AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 2013, 13 December 1870, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

By the Keera we have files and correspondence to the 7th inst. our correspondent's letter. Dec. 7. Defeated on their financial statement, which no one but themselves, outside or in the Council, seemed capable of comprehending, the provincial executive have perforce resigned. The result, however, certainly appears not to have been desired by the victorious majority, which, on the contrary, has abstained throughout the session, so far, from anything that could fairly be construed into factious or illiberal opposition. Like Frankenstein, the Government has been destroyed by a thing of its own creation, as a perusal of the queer document, dignified with the title of a financial statement, will manifest. So far as its turgid involved sentences are susceptible of elucidation, just so far is it evident that furious ultra-provincialism was to have been built up and supported by increasing executive salaries, and by the creation of fat appointments for rattling champions of rampant bumbledom. Bnt from the moment it became known that, despite a falling revenue, such a policy was to havij been pursued, it required little foresight to prophesy the downfall of a feeble Government, which had previously endangered its existence by ■the henceforth famous "Busby settlement." Whether the new executive, formed on Monday last, with Mr. Lusk as chief, will secure the confidence of the Council, remains to be seen. The new ministry is said to be cemposed of moderate, sensible men of business habits, and with a fair amount of legislative experience amongst them. They are likewise said to be inimical to those frantic tenets of undying hostility to the General Government, which, it is thought, too conspicuously animated the late provincial executive, who, in the opinion of most moderate-minded men here, made a woful mistnke, if, as is supposed, they permitted themselves to become partisans to the well-known views of His Honor the Superintendent. With respect to the murder of poor Todd, there is nothing new to relate, ex-

capfc that Tawhiao distinctly declines to shelter, or in any way aid the murderers, whose persons have since been identified. Had Mr. Todd cleared out after being warned in good time, he might have escaped without the slightest difficulty. I have heard more than one iil-informod person charge the King party with complicity in this crime. There is absolutely nothing to warrant such an unfair assertion ; in fact, every particle of evidence goes to establish the contrary. On Saturday last, what was termed an open air protection meeting was held in a conspicuous part of our city. The opponents of moderate protection to native industries are getting somewhat nervous as interest in the subject increases, and free discussion extends. I was not surprised, therefore, to find they had mustered in great force under the able finessing of their leaders. From the first it was evident congregated loafers would carry the day and their amendment. Whether it is wise to hold these street meetings may be thought doubtful, seeing that quiet men, who have some stake in the Colony, must necessarily for the most part seek to avoid them. A gentleman, who has no penchant for, or against, protection, and who is acquainted with most.of our citizens, told me he could not recognise more than half-a-dozen voters at the Saturday meeting. The expected arrival of Prince Alfred does not appear likely to furnish much excitement, if I may judge from the slight interest as yet manifested. You are- aware that H. R. 11. will visit Maketu and the j glorious scenery about TongariroandTaupo generally. For his accommodation the Luna is being repaired and slightly decorated. I discern, too, that the crew o( ' the Blanche, since she returned with the Governor from Wangarei and Kawau, have been busy as bees to improve each shining hour. As the result of their labours, that fine ship looks, I think, more gay and less austere than heretofore. Then we have a really good volunteer band, which practices now almost every evening, with ihe evident intention to give the illustrious visitor a hearty musical welcome ; and, not to be behind hand, our Volunteer Artillery boom forth from the well-nigh wave-girt Brittotnart, at early dawn — much to the discomfort (if newspapers speak truth) of Sunday sluggards, who doubtless have good and sufficient reasons for desiring to " slumber again." It is not altogether, however, on the Duke's account that great gun exercise is so assiduously pursued oflate, as the forthcoming prize-firing will soon demonstrate. In election matters there is a temporary lull. Nearly all the candidates claim to endorse the policy sanctioned by the General Assembly in its last session, and I believe they mean what is professed. At Otahuhu, however, one gentleman vowed eternal enmity to Ministers and their measures. As reported, his speech was decidedly rowdy. I may remark en passant that the Cross and Herald reports of the speeches lately delivered by Mr. Yogel, Mr. Gillies and Mr Reader Wood, were models of accurate reporting, and have been greatly admired on that account. As your readers are aware, Mr. Gillies who, his friends contend, is a "triton" amongst opposition "minnows," has stated he will not oppose, but will merely accept a seat "to see the money is properly spent." lam sorry to say wicked people are found who look upon that statement as " fudge " or " gammon," employed merely to secure a seat which might be lost by the display of undisguised hostility. Mr. Wood's speech, on the contrary, has been very generally looked upon as the genuine expression of that gentleman's views. Although plainly opposed to the Government policy, it is not considered to have seriously injured Mr. Wood's election prospects. The speech has certainly disappointed some of his friends, but Mr. Wood is popular on the whole, and generally respected. Late plentiful rains have clothed districts surrounding the city with brilliant verdure, npon which one is never tired of gazing after the parched prospect lately everywhere visible. As yet, however, the accession of much needed moisture does not seem to have greatly lowered prices of agricultural produce, for fruit and vegetables are still excessively dear. DISCOVERY OP CAPT. WESTON's RBaiAINS. The following account is from the Southern Cross. Many of our readers will recollect Capt. Weston, who spent some time in Napier. The mystery which lias surrounded the disappearance of Captain Joseph Kemp Weston from his residence in Symondsstreet,on the sth of November, 1867, is now cleared up. When he left his home at that date, he proceeded in the direction of Titirangi ranges, and called at the house of a settler named Edward Lovett, where he stayed until the 7th. On that day he borrowed a single-barrelled pistol, for the ostensible purpose of going to the bush to shoot a wild pig, and left a heavy signet ring as security for the safe return of the pistol. He never returned, however, and, an uneasy feeling having arisen respecting his safety, the then Commissioner of Police sent a constable to make inquiry respecting him. The constable returned without finding any tidings of Captain Weston, save the signet ring, which was identified by Mrs. Weston as that worn by her husband. This confirmed the general impression that he had committed suicide. Mrs. Weston afterwards left Auckland for Melbourne, where she is believed to be at present. No clue was obtained to explain Captain Weston's disappearance until November 25, about 3 o'clock, when a settler, named Joseph Cantwcll, of Waikomiti, came upon the bleached skull and bones of a human being, in the bush, some distance from Henderson's Mill. Besides the bones were found a pistol (very rusty), a teaspoon, a leaden bullet, a small white ball (very light), some gilt buttons, one of which had a crown upon it. The buttons were similar to those worn by Captain Weston. Mr. Cantwell suspected the remains to be those of the missing Captain Weston, and on November 27 he reported the matter to Inspector Broham, who sent Constable Bullen out to see Mr. Lovett, and to learn if the pistol found wns the one lent to Captain Weston three years ago. The description they give qf the gentleman's appearance, and the finding of the signet ring, leave no room to doubt what the termination of Captain Westoifs life was. He was the Auckland correspondent of the London limes during the Waikato' war, and we believe occupied that position up to the time of his untimely death. An inquest was held on the body on Dec. 2 when an open verdict was returned. OPENING OF TKT.EGRAriIIC COMMUNICATION / WITH ROTORUA AND WELLINGTON. The Thames Advertiser says : — Through

the courtesy of Mr, H. MeKcnzie, who arrived overland from IJot»rua and Tauranga on Saturday morniiij:, wu lcim that telegraphic communication to sill parts of New Zealand from Rotorua was successfully established on Monday last, whan the telegrams of the Suez mail, forwarded from Hokitika to Wellington, were taken ofi' the wires by the operator in charge of the station at Rotorua, and read. Communication was also opened the same day with Wiinganui, on the West Coast. A telegram was forwarded to Mr. McNeill, the contractor for the great bridge in course of construction there, and replies received intimating that five tubes are yet required to be laid to complete the bridge, seven being now in position. The line will be completed as far as Tauranga in the course of another week, and then there will surely be no hindrance to its construction across to the Thames, when communication with both islands and all the provinces will be completed. OPOTIKI THREATENED BY TE KOOTI. Opotiki, November 29. Yesterday a notice appeared posted up, of which the following is a copy: — "Authentic information having been received that hostile natives are again in the vicinity, settlers are hereby warned to be on the alert, and until further information is received, are strongly advised to form a system of patrols. (Signed) Fbed. SwindLKY, Sub-Inspector, in charge of Opotiki station. District Office, November 28, 1870." — The settlers convened a meeting | almost immediately, to take all necessary [ precautions. Sub-Inspector Swindley stated to the meeting, from reliable information that he received concerning Te Kooti, that he was in the vicinity, and intended to attack some place about here, when or where he did not know. This was the reason he put up the notice to enable them to adopt some mode of defence, as they might expect no assistance from him, nor would he allow a man of them inside the redoubt, The settlers immediately organised themselves into a body to do night duty, but found that several men were without arms or ammunition, and some of those unfortunate people were told off for patrol duty at their own expense. The same night Sub-Inspector Swindley was applied to for arms, but declined to issue any until next day. The settlers are anxious to have those blood-thirsty scoundrels — the murderers of our fellow-settlers, and the hangman of the lamented Rev. Mr. Volkner — removed from amongst them, or transferred to some more exotic dwelling-place. There was also a resolution passed unanimously that any natives caught within the boundaries of the European lines after a certain hour of the night would be fired upon. This was in consequence of Sub-In-spector Swindley stating that they were to look to themselves for protection ; that he could not take his men out of the redoubt. As the settlers are left to fight their own battles, and receive no remuneration, they will certainly make short work of it, for it is impossible to expect any man to do night duty and maintain himself and family by his daily labour. I should not be surprised to hear of some of the supposed friendlies being j shot by the settlers: they cannot tell the difference between friend or- foe at night; and they feel so indignant at so many Hau Haus being located amongst them, that they are beginning to think that the present Government thinks but little of the lives of themselves, their wives, or their children. N.B. — News hasjust arrived from Ohiwa, from Tamaikoha, to keep a sharp lock-out. — Correspondent N.Z. Herald. ■ A WOMAN KILLED BY laGHTNING. The lightning which accompanied the storm yesterday afternoon, was attended with a f.ttal result at Panmure. A poor woman, named Comers, was sitting in the house, with her infant child, during the storm, while her husband was at work some short distance away. On turning to look at the house, he found that the chimney had been struck by lightning, and had fallen down. He immediately hurried home to render assistance, and on entering the room saw his wife dead on the floor, and the child, perfectly uninjured, playing over its mother's dead body. On hearing of the accident, the Catholic clergyman at that place visited the bereaved husband, and the neighbors did all they could for him.— Evening News y December 7. FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE BAY OF ISLANDS. On Saturday morning last a man named Edw. Halcrowe, of the s.s. Auckland, met with an accident at llussell, which proved fatal. Deceased had. been superintending the shipping of coals into the Auckland for sixteen hours, and was consequently very much fatigued. He was requested to desist, but did not, and soon afterwards fell off the gangway into the barque from which they were transshipping their coal. His head hit against the keelson of the barque, and broke the side of his skull in. He was taken on board the Auckland, and everything that could be done was done for him. He only lived for 11 hours, however, after the accident, and was insensible the whole of that time. His remains were respectably interred in the Itussell cemetery on Sunday morning. There was no inquest held on deceased, and we have been unable to learn whether he leaves a wife or any children or not to mourn his loss. — Evening Neivs, December 7. THE WAIKATO M ORDER. The N. Z. Herald ot the Gth thus refers to this catastrophe: — -A very cold-blooded murder was on the 28th ult. committed by a party of Hauhaus on the Pirongio, near Kawbia. We have made every possible enquiry, and hasten to place before our renders the whole of the information which may be considered reliable. Mr. Todd, who resided at Raglan, and was well known both amongst Europeans and natives, was engaged at°the time of his murder in the service of the Government. A block of land of some thousands of acres, at this side of the confiscated line, had been granted by the Government to Hone te One and his -tribe, in compensation for lands which had been taken from them during the war. Mr. Todd was engaged to cut up this block so as to permit of Crown Grants being issued to the native owners. Hone te One expressed a wish Ihnt this land should not bo surveyed, and had warned Mr. Todd that to do so would be dangerous. Several warnings had been given, moreover, in other quarters, that to interfere with regard to the block would be impolitic. The Pirongia natives, had, it appears, felt some alarm in consequence of two diggers having made an attempt, a short time since, to prospect for gold. A band of thirty armed Hauhaus sot^out in pursuit of the prospeclora, but fortunately, were laughed out of thuir deadly intentions- by a peaceable native. The Rev. Mr. Sehnackc-nbernr, who resides at Knglan, .states, however, that the native mind had been in a very unsettled state ever

since that event. Mr. Tod;] f.mnd the aukati Hue almost obliterated, nnd h-vl applied for instructions as t> whether lie should re-survey and cut the same. Uis exact position, at the time of the murder, we have not ascertained, but it was probably within the auhati. From what we can learn the affair appears to have been a kind of ambuscade. The attacking party is said to have been small and to have included two women. Mr. Fritzell and a party were working on the same block with Mr. Todd, but the two parties had not seen one another for more than a week. Intelligence has been received that Fritzell and party are safe. The name of the half-caste, wounded at the time of Todd's murder, is Napera. Colonel Lyons, who is in the district, telegraphed to Dr. Pollen subsequently, stating that no panic existed amongst the European settlers in consequence of the outrage, and that all was quiet. THE LOSS OF TIIE S.S. TAURANGA. Another relic from the ill-fated steamer Tauranga has turned up during the past week, in the shape of a mail bag, which was washed ashore at Wangaroa, about eighty miles from the spot where the collision occurred. It was picked up by the natives, one of whom, on Friday, gave information to Mr. Thomas Hansen, of Pareroa. The informant stated that the natives, thinking the bag was a relic of the Tauranga, opened it, when they found inside letters and papers — some of the latter illustrated — in a state of preservation. Mr. Hansen was going to Wangaroa yesterday (Sunday), for the recovery of the bag and its contents, which he will at once forward on to Auckland. It may be remembered that only one of the two mail bags lost with the Tauranga had been recovered previous to this find, and in the missing bag it was said there were several letters containing money. It is to be regretted that the natives did not at once hand over the bag without breaking the seal. — Herald. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. The Herald's Alexandra correspondent of the 7th inst. says that authentic information has just been received that the whole of the natives in and around Tokangamutu arc under arms. Todd's murderers passed by Otorohanga this (Tuesday) morning, llewi and the chiefs of Ngatimaniapoto have left for Wanganui. Consequent on this state of things, the Waikato posts have been strengthened, and other precautions been taken by the Government. A detachment of Armed Constabulary are stationed at Ohinemuri to intercept Te Kooti, who is expected lo pass in that direction with a force reported as 100 strong.