ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. 'TARANAKI.' SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT TIMARU. WRECK OF THE BRIG 'LAYARD.' WRECK OF THE SCHOONER 'RUBY.' MR. McLEAN AT NAPIER. THE LAKE SKIRMISHERS. DUNEDIN AND THE PORT OF CALL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4001, 18 June 1870, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. ' TARANAKI.' SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT TIMARU. WRECK OF THE BRIG 'LAYARD.' WRECK OF THE SCHOONER 'RUBY.' MR. McLEAN AT NAPIER. THE LAKE SKIRMISHERS. DUNEDIN AND THE PORT OF CALL.

TIMARU. June 2 : A fire broke out last night in the shop of Messrs. Chandler and Jenkins, grocers, and in the space of two hours destroyed the r shop and all its contents, as well as the two adjoining buildings, belonging to Mr. Cullman, and one of which was occupied by Mr. Wadsworth, shoemaker, the other being empty. The origin of the fire is unknown. Messrs. Chandler and Jenkins's shop and stock were insured in the London and Liverpool Company for £700. The two buildings belonging to Mr. Cullman were insured in the London and Lancashire office for £325. Mi-. Wads worth's stock was not insured. When the fire was nearly over, the shop of Mr. Beldy, tobacconist, in another part of the town, was also found to be on lire. The door was burst open, and the fire was got under, though not without some little damage to its contents. The origin of the fire is unknown. June 8: The brig 'Layard,' Captain Worledge, "came ashore this morning. The brig arrived from Newcastle on Friday with 250 tons coal, but could not land cargo on account of the heavy sea. Yesterday afternoon her cable parted, but a second anchor being let go she was brought up. About 5 a.m. to-day the cable parted again, and the brig drifted ashore at 10 a.m. The crew, consisting of nine hands, was saved by means of a line throwa to the vessel by the rocket apparatus. The brig now lies in Caroline Bay about fifty yards from shore, and does not seem to bemuch damaged, but, from the furious sea running, it is feared that she will break up. The vessel has been condemned, and with her cargo was sold by auction for £230 10s. Both ship and cargo are believed to be well insured in Australian offices. The 'Layard' was owned by Pigott Brothers, Melbourne, and was consigned to Cantain Cain.

KAIKOURA. June 9 : The 'Ruby, 5 owned by Captain. Davidson, is a complete wreck. She left Wellington on Tuesday, the 31st May, arrived at Kaikoura, and discharged her cargo all right. She was about to sail for Wellington with a cargo of oil and tallow, when she met with the disaster. am informed that she is insured in the New Zealand Company's office. Cannot state whether cargo is insured or not.

NAPIER. June 4 : Mr. Ormoncl telegraphs as follows to the Hon. Donald McLean, Welling, ton : — " Despatches just received from Waikaremoana. Our" natives have gone round the Lake, and taken the pa at Matu. ahu. Several skirmishes have taken place, but our people drove the enemy before them ou every occasion. Mr. Hamlin reports very large supplies of food at the Lake, and esti« mates the potatoes aheady taken possession of at two hundredtons. Largeand extensive cultivations exisb in everv direction, and all denotes the intention of the enemy to have made Waikaremoana head- quarters. The weather was so bad on the 8th that it was impossible to cross from Matuahu to Tikitiki and Pukehuia, where the enemy is seen almost within rifle-shot of our forces ; but the weather was clearing, and our people meant to cross to these people next day aad follow the enemy up. Mr. Hamlin says they are determined to follow up until the enemy surrenders, and will go to Euatahuna if necessary. It is evident our natives are in capital spirits and mean business, and we have at length overcome the Waikaremoana bugbear. A reference to the sketch of the Lake sent by me in a late despatch will explain the position of our natives and the enemy. Mr, Hamlin estimates enemy's force at about 100 men. The enemy lost one man killed in Lake skirmishes. My expectation is that the enemy will surrender. Possibly he may bolt to Ruatahuna. — OSMOND," — • The Hon. the Defence Minister left in the 'Luna' for Wellington on Saturday evening. The public dinner given to the Hon. D. McJJean was largely attended. In replying to the toast of the evening, he said the present Government had done its utmost towards tiding over the difficulties which at one time threatened the very existence of the colony. Exertion never has been more necessary now that all aid from the home country has been withdrawn. The mind of the British nation towards -its dependencies had taken a purely oommeridal tui*n. We should not lose sight of the necessity for making preparations for our own defence. It was the intention of the present Government to use every means to bring ahout a peace that shall be lasting and durable, and tend to unite and harmonise as far as possible both races. While desirous b£ punishing or making an exampleof outrage and crime, no opportunity will be lost of extending the hand of friendship to those natives who may be desirous of taking advantage of our laws. The aim of the Government was to promote settlement and secure peace, both of which were necessary preliminaries to the introduction of immigration and capital. The natives who had been in arms against us were now engaged for a nominal payment in making roads through their own districts. He said he could not speak too strongly of the great assistance received from friendly allies, who have entirely disproved the charge of treachery brought against them; and now that we have occupied the interior of the country he did not say we shall not have difficulties to contend with ; but dangers of magnitude have passed, The utmost harmony has always prevailed among the members of the present Government, and they had carried out measures for the benefit of the colony. He always felt that we could not hold a plough in one hand and a musket in the other. He should haye visited Hawke's Bay before, but the Govern- ; ment possessed such confidence in Mr. Or- ' mond's management of affairs that a Minister's presence was found unnecessary. Mr. Ormond meeting his Council without an Executive was a movement in the right direction, and would lead to a simplification of legislature. Ropata, Mokena, and other chiefs spoke of their determination next spring to take the field and utterly root out the rebellion ; also of their confidence in Mr. McLean as Native Minister. June 12 : The ' St. ELilda ' has arrived from Opotiki and Poverty Bay with the native witnesses against the prisoners lately sent to Wellington for trial. The Provincial Council was prorogued on Friday, having sat 24 days, during which nine Acts were, passed t June 13 : Captain Preece reports the surrender of aXTrewera hapu, called Pateuheuheu, numbering fifty. They came out themselves, and were sent to Maketu. They describe the remainder of the Ureweras as, desirous of surrendering, but as afraid of the consequences ; also, that the Ureweras? refuse to receive Te Kooti into their country. Te Kooti is still at Waioeka with few fol-' lowers. Hamlin took 200 tons of potatoes" from the Waikaremoana Hauhaus, and in-' 1 tended to attack the Tikitiki pa, weather permitting, ort the 9th. A young man named Potter accidentally shot himself last evening, lodging the contents of a fowling-pleea iri his "abdomen. He died three hours afterwards.

DUNEDIK. -. - Jiuie 9, 2.4 p.m. : The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court were opened yesterday. Tte Judge congratulated tlie Grand Jury on the extreme lightness of tip calendar, which. l was due to the vigilance, and efficiency of the police. The excellent means of education at hand had an effect in the

domination of crime. He commended the strong de°;re evincpd by the public to supporb tie l-'gHlaiuve m this nutter. Ure.agh, eplicjtor, pie vied guilty fco the two charges preferred against him.— Moat of our moinbpia leave by the 'Claud Hamilton' on Tuesday. — The ' Phce'ja' came in yesterday, in spite of the heavy sea .and the bar beiii'/ signalled as dangerous, at deal low water. The ler<<st water she found on th> hir \\,V5 '21 foot. •Tuoe 10 : Ctea^b, solicitor, who pleaded guilty yesterday, has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The sessions have concluded. June 11 : Judge Ward left by the 'Taranaki' — In the Provincial Council last night the following motion by Mr. Shepherd Mas carried on the voices : — " That this Council jys of opinion that tho line of steamers at prc'sent established between Sydney and San Francisco via Auckland is of no value to the province of Otago ; and this Council hereby records its protest against the con tiuuation of a contract for such line."

WELLINGTON. June 13 : The Speaker, S r David Monro, has lost his passage by the 'Airedale,' and Mr. Carlefcon, C hah man of Comu.ifcfcee&, will have to take the chair. The Southern members are expected to arrive per ' Phcche ' tomorrow mornin _r.

TAR AN Aid. .June 13 : A gre.xt feast to nntives was given at the staitin^ of fie Opunaki ilax works. Mr. Parris had successfully settled the difficulties between the native? and the .flax-dressers.

GREYTOWN'. June 6 : There was a freshet in Kempton'a Creek, and two "^erious accidents happened yesterday. The ro.id in the vicinity is fall of deep hole^, jwi'l the a'tentinn of the Government 13 immediately requited to if, or some serious or even fatal occurrence will ensue f i om the neglect.