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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 116, 18 May 1868, Page 2

It is, perhcips, not generally known that the settlement, of the interior of the northern island is progressing more rapidly than is probably imagined. We hear that several individuals have taken up considerable tracts of country in the Lake Taupo district, where the land is reported to be very favorable for the purpose, and it is further stated that no annoyance from the natives need be apprehended. Amongst these we m:iy mention that Mr Tetley returned to Wellington a few days before the departure of the Mataura for Panama, (by which steamer he le!t for England, with the intention of returning to the colony immediately) having travelled overland with Messrs Wharton and Beaumont from Napier, through the Lake Taupo country, where he has taken up a very large tract of country, oa which he has already placed 12,000 owes. A total acreage of over half a million, comprising 520 square miles has already been secured from the natives by various settlers, amongst whom we may mention that the Hon. A. P. Seymour has obtained 100,000 acres, Mr. J. C. Clayton 90,000, Mr Holt, the Under Secretary of- the Defence Office, 30,00Q, and Mr. George 100,000. Mr Tetley's 400,000 acres are on the banks of the Waikato River, at its confluence with the Taupo Lake. We are glad to find from .the Hokitika papers that the visit of the Carandini party to that place has been highly successful. We learn by the arrival of the Nelson yesterday, that the State Trials were not to commence until this morning, and will probably extend over two or three days. Mr Ireland receives as a fee for his services the magnificent sum of £1000, probably the highest ever paid south of the line. Tha amount has been made up by subscriptions, and so liberal have the contributions been that we hear there will be a large balance unexpended after this heavy drain on the exchequer. * We have received a letter from ' A Cadet,' stating that some doubt has arisen as to the number of ladies which the noncommissioned officers and privates of the three Cadet Companies will be entitled to inti'oduce at the Volunteer Ball, on Monday next, and requesting information on this point. We find, on enquiry, that the Stewards have determined that the noncommissioned officers and privates of the Cadet Companies only shall be allowed to pay 7s. 6d. for their tickets, and be entitled to introduce one lady each. The barque Anna of Melbourne, left Newcastle on the 29th ult. arriving here on Saturday. She experienced fine, weather, with 8 days fresh easterly winds. The Anna brings a cargo of coals, consigned to Mr R. Gibbons. It will be seen from our advertising columns that the Japanese Jugglers, whose performances in Wellington and elsewhere have been so favorably mentioned, will give a performance this enening at the Oddfellows' Hall. The Independent states that Sir Georgd Bowen and his party bagged 18 brace of pheasants, on the first day of the season in Auckland. The West Coast Times states that on Saturday week Mr. James Crowley, printer of the Celt newspaper, was brought up charged with malicious and defamatory

libel. It appeared, however, that the information, which accused Mr Crowley of publishing a libel against Mr Fitzgerald, the Resident Magistrate, and Mr Shaw, the Mayor of Hokitika, had been laid entirely without Mr Fitzgerald's knowledge and consent, and he protested emphaticallly and with much feeling against the manner iv which he had been treated in the matter. The .information was, of course, dismissed. The Westport Eveuiug Star states that the 'chief reporter' of the West Coast Times, whoever that functionary may be, has paid a visit .to Westport and Addison's Flat for the purpose of making enquiries as to the late disturbances, and ascertaining the truth or otherwise of Mr Commissioner Kynnersley's report in connection therewith, and adds that something like 48 pages of closely written matter has been taken down and will be published, and un- • doubtedly commented upon by that journal, 1 The Hokitika Star gives the following — We have to caution shopkeepers and traders generally against receiving Victorian, New South Wales, or other colonial notes, as under the present objectionable Stamp Act, all notes not interprovincial, must have Is. stamp placed on them before they are allowed to leave New Zealand, which, together with 6d. commission charged by Banks, reduces the value of a note from 20s to 18s. sd. The Marlborcugh Express of the 15th inst. states that the remains of the late Mr C. H. Moftitt were conveyed to the cemetery on Saturday last by his friends, the pall-bearers being W. 11. Eyes, Esq., Superintendent of Marlborough ; J. B. Wemyss, Esq., Provincial Secretary ; Messrs Jas. Sinclair, J. Kissling (-Manager of the Bank of New Zealand), H. Dodson, G-. Henderson, and W. M. Nelson. About 70 persons were present, and followed the funeral cortege on foot to its last resting place. The occasion was the more interestiug, as Mrs Moffitt's servant who died of a similar disorder on Friday last, was interred at the same time. At the cemetery the last mournful ceremonial was conducted by the Rev. Mr "Butt, assisted by the Bishop. Difficulties are continually cropping up, caused by the hasty manner in which legislative enactments have been hurried through the General Assembly. As a case in point we may instance the difficulty which the Auckland Herald mentions as having arisen lately in carrying out the punishment of •whipping a boy named Clune, who was sentenced, at the Police Court on Thursday week to two months' hard labor, .and to be privately whipped, for theft on board Lord Pembroke's yacht, the Albatross. The rather extraordinary course was taken, we believe, of naming in the warrant the constable who was to inflict the chastisement, and who now refuses to do so, in consequence of being specially named. The matter remains, therefore, in abeyance. The latest accounts to hand from the Thames GS-oldfleld are very satisfactory. The town of Shortland is improving fast; thers are three banks now established, the Australasia, the Union, and the Bank of New Zealand. A tri-weekly paper, the Thames Advertiser, is published, audjshows signs of a brisker business every month. The following is the latest mining intelligence from that quarter: — Shaves are advancing to enormous figures, la the celebrated Hunt's claim £2500 was offered for a 1 96 th part of a share, and refused. A case has just been tried before the Warden's Court, Shortland, where a man claims to be a mate with another who has a claim. The value of the shares disputed was £6000, which the plaintiff said he had an equal interest iv by paying £20 in Sept. Judgment was given for the defendant on the ground that the plaintiff had given up all claim. • The Marquis of Stafford claim has got 14 grains of pure gold from \\ lbs. of stone.