PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 346, 15 September 1868, Page 3

PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

At an important native meeting held at Hokianetn. on the 30th ult., resolutions to the following effect wore unanimously passed : — "That in Hokianga it is desirable that the law of the Europeans bo in force, and thut the chiefs of tho district assist to see that law carried out. That it is desirable that, as a Fupport to the law, a loek-up bo erected, and a European policeman bo appointed ; and that, as tho HcBiclent Magistrate resides at Waimato, about thirty miles ofT, it is desirable that ono bo appointed for tho important district of Ilokianga ; and to assist the Magistrate in the execution of his office, the natives shall in no way resist tho introduction of soldiora for the apprehension of murderous thieves, &c." Auckland is looking up. A contemporary Btatcs that its " increasing prosperity has given rise to an unusual demand for seamen, cooks, stewards, carpenters, and other ship's hands. Thirty of these • wants' were posted up in one day at tho Custom House." A telegram from the Bluff dated 7th September and published in the " Evening Star," reports : — " There has been great excitement here throughout tho day. This morning two large black whales wore ■een off the mouth of the harbor. Captain Q-ilroy, late of the Amherst, an experienced whaler, and a

J boats crew, soon had their tackling ready and gave chaae. Two other bosits followe 1 immedintely. In about thirty minutes Gilroy's boat came up with one of the monsters, and harpooned it. The whale kept tho boat going at a fearful rate for fully three hours. The whale is over fifty feet long ; and it is estimated that it will yield fifty tuns of oil. It is computed that several hundred pounds -worth of bone will be taken from it. Tho whale now lies on tho wharf." The Upper Thames correspondent of the " Southern Cross" says that Mr Sehafer, the noted German traveller has passed through the district. lie told the nath cs that ho was a grandson or nephew of tho Queen, which they found out to be untrue ; they are therefore displeased with him. We learn that tho s.s. Ladybird, which left "Wellington to visit the scene of the wreck of the Taranaki, has returned. When she loft Bowden's Bay, tho Taranaki was lying nearly upright in 13i fathoms of water. Owing to tho configuration of the bay, which takes a sudden bend inwards where the vessel is lying, it is not considored likely that she will bo sucked further out by tho tide, as she is to a great extent out of its influence. The directors of the N.Z.S.N. Company have, it is said, resolved on making an effort to raise tho steamer. Practical men are of opinion that the thing can be done if tho necessary oatlay be made. The affair is simply a question of money, and tho expenditure would, probably be considerable, as two lurge vessels would require to be employed. The vessel is stated to have cost a sum of L13.000 ; and the caigo has been estimated at LI 0,000. A correspondent of tho " Tuapeka Times," writing from Hagorty's Taieri Crossing, on August 31st, informs thut journal that a shepherd of the Messrs Boyd, Alexander Boyle by name, was this morning drowned crossing the Taieri from Hindon. Neither man nor hoi'so have yet been found, though the diggers in the neighborhood did all thoy could with Ha-jerty's boat, and the best means they had at hand to recover the body. Wo learn from the " Hawke's Boy Herald" that Mr Bold, telegraph surveyor, accompanied as interpreter by Mr Preece of Wairoa, was to start on an overland journey to Tauranga, via Pekapeka, and Taupo ; thence going over the country between Pct.ino and Pohui — with the view of determining the best lino from Napier. The present intention is to make the lino to Taupo and Tauranga, where it will moot tho Hue from Auckland via Shortland and tho Thames. A good deal will depend upon the state of native feeling in the interior, to ascertain which is one of Mr Hold's objects in his projected journey. The following lotter (writes tho "Southland Times") lias been received flora Mr H. Howaid : — " Hobait Town, August 22, 1868. I reached here on the 23th ult., and put myself in eaily communication with Dr Officer, and Messis Allpoit and Bucklaud — thieo of tho salmon commissionei 3. The latter gentlemen were deputed to visit the ponds on the Plenty, with Mr Huddlebtone (a gentleman fiom Nolson on the same errand as myself) and T. Wo found the ova already gatheied for distribution, and already deposited in the hatching boxes. Mr Huddlestone returned from the ponds with his ova (800) this morning, and is to take them to Melboivne by steamer to-morrow. The biig Finnic is again laid on for the Hew River, and Mr M'Pheison informed me, would leave here on the 22ml instant at tho latest, in which case T might be expocted about the 1st September, a time genet aily considered good here. Dr Officei considered the airaugemenfc made to take the ova direct far prefeiable to goin? by Melbourne, and all agice that ice is quite unnecessary. I shall also, thiough the kindness of Mr Allpoit, bo able to bring a few English perch, and, I hope, tench. With regaid to singing birds, I fear there is little chance of obtaining them, as all acclimatised beasts and birds are turned loose on an island in tho Derwent." The Wairoa coi respondent of the " Hawko's Bay Herald" says that, within the bo'undaiies of Wairoa, there are some 2000 disaffected natives, and from 250 to 300 scatteied Euiopeans. The Armed Constabulary having been removed from the district, the settlers are left to look after themselves. They have sixty lifles among them, and whon the enemy landed on their coast, thiee days' lummiiging pioduced only two kegs of gunpowder.