto tribes for more than a century. Its presentation to the Government is considered to indicate the final removal of ••Autaki" from the Maniapoto and Waikato country, and to be a guarantee that no more bloodshed between the Europeans and those tribes. The wTaiaha," which is a sort of wooden epear, covered and ornamented with hair and kaka feathers, was sent by the Tuhua natives when the " Autaki " was first proclaimed, and it was meant as an instruction that they should wage war against any European *ho infringed "Autaki." It is atated that the "Taiaha" continued in the possession of the Tuhuas until the pardon of Moffatt's murderer wbb proclaimed, when it was sent back then to the ManiapotOß, with whom it has remained ever since. It was forwarded to Mr Ballanee through Mr Wilkinson, Government agent, and will be deposited in the Parliament buUdtogs as a pjublic record of the cessation of " Autaki. I telegraphed sometime ago that a large meeting of Natives was to he held at Napier towards the end of this month to discuss various • important matters. It is bow understood that the meeting will take place on the 21st inst. The Native Minister will be present. , . - - * _ The Premier is to be entetrained at a banquet at Masterton to-morrow, and wiU afterwards deliver a lecture there. Mmistersaie working hard for popularity in Wellington dtttrict just now, and their friends are active in their cause in view of a probable dissolution next year. ■ _ Although the property tax is coming in well under fear t,f the threatened 10 per cent, penalty on defaulters, there is much grumbling at its being levied on the present assessment, which is notoriously in excess of existing values in many cases. The Government say they act in accordance with law, and cannot hold the assessment earlier than next year, bnt it is.rejoined that as the Government last session intioduced and carried a Bill of 122 clauses amending the Property Assessment Act, they could easily have amended 15 aa to thai point also, and had anew valuation before another year's tax arrived. As it is, many will really pay from ljd to 21 m the £ on the real value of property.