POVERTY BAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 817, 12 January 1867, Page 3

POVERTY BAY.

(from our own correspondent) Turanga, Jan. 7, 1867. Our district is fast advancing in civilisation, in proof of which, within the last month some five stores and dwelling-houses have been broken into, and more br less denuded of their contents. This is a state of things most unusual in Turanga. The perpetrators are still at large. Possibly this may be in some measure ascribed to the district being entirely without a force to prevent aggression, and to the knowledge the natives have that our only magistrate, Captain Biggs, is not an R.M., and consequently lacks the power to punish native offenders. Poverty Bay is becoming of more importance every day ; surely it is high time we had an R.M. nearer than the East Cape. If considered unadvisable to place a salaried officer here, would it not be wise to delegate the powers of Resident Magistrate to Captain Biggs (than whom I know not a more energetic person), who commands the respect of both natives and settlers. The following additional particulars have been furnished us by a passenger from Turanga:— - The store of Messrs. Cadel and Blair, Poverty Bay, was broken into on the evening of the Ist instant, between eight and ten- o'clock. The burglars, who. are supposed to be Maories, forced the lock of the front door, and abstracted about £80 in ; cash;? The chief, Paul, has one woman in custody; who has confessed to having, with v others, committed the offence. ' . r Ah^ store of Mr, Harris was broken into, and goods to the -/ y am Punt pf £50 taken away. Access was ;;'V-;- : ;}. gained "through a window, which thej AAo^mofby cutting through and unlatching :-..V. : ;f J'.^ :^^tter ■' bn.'-"ij_ia ../oiitside.' A reward o ; iJ:St|t|jKMV^^"-^^ t0 beover the of