Interprovincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 799, 27 June 1870, Page 2

Interprovincial Items.

The Daily Advertiser, 20th June, says : —We regret to have to announce to our readers that Mr W. B. Rhodes is seriously indisposed. A letter from Mrs Rhodes (Mr Rhodes heing too unwell to write) states that he is suffering from an unusually severe attack of diptheria, and is confined to his bed.

The ■■ spiritists " are very numerous in Otago, and much correspondence respecting them has recently appeared in the local papers. From a letter published a week or two since in the Evening Star it appears that inquiries have been made through a " medium " respecting the fate of the Matoaka. The inquirers were in? formed by the spirits that the Matoaka was wrecked six days after leaving port, having carried away her mast and sprung a leak ; that nineteen of those on board have died; that the survivors drifted about seven days ; that thirty-seven are still alive ; seven of whom were picked up from a boat; that the remaining thirty are on one of the Auckland Islands, short of provisions, though not in distress ; that they had taken provisions from the ship, and that the wreck of the vessel was on the rocks. The total number of passengers they further stated to be forty-one—-two more than appears in the clearance at the Customs.'

The Evening Post, 10th June, says : As a proof of the courtesy and consideration with which the Government is disposed to treat the representatives of the Press, we may mention that, on the opening of Parliament, to-day, the whole of the front seats (those with a desk) in the reporter's gallery of the Legislative Council —with the exception of two, occupied by the Hansard reporter and Mr Vogel's private secretary —were occupied by Maoris and their chaperone. Our representative asked the Chief Reporter whether ifc was not possible for those who had work to do to obtain a place where they would be able to see, hear, or write, but was informed that the Maoris could not be displaced, as they were there by special order from the Government.

From the Evening Post, 20th June, we take the following : The interesting ceremony of presenting to the native chiefs, Kemp, Eopata, and Morgan, the swords of honor sent out for the purpose by her most gracious Majesty took place at Mount .Cook Barracks, to day at noon. nately, the weather was very unfavorable, a soaking rain falling the whole time, but the attendance of spectators was numerous, and included the members of the Government, the Speakers of each House of Assembly, a large number of hon. members, and several other gentlemen. Punctually at noon his Excellency the Governor, at* tended by Captain Pitt, private secretary and A.D.C., and Captain Smith, A.8.C., drove up to the barracks, where a guard of the Armed Constabulary were drawn up to receive him. His Excellency and suite drove up in Howard's City Bus, and on dismounting the guard presented arms, and then marched off to the parade ground, whither his Excellency and the spectators soon followed. The constabulary were drawn up in the background, and on a table in front lay the cases containing the swords. The spectators formed a semicircle, and Kemp, Kopata, and Morgan, advauced to the table. The Governor was supported by the Hon. the Premier and the Hon. the Native Minister, Mrs Fox, &c. Mr Young acted as interpreter. His Excellency, addressing the native chiefs, said that her Majesty had sent out the swords to be presented to them, amongst other natives, in recognition of their ser« vices in the cause of law and order in this Colony. Her Majesty had commanded him, as her representative, to invest them with these marks of her favor, and he was glad to be able to do so in the presence of the Ministers and many members of the Legislature of the Colony. Hiß Excellency then referred to the valuable services rendered by Kemp, by Kopata, and by Morgan, and intimated that Topia a id some other chiefs would also be distinguished by marks of her Majesty's favor. The swords were then handed to, Mrs Fox, who buckled them on the chiefs. Kemp made a rather long speech in reply, and Morgan and Uo« pata spoke briefly in acknowledgment of the high honor bestowed upon them, and which thoy seemed tp value greatly. The Hon. the Premier then called for three, cheers for her Majesty, which were heartily given, and the ceremony ended. The constabulary were then put through the bayonet exercise, which they performed.

admirably, both by numbers and in review order. His Excellency requested the Chief Commissioner, Mr Branigan, to express to the men his satisfaction at their appearance and dri'l, aad then, after being shown over the whole of the barracks, his Excellency re-entered the bus, and returned home. The swords presented to the chiefs are beautiful specimens of workmanship, very much resembling the dress swords of the officers of the Highland Regiments. The hilt, of chased silver, is of the basket kind, and is lined with crimson velvet. The scabbards are of crimson morocco, richly mounted with siiver, and the weapons are slung from the shoulder by morocco belts and slings, all silver mounted. Each blade bears the following inscription, " Given by Queen Victoria to [the name in Maori], for his unfailing loyalty and valour. May you long wear it in health and honor."

The Southern. Cross, 20th June, says:— Mr Peter Grace, a settler of 27 years' standing in Auckland, expired at his residence, Wyndham-streefc, at about 4 o'clock on Saturday morning after a short illness of slow fever. Mr Grace was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and after his arrival in the colony was employed in the Government Survey Department, under Mr Ligar, who was then Surveyor General. Mr Grace assisted in the survey of a portion of the Upper Thames, between Matamata and Tawranga, and on leaving the Government service engaged in business. He lately undertook several large contracts, one of which was in connexion with the Auckland and Drury Railway ; in which, however, he was unfortunate, though he ultimately succeeded in obtaining compensation after a lengthy fight. Mr Grace was generally respected, and had the reputation of an industrious settler. He was 62 years of age when he died.

The following, referring to the obstruction of the Arawas to the telegraph, is from the Touranga correspondent of the Southern Cross: —"From Mr Clarke, a contractor for the telegraph, just arrived from the iuterior, I learn that Major Fox, the Arawa chief, is offering the most vexa

lions and determined opposition to the erection of the line through the country near the Taiaki, with the view of extorting money from the Government. He demands a payment of 10s for each post cub out of the tiinbor felled, which would be at the rate of about £lO or £ls a tree, and claims a ground rent of £1 a post. He also states that, if tho workmen erect a post without these demands being complied with, he will cut the post down and burn it. He also claims 2s 6d for every small scrub-tree cut down on the line, but will generously give the supplejacks in. Al Kaiteriri the natives under Martin were rather more moderate. They have warned the surveyors that they must have Is 6d for every post, and, if this is not given, they will not permit them to go on with the work. The men, disregarding this caution, continued their labor, and the natives waited on Mr Preece with a strong re monstrance. But Mr Preece told them that if they attempted to stop the surveyors he would send a covering party to protect them ; meanwhile he would communicate with Mr Commissioner Clarke, and they must await the reply of that gent)eman. Mr Clarke, the contractor, says that he offered them Is a post, which he thought was quite enough, but this they refused. I have also been informed that Mr Blake, who left for Maketu on on Tuesday morning with Mr Warbrick, Government interpreter, and others connected with the works, on arriving, at Maketu, hearing of the determined form this opprsition has assumed, resolved on pressing forward at once to the place and endeavoring to effect an arrangement. He was advised not to do so, until receipt of intelligence from Mr CJarke 0 C. ; but bis anxiety to bring the matter to a settlement would not allow him to remain, and the party proceeded inland. Mr M'Kenzie, another of the contractors, was told at the commencement that all necessary arrangements with the natives had been made, and that he would have no trouble with them. But the contrary appears either to have been the case, or the natives —as would not be at all surprising—have broken their agreement. It has been said, long pgo, that we may have to fight the Arawas after a 1, and matters look very unpleasant just now, They are reported to be the most avaricious and greedy tribe jn the island, and they have so long been recipients of lavish favors from the Government that they have pome to consider them an actual right, and feel it a grievance to be deprived pf their accustomed pay.

Fox, particularly, is acting an ungracious part, for he is at present engaged in roadmaking with a party of natives, and, consequently, is in receipt of pay." The Tauranga correspondent of the Southern Cross writes :—" I am informed that a number of Hauhau natives, belonging to a hapu of the Arawa, lately following Te Kooti, have recently given them selves up at or near Kaiteriri. It is reported that there are three whitemen along with Te Kooti. I give the report for what it is worth, but it is currently believed by the Maoris up-country."