BAY OF PLENTY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3355, 17 April 1868, Page 2

BAY OF PLENTY.

A gentleman who has lately been travelling in the Bay of Plenty district has obligingly furnished us; with several interesting items of intelligence regarding this important portion of the province of Auckland. The Bay of Plenty confiscated district, as many of our readers will be aware, comprises nearly 500,000 acres, the principal portion of which- is composed of excellent land for agricultural and pastoral purposes 5 and the •attention of Southern flock-owners has already been turned towards the acquirement in this locality of runs under long leases from the native owners. The Native Compensation Court, it seems^has held four sittings in the district, *owing to the very large number of claims — several handreds — sent in; but so quietly have the proceedings been conducted, that none ! but the Government and" 'the' parties most j

immediately interested appear to have been cognisant of the facts. Mr. J. A. Wilsqn conducted the cases before the Court on behalf of the Crown ; and it is very satisfactory to learn that the surveys of the blocks awarded are now rapidly approaching completion. The claims made were on the whole settled or arranged satisfactorily, considering the very large number which had to be heard. The Arawas claimed largely, and obtained one or two considerable awards. The Government, it appears, have also given them a block of land in the district, as a reward for the services rendered during the war ; and Captain Simpson is now engaged in surveying the divisions of the land made by Mr. Wilson amongst the hapus of that tribe who bore arms in support of the Queen's authority. A township is being surveyed at Whakatane, and another at Te Awa-o-ie-Atua, the allotments of which will be sold at auction in Auckland. These townships (and especially that at the Matatawa) are the natural outlets of the Taupo district. The Kangitaiki, which flows from the direction of Taupo, is navigable for fifteen miles, or could easily be rendered so at a small expense, and would thus give access to a large and fertile valley, or grass plain, forty miles in length, running up to Taupo. It is proposed to survey a township at Te Teko, where steam communication would cease on the Eangitaiki, and whence the land portage to Taupo would commence. There appears to be not the slightest shadow of a doubt that, if the predatory Ureweras could by any lawful means be induced to become friendly, or remain quiet, the Bay of Plenty district must speedily attract the attention of flock-owners from Australia, as well as other portions of this colony, who would quickly turn its at present waste lands to the utmost profit.

We publish below a contradiction by our shipping reporter, and the reporter of the Evening News, of the statement said in yesterday's Herald to have been made by the gentleman who does the shipping for that paper. As to the remarks made with regard to the Cross, such tirades may possibly har monise with the Herald's idea of " respectable " journalism," but they certainly do not with ours, and we feel confident that the public of Auckland will not think any apology necessary on our part for declining to contest with a paper which descends to the mode of argument adopted by our contemporary yesterday :—: —

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Caoss. Sir, — We beg to contradict the statement made by the Herald this morning relative to a copy of the Sydney Umpire, 2nd instant, obtained from fi.M.s. ' Brisk,' by Mr. Brett, the Herald shipping reporter. The paper in question was given to Mr. Brett on his distinctly promising that the Evening News and Daily Southern Cross should be furnished with copies of any news which it might contain. — I am, &c, Thomas S. Coppook, Shipping Eeporter, Evening News. T. W. Lets, Shipping Reporter, Daily Southern Cross. Auckland, April 16, 1868.

The following military passengers will proceed to England in the ship ( Maori :' — Second cabin : Firstclass clerk, William F. Gayne ; Staff Sergeant-Major in command of the detachmemt Commissariat Staff Corps, with wife and family. Steerage : Sergeant Mulholland, Lance-Sergeants Noble and Jones, with wives and families ; Corporals Kirjy and Ferguson, with their wives and families ; private Gaim, with wife and family ; and five other single privates of the Commissariat Staff Corps. In the New Caledonia MoniUur of the 16th February, wbicn we received by the last mail, a tabulated statement is published of the number of vessels, tonnage, crews, &c, which had entered or left the port of Noumea during the last quarter of the year 1867 : from which it would appear that the number of French vessels entered was 3, and from other countries 12 ; and departures — French vessels, 1 ; from other countries, 10. The total tonnage of the vessels entered was 2,371, with total of crews 122, and passengers 22. The tonnage of the vessels which had left the port was 2,001 ; crews, 101 ; passengers, 19. The value of importations andexportations during the same period is also given as follows : —Provisions and merchandise imported from France by French vessels, 120,000 francs ; from other countries, by French vessels, 418,000 francs ; by other vessels, 311.580 francs. Total, 849,580 francs. Exportation, 13,030 francs. The bazaar for augmenting the funds for the maintenance of the Destitute and Lying-in Hospital was opened yesterday at the Volunteer Drill Building, Princes-street. There was an improvement in the number of visitors and the sales effected over the preceding day. ' Owing to the inclemency of the weather deterring persons from attending on Wednesday, the receipts amounted to £13. The Rifle Volunteer Band kindly gave their services yesterday, and Mr. Waddell exhibited the dissolving views in the evening. The bazaar was closed at a late hour last nifhfc, and we trait the total receipts will amount to a handsome sum. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, there were sixteen causes entered for hearing. Some of them were either settled out of Court or adjourned until a future sitting. Those disposed of by 'the Bench were devoid of any public interest whatever. At the Police Court yesterday four persons were punished for drunkenness. A little boy named John Clune, who has been more than once convicted of crime, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing articles of wearing apparel, valued at £1 16s.,from the schooner ' Albatross,' the property of Captain James Braund. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour, and ordered to be privately whipped at the Stockade. An information was laid yesterday by the police against a Volunteer named James Fmlay, for an alleged breach of tbe 26th sub-section of section 5 of the Municipal Police Act, by discharging a rifle oiose to the person of Mrs, MathiesoD, on tbe evening of tbe 9th inst., near the Kyber Pass Road, and opposite the residence of Mr. Gilfillan. A meeting of the committee of the Auckland Mechanics' Institute was held last evening at halfpast 7 o'clock, in the library, for the purpose of appointing a secretary in the place of Mr. J. Sargent, resigned. Mr. F. \\ hitaker, president, occupied the chair, and all the other members of the committee were present. There were fifty-eight applications received, which were read and considered. A ballot was then taken, and which resulted in favour of Mr. Talbot, at present master at the school connected with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Symondsatreet. We believe that Mr. Sargent has resigned his position as secretary — which he has held for the past five years with so much credit to himself — for the purpose of commencing business at the 1 hames, and we are sure those of our readers who, with ourselves, have been placed under so many obligations during the pa-st few years, will join with us in wishing Mr. Sargent every success in his new venture. A ytuag lad named Campbell laid an information yesterday against John Tucker, butcher,' Queenstreet, for an alleged assault by striking him several blows with his riding-whip. The case is not so serious as it has been represented in print. ; We beg to inform our readers that th* grand vocal concert, Ac, under the patronage of' his Excellency Sir George Bowen, which was^ to have taken place this evening at the' Lunatic Asylum , Great North Road, for the benefit of the patients, is postponed until this day week, the 24th mat., in order that the performance may be honoured with the attendance . of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen. The adjourned debate before the Wellington-street Literary Association on the question, "Whether Fenianism is referable to the present grievances o Ireland : or are the present grievances of Ii eland sufficient cause for .disaffection — that is, rebellion,?" was resumed last evening, at half-past 7 o'clock,' at the Wellington-street School-room. * Mr. J. jff. Upton opened the debate in the affirmative— the negative side being led by Mr. Boardinan. A very animated and clever debate took place, the majority " of the members speaking on the negative side. It was announced by the Chairman at the cloie of the proceedings that at the next meeting a paper would be iMd by Mr. Buchanan on "Robert Eunu."

The Provincial Surgeon begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the enclosed letter with accompanying donation of new books, &c, by Dr. Kendersine :— " Auckland, 15th April, 1868 —Dr. Philson. Dear Sir, — Herewith I send you the following volumes for 1867,* for the use of the Provincial Hospital, viz :— Sunday at Home, Leisure Hour, British Workman, Band of Hopdßeview, Cottager and Artisan, Tract Magazine. — Believe me, yours faithfully, Thomas B. KKNDKRDiNr." The member* of St. Andrew's Benevolent Society, and others interested in reviving the Society, are convened to attend a meeting, at half-past seven o'clock, at the Star Hotel, Albert-street. It must be confessed that, were a sudden desire to leize the colonial public for the wine of the country, the present supply would speedily be exhausted. Our vineyards are not sufficiently extensive to quench the thirst of the present population. Were the consumption to equal that of France (184 gallons per head per annum), we question whether it would last a month. There are now about 1,357 acres planted with vines, and the produce amount to 242,183 gallons, which would not afford much more than half a gallon p» r head. But wine-growing involves heavy investments. To clear, fence, trench, drain, plant, and provide the requisite apparatus and a cool cellar is no slight matter. We are given to understand that some vineyards have cost their owners from £100 to £150 per acre ; but if the half of this be true, it is clear that few men will be found to enter upon this occupation, unless they see unmistakable signs of a good and constant market for wine. Until the present obstacles to its free consumption be removed, we do not expect to see any extensive planting of vines; and yet what is so desirable? If we refuse to bend our liberty at the bidding of a sumptuary law, surely we may refuse to allow the publican to dictate what beverages we shall imbibe. It is possible that this class of tradeis will make less profit by the sale of colonial wine than by the liquors they now dispense, and they may therefore naturally be expected to resent as an injustice any interference with the present system ; but we think that the well-being, the comfort, the virtue of the community should command even a higher consideration than the cla«s interest of this powerful fraternity.— Sydney Morning Herald. Speaking of the result of the Victorian crisis to the civil servants of that colony, the Australasian of the 21st ult. says :— " It may be sport to the cats, but it's death to the mice— and 8o the civil servants have found out to their cost. Political partizans may find an infinitude of fun in. a series of dead-locks, but those who have to pay the piper can scarcely be said to share in the amusement. Civil servants have often been sneered at as mere drones in the industrial hive — fine gentlemen with nothing to do, and any quantity of assistance— but it must be admitted that they are a very patfent and long-suffering class. B'or months they have gone unpaid, and almost unmurmuringly have been obliged to resort to all kinds of shifts in order to raise money. It is quite time that such an injustice should be put a stop to, and we trust, if a new Government be formed, that before the adjournment of Parliament for the necessary elections a temporary supply bill will be passed, so that the pressing wants of the civil servants, and other creditors of the State, may be satisfied, and a large amount of real distress be thus terminated. There may be some trifling difficulty in the way, but if both parties desire to do a graceful act the difficulty may be easily removed. We can set no objection that either party oan raise, for it will give an advantage to neither, but would leave the situation cisely as before, with this exception, that ala amount of misery will have been prevented." Tb« annual inspection by Colonel Kenny of the Taranaki Cavalry and I«ranaki Light Infantry Volunteer Corpt took place on Poverty Flat on Wednesday last. As it was knewn that the firstnamed corps would appear in its new uniform, and that the Militia and Volunteer band had arranged to lend their assistance to the success of the day, it is not to be wondered that considerable numbers of spectators were early on the ground, of whom many, we were glad to observe, were of the fair sex. The afternoon was beautifully fine, and everything passed off pleasantly and creditably. The cavalry, from the fact of its having a scarlet uniform, looked quite imposing, and altogether we may say that this, the first inspection of the corps, was in every way a success. Both corps were put through extensive evolutions, which were executed with celerity and precision, and we were vastly pleased and amused in watching their movements, especially when the retreat was sounded. We are now convinced that infantry in an emergency can be very swift of foot. In dismissing the Taranaki C&ralrv Volunteer Corjts, Colonel Kenny expressed his entire approval of the soldier-like bearing they presented physically and otherwise, and also his surprise at the extreme point of efficiency at which they had arrived ; and stated that he would have much pleasure in making a favourable report to the Government. With reference to the Taranaki Light Infantry Volunteers, the colonel, while expressing his regret at being unable officially to inspect or report on the corps, as it was unfortunately under the minimum strength required by the new volunteer regulations, said that, from what he had seen of their movements, they appeared to be very fairly drilled, and he would not recommend that the corps should be disbanded, as there appeared to be considerable zeal displayed by its present members. If he could do anything with the Government in furthering their interests, h* would with the greatest pleasure do so, and he would be at all times ready to receive any suggestions that could be offered with that object. Ihe colonel also expressed his desire to see a cadet corps formed. Most of the other provinces already boasted of at least one, and he did not see why Taranaki should be behind them. We hope that, duriog the interval that must elapse before the next annual inspaction, the Taranaki Light Infantry Volunteer Corps will have recruited so far as to be put on the efficient list, The colonel's remarks were very considerate, and we think he was right in not dealing severely with this unfortunate corps. — Taranaki Herald, April 11.