SATURDAY, MARCH '29, 1879. OUR LETTER HOME:

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5343, 29 March 1879, Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH '29, 1879. OUR LETTER HOME:

About the only important political niatl during the month calling for notice is t occurrence- of a little native difficulty the West, Coast of the North Island, connection With the survey of the Wi mate Plains. The land that was bei: surveyed was confiscated by: the /Legi lature for acts of rebellion by the native and though ■ the confiscation haß ; be to outward appearance submitted to, t Maoris have always had a hankering get their lands restored to them', j /j) existence of this desire has ; been, "wi enough known all along, and.has nb doii induced a good deal of circumspecti on the part of the Government in deall with the confiscated lands. Some tii ago, however, it was decided to sell t land on the Waimate Plaims, * and f some months past the preliminary wo of survey has beou going on without ai ' attempt at obstruction being made by tl natives. A few days ago, however, t surveyors, with all their impediment includiiiEf tents, instruments, &c, we moved away from the plains by bodioo of Maoris, sufficiently strong in numbers to render opposition useless". There was no violence used, simply because it was unnecessary, but nevertheless the action taken by the Maoris is of a aature that is, .likely to cause the Government a good deal of embarrassment. The proceedings of the natives have been instigated by the chief Te Whiti, a fanatic, who has obtained considerable influence over the minds of the Maoris by pretensions of i| prophetic inspiration. Last week this chief had a meeting of natives at Parihaka, ' . and the'; Native* Minister' availed himself of the occasion to pay ! j Te Whiti a friendly visit, but the result was anything but favorable. Te Whiti had, it appears, desired the interview, intending to utilise it for the purpose of increasing his influence with the natives' by showing them how he could get the better of the Native Minister in a war of words, but he was defeated in this design, and fearing that he would lose prestige altogether, he .resorted to the extreme measure of ordering the removal of the surveyors^ , The matter has been somewhat complicated by the shelter Te Whili^; is giving to a murderer named Hiroki^ who several months ago killed^ a man named M'Lean, the cook of one of the survey parties on the Wairaate Plains. It was not even alleged at the time that the murder had anything to do with the question of title to the land, but Hiroki having fled to' Te Whiti for refuge, it , suits him now to pretend that his killing M'Lean was in. assertion of a right to the' land that was being surveyed. At the interview Mr Sheehan had with Te Whiti/ he upbraided the latter for not giving Hiroki up and, urged the surrender of the murderer. Te Whiti s answer was of a kind quite characteristic of the cunning of the' Maori mind. He' hxst asked whether Hiroki would be tried bya jury of natives, and when told that the law permitted that the jury should be com-: posed half of natives and half of Europeans, he wanted to know whether .the Supreme Court sitting wpuld ta,ke;place at Parihaka. To that of course a negative answer was given, and then he was, silent, leaving it to be inferred that unless the murderer was to be tried at Parihaka he would not be surrendered. It is thought that the Government will insist upon Hiroki being given up to justice. With respect to the surveys, it is as yet uncertain what course the Government will take. The natives have not only removed the surveyors off the ground, but have also dug up the survey pegs, thus rendering abortive much of the work that has been done. Meanwhile the Government hove advertised the land for sale on the Oth of May, and it would seem to be necessary that prior to the sale ineasui'es should be taken for restoring tho survey pegs, so that the several sections may be identifiable, and also to afford to buyers a guarantee that they will be able to take possession of their purchases. In the locality tho belief is that the affair will not lead to a conflict ; that if the Goyern-me-nt show a determined front, the natives will yield, and will not molest the. surveyors if they are put on the plains again with a force of constabulary to protect them. It is very possible that this is the correct view of tho matter, and that the natives, ;is a body, have no notion of having a flight over tho disputo, but there "aysr "avs the chance that some hot-blooded isai», "' ma y precipitate matters by young 'Maui.. ' act oi> violence', and an unauthorised . "°ne\val of the thus bring about a x.. " n var, this war with tho natives. How*. " of ''y contingency must not deter tho Minn.. „ from pursuing tho course they deem advisable in the interests uf tho colony. Te Whiti has taken a stand which it would be dangerous to the country to allow him to retain, and something will have to tie risked to move him from it. The Government are doubtless fully impressed with tho necessity of acting with firmuwß,

and already orders have been given for* the concentration of bodies of the Armed" Constabulary in the vicinity of the plains. This is of course only a measure of precaution, arid it is to bo hoped that there ■will be no neted whatever for a resort to arms. .- . ■'■'''■.".

Early next week a ' large native meetingisto T3o licldat Te Kppua, in; the Auckland „ district.*, It ia expected to.be the largest aiS[&'' xftbiit important native meetiiig that" 1 has yet been held in the colony, and great preparations have been making for it for a long time. The Maori king Tawhiao is to be present, and also Sir-,. .George* -^Grey; -and " the Native*" Minister* The meeting has, been 'looked forward- W J -&s likely- ' id' tiring aoout' a jsdou- •"• understanding between _ the Government and the King natives. The funeral of the native chief Karaitiana Takamoana — whose' 'death was mentioned in our last letter — took place on the Ist instant, at Pakowhai, with a good deal of ceremony. There was a largle assemblage preterit} libtli of, Europeans and natives. ' The body was interred 1 in a brick vault erected for the purpose. The Rev. Samuel Williams read ' the burial service in the Maori languhge. ; Our new Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, arrived at Wellington last Wednesday night. He came over from Sydney in H.M.S. Emerald j and wqs accompanied by H.M.S. Wolverine',- in which his Excellency's suite were, accommodated. His Excellency landed on Thursday morning, in company with several membors of . the Ministry, who had gone on board the Emerald to reeelvey him I.1 '. The Premier was not ahioiig'si'tiieni, andliis a"frsettce has been made the occasion of a good deal .; o,f - adverse comment. Sir George Grey'& \vell-kjn6wn aversion to Governors as at present appointed has perhaps given reason.! 'for the-suppouitipn/that' his abjsence was «an intentional discourtesy, but^ in justice" to the Premier, his engagement to meet Tawhiap'atTel^opua must be accepted as a sufficient excuse. The meeting takes" plkce so soon that had Sir, George gone, down to Wellington td receive the Governor he would have risked breaking his engagement. However, we do nqt suppose that the Premier's presence .would have added, much to the heartiness of tho new Governor's reception. Ho was met onjlanding by the civic authorities; foreign consuls,, .cleirgy, and'all the digna-j taries that happened ( ' to, be in- Wellington.; The pebpl'e generally we're represented by t as large, a.prowd as, could get within sight ;pf .the, | lahd(ng, ,' place.' ' '. His Excellency ''jiimsetf "madi?. . very ;littl© .show. He ; wasf • a.ttired/j'.'wei are,' told, in ordinary walking' ODstuniQ, .and' iLady Robinson and the! ichildren were plainly dressed, much to the •disappointment j ; no' doubt, df the majority of- the crowds ■An address Was presented to the Governor by the :j f Town Clerk of Wellington . ; Arid ' h ere kgairi . there was 1 disappointrivent' for the assemblage, his Excellency's reply being of the briefest. After that the Governor was taken to Government House, .and there he was duly sworn in by the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond. . A Gazette published yesterday contains „the usual notißcation of his .Excellency's assumption of the Governorship of Eew. Zealand.., .• ,- ■ ' We mentioned in our last letter that there is an agitation on foot for the construction of a breakwater at Port Ahuriri .Bluffj.i-the. present^ ..hatbor works being considered as having failed^ to • provide adequatelyfor'the trade of the port. The matter has ■ been < brought before , the Napier Harbor '"Boai'd," arid with the ■view, of -carrying 'out the" breakwat)^ project a proposal h,as been 'made 1 , for raising-^ loan' of;' £l2^,ooo, with which the I 'current loan of £7o^ooo,as to.be paid 'off, 1 arid the, remainder, devoted to the cbristruction ; of tlie . breakwater. , The proposal is 'to be further discussed at the next meeting of the board, when it is- to be hoped that something will be done to obtain reliable information on the practicability of constructing a breakwater. That much, at all events, the board should do, if they do not wish it to be inferred tha.t they are favoring the scheme for the Kidnappers , Harbor.

We have had this year more than our usual amount of horseracing. On tho 17th, Sfc. Patrick's Day, we had the inauguration race meeting of the new Racing Club. The weather was favorable, and -the attendance was very good. The racing was on the whole fair. On the following Thursday and Friday, the 20th and 21st instant, the Hawke's Bay Jockey. Club races. were held. There was a large attendance on the first day, but heavy rain came down when the principal race was being run, and very spon thinned the course of spectators.' The next day the weather was fine, but the attendance was not ' so large, people dreading a repetition of their experience the previous day, r ,. The, races altogether were successful. ' The Club intend haviug another race meeting in the spring.

Our obituary this month includes the names of two old and respected residents — that of Mr Joseph Le Quense on the Ist. instant, and that of, Mrs ,J.,.T. .Tylee yesterday. 'The deceased lady was the wife of the Ooaimissionar of Crown Lands of this district ; she was highly esteemed by..a. J la.rge < qircle' of .friends, and her loss \yill be very much felt among all who knew her. The late 'Mr Le Quesne carried on business for a good many years at Port Ahuriri, and was exceedingly well liked by all with whom he had any dealing;) i '■■ -:>.■■<■ •>• ■

' Wo loam that thirty men of the Armed Constabulary are on their way down from Taupo to Napier, to bo embarked >t>y steamer for Wellington by the first opportunity after their arrival here, inspector Scully has received orders to make provision for tho men's accommodation.

At the Canterbury County Court, in England, on Januax-y;2o,;ejcctment orders were' applied for by two farmers. During the hearing, a Mr Kimber, counsel for the defendant, stated that "he thought it right .to, say, in, justice to his clients, that no " fewer than 3000 persons had emigrated under tho auspices of the union of Avhich the .defendants were, members, and are now in a' prosperous state in New Zealand." The Judge thought the information very important.

The Hydes' Burlesque Company played last night to a very indifferent house, the bill' consisting of "Checkmate" and tho burlesque "Yo Honeymoon." It is difficult to understand why tho company is not better patronisod. ■ Tho troupe is, .on the whole, attractive, and several of its members sing and act exceedingly well, yot they ,have been playing' to •* unusually poor hoVisds during the week. It is to be hoped that duririg ! tholast : 'few nights of their stay they will rcceiVo bettor patronage, at, tho ■ hands of' the playgoing public. Tonight/will; bo , produced tho drama, "Worthy Struggle," and the burlesque of ", Somnambula.", Wo understand , that the performance on Tuesday night will bo for the .benefit of Mr Simmons. We would' recommend "those who would like to- see a splendid sample' qf' barley; to pay !a visit to bur office. The: barley, "which' is really' tho best we have, soon for, a^Jong while, was. grown on Mr BrucdYlanct at ormond/ Poverty Bay, and, what, is perhaps . as remarkable as its fine .quality, it was sown and stacked within nino weeks.. Mr Kearden announces in our advertising columns that on Tuesday next there will bo accommodation at tho Commercial Academy for two boarders and two day pupils. Yesterday was the mual civil case day at tho E.M. Courfc, and although a largo -liibor of cases were sot down for hearru.. ■ 1 v three wore brought on, the ing, On-, '^nin being either settled out majority oi w -, uct i. Tho folio win oof Court or postp^. -Vi HiriniTakaworc disposed of :-^-Donav -olios was moana, claim of £7 (>s. Mi'ii^ , - I(je for plaintiff. Thoro was no appear^- ' of defendant, and juigment went by de- »

fau#, with costs £3 9s 6d.»-R. P. Wil-.-lfams v. A. J. Jaine§, claim for £41 os, of which amount £10liad been paid. Mr Laseelles for pJiiritilfc Defendant did, ndh appear, arid judgmeni went by default for amount claimed, £31 ss, with costs £o 13s. — Boyce and Fail v. Ifi-gram,-'claim of *3. Judgment-was givon-by default, >ith costs £l 13s 6d. „ Mr jk.Eeliy, of^jPayerty Bay, has now' v 3(JOO fat efiWlte to, Ganibridge, Waikato. The sheep have been selected from the flocks of Mr M'Hardy, Pako^ whai; of Mr Eathbone, Waipawa; of Mr Bridge, Euataniwha ■;• and. of- Mr Can*, Petauo.

The Rabbit, nifisflijc^ h fitlly as great in .New Zealand as it id in inf part 1 ctf ' Victoria. A gentleman who has lately travelled through' Southland informs a contemporary that the, wonder is how the squatters get along at all. They have not yet been troubled by a land tax,' but the invasion of rabbits is much worse. On several stations as many as tvyenty i4<3ri toe. employed in destroying rabbits. On. one large statioii krrtfwn to,, our informant 140,000 rabbits, were killed iii one, year, and last winter being a very severe one, the station books showed 'that one-; half of the sheep had died from starvation and snow. Other stations report killing 500,000 rabbits, and this at 2£d and 3d oach amounts to a heavy tax. AcoiTesp'dndent ,iii the Netti Zealand Times of Monday las£ apparently, takes it for granted that the present Ministry., will be turned out of office a few days 1 after the opening of next session of Parliament. He goes on to say : — I 'Who is to take their place? That's; the question; tKer'e b'elng,, as is generally' supposed, no ' organised 'Opposition.: That supposition is only partly true, as ! will- be 'seen on tlie meeting of the House. As to the coming men, if you are anxious; to know. I will give you some idea. Leader and Premier, Hon, J. Whitaker,' notwithstanding his" haying intimated; that he does not again intend taking \ office-; Colonial Secretary, Hon. John; Hall, ' and leader Legislative Council ; . j ■Mr Stevens, of Christchurch, Minister • of Public Works. • F. D; Fentqn, Chief; Judge Native Lands ■ Court, • Native 1 Minister, to be called to the Council, or j what is more provable, will fthd'.aseatin; the House of Eepr'ese'rita'tives;. Major j Atkinson, . Treasiirer ; George M'f/ean, . Commissioner ■of Cust6ins. This -leaves '■ open the offices of Postmaster-General' and Minister of Lauds, one of which; would, probably have been awarded to Mr . -Curtis,- of Nelson, had he not sold his; own party in 1877,' and.:sold himself to* the present Government in; 1878.; , .' His ■' ; repentance, though it be with, tears, can- , not be. accepted. . .The. rank and file of ; the House who will support the Government named.. will set their face dead against- serving under any renegade. Hence the portfolio of PostmasterGeneral Avill fall to one or other of such men as Walter Johnston, Captain Kenny, Woolcpck', Seymour, Fitzroy* or Wason. Eolleston, who. . ivotild, be. a Weakness to any Ministry, will make a good Speaker, and v as' Fitzherbert has 'niade up Ms mind, if possible, to obtain the ' 'Speaker's chair .in the Upper House, thore will ; be an opening for Eolleston."

The following is reported \in a contemporary as being the exact colloquy that took place when 'Colonel Brett recently, gave a constable into custody for not saluting him: — The Colonel asked^ Do you know me? — No, sir. Don't you know that I am a J.P. ? — No, sir. Do you mean to say, you don't kno'vy me ?-^No, sir '; : but Ibelieve.you are Colonel : Brett. I don't know.' At this stage the colonel raised his voice, and in a furious tone, which was heard more than fifteen yards outside the Court House, then I'll make you know me. You passed me three times before, and would not salute me. I'll make you/ I'll make you salute me. — If I knew you I would have saluted you, sir. I have never seen you acting as a Justice of the Peace, or in any other official way, or I should have known you ; neither have I been introduced to you. Do you think that a J. P. is to be introduced to every constable ? If you don't salute me I'll have you kicked out of the force. — Then, sir, I' decline to salute you. Your conduct is anything but that of an .officer and gentleman, and I decline to /salute you on-these grounds. Then you- won't salute me ? — No, sir. Your conduct is most unbecoming as a . Justice of the Peace and gentleman ; and I decline to salute you. You won't ? — No, sir; Then consider yourself a prisoner, I'll have you arrested.. Sergeant, arrest that man. " That man" was arrested and detained 'in custody for eleven hours for "refusing to salute a Justice of the Peace.'!,. ,-,.,. A" miserable little specimen of humanity, named William Carter, was brought before., the; Melbourne: City Court recently 'as a neglected child. . This waif of the streets is , described as being about, six years old, throe feet high, . and'already'a confirmed^ di'uhkard' and thief.. Mr, Hill, the c|ty missionary, \ in-, formed the' Bench that the child wasi employed by some women. a.s,a,messenger to, fetch theic beer, and. thatdnithe 'course of ' Ills .profession?) duties he in thehabit of getting intoxicated about three ■ times a week. ■ • ■•■•*' ■ '■' '

The Otago Times takes up the' gauatlet on behalf of ' one" of" the Dunediri telegraphists 1 as to speed in, telegraphing thus : — " We yesterday published a paragraph that appeared in the Ppyerfy Bay Standard, stating that Mr. Ashton,..telegraphist,' of Napier, had sent a message for three minutes at the rate of over 60 words, a minute, this feat being described as the fastest telegraphing that had ever been . done in New Zealand. ' It is as well to state that the Dunedin Telegraph Office . has the services of the fastest operator here. Mr Jagger — whose name, was mentioned in tho paragraph' referred to— sent a message at the rate of 42 words a minute for half an hour, some time ago, to decide a small bet, and this may be regarded as no mean feat. In a trial of speed, however, for two minutes, Mr Jagger sent 127 words-rover 63 words a minute — so that Napier must take seqond place until their pet operator improves a little."

There is a distinction apparently in some cases as to choice of executioneers. The 'Tipiaru Herald in proof says \r"An uufortunnto .man, whose every appearanco told plainly that he had been putting in too much of his time in publichousos lately, went to the Police Station yesterday, and said he wanted to sec Inspector Ponder. He was shown into the Inspector's office, where he stated that sOnic imaginary' individual had decided upon shooting him, and that „he had come to the Inspector to be shot by him, as he would prefer to be shot by I tho Inspector than by anyone else. The Inspector, of course, saw that the poor fellow was suffering from delirium tremens, the effect of hard drinking, and had him locked up, promising, at the same time, that he would him that jeyoning." vl A Southern paper says': — " Telegrams received from London last evening state that the Prince of Wales will visit New Zealand after tho Melbourne Exhibition ; and also that there is a. possibility of the Duke of Connaug'ht coming to Australia. In all probability the Royal brothers will make tho tour in '^company. We trust that the news may bo correct, and that tho future king of England and Prince Arthur may be spared to set foot oil this, the most distant dependency of Her Majesty." The champion long-nosed man resides at Sacramento. Its owner was at breakfast, when a friend, seated on the opposite side of tho table, knowing him to bo a little near-sighted, remarked, " There's a fly on tho end of your nose." "Is there ?" responded tho owner of the horn of plenty. "I didn't know it. Just please scare him off ; you're nearer to him than, I a,ui."

: Tfytf:Pjsii}os^<M Hwald of Wednesdayisetysi^'Jat A. Ashman, telegraph opera3isor,sn Gisbbrne, has befefl asked to go tb;/the^ydney Exhibition ajjL the (3ham l pio'^;^6pKrator of the Ausjaalian Colonies. % 3Ma telegraph Departi^l^il^it', Wellington ySaertaEeS id ptyy the 1 ~6osM Mr AsSm^niy expenses. WeMictfe'tlifflt arrangements will be niade which "w|u|J admit ol£MrsLshman taking his SJej?.|i&-£ ifcre^^sborVe should feel proud tKat Mr Askuten .fll&uld have been appointed tcf c'pnduct its telegraphing, We believe : tnat : it is acknowledged beyond all dispute that this geiitleman'is the*: quickest' and most correct operator in the Southern Hemisphere." .... . .. -v< A Melbourne ' corfesp'briderit ' of the , Sydney Morning Seraldyrvites as follows: — The new' Governor, has. arrived. He has {announced his fM&neis to- be most liberally at the service of thosjef vrhp wish to confer with him, and' he is going to hold a levee next Wednesday week. He' has; so. faf, avoided* business, but ihe'.went. to the races, tfo-day Ms troubles begin. • The question is, what will he" do about the: Southßourke electibn ?■' Will he validate, it', because his Ministers' ad-vrise'^im :to do: so, or will he enquireinto the matter, and ; use his own judgment? "If he do this, ■ latter, he can hardly : fait, tfir.refuse^-tot validate it, for a more infamous' iois-jj carriage; of. election justice never was: recorded in election annals. . The action j 1 of Lord Ndtmanby. in: this :the first exer-i cisc of his rule will a good deal indicate' what la's f utua v 6' positioii is : g:oing to be. .• ; .' Mir Cavill, the English swimmer, hasvbpen.-swlirimirig in the, Yarra, from ■J3hny6ne ! -street Bridge to Prince's Bridge:" —He is still alive, and'; ■ apparently well. But those who , are ' familiar with Yarra water wonder, how he' stood- it oi swain : iti' f It .is a 'clever thing * to swim' seventeen or, ; eighteen ; miles, but it is a ssll cleverer thing to have swam such a long 1 distan'o'o ii such water, Mr ,Cavill has ! a. very, strong stomach to have done the' distance; in a '■] fluid thick and slab with abominations such, aj3. the Yarra water is. He has since, however, confined his ,swimniing>to.the sea,' and he .certainly does exceedingly clever things. -...He. will' help toigive"' an impetus to the study -.and practice of swimming, .which, notwithstanding its obvious advantages, is curiously neglected as a part of education. '■' " >' [ j: .':; ; *■.""'