THE PROVINCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 58, 11 May 1866, Page 2

THE PROVINCES.

AUCKLAND. The progress of settlement -in the out-dis-tricts is rapid. To those who, have only casual opportunities of observing the amount of work performed, the change effected on the, face of. the country of latV appears great indeed. Leaving out of the question, altogether the Waikato district, which has progressed with. unusual_rapidity, we have .substantial marks of steady progress within a day's ride of Auckland. Towards the north, the settlement of the country is proceeding steadily aud quietly. The settlers are.manfully overcoming every, difficulty, in the natural sterility of a great portion of the soil. and from the want of good roads. Fern and bush disappear. Regular fences and hedgerows enclose the cultivations that succeed the natural growth ;. and homesteads are to be seen, where only a few months ago perhaps there was a barren waste. Andh this process is constantly repeating itself both north and south. The whole aspectof the country is rapidly changing. Order and system succeed the luxuriant but worthless growth of nature; and although, from a purely artistic point of view, the change mars the natural beauty of the scenery, it nevertheless adds to the sum of human happiness, and the wealth of the colony. — W. News. We are indebted to the courtesy of the officers of H.M.S.S. Eclipse for information as to the death of the old friendly chief Wirernu Naylor, who, as we reported in a late issue, was suffering from a severe attack of fever. Naylor died ou the 27th or 28th of last month, and on the 2nd instant was buried at .Raglan with military honors, a party of the 12th Regiment, and a party of sailors of the Eclipse attending the funeral. He was one of the staunchest friends the pakeha had, and never swerved iu his allegieuce. Through his instrumentality many a Maori stood firm in loyalty to English rule, and English colonists cannot but retain a kindly memory of the old man who used so much influence in their favor. He was a powerful chief, ami owned more land in. the Auckland Province than almost any other native, and his influence amongst his countrymen was great. We may say that early in the war, Wiremu Naylor made every effort to bring over Thompson, Rewi, and Patatau to their allegiance again, that he was in a great measure an instrument in bringing about the surrender of the first of these three chiefs, and that up to the last moment he did his utmost to ensure peace throughout, this land. — N. Z. Advertiser. / Patea. — A correspondent of the Southern /Cross, writing from Waingongoro under date / April 15, says : — "A party of rebels showed themselves lately on the Waimate River, which is distant about six miles. ; frqm here, iu a northly direction. Not far from the banks of this river the .friendly pa is situate, and, the rebels were; seen near' its mouth by some frieudlies. They said they were there for the purpose of.fishing,, but towards, evening their number incresed to about 150, and the whole lot marched into the friendly pa, pulled down the white flag usually flying therein, and threatened the friendly chief (Wiremir) and his 1 followers -with all kinds of \ punishment if he allowed any supplies in the \vay of potatoes, etc., to come to the pakeha's cairjp."

From Coromandel we learn that there are now three companies at work on that goldfield, the most successful of which, the "Kapanga Gold Mining Company," since .its formation in October, 1864, has sent to the Sydney mint, gold to the value of £16,357 11s. 9d., and has in hand 1,250 ounces of gold, of the net value of £2 16s. 6d. an ounce. Its working expenses average £650 per month. The affairs of the company are in a very flourishing state.