The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3353, 15 April 1868, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOZO, NON USO. If I h»T« baan axtlnguiihad, yat than rlia A. (houand buoona from thajipark I bora.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15.

The whole business of granting compensation to those individuals who suffered by the native rebellion in this province has been of an anomalous character. After the Taranaki war the injured residents of that district presented claims upon the G-overnment for indemnity for the losses they had sustained, amounting, if we remember rightly, to not much less than £200,000. These were duly inquired into, and the certificates granted to the claimants were, on presentation to the Sub-Treasurer, forthwith paid. After the Waikato disturbances, the settlers who, after the labour of years, had suffered the loss of all things, applied to the Government for compensation. Their claims amounted to £136,000 or thereabouts, and after a careful and impartial inquiry were reduced by Mr. Beckham, the Commissioner, to about £70,000, or nearly one-half. Had the various sums then awarded, or even one-half of them, been promptly paid, the settlers would have been enabled at once to resume operations on their farms : as it was, many or them were ruined, not by the war, but by the delay in rendering the assistance to which they were entitled by the award. After the lapse of about two years the management of the Waikato lands was handed over as an experiment to the then Superintendent of Auckland, with the settlers' claims entailed as a charge upon them. His Honor, after some deliberation, arranged for the payment in cash of onethird of the amounts awarded, the remaining two-thirds to be subjected to further investigation. A fresh inquiry was instituted. The ruined settlers of the Waikato had it demonstrated to them by his Honor's representative that compensation was not theirs by right, but by favour, and therefore they were bound to be thankful for the smallest mercies, and especially for the privilege of a second time being allowed to make good their claims. After a tedious and protracted inquiry, extending over several months, the amount originally awarded was reduced to some £44,000 or £45,000 ; and if Mr. Crispe and other of our correspondents are to be credited, the means made use of by the agent of the Superintendent, for accomplishing this, were, in some cases, of an oppressive and objectionable character. An implied threat was held out in the name of the G-overnment to a large portion of the settlers that, unless they would comply with a proposed reduction in their awards, they would be put to the expense of coming to Auckland to re-establish their claims ; and as the cost of doing this would have far exceeded the sums objected to, they unwillingly consented. That some instances of fraud were exposed, and that several claims of a very doubtful character were placed on a right footing, may be readily admitted, but we believe the universal impression amongst the unfortunate individuals upon whom the losses by the war had so heavily fallen, was that the amount, large as it was, saved by the second investigation, would by no means compensate for the delay, annoyance, and injustice that were thus occasioned. Again, the ownership of the Waikato lands changed hands, but it was not until the control was vested in the present Ministry that the settlers had the remaining two-thirds of the sums awarded o them paid in land scrip. It was true a large portion of this property was sold at a sacrifice of some 40 or 50 per cent., but that was no fault of the Government. The third investigation of claims for compensation terminated a few weeks since, and we believe that Mr. Commissioner Beckham, who has conducted these inquiries from the commencement, has sent in his report to the Government. If we are rightly informed there were about 20 settlers' and rather more than 100 native claims, the former amounting, we should suppose, to £10,000 ; the latter to more than double that amount. What the result of the awards made by the Commissioner on the present occasion will be, it is impossible to say. The seer who can predict the course of events in this direction must needs be highly gifted. On reviewing the reports which appeared in our columns, we find that the European claims are marked by the usual features of hardship and loss — the greatest sufferer on the list being the Eev. T. Grace, for losses at Matata and Taupo amounting to more than £2,000 — except it may be the cases of Messrs. McCaskill, of the Thames, whose claims had been heard and disposed of on a former occasion, but who were allowed the privilege of a re-hearing that was denied to other*. The case of Mrs. Charlton, who was driven away from her homestead at Kawhia by the Hauhaus during the past year, is also a painful one. It will be perceived from the published reports that many of the Maoris claiming compensation have been as great sufferers as the settlers, a remark that will especially refer to those who were driven from Kawhia at the same time as Mrs. Charlton. Amongst the loyal and deserving natives was Ahipene Kaihau, and others of the same hapu. The losses of Ahipene amounted to more than £2,000 ; this sum included the value of several canoes, placed at the disposal of Government, and the celebrated war canoe, ' Toke-a-Tapiri,' valued at £500 or £600. None of these natives were ever charged with disloyalty ; and the faith of the Government was pledged that their property should be respected or accounted for. Several other natives were Also employed by Government in transport service during the war, and lost their property whilst so engaged. The loyalty of the natives at Mr.Gorst's station is also beyond all doubt. It cannot either for a moment be questioned that a large number of the native population suffered as seriously as the Europeans by having their crops and cattle eaten or wantonly destroyed by the troops. In two instances heavy claims were preferred for blocks of " greenstone." Whilst there are many native claims of a bona fide nature, the i great majority of them were of a trumpery and ridiculous character. Indeed, one native very naively admitted that they would never have thought of compensation if the Govern-

meat had not put them up to it ; and as the pakeha had got it, they might as weU. What could be more absurd than the demand of the rebel— who had grown impudent on board the hulk * Marion'— that the Government should repay him for the maintenance of his wife and family during his -war adventures ; or the claims of the natives who requested payment for the food they had , supplied to the disaffected tribes ? There was one claimant, however, who surpassed the rest in cool assurance. We refer to a chief of note, who, two years before the war, had a liaison with the widow of royalty, and left his property at his hapu. His claimg for losses occasioned by his own imprudence amount to somewhere about £1,700, and he very candidly imfonned the Commissioner that it would not have been worth his while to turn loyal if he was not to be paid for what he lost by the move. That the Commissioner has had no easy task we can readily conceive, when the peculiar character of the claims, and the almost inextricable mixture of tribal andpersonal property,are taken into account. We have no doubt, however, that his awards will be as impartial and as satisfactory as they have been on former occasion's.

We believe our readers will pardon u« for devoting a few lines to an explanation of the attempt made yesterday to prevent our publishing the one day's later Australian news contained in the Sydney Empire of the 2nd instant, brought by H.M. s. « Brisk. The « Brisk,' as most of our town readers will be aware, came into harbour about ten o'clock yesterday morning, and was boarded at the same time by the shipping reporter connected with this journal, and the representatives of the Herald and Evening Ifewa. After some minutea' searoh on board the vessel, a single paper, of date the 2nd inst., was found, and by Captain Hope's own intention should have been presented to the Gross reporter. However, the ward-room officer - placed it in the hands of the Herald representative, on the distinct understanding that it should be at the service of the representatives of the Cross and Evening Nemos. The Herald reporter at once promised, in the pretence of the ward-room officer, to give the other gentlemen full permission to make any extracts, or copy whatever might be considered desirable. At the Herald office the promise was repeated, and slips of extracts made also offered to ba^ sent over to the offices of the other journals at two o'clock. When our reporter applied in the course of the afternoon for slips, the mutilated copy of the Empire— with about one-third of its contents extracted— was handed to him by the proprietor of the Herald, accompanied by an intimation that this was all that would be given. And bo it proved; although an order waa obtained from Captain Hope the same evening for the copy of the paper to be placed at our service. We can. only add th«t t ihe Herald reporter having obtained the paper under such false pretences, he was well backed out by those in authority over him, The managing pro* prietor of the Herald was polite enough to state that, if Captain Hope was to be brought down himself, be would sooner pitch the paper into the fire than hand it over according to the promise. His Excellency the Governor, his Honor the Super* intendent, and his Honor Judge Moore paid a visit yesterday afternoon to the Lunatic Asylum and Mount Eden Gaol, and inspected those establishments. At the Asylum his Excellency and party were met by Dr. Fisher, resident surgeon, who showed them over the building. Mr. Naughton, Visiting Justice.'was at the Stockade, and explained the different departments of the institution to his Excellency. A meeting of the Regatta Committee was held yesterday afternoon, to take into consideration the time of holding the annual regatta. The Chairman (Captain Daldy) informed the meeting that the Reception Committee were to meet on Wednesday (today), for the purpose of arranging for a day of holiday or rejoicing on the recovery of the Prince. His Excellency the Governor would give every assistance in order that the people might have a holiday to mitigate the disappointment felt at the Prince being unable to visit this colony. He suggested that the committee should wait until after the Reception Committee had come to some determination respecting the proposed holiday. He also stated that the Hon. Mr. Stafford had acceded to the request of the Reception Committee to devote the J6150 promised for the Maori race for that purpose. The meeting was adjourned until half-past seven o'clook on Friday evening next, at the Star Hotel. His Honor Chief Judge Fenton, of the Native Lands Court, and Mr. C. Maxwell, were passengers by the s.s. 'Wellington,' which left Auckland on Saturday for the Southern provinces, His Honor will preside at the sittings of the Native Land Court which are to be held during the ourrent and ensuing months in the prorinces of Otago and Canterbury. We have been furnished with a few partioulars of a somewhat serious accident which occurred on Monday evening, at Paomure, to Mr. Brewer, Mr. R. J. La Nauze, of H.M. Customs, and the two Misses Brfewer. It appears the party had driven out during the day to Panmure, for the purpose of attending the concert held the same evening. On the termination of the concert, Mr. Brewer and his two daughters had regained their seats in the carriage, and Mr. La Nauze, with the reins in his hand, was in the act of aicending the steps when several horsemen galloped past at a furious rate, and so startled the horse in the carriage that he made a sudden bolt forward, snatching the reins from Mr. La Nauze, who was thrown to the ground with great force. The trap immediately afterwards came into collision with a stone-wall, and was upiet. In his fall Mr. Brewer was badly out about the head with a stone, and was for some time insensible : the Misses Brewer do not appear to have suffered anything more than from fright. Upon the arrival of the party at Onehunga, the medical assistance of Dr. Purchas was procured for Mr. Brewer. A man named Thomas Brown was apprehended yesterday for stealing a ham, value 155., from the shop of Mr. J. C. Morrin. Detective Ternahan saw Brown trying to sell the ham, and apprehended him on suspicion. Subsequent inquiry showed that it had been stolen from Mr. Morrin's shop door. We have been requested to state that, in consequence of indisposition, Lady Bowen will not hold her usual reception this day. The anniversary soiree of the Sunday-school in connection with Mr. Cornford's Church in Wellesleyttreet was held last evening. There was a large attendance. A report and balance-sheet were read, which showed that the school had been successfully conducted during the past year. The nomination of a Maori representative for the Northern District in the House of Representatives will take place to-day at Russell ; and the poll if necessary on the 6th May. We would call the attention of the members of the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd battalions Auckland Militia, and members who have left the Auckland Volunteer Force, to the fact that Major Tighe has notified the intention of the Government to take immediate legal proceedings against all persons in possession of Government arms and accoutrements who do not return the same on or before the 15th instant. Hugh McVey, a miner at the Thames, was brought up last night, having been »pprehended on a warrant charging him with desertion of his wife and children. The band of the Royal Irish, under the direction of Mr. Quinn, will perform in the Domain this | afternoon, at half-past three o'clock (weather permitting). The following is the programme : — March, " Groves of Kneller," Sommer ; overture, "Le Lac dcs Fees," Auber ; waltz, "Rhein Sagen," Gunglj selection, "Elisir d'Amore," Donizetti; quadrille, "Erin Go Bragh," Zobel ; galop; " Prince Alfred," Quinn ; " God save the Queen." We have been kindly permitted by Mr. Francis White to publish the following assay report on a small parcel of gold obtained from 151b. of qaarti, takenfromtheHokianga Claim, Karaka, and crushed at Mr. Mason's patent machine': —

Assay Report. Bunk of New Zealand, April 6, 1868. Teit of value of small parcel of gold. Memorandum of the particulars of a pnrohaie of gold bullion from John White.

Mr. Freer, the enterprising proprietor of tbe Q.C.E., gave a ball and supper last night, in honour of the opening of the Army and Navy Hotel under hi* management. About sixty ladies and gentlemen were present. The ball-room tv very tastefully decorated, and the danoing was kept up with spirit till a late hour. Supper was served up at twelve o'olock, aad was of a most recherche description. The toast, " Success to Mr. Freer in his new undertaking," was drunk in bumpers during the « venin & and we cordially, reciprocate the sentiment. We may add that the Q. 0.8. will still be conducted under Mr. Freer'a able management. The meeting of the sons of old colonists, announoed to be held last eyening, did not take place in consequence of the inclemency of the weather. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Karaka Gold Mining Company is to be hold this afternoon at two o'olock, at the offices of Mr. J. T. Garliok, for the pntpose of framing rules for the management of the Company, and electing directors. Xhd Cremorne Gardens were not so numwously resorted to by pleasure-seekers yesterday as on the previous day, the weather being rather unpropitious for open-air sports, and the day was reoognised as a holiday only by a very few. A meeting of members and others interested in the revivification of the St. Andrew's Benevolent Sooiety is fixed to take place on Friday evening next, at haft-past 7 o'olock, at the Star Hotel, Albertstreet. At the Police Court yesterday four persons were punished for drunkenness. Mrs. Hay wood, the wife of a settler at Mangapai, was ordered to be sent to the Lunatic Asylum, on the evidence of Drs. Day and Goldsbro'. Sixty stand of arms and a quantity of ammunition were despatched to Westport on Tuesday evening by the steamer 4 Nelson/ Colonel Baultam, when first appealed to, objected to arms being sent to Westport, on the ground that there was no recognised body there to whom they could be entrusted, the services of the Volunteer force enrolled at Westport not having been accepted by the Governor. Subsequently the difficulty was got over by Government deciding that the services of the Volunteers should be accepted, and so permission was given for the arms to be sent. Red-tapists are to be found in NewZealandaswellaselsewhere.— Nelson Examiner, April 9. The following is from the Wanganui Times oi the 28th ult : "On Sunday last Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell received orders to proceed to Hokitika with aixfy of the Constabulary Force. The men are expected from Patea to-day , and the s.s. * St. Kilda awaits their arrival. That will leave the Patea district in an unprotected stale that may encourage Mr. Parris's native friends to renew their attempt to expel the settlers. Without something of that kind the Government cannot come down to the House of .Representatives a month or two hence and ask a round lump sum for the defence of the colony, and without that round sum Ministerial patronage in that direction would be worth but very little, flow fortunate for Colonel Haultain that he can dovetail this Hokitika affair so nicely into the result of the Pokaikai Commission, and that he has such a man as Mr. Parris as Civil Commissioner in the Patea district to prolong the difficulty. Another clever move of Colonel Hanltain's was to place an inferior man over McDonnell and Yon Tempsky as Commandant of the Armed Constabulary, seeing that by this move he disgusts the Force, and we shall not be surprised if some of the ablest officers resign. What will our friends on the Middle Island say to this plan of keeping up the native difficulty? Will any of the financial reformers calculate the cost ?" A return of the land in cultivation in the province of Canterbury, and of the agricultural produce thereof, has been published in the Ganterhury Times, from which it would appear that the land broken up and not under crop was — 22,598 acres 2 roods 10 perches ; in wheat,26,654 acres; in oats, 35,354 acres; in barley, 5,868 acrea 1 rood, 20 perches ; in maize or sorghum, 42 acresj inrye or beie, 384 acres 2roods ; in hay (mown), 7,003 acres 1 rood ; in sown grasses including land in hay, 73,565 acres 20 perches ; in peas or beans, 2,676 acres 2 roods 28 perches; in potatoes, 2,300 acres 27 perches; in turnips or rape, 829 acres 1 rood 1 perch ; in mangold, beet, carrots, parsnips, or onions, 1,179 acres 2 roods 6 perches ; in garden or orchard, 2,694 acres 20 perches ; in tobacco, 49 acres 1 rood 2i) perches ; in any other crop, 687 acres 3 roods 21 perches ; total under crop, 152,281 acres 3 perches ; in forest trees plantations, 783 acres 2 roods 20 perches. This does not include Westland boroughs and Westlaud South. The Melbourne Evening Star says :— "lnformation Has been given to the police authorities, with a view to their communicating with the police authorities of South Australia, of a perfectly organised and large band of Fenians, that has been known to the informant (who, until recently, resided in Adelaide) to have been in existence in that city for some considerable time past. The gentleman giving the information is a most reliable authority, and gives full particulars as to the names and addresses of the parties implicated— we believe one reason for not giving the information while in Adelaide was a fear of the consequence of his name being made known." The same paper adds :— " We may supplement the above paragraph by saying that we are in possession of positive information that there are at present in Melbourne several accredited agents from the principals of the Fenian organisation at home, and they are stopping at well-known hotels in this town. Itia also a known fact that a short time since a large number of firearms were landed from a vessel in this port, the consignees of which were rather doubtful characters. It has also been mentioned that the office of one of our contemporaries ha 3 been threatened with destruction in consequence of its remarks upon this subject ; but this threat we treat with contempt, as we are quite sure that our police and other forces are quite capable of protecting the office."

height before Weight after Fine- Hf .-.u^ melting. melting. neu. St" l3 *™- Sayloz. loz. 6897 lMvrt. )educb gold duty, 2s. 6d.; mint and ■hipping charges, &c,, le, ... *... Value, at « 17«. lOJd: £2 18 5, 0 3 6 t . fJUII