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New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2618, 7 April 1866, Page 3

We are compelled to hold over Southern extracts, several articles already in type, and different local matter. The Council of the Northern Association met on Wednesday, pursuant to notice, and considered the financial engagements and position of the Association. Communications from the London committee were read, and other business transacted.

By the ' Airedale, in the Manukau on Wednesday, we have later news from the Southern provinces. Extracts will be found elsewhere. No less than three Southern mails arrived in the Manukau on Wednesday—the 'Ahuriri,' which crossed the bar at 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday, and got up to the White Bluff at, midnight; the 'Airedale,' from Southern I'orts ; and the B.S. ' Wanganui,' which arrived from Wanganui. On the last up trip of the s.s. 'Wanganui,' from Wellington to Wanganui, out of 400 sheep taken on board at Mana Island, 100 perished through inclemency of the weather.

Our readers will be gjad to loam that amongst the recent arrivals from Wellington are Dr. Knight and Mr. Woodward, two of the commissioners for fixing the amount of money to be charged to the province, according to Act, which may be found, on inquiry, to have been spent during the war for its permanent improvement. We regret that the third Commissioner, .Mr. W. Thomson, of Christchurch,is prevented, from ill health, attending to the commission. It ]? satisfactory to know that there is a prospect of our liabilities, under the statute in question, being speedily fixed.

Mr. J. J. Burge*, the Portmaster, calls the attention of mariners, by advertisement in another column, to the fact of the Shearer Rock buoy oft' Tiritiri having broken adrift during the recent gale ; and cautions masters of vessels passing to the eastward of the island not to approach within two miles of the north-eastern shore until the buoy has been replaced. We have received a prospectus from Messrs. S. and T. Johnson, well and favourably known in Aucklnnd, of a new paper to be published by them in Blenheim, province of Marlborough. The new candidate for public favour is to be called the Marlborough Exj>re.u.

From a battalion order, issued on Thursday from the .Militia and Volunteer Office, it will be seen the Auckland Rifle Volunteers are to parade at the Albert Barracks with arms and accoutrements, for training and exercise, on Monday and Thursday next, on each successive Monday and Thursday, at half-past six o'clock in the morning, until further orders. Ail members are expected to attend. In the event of rainy weather prevailing on the mornings of parade, a flag will be hoisted at the alarm bell, Princes-street, to signify that no parade will take place. Should the succeeding morning, however, prove line, the parade will then take place.

The rush to Okat'ita was still in full operation, and the district has now a population of 4,400 persons, The West Coast Times is at a loss to understand the cir cumstanccs which have led to so large a migration to the southward. The Grey Hirer Argus recommends that an attempt be made to get all the country north of the Teremakau transferred from Canterbury to Nelson. There is a considerable rush, we find, to the Little Grey. We mentioned in a previous issue that several members of .Mr. Justice Chapman's family wore on board the ' London' at the time when that ill-fated vessel went down. The Otago Daily Times has the following respecting the circumstances : —" Mr. Justice Chapman, anxious for information as to his wife, son, and daughter, arrived at

the Telegraph Ofiiee before ten o'clock. A message from the Bluff was at once handed to him, and after doing little more than glancing at it, he staggered and fell moaning to the ground. The message announced the loss of all those dear to him, who had taken passage by the ' London.' His Honour was raised and attended to by those in waiting at the office, and a medical man was speedily fetched. His Honour slightly rallied, and was (hen conveyed home. The sitting of the Supreme Court was adjourned by Mr. Justice Richmond, as soon as he received the melancholy news."

The Government have advertised that useful liltle steamer the p.s. 'Moutoa,' tor sale. As no crew would venture to take her far either north or south in open sea, she must remain upon the Wanganui river. The policy of selling her just now is doubtful. The transport of even a small supply of stores up the river by canoe has been found to be very expensive. We hope that some of our enterprising townsmen will purchase her. There are various ways in which private enterprise would make her pay, and even the Government may again be compelled to employ her as formerly.— Wanganui Times, March :10.

There are about 60 of the Native Contingent at I'ipiriki. Pehi has offered to surrender, and we are told that full 400 of the Contingent and Kupapas have determined upon proceeding, in a few days, to the Mnngaihou pa, Pehi's stronghold, to demand his unconditional surrender. Those men are acting under no orders ; it will be an expedition, and a battle, if needs be, strictly on their own account. They have determined that Pehi shall not retain so formidable a position as the Mangaihou pa in their neighbourhood, and that he must either surrender unconditionally or fight it out.—lbid.

We have boon informed by Mr. George Graham tlitit the chief William Thompson lias taken steps to enforce the observance of the law, so far as his influence extends, in the Thame*. The native report that a European hail murdered a Maori, and that Europeans had been seized by the natives at Kopu, appears to have readied Thompson pretty much in the shape it took when the Government were apprised of the circumstance. Mr. Graham says that Thompson sent off a messenger, disapproving of the arrestofEuropeang (as rumoured), and informing the tribes that any native who did not submit to the law would be turned out of the district. The same informant tells us that he has received letters from Matutacre and other chiefs, regarding the feelings and intentions of Ngatimaniopoto. Generally, his information agrees with vdiat we have known for months, in reference to Ngatimaniopoto. Rewi is sulky, but does not want to fight. I lis fighting chief, on the contrary, is for war. Opinions differ, and consultations and meetings have been and'are to be held to "talk''the matter over. Meanwhile Rewi has " shut up" his territory against Europeans ; but Mr. Graham is not without hope, from his letters, that he may be able to bring even Rewi to a like amiable feeling with Thompson. Let us hope he will succeed. — Southern Cross, April .">. We learn from Tauranga that a considerable number of influential men amongst the Ngaiterangi have signed a petition which was presented to the Governor, asking for his mercy to be extended to the Maoris in custody for the murders of Mr. Fulloon and Mr. Volkner. The plea urged is that when the deeds were committed the men were under the influence of the Ilauhau superstition. The root of this was Te Ua, and the men charged were but the brandies, ami the petitioners ask why, when the root is spared, the branches should be destroyed. A Provincial Government Gazette was published on Wednesday, and contained a notification to the effect that a sale of general country lands would take place at the Waste Lands Office, on Monday, the 30th inst., when allotments in the following places will be offered : —Parish of Aotea, Queen's County, Great Barrier Tsland; and parish of Waitakerei, county of Eden. The provision made for the accommodation of the Resident Warden and the police in this place is most singular. The Warden has a tent 12 x 14, floored certainly, but that is ;\\\. It is composed of simple calico, stretched over a frame, and is the police office, warden's office,

magistrate's room for all applicants, magistrate's breakfast, dining, general meal and sleeping room. The idea of any responsible officer of such standing being so housed, is simply disgraceful to those in authority to permit it. The tent, not framed, that has to suffice for the accommodation of the police, is 6 x 8, and in it two men are located, a Serjeant and a constable. There were three, but one was invalided. The number of police is n burlesque on police protection. In another column we showed that the population is about 4000, and two policemen are supposed to be enough for that population. For all useful purposes when such a body of men have to be dealt with the police might as well be in Ohristchurch. We shall return to this subject on an early occasion.— fjharitti lime.*, Marck 17.

We regret to learn that operations on the Pakawau coal mine have once more ceased ; and that the affair is now believed to 4 be a failure even by those who were among the most sanguine expectants. It is satisfactory that as a counterfoil we have the coal from West Wanganui, which has just arrived.— Nelson Colonist. The following is from ibe Australasian: —"The trustees of the British Museum have become owners of the egg of the ttioa, or dinoruis, brought over from New Zealand by the ' Ravenscraig.' The price given was £120." last .Saturday, Mr. Clieeseman, accompanied by the railway engineer, Mr. Stewart, inspected Mr. Gwynneth's contract section on the Auckland Mid Drury Railway, and passed the works. This is certainly gratifying to Mr. Gwynneth, who has so satisfactorily completed his contract, and handed it over to the Government a month before the expiration of his time.

AVe hear that Mr. W. 11. Harris has disposed of his run to Messrs. McLean and Buckler, at the price of £40,000. The run consists of about 60,000 acres of excellent sheep country, with about 3,000 acres freehold, and includes 30,000 sheep in round numbers. Lytteltou Times, March '.'(s.

The Lytteltou Times says: —"We understand that Mr. Hall and the Secretary for Public Works, in company with the Government gardener, recently inspected a portion of the land reserved for acclimatisation purposes, situated near the hospital, and have selected five acres to be appropriated to the formation of a botanical garden." The inter - provincial cricket match between Wellington and Marlborough took place on Saturday, March 24th, on the Mount Cook cricket ground, and resulted in a victory for the tormer. The scores were—Wellington, first innings, CO; second innings, 43 —total, 103. Marlborough, first innings, 25 ; second innings, 23 —total, 48. The Marlborough eleven were afterwards invited to a dinner, which took place at Osgood's, the Empire Hotel. During the past three months no more than 82 additional claims for registration on the electoral rolls have been sent in to the returning officer, Colonel Balneavis, for the electoral districts of Auckland, City West, City East, Parnell, Newton, and Northern Division. The respective numbers were: City West, 14; City Bast, 7; Parnell, 12; Newton, 14; Northern Division, 35.

The Southland Times of the 20th gives the following account of the gold fields at Riverton: —"The prospects of the Riverton goldfields are brighter. Several parties arrived in town last evening, bringing upwards of lOOoz. of gold. They are staying at Colyer's Princess Hotel, Deestreet." We have received the first number of a new bi-weekly West Coast Paper, the Okariia Times; which, both from the matter and the style in which it is printed, seems likely to command success. The editor, in the leading article, expresses confidence in the permanency of Okarita, and bases his opinion not only on the discovery of g"dd, but on its being contiguous to a pastoral district. The anniversary festival of Court Pride, of Parnell, N T o. 4.400, Ancient Order of Foresters' Friendly Society, was celebrated in the club-room, Exchange Hotel, on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance of the brethren of the order. An excellent supper was served by Brother Wilson, host of the hotel; after which the Chairman (Brother C. R. Pollard) proposed the customary loyal and patriotic toasts, which were duly responded to by brethren of the order present, The Chairman, in proposing the toast of " The Lodge Pride of Parnell," gave a brief statement of the position of the society, which he stated had only been established ?ome 15 months, and during that period, notwithstanding the depression _ of the times, upwards of fourteen financial members had been annexed to the Court. The success of the Society was therefore very encouraging, and argued well for its future prosperity. ft was also a significant fact that although the Parnell branch was fewer in numbers it. was larger in funds that the Auckland Lodge (Court City of Auckland). After all expends were met. there was still some .£SO to be added to the funds of the Parnell Court. There were some 30 members on the book;? ot this Court. 'I he toast of the Past Chief Rangers (Messrs. Alexander and Augur) was given with Foresters' lire, and responded to by these gentlemen in appropriate terms. "The Treasurer" was also given, and responded to by Brother Fricker. "The Widows and Orphans" was next given by Brother A. Myers, secretary of the Lodge, and drunk with Foresters' fire. Brother Myers, as secretary of the Court, said he was happy to say that, since its formation, there had been no cases of sickness in connection with it. " The Press " was proposed by the. Vice-chairman, and responded to. "The Visiting Brethren" was proposed by Brother P.C.B. Auger, and responded to by P.C.R. Stott, of Court Star of Canterbury, the mother of the Court City of Auckland. Several other toasts were given and responded to, after which the brethren separated. Yesterday morning, it may be said there was a famine in Okarita, for meat was unattainable, even good hams or salt were almost so, fish, of which there is usually so good a supply, was not. to be had, and altogether things looked very blue indeed. A greater proof the necessity for caterers providing a continuous supply of the necessaries of iife could not lie given. In order that those at, a distance may form an estimate of the cr>st o! living, we submit a few of the retail prices. What is called the 4lb. loaf is 2s ; meat, beef or mutton, Is. 9d. per lb. (when attainable); tea, sugar and other nece ; saries are at an advance of about 20 per cent, on Ilokitika prices. The cause of n deficient supply of meat may be traced to the sudden influx of population, with which the. butchers have not kept up their meat supply. The prices cliarired are ridiculous too, for, unlike Ilokitikn, where animals can find no food for twenty miles, there is abundant feed within a very short distance, enough indeed not only to keep but to fatten stock in abundance. By importing in excess of the immediate wants of the people, the surplus I sheep or cattle would be improving instead of falling off in weight, and the quality of the meat would be increased in a great cle—rec- Okarita Times Mar. 1.