AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3059, 31 October 1870, Page 4 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Octobers. Very little interest has been manifested here with respect te the great native meetings at Pariakao and Tokangamutn, which perhaps arises from the fact that information of the proceedings is neither easily come-at-able nor altogether reliable. The peaceful termination of the Pariakao gathering may probably be looked upon as likely to influence results at Tokongamutu, where considerable dissatisfaction isi openly expressed at the enforced isolation so long maintained by the establishment of Aukatis, or boundary lines. There can be no doubt the bulk of quietly disposed Hau-haus and Kingites are sick of the deference so long shown to the chiefs. Qoiet prevails everywhere along the East Coast, and at Whakatane a surrender of 30 Hau-haus, including Hapurona Kohi is reported. Northwards, throughout the native districts intervening between Auckland and the Three Kings, there apperas to exist as little inclination to ba trnuolesome, as at any period during the last 30 years. At Taupo, the completion of the through telegraph has been temporarily delayed by the usual native attempts to extort exorbitant sums for permission to proceed with its erection through Maori lands. It is possible that superstition has something to do with the hindrance. On windy days, when very intelligible murmurs vibrate from the wires it is very common to see Maoris pressing their ears to the telegraph posts, listening in rapt attention and with awestruck features to the .mysterious tones which proceed, as •ome of them devoutly believe, from a pfrVphft « Atua,” who for ought they know, le advising the white man to their prejudice. Many natives doubtless h ve no dread of the telegraph, and some use it freely. I question, however, if there lives a Maori to whom it would be possible to impart more than the haziest conception of the modus operandi by which messages are transmitted per telegraph. I presume it is generally known thatamongst Maoris a belief in Makuta (witchcraft) largely revails, though until lately a case of that kind has not been brought before our tribunals. On the 14th ulc., an action was brought In the District Court by a young native named Wilson Whiwhi, to recover £SO damages from a Maori doctress and witch called “ Miria ” and John Shera, a sailor, Miria’s husband, whom plaintiff accused of bewitching him. Plaintiff received a superior education at St John’s College, Bishops, Auckland, and is a draftsman, employed for the last nine years by Government. In Jnne last he applied to Miria to care him of sickness. Miria bears a great reputation amongst Msuiris, and her husband is a firm believer in his wife’s skill as a doctress. Miria’s system is strikingly original, simple, and vigorous, as developed In evidence. It consists in forcing the left fingers up the nostrils, and punching a person’s head with the right hand until the nose bleeds. Some of the details, lapping ap the sick man’s blood, &c., were rather horrifying. A verdict for the plaintiff was given on the 26th, and Judge Beckham said the case was the most extraordinary ever brought into any court in New Zealand. As the case proceeded, occasional war dances were performed outside the court by sympathisers with the bewitched one. The same locality witnessed plaintiff’s victory, which was duly celebrated with plenteous libations of rum, and consumption of good store 'of comestibles at plaintiff’s expense. Miria’s terms are—fee, £l2; and a couple of dozen pocket handkerchiefs, by way of perquisite. According to (he testimony of her husband, her practice lies chiefly amongst lunatics. The Bailiff-coin Maori squabble at Ohinenuri, of which so much has been said and written, is finally settled, much to the satisfaction of all concerned. It turns out that the postponement of the Native Lands Court Sitting had no reference to Moahanni or Una debts. At Upper Thames, an influential Chief has sanctioned gam digging by Europeans. The same chief was quite recently strongly opposed to European settlement in his district. An important event in last month’s annals, was the conviction on the 17th, of a deputy assistant Commissary-General for embezzlements exceeding £3200. The case presented many sad features, owing to the delinquent’s previous high character. What became of c the money is a mystery, not likely perhaps to be speedily unravelled, though surmises are “ plentiful as blackberries.” Tbe more (he circumstances are considered the less Reason appears for supposing the prisoner used the embezzled sums for his personal benefit. Judge Arney, with whom Mr lanes formerly lived on terms of intimacy, was much affected whilst pronouncing sentence of five years’ penal servitude. After some ingenious finessing on both odes, our police, on the 20th, succeeded in •capturing Harris, the Burrashire Council defaulter, accompanied by a Mrs Cassidy, He ■alMwtgave tbe officers ** leg-bail” being in-•deed-onlf secured within a few yards of the American abip Santon, after a moat exciting •chase. Judging from the evidence, (be capitate of tbe Santon must have been leagued /with Harris te the futile attempt at escape. ■Of the £6OO embezzled only £174 was found ■with him. Harris was remanded to MelIbourne on tbe 23rd, and sailed for that place •on Friday last. On tbe day he was brought (before the Police Court he charged two men named respectively Ellis and Griffiths, with extorting £6O from him on pretence of being emptoyad by detectives for his capture. The J

evidence against Ellis ami Griffiths being deemed insufficient, they were discharged o» the 24ih. Harris denied nothing, and admitted much of what was alleged against him. His demeanour throughout the examination was unusually cool. He said he brought the charge of extortion because he was betrayed after, paying largely for connivance. A great deal of billiardplaying' seems to have occurred between Harris and the persons he charged with extortion. The United States steamer Hesaoa left on Saturday last for Valparaiso, after lying in the Waitemata about a fortnight, during which time she was mostly open for inspection. She is a small ship of 900 tons register, and carries 9 guns. She is a poor specimen of war vessels, and the crew, which is said t® be 100 men deficient, must, I imagine, have been collected from every clime and nation under Heaven. A few recruits joined from here. Mr Vogel, I hear, has caused enquiries to be made respecting the Winchester repeating rifle and carbine. It appears that 18 shots can be fired from the Winchester whilst one can be loaded and fired from the Spencer, and 100 rounds of Winchester cartridges weigh 30 of the Enfield cartridge. The 18 shots can be fired without moving from the shoulder, and the Winchester carries a magazine of 18 cartridges, which need not be used if other single cartridges are preferred, so that the magazine may be kept as a reserve. The Winchester is guaranteed effective at 1000 yards. It is 3ft. loin, long, i.e., six inches shorter than the medium rifle in use at present, and therefore admirably adapted for New Zealand bush warfare. There is also a sabre attached to the Winchester, which is useful either as a bayonet or a bill-hook for clearing away scrub on a bush track. Two attempts at incendiarism have been made within the last fortnight, supposed te be the work of boys. The police are on the qui vive, and are said to have got a cine to the offenders. The second attempt was only discovered after a wooden building bad been ignited. Fort Britomart is being scarped on its sea verge, and the material is being used to fill in reclaimed land near the breakwater. The Provincial authorities are very desirous to demolish the whole of the headland on which Britomart stands, with a view of obtaining building sites. The Fort was planned by Imperial officers after much careful consideration, and the battery undoubtedly largely commands the harbour and anchorage. It is the opinion of a good many people that pending possible eventualities, which may result from the war now ragi g in Europe, Fort Britomart should not be dismantled. The Kaipara ’and Riverhead Railway is likely to give rise to considerable dispute. It is alleged that interested motives have decided for the terminus being placed where there is access for vessels only at certain times of the tide, and where it is likely to be of least general utility. I believe a protest has been forwarded to the Superintendent from a number of settlers. It is reported that,Mr Vogel will be requested to stand fora Northern constituency, and an impression seems to prevail that be would meet with little, if any, opposition. His Excellency the Governor arrived on Thursday last. He proceeds to-morrow in the Luna to visit Waiuku It is not known if the visit has any connection with a Quixotic canal project,