LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 80, 16 September 1843, Page 318

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

We are happy to announce the arrival of Mr. Fox, who is to fill the office ot Company's Agent in this settlement. From the character tte. have heard of this gentleman we are led to believe that we may esteem ourselves fortunate in so able a successor being found to the late respected Captain Wakefield.

Twenty tons of potatoes (three varieties)," grown by Mr. Molesworth, together with some other seeds, have been forwarded to this settlement by Colonel Wakefield, "of which, we presume, our agriculturists will gladly avail themselves. . ' . The Ursula was beating into Wellington on Tuesday when the Sisters left. As the Tyne was expected to sail this day, we may hope to get the English mail early in the week. . — The Gannet, from Twofold Bay, with cattle and horses intended for We.U§fcgton, ran in here on Thursday, being totally with- . out water and fodder. The loss, we are, sorry to say, has been very great, 120 having been shipped, of which not more than

70 have been landed. The passage, unfortunately, was a long one {nearly a month, we believe) ; but, if persons who ship cattle will persist in taking only sufficient food for a quick run, they deserve the loss which! they so frequently sustain. The cattle ar» to be landed at the Waimea.

The Maories at Cloudy Bay it appears are determined to prevent the completion of the survey of the Wairoo. About a fortnight since Mr. Parkinson left Nelson by the overland route, for the purpose of finishing his contract in that district ; and a boat was despatched with provisions. In the early part of the week the boat returned, the natives having refused to let it enter the river. No violence was offered ; but the natives said that, as the Governor had declared that the land was theirs, the survey should not be proceeded with. However, one of the men who had charge of the provisions managed to get a whale boat, and,, under the pretence of fishing, went spirte way up the river, in the hope of communicating with the surveying • party ; but in this he was disappointed, although he came on a fire which had been but recently lighted.

Very unsatisfactory accounts have been received from the Motuaka. The natives are considerably excited by the depredations which have been committed on their potato stores, and the notion that the Proclamation has restored to them the land, which they had previously relinquished has rendered them perfectly unmanageable. In driving off the men, as mentioned in our last number, they flourished their tomahawks in one hand and the proclamation in the ,other, and we understand several of the poor .fellows were knocked down. From the present.temper of the natives, apprehensions are entertained lest this outrage should be followed by similar ones on the other settlers.

On Saturday last a fire took place at Wauka-pa-Wauka, which destroyed a large quantity of provisions and blankets belonging to the natives. From what *we can learn, it appears to have originated from a fire having been incautiously lit near a warrie during a strong wind. The loss, we regret to say, is likely to be severely4elt. The following was written in out office by one of the sufferers, who requested that it might be inserted in the newspaper : —

Hepetema 8, 1843. Kia rongo mai nga tangata katpa, kua wera tomatou ware, ara i tenei mahi a te ahi, ki Wakapuaka, v kua pou katoa, te tupara, te timo, te timo, timo, te pumaori, te raihi te huka, te huka, c rima nga pouaka, c wa paraiketej c wa nga wekete, kua mutu, Na Rewiti Taukawau, Okukari, E toru nga topi,~paura me nga hota c rua, me nga kyka c toru; no Pani, c tahi no TaupungiT; c tahi, no te Ota, c tahi, ko te pu a Hare, ko te merepounamu : ko te ariki te ingoa. Heoi ano te korero. Na Hemi, Te Horo, Onahou.

The Bishop of New Zealand has sent the liberal donation of £20 to be distributed amongst the widows of the sufferers at the Wairoo.

We understand that a church is to be immediately erected at the Waimea. The site chosen 13 on a section belonging to the Rev. C. Saxton, near the village.

A place of worship in connection with the Church is also to be erected at Wauka-pa-Wauka, and another at Motuaka, for tk« natives, who will contribute largely to, if they do not entirely defray the expense of, both. buildings. . , • We are sorry to announce the loss of the schooner Governor Hobson, at Table Cape, on the 17th ult. She had a full cargo and eight persons on board, all of whom perished. It is feared that the schooner Gannei was lost. at the same time.

To the Editor or the Nblson Examiner. Sir— Will you allow me, through the medium of your valuable journal, to call the attention of the Company's Agent to the present state of the road to the Waimea ? Having recently had occasion to visit Nelson, I found theroadin many places nearly impassable, particularly that portion of it which traverses the low hills a little beyond the town. Two, at least, of the bridges, which have been thrown over the watercourses are in the most dangerous state, and unless quickly repaired some of the cattle which daily cross them will inevitably get their legs broken. The making of roads twenty and thirty miles from town is no doubt highly serviceable ; but their utility must be considerably diminished unless the one which leads to them is kept in a passable state. A few men would, in a couple of weeks, put all to rights. It has also struck me that a great error was committed \s&en the road was carried over the hills alluded to. f Had it been cut through the swamp iv^he first valley .beyond tbe town, the worst part of tbe road would' have been avoided, ana its projector have escaped the endless curses of future generations of draymen and oxen, carters andhorses. I am, sir, yours truly, &c, / > A Resident atthjb Waimba.